the Time of Finding, Chapter 2
CHAP. II. When there is no Time of Finding, though the Lord be ſought with tears.
FIrſt, When men (like Eſau) for light things and vanities, When the Lord will not be found. 1. When men give up great Priviledges for vain things.moſt prophanely give up great Priviledges. Of Eſau it is ſaid,aHeb. 12.16, 17. for one morſel of meat he ſold his birth-right: But what follows? Afterward when he would have inherited the bleſſing, he was rejected; for he found no place of repentance, though he ſought it carefully with tears. There are three things in the Hiſtory, which aggravate Eſau's prophaneneſs, as to be ſinful above meaſure.
1. The great thing which he lightly parted with, it was no leſs then his Birth-right: now the dignity of the firſt-born was very great, and many eminent priviledges it had. The firſt-born bExod. 22.29.were peculiarly conſecrated and given to God. cGen. …9.3Next in honor to their prents.dDeut. 21.17. Had a double portion of the Fathers goods.e2 Chron. 21.3. Succeeded them in the Government of the Family or Kingdom.fNumb. 8.14, 17. And likewiſe in the Adminiſtration of the Prieſthood, and ſervice of God: Yea, more,gRom. 8.29 It figured Chriſt, andhHeb. 12.35. all true Chriſtians, heirs of the New Ieruſalem. All this (as if it had been nothing) he careleſly parted with.
But, Secondly, Not for the worth of it. The Text ſaithiGen. 25.34. Iacob gave Eſau bread and pottage of Lentils, which was a kind of pulſe much like to fetches or ſmall peaſe, very courſe food: nevertheleſs ſo vile an exchange made he of his Heavenly dignity. Naboth uponk1 King. 21.2, 3. no terms would deliver up the inheritance of his father to Ahab: But this man for one morſel of meat, ſels that which was far better.
3. When he had done all this,lGen. 25.34. He roſe up and went his way, and deſpiſed his Birth-right: that is, he ſhewed no remorſe, ſorrow or repentance, for ſelling ſo precious a thing for ſo poor a price: he eſteemed his Birth-right very little before, but now he ſets it altogether at nought, as being glad he had met with ſuch a BARGAIN, and ſped ſo well.
Verily, I think that blood is not more like blood, then Eſau and the Revolters of this age are like one another. Neither ſince Eſau's time till now, have any generation of men ſo MATCHT HIM in prophaneſs: and this I ſhall plainly demonſtrate by the Parallel.
Firſt, Let it be conſidered what they have ſold: ſuch a Glorious Cauſe as never was (I think) in the hands of men before. Not Civil-Rights and Liberties alone, but the GREAT CAƲSE of God, the Intereſt of Chriſt and of his Kingdom, Laws, People.mPſal. 84.10. David thought it was honor enough, if a man might ſit at the threſhold of Gods houſe; that is, be in the loweſt place… and meaneſt ſervice. In the late wars he that was but a common-ſoldier to fight againſt Tyranny and Idolatry; truly, his place and ſervice was very honorable: then how much more a General, Colonel, Capt. &c. beſides, the Lord was pleaſed to honor them with the Birth-right, they were the firſt-born: I ſay, the firſt to have brought the King home, and to ſet the Crown upon his Head. What could have been done more to men!
But, Secondly, What have they ſold their Birth-right for? Oh, It grieves my ſoul to think of it, that ever ſuch a thing ſhould be told in Gath, and publiſhed in the ſtreets of Askelon, that it ſhould be ſaid among the Heathen, EMINENT PROFESSORS OF RELIGION AND MEN PRETENDING GREAT THINGS FOR CHRIST AND ZION, HAVE SOLD THE GOOD OLD CAUSE FOR A MORSEL OF BREAD.nJer. 2.10, 11. Conſider diligently, and ſee if there be ſuch a thing: Hath any Nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit. We think thoſe fooliſh in their trades, that ſhould loſe many peeces of gold, to have a little bad coyn. Let them look over their Bargain, what have they ſold, and what they have for it: Alas, their Courts, Titles, Parks, Pleaſures, &c. are all bad coyn, Lentils, meer vanity and lies,oPro. 11.4. things that will not profit in the day of wrath. But the Cauſe and work of God, which they unworthily have given up, had they been faithful to it, would have been better to them then gold; yea, then fine gold, & all the things that men deſire, not to be compared to it. It is reported that thoſe wicked Spirits (commonly called Fairies) having ſtolen the true child out of the cradle, do ſecretly convey and place in the ſtead thereof, ſom… changeling of their own: what truth i… in it, I know not; but this I know t… be true, the Devil hath dealt ſo wit… Apoſtates, by a cunning ſleight, h… hath taken the true Child from them that is, THE GOOD OLD CAƲSE and hath left in the room of it a po… ſtarv'd changeling, here the buyer m… wel ſay, It is naught, it is naught.
3. Are they ſorry for what they have done? do they repent of it?pJer. 6.15 Nay they are not at all aſhamed, neither can they bluſh: but rejoyce, feaſt and ſing, having made ſuch a Bargain. Iudas after he had betrayed Chriſt, took little pleaſure in the money which he had for the Treaſon,qMat. 27.3, 45. He brought again the thirty pieces of ſilver to the Chief Prieſts and Elders, ſaying, I have ſinned, in that I have betrayed innocent blood. And he cast down the peeces of ſilver into the Temple, and departed, &c. But theſe men have not yet ſo much remorſe on their conſcience, for what they have done: but the Courts, Caſtles, Titles, Power, &c. the Money they had for the Innocent Cauſe, are the things they glory in, and brag of. I might have mentioned the greedineſs of Eſau's appetite to the diſh; that red, that red there, Gen. 25.20. The doubling of the word is to ſhew, his haſt and gluttonous deſire: the color and taſt ſeem'd ſo pleaſing and entiſing unto him. Whether they have not been …ike a Lyon greedy of his prey. Pſal. 17.12. Like greedy dogs which cannot have enough: Iſa. 56.11. let their own practiſe be witneſs.
But there is one thing wherein Eſau is more to be excus'd (if there may be any excuſe made for him) then ſome now; he lay under ſome neceſſity:rGen. 25.32. I am (ſaith he) at the point of death, and what profit ſhall this Birth-right doe to me? But theſe men could not plead Eſau's neceſſity, they were not ready to ſtarve, but had enough; and therefore their ſin was the more (prophaneneſs it may be call'd) to ſell ſuch a Bleſſed Cauſe, not only for ſo LITTLE, but having no need ſo to do.
The Concluſion is, If Eſau for his prophaneneſs were denyed a Time of Finding, others then following his ſteps, and being as prophane (or more) may not expect to find it better in their own caſe.
2. No time of finding for old Hypocrites, whoſe bones are full of the ſins of their youth.Secondly, There will be no Time of Finding, for old Hypocrites, whoſe ſJob 20.11.bones are full of the ſins of their youth, and do continually ſeek to hide and cover them under religious pretences as faſting, praying, weeping, &c. A old Hypocrite is like a child born crooked; no earthly medicines can make him right and ſtraight: or like to old cloth, which being rotten, will not bear the needle and thred, and therefore not to be mended. Some men through their long hypocriſie, are become as rotten as dirt; no hope of mending: for they have ſo accuſtomed themſelves to play the hypocrites, by weeping, praying, &c. astJer. 13.23. the Blackmore may ſooner change his skin, and the Leopard his ſpots, then they ceaſe from diſſembling, and mocking God in religious duties. They who from their infancy are accuſtomed to take poyſon in ſmall quantities, do inable their ſtomacks to digeſt more, till by long cuſtome and increaſing the quantity, it becometh ſo familiar to their ſtomacks, that inſtead of poyſoning of them, they are nouriſhed by it. Thus it is with ſuch men who from their youth have uſed themſelves to hypocriſie and falſhood, and riſen by degrees; at length (ſpecially when they come to be old) their hearts are ſo hardned, and con…ciences ſeared, as their hypocriſie is no poyſon, no trouble to them, but it turns to their nouriſhment, it feeds them like meat and drink, and they cannot live without it. It was a great ſin in Iudas to deliver his Master up into the hands of his enemies, the Scribes and Phariſees: but the ſin of Iudas had not been half ſo bad, if he had not ſo hypocritically betrayd Chriſt.uMat. 26.49. He came to Ieſus, and ſaid, Hail Maſter, and kiſſed him. So for any man to deliver up Chriſt in his truth and Cauſe, into the hands of his bloody enemies; viz. Prieſts, Lawyers, Papiſts, &c. under a pretence of Religion, and the honor of God; this comes neer the ſinxHebr. 10.26. for which there is no ſacrifice: But of all Hypocrites, beware of the WEEPING HYPOCRITE, as the moſt dangerous. Such a one was Iſhmael, yJer. 41.5, 6, 7.who by his Religious weeping, deceived fourſcore men, and murdred them all as they were going with their offerings to the houſe of the Lord. This Weeping Hypocrite is like the ſtrumpet Phryne, for this cauſe named foreign, as if you would ſay, Weep-laugh, becauſe commonly ſhe did both together, havin… in the midſt of laughter tears at command. As the ſilly fiſh ſwallows the hook, becauſe of the bait that hides it, ſo many ignorant people are catch'd & ſnared by the Tears of Hypocrites: but howſoever by their weeping they may deceive men, yet God they cannot, neither cares he for their Tears.
We read often in the Prophets, the reaſon why the Lord would not be found of the Jewes, when diſtreſſes and troubles were upon them;aJer. 7.16. Iſa. 1.11, 12 it was, they had diſſembled with him, been old Hypocrites, ſought to hide their falſhood, lying, Covenant-breaking, Oppreſſion, &c. bMal. 2.13By covering the Altar of the Lord with tears, with weeping, and crying out.
I cannot better reſemble men accuſtomed to Hypocriſie, then to that old Traytor Tyrone, his manner was to ſend pictures to Queen Elizabeth, in which he would lie weeping at her foot; but ſtill in rebellion againſt her: the Queen hereat was extreamly diſpleaſed, ſaying, We will have no more of his Pictures, but the head of the Traytor. What may theſe men think of themſelves, when they lie weeping at the feet of God? If they continue rebels againſt him, do they expect a Time of finding? How can that be? Doth he not ſee their Hypocriſie? ſurely yes, and will ſpeedily take vengeance on them for it.
Thirdly,3. When men are ſo obſtinate in their ſins, as nothing will reclaim them. There will be no Time of Finding, For ſuch perſons who are ſo obſtinate in their ſins, as no admonition or reproof can reclaim them. As clay under the ſhining Sun, growes harder and ſtiffer: ſo the more they are told of their hypocriſie, pride, falſhood, oppreſſion, &c. the worſe they are: Theeves whilſt they have liberty, none are bolder, nor will they regard any thing that is ſpoken againſt their wicked courſe of life; all good counſel is rejected and ſcorn'd: but when trouble comes, when they are brought to the bar, then down upon their knees, Good my Lord, pardon, pardon; but then no pardon is to be had. And as it is thus with little Theeves, ſo it will be one day with the Great Theeves and Great Murderers, cPro. 1.24, 25, &c.Becauſe I have called and ye refuſed, I have ſtretched out my hand, and no man regarded: But ye have ſet at nought my Counſel, and would none of my reproof; I alſo will laugh at your calamity, I will mock when your fear cometh. Then ſhall they call upon me, but I will not anſwer; they ſhall ſeek me early, but they ſhall not FIND ME.
Again,dZech. 7.11, 12, 13. They refuſed to hearken, and pulled away their ſhoulder, and stopped their ears, that they ſhould not hear; yea, they made their hearts as an Adamant-ſtone, lest they ſhould hear the Law, and the words which the Lord of Hosts hath ſent in his Spirit by the former Prophets. Therefore came a great wrath from the Lord of Hosts: therefore it is come to paſs, that as he cryed, and they would not hear; ſo they cryed, and I would not hear, ſaith the Lord of Hosts, but I ſcattered them with a whirl-wind among all the Nations whom they knew not.
It may not be thought that all thoſe of whom the Prophet here ſpeaks were Reprobates; for without doubt (as to life and glory) many of them were ſaved: nevertheleſs he will not hear them, as to ſpare them from the common judgment. In this reſpect (though Gods choſen ones) they ſhall have no more Time of finding, then others: partakers in ſin, partakers in puniſhment. A father though he do not diſinherit his childe, and quite caſt him off, yet he may (and juſtly too) ſeverely chaſtiſe him for ſome groſs miſcarriages,ePro. 19.18. And not let his ſoul ſpare for his crying, as the wiſe-man hath it. What means the Lord in ſaying,fRev. 18.4 Come out of her my people, that ye be not partakers of her ſins, and that ye receive not of her plagues? the words are plain enough; thoſe that abide in Babylon, notwithſtanding again and again call'd upon to come out, may ſuffer Babylons plagues, that is, fall and periſh with the wicked, as to their bodies and eſtates, howſoever ſaved in the day of Chriſt.
g1 Pet. 4.17.Iudgment must begin at the houſe of God: andhEze. 9.6. at his Sanctuary. TheiJer. 25.18, 29. wine-cup of fury is to be given, first to Jeruſalem and the Cities of Judah; afterwards all the Nations of the earth muſt have it.kHag. 2.6. The Lord of hoſts will ſhake the Heavens and the Earth. Firſt, Heaven, then Earth: therefore let Churches and Church-Officers now look about them:lMic. 6.2. The Lord hath a controverſie with HIS people, and he will plead with Iſrael: and what follows?mver. 9. Hear YE the rod, and who hath appointed it. That the Lord will begin with Churches, and with a profeſſing people, there are many reaſons for it.
1. Becauſe the Hypocriſie, Pride, Self-ſeeking, deceit, unfaithfulneſs, &c. of a Profeſſing people, more diſhonors God, and ſcandals the Goſpel, then the evils and ſins of any other people.nRom. 2.24. The Name of God is blaſphemed among the Gentiles through YOU. As a ſervant in the family by his ill carriage, more diſgraceth the houſe, then hundreds or thouſands who are not of it. But to ſpeak home, No people (I think) upon the face of the earth, have brought more diſhonor to God, and reproach to the truth, then the back ſliding-Churches, and profeſſors of our time. For, 1. Who had a hand in the late REBELLION, more then they,oNeh. 9.17 To appoint a CAPTAIN to return to Bondage; whereby not onelyonly to build again the things which they had deſtroyed, but to bring the ſin and guilt of all the blood ſhed in the three Nations, upon the intereſt of Chriſt and his people, and ſo to juſtifie and acquit the Cavaleers. 2. Who manageth and maintains the oppreſſions and heavy burdens which lie upon the Souls and Bodies of good people every where? (No King or Biſhop,) but a Profeſſing people; yea, Saints, as they would be thought. 3. The groſs Hypocriſie and Falſhood of ſome PROFESSORS, hath of late ſo clearly broken forth, as it hath cauſed many to become Atheiſts, at leaſt to think in their heart there is no God. Neither may this be thought ſtrange: for what can lead men ſooner unto Atheiſm, then to ſee Profeſſors often weep, faſt, and pray before the Lord, and yet in their actions not make conſcience of any thing? 4. There hath been ſuch unheard-of impietie committed under a ſhew of Religion, that it is now a common ſaying among Cavileers, when they hear of any baſe thing done, I warrant you (ſay they) it is ſome Profeſſor hath done it. As informer time, when any Libel came from Rome, preſently Parſons was thought to be the Author; and the more vile, the more Parſon-like. I mourn, becauſe I cannot mourn enough; wherefore came I out of the womb to ſuch a day? Ah! That the enemies of the Goſpel ſhould have ſo much cauſe given them, as to think, the worſe the action is, the more likely to to be done by Profeſſing people. 5. Such an Apoſtacy is ſeiſed on Churches (eſpecially in the Officers) as none do more obſtruct and hinder the Lords work of the day, then ſome of them. In the time of the Prelates, if a good man out of Conſcience oppoſed the Prieſts, and held forth a publick teſtimony againſt their corrupt wayes; he was preſently rayl'd at, counted factious, and caſt out of their Synagogue. And is it not ſo now? I could give many inſtances, that the old Prieſts hardly ſhewed more bitterneſs againſt the Lords-witneſſes, then ſome Church-Officers do at this day againſt honeſt men, for being faithful in the work of their Generation. But to proceed.
2. A Profeſſing people cauſing ſcandal by their evil walking, the Lord will ſoon take a courſe with: when we ſee children rebellious and diſobedient, we are ready to ſay, It is a ſhame to their parents to ſuffer them ſo to do: what ſay profane men now! Looking upon the actions of Profeſſors? Oh, ſay they, theſe call God Father, and they would have us think none are his children but they: if he be rheir Father, how is it that he ſuffers ſuch horrible lying, falſhood, oath-breaking, and ſelf-ſeeking in them?pEzek. 36.23. I will ſanctifie my Name which was prophaned among the Heathen, which YE have prophaned in the midſt of them, and the Heathen ſhall know that I am the Lord, ſaith the Lord God. They were Profeſſors of whom the Lord complains,qAmos 2.13. Behold I am preſſed under you, as a cart is preſſed that is full of ſheaves. The ſins of Non-Profeſſors are a burden; but Profeſſors ſins are more then a burden, and therefore not ſo long to be born: They were a backſliding people (as ours are) of whom the Lord ſpeaks,rIſa. 1.13, 14. That their Oblations, Solemn meetings, and their appointed feaſts, were a trouble to him, and he was weary to bear them. How can a man that is weary of a burden, have eaſe, if he caſt it not off? they are the Profeſſors of the laſt Times, which the Prophet mentioneth:ſIſa. 65.5. Theſe are a ſmoak in my noſe: Smoak continueth not long, it ſoon vaniſheth; ſignifying, that the Back-ſliders of this age are ſhort liv'd.
3. That judgment doth begin at the houſe of God, it will be for the ſilencing of them that are without, when their day ſhall come.tJer. 25.29 Lo, I begin to bring evil on the City which is called by my Name, and ſhould ye be utterly unpuniſhed? ye ſhall not be unpuniſhed.
4. It is a Profeſſing people which have made the Laſt Apoſtacy: the ſubject (I conceive) of the firſt vial.
4. When men glory in their ſhame.Fourthly, Such will have no Time of Finding, Who glory in their ſhame, and think it their Grace, that they are graceleſs: As David ſaid of Doeg, douPſa. 52.1 boaſt themſelves in miſchief: for having done as wickedly as they can, they rejoyce in and bleſs themſelves in it. xDan. 4.30Is not this great Babylon, that I have built, for the houſe of the Kingdom, by the might of my power, and for the honor of my Majeſty? Is not this the wealth, the power and greatneſs, which I have gotten by craft, deceit? &c. I have ſeen children when they have purpoſely made their hands and fingers black and foul, have held them up, and laugh'd to ſee what they had done: Is there not a Generation of men, who have made themſelves foul and black within and without, no Leper more foul? nevertheleſs how do they glory in it, boaſt of it, and laugh to ſee ſo much blackneſs upon their fingers. Among the Indians he is taken for the gallanteſt fellow, that can make himſelf moſt ilfavored: and is it not ſo among ſome Chriſtians (ſo call'd?) Is not He the None-ſuch, who by Hypocriſie and double-dealing can deform himſelf moſt, and of all men is the ƲGLIEST to look on?yEzek. 30.2. Wo worth the day.
Queſt. But where is it proved, when men take delight in their ſins, they ſhall have no Time of finding?
Anſw. In Gods Holy Book often. 1. The ProphetaEzek. 18.17, 18. Ezekiel plainly tels us ſo: Haſt thou ſeen this, O ſon of man? is it a light thing to the houſe of Iudah, that they commit the abominations which they commit here? for they have filled the Land with violence, and have RETƲRNED to provoke me to anger; and lo, they put the Branch to their noſe. Therefore will I alſo deal in fury, mine eyes ſhall not ſpare, neither will I have pity, and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voyce, yet will I not hear them. It was the manner of the Heathen (and probably practiſed now by the Jewes) to carry Branches with them to their ſacrifices, and to put them to the Idol, and there to ſprinkle them, either with the blood of their Idolatrous ſacrifice, or to ſweeten them with ſome Idolatrous perfume; then to put them to their noſtrils and kiſs them, ſhewing thereby how greatly they approved what was don: ſo that the meaning is, when men not onelyonly do baſe things, as break their oathes and Covenants, ſet up Tyranny & Idolatry, perſecute the Intereſt of Chriſt & his people; but likewiſe take pleaſure therein, and rejoyce in the wickedneſs they have done, ſuch in the day of trouble ſhall have no TIME OF FINDING.
Again, as we read inbIſa. 3.9. Jer. 3.3. & 6.15. & 8.15. Eze. 24.7, 8. the Prophets, of men that had Whores-foreheads, refuſed to be aſhamed, and could not bluſh, would diſcover their ſins like Sodom, and hide them not, and ſet their blood (meaning cruelties and oppreſſion) upon the top of a rock, to be ſeen of all the world: ſo we find in the ſame places, that the Lord would not ſpare them, but cut them off, and not regard their cries in the day of trouble. I have read it (ſomewhere) that in Cumena a wide mouth is in faſhion; and what is more in faſhion now, then a WIDE MOƲTH? He that hath the Impudence and Boldneſs to defend hypocriſie and falſhood, and to juſtifie oppreſſion and Tyranny, hath the Fore-head to plead for wicked perſons and things, he ſhall have Balaams wages and promotion, and becMic. 1.11 the Prophet of this people: and hence it is, that prophaneneſs, Atheiſm, and the great contempt of God and his wayes, ſo woefully abounds every where; namely, of the impudence and Bold-face of ſinners, as being no whit aſhamed of their doings, but rather glorying, and priding themſelves therein. As the Heathen Youngman hearing of the Adulteries and other wickedneſs of the gods, Doe they ſo, (ſaith he) and ſhall I their inferior ſtick at it? And indeed how can it be otherwiſe, If the Leaders of the people (as Magiſtrates and Miniſters) live without Conſcience, and commit ſin without ſhame; But others of lower Rank and condition will be encouraged to do as bad?dMat. 18.7 But woe to that man by whom the offence cometh.
5. When men are Tyrants & oppreſſors, there will be no time of finding.Fifthly, No Time of Finding, For Tyrants Oppreſſors and men of blood, who live by thefts and murthers, as ravenous beaſts by prey. eJam. 2.13Judgment without mercy, that hath ſhewed no mercy. A man looking into a glaſs, what his own countenance is there, the like he ſees in the glaſs: if his own be friendly, chearful, pleaſant, &c. ſo is the other; if ſtern and froward, he ſees the like: To know how the Lord will look upon us in time of trouble, we need goe no further then to obſerve with what Face we look upon other men:fPſal. 18.25, 26. With the mercifull, he will ſhew himſelf merciful; with the froward, he will ſhew himſelf froward. gMat. 7.1With what judgment ye judge, ye ſhall be judged, and with what meaſure you mete unto others, it ſhall be meaſured to you again: thus thehJer. 30.16. Iſa. 33.1. Devourer ſhall be devoured, and the ſpoyler ſpoyled. And ſo it was in the caſe of Pharaoh, Ahab, Saul, Haman, Herod, &c. they took no pity on others, neither would the Lord pity them when their day came. Rahab hadiJoſh. 2.1. with chap. 6.22. a Time of finding, ſo hadkJer. 39.17, 18. Ebed-melech the Ethiopian: but what were they? no Perſecutors of Saints, no Baniſhers and Impriſoners of the Lords people, (never ſhewing any reaſon for it) but on the contrary, were helpful to them in their afflictions.
lMic. 3.1, 2, 3.Hear I pray you, O heads of Iacob, and ye Princes of the Houſe of Iſrael: is it not for you to know judgment? who pluck their skin from off them, and their fleſh from off their bones. Who alſo eat the fleſh of my people, and flay their skin from off them, and they break their bones, and chop them in pieces, as for the pot, and as fleſh within the cauldron? But ſome may ſay, what is all this? we ſee as much as this done every day, what courſe will the Lord take with theſe Tyrants?mver. 4. Then ſhall they cry unto the Lord, but he will not hear them; he will even hide his face from them, as they have behaved themſelves ill in their doings. As the fiſh greedy of the worm, ſwallows the hook with it, and feeling the prick in her bowels, draws back, and ſeeks to get off, but cannot: ſo Tyrants thirſting after the Blood and Treaſure of the people, therewith ſwallow down the CƲRSE OF GOD; and perceiving afterward they are hookt and catcht, Oh, what ſtrugling is there to be looſe! one while bynJob. 20.15. vomiting all up again, otherwhile by faſting and prayer: if neither will do, then Moſes is ſent for in haſt,oExod. 10 17. To intreat the Lord his God, that he may take away from them this death onelyonly. But,pIſa. 22.14 This iniquity ſhall not be purged from them till they dy. But the Lord hath ſomething more againſt the Oppreſſing Rulers of Iudah, why he will hide his face from them in the day of trouble:qv. 10.11. They build up of Zion with Bloods, and Ieruſalem with iniquity; the Heads thereof judge for reward, and the Prieſts thereof teach for hire, and the Prophets thereof divine for mony, yet will they lean upon the Lord, and ſay, Is not the Lord among us? none evil can come upon us. Here are ſeveral things worth the obſerving.
1. Between the Rulers and the Prieſts (it ſeems) there was a wicked combination; viz. whatſoever oppreſſion and cruelty was done by the Rulers, the Prieſts were to juſtifie it; and for this they were to have ſo much per ann. (as their hire) either in mony, or ſome other way. ThusqIſa. 5.18. They drew iniquity with a cart-rope. As many threds twiſted together make a ſtrong cord; ſo the Rulers, Prieſts and falſe Prophets agreeing together, could eaſily (as with a cart-rope) pluck from the people what they pleaſed, even, their skin and fleſh from their bones.
2. That both States, viz. Civil and Eccleſiaſtical, were now built and kept up by the ruine of the people. As men uſing their beaſts, think they are not bound to give them a reaſon of the ſervice they put them to: ſo theſe Tyrants did what they liſted, neither was it for the people (according to the Doctrine of the Prieſts) to be otherwiſe then Beaſts, in ſubmitting to the will and luſts of the Heads in every thing.
3. Yet they leaned upon the Lord: that is, howſoever they had caſt off the Power of Godlineſs; yet kept up ſtill the the form: As a man that hath gotten ſcabs and ulcers upon his body, will not caſt off his cloathes, but rather put on more and better, that his ſores may not be ſeen.
4. Is not the Lord among us? This ſeems ro be the ſaying of the Prieſts and falſe Prophets, for their hire and mony: We are under the beſt Government that ever was, Our Heads will make us a happy people; we need not fear forreign enemies, neither plague, famine, peſtilence; for our Rulers are good men, love the Temple, and give large maintenance to the Prieſts, 6. When ingagements and Covenants are broken, and the things built again which were deſtroyed.ſo that no evil can come upon us.
Sixthly, Such will have no Time of finding, Who turn with the dog to the vomit, by breaking vowes and ingagements, and building again what they had deſtroyed. ſPro. 14.14.The Back-ſlider in heart ſhall be filled with his own wayes: But what are his wayes? (Lying, Treachery, Self-ſeeking, Hypocriſie: as the Prodigal had nothing to fill his belly with, but the husks which the ſwine did eat; ſuch will be the portion of Revolters from God: inſtead of peace of conſcience, joy in the Holy-Ghoſt, and ſweet communion with God, They ſhall be filled with their own wayes: their Apoſtacy, Hypocriſie and Falſhood, ſhall be meat in their bowels; with this, as the gall of Aſps within them, they ſhall be filled: thus it was withtMat. 27.3, 4, 5. Iudas.
The Lord by his Prophet tels Iudah, uJer. 15.1.Though Moſes and Samuel ſtood before him, yet his mind could not be towards them: this is much, that the Lord will not hear prayer; no, not the prayer of a Moſes and Samuel ſtanding together before him: but what is the reaſon?xver. 4. Becauſe of Manaſſeh the ſon of Hezekiah King of Iudah, for that which he did in Ieruſalem: now that which aggravated Manaſſehs ſin, and moſt provoked the Lord to ſuch wrath, it is expreſſed thus:y2 Kin. 21.3. For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had deſtroyed; intimating, had there not been ſuch a great Reformation a little before, his wickedneſs had not been ſo foul and great: but after ſozRead 2 Chro. 29, 30 31. Chap. much time, and labor and treaſure ſpent, in rooting up Idolatry and Tyranny, and to have the true worſhip of God, with other good things, ſetled in the Common-wealth: that he ſhould be ſo graceleſs and impudent, preſently to make things as bad (or rather worſe then they were before) here the Lord will not hearken to prayer, but his fury muſt break forth, and there is no remedy. In one reſpect (and it is a great one too) ſome men have done far worſe then Manaſſeh; for Manaſſeh built not again the things which he himſelf had deſtroyed; neither in doing what he did, was he a Covenant-breaker with the people, that we read of: whereas they have built the high places which themſelves deſtroyed, and againſt vowes and Oathes alſo.
And here we may underſtand what the Holy-Ghoſt means, by ſaying,a2 Pet. 2.21. It had been better for them not to have known the way of Righteouſneſs, then after they have known it, to turn from the holy Commandment; that is, in the day of Gods wrath, when he is powring out the Vials upon the Nations, it ſhall be better with them, who have not known the Truth, nor made profeſſion of righteous things, then with enlightned profeſſors, being led aſide with the error of the wicked, and fallen from their own ſtedfaſtneſs. When priſoners are taken in war, if any RƲN-AWAYES are found among them, ſuch ſeldome are ſpared, though the reſt have quarter.
bJer. 11.10, 11.They are turned back to the iniquities of their fathers, which refuſed to hear my words, and they went after other gods to ſerve them: the houſe of Iſrael and the houſe of Iudah have broken the Covenant which I made with their fathers; Therefore thus ſaith the Lord, Behold, I will bring evil upon them, which they ſhall not be able to eſcape; and though they ſhall cry unto me, I will not hearken unto them. Again,cver. 14. Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up a cry or a prayer for them, for I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto me for their trouble. So that now it is neither their own praying, nor the Prophets praying will avail.
Object. But what if with prayer, they had joyned faſting, as the preſent Back-ſliders doe?
Anſw. For all this there had been no Time of finding, dJer. 14.12When they faſt I will not hear their cry, &c. But I will conſume them by the ſword, and by famine, and by peſtilence.
Neither is it ſtrange that the Lord ſhould be ſo ſevere againſt Covenant-breakers and Back-ſliders, for none more wound him in his honor & cauſe, then they. Formerly in wars they uſed Elephants, which did much ſervice; but if they gave back, did more hurt then the enemy: ſo long as ſome men ſtood faſt and faithful in the Lord's Battels, they did the Lord and his people ſingular ſervice; but by GIVING BACK, they have more diſhonored God, and trampled the Good old Cauſe under foot, then the Common-Enemy ever did: it may be ſaid of a truth, that the Common-Enemy never gave ſo deep a wound to the intereſt of Chriſt and his people, as ſome have done by GIVING BACK.
Object. But it will be ſaid, the Prophet ſpeaks of a Covenant made with God, which to break is dangerous; but with men not ſo.
Anſw. Oathes and Engagements made with men, are Divine things; called in Scripture,eEccl. 8.2 1 Sam. 21.7 The Oaths of God. Therefore thus ſaith the Lord God, As I live, ſurely mine Oath that he hath deſpiſed, and my Covenant which he hath broken, even it will I recompenſe upon his own head. Though it was made with Nebuchad-nezzar, an Heathen King, an Idolater; yet the Lord owns it as made with himſelf, becauſe his ſacred and dreadful Name was taken therein, and counts the violation and breach thereof, as if it had been formally made with himſelf: ſo when Ioſhua had made a league with the Gibeonites, and the Princes had ſworn unto them; though they were deceitfully brought thereunto by the Gibeonites craft, yet they durſt not violate the League made and ſworn, and ſo put them to the ſword, as they did others: but ſaid,fJoſh. 9.15 20. We will let them live, lest wrath be upon us, becauſe of the Oath. For ſuch therefore as ſlight the Promiſes and Covenants which they have made with men, they ſhall one day know, as they have taken the great name of God in vain, ſo he will not hold them guiltleſs, but will remember their great wickedneſs, and not ſpare them, nor pity them in the day of his anger.
7. No finding time for the vile, when the Lord hath ſeparated the pretious from them.Seventhly, When the Lord hath ſeparated the precious from the vile, there will be no finding time for the reſt. No ſooner are the Iſraelites on dry land,fExod. 14. but Pharaoh and his hoſt are covered with waters: ifgGen. 7.16, 17. Noah be in the Ark, then preſently comes the Flood: no ſooner isiGen. 19. righteous Lot pluckt out of Sodome, but fire and brimſtone burnes the place: whenkEze. 9.5, 6 the mourners are marked, then immediately the Angel is bid to ſmite, and ſpare none: ſo whenlIſa. 26.20, 21. the Lords people are in their chambers, Behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to puniſh the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity. And this I take to be one reaſon of the Lords great patience at this time; though Sodome be ripe for judgment, yet the Angel will have Lot out before he execute it:mGen. 19.22. Haſte thee, eſcape thither, for I cannot do any thing, till thou be come thither. Why is not the vial poured out upon this Apoſtacy? ſurelynIſa. 30.18. the Lord waits to be gracious unto his elect among the Apoſtates.o2 Pet. 3.9 He is not ſlack, concerning his promiſe (as ſome men count ſlackneſs) but is long ſuffring TO ƲS-WARD, not willing that any ſhould periſh, but that all ſhould come to repentance: whereas therefore he defers his wrath, it is to have his people out of Babylon, and from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram: he would have them remember from whence they are fallen, and repent, and doe their firſt works; and were this done, he would ſoon take vengeance on the reſt.
If a father be ſpoken unto concerning a rebellious child, and counſelled to caſt him off; what ſaith he? Ah! I am his father, I cannot do it, I muſt yet try ſome other means, and exerciſe longer patience towards him. Indeed we have not (as the Lord hath) Fatherly bowels towards Chriſts ſheep going aſtray: our paſſion is ſuch, we would ſometimes have them caſt off, and lookt no more after: but what ſaith the Lord, I cannot doe ſo, I am their Father, I muſt wait yet, that I may be gracious to them. If there be but a little corn among a great deal of chaff, the husbandman will have that forth before he burns the chaff. For concluſion, Let us earneſtly ſeek the Lord, that he will pluck all Zions ſons out of Babylon, and plant their feet in the pleaſant paths of Chriſt: this being done, I ſay, the wheat being ſeparated, the tares ſtraightwayes will be caſt into the lake of fire, where will be no Time of finding.