A Practical Discourse of Gods Sovereignty, Part 2
OF THE RIGHTEOƲSNESS of GOD.
HAving founded this Diſcourſe on the Sovereignty of God, as the beſt and moſt natural ground of Satiſfaction (or captivation) to Reaſon, touching Election: So now, as a means to qualifie our Spirits, and Reconcile them with the Doctrine of Sovereignty; it ſeemeth expedient to annex that of His Righteouſneſs: and, I think, there is not a more evident Propoſition, than
That there is no Ʋnrighteouſneſs with God.Prop.
This, as we are indiſpenſably bound to believe; So, to be well grounded in the faith of it, will be of exceeding great Uſefulneſs to us, in every Condition; eſpecially under thoſe darker Adminiſtrations, which we do not ſee the Cauſe and Reaſon of: When Matters of great Import, ſeem to be Confuſed, or Neglected: When all things in view, fall out alike to All; and you cannot know either Good or Evil, by all that is afore you: I ſhall therefore Collect ſome of thoſe Conſiderations, from which you may find light and influence in the dark and cloudy day; and by which (as a Means) I my ſelf was drawn in and guided to this Determination; before I had ſearched the Scriptures, expreſly, concerning this Subject: And they may ſerve, both as Arguments to Demonſtrate the Propoſition; and as Antidotes againſt thoſe poyſonous Contradictions, which carnal Reaſon and unbelief, will be too often forging and flinging in upon us. And
The Firſt is founded on that Infinite Bleſſedneſs which the Moſt High God was poſſeſſed of in Himſelf,Arg. I. before the World or any Creature was made. He did not make them for any Need He had of them,Rev. 4. 11. but for His Pleaſure: And if He needed them not, there could be no Need or Reaſon Why He ſhould make them ſuch, Or to ſuch an End, as not to be Meetly Over-ruled, and their End attained, without doing wrong to any. The Motives by which Men are induced and ſwayed to do Wrong, are chiefly Two:
1. To attain ſomething they have not; Ahab ſlew Naboth for his vinyeard; 1 Kings 21. And Athaliah all the ſeed Royal, to get the Throne; 2 Kings 11. Or,
2. To Secure What they have: Pharaoh oppreſſed the People, leſt growing Mighty, they ſhould ſhake off his yoke, and get them out of his Service, Exodus 1. 10. Jeroboam ſet up his Calves, to keep the people at home, and firm to himſelf, 1 K. 12. 27, 28. And the Jews, they put Chriſt to death, leſt the Romanes ſhould come, and take away their Place and Nation; John 11. 48.
Theſe two have ſhar'd the parentage of all the Oppreſſion and Wrong-doing that have been in the World: Neither of which is Compatible with our Great and Bleſſed God: For all things are His already; He poſſeffeth the Heavens and the Earth, and all the hoſts of them, with an Abſolute Power and Right to diſpoſe them; And what can be added to That which is Infinite? And as for Securing what He hath, Of whom ſhould he be afraid? For (1.) There is no God Beſides him; Iſa. 44. 6.The Lord Himſelf who needs muſt know it, if there were Another, profeſſeth Solemnly, That He knows not any. verſe 8.And (2) As for Creatures, They are all more abſolutely under His ſubjection, than the ſmalleſt duſt under our feet is to us:Ch 40. 17. The Nations are to Him leſs than nothing and vanity. He need not ſo much as Touch them, to bring them down: 'tis but Gathering to himſelf, Job, 34. 14, 15.His ſpirit, and His breath, and they periſh together: Let the Lord but With-hold His ſuſtaining Influence, and they fall of themſelves: But He remains the ſame to all generations.
Secondly,Arg. II. Conſider the Infinite perfection of His Nature, Holy, Holy, Holy! Iſa. 6. 3. i. e. Perfectly Holy: He is Glorious in Holineſs, Exod. 15. 11. Now, In Holineſs is not the leaſt tincture of its Contrary:1 John. 3. 5. God is Light, and in Him is no darkneſs at all. He is Good, and doth Good, Pſ: 119. Is Righteous, Joh. 3. 7.and doth Righteouſneſs; All His works praiſe Him: The Righteous Lord will do no iniquity. It is an high demonſtration of His Excellency,2 Tim. 2. 13. That He cannot deny Himſelf; that is, He cannot do any thing, that is in the leaſt degree, contrary to His Holy Nature: Nothing that needs to be Retracted, or to alter His mind about it: His Will is the Rule of Righteouſneſs; and Righteouſneſs, the Rule of His Will: The Saints of old, were perfectly of this minde; Shall not the Judg of all the Earth do Right? Gen 18. 25. Rom. 3. 6.And the Apoſtle Puts it as a Queſtion not to be anſwered, That if God were Unrighteous, How then ſhall He Judge the World?
Thirdly,Arg. III. Conſider Further, The conſtant Rule and Meaſure of God's Diſpenſments; which is not done Fortuitouſly, nor Raſhly; Iſa. 28. 17.but with Deliberation and Exactneſs; He Layes Judgment to the Rule, and Righteouſneſs to the Plummet: He will not puniſh without a Cauſe, nor more than is deſerved: Touching the ſins of Sodom: Gen. 18, 21.I will go down (ſayes God) and ſee whether they have done [altogether] according to the Cry of it. Renders to every one [according] to their Deeds, Rom. 2. 6. and Gives them a [juſt] recompenſe of Reward. Heb. 2. 2. He will not Caſt away the perfect Man, Job. 8. 20.Nor help the wicked. Eliphaz puts the queſtion with great confidence (as well he might) Who ever periſhed being Innocent? Job. 47.His Righteouſneſs is ſuch, that it even holds his hands until the Innocent be out of danger. The Angels were ſtraitly commanded, Not to begin the execution of God's wrath on the wicked world, until His Servants were Marked out: Rev 73.And when the Lord came to deſtroy S…dom; He haſtens Righteous Lot to Zoar; with this onelyonly Argument,Gen 19. 22. I cannot do any thing until thou be come thi her.
Fourthly,Arg. IV. It is further evidenced, by the Lawes He hath given unto Men; The ſum of which is, To do Righteouſly; And the End of them, the good and welfare of the Creature. After a thouſand years experience of Theſe, compared with the iſſue of Mens Inventions,Nehe. 9. 13. They are acknowledged to be Right Judgments, Good ſtatues, and lawes of Truth: What an admirable Catalogue have we in Rom. 12.
(1) Of ſuch as concern our duty towards Himſelf immediately, this is the Sum, Thou ſhalt Worſhip the Lord thy God, and Him onelyonly ſhall thou ſerve: There is Nothing more equal and juſt, than to Worſhip and ſerve Him Whoſe we are; To love and live to Him from whom we have our life and breath.
(2) Such as refer more immediately to Our ſelves; As Temperance, Chaſtity, Moderation, Sobriety, &c. Theſe (as is evident to all) do greatly conduce to our outward welfare, both in point of health, eſtate, Poſterity, &c. (And what evil Conſequents do attend the Contraries of thoſe Virtues, might be every day's obſervation:) More eſpecially, ſuch as relate to our ſpiritual ſtate and Welfare; of which, more particularly, under the Next Argument.
(3) Such Commands alſo, as reſpect our duty towards Men; As to do juſtly; To ſhew Mercy; To follow peace with all Men; Every One to Mind his own buſineſs; And not intermeddle with Others: ſo, To be ſubject to the Powers that be; and To pray for thoſe in authority; (The Neglect of which duty, may be a Cauſe of our diſquietment from them; at leaſt, it may prove an ecclipſe of our Joyfulneſs in ſuffering under them, &c.) The Sum of this kind of Duties we have in that Standing Uncontrollable Rule, Of Doing to Others, as we would they ſhould do unto us.
On the Contrary, there is Nothing forbidden, but what tends to our hurt: As, if it were needful, might be Demonſtrated by Inſtances Innumerable.
To this alſo, might be added, the ſtrict Injunctions that God hath laid upon the Subordinate Diſpenſers of His Law; as (namely) To Judge the People with Juſt Judgment;Deu. 16. 18, 19. Deut 27. 19. Job 13. 10. Not to Wreſt Judgment, Nor reſpect perſons: yea, He Curſeth them that pervert Judgment, And will ſurely Reprove them that accept perſons,Ch. 4 17. &c. And ſhall Mortal Man be more juſt than God? Will He under ſuch penalties Command Men to do thus, and not do ſo Himſelf?
Fifthly,Arg. V. Another Beam of the Righteouſneſs of God ſhines forth in His putting the Matter of our Duty into ſuch a Way and Method, as renders it moſt Facile, and is moſtly conducible to our Chief End: As 1 To Remember our Creator in the days of our youth: For, the Work of Converſion and Turning to God; muſt needs be much eaſier Then, than when habituated in an evil courſe: For, Long impenitency (beſides the provocation it is to God) eſtranges the Mind more from Him; Makes the Spirit more Inflexible, and harder to be wrought upon; It Multiplies our Work, and Subſtracts our ſtrength: For One accuſtomed in evil, to learn to do well; and for a Blackmoor to change his skin, are things of a like poſſibility: It's a very Rare and Difficult thing for a Man to be born again, when he is Old.
2. To Watch againſt, and ſuppreſs the firſt motions of ſin; and to avoid what ever might be an Occaſion, or have Tendency towards it:Mal. 2 15. and in order thereto, To take heed to our Spirit; Pro. 4. 23. 1 Theſ 5 22. Jud. v. 23. Job 31. 1.To keep the heart with all diligence; To abſtain from all appearance of evil; to hate the garment ſpotted by the fleſh; and to make a Covenant with our eyes, as Job did: (For, the profeſſed practiſe of ſome Saints, is Directive to Others, and Equivalent to a Command.) To keep an Enemy from Riſing, is much eaſier than to Quell him being up; yea, To Nip ſin when 'tis young, is the ready way, Not only to keep it low, but to kill it; as the continual plucking off Buds from a Tree or Plant, deſtroys the Root.
3.Ro. 14. 23. Not to do any thing, the lawfulneſs whereof is dubious to us; Which, as it is a ſin in it ſelf; ſo it tends to obſcure to us the true ſight of things; and emboldens to farther attempts. So alſo, Not to Mind only the Lawfulneſs of things, but their Expediency; 1 Cor. 6. 12.The not-heeding of which, proves often an occaſion of ſin to Others, whereof we cannot be Guiltleſs: So likewiſe,1 Theſ. 5 19. to Cheriſh all Motions to Good; Not to quench the Spirit; and to hearken (or liſten diligently) what the Lord God will ſpeak:Exod. 15. 26. 1 K. 19. 12. Who oft times delivers His Mind with a Still and a ſmall voice; which doubly obligeth our Attention.
4. In His preſſing with ſo much weight and Neceſſity, thoſe great Duties of Faith, Love, Patience, Self-denial, &c. (1) Faith, which conſiſts in Submitting to the Righteouſneſs of God; Taking hold of His ſtrength; and Following the conduct of His Wiſdom: And in order thereto, ſhewing us our own ſinfulneſs, weakneſs, and folly; with the vanity of all Created Bottoms, which have always failed at the greateſt need; and ſo, drawing our hearts to lean on Himſelf, In whom alone we have Righteouſneſs and ſtrength.
(2) Love; This is a powerfull, Active, Candid, and Obligeing Principle; It bears all things; Thinks no evil; Takes all in good part; Makes That both portable and pleaſant, which without Love would be both harſh and burdenſom.
(3) Patience, and Meekneſs of Spirit: Theſe mitigate the Dolour of any ſuffering;Judges 8. 3. and often prevent or allay the ſtorm that is riſing: A ſoft Anſwer turns away wrath, Prov. 15. 1.
It alſo breeds Experience; 1. That any affliction may be born, through Him that ſtrengthens: 2. That afflictions are all for our profit: 3. That we could not well have been without them: 4. It alſo gives to underſtand the Lords meaning in them, which the Noiſe of tumultuating paſſions would drown to us: And, as a Means to work this Patience, the Lord ſets before us, 1. That there is a Cauſe of every Chaſtening; and that cauſe is from our ſelves; and therefore, no cauſe to Complain: 2. That He afflicts not willingly; OnelyOnly when there is Need, and no more than Needs muſt: 3. That He hath many Gracious Ends in afflicting;1 Pet. 16. As (1) To humble for ſin committed; as in Joſeph's rough dealing with his Brethren: (2) To Purge out Droſs; as in the caſe of Manaſſeh, 2 Chr: 33. 11 and 13. and the Whole Church, Iſa: 27. 9. (3.) To Prevent ſins we ſhould otherwiſe fall into;2 Cor. 12. 7. Thus He kept Paul from being Exalted above meaſure:Jer. 45. 4, 5. Pſ 73. 25. (4) To Wean us from the World; This He expected from Baruch, And this effect it had upon Aſaph. (5) To Exer…iſe our Graces: As Abraham's great faith, by his various temptations; And Paul was much under Infirmities, That he might Magnify the power of Chriſt. (6) By leſſer temptations, and deliverance from them, we are fitted for Greater, and …ur Faith ſtrengthened, both to bear, and to get through them: Which Greater, had they come afore, might have Overturned us.
(4.) Self-denial: This is a duty of neereſt concernment to us, ſince we have no ſuch enemies as ſelf-love, and fleſhly luſts, to warr againſt our ſouls. Theſe things conſidered will ſhew, that David's Concluſion is Right and Genvine; Good and Ʋpright is the Lord, therefore will He teach Sinners in the way: Even Reaſon it ſelf might tell us (to be ſure, Sanctified Reaſon and experience will) That thus to Command and Direct, is To lead in the Right way; and it highly Commends to us the Righteouſneſs of God.
Sixthly,Arg. VI. It is yet farther made out, by His affixing Rewards and puniſhments, to Good and Evil works reſpectively, according to what is the proper Reſult and Natural product of them:Gall. 6. 7. Whatſoever a Man ſowes that ſhall he Reap: 1 Cor. 15.Every Seed ſhall have its own body: He will give to every One,Iſa. 3. 10. 11. Jer. 32. 19. Pro. 3. 18. 1 Pet. 1. 9. according to His wayes; and the fruit of his doings. Holineſs hath in it, a Natnral Tendency to life and peace: It is a Tree of life: Grace and Glory grow from the ſame Root: Salvation is the End of Faith; the Flower that grows upon it.Iſa. 32. 1…. The Work of Righteouſneſs is Peace, and the Effect thereof, Q…ietneſs and Aſſurance for ever. It is ſometimes called, The Way of life, Prov. 12. 28. Sometimes the fountain and well-ſpring of life Chap 14. 27. And it tendeth to life,Rom 11. 16. Chap. 19, 22. For, if the Root be holy, the bran…hes cannot be otherwiſe.
'Tis ſo likewiſe with Sin: Death follows Sin, not onelyonly as a puniſhment for delinquency, but as its natural off-ſpring: Original corruption is the Root;Pro. 23. 29, 30. Sin, the Stalk that grows next upon it; and Death the finiſhing, or full corn in the ear: This pedigree of it, ye have in James, Chap. 1. 14, 15. If there were no Juſtice to Revenge Sin, Sin would be vengeance to it ſelf: Sinners lie in wait for their own blood, Pro. 1. 18.Pro. 13. 21. It is their own wickedneſs that corrects them, Jer. 2. 19. The way of Sin inclineth to death, and its footſteps to the Dead: Ch 2. 18. Ch. 5. 5.Its ſteps take hold on …ell. Ʋnbelief may be an inſtance for all; as out of which, all Sins elſe are derived: This was the Root of Adam's apoſtacy;Num. 14. 11. Rom. 11. 20. Heb. 3. 12. and of all that Peoples Rebellions in the Wilderneſs. Faith is that which holds the Soul to God, its life and bleſſedneſs; Ʋnbelief, its departing from Him; or the letting go of its hold; the looſing of the knot; upon which the Soul falls off of its own accord: And the firſt ſtep from God, ſets in a way of Death; As a branch breaking off from its Stock, dies of itſelf. This was Adam's unbelief; In all Men ſince, it is a Refuſing to Return.
This Doctrine is ſtill further confirm'd by the general unanimous conſent and affirmation of Thoſe beſt able to Judge:Arg. 7. (1.) They aſſert it; Job, a Man of great Wiſdom and integrity, (Not his like in all the Earth, Job 1. 8.) and none ſo ſorely afflicted; yet, ſayes Elihu to him, (by way of Counſel; as what himſelf would do in the like caſe) I will aſcribe Righteouſneſs to my Maker, Job 36. 3. And, Surely God will not pervert Iudgement, Chap. 34. 12. God is known (i. e. He is known to be God) by the Judgements which He executeth, Pſal. 9. 16. The Lord is Ʋpright; there is no Ʋnrighteouſneſs in Him, Pſal. 92. 15. He loveth Righteouſneſs and hateth Iniquity, Pſal. 45. 6, 7. The Scepeer of his Kingdome is a Right Scepter, ver. 6. Righteouſneſs and Judgement are the habitation of His Throne. Pſ 97. 2. Deut. 32 4. Rev 19. 2.That True and Righteous are his Judgements, is the voice of thoſe in Heaven.
(2) They ſubmit to it, even then when moſt provoked by Mens injurious dealings with them for His ſake; and when the Lord's own hand hath been moſt ſevere towards them: Aaron held his Peace, Levit. 10. 3. It is the Lord (ſaith Eli) let Him d…as ſeemeth Him good: 1 Sam. 3. 18. 2 K. 20 19.Hezekiah alſo, Good is the word of the Lord. Yea, they have done thus, when by the light of natural Reaſon they could ſee no reaſon for it: Witneſs Job; who, when plundred of all, becauſe he feared God and eſchewed evill; and could juſtifie himſelf to the height, as to any hypocriſy:Job 9. 15. yet ſayes he, I will make ſupplication to my Iudge. Look on our Lord and Saviour Himſelf, and ſee His confeſſion; Our fathers cried unto thee and were delivered; But I, Pſ 222. 4.though day nor night I am not ſilent, Thou heareſt me not: How does He cloſe His complaint? Not, Thou dealeſt mor… hardly with Me who leſs have deſerved it, but [Thou art Holy.] Jeremy, indeed, began to object, becauſe the way of the wicked proſpered, and they were happy that dealt treacherouſly: But, he preſently bethinks himſelf; withdrawes his plea and yields the cauſe;Ier. 12. 1. Bighteous art thou O Lord, when I plead with thee. I might inſtance the Suffrage, even of wicked Men; and of the moſt obdurate among them; whoſe Conſciences, at times, have enforced their confeſſion of this Truth; and the teſtimony of an Adverſary proves ſtrongly. … haraoh ſubſcribes to it; The Lord is Righteous, I and my People are wicked. Exod. 9. 27.As alſo doth Adonibezek, and Saul, Judg. 1. 7. 1 Sam. 24. 17; 19.
(3) The Saints triumph in the Righteouſneſs of God (as well they may) and call upon others to do the like; The Lord Reigneth, Let the Earth rejoyce: Pſal. 93. 97. 99. O, Let the Nations be glad and ſing for joy; Pſ. 67. 4. Pſ. 96. 11, 13.For thou ſhalt judg the People Righteouſly: Let the Heavens rejoyce, and the Earth be glad before the Lord; For, He cometh, For He cometh to judge the Ear…h, Rom. 53.&c. And hence it was, that Paul and the reſt of them, though the preſent ſenſe of their ſuffering, was grievous; yet they gloried in them; And Rejoyced greatly, in hopes of that Glory,2 Tim. 4. 8. and Crown of Righteouſneſs, which God, as a Righteous Judge, had prepared for them.
Eightly;Arg. VIII. The Righteouſneſs of God is yet further illuſtrated, by The End and Event of his darkeſt diſpenſations. Iſa. 10. 22. The conſumption decreed ſhall overflow with Righteouſneſs; and Nothing elſe ſhall be in it: His people, though long under oppreſſion, He brought them forth at laſt, with the greater Subſtance: His leading them about in the Wilderneſs, as it were in a Maze, fourty years together; and bringing them back again to the place they had bin at, many yeares afore;Pſ. 107. 7. yet it proved to be the Right way, And it was for their good in the latter end.Deut. 8. 16.
Davids long perſecution by Saul, made him the fitter for the Kingdom; and adapted him for the Office of principal Secretary to the Great King; opportunely acquainting him with all the affairs of the heavenly State and Councel, that are fit to be known of men: And by his hand and experience, they are Firmed to us; and this amongſt the Reſt, Bleſſed is the Man whom Thou chaſteneſt, Pſ. 94. 12.and teacheſt him out of thy Law. We ſee it alſo, by the end the Lord made with Job; Job 23. 10. 42. 12.He brought him forth like gold, and doubled His bleſſings upon him: The Basket of good figs, were ſent into captivity for their good: Jer. 24. 5. Phil. 1. 19Paul's afflictions turn'd to his Salvation: Even Chriſt himſelf, whoſe temptations, ſorrows, and ſufferings where ſuch, as never were known by Men;Heb. 2. 17, 18. they were intended, and accordingly did, perfect and inable Him for His Office of Mediator.
Laſtly,Arg. IX. Conſider the Elect, thoſe precious Soules whom the Lord had loved from everlaſting; and determin'd to bring them to Glory: yet, having ſinn'd, Not one of them ſhall enter there, without ſatisfaction firſt given to His Juſtice:Ro 3. 26. Heb. 6. 20. with Ch. 9. 12, 23 Even Theſe, He will not Juſtifie, but in ſuch a way, as to be Juſt in ſo doing: The Mercy-Seat it ſelf muſt be ſprinkled with blood: Eſpecially, conſider Chriſt himſelf, the Firſt Elect and Head of all the Reſt, and the Compact made with Him; Who, though he were a Son, His Beloved Son, In whom his Soul delighted; yet if he will undertake for Sinners, He muſt ſtand in their ſtead;Iſa. 53. 4, 5. All their Sins muſt meet upon Him, and He muſt bear the puniſhment due to them: It was not poſſible That Cup ſhould paſs from him; No, though He ſought it with ſtrong cryes and tears; and that of Him that was able to Save Him, who alſo loved Him as His own Soul: He was not, He might not be Releaſed, until He had paid the utmoſt Mite. For, albeit That Grace is perfectly Free to Men, in Pardoning and Saving of them; yet Juſtice muſt be ſatisfied, and Chriſt was 'bated Nothing. This laſt unparalleld Inſtance, and high Indication of Incomparable Juſtice, doth greatly illuſtrate the point in hand, Namely, That our Great and Sovereign Lord cannot but do Right.
Inferences from the Righteouſneſs of God.
Inference 1.
Firſt, May this Doctrine prove an Eternal blaſt, to the vain and preſumptuous Confidence of impenitent Sinners; Who,Eccles. 8. 11. becauſe vengeance is not ſpeedily executed, have their hearts fully bent and ſet in them to do evil: Becauſe the Lord at preſent holds His peace,Iſ. 50. 21. they think He is like Themſelves, &c. Let them certainly know, that He is able to deal with them: And further, That His Righteouſneſs obligeth Him to vindicate Himſelf:Exod. 34. 7. He will by no means clear the Guilty, Nor be alwayes ſilent: Though ſlow, yet Sure; and ſtrikes home at laſt:Pſ 2. 5. He will ariſe to Judgement, and ſet their ſins i… order before them; and Reckon with them for all the hard ſpeeches, which they (ungodly Sinners) have utter'd againſt Him: The Sight whereof ſhall ſtrike their trembling Souls (notwithſtanding their ſtoutneſs Now) with horror and amazement; and make even all their Bowels ready to guſh out:Pſ. 68. 21. He will wound the hairy Scalp (the proud and preſumptuous head) of every one that goes on in his wickedneſs: A Dart ſhall ſtrike through his Liver, Pro. 7. 23. Job, 15. 26.and down with him to Hell, the Nethermoſt hell, in a moment. Why then will you run againſt the thick Boſſes of his Bucklers? Isa. 33. 14and ſet Briers and Thorns in array, againſt a Devouring▪ flame? Can dry'd Stubble dwell with Everlaſting burnings? Job, 9. 4.Did ever any harden himſelf againſt God and proſper? Ch. 27. 8.No, nor never ſhall? Where will his hope be, when God taketh away his Soul! Therefore take up betimes,Pſ. 46. 10 leave off and know that He is God.
Inference. 2.
Secondly, Let this Doctrine for ever vindicate the holy and good wayes of God, (both Thoſe he walks in towards us, and thoſe He commands us to walk in towards Him) from all thoſe ſenſeleſs Imputations of Harſhneſs, Moroſeneſs, Nicety, Preciſeneſs, or what ever elſe the prophaneneſs or Ignorance of Men can tax them with: For: as it is ſaid, ſo it is found, by the certain and fober experience of all that fear Him, and (againſt ſuch experience, no Reaſoning is to be admitted) I ſay, 'tis a General Infallible Experiment, That all the wayes of Wiſdom are pleaſantneſs to him that walks in them: which argues, That thoſe who think otherwiſe, are ignorant of them; and therefore not competent Judges. 'Tis granted, indeed, That thoſe whoſe hearts are in theſe good wayes of God, have their ſteps too often turn'd aſide, and go haltingly in them: But in Truth, the Fault is not in the Way, but in the Men: There is ſome Fracture in their bones, or diſlocation of Joynts; Something is out of order. A Creeple will limp in Solomon's Porch, (on the ſmootheſt pavement) when one that is ſound, (winde and Limb) will Run and leap upon Craggy ground. The Law and our hearts were once at perfect agreement; the diſcord came in by our voluntary ſwerving from our firſt Make. Therefore, admit not the leaſt Motion, that looks but awry on the Commands or Diſpoſements of God; but Juſtifie them to the height, and take ſhame to your ſelf, as Paul himſelf did, The Commandment is holy, but I am Carnal. Ro. 7. 12.
Inference 3.
Thirdly, If the Lord cannot but do Right, Then let us all take heed of ſin, which the Holineſs and Juſtice of God are ſo inexorably bent againſt, He will not Pardon without ſatisfaction: Yea, Beware of Little Sins, (Little, I mean, in eſteem with Men, or in compariſon of ſome others) Your Nearneſs to God will not excuſe you: You have I known [therefore] you will I puniſh: Amos, 3. 2. Num. 20. 10, 12Even Moſes his ſervant, for once ſpeaking unadviſedly, was ſhut out of Canaan; and though he would fain have gon into that good land, and ſolicited the Lord much about it, as if he would have no Denial; yet the Lord would not hear him; Speak no more to Me of this Matter. To make light of the leaſt ſin becauſe Grace abounds, is to ſin againſt your own ſoule; and to make the precious blood of Chriſt a Common thing; (the leaſt is the price of blood) Although He love thee, and that ſo, as Never to take His loving kindneſs from thee; yet He will not let thee go altogether unpuniſhed: Yea, the Lord may hide from thee the ſenſe of His love, and Make thee feel His, diſpleaſure even to the breaking of thy bones, &c. For, He muſt diſcountenance ſin; and that for our good, aſwell as to Vindicate the honour of His Righteouſneſs.
Inference. 4.
Fourthly, You that acknowledge God's Uprightneſs, and profeſs to be His Children, Convince the World of the truth of your Principles by your practiſe: Shew yourſelves to be His Off-ſpring, by your likeneſs to Him: Do Iuſtly, love Mercy, Phil. 2. 15.Walk humbly; To be blameleſs and harmleſs and without Rebuke, is your beſt Argument to Refute the World's calumnies; and to prove your ſelves to be the ſons of God. Shew it alſo, by your juſtifying God, even whiles He wraps Himſelf in a Cloud, Iob, 22. 14.and His Footſteps are not known.
Inference. 5.
Fifthly, Then let None Stumble at preſent Adminiſtrations, Nor admit of a ſiniſter or ſuſpitious thought,Iſa: 10. 22. touching this Holy Lord God: The Reaſon of His Wayes, may be unknown, cannot be unjuſt: He ſees through the dark cloud, though you and I cannot. We know, the Lord doth not afflict willingly; and His people are, in heavyneſs but for a ſeaſon,1 Pet 1. 7, Job 34. 31. and if need be: Then ſurely, 'Tis meet to be ſaid unto God, I have borne Chaſtiſement; (i. e. My Sin procur'd it for me, and I have no cauſe to complain) I will offend no more. Job 33. 23, 24.Acknowledge his, uprightneſs, and he will be Gracious unto thee. And do it, when thou canſt not ſee the Reaſon of His Judgments, nor their Tendency; Eccles. 3. 14.taking it ſtill for a Rule, That all the wayes of God are perfect; Nothing can be put to them; Nor any thing taken from them. 'Twas a good Re…olution in Job, Job 9. 15. Job 13 15.That though he were Righteous, yet would he not anſwer God; but make ſupplication to his Judge: And though he ſhould ſlay him, yet will he truſt in Him: And this he would do, even whiles he thought he might maintain his own wayes before Him.
Be Patient therefore:Jam. 5. 7. Pſ. 9. 8. Tbe coming of the Lord draweth nigh; who will judge the World with Righteouſneſs: Let neither the wickeds proſperity, nor the daily Chaſtenings of His own People,Pſ 73 17. be an offence to thee: Go up into the Sanctuary of God; There thou ſhalt know the end. It ſhall not alwaies be carried thus; There will be a Reckoning, for the good things they had in their life time: when thoſe that have lived in pleaſure, will wiſh that their Souls had been in thy Souls ſtead, under all its preſſures; And it ſhall be no grief of heart to thee, to remember thy Morta' and momentany ſufferings; Rom 8. 18. Heb. 12. 11.when thou …eeſt ſuch peaceable …ruits of Righteouſneſs brought forth thereby: When thou ſhalt be wrapt up, with an holy amazement, and ſhalt ſay in thy heart,Iſa 49. 21. Ch. 60. I loſt my Children and was deſolate; A Captive and Removing to and fro; (had no abiding place) who hath begotten me theſe! Whence came they! What root ſprang they from!2 Cor. 4. 17 My Light afflictions were not worthy to be compared with this Glory! He'l never repent that he ſowed in tears, who brings home his Sheafs with ſuch Joy. But, as you go along to this your bleſſed home, and ſweet Place of Eternal Reſt;Eccleſ 8. 12, 13 it may be worth the while to Ruminate ſuch Scriptures as theſe; Though a Sinner do evil an hundred times, and his dayes be prolonged (he goes unpuniſhed) yet ſurely it ſhall be Well with them that fear God; But it ſhall not be Well with the wicked: Pſ 58. 11.Verily, There is a Reward for the Righteous; Verily He is a God who judgeth in the Earth, And His judgement is according to Truth; Rom. 2. 2.And bleſſed are they that wait for Him, Iſa. 30. 18.
Inference 6.
Laſtly, All the Objections that are levied and brought againſt the Doctrine of Election (as to the Abſoluteneſs, Perſonality, and Eternity of it) The Peculiarity of Redemption; The Efficaeious Predominance of Grace in Calling; And Believers invincible Perſeverance in Faith and Holineſs; Would all be disbanded and ſent to their own Place, Were but this One Truth, (which none, in words, will deny) truly believ'd and Receiv'd in Love; viz. That God hath an abſolute Right of Dominion over His Creatures, to diſpoſe and Determine of them, as ſeemeth Him good; and that, In the Doing thereof, He cannot but do Right,
And ſo I come to the Matter firſtly intended.