The Way of Life, Treatises 1 · Treatise 6
ZACH. 12.12.
And the Land shall mourne.
NOw we are to speak of the mourning and repentance of a gracious heart, here amplified by a double argument: First, by an adjunct of greatnesse, ver. 11. amplified by the greatest, both domesticall and publike, mourning; as the mourning of Hadadrimmon, for the death of Iosiah.
Now of the second, in which you have this mourning set forth by a distribution of the subjects mourning described formerly by the privacy of it, but that is not all; but also by declaring the divers persons which doe mourn. First, it is said the Land shall mourn, ver. 12. Secondly, the Land more particularly distributed, Families, families, as it is in the Originall. It is translated every Family; and words so doubled, are sometimes put indefinitely, sometimes signifying every Family, and sometimes divers Families apart from others: so that here is described in these words, Families, families, the mourning of divers Families, the mourning of sundry Families together apart from other Families that mourne together, and also included some mourning of every Family apart by themselves, sometimes the Land mourning, sometimes Families, families; sometimes every Family mournes apart by it selfe, and sometimes in those Families, husband and wife doe mourne retiredly one from another, so that here is foure sorts of mourning persons.
The Land shall mourne.] When was it ever known in the dayes of the New Testament, that the whole Land of Israel mourned? I take therefore Calvins answer to the question, and the note is:
Doctrine. The mourning of Gods people in a Land, is the mourning of the whole Land.
God never poured out the spirit of grace upon the whole Land of Israel, no not then when this Prophecy was in a speciall manner accomplished, Acts 2.41. It was poured out upon thousands, Chap. 4, & 6. There was a great multitude beleeved: And Chap. 21.20. Thou seest brother Saul, many thousands of the Iews beleeve; so as they are called the Churches of the Iews, Gal. 1.22. that, is many congregations of the Jews. But yet thus much remember, (as Calvin well notes) the body of the Nation was an untoward generation, Acts 7.51. The bulk and masse of the people was untoward still. They loved to be contrary to the people of God, and yet because there are Families, and they mourne, and sundry Families, they mourn, therefore that which is the act of these divers Families, is accounted the act of the whole Land.
And indeed so farre was this mourning the mourning of the whole Land, as that Zach. 13. three first verses. There is as well publique blessings poured out upon the whole Land, as upon those that did mourne. The Idols were cut off, and the word of God so mightily prevailed, as that those Sects which were wont to delude the people, Scribes, Pharisees, and Sadduces, were blasted in the eyes of all the people, and generally the Gospel had free passage granted to it, by the mighty hand of God upon the people, from one end of the Country to another, yet the whole Land mourns not. It was not an universall mourning of all the Jews in all the Provinces of King Ahasuerus, but of Shushan the Palace, and yet they prevailed with God for the safety of the whole Land, Hest. 4.16, 17 by which was cut asunder all the snares of the Jews, so as before they in the Country knew their danger, they knew their deliverance, or at least the meanes thereof was prepared; and so Daniel being to be cut off, hearing of his danger, he goes to his three companions, and prayes them to put up their prayers to God, and they did so, Dan. 2.17, 18. and presently after hee bids them to blesse God, for their desires were accomplished; by which meanes, not only themselves escaped, but under their shadow the whole Church of God found refreshment. And when Daniel prayed for deliverance out of Captivity, Chap. 9.20. to 23. his prayer was heard, and an Angel sent to take order for the deliverance of the people: to shew you, That when there are some, bee they more or fewer, that unfainedly set themselves, to humble themselves before God, for the publike evils that lie upon themselves, to the danger of the whole Church, God is then wont to looke at it, as an universall mourning, as if the whole Land had mourned.
Reas. 1 Taken from the place, and standing which the people of God have, in the Countries in which they do inhabit; they stand there as the first Fruits of a Nation, Iam. 1.18. Rev. 14.4. Now in the sanctification of the first Fruits, stood the sanctification of the whole Lump, Rom. 11.16. according to that in the Law, Levit. 23.10. When the first Fruits were offered to God, then all the rest was cleane; so in this case, the multitude of a whole land before God, is but as so many severall stalks of the Field, and the severall Families, are but as so many severall sheaves. Now when Gods people draw neare to him, he lookes at it, as if all the Sheaves of the Field had come and bowed before him; so to that their work, is the work of the whole Field.
Reas. 2 Taken from the cause both of this Reason, and the Doctrine it selfe, that is, from the valuation that God hath of his people, where ever they be, his valuation of them in his eternall Counsell. Now in Gods eternall Counsell, thus hee conceives his people; All are not Israel, that are of Israel, but only they who are the Children of the promise, Rom. 9.6, 7. Looke what God promises to Israel, it is chiefly fulfilled to them that are Israelites indeed; And if they goe about to offer up any acceptable sacrifice to God, in Gods accompt, it is as if all Israel had done it.
Reas. 3 Whence it comes to passe, that God made that ancient Covenant with Abraham, and it is the maine tenor of the Covenant, I will give thee for a blessing, &c. Gen. 12.2, 3. Which doth expresse another passage of the like nature, Esay 65.8. One saith, Destroy it not, for a blessing is in it; As if, though there were many branches of the Vine dead, yet if but a cluster of Grapes, the Vine shall not be cut up, till that be gathered: When God shall see his faithfull servants bring forth Clusters of sweet fruits unto him, they shall be a blessing to others; implying, that where ever Gods servants are, because of his Covenant with them, where ever they crave a blessing, and mourne for the want of it, God will provide it shall be stretched forth upon the whole Country they live in.
Reas. 4 From all which comes a fourth Reason, which is taken from an ancient promise which God made to his people, 2 Chron. 7.13, 14. My people that are called by my Name: Who are those? Expounded, Esay 43.7. Thou art called by my name, I have created thee for my glory, &c. ver. 3. These are they whom he hath manifested, and magnified his rich mercy on. In usuall speech you know, none is called by the name of another, but either Children by the name of their Father, either naturall, or adopted, or Wives by the name of their Husbands; now therefore, if Gods espoused and adopted Children shall seeke his face, and humble themselves before him, for what ever distesse lyes upon the place in which they live, hee will heare them.
For further clearing this Point, let me answer this doubt. You say, if the mourning of Gods people in a Land, bee the mourning of a whole Land, how is it then, that they prevaile not with God sometime to save the Land, for which they doe mourn, but sometimes the Land perishes, and onelyonly themselves preserved? As Ezech. 9.4. Set a marke on them that mourne, but utterly slay all the rest; which was accomplished. Ier. 24.5. The basket of good Figs was preserved, but the other was for a prey to Captivity, and the Sword, and Pestilence, and to utter extirpation from the earth; Hence is that you reade, Ezech. 14.14. They shall deliver neither son nor daughter, but themsselves onelyonly. And Ier. 15.1. So that, though sometimes the mourning of Gods people, is accepted for the mourning of the whole Land; yet sometimes, though Clusters of good Families should meet in Gods House, and humble their soules together, for their owne, and their Countries sins; and though there were such among them, as Noah, Daniel, and Iob, men eminent in their generations, for turning away Gods wrath; yea though Moses and Samuel joyned with them, men of renowne; yet though these five Men, and their five Families, and the rest of the good Figs with them, were joyned together to seeke Gods face, yet you see sometimes the case is such, as that God himselfe sweares, they should save neither Child nor Chicken, but onelyonly themselves.
Quest. How then should one conceive this to be true which is here gathered?
Answ. In Gods ordinary estimation of things, the practise of his people, is the Act of the whole State in wch they live; if they be innocent, so is the whole Nation before him; if they be humble, reformed, and upright, such is the whole Nation in his sight; They are the first Fruits of his Creatures, in them the whole lumpe is sanctified; they are precious in his sight, them hee hath made for a blessing; where ever they live, if they seeke him, hee will heare in Heaven, and all the Country shall fare the better for their sakes. But yet two Cases there bee, wherein the mourning of Gods people is not counted the mourning of the whole Land.
First, in case that Gods people themselves be wrapt up in the contagions of the sinnes of the times and places they live in; if they be wrapt up in the common streame of the sins of the times, they will be wrapt up in the fellowship of the calamities of the times, and they will not then bee able to stand in the gap; and though God know how to save their soules from eternall destruction, yet they may bee swallowed up in the common deluge. God would no longer save the old World, when his owne Sons became fleshly, that is, the Children of the Church, with whom God had entred into Covenant, Gen. 6.2. If once they become carnall, as the rest of the World was, then saith God, My Spirit shall not alwayes strive with man, then All flesh had corrupted their way; who though they perished, according to men in the flesh, yet doubtless many of them were saved, 2 Pet. 2.5. and .3.6, 17. When Gods people became carnall, then they are not in case to stand in the gap, but looke as you see, then the bottomes of the great deepes were broken up, and so overwhelmed the whole World; so when the children of Heaven are let loose to all uncleannesse, and the wicked children of the earth are broken loose to all licentiousnesse; in such a case, the Flood may soone overwhelme the face of the earth. And now, no wonder if onelyonly Noah, and eight persons more for his sake, be preserved. Ier. 5.30, 31. Had there beene many horrible things committed, and Gods people but mourned and beene ashamed of them, God would never have looked at it, as such a wonderfull and horrible matter; but when such wickednesse is committed, and my people love to have it so; then what will you doe in the end thereof? What doe you thinke will be the end, when there is none to stand, or lift up his heart or hand to God? nothing will be the end but horrible confusion and destruction.
Secondly, But suppose they should keep themselves intire and spotlesse, as those five Noah, Daniel, &c. And suppose they should save themselves from a froward generation, and have no fellowship with the unfruitfull workes of darknesse, which is the best hope that may bee, that they should so do; yet notwithstanding it may fall out, this mourning will not be accepted for the whole State, and that is, in case they may not bee suffered to mourne for the people, nor themselves neither. But when they thrust themselves into the gap, Families apart, or Congregations apart; when they set themselves against the wrath of God, rather runne themselves into hazard with God and the World, then to have a judgement befall them, and may not bee suffered there to rest; then you must not wonder, if these doe no good, they are throwne out of the gap, which they would have made up, if they might have beene allowed to it; in such a case, though they should mourne abundantly, they should save neither son nor daughter; this you shall find expressed, Esay 59.15, 16. He that sets himeselfe to worke righteousnesse, makes himselfe a prey, and the Lord wondred that there was no Intercessor. Why was there no righteous men there? Yes, But their righteousnesse was their ruine; they were not suffered in their righteousnesse, nor tolerated to be righteous. Now in such a case, there is no Intercessor; this you shall finde in the very case of the Text. Time was, when these Families that mourne now apart, went from house to house, and sought God together, and in so doing, they had favour with all the people, Acts 2.47. and Acts 5.13. Though many people durst not joyne themselves with them, yet they magnified them; and which is more to be observed, when any stirre did arise, all the Governours, and people hearkened to Gamaliel, and let them alone: so that in such a time, when some give good counsell, and the people of God in these duties had favour with all the people, then their mourning is the mourning of the whole Land; but now when the case was thus far altered, when many of them had beleeved, and fell a persecuting their brethren, that were not of the same mind with them, Acts 20.21.23. And when persecution began to arise against Stephen, and others, Acts 8.1. then God began to cut scant with the Land, and then he made a division; he will not make a division so long as they doe comply with them; but if either Gods people fall out with their brethren, or neither higher nor lower persons suffer them, nor favour them, then see what a division Gods makes, Zach. 13.7. it is the prosecution of the Story; Then God begins to sunder them one from another, Two parts shall be destroyed, and a third cast into fire, and they shall learne to call upon the name of the Lord. So that, so long as Gods people keepe themselves free from the pollutions of the time, and mourne for the sinnes of the times, and finde favour in so doing, all that while, all that which is the act of Families, is the act of Countries, Kingdomes, and Nations.
Vse 1 Direction and Instruction, to all the people of God, in any times of the Churches dangers and distresses, what you are to doe: for, if the mourning of Gods people bee the mourning of the whole Land they live in; then, as the people of God shall behave themselves in times of publike dangers, so will the state of things stand. Therefore it is for the servants of God in such times to take these few Rules of practise.
First, bee well acquainted, not onelyonly with your own sins, but be not strangers to the sinnes of the Town and Country you live in.
Secondly, Keep your selves unspotted from these evils, save your selves from the fellowship of them.
Thirdly, Mourn you before the Lord, in regard of them.
Fourthly, And as much as may be, give no occasion of provocation unto other men to disturb you.
These four duties performed will prevent what ever danger our sins justly threaten against us; for when publique sins are committed, should God stay to shew mercy till the generality of the people come before him, there would never be safety in that place; for never was it found, or very rarely, that men in such a case did universally turn to God, when they had provoked him, but therefore God, that looks at his peoples spirits, as the life, pith, and marrow of the Land they live in, he looks at them, and indeed he hath no respect to any Nation under heaven, but for his servants sake that have reference to it; If they be holy, the rest are so in his sight, if they stand in the gap, there is enough to turne away his wrath, if they humble their souls before God, it is an universall reformation, I mean so accepted: Therefore let every Christian family, and every person therein, be well acquainted with the sins of the places they live in, and then save your selves from them; God complaines much that his servants should be so blinde, as not to see the sins of their times, Esay 42.19. Let not Gods servants be disloyall, nor irreverent to uncover the nakednesse of others; but if they see evident transgression of Gods lawes, they must not be blinde, lest that bring a mischiefe upon the place they live in. But when you see them, save your selves from them, Acts 2.40. have nothing to doe with them, be not intangled in the fellowship of their sins; and then be carefull to humble your selves unfainedly before God, and confesse your iniquities, and the iniquities of your Fathers, and whatever lies in your own hands to reforme, be sure that be done, 2 Chron. 7.14. and that will be accepted as if the whole Nation did universally turn unto God. If Gods people shall doe thus, the Lord may yet prevent such judgements as lies heavy upon other Countries; and this Gods people may doe, and neither hurt themselves nor others: so much the more doe we walk humbly before God, by how much the more we see others doe it not; if we would speak and talk lesse, and pray more, we might comfortably expect yet God had some further blessing in store, and that not for our selves onelyonly, but for others also. Complain not therefore of any declension of times, or decayes of things that are good, or breaking in of things that are naught; weary not your selves with sad thoughts in this kinde, (though they ought unfainedly to exercise us) but follow close to a wise and faithfull preservation of our selves from fellowship in these evils, and as much as in us lies, reforme what is amisse in our selves and ours; and let it be a strong motive to us to fall faithfully to this work, because if we shall so doe, such a mourning of a few will be counted the mourning of a whole Land.
How would you know that the Land mourns? why, when Families, Families mourne, some together, and some apart, then the Land mourns. And I know it is of great consequence when Magistrates themselves are given to mourne; A man of authority is of mighty sway before God, Ier. 5.1. Ten common righteous men might have saved Sodome, but one godly Magistrate would doe as much good, as ten private Christians; but if all joyn together, there is so much the more good to be hoped for. Many a man will say, what can such a poore creature as I doe, or such a poore family as mine is, what canst thou doe? Why, doe but what lies in thee to doe, and one coale will kindle another; and then God will set open a fountain for sin and uncleannesse, for such duties sake; and it therefore as ever you would stand as stakes in the hedge, and would make up breaches in Families, Townes, and Countries, live as those that often see the Lord Jesus, and him crucified; mourn you for your owne sins, and that will set Families a work, and a few Families will set others a work, and God may work mightily by this means.
Vse 2 To teach men that have no great will to mourn themselves, yet to be of a loving heart towards those that love not to be better then others, but to mourne for their own and others wants; if you would not be publike incendiaries to a State, then be of a loving affection to those that are mourners in Sion; let them have, if not your fellowship, yet your favour; and so farre as you can counsell others to refraine from these men, as Gamaliels counsell was, Let them alone in their way; and had they so done, Jerusalem had stood to this day. Let the Scribes and Pharisees have taught and wrought as wickedly, and as hypocritically as before, yet had they refrained themselves from hurting the Christians, they had prevented the mighty power of the Romane Armies: As ever therefore men would be friendly to the State they live in; learne to be praying Christians: you say you cannot doe that, but cannot you favour them that are willing to doe so? those that pray and mourn, doe not you thrust them out of the gap, let them lie there, their mourning need not make you sad, take you the comfort, and let them have the mourning, and so shall you doe much good service to the place you live in, and to the whole body of Christendome; for it never fares ill with any place where Gods people dwell, if they keep themselves unspotted, and are but suffered to mourne; and therefore doe but the servants of God this favour, Draw them not unto evill, for if you corrupt them, the judgement of God will fall upon you together: what ever you doe your selves, defile not them, for if they should be polluted, there is none to stand in the gap for you; and it is but a small request, they ask no great matters at your hands, give them but leave to mourn when they see occasion; and then God hath said, I will blesse them that blesse thee, though a man cannot blesse himselfe, yet he may hold off his hands from touching them that would blesse you.
Vse 3 Of strong consolation to Gods people, as they finde themselves to grow up unto a spirit of mourning; if though to day thou canst rejoyce and be glad, yet if occasion serve, thou canst mourne to morrow, then blesse God, be not without a spirit of mourning upon any occasion, that you may be fit to stand in the gap, so shall you be instruments of publique good in the place where you live.