Two Treatises, Chapter 3
CHAP. III.
Opening and confirming the second Proposition, viz. That Gods own people are much concerned in, and ought to be suitably affected with, those Iudgments that befal the Nation wherein they live.
SECT. I.
IF Gods people have no concernment in these things, why are they called upon in this Text, to run into their chambers, hide themselves, and shut their doors, till the indignation be overpast? Certainly though God hath better provided for them than others, yet they are two ways concerned in these cases as much as others. Viz.
Account.
1. Upon a Political
2. Upon a Religious
1. Upon a Political account, as they are members of the community, and so are equally concerned in the good or evil that befal the Nation in which they live, their Cabbins must follow the fate of the Ship in which they Sail, their Lives, Liberties, Estates, and Interest sink and swim with the publick. The good figs were carried away with the bad, Ier. 24. 5. In these outward respects it often times bears as hard upon the righteous as upon the wicked. Ezek▪ 21. 3. I will draw forth my sword out of his Sheath and will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked. In these outward respects as it is with the good, so with the sinner, Eccles. 9. 2. The same fire that burns the dry tree, oftentimes burns the green tree too. Ezek. 20. 47. Gr…ce is above all hazards, but creature enjoyments and comforts are not. The sins of the Sodomites involve not only their own houses and estates, but Lots also, in the ruine and overthrow; wicked men often fare the better for the company of the godly, and the godly often fare the worse for the company of the wicked.
And it is not to be wondered at, if we consider that even the Saints themselves have an hand in the provocation of these judgments, as well as others, Deut. 32. 19. And when the Lord saw it he abhorred them, because of the provoking of his sons and of his daughters. We have contrihuted to the common heap guilt, and therefore must justifie God if we partake with others in the common calamity.
2. They are greatly concerned in such judgments upon a Religious and Christian account, for it is usual for the floud of Gods judgments not only to sweep away our civil and natural, but our spiritual and best enjoyments and comforts. Thus the Ordinances of God ceased in Babylon, and there the faithful bewailed their misery upon that account, Ps. 137. per totum; we wept when we remembred thee, O Zion. Not only Israel flies, but the Ark is taken prisoner by the enemy, 1 Sam. 4. 11. And you find the people of God more deeply concerned upon this account, than for all their outward losses and other sufferings, Zeph. 3. 18. I will gather them of thee that are sorrowful for the Solemn assemblies, to whom the reproach of it was aburthen. For by how much our souls are more excellent than our bodies, and the concerns of Eternity over ballance those of time; by so much more are we concerned in the loss of our spiritual, more than of our temporal mercies and enjoyments.
Grace indeed cannot be lost, but the means and instruments by which it is begotten may; the golden candlestick is one of the moveables in Gods house, Rev. 2. 5.
Thus you see a twofold concernment that the people God have in the effects of National Judgments.
SECT. II.
THis being So, how should all that fear God be affected with the appearances and signs of his indignation? So was David, Psal. 119. 120. My flesh trembleth for fear of thee, and I am afraid of thy judgments. He that feared not a Bear, a Lyon, a Goliah, yet trembleth at Gods judgments. So did Habakkuk, chap. 3. v. 16. When I heard, my belly trembled, my lips quivered at the voice, rottenness entred into my bones. Expressions denoting the deepest seizures of fear and greatest consternations; not that I would perswade you to such slavish fear, or unchristian dejection, as it is not only sinful in it self, but the cause and inlet of many other sins: But to a due sense both of the evils of misery that will befal the Nation when Gods indignation comes upon it; and the evils of sin that have incensed it; and to such a fear of both as may seasonably awaken us to the use of all preventing remedies. And first,
1. O that all would lay to heart the National miseries that Gods indignation threatens upon us. It is said, Psal. 107. 34. A fruitful land is turned into barrenness for the wickedness of them that dwell therein. It was long since told England by one of its faithful watchmen.** Mr. Strong. The Nation and Church▪ in which we are, is the common Ship in which we are all embarked, and if this in judgment be cast away, whether dashed against the rocks of any Foreign power, or swallowed up in the quicksands of Domestick divisions, it must needs hazard all the Passengers: Or if you were sure, that for your parts you might be safe; would it not be a bitter thing, to stand upon the shore, and see such a glorious vessel as this Nation is, to be cast away? To see this glorious Land defaced, the blessed Gospel polluted, the golden candlestick removed, it cannot but affect men that have any bowels.
Or if this move you not, yet to see a stranger to Lord it in thy habitation, and thy dwelling place to cast thee out; for your delightsome dwellings, your fruitful pleasant and well tilled fields to be made a prey; for you to sow, and another to reap Impius has segetes; for the delicate woman upon whom the wind must not blow, to be exposed to the lust and cruelty of an enemy, and be glad to fly away naked to prolong a miserable life, which they would be glad to part with for death, were it not for fear of the exchange. For the tender Mother to look upon the Child of her womb; and consider, must this child in whom I have placed the hope of my age; for,
Omnis in Ascanio stat chari cura parentis;
He that hath been so tenderly bred up, must he fall into the rough hands of a bloudy Souldier, skilful to destroy. It had been well for me if God had given me dry breasts, or a miscarrying womb, rathan to bring forth children unto murtherers; or if you might be safe, how could you endure to see the miseries that should come upon your people, and the destruction of your kindred.
Thus far he▪ But alass! What security have any of us as to our earthly comforts from the common calamity? We may please our selves as Baruch did, Ier 45. 4, 5. and dream of exemption, but by so much the greater will our distress be, when it shall surprise us.
2. You that are the people of God ought to be deeply affected with the spiritual miseries that threaten us in the day of Gods indignation: do you consider what the removing the Candlestick out of its place is? A departing Gospel, the going down of the Sun upon the Prophets, the loss of your sweet Sabbaths, and Gospel Feasts, and the gross darkness of Popery to fill the earth: O it is hard parting with these things, it's said, 1 Sam. 7. 2. when the Ark was removed, that all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord. Pity your own Souls, and be deeply affected with the misery of others, the poor Christless world, who are like to perish for want of Vision, Prov. 29. 18. In the Year 1072, saith Matthew Par…s, Preaching was suppressed at Rome, and then Letters were framed by some as coming from hell; in which the Devil gives them thanks for the multitude of Souls sent to him that year.
3. But especially labour to affect your hearts with the sins that have incensed Gods indignation: So did the Saints in Ierusalem, Ezek. 9. 4. they sighed and mourned for all the abominations committed in it. So did Lot, 2 Pet. 2. 7. He vexed his righteous soul from day to day. So did David, Psal. 119. 136. Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because men kept not thy law. O who that loves God can refrain tears, to see the God of pity, the God of tender mercies, a father full of bowels of compassion, so incensed and provoked to indignation! Oh it is an heartmelting consideration where there is any ingenuity. If our afflictions grieve God to the heart as it doth Iudg. 10. 16. Our souls should be grieved for his dishonour.
4. To conclude, get upon your hearts such a sense of Gods indignation as may quicken you to the use of preventing duties. So Amos 4. 12. Because I will do this prepare to meet thy God, O Israel. So the Prophet, Zeph. 2. 1, 2. Gather your selves together before the decree bring forth. It was Moses his honour to stand in the breach, Psal. 106. 23. And Abrabam's to plead so with God, though he did not prevail.