Directions and Instigations to the Duty of Prayer, Sermons · Sermon 8
SERMON VIII.
Micah 6. 9.
The Lords voice cryeth unto the City, and the man of Wisdom shall see thy Name, hear ye the Rod, and who hath appointed it.
IT is a question that is hard to determine, whether the greatnesse of God, or the condescendancy of God, be the greatest mystery; …t O! when both these are put together, they …ke up a matchlesse mystery. What is more …eadfull then power which cannot be resisted? …d what is more terrible than wisedom from …hich nothing can be hid? And yet what is more …eet, than the love wherewith he hath loved …, and the unchangeablenesse thereof which …oth cut off all suspition? I would only say this …o you, God hath been speaking to you di…se wayes, and by different things, and as the …postle speaks, There are many voices in the …rld, and every voice hath its own signification. … I may say, there is not a voice by which God speaks to you, that needs to be a Barb… rian speaking in an unknown tongue.
I confesse it is sad, that when God cond… scends to speak unto us in so many differe… wayes, that there should be so many whic… should stop their ears; are there not some … whom Christ hath piped, and they have n… danced? And now he is beginning to mourn … you, and Oh will ye not lament? I would s… this to you, the day may be approaching, wh… Glasgows rods shall be preachers, and its cross… Teachers from the Lord. Yea, God is begi… ning to preach that word to you, which is … Jer. 2. 31. O generation, see the word of t… Lord, &c. If ye will not hearken to God, in t… voice and mouth of his Preachers, he will se… a more severe Preacher unto you; and ye sha… be forced to hear his voice. I say, look that t… contempt of Christ in his Rods, in his Ord… nances, and in his offers, make not this pla… an Aceldama, a field of blood, and a Golgo… the place of dead mens skuls. I say to you, t… day may be approaching when yee shall me… with these six silent things from God. Fi… when ye shall meet with silent rods, when y… shall not know nor understand the language … them, when they shall speak to you in stran… and profound language which you shall not … derstand. Secondly, when ye shall meet with silent God, when you shall cry to him and … will not hear you: Thirdly, when you sh… meet with silent and dumb Ordinances whi… shall not speak unto you. Fourthly, when … shall meet with silent mercies, that all the go… things he doth unto you, ye shall not kno… the language of them. Fifthly, when you sha… …eet with the sad lot of a silent conscience, when ye shall not be reproved by it, when ye …, but God shall give you leave to …ll and de…art, and not to return. And lastly, when ye …all meet with silent commands, with silent …eatnings, and with silent promises, that is, … shall never know what the promise cals for, …hat the threatnings cals for, nor what the …ommands cals for, when he shall chasti…e you … the dark, and there shall be none to deliver …ou, and when there shall be none to plead …our cause, but a sin revenging God entering …he lists with you, when he shall say to them …hat are left, do not pray for this people, not …ceed for them, for they are the people up… whom I will have no mercy: I may say by …ll appearance, our judgement doth speak this. …e hath spoken to us in the still voice of the …ospel, and he hath spoken to us in the whirle…d, and yet he is in none of them: But what …ow ye but God may the next time speak to …u closing himself in a circle of …ir…: I have …ometimes spoken that word to you, awake, …ake, O sleepers, and call upon your God.
But to come to the words, in this Chapter …he Prophet hath been leading a sad processe against this people, for the neglect of duties which were lying at the door, and now we have in this verse the conclusion of it, the scope whereof is this, shewing the people that the Lord would send a more sharp message if they will not obey. And in it there are four things considerable.
First, we have an excellent exhortation given to hear the Rod, and by it, is not only meaned to take up what the Rod speaks, but also, Who hath appointed it.
Secondly, There is that excellent Consideration to presse them unto it, it is the Lord voice, we may say that of the rod which wa… said of Herod in another sense, it is the voice … God and not of man.
Thirdly, We have the people to whom th… Exhortations is given; and it is unto the City that is, to Samaria, and to the bordering tow… thereabout, now the reason why the Lords voi… cryeth unto the City rather than to the Countrey, the reason of it is either this, the City ordinarly hath most eminent tokens of the me… cies and respects of God, which being abused makes God especially to contend with them or else because of this, ordinarly most prophenity is broached within the City, and do… vent it self thence into the Country, accordi… to that word which is spoken of Jerusalem that from it Prophanity goes out into the Coun… or whole land.
The fourth thing in the words, is the persons that will hear the voice of the rod, or th… Lords voice, and it is, The man of wisdom sh… see thy Name, or as the words may be rendered the man of substance, or of substantial wisdom which speaks, that it is one of the greatest fo… lies that is imaginable not to hear the voice o… the Lord and his, threatning rod.
The last thing in the words, is the way h… the man of wisdom winnes to the right us… making and understanding the voice of the ro… and it is by seeing his Name; now by the Nam… of God may be either understood, the seeing … the Authority of God in his threatnings; or by the Name of God may be understood, His wisdom, His peace, His power, His justice, His so…raignity, and His holinesse, the man of wis…om shall see these five excellent Attributes of God shining into the Rod, and in every sad dis…ensation which he meets with, and the reason …using that expression, he shall see, is to point …ot these certain and distinct discoveries which …e man of wisdom shall have by such a crosse.
Now having thus made plain the words un…o you, there are three things which we shall …eak a little unto from the scope, before wee …me to the first thing in the words.
The first thing which we shall take notice of …om the scope, is this, That the slighting of …own duties is the fore runner of some sad …nd lamentable stroak from the Lord upon a …erson or people, these things which they know …o be duties, and yet they slight and disobey …hem, I say it is the fore-runner of some sad and …minent act of the displeasure of God to a per…on or people. This is clear, Luke 12. 47. That …ervant which knoweth his lords will, and prepares not himself, neither doth according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. And that word in Jer. 5. 5. I will get me unto the great men, and will speak unto them, for they have known the way of the Lord; and the judgement of their God, &c. yet it is said of these, they have altogether broken the yoke, and burst the bonds: And what followes? vers. 6. Wherefore a Lion out of the Forrest shall stay them. Rom, 1. 21. 26. where they professed themselves to know, And yet they glorified him not as God. This is given as a reason, That he gave them up to a reprobate mind, to do things not convenient. It is probable the impiety and prophanity of a people is come to a wonderful height, when they can sin agai… light and knowledge. Now in speaking of th… more fully, I shall speak to some aggravatio… of the sin of slighting known duties.
The first Aggravation is, when a perso… slights duty after the sinfulness of that sin hat… been discovered unto him, and engrven on hi… conscience; O that is a mighty aggravation o… that sin: This is clear, Hos. 5. 2. And the revolters are profound to make slaughter, though I hav… been a rebuker of them all. Nehem. 9. 29. an… have testified against them, yet they dealt proudly and hearkned not to thy commandments, but sinne… against thy judgments. I confesse, sinning against convictions of conscience (especially when they are sharp) is a greater sin than to sin against light, this is indeed to sin with a lifted up hand, and not to blush, nor be ashamed, nor yet to be afraid to commit iniquity. Know now therefore, there are many here that slight known duties notwithstanding of light, and the convictions of conscience which they have had for doing so: I would only say to that person, be afraid and stand in awe lest the day may be approaching, when God shall cease to be a reprover unto you, and the reinyies shall be laid on your own neek, and you shall be as a wild Asse snuffing up the wind.
The second Aggravation of slighting known duties, is when a person slights known duties after God hath been discovering discontent with another person for that sin, when we see the justice of God overtaking another person for slighting of a known duty, and yet the person which stands beside, is not afraid to persist in the same sin. This is clear, Jer. 3. 8. And I saw, when for all these causes whereby back-sliding Israel committed adultery, I had put her away, and give her a bill of divorce: yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the Harlot also. As if he had said, though Judah have beheld what I have done to Israel for her whoorish carriage, yet notwithstanding of this, she went and played the harlot also. I confesse this is a greater aggravation than the former, and it speaks that such a sinner (in a manner) hath given a de…iance to the justice of God, and hath cryed out (in a manner) I care not what God will do, I will do my pleasure.
The third Aggravation of the sin of flighting known duties, is, when persons flights known duties after God hath begun to contend with them for so doing, this is a mighty aggravation of sin, as is clear, Isa. 57. 17. For the iniquity of his covetousnesse was I wroth, and smot… him: I hid me and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart. After a person hath had the Rod shaken over his head, and hath drunk something of the justice of God for …ighting such a duty, yet to persist in it, O that is a scarlet and mighty transgression, and yet are there not many here who are such?
The fourth Aggravation of flighting known duties, is, when a person slights known duties upon very smal temptations, is not this certain, a word of a temptation, the half of a word; yea, the very nod of a temptation will put us from the doing of known duties? Yea, sometimes we will be glad of a temptation to divert us from the exercise of duties; yea, sometimes it is known, when temptations are not present to divert us from the exercise of known duties, we will go forth and seek a temptation. I confesse the devil needs not to be at much pains i… these dayes, there is many which gives the devil work and imployment, yea, and if he see… not them, they will seek him!
The fifth Aggravation of the sin of slighting known duties, is, when persons does not so much as set about well doing of them, that is … great aggravation, this is clear, Luke 12. 47. He that knowes his masters will, and doth it not, neither doth prepare himself to do it, is worthy of double stripes. He will not take pains to prepare his heart for duty, that is a mighty aggravation: Some they are content to be under their setters as though they were bound of God, some they are content to live under their convictions as though it were impossible for them to answer them; and they say there is no hope.
The sixth Aggravation of slighting known duties, is, when a person slights duties after God hath commended the beauty and excellency of such duties; that is no doubt a great aggravation, as when God doth commend prayer, and discovers the beauty thereof to a Christian, O then it is a sad and lamentable thing for that person to sit down and slight his duty, that is (as it were) to slight prayer when it hath on all its ornaments.
A seventh Aggravation is, of slighting known duties, is when persons slight duties after they have been convinced of the advantage which waits upon the doing of them: Are there not some that slight prayer, notwithstanding they have been convinced that prayer hath been unto them a mount tabor in which they have seen Christ transfigured? some they will slight prayer, after they have been convinced that prayer hath been the trysting-place betwixt Christ and them, and after they have been convinced that prayer hath been as the top of mount Pisgah, on which they have gotten a view of the promised land, O that is a notable aggravation of slighting of known duties, when the person hath this to say, Now I am slighting my own advantage?
There is this last Aggravation, when a person slights known duties, yet with very little resentment and grief of heart: Are there not many that have slighted their morning prayer here to day, and yet not have convictions therefore? And are there not many persons here to day, that oftentimes goeth to bed without saying their prayers, and yet have as much peace of conscience as if they had done it? I think a person hath gone a great length in hardness of heart, when he can slight known duties, and yet not be grieved; yea, and it is a token that they have not only to do with a hardned conscience, but with a hardned will: Are there not many persons that notwithstanding of the slighting of known duties, yet never had a broken heart therefore? Doth not the misbeliever slight the commandement of faith, and yet not weep for it? Doth not the secure Christian slight the commandement of prayer, and yet not be grieved therefore? Doth not the presumptuous sinner slight self examination, and yet is not much grieved? And doth not the dissolute sinner that is under the power of his idols slight the commandement of mor…ification, and yet not have a sore heart for it?
Now the second thing which I shall speak from the scope, is, I shall propose some considerations to presse you to the exercise of all known duties.
The first Consideration, it is the Christian which practises, and not the Christian which knoweth, to whom the promises are made: Would ye know the Christian which hath a right to the promises? It is not the Christian which knoweth his duty, but it is the Christian that doth his duty; This is clear in Matth. 7. 21. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he that doth the will of my Father which is in heaven, I think if the promises had been annexed to knowledge of duties; then doubtlesse Balaam had been in heaven; it is not the knowing Christian, but it is the practising Christian to who the promises are made.
The second Consideration to presse you to the exercise of known duties, it is the Christian that is taken up in practising, and not the knowing Christian that is blessed; would ye know the blessed Christian? It is not he that knows his duty only, but it is he which knoweth his duty and doth it; according to that word, Joh. 13. 17. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. Where ye may see happinesse is annexed to doing, and not to knowing: I confesse, if ye could speak your duty like an Angel, and if ye knew the smallest command in Scripture to be a command lying at your door, yet if ye do it not, ye shall never be blessed. O, know it, there are many knowing persons in hell to day!
The third Consideratirn to presse you to practise it, is the practising Christian, and not the knowing Christian that is approven and commended of God; This is clear, Song 7. 1. How beautifull are thy feet with shoes, O Princes daughter, &c. Christ takes first notice of the Brides feet, which is her practice, and commends her from that; believe it, Christ commends a Christians feet, more than his eyes, that is, his practice, more than his knowledge: It is the practising Christian which shall have that word spoken to him in the day of the Lord, Well done good and faithful servant; it is not said, well known good and faithfull servant, but it is said, well done, for if you know never so much, and yet not practise it, Christ will never commend you.
The fourth Consideration to press you to the doing of known duties, it is not the knowledge, put the practice of duties which will give peace to a Christians conscience, if ye would know all the commandements in the Bible, and yet never do one of them, it is nothing, it is not your knowledge that will give your conscience peace. I say this to you, many others knowing and their slighting of duty, in one day will make their conscience roar like a Lion, and they have nothing to answer it. I say unto you, O Christians! if ye would have peace of conscience in the great and terrible day of the Lord, then practise what ye know, and desire to know what ye ought to practise.
The fifth Consideration, it is the practice of your duty, and not the knowledge of your duty, by which ye rise up in conformity with God; it is the practising of what ye know, and not the knowledge of what ye should do, that raises you up in conformity with him; if ye know all that ye should do, and do it not, ye may be strangers to God, in respect of conformity with him, as if ye were meer ignorants. I wish there were in these dayes lesse knowledge and more practice, or rather I wish there were more knowledge and practice both together. I think the Christians of this time sins against a witnes in heaven, and a witnes against their own conscience: I think there are some (but few amongst us) in these dayes that sinneth out of ignorance, but I would say this, the person that sins out of knowledge, condemns himself, but the person that sins out of ignorance, the law condemns him.
There is this, thirdly, that I would say to you from the scope, I would have you observing these six things concerning known duties.
And first, many persons are more desirous to know what they should do, then to do what they know: Some persons cry out, Wherewith shall I come before the Lord? and the Lord may answer them with this, Have I not shewed thee? O man!
There is this second thing which I would have you knowing, the question which shall be proposed to you in the great and notable day of the Lord it shall not be, O man! what knowest thou? But it shall be, O man! what didst thou? This shall be the question which Christ shall put home to you in that day, What didst thou in thy lifetime, and not what knowest thou in thy liftime.
Thirdly, I would say this, believe it, A grain weight of sincerity and practice, is worth a talent of knowledge: it is better to practise as the weakest Christian, than to know as the …ost excellent angel, not practising what we know: Christ weight not our grace by quantity, but by quality; not by degrees but by the truth and reality of them: I say, if thou knew never so much, a grain weight of sincerity and practice in Gods sight, is more worth than it all: If thou were as eloquent as Appollos, and …s wise as Solomon, and could ye speak with as many tongues as Paul, and if ye knew and understood all mysteries, yet if ye do not practise your duties, it is all to no purpose.
Fourthly, I would say this, the slighting of known duties hath many sad disadvantages waiting upon them, and I shall name these four unto you. First, The slighting of duties, it is that which makes Christians weary in duties; Is there any person here that slights duties at such & such a time, I prophesie this to thee, thou shalt weary of duties ere long, this is clear, Isa. 43. 22. But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob, but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel. … say, slighting of duties, and wearying in duties they will not be long asunder: Secondly, slighting of known duties brings on much hardnesse and stupidity of heart, according to that word in Nehem. 9. 16. where disobedience and hardnesse of heart are knit together: Would you know the reason why so many persons are under so much deadnesse, and under so many bonds? It is because they slight known duties. Thirdly, The slighting of known duties doth these three things to our conscience. It either marres the peace of Conscience, or else it hardens the conscience. Or thirdly, It luls our conscience a sleep. I wonder how many of us can cal our selves render, since there is so much slighting of that we ought to do. Are ther… not many Christians, which may soon tell al… their privat prayers that they make to God. There is a fourth disadvantage which waits o… the slighting of known duties, and it is this the Christian who slights duty sometimes, tha… duty which a Christian doth, it is exceeding formal: There are some Christians which slights prayer one day, and the second day, and it is one to a hunder but the third day whe… that Christian prayes, but it be meer formality. O what makes Christians pray so weakly? It is because they teach their hearts th… arte of praying formally by slighting of duty.
Fifthly, I would say this to you, the slighting of known duties is the first step of the s… against the Holy Ghost. This is clear in Heb. 10. 26. For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin. Ile tell you what is betwixt the sin of slighting known duties, and the sin against the Holy Ghost, there is no more betwixt them both but that word wilfulness. And what knowest thou, but thy slighting of duties may come to wilfulness ere long? Ye would know this, that under the Law there was Sacrifices for sins of Ignorance, and likewise for sins of infirmities, but there was no sacrifice for presumptuous sins, now if this be the first step towards the sin against the holy Ghost, I am sure there are some here which have gone this length, yea, and I fear a little further: Now will ye take home this conviction, and I would say this, let the person which is not guilty of this offence amongst us, take up the first stone and cast at us: I suppose our conscience might accuse us, and we might steal out one by one. O! the dreadfull disadvantages which attends that person that slights known duties! This is a strange thing, our consciences are no more moved at what one can speak of that which is our sin indeed, than though it did not concern us: I suppose there is not one here, bu… they may write this on their fore-heads, Guilty, guilty.
Now there is this lastly which I would say unto you. The day is coming when the slighters of known duties, shall be forced to cry out, Ah that I had been an idiot & had never known my duty! I confesse the slighting of known duties, and the sinning against Light, shall be a mighty aggravation of our sin. O what terror was it to Judas conscience when he came to think of this, I sold my Master, and I know I have sinned in so doing! And O what terrour likewise will it be to you, when ye shall be convinced of this, my conscience told me that this was my duty, and I would not do it!
Now the next thing which we shall speak to from the words in general is, that God (in the depth of his condescendancy▪) hath many various wayes in making known duties unto a person or people, this is clear from the words, where God having pressed duties upon this people by the voice of his Ministers, now he sends a more sad and terrible preacher to them; even a threatning Rod. Now this is clear that God hath many wayes in pressing people to their duties, Isa. 5. 4. What could have been done more to my vineyard that I have not done in it, &c. This is also eminently clear, Songs 5. 2. Open to me my sister, my Spouse, and if that will not do it, he will knock at the door and say, it is the voice of thy beloved that knocketh, and if this will not do it, he will use arguments to perswade her; open to me my sister, is not that an argument? yet he will give her another, for my head is filled with dew, and my hair with the drops of the night, and if all these will not do it, Christ will put in his hand by the hole of the door, which speaks this, that Christ in the depths of his condescendency, leaves nothing unassayed to presse people to their duty. This is also clear, Deut. 11. 26, 27, 28. where he sets life and death, blessings and cursings before them to presse them to their duty. I confesse there are many in heaven to day that Christ never took the half of the pains on them as he hath taken on some of us, and there are many in hell to day, upon whom Christ took never half so much pains as he hath done on some of us: and is it not then a wonder that we are not sent away to hell likewise? Now I will tell you six great voices or means wherewith God presseth people to their duty.
The first voice is, the voice of threatnings, all the threatnings which is in the Scripture, this is the voice of them all, O give obedience to your duty! This is remarkably clear from that choise and remarkable place, Jer. 36. ver. 3 6, 7. Therefore go thou and read this roll which thou hast written from my mouth, &c. Baruch, he is commanded to read all the threatnings of God to his people, and what is the precious end he hath before him? It may be they will present their supplication before the Lord, and will return every one from his evil way, &c. This is the very end and scope of Gods threatnings, that persons may present their prayers before him; and he will shake the Rod over our heads for this end. Therefore I say, give the threatnings of God (who are his Messengers) that which they require, and it is, to put the Rod by the door.
The second great voice whereby God sometimes presses home duties upon folk, is by the voice and Rod of these sad afflicting dispensations which we meet with: This is (indeed) the end of them that persons would give obedience to the commands of God, this is clear in the very scope where he presses them to hear the voice of the Rod, that they might give obedience to their duty. And it is also clear from that sweet and excellent promise, Ezek. 20. 37. And I will cause you to passe under the Rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the Covenant. I say the very great end and design of God in sending Rods, is, that persons may be engaged to their duty.
The third voice wherewith God presses people to their duty, is by the voice of promises, what is the great voice of the Covenant of promises? It is, give obedience to commanded duties: This is clear, Ezek. 11. 19, 20. And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; And I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and I will give them an heart of flesh, that they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them, &c. As it were, all the great promises of the Covenant have this promise, obey, and ye shall have, it is obedience that leads us to the possession of the promises.
The fourth voice whereby God presseth persons to the doing of known duties, is, by the voice of all the mercies which we meet with; I say, the voice of them all is this, O give obedience to his commandements: Yea, this is the very language of mercies: All the great things which God hath done to you, what is the scope and end of them all? It is, O will ye come and obey.
Fifthly, Doth not the great voice of ou… consciences, and of all the convictions which God rooves upon them, do they not say, O give obedience, and obey him with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy strength?
There is this last voice whereby God presses people to the doing of known duties, and it is by the voice of all the publike Ordinances; what is the great voice of all these preachings which we daily preach unto you, but this, O give obedience to the Commands?
Now I would say this unto you, O people in Glasgow! hath not God spoken to you by all these voices? Hath he not spoken unto you by mercies? Hath he not spoken unto you by threatnings? by the voice of promises? by the voice of the rod? by the voice of our consciences? and by the voice of publike ordinances? Oh! look that the 26. Chapter of Leviticus be not Glasgows plagues! Lord keep this place from Gospel-condemnation. For it is a fearful and dreadful thing to fall in the hands of the living God! yet seven times more, yet seven times more, I fear be your plague, Oh▪ what can God do more to us nor he hath done? Have we not pressed this duty upon you that ye would imbrace Christ, and that this duty might be your delight! If Christ cannot allure us to give our hearts away to him, (in a manner) he will force us to give our hearts to him. I confesse it is sad to slight and disobey the voice of the Rod. God hath two times fearfully shaken the …hreatning Rod of his wrath over this City of Glasgow in a few years, look that so many menacings of Gods Rods be not the fore-runner of some sad stroak from the Lord. Now this is …our duty to be hearkning to his voice: this is Christs first word, and it is his last word, and it … his best word. O then take him and imbrace him! I think there is seven steps of judgement which is like to overtake us, if we hearken not …o his voice: I say, God hath spoken much, …nd what can he speak more! And what can …e do more? And what can we do less to him? … say, all the slighting of these threatnings of God, to you they are the fore-runner of these seven remarkable steps of judgement.
The first step of judgement which ordinarly doth befall slighters and disobeyers of Gods …oice, is, God shall slight their voice when they …ry unto him: and, oh! is it any wonder that God stop his ear at all our prayers? because, …s it not known that we stop our ears to this precious invitation and cry which Christ hath …o us, O take me. Therefore, I say, O give Christ your hearts, and then he will hear your …oice.
There is a second step of judgement which ordinarly befals these who slight these great and precious voices by which God is speaking to us: and it is, Be afraid that at last thou come not to this, that thou shalt have no answer …rom God; that God shall speak no more unto …hee; yea, that thou come not to this, that God shall speak his last word unto thee, and have no more to say. I confess, when God goeth from preachings to Rods, it is an evidenc… that we are hard to be perswaded. It is sa… when he makes the Rods our teachers, and w… will not be taught by them; though, I think that were a blessed cross that should make u… come to Christ. I think, Christ must do to us as Abosolom did to Joab, he sent to Joab to com… to him, and he came not; Absolom then set hi… corn fields on fire, so that at last he might come So, I think, Christ must set our corn fields o… fire, that we may be constrained to come to him.
There is this third step be like of our judgement, and it is this, I fear, that sad and lamentable word is like to befall us, if we continu… to slight this Gospel, Ezek. 21. 5. That all flesh may know that I the Lord have drawn forth my sword out of his sheath, it shall not return any more. Yea, God hath begun to draw the sword of his Justice out of his sheath, and who know… when he will put it up again? Is there any person that hath confidence or perswasion tha… God will quickly sheath the sword which he hath drawn against us?
The fourth step of judgement which light… down upon those that the slights the voice o… Gods threatning Rod, is that which I think is more sad, Ezek. 21. 11, 12. The sword is sharpnes and fourbished that it may glitter, and that i… may make a sore slaughter, and that it may b… given into the hand of the slayer: And what know ye but your disobedience to all these voices by which God hath been speaking to you, hath made him to draw his sword, and he is to deliver it into the hand of the slayer? And oh … who shall be the slayer, into whose hand th… sword shall be delivered?
There is this, fifthly, which shall be a step of our judgement, if we continue to slight all these voices by which God doth speak to us, and it …s that word, Ezek. 20. 31. As I live, saith the Lord God, I will not be enquired of by you. I will cease now to have correspondance with you …ny more.
There is this sixth step of judgement which may and shall befall us, if we thus go on to …light all the voices of the Lord to us; and it …s that word in Ezek. 24. 13. I would have purged thee, and thou wouldst not be purged: thou shalt not be purged any more, till my fury, &c.
There is this last step of our judgement, which I think, is the cap-stone of all the rest, if we continue in all our slightings of the voices by which God speaks to us. By all appearance there shall be one of these two decrees past in heaven against us. First, either that in Hos. 4 17. Ephraim is joyned to his idols, let him alone. Or, secondly, that decree in Rev. 22. 11. He …hat is unjust, let him be unjust still, and hee which is filthy, let him be filthy still, &c. I say, To day if ye will hear his voice harden not your hearts, as in the day of provocation. Glasgow is yet within speaking termes to God. O! who knowes how long it shall be so? Now, if ye will not hear him in the still voice of the Gospel; O! will yee hear him speaking in the whirle-wind? There is nothing that will befall us, which will be the cap-stone of our misery, so much as that, when Christ shall come and take his farewell. I think there is few of …s who are here, who is within sight of Christ; but I am sure there are many here which are within speaking termes to Christ.
Now, what doth he require and call for a… your hands? Doth not all the promises in th… Covenant say, O come, and take him? Do… not all the Rods and sad dispensations whic… we meet with, say, O come, and take him Doth not all the threatnings in the Law, say unto you, O come, and take him? And doth not al… your convictions of conscience (whereby you need of Christ is discovered) say this unto you, O come, and take him! Are ye not surrounded about with many voices, that cry o… this unto the City, O come, and take him Therefore, O harden not your hearts to thi… pleasant voice. I have only these seven word to speak to you, and I shall close.
And first, God hath a threefold Rod, where by he maketh himself known to people. First He hath the Rod of his mouth, whereby he makes known his word to us. Secondly, ther… is the Rod of his hand, and that is affiction an… crosses. Thirdly, there is the iron Rod of h… destruction, when God doth utterly destroy that destruction shall not rise up the secon… time. Now God hath been long speaking t… you by the Rod of his mouth, and by the Ro… of his afflictions and crosses; and O, now b… ware lest he come and speak to you by the iro… Rod of destruction! Look that the trea… which is betwixt Christ and you be not broke… O be perswaded to lay hold upon your tim… while it is with you.
Secondly, I would say this word unto yo… I think the slighting of the sad and lamentabl… threatnings of God, which he hath threatn… and denounced against you, is a sad fore-run… of some sad stroak from the Lord. Are the… not many persons which slights threatnings through the want of faith? they believe not that such a threatning is true, and therefore I think it is like that God will preach to your sense before you believe what he now preaches …o your ear. I say, the day is coming that before the threatnings of God be believed by some of you, he must preach to your sense, and make you to feel that which ye would not believe: And are there not many that will not make use of the threatnings, because they believe the threatnings is not to them? And therefore they …ake not particular applications of the threatnings to themselves. I confesse, I think it were good for every one of us to take home the threatnings to our own bosom.
Thirdly, some will not take and make use of the threatnings, because they mistake what is …heir …ing. There are some that let Christ threaten them what he will; they are still in the dark, and cry out, O what doth Christ mean …y this threatning? This is clear from the …ractice of the Jews, John 7. 33, 34. compa…ed with the 35. and 36. verses: Christ threat…ns them with this; Yet a little while I am …ith you, and then I go unto him that sent me. Ye …all seek me, and shall not find me: and where I …, thither ye cannot come. Now, what hin…ers them to make application of this threatning? It is in vers. 35, 36. What manner of say… is this that he said, Ye shall seek me, and shall … find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot …me? Will he go unto the dispersed amongst the …entils, and teach the Gentils? So they know …ot the meaning of the threatning, and that …ders them to apply it.
The fourth reason why many persons make not applications of the threatnings, and it i… ignorance of their own condition. Some persons will be living under such a sin, and yet whe… that sin is threatned, they will not apply it, because they know not their sin. Are there no some persons, that will not take a threatnin… for their worldly-mindedness, because they c… their worldly-mindednesse, frugality? Ar… there not some persons, that when a Minis… threatens against presumption, they wil not tak… with it, because they think their presumption, faith and confidence? And are there no… many things threatned against hypocrisie, an… few of them applyed, and this is because we… think our hypocrisie sincerity?
Fifthly, this marrs the application of threatnings to many, because God hath a mind to destroy them; therefore they do not apply threa… nings: That is a terrible word which is spoken of the sons of Eli, in 1 Sam. 2. 25. No… withstanding they hearkned not unto the voice … their father, because the Lord would slay the… Some, God hath a mind to destroy, and ther… fore they do not apply threatnings.
There is this sixth ground why persons w… not make application of threatnings, and it … because ordinarily some persons are possess… with high thoughts of themselves, and to… much self-love. There is nothing marrs the a… plication of threatnings so much as self-love wee have no will to believe any sad thin… against our selves.
Lastly, there is this which marrs the applic… tion of threatnings, and it is our not knowi… what a sad and sinfull thing it is to, slight … …t apply threatnings. I confess, I think it is … question that is hard to determine, whether …he slighting of promises, or the slighting of commands, or the slighting of threatnings, be the greatest sin? But I am sure of this, our slighting of threatnings, is the rise of … slighting of promises, and likewise the rise of our slighting of commands. Now I shall say no more: O that ye were perswaded to hearken …o God, that Christ might not be provoked to depart from you, and to take his farewell. And to him who is able to help you to hold him till the breaking of the day, we desire to give praise.