Exposition of Psalm 130, Exposition · Verse 4 · Section 18
Second General Head of the Application of the Truth insisted on. Grounds of Spiritual Disquietments considered. The first; Afflictions. Waies and means of the Aggravation of Afflictions. Rules about them.
That which now lyeth before us, is the second part of the second General Use educed from the Truth insisted on. Our aim is to lead on souls towards peace with God, through a gracious perswasion of their Interest in that forgiveness which is with him. And it consists, as was declared, in a Consideration of some of those disquietments which befall the minds of men, and keep them off from Establishment in this matter.
Afflictions a cause of spiritual disquictments.And first, such disquietments and objections against the peace of the soul, and its acceptance with God, will arise from Afflictions; they have done so of old, they do so in many at this day. Afflictions, I say, greatned unto the mind from their Nature, or by their Concomitants do oft-times variously affect it, and sometimes prevail to darken it so far as to ingenerate thoughts, that they are all messengers of wrath, all tokens of displeasure, and so consequently evidences that we are not par doned or accepted with God.
Now this is a time of great Afflictions unto many, and those some of them such as have innumerable aggravating circumstances accompanying of them. Some have come with a dreadfull surprizal in things not looked for; such as falls not out in the providence of God in many Generations. Such is the condition of them who are reduced to the utmost extremity by the late consuming fire; some have had their whole families, all their posterity taken from them; in a few daies they have been suddenly bereaved, as in the Plague. Some in their own persons, or in their Relations, have had sore, long and grievous tryals from Oppressions and Persecutions; and these things have various effects on the minds of men. Some we find crying with that wicked King, This evil is of the Lord, why should we wait any longer for him? and give up themselves to seek relief from their own lusts. Some bear up under their troubles with a natural stoutness of spirit; some have received a sanctified use and improvement of their trials, with joy in the Lord. But many we find to go heavily under their burdens, having their minds darkned with many misapprehensions of the Love of God, and of their own personal interest in his Grace. It is not therefore unseasonable to speak a little to this Head of trouble in our entrance. Outward troubles, I say, are oftentimes occasions, if not the causes of great inward distresses. You know how the Saints of old expressed their sense of them, and conflicts with them. The complaints of David are familiar to all who attend unto any communion with God in these things; so are those of Job, Heman, Jonah, Jeremiah, and others; neither do they complain only of their troubles, but of the sense which they had of Gods displeasure in and under them, and of his hiding of his face from them whilest they were so exercised.
It is not otherwise at present, as is known unto such as converse with many, who are either surprized with unexpected troubles, or worn out with tryals and disappointments of an expected end. They consider themselves both absolutely, and with respect unto others, and on both accounts are filled with dark thoughts and despondencies. Saith one, I am rolled from one trial unto another; the clouds with me return still after the rain. All the billows and water-spouts of God go over me. In my person, it may be, pressed with sickness, pains, troubles; in my Relations, with their sins, miscarriages, or death; in my outward state, in wants, losses, dis-reputation, I am even as a withered branch. Surely if God had any especial regard unto my soul, it would not be thus with me; or some timely end would have been put unto these dispensations. On the other hand, they take a view of some other Professors; they see that their Tables are spread day by day; that the Candle of the Lord shines continually on their tabernacle, and that in all things they have their hearts desire. Setting aside the common attendencies of humane nature, and nothing befalls them grievous in the world. Thus it is with them. And surely had I an interest in his Grace, in Pardon, the God of Israel would not thus pursue a Flea in the Mountains, nor set himself in battel array against a leaf driven to and fro with the wind; he would spare me a little, and let me alone for a moment; but as things are with me, I fear my way is hidden from the Lord, and my Judgement is passed over from my God. These kind of thoughts do perplex the minds of men, and keep them off from partaking of that strong consolation which God is abundantly wiling they should receive, by a comfortable perswasion of a blessed Interest in that forgiveness that is with him.
And this was the very case of David; or at least these outward Troubles were a special part of those depths, out of which he cryed for relief, by a sense of Pardon, Grace and Redemption with God.
I answer to these Complaints; First, That there are so many excellent things spoken concerning Afflictions; their Necessity, their Usefulness, and the like; such blessed ends are assigned unto them, and in many have been compassed and fulfilled by them, that a man unacquainted with the exercise wherewith they are attended, would think it impossible that any one should be shaken in mind, as to the Love and favour of God on their account. But as the Apostle tells us, that no Afflictions are joyous at present but grievous; So he who made in the close of his Trials that solemn profession, That it was good for him that he had been affected, yet we know, as hath been declared, how he was distressed under them. There are therefore sundry Accidental things which accompany great Afflictions that seem to exempt them from the common Rule, and the promise of Love and Grace: As,
Means of the Aggravation of Affliction.1. The Remembrance of past and buryed misearriages and sins, lyes in the bosom of many Afflictions: It was so with Job; Thou makest me, saith he, to possess the sins of my youth. See his plea to that purpose, chap. 13. 23, 24, 25, 26, 27. In the midst of his troubles and distresses, God revived upon his spirit a sense of former sins, even the sins of his youth, and made him to possess them; he filled his soul and mind with thoughts of them, and anxiety about them. This made him fear lest God was his enemy, and would continue to deal with him in all feverity. So was it with Josephs Brethren in their distresses, Gen. 42. 21. They said one to another, we are verily guilty concerning our Brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he sought us, and we would not hear, therefore is this distress come upon us. And vers. 22. Behold his blood is required. Their distress revives a deep perplexing sense of the guilt of sin many years past before, and that under all its aggravating circumstances which spoiled them of all their reliefs and comforts, filling them with Confusion and Trouble, though absolutely innocent as to what was come on them. And the like appeared in the Widdow of Zareptha, with whom Elijah sojourned during the famine. Upon the death of her Son, which it seems was some what extraordinary, she cryed out unto the Prophet, What have I to do with thee thou Man of God? Art thou come to call my sins to remembrance and to slay my Son? 1 King. 17, 18. It seems some great sin she had formerly contracted the guilt of, and now upon her sore Affliction in the death of her only child, the Remembrance of it was recalled and revived upon her soul. Thus deep calleth unto deep at the noise of Gods water spouts, and then all his waves and billows go over a person, Psal. 42. 7. The deep of Afflictions calleth up the deep of the guilt of sin, and both in conjunction become as billows and waves passing over the soul. We see only the outside of mens afflictions, they usually complain only of what doth appear. And an easie thing it is supposed to be, to apply relief and comfort unto those that are distressed. The Rule in this matter is so clear, so often repeated and inculcated, the promises annexed unto this condition so many and precious, that every one hath in readiness what to apply unto them who are so exercised. But oftentimes we know nothing of the Gall and Wormwood that is in mens Affliction; they keep that to themselves, and their souls feed upon them in secret, Lam. 3. 12. God hath stirred up the Remembrance of some great sin, or sins, and they look upon their Afflictions as that wherein he is come, or beginning to enter into Judgement with them. And is it any wonder if they be in darkness and filled with disconsolation.
2. There is in many Afflictions something that seems New, and peculiar, wherewith the soul is surprised, and cannot readily reduce its condition unto what is taught about Afflictions in General. This perplexeth and intangleth it. It is not Affliction it is troubled withall, but some one thing or other in it that appears with an Especial dread unto the soul, so that he questioneth whether ever it were so with any other or no, and is thereby deprived of the supportment which from former Examples it might receive. And indeed when God intendeth that which shall be a deep Affliction, he will put an Edge upon it in matter, or manner, or circumstances, that shall make the soul feel its sharpness. He will not take up with our bounds and measures, and with which we think we could be contented. But he will put the impress of his own greatness and terrour upon it, that he may be acknowledged and submitted unto. Such was the State with Naomi; When from a full and plentiful condition, she went into a strange Countrey with an Husband and two Sons, where they all dyed, leaving her destitute and poor; Hence in her account of Gods dealing with her, she sayes, call me not Naomi (that is pleasant) but call me mara (that is bitter) for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. I went out Full and the Lord brought me again Empty; why then call ye me Naomi since the Lord hath testified against me; and the Almighty hath afflicted me, Ruth 1. 20, 21. So was it with Job, with the Widdow of Zareptha; and with her at Naim who was burying her only Child. And still in many Afflictions God is pleased to put in an entangling specialty, which perplexeth the soul and darkens it in all its Reasonings about the Love of God towards it, and its interest in Pardon and Grace.
3. In some; Affections are very strong and Importunate as fixed on lawful things; whereby their Nature is made sensible and tender, and apt to receive very deep impressions from urgent Afflictions; Now although this in its self be a good natural frame, and helps to preserve the soul from that stout hardness which God abhors, yet if it be not watched over, it is apt to perplex the soul with many intangling Temptations. The Apostle intimates a double evil that we are obnoxious unto under tryals and Afflictions, Heb. 12. 5. My Son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him. Men may either through a natural stoutness despise and contemn their sufferings, and be obstinate under them, or faint and despond, and so come short of the end which God aimes at for them, to be attained in a way of duty. Now though the frame spoken of, be not obnoxious unto the first extream, yet it is greatly to the latter, which if not watched against, is no less pernitious than the former. Affections in such persons being greatly moved they cloud and darken the mind, and fill it with strange Apprehensions concerning God and themselves. Every thing is presented unto them through a Glass composed of Fear, Dread, Terrour, Sorrow, and all sorts of disconsolations. This makes them faint and despond, unto very sad apprehensions of themselves and their Conditions.
4. Afflictions find some entangled with very strong corruptions, as Love of the World, or the pleasure of it, of Name or Reputation, of great contrivances for posterity, and the like; or it may be in things carnal or sensual. Now when these unexpectedly meet together, great Afflictions and strong Corruptions, it is not conconceivable what a combustion they will make in the soul. As a strong medicine or potion meeting with a strong or tough distemper in the body; there is a violent contention in nature between them and about them, so that oftentimes the very life of the patient is endangered. So it is where a great tryal, a smart stroke of the hand of God, falls upon a person in the midst of his pursuit of the Effects of some corruptions; the soul is amazed even to distraction, and can scarce have any thought, but that God is come to cut the person off in the midst of his sin. Every unmortified corruption fills the very fear and expectation of Affliction, with horrour. And there is good Reason that so it should do; for although God should be merciful unto mens Iniquities, yet if he should come to take Vengeance of their Inventions, their condition would be dark and sorrowful.
5. Satan is never wanting in such Occasions to attempt the compassing of his Ends, upon persons that are exercised under the hand of God. In the time of suffering it was, that he fell upon the Head of the Church, turning it into the very hour of the power of darkness. And he will not omit any appearing opportunities of Advantage against his Members. And this is that which he principally in such seasons attacks them withall; namely, that God regards them not, that they are fallen under his Judgement and Severity, as those who have no share in Mercy, Pardon or Forgiveness.
From these and the like Reasons, I say, it is, that whereas Afflictions in general are so testified unto, to be such pledges and tokens of Gods Love and Care to be designed unto blessed ends; as conformity unto Christ, and a participation of the Holiness of God; yet by reason of these Circumstances, they often prove means of casting the soul into depths, and of hindering it from a refreshing interest in the forgiveness that is with God. That this may prove no real or abiding ground of inward spiritual trouble unto the soul, the following Rules and Directions may be observed.
Rules to be observed concerning Afflictions.1. Not only Afflctions in general, but great and manifold Afflictions, and those attended with all sorts of aggravating circumstances, are alwaies consistent with the pardon of sin, after signal tokens and pledges of it, and of the Love of God therein, Job 7. 17, 18. What is man that thou shouldst magnifie him, and that thou shouldst set thine heart upon him, and that thou shouldst visit him every morning, and try him every moment! What were the considerations that cast him into this admiration of the Care and Love of God, is expressed, v. 12, 13, 14, 15, 16. There are no words of a more dismal import in the whole book than those here expressed; yet when he recollected himself from his overwhelming distress, he acknowledgeth that all this proceeded from the Love and Care of God; yea his fixing his heart upon a man to magnifie him, to set him up, and do him good; For this end doth he chasten a man every morning, and try him every moment; and that with such afflictions as are for the present so far from being ioyous, as that they give no Rest, but even weary the soul of life, as he expresseth their Effects on himself, v. 15, 16. And hence it is observed of this Job, that when none in the Earth was like to him in trouble, God gave him three Testimonies from Heaven, that there was none in the Earth like unto him in Grace. And although it may not be laid down as a General Rule, yet for the most part in the providence of God, from the foundation of the world, those who have had most of Afflictions, have had most of Grace, and the most eminent Testimonies of Acceptance with God. Christ Jesus the Son of God, the Head of the Church, had all Afflictions gathered into an head in him; and yet the Father alwaies loved him, and was alwaies well pleased with him.
When God solemnly renewed his Covenant with Abraham, and he had prepared the Sacrifice whereby it was to be ratified and confirmed, God made a smoaking Furnace to pass between the pieces of the Sacrifice, Gen. 15. 17. It was to let him know that there was a furnace of Affliction attending the Covenant of Grace and Peace. And so he tells Sion that he chose her in the furnace of Affliction, Isa. 48. 10. that is, in Aegyptian Affliction, burning, flaming afflictions, fiery tryals, as Peter calls them, 1 Pet. 4. 12. There can then no Argument be drawn from Affliction, from any kind of it, from any aggravating circumstance wherewith it may be attended, that should any way discourage the soul in its comforting supporting perswasion of an interest in the Love of God and forgiveness thereby.
2. No length or continuance of Afflictions ought to be any impeachment of our spiritual consolation. Take for the confirmation hereof, the great Example of the Son of God. How long did his Afflictions continue? what end or issue was put to them? No longer did they abide than until he cryed with a loud voice and gave up the Ghost. To the moment of his death; from his Manger to his Cross, his Afflictions still increased, and he ended his daies in the midst of them. Now he was the Head of the Church, and the great Representative of it; unto a conformity with whom we are predestinated. And if God will have it so with us, even in this particular, so as that we shall have no rest, no peace from our trials, until we lye down in the Grave, that whatever condition we pass through, they shall be shut out of none, but only from Immortality and Glory, what have we herein to complain of?
3. Where the Remembrance and perplexing sense of past sins is revived by present afflictions; separate them in your minds, and deal distinctly about them. So long as you carry on the consideration of them joyntly, you will be rolled from one to another, and never obtain rest unto your souls. They will mutually aggravate each other. The sharpness of Affliction will add to the bitterness of the sense of sin; and the sense of sin will give an edge to Affliction, and cause it to pierce deeply into the soul, as we shewed in the former instances. Deal therefore distinctly about them, and in their proper order. So doth the Psalmist here. He had at present both upon him, and together they brought him into these depths concerning which he so cries out for deliverance from them; see Psal. 32. 3, 4, 5. And what course doth he take? he applies himself in the first place to his sin, and the guilt of it, and that distinctly and separately. And when he hath got a discharge of sin, which he waited so earnestly for, his faith quickly arose above his outward trials, as appears in his blessed close of all; He shall redeem Israel out of all his trouble; the whole Israel of God, and my self amongst them. This do then, single out the sin or sins that are revived in the sense of their guilt upon the conscience. Use all diligence to come to an issue about them in the blood of Christ. This God by your Affliction calls you unto. This is the disease whereof your trouble is but the symptom. This therefore in the Cure you seek after, is first and principally to be attended unto; when that is once removed, the other as to any prejudice unto your souls will depart of its self. The root being once digged up, you shall not long feed on the bitter fruit that it hath brought forth; or if you do, the Wormwood shall be taken out of it, and it shall be very pleasant unto you, as well as wholesome. How this is to be done by an Application unto God for forgiveness, hath been at large declared. But if men will deal with confused thoughts about their sins and their troubles, their wound will be incurable, and their sorrow endless.
4. Remember that a time of Affliction is a time of Temptation. Satan, as we have shewed, will not be wanting unto any appearing Opportunity or Advantage of setting upon the soul. When Pharaoh heard that the people were intangled in the wilderness, he pursued them. And when Satan sees a soul intangled with it's distresses and troubles, he thinks it his time and hour to assault it. He seeks to winnow, and comes when the Corn is under the flail. Reckon therefore that when trouble cometh, the Prince of the world cometh also, that you may be provided for him. Now is the time to take the shield of faith, that we may be able to quench his fiery darts. If they be neglected, they will enflame the soul. Watch therefore and pray that you enter not into Temptation; that Satan do not represent God falsly unto you. He that durst represent Job falsly to the All-seeing God, will with much boldness represent God falsly unto us, who see and know so little. Be not then ignorant of his devices; but every way set your selves against his interposing between God and your souls, in a matter which he hath nothing to do withall. Let not this make-bate by any means inflame the difference.
5. Learn to distinguish the Effect of natural distempers from spiritual distresses. Some have sad, dark and tenacious thoughts fixed on their minds from their natural distempers. These will not be cured by Reasonings, nor utterly quelled by faith. Our design must be to abate their Efficacy and Consequents, by considering their Occasions. And if men cannot do this in themselves, it is highly incumbent on those who make Application of relief unto them, to be carefull to discern what is from such principles, whereof they are not to expect a speedy Cure. And,
6. Take heed in times of peace and ease, that you lay not up, by your negligence or careless walking, sad provision for a day of darkness, a time of Afflictions. It is sin that imbitters troubles; the sins of peace are revived in the time of distress. Fear of future Affliction, of impendent troubles, should make us carefull not to bring that into them which will make them bitter and sorrowfull.
7. Labour to grow better under all your Afflictions, lest your Afflictions grow worse; lest God mingle them with more darkness, bitterness and terrour. As Joab said unto David, if he ceased not his scandalous Lamentation on the death of Absolom, all the people would leave him, and he then should find himself in a far worse condition than that which he bemoaned, or any thing that befell him from his youth. The same may be said unto persons under their Afflictions. If they are not managed and improved in a due manner, that which is worse may, nay, in all probability will befall them. Whereever God takes this way, and engageth in afflicting, he doth commonly pursue his work until he hath prevailed, and his design towards the afflicted party be accomplished. He will not cease to thresh and break the bread-corn until it be meet for his use. Lay down then the weapons of thy warfare against him; give up your selves to his Will; let go every thing about which he contends with you; follow after that which he calls you unto, and you will find light arising unto you in the midst of darkness. Hath he a cup of Affliction in one hand, lift up your eyes and you will see a cup of Consolation in another. And if all Stars withdraw their light, whilst you are in the way of God, assure your selves that the Sun is ready to rise.
8. According to the Tenor of the Covenant of Grace, a man may be sensible of the respect of Affliction unto sin; yea unto this or that sin in particular, and yet have a comfortable perswasion of the forgiveness of sin. Thus it was in general in Gods dealing with his people, He forgave them, but he took vengeance on their inventions, Psal. 99. 8. Whatever they suffered under the vengeance that fell upon their Inventions, (and that is as hard a word as is applied any where unto Gods dealing with his people) yet at the same time he assured them of the pardon of their sin. So you know was the case of David. His greatest Trial and Affliction, and that which befell him on the account of a particular sin, and wherein God took vengeance on his invention, was ushered in with a Word of Grace, that God had done away, or pardoned his sins, and that he should not dye. This is express'd in the Tenor of the Covenant with the seed of Christ, Psal. 89. 31, 32, 33, 34.