Jehovah Our Righteousness, Sermon 3 – Publishers advertisement
A SERMON PREACHED On the late Faſt, on the 26th Day of June, 1696.
PSAL. LI. 9.
Hide thy Face from my ſins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
IN the Text we have the Pſalmiſt's Petition for Pardon; but it may be objected, 1. What need had David to beg Pardon; had not God given it already? Nathan told David, the Lord had put away his iniquity, 2 Sam. 12.13. I anſwer, Though God had pronounced the Sentence of Juſtification by his Prophets, yet it ſeems not to be pronounced in, and ſealed to David's Conſcrence by the Spirits. Peace is the Fruit of the Lips, as ſpoken by God's Miniſters, yet it is the Effect of the Spirit, as created in the Soul by it, Iſaiah 57.19. The Prieſt did uſe to ſprinkle the Leper, Lev. 14.7. But though David looked on himſelf as a Spiritual Leper, yet he was not ſatisfied with the Prieſt's ſprikling him with the Blood of the Sacrifice; but he ſues to God himſelf to ſprinkle him with the Blood of his Son, the thing ſignified; ſo it is not enough for Miniſters in God's Name to pronounce Pardon; but the Spirit muſt Ratify it, and Eſtabliſh Peace in the Soul, elſe the ſtorm will not ceaſe, the wound be healed, the burden be removed, and the Soul land at the Port of Aſſurance. The Pſaimiſt in the Text doth in an humble way Addreſs to God, That he would hide his Face from his Sins, and blot out his Iniquities; he doth imply, that if God's Eye was fixed on his Sins, his Anger might be fired by them; there was Fuel for God's wrath, if God would but behold it; there was matter enough for Accuſation, cauſe enough for Condemnation, if God would but read it; but he begs God would turn away his Face, and ſhut his Eyes, not obſerving, or imputing what would be deſtructive to him; the latter expreſſion in the Text enlarges and encreaſes the Senſe, and heightens the Mercy; he doth not only Pray that God would hide his Face from his Sins, but that he would blot out all his iniquities: A Man may turn away his Face from an Object, and yet the thing ſtill remain as it was, and be as viſible, as legible as before; but David ſues to God, not only to hide his Face from ſeeing ſin, but that he would ſo blot it out, that it may not any more be viſible, legible, or remain to be imputed.
Doctrine. Awakened humbled Souls do cry for this, as the moſt valuable Mercy, that God would hide his Face from their Sins, and blot out all their iniquities: But what is it for God to hide his Face from Sin? Anſwer. It is not to ſee and obſerve it with the Eye of Vindictive Juſtice. So it is ſaid, God doth not behold Iniquity in Jacob, nor ſee Perverſeneſs in Iſrael, Numb. 23.21. God paſſes by Sin, as if he did not ſee it, Mic. 7.18. and he paſſes over the ſinner, as if he did not obſerve his iniquity, God covers all their ſin, Pſal. 55.2. that it may not be ſeen; he remembers it no more, that it may not be Pnniſhed, Jer. 31.34.
Queſt. But how can ſuch a requeſt be made to God? How can he hide his Face from Sin? Is this Practicable? For,
1. God is Omniſcient, he ſeeth all the Neighings, Lewdneſs, Whoredoms of Souls, Jer. 13. laſt, Prov. 15.3.
2. God is Holy, and hath a moſt pure Eye, Heb. 1.6, 13. tho he cannot behold Evil with Approbation, yet he muſt needs behold it with indignation, as it provokes his Glorious Eyes, Iſa. c. 3. v. 8.
3. God is a Juſt God, he is not regardleſs of his Honour, careleſs of his Glory, but he is ſaid, to be Jealous and Furious, Nahu. 1.2. He hath quick, lively, warm Reſentments of what grates on his Authority, and affronts his Majeſty; he beholds miſchief and ſpite to requite it with diſdain, Pſal. 10.14. As he is the Judg of the whole World, vengeance belongs to him. Pſal. 49.1, 2.
Anſwer. God could not hide his Face from our Sins, if there were not a moſt pleaſant, grateful, lovely Object provided, towards which he might turn his Face, and on which he might fix his Eye on Mountebul, where the Curiſes of the Law were pronounced; there the Law was written on Stones, Plaiſtered over, and there an Altar was Built, and Burnt-Offerings preſented to God, Deut. 27.2, 35.6. and we have the Truth of both in Chriſt, the Law is written in his Heart, Pſal. 40.8. and he gave himſelf an Offering, a Sacrifice of a ſweet ſmelling Savour to God, Epheſ. 5.2. and this Sacrifice did ſmell the ſweeteſt in God's Noſtrils, becauſe it was bound only with Cords of Love, and burnt in Flames of Love. Jeſus Chriſt is the True High-Prieſt, Exod. 28.36, 38. that was perfectly ſanctified, purely and abſolutely devoted to God. Holineſs to the Lord was engraven on Chriſt's Heart, and was written on all his Actions, impreſſed on his whole Life; and when he died for our ſins, he roſe again for our Juſtification, and aſcended up to Heaven, and appears in the glorious preſence of God continually, Heb. 9.23, 24. He hath ſprinkled the Tribunal of Juſtice with his Blood, and burns Incenſe continually before his Throne. God may turn his Face towards this Grateful and Lovely Object, and behold it with Complacencv and Delight, Iſa. 42.1. Matth. 3.17. Chriſt's Undertaking as a Surety, was the very Foundation of this Petition; Hide thy Face from my ſins, and blot out all my iniquities. Sins muſt be covered with ſomewhat, that they might not be ſeen; and what could this be but the Righteouſneſs of our Mediator. Iniquity muſt be blotted out with ſomething; and what is that but the Blood of our Surety and Sacrifice?
Queſt. But why is it ſo deſirable and valuable a mercy for God to hide his Face from our ſins, and to blot out our iniquities? I ſhall anſwer to each of theſe diſtinctly.
Anſw. 1. It is moſt deſirable that God would hide his Face from our ſins: For, Firſt, It is a moſt dreadful Evil for God to ſet our ſins before him; for them to be remembred by him, and to be continually before him, Pſalm 109.14, 15. This is there mentioned as the moſt terrible Imprecation: Moſes ſadly complains thus, Pſalm 90.8. Thou haſt ſet our iniquities before thee: our ſecret ſins in the light of thy countenance. It is ſweet for Souls to walk in the Light of God's countenance, Pſalm 89.15. but it is dreadful for ſin to be ſet in the Light of God's countenance: for God to uſe and exerciſe his Omniſciency, to view ſin well, to countemplate to the utmoſt the Evil, the Filth, the Deformity that is in it, and all the Aggravations of it, and to ſet all in a full, clear and perfect Light. Here are Two Expreſſions, our ſins, and our ſecret. There is no more in the Original, foreign, but our ſecret. Chemnitius, in Exam. Concil. Trident. cap. de pec. Orig. doth by, our ſecret, underſtand Original Sin. Though the Fruits of it are Evident and Notorious to the World, yet the Root is ſecret and hidden to moſt in the World. One Butler that lived in London, and was for Murder Condemned to Death, being diſcourſed with in Newgate by Alderman Titchborn, did ingenuouſly confeſs he was an utter ſtranger to Original Sin; he knew nothing of it till he was by the Alderman inſtructed about it. Taking the words of Moſes in this ſenſe, this Interpretation is to be given, That God took a full View both of Original and Actual Sin; of the Root, and its Fruits; of the Fountain, and all its Streams; of the evil Treaſure that is in the Heart, and all the Corrupt Thoughts, Words and Actions, that were as Pieces Coined out of it: God obſerves alſo the actual Sins that are Secret to, and hid from Men; that are either wholly concealed, or palliated, and flouriſhed, and painted over with ſpecious excuſes and pretences; Hoſ. 11.7. Tho there be a Beautiful Tomb of Profeſſions above, yet he ſeeth the corrupt rotten Heart that is underneath, Matth. 23.37. Yea; God ſeeth which way the Heart doth hang and ſway before ſin is actually conceived and brought forth, Deut. 31.21. I know, ſaith God, their imagination, which they go about, even now, before I have brought them into the Land; God did know the Bent, the Bias, the Propenſion, and inclination of the Iſraelites Hearts toward Idolatry, before he brought them into Canaan, he knew what they would be, and do: This God did ſet in the light of his Countenance. Now it is Terrible for God thus to ſet ſin before him.
For, 1. Sins thus ſet before his Face, do provoke him to turn away, and hide his gratious Countenance from Sinners, Deut. 31.18. I will ſurely hide my Face in that Day, for all the Evils they have wrought. He doth threaten the ſame, Deut. 32.20. If God doth but turn away his Face, Enemies will break in upon us, and Evils will over-whelm us, Ezel. 7.22. Yea, by our Sins, we deſerve forever to be caſt away from God's Gracious and Glorious Preſence. Caſt me not away from thy Preſence, ſaith David, Pſal. 51.11.
2. Sin ſet before God's Face, doth provoke God's Anger againſt the Soul; it kindles Diſpleaſure againſt the ſin, and it ſtirs up God to pour it out on the ſinner, Ezek. 38.18. My Fury came up into my Face. Fury may be kept ſecret ſome time in God's Heart, but it will come up into his Face, and be openly manifeſted and expreſſed by the Judgments inflicted by his hand.
1. God will ſet his Eyes on ſinners for Evil, Amos 9.8. Behold the Eyes of the Lord are on the ſinful Kingdom to deſtroy it from off the Earth, Pſalm 34.16. The Face of the Lord is againſt them that do Evil, to cut off the Remembrance of them from off the Earth.
2. God will remove ſinners out of his ſight, Jer. 15.1. Caſt them out of my ſight, Jer. 23.39. I will caſt you out of my preſence, 2 Kings 17.23. The Lord removed Iſrael out of his ſight, and caſt Judah and Jeruſalem alſo out of his preſence, 2 Kings 24.20. And God removed Judah out of his ſight, 2 Kings 24.3. becauſe the King and the People did evil in his ſight, 2 Kings 24.9, 19. They were not caſt out of the ſight of God's Omniſcient Eye, but from the Eye of his gracious and Fatherly Providence.
3. God will at laſt Rain a Hell from his Angry Face, 2 Theſ. 1.9. Thoſe that known not God, and obey not the Goſpel, ſhall be Puniſhed with everlaſting Deſtruction from the Preſence of the Lord, foreign, from the Face of the Lord; the ſame Face ſhall ſhine a Heaven of Happineſs into the Souls of the Saints, and ſhall Frown an Hell of Miſery into the Souls of the Wicked.
2. If God hide his Face from our Sins, Love will come up into his Face, and look out at his Eyes on Believers, and Saints, Pſal. 4.6. Lord lift thou up the light of thy Countenance on us; the Love that was ſecret, and hidden in the Heart, comes up into his Face, and is manifeſted to, and ſhed abroad in the Hearts of Believers by the Holy Ghoſt, Rom. 5.5. Cant. 8.10. I found Favour in his Eyes, Love and Kindneſs ſparkles in, and looks out from the Eyes, God looks with a pleaſing Countenance on his People; the Spiritual Day doth break and Dawn, and the Sun of Righteouſneſs doth Ariſe, and Shine in the Hearts of Believers, Malachy 4.2. Pſa. 130.5, 6. and the Countenance of God is ſaid to behold the upright, Pſal. 41. laſt. that is, with complacency and delight; he withdraweth not his Eyes from the Righteous, Job 36.7. He ſets his Eyes on them for good, Jer. 24.6. I will ſet mine Eyes on them for good. If Sin be not ſet before God's Face, God may take good out of his Treaſury for us, and beſtow it on us, Hoſ. 14.2. yea, God will ſet us before his Face for Ever, Pſal. 41.12. That we may ſtill dwell in his Preſence, Pſal. 140. laſt. and behold his Face in Righteouſneſs, Pſal. 17. laſt. Pſal. 16. laſt.
2. It is moſt deſirable for God to blot out all our Iniquities; for,
1. It is the moſt dreadful Evil and Curſe that can be wiſhed, for Sin not to be bloted out, Pſal. 109.14. Let not the Iniquity of his Mother be blotted out.
2. If God do not blot out Iniquitie, he may by ſudden Judgement, and ſore Vengeance, blot perſons out of the Land of the Living, Gen. 7.4. Every Living Subſtance that I have made, I will deſtroy, in the Hebrew it is, foreign, I will blot out. Corrupt Men are Evil lines of being, and it is ſaid, It repented God that he had made Man on the Earth, it greived him at his Heart, Gen. 6.5. Man is ſo croſs, and contrary to the very end of his Creation, that God did blot out the Old World of Men by the Flood; if Men are bloted out of the World in their Sins, Where muſt they be lodged but in a miſerable Eternity?
3. If we conſider what Sin is, What a valuable Mercy is it for it to be bloted out?
1. It is a miſt, a thinner, or a thicker Cloud, according to its Nature, and aggravations, Iſa. 44.22. I have blotted out as a thick Cloud thy Tranſgreſſions, and as a Cloud thy Sins. Sin is as a hiding Cloud, it hinders the light of God's Countenance from ſhining on us, Iſa. 59.2. Your Sins have hid his Face from you.
2. It is as a ſtorming Cloud, Pſal. 11.6. The Lord will rain Fire and Brimſtone on the Wicked, this ſhall be the portion of their cup. If Men ſuffer here, They are caſt into the hand of their Tranſgreſſion, Job. 8.4. In the Hebrew it is, That God did caſt Job's Children into the hand of their Tranſgreſſion. If their Iniquities are puniſhed hereafter, they do for them fall into the hands of God, Heb. 10.31.
2. Sin is a debt, Matth. 6.12. Forgive us our debts. Theſe debts are recorded in the Creditor's Book. God ſaith, Behold it is written before me, Iſa. 65.6. and it is regiſtred alſo in the debter's Book, Jer. 17.1. It is written, it is graven (that is the Sin of Judah) on the Table of their Heart. Sin is called a debt, becauſe the Sinner owes God Glory to be raiſed out of his Sufferings, and Eternal Torments. And it is deſirable this debt ſhould be blotted out to prevent God's arreſt, and our Eternal Impriſonment.
3. Sin is a crime, a capital crime, and that which is kept ſafe as matter of accuſation againſt the Sinner. It is as it were ſowed up in a bag, Job 14.17. As the depoſitions of Witneſſes, and the confeſſions of Malefactors are kept ſafe, againſt the Aſſizes and day of Trial. Yea, Mens Sins are ſealed up among God's Treaſures, Deut. 32.34. God ſpeaks of the Iſraelites bitter and corrupt Fruit, and then puts this queſtion, Is not this laid up in ſtore with me? Is it not ſcaled up among my Treaſures. God hath a Treaſury of knowledg of all paſt things, and Sins are ſealed up among theſe Treaſures. But what a kind of capital crime is Sin? I anſwer;
1. It is Rebellion againſt God. I have Nouriſhed, and brought up Children, and they have Rebelled againſt me. A Rebellious Subject with us, a Rebellious Son among the Jews, was put to Death: What Homage do we owe to God our King? What Obedience ſhould we render to God our Father?
2. Sin is Spiritual Whoredom and Adultery, Hoſ. 4.12. They have gone a Whoring from under their God: Thou haſt deſtroyed ſuch as go a Whoring from thee, Pſal. 73.27. Adultery was capital, it was puniſhed with death by the Law of God; Men loath God, and love the Creature.
3. Sin is Robbery and Stealing, Mal. 3.8. Ye have Robbed me. God ſaith, My Son give me thy Heart, Prov. 23.26. But the Heart of Men goeth after their Coveteouſneſs, Ezek. 33.31. Though they are by Baptiſm, and a Solemn Covenant, devoted to God, yet they Sacrilegiouſly alienate themſelves from God, Iſa 24.5. They broke the Everlaſting Covenant. Is it not our benefit to have our Crimes blotted out?
4. If Sin be not blotted out, God cannot write his Laws in our Hearts, Jer. 31.33, 34. God promiſeth to write his Laws in the Heart. And why? It is thus anſwered, verſ. 34. For I will forgive their Iniquity, and I will Remember Sin no more. Forgiveneſs of Sin is the root of all the Promiſes, and Covenant-Bleſſings.
5. God cannot record any Good thoughts, words or works of ours, if Sin be not blotted out, Mal. 3.16. A Book of Remembrance was written before him for thoſe that feared the Lord, and thought on his Name. Sin doth ſo corrupt, and ſtain our beſt Works, that, nothing might be recorded for our honour or advantage. Nehemiah prays, that God would not wipe out his good deeds, Neh. 13.14.
6. If Sins be not blotted out, the time is coming when God's Book will be opened, Revel. 20.12. God will review Men's Sins, look on them, and read them over to Sinners for ever. Yea Conſcience alſo will repeat them over, upbraid with them, Condemn, Laſh and Scourge for them to Eternity. This is the Worm that never dies, Mark 49.46, 48. Job ſaith, That his Heart ſhould never Reproach him, Job 27.6. But the Hearts of Unpardoned Sinners ſhall ever Reproach them for their folly; Ingratitude, Perverſeneſs, and Obſtinacy againſt God, that they had a Heart of Stone that would not relent, Ezek. 36.26. An Iron ſinew that would not bow and yield, Iſa. 48.4. I come now to the uſe of the Doctrine.
1. Ʋſe. This may inform us of the great difference that is between Saints and the Wicked of the World. David deſires nothing more, than that God would hide his Face from his Sins, and that, both in a way of Mercy and Righteouſneſs; they long to have ſomewhat offered to God's Eye, that may indeed pacifie his diſpleaſure and turn his angry Countenance away from their Sins, and they know nothing can do this but the Obedience and Sacrifice of Chriſt, Rom. 5.19. But the Wicked do harden themſelves in Sin, and quiet themſelves under guilt quite another way. He thus feeds his unbelief, Pſal. 10.11. He hath ſaid in his Heart, God hath Forgotten: He hideth his Face, he will never ſee it, verſe 13. The Wicked contemn God: he hath ſaid in his Heart thou wilt not Require it. They think God lyes on a Couch of eaſe, not that he ſits on a Throne of Majeſty, and a Tribunal of Juſtice: they fooliſhly imagin, that God will not call for an Account from Men, or call for a Sword of Juſtice to awaken againſt them. They think there is no danger from God's Frowning Face: that no Storm is to be dreaded from his Angry Countenance: they account that God is not concerned about their Tranſgreſſions: that he diſlikes them as little as they, or forgets them as much as they, Faith Cures the Wound in Saints: but Unbelief Skins it over in the Wicked.
2d. Ʋſe. 1. I would Exhort you to make the ſame Petition, to purſue the ſame Requeſt with David, That God would hide his face from your ſins, and blot out your Iniquities.
2dly, If God hath blotted out your Iniquities, O! be Thankful for ſo great a Mercy.
1. Conſider the Evil that will follow, if God hide not his Face from our Sins.
1. Our Sins muſt and will be ſet in order before our Faces, Pſal. 50.21. I will reprove thee, and ſet the things thou haſt done in order before thee: As a skilfulful Lawyer that is to proſecute a Traytor, he draws up the Charge, opens the Evidence, aggravates the Crime of him that is Impeached and Arraigned; branches out all the particulars that may Black and Burden the Malefactor: ſo God himſelf will be Plaintiff, the Accuſer, the Witneſs, and the Judge too, Iſa. 3.13, 14. Micah 1.2, 3. Iſa. 3.22. God will ſearch out the Iniquities of thoſe he doth not pardon, Pſal. 10.5. God will not omit, or forget any of them, Amos 8.7. The Lord hath Sworn, Surely I will never forget any of their works. Sinners muſt ſee their folly, their deformity, their ingratitude, all their horrid Crimes committed againſt God, and their eyes ſhall be fixed on this diſmaying and terrible Object, as they ſhall never look off from it, or ſee any thing elſe to comfort them.
2. Thou muſt be caſt out of God's gratious preſence. The Jews that ſubmitted not to the Righteouſneſs of God, Rom. 10.3. and ſo lay under Guilt, are ſaid to be caſt away, Rom. 2.15. God threatned Iſrael to drive them out of his Houſe, Hoſ. 9.15. and to caſt them away, Hoſ. 9. laſt. The dreadful caſting away is at laſt, Matth. 13.48. the bad Fiſh, to their eternal Infamy and Reproach, are caſt away. This is an evil that David did moſt dread, and deprecate; Caſt me not away from thy preſence, Pſal. 51.11. This was that which even Cain, a Reprobate, had ſome ſence of, as a bitter evil, From thy Face ſhall I be hid, Gen. 4.14. if our ſins are, and remain before God's Face, we ſhall be baniſhed out of his gracious Preſence for ever.
3. Theſe muſt behold God's Angry Frowning Face. It was terrible to Zedekiah to ſee the Face of the King of Babylon, that he had highly provoked; this Jeremiah threatens, Jer. 32.4. Thy eyes ſhall ſee his eyes. But how much more dreadful is it to ſee the Face of an Angry God? David was not able to brook, and bear this: therefore he cries out, Hide thy Face from my ſins. Every Frown of God was as an Arrow piercing his Heart; as a Sword wounding his Soul. If the diſpleaſed countenance of a Father be ſo terrible? What will the Ireful Look of an Incenſed, and Inexorable Judge be? Job 34.29. When he hideth his Face, who can then behold him? If God hide his Pleaſing Countenance, who can behold his Angry Face, Pſal. 76.7. Who may ſtand in thy ſight, when once thou art Angry.
4. If God hide not his Face from thy Sins, thy eyes muſt ſee thy Deſtruction, Job 21.20. Thou that wouldeſt not believe the Threatnings of Vengeance, muſt ſee the Fury of God poured out on thee: thou ſhalt ſee thy Judge come in the Clouds, Revel. 1.7. thou ſhalt be brought forth to Judgment, Job 21.30. and then ſoon be hurried away, and led forth to Execution, Pſal. 125. laſt. thou ſhalt be preſented before the Face of God, and then fall into his Puniſhing hand.
2. Conſider what Mercy will follow, if God hides his Face from thy Sins.
1. If God doth hide his Face from your ſins, he will no more hide his Face as an Enemy from your Soules, Ezek. 39. laſt. I will no more hide my Face from them: For I have poured out my Spirit on the Houſe of Iſrael. God can never totally withdraw from thoſe, on whom he poures out his Spirit; yea, the Spirit holds and eſtabliſhes their hearts, that they can never finally depart from God. Where the Blood of Chriſt is ſprinkled on, his Spirit is alſo put into the Soul, Ezek. 36.25.27. if God hides his Angry Face, he ſheweth his Pleaſing Countenance: when he doth abſcond hel… from us, then he manifeſts Heaven to us. The Angry look of God on the Sins and Soules of Sinners, is a Hell; but the lifting up of the Light of his Countenance makes a Heaven.
2. If God hide his Face from our ſins, he will not hide his Commandments from us, Pſal. 119.19. but will teach us his Statutes, Pſal. 119.102. Thou wilt guide me by thy Counſel, and afterward receive me to Glory, Pſal. 73.24.
3. This will be the end of God's afflicting of us, to hide Pride from us, Job 33.17. to hide that from us which we are ſo prone to ſeek after; he will hide the filthy Matter of, and Temptations to Pride from us.
4. Adverſaries ſhall be defeated in their hopes and deſigns, Jer. 50.20. The Iniquity of Iſrael ſhall be ſought for, and there ſhall be none; and the ſins of Judah, and they ſhall not be found. Who ſhould ſeek for Iſrael and Judah's ſin? I Anſwer, Satan, the Babylonians, the Enemies of the Church of God. The Chaldeans ſaid, they did not offend in Killing and Captivating the Jews, becauſe they ſinned againſt the Lord, Jer. 50.7. And as their ſins brought them into Captivity, ſo they thought they would ſtill have held them in Bondage: they ſought for their ſins to hold them in perpetual ſlavery, and to keep the Yoke on them. Satan reſiſted Joſhua the High-Prieſt, and ſeems not only to charge him, but alſo to accuſe the Jews; and therefore Chriſt the Angel ſaith, The Lord that choſe Jeruſalem rebuke thee, Zech. 3.1, 2. The filthy Garments are taken from Joſhua, and his Iniquities did paſs away, Zech. 3.4. And God promiſeth to remove the Iniquity of the Land in one day, Zech. 3.9. and ſo though the Babylonians ſought the Jews ſins, yet they were not found.
5. God himſelf will be a hiding-place to thoſe, from whoſe ſins he hides his Face, Pſal. 119.114. Thou art my hiding-place, and my ſhield, Pſal. 143.9. I flee unto thee to hide me. *The Judge himſelf is a Hiding-place.As the Secret of God is with their Souls to comfort them, Pſal. 25.14. ſo the Secret of God is on their Tabernacles, Job 29.4. to protect them. They are the moſt likely Perſons to be hid in the day of Wrath, Zeph. 2.3. yea, God hides them in the very Grave, Job 14.13. O that thou would'ſt hide me in the Grave until thy wrath be paſt. We muſt come to God to hide us from his own Wrath. As the Souls of Saints are hid in Heaven from eternal evils, ſo their Bodies are hid in the Grave from Temporal Sufferings. The Grave, that is a Priſon to the Wicked, to reſerve them in for Eternal Vengeance, is to Believers a Hiding-place from Temporal Afflictions.
6. If God hide his Face from our ſins, we ſhall ſee his Face in Ordinances here, and in Glory hereafter.
1. They ſhall ſee God's Face in Ordinances here. David longed to ſee God's Power and Glory, as he had ſeen it in the Sanctuary, Pſal. 65.2. They may call on God, and he will be gracious to them, and they ſhall ſee his Face with joy, Job 33.26.
2. They ſhall ſee his Face in Glory, Revel. 22.4. They ſhall ſee his Face, and his Name ſhall be in their Forehead: As for me (ſaith David) Pſal. 17. laſt. I will behold thy Face in Righteouſneſs.
3. We have in theſe days of the Goſpel great Incouragements, ſtrong Inducements to prefer this Petition. God did, for a time, cloud and hide his Face from Chriſt, did cut him off, and blot him out of the Land of the Living, Pſal. 22.1. Iſa. 53.8. Jeſus Chriſt entred into deep waters, Pſal. 69.1, 2. the floods of Sorrow, Reproach and Sufferings did overflow him: and now we may cry to God out of our depths, Pſal. 130.1. Out of the depths have I cried to thee, O Lord, out of a depth of Guilt, Trouble and Anguiſh. Jeſus Chriſt came into the Depths, and we may confidently cry to God to raiſe us out of our Depths. The Blood of Chriſt, as to Worth and Merits, is a deep Sea; and we may truſt on God, through Chriſt, to drown our ſins in the depth of this Red-Sea, Micah 7.19. Thou wilt caſt-all their Sins into the depths of the Sea. Chriſt hath provided Spiritual Red-ink enough. Though Chriſt ſhed his Blood but once, yet God may 1000 and 10000 times over dip his Pen in the Blood of Chriſt and blot out all our Sins we Commit. It was painful to Chriſt to ſhed his Blood, but it is pleaſant to him to waſh Souls in it. A dark night came on Chriſt, but we may wait for the dawning of a Comfortable and Joyful Morning, Pſal. 130.5.6. The Righteouſneſs is brought by which we may be Juſtified, the Blood is ſhed in which we may be waſhed from all our Sins, 1 John 1.7. Men did hide their Faces from Chriſt under his Sufferings, as a ghaſtly ungrateful object, Iſa. 50.3. Being ſo Buffeted, Spit on, Crowned with Thorns, but we may lift up our Faces to him being now Juſtified by the Father, Seated in his Throne, and Crowned with Glory.
I ſhall ſpeak ſomething by way of Direction, both how we may obtain the blotting out of our Sins, and how we ought to walk ſutable, and anſwerable to ſo great a Mercy.
1. We muſt ſee and know our Sins, be ſenſible of them, afflicted for them, burdened under them, Pſal. 51.3. I acknowledge, or as others Render the Hebrew word, I know my Iniquity, Iſa. 59.12. As for our Iniquities we know them. Why did the Pſalmiſt ſo earneſtly beg that God would blot out his Tranſgreſſions, and waſh him from his Iniquities? He renders this reaſon of his petition, I know my Tranſgreſſions, that is, how much they offend and provoke thee, and how much they defile and deform me. He, that is not burdened, will not cry to be eaſed: he, that is not wounded, will not ſue to be healed: he that beholds not his debt, will not preſs for the cancelling of his bond. And we muſt ſee Sin, and abhor and deteſt it, and forſake it: Shall we ſeek to God to put it away as Evil, and yet we harbour it in our Hearts, and indulge it in our practice, as good? It muſt be hid not only from the Eye of God's vindictive Juſtice, but alſo from the Luſtful Adulterous eye of our Souls.
2. You muſt ſee Chriſt, and Believe on him, John 6.40. He that ſeeth the Son and Believeth on him ſhall not periſh, but have Everlaſting Life. The Curſes of the Law are Amen to thoſe that are out of Chriſt, Deut. 27. laſt. But the Promiſes of the Goſpel are Yea, and Amen to thoſe that are in Chriſt, 2 Cor. 1.20. If Chriſt had not carried our Sins upon the Tree, 1 Pet. 2.24. we muſt have born them, and they would have ſunk us down into the Bottomleſs pit. Though God doth pardon, and put away Sin Judicially, as a King, 2 Sam. 12.13. yet it is Jeſus Chriſt that puts it away Meritoriouſly as a Prieſt, Heb. 9.26. As you know your Iniquities, ſo, you muſt know Chriſt to take them away, Iſa. 53.11. By his knowledge ſhall my Righteous ſervant Juſtifie many: for he ſhall bear their Iniquities: He did bear them for a time, that they might not be bound on us to Eternity.
3. We muſt earneſtly deſire God, not only to hide his face from our Sins, but alſo to turn our eyes from beholding vanity, Pſal. 119.37. How ſweetly do theſe two petitions harmonize, and agree? Lord hide thy Face from my Sins, and turn away my eyes from beholding vanity. Lord ſheath thy Sword towards me, and lay thy ax to the root of in-dwelling Sin. Lord forgive all my wrong ſteps and wandrings, and Lord order my ſteps in thy word, and let no Iniquity have Dominion over me, Pſal. 119.133. Lord blot my Sins out of thy Book, mortifie them in, and root them out of my Heart. I have wandred from thee, I have walked contrary to thee, too Long already, but now Lord quicken, and lead me in the way Everlaſting, Pſal. 119.37. Pſal. 139. laſt.
4. Your Sins muſt ſtill be before you to humble you, Pſal. 51.3. Though they are not before God's Face to deſtroy you, Pſal. 109.14, 15. Though God will not Remember them, to throw you down to Hell for them, Jer. 41.14. yet you muſt Remember them, Ezek. 36.31. to caſt you down to the duſt for them.
5. You muſt ſet no evil thing before you, Pſal. 101.3. you muſt not delight in any Sin, or practiſe it. Shall God caſt Sin behind his back, and ſhall you ſet it before your Face?
6. You muſt ſtill Set the Statutes and Laws of God before you, Pſal. 119.30. I have choſen the way of truth, thy Judgements have I ſet before me. As a Scholar ſets his Copy before him, orders his pen, and ſhapes his Letters by it, ſo we muſt eye the Rule, and govern our actions by the Law of God.
2d. Branch of the uſe of Exortatiom: Is the blotting out of Sin ſo valuable a Mercy? Is the hiding of God's Face from your Tranſgreſſions ſo deſirable a thing? O then be exceeding thankful for it, Hoſ. 14.2. Take away Iniquity, ſo will we render the calves of our lips. Aſcribe Glory to him that hath loved you, and waſhed you from your Sins in his own Blood, Revel. 1.5, 6. This is a Mercy that ſeems to work things that are contrary: it ſhuts the Mouth, Ezek. 16. laſt. and yet it opens the Lips, Pſal. 51.15. it ſhuts the mouth from boaſting, or pleading our own works, Ezek. 16. laſt. That thou mayeſt Remember and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more: Becauſe of thy ſhame, when I am pacified towards thee, for all that thou haſt done. But pardon opens the lips to praiſe God, Pſal. 51.14.15. Deliver me from Blood Guiltineſs, and my Tongue ſhall Sing aloud of thy Righteouſneſs, open thou my lips, and my mouth ſhall ſhew forth thy praiſe. Guilt ſeales up the lips, and deads the Heart, as to praiſing of God. The Gentiles were unthankful for all their common benefits, Rom. 1.21. but it was God's great deſign to bring them to Glorifie him for Reconciling, Juſtfying, and pardoning Mercy, Rom. 15.9. that the Gentiles may Glorifie God for his Mercy. O therefore Glorifie God for pardoning of you.
1. That Sin which was before God's Face, Hoſ. 1.2. ſhould be caſt behind his back, Iſa. 8.17.
2. You have hid your Faces from God and his Laws, Jer. 2.27. Ezek. 22.26. God charges the Iſarelites that they hid their eyes from his Sabbaths, turned to him the back and not the Face, Ezek. 23.35. that they caſt his word behind their back, Pſal. 50.17. and caſt himſelf behind their backs; And is not this a ſtrange return, a wonderful Retaliation, that God ſhould caſt the Sins of Tranſgreſſours behind his back? Iſa. 38.17.
3. If God had not in Mercy hid his Face from your Sins, he would in Wrath have hid his Face from your Souls, Pſal. 27.9. Hide not thy Face far from me, put not away thy ſervant in anger. This we deſerved if God not turned himſelf from his fierce anger, Pſa. 85.3. he might have been angry with us every day, Pſal. 7.11. we might have ſpent all our days in his Wrath, Pſal. 90.9. yea, God might have been angry with us for ever, and drawn out his Wrath to all Eternity, Pſal. 85.65. What Grace is this that God will not keep anger for ever? Jer. 2.13. but will keep Mercy for ever, Pſal. 89.28.
4. If God's anger had not been turned away, Hoſ. 4.4. our Sins would have hid God's Face, Iſa. 59.2. and have turned away good things from us, Jer. 5.26.
5. That God ſhould hide his Face from Chriſt for a time, Pſal. 22.23. that he might not hide his Face from us for Eternity. Chriſt by his Suretyſhip made a breach for Sorrow and Suffering to flow in upon himſelf, that he might ſtop the breach that Wrath, and deſtruction might not break in, and overwhelm us.
6. Our Luſts would have drowned us in deſtruction, but Chriſt hath drowned them in the deep Read-ſea of his own Blood, Tim. 1.6. Micah 7.18.19.
7. That God that hides his Face from ous Sins, deſires to ſee our Faces as Supplicants and petitioners, Cant. 2.14. yea Jeſus Chriſt Interceeds, that we may ſee and partake of his Glory, John 17.24. 2 Theſ. 2.14. That Clouds of darkneſs may be for ever ſcattered, an Inheritance in light, and Crowns of Glory be obtained.
FINIS.
BOOKS Printed for Tho. Parkhurſt.
THe Great Duty of Chriſtians to go forth without the Camp to Jeſus, in ſeveral Sermons on Heb. 13.13.
Supplication to the Soveraign Judge, the Duty of the beſt of Men, in ſeveral Sermons on Job 9.15.
A Diſcourſe, in ſeveral Sermons on 1 Pet. 3.19. by which alſo he went and Preached unto the Spirits in Priſon—
A Diſcourſe of Chriſt's 2d. Coming, and the purging of his Kingdom, in 2 Sermons on Mat. 13.41.