A Discourse Grounded on Proverbs, Part 2 · Section 28 – Section 29

A Discourse Grounded on Proverbs · Part 2 · Section 28 – Section 29

p. 317Sect. XXVIII.

BUT then again if our THOUGHTS of GOD be Right and Scriptural,Thoughts of God muſt be they muſt be CHEERFUL as well as FEARFUL, There muſt be a Rejoycing with our Trembling; Pſalm 2, 11Ps 2:11Divine Thoughts muſt be awful but delightful, as a Son thinks of his Father, Cheerful as well as fearful:not as a ſlave thinks of his Taskmaster, or a Condemned Priſoner of his Executioner; for God is LOVE; and how can LOVE be Rightly thought of, unleſs it be thought LOVELY?1 Joh 4, 8.161 John 4:81 John 4:16 or how can this precious box of rich perfume the love of God be ſhed abroad in the heart, Rom 5 5Rom 5:5and the thoughts thereof not be ſweet-ſented? our fear not a fear of torment,and indeed the ſweeter (as perfumes are) for being held to the Fire of holy Fear; There is a Fear that hath TORMENT, which Love labours to caſt out; p. 3181 John 4, 111 John 4:11but again there is a Fear that gives temper to true LOVE of God, and ſtrips it ſelf of its All, as it were, to the ſervice of it (as Ionathan did by David) even to its Sword, 1 Sam. 18, 41 Sam 18:4and to its Girdle, and to its Bow Our God is a CONSUMING FIRE,Heb. 12, 29Heb 12:29 Here is Trembling, and good cauſe why; but this God is OUR GOD (as the Pſalmiſt ſpeaks) for ever and ever, Pſal 48, 14Ps 48:14He will be OUR GUIDE, even unto death, here is rejoycing with our trembling. And O how amiable is this Chequer-Work of Mans thoughts in the ſight of God? ſurely things are not as they ſhould be with us when we Remember God and are troubled: Pſalm 77, 3Ps 77:3what? Harbour hard thoughts of the Father of Mercyes? 2 Cor. 1, 32 Cor 1:3Think evil of the Fountain of all Goodneſs? Good thoughts of Godah wherein hath God deſerved this at mans hands?Ezek 18.32 and 33, 1…Ezek 18:32Ezek 33:1 Is it becauſe he ſwears as he lives that he hath no pleaſure in the death of p. 319him that dies, But that the wicked turn from his way and live, that is, but rather that ſinners ſhould Repent and live? Is it becauſe he cryes out to you, turn ye, c…p 33, 11turn y… from your evil ways▪ for why will ye die? or becauſe he cryes out of you, John 5, 40John 5:40ye will not come to me that ye might h…ve life? or becauſe he cryes out …ver you, how ſhall I give thee up? how ſhall I make thee as Admah, and …et thee as Zebo…?Hoſea 11, 8Hos 11:8 O ſinners what ſhall I do unto you? or becauſe he …ryes out for you, chap. 6, 4 Pſal 8… 13 Iſaia 48 18 Luke 19, 42Ps 8:13Luke 19:42when it is too …re, O that ye had hearkened unto …y voice, that thou hadſt known at …aſt in this thy day the things that …elong unto thy peace, but now they …re hid from thine eyes? Wretched Miſcreant! Wilt thou go on to …ate Wiſdom, and to love Death, Prov. 8.35Prov 8:35as …deed thou doſt, and then think …at God is an Enemie to mankind; …d takes delight in making Crea…res meerly to destroy them? O p. 320ſpit out thy Gall and Venim, and and clear thy Thought: of prejudice againſt thy faithful Creatour, and moſt merciful Preſerver, and account his long-ſuffering to be Salvation; … Pet 3:15that he, that reprieves thee, would pardon thee, didſt thou ſue for his pardon, as thou wouldſt beg for thy Life; for he is ſo Gracious th…t he waits that he may be gracious, Iſaia. 30, 18Therefore turn th… to thy God, Hoſea 12, 6Hos 12:6and wait on thy G… continually. Gods thoughts not to be meaſured by oursAnd think not to meaſure his pardoning Mercyes by thine which are crueltyes, no… by thy frowardneſs and paſſions, nor by thy hard Thoughts and evil ſurmiſes,Prov. 12, 10Prov 12:10 as if God were altogether ſuch a one as thy ſelf, till thou canſt meaſure the ſpace betwixt the Heavens and the Earth (for ſo high are his thoughts above thy thoughts) Iſaiah 55, 7 8, 9Isa 55:7or till thou canſt find in thy hea… to follow thine Enemy, momen… by moment, all the days of his p. 321life with thine unwearyed care for his ſafety, and providence for his ſupply, and by that time that …hou haſt done for thine Enemy as God hath taught thee by what he hath done for thee, 'tis like that thou wilt have better thoughts of thy God; Gods challe…ge to manor if thou have not, come and teſtify againſt him, If thou dareſt, or if thou canſt; for …is a challenge of Gods own maing, O my people, Micah …, 3what have I done … thee? teſtifie againſt me; and I as his Herauld, proclaim this his …hallenge to thee.

But if thou keep ſilence, let …he ſpeak, and tell thee plainly what he hath done unto thee. He …ade thee a Man, that might …ave made thee a Brute, and gave …ee a Soul endued with Reaſon, Jer. 38, 1…Jer 38:1…mproveable by Grace, and ſo …pable of Salvation. Pſalm 13…, 14, 15Ps 13:14Ps 13:15He gave …ee thy ſhape, that might have …ade thee a Monster, and made p. 322thee deſirable to others, who might have made thee a burthen to thy ſelf, The Hand of his Providence took thee out of thy Mothers womb, and hath ever ſince ſuffered thee to hang upon it, Pſalm 22, 9Ps 22:9though thy teeth ſo deep in it that thy venimous biting hath often gone, as it were, to his very heart, and he, with more eaſe, might have ſhaken thee off into the Fire of his wrath.Acts 28, 5Acts 28:5 He kept thee from ten thouſand Deaths and Dangers in thy fearleſs Infancy, Pſalm 71, 6Ps 71:6careleſs Childhood, hardy and adventrous youth, and troubleſome Manhood to the very moment that thou art reading this.Pſalm 41, 3Ps 41:3 He made thy Bed in thy laſt ſickneſs, bare thee up in his Everlaſting Armes the laſt time that thou felleſt from thy Horſe,Pſalm 36, 6Ps 36:6 and ſaved both Man and Beast, Pſa. 107, 50Ps 107:50brought thee ſafe to ſhore the laſ… time that thou gaveſt thy ſelf fo… p. 323loſt at Sea. He gave thee thy Poſſeſs…ons, Thy Promotions, Thy comfortable Relations, thy loving Wife, thy lovely Children, thy health, ſtrength, limbs, libertie, credit, Comforts of all ſorts; even every good gift, James 1, 17Jas 1:17And if theſe had been too little, 2 Sam. 12, 82 Sam 12:8as was ſaid to David he would have given thee more and greater things then theſe, hadſt thou not been wanting to thy ſelf. How often would he have gathered thee as a Hen gathered her Chickens under her wings? Mat. 23, 3…Matt 23:3How often would he have convinced, converted, humbled thee, healed thee, given thee his Son, and given thee his Spirit;Iſaiah 5, …Isa 5 And now Iudge, I pray thee, between God and thy own Soul, what could he have done for thee more then that which he hath done? Thou needeſt a Chriſt, and all the day long, Iſaiah 65, …Isa 65he ſtretcheth out his hand to tender his Chriſt unto thee; and why did he give p. 324thee thy Reaſon but to lead thee to cloſe with his goodneſs, for thy good?

But beſides the Lord is GREAT as well as GOOD,God great as well as good. elſe he were not GOD; And hath done more then he owes thee in ſpreading a table, Mat. 21, 34 37Matt 21:34wirhout compelling thy appetite, that is more then thou expecteſt from thy beſt friend thou haſt, that is but thine equal. He hath ſent forth his Servants, 1 Pet. 3, 191 Pet 3:19and with them his Son, and in them his Spirit, Matth. 22, 4Matt 22:4And all theſe ſay to thee Come, All things are ready, O tast then, Pſalm 34, 8Ps 34:8and ſee how GOOD the LORD is. Away then for ſhame with all thy ſour and harſh thoughts of God, Gen. 3.4, 5Gen 3:4Gen 3:5and purge out thy old Leaven whereby the old Serpent firſt ſoured the whole lump of mankind with a hard opinion of God, as if he were not enough enclined to mans good. Right thoughts of G…d muſt be ſweet thoughts.Ou… thoughts of God if they be Right thoughts muſt be SVVEET Thoughts p. 325as Davids were; Bones of marrow, and not bags of Gall; our Souls must be ſatisfied with them (as his was) as with marrow and with fatneſs. Pſal. 104 34Ps 104:34Yea even for them that were never yet brought into his banqueting houſe (to tast of thoſe dainties, Pſal. 65.5, 6Ps 65:5Ps 65:6Cantic. 214 Pſal. 106, 5Ps 106:5which Scriptures call the good of his choſen, that hidden Man…a, the meat and drink wbich the World knows not of, Revel. 2, 17Rev 2:17the ſweet re…ſt of the hi…den ones) there is a Goodneſs, God good to all,yea Riches of g…odneſs to …e thought of by them, and not …o be deſpiſed,Pſal. 83 3Ps 83:3 but Improved by …ff…ctionate meditation till it lead them to Repentance. Rom. 2, 4Rom 2:4For he leaves …ot himſelf without witneſs, Acts 14.17Acts 14:17even as …o theſe, in that he doth good, and …ives them Rain from Heaven, and …urtful ſeaſons, f…lling their hearts …ith food and gladneſs: And if he …ave not himſelf without witneſs, …ke heed he leave not thee without …xcuſe. Think with thy ſelf therefore p. 326a little ſeriouſly O man, of this Riches both of the goodneſs, and long ſuffering & forbearance of God. H…ſt thou not found that there are ſparing Mercies, Sparing mercyes an evi…ence thereof,and canſt thou not think that there are pardoning mercyes with the Lord? He that hath laid it upon thee to Regard the life of thy Beast, Prov, 12, 10and hath himſelf had ſo continual a regard to the life of thy bodie, (which indeed is as thy Beaſt or bruitiſh part) but ſtiles himſelf the Fathe… of our Spirits, Hebr. 12, 9Heb 12:9whileſt he calls others the Fathers of our Fleſh, canſ… thou find in thy heart to thin… that he hath no regard for the lif… of thy Soul? Jer. 2, 31Jer 2:31Hath God indee… been a Barren Wilderneſs to thee that hath given thee ſo many fruitful ſeaſons? or hath he bee… onelyonly ſo to thy Soul? ſurely what ever he is to other Nations he hath not been ſo to us:ſo the means of Grace. mean of Grace have not been wanti… p. 327to thee, nor would his Grace have been wanting to thee in the humble and diligent uſe of thoſe means: Thou haſt not been ſtraitned in the Lord ſurely,2 Cor. 6, 122 Cor 6:12 whatever thou haſt been in thy own bowels, Hath He been a Land of darkneſs to thee, who hath cauſed his Sun to ariſe upon thee,Matth 5, 44Matt 5:44 though thou art Evil? Or hath he been onelyonly ſo to thy Soul?Mal: 24▪ 2 Haſt thou not alſo heard of a Sun of Righteouſneſs …hat he maketh to ariſe with heal…ng in his wings upon thoſe that …elieve in him that juſtifyeth the un…odly? Romans 4 5Rom 4:5And if all other thy un…odlineſs be no Barre, O why …hould thy unbelief or hard thou…hts of this good God be ſo.

ObjectionBut ſome one may think, Micah 3, 6Mic 3:6is …ere any evil in the Citie and the …ord hath not done it? nay doth …e not own it? where is then the …oodneſs you ſpake of?God the author of evil, Out of …e mouth of the moſt high proceedeth p. 328not evil and good? Lam 3▪ 38Lam 3:38is not He ſaid to frame Evil? Jerem. 18:21Jer 18:21to deviſe evil, to create Evil? And can this conſiſt with ſo great Goodneſs? But think again O Man that the Scripture ſaith,Micah 2, 3Mic 2:3 the Almighty will not afflict willingly, Iſaiah 45:7Isa 45:7nor grieve the children of Men. Anſwer.As a good Parent doth not correct willingly, yet he were not a good Parent ſhould he not correct.Job 37:23Job 37:23 He hath ſhewed thee O Man, what is good, to do Iuſtice, and to love MercieMercy; Lam: 2, 33:And cannot God be good though he do Iustice, God good in correctingwhileſt he loves Mercy? for Mercy pleaſeth him, or he delighteth in Mercy, but Iudgement he calleth his ſtrange work. Micah 6:8 chap: 7:18 Iſaia: 28:21Mic 6:8But go thou and first offer this to thy Governour, before thou preſumeſt to reply againſt God,Malac. 1:8Mal 1:8 and tell thy Prince, if thou dareſt,Rom: 9:20 that His Government is not good, becauſe He hath Bethlehems for Mad Folks, & puniſhingand Houſes of Correction for Rogues p. 329and Vagabonds, and places of Execution, Puniſhment of the wicked good for the goodand inſtruments of Death for Traitors & Capital Malefactors But how ſhould the Government be good to the Good, if it ſhould not reſtr…in and puniſh the Evil? Nay ſurely the Lords goodneſs is never more orient in the eyes of his people,So of their own ſins Pſal: 99:8 then when he takes vengeance (not onelyonly of their Enemies but) of their inventions, and yet pardons their ſins, and ſaves their Souls. And oh how ſhall he come to be glorified in his Saints, and admired in them that believe, 2 Theſ: 1:10Even when the Lord Ieſus ſhall ſhew himſe…f from Heaven with his mighty Angels, in flaming Fire, Verſe 8rendring vengeance to them that know not God, and obey not his Goſpel? So that the Goodneſs of God is never the leſs conſpicuous, but indeed ſo much the more Glorious, being beheld (as the Apoſtle ſpeaks) together with his Severity, Rom. 11:22Rom 11:22as p. 330bright colours are the moſt reſplendent when they are heightened from the darkeſt ſhaddows; Behold, ſaith He, the GOODNES and the SEVERITY of God. Goodneſs of God no leſs conſpicuuous for his ſeverity,Lo here a Right Theme for Thoughts. Behold his Goodneſs, btt Remember his Severity; Think of his Severitie but forget not his Goodneſs; Th…t the Thought of Severity without Goodneſs, may not make th…e deſperate, nor of Goodneſs without Severity make thee Malepart and wanton, but that both together may make thee humble and hearty, and dutiful and diligent, fearful and yet cheerful in all ways of Holineſs and new Obedience.

But mayeſt thou think again, if the Lord be ſo Good, ObjectionHe might have made all Mens condition to be ſuch? If God be ſo good why did he not make all mens condition ſuch?'Tis true indeed, He might do ſo, and He did ſo, And I may challenge thee yet again in His Name, what Iniquity did thy firſt p. 331Father (and all his Poſterity in him) find in God, Jerem. 2:5Jer 2:5that he went far from him (and they with him) and walked after vanity, Anſwer, God did ſo, Eccleſ. 7:31Eccl 7:31and became vain? Did not God make man upright, and give Him a Right Law, Rom. 7, 12Rom 7:12a Commandment that was Holy, Iust and Good? was it not Iuſt, Gen. 2:16Gen 2:16that He that gave man all the reſt of the Trees of the Garden ſhould keep One to himſelf, and that,Verſe 17 He that put all things under mans feet, Pſalm 8 …Ps 8ſhould appoint him a teſt for his obedience to His Supream Lord? And was it not Good, Gods goodneſs in the firſt COVENANT,that He gave Him a Law that He might keep, and a Principle and Power that might keep it, if he would; that He forbad Him and forwarn'd Him what would hurt Him; and promiſed Him Life in keeping a practicable Law, a Commandment that was fair and that was facile, proper for Him, and profitable for all mankind in Him. Muſt p. 332the great God to ſhew his Goodneſs to p…or man, Gen. 1, to 26Gen 1firſt build a world as a well furniſhed Houſe, Verſe 26:27 chap. 2:17before He brings in his Gueſt, and then call a Councel as it were, in Heaven, about molding a clod of Earth into an Excellent ſhape, and breathing therein a living Spirit, and Imprint thereon a Divine ſimilitude, and place Him as his Vice-Roy upon Earth, and to hold all, as it were, but by (the payment of a Pepper-Corn) the Forbearing of one Tree; And when miſerable Man after all this, hath not made good his Allegiance, but broken Faith with his Maker, ſelling Himſelf and his Poſterity for an Apple, or ſome ſuch like thing, to the evil firſt of Sin, and ſo of Suffering, ſhall mans Impudent Poſterity p eſume in their Hearts after all this to call in Queſtion the Goodneſs of God, for no other reaſon but his making his Word good, p. 331his Threatning good, and ſo his Commandment good in the penal part of it, which was that part which he undertook to make good, if Man failed to make good the other part of Obedience? Ah how truly may it here be ſaid, that the fooliſhneſs of man perverteth his way, Prov. 19:…Prov 19and his Heart fretteth against the Lord? When He that tranſgreſſeth a good Law, judgeth that Law, and pronounceth it Evil by His diſobedience; How can He that made that Law, vindicate that Law, or be good in his place, without making of it good, by puniſhing the Tranſgreſſor; Think therefore (vain Man) what thou wilt, but know that the Lord is well pleaſed for his Righteouſneſs ſake, Iſaia. 42, 21and (if a man vilify) He will magnify his Law and make it honourable. Gods goodn…ſs in rewarding the leaſt … good in the wicked,Thou wilt grant him to be a good Maſter that rewardeth the Good though He Puniſh the p. 334Evil Servant: produce therefore thy Cauſe, and bring forth thy ſtrong Reaſons; If thou do well ſhalt thou not be accepted? But and if thou do evil, Is it Gods fault that Sin lyeth at thy door? Gen, 4.7An Ahabs Humiliation (ſo good a Maſter is God, though the Man was but an Hypocrite) ſhall have a temporal Reward; As far as he is capableThe Lord is ſo good that He will not ſet a Nebuchadnezzar a poor Heathen,1 Kin 21 291 Kgs 21:29 a work, but He ſhall have his wages. A cup of cold water given in his Name ſhall not want its Reward. Ezek. 29, 18 20Ezek 29:18If any one perform any Spiritual good,Rewards ſpiritual good, the good God ſhall give him a ſpiritual Reward, Mat. 10.42Matt 10:42yea will take great notice even of the leaſt good thing,… ſpiritual ble…ſing as in the caſe of young Abi… in whom was ſound ſome good thing towards the Lord God of Iſreal,1 Kin 14 1…1 Kgs 14:1 in the wicked houſe of Ieroboam; and will renumerate the performances, of outwardly good things, with p. 335compenſations ſuitable to the perſons and performances, as the removal of outward Evils, and the Donation of outward bleſſings: The Ninevites they Repent them of their S…ns (though it were but after a faſhion,Nah: 11. &c as appears after by the Burthen of Nineveh in Nahums Propheſy? And this good God,Jon: 3, 10 He preſently Repents him of the Evil that he had ſaid he would do unto them, and did it not, till they Repented them again of their Repentance. Potiphar and Pharaoh make much of Gods Ioſeph, Gen. 39 …Gen 39and God bleſſeth their houſes for Joſephs ſake. And muſt God pervert Iudgment, and not puniſh the wicked, …hat he may have thy good word, Juſtice not derogatory to goodneſ in a Judgeor be well thought of by thee? Is …is Iuſtice derogatory to his Goodneſs? Thou canſt applaud the ſen…ence of a Iudge in Condemning …he Injuries that have been done …nto thee; why canſt thou not as p. 336well ſay unto God with the Pſalmiſt,Pſal 119, 39Ps 119:39 thy Iudgements are good? Yea with many, He is the beſt Man that will leaſt bear an Injury, but is moſt vindictive, and muſt not vengeance be the Lords, and may not he repay,Hebr. 1…:30Heb 1:30 without incurring thy evil thoughts?

A wrong thought of Gods goodneſs to think He will deſtroy none'Tis an evil Thought of Gods Goodneſs that ſome Ignorant Ones have, or at leaſt would fain have, that he that made them will never deſtroy them, nor indeed ever would he had they continued what he made them; But this good God ſaith expreſsly, and He knows what he hath to do, It is a People of no underſtanding, Iſaia. 27.11therefore he that made them will have no mercy on them, and he that formed them will ſhew them no favour.

p. 337Sect. XXIX.

BUt and if thou thinkeſt hardly of Gods Dealing with Men fallen under the firſt Covenant, Gods goodneſs in the NEVV COVENANT,…he Covenant of Works, O buiſy …hy thoughts ſo much the more …n the New Covenant, and ſurely …hou canſt not but cry, Grace, Hebr. 8:8 of GRACEHeb 8:8Grace unto it. O this is that where one are excluded, but ſelf-exclu…ers, nor counted unworthy, Zech: 4:7but …hoſe that are unwilling; where …he worſt are invited,Matth 22, 8Matt 22:8 and the moſt …eavy laden beſt welcomed: chap. 11, 28 1 Kin: 21:16where …inks of Sin (as Manaſſeh an Ido…ter and a Conjurer who filled Jeru…lem with bloud) are made veſsels …f mercy prepared unto glory: Verſe 6where …anſion Houſes of Devils (as Mary Magdalen) become Tem…es of the Holy-Ghoſt, Mark 16:9Mark 16:9Habitations God through the Spirit; Acts 9, 1…Acts 9:1where …erſecutors (as Saul) become Preachers p. 338of Righteouneſs, Iſaiah 11:6Isa 11:6and the Wolf dwells with the Lamb, and the Leopard lies down with the Kid, and the Calf with the Lyon, and the little Child doth lead them, &c. Where cruel Iews are ſaved by the Blood rhat they ſhed, Acts 2:23Acts 2:23and by putting forth an hand of Faith to take hold on him whom themſelves had taken before,1 Co. 6.9, 10 111 Cor 6:91 Cor 6:10 and by wicked hands had Crucifyed and ſlain: And where Sinners of the Gentiles, Fornicators Idolaters, Adulterers, Effeminate perſons, Abuſers of themſelves with Mankind, Theeves, Covetous, Drunkards, Raylers, Extortioners, are waſhed, are ſanctifytd, are Iuſtifyed in the Name of the Lord Ieſus, and by the Spirit of our God. Where blemiſhes are no bar to admiſſion to the Marriage Supper of the King, Luke 1…, 21 Verſe 23Luke 1:21but the Poor and the the Maimed▪ and the Halt and the Blind are entertained, yea the very Hedgerows are ſearched, and the very p. 325Vagabonds, and High way-men are compelled to come in. Where the eyes of the Blind ſee out of obſcurity, Iſaia, 35:5, 6 8and the ears of the Deaf are opened, and the Lame Man leaps as an Hart, and the tongue of the dumb doth ſing; Wh…re the wayfering Man though a fool doth not erre; Iſaia: 29.24and they that erred in ſpirit come to underſtanding, and they that murmured to learn Doctrine▪ Where God looketh upon men, and if any ſay I have ſinned, Job 33.27 28Job 33:27and perverted that which was Right and it profited me not, He will deliver him from going down into the pit, and his Life ſhall ſee the light. Luke 1 7…Luke 1:7Where Light is given to them that ſit in Darkneſs, and in the ſhaddow of Death; Hebr, 8 12and where Iniquity is forgiven, and Sin is Remembred no more. Free GraceIn the Firſt Covenant God was good to Mans Righteouſneſs; …n this New Covenant He is merciful to his unrighteouſneſs; In that He p. 342from Eternity to Eternity; Epheſ. 3, 11Eph 3:11and Height of Love, bearing ſinners up from Hell to Heaven, 1 Cor. 15, 45 471 Cor 15:45and to a more bleſſed and glorious ſtate in the ſecond Adam, than they fell from in the firſt. And O what a Theme for Thoughts is here? Here is Height for the Higheſt; Covenant of GRACE the ampleſt Theme for thoughtsDepth for the Profoundest. Breadth for the largest; Length for the longest Thoughts Man can poſſibly have, and indeed Thoughts are the largeſt things in the World.