Lectures Upon Hosea 1-4, Lectures 2 · Part 16
ANd ſo much concerning the third benefit which the Lord promiſeth to the Church. The fourth followeth, which is peace, tranquillitie, and immunitie from dangers. Verſ. 18. And in that day will I make a couenant for them, with Verſ. 18 the wilde beasts, and with the fowles of the heauen, and with that that creepeth vponupon the earth; and I will breake the bow, and the ſword, and the battell, out of the earth, and will make them to ſleepe ſafely. In which words the Lord promiſeth, that he wil The expoſition.ſo watch ouer his Church and people with his prouidence, that they ſhall hauehave ſecuritie and peaceable reſt, though they be compaſſed about with dangers and manifold euils; and amongſt others he maketh choice of two, to ſignifie all the reſt, namely, that he would deliuer them: firſt, from the brutiſh rage and violence of vnreaſonable creatures: and ſecondly, from the force and violence of men, who ſhall oppoſe againſt them. The firſt is expreſſed in theſe words, I will make in that day a couenāt for them with the wilde beasts. Where the Lord ſheweth, that when his people were conuerted and reconciled vntounto him, he would not only beſtow vponupon them his benefits both ſpirituall and corporall, but alſo defend them from dangers, ſo that no euill ſhould come vntounto them: and particularly, he promiſeth to protect them from vnreaſonable creatures, which are all referred to three ſorts: firſt beaſts, as Beares, Lions, Tigres, Wolues, &c. ſecondly, the fowles of heauen, by which hee vnderſtandeth all rauenous and harmefull birds; thirdly creeping things, as ſerpents, canker wormes, locuſts, caterpillers, and ſuch like.
All which creatures before the fall were by Gods appointment vnderunder mans lordſhip and dominion, yeelding vntounto him voluntarie and free obedience, but after by his ſinne and rebellion, man had made God his enemie, he loſt his ſoueraigntie, the creatures rebelling againſt him, who was a rebell to their great Lord and Creator, and pulling their necks out of the yoke of their ſubiection; and whereas before they peaceably obeyed him, now they were willing to bee the Lords readie inſtruments to inflict deſerued puniſhments, and bring man to deſtruction; the water to drowne him, as it did the whole world; the fire to burne him, as it did Sodome; the aire to poyſon and infect him, as in the time of the peſtilence; the earth to ſwallow him, as it did Dathan and his followers; the beares to deuoure him, as 2. King. 17. 25. Numb. 21. 6.they did the 42. children at the prayer of Eliſha; the lions to deſtroy him, as they did the Samaritanes; Serpents to ſting him, as they did the Iſraelites; yea euen the baſeſt creatures hauehave both will & power enough when God giueth ſigne of battel, as frogs, caterpillers, lice, as we may ſee in the plagues of Egypt, and in the example of Herod deuoured by lice.Act. 12.
And therefore when the Lord muſtereth and marſhalleth vp together his armie of iudgements, wherewith he puniſheth the rebellion and ſin of man, cruell and noiſome beaſts are one choice band wherewith he aſſaulteth him, as appeareth Leuit. 26. 22. Ezech. 14. 15. But when as man in Chriſt is Leuit. 26. 27. Ezech. 14▪ 15.reconciled vntounto God, then alſo the Lord beginneth to reſtore vntounto him his dominion ouer the creatures, and maketh a couenant with them for man, that is, cauſeth them to become harmeleſſe, ſo that they ſhall not be either willing or able to hurt any of his children. And this is that which the Lord promiſeth to thoſe that feare him, Pſal. 91. 13. Ezech. Pſal. 91. 13. Ezech. 34. 25.34. 25. So alſo Eliphaz ſpeaketh notably to this purpoſe, Iob 5. 22. 23. Howſoeuer therefore Gods children are compaſſed Iob. 5. 22. 23.about with dangers, yet they ſhall be ſafe vnderunder the ſhadow of his wings, Pſal. 91. 1. 4. And in the middeſt of turmoyles Pſal. 91. 1. 4.and moleſtations, their ſoule ſhall dwell at eaſe, as it is Pſal. 25. 13.Pſal. 25. 13.
But it may be demanded how this promiſe is accompliſhed, How ye faithful hauehave peace with the brute creatures.ſeeing the godly man hath theſe beaſts in ſubiection no more then the wicked, and oftentimes they are alike hurtfull and pernitious vntounto both. I anſwere, firſt, that the Lord doth performe this promiſe as hee doth all other concerning worldly and temporall benefits and deliuerances, namely, not abſolutely, but conditionally, ſo farre foorth as they will ſtand with his glorie and the good and ſaluation of his children: and if at any time it fall out otherwiſe, then though he inflicteth vponupon them the contrarie afflictions, troubles and dangers, yet hee ſanctifieth them for the accompliſhing of theſe maine ends, the furthering of his owne glorie and their ſaluation, ſo as they are not hurtful, but exceeding good and profitable vntounto them. And thus the Lord performeth his promiſe of preſeruing his children from bruite beaſts and ſuch like dangers, ſo that either they may be aſſured of deliuerance from them, which vſually the Lord granteth, as wee may ſee in the example of Daniel in the lions denne, and Dan. 6. Act. 28. 5.Paul whom the viper could not hurt; or otherwiſe if they be ouertaken of theſe dangers it is for their good, ſeeing all things, euen afflictions themſelues, worke together for the beſt to Gods elect, Rom. 8. 28.Rom. 8. 28.
Secondly, wee are to know, that the Lord doth vſually in the old Teſtament, vnderunder the promiſes of temporall benefits and deliuerances, with which the people were beſt acquainted, ſhadow out vntounto them his ſpirituall grace and protection; and ſo here particularly he promiſeth protection and deliuerance from brute and ſauage beaſts, with which the Iſraelites were much vexed and indangered, that by this benefit which they could feelingly apprehend, he might leade them as it were by the hand, and bring them to a full aſſurance of his protection and carefull prouidence, alwaies watching ouer them for their deliuerance out of all dangers, eſpecially from the furie and malice of our ſpirituall enemies, ſinne, Satan, and the world, who neuer ceaſe aſſaulting of Gods elect. 1. Pet. 5. 8.1. Pet. 5. 8.
Thirdly, this couenant of peace and harmeleſneſſe may be ſaid to be made betweene all creatures and Gods children, becauſe after they are reconciled vntounto God, and become his ſonnes by adoption and grace, then is their ancient title and right of dominion and rule ouer all the creatures renued, which was loſt by the fall; into the poſſeſſiō of which right they enter in this life, but enioy it not in full perfection vntill ye life to come; for the ſubiection of the creatures vntounto vsus dependeth vponupon our ſubiection and obedience to God, and therefore becauſe this is but begun and imperfect in this life, theirs alſo to vsus is imperfect and but in part.
And this is the firſt part of our peace and ſecuritie, which reſpecteth the brute creatures. Now becauſe there is no greater enemie to man then man, according to the prouerbe, Homo homini lupus, therefore the Lord likewiſe promiſeth his Church peace and ſecuritie, in reſpect of thoſe manifold dangers which men might cauſe vntounto them; And I will breake the bow and the ſword, &c. Where vnderunder theſe inſtruments of warre, the ſword and bow, we are to vnderſtand warre it ſelfe; as though hee ſhould ſay, I will not onelyonly make peace betweene my Church and the brute creatures, but alſo between men themſelues, ſo that all warre, hatred and contention ſhal ceaſe, and floriſhing peace and tranquillitie ſhall be eſtabliſhed vponupon the earth. The like places vntounto this wee hauehave, Eſa. 2. 4. and 11. 6. 7. 8. 9. and 32. 17. 18.Eſa. 2 4 & 11. 6. 7. 32. 17. 18. How God performeth the couenant of peace vntounto the Church.
Yea but the Church is not freed from warres, nay rather as ſoone as we profeſſe our ſelues Gods ſeruants, we are ſure to hauehave the world to bee our enemie, who bendeth all her force againſt Gods Saints, and laboureth both by ſecret treaſon and by open force to bring them to deſtruction. And againe, our Sauiour hath taught vsus, that he came not to bring Matth. 10. 34.peace but warre, euen betweene neereſt friends; and that in theſe latter times we are eſpecially to expect warres, vprores, and cōtentions; how therfore is this promiſe accompliſhed? I anſwere, it is performed either in reſpect of an outward and worldly, or an inward and ſpirituall peace. If wee vnderſtand it in the firſt ſenſe, then this promiſe of a worldly peace (being a temporarie benefit) is to be vnderſtood with the condition and limitation before prefixed, namely, of Gods glorie and our ſpirituall good.
Secondly, God thus performeth his promiſe, not by freeing them altogether from warres, but by defending and deliuering them in the day of battaile, ſo as the force and furie of their enemies ſhall not hurt them: and this is ſignified by the phraſe here vſed, for hee doth not ſay that hee will take cleane away the bow, ſword, and battaile, but that hee will breake them, that is, weaken, abate, and ouerrule their force and power, ſo as they who depend vponupon him ſhall not bee deſtroyed by them.
Thirdly, this promiſe is accompliſhed among the faithfull themſelues, which howſoeuer before their conuerſion they are one to another as cruel and hurtful as lions, tigers, beares, yet after they ioyne themſelues to Gods Church, they lay aſide their malice and brutiſh nature, and performe all mutuall duties of louelove & Chriſtian amitie, as appeareth Eſa. 11. 6. Eſa. 11. 6. The ſpirituall peace of the faithfull.But eſpecially vnderunder the type of this outward peace, wee are to vnderſtand that Euangelicall and ſpirituall peace, which is inwardly ſeated in the heart and conſcience, after that we are aſſured of our reconciliation with God through Ieſus Chriſt, which the Angel firſt proclaimed, Luk. 2. 14. and our Sauiour afterwards promiſed to all the faithfull, who are truly humbled, Luk. 2. 14.and hauehave ſubiected themſelues to beare his yoke of holy obedience, Matth. 11. 29. of which the Apoſtle alſo ſpeaketh, Matth. 11. 29. Rom. 5. 1.Rom. 5. 1. and ſo often wiſheth to the Churches vntounto whom hee writeth. And this peace is twofold, peace with God, and the fruite thereof peace of conſcience, with which whoſoeuer are endued, they hauehave tranquillitie and Chriſtian ſecuritie in the midſt of their worldly enemies, who though they rage neuer ſo furiouſly againſt them, yet they cannot diſturbe this peace, much leſſe take it from them, but in the middeſt of all garboyles and fierie afflictions, they may ioyfully triumph in this their peace with the Apoſtle, Rom. 8. 31. Rom. 8. 31.to the end of the chapter: If God be on our ſide, that mattreth it who oppoſe against vsus? &c. So that this ſpirituall peace may well ſtand with our worldly troubles and perſecutions, of which our Sauiour hath forewarned vsus, and therefore he ioyneth them together: Ioh. 16. 33. In me yee ſhall hauehave peace, in the world yee ſhall hauehave affliction. So Ioh. 14. 27. Peace I leaue Ioh. 16. 33. Ioh. 14. 27.with you, my peace I giuegive vntounto you, not as the world giueth, giuegive I vntounto you, &c. And the Prophet Dauid ſheweth, that howſoeuer the bodies of thoſe that feare the Lord are toſſed and turmoiled, yet their ſoules ſhall dwell at eaſe, Pſal. 25. 13.Pſalm. 25. 13.
And this is the peace both outward and inward, which is here promiſed to the faithful in the time of the Goſpel; both which are but begun in this life and imperfect, as all other The ſecuritie of the faithful.our gifts and graces are, which we hauehave receiued, and ſhal be fully perfected in the life to come. Now in the laſt place, hee ſetteth downe an effect of this peace, namely, that being protected from the danger of the brute creatures, and alſo of men who oppoſe againſt them, He wil cauſe them to ſleep ſafely or ſecurely. Whereby we are not to vnderſtand, that the faithfull in the time of the Goſpell, ſhal be ſlothful and careleſſe, as though they were exempted from all danger; but that in the middeſt of all troubles and dangers, they ſhall be ſo comforted with the feeling of their inward peace, and ſo aſſured of Gods protection and prouidence watching ouer them, that they ſhall be freed from that terror and deſperate feare, which wholly poſſeſſeth the wicked in the time of danger: and howſoeuer they carefully watch and ward, and diligently prepare themſelues to endure the aſſaults of their enemies, in regard of their owne frailtie, and their great power and malice; yet not with any diſtempered and tumultuous paſſion, but ſo as in the middeſt of their feare they quietly ſleepe, and peaceablie reſt vnderunder the ſhadow of Gods protection. An example whereof we hauehave in Dauid, Pſalm. 4. 8. Pſalm. 4. 8.I will lay me downe, and alſo ſleepe in peace, becauſe thou Lord only makest me dwell in ſafetie. So Peter, though hee were in priſon, loaded with chaines, watched with ſouldiers, and deſtinated euē the next day to the ſlaughter, yet in the middeſt of all theſe imminent dangers, reſting vponupon Gods prouidence, he alſo tooke his naturall reſt and ſleepe, ſo that the Angell that was ſent to deliuer him, was faine to ſmite him on the ſide, that he might awaken him, Act. 12. And Paul Act. 12.and Silas being in the like danger, although they are not ſaid to hauehave ſlept, yet they reſted quietly and peaceablie vponupon Gods prouidence, ſpending the night not in mourning and weake lamentation, but in prayer, reioycing, and ſinging of Pſalmes, Act. 16. 25.Act. 16. 25.
And this is the meaning of theſe words. The inſtruſtions The Do∣ctrines. which ariſe out of them for our owne vſe, are theſe. Firſt, we may obſerue, what is the cauſe which hath depriued vsus of the Sin depriued vsus of the dominion and vſe of the creatures.dominion, vſe and benefit, which we had by creation, ouer and by all the creatures; namely our ſins; for this priuiledge was granted vntounto man, vponupon the condition of his obedience vntounto God, which becauſe he obſerued not, therefore he loſt his rule and dominion, right and intereſt he had vntounto them; ſo that what rule he hath ouer them, and vſe of them, whileſt he continueth in the ſtate of diſobedience, he enioyeth it not by any lawfull right, but by tyrannicall vſurpation, vnderunder which thraldome the creatures grone, earneſtly deſiring to be deliuered from it, Rom. 8. 22. So that howſoeuer in the Rom. 8. 22.creation, all the creatures were made for man, ſubiected vntounto his gouernment, and appointed for his vſe, and man only was made for God and his ſeruice; yet after man by his fall had diſabled himſelf, ſo as he neither could nor would ſerue his Creator, the creatures were freed from the ſubiection and ſlauiſh vſe of man; and in ſtead of ſeruing and obeying him, they are readie eueryevery one in their place, to be the executioners of Gods iuſt iudgements, inflicted for his ſinne and rebellion: like ſeruants who ſet themſelues againſt their maſter, when he traiterouſly ſetteth himſelfe againſt his Prince, who is the chiefe Lord and Soueraigne ouer them all. When as therefore we heare of loſſes and ſpoiles by fire or water, of the hurt or death of men by the brute beaſts, and ſerpents, of dearth and ſcarcitie cauſed by too much raine or drought, cankers, caterpillers and ſuch like, all and eueryevery of theſe are ſo many remembrancers to put vsus in mind of our ſinnes and rebellion againſt God, and ſo many monitors to warne vsus, that we forſake our wicked courſes, and turne to the Lord by vnfained repentance.
Secondly, wee heere learne, when man is reſtored to his When our dominion ouer the creatures is reſtored.right of ruling, and vſing the creatures, without ſin in reſpect of God, and tyrannie in reſpect of them, namely, when he is reconciled vntounto God in Chriſt, & being adopted for his ſon in him, becommeth heire and lawfull owner of all the creatures; for when the Lord hath renued his couenant with vsus, then doth he alſo renue the couenant betweene vsus and the creatures, which is ſet downe, Gen. 1. 28 29. The conſideration Gen. 1. 28. 29.whereof ſhould moue vsus earneſtly to labour after the aſſurance of our reconciliation with God, and our adoption; for vntill then we hauehave no right vntounto any of Gods creatures, but theeuiſhly and tyrannically vſurpe vponupon that which belongeth not vntounto vsus: and for this cauſe the blood of ye creatures, which for our vſe is ſpilled, the clothes which which we put on, the bread which we eat, yea and the verie Habac. 2. 11.ſtones and timber of our buildings crie loude in Gods eares for vengeance, and ſhall be ſufficient matter (though we had no other ſinnes) of inditements for our theft, at the great aſſiſſes. Againe, vntill the Lord hauehave renued this couenant betweene the creatures and vsus, they are all our enemies, which are euer readie when God ſuffereth them, to reuenge the diſhonor which by our ſins we hauehave done to their Creator, and the iniurie and oppreſſion which we hauehave offered vntounto them; if we be at home, the fire threatneth vsus, if abroad, the beaſts, if God permit them, are readie to aſſault vsus, the water is readie to drowne vsus, the earth to ſwallow vsus, the aire to infect vsus, yea as we walke in the ſtreete, the tyles vponupon the houſes are readie to braine vsus, in our gardens, ſnakes and adders are readie to ſting vsus, and at our tables, eueryevery crumbe of bread is readie to choake vsus: all which Gods creatures are readie to ſerue vsus, and to offer vntounto vsus a ſafe and comfortable vſe of them, when vponupon our reconciliation with God, they are alſo reconciled vntounto vsus.
Thirdly, wee may here learne, what is the beſt meanes to The beſt meanes of obtaining a well grounded peace with men.obtaine and enioy a ſound and well grounded peace with men, or at leaſt entertaine a iuſt and ſafe warre, namely, by turning from our ſinnes, and ſeeking earneſtly reconciliation with God in Chriſt; for the cauſe of inward rebellions, and outward inuaſions, is our ſins, which prouoke the Lord to iuſt diſpleaſure, and moue him to raiſe vp againſt vsus, enemies at home and broad, to the end they may execute his iuſt iudgements againſt vsus. The way therfore to ſettle peace, and preuent warre, is to take away this cauſe, to wit, our ſins by true repentance, and to labour that we may be at peace with God, and then he will giuegive vsus peace with men, or at leaſt a proſperous warre, wherin he will aſſiſt and protect vsus againſt our enemies. Whereby it appeareth, that that peace which is grounded vponupon worldly policies, and hath not this peace with God for the foundation thereof, howſoeuer it may laſt for a time, yet in the end it will proue rotten and vnſound. For example, ſome thinke it the beſt courſe to ſettle a peace by tolerating Poperie and idolatrie, ſome by vtter forſaking Gods true religion, and by conforming our ſelues to the world, both in profeſſion and life; ſome by ioyning in neere leagues with neighbour Princes, and by many ſuch other deuices: but ſeeing the Word plainly teacheth vsus, that the only ſure foundation of our peace, is our reconciliation with God, and holy obedience to his Commandements; how can wee hope to obtaine it by taking ſuch courſes, as will cauſe the Lord to be our enemie, and by tranſgreſſing his Commandements, the breach whereof the Lord threatneth in ſo many places to puniſh with warre, and thoſe innumerable miſeries which do accompanie it? So Leuit. 26. 25. Deut. 28. Leuit. 26. 25. Deut. 28 49. 1. King. 8. 33. Jer. 5. 15. 19.49. 50. 1. King. 8. 33. Ier. 5. 15. 19.
The vſe which we are to make hereof, is, that when wee heare of our enemies preparations, we do in the firſt place conſider, that our ſinnes is the cauſe of this warre intended againſt vsus; and therefore before we reſolue vponupon any other courſe for our defence, let vsus repent of our ſinnes, and labour to be at peace with God, and ſo he will change their minds, or vſe their malice for their owne deſtruction.
Fourthly, we may here obſerue, what is the chiefe cauſe of The Lord is the chiefe author of our peace.our peace and tranquillitie, namely, not our owne power and policie, or ſtrength of neere adioyning friends, but the Lord himſelfe; and therefore when we do enioy it, as wee hauehave done for many yeares, let vsus aſcribe the whole praiſe and glorie vntounto God who is the author thereof: and let vsus Eſa. 45. 7. 2. Chron. 14. 6.make this vſe of our great peace and tranquilitie, with more diligence to doe God ſeruice both priuately at home and publikely in the congregation, which is the chiefe end why the Lord hath giuen this peace vntounto vsus.
Laſtly, we may here obſerue a notable marke of thoſe that Chriſtian ſecuritie a true note of our conuerſion.are truly conuerted vntounto God, & reconciled in Chriſt, namely, when as with a Chriſtian ſecuritie we can reſt vponupon Gods prouidence and protection, after we hauehave attained vntounto ſome aſſurance of the pardon of our ſinnes, not onelyonly when the world promiſeth ſafetie, but alſo in the middeſt of troubles and dangers: for there is no ſuch peace to the wicked, who Eſa. 57. 21.howſoeuer they are bold and confident in their proſperitie, yet when they are ouertaken with any vnexpected danger, faint with feare, and are perplexed with a guiltie aſtoniſhment; whereas they who are at peace with God hauehave the inward peace of a good conſcience, which maketh them (as the Wiſe man ſaith) confident as a lion, knowing that Gods Prou. 28. 1.prouidence watcheth ouer them, which will either deliuer them from danger and euill, or turne them to their euerlaſting good.