An Exposition of Hosea 4-7, Biblical commentary 1 · Chapter 5 · Verse 15
VER. 15.
I will go.
GOD repeats it again, which notes, 1.Expoſ. The glory of the work, that he is not aſhamed of what he hath done, (Gods people ought for to be like God in this, let their actions be warrantable, ſuch as they may with comfort own and ſtand to, yea ſuffer for, if it ſo come to paſs, not like the proverb to ſet a Town on fire, and run away from it, leaving others to quench it) 2. It notes the Irreſiſtibility of Gods work, as if he ſhould ſay, let any try whether they can oppoſe me. 3. And chiefly it implies, I will bring them into captivity and there I'le leave them.
Whence note,Obſer. That 'tis a heavy judgment for God to tear and wound a people, and then lo leave them: God ſaith if they return not, I will rend and tear them, make them very miſerable and in that condition will I leave them, I'le be a ſtranger to them, and will not own them. Ezek. 22.20. I will gather you in mine anger and in my fury, and I will leave you there. God in another place promiſeth to be with His people in the fire and in the water; but there is a time that Gods people may ſo provoke God, that he will bring them into the fire and there leave them: when the Philiſtims fell upon Saul, it was a ſad time to him, becauſe God had left him: Oh how terrible was it when God left Chriſt upon the Croſs but for a little while! This we all deſerve, and this is the portion of the damned in Hell: While the Judg is preſent upon the Bench the Malefactor hath hope,ſimile but when the Judge goes off the Bench, then they cry and take on: Therefore the Church prayes, Lord, leave us not; Thou art our hope in the day of evil. Jer. 17.17. God is ſaid to be the ſtrength of his people in Pſal. 37. and Pſal. 39. Now if their ſtrength be gone, they muſt needs be weak. Chriſt rebukes his Diſciples for fearing when they were in the Ship, and he was with them: but when God leaves a people, Oh what cauſe of fear is there then! The Church implies ſo much, Jer. 14.9. thou art in the midſt of us, leave us not, we are in a ſad condition already, yet oh Lord do not thou leave us.
Now if we would not have God to leave us, let us take heed we do not leave God,How to keep God with us. would you have God be for you in adverſity, then be you for God in proſperity, nor forſake him when he is afflicted, which is when his people and cauſe ſuffer. Many will be for the Saints and own the Cauſe of God when all things goes well, and their ſide proſpers, but in trouble when they are in diſgrace or ſorrow, then they forſake them, as if they knew no ſuch people; know that in thus doing thou leaveſt God, and God may juſtly leave thee in thy affliction: But now, 'tis God… promiſe to his people, That he will not leave them, Pſal. 31.7, 8. Pſal 34. 17, 18. God may bring thee into their power and juriſdiction that are evil, but wait thou on the Lord and he ſhall deliver thee. We uſe to ſay when we are in any trouble, to our dear friend, What will you alſo leave me? will you not now own me, and ſtay by me? A… Chriſt himſelf ſaid to his Diſciples, Will you alſo leave me,ſimile and go away? but God will never leave his people in this manner. The Shepherd may ſuffer his dog to hunt the ſheep, to bark at them, to fetch them together, but never ſuffers him to worry and kill them: ſo God may ſuffer the wicked to hunt the Saints, and perhaps to faſten upon them ſometimes, but then God will call them off again, for his promiſe is not to leave them, as he doth the wicked in their afflictions;Heb. 13.5 five negatives. foreign. as Heb. 13.5. I will never leave thee nor forſake thee: in which words we have in the Greek five negatives to affirm the truth of this concluſion: that God will never forſake his people, I will not, not leave you, yea but the people of God might ſay, but Lord we ſeem to the eye of the world to be forſaken, no ſaith the Lord, I will not, not leave you; there it two negatives to leaving, and three to forſaking; from whence we may ſee how ſtrongly God hath engaged himſelf for his peoples ſecurity.
And return unto my place.Expoſ. Gods place. Deus eſt habitaculū mundi, non mundus habitaculum eius.
Theſe words are ſomething difficult, What is Gods place? Is God contained in any place? God is rather the place of the world, than the world his place; but here 'tis meant Heaven, I will return unto my place. That is, I'le go to Heaven again, not that God is there only containd, but that is the place from which he reveals himſelf moſt, there the holineſs of God ſhines in moſt glory. There is but little of God in this world to what there is in Heaven, the glory of all the world is but as a dungeon to that place of Gods preſence, we are like children born in a dungeon, who think there is no better place becauſe they never ſaw better: but Heaven is our Fathers place, and Chriſt who is our elder brother is gone thither before us to provide mantions for us, let us therefore have converſations in Heaven anſwerable to the holineſs of that place: this world is like unto the out-houſing, ſtables, or kennels, belonging to ſome pallace, or ſtately building, even as theſe are very inferior to the rooms in the houſe, ſo is the pomp and ſtate of this world unto Heaven, God hath given the world unto worldly men for their portion, but the Saints have a better inheritance reſerved for them, even in Heaven.
I will return to my place.] When was God from His place?Expoſ. when did He come from thence? Thus: when he did rend and tear them, appearing againſt them as a Lyon, and as a young Lyon, then it was as if God ſhould come down to rectifie and ſet in order things which were amiſs, and out of their place; as we may ſee in the caſe of Sodom, Gen. 18.21. I will go down and ſee whether they have done altogether according to the cry of their ſin, the ſin of Sodom fetcht God from his Throne. So in Iſa. 26.21. Behold, the Lord cometh out of his place, to puniſh the inhabitants of the earth for their cruelty and wickedneſs, the earth alſo ſhall diſcloſe her blood and ſhall no longer cover her ſlain. God compares himſelf to a Prince upon his Throne, who goes from his place of State into Countries to quiet mutinees and rebellions among his people. The Note from hence is,
That ſin deſturbs He even …nd Earth. God cannot be quiet in Obſ. 1 Heaven for ſinners. Juſt it is with God to trouble ſinners on Earth.
Obſ. 2 In times of publick judgment God doth in a manner leave his Majeſtie and Roialty in Heaven, to ſet things in order here on earth. And ſurely it will be to their coſt when God thus comes, do but view the terribleneſs of Gods coming down: in Pſal 18.9, 10. Darkneſs and coals of fire were under his feet: God ſeems to ſpeak as a father to his children, what muſt I come to you, will you force me to come among you, if I do, it ſhall be to your coſt.
Revertar ad habitaculum ſanctitatismeae Chald. paraphraſe.I will return unto my place.] When I have afflicted them, I will go to Heaven and there will I ſit, and my adminiſtrations ſhall be ſuch towards them, as if I regarded them not: as a Prince that goes from the poor ſubject to his ſeat of dignity and mindes not the poor priſoner.
Obſ. 3 The adminiſtrations of God ſometimes even to His own people may be ſuch as if He regarded them not: they may be ſo left in the hands of the wicked that they may think God hath forſaken them, and given them over into their hands, and Gods people may conclude ſo and think that God is gone and hath now hid Himſelf for ever; as a poor child in miſery in one Country, and his father in another, thinks thus, I am in trouble and ſorrow,ſimile. and I have a father, but he is in another Country, and I know not when he will come again: ſo God may go to His place, and the ſoul may ſeek Him but he is now gone, He is in another place, the Saints ſhould be encouraged notwithſtanding to look up to God, and know though God be gone, yet there is a way to bring Him down again, Pſal. 18.9.Pſa. 18 9. opened. God was ſhut up in the Heavens, and His people cryed to Him in their diſtreſs, then the Lord bowed the Heavens and came down; Let me make haſt ſaith God, I muſt go to the help of My people, therefore that I may make ſpeed, let the Heavens bow before me. So in Iſa. 64.1, 2. the Church there cries out, Oh that thou wouldſt rend the Heavens and come down, 'tis true Lord thou art in Heaven and there is thy Majeſty and glory,Prayer. but oh that thou wouldſt come down, and help us, Prayer as it will rend the Heavens to get up to God ſo it will rend the Heavens for God to come down to man, Lord if thou wilt go to thy place, then what wil become of thy glory? In the world thou hadſt ſervice and honor done unto thee by the creature, thy Sainss offered ſacrifice to thee; though ſometimes God ſeemeth to anſwer, I care not for this, I can and will have honor to my ſelf in ſome other way.
Further we may obſerve, When wicked men are in perplexity, Obſ. 4 then God enjoys himſelf in his perfection: Ezek. 18.4. When they are in wrath and ſorrow, and God hath not that ſervice frō them in external worſhip which he hath had; but I care not, I will return unto my place, and enjoy my ſelf in my glory: and in this is the miſery of the damned in Hell,D…mned. we are herein eternal torments and horror, but what doth God loſe by this? He is in his glory and enjoys Himſelf in perfect reſt.
But how long will it be before God return? Expoſ.will he alwaies abſent Himſelf?
No. Till they acknowledge their ſin. From the Connexion of theſe words with the former, we may obſerve;
That God ſometimes turns his back upon ſinners, until they return Obſ. 1 unto him and acknowledge their ſin. And this is the beſt way for God to deal with ſome kind of men, let them but feel a little of the ſmart of trouble, and then they will conſider: as many men who are wilful they wil do ſo and ſo, their wils ſhal be their law; now the beſt way to tame theſe men is, let them ſee what will come of it, and the evil which will follow upon their wilfulneſs wil be the beſt convincement to them. So ſaies God, My Prophets and my Meſſengers can do no good upon them, therfore let them alone, According to that 1 King. 8.47. If they will bethink themſelves and repent. And this is a moſt prudential way, to deale with men who are wilful and ſtubborn.
Till they acknowledge their ſin] Note, That when God comes Obſ. 2 to his people, as in his judgment, ſo in his waies of mercy he leaves his place and ma…eſty, He humbles Himſelf to behold what is done upon the earth; 'tis a kind of ſelf-denial in God to meddle with man at all: As 'tis a mighty condeſcention in a Prince to com from his throne to viſit and comfort poor men in dungeons and priſons:ſimile. Surely ſuch priſoners need honor ſuch a Prince, for he coms from his throne to viſit them: how much more then had we need to honour God for his love towards us?
Expoſ.But to come more cloſe to the words in the original, they are, Till they become guilty in their own hearts, and acknowledge themſelves to be ſo. foreignIt ſign…fies, to offend, to be guilty, to be deſolate, and to ſacrifice for ſin; all theſe ſignifications this word Aſham will bear.
Ʋntill they become guilty.] Were they not guilty before? Would God have them more guilty? No, but God would have them convinced of their ſin, to be guilty of it, to accuſe themſelves for it, and cleer God in all, and to behave themſelves as guilty perſons with ſorrow and ſhame; and laſtly, to acknowledge themſelves as guilty perſons before God and men: 'Tis true, aſſoon as ever the ſin is committed the perſon is bound over, being guilty, but then in ſpecial he is ſaid to be guilty when he acknowledges himſelf to be ſo.
Queſt. But here's a Queſtion: W…en was this diſpoſition wrought in them? hath it ever yet been? or is it ſtill to be fulfilled and accompliſhed?
Anſw. I anſwer, That it was in part made good at their coming out of Captivity, Hence Daniel (chap. 9. verſ. 5.) in the name of the whol Church ſpeaks after this manner, We have ſinned and done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts &c. What heaps of expreſſions hath he there to ſet out their turning? Alſo Ezra. 9.13. & 15. it was fulfilled: and in Nehe. 9.16. all theſe 3. Prophets propheſied after Hoſea, though in our Bible placed before him. This text is fulfilled again in Jer. 31.18. Ephraim was then guilty when he was found bemoning himſelf. Again, it was fulfilled when Chriſt was preached, Acts, 2.37. When they heard this they were pricked in their hearts. Calling of the Jews.And certain it is this Propheſie had an aim at Chriſt. But this Scripture ſhal principally be fulfilled at the calling of the Jews, then they ſhal become guilty; Zach. 12. They ſhall look on him whom they have pierced &c.
Obſ. 2 That ſuch is the pride of mens ſpirits by nature, That ſo l…ng as they proſper in their ſins, they will even conteſt with God Himſelf: Malac. 3.7. But ye ſaid, Wherein ſhall we return? Is not this the ſpeech of many proud ſpirits? being taxed about any crime, they preſently anſwer, Wherein have they done ſuch and ſuch things? Remarkable is that of Saul, 1 Sam. 15.13. when he told the Prophet he had performed the commandement of the Lord; then Samuel labors to convince him of his ſin ſaying, What meaneth the bleating of the ſheep and the lowing of the oxen? yet in the 20. verſe he is at it again, I have obeyed the commandement of the Lord. It was otherwiſe with David when the Prophet came to him, I have ſinned againſt the Lord, 2 Sam. 12.13. 'tis a good ſign of a ſoul truly humbled when it can joyn iſſue with the word. Affliction ſanctified brings men to ſee their ſins and to acknowledg their guiltineſs. God in afflictions marks men out, and then Conſcience will prey upon a man, as Simeon and Levi fell upon the men of Shechem, for then they were ſore and unable to reſiſt; in time of affliction then thou ſhalt find conſcience hard enough for thee; what pangs of conſcience have men in their ſickneſs? ſaying as he in Prov. 5.12. How have I hated inſtruction and my heart deſpiſ…d repro…f? Oh what a deal of guilt is opened and diſcovered in an affliction? afflictions are to the ſoul as earthquakes to the ground, which open the graves and diſcovers abundance of filth.
It is a ſign of a very hard heart not to confeſs in affliction when Gods hand is upon us, Pharaoh would do thus: and 'tis that which God r…quires. Joſhua bids Acan, Give glory to God my ſon and confeſs; Conf…ſſi…n give… glory to God, and when thou ſtandeſt ou… in this thing, thou oppoſeſt God in his glory. L…timer reports of a man in his time who was to be executed at Oxford for ſome villany, being brought to the place of execution, much means was uſed to him, that he would confeſs the act, but none could prevail, being turnd off, and after a ſpace hanging he was cut down, and when he was cut down, they pe…ceived he was not quite dead, they carrying him to a fire, and by means uſed came to himſelf, and then he confeſſed all of himſelf to the full. This example may ſhew us thus much, not alwaies to conclude men are not guilty, when they confeſs nothing, there is that ſtoutneſs in the hearts of men, that they will rather venture damnation, than yeild to men.
Obſ. 3 God will have his glory from us; If we do not acknowledg our guiltineſs by leſſer judgments, he wil continue them, and ad more to them till we confeſs and give glory to him: This is the reaſon that we are ſo long under trouble becauſe we wil not confeſs when we are cald for to do it; Uſe ſin in the conſcience lies as filthy corrupted matter in a ſore, which throbs belks and akes till it be opened and let out; ſo in the conſciences of men, there is much guilt, and that lies throbing in the conſcience, no eaſe can be got, God calls for confeſſion, but it will not be, and no true peace can be enjoyed any other way; Oh therefore ſinner confeſs, and give glory to God: How many are there who have lain a long time under anguiſh of ſpirit, till they have taken this courſe freely and fully to confeſs ſin committed, lying heavy and burdenſom upon the conſcience? Neglect not this duty when you are cald to it, it is an Ordinance appointed by God for the eaſing of troubled ſouls, and when you cannot get peace any other way, having uſed other means and yet God withholds the light of his countenance, then are you cald to confeſs to others; ſee what courſe David took, and how he ſped, Pſal. 39.2, 3, 4. I was dumb, I held my peace, I roared and was vexed, but I ſaid, I would confeſs my ſin, and ſhame my ſelf for them, and then thou forgaveſt the ſin of thy ſervant. Mark here, there was ſome ſin which lay upon Davids conſcience, and he could not get peace in again, what courſe takes he? I (ſaid he) did but ſay, I would confeſs; and then thou forgaveſt my ſin, thou diddeſt then ſeal a pardon to me. Oh take this courſe, and thou ſhalt have the like ſucceſs. God comes to thee in a ſickneſ…, and ſaith, ſinner, Guilty, or not guilty? give God then the glory of an humble confeſſion. 'Tis true, to confeſs offences againſt men to men, there may be danger in it, making us liable to trouble: but confeſſion of offences againſt God never cauſes trouble.
Expoſ.And ſeek my face,] that is, my Favour, my Son, and my Ordinances, for in the general, Gods face is nothing elſe, but Gods manifeſtation of himſelf, in his Love in his Son, in his Ordinances: and 'tis a moſt bleſſed thing thus to behold Gods face, Revel. 22.4. this is that which David ſo earneſtly praid for, Lord lift up the light if thy countenance upon me: one ſight of God is better than all the world. To ſee God any way is ſweet, but to ſee him in Chriſt this is moſt excellent: In the world we have nothing of God but his very footſteps, but in Chriſt there is the chief manifeſtation of the wiſdom, mercy, and love of God to poor loſt man; and in the Ordinances there God chiefly lets out himſelf in an eſpecial manner, Theſe are the Three things which ſhew unto us the meaning of thoſe words. [And ſeek my face.] The Notes from them are theſe.
'Tis not enough to acknowledg our ſins, but we muſt ſeek Gods Obſ. 1 face. The heart in the work of humiliation muſt be active:Confeſſiō without reconciliation inſufficient. that ſoul which is truly humbled before God, muſt be lively and active after God, elſe our humiliation is worth nothing in the ſight of God: When the heart is ſullen, lumpiſh, and ſinking in its humiliation God looks not at it, Ezek. 33.10. we reade of ſome who are ſaid to pine away in their ſin. Many men when God begins to afflict them with their ſins,Dulneſs under affliction an ill ſign. and put them into ſome trouble of ſpirit, they pine away in their iniquity: it is a very ill ſign when humiliation makes men dull, ſullen, and unſerviceable, hindering them from dutie, when men lie down under their trouble diſcontented and melancholly; therefore here's the tryall of our trouble of conſcience whether it be right or no; if from melancholly it duls the heart puts it out of all ſpirit and activity, diſabling it wholly from ſervice; but if true, it enlivens the heart, and puts activity into the ſpirits though naturally dull, and lumpiſh, it puts the ſoul in waies of activity for God, when they have to do with God; this is a very good ſign that ſuch trouble for ſin is right and good.ſimile The melting of Lead conſumes the Lead, but the melting of Silver doth but refine and purifie it: ſo the trouble of a carnal heart melts and conſumes it, but a gracious ſpirit will abide the fire, and comes out purified and bettered; therefore repentance is ſet out by a word of activity, Iſa. 55.1, 2. Come, buy wine and milk. Mat. 11.20. Come unto me: The frame of a true repenting heart is in an active coming poſture, fitted for any ſervice.
Obſ. 2 God leaves in his people at his parting impreſſions to ſeek him.When God leaves his people, he leaves ſomething behind him, which cauſeth the heart to make after him; The ſoul hath her eyes upon God, looking after Him.
Therefore much are they to be reproved, who are ſo full of their ſad concluſions, and deſperate ſpeeches, from ſuch as theſe the Lord is gone, and he will never return again, I am undone and loſt for ever, there is no hope, to Hell I muſt go: but a gracious heart in the darkeſt night of ſorrow and trouble can ſee ſome glimps of light and comfort, ſaying as that good man, Ezra. 9.2. Yet there is hope in Iſrael concerning this thing, and as the Church in Iſa. 42.24. Who gave Jacob for a ſpoil and Iſrael to the robbers? did not the Lord? he againſt whom we have ſinned? What then? yet O Iſrael fear not.
Uſe 2. conſolation.Let us lay up this for ſad times to ſupport our ſpirits withall, we know not what ſad and black daies we may ſee, yet know that we cannot be in a ſadder condition than Ephraim was in here, to have God to be to us as a moth and as a Lyon to tear and devour us: many make their conditions worſe by their deſperate concluſions. Auſtin Auſtin.ſaith, that David prayed earneſtly that he might not be caſt out from that face which he had offended: Is God angry with us or the Kingdom? let us not run away from him, but earneſtly ſeek him.
Obſ. 3 True repentance, is not ſo much to ſeek our own eaſe, as Gods face; the face of God is more in the heart and thoughts of a true penitent,true repentance ſeeks not eaſe, but favor. than its own eaſe, 2 Chron. 7.14. If my people humble themſelves and ſeek my face, then will I hear in Heaven. We may ſeek our own good, but we muſt go beyond it, 'tis God and not our ſelves only which we muſt ſeek after in our ſeekings after God: This hath been the practice of the Saints, Pſal. 63.1. Oh God, thou art my God, early will I ſeek thee, my ſoul thirſteth for thee in a dry and barren land; not for water in a dry land, but for thy face. So Iſa. 26.8. In the way of thy judgements, O Lord, have we waited for thee. We ſeek God in our daies of humiliation and that earneſtly; but what are our ends? Is it that we may have our peace, our eaſe, our eſtates, and our lives? Indeed we may deſire and ſeek for theſe, but is it the face of God we ſeek more than theſe? if it be, we have hopes of ſpeeding in our requeſts.
But what is Gods face? Ʋt amplecterentur verbum & cultos in verbo propoſitos, hec propriem eſt facies Dei, qua ſe revelat, & nobis conſpicuendum offert: It is the word, and Gods worſhip propounded in the word &c. ſaith Calvin, Calvinas upon this place, ſo on that, Seek ye my face. Whence obſerve,
Gods Ordinances and Worſhip are his face. The ſoule never Obſ. 1 comes to know God or have communion with Him, ſo as in theſe; in other things darkly, in theſe with open face. The creatures are but his footſteps; theſe His countenance, whereby we know him better than by the other.
Again, obſerve, Repenting hearts are very ſolicitous about Gods Obſ. 2 Ordinances, and the right way of his worſhip. As ſoon as they begin to know God and themſelves, they begin to diſreliſh thoſe waies of worſhip, that went down with them well enough before.
In times of publick calamity, the main thing we ſhould Obſ. 3 ſeek after, is, The Worſhip of God, His Name and His Ordinances. Though our ſufferings are great, yet we ſhould pray, Lord, take a care of thy great Name, Ordinances, and Worſhip, which are dearer unto us than any thing in the world, therefore O Lord, whether we have peace or no, liberties or no, eſtates or not, take care of theſe and it ſufficeth;Applicat. for Engl. Let England enjoy but thy Name, thy Ordinances, and the government of thy Son, and we have enough, Lord, thou knoweſt our peace, our lives, and eſtates are dear unto us, and we deſire them all, but thy Goſpel, thy Preſence, & the manifeſtation of thy Face above all, and ſeeking of peace is all in order to this. Oh that this frame of ſpirit were found in us! then how ſoon would the Lord return and heal all our breaches, deſtroy our enemies, and ſettle us in a ſure peace? See 1 King. 8.44. If they in their afflictions look towards the Temple. So Pſal. 78.7. All my freſh ſprings, they are in thee. It follows, In their affliction they will ſeek me early.
Hezekiah ſends to the Prophet, Iſa. 37.3. and tells him that it was a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of blaſphemy, as it is with us at this day; therefore ſaith he, Lift up thy prayer for the remnant which is left: and ſaith my text, In their afflictions they will ſeek me early. We have many rumors of peoples gathering together, and each diſcovering their poor ſpirits being dejected and caſt down with every rumour of fear, my text ſaith, Come, let us return unto the Lord, for he hath torn and he will heal, he hath ſmitten and he will bind up, therefore let our converſations be as becometh our text; providence at this time hath caſt us upon a very ſeaſonable word the Lord make it as ſutable, The words are the beginning of the ſixt chapter in the Septuagint tranſlation, & Hierom begins the ſixt chapter with theſe words, and joyn (come let us return) with them: the words are a propheſie of what the Lord will work in his people Judah, God ſaith that he will return unto his place, till they acknowledg their ſin; and here they ſay, Come let us return unto the Lord: this was Gods aim in tearing them, and he had his end in it, now from the Conexion of theſe two, Gods wounding, and their returning unto him again, obſerve.
Obſ. 1 That what good God aims at in his adminiſtrations to his Elect he will have it. In my tearing them I aim at their good, and I will accompliſh it; and thoſe means which God uſeth to effect this God will ſee that it ſhal perform it:God in the Miniſtry of the Word, does both to Reprobates and Elect what is ſufficient and fit for him to do God uſeth many means, his Word, his Works, and his Encouragements, and all theſe are of very great force and power to effect this, yet in the ungodly it doth not, but to the Elect it ſhall; God leaves not them to the means, but he will ſee the means to effect that good upon them which they want. When God ſends the Goſpel to any place, there are two ſorts of people, Reprobates and Elect; now God doth to them all that is fit for him to do, now if they do not, or will not receive it, he goes his way and leaves the Reprobates to themſelves, but to the Elect he follows them on with the means and accompliſheth the good he aims at: ſome expreſs it thus, A man hath his ſervant and his child ſick of the ſtone, he provides a remedy for both;An apt ſimilitude. brings the Chirurgion to his ſervant, tell… him that he is willing to be at the coſt, but the ſervant refuſeth, rather chuſing to endure the miſery and pain: the maſter ſeeing his refuſal goes away, and comes to his child, the child refuſeth likewiſe, but now here the father goes not away, but commands his child to be bound, and will ſee the Chirurgion to perform his office: ſo God offers the means to all, the Reprobates refuſe it, God lets them alone, the Saints they refuſe it alſo, but God will not take it ſo from them but ſets the means home upon them by his almighty power.
But touching the words themſelves, They will ſeek me early; foreign of the morning before light. In Kal it is, denigraere nigrum eſſe: in Pihel, manequaerere. 70 foreignthe Hebrew hath but one word to expreſs all theſe by, and it is this, Jeſhachruneni, as if he ſhould ſay, they ſhall morning me, they ſhall come in the morning of their time and ſeek me. For the further opening theſe words.
What time doth this ſeeking of God refer it ſelf unto? when did the Jews thus ſeek God?
1. This refers it ſelf unto theſe three times; as firſt, when the ſeventy yeers were at an end, & this was fulfild in Dan. 9 Ezr. 9. and Nehem. 9. than they ſought God early, when their ſorrows and oppreſſions were greater than in Egypt as Jeremiah in the Lamentations expreſſes it.
2. Under their captivity & oppreſſion by the Romans, which was when Chriſt came into the world, at that time when three thouſand were converted at one Sermon which Peter preached to them, Act. 2. And multitudes came in daily. Act. 21.20.
3. At the calling of the Jews, who are now in a moſt ſad and deplorable condition, and at their calling ſhall this be principally fulfilled.
How did they ſeek God in any of th…ſe times early?Quaere 2 How? for in Daniels time, he ſaith, All this evil is come upon us, yet made we not our prayers before the Lord, chap. 9. ver. 13. they never prayed to God in all the time of their captivity with any ſeriouſneſs till the end of it came: Then for the ſecond time how did they ſeek God early when Chriſt came, when the Scripture tells us, John. 7.11. That he came unto his own, but his own received him not; they crucified him, and were very bitter enemies to him, even to the death. And for the third time, at the calling of the Jews, how did they ſeek him early? for it's two thouſand three hundred yeers ſince this propheſie was ſpoken, and yet they have not ſought God, how then is this fulfilled, that they ſought God early?
Anſw, 1 For reſolution, Interpreters anſwer that this is to be underſtood not in reſpect of the time, but aſſoon as they came to be illuminated, to have their eyes open, to ſee any thing of the truth, in the morning of their day of grace; as in Cyrus his time, and upon a ſudden in Peters Sermon, and hereafter, the coming of the Son of man ſhall be as the lightning: this time ſeems to be called the day-ſtar ariſing in their hearts, 2 Pet. 1. The calling of the Jews ſhall be ſuddenly, therefore in the 2. of the Revelation 28. they are promiſed to have the morning ſtar to ariſe, that is, ſome beginnings of a day of grace, thoſe which overcome ſhall partake of the good of that day, and then ſhall be the time in which the people ſhall ſeek God early.
Anſw, 2 Seek me early.] that is, ſeek me diligently, Prov. 7.15. Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to ſeek thy face, and I have found thee: I came forth to ſeek thee early in the morning, the word is the ſame with this in the text, and thus this was fulfilled in the time of their captivity, Nehem. 4.17, 18, 19, 20. they built the walls diligently, or inflamedly, having their weapons in one hand, and their tools in the other: ſo the ſpouſe ſhe ſought Chriſt diligently; and in the Apoſtles time Acts. 2. they cry out, Men and brethren what ſhall we do? They were wonderfull ſolicitous in their ſeekings of Chriſt, and when the Jews are cald 'tis propheſied of them, that they ſhal be as doves flying to the wind…ws, Iſa. 60 8. Hence obſerve.
Obſ. 1 In the foreſt and greateſt aff…ictions which befal the people of God, God intends their good in them. I will return unto my place, that they may ſeek me early: in all this that is come upon them, I intend them no hurt, but every way much good, Iſa. 27.9. By this the iniquity of Jacob ſhall be purged, and this is all the fruit, the taking away of their ſin, Iſa. 16.14.Iſa 26.14. compared with the 9.opened. and there we may ſee Gods different dealing in afflicting the wicked and the godly, in the 14. verſe we have Gods dealing with the wicked, They are dead, they ſhall not live; they are diſeaſed, they ſhall not riſe. The wicked they are dead, and being dead, ſhall never riſe: but in the 19. verſe, when he ſpeaks of the Saints he ſaith, Thy dead men ſhall live, together with my dead body ſhall they riſe. Gods word ſhews a great deal of difference between the anger of God, and the anger of men, men when they are angry ſeek the deſtruction ſometimes of thoſe with whom they are angry; but God loves them in his anger; the ſpring of Gods anger to his people is love: the outward adminiſtrations of God both to the wicked and the godly may be one and the ſame, yet the root from whence they come much different, they may be love and kindneſs to the one, but wrath and hatred to the other.
We may note, the little honor which God hath in the world: Obſ. 2 God here ſpeaks of his own people, they ſeek him, but it is but ſeldom, except when in afflictions, and if the ſervice be but ſmall which they perform, what is it he hath from other men? If men make uſe of you for their neceſſities, and in their extremities only, you take it unkindly,ſimile and think they ſerve themſelves more than reſpect you.
Oh how ill may God take it then from us, Uſe. when he ſeldome or never heares from us but in our extremities.
Times of afflictions are times of ſeeking of God: this is the Apoſtles Obſ. 3 advice, Is any afflicted? let him pray, James 5.13. and Iſa. 26.16. They powred out a prayer unto thee when thy chaſ…ening was upon them, and in their affliction they viſited thee: they powred out a prayer to thee, it was not dropping, now and then, but it was violent, and it was a powring, and it was continual, a prayer (not prayers) in the ſingular number, noting that they made their prayers, but a… one continued act, the word prayer in this text ſignifies inchantment,foreign as in the ſpeaking of three or four words there is much efficacy being an inchantment: ſo here, their prayers, were very powerful to prevail with God.
Reaſ. In the time of affliction the ſoul ſees that it hath to deale with God; the falſe medium of things are then taken away; they ſee ſin as ſin, the falſe gloſſes wherewith ſin was wont to be ſet out withal,Luther Paul's Epiſtles. are then removed. Luther ſaith, that many of Pauls Epiſtles could not be underſtood but by the croſs. Men in proſperity can diſpute againſt the Truth, and grow wanton with it, but let God but lay his hand upon them, how eaſily wil they yeeld? Afflictions awaken the conſcience ſo that the Truths of God come with more power, Job, 33.16. and Job, 36.10.Job, 36.10. He openeth their ears to diſcipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity: He commandeth them in another way to return from iniquity then.opened Did not God command them before? but not with that power and efficacy, the voice of prayer is very pleaſing to God when fervent.
Obſ. 4 When the Lord is pleaſed to work grace in the heart, that heart is taken off from all creature helps; they dare not go with Ephraim to King Jareb. (How are they then to be blamed who ſeek to the Devil for help in diſtreſs?) they dare not go to Councels or to Armies for releef, but to God; it is too much to reſt upon men, much more upon the Devil: Do any of you go to Inchanters or Wiſards to find God? you may ſeek him but ſhall not find him.
Obſ. 5 We are not to be diſcouraged in our ſeeking of God, though our afflictions drive us to it. This people ſought God, but their afflictions did drive them to it, yet God accepted them.
Uſe. Sit not down deſpairing in your afflictions, ſaying, God will never be gracious, our ſeeking Him is to no purpoſe: It is true, God may juſtly ſay to us, as Jeptha ſaid to the people, Do you now come to me in your diſtreſs? So God may ſay, do you now come to me in your ſorrows and miſeries, and caſt me off in your proſperity?Caution. I confeſs it is very dangerous venturing the putting off our ſeeking of God till then, but if then God be pleaſed to work upon your hearts, be not diſcouraged but ſeek him ſtill. So Joel ſaith, That in his affliction he ſought the Lord: But did the Lord anſwer him? Yea, his requeſts were granted.
Note, That every ſeeking of God is not ſufficient; it muſt be early Obſ. 6 ſeeking of Him.Early ſeeking acceptable.
Now men are ſaid to ſeek God early.
When?
1. It is, in the morning of their years; 1. In youth.when young ones ſhal make this text true in the letter of it, it is wonderful pleaſing to God: It may be God laid his hand upon thee in thy youth, and then God revealed the knowledge of Himſelf to thee, thy miſery by ſin, thy remedy in his Son, ſo that the Churches prayer, was thine, Pſal. 90.14. O ſatisfie us early with thy merciemercy: How many ſins are by this prevented? Your father, or maſter (if godly) would give a world (if they had it) that they had begun ſooner to ſerve the Lord, and to ſeek him early; therefore bleſs God who hath put it into your hearts to ſeek him: John was the young Diſciple, and he in his youth began to know Chriſt; and of all the Diſciples none had that reſpect ſhewed them as John had: for it is ſaid that he lay in Chriſts boſom, and Chriſt loved him.
2. As this is acceptable in the morning of our years,2 At firſt enlightning. ſo in the morning of Gods revealing Himſelf; as ſoon as ever God begins to diſcover Himſelf, we ſhould then ſeek Him early, when the ſoul ſaith as Paul ſaid, Acts, 26.19. I was not diſobedient to the heavenly viſion, neither conſulted I with fleſh and blood. Hath God ſet up a light in your conſciences? and hath it diſcovered to you your miſery? and have you hearkened unto the voice of your conſciences? What have you done ſince? Is ſin reformed? Are you changed in the inner-man? Is Chriſt formed in you, and exalted upon his throne in your hearts? Is your will ſubjected to the will of God, and your whole man delivered up to the government of God? This were happy if it were ſo: But contrariwiſe, is ſin let in, and liked of as well as ever after theſe ſtirrings and convictions of conſci…nce? Then are you far from the number of thoſe who are early ſeekers of God.
3 With fervency and diligence.3. When we ſeek Him with diligence, and with fervency, not in a formal way. When Gods hand is out againſt us, He then looks that we ſhould ſeek him with intentiveneſs of ſpirit; See how the Church ſeeks God with diligence, Iſa. 26.9. With my ſoul have I deſired thee in the night ſeaſon; yea, with my ſpirit within me will I ſeek the early. When was this? In a grievous night of affliction, when they were in great troubles, then to ſeek God early, with their ſpirits within them, this is moſt emphatical. So, Acts, 12.5. prayer was made by the Church for Peter, without ceaſing, it was continued prayer, prayer ſtretched out; even ſo ought our prayers to be, lifted up with fervency: true prayer is active and working; the fervent prayer of the righteous prevails much with God Jam. 5.16. Lively working prayers are prevailing prayers.
Queſt. But what is it to ſeek God diligently?
Anſw. 1 When we ſeek God with all other things under our feet, when all other things are ſought in order to this.Contemn all for God. The ſoul is carried after the ſeeking of God with a panting and longing deſire, as the Hart after the water brooks.
Anſw. 2 To ſeek God early is, to ſeek him with our whole heart; The heart is not divided in the work,With our whol heart. every part is imployed; as Jehoſhaphat, 2 Chron. 20.23. feared and ſet himſelf to ſeek the Lord, he gave his whole ſelf to the duty.
Anſw. 3 When the ſoul bears down all difficulties in ſeeking of God, when nothing ſhall keep him off his wook:Vanguiſhes all difficulties. as Jacob wreſtled with God, and would not be put off without the bleſſing, Gen. 32.24. So the woman of Canaan, how earneſtly did ſhe ſeek to Chriſt for her daughter? and would not be put off by difficulties, Matt. 15.22, 23, 24, 25.
Anſw. 4 When no means is neglected to be uſed, whereby that may be had which we ſeek for; No means neglected.The ſoul tries this means, and the other duty, and follows God in all his waies that it may find him; as the poor woman which followed Chriſt from place to place to touch the hem of his garment, Chriſt could not be hid from her.
Reſolve to die in perſuit of him.5. Reſolutions for to die ſeeking of God, is earneſt ſeeking of God: it's our conſtant practice living, and our reſolutions dying: as Jacob, the nearer the dawning of the day approached, the more earneſt was he. How contrary are the practiſes of too many, who at the firſt ſeek God early and earneſtly too, yet after a while leave off and grow cold: Oh that it were not thus with us at this day;Uſe. England. the Lord hath brought us low at this time, yea how ſad is our condition at this time! 'Tis true, there is a ſpirit of ſeeking abroad in the Land, but now God calls for a quickning of this, we ſhould now put an edg upon our ſeeking of God; Be fervent in ſpirit ſerving the Lord, foreign Seekingin the original 'tis, boyling in ſpirit; let us ſo ſeek him now, that hereafter we may praiſe him; Pſal. 22.26.Pſ. 22.26 they ſhall praiſe the Lord that ſeek him: your hearts ſhall live for ever.illuſtrated. How ſweet are thoſe mercies which are won by prayer, and worn with praiſes? Therefore now ſtir up the gift that is within you: you that never prayed before, pray now; and you that have prayed before, quicken up your diligence, and double your care: How much better it it to ſeek God than men? to cry to God for mercy, than to curſed men? God might have made your condition to have bin the condition of your brethren; How many are this day running for their lives, and begging of their lives at the hands of barbarous, mercileſs, blood-ſucking monſters! and you are yet in peace ſeeking your God, for your ſelves and them.
But it may be asked, Why ſhould we ſeek God? Queſt. Can we do any thing to move God? Will God be ever the ſooner intreated by us.
I anſwer, No, that is not the meaning of the words, Anſw. that we can alter or change Gods mind; but ſuch exhortations as theſe, are to make us fit and to prepare us for mercy, to boyl and raiſe our ſpirits to a ſutable frame and diſpoſition for mercies expected and looked for. And thus we leave this rich Mine of the fifth Chapter, which hath been ſo frui…ful in affording many choice truths; and come to the ſixt Chapter, a rich Mine alſo of heavenly and moſt ſeaſonable Directions, no leſs uſeful than the former.