Divine Drops Distilled from the Fountain of Holy Scripture, Part 23
Expoſitions and Obſervations on IERE. 6. 1, 2, &c.
O ye children of Benjamin, gather your ſelves to flie out of the middeſt of Jeruſalem, and blow the Trumpet in Tekoa; and ſet up a ſigne of fire in Beth-haccerem; for evil appeareth out of the North, and great deſtruction.
I have likened the daughter of Zion, to a comely and delicate woman, &c.
I Shall deſire leave at this time, a little more familiarly, then uſually, to tell you what I conceive is the will of the Lord, becauſe I do not expect to ſpeak to you any more.
I remember a little before the Lord had brought us together, before the deſolation of that *Briſtol.City, (which indeed was greater then any man can imagine, unleſs he had been there preſent) the Lord by his providence guided me to expound, Matth. 24. concerning the deſolation of Ieruſalem, little thinking, or imagining, that the deſolation of that place had been ſo near. And now that word that was then ſpoken by providence, was (as I perceived afterwards) a very great ſtay, and refreſhing to the ſouls of the people in their trouble. By providence alſo, (not by any way of propheſie, I never was addicted that way, but by providence) reading this Chapter in my family, and ſeriouſly conſidering of it, me-thoughts the Lord repreſented to me in a way, a little more then uſual, the ſtate of this City, wherein you now live, and are to live; and that by the ſtate of Ieruſalem, which is here laid down throughout the Chapter. For though we cannot tell you now of Cities, and Kingdoms, as the Prophets did, by revelations and viſions, and the like; yet what is written, is written for our inſtruction. And the Lord hath given us examples of his judgments, that we may learn from them, what to think, and how to judg of other places, and Cities, and Kingdoms, that are parallel, that are like to thoſe that the Lord hath viſited, or deſtroyed heretofore. Therefore I ſhall briefly lay down the condition of Ieruſalem, as it is here in this Chapter. Here are things ſpoken promiſcuouſly, becauſe here in the Prophets, there are but the heads (as it were) of their preaching; therefore for method, and your memories ſake, I will digeſt the condition of Ieruſalem, and what is here ſaid of it, and about it, into theſe heads briefly.
But firſt of all, before I ſpeak of Ieruſalem it-ſelf, ye are to obſerve the condition of the Prophet that the Lord had ſet among them, which is laid down at Verſ. 27. I have ſet thee for a tower, and a fortreſs among my people, that thou mayeſt know, and try their way. The Lord compares the Prophet to a tower in the City; that is, a watch-tower: A tower for ſtrength, as it is Iere. 1. 18. I have made thee an iron pillar, and brazen walls: That though he preached contrary to their corruptions, yet they could not touch him. And a tower for watchfulneſs, becauſe the Prophets did watch as out of a tower, all the City, and all in it, and the enemies that were againſt it So the Prophets were called Seers in thoſe days; eying the ſins of the people, and eying the judgments of the Lord, and eying what comfort on the otherſide God gave to any among them. The Prophets, I ſay, were towers, and ſhould be ſtill. They are called trumpets here, I will ſend a trumpet, and cauſe it to blow, but the people will not hearken. They are watchmen, to give warning to the people; ſo they ſhould be: I leave it to you to judg, (for you know the ſtate of this place better then I) whether we be ſo, or no.
The next thing in this Chapter, is, The ſtate of Ieruſalem, what kinde of place it was, I mean, in reſpect of the building of it, and the ſcituation of it, (for I mean to gather up the whole Chapter in a little method) take it as it is deſcribed, Verſe 2. I have likened the daughter of Zion, to a comely and delicate woman. His meaning is, not for any ſpiritual beauty in her, as appears in the whole Chapter; but in an outward ſenſe, in reſpect of ſcituation and gallant building, it was a magnificent place, and no man was able to count the towers about it. It was a ſtately gallant place, and therefore was like a delicate woman. A ſtately place, full of caſe, and pleaſure, and trading, and good creatures, and altogether exact, as a delicate Gentlewoman, nothing was wanting: ſo Ieruſalem was; and yet for all that, you afterwards ſee how the Lord did deal with her. So, by the way, let me tell you this (for I ſpeak in the ſight of God) That the greatneſs of your City, the fairneſs of it, the riches of which you were wont to boaſt, how you did rule all Kingdoms beſides, you could make Kings, and Parliaments, and do any thing; you have ſuch Ships, and Towers, and Armies, and Armed men; you ſee what God ſaith of Ieruſalem, when he was going to deſtroy her, I have likened her to a fair delicate woman, and yet all could not excuſe her. If the Lord come againſt you, all your riches, and power, and trading, and gallantry, cannot excuſe you.
Thirdly, Here is all the good in Ieruſalem, the Religion, and godlineſs; the Lord acknowledgeth that too, and the Lord will not forget any good thing among them; that you ſhall ſee in Verſe 20. To what purpoſe cometh there to me incenſe from Sheba? and the ſweet Cane from a far country? your burnt-offerings are not acceptable, nor your ſacrifices ſweet unto me. Ieruſalem did not forget the ſervice of God, they had their worſhip, and ſacrifice, and they had ſweet Cane from Sheba. The Lord complains in Iſaiah 42. that the people did bring him no ſweet Cane; it was their maner in their ſacrifice. I acknowledg, ſaith God, you have a great deal of Religion, and you talk of Reformation among you, and Government, and Diſcipline, and I know not what; yet notwithſtanding, this ſhall not hinder, but for all your villanies and wickedneſs, this is the City to be viſited for all this. It is not a little grain of Wheat that can cover a Mountain of Chaff. It is not a little formal, fained, hypocritical ſervice of God, and a quarter, and talking, and a clutter about Reformation, that can hinder the proceedings of God againſt a people that are really ſinful, and that have really and grievouſly revolted.
The fourth thing here laid down, though promiſcuouſly (that I ſhall endevor to gather up for you orderly) it is the ſins of Ieruſalem. I ſhall ſpeak of no more then is laid down here, and they are in this place four. Here are four great ſins that God mentioneth.
The firſt is, the oppreſsion; obſerve that word in Verſe 6. For thus hath the Lord of Hoſts ſaid, This is the City to be viſited, ſhe is wholly oppreſsion in the midſt of her. He ſaith not, There is oppreſsion in the middeſt of her, or in her, but ſhe is wholly oppreſsion. As if he had ſaid, She is built with oppreſsion, her very fabrick is oppreſsion: She is oppreſsion it ſelf, oppreſsing the poor, and the Saints, and the upright in heart; there is nothing but railing againſt, and ſlandering of them, as we ſee after.
Now the Lord opens that, She was oppreſsion; that you may know the meaning of it, he tells you after. As a fountain caſteth out her waters, ſo ſhe caſteth out her wickedneſs: violence, and ſpoyl is heard in her, before me continually is grief, and wounds, ſaith the Lord. She is oppreſsion; as a fountain caſteth forth water. What is a fountain? It is a hole in the Earth that caſts out water; ſo ſaith the Lord, I ſee nothing in Ieruſalem, from one day to another, from one yeer to another, and from one end of the City to another, but oppreſsion. I ſee one oppreſs another: I ſee it full of wounds and griefs, and bruiſes, eſpecially to my poor Saints, there is nothing but oppreſsion. And I leave you to judg this day, whether this City, at this time, be not ſo: She is wholly oppreſsion, from the leaſt to the greateſt, there is almoſt nothing elſe to be ſeen.
Then, the ſecond ſin the Lord layes down, is in Verſe 13. That every one is given to covetouſneſs. Mark that word, and let every one of your own conſciences apply it. For, from the leaſt, even to the greateſt of them, every one is given to covetouſneſs. O, this covetouſneſs! there can be no Reformation, either in Church or Common-wealth, as things are, becauſe of covetous people. If there be any good courſe taken by Magiſtrates to reform any buſineſs in Courts or Offices, becauſe of the covetouſneſs of people, the buſineſs is marred, you all know it. And ſo far outward Reformation of Churches, and the like, becauſe of covetouſneſs, you all know that the buſineſs of Reformation is marred; Miniſters have loſt themſelves: There are many godly men that had room in the hearts of Gods people, ſome in this City, and in the Aſſembly, that had room in the hearts of Gods people before theſe times, and before they had all things in their own hands, and became reformers of the Church; now becauſe of covetouſneſs all is marred, that no buſineſs can be looked upon. Now the Lord look upon us; and indeed, though we ſee not him, he ſees us, and looks on us.
Then, the third ſin is laid down in Verſe 13, 14. that is, The falſe dealing of the Prophets, the Miniſters. From the Prophet, even to the Prieſt, every one dealeth falſly. How is that? They have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people ſlightly; ſaying, Peace, peace, when there is no peace. The Prophets deal falſly, they are become hypocrites; they tell the people, they are in a gallant way of Reformation; when the Lord knoweth, both according to Scripture, and ſound Reaſon, they are in the way to deſtruction; they tell them now, the Church, and Reformation is going up, when the poor Kingdom was never in ſuch a ſad condition. They deal falſly, that is, hypocritically. What a ſtir is there here about Schiſmaticks and Hereticks, and about Reformation; and what conſulting, and working, in the City, and elſewhere; and yet when there is any work to be done really for God, no body mindes it. I will give you an inſtance, as clear as the Sun: There hath been of late, a great deal of conſulting, and making Petitions, and Remonſtrances, and Repreſentations, and Modelizing the Common Councel, &c. And yet we have had the Superſtition of Chriſtmas, worſe then it hath been this four yeers to my knowledg; every one ſhutting up their ſhops, and giving themſelves up to Superſtitious ways, that we thought had been dead.
Come to the Miniſters, and Aſſembly: Is there any complotting to draw people from falſe, groſs Popery? No, they deal falſly: There is no aſſembling or meeting about that; but the Miniſters let the people go. I ſpeak it with the grief of my ſoul: If it were on the Mountains of Wales, it were no wonder, but to ſee people here to go in droves to Popery! I behold it as I go along in the ſtreet, and think I, with a heavy heart; how neatly doth Popery become this City? They go in their beſt clothes, and make gallant chear, and they are ready to throw ſtones, if any open their ſhops. It is not the people ſo much; but where are our Prophets? they lie as if they were dead all the while. This is dealing falſly, it is not plain, ſquare dealing with God. If people did hate Schiſm, (as there are Schiſms, and Blaſphemies, I favor them not) they would hate prophaneneſs, and all other evils as well: But this is falſe dealing, and jugling; this ſhews their deſign: If they did hate one, they would hate all; if they did ſeek Reformation in one, they would ſeek it in all: But this is falſe dealing, the Prophets deal falſly.
Then fourthly, here is the ſin of the people laid down, grievous revolting, horrible backſliding from God, the people grow worſe and worſe; it was time for God to take them in hand, in Verſe 28. This people are all grievous revolters: They were for God, but now they are revolted. In this City, four yeers ago, there was abundance of Reformation; how did people hugg poor Saints, when they were perſecuted in other Countries? they did cloath them, and feed them: And theſe Superſtitions of Chriſtmas, were almoſt quite out of the way; but we are gone back, we are as bad as we were twenty yeers ago. A poor Saint dares hardly appear at Guildhal, though he be not a member of a Church, yet they cry An Independent, an Independent; as if he were an Owl among Birds. And ſtrangers, godly men, that have ſeen us within this half yeer, they think we are grown mad, and have wiſhed, I would to God, I could get over the line to go home. London is grown the worſt place in the Kingdom; it was not ſo, three or four yeers ago. Men did love the Saints, and were ready to ſave the Kingdom; but now there is a bitter root to deſtroy the Saints, and to lay ſtumbling blocks; we are grievous revolters. For matter of ſin, we are as like Jeruſalem, as may be.
I, but will ſin deſtroy a people? I pray obſerve in the next place, The carriage of Jeruſalem under their ſins. What was that? There are three things laid down in their carriage: For it is not onelyonly ſin that ruines men, but their carriage under it. It is not faling into the water that drowns a man, but his unwilneſs, or unskilfulneſs to get out.
In the firſt place, they were not aſhamed in the leaſt meaſure for all theſe things. Were they aſhamed? He puts it to the queſtion, and anſwers himſelf, Were they aſhamed, when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not aſhamed, neither could they bluſh, ſaith the Lord, for all this wickedneſs. Were they aſhamed? As if he had ſaid, If they had been aſhamed, I had been ſomewhat ſatisfied: If the people had mourned for their grievous revolting, and backſliding, and oppreſsion, and covetouſneſs, in the middeſt of them, it were ſome comfort; but they were not aſhamed, they cannot bluſh.
Then the ſecond thing is this, That as they could not be aſhamed, ſo they would not hear, nor receive any inſtructions to amend their ways; therefore the Lord would turn them as a diſh is turned, upſide down, Verſe 10. To whom ſhall I ſpeak, and give warning, that they may hear? Where is any Creature that will hear, notwithſtanding all this? Behold, their ear is uncircumciſed, and they cannot hearken: behold, the Word of the Lord is unto them a reproach, they have no delight in it. This was their condition: The people were full of ſin, and they had no delight to hear the Miniſter of God ſincerely to lay open their ſins; nay, it was a reproach: they reproached the Miniſter that ſhould do ſo; they would queſtion him, and throw him into the dungeon, as they did Jeremy, for ſhewing them their ſins. So in Verſe 17. I ſet watchmen over you, ſaying, Hearken to the ſound of the trumpet; but they ſaid, We will not hearken: That is, They ſaid ſo in their hearts at leaſt. And ſo in Verſe 19. Hear O Earth, becauſe they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my Law, but rejected it. And judg whether this be not our condition.
Then thirdly, and laſtly, This is the aggravation of their ſins; as they were not aſhamed, and would not hear one word. So laſtly, God was weary, as it were, he was tired with correcting and afflicting them, and yet they did not amend. For that is the drift of that place, Verſe 29. The bellows are burnt, the lead is conſumed of the fire, the founder melteth in vain; for the wicked, or wickedneſs, or miſchief, is not plucked away. That is, ſaith the Lord, I was as a founder blowing with the bellows, till they were worn out: The very fire and all is conſumed, and the droſs is not taken away. Some particular men eſpecially have had many afflictions, and ſo after afflictions upon others in the Kingdom: There have been touches of Gods rod; and truly we are worſe. Now thus you have the ſins of Jeruſalem, and the carriage of this people, under their ſins.
In the next place, there is the dealing of God, with this people, becauſe of their ſins. And the firſt thing i…, God prepares war: That is, ſet down from the beginning of the Chapter, to Verſe 7. Hew down trees, caſt a mount againſt Jeruſalem: This is the City to be viſited, ſaith God. God comes to viſit Ieruſalem, he looks upon her, as if a Carpenter went to a Wood to chuſe Timber. This is the Oke that will ſerve to make ſuch a beam. So God looks on all Countries, the Amonites, and Amorites, &c. But this is the City fit for judgment; therefore, ſaith he, Hew down trees, prepare war. I will not be peremptory in this; but the Lord may do it: He hath done it with others, like our ſelves. Hew down trees, prepare war againſt this City. If the Lord ſhould ſay, London is the City to be viſited, Briſtol hath been viſited, and moſt places in the Kingdom, but now London muſt; there my wrath ſhall be poured out. The Lord grant that it may not be ſo, but I greatly fear it.
Secondly, The Lord brings them to impriſonment, the Lord took them priſoners, Verſe 11. The husband with the wife ſhall be taken; the aged with him that is full of days.
And then comes their plunder. Their houſes ſhall be turned to others, with their fields, and wives together: For I will ſtretch out my hand upon the inhabitants of this Land, ſaith the Lord. O, if the Lord ſhould ſay, This is the City to be viſited, and make war againſt it, and then take you priſoners, take the aged men, the Aldermen, Common Councellers, and all priſoners; and then plunder all, and ſay; their fields, and their wives ſhall be turned to others: That were ſore, that you ſhould not onelyonly loſe your goods, but your fields; that your houſes, and trades, and ſhops, ſhould be taken away, and your very wives. Thus the Lord did with others, I will not ſay, that he will do ſo with you.
Now, there were ſtumbling blocks in Ieruſalem before it was deſtroyed; ſo there are in this City; it is filled with ſtumbling blocks; every little difference in opinion is a ſtumbling block, that ſome men become Atheiſts, becauſe every Saint doth not agree one with another. And then there is the fear, and horror that did fore-run this miſery, Verſe 24.
But in a word, the courſe that the Lord would have them take; and that therefore I ſhall ſpeak of, that you may beſeech the Lord, that this poor City may prevent thoſe evils.
One thing is, the Lord would have them ſeriouſly, and ſincerely humble themſelves before him, to acknowledg their ſins, and bewail them. Verſe 26. Saith the Lord, O daughter of my people, gird thee with ſackcloth, and wallow thy ſelf in aſhes; make thee mourning, as for an onelyonly ſon. Not a formal day of faſting, and humiliation; for that is almoſt become all form: but really humble thy ſoul, and call upon the Lord, that the Lord would be pleaſed to turn away his wrath.
Then the ſecond thing laid down, is, That we ſhould hearken to inſtruction, Be thou inſtructed, O Jeruſalem, leaſt my ſoul depart from thee; be ready to hear the Word of the Lord, be ready to hearken what Gods will is, how he may be glorified, and we preſerved.
Then thirdly, here is a word that I exceedingly deſired to open, but I muſt but name it, Verſe 16. Stand ye in the ways and ſee, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye ſhall finde reſt for your ſouls, ſaith the Lord. This is the way to ſave you, Stand in the wayes, ask for the old way. What is the meaning of the old way? That is, Ieſus Chriſt. That was the old way of Abraham, Iſaac, and Iacob, Ieſus Chriſt, and the way of righteouſneſs, and holineſs, and truth. He alludes, as I take it, to the Patriarchs; for that is called the old world, and the old way. Saith he, Ye are not like your fathers heretofore. Abraham, he was not covetous, and full of oppreſsion; they were willing to hear that which was for their good; and they were not the worſe for their afflictions. Look to the old way, and labor to get ſuch a Spirit as the Saints had heretofore, that were in Ieſus Chriſt.
What of all this? notwithſtanding this counſel that the Lord had given them, what if they will not turn to him? what if they will not amend? Then there is a terrible word that we read of in Verſe 8. Leſt my ſoul depart from thee. It is not ſin onelyonly that makes Gods ſoul depart from a people, nor their hardneſs, nor wickedneſs; but when they refuſe all means, and helps, then his ſoul departs from them. Therefore, Be inſtructed, ſaith he, leſt my ſoul depart, or leſt my ſoul be diſjoynted, as it is in the Margin. What is the meaning of that? It is a terrible word; we have that word expounded in Ierem. 15. 1, 2. See what it is for to have Gods ſoul to go from a people. (I beleeve that Gods ſoul is not gone from us, if we will hearken to him, and do not give our ſelves up to wrath and rage againſt Gods people.) Then ſaid the Lord to me, Though Moſes and Samuel ſtood before me, yet my minde, or my ſoul, could not be towards this people. There is before the ferventeſt, bleſſed prayer for this people, that I know in the Book of God, Ieremy prayes: And now their deſtruction was coming, ſaith the Lord, Though Moſes and Samuel ſhould come before me, my heart could not be on them. I have put them out of my heart, my minde and ſoul is gone from them, I will never be troubled more with them. What follows? Caſt them out of my ſight; let them go forth. And if they ſay, Whether ſhall we forth? Then thou ſhalt tell them, ſuch as are for death, to death, ſuch as are for the ſword, to the ſword, ſuch as are for the famine, to famine, and ſuch as are for captivity, to captivity. Let them go whether they will; ſome of them will be hanged, ſome killed, ſome to the ſword, ſome ſtarved; they can come to no good, becauſe they are gone out of my ſight: My heart, and ſoul is from them; that is the laſt gaſp; that is hell above ground.
Therefore the ſum of all is, That we hearken to God; for theſe things were not written for Ieruſalem onelyonly; but for our inſtruction, God hath laid down their ſin, and wickedneſs, and their oppreſsion, and the bleſſed remedy, that they ſhould have taken; and if we take it not, but go on in our wickedneſs, we ſee what we may expect, That when that ſhall come on us (which God if it be his will forbid) you may remember that you were told before.
I have one thing in my ſad and ſerious thoughts, to comfort me, that this ſhall not befal this City, and that is this: That the Lord delt with them according to the adminiſtration of the Old Teſtament, and ſo went by Cities, and Nations; but now every man, and every perſon that calls upon God, is reſpected in every Nation, and City whatſoever. But this comes in, and cools it wonderfully, and puts me to a non-plus. If we in this City did go according to the adminiſtration of the New Teſtament, I am perſwaded, that the Lord would not ſend deſolation upon the City; but becauſe we would go according to that old adminiſtration, we have choſen it, and ſaid ſo, and do ſo: Now as they choſe that adminiſtration to deal with God, he choſe that to deal with them; for the Lord will deal frowardly with the froward, the Lord will deal with men according to their own law: Thoſe that ſin againſt the Law of Nature, ſhall be puniſhed ſo; thoſe that ſin againſt the Law of Moſes, ſhall be puniſhed ſo; thoſe that go according to the adminiſtration of grace, ſhall be delt with accordingly. Now we are going according to the old adminiſtration, more and more; for we are ſetling like the Jews in an outward, formal Reformation, without heart. Now it would be terrible, if the Lord ſhould chuſe our own adminiſtration, and give us according to our own heart, I hope he will not: But this lay heavy upon my ſpirit, to tell you of; therefore, the Lord direct you to make the beſt uſe you can, that if it be his bleſſed will, this place, that is the honor and glory of the Kingdom, and the refuge of the Saints, that the Lord would not come againſt it.
FINIS.