Moses Prayer, Exposition · Verse 8
Verſe 8. Thou haſt ſet our iniquities before thee, and our ſecret ſins in the light of thy countenance.
IN theſe words, Moſes ſets down the more nearer, and more proper cauſe of all thoſe grievous judgments of God upon them, viz. their ſins.
Wherein they confeſſe, that the Lord had not only called to a reckoning and account their great ſins of infidelity, and murmuring againſt Moſes and Aaron; but even their moſt ſecret ſins, which they committed cloſly, and whereof none elſe could accuſe them.
In the practice of this people here, Doct. 1 we may note this ſpeciall point in generall, namely.Sight of ſin, ground of humiliation for ſin.
That it is impoſſible for any truly to be humbled, and to ſeek unto God, unleſſe they come firſt to ſee their ſins, the greatneſſe and hainouſneſſe of them.
For ſo long as this people lived in ſin, and rebelled againſt God ſo long they ſtood out, and were no whit humbled to ſeek unto God. But now that the Lord by theſe heavy afflictions and grievous judgments upon them, having tamed them, and brought them under; now they begin to enter into their own hearts, and to call their waies to accompt.
Thus the Prophet directing the Church to this neceſſary duty of repentance, when Gods judgments lay ſo heavy upon them, exhorts them thus, Lam. 3.40.Let us ſearch, and try our waies, and turn unto the Lord; implying thereby, that there could be no true humiliation for ſin, nor turning to God by unfained repentance, till they had firſt found out their ſins.
It was a ſad complaint that the Lord takes up of his people, Ier. 8.6.No man repented him of his wickedneſſe, ſaying, What have I done? And no marvell there was no repentance for ſin, becauſe they never queſtioned their own waies, to diſcover their ſins.
And hence it is, that the Lord commands his Prophet, Ezek. 16.2.To cauſe Jeruſalem to know her abhominations. And, to ſhew Iſrael her tranſgreſſions, Eſ. 58.1.and the houſe of Jacob her ſins. Conviction of ſin is the Lords method, that he uſeth to bring his people to repentance for ſin. Thus was David convinced of his ſins by Nathan; 2 Sam. 12.7. Acts. 2.23. Lam. 3.19.the Jewes by Peter: And this is acknowledged by the lamenting Church, Remember my affliction, the wormwood and the gall, my ſoul hath them in remembrance, and is humbled. In remembring I remembred, an Hebraiſm, that is, by reaſon of thy afflicting hand upon me, I came to ſearch out the cauſe thereof, which was my ſins the happy fruit whereof was their repentance, and their ſeeking of God. So that the point is clear and plain, that till we come to ſee ſin, with the odiouſneſſe thereof, we cannot be humbled, nor ſeek unto God.
Becauſe none can repent him of that whereof he is ignorant; Reaſ. till the Lord be firſt pleaſed to open our eyes, and let us ſee wherein we have offended and provoked his wrath againſt us, we can never humble our ſouls as we ought before him. It was David's ſence of the heavy burthen of his ſins, that made him flie to God for pardon, Make me to hear the voice of joy and of gladneſſe, Pſal. 32.that the bones which thou haſt broken may rejoyce.
Secondly, Reaſ. 2 the ſight of ſin is neceſſary to true humiliation for ſin, in regard it qualifies the ſoul for Chriſt; for we ſhall never ſeek to Chriſt, nor reſt upon Chriſt, till we feel the heavy burthen of ſin, The whole need not the Phyſician, Lu. 5.31.but thoſe that are ſick. And Chriſt calls ſuch as travell and are heavy laden to come unto him. Mat. 11.28.Neither will God ever beſtow his ſaving benefits upon ſuch, that neither ſee their wants of them, nor will not eſteem them.
This ſerves firſt of all to direct the Miniſters of the Word, Uſe 1 that as they deſire to ſee the fruits of their Miniſtry; what foundation they ought to lay, to do good to the ſouls of their people; they are to take that courſe, and to uſe thoſe means, that God hath chalked out unto them in his Word, viz. To convince their hearers of their ſins, that ſo they may be brought to humiliation for the ſame: this is the ſure way to finde comfort in our Miniſtry. Chriſt tells his Diſciples, that he would ſend unto them the Comforter, Joh. 16.7, 8.and he ſhould rebuke the world of ſin and of righteouſneſſe: Firſt, of ſin, unto Condemnation, and of righteouſneſſ; that is, the righteouſneſſe of Chriſt unto Salvation.
There is no comfort to be miniſtred from the Word, till men are firſt convinced of their ſins. 2 Cor. 7.7.Paul tells the Corinthians, that he repented not that he had made them ſorrowfull: verſe 10.and he gives the reaſon, becauſe godly ſorrow cauſeth repentance.
And the Lord knowes, that this is the reaſon, why many a mans Miniſtry thrives no more in many a Congregation: Miniſters lay not a good foundation, by bringing their people to the ſight of their ſins, and convince not their Conſciences of the danger of an unregenerate, and impenitent eſtate.
The ſweet promiſes of the Goſpell are unſeaſonable, when this goes not before: What is this, but to offer ſalves to them, that know not whether they have ſores or no & to offer Phyſick to the whole that ſee no need of it? Note. That Miniſtry that doth not convince the ſoul of ſin… doth ſeldome humble the ſoul, nor break the heart, and ſo, ſeldome drawes a ſoul to Chriſt.
Seeing it is not poſſible for any to be truly humbled, Uſe 2 and to ſeek unto God, unleſſe they firſt come to ſee their ſins; 1 Ioh. 5.this ſerves to diſcover unto us the reaſon, why the greateſt part of the world this day lye in wickedneſſe, and go on ſecurely in a courſe of ſin; the reaſon is, they were never as yet, throughly convinced of their ſins. I have heard it reported of a certain traveller, that travelling in the night, being dark, forced his horſe over a Bridge, over a deep River, that was lately fallen down, and a planck laid over for foot paſſengers, which when he ſaw in the morning, his ſpirits were ſo far ſurpriſed with the danger that he had eſcaped, that he fell down and dyed.
O, if men did but conſider the danger they are in, they travell in danger every houre, not of water, but of fire, Hell fire, yet they ſee it not, nor fear it not; only ſuch, whoſe eyes the Lord hath opened, to ſee the danger they have eſcaped, in comming out of their naturall and ſinfull eſtate, theſe can tell of thoſe great things, that God hath done for their ſouls.
But ſince the ſight of ſin is ſo neceſſary to the attaining of godly ſorrow, and humiliation for ſin, Queſt. how may we come truly to ſee our ſins?
Firſt, Anſ. we muſt look into the glaſſe of the Law, I had not known ſin (ſaith Paul) but by the Law. And again, Ro. 7.7. Ro 3.20.By the Law commeth the knowledge oſt ſin. The Law ſerves to diſcover ſin, and the puniſhment of ſin: there we ſhall ſee the good omitted, and the evill committed the leaſt tranſgreſſion whereof deſerves death.
Secondly, we muſt look into the glaſſe of the Goſpell, and thence take notice of the grace and mercy offered, and that high contempt of the ſame: This (as our Saviour ſaith) is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and that men ſhould love darkneſſe rather than light. O the ſins againſt the Goſpell, theſe are the ſoul-condemning ſins, for the which we ſhall have nothing to ſay for our ſelves at laſt.
Thirdly, that we conſider the moſt holy and pure nature of God, againſt whom our ſins have bin committed ſo holy a God, that the very heavens themſelves are not clear in his ſight, Iob 4.18. Eſ. 64.6.and the very Angells themſelves do cover their faces; how much more is man abominable and filthy before him? In his ſight, our beſt righteouſneſſe, is as amenſtruous and polluted cloth, the conſideration whereof made Job to abhor himſelfe, and to repent in duſt and aſhes; and Abraham, when he was to come into his preſence, to confeſſe himſelfe to be but duſt and aſhes.
And laſt of all, to help to convince us of our miſery, by reaſon of ſin, conſider:
1. The multitude of the ſins of one day, then what of a year? what of our whole life?
2. That all the world is the worſe for our ſins.
3. That many thouſands are now in hell for the ſame ſins.
4. That Gods wrath burns againſt ſin, compared
1. To a Bear, robbed of her whelps.
2. To an evening Wolf, woe to that Lamb he firſt meets withall.
3. To a conſuming fire, Heb. 12.….Our God is a conſuming fire.
The conſideration of theſe particulars, may help us to finde out the evills of our own hearts, and to humiliation for the ſame; for till we come to the ſight of our ſins, we ſhall never truly repent us of them, nor ſee the danger of ſin, how it provokes God to anger and wrath againſt us.
Thou haſt ſet our iniquities before thee, &c.
THe Church and people of God having in the former verſe confeſſed, that they were conſumed by Gods anger, and by his wrath they were ſore troubled: come now to acknowledge the proper cauſe of all thoſe grievous judgments of God upon them, and that was their ſins; they clear Gods juſtice, and acknow ledge, that he was moſt righteous, and that it was their ſins that had drawne down his wrath and heavy diſpleaſure againſt them.
Hence we may note, Doct. 2 what is the principall procuring cauſe of Gods anger, Sin, the cauſe of all judgments upon a people.and what it is that drawes down Gods judgments upon a Land and people and ſo likewiſe upon particular perſons, viz. Sin.
Our open ſins; and our ſecret ſins againſt God, and againſt men, theſe provoke the Lord to anger, and draw down his judgments upon a Land and People. Thus Danie confeſſeth their miſery and captivity, was juſtly inflicted upon them for their ſins; Dan. 9.5.We have ſinned, and committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, by departing from thy precepts, and from thy judgments. verſe 8.And again, O Lord, to us belongeth confuſion of face, to our Kings, to our Princes, and to our Fathers, becauſe we have ſinned againſt thee: they confeſſe the hand of God was juſtly upon them for their ſins.
And this is that which the Lord threatneth by Moſes, Deut. 28.15. verſe 21.that if the people would not hearken and obey, He would make the Peſtilence to cleave unto them, untill they were utterly waſted and conſumed; which the Lord made good unto this people at this time in the Wilderneſſe. This is acknowledged by the lamenting Church, when they ſay, Lam. 5.16.The Crown is fallen from our head, wo unto us, we have ſinned.
Thus the Pſalmiſt reckons up the great things that God had done for this people, in the land of Aegypt, Pſ. 78.12in the field of Zoan, gave them Manna from Heaven, gave them water out of a Rock, verſe 32Quailes to ſatisfie their luſt; yet for all this, they ſinned ſtill, and believed not his wondrous works. But what followed, verſe 33.Therefore their daies did he conſume in vanity, and their years in trouble. To this agreeth that of the Prophet, Behold, Eſ. 59.1.the Lords hand is not ſhortned, that he cannot ſave, nor his ears heavy, &c. But your ſins have ſeparated between you and your God, Eph 5.6.and your ſins have hid his face from you.
But what are thoſe ſins, Queſt. that in a ſpeciall manner provoke God to anger againſt a Land and People?
All ſin, Anſ. even the leaſt ſin moves the Lord to anger: Speciall ſins that provoke Gods anger.yet there are I confeſſe, ſome ſpeciall ſins, which do inflame the anger of God, and theſe be capitall and hainous ſins, and ſuch are
Firſt, Idolatry, Idolatryto worſhip a ſalfe God inſtead of thetrue God, or the true God in a falſe manner; this the Lord can no more endure, then a Husband can endure the wanton behaviour of his Wife, but is exceedingly provoked by it. This appears by that golden Calfe that the Iſrae…ites made to worſhip, for this ſin three thouſand were ſlain, Exod. 32.4, 28.There fell of the people that day, about three thouſand men.
O, it is a dangerous provoking ſin in a Land and Nation, that have enjoyed the glorious liberty of the Goſpell, to Apoſtatize, and fall from their firſt love, either to Babyloniſh Idolatry, or to Sects and Hereſies; this is a provoking ſin, and cauſeth God to remove the Candleſtick from ſuch a people. The Lord lay not this ſin to our charge.
The ſecond provoking ſin, Infidelity.that ſtirres up the Lord to anger againſt a People, is Infidelity, or a diſtruſting of Gods power, or calling into queſtion his promiſes, in times of tryall; that either the Lord cannot, or will not help: This was the great ſin of this people, for the which the Lord was ſo wrathfully diſpleaſed with them, Pſ. 78.33.and for the which their daies did he conſume in vanity, and their years in trouble.
The third provoking ſin, Blaſphemy.is the blaſpheming of the Name of God, Becauſe of Oaths, the land ſhall mourn.
The ſhedding of innocent Blood is a provoking ſin; Blood.as a loving Father cannot endure to ſee his Child ſlain before his face, and the blood of his Child to be ſhed; no more can the Lord endure the wicked to ſhed the blood of his Children.
Again, the ſin of Adultery, Uncleanneſſe.Fornication, and uncleanneſſe, theſe are provoking ſins, as appears in the firing of Sodome and Gomorrah.
It is true, every ſin provokes the Lord to anger, but theſe ſins eſpecially encreaſe his anger againſt a Nation or People, Hoſ. 4.2by ſwearing, and lying, and killing, and whoring, they break out, therefore the Land ſhall mourn.
The point then is clear and plain, that the principall cauſe of Gods anger and diſpleaſure againſt a Land and people, is their ſins.
Gods juſtice calls for vengeance upon the ſinner. Reaſ. Now God is moſt righteous and juſt, and he will not fail to puniſh ſin, in whomſoever the ſame is committed. The Angels (ſaith Saint Jude) that kept not their firſt eſtate, he hath reſerved in chaines, &c. The ſinfull World drowned, Sodom and Gomorrah burned, Pharach and the Aegyptians plagued; yea, the Nation and the People of the Jewes, fearfully conſumed: all clearing this truth, that ſin is the principal cauſe of Gods anger and is that which drawes down his judgments upon a people.
Seeing then it is ſin that ſtirs up God to anger, Uſe 1 and draws down his judgements upon a people; by the effect we may judge of the cauſe. Hath not the Lords hand of late years gone out againſt us the people of this Nation, what by the Sword, the Plague and Peſtilence, theſe late yeares of Drought and our preſent viſitation by an unwonted Diſeaſe, and ſickneſſe generally over the land, whereof ſo many have been taken away by death: What do all theſe but declare that God thah a Controverſie with us this day.
Do not thoſe forementioned ſins that pull down Gods Judgements upon a land and people, abound amongſt us, and make head at this day? Idolatry and Popery in open and ſecret manner, ſeems to take root again; Sects and Hereſies in former ages cried down, and for many years dead and buried, we have ſeen their reſurrection again from that Bottomleſſe Pit. What age did ever produce the like outrages and abominations that this day are rife amongſt us; Swearing and Blaſphemy, Drunkenneſſe and Uncleanneſſe, Contempt of Chriſt and his Goſpel, Thefts, Murthers, and all other abominations, the like never age produced? And unleſſe the Lord put it into the hearts of thoſe in preſent Authority to root out theſe ſins, it is not to be expected that England ſhall long eſcape more heavy Judgements then yet we have taſted of.
And yet alas how few are the number of thoſe that lay theſe things to heart. We hear and talk of our miſeries, but we are not affected with the cauſe of them, which are our ſins, no man layes Gods judgements to heart, as to ſay, Alas, what have I done?
Secondly, Uſe 2 ſeeing ſin is the cauſe of all Gods judgements upon a Nation or People, this may inform us who are the great enemies of our ſtate this day: Surely the greateſt ſinners. Theſe are they that obſtruct all our hoped for deliverance from our Parliaments and from our Councels. We have a long time looked for peace, for freedome, for ſettlement in Church and State: But when will it once be? or indeed what hope can we have it will be, ſo long as Tobias and Sanballats are amongſt us; ſo long as our Chams continue their ſcoffing, our Eſaus their profaning, our Nabals their coveting, our Achans their thieving our Jezabe…s their whoring, and all of us our ſinnings and rebellions againſt God: Our Parliaments and Councels will be rendred weak, & they will not, they cannot help us. How can England look to proſper when the moſt high God is againſt us, and doth forſake us?
What hath been the ruine and overthrow of Nations and Kingdomes but ſin? What hath tumbled down Cities, ruined ſtately Houſes, and overthrown ſo many Noble Families, but ſin? And when we ſhall ſee Religion countenanced, a faithful Miniſtery ſet up and maintained. Diſcipline in the Church eſtabliſhed, Juſtice duly adminiſtred, and wholeſom Laws duly executed, Piety incouraged, Sin duly puniſhed, and the Kingdome of the Lord Jeſus ſet up in the hearts and Conſciences of men; Then there will be hope of better times, that God will delight to dwell amongſt us.
Seeing ſin is the principal cauſe of all Gods Judgements upon a land and people; Uſe 3 How then doth it concern all Superiours that are in the place of Magiſtracy, to look well to their places and Callings ſince the weal or woe of the Church and State depends upon them. How many foul and enormous ſins were committed in Iſrael; and the reaſon aſſigned was this, Every man did that which was right in his own eyes. Iudg. 17.6.What confuſion is there at this day in Church and State, and all under pretence of Liberty of Conſcience? Who doth not ſee that Sects and Hereſies, Blaſphemies, Contempt of Magiſtracy and Miniſtery in all places of the land, is grown to ſuch a head, that if the Lord put not a ſtay to theſe ſpirits and licencious times, what can be expected but Confuſion?
The Apoſtle ſaith, The Magiſtrate doth not bear the ſword for nought: Ro. 13.4.But as the Miniſters of God are to take vengeance on them that do evil. It is a ſad condition that that Land and State is in, when Magiſtrates that have the ſword in their hands ſhall ſtand like a George on Horſeback with his ſword drawn, yet never ſtrikes. How can ſuch Magiſtrates approve their calling from God, and look for protection from him, that ſhew no more zeale for God?
Phinehas zeal in executing judgement upon Zimri and Cosbi, Num. 25.11, 12.brought a bleſſing upon the whole Congregation of Iſrael. And the Lord ſhewed mercy to good Nehemiah, Neh. 13.20.becauſe he had ſhewed ſuch zeal for God in puniſhing the profaners of the Lords Sabbaths. The Lord knows this zeal for God is wanting in many Magiſtrates amongſt us.
And indeed the want of the execution of Juſtice againſt the ſins of theſe times, is not the leaſt cauſe wherefore things are at this paſſe in the Church and State as they are at this day, and wherefore things proſper no better under our preſent Government.
O that all that are in Authority from the higheſt to the loweſt, would make it their care with David, Pſ. 101.8early to deſtroy the wicked of the land, and to cut off wicked doers from the City of the Lord; Can. 2.15And take thoſe foxes, thoſe little foxes that ſpoil the vines; That Juſtice might run down like a ſtream, and be duly adminiſtred, without partiality, that Sects and Hereſies might be diſcountenanced and puniſhed; piety and godlineſſe more incouraged, that God at laſt may remove his anger from us and delight to dwell amongſt us.
Thou haſt ſet our iniquities before thee, Text. &c.
THis Moſes ſpeaks for our capacities; as if the Lord did keep a Regiſter of our ſins, and ſet them before his ſight. The meaning of the words will appear by the contrary. As when the Lord is ſaid to caſt our ſins behinde his back, as things he never means to call to minde, but to put them out of his remembrance, and to drown them in the ſea, as he did Pharaoh.
Now as the Lord is ſaid to caſt our ſins behinde his back, when he means not to puniſh them: So he is ſaid to ſet them before his eyes, when he calls them to minde to puniſh them.
Whence we may note the happy fruit of affliction, Doct. 3 Times of affliction diſcovers corruption.when the Lord is pleaſed to ſend and ſanctifie the ſame unto his people. This makes them look home and to diſcover the evils of their own hearts and wayes, which before this time they could not ſee.
In times of peace and proſperity many ſins lie hid, and undiſcovered in Gods people; but Gods judgements bring them to light. Now that Gods hand is upon this people, being miſerably waſted and conſumed with the Plague and Peſtilence; Now they can ſay, Thou haſt ſet our iniquities before thee, &c.
In the times of Gods forbearance whileſt they had their Manna and their Quails at full, they were fat and wanton: Jeſurun waxed fat, Deut. 32.15,and lightly eſteemed the Rock of their ſalvation: But now in their affliction and diſtreſſe, they are taught to know themſelves, to look home, and acknowledge that God called their ſins to accompt, and juſtly puniſhed them for them.
This the Lord himſelf doth witneſs unto, Hoſ. 5.14, 15.when he ſaith, I will be unto Ephraim as a Lion, and as a young Lion to the houſe of Judah; I, even I will tear and go away, I will take away and none ſhall reſcue; I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence and ſeek my face, for in their affliction they will ſeek me early. And ſo they did; for in the next Chapter they ſay one to another, Hoſ. 6.1.Come, let us return to the Lord, for he hath wounded us and he will heal us, &c.
Thus Eſay; Eſ. 26.16Lord, in trouble have they viſited thee, they poured forth thei, prayers when thy chaſtiſements were upon them. The Scriptures are ful of examples in this kinde, how that in times of peace and proſperity many ſins in Gods people have lyen hid and undiſcovered, which Gods judgements have diſcovered and brought to light. Gen. 37.24.42.21An excellent example wherewhereof we have in the Brethren of Joſeph, whoſe ſin againſt their brother never came to Conſcience, for many years together, untill they came into Egypt, and were there ſtayed as ſpies. Then their hearts ſmote them for their ſin; We have juſtly ſuffered theſe things, for we ſinned againſt our brother.
The like we may ſee in Manaſſes, who did much evil in the fight of the Lord, till he was carried captive into Babylon, and there laid in cold irons: Then Manaſſes knew that God was the Lord.2 Chron. 33.13.
And this we may ſee in the Prodigall; whileſt his purſe was full, he cared not for his father, Luke 15.nor for his fathers houſe, onelyonly a famine makes him think of returning home. Thus did Hagar grow proud, and inſolent, in Abrahams houſe, ſhe then knew not her ſelf but deſpiſed Sara her Miſtris; but being in the wilderneſſe in want, was taught to know her ſelf.
It is true, the Philiſtines could not underſtand Sampſons Riddle, Iudg. 14.14.how ſweet ſhould come out of ſowre, and meat out of the eater: So worldlings cannot underſtand, that tribvlation bringeth forth patience, Ro. 5.3. 2 Cor. 4.13. Heb. 12.11.and patience experience, and experience hope; and our light and momentany afſlictions ſhould cauſe us a far more excellent and eternal weight of glory.
But Gods children finde it true by comfortable experience, that howſoever no viſitation be ſweet for the preſent, yet afterwards it bringeth forth the quiet fruits of Righteouſneſſe unto them that are thereby exerciſed.
And it muſt be ſo, in regard,
Becauſe miſeries and afflictions are excellent means to humble the heart of man, Reaſ. 1 and to abate its pride; for ſuch is our corrupt nature, that in times of health, peace and proſperity, men are lifted up, ſwell with pride, and forget themſelves. Now there is no ſin makes a man more odious to God, then pride doth. Iam. 4.6.God reſiſteth the proud. Now the Lord many times layes ſore afflictions upon his own children, for this end and purpoſe, to cure the evil. And this is one end that God aimeth at in correcting man, Iob 33.17.That he might hide the pride of man. Miſeries and afflictions awaken Conſcience, and bring thoſe ſins to remembrance that were long ago forgotten.
Secondly, Reaſ. 2 miſeries and afflictions bring a man to a more clear and experimental knowledge of God and of himſelf, then otherwiſe he could attain unto. As of Manaſſes it is ſaid, Then Manaſſes knew that God was the Lord, he that in his proſperity forgat God.
And as they bring a man to know God ſo likewiſe to know himſelf; as the Prodigall, of whom it is ſaid, Luke 15.He came to himſelf; when he was thoroughly pinched with poverty and his companions had caſt him off, now home, home, welfare home, I will home again, I will go to my father. And as Job hath it, Iob 36.8, 9.If they be bound in fetters and holden with the cords of afſliction. then he ſheweth them their works, and their tranſgreſſions that they have exceeded. And thus at one time or other, by one affliction or another, we ſhall be brought to know God and our ſelves if we belong to him.
Seeing that Gods judgements bring Uſe 1 thus ſin to light, that in times of peace and proſperity lay undiſcovered;
This may ſerve for matter of tryal, whether we have made the right uſe of our ſufferings, yea or no, which may be known by this; If we have diſcovered thoſe corruptions in us, that before were undiſcovered.
Many are at that paſs to bear off croſſes and afflictions with head and ſhoulders, as they ſay. Many have been ſick, ſay they, and have been well again. Many have this Ague amongſt them, and done well enough, and ſo I hope ſhall I. Thus men flatter themſelves as they did, Ier. 10.19.It is my ſorrow and I will bear it. Why the beſt have their afflictions and whom God loves them he chaſteneth and with theſe and the like conceits men put off Gods ſtrokes and dealings with them.
But alas where is that ſearching into our own hearts and wayes, to finde out our ſins that have not yet been diſcovered, the cauſe of Gods anger and diſpleaſure? few make this uſe of Gods judgements, to ſay, What have I done? what are thoſe ſins I am guilty of that have provoked the Lord to be thus angry with me? But it may be truly ſaid of many of us in our afflictions and miſeries, Eſ. 42.25.He hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and he knew it not; and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart.
And this is the reaſon the Lord many times brings long and laſting ſorrows and afflictions upon us, till we be brought to know our ſelves, and finde out thoſe ſins, for the which the Lord is ſo diſpleaſed with us. O that men were wiſe in this particular, to finde out the cauſe of Gods anger and diſpleaſure, and to deſire the Lord to help them in this ſearch; as holy Job did, Shew me (ſayes he) wherefore thou contendeſt with me: and again, Iob 10.2. & 13.23.Shew me my rebellion and my ſin. Till we do this we do nothing, neither can we have any comfort in our ſufferings that the Lord intends our good therein, or that the ſame are ſanctified unto us.
Secondly, Uſe 2 ſeeing the Lord by his judgements many times brings ſin to light, which in times of peace and proſperity lies hid undiſcovered This may teach us to admire the wonderful wiſdome, power and goodneſſe of God, who hath ſo many wayes to do us good, to humble ſinners, and to bring them home unto himſelf.
Indeed the preaching of the Word is the ordinary means whereby God doth break the ſtony heart of man this is Gods Hammer, Ier. 23.appointed by him to that end. It will make the hardeſt heart to quake, and tremble as Felix did; and the moſt deſperate ſinners to be humbled, as thoſe wicked Jews that had imbrued their hands in the blood of the Lord Jeſus. Act. 2.37It is a two-edged ſword cutting both wayes.
But when that will not ſerve the Lord can clap ſuch irons upon the ſoul and conſcience as can make the ſtouteſt heart to buckle. As the Lord dealt with Manaſſes, laid him in cold irons, and then he knew that God was the Lord. Thus dealt he with the Prodigall, Acts 16.the Jaylor, and with this people here, by ſharp and ſore afflictions, he makes way many times for repentance: So that we may cry out with Paul, Rom. 11.33.O the deepneſs of the riches both of the wiſdome and knowledge of God? how unſearchable are his judgements, and his wayes paſt finding out. Surely the greatneſſe of his wiſdome and power is wonderful, that by ſo many means can work good to his people.
And laſt of all this may ſerve for matter of terror unto ſuch that have been in the furnace of affliction, Uſe 3 and have had the hand of God lien heavy upon them, yet have not been bettered by them, to finde out their ſins; and to be humbled for them; there is few families amongſt us but have felt Gods hand in our late viſitation. To have affliction is no certain ſigne of Gods favour, but to profit by affliction; as to finde out our ſins, to be humbled for them, and bettered by them, thus are the afflictions of the godly ſanctified unto them.
But alas, the Lords hand hath been upon many of us, upon ſome in one kinde, and upon others in another, and yet they are not bettered. It was a ſad complaint that the Lord takes up of his people, I have corrected them, but they have not been humbled; there cannot be a greater ſigne of Gods anger, then to ſet light by afflictions. In that day did the Lord call for weeping, Eſ. 22.12.13, 14and mourning, &c. and behold joy and gladneſſe, &c. But what ſaith the Lord, This iniquity ſhall not be purged till ye die. Am. 6.9.Shall a Trumpet be blown in a City, and the people not be afraid? Shall Gods judgements be upon a land and Nation, or upon any particular perſon and they not lay them to heart? There can be no more certain ſign of a hard heart, and deſperate ſinner, then not to profit by the rod. I have brought thy way upon thy own head, Eze. 16.43.yet haſt thou no conſideration of thy abominations. And as it is ſaid, Reprobate ſilver ſhall men call them, Ier. 6.30.becauſe the Lord hath rejected them.
And our ſecret ſins in the light of thy countenance. Text.
NOte we farther, how Moſes confeſſeth here, that the Lord did puniſh them for their ſecret ſins, as for their open iniquities. And theſe God did ſet before his eyes to take vengeance, and to puniſh them for, as for their open rebellions; teaching us,
That it is the nature of godly ſorrow and true repentance, Doct. 4 A true pentient will be humbled for his moſt ſecret ſins.to be humbled and repent for leſſer ſins, as for great offences; yea for our moſt ſecret ſins ſuch as the world could never take notice of, yet a true penitent ſoul will be humbled for.
It is not enough for men to ſorrow and repent for open, notorious, and ſcandalous ſins, ſuch as are Murther, Whoredome, Drunkenneſſe, &c. But our repentance muſt reach to leſſer ſins, that is, ſuch ſins as we have committed in ſecret, that never came to the view of the world. To clear this:
Take we notice firſt of all of Davids Example and Practice herein. When Nathan by his parable had convinced him of his ſins, of Adultery and Murther and that his heart ſmote him for the ſame, theſe ſins he acknowledgeth, 2 Sam. 12.13.I have ſinned (ſaith he) againſt the Lord. And how heavy the guilt of thoſe ſins lay upon his ſoul, Pſ. 51.we may ſee in that penitential Pſalme of his, by his manner of begging pardon, Waſh me, cleanſe me, blot out; reſtore me to the joy of my ſalvation, &c.
Yet as though all this were not enough, he accuſeth himſelf of that, which Nathan did not, by acknowledging the very root and ſpawn of all thoſe evils, ver. 5.ſaying, Behold, I was ſhapen in iniquity, and in ſin did my mother conceive me. David will no longer flatter himſelf in his ſinful courſes and ſecret ſins, but confeſſeth all, and begs pardon of all; Pſ. 19.12Cleanſe thou me from my ſecret faults.
O how ready are theſe wretched hearts of ours to deceive us in this particular: If our hearts ſmite us, and our conſciences accuſe us for ſome groſſe ſin or other that we have committed, and the world cries ſhame of, and we confeſſe the ſame to God, and beg pardon for it, we think all is well: In the mean time there is a world of wickedneſſe that lies hid in the ſoul we ſee not, Gen. 6.the very thoughts and imaginations of our hearts being evil continually; and all our righteouſneſs, even our beſt duties themſelves, are as a menſtruous cloth; and When we have done all that we can we are unprofitable ſervants, and have cauſe to pray with good Nehemiah, Neh. 13.21.O my God pardon me according to the greatneſs of thy mercy. And without this ſenſe of the univerſal depravity of our Natures, and of thoſe ſecret ſins that cleave to us in our beſt duties, our proneneſſe to all evil, our indiſpoſition to any thing that is good; the blindneſſe of our Underſtanding, the rebellion of our Wills, the diſorder of our Affections, and that indeed we carry about us a very Body of ſin, and can be humbled for theſe, and repent of theſe as well as for our groſſe ſins, we are ſtrangers to godly ſorrow and true repentance.
And the firſt Reaſon may be taken from the nature of true Grace, Reaſ. 1 and godly ſorrow for ſin. If this be true, ſincere and unfained, it will ſet it ſelf againſt every ſin, and will work an univerſal change in the whole man; at leaſt in an unfained deſire and endevour in the heart, though by and by it cannot ſubdue and bring under every ſin, yet it will ſet it ſelf againſt it, and will be humbled for it. The nature of true Grace is to make the inſide cleane as the outſide; it worketh faith in the ſoul: and it is the nature of faith, to purifie the heart; Acts 15.9.and the heart being clean and pure, the thoughts, the words and actions of the life, will in ſome good meaſure be ſutable.
May be taken from the nature of God, Reaſ. 2 who is Omniſcient, and is privy to all our ſins, even to the moſt ſecret windings and turnings in the heart of man, as it is in this Text, Thou haſt ſet our ſecret ſins in the light, &c. There is nothing that ever we did, but the Lord is privy to it: Pſ. 119.168. Pſ. 139.4All my wayes (ſaith David) are before thee; there is not a word in my tongue, but thou, O Lord, knoweſt it altogether; and Job acknowledgeth, Iob 42.4.There is no thought hid from thee.
And as the Lord ſees and obſerves our wayes, ſo he will not fail to judge every man according to his works, 2 Cor. 5.10. Eccl. 12.14.And will bring every work to judgement, with every ſecret thing, whether it be good or evil.
So then whether we conſider the nature of true Grace, that albeit it cannot ſubdue every corruption by and by, yet will it ſet it ſelf againſt all and is humbled for all; or that God ſees and beholds our moſt ſecret ſins, and will not fail to puniſh them. This ſhews the Doctrine to be clear, That godly ſorrow and true repentance doth reach to the moſt ſecret ſins.
This ſerves to diſcover unto us in what a miſerable eſtate and condition many in the world are in at this day; Uſe 1 and how far they are from true repentance, that flatter themſelves, that ſo long as they are not notorious ſinners, Drunkards, Swearers, openly prophane, &c. and are not guilty of ſuch ſins as all the world cries ſhame of, they thinke they ſhall doe well enough.
O how far are ſuch from the grace of true Repentance, whoſe property is to ſet it ſelf againſt our moſt ſecret corruptions, ſince our moſt ſecret ſins are ſuch as the Lord will moſt ſeverely reckon for.
Moſes ſin for the which the Lord would not ſuffer him to come into the land of Canaan, was a ſecret ſin in his heart, yet how ſeverely did the Lord puniſh this ſin in his ſervant?
And Peter with Simon Magus to pray, Acts 8.If perhaps the thought of his heart might be forgiven him. So that there is no true repentance when men are not humbled for their moſt ſecret ſins.
And Gods children that have the truth of grace in their hearts, are as much humbled for their ſecret ſins, for their privy and cloſe ſins, their ſinful thoughts, and luſts of their hearts, hypocriſie, neglect of duties, coldneſſe in prayer, &c. they be oft brought upon their knees for theſe.
And this ſhews the folly and madneſſe of thoſe likewiſe, that if they can but commit their ſins in the night when none can ſee them, as to ſteale, commit Adultery, &c. think all is well: whereas though thou mayeſt hide thy ſins from men, yet even thy moſt cloſe and ſecret ſins are open and naked in the ſight of God, his All-ſeeing eyes were then upon thee; he took thee in the manner. Rev. 1.17His eyes are like a flame of fire, and his feet like fine braſſe. He ſees in the darkeſt night, and into the moſt ſecret corner, and he will not fail to puniſh the ſinner.
Seeing it is ſo ſure a note of godly ſorrow and true Repentance, Uſe 2 to be humbled for leſſer ſins as greater, for ſecret ſins as thoſe that are openly committed;
This may ſerve to juſtifie the wayes and courſes of the godly, againſt all thoſe ſcoffs and taunts of wicked and graceleſſe ones daily caſt upon them for piety ſake, that they are ſo ſtrict, and ſo preciſe in every thing, even in matters of the ſmalleſt moment that they love ſingularity, and deprive themſelves of that liberty and pleaſure that others enjoy, they will not ſwear nor drink for company, nor run with others into the ſame exceſſe of riot,
It is true indeed this they do not, neither dare they do it; and this is indeed the main cauſe why the world hates them: But it is better that men ſhould hate us for good, then that God ſhould plague us for evil.
Little doth the graceleſs world know what the terrors of the Lord are, and how ſenſible a tender conſcience is of ſin, eſpeciall ſuch as have been in the furnace of Soul-affliction. Davids heart ſmote him for the very renting off of Sauls garment, when his life it ſelf was in his hand. It is neither folly nor preciſeneſſe in any, to avoid the leaſt ſin, that is ſo hated of God, and will be ſo ſeverely puniſhed of him. Let ſuch remember, that it was the ſin of curſed Cain to hate his brother for good.1 Ioh. 3.12.
And laſt of all, Uſe 3 this ſerves to diſcover the wofull eſtate of thoſe that covet nothing more then to ſhut their eyes, yea and ſtiflle the checks of their own Conſciences; that when by the Miniſtery of the Word they are convinced of their ſins and of the miſerable eſtate wherein they ſtand by reaſon of ſin, labour by all means to keep this ſorrow of heart from them, like a poor condemned creature, that ſtops his ears that he may not hear the Sentence of Condemnation paſſe againſt him: whereas his onelyonly way were to be humbled for his offence, and to beg pardon, there cannot be a more certain ſigne of an obdurate and hard heart, then thus to ſtifle Conſcience, to hate reproofs, that they might go on in a ſinfull courſe without controlement. Pſ. 141.5.Whereas a godly heart can ſay with David, Let the righteous ſmite me, for that is a precious oyle. And by their judging of themſelves, they ſhall eſcape the judgement of the Lord: 1 Cor. 11.32.That ſin that is judged here, ſhall not be judged hereafter.
Our ſecret ſins in the light of thy countenance.
THere is one thing more obſervable in this Text, viz. That the Lord having now by thoſe ſharp afflictions humbled this people, they are brought at laſt to know and acknowledge, that God had not onelyonly ſet their iniquities before him, but even their moſt ſecret ſins in the light of his countenance.
Whence we learn, Doct. 5
That our moſt ſecret ſins that are committed, are done God looking on. The moſt ſecret ſins are done, God looking on.Our ſecret ſins in the light of thy countenance.
It is true, Job 22.13.carnal hearts are ready to reaſon as Eliphaz with Job, How doth God know, can he judge through the dark? Thick clouds are a covering to him that he ſeeth not. Theſe and the like are the carnal thoughts of carnal men, Doth God know? or is there any knowledge in the Moſt High?
Many a wicked and graceleſs wretch thinks the dark night will cover his ſin, and hide his abominations, where as there is nothing that ever we did, but the Lord is privy to it. Pſ. 119.168. Pſ. 139.4.All my wayes (ſaith David) are before thee; and There is not a word in my tongue but thou O Lord knoweſt it altogether. And as Job hath it, Iob 42.4.There is no thought hid from thee. So that all our wayes, words and thoughts are knowne to him.
Many are thoſe glorious titles that are given to God in the Scriptures: And amongſt the reſt this, that He is the Searcher of the heart, a property no way communicable to any creature for of him onelyonly it is ſaid, Heb. 4.13.All things are open and naked before his eyes.
This is fully cleared by the Prophet David, Pſ. 139.2Thou knoweſt my down-ſitting and my up-riſing; thou underſtandeſt my thoughts afar off: verſe 4.There is not a word in my tongue, but loe thou knoweſt it a together. And again, verſe 12.The darkneſſe hideth not from thee, but the night ſhineth as the day, the darkneſſe and the light are to thee both alike. Am I a God at hand, ſaith the Lord, Ier. 23.23, 24.and not a God afar off? Can any hide himſelf in ſecret places that I ſhall not ſee him? Do not I fill heaven and earth ſaith the Lord? There is no point of Doctrine in all the Scriptures, more clear and plain then this. That it is God that ſearcheth the heart, ſees all things, and beholds our moſt ſecret thoughts and wayes.
The Reaſons will make it more clear.
Firſt, Reaſ. 1 his Omniſcience is a ſpecial property of God, an attribute of his; His Knowledge is infinite, hath no bounds nor limits, he knows the Nature, Reaſon, and Cauſes of all things. Heb. 4.13.All things are naked and open to his eyes, or as the word is anatomized before him. He is that God that fills heaven and earth with his preſence, and therefore muſt needs know and obſerve all our actions, and take notice of our moſt ſecret ſins. Reaſ. 2 Is given by the Prophet, Pſ. 94.9.It is he that made the eye, ſhall he not ſee? It is he that made the ear, ſhall he not hear? He teacheth man knowledge, ſhall he not know? Theſe were all abſurd to think or imagine in God, that hath in him perfection of all things. Can the work be unknown to the workman, or the creature to the Creator? Since it is in him that we live and move and have our being.Acts 17.27.
The Lord at the laſt day will then lighten things that are hid in darkneſſe, Reaſ. 3 1 Cor. 4.5. Eccl. 12.14.and will make the counſels of the heart manifeſt; and bring every ſecret thing to Judgement. Therefore out of queſtion he knows every ſecret thing; yea, he is privy to all thoſe ſecret thoughts, motions, windings and turnings in the heart of man, and every man at laſt ſhall receive judgement accordingly. We ſhall now apply this. Uſe 1
Seeing that our moſt ſecret ſins are done, and committed in the light of his countenance; How may this ſtrike terrour in the hearts of all wicked and ungodly men, that live in the daily practiſe of many known ſins? Can therebe a greater terror to a malefactor, then to know that the Judge himſelf is an eye-witneſſe of his villany? So what greater terror can there be to the wicked, then this, to have the Lord himſelf to behold their doings.
Many a wicked wretch thinks with himſelf, that the ſins he daily commits, that no eye ſees him nor beholds him, could they be perſwaded, that but the eye of ſome godly man, yea but a childe of five years old did ſee, and beheld them, what a terror would this have been unto them? O where are our thoughts of the Lords All-ſeeing Preſence, whoſe eye is ever upon us!
Yea, the more cunning and ſlight men have uſed in covering and concealing their ſins, the more doth the Lord abhor them, and the greater weight of vengeance he will at laſt lay upon them. Inaſmuch as their ſin went not alone, but had joyned with it, that curſed Atheiſme of the heart, that God ſaw them not and that there was not knowledge with the Moſt High. Whereas God ever takes them in the manner, and will bring in evidence againſt them at laſt; Theſe things haſt …hou done, Pſ. 50.21.and I kept ſilence, and thou thoughteſt that I was ſuch an one as …hy ſelf: But I will reprove thee, and ſet them in order before thee.
Secondly, Uſe 2 ſeeing our moſt ſecret ſins are in the light of his countenance, why then ſhould we labour ſo much to avoid groſſe ſins in our lives, ſuch as bring a blot upon our Names, and ſhame before men; And in the mean time make no reckoning at all of leſſer ſins, but foſter and cheriſh in our boſomes noiſome luſts, and ſinful affections, as Envy, Wrath Malice, Pride, Uncleanneſſe, &c. which makes us odious and abominable in the ſight of God, who ſees and knows the heart, and takes notice not onelyonly of the groſſe evils of our lives, but of the moſt hidden corruptions of our hearts.
Yea more, conſider with thy ſelf that the Lord knows thy heart better then thy ſelf doeſt; Ro. 8.27.for he is the fearcher of the heart: when thou haſt been moſt careful to ſearch into thy thy heart, he knows more by thee, then thou by thy ſelf. And this made David pray ſo earneſtly. Pſ. 19.12Cleanſe thou me from my ſecret faults. O then how careful ſhould we be to avoid not onelyonly the groſſer evils of our lives, but to purge our hearts from evill thoughts, unclean thoughts malicious thoughts, and thoſe moſt ſecret ſins that lie lurking in our ſouls.
There is no deceit of Satan like unto this, to ſin under hope of ſecrecy. Iob 24.15.The Eye of the Adulterer (ſaith Job) waiteth for the twylight, and ſaith, No eye ſhall ſee me. Ier. 29.23.But what ſaith the Lord, I have ſeen the lewdneſſe of thy whoredomes, even I know and am a witneſſe, ſaith the Lord. The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding good and evil. Adams buſhes could not hide him from God nor the keele of the ſhip ſecure Jonas but God could finde them out.
And laſt of all ſeeing our moſt ſecret ſins are in the light of his countenance: what a care then ought Chriſtians to have in all thoſe holy duties they perform to God that they labour to approve their hearts to him, in doing them, that they be performed with all ſincerity and ſingleneſſe of heart, as in his Preſence.
The Lord knows with what minde you come to the Word, with what minde you come to the Sacrament, with what hearts you come to prayer, or any duty you perform to him: Why ſhould we halt and diſſemble with him, who is the ſearcher of the heart?
Wicked men, and the prophaneſt hypocrite, may in outward ſhew match the beſt Chriſtian; he will frequent the Aſſemblies of Gods people, hear the Word, receive the Sacrament, pray, &c. and carry himſelf very fairly in outward appearance as the beſt. You ſhall have Cain ſacrificing as well as Abel; Eſau begging a bleſſing as earneſtly as Jacob; Saul confeſſing his ſin as well as David; Ahab humbling himſelf as well as Hezekiah, and the Phariſee praying as well as the Publican. But here is the difference; a godly Chriſtian in all theſe duties ſeeks to approve himſelf to God, doing all things with a ſingle heart, with a ſincere heart as in Gods preſence, as Nathaniel, Behold a true Iſraelite in whom there is no guile. He doth all things as to the Lord Chriſt, knowing that the All-ſeeing eye of God is upon him.