Moses Prayer, Exposition · Verse 13
Verſ. 13. Returne O Lord, How long? let it repent thee concerning thy Servants.
MOſes this man of God, having in the former v. prayed unto God, that he would teach them by his ſpirit to make the right uſe of the ſhortneſs and uncertaintie of their life:
Now he proceeds to make prayer unto God, for himſelfe and the reſt of Gods people, for favor and mercy.
And all the petitions of his prayer are either for
Reconciliation to God, or elſe
For the fruits of their reconciliation to God.
In this 13. v. they pray for reconciliation: that he would in mercy Returne againe unto them, and be pacified againe toward them.
In the verſes following, they pray for the frui…s of this reconciliation, as
1. For the comfortable feeling of Gods love and favour againe towards them, which they had broken off by their ſinnes, v. 14.
2. They pray for comfort againſt their miſeries and long afflictions verſ. 15.
3. For defence and protection and the bleſſing of God upon their labours and endeavours, eſpecially in their journey towards the land of Canaan, that God would defend them from their enemies, and bring them at laſt into that promiſed land.
Returne O Lord.
In this firſt petition and requeſt wee are to note two things.
1. What they pray for, viz. Reconciliation with God. Returne O Lord; let it repent thee.
2. And for this purpoſe they uſe 2. Arguments or Reaſons to move the Lord to take pitty on them and to be favorable unto them.
1. Taken from the continnance of their afflictions, which were both long and tedious, and very ſharp and grievous. How long? ſhall we lie boyling in the furnace of affliction, and how long wilt thou be angry with us?
2. From their eſtate and condition we are thy Servants. O then bee gratious unto thy Servants, be not for ever angry with thy owne Servants; but receive us into thy favour, be reconciled againe unto us: And turne away thy wrath, and diſpleaſure from us.
Returne O Lord, q d. Although for our ſins thou haſt juſtly turned thy face from us, and been angry with us, yet be thou in mercy reconciled to us againe; ſhew us thy favour and remove thy heavie hand. For as the Lord is ſaid to turne his back, and to hide his face when he takes away the tokens of his gracious love and preſence from a people: even ſo when he doth manifeſt the ſignes of his love and gratious preſence unto a people, then is he ſaid to returne againe.
Whence we may obſerve firſt of all, when Moſes and the people of God doe ſeeke unto God for mercy and reconcilation, viz. when they have been well whipped in the ſchool of affliction, and humbled and tamed, by the Lords corrections upon them for their fins.
We obſerve, Doct. 1 Men never ſeek to God forreconciliation, till they feel his diſpleaſure.That men wil never ſeek unto God for reconciliation, untill ſuch time as the Lord hath truly and thoroughly humbled them, and cauſed them to feel his anger & diſpleaſure for ſin, ſtaborn, rebellious and hard hearted ſinners will never truly ſeek unto God till ſuch time as the Lord hath broken their hearts, with the apprehenſion of their miſerable eſtate by reaſon of ſin, and that they come to feele Gods terrible anger and diſpleaſure againſt them for the ſame.
The Lord knowes that theſe hearts of ours are many times ſo hard, that our greateſt ſins, have little effect upon our ſouls to work that godly ſorrow and humiliation as our ſins have deſerved. But when the Lord ſhalbe pleaſed to bring a ſinner to the rack, and there lay weight upon weight upon him, and to the weight of his ſins add the weight of his anger and ſore afflictions, this dealing of the lord with a poore ſinner many times cauſes ſuch a ſtream of teares, which bathe the ſoul in the water of true repentance, and bring the ſinner to a heartie confeſſion of his ſins: how were Iacobs ſons wrought upon by their troubles in Egypt? that their ſin againſt their innocent brother ſelling him for a bondſlave, ſhould lye hid for many yeares together, ſhould now come to conſcience. Gen. 42.21.We have ſinned againſt our brother, in that we ſaw the anguiſh of his ſoul, when he beſough… us, and we would not heare him, therefore is this trouble come vponupon us. And thus David, when the hand of God lay heavy upon him day and night, then, and not till then, he flyes to God; and by humble confeſſion of his ſins begs pardon at Gods hand. Pſ. 32.4, 5.I acknowledged my ſin unto thee, neither hid I mine iniquitie: for I thought I will confeſſe againſt my ſelf my wickedneſſe, Eſ. 26.16.and then thou forgaveſt the puniſhment of my ſin. The ſcriptures are cleare in this Lord in trouble have they viſited thee, they poured forth their prayers whe… thy chaſtiſments were upon them; and againe, they being bound in affliction, Pſ. 107.10, 13, 14.and Iron, cried unto the Lord in their affliction and diſtreſſe. Yea, this is that which the Lord himſelfe ſpeaketh of ſtubborn and hard hearted ſiners. Hof. 5.14, 15.I will be unto Ephraim as a lyon, and as a young lion to the houſe of Iudah &c. till they acknowledg their offence, for in their affliction they will ſeeke me early.
So that miſerable, rebellious, and hard hearted ſinners will never ſeeke unto God, till ſuch time as he hath exerciſed them, with the ſenſe and apprehenſion of his terrible anger againſt ſin, beſides the examples the ſcriptures afford us, are many, as Manaſſes, 2 Chron. 33.10, 11.the prodigall, the jaylor and thoſe cruell Jews. Reaſ. 1
Such only are capable of mercy from God, when in the ſenſe of their owne miſery, and apprehenſion of Gods diſpleaſure they become fit objects of mercy; full veſſells can hold no liquor, and proud and haughtie hearts are not fit for mercy. Eſ. 57.15.He will revive the ſpirit of the humble, and revive the heart of the contri…e ones.
When our hearts are ſubdued, Reaſ. 2 the Lords anger and diſpleaſure againſt us is ſubdued.
When God ſent his prophet to Niniveth to cry, Ion. 3.Yet forty dayes, and Niniveh ſhalbe deſtroyed, the Ninivits humbling their ſouls in ſackcloath, faſting and praying. God turned away from his wrath, he intended againſt that City, 1 Reg. 21yea, when wicked Ahab himſelfe, ſhall but humble himſelfe the Lord ſuſpended the judgment againſt him and his houſe.
And this is no other thing then what the Lord himſelfe hath promiſed: Ier. 18.8.If a nation againſt whom I have pronounced, turne from their wickedneſſe, I will repent of the plague that I thought to bring upon them: ſo that this is the only way to ſtop the breach of Gods anger and diſpleafure, and to call back his judgments, when they are gone out againſt us.
Seeing this is our wretched nature, Uſe 1 never to seek unto God for reconc. liation till the Lord do even by ſtrong hand humble us, and breake our hard and ſtony hearts; and cauſe them to taſt of his anger and ſore diſpleaſure againſt us, this bewrayes the monſtrous ſecuritie and ſinfullneſs of our hearts, that will never ſeeke to God, till wee ſee our ſelves left and forſaken of him, and till he break our hearts by the hammer of his judgments, that will not ſeeke for heaven till he firſt ſend us to hell. O the curſed ſecuritie that is in theſe hearts of ours, that can by no other meanes be humbled and brought home, but by the rod and frownes of ſo gratious a God.
Surely it were our wiſdom not to be ſo ſtubborn and rebellious to ſtand it out, till the Lord do thus bruiſe us and breake us by his judgments, and ſo compell us to ſeeke unto him.
Secondly ſeeing we ſhall never ſeeke unto God for reconciliation, Uſe 2 till ſuch time as the Lord hath truly and thoroughly humbled us, and cauſed us to feel his anger and diſpleaſure. O what a terrour may this ſtrike in the hearts of thoſe, upon whom the Lords hand hath beene often, and yet have not been humbled to turn unto him: when the Lord ſhall not only give us his Word, the ordinary means of converſion and bringing us home; but ſhall alſo ſend his rod, even ſharp and ſore afflictions, and yet men ſhall ſtand out againſt all, will not be convinced of their miſery, nor ſeek unto God for mercy: Here is a ſigne of an obdurate heart indeed. Surely the caſe of ſuch ſeems deſperate, ſuch have cauſe to fear that they are in a hopeleſſe condition: Ezek. 22.18, 19, 20.Let ſuch conſider that place, and tremble at it; Becauſe you are become droſſe, behold, I will gather you in the midſt of Jeruſalem, as they gather ſilver, and braſſe, and iron, and lead, and tin, into the midſt of the furnace to melt it. So will I gather you in my anger and in my fury, and I will leave you there, and melt you; yea, I will blow upon you in the fury of my wrath. And what account the Lord makes of ſuch we may ſee; Jer. 6.29, 30.The bellowes are burnt, the lead is conſumed of the fire, the Founder melteth in vain; for the wicked are not plucked away. Reprobate ſilver ſhall men call them, becauſe the Lord hath rejected them.
O it is a fearfull ſigne of Gods wrath upon that ſoul, that when the Lord hath travelled upon us to do us good, by the Word, and by the Rod, and nothing will work upon us; but ſtill we perſiſt in our ſinfull courſes; Reprobate ſilver ſhall men call ſuch, and ſuch may fear they are caſt off of God.
And laſt of all, Uſe 3 ſeeing that untill we feel our ſins, and Gods heavie diſpleaſure againſt us for ſin, we ſhall never ſeek for reconciliation: This may ſerve likewiſe to be a ſtay unto us in the middeſt of our ſharpeſt afflictions, and ſoreſt trialls that may betide us here, whether inward or outward, to conſider the end whereunto God hath appointed them; viz. to humble us, Mic. 6.9.to diſcover our ſins, and to make us look home, this is the erand they come with from God. There is no viſitation, ſickneſſe, miſery, or affliction, but comes with a meſſage from God: What have we then to do, but to ſearch and finde out our ſins, the cauſe wherefore the Lord is thus diſpleaſed with us, and to be humbled for them, that ſo his wrath may be appeaſed. Surely this is the Lords aim and end in his ſharpeſt afflictions laid upon his children, to make us look home, and to ſay to our own hearts, Haſt thou not procured this to thy ſelfe, Ier. 2.17.inaſmuch as thou haſt forſaken the Lord thy God? And with the Church, Deut. 31.17.Are not theſe evils come upon us, becauſe our God is not amongſt us? Not to do this in times of affliction and diſtreſſe, argues a high contempt of God and his works. It ought to be the care of every one of us, Ezek. 16.41.to know the plague of his own heart, and to finde out that ſpeciall ſin, that hath made the difference betwixt God and him.
Return, O Lord.
THe next thing that we may obſerve is the perſon they pray unto, viz. the Lord himſelfe: They run to no Saint nor Angell for help and ſuccour in this time of their great diſtreſſe; but they flie to God, becauſe that he alone was offended, and of him they ſeek for reconciliation, Return O Lord. Doct. 2
Hence we Iearn that in times of miſery and diſtreſſe God alone is to be ſought unto.In times of miſery, God is to be ſought unto. Pſ. 50.15.
And for this we have both precept and example: Call upon me in the day of trouble, and I will hear thee, and deliver thee. And, Ask, Mat. 7.7.and ye ſhall have, ſeek and ye ſhall finde, &c.
O what gratious and mercifull promiſes hath God made unto his Church and people, and all to make them flie unto him, and reſt upon him in time of trouble; yea, ſuch is the Lords inclination to pitie and compaſſion towards his people in times of miſery and diſtreſſe, that he hath ſaid, Eſ. 65.24.Before they call I will anſwer, and whilſt they ſpeak I will hear.
And as for Example; the Scriptures afford us divers in this kinde, of the faithfull, that in times of miſery and diſtreſſe have made the Lord their only refuge to flie unto, and have found comfort and deliverance: as that of Jehoſophat and the men of Judah, when the Amorits, 2 Chr. 20the Moabits, and they of Mount Seir came up againſt them, that both Prince and people were at a great ſtraight, and knew not what to do, only ſay they, Our eyes are upon thee. They ſeeking help from God were delivered.
Thus David in all his troubles, Pſ. 109.4. Pſ. 4.12. Pſ. 86 5, 6. Pſ. 86 7, Pſ. 65.2.had ſtill recourſe to God; for my love they are become my Adverſaries; But I give my ſelf to prayer. Yea, God is pleaſed to be ſtiled by this very name, to be the God that heareth prayer. O thou that heareſt prayers, to thee ſhall all fleſh come. Thus Hezekiah, when that mighty Hoſt of Senacherih was ready to fall upon him and his people Hee made the Lord his only Rock and Defence, 2 Reg. 20.1, 2.to fly unto. And when he received in himſelf the Sentence of death, ſtill he flyes to God. Ionas 2.1, 2.And that fugitive Prophet, Jonas, Out of the belly of Hell cryed I, and thou heardſt my voice. And great reaſon. For
This is one principall end, Reaſ. 1 wherefore the Lord correcteth his Children, to make them fly into his arms for help and ſuccour; and to let us ſee how vain and helpleſſe all earthly helps and comforts are without him: And this very end the Lord himſelf expreſſeth, Hoſ. 5.14.when he ſaith, I will be unto Ephraim as a Lyon, &c. till they acknowledge their offences, and ſeek me diligently.
Secondly, Reaſ. 2 in times of miſery and diſtreſſe, God only is to be ſought unto. Becauſe the time of miſery is the fitteſt and opportuneſt time of ſeeking God. 14. Pſ. 50.51.Call upon me in the time of trouble, &c. There is indeed no time to the time of affliction, either for us to pray, or for God to hear prayer, for now if ever the heart is in a right frame and temper of ſeeking God. If there be any zeal and affection at all in the heart, times of affliction and adverſity draw them out, and lay them out, in ſeeking of God, when the rod is upon us.
What a ſtay and comfort have the godly then to lean and reſt upon, Vſe 2 in their greateſt ſtraights, that they have ſtill a God to fly unto. The Lord doth never leave his Children comfortleſſe whilſt he affords them thus the means of comfort, and deliverance. This Honour have all the Saints.
Whereas wicked and ungodly, men here is their miſery; they are deſtitute of the very means of deliverance, they cannot pray. Let them perform this duty, Pro. 15.8.28.9.at any time, God ſhuts out their prayers, they are abomination to the Lord. Io. 9.21.God heareth not ſinners. If I regard wickedneſſe in my heart, the Lord will not hear me. Eſ. 1.15.How doth the Lord proteſt againſt the Jews, that though they ſhould ſtretch forth their hands to him, he would hide his eyes from them; and though they ſhould make many prayers, he would not hear, becauſe their hands were full of blood.
O the miſery of wicked men, that whereas their only refuge is to fly unto God in times of miſery and diſtreſſe that the Lord ſhould not only ſhut out their prayers, but that the ſame ſhould become abomination in his ſight; who can put to ſilence the voice of Deſperation.
But God doth ſomtimes hear the wicked; Object. 1 did not the Lord hear Ahab, when he humbled himſelf, 1 Reg. 21.and ſate in aſhes?
I anſwer, Anſ. 1 It is not in mercy at any time that God hears the prayers of a wicked man, no, not when the Lord ſeems to grant them the things that they pray for; for commonly they are temporall things, not ſpirituall graces.
God beſtows theſe indeed many times upon wicked men, as gifts of his left hand, rather in wrath, then in mercy.
Whatſoever God beſtows in love, and mercy, flows ever from Chriſt, and from ſome promiſe made unto us in him. But as for wicked men, as they are not in Chriſt, ſo have they no promiſe: For all the promiſes of God are yea, and amen in Chriſt.
But do we not ſee that many times the godly themſelves pray, Obj. 2 and God ſeems not to hear them; did not David himſelf complain, Pſ. 22.2.O my God I cry by day, but thou heareſt not; and by night, but have no audience.
And David prayed moſt earneſtly for the life of the child, 2 Sam. 12.14.and yet the child died. God did not anſwer him according to his prayer.
God many times delaies his children, Anſ. 1 when hee doth not deny to anſwer them, for now is the time when the Lord is pleaſed to exerciſe his graces in the hearts of his ſervants, as faith, hope, patience, &c. For what would become of theſe graces, if there were no more but ask and have. No doubt Chriſt heard the requeſt of the poor Canaanitiſh woman at firſt, but it was after many requeſts that hee anſwered her, delighting in her often calling upon him, Joſias, Jeſus, mercy, mercy.
Secondly, there may be ſome ſin or other, even in the godly themſelves undiſcovered, and unrepented of, that for the preſent may cloud their prayers, and which may lie as a bar in their way, that God doth not by and by return them an anſwer; which when they have diſcovered, and by true repentance have removed, then God will not fail to return them a gracious anſwer.
Thirdly, God many times denies this own ſervants in the particular thing deſired. As Paul that would have had the Buffettings of Sathan removed. 2 Cor. 12.But the Lord anſwered him in another kind, giving grace in the ſtead thereof to ſupport him. My grace (ſaith he) is ſufficient for thee. Thus doth God many times when wee ask for Silver, give us gold. Somthing or other equivalent thereto; as when wee ask for Earthly bleſſings, if hee give us Heavenly, hee is not behind-hand with us.
Thus long life is promiſed as a bleſſing in the keeping of the fift Commandment to children that obey their Parents: yet we know that many obedient children die young, as Jeſus did, yet the Lord makes good his promiſe in giving them a better life. Yea, Chriſt himſelf, when he prayed that the cup might paſſe from him: yet did he drink of it, yet was heard in his prayer, when God gave him ſtrength to bear it, and withall an Angel to comfort him.
And laſt of all, in all our prayers and requeſts that we put unto God, we are tyed to certain conditions, which not performed, wee muſt not look to ſpeed.
As firſt that all our petitions be according to his will. If we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us.
All our petitions muſt bee put up in faith. Iam. 1.Pray in Faith and waver not.
As wee aske good things at Gods hand ſo wee muſt ask them to a good end, if our end be evill, our prayers can not be good, as Saint James hath it. Ye ask and receive not, Iam. 4.3becauſe you ask amiſſe, that ye may ſpend them upon your luſts. Let us apply this.
Seeing Moſes and the people here, Vſe. 1 having provoked Gods anger and diſpleaſure againſt them by their ſins, do now fly unto him, & beg reconciliation again with him; We are taught now at this time, that Gods hand lies ſo heavy upon this Land ſo many waies, to go unto him likewiſe, and pray, Return O Lord, How long? that he would bee pleaſed again to be reconciled unto us, and receive us into his favour again.
And becauſe wee cannot come unto him without Chriſt, who alone muſt ſtand betwixt the wrath of his Father and us. We muſt come in his name, and through his Mediation and interceſſion, who will accept our prayers, not for any worthineſſe in us, or them, but for his ſake alone. It is he alone that muſt perfume our prayers, with the ſweet incenſe of his merits, Rev. 8.3. Io. 16.23.and mediation, without which, our perſons and prayers can finde no acceptation with him.
Seeing it is God alone that in all miſery and diſtreſſe is ſought unto, Vſe 2 as this example ſhewes; This overthrows that erroneous Doctrine and practiſe of the Church of Rome, who teach men to pray to Saints and Angels, to Peter, and Paul, the Virgin Mary, to this He-Saint, and to that Shee-Saint, &c. we utterly renounce this Doctrine, and abhor this practiſe, as that which hath neither precept nor promiſe, nor Example in all the Book of God, to leave the Creator for ever bleſſed, and fly to the Creature.
What greater diſhonour can be done to God and Chriſt, 1 Ioh. 2.1.ſince we have one Advocate with the Father, Jeſus Chriſt the righteous, and he is the propitiation for our ſins. What is this but to leave the Kings ſon, and to go to a ſervant to ſpeak to the Father: Nay, what is this but to rob God of his honour, and Chriſt of his office; both to be an advocate, and to make reconciliation, are proper to the perſon of Jeſus Chriſt: 1 Tim. 2.5.There is one Mediatour, even the man Chriſt Jeſus. Beſides, the Angels are but fellow-ſervant…, Rev. 22.9.See thou do it not, I am thy fellow ſervant.
As for the Saints in heaven, they know not our wants, Eſ. 63.16.Doubtleſſe thou art our Father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Iſrael know us not.
And no leſſe folly and madneſſe is it to pray to ſtocks and ſtones, reliques and bones, as the Papiſts do.
And the laſt is, Uſe 3 we are taught hence where to go and ſpeed in times of affliction and diſtreſſe. Lord (ſaith Peter) whither ſhall we go? thou haft the words of eternall life. It is our duty then to repair and reſort to God the Father, through the merits of his ſon Jeſus Chriſt. What Parent can be more compaſſionate of the child in time of miſery and diſtreſſe, then the Lord is to his children in their afflictions? yea, ſuch is his love and compaſſion towards them, that though (by reaſon of their affliction) they are not able to put up a diſtinct prayer to him; yet, their very ſighes and grones ſhall paſſe for powerfull and effectuall prayers. Hezekiah mourning like a Dove and chattering like a Crane is heard, and anſwered of God: yea, the Spirit helps our infirmities, when we cannot pray as we ought, Rom. 8.With ſighes and grones that cannot be expreſſed.
We may reſt aſſured, the Lord is neer to them, that draw neer to him.
Is our faith weaks he will ſtrengthen us; are weignorant, he will inſtruct us; do we want grace, he will ſupply us; is our love cold, he will quicken it; is our repentance imperfect, he will perfect it; are judgments amongſt us, he will remove them; are we in diſtreſſe, he will have mercy upon us; do our ſins trouble us, he will diſcharge us; are we in ſickneſſe, he will reſtore us; are we in miſery, he will deliver us.
So that every true believer may comfortably conclude, that his wea keſt prayers, ſighes, and grones, proceeding from a broken heart, a hungring and thirſting deſire after grace and mercy, ſhall not return in vain but God in his due time will anſwer the deſire of their ſouls. We ſhall not want that grace that we unfainedly deſire, neither ſhall we be hurt with that corruption we unfainedly lament.
Return, O Lord.
THe words are not ſo to be under ſtood, as if God at any time did totally leave and forſake his people; for ſo God never departeth from his, whom he once loved in Chriſt: Howbeit in times of affliction and diſtreſſe, the Lord ſeemeth to them thus to do: as the Sun may be ſometimes under a cloud. yet will appear again; ſo though the cloud of our fins may hide the face of God from us for a time; yet, he will pierce through them, and ſhin… upon us at laſt. But now whilſt the Lord thus withdrawes himſelfe from his people, it is a moſt bitter time unto them, they can have no reſt nor peace, till the Lord returne again, and be appeaſed towards them.
Hence we may farther obſerve, Doct. 3 that ſo long as the Lord is departed from us and turneth his angry countenance towards us, there can be no peace, Whilſt God ſeemes to be angry, there can be no peace.no comfort to a poor ſinner, but extream ſorrow, griefe, and perplexity of ſpirit.
We may ſee this in thoſe ſad complaints of Gods people, that have felt his frowns & angry countenance upon them for their ſins: how heavy & intol lerable the ſenſe of his diſpleaſure hath bin, we may ſee it in that ſad complaint of David, Pſ 6.1, 2.O Lord rebuke me not in thy anger, neither chaſten me in thy ſore diſpleaſure; my Soul is ſore vexed, but Lord, how long? David could have no reſt, nor peace in his ſoul, ſo long as he lay under Gods diſpleaſure. And thus prayes the Church, O Lord correct me, but with Judgment, Ier. 10.24.not in thy anger, leſt thou bring me to nothing. Yea, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt himſelfe, in the ſenſe of Gods anger and diſpleaſure, cries out, Mat. 27.My God, my God, why haſt thou forſaken me? What are a mans wife, children, gold, ſilver lands, livings, or all the world, when the ſoul ſhall combat with Gods wrath, A wounded ſpirit who can bear?Eſ. 57.
The poor ſoul, ſcorched with the heat of Gods anger and diſpleaſure for ſin, nothing can comfort it, but the Lords returning again in love and favour. Pſ. 4.6.Lord (ſaith David) lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us, thou haſt put gladneſſe in my heart more then in the time that their corn and their wine encreaſed; the whole world is not to be compared to it. David having ſinned, and by his ſins having eclipſed this favourable countenance of God towards him: O how earneſt is he in begging his gracious preſence again towards him: Pſ. 51.10, 11.12.1. He prayes, that God would turn away his angry countenance from him: 2. That he would reſtore him again to the joy of his ſalvation. 3. That he would not take away his Spirit from him.
But, Queſt. why doth the Lord deal thus with his own children? Reaſ. No doubt the Lord doth it in much love towards them, that hereby they might feel the bitterneſſe of ſin, and his anger and diſpleaſure for the ſame, that they might learn to prize his favour and loving countenance towards them at a higher rate, then before they had done, and to make them hereafter to walk more humbly and more holily with God. God makes his people to hear firſt the terrible thunder upon Mount Sinai, and then the joyfull voice and ſhouting upon Mount Sion.
Seeing that ſo long as God is diſpleaſed with us, we can have no peace, Uſe 1 joy, or comfort, till he return again, and be reconciled towards us: How ſhould this move us to ſeek reconciliation at his hand; that we never give our ſoul any reſt till we be at peace with him. And becauſe we can never be reconciled to God, as long as we live in ſin, and delight in ſin, with a purpoſe to continue therein. Let us take heed we deceive not our own ſouls, to think that we can ever be reconciled to God and take pleaſure in ſin.
It had been to no purpoſe for Moſes to intreat the Lord to return to them, if they had ſtill lived in their ſins, and rebellions againſt God. And therefore if we deſire the Lord to return again unto us, and to be a reconciled God unto us, then we are to return again to the Lord by true repentance, elſe there is no hope, that ever the Lord wil return unto us, Zach. 1.3.Turn unto me and I will turn unto you ſaith the Lord. And this favour and loving countenance of God, David accompts more dear unto him then the life it ſelf. Pſ. 63.3.Thy loving countenance is better then life it ſelf. It was a great favour to Abſalom, conſidering his offence, that heemight have his life for a prey, and be permitted to live in Jeruſalem. 2 Sam. 14.32.But all this was nothing unleſſe hee might ſee the Kings face.
Alas, what are all the comforts the world can afford us, unleſſe we can enjoy Gods countenance and favour, and that he look cheerfully upon us in the face of Chriſt; this gives more joy of heart, Pſal. 4.6.then worldlings have in their corn, and wine and oile. Cant.Let him kiſſe me (ſaith the Church) with the kiſſes of his mouth, for his love is better thē wine.
Seeing there can be no joy nor comfort without Reconciliation to God; Uſe 2 here we ſee what to eſteem of the joy of wicked men, it is but a carnall joy, meer madneſſe, as if a poor condemned wretch ſhould go laughing to the gallowes, ſuch are in continuall danger of Hell and damnation, yet, are not ſenſible of their danger. I ſaid (ſaith Solemon) of laughter, thou art mad. There is no madneſſe like unto this, to live under Gods high diſpleaſure, and yet to be ſecure. Belſhazzar drinks and quaffes when the handwriting was upon the wall; Dan. 5.the end of ſuch mirth will be bitterneſſe at laſt. O then let us never give any reſt unto our ſouls, till we are reconciled to God, till we have truly repented of our ſins, and be in with God again.
Hitherto of the petition and requeſt they put up unto God, and pray for, viz. Reconciliation again with God.
Now followes the reaſons that they uſe to move the Lord to take pitty on them, Part. 2 and to be favourable unto them.
1. Taken from the continuance of their miſery, and length of their ſufferings, How long?
2. Taken from their eſtate and condition, we are thy ſervants.
The firſt reaſon or motive they uſe, is taken from the long continuance of their miſeries and afflictions, How long? q. d. O Lord, thou haſt juſtly bin diſpleaſed with us this many years for our ſins and rebellions againſt thee, ſo as we have lived foure hundred years in great bondage in Egypt, and now again we are grievouſly afflicted in the Wilderneſſe, where we have been almoſt utterly waſted and conſumed. O Lord, how long wilt thou be angry with us? O Lord, make an end of this our great, tedious, and long affliction, and ſhew us thy favour and loving countenance again, and be thou a gracious God unto us, as unto our forefathers of old. The words are an abrupt interrogation, how long? When through the great perturbation of their ſpirits, their ſpeech is ſhort, cut off, as it were in the midſt, as if they were not clearly able to utter their minde, through the greatneſſe of their griefe.
From this example of Moſes and the people of God here, we learn. Doct. 4 To minde the Lord of the continuance of our affliction, a good motive to move him to pitty.That it is an excellent argument to move the Lord to pitty and compaſſion, to put him in minde of the long continuance of his hand upon us in affliction. For here we have Moſes and the people of God, as it were, fainting and longing after Gods mercy, and crying out How long Lord? how long wilt thou be angry with thy people, and defer to helpus? Thus David in long and tedious afflictions, even with tears cries out to God, How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord, for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? how long ſhall I take counfell in my ſoul, and have ſorrow in my heart. He maketh the continuance of his miſery an argument to move the Lord to pitty.
And again, Pſ. 79.5.How long wilt thou be angry for ever? ſhall thy jealouſie burn like fire? Pſ. 89.46And, How long wilt thou hide thy face for ever? ſhall thy wrath burn like fire? How long, Lord, wilt thou not have mercy upon Jeruſalem, Zach. 1.12.and on the Cities of Judah, againſt whom thou haſt had indignation theſe three ſcore yeers and ten?
Thus Job complaines to God, Iob 7.19.Thou wilt not let me alone till I ſwallow my ſpittle. Luk. 13.8. Luke 8.43.It was a Daughter of Abraham that was bowed by Sathan eighteen years, and another that was troubled with a bloody iſſue twelve years: and for eight and thirty years together did that lame man lye at the pool of Betheſda, Ioh. 5.5.expecting help.
Thus God hath exerciſed his children with long and laſting ſorrowes, all which his people have pleaded to God to move him to hear, and to take pitty upon them.
Which ſerves to inform us, Uſe 1 what uſe we are to make of our ſufferings; that if the Lord do at any time humble us by long and tedious afflictions, either inward in minde, or outward in body, as by ſickneſſe, griefe, miſery, &c. we may even cry unto God as Moſes here, and ſay, Lord, how long wilt thou defer to hear and help us? But, let us take heed of this evill, whereunto our hearts are moſt prone in times, of affliction, that we do not murmur, repine, and grudge againſt the Lords dealing; for this, Moſes, nor this people do not, they do not complain of any hard dealing of God towards them: But, being preſſed with the ſenſe of Gods anger and diſpleaſure againſt them for their ſins, do move the Lord to take pitty upon them, in regard of their long and tedious afflictions, they had ſo long a time groaned under. And thus in the like caſe we may in our prayers and complaints to God, lay open our miſeries, and plead our long continuance in them.
Secondly, Uſe 2 ſeeing Moſes and the people of God here do labour to move the Lord to pitty and compaſſion, from the conſideration of their long continuance in their miſeries. We may take notice how prone we are, when God hides himſelf from us for a ſhort time, (which he may juſtly do when wee ſin againſt him) albeit it be but for a ſhort time, yet it ſeems unto us long.
A gracious heart cannot be long without Communion with God. Pſ. 143.6.My Soul thirſteth after thee (ſaith David) as the thirſty Land. None know the worth of God, but the gratious Soul. What were all the World without the Sun? and what were a believing Soul without God? Such as have taſted and ſeen how ſweet the Lord is, hunger, and thirſt more and more to be filled with his preſence. As Moſes, the more familiar he grew with God, the more he deſired to ſee of God: & when the Lord is provoked to withdraw himſelf at any time from his people, which ſomtimes the Lord doth, being juſtly provoked by the ſins of his people This brings horror and terrour to to the Soul: Thou didſt turn away thy thy face (ſaith David) and I was ſore troubled. And again,
Hide not thy face from me, Pſ. 43.7.elſe I ſhal be like to themthat go down into the pit. Pſ. 63.3.Thy loving kindneſs (ſaith David) is better then life it ſelf. He accompts himſelf a dead man if God be not reconciled to him in Chriſt. What life, what comfort, what joy, in a mans Soul, unleſſe God vouchſafe his gratious and comfortable preſence there.
Return O Lord, how long?
VVE are farther to obſerve.
That in reſpect of Gods comfortable preſence, Doct. 5 God may turn aſide from his people for a time. Io. 13.1.God may turn aſide for a time from his own people.
It is true, God doth never totally leave or forſake his. For whom he loves, to the end he loves them. His gifts are without repentance, in ſome gracious operation or other his ſpirit is alwaies preſent; yet in reſpect of his comfortable preſence, he may ſeem to turn away from his people for a time.
It was Davids caſe when he had fallen into thoſe dangerous ſins of Adultery and Murther: for the preſent he loſt the comfort of Gods gracious preſence, that he had formerly felt, and therefore prayes, Pſ. 51.8.Reſtore me to the joy of thy Salvation, and make me to hear the voice of joy and gladneſſe, that the bones that thou haſt broken may rejoyce. Ver. 11.And, Caſt me not away from thy preſence.
And thus he complains at another time; Pſ. 22.1.Why haſt thou for ſaken me? why art thou ſo far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
Doubtleſſe at that time David wanted the aſſiſtance of Gods gratious preſence, in as much as his Soul is thus perplexed. And thus again he cries out in much anguiſh and perplexity of Spirit, Pſ. 88.14VVhy haſt thou caſt off my Soul? why hideſt thou thy face from me.
It ſeems Davids comfort and aſſurance was much eclipſed at theſe times.
This was the caſe of Job, Iob 30.20.I cryed unto thee, and thou doſt not hear me, I ſtand up and thou regardeſt not. And this was the ſad complaint of the Church: Lam. 3.8VVhen I cry and ſhout he ſhutteth out my prayer. O this hath been that, that hath wounded the Souls, and troubled the Spirits of the godly, that the Lord hath ſeemed to ſhut out the prayers, and not to come in to their ſuccour in times of diſtreſſe.
The woman of Canaan, Mat. 5.26.what might ſhe think but that Chriſt had caſt her off, ſeeing he would not anſwer her, and when he did ſpeak, called her Dog, an anſwer able to have broke her tender heart; yet at laſt comes in and grants her requeſt.
The Lord deales many times with his Children as Joſeph with his Brethren, deals roughly with them. Gen. 42.9.You are ſpies, and to priſon they muſt go; yet at laſt, fill their Sacks, Saith he.
Thus doth the Lord ſeem to take day with his people, and puts them off to a fitter time when mercy will be more ſeaſonable, and deliverance will be more welcome.
Neither let this ſeem ſtrange unto us: for the Lord may do this,
That hereby he might take triall of the graces of his: Reaſ. 1 in the hearts of his ſervants, as their faith, hope, patience, &c. All which are now ſet on work whilſt the Lord is pleaſed to ſuſpend deliverance: for elſe what would become of the patience of the Saints if there were no more but ask and have.
Secondly, Reaſ. 2 that whilſt the Lord is thus pleaſed to withdraw himſelf, and defer deliverance, we might take occaſion to ſearch more deeply into our own hearts, thereby to diſcover the greatneſſe and hainouſneſs of our ſins which have plunged us into ſuch a gulf of miſery, and labour to find out thoſe ſecret ſins unrepented of, that cauſed the Lord thus to frown upon us, and to hide his favourable countenance from us; whereas if our miſeries were light and quickly removed, we ſhould har…ly think our ſins ſo great, as indeed they are.
And that when upon our Repentance we have obtained peace and reconciliation again with God, Reaſ. 3 wee may prize it ever after at a higher rate, and be the more careful that we do nothing that may interrupt our peace again with God, or turn away his loving countenance again from us. Every good thing that is hardly come by, is more carefully kept, and more hardly loſt. Gods favour, and love, being got with long ſeeking, and often praying, is highly prized, and not eaſily parted withall. And laſt of all, God many times deferts to help his Church and people in miſery and diſtreſſe, Reaſ. 4 becauſe that ſeaſonable time of their deliverance is not yet come.
After three daies he will raiſe us up, Hoſ. 6.3.and we ſhall live in his ſight. The Lord hath made every thing (ſaith Solomon) beautifull in his time. Eccl. 3.11.And there is a time for all things under the Sun.
No doubt but Zachary and Elizabeth prayed for a child whilſt they were young, Luke 1.and no doubt but God heard them, only they muſt leave the time to him, in whoſe hands are times and ſeaſons. Daniel mourned three weeks of daies, and receives no anſwer: Yet ſee the place. Dan. 10.12, 13.From the firſt day that thou didſt ſet thy heart to underſtand, &c. thy words were heard. God ever ſuſpends deliverance for a fit time, when it is moſt ſeaſonable for his own glory, and his peoples comfort.
Seeing the Lord deals thus with his own people, thus to withdraw himſelf, Uſe 1 and to withhold his comfortable preſence from them for a time; Wee are taught not to deſpair when we find that this is his dealing with us.
What though the Lord ſhould bring us low, and deny his comfortable preſence to us, that we meet not with him in that comfortable way of his providence, and mercy, in the return of our prayers, and ſeeking of him, as heretofore we have done. But that he ſeems to write bitter things againſt us, and to call our ſins to accompt, and ſeems to withdraw the comfortable aſpects of his favour and love from us for a time; yet in an acceptable time deliverance will come.
Every viſion is for an appoin…ed time. Every viſion, that is, every promiſe, or every word of prophecy God makes good in his appointed time, Eſ. 28.10 Hab. 2, 4.and the juſt ſhall live by Faith. What though things ſtand at a ſtay in Church and State what though Parliament, upon Parliament, are rendred unfruitful; what though Sects and Hereſies increaſe, and get head, threatning all confuſion. And all this while God ſe…ms to ſtand a far off, as one that will not be ſpoke withall;
Yet let us reſt aſſured, that God is the God of the abject; his promiſe is, that ſuch as mourn in Sion ſhall be delivered and they ſhall have beauty for aſhes, Eſ. 61.3.and the ſpirit of joy for the ſpirit of heavineſſe.
Secondly, Uſe 2 this may ſerve for matter of comfort and conſolation unto all the faithfull, that though by their ſins they may rob themſelves of the comfortable feeling of Gods favour and love for the preſent; yet, Jer. 31.3. Rom. 11.29 Joh. 10.28.with everlaſting love he loveth them. His gif…s are without repentance. And no man ſhall pluck them out of his hand. Sin may take away the feeling of his grace, but not the poſſeſſion thereof. Though we often meet with repulſes at Gods hand, yet a believer hath no denyall, but at one time or other, in one kinde or other, God anſwereth the prayers of his people.
It is our dutie then with Moſes and the people of God here, to ply the Lord with prayers and complaints; and herein to preſſe the Lord with arguments, as they do, to move the Lord to take pitty upon us.
But, Queſt. what arguments have we to uſe to God to ſtrengthen our faith, and to ſupport our prayers?
Theſe and the like arguments may we uſe in prayer. Reaſ.
1. As Moſes here, that we are his people, even the ſheep of his paſture, a people upon whom his Name is called: And will God forſake his people?
2. Plead the Lords Nature, that he is ready to hear, that it is one of his glorious Attributes, to be the God that heareth prayers.Pſ. 65.2.
3. Plead his promiſe, that he will be with his, in ſix troubles, and in ſeven, Iob 5.19.and that he will never leave them, nor forſake them.
4. Plead we the experience we have had of his mercy and goodneſſe in former times, Thou haſt ſet me at liberty (ſaith David) when I was in trouble: And let the conſideration thereof ſtrengthen our prayer, and ſupport our faith.
5. Plead, that we come in Chriſts Name; and he hath ſaid, that what…ever we ask in his Sons Name, he …ill hear us.
6. And laſt of all, we may plead the praiſes that wait for him in Sion; that if the Lord will be ſo graciouſly pleaſed to hear and anſwer us, we will ever give him thanks and praiſe.
Theſe and the like arguments will be excellent props to ſtay our faith, and to ſtrengthen our hands in prayer.
What means our Saviour in propounding the example of the unrighteous Judge, Luke 18.but to encourage us in our ſuites to God, and to ſhew the bleſſed fruits and effects of importunate prayers.
Hitherto of the firſt argument that they uſe to move the Lord to take pitty on them, viz. that they had been ſo long time in miſery: How long Lord?
The ſecond argument that they uſe to move the Lord to pitty and compaſſion, Arg. 2 is taken from their preſent eſtate and condition: Let it repent thee concerning thy ſervants. And is taken from the Covenant of grace made unto them in Chriſt, viz. that I will be thy God, and thou ſhalt be my people.
So then the force of their reaſon is this.
q. d. O Lord, we confeſſe that we have grievouſly ſinned, and provoked thy anger, and thou mighteſt juſtly have caſt us off: But, Lord remember thy old Covenant towards us, that we are thy Servants, and thou art our Lord; we are thy people, and thou art our God; we are thy children, and thou art our Father. O then be pacified, and reconciled unto us, thy poor and unworthy Servants; for thou haſt not plagued the very heathen that know thee not, but even us, thy Servants, and thy own people: And therefore we humbly intreat thee to be reconciled to us.
And as Moſes uſeth this as a reaſon to move the Lord to take pitty upon them, Doct. 6 To plead Gods covenant an excellent motive to move the Lord to pittie. Neh. 1.10, 11.becauſe they were his Servants, a people in Covenant with him;
We learn, That it is a very forcible reaſon and good, motive to move the Lord to pitty, when we can prove that we are his Servants, and ſo minde the Lord of his Covenant that he hath made with us in Chriſt. Thus Nehemiah, when he came to intreat the Lord in the behalf of the people, pleads this as an argument to move the Lord to pitty and compaſſion: Now theſe are thy ſervants and thy people, whom thou haſt redeemed by thy great power, and thy ſtrong hand. O Lord, I beſeech thee let now thy ear be attentive to the prayer of thy ſervant, and to the prayer of thy ſervants, who deſire to fear thy name.
And thus doth the lamenting Church plead their caſe with God: Lam. 2.20.Behold Lord, and conſider to whom thou haſt done this: q. d. O Lord, thou haſt not done this to the heathen people that have not known thee, nor call not upon thy Name; but, to thy own people, that know and fear thy Name. Upon this very ground, Pſ. 119.94.David grounds his requeſt to God, I am thine, O ſave me. And thus Jacob, when he deſired to be delivered from his Brother Eſau, pleads this Covenant that God had made with him, Lord, thou haſt ſaid, I will do thee good. And often doth David put the Lord in minde of his promiſe; Quicken me O Lord, according to thy word. And, Pſ. 119.Let thy mercifull kindneſſe be my comfort, according to thy word.
Whereas ſuch as are not his ſervants, neither are in Covenant with God, cannot look to ſpeed in prayer: But of them the Lord ſpeaketh thus, What haſt thou to do, Pſ. 50.21ſince thou haſt caſt my Covenant behinde thy back, and hateſt to be reformed. There is no hope that ever ſuch ſhould obtain any thing at Gods hand, that are not in Covenant with God.
Let a wicked wretch come to God, in prayer, to ask for any mercy or bleſſing at Gods hand, either for himſelfe, or for the Church, he doth but put the Lord in minde to plague him for his ſins. Albeit there are many excellent and precious promiſes made unto the Godly in the word, there not one of them belongs to a wicked man, that is not in covenant with God. And the Reaſons are:
Firſt, Reaſ. 1 It is the Covenant of promiſe made unto us in Chriſt, that is the ground of our faith, and it is faith by the which we are reconciled to God; and without faith and reconciliation, God lookes upon us as enemies to him, and ſo is God an enemy to us, and ſo long are excluded and ſhut out from all mercy and pitty from God, God will not be moved towards thoſe that are not in Covenant with him: theſe are Loammi, not his people, Hoſ. 1.nor God their God, none of his houſe and family; but may be called Loruami, Hoſ. 2.4.ſuch as on whom the Lord will have no mercy.
Secondly, Reaſ. 2 ſuch as are not in Covenant with God, are notregarded of God. The Gentiles were not in Covenant with God, Eph. 2.12.and were therefore called, Strangers from the Covenant of promiſe. And all this while Chriſt eſteemed of them but as Dogs, as Chriſt ſaid to the Canaanitiſh woman, It is not meet to take the Childrens bread, and to caſt it to Dogs. Mat. 15. Mal. 3.The Lord will be a ſwift witneſſe againſt ſuch. Now what a grievous thing is it to have the Creator bleſſed for ever, againſt his poor creature?
When Saul was an enemy to David, yet David could fly to Gath, and there ſecure himſelfe from the rage of Saul: But, if God become our enemy, whither ſhall we fly from him?
This ſhewes in the firſt place the miſerable eſtate and condition of all unregenerate men, Uſe 1 that be not in Covenant with God, are none of his houſhold ſervants. All unbelievers, all impenitent ſinners, they are none of Gods ſervants. What account did the Lord make of Cain, when he was caſt off of God, but as a vagabond, and one that travelled without a paſſe, lived from under Gods roofe, and from under his protection. Let ſuch a one come unto God in prayer, he can uſe no argument or reaſon to move the Lord to ſhew him any pitty or compaſſion: Why? God is not thy God. What though thou be baptized, and ſo a member of the viſible Church, ſo was Simon Magus; thy Baptiſme will no more prove thee his ſervant, and one in Covenant with God, then his Baptiſme did him; thy name may be called Loammi, thou art none of his people, neither is God thy God.
Let a wicked man that is none of Gods ſervants, and in Covenant with God, come and cry as Iſrael did, My God I know thee. Hoſ. 8.2:God will ſay upon what acquaintance, comeſt thou to me? Doſt thou call God Father? ſo did Ephraim. But God ſaid, Hoſ. 11. ult.that Ephraim did compaſſe God about with a lie. If God ſhould own a drunkard, a ſwearer, an unclean perſon, or one that is prophane to be one of his ſervants, and one in Covenant with him. God might go to Hell and have ſuch ſervants there.
Many great and pretious promiſes are made to Gods ſervants, and ſuch as are in Covenant with God; as Saint Peter hath it: 2 Pet. 1.4.promiſes concerning Juſtification, pretious promiſes concerning Sanctification, pretious promiſes concerning redemption, remiſſion of ſins, Adoption, &c. pretious promiſes concerning this life, and concerning the life to come.
Now not one of them all belongs to thee if thou be not of Gods Family, a Servant, and one in Covenant with God.
1. For pardon of ſin, the promiſe is, God paſſeth by the iniquity of his people. But what is that to thee? that art none of his people, God will not paſſe by thy ſins.
2. I will give you a new heart, Eze. 21.ſaith God, a promiſe made to ſuch as he enters into Covenant withall, but what is that to thee that haſt thy old heart ſtill?
So for the outward things of this life, they are all promiſed in Chriſt, All things are yours, and ye are Chriſts. But what are theſe promiſes to thee, that art out of Chriſt. Hath a wicked man riches honour, proſperity, &c? He holds themnot by Vertu… of any promiſe, and hence it is that that which they think a bleſſing is a curſe unto them.
Nay, that which is moſt lamentable, if thou be not in Covenant with God. thou art moſt cruel to thy very poſterity after thee; for thus runs the promiſe, will be thy God, and the God of thy ſeed, and I will Circumciſe thy hear, and the heart of thy ſeed after thee.
So that if thou that art a Parent art not in Covenant with God, and on, of his ſervants how injurious art thou to thy poſterity: I deny no… but God to ſhew the freeneſſe of hi… grace many times doth call home ſuch unto himſelf, that were the ſeed of wicked Parents; yet if the Lord be not the more mercifull unto them, thou inthralſt them under the curſe; and many times it falls out, that graceleſſe Parents leave behind them a graceleſſe poſterity. And let every one of us think what ſhall become of us, when datch comes, if we are not ſervants, but out of Covenant with God; nothing is ours but Hell.
This may ſerve in the ſecond place to ſtir us up to labour toget into Gods ſervice to become his ſervants & to enter into Covenant with him ſo may we be bold to come to our Maſter to requeſt any thing at his hand, Uſe 2 and plead his Covenant made unto us in Chriſt. And to take heed that wee think it not enough to profeſſe our ſelves to be his Servants as many do in word, and ſhew, that get the Livery of Gods Servants upon them, to hear the Word, to receive the Sacrament, &c. as if to wear the Coat of Chriſt, were enough to prove us to be Servants of Chriſt, like thoſe. fooliſh Virns, that had the Lamps of an outward profeſſion, and the names of Virgins, when they wanted the oyl of grace in their hearts. Mal. 1.6.This will not ſerve the turn: If I be a Father, where is my honour? If I be a Maſter, where is my fear, ſaith the Lord? If we fear to offend God, fear to ſin againſt him, fear to break his Commandments, fear to offend him.
If we enter into a ſtraight Covenant with him, to take him for our onelyonly God, to love him above all, to truſt in him, and to make our portion, and accept of the righteouſneſſe and obedience of Ieſus Chriſt for Juſtification to life, Then his promiſe is to give us all good things for this life, and the life to come. Then may we come with boldneſſe unto him, and claim the priviledge of Servants, and the performance of his promiſe. But if we reſt upon the bare name of Servants, it will not ſerve our turn.
We ſee in great mens houſes, all are not covenant-ſervants that retain thereto, that now and then may do a Char for a meals meat. Theſe can claim nothing as due, in regard they are not in Covenant, but are hang bies: They cannot claim protection from the Maſter of the Family, as a Covenantſervant may, as David did, Save me, …ſ. 119.94.for I am thy ſervant, and I keep thy Commandements.
It is a certain mark of a Servant of God to keep the Commandments of God, if thou keep not the Commandments of God, thou art no ſervant of God. God takes no more pleaſure in rebellious ſinners, then a Prince doth in rebellious Traitors.
Let us then uſe this reaſon and argument to move the Lord to pitty and compaſſion, and to be pacified towards us, even becauſe we are his Servants, and are in covenant with him.