Moses Prayer, Exposition · Verse 11
Ver. 11. Who knoweth the power of thy Anger: even according to thy fear, So is thy wrath.
IN this verſe Moſes ſeems to apply and to make uſe of the former deſtruction, of ſo many thouſands of the people, that were ſo ſuddenly cut off, and ſwept away. Who knoweth the power of, &c. q. d. what man living is able ſufficiently to confider of the greatneſſe of thy wrath, and fearfull Anger againſt ſin: And who doth fear thee according to thy exceeding and unſpeakable Anger to tremble at it, as thine indignation and diſpleaſure ought to be feared: As if he ſhould ſay, ſurely few or none. For Interrogations in the Scripture are often ſtrong Negations. And thoſe that doe fear thee, yet fall ſhort of the meaſure of their fear, that thy anger and wrath doth require.
Who knoweth.
THat is, doth well conſider it, and acknowledgeth the unſupportable waight and burthen of it.
The firſt Inſtruction obſervable is:
That albeit we taſt of Gods anger, Doct. 1 yet few take notice of it.Few take notice of Gods anger.
And that is ordinarily the caſe of deſperate ſinners, that contemn the rod of Gods chaſtiſements, and profit not by them, Jer. 8.6.as the Prophet hath it. No man ſaid, What have I done? And again, Ezek. 16.43.I have brought thy waies upon thy own head, yet haſt tho… not had conſideration of thy abominations.
Thus did the Lord call to weeping and mourning, Eſ. 22.12, 13, 14.to baldneſſe and ſackcloath; and behold, joy and gladneſſe, eating of fleſh, and drinking of wine. But what followed this damnable ſecurity, Surely this iniquitie (ſaith the Lord) ſhall not be purged till ye die. Gen. 6.This was that damnable ſecuritie of the old World in the daies of Noah, though Gods judgments were threatned, and even at the doore; Yet, they gave themſelves to eating and drinking, marrying, &c. till the Flood came, and ſwept them all away.
And hence it is that we are commanded, to hear the rod, and who hath appointed it. Mic. 6.9.Every affliction and every judgment from God, utters a voice, which we are to give ear unto, and labour to finde out the Lords minde in, wherefore the Lord ſends forth ſuch tokens of his anger and diſpleaſure, and not to do this, when Gods hand is upon us, argueth much ſecurity. It is a dangerous thing, when Gods wrath is gone out againſt a Land and Nation, or any particular perſon, to harden our necks againſt the ſtroak of the Almightie. It was a ſad complaint that of the Prophet, Strangers have devoured his ſtrength, Hoſ. 7.9.and he knoweth not. O when the Lord ſhall inflict upon his people, and plead againſt them, with the peſtilence, and with blood, Ezck. 38.22.and men ſhall not take notice of it, but remain ſenceleſſe under Gods hand, this is the way to double Gods ſtrokes, and to kindle a fire that ſhall devoure to deſtruction, He hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and yet he knew it not, Eſ. 42.25and it burned him, and he laid it not to heart.
Such look not up to God that ſtriketh them, nor to their ſins, Reaſ. 1 that juſtly drawes down Gods judgments upon them; but, they rather look upon ſecondary cauſes or inſtruments, and over-look God. How uſuall a thing it is for men to aſcribe all their miſeries and calamities that men ſuffer to deſtiny, fortune, or chance, and ſometimes to their own want of providence, as if they might have prevented them: and thus men, through the wretchedneſſe of their own evill hearts, they over-look God, looking after the ſtone, but not the hand that caſt it.
Secondly, Reaſ. 2 it is the only fruit of Faith to behold God chaſtiſing us, as a loving father, for our good. Now when men either want Faith, or Faith is not exerciſed under the croſſe, no marvell though men over-look God, and make not the right uſe of their ſufferings; whereas David in his greateſt trials could comfortably conclude, I know that thy judgments are juſt, Pſ. 119 75.and that thou of very faithfulneſſe haſt cauſed me to be troubled.
This ſerves to admoniſh us, Vſe 1 that when the hand of God is gone out againſt us, either againſt the Land in generall, or againſt us in particular in any kind whatſoever, in our bodies, names, eſtates &c. that we take heed that this be not our caſe, that we are inſenſible under Gods correcting hand, but take notice of his anger and diſpleaſure gone out againſt us.
In all extraordinary and ſtrange judgments of God upon us, we ſhould look home, Deut. 31.17.and ſay, Righteous art thou, O Lord, and true are thy judgments: And all theſe things are come upon us, for we have ſinned againſt thee.
This was Jobs care under his ſore afflictions, he puts not off the matter, lookes not upon the Caldeans and the Sabeans that had plundered him of his ſubſtance; but he lookes up higher, even unto God, and deſires to finde out the cauſe of all his miſery, Iob 10.2.Shew me, wherefore thou contendeſt with me.
Thus doth the Church in great afflictions, firſt, they acknowledge, that their ſins had deſerved all their miſeries, and they deſire to finde them out, and to turn unto the Lord, Man ſuffereth for his ſin. Lam. 3.39.Let us ſearch, and try our waies, and turn unto the Lord.
This is one main end of all thoſe tokens of his anger and diſpleaſure, to humble the proud heart of man, to make him look home; and then is God glorified, when he attains the end of his corrections laid upon us. The Lord knowes, this Land and Nation of ours is too too faulty in this, that notwithſtanding his wrath hath gone out againſt us, by many tokens of his diſpleaſure, by the ſword, by the peſtilence, and by our late viſitation of common ſickneſſe, and unwonted diſeaſes, whereby many, in all parts and corners of the Land, have been ſuddenly ſwept away, as it was the caſe of this Church and People here: Yet, how few lay theſe judgments of God to heart, to be humbled for ſin, the cauſe of all. We have had our daies of Humiliation, but where is that Reformation the Lord lookes for at our hands?
We ſtill complain of our miſeries we groan under, but we complain not of our ſins the cauſe of all. How can we look that Gods hand ſhould be removed, and his wrath appeaſed, whileſt Englands ſins cry for freſh judgments upon us?
I am no Prophet nor the Son of a Prophet, yet I am given much to fear, that Englands's miſeries are not yet at an end, but that God hath yet a farther controverſy with us.
When Moſes intreated the Lord for his ſiſter Miriam, Num: 12.14.God returned him this anſwer, If her Father had ſpit in her face, ſhould ſhe not have been aſhamed ſeven daies? q. d. How much more ought ſhe to be humbled and aſhamed, ſince I have ſhewed my diſpleaſure againſt her? God hath many waies ſhewed his anger and diſpleaſure againſt this Land, and yet wee have not laid his Iudgements to heart; why then do we not fear, that he will yet plead againſt us, with peſtilence, and with blood; and bring worſer daies, then England hath yet ſeen.
VVho knoweth the power of thy Anger, &c.
THat is, none doth ſufficiently conſider of thy Anger, and wrath for ſin, and doth fear thee accordingly, to tremble at it: Surely they are very few, and thoſe that do fear thee, and the power of thy wrath: yet come far ſhort of that meaſure of it, that thy Iudgements deſerve.
Hence we learn, Doct. 2 that Gods wrath is a terrible wrath: none knows it, Gods wrath is more terrible. Pſal. 2.5.nor is able ſufficiently to conceive of it: It is called a fierce wrath, ſore Diſpleaſure: when his wrath and anger is kindled, it devours to deſtruction. Our God is a conſuming fire.
Firſt, it is the wrath of God. The Lord revengeth, the Lord revengeth, Nahum. 1.23.where the repetition of the words ſhows not only the certainty of his wrath, but the ſeverity of it.
Secondly, it is a conſuming wrath, it devours to deſtruction; when this fire is once kindled, it will burn to the loweſt Hell. Deut. 32.22.For a fire is kindled in my Anger, and ſhall conſume to the loweſt Hell, &c.
Thirdly, there is an increaſe of his wrath; Rom. 2.5Thou according to the hardneſſe of thy heart treaſureſt up wrath. As rich men add to their Treaſures, ſo God adds to the Treaſures of his wrath, as men adde to their ſins, ſo God adds to his wrath, and when the meaſure of ſin is full, God then powres out his full wrath.
It is a powerfull wrath: Who knows the power of thy wrath? It is not like the wrath of man, which howſoever hot, and great, yet many times wants power to accompliſh it; but it is a wrath, that hath much power in it, ſo that look how much more God is ſtronger then man, Rom. 9.22.ſo is his wrath.
It is a ſuddain wrath, and ſo much the more fearfull: Their Damnation doth not ſleep; it travails as faſt as mens ſins, and will be ſure to meet them at their journies end. It ſurpriſeth them ſuddainly, it comes as an Earthquake, and as a Theef in the night. And if we look but upon thoſe examples, whom God hath made ſpectacles of his wrath, who can but acknowledge that Gods wrath is terrible. The Angells were caſt out of Heaven in his wrath, the old world deſtroyed in his wrath, Sodom and her Siſters conſumed in his wrath, Corah and his Complices ſwallowed up of the Earth in wrath, Pharaoh and the Aegyptians drowned in his wrath: The Iews once Gods Church and peculiar people now rejected in his wrath. Beſides experience daily before our eyes of Nations, and Kingdomes flouriſhing Kingdoms, brought low almoſt to deſtruction, all the wofull fruits and effects of Gods anger and wrath: For the Reaſons and Uſes ſee ver. 7. Doct. 5.
Who knoweth the power of thy Anger according to thy fear.
q. d. WHat man living is able ſufficiently to conſider the waight of thy Anger for ſin, ahd who doth fear thee accordingly? ſurely very few. And thoſe that do fear thee, yet come far ſhort in the meaſure and degree of the fear, that they ought to have.
Hence we may obſerve, Doct. 3 what is the cauſe why men do either altogether ſhake off the fear of God, Men fear God no more becauſe they know not the power of his wrathor have little or no ſence of his Anger and wrath for ſin, or elſe fear the Lord but little and leſſe then they ought to do. The Reaſon is plain, becauſe that few do truly and indeed acknowledge the Power of Gods wrath, what a wofull thing it is to fall into the hands of the living God: would you know why men feare Gods Anger no more, and make ſo light accompt of his wrath and diſpleaſure; ſurely it is becauſe they never yet knew the wonderfull and unſupportable waight and burden of Gods diſpleaſure. See how the Scriptures ſpeak of this Anger and wrath of God. Nahum. 1.5, 6.The Mountains quake at him, and the Hills melt, and the Earth is burnt at his preſence, yea, the world and all that dwell therein. VVho can ſtand before his indignation, v. 6.and who can abide the fierceneſſe of his anger, his fury is poured out as fire, and the Rocks are thrown down by him. Yea, the beſt of Gods Servants that have ever lived, have been aſtoniſhed and caſt down, with the beholding of Gods anger.
What a ſad complaint was that of holy Job, Iob 6.2. Iob 16.12, 13. Eſay 38.15.O that my griefe were weighed, and my calamity laid in a ballance together, it would be heavier then the ſand of the Sea, &c. And again, He hath broken me with one breaking after another, and runneth upon me as a Giant. Which ſhews that Jobs very inward and moſt noble parts were moſt afflicted with the ſenſe of Gods anger, and diſpleaſure.
And thus likewiſe doth Hezechiah complain: that God had bruiſed his bones like a Lion.
And David affirms the combating with Gods diſpleaſure. His Soul was ſore vexed and the very pangs of Hel gat hald upon him. And Jonas, Pſ. 116.3out of the belly of Hell cryed I.
His wrath ſets all on fire, ſets the conſcience on fire as it did the conſcience of Jadas, and burnes that. Sets the eſtate of a man on fire and conſumes that, fals upon a mans houſe and habitation, ſweepes away Sons and daughters, his Anger ſets all on fire. If his wrath be but once kindled, Hoſ. 2.5periſhing and deſtruction is the iſſue of it. Now whileſt men caſt off this feare of Gods wrath, no marvell though men live in ſin, and ceaſe not to provoke him day by day, by their evill wayes, the feare of God is wanting.
The Reaſons are
Firſt, Reaſ. 1 it is onelyonly the feare of God, that is the chiefeſt Armour to keepe off Sathans temptations, to ſin. How can I doe this great Wickedneſſe ſayth Joſeph and ſin againſt God? Gen. 39.It was the feare of God that kept him from conſenting to his Adulterous miſtriſſe. It was the feare of God that kept Job, that he durſt not give liberty unto himſelfe ſo much as in a wanton looke. And he profeſſeth, that he durſt not oppreſſe nor wrong any, and that for this very Reaſon; Iob. 31.23.for Deſtruction from God was a terror to me. He was not able to beare Gods wrath.
And from this ground Saint Paul exhorts men to obedience knowing (ſaith he) the terrours of the Lord, 1 Cor. 5.11.we perſwade men. See that the conſideration of Gode anger, & wrath againſt ſin, is an excellent preſervative againſt ſin.
But before we come to the Vſes, Queſt. this Queſtion is to be reſolved; Whether a child of God may abſtaine from ſin for fear of wrath?
I anſwer, Anſw. God children are principally to avoyd ſin; becauſe of the evill of ſin: as that which moſt diſpleaſeth God yea though there were no Hell at all, or puniſhment to be inflicted; yet in regard it offendeth God, ſo good and ſo gratious a Father, in Jeſus Chriſt they ſhould principally deter from ſin.
Yet this ſence of Gods wrath, and heavy, diſpleaſure againſt ſin, muſt not, nor may not be caſt aſide, this was the caſe of David. Pſal. 119 120.My fleſh trembleth for feare of thee, and I am affraid of thy Judgments. David no doubt had a child-like feare and awe of God; And yet in the ſecond plaee, he ſtood in awe of Gods judgments, thus were Gods judgments a terrour unto Job, the Deſtruction from God was a terrour unto me.Job 31.23.
So that howſoever, the godly are freed from Gods wrath by Chriſt, yet being continually preſerved with the ill neighbourhood of the fleſh, by the which we are often drawne into ſin; the conſideration of Gods judgments, is an excellent preſervative to keepe us from ſin.
Seeing the power of Gods anger is ſo great and terrible, Vſe 1 ſo powerfull, and unſupportable, it is our duty to feare the power of his wrath. Now to doe this, there is no way but to repent us of our ſins, to turne unto God, and by faith to lay hold on Chriſt, who alone muſt ſtand betwixt God and us. Mal. 4.2.VntoUnto you that feare my Name ſhall the Sun of Righteouſneſſe ariſe with healing under his wings. It is he that muſt Shield us from the heat of Gods wrath. Would we then have the heat of Gods anger to fly away, and to be ſafe from wrath, kiſſe the Son; get we under the wings of Chriſt, and ſo ſhall we be ſafe under his Feathers; otherwiſe we lye open to the fire of Gods anger, which at laſt ſhall devoure to deſtruction.
This ſerves likewiſe to informe us of the Reaſon, Vſe 2 why there is ſo little fear of God amongſt us little trembling at his Judgments, but men are bold to ſin. The Reaſon is, Men know not the power of Gods wrath, they conſider not what the Lord is able to do when he is provoked.
There are two ſpeciall cauſes why ſo few do ſo truly feare God.
Is a high conceit of our ſelves, Be not high minded in thy owne eyes, but feare the Lord. Pro. 3.7.Where the Holy Ghoſt oppoſeth pride to the feare of God Such as are proud and think their eſtate good enough, cannot truely feare God.
The ſecond Reaſon why men caſt off the feare of God, is the hardneſſe hearts. Bleſſed is the man that har- of their that feareth the Lord. Prov:But he dens his heart ſhall fall into miſery: a hard heart ſhuts out all feare of God.
Is for Exhortation, Vſe 3 that ſeeing the wrath of God is ſo fearefull and ſo terrible, it may teach us wiſdome and circumſpection to take heed to our ſelves, that we doe not provoke his wrath againſt us: this was that exhortation that Moſes gave to the people; …eut. 29.18.take heed that there be not amongſt you man or woman which ſhould turne their heart away from the living God.
And he gives the Reaſon. Leſt the wrath of God breake out, and every curſe that is written in this booke light vponupon him. It is ſun that Brings this wrath of God upon the Children of Diſobedience.
Who knoweth &c: Text. According to thy feare.
THe meaning is, Doct. 4 what man doth truely know and acknowledge the power of thy anger, The beſt faile in the feare of God.according to that meaſure of feare, wherwith thou oughteſt to be feared.
Note hence, How Moſes and the people of God, though they feared God yet notwithſtanding confeſſe that they failed in reſpect of that meaſure of the fear of God, which they ought to have had; for we muſt not think, but Moſes, and ſome of this people did truly feare God. But yet in regard of the power of Gods anger, which was now very great, & grievous, their fear of God was not anſwerable and proportionable; then it is apparant, that Moſes and this people fayled in reſpect of the meaſure of the feare of God, which they ought to have had, in regard of the greatneſſe and grievouſneſs of the judgments of God upon them.
See that the beſt of Gods ſervants in this life fall ſhort in their feare of God and ſo in all graces of the ſpirit, in that love of God, in faith, in repentance and in obedience, we come ſhort all of us of that meaſure the Lord requires at our hands, and which in regard of the means we ought to have.
For though we do know God, and that he is a juſt God, and righteous, and cannot winke at ſin; Yet what man is there that ſo feares before him as he ought to be feared? what man ſo quakes at his anger as he ſhould; and is ſo afraid of ſin as he ought to be, wee have no grace here in perfection, but the beſt faith is mixed with infidelitie, our hope with feare our joy with ſorrow. It is wel we can diſcern our wants and imperfections and cry out with the man in the Goſpell, Mar. 9.24.I beleeve, Lord help my unbeleefe.
It is true our Juſtification is done at once, and perfect when we are ingrafted into Chriſt. But our faith whereby we apprehend it, is not perfect here, but grows and increaſeth as our ſanctification doth, Rom. 1.17.the Righteouſneſſe of God is revealed from faith to faith. It is the priviledge of the Soules in Heaven, Heb. 12.23.to be juſt, and perfect. But not on earth; Paul himſelfe that had a great meaſure of the Sanctifying graces of the Spirit, yet confeſſeth, I account not my ſelfe that I have attained, Phil. 3.12.13either am already perfect. But I forget thoſe things that are behind, &c. and preſſe towards the marke.
It is a good ſigne of the truth of grace, when we can diſcern in our ſelves, the want of grace, and ſtrive againſt thoſe doubts and feares that are in us. Whereas it is an ill ſigne that that man wants the truth of grace in his ſoule that diſcovers not thoſe manifold wants and imperfections in himſelfe.
If thou haſt not a greater meaſure of grace then David had it may be thy caſe to complaine as David did feare and trembling are come upon me, Pſal. 55.5.and an horrible feare hath overwhe…med me.
Our life (ſaith the Apoſtle) is hid with Chriſt in God. It is hid from the world, and it is hid many times from us here, in reſpect of that fullneſſe, and perfection of it, our hope and happineſſe is in reverſion not in poſſeſſion.
And God will have it ſo.
Reaſ. 1 That we might ſee our continuall need and neceſſity of Gods ordinances for had we the graces of the ſpirit here in perfection to what end come I here to preach or you to heare. But now God beſtowes upon us his gifts and graces by meaſure, that we may ſtill hunger and thirſt after more daily, and waite upon him in the Conſcionable uſe of the meanes, whereby all ſaving graces are not only begun but increaſed daily in us.
We have here no grace in perfection; Reaſ. 2 in regard this world is not the place of our perfect happineſſe God hath appoynted Heaven for our home, where all tears ſhall be wiped away from our eyes and ſin from our ſoule, here wee ſigh deſiring to be cloathed upon, 2 Cor. 5.2. Rom. 8.24.we are ſaved now by hope, our happineſſe is not in preſent poſſeſſion but in reverſion.
This ſerves both diſcover unto us the miſery of ſuch, Vſe 1 and how far they are from the work of grace in their ſouls, that are ſo far from diſcovering any ſuch wants and imperfections, in themſelves and in their graces, as that phariſaically, they brag and boaſt of their ſtrong faith and that they ſhould be ſorry to live to doubt of their Salvation, when they heare of the moanes, and complaints of the Godly, complayning of their want of faith the hardneſſe of their hearts, and their backwardneſs, & indiſpoſition to any good Duty &c. they wonder at them, they would not be in their caſe for all the world, they never felt ſuch doubts and feares in themſelves.
Surely theſe are the moſt miſerable men in the world, they ſhew that the ſtrong man hath taken poſſeſſion of their ſouls, that thus holds them in this damnable Security, there is but a ſtep betwixt ſuch a one and hell, thy caſe is fearefull, it is a ſigne that thou ar thardned in thy ſin, and art far from the worke of grace in thy ſoule, Mat. 5.wo unto ſuch as now laugh, for they ſhall wayle and weepe; and Bleſſed are they that mourne, for they ſhall be comforted. Such as have had the greateſt meaſure of Grace, have found many wants, and imperfections in their graces, as Moſes here, and not to be ſenſible of our wants and imperfections, is an argument of the want of the truth of grace in ſuch aſoule.
Secondly, Vſe 2 this may ſerve for matter of comfort and conſolation unto ſuch as do unfaynedly love and feare God, and are troubled much with doubtings and feares, and diſcover more & more in themſelves, their wants and imperfections, in all their graces and in all their duties, know, O know that thy caſe is not ſingular, neither art thou alone in theſe complaints, many of Gods deare children are full of them. My faith is weake, my hope feeble, my love is cold, and I find ſo much backwardneſſe, and coldneſſe in duties O what ſhall I doe, I feare my eſtate is not good.
I confeſſe here is juſt cauſe of trouble and complaint in the Godly, when they find this to be their caſe, that grace is no more vigorous and active in them, and when they want the Senſible aſſurance of Gods favour and love. But ſuch muſt ſtay themſelves upon this that a man may be in the ſtate of grace, and yet want the aſſurance of it in himſelfe; A man may have faith in him, and yet conclude againſt it.
What a caſe was David in when he complayneth thus. Pſal. 13.1, 2.How long-wilt thou forget me O Lord? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? How long ſhall I take counſell in my ſoule, and have ſorrow in my heart? His heart muſt needs be ful of ſorrow, when God hides his face from him. But yet God turned againe and ſpake peace to his ſervant, and fild him at laſt with the joy of his ſalvation, and thus will the mourning and ſadneſſe of Gods Children, bring a joyfull harveſt at laſt, when theſe doubts and feares ſhall vaniſh away, & their hearts ſhall be filled with comfort.