Moses Prayer, Exposition · Verse 14
Ver. 14. O fill us with thy Mercy in the Morning, that we may rejoice and be glad all our daies.
IN the former Verſe wee have heard how earneſtly Moſes and the people of God beg for Reconciliation againe with God, and the arguments they uſe to move him to take pitty and compaſſion upon them.
Now in this fourteenth verſe, and ſo to the end of the Pſalm they come to beg the bleſſed Fruits, and Eſtates of this Reconciliation.
And firſt they pray for Mercy. O fill us with thy mercy: That is, that God would grant them the lively ſence and feeling of his love again towards them.
And in this requeſt of theirs we have two parts.
1. The Petition it ſelf. O fill us with, &c.
2. The end of their deſire. That we may rejoice, &c.
1. The Petition is, of mercy: and this is amplified,
1. By the quantity of it, Satisfie us, or fill us. It is a great meaſure that they require, according to their great miſery and need.
2. By the time, viz. In the Morning: That is, as I take it, with ſpeed, or preſently after their Night of their long and tedious afflictions, or elſe in time convenient, as ſome expound it.
2d Part of the Verſe is the Reaſon, or the end, why they ſo earneſtly deſire this lively ſenſe, and feeling of his love again towards them, viz. Not to grow ſecure thereby, as carnall men do… Nor yet to abuſe it to carnall and worldly rejoicing, as libertines uſe to do. But to this end, that feeling the love of God ſhed abroad in their ſouls they might have matter of joy and rejoycing to praiſe God; that ſo they might be joyful and chearful in his ſervice. And that not for a day or a year, but all our daies.
Where firſt of all we are to obſerve … Coher.their order & proceeding in this prayer of theirs.
In the former verſe they pray for Reconciliation again with God, that he would pardon their rebellions, and ſins, and receive them again into favour. Return O Lord, &c.
And now in this verſe, they pray for the bleſſed fruit of that Reconciliation, viz. the comfortable feeling thereof in their ſouls, O fill us with thy mercy, &c.
The Doctrine is. Doct. 1
That untill a man repent of his ſins, No comfort but in reconciliation with God. Eſay 57.20, 21.and be reconciled to God, he can have no true peace, joy, or rejoycing in his own Soul.
There is no peace to the wicked; but they are like the troubled Sea, that caſts forth mire and dirt.
Thus will the conſcience of wicked men, rage and accuſe them and caſt up many thoughts of fears, and deſperation, but can find no comfort, till they be reconciled to God.
It is true, wicked men have a kind of Drunken peace, or rather indeed a Damnable ſecurity, which Iob compares to a Dream. Iob 20.7And to the crackling of thornes under a pot, ſoon in, and ſoon out, which is wonderfull in three reſpects.
1. It is uncertain, their Sun many times goes down at noon day. As Nebuchadnezzar in the midſt of his banquet, had his mirth mar'd.
2. It is unſound, it is ſomtimes in the face, but not in the heart. For, in the midſt of laughter the heart is ſad.
3. The joy and rejoycing of the wicked doth end in miſery. Mal. 2.2.The Lord curſeth their bleſſings, though they may ſeem right to themſelves yet the iſſue thereof is death.Prov 16.25.
Whereas it is the godly that enjoy ſound, and laſting peace, joy, and comfort. It being grounded and founded upon this ſure foundation, Repentance for ſin, and Reconciliation to God.
What way ſought David for comfort, when Nathan had convinced him of his ſin, but by flying unto God by true repentance? Waſh me, clenſe me, purge me, Pſ. 51.8.and then make me to hear the voice of joy and gladneſſe. This is Gods way of dealing ordinarily with his people, as the ground of all true comfort.
Comfort ye, Eſ. 40.1, 2.comfort ye my people, ſaith our God ſpeak ye comfortably to Jeruſalem. But how ſhall they be comforted? The Lord tells them there, Cry unto her, that her iniquity is pa… doned.
Sin pardoned brings true comfort, and indeed there can be no true comfort nor peace till then. How doth Chriſt comfort the man ſick of the Palſey, Mar. 2.3.but by telling him, that ]his ſins were forgiven him.
And thus Chriſt raiſed up Mary that ſat weeping and blubbering at Chriſts feet, by telling her, that her ſins were forgiven her. So that the point is clear, that till a man have repented of his ſins, and be reconciled to God, and have embraced Chriſt, he can have no true peace and comfort in his own ſoule. And it muſt needs be ſo,
Becauſe it is the nature of ſin unpardoned, Reaſ. 1 to rob the ſoul of peace. That man that truly knowes ſin, and the wofull fruites and effects of ſin, cannot but account the pardon of ſin, the greateſt mercy. When had this people peace, but when they had left Aegypt, the Wilderneſſe, the Red-Sea, and the Mountains behinde them? And when ſhall a Chriſtian look for peace, but when his ſpirituall enemies, ſin and ſathan are overcome.
Secondly, Reaſ. 2 ſuch as truly repent of their ſins, and imbrace Chriſt, God hath promiſed to look upon, and ſhew mercy unto, Eſ. 66.2To this man will I look, even to him that is poor, and of a contrite ſpirit. And, Bleſſed are they that mourn, for they ſhall be comforted. And again, Eſ. 57.15Thus ſaith the high and loftie one that inhabiteth eternity, whoſe Name is holy, I dwell in the high and holy place, with him alſo that is of a contrite and humble ſpirit, to revive the ſpirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. Theſe are they God hath promiſed to look upon, and to have reſpect unto, to give them beautie for aſhes, Eſ. 61.3.and the oyle of gladneſſe for the ſpirit of heavineſſe.
This then lets us ſee the happie priviledge of the faithfull, Uſe 1 above all wicked and ungodly men; in their greateſt ſorrowes there is ſtill ground of joy: Joh. 16.20.Ye ſhall weep, (ſaith Chriſt) but your ſorrow ſhall be turned into joy, and your hearts-ſhall rejoyce. It is true, affliction, and the pangs of repentance, do ſometimes ſo dazzle the eyes of the godly, that their priviledges are ſometimes hid from them. There is a ſeed-time for peace, and a ſeed-time for joy, which many times proves ſharp and bitter; Light is ſowen for the righteous. The time of repentance and godly ſorrow is this ſeed-time, which howſoever the godly ſow in tears, yet they ſhall doubtleſſe come again with joy, and bring their ſheaves with them.
Worldly ſorrow is comfortleſſe, that ſeparates from God: But godly ſorrow cauſeth repentance unto life, and brings peace at laſt, in as much as it drawes us neer to God.
This alſo lets us ſee the miſery of many thouſands in the world, Uſe 2 and what enemies they are to their own peace and comfort, that hoodwink themſelves, and labour for nothing more, then to keep ſorrow from their hearts; they will not be brought to ſee the foulneſſe of their ſins, but labour to ſmother the checks of their owne conſciences; that when either by the Miniſtry of the Word, or by ſome ſharp affliction, they have had their ſins diſcovered, and their conſciences awakened, fall to ſports, and paſtimes, and merry company, and drink away care, and to put away theſe melancholick thoughts (as they call them) out of their heads, and uſe all means poſſibly, to thruſt out of their minds the thoughts of ſin, that they may not be troubled; like a man in a burning Feaver, that drinks cold water, which at laſt doth but increaſe his fit. Alas, what cold comfort is this to a diſtreſſed conſcience: whereas the only way is to flie unto God, to confeſſe ſin, and by true repentance and godly ſorrow, to lay the ſoul low at the footſtool of the throne of grace with David, and to beg for mercy.
O fill us with thy mercy.
WE have felt thy anger juſtly upon us for our ſins, q.d.ſo as thou haſt juſtly turned away thy ſavour, and ſhewed thy heavy diſpleaſure againſt us; Yet, we beſeech thee be a reconciled God unto us again; and according to the extremity of our miſery, fill us with thy mercy.
Hence we-learn, Doct. 2 Before we be filled with …nercy, we muſt feel our miſery.That before we can be filled with Gods mercy, we muſt have a lively ſenſe of our own miſery. Moſes and the people here confeſſe their ſins, and the exceeding miſery they had plunged themſelves into by reaſon of ſin; and then they beg for mercy, and cry and call for mercy, and that for no ſmall quantity, but for abundant ſtore of it, Fill us with thy mercy. Before we be filled with mercy, we muſt feel our miſery.
When Adam had ſinned, how did the Lord bring him into a capacitie of mercy and deliverance, but by bringing him to ſee into what a bottomleſſe gulph of miſery he had plunged himſelfe into? Gen. 3.9.Adam, where art thou? And again, Haſt thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee thou ſhoulde… not eat? And this is the direction the Lord gives to his Prophet, Eſ. 58.Cauſe Jeruſalem to know her abominations. And this Doctrine is taught by our Saviour himſelfe, in that Sermon of his upon the Mount, Mat. 5.4.Bleſſed are they that mourn, for they ſhall be comforted. And, Bleſſed are they that hunger and thirſt after righteouſneſſe, &c. where our Saviour tells us, that none can be ſatisfied with Gods mercies in Chriſt, but the hungry and thirſty ſouls.
Look we upon all thoſe godly converts mentioned in the Scriptures, David, Peter, Mary Magdalen, thoſe poor Jewes, that had imbrued their hands in the blood of the Lord Jeſus, and ſee how ſenſible they were of their ſins, and miſery by reaſon of ſin, before they were filled with Gods mercy in the aſſurance of the pardon of their ſins. David, he ſits weladaying night and day, and waters his couch with tears; Peter weeps bitterly; Mary Magdalen waſheth the feet of Chriſt with tears; the Jewes cry out, Men and brethren, what ſhall we do to be ſaved? In a word, all of them in ſome meaſure, have had their hearts broken, have felt the terrours of the Lord, and their conſciences touched with the apprehenſion of Gods wrath, and have taſted of the bitterneſſe of ſin, before they have taſted of the mercies of God in Chriſt for the pardon of them.
This wounding of the heart, and terrour of conſcience for ſin, Reaſ. 1 though it be no grace, yet, it makes way for grace in the ſoul; as one ſaith, though it waſh not the hands, yet, it puts off the gloves. It is as the needle that makes way for the third. God firſt gives the ſpirit of bondage, which is the ſpirit of fear, and then gives a ſpirit of adoption, which gives boldneſſe and comfort; when the threats of the Law have had their proper work upon the conſcience, to convince of ſin unto condemnation, then the ſweet promiſes of the Goſpell will prove ſeaſonable to the humble ſoul, to convince them of Chriſts righteouſneſſe to ſalvation.
Secondly, Reaſ. 2 that herein and hereby, the Lord may make his children come to know the price and worth of mercy, which the Lord will do to thoſe, upon whom he intends to beſtow mercy. How welcome will a pardon be to a condemned perſon, that lookes every day for execution? O how pretious, will the leaſt drop of Chriſts blood be to a wounded ſoul, that pants and breaths under the heat of Gods wrath for ſin: No chaſed Hart doth more earneſtly covet the ſoyle, then ſuch a diſtreſſed ſoul for Chriſt.
Beſides, Reaſ. 3 Luk. 1.53.all the promiſes of mercy are made to ſuch; and ſuch only. He filleth the hungry with good things, but ſends the rich emptie away. Luk. 5.31.The whole needs not a Phyſician, but thoſe that are ſick, Joh. 7.37. Matth. 5.5, 6.
This lets us ſee the reaſon, Uſe 1 why moſt men have no more ſenſe nor feeling of Gods mercy, or elſe have but ſmall taſt of it; the reaſon is, they never yet felt the weight and burthen of their ſins, they were never truly humbled for their exceeding miſery, they never felt their extream need of Gods mercy, and the blood of Chriſt to ſave their ſouls; they did never truly hunger and thirſt after it, but like the Laodicean Church, thought themſelves well enough, Rev. 3.17.and needed nothing; but knew not that they are miſerable, and poor, and blinde, and naked. Would you be filled with Gods mercy? would you drink your fill of the water of life? then you muſt hunger and thirſt after it, and finde your extream need of mercy: beg mercy at Gods hand with tears. Men hunger and thirſt after the things of this life, becauſe they feel the want of them; but they thirſt not after mercy, becauſe they feel no want of mercy, their ſtomachs are ſo cloyed with the love of the world, with the profits, pleaſures, and the delights of the fleſh, that they have no deſire of mercy, and theſe the Lord ſends away emptie.
O fill us with thy mercy.
THey crave not here a ſmall pittance, or a light taſt of Gods mercy, but even to have their hungry ſouls filled and ſatisfied with mercy.
Hence we ſee, Doct. 3 We ſhould labour for a plentiful ſenſe of Gods mercy.that it is not enough for us to have ſome light taſt of Gods mercy in Chriſt for the pardon of our ſins, but we muſt labour to have it in a plentifull meaſure, To be filled with the fulneſſe of God, and the feeling of his love.
The Lord is a bottomleſſe Sea of mercy, able to fill every ſoule that comes unto him; but we are like a veſſell that hath a narrow neck, which if it be caſt into the Sea, yet is not quickly filled, but by degrees. Even ſo, the mercy of God is as the bottomleſſe Sea, able to fill every ſoul that hungers and thirſts after mercy. Whence then is the cauſe that we are not filled with mercy? Surely in our ſelves; our Faith, which is the mouth of the ſoul, is ſo narrow, that though the Lord be able and willing to powre his graces and mercies into our ſouls; yet, we cannot receive, but drop after drop, one drop after another. And hence it is, that in a long time we receive but a ſmall meaſure of grace and mercy, becauſe the Lord muſt diſtill it into our hearts, as we are capable to receive it; now a little, and then a little, Eſ. 28.9, 10.precept upon precept, and line upon line, here a little, and there a little.
It was only true of Chriſt, Pſ. 45.7.that he received not the ſpirit by meaſure. He was annoynted with the oyle of gladneſſe above his fellowes. But as for us, we receive grace by meaſure. Whilſt we are here We know but in part. 1 Cor. 13.9.And according to our knowledge, ſo are our other graces proportionable. Gods children in this life have not fulneſſe or perfection of any grace, but only ſo much as the Lord in his wiſdome ſees meet for them, and we are ſtill to be adding grace to grace, Grow in grace, ſaith the Apoſtle, 1 Pet. 2.As new born babes deſire the ſincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby. And the Apoſtle exhorts us, to joyne to our vertue faith, and to faith knowledge, &c. So that it is not enough for us to have ſome light taſt of Gods love, or of the graces of his Spirit; but we muſt labour to have them in a plentifull meaſure, to be filled therewith.
The beſt of Gods Saints in this life, Reaſ. 1 have no grace in perfection; we are not capable of fulneſſe of grace in this life, but muſt pray ſtill, Lord increaſe our faith, and with the Church here, Lord fill us with thy mercy. And Chriſt teacheth us daily to pray, Thy Kingdome come.
The Lord is pleaſed thus to exerciſe his people with many wants and imperfections in his graces given them here, Reaſ. 2 to humble them, and to keepe down the pride that ſo naturally is ready to riſe in our hearts, eſpecially in ſpirituall gifts. Paul, leſt he ſhould be lifted up with the abundance of Revelations, had that prick in the fleſh, that he ſhould not be exalted above meaſure. 2 Cor. 12.8.Thus many times are the godly kept low in their own eyes, that they might walk the more humbly with God.
Seeing then, Uſe. 1 that it is not enough for us to have ſome light taſt of Gods love in Chriſt, for the pardon of ſin; but we muſt labour to be filled with the feeling of his love: This ſerves to condemn the greateſt part of the world, even Profeſſors themſelves, that when they have got a little taſt and feeling of Gods love, and of the work of grace in theirſouls, have a little meaſure of knowledge, of faith, and other graces content themſelves and think they have enough. But this ought not to be; If ever thou hadſt any true taſt of Gods mercy in Chriſt, it will make thee hunger and thirſt after more and therefore the Apoſtle Exhorts, 2 Pet. 1.2that As new born babes, we ſhould deſire the ſincere milk of the Word, that we might grow thereby. He adds, If you have taſted how ſweet the Lord is, intimating thus much, that untill ſuch time as we truly taſt how ſweet the Lord is; we ſhall never truly deſire the ſincere milk of the Word.
Seeing the cauſe why we are not filled with the mercy of God, Uſe 2 even at our firſt converſion, is not in God, but in our ſelves; even in the want of Faith, which is the inlet of all grace into the ſoul,
It is our duty to encreaſe in Faith in knowledge, repentance, and obedience; for as theſe graces grow, and encreaſe in us, ſo will the feeling of Gods mercy, and love towards us in Chriſt encreaſe in us. Such as have a great meaſure of Faith, there will be a great meaſure of the feeling of Gods love. Fill their Sacks, ſaith Joſeph. Scanty ſacks could not carry away any plentifull ſtore of proviſion; where Faith is weak, & the neck of the ſoul narrow and ſtreight, there will be but a little meaſure of the feeling of Gods mercy: which ſhould ſtir us up to grow in Faith, becauſe as our Faith grows, ſo our feeling of Gods mercy grows.
Satisfie us early (or) in the Morning.
THat is, with ſpeed; they that luſt for a thing cannot indure to be delaied: It is death to a thirſty man to belongwithout drink. So they that have their Soules ſcorched with the ſenſe of Gods anger; O it is mercy, they long for. And ſuch a Soul thinks every hour ten, and every day a year, till they be refreſhed with Gods mercy.
All delaies to ſuch diſtreſſed ſoules, is death it ſelf. Hear me ſpeedily O Lord ſaith David, My Spirit faileth, hide not thy face from me, leſt I be like unto them that go down into the …it.
Satisfie us early (or) in the Morning. q. d. Lord let us not lye any longer ſoaking in extream miſeries, leſt we be even ſwallowed up in deſperation; but make ſpeed to take pitty upon us The like we have by that of David, Pſ. 5.3.Hear my prayer in the Morning: where David intreats the Lord not to defer his mercy, but to to make ſpeed to his help. So Moſes here intreats the Lord to hear them in the Morning. That is, with ſpeed, that hee would not deferre to hear them, but with ſpeed to take pitty on their miſeries and troubles.
Now when Moſes and the people of God pray thus, that God would not defer to help them; they do not this with impatient minds, but partly in regard of their own frailty, leſt if the Lord ſhould ſuffer them to lie longer in miſery; their faith ſhould fail them in their expectation of Deliverance; Doct. 4 And partly to ſhew their hearty, Only Gods favour refreſheth a diſtreſſed Soul.and longing deſire and comfort, and feeling of his loving countenance again towards them.
Hence we learn, that only God favour, and loving countenance gives ſatisfaction to a diſtreſſed Soul: or, a poor ſoul will count it ſelf moſt happy in the enjoyment of Gods favour. And thus did Aaron and his ſonns uſually bleſſe the people. Num. 6.6.The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and grant you his peace.
Deu. 28.Thus Moſes makes the favour and loving countenance of God the foundation of all happineſſe having this they ſhould be bleſſed with all the bleſſings of Heaven, and of the Earth in Soul and Body. Herein David placeth true Bleſſedneſſe, Pſ. 32.12.Bleſſed is the man whoſe iniquitie is forgiven, an… whoſe ſin is covered: Bleſſed is the man to whom the Lord imputeth not ſin. Pardon of ſin, and reconciliation to God, cauſeth a man to be truly bleſſed.
The favour, and comfortable preſence of God to a poor diſtreſſed Soul, is as the Sun to the Creature in Summer; it quickens all Creatures, Man and Beaſt, Trees, Plants, Herbes and Flower; All Creatures are revived and quickned by the Suns preſence, which in winter time, ſeem to mourn for its abſence.
So whilſt we enjoy Gods favour, the Soul is filled with joy, and comfort: whereas if God hide his face and frown upon us, the Soul is then caſt down Thou turneſt thy face from me, and I was ſore troubled. And it muſt needs be ſo, that the poor Soul will count it moſt happy in the enjoyment of Gods favour.
For all the time the Conſcience apprehends his diſpleaſure, Reaſ. 1 and looks upon God as angry and diſpleaſed; the Conſcience will never ceaſe, to vex, accuſe, Eſay 57.and torment a man. There is no peace to the wicked ſaith my God and as Job hath it, Iob. 15.A dreadfull ſound is in his ears. Such a Soul ſees as it were the Heavens on fire over him, and Hel… mouth ready open to receive him: Men, Angells and Devills, Enemies unto him, whilſt God remains his Enemie.
Secondly, Reaſ. 2 when the wrath of God is once appeaſed, and God reveals himſelf a reconciled God to the ſoul, then come wee to have bold and free acceſſe unto him, and the Throne of grace; then we come boldly to the Throne of grace, then we come boldly into his preſence, and ask any thing at his hands, with much aſſurance to be heard: Which whilſt we lie in our ſins, and in an impenitent eſtate, God looks on us his enemies; neither can we look to obtain any thing at his hands.
Seeing that Gods favour, Uſe 1 and loving countenance brings ſuch refreſhments unto a diſtreſſed ſoul; What condition then are all graceleſſe ſinners in, that abide under his wrath and diſpleaſure for ſin? 2 Reg. 9.2.As Jehu ſometimes ſaid to Jehoram, What haſt thou to do with peace? ſo what peace, what joy, what comfort, can ſuch have, to whom God is not a reconciled God, but an angry Judge; who is a conſuming fire, and all wicked and ungodly men are but as ſtubbble before him. Surely all the peace, all the joy, and rejoycing of ſuch, is but as the crackling of Thorns under a pot, ſoon in, and ſoon out, they want that which is the ground and cauſe of true joy, and that is Gods countenance: Pſ. 63.3.which is better then life it ſelf: the ſpirit of bondage and fear muſt needs torment them; And howſoever ſoever they may outface conſcience for a time, yet God at laſt will open the Mouth of conſcience, and when conſcience ſhall ſpeak out, Horror, and Dread, will be ready to overwhelm that ſoul If a poor condemned Creature were now going to execution, what were the thing now to be deſired, that would yield him comfort, and render him happy; not gold, or ſilver land, or livings, would not now to be looked upon, but the Princes pardon would be the moſt welcomeſt thing in the World This the graceleſſe World ſhall find true one day. That howſoever Satan the God of this World hath blinded their eies, and their conſciences are faſt aſleep, that they neither ſee their miſery, nor what it is to lie under Gods diſpleaſure; yet the time will come when this poor wretched Creature, would give all the world for one ſmile from this angry God.
And this lets us ſee the happy priviledge of the faithful above all the men in the world, Uſe 2 let their outward eſtat… be what it will, let them endure hunger, thirſt, cold, nakedneſſe, impriſonment, baniſhment ſuch cannot be miſerable, that are at peace with God, have their ſins pardoned, and they reconciled unto him. Enemies, Tyrants, Death, Devils, cannot make ſuch miſerable: what though thou wanteſt health, peace, libertie, and thoſe comforts that others enjoy; if thou haſt that which thouſands in the World do want, the favourable countenance of God in Chriſt, is that, which wil make amends for all.
That wee may be glad and rejoice all our daies.
HItherto we have ſpoke to the firſt part of this verſe, and that is their Petition.
Now follows the ſecond part of the verſe, and that is their Reaſon, taken from the end, Doct. 5 for the which they crave the feeling of Gods love, Gods mercies ſhould provoke to cheerfulneſſe in his ſervice.and favour again towards them. viz. That we may be glad and rejoice all our daies.
Hence we may obſerve, what is the true uſe that is to bee made of Gods mercy, of his favour, and love, viz. to make us more joyfull, and cheerfull, in his ſervice to honour God, and to ſet forth his praiſe. If the Lord would bee ſo gratious unto them, as to Return again, and to fill them with his mercy, they will not hide ſuch a mercy, as that unfaithfull ſervant, that hid his Maſters Talent in a Napkin; but they will put it out to the moſt advantage of their Maſter; It ſhould make them more cheerfull in his ſervice, and to ſerve the Lord with gladneſſe all their daies. As a covetous man puts out his money for his own advantage; So will every godly Chriſtian put forth the Lords gifts for his advantage.
And indeed this is that that God promiſeth unto his people, as the wages of their ſervice, and as a fruit of their ſeeking of him. Eſay. 65.13.My ſervants ſhall rejoice, and yee ſhall be aſhamed. My ſervants ſhall ſing for joy of heart, and yee ſhall howl for vexation of ſpirit; as if the Lord had only intailed this joy to his choſen ones; it is limited unto them. Pſ. 40.16 Pro. 29.6.Let them that ſeek the Lord rejoice. The righteous ſhall ſing and rejoice.
And of the Churches returning out of Captivity, it is ſaid, Pſ. 126.6They went weeping and bearing good ſeed, but they return with joy, and bring their ſheaves with them.
And this did the Lord make good to his Church and people, here in the Wilderneſſe. How ſoever he chaſtiſed them for their ſins their infidelity, and murmuring againſt Moſes and Aaron, for the which his wrath brake out againſt them, and ſware in his wrath that they ſhould not enter into his reſt. Yet he made good his promiſe to their ſeed, and gave them that good Land to poſſeſſe it.
Which ſerves for the juſt reproofe of thoſe, Vſe 1: who having matter of joy, and rejoycing, to rejoice in the Lord, and to ſet forth the praiſe of his grace; turn it into carnall joy, and rejoycing, into eating and drinking, ſports and paſtimes. As at this time we have indeed cauſe of joy and rejoycing, for the great work of our Redemption by Ieſus Chriſt: But alas, wee turn it into carnall mirth, to feaſting and reveling, to carding and dicing, and unto all prophaneſſe, more liker Heathens then Chriſtians. But let ſuch know, that thus turn the grace of God into wantonneſſe, they will cauſe the Lord one day to turn their mirth into mourning, and their carnal rejoycing into weeping and lamentation.
This was the caſe of this people, though in Aegypt they were ſomwhat moderate; yet when they came out of bondage, whereas they ſhould have rejoyced in the Lord, Exod. 32.6.and ſet forth his mercy in their deliverance, They ſet them down to eat, and drink, and roſe up to play. Uſe 2
Secondly, ſeeing Moſes and the people of God here, will make this the end of Gods mercy to them, in their deliverance, and in being reconciled again unto them, to rejoice in the Lord with joy and gladneſſe. Then Religion exceeds not mirth and joy, neither is matter of dumpiſhneſſe, and ſadneſſe, as many vertuous ſpeak of it; but it is matter of joy, and gladneſſe; nay, there can be no ſound mirth, joy, or rejoycing without this; when a man doth truly repent him of his fins, is reconciled to God in Chriſt, and feels his love ſhed into his heart; this alone will yield matter of ſound joy, and ſolid comfort.
O ſay the curſed Iſmaels of our times, theſe profeſſors are alwaies ſad, and heavy, full of ſighes, and groanes, and complaining; there is no pleaſure at all in their waies, and courſes, &c. Such are altogether ignorant of the life of a Chriſtian, as Chriſt ſaid, I have meat to eat that ye wot not of; So hath a Chriſtian joy that the world wots not of, when a poor Priſoner that hath offended the Law, ſhall have the King to come to his houſe, and ſpeak kindly, and lovingly unto him; How will this cheer up his heart? then what greater comfort to a poor ſoul, then when God ſhall put his ſpirit into the heart of a man, and aſſures him of his love in Chriſt, and where the ſpirit of the Lord is, there muſt needs be comfort and joy, for he is the ſpirit of comfort. It is true, in regard of our ſins and corruptions we have in us, matter of mourning, and ſorrow; yet in regard of Gods love in Chriſt, we may lift up our hearts, and rejoyce. O then all we deſire to have matter of ſound and ſolid joy in our ſouls; let us labour to feel the love of God in Chriſt ſhed into our hearts; this will make us joyful in ſickneſſe as in health, in the Priſon; and at the ſtake, as thoſe bleſſed Martyrs were.