Moses Prayer, Exposition · Verse 1
Ver. 1. Lord thou haſt been our dweling place in all generations.
MOſes and the people of God begin this prayer of theirs with a Complaint of their great ſufferings, and grievous afflictions, that they ind…red not onelyonly in Aegypt under Pharaoh, and the Egyptians, but now in the Wilderneſſe, ſince the Lord delivered them, and brought them out with his Almighty hand, and ſtretched out arm.
And the firſt part of their prayer is a Complaint unto God, that their eſtate was far worſe, then the eſtate and condition of their Forefathers. And this is called A Prayer of Moſes, though indeed it bee but a Complaint. Hence we learn.
That in times of miſery and affliction, Doct. 1 The very complaints of the godly are effectuall prayers with God.the very Complaints, and Sobs, and Sighs, of Gods people, bee forcible prayers in the ſight of God, and loud cries in his eares. This is a ſpeciall point to be obſerved of us, that our very complaints to God our ſighs, and groanes in times of miſery and diſtreſſe are with God as powerfull and effectuall prayers. Moſes complaining and mourning now in their miſery, calls it a prayer.
A man may pray effectually, when in his own feeling and apprehenſion his heart is utterly indiſpoſed to prayer; When a child of God is overwhelmed with grief, and his thoughts perplexed and ſore troubled, that he is not able to conceive a prayer, either for matter or method; yet even then may this troubled and perplexed ſoul make an effectuall prayer unto God, by his Complaints, ſighs, and groanes unto God.
This was Moſes caſe at another time, when the people of Iſrael were in great diſtreſſe by Pharaoh, and the Aegyptians, who purſued after them with their Chariots and Horſemen, and they were in that ſtraight, that they knew not how to eſcape. Moſes, Exo. 14.15.wherefore cryeſt thou? Saith God; yet wee do not read that Moſes ſpake a word; But it is like that he groaned in ſpirit, and yet this was a loud and effectuall prayer with the Lord.
And ſuch was the behaviour of Hannah in the Temple; no voice of her at all was heard, and yet then it is ſaid, 1 Sam. 1.13.that She poured out her ſoul before the Lord.
Thus did Hezechiah. Eſay 38.14.Mourned like a Dove, and Chatter like a Crane: being much oppreſſed with grief. And this was looked upon as an effectuall prayer with God. Pſ. 77.3.4How oft was David in ſuch ſtraights in his ſpirit. That his ſpirit was overwhelmed within him, and hee not able to make a diſtinct prayer unto God, nor ſpeak a word yet even then did David pray effectually to God. This honour have all the Saints that their complaints, their very ſighs and groanes are accepted of him. Pſ. 88.See the title of the 88. Pſ. A prayer containing a grievous complaint.
Whereas it is true of all wicked and ungodly men, though they make many prayers, Eſ. 1.15.God will not hear them. Albeit ye make many prayers, I will not hear you, for your hands are full of blood. And again, Will you ſteal Murther, and commit Adultery; and ſtand before me in my houſe? Behold I ſee it (ſaith the Lord) And therefore caſt you out of my ſight.
O the miſery of every wicked and ungodly man, that whereas in times of affliction, and diſtreſſe, his onelyonly refuge is to fly unto God, by earneſt and hearty prayer. This man cannot pray, if he pray he ſpeaks in a language that God underſtands not, Prov. 15.8. Pſal. 66.18.his prayers are abomination unto the Lord. If I regard wickedneſſe in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.
Queſt. But what may bee the Reaſons, why the complaints and groanes of the godly, are thus looked upon as powerfull and effectual prayers with God?
Firſt, Reaſ. 1 Becauſe the prayer that prevails moſt with God is not ſo much the labour of the lips, as the labour of the heart. And let a prayer be never ſo well compoſed for matter or Method; and bee dreſſed with never ſo much Eloquence, and variety of expreſſions Yet if the heart be not affected, if the ſighs and groans of the heart be wanting, and faith within, that makes the ſame effectuall, they are not regarded at all with God.
Secondly, Reaſ. 2 becauſe the godly in their greateſt miſeries and diſtreſſes, that they can be brought into, when they are not able to pray: Yet they have the ſpirit within them, that makes requeſts for them, Rom. 8.26.with ſighs, and groans that cannot be expreſſed. But he that ſearcheth the heart, knoweth what the mind of the Spirit is: And a complaint, ſigh, and groan, proceeding from the Spirit muſt needs bee heard and anſwered of God.
This may miniſter matter of ſingular comfort and conſolation to ma…y a poor diſtreſſed ſoul and wounded conſcience, Uſe 1 when as the Lord withdrawes the comfort, and feeling of his loving kindneſs and mercy from them and they apprehend the anger of God againſt them for their ſins. It is wonderfull to ſee how the ſervants of God at ſuch times are caſt down and humbled: yea, they are not then able to pray, nor to call God Father, but be for a time in a trance, and as it were overwhelmed in the ſence of Gods diſpleaſure, and for their lives cannot lift up their voice to God in prayer. Now in ſuch a caſe as this, what is the comfort of a poor diſtreſſed ſoul, thus humbled, and amazed, and caſt down; But to make their moane and complaint to God, as Moſes doth here? Tell the Lord that thou canſt not pray as thou deſireſt: Complain unto the Lord, and ſay, O Lord, what wilt thou have me to do, wilt thou leave thy ſervant thus Say with Jehoſophat I know not what to do Lord, 2 Chron. 20.12.but my eyes are upon thee. If we can but complain thus, and mourn thus for our miſery, this is an earneſt prayer in Gods ſight; as this of Moſes, and of David, and Hezekiah.
Tell me, you that are tender hearted Parents, have not the ſighs, and moans, and groans of your little Infants, moved your bowells within you to pitty and compaſſion towards them, as ever the requeſts that they have made unto you? O the Lord doth as much, yea, more then you can do this way; the very ſighs, and groans and tears of his children, prevail with him much more than their words can. The Lord is ſaid to hear the groaning of the Priſoner. Pſal. 102.20. Eſay 38.5. Pſal. 39.And of Hezekiah, I have ſeen thy tears. And, Hold not thy peace at my tears. And I doubt not, but Gods people have found as much comfort in their ſighs and groanes, and tears, as in their requeſts in prayer.
Yet we muſt take heed that we abuſe not this comfort, to make us the more negligent and ſloathfull in the duty of prayer, in the times of health and proſperity: No, then we ought with all freedome of heart and tongue to exerciſe our ſelves in this duty. But this comfort belongs unto ſuch, as in times of affliction are not able to perform the duty.
And this ſerves to diſcover unto us the miſery of all wicked and ungodly men; Uſe 2 what comfort can ſuch have in times of affliction and diſtreſſe, that cannot pray; Prov. 28.9.He that turneth away his ears from hearing the Law, even his prayers ſhall be abominable. And as the Lord ſaith, Ezek. 8.18.Therefore will I deal in fury, my eye ſhall not ſpare, neither will I have pitty, and though they cry with a loud voice, I will not hear them.
O the miſery of a poor creature, when God ſhall ſhut out his prayers, and if they do pray, that the Lord ſhould make no more account of them then the howling of a dog: Hoſ. 9.4.for how can that prayer be effectuall, when the perſon is not accepted? 'Tis true, wicked men have ſometimes good motions in them, but they laſt not, like that of Balaam, O that my ſoul might dye the death of the righteous. Thus in times of ſickneſſe and diſtreſſe the wicked may pray, but theſe wiſhes and deſires of theirs, proceed only from ſome light in the underſtanding, but not out of any affection in the heart, and ſo quickly vaniſh away like the morning dew. Hoſ. 6.4.And hence is it that the Lord will laugh, when the deſtruction of ſuch a one commeth.
Whereas the complaints, the ſighs and groans of a broken heart, proceeding from humiliation for ſin, and ſence of Gods diſpleaſure, and a hope of Gods promiſes, preſerves the ſoule in life and ſends it to God as a ſure refuge in times of trouble.
So that the only hope to finde mercy and deliverance in time of trouble, belongs to a godly and an humbled ſoul, that formerly hath had acquaintance with God. Iob 22.21.The prayers, and ſighs and groans of ſuch onelyonly are heard.
Lord thou haſt been our habitation from generation to generation.
In this firſt verſe we have the firſt part of their complaint; And the words beare this ſence.
q.d. O Lord thou haſt been gracious to our forefathers, to Abraham, Iſaak, and Jacob, and to other ages, and generations after them; thou waſt a covert and defence unto them, when they pitched their Tents from place to place, and travelled from Country to Country. Thou commandeſt ſaying, Touch not my Annointed, Pſ. 105.15.and do my Prophets no harm.
But thou dealeſt not ſo gratiouſly with us that are their poſterity, wee are in great affliction and diſtreſſe, yea, for our Rebellions and ſins thou haſt left us, and goeſt not before us as thou didſt with our Forefathers.
So that this was it that humbled Moſes and the people of God at this time, when they ſaw that their eſtate was far otherwiſe, then their Forefathers; and that God did not now deal ſo gratiouſly with them, as hee did with their Forefathers. Hence note,
That when a Nation, Doct. 2 When a people decay in glory, then it is time to ſeek to God.Church or people decaies in beauty, in riches, in glory, or ſtrength; then it is time, high time, and more then time, to make their complaints to God, to bee humbled for their ſins, and to meet the Lord by unfained repentance.
When a Nation or people upon whom his name hath been called, where the Goſpell hath been preached, and his ordinances have been duly adminiſtred, where God hath heretofore declared his preſence. When ſuch a Nation or people ſhall decay in their former beauty and glory, when the glory of Religion ſhall begin to be Eclipſed by Sects and Hereſies, that ſhall increaſe daily in the Church and when God by many apparent ſignes ſhall ſeem to depart from ſuch a people; in gard of his wonted preſence, then it is high time for ſuch a people to humble themſelves, and to meet the Lord by repentance. Thus did Moſes and the people here, when the judgements of God were upon them, and they ſaw that it was far otherwiſe with them, then with their Forefathers; it was then high time to put up their complaints to God. Lam. 1.12, 35. Pſal. 107.
Hereby the Lord wil make us know that hee is not tyed to any Nation, Reaſ. 1 Church or people, no longer then they keep Covenant with him, and walk in obedience before him, as we may ſee of this Nation of the Jewes, and thoſe famous Churches of Corinth, Epheſus, Philippi, Coloſſe, &c. once glorious and flouriſhing Churches, but now have the Candleſtick removed from them.
The Lord many times doth lay his hand upon a Nation and people to this very end, Reaſ. 2 to humble them, and to make them looke home, to humble them, and to cauſe them to meet the the Lord by repentance, for this end the Lord made the prodigall to taſt of a Famine, that was ſuch a wanton in times of proſperity. And welfare thoſe afflictions that ſend us home to God.
By this dealing of the Lord with a Nation, and with a people, Reaſ. 3 by ſharp and ſore afflictions the Lord is pleaſed to humble them; and thereby to fit them for mercy and deliverance. And this is no other thing then what the Lord himſelf hath promiſed. If a Nation againſt whom I have pronounced, turn from their wickedneſſe, Ier. 18.5.I will repent of the plague that I thought to have brought upon them. Thus Niniveh prevented her Judgement. And this is the right way to ſtop the breach of Gods wrath, and to call in his Judgements, when they are gone out againſt us.
This ſerves to ſhew the monſtrous impiety and prophaneſſe of this age, Uſe 1 and time wherein we live, that do not thus mark, and obſerve, the dealing of God with us. We have ſeen the hand of God in a grievous manner upon the Land in generall. The Lord hath rode Circuit amongſt us, and what Country, nay, what Family hath not ſuffered in theſe times; the ſword hath been in the bowells of this Nation, and hath drunk much blood. The Lord hath likewiſe ſent forth other meſſengers of his anger againſt us, as unſeaſonable years, at one time making the fruits of the earth dung for the earth; at another time making the Heavens as Braſſe, and the Earth as Iron, that the Creature hath mourned, to teach us to mourn; and now again by an univerſall ſickneſſe and diſeaſe, the like whereof no age can remember, when ſo many are ſick and weak, and taken away by death.
Yet who makes this uſe of it as Moſes and the people of God here? who is humbled under Gods hand, who mournes for ſin, the cauſe of all? No, no we can be content to paſſe over the Lords dealing thus, with the Land, as if theſe Judgements concerned us not, we lay them not to heart.
Surely it is to be feared that the Lord wil come nearer unto us yet in the end. Take we heed that it be not found true of us which the Lord ſpeaketh, I called for ſackcloath and faſting, Eſa. 22.13, 14.but behold mirth, eating, and drinking, &c. when was there ever the like exceſſe of drinking then at this day, but what ſaith the Lord, This inquity ſhall not be purged untill ye die.
Secondly, Uſe 2 this Doctrine ſerves to direct us, what we ought to do, and how wee ought to carry our ſelves in times of Common Calamitie. Not to be gazers and lookers on of Gods Judgements. But to ſearch and try our waies, to diſcover the ſins of the Land, and the evills of the times, which ſhould thus provoke the Lord to puniſh us in a different manner, then our Forefathers in former ages, as Moſes here. Surely it is a dangerous fin heedleſly to paſſe by Gods dealing with us at this time, from former times. How can we be humbled aright for our preſent miſeries, if we do not conſider hi… former mercies. This were to deprive God of his glory, and our ſelves of confidence and comfort.
Lord thou haſt been our dwelling place.
WE are farther to obſerve in this prayer of Moſes, Text. how they begin their prayer. viz. with putting the Lord in mind of his former mercies ſhewed unto their Forefathers in times paſt, and in former generations. Thou haſt been a Covert unto our Forefathers, and good unto them; guiding, directing, and protecting them. Note hence,
That it is a ſpeciall motive and reaſon to plead in prayer, Doct. 3 To plead Gods former mercies a good Motive for futute.to move the Lord to pitty and compaſſion, to put him in mind of his former mercies and deliverances, beſtowed, either upon us or our Forefathers.
The Prophet out of experience of former mercies, prayeth for the continuance thereof.
Lord thou haſt been favourable to the Land, Pſ. 85.2, 3, 4.thou haſt brought back the captivitie of Jacob.
Thou haſt forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou haſt covered all their ſinne.
Thou haſt taken away all thy wrath thou haſt turned thy ſelf, from the fierceneſſe of thine anger, &c.
And hence he grounds his requeſt to God.
Turn us O God of our ſalvation, Ver. 4 and cauſe thine anger towards us to ceaſe.
And thus do Nehemiah and Daniel begin their prayers for the Church, Nehc. 1. Dan. 9.they mind the Lord of his Covenant, and mercifull promiſe to his people.
And thus David perſecuted by Saul, hee pleads his cauſe with God thus. Pſ. 4.1.Hear me O God of my righteouſneſſe. thou haſt ſet me at liberty, &c. Hee minds God of his former mercies, and deliverances, and thereby is confimed in his faith and confidence, that God would not now leave him at this time of diſtreſſe. And ſo when he was to go out againſt Goliah, 1 Sam. 17.34.hee calls to minde the Lords mercifull deliverance from the Lyon and the Bear, and grounds his hope of ſucceſſe, at this time alſo, upon it.
And this hath been the care of Gods people to keep a Catalogue of Gods mercies and deliverances to ſtrengthen Pſ. 22.21their prayers in the like time of danger: yea, ſo carefull have the people of God been to keep in memory former mercies and deliverances, that they have raiſed up monuments and given name to priſons, times, and places, for perpetuall records of mercies and deliverances; as Jehoſophat called the place, wherein the Lord had given him the victory, 2 Chron. 20.26.to be called, the valley of Beracha: and the Jewes, it is thought, have their Purim to this day.
This is to give the Lord the honour and glory of his works, Reaſ. 1 when they are kept in remembrance, 1 Sam. 12.24.Conſider how great things God hath done for you, ſaith Samuel to the people, that his glorious works might be kept in remembrance amongſt them. Yea, this is ſuch a duty, that we are often to preſſe upon our hearts, Pſ. 103.2.as David did, Bleſſe the Lord O my ſoul, and for get not his benefits. We cannot honour God more, then to mind him of his former mercies and deliverances. This makes a believer bold with God, as we are with a truſty friend, that we have had experience of. It ſerves to ſtrengthen our faith, to quel our doubts, and fears, and cauſeth us with much confidence to rely on him.
Beſides, Reaſ. 2 it is one of the greateſt comforts in times of extreamities, and dangers, the experience we have had of Gods goodneſſe and mercy, Experience (ſaith the Apoſtle) worketh hope. God being the ſame ever to his people, In him is no variableneſſe, Jam. 1.17nor ſhadow of change. And hence it is that the godly, in times of adverſity, can hold up their heads with comfort, when wicked men are at their witts end, and many times overwhelmed with ſorrow.
This ſerves for our Direction, Uſe 1 how to begin our prayers unto God, the better to move him to pitty, and to have compaſſion upon us, viz. to remember the former mercies of God unto us, and to our fore-fathers, to put the Lord in minde how he hath heretofore been our God; that he hath been ſeen upon the Mount, when our fears were great, and our dangers many: and that therefore he would now in mercy be good unto us. Thus, O Lord, thou haſt been our God, our refuge, and our Dwelling place, thou haſt kept us a long time by thy power, thou haſt many, and many a time, commanded ſalvation to thy Church and people in times of their greateſt dangers. Therefore Lord defend us ſtill, leave us not, nor forſake us, O God of our ſalvation.
We ſhould thus wreſtle and ſtrive with God, Pſal. 85.as David did, and as Moſes and the people of God here did, and ſay, In time of famine thou haſt fed us, in times of perſecution and dangers thou haſt kept us, when the bloudy ſword was ſhaken againſt us, thou didſt preſerve us; in theſe times of fickneſſe. our habitations have been ſafe. Ah Lord, do not forſake us now, leave us not at this time of trouble and danger, but turn our hearts unto thee by unfained repentance, and turn away thy heavy diſpleaſure from us.
Secondly, Vſe 2 this ſerves to inform us, how to get affiance and ſure confidence in God in prayer, viz. by recounting the antient mercies of God, and experiments we have had of his love from time to time, we ought to keep a catalogue of them, and to repeat them oft to our own ſouls; to that end we may grow up in experience of his power, and providence, and goodneſſe towards us.
A Chriſtians memory ſhould be a Chronicle of antiquity. And beſides our own experience we have had of Gods mercifull dealing towards us, we ſhould remember what our fathers have told us, and we ſhould ſhew the ſame to our children, Pſ. 102.18.that the children yet unborn may praiſe the Lord.
This obſervation of Gods goodneſſe to us, will be a ſpeciall prop to hold up our hearts and hands in prayer, Pſ. 27.10.Put not thy ſervant away in anger, thou haſt been my help. There is nothing can ſtrengthen us more under our preſent ſufferings, then a freſh memory of Gods former mercies.
Lord thou haſt been our dwelling place. Text.
THat is, Lord, thou haſt been to our fore-fathers, what a dwelling houſe is to men, viz. a covert and a ſafe defence, and a Caſtle to defend them, and protect them from all hurts and dangers; that though they had no dwelling place, but travelled from Country to Country, yet they had a ſure defence, for thou didſt protect them, and waſt unto them their Dwelling place. Doct. 4 The note is,
That Gods Church & people have ever had a Dwelling place. Gods people have ever had a dwelling place. Deut. 33 27-29.Lord thou haſt bin our dwelling place from generation to generation. The Lord himſelf under his wings protects and defends his people; and they are ſafe whom he keepeth, The eternall God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlaſting armes. Happie art thou, O Iſrael, who is like unto thee, O people, ſaved of the Lord. Pſ. 127.1, 2. Pſ. 91.1.If the Lord keep the City, it is in ſafety. The godly are ſaid to dwell in the ſecret of the moſt High., and to ſay unto God, thou art my rock, my refuge, and my ſtrong tower. He ſhall hide me (ſaith David) in the ſecret of his Tabernacle. Pſ. 27.5.The godly muſt not look to be freed from dangers, it is enough that they are preſerved in dangers.
How was the woman purſued in the Wilderneſſe by the red Dragon, Rev. 12.14.yet God provided for her a habitation there for her ſelfe, and her child, which ſhe brought forth.
So when the Church ſhall be perſecuted by Tyrants, ſhe muſt not think that any earthly hold can keep her ſafe, only here is her priviledge, ſhe hath the ſhadow of the Almighty, Pſ. 91.1. Pſ. 18.2. 1 Sam. 22.1, 5.and the ſecret of the moſt High to fly unto. How oft was David purſued by Saul, ſometimes by Abſalom his own ſon; yet ſtill God provided for him a hiding place.
Object. But hath not the Church, Object. and the particular members of it, ſuffered Martyrdome, ſlaughters, &c.
Anſ. It is true, Anſw. God ſuffers many times his children to fall by the cruelty of the enemies of the Church: yet even therein they are more then Conquerors. The primitive Martyrs in all their ſufferings, the Text ſaith, They would not be delivered, Heb. 11.becauſe they looked for a better reſurrection.
And God is pleaſed thus many times to ſuffer the wicked to prevail againſt their bodies for theſe Reaſons.
1. That herein, and hereby, the wicked might fill up the meaſure of their ſins, and ſo haſten their own deſtruction.
2. Hereby God will have his truth witneſſed; yea, ſometimes with the very blood of the Saints.
3. God will have it ſo, for the utility and profit of his Church; for the blood of Martyrs is the ſeed of the Church.
Yet ſtill the promiſe is moſt ſure, God will be a hiding place unto his, and the worſt that Tyrants can do, is but to kill the body, and ſo haſten their happineſſe and glory; they can never prevail againſt the inward man nor overthrow their faith, nor diſappoint them of ſalvation.
But hereby our faith is exerciſed, our patience tried, and the bitterneſſe that we have taſted in our ſufferings, makes our deliverance but ſo much the more ſweet and comfortable unto us.
And the Reaſon is, Reaſon that neer relation that is between God and his people, ſhewes that God muſt be their habitation, they are his Sons, they are his Spouſe, members of his body, his friends, his ſervants; and ſhall not God be a houſe and habitation unto them; Nay more, they are ſo neer and dear unto God that he that toucheth them, toucheth the apple of his eye. Zach. 2.8Such cannot want protection.
Seeing there is no protection and ſafeguard unleſſe our God become our habitation, and dwelling place. Vſe 1 This diſcovers unto us the folly of ſuch, who fooliſhly run from protection, ſome one way, and ſome another; and never ſeek for Gods protection. Some put their truſt in ſtrong holds, in great and fortified Caſtles; ſome in their wit, ſome in their riches, &c. But unleſſe the Lord be thy dwelling place, and unleſſe the Lord be thy protection, thou canſt have no ſafety, though thou dwelleſt in an houſe of Ivory, and in the ſtrongeſt Caſtle made of ſtone; yet unleſſe the Lord keep thee, every Sergeant of Gods judgment, and every meſſenger of Gods vengeance will ſeize upon thee.
Seeing they only be in ſafety whom Uſe 2 the Lord covers, and whom he protects with his armes, and with his power; we ſee then it is our wiſdome to ſeek unto God for ſafetie, and to creep under his wings; for if he keep us all ſhall be well with us. A prudent man foreſeeth the evill, Prov. 22.3.and hideth himſelfe; that is, he flies to God for protection. For let men ſeek what ſhifts they can, and uſe all the means they can, to winde themſelves out of miſery, yet unleſſe the Lord keep them, unleſſe they ſeek unto him by repentance and prayer, they ſhall be but as the bird in the net, ſtrive and ſtruggle, but ſhall never be able to get out, but the more ſhe ſtrives, the more ſhe is intangled.
So the wicked, the more they ſeek to avoid Gods judgments, by their ſhifts and devices, the more they are enſuared in them. Unleſſe the Lord be our habitation and dwelling place, to protect and defend us by his owne power and providence.
Thirdly, Uſe 3 the conſideration hereof, that God is our habitation and dwelling place, to hide and ſhelter us, when ſtormes and tempeſts are up, and ready to annoy us; The conſideration hereof ſhould ſerve to arme Chriſtians with a holy reſolution to keep in with God, to obey him, and to go on in a godly courſe, and not to fear the threats and terrours of men, or what man can do unto us. Hath God undertaken to protect us, and to be a habitation unto us, to be our ſhield and buckler, our defence and hiding place? Whom then ſhould we fear?
'Tis true Gods ſervants whilſt they are here, are ſubject to a world of dangers, inward, and outward: But why ſhould we fear, when the Lord hath undertaken to be a buckler, a ſhield, a ſhadow, and a hiding place unto us?
How oft doth David the to this, Pſal. 18.in times of danger, I love the Lord, my buckler, my ſhi…d, and defence: q. d. What though my troubles are many, and my enemies are mighty: yet I have at hand a buckler, and a ſhield, that will keep off all dangers, He is my buckler, my ſhield, and my defence. What a comfort was it to Jonas, when ſcorched with heat, God ſo ſeaſonably provided the Gourd to ſpring up, that refreſhed him from the ſcorching beams of the Sun; this God provided for him: and thus will the Lord provide a ſhadow and ſhelter for us in times of danger. What comforts have we here, that may not fitly be reſembled to Jonas Gourd, riches, honour, power, &c. Theſe may yield a ſhadow for a time; but then comes the Sun ſhine, the Eaſt-wind, or the worm, that nips them, and they are gone. Who would then truſt to ſuch ſhadows as theſe are? the daies and times that we have lived to ſee hath declared this unto us, that all earthly things are meer ſhadowes: How is the Crown it ſelfe withered? how many noble families and houſes are now laid in the duſt? and what is it that we do enjoy, that we can promiſe to our ſelves any certainty in? at the beſt, they are but weak helps. But ſaith David The Lord liveth, and bleſſed be my ſtrong help.
If God be a dwelling place to his people, Uſe 4 and that they are ſo ſafe under his wings, whoſe faithfulneſſe and truth ſhall be their ſhield and Bucker;
Then how fearfull is the condition of thoſe, that walk not in his waies, and live not under his protection, that have not God for their Habitation, theſe lie open to all ſtormes, and Tempeſts, of Sathans temptations, and all ſuch miſeries that a poor Creature can be ſubject unto. Howſoever God may feed them, and fill their bellies with the good things of this liſe: yet what comfort can they have in the evil day, when conſcience is let looſe to ſpeak terrible things to the ſoule, and Sathan ſhall caſt his fiery darts againſt them, ſuch muſt needs be at their wits end, that have not a God to fly unto.
Doth not carnal policy teach us thus much, to get into ſome Noble mans, or ſome great mans Family, and then we think our ſelves highly priviledged, and wee looke for protection under them. O where are our hearts Chriſtians, and where is that ſpiritual wiſdom that ought to be in us, that look no more after Gods ſervice, whoſe ſervice is perfect freedom, and which brings with it ſo much ſafety, and ſecurity.
And the laſt is, Uſe 5 that ſeeing wee may ſay as Moſes here, Lord thou haſt been our dwelling place: our Covert and defence in dangers, thou haſt protected and covered us by thy hand, thou haſt kept us in theſe contagious times, wherein many have been ſick, many weak, and many taken away by death; Lord thou haſt given us health after ſickneſſe, deliverance from dangers, conſolation after all our ſorrows and afflictions; thou haſt been our defence and protection. Thou haſt been a cover unto us, or elſe wee had long a go periſhed.
O what ſhall we render to the Lord for all theſe benefits, what rent do wee owe unto God for our Habitation and ſafe protection! If we ſhould finde this favour at any mans hand; that he would let us have a dwelling place fit and needfull for us, to defend us from ſtorms, and tempeſts, and that for ſeaven years or twenty years together, will he not look for ſome rent or ſervice at our hands, but the Lord hath been our dwelling place twenty, thirty, forty years, from time to time unto this day. Now wil not the Lord look for ſome Rent and ſervice at our hands, even the Rent and ſervice of obedience and thankfulneſſe, that wee ſhould not diſpleaſe our Landlord, that we ſhould not grieve him, or provoke him to anger: but keep his favour, and good will, and pleaſe him in all things: this Rent of obedience and thankfulneſſe doth the Lord require at our hands.
But alas how few do pay the Lord this Rent, and perform this ſervice, who albeit they receive daily from him many benefits, and mercies; few with that Leper in the Goſpell, remember to return thanks.
From generation to generation. Text.
MOſes doth not here ſpeak in the preſent tenſe, that God was their Habitation. But that he was the ſame to their Forefathers, Abraham, Iſaack and Jacob long before, even from Generation to Generation.
Hence wee learn that the Church in all ages is one and the ſame, Doct. 5 The Church is ever one and the ſame.ſince the firſt Creation; God hath ever had his Church, and ſo from Generation to Generation, God hath continued his Church in the world, and ever will to the end.
'Tis true, it was ſometimes limited to one Nation, as to the Jews. He ſhewed his word to Jacob, his ſtatutes and judgements to Iſrael, He hath not done ſo with any Nation, Io. 4.22.and Salvation is of the Jews. But now in the times of the Goſpell, ſince the comming of Chriſt, that Wall of ſeparation is plucked up; and Japhet, is perſwaded to dwell in the Tencs of Sem. Cant. 6.8My Dove, my undefiled is but one, ſhe is the onelyonly one of her Mother. And this is teſtified by that of Paul, 1 Cor. 12.12.As there are many members, but yet but one body; ſo we being many, are one in Chriſt.
And this doth our Saviour make clear and plain unto us, Io. 10.16when he ſaith Other ſheep I have which are not of this Fold, them alſo muſt I bring; and they ſhall hear my voice, and there ſhall be one Fold and one Shepheard. And the Church is figured by one woman. Rev. 12And this woman hath Chriſt married to himſelf, which ſhewes the unity of the Church in all ages.Hoſ. 2.19
'Tis true, this one Church of Chriſt may have many parts, as the Sea hath many Chanells, and is called by the name of the Country by the which it runs, as the Germ an Sea, the Baltique Sea, &c. ſo the Church of France, the Church of England & the Church of Scotland, &c. yet the Church of God is but one Militant Church upon the face of the whole Earth.
Reaſ. And the Reaſon is becauſe it hath but one Head
As we account that but one Common-wealth, that is under one King, and governed by one and the ſame Lawes, and is under one Government So is the Church of Chriſt one, profeſſing one and the ſame faith; hath one and the ſame hope, and Baptiſed into the ſame ſpirit, and reſerved unto one and the ſame glorious inheritance, is but one.
This quite overthrows the Church Uſe 1 of Rome as no true Church of Chriſt, who quite overthrow the Nature of the Church Catholick thus inlarged by God, and confine the ſame to Rome. What is Catholick, but Univerſall? And to ſpeak in their language, The Catholick Roman Church, is as much as to ſay, the Univerſall Church; which muſt needs ſound in the ears of any reaſonable man, to be moſt abſurd.
Gods Church is not tyed to any one time, much leſſe to any one place; but in reſpect of time and place, is Catholick and Univerſall?
Secondly, Vſe 2 is this ſo, that the Church of God is one and the ſame from generation to generation?
This may ſerve to unite the hearts of believers together, in unity and peace. The Unity and Oneneſſe of the Church, ſhould teach unity and concord amongſt thoſe that profeſſe themſelves members of this Church. We are all of one houſe and habitation, have one Father, one Chriſt, one Spirit, one Bread, one board, one Bread to feed upon, one Cup to drink on: ſo ſhould we be of one minde, and of one heart.
Chriſtians ſhould cleave together, and hold together. If one member ſuffer, all ſhould ſuffer with it, 1 Pet. 4.10.if one member be in honour, all ſhould rejoyce at it, As every man hath received the gift, even ſo miniſter the ſame one to another?
Thoſe that are of the family of the Devill will do ſo: Drunkards have a league amongſt themſelves; what a ſhame then is it for Chriſtians, that profeſſe themſelves of the houſhold of God, to rent aſunder the ſeamleſſe Coat of Chriſt.
Surely, the ſad diviſions that are in England this day, like the diviſions of Ruben, cauſe great thoughts of heart, and fruſtrates all our hopes of our deſired peace.
O what a ſhame is it, that there ſhould be ſtrife and diſſention in that family, where the Father is the God of peace, and the ſon is the Prince of peace. What an excellent Church and houſe of God was it in the Apoſtles time, when the multitude of believers were of one heart, and of one minde. Such therefore as make theſe rents and diviſions in the Church, as too many do in theſe daies, ſhew apparently that they are not of Gods houſhold. See that place of Paul, Now I beſeech you brethren, Rom. 16.17.18.mark them which cauſe diviſions and offences, contrary to the Doctrine which ye have received, and avoid them, for they are ſuch as ſerve not the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, but their own belly; and by good words, and fair ſpeeches, deceive the hearts of the ſimple.