Moses Prayer, Exposition · Verse 3
Ver. 3. Thou turneſt man to deſtraction, and ſayeſt, Return again ye children of men.
FRom the beginning of this Verſe, to the eleventh, we have the ſecond generall part of this Pſalm, and that is his Naration, in the which he ſets down the common frailty, and mortality of mankind, from Verſe 3. to the 11. and this he doth,
1 In generall:
1. By the efficient cauſe of mans frailty, and mortality, verſe 3. Thou turneſt man, &c.
2. By the inſtrumentall cauſe, viz. The manifold miſeries, ſickneſſes and diſeaſes, theſe frail bodies of ours are ſubject unto.
As alſo from the compoſition of mans body, which is made but of the duſt of the earth, and therefore muſt return to duſt again.
2. In particular, by comparing it
1. To a Watch in the night, that is the ſpace of three houres, ver. 4.
2. To a Sleep, or a Dream, that is a vaniſhing thing, and of no continuance verſe 5.
3. To a Flower, or Graſſe, that groweth up in the morning, but cut down and withered ere night ver. 6. Thus of the eſtate of mankind in generall.
Then verſe 7, 8, 9. he applies this to themſelves in particular, now in great affliction and diſtreſſe in the Wilderneſſe: and ſhewes that though the life of man be frail, and ſhort, yet their eſtate at this time was far worſe and more miſerable: and the Reaſon was
1. Becauſe of Gods anger and terrible diſpleaſure, whereby they were pittifully waſted and conconſumed, verſe 7.
2. He ſets down the ſpeciall procuring cauſe, why their eſtate was thus miſerable, viz. Their ſins and rebellions, which the Lord did now charge them with, verſe 8.
Thou turneſt man to deſtruction. Text.
THat is at thy will, and pleaſure, and appointment is the life of man; when it pleaſeth thee, thou turneſt man to deſtruction, that is, to breaking and cruſhing, even to duſt and aſhes.
Hence we learn, Doct. 1 that the greteſt ſtay and comfort of the godly under affliction is, the conſideration, Greateſt comfort to the godly in times of affliction, that they come from God. Hoſ. 6.1. Am. 3.6.that their miſeries and afflictions come from God, He hath ſpoyled, he hath wounded, ſaith the Church. They do not look ſo much upon the Aſſyrians that afflicted them, but they look up higher, and ſee Gods hand upon them, and ſay, The Lord hath ſpoyled; and, He hath wounded us. Is there any evill in the City, and the Lord hath not done it? That is, any judgment, ſickneſſe, afflictions, or calamities, but they come from the Lord, it is he that ſends them, and laies them upon his people.
Thus when the Lord was minded to bring his Church from Idolatry, he ſaith thus, Behold I will ſtop thy waies with thorns, and make a hedge that ſhe ſhall not know her paths. Thus the Lord threatned Senacherib, 2 Reg. 19.6.Behold I will ſond a blaſt upon him.
This is more clear by that of Moſes, Lev…t 26.16, 17.If ye will not obey me, and do theſe commandments, I will appoint over you fearfulneſſe, a Conſumption, and a burning Feaver, the Sword, Famine, and Peſtilence to deſtroy you. And this truth is acknowledged by Job, in his ſharpeſt tryalls, Iob 1.21.The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away, even as it pleaſeth the Lord, ſo commeth things to paſſe. 1 Cor. 11.32.And, When we are judged, we are chaſtned of the Lord.
The Reaſons will make the point yet more clear and plain unto us.
Firſt in regard of his providence, Reaſ. 1 which ordereth and diſpoſeth of all things in Heaven and Earth, according to the purpoſe of his own will, ſo that there is no room left for Fortune, or Chance: but as it pleaſeth the Lord, ſo commeth things to paſſe.
This doth our Saviour teach moſt clearly, when he ſaith, Are not two ſparrowes ſold for a farthing, and not one of them ſhall fall on the ground without your Father. Yea, the hairs of your head are numbred. Now if the providence of God be in ſuch ſmall things, as in the fall of a Sparrow, and the numbring of the hairs of our head; how much more in the tryalls and afflictions of his children?
Secondly, Reaſ. 2 the miſeries and afflictions of Gods Church and children muſt needs come from God, becauſe he ordereth and diſpoſeth of the tryalls and ſufferings of his people, in the nature and kinds of their ſufferings, what they ſhall be, how long they ſhall continue, and the happy iſſue and effect of them as the Apoſtle hath it, No man ſhould be moved with theſe afflictions, 1 Theſ. 3.3.for your ſelves know that we are appointed thereto.
God will have the rod lie upon the back of his ſervants ſometimes a long time, as upon the Church in Aegypt 430 years together, where the Lord exerciſed them with cruell bondage under Pharath.
Sometimes ſhorter, as thoſe ſeventy yeeres they were in captivity in Babylon; ſomtimes ſhorter, Rev. 2.10.Ye ſhall have tribulation for ten daies. Sometimes but for a night, Sorrow may endure for a night, &c. Yea, ſometimes not ſo long, but for an hower, there is an hower of temptation: and the time that God hath purpoſed and decreed being expired, they ſhall ſee the ſalvation of the Lord.
Seeing that the only ſtay and comfort of the godly in times of affliction and diſtreſſe, Uſe 1 is the conſideration that their miſeries and afflictions, of what kinde ſoever, they come from God. This ſhould teach us at all times of diſtreſſe, ſtill to have recourſe unto him, by earneſt and hearty prayer, either to remove the rod, if it be his good pleaſure, or elſe to ſanctifie the ſame unto us and to give us patience under it.
This duty the Lord requires and looks for at our hands, eſpecially in times of affliction and diſtreſſe; and for this we have both precepts and examples, Pſ. 50.15.Call upon me in the day of thy trouble, and I will hear thee, and deliver thee. Yea, to that end, he hath preſcribed unto us, a form of ſeeking him at ſuch times, Hoſ. 14.2, 3.Take unto you words, and turn to the Lord, and ſay unto him, Take away all our iniquity, and receive us graciouſly.
Secondly, he hath made a gracious promiſe of hearing our prayers eſpecially at ſuch times; Pſ. 50.15. Mat. 7.7. 1 Ioh. 5.14.and that whatſoever we ask the Father in his Sons Name, he will give it us.
Thirdly, there is none elſe can help us, Lord, whither ſhall we go (ſaith Peter) thou haſt the words of eternall life. He is known for a ſure refuge, Pſ. 48.3.he is the God that heareth prayers.
Beſides, we have the examples of Gods ſervants, who in all times of extreamity, have ever fled unto God, Pſal. 18.3, 4. 2 Chr. 20 2 Chr. 33by earneſt and hearty prayer, as David, Jehoſophat, Hezechiah, Manaſſes, &c. who ever had recourſe unto God, in times of miſery, and God was intreated of them.
Secondly, the conſideration hereof, Vſe 2 that God hath a ſpeciall hand in all our ſufferings, and ſtill ordereth and diſpoſeth of the ſame, Ro. 8.28.that they ſhall work for the beſt to them that love and fear him; what a ground of patience may this be unto us under the croſſe, whenſoever the Lord ſhall be pleaſed to humble us, by any affliction whatſoever, that with patience and meekneſſe we ſubmit thereunto, I was dumb, Pſ. 39.9.and opened not my mouth, becauſe it was thy doing, ſaith David. And Eli, 1 Sam. 3.18. … Sam. 15.26.It is the Lord, let him do what ſeemeth good to him. And, Here I am, let him do to me as ſeemeth good to him.
And this may ſerve for the juſt reproofe of thoſe, Vſe 3 who in times of miſery and diſtreſſe, never look to the hand of God; they look upon ſecondary cauſes and inſtruments, but over-look God: Such do ſeldome ſeek to God for delivery.
Job was of another mind, he looks not ſo much upon the Caldeans and Sabeans, that plundered him of his goods and cattle, but he looks up unto God, and acknowledgeth his hand in all. So David, when Shimei curſed him, It may be the Lord bad him to curſe me.
Vſe 4 And laſt of all this lets us ſee that when the Lord hath been pleaſed to come in with any Nationall or perſonall deliverance, where to returne thanks, even to him that firſt ſmo…e us, and who it is that hath healed us. Thus the Church in all ages, when the Lord was pleaſed to come in with any ſingular deliverance, Exod. 15. 2 Chron. 20. Jud. 5.kept their ſolemn daies of praiſe and thankſgiving unto God.
Thou turneſt man to deſtruction
THat is, at thy pleaſure are our lives and being here; we live at thy allowance and appointment: when thou wilt, thou turneſt them to breaking and cruſhing, even to duſt.
Hence obſerve, Doct. 2 That our life and being here is uncertain, Our lives are in Gods hand.it is in Gods hand and power, we live at his appointment, at his pleaſure, he can, and doth turn man to deſtruction, to breaking and cruſhing.
Thou haſt bruiſed my bones, Eſay 38.ſaith Hezechiah.
Thou haſt ſet me as a mark to ſhoot at ſaith Job.
Thy arrowes ſtick faſt in me, ſaith David.
If the Lord do but ſay, Return ye ſons of Adam, we ſhall return again to the duſt, and away we muſt. The voice of the Lord is a powerfull voice, he did create all things by his voice, and by his word, and at the ſame voice and word of his, he can turn all things to powder. No man, though never ſo great, or mighty, wiſe or politique, can reſiſt or withſtand the commanding and powerfull voice of God; but when death is ſent, and God gives his call, they muſt return again to duſt.
Death knocks with authority at the dore of the rich man, and Palace of Princes, as at the poor, and all muſt obey, and return to the duſt from whence they came.
Moſes this Man of God, that was a man ſo familiar with his Maker, a man ſo holy, ſo meek, ſo mercifull, who was indeed a compound of vertues, who had fed many thouſands, when they were ready to die with hunger, who had refreſhed many thouſands, when they were ready to periſh with thirſt: yet muſt himſelfe at laſt yeeld to the ſtroke of death, and ſay to corruption, thou art my Father, and to the worm, thou art my Mother. Pſal. 89.48.What man is there living that ſhall not ſee death and ſhall deliver his ſoul from the pit?
One dyeth in his full ſtrength (ſaith Job) whoſe breaſts are full of milk, Iob 21.23.and bones are full of marrow: Another dyeth in the bitterneſſe of his ſoul, they ſhall lie down alike in the duſt, and the wormes ſhall cover them. We ſtand not at a ſtay, but in the midſt of life, we are in death, the very meat we put into our bellies, and the cloaths we put upon our backs, all declare unto us, that dye we muſt, and return again to the duſt. And the Reaſons are,
Firſt, Reaſ. 1 if we do but conſider the matter whereof theſe bodies of ours are compoſed, which is of the duſt of the earth; this ſhewes a neceſſity of their returning again to duſt; they are made of a frail, brittle, and corruptible matter, and long they cannot ſtand Duſt thou art, Gen. 3.19.and into duſt ſhalt thou return again. And as the Prophet ſaith; All fleſh is graſſe, and the glory of man as the flower of graſſe. As the point of the Marriners needle doth never ſtand till it attain the North Pole: Such an inſtinct there is in theſe bodies of ours, they ſtill bend themſelves downward towards the earth, from whence they came. And as the nearer the Center, the ſwifter the motion, ſo is man towards his end; every day winds off ſomething of the threed of our life, and return we muſt.
There is a neceſſity of our returning again to duſt, Reaſ. 2 if we do but conſider the nature of ſin; the wages whereof is death, and indeed there can be no divorce ſued out betwixt ſin and death. Gen. 20.As the Lord ſaid to Abimelech, Thou art but a dead man becauſe of his ſin. And this was Gods own decree at firſt, Gen. 2.17.The day thou eateſt thereof, thou ſhalt dye the death. Now Alam eating of the forbidden fruit, brought in death to all his poſterity; for ſo ſaith the Apoſtle, By one man ſin entred into the world, Ro. 5.12.and death by ſin. And inaſmuch as all have ſinned, all muſt die the death.
Beſides, Reaſ. 3 there is a neceſſity that all ſhould die, becauſe by death we muſt enter into life: death is the gate of life, ordinarily none entred into life but by death; death is a guide to bring us into Heaven; though a churliſh guide, yet a ſure guide to bring us into bliſſe.
Seeing the Lord at his pleaſure turns man to deſtruction, Uſe 1 to breaking and cruſhing, ſends long and tedious ſickneſſe, and griefe of body, whereby men are much deformed, and weakned in their bodies, and turned to duſt; This ſhould teach us patience in times of miſery and diſtreſſe, when the Lord ſhall ſeem thus to cruſh us, and break us to powder, we ſhould with patience bear his correcting hand, be it never ſo ſharp and grievous even to cruſh us to pieces, and to grinde us to powder, in regard it is the Lord that doth it. Thus David, I was dumb, and opened not my lips, Pſ. 39.5becauſe it was thy doing.
There is no ſickneſſe, or diſeaſe, lameneſſe or blindneſſe, or any other affliction, whereby we come to have our bones cruſhed, and we brought to deſtruction, but all is of the Lord; He turneth man to breakings and deſtruction, and it is the want of the knowledge of this, that is the cauſe, that men do ſometimes murmur againſt Gods dealings, and are not humbled for their ſins as they ought to be, we conſider not that it is he that turneth man to deſtruction.
Secondly, Vſe 2 ſeeing theſe breakings and cruſhings, yea, death it ſelfe, when we are brought to the duſt, are all from God, and come from him, Thou turneſt man to deſtruction: this may ſerve to abate the pride of many in theſe daies, who ſpend their time, pretious time, as if this deſtruction would never come, in eating and drinking, ranting and roaring, as if they were immortall, or ſhould never die, or be called to an account of their waies, think their bodies are not made of the ſame common mould with other men: Whereas the conſideration of mans mortality would much abate the pride of many: had they this thought in their minds, that they muſt ſhortly die, and go hence, and be no more; Note. when they ſhall come to ſee that which they never ſaw, which they ſhall ever ſee, and hear that which they never heard, which they ſhall for ever hear; and feel that which they never felt, which they ſhall for ever feel, whilſt God himſelfe liveth; O how would the thoughts of theſe things humble them.
It was a witty anſwer of that Cynick Diogenes, that when Alexander mockt him for being ſo often amongſt the Tombes and Sepulchers of the dead, anſwered, O Sir, I am looking for the bones of thy Father Philip, but ſee no difference between them and other mens. Why then ſhould men be ſo proud, and exalt themſelves, when they know not how ſoon they may be laid full low.
The ignorance hereof makes many to carry their heads aloft, outface heaven, and ſwell with pride and diſdain of others; whereas the due conſideration of their own end, would make them walk more humbly towards God, and more meekly towards their Brethren.
And laſtly, Vſe 3 ſince the Lord at his pleaſure thus turns man to deſtruction, to breakings and cruſhings, yea, to death it ſelfe; it ſhall be our wiſdome to prepare for ſuch a change, that we be not taken unprepared. What man will have his evidence to ſeek when his cauſe comes to be tryed? What man will go to ſow when others go to reap? Our life ſhould be a continuall meditation of death, and preparation for death, ſince our weal or wo for ever depends upon it.
In the matters of the world men are wiſe, they muſt (ſay they) provide for a rainy day, in Summer for Winter; and whilſt they are young, to keep them when they are old. O where are our hearts Chriſtians, that we provide no better for death before it come.
And howſoever all men know, that one day, die they muſt, and that rep…ntance and other graces are to be had to make them truly happy; yet here is the miſery, that men defer this great work to the laſt, when many times it proves too late.
Now to that end I may awaken you that hear me this day, Conlide rations to prepare for death.in this weighty duty; I beſeech you take theſe few conſiderations to heart.
Firſt, that you would ſeriouſly conſider with your ſelves, the uncertainty of your lives; thou that makeſt ſo ſmall account of death, conſider with thy ſelfe what thy life is, a puffe of breath in thy noſtrills, ſuddenly ſtopt, and thou art gone.
Go to now (ſaith Saint James) you that ſay, to day, and to morrow, Iam. 4.13, 14.we will go into ſuch a City, and continue there a yeer, and buy, and ſell, and get gain, and yet ye cannot tell what ſhall be to morrow; for what is your life, is it not a vapour, &c. What man when he goes to bed, can aſſure himſelfe that he ſhall riſe again in the morning. Who knoweth (ſaith Solomon) what the day travelleth withall, and may bring forth ere night. Eccleſ. 9.12.Man doth not know his time, and as fiſhes are taken in an evill net, and birds in a ſnare, ſo are the children of men.
Secondly, conſider the danger of deferring of repentance, and this preparation for death, to the laſt hower, when all the infirmities of our nature will then ſeize upon us, when extremity, pain, griefe, anguiſh, will ſo perplexeus, that the beſt counſell will have little taſt, and the beſt prayers little ſweetneſſe in them: this will prove a time of ſpending, and not a time of ſtoring; What wiſe man then will deferre all this time?
Conſider how often theſe purpoſes of repentance, and turning to God at laſt have miſcarried, many thouſands that are now in hell without hope of mercy, that in their life time purpoſed at laſt to repent, and to return to God: whereas ſuch as have often abuſed grace, and mercy offered unto them the Lord doth often at laſt give ſuch up to the hardneſſe of their hearts that when they would, they cannot repent; and thoſe melting qualmes which ſometimes now thou meeteſt withall, under the Miniſtry of the Word, though thou wouldeſt give a world, thou canſt not meet with them again. O the ſad ſpectacles, that we that are Miniſters of the Word doe oftentimes meet withall: Some in Spyras caſe, who being exhorted to ſay the Lords Prayer, anſwered, O, I cannot call God Father. And ſome again like Nabal, whoſe heart dyed like a ſtone within him.
And laſt of all, do but conſider with your ſelves, that albeit thou maiſt enjoy thy memory to the laſt, and maiſt have with thee ſome godly Miniſters to inſtruct thee, and to pray for thee; yet how knoweſt thou, whether his prayers for thee, or thy own prayers for thy ſelfe, ſhall then be heard and accepted? Doth not Chriſt ſay, that many at laſt ſhall ſeek to enter, but ſhall not be able? Did not thoſe fooliſh Virgins cry, Lord, Lord, open unto us; yet were for ever ſhut out of the Marriage Chamber? And doth not the Lord threaten, that though Noah, Daniel, and Samuel, ſhould pray for this people, yet I will not hear them. Nay, thy caſe may be ſuch, that though all the Angells in heaven, and Saints on earth, ſhould intreat for thee, yet God will not be intreated: This is clear, Becauſe I have called, Prov. 1.24, 25.26.and ye refuſed, I have ſtretched out my hand, and ye have not regarded; But ye have ſet at naught my counſell, &c. I will alſo laugh at your calamity, I will mock when your fear commeth. O the miſery of a poor ſoul, when God ſhall ſhut out his prayers, and ſhall be ſo far from pittying him in this time of diſtreſſe, as that he ſhall laugh at his deſtruction.
And ſayeſt, Text. Return ye ſons of men.
ALbeit, as we have heard, there is an inevitable neceſſity, laid upon all Adams poſterity, by reaſon of ſin, that they muſt once die, Thou turneſt man to deſtruction. So ſure and certain it is, that all men ſhall one day riſe again, Thou ſayeſt, Return ye ſons of men.
q. d. At thy will, and at thy word, they ſhall at laſt return from duſt and corruption again.
Though the bodies of men by reaſon of ſin, Doct. 3 All men at laſt ſhall riſe again.do taſt of death, and turn to duſt; yet by a word ſpeaking of God, they ſhall at laſt riſe again, Thou ſayeſt Return again ye ſons of men.
This is a fundamentall truth, and a principall article of our faith, wherein we profeſſe to believe the Reſurrection of the dead. Beſides the Scriptures are moſt plentifull in this.
I am ſure (ſaith Job) that my Redeemer liveth, Iob 19.23.and that I ſhall riſe out of the earth at the laſt day.
The dead ſhall ariſe, Eſay 26.19.even with my body ſhall they ariſe. Awake, and ſing, ye that dwell in the duſt.
This is acknowledged by Hannah in her ſong, The Lord killeth, 1 Sam. 2.6.and maketh alive, bringeth down to the grave, and raiſeth up.
The Apoſtle Saint Paul proves the Reſurrection by divers unanſwerable arguments; as
If there be no Reſurrection of the dead, then is Chriſt not riſen, 1 Cor. 15. verſe 13.and then is the faith of a Chriſtian vain, his hope vain, and the preaching of the Goſpell vain, and the godly departed this life periſhed: all which were foul and groſſe abſurdities, once to think or imagine. Beſides theſe, there might be added divers other places of Scripture, to confirm this Doctrine of the Reſurrection, as that of Paul.
If we believe that Jeſus dyed and roſe again, 1 Theſſ. 4.14.even ſo them alſo that ſleep in Jeſus, will God bring with him. Rom. 14.8.And again, Whether we live or dye, we are the Lords. But I will not inſiſt upon ſo clear a truth. Take the Reaſons and Arguments, which ſerve for the farther illuſtration of the point.
The firſt may be taken from that everlaſting Covenant of grace that God hath made with his children, Reaſ. 1 to be their God for ever by an everlaſting Covenant; now this Covenant is not made only in regard of their ſouls, but of their bodies alſo, even to the whole man. When God ſaid, I am the God of Abraham, the meaning is not, that he is the God of Abraham's ſoul only, but alſo of his body. And hence it is, that the bodies of Believers, although they are dead and rotten in their graves, yet ſtill are within the Covenant.
But is it not ſaid, Object. that God is not the God of the dead, but of the living?
In the ſence of the Phariſees that denied the Reſurrection of the dead, Anſw. God is not the God of the dead: But he is the God of Abraham being dead in body to be raiſed up to life again; And ſo was he the God of the living, and this is the meaning of Chriſt on that place.
Becauſe all true beleevers being members of Chriſt have part in the Reſurrection of Chriſt, Reaſ. 2 whom Paul calls the firſt fruits of them that ſleepe. 1 Cor. 15.20, 25.Now Chriſt did not riſe from the dead as a private perſon, as Lazarus or as his widdowes Son, but as the head of the Church, and therefore ſaid, Ioh. 11.when I am lifted up, I draw all men unto me.
Againe, Reaſ. 3 there could be no perfect happineſs to the godly, if theſe bodies of ours ſhould not riſeagain at laſt; for the Soule cannot be perfect without the body; the glorification of the body makes for the perfection of the Soule. The Souls vnderunder the Altar cry, Rev. 6.11.How long Lord which art holy and true, &c. They long for this Reſurrection.
If the bodies of the Saints ſhould not at laſt riſe again, Reaſ. 4 they were of all men moſt miſerable, 1 Cor. 1….for who are more hated, ſcorned, derided, and perſecuted then they? what folly then was it in Paul, to indure ſo many watchings, perils, and ſo much hardſhip as he went under, but that he had hope in this Reſurrection? Reaſ. 5
But eſpecially Gods truth and promiſe lyes at the ſtake, who is yea and Amen in all his promiſes and cannot faile. Now he hath ſaid, When thou makeſt a feaſt, Luke 14.call the blind and the lame. And he gives the Reaſon, for God ſhall reward thee in the reſurrection of the juſt. I confeſſe there is nothing that croſſeth carnall and naturall reaſon more then this, that theſe bodies of ours ſhould moulder to duſt and rottenneſſe, caſt into the Sea, devoured of fiſhes, burnt to aſhes, and ſcattered upon the earth, that theſe bodies thus waſted, and conſumed ſhould at laſt bee raiſed up againe.
To beleeve this, our faith muſt bee taken up with the admiration of the mighty power of God, and we muſt ſay with Iob, I know thou canſt doe every thing, and that no thought is hid from thee: till we looke upon this Almighty power of his, and captivat our reaſon thereto, we ſhall ſtill ſtagger in our beleefe of this Article of our Reſurrection.
Now let us apply this.
Seeing theſe bodies of ours, by reaſon of ſin doe taſt of death; Uſe. 1 yet by a word ſpeaking, God at laſt ſhall raiſe them up againe, Thou turneſt man, &c. This may ſerve to ſtrengthen our faith in this great Article of our beliefe, the Reſurrection of our bodies. That theſe bodies of ours ſhall at laſt riſe againe, 'tis a point that carnal reaſon is hardly brought to beleeve. But why ſhould we ſcruple or diſpute that which God hath ſo plainly affirmed, and the Scrptures ſo fully prove: faith lookes unto Gods Almighty power, as Abraham in the promiſe of Iſaac, he judged him faithfull, and that God was able to do it.
Secondly, Uſe 2 this Doctrine of our Reſurrection that God at laſt will raiſe up theſe bodies of ours out of the duſt, and rottenneſſe, and though they caſt off Corruption, they ſhall not periſh in Corruption. Saint Paul would have us to comfort our ſelves in theſe things, 1 Theſſ. … ult.wherefore comfort you … theſe words: that is, in the Doctrine of the Reſurrection.
Queſt. But what ground of comfort can there ariſe to a Believer by the knowledge of it?
Anſ. Many and great are the comforts and conſolations, Comforts from the Doctrine of the Reſurrection.that a true believer may receive from the knowledge of it.
Firſt of all this will arme us againſt the feare of Death. Tis true, there is ſomething in death that breeds feare, and horror and dread, that makes fleſh and blood to ſhrink, and to tremble. To lie in the grave and there to bee eaten up of wormes, and to bee made ſubject to corruption, &c. yet this may be our comfort, that ere long we ſhall be raiſed out of this condition, to a bleſſed and glorious eſtate. It is but the putting off our cloathes at night, we ſhall put them on againe in the morning. Shall we bee like unto little children that cry when they put off their cloathes?
Secondly, this may comfort us againſt all our troubles and ſufferings that we meete withall in the world. The worſt that Tyrants can doe, is but to kill the body; yet when they have done that, and put them to the greateſt cruelty and torture that they can deviſe, they ſhall be reſtored to us againe. This was that comfort that Chriſt gave to his Diſciples, Mat. 20.19.when he ſpake of his owne death. The Son of man ſhall be delivered to the chiefe Prieſts and Scribes, and they ſhall condemne him to death, and deliver him to the Gentiles to be Crucified; but the third day he ſhall riſe againe. Now that which was Chriſts comfort may be ours alſo.
Thirdly, there is comfort in it, in regard of our friends that die in the Lord, that though death may ſeparate us aſunder for a time, yet we ſhall meet again. If a man take a long journey, his wife & friends do not weep & lament as if they ſhould never ſee him again: So a man that dies in Chriſt, though he take a long journey, yet we ſhould not mourn, as thoſe which have no hope, we ſhall meet again.
And laſtly, this may alſo comfort us, in regard of the preſent infirmities of our bodies, blindneſſe, lameneſſe, crookedneſſe, and other deformities, that we are ſubject unto here: In the Reſurrection, we ſhall leave all theſe behinde us in the grave, and our bodies ſhall riſe again glorious bodies, and incorruptible bodies. As thoſe two godly Martyrs going to the ſtake, the one blinde, the other lame, comforted each other: Be of good cheer, Brother, my Lord of London will this day cure thee of blindneſſe, and me of my lameneſſe. Thus will death do, and in the Reſurrection, theſe imperfections ſhall be done away. So that the comforts are great, which flow from this Doctrine of the Reſurrection.
But as this Doctrine ſerves for matter of comfort and conſolation to the godly, Uſe 3 ſo it ſerves for matter of terrour, fear, and aſtoniſhment, unto all wicked and unregenerate men, that are out of Chriſt, that as they live, ſo die in a naturall eſtate. 'Tis true, theſe alſo ſhall partake of this Reſurrection, and ſhall riſe again at laſt, but in a ſarre different manner from the godly.
The bodies of believers ſhall ariſe by vertue of that union they have with Jeſus Chriſt, as members of that myſticall body of his, whereof Chriſt is the head, ſo ſhall he at laſt draw his members to himſelfe.
But now all wicked and ungodly men, they ſhall ariſe by the power of Chriſt, at the voice of the Arch-Angel at the ſound of the Trump; for as the Apoſtle ſaith, the Trump ſhall ſound. 1 Cor. 15And theſe ſhall ariſe out of their graves, as out of a Priſon, and that to go to the place of execution: Theſe ſhall no ſooner put their heads out of their graves, and behold the Lord Jeſus comming in his glory. That Chriſt whom they have crucified by their ſins, that Chriſt whom they have perſecuted in his members, that Chriſt whoſe blood they have trampled under their feet; but they could wiſh that they had never ſeen his face.
O, thinks a wicked man, that I were in my grave again; O that this filthy and polluted carcaſe of mine, had never been made alive again, but as it taſted of corruption, it might for ever have periſhed there. And it is not impoſſible, but they that at the laſt ſhall cry to the mountains to fall upon them, Rev. 6.and the hills to cover them, but they may ſeek to hide themſelves in their graves from the preſence of Chriſt.
As the bodies of believers ſhall ariſe glorified bodies, the bodies of the wicked ſhall ariſe moſt black, ugly, and deformed bodies, black faces, gaſtly countenances, more like Devills than Men and Women; ugly as Toads, hatefull to themſelves and others. Thus ſhall they ariſe at laſt; they ſhall ariſe out of their graves quaking and trembling, wiſhing that they had never been born, or born Toads or Serpents, rather than Men and Women.
O the horrour and terrour that ſhall ſeize upon the wicked at that day, no heart is able to conceive, or tongue able to expreſſe! When the Lord delivered the Law to the people upon Mount Sinai, when the Trumpet ſounded, how did the people quake and tremble. Exod. 19How terrible then will his appearance be at the laſt day, when he ſhall come to exact vengeance upon the tranſgreſſors of this Law? O conſider this ye that now forget God you that will not now be wrought upon by the ſound of the Word, to be raiſed from the death of ſin, to the life of righteouſneſſe. How will you endure at this day the voice of the Arch-Angell, and the ſound of this Trumpet, Ariſe ye dead, and come unto judgment?
And laſt of all, Uſe 4 ſeeing theſe bodies of ours that now go to their graves, ſhall return again, and riſe again; how carefull ſhould we be to keep our bodies clean, and pure, and undefiled, and every member of the ſame. The Apoſtle Saint Paul exhorts us unto this, 2 Theſſ. 4.4.To poſſeſſe our Veſſells in holineſſe and honour. If death leave thee a drunkard, an unclean perſon, a ſwearer, a worldling, a vile and prophane wretch, in a naturall condition; in the ſame condition ſhalt thou be haled to judgment, when that wretched body, and that wofull ſoul of thine, that have been a Simeon and Levi, brethren together in ſin, ſhall now for ever ſhare alike in puniſhment and torment. When a man hath done ſome foul and ſhamefull fact, we uſe to ſay of ſuch a man, he will never be able to ſhew his face again. How then will many a vile and deſperate ſinner, ſhew his face before God at that day? How carefull then ought we to be, to keep our Veſſells in holineſſe and honour? This is that very Uſe the Apoſtle Peter makes of this Doctrine of our Reſurrection, Seeing all theſe things ſhall be diſſolved, what manner of perſons ought we to be? Paul profeſſing the hope of the Reſurrection, I exerciſe my ſelfe (ſaith he) to have a clear conſcience before God and all men, Acts 24.voide of offence. And of Jerome it is ſaid, that whatſoever he did, he thought he heard this voice, Ariſe ye dead and come to judgment.
Return again ye ſons of Adam. Text.
MOSES, as he hath ſhewed be fore, that our lives are in Gods hand, and at his diſpoſing, and that at his will and pleaſure he can turn man to deſtruction, to duſt and rottenneſſe.
He adds alſo another cauſe of mans frailty and mortality, and that is the nature, compoſition, and frame of mans body, which is of it ſelfe very frail and brittle, ſubject to mortality.
For the firſt word Man, thou turneſt Man to deſtruction, ſignifies a man full of miſery, full of ſickneſſes and infirmities, a miſerable man, Enoſh. And the other word here uſed in the end of the verſe, ſignifies a man made of Clay, or of the very ſlime of the earth.
From hence we learn what is the nature of all men, Doct. 4 Man a piece of living clay.of all the ſons of Adam, viz. A piece of living Clay, a little piece of red Earth. And beſides that man is ſubject to breaking and cruſhing, every way a miſerable man; ſo is he of a brittle mould, a piece of red clay, that hath in it for a time a living ſoul, which muſt return to God that gave it; and the body, this piece of earth, return to the earth from whence it came: And if we had no Scripture at all to prove this, daily experience before our eyes, makes it clear, how all men, even the wiſeſt the ſtrongeſt, the greateſt and the mightieſt Monarchs, and Princes in the world, be but miſerable men, made of red earth, and quickly turn again to duſt: In his firſt Creation, Gen. 27.God made man of the duſt of the earth. And this is it the Lord pronounced of all mankinde, Duſt thou art, and unto duſt thou ſhalt return. This Job knew well, and therefore ſaid, I ſhall ſay to corruption, thou art my Father, and to the worm, thou art my Mother. And to this agreeth that of the Pſalmiſt. Pſal. 49.19.Man ſhall enter into the generation of his fathers, and they ſhall not live for ever. Pſal. 89.And, What man liveth, and ſhall not ſee death? And, Shall he deliver his ſoul from the hand of the grave? And, How dyeth the wiſe man as the fool? Eccleſ. 2.16.q.d. They are both made of one matter, and are both ſubject to death alike. Deut. 34.And Moſes the ſervant of the Lord died in the land of Moab, according to the Word of the Lord. It was not Moſes greatneſſe, nor Moſes goodneſſe, that could free him from the ſtroke of death. For the Reaſons, ſee the ſecond Doctrine of this Verſe. The Uſes follow.
Seeing this is the eſtate of all the ſons of Adam, ſubject to miſery, Uſe 1 diſeaſes, ſickneſſes, breakings, and cruſhings, whereby our bodies are not only deformed, our beauty and ſtrength abated, and blaſted, but at laſt even brought to the duſt.
What madneſſe and folly then is it to make ſuch account of this poor earthly Tabernacle, as though it ſhould laſt for ever, which at the beſt is but an earthly Pitcher, which though it go often to the water, yet at laſt comes broken home a Houſe made up of mud-walls, which daily threatens ruine. This ſhewes the fondneſſe, the vanity and folly, that is in men and women, that beſtow ſo much time in painting in decking and trimming this poor carcaſe of clay, that we know not how ſoon will to the duſt.
Let ſuch proud Peacocks, and painted Tombs know, they are at the beſt but a piece of red clay, ſubject dayly to breaking and cruſhing. An howers fickneſſe will ſhake the Walls of thy Houſe, turn thy beauty into deformity, and thy ſtrength into weakneſſe: But rather let us deck our inward man with the graces of the Spirit, becauſe that beauty will laſt for ever, that beauty cannot fade with years, or ſickneſſe, or miſeries, in the world, but will endure for ever in life and death.
Secondly, Uſe 2 ſeeing theſe bodies of ours are but a plece of living clay, a little piece of red earth, and we do not know how ſoon this brittle frail bodie of ours ſhall return to the earth again
This may teach us to make no proviſion for the fleſh, to fulfill the luſts of it; for who will beſtow much coſt upon that he ſhall enjoy but a ſhort time?
Will a Tenant for a yeer build, and plant, and lay out much coſt, and be it much pains upon that, he muſt ſo ſuddenly part withall? No, he will provide for a more certain term. Where are our hearts Chriſtians, and where are our thoughts, that we mind no more our ſhort ſtay here in this world, and provide no better for an everlaſting habitation?
We cannot aſſure our ſelves to continue here a year, but are at an hours warning, nay, it may be not ſo much. Whenſoever it pleaſeth the King to bid them ſtay that run at Tilt, either in the entrance, or at the middle of the race, then he muſt come again. Even ſo it is with us; we have a ſhort race to run here, and when the Lord ſhall ſay, Return thou ſon of Adam, we muſt yield, and away we muſt.
And therefore ſeeing that we are at this paſſe; it ſtands us in hand to be prepared, and to be in a continuall readineſſe, leſt death take us tardy; and ſo as death leaves us, ſo ſhall the laſt judgment finde us.
If a man be charged to be ready for any ſervice, upon pain of death, at an houres warning, he will be ſure not to be out of the way, but alwaies in treadineſſe. Well let us know, we are at leſſe than an houres warning, for whenſoever the Lord ſhall but ſay Return, away we muſt, whether prepared, or not prepared death will not ſtay, O that men were wiſe, Deut. 32.29.then would they remember their latter end, that when the Lord comes, whether at midnight, or at the Cock-crowing, or in the dawning of the day, he may finde us ſo doing.