Thirty-One Select Sermons, Sermon collection · Sermon 8
THE GREAT DAY.
At a private Faſt.
JER. 30.7.
Alaſs! for that day is great, &c.
GOD hath ſubjected all the works of his Providence unto the Prayers of the Saints; …ſa. 45.11.and therefore though we are met hereupon a particular occaſion, and that private, yet I hope it is with general intentions to ſeek God for the Publick alſo: Which perſwaſion put me upon the choice of this Scripture, at this time. I ſhall not detain you in the Context, though there may be many weighty obſervations drawn from thence.
The words are, the words of the Lord; Verſe 5.we have heard a voyce of trembling, and not of peace; and is there a voyce of trembling unto Jehovah, at whoſe preſence the earth trembles, and before whom the everlasting hills do bow?
There is a double apprehenſion of the ſpeech.
Firſt, that the Lord ſpeaks it in the perſon of his people, as taking part with them, being affected after the manner of men: as it's ſaid, Iſaiah.In all their afſlictions he was afflicted: So in their trembling, he may be ſaid to travel alſo, to ſhew that he was like affected towards them.
2. The Lord ſpeaks in the Perſon of his People, reproving them, and inſtructing them: reproving them, that though the Lord ſaith, we heard a voice of trembling, ſocordiam exprobrat: It was in it ſelf a voice of trembling, but the people trembled not: I and the people that foreſaw the calamity; yet they were ſo unwiſe as not to tremble: A wiſe man foreſees the evil, and he trembles; all that were wiſe hearted did tremble, but the generality of the people did not tremble; and to inſtruct them the Lord directs them what they ſhould ſay, and how they ſhould be affected with the calamities that were coming upon them: We have heard a voice of trembling, and the Lord would at the laſt extort that acknowledgment and confeſſion from them, how ſecure and ſenceleſs ſo ever they were under his preſent hand: and when they were brought into the ſence of it, they ſhould cry out, Alaſs! for the day is great, &c.
Here is firſt Jacobs Affliction: It's the time of Jacobs trouble.
Secondly, His Conſolation; But he ſhall be ſaved out of it: Here firſt we are to conſider what is meant by Jacob: Jacob is commonly put for all the Tribes, they being all called by their Fathers Name, ſometimes Jacob, and ſometimes Iſrael. We ſee it put ſo, Mich. 1.5. For the Tranſgreſſion of Jacob is all this, and for the ſin of Iſrael: Deut. 32.9.What is the Tranſgreſſion of Jacob? Is it not Samaria, &c? The Lords portion is his People; Jacob is the Lot of his Inheritance; But Iſrael was before theſe times carryed into Captivity, and God had by Salmanaſar, removed them out of his ſight; only Judah did yet rule with God, and was faithful with the Saints: There was a Remnant of the faithful of Iſrael, that rather then they would joyn in worſhip with Jeroboam, ſome of the Levites, and the people, 2 Chron, 11.14,16. they left their poſſeſſions, and in the deſolation of the ten Tribes, they were preſerved; but when they had peace, what the Lord had done, they were neither moved by his Mercy unto themſelves, nor by his Judgments upon their brethren: But, They provoked the Lord, & they juſtified their Siſter by their evil doings: Therefore thoſe that were preſerved in the former calamity, there's a Judgment alſo remains for them; there's a rime of tryal that yet is reſerved for Jacob: and theſe were the people amongſt whom the Prophet lived; For he was in the Court of the Priſon when Jeruſalem was taken: and this is called Jacobs trouble, Lam. 1.17. The Lord hath commanded concerning Jacob, that the Adverſaries ſhall be round about, &c. therefore by Jacob here, is meant only Judah, that is, the two Tribes that did not depart from God in the Revolt and Apoſtacy of the ten Tribes: and that thoſe of Iſrael that for conſcience ſake, did leave their Habitations, and went and dwelt in Judah and Jeruſalem; yet there's a time of trouble for them alſo.
2. What's meant by the time of trouble? It's in the Original, Hab. 3.16.tempus auguſtiae, a time of ſtraits; which is called a day of ſtraits, when the Lord did come up upon them and invade them with his Troops: for ſo the Army of the Babylonians is called: when they ſhould be led into Captivity by the will and command of others, for their Perſons and Eſtates to be made uſe of as a prey, to ſerve the wills and ends of ſtrangers and ſervants: For ſtrangers, Jer. 30.8. Strangers ſhall no more ſerve themſelves of them: And for ſervants, Lam. 5.8. Servants rule over us, and there's none to deliver us out of their hands. Now when the walls of the City were broken down, the Temple deſtroyed, the Worſhip of God prophaned, and all the Ordinances of God trampled under foot, all Order & Authority depoſed, and all things ſubjected unto the wil and luſts of a conquering Army, now it was a time of ſtraits, great ſtraits in point of conſcience; for they would now be working them about to their way, and perſwading them to worſhip their Gods, Jer. 10.11. Now to be under the power of men, and not to be ſubjected to their luſts, and ſerve the luſts of men, it's a great ſtrait; and ſtraits alſo in reſpect of the affliction, having their lives alway hanging in doubt; having their bread by weight, and their water by meaſure; and in reſpect of ſuccour, in a great ſtrait alſo, for there was no deliverer: Lam. 1.3. All her Perſecutors overtook her, between the ſtreights, that there was no eſcaping, no way to avoyd them; and therefore, 2 Tim. 3.5. Theſe ſhall be difficult times, in which men ſhould meet with great and variety of ſtraits, that they ſhould not know which way to turn themſelves, &c.
Thirdly; it's called a great day, magnum pro formidabile, Cal. Terribilis aut mire calamitoſa, à magnitudine ſupplicii, magnus nominatur. Theodor. And we doe read of five Great Dayes in the Scripture.
Firſt, the day of the Lord, ſpoken of in Malach. 4.6. I will ſend you Elijah the Prophet before the great and terrible day …f the Lord: that is interpreted, Luk. 1.17. of John Baptiſt, who was to be the forerunner of Chriſts coming: And this is called a great day, for the great manifeſtations of God, wherein life and immortality ſhould be brought to light by the Goſpel; the great changes of Ordinances, and the great deſtruction of the Enemies, the terrible Judgements that ſhould then be poured out; for Mal. 4.1. The day cometh that ſhall burn as an Oven, and all that do wickedly ſhall be ſtubble; that is, when the Sun of Righteouſneſs doth ariſe with healing in his wings, &c. And for the terrible Judgements that under the Goſpel the Lord would pour out upon the world, and that is meant, Acts 2.28. Joel 2.3. The Sun ſhall be turned into darkneſs, the Moon into blood, before that great day of the Lord come. It's ſpoken of the great Judgements that the Lord Chriſt would pour out upon the world, and thereby make way for the receiving the Goſpel publickly; for he doth ſhake Heaven and Earth, and thereby makes way for the coming of the deſire of all Nations; for out of the Throne, when Christ is exalted, comes thunderings, and lightnings, and voices, Rev. 4.5.
Secondly, there's the great day of Jezreel, Hoſ. 1. laſt. That is, when the Lord ſhall call home his antient people; and gather together the outcaſts of Iſrael: Which ſhall be a day in which the Lord ſhall appear in his glory; for when he doth build Zion, he doth appear in his glory; a day of the reſtitution of all things, a day of enriching of the world, a day when new Jeruſalem ſhall come down from God out of heaven; and a day in which the kingdoms of the earth ſhall be given to the Lord and his Chriſt; and there ſhall not be any more any pricking bryer, or any grieving thorn in all the land: there ſhall be no more a Canaanite in the land forever; all perſecuting Powers ſhall be ſubdued.
Thirdly, there's a great day, when the battel Armageddon ſhall be fought, Rev. 16.14. When all the Powers of the earth ſhall rally and gather together their broken Troops againſt the Church of God; they ſhall be the greateſt combination that ever hath been, and in which all the oppoſite Powers ſhall be utterly and finally broken; and thereby way ſhall be made for the vial poured upon the air, which brings in the binding of Satan, chap. 20. Now this battel, with the iſſue of it, we have chap. 19.19,20,21. Now from the great preparations that the enemies do make, and the great deſtruction which then they ſhall be ſure to find, and the great things which ſhall follow upon this, and that in this day the Lord will make way for, therefore it's called, the great day of God Almighty; when the Lord ſhall fulfil all his promiſes, and prophecies, and Chriſt ſhall be cloathed with a garment dipt in blood, and his name ſhall be called the Word of God.
Fourthly, the day of Judgement is a great day alſo, the Angels are ſaid to be reſerved in chains of darkneſs unto the Judgement of the great day; for then ſhall the ſon of man ſit upon the throne of his glory, and all Nations ſhall be gathered together before him; and he ſhall ſeparate them one from another, as a Shepheard divides his Sheep from the Goats, &c. and he ſhall then paſſe a finall ſentence, an eternall judgement upon the eternal eſtates of men, and ſet a gulph between them for ever, which they ſhall never paſs; & when he hath ſo done, he ſhall reſign, or give up his kingdom unto God the Father, and then all the preſent wayes of adminiſtration ſhall ceaſe.
Fifthly, when the Lord brings any ſpeciall judgement or affliction upon his people, that alſo is called a great day, Zeph. 1.14. the great day of the Lord is near, it's a day of darkneſs and gloomineſs, a day of clouds and thick darkneſs, that Trumpet and Alarum againſt the fenced Cities, and againſt the high Towers; it's a threatning of the ſame Judgement there which here the Prophet ſpeaks of, the captivity of Babylon; and its called the great day of the Lord, and ſo it's here called alſo.
Fourthly, it's ſaid that it's ſuch a day that there is none like to it; that is,
Firſt, it is the greateſt evil that ever befell that people, they had been ſmitten with Peſtilence, with ſcarcity of bread, cleaneſs of teeth, invaſions of Enemies, but never any like unto this, and therefore does the Prophet call it, an onelyonly evil, Ezek. 7.5,6,7. it's come; and it is not a high ſound, the eccho of the mountains, but it ſhall be ſo in truth, and in reality, in which the fury of the Lord ſhall be poured out upon them; he would give the dearly beloved of his ſoul into the hand of his enemies.
Secondly, there's none like it, if we alſo compare Gods dealing with them, and with other people: The Lord hath not dealt ſo with any Nation, as he hath done with Jeruſalem, and therefore they are afflicted, and in captivity with the heathen Nations, who are at eaſe and ſit ſtil, Zach. 1.13.14. For judgement muſt begin at the Houſe of God; and there is at the laſt a worſe end remaining, for them that obey not the Goſpel, &c.
Secondly, here's a conſolation alſo, Jacob ſhall have his time of trouble, but it is yet but a time; the people of God never enter into affliction without a promiſe, and therefore they are priſoners of hope, when they are in a pit in which there's no water, Zach. 9.11,12. There are three great promiſes that the Saints have under all their afflictions.
Firſt, they are promiſed ſupport in the affliction, I will be with you; and, there's a River, the ſtreames whereof do make glad the City of God; Gen. 15. there's a light that goes between the peeces, in the middle of the darkneſs: the buſh in the fire is not burnt: a peculiar providence watches over them, to keep them from fainting under the affliction.
Secondly, they are promiſed Sanctification: This is the fruit of the affliction, to take away their ſins: by this ſhall the iniquity of Jacob be purged; they ſhall be made partakers of his holyneſſe; and of his glory; for theſe light afflictions that are but for a moment, ſhall work for us a more exceeding, and eternal weight of glory.
Thirdly, there's a promiſe of deliverance out of affliction: Iſrael ſhall not dye in A…gypt, though it be four hundred years before they come forth; though the Temple be trodden down of the Gentiles, and the woman be in the wilderneſs 1260. dayes, yet ſhe ſhall not alwaies be in a wilderneſs eſtate; and though they be in Babylon, yet the Lord by the blood of the Covenant will ſend them forth out of the pit, and he will break the yoke from off the neck of the anointing, &c. And ſome think (as Calvin) that to be the meaning of Iſ. 9.1. Her dimneſs ſhall not be ſuch as was in her vexation, when he firſt lightly afflicted the land of Zabulon, &c. that was, in the inroads formerly made upon them by Tiglah Pileſer, and was that greater then the captivity when the City ſhould be deſtroyed, and the Temple burnt with fire, and there was no compariſon in the affliction, but yet the darkneſs ſhould not be ſuch; and the reaſon is this, huic certa permiſſionem eſſe additam, cum in prioribus nulla eſſet, better be as low as Hel with a promiſe, then in Paradiſe without it; the darkneſs of the bottomleſs pit would not be utter darkneſs, if there were but the light of a promiſe, for the ſoul to look upon, for there is a time of the pro niſe Acts 7.17. when it will truly ſpeak, and not lye.
But what are the grounds why God will not ſpare his own people?
Hence the grounds are theſe two.
Firſt, God will not ſpare his own people; there's a time of Jacoh's trouble, when even Gods own people ſhall be reduced to extremity, and there ſhall come upon them a time of ſtraits.
Secondly, Jacobs trouble is but for a time; there's a day of deliverance for them, they ſhall be ſaved out of it.
The Doctrine is this.
Doctrin.
There is a time of Jacobs trouble: Gods own deareſt: people are many times brought into a time of ſtraits.
It's true, that through a mans whole life, Chriſtianus muſt be crucianus, he muſt take up his croſs that will follow the Lord: There's no ſon that he receives but he chvſtiſes. Affliction is a Childs portion in the ways of holyneſs; their correction is as truly from the hand of their father, as their proviſion is. But my purpoſe at preſent is to ſpeak of ſome ſpecial times of Jacobs trouble; a great day, a day of ſtraits: And God doth many times bring his own people unto this: It will appear to be true from all the dealings of God with the Saints; the children of Iſrael were in bondage in Aegypt long, and their affliction was great, but there was a time when the bricks were doubled, and the oppoſition heightned, ſo that they were as dead carrion caſt out to the Ravens, Gen. 15. And though Iſrael were hated of all the Nations, which God called their evil neighbours, yet there were ſome ſpecial ſtraits that befell them, as in the dayes of Aſa, 2 Chron. 14.9,10. When there came an Army of the Ethiopians, an hoſt of a thouſand thouſand men; and in the dayes of Hezckiah, when Senacherib beſieged Jeruſalem, its a day of trouble, of rebuke, and of blaſphemy, Iſa. 37.3. But yet there was a time of greater ſtraits, when they muſt be carried into captivity, and the glory of the Lord removed from his own habitation. And the Goſpel was no ſooner placed in the world, but the great Red Dragon raiſed a perſecution; the Heathen Emperours, and all the Powers of their Empire, Rev. 12.1,3. And that Power was no ſooner broken, and the Church obtained of God a Manchild, but immediately there was a flood caſt out after the woman; the Arrian Hereſie, and they perſecuted the Church more then the Pagans had done before; and then the Earth helped the Woman, &c. Then doth Anti-chriſt ariſe, and the people of God do prophecie in ſackcloth and aſhes: Witneſſes they are, and two Witneſſes, for their paucity, and for their ſufficiency… and yet there is a time of greater ſtraights that remains for them; there is the time of their fulfilling, and of their killing: ſo that God doth reſerve a time of ſtraits for his own people; theres a time of Jacobs trouble, &c.
Firſt, becauſe the Lord will give unto them ſome eminent experiences of his providence, under which they walk; it's true that he is the Saviour of all men, but eſpecially of them that beleeve; and upon all the glory there is a covering at all times, Iſa. 4.5. but the greater the ſtraits are, the more eminent ſhall the protection be; if Daniel be in the Lyons den, and the three children in the fiery furnace: the wonder had not been ſo great, if the bnſh had not been in the fire, but to ſee it in the fire, and yet not to conſume, that was the greateſt ſight that ever Moſes ſaw before. When the Earth is removed, and the Mountains caſt into the midſt of the ſea, then there is need of a Song upon Alamoth, pro occultis, for Gods hidden ones, Pſal. 46.1. If the Saints are in the pit in which there is nowater, now turn to your ſtrong holds ye priſoners of hope, ſatis praeſidii in uno Deo.
Secondly, Satan being the God of this world, he doth alwaies rule the preſent world, which God hath redeemed the Saints from, Gal. 1.4. And the children of diſobedience walk in the courſe of the preſent world: The world is caſt into variety of ſhapes, but into what form ſoever the preſent evil world is caſt into, Satan is the god of the world, and he doth apply himſelf to rule the world under all the forms into which the Lord doth caſt it. And therefore Hier om ſaith wel, Erras, mi frater, erras, ſi putas unquam Chriſtum perſecutione non pati, &c. If the world be Pagan, Satan rules in the great Red Dragon, and ſo brings the Saints into their time of ſtraits. If the face of the world change, and it turn Chriſtian, then Satan rules alſo in that, and caſts out a flood after the woman. If that Flood be dryed up, then Anti-chriſt doth ariſe, and he rules in him as a falſe Prophet; and afterwards, 2 Tim. 3.1,2. If a form of godlineſs be brought in, under that he will rule, and men be lovers of their own ſelves, proud, boasters, treacherous, high minded, and deſpiſers of thoſe that are good; and therefore there muſt needs be ſtraits in all eſtates that ſhall await the Saints of God.
Thirdly, the more ſpiritual light grows, the greater are the ſtraits that the people of God are brought into.
Firſt, becauſe the more are their conſciences ſeared, 1 Tim. 4.2. It is not a cold Iron that will ſeare the Conſcience, but when there is evident, clear convincing light, and men be told of it, and yet wil go againſt it, their Conſciences are ſeared by it, and in Judgement they are given over unto a reprobate mind.
Secondly, the more they are exaſperated againſt the Truths of God, becauſe they do come nearer unto the ſin againſt the Holy Ghoſt, which is the Devils ſin; and it doth conſiſt in malice upon a high and a rais'd light. No men were ſo cruel as the Phariſees, that did ſin againſt the Holy Ghoſt; and therefore if prophecying in ſackcloth and aſhes would ſatisfie the luſts of men in times paſt, now killing is not ſufficient, but their dead bodies ſhall not be buried, to expreſs their former malice and rage againſt them; and therefore in the latter times, the ſtraits of the people of God muſt needs be greater then ever they have been in times paſt.
Fourthly, God wil by this make way for an utter ruin of the Churches Enemies; the greater ſtraits they do bring the Saints into, the nearer is their deſtruction, and the ſooner will God ariſe. I have ſeen the affliction of my people that are in Aegypt, and I have heard their cry: For the Churches Enemies muſt periſh by the Churches hand, and therefore they are ſaid to be, a cup of trembling, and a burthe ſome ſtone: The Church brought that mighty people into a condition fit to be conſumed: Jeruſalem was to them a cup of trembling; now they think to drink it off, and it proves their poyſon; and when they have brought them to extremity, that they thought all had been ſure, then they themſelves periſh: It's by the Churches ſtraits that the Enemies are ruin…d: When the ploughers plowd upon their backs, and made long their furrows, then will the Lord cut the cords of the wicked, Pſal. 129.3.
The Uſe is for Conſolation to all the people of God; and this I will reduce unto three Queſtions.
Firſt, with what mind God doth bring his people into ſtraits? What the thoughts of God are towards them when he doth it? And here we ſhall ſee that God thinks thoughts of peace to them all the while, and not of evil, Jer. 29.11.
Secondly, in what meaſure will the Lord do it?
Thirdly, unto what end?
For the firſt: With what mind does the Lord bring his people into ſtraits? What are the thoughts of God towards them when he doth it?
Firſt, he doth it from a principle of Love, and their Afflictions are grounded on the Second Covenant, as their Mercies are; other mens afflictions are from the Firſt Covenant, as a fruit of the Curſe, Mich. 7.9. the Church ſaies there, I will bear the indignation of the Lord, &c. Why is God in indignation with his own people? indeed he is angry with the wicked every day. There is a double anger of God, ſimplex & redundans in perſonam; he is angry at his peoples ſins, but yet he loves their perſons; and he afflicts them from a principle of faithfulneſs. Pſal. 119.75. For he hath covenanted to keep them from the evil of the world; he is to preſerve them unto his heavenly Kingdom; and he does, as I may ſay, ſometimetimes preſerve them in Salt, and ſomtimes in Sugar, as we uſe to doe with ſome things that we would preſerve.
Secondly, God looks upon your ſuffering as the ſuffering of Chriſt; the Saints being one with him, their ſervices are Chriſts, and their ſufferings are Chriſts, they bear fruit in him, they live in him, Col. 1.24. So they fill up what is behind of the ſufferings of Chriſt.
Thirdly, whilſt he doth ſmite them he is afflicted with them; in all their afflictions he is afflicted; though Chriſt be in heaven, yet he has the ſame nature there that he had here; and he ſtands in the ſame relation to us now he is in glory, that he did here, he is not aſhamed to call us brethren; and therefore his compaſſion ſtill remains: Jer. 31.22 Since I ſpake againſt him, I remembred him ſtill: my bowels are troubled for him. The heart of God goes out unto all the Saints in their afflictions.
Fourthly, whilſt he doth afflict them, he doth wait to be gracious, Iſa. 30.18. He doth not defer deliverance becauſe he is not willing to beſtow it, but becauſe his people are not prepared for it, that's the reaſon they are ſo long out of glory, Col. 1.12. becauſe they are not yet meet to be partakers of the Inheritance with the Saints in life; and to make them ſo, he doth ſit by, as a Refiner, and he will only purge away their droſs by their afflictions.
Fifthly, all the while they are in ſtraits, he doth take ſpecial notice of their ſufferings, and he is deeply diſpleas'd with the Inſtruments that afflict his people, and he is preparing for their ruin all the while; for he takes ſpecial notice of their wrong, Rev. 2.2. I know thy work, and thy labour, and thy patience, &c. Exo. 3.7. I know their ſorrows: He hath a bottle for their tears.
Secondly, he is deeply diſpleaſed with the Inſtruments: Zach. 1.15. He ſent his people into Babylon, but yet, I am ſore diſpleaſed with the heathen; I was but a little diſpleaſed, and they helped forward the affliction. So that whilſt God doth uſe them as the rod of his anger, he is angry with them.
Thirdly, he is all the while the Enemies are afflicting of his people, preparing for their overthrow, Zac. 1.21,23. When he doth raiſe up horns, he doth provide Carpenters alſo. And Jeſus Chriſt all the while is preparing for to be his peoples reſcue, though they ſee him not, yet he is behind the Mirtle-trees at the bottom, Zach. 1.8.
Sixtly, he will make their affliction to be the great means of their exaltation; Jacob ſhall ariſe when he is ſmall: The killing of the Witneſses made way for their Reſurrection, the more glorious. Theſe are the thoughts and the mind of God towards Jacob in the day of his trouble.
Secondly, in what meaſure will he do this? Jer. 30.11. I will correct thee in meaſure, but not leave thee altogether unpuniſh'd: And here conſider theſe five particulars.
Firſt, it ſhall not be according to the deſert of your ſins, Ezra 9.13. I have puniſhed you leſſe then your iniquities deſerve: He will not ſtir up all his wrath, Pſalm 28.38. It's the Lords mercy we are not conſumed. We might have been in Hel as well as in Babylon.
Secondly, it ſhall be but according to the meaſure of your neceſſities: He doth afflict but when need is, 1 Pet. 1.6. And it ſhall be no farther than need is, Iſa. 28.24. He will not alwayes be ploughing; there is a ſowing time, ſo much breaking of the ground as wil prepare it for the ſeed, and no more.
Thirdly, it ſhall be proportionable to a mans place in the myſtical body of Chriſt: There are ſome veſſels of Gold, and ſome of Silver, 2 Tim. 2.20,21. Chriſt the head was the firſt born amongſt many brethren, Rom. 8.29. And as all the brethren are not called forth to the like eminent ſervices, ſo all are not called to the like eminent ſufferings.
Fourthly, it ſhall be proportionable to their ſtrength, 1 Cor. 10.13. He will not ſuffer us to be tempted above what we are able: and he will give in ſupplies of graces ſuitable unto the ſuffering, 2 Cor. 12.9. My grace is ſufficient, &c. Iſa. 28.27. He doth not turn the cart wheele on all the Corn, but he hath a staffe for the fitches, and a rod for the cummin, &c. He takes meaſure of your graces, of your ſpirits, and of your ſtrength, and he doth give it unto you proportionable to your need.
Fiftly, there are alwaies ſome mitigating circumſtances, that do abate and ſweeten the affliction; non dantur purae tenebrae, there is a light between the peeces, Gen. 15.17.
Firſt, God doth ſometimes give them favour in the eyes of their enemies, Pſal. 10.6.96. he made them to pitty them that carried them captive. Joſeph ſhall find favour with the Keeper of the priſon, and Daniel with the chiefeſt of the Eunuchs.
Secondly, what is wanting in outward bleſſings, he will make up to them inſpiritual ordinances; Iſa. 20.20. Though he doth feed them with the bread of affliction, and the water of trouble, yet their eyes ſhall ſee their Teachers.
Thirdly, if they have none of theſe yet they ſhall have his gracious preſence with them inlarging of their hearts; that with Paul and Silas they ſhall ſing in a priſon, and be able to ſay, it was good for me that I was afflicted: As one of the Martyrs ſayd, I was in priſon till I came into priſon; nil crus ſentit in nervo, dum animus eſt in coelo.
Thirdly, unto what end doth the Lord do this? Every wiſe Agent works for an end, and the more wiſdom he hath, the higher ends he aims at in every action, and the more ends he doth make to meet in every thing that he doth, Iſa. 30.18. The Lord is a God of Judgement: It's there put for Wiſdom: He orders and moderates all things, in reference unto the end that he doth aim at; and as the Lord in all his waies is wonderful in wiſdom and counſel; ſo he is in all the afflictions of the Saints; there is much wiſdom ſeen in his high ends, that he has in afflicting his people, and in making many ends to meet. I'll name four great ends.
Firſt, the Lord doth bring his people to ſtraits, to prevent ſin.
1. In the riſing of luſt, 2 Cor. 12.9. that I might not be exalted, &c.
2. The acting of luſt if it doth ariſe, Job 33.17. He doth chastiſe a man with ſtrong pain, it is to keep man from his purpoſe, and to hide pride from his eyes: When he hath taken up an evil purpoſe, there is a croſs interpoſeth, interactum primum & ſecundum.
3. For the finiſhing of ſin, Hoſ. 2.6,7. He hedg'd up their way; they were going on in it, but God doth put a ſtop in their way, as men do to beaſts, their way is hedg'd up.
Secondly, the Lord doth bring his people to ſtraits for their Inſtruction, Mich. 6.9. There's not a rod but it hath a voice. Beaſts feel the rod, but the Saints they hear it.
1. God does it, to let them ſee the evil of ſin; for a man is held with the cords of his own ſin, Prov. 5.22. Ezek. 7.10. As pride doth bud, ſo doth the rod bloſsom.
2. God doth it to let them ſee the emptineſs of the creature, Gal. 6.14. I rejoice in the croſs of Chriſt, for by it the world is crucifyed unto me, and I unto the world: He was thereby enabled to look upon the world as a crucified thing, that they may ſee they are but ſtrangers and pilgrims, and therefore ſhould ſeek a country, and haſten home.
3. To let them know what it is to have fellowſhip with the ſuffering of Chriſt, Phil. 3.10. There's a fellowſhip of the ſufferings of Chriſt, that the Saints deſire to know experimentally in themſelves; that as Chriſt was ſupported under ſuffering, ſo may they; and as he was perfected by ſuffering, ſo may they alſo be; for he did in ſuffering leave himſelf an example, 1 Pet. 2.21. as well as in dying.
Thirdly, for their ſanctification.
1. To purge their corruption; the bundle of folly the rod of correction muſt drive out, Zach. 13,8,9. Two parts ſhall be cut off and dye, and the third part ſhall paſse through the fire, to refine them as ſilver, and they ſhall call upon my name, and I will hear them.
2. To improve their Graces; for he doth it to make them partakers of his holyneſs, Heb. 12.10. And he will do it in a higher way, by a croſs ſometimes, then by an ordinance he will make the way foul, and the ſoul fruitful, Jam. 1.3.4. Tribulation works patience, and patience experience, and experience hope, &c. There's a ſweet influence in theſe ſhowres of affliction that ripen the graces of the Saints.
Thirdly, it's to prepare them for ſervices, 1 Cor. 1.5,6. He comforted us in all our tribulation, that we might be able to comfort others with the ſame conſolation. 1 King. 4.31. Heman is counted one of the wiſeſt men of the world, and in Pſalm 88. we ſee how he attained it, by being train'd up in the ſchool of affliction; and God doth caſt ſome men into great afflictions, that thereby he may fit them for high and eminent ſervices afterwards: Joſeph had never been ſo fit to have been a Governour in Egypt, if his foot had not been hurt in the ſtocks; nor Moſes to have been a leader of the people of Iſrael, if he had not been banſhed forty yeares in the Wilderneſs; and David his Crown had never ſate ſo well, if he had not been hunted as a Partridge upon the mountains.
Fourthly, that the Lord may have ſome to give their teſtimonies unto his truth; that it may appear, that there are ſome that do ſtand for God, and dare appear for him; when the world wonder'd after the Beaſt, there are ſome that ſtand with the Lamb upon mount Zion, Rev. 14.2. There are two Witneſſes. The Witneſſes of God are but a few, yet ſome there are that God will raiſe up in all Ages, ſo that corruption in Doctrine and Worſhip ſhal not go unteſtified againſt; for the Lord will not leave the world without witneſs; and hereby the Lord will endear his Witneſſes, and raiſe them up in the hearts of the Saints, it will make them dear, and their names precious in the Churches, for none have been ſo precious in their names as they that did not count their blood precious, they thought not their lives dear to them, they loved not their lives to the death: How precious was Peter in his ſuffering? When all the Church ingaged their intereſt unto God for him, Acts 12. As Roſes are ſweeter in the Still then upon the ſtalk, ſo it is with the Saints in all their ſufferings in the apprehenſion of the Churches.
Uſe 2.
Is it ſo, that there is a day of trouble to Jacob? Then do you look for a day of trouble alſo, and to that end it's your wiſdom to diſcern the ſigns of the times, Mat. 16.3. God hath ſtretched the expanſum of his Word over the rational world, and as by the heavens a man may diſcern in the natural world, ſo by the Word, if a man be skilful in it, a man may diſcern the ſigns of the times in the rational world alſo. In the Word there are two ſorts of rules.
Firſt, antient Predictions.
Secondly, preſent Diſpenſations.
1. Antient Predictions, Rev. 10.7. cum finituis ſint, when they were about to finiſh: The 1260 daies are not yeares fulfilled; therefore the killing time is to come; for the Beaſt receives his Kingdom with the ſeven Kings ſince the foreign was removed.
2. There was never yet that perfect Victory, that they did ſay, they are dead; there were none that did viſibly appear to bear witneſs againſt them, therefore it is yet to come.
Secondly, preſent diſpenſations compared with the rules of the Word.
Firſt when there's a general decay of Wiſdom in Rulers, and children and babes rule over a people, Iſa. 27.14. I will do a marvellous work, the wiſdom of the wiſe men ſhall periſh, and now I will diſtreſs Ariel.
Secondly, when there is poured out upon a people the ſpirit of a deep ſleep, as Iſa. 29.10. that nothing could awaken them, but as men ſleeping upon the top of a Maſt, though the Sea roar, and the Wind make a noiſe, yet they ſleep ſtil; when men are ſecure, then the diſtreſs of Ariel is near; I will ſearch Jeruſalem with candles, and the men that are ſetled upon their Lees, &c.
Thirdly, when there is a general oppreſſion and mercileſneſs in the Rulers, Zac. 11.5. When a people become the flock of the ſlaughter, Mic. 7.3,4. the Judge asketh for a reward: now ſhall be their perplexity.
Fourthly, when there are general neglects of Government and order amongſt a people, every one does whats right in his own eyes, when the baſe doth preſume againſt the honourable, and the children againſt the antient, Iſa. 3.5. then preſently there is a ruin coming, ver. 8. Jeruſalem is ruin'd, and Judah is fallen: Iudg. 18.7. When there was no maſter of reſtraint in Laiſh, their ruin was near.
Fiftly, when there are bitter envyings and parties, the people ſhall be as fuel for the fire, Iſa. 9.19,20. No man ſpares his brother, but every man eats the fleſh of his own arm, &c. Jer. 8.7. My people know not the judgement of the Lord.
Doctrin 2
Yet Jacobs trouble is but for a time, then ſhall deliverance be, Mich. 7.9. Though I fall, I ſhall ariſe, and the Lord will be light about me; the rod of the wicked ſhall not alway lye upon the lot of the righteous. The Witneſſes though they be killed, yet they ſhall not alwaies lye dead, but they ſhall riſe again, &c. I cannot now ſtand to prove this Doctrine, but ſpend the remainder of the time I have to ſpeak in a ſhort uſe to all the people of God.
Uſe.
Firſt, live by faith in this time of trial; the Lord doth but wait to be gracious, and he ſaies, bleſſed be thoſe that wait for him, Hab. 2.4. The juſt ſhall live by his Faith. The meaning is, he ſhall live comfortably under the croſs; for it is an expreſſion like that of the Apoſtle, Now we live if ye ſtand faſt. And the acts of Faith that we ſhould now exerciſe ſhould be theſe: Ile name two or three.
Firſt, commit your ſelves to him quietly; leave your ſelves with him, Pſal. 114.14. As you have committed your ſoules to him, ſo to him alſo commit your way, Dan. 3.17. Be not careful in this matter, he that hath caſt me into the fire, will aſſuredly watch over me in it, becauſe he hath promiſed to bring me out of it.
Secondly, wait for him till he be gracious, and doe not make hast; he that beleeves does not make haſt. Doe not uſe unlawful means out of pride of paſſion, becauſe you will not wait Gods leiſure, nor do not uſe compliance with carnal men to deliver thee, for that is not the way of faith.
Thirdly, look towards God in thy prayers, under this conſideration; that he hath undertaken deliverance, 2 Chron 22.12. We have no might, neither know we what to do, but our eyes are towards thee; for it is the exerciſe of Faith that doth procure deliverance, Gen. 49 21. His bow abode i… …re g…; that is invictum robur; it's by this that the … of God prove victorious in their ſufferings.
But how may a man know when deliverance is near? Are there not rules for that as well as the other. I will only name there three rules.
Firſt, when the people of God look towards him and return; if not, Lev. 26.24,25. …e will puniſh them ſeven times more, till he hath deſtrey'd them; for there is a pedigree of judgement, Hoſ 1. Jeel 2.14. Rent your hearts, and no your garments, &c. Prepare to m…et thy God, O Iſrael. There is no going to God in the way of his judgement, but by meeting of him, and that is not in a way of oppoſition, but in a way of ſubmiſſion.
Secondly, when the hearts of the enemies and their ſins are grown unto a height, Rev. 14.18. when the grapes are fully ripe, when men do add unto al their ſins contempt of God, and ſay, Who is the Lord? it is an argument they are not like to ſtand long, that doe ſtretch their mouthes out againſt heave…, and their tongues run through the earth: When Inſtruments doe riſe againſt their maker, and the axe is againſt him that hews with it, then I will ſend amongſt the fat ones ſaith the Lord, and kindle a burning under their glory.
Thirdly, when the hearts of the people of God are low, and their ſpirits do fail, and they ſay our bones are dry, our hope is past, and we are cut off, Ezek. 37.12. When the Son of man comes ſhall he find faith upon earth? Men will not beleeve it, Luk. 18 8. And though ye ſee no waies or means of deliverance, yet remember, It is not by power, nor by might, but by my ſpirit, Zach. 4.7. And the earth did help the woman. The Lord can make uſe of any Inſtruments for the Redemption of his ſervants: The barborous Nations came in for their ſuccour, which I fear will be the Judgement upon this Nation.