Heart Humiliation, Sermon 18
SERMON XVIII.
Iſai. 64. 7.
And there is none that calleth upon thy Name, that ſtirreth up himſelf to take hold of thee, &c.
THey go on in the Confeſſion of their ſins: Many a man hath ſoon done with that: A general notion of ſin, is the higheſt advancement in repentance that many attain to. You may ſee here, Sin and Judgement mixed in thorow other in their complaint: They do not ſo fix their eyes upon their deſolat eſtate of captivity, as to forget their provocations. Many a man would ſpend more affection, and be more pathetick in the expreſſion of his miſery when it is pungent, nor he can do when he ſpeaketh of his ſins. We would obſerve from the nature of this confeſſion ſomething to be a patern of your repentance. And it is this. When the ſpirit convinceth, and men are ſerious in repentance, then the ſoul is more ſearching, more univerſal, more particular in acknowledgement of ſins. Theſe are characters of the Spirits work. Firſt, The Spirit diſcovereth unto men, not only ſin but the loathſomeneſs of ſin, its hainous nature, how offenſive it is to Gods holy eye; Many of you know abundance of evil deeds, and call them ſins, but you have never taken up ſins ugly face, never ſeen it in the glaſſe of the holy Law, uncleanneſſe it ſelf, becauſe you do not abhore your ſelves; poor and low thoughts of God maketh mean and ſhallow thoughts of ſin. You would be as Job vile ch. 40. 4. And abhore your ſelves in duſt and aſhes, ch. 42. 6. As Gods holineſs grew great in your eyes, Sins uncleanneſs would grow proportionably Iſ. 6. 3. 5. And here your repentance halteth in the very entry.
But Secondly, The Spirit diſcovereth not only the uncleanneſs of mens natures, and leadeth them up to original corruption, but the Spirit alſo leadeth men alongs all the ſtreams, not only theſe that break out, but thoſe who go under ground, and have a more ſecret and ſubtil conveyance: It concludeth not only open breaches of the command under filthineſs, but alſo all a mans own righteouſneſs, though never ſo refined, it concludeth it alſo a defiled garment, ſo that the Soul can look no where but ſee ſin, and uncleanneſs in its ornaments and duties. And thus it appeareth before God without ſuch a covering, openeth up its Soul, hideth not ſin with the covering of duties, but ſeeth a neceſſity of another covering for all. Now therefore let the moſt part of you conclude that you have never yet gotteh your eyes open to ſee ſin or confeſſe it, becauſe when you ſit down to compt your ſins, there are many things that you call not ſin, you uſe not to reckon your praying and repentance among ſins: Nay, becauſe you have ſo much confidence in your repentance and confeſſion, you have never repented: you muſt ſee a neceſſity of a covering of Chriſts righteouſneſs above all; Faith in Jeſus muſt cover repentance and it ſelf both, with the glorious object of it. But alas how ſoon are many at an end of confeſſion; ſome particular groſſe actions may come in remembrance, but no more. Sum up al your confeſſions, they have never yet pitched on the thouſand part of your guiltineſs, no not in kinds, let be in number.
But thirdly, The Spirit convinceth ſpiritually and particularly both, it convinceth of Spiritual ſins, as we ſaid laſt, of the iniquity of holy things, and eſpecially of the moſt ſubſtantial duties faith and prayer. John 16. 8, 9. there are not many of you have come this length to ſee your want of prayer. No, your own words do witneſs againſt you, for you uſe to ſay, I pray day and night, I believe in God with all my heart. Now therefore out of your own mouth ſhall you be condemned, when the ſpirit convinceth you of Sin, you will ſee no faith, no prayer at the firſt opening of the eyes. But I add, there is no true confeſſion but it is particular, the Spirit uſeth not to be wilder mens ſpirits in a general notion only, and a wild field of unknown ſins: And ſuch are many of your convictions: You mourn for ſin (as you ſay) and yet you cannot condeſcend on a particular that burdeneth your conſcience; you grant you have many ſins, but ſit down to compt them, and there is a ſhort compt of them, Now do you not reflect back upon former humiliations in publick, and former acknowledgements of ſins in private? do you not yet return upon your own hearts to lay home this ſad challenge. I have never repented, I do not yet repent: muſt not all your ſolemn approaches be iniquity, and abomination, while your ſouls are not afflicted for ſin, while you can ſee ſo few ſins &c. The faſting dayes of Scotland will be numbered in the roll of greateſt provocations, becauſe there is no real and ſpiritual conviction of ſin among us: Cuſtom now hath taken away the ſolemnity, and there remaineth nothing but the very name. Is this the faſt that the Lord chooſeth? No, believe it, this ſhall add to your provocation, and rather haſten lingering judgement, then keep it off, we would beſeech you this day, pray for pardon of former abuſed faſts. If you had no more to mourn for, this might ſpend the day and our ſpirits both, and exhauſt all our preſent ſupplications, even the wall of partition that ſtands between God and Scotland, which all our former ſolemn humiliations hath built up, a great deal higher then other ſins could reach.
There is none that calleth upon thy Name,] Did not this people make many prayers, Iſai. 1. 15. before the captivity? And did they not cry, which noteth ſome fervency in it? And faſt a little before it in Jeremiahs time, Chap. 11. 11. and 14. 12. in the time of it, Ezek. 8. 18. Mic. 3. 4. Zech 7. 3. How then is it that the Prophet now on the watch-tower looking round about him to take up the peoples condition, and being led by the Spirit ſo far as to the caſe of the captives in Babel, can find no prayer, no calling? And was not Daniel ſo too, Dan. 9. 13. Lo, then here is the conſtruction that the Spirit of God putteth on many prayers and faſtings in a Land, There is none calleth on thy Name; there is none that prayeth faithfully and fervently, few to count upon that prayeth any. It may be there are many publick prayers, but who prayeth in ſecret, and mourneth to God alone? There are many prayers, but the inſcription is, To the unknown God, to a nameleſs God, your praying is not a calling on his Name as a known God and revealed in the Word.
This then we would ſay unto you, that there may be many prayers in your account▪ and none in Gods. There are many prayers of men that God counteth no more of, then the howling of a dog. Firſt, The cry of mens practices is often louder then their prayers, and goeth up to Heaven, that the cry of prayer cannot be heard. When mens converſation is flat contrary to their ſupplications, ſupplication is no calling on his Name, but charming rather. Sodoms abominations had a cry up to God, Gen. 18. 21. So Ahels blood had a cry for vengeance, which Cains prayers could not out-cry. Thus the Lord would not hear many prayers Iſa. 1. 15. becauſe hands and practices were polluted: you that know no worſhip of God, but in ſuch a ſolemn duty; your religion is ſummed up and confined, within the limits of Temple-worſhip, Family exerciſe and prayer; Certainly the reſt of your converſation muſt ſpeak more: God will not heat but ſuch as worſhip him and do his will. Joh. 4. 31. Your prayer is a dark parable, if your converſation expone it not. This I ſpeak for this end, to put many of you out of your falſe ground of Confidence: you have nothing but your prayers to truſt unto, And for your converſation, you never go about it effectually to reform it but goeth on in that which you pray againſt: we declare unto you the truth your prayers are Abomination Pro. 28. 9. The wicked may have prayers, And therefore think not to pleaſe God and flatter him with your mouths, when your converſation is rebellion: ſince you hear not him in his commands, God will not hear you in your petitions Pro. 1. 24. 28. You ſtopped your ear at his reproof, God will ſtop his ear at your requeſt. If you will go to heaven by your own righteouſneſs, I pray you, follow more after it, make the garment more to cover your nakedneſs: the skirt of a duty is not ſufficient.
Secondly, When iniquity is regarded in the heart, (and idols ſet up in Gods place,) God will not own ſuch a worſhip, but ſendeth a man to the Idols he ſerveth Pſa. 66. 18. Ezek. 14. 3. 4. Do you not often pray to God againſt a corruption, when your heart cleaveth unto it, and what your mouth ſaith, your heart contradicteth? Light and Conſcience often extort a confeſſion of beloved ſins, while the temper of the heart hath this language, Lord grant not my requeſt. And therefore if there be a prayer for pardon of guilt, yet there is no through reſolution to quite the ſin; And as long … a ſoul is not reſolved to quite the ſin, there can be no ingenuous confeſſion of it, and no prayer for removing the guilt can be heard, You cannot imploy Chriſt in his office of Mediatorſhip as a Prieſt to interceed and offer ſacrifice for ſin, unleſſe you as ſincerely imploy him as a ſanctifier and Redeemer. And therefore prayer that ſeparateth Chriſts offices, and calleth not on whole Chriſt calleth not on his name, for his name is Lord Jeſus Chriſt. How can the Lord be inquired of by ſuch a one who cometh to mock him, puteth up an Idol in the heart, and yet prayeth againſt it, or ſome other ſin, while he is not reſolved to quite it. Shall God be reſolute to help, when we are no… earneſt in ſeeking it. No wonder God anſwer you according to the Idol: No wonder you be given up to ſerve Idols, and your ſin grow upon you as a plague for your hypocriſy, when you ingadge your heart too much to any creature and comes to pray and inquire of the Lord in your neceſſity, ſhall it not be righteouſneſs with him, to ſend you to your God when thou cryeſt let thy companies deliver thee, Iſa. 57. 13. O man cry unto thy boſome idol, and let it help thee, ſince thou truſteſt to it and ſpendeth thy heart on it, Deut. 32. 37, 38. Where is the God that drunk the Wine of your offerings, and eat the fat of your ſacrifices? where is the creature that you have made your heart an altar to, to ſend up the flames of your choiceſt thoughts and affections to it? let this riſe up, and help you now, ſaith the Lord. Therefore we exhort you, if you would have your prayers a delight, be upright in the thing you ſeek, and ſee that you intertain no known ſin, give it no heart allowance.
Thirdly, There are many prayers not heard, not known, becauſe the mouth outcryeth the heart. It is the ſacrifice of the contrite heart that God deſpiſeth not. The prayers of this people were ſuch, Iſai. 29. 13. They drew near with the mouth, but the hea…t was far away. It is worſhip in ſpirit and truth that God loveth, Joh 4. 23. Since Prayer is a communion of God with the Creature, a meeting of one with God, and ſpeaking face to face; God who is a Spirit and immortal, muſt have a ſpirit to meet with, a ſoul to ſpeak to him. Now do you not find your hearts gading abroad even in duty? Is it not moſt about your Corns and Lands in the time of ſolemn worſhip? Therefore God getteth no more but a carcaſſe to keep communion with; He may have as much fellowſhip with the ſtones of the wall, and timber of the houſe, as he can have with your ears and mouths, while you remove your hearts to attend other things. And I would ſay more, if your mind be preſent, yet your heart is gone, ſometimes, yea often, both are gone abroad: Sometimes the mind and thought ſtayeth, but the affection and heart is not with it, and ſo the minds reſidence is not conſtant: Your thought may come in as a wayfaring man, but tarrieth not all night, dwelleth not. Now ſpeak to it, even Chriſtians, may not your Prayers often have a contrary interpretation to what they pretend? You pray ſo coldrifely and formally, as God will interpret, you have no mind to it: we ask as we ſeemed indifferent whether our petition be granted or not. Should the Lord be affected with your petitions, when you your ſelves are not affected much? Should his bowels of zeal ſound within him, when yours are ſilent? It is fervent prayer availeth much, Iſai. 5. 16. A heart ſent out with the petition, and gone up to Heaven, cannot but bring back an anſwer. If Prayer carry not the ſeal of the heart and ſoul in it, God cannot own it, or ſend it back with his ſeal of acceptation.
Fourthly, Many Prayers are not calling on Gods Name: And no wonder that when people pray, yet the Spirit ſay, None calleth on thy Name, for Prayer is made, as to an unknown God, and God is not taken up according to his Name, which are his glorious Attributes, whereby he manifeſteth himſelf in his Word. To call on Gods Name, is ſo to pray to God, as to take him up, as he hath revealed himſelf. And what is the Lords Name? Hear himſelf ſpeak to Moſes, Exod. 33. 19. and 34. 6, 7. The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-ſuffering and abundant in goodneſs and truth, keeping mercy for thouſands, forgiving iniquity, and tranſgreſſion, and ſin, and that will by no means clear the guilty. Now to call on this Name, is for the ſoul in Prayer, to have a ſuitable ſtamp on it: every Attribute of God taking deep impreſſion in the heart. And ſo Gods Name to be written on the very petitions: And ſhortly, we may ſay, the Spirit ſhould have the impreſſion of Gods greatneſſe and Majeſty, of his goodneſſe and mercy, of his terribleneſſe and juſtice. This is the order that God proclaimeth his Name into. In the entry the ſupplicant ſhould behold the glorious Soveraignty and infinite diſtance between God and the Creature, that he may have the ſtamp of reverence and abaſement upon his ſpirit, and may ſpeak out of the duſt, as it becometh the duſt of the ballance and footſtool to do to him, who ſitteth on the circle of the Heaven as his Throne. And this I muſt ſay, there is little Religion and Godlineſſe among us, becauſe every man is ignorant of God. Even Gods children do more ſtudy themſelves, and their condition, then Gods greatneſſe and abſoluteneſſe. Who ſearches Gods infinitneſſe in his Word and Works till he behold a wonder, and be drowned in a myſtery? O but the Saints of old did take up God at a greater diſtance from the Creatures, they waded far into this boundleſſe Ocean of Gods Majeſty, till they were over head and ears, and wer… forced to cry out, Who can find out the Almighty to perfection? All theſe are but parts of him, his back-parts. There is more real Divinity and knowledge of God in one of Jobs friends diſcourſes, one of Davids prayer…, then now in twenty Sermons of gracious men, or many prayers or conferences of Saints. But withal you muſt ſtudy his goodneſſe and mercy, and this maketh up the moſt part of his Name; The definition of God hath moſt of this, ſo that it may be ſaid truly, that mercy is his delight, mercy as it were, ſwelleth over the reſt: God were not acceſſible, unleſſe mercy did temper it. Behold then greatneſſe to humble, and goodneſs to make bold, that you may have acceſſe. As greatneſs ſhould leave the ſtamp of reverence on your petitions, ſo ſhould mercy and goodneſſe imprint them with faith and confidence; And that the rather becauſe as Chriſt is ſaid to be the Fathers Face, and t… image of his Perſon, 2 Cor. 4. 6. and Heb. 1. … So may he be called the Fathers Name, and … doth God himſelf call him, Exod. 23. 20, 21. T… Angel that went before them in the wilderneſs, w… voice they ought to obey, his Name is in him, a… this Angel is Chriſt Jeſus, Acts 7. 37, 38. … then Chriſt Jeſus is Gods Name: God as … revealeth himſelf in the Word, is God in Ch… reconciling the world unto himſelf, 2 Cor. 5. … And therefore Chriſtians, you ought to pr… alwayes in Chriſts Name, and this is to call … his Name. Not only encourage your ſelves … come to God, becauſe of a Mediator, beca… he is God in Chriſt, but alſo offer up all yo… prayers in Jeſus his Name, that his Name ca… led on them may ſanctifie them, otherwiſe yo… affection at prayers cannot be acceptable … God, for he loveth nothing but what com… thorow the Son; Prayer muſt have an evil ſ… vour, when it is not put in the Golden Cenſ… that this Angel hath to off…r up incenſe with t… prayers of the Saints. And likewiſe you wo… know Gods juſtice and wrath, that you m… ſerve in fear and trembling: And when tre… bling is joyned with the rejoycing of faith, th… is acceptable ſervice. You ought to fear to … fend his holineſs, while you are before him. L… Gods terribleneſs have a deep impreſſion … your ſpirit, both to make ſin bitter, and to ma… mercy more ſweet. Thus ſhould Prayer aſce… with the ſeal of Gods Attributes, and then is a calling on his Name. Now is there any c… ling on his Name among us? Who maketh …udy to take up God in his glorious Names? …herefore you call not on a known God, and …nnot name him. Now all of you take this …le to judge your prayers by. Think you not …at you make many prayers? You both think and ſay it, as you uſe to ſay, I pray both day …d night. Nay, but count after this rule, and …ere will be found few prayers in Scotland, al…it you reckon up both privat and publick. …nce ſcrape out of the compt the prayers of the …ophane and ſcandalous, whoſe practice de…eth their prayers; And again, blot out the …ayers of mens tongues and mouths when …arts are abſent: And again, ſet aſide the …ormal, dwyning, coldrife, indifferent ſuppli…tions of Saints, and the prayers that carry no …eal of Gods Name and Attributes on them, …rayers made to an unknown God, And will …ou find many behind? No certainly any of …ou may take up the complaint in behalf of the …and, There is none that calleth on thy Name, or …ew to count upon. You may ſay ſo of your …elves if you judge thus, I have almoſt never …rayed, God hath never heard my voice, and …ou may ſay ſo of the Land. This would be a …ell ſpent day, if this were but our exerciſe, to …nd out the ſins of our duties in former humilia…ions: If the Spirit did ſo convince you, as to …ot out of the roll of Faſts all the former. If …ou come this length as to be convinced ſolidly …at you have never yet prayed and mourned for …. I have lived this long, and been babling …ll this while, I have never once ſpoken to God, …ut worſhipped I knew not what, fancied a God like my ſelf, that would be as ſoon pleaſe… with me, as I was with my ſelf. If the Lor… wrought thus on your hearts, to put you … your own righteouſneſs, you ſhould have mo… advantage in this then in all your Sabbaths an… Faſts hitherto.
Secondly, Although the Lords hand be upo… them, and they fade as a leaf, and are drive… into another Land, yet none calleth on his Name▪ This maketh the complaint more lamentabl… and no doubt is looked upon as a dreadful ſig… and token of Gods diſpleaſure, and of ſor… ſtroaks. Daniel an eye-witneſſe confirmeth th… foretold truth, Chap. 9. 13. All this is come upon us, yet have we not made our prayer to the Lord o… God. Well may the Lord make a ſuppoſition and doubt of it, Lev. 26. 40, 41. After ſo many plagues are come on, ſeven added to ſeven, and again ſeven times more, and yet they will not be humbled. And when it is even at the door ne… to utter deſtruction and conſumption, he addeth▪ If then their uncircumciſed hearts be humbled, and they take with the puniſhment of ſin, &c. We need ask no reaſon of this, for bray a fool in a morte… his folly will not depart from him, Prov. 27. 22: Poor fooliſh man is a fooliſh man, folly is born with him, folly is his name, and ſo is he. He hath not ſo much wiſdom as to hear the voice o… the rod, and him that appointeth it. Poor Ephraim is an undaunted heifer. Nature is a bullock unaccuſtomed with the yoke, and ſo it is chaſtiſed more and more, Jer. 31. 18. Man is like a… untamed beaſt, as the horſe, or as the mul… Threatnings will not do it, God ſpeaketh once, ye…: twice, and man perceiveth it not; Job 33. 14. God inſtructeth by the Word, and men receive no inſtruction: All the warnings to flee from the wrath to come, are as ſo many tales to make children afraid. He ſaith in his heart, I ſhall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of my own heart. Since therefore he will not incline his ear to the Word, God ſendeth his rod to ſeal the Word, and yet men are ſo wilde that they ſight with Gods rods, and will not ſubmit to him: A yoke muſt be put on Ephraim, a bridle in mens mouths, Pſal. 32. 9. They will put God to more pains then ſpeaking, and it ſhall coſt them more pain: For he that will not be drawn with the cords of a man, love and intreaties, muſt be drawn with the cords of a beaſt, and yoked in a heavy yoke. Yet men are unruly, and the yoke groweth the heavier, and ſorer, that they ſtrive to ſhake it off. An uncircumciſed heart cannot be humbled, How can the Leopard change his ſpots, no more can my people return to me, Jer. 13. 23. It is ſtrange that a people ſo afflicted, will not take with the puniſhment of their iniquity, but will ſay in their heart, Wherefore come theſe things upon me? But here it is, how can an uncircumciſed heart be humbled? God may beat on men with rods as on a dog, but he will run away from him ſtill the more Iſai. 9. 13. Nay, it may be, there will be more ſtirring after God, and more awaking by the firſt ſtroak of affliction, then when they are continued and multiplied: The uncouthneſs of rods may affect people ſomething but when his hand lyeth on but a little, cuſtome breedeth hardneſs, a… more and more alienateth ſpirits from him.
Now we need no more to ſeal this truth, … our own experience. I think never peop… might ſpeak more ſenſibly of it. It hath be… the manner of the Lords dealing with us, to … fair means to gain us, to threaten before he la… on, to give a proclamation before his ſtroak… And yet it hath been our manner from o… youth up to harden our ſelves againſt him, an… go on in our own way. Therefore hath th… Lord after long patience laid on ſad ſtroaks, an… ſmitten us, yet have we not turned to him. … may be when the chaſtiſement was freſh a… green, ſome poured out a prayer, and in trouble viſited God, Iſai. 26. 18. but the body of the La… hath not known him that ſmote them, and n… ver ran into their hiding place, but the tempt… tion of the time like a flood hath carried them aw… with it. And for the Lords children, how ſo… doth the cuſtome of a rod, eat out the ſenſe … it, and prayer doth not grow proportionably … the Lords rods. The Lord hath expected th… ſome might ſtand in the gap and interceed, yet f… or none called on his Name. General correction of the Land have made general apoſtacy fro… God, not a turning in to God; So that we ma… ſay, we never entered a furnace, but we hav… come out with more droſs, contracted droſs i… the fire. Mens zeal and tenderneſs hath bee… burnt up, reprobate ſilver may God call us: We have had ſo much experience of the unprofitableneſs of former afflictions, that we kno… not what the Lord ſhall do with us. We thin… it may be the Lords complaint of Scotland, Why ſhould you be afflicted any more? you will revolt more and more, Iſai. 1. 5. What needeth another ro…? You are now all ſecure, it is true, becauſe you are not ſtricken; Nay, but what needeth a rod? for it cannot awake you, all the fruit of it would be not to purge away ſin, but to increaſe it: General judgements will prove general tentations, and will alienate you more from me, and make you curſe God and the Covenant. And indeed the truth is, we know not, what outward Diſpenſation can fall on that can affect this generation; We know not what the Lord can have behind, that can work on us: Judgement hath had as much terror, Mercies as much ſweetneſs, and as much of God in the one and the other, as readily hath been ſince the beginning of the world. Only this we know, all things are poſſible to him, which are impoſſible to us; And if the Spirit work to ſanctifie the Rod, a more gentle Rod ſhall work more effectually; his Word ſhall do as much as his Rod.
The caſe we are now into, is juſt this; None calleth on thee. It is a terrible one, whither our condition be good or bad outwardly, our peace hath put us aſleep, and the Word cannot put men to prayers: Now the Lord hath begun to threaten, as you have been ſtill in fear of new troubles, and a revolution of affairs again, yet I challenge your own Conſciences and appeal to them, whom hath the Word prevailed with, to put to prayer? Whom hath the rumour of approaching trouble, put to their prayers? Whoſe ſpirit hath been affected with Go… f…ouning on the Land? And this yet more a… gravateth your lazineſs; In the time that Go… doth ſhew terrible things to his people in Irela… giveth them a cup of wormwood, and to drink … wine of aſtoniſhment: Are not you yet at e… when your brethren and fellow ſaints are ſca… tered among you as ſtrangers? yet your hea… bleed not. Well, behold the end of it, you caſe is a ſad prognoſtick of the Lords hideing hi… Face and conſuming us. Nay, it is a ſure token that his Face is hid already. When J… friends would aggravate his miſery, they ſum… it up in this, thou reſtraineſt prayer from God. I… is more wrath to be kept from much praying nor to be ſcattered from your own houſe Therefore, if you would have the cloud of God… anger that covereth the Land with blackne… go over you, and pour out it ſelf on others, you would prevent the Rod, hearken to th… Word and ſtirr up your ſelves to much praye… that you may be called his remembrancers? O… how long ſhall prayer be baniſhed this Kingdom? The Lords controverſie muſt be grea… with us, for ſince the days of our firſt love, ther… hath been great decay of the ſpirit of prayer The Children of God ſhould be ſo much in it as they might be one with it. David was ſo much in prayer, as he in a manner defined himſelf by it, Pſal. 109. 4. I gave my ſelf unto prayer. In the original, there is no more, but, … prayer. I was all prayer. It was my Work, my Element, my Affection, my Action. Nay, to ſpeak the truth, it is the decay of prayer that hath made all this defection in the Land. Would you know the original of many a publick mans Apoſtacy and backſliding in the cauſe of God, what maketh them ſo ſoon forget their ſolemn ingagements, and grow particular, ſeeking their own things, untender in ſeeking the things of God? Would you trace back the Deſertion up to the Fountain head? Then come and ſee. Look upon ſuch a mans walking with God in private, ſuch a mans praying, and you ſhall find matters have been firſt wrong there. Alienation and eſtrangement from God himſelf in immediat Duties, and ſecret approaches, hath made m…ns Affections cooll to his intereſt in publick Duties. And believe it, the reaſon why ſo few great men, or none are ſo cordial, conſtant and through in Gods Matters, is this, they pray not in ſecret; They come to Parliament or Council, where publick Matters, concerning the Honour of God, are to be debated, as any Staſ-man of Venice, would come to the Senate. They have no dependence on God to be guided in theſe Matters; They are much in publick Duties, but little in ſecret with God. Believe it, any mans private walking with God, ſhall be read upon his publick carriage, whither he be Miniſter or Ruler.
There is yet another thing we would have you conſider, to endear this Duty unto you, and bind upon your Conſciences, an abſolute neceſſity of being much in it, and it is this. Prayer and calling on his Name is often put for all immediat Worſhip of God, eſpecially, the more ſubſtantial and moral part of Service. This people was much in Ceremonials, and they made theſe their righteouſneſs. Nay, but there was little ſecret converſing with God, walking humbly with him, loving him, believing in him. Well then, prayer is, as it were, a compend and ſumm of all Duties. It contains in it, Faith, Love, Repentance, all theſe ſhould breath out in prayer. In a word, if we ſay to you, be much in prayer, we have ſaid all, and it is more then all the reſt, becauſe it is a more near and immediat approach to God; having more ſolid Religion in it. If you be lively in this, you are thriving Chriſtians; if you wither here, all muſt decay, for prayer ſappeth and watereth all othes Duties with the influence of Heaven.
That ſtirreth up himſelf to take hold on thee] This expreſſeth more of their condition under the Rod, and while God was threatning to depart and leave them, none took ſo much notice of it, as to awake out of his dream, to take a faſt hold of God. It was but like the grip a man taketh in his ſlumbering, that he ſoon quiteth in his ſleep. None awaketh himſelf, as a bird ſtirreth up it ſelf with its wings to flight: None do ſo ſpread out their ſails to meet the wind: This importeth a great ſecurity and negligence, a careleſs ſtupidity. To take hold, to grip ſtrongly and violently, importeth both Faith acted on God, and Communion with God, ſo that the ſenſe is, no body careth, whither thou go, there is none that ſtirreth up himſelf to take violent hold of thee; Men ly louſe in their intereſt, and indifferent in the one thing neceſſary, do not ſtrongly grip to it. No body keepeth thee by prayer and interceſſion, ſo that there is no diligence added to diligence, there is no ſtirring up of our ſelves in ſecurity.
Firſt, when the Lord ſeemeth to withdraw, and when he is angry, it is our duty, to take hold the more on him, and not only to act Faith, and call on him by prayer, but to add to ordinary diligence, it ſhould be extraordinary. Firſt then, I ſay, when the Lord is withdrawing and ſeemeth angry, we ought not to withdraw from him by unbelief, but to draw near, and take hold on him. And the Lord giveth a reaſon of this himſelf, Iſai. 26. 4▪ 5. becauſe fury is not in me. It is but a moments anger, it is not hatred of your perſons but ſins, it is not fury that hath no diſcretion in it, to difference between a friend and an enemy: It is but at leaſt a fathers anger, that is not for deſtruction, but correction. The Lord is not implacable, come to him and win him, let bim take hold of me, and let him make peace with me, if he will make peace. He is a God whoſe compaſſions fail not; and ſo he is never ſo angry, but there is room left for manifeſtation of Mercy on thoſe that come to him. Gods anger is not an humor and paſſion as ours is, he can take the poor Child in his Armes, admit it into his boſome, when outward Diſpenſations frown. Mens anger is like the ſons of Belial, Briers and Thornes that none may come near to, leſt they be hurt, but God angry is acceſſible, becauſe his anger is ſtill tempered and mixed with Clemency and Mercy, and that mixture of Mercy is ſo great, and ſo predominant in all his Diſpenſations here, that they being rightly underſtood, might rather invite to come, then ſcarre from it, there is more Mercy to welcome, then Anger to drive away.
Secondly, Look upon the very end and purpoſe of Gods hiding himſelf, and withdrawing, it is this; that we may come and ſeek him early, Hoſ. 5. 15 When God is angry, Mercy and Compaſſion principleth it, for anger is ſent out to bring in wanderers: His anger is not humor, but reſolute and deliberate, walketh upon good grounds. Becauſe David in his proſperity miſſed not God. When all things went according to his minde, then he let God go where he will. Therefore, the Lord in mercy muſt hide his own Heart with a frowning countenance, and cover himſelf with a Cloud, that David may be troubled, and ſo take hold on God, Pſal. 31. 7, 8. Since then, this is Gods purpoſe, that you may come nearer to him, and ſince he goeth away that you may purſue, certainly, he will never ſo run away as you may not find him out, nor will he run further, nor he ſtrengtheneth thee to purſue him; Thus, Pſ. 63. 8. God was flying, and David purſuing; Nay, but the flyer giveth leggs to the purſuer, he upholdeth him, as it were againſt himſelf. So did the Angel ſtrengthen Jacob to overcome himſelf. Now ſhall it not be pleaſant to God, that you lay hold on him as your own, even when he ſeemeth to be cloathed with vengeance, ſeing he changeth his outward Countenance for this very end, he ſeemeth to go, that you may hold, becauſe when you think he ſtayeth, you hold not, as the Child, while the nurſe is near, will look about it, and take hold of any thing, but when ſhe withdraweth, the Child cleaveth the faſter to her.
But Secondly, we ought to ſtirre up our ſelves more now, then any other time: Times of Gods withdrawing, calleth for extraordinary and doubled approaches. So Hab. 5. 15. they will ſeek me early. And therefore the Lords Children in Scripture, have made great advantage of ſuch Diſpenſations. The truth is, as long as we are well dealt with, ſecurity creepeth on, and Religion is but in a decaying condition: Duties are done through our ſleep: We are not as men awaking and knowing what we do, and whither we go. But when the Lord beginneth to trouble us, and hides his Face, then it is a time to awake out of ſleep, before all be gone: And there ought to be firſt, more diligence in Duties and approaching to God; becauſe your caſe furniſheth more matter of ſupplication; And as matter of ſupplication groweth, prayer ſhould grow. If neceſſity grow, and the cry be not according to neceſſity, it is ominous. And therefore David uſeth to make his cry go up according to his trouble. In a proſperous Condition, though every thing might call a tender hearted loving Chriſtian to ſome nearneſs to God; yet ordinarly, if neceſſity preſſe not, prayer languiſheth, and groweth formal. Senſe of need putteth an edge on ſupplication, wheras proſperity blunteth it. The heart miſſing nothing, cannot go above ſublunary things; but let it not have its will here, and the need of Heaven will be the greater. Now I ſay, if you ſit ſo many calls, both from a Command, and from your own neceſſities, you do ſo much the more ſin. Affliction will make even a hypocrite ſeek him, and pour out … prayer and viſit him, Pſal. 78. And Iſai. 26. And if you do not take advantage of all theſe preſſures, you muſt be ſo much the more guilty: And therefore, God as it were, wondereth at their obſtinacy, They return not to him that ſmiteth them: All this is come upon us, yet have we not prayed. And ſecondly, it is ſent for that end, that you may be more ſerious, and therefore you ought ſo much the more to awake, to lay hold on him. This is the way the Lord uſeth with his ſecure and wandering Children, Pſal. 119. 67. For the Lord findeth us often gripping too ſtrongly to a preſent world; and taking it in our armes, as if we were never to part with it: Mens ſouls cleave to outward accomodations. Therefore the Lord uſeth to part us and our idol, that we may take hold of him the faſter. It is Union with himſelf, that is our felicity, and it is that which God moſt endeavoureth. When he removeth beloved Jewels, it is becauſe they were a ſtumbling block, and divorced the Soul from God: When he ſeemeth to withdraw himſelf, his going proclaimeth ſo much, Oh follow or periſh.
Thirdly, it is a very dangerous thing, when he withdraweth and you follow not, when he is angry, and you care not, doth not fly in to make peace with him, certainly his anger muſt wax hotter, and deſertion will become a ſpiritual plague, Rods muſt be tempered with much bitterneſs. What mixture of Mercy can be in ſuch a Diſpenſation, where the fruit of it is to harden. But if the Lords hardeſt dealing wrought you to more nearneſs and Communion with himſelf, then certainly you have a fair advantage againſt the preſent trouble, and you have your Cup mixed. You ſhall at length bleſſe God for ſuch Diſpenſations, they may be reckoned for good to you. Next, there ought to be more exerciſe of Faith, and laying hold on the grounds of Conſolation in God, in ſuch a time. 1. For as difficulties grow, Faith ſhould fortify it ſelf againſt them ſo much the more. The greater the ſtorm be, it ſhould fly the more into the Chalmbers. Faith in the time of a calme day getteth no tryal; Faith bulketh much, becauſe it hath not much to do. But except there be ſome freſh and new ſupplies, it cannot hold out in a temptation: But it is a ſingular proof of a Noble and Divine Faith, that can lay hold on him, and keep him, when he would go, that can challenge kindneſs on a miskening Jeſus, that can ſtand on the ground of the Promiſes, when there is not a foot breadth of a Diſpenſation to build on: While all things go with you, ye have no difficulty to maintain your Faith; Nay, but when the Lord ſeemeth to look angry, then awake and gather ſtrength, take hold on his ſtrength; Look what is in your Condition, or his Diſpenſation, what is good or omnious, then take hold on the other hand on him, and look what is in him to anſwer it, and ſwallow it up: Ye ought to be well acquaint with the grounds of Conſolation that are in God, in the worſt caſe, and then ye might lay hold on him, though he ſeemed a conſuming fire. It is then a time that calleth moſt for ſecureing your intereſt in him, a time when there is no external advantage to beguile you, a time when the only happineſs is to be one with God. Therefore, the man who in ſuch Calamities and Judgements, is not a waked to put his eternal Eſtate out of queſtion, he is in a dangerous caſe: For do not moſt part drive over their dayes, and have no aſſurance of Salvation, they dare not ſay, either pro, or contra. It may be, and it may not be. And this is the length that the moſt part come, a negative Peace; No poſitive Confidence. No clear concluding on ſure grounds an Intereſt. Alwayes ye are moſt called to this, when God afflicteth the Land, or you: If ye do not then make Peace, it is moſt dangerous. 3. The Lord loveth Faith in a difficulty beſt, it is the ſingleſt and the cleanlieſt, it is that which moſt honoureth him, and glorifieth his Truth and Faithfulneſſe, and Sufficiency and Mercy; for then it is moſt purely Elevated above Creatures, and pitcheth moſt on God; And therefore bringeth men to this, No help for my ſoul, but thou art my portion. And this commendeth God moſt; when he is ſet alone. Proſperity bringeth him down among Creatures, and ſecure Faith, maketh little diſtinction; But awakening Faith grippeth ſtrongly and ſingly, puteth God alone:
Secondly, Oftentimes, when God is departing, none ſtirreth up himſelf to lay hold on him: Although there may be praying and doing of many duties, yet there is nothing beyond ordinary. The varieties and acceſſions of new grounds of ſupplications doth neither make greater frequency, nor more fervency. This our experience may clear unto us both in duties and faith. Firſt, There is very little diligence in ſeeking of God in the way and means appointed, even when God ſeemeth to bid farewel to the Land and go away: No body cometh in as an interceſſor. Men keep on their old way of praying, and never addeth to it, come what like. Who is it that riſeth above his ordinary as the Tide of Gods diſpenſation is? There ought to be ſuch an impreſſion made by the changes of Gods countenance, as might be read on the duties of his people. There ſhould be ſuch a diſtance between your ordinary and ſuch times, as between a ſleeping man and a waking man, that whatever your attainment of acceſs to God be, ye might ſtir up and go beyond it, according as matters call. Will God count your publick Faſts a performance of this duty? Alas, we faſt ſleeping, and none ſtirreth up himſelf to theſe things. Is there any difference betwixt your ſolemn Humiliation and another Sabbath? And is there any difference between a Sabbath and a week day, ſave the external duty? Is not this palpably our caſe? Is there any wakening among us? No, ſecurity is both the univerſal diſeaſe and complaint; And it is become an incurable diſeaſe, ſince it became a complaint. Doth any of you pray more in private then ye uſed? Or what edge is on your prayers? Alas, the Lord will get good leave to go from us; It feareth me, that we would give Chriſt a Teſtimonial to go over Seas. Hold him, hold him. Nay, the multitude would be gladly quite of him, they cannot abide his yoke, his work is a burden, his word is a torment, his diſcipline is bands and cords; And what heart can ye then have to keep Chriſt? What violence can ye offer to him to hold him ſtill? All your intreaties may be fair complements, but they would never rent his garment. Secondly, There is no up-ſtirring to faith among us, and laying hold on Jeſus Chriſt, albeit all his diſpenſations warn us that it is now high time. There are not many who are about this point effectually, to ſtir up their faith, or to ſecure their intereſt. Think ye that conjectures will carry you thorow difficulties. The multitude think they believe much, but any temptation proveth their miſtake. The moſt part of Scotland would deny God and his Son Jeſus Chriſt, if they were put to it. Alwayes it is a time ye would not ly out from your ſtrong hold faith only uniteth you to Chriſt, and if ye would be kept in any trial ſtir up fait….
Thirdly, Prayer and Faith, diligence and laying hold on God muſt go together, and help one another. Not calling on his Name, and not laying hold on him go together, and have influence o…e upon another. Firſt, Faith hath influence on Prayer. Laying hold on God in Chriſt, will make right calling on his Name, it learneth men how to call God, to call him Abba, Father. Faith uſeth to vent i… ſelf in Prayer; I ſay, much conſideration of God, and claiming in to him, and to the grounds of confidence in him, muſt both make Prayer acceptable, and carry the ſtamp and impreſſion of Gods Name, or Chriſt… N…m… o… it, and alſo make much prayer: for when a ſoul hath pitched on God, as its only felicity, and thus made choice of him, it findeth in him all-ſufficiency, all things for all things; There is no neceſſi…y, but it findeth a ſupply in his fulneſs for it; And therefore it applyeth a man to the fountain, to draw out of the wells of ſalvation. There is nothing can be ſo ſweet and refreſhing, as for ſuch a ſoul to pour out it ſ…lf every day in him, to talk with him face to face. Faith ingageth the heart to come to God with all things; whereas many difficulties would have been, and the ſecure or unſettled heart would have gone as many different wayes to help them: Faith laying hold on God, knoweth but one, and bringeth all here. And therefore acceſs to God is a fruit of it, acceſs unto the grace wherein we ſtand by faith, And again, how can Prayer be acceptable, as long as Faith doth not principle it; It is but like a beaſts groaning under a burden. Laying hold on God himſelf makes a mans duties acceptable, becauſe he ſpeaks and asks, believing that he ſhall receive, he truſteth God, and doth not tempt him. Where lively faith is not intertained, there cannot be much affection, which is the oyl of the wheels. There may be in ſome bitterneſs of ſpirit much vehemency, but that is not a pure flame of divine love that burneth upward to him, and it is ſoon extinguiſhed, and laſteth no longer nor preſent ſenſe, and then the ſoul groweth harder, as iron that had been in the fire. Secondly, when there is not much prayer and calling, faith cannot be ſtrong and violent; for prayer is even the exerciſe of faith, if you wear out of that, faith ruſteth. There may be much quietneſs with little prayer, but there cannot be much and ſtrong and lively faith; for where it getteth not continual imployment it faggs. And indeed prayer is a ſpecial point of holding God faſt, and keeping him, Therefore joyn theſe, if ye would thrive in any one of them. Your unbelieving complaints are not prayers and calling on his Name, becauſe they are not mixed with faith. As the Apoſtle ſaid of the Word, ſo may it be ſaid of Prayer, your prayers are not profitable, are not heard… becauſe not mixed with faith. Ye uſe to doubt that ye may be fervent, to queſtion your intereſt, that ye may ſtir up your ſpirits to prayer: But alas, what a ſimple groſſe miſtake is that? Poor ſoul, though thou get more liberty, ſhall it be counted acceſs to God? Though you have more grief, and your bitterneſs doth indite more eloquence, ſhall God be moved with it? Know ye not that you ſhould ask without wavering, and lift up pure hands without wrath and doubting? and yet both are there.
Fourthly, The duty we are called to in ſuch a time when God is angry, is to lay hold on him. We would ſpeak a word more of it: And firſt, we ought to hold a departing Lord, by wreſtling with him in ſupplication, not to let bim depart till he bleſs, Hoſ. 12. 3, 4. The application of Jacobs victory over the Angel is thus, Turn ye to the Lord, and wait on him, &c. How had Jacob power over the Angel? By ſupplication and weeping. So that prayer is a victory over God, even the Lord God of Hoſts. We ought (as it were) to ſtrive againſt outward diſpenſation; when it ſaith, He is gone, when our condition ſaith, He is gone, or going, we ought to wreſtle with it: No ſubmiſſion to ſuch a departing, I mean, no ſubmiſſion that ſitteth down with it, and is not careful how it be. Now this time calleth you to ſuch an exerciſe. The Lord ſeemeth to be angry with us, there is a ſtrong cloud over the Land, and like to pour down upon us, the Lord is drawing a ſword again, and beginning now to lay on: Many threatnings would not put us to ſupplication; Now what will the laying on of the rod do? If the former dayes be returning wherein ye ſaw much ſorrow, Is it not then high time for the Lords remembrancers, and for the Lords children to wreſtle with God. As Eſau was coming on Jacob, ſo hath God armed men, and ſuch deſperate men, as he hath made a rod to us before. If we be twice beaten with it, it is very juſt, for before we did not ſeek in to him who ſmote us. You would know this, that the Lord is but ſeeking imployment, and if ye would deal with him, ye may make advantage of the preſent and future calamities. And look to this laying hold on him: This is the chief thing ye ſhould now heed. It is God himſelf that ſhould be your principal object. Praying ſhould be a laying hold on God, it ſhould meet with himſelf. For the moſt part in the time of proſperity, we cannot meet with God ſinglely, we have ſo much to do with creatures, we keep tryſts ſo punctually with them, ſo that we cannot keep with God:: We have ſo many things in our affections and thoughts, that God cannot get place, he cannot get us at leiſure for the throng of our buſineſs: we loſs God by catching at ſhadows. Well then, we are called in ſuch a time of difficulty to come in to God himſelf. to draw by the vail of Ordinances, that we may have Communion with God himſelf. And this is right praying when the ſoul getteth ſuch immediate acceſs to God, as it were, to handle him, and ſee him, and taſte him, to exerciſe its ſenſes on him. Ordinances have been of a long time a covering of his face, and he uſeth not now to unvail himſelf in the Sanctuary, and let us ſee his glory: God is departed from preaching and praying, and the ſolemn meeting, ſo that we meet not with God, we lay hold on a ſhadow of an outward Ordinance but not on God himſelf. Therefore Chriſtians make advantage of this time, you may be brought to want Ordinances, then lay hold on himſelf, who is the ſubſtance and marrow of them: you may be denuded of outward comforts and accommodation here, then lay hold on himſelf in much prayer. If affliction would blow away the cloud on his face, or would ſcatter our idols from us, and make us ſingle alone with God, as Jacob was, it were well ſent.
Secondly, Your exerciſe ſhould be to take hold on God by faith. And firſt ye would make peace with God, be much in direct acts of apprehending God himſelf in Jeſus Chriſt. And this is according as ye take up your ſelves in your own miſery and n…c…ſſity. Do but travel continually between your own miſery and ſomething anſwerable in God.
The firſt thing we would have you do now when God frowns upon us, find out your own loſt condition, and how great ſtrangers you have be…n to him, even when ye have app…oached in many O…dinances: And find a neceſſity of making peace with God and atonement. Now from this, lay hold on Chriſt as the hope ſet before you, look upon that in him which will anſwer all your nec…ſſities, and be ſuitable to them. It is not matters of outward lot that ſhould go neareſt your heart: Let the world go where it will, that which concerneth you moſt in ſuch a time, is the ſecuring your ſoul: for if ye loſs it what gain you? What keep you? Your houſes and lands and lives may be in hazard: Nay, but one thing is more worth then all theſe, and in more hazard. Begin at ſpiritual things, and ask how matters ſtand between God and thee.
Secondly, Not only would ye be much in immediat application unto Jeſus Chriſt, but ye would ſo take hold of him, as ye may be ſure ye have him. Make peace, and know that ye have made it, and then ſhall ye be kept in perfect peace. You would never reſt until you can on ſolid grounds anſwer the queſtion. And this duty is called for from you at ſuch a time, for the juſt ſhall live by faith, in a troubleſome time, Hab. 2. 4. And as ye ought to keep and hold faſt confidence, and not caſt it away in ſuch a time, ſo ſhould ye all ſeek after it: Do not only reſt in this, I know not but I may belong to Chriſt, I dar not ſay againſt it. O no Chriſtians, you ſhould have poſitive clear grounds of aſſurance. I am his, and he is mine. I know that my Redeemer liveth. God is my portion. And if ye conclude this ſolidly, I defy all the world to ſhake and trouble your peace: this is perfect peace, peace, peace, double peace. How can you chooſe but be ſhaken at every blaſt of temptation, when you are not thus ſolidly grounded, when you hold not at your Anchor.
And Thirdly, Having thus laid hold on Chriſt, as your own, lay hold on all in him as yours, and for your uſe. Whatever difficulty the preſent time, or your own condition afford, ſearch but as much in God, as may counterballance it. Anſwer all objections, from his Mercy, Goodneſſe, Power, Wiſdom, Unchangableneſs: And this ſhall be more nor the trouble: God himſelf laid hold upon, and made ours, is more nor removing a temporal Calamitv. It is an eternal weight, to weigh down all Croſſes and Diſapointments. For what can preſent things be? Is there not in the favour of his countenance, that which may drown them in Oblivion? Are ye like to ſink here? Is not God a ſure Anchor to hold by? And if you do not this, your trouble is nothing in reſpect of the danger of your Soul, Secure and looſe lying out of God, not putting this matter to a full poynt, is worſe nor all your outward fading. Therefore we exhort you in the Lords Name, to fly in to this Name of the Lord, as a ſtrong tower to run to and be ſafe. When the Lord ſeemeth now to be angry with us, run not away from him, though he ſhould yet cloath himſelf with vengeance as a Garment.
But Firſt, O ye poor people who have never asked this Queſtion, whether have I any Intereſt in Jeſus? Ask it now, and reſolve it in time. If trouble come on, if ſcattering and deſolation come on, and our Land fade as a Leaf, certainly the Lords anger will drive you away. What will ye do in the time of his Indignation? All of you put this to the tryal, how matters ſtand between God and you?
And Secondly, if ye find all wrong, do not ſink in diſcouragement; All may be amended, while it is ſeen wrong in time. Nay, God taketh away outward Accomodation, to make you more ſerious in this. And it is the very voice of Rods, every one fly in to your hold, every one make peace with me. You may take hold and do it feckfully.
Thirdly, You who have fled to Jeſus, take more hold of him, you are called alſo to renew your Faith, and begin again: Make peace with God, let your confidence be kept faſt, and thus ſhall ye be immoveable, becauſe he changeth not. God will not go from you if ye believe, hold him by Faith. Chriſt could not do great things in Galilee, becauſe of their unbelief, and ſo be departed from them. As unbelief maketh an evil heart, to depart from the God of all Life and Conſolation: So doth it make Go… depart from us. But Faith caſteth a knot upo… him (to ſpeak with reverence) it faſteneth hi… by his own Word and Promiſe, and he cannot go by it. It is a violent hand laid o… God. I will not let thee go till thou bleſ… me.
Fourthly, Faith and Prayer, or holding o… God, by believing in him, and much imploying him, needeth much ſtirring up unto, and awaking. That ſtirreth up himſelf to take hold o… thee. Security is the moth of both theſe, and eateth out the life of Faith and Supplication: It maketh Prayer ſo coldrife, that it it canno… prevail, and Faith ſo weake, that it cannot uſ… violence. F…ſt, ſecurity apprehendeth no evil no need. A ſecure condition is a dream, that one is eating, and yet his Soul is empty. Loo… how the people of Laiſh were quiet and ſecure apprehending no evil; Deſtruction cometh then on as an armed man. Always, it is much neceſſity that adminiſters fewel to a mans Faith, and Supplication. David, Pſal. 30. 7. I ſai… in my proſperity, I ſhall not be moved. Nay, but many ſay in adverſity, and cry peace, peace, where no peace is. Security pleadeth innocency, and then believeth immunity. I am innocent, therefore ſhall his anger turn away, Jer. 2. 35. Security applyeth not ſin, and ſo refuſeth the curſe of ſin, and wages of it. And thus is a man in his own eyes, a lord, and then he will come no more to God, Jer. 2. 31. It is almoſt impoſſible to awake men by general Judgments, …o apprehend perſonal danger, and men never ſtirr out of their neſt, till it be on fire. We can behold, or hear of our neighbours ſpoyling, and violence done to them, but till the voice of a cry be heard in our own Streets and Fields, no body will take the Judgement to themſelves. It is well ſaid, that which is ſpoken to all, is ſpoken to none, ſo what is done to all in generall, is done to hone. The voice of a general Rod, ſpeaketh not particularly, and maketh not men apprehenſive of ſad things, and thus men are not preſſed unto prayer, are not put out of themſelves; It is onelyonly neceſſity that ſapps the roots of it, and makes it green. Secondly, Security is lazy and not active, putteth not forth its hand to work, and ſo dieth a beggar, for, onelyonly the hand of the diligent maketh rich. Laying hold on God is a duty that requireth much ſpirit in it: Men do not grip things well in their ſlumbering. There is no Duty that needeth ſo ſpiritual and lively Principles. If a man do not put on ſuch a peece of reſolution and edge upon him, he cannot come to the wreſtling of Prayer, and violence of Faith. Although the exerciſe and acting of Grace dependeth more upon the Spirit of God, his preſent Influence, then upon the Soul of man, yet this is the way the Lord communicateth his Influence, by ſtirring up and exciting the Creature to its duty, as if it could do it alone. Grace is one thing, and the ſtirring up of it is another thing: For when we ly by and ſleep over our time, and go not about t… matter ſo ſeriouſly, as it were life a… death, it is but a weak hold we can take… God. According to the meaſure of a m… apprehending neceſſity, and according the meaſure of his ſeriouſneſs in theſe thin… ſo will the hand of Faith grip, and lay ho… with more or leſſe violence. As a m… drowning, will be put from ſleeping, a… when one is in extreem hazard, all his ſtreng… will unite together in one, to do that whi… at any ordinary time it could not do, ſo oug… it to be here. A Chriſtian aſſaulted wi… many temptations, ſhould unite his ſtreng… and try the yondmoſt. O but your who… ſpirits would run together, to the ſaving … your ſelf, if ye were very apprehenſive of neceſſity. The exerciſe of Faith is a dead gri… that cannot part with what it grippet… Therefore firſt, we muſt ſay to you, it is … ſo eaſy a thing as you believe, to lay hold … God, there muſt be ſtirring up to it. A… when the Lord ſpeaketh of our ſtirring our ſelves, certainly he meaneth this like waye… that he muſt ſtirr us, ere we ſtirr our ſelve…. Secondly, above all be afraid of a ſecure condition: It is the enemy of Communio… with God and ſpiritual Life; therefore look about you, and apprehend more your neceſſity, and then give no reſt and quietneſs to your ſelf, till you have imployed and engaged him; Be as men flying, to lay hold on the refuge ſet before you. Thirdly, It muſt be a time of little acceſſe to God, and little Faith, when we are all ſecure, and no body goeth about Religion as their work and buſineſs. We allow our ſelf in it. Therefore we do exhort you firſt, to purpoſe this as your end to aim at, and purpoſe by Gods Grace to take more hold of God. There is little minding of Duty, and that maketh little doing of it: Once ingage your hearts to a love and deſire of more of this, come to a point of reſolution. I muſt know him more, and truſt more in him, be more acquant with him. And Secondly, Put your ſelf in the way of Duty. It is God that only can ſtirr you up, or apply your hearts to the uſing of violence to God: But ye would be found in the outward means much, and in theſe ways God will meet with you, if you wait on him in them.
For thou haſt bid thy face from us] Here is the greateſt plague, a ſpiritual plague. The laſt Verſe was but the beginning of ſorrows, We all do fade, &c. But lo, here the accompliſhnent of Miſery, God hiding his face, and conſuming them in the hand of their ſins. Firſt, The Lords hiding of his Face, and giving up a people to melt away in their ſins, puniſhing with judicial blindneſs and ſecurity, is the worſt Judgment, it filleth the Cup full. This complaint goeth on ſtill worſe. And certainly, it is worſe, nor their fading as a leaf, and exile out of their Land. It is not without reaſon, that great troubles and afflictions are ſo expreſſed, thou hid thy face. As David ſaid, thou hidſt thy face and I was troubled; importing as much, as it … not trouble that doth trouble, but Gods hideing of his Face that maketh trouble troubl… It is in ſo far trouble, as it is a ſign of his diſpleaſure, and as the frowns of his Countenance are upon it. Therefore, the Sain… aggravating their Affliction ſay, thou hide… thy face. You know the face is the plac… wherinto either kindneſs, or unkindneſs appeareth. The Lords Countenance, or Face is a refreſhful ſweet manifeſtation of himſelf to a Soul; It is the Lord uſing familiarity with a ſpirit, and this made David more glad nor Corn and Wine. Now the hideing of the Face, the withdrawing of his Countenance is, when the Lord in his Diſpenſation and dealing doth withhold the manifeſtation of himſelf, either in life or conſolation: When he covereth himſelf with Clouds round about, that neither can a ſoul ſee in to the backſide of it, into his own warm heart, nor can the Sun-beames ſhine thorow, to quicken and refreſh the ſoul. The Lord draweth over his Face, a Vail of a croſſing diſpenſation or ſuch like.
There is a deſertion of the ſoul in the point of life and ſpiritual action, and there is a deſertion in regard of conſolation. The varieties of the Lords deſertions run upon theſe two. As a Chriſtians life is action or conſolation, and the Lords influence is either quickening or comforting, ſo his withdrawing is either a prejudice to the one or the other. Sometimes he goeth mourning all the day, nay, but he is ſick of love: Sometime he is a bottle dryed in the ſmoak, and his moiſture dried up. The Chriſtians conſolation may be ſubſtracted, and his life abide, but he cannot have ſpiritual conſolation, if he be not lively. This life is more ſubſtantial, comfort is more refreſhful; life is more ſolid, comfort ſweet, that is true growing …olid meat, …his but ſawce to eat it with.
The hiding here meant is certainly a ſpiritual puniſhment. The Lord denying unto this people grace to underſtand the voice of the rod, he appearing as a party againſt them, leaving them to their own carnal and lazie temper, and thus they lay ſtill under Gods diſpleaſure. Now there is nothing like this, firſt, becauſe it is a ſpiritual puniſhment, and eſtates are not to be valued and laid in the ballance with the ſoul. Albeit men are become ſo brutiſh as to abaſe their ſouls, and proſtitute them to any thing, yet all a man hath, is not conſiderable to it. Secondly, It is a more excellent thing is removed by it, In his favour is life: all felicity and happineſs is in Gods countenance. If a man have not this, what hath he elſe? Loſſes are according as the thing is. Nay, but here is more, My Lord is taken from me, my God hath forgotten me. And indeed, if mans true happineſs be in communion with God, certainly, any interruption coming in muſt be ſad, and make a man more miſerable then the world knoweth. There is a greater emphaſis in that word. Thou haſt bid thy face, then if he had ſaid, All the world hideth their face and maketh a ſcorn o… us:
Therefore firſt, know, what is the worſ… thing of the times. Many of you think ſword and peſtilence, and the burdens of the time, the worſt things, and if you were now to complain, the ſaddeſt complaint would be, Affliction is laid on our loins. But know this, if your Cities were deſolate, if your Land were made a wilderneſs, and we captives in another Land, there is yet a worſe thing then all theſe, and think you not this ſtrange? Nay, I ſay, there is ſomething worſe already in us, that we know not of, and it is this, Make the hearts of this people hard, A ſpirit of ſlumber and deadneſs from the Lord upon the Land: There are multitudes he will never ſhew his face unto; it is ſtill vailed from them, and they know him not. Ye that think all were well, if ye had peace and proſperity, and know no hiding of Gods countenance, no anger but when he ſtriketh, certainly you know not what his countenance is, by all theſe things men neither know love nor hatred. Secondly, Whatever calamity come upon you outwardly, deprecat moſt ſpiritual plagues, and Gods deſerting. If you have Gods countenance, it may make you glad in much ſadneſs. You would be moſt careful leſt any partition-wall come in, leſt his countenance change on you, if you grieve his ſpirit and break his heart. Seek to have his face to ſhine, and this ſhall be a Sun with healing under his wings. O but Chriſts
countenance is comely, when it is ſeen without clouds; but ofte… it is overclouded with much provocation.
Secondly, The Lords hiding of his face hath influence on the temper of ſpirits, and diſpoſition in duties. The truth is in general, In him we live, and move, and …ave our beeing: And more eſpecially, in many things that is ſpiritual▪ we are of our ſelves able to do nothing. The creatures holineſs, and eſpecially our life, is but as the rayes that the Sun of Righteouſneſs ſendeth forth round about him, and if any thing come between, it evaniſheth: As the Marigold that openeth it… leaves when the Sun riſeth, and cloſeth when it goeth down again, ſo exactly doth our ſpiritual conſtitution follow the motions of his countenance, and depend wholly on them, Thou hides thy face, and they are troubled, Pſal. 104. 9. The Lord needeth no more but diſcountenance us, and we are gone.
Alwayes firſt, be more dependent creatures; we uſe to act as from habits within, without any ſubordination to the Lords grace without us, but we find that our ſufficiency is not of our ſelf. How often doth your ſpiritual condition change on you in an hour? You cannot command one thought of God, or act from any habit of grace even then when you can bring forth other gifts in exerciſe. Ye find that grace findeth more difficulties, moe interruptions, therefore learn to attend the changes and motions of his countenance.
Secondly, When you find your heart dead, and you concluded under an impoſſibility of taking hold on God in a lively manner, then I pray you, look unto the Lords ſuſpending of his influence, and let your whole endeavours be at the Throne of Grace to help it: It will not be vour own provoking of your ſelf to your duty, but you muſt put your ſelf upon God, that he may cauſe his face to ſhine.
Thirdly, Though the Lords hiding his face be often a cauſe of our deadneſs, and his deſertion maketh all to wither, yet we have often a culpable hand in it: And he hides his …ce, being provoked ſo to do. One thing we may mention; Grieving of the Holy Ghoſt whereby we are ſealed, quenching the motions of the Spirit, maketh the Spirit cover his face with a vail, and hide it. There is here ordinarily a reciprocal or mutual influence. Our grieving him, makes him withdraw his countenance, and his withdrawing his countenance, maketh us to wither and grow barren.
Fourthly, The moſt ſure and infallible token of the Lords hiding his face, is ſecurity, and a ſpirit of deadneſs and lazineſs; when folk go about duties dreaming, and do all, as it were, thorow their ſleep. Therefore we may conclude ſad things on this Land, that the Lord hideth his face from us. And therefore ariſe and do not ſettle and quiet your ſelves in ſuch a condition: The Lord is angry, needeth any more be ſaid? No more needeth to kind children: but the rod muſt follow this to make anger ſenſible.
FINIS.
End of the text · Hugh Binning, Heart Humiliation (1676)