Heart Humiliation, Sermon 3
SERMON III.
Deuter. 32. 4, 5.
He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are Judgement: a God of truth, and without iniquity, Juſt and Right is he. 5. They have corrupted themſelves, their ſpot is not the ſpot of his Children, they are a perverſe and crooked generation.
ALL his wayes are Judgement, both the wayes of his Commandments and the ways of his Providence, both his Word which he hath given as a Lanthorn to mens paths, and his Works among men. And this were the bleſſedneſſe of men, to be found both walking in his wayes, and waiting on him in his wayes, having reſpect to all his Commandments, and reſpect to himſelf in all his Works: We all know in general that he doth all well, …nd that all his Comandments are Holy and Juſt; …ay, but our practice and affections belie our knowledge, and for the moſt part, we ſtand croſſe in our humours and affections, and converſation both to his Word and Providence, and this is our miſery; Great peace have they that love thy Law. VVhat peace then can keep that heart and mind, that is dayly at variance with his Statuts and Judgements? when the heart would wiſh ſuch a Command were not, when it is an eye ſore to look upon it. Bleſſed are the meek, it is good for a man, both quietly to wait and hope and keep ſilence. How then muſt that ſpirit be miſerable, that ſtands croſſe unto Gods Diſpenſations, and would limit the Holy One? Do not often our hearts ſay, I do well to be angry, why is it thus with me? But, who hath hardened himſelf againſt him and proſpered? his counſel muſt ſtand; and you may vex your ſelf, and diſquiet your ſoul in the mean time by impatience, but you cannot by your thought add one cubit to your ſtature, you may make your caſe worſe nor Providence hath made it, but you cannot make it better by ſo doing; ſo that at length, you muſt bow to him or be broken; Oh then that this were engraven on our hearts with the point of a Diamond! All his wayes are Judgement, that ye might be overcome with the equity of his Command and Diſpenſation, and your heart and tongue might not move againſt them. It was enough of old with the Saints, It is the Lord, let him do what ſeems good in h…s eyes, Gods Soveraignty alone pondered, may ſtop our mouth, but if ye withal conſider, it is perfect Equity that rules all, it is Divin… Wiſdome tha… is the ſquare of his Works, the… how ought we to ſtoop chearfully unto them One thing ye would remember, his wayes and paths are Judgement, and if ye judge aright of him, ye muſt judge his Way and not his ſingle Footſteps; ye will not diſcern Equity and Judgement in one ſtep or two, but conſider his Way, joyn adverſity with proſperity, humbleing with exalting, take along the Threed of his Providence, and one part ſhall help you to underſtand another. There is reaſon in all, but the reaſon is not viſible to us in ſo ſmall parts of his Way and Work:
A God of Truth] Strange it is that his Majeſty is pleaſed to cloath himſelf with ſo many Titles and Names for us. He conſiders what our neceſſity is, and accordingly expreſſes his own Name. I think nothing doth more hold forth the unbelief of men and Atheiſm of our hearts, nor the many ſeveral Titles God takes in Scripture; There is a neceſſity of a multitude of them to make us take up God, becauſe we ſtaying upon a general notion of God, rather frame in our imaginations an Idol then the true God. As there is nothing doth more lively repreſent the unbelief of our hearts, then the multitude of Promiſes: Men that conſider ſuch frequent repetitions of one thing in Scripture, ſo many diverſe expreſſions of one God, may retire into their own hearts, and find the cauſe of it, even the neceſſity of it; But while we look ſo ſlightly on theſe, we muſt judge it ſuperfluous and vain. Needed there any more to be ſaid, but I am your God, I am God, if our ſpirits were not ſo far degenerated unto Atheiſm and unbelief. Certainly that word Jehovah holds forth more to Angels then all the inculcated Names and Titles of God to us; becauſe we are dull and ſlow of heart. Therefore wonder at theſe two when ye read the Scriptures; Gods Condeſcendency to us, and our Atheiſm and Unbelief of him; they are both myſteries and exceeding broad. There is not a Name of God but it gives us a Name, and that of reproach and diſhonour; ſo that for every one, ſome evil may be written down; and it is to this purpoſe, Moſes draws them out in length, that in the Glaſſe of his glorious Name, the people might behold their own ugly face. This Name is clear, He is a God of Truth, not only a true God, but Truth it ſelf; to note his Excellency and Eminency in it. It is Chriſts Name, I am the Truth, the ſubſtantial Truth, in whom all the Promiſes are Truth, are Yea and Amen. His Truth is his Faithfulneſſe in performing his Promiſes, and doing what his Mouth hath ſpoken: And this is eſtabliſhed in the very Heavens, Pſal. 89. 2. His everlaſting purpoſe is in Heaven where he dwells; And if any man can aſcend up to Heaven, if any creature can break through the Clouds, then may his Truth be ſhaken. His Word comes down among men; Nay, but the foundation of it is in Heaven, and there is his Purpoſe eſtabliſhed; and therefore, there is nothing done in time can impare or hinder it. Ye think this World very ſure, the Earth hangs unmoveable, though it hang upon nothing; All the tumults, confuſions and reels hath been in the World, have never moved it to the one ſide. Heaven goeth about in one Tenure perpetually, keeping ſtill the ſame diſtance. Nay, but his Truth is more eſtabliſhed then ſo. Heaven and Earth depends but upon a word of Command, he hath ſaid, let it be ſo, and ſo it is. Nay, but his Word is more eſtabliſhed. of it ſaith Chriſt One jot or title of it cannot fail, though Heaven and earth ſhould fail. He may change his Commands as he pleaſes, but he may not change his Promiſe, this puts an obligation on him, as he is Faithful and true to perform it; and when an Oath is ſuperadded, O! how immutable are theſe two? When he promiſes in his Truth and ſwears in his Holineſſe. Is there any power in Heaven and Earth can break that double cord? Matth. 5. 18. Heb. 6, 18. There is no name of God but it is comfortable to ſome, and as terrible to others. What comfort is it to a godly man that truſts in his Word, He is a God of truth? An honeſt mans word is much, his oath is more. What ſhall his Word be who is a God of Truth? Who, though all men ſhould be liars, yet God is true. Ye who have ventured your Souls on his Word, ye have an unſpeakable advantage, his truth endures for ever, and it is eſtabliſhed in the Heavens, the ground of it is without beginning, the end of it without end. Ye are more ſure then the frame of Heaven and Earth, for all theſe ſhall wax old as a garment. We ſpeak of a naked word of truth; Indeed it is no naked word that is Gods Word; His Works of Providence, and his Diſpenſation to yow, is a naked and bare foundation, nay, a ſandy foundation, and ye who lean ſo much to them, is it any wonder, ye ſo often ſhak and waver? All other grounds beſide the Word, are uncertain, unſtable, this only endures for ever; The creatures goodneſſe and perfection is but as the Graſſe and the Flour of the Field; Venture not much on your diſpoſitions and frames, thou knows not what a day may bring forth, but his Truth is to all generations, and it is well tryed, as Gold ſeven times; all generations have tryed it and found it better then pure Gold. His Diſpenſations are arbitrary, no rule to you; he loveth to declare his Soveraignty here, and to expatiat in the creatures ſight, beyond its conceiving; but he hath limited himſelf in his Word, and come down to us, and laid bonds on himſelf. Will he then unty them for us? Give him liberty where he loves it; take him bound where he binds himſelf. How may God expoſtulate with this generation, as theſe of little faith? How long ſhall I be with you ſaith Chriſt? How long will Chriſtians tempt the Lord in ſeeking ſigns? And will not reſt upon his only Word and Promiſes? O Adulterous generation, how long ſhall I be with you and ye will not believe? Is it not righteouſneſſe in him, either to give you no ſigne at all, or to give you a ſigne darker then the thing it ſelf, as he did to the Phariſees. Ye will give credit to a mans word, and will ye not believe Gods? An honeſt man will get more truſt of us, then the True and Living God; Shall he not be offended with this? We declare it unto you that he is Truth it ſelf, and will not fail in his promiſe; let that be your Caſtle and Refuge to enter into. Mercy and Truth are two ſweet companions to go along with you in your pilgrimage, David prayed for them, Pſal. 61. 7. O prepare thy mercy and truth to preſerve me; Who will not ly ſafe within theſe everlaſting Arms? what power can break through? And this he promiſed to himſelf, Pſal. 57. 3. God ſhall ſend them out, &c. Mercy made ſo many precious Promiſes, and Truth keeps them. Mercy is the Fountain and Sourſe of all our Conſolation, and Truth and Faithfulneſſe conveighs it to us, and keeps it for us; It is theſe two that go before his Face, when he ſits on a Throne of Majeſty and makes himſelf acceſſible to ſinners, Pſal. 89. 14. and ſo they are the path way he walks in towards thoſe who ſeek him, Pſal. 25. 10.
But this ſweet and Precious Name, that is as Oyntment poured forth to theſe who love him; how doth it ſmell of death to thoſe who walk contrair to him? He is a God of Truth, to execute his Threatnings on thoſe who diſpiſe his Commands, and though ye flatter your ſelves in your own eyes, and cry peace peace, even though ye walk in the imagination … your heart; yet certainly he is a God of Truth. I pray you read that ſad and weighty word, that will be like a Milſtone about many mens necks, to ſink them in Hell, Deut. 29. 20, 21: Ye who add drunkenneſs to thriſt; whoſe rule of walking is your own luſt, and whatſoever pleaſeth you without reſpect of his Commands, and yet flatter your ſelves with a dream of peace, know this for a truth, the Lord will not ſpare thee, he that made thee will not have mercy on thee, his jealouſie will ſmoak againſt thee, and all the eurſes written in this Book ſhall ly upon thee, and thy name ſhall be blotted out from under Heaven. It was unbelief of Gods Threatning, that firſt ruined man, … is this ſtill that keeps ſo many from the remedy, and makes their miſery irrecoverable. The Serpent brought them to this queſtion, Hath God ſaid ye ſhall die? And then preſently the queſtion intertained becometh a concluſion, ye ſhall not ſurely die. Thus ye ſee how the lyar, from the beginning, was contrair to the God of Truth: And he murdered us by lying of that God of Truth: And it is the ſame that ſhuts out all hope of remedy. Ye do not as yet believe and conſider that curſe that was pronounced againſt Adam, but is now alſo inflicted upon us; Therefore there is no ſolid belief can be of the promiſes of the Goſpel: And ye who think ye believe the Goſpel, do but indeed fancy it, except ye have conſidered the true curſe of God on all fleſh. But if any man have ſet to his ſeal that God is true in his Threatning, and ſubſcribed unto the Law; Then I beſeech you add not the unbelief of the Goſpel unto your former diſobedience. He is a God of truth, in Promiſes and Threatnings. It is ſtrange how untoward and froward we are, a perverſe generation, we do not believe his Threatnings, but fancie we receive his Promiſes, or elſe believeing his Threatnings, we queſtion his Promiſes. But know this for a truth, his laſt Word is more weighty, and the unbelief of it is moſt dangerous. Ye have not keeped his Commands, and ſo the curſe is come upon you, do ye believe that? If ye do, then the Goſpel ſpeakes unto you, The God of Truth hath one word more, He that believes ſhall be ſaved, notwithſtanding of all his breaking of the Law; if ye do not ſet your Seal to this alſo, then ye ſay he is not a God of Truth, ye ſay he is a liar. And as for you who have committed your Souls to him, as to a faithful keeper, and acquieſced unto his Word of Promiſe for Salvation, think how unſutable it is, for you to diſtruſt him in other leſſer things. Ye have the promiſe of this life, whoever hath the Promiſes of the life to come. Therefore do not make him a liar in theſe, He is a God of Truth, and will let you want no good thing. Say to the righteous it ſhall he well with him, what ever be; Let Heaven and Earth mix through other, yet ye may be as Mount Sion unmoved in the midſt of many floods, becauſe of the Promiſes.
Without iniquity: who doubts of that, ſay ye? What needs this be added, who charges him with iniquity or ſin? Nay, but ſtay and conſider, and you ſhall find great weight in this. It is true none dare charge him openly, or ſpeak in expreſſe terms againſt his Holineſſe, yet if we judge of our own and others practices and diſpoſitions, as the Lord uſeth to conſtruct of them; if we reſolve our murmurings, impatience, ſelf-abſolutions and excuſes to hold off convictions, into plain language, if we would tranſlate them into a Scripture-ſtyle, certainly it will be found, that the moſt part of men, if not all, uſe to impute iniquity to God, and accuſe him rather, then take with accuſations laid againſt themſelves. And therefore the Lord uſeth to go to Law with his people, he who is the Judge of the world, that cannot do unrighteouſly, he who is the potter, and we all the clay, yet he ſo far condeſcends to us for convincing us, as ſometimes to refer the controverſie between him and his people, to other creatures, as Micah 6. 12. He calls the mountains and the foundations of the earth to judge between him and his people, and ſometimes he appeals unto their own conſciences and is content though judge, to ſtand and be judged by theſe who were guilty, as verſ. 3, and Jer. 2. verſ. 5, and 31. All this ſuppoſes that when the Lord would endeavour to convince them of iniquity, they did rather recriminat and took not with their own faults. This is a truth generally acknowledged by all. He who is the judge of the world doth no iniquity, But O! that ye conſidered it, till the meditation of it were engraven on your Spirits, the ſeal of Gods holineſſe, that ye might fear before him, and never call him to accompt for his matters. Who can ſay I have purged my heart from iniquity? Among men the holieſt are defiled with it, and ſo are all their actions. But here is one that ye may give him an implicit faith (ſo to ſpeak) he is a God of truth, and can ſpeak no lie, be does no iniquity, and cannot do wrong to any man. Would there be ſo much impatience amongſt you, and fretting againſt his diſpenſations, if ye believed this ſolidly? Would ye repine againſt his holy and juſt wayes, were it not to charge God with iniquity? Your murmuring and grudging at his diſpenſations is with child of blaſphemies, and he who can ſearch the reins ſees it▪ and conſtructs ſo of it: You ſay by interpretation, that if ye had the government of your own matters, or of Kingdoms, ye would order them better then he doth; how difficult a thing is it to perſwade men to take with their own iniquity? O how many excuſes and pretences, how many extenuations are uſed that this conviction may not pierce deeply? But all this ſpeaks ſo much blaſphemy, that iniquity is in God. Ye cannot take with your own iniquities, but ye charge his Majeſty with iniquity.
Juſt and right is he:] Is this any new thing, was it not ſaid already, that he is without iniquity, and his wayes judgement? But alas, how ignorant are we of God, and ſlow of heart to conceive him as he is, therefore is there line upon line, and precept upon precept, and name upon name, if it be poſſible that at length we may apprehend God as he is: Alas, our knowledge is but ignorance, our light darkneſſe, while it is ſhut up in the corner of our mind, and ſhines not into the heart, and hath no influence on our practice. And the truth is, the belief of divine truths is almoſt no more but a not contradicting them, we do not ſeriouſly think of them as either to conſent to them, or deny them. Is there any conſideration amongſt us now of Gods juſtice and righteouſneſſe, though it be frequently ſpoken of? And what advantage ſhall ye have if ye do not conſider them? O how hard is it to perſwade mens hearts of this, that God is juſt, and will by no means acquit the guilty, there are ſo many deluſions drunk in in mens hearts, contrary to his truth; Let no man deceive you, be not deceived with vain words, know ye not, ſaith our Apoſtle, theſe are ſtrange prefaces, would ye not think the point of truth ſubtile, that there needed ſo much prefacing unto, and yet what is it? even that which all men grant, Gods wrath comes on the children of diſobedience, but alas, few men conſider but deceive themſelves with dreams of eſcaping it, though men know it, yet they know it not, for they walk as if they knew no ſuch thing.
Alwayes however this is of little moment to affect our ſpirits now, yet in the day that God ſhall ſet your iniquities before your face, and ſet his juſtice alſo before your eyes, O how ſad and ſerious a thing will it be then? If theſe two verſes were ingraven on our hearts, Gods juſtice and holineſſe, our corruption and vileneſſe, I think there would be other thoughts among us then there are.