The Redeemed Captive Returning to Zion, Sermon
Signal favours to be Publiſh'd, for the Praiſe of God the Giver.
Luke VIII. 39.
Return to thine own Houſe, and ſhew how great things God hath done unto thee.—
THE Infinitely Wiſe diſpoſer of all things, who aims at His own Glory, in the Governing of Rational Creatures, doth ſometimes bring Perſons into the depths of diſtreſs, and then magnify his Power & Grace in raiſing them up out of their afflictions: and in many reſpects by ſuch things, He has a deſign of advancing His own Honour & Glory in the World. We find in the context, a Perſon in a very doleful diſtreſs'd condition: he ſeems to be forſaken of God, and made a Poſſeſſion and dwelling Place of Evil Spirits, deprived of all humane comforts & delights, made to poſſeſs Sorrow and Pain to ſuch a degree, as to be a common Subject, or Theme of diſcourſe for all men to relate doleful things about. And afterward, God in very remarkable & wonderful works of Power and Mercy not only gives releaſe from his ſorrowful Poſſeſſion, but he is S…ting at the feet of Jeſus, cloathed, & in his … mind. Now this was done for the declarative and manifeſtative Glory & Honour of God. For when this man for whom ſuch great things had been done, Petitions Chriſt that he may abide with Him, to hear from Him, and Pay his reſpects to him; he receives commandment, to be glorifying the Power & Mercy of God, in declaring to others what great things God had done for him.
1. A Subject of great Mercy; or a perſon ſpoken of for whom God had done great things, beſtowed eminent Mercies.
2. A particular and ſpecial command from Chriſt, to be glorifying God in relating to others, what Mercies he had been the Subject of.
3. His obedience to the great command of Chriſt: he went and publiſhed the great things done for him by Chriſt; ſo that from the command of Chriſt, & his obedience to it, for which he is commended, you may obſerve this Doctrinal Concluſion.
DOCT. It well becomes thoſe who have had eminent Mercies, to be ſhewing to others what Great things GOD has done for them.
The holy Scriptures in many places confirm this Truth. See Exod. 12. 25, 26, 27. And it ſhall come to paſ…, when ye be came to the land, which the Lord will give you, according as he hath promiſed, that ye ſhall keep this ſervice. And it ſhall come to paſs, when your Children ſhall ſay unto you, What mean you by this ſervice? That ye ſhall ſay, It is the ſacrifice of the Lords Paſſover, who paſſed over the Houſes of the Children of Iſrael in Egypt, when he ſmote the Egyptians, & delivered our houſes. Exod. 13. 8, 10. And thou ſhalt ſhew thy ſon in that day, ſaying, This is done becauſe of that which the Lord did unto me, when I came forth out of Egypt. Thou ſhalt therefore keep this Ordinance in his ſeaſon from year to year. Pſal. 78. …, 4. Which we have heard and known, and our Fathers have told us; we will not hide them from their Children, ſhewing to the Generation to come the Praiſes of the Lord, and his Strength, & his wonderful works that he hath done. In the proſecution & handling of this Truth, Conſider,
1. They who have had Mercies, have had them from God. God is the beſtower and giver of all our good things: All our Mercies come to us by a Divine Providence, and ordering; not by caſualty and accident, neither are they of our own procuring and purchaſing, or others, ſo as to exclude the providential diſpoſing of God. 'Tis God who returns the Captivity of Zion, Pſal. 126. begin. When the Lord turned again the Captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream: Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with ſinging. Then ſaid they among the Heathen, the Lord hath done great things for them. The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad: turn again our Captivity O Lord. The very Heathen, acknowledge the good things beſtowed upon, and done for the Church, to be from God; and Gods own People acknowledge Him for the Mercies granted, and humbly ſupplicate Mercies from Him for the future. 'Tis God who gathers the out-caſts of Iſrael: 'tis He who takes away the Captives of the Mighty, the Prey of the terrible: Who contends with them that contend with us, & ſaves our Children. 'Tis God who diſperſeth and gathers again: Therefore the Pſalmiſt, Pſal. 103. begin. Calls upon his Soul to bleſs the Lord, and not to forget all his benefits; and ſaith, 'tis God who forgiveth all thy iniquities, who heal…th all thy diſcaſes: Who redeemeth thy life from deſtruction, who crowneth thee with loving kindneſs and tender mercies, &… Sometimes, God in a more immediate and extraordinary way and manner, confers bleſſings and mercies, ſometimes in a more ordinary and mediate way; but his Providence is to be acknowledged in all: not one ſingle Mercy comes to us, without a commiſſion from that God by whom our very Hairs are numbred.
2. It well becomes thoſe who have had eminent Mercies, to be ſhowing to others what great things God hath done for them. Therefore you find the holy Pſalmiſt calling upon others, to give a liſtning ear, whilſt he makes a Narration of the Salvations he had from God, Pſal. 66.16. Come and hear all you that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my Soul.
1ſt. Reaſon. Becauſe God aimed at the advancement of His Own Honour and Glory, in the giving and dealing out of theſe Mercies. God makes and diſpoſeth all things for His own Honour and Glory. All Works of Providence, are ſome way or other to advance the Honour & Glory of God in the World. The glory of His Power, Wiſdom, Mercy, Juſtice and Holineſs, are ſome way or other advanced in a declarative and manifeſtative way and manner. Now it well becomes us, to fall in with the deſign of God, and in an active manner to be giving Him Glory. That God deſigns to have Glory given to Him, is evident from, Pſal. 50. 15. And … upon m… in the day of trouble, I will deliver thee, and thou ſhalt glorify me. Exod. 7.5. And the Egyptians ſhall know that I am the Lord, when I ſtretch forth mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the Children of Iſrael from among them. God has a deſign to magnify His Power, Mercy and Covenant Faithfulneſs, in the eyes of the World.
2d. Reas. Becauſe God has given us direct precepts, and poſitive Commands, in this Way to be Glorifying of Him. God is our Lord and Law-giver, and He requires that among other ways of ſhowing forth His Praiſes, we do it by rehearſing His Praiſe worthy Acts, to the Children of Men. So that in Obedience to God, and anſwering that High & Noble end we were made for; its requiſite that in this way we glorify God. Its enough, that the great God who hath taken us into Covenant Relation to Himſelf, has enjoyned us, to ſhew forth His Praiſes in rehearſing to others the Salvations, and Favours we have been the Subjects of. The fore-mentioned Scriptures, with many others that might be enumerated, ſufficiently demonſtrate, that God calls for our thankful acknowledgments in this Way; and upon the account of this being ſo agreeable to the revealed and preceptive Will of God, the Pſalmiſt expreſſeth himſelf, as in Pſal. 145.4, 5, 6. One Generation ſhall praiſe thy works to another, and ſhall declare thy mighty acts. I will ſpeak of the glorious honour of thy Majeſty; and of thy wondrous works. And men ſhall ſpeak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatneſs. They ſhall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodneſs: and ſhall ſing of thy Righteouſneſs. Verſe 10, 11, 12. All thy works ſhall praiſe thee, O Lord; and thy Saints ſhall bleſs thee. They ſhall ſpeak of the glory of thy kingdom; and talk of thy power. To make known to the ſons of men his mighty acts … and the glorious majeſty of his kingdom.
3d. Reaſ. Becauſe hereby they will ſtir up others to bleſs God with them, and for them. A truly gracious Soul finds by experience, that he can do but a little in Glorifying God, finds how far he falls ſhort of the rule of duty, in ſo reaſonable a Service as Glorifying God. And being enlarged in deſires that the glory due to God might be given Him, doth call upon others to joy… with him in this Heavenly Service of Praiſing God; and therefore tells them what great things God has done. Pſal. 34. 2, 3, 4, 6. My ſoul ſhall make her boaſt in the Lord: the humble ſhall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his Name together. I ſought the Lord, and he heard me; and delivered me from all my fears. This poor man cryed, and the Lord heard him; and ſaved him out of all his troubles. When … told his Father in law Jethro, the great things … had done for Iſrael, he Glorifies God on their behalf, Exod. 18. 8. &c. And Moſes told his Father in … all that the Lord had done unto Pharaoh, and to the Egyptians for Iſraels ſake, and all the travel that had come upon them by the way, and how the Lord delivered them. And Jethro rejoyced for all the goodneſs which the Lord had done to Iſrael: whom he had delivered ou… of the hand of the Egyptians. And Jethro ſaid, Bleſſed … the Lord, who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Praraoh, who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods … for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly, he was above them. By this means thanks will be given to God by many: as many have been Praying to God for them, ſo many will be praiſing and bleſſing God with them and for them.
4th. Reaſ. Becauſe hereby they will oftentimes be adviſed and counſelled, how to improve ſuch Mercies to the Glory of God. We are conſcious to our ſelves of ſo much blindneſs, ignorance, and darkneſs, that we can't but own it a great thing to be in a way for the beſt counſel, what to do with our Mercies, and what and how to return to God for them. Now the publiſhing the great things done by God for us, put others in a capacity to be adviſing and telling of us, what temptations we may expect to meet with, and what will be needful on our part to avoid temptations, and how to over-come; they will be counſelling us, how to be in a way, of rendring to the Lord according to the benefits done unto us: what Duties God looks for the performance of, and directions how to do duty. In a word, we may be counſel'd how to order our whole Converſation, ſo as God may have Glory, and our good purpoſes of honouring and glorifying God with our Mercies, eſtabliſhed. Pr…. 20. 18. Every purpoſe is eſtabliſhed by counſel. When Moſes had told Jethro what great things God … done for Iſrael, he ſaith, Exod. 18, 19. Heathen … unto my voice, I will give thee counſel, and … with thee, &c.
5th. Reaſ. Becauſe hereby they will be inſtrumental to put others upon truſting God, making Him their hope and refuge in an Evil Day. Others will be excited, to a ſeeking refuge under the ſhadow of his Wings, Pſal. 44. beg. We have heard with our ears; O God, our fathers have told us, what work then didſt in their days, in the times of old. How thou didſt drive out the Heathen, &c. And then it is ſaid, Thou art my King, O God: command deliverances for Jacob. Thro' thee will we puſh down our enemies: through thy Name will we tread them under that riſe up againſt us. For I will not truſt in my bow, neither ſhall my ſword ſave me. In God we boaſt all the d…y l…g. Others that have heard, will ſay, ſuch and ſuch an one was thus exerciſed, and God appeared for them, and put ſongs of praiſe to the Lord into their mouths, we will commit our Caſe to God too; we will both hope and quietly wait for Gods Salvation too. Your telling others, how you have found God a Prayer-hearing God, will encourage them, Prayer-wiſe to be committing their diſtreſſed & difficult caſes to Him. What an honour to be inſtrumental to any Souls comfort, and Gods honour; agreeable to this is that, Pſal. 78. 5, 6, 7. Which he commanded our fathers… that they ſhould make them known to their Children. That the Generation to come might know them, even the Children which ſhould be born: who ſhould ariſe and declare them to their children: That they might ſet their hope … God, and not forget the works of God: but … his Commandments.
6th. Reaſ. Becauſe the Works of God towards them, have been very wonderful. The Pſalmiſt often ſpeaks of the Works of God as marvellous; they are wonderful if we conſider, how God Timed the Mercy; when their feet well nigh ſlipt, when they could ſee no way of eſcape; as with the Children of Iſrael at the Red-ſea. How very wonderful and marvellous was the work of God, in putting by the wicked purpoſe of H…man againſt Mordeca… and the Jews? If we conſider how God kept from falling, by making them paſs a right judgment on their ways and His ways, as Pſal. 73. Yea appearing to ſave them, when with Jonah they were ſaying. They were caſt out of Gods ſight. All refuge ſeemed to fail, none ſhewing any care for their ſoul; even then God made good his word on which he had cauſed them to hope, as Pſal. 142. per totum. The Works of God are marvellous, if we conſider the way and manner of uſhering in the mercy, the inſtrument… that were made uſe of, and how He diſappointed the counſels of the Crafty.
7th. Reaſ. Becauſe 'tis a good evidence, that they regarded and took notice of the Works of God in Mercy, and would not forget His wonderful works towards them. For hereby, they put others under advantages to put them in mind, what favours they have received from God.
USE. I. Of INSTRUCTION.
And,
Firſt, It informs us, that its very acceptable to God, for Chriſtians to entertain the report of the experiences of others, to excise their own … glorify God. For i… God make it a duty in the … receiver to report, it layes the hearer under an obligation, to ſet ſuch remarks upon the paſſages of Divine Providence to others, as may be uſeful to engage their hearts to Glorify God, for the favours and bleſſings He has beſtowed upon others. And therefore in obedience to Gods Command, that you may be under advantages to Glorify God; I will now make a report, of ſome of the great things God has done for thoſe, you have been putting up ſo many Prayers to God for. God has eminently been fulfilling that Word, Pſal. 106. 46. He made them alſo to be pitied, of all thoſe that carried them Captives.
God hath made ſuch whoſe Characters have been; that they were ſuch whoſe tender Mercies were Cruelties; ſuch from whom, one act of pity and compaſſion could ſcarce be expected, even ſuch who have delighted in cruelty; to pity & compaſſionate ſuch who were led into Captivity by them. Made them bear on their Arms, and carry on their Shoulders our Little Ones, unable to Travel. Feed their Priſoners with the beſt of their Proviſion: Yea, ſometimes pinch themſelves, as to their daily food, rather than their Captives. To pity them under Sickneſs, and afford all proper means for the reſtoration of their Health, or recovery from Lameneſs. Made Heathens bowels earn towards poor Infants expoſs'd to Death, ſo as to Work out their deliverance from fatal ſtrokes, by burdening of themſelves. Oh! let us adore the riches of the Grace of God, who in wrath rememb…rs Mercy, and doth not ſtir up all His wrath; and from hence be encouraged, when under convictions of Gods being angry with us, yet look to Him for Mercy.
God has upheld many poor Souls under all manner of diſadvantages, as to a getting of Knowledge, and kept them from falling, though crafty Adverſaries were under all advantages, and painful endeavours to ſeduce them. Being without Bibles, Miniſters, or Chriſtian Friends to confer with, daily harraſed with Temptations, and Tempters: Some threatned, ſome flattered, ſome ſhut up and confined in Monaſteryes, where no means were uneſſayed to gain them to change their Religion.
God has ſtrengthened to go through tedious Journeys, and renewed ſtrength, when they were even fainting in their Spirits▪ thinking it not poſſible to Travel Five Miles, and yet enabled to Travel at leaſt Forty in a day. Remarkably ordering ſeaſons, ſo as to be for their comfort in their Travels; cauſing a Moiſt Snow to fall on the Lake, only to ſuch a height as to make it eaſy to their Swoln and Wounded feet: Changing the Winds for their advantages, in petty Voyages in their tickliſh Cannoes.
They have found God a little Sanctuary to them, in the Land of Strangers; even there have found the Conſolations of God through Chriſt not to be ſmall; ſo that ſome of the moſt joyful and refreſhing favours from Heaven, have been given in to their Souls, when under all ſorts of outward afflictions.
They have found God a God hearing Prayers, when they have gone to Him with their moſt difficult caſes, preſerving them from falling; recovering theirs from falls; to a making void the counſels of Adverſaries, diſappointing of them in the things they dealt moſt Proudly in. God has brought His to a reſignation to His Will, and then appeared dealing out Mercies, as the very caſe did require.
God has Sanctified to ſome, their former Sabbath ſolemn attendances on Duties of Piety, Private as well as Publick; and a Religious Education to be an unanſwerable Objection, againſt ſuch who were zealous for the Traditions of Men, to a viſible Prophaning Gods Sabbaths. They durſt not embrace that Religion whoſe Principles as well as Practiſes, were ſo contrary to the Precepts of Gods holy Word. Oh! how ſhould Miniſters, and Parents be encouraged from hence to uſe their utmoſt care, that Gods Sabbaths may be duely Sanctified by all under their charge; and that they would be exemplary before others, in a due obſervance of Holy Time.
God has made the falls of ſome to Popery, a means for the recovery of others; and making thoſe things, by which the adverſary thought to encreaſe their numbers and proſelytes, to be occaſional of recovering ſuch who from their youth had been educated in the Popiſh way; having been taken Captives when young. Don't be diſcouraged and ſay, your Friends and Relations have (being Captivated when young) for a long time lived in Popery, and therefore no hopes of recovery; for God can make dry bones, very dry to live, and can in ways unthought of by you, both recover them after they have fallen, and return them again. The Adverſaries have ſometimes, pretended miracles for the confirmation of their Religion, that they might ſeduce to Popery; in fallacious ways cauſed reports that ſome Captives dyed Papiſts; that one appeared in Flames of Fire to bear a teſtimony againſt the Proteſtant Religion; but God has in his wiſe Providence, made known their falſhoods and lyes.
They have ſought to perſwade ſome, by Sums of Mony to change their Religion, offering honour and advancement to them at the ſame time; but God has enabled to reſiſt and hate ſuch allurements.
The reading the fourth Chapter of Deuteronomy, a means of recovering one from Popery.
God has made ſome with an heroical, yea with a right Chriſtian Courage to welcome Death. Oh let every one get ſuch a preparedneſs for DEATH, that a ſudden DEATH may not be a terror!
God has made ſome by the want of Sanctuary Mercies, to ſet an higher value upon the Ordinances of JESUS CHRIST. Oh learn to prize, and improve them, leſt God teach you by the briars and thorns of the Wilderneſs, the worth of them, and weep when you ſet down at the Rivers of Babylon.
God has ſtrengthened ſome to ſtand, when they have not only been threatned with all cruelties if they refuſed, but when the Hatchet has been lift up, with a threatning of ſpeedy death in caſe of refuſal. Oh let every one truſt in God, who is a ſeaſonable help and a preſent refuge!
INSTRUCTION, II.
How they are to blame, that do not regard and take notice of the Works of God, nor treaſure up the remembrance of them in their minds. How ſoon are mercies like to be forgotten; the Pſalmiſt ſays, Forget not all his Benefits. It was the great ſin of the Iſr…elites of old, that they ſoon forgat Gods wondrous works. The Holy God gave order, that his People ſhould Erect Stones of remembrance, that his Wonderful Works of Mercy to his People might not be forgotten; yea, commanded Parents to tell their Children, from Generation to Generation, what great things he had done for them. How are they then to blame that ſay, They bleſs God for their Mercies, and don't rehearſe the Praiſe▪ worthy Works of Divine Providence to others.
USE II.
To direct ſuch, who have received great and eminent Mercies from God, in this way of making known to others the wonders of mercy to them, to be praiſing God. It's one way very proper and agreeable to the revealed Will of God: You muſt watch againſt all vain Oſtentation.
USE III. Of EXHORTATION.
To all who have in a more peculiar way and manner, been caſting off the effects and fruits of Divine Bounty and Goodneſs, to be declaring what great things God has done for them.
Therefore,
1. Beware of all manner of Pride. Sometimes men can't declare the Great Works of God done for them, without making known their own weakneſs, and therefore are ſilent, and hold their peace, they had rather God ſhould loſe his Glory, then they any of their credit or eſteem. But the holy Pſalmiſt ſays, His feet had well nigh ſlipt; yea, that in his haſte he had ſaid, all men are liars; and that one day he ſhould ſurely periſh: takes ſhame to himſelf, that he might magnify the preventing and delivering grace and goodneſs of God. Sometimes mens Pride makes them ſo admire their own parts and contrivances, as to overlook the Works of Divine Providence; they ſacrifice to their own net, and burn incenſe to their own drag; and ſay they had ſo much Learning & Knowledge, that they could eaſily anſwer arguments to ſeduce them to Popery; and ſo don't ſee and acknowledge the goodneſs of God, in preſerving and keeping of them.
2. Beware of a ſtupid, ſenſeleſs, ſlothful Spirit. The works of God are ſought out of them that have pleaſure in them. Some won't be at the pains to recollect the paſſages of Divine Providence; won't commit them to writing, or to their memories, and therefore ſoon forget them; they never wiſely obſerve the heightning circumſtances of their Mercies.
Conſider, 3. How Heavenly an Employ & Service it is, to be Glorifying and Praiſing God. It will be one part of the work of Heaven, to be telling of the wonderful Works of God towards us. Begin ſuch an Heavenly Employ on Earth. Hereby you will alſo intereſt your ſelves in the Prayers of others; to have many Prayers going daily to God for you, how great a favour is it! Others hearing what Mercies you have had, will bear you upon their hearts when at a Throne of Grace, that you may ſuitably improve ſuch mercies.
The Glorifying God, is the greateſt and chiefeſt concern of gracious Souls; and the Glorifying of God here, is the way to be Glorifyed by, and with God for ever. The not Glorifying God is very diſpleaſing to Him, and a way to deprive our ſelves of the ſweet and comfort of our Mercies. God accounts forgetting of Mercies, a forgetting Himſelf.
FINIS.
End of the text · John Williams, The Redeemed Captive Returning to Zion (1707)