Gods Conduct of His Church Through the Wilderness, Text
God's Conduct of His Church With His Glorious Arm.
Iſaiah LXIII. 12.
That led them by the Right Hand of Moſes and Aaron, with his Glorious Arm, dividing the Water before them, to make Himſelf an Everlasting Name.
IT hath been an Ancient, Laudable, Celebrated Cuſtome, on our Anniverſary Elections, (formerly of Governours, but always of Aſſiſtants in Government) to Invocate the Divine Preſence, and Conſult the Sacred Oracles for Direction in ſo Weighty an Affair.
By the diſpoſe of Divine Providence, it hath fallen to my Allotment, and at the Pleaſure of thoſe Worthy and Honourable Gentlemen, the Repreſentatives of this Province, I find my ſelf expoſed, and have this task put upon me; which I am very ſenſible, might have been better performed and accepted by ſome other Perſon, better acquainted with the preſent circumſtances and ſtate of Affairs amongſt us.
But ſince it cannot be prevented, that I would crave, is only a candid Interpretation of what may be very plainly, but ſincerely offered; it not being preſumption, but obedience, that makes me comply in my preſent offerings, who have reaſon to account my ſelf the weakeſt & moſt unworthy of my Brethren that miniſter at the Altar.
That which I have to offer to this Great and Honourable, the General Aſſembly of this Province; and in the Audience of the Reverend Elders, and all good Chriſtians now Conven'd: Let it be ſome brief and ſuitable Reflections on the Divine Providence, in the Lords Conduct of his Church thro' the Wilderneſs of this World, or from one part of the Wilderneſs of this World to another.
This is admirably Exemplified in our Text, by the famous Inſtance of God's Conduct of Iſrael of Old (the only Church upon Earth, the National Church of the Jews) thro' the Red Sea; and into, and in the Wilderneſs by the Right hand of Moſes, with Gods Glorious Arm (for forty years together) to make himſelf an Everlaſting Name.
Which may be improved as a parallel Inſtance, and may put us upon a Reflection of Gods Conduct … People (our Fathers) over a far greater Sea (the vaſt Atlantick Ocean) into this American Deſart, this vaſt howling Wilderneſs; and his Conducting us here by faithful and excellent Guides and Governours, as it were by the Right hand of Moſes and Aaron, with his Glorious Arm, for more than twice Forty Years, whereby he hath made to himſelf an Everlaſting Name.
But leſt I ſhould in ipſo limine impingere, and forget the limits of time alotted; I muſt mind you, that our Text is a brief Compendium, or an Abridgement of that Famous Celebrated Hiſtory of Gods Conduct of his Church from Egypt thro' the Wilderneſs, and in the Wilderneſs: In which Conduct, four things are pointed out in our Text.
1. The Divine Power and Providence of God, figuratively ſet forth by the Metaphor of his Arm, his Glorious Arm; (who led them by the Right hand of Moſes with his Glorious Arm) the Arm of God in Scripture Language, denotes the Power of God: Brachium ponitur pro Robore, Fortitudine, Potentia.
2. The Inſtrument improved in this Glorious Conduct, ſcil. Moſes: Famous for his Preſervation in his Infancy, taken out of an Ark of Bulruſhes, in his Education in Ravennel, in the Court of Egypt, Exod. 6. 6, 15, 16. Deut. 4. 34. And alſo the Lords honouring him to be King of J…ſh…un, Captain General of the Tribes of Iſrael, to lead them by his Right hand, with Gods Glorious Arm, (that led them by the Right hand of Moſes, with his Glorious Arm) i. e. Gods Glorious Arm march'd gallantly at Moſes's Right hand, which made the Conduct ſo much the more Illuſtrious and Glorious.
3. We have the Glorious Arm of God's Conduct exemplified in one particular Inſtance, inſtead of all others, ſoil. in leading his People miraculouſly thro' the Sea; intimated in that expreſſion in our Text, (dividing the waters before them, the Red Sea, and alſo Jordan, Exod. 14. 21. Joſh. 3. 15, 16.
4. The ultimate end of this Divine Conduct is pointed to in the cloſe of our Text, ſoil. Gods Glory, the Glory of his Name; (to make himſelf an Everlaſting Name) with reference both to his Power & Providence, as reſpecting either his Aim and End in doing what he did; or the effect of it when it was done, it got him Renown: Who led them by the Right hand of Moſes, with his Glorious Arm, to make himſelf an Everlasting Name.
You may take up this Doctrine from the words, as the ground of our Enſuing Diſcourſe.
DOCTRINE. To make Himſelf an Everlasting Name, is the prime and ultimate end of Gods Exerting his Glorious Arm of Divine Power and … Conducting his Church and People thro' the Wilderneſs of this World; or from one part of the Wilderneſs of this World to another.
For Confirmation hereof, I might lead you thro' the whole Hiſtory of the Scriptures; wherein we may trace the footſteps of the Wonder Working Providences of God in his Care and Conduct of his Church, and Judgments upon their Enemies, which have remarks put upon them every where by Gods Holy Prophets; And by way of Imitation in treating the Subject under our preſent Conſideration, I might improve their method.
Our Prophet Iſaiah in our Text, points out unto us the Ancient way of Preaching in Old Teſtament times, which was an Hiſtorical Narration of Memorable Mercies and Remarkable Judgments relating to Gods Church, or his Churches Enemies: Mercies and Judgments were the Texts they Preached on; hence is that of the Pſalmiſt, I will Sing of Mercy and of Judgment unto thee Oh Lord, Pſal. 101. 1.
But let it ſuffice to Confirm this Doctrine from the particular Inſtance in our Text, wherein as in a Glaſs we may behold the Providence of God, his Wiſdom, Glory, Power and Goodneſs exerciſed towards his People at all times. Now that there was ſo much of the Praiſe-worthy Excellency and Goodneſs of God Diſcovered in this Conduct of his People, the Scriptures do frequently declare: Hence ſo many Pſalms of Praiſe made concerning it: After Ages tranſmitting down to their Children the Glory of God appearing therein.aPſal. 106. 1, 7, 8. Praiſe ye the Lord &c. Our Fathers underſtood not thy Wonders in Aegypt but provoked him at the Sea, even at the Red Sea, nevertheleſs he ſav'd them for his Name ſake, that he might make his mighty Power to be known bPſal. 78. 4.Oh God when thou wenteſt forth before thy People, when thou didſt march thro' the Wilderneſs, the Earth ſhook, †12. 17. 68. 7, 8the Heavens dropped at the Preſence of God! Sinai it ſelf was moved at the Preſence of the God of Iſrael. cJer. 32. 6. Deut. 32. 10, 11 1 31.Gods Conduct of them is elſewhere obſerved and commemorated: Hence are thoſe frequently repeated Commands at their arrival at Canaan to Remember and never Forget the works of God which they had ſeen in the Wilderneſs: No place ſo much Diſcovered the Wonderful Works wrought for them by the Glorious Arm of God, as that,dDeut. 8. 2. Deut. 4. 9. Thou ſhalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee theſe forty years in the Wilderneſs, to Humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what is in thy Heart, whether thou wouldeſt keep his Commandments or not.
Very memorable were the Wonders wrought for Gods Iſrael in the Land of Ham, in the Field of Zoan, the Royal City of Egypt, an ancient City.*Pſal. 78. 12. Marvellous things did he in the ſight of their Fathers, in the Land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan. But eſpecially very memorable was the Lords bringing them out of AEgypt by the Right hand of Moſes with his Glorious Arm, for it was with a ſtrong Hand, and outſtretched Arm, with ſigns, wonders, and very great terrour,eJer. 2. 31. And haſt brought forth thy People Iſrael out of the Land of Egypt, with ſigns, and with wonders, with a ſtrong Hand, with a ſtretched out Arm, and with great Terrour.
No leſs then Ten Plagues did God ſend upon Egypt one after another, before Pharoah would let them go; and after he had diſmiſs'd them, and they were marched forth, they were as Hotly purſued by that Dragon Phoraoh, and his formidable Army of Chariots and Horſemen, who ſoon overtook the unarmed Tribes of Iſrael, Encamping by the Red Sea, beſides Phihahiroth, at the mouth of Hiroth, or entrance or ſtraits of Hiroth; where were two great Mountains, betwixt which Iſrael marched; and were incloſ'd on both ſides, between Migdall, and Baalzephon, two ſtrong Garriſon Cities of Egypt: And thus was Iſrael Entangled, the Red Sea before them, and ſtrong Garriſons, and Inacceſſible Mountains on each ſide, and Pharaoh with his Enraged Army of Chariots & Horſemen on their backs.*Exod. 14. 9, 19. Oh the Diſtreſs that Iſrael was now in! Why ſ:aith Moſes, ſtand ſtill, and ſee the Salvation of the Lord; they cry, Heaven hears and Commands the march, the Sea Divides; The Lord diſcovers to them the Worlds Foundations. The Tribes of Iſrael they march into the Sea as on Dry Ground, the Sea is made fordable, the waters ſtand on heaps on each ſide: The Angel of God, that went before the Camp of Iſrael, ſoil. The Angel of Gods Preſence, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, remov'd and went behind them, betwixt Iſrael and the Hoſt of the Egyptians; ſo the Glory of the Lord was their Rere-ward. Iſai. 5. 12. and 58. 8.
Pharaoh and the Egyptians purſue them into the midſt of the Sea; And now was the time that God cut Rahab, and wounded the Dragon, and made the Depths of the Sea a way for the Ranſomed of the Lord to paſs over. When the Church of God is upon their motion, all things Conſpire for their happy March; their purſuers are deſtroyed, Pharoah and his Hoſt in the Red Sea, the Sea divides, the Heavens Conduct by the Pillar of Cloud by Day, and of Fire by Night when they march into the Wilderneſs every thing is mov'd in extraordinary wiſe; The Mountains Skip'd like Rams, and the little Hills like Lambs; Sinai, and Horeb are moved▪ *Pſal. 114. 4.All ſupplies ſhall be afforded them? Do they want Bread, they ſhall have Corn from Heaven, Manna, Angels food? Do they want meat, they have fleſh rained upon them as Duſt, and Feather'd Fowl as the ſand of the Sea?†Pſal. 78. 27. Do they want water in a Droughty Deſert? rather than fail, the Flinty Rocks ſhall yield it; the Flinty Rocks one would think would yield fire rather than water, but God works for his People in mediis oppoſitis, by contrary means; he turns the watry Ocean into a Pavement, and the Flinty Rock into ſtreams in the Wilderneſs; the Rock Rophadim is ſet a br…ch, and it made not only a ſtagnum, a ſtanding Pool, but a running River in the Deſert; hence is it ſaid, the Rock follow'd them: When they Approach the ſwift ſwelling ſtreams of Jordan, the waters run Retrograde, the Sea ſaw them and fled Jordan was driven back: Here is another miraculous paſſage over the Hoods, they paſs over Jordan on Dry Land and take up the ſtones of the Channel for a Memorial.
When they enter Canaan, the Nations tremble, their Cities t…mb…, as when Joſhua encompaſſed Jericho, its impr…able Walls fell down flat at the ſhout and ſound of the Rams horns; but we are led into a maze of Miracles: Oh the wonders that God wrought for his People, but all this was to make himſelf an Everlaſting Name: This indeed was the end of all Gods Wonderful Works, both of Creation and of Providence, but eſpecially of his Churches preſervation, and moſt eſpecially of the Glorious Work of Redemption; the foundation whereof was Everlaſting Love, and the Topſtone ſhall be laid with ſhouting, Grace Grace unto it, Zach. 4. that hereby the Lord might make to himſelf an Everlaſting Name.
1. To make himſelf an Everlaſting Name, was the great end of the Works of Creation; therefore God call'd up this great World out of nothing, for this end he fram'd the ſtately Fabrick of this vaſt and beautiful Univerſe; he hath planted the Heavens, that ſtately Superſtructure, that vaulted Roof, and beſpangled Canopy over our heads; wherein he hath ſet a tabernacle for the Sun, and appointed the Ordnances of Heaven, with the influential Conſtellations thereof, and guides Arcturus with his Sons, and hath made Orion, the Pleides, and the Chambers of the South; and all this to make himſelf an Everlaſting Name: Hence that of the Pſalmiſt, Pſal. 19. 1. The Heavens declare the Glory of God, and the Firmament ſheweth his handy-work. And he hath alſo laid the Beams of his Chambers in the Waters, and fixed the Groundſels and Foundations of the World, and hangeth the Earth upon nothing, Job 26. 7. he ſtretcheth out the North over the empty place, and the Earth hangs equally poized with its own weight, which made the very Heathen to admire: Hence that of Ovid,
Terra pilae ſimilis nullo fulcimine nixa,
Aere ſublato tam grave p…ndet onus.
This is wonderful, that the vaſt Globe of the pondrous Earth and Sea, ſhould thus hang without ſome ſolid thing to uphold it? This makes the Lord an Everlaſting Name; who laid the Foundations of the Earth, that it ſhould not be removed for ever.
2. To make himſelf an Everlaſting Name, is the end of all Gods wonder-working Providences in the World; ordering all things to his own Glory, and for the good of his Church, & the deſtruction of all the implacable Adverſaries thereof; as Pharoah is a ſpecial example, yielding to us a fair demonſtration of a Revenging Deity, and of a Divine Nemeſis.
But to come up to the preſent purpoſe from the Inſtance in our Text, to make a parallel of it, in order to Application, we may Enquire,
Queſt. Wherein was Gods Glorious Arm ſo Illustrious in his Peoples Conduct thro' the Wilderneſs, as to make himſelf an Everlaſting Name.
Anſw. In general, the ſum or principal of it is, in that he brought his People Iſrael, by and thro' Travels unto Reſt, Troubles unto Peace, Wants unto Supplies, Diſtreſſes …nto Deliverances; yea, through and from great wants unto great ſupplies; and from great and eminent dangers and diſtreſſes unto great Salvations, which he wrought for them; he turned all things to the beſt, even his Churches Bricks made in their Bondage, were turned into Saphires.
Now in this way of the Lords Diſpenſation, was made bare the Arm of three of Gods Glorious Attributes; the Glorious Arm of his Power, of his Wiſdom, and of his Goodneſs.
1. The Glorious Arm of Gods Power, above the Power of man, in helping when means failed, when they could not help themſelves; in working in oppoſitis mediis means, and commanding light to ſhine out of darkneſs, turning evil into good to them, & doing things when at the greateſt difficulty; fetching Waters out of Rocks, making Rivers to run in the Daſart, &c*1 Kings 18. 33, 34, …8, 39.
The Lord doth oft make things difficult that he may the more ſhew his Power; ſo oft it was with Iſrael in the Wilderneſs, things come to the extremity, and beyond the tho't of man, how they ſhould have help; and then the Lord ſhews his Power.
When Moſes deſpaired of Proviſion (and Moſes ſaid) The people among whom I am, are ſix hundred thouſand foot-men; and thou haſt ſaid, I will give them fleſh, that they may eat a whole month. (Saith Moſes) Shall the ſtocks and the herds be ſlain for them, to ſuffice them? or ſhall all the fiſh of the ſea be gathered together for them, to ſuffice them? And the Lord ſaid unto Moſes, Is the Lords hand waxed ſhort? thou ſhalt ſee now whether my word ſhall come to paſs unto thee, or not.
2. The Glorious Arm of Gods Wiſdom appeared, in making curious contrivances of his Works, and bringing things about wonderfully, above the reach of man; leading in a Wilderneſs: He is a wiſe Guide that can lead and guide thro' a Wilderneſs, and find the way out. So theſe Wilderneſs Leadings and Salvations are works, wherein Mercy imployes all the Attributes of God, and ſo Wiſdom; in ſpecial, Wiſdom in bringing things about in a moſt wonderful manner when at wits end; making Dejection the way to Exaltation; alſo in uſing fit means to do his People good, in doing many things at once; taking vengeance on their Enemies, chaſtiſing, humbling his own People Saving in fit ſeaſons by wonderful ways and means.
There is an extraordinarineſs in Gods Wilderneſs-works, they are not accompliſh'd in a plain and ordinary manner; but there is therein a diſcovery of Infinite Wiſdom.
3. The Glorious Arm of Divine Mercy & Goodneſs appeared, in making his Peoples*Numb. 11. 22, 23. Exod. 14. 13, miſery his opportunity; in coming in the hour of Difficulty, in the article of Diſtreſs, when help was ſweet and precious, when mercy would be moſt illuſtrious; in remembring in their low eſtate, as he oft did.
The ſweeteſt help is help in Diſtreſs, and then moſt of the goodneſs of God is taſted. A Mercy in the Wilderneſs is the ſweeteſt Mercy of all.
But more particularly, His Glorious Arm of Divine Goodneſs appeared in Leading His People, if we conſider the Terminus a quo ead quem.
1. In regard of the Term from which he brought them, ſoil. from Egypt, an Houſe of Bondage, a Furnace of Iron, from under Taskmaſters, from out of the Brick-kilns, from the midſt of Idolatry. That he brought them out of Egypt, we know how much is ſpoken of in Scripture. Better be in the Wilderneſs, than in Egypt: Better be ſerving and following the Lord in a Wilderneſs, in a Land that was not ſown, than ſerving cruel men, and defiling themſelves with the Abominations of Egypt; now the Lord led them, and there was no ſtrange God with them. Egypt was a Type of the ſtate of Sin and Miſery, out of which God leads his own People.
2. In regard of the Term to which he was leading them; namely, to Canaan, Reſt, that is the end; the Wilderneſs is the way to Canaan, and there they arrive at laſt; the hope of that makes Travel eaſie and ſweet, the Journeys end makes amends for all; and the enjoyment of it at laſt, is the more ſweet; we ſay, All is well that ends well.
But the Wilderneſs, tho' a place of Affliction, was a place of much mercy; they were in the Wilderneſs, but God led them there, was with them there, and did great things there for them. Particularly, let me Inſtance in ſome of the ſpecial Mercies of God in his Glorious Arm of Conduct of his People by the Right hand of Moſes in the Wilderneſs, which may be of uſe in the Application.
1. The Lord ſet up RELIGION among them, gave them Statutes and Judgments, and Rules to walk by; the Lord gave them his Word, this was a diſtinguiſhing favour: He ſhewed his Word unto Jacob, his Statutes and his Judgments unto Iſrael; he hath not dealt ſo with any Nation.
Never had the People of God ſo much of his Word given to them, as now ſince they came into the Wilderneſs. Moſes the firſt Writer of Holy Scripture, was given them to be their Leader in the Wilderneſs, & to deliver the firſt Scriptures in writing; and it is like he writ not only the four laſt, but Geneſis alſo, in the Wilderneſs. He acted as an Extraordinary Prophet; and then alſo by his Miniſtry, the Law was given on Mount Sinai. In the Wilderneſs God gave them both Law & Goſpel; the Law was delivered on the Mount, and the Goſpel was Preached in the Renewing Gods Covenant with them; and in the extraordinary Types of the Brazen Serpent, which Moſes in the Wilderneſs lifted up.*vid. Par. Prol. in Gen Joh. 3. 14. And of the Rock, whoſe waters follow'd them; and of the Manna, &c. In a word, in the wilderneſs God opened his mind and heart to them; now they were alone, he revealed both Law and Goſpel in a larger and fuller manner than ever he did before.
Again, the SABBATH had been Inſtituted from the Beginning, and the Law of it had always been in force, as other Moral Laws, but much neglected and forgotten; therefore God ſolemnly made it known, and called them to Remember it on Mount Sinai; this was his great mercy, to give them the clear Rule of the Sabbath in the Wilderneſs, and to reduce them to the careful Obſervation of it.
2. He ſet up his TABERNACLE among them in the Wilderneſs, he gave them Ordinances and Inſtitutions, and Prieſts and Levites to Diſpenſe all the Ordinances of God to them, according to that Moſaical Paedagogy; having alſo cauſed them to Renew their Covenant with him, their Church-Covenant; for ſo that is, Exod. 19. being a Social Covenant, wherein many People together, did engage themſelves to the Lord; thus God brought them near to him, and Set up his Tabernacle among them.
3. The Lord ſet up Government among them, Civil Government; he gave them Laws, ſo alſo Magiſtrates with Power to execute theſe Laws. Not only Moſes, an extraordinary Perſon to be King of Jeſhurun, whom the Lord raiſed up to bear their lumber, and to manage the Difficult work of Leading that People as in our Text. He led them by the Right hand of Moſes.—But alſo others were appointed according to Jethro's Council for ordinary ſtanding Rulers.*Exod, 18. 21, 22, 25. Thou ſhalt provide out of the People able Men, ſuch as fear God, men of truſt, hating Covetouſneſs; and place ſuch over the People to be Rulers of thouſands, and Rulers of hundreds, alſo of Fifties and of Tens, and let them Judge the People at all ſeaſons. And alſo afterward the ſettled ſeventy Elders to be Moſes's Aſſiſtants (which were after the ſettled Council & chief Court, called the Sanhedrin or the Synedrion) of which we Read†Numb. 6. 11, 16, 17 26, 30. Hence we ſo often Read of the Elders of Iſrael and the heads of the People and their Judges and Officers, all ſorts of Rulers.
The Lord did not bring them from under their Taskmaſters in Egypt, into the Wilderneſs to turn Libertines, and to do what is Right in their own Eyes, to deſpiſe to be Ruled by any of their Brethren—Altho' ſome of them roſe up againſt that Order and Government the Lord had ſet them under; but the Lord did ſolemnly and dreadfully declare himſelf againſt them, as he will ſooner or later ſhow that he will not bear with thoſe that refuſe to ſubmit to Order, either in Church or Common Wealth: And Oh what a Mercy is it to Enjoy Government, this was a favour to Iſrael in the Wilderneſs, the Lord appointed Government for them and Officers of all ſorts, and this was his great Mercy to them; and ſo he alſo in the Wilderneſs gave them a Militia, and order'd the ſame Bands of Soldiers and Armies to be ready for Defence; as in the beginning of Numbers we read at large.
4. In the Lords Conduct of them with his Glorious Arm, he delivered them from their Enemies, and gave them peace in the Wilderneſs. He delivered them from Pharaoh that purſued them, and wrought wonderful Salvation; and ſo he delivered them from the Amalekites, who ſet on them in the Wilderneſs in their weakneſs. The Lord was their Ba…er, the Lord was offended at their Enemies, ſo he delivered them from Sihon King of …, and Og King of Baſhan; he ſuffer'd no hand of violence to oppreſs or overcome them.
5. In the Wilderneſs God provided for them, and ſupplyed their wants; their outward wants and … wonderfully; they were in wants ſometimes, and brought to diſtreſs, and unbelieving Hearts failed them, and they cryed out they muſt periſh with Hunger and Thirſt; yet the Lord … and confounded their unbelief, and prov…ed for them wonderfully, and fully ſupplyed them, gave them Bread; ſpread a table for them in the Wilderneſs, gave them water in the Dry & … Deſart… ▪ *Jer. 2. 2, 3. Deut. 25. 17, 18, 19. Exod. 16. 3, 4.caus'd the Rocks to yield it; and made their old cloaths laſt till proviſion of new came. And tho' they were in a Wilderneſs, yet God ſent them ſeaſonable ſupplyes; he provided for them in his own way, and by his own means; Bread which their Fathers knew not.
6. The Lord wonderfully and mercifully ſpared them, notwithſtanding their Murmuring and manifold Sins and Provocations. Unbelief, Rebellion, Forgetfulneſs of God, Impatience, Diſcouragement, Diſtruſt, Idolatries; after ſo many great works and wonders the Lord wrought among them, and manifeſtations of himſelf to them.
One would wonder that God ſpared them. And when we read the Story, we Marvel that they ſhould be ſo unbelieving, and refractory, and ſo ſoon running after one evil or other. Oh we may Read our ſelves in it; were a ſtory written of the turnings of our Hearts and ways, it would be as bad.
7. The Lord did them good in the end by all their greateſt evils, he humbled them by their Afflictions; yea, by their Corruptions, brought them acquainted with their own Hearts; and their Wilderneſs troubles prepared them for Canaan.
8. The Lord heard their Prayers in the Wilderneſs. Were they in any want, it was but ask and have; and how oft did he hear Moſes for them; oft God heard the cryes of their Neceſſities, yea, Murmurings; and when in time of Affliction for their Sins, they cryed to the Lord▪ he heard them tho' vile.
9. In the Wilderneſs the Lord always Remembred them in their low eſtate. Deut. 4. 7.Pſal. 106. 41, to 45. In the time of trouble and need, and in the extremity thereof, as at the Red Sea, and in the time of their extream wants of bread and water.
But my time is ſcanted, I find my Preparations too teadious; I muſt therefore proceed to ſome Application, which the Premiſes afford abundant matter of
Uſe 1. I might apply this Truth to the Church and People of God in General, and then to our ſelves in this Wilderneſs in particular.
1. Relating to the Church and People of God in General, and Gods Conduct of his Church thro' the Wilderneſs of this World with his Glorious Arm. Gods Church may be ſaid to be in a Wilderneſs while in this World▪ the World we live in is a Deſart Vale, a time and place of Changes, Sorrows, Straits, yea of Sin and Unbelief too.
We read of the Woman i. e. the Church that fled into the Wilderneſs where ſhe had a place prepared of God, and that ſhe ſhould remain there one thouſand three hundred and threeſcore Days, Rev. 12. 6. And this is aſſerted, and ſeems to be fairly intimated by thoſe that affirm, that the forty two months, or the one thouſand two hundred and ſixty days, mention'd in the preceding Chapter, Chap 11. 3. Of the witneſſes Propheſying in Sackcloth, not to be yet expired; for it is evident, that Contemporary therewith, and of the ſame length of time is the Womans, that is the Churches being in the Wilderneſs, mention'd, Rev. 12. 6, 14. That theſe ſpeak of the ſame thing, is the Judgment of the beſt Expoſitours: But whether that Interpretation of theſe Prophetical numbers and time be undoubted or no; yet ſurely we need no more then experience to tell us, that the late & preſent times, have been times of many Changes, Travels, Tryals, Difficulties to the Church and People of God and fitly compared to a Wilderneſs Condition Oh the Church is yet in the Wilderneſs, and hath been theſe two laſt Centuries paſt, Travelling thro' that horrid part of the Wilderneſs, the depth of the Antichriſtian Darkneſs toward Reformation.
Let us but inſtance in our own Nation: Oh the Difficulties and Diſcouragements and Oppoſitions that the firſt Reformers in the laſt Age paſs'd thro'; but there is ſtill the Glorious Arm of Divine Conduct carrying on the Reformation. God hath Gloriouſly delivered our Nation from Papal Superſtitions and Idolatries: Oh the torch of the truth of the Goſpel that hath been lighted up in both Englands! And notwithſtanding the many Oppoſitions to quench it, it hath been kept burning to this Day.
And Oh the Mercy of God to our Nation! wherein the Glorious Arm of Divine Conduct is remarkable in two famous Revolutions freſh in memory, the former Anno 1689. The latter in the happy Acceſſion of ſo Illuſtrious a Proteſtant Prince to the Britiſh Throne, as at this Day; and we his Loyal Subjects in New-England Bleſs our ſelves with the pleaſing Proſpect of ſharing in his Royal Favours; as thinking our ſelves ſecure from a Deſpotick or Arbitrary Government, or having our Liberties Invaded by Papal Uſurpations and Tyrannies. Long let our King live to be the Honour of this preſent, and the Imitation of future Ages; and never let there want a Succeſſour to that Proteſtant Line, to Sway the Scepter of Great Britain.
The ſecond branch of the Uſe is to our ſelves in this Wilderneſs; we are, and have been in a Wilderneſs in propriety of ſpeech ſo called: But O Generation, may the Lord ſay, Have I been a wilderneſs unto you, as Jer. 2. 31. No, but the Lord hath been as a ſhadow of a great Rock in a weary Land. Oh the mercies of this Wilderneſs, have exceeded thoſe of other Plantations in America! A work never to be forgotten, is the Lords preparing this Wilderneſs for his People, when he ſwept away thouſands of thoſe Salvage Tawnies (thoſe curſed Devil worſhippers) with a mortal Plague, to make room for a better People, (I mean our Fathers) that came into this Wilderneſs to plant the Goſpel, and to enlighten theſe dark Regions. Pardon me, I compare not the place they came from, to Egypt, God forbid I ſhould; it was a Goſhen, in compariſon of Egypt; yet to ſpeak freely, the time was, when the People of God had their Task-maſters, which they ſigh'd under; and the power and purity of Religion was in the Houſe of Bondage; and heavy burdens were impoſed on the necks of many of the Lords precious Servants; from which, and for the contrary Liberty and Purity, they were glad to fly into this Wilderneſs; if happily in a Wilderneſs they might Worſhip and Sacrifice to the Lord their God. And Oh the powerful calling voice of God to gather his People into this Wilderneſs! And they were a choice ſelect Number, whom God with his Glorious Arm did bring hither to lay the foundations of the Everlaſting Goſpel; ſo that we may glory in it, when we behold the Lord laying our Stones with fair colours, and our Foundations with Saphires.
And God has granted Proſperity to theſe bleſſed Enterprizes, he has cauſed the Goſpel to flouriſh in this Land; and we have not only brown bread and the Goſpel, but the Bread of Life; Manna in plenty, Angels food. Oh how hath God proſpered our ſmall Beginnings, and given us Towns and Buildings, and Bleſſings of all ſorts, and hath ſown our Land with the Seed of Man and Beaſt; ſo that we can now tell of the Beaſts of our Forrests, and the Cattle upon a thouſand hills, and of our Oxen ſtrong to labour, of our Sheep that bring forth thouſands and ten thouſands in our ſtreets, Pſal. 144. The time would fail me to enumerate the paſſages of Gods goodneſs in his Conduct of his People in this Wilderneſs with his Glorious Arm: But take a taſte in a few parallel Inſtances by a Reflection on the premiſes.
1. The Lord hath given us his Everlaſting Goſpel in this Wilderneſs. God hath ſet up the true Religion among us, and this hath been our ſafety and ſecurity. Religion is the Palladium of a People, or Nation; therefore God hath made the World to take notice, that New-England hath been a People Saved by the Lord. Oh we have had the true Religion among us! Oh the Glory of the Goſpel that hath ſhined in this Land! Oh the Lively Oracles that have been delivered to us, the Gate of Heaven hath been here opened; the Goſpel hath been here ſpread in its beauty, plainneſs and glory! Oh the Bethels, the many Bethels God hath Erected and Set up in this Wilderneſs!
2. The Lord hath furniſh'd us with glorious Ordinances and Miniſtries; he hath ſet up his Tabernacles among us, the Orders of his Houſe; he hath laid before us a Platform of Diſcipline, and bleſſed us with a Goſpel Order in our Churches; ſo that were Balaam himſelf here, he could not curſe, but bleſs and admire to ſee the comely Order in the ſeveral Flocks of the Lords Sheep, folded together in ſo many Companies. Vid. Numb. 24. 2, 5. And Balaam lift up his eyes, and he ſaw Iſrael abiding in Tents, according to their Tribes; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he ſaid, How goodly are thy Tents Oh Jacob! and thy Tabernacles, Oh Iſrael! as the Valleys are they ſpread forth, as Gardens by the River ſide. Even ſuch hath been the Bleſſing of our good God to his Heritage in this Land.
3. The glorious Arm of Divine Conduct, hath fenc'd us with the hedge of Government. Oh what a favour is this! to give Government, to Eſtabliſh Authority, to have a Wall of Magiſtracy ſet and kept about a People; this is a thing of unſpeakable concernment; otherwiſe a people would be left to Anarchy and heaps of Confuſion. Oh! it is thro' the love of God to Iſrael, if he ſets a man over them, that will do Juſtice and Judgment, 2 Chron. 9. 8. Exod, 18. 21. To ſee thoſe that fear God Exalted, Oh how great a Bleſſing! And we are to acknowledge the Soveraign and Holy Counſel of God therein; and know that the Most High Ruleth in the Kingdoms▪ of men, and giveth it to whomſoever he will. God hath granted us Excellent Guides and Governours in this Land; he hath not left us to turn Libertines, but hath ſet up his Government among us, hath walled us about with Magiſtracy; & he hath made our Officers Peace, and our Exactors Righteouſneſs. And there hath been the Execution of wholeſome Laws, a teſtimony born againſt prevailing Sin: If it had been otherwiſe, Plectuntur Achivi, the poor People would have paid for it.
4. The Lord with his Glorious Arm hath been our Protection, and delivered us from our Enemies in this Wilderneſs, as he did Iſrael from thoſe Amalekites; ſo God hath delivered us from thoſe Amalekites, the Pequets, the Narraganſets, that ſet upon Gods People when they were weak and tender; but how did the Lord cruſh and blaſt them, and blot out their Names from being a People as at this day; ſo let our Enemies periſh that have committed their Outrages in this Land.
5. God hath ſet up a School of the Prophets among us; a Colledge, a Seminary of Learning; this hath made New-England preferable to all the American Plantations; to the Silver Minerals, thoſe glittering Entrails of the Spaniſh West-Indies. Let the pre…ent good Conduct of …t, be continued and encouraged, and Schools of Learning advanced, for the renewed Supplies of ſuch Streams as may rejoice the City and Church of God.
6. The Lord hath ſpread a Table for us in this Wilderneſs and ſupplyed our wants from year to year, and every year; the year laſt paſt, was an eminent Inſtance of this; in the time of that laſting ſcorching drought, when our Hearts and our Hopes failed us: God did ſecretly and unaccountably (I had almoſt ſaid Miraculouſly) Reſerve a Bleſſing for us, that there was Bread to the ſower, a ſupply for our neceſſities; this was the Lords doing, and it is Marvellous in our Eyes, it was Gods Glorious Arm that effected it; Oh let His Everlaſting Name be Magnified.
Oh how hath the Lord provided for us from year to year, and ſometimes plentifully; this is indeed to rain Bread in a Wilderneſs. Oh the Thouſands of poor Creatures among us, whoſe Loins and Bowels do bleſs the Lord! Very Nature teaches us Gratitude for this, who elſe in their Poverty might have fainted and periſh'd for want of Bread.
7. God hath done all this for us, notwithſtanding our many Sins and Provocations. We have been a ſinful People. Oh the Lords ſparing Mercy in the midſt of our Sins, great crying Sins. Prophaneſs …mong the Wicked, Contentions among the Godly, Errours among others, woful incorrigibleneſs in moſt under the Lords dealing, we may apply to our ſelves thoſe words of the Pſalmiſt, Pſal. 78. 40. How oft have we provoked him in the Wilderneſs, and griev'd him in the Deſart; and yet being full of Compaſſion he forgives our Iniquity, and Deſtroys us not. How many times has he turn'd away his Anger, and has not ſtirr'd up all his Wrath. We in this Wilderneſs can ſpeak this Experimentally.
8. God hath heard our Prayers in our ſtraits and plunging difficulties, how often hath he heard Prayers and been found of his People in their Supplications, and how often hath he come in the nick. Oh the many ſweet returns of Prayer we have had! and God hath made his Arm Glorious for our relief. When we Prayed for Rain, for fair Weather, for removal of Devourers, for Proviſion, for Health, for Peace, for continuance of our Civil and Sanctuary Enjoyments; God hath made his Arm Glorious, and Glorified that Title among us that he is, A God hearing Prayer.
Ʋſe 2. Beware of thoſe Sins that may provoke the Lord to withdraw the Glorious Arm of his Conduct. I ſhall hint only at ſome that are more obvious.
1. Take heed of deſpiſing a Glorious Goſpel, or ill treating the Diſpenſers of it. When Iſrael mocked the Meſſengers of God, deſpiſed his Words, and miſuſed his Prophets, the Wrath of God aroſe againſt his People; and there was no Remedy.
God expects his Miniſters ſhould find ſuitable entertainment every where, and that they ſhould be ſo provided for, ſo as to ſerve the Lord without diſtraction. There are many Townſhips and Precincts readily Granted, and ſupplyed with burning Lamps, which are like to be extinguiſh'd for want of Oyl to feed them; the Goſpel ſtarving in ſome Places, and the Diſpenſers of it fain to work with their own hands, to adminiſter to their Neceſſities.
It would be pleaſing to God, and more Credible for our Chriſtian Profeſſion, if ſome Methods could be taken for Relief in this caſe.
Be aſſured that an impoveriſh'd ſtarved Miniſtry, will not only induce the Contempt of the Clergy, but alſo introduce a deſpiſed Goſpel; and if the Goſpel be once deſpiſed, God will ſoon withdraw the Glorious Arm of his Conduct.
2. Take heed of the Sin of Worldlineſs. This our Saviour cautions againſt, Luke 12. 15. This eats out the very heart of Religion; the ſweets of the World, eat out the ſavour of the Goſpel; neither the Dread of God is feared, nor the Grace of God prized by the worldly ſenſual Heart. Oh the ſtrange alteration in the ſpirits of men! Our Fathers left the World, for the Enjoyment of Religion in this Wilderneſs; but the Deſigns of moſt are Inverted: Moſt in theſe days are leaving Religion in purſuit of the World. They have that, that contents them in this world; hence they are regardleſs of God, and the World to come. Oh! we came hither for Religion, for the Goſpel; but the world hath engroſs'd our affections, our love, delight, deſires, our whole thoughts. Oh, take heed of the World! this caution the Lord gave to Iſrael of Old, when they had plenty and fulneſs, Houſes full of all things, and Vineyards, and Olive-trees, &c. Deut. 6. 11, 12. Now beware leſt thou forget the Lord; ſo Chriſt gives caution, take heed of your Farms, Merchandize, Yokes of Oxen, and pieces of Ground, left you make light of the Call of the Goſpel; the world is full of Irritamenta malorum; it proves a ſnare to new and flouriſhing Plantations; when the world comes in, & they have a plentiful encreaſe, they abuſe the good Creatures of God to Senſuality.
Noah became an Husbandman, planted a Vineyard, drank of the wine, and was drunken, Gen. 9. 20, 21. The things of the World are incentives to Luſt.
There is at this day among us, a great outcry after the World, and after a Medium of Trade, to carry on worldly Intereſts; it's well if our over-reaching after the world in too unadviſed and bold attempts, have not marr'd our worldly Intereſts.
We live in a good Land, did we but walk humbly with our God, keep his Statutes & his Judgments; were we but induſtrious & frugal, did we avoid all exceſſes; we ſhould mount up with wings as Eagles, our peace would be like a River, and our proſperity like the waves of the Sea; and inſtead of lying among the pots, we ſhould be like Davids Dove, whoſe wings were covered with ſilver, and her feathers with yellow gold, Pſal. 68. 13.
3. Take heed of the Sin of Pride. It's tho't there is more expended on that one luſt, than goes to the defraying our Publick Charges, ten times told; This Sin is an abomination to the Lord: And ſure I am, it is ill-becoming a wilderneſs Condition, to be poor and proud.
4. Take heed of the Sin of Oppreſſion. That Sin hath its rounds among us; it is a crying ſin, Iſa. 5. 7. I looked for Judgment, but behold Oppreſſion, and for Righteouſneſs, but behold a Cry.
Caution 5. Take heed of Senſuality and Intemperance, in all the branches of it; Unchaſtity, Gluttony, Drunkenneſs, the prevailing Sins of this Land.
Caution 6. Take heed of the Sin of Murmuring and Diſcontent, under our Priviledges and Enjoyments. We are a People for changes & alterations, well if God does not make us ſmart for it before he's done.
7. Take heed of advancing private Intereſts, under a gilded pretence of promoting a Publick Good. There is too much of Self-intereſt, playing its part on Publick Stages.
Caut. 8. Take heed of the Sins of the tongue, 1 Pet. 3. 10. Oh the miſchief that is done by that one member! that ſets on fire the courſe of nature, and is ſet on fire of Hell; forging, fomenting falſe reports, ſpeaking evil of Dignities, Jude 8. ſeverely reproved. All Detraction is poſitively forbidden; thou ſhalt not raiſe a falſe report, Exod. 33. 1.
Uſe 3. Hath the Lord led us ſo long in this Wilderneſs with his Glorious Arm, to make himſelf an Everlaſting Name. Oh then, let New-England be a Name and a Praiſe to our God! Oh let us be according to our Profeſſion, and our Priviledges! Our Profeſſion runs very high. The name of a New-England man hath ſometime been wont to carry a ſound of Sanctity along with it. Moſt ſurely our Obligations are very great, that call us to Holineſs. Our Sins therefore have an Emphaſis upon them, as theirs had of Old, when it was ſaid, All their wickedneſs is in Gilgal, Hoſ. 9. 1…. A place where God had done much for their Fore-fathers.
Mens offences are increaſed by their Obligations: The Quality of the place, adds much to the greatneſs of the Sin; as ſuch places as have been formerly eminent for Gods ſincere Worſhip as Gilgal once was, the Ark of the Covenant was there; and they had their Sacrifices there; they were a Priviledg'd People, a People near to God, and God can better bear with Aliens then with his own People when they offend.
The Philiſtines may Cart the Ark of God, but if David do it, wo be to Uzza, 1 Sam. 8. 11, 15. The Place, the People, the Profeſſion adds …n Aggravation. Oh to Sin in New England, is …o Sin in Gilgal. I verily believe, God …s more diſhonour'd by our Sins, then by the Sins of any People in the World.
Uſe 4▪ Let us be exceeding thankful to God for his Glorious Arm of Conduct of us to this Day in this Wilderneſs. Oh Magnifie the Lord, and his ever enduring Mercy, this Day even for …is Mercies, his Wilderneſs Mercies, and his Gratious Diſpenſations to us; The Lord hath found us in this Deſart Land, and waſt howling Wilderneſs, and hath led us, and fed us, and kept us, and done wonderfully for us here; ſo that …t may be ſaid of us, as Deut. 32. 10. 11, 12, 13. He found him in a Deſart Land, and the waſt howling Wilderneſs: He led him about, he Inſtructed him, he kept him as the Apple of his Eye. As an Eagle ſtirreth up her neſt, fluttereth over her young, ſpreadeth abroad her Wings, taketh them, beareth them on her Wings; ſo the Lord alone did lead him, and there was no ſtrange God with him. He made him ride on the high place of the Earth, that he might eat the encreaſe of the Fields, and he made him to ſuck Honey out of the Rock, and Oyl out of the flinty Rock. Butter of Kine, and Milk of Sheep, with fat of Lambs, and Rams of the Breed of Baſhan, and Goats with the fat of Kidneys of Wheat, and thou didſt Drink the pure blood of the Grape. The particulars applicable from the Explication, have been hinted at, and every one of theſe things is verified here, as if appointed to be a Pattern a Glaſs for us to ſee things in. Oh let us Bleſs God for our Wilderneſs Mercies, and Preſervations, and know our Duty; murmur not in this Wilderneſs, forget not the Works of God;†Deut. …. 2, 3. and let us be Humbled in this Wilderneſs, let every thing humble us; and let us ſtill be in the exerciſe of Faith; we know not yet what God may do for us; Unbelief was their Bane, Heb. 3. 17. And let us keep Travelling in the Wilderneſs, till we come to our Journeys end, to Canaan, to Heaven*Pſal. 106, 13 and then think but what matter of Everlaſting Hallelujahs in Heaven when you come thither to be able to reflect and ſay as in Iſa. 63. 9. In all our Affliction he was Afflicted, and the Angel of his Preſence ſaved us, in his Love, and in his Pitty he Redeem'd us, and he bare us and carryed us all the days of old.
God hath done great things for us in this Wilderneſs, in his Conduct of us as by the hand of Moſes and Aaron, faithful Guides, who have Served their Generation, and are fallen aſleep,*Mat. 13. 32. and now we may ſay, as Zech. 1. 5. Our Fathers where are they? And the Prophets do they live for ever? And God is yet thinning our Glory; I cannot paſs over without paying affectionate Obſequies, on the late loſs of one of our Renowned Worthies; I mean the Honourable ISAAC ADDINGTON, whoſe Name ought to be Embalmed in laſting Memorial: Laying us under Lamentations, for the loſs of the Prudent & the Ancient, the Honourable and the Counſellor, the Wiſe, and the Scribe; a Scribe inſtructed unto the Kingdom of Heaven. Thus our Glory is departing, and the turn muſt come when Moſes muſt be called up to mount Nebo, and Aaron to mount Hor, to Dye there, and come down no more: Our Fathers have paſſed thro' this Wilderneſs to another World, to a Glory above the Sun, to move in a Sphaere above the Star…, to thoſe Glorious Manſions of Crowned Saints above, while we remain in a fluctuating Condition, toſs'd upon the troubled Sea of this World, Subject to Changes and Alterations, in all our States and Conditions: But yet let not theſe things make us forget our Duty, to Bleſs God for what we have enjoyed, and for our preſent Priviledges and Enjoyments continued, putting an high valuation upon them leſt God be provoked to make us know the wor… of our Enjoyments by the want of them.
FINIS.
End of the text · Jeremiah Shepard, Gods Conduct of His Church Through the Wilderness (1715)