Gods Face Set Against an Incorrigible People, Sermon
GOD's Face ſet against AN Incorrigible People.
JER. XLIV. 10, 11.
They are not humbled even unto this day… neither have they feared, nor walked in my Law, nor in my Statutes, that I ſet before you & before your Fathers, Therefore thus ſaith the Lord of Hosts, the God of Iſrael, Behold, I will ſet my Face againſt you for Evil—
JEREMIAH was called early to be a Teacher in Iſrael, an inſpired Prophet: And he continu'd long, even from the Days of good Joſiah, through all the ſucceeding wicked Reigns, down to the Jews Captivity, and for ſome time after this. He is commonly ſtyled the weeping Prophet. He was a mournful Spectator of the Sins and Sorrows of the Jewiſh Nation, then the only profeſſing People of God. In his Book of Prophecies we have many melancholy Chapters concerning them; beſides the Book of Lamentations, which was (as one calls it) his Elegy upon Jeruſalem's Funeral. He was ſent to warn …ackſliding Iſrael of the deſolating Judgments, that were coming on them, except they Repented: And he liv'd to ſee a great part of his ſad Predictions accompliſh'd upon them: for the People turned not at his Reproof. As became a faithful Prophet, a Lover of Zion, and one jealous for the Lord, he ſet himſelf to bear Teſtimony againſt the growing Degeneracies of that unhappy Day, and to reform the Corruptions of the Times. How painful were his Endeavours! How fervent his Applications to Conſcience! How impartial his Rebukes! How loud and plain his Warnings? How pathetic and moving his Exhortations! A wiſe, and zealous & powerful Preacher he was. And yet (O how ſorrowful the Thought) it ſeems he had but very little Succeſs in his Miniſtry. He liv'd among a People that hated to be Reform'd, and that would not be heal'd. Nevertheleſs the Prophet, in preaching the Word, was inſtant in ſeaſon and out of ſeaſon; rebuk'd, reprov'd, exhorted with all Long-ſuffering, and Doctrine. After Jeruſalem was made deſolate, and the Body of the Nation were carry'd Captive to Babylon, He remain'd Propheſying to the ſmall Remnant, that were ſuffer'd to abide ſtill in the Land. And when this ungrateful wicked Remnant deſerted their own Land, and compe…'d Jeremiah to go down with them into Egypt; He ſtill attended the Duties of a Prophet, and did the beſt Services he could for his Countrymen there.
THIS forty fourth Chapter of his Book, out of which I have taken my Text, begins with an awakning Sermon, which Jeremiah preach'd to the Jews in Egypt. Wherein the Prophet firſt reminds them of thoſe deſolating Judgments, that were brought upon Jeruſalem and upon themſelves. Then he obſerves to them the procuring Cauſe of their Miſeries, viz. Their own Wickedneſs. In the next place, he puts them in mind of the Warnings they had had, and the Pains that God had taken with them to bring them to Repentance; upbraids them with their former Obſtinacy in their own Land, and with the fatal Conſequents of it; upbraids them with their continu'd Impenitency and repeated Idolatries now in Egypt, and expoſtulates with them upon the Unreaſonableneſs and Madneſs of their Conduct; and finally threa…ens them with a total Deſtruction, for their incurable Stubborneſs and Impenitence.
MY Text takes in part of the two laſt Heads. And in it we have a Charge and a Th…eatning.
Firſt, HERE is a Charge upon the Jews. They are not humbled, even unto this Day, neither have they feared, nor walked in my Law. &c. They were not humbled for their Sins, is they ought to have been, and as God expected; nor afraid of his Judgments; neither did they turn from their evil ways unto God's Teſt…monies, notwithſtanding all the Methods uſed with them to that end. This is the Charge advanc'd againſt them, the Complaint ſighed over them,
THEN a Threatning follows. Therefore, thus ſa…h the Lord of Hoſts, the God of Iſrael, Behold, I will ſet my face againſt you for Evil. They had ſet their faces to go into the Land of Egypt, in a daring Contradiction to the revealed Will of GOD, and had hardn'd their faces againſt GOD, in ways of Rebellion and Wickedneſs: and therefore GOD will alſo ſet his face againſt Them, in ways of Judgment, to puniſh them for all their Iniquities.
WHAT may be further needful for the Explanation of the words, may be given in ſpeaking to the Doctrines that I deſign to treat upon, which are theſe. (1.) GOD expects it of a People under his Judgments, that they humble themſelves, and fear, and walk in his Law. (2.) It is ſometimes the ſad Caſe of a People under Divine Rebukes that they continue, notwithſtanding all, unhumbled, and unreformed. (3.) GOD obſerves their Conduct under his Judgments, and marks againſt them all their Obſtinacy and Impenitency. (4.) When a People are finally irreclamable, GOD will ſet his Face againſt Them for Evil.
DOCT. I. GOD expects it of a People under his corrective Hand, that they humble themſelves, and fear, and turn their Feet unto His Teſtimonies, to walk in his Law.
HERE are Three comprehenſive Articles of Duty, which might all be profitably expatiated upon.
PROP. I. A People under GOD's Judgment's ſhould humble Themſelves. The Complaint in our Text, They have not humbled themſelves, ſheweth GOD's Expectation of it from them; and this muſt be founded upon the ſtrongeſt Reaſons, and the Demands of his own Law. The Call of GOD to an afflicted People runs in ſuch Language as that, Jam. 4.9, 10. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep; let your Laughter be turned to Mourning, and your Joy to Heavineſs. Humble your ſelves in the ſight of God. It is expreſly required by many Divine Precepts, that we humble our ſelves under GOD's Judgments; which ſpeaks it our indiſpenſable Duty. And then the Nature and Reaſon of things beſpeak it at out hands. The Calamities we are groaning under, do loudly preach to us of the Power of GOD, of his Holineſs and Juſtice, his Diſpleaſure at us for our Sins, &c. which are ſo many grounds and motives of Humiliation. Hence it is but our reaſonable Service, and a juſt Comportment with our State and Circumſtances. Moreover this will be our Safety and Intereſt. If we are truly humbled, it will diſpoſe us to ſeek to GOD, and to engage in a ſaving, thorow, and laſting work of Reformation; and ſo give ground to hope for, and prepare us to receive the Salvations, which GOD has promis'd to a reforming and repenting People. GOD will not forget the humble; the Poor of the Flock ſhall truſt in Him: They ſhall truſt in Him, and ly down in in Safety. They ſhall rejoice in the Holy One of Iſrael, and ſhall tread down the Haughty under their feet. When once a People are brought to humble themſelves under GOD's Judgments, it bodes Deliverance, and preſages the return of good Times. According to that of the Apoſtle, 1 Pet. 5.5, 6, 7. Be clothed with humility: for GOD reſiſteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble your ſelves therefore under the mighty hand of GOD, that he may exalt you in due time: Caſting all your care upon him, for be careth for you.
BUT here the Inquiry ariſes, What is that humbling themſelves, which GOD expects from a People under the Rebukes of his Providence. To which I anſwer, it implies ſomething inward, in the Heart, and ſomthing external, in the Life.
1. IT may be conſider'd as internal, in the Heart; and ſo it implies many gracious Diſpoſitions and Actings of Soul. And indeed it is this inward Humiliation, that is principally intended. For GOD looks at the Heart chiefly. The Sacrifices of GOD †Pſal. 51.17.are a broken Spirit, and a contrite Heart. To this Man will I look, ſaith the Lord ‖Iſa. 66.2., even to him that is Poor, & of a contrite Spirit. The Lord ſeeth not as Man ſeeth *1 Sam. 16.7.: for Man looketh on the outward Aſpearance, but the Lord looketh on the Heart. And if we be not of a humble Spirit, we do not truly humble our ſelves in the ſight of GOD. To humble our ſelves outwardly, and in the fight of Men only, will not ſuffice: we muſt humble ourſelves in the ſight of GOD alſo. The Heart muſt be humbled: and this includes a variety of religious Frames, & devout Affections; which I ſhall endeavour to ſum up in the following heads.
Firſt, IT implys, as the foundation of it, a deep Conviction of Guilt, the fruit of a thorow Self-examination, and impartial Self-judging. Under the Judgments of GOD, it becomes a People to judge themſelves. We ſhou'd ſearch our Hearts, and try our Ways, to find out the provoking Evils, that are the unhappy Grounds of GOD's Controverſy with us. GOD expects to hear us inquiring every one, (as in Jer. 8.6.) What have I done? We muſt be very accurate, impartial, and thôrôw in this Inquiry; willing to know the worſt of our ſelves, the moſt of our guilt. And wherein we have done Iniquity, our Hearts muſt condemn us, our Conſciences accuſe us, charge upon us our Sins, and read our Doom to us from the Law of GOD.
IN the next place, being thus convinced and condemn'd in our ſelves, there muſt be a deep Self-abaſement, Shame, & Remorſe of Conſcience, an holy Indignation at our ſelves, and a humble Submiſſion to the Will of GOD.
THERE muſt be a godly Shame and Self-abaſement, under the ſenſe of our guilt and vileneſs. As becomes ſelf-condemned Malefactors, we muſt be filled with Shame, and Confuſion, at the remembrance of our Faults. When we remember our evil ways, and our doings that have not been good, we must loath our ſelves in our own ſight †Exo. 36.31, 32.for our Iniquities, and for our Abominations: and be aſhamed, yea, even confounded for our own ways. We muſt not reſt in the viſible Signs and outward Expreſſions of ſhame: but … inner Man muſt be ſutably affected and abaſh'd; the Heart bluſh; Pride within be mortify'd, & every ſelf-exalting Thought ſubdu'd. Knowing every man the plague of his own Heart, we muſt be vile in our own eyes, and as Job when he ſaid *Job 42, 6.I abbor my ſelf, and repent in duſt and aſhes. As Aſaph, when he ſaid †Pſal. 73.22., So fooliſh was I, & ignorant; I was as a Beaſt before GOD. And like Ezra, when he fell down on his knees, and ſaid ‖Ezr. 9.5, 6., O my GOD, I am aſhamed, and bluſh to lift up my face to Thee, my GOD; for our Iniquities are increaſed over our head, and our Treſpaſs is grown up unto the Heavens.
MOREOVER, there muſt alſo be a godly Sorrow, and Remorſe of Conſcience; a ſpirit of holy Mourning, and true Contrition of Heart. This is required. Jer. 2.19. Know and ſee that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forſaken the Lord thy GOD. And (as it follows, Chap. 6.26.) Make thee Mourning, as for an only ſon, most bitter Lamentation. The Apoſtle Peter, after the denial of his Lord, is an Inſtance of this; of whom it is ſaid, Mat. 26.75. He went out, and wept bitterly. And now the Call of GOD to us, to every one of us, is in the words of our Saviour (Luk. 10.37.) Go, and do thou likewiſe. It was propheſy'd of ſome, Ezek. 7.16. They ſhall be like Doves of the valleys, all of them mourning, every one for his Iniquity. The Apoſtle gives that Character of the Corinthians, (2 Epiſt. 7.9, &c) Ye ſorrowed to Repentance; ye ſorrowed after a godly ſort. For godly ſorrow worketh Repentance unto Salvation not to be repented of. Such penitent Mourners muſt we be, if we wou'd approve our ſelves truly humbled. Our Sorrow muſt be inward and unfeign'd. We muſt be pricked at the Heart; our Spirits wounded; our Souls melted into penitential Tears. Joel 2.12, 13. Now ſaith the Lord, Turn ye even to Me with all your Heart, and with faſting, and with weeping, and with mourning: and rent your Heart & not your Garments. We muſt afflict our Souls: our Hearts muſt be rent and broke with a mighty ſenſe of Sin, and as 'twere ground to pieces with a prevaling Sorrow: eſpecially at a time when we are bewailing not only our own perſonal Sins, but alſo the Sins of others and of the Land, our Hearts muſt indeed be full. A great & deep Sorrow becomes us, proportionable to the grounds and occaſions of grief that are before us, and which are (alas) at this day how very plentiful! Very numerous, and great! Yet the mournful Penitent muſt keep his Reſentments and Paſſions within due Bounds; remembring the Apoſtle's Caution, 2 Cor. 2.7. Leſt perhaps ſuch a one ſhould be ſwallowed up with overmuch Sorrow. — And as … Sorrow muſt be hearty and deep, ſo it muſt be univerſal and impartial. Indeed if it have the former Qualifications, it will have the latter. We muſt mourn after this godly ſort for all our Sins: We muſt not flatter any favorite Vices in our ſelves. While we pretend to humble our ſelves for one Sin, (a Sin, which perhaps thrô ſatiety, or ſome evil effects felt, is become grievous and irkſome to us) we muſt not rejoice in another, that is more agreeable to our Humour, or appears to be more for our worldly Advantage; as it may be the manner of ſome is. No, but we muſt repent of all our Sins, without any exception. Our Hearts muſt be broken for, and broken off from our moſt beloved Luſts. — And as there muſt be no Partiality, with reference to our own Sins, ſo neither as to the Sins of Others.
Each (ſays one) muſt mourn the Sins common to all; and the groſs Treſpaſſes of each ſort muſt be bewailed by every ſort. Ezek. 9.5. Set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that ſigh, and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midſt thereof. We muſt bewail all the Sins of our Familys; all the Sins of the Town and Land we live in, and of the Nation we belong to. No conſideration of Intereſt may bias us to tenderneſs in any point, to ſpare any particular Sin, and except it out of our Lamentations. No pretended Reverence to our Fore-fathers, or to the Characters of our Rulers or Miniſters; no regard to the Intereſt of any ſort of Men, or to the Faſhion & Cuſtom of the multitude, nor fondneſs for a Party, &c. ought to have any Influence in the matter. We muſt not cover the Sins of others, any more than our own. No ſiniſter Views, no private Affections, or the like, may leſſen our Reſentment of their Miſcarriages, or diſpoſe us to palliate, and excuſe, or extenuate them. Hear in what ſtrains the Prophet Daniel bewails the publick Guilt. Dan. 9, 7, 8. O Lord, Righteouſneſs belongeth unto Thee: but unto us Confuſion of face, as at this day! to the Men of Judah, and to the Inhabitants of Jeruſalem, and unto all Iſrael that are near, and that are afar off: to our Kings, to our Princes, and to our Fathers; becauſe we have ſinned againſt Thee.
AND now in conſequence of this Shame and Sorrow for Sin, there muſt be an holy Indignation at ourſelves. We muſt conceive a Diſpleaſure at our ſelves, like the Corinthian Penitents, in whom the Apoſtle commends this Self Indignation as a fruit and argument of their godly Sorrow. 2 Cor. 7.11. Behold, this ſelf-ſame thing that ye ſorrowed after a godly ſort, what carefulneſs it wrought in you; yea, what clearing of your ſelves; yea, what Indignation; — yea, what Revenge! If we are truly penitent, our Hearts will be hot within us, in reſentment of our Follies: a holy, Anger at our ſelves will kindle in our Breaſts, and Conſcience will ſtir up it ſelf to ſcourge and ſmite us.
FURTHER MORE, where there is a true Humiliation under GOD's Hand, there will be a chearful Submiſſion to his Will in all the afflictive Diſpenſations that befall us. This is made one ſign and character of a due Humiliation, Lev. 26.41. If then their uncircumciſed Hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the Puniſhment of their Iniquity; then will I remember my Covenant with Jacob. &c. So Lam. 3.27, &c. It is good for a Man, that he hear the yoke in his youth. He ſitteth alone, and keepeth ſilence, becauſe he hath born it upon him. He putteth his mouth in the duſt, if ſo be there may be Hope. Ezek. 16.63. That thou mayeſt remember, and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more; becauſe of thy ſhame, when I am pacified toward thee, for all that thou baſt done, ſaith the Lord. We muſt never open our mouths in any way of Murmuring or Complaint. We muſt not ſtout and brave it againſt GOD; nor exalt our ſelves againſt the Lord, and deſpiſe his Chaſtnings, and ſtrive with our Maker; as they did, of whom we read, Iſa. 9.9, 10. They ſay in the pride and ſtoutneſs of heart. The Bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn ſtones: the Sycamores are cut down, but we will change them into Cedars. Far from us be ſuch a Spirit and Carriage. The Temper & Conduct of holy Job becomes us in all our Afflictions, who ſaid (Chap. 40.4.) Behold, I am vile! What ſhall I anſwer Thee? I will lay my hand upon my Mouth. So the Pſalmiſt ſaid (Pſal. 39.9) I was dumb; I opened not my mouth: becauſe Thou didſt it.
AND as there muſt be a meek & patient Submiſſion to GOD under all his dealings with us; ſo where there is this, there will (and ought to) be a thankful Notice taken of the Mercies mixed with Divine Judgments and a due ſenſe of our own Unworthineſs. That will be the humble diſpoſition and Language of our Souls, Ezr. 9.13 After all that is come upon us, for our evil Deeds, Thou our God haſt puniſhed us leſs than our Iniquities deſerve. And (Gen. 32.10.) I am not worthy of the least of all the Mercies, and of all the Truth, which thou bast ſhewed unto thy ſervant.
IN a word, there will alſo be the exerciſe of Faith and Hope in GOD, through Jeſus Chriſt, for the Pardon of Sin, the removal of the Grounds of GOD's Controverſy with us, and putting a happy Period unto it. The humble Centurion had great Faith, Mat. 8.8. Lord, I am not worthy that thou ſhouldeſt come under my Roof: but ſpeak the Word only, and my Servant ſhall be healed. So had holy Job, who ſaid, (Chap. 13.15, 16.) Though He ſtay me, yet will I truſt in him: but I will maintain my own ways before Him. He alſo ſhall be my Salvation: for an Hypocrite ſhall not come before Him. We read of ſome who ſaid, Ezr. 10.2. We have treſpaſſed againſt our God, and have taken ſtrange wives of the People of the land: yet now there is hope in Iſrael concerning this thing. We muſt not mourn, in any caſe, as they that have no Hope: thô perplexed, yet not be in Deſpair. It is good that a Man ſhould both hope and quietly wait for the Salvation of GOD. Truſt in the Lord at all times, O ye People, pour out your Hearts before Him: GOD is a Refuge for us, through Jeſus Chriſt. Fly for refuge, to lay hold on the Hope ſet before you. Iſa. 50.10. Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his ſervant, that walketh in darkneſs, and hath no light? let him truſt in the name of the Lord, & ſtay upon his God. Thus ſaid the Church of old, Iſa. 26.8. In the way of thy Judgments, O Lord, have we waited for Thee. So the Prophet Micah, in the Church's Name, Chap. 7.7, 8, 9. Therefore I will look unto the Lord: I will wait for the God of my Salvation: my God will hear me. Rejoyce not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I ſhall ariſe; when I ſit in darkneſs, the Lord ſhall be a light unto me. I will hear the indignation of the Lord, becauſe I have ſinned againſt him, until he ylead my cauſe, and execute Judgment for me: I… will bring me forth to the ſight, and I ſhall bebold his righteouſneſs.
THUS I have mention'd ſome of thoſe inward Affections and Graces which are imply'd in the Humiliation requir'd. We muſt thus put on humbleneſs of Mind. Our Souls muſt be humbled within us. Unleſs we have ſuch gracious Tempers reigning in us, it may be complained of us, as of him of old (Dan. 5.22, 23.) Thou haſt not humbled thy HEART: And the GOD, in whoſe bands thy breath is, and whoſe are all thy ways, haſt thou not glorified.
But further,
2. IT implys ſomething External, in the Life, and Actions: Outward Expreſſions agr…ealde to our inward Impreſſions.
THUS, It implys proper Acts of Mortification and Self denial. There muſt be a kind of pious Self-revenge, and Self-affliction for Sin. We muſt inflict proper Severities upon our ſelves, in a way of juſt Correction for our follies. I do not here mean any ſuch abſurd Diſcipline, as the Popiſh Penances, the going on a Pilgrimage, the macerating our Fleſh unreaſonably, the mutilating, wounding, or whipping of our Bodys, &c. Yet I mean a treating our Bodys (the Inſtruments of Sin) with ſomething of Auſterity, as well as an afflicting our Souls by a more ſpiritual and rational Diſcipline. We muſt labour to crucify the Fleſh, to mortify the Members that are upon the Earth, that the Body of Sin may be deſtroy'd, that hence forth we may not ſerve Sin. We muſt endeavour to pluck out the right eye, and to cut off the right hand; muſt deny our ſelves, and take up our Croſs; abridge our ſelves of many lawful Gratifications, as well as of all ſinful Extravagances. The Apoſtle commends ſuch a Conduct in the Corinithians (among other things) as a fruit and argument of their true Repentance. Forecited 2 Cor. 7.11. Behold, this ſelf-ſame thing that ye ſorrowed after a godly ſort, what Carefulneſs it wrought … you; yea, what Indignation; yea, what Zeal; yea, what Revenge! They took a holy Revenge on themſelves for their Sins, by agreeable acts of Diſcipline. So ſhou'd we on our ſelves by ſolemn Faſtings and Watchings, and by a daily courſe of Abſtinence, Self denials, and Mortifications. In a time of public Judgments, if a People wou'd humble themſelves aright, it becomes them to obſerve many ſolemn Days of Faſting and Humiliation. That is the Call of GOD to them, Joel 1.14. Sanctiſy ye a faſt, call a ſolemn aſſembly, gather the elders, and all the inhabitants of the land into the houſe of the Lord your GOD, and cry unto the Lord. And as it follows in the next Chapter, Turn to the Lord with all your Heart, and with Faſting, & with Weeping, and with Mourning. Thus Joſiah humbled himſelf, 2 Chron. 34.27. Thine Heart was tender, and thou didst humble thy ſelf before GOD, and didſt rend thy clothes and weep before me. So we read of Ninevites, (Jon. 3.5, 6.) So the people of Nineveh believed GOD, and proclaimed a faſt, and put on ſackloth, from the greateſt of them even to the leaſt of them. For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he aroſe from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with ſackloth, and ſat in …ſhes. And beſides theſe extraordinary Mortifications, there ſhould be more common and continued Self-denials, in general practice among ſuch a People. In the day of Trouble we thou'd deny our ſelves in the uſe of many lawful Liberties; retrench our unneceſtary expences; and lay aſide our Gallantry; cloth our ſelves with Humility, and be modeſt and lowly in our whole Appearance. Surely it very ill becomes a Poor and an Afflicted People to affect Gaiery & Pomp in their Apparel, Luxury at their Tables, Mirth and Jollity, and great Delicacy of Living, or the like. Hear how the Prophet complains of and rebukes this in GOD's People of old, Iſa. 22.12, 13. In that day did the Lord GOD of Hoſts call to weeping, and to mourning, and to ba…dneſs, and to girding with ſackcloth: and behold, joy & gladneſs ſlaying oxen, and killing ſheep, eating fleſh, and drinking …ine. Againſt all ſuch we have that ſolemn Wo denounc'd, (Amos 6.) Wo to them that are at eaſe in Zion, — that lie upon Beds of Ivory, & ſtretch themſetues upon their Couches, and eat the. Lambs out of the Flock, and the Calves out of the Stall; that chant to the ſound of the Viol; that drink Wine in Bowls, and anoint themſelves with the chief Oyntments: but they are not grieved for the Affliction of Joſeph.
FURTHERMORE, the Humiliation requir'd implies a due Confeſſion of our Sins to GOD. There muſt be a moſt hearty Confeſſion of Sin, in all the Inſtances, and in all the Aggravations of it; an open and ingenuous and full Acknowledgement of our Offenſes unto GOD. This is every where in Scripture repreſented as the Duty of an afflicted People, and the Property of ſelfjudging Penitents. Lev. 26.40, 41. If they ſhall confeſs their Iniquity, and the Iniquity of their Fathers; if then their uncircumciſed Hearts be hunbled, — Then will I remember my Coveno…, &c. Thus Ezra confeſſed, weeping, and caſting himſelf down before the houſe of God †Ezra 10.1.. So Daniel made confeſſion of his ſin, and of the ſin of his people, when he ſet himſelf to ſeek by Prayer with Faſting, for the holy Mountain of his God ‖Dan 9.20.. So we read of the Children of Iſrael *Neb. 9.2., when they aſſembled themſelves with Faſting, they ſtood and confeſſed their Sins, and the Iniquities of their Fathers. Thus ſhou'd we confeſs our Sins to God, and ſhou'd do it with the deepeſt Humility and Incurvation of Mind.
AGAIN, There muſt be an expreſs Juſtifying of GOD's Providence in all that befals us. Thus we read of ſome, 2 Chron. 12 6. They humbled themſelves, and ſaid, The Lord is rightecus. We muſt acknowledge to GOD our utter Unworthineſs of the leaſt Mercy at his Hands, and ſubſcribe to the Juſtice of his Proceedings with us, in any Puniſhments already inflicted, or that he may ſee meet to bring upon us. That muſt be our humble Language, (in the Words of ſome of GOD's People of old, … Iſel … Neh 9.33. E…ra 9.15. Dan. 9.7.) If Thou, Lord, ſhouldeſt mark Iniquities, O Lord, who ſhould ſtand! Thou art juſt in all that is brought upon us: for Thou haſt done right, but we have done wickedly: O Lord God of Iſrael, Thou art rightcous: behold, we are before Thee in our Treſpaſſes; for we cannot ſtand before Thee, becauſe of this. O Lord, Righteouſneſs belongeth unto Thee; but unto us Confuſion of Faces, as at this day.
MOREOVER, there muſt be much & ſervent Prayer. This is the natural Effect of a due Humiliation. Thus we read of Manaſſeb, 2 Chron. 33.12. When he was in affliction, be beſought the Lord his God, and humbled himſelf greatly before the God of his Fathers. So the Pſalmist, Pſal. 35.13. I humbled my ſoul with faſting, and my prayer returned into mine own boſom. When we humble our ſelves to GOD, we ſhou'd ſeek his Face; deprecate the Continuance of his His Frowns, and intreat the Return of his Favours. We muſt ſeek Reconciliation with GOD; caſting our ſelves down at his feet, and from the Duſt crying to him for pardoning Mercy, and Deliverance. That is the Direction given us, Hoſ. 14.2. Take with you Words, and turn to the Lord, and ſay unto Him, Take away all Iniquity, and receive us graciouſly. We muſt pray as the Church of old did, †Iſai. 33.2.63.15.64.5. &c. Deut. 9.26, &c. Jer. 14.7, &c., O Lord, be gracious unto us; we have waited for Thee: be Thou our Arm every morning, our Salvation alſo in the time of trouble. Look down from Heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy Holineſs and of thy Glory: where is thy Zeal and thy Strength, the ſounding of thy Bowels, and of thy Mercies towards us? Are they restrained? Behold, Thou art wr…th: for we have ſinned. But now, O Lord, Thou art our Father: we are the Clay, and Thou our Potter, and we are all the work of thine Hand. Be not wroth very ſore, neither remember iniquity for ever. O Lord God, deſtroy not thy People, and thine Inberitance. Look not unto the ſtubborneſs of this People, nor to their Wickedneſs, nor to their Sin. O Lord, though our Iniquities teſtiſy againſt us, do Thou it for Thy Name ſake. O the Hope of Iſrael, the Saviour thereof in time of trouble… Why ſhouldest Thou be as a Stranger in the Land? Why ſhouldeſt Thou be as a Man aſtonied; as a mighty Man that cannot ſave? Yet Thou, O Lord, art in the midſt of us, and we are called by Thy Name: Leave us not. Hoſt Thou utterly rejected Judah? Hath Thy Soul loathed Zion? Why haſt Thou ſwitten us, and there is no Healing for us? We acknowledge, O Lord, our Wickedneſs. But do not abbor us, for Thy Names ſake, do not diſgrace the Throne of Thy Glory. Are there any among the Vanities of the Gentiles that can ſave us! Art not Thou He O Lord our God? Therefore we will wait upon Thee —. In ſuch ſtrains as theſe (the moſt devout & fervent) did the Prophets & People of GOD in old time call upon GOD in their days of Trouble. And theſe Prayers were put on Record for the Uſe and Imitation of ſucceeding Ages. Jam. 5.10 & 13. Take, my Brethren, the Prophets, for an Example —. Is any among you afflicted? Let him Pray. Pſal. 50.15. Call upon Me in the day of Trouble; I will deliver —. When we humble our ſelves to GOD, we muſt call upon Him: and we may do it with a holy Confidence, in the Name of CHRIST. We muſt improve the Mediator in all our Addreſſes to Heaven, and bring Him in the arms of our Faith; holding Him up as the expiatory Sacrifice, and pleading the Atonement of His Blood, which is ſufficient both for the Prieſthood & for the Congregation. Let us therefore come boldly unto the Thron… of Grace, that we may obtain Mercy, and find Grace to help in time of need. (Heb. …. 16.) And let us continue in Prayer. Iſai. 62.6, 7. … that make mention of the Lord, keep not ſilence; And give Him no reſt, till he eſtabliſh, and till he make Jeruſalem a praiſe in the earth.
IN fine, The Humiliation requir'd, implys a fincere Conſecration of our ſelves to God, & ſolemn Vows of Reformation & Obedience for the future. Surely it is meet to be ſaid unto God, I will not …f…end any more: if I have done Iniquity, I will do no more, (Job 34.31, 32.) That is the genuine Language of an Ephraim bemoaning himſelf, †Hoſ. 14.8., What have I any more to do with Idols! That is the proper Language of backſliding Children humbling themſelves ‖Jer. 3.22. Iſai. 26.13.33.22. Pſal 80 18., Behold, we come unto Thee: for Thou art the Lord our God. O Lord my God, other lords beſides Thee have bad dominion over us: but by Thee only will we make mention of thy Name. For the Lord is our Judge, The Lord is our Lawgiver, The Lord is our King. — We will not go back from Thee: quicken us, and we will call upon Thy Name. Thus the… muſt be a reſolute renouncing of Sin, and dev…ng our ſelves to GOD. We muſt caſt away e…ry Idol of Jealouſly; and allow of no Competitor with GOD, nor ſeek to any other Saviour, nor own any other Lord. We muſt yield our ſelves to GOD, and joyn our ſelves to the Lord in a perpetual Covenant. Thus we read how the People of Judah in Aſa's time, when humbling themſelves for their Sins, They entred into a Covenant to Jeek the Lord God of their Fathers, with all their Heart & with all their Soul; and they ſware unto the Lord; and all Judah rejoyced at the Oath; for they had ſworn with all their beart, and ſought Him with their whole deſire, (2 Chron. 15.12 —.) So in Nebemiah's time, we read, that the People, and the Prieſts, and the Nobles entred into a Curſe, and into an Oath, to walk in GOD's Law, and to obſerve all the Commandments of the Lord their God, Neb. 10.29.
THUS I have confider'd the Nature & Manner of a People's humbling themſelves, under the Judgments of GOD; which was the firſt Thing. I ſhall be ſhorter in ſpeaking to the other two Articles. Paſs we now to the next.
PROP. II. A People under Divine Judgments ſhould Fear. They ſhou'd fear GOD, and tremble at his Judgments, and be afraid of Sin, the procuring Cauſe. Sometimes Fear is put for Religious Worſhip, and ſometimes for the whole of Religion. But as it ſtands in the Text, I think it is to be taken for that Paſſion of the mind, called Fear. There ſhou'd be a holy Fear of GOD, and his Wrath; a Trembling at his Judgments, and a follicitous Care to obtain his Favour. We read, Pſal. 65.8. They that dwell in the uttermoſt Parts, are afraid at thy T…kens. The Pſalmiſt ſaid, My fleſh trembleth for Fear of Thee, and I am afraid of thy Judgments, (Pſal. 119.120.) So the Prophet, (Hab. 3.16.) When I heard, my Belly trembled: I trembled in my ſelf, that I might reſt in the day of Trouble. We ſhou'd ſtand trembling before GOD under the apprehenſion of preſent & impending Diſpenſations of his Wrath: but more eſpecially under the ſenſe of whatſoever provoking evils have kindled the Lord's Diſpleaſure, and made Him threaten a Departure from us. Ezra 9.4. Then were aſſembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the God of Iſrael, becauſe of the Tranſgreſſion of thoſe that had been carried away; and I ſat astonied until the Evening-ſacrifice. So, Chap. 10.9. All the People ſat in the Street of the Houſe of God, trembling becauſe of this matter. The Apoſtle mentions this as one thing in his Deſcription of the Corinthians Repentance; foremention'd, 2 Cor. 7.11. Behold, this ſelf ſame thing that ye ſorrowed after a godly ſort, What carefulneſs it wrought in you; yea, what clearing of your ſelves, (that is, What concern & endeavour to get acquitted from the guilt of Sin, and to eſcape the Judgments of GOD) Tea, what Indignation at your ſelves; yea, what Fear, what an awe of GOD, what a Reverence of his Majeſty, and Dread of his Wrath! Such a Fear is one Cauſe & Fruit of Humiliation. In the Prophet's deſcription of the true Penitent, theſe two Characters are joyned, Iſai. 66.2. To this Man will I look (ſaith the Lord) even to Him that is poor and of a contrite Spirit, and trembleth at my Word. If there be in us a humbling Senſe of our Provocations, there will be alſo an awaken'd ſenſe & trembling Apprehenſion of the dreadful Wrath of GOD hanging over our guilty Heads. Moreover there will be a Fear of Sin; a Caution & Self-jealouſy; a Diſtruſt of our own Hearts, a ſenſe of their Treachery, and a dread of turning again unto Folly; of relapſing into thoſe Sins, which have been the occaſion of ſo much forrow & anguiſh to us.
SUCH a Fear there ought to be in us at all times, and particularly under the Divine Judgements. Iſai. 8.13. Sanctify the Lord of Hoſts Himſelf, and let Him he your Fear, and let Him be your Dread. Where there is a due Humiliation, there will be this godly Fear: and where there is ſuch a Humiliation & Fear, there will be the laſt thing in the Text, as the Effect thereof, viz. Reformation & Obedience. But this brings me to the other Propoſition.
PROP. III. A People under the Divine Judgments, ſhould turn their Feet unto God's Teſtimonies, to walk in His Law. In the day of Adverfity we ſhou'd conſider: Confider GOD, and be afraid: conſider our ſelves, and be abaſed: conſider our ways, and repent: conſider GOD's Statutes, and turn our feet unto His Teſtimonies: conſider our profeſſed Humiliation, and bring forth Fruit meet for Repentance; for ſaking the Sins we pretend a ſhame and ſorrow for: conſider the Vows we make in the time of our Diſtreſs, and ſet our ſelves daily to perform them: conſider the Calls of Providence, and hear the Rod, and turn at GOD's Reproof; who chaſtens us for our Profit, that we may be made Partakers of His Holineſs, and who expects that we be reformed by theſe Things. If we are indeed humbled, this will be one ſpeedy and viſible Effect. Where there is a broken Heart, there will be a reformed Life. Reformation and Obedience (faith an Expoſitor †Poul's Annot.on the Place) are the firſt fruits of true Humiliation. GOD accounteth thoſe not humbled, but herdned, who are not reform'd, and become obedient to His Will; let their pretended Attrition, or Contrition be in outward appearance what it will. This is the Repentance GOD calls for, even a thorow and univerſal Change of Heart and Life. This is the Faſt, which He hath choſen ‖Iſa. 58.6., to looſe the bands of Wickedneſs, — to turn from our evil ways, to make our Doings good, and to walk in His Law. The Fear of the Lord is to depart from Evil: and this is the Love of GOD, that we keep His Commandments. — Deut. 10.12. And now Iſrael, What doth the Lord thy GOD require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy GOD, to walk in all his ways, and to love Him, and to ſerve the Lord thy GOD with all thy heart, and with all thy ſoul? So Mic. 6.8. He hath ſhewed thee, O man, what is good: and what doth the Lord require of thee but to do juſtly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy GOD? This is what GOD calls us to by his Judgments: and the Promiſe of Salvation is ſuſpended on this Condition, 2 Chro. 7.14. If my People which are called by my Name, ſhall humble themſelves, and pray & ſeek my Face, and turn from their wicked Ways; then I will hear from Heaven, & will forgive their Sin, and will beal their Land.
WE ſee then what is the Duty and Buſineſs of the preſent Day. We in this Place & Land are an afflicted People, groaning under a variety of awful Judgments. And from the Premiſſes, we may learn what Tempers and Deportments do become our Condition. Surely it becomes us to be a ſelf-humbling, a trembling, and a reforming People. O that we may be found ſuch! Let us every one perſonally humble our ſelves, and fear, & reform and be obedient. And then in our ſeveral places lay out our ſelves to promote ſuch a Diſpoſition and Conduct in all about us. This wou'd be a ſure Token for Good, and afford the moſt defirable Prognoſtick of a happy Change of Times approaching. Bleſſed be GOD, the GOD of all grace, that there are found among us a number of ſuch as tremble at his Word, and at his Judgments, Men of a humble and contrire Spirit, Men of Prayer, and Men of a holy Converſation. Theſe ſurely are the Strength and Security, the Riches and Beauty of the Land. The Lord add to them daily, and make them a thouſand times ſo many more as they are! The Lord revive his work! Help, Lord, for the Faithful fail!— Tis to be fear'd ſuch Perſons are but thin ſown among us, and the number continually leſſening: and that this People in general have the Complaint in our Text too deſervedly lying againſt them, — Ye have not humbled your ſelves, even to tha… day, neither have ye feared, nor walked in GOD's Law. — But this leads me to another Obſervation from the Text.
DOCT. II. IT is ſometimes the ſad Caſe of a of Divine Judgments; but remain ſecure, unhumbled, and unreform'd notwithſtanding all.
THUS the Jews in our Text had met with a long Train of very deſolating Judgments; but yet all was … little to make them weary of Sin, and willing to turn to GOD. They wou'd not be reform'd by theſe things, but did ſtill go on in their Treſpaſſes, and walk contrary to GOD. And this is the ſad State and Caſe of many others in the World, beſides the Jews. It is often the juſt Character and Reproach of a people now, as well as then, that they do not humble themſelves, and fear and walk in GOD's Law, altho' he viſits their Iniquities upon them, and brings them low by one Judgment after another. Judgments rather harden, than melt them. All the methods of Diſcipline are loſt upon them. They will not receive Correction. They will not be inſtructed; they will not hear the Rod; but ſtop their Ears, & refuſe to return.
SOMETIMES they are Stupid under the Tokens of GOD's Diſpleaſure, and remain inſenſible under all the means us'd to awaken them out of their ſpiritual Slun… … Epiraim is a Cake not turned: ſtrangers have devoured his ſtrength, and he knoweth it not; Yea, gray Hairs are ſprinkled upon h…, yet he knoweth it not. The Stork in the Heavens knoweth her appointed Times: but Iſrael doth not know the Judgment of the Lord. GOD poureth on them the fory of his Anger, and the ſtrength of Battel; and it ſetteth them on fire round about, yet they know it not; and it burneth them, yet they lay it not to Heart. His Hand is lifted up, but they will not ſee. They are a fooliſh People, and without underſtanding, which have eyes, and ſee not; which have ears, and hear not. A revolting and rebellious Heart have they, even a Heart of Stone, that will not relent and they harden their faces as a Rock. Are they aſhamed, when they commit Abomination? Nay, they are not at all aſhamed, neither can they bluſh. They are Braſs & iron, Yea, as the very Adam…nt.
OP if they be not thus altogether inſenſible, yet …ey are unſubdu'd and inflexible, very reſolute, and mad on their L…ſts, even as the untam'd Horſe, or unbroken Mule, that hath no Underſtanding. They reject the Counfil of GOD againſt themſelves; and ſay in the Pride of their hearts, like thoſe (in our Context) who ſaid unto Jeremiah, As for the word that thou haſt ſpoken unto us in the name of the Lord, we will not bearken unto Thee: but we will certainly do whatſoever thing goeth forth out of our mouth. Or they ſay in their Deſpair, There is no hope, but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil he….
MANY times they proudly aſſert their own Innocence, againſt all the Convictions offer'd them: They will not ſee and own their Iniquity. They call Evil Good, and Good Evil, and put Darkneſs for Light, and Light for Darkneſs: or deny the Charge of Guilt, and ſtand upon their own Vindication. Thus our Lord reproved the Phariſees, Luk. 16.15. And he ſaid unto them, Ye are they which juſtifie your ſelves before men; but GOD knoweth your hearts; for that which is highly eſteemed amongſt men, is abomination in the ſight of GOD. Many times it is the unhappy Caſe of a People, that every particular Perſon ſhifts off the Blame from himſelf, and imputes the Cauſe of Divine Judgments to the Sins of others, and ſo looks on himſelf as unconcern'd in the Calls to Repentance.
MANY times they Scoff at GOD's Meſſengers, and laugh at their ſolemn Rebukes and Warni…s, and turn all into Banter and Ridicule. We read of Scornful Men that ruled in Jeruſalem, who made Lies their refuge. So we r…ad of the Jews, They …ocked the Meſſengers of GOD, & deſpiſed his Words. And again we read, They laughed them to ſcorn, & mecked them. Thus the Phariſees derided our Saviour's Counfils and Admonitions: and ſo the Athenians mecked, when Paul rebuk'd their Superſtition, and warn'd them of a future Judgment.
MANY times they murmur at the Providence of GOD, and are enrag'd at their Reprovers, and can't beat the Means that are us'd to bring them to Repentance. Under the Divine Chaſtnings they charge GOD fooliſhly, and complain as if his ways were not equal. Their Hearts riſe againſt GOD, and are hot within them. They rage and fret themſelves, as Bullocks unaccuſtomed to the Yoke. And they hate him that rebuketh in the gate. They can't endure to be told of their Sins. They ſpurn at Reproofs, and fly in the face of ſuch as deal plainly withthem, and abbor him that ſpeaketh uprightly. They are a rebellious People, lying Children. Children that will not hear the Law of the Lord: which ſay to the Seers, ſee not; and to the Prophets, Prophe…y not unto us right things, ſpeak …to us ſmooth things, Propheſy Deceits: Leave o… your preſent Courſe of preaching: Trouble us …o more with harſh Rebukes, and terrible T…nings. — Many times this is the Language of Sinner…. They would fain ſtop the mouths of their faithful Monitors, and put out the Eyes of their watchful Seers. They love Darkneſs rather than Light, becauſe their Deeds are evil. Their Hearts are fully ſet in them to do Evil, and they go on frowardly in the ways of their own Eyes. And if any one ſtand in their way, to check them in their wild Career, they take it heinouſly. They ſay to their Reprovers, Get you out of the way, and let us alone. Sometimes they banter, and ſcorn, and deride them. Sometimes they brow-beat, and hector, and revile them, They lift their Horn on high, and ſpeak with a ſtiff Neck. They ſwell and rage, they huff and threaten. Amaziah is an Inſtance of this; who being reproved by a Prophet, it came to paſs as he talked with him, that the King ſaid unto him, Art thou made of the King's Counſel? Forbear; Why ſhouldeſt thou be ſmitten? (2 Chron. 25.16.) And ſometimes they proceed to Perſecution and Violence. Thus wicked Ahab took Micaiah, (who had propheſy'd Evil of him) and put him in Priſon, there to be fed with Bread of Affliction, and with water of Affliction. And good Aſa himſelf was once wroth with Hanani the Seer, for reproving him, and he put him in a Priſon-houſe; for he was in a Rage with him, becauſe of this thing. And thus the Jews deviſed Devices againſt Jeremiah, and ſmote him with the Tongue, and digged a Pit for his Soul, and hid Snares for his Feet.
THESE are ſome of the Signs and Fruits of an unhumbled Spirit & rebellious Heart: which are too often viſible among a People under Divine Judgments. Sometimes ſuch evil and malignant Tempers reign among them, and are almoſt epidemical. This ſhows the greateſt Contumacy & Incorrigibleneſs. Where this is the Caſe, they are truly & emphatically a ſtiffnecked Generation, a crooked and perverſe Nation.
BUT this is not always the Caſe even where a People may be ſaid to be unhumbled. Sometimes there may not appear ſuch a proud, paſſionate, impatient, inflexible Spirit among a People under Divine Judgments, and yet they may be unſubdu'd and impenitent. Sometimes Sinners are pretty patient of Reproofs from men: they do not mock, or rage, and brave it as others do, but give their Ear modeſtly and calmly: yet they go on ſtill in their own way. Somethey patiently bear Divine Rebukes. Under Afflictive Providences they are quiet and ſilent, and ſeemingly penitent: but ſtill nothing is reformed. Or it may be ſome Reformation is produced, and Humiliation pretended; yet notwithſtanding it may be truly ſaid of them, They are not humbled, neither have they feared. They may be ſaid to humble themſelves, in no better ſenſe, than it is affirmed of Ahab, who faſted, & lay in ſackloth, & went ſoftly; and yet the Statutes of O…ri were kept ſtill, and none of the Sins forſaken, for which all that mourning was pretended. In their Affliction, they perhaps keep days of Faſting and Prayer, and call ſolemn Aſſemblies, to ſeek GOD, and to humble themſelves in his …t: but ſtill they are not humbled. They do not faſt aright; they don't faſt to GOD, even unto Him. GOD is near in their mouth, but far from their Reins. They inquire with a falſe Heart, and all their Humiliations are but Pageantty and Pretence. They make a ſpecious ſhew (it may be) of Self-abaſement, of Mortification, and Devotion, but the Reality is wanting. They put on a demure Countenance, disfigure their Faces, and hang down their heads as a Bulruth (for a day,) they lie down in their ſhame, and ſpread Sackloth and Aſhes under them: They have a Flow of Affections, and cover the Alta… with Tears, and pour out their Prayers with a ſeeming Ardour, cauſing their voice to be heard on high. They make heavy Complaints of the Wickedneſs of the Times, and make very plentiful Confeſſions of their own Sins, together with very ſolemn Proteſtations of Repentance: they plight their Vows to GOD, and make Reſolutions of Amendment for time to come. They ask of Him the Ordinance of Juſtice as a Nation that loved Righteouſneſs, and forſook not the Ordinance of their GOD. —. And yet after all, there is nothing but the thin ſhadow of a Faſt; nothing but the empty Appearance of Humiliation; nothing but the bare Promiſe of Reformation. Their profuſe Tears dry up, and all their ſeeming Devotion ſoon expires, as a vapour: They forget their Vows, and turn from the holy Commandment. Sin revives; unmortify…d Luſts awake in them; by which they are enticed and overcome. Thus it happens to them according to the true Proverb, The Dog is turned to his own Vomit again; and, The Sow that was waſhed, to her wallowing in the Mire. So the Apoſtle complains of ſome among the Primiti… Chriſtians, 2 Pet. 2.22. And thus GOD oft… complain'd of the Jews of old. Pſal. 78.34 — 3… When he ſlew them, then they ſought him: a… they returned and enquired early after GOD. A… they remembred that GOD was their rock, and … high GOD their redeemer. Nevertheleſs, th… did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied un… him with their tongues. For their heart was … right with him, neither were they stedfaſt in … covenant. Jer. 8.5.6. Why then is this people Jeruſalem ſlidden back, by a perpetual backſl…ding they hold faſt deceit, they refuſe to return. I hear… en…d and heard, but they ſpake not aright: no m… repented him of his wickedneſs, ſaying, What ha… I done? every one turneth to his courſe, as t… horſe ruſheth into the bastel. Hoſ. 6.4, 7. O Ep…rai… what ſhall I do unto thee? O Judah, what ſhall I … unto thee? for your goodneſs is as a morning-clou… and as the early dew it goeth away. But they li… men have tranſgreſſed the covenant: there ha… they dealt treacherouſly againſt me. Chap. 7.14, And they have not cried unto me with their hea… when they …wled upon their beds: they aſſem… themſelves for corn & wine, and they rebel agai… me. They return, but not to the moſt High: … are like a deceitful how.
NOW, is this ſometimes the Caſe of a Peo… under GOD's Judgments? Let it then put upon Inquiring into our Caſe. We have be and are at this Day, under the Rod of Div… Providence. But what is our Frame and Dep… ment? Are we truly humbled? Do we … GOD? Do we walk in his Law? Or are ſecure, impenitent, and …nreform'd? Let us inquire into theſe things. It is an Inquiry of vaſt Concernment to us: and therefore we ſhou…d in good carneſt examine our ſelves. If we think our ſelves ſomething, when indeed we are nothing, we deceive our ſelves, and if we deceive our ſelves, Iniquity will be our Ruin. If ye will inquire then, inquire ye.
But thus much for the ſecond Note.
DOCT. III. GOD obſerves a People's Conduct under his Judgments, and marks againſt them all their Obstinacy and Stubb…rneſs.
THIS is imply'd in the Complaint, which he makes in our Text, — They have not humbled themſelves, neither have they feared, &c. And this Note may be confirm'd from another paſſage in the Prophecy. Je… 8.6. I hearkened and heard, but they ſpake not aright: no man repented him of his Wickedneſs. So, Job 32.27. GOD looketh upon Men, (when they have done amiſs, and are under his Chaſt…) to hear, if any ſay, I have finned. He diligen…y obſerves all Mankind, and their ſeveral Carring…s, eſpecially in Affliction & Diſtreſs. His Eyes run to and fro, in the Earth, beholding the Evil and the Good. His Eyes are open on all the ways of Man. He compaſſes our Path; He trys our Hearts, and weighs our Actions. He obſerves Men's Conduct at all times, in all places, and under all his dealings with them. Particularly, he obſerves how they carry it under his Rod; what their Tempers and Deportments are; whether they are duly humbled for their Sins; whether they are afraid of his Judgments; whether they turn from their evil Doings, &c. He takes notice if they neglect theſe things. If they are impenitent, obſtinate, and irreclaimable, he marks it againſt them. He critically obſerves this Miſconduct in a People in general, and in every Perſon in particular. His Eye is upon every one of whatever Rank, Age, or Condition; taking an exact notice of their Thoughts, Words, and Actions under his Afflicting Hand, & noting all down in His Book of Remembrance.
NOW this O ſervation is in order to Judgment upon their Conduct, and the ſuting GOD's further Diſpenſations to their Caſe. For He does not act therein as a careleſs, indifferent Spectator of Human Affairs, but as the Lord & Judge of the World. Hence we read, Jer. 17.10. I the Lord ſearch the Heart, I try the Reins, even to give to every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. The Lord is a GOD of Judgment. He is righteous in all his ways, and all his Works are done in Wiſdom. He concerts the beſt methods for managing his Providential Government, and be ordinarily obſerves a Rule in his Diſpenſations towards a People. Infinite Wiſdom and Juſtice proportions the Puniſhment to the Provocation, ſo that commonly a People's Sufferings are greater or leſſer according to the kind and degree of their Sins. Now in order to this, a right Judgment muſt be paſſed on Men: and to this an accurate Inſpection of them is neceſſary. Hence GOD is repreſented as taking the moſt critical obſervation of us. His Eyes behold and His Eye-lids try the Children of Men.
AND is it thus! How watchful then ſhou'd … be over ou… ſelves at all times? Particularly in a day of Adverſity, how ought we to conſider our ways, to ponder the path of our Feet, and take heed to our ſelves; giving diligence leſt any man fail of the grace of GOD; walking circumſpectly, not as Fools, but as Wiſe; redeeming the time, becauſe the days are evil: laying to heart the Judgments of GOD, and ſtudying to improve them to our Repentance and Reformation; afraid of further Judgments, unto which Impenitency will expoſe us!
BUT this leads me to the laſt Obſervation from the Text, viz.
DOCT. IV. WHEN a People are finally obſtinate and irr…clamable, GOD will ſet his face againſt them for Evil.
SO ſtands the Threatning in our Text. They are not humbled, even to this day: Therefore ſaith the Lord, Behold, I will ſet my face againſt you for Evil.
1. GOD will ſet His Face against them. It imply's Reſentment and Diſpleaſure in the ſuperlative degree. GOD will turn away his Favour from ſuch a People, and His Jealouſy will burn againſt them. His Soul will depart from them. His Soul will lothe them, neither will … ſpare, neither will he repent. He that made them, will have no Mercy upon them; and he that form'd them, will ſhew them no Favour. He will caſt them off; caſt them out of his Sight; caſt them away from his Preſence. He will withdraw his directing and protecting Preſence, and no more be their Guide or Guard: his ſanctifying Preſence, and will take away his holy Spirit from them: his Symbolical Preſence (in the end) and will take away his Kingdom from among them, remove their Candleſtick out of its place, and put out their Light in obſcure Darkneſs.
HE will l…th their Perſons, and turn to be their Adverſary. He will reject all their pretended Services, and caſt them back as filth in their faces. Their New moons & their Sabbaths his Soul will have: and when they ſpread forth their hands, He will hide his Eyes from them, Yea, when they make many Prayers. He will not hear. When they faſt, He will not regard them, and when they offer an Oblation, He will not accept them; for he remembreth their Iniquity, that they loved to wander, and would not return from their ways; They refuſed to hearken, and pulled away the Shoulder, and ſtopped their Ears that they ſhould not hear. Yea, they made their hearts as an Adamant-Stone, leſt they ſhou'd hear the Law: therefore it is now come to paſs, that as GOD cried, and they would not hear; ſo when they cry, He will not hear. He will cover himſelf with a Cloud, that their Prayer ſhould not paſs thorow. He will not regard their Affliction, but in anger will ſhut up his tender mercies, and …e favourable no more. Nay, He will laugh at their Calamity, and mo…k when their Fear cometh.
2. HE will ſet his Face againſt them for Evil. He will not only withdraw his Favour from them, but will pour out his Indignation upon them. He will not only reject their Prayers, and deny them an Anſwer of Peace: but will anſwer them in terrible things by Righteouſneſs. His Heart is turned from them, & his Preſence gone, which is the Safety and Happineſs, the Strength and Glory of a People. His Face is ſet againſt them, and Wo to them that are in ſuch a Caſe. Who knoweth the power of his Anger? It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living GOD. When GOD is angry with a People, & cau…eth his Fury to reſt on them, all manner of Evils will break in upon them, as a Flood, or as a conſuming Fire. When GOD ſets his face againſt a People, & forſakes them, Iniquity will abound more and more, until Wrath comes upon them to the uttermoſt. Their miſery will be great upon them; and the very Bleſſings that may be ſpared to them for a while, will be turn'd into Curſes, and become a Snare to them.
IF a People are finally impenitent, GOD will thus ſet his face againſt them for Evil. He may bear long with them, but he will not …ear always. He is a GOD gracious, and longſuffering: but if his Patience be abus'd, and his Grace turned into wantonneſs, it will kindle his Anger,' & he will puniſh at laſt. If a profeſſing People forſake the Lord, then he will turn, and will do them Hurt, after that he has done them Good; and if they finally forſake GOD, He will be angry with them till he conſume them utterly.
THAT GOD will thus ſet his Face againſt a People for Evil, if they are obſtinately impenitent, appears from the many awful Threatnings in the Word of Truth. Thus 2 Chron. 15.2. The Lord is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye ſeek him, be will be ſound of you; but if ye forſake him, be will forſake you. How plain and peremptory and ſolemn are thoſe Me…es in the Twenty ſixth Chapter of Leviti…, where GOD ſays to his People, — It ye will not hearken unto me, but will break my Covenant, I alſo will do this unto you, I will appoint over you Terror, Conſumption, and the burning Ague: and I will ſet my Face againſt you and ye ſhall be ſlain before your Enemies. And if ye will not yet for all this hearken to me, then will I puniſh you ſeven times more for your Sins: and I will break the Pride of your Power; and I will make your Heaven as Iron, and your Earth as Braſs, and your Land ſhall not yield her Increaſe. And if …e walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken to me, I will bring ſeven times m…re Plagues upon you, according to your Sins, and will ſend wild Beaſts among you, which ſhall rob you of your Children, &c. And if ye will not be reformed by me by theſe things, but will walk contrary unto me, then will I alſo walk contrary unto you, and will puniſh you yet ſeven times for your Sins, and I will bring the Sword upon you, that ſhall avenge the Quarrel of my Covenant: I will ſend the Peſtilence among you, &c. And if ye will not for all this hearken unto me, but walk contrary unto me, then I alſo will walk contrary unto you in Fury; and I, even I, will chaſtiſe you ſeven times for your Sins. And my Soul ſhall abbor you, and I will make your Cities wa…, and bring your Sanctuaries into Deſolation, and I will not ſmell the Savour of your ſweet Odours, &c. Thus GOD threaten'd the Jewiſh Nation of old. And in like manner he threaten'd Iſrael's evil Neighbours, the Heathen Nations bordering upon Judea, as in Jer. 12.17. If they will not diligently learn the Ways of my People to ſwear by my Name, I will utterly pluck up, and deſtroy that Nation, ſaith the Lord. And it ſeems to be a ſtanding Law of his Providential Government, that, Jer. 18.9, 10. At what time I ſhall ſpeak concerning a Nation, or a Kingdom, to build and to plant it: If it do Evil in my ſight, that it obey not my Voice, then I will repent of the Good wherewith I ſaid I would benefit them. And a like Text we have relating to Goſpel-times, Iſa. 60.12. The Nation and Kingdom that Will not ſerve Thee [or will not ſubmit to Chriſt's Sceptre] ſhall be utterly wasted. — Now GOD is true, that hath thus threatned. Hath He ſaid it, and will He not do it? Yea ſurely; tho' the Sentence be not ſpeedily executed, yet it ſhall not always be delay'd. Tho' He be ſlow to Anger, yet He will be true to His Threatnings, and not one Iota of them ſhall fail.
WE may confirm this Argument from the many known Examples of Divine Vengeance. There have been ſad and lamentable Inſtances of a People's being ruin'd by their Iniquity, and Provoking GOD to Anger, till He has ſet his face againſt them to deſtroy them. Many Citys and Countries, that were once lifted up to Heaven, have long ſince been bro't into Deſolation for their Sins. Great Babylon, which in its day, was the wonder of the World, the glory of Kingdoms, has long ſince been totally and irrecoverably deſtroy'd, as when GOD over …rew Sodom & Gomorrha. So Jeruſalem, that was the Beauty of Jadea & the Joy of the whole Earth, The place which GOD once choſe for his Habitation, where he had his Temple; and whither the Tribes went up, the Tribes of the Lord unto the Teſtimony of Iſrael; where were ſet Thrones of Judgment, the Thrones of the Houſe of David; within whoſe walls were Peace, and Proſperity in all her Palaces; a Place (if any ever in the world) lift up to Heaven; yet even this place is long ago ſunk down to Hell, laid deſolate, bury'd and loſt. The Jewiſh Nation, for crucifying the Lord of Glory, were rejected of GOD from being any more his People, and their City, and Land made an utter Deſolation. And the like Fate has befallen many places fince, that in the early ages of Chriſtianity were flouriſhing & populous. Many famous Churches, that were once the beauty and glory of the Chriſtian World, are long ſince for their Apoſtaſy and Impenitence, reduced to Shame and Ruin; become the Habitations of Cruelty, the Seats of Barbarity, & Idolatry, & are pin'd away in their Iniquitys. — Now theſe Examples do read loud Lectures to us upon our Text, and afford clear Conviction of the …rine before us. And we may expect that GOD will deal alike with others that are alike guilty. For GOD ſeems to have one Rule of dealing with a profeſſing People, and the Meaſures of Providence are uſually the ſame. Indeed, He reſerves a Sovereign Liberty to Himſelf, as to the Circumſtances of his Diſpenſations, in which there is often a Variety. Some have gentler diſcipline than others; ſome have a longer ſpace to repent, than others, &c. However, in the general, there is one ſtated Rule, according to which GOD in his Providence impartially proceeds, eſpecially with a profeſſing People. Hence He ſends backſliding Jeruſalem to ſelf-ruin'd Shiloh, to view his Judgments there upon his rebellious People; and puts them in mind of the Ruin of the Ten Tribes: that by comparing Caſes, they might draw proper Concluſions for their own Inſtruction and Conviction. As we have it, Jer. 7.12—15. Go ye unto my place, which was in Shiloh, where I ſet my name at the firſt, and ſee what I did to it, for the wickedneſs of my people Iſrael. And now, becauſe ye have done all theſe works, ſaith the Lord, — Therefore will I do unto you— as I have done to Shiloh. And I will cast you out of my ſight, as I have cast out all your brethren, even the whole ſeed of Ephraim.—All theſe Judgments happen'd to them for Enſamples: And the Record of them was made for our Learning and Admonition, upon whom the Ends of the World are come. As one ſaith, GOD writes his ſevere Truths with the Blood of his diſobedient Subjects, and makes their ruinous Heaps to proclaim Knowledge and Counſil to the reſt of the World. Sodom's Aſhes, Shiloh's Fire, Jeruſalem's Deſolation, are Uſes of Inſtruction & Warning to all the Inhabitants of the Earth. They fell by their Iniquity, and ſuch as tread in their wicked ſteps, may expect to fall by the like Judgments. For GOD is uniform, and of a piece with Himſelf in his judicial Proceedings. 'Tis a Rule of Juſtice, Ut Parium par ſit Ratio; That the equally guilty ſhou'd be puniſh'd alike. Luk. 13.3. Except ye repent, ye ſhall all likewiſe periſh.
AND now, as to the Reaſons and Foundations of GOD's judicial proceedings with any People, eſpecially a profeſſing People, they ſeem to be very clear & obvious. The Honour of his own Name calls for ſuch a Conduct towards an impenitent People. His Glory is eſpecially concern'd in the matter; the Glory of his Holineſs, and of his Faithfulneſs, and Wiſdom, &c. He ſeems bound in Honour to thoſe Attributes, to witneſs againſt the Apoſtacys of his People, by inflicting Judgments upon them. Otherwiſe His Name will peculiarly ſuffer by their Wickedneſs and Impenitence. Hence He tells Iſrael of old, Amos 3.2. You only have I known of all the Families of the earth: therefore I will puniſh you for all your iniquities.
IN a word, The Honour of Divine Juſtice requires the puniſhing a ſinful People, and deſtroying them, if finally impenitent. Will not the Judge of all the Earth do right? Is there any Iniquity with GOD? Will he not render to every Man according to his Work? And to every People according to the fruit of their Doings? Verily He will render a Reward to the Proud. There is no Unrighteouſneſs in Him. As He is oblig…d in Juſtice, He will not let a rebellious People gounpuniſh'd. Indeed as to Individuals or particular Perſons, there may poſſibly be ſome Exceptions, during the preſent State: Some Sinners may have almoſt all their Puniſhment reſerv'd to the future World: But if we conſider Men as united in Society, and making up diſtinct Provinces, Kingdoms and Nations, we ſhall find the Conduct of God's Providence towards them is vaſtly different in this particular. National Guilts infer National Judgments. God exerciſes a Government over Men, as they coaleſce into diſtinct Communities Pſal. 22.28. For the kingdom is the Lord's: and he is the governour among the nations. And his Government is infinitely wiſe, and good, and juſt, and holy. He governs them by Law and Rule: And He judges them according to their doings. Now methinks, we muſt have very odd notions of Things, if we imagine that human Societies, as ſuch, have any reference to the future State, or can be judged in another World. Hence, if ever God puniſh them, it muſt be in the preſent State. Divine Juſtice ſeems more concern'd then to puniſh Nations, than Perſons, in the Life that now is.
GOD can puniſh whole Nations as eaſily as particular Perſons. He has National Judgments; Puniſhments of a publick Aſpect and general Concern. And if a People fin, they lay themſelves open to ſuch Judgments. And if they are finally impenitent, Divine Juſtice calls a…oud for their utter Deſtruction. When a People are obſtinate and irreclamable, after a long …me of Trial and much waiting upon them, God repreſents himſelf as weary with repenting, and oblig'd to proceed to their Deſtruction. Jer. 15.5, 6. For who ſhall have pity upon thee, O Jeruſalem? or who ſhall bemoan thee? or who ſhall go aſide to ask how thou doest? Thou haſt forſaken me, ſaith the Lord, thou art gone backward: therefore will I ſtretch out my hand againſt thee, and deſtroy thee: I am weary with repenting.—He may very juſtly do ſo. For exceeding aggravated is the Provocation that ſuch a People offer unto God; very great the Affronts they put upon Him. It is the higheſt Inſtance of Stubborneſs and Rebellion againſt God, to be incorrigible, and unhumbled, under very humbling Diſpenſations, and not afraid of the Conſequence. It is in effect a bidding Defiance to God, a challenging his Vengeance to do it's utmoſt. 'Tis the higheſt Inſolence and Contempt of God, and muſt needs be extremely provoking to Him. He may well therefore ſet his Face againſt ſuch a Rebellious People. Shall not God viſit ſuch a Nation as this?
MOREOVER, It defeats the Deſign of Providence, in afflictive Diſpenſations. The great End ordinarily is to bring a People to Repentance: and for this purpoſe, Divine Judgments are ordinarily for a long while temper'd with much Mercy, that by the Goodneſs of God we may be led to Repentance. It his method to try a People by leſs and lighter Judgments at firſt; and if theſe are ineffectual, he brings greater and heavier. And if after all they will walk contrary to God, and will not be reformed by theſe Things, but defeat his gracious Deſign by a perſevering Impenitence; how reaſonably, how juſtly may his abuſed Patience turn into flaming Indignation? His Anger may well burn againſt them, and his Fury be pour'd out like Fire, to conſume them utterly! When a People have out-ſtood all the Methods of Reformation, they are completely ripe for Ruin. They have fill'd up the meaſure of their Iniquity: they have provoked GOD to the laſt degree. And … ſhould he not ſet his Face againſt them for Evil, to cut them off, and to make an utter End Shall not my Soul be avenged on ſuch a Nation as this, ſaith the Lord. Behold I am againſt Thee; I will make thee vile, and will Set thee as a Gazing-Stock. I am weary with repenting. I will ſurely deſtroy thee; neither will I repent any more, nor ſhall mine Eye ſpare Thee, faith the Lord.
BUT now to apply this Doctrine in a few Hims.
USE 1. THIS affords a ſad Progn…ſtick to a People that have long continu'd Impenitent under a Courſe of o…ictive Diſpenſations.
IT tells us, They are like to have the bleſſed GOD ſet his Face againſt them. If they are reſolv'd upon Sinning, He is reſolv'd upon Puniſhing. GOD is jealous, and the Lord revengeth: the Lord will take Vengeance on his Adverſaries, and He reſerveth Wrath for his Enemies. Tho' He be ſlow to Anger; yet He will not at all acquit the Wicked. How miſerable then are a People, ſecure and ſtupid under many Judgments, like to be in the Iſſue! They muſt expect the Continuance and Aggravation of their Calamities. There's no proſpect of any Period to their Troubles; unleſs GOD is pleas'd to have done ſtriving with them: and that is the moſt formidable Judgment in the World. Indeed ſometimes Sovereign Divine Grace is exalted and triumphs in the Converſion of a Perſon or a People, after they have long ſtood it out againſt all means. Iſai. 57.17, 18. I was wroth & ſmote him; I hid me and was wroth: and be went on frowardly in the way of his heart. I have ſeen his ways, and will heal him. But this is an extraordinary Caſe. If we conſider the common Courſe of Providence, and the conſtant Tenour of the Covenant, They both (with united voices) read Lectures of Terror, and ſpeak ſadly, to ſuch a People. From hence We may learn, What we have to fear, if we do not repent, and turn to GOD. We have ſinned: and GOD hath a Controverſy with us: Tho' hitherto he has dealt very tenderly & compaſſionately with us; in wrath remembring Mercy. But if we go on ſtill in our Treſpaſſes, we muſt expect GOD will heap on us more ſevere and heavy Judgments, than ever yet we have felt. We may expect fearful Tragedies to be acted on the Stage, before GOD has performed His work, whether it be of Mercy or of Vengeance.
USE 2. WHAT has been ſaid may help to account for thoſe dark Appearances of Providence, wherein GOD ſeems to be ſetting his Face againſt this People, at this day.
WE are fallen by our Iniquity: GOD has viſited our Sins upon us from time to time, by Scarcity, by epidemical Sickneſſes, by War in our Borders, Piracies at Sea, &c. By various Judgments we have many times been brought low. And how are our common Calamities grown & aggravated at this day! It is in many reſpects a time of Jacob's Trouble. It is particularly a day of Battel & War, wherein we are frequently made to bleed by the Sword of the Wilderneſs: and a ſcorching ſeaſon, wherein GOD is with-holding the Rain of Heaven, and making the Rain of our Land powder and duſt. Our diſtreſs & perplexity is great on theſe accounts, and others. And GOD ſeems to be threatning us with greater Calamities. The preſent Aſpects of Providence upon us in our moſt important Intereſts, how frowning are they! Above all the too ſenſible Withdraw of the Spirit of GOD from among us, affords the moſt awful Symptom, that GOD is ſetting his Face againſt us.
AND what is the ground of all? Why, becauſe we are not humbled, even to this day. The People turneth not to Him that ſmiteth them: and therefore his Anger is not turned away, but his Hand is ſtretched out ſtill; notwithſtanding the many days of Humiliation we have ſolemnized. I deſire to lay my hand on my own Breaſt in the firſt place: but ſuffer me to ſay, Doubtleſs we have in general too much reaſon to condemn our ſelves, as the faulty Cauſes of our own Diſtreſſes: It is becauſe we are ſtill unreform'd, that GOD will not put an End to his Controverſy with us.
USE 3. LET us ſee & admire the Patience of GOD towards us in this Land.
O the Riches of the Patience, & Forbearance of GOD; who, tho' He has not ſuffer'd us to go unpuniſht, yet has debated with us in meaſure, and stay'd his Rough Wind in the day of the Eaſt Wind. A great many Mercies have been mingled with his Judgments. He hath not rewarded us according to our Iniquities. He hath not in anger ſhut up his Bowels, but is long-ſuffering to usward, not willing that we ſhould periſh, but that all ſhould come to Repentance. Indeed He is awfully contending with us by various Judgments, avenging the Quarrel of his violated Covenant; and is making progreſs in his Controverſy with us: yet He takes but very ſlow Steps, and makes many Pauſes, giving us a Space to repent, and waiting to be gracious. Surely He is a GOD ſlow to Anger, long-ſuffering, and abundant in Goodneſs & Mercy. Surely it is of the Lord's Mercy, that we are not conſumed. O let us realize the Divine Lenity & Forbearance towards us, and give to GOD the Glory of his infinite Patience.
USE 4. WHAT has been ſaid warns us to beware of continu'd Impenitency, and calls upon us to humble our ſelves in the ſight of GOD, leſt He be provoked to abandon us utterly.
RETURN thou backſliding Iſrael, ſaith the Lord, and I will not cauſe my Anger to fall upon you; for I am merciful, ſaith the Lord, and I will not keep Anger for ever. Turn, O backſliding Children! Circumciſe your Hearts to the Lord, leſt my Fury come forth like Fire, and burn that none can quench it, becauſe of the Evil of your Doings, ſaith the Lord. Be ye not ſtiff-necked, but yield your ſelves unto GOD, that the Fierceneſs of his Wrath may turn away from you. He will not turn away his Face, if ye return unto Him. He will not hide Himſelf for ever. O Jeruſalem, waſh thine Heart from Wickedneſs, that thou mayeſt be ſaved. How long ſhall thy vain Thoughts lodge within thee? How long wilt thou refuſe to humble thy ſelf before me, ſaith the Lord. How long will this People provoke Me? Do they provoke Me to Anger, ſaith the Lord! Do they not provoke themſelves to the Confuſion of their own Faces! Do ye provoke the Lord to Jealouſy! Are ye ſtronger than He! O fooliſh People, and unwiſe! Shall Briars and Thorns be ſet in array againſt devouring Fire! Verily He is a jealous GOD, with whom we have to do, and He is a ſtrong Lord. Who knoweth the power of his Wrath? Who can ſtand before Him, when once He is angry? Why then ſhould we incenſe him yet more, by a perſevering Impenitency! He is jealous for his great Name, which is pecu…iarly concern'd in our Conduct, and in the ma…nner of His Dealings with us. And He will have Honour from us, in our Repentance, or in our Ruin. He has been for many Years witneſſing againſt our Apoſtaſies, and trying of us, by more mild Exerciſes of his Rod. But if we continue unhumbled, we muſt expect more ſevere and terrible Diſpenſations of his Wrath. O why then ſhould we any longer harden our Hearts! Have we not ſmarted enough already! Why ſhould we oblige Him to inflict heavier Judgments upon us! O let us not be ſo egregiouſly fooliſh! Remember, Divine Corrections are ordinarily Progreſſive, and do commonly riſe in proportion to a Peoples Guilt. And ſhould we not tremble then to think of going on ſtill in our Provocations▪ Verily GOD hath not yet done with us. He hath not ſhot all his Arrows yet: the worſt are ſtill behind: and there ſeems to be a ſharp and terrible one at this day upon the String!
O let us then fall down at GOD's feet, and humble our ſelves, and cry mightily to Him, and turn every one from his evil way. Who can tell if GOD will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce Anger, that we periſh not! O let us not dare GOD, and force him to take more rigorous Methods with us. It is high time for us to awake out of our carnal Sleep; to look about us, and ſee if there is any way to eſcape, that we be not conſumed. O let us make Haſt, and not delay; but as the Holy Ghoſt ſaith, To day if ye will hear his Voice, harden not your Hearts. Be thou inſtructed, O Jeruſalem, leſt my Soul depart from Thee; leſt I make thee deſolate, a Land not inhabited. Who is He that will love Life, and ſee good Days? Let him eſchew Evil, and do Good. For the Eyes of the Lord are over the Righteous, and his Ears are open unto their Prayers: but the Face of the LORD is againſt them that do Evil.
FINIS.
End of the text · Thomas Foxcroft, Gods Face Set Against an Incorrigible People (1724)