The Judgments of Providence in the Hand of Christ, Sermon 2
Sermon II.
I Go on to a third inſtance or narrative of CHRIST's appearing with the Judgments of Providence in his hand, namely to Gideon againſt the Midianites; Judges 6.12, 13, 14. And the Angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and ſaid unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour! And Gideon ſaid unto him, O my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? &c. And the LORD looked on him and ſaid, Go in this thy might, and thou ſhalt ſave Iſrael from the hand of the Midianites: Have not I ſent thee?
The LORD looked on him and ſaid, HAVE NOT ISENT THEE? If it had not been for thoſe words, we might have taken the heavenly Appearance for a common Angel; but from them we perceive plainly that it was the LORD CHRIST himſelf, the Angel of the Covenant, the SON OF GOD, in the likeneſs of man.
And what came he for? but to judge the enemies of his people, and to ſend Gideon to deſtroy them. He commiſſioned him in his own name; Have not I ſent thee? and inſpir'd him with a look.
The Angel is called JEHOVAH, v. 14. Jehovah looked on him. I AM ſent him: The ſame Angel of the LORD who called to Moſes out of the burning buſh. He put a lamp of fire into Gideon's hand and gave him the Word, The ſword of the LORD and of Gideon.— So in all the Judgments on the enemies of the Church, in ancient or later times, there has been the hand of CHRIST.
But I come to the New Teſtament, and mean only to point unto a few inſtances, and not enlarge on them.— When our LORD appeared in the fleſh, he ſhew'd that he had the power of Judgment committed to him. The devils own'd his power, and beſo't him not to torment them before their time. The Gadarenes ſaw and felt his power to judge them, when he permitted the devils to enter into the herd of ſwine, and the whole herd ran violently down a ſteep place and periſhed in the waters. Matth. 8.32. It was an awful thing to behold, and and a ſevere judgment they thought upon their country. The diſciples were ſo ſenſible that the power of judgment reſted on CHRIST, that when ſome look'd with diſreſpect on him and would not receive him, they ask'd him, Lord wilt thou that we command fire from heaven to deſtroy them? Luke 9.54. But the Son of man came not to deſtroy men's lives, but to ſave them. It was not the time for Judgment when he was here on earth. He us'd this power ſparingly in the days of his fleſh. He fill'd his hands with mercy and ſcatter'd it about on all the miſerable that came in his way.— He had the power of life and death while he liv'd here, and when he went to die. He ſtruck none dead, but he rais'd ſome to life. He told Peter by what kind of death he ſhould glorify GOD; but when Peter ask'd, what ſhould become of John? the LORD anſwer'd him in a ſovereign manner, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?
When JESUS was aſcended and glorified he ſhew'd his Church that he exerciſed the power of judgment over men. The death of Ananias and Sapphira was a fearful inſtance of it: And ſo was the blow on Elima… the Sorcerer. Act 13.11.
To name no more, The ſecond burning of Jeruſalem was from the hand of CHRIST. When the Romans compaſſed the City, it was the ſign of the Son of man from heaven. Luke 21.20, 27. Twice hath the Man clothed with linnen, the great High-prieſt of the Church and Judge of the world, filled his hand with coals and burnt Jeruſalem.
Let this ſuffice for the third Illuſtration and proof of the Doctrine, That the judgments of Providence are in CHRIST's hand. Theſe are ſo many facts and inſtances from ſacred ſtory.
IV. The ſacred Doctrines of Chriſtianity do infer and confirm this truth. I will name two only, and but name them.
1. The GODHEAD of CHRIST infers this, That the judgments of Providence are in his hand. For can he be GOD and this glory not belong to him? According to thoſe words of GOD concerning Himſelf; Is there any evil in the city and the LORD hath not done it? See now that I, even I am He, and there is no GOD with me! I kill and I make alive, I wound and I heal.
I might argue from the nature, end, extent and duration of the Mediatorial Kingdom, that CHRIST is GOD over all, and that all judgment is in his hand. The end of it is to recover the elect of GOD out of that ſtate of ſin and miſery into which they fell by Adam's tranſgreſſion, into a ſtate of holineſs and happineſs for evermore; and to execute judgment (the vengeance of a holy and righteous GOD) upon all ſuch as will not accept of his offered grace, and ſubmit to the terms of his mercy. Now in order to this the kingdom, power and rule put into the Mediator's hand muſt be univerſal and everlaſting as to this world of ours: all things muſt be put into his hand and under his feet, and he muſt reign till all his enemies are made his footſtool.— So that whether we conſider CHRIST in his GODHEAD, or in his Mediatorial dignity and offices, the Kingdom of Providence and the Judgment of Providence muſt be in his hand.
2. The general Judgment of the world at the laſt day being committed to CHRIST, neceſſarily ſuppoſes that the preſent judgments of Providence are ſo. That CHRIST is the Judge of quick and dead at the great Day, is one of the cleareſt Doctrines of the New Teſtament †See Mat. XXv. 31, 32. Acts XVII. 31. 2 Cor. v. 10. 2 Theſſ I. 7, 8.: Then the Son of man ſhall come in his glory with all his holy Angels, and before him ſhall be gathered all nations: The Lord JESUS ſhall be revealed from heaven in flaming fire taking vengeance. The preſent judgments of Providence are but previous and preparatory for this final Judgment. That is but the period and conſummation of theſe; the laſt and moſt eminent act of his Regality, and diſplay of his judicial power; at the cloſe whereof he will ſurrender the Kingdom to the FATHER. 1 Cor. 15.28.
Indeed theſe great and ſacred Doctrines of Chriſtianity, like Truth which is uniform, do infer and prove one another. If CHRIST be GOD he muſt have the power of Judgment, preſent and future. If he have this power truly he is the SON OF GOD, and all men muſt honour Him even as they honour the FATHER. Again, If the preſent judgments of Providence are in his hand, no doubt but he is the ordained Judge in the laſt day: And if the General judgment be committed to Him, no wonder that the preſent executing of judgment is ſo.
But this for the Proof of the Doctrine: I come to the Application and Uſe of it.
And firſt in a more general manner I ſhall hint at many things, which in the choice of the Subject I deſigned to have enlarged on; and then ſecondly I ſhall enlarge on a more particular Application, which could not be foreſeen and deſigned, but Providence has caſt it in our way, and loudly calls to it in the late awful and threatning Earthquake.
We have ſeen the united Glories of Majeſty and Holineſs in the Perſon and Offices of our LORD Redeemer. We ſee that He is GOD and JUDGE, who is our Saviour. We ſee the evil (the great evil) of ſin and ſinners, from the terrible Judgments and puniſhments that come from the hand of CHRIST himſelf. We ſee that tho' He be gracious and merciful and abundant in goodneſs, yet he will by no means clear the guilty and impenitent. We ſee the reaſon of the great patience, forbearance and longſuffering of GOD to provoking ſinners; It is CHRIST the Saviour who thus waiteth to be gracious to them, not willing that any ſhould periſh, but that all ſhould come to repentance. We ſee the ſafety of believers in the power of Judgment committed to CHRIST; his Saints are in one hand while the burning coals are in the other: As he took a moſt gracious care of Lot in the day of Sodom, and as he marked out the humble and penitent for Salvation in my context, before he took a coal in his hand for the deſtruction of the wicked.
If the Judgments of Providence are in CHRIST's hand and come from his hand, He then is the object of our fear, our truſt, our prayer and praiſe. He is to be feared for his power, holineſs, juſtice and goodneſs. Wilt thou not be afraid of the Power? He is the Miniſter of GOD to execute vengeance. It is a fearful thing to fall into his living hands. The forgivneſs which is with him commands our fear, for it comes to us in the way of glorious holineſs and juſtice. Pſal. 2. ult. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling; kiſs the SON leſt he be angry and ye periſh from the way;— Bleſſed are all they that put their truſt in him.
Again, We may be ſure there is as much Mercy in all the judgments of Providence, as is conſiſtent with rectoral Wiſdom and righteous Government. So it was in the judgment of the old World, of Sodom, of the Canaanites, and afterward of Jeruſalem. And ſo it is in the executions of wrath upon particular perſons, while in the afflictions of the Godly there is abundance of mercy and love.
No wonder that afflictions are made ſaving to men, means of grace and holineſs to them; ſince the Judgments of Providence are in the hand of CHRIST. Why elſe ſhould they be put into the hand of a holy Saviour, but to be made bleſſed and effectual means of ſanctification and ſalvation to ſouls?
And no wonder then that we are ſo ſtrictly requir'd to be patient, ſilent, reſign'd in all our afflictions; yea thankful and joyful in our tribulations. For can a Believer acting like himſelf do otherwiſe, when he conſiders every diſpenſation of Providence coming from the ſame merciful hands of CHRIST, which were once ſtretched on the croſs and peirced for his ſalvation? He that judges and corrects us is the LORD that has loved us and died for us; and ſhall we not with Aaron hold our peace? and with Job ſtill bleſs his name?
And if death comes to thee or thine, do we not know that the key of it is in CHRIST's hand? He will order for the beſt all that concerns the living and the dying of his choſen and called ones; And what ſhould calm and moderate a Chriſtian's grief like this, "It is CHRIST has done it?
But while it comforts us it muſt alſo humble us, to conſider that our many and great afflictions come from the hands of CHRIST. How awful is it to a believer on JESUS to think,— Are the judgments of Providence in His hand, and I ſo judged by him? O how my LORD convinceth me of ſin! how evil am I in his holy eyes! What have I done to offend and provoke a gracious Saviour? how vile and odious are my ſins to him, and ſhould be to me! what a corrupt nature have I that needs all this correction! that I muſt be ſaved ſo as by fire! O what would have become of me long ago, if the judgments of GOD had been in any other hand but that of my Lord REDEEMER! Therefore it is that I am not conſumed!
Once more O afflicted child of GOD, think whoſe hand it is that corrects thee: Is it CHRIST's? then it is more and better than any friend's, or brother's, or father's hand: And wilt thou not be in a quiet ſubjection? ſhall we murmur againſt CHRIST? as they of old murmured, and were deſtroyed by him? Alas! they knew not the hand that proved them, as we do: They ſaw him in types and ſhadows, but we ſee him in a Goſpel light. The end of afflictions muſt be very gracious to Believers, and the fruit of them happy. CHRIST, whoſe care and charge they are, will ſee to this. It is the very work of a Saviour to ſee to it: Faithful is he that hath called you, who alſo will do it.
The majeſty and judgment of CHRIST is only terrible to unbelieving and impenitent ſinners; and to them it may well be the more terrible to ſee the wrath in the face of the LAMB. For if He judge them, who ſhall pity or ſave them? GOD has put this honour and majeſty on him that his right hand may find out all his enemies, all that hate him: He will make them as a fiery oven in the time of his anger; He will ſwallow them up in his wrath, and the fire ſhall devour them: Be theu exalted LORD in thy own ſtrength, ſo will we ſing and praiſe thy power.
Finally, In all our approaches to CHRIST in his holy Inſtitutions †This part of the Diſcourſe was preached before the Sacrament of the LORD's SUPPER., it ſhould ſtrike us with exceeding awe and reverence to conſider the Majeſty and power, the holineſs and juſtice of CHRIST. Reverend is his Name! With him is terrible majeſty. He ſtruck Nadab and Abihu with his fire from between the Cherubims. He will be ſanctified in them that draw nigh him. He is greatly to be feared in the Aſſemblies of his ſaints. Keep thy foot therefore and prepare thy heart, for the place where thou ſtandeſt is holy.
Chriſt expects that we ſhould worſhip him with great reverence becauſe he is our Judge. Pſalm. 50.1,—5.99.1,—5.
Particularly in the Ordinance of the SUPPER. our Lord JESUS exhibits himſelf to us with the judgments of Providence in his hand. Read the awful words of this import, 1. Cor. 11.28, — 32. But let a man examine himſelf, and ſo let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh JUDGMENT to himſelf, not diſcerning the LORD's body. For this cauſe many are WEAK and SICKLY among you, and ſome SLEEP. For if we would JUDGE our ſelves we ſhould not be JUDGED. But when we are JUDGED we are chaſtened of the LORD that we ſhould not be condemned with the world.
You ſee that the Apoſtle is ſpeaking here of temporal judgments, which the LORD inflicted on the Corinthians for their ſtrange irreverence and carnality in their participation of the holy Supper. They eat and drank not diſcerning the LORD's body; therefore they eat and drank judgment to themſelves. — But what was the judgment? why for this cauſe many were ſick and weak among them. — And yet as to ſome of them theſe judgments were not in wrath, but in mercy; For when they were judged they were but chaſtned of the LORD (to humble and reform them) that they ſhould not be condemned with the would. — Wherefore here was CHRIST, even at his Table, as the King come in to ſee his gueſts, with the Judgments of Providence in his hand. But this not to deter us from the Ordinance, but to quicken us in our preparations for it; and to encourage the faithful in their humility and godly fear as they are going thither. Let us behold the Majeſty of CHRIST both in his Providence and Ordinance together, and be the more reverend in our obedience to him and worſhip of him.‖Here this Diſcourſe may be divided.
I come now to that particular Application of the Doctrine, which the Divine Providence leads me into by the terrible EARTHQUAKE, which we have lately felt with ſo much ſurpriſe and conſternation. And a very natural Inference it is, "That if the Judgments of Providence are in the hand of CHRIST and come forth from his hand, Then from HIM came the awful warning and threatning of Providence to us in the late fearful Earthquake, and to HIM we are indebted for the gracious and merciful preſervation which we then received. Both the threatning and the preſervation came to us from the holy, mighty, terrible and merciful hand of our Lord and Saviour JESUS CHRIST. He ſhook the earth under us in that awful manner, and to that fearful degree, which we lately felt; and He kept it from rending and cleaving aſunder under us, ſo that we and all that appertains to us were not ſwallowed up quick. It ſhould be very affecting to us to realize ſuch a Providence and diſpenſation as coming from the hand of CHRIST himſelf.
HE the Man clothed with linnen, with his hand full of burning coals, holds the earth and the waters and the winds in the ſame hand; and this Earth of ours never feels any ſhock, convulſion or rending by fires, winds or waters, from without or from within it ſelf, but as he orders and appoints the ſame. We are expreſly taught concerning CHRIST, That He upholdeth all things by the word of his power, and that by Him all things conſiſt. Coloſſ 1.14,—17. In whom we have redemption thro' his blood, even the forgivneſs of ſins: For by Him were all things created that are in heaven and that are in earth; viſible and inviſible; whether they be thrones or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things were created by him and for him; And He is before all things, and by Him all things conſiſt. Hebrews 1.1, 2, 3. GOD hath in theſe laſt days ſpoken to us by his SON, whom he hath appointed Heir of all things, by whom alſo he made the worlds; Who being the brightneſs of his glory, and the expreſs image of his Perſon, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himſelf purged our ſins, ſat down on the right hand of the Majeſty on high.
Thus the Univerſe is kept together by the SON OF GOD in its proper frame, which it received from Him. "All things ſubſiſt in their being, and conſiſt in their order and dependencies by his will and word. In his hand are the deep places of the earth, the ſtrength of the hills is his alſo. Our earth is held by him in its place and motion, from falling to pieces and returning into the Original Chaos, out of which it was bro't into this beauteous and uſeful order of things. — All the Elements are in the hand of CHRIST, and tho' contrary and jarring in themſelves, yet there they agree, are ſtill and at peace. Fire and water, vapour and ſtormy wind are in abſolute ſubjection and obedience to him, fulfilling his word.
—And particularly Earthquakes proceed from the burning coals in his hand, the ſubterraneous fires and winds belong to theſe; and he blows them up when and where and as he pleaſes, more or leſs in the caverns of the earth, and puts all within into a ferment, and the earth heaves and rolls and burſts aſunder.
But let us more particularly conſider,
1. The Threatning from the hand of CHRIST, and
2. the Preſervation from the ſame glorious Hand.
1. The THREATNING of a ſudden and amazing deſtruction to us, in the late moſt ſerene night (turn'd into a night of darkneſs and horror to us in a moment) was from the hand of CHRIST our Saviour.
I have prov'd this in the fore-going Diſcourſe, when we little apprehended that CHRIST was coming ſuddenly ſo very near to our own doors in a horrible Earthquake.
I told you that it was CHRIST came down to Sodom, and rained the fire (ſcatter'd the coals) on Gomorrah, and Admah, and Zeboim, from the LORD out of heaven. He then alſo rent that ground to pieces on which thoſe polluted Cities had ſtood, and from the deep which lieth under he bro't up a flood of water, and quench'd the flames that had burnt up the wicked, and turn'd that once rich and pleaſant vale into a ſtanding filthy lake, or dead ſea. The SON OF GOD came down in the form of a Man, (Abraham ſaw Him) and executed that judgment: The accurſed places ſunk under his feet, and a flood roſe and cover'd them from mortal eyes for ever.
I have alſo ſaid before how the ſame Lord CHRIST came down in the day of Joſhua, the fatal day of accurſed Jerico, and produced another Earthquake, or what was like it and equal to it. Joſhua ſaw a Man with his ſword drawn, but he ſound him to be a GOD, with the fires and winds of vengeance in his hand, prepared againſt the enemies of his Church and people. The fire he put into Joſhua's hand and order'd the devoted City to be burnt as ſoon as he ſhould take it; but the ſubterraneous wind he kept in the hollow of his own hand, and on the ſeventh day, at the ſeventh compaſſing the city, the Prieſts blew with their rams-horns, and the hand of CHRIST (probably an Earthquake at his ſpecial command) threw down the walls of Jerico in an inſtant; all but the houſe of Rahab, who by faith had received his ſervants and protected them.
Thus CHRIST was in the Earthquake at Sodom, and at the falling of the wall of Jerico; and every other ſhake of the earth, whether before or after thoſe times, have come from the ſame hand.
For inſtance, The earthquake at the time of Noah's flood (if we may ſo ſpeak) when the foundations of the great Deep were broken up, was the Judgment of CHRIST upon the world of the ungodly. It was as much ſo as the Conflagration, or the periſhing of the world by fire at the laſt day, will be from the coals in CHRIST's hand. The ſame Judge, and the ſame Power and vengeance which once came by water, will hereafter be revealed in flaming fire.
The earthquake at Sinai was from the preſence of CHRIST and his immediate hand, who came down then in the glory of the FATHER, as he will do another day, with his holy Angels, in devouring fire, and the mount quaked greatly. Exod. 20.18. The Chariots of GOD were twenty thouſand (even chariots of fire) thouſands of Angels, and the LORD was among them. The mountain melted before Him, even that Sinai. Judg. 5.5. The Apoſtle to the Hebrews tells us that it was CHRIST's voice which then ſhook the earth, who has promis'd ſaying, Yet once more I ſhake not the earth only, but heaven alſo. Heb. 12.26.
CHRIST was the LORD GOD of Elijah, and in the ſpirit of that Prophet his Fore-runner came. He came to his ſervant once in a whirlwind, and in an earthquake, and in devouring fire. You have the repreſentation of this fearful thing, I Kings 19.11, 12. And behold the LORD paſſed by, and a great and ſtrong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: And after the fire a ſtill ſmall voice: And it was ſo, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out. How terrible was this appearance of CHRIST unto his Prophet? Who without a divine ſupport could abide the indignation, and the tokens of ſo tremendous a Majeſty and of the fierceneſs of his anger? His fury was poured out like fire, and the rocks were thrown down by him. (To apply here the majeſtic words of the Prophet Nahum.) —But how is it ſaid, That the LORD was not in the rending wind or earthquake? Who was in it, but the LORD himſelf? — It means not that the ſpecial and immediate hand of CHRIST was not therein: No, it only means "That he did not manifeſt his preſence by any diſtinct voice (the ſmall and ſtill voice of a Man) in that wind and fire and earthquake, as he afterward did in the calm that ſucceeded. So Elijah beheld the glory of CHRIST, in all the terrors of an infinitely holy, powerful, offended Majeſty; and yet in the ſoft voice of grace.
And thus we have ſeen CHRIST in one Earthquake and another in the days of old. And no wonder then is it that we read of the earth's quaking by his power at his death and reſurrection. Mat. 27.51. The earth did quake and the rocks rent. Well might they at the horrid deed, and marvailous event, the Crucifixion of the SON OF GOD. v. 54. The Centurion and they that were with him, watching JESUS, (the guard at the execution) ſaw the earthquake, and feared greatly, ſaying, Truly this was the SON OF GOD. Like trembling ſeiz'd the guard at his Sepulchre, Mat. 28.2. And behold there was a great Earthquake, and the keepers did ſhake and became as dead men.
In ſuch majeſty and great terror did CHRIST die and riſe again. The wonder was that the reviling Soldiers and hardy keepers (or rather their maſters and rulers) were not ſwallow'd up alive. But the Son of man came not to deſtroy mens lives, but to ſave them.
When he pleas'd afterward to manifeſt Himſelf to his Diſciples, by ſhaking the places where they were worſhipping him or ſuffering for him, it was in token of his favour and grace to them. So he came upon them in the day of Pentecoſt in a ruſhing mighty wind; and again, when they had prayed, (Act. 4.31.) the place was ſhaken where they were aſſembled together, and they were again filled with the HOLY GHOST, and ſpake the word of GOD with boldneſs.
So at the prayers and praiſes of Paul and Silas in the priſon, ſuddenly there was an Earthquake, and the foundations of the priſon were ſhaken. Act. 16.30. Happy Earthquake to the Jailor and his houſe! the ordained means of his effectual conviction and converſion. The impreſſion of that bleſſed fright never wore off; we charitably think. He and all his were ſtraightway baptiſed.
To add no more on this head: In the Book of the Revelations we find the great Events of Providence and the mighty changes reſpecting the Church of CHRIST and the whole World; which are yet many of them in the hand of the MOST HIGH, and in his times to be ſhewn who is the bleſſed and only Potentate, King of kings and LORD of lords; Theſe changes and events (I ſay) are repreſented by earthquakes as well as by thundrings and lightnings &c. CHRIST governs in all theſe concuſſions and revolutions, theſe literal or figurative earthquakes; with an immediate hand, order and direction.
As in the firſt chapter of that Book, it is HE THE SON OF MAN that appears in his majeſty and great terror, in the midſt of his Churches, the ſeven golden Candleſticks; to ſhow his ſervant the things that ſhall be hereafter. And he ſhowed him many terrible earthquakes, the emblems of the great and mighty changes which he was bringing upon the earth.
At the opening of the ſixth ſeal, Rev 6.12. John ſaw a great Earthquake; and the ſun became black as Sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood, and the ſtars fell to the earth, and the heaven departed as a ſerowl, and every mountain and iſland moved out of their place. This was but a viſion; yet was it a viſion of the true power of CHRIST, in the kingdom of nature, and over the nations of men: And it gives us a fair image of his immediate agency and rule in all the revolutions in the natural or moral world. He that opens the ſeals does all the executions that follow on them, and ſends the earthquake.
In the 8th. Chap. 5. v. we have a place exactly parallel to my text: It may be worth our while to compare them, and ſee if the coals of fire from the altar, and the earthquake be not in the ſame hand. — In my text the GOD-MAN, Mediator, goes in between the wheels, and fills his hand with fire from between the cherubims, and ſcatters it over the City. — In the 8th. Chap. of the Revelations, after the opening of the ſeventh ſeal, CHRIST comes and ſtands at the Altar, having a golden Cenſer with much Incenſe, which He offers with the prayers of all ſaints before the Throne. v. 3. Here is the Man clothed with linnen, CHRIST in his prieſtly office and interceſſions. But while He is continually doing this for his ſaints, ſo his viſible Church on earth grows earthly, worldly, formal and corrupt; And then (v. 5.) CHRIST (the Angel of the Covenant) takes of the very ſame fire, wherewith he offered up his incenſe, and eaſts of this down into the earth in his holy diſpleaſure and indignation: And what was the effect hereof? why immediately there were voices and thundrings and lightnings and an EARTHQUAKE. That is to ſay, Such manifeſtations of the wrath of GOD, and ſuch ſwift and terrible judgments, as bro't on a mighty change of affairs among men: Such a change in the face of Providence, and on the face of the Church, as earthquakes often produce on the face of the earth, and upon particular places of it.
I might turn you to ſeveral more places in the Revelations of St. John to the ſame purpoſe, but I will point unto one only. We read (Chap. 16.17.) of the ſeventh Angel his pouring out his vial into the air, and there was a GREAT EARTHQUAKE, ſuch as was not ſince men were upon the earth, ſo MIGHTY AN EARTHQUAKE and ſo great: For the great City (the Empire of Antichriſt) fell into three parts, and the cities of the nations (which have given their power to the beaſt) fell; and GREAT BABYLON came into remembrance before GOD; and every iſland fled away and the mountains were not found.— A bleſſed earthquake truly! Lord JESUS haſten it on! horrible and tremendous to bloody Rome and the papal powers! more eſpecially to Italy that ſeat of ſodomy and earthquakes! that land of ſulphur and ſubterraneous fires!— And why may not its fall be by literal earthquakes and eruptions of ſulphureous flames? The fiery hand of CHRIST ſhall effect this. See the 18. Chap. of the Revelations.
Thus I have at large ſhown that Earthquakes, both proper and figurative, are in the hand of our Lord JESUS CHRIST, and come forth from his hand.
When therefore in the days of his fleſh he ſpake of this Sign, that ſhould foreſhew the Day of his coming; whether to judge Jeruſalem, or Babylon, or the World at the laſt day; He then ſufficiently informed us that this judgment was in his hand among others. Mat. 24.7. There ſhall be earthquakes in divers places,— the beginning of ſorrows. Luke 21.11. Earthquakes and great ſigns from heaven. He will accompliſh in his times the things of which he has thus given warning.
And now to return unto the Inference I am upon: From all that we have heard we muſt needs be convinced and ſatisfied, That the late amaſing Earthquake which viſited us the laſt Lord's-day in the night was ſent to warn us from CHRIST, our king, our lawgiver, our judge and our ſaviour.
It was He himſelf who threatned to derſtoy us, as in a moment. The earthquake was from his hand, whatever might be the natural Cauſes of it; all which are alſo in the hand of CHRIST, and he works by them as he pleaſes with infinite foreſight of men and things, and with an unerring direction. We need not, we ſhould not look any further, (in a Chriſtian and practical conſideration of the thing, and a religious improvement of it) than the will and government of CHRIST. This becomes us as Sinners that would be awakned, and as Believers that deſire to be humbled and edified; and it behoves us to act the part of ſuch rather than of Philoſophers. They ſearch darkly and uncertainly (however curiouſly and laudably) into the bowels of the earth and the ſecrets of nature; but we have the plain Goſpel of CHRIST to look into, and ſee as in a glaſs the glory of the LORD.
Thus the threatning of a ſudden and a fearful deſtruction coming on us in the terrible earthquake was from CHRIST.
II. Our PRESERVATION from the threatned deſtruction was from the ſame glorious HAND. The hand that ſhook the rod over us could have ſtricken with it; he that threatned could eaſily have executed. He that ſet the earth a trembling, held it together under us; the ſame hand is mighty to ſave and to deſtroy. The LORD is our judge, and he ſaves it.
There are not two Principles or powers, as ſome of the fooliſh Heathen conceived; the one the author of the evil, the other of the good that comes to the children of men: No, the living and only true GOD is the author of both; A juſt GOD and a Saviour. Iſai. 45.7. I form the light and create darkneſs, I make peace and create evil; I the LORD do all theſe things — And the meaſure of every judgment is from him; the moderation of it and period to it. He that ſays to the ſea hitherto thou ſhalt come and no further, and here ſhall thy proud waves be ſtayed; he ſays the ſame to every overflowing ſcourge and overwhelming evil. He calls to contend by one judgement and another, and again he ſays— This ſhall not be. Amos 7.6.
CHRIST ſits upon the floods, and rides upon the winds, and reigns King for ever; Abſolute, Sovereign, irreſiſtible and unaccountable. His blood is the cement that binds the fabrick of heaven and earth together. The earth and its inhabitants were diſſolving, but he came and holds up the pillars of it.
The ground had ſwallow'd up Adam in the day of his fall, if it had not been for this SEED of the Woman, this IMMANUEL, GOD with us. Our fallen parents heard immediately why they did not inſtantly die, and return to their ground; Namely, becauſe there ſhould a Child be born, a Son be given them, who ſhould be the Mighty GOD, the Prince of peace, on whom the Government ſhould be laid. It was for the ſake of this glorious Bleſſing in the loins of Adam, and becauſe of an election of grace given to Him by the FATHER, that the Curſe did not immediately devour the ſinner and his earth.
As ſoon as the Angels ſinned the heavens rent under them, and they fell (O mighty fall!) from the height of heaven down into the deep Abyſs of hell, into the bottomleſs pit. The reaſon was, CHRIST took not the nature of Angels, took not hold of them as they fell. He took the ſeed of Adam, and therefore the earth rent not under him; the pit did not ſwallow him up as it did the angels that ſinned, for whom there is no redemption.
CHRIST has been the Saviour of all thoſe that have eſcaped in one deſtroying earthquake and another ſince the world began.
In the flood, when the foundations of the great deep were broken up, CHRIST ſaved Noah and his family: He gave him faith, provided him an Ark, ſhut him up in it, ſet it gently afloat, held and ſteer'd it in that boyſterous ſea (that fury of the waters) without a rudder or a ſail, and ſoftly reſted it (without an anchor to caſt out) on the mountains of Ararat. Well therefore did Noah bring his ſacrifices to his Deliverer, when he came forth from the Ark, ſo many types of that Death from whence come all our ſalvations.— Who ſet the bow in the sky, and gave it to Noah as the token of his Covenant? but HE who afterward appeared in viſion to Ezekiel as a Man upon the throne, with the bow as in the day of rain.
To go on, When Lot was ſaved from the fire and earthquake, it was CHRIST himſelf came down, and ſent his angels to his houſe: If he had found but ten ſuch righteous ones, he would have ſpared the place for their ſakes.— Again, When the wall of Jerico fell, faith ſaved Rahab and her houſe. And when Babylon ſhall fall CHRIST will call his people out of her. Revel. 18.4.
The ſame Lord JESUS ſaved us and our families, our lives and our limbs, our dwellings and ſubſtance, in the day when he lately ſhewed us his power, his anger and our deſerts. As he reach'd out his arm to Peter when he ſunk on the waters, and cried to him, LORD ſave me; ſo his everlaſting arms were underneath our tottering houſes, and they neither ſunk nor fell. The foundations of the earth moved and were ſhaken, and in our diſtreſs we cried to him as our GOD; He bowed the heavens and came down, he rode upon a Cherub and did fly, yea he did fly upon the wings of the wind. Pſalm 18.7, 10.
To conclude, The inference is ſtrong and obvious, That if the judgments of Providence are in the hand of CHRIST, ſo are the mercies thereof equally from his all-governing hand; many and great and various as they are. All the preſervations which are new every moment, all the deliverances which we receive in times of ſeen dangers and great hazards, all the ſupplies by which we are ſuſtained from day to day and fed from year to year, they all come to us from the hand of our Lord JESUS, and we ought to receive them as from Him with our religious acknowledgments of truſt and dependance, prayer and praiſe.
We have our perſonal and family mercies, which are exceeding precious; and there are the common and publick mercies to the Church and people of GOD together, which are greater than thoſe; The publick ſhares in the goodneſs of Providence to every private perſon, and every one ſhares in the general goodneſs of Providence to the publick; the glory of all belongs to CHRIST, and to Him we muſt ſing both of the mercy and the judgment.
The ſame hand that fed Iſrael in the wilderneſs and puniſhed them there, feeds and judges the Church ſtill. Believers muſt know and conſider that it is the death of CHRIST has purchas'd for them the common favours and bounties of Providence; in which they ſhould taſte his covenant love, taſte and ſee that the LORD is gracious: And ſinners muſt know that they are indebted to CHRIST, for all that they have of preſent good things, which ſhould lead them to repentance.
Is Peter in priſon, or Paul in the ſtorm, it is JESUS that ſends his Angel to them; or if Eneas be ſick, JESUS CHRIST maketh him whole.
And thus we have ſeen both the Threatning of judgment, and the Salvation from it in the hand of CHRIST. What both demand from us may be conſidered in the next Diſcourſe.