The Redeemed Captive Returning to Zion, Sermon 1
LUKE VIII. 39.
Return to thine own houſe, and ſhew how great things GOD hath done unto thee.—
THE infinitely wiſe Diſpoſer of all things, who aims at his own glory, in the governing of rational creatures, doth ſometimes bring perſons into the depths of diſtreſs; and then magnify his power and grace in raiſing, them up out of their afflictions: And in many, reſpects by ſuch things, he has a deſign of advancing his own glory in the world. We find in the context, a perſon in a very doleful, diſtreſſed condition: He ſeems to be forſaken of GOD, and made a poſſeſſion and dwelling place of evil ſpirits, deprived of all human comforts, made to poſſeſs ſorrow and pain to ſuch a degree, as to be a common ſubject, or a theme of diſcourſe for all men to relate doleful things about. And afterward, GOD in very remarkable and wonderful works of power and mercy, not only gives releaſe from his ſorrowful poſſeſſion, but he is ſitting at the feet of Jeſus, clothed, and in his right mind. Now this was done for the manifeſt glory of GOD. For when this man (for whom ſuch great things had been done) petitions Chriſt that he may abide with him, to hear from him, and pay his reſpects to him; he receives commandment, to glorify the power and mercy of GOD, in declaring to others what great things GOD had done for him.
1. A ſubject of great mercy; or a perſon ſpoken of for whom GOD had done great things, beſtowed eminent mercies.
2. A particular and ſpecial command from Chriſt, to glorify GOD in relating to others, what mercies he had been the ſubject of.
3. His obedience to the great command of Chriſt. He went and publiſhed the great things done for him by Chriſt; ſo that from the command of Chriſt, and his obedience to it, for which he is commended, you may obſerve this doctrinal concluſion.
DOCT. It well becomes thoſe who have had eminent mercies, to ſhew to others what great things GOD has done for them.
The holy ſcriptures in many places confirm this truth. See Exod. xii. 25, 26, 27, And it ſhall come to paſs, when ye be come to the land, which the Lord will give you, according as he hath promiſed, that ye ſhall keep this ſervice. And it ſhall come to paſs, when your children ſhall ſay unto you, What mean you by this ſervice, that ye ſhall ſay, It is the ſacrifice of the Lord's paſſover, who paſſed over the houſes of the children of Iſrael in Egypt, when he ſmote the Egyptians, and delivered our houſes. Exod. xiii. 8, 10, And thou ſhalt ſhew thy ſon in that day, ſaying, This is done becauſe of that which the Lord did unto me, when I came forth out of Egypt. Thou ſhalt therefore keep this ordinance in his ſeaſon from year to year. Pſal. lxxviii. 3, 4, Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us; we will not hide them from their children, ſhewing to the generation to come the praiſes of the Lord, and his ſtrength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. In the proſecution and handling of this truth, conſider,
I. They who have had mercies, have had them from GOD. God is the beſtower and giver of all our good things: All our mercies come to us by a divine providence, and ordering; not by caſualty or accident: Neither are they of our own procuring and purchaſing, or others, ſo as to exclude the providential diſpoſing of God. 'Tis God who returns the captivity of Zion. Pſal.cxxvi, beg. When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream: Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with ſinging. Then ſaid they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them. The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad: Turn again our captivity, O Lord. The very Heathen acknowledge the good things beſtowed upon, and done for the church, to be from God; and God's own people acknowledge him for the mercies granted, and humbly ſupplicate mercies from him for the future. 'Tis God who gathers the outcaſts of Iſrael: 'Tis he who takes away the captives of the mighty, the prey of the terrible: Who contends with them that contend with us, and ſaves our children, 'Tis God who diſperſeth and gathers again: Therefore the Pſalmiſt, Pſal. ciii. begin. calls upon his ſoul to bleſs the Lord, and not to forget all his benefits; and ſaith, 'tis God who forgiveth all thy iniquities, who healeth all thy diſeaſes: Who redeemed thy life from deſtruction, who crowneth thee with loving kindneſs and tender mercies, &c. Sometimes, God in a more immediate and extraordinary way and manner confers bleſſings and mercies, ſometimes in a more ordinary and mediate way; but his providence is to be acknowledged in all: Not one ſingle mercy comes to us, without a commiſſion from that God by whom our very hairs are numbered.
II. It well becomes thoſe who have had eminent mercies, to ſhew to others what great things God hath done for them. Therefore you find the holy Pſalmiſt calling upon others, to give a liſtening ear, whilſt he makes a narration of the ſalvations he had from God, Pſal. lxvi. 16, Come and bear all you that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my ſoul.
1ſt. Reaſon. Becauſe God aimed at the advancement of his own glory, in the giving and dealing out of theſe mercies. God makes and diſpoſeth all things for his own glory. All works of Providence, are ſome way or other to advance the glory of God in the world. The glory of his power, wiſdom, mercy juſtice and holineſs, are ſome way or other advanced in a manifeſtive way and manner. Now it well becomes us, to fall in with the deſign of God, and in an active manner to give him glory. That God deſigns to have glory given to him is evident from Pſal. 1. 15, And call upon me in the day of trouble, I will deliver thee, and thou ſhalt glorify me. Exod. vii. 5, And the Egyptians ſhall know that I am the Lord, when I ſtretch forth mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Iſrael from among them. God has a deſign to magnify his power, mercy and covenant faithfulneſs, in the eyes of the world.
2d. Reas. Becauſe God has given us direct precepts, and poſitive commands, in this way to glorify him. God is our Lord and lawgiver, and he requires that among other ways of ſhowing forth his praiſes, we do it by rehearſing his praiſeworthy acts to the children of men. So that in obedience to God, and anſwering that high and noble end we were made for, it is requiſite that in this way we glorify God. It is enough, that the great God who hath taken us into covenant relation to himſelf, has enjoined us to ſhew forth his praiſes in rehearſing to others the ſalvations and favours we have been the ſubjects of. The before mentioned ſcriptures, with many others that might be enumerated, ſufficiently demonſtrate, that God calls for our thankful acknowledgments in this way; and upon the account of this being ſo agreeable to the revealed and preceptive will of God, the Pſalmiſt expreſſes himſelf as in Pſal. cxlv. 4, 5, 6, One generation ſhall praiſe thy works to another, and ſhall declare thy mighty acts. I will ſpeak of the glorious honour of thy majeſty and of thy wondrous works. And men ſhall ſpeak of the might of thy terrible acts; and I will declare thy greatneſs. They ſhall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodneſs; and ſhall ſing of thy righteouſneſs: Verſe 10, 11, 12, All thy works ſhall praiſe thee, O Lord; and thy ſaints ſhall bleſs thee. They ſhall ſpeak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power. To make known to the ſons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majeſty of his kingdom.
3d. Reas. Becauſe hereby they will ſtir up others to bleſs God with them, and for them. A truly gracious ſoul finds by experience, that he can do but a little in glorifying God, finds how far he falls ſhort of the rule of duty, in ſo reaſonable a ſervice as glorifying God: And being enlarged in deſires that the glory due to God might be given him, doth call upon others to join with him in his heavenly ſervice of praiſing God; and therefore tells them what great things God has done. Pſal. xxxiv. 2, 3, 4, 6, My ſoul ſhall make her boaſt in the Lord; the humble ſhall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. I ſought the Lord and he heard me; and delivered me from all my fears. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and ſaved him out of all his troubles. When Moſes told his father in law Jethro, the great things God had done for Iſrael, he glorifies God on their behalf. Ex. xviii. 8, &c. And Moſes told his father in law all that the Lord had done unto Pharaoh, and to the Egyptians for Iſrael's ſake, and all the travel that had come upon them by the way, and how the Lord delivered them. And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodneſs which the Lord had done to Iſrael, whom he had delivered out of the hands of the Egyptians. And Jethro ſaid, Bleſſed be the Lord, who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. Now I know that the Lord is greater than all Gods, for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly, he was above them. By this means thanks will be given to God by many: As many have been praying to God for them, ſo many will be praiſing and bleſſing God with them and for them.
4th Reas. Becauſe hereby they will oftentimes be adviſed and counſelled, how to improve ſuch mercies to the glory of God. We are conſcious to ourſelves of ſo much blindneſs, ignorance, and darkneſs, that we cannot but own it a great thing to be in a way for the beſt counſel, what to do with our mercies, and what and how to return to God for them. Now the publiſhing the great things done by God for us, put others in a capacity to be adviſing and telling us, what temptations we may expect to meet with, and what will be needful on our part to avoid temptations, and how to overcome; they will be counſelling us how to be in a way of rendering to the Lord according to the benefits done unto us; what duties God looks for the performance of, and directions how to do duty. In a word, we may be counſelled how to order our whole converſation, ſo as God may have glory, and our good purpoſes of honouring and glorifying God with our mercies eſtabliſhed. Prov. xx. 18, Every purpoſe is eſtabliſhed by counſel. When Moſes had told Jethro what great things God had done for Iſrael, he ſaid, Exod, xviii. 19, Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counſel, and God ſhall be with thee, &c.
5th Reas. Becauſe hereby they will be inſtrumental to put others upon truſting God, making him their hope and refuge in an evil day. Others will be excited to ſeek refuge under the ſhadow of his wings, Pſal. xliv. begin. We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us what work thou didſt in their days, in the times of old. How thou didſt drive out the heathen, &c. And then it is ſaid, Thou art my king, O God: Command deliverances for Jacob. Through thee will we puſh down our enemies: Through thy name will we tread them under that riſe up againſt us. For I will not truſt in my bow, neither ſhall my ſword ſave me. In God we boaſt all the day long. Others that have heard, will ſay, ſuch and ſuch an one was thus exerciſed, and God appeared for them, and put ſongs of praiſe to the Lord into their mouths; we will commit our caſe to God too; we will both hope and quietly wait for God's ſalvation too. Your telling others, how you have found God a prayer-hearing God, will encourage them prayer-wiſe to be committing their diſtreſſed and difficult caſes to him. What an honour to be inſtrumental to any ſoul's comfort, and God's honour; agreeable to this is that Pſal. lxxviii. 5, 6, 7, Which he commanded our fathers: That they ſhould make them known to their children. That the generation to come might know them, even the children which ſhould be born: Who ſhould ariſe and declare them to their children: That they might ſet their hope in God, and not forget the works of God: But keep his commandments.
6th Reas. Becauſe the works of God towards them, have been very wonderful. The Pſalmiſt often ſpeaks of the works of God as marvellous; they are wonderful if we conſider, how God timed the mercy; when their feet well nigh ſlipt, when they could ſee no way of eſcape; as with the children of Iſrael at the red ſea. How very marvellous was the work of God, in putting by the wicked purpoſe of Haman againſt Mordicai and the Jews? If we conſider how God kept from falling, by making them paſs a right Judgment on their ways and his ways, as Pſal. lxxiii. Yea, appearing to ſave them, when with Jonah they were ſaying, they were caſt out of God's ſight. All refuge ſeemed to fail, none ſhewing any care for their ſoul; even then God made good his word on which he had cauſed them to hope, as Pſal. cxlii. per totum. The works of GOD are marvellous, if we conſider the way and manner of uſhering in the mercy, the inſtruments that were made uſe of, and how he diſappointed the counſels of the crafty.
7th Reas. Becauſe it is a good evidence, that they regarded and took notice of the works of GOD in mercy, and would not forget his wonderful works towards them. For hereby, they put others under advantages to put them in mind, what favours they have received from GOD.
USE I. Of INSTRUCTION.
And Firſt, It informs us, that it is very acceptable to God, for chriſtians to entertain the report for the experiences of others, to excite their own hearts to glorify GOD. For if God make it a duty in the receiver to report, it lays the hearer under an obligation to ſet ſuch remarks upon the paſſages of divine providence to others, as may be uſeful to engage their hearts to glorify GOD, for the favours and bleſſings he has beſtowed upon others. And therefore in obedience to GOD'S command, that you may be under advantages to glorify God; I will now make a report of ſome of the great things God has done for thoſe you have been putting up ſo many prayers to God for. God has eminently been fulfilling that word, Pſal. cvi, 46, He made them alſo to be pitied, of all thoſe that carried them captives.
God hath made thoſe whoſe characters have been, that they were ſuch whoſe tender mercies were cruelties; ſuch from whom, one act of pity or compaſſion could ſcarce be expected, even ſuch who have delighted in cruelty; to pity and compaſſionate ſuch who were led into captivity by them. Made them bear on their arms, and carry on their ſhoulders our little ones, unable to travel. Feed their priſoners with the beſt of their proviſions: Yea, ſometimes pinch themſelves, as to their daily food, rather than their captives. To pity them under ſickneſs, and afford all proper means for the reſtoration of their health, or recovery from lameneſs. Made heathen's bowels yearn towards poor infants expoſed to death, ſo as to work out their deliverance from fatal ſtrokes, by burdening themſelves. Oh! let us adore the riches of the grace of God, who in wrath remembers mercy, and doth not ſtir up all his wrath; and from hence be encouraged, when under convictions of God's being angry with us, yet to look to him for mercy.
God has upheld many poor ſouls under all manner of diſadvantages, as to getting knowledge, and kept them from falling, though crafty adverſaries were under all advantages, and painful endeavours uſed to ſeduce them. Being without bibles, miniſters or chriſtian friends to confer with, daily harraſſed with temptations and tempters: Some threatened, ſome flattered, ſome ſhut up and confined in Monaſteries, where no means were uneſſayed to gain them to change their religion.
God has ſtrengthened them to go thro' tedious journeys, and renewed ſtrength, when they were even fainting in their ſpirits; thinking it not poſſible to travel five miles, and yet enabled to travel at leaſt forty in a day. Remarkably ordering ſeaſons, ſo as to be for their comfort in their travels; cauſing a moiſt ſnow to fall on the lake, only to ſuch a height as to make it eaſy to their ſwoln and wounded feet: Changing the winds for their advantages, in petty voyages in their tickliſh canoes.
They have found God a little ſanctuary to them, in the land of ſtrangers: even there they have found the conſolations of God through Chriſt not to be ſmall, ſo that ſome of the moſt joyful and refreſhing favors from heaven, have been given into their ſouls, when under all ſorts of outward afflictions.
They have found God, a God hearing prayers, when they have gone to him with their moſt difficult caſes; preſerving them from falling; recovering them form falls; to making void the counſels of adverſaries, diſappointing them in the things they dealt moſt proudly in. God has brought his to a reſignation to his will, and then appeared dealing out mercies, as the very caſe did require.
God has ſanctified to ſome, their former ſabbath ſolemn attendances on duties of piety, private as well as public; and a religious education to be an unanſwerable objection againſt ſuch who were zealous for the traditions of men, to a viſible profaning God's ſabbaths. They durſt not embrace that religion, the principles of which, as well as practiſes, were ſo contrary to the precepts of God's holy wrod. Oh! how ſhould miniſters and parents be encouraged from hence to uſe their utmoſt care, that God's ſabbaths may be duly ſanctified by all under their charge; and that they would be exemplary before others, in a due obſervance of holy time.
God has made the falls of ſome to Popery, a means for the recovery of others; and making thoſe things, by which the adverſary thought to increaſe their numbers and proſelytes, to be occaſional of recovering ſuch who from their youth had been educated in the Popiſh way; having been taken captives when young. Do not be diſcouraged and ſay, your friends and relations have (being captivated when young) for a long time lived in Popery, and therefore no hopes of recovery; for God can make dry bones, very dry, to live, and can in ways unthought of by you, both recover them after they have fallen, and return them again. The adverſaries have ſometimes pretended miracles for the confirmation of their religion, that they might ſeduce to Popery; in fallacious ways cauſed reports that ſome captives died Papiſts; that one appeared in flames of fire to bear a teſtimony againſt the Proteſtant Religion; but God has in his wiſe providence, made known their falſehoods and lies.
They have ſought to perſuade ſome, by ſums of money, to change their religion, offering honour and advancement to them at the ſame time; but God enabled them to reſiſt and hate ſuch allurements.
The reading the fourth chapter of Deuteronomy, a means of recovering one from Popery.
God has made ſome with an heroical, yea with a right chriſtian courage, to welcome death. Oh let every one get ſuch a preparedneſs for DEATH, that a ſudden DEATH may not be a terror!
God has made ſome by the want of ſanctuary mercies, to ſet an higher value upon the ordinances of JESUS CHRIST. Oh learn to prize and improve them, leſt God teach you by the briars and thorns of the wilderneſs, the worth of them, and make you weep when you ſet down at the rivers of Babylon.
God has ſtrengthened ſome to ſtand, when they have not only been threatened with all cruelties if they refuſed, but when the hatchet has been lift up, with a threatening of ſpeedy death in caſe of refuſal. Oh let every one truſt in God, who is a ſeaſonable help and a preſent refuge!
INSTRUCTION II. How they are to blame, that do not regard and take notice of the works of God, nor treaſure up the remembrance of them in their minds. How ſoon are mercies like to be forgotten! The Pſalmiſt ſays, Forget not all his benefits. It was the great ſin of the Iſraelites of old, that they ſoon forgat God's wonderous works. The Holy God gave order that his people ſhould erect ſtones of remembrance, that his wonderful works of mercy to his people might not be forgotten; yea, commanded parents to tell their children, from generation to generation, what great things he had done for them. How are they then to blame that ſay, They bleſs God for their mercies, and do not rehearſe the praiſe worthy works of divine Providence to others?
USE II.
To direct ſuch who have received great and eminent mercies from God, in this way of making known to others the wonders of mercy to them, to be praiſing God. It is one way very proper and agreeable to the revealed will of God: You muſt watch againſt all vain oſtentation.
USE III. Of EXHORTATION.
To all who have in a more peculiar way and manner, been caſting off the effects and fruits of divine bounty and goodneſs, to be declaring what great things God has done for them.
Therefore 1. Beware of all manner of pride. Sometimes men cannot declare the great works of God done for them, without making known their own weakneſs, and therefore are ſilent, and hold their peace; they had rather God ſhould loſe his glory, than they any of their credit or eſteem. But the holy Pſalmiſt ſays, His feet had well nigh ſlipt; yea, that in his haſte be had ſaid, all men are liars; and that one day he ſhould ſurely periſh; take ſhame to himſelf, that he might magnify the preventing and delivering grace and goodneſs of God. Sometimes men's pride makes them ſo admire their own parts and contrivances, as to overlook the works of divine Providence; they ſacrifice to their own net, and burn incenſe to their own drag; and ſay they have ſo much learning and knowledge, that they could eaſily anſwer arguments to ſeduce them to Popery, and ſo do not ſee and acknowledge the goodneſs of God, in preſerving and keeping them.
2. Beware of a ſtupid, ſenſeleſs, ſlothful ſpirit. The works of God are ſought out of them that have pleaſure in them. Some will not be at the pains to recollect the paſſages of divine Providence—will not commit them to writing, or to their memories, and therefore ſoon forget them: They never wiſely obſerve the heightening circumſtances of their mercies.
Conſider, 3. How heavenly an employ and ſervice it is to be glorifying and praiſing God. It will be one part of the work of heaven to be telling of the wonderful works of God towards us. Begin ſuch an heavenly employ on earth. Hereby you will alſo intereſt yourſelves in the prayers of others: To have many prayers going daily to God for you, how great a favour is it! Others hearing what mercies you have had, will bear you upon their hearts when at the throne of grace, that you may ſuitably improve ſuch mercies.
The glorifying God, is the greateſt and chiefeſt concern of gracious ſouls; and the glorifying God here, is the way to be glorified by, and with God forever. The not glorifying God is very diſpleaſing to him, and a way to deprive ourſelves of the ſweet and comfort of our mercies. God accounts forgetting of mercies, a forgetting himſelf.
END OF THE SERMON.