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 [Page 2]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 [Page 3]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,

[Page 4] 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.

[Page 5] 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 [Page 6]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 ^† are a broken Spirit, and a contrite Heart. To this Man will I look, saith the Lord ^‖, even to him that is Poor, & of a con­trite Spirit. The Lord seeth not as Man seeth ^*: 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.

[Page 7] 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 ^† 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 [Page 8]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 ^* I abbor my self, and repent in dust and ashes. As Asaph, when he said ^†, So foolish was I, & ignorant; I was as a Beast before GOD. And like Ezra, when he fell down on his knees, and said ^‖, 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 [Page 9]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 [Page 10]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, [Page 11]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 [Page 12]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 [Page 13]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.

[Page 14] 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 [Page 15]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 [Page 16]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 [Page 17]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 ^†. 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 ^‖. So we read of the Children of Israel ^*, 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, ¹¹) 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 [Page 18]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, ^†, 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 [Page 19]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 [Page 20]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, ^†, What have I any more to do with Idols! That is the proper Language of backsliding Children humbling themselves ^‖, 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 [Page 21]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 [Page 22]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.

[Page 23] 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 ^† on the Place) are the first fruits of true Humiliation. GOD accounteth those not [Page 24]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 ^‖, 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 [Page 25]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 [Page 26]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 [Page 27]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.

[Page 28] 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 [Page 29]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 [Page 30]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 [Page 31]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 [Page 32]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 [Page 33]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 [Page 34]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 [Page 35]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 [Page 36]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.

[Page 37] 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.

[Page 38] 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, [Page 39]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 [Page 40]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 [Page 41]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 [Page 42]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. [Page 43]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 [Page 44]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? [Page 45]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 [Page 46]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 [Page 47]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. [Page 48]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 [Page 49]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. [Page 50]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.