THE Danger of not obeying the Voice of GOD.
SHE obeyed not the Voice: she received not Correction: she trusted not in the LORD: she drew not near to her GOD. I said, surely thou wilt fear me: thou wilt receive Instruction: so their dwellings should not be out off, howsoever I punished them: but they rose early and corrupted all their doings. Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey; for my Determination is — to pour upon them mine Indignation, even all my fierce Anger, for all the Earth shall be devoured with the Fire of my Jealousie.
SINCE whatsoever Things were written aforetime, were written for our Learning, i. e. for our Instruction and Admonition on whom the Ends of the World are come, it certainly, greatly concerns us to hear Counsel, and receive Instruction, by the Calls of GOD, and to take Warning [Page 2]by the Denunciations of His Wrath against His Covenant professing People in former Ages of the World: By doing so, we should make a wise and good Improvement of the Lord's terrible Dispensations towards them. Would to GOD, we might be enabled to such an Improvement of the solemn Reproofs, and awful Warnings dispensed by the holy Prophet, who spake the Words I have now read: He was sent from GOD, was authoriz'd and commission'd by Him, to reprove sharply, all Ranks and Orders of Men, for their Sins; for their Idolatry, Apostacy, Forgetfulness of GOD, and their Duty, and the sinful Fashions of too many in their Habits, and the violent Oppressions of many, which with many other provoking Evils were found in the midst of them, and were abounding among them, for which they were threatned with severe Punishments, yea, and with an utter Desolation, with the like Desolation that had been brought on other Nations and People, not far from them; these terrible Examples the Prophet sets before them, to move and excite them to consider, repent, and amend their Ways, and so prevent the Infliction of threatned Judgments, which without such a Repentance and Reformation, would certainly, and suddenly be brought upon them. The Prophet therefore does most affectionately exhort and urge them to Repentance, by the Examples of those whose Impenitence added to their Iniquities ruin'd them.
[Page 3] BY many gracious Promises and Encouragments, He excites them to look and hope for Mercy, upon their hearkening to His Counsel, that He would then preserve a Remnant of them, amidst all the wasting Calamities and Judgments, that should follow them, who should rejoice in the GOD of their Salvation, because GOD would in the midst of Judgment remember Mercy for them.
IN the beginning of this Prophesy is foretold the approaching Desolation of Judah and Jerusalem; I will utterly consume all Things from off the Land, saith the Lord: I will consume Man and Beast, I will also stretch out mine Hand upon Judah, and upon all the Inhabitants of Jerusalem. It intimates that by some immediate and awful Stroke of His holy Hand, He would bring a dreadful Destruction upon them, and not only upon the idolatrous Worshippers of the Host of Heaven, but upon such as have turned back from the Lord, and those that have not sought the Lord the Lord, nor enquired after Him: i. e. Such as have forsaken the Lord and His pure Worship, or that have turned Atheists; in their Hearts say, and by their Practices declare, That there is no GOD, and therefore will not call upon His Name, nor stir up themselves to take hold of Him; such also are doom'd to Destruction.
THE Prophet then calls upon them in such awful Terms as these, Hold thy Peace at the Presence of the Lord GOD, for the Day of the Lord is at Hand, And it shall come to pass in [Page 4]that Day, that I will punish all such as are clothed with strange Aparrel. An Expositor says upon this Place †, That the wanton Jews were wont to imitate the Garb of Foreigners. They were doubtless some very indecent Fashions, and it's probable very extravagant, that they run into, for which GOD so awfully and particularly threatens to punish them. [But such Threatnings it's to be fear'd were not much regarded then, and will be very little now, by those who are most criminal and faulty in such Extravagance. It is sadly evident, there has been too much of it in almost every Town in the Land, as well as This; I wish those whom it most concerns, would consider seriously of it, and so adorn themselves, as to prevent such an extravagant Expence, as too commonly attends some vain Ornaments. Tho' I don't think this to be the most crying Sin of this Land; yet I believe many who are so clothed, may do well to think seriously with themselves, whether notwithstanding this Threatning in my Context, and that also in Isai. 3.18. which they may read at their Leisure, they can think themselves wholly without Blame? When GOD so solemnly and particularly threatens to punish for strange Aparrel, and speaks of a Day a coming, in which He will take away the bravery of some Ornaments, too much like those I am speaking of, I am sure, such as are serious and thoughtful, will be [Page 5]not a little concern'd, lest a holy GOD should be offended by their Excess in this Regard. I will conclude this Digression, with that seasonable Exhortation to us all; 1 Tim. 2.8, 9. I will therefore that Men pray every where, lifting up holy Hands, without Wrath and Doubting. In like Manner also, that Women adorn themselves in modest Aparrel, with shamefacedness and Sobriety, and not with costly Array, but (which becomes Women professing Godliness) with good Works.]
I go on now to shew, What GOD foretells there shall be immediately after He had said, That He would punish such as were cloth'd with strange Aparrel; It shall come to pass in that Day, saith the Lord, that where shall be the Noise of a Cry, and an Howling, and a great crashing from the Hills; (probably, in a dreadful, tremendous EARTHQUAKE) which the Prophet says, should make them cry alo [...] and bitterly; then the Lord declares, He will punish the Men that are settled on their Lees: Such as were always deaf to the Voice of GOD by His Word and Judgments, and refus'd to receive Correction, would not be reform'd by all the dreadful Judgments of GOD, but went on incorrigibly in their evil Ways; such shall be now severely punish'd, and made to see and know, that there is a GOD that judges in the Earth, and that it shall be well with the Righteous, and ill with the Wicked.
THE Prophet goes on and declares, The great Day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteth [Page 6]greatly, even the Voice of the Day of the Lord, the mighty Man shall cry bitterly: The most valiant, and stout hearted, their Hearts shall in that Day fail them for Fear, of what may be coming upon them: Their Flesh shall now tremble for Fear of GOD, and they shall be now afraid of His Judgments: Fearfulness and Tremlling will now come upon them, which will make all their Bones to shake; and Destruction from the Lord, shall be a Teyyor to them, so that their Outcries shall be very vehement, there will be Bitterness of Heart, and bitter Wailing; for that Day, the Prophet says in the next Verse, will be a Day of Wrath, a Day of Trouble and Distress, a Day of Wastness and Desolation, a Day of Darkness and Gloominess, a Day of Clouds and thick Darkness. The Prophet here heaps up Words of much the same Sense, to express the grievousness of those Troubles, that should suddenly come upon them, most distressing Troubles, none knowing how to bear them, or where to hide from them. In the next Verse but one, he says, I will bring Distress upon Men, because they have sinned against the Lord; because their Sins have been many and greatly aggravated, and so the more provoking to Me; He then declares that neither their Silver, nor their Gold shall he able to deliver them in the Day of the Lord's Wrath; but the whole Land shall be devoured by the Fire of His Jealousy, for He shall make even a speedy Riddance of all them that dwell in the Land: They must now feel [Page 7]the terrible Impressions of the Wrath of a righteous Judge, for their Sins; that Fire being kindled thereby, that none could quench: Though GOD had with wonderful Patience waited and born with them, He would now wait no longer, but speedily execute His terrible Threatnings of Wrath upon them.
THE holy Prophet now earnestly exhorts them to Repentance before the threatned Judgments should be inflicted; he therefore thus calls upon them, Gather your selves together, yea, gather together, O Nation n [...] desired, call a solemn Assembly, proclaim a Fast; Let all the People know of it, and when assembled, search your selves, your Hearts and Ways, and Repent: It was repeated, it's probable, to affect them the more, and quicken them to their Duty and make them more serious, and in good earnest in the Work of Repentance. O Nation not desired! Not desirous of returning to GOD, though you have fall'n by your Iniquities; unwilling to return, and unworthy of being received upon your Return: Yet gather together, and do what you possibly can for your Safety; before the Decree bring forth, before the Day pass as the Chaff, before the fierce Anger of the Lord come upon you, before the Day of the Lord's Anger coure upon you: GOD is just ready to bring down deserved Vengeance upon you, be therefore speedy in your Repentance, before the terrible Day arrives, the Day of His righteous Displeasure, which will carry the wicked away, [Page 8]as the Wind carries the Chaff away for the Fire, while the good Grain shall be gather'd and preserv'd. It is here call'd fierce Anger, which means the heat of GOD's Anger; In the first Chapter, It is call'd, Jealousy like Fire, and here it's call'd the Heat of that Fire, intimating the greatness of GOD's Anger: It shall come upon you, as a Storm, with irresistable and destructive Violence, and the Waining is doubled to make them take the more Notice of it.
HE then calls upon the Meek of the Earth to seek the Lord, to seek Righteousness, and Meekness, for it may be, they should be hid in the Day of the Lord's Anger. He calls on them thus to seek for pardoning Mercy, and engage in a Course of Obedience to the Laws of GOD, to seek the Knowledge of GOD, and their Duty, and comply therewith; to fear and serve the great GOD. But mind, 'tis the bumble that are here call'd on, such as had not harden'd themselves in Wickedness, as other stubborn, proud, idolatrous Sinners had done; he seems to call on such who trembled at GOD's Word, and at His Judgments, who had some Year and Concern of Soul about their Danger and escaping his fiery Indignation; that they would humble themselves yet more under the mighty Hand of GOD, and hope in His Mercy, and wait on Him for His Salvation: It may be, you may be hid, this is sufficient to raise your Hope, peradventure the Lord will be gracious; if it [Page 9]be not certain, yet it is not impossible, but that you may be hid under the Shadow of His Wings, in the Day of His Anger, be taken under His Care and Protection, and so have rest in the Day of Trouble; or have the threatned Calamities and Judgments averted.
HE further tells them, that it is high time to make GOD their Refuge, and repair to to Him as such; for their Neighbours as well as they should be destroyed, there should therefore be no Refuge for them among their Neighbours, that therefore if they would not fear the Lord, who is terrible in His Doings, Desolation would quickly come upon them.
THE faithful Prophet therefore in the beginning of this Chapter containing my Text, threatens them with destroying Judgments. ‘From the dreadful Spectacle of Nineveh's Ruin for her Sins, He would have them take a Prospect of what was coming upon Jerusalem, which would also er'e long be full of Woes, because full of Sin.’ And in the Words I have read, He gives the Reasons for it; ‘She obeyed not the Voice, the Voice of the Law, or Prophets, of GOD's faithful Messengers, nor His Voice by His Mercy or Judgments, crying aloud, warning, inviting and perswading to return.’ She received not Correction or Instruction, as it may be read; she did not learn, she would not be instructed; it indeed means more than is expressed, even that she hated Instruction, and [Page 10]trusted not in the Lord, would not make Him her Refuge, or in Distress draw near to Him by Prayer.
I said surely, thou wilt fear me; ‘I thought or concluded (speaking after the Manner of Men) what I might justly expect, that after the many & terrible Judgments executed upon others,’ which they have seen or heard of, they would fear so as to sin no more, lest the like come upon them. That they would ‘receive Instruction, learn their Duty and comply with it, their Danger, to prevent it, their Sins, that they might repent of them, their Ways, that they might amend them, that so their Dwellings might be preserved.’ Howsoever I might otherwise punish them, ‘Whatever I had done against them, however I had chastised them, had they been bettered, humbled and amended, I would have spared, and not destroyed them utterly.’ But they rose early and corrupted all their Doings; ‘They grew worse and worse, more eager in the Pursuit of their vile Courses; as if the Day would be too short for their Sins, they rise early and begin betimes; they designedly and out of set Purpose, did worse and worse, though they were smitten, yet they revolted more and more.’ Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the Lord, until the Day that I rise up to the Prey; Since you will not be reformed by all that I have already done unto you, but grow worse and worse; ‘You that are thus stubborn [Page 11]and incorrigible, both Rulers and People, attend to my Resolution, for I am resolved what I will do, and have set a Day for it, when as an Enemy I will come out of my Place, rise up against you, and by my Judgments destroy you.’ For my Determination is to pour upon them mine Indignation, even all my fierce Anger; ‘It is my fixed Purpose, that which I have unalterably resolv'd upon,’ to execute the Fierceness of mine Anger upon them, if they continue in their obstinacy and incorrigibleness, for this will inkindle mine Anger against them; for all the Earth shall be devoured with the Fire of my Jealousie; ‘that Jealousie wherewith I am jealous for my own Glory, for my Statutes and Ordinances, which they have notoriously violated.’
HAVING thus open'd and paraphras'd upon the Words; I might mention a Variety of useful Observations they afford unto us, and such as the Providence of GOD, at this Day, calls us to think much upon. I shall mention four.
- OBSERV. I.THE professing People of GOD, are too often chargeable with the Guilt of not obeying the Voice of GOD.
- OBSERV. II. THAT GOD may justly expect that we fear Him, and receive Instruction by His Judgements.
- [Page 12] OBSERV. III. DID we so, we might hope to be saved from destroying Judgments, however otherwise GOD might punish us.
- OBSERV. IV. IF notwithstanding, we go on incorrigibly in our evil Ways, we may be assured, that GOD has determined to pour out His Indignation upon us, even all His fierce Anger, and even to devour the Earth with the Fire of His Jealousie.
THESE Observations, I think, ly plainly before us in the Text; I shall as the Time will allow speak to each of them. I begin with the first,
OBSERV. I. THE professing People of GOD are too often chargeable with the Guilt of not obeying the Voice of the Lord.
THIS Charge was exhibited against GOD's Covenant professing People of old, and there is too much Reason to fear, it may be so, against us His visible professing People now.
HERE I would say particularly,
I. MULTITUDES do not obey the Voice of GOD by His written Word. Though the great Things of GOD's Law are written to is, yet by how many are they accounted as a strange thing; such is the Corruption and Wickedness in the Hearts of many, that they practically say to Almighty GOD, Depart from us, for we desire not the Knowledge of thy [Page 13]Ways; And, what is the Almighty, that we should serve Him & obey His Voice? Their Hearts rise against a strict Observance of the pure and holy LawsofGOD, particularly, such as do most thwart their beloved Iniquities, which are as near and [...] to them, as a right hand, and a right eye; and therefore they cannot tell how to hearken to the Call of CHRIST, to cut them oft, and pluck them out—; It is a hard Saying, and they cannot tell how to bear it, and so persist in their Disobedience to all the Laws of GOD, though they are all holy, just, and good; so that they may now come before GOD, and make that Confession, in Dan. 9.5. We have sinned, and committed Iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy Precepts, and from thy Judgments.
Again,
2. THERE are Multitudes among the professing People of GOD, that do not obey His Voice by His Embassadors. And no wonder it is so, when the Voice of GOD by His written Word, is not hearkned to; from the very same Principle of Enmity to GOD and His holy Laws and Precepts, they will not hearken to GOD's faithful Messengers; Though they cry aloud, and lift up their Voice like a Trumpet, when they would sound an Alarm to an impenitent and wicked World, and spare not faithfully to shew to such a People their Transgressions and their Sins, their Sins of Omission, and of Commission they indulge themselves [Page 14]in, to the Dishonour of GOD, and enkindling His holy Anger and Displeasure against them, that they must therefore confess and forsake them, though they have been never so near and dear to them, even that, which they may have rowl'd as a sweet Morsel under their Tongues, that they must else look for fiery Indignation and Wrath to devour them: Yet how many of the professing People of GOD, such as are Christians in Name, and by Profession, when they are thus warned by the Messengers of the Lord, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, are ready to dislike such Messages and Warnings, they don't like to hear so much of them: Unto all such the great GOD commands His Prophets; Isai. Ch. 30. from the 8.Verse, ‘to go and write it before them in a Table, and note it in a Book, that it may be for Time to come, for ever and ever; that this is 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, prophesy not unto us right Things, speak unto us smooth Things, prophesy Deceits, get you out of the Way, turn aside out of the Path, cause the holy One of Israel [...] from before us.’ The Disobedience of [...]o many to the Voice of GOD, is too often sadly evident, by their despising the Words, and even the Messengers of GOD themselves; this was a provoking Sin found among GOD's professing People of [Page 15]old, 2 Chron. 36.15, 16. The Lord God of their Fathers, sent unto them by His Messengers, rising up betimes, and sending them, because he had Compassion on his People. But they mocked the Messengers of GOD, and despised his Words, and misused His Prophets; so that they had Reason to cry out, as in Nehem. 4.4. Hear O GOD, for we are despised. When the faithful Messages of GOD by His Servants are disregarded, such do not obey the Voice of the Lord, and have Reason in their Humiliations and Confessions before GOD from one Time to another, to say, as in Dan. 9.6, 10. Neither have we hearkned to thy Servants the Prophets, which spake in thy Name, neither have we obey'd the Voice of the Lord our GOD, to walk in His Laws which He set before us, by His Servants the Prophets.
Again,
3. THERE are too many that do not obey the Voice of GOD by His Judgments inflicted, or threatned. Though there be a Voice of GOD, and a mighty Voice, in all such Judgments, both to the Town, and Country, especially when the Great GOD does by His Voice shake the Wilderness, and threaten to bury us, and our Houses, and all we have, in the deep Places of the Earth, from whence His Voice has come with a dreadful Sound in our Ears; yet are there not too many, that do not so hearken even to this awful Voice, as they should, or else they would have sear'd and trembl'd more before that GOD, who so terribly roared out of Zion.
[Page 16] Again,
4. MANY do not obey the Voice of GOD by His Mercies. There is a Voice in these, as well as in His Judgments. The Goodness and Mercy of GOD to us in the various Instances of it, do call, and should lead us to Repentance, as well as His judicial Dispensations. The innumerable Favours of GOD vouchsafed to us do call upon us to love, and serve, and live devoted to the GOD, who is so loading us with His Benefits; all signal Preservations do yet more especially do so; Preservations from Thunder and Lightning, Storms and Tempests, and terrible Earthquakes, in a particular Manner, which might, and so often have prov'd fatal and destructive unto Multitudes. How many populous Places have been destroyed by the amazing Judgment of the Eartkquake, and Multitudes swallowed up quick in the Pit, while the Lord has only shaken the Earth under us, and no Damage done, either to Man or Beast: So marvellous has been the Deliverance and Salvation granted to us; But may it not be fear'd, that many have not duly hearkned to the Voice of GOD in such a remarkable Deliverance, have not been duly thankful to GOD for it, and concern'd to answer His Expectations in so sparing them? Such as have not had a due Sollicitude of Soul about this, may be said, not to obey the Voice of the Lord.
Again,
5. MANY do not obey the Voice of the Lord by His Spirit. Though the Spirit of GOD does [Page 17]many Times by His secret Motions, convince Men of their Sloth and Negligence as to the great Concerns of their Souls, and Eternity, and their utter Unpreparedness for Death and Judgment, and does sometimes evidently excite them to enquire, as the Jaylour did after the Earthquake, What must I do to be saved? And so to seek the Lord, while He may be sound, and to call on Him, while He is near, and to work out their Salvation with Fear and Trembling, and delay doing it no longer; yet how many do not cherish and pursue such Convictions? Yea, Do not too many knowingly oppose and resist the striving Spirit of GOD, thus at work upon their Hearts, and thereby make it evident, at least to themselves, that they do not obey the Voice of GOD?
I might say again,
6. MANY do not obey the Voice of GOD by their own Consciences. Though their enlightned Consciences are so far awakned, as to do their Office upon them, and charge home Guilt lying on them, with respect either to Omissions of Duty, or Commissions of Evil, or both, they have allow'd themselves in; Tho' their Consciences do sometimes suggest to them, they have gone on in foolish and hurtful Ways, to the Dishonour of GOD, and the wounding of their Souls and Bodies, Name and Estate, and thereby laid in for a bitter Repentance, and that there must be sooner or later a Reformation, and a more holy circumspect Living [Page 18]and Walking than there has ever yet been; yet have not many persisted in their evil Ways under and after such evident Convictions & Admonitions from their own Consciences? all such do not obey the Voice of the Lord.
Finally, IF we don't receive Correction, and trust in the Lord, and draw near to our GOD, we do not obey His Voice. If we do not chearfully submit to the Discipline of His Rod, acknowledge His Justice and Righteousness in His judicial Dispensations, and set upon correcting the Errors of our Lives, and then repair to GOD, as the Hope of His People, and their Saviour in the Day of Trouble, and call upon Him in such a Day: In short, If we are not brought nearer to GOD by His awful Visitations, if we don't become more prayerful than ever, we are chargeable with the Guilt of not obeying the Voice of the Lord; and may it not be fear'd, that many are in these Respects, guilty before GOD, for which He may be justly angry with them?
BUT so much for the first Observation. I proceed to the second.
OBSERV. II. GOD may justly expect that we fear Him, and receive Instruction by His Judgments.
I said, surely, Thou wilt fear me, then wilt receive Instruction.
[Page 19] THE judgments of GOD have a wonderful Tendency to excite us to fear and tremble before Him, and He always sends them, or threatens the Infliction of them to excite a holy Fear of Him in the Hearts of His People, and when they don't attain this End, He complains of such a People, and exhibits that awful Charge against them, Jer. 44.10. They are not humbled, even unto this Day, neither have they feared. Fear is sometimes put for religious Worship, and sometimes for the whole of Religion, but here in my Text, 'tis probable, it may be rather taken for that Passion, or Affection of the Mind called Fear. There should be a holy Fear of GOD and His Wrath, a Trembling at His Judgments: We read, Psal. 65.8. They that dwell in the uttermost Parts are afraid at thy Tokens. The holy Psalmist says, Psal. 119.120. My Flesh trembleth for Fear of Thee, and I am afraid of thy Judgments. And the holy Prophet Habakkuk, Chap. 3.16. When I heard, my Belly trembled, my Lips quivered, I trembled in my self. GOD expects that we fear, and tremble before Him, under the Apprehensions of present, and impending Dispensations of His Wrath, but more especially under the Sense of whatsoever provoking Evils have enkindled His Displeasure, and caused Him to shake His Rod over us. We read, Ezra 9.4. How they assembled every one that trembled at the Words of the Lord, because of the Transgressions of His People, and how the Prophet sat astonied until the evening [Page 20]Sacrifice: And in the next Chap. How all the People sat in the House of GOD trembling because of this Matter. So Jehosaphat that excellent Governour, feared upon the Threatning of a terrible Judgment, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a Fast throughout all Judab. When GOD sends His Judgments they are to excite in us a reveren [...] Fear of Him, and awful Dread of His Wrach. Hence under the Judgments of GOD, that is the Call of GOD unto us, Isai. 8.13. Sanctify the Lord of hosts Himself, and let Him be your Fear, and let Him be your Dread.
AND as the Lord may expect to be feared, (for when the Lyon roars, who will not fear, we shall be more stupid than the Beasts of the Field, if we tremble not,) so may He justly expect that we hear and receive Instruction thereby, that we learn to adore and magnify His infinite and almighty Power, together with His undeserved sparing Mercy, that we see how much it concerns us to make the Lord our Refuge, and to get under the Shadow of His Wings, that we may not perish in the Day of His Indignation, that being warned of GOD as Noah was, we may prepare an Ark, in which we may be saved from being overwhelmed with the Floods of divine Vengeance, that may come down in an horrible Tempest upon a wicked World: That we therefore make haste to CHRIST, that we may have Rest in such a Day of Trouble. GOD may justly expect, that we do in these Regards [Page 21] Fear Him, and receive Instruction. This is GOD's great End and Design in threatning to bring down His awful Judgments on us, and they are a loud Call to all to fear Him, and to tremble at His Presence; to give Glory to His Name, to publish His Name, as Moses speaks, by ascribing Praise to our GOD, and then to learn all those Lessons, such Dispensations call us to. GOD has implanted this Affection or Passion of the Mind in us, to be exerted upon proper Objects being presented to us, and all those Dispensations that carry Terror in them, may well work upon our Fears, unless our Hearts be harder than the Rocks and Mountains that quake at Him, and are thrown down by Him. And He has made us capable of receiving Instruction, of thinking on our Ways, of remembring this, and shewing our selves Men, unless we will be like the Horse and Mule which have no Understanding.
WE have many desirable Helps and Advantages for the knowing our Lord's Mind and Will, if we are truly desirous of doing it. So then we must certainly conclude, That GOD may justly expect, that we fear Him, and receive Instruction.
AFTER He has inflicted any Judgments on us, or threaten'd the Infliction of more and greater, He may well say concerning such a People; Surely thou wilt fear me, thou wilt receive Instruction.
I pass to the third Observation.
[Page 22] OBSERV. III. THAT did we fear the Lord, and receive Instruction, we might hope to be saved from destroying Judgments; so that our Dwellings should not be cut off, however otherwise GOD might punish us.
WE should by fearing the Lord, and receiving Instruction answer His righteous Expectations concerning us, and so remove the Grounds of His Controversy with us. When GOD brings His Judgments upon a People, or threatens to dispense terrible Things in Righteousness to them, it is because they will not fear Him, will not lay His Judgments to Heart, and see and own their Sin and Folly in their vile Departures from Him, and therefore He will make them to feel the doleful Effects of His vindictive Wrath: So much we plainly learn from the Tenour of the divine Threatnings throughout the Book of GOD.
BUT now if the People of GOD under His Judgments inflicted or threatned, maintain a holy Fear of GOD upon their Hearts, and give to GOD the Glory of His divine Perfections therein display'd, and acknowledge His Sovereignty, Justice, and Mercy, in His Dispensations, and make it their sollicitous inquiry, What meaneth the Heat of His Anger? What have I done, and how much have I provoked the holy GOD to come out of His Place, and threaten even on utter Desolation? I will now therefore search and try my Ways, and by the Help of His Grace will now turn unto the Lord, that [Page 23]He may have Mercy upon me, and pardon me, and not execute the Fierceness of His Anger. Were this our great Sollicitude under the threatning Visitations of GOD, we should have comfortable Grounds of Hope, that the Lord would stay His Hand, and spare us, in the Multitude of His tender Mercies; yea, that He woud repent Him of what further Evil He had thought to have brought upon us. Such a repenting and returning GOD, has assured us, will keep off, or avert impending Judgments: Hence after the holy Prophet Joel had in terrible Manner spake of GOD's uttering His Voice, in the Day that should be great and terrible, and none could abide it: He immediately exhorts in the Name of the Lord, to turn unto the Lord, † Therefore also 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 Hearts, and not your Garments, and turn unto the Lord your GOD: for He is gracious and merciful, slow to Anger, and of great Kindness, and repenteth Him of the Evil.
IT is spoken after the Manner of Men, to represent how ready the Lord is upon a sincere Repentance, and thorow Reformation, to change the Course of His Providence towards His People, and not inflict those Judgments, He threatned to bring down upon them; yea, He further says, Then will the Lord be jealous [Page 24]for His Land, and pity His People, yea, the Lord will answer, Fear not, O Land! Be glad and rejoice, for the Lord will do great Things, and I will pour out my Spirit &c.
IN a Word here; GOD has often spared His People, upon their thus returning to Him; He has upon their Humiliations and Intercessions granted them a Reprieve, and so He is ready to do still; if we will also fear Him and receive Instruction. Hence we have that Warning from the Lord, Jer. 6.8. Be thou instructed O Jerusalem, lest my Soul depart from thee, lest I make thee Desolate, a Land not inhabited. Be thou instructed or corrected, as it may be read; By the Correction thou hast felt already, and which is further threatned, be perswaded to repent before it be too late; Let the Rod and Reproof teach thee Wisdom. Nor were they at any Loss what to do in this Case, well knowing what the Lord had said to them by the same Prophet, ‖ from which we shall see the Truth before us further confirmed, At what Instant I shall speak concerning a Nation, and concerning a Kingdom, to pluck up and to pull down, and to destroy it, If that Nation against whom I have pronounced, turn from their Evil, I will repent of the Evil, I thought to do unto them.
BUT so much for the third Observation.
I pass to the fourth and last, viz.
[Page 25] OBSERV. IV. THAT if after all, we go on incorrigibly in our evil Ways, we may be assured GOD has determin'd to pour out His Indignation upon us, even all His fierce Anger, and even to devour the Earth with the Fire of His Jealousy.
NOTHING can more provoke the holy and righteous GOD to do so, than incorrigibleness under His Judgments. And therefore the holy Prophet says concerning such, Jer. 5.3. O Lord, thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved, thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive Correction, they have made their Faces harder than a Rock, they have refused to return, and then it follows, He hath poured upon them the Fury of His Anger &c. If inflicted, or threatned, Calamities don't attain the End for which they are sent, viz. to humble, reform, and do us good, if we will not be reclaim'd, but go on impenitently still, we may fear, that, that will be quickly the Lord's Determination concerning us, Ezek. 24.13. Because I have purged thee, i. e. used Means for thy Reformation, and thou wast not reformed, Thou shalt not be purged from thy Filthiness any more, till I have caused my Fury to rest upon thee. So GOD told Moses, Deut. 31.16, 17. That if they brake His Covenant, His Anger should be kindled against them, and He would forsake and hide his Face from them, and they should be devoured, and many Evils and Troubles befall them, so that they should say, Are not all [Page 26]these Evils come upon us, because of our evil Doings? So Joshua said, Chap. 24.20. If ye forsake the Lord, then He will do you hurt and consume you, after that He hath done you good. GOD has been very terrible in the Execution of such Threatnings upon His covenant People. We read in the 78th Psalm, how they were a rebellious and stubborn Generation, that kept not the Covenant of GOD, and refused to walk in His Law, and notwithstanding all His marvellous Appearances for them, yet sinned more against Him, by provoking the most High in the Wilderness: Yea, they spake against GOD, therefore the Lord heard this, and was wroth, so a Fire was kindled against Jacob, and Anger also came up against Israel: The Wrath of GOD came upon them, and slew them, He cast upon them the Fierceness of His Anger, Wrath and Indignation, He made a Way to His Anger, He spared not their Soul from Death, but gave their Life over to the Pestilence, and smote all their First-born; — But yet, we read again, that they tempted and provoked the most high GOD, and kept not His Testimonies, but turned back and dealt unfaithfully like their Fathers, they were turned aside like a deceitful Bow, they provoked Him to Anger, and moved Him to Jealousie, when GOD heard this, He was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel; so that He forsook their Tabernacle, deliver'd their Strength into Captivity, and their Glory into the Enemies Hand, He gave His People over also to the Sword, and was wroth with His Inheritance, the Fire consumed them &c.
[Page 27] THEY are exhibited as a most terrible Example to deter us from perfisting in a Course of Impenitence and Disobedience: Hence the Prophet Jeremiah says, † Go ye now to my Place which was in Shiloh, 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, and I spake unto you, rising up early, and speaking, but ye heard not, therefore I will cast you out of my Sight, and my Fury shall burn, and shall not be quenched, saith the Lord, ye have forsaken me, and therefore have I also left you. I might multiply many such awful Threatnings of Wrath against an incorrigible People, for our Warning, and so for the Proof of the awful Observation, I am upon; I will mention one more, that in Jer. 44.10, 11. They are not humbled even unto this Day, neither have they feared, nor walked in my Law, nor in my Statutes that I set before you, and your Fathers, therefore thus saith the Lord of Hosts, Behold I will set my Face against you for Evil. What terrible Displeasure does this Threatning carry in it, nothing short of this, that His Jealousie will burn against such a People, and He that made them will have no Mercy on them, that He will laugh at their Calamities, and mock when their Fear comes; that He will not only reject their Prayers, but answer them by terrible Things in Righteousness, until He has consumed them utterly, so that there shall be no [Page 28]Remnant, nor escaping. Thus has the Observation before us been confirmed from many dreadful Instances of the Wrath of GOD, pour'd out upon an impenitent and disobedient People, in the many Cities and Countries, that have been said waste and desolate for their Sins: How was Babylon the great destroy'd, as GOD overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, Jerusalem also, and the Jewish Nation, their Land made an utter Desolation! And this has been the dreadful Fate of many Churches that were once beautiful & flourishing in the Christian World; What evident clear Convictions do such Examples give us of the Truth of this Observation? So that we may certainly look for such Desolation and Ruin, if we are alike Guilty before the Lord: And therefore such Judgments upon others are recorded for our Learning, and Admonition upon whom the Ends of the World are come. ‘Sodom's Ashes, Shiloh's Fire, Jerusalem's Desolation are Uses of Instruction and Warning to all the Inhabitants of the Earth: They fell by their Iniquity, and such as tread in their wicked Steps, may expect to fall by the like Judgments; for GOD is uniform, and of a piece with Himself in his judicial. Proccedings: 'Tis a Rule of Justice, ut parium Par sit Ratio; that the equally Guilty should be punish'd alike. Luke 13.3. Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.’
[Page 29] I might have mention'd several good Reasons, why the Lord should come to such a Determination concerning an impenitent and disobedient People, I might shew, how the Honour of His own Narie calls for it, and how much His Glory is concerned in it, they Glory of His Holiness, and of His Faithfulness, Wisdom and other Attributes, and particularly, How the Honour of His Justice calls for such a Determination: For GOD will be weary of repenting, and be oblig'd to say concerning us, as of Jerusalem of old, For who shall have pity upon thee, O Jerusalem, or, who shall [...] thee, 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. When GOD has waited a long Time, and been visiting with lighter and lesser Judgments, and then brought greater, if we will not be reformed by these Things, His Anger may well burn against us, and His Fury be poured out like Fire, to consume us. We are indeed ripe for Ruin, For shall not the Lord visit for such Things, and His Soul be avenged on such a Nation as this? But I proceed to some brief Application of what we have heard.
APPLICATION.
USE I. THE first Use might be by Way of Examination, to put us upon a solemn Trial of our selves, Whether we are not chargeable with [Page 30]what the Prophet Zephaniah here charges upon Jerusalem? Have we not been disobedient to the Voice of GOD, in all those Ways, wherein we have heard, He has been calling aloud upon us? Oh that Conscience would do it's Office, that Deputy of GOD in thy Breast, and charge home the Guilt lying on thee for thy past Disobedience to the Voice of GOD from one time to another: Let that Preacher follow thee Home, and make Application, of what has been said, and see that thou reverence the Dictates of thy enlightned and awakned Conscience, as ever you hope or desire to have Peace of Conscience now, in Death, or at the Judgment.
USE II. A Second Use might be by Way of Reproof, to the impenitent and disobedient, who have hitherto refus'd to fear GOD and receive Instruction. GOD has said concerning you, Surely they will now fear me, and receive Instruction. But you are yet Strangers to a holy Fear of Him, and you are going on in your Ways of Disobedience and Rebellion still; you are not humbled and reformed to this Day: The Voice of GOD to such, is that in Jer. 5.21, 22. Hear this now, O foolish People, and without Understanding, which have Eyes and see not, which have Ears and hear not: Fear ye not me? saith the Lord: Will ye not tremble at my Presence?
[Page 31] USE III. LET our past Stupidity and Disobedience, to the Voice of GOD, be this Day, bewailed with Bitterness of Heart. We have hereby frustrated GOD's just Expectations from us, and have laid our selves open to His fiery Rebukes, even to have our Dwellings cut off, and we destroyed with them.
USE IV. WE hence see how much it is our Interest to hear and fear, and receive Instruction. We may then be assured of the divine Care and Protection still, that GOD will then remember Mercy in the midst of Judgment, and the Fruit thereof shall be to take away Sin, to purify and refine us: He will not cut us off, with our Dwellings, however otherwise, He may punish us.
USE V. HENCE we learn, what we are to look for, if we do persist in our Impenitence and Disobedience, under the threatning Tokens of the divine Anger. We read, Amos 3.8. The Lord hath spoken, who can but prophesy? If we will not hear what He speaks, we may without pretending to much of a prophetic Spirit, foretell, what will be the awful Issue of such Disobedience: The 29th Chap. of Proverbs and 1. Verse, as well as my Text tells us what it will be.
It will be very awful indeed if after the Respit we have had, we should any of us harden our Hearts, and hearken not! We may [Page 32]well tremble to think of its being so with respect to too many in this Place, and throughout the Land: We have awful Instances of such in Scripture, I will only mention that in the 8th Chap. of Exodus. GOD brought a dreadful Judgment upon the Egyptians and Pharaob's Heart was to moved at it, he seem'd to be under such good Impressions, that he called for Moses and Aaron, and said, Intreat the Lord, that He may remove this Judgment. He seem'd earnestly desirous for that Time, that GOD would stay His Hand, and not destroy them immediately, and then he made Promises and Resolutions what he would do, if GOD would hear and answer, What now was the Issue? GOD was intreated for them, and did according to the Word of Moses. But in the next verse, we read, Treat when Pharaah saw that there was Respit, he harden'd his Heart, and hearken'd not unto them.
THE Lord grant, this Word may [...] fulfiled with Respect to any in this [...], or in this Land.
Wherefore,
USE VI. LET us all do our utmost, that the Lord may not proceed to such a Determination concerning [...], as this in my Text. Let us again hear it, and surely you will not hear it without fear and trembling. ‘Therefore wait ye upon me saith the Lord, until the Day [Page 33]that I rise up, for my Determination is to pour upon them mine Indignation, even all my fierce Anger, for all the Barth shall be devoured with the Fire of my Jealousie.’ Who knows but that the Great GOD may have come to this Determination already, ‘That He will quickly come to take Vengeance on His Adversaries, that the Day we read of in the first Chapter of Nahum's Prophesy, may be hastning greatly, when when the Mountains shall quake at Him, and the Earth be burnt at His Presence, yea the World, and all that dwell therein, when with an overrunning Flood, He will make an utter End of the Place, and Darkness shall pursue His Enemies. What do we imagine against the Lord? He will make an utter End, Affliction shall not rise up a second Time; for while they be folden together as Thorns, and while they are drunken as Drunkards, they shall be devoured as Stubble fully dry.’
WHAT Hearts are ours, if they are not mov'd within us, when we read such terrible Denunciations of Wrath against the Enemies of GOD? They are harder surely than the very Rocks, that are thrown down by Him, if they don't tremble at His Presence, For who can abide the fierceness of His Anger, when His Fury is poured out like Fire?
[Page 34] OH let us then in this Day of Fear and Trembling, repair to the Lord as a strong Hold, if we would have Rest in the Day of Trouble.
LET us in our several Places and Stations, do what we possibly can to prevent the Lord's proceeding to such a Determination concerning this People. The Lord seems as though He were loth to give us up, and make an utter End of us, as yet; and therefore He has been only shaking His Rod over us, and giving us and Alarm, an Warning of what we may expect, if we will not hear, and return unto Him.
IF the Majesty and Greatness of GOD don't awe and terrify us, yet shall not the sparing Mercy of GOD melt us! That though He threatned us with a sudden Destruction, He spared us from going down quick into the Pit, and has given us the space of now more than three Months, to repent in! This our Honourable Rulers, who not long since, call'd us together, made a particular mention of, to the Glory of the infinite Patience and Mercy of GOD, towards a sinful unreformed People; And shall we not by all be led to Repentance? Shall Multitudes in this Land, (or any in this Place) continue still going on in Ways of Profaness, of Pride, and Sensuality, and other heinous GOD-provoking Evils, which have brought the surprizing amazing EARTHQUAKE upon us? Shall we keep one Day of solemn [Page 35] Humiliation, Fasting, and Prayer after another, and the same heinous Iniquities prevail and abound, still? Shall there be no more of a general Repentance and Reformation of these Evils? If we should remain thus unreformed still, I dread to think how those Days, will be Days of Provocation to GOD, and make Him very speedily come into this awful Determination concerning us: Nothing can provoke Him to do it more.
BUT GOD forbid, He should ever declare thus concerning us; if we would prevent it, let each one, lay his Hand on his Mouth, and his Mouth in the Dust, each one smiting on his own Breast, and crying, GOD be merciful to me a Sinner: Let us set our selves to seek the Lord, before the Decree bring forth, before the fierce Anger of the Lord come upon us; nothing but a sincere Repentance, and thorough Reformation will stay GOD's Hand: And Oh if there were such an Heart in this People, to fear GOD, and receive Instruction, it should yet be well with us; GOD would return in Mercy, and would yet spare us, and our Children, and our Dwellings, and not devour the Earth with the Curse: And so this terrifying Dispensation would be the most useful one of our whole Lives; we shall have Reason to bless GOD for it all our Days.
WE have been (as we were directed, by those who feared, and proclaimed the late Fast) [Page 36]crying to GOD, that it may be a happy Means of the saving Conversion of many to GOD, and that in Order hereunto, the ‘Awakning Impressions that have been made on the Minds of many in this Land, may be follow'd with the gracious Influences of His Spirit.’ We herein see the pious and earnest Sollicitude of our Rulers, for our Reformation, yea, for our saving Conversion, because they are afraid of further and more terrible Dispensations of divine Anger, and shall not we be concerned herefor, our selves? I trust through Grace, a considerable Number are, Our Hearts Desire and Prayer is, that All may. And, blessed be GOD, there are such Numbers made to hear and obey His Voice in other Places: we hope there shall be yet greater Numbers made to do so. And if the Labours of His Servants may at all contribute to it; let the free and sovereign Grace of GOD have the Praise of it.
HOWEVER it shall be, Let us still wait on GOD, with whom is the residue of the Spirit, for more plentiful outpourings of it, upon us, and ours, and all Flesh in the midst of us, For this, let us continue lifting up our Hearts with our Eyes and Hands unto GOD in the Heavens, with a believing Expectation, and encouraging Hope, that GOD has Mercy in Store for us, and will yet think upon us, that we perish.
[Page 37] REMARKABLE is the Example of Nineveh for our Encouragement, who were threatned with a speedy and utter Ruin and Desolation, ‘‖ They believed GOD, and proclaimed a Fast, and put on Sackcloth from the greatest of them, even to the least of them; The King arose from his Throne, and laid his Robe from him, and cover'd him with Sackcloth, and sat in Ashes, and caused it to be proclaim'd and published through Nineveh; and exhorted them to cry mightily to GOD, and to turn every one from his evil Way; Who can tell (says he) if GOD will turn and repent and turn away from his fierce Anger, that we perish not. And GOD was intreated for them, as we see in the next Verse; And GOD saw their Works that they turned from their evil Way, and GOD repented of the Evil, that He had said He would do unto them, and He did it not.’
WOULD we have the Lord to stay His Hand, and not cut us off, with our Dwellings? Let us this Day, hear and obey His Voice, and now draw near to Him.
BY the astonishing Dispensation of the EARTHQUAKE, may we not hear the Great GOD calling on us, as in Isai. 26.20, 21. Come, my People, enter thou into thy Chambers, [Page 38]and shut thy Doors about thee: hide thy self as it were for a little Moment, until the Indignation he overpast. For behold the Lord cometh out of his Place to punish the Inhabitants of the Earth for their Iniquity.
IF we should call off Fear, and restrain Prayer before GOD, and persist in our Disobedience to His Voice, we shall be in greater Danger than ever of His dreadful Judgments, and of EARTHQUAKES in a particular Manner; and if the Lord should arise and shake terribly the Earth again, you would then it may be, many of you, fear and tremble more: But Oh can nothing but EARTHQUAKES make you fear and tremble, can no other Dispensations of GOD bring you to your Knees, humble you to the Dust, and make you cry and plead for Mercy? If they may do so, it will be well for you, that Fearfulness and Trembling should again come upon you, and your Bones, as well as your Houses shake: You read how the Jaylour sprang in trembling and crying out, Sirs, What must I do to be saved? And that Day, Salvation came to him, and his House, he and all his were strait-way baptized ‖
On when shall we see you trembling and astonished, and making the same Inquiry?
[Page 39] IF you were prick'd to the Heart, you would be going and weeping, and seeking the Lord your GOD; you would pray more, more humbly, earnestly, and importunately, as well as more frequently for your Conversion; and that you might be prepared for all the great Events of Providence, and even for the coming of the Day of GOD. Yea, you would not let the Lord go until He look down from Heaven with an Eye of Pity on you. You will be never easier than when in your Chambers, seeking for the Mercy of GOD to your selves, and yours; especially when you can solace your own Souls with any comfortable Grounds of Hope GOD has heard your Prayers, and will not turn away His Mercy from you. And how can you live with any Comfort, if you have no Hope of this?
OH that Men would seek the Lord, while He may be found, and call upon Him while He is near, and give Glory to GOD before their Feet stumble upon the dark Mountains, when all Intreaties for Mercy will be too late!
IT may be fear'd, that desolating Judgments are hastning upon us, that the Inhabitants of the Land, are ripe for them, and it may be, for a destroying EARTHQUAKE that shall lay some Parts of it waste and desolare. And shall not this awful Consideration excite and move us to cry for Mercy? GOD shakes [Page 40]His Rod over us, to bring us to do so, and from His sparing Mercy to this Hour, we may be assur'd, This is the Language of His Heart concerning us † How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? How shall I deliver thee, Israel? How shall I make thee as Admah? and set thee as Zebeim? Mine Heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together, I will not execute the Fierceness of mine Anger, I will not return to destroy you. But verily, if we will not obey His Voice, He will return in Anger, and more terrible EARTHQUAKES than those of the last Week * may be look'd for still.
In looks, at present, as if the Voice of GOD had not been enough hearkned to, that the Great GOD should so continue roaring from the deep Places of the Earth. He seems to be conning nearer to us; and if we shall now be visited as our Neighbours in the Northern Parts of the Province have been, the Lord grant, the like Impressions may be made on our Minds, that have on such Numbers there.
IT may be, we shall go on, many of us, in our Disobedience to the Voice of GOD, and Conscience, till we feel more terrible Convulsons of the Earth under us; and we shall even then, if we don't hear also, the still small Voice of His Word and Spirit.
[Page 41] METHINKS, I now find my self brought by the Hand of the Lord, into the midst of the Valley, which is full of Bones † where there are many very dry, and hear the Lord saying, Can these Bones live? To which I make the Answer prepar'd for me, O Lord GOD, thou knowest.
WE have prophesy'd upon these Bones, and said unto them, O ye dry Bones, hear the Word of the Lord, and may the Lord GOD now say, unto these Bones, Behold I will cause Breath to enter into you, and ye shall live, and ye shall know that I am the Lord.
WHEN we prophesy as we are commanded, May there be a Noise and a Shaking, and then the Spirit of GOD which is the Wind that bloweth where it listeth, come and breathe upon these Slain, that they may live, and stand up upon their Feet an exceeding great Army. We have reason to pray, and hope for it.
LET none then, now say, especially such as are under Convictions, Our Bones are dried, and our Hope is lost, we are cut off, for our Parts.
TO conclude, LET us now hear the Word of the Lord, unto us, in Jer. 13.15, 16. Hear ye and give ear, Be not proud: for the Lord hath spoken, Give Glory to the Lord your GOD, [Page 42]before be cause Darkness, and before your Feet stumble upon the dark Mountains, and while ye look for Light, He turn it into the Shadow of Death, and make it gross Darkness. And that Word also, in Mal. 2.2. If ye will not bear, and will not lay it to Heart, to give Glory unto any Name, saith the Lord of Hosts, I will even send a Curse upon you, and I will curse your Blessings: We trust GOD has not yet said, and Oh that He never may, as in the remainder of the Verse, Yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to Heart.
I shut up all with that Exhortation, in Heb. 12. from the 25th Verse to the End. See that ye rofuse not Him that speaketh; for if they escaped not who refused him that spake on Earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from Him that speaketh from Heaven: Whose Voice then shook the Earth, but now He hath promised, saying, yet once more, I shake not the Earth only, but also Heaven. And this Word yet once more, signifieth the removing of those Things that are shaken, as of Things that are made, that those Things which cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore, we receiving a Kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have Grace, whereby we may serve GOD acceptably, with Reverence, and GODLY FEAR. FOR OUR GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE.