12. Discourse Xi
DISCOURSE XI
QUESTION. WHAT IS OUR DUTY WITH
RESPECT TO DARK AND DIFFICULT
DISPENSATIONS OF GOD'S PROVIDENCE
IN THE WORLD?
A NSWER. In answer to this question, three things are to be considered:— First. What are, in a Scriptural sense, those things that make a season of providence dark and difficult?
Secondly. What are the open signs of the coming and passing of such a season over us? And, Thirdly. What are our special duties in reference to our entering into, and passing through, such a season?
First. What are those things that make a season of providence dark and difficult?
I find four things in Scripture that make a dark season of providence; and, if I am not mistaken, they are all upon us:—
1. The long-continued prosperity of wicked men. This you are aware is the most known case of all the Old Testament, Ps. 73; Jer. 12:1–3; Hab. 1:4,
13, and many other places. The holy men of old did confess themselves in great perplexity at the long-continued prosperity of wicked men, and their long-continued prosperity in ways of wickedness. Add this one further circumstance to it,—the long-continued prosperity of wicked men in their wickedness, when the light shines round about them to convince them of that wickedness, and God speaks in and by the light of his word against them; that is a trial. When all things were wrapped up in darkness and idolatry, it is no wonder at the patience of God; but when things come in any place to that state that many continue prosperous in wickedness when the day is upon them that judges them,—it is a difficulty.
2. It is a difficult season of providence, when the church is continued under persecution and distress in a time of prayer, when they devote themselves to prayer. The difficulty seems mentioned, Ps. 80:4, "O LORD, how long will you smoke against the prayer of your people?" This made it hard, that God should afflict his church, and keep her under distresses, and allow the furrows to be made long upon her back, and continue her under oppression from one season to another. There may be evident reason for that. But says God, "Call upon me in the time of trouble, and I will hear."
God has promised to hear the church: Will not God avenge the elect, that call upon him day and night? He will do it speedily. Now, when God seems to be angry with the prayers of his people, that is a difficult season: when they cry and shout, and God ignores their prayers, that makes a dark providence.
As the other difficulty is evidently upon us, so I hope we have this difficulty to contend with, that the anger of God continues to smoke against
the prayers of his people, as having stirred up many a blessed cry to himself; for there is a time when he will hear and answer their prayers.
3. It is a dark and challenging dispensation of providence when the world and nations of the world are filled with confusion and bloodshed, and no just reason appears for it to be so. When our Saviour predicts a difficult season in Matt. 24 and Luke 21, he says, "There will be terrible times, such as never were; nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there will be wars, bloodshed, and earthquakes; and the very elect will barely escape." Therefore, God refers to such a time as "a day of darkness," indeed, of "thick darkness," Joel 2:2, a dark, gloomy day. There is nothing to be seen in all the confusions that are in the world at this day, but that the frogs or unclean spirits have gone forth to stir up the lusts of men to wreak havoc on one another.
4. It greatly adds to the difficulty of a season when we have no prospect of where things are heading and what their outcome will be. There are two ways by which we may have a prospect of things that are in being;—by the eye of God's providence when we perceive which way that looks; and by Scripture rule. The truth is, we are in a time wherein no man can discern a fixed eye of providence looking this way or that way. What will be the outcome of these things; whether it will be the deliverance of the church, or the desolation of the nation and constriction of the church; whether God will bring good out of them in this generation, or any other time, no one knows: this makes it difficult. Ps. 74:9, "We see not our signs,"—have no tokens what God intends to do; "neither is there among us any to tell us how long."
There is none of these things but make a season difficult, and providence dark; but when all of them concur together, they cannot but greatly heighten
it: and I think they are all upon us.
Secondly. What are the open signs of the coming and passing of such a season over us?
There are three tokens or outward evidences of a difficult season. It is so, —1. When God's patience is abused. You know that place, Eccles. 8:11,
"Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil." Things pass thus:—men fall into wickedness, great wickedness; their consciences fly in their faces, and they are afraid; the power of their lusts carries them into the same wickedness again, and their consciences begin to grow a little colder than they were: no evil comes of it, and judgment is not speedily executed; and so their hearts at last come to be wholly set to do evil. Hence others that look on say, "Here are men given up to all wickedness; surely judgment will speedily come upon these men." Judgment does not come,—God is patient; and so they themselves turn as wicked as the former. Abusing God's patience is an evident sign of a dispensation of the displeasure of God in his providence: and if ever it was upon any, it is upon us; and men learn it more and more every day. Everyone talks of other men's sins; and seeing no judgment falls upon them, they give up themselves to the same sins.
2. It is so when God's warnings are ignored: "When your hand is lifted up, they will not see." That is a difficult time; for, says God, "The fire of your adversaries shall consume you." Never have people received more warnings than we have;—warnings in heaven above, and warnings on the earth below; warnings by lesser judgments, and warnings by greater; and warnings by the word. God's hand has been lifted up; but who takes notice of it? Some ignore it, and others talk of it as a story to be told; and there is an end of it. Who sanctifies the name of God in all the warnings that are
given us? "The LORD's voice cries unto the city," Mic. 6:9; but it is only "the man of wisdom," of substance, that sees the name of God in these his cries unto the city by his warnings from heaven and earth, signs and tokens, and great indications of his displeasure.
3. A tendency in all sorts of people to complacency, and to take no notice of these things. I have spoken about this issue of complacency before, and I pray God warns you and myself of it; for I believe none of us are such strangers to our hearts, but we can say, that under all these warnings there is a tendency to complacency: if God did not prevent it, we would fall fast asleep under all the judgments that are around us.
Any of these things show that we are under a difficult dispensation of providence; but where all concur,—God be merciful to s ch a people!—it is the opening of the door to let out judgments to the utmost.
Now if this is such a season, as I truly believe we are all aware it is, then, — Thirdly, What shall we do? What are our special duties in reference to our entering into, and passing through, such a season?
I might speak about the particular exercise of those graces which are required for such a season; such as faith, resignation to the will of God, readiness for his pleasure, waiting upon God, detachment from the world, and the like; but I will only give you three or four duties, which are particularly hinted at in such a season, and so have done;—
1. Our first duty is that we should meet together and discuss these matters, Mal. 3:16, 17. This is a good strategy in challenging times, such as some of us have experienced. The day of the Lord was approaching, a day that would burn like an oven: "Then those who feared the LORD spoke often to
one another: and the LORD listened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for those who feared the LORD, and thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, on that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spares his own son who serves him." When did this happen? In a time of great judgment and great sin,—"when they called the proud happy, and those who committed wickedness were exalted, and those who tempted God were even delivered;" that is, "appeared to be delivered." It is our great duty, as we have opportunity and occasion, to discuss these matters; about the causes of them,—what arises from the profane, wicked world; what from a persecuting, idolatrous world; and (wherein we are more concerned) what from a professing generation; and see how we can sanctify the name of God in it. We could have as great advantages as any under the face of heaven for the discharge of this duty, if we would but make use of that "price" [Prov.
17:16] which God has put into our hands; but if we are "fools," and have no "heart" to improve it, the blame will be our own. You have opportunities for meeting and assembling: I fear there are cold affections in your private meetings; I hope this is not the case. Perhaps some thrive and grow; I hope so: and others are cold and backward; this is not the season for it. If God would help us to manage this church correctly, and as we ought to do, there can be no greater advantage under such a season than we enjoy: but we lack voluntary inspection; and may the Lord not hold it against us that we have deferred it for so long. Much lack of love could have been prevented, many duties furthered, and many evils removed, if we had come up to the light
God has given to us. But we are at a loss; and God knows we suffer under it, for lack of discharging our duty.
That is the first thing,—to speak often to one another;—to sanctify the name of God by a humble, diligent inquiry into the causes of these dispensations, and preparation for these things.
2. The second duty in such a season is for each of us to privately inquire of Jesus Christ, in prayer and supplication, "What shall be the end of these things?" You have a great example of it in Daniel 8:13, 14, "Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said to that certain saint who spoke,
'How long will the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot, last?' And he said to me, 'Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.'" I suppose there is something of the ministry of angels in it; for this saint inquires, but the answer is given to Daniel, "One saint said to another saint;"—"and he said to me." But the speaking saint was Jesus Christ. There was the Holy One that spoke, which he calls ַּפְלמֹוִני, "a certain saint;" but the derivation of the word is, "One that reveals secrets." There was an application made to Jesus
Christ, who is the revealer of secrets, to know how long. And you will find in the Scriptures, in difficult dispensations, that is very many times the request of the saints to God, "How long?" Daniel 12:6, 8, "How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?" and, "O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?" There is a humble application by faith and prayer to Jesus
Christ, to know the mind of God in these things, that will bring satisfaction to our souls. Do not leave yourselves to wander in your own thoughts and imaginations. It is impossible but we shall be debating things, and giving a rational account of them; but all will not bring us satisfaction. But let us go to Jesus Christ, and say to him, "O Lord, how long?" And he will give in secret satisfaction to our souls.
This is the second thing,—frequently confer about these things; and press Jesus Christ to give your souls satisfaction as to these dispensations. And then,— 3. Another specific duty required in such a season is to mourn for the sins that are in the world. That is recommended to us in Ezekiel 9. When God had given commission to the sword to slay both old and young, he spared only those who mourned for the abominations that were done in the land.
We fall short in our duty in that matter,—in not being affected by the sins of the worst of men. God being dishonored, the Spirit of God blasphemed, the name of God reproached in them, we ought to mourn for their abominations. We mourn for the sins among God's people; but we ought also to mourn for those abominations others are guilty of,—for their idolatries, murders, bloodshed, uncleanness,—for all the abominations that the lands around us, as well as our own, are filled with. It is our duty, in such a season, to mourn for them, or we do not sanctify the name of God, and shall not be found prepared for those difficult dispensations of God's providence which are coming upon us.
4. The fourth and last specific duty which I shall mention is to hide ourselves. And how shall we do that? The storm is coming; get an ark, as Noah did when the flood was coming upon the world: which is stated as a precedent of all judgments in future times. There are two things required to provide an ark,—fear and faith:— (1.) Fear: "By faith, Noah, being moved with fear, prepared an ark." If he had not been moved with the fear of God's judgments, he would never have prepared an ark. It is a valid complaint; we are not moved enough with the fear of God's judgments. We talk of the most dreadful things that can befall human nature, and expect them every day; but yet we are not moved with
fear. "Yet they were not afraid," says Jeremiah, "nor did they tear their garments." Nor do we do so. Habakkuk, upon the view of God's judgments, was in another frame, chapter 3:16, "When I heard," says he, "my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled within myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble." This is the way to find rest in the day of God's judgments. We are afraid of being considered cowards for fearing God's judgments; and then,—
(2.) We cannot adequately prepare an ark for ourselves unless we are guided by faith, as well as moved by fear. "By faith, Noah prepared an ark."
How many things there are to encourage faith, you have heard;—the name, the properties of God, and the fulfillment of God's promise. By virtue of all those properties, encourage faith in preparing an ark.
But you will say, "We are still at a loss about what this preparation of an ark and hiding of ourselves is. 'A prudent man foresees the evil and hides himself.' God calls us to enter into the chamber of providence and hide ourselves until the indignation has passed. If we knew what this was, we would apply ourselves to it." I will tell you what I think in one instance:— do not give peace to your minds until, by some renewed act of faith, you have a strong and clear impression of God's promises on your hearts, and of your interest in them. If it is just one promise, it will prove to be an ark. If, under all these circumstances, moved with fear, acted by faith, we can but get a renewed sense and pledge of our interest in any one promise of God, we have an ark over us that will endure, whatever the storm may be. Think about it, and if nothing else occurs to you, apply your minds to it, so that you may not wander aimlessly; but strive to have a renewed pledge of your interest in some special promise of God, that it belongs to you, and it will be an ark in every time of trouble that shall befall you.———