14. Discourse Xiv
DISCOURSE XIV
ARE THE EXTRAORDINARY WARNINGS
FROM GOD TO OUR NATION AT THIS TIME
CALLING ALL BELIEVERS AND CHURCHES
TO RESPOND—AND IF SO, WHAT IS THE
MESSAGE WE ARE TO HEAR?
T HIS meeting is for conference, and I would like to ask you a few questions:— First. Do you think there are extraordinary calls and warnings from God towards this nation at this time?
Secondly. If there are, what is the voice of these calls?
Thirdly. Are any groups of people, believers, or churches, exempted from attending to and complying with these calls from God?
For there lies a reserve in our hearts. The nation is very wicked (I will not repeat the sins of the nation), the warning is general to the nation, the body of the people, and God testifies his displeasure against them. Now, the inquiry is, is there any rule that we, who profess ourselves believers, and a
church, should consider ourselves exempted from a particular compliance with these extraordinary calls from God—that they are for others, and not for us? "If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent," Job 9:23. And the good figs went first into captivity.
Fourthly, what have we done so far that may prove itself to be a response to, a compliance with, these calls of God, which we have acknowledged here before the Lord? We have been discussing it, and it is my place to believe that we have had genuine and sincere desires for it. Neither the church, nor anyone in the church, will receive any criticism from me beyond evidence. I should believe that we have had good intentions within ourselves, and sincere efforts towards it, even though they may not have been suitable or proportionate to the current situation. Therefore, I must say that, in a significant and extraordinary way, we have done nothing so far.
We have not yet consulted about what we should do, and "what it is" specifically "that the LORD our God requires of us." We have not declared our plans and intentions for a universal compliance with these great calls of God for repentance and turning to the Lord. I mourn over myself day and night; I mourn over you constantly. I do not see that vitality and vigor in returning to God, either in our individual lives or in our church relationship, as I would wish. And allow me to say, from an experience in my own heart,
I am concerned for you. We may proceed to consider some external duties later; but so far we have not reached that point, but only to examine our hearts about what we have done in compliance with these calls of God, in the reformation and change of our hearts, and vigor of spirit in walking with him. I say this with all sensitivity, so that no one might take offense; but I admit to you, that I have not myself achieved, nor can I, even though I am striving to bring my heart to that state which God requires in us all at this
time. I encounter many obstacles: if you have achieved it I will rejoice in it with all my heart and soul; but if not, assist those who are striving for it. I intend nothing more at present but this—to instill in our souls a conviction that we have not yet responded to the calls of God in the heart: for if we believe we have complied, the work is finished.
I hope we may in due time proceed to consider all the ways and examples by which we may reform and return to God; but in the meantime I propose this to you—that unless the foundation of it is laid in a deep and broken sense of our past mistakes and current states, and I can see in the church some actions of a renewed spirit with vigor and eagerness to pursue our recovery and return to God, I will be greatly discouraged in this matter. But let us be convinced that we are to lay this foundation (I wish we may agree on this), that it is our duty to instill a deep sense in our hearts, as the first thing God aims at in his calls, of our past mistakes, and of our current dead, miserable state; in comparison to that vigor, liveliness, and activity of grace that should be found in us. Should we not lay the foundation here? If so, then we should apply ourselves to it. It may be, though it is so with some, that they have such a lively, vigorous acting of faith in a deep and humble sense of their past mistakes, yet it is not so with others; and we are looking for the edification of the whole. Therefore, brethren, do we consider it our current duty to strive to affect our hearts deeply with a sense of our current state that does not align with the mind of God and Christ, and of our past mistakes.
If it is so, let us pray every day that God would keep this thing in the imagination of the thoughts of our hearts; not only of ourselves, but of one another. Observe the phrase of the Holy Ghost: when you come to "the thoughts of the heart," you think you can go no farther; but David says, "I
pray, O LORD, preserve this 'in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of your people;" that is, "in the first internal framing of our thoughts." There must be a frame acting and creating thoughts (if I may say so) continually in us for this purpose. But I recommend this to you—that if this is a truth, and we are convinced it is our duty to strive to affect our hearts with a sense of the unresponsiveness of our souls, and the frame of our minds to the will of God and the holiness of Christ, who is coming to visit his churches,
—"What kind of people should we be?" Not such as we have been. We should strive for a deep sense of this, and I hope it may not be unsuitable to you; for if any of us have any corruption, temptation, or disorder in our spirits and ways to conflict with, in vain, believe me, shall we contend against it, unless we lay this foundation.
I know one great means for the beginning and carrying on of this work, is by earnestly crying unto God—by prayers and supplications, and humiliations. I am reluctant to end it there; I have seen so many days of humiliation without reformation, that I dare not end it there: we shall make use of them as God shall help us. I desire the church would do so, if they find in themselves a sense of duty, and a heart crying to God in sincerity and truth. I have now been very long, though very unprofitable, in the ministration of the word; and I have observed the beginning of churches, and wish I do not see the end of them in this their confidence of mere profession, and the observation of these duties of humiliation. God knows, I have thought often of this thing; and I say I dare not end it there. Let us have as many as we have hearts for, and no more; and as many as shall end with reformation, but no more. But let us all begin among ourselves; and who knows but that God may give wisdom to this church? I am ready to faint, and give up, and to beg of the church they would think of some other
person to lead them in my place, without these disadvantages. The last day will reveal I have nothing but a heart to lead you in the ways of God—to the enjoyment of God.