Opening the fixth and last chamber, viz The love of God,
The Righteous Man's Refuge. extreme poverty and danger at the ſame time; then itwas thathe ſolaced his foul with thatcomfortable diſtich, a good
Jeſſon for others ; EftDeus in caelis, quiprovidus omnia curat, Credentesnusqam deferuiffe poteft. i e. There is a God above, who, as he provides for, and takes careofall, can never forſake thoſe that believe in him.
The provident care of his heavenly Father, made his heart as quiet as the child at the breaſt.
Chriſtian, thou knoweſt not what diſtreſsful days are coming upon the earth, nor what perfonal trials ſhallbefal thee in this world ; but I advise thee, as thou valueſt the tranquility and comfort ofthy life, ſhut up thyſelfby faith in this chamber of divine care; it is thy belt ſecurity in this world: Reflect frequently, and thankfully, upon the manifold ſupports, ſupplies, and falvations thou haft already had from this fountain ofmercies, and be not diſcou. raged at new difficulties.
When an eminent Chriſtian was told of ſome that way-laid him, to destroy him, his anſwer was, Si Deus mei curam non habet, quid vivo ? In like manner thou mayſt ſay, ifGod had not taken care for thee, how couldst thou have lived till now ? how couldſt thou have o ver-lived ſo many troubles, fears, and dangers as thou haft done ?
CHAP.
Openingthefixthandlast chamber, viz. The love ofGod, as a reft. ing-place to believingfouls in evil times.
Sect. I.THOUGH all the attributes in the name or chambers of this houſe ofGod are glorious and excel lent, yet this of love is tranſcendently glorious : Of this room it may be ſaid as it was of Solomon's royal chariot, Cant. iii.
10. " The midſt thereof ispaved with love."
Inthis attribute the glory ofGod is ſignally and eminently manifeſted, 1 John iv. 9, 10. Andupon this foundation the hopes and comforts of all believers are built, and founded, Rom. viii. 35. "Who shall
" ſeparate usfromthe loveofChriſt ? Shall tribulation, ordif- " treſs, or perſecution, or famine, or nakedneſs, or peril, or " ſword ?" He defies and deſpiſes them all, becauſe neither of them alone, nor altogether by theirunited ſtrength, can unclaſp the arms ofdivine love, in which believers are fafely enfolded.
In this attributeGod's people, by faith, entrench themselves,
The Righteous Man's Refuge.
andof ita believer ſaith, Hic murus aheneus efto, this hallbe myſtrong-hold and fortreſs in theday of trouble. And well maywe ſoeſteem and reckon it, if we conſider,
1. That wherever the ſpecial love ofGod goes, there the ſpecial prefence of God goes alſo, John xiv. 23. " He shall
" be loved of my Father, and we will comeuntohim, and make " our abode with him."
And O how ſecure and fafe muft thoſebe(however times govern) with whomGod himselfmakethhisabode ? Foras the Pfalmiſt ſpeaks, Pfal.xci. 1. " He that " dwells inthe ſecret place of the MostHigh, thall abide under " the ſhadow of theAlmighty." And he that is over-ſhadowedby an almighty power, need not fear how many mighty enemies combine against him.
2. Wherever the ſpecial love ofGod is placed, that perſon becomes precious and highly valuable in the eyes ofGod; he appretiates and eſtimates ſuch aman as his peculiar treaſure, which naturally and neceſſarily draws and ſpreads the wing of divine care over him for his protection, Deut. xxxiii. 12. "The " belovedofthe Lord ſhalldwell in ſafetyby him, and the Lord
" ſhall cover him all the day long."
Things of greateſt value arealways kept in ſafeſt cuſtody.
3. Uponwhomsoever the ſpecial love ofGod is ſet, there all events and ifſſues oftroubles are fure to be over-ruled to the eternal advantage of that foul, Rom. viii. 28.
Whichconfiderationalone is ſufficienttounfting all the troubles in the world, and make the belovedofthe Lord ſhout and triumph in the midst of tribulations.
But let usenter yet farther into this glorious chamber ofdivine love, and more particularly view the admirable properties thereof; though, when all is done, itwill be found a love paffingknowledge; ourthoughts mayadmire,butcannevermeafure it.
1. And first, you will find it an ancient love,whoſe ſpring is in eternity itſelf.
Believer,God is thine ancient friend, who foreſaw and loved thee before thou, yea, before this world was inbeing; the fruits and effects thereofthou gathereſt in time, butthe root that produces them was before all times, Prov. viii.
22, 23. "The Lord poſſeſſed me in the beginning of his way, " before his works ofold.
Iwas fet up from everlasting, from " the beginning, or ever the earth was."
Thus was the love ofGod contriving, and providing thebeſt ofmercies in Chrift for us ; while, as yet, there were no fuch creatures in the world, por a world prepared to receive us.
2. The love of God to his people is a free, and altogether
TheRighteous Man'sRefuge. undeſerved love.
It must needs be ſo, ſeeing it preceeded our very being; which had it notdone, yet no motivesbad beenfound in us, to allure it to us more than others, Deut, vii. 7. " The Lord did not ſet his love upon you, nor chuſe
" you, becauſe ye were more innumber than any people (for yewere thefeweſt of all people) but becauſe the Lord loved
" you."
So that we cannot find one stone ofour merit in the foundation of this love; for thoſe whom it embraces inits arms, are immerentes, &male merentes, ill-deſerving, as well as unde- " ſerving.
We were loved of God, before we were lovelyin ourſelves ; it is freely pitched upon us, not purchaſed by us,
Iſa. xliii. 24.
3. The love of God tobelievers is a bountiful love, ſtreaming forth continually mercies both innumerable and invaluable to their fouls and bodies, 2Pet. i. 3. Chriſtian, itwould quickJyweary thine arm, yea, let me ſay, the arm of an angel, but to writedownthe thousandth part of the mercies which have already flowed out of this precious fountain to thee ; though allthou haft received, or ſhalt receive in this world, are but thebeginnings of mercy, and firſt-fruits of thelove ofGodto thee; 'tis the love of God which daily loads thee with bene fits, asthe expreſſion is,Pfal. Ixviii. 19. And if thou art daily loaded with mercies, what anheap of mercies will the mercies ofthy whole life be ?
4. The love ofGod tobelievers is adiftinguiſhing love; not the portion of all, no, nor yet of manybeſides thee, 1 Cor. i.
26.
The generality of the world dwell in the room of commonprovidence, not in the chamber of ſpecial love, intowhich
Godhath admitted thee this confideration ſhould make thee break out in admiration, as it is, John xix. 22. " Lord, how
" is it that thou wilt manifeſt thyſelf to me, and not to the " world ?"
5.The love of God tobelievers is alove tranſcendent to all creature-love ; it moves in an higher ſphere thanthe love of any creaturedoth, Rom. v. 6, 7, 8. We read of Jacob's love to Rachel, which is ſo celebrated inthe ſacred ſtory for the fervour of it; and yet all that it enabled him to fuffer, was but the ſummer's heat and the winter's cold; a trifle to what the love of Chrift engaged, and enabledhim tofuffer for thyfake,
We read alſo of the love of David to Abfalom, which made him with, would God I had died for thee, O Abfalom, my fon, my fon! This love was only manifeſted in a with, which, haply, might havebeen retracted to,had therebeen an exchange tobe made indeed: but the life of Chrift, worth millions of
The Righteous Man's Refuget
his life, was actually and willingly ſtaked down for thy foul.
We readof the love of one difciple manifeſted to another difciple ina cup of cold water; but Chriſt hath manifeſted his loveto thee in pouring out his warmeſt heart blood for thy redemption. Owhat a tranſcendent love isthe divine love !
6. To conclude, (though alas, little is faidof the love of God,) it is an everlasting andunchangeable love.
Hills and mountains ſhall fooner ſtart from theirbaſes, than his lovingkindneſs depart from his people, Ifa. liv. 10. Though he afflict us, ſtill he loves us, Pfal. lxxxix. 32, 33.
Nay, though we grieve him, yet ſtillhe loves us, Mark xvi. 7. Tell the disciples, i and tellPeter.
Peter had grieved Chriſt, denied Chritt, yet willhe notrenounce nor caſt off Peter.
Sect. II. Wellthen, ifGod hath opened toyour fouls fuch a chamber of love, where your fouls may be raviſhed with dailydelights, as wellas ſecured fromdanger and ruin ; O that youwould enter into it'by faith, and dwellfor ever in the love ofGod! Imean, clear up your intereſt init, andthen folace your fouls in the delights of it. Need I to uſe an argument, or ſpend one motive to preſs you to enter into fuch an heaven upon earth ?
If the deadness of thy heart doth need it, take into confideration, reader, theſe few that follow.
Motive 1. Ponder with thyself how fad and miferable the cafe will be with thee in the days of calamity anddiſtreſs, if the love of God ſhall then be clouded to thy foul.
In thoſe days, fuch as love thee, will either be abſent from thee, or impotent to help thee; allthy friends and familiars maybe removed far off, and whither then wilt thou turn, ſhouldGod befarofftoo? This was that evil which Jeremiah ſovehementlydeprecated, chap. xvii. ver. 17. Be not a terror unto me, thou art my hope in the day of evil; q. d. O Lord, my foul depends upon refreſhinent and comfort from thee, when all the fprings of earthly comfort are dried up.
Shouldſt thou beaterror to me in the day of evil, it will be the moſt terrible diſappointment that ever befel my foul; if thou be kind, I care notwhobe cruel ; if I have the love of God, I value not the hatred of men; but if God be a terror, who, or what cam be a comforter ? The love ofGod is the alone refuge towhich the gracious foul retreats, upon all creature diſappointments, and failings.
This, therefore, isthe mainthing to be feared against the evil day.
Motive 2. The knowledge and aſſurance ofthe love ofGod isa mercy attainable by a gracious foul, notwithstanding the imperfections ofgrace.
Peterhad his falls and failings as well
The Righteous Man's Refuge.
as other Chriſtians, yetwhen Chriſt puts the questionhometo him, John xxi . 15. " Simon, fon of Jonas, loveſt thou me
" more than theſe;" he was able to return a clear poſitive anſwer, " Yea, Lord, thou knoweſt that I love thee."
Study thy heart, Chriſtian, and ſtudy the ſcriptures ; if thou canst find the fincere love ofGod in thy heart, that ſcripture will clear the love ofGodtothy foul, John iv. 19. " We love him,
" becauſe he firſt loved us."
If thou lay thine hand upon a ſtone-wall, and feel it warm, thou mayeft conclude the funbeams have ſhoneupon it; for warmth is not naturally indead ſtones.
Our love toGod is but a reflex beam of his love to us; andwe know therecanbe no reflex without a direct beam.
Thousands of Chriſtians do, at this day, actually poſſeſs the raviſhing ſenſe of divine love, whoſe fears and complaints have been the famethat thine now are; thatGod who indulged this favour to them, can do as much for thee.
Motive 3. Think how well thou wilt be provided for the worst and difficulteſt times, whenthe love of God shallbewell ſecured to thy foul; when the love of God, i. e. the ſenſe of his love, is once ſhed abroad inthe heart by the Holy Ghoſt, which for that end, among others, isgiven unto us ; we ſhall thenbe able to glory in tribulation, Rom. v. 3, 5. We may then biddefiance to all the adverſe powers of hell and earth , and ſay, nowdo your worſt ; we are out of your reach, and above all your terrors and affrights. Be advised then to fit clofe to this work; clear but this point once, and the worſt is paſt. O lie at the feet ofGodnight andday, givehim no reſt, take no denial from him, fill thy mouth with pleas and arguments : Tell him, Lord, it is neither for corn, nor wine, that I feek thee, but only forthy love; beſtow thy other gifts upon whom thou wilt, only ſeal up thy love to my foul.
And lastly, I advise thee, reader, to be exceeding careful, whenGod admits thee into the ſenſe of his love, to ſhut the door behind thee, leſt thy foul be foon expelled thence by the fubtilty of Satan, who envies nothing more, than ſuch an happineſs as this : That envious ſpirit totallydeſpairs of the leaſt drop of fuch a mercy, and therefore ſwells with envy at thy enjoyment of it.
But if ever thou faſten thy hand of faith upon this mercy, looſe notthy hold by every objection withwhich he will rap thy fingers.
1. Ifhe object themany ſharp afflictions, and manifold rods of God upon thee, call not the love ofGod in queſtion for that; but remember whathe faith, Heb. xii. 6. " Whom the " Lord loveth he chaſteneth, and ſcourgeth every fonwhom
The Righteous Man's Refuge.
*"he receiveth."
Fatherly corrections are to far from being inconſiſtent with the love ofGod, that his love is rather queſtionablewithout them, thanfor them; they are love tokens, not marksofhatred.
-2. Yield not up thy claim andtitle tothe love ofGod, becauſehe ſometimes hides his face from thee; thou knoweſt the fun isup, and going on in itsregular courſe,inthe darkeſt and cloſeſt day. MyGod, my God, faith Chriſt himself, Why haft thouforsaken me ? Believe he is ſtill thyGod, and his love immutable, when the ſenſe and manifeſtations thereofdo fail.
3. Call not the love ofGod in queſtion, becauſe of thy great vileneſs and unworthineſs. Say not, when thou moit loatheſt thyſelf, Godmust needs loath thee too; he can love wherethou loatheſt. " Return, return, O Shulamite, return,
" return, that we maylook upon thee : What will ye ſee in " the Shulamite ? as it were the company of two armies."
Theſpouſe was exceeding beautiful in the eyes ofothers, when moſt baſe and vile in her own : What would you fee in the Shulamite ? Alas, there is nothing inme, at the beſt, but conflicts and wars, betwixt grace and corruption, as it were betwixt two armies, Cant. vi. 13 .
4. Quit not thy claim tothe love ofGod, becauſe he seems to ſhut out thy prayers, and delays to answer thy long continueddefires and importunitiesofthy foul in fome caſes. David would neither cenſure hisGod, no, norcallinqueſtion his intereſt in him, becauſe offuch a delayand filence, Pfal. xxii. 1, 2 .
MyGod, myGod.
The claim is doubled, ver. 1. and yet in the next breath he faith, " I cry in the day-time, but thou
" heareſt not; and in the night-ſeaſon, andam not filent."
Thus I have offered you fome advice and aſſiſtance, how to ſecure yourſelves intheſe divine attributes, viz. The power, wisdom, faithfulness,unchangeableneſs, care, and love ofGod, as in ſo many fanctuaries, and comfortable refuges in the days ofcommoncalamity.
It is noted,even of the Egyptians, when the storm of hail was coming upon the land, Exod. ix. 20.
" He that feared the word of the Lordamong the ſervants of " Pharaoh, made his ſervants and his cattle flee into the " houſes."
Let not an Egyptian take morecare ofhis beasts than Chriſtians of their fouls.
Stormy days are coming, God hath provided you a refuge, and givenyou ſeaſonable prémonitions, and callsfromheaven, tohaſtenintothembeforethetimes of defolations come. The Lord help us tohear his calls, and complywiththem, which will be as much our privilege, as it is
VOL. IV.
The Righteous Man's Refuge. our duty. And so much for the fifth propoſition, viz. That God's attributes, promiſes, and providences, are prepared for the ſecurity ofhis people in the greateſt diſtreſſes that befal them in the world.
PROPOSITION
VI.
That none butGod's own people are taken into these chambers of Security, or can expect hisspecialprotection in evil times.
Sect. I.1. THIS propofitiondescribes andclearsthe qualified own andnonebut ſuch, can warrantably claim ſpecial protection ia
: evil times, and this is consonantto the current account of fcripture, Ifa. iii. 10, 11. "Say ye unto the righteous, it ſhall be
" wellwith him.
Wo to the wicked, it ſhallbe ill withhim."
He ſpeaks concerning theday of Jerufalem's ruin, and Judah's fall, as appears, ver. 8. So great adifference willGodmake,
-evenin this world, betwixt therighteous and the wicked.
In Nah i. you have alſo a terribleday deſcribed, whereinBaſhan, Carmel, and Lebanon,the moſt pleasant and fruitful places of the land ſhall languiſh, ver. 4. The mountains ſhall quake, the hills melt, the earth, and thoſe thatdwelltherein, burnt up, ver. 5.
The indignation andfury ofGod poured out like fire, ver. 6. The privileged peopleinthis terribleday areGod's own people, they only are taken into fecurity, ver. 7.
The Lord is good, a ſtrong-hold intheday oftrouble, and he knoweth them that trust in him, i. e. he ſoknoweth them, as to care andprovide for them in thatevilday; and ſo, throughout the whole fcripture, you shall find the promises of protection ſtill : made to the people ofGod.
When the Chaldean army, like a devouring fire, was readyto ſeize uponthe land, the finners in Sionwere afraid, fearfulneſs ſurprized the hypocrites; forwho among us (fay they) ſhall dwell with devouring fire, and everJafting burnings ? Yes, faithGod, ſome therearethat ſhallabide that day, viz."He that walketh righteously, and ſpeaketh up- " rightly; he ſhall dwell on high, his place of defence ſhall
" be the munition ofrocks ;" i. e. God willbea ſanctuary to them, whenothers ſhall be as ſtubble before the flames, Ifa. xxxiii. 14, 15. 16.
But for the right ſtating of this propoſition, three things mustbeheedfullyregarded.
1. That all goodmen arenot aways exemptedfrom the ſtroke
The Righteous Man's Refuge.
ofoutward calamities.
Inthat ſenſe the righteous mayperiſh, andmerciful menbe taken away ; yea, they may periſh in love, andbe taken away in mercy from the evil tocome, Ifa. Ivii. 1,
2.Micah vii. 1, 2.
2. That all wicked men are not always expoſed to external miferies ; but, " a juſt man may perith inhis righteouſneſs, and " a wicked man prolonghis life in his wickedneſs," Ecclef. vii. 15.
3. But in this ſenſe weare to underſtand the propofition, Thatnone but the people ofGod have right, by promife, to his ſpecial protection in evildays, that all fuch ſhall either be prefervedfromthe ſtroke ofcalamities, or from thedeadly ſting, namely eternal ruin, by them: though they ſhould fall by the hands ofenemies,yet theydie, as Joſiahdid, in peace, 2Kings xxii . 19, 20.
If they be taken away, it is but out ofthe way ofgreater miſchiefs : Deathdoth butlaythe faints in their beds of reſt, when it hurries away others into everlasting miferies :
Iftheybenotexcuſed fromtroubles, yet their troubles are fure tobe ſanctified to their eternal good, Rom. viii. 28. Andthe
Lord will be with them in their troubles, Pfal. xci. 15. Ifa. xli. 10.
Two things remain to be confidered, beforewe finiſh this laſt propofition: viz.
1. Who the people ofGod are ?
2. Why this privilege is peculiar tothem ?
1. Who are the people ofGod? the ſcripture deſcribes them two ways : negatively, and poſitively.
Negatively, in oppofition to thoſewho are not the people ofGod,but are(1.)The fervants of fin, obeying itinthe luſt ofit, which the people of God neither are, nordare to do, Rom. vi. 11, 12 , &c. (2. ) The menof this world, who have their portion inthis life, ſavouring andminding thethings ofthe world only ; whereas the people ofGod are called out of the world, John xvii. 16. and principally ſtudy and labour after the higher concernments of the world to come,Rom. viii. 5. (3.) The vaſſals of Satan, doing his luſts, and in ſubjection to his power, Acts xxvi. 18. Eph. ii. 2. from which bondage the people ofGodare made free. (4)Nor yet are they their own, living wholly to themſelves, and ſeeking only their own ends, as others do,
I Cor. vi. 19, 20.
Theſe, all theſe are notthe people ofGod, God will not own themfor ſuch; theybutdeceive themſelves in thinking, and callingthemſelves fo. But then poſitively, they are (1.) A people regenerated, and born again, Johni. 13. Their regeneration
Ya :
The Righteous Man's Refuge. gives themboth the eſſence anddenominationofthe peopleof
God: It is asimpoſſible tobe the children ofGod,withoutregeneration, as it is to be the children of men without generation.
(2.) They are a people in covenant with God, Ezek. xvi. 8. " f " entered intoacovenant with thee, and thou becameſt mine."
For in this covenant theygivethemselves to the Lord, 2 Cor. viii 5.
They avouch the Lord to be theirGod, and make over themselves tohim tobe his people, Jer. xxxi. 33 devoting untoGod all that they are, their fouls and bodies, with every faculty and memberincluſively, Rom. xii. 1. Lukex. 27. All that they have, Rom. xi . 36. all is dedicated and devoted to the Lord's uſe and ſervice, and theſe only are the people ofGod.
2. The last thing tobe cleared is, Why the people ofGod, and none beſide them, havethis peculiar privilege ofan hiding. place intheday of trouble ? andthe grounds ofit are,
1. Becauſe they only have ſpecial intereft inGod, and propriety is the ground onwhich theyclaim andexpect protection :
Iam thine, ſave me, Pfal. cxix. 94. Upon this very ground it was, that David encouraged himself in one of his greatest plunges and diſtreſſes of his whole life, 1 Sam. xxx. 6. " But David encouraged himselfin the Lord his God."
2. The people of God only are at peace with God; and where there is no peace, therecan be no protection : The harbours and garrifons of one kingdom never receive into their protection the fubjects ofanother kingdom, that are inopen hoftility against them. Now there is open war betwixt Godand the wicked, Pfal. vii. 11. Zech. xi. 8.
'Till they have peace withGod, they can claim no protection fromGod.
3. The promises ofprotection are made only toGod's people; and where there is no promife, there can be no warrantableclaim to protection, 2Cor. i. 20. 2 Pet. i. 4. Common providence may ſhelter them for a time, but the faints only have the keys of the promises, whichopen the chambers or attributes ofGod to them.
4. None but the people ofGodwalk in the ways ofGod, and none but thoſe that walk in his waycan, groundedly, expect his protection; for ſo runs the promiſe, 2 Chron. xv. 2.
" I am with you, whilft you are with me," i. e. I amwith you, byway of protection, direction, ſupport, and ſalvation, whilſt you are with me in the dutiesofobedience, andexerciſes ofyour graces; ſee that you love, fearandobey me, andthen, depend upon it, I will look after, and take care ofyou .
5. To conclude, The people of God only flee toGod for fanctuary, and caft themselves uponhim for protection, Plal
The Righteous Man's Refuge.
Ivi. 3." At whattime I am afraid, I will trust in thee."
Pfal. xviii. 2. " The Lord is my rock, and my fortrefs, and myde- " liverer; my God, my ſtrength, in whom I will truſt, my
"buckler, and the horn of my ſalvation, and my high tower."
ThistheirconfidenceinGod, and reliance upon him, engages him to protect them intheir dangers, Ifa. xxvi. 3. All others put themſelvesout ofGod's protection, bymaking fleſh their arm, and ſogiving the honour of God to the creature, Jer. xvii.
5. And thus much for clearing this laſt propoſition alſo.
All thatremains, willbe diſpatched in a brief and cloſe application ofthepoint thus openedand confirmed.
CHAP.
XII .
Containing the first use of the point, in several informing conſectaries and deductions of truth from it.
SECT.
Confect. I.FROM the whole of this diſcourſe, wemaybe informed what a miferable and ſhiftleſs people all thoſe will be, intimes of trouble, who have no ſpecial intereſt inGod, or the promises. Sad and lamentable was the caſe of Saul, as it isby himself expreſſed, 1 Sam. xxviii. 15. " I am
" fore diſtreſſed, for the Philistines make war against me, and " God isdeparted from me, and anſwereth me no more."
It is awonderful and unaccountable thing, how carnal men and women ſubſiſt and bear up, when their earthly props and hopes ſinkunder and fail them; ſo long as anycreature comfort is left, thither they will retreat for relief and fuccour: but if all fail, as quickly they may, whither will they turn for comfort, havingnot aGod nor a promise to flee to? which the people of Godcando, when all things elſe fail them, Heb. iii. 17. Their different conditions in theday of trouble, is clearly expreſſed in Zeph. ii. 3, 4. " Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of theearth,
" whichhave wrought his judgment, ſeek righteouſneſs, ſeek " meekness, it may be ye ſhallbe hid in the day of the Lord's
" anger."
There is God's may-be, which is better ſecurity than man's soull-be, for their temporal deliverance : But what ſhall become ofothers, that have no refugebutin the creature ?
Why, the miſery and ſhiftleſneſs of their condition follows in the next words : " Gaza ſhall be forſaken, and Ashkelon a de- " folation; they ſhall drive out Ashdodatnoon-day,and Ekron
"ſhall be rooted up;" i. e. All their earthly ſecurities ſhalt
The Righteous Man's Refuge. fail them; their ſtrong-holds ſhall not ſecure them; they ſhall find no ſhelter in the ſcorching heat of the day of trouble.
Moab, Ashdod and Ekronhaveno more benefitbythe promises made to Zion, than the inhabitants of Rome canclaimbythe charter of London.
If a wicked or hypocritical perſon cryto God inhisdiſtreſs, he will not hear him, Prov. i. 25, 26. Job xxvii. 9. but will bid him go tohis earthly refugeswhichhe hath chofen.
If hego to the promiſes, knock at thoſe doors ofhope, they cannot relieve him, being all made in Chrift to believers; if to the name and attributes of God, all the doors. are ſhut against them, Pial. xxxiv. 16.
There are ſeven dreadful aggravations of a wicked man's troubles.
(1.) When troubles comeupon him, the curse ofGod followshim intohis carnal refuges; Jer. xvii. 5. " Curſed be the man that truſieth in man, and makerh fleſh his arm, and "whoſe heart departeth from the Lord."
Trouble is the arrow, and this curſe the venom of the arrow, which makes the wound incurable.
(2.) When troubles fall upon him from without, a guilty confciencewill terrifyhim from within; ſo that the mindcan give no relief to the body, but both fink under their own weights.
It is not ſowiththe peopleofGod,they have inward relief under outward preſſures, 2 Cor. iv. 16.
(3.) The guſts and ſtorms of wicked mens troubles mayblow them into hell, and hurry them into eternal deſtruction : if death march towards them upon the pale horfe, hell always follows him, Rev. vi. 8.
(4.) If troubles and diſtreſſes overwhelm their hearts, they cangivethem novent or eaſe by prayer, faith, and refignation toGod, as his people uses todo, 1 Sam. i. 18.
(5.)When their troubles and diſtreſſes come,then comesthe hour and power of their temptation; and, to ſhun forrow, theywill fall into fin, having no promiſe to be kept in the hour of temptation, as the faints have, Rev. iii. 10.
(6.)Whentheir troubles come, they willbe left alone inthe midstof them: theſe are their burdens, and they alone muſt bear them.
God's gracious, comfortable, ſupporting preſence is only with his own people.
(7.) If trouble ordeath comeuponthemas a ſtorm, theyhave no anchor ofhope to drop in the ſtorm; the wicked isdriven away in his wickedness ; but the righteous bath hope in his death, Prov. xiv. 32.
By allwhich it appears, that a chriftleſs perfon is amoſt helpless and ſhiftleſs creature in the day of nouble.
The Righteous Man's Refuge.
Confect. 2. Secondly, Hence it follows, That Chriftians eught not todroop like othermen' in the day of trouble. Awicked man's boldness, and a Chriftian's cowardlineſs, in times of affliction, are alike ungrounded anduncomely. Why ſhould thy heart,
Chriſtian, deſpondand ſink at this rate, upon the profpect of approaching troubles ? Are there not fafe and comfortable chambers taken up, and provided for thee against that day ? Is not the name of the Lord a fſtrong tower, into which thou mayeſt run and be ſafe ? The heart ofagood man, faith Chryfoftom, ſhould at all times be like the higher heavens, ferene, tranquil, and clear, whatever thunders and lightenings, ſtorms and tempefts trouble and terrify the lower world.
If aman haveagood roofover his head,where he can fitdry andwarm, whatneed he trouble himself to hear the winds roar, ſee the lightenings flash, and the rains pour down withoutdoors ?Why, this is thy privilege, Chriſtian ; " A man (to wit the manChrift
"Jeſus) ſhall be as an hiding-place from the wind, and a co- " vert from the tempeft ; as rivers of water in a dry place, as " the ſhadow of a great rock in a weary land," Ifa. xxxii. 2.
Art thou in Chriſt, and inthecovenant ?give me thenonegood reaſon for thydejections in aday of trouble ; or if thou haft none to give, hearken to theſe reaſons against it.
1. If thoube in Chriſt, thy fins are forgiven thee ; andwhy fhould not a pardoned foul be achearful foul in adverſity? Afflictions may buz and hum about thee, like bees that have loft their ſting, but they can never hurt thee.
2. If thou be in Chriſt, thyGod is with thee in all thy troubles; and how can thy heart fink or faint in fuch a prefence?
Let them that are alone in troubles fail under them : but do not thou do ſo, that art furrounded with Almighty power, grace, and love, Ifa. xliii. 1, 2.
3. If thou be inChriſt, thy greatest afflictions ſhall prove thy best friends andbenefactors, Rom. viii. 28. Sure then thou art more afraid than hurt; thou miſtakeſt thybest friends for thyworst enemies ; thou and thy afflictions mall part more comfortably than you met.
4. If thou be in Chriſt, thy treaſure is ſafe, thy eternal happineſs is out of the reach of all thine enemies, Luke xii 4.
Luke x 42. And if that be ſafe, thou hast nocauſe to be ſad ; todroop and tremble at the hazard of earthly comforts, whilſt heavenly and eternal things are fate, is as ifaman that hadgottenhis pardon from the king, and hadit fafe inhis boſom, ſhouldbe foundweepingupon the way home, becaufe he hath loft his ſtaff or glove.
Theſe reaſons are ſtrong against the
The Righteous Man's Refuge.
dejections of God's people under outward troubles; but yetI am ſenſible that all the reasoning in the world will not prevent their dejections, except they will take pains to clear up their intereſt in God, againſt ſuch a day, Pfal. xviii. 2. and will act their faithby wayofadherence anddependenceuponGod, inthe want offormer light and evidence, Ifa. 1. 10. And lastly, that they keep their conſciences pure and inviolate, which will be a ſpring ofcomfort in the midst oftroubles, 2 Cor. i. 12 .
3. Confect. Thirdly, It hence appears to be the greatest folly and vanity in the world, to make any thing but Godour refuge in theday oftrouble.
This practice, asyou heardbut now, is under God's curſe; and that which is curſed ofGod can never be comfortable tous.
It is an honourpeculiar toGod, theright of heaven, and therefore curſed ſacrilege to beſtow iton the creature.
We read ofſome that make lies their refuge, and hide themselves under falſhood, thinking when the overflowing ſcourge comes, it ſhallnot comenigh unto them, Iſa. xxviii. 15.
They will trust to their wits and policies, they will fawn and flatter, lie and diſſemble, caſt themſelves into athouſand ſhapes and forms to ſave themselves; but all in vain; the flood ſhall ſweep away their refuge of lies.
Others make riches their truſt andconfidence, Prov. x. 15. " The rich man's wealth is his
66 ſtrong city."
Ifenemies come, their money ſhall be their ranſom : But oh ! what a poor refuge will this be ! it may betray, but cannot ſecure them. " Behold, faith God, I will Nir
" up the Medes against them, which ſhall not regard ſilver ; " and as for gold, they ſhall not delight in it," Ifa. xiii. 17.
Riches profit not in theday of wrath, Prov. xi. 4.
Job bleſſed God in the day of his adverſity, that he had not made gold his hope orthe fine goldhis confidence, Job xxxi. 24.
Bleſs not thou thyself, that thou haſt ſuch things to beſtow thy hope and truſt upon.
Others make men their refuge, eſpecially great and powerful men : But to how little purpoſe is it! " Put not " your truſt in princes, norinthe ſon ofman,inwhom there is
" nohelp," Pfal. cxlvi. 3, 4. They cannot keep their crowns upon their heads ; no, nor their heads upon their ſhoulders ; the greatest menare but duſt, andwhat can duſt do todust ? Three things aggravate their miſery, who miſplace their confidence,by beſtowing it on anycreature.
( 1.) That creature will certainly deceive them ; men are deceitful men, Pfal. Ixii. 9. Riches are deceitful riches, 1 Tim. vi. 17. Every thingyou lean,onbeſide
Godwillstart aſide like a deceitful bow, Pfal. lxxviii . 57.
(2.) Thediſappointmentofyourhopes fromthe creaturewill enflame
The Righteous Man's Refuge.
your affliction, andgreatly aggravate your forrow, 2Kings xviii.
21.
The broken reeds of Egypt will not only fail, but pierce you.
(3.) Ina word,God will take noneinto his protection, whomakeanything beſides himselftheir hope and confidence; ifwefly fromGodtothe creature,God will ſay, To the creature thou shalt go; except I have thydependence, thou shalt never have my protection ; where I have nohonour, thou shalt have nocomfort.
Confect. 4. Fourthly, The former diſcourſe yields us alſo this comfortable concluſion, That whatever confufions, defolations andtroubles bein the earth, the churchandpeople ofGod cannever bewholly exterminatedand destroyed,feeingfuchafecure refuge is prepared for them ofGod, Pial. cii. 28. "The children ofthy
" ſervants ſhall continue, and their feed ſhall be eſtabliſhed be- " fore thee." Which is aſſignedas thetrue reaſonofitsperpetuity and ſafety, Pfal. xlviii. 3. "God is known in her palaces for a
" refuge."
The church's enemies have tried the utmoſt of their policies and powers inall ages againſt it, buttonopurpoſe : whilſt they have beenplottingand perfecuting, the preſerved remnanthavebeen finging their ſong uponAlamoth, evenpraiſes to their great preſerver ; tho' they have no external, viſible defence, yet are they as fafe asfalvation itſelfcanmake them,
" for ſalvation willGod appoint for walls and bulwarks," Ifa. xxvi. 1, 2. Four things are exceeding remarkable inthe church's preſervation : ( 1.) No people were ever ſo fiercely oppoſed by the powers of this world, " The kings ofthe earth have fet
" themselves, and the rulers have taken counſel together,"
Pfal. ii. 2.
Allmethods and artifices havebeen tried, ſometimes tojeer and ſcoffthem out oftheir religion, ſodidthe apoſtate
Julian ; and ſometimes by cruel tortures to affright them from their religion; the variety, and more thanbarbarous inhumanity whereofthe church-hiſtories give us a ſad andamazing account.
(2.) Under theſe cruel perſecutions they have ſeemed tobe utterly loſt, to the eye offenſe and reaſon; " I am left alone,
" faidElijah, and they feek my life," I Kings xix. 10. "By " whom, Lord, ſhall Jacob arifſe, ſaid Amos, for he is very
" ſmall ?" Amos vii. 2.
(3.) Notwithstanding all which, the church hath out-lived all its dangers ; it is the true Phoenix which hath out-livedthe deluge. (4.) Such deliverances are properand peculiar to the church alone; no people, befides the people ofGod, have ſuch ſalvations upon record.
The great and famous monarchies ofthe world have daſhed one another VOL. IV.
TheRighteous Man's Refuge. topieces, like earthen potſheards *.
And all this byvirtue of that promiſe , Jer. xxx. 11. " For I am with thee, faith the " Lord, to ſave thee ; tho' I make a fullendofallnations whither
" I have ſcattered thee, yet will I not make a full end ofthee."
Confect. 5. Fifthly, to conclude; if this be ſo, then it isa deep anddangerous policy of Satan to shut up our refuge inGod against us, as much as may be, in times of trouble.
Satan, like acunning fowler, deſpairs of getting the birds in his net, excepthe can beat them out oftheir coverts ; it is therefore his great deſign, toeſtrange and alienate the faints from theirGod, as much as he can, thereby to cut off their retreat to him in times of trouble; a miſchief which the people ofGodhave always vehemently deprecated, Pial. cii. 2. Jer. xvii. 17. and oh that we would beware of it, and ſhun this mischief, by our feafonable preventing watchfulness.
There are, among others, three ſpecial projects of Satan, whereby he manages this mifchievous deſign against the people ofGod.
1. By drawing their confciences underguilt, on purpoſe to destroy the liberty, freedom, and child-like confidence of their fouls, in their addreſſes to God.
This, if any thing in the world, will do it, Job xi. 14, 15.
What a loſs will that poor foul be at, in times of trouble, whoſe grumbling and condemning confcience will not fuffer him tolook up chearfully andbelievingly in the face of itsGod and Father, having loft its ancient freedom at the throne ofgrace ?
2. By prevailing with them toneglect andintermit the courſe of their daily duties, and thereby to letdown their communion with God, and, in a great meaſure, loſe their acquaintance withhim.
This is adangerous policy of the devil, and an unſpeakable prejudice tothe soul. Oh Chriſtian ! take heed of a lazy, flothful ſpirit, or a vain and earthly heart, which will eafily fuffer the duties ofreligion tobejoſtled aſide and putby for every trivial occafion; eſpecially beware of flight, formal, and dead-hearted performances of duty, which is little better than the intermiſſion of them ; it may, indeed, prevent the ſcandal, but can never give thee the comfort of religion.
3. By beclouding their intereſt inGod, anddarkening their titlesandevidences, by thick clouds of doubts and fears.
This is the ſad caſe of many a poor Chriſtian in aday of trouble ; ** Sic Medus ademit Affyrio, Syroque tulit moderamina Perfes.
Affyria's empire thus the Mede did ſhake, The Persian next the pride ofMedea brake.
The Righteous Man's Refuge.
without are fightings, and within are fears. Brethren, I beſeechyou, think often whatthoſethings are, which usually put men into ſuch frights and ſtraits, when imminentdangers ſtare them in the face; what it is thatdaunts anddamps the hearts of Chriſtians at ſuch times ; and as you value the peace and freedom ofyour fouls withGod, give not matter for your conſciences to reproach you of mif-fpenttime, indulged fins, neglectedduties, formality or hypocrify induties, ſiniſter andbyends inyour tranſactions withGod orman: preferve the purity and peace ofyour confciences, as you would preſerve your two eyes; ifby fuch wiles the devil cannot bar you from your God, or ſhut up your refuge in him, your outward troubles cando you no hurt.
The second use, of direction and advice.
Sect. II. The providences of God, in theſe days, giving us fuch loud warnings of approaching judgment: how are all that are wife in heart, and underſtandingof the times, now more eſpecially concerned to clear their intereſt in theſe bleſſed attributes of God, which have here been opened, as their only refuge in the evilday. Let me therefore perfuade and preſs you tobetake yourſelves to God, your refuge and ſtrong-hold in trouble, and that more eſpeciallyin theſe two great duties, viz.
1. Of fervent fupplication.
2. Of univerſal reſignation.
1. Betake yourſelves toGodby fervent prayer and fupplication.
Let me ſay of theſe times, as holy Mr. Perkins did of his*; " Theſe are notimes for Chriſtians tocontend and strive
" onewith another, but with their united cries to ſtrive with "God;" and among other requests, ſtrongly to enforce and follow home that ofDavid, Pfal. lxxi. 2, 3. " Deliver mein thy
" righteousness, and cauſemeto eſcape; incline thine ear unto " me, and ſave me; be thou my ſtrong habitation, whereunto
" I may continually reſort." That is a true andweighty obfervation of Auſtin †, "A refuge is not tobe found in trouble,
" except it be provided before-hand in peace." " For this, " (faith the Pfalmiſt,) ſhall every one that is godly pray unto
" thee, in a time when thou mayeſt be found ; furely in the " floods ofgreat waters they ſhall not come nigh unto him,"
Pfal. xxxii. 6.
Had notNoah preparedandfecured himself in Z2 *Nonfunt ifta litigandi, fed oranditempora
Non facile inveniuntur præfidia in adverfitate, quæ non fuerint inpace quæfita.
The Righteous Man's Refuge. the ark, before the floods ofgreat waters came, hehadnot fat, as he did, mediis tranquillus in undis; fleeping quietly, when others were periſhing in the waters. Gather yourſelves therefore together, before the decree bring forth; feek the Lord, allye meek ofthe earth: be more frequent, and more fervent in prayer, now than ever ; you have all the encouragements inthe world to incite you to this duty : the nature ofyour
God is exceeding pitiful, tender, and compaſſionate, Jam. v. 11.
The endeared relations betwixtGod and you give ſingular encouragement of fucceſs : ſhallnotGodhear hisown elect, which cry unto him day and night? Luke xviii. 7. The ſweet returns and anſwers of former prayers are ſo many motives and encouragements to follow cloſe that profitable duty, Pfal. li. 1,
2, 3. And above all, your prevalent advocate in the heavens ſhouldencourageyou tocomefrequentlyandboldlytothethrone ofgrace, " that you may obtain mercy, and findgrace to help
" inthetime ofneed,"Heb. iv. 16. In two things I ſhall briefly offer a few directions here, viz.
1. As tothe matter 2. As to the manner }ofprayer.
1. As to the matter of prayer, I mean ſuch as the ſtate and conditionof the times, now more eſpecially, ſuggeſts.
(1.) Unite your prayers, and cry mightily to the Lord, that ifit be his good pleaſure, this cup ofwrath, which seems tobe mingled and prepared, may paſs from his people. Now cry to God, as they are directed todo, Joel ii. 17. " Spare thy people,
" O Lord, and givenot thine heritage to reproach, that the " heathen ſhould rule over them, wherefore ſhould they ſay a- " mong the people, Where is theirGod ?" O pray, that Englandmaynot be delivered into thehandsofblood-thirstyPapists, thatthegolden candleſticmaynot be removed, thatidolatry may not return into theſe places where God hathbeen ſo ſweetly worſhipped; that a land ſo peculiarly bleſſed with goſpellight, wherein ſomanythousand fons and daughters have beeц born to God, may not, at last, become anAceldama, a great ſhambles, to quarter out the limbs ofhis dear faints; thatthe pleasant plantofreformation, plantedwith his own right-hand, and watered with ſo many tears, yea, with ſo muchblood, may not, at last, be rooted up by the wild boar of the foreſt !
(2.) Pray indefinently, that you may be kept from the fins and temptations ofthe times.
O watch and pray, that you en ternot into temptation ; if you cannot prevail withGod to turn wayhis anger, yetbe importunatewithhim that you may bo
The Righteous Man's Refuge.
keptfrom fin; that if you lose your outward peace, you may be able to keep inward peace; that you may never tacrifice your confciences, to ſave your fleſh; that you may neverfall under the diſpleaſure ofGod, to avoid the rage ofmen. Ah friends ! we little thinkwhat a fearfulhavocan hour of temptation will make in ſuch a profeſſing nation as this is; then ſhallmanybe offended, Matth. xxiv. 10. O pray, thatyoumay nevergive offence toothers, by ſcandal ; or take offenceyour. ſelvesat the ways of God, whatever fufferings and ſharp trials ſhall come.
(3.)Prayearnestly for the fanctification of allyour troubles toyoureternal good; an unſanctified comfort neverdidany man good, and a fanctifiedtrouble never did any man hurt ; be more earneſt therefore withGod, rather tohave your troubles ſanctified,thanprevented; togetthebleſſing, than to avoid the ſmart ofthem ; ifthey cannot be turned away from you, pray they may be turned toyour ſalvation.
2. Betake yourſelves toGod, your refuge, by faith, reſigningand committing all into his hands, " Now the juſt ſhall live
" by faith," Heb.x. 38. The more you can trustGod, the more you fecure yourſelves from danger; he thatcan liveby faith, ſhallneverdieby fear; andbe fure to inform yourſelveswell in twothings, viz.
1. What it is to truſt God over all.
2. What grounds you have ſotodo.
1. Be well inſtructed in the nature of thisduty; there are fixthings imported in luch acts ofreſignation.
1. An awakened ſenſe of our dangers and hazards. "At " what time I am afraid, I will trust in thee," Píal. lvi. 3 .
Suffering times are reſigningtimes, I Pet. iv. 19. " Let them " that ſuffer according to the willofGod, commit the keeping
" oftheir fouls, tohim inwell-doing, as untoafaithful Creator."
Andthegreater andnearer ourdangers are, the more frequent andvigorous ſhould the actings ofour faith, thisway, be: Be not far from me, for trouble is near.
2. Reſignationto God, neceffarily implies our renunciation anddiſclaiming ofall other refuges.
"Amur ſhall not ſaveus, " we will not ride upon horſes, neither will we ſay any more
" to the work ofour hands, ye are ourGods, for in thee the " fatherleſs findeth mercy," Hof. xiv. 3. He that relies upon God, muſt ceaſe fromman; reſignation toGod excludes not the uſe oflawfulmeans, but itdoth exclude dependance upon them.
3. Refignation toGod is always groundeduponan intereſt in
The Righteous Man's Refuge.
God; we have no warrant, nor encouragement to expect protection from him in time of trouble, except we can come to him as children to a father : It is the filial relation thatgives encouragement to this fiducial reſignation; andthe clearer that relationand intereſt is, the more boldand confident thoſe acts of faith willbe; Pfal. lxxxvi. 2. " Preſerve my foul, for I am
"holy : O thou, myGod, ſave thy ſervant that truſteth in " thee." And again, Pfal. cxix. 94. " I am thine, fave
" me."
I ſpeak not here ofthe firſt act offaith, which flows not from an intereſt, but gives the foul an intereſt in God.
Nor do I fay, that poor, doubting, and timorous believers, whoſe intereſt in him is dark and dubious, have no warrant to reſign themselves and their concernments into his hands ; for it is both their right andduty todo it : but certainlythe clearer our intereſt is, the more facile and comfortable will thoſe acts be.
4. The committing acts of faith, implya full acknowledgment and owning of God's power to protect us, be the dangernever ſo imminent ; Pfal. xxxi. 15. " Mytimes are in thy hand, deliver me from thehands of mine enemies, and from " them that perfecute me ; " q. d. O Lord, I am fully fatiffied my life is not at the diſpoſal of mineenemies ; 'tis not in their hands, but in thine; all the traps and ſnares they lay for it ſhallnot ſhorten one minute of my time; Iknow thinehand is fully able to protect me,andtherefore into thine hands I reſign myſelf and all Ihave.
5.Reſignation involves in itanexpectation of help and ſafetyfromGod,when we fee no way of ſecurity from men.
Lord, faith Jehoſhaphat, We have nomight, nor ſtrength, " neither know we what to do, but our eyes are unto thee,"
2 Chron. xx. 12.
So David, Pfal. lxii. 5, 6. "My foul, wait " thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him : he
" only is my rock and my falvation; he is mydefence ; I ſhall " not be moved."
6. Reſignation to God implies the leaving of ourſelves, and our conceruments with him, tobediſpoſed ofaccording to his good pleaſure ; the reſigning foul defires the Lord to dowith himwhat he will, and is content to take what lot divinepleafureſhallcaſt forhim : 2 Sam.xv. 25. " And theking faidunto
" Zadok, carryback the ark ofGod into the city ; if I shall find " favour in the eyes of the Lord, he willbringme again, and " thew me both itand his habitation ; but if he thus ſay, I " havenodelightinthee,behold, here am I, lethim do to me
The Righteous Man's Refugel
" asſeemethgood unto him." Andſo much of the nature of this duty, that we may underſtandwhat todo.
2. Next let me ſhew you, what encouragements you that are the people of Godhave tothis duty, andthey will appear tobe great and many.
1. The fovereignty and abſolute dominion ofGod over all creatures, is a fingular encouragement to commit ourſelves intohis hands, and truſt him over all, Pfal. lix . 9."Because of " his ſtrength will I waitupon thee; forGod is mydefence."
If amanwere indanger amidst a great army of rude and infolent foldiers, and were to put himself under the protection of anyone, it would be his wisdom to chuſe to do it under the general, who had all the foldiers of his army at his beck.
Chriſtian, thyGod, intowhoſe hands thou committeſt thyself, isLord-general of all the hosts and armies inheaven and earth; how ſafe must thou then be in his hands ?
2.The unſearchable and perfect wiſdom ofGod isamighty encouragement to commit ourſelves into his hands; With him isplenteous redemption, Pfal. cxxx. ult. i. e. Choice and variety ofways andmethods to ſavehis people; we are, butGod never is, at a loſs to find adoor for our eſcape, 2 Pet. ii. 9. "The " Lord knoweth how todeliver the godlyout oftemptation."
3.The infinite tenderness and compaffionateneſs of ourGod, is aſweet encouragement to reſign and commit ourſelves, and allwe have, into his hands; his mercy is incomparably tender towards his people, infinitely beyond whatever any creature felt ſtirring in its own bowels, towards another that came out ofits bowels, Iſa. xlix. 15. This compaffion ofGod engageth the two fore-mentioned attributes, viz. his power and wisdom, for the preſervation and relief of his people, as often as diftreffes befal them.
Yea, 4. The very diſtreſſes his people are in, do, as it were, awake the almighty power of God for their defence and refcue; our diſtreſſes are not only proper feaſons, but powerful motives to his ſaving power. Deut. xxxii. 36. " For the Lord ſhall
" judge his people, and repent himself for his fervants, when " he feeth that their power is gone, and there is none ſhut up
" or left." God makes it an argument to himself, and his people plead it as an argument with him, " be not far from " me, for trouble is near, for there is none to help ."
5. We have already committed greater and weightier concernments into his hand than thedearest intereſt we have in this world ; we have intruſted ourfouls with him,
1 Pet. iv. 19.
2Tim. i. 12.
Well therefore may we commit the leffer, who
The Righteous Man's Refuge. have intrusted the greater with him : What are our lives, li berties, eſtates, and relations, comparedwith our fouls, and the eternal ſafety and happinets of them !
6. The committing act of faith is the great and only expedient to procure and ſecure the peace and tranquillity of our minds, amidſt all the diſtractions and troubles of the prefent world ; the greatest part of our affliction and trouble, in ſuch days, is from the working of our own thoughts; theſe torments from within, are worse than anyfrom without; and the refignation of all toGod, by faith, is their beſt and only cure,
Prov. xvi. 3. " Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy " thoughts ſhall be eſtabliſhed." Ableſſed calmneſs of mind, a ſweet tranquillity and ſettlement of thoughts, follows immediately hereupon, Pial. xciv. 19.
Oh then leave allwithGod, and quietly expect a comfortable iſſue : and for the better fettlement and ſecurity ofthy peace, in times of diſtraction andtrouble, I beſeech thee, reader, carefully to watch and guard againſt theſe two evils.
Caution 1. Beware of infidelity and distrustfulness of God, and his promiſes, which ſecretly lurks in thyheart, and is very apt to bewray itſelf, when great diſtreſſes and troubles befal thee.
Thou wilt know it byſuch ſymptoms as theſe :
1. In an over-haſty and eager deſire after preſent deliverance, Ifa. li.
14. " The captive exile haſteneth thathe may be looſed, and " that he ſhould not die in the pit, nor that his bread ſhould
" fail."
The leſs faith, always the more impatience; and the more ability to believe, the more patience to wait.
2. Itwill diſcover itſelf in our readiness to cloſe with and catch at ſinful mediums and methods of deliverance, Ifa. xxx. 15, 16.
And this is the handle of temptation, and occafion of apoſtacy. But he that believethwillnot make hafte, Iſa. xxvi. 18. No more hafte thangood ſpeed.
3. It will ſhew itſelf in diſtracting cares and fears about events, which will rack the mind with various and endleſs tortures.
Caution 2.
Beware of dejection and deſpondency of mind in eviltimes ; take heed of a poor low ſpirit, that will preſently ſink, and give up its hope upon every appearance and face of trouble; it is a promiſe made unto the righteous, Pfal. cxii. 7. " He shall not be afraid of evil tidings, his heart is
" fixed, truſting in the Lord."
The trusting ofGod fixes the heart, and the fixing ofthe heart fortifies it against fear : But I know what many poor Chriſtians will ſay in this cafe, their timorouſneſs anddeſpondency ariſe not ſo much from the greatneſs of outward evils, as from thedarkness anddoubtfulness of
The Righteous Man's Refuge.
their ſpiritual and inward condition, which, doubtleſs, is the verytruth of the caſe ; which brings me to the laſt uſe of this point.
Use thethird.
Search and examine your hearts, Chriſtians, whether thoſe graces and qualifications, to which God hath promifed protection in evil times, may not be found upon an impartial fearch inyour hearts ; amongst which, I will fingle out three principal ones, as the proper matters of your ſelf-examination, viz.
1. Uprightness ofheart andway.
2. Humiliation for your own and others ſins.
3. Righteouſneſs indoing, and meekness in ſuffering the will ofGod.
1. Uprightness and integrity ofheart andway. To this qualification belong many any ſweet promiſes of protection; ſuch is that, Prov. ii. 7. "He is a buckler to them that walk uprightly,"
Pfal. vii. 10. " Mydefence is ofGod, which ſaveth the upright " in heart."
Ifyourheartsbe true toGod, theſepromiſes ſhall betruly performed to you; but beware you deceive not yourſelves in ſo great a point as this is. Thy heart cannot be an uprightheart, except, ( 1.) It be a renewed heart ; the natural heart is always a falſe heart; it is only regeneration that gives the heart a right temper and frame; all the duties and labours in the world can neverkeep the heart rightin its courſe, which is not firſt ſet right for God, by a principle ofrenovation. (2. ) We cannotjudge ourſelves upright, except uprightneſs be the fettled frame and ſtanding bent ofour hearts, Pfal. схіх 112, 117.
It is not our integrity in one or two fingle actions, but in the general courſe, and complex frame ofour lives andways, that will prove our integritytoGod. (3.) Then maywe reckon ourſelves upright, when the dread and awe of God'sall-feeing eye keeps our hearts and ſteps from turning aſide toiniquity,Gen. xxxix. 9. 2 Chron. ii. 17. Thatis a fincere and upright heart indeed, that finds itſelf at alltimes, and inall places, over-awed from fin, by the eye ofGod upon him.
(4.) That man'sheart alſo is upright with God, who purely aims at, and defigns the glory ofGod, as the ſcope and end of his life and actions, who lives not up to himself, neither acts ultimately and principally for himſelf, but lives toGod, as a perſon dedicated anddevoted to him, Rom. xiv. 7. (5.)
That heart alſo is upright withGod,whichgoverns itſelf, and itsways, by the directions and rules of the word, Plat. cxix.
11, 24, 133. Happy is that foul that finds ſuch evidences of VOL. IV.
The Righteous Man's Refuge. integrity in itſelf, when it is brought to the trial of itatthe bar of the word, Heb. iv. 12. at thebarof conscience, 2 Cor. i. 12. at the bar of affliction, Pfal. cxix. 87. and at thebar of ſtrong temptations, Gen. xxxix. 9.
The eyes of the Lord ſhall run to and fro through the whole earth, to ſhew himſelf ſtrong inthe behalf of fuch whoſe hearts are thus perfect towards him.
2. Another gracious qualification, intitling the ſoul toGod's ſpecial protection inthe worſt andmoſtdangerous times, is the true humiliation for our own and other mens fins : "Go, ſet a 66 mark, faith God, upon the foreheads of the men that figh
" andcry for all the abominations thatbe done in the midst " thereof," Ezek. ix. 4.
Theſe that thus mourn, when others Jaugh, ſhall laugh when others mourn.
Lot was the only mourner in Sodom, and he was the only perſon exempted from deſtruction in the ruin and overthrow thereof, 2 Pet. ii. 7.
That is a fweet andbleſſed privilege mentioned in Ifa. Ixvi. 10.
" Rejoice ye with Jerufalem, andbe glad with her, all ye that " love her ; rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for "her; thatye may fuck andbe fatisfiedwith the breasts ofher confolations, thatye maymilk out, andbe delightedwith the "abundance of her glory."
Be contented, Chriſtians, to bear your part in Sion's groans and forrows ; you may live to bear yourpart inhertriumphs and fongs ofdeliverance : It is an argumentof the true publicness and tenderness ofyour ſpirits for preſent, and as ſweeta ſignas canappearuponyour fouls, that you are referved for betterdays.
3.Righteouſneſs indoing, andmeekneſs infuffering thewill ofGod, is another mark or note,diftinguiſhing and defcribing thoſe perſons whomGodwill preferve in the evil day.
You haveboth theſe together in Zeph. ii. 3. " Seekye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wroughthisjudgments,
" ſeek righteouſneſs, ſeek meekness: it may be ye ſhall be hid inthedayofthe Lord's anger." The eyes ofthe Lord are overtherighteous, and his ears areopenuntotheirprayers, IPet. iii. 12 Ifrighteouſneſs bringsyou intoſtanger, therighteousGod will take care ofyou in that danger, and bringyou out of it.
Oh ! it is a fingular comfort, whena mancan ſay, It was not my fin, butmy duty, that brought me into trouble; this affliction metme inthe path and way ofmy duty; it is for thy fake,
O Lord, that I am in trouble; as the martyr that held upthe bible at the ſtake, faying, This hathbrought me hither.
To conclude: Manage all your fufferings for Chrift, with chriſtianmeekness: As righteousness muſtbringyou into them,