A Sermon Occasioned By The Death Of Mrs. Mary Fall
A Sermon Occasioned By The Death Of Mrs. Mary Fall
Late Wife Of The Reverend Mr. James Fall Of Watford, Herts
Preached April 13, 1739
“This is the way, walk ye in it”—Isaiah 30:21
THIS part of Isaiah’s prophecy was delivered by him at a time when Sennacherib, king of Assyri a, had invaded the land of Judea, and was about to besiege the city of Jerusalem; which struck the inhabitants with great consternation, and put them on contriving different methods for their security. Some of them thought of going down to Egypt, or of sending to that nation for assistance, in this their time of extremity: for which they are sharply reproved in the beginning of this chapter: and are told, that their strength was to sit still, (Isaiah 30:7) that is, to be quiet and easy, and abide in the city of Jerusalem; and not once think of betaking themselves elsewhere; when they might assure themselves of protection and safety: but this message from God, by the prophet, was slighted by them; For thus faith the Lord God, the holy one of Israel, In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength, and ye would not. (Isaiah 30:15)
Wherefore they are threatened with swift ruin and destruction. But as the Lord always had a compassionate regard to his dear children, the remnant, according to the election of grace among that people; so he always took care to give out gracious promises for their relief and support in the worst of times. Accordingly it is said in the context; And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you; and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you; (Isaiah 30:18) he will defer the execution of his judgments; he will not stir up all his wrath; but when the set time is come, he will arise and have mercy on you; for the Lord is a God of judgment, who can do nothing but what is just and right, and everything well and wisely; who always acts according to justice, with judgment and wisdom, and also with clemency, goodness and mercy; in which sense the word judgment is sometimes used: as when the prophet says, O Lord, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing. (Jeremiah 10:24)
And because the Lord is, in this sense, a God of judgment, it is a great encouragement to persons to wait for him, and trust in him; blessed are all they that wait for him, who place their hope and confidence in him, and not in men; who make use of no illicit methods, nor apply to others for help and assistance in time of distress; for the people shall dwell in Zion, at Jerusalem; that is, in safety, without fear of their enemies; thou shalt weep no more, or not long; he, God, will be very gracious to thee, at the voice of thy cry, prayer and supplication to him; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee, sooner or later, in his own time: and though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, either now, at this present time, or hereafter, in the Babylonish captivity; yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more; or as others [5345] read the words, thy rain shall not be removed from thee; for one and the same word [5346] signifies both rain and a teacher; because, doctrine from the mouth of the teacher, drops like rain upon the tender herb, and as showers on the grass; and is here to be understood of the rain of spiritual doctrine; so that the sense is much the same, and the meaning of the words this; that though the people of God should be attended with bodily afflictions, they should have spiritual consolation; and though they might have a famine of bread and water, yet not of hearing the word of the Lord. Thine eyes shall see thy teachers, in their proper places, doing the proper work of their office; and thine ears shall hear a voice behind thee, saying; This is the way, walk ye in it. The Lord will open thine ears to discipline, and thine heart to attend to the things spoken by him in the word of the gospel; when thou turnest out of his way, to the right hand or the left. The word being said to be behind them, points out their declensions and backslidings, who had said to the prophets, get ye out of the way; turn aside out of the path; cause the holy one of Israel to cease from before us. (Isaiah 30:11)
And it is thought by some, [5347] to be an allusion to schoolmasters, who stand behind their scholars, or at their back, to guide, teach, and instruct them. Others [5348] think, the reference is to shepherds following their flocks; who, when they observe any of the sheep going out of the way, call them back; or rather, the expression seems to be borrowed from travelers; who coming to a place where are several ways, and being at a loss which to take, are inclined to turn to the right hand, or the left, when they are called to by persons behind them, at a distance from them, directing them in the right way, [5349] and such is this here directed to.
The observation I make on the text is this: That the word of God, or gospel of Christ, is a full and sure direction to the people of God, as to the way in which they should walk.
This is the more sure word of prophecy, whereunto ye do well that ye take heed. (2 Peter 1:19)
This is a lamp unto your feet, and a light unto your paths. (Psalm 119:105)
It is the rule of faith and practice; by which the whole walk and conversation of the saints, both in faith and holiness, is to be directed. We are to follow God and not men; the Bible, and not the doctrines and inventions of men. Though a majority may be on one side of the question, we are not to follow a multitude to do evil. All the world wondered after the beast. (Revelation 13:3)
Nor are riches and learning to have any influence upon us, or weight with us, to incline us one way or another; were these a rule of judgment, our Lord must have been rejected as an impostor and deceiverse Have any of the rulers, the heads and governors of the people, civil or ecclesiastical, or of the Pharisees, that learned body of men, believed on him? But this people, who knoweth not the law, are cursed; (John 7:48, 49) a company of poor illiterate and contemptible persons. Not the traditions of men, the productions of carnal reason, natural schemes, or philosophical quirks, are to be regarded by us, but the word of Christ: Beware, lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit; after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. (Colossians 2:8)
Nor are education-principles to be trusted to and depended upon, without examination; nor are we to be governed by the customs of the people, which are generally vain; (but to the law and to the testimony, if men speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. (Isaiah 8:20) We should search the scriptures, (John 5:39, Acts 12:11) as the noble Bereans did, to see whether the things spoken are so or no; for they are they which testify of Christ, of his person and offices, of his grace, blood, righteousness, sacrifice and satisfaction, and of the way of salvation by him; they are the standard to which all doctrines and practices are to be brought, and by which they are to be tried; and these contain full and sure directions with respect to both; they are profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:16)
If any are at a loss about the way in which they should walk; let them examine the way marks, the scriptures, the word of God, and gospel of Christ; let them stand in the ways, and see and ask for the old paths; Where is the good way, and walk therein. (Jeremiah 6:16) The method I shall take in the prosecution of this subject, will be as follows:
II. Show what that way is which this word directs to.
III. Inquire what is meant by walking in the way which is exhorted to. And,