[1.] First, /;; /,s laicfid to desire earthly things, so far as they may
ISA. XLII. 24, 25.] THE LATE FIERY DISPENSATION. 275
be furtherances of us in our journey to heaven.^ As a passenger when he comes to a deep river desii-es a boat, but not for the boat's sake, but that he may pass over the river ; for could he pass over the river with- out a boat, he would never cry out, A boat, a boat ; or as the traveller desires his inn, not for the inn's sake, but as it is a help, a furtherance to him in his journey homewards ; or as the patient desires physic, not for physic's sake, but in order to his health : so a Christian may law- fully desire earthly things in order to his glorifying of God ; and as they may be a help to him in his Christian course, and a furtherance to him in his heavenly race, Heb. xii. 1. But,
[2.] Secondly, We may desire earthly things in subordination to the luillof God. Lord, if it be thy pleasure, give me this and that earthly comfort ; yet not my will, but thy will be done. Lord, thou art the wise physician of bodies, souls, and nations : if it may stand with thy glory, give thy sick patient life, health, and strength; yet not my will, but thy will be done. But,
[3.] Thirdly, We may desire such a measure of earthly things, and such a number of earthly things, as may be suitable to the place, call- ing, relation, and condition luherein the providence of God has set us, Prov. XXX. 8, 9, and 1 Tim. vi. 8 : as a master, magistrate, prince, lord, gentleman, &c. A little of these earthly things, and a few of these earthly things, may be sufficient to the order, place, calling, and condition of life wherein some men are placed, but not sufficient for a king, a lord, a magistrate, a general, &c. These must have their counsellors, their guards, variety of attendance, and variety of the creatures, &c. A little portion of these earthly things is sufficient for some, and a great and large portion of these earthly things is but suffi- cient for others. Less may serve the servant than the master, the child than the father, the peasant than the prince, &c. The too eager pur- suit of most men after the things of this world, to make up the losses that they sustained by the fire, hath been the true cause why I have insisted so largely upon this ninth duty that we are to learn by that fiery dispensation that hath passed upon us.
10. The tenth duty that lies upon those who have been burnt up, is to be very importunate ivith God to take away those sins that have laid our city desolate, and to keeio off from sin for the time to come, and to look narrowly to your spirits, that you do not charge the Lord foolishly , because he has brought you under his fiery rod, Mai. ii. 15; Job i. 16, ' While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said. The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burnt up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them, and I only am escaped alone to tell thee;' ver. 22, ' In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.' The fire of God, that is, a great, fierce, and terrible fire that fell from heaven and consumed Job's sheep and servants, was a more terrible judgment than all the former judgments that befell them, because God seemed to fight against Job with his own bare hand by fire from heaven, as once he did against Sodom. ' In all this Job sinned not ;' that is, in all this that Job suffered, acted, and uttered, there was not anything that was materially sinful. Satan he
1 As Mr Tyndale the martyr said, I desire these earthly things so far as they may be helps to the keeping of thy commandments.
276 London's lamentations on [Isa. XLII. 24, 25.
said, that if (rod would but toucli all that lie had, Job would curse him to his iacc ; but wlieu it came to the proof, there was no such thinj^. For Job had a fair and full victory over him, and Satan was proved a loud liar. For Job sinned not in thought, word, or deed ; Job did neither speak nor do anything that was dishonourable to God, or a reproach to his religion, or a wound to his conscience. Under this fierv trial Job did not so much as entertain one hard thought concern- ing God, nor let fall one hard word concerning God. Under all the evils that befell Job, Job still thinks well of God, and speaks well of God, and carries it well towards God. Certainly Job had a great deal of God within him, wdiicli kept him from sinning under such great and grievous sufferings. 0 sirs, it is a far greater mercy to be kept from sinnings under our sufferings, than it is to be delivered from the greatest sufferings. Job's heart was so well seasoned with grace, that he would admit of no insolent or unsavoury thoughts of God, or of his severest providences: ' In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly,' or with folly. Some refer the former part of this verse to the mind, and the latter to the mouth ; shewing that Job, though he had lost all, neither thought in his heart, nor uttered with his mouth, anj-thing unmeet and unworthy of God. The meek, humble, patient, and gracious behaviour of Job under all his sore losses and crosses is here owned, renowned, crowned, and chronicled by God himself. 0 sirs, sinning is w^orse than suffering ; it is better to see a people bleeding than blaspheming, burning than cursing; for by men's sins God is dis- honoured, but by their sufferings God is glorified. Oh that the Chris- tian reader would seriously consider of these twelve things: — i
(1.) That there is nothing that the great God hates, but sin.
(2.) That there is nothing that he has revealed his wrath from heaven against, but sin.
(3.) That there is nothing that crucifies the Lord of glory afresh, but sin.
(4.) That there is nothing that grieves the Spirit of grace, but sin.
(5.) That there is nothing that w^ounds the conscience, but sin.
(6.) That there is nothing that clouds the face of God, but sin.
(7.) That there is nothing that hinders the return of prayer, but sin.
(8.) That there is nothing that interrupts our communion with God, but sin.
(9.) That there is nothing that imbitters our mercies, but sin.
(10.) That there is nothing that puts a sting into all our troubles and trials, but sin.
(11.) That there is nothing that renders us unserviceable in our places, stations, and conditions, but sin.
(12.) That there is nothing that makes death the king of terrors, and the terror of kings, to be so formidable and terrible to the sons of men, as sin. And therefore under all your sorrows and sufferings, crosses and losses, make it your great business to arm yourselves against sin, and to pray against sin, and to watch against sin, and to turn from sin, and to cease from sin, and to get rid of sin, and to stand for ever in defiance of sin, 2 Chron. vii. 14; Isa. xvi. 17, and Iv. 7;
' Prov. vi. in, 17 ; Jcr. xlix. 4 ; Rom. i. IS; IIcl.. vi. 6 ; Eph. iv. 30; Mat. xxvi. lo; Ps. .\.\.\. C, 7 ; Isa. xli.\. 1, 2 ; MaL ii. li ; Jcr. iv. IS.