1. Humbly confessing our ill-deservings. It is a sign God is angry when he suffereth his gospel to be obstructed, much more when the mouths of his ministers are shut up that they shall not plead for his interest and truths. It is a notable sign of his departure that he is not much concerned in the progress of the gospel. God's raising spirits is a hopeful presage. Oh, therefore, let us humble ourselves before the Lord !
2. Earnestly ; for it is a case that concerneth us deeply, because upon our trial we should be strict and precise : Phil. i. 20, ' My hope and expectation is that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all
468 SERMONS UPON PSALM csix. [Ser. XLIX.
boldness' own Christ. It would be sad if the gospel should suffer loss by us. Alas ! what a torment to us will the thought of it be, that we have dishonoured God, and wronged souls, and strengthened the hands of the wicked ! Origen, who had exhorted others to martyrdom, hav- ing himself bowed under the persecution, could never more open his mouth to preach the gospel, though often requested to it ; only one day, having taken for his text Ps. 1. 16, ' Unto the wicked he saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth ?' he wept very much, and could speak no more. Oh, therefore, it is no slight thing !
3. Deal with God believingly ; pray in faith. There are two con- siderations in the text which may fortify us : —
1.] Because it is a word of truth.
'2.] There are judgments to be executed on the hinderers of the word of truth.
[1.] It is a word of truth, and that will prevail at length, however it be obstructed for a time. In the first publishing of the gospel this was manifested, when the whole world was conspired to shut the door against it : 1 Cor. xvi. 9, 'A great door and effectual is opened to me, and there are many adversaries.' A few fishermen, who had not the power of the long sword, j'et it is spread far and near. The fathers often urged this. Clemens Alexandrinus saith, Propositam Grcecim 2jhilosophiam si quivis magistrates proMhuerit, en statim perit ; nostram autem docfrinam a prima usque ejus prcedicatione prohibent reges, duces , magistratus cum imiversis sateUitihus, ilia iamen non jiaccescit ut humana doctrina, sed magis floret. It spread far and near, the first reformation, what small beginnings it had.
[2.] There are judgments, strange providences, by which God breaketh opposition, either changing the hearts of men, or else cutting them off in the mid-way, ' when his wrath his kindled but a little,' Ps. ii. 12. They dash against the corner-stone. God will show himself mighty and powerful in promoting the word of truth, and will carry on the kingdom of Christ over the backs of his enemies.
Doct. 4. We should not give over dealing with God, though he is pleased to desert us in some passages of our trials, that he may not forsake us utterly.
Many of God's choicest servants have been tripping : Ps. Ixxiii. 21, ' As for me, my feet were almost gone, my steps had well-nigh slipped ; ' but they recover themselves again. Peter fell for a time, but after- wards groweth bold. Once timorous Peter, but, Acts iv. 13, 'When they saw the boldness of Peter and John.' The martyrs that were permitted for a while to deny the truth, yet were not permitted to deny it utterly ; they bewailed their faults, and suffered the more courage- ously. (1.) It is fit the creatures should know themselves ; therefore God will humble us, and in part leave us to our own fears, but not wholly leave us destitute of grace ; as the nurse seemeth to let the child fall, that he may clasp the more strongly about her. (2.) It is fit the world should know that a zealous defence of the truth comes not from natural stubbornness and pertinacity, but from divine assistance ; therefore God showeth what the flesh would do, how it would shrink , in the confession of the truth, if it were permitted to prevail (3.) It
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is fit we should see the necessity of continual dependence. After grace received we have not always the same presence of mind so as to plead for God, hut only as he is pleased to influence us : our case doth change and alter, ebb and flow, as it pleaseth God.
Use. Not to be severe against those that fail out of infirmity, nor to cast them off, for God doth not pity them ; rather than censure them, let us help them out of the mire. Unhumbled hearts, that are puffed up with pride and confidence in their own strength, when out of the temptation may judge it a task of no great difficulty to cany it with courage, and will readily condemn others of cowardice and backsliding who ride not out the storm with as much courage and cheerfulness and resolu- tion as they conceive themselves would do : Job iv. 5-7, ' Now it is come upon thee and thou faintest, it toucheth thee and thou art troubled. Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, and the uprightness of thy ways thy hope ? ' But a humble heart, acquainted with sufferings, will not judge so : he is sensible of weakness, and how hard it is for flesh and blood to deny itself, and to prefer a good conscience before safety and worldly increase : how ready it is to faint under a continued cross, how crafty to find out evasions to beguile itself into a way of sin, that they pity the poor tempted man. In the primitive times, Novatus and his followers denied those that had fallen to be received into the communion of the church, though upon repentance.