302 SERMONS UPON rsALM cxix. [Ser. CXXXVIII.
think that God slioukl come sooner to our deliverance : God is not shick, but we are too liasty ; if he should come sooner, it would be the worse for us. We would have thought God should have owned Joseph in the pit. No; God stays till he be cast into prison; and iu prison Joseph would fain come out as soon as Pharaoh's butler was come out, but he forgot him. God would not have it so ; he must tarry there till God's time was come, and then had not only deliver- ance out of prison, but preferment. So many times we would be contented with half a deliverance, and would have it now, but God will give it us in the best season.
[3.] It is but a short time. Say sense what it will, it is but fiiKpov oaov oaov, ' a little little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry,' lieb. x. 37. It is not so long as enemies w^ould make it, for they would root out the memorial of God's children ; not so long as sin would make it, or as flmcy would conceive it. Suffering hours pass tediously ; we count quarters and minutes Avhen we are in pain or anxious expectation ; we think an hour a week, a week a month, a month a year, and every year seven. Yea, not so long as reason would make it as to probabilities and the course of second causes. When things are fortified and backed with a strong interest, to reason it wdll be a long time. It is not so long as sense would make it ; though we count the years, the winter is over, and the spring is come, and yet we are not saved, and can say, It is thus long ; yet this is not long in comparison of eternity, 2 Cor. iv. 17. It is not long to faith, for to the eye of faith things future and afar off are present, Heb. xi. 1. Not long to love, Gen. xxix. 20 : seven years are as a few days ; they that believe an eternity, and have any love to God, will say it is short. But a short walk is a long journey to the sick and weak ; the impa- tience of our flesh makes it seem long.
[4.] When the time is come, God will make speedy work : Isa. Ix. 2, ' The Lord will hasten it in his time ; ' Luke xviii. 7, ' Shall not God avenge his own elect ? ' Kev. xviii. 7, ' Her plagues shall come in one day ; ' Isa. Ixvi. 8, ' A nation born in a day.' All these places show (and it is a comfort to us) that no difficulty shall hinder when the season calls for it. He that produced heaven and earth at once, what cannot he do ? We are dismayed when we consider an evil party fortified with combined interests, strength of opposite factions, force of laws and worldly powers ; but God can make a nation be born in one day. It will be quick work when God once begins.
Third consideration. This time is usually when the impiety and iusolency of wicked men is come to a height. Indeed there are other notes ; as when his people's hearts are prepared to receive and improve deliverance, when God's glory calleth for it. But this is the season mentioned in the text ; therefore I shall show you — •
1. That this is a season.
2. Inquire when iniquity is come to a height.
3. Why then God doth usually interpose.
1. That this is a season : Gen. xv. 16, ' The sins of the Amorites are not yet full.' God showeth his patience to that wicked people, till the measure of their sins were filled up. So wrath came upon the persecuting Jews when they had filled up the measure of their fathers,
YeR. 126.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXTX. 303
Mat. xxiii. 32. While the enemy's cup is a-filling, God delayeth, and we must wait. So Dan. viii. 23, ' When the transgressors are come to the full.' Once more, Joel iii. 13, ' Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe ; come, get ye down, for the press is full, the fats overflow, for their wickedness is great.' The Lord compares sinners to a field of ripe corn ready to be cut, full fats and wine-presses to be trod out. When sin is ripe, the execution of vengeance will not be long forborne.
2. When doth iniquity come to a height ? I answer — Their ini- quities may be considered as to the two branches of it — their rebellion and disobedience to God, and their injuries and vexation of the saints.
[1.] Their disobedience and contempt of God.
(1.) When this is general. All orders and ranks of persons have corrupted their way, as the Sodomites compassed the house, Gen. xix. 4 ; both young and old, all the people from every quarter. Usually in making a judgment upon the state of a people, you will find it thus : If any part be right, it keeps off the judgment from the rest ; if a zealous magistracy, though a corrupt people, or an unsavoury ministry, and a praying, mourning people, God holds his hand, and will not proceed to judgment. They are ' the salt of the earth,' Mat. V, 13 ; and Isa. vi. 13, ' The holy seed shall be the substance thereof.' But when all join in one, in a neglect of God, and common enmity to his ways ; then, I say, the judge of the earth will do his work, then wrath breaketh out.