2. Those that attempt anything without a lawful call. The Israelites had a good call ; they had a command from God to enter into the Eed Sea, and they had a promise of God's protection. He that will undergo dangers, let him see how his matters stand with God, and what ground he hath both for his undertaking and for his confidence and courage.
[1.] For his undertaking. For these Israelites, who at God's bid- ding could enter the Eed Sea, yet presuming against God's warrant to go up against the Canaanites, were beaten : Num. xiv. 44, 45, ' But they presumed to go up unto the hill top : nevertheless the ark of the covenant of the Lord and Moses departed not out of the camp. Then the Amalekites came down, and the Canaanites which dwelt in that hill, and smote them, and discomfited them, even unto Hormah.' The case was this, tliey had murmured at the report of the spies, and when they had smarted for tliat by a sore plague, they would all of a sudden go up and fight the Canaanites to expiate the suspicion of their cowardice. The ark removed not, but at the removal of the cloud, Num. V. 17, 21 ; and Moses would abide by the ark. But God showed his dislike of the action, because they went without the Lord, and the signs of his grace.
[2.] What ground there is for their courage and confidence ; for in particular events we have no assurance but from God's especial promise. Indeed, in all lawful undertakings we have the promise of God concerning eternal lite to bear us up, and we may be confident of this : Luke xii. 32, ' Fear not, little flock ; for it is your father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.' But for other things we must refer them to God. For eternal salvation we may be sure, but for other things nothing but a particular promise can be the strong pillar of our confidence.
Quest. But if we have no express promise, may we not bear up ourselves against difficulties and improbabilities by believing in God ?
Ans. If believing be meant only of a confidence in God's power, not determining the certainty of the event, we may. Many times we are cast upon God's providence ; all human refuge and helps fail, there is no possibility of escape ; but then God forbiddeth despair : 2 Cor. i. 9, 10, ' But we had received the sentence of death in our- selves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God, which raiseth the dead. Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver, in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us.' It was when the furious multitude at Ephesus was let loose upon him. But the truer trust is showed in a ready adherence to his call and to our duty : Ps. xliv. 18, 19, ' Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from thy way, though thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons, and covered us with the shadow of death.'
VeK. 29.] SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. 15
3. It condemneth them who pretend to faith, and yet do not make a total resignation of themselves to God.
[1.] Some reserve their interests. Now you have not saving faith till you can sell all for the pearl of price : Mat. xiii. 45, 46, * The kingdom of heaven is like to a merchantman seeking goodly pearls ; who, when he had found one pearl of great price, he went and sold all that he had, and honght it.' One cometh boldly to Christ : Mat. viii. 19, ' Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest ; ' but when he heard, ver. 20, ' The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head,' we hear no more of him. The young man came to Christ to know ' what good thing he should do to have eternal life,' Mat. xix. 16 ; but when Christ said to him, ' Sell all thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven, and come and follow me,' ver. 21 ; when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions, ver. 22. Therefore faith being so necessary to salvation, cheat not yourselves with the image of it.
[2.] Some reserve their lusts; but true faith is inconsistent with the predominancy of any lust or sin ; for a christian wholly givetli up himself to the Avill of God. Therefore he that continueth in his sins, not resolving in his heart to forsake them and to renounce all righteous- ness in himself, and wholly and solely to rely upon the mercy of God and merit of Christ, betaking himself to a new course of life, mistakes God's promise, and his faith will end in shame and confusion : Isa. Iv. 7, ' Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.'
Use 3. Of exhortation. To exhort you to such an entire resignation of yourselves to the will of God, and dependence upon his promises, that you may be prepared to go on with your duty, whatever hazards you incur by it.