2. Let us pray ; that will do much. Christ hath taught us to pray for the coming of his kingdom : Mat. vi. 10, ' Thy kingdom come ! ' David, in his penitential psalm, could not forget the welfare of the church, when so deeply concerned as to his own particular, for the recovering of his own peace : Ps. Ii. 18, ' Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion : build thou the walls of Jerusalem.' Walls of Zion,
38 SERMON UPON JOSHUA VI. 26.
not of Jericho or Babylon. It is God's interest ; spread it before him.
3. Be thankful to God for these deliverances. Prayer gets blessings, but thankfulness keepeth them ; for God is careful to preserve them to such who count it a benefit, and are mindful of it. We have mani- fold cause to bless God. *
[1.] For former deliverance out of the house of bondage so early.
[2. j That he hath so often defeated the attempts of those who would bring us back thither.
[3.] For the good we have many years enjoyed under the reformed religion, which God hath blessed to the converting, strengthening, and comforting many a precious soul.
[4.] For continuing still the liberty of the gospel and means of grace under a protestant king.
[5.] For the quiet we now enjoy ; when other parts of Christendom are in a combustion, we are untouched, and enjoy safety. We are querulous, and apt to complain ; but all things reckoned, we have much more cause to give thanks.
4. Let such deliverances as this enkindle our love and zeal to that religion which God hath owned and defended. Partly because when men are persuaded of the truth, such providences as these are so many attestations to it: Ps. xli. 11, ' By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me.' Partly because God will spew those out of his mouth that are neither hot nor cold. Partly because zeal discourageth the factors and abettors of the kingdom of darkness. The fear of the people restrained the pharisees.
5. Prize the means of grace, and encourage them. Jericho's walls fell by the blast of the rams' horns ; this kingdom falleth by the preach- ing of the gospel : 2 Thes. ii. 8, * Whom the Lord will consume with the spirit of his mouth.' Whoever hinders that, promotes the devil's kingdom : 2 Cor. iv. 4, ' In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them that believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.' Owls fly in the dark ; this kingdom is maintained by darkness, blind- ness, and ignorance of the truth.
6. Let us not give encouragement by our divisions to our adver- saries. The more we labour for unity, the more we establish religion : Eom. xvi. 17, ' Mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned, and avoid them.' When passengers in a boat fall a-quarrelling and pushing one another, they endanger the sinking of the boat. When Christ's army is scattered, antichrist will prevail. Keep up the^ common Christianity. It may be peaceful endeavours signify nothing in a factious and divided time, yet we must unite every one in the things that are right and owned by God : James iii. 17, ' The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable;' provided we touch no unclean thing. Here we must separate : 2 Cor, vi. 17, ' Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.'
7. Eecommend religion by a holy life, partly because gross sins, under the profession of a reformed religion, provoke God to remove
SEKMON UPON JOSHUA VI. 26. 39
our candlestick from us ; partly because, with all understanding be- holders, the fruits of love, peace, and holiness will justify your religion : Mat. xi. 19, ' Wisdom is justified of her children.'
8. Practise the virtues contrary to the vices of the opposite kingdom. Theirs is a bloody religion ; ours a meek one. Be zealous to reduce them from their errors. Let there be a hatred of popery, and a pity to papists ; a hatred of abomination, but not a hatred of enmity : Prov, xxix. 27, ' An unjust man is an abomination to the just, and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked.'
SERMON UPON MICAH VI. 5.^
0 my people ! remember now ivliat Balah king of 3Ioah consulted, and luJiat Balaam the son of Bear ansioered him from Shittim unto Gilgal ; that ye may knoiv the righteousness of the Lord. — MiCAH vi. 5.
These words are a part of God's plea against Israel for tlieir ingratitude in departing from their obedience to him. Their backsliding had raised an evil report upon God, as if he were harsh and severe, and had not dealt well with them ; therefore God justifieth his providence ; what injury had he done to them? wherein had he wearied them? what had they to lay to his charge ? ver. 3, ' 0 my people ! what have I done to thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? Testify against me.' The matter concerneth us, for the general sin of this nation is, that we are grown weary of God ; but we have as little reason as they had. Injuries he had done none to them, but, on the contrary, vouchsafed many rare and singular favours. He instanceth first in his redeeming them from Egypt, where they were dealt with as slaves and bondsmen : ver. 4, ' For I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of servants.' Surely a deliverance from spiritual or temporal bondage should be an eternal bond upon us to be for God. The second instance is his conduct of them in the wilderness under Moses and Aaron :"ver. 4, 'And I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.' When God giveth a people such gover- nors both in church and state, who do not only adhere to true religion, but countenance it in others, yea, set their whole heart to propagate it, it is a great mercy, not to be forgotten. The third instance is that in the text, his bringing them into Canaan, notwithstanding the designs to root them out by the way : ' 0 my people ! remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted,' &c. In which words —