Quest. But it may be said. How is God's anger tm-ned away from his children, when they feel it ofttimes after in the course of their lives ?
Ans. The answer is, that there is a double anger of God, whereby we must judge of things, for either it is,
1. Vindicative; or, 2. Fatherly anger.
God, ofter our first conversion, he removeth his vindicative anger, after which, though sometimes he threaten and fi-own upon us, yet it is with a fatherly anger, which God also removes, with the shame and con-ection fittending it, when we reform and amend our w'icked ways.
There is, 1. A child of anger ; 2. A child under anger.
God's children are never ' children of wrath,' Eph. ii. 8, and anger, after * That is, ' experiences' = trials of.— G.
326 THE KETURNING BACKSLIDER. TSeRMON VI.
their first conversion. But sometimes cliildren under wrath, if they make bold with sin, so as they cannot use their right of sonship, to go boldly to the throne of gi'ace. Because then, though they have the right of fear,* they conceive of God as angiy with them, and cannot use it, so long as they live in any sin against conscience, and so continue, until they refoiTU and humble themselves, as the church doth here ; after which they can and do rejoice again, claim their right, and are not either children of wrath, or under wi-ath. David, after he had sinned that foul sin, Ps. li. was a child under wrath, not a child of wi-ath. So, if we make bold to sin, we are childi-en under -wi-ath, for ofttimes God begins correction at his own house, if there be any disorder there, 1 Pet. iv. 17. You know God was so angry with Moses, that he was not suffered to enter into the land of Canaan, Num. xx. 12. And Da^id, when he had numbered the people, God v>-as angry with him, 2 Sam. xxiv. 1 ; and with the Corinthians also, for uni'everent receiving of the Lord's Supper, 1 Cor. xi. 30. But here is a com'se prescribed to remove his fatherly anger, and to enjoy the beams of Ids countenance, and sunshine of his favour in Christ. If we humble ourselves, confess our sins, and fly unto him, as the church here doth, then we shall find this made good, ' For mine anger is turned away fi'om him.' But it may be asked,
Quest. In times of affliction, how may we know God's anger to be re- moved, when yet we endure the affliction ?
Ans. The answer is, that God is infijiitely wise, and in one affliction hath many ends ; as,
1. When he afflicts them, it is to coiTect them for their sins; after which, when they have pulled out the sting of sin by confession and humi- liation, if afflictions continue, his anger doth not continue.
2. Affliction sometimes is for an exercise of patience and faith, and trial of then* gi'aces, and for the exemplaiy manifestation to others of God's goodness to them.
But even then they may know that things come not in anger unto them by this ; that after repentance God speaks peace unto their conscience ; so that, though the grievance continue, it is with much joy in the Holy Ghost, and peace of conscience, in which case, the soul knows that it is for other ends that God continues it. Therefore the first thing in any affliction is, to remove away the core and sting thereof by humbling om'selves, as the chui-ch here doth, after which our consciences will be at peace for other things. God hath many ends in correcting us. He will humble us, im- prove our afflictions to the good of others, and will gain himself honour by our afflictions, sufleriugs, and crosses. "WTien God hath shed abroad his love in our hearts by his Spirit, then we can rejoice in tribulation, and rejoice under hope, Rom. v. 5. Though the afflictions continue, because the sting is gone, anger is removed.
' For mine anger is turned away from him.'
The last point we obseiwe from hence, and gather from all these general tniths, is this.
Where there is not humiliation for siii, and hearty prayer to God, with reformation of our ways, flying unto God for mercy, who is merciful to the fatherless, there God's icrath continues.
For as where they are performed his anger is turned away, so must it needs follow, that where they ai'e not performed, his anger continueth. Therefore, let us examine ourselves. The Spu'it of God here speaks of * Qu. ' the right, of fear they conceive? ' &c.:— Ed.
HOSEA XIV. 4, 5.] THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 827
* healing backslidings,' and of ' tui-ning away ini{i[uity.' Let us look well to ourselves, and to the present state of things, that our diseases be soundly cured, our personal diseases ; and then let us be sensible of the diseases of the land, and pray for them. For there are universal diseases and sins of a kingdom, us well as personal. And we are guilty of the sins of the times, as far as we are not humbled for them. Paul tells those who did not punish the incestuous person, 'Why are you not humbled rather for this deed ?' 1 Cor. V. 2. Where there is a public disease, there is a public anger hang- ing over upon that disease ; the cure whereof is here jDrescribed, to be hum- bled, as for ourselves, so for others. Therefore let us beware of sin (if we would shun wrath), especially of idolatry, or else we shall be sm-e to smart for it, as Ephraim did, of whom the Spu-it of God. saith, ' When Epln-aim spake trembling, he exalted himself in Israel ; but when he offended in Baal, he died,' Hosea xiii. 1. Ephraim had got such authority, what with his former victories, and by the signs of God's favour among them, that when he spake ' there was trembling,' and he ' exalted himself in Israel ;' but when he ' offended once in Baal,' that is, when he became an idolater, ' he died.' It is meant of the civil death especially, that he lost his former credit and reputation. We see then the dangerous effects of sin, especially of idolatry. Wherefore let us fortify ourselves against it, and bless God that we live under such a gi'acious, just, and mild king, and good govern- ment, where there are such laws against this great sin especially, and beseech God long to continue his life and prosperity for our good amongst us. For use then.