* The passao;e is in Ecclesiasticus xlix. 1. This is the first reference that vc have found in Sibbes to the Apocrypha. — En.
352 THE KETURNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON YIII.
Wicked men know this very v/ell, that the Hves, speeches, and courses of good men, for the most part, are fruitful beyond theirs. Therefore, what they can, they labour to cast aspersions upon them, that they may not emell so sweet. So, crying down those who are better than themselves, that they may be the less ill thought of, and setting a price upon all things in themselves, and their companions. Take me a knot of cursed companions, and they are the only stout, the only wise and learned men : all learning it must live and die with them ; and all other men, though incomparable beyond them in abilities, in grace, in fruitfulness to do good, they are nobody. And this policy the devil teacheth them. But this will not serve the turn; for God, both in life and after death, will raise up the esteem of such who have been fruitful, when ' the memory of the wicked shall rot,' Prov. x. 7, and not be mentioned without a kind of loathing. Therefore let no man trust to this foolish policy, to cry down all others that are better than them- selves, thinking thereby themselves shall be better esteemed. This will not do ; for as all other things, so our good name is at God's disposing. It is not in the world to take away the good name or acceptance of good people ; for they shall have, in spite of the world, a place in the hearts of God's people, who are best able to judge. The next thing promised is,
' They that dwell under his shadow shall return.'
The Holy Ghost, it seems, cannot express in words and comparisons enough, the excellent condition of the church, and of the children of God, when they are once brought into the state of grace. The former words concern the excellency of the children of God in themselves, and these the fruitfulness and goodness of them that are under them, who shall be brought into the fiuuilies and places where they live. ' They that dwell under his shadow,' under the shadow of Israel, ' shall return and revive as the corn, and grow as the vine,' &c. For so it is most fitly meant of Israel. For formerly it is said, * I will be as the dew unto Israel.' Originally it is meant of Christ's shadow ; but because whosoever dwells mider the church's shadow dwells under Christ's, therefore it is most fitly applied to Israel. They that dwell under Israel's shadow shall return.' What returning ? Return to God by repentance. This is supposed ; for those that dwell in the church of God, if they belong to God, by the help of good means they shall attain to refonnation and repentance. But it is especially meant of that which follows upon it, ' They shall return ;' that is, they shall revive, as a man's spirits after a swoon are said to return, and things after a seeming decay and deadness are said to be quickened and return again. So all that dwell under the shadow of Israel, they shall return to God by repentance. ' They shall return,' having a greater vigour and liveliness, recovering that which they seemed to have lost before.
* They that dwell under his shadow shall return.'
When God will bless any people, he will bless all that belong to them and are under them, because they are blessed in blessing them, even as we are touched when our childi'en are stricken. God strikes the father in the child, the husband in the wife, the master in the servant, because there is some relation and dependence betwixt them. As it is in ill so it is in good. God blesseth the father in the child, the king in the subject, and the sub- ject in the king. God blesseth one in another. And in blessing, because God loves the church, all the friends of the church are the better for it. They prosper that love the church, Ps. cxxii. 6, though they be not mem- bers of it. All that bless Abraham shall be blessed. Though they be not actually good, yet if they wish him well, a blessing is promised. So wheij
I
HOSEA XIV. 0, 7.] THE EETUKNING EACKSLIDEE. 853
God blesseth a man to purpose, lie blesseth all that belong to him. All that be under his shadow fare the better. The point to be handled is this, That the church itself yields a shadow, being shadowed itself by Christ, who spreads his wing over it. Now, what is the use of a shadow ?
1. It is for a retiring place to rest in.
2. It is for defence against the extremity of heat.
3. It is for delight, if the shades be good and wholesome.
For, as philosophers express the nature of trees, there be some trees which yield noisome shadows, some trees have a heav}', noxious, danger- ous shadow, because there comes a scent from the tree, as naturalists ob- serve, which annoys the brains. But he speaks here of good trees. Israel is a tree that yields a shadow unto all ; that is, all that are under Israel shall rest quietly, and not be annoyed with the heat of God's wrath, and the Hke. They shall be delighted, having a sweet refreshing under the church.