' The just shall walk in them, but the transgressors shall fall therein.'
Thus far we are now come in the unfolding of this chapter, having shewed God's rich and incomparable mercies to miserable and penitent sinners ; how ready God is to embrace such, as this rebellious people named were, w4th all the arguments used to make them return unto the Lord. We are now come at last unto the upshot of all, a discovery of the several effects and works God's word hath upon both sorts of people here named and aimed at.
' The just shall walk in them, but the transgressors shall fall therein.'
These were very bad times ; yet there were just men, who walked in the ways of God : so that we see —
In the worst times, God u-ill have always a people that shall justify u'isdom.
God will have it thus, even in the worst times, that ' the just shall walk in them.' Though before he saith, ' "Who is wise ? and who is pradent ? ' yet here he shews that there shall be a number who shaU ' walk in God's ways,' who though they go to heaven alone, yet to heaven they will. Though they have but a few that walk in God's ways with them, they will rather go with a few that way, than with the wicked on the broad way to hell. Alvvay God hath some who shall walk in his way ; for if there were not some alway who were good, the earth would not stand ; for good men they are the pillars of the world, who uphold it. It is not for wicked men's sake that God upholds the frame of the creatures, and that orderly govern- ment. We see all is to gather together the number of his elect, of whom in some ages there are more, and in some less, of them born, thereafter as God breathes and blows with his Spirit. For according to the abundant working of the Spirit, is the number of the elect. Yet in all ages there are some, because it is an article of our faith, to believe ' a holy catholic church.'* Now it cannot be an article of faith, unless there were alway some that made this catholic church ; for else there should be an act of faith, without an object. Therefore we may always say, I believe that there are a number of elect people that walk in the ways of God to heaven-wards.
And what is the disposition of these some ? To have a counter motion to those of the times and places they live in. Some are foolish, not caring for the ways of God, cavilling at them. But the ' just shall walk in them,' that is, they take a contrary course to the world, that slights wisdom. Thus in all times it is the disposition of God's children to go contrary to the world in the greatest matters of all. They indeed hold correspondency, in outward things, but for the main they have a contrary motion. As we say of the planets, that they have a motion contrary to the wrapt motion. * Creed, Article IX. Cf. Pearson and Smith, in loc. — G.
424 THE RETUBNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON XVI.
Being carried and hurried about every twenty-four hours with the motion of the heavens, they have another motion and circuit of their own, which they pass also. So it is with God's people : though in their common carriage they be carried with the common customs and fashions of the times, yet they have a contrary motion of their own, whereby being carried by the help of God's Spirit, they go on in a way to heaven, though the world discern it not. They have a secret contrarj^ motion, opposite to the sins and corruptions of the age and times they live in. Therefore, in all ages it is observed for a commendation to go on in a contrary course to the present times. Noah in his time. Lot in his time, and Paul in his time, who complains, ' All men seek their own,' Philip, ii. 21. It is a strange thing that Paul should complain of all men seeking their own, even then when the blood of Christ was so warm, being so lately shed, and the gospel so spread ; yet ' all men seek their own.' And he speaks it with tears ; but what became of Paul, and Timothy, and the rest ? ' But our conversation is in heaven, from whence we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ,' &c., Philip, iii. 20. Let all men seek their own here below, as they will, we have our conversation contrary to the world. * Our con- versation is in heaven,' &c. So that they hold out God's truth in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, that is, when every man takes crooked ways and courses in carnal policy ; yet there are a company that notwithstanding walk in the right ways of God, clean contrary to others. The just will walk in the right ways of God. As holy Joshua said, ' Choose you what you will do, but howsoever, I and my father's house will serve the Lord,' Josh. xxiv. 15. So when many fell from Christ for a fit, because his doctrine seemed harsh, Peter justified that way. When Christ asked him. Will ye also leave me with the rest who are oflended ? ' Lord,' saith he, ' whither shall we go ? ' We have tasted the sweetness of the word, and felt the power thereof : * Whither shall we go. Lord ? thou hast the words of eternal life,' John vi. 68. So God's people have an affection, carriage, and course, contrary to the world.