One main circumstance that besiegeth and besets a business may hinder an excellent business. "Who can see all things that beset a business ? all circumstances that stand about a business ? Who can see all circumstances of time, and place, and persons, that are hindrances or furtherances ? It must be an infinite wisdom that must forsee them ; man cannot see them. And when men do see them, are there not sudden passions that come up in men, that rob them of the use of their knowledge ? that though they know them before, yet some sudden passion of fear or anger may hinder the knowledge of a man, that he is in a mist when he comes to particulars. When he comes to apply the knowledge that he had before, he knows not what to do. So that unless God in a particular business give success, who is infinitely wise and powerful to remove all hindrances, there will be no success.
As it is in the frame of the body, it stands upon many joints ; and if any be out of tune, the whole body is sick. And as it is in a clock, all the
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wheels must bo kept clean and in order, so it is in the frame of a busi- ness. There must all the wheels bo set a-going ; if one bo hindered, there is a stop in all. It is so with us in the affairs of this world. When we deal with kings and states, if all the wheels be not kept as they should, there will be no success or prosperity. Nehemiah knew this well enough ; ' prosper thou therefore.'
He meant not to be idle when he said this, ' prosper thou ;' for he after joined his own diligence and waited. Therefore join that. If we would have om- prayers to God and our dependence upon him effectual for prosperity and success, be careful to use the means as he did. He stands before the king, and observed how he carried himself, to see what words would come fi-om the king, and then he meant after to put in execution whatsoever God should discover.
Use. It should teach us to make this use of it, when we deal in any matter, to go to God to prosper it, and give success, and direction, and assist- ance, and a blessed issue. For God, that we may alway depend upon him, he keeps one part in heaven still. When he gives us all likelihood of things upon earth, yet he reserves still the blessing till the thing be done. Till there be a consummation of the business, he keeps some part in heaven. Because he would have us sue to him, and be beholding to him, he will have us go up to heaven. Therefore, when we have daily bread, w^e must pray for daily bread, because the blessing comes from him. Our bread may choke us else. We may die with it in our mouths, as the Israelites did. But when we have things, we must depend on hina for a blessing ; all is to no purpose else.
Let us learn by this a direction to piety and holy walking with God ; in all things to pray to God for a blessing. And to that purpose we must be in such a condition of spirit as we may desire God to prosper us ; that is, we must not be under the guilt of sin when we come to God to prosper us. And we must be humble. God will not prosper a business till we be humble. As in the case of the Benjamites, when they came, they were denied the first, second, and third time. Till they prayed and fasted, and were thoroughly humbled, they had their suit denied, Judges xx. 36, seq. If the cause be never so good, till we be humbled, God will not prosper it, because we are not in frame for the blessing ; if we had it, we would be proud. God in preventing* mercy and care, will grant nothing till w^e be humbled. Therefore let us see that we be humble, and see that the matter be good that we beg God to bless and prosper us in, or else we make a horrible idol of God. Wo make (with reverence be it spoken) a devil of God. Do we think that God will give strength to an ill business ? This is to make him a factor for mischief, for the devil's work. We must not come with such ' strange fire' before God, to transform God to the con- trary to that he is ; but come with humble affections, with repentant souls for our former sins. And let the thing itself be good, that we may come without tempting of him ; let the cause be such that we may desire God's assistance, without tempting of him, as we do when it is good and when we come disposed. Then come with a purpose to refer all to his service. Lord, if thou wilt bless me in this business, the strength and encouragement I have by it, I will refer it to thy further service. Let me have this token of love from thee, that I have a good aim in all, and then I am sure to speed well.