A RESCUE FROM DEATH, WITH A RETURN OF PRAISE.
Fools, hecause of their traiisgressions, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted, dc—Ps. CVII. 17, &c.
This Psalm containeth some passages concerning God's particular, sweet providence ; not only to the church, but to other men ; for he that created all things, even the meanest creature, must have a providence over all things ; his providence must extend itself as large as his creation. For what is providence but a continuance of creation : a preservation of those things in being that God hath given to have a being. The prophet here of purpose opposeth the profane conceits of them that think God sits in heaven, and lets things go on earth, as if he cared not for them. It was the fault of the best philosophers to ascribe too much to second causes. The psalmist here shews that God hath a most particular providence in everything. First, he sets it down in general, and then he brancheth it out into particulars, especially four, wherein he specifieth God's providence.
The first instance is of those that ' wander in the wilderness hungry and thirsty ;' ver. 4, ' They cry, and God regards them.'
The second is in ver. 10, ' They that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, bound in iron, they cry, and the Lord heareth them.'
The third is in the words of the text, ' Fools for their transgressions are afflicted ; their soul abhorreth all manner of meat.' He instanceth in sick- ness, the most ordinary affliction, and shews that God hath a most particular providence even in that.
The fourth is in ver. 23, ' Those that go down into the sea, they see ' experiments* of God's particular providence. .
Since the fall, the life of a man is subject to a wondrous many incon- veniences, which we have brought on us by our sins. Now in this variety it is a comfortable thing to know God's care of us in our wanderings and imprisonments, in our sickness, &c. But to omit the other three, and to come to that that is proper to the place, that is, the instance of God's pro- vidence in sickness.
' Fools, because of their transgressions, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted,' &c.
* That is, ' have espcriencc of.' — G.
13G A RESCUE FROM DEATH,
In these words you have,
First, The cause of this visitation, and of all the grievance he speaks of : ' transgression and iniquity.'
And then the kind of this visitation : ' sickness.'
And the extremity, in two branches : * Their soul ahhorreth all manner of meat ;' and secondly, ' They draw near to the gates of death.'
And then the carriage of the affected* and sick parties : ' They cry unto the Lord in their distress.'
And the remedy, of the universal and great physician : ' He saves them out of their distress.'
And the manner of this remedy : ' He sent his word and healed them ; ' his operative and commanding word, so as it works with his command.
Lastly, the fee that this high commander asks for ; all the tribute or reward that he expects is praise and thanksgiving. ' Oh that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodness, and his wondrous works for the children of men,' &c.
So you see this Scripture contains several passages between God and man, in misery and in deliverance. In miaery : — God afflicts man for his sin. The passage of man to God is, ' He cries to God.' God's passage back again is his * deliverance,' and then his return back again must be ' thanks- giving.' So here is a double visitation, in justice God correcting sin ; and then a visitation in mercy, upon their crying and praying, God restores them ; and then man's duty, ' thanksgiving.' But to proceed in order.
* Fools, because of their transgressions,' &c.
Here you have first the quality of the persons set down.
' Fools.'
We must understand by * fools,' wicked fools ; not such fools as are to be begged, as we say ; that are defective in their naturals, f but the * wise fools ' of the world. They are the chief of fools. However in the courts of men they be not found fools, yet they are fools in God's esteem, who is wisdom itself. Those that think themselves wise, that are conceitedly wise, they are these fools here.
In the phrase of Scripture and the language of the Holy Ghost, every sinner is a ' fool.' It were a disgraceful term if any man should give it ; but let no man stumble at it. It comes from the wise God that knows what wisdom is, and what is folly. If a fool shall call a man ' fool,' he doth'not regard it ; but if a wise man, especially the ' God of wisdom,' call a man ' fool,' he hath reason to regard it. AVho can judge better of wisdom than God, who is ' only wise ' ?
Why are u-icked men fools 1 and God's children, so far as they yield to their lusts ?
In divers respects.
1. First, For lack of discerning in (dl the carriage and passar/es of their lives. You know a fool is such a one as cannot discern the difference of things, that is defective in his judgment. Discerning and judgment, that especially tries a fool, when he cannot discern between pearls and pebbles, between jewels and ordinary base things. So wicked men are defective in their judgments. They cannot discern aright between spiritual and heavenly things, and other things. All your worldly fools, he hunts after and placeth his happiness in things meaner than himself; he takes shadows for substances.