' " Precos ot hvcrvnifo sunt anna ecclL'sia3." — 'I'oitul.
OF ESSEX COUNTY, AND COMMITTEE. 79
2. That it is " upon Shigionoth," a little may be spoken. The word is once in another place (and no more) used, in the title of a song, and that is Ps. vii., " Shiggaion of David;" and it is variously rendered. It seems to be taken from the word HJK', " erravit," to eiT, or wander variously, Pro v. v. 19. The word is used for delight, to stray with delight : " In her love (r\}^nj thou shalt err with delight," — we have translated it, " be ravished;" noting affections out of order. The word, then, holds out a delightful wandering and variety ; — and this literally, because those two songs, Ps. vii. and Hab. iii., are not tied to any one certain kind of metre, but have various verses, for the more delight; which, though it be not proper to them alone, yet in them the Holy Ghost would have it especially noted.
But now surely the kernel of this shell is sweeter than so. Is not this written also for their instruction who have no skill in Hebrew songs? The true reason of their metre is lost to the most learned. Are not, then, God's variable dispensations towards his held out under these variable tunes, — not all fitted to one string? not all alike pleasant and easy? Are not the several tunes of mercy and judgnnent in these songs? Is not here affliction and deliverance, desertion and recovery, darkness and light in this variously? Doubtless it is so.
III. Observation. God often calls his i^^ople unto songs upon Shujionoth.
■^He keeps them under various dispensations, that so, drawing out all their affections, their hearts may make the sweeter melody unto him. They shall not have all honey, nor all gall ; — all judgment, lest they be broken ; nor all mercy, lest they be proud. " Thou answer- edst them, 0 Lord our God : thou wast a God that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions," Ps. xcix. 8. Here is a song upon Shigionoth ! They are heard in their prayers, and forgiven; — there is the sweetest of mercies. Vengeance is taken of their inventions, — there's a tune of judgment. " By terrible things in righteousness wilt thou answer us, 0 God of our salvation," Ps. Ixv. 5 ; [which] is a song of the same tune. To be answered in righteous- ness, what sweeter mei'cy in the world ? Nothing more refreshes the panting soul than an answer of its desires ; but to have this answer by terrible things, — that string strikes a humbling, a mournful note. ■Israel hear of deliverance by Moses,^ and at the same time have their bondage doubled by Pharaoh, — there's a song upon Shigionoth. Is it not so in our days? — precious mercies and dreadful judgments jointly poured out upon the land ? We are clothed by our Father, like Joseph by his, in a party-coloured coat. Gen. xxxvii. 3 ; — here a piece of unexpected deliverance, and there a piece of deserved cor-
* "Graviter in eumdecernitiir, cui etiam ip?aconnectiodenen;atur."— Prosp. Sent. ^ Diqilicantur latoi-es quando veiiit Moses.
80 A MEMORIAL OF THE DELIVERANCE
rection. At tlio same hour we may rejoice at the conquest of our enemies, and mourn at the close of our harvest, — victories for his own name's sake, and showers for ovu- sins' sake ; both from the same hand at the same time. The cry of every soul is like the cry of the multitude of old and young at the laying the foundation of the second temple: many shouted aloud for joy, and many wejjt with a loud voice ; so that it was a mixed noise, and the several noises could not be distinguished, Ezra iii. 12, 13. A mixed cry is in our spirits, and we know not which is loudest in the day of our visitation. I could instance in sundry particulars, but that every one's observation will save me that easy labour. And this the Lord doth, —
1, To fill ^ all our sails towards himself at once, — to exercise all our affections. I have heard that a full wind behind the ship drives her not so fast forward as a side wind, that seems almost so much against her as with her; and the reason, they say, is, because a full wind fills but some of her sails, which keep it from the rest that they are empty ; when a side wind fills all her sails, and sets her sj^eedily forward. Which way ever we go in this world, our affections ai^e our sails; and according as they are spread and filled, so we pass on, swifter and slower, whither we are steering. Now, if the Lord should give us a full wind, and continual gale of mercies, it would fill but some of our sails, some of our affections, — joy, delight, and the like ; but when he comes with a side wind, — a dispensation that seems almost as much against us as for us, — then he fills all our sails, takes up all our affections, making his works wide and broad enough to entertain them every one; — then are we carried freely and fully towards the haven where we would be. ^ A song upon Shigionoth leaves not one string of our affections untuned. It is a song that reacheth every line of our hearts, to be framed by the gi'ace and Spirit of God. Therein hope, fear, reverence, with humility and repentance, have a share; as well as joy, delight, and love, with thankfulness. Inter- changeable dispensations take up all our affections, Avitli all our graces; for they are gracious affections, exercised and seasoned with gi-ace, of which we speak. The stirring of natural affections, as merely such, is but the moving of a dunghill to draw out a stinking steam, — a thing the Lord neither aimeth at nor delighteth in. Their joys are his provocation, and he laugheth in the day of their calamity, when their fear cometh, Prov. i. 26, 27.