VI. Observation. The church's mercies and deliverance have their appointed season.
In the midst of the years it shall be accomplished. As there is a decree bringing forth the wicked's destruction, Zeph. ii. 1, 2 ; so there is a decree goes forth in its appointed season for the church's deliver- ance, which cannot be gainsaid, Dan. ix. 23. Every " \dsion is for its appointed " season and time, Hab. ii. 3 ; then " it will surely come, it will not tarry." There is a determination upon the weeks and days of the church's sufferings and expectations, Dan. ix. 24, " Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people." As there are three transgi'essions, and four, of rebels, for which God "will not turn away their punishment," Amos i. 3 ; so three afflictions, and four, of the people of God, after which he will not shut out their supplica- tions. Hence that confidence of the prophet, Ps. cii. 13, 14, "Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion : for," saith he, " the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come." There is a time, yea, a set time, for favour to be showed unto Zion : as a time to break down, so a time to build up, — an acceptable time, a day of salvation. " It came to pass, at the end of four hundred and thirty years, even the self- same day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the LORD went out of Egypt," Exod. xii. 41. As a woman with child goes not beyond her appointed months, but is pained to be delivered, — no more can the fruitful decree cease from bringing forth the church's deliverance in the season thereof.
1. Because there is an appointed period of the church's humilia- tion and bearing of her iniquities. Israel shall bear their iniquities > Zi^va a^ps^ in the inward of years.
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in the wilderness; but this is exactly limited to the space of forty years. When their iniquity is pardoned, their warfare is accomplished, Isa. xl. 2. They say some men will give poison that shall work in- sensibly, and kill at seven years' end. The great Physician of his church knows how to give his sin-sick people potions that shall work by degrees, and at such an appointed season take away all their ini- quity : then they can no longer be detained in trouble. God will not continue his course of physic unto them one day beyond health recovered. This is all the fruit of their afflictions, to take away their iniquities, Isa. xxvii. 9 ; and when that is done, who shall keep bound what God will loose? When sin is taken away from within, trouble must depart from without.
2. Because the church's sorrows are commensurate unto, and do contemporize with, the joys and prosperity of God's enemies and hers. Now, wicked men's prosperity hath assured bounds : " The wickedness of the mcked shall come to an end." There is a time when the " ini- quity of the Amorites comes to the full," Gen. xv. 1 6. It comes up to the brim in the appointed day of slaughter. When their wicked- ness hath filled the ephah, a talent of lead is laid upon the mouth thereof, and it is carried away on wings, Zech. v. 6-8, swiftly, certainly, ii-recoverably. If, then, the church's troubles contemporize, rise and fall with their prosperity, and her deliverance with their destruction, - — if the fall of Babylon be the rise of Zion, — if they be the buckets which must go down when the church comes up, — if they be the rod of the church's chastisement, — their ruin being set and appointed, so also must be the church's mercies.
Use. In every distress learn to wait with patience for this ap- pointed time. " He that believeth will not make haste." " Though it tarry, wait for it, it will surely come." He that is infinitely good hath appointed the time; and therefore it is best. He that is infi- nitely wise hath determined the season ; and therefore it is most siiitable. He who is infinitely powerful hath set it down ; and there- fore it shall be accomplished. Wait for it believing, wait for it pray- ing,— wait for it contending. Waiting is not a lazy hope, a sluggish expectation. When Daniel knew the time was come, he prayed the more earnestly, Dan. ix. 2, 3. You will say, perhaps. What need he pray for it, when he knew the time was accomplished? I answer, The more need. Prayer helps the promise to bring forth. Because a woman's time is come, therefore shall she have no midwife? nay, therefore give her one. He that appointed their return, appointed tliat it should be a fruit of prayer. Wait,^ contending also in all ways
^ "Bonum agonem subituri estis, in quo agonotlietes Deus vivus est: Christarclios Spiritus Sanctus, corona aeternitatis brabiuui, epithetes Jesus Christus." — Tertul. ad Mar.
86 A MEMORIAL OF THE DELIVERANCE
wherein you shall be called out; and be not discouraged that you know not the direct season of deliverance. " In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand ; forthovi knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good," Eccles. xi. 6.