And the reasons of this quailing are, —
(1.) The weakness of faith, when the methods of God's proceedings are unfathomable to our apprehensions. While men see the paths wherein the Lord walketh, they can follow him through some diffi- culties ; but when that is hid from them, though providence so shut up all other Avays that it is impossible God should be in them, yet if they cannot discern (so proud are they) how he goeth in that wherein he is, they are ready to faint and give over. God is pleased some- times to make darkness his pavilion and his secret place. " A fire devours before him, and it is very tempestuous round about him," Ps. 1. 3. When once God is attended with fire, darkness, and tem- pest, because we cannot so easily see him, we are ready to leave him. Now, this the Lord usually doth in the execution of his judgments, "Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep," Ps. xxxvi. 6. His righteousness, his kindness, is like a great mountain that is easy to be seen, — a man cannot overlook it, unless he wilfully shut his eyes ; but his judgments are like the great
142 RIGHTEOUS ZEAL EN'COURAGED
deep. Who can look into the bottom of the sea, or know what is done in the depths thereof ? God's works in their accomphshment are oftentimes so unsuited to the reasons and apprehensions of men, that very many who have been strong in their desires, and gi'eat in expec- tation of them, upon their bringing forth to hght, have quite rejected and opposed them as none of his, because distant from what they had framed to themselves. It is evident from the gospel, that the people of the Jews were full of expectation and longing for the great work of the coming of the Messiah just at the season wherein he came; yet being come, because not accommodated to thek pre-imaginations, they rejected him, as having neither form nor comeliness in him to be de- sired, Isa. liii. 2. And the prophet Amos telleth many who deshed the day of the Lord, that that day should be darkness to them, and not light, Amos v. 18, 20. So in every generation many desirous of the accomplishment of God's work are shaken off from any share therein, by finding it unsuited to their reasons and expectations.
Now, when the Lord is pleased thus to walk in darkness, many not being able to trace hmi in his dispensations, are ready to lie down and sink under the burden. David seems to profess that he had nothing at such a time to uphold him but this, that God must be there, or nowhere. I had said (saith he) that it was in vain to walk as I do, but that I should have condemned the generation of thy children, Ps. Ixxiii. 1 5. And truly God never leaves us without so much light, but that we may see clearly where he is not; and so, by recounting jjarticulars, we may be rolled where he is, though his goings there be not so clear. Ask if God be in the counsels of men who seek them- selves, and in the ways of those who make it their design to ruin the generation of the jvTst. If you find him there, seek no farther ; if not, let that give you light to discern where he makes his abode, that you turn not aside to the flocks of others.
(2.) A 7'ed'uciufj the works of Providence to inbred rules of their own. But this I cannot pursue.
Be tender toward fainters in difficult seasons. If the)'' leave wait- ing on the Lord because the evil is of him, — if they cast in their lot with the portion of the ungodly, — they will in the end ])eri.';h in their gainsaying ; but as for such as, what for want of light, what for want of faith, sit down and sigh in darkness, be not too hasty in lading faither burdens on them. When first the confederacy was entered into by the Protestant pri)ices in Germany against Charles V., Luthor himself for a season was be^\ildered, and knew not what to do, until, being instructed in the fundamental laws of the empu'e, he sat down fidly in that undertaking, though the Lord gave it not the desired issue' Our Saviour Christ asks, if, when he comes, he shall ' Sleid. Com., lib. viii.
BY DIVINE PROTECTION. 14:'S
find faith on the earth, Luke xviii. 8. It is his coming -with the spirit of judgment and burning, a day of trial and visitation, he there speaks of. Now, what faith shall he want which will not be found in that day ? Not the faith of adherence to himself for spiritual life and jus- tification, but of actual closing with him in the things he then doth ; that shall be rare, — many shall be staggered and faint in that day.
And thus, by the several heads of this chapter, have I led you through the very state and condition of this nation at this time.
First, Variety of judgments are threatened to us, and incumbent on us; as in the first part. Secondly, Of these, /a/se tvorshvp, super- stition, tyranny, and cruelty, lie in the bottom, as their procuring causes; which is the second. Thirdly, These, if renetued under your hand, will certainly bring ine^dtable iiiin upon the whole nation ; which is the third. Fourthly, All which make many precious hearts, what for want of light, what for want of faith, to fa,il, and cry out for " the wings of a dove ; " which is the fourth.