(2.) The tree that is to be exalted and made to flourish, and that is the "low tree," the "dry tree," contemptible for gi-owth; — it is low, useless for fruit, it is dry. And this is the spiritual kingdom of the Messiah, contemned, despised. This, says God, I Avill exalt, carry on, and make glorious; for though the interest of Christ and the gos- pel may seem low and dry for a season, in comparison of the gloiy of other flourishing interests, yet, in the issue, it shall be exalted above them all.
2. As taken more largely, and by the way of analogy; and so, — (1.) The high and the green tree are the things of the most glorious
appearance in the world,— persons and states that seem to be exceed- ingly suited for the work that God hath to do, that are in the greatest probability to be eminently instrumental in his hand : but, alas ! says God, These will I pull down, and cause to wither. Perhaps you -vvill think it strange, that a mighty monarchy, a triumphing prelacy, a thriving conformity, should all be brought do\M.i ; but so it shall be, " Every mountain shall be made a plain."
(2.) The " low tree," and the " dry tree," are things, persons, as- semblies, outwardly weak and contemptible, — such as wise men do
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verily believe tliat Go J will never use; they will not understand that such Moseses shall be deliverers, but cry, Who made them judge.s and nilers?^ But even these will God exalt and cause to flourish: " Ev^ery valley shall be exalted."
Two observations flow from hence, which I shall insist upon: —
I. In the carrying on of the interest of Christ and the gospel, God will ivork ivonderf id providential alteratio7}s.
II. 21ie actings of God's providence in carrying on the interest of Christ, shall he exceedingly unsuited to the reasonings and expecta- tions of the most of the sons of men.
Some trees must be plucked down, and some raised up ; yea, high trees thrown down, and the low caused to flourish. There is the issue of God's thus dealing in respect of others, " All the trees of the field," &c. By the "trees of the field" are meant men of all sorts that are concerned in these transactions.
And herein you may observe two things :— something intimated; and that is, an unwillingness in men to own these dispensations of God; hence the Lord undertakes himself to set on a conviction upon them, as a thing of great difficulty; — and somethmgexpressed; which is the conviction itself that shall in the issue fall upon them, notwithstand- ing all their reluctancy. Hence also are these two observations : —
Observation 1. Men are exceeding umuilling to see and own the hand of God in those works of his providence luhich answer not their reasonings, interests, and expectations.
Observation 2. IVie Lord will not cease walking contrary to the carnal reasonings of men, in his mighty luorks for the carrying on the interest of the Lord Jesus, until his hand he seen, otuned, and confessed.
For what remains concerning the assurance of the accomplishment of all this from the engagement of his name, I siiall only add, that the jioiuer and faithfulness of God are engaged in the carrying on the things of the kingdom of Christ, to the conviction of the most stuhhorn ojiposers.
I begin with the first, —
I. In the carrying on the interest of Christ and the gospel, God will work wonderfd providential alterations, — alterations among the trees of the field, nations, states, and men on earth.
When the beginning of the saints' departure from under the domi- nion of Antichrist was followed with wars, tumults, and destructions, it was objected to Luther, that that doctrine could not be of God which was attended with such desolations : he replied, according to the vigour of his spirit, " Ego nisi tumultus istos viderem, Christum in mundo esse non crederem;" — "Did he not see those tumults, he ' Exod. ii. 14; Acts vii. 27.
THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST. S21
wovikl not believe that Christ was come forth into the world." The Lord tells you how he will bring on his kingdom, Hag. ii. 6, 7, " I "svill shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land ; and I will shake all nations, and the Desire of all nations shall come," &c. The " Desire of the nations," is to be brought in by the " shaking of the nations." They are to be civilly moved, that they may be spiritually established. Neither are they only to be shaken, but also to undergo great alterations in their shakings, Heb. xii. 27, "This word. Yet once more, signifies the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things that cannot be shaken may remain." They must have a removal as well as a shaking; — ixirdkaiv, " a change," a translation. Most nations in their civil con- stitution lie out of order for the bringing in of the interest of Christ ; — they must be shaken up and new disposed of, that all ob.stacles may be taken away. The day of the gospel is not only terrible in its dis- covering light, and as it is a trying furnace, Mai. iii. 2, but also in its devouring fury, as it is a consvuning oven, chap. iv. 1.