(2.) The works that God hath to do in such a season require it. God hath three great works to do, in the day of his carrying on the interest of Christ and the gospel: — [1.] He hath great revenges to take; [2.] He hath great deliverances to work; [3.] He hath great discoveries to make. I shall but touch on each.
[1.] He hath great revenges to take, and that on three sorts of persons.
\st. On oppressing Babylonians, — false worshippers and persecu- tors. Whilst the bride is preparing for the Lord Christ, he goes forth, with the armies of heaven following him, to take vengeance on these his enemies, Rev. xix. 11. These are the Absaloms, the usurpers of his throne, — the Hamans, the forcers of his spouse, the chiefest adver- saries of his kingdom.^ " He shall fill the places with dead bodies" of these ; and upon this account " wound the heads over many coun- tries," Ps. ex. 6. The axe is laid to the root of many a tall tree on this score, even in this nation, where he is reckoning for blood and imposition of yokes ; and he hath found out men inheriting this spi- rit from one generation to another.
2dly. Scoffing Edomites. — There is a twofold quaiTel that God hath with that generation of men ; — their rejoicing at Zion's distress, and desiring its increase, Ps. cxxxvii. 7; and then- endeavour to destroy ' Isa. xliii. 14; Jer. xxv. 12, li. 35; Rev. xvi. 19.
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the residue, when at any time straitened, Obad. 14. How many in the late trial rejoiced in the straits of Zion, that sat expecting our destruction, that they might have risen to stand in the cross ways to have cut off them that escaped ! Wherewith should they have recon- ciled themselves to their master, but with the heads of the servants of Christ? God hath vengeance in such a day as this for Edom also.
Sdly. Lukewarm Laodiceans, — neutralists, that " drink wine in bowls," and are no way moved at the " suffering of Joseph," — Gallios, that care for none of these tilings. There is not a generation in the world with whom the Lord is more provoked than with this Meroz generation. When God is jealous for Zion, he is displeased with them that are at ease, Zech. i. 14, 15. Now, consider how many persons of all these sorts are fixed in the nation, and you will see that vengeance cannot be taken on them without great alterations.
[2.] He hath deliverances to tuork. It is the time of " visiting the prisoners of hope:" the prey must be taken out of the jaws of the terrible, — every " staff of the oppressor broken in pieces;" yea, he de- livers his saints, not only from all that they have suffered, but fi'om all that was in the contrivance of their enemies to bring upon them, — which is greater than they can execute ; and this will cost something, before the Pharaohs of the nation will let his people go.
[3.] He hath great trials to make; — \st. Of his own, that they may he purged; 'idly. Of hypocrites, that they way he discovered.
] St. The day of canying on the interest of Christ is a day of puri- fying and purging, Dan. xii. 1 0, " Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried;" that is, a day like a furnace, Mai. iii. 3, that will consume dross and tin. The remainder of the people must be brouglit through the fire, Zech. xiii. J). Joshua's garments are defiled by dwelling in Babylon;^ many of Christ's own have contracted rust and soil, have got carnal interests and engagements, that must be scoured from them.
Idly. Of the discovery of hypocrites. It is emphatically said of the saints, that they "follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth."^ All sorts of professors will follow him in some paths ; in such as are consistent with their power, dominion, and advantages, they are even ready to I'un before him: but he liath some paths that are unpleasing to flesh and blood, — paths that he gives no loaves in; here men that say they are Jews, and are not, but lie, give quite out from him. Now, upon all those several accoimts, must that day of the gospel of necessity bo attended with great providential alteration.
Use 1. To discover where dwells that spirit that actuates all the great alterations that have been in these nations. Such things have been brought to pass as have filled the world with amazement; —
' Zech. iii. 3. ' Rov. xiv. 4; John vi. 26.
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a mouarcliy of some hundred years' continuance, always affecting and at lengtli wholly degenerated into tyranny, destroyed, pulled down, swallowed up ; — a great and mighty potentate, that had caused " terror in the land of the living," and laid his sword under his head, brought to punishment for blood ; — hypocrites and selfish men abun- dantly discovered, wise men made fools, and the strong as water; — a nation (that of Scotland) engaging for and against the same cause, backward and forward twice or thrice, always seeking where to find their own gain and interest in it, at length totally broken, in oppo- sition to that cause wherewith at first they closed; — multitudes of professors, one year praying, fasting, mightily rejoicing upon the least success, bearing it out as a sign of the presence of God ; another year, whilst the same work is carried on, cursing, repining, slighting the mai-vellous apjoearance of God in answer unto prayers and most so- lemn appeals, being very angry at the deliverances of Zion : — on the other side, all the mighty successes that God hath followed poor de- spised ones withal, being with them as with those in days of old, Heb. xi. 33, "AVho through faith subdued kingdoms, ^vrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens." He, I saj^, that shall consider all this, may well inquire after that principle which, being regularly carried on, yet meeting with the corruption and lusts of men, should so wheel them about, and work so many mighty alterations. Now, what is this but the most effectual design of the Lord to carry on the interest of Christ and the gospel, Avhatever stands in the way? This bears down all before it, — wraps up some in blood, some in hardness, and is most eminently straight and holy in all these transactions. Isa. xiv. 32, " What shall one then answer the messengers of the nation? That the LoED hath founded Zion, and the poor of his people shall trust in it."