I shall not say to our brethren that they have showed this day, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had been slain, it would have been well-pleasing to them; but this I shall sjiy, that it is a sad sign that our ways jjlease not God, Avhon his ways please not us at all.
There being not space for handling the two remaining propositions contained in the text, I shall go forth to one general use, and so con- clude.
Use. Now, this I shall take from that of the proplu't Amos, chap, iv. 12; — the generality of the people being exercised with various judgments, the residue of them are said to be saved " as a firebrand
' Kzek. xviii. 2.
THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST.
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out of tlie burrnng; that is, poweifully, effectually, from a very terrible and a very near destruction. After all the Lord's oTeat dis- pensation of providence, in caixying on his own design, this beinc. the condition of the people of this nation, many being d^eslroyed by W going judg.nents, and the residue now saved Hke a firebrand out of the burning, God having given us this issue of his mighty works in
be on wisdom to close with the counsel which God gives in such i cond t,on, and that you have, I say, Amos iv. 12, '' Bel^e T till do tins unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, 0 Israel." Seeing that
meet twVoro^'T" \ ""'' ''^ ""'''' ^ ^^^^^^^^^^ P-1-- ^o meet thy God, 0 parliament: prepare to meet thy God, 0 army
To lead you a httle towards the performance of this duty, it bein^ hat, and that alone, which is incumbent on you, I shal/show Z these two things:-!. What it is therein Jare to meet our God I. How we must meet him therein.
I. For the first, there are three ways wherein we must meet the Lord If we desire to answer his mindinany of these dispensations :- ( . In the, aay of hrs providence; (2.) In the way of his worship ; (o.) In the ivay oj his holiness. ^'
(1.) The eminent ways of the providence of God in these days may be referred unto three heads. ^ ^
[1.] His general design to pull doion all those high oppositions to the kingdom of his Son which I have mentioned
hilhi!!^'r7^''Tf' *" ''T ^^'' ^^''y of all flesh, to pidl down liigli trees, that no flesh may glory.
f3l 5'' '^^'17."/ «^^ endearments and enjoyments here below
!tLt' '-^ ""^ ^'^"''^ "^^^ ''' '^'' ^^'"'^^ ^^'"^ '^"-^ot be
And these,_upon all accounts and considerations whatever, appear
to be the mam tendencies of the actings of providence in these our
(2.) There is the ^uay of his luorship; wherein also he wHl be met It IS most remote from my thoughts to enter into contests concernino- that peculiar way of gospel worship which Christ hath appointed It sufficeth me, that seeing God hath promised that in these days he wil have his tabernacle ^^'ith men, and that ban-enness and drought shall be on every soul that comes not up to his feast of tabernacTes It IS bottom sufficient to press men to meet him in that way accord- ing as he shall gi-aciously make out light unto them.
_ (3.) There is the tvay of his holiness. As he is holy, so are all Ins ways holy,— so he will be met and walked with in all ways of holi- ness and obedience to Jesus Christ. And these are the wa^'s wherein C70d will be met by his remnant, his delivered remnant.
334) THE ADVANTAGE OF
2. What, then, is it to meet the Lord in any of these ways? what is it to meet him in the way of his providence, his worship, his hoh- ness? To meet one in any thing, is to close with him in that thing: — Ave say, Herein I meet you, when we are of one mind. To meet the Lord in these things, is to close with the will and mind of God in them. This is that which I would exhort you unto, yea, lay the charge of God upon you this day, even on you and your companions, who are as a brand snatched out of the bummg, — (L) To meet God in the way of his providence. [1.] Meet him in his general design of casting doAvn all combined opposition to the kingdom of his Son ; that God in his appointed time will bring forth the kingdom of the Lord Christ unto more glory and power than in former days, I presume you are persuaded. Whatever will be more, these six things are clearly promised : —
\st. Fulness of 'peace unto the gospel and the professors thereof, Isa. xi. 6, 7, liv. 13, xxxiii. 20, 21 ; Rev. xxi. 25.
^dly. Purity and beauty of ordinances and gospel worship. Rev. xi. 2, xxi. 3. The tabernacle was wholly made by appointment, Mai. iii. 3, 4; Zech. xiv. 16; Rev. xxi. 27; Zech. xiv. 20; Isa. xxxv. 8.
^dly. Midtitudes of converts, many persons, yea, nations, Isa. ix. 7, 8, ixvi. 8, xlix. 18-22; Rev. vii. 9.
Uhly. The full casting out and rejecting of all luill-ivorship, and their attendant abominations. Rev. xi. 2.
5thly. Professed subjection of the nations throughout the whole world unto the Lord Christ, Dan. ii. 44, vii. 26, 27; Isa. Ix. 6-9; — the kingdoms become the kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ, [Rev. xi. 15,] amongst whom his appearance shall be so glorious, that David himself shall be said to reign.