[2.] The second design of Providence in these dispensations, is evidently to stain the glory of all flesh; so Isa. xxiii. 9. Never did the Lord any work more eminently. What sort of men is there amongst us whose glory God hath not staineil ? I had rather leave this unto a silent thought, than give you particular instances of it; otherwise, it were very easy to make it as clear as the sun, that God hath left neither self-honour nor glory to any of the sons of men. Meet him, then, in this also :—
\st. Cease putting confidence in man; say. He is a worm, and the son of man is but a worm ; his breath is in his nostiils, and wherein is lie to be accounted of? This use doth the church make of mercies, Ps. XX. 6, 7, " Some trust in horses, and some in chariots; but Ave will remember the name of the Lord:" we will not trust in parliaments or armies. '• All flesh is gi-ass," Isa. xl; let it have its withering time, and away. See no wisdom, but the wisdom of God, — no strength, but the strength of God, — no glory but liis.
'■Idly, Have any of us any glory, any croivns, any gifts, any graces,
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any wisdom or valour, any useful endowments ? — let us cast them all down at the feet of Jesus Christ. If we look on them, if we keep them as our own, God withers all their beauty and their glory. Thus do the elders who worship the Lamb for ever. Rev. iv. 10, 11, say to him. Lord Jesus, thine is the glory, — thine are all the mighty works which have been wrought in our days; — thine are all the means whereby they have been accomplished : — we are nothing, we can do nothing ; thou art all, and in all. And this is the second.
[3.] He aims at the shaking of all these things here below. He is taking down the rate and price of all things here below; on that which was worth a thousand pounds, he takes his bill and writes down scarce the thousandth part. He hath laid his hand upon the nests of the nation, and hath fitted wings unto all their treasures, and so eminently written vanity and uncertainty on them all as must needs lessen their esteem, were not men blinded by the god of this world. In this also are we to meet the Lord, —
1st By getting a low esteem of the things that God is thus shaking, and that upon this account, that he shakes them for this very end and purpose, that we should find neither rest nor peace in them. Perhaps thou hast had a desire to be somebody in the world ; — thou seest thyself come short of what thou aimest at; say now, with Mephibosheth upon the return of David, Not only half, but let all go, seeing that the Lord Jesus shall reign with glory. A man may some- times beat a servant for the instruction of his son ; God hath shaken the enjoyments of his enemies to lead his friends to disesteem them. God forbid the quite contrary should be found upon any of us.
'idly. By labouring to find all riches and treasures in the Lord Christ. The earth staggers like a drunken man ; — the princes of it are reduced to a morsel of bread ; — all that is seen is of no value : doth not God direct us to the hidden paths, — to the treasures that cannot be destroyed ? Many say, " Who will show us any good ? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us."
(2.) We are to meet the Lord in the way of his ordinances,— m the way of gospel worship. The exalting of the Lord Christ herein is the issue of all the mighty works of God : this is given in as the end of all. Rev. xxi. 3, " The tabernacle of God," &c. After great shakings, the promise still is of a new heaven and earth, Isa. Ixv. 1 7 ; Rev. xxi. 1 ; and this is that the people of God put themselves upon in the days wherein Babylon is to be destroyed, Jer. i. 4-8 ; that is the work they then take in hand. The end of all is the building of the temple, Ezek. xlvii. ; and this is the conclusion that the people of God do make. Isa. ii. 3, 4 ; and if this be neglected, the Lord will say of us, as David of Nabal, " Surely in vain have I kept these men, and all that they have." To meet the Lord m this also, —
VOL. VIII. 22
S38 THE ADVANTAGE OF
[1.] Inquire diligenthj into his mind and will, tliat you may know his paths, and be acquainted with his statutes. I dare say, no temp- tation in the world presses with more colour and violence upon men under mercies, than that [temptation] to a neglect of walking and holding communion with God in his ordinances. The devil thinks thus to revenge hiniself of the Lord Jesus; — his ownyoke being broken, he thinks to prevail to the casting away of his. Christ hath a yoke, though it be gentle and easy.