Take, then, from the words thus opened in these propositions (some whereof I shall do little more than name unto you), —
Observation I. In the consideration of God's marvellous actings in the world, in order to the carrying on of the gospel and the in- terest of the Lord Jesus Christ, the hearts of his saints are often- times filled luith perplexity and troidjle.
They know not what will be the issue, nor sometimes what well to do. Daniel receives a vision of the things which in part we hve under : and if they fill his heart with astonishment, is it any wonder if they come close to us, and fill us with anxious, perplexing thoughts, ujDon whom the thmgs themselves are Mien?
Observation II. The only tuay to deliver and extricate our spirits from under such perplexities and entanglements, is to draw niglt to God in Christ, for discovery of his will.
So did Daniel here ; he went to one of them that ministered before
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the Lord, to be acquainted with his will. Otherwise thoughts and contrivances will but farther perplex you. Like men in the mire, whilst they pluck one leg out, the other sticketh faster in, — whilst you relieve yourselves in one thing, you ^vill be more hampered in another. Yea, he that increaseth wisdom, mcreaseth son'ow; — the larger the visions are, the greater will be their troubles ; until, being consumed in your own fears, cares, and contrivances, you grow useless in your generation. Those who see only the outside of your affairs sleep securely ; those who come nigher, to look into the spirits of men, rest is taken from them ; and many are not quiet, because they will not. The great healing of all is in God.
Observation IIL When God makes knoiun the interpretations of things, it luill quiet your spirits, in your walking before him, and actings tuith him.
This was that which brought the spirit of Daniel into a settlement. How God reveals his mind in these things, — by what means, — how it may be known by individual persons, for their quiet and settlement, — how all God's revelations are quieting, and tend to the calming of men's spirits, not making them foam like the waves of the sea, — should be handled on this observation.
But I begin with the fkst observation.
Observation I. In the consideration of God's marvellous actings in the world, in order to the carrying on of the gospel, the hearts of his saints are oftentimes filled with p)erplexity and trouble.
When John received his book of visions in reference to the great things that were to be done, and the alterations that were to be brought about, though it were sweet in his mouth, and he rejoiced in his employment, yet it made his " belly bitter," Rev. x. 9, 10. It filled him with perplexity, as our prophet speaks, in the midst of his body. He saw blood and confusion, strife and violence; it made his very belly bitter.
Poor Jeremiah, upon the sa:ue account, is so oppressed, that it makes him break out of all bounds of faith and patience, to curse the day of his birth, to wax quite weary of his employment, chap. xv.
Our Saviour, describing such a season, Luke xxi. 26, tells us, that "men's heai-ts shall fail them for fear, and for looking after those things that are coming upon the earth." They will be thinking what will become of them, and what will be the issue of God's dispensations ; fearing that the whole frame of things will be wrapped up in dark- ness and confusion. Hence our Saviour bids his disciples not be troubled when they hear of these things. Matt. xxiv. 6, intimating that they will be very apt so to be.
Now, the causes and occasions (which are the reasons of the point)
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1. From the greatness and astonishableness of the things them- selves which God will do; even great and terrible things, which men looked not for, Isa. Ixiv. 2, 3. When he comes to make his name known to the nations, that his adversaries may tremble at his presence, and doth terrible things, quite above and beyond the ex- pectation of men, which they never once looked for, — no wonder if their hearts be surprised with amazement. It hath of late been so with this nation. All professors at the beginning of these days joined earnestly in that prayer, Isa. Ixiii. 17-19, ixiv. 1. God, in answer hereunto, comes down and rends the heavens, and the mountains flow down at his presence, according to the desire of their souls; yet withal he doth terrible things, — things that we looked not for. How many poor creatures are turned back Avith astonishment, and know not how to abide Avith him! When our Saviour Christ came in the flesh, who had been the desire of all nations for four thousand years, and most importunately sought after by the men of that generation wherein he came, yet doing great and unexpected things at his com- ing, who was able to abide it? This, says Simeon, will be the issue of it, " He shall be for the fall and rise of many ; and the thoughts of many hearts shall be revealed," Luke ii. 3-i, 35. Hence is that exclamation, Mai. iii. 2, " Who may abide the day of his coming, and who shall stand Avhen he appeareth?" His coming is desired indeed, but few can bear it. His day will " burn as an oven," as a furnace, chap. iv. 1 : some are overheated by it, some consume in it ; — blessed are they that abide. This is one cause of the pei-plexing of the spirits of men; — the consideration of the things themselves that are done, being above and beyond their expectations; and this even many of the saints of God are borne down under at this day. They little looked for the blood and banishment of kings, change of government, alte- ration of nations, such shakings of heaven and earth as have ensued ; not considering that he who doth these things weighs all the nations in a balance, and the rulers of them are as the dust thereof before him.