41 -i god's work in founding zion.
of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain." All the shakings of the nations are, that the unshaken interest of the saints may be estab- lished. Isa. li. 15, 16, " But I am the Lord thy God, that divided the sea, whose waves roared: The Lord of hosts is his name. And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people." Heaven and earth, and all things therein, are disposed of, that Zion may be built and established. All God's works in this world lie in a subserviency to this end and purpose. Doth God at any time prosper an evil or a Vv^icked nation? — an antichristian nation? Is it for their own sakes? Doth God take care for oxen? — hath he delight in the prosperity of his enemies? No; it is only that they may be a rod in his hand for a little moment, and a staff for his indignation against the miscaniages of his people, Isa. x. 5, " O Assyiian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation." This, in such a season, is their proper interest, — to gloiify God in distress. Doth he break, ruin, and destroy them, as sooner or later he will leave them neither root nor branch? All that he doth to them is a recompense for the controversy of Zion, Isa. xxxiv. 8, " For it is the day of the Lord's vengeance, and the year of recompenses for the controversy of Zion."
We see not, perhaps, at this day, wherein the concernment of the remnant of God's people doth lie, in the great concussions of the na- tions in the world ; we know not what design in reference to them may lie therein. Alas! we are poor, short-sighted creatures; we know nothing that is before us, — much less can we make a judgment of the Avork of God, in the midst of the darkness and confusion that is in the world, until he hath brought it to perfection. All lies open and naked to his eye, and the beauty of all his works -will one day appear. The true and proper interest of his people, so as they may best glorify him in the world, is that which he is pursuing in all these dispen- sations.
The grounds, reasons, and foundations of this tnith, in the counsel, from the love and attributes of God, the redemption in the blood of Jesus, I must not now pursue. This one thing I shall only offer: — The state of Zion, of the people of God, being much to depend upon the disposals of them wliom God, by his providence, raiseth up to rule and government among the nations; though sometimes he sets up men whose hearts and minds are upright with himself, yet he wall not trust his own to their mercy and the variableness of their wills in general ; but will so dispose, alter, Aveaken and strengthen them, to set them uj), and imll down, that it shall be their interest (to which
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they ^vdll always abide faithful) so to deal with his people as he will have them dealt with, that they may best glorify him in their gene- rations.
If it be in the infinite, wise counsel of God, to give his saints in this nation peace and tranquillity, they shall not have it precariously upon the wills of men ; for he will not leave moulding and disposing of the affairs of the nation, until it find that it is its proper inte- rest to give and measure out unto them what is to the mind of God. All that hath been done amongst us, all that we are in expectation of, turns on this hinge alone. Bvit lastly, — •
IV. It is the duty of God's j^^^eserved remnant, laying aside all other aims and contrivances, to betake themselves to the work of God, founding Zion, and preserving the common interest of his people.
" God hath founded Zion, and the poor of the people shall trust therein," or betake themselves unto it. We are apt to wander on hills and mountains, every one walking in the imagination of his own heart, forgetting our resting-place. When God was bringing the power of the Babylonian upon his people, the prophet Jeremiah could neither persuade the whole nation to submit to his government, nor many individuals among them to fall to him in particular. And when the time of their deliverance from that captivity was accom- plished, how hardly were they persuaded to embrace the liberty ten- dered! Notwithstanding all encouragements and advantages, the greatest part of them abide in that place of their bondage to this day. So hardly are we brought to close with God's peculiar work, and our own proper interest, although his glory and our own safety lie therein. The reasons of this frame I have in part touched before; I shall add but two more.
1. Discontentment with our peculiar lot and portion in the work of the Lord and common interest of his people. It is with us, in our civil affairs, as the apostle saith it is not in the natural body, nor ought to be in the spiritual or church body. The foot doth not say, Because I am not the head, I am not of the body ; no, it doth not, but is content with its own place and usefulness. It is so Avith the rest of the members, that are more noble, and yet are not the head neither. It is otherwise with us. I interpose not my thoughts as to your present constitution, and the order of things amongst us. I speak no more than I have sundry years since, sundry times com- plained of to a parliament of this commonwealth. Every one, if not personally, yet in association with them of some peculiar persuasion with himself, would be the head; and because they are not, they con- clude they are not of the body, nor will care for the body, but rather endeavour its ruin. Because their peculiar interest doth not reign, the common interest shall be despised. And this hath been the