This is the way to walk with God, — to be ready and willing to un- dergo any duty, though never so much above or beyond our strength,
110 OF WALKING HUMBLY WITH GOD.
so we can see that in Christ there is a supply. The truth is, he that shall consider what God requires of believers, would think them to have a stock of spiritual strength like that of Samson's, since they are to fight with principalities and powers, contend against the world, and self, and what not ; and he that shall look upon them will quickly see their weakness and inability. Here lies the mystery of it, — the duties required of them are proportioned to the grace laid up for them in Christ, — not to what they are at any time themselves intrusted withal.
[6.] This, also, is another thing we are to humble ourselves unto, — to be contented to have the sharpest afflictions accompanying and attending the strictest obedience. Men walking closely with God, may perhaps have some secret reserves for freedom from trouble in this life : hence they are apt to think strange of a fiery trial, 1 Pet. iv. 12; and therefore, v/hen it comes upon them, they are troubled, perplexed, and know not what it means; especially if they see others prospering, and at rest in the land, who know not God. Their estates are ruined, names blasted, bodies afflicted with violent diseases, chil- dren taken away, or turning profligate and rebellious, life in danger every hour, — perhaps killed all the day long: hereupon they are ready to cry, with Hezekiah, Isa. xxxviii. 3, " Lord, remember;" or to con- tend about the business, as Job did, being troubled that he was disappointed in his expectation of dying in his nest. But this frame is utterly contrary to the law of the grace of God ; which is, that the children that he receives are to be chastised, Heb. xii. 6; that they are to undergo whatever chastening he will call them to : for, having made the Captain of their salvation perfect through all manner of sufferings, he will make his conformable to him. This, I say, is part of the law of the grace of God, that in the choicest obedience we willingly undergo the greatest afflictions. The management of this principle between God and Job were worth while to consider; for although he disputed long, yet God left him not until he brought him to own it, and to submit unto it with all his heart. This will farther appear in our second head, about submitting to the law of the provi- dence of God. The truth is, to help our poor weak hearts in this business, to prevent all sinful repinings, disputes, and the like, he hath laid in such provision of principles as may render the receiving of it sweet and easy to us ; as, —
1st. That he doth not correct us for his pleasure, but that he may make us partakers of his holiness: so that we are not in heaviness unless it be needful for us ; which we may rest upon, when we neither see the cause nor the particular of our visitation; — then, on this ac- count we may rest on his sovereign will and wisdom.
Zdly. That he will make all things work together for our good.
OF WALKING HUMBLY WITH GOD. 1 1 ]
This takes the poison out of every cup we are to drink, yea, all the bitterness of it. We have concernments that lie above all that here we can undergo or suffer ; and if all work for our advantage and im- provement, why should they not be welcome to us ?
3dly. That conformity and likeness to Jesus Christ is hereby to be attained ; and sundry other principles there are given out, to prevail with our hearts to submit and humble our souls to this part of the law of God's grace : which is a thing that the devil never thought Job would have done, and was therefore restless until it was put to the trial; but he was disappointed and conquered, and his condemnation aggravated.
And this is the first thing required of us, — namely, that we humble ourselves to the law of the grace of God.
Use 1. Let us now take some brief account of ourselves, whether we do so or no. We perform duties, and so seem to walk with God ; but, —
(1.) Is the bottom of our obedience a deep apprehension and a full conviction of our own vileness and nothingness, — of our being the chief of sinners, lost and undone ; so that we always lie at the foot of sovereign grace and mercy ? Is it so ? Then, when, how, by what means, was this apprehension brought upon us ? I intend not a general notion that we are sinners; but a particular apprehension of our lost, undone condition, with suitable affections thereunto. Do we cry to the Lord out of the depths ? or is the end of our obedience to keep ourselves out of such a condition ? I am afraid many amongst us, could we, or themselves, by any means dive into the depths of their hearts, would be found to yield their obedience unto God merely on the account of keeping them out of the condition which they must be brought unto before they can yield any acceptable obedience to him. If we think at all to walk with God, let us be clear in this, that such a sense and apprehension of ourselves lies at the bottom of it, — " Of sinners I am chief."