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and Ephraim, the two grand extremes, but also of innumerable par- ticular fancies and designs ; so that if a man should have met them, (like him in the fable, the lion, the ass, and the fox), he could not but wonder " Quo iter una facerent," — whither they were travelling together. But, I say, when such combinations are made, how apt are we to shake and tremble ! " They are stout men, valiant men ; and perhaps Ahithophel is with them ! " Why, if they were not such, I pray how should the Lord have any praise in the close of the dispensation? We would be delivered, but we care not that God should be glorified. If God's glory were dear to us, we should not care how high opposi- tion did arise. Precious faith, where art thou fled? Had we but some few grains of it, we might see the rising of the greatest moun- tains to be but a means to make the name of God glorious, by removing them into the midst of the sea. Hath it not been thus in the days of old? The Lord humble us for our unbelief!
Use 2. Let men to whom the Lord hath given stout hearts, strong hands, and great success, watch carefully over their own spirits, lest they be led aside into any way against the mind of God. Great en- dowments are ofttimes great temptations. " The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high ; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground?" Obad. 3. Was it not the ruin of Amaziah, of whom notwithstanding it was said, " he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord?" 2 Chron. xxv. 2. He who is heightened against the king of terrors, if he hath not humility (one of the chief of graces), will quickly choose himself paths of his own. Alas, poor creatures! if hearts and hands be, and God be not, what will it avail ? But of this afterward. I now proceed to the second observation.
II. God suits the workings and actings of providence for deliver- ance to the qualifications of the opposers.
Are they stout hearts? — they shall be made to yield themselves. Are they men of might? — they shall lose their power, — they shall not find their hands. To this I shall speak very little. This is the cut- ting off of Adonibezek's toes and thumbs. God countermines them in their actings, and blows them up in their own mine. " In the thing wherein they deal proudly, he is above them," Exod. xviii. 11. They shall not soar so high on the wings of their pride, but that still they shall find God uppermost. When they take counsel, and think to carry it by their advices, God saith, " I am wise also, and will bring evil," Isa. xxxi. 2. When they think to carry it by a high hand, his strength shall appear against them. Wlien Herod owns the blas- phemy of being called a god, he shall rot and be eaten of worms, Acts xii. 23. Pharaoh cries, " Come on, let us deal wisely against Israel," Exod. i. 10. He of all men shall play the fool, for his own
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ruin and the ruin of his people, Exod. xiv. 27, 28. If Sennacherib boasts of his mighty host, be sure he shall not find his hands. How evidently hath the Lord thus carried on his providence in the late dispensation ! Were not many of the headless, heady undertakers, "robusti animo," — mighty of heart? and were they not forced to yield themselves, yea, to " yield themselves to the spoil?" Were they not deep in their plotting? Doubtless they or then seducers had digged deep to lay their design; though of the generality of them it cannot be said, as was of Caesar and his companions, " Accessere sobrii ad perdendum rempublicam." They were brought to act things in very folly and confusion. They were great men of might : whence is it they made no more opposition? The Lord laid their hands out of the way. Many reasons might be given of this; but I must pass to the last point.
III. Though men have courage, might, and former successes to accompany them, yet when they engage themselves against the Lord, or any way of his, vanity, weakness, and disappointment will be the issue thereof.
" Can 3'our heart endure, or can your hands be strong, in the days that I shall deal with you?" saith the Lord, Ezek. xxii. 14. " Let the potsherds strive with the potsherds of the earth; woe unto him that contendeth with his Maker ! " Isa. xlv. 9. " He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength : who hath hardened himself against him, and pro- spered ?" Job ix. 4. " The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought ; but the counsel of the Lord standeth for ever. He maketh the devices of the people of none effect," Ps. xxxiii. 10, 11. Whoever riseth up without him, or against him, shall fall and come to nothing. This is a plain point, that we suppose ourselves exceedingly well versed in. But He who searcheth our spirits, and is acquainted with our inward parts, knows how great is our unbelief in this very thing ; and therefore, in tender condescension, he hath carefully provided for our support herein. A man would think one word, once spoken, were enough to convince and persuade the whole world of this truth ; but, the Lord knows, there must be line upon line, here a little, and there a little, to give his own people any establishment herein. And therefore it is that in so many places in his word he hath asserted and affirmed this one thing, — namely, let men be never so strong, powerful, and successful, if once they engage against him, they are utterly destroyed, unless he pluck them out of the snare. " Associate yourselves/' etc., Isa. viii. 9.