1 See this meaning supported in Willet on Daniel. The highest modern autho- rities consider the word as equivalent to two words combined, — viz., "^"S — an in- dividual; ^ W — one icho is nameless. — Ed.
CHRISTIAN DUTY IN DARK DISPENSATIONS. 397
him, "O Lord, how long?" And he will give in secret satisfaction to our souls.
This is the second thing, — frequently confer about these things; and press Jesus Christ to give your souls satisfaction as to these dis- pensations And then, —
3. Another peculiar duty required in such a season is, to mourn for the sins that are in the world. That is recommended to us, Ezek. ix. When God had given commission unto the sword to slay both old and young, he spared only them that mourned for the abo- minations that were done in the land. We come short in our duty in that matter, — in [not] being affected with the sins of the worst of men. God being dishonoured, the Spirit of God blasphemed, the name of God reproached in them, we ought to mourn for their abominations. We mourn for the sins among God's people ; but we ought also to mourn for those abominations others are guilty of, — for their idola- tries, murders, bloodshed, uncleanness, — for all the abominations that the lands about us, as well as our own, are filled with. It is our duty, in such a season, to mourn for them, or we do not sanctify the name of God, and shall not be found prepared for those difficult dis- pensations of God's providence which are coming upon us.
4. The fourth and last peculiar duty which I shall mention is, to hide ourselves. And how shall we do that? The storm is coming-; get an ark, as Noah did when the flood was coming upon the world : which is stated for a precedent of all judgments in future times. There are two things required to provide an ark, — fear and faith: —
(1.) Fear : " By faith Noah, being moved with fear, prepared an ark." If he had not been moved with the fear of God's judgments, he would never have provided an ark. It is a real complaint ; we are not moved enough with the fear of God's judgments. We talk of [as] dreadful things as can befall human nature, and expect them every day; but yet we are not moved with fear. " Yet were they not afraid," saith Jeremiah, " nor rent their garments." Nor do we do so. Ha- bakkuk, upon the view of God's judgments, was in another frame, chap. hi. 16, " When I heard," saith he, " my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice : rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble." This is the way to find rest in the day of God's judgments. We are afraid of being esteemed cowards for fearing God's judgments; and then, —
(2.) We cannot well provide an ark for ourselves, unless we be guided by faith, as well as moved by fear. " By faith, Noah pre- pared an ark." How many things there are to encourage faith, you have heard; — the name, the properties of God, and the accomplish- ment of the promise of God. By virtue of all those properties, en- courage faith in providing an ark.
31)8 PREPARATION FOR THE COMING OF CHRIST.
But you will say, " We are yet at a loss what this providing of au ark and hiding of ourselves is. ' A prudent man foresees the evil, and hides himself.' God calls us to enter into the chamber of pro- vidence, and hide ourselves till the indignation be overpast. If we knew what this was, we should apply ourselves unto it." I will tell you what I think in one instance :— give no quiet to your minds, until, by some renewed act of faith, you have a strong and clear impression of the promises of God upon your hearts, and of your interest in them. If it be but one promise, it will prove an ark. If, under all these seasons, moved with fear, acted by faith, we can but get a re- newed sense and pledge of our interest in any one promise of God, we have an ark over us that will endure, whatever the storm be. Think of it, and if nothing else occur to you, apply your minds to it, that you may not wander up and down at uncertainties; but endea- vour to have a renewed pledge of your interest in some special pro- mise of God, that it belongs unto you, and it will be an ark in every time of trouble that shall befall you.
DISCOURSE XII.1
I DID at two meetings inquire among ourselves what was required in the time of approaching judgments and calamities, that the world hath been, and is like to be, filled withal? And God was pleased to guide us to the discovery of the necessary exercise of many graces, and the necessary attendance unto many duties, for that end and pur- pose. And we did design to spend our time this day to beg that God would give us those graces, and stir them up by his Spirit unto a due exei^cise ; and that he would help us unto such a performance of those duties, that when the Lord Christ shall come, by any holy dispensation of his providence, we may be found of him in peace. That was the especial occasion of allotting the present time unto this duty ; no ways excluding the reasons, occasions, and matter of prayer, which at other times we attend to for ourselves, the church, and the nation.