Now this return may be considered two ways.
(1.) In itself; * Every one (saith he) of this people curse me.'
(2.) In reference to his deportment; 'I have neither borrowed nor lent on usury, yet they curse me.'
(1.) From the first, observe:
Observation. Instruments of God's greatest works and glory are oftentimes the chiefest objects of a professing'peo- ple's cursings and revenges.
The return which God's labourers meet withal in this
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generation, is in the number of those things, whereof there is none new under the sun. Men that under God deliver a kingdom, may have the kingdom's curses for their pains.
When Moses had brought the people of Israel out of bondage, by that wonderful and unparalleled deliverance, being forced to appear with the Lord for the destruction of Korah and his associates, who would have seduced the con- gregation to its utter ruin, he receives at length this reward of all his travel, labour, and pains; 'all the congregations gathered themselves against him and Aaron,' laying murder and sedition to their charge, telling them they had ' killed the people of the Lord ;' Numb. xvi.41, 42. a goodly reward for all their travels. If God's works do not suit with the lusts, prejudices, and interests of men, they will labour to give his instruments the devil's ways. Let not upright hearts sink, because they meet with thankless men. ' Bona agere, et mala pati, Christianorum est.' A man may have the blessing of God, and the curse of a professing people at the same time. ' Behold I and the children whom God hath given me, are for signs and for wonders in Israel ;' Isa. viii. 15. ' Cum ab hominibus damnamur, a Deo absolvimur.'' Man's condemnation, and God's absolution, do not seldom meet upon the same persons, for the same things. If you labour to do the work of the Lord, pray think it not strange, if among men curses be your reward, and detestation your wages.
(2.) In reference to the prophet's deportment : * He had neither lent, nor had any lent to him upon usury,' He was free from blame among them, had no dealings with them, in those things which are usually attended with reproaches ; as he shews by an instance in usury, a thing that a lono- time hath heard very ill.
Observation. Men everyway blameless, and to be embraced in their own ways, are oftentimes abhorred and laden with curses, for following the Lord in his ways.
' Bonus vir Caius Sejus, sed malus quia Christianus.' What precious men should many be, would they let go the work of God in this generation ? No advantage against them but in the matter of their God, and that is enough
' Tertul. Apol,
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to have them to the lions; Dan. vi. 5. He that might be honoured for compassing the ends suiting his own worldly interest, and will cheerfully undergo dishonour for going beyond, to suit the design of God, hath surely some impres- sion upon his spirit that is from above.
2. You have the prophet's deportment, and the frame of his spirit during those transactions between the Lord and that sinful people. And this he holds out in many pathetical complaints, to be fainting, decaying, perplexed, weary of his burden, not knowing how to ease himself, as you may see at large ; ver. 15 — 18.
Observation. In dark and difficult dispensations of provi- dence, God's choicest servants are oftentimes ready to faint under the burden of them.
How weary was David when he cried out in such a con- dition, ' O that I had wings like a dove ! for then would I fly away and be at rest ;' Psal. Iv. 6. Long had he waited for a desired issue of his perplexed state, and had perhaps oftentimes been frustrated of his hope of drawing to a period of his miseries, and now finding one disappointment to fol- low on the neck of another, he is weary and cries : What nothing but this trouble and confusion still? ' O that I had wings like a dove !' a ship to sail to a foreign nation (or the like) there to be at peace. In the like strait another time, see what a miserable conclusion he draws of all his being exer- cised under the hand of God, Psal. Ixxiii. 13. ' Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.' And again, Psal. cxvi. 11. he saith, in the perturbation of his mind, * All men are liars :' that all the promises, all the en- couragements, which in his way he had received from God, should fail of their accomplishment.
It is not with them, as it was with that wicked king of Israel, who being disappointed of peace and deliverance in his own time, cries out, ' This evil is of the Lord, why should I wait upon him any longer?' 2 Kings xvi. 33. The season of deliverance suited not his expectation ; therefore he quite throweth off the Lord, and his protection. Not unlike many among ourselves, whose desires and expectations being not satisfied in the closing of our distractions, according to the way which themselves had framed for the Lord to walk in, are ready to cast off his cause, his protection, to comply