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not to be supported by the air. It is only what is unneces- sary as to you, or insupportable as to others, that requires your speedy reforming ; that so it may be said of you as of Nehemiah, chap. v. 14, 15. And for particulars (pray par- don my folly and boldness), I heartily desire a committee of* your honourable house might sit once a week to relieve poor men, that have been oppressed by men, sometimes enjoying parliamentary authority.
[2.] Self-seeking. When men can be content to lay a nation low, that they may set up themselves upon the heaps and ruins thereof. Have not some sought to advance them- selves under that power, which with the lives and blood of the people they have opposed, seeming to be troubled at former things, not because they were done, but because they were not done by tliem? But innocent blood will be found a tottering foundation for men to build their honours, great- ness, and preferments upon. O return not in this unto any. If men serve themselves of the nation, they must expect that the nation will serve itself upon them. The best security you can possibly have, that the people will perform their duty in obedience, is the witness of your own consciences, that you have discharged your duty towards them, in seeking their good, by your own trouble, and not your own ad- vantages in their trouble. I doubt not but that in this, your practice makes the admonition a commendation, otherwise the word spoken will certainly witness against you.
[3.] Contrivances for persecution. How were the hearts of all men hardened like the nether mill-stone, and their thoughts did grind blood and revenge against their brethren? What colours, what pretences had men invented to prepare a way for the rolling of their garments in the tears, yea, blood of Christians? The Lord so keep your spirits from a com- pliance herein, that withal the bow be not too much bent on the other side, which is not impossible.
Be there a backsliding upon your spirit to these, or such- like things as these, the Lord will walk contrary to you, and were you 'as the signet upon his hand,' he would pluck you off.
(2.) Return not to the open enemies of our peace. I could here enlarge myself, to support your spirits in the work
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mentioned, Job xxix. 14, 15. but I must go on to the fol- lowing parts of my text : and therefore,
II, I pass from the direction given, to the supportment and assistance promised : * I will make thee to this people a brazen and a fenced wall.'
An implied objection, which the prophet might put in, upon his charge to keep so close to the rule of righteousness, is here removed. If I must thus abide by it, to execute whatsoever the Lord calls me out unto, not shrinking, nor staggering at the greatest undertakings, what will become of me in the issue ? Will it not be destructive to stand out against a confirmed people? No, saith the Lord, it shall not be, * I will make thee,' &c.
Observation. God will certainly give in prevailing strength, and unconquerable defence unto persons constantly dis- charging the duties of righteousness, especially when under- taken in times of diflSculty and opposition.
The like engagement to this you have made to Ezekiel, chap. iii. 8, 9. Neither was it so to the prophets alone, but to magistrates also. When Joshua undertook the regency of Israel in a diflGicult time, he takes off his fear and diffidence with this very encouragement ; Josh. i. 5. He saith, he will make them a wall, the best defence against opposition, and that not a weak tottering wall, that might easily be cast down, but a brazen wall, that must needs be impregnable. What engines can possibly prevail against a wall of brass? And to make it more secure, this brazen wall shall be fenced with all manner of fortifications and ammunition ; so that the veriest coward in the world, being behind such a wall, may, without dread or terror, apply himself to that which he findeth to do. God will so secure the instruments of his glory against a backsliding people, in holding up the ways of his truth and righteousness, that all attempts against them shall be vain, and the most timorous spirit may be secure, pro- vided he go not out of the Lord's way : for if they be found beyond the line, the brazen wall, they may easily be sur- prised. And, indeed, who but a fool would run from the shelter of a brazen wall, to hide himself in a little stubble? And yet so do all, who run to their own wisdom, from the most hazardous engagement that any of the ways of God can possibly lead them unto. It is a sure word, and for
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ever to be rested upon, which the Lord gives in to Asa, 2 Chron. xv. 2. ' The Lord is with you while' ye be with him/ An unbiassed magistracy shall never want God's continued presence. Very Jeroboam himself receives a promise, upon condition of close walking with God in righteous adminis- trations, of having 'a house built him like the house of David;' 1 Kings xi. 38. What a wall was God to Moses in that great undertaking, of being instrumental for the de- livery of Israel from a bondage and slavery of four hundred years' continuance? Pharaoh was against him, whom he had deprived of his sovereignty and dominion over the people. And what a provocation the depriving of sovereignty is unto potentates, needs no demonstration : to the corruption of nature which inclines to heights and exaltations, in imitation of the fountain whence it flows, they have also the cor- ruption of state and condition, which hath always inclined to absoluteness and tyranny. All Egypt was against him, as being by him visibly destroyed, wasted, spoiled, robbed, and at length smitten in the apple of the eye, by the loss of their first-born. And if this be not enough, that the king and people whom he opposed, were his enemies ; the very people, for whose sakes he set himself to oppose the others, they also rise up against him, yea, seek to destroy him. One time they appeal to God for justice against him ; Exod. V. 2L 'The Lord look upon you and judge.' They appeal to the righteous God to witness, that he had not ful- filled what he promised them, to wit, liberty, safety, and freedom from oppression, but that rather by his means their burdens were increased : and in this they were so confident (like some amongst us), that they appealed unto God for the equity of their complaints. Afterward being reduced to a strait, such as they could not see how possibly they should be extricated from, without utter ruin (like our present con- dition in the apprehension of some), they cry out upon him for the whole design of bringing them into the wilderness, and affirm positively, that though they had perished in their former slavery, it had been better for them, than to have followed him in this new and dangerous engagement ; Exod. xiv. 11 — 13. That generation being, as Calvin observes," so inured to bondage, that they were altogether unfit to bear " In Num. cap. 4.