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with the workings and pangs of their approaching liberty. Afterward, do they want drink ? Moses is the cause. Do they want meat? this Moses would starve them; Exod. xv. 24. xvi. 7. He could not let them alone by the fleshpots of Egypt ; for this they are ready to stone him ; Exod. xvii. 3. At this day, have we too much rain ? or too short a harvest ? it is laid on the shoulders of the present government. It was no otherwise of old. At length this people came to that height, as being frightened by the opposition they heard of, and framed to themselves, in that place whither Moses would carry them, they presently enter into a conspiracy and revolt, consulting to cast off his government, and choose new commanders, and with a violent hand to return to their former condition, Numb. xiv. 4. an attempt as frequent as fruitless among ourselves. When this would not do, at length, upon the occasion of taking off Korah and his com- pany, they assemble themselves together, and lay (not im- prisonment, but) murder to his charge, and ' that of the people of the Lord 5' Numb. xvi. 41. Now what was the issue of all those oppositions? What effect had they? How did the power of Pharaoh, the revenge of Egypt, the back- sliding of Israel prevail? Why God made this one Moses a fenced brazen wall to them all, he was never in the least measure prevailed against ; so long as he was with God, God was with him, no matter who was against him.
One thing only would I commend to your considerations, viz. That this Moses, thus preserved, thus delivered, thus protected, falling into one deviation, in one thing, from close following the Lord, was taken off from enjoying the closure and fruit of all his labour ; Numb. xx. 12. Otherwise he fol- lowed the Lord in a difficult season, and did not want un- conquerable supportraent. Take heed of the smallest turn- ing aside from God. Oh, lose not the fruit of all your la- bour for self, for a lust, or any thing that may turn you aside.
Now the Lord will do this,
1. Because of his own engagement.
2. For our encouragement.
1. Because of his own engagement. And that is two- fold.
(1.) Of truth and fidelity. (2.) Of honour and glory.
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(1.) His truth and veracity is engaged ill it. 'Thosethat honour him, he will honour;' 1 Sam. ii. 30. If men honour him with obedience, he will honour them with preservation. * He will be with thera, while they are with him ;' 2 Chron. XV. 2. While they are with him in constancy of duty, he will be with thera to keep them in safety. ' He will never leave them nor forsake them ;' Josh. i. 5. ' No weapon that is formed against them shall prosper;' Isa. liv. 17. Now God is never as the waters that fail to any, that upon his engage- ments wait for him ; he will not shame the faces of them that put their trust in him. Why should our unbelieving spirits charge that upon the God of truth, which we dare not impute to a man that is a worm, a liar? Will a man fail in his engagement unto him, who upon that engagement un- dertakes a difficult employment for his sake? The truth is, it is either want of sincerity in our working, or want of faith in dependance, that makes us at any time come short of the utmost tittle, that is in any of the Lord's engagements.
[1.] We want sincerity, and do the Lord's work, but with our own aims and ends, like Jehu : no wonder, if we be left to ourselves for our wages and defence.
[2.] We want faith also in the Lord's work, turn to our own counsels for supportment: no marvel, if we come short of assistance. ' If we will not believe, we shall not be es- tablished.'
Look to sincerity in working, and faith in dependance, God's truth and fidelity will carry him out to give you in- conquerable supportment : deflexion from these will be your destruction. You that are working on a new bottom, work also on new principles ; put not new wine into old bottles, new designs into old hearts.
(2.) He is engaged in point of honour. If they miscarry in his way, what will he do for his great name? Yea, so ten- der is the Lord herein of his glory, that when he hath been exceedingly provoked to remove men out of his presence, yet because they have been called by his name, and have visibly held forth a following after him, he would not suffer them to be trodden down, lest the enemy should exalt themselves, and say. Where is now their God? They shall not take from him the honour of former deliverances and protections. In such a nation as this, if the Lord now upon manifold provo-
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cations should give up parliament, people, army, to calamity and ruin, would not the glory of former counsels, successes, deliverances, be utterly lost? would not men say it was not the Lord, but chance that happened to them?