1 Chron. xii. 32. it is said of the men of Issachar, that they ' had understanding of the times to know what Israel ought to do.'^ Israel is in the dark, and knows not what to do, if the times and seasons be not discovered to them. If the mind and will of the Lord in their generation be not made out unto a people, it will be their ruin. Hence it is, that the Lord encourageth us to make inquiry after these things, to find out the seasons wherein he will do any great work for his people, knowing that without this, we shall be altogether useless in the generation wherein we live. Isa.
w«{6u&i- Luke xvi. 29, 30. e Esther i. 13.
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xiv. 1 1 . • Ask of me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the works of my hands command you me.' And what is this, that the Lord will have his people to inquire of him about? Even the great work of the ruin of Babylon, and restoration of his church, which yet was not to be accomplished for two hundred and forty years. And this he tells you plainly in the following verses. ' I have raised him up' (Cyrus) ' in righteousness, I will direct his ways, he shall build ray cities, and he shall let go ray captives, not for price, nor for reward, saith the Lord of hosts;' ver. 13. The Lord is earnest with his people to inquire into the season of the accomplishment of his great intendments for the good of his church, when as yet they are afar off; how much more when they are nigh at hand, even at the doors? * Whoso is wise, and will ponder these things, they shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord;' Psal. cvii. 43. Dan. ix. 2, The prophet tells you, that this was his great study, and at length he understood by books the approach of the time, wherein God would deliver his church from Babylonish cap- tivity and pollution. Now this discovery hath two or three notable products.
(1.) It puts him upon earnest supplications for the ac- complishment of their promised deliverance in the appointed season. Wide from that atheistical frame of spirit, which would have a predetermination of events and successes to eradicate all care and endeavour to serve that providence, which will produce their accomplishment. A discovery of the approach of any promised, and before-fixed work of God, should settle our minds to the utmost endeavour of helping the decree to bring forth.
(2.) He finds great acceptation in this his address to the Lord by supplications, for the establishing of that work which he had discovered was nigh at hand. For,
[1.] An answer is returned him fully to his whole desire in the midst of his supplications, ver. 21. 'Whilst I was praying the man Gabriel came,' &c.
[2.] The work which he had discovered to be approach- ing, was instantly hastened and gone in hand withal, ver. 23. 'At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth.' Oh, that God would stir up his saints, in the spirit of Daniel, to consider, and understand by books, the
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time that he hath appouited for the deliverance of his peo- ple, that fixing their supplications for the speeding thereof, the comraandment may come forth for its full accomplish- ment.
[3.] Having attained this, the Lord gives him fresh dis- coveries, new light of the time for the birth of the Messiah, which he thought not of, prayed not for. 'Seventy weeks are determined,' &c. ver. 24. So delighted is the Lord with his people's diligent inquiry into his ways, and walkings towards them, that thereupon he appears unto them in the revelation of his mind, beyond all that they did expect or desire.
Now all this have I spoken to stir you up unto that, whereunto at the entrance of this use you were exhorted : that you would labour for that spiritual wisdom and pru- dence, which may acquaint your hearts, at least in some measure, with the mind and will of God, concerning his work in the generation wherein you live. And farther to provoke you hereunto, know that you cannot but wander, as in many other, so especially in four sinful things : 1st. Sin- ful cares; 2dly. Sinful fears; 3dly. Sinful follies; 4thly. Sin- ful negligence.
1st. Sinful cares. Anxious and dubious thoughts about such things, as perhaps the Lord intends utterly to destroy, or at least render useless. Had it not been the greatest folly in the world for Noah and his sons, when the flood was approaching to sweep away the creatures from the face of the earth, to have been solicitous about flocks and herds, that were speedily to be destroyed ?'^ Many men's thoughts at this day do even devour them about such things, as, if they knew the season, would be contemptible unto them. Wouldst thou labour for honour, if thou knewest that God at this time were labouring to lay all the ' honour of the earth in the dust?'^ Couldst thou set thy heart upon the in- crease of riches, wert thou acquainted that God intends in- stantly to make ' silver as stones, and cedars as sycamores,'** though not for plenty, yet for value? Would men be so ex- ceedingly solicitous about this or that form of religion, this or that power to suppress such or such a persuasion; if they knew that the Lord would suddenly * fill the earth with his