s Isa. xliii. 18. Psal. xlviii. 42—44. Judges v. 15. 17. 23. ' Numb. xxii. 6. 1 Kings xviii. 26.
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there the least true consolation in any of these alterations, but what arises from a closing with it.
Come we to the second observation.
II, The actings of God's providence in can-ying on the interest of Christ, are and shall be exceedingly unsuited to the reasonings and expectations of the most of men.
He halh a glorious Avork here to be accomplished : of whom should he now make use ? surely the high tree, the green tree will be employed . If one be to be anointed in the family of Jesse, will it not be goodly Eliab ? if the king will honour any, who should it be but I, says Haman? but all on the contrary, the low dry tree is taken ; David from the flock, and Mordecai from the g-ate: 'the thoughts of God are not as our thoughts,' neither doth he look on outward appear- ances.
To give some instances in his most signal actings in this kind.
The Jews knew that God had a great work to do in giving of a Messiah, the Saviour of the world : they are raised up to expectation of it : upon every considerable ap- pearance, they cry. Is this he? And what withal did they expect? Outward glory, beauty, deliverance, carnal power and dominion : God at length comes to do his work, and bringeth forth a poor man, that had not where to lay his head, followed by a few fishermen and simple women, that had ' neither form nor comeliness that he should be desired ;' persecuted, despised, crucified from the beginning to the end, quite another thing than what they looked for.'-' Thus lays he the foundation of the- gospel, in the person of his Son, by frustrating the expectations of the most of men ; 'the stone which the builders refused,' &c. Again, seeing salvation is of the Jews, * the rod of Christ's strength, being: to be sent out of Zion,' and that living waters were to flow forth from Jerusalem ; the gospel being from thence to be published through the world, who should the Lord choose to do it? Surely the great, the wise, the learned of that nation ; the high priests^ learned scribes, devout Pharisees, that might have won their message some repute and credit in the
" Luke iii.l5. John i. 19, 20. Acts i. 6. Malt, xx, 21, 22. xiii. 55. viii.20. John iv. 48, 49. Isa. liii. 2, 3. Phil. ji. 7; 8, &c.
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world/' But contrary to all the wisdom of the flesh, he takes a few ignorant, weak, unlearned fishermen, despised upon all accounts, and commits this great work unto thenl : and accordingly out they go, friendless, helpless, harbour- less, unto their great employment. The like instruments for the most part, did he employ to make an entrance upon the great work of casting down false worship and idolatry. Moreover, in that great work for the Lord Christ, which is to be accomplished in the ruin and destruction of Babel, when it must be done with might, power, and strength, with armies and blood, will not now the Lord use the 'high and green tree?' Many kings and potentates having in pro- fession embraced the doctrine of the gospel ; nobles and great ones having given up their names in appearance unto Christ, who but they, shall now be used in this work of the Lord ? But yet plainly the Lord tells them the contrary ; Rev. xviii.9. all these persons bewail the judgments of God that are executed on Babel, which shall be done by low dry trees.
To give one instance in the mighty works which God hath lately wrought in these nations, a work of reformation and carrying on the interest of Christ is here undertaken ; what upon this are the thoughts of the most of men? whi- ther were their eyes turned ? Tall trees, green trees are pitched on. This and that great lord, popular with the multitude, Eliabs in their eyes, they must do it ; the Scots shall certainly effect it : the king shall be taken from his evil counsel, he shall be active in it. A church government shall be set up, and no man suffered to live in the nation that will not submit unto it. Some like the sons of Zebedee shall sit on the right and left hand of Christ, in the king- dom they were setting up for him ; these, and those sound good men shall be next the king, then all will be great and glorious indeed. What now I pray? Do all things indeed suit and answer these expectations and reasonings of men ? Doth God accomplish the thoughts of their hearts? Alas, the high trees rested on, proved for the most part • broken reeds that run into our hands,' and let out our blood in abundance to no purpose ; the top bough, hoped for, fallen
w John iv. 22. Psal. ex. 2. Ezek. xlvii. 1. Zech. xiv.'S. Acts iv. 13. 1 Cor. i. 20. 26—28.
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