(1.) 'The poor of his people;' verse 30. they are called, ' the first-born of the poor and needy :' that is, those who are very poor. Now this expression may denote either the
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people in general, who had been poor and aflBicted ; and so * the poor of his people' is as much as ' his poor people :' or some in particular, that partly upon the account of their low outward condition, partly on the account of their lowli- ness of mind, are called ' the poor of his people ;' and so the words are excellently paraphrased, Zeph. iii. 12, 13. 'I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted, and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the Lord. The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies, neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth, and none shall make them afraid.' We may take the words in a sense com- prising both these : namely for the poor, preserved remnant, carried through the fiery trial, and preserved to see some comfortable issue of God's dealing with them, though yet wrestling with difficulties and perplexities.
(2.) What shall they do ? They ' shall trust in it :' nil 1Dn> * and injt they shall trust :' that is, being ' in it they shall trust,' confide, acquiesce, namely in the Lord, who hath wrought this work : or 'in it,' that is, either in the work of God, or in Zion so established by God.
The word here used for ' trusting,' is sometimes taken for to ' repair,' or to retreat to any thing (and not properly to put trust), affiance, or confidence ; and so it is rendered in the margin of your books : ' They shall betake themselves to it.' So is the word used. Judges ix. 15. Psal. xxxvi. 7. So the intendment is : That the poor, preserved people of God, seeing his design to found Zion, and to establish the interest of his chosen, shall leave off all other designs, aims, and contrivances, and wind up all on the same bottom : they shall not, at least they ought not (for I told you the words might denote either their duty, what they ought to do; or the event, what they shall do), set up designs and aims of their own, and contend about other things ; but betake their hopes to that which is the main intendment of God, the establishment of the interest of his people, and cast all other things in a subserviency thereunto. The sum is :
IV. It is the duty of God's poor preserved remnant, lay- ing aside all other aims and contrivances, to betake them- selves to the work of God, founding Zion, and preserving the common interest of his people.
Of the propositions thus drawn from the words, 1 shall
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treat severally, so far, as they may be foundations of the in- ferences intended. And,
I. The nations about will be diligently inquiring con- cerning God's dispensations among his people.
Their eyes are upon them, and they will be inquiring after them.
In the handling of this, and all that follows, I humbly desire, that you would consider in what capacity, as to the discharge of this work, I look upon myself and you. As you are hearers of the word of God (in which state alone at present, though with reference to your designed employment, I look upon you), you are not at all distinguished from others, or among yourselves, but as you are believers, or not ; regenerate persons, or coming short thereof. And on this account, as I shall not speak of my rulers without reverence, so I shall endeavour to speak to my hearers with authority.
I say, then, there are certain affections and principles, that are active in the nations, that will make them restless, and always put them upon this inquiry. The people of God, on one account or other, shall be in all seasons a separated people ; Numb, xxiii. 9. ' Lo the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations ;' yea, they are separated from them, whilst they are in their bowels, and dwell in the midst of them ; Micah v. 7, 8. whether they are amongst them, as the spring of their mercies, or the rise of their destruction (one of which they will always be), yet they are not of them. No sooner then is any people, or portion of them, thus dedicated to God, but all the nations about, and those amongst them not engaged in the same way with them, instantly look on them, as utterly severed from them, having other ways, ends, and interests than they; being built up wholly on another account and foundation. They reckon not of them as a people, and a nation. 'The conclusion they make concerning them is, that of Haman, Esther iii. 8. 'There is a certain people scattered abroad, and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom, and their laws are diverse from all people.' Not their moial and judicial laws, which were the sum of that perfection, which all nations aimed at (on which account they viaid of them, 'Surely this great nation is a wise and un-