This is the issue of this proposal. If we are not a se- parated people unto God ; if our portion be as the portion of the men of the world, and we are also as they, reckoned among the nations ; if we have had only national works, in the execution of wrath on men fitted thereunto amongst us; woe unto us that we were ever engaged in the whole affair, that for some years we have been interested in. It will be bitterness and disappointment in the latter end. If we be the Lord's peculiar lot, separate unto him, the nations about, and many amongst ourselves, on the manifold accounts be- fore-mentioned, will be inquiring into our state and con- dition, and the work of God amongst us. Let us consider what we shall answer them, what we shall say unto them, what is the account we give of God's dealings with us ; and of his mighty works amongst us, what is the profession we make. If we seek ourselves, if we are full of complaints and repinings one against another, if every one hath his own aims, his own designs (for what we do, not what we say, is the answer we make), if we measure the work of God by its suitableness to our private interests ; if this be the issue of all the dealings of God amongst us, we shall not have wherein to rejoice. But of these things afterward. The second proposition is,
II. The issue of God's dealing with, and dispensations among his people, shall be so perspicuous and glorious, that one, any one, every one, shall be able to give an answer to them that make inquiries about them.
' What shall one then say?' Whether it be for judgment, or mercy, all is one : he will make the event to be evident and glorious. He ' is our rock, and his work is perfect;' and he will have his works so known, as that they may all praise him. Be it in judgment, see what issue he will bring his work unto; Deut. xxix. 24, 25. ' Even all nations shall
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say: Wherefore hath the Lord done thus unto this land? What meaneth the heat of this great anger? Then men shall say : Because they have forsaken the covenant of the Lord God of their fathers, which he made with them, when he brought them forth out of the land of Egypt.' Men shall say, ordinary men shall be able to give this sad account of the reason of the works of God, and his dealings with his people. So also as to his dispensations in mercy ; Isa. xxvi. 11. 'Lord, when thy hand is lifted up, they will not see : but they shall see, and be ashamed for their envy at the people; yea, the fire of thine enemies shall devour them.' He will not leave the work of his favour towards his people, until those who are willing to shut their eyes against it do see, and acknowledge his hand and counsel therein.
I do not say, this will hold in every dispensation of God, in all seasons, from the beginning to the ending of them. In many works of his power and righteousness he will have us bow our souls to the law of his providence, and his sove- reignty, wisdom, and goodness therein, when his footsteps are in the deep, and his paths are not known : which is the reasonablest thing in the world. But this generally is the way of his proceedings, especially in the common concern- ment of his people, and in the disposal of their public in- terests ; his works, his will, and counsels therein shall be eminent and glorious. It is chiefly from ourselves, and our own follies, that we come short of such an acquaintance with the works of God, as to be able to give an answer to every one, that shall demand an account of them. When David was staggered at the works of God, he gives this rea- son of it : 'I was foolish, and as a beast before him;' Psal. Ixxiii. 22. That thoughtfulness and wisdom which keeps us in darkness, is our folly.
There are sundry things that are apt to cloud our appre- hensions, as to the mind of God in his dealing with his people. As,
1. Self-fulness of our own private apprehensions and de- signs. A private design and aim in the works of Providence, is like a private, by opinion in matters of religion. You seldom see a man take up a by opinion (if I may so speak), but he instantly lays more weight upon it, than upon all religion besides. If that be not enthroned, be it a matter of
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never so small importance, he scarce cares what becomes of all other truths which he doth embrace. When men have fixed to theniselves, that this or that particular must be the product of God's providential dispensations, that alone fills their aims and desires, and leaves no room for any other apprehension. Have we not seen persons in the days wherein we live, so fixed on a reign, a kingdom, I know not what, that they would scarce allow God himself to be vi'ise, if their minds were not satisfied : ' Give me this child or I die.' Now is it probable, that when men's whole souls are possessed with a design and desire of their own, so fully, that they are cast into the mould of it, are transformed into the image and likeness of it, they can see, hear, think, talk, dream nothing else, that they shall be able to discern aright, and acquiesce in the general issue of God's dispensations, or be able to ' answer the messengers of the nations,' making- inquiry concerning them? Fear, hope, wrath, anger, discon- tentment, with a rabble of the like mind-darkening affec- tions, are the attendants of such a frame. He who knows any thing of the power of prejudices, in diverting the minds of men from passing a right judgment on things proposed to them, and the efficacy of disordered affections for the creating and confirming of such prejudices, will discern the power of this darkening disturbance.