Hagg. ii. 19. From this day will I bless you.
MEN, when they see so great a disparity in the states of their fellow-men, are apt to imagine that there is an inequality in the ways of God. But " God's ways are equal," both in the dealings of his providence, and in the dispensations of his grace3. True, indeed, this equality, under the Mosaic eco- nomy, was evinced in temporal gifts, whereas it is now manifested rather in spiritual blessings : and we may all observe it in reference to ourselves, almost as clearly as they could who are addressed in my text. Let us,
I. Review the dealings of God with us in past times —
a Ezek. xviii. 25 — 29. with Ps. xviii. 25.
God called his people, after their return from Babylon, to " consider" how he had dealt with them. Whilst they were occupied only in their own concerns, and neglected to execute his will in the rebuilding of the temple, he visited them with sore and successive judgments : but now that they were engaged in that sacred work, he bade them take notice, even from the very day that they had commenced the work, that he would bless them. Now, " consider" how God has dealt with us,
1. Before we began to seek the Lord —
[We might prosper perhaps in temporal things, as the world accounts prosperity ; but what was the real state of our minds ? Did we find all the satisfaction in them which we hoped for ? We sowed largely in hope : but when we reaped, and came to measure the produce, were we not grievously disappointed ? Say, brethren, was there even one half the happiness derived from them that you expected b? Did you not find, that whilst you neglected to seek your happiness in God, the blessings which you sought with the greatest avidity and labour were but as "broken cisterns, that could hold no water0?" Yes; you must confess that every thing to which you looked for comfort has proved, not only " vanity, but vexation of spirit alsod." There was a worm at the root of every gourd from which you expected consolation and repose e.]
2. Since we turned to him —
[Possibly enough, in respect to temporal things, you may have suffered loss. But has not that loss been abundantly made up to you, by an increase of grace, and by the manifes- tations of God's love to your soul ? Have you not learned, that " man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things that he possessethf;" and that he only is happy who seeks his happiness in God? Possibly, too, you may have been bowed down greatly under the weight and burthen of your sins : yet will I ask with confidence, whether you do not look upon that day, when you were first convinced of sin, and stirred up to flee from the wrath to come, as the best and happiest day of your life? From what time, think ye, would St. Paul date his happiness, but from the hour when he was struck to the ground in his way to Damascus, and when he received the first communications of converting grace? And if you could tell
b See ver. 16, 17. c Jer. ii. 13. d Eccl. i. 14.
e Jonah iv. G, 7. f Luke xii. 15.