1 How much more may we hope that he will respect those offered to him this day! "The mercy of the Most High" has hitherto been signally manifested towards us— And if we trust in him it shall yet be continued to us- We say moved It is certain that we deserve the heaviest calamities that can fall upon us But we shall not be given up to ruin if we cry unto God for help To the end of the world shall that promise be fulfilled to repenting nations—] Sure we are, that they who trust in God for spiritual blessings shall never be disappointed [Our thoughts on this occasion are not to be confined to temporal concerns→→→ Much as we are interested in national mercies, the welfare of our souls is yet more important Yea, our spiritual progress is the great means of obtaining God's protection to the state Trust in God therefore, for spiritual blessings is not foreign to the business of this day Whatever our political sentiments may be, we are all equally concerned to seek acceptance through Christ We all need to trust in the promises made to us in him— And, if we do," the gates of hell shall not be able to prevail against us" Though we have been led captive by our lusts, "we shall have redemption through his blood" And though we have still to conflict with sin and Satan, we shall be made more than conquerors Us The mercy of the Most High shall assuredly be extended to Sooner shall heaven and earth pass away than that promise fail of accomplishment-] APPLICATION [Let us habituate ourselves to view the hand of God in all our mercies And to trust in him both for personal and national blessings But let us not think, We trust in God, when in reality we do not Trust in God necessarily implies a renunciation of all creature-confidence- P Jer. xviii. 7, 8. 92 Chron. xx. 20. It also supposes that we sincerely commit our cause to GodAnd that we plead the promises made to us in his wordIf we seek not the Lord in this manner, we trust rather in chance, or in our own vain conceits, than in him Let us then be earnest in our applications at the throne of grace Let us be exceeding thankful to God for the mercies we have received And in every difficulty, temporal or spiritual, confide in him Thus shall we see an happy issue to our present troubles→→→ And be monuments of God's truth and faithfulness to all eternity] CCCXXXVIII. THE EQUITY OF THE DIVINE PROCEDURE. 2 Chron. xv. 2. And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The Lord is with you while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you: but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you. AS in a season of affliction it may be sometimes necessary to blend reproof with consolation, so in a season of joy and triumph it may sometimes be proper to temper our congratulations with prudential advice. When Asa was returning with his victorious army after the destruction of his Ethiopean enemies, the Prophet Oded was sent forth to meet him, and was directed by God himself not to salute him with fulsome compliments, but to impress upon his mind a salutary admonition. In his concise and pointed address we see I. The rule of God's procedure God is not necessarily bound by any rules; for he both may do, and actually "does, according to his own will in the armies of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth:" yet has he been pleased to prescribe rules to himself 1. In the dispensations of his providence [The Jews, as God's peculiar people, were governed by him according to the strictest rules of equity. They were taught to look for temporal rewards or punishments according as they were obedient or disobedient to his word: and their whole history may serve to illustrate the correspondence there was between their dealings towards him, and his towards them---Indeed, God himself expresses peculiar jealousy on this head; and appeals to them, whether the inequality which there was in his providence, did not originate in themselves; and whether it was not perfectly agreeable to the rules which he had established for his conduct towards them. Somewhat of the same procedure is yet visible in the dispensations of God towards us. Nations at this time are often prospered or punished according as they pay due allegiance to God, or revolt from him: and individuals, not unfrequently experience even here a recompense suited to their conduct. But as, under the law, God sometimes deviated from this rule, in order to direct the views of men to a future day of retribution, so now he has laid it aside in a great degree, in order that our motives to action may be more spiritual, and that we may look forward to the day of judgment as the period fixed for the display of his righteousness, and for the rewarding of our actions.] 2. In the communications of his grace [God's conduct towards the Jews in respect of temporal things was intended to shadow forth his dealings with us in respect of spiritual things. In relation to these we may see, that the rule which God has laid down to himself is almost invariably observed. It is true, that he is often "found of them that sought him not:" but when once he has revealed himself to any man, he regulates himself towards him according to a principle of perfect equity, rewarding him for his fidelity, or punishing him for his neglect. Who amongst his people ever sought his face in vain? Who ever diligently walked with him in a state of humble dependence, and did not find God with him. in the tokens of his love, and the supports of his grace? God indeed reserves in his power the times and the seasons when he shall reveal himself more fully to the soul; and he apportions to every one such trials as he in his wisdom knows will be productive of good: but he never did, nor ever will, forsake them that seek him.d On the other hand, who is there that has not experienced the hidings of God's face, when fresh contracted guilt, or repeated neglect of duty, has given him offence? Who has not a See this exemplified in Asa, 2 Chron. xiv. 5-7, 11, 12. and xv. 10-15, 19. with xvi. 7-9. in Jehosaphat, xvii. 3–6, 10. and xx. 3, 30. with xix. 2. and xx. 35-37. in Joash, xxiv. 20. b Compare Ezek. xviii. 24-29. with Lev. xxvi. 3-45. and Deut. xxxi. 16, 17. e Ps. lxxiii. 3-14. d Ps. ix. 10. found that on such occasions God has withdrawn the aids of his Spirit both in public and private ordinances; and perhaps left him for a season to the power and influence of his own corruptions? We know indeed that God has said, he will not finally cast off his people:e and we believe he will not: we believe he will "visit them with the rod" till he has brought them back to him with deep contrition: but as long as they forsake him, he will, as far as respects any manifestations of his favour, forsake them; and if any who have thought themselves his people, forsake him utterly, they shall also be utterly abandoned by him. Nor can any be assured that they themselves shall not suffer eternal dereliction, any longer than their adherence to God justifies the hope that they are his children.] To impress this rule the more deeply on our minds, let us consider II. The universal importance of it The Prophet in a most solemn manner called the attention both of the king and all his army to the subject before us; intimating thereby, that there were none who were not interested in it, nor any occasion when the consideration of it would not be useful to their souls. It is suited to us 1. In prosperity [Of this there can be no doubt, since it was in a season of peculiar triumph that the prophet was sent to give this admonition. Indeed we are never more apt to forget ourselves, yea, to forget God also, than when we are elated with great prosperity. We are apt to "sacrifice to our own net, and burn incense to our own drag." When "Jeshurun waxed fat, he kicked:"h when "Uzziah was made strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction." Strange as it may seem, even the manifestations of God's love to the soul are calculated to puff us up with pride, if we have not some thorn in the flesh given us to counteract this evil tendency, and to keep us from abusing the divine mercies. The more sail a ship carries, the more ballast it requires. The very deliverance that Asa had experienced was likely to render him careless and secure, as though he were now beyond the reach of harm. But by this admonition he was taught, that his security was in God alone, e 1 Sam. xii. 22. Heb. xiii. 5. Isai. liv. 7—10. f Ps. lxxxix. 30-35. i 2 Chron. xxvi. 5, 16. g Hab. i. 16. h Deut. xxxii. 15. k 2 Cor. xii. 7. and that he must continue to "walk humbly with God," if he would have the divine protection continued to him. Similar admonitions are also given to us, to counteract the pride of our hearts. "Be not high-minded, but fear."" "Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall.”m "Blessed is the man that feareth always." Even the great Apostle himself, though he knew himself to be a chosen vessel unto God, yet felt the necessity of "keeping under his body, and bringing it into subjection, lest, after having preached to others, he himself should become a cast-away.' " Let us therefore exercise the same caution; and, whether we rejoice on account of national or personal mercies, " rejoice with trembling."] 2. In adversity [As in prosperous circumstances we need to be guarded against presumption, so in heavy trials we need to be cautioned against despondency. If we appear to be forsaken of our God, we are apt to think that he has altogether "shut up his tender mercies, and will be favourable to us no more. "q But in the words before us we see, that no nation or individual can be in so low a state, but that their recovery is certain if they only wait upon God. He will assuredly be found of them that seek him: yea, at the very time that they perhaps are bewailing his absence, he "is actually present with them," working in them that very contrition, and enabling them to wait upon him, when their unassisted nature would have fainted in despair. Let every one then apply to himself the text in this view. Are we ignorant? let us look to God for the teachings of his Spirit. Are we guilty? let us cry to him for remission through the blood of Christ. Are we in any strait or difficulty whatever? Our way is clear; let us wait upon God in assured expectation of succour and support. This promise shall never fail us: though we had a millions of men or devils to encounter, we should be " more than conquerors. "Believe in the Lord; so shall ye be established: believe his prophets; so shall ye prosper."u* * The subject may be further improved. 1. For caution, to guard against the evils which have already provoked God to chastise us: and 2. for encouragement; since, if he be for us, we need not fear, however many there may be against us. |