Pagina-afbeeldingen
PDF
ePub

upon them; they are figns and wonders; they are looked upon as prodigies and monfters, and turned to matter of fcorn and ridicule.

4. We have the people that are guilty of this high contempt; and this is the fpecial confideration, speaking it to be matter of wonder and lamentation; it is in If rael. If it had been in Egypt, and among heathens, it would not have been fuch a frange matter: but that they should be for figns and wonders, even in Ifrael; or, treated with contempt by a people profeffing the true religion, this is the more ftrange.

5. We have the fpring of this difpenfation; it is from the Lord of hofts. God, by his providence, hath fo ordered it: he hath a fovereign hand in over-ruling thefe things, for the trial of his people, wherein men have a finful hand.

6. We have the ground of comfort that the children of God have under all these, and fuch like difcouragements; and this is implied in the titles that are here afcribed unto him; in that,

(1.) He is the Lord of hofts, who hath all the hofts of heaven and earth at his command; in fo much, that the reproachers and defpifers of his people, can do them no harm; yea, cannot touch one hair of their head, any further than he gives them liberty and permiffion.

(2.) He dwells in mount Zion; there were the fymbols of his prefence, and the ark that was a type of Chrift; fo that his dwelling in mount Zion points out, not only his prefence with his people, but his dwelling upon a throne of grace and mercy; as a God in Chrift reconciling the world to himfelf. He dwelleth in mount Zion, manifefting himself to his people, ready to hear their prayers, and receive their complaints; ready to fatisfy their defires, and fan&tify their croffes, and support them under their fufferings and reproaches for his name. Though for the present he hide his face from the house of Jacob; and the time of hiding, be alfo a time of reproach, wherein they fuffer contempt and ignominy; yet he dwelleth in mount Zion, fo as they know where to find him, and recover the fight of him.

R 2

Now,

.

[ocr errors]

Now, instead of adducing many obfervations from the words, I fhall infift mainly upon this one,

OBSERV. That as it hath been, fo it is fill the lot of Chrift and his friends, whether minifters or people, who bear his image, to be held as monfters; hated, contemned, reproached, and wondered at: Or thus, Chrift and his people are the world's wonder. "Behold, I and the children whom the Lord hath given me, are for figns and for wonders in Ifrael."

In the profecution of this propofition, I would, as the Lord may aflift, effay the following things.

I. Offer fome remarks for the further application of

the text.

II. Adduce fome fcripture paffages for the confirmation of the doctrine.

III. Enquire into fome of these marks of reproach, that ufe to be caft upon Chrift and his followers. IV. Align the reafons of the doctrine, whence it comes to pafs, that they are thus held as monsters, and for figns and for wonders in Ifrael.

V. Deduce fome inferences for the application of the whole fubject.

I. We proposed to offer fome remarks for the further explication of the text: and there are thefe fix following remarks evident in it.

[ocr errors]

Remark 1. “That converted perfons are the children of Chrift, and the children of thefe miniflers by whom they are converted." They are the children of Christ, as being the only author of their regeneration and adoption; " Behold, I and the children whom God hath given me," faith Chrift, Heb. ii. 13.-They are the children of minifters, as being the inftruments of their regeneration and new birth; "My little children, faith the apostle, of whom I travail in birth, till Chrift be formed in you," Gal. iv. 19. And again, 1 Cor. iv. 15. 15." In Chrift I have begotten you thro' the gospel." And 2 Cor. xi. 2. "I have efpoufed you to one Hufband." Chrift is the everlasting Father of all believers: and, as a father pities his children, fo will he pity them; for, of his own will begat

begat he them, by the word of truth. Miniflers are the inftrumental fathers of all thofe to whom the Lord bleffes their miniflry, as the inftrument of their regeneration. But no fooner doth the church, the woman fpoken of, Rev. xii. bring forth any children to God, than the dragon ftands ready to devour them, as foon as they are born. "Behold, I and the children whom thou haft. given me, are for figns and wonders."

[ocr errors]

Remark 2. "That it is the power of God that con"verts and regenerates any that are converted and regenerated by the word: "Who is Paul, who is Apol"los,, but minifters by whom ye believed, even as the "Lord gave to every man?" I Cor. iii. 5, 6. Minifters. muft look upon their converts, as the children that God hath given them: for, whatever good they are inftrumental of to others, it is owing to the free grace of God; if God had not given them, they had never been able to do them any faving good. Chrift looks upon believers. as his children, which the Father gave him; "I have manifefted thy name to the men whom thou gavest me out of the world, thine they were, and thou gavest them me," John xvii. 6. They were thine by election from eternity, and thou gaveft them me to be redeemed by my blood, and regenerated by my Spirit and in this regenerated work, the Father hath a fpecial hand of power; for, "No man can come to me, faith Chrift, except the Father which hath fent me draw him."

Remark 3. "That the beft that ever was in the world, "doth meet with the worst treatment therein: "I, and "the children whom thou haft given me, are for figns and "wonders." We are held as monfters, and prodigies, and gazing stocks. Who? Even Chrift, and his chil dren; minifters, and their converts: the chief Shepherd, and the fairest of his fheep; the under-fhepherds, and the flower of their flock. Chrift and his friends, both minifters and others, are generally hated, and contemned by the wicked. Yea,

Remark 4. "That thofe who profefs religion, and the "worfhip of the true God, may yet defpife Chrift and "his people: They are for figns and wonders; where? “even in ISRAEL: not in Babylon only, but even in

R3

"Ifrael."

1

"Ifrael." Many that bear the name of Chriftians, are enemies to Chrift; they profefs religion, and yet are defpifers of all that are truly religious: "All are not Ifrael, who are of Ifrael;" for, even Ifrael are to be found defpifers of the God of Ifrael, and of the Ifrael of God. Even within the church visible, are to be found defpifers of the church invisible, and their glorious Head.

Remark 5. "That the children of God are not defpif "ed, contemned, reproached, and wondered at without "the providence of God; it is from the Lord of holls, "that dwelleth in mount Zion." "Is there evil in the city, and the Lord hath not done it?" The evil of af fiction, he ordereth it; the evil of fin, he permits it, for wife ends: for he is not the author of fin, but he is the Over-ruler of the wickednefs of men, to make it contribute and work together, for glory to his name, and good to his people. Man hath a wicked hand in all the marks of contempt he pours upon the godly; but God hath an holy hand in ordering the fame, for the trial of faith and patience; and it is the comfort of his children, amidst all difcouragement from without, that it is not without the wife providence of God, that contempt is poured upon them; it is from the Lord of hofts; he hath bidden Shimei curfe David. It is their comfort alfo that he is the Lord of hofls, who arms what inftruments he pleases, to execute his will; and that he is the God that dwells in mount Zion, to be a present help in time of trouble, and to give prefent comfort in time of difcouragement: he is not far off, he dwells in mount Zion.

[ocr errors]

Remark 6. "That it is matter of wonder and lamen"tation, to all the children of God, both minifters and people, that the power of religion, and true piety, fhould be fuch a rarity, and expofed to fuch contempt "in a finful world, and especially in Ifrael; and yet fo "it is, Ifa. lxvi. 5. "Hear the word of the Lord, ye "that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hate you, "that caft you out for my name's fake, faid, let the Lord "be glorified: but he fhall appear to your joy, and they fhall be afhamed." Where we fee it is no new thing, for the godly to be perfecuted for Chrift's name, even

in Ifrael, by men that pretend confcience, and a zeal for the honour and glory of God, and the good and welfare of the church; and who profecute their hatred and defpite with all the formality of devotion: Chrift doth explain this, John xvi. 2. "They fhall put you out of the fynagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think he doth God fervice."-So much fhall fuffice for the remarks I premife for the explication of the text. I come now,

II. To adduce fome fcripture paffages for the confirmation of the doctrine, namely, That as it hath been, fo it is ftill the lot of Chrift and his friends, whether minifters or people, who bear his image, to be held as monfters; hated, condemned, reproached, and wondered at: You may fee both Old and New-Teftament inftances of it.—In the Old-Teftament, fee an inftance of it in David, Pial Ixxi. 7. "I am as a wonder unto many."-See an inftance of it in the Old-Teftament believers and church, mentioned Pfal. cxxiii. 3, 4. "Have mercy upon us, O Lord; for we are exceedingly filled with contempt: our foul is exceedingly filled with the fcorning of those that are at eafe, and with the contempt of the proud "—See an inflance of it in Johna and his fellows, Zech. iii. 8. "Hear now, O Jofhua, the high-prieft, thou and thy fellows, that fit before thee; for they are men wondered at." -You may turn over to the New-Teftament, and fee an inftance of it in the believing Hebrews, Heb. x. 33. “We were made a gazing stock both by reproach and affliction."We fee an inftance of it in ail the primitive Chriftians, Acts xxviii. 22. "For as concerning" this feet, we know that every-where it is fpoken against." -And we fee an inftance of it in the flower of the flock, CHRIST himself, the Captain of the hoft, Luke ii. 34. "Behold this child is fet for the fall and rifing of many in Ifrael; and for a fign which fhall be fpoken againft." Chrift is the rejected flone, Pfal. cxviii. 22. " Enduring the contradiction of finners against himfelf," Hebrews xii. 3..

I might here demonftrate the truth of the doctrine, by an induction of particulars, fhewing how Chrift and his Father, his Spirit and his word, his fervants and people,

« VorigeDoorgaan »