If we were bidden to hide ourselves in a pit or dungeon, methinks, any place should be a welcome hiding-place from the wrath of God. But it is to our own "chamber," where every thing is provided for our rest and comfort; yea, it is a pavilion surrounded by guards, and furnished with royal dainties; it is even to the tabernaclea wherein God himself dwells, and where we shall have most intimate communion with him, that we are told to flee: shall we need any inducement to yield to such advice? If we cannot endure confinement (though surely we can have no reason to complain of that in such a retreat) we are told it is to be only for "a moment," yea, lest that should appear too long, it is said to be only for " a little moment.". Did the Israelites think a single night too long, when they were to be screened from the destroying angel? and shall we think a moment, a little moment (for such in truth is the present life) too long to abide in Christ, that we may escape the wrath of an incensed God? The certainty of success is another argument which may well induce us to follow this advice. Were there only a distant probability of obtaining deliverance from such unspeakable miseries, it were a very sufficient reason for our trying the experiment: but when success, as the text intimates, is certain to attend our efforts, shall we need any persuasion to exert ourselves? On the other hand, the certainty that God's indignation. must fall upon us, if we be not found in Christ, ought to operate powerfully on our hearts: for "who can stand before his indignation? who can abide the fierceness of his anger?b The fate of those who despised the warnings of Moses, and sought not shelter from the storms of hail, shews us what we must expect, if we seek not refuge in Christ Jesus.c Above all, the earnestness of the exhortation should overcome the reluctance of our hearts. To enter fully into its spirit, we should conceive a parent, seeing a savage beast running towards his heedless and unprotected child in order to destroy him. The affrighted father calls to him in the agony of his mind; "Come, my son, run into the house, shut the door, hide yourself till the danger be overpast." Thus, precisely thus, does God himself cry to each of us. He knows our danger; he sees our inadvertence; and, with all the anxiety of a parent, he calls to us. Must we not be more deaf than adders, more obdurate than rocks, if we will not obey his voice? But there is one thing yet, which must on ro account be overlooked. The language is intentionally changed from the z Ps. xxvii. 5. b Nah. i. 6. VOL. III. 3 F a Ib. e Exod. ix. 19, 25. plural to the singular; "Come, my people, enter thou," &c. One is ready to think, that he has no need to fear the indignation of God: another thinks he is too unworthy to be admitted into the chamber to which others have fled. But God addresses both the one and the other of them; "Enter thou;" for, however secure thou mayest think thyself, there is no security but in Christ; and "thou;" for unworthy as thou art, it is "thy" chamber; it was erected for such as thee; and the more unworthy thou art in thy own estimation, the more ready admittance shalt thou find there; the more certainly also shalt thou enjoy in it everlasting security.* Thus whether we consider the chamber to which we are to flee, the time we are to abide in it, the certainty of success, the danger of delay, or the earnest manner in which God addresses every one of us in particular, we should without hesitation follow the advice, and seek deliverance in Christ our Lord. None of us should indulge security; none of us should give way to desponding fears. But, rejoicing that the chamber is not yet barred against us, we should all hide ourselves in it; nor venture out of it one single moment, till the danger be for ever past.] *This section might not improperly form the basis of a particular application to the self-righteous Pharisee, and the self-condemning penitent. CCCXXVII. GOD THE ONLY PROPER OBJECT OF FEAR. Isai. viii. 12-14. Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread: and he shall be for a sanctuary. RELIGION, though conducive to our happiness at all times, is more especially so in seasons of adversity. It points out to us a source of strength and consolation, while they who are strangers to its influence, are left to struggle without effect, or to faint in despair. In this view it appears in the words before us, in which the prophet is instructed how to act in the most arduous circumstances, and how to relieve the minds of those who were bowed down with terror on account of the confederate armies of Syria and Israel" The direction given him by God may be considered I. In reference to our souls We are apt to entertain desponding thoughts with respect to our salvation [Scarcely does the desire of salvation arise in the breast before it meets with many discouraging reflections, "How can I give up the world? how can I overcome my lusts? how can I ever comply with the requisitions of the gospel?" In a more advanced state, the allurements of sense, the temptations of Satan, the opposition of friends, and the menaces of enemies, often appear to place insurmountable obstacles in our way. And Christians too frequently dishearten one another by the mutual relation of their doubts and difficulties.] But we ought to have our eyes continually fixed on the Lord Jesus Christ [Christ is the Lord of hosts, of whom the text speaks:b and St. Peter, having these very difficulties, together with the text also, in his view, exhorts us to sanctify HIM in our hearts. He has all things in heaven and earth under his control. All our enemies, whether men, or devils, or our own lusts, are as nothing in his hands. Him therefore we should fear, as alone able to do us any real injury; and him we should "sanctify," trusting in his wisdom, power, and faithfulness, to defeat our adversaries, and to make us more than conquerers over all.] In him we should find a sure protection from every evil [Christ is like the cities of refuge, which preserved the manslayer from the vindictive sword of the pursuer of blood. If once we obtain an interest in him, the wrath of God can never come upon us; nor can either men or devils destroy our souls. Only let us fear him, and confide in him; and we may be as sure of victory as if all our enemies were already bruised under our feet. In the midst of troubles, of whatever kind they be, we may be peaceful,f confident,s triumphant."] But the present occasion requires us to consider the text II. In reference to our national concerns In seasons of difficulty and danger we are but too ready to faint [There is, it must be confessed, abundant reason at this. b Compare the words following the text with Rom. ix. 33. c 1 Pet. iii. 14, 15. f Ps. xlvi. 1, 2. d Matt. xxviii. 18. e Rom. viii. 1. time, according to human appearances, to cry out, A confederacy, a confederacy. But still we should not, yield to dejection and despondency, since, however proudly our enemies may vaunt themselves, there is one infinitely above them.] But God is the only proper object of our fear [Men are but as "the staff in the hands of God;" which cannot hurt any, except those whom he is pleased to strike. Their hosts may be numerous; but he is the LORD of hosts, at whose will they draw the sword; and at whose command they must restore it to its scabbard. Now, if we do not tremble at the sight of a weapon, but only at the wrath of him who uses it, let us regard nothing but the displeasure of our incensed God. Let us "fear him," and "sanctify him in our hearts." Let us humble ourselves before him, and rely on his gracious providence. However strong we may suppose our fleets and armies to be, let us trust, not in them, but in the living God, who can either destroy them in an instant, or crown them with victory, as seemeth good to him.] If we trust in him he will interpose for our deliverance [Numberless are the instances wherein he has shewn mercy to penitent nations. And, if at this time we kept such a fast as we ought, and really turned from our iniquities, he would appear for us. This he has promised:1 nor need we doubt but that he is both able and willing to perform it. At all events, if the measure of our national iniquities be full, so that God will no more be intreated for it, yet shall we be screened from the evils that shall come upon it, or have such consolation under them, as shall evince his truth and faithfulness.] APPLICATION [Let us this day apply our minds to the consideration of our personal and national sins, and turn with unfeigned penitence unto God. Let us tremble on account of the temporal judgments which he has inflicted, and the eternal judgments which he has threatened. But let us not affix limits to his power and grace. Let us rather enlarge our conceptions of his goodness, in proportion as our need of his mercy may seem to have increased. Then will he interpose both for our national relief, and for our personal prosperity. He will make it to appear, that "he is a buckler to them that trust in him;" and that, "if he be for us, none can successfully be against us. i When we had to contend with almost the whole of Europe, and were afflicted with an unprecedented scarcity besides. Exod. xviii. 11. . 1 Jer. xviii. 7, 8. m Ezek. xi. 16. CCCXXVIII. THE USE OF COVENANTING WITH GOD. 2 Chron. xxix. 10, 11. Now it is in mine heart to make a covenant with the Lord God of Israel, that his fierce wrath may turn away from us. My sons, be not now negligent. A TRULY pious man will not be satisfied with serving God in his closet He will exert his influence to bring others also to a sense of their duty The public exercise of the ministry indeed belongs to those only who are duly called to it But all who are possessed of authority (parents, masters, magistrates, and kings) should use it for the promoting of virtue and religion Christians of every rank and description should exhort one another" We have a noble example set before us in the conduct of Hezekiah As soon as he came to the throne, he set himself to restore the service of the temple And called upon all, both ministers and people, to make a solemn covenant with their God The royal proclamation for the observance of this day speaks in effect the language of the text I. Shew when we have reason to apprehend that God's anger is waxed hot against us We cannot in all cases determine how far a dispensation may be sent in anger or in love But in general we may say, that God is greatly incensed against us 1. When our sins are multiplied against him [Sin is invariably the object of God's abhorrence This truth is so evident that it needs not any confirmationIt needs only to be applied with power to our hearts and consciences What lamentable depravity pervades every part of the nation! There is no iniquity, however heinous, which is not practised without remorse If we look into our own bosoms, what reason for humiliation may we find!— a Heb. v. 4. b Heb. iii. 13. c Hab. i. 13. Ps. v. 5. |