Oldalképek
PDF
ePub
[ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

St. Margaret's Westminster,

On the 21ft of MA Y, 1690.

DEUT. V. 29.

my

O that there were fuch an Heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep keep all Commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their Children for Ever!

HESE are the Words of God to Mofes, concerning the Children of Ifrael. And Two Things may be gathered from them.

I. His ferious Defire of their Happiness. II. The Means whereby that Happiness is to be attained.

The First of thefe is imported in that Solemn Wih, into which the Text is framed;

O that there were fuch an Heart in them, &c. that it might be well with them, and with their Children for Ever.

[ocr errors]

The Second is imported in the Way of connecting the former Part of the Wish, with that which follows: 0 that there were fuch an Heart in them! what then? That they would fear me, and keep all my Commandments always; And why fo? It follows, That it might be well with them, and with their Children for Ever, Which plainly implies, That the Way to have Things well with them, and with their Children, is to fear God, and keep all his Commandments always,

I have but one Thing more to obferve concerning the Text, and that is this; That the With or Defire that God here expreffes of Ifrael's Vertue and Happineß, doth not fo much relate to the Ifraelites, confider'd fingly, and as particular Perfons (though it cannot be denied, but it doth extend to them, even under that Notion) but it chiefly relates to the Children of Ifrael, confider'd collectively, that is to fay, under the Notion of a People or Nation. God here expreffes his Care of the whole Nation, and seriously wishes they may be a happy People, they and their Children after them.

Two Points then we have from this Text, very proper to be infifted on, upon this Occafion; which, therefore, I fhall make the Heads of my following Difcourfe,

First, That God is feriously concerned, for the Good and Happineß of Nations and Kingdoms, as well as that of particular Perfons: and more especially

7

pecially of thofe Nations that profefs his true Religion.

Secondly, That the Happiness and Profperity of Nations, is to be attained the fame way that asy particular Man's Happiness is; that is to fay, by fearing God, and keeping his Commandments.

I. I begin with the First, That God is feririously concerned for the Good and Happiness of Nations and Kingdoms, as well as that of particular Perfons; and more efpecially of all thofe Nations that profefs his true Religion.

I do not think this is much doubted of by any Chriftian; and therefore, I need not insist on a laborious Proof of it.

That God who doth not overlook the meaneft and the most inconfiderable Creatures that he hath made; but fo far concerns himself in taking care of them, and providing for them, that not fo much as a Sparrow (if we may be lieve our Saviour) doth fall to the Ground without his Will: Can it be imagined, that he is not more concerned for the Happiness and Well-being of the nobleft Part of the visible Creation, Mankind, who bear his own Image, and whom he looks upon as his own Children? Certainly he is.

And that God whose Care and Providence doth fo particularly extend to every individual Man, that (as the fame our Lord Jefus fpeaks) the very Hairs of our Head are numbered by him; Can it be imagined, that He doth not ftill take more Care of the greater Bodies and Combinations of Men, fuch as Nations and Kingdoms, which are so many

ways

ways more confiderable than fingle Men, and in whofe Fortunes the Good or Ill of particular Perfons is fo wholly bound up? Certainly he doth.

And Laftly, That God who is the Author, the Preferver, the Protector of all Publick Societies, by whom Kings reign, and Magiftrates decree Fuftice: Can it be imagined, that he hath not ftill a more particular Regard to those Nations that he hath been pleafed to call by his own Name, and hath chofen for his own People (fuch as were the Ifraelites in my Text, of old; and such are all thofe Peoples and Nations now that do profefs his true Religion)? Certainly he hath.

Thus natural Reafon will teach us to Argue. And that it is a right Way of Arguing, Matth. 6. is confirmed to us by our Saviour and St. 26, 30. Paul; both of which we find Reasoning after Cor. 9. this Manner.

9:

To quote to you all that the Scripture faith upon this Argument, would be endless. One of the great Defigns of God's Word, is to pof fefs us with a hearty Belief, that God, as he is the Creator, fo he is alfo the Governor of the World; and that his Providence extends to all the Things and Perfons in it: And that the conftant Rule and Measure of that Provi dence, is no other than the Good of the World, and the Good of every Perfon in it, fo far as his private Good is confiftent with the pub lick. And that therefore as God defigns all Good to every particular Man, fo doth he more especially defign the Good of Nations

and

6.

and Kingdoms in all his Difpenfations of Providence to them. Nor is there any Thing happens in any Nation or Kingdom but with his Approbation. Even the fevereft Vifitations that come upon Mankind, are from him. There is no Evil happens to a City, but the Lord Amos 3. hath done it. Though yet Judgment is his strange Ifa. 28.21. Work.. And Mercy and Loving-kindness is the thing Mic.7.18. wherein he delights. He doth not afflict willingly, Lam.3-33nor grieve the Children of Men. But fometimes it is neceffary that Nations fhould be fcourged; yet even that is for the greater Good of Mankind That thus when God's Judgments are in the Ifai. 26.9. Earth, the Inhabitants of the World may learn Righteousness.

But then as for his own People, thofe upon whom his Name is called, thofe that are in Covenant with him, and profefs his true Religion; for them, upon all Occafions, he declares fo great a Tenderness and Concernment; that there is hardly any Figure of Speech, that the moft fenfible Man can make ufe of, for the expreffing his most passionate Love to his dearest Friend or Relation, though it be his Wife or his Children, but the very fame Figures are made ufe of by the Holy infpired Writers, to fet out to us the Kindness and Concernment that God hath for his own People. He is their God, their King, their Shepherd, their Father, their Husband. They are his chofen Ones; His Delight; His peculiar Treafure. He rejoiceth over them to do them good. His Bowels yearn, his Heart is turned within him, his Repentings are kindled together, when through

« ElőzőTovább »