Page images
PDF
EPUB

Lord's people in former days would fet our whole foul a-going after the God of Elijah.

2. It fhould work on us by way of encouragement. Elijah's example gave Elisha hopes he might find God the fame to him he had been to his predeceffor. Encouragement is a notable fpur to diligence, and is that which is most likely to take with men. What is it which makes us that we wrestle not for God's prefence, as in former days? even unbelief, that tells us we need not be at the pains, for it will not do. But the report of the godly in former days contradicts the report of unbelief, and therefore fhould bring us back to God's door; even as when a beggar, having called at a door for his alms, was coming away without it, and should meet with another that had been plentifully served there, who would say to him, That is a good houfe, and though one may ftand long at the door ere they be ferved, yet they give ay a liberal alms at length; would not that bring the beggar back again? So fhould the confideration of God's prefence with his people in former days bring us to him for the fame entertainment. For this there are the best reafons; fuch as,

(1.) Because the experiences of the Lord's people in former days were given, and put on record, for that very end. All the experiences of God's prefence with his people in former days, are as fo many figns of peace on earth, and goodwill towards men. They, as it were, ftand at God's door, to invite and encourage thofe of fucceeding generations to come in there for the fame or like entertainment; and his people do but anfwer the defign of them, when they come and inquire, Where is the Lord God of Elijah ? -Eph. xii. 7. "That in the ages to come he might fhew the exceeding riches of his grace, in his kindness towards

towards us through Chrift Jesus."-Rom. xv. 4. "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we, through patience and comfort of the scriptures, might have hope."

(2.) Because these experiences say there is enough to be had in God for the feeking, if we feek in his own way : Pfal. xxii. 4. "Our fathers trufted in thee, they trufted, and thou didft deliver them. They cried to thee, and were delivered; they trufted in thee, and were not confounded." The faints that have gone before us have spread a good report of God's house, that others after them might come to the fame door. They have had the experience of the Lord's help in all the cafes that we can be in; and whatever be the difficult fteps we have to go, if we mark narrowly, we will fee the footsteps of the flock before us in thefe fteps through which their God has graciously handed them: Pfal. xxxiv. 6. 8. "This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and faved him out of all his troubles.-O taste, and fee that the Lord is good; blessed is the man that trusteth in him." And their expériences are their teftimony to the truth of his promises: Pfal. xii. 6. "The words of the Lord are pure as filver tried."

(3.) Because we have the fame advantages that they had, yea, and more than fome of them, that lived in darker days than we do. How many have groped the way to the throne of grace, when they had not fuch light shining around them as we have to fhew the way; but, however we make the comparison, we have the fame God to go to that they had, who has as much to give, and is as gracious as ever: Jam. i. 17. " Every good gift, and every perfect gift, is from above, and cometh

down

down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither fhadow of turning" the fame High-Prieft over the house of God, that is as well heard by the Father now as ever, Heb. xiii. 8. "Jefus Chrift, the fame yesterday, and to-day, and for ever;" the fame covenant, for it is everlasting; the fame promises, whose truth and mercy endure for ever.

(4.) Because all that ever the best of the faints got was in the way of free grace. It was not only undeserved, but given over the belly of ill-deferving; and if it be free grace that opens the door, what needy finner is there but may come forward for a fhare? All the love that was ever bestowed on any of them, was free love, without the leaft deferving; if ye think there is any exception, look through them all, from Adam downwards, and name the man if you can. Paul challenges the world to do it, Rom. xi. 35. "Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again ?"

IV. I AM now to make fome practical improvement. And this,

1. In an use of reproof. This reaches a reproof to feveral forts of perfons; as,

(1.) To our modern blafphemers, who reckon the faints experiences of the workings of the Lord's Spirit on their fpirits nothing but the effects of. imagination, heat of fancy, or somewhat else. So true is it, 1 Cor. ii. 14. "The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him. ; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." But when we confider the fanctifying effects of these operations felt on their fpirits, how by thefe their hearts are loofed from the lufts to which they were formerly glewed, inflamed with love to

God

God and his holy law, and thus to defpife the world, rejoice in tribulation, joyfully to fuffer for Chrift, and deny themselves to all that is dear to them in the world for his caufe, we must conclude, that these men do but new-model the doctrine of those that taught long ago, that Christ cast out devils by Beelzebub, the prince of devils; and that, as their working is formal, fuited to the fpirit of the natural man; fo their fpirit is profane.

(2.) Those that flight the experiences of the people of God, and appearances to and for them, as not worth their notice, far lefs of their pains, to get the fame entertainment; and yet they did more fervice to the cause of God, by their godly fimplicity, than we are like to do by our refined prudentials; and no wonder, for if a man will be truly wife, 1 Cor. iii. 18. "Let him become a fool, that he may be wife." A little faith and dependance on the Lord for light and strength, will go farther than much carnal forefight. But they had the fpirit of preaching, praying, and other things belonging to the fervice of God; and we have the bare act of it. The good Lord fend back the Spirit, come of the act what will!

(3.) To thefe who are ready to talk big of the experiences of God's people, and of God's appearances for them in former days. With a whole heart, their confciences bearing them witnefs, they are not concerned to wrestle with God for themselves or others now, or to put to their hand, in their several capacities, to the revival of practical godliness in the generation; but, on the other hand, do improve it to the hardening of their own hearts, and to the contempt of ordinances and minifters. These are the genuine offspring of thofe who built the tombs of the prophets, and garnifhed their fepulchres, yet are filling up the measure

of

of their fathers iniquities, Matth. xxiii. 29.Whence I may obferve, (1.) That dead prophets are better liked by a formal generation, than living ones, for they get lefs trouble of the dead than of the living. (2.) Such would make a brave ufe of the means of grace that were in former days, which they are fure they cannot get, while they have no power to improve the means that are among their hands. (3.) These will condemn their fathers mifufing of the prophets that are gone, who yet will trample on their fucceffors that are remaining.

(4.) To those who improve the experience of the Lord's people in former days against themselves, to the deadening their own fpirits, instead of quickening them, when they look upon them. By the fubtlety of Satan, they are thereby discouraged and broken, instead of being animated, as they ought, to feek the fame entertainment. It is the remains of a legal difpofition in any of the children of God, that is the fource of difcouragements arifing from this airth. They look more to the goodnefs that was in the faints, and the ill that is in themselves, than to the blood of the Lord Jefus Chrift, through which alone the divine goodness did flow to them, and through which it may flow as freely to themselves.

Laftly, To thofe whose hard thoughts of God the experience of all the faints from Adam cannot remove. So vile are they, they conclude, that God's heart cannot be towards them, though they have all the experiences of former faints, as fo many depofitions to confirm the welcome of all that come to him through Chrift, whatever they have been. O lay by these hard thoughts of God, so deftructive to yourselves, and fo dishonourable to God. Look among all that ever came to God, VOL. I. R

if

« PreviousContinue »