The wrath of man praising God: A sermon preached in the High Church of Edinburgh, May 18th, 1746. before His Grace the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. By Hugh Blair, ...
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The wrath of man praising God: A sermon preached in the High Church of Edinburgh, May 18th, 1746. before His Grace the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. By Hugh Blair, ...
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Blair, Hugh, 1718-1800.
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Edinburgh :: printed by R. Fleming: for A. Kincaid,
1746.
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"The wrath of man praising God: A sermon preached in the High Church of Edinburgh, May 18th, 1746. before His Grace the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. By Hugh Blair, ..." In the digital collection Eighteenth Century Collections Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/004832636.0001.000. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 2, 2025.
Pages
descriptionPage 1
A
SERMON
Preached in the
High Church of Edinburgh,
May 18th, 1746.
PSALM lxxvi. 10.
Surely, the wrath of man shall praise thee: the
remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.
IN this Psalm some remarkable Victory
and Deliverance is celebrated, which the
Jewish Nation had obtained: A Delive|rance
in which the Hand of God visi|bly
appeared, rescuing his People from immi|nent
Danger. Very probably it was written
in Hezekiah's Reign, on Occasion of their
being delivered from the formidable Invasion
of Sennacherib and the Assyrian Army;
when the Angel of the Lord, in one Night,
discomfited all their Host, and smote them
with sudden Destruction* 1.1
. To this signal
descriptionPage 2
Interposition of the Divine Arm, these Ex|pressions
in the Context may be naturally ap|plied;
There brake, he the arrows of the bow,
the shield, the sword, and the battle—the
stout-hearted are spoiled: they have slept their
sleep; and none of the men of might have
found their hands. At thy rebuke, O God of Ja|cob,
both the chariot and the horse are cast in|to
a dead sleep. In the Words of our Text,
we have the Psalmist's religious and wise Re|flection
upon all these Events; upon the vio|lent
Designs of their Enemies, and the Issue
to which Providence brought these Designs;
Surely, the wrath of man shall praise thee:
the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.
The wrath of man; that is, all the Rage,
and the impetuous Passion of wicked Men;
with the violent Effects of War, Persecution,
Oppression, and other Disorders it produces
in the World. All these the Psalmist tells us,
shall praise God: Not indeed, by the Intenti|on
and Design, nor by the native Tendency,
of the wrath of man: But by these wise and
good Purposes, which the Providence of God
causes it to accomplish; from this Poison ex|tracting
Health; and of Things, most unwil|ling
and unapt in themselves to yield him Glo|ry,
descriptionPage 3
forming Instruments of Good. So that,
tho' the wrath of man, as the Apostle James
speaks, worketh not, of itself, the righteousness of
God (a), it is nevertheless, forced and compelled
to minister to his Praise. The Psalmist adds,
the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain:
That is, GOD will give Way to the Wrath of
Man, and allow it Scope, so far as it answers
his good Purposes, and works his Praise; the
rest of it shall be curb'd and bound up: When
it would attempt to go beyond its prescrib'd
Limit, he says to it, as to the Waters of the
Sea, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no fur|ther;
and here shall thy proud waves be stay|ed* 1.2. All this, the last Issue of Things shall
fully verify and declare: When we shall be
able more clearly to trace the divine Admini|stration
through its several Steps, by seeing the
Consummation of the whole. In some Cases,
it may be reserved for this Period only, to
disclose and unfold the mysterious Wisdom of
Heaven. But in general, as much of the di|vine
Conduct and Wisdom, is at present ma|nifest,
as gives just Ground for this Observati|on,
that the wrath of man praises God, now,
before the whole World.* 1.3 This was the Me|ditation
descriptionPage 4
of the Psalmist after Victory and Con|quest.
As we, my Brethren, like him, have
lately seen the wrath of man raging around us,
in all its Violence; and in the midst of its
Fury have seen it restrain'd and check'd by
the powerful Hand of GOD; such a Medita|tion,
must be acknowledged very suitable and
becoming now: That by serious Contempla|tion
of the Ways of Providence, we may
learn to view these Revolutions which befal
Mankind, with the devout Sentiments of our
Psalmist.
IN prosecuting this Subject, I shall endea|vour
to illustrate and confirm the Observation
in my Text; by showing in what Manner the
wrath of man is made to praise God. And
then I shall lead your Thoughts to the Im|provement
we ought to make of such a Me|ditation.
THE different Ways, in which the wrath
of man turns out to the praise of God, are re|ducible
chiefly to these three. I. As it mani|fests most brightly the glorious Perfections
of GOD in the Government of the Universe.
II. As it illustrates and improves the Virtues of good Men; and thus beautifies his Church
and People. And, III. As it is made the
descriptionPage 5
Means of working out their greater Prosperity
and Happiness, upon the whole.
I. I say, the wrath of man praises God, as it gives Occasion for the brighter and more
illustrious Discovery of his Perfections, in the
Government of the World.—The Beauty and
Order of the Universe is much heighten'd, by
its being so complicated a System: In which,
there are such a Variety of Springs to be ad|justed;
and so many different Movements
to be regulated and kept in Order: Inter|fering
Interests and jarring Passions ballanc'd,
in such Manner, against one another; violent
and unruly Men kept under such a wise and
regular Controul; and the wrath of man made
so to know its Place; that, how opposite so|ever
the several Motions seem to be, yet they
concur and meet at last in one End. This
renders a Divine Hand sensible and illustrious: This opens a more wonderful Prospect of the
Divine Government, than if all its Subjects
were loyal, and willingly obedient; and makes
that Power and Wisdom, which can render
such intractable Things subservient to the Ends
of Justice and Goodness, appear so much the
more worthy of everlasting Admiration and
Praise. More particularly,
descriptionPage 6
1. THE wrath of man redounds to the
Praise of GOD's almighty Power; as this is
display'd in his restraining and baffling at Pleasure
all its Fury and Wickedness.—To reign
with sovereign Command, amidst the most
disorder'd and turbulent State of Things, is
the peculiar Glory of Omnipotence. Hence
we find GOD describ'd in Scripture sitting
on the flood, riding on the wings of the wind,
dwelling in the darkness and the tempest. As
he stills the raging of the seas, and the noise of
their waves, so, he stills the tumults of the
people. When the Passions of Men are most
agitated and inflamed, and their violent De|signs
just ripe for bursting into Execution;
how oft by some unforeseen. Turn of Provi|dence,
hath he call'd upon Mankind to ob|serve,
that there is one higher than the highest
on Earth, who can baffle all their Devices
with the Breath of his Mouth; and com|mand
the Earth to be still before him? When
proud Fleets cover the Ocean, he blows with
his Wind, and they are scattered. When
mighty Armies go forth to Battle, in all the
Glory of human Strength, with what Majesty
does an omnipotent Arm sometimes appear?
—As in the Case of haughty Sennacherib,
descriptionPage 7
and that boasted Tempest of Wrath he threat|ned
to pour upon all the Jewish Nation:
I will put my hook, says GOD, in thy nose, and
my bridle in thy lips, and I will turn thee back
by the way by which thou camest* 1.4. In that
Night the destroying Angel smote the Host:
And he departed, we are told, with shame of
face to his own land. When the heathen rage,
and the people imagine a vain thing; when the
kings of the earth set themselves, and its rulers
take counsel together; he that sitteth in the
heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall hold them
in derision: then shall he speak to them in
wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure* 1.5.
Again,
2. THE wrath of man is made to praise the Wisdom, as well as the Power of GOD; when
he makes the unruly Passions of bad Men,
work in a secret Way, towards Ends, by them
altogether unforeseen. This most eminently
displays the unsearchable Depths of the Di|vine
Counsel, when we see them render'd the
Ministers of Providence, to forward Designs
which they intended to destroy.—Thus, how
surprising is it, in the History of Joseph, that
the Cruelty of his Brethren, the Lewdness
descriptionPage 8
and Resentment of his Mistress, and the Wrath
of Potiphar, should all conspire to his Ad|vancement,
and prove the Steps, by which
this persecuted and friendless Man rose, till he
became the Saviour of all his Kindred? How
remarkably did the wrath of man praise GOD
in the case of Daniel? The Malice of his E|nemies
had thrown him into the Den of Li|ons
for worshipping GOD; they presumed
his Destruction accomplish'd; and them|selves
completely delivered from so formi|dable
a Rival; yet this very Event prov'd not
only the Occasion of Daniel's greater Honour,
and their utter Ruin, but of a Decree through
all the Kingdom of the Medes, that all Men
should worship and fear before the GOD of
Daniel* 1.6. Thus GOD snareth the wicked
in the works of their hands* 1.7: And erects
his own Counsel upon the Ruin of theirs.
These Things which, view'd apart, appear to
us Spots in the divine Administration, when
considered in their Connection with all the Train
of succeeding Events, often add a great Lustre
and Beauty to it. Were our Views extensive
enough, we should discern it always to be thus.
descriptionPage 9
3. I might observe further, that the wrath
of man praises the Goodness of GOD; in all
these Purposes of general Benefit, both tem|poral
and spiritual, to which his Providence
renders it subservient. But these will fall
to be afterwards considered; I therefore pro|ceed
to observe,
4. THAT the wrath of man is made to
praise the Divine Justice.—In many Cases it
is sufficient for this End, that GOD let loose
upon bad Men, for their own Punishment,
these angry Passions, which make them the
Disturbers of others. By giving them up to
the Workings of these, he opens a Source of
restless Pain within their Breasts; and delivers
them over to themselves, to be their own
Tormentors. In thus connecting the Punish|ment
with the Crime, causing their own
wickedness to reprove them, and their back|slidings
to correct them, the Hand of Justice
is plainly seen. And tho' the Sinner that
feels it, may affect to disguise his Suffering,
yet every one knows that no Punishment is
more real, or more intense, than the inward
Misery of a Mind, wrought and torn with
Despite, Revenge, or wrathful Passion. In
such a Case, we may understand that Say|ing
descriptionPage 10
of the Psalmist to receive its Accomplish|ment;
The wicked have drawn out their
sword, and bent their bow, to cast down the
poor and needy;—but the sword which they
have drawn shall enter into their own heart* 1.8.
—The wrath of man praises also the Divine
Justice, by being the Instrutment of punish|ing
other ambitious and violent Men. They
are let loose upon one another to fulfil the
Vengeance of Heaven. One corrupt Nation
is raised up against another; that both may
suffer for their Sins. And as there can be no
soild nor lasting Bond of Union amongst wicked
Men, (tho' they may be occasionally cement|ed
by Conspiracy against the Good) their con|tinually
interfering Views and Interests, ren|der
them, in the just Judgment of Provi|dence,
a Prey to mutual Jealousy, Strife and
Fraud.—Finally, the Justice of GOD is
praised in the Vengeance, which, sooner or
later, he executes against the Wrath and Vio|lence
of Sinners. They may go on for a
Time, and appear to prosper: The Justice of
Heaven may seem to slumber: but it is awake:
and only waits till the measure of their iniquity
be full. How oft has the World been a|wakened
to the Observation of the awful Go|vernment
descriptionPage 11
of GOD, by the sudden Fall and
Destruction of Tyrants? GOD represents him|self
in Scripture, as permitting Wickedness
sometimes to arise to an over-grown Height,
on Purpose that its Ruin may be the greater, and the more astonishing. For this cause he
tells that wicked Prince Pharaoh, he had raised
him up, that is, allowed him to prosper and
be exalted, that he might shew in him his
power; and that his name might be declared
throughout all the earth* 1.9. The Divine Ad|ministration
is glorified as well in the strange
Punishment he hath decreed for the Workers
of Iniquity, as in the Reward he hath pre|pared
for the Righteous. This is the purpose
which the Lord hath purposed upon all the
earth: and this is the hand that stretched
forth over all the nations* 1.10!
THUS the wrath of man is made to praise
God, by giving Mankind deep Impressions of that
infinite Power, Wisdom and Justice, that governs
the World. Such Impressions it is necessary
for Mankind to have; and, in their present
imperfect State, they can only receive them
from something that is sensible and striking. The Commotions and Disorders of the World,
descriptionPage 12
open a Field for signalizing the Divine Ad|ministration
more, than if all Things went on
in a quiet undisturbed Tenor. The Waters
must be sometimes troubled, that we may at|tend
to that Hand which stills their Raging:
and Clouds must arise, that the heavenly
Light which dispels them, may strike our
Eye with the more sensible Brightness. We
further observed,
II. THAT the wrath of man may be justly
said to praise GOD, by that Tendency which
he gives it to improve and illustrate the Virtues
of good Men; and thereby to beautify his
Church and People. Now it hath this Effect,
1. As it is employed by GOD to be the
Means of correcting good Men for their Faults.
These Storms, which Ambition and Pride raise
among Mankind, he permits, with the same
Intention, that he sends forth Tempests and
Hurricanes amongst the Elements; to clear
the Atmosphere of noxious Vapours, and pu|rify
it from that Corruption which all Things
contract by too much Rest. Bad Men appear
sometimes to have obtained entire Power o|ver
the Just: they exercise their Tyranny,
perhaps, with a very heavy and oppressive
descriptionPage 13
Hand: the Just complain and groan; and in the
Bitterness of their Soul, can hardly for|bear
to exclaim; "Where is the Lord? And
where the Sceptre of Righteousness and
Truth? Hath God forgotten to be gracious?
Or doth he indeed see, and is there know|ledge
in the Most High?"—Their Oppres|sors
are really no more than the Instruments
of GOD to them for Good: He sees they stand
in Need of such Correction; and therefore
raises them up Enemies, to cure the Intempe|rance
of Prosperity; And by that Seriousness
which Affliction is fitted to introduce into the
Mind, to lead them to think of themselves,
of their Duty, and their past Errors. In this
Way the Disturbers of the Earth are often re|presented
to us in Scripture; as Scourges in the
Hand of GOD, sent forth to do his Work up|on
a degenerating People: They are employed
in the Execution of righteous and wise Purpo|ses,
concealed from themselves; and, when
their Commission is fulfilled, recalled and de|stroyed.
Of this we have a remarkable Ex|ample
in the King of Assyria. I will send him,
says GOD, against an hypocritical nation, and
against the people of my wrath, will I give him
a charge, to take the spoil and to take the prey:
descriptionPage 14
—howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his
heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy
and cut off nations not a few.—Wherefore it
shall come to pass, that when the Lord hath
performed his whole work upon mount Zion
and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the
stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory
of his high looks* 1.11. Vainly then doth the
warth of man lift itself up against GOD.—
Shall the ax boast itself against him that hew|eth
therewith? Or shall the saw magnify it|self
against him that shaketh it?* 1.12—All
things, whether they will or not, must work
together for good to them that love God.—This
amongst the rest, fills up the Place assign'd it,
by the Ordination of Heaven;—and the
proudest Conqueror, and the most oppressive
Tyrant, possess only the same Station, with
the Famine, the Pestilence, and the Flood:
their Triumphs are no more than the Ac|complishment
of GOD's Correction: And the
remainder of their wrath shall he restrain.
2. GOD makes the wrath of man to praise
him, not only by employing it in Chastise|ment,
but as the Instrument of improving and
signalizing the Graces of good Men; and
descriptionPage 15
thereby raising them to higher Honour and
Glory.—Had there been no Persecutors and
Tyrants, no Oppressors of Liberty, no wrath|ful
and furious Men in the World, what a
Number of great and worthy Actions had ne|ver
been heard of? What shining Examples
of Fortitude, Constancy and Patience, had
been lost to the World? What a Field of Vir|tues,
peculiar to a State of Improvement and
Discipline, had lain uncultivated?—Spirits
of a higher Order possess a State of established
Virtue, that stands in Need of no such Improve|ments
and Trials. But to us, who are only
under Education for such a State, it belongs to
pass through the Furnace, that our Souls may
be tried, refined, and brightened. We must
stand the Conflict, that we may be graced and
crowned as Conquerors. The wrath of man gives
the Occasion, and the Field;—calls us forth
to the most conspicuous and distinguished Ex|ercise
of active Virtue,—and forms us to all
those suffering Graces which are amongst the
brightest Ornaments of the human Soul. When
unjust Attempts are carried on against our pub|lick
Interests, these give us the Means of disco|vering
true publick Spirit, and Love to our Coun|try.
When we suffer in our private Concerns,
descriptionPage 16
there our Enemies put it into our Power
to gain the noblest Conquest, by overcoming
the World; and to make ourselves greater than
the greatest Man who injures us by forgiving
him. When we suffer for the Sake of Truth
and a good Conscience, there we have the de|sirable
Opportunity afforded us, of gaining Ho|nour
truly immortal, by being Witnesses for
GOD, and maintaining an exemplary and he|roic
Fidelity. In all this the wrath of man
praises God.—Every single Instance, in which
our Souls are improv'd, or some Action of
distinguished Goodness is produced, by Means
of the wrath of man, redounds most highly,
both to our own Good, and to his Praise, who
hath order'd Things in this Manner for our
Improvement.—'Tis thus, the illustrious Band
of Patriots and Heroes, of Confessors and Mar|tyrs,
have been set forth to the Admiration of
all Ages, as the lights of the world: Whilst the
Violence and Fury of Enemies, instead of
bearing them down, has only serv'd to exalt
and dignify them the more.—We proceed
now to the
III. VIEW we proposed to give of the wrath
of man praising God; when Providence makes
descriptionPage 17
it the Mean of working out greater Prosperity
and Happiness, upon the whole, to his People
and Church.—I say, the Violence of Enemies,
the Rage of Persecutors, and the Oppression
of Tyrants, not only tend, in the Way of mo|ral
and religious Improvement to the better|ing
of our Souls; but also are often made,
in their Consequences, to produce other un|look'd
for Blessings to good Men in this State.
As this is no rare nor unfrequent Thing, we
shall point out some Instances in which it ap|pears.
Thus,
THE Hardships which good Men suffer
from others in their private Concerns, are of|ten
seen to give Birth to their succeeding Pros|perity.
Many Exemplifications of this we
find in History. The unfortunate Circum|stances
of Moses's Birth, thro' the Cruelty of
an Egyptian Tyrant, were the Means of this
exposed Infant's being bred up as a King's Son,
and of his being accomplish'd for his future
great Atchievements, with all the Wisdom
and Learning of the Egyptian Court. The
Insolence and proud Resentment of Haman
pav'd the Way for the Advancement of Mor|decai
his Enemy, at the very critical Time
When he thought his Designs ripe for sinking
descriptionPage 18
him into Ruin: And his cruel Scheme for
the Destruction of Mordecai's whole Nation,
prov'd the Occasion of their being raised above
all their Enemies. There are many devices in
the heart of a man, but the counsel of the Lord
shall stand* 1.13. He, connecting together each
Link in the Chain of Events that fill up our
Life, by an unexpected Contexture of Causes,
makes those Things which we most deplore
bring on our better Days: And, in the dark
Bosom of Misfortune, gradually ripens the la|tent
Seeds of future Prosperity.—How fre|quently
have the Attempts of Enemies to run
down and blacken good Men by all the Arts
of Malice, made their Character shine the
fairer in the Eye of the impartial World?
How frequently have the Extremities to which
they have been driven by Injustice and Vio|lence,
prov'd the Occasion of calling forth
their Courage and Activity, and of putting
them upon such Efforts to do themselves Ju|stice,
as have raised them higher than ever
they fell? How many, in the Course of their
Life, have had Reason to be thankful for be|ing
disappointed by the Wrath of their Ene|mies,
in Designs, which, perhaps, they very
descriptionPage 19
earnestly pursued; but which, if they had
succcessfully accomplish'd, they have afterwards
seen would have prov'd their Ruin? Whoso is
wise and will observe these things, even he shall
understand the loving-kindness of the Lord* 1.14.
BUT if thus, in private Life, the wrath of
man is often made to praise GOD, by becom|ing
the Occasion of greater Good; still more
is the Hand of GOD apparent, in the Ends of
publick Benefit it is made to serve, to Nations
and Societies.—The Rage of Civil Wars, the
Oppression of Tyrants, and all the other dis|mal
Effects of the Ambition and Wrath of
Man, have often sung the Praise of GOD to
many succeeding Generations. Thence have
been made to spring, publick Liberty to a
People, wise Government, good Order, and
lasting Peace. Nations have been thereby a|waken'd
to see their true Interests; and taught
more effectually to secure them. Publick Af|fairs
being once thrown into a Ferment, the
Corruptions of Government, like bad Hu|mours
in the Body, have been purg'd and
wrought off. The Feeling of grievous Op|pression
has frequently been the first Thing
that made Nations shake off the Yoke; and
descriptionPage 20
led them to assert their own just Rights against
tyrannical Governors; which, had their Ty|ranny
been less insolent, these Nations would
have remain'd longer, perhaps for ever, de|priv'd
of. Of this we have a memorable Ex|ample
in the late glorious and happy Revolu|tion
in our own Country. Our Constitution,
and its Liberties, might have been insensibly
undermined, and ruined, had it not been for
the glaring and open Violation of Laws with
a high Hand; which proclaiming all to be then
at Stake, rouz'd up the Spirits of Men to
rnake a determin'd Stand against incroaching
Tyranny: and thus gave Birth to that free
and legal Establishment, with which we at
this Day are blessed; and for which, we hope,
late Posterity after us, shall continue to bless
the Providence of GOD. Had it not been for
the avow'd Attempts then made against our
Religion. and our fundamental Rights Britain
might have been now under a Popish Sove|reign:
and, instead of that mild and tempe|rate
Administration we have enjoyed, under a
Series of Princes who have always made the
Law their Rule, we would have been the
Subjects, or rather Slaves, of those who arro|gantly
claim us as their Property by Divine
descriptionPage 21
Right. In like Manner, the Tyranny and
Violence of Tarquin, produced the illustrious
and victorious Commonwealth of Rome. The
Oppression of the King of Spain, laid the
Foundation of the Liberty of the United Pro|vinces;
and Liberty, from a few inconside|rable
Fisher-towns, has raised them to the
most flourishing Height of Trade and Opu|lence.
—As to the first Establishment of Free|dom,
so to the further Security of a publick
Interest, unjust and violent Designs have been
often subservient. Attempts to overthrow a
good Government, have generally strength|ned
it more. By these its false Friends are
unmasked and brought to Light; its secret
Foes suffer for their Treachery: the Zeal of
its Well-wishers is awakened and increased;
and, from what is felt of the Violence and
Outrage of its Enemies, People are more con|firm'd
in Abhorrence of their Designs, and
made more justly to prize the Blessings of
Tranquillity and legal Protection.
FURTHER, the wrath of man, in the Per|secution
of Religion and Truth, signally praises
GOD, when it is made to turn to the greater
Advancement of Religion, and further Propa|gation
of Truth.—The Church of GOD, since
descriptionPage 22
the Days of its Infancy, hath never been free
from the World's Wrath; and yet, in these
Ages in which it was most persecuted, it hath
most flourished. In vain, the Policy and the
Rage of the World united their Strength, to
extinguish this Divine Light. Tho' all the
four Winds blew against it, it only shone the
brighter; and flam'd the higher: Many wa|ters
could not quench it, nor all the floods drown
it: and the Blood of the Martyrs, as has
been often and justly said, was the Seed of
the Church. The Zeal of the primitive Chri|stians,
their Constancy and Fortitude in gi|ving
Testimony to Truth, and their chearful
Patience in suffering for it, did much more
to increase the Number of Converts to true
Religion, than all the Terror and Cruelty of
Persecutors could ever do to lessen it. The At|tempts
that were used to bear down Religion,
only enlarg'd its Triumphs, by displaying the
victorious Force of Truth. By this Means
the wrath of man was made to turn against it|self,
to the Destruction of its own Purpose;—
like Waves, that, assaulting a Rock with im|potent
Fury, discover its immoveable Stabi|lity,
whilst they dash themselves in Pieces at
its Feet. Prosperity, Greatness, and worldly
descriptionPage 23
Favour may have corrupted Religion, and
sullied the Purity of the Church: But, never
did the wrath of man try to overthrow it, but
in the Issue it made its own Weakness appear;
and rais'd the praise of God, by purifying the
Church, and advancing Religion more.
I SHALL only add one Instance more of
the wrath of man praising GOD, by accom|plishing
Ends of most extensive Benefit: and
that is, the Death of JESUS CHRIST.—Ne|ver
did Malice, Rage and Envy please them|selves
with the Thoughts of having obtain'd
a more complete Triumph, than in this Case.
JESUS was now put to Death; the Revenge
of his Enemies gratified; his Name, and his
Honour, they believ'd, rooted out from a|mongst
Men;—yet, behold how vain the
wrath of man is! all that they intended to
overthrow, they most effectually confirm'd.
The Ignominy of the Cross became the
Standard of eternal Honour to CHRIST, and
his Religion: and his Death, perpetrated by
them as a wicked Murder, was, in the Coun|sel
of GOD, the Spring of everlasting Life to
all his Followers. He, who restrains the
Remainder of Wrath at his Pleasure, suffer'd
their Rage to suggest no other Things to them,
descriptionPage 24
than what himself had long before determin'd,
and his Prophets foretold, should be so done.
So that they all conspir'd to render the whole
most exactly conformable to his original Plan
of Mercy and Goodness; and each contri|buted
his Share, to finish that great Work,
which none of them knew any thing of, nor
in the least intended.—So glorious an Instance
as this, fully ascertain'd and laid out to us in
Scripture, of the wrath of man ministring to
the gracious Designs of Heaven, ought to
have the greatest Weight; as an Exemplifica|tion
of the Conduct of Providence in ma|ny
other Cases, where we have not so much
Light afforded us for the Discovery of its
Ways.
AND now, by this Induction of Particulars,
you see, upon the whole, how much Ground
there is for asserting, that the wrath of man
shall praise God; that all the Disorders
which the Passion and Pride of Men occasion
in the World, tho' they take their first Rise
from the Corruption of human Nature, are so
order'd, as to become Parts of a wise and
good Constitution, redounding to his Honour
and Glory, who hath order'd all.—Either illustrating
before the World, his Divine Per|fections,
descriptionPage 25
in the Government of Things;—or
serving the Purposes of moral and religious
Improvement to the Souls of Men;—or by
some secret Tendency, working out Prosperity
and Happiness to those whom they seem most
to threaten with Suffering and Evil.—Surely,
O GOD, the wrath of man. shall praise thee!
the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain!
"In thy Hand it is; and thou never lets it
forth but in Weight and Measure. It is
wild and intractable in its Nature; but thou
tamest it: blind and headlong in its Im|pulse;
but thou directest it: ever struggling
to break its Chain, knowing no Bounds; but
thou confinest it: Thou retrenchest all the
Superfluity of its Fury!"—Let us now
consider, what is the Improvement to be made
of this Meditation on the Ways of Providence.
1. Let it lead us to a religious Contempla|tion
of the Hand of God, in all the Occurren|ces
and Transactions of the World. We be|hold
a very mixed and busy Scene of Things
passing before us: the Passions of Men vari|ously
agitated and new Changes daily brought
forth upon this Stage of Time. We behold
Peace and War taking their Turns: the
descriptionPage 26
Fortunes of private Men rising and falling:
and Nations and Kingdoms partaking in the
same Fluctuation and Vicissitude. In all this,
if we look no farther than to the Operation
of external Causes, and the mere Rotation of,
Events, we behold only the dead Side of Na|ture;
—stop at the Surface of Things;—
contemplate them not like rational and religi|ous
Beings. The Life and Beauty of the U|niverse
arises from the View of that Wisdom
and Goodness, which animates and conducts
the whole; and unites all the Parts in one
great Design. There is an eternal Mind that
puts all these Wheels in Motion; himself re|maining
for ever at Rest. Of him we are to
conceive not as removed from this World;
sitting, a mere Spectator of his Creatures, in
his high Abode: but as an omnipresent Spi|rit,
pervading, directing, and regulating all;
ever busy without Toil, and working without
Weariness! Nothing is void of him: even in
the Passions and Ragings of Men, GOD is to
be found: and when they think they guide
themselves, his Hand controuls and guides
them still.—To what serious and solemn
Thoughts are we led by such a View as this;
when we attend not merely to the Actings of
descriptionPage 27
Men, but to the Ways of GOD; deeply im|press'd
with the Belief, that we and all our
Concerns are Parts of his great Admini|stration!
2. FROM what has been said we see, that
we ought not to be shaken in our Minds,
by any present seeming Disorders of the
World, so as on Account of them to think ill
of Providence. Many Things, doubtless, there
are, which appear as Blemishes in the general
Order, to a superficial View; and which, if
we were to regulate the World, we think
should have no Place in it. And yet, these
various Instances, which we see, and can clear|ly
trace, of the Workings of Passion and Wic|kedness,
render'd subservient to worthy and
good Ends, give us the highest Reason to con|clude,
that, in all other Cases of seeming Evil,
the like Ends are promoted. This ought to sa|tisfy
our Minds, even where the Prospect is most
discouraging, and the State of human Affairs
most dark and embroil'd. The Schemes of Di|vine
Wisdom are too large and comprehensive,
to be discerned by us, in all their Extent, at
one View; and, where we see only by Parts,
we must be often at a Loss to judge of the
Whole. The way of God is in the sea, and
descriptionPage 28
his path in the great waters: his footsteps are
not known* 1.15. Although thou sayest thou
canst not see him, yet judgment is still before
him, therefore trust thou in him* 1.16. His it
is, to educe Good from Ill, Order from Con|fuision,
his own just Praise from Man's Wrath.
As in the natural World, there is no real De|formity;
nothing but what has either its own
Ornament or Use: so, the most irregular and
deformed Appearances in the moral World,
shall be made to heighten the Beauty of the
whole: And, in the End, all the Works of
GOD shall appear to be perfect. GOD binds
together the most opposite and disagreeing
Principles in the Laws of universal Concord:
and adapts, even the most harsh and discor|dant
Notes, to the Harmony of his Goodness.
As he hath rear'd the goodly Frame of Na|ture,
from various and jarring Elements, and
hath settled it in Peace; so he hath formed
such an Union, by his Providence, of the more
various Interests, and more jarring Passions of
Men, that they all conspire to his Glory, and
co-operate for the general Good.—How a|mazing
is that Wisdom, which comprehends
such infinite Diversities, and Contrarieties, with|in
descriptionPage 29
its Scheme! How powerful that Hand,
which bends to its own Purpose, the Good and
the Bad, the Busy and the Idle, the Friends
and the Foes of GOD; which makes them all
hold on their Course to his Glory, tho' divid|ed
from one another by a Multiplicity of Pur|suits,
and differing often from themselves; and
whilst they all move themselves at their own
Freedom, yet, by a secret Influence, winds
and turns them at his Will! O the depth of
the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of
God! how unsearchable are his judgments,
and his ways past finding out* 1.17!
3. From what has been said, we see the
greatest Reason for entire Submission to the
Will of Heaven, amidst all Sufferings from
the Wrath and Violence of Men. These be|fal
us not in vain: they are not to be con|sidered
as mere Effects of the arbitrary Plea|sure
and Will of Men: nor are we to believe
ourselves the Sport of Fortune and Passion.
But, good Designs are going on: GOD is al|ways
carrying forward his own Ends: And if
we are certainly assured that all is tending to
his Glory, which is ever the same with the
general Good, is not this a sufficient Reason for
descriptionPage 30
the most peaceable Acquiescence on our Part?
Ought not we, as Parts of the Whole, chear|fully
to resign our private Interest, to the
Advancement of a higher and more general
Good?—But moreover, by this Resignation,
our own Interest shall suffer nothing in the Is|sue.
For the greatest Happiness of every good
Man, of each Individual, as well as of the
whole, is comprehended in that Praise which
the wrath of man is decreed to yield to GOD.
—Hence ought to arise, not unreluctant Sub|mission
only, but the most exalted Joy in the
Divine Administration, to all who are pious
and virtuous. In all Events, their Interest is
secur'd; and the severest Trials of Life are to
them Matter even of Thankfulness and Grati|tude,
when view'd in their just Light. For,
in these very Trials, their Advantage is consult|ed;
by them is their Good promoted; and the
most hurtful Designs of the Wrath of Man are
converted into Benefits and Blessings.—Let this
be enough to reconcile our Minds to every
Part of our Lot; and to establish them in the
most comforting Trust and Confidence, in
GOD, in the Way of our Duty.—If God be
for us who, or what, can be against us? He
who can defeat all the Purposes of our Enemies,
descriptionPage 31
and transform their intended Evil unto real
Good, is certainly the most powerful Friend:
And if his Wrath be once, appeas'd, there is
no other Wrath from which we have ought
to fear.
4. FROM all that has been said of the Con|duct
of Providence, let us observe, how much
Reason there is for acknowledging with Thank|fulness
the Hand of GOD, in all these Delive|rances,
which we obtain from the wrath of
man. As we ought never to forget, when we
suffer by human Violence, that it is his Hand
which corrects us; so, when that Violence re|ceives
a Check, we ought to remember, it is
his Hand which restrains it. In both these,
the wrath of man, either permitted, or re|strain'd,
praises GOD: and we have seen him
remarkably prais'd in both.—Through all the
Steps of our late Sufferings, and our present
happy Deliverance, such a Series of Divine
Wisdom hath appear'd, as must present, to the
Observation of every considering Spectator, a ve|ry
beautiful Scene in the History of Providence.
—GOD beheld a Nation, whom he had fa|voured
with long Tranquillity and Peace, sunk,
by that Peace and Tranquillity, into Luxury
and Corruption of Manners. He had bless'd
descriptionPage 32
them with a happy Constitution, a mild Go|vernment,
and equal Laws; but long Enjoy|ment
had deaden'd their Sense of so invaluable
a Blessing, and fed a giddy and factious Spi|rit.
He had distinguish'd them with the
purest Enjoyment of pure Religion above most
Nations of the Earth; but their religious Pri|vileges,
once struggled for with Zeal, began
to be contemn'd and their first Love to cool.—
Behold, how opportunely GOD sent forth the
wrath of man, to work a Cure for all these
Evils;—to shake that Peace which had foster|ed
Luxury and Impiety under its Wings; to
threaten that Religion, and that Government,
to the Blessings of which we had beeninsen|sible;
and to display before us these Terrors
of oppressive Power, and persecuting Religion,
to the Danger of which we had been laid
asleep:—He made us feel the Value of all we
should have lost;—he made the Evil to grow
sudden and unexpected, from amongst ourselves,
and allowing it to proceed so far, as might be
sufficient to awaken the Nation, and to ren|der
us serious and wise, he then gave a signal
Check to the wrath of man; and restrain'd the
remainder of it, after it had gone the Length
which he saw meet. Our Enemies boasted
descriptionPage 33
of the Favour and Countenance of Heaven:
Countenanced they were by Heaven, but not
for their own Sakes; and the Success permit|ted
them for a Time, was meant for the Im|provement
and Benefit of those, whom they in|tended
to destroy. When the proper Season
was come, for GOD to assert his own Cause,
then he rais'd up an illustrious Deliverer,
whom, for a Blessing to his Country, he had
prepared against this Time of Need. HIM, he
crowned with the Graces of his Right-hand:
to the conspicuous Bravery of early Youth, he
added that Conduct and Wisdom, which, in
others, is the Fruit only of long Experience;
and distinguish'd Him with all those Qualities
which render the Man, amiable; as well, as the
HERO, Great: He sent him forth to be the
Terror of his Foes, the Confidence and Love of
his Friends; and, in the Day of Danger and
Death, commanded the Shields of Angels to be
spread around him!—What Heart, in which
the Love of BRITISH Liberty remains, warms
not at the Mention of his Name?—Whose
Bosom overflows not with Gratitude, when
he looks back upon the late dark and melan|choly
Scenes of Oppression and Terror, and
surveys the fair Prospect now open'd, by this
descriptionPage 34
chosen Instrument of our Deliverance, of Peace
restored, Liberty flourishing, and Religion
safe?—Let us lift up our Eyes to Heaven,
and say, This is the doing of the Lord, and it
is marvellous in our eyes* 1.18!—HIM, the
wrath of man hath indeed signally prais'd, in
our Land: Prais'd him, when it rag'd; and
prais'd him, when it fell!—When he arose, his
enemies were scattered; as smoke is driven a|way,
and as chaff before the wind.—Give unto
the Lord, ye mighty, give unto the Lord glo|ry
and strength* 1.19! He breaketh the bow, and
cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the
chariot in fire* 1.20. His excellency is over
Israel: his strength is in the clouds: He giv|eth
strength and victory to his people* 1.21.
—PRAISE ye the LORD.