Moses his prayer. Or, An exposition of the nintieth Psalme.: In which is set forth, the frailty and misery of mankind; most needfull for these times. Wherein [brace] 1. The sum and scope. 2. The doctrines. 3. The reasons. 4. The uses of most texts are observed. / By Samuel Smith, minister of the Gospel, author of Davids repentance and the Great assize, and yet living.

Ver. 11. Who knoweth the power of thy Anger: even according to thy fear, So is thy wrath.

IN this verse Moses seems to apply and to make use of the former destru∣ction, of so many thousands of the people, that were so suddenly cut off, and swept away. Who knoweth the power of, &c. q. d. what man living is able sufficiently to confider of the greatnesse of thy wrath, and fearfull Anger against sin: And who doth fear thee according to thy exceeding and unspeakable Anger to tremble at it, as thine indignation and displeasure ought to be feared: As if he should say, surely few or none. For Interroga∣tions in the Scripture are often strong Negations. And those that doe fear thee, yet fall short of the measure of

their fear, that thy anger and wrath doth require.

Who knoweth.

THat is, doth well consider it, and acknowledgeth the unsupporta∣ble waight and burthen of it.

The first Instruction observable is:

That albeit we tast of Gods anger, [Doct. 1] yet few take notice of it. * 1.1

And that is ordinarily the case of desperate sinners, that contemn the rod of Gods chastisements, and pro∣fit not by them, * 1.2 as the Prophet hath it. No man said, What have I done? And again, * 1.3 I have brought thy waies upon thy own head, yet hast tho•• not had consideration of thy abominations.

Thus did the Lord call to weeping and mourning, * 1.4 to baldnesse and sack∣cloath; and behold, joy and gladnesse, eating of flesh, and drinking of wine. But what followed this damnable security, Surely this iniquitie (saith the Lord) shall not be purged till ye die. * 1.5 This was that damnable securitie of the old World in the daies of No∣ah, though Gods judgments were

threatned, and even at the doore; Yet, they gave themselves to eating and drinking, marrying, &c. till the Flood came, and swept them all away.

And hence it is that we are com∣manded, to hear the rod, and who hath appointed it. * 1.6 Every affliction and every judgment from God, utters a voice, which we are to give ear un∣to, and labour to finde out the Lords minde in, wherefore the Lord sends forth such tokens of his anger and dis∣pleasure, and not to do this, when Gods hand is upon us, argueth much security. It is a dangerous thing, when Gods wrath is gone out against a Land and Nation, or any particular person, to harden our necks against the stroak of the Almightie. It was a sad complaint that of the Prophet, Stran∣gers have devoured his strength, * 1.7 and he knoweth not. O when the Lord shall inflict upon his people, and plead against them, with the pestilence, and with blood, * 1.8 and men shall not take notice of it, but remain sencelesse un∣der Gods hand, this is the way to double Gods strokes, and to kindle a

fire that shall devoure to destruction, He hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and yet he knew it not, * 1.9 and it burned him, and he laid it not to heart.

Such look not up to God that striketh them, nor to their sins, [Reas. 1] that justly drawes down Gods judgments upon them; but, they rather look upon secondary causes or instruments, and over-look God. How usuall a thing it is for men to ascribe all their miseries and calamities that men suf∣fer to destiny, fortune, or chance, and sometimes to their own want of pro∣vidence, as if they might have pre∣vented them: and thus men, through the wretchednesse of their own evill hearts, they over-look God, looking after the stone, but not the hand that cast it.

Secondly, [Reas. 2] it is the only fruit of Faith to behold God chastising us, as a loving father, for our good. Now when men either want Faith, or Faith is not exercised under the crosse, no marvell though men over-look God, and make not the right use of their

sufferings; whereas David in his greatest trials could comfortably conclude, I know that thy judgments are just, * 1.10 and that thou of very faithfulnesse hast caused me to be troubled.

This serves to admonish us, [Vse 1] that when the hand of God is gone out against us, either against the Land in generall, or against us in particular in any kind whatsoever, in our bodies, names, estates &c. that we take heed that this be not our case, that we are insensible under Gods correcting hand, but take notice of his anger and displeasure gone out against us.

In all extraordinary and strange judgments of God upon us, we should look home, * 1.11 and say, Righteous art thou, O Lord, and true are thy judgments: And all these things are come upon us, for we have sinned a∣gainst thee.

This was Jobs care under his sore afflictions, he puts not off the matter, lookes not upon the Caldeans and the Sabeans that had plundered him of his substance; but he lookes up higher, even unto God, and desires to finde

out the cause of all his misery, * 1.12 Shew me, wherefore thou contendest with me.

Thus doth the Church in great af∣flictions, first, they acknowledge, that their sins had deserved all their mise∣ries, and they desire to finde them out, and to turn unto the Lord, Man suffereth for his sin. * 1.13 Let us search, and try our waies, and turn unto the Lord.

This is one main end of all those tokens of his anger and displeasure, to humble the proud heart of man, to make him look home; and then is God glorified, when he attains the end of his corrections laid upon us. The Lord knowes, this Land and Na∣tion of ours is too too faulty in this, that notwithstanding his wrath hath gone out against us, by many tokens of his displeasure, by the sword, by the pestilence, and by our late visitation of common sicknesse, and unwonted diseases, whereby many, in all parts and corners of the Land, have been suddenly swept away, as it was the case of this Church and People here:

Yet, how few lay these judgments of God to heart, to be humbled for sin, the cause of all. We have had our daies of Humiliation, but where is that Reformation the Lord lookes for at our hands?

We still complain of our miseries we groan under, but we complain not of our sins the cause of all. How can we look that Gods hand should be removed, and his wrath appeased, whilest Englands sins cry for fresh judgments upon us?

I am no Prophet nor the Son of a Prophet, yet I am given much to fear, that Englands's miseries are not yet at an end, but that God hath yet a farther controversy with us.

When Moses intreated the Lord for his sister Miriam, * 1.14 God returned him this answer, If her Father had spit in her face, should she not have been ashamed seven daies? q. d. How much more ought she to be humbled and ashamed, since I have shewed my displeasure against her? God hath ma∣ny waies shewed his anger and dis∣pleasure against this Land, and yet

wee have not laid his Iudgements to heart; why then do we not fear, that he will yet plead against us, with pesti∣lence, and with blood; and bring worser daies, then England hath yet seen.

VVho knoweth the power of thy Anger, &c.

THat is, none doth sufficiently con∣sider of thy Anger, and wrath for sin, and doth fear thee accordingly, to tremble at it: Surely they are very few, and those that do fear thee, and the power of thy wrath: yet come far short of that measure of it, that thy Iudgements deserve.

Hence we learn, [Doct. 2] that Gods wrath is a terrible wrath: none knows it, * 1.15 nor is able sufficiently to conceive of it: It is called a fierce wrath, sore Displea∣sure: when his wrath and anger is kindled, it devours to destruction. Our God is a consuming fire.

First, it is the wrath of God. [unspec 1] The Lord revengeth, the Lord revengeth, * 1.16 where the repetition of the words shows not only the certainty of his

wrath, but the severity of it.

Secondly, [unspec 2] it is a consuming wrath, it devours to destruction; when this fire is once kindled, it will burn to the lowest Hell. * 1.17 For a fire is kindled in my Anger, and shall consume to the lowest Hell, &c.

Thirdly, [unspec 3] there is an increase of his wrath; * 1.18 Thou according to the hardnesse of thy heart treasurest up wrath. As rich men add to their Trea∣sures, so God adds to the Treasures of his wrath, as men adde to their sins, so God adds to his wrath, and when the measure of sin is full, God then powres out his full wrath.

It is a powerfull wrath: [unspec 4] Who knows the power of thy wrath? It is not like the wrath of man, which howsoever hot, and great, yet many times wants power to accomplish it; but it is a wrath, that hath much power in it, so that look how much more God is stronger then man, * 1.19 so is his wrath.

It is a suddain wrath, [unspec 5] and so much the more fearfull: Their Damnation doth not sleep; it travails as fast as mens sins, and will be sure to meet them at

their journies end. It surpriseth them suddainly, it comes as an Earthquake, and as a Theef in the night. And if we look but upon those examples, whom God hath made spectacles of his wrath, who can but acknowledge that Gods wrath is terrible. The Angells were cast out of Heaven in his wrath, the old world destroyed in his wrath, Sodom and her Sisters consumed in his wrath, Corah and his Com∣plices swallowed up of the Earth in wrath, Pharaoh and the Ae∣gyptians drowned in his wrath: The Iews once Gods Church and pe∣culiar people now rejected in his wrath. Besides experience daily before our eyes of Nations, and Kingdomes flourishing Kingdoms, brought low almost to destruction, all the wofull fruits and effects of Gods anger and wrath: For the Reasons and Uses see ver. 7. Doct. 5.

Who knoweth the power of thy Anger according to thy fear.

q. d. WHat man living is able sufficiently to consider the

waight of thy Anger for sin, ahd who doth fear thee accordingly? surely ve∣ry few. And those that do fear thee, yet come far short in the measure and degree of the fear, that they ought to have.

Hence we may observe, [Doct. 3] what is the cause why men do either altogether shake off the fear of God, * 1.20 or have little or no sence of his Anger and wrath for sin, or else fear the Lord but little and lesse then they ought to do. The Reason is plain, because that few do truly and indeed acknowledge the Power of Gods wrath, what a wofull thing it is to fall into the hands of the living God: would you know why men feare Gods Anger no more, and make so light accompt of his wrath and displeasure; surely it is because they never yet knew the wonderfull and unsupportable waight and burden of Gods displeasure. See how the Scrip∣tures speak of this Anger and wrath of God. * 1.21 The Mountains quake at him, and the Hills melt, and the Earth is burnt at his presence, yea, the world and all that dwell therein. VVho can

stand before his indignation, * 1.22 and who can abide the fiercenesse of his anger, his fury is poured out as fire, and the Rocks are thrown down by him. Yea, the best of Gods Servants that have e∣ver lived, have been astonished and cast down, with the beholding of Gods anger.

What a sad complaint was that of holy Job, * 1.23 O that my griefe were weighed, and my calamity laid in a ballance together, it would be heavier then the sand of the Sea, &c. And a∣gain, He hath broken me with one breaking after another, and runneth upon me as a Giant. Which shews that Jobs very inward and most noble parts were most afflicted with the sense of Gods anger, and displeasure.

And thus likewise doth Hezechiah complain: that God had bruised his bones like a Lion.

And David affirms the combating with Gods displeasure. His Soul was sore vexed and the very pangs of Hel gat hald upon him. And Jonas, * 1.24 out of the belly of Hell cryed I.

His wrath sets all on fire, sets the

conscience on fire as it did the consci∣ence of Jadas, and burnes that. Sets the estate of a man on fire and con∣sumes that, fals upon a mans house and habitation, sweepes away Sons and daughters, his Anger sets all on fire. If his wrath be but once kindled, * 1.25 peri∣shing and destruction is the issue of it. Now whilest men cast off this feare of Gods wrath, no marvell though men live in sin, and cease not to provoke him day by day, by their evill wayes, the feare of God is wanting.

The Reasons are

First, [Reas. 1] it is onely the feare of God, that is the chiefest Armour to keepe off Sathans temptations, to sin. How can I doe this great Wickednesse sayth Jo∣seph and sin against God? * 1.26 It was the feare of God that kept him from con∣senting to his Adulterous mistrisse. It was the feare of God that kept Job, that he durst not give liberty unto himselfe so much as in a wanton looke. And he professeth, that he durst not oppresse nor wrong any, and that for this very Reason; * 1.27 for Destruction from God was a terror to me. He was not able to beare Gods wrath.

And from this ground Saint Paul exhorts men to obedience knowing (saith he) the terrours of the Lord, * 1.28 we perswade men. See that the conside∣ration of Gode anger, & wrath against sin, is an excellent preservative against sin.

But before we come to the Vses, [Quest.] this Question is to be resolved; Whether a child of God may abstaine from sin for fear of wrath?

I answer, [Answ.] God children are princi∣pally to avoyd sin; because of the evill of sin: as that which most displeaseth God yea though there were no Hell at all, or punishment to be inflicted; yet in regard it offendeth God, so good and so gratious a Father, in Jesus Christ they should principally deter from sin.

Yet this sence of Gods wrath, and heavy, displeasure against sin, must not, nor may not be cast aside, this was the case of David. * 1.29 My flesh trembleth for feare of thee, and I am affraid of thy Judgments. David no doubt had a child-like feare and awe of God; And yet in the second plaee, he stood in awe

of Gods judgments, thus were Gods judgments a terrour unto Job, the De∣struction from God was a terrour unto me. * 1.30

So that howsoever, the godly are freed from Gods wrath by Christ, yet being continually preserved with the ill neighbourhood of the flesh, by the which we are often drawne into sin; the consideration of Gods judgments, is an excellent preservative to keepe us from sin.

Seeing the power of Gods anger is so great and terrible, [Vse 1] so powerfull, and unsupportable, it is our duty to feare the power of his wrath. Now to doe this, there is no way but to repent us of our sins, to turne unto God, and by faith to lay hold on Christ, who alone must stand betwixt God and us. * 1.31 Vnto you that feare my Name shall the Sun of Righteousnesse arise with healing under his wings. It is he that must Shield us from the heat of Gods wrath. Would we then have the heat of Gods anger to fly away, and to be safe from wrath, kisse the Son; get we under the wings of Christ, and so shall we be safe

under his Feathers; otherwise we lye open to the fire of Gods anger, which at last shall devoure to de∣struction.

This serves likewise to informe us of the Reason, [Vse 2] why there is so little fear of God amongst us little trembling at his Judgments, but men are bold to sin. The Reason is, Men know not the power of Gods wrath, they consi∣der not what the Lord is able to do when he is provoked.

There are two speciall causes why so few do so truly feare God.

Is a high conceit of our selves, Be not high minded in thy owne eyes, [unspec 1] but feare the Lord. * 1.32 Where the Holy Ghost opposeth pride to the feare of God Such as are proud and think their estate good enough, cannot truely feare God.

The second Reason why men cast off the feare of God, [unspec 2] is the hardnesse hearts. Blessed is the man that har- of their that feareth the Lord. * 1.33 But he dens his heart shall fall into mi∣sery: a hard heart shuts out all feare

of God.

Is for Exhortation, [Vse 3] that seeing the wrath of God is so fearefull and so terrible, it may teach us wisdome and circumspection to take heed to our selves, that we doe not provoke his wrath against us: this was that exhor∣tation that Moses gave to the people; * 1.34 take heed that there be not amongst you man or woman which should turne their heart away from the living God.

And he gives the Reason. Lest the wrath of God breake out, and every curse that is written in this booke light vpon him. It is sun that Brings this wrath of God upon the Children of Disobedience.

Who knoweth &c: [Text.] According to thy feare.

THe meaning is, [Doct. 4] what man doth truely know and acknowledge the power of thy anger, * 1.35 according to that measure of feare, wherwith thou ough∣test to be feared.

Note hence, How Moses and the people of God, though they feared God yet notwithstanding confesse that

they failed in respect of that measure of the fear of God, which they ought to have had; for we must not think, but Moses, and some of this people did truly feare God. But yet in regard of the power of Gods anger, which was now very great, & grievous, their fear of God was not answerable and pro∣portionable; then it is apparant, that Moses and this people fayled in re∣spect of the measure of the feare of God, which they ought to have had, in re∣gard of the greatnesse and grievousness of the judgments of God upon them.

See that the best of Gods servants in this life fall short in their feare of God and so in all graces of the spirit, in that love of God, in faith, in repen∣tance and in obedience, we come short all of us of that measure the Lord re∣quires at our hands, and which in re∣gard of the means we ought to have.

For though we do know God, and that he is a just God, and righteous, and cannot winke at sin; Yet what man is there that so feares before him as he ought to be feared? what man so quakes at his anger as he should; and is

so afraid of sin as he ought to be, wee have no grace here in perfection, but the best faith is mixed with infidelitie, our hope with feare our joy with sor∣row. It is wel we can discern our wants and imperfections and cry out with the man in the Gospell, * 1.36 I beleeve, Lord help my unbeleefe.

It is true our Justification is done at once, and perfect when we are ingraf∣ted into Christ. But our faith where∣by we apprehend it, is not perfect here, but grows and increaseth as our sancti∣fication doth, * 1.37 the Righteousnesse of God is revealed from faith to faith. It is the priviledge of the Soules in Hea∣ven, * 1.38 to be just, and perfect. But not on earth; Paul himselfe that had a great measure of the Sanctifying graces of the Spirit, yet confesseth, I account not my selfe that I have attained, * 1.39 either am already perfect. But I forget those things that are behind, &c. and presse towards the marke.

It is a good signe of the truth of grace, when we can discern in our selves, the want of grace, and strive against those doubts and feares that are in us.

Whereas it is an ill signe that that man wants the truth of grace in his soule that discovers not those manifold wants and imperfections in himselfe.

If thou hast not a greater measure of grace then David had it may be thy case to complaine as David did feare and trembling are come upon me, * 1.40 and an horrible feare hath over∣whe••med me.

Our life (saith the Apostle) is hid with Christ in God. It is hid from the world, and it is hid many times from us here, in respect of that fullnesse, and perfection of it, our hope and happi∣nesse is in reversion not in possession.

And God will have it so.

[Reas. 1] That we might see our continuall need and necessity of Gods ordinances for had we the graces of the spirit here in perfection to what end come I here to preach or you to heare. But now God bestowes upon us his gifts and graces by measure, that we may still hunger and thirst after more daily, and waite upon him in the Conscio∣nable use of the meanes, whereby all saving graces are not only begun but

increased daily in us.

We have here no grace in perfection; [Reas. 2] in regard this world is not the place of our perfect happinesse God hath ap∣poynted Heaven for our home, where all tears shall be wiped away from our eyes and sin from our soule, here wee sigh desiring to be cloathed upon, * 1.41 we are saved now by hope, our happinesse is not in present possession but in re∣version.

This serves both discover unto us the misery of such, [Vse 1] and how far they are from the work of grace in their souls, that are so far from discovering any such wants and imperfections, in themselves and in their graces, as that pharisaically, they brag and boast of their strong faith and that they should be sorry to live to doubt of their Sal∣vation, when they heare of the moanes, and complaints of the Godly, com∣playning of their want of faith the hardnesse of their hearts, and their backwardness, & indisposition to any good Duty &c. they wonder at them, they would not be in their case for all the world, they never felt such doubts

and feares in themselves.

Surely these are the most miserable men in the world, they shew that the strong man hath taken possession of their souls, that thus holds them in this damnable Security, there is but a step betwixt such a one and hell, thy case is fearefull, it is a signe that thou ar thardned in thy sin, and art far from the worke of grace in thy soule, * 1.42 wo un∣to such as now laugh, for they shall wayle and weepe; and Blessed are they that mourne, for they shall be comfor∣ted. Such as have had the greatest mea∣sure of Grace, have found many wants, and imperfections in their graces, as Moses here, and not to be sensible of our wants and imperfections, is an argu∣ment of the want of the truth of grace in such asoule.

Secondly, [Vse 2] this may serve for matter of comfort and consolation unto such as do unfaynedly love and feare God, and are troubled much with doubtings and feares, and discover more & more in themselves, their wants and imper∣fections, in all their graces and in all their duties, know, O know that thy

case is not singular, neither art thou alone in these complaints, many of Gods deare children are full of them. My faith is weake, my hope feeble, my love is cold, and I find so much back∣wardnesse, and coldnesse in duties O what shall I doe, I feare my estate is not good.

I confesse here is just cause of trou∣ble and complaint in the Godly, when they find this to be their case, that grace is no more vigorous and active in them, and when they want the Sen∣sible assurance of Gods favour and love. But such must stay themselves upon this that a man may be in the state of grace, and yet want the assurance of it in himselfe; A man may have faith in him, and yet conclude against it.

What a case was David in when he complayneth thus. * 1.43 How long-wilt thou forget me O Lord? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? How long shall I take counsell in my soule, and have sorrow in my heart? His heart must needs be ful of sorrow, when God hides his face from him. But yet God turned againe and spake peace to his servant,

and fild him at last with the joy of his salvation, and thus will the mourning and sadnesse of Gods Children, bring a joyfull harvest at last, when these doubts and feares shall vanish away, & their hearts shall be filled with com∣fort.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Few take notice of Gods an∣ger.
• * 1.2

  Jer. 8.6.
• * 1.3

  Ezek. 16.43.
• * 1.4

  Es. 22.12, 13, 14.
• * 1.5

  Gen. 6.
• * 1.6

  Mic. 6.9.
• * 1.7

  Hos. 7.9.
• * 1.8

  Ezck. 38.22.
• * 1.9

  Es. 42.25
• * 1.10

  Ps. 119 75.
• * 1.11

  Deut. 31.17.
• * 1.12

  Iob 10.2.
• * 1.13

  Lam. 3.39.
• * 1.14

  Num: 12.14.
• * 1.15

  Gods wrath is more ter∣rible. Psal. 2.5.
• * 1.16

  Nahum. 1.23.
• * 1.17

  Deut. 32.22.
• * 1.18

  Rom. 2.5
• * 1.19

  Rom. 9.22.
• * 1.20

  Men fear God no more be∣cause they know not the power of his wrath
• * 1.21

  Nahum. 1.5, 6.
• * 1.22

  v. 6.
• * 1.23

  Iob 6.2. Iob 16.12, 13. Esay 38.15.
• * 1.24

  Ps. 116.3
• * 1.25

  Hos. 2.5
• * 1.26

  Gen. 39.
• * 1.27

  Iob. 31.23.
• * 1.28

  1 Cor. 5.11.
• * 1.29

  Psal. 119 120.
• * 1.30

  Job 31.23.
• * 1.31

  Mal. 4.2.
• * 1.32

  Pro. 3.7.
• * 1.33

  Prov:
• * 1.34

  ••eut. 29.18.
• * 1.35

  The best faile in the feare of God.
• * 1.36

  Mar. 9.24.
• * 1.37

  Rom. 1.17.
• * 1.38

  Heb. 12.23.
• * 1.39

  Phil. 3.12.13
• * 1.40

  Psal. 55.5.
• * 1.41

  2 Cor. 5.2. Rom. 8.24.
• * 1.42

  Mat. 5.
• * 1.43

  Psal. 13.1, 2.