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THis Moses speaks for our capaci∣ties; as if the Lord did keep a Register of our sins, and set them be∣fore his sight. The meaning of the words will appear by the contrary. As when the Lord is said to cast our sins behinde his back, as things he never means to call to minde, but to put them out of his remembrance, and to drown them in the sea, as he did Pha∣raoh.
Now as the Lord is said to cast our
sins behinde his back, when he means not to punish them: So he is said to set them before his eyes, when he calls them to minde to punish them.
Whence we may note the happy fruit of affliction, [Doct. 3] * 1.1 when the Lord is pleased to send and sanctifie the same unto his people. This makes them look home and to discover the evils of their own hearts and wayes, which before this time they could not see.
In times of peace and prosperity many sins lie hid, and undiscovered in Gods people; but Gods judgements bring them to light. Now that Gods hand is upon this people, being mise∣rably wasted and consumed with the Plague and Pestilence; Now they can say, Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, &c.
In the times of Gods forbearance whilest they had their Manna and their Quails at full, they were fat and wanton: Jesurun waxed fat, * 1.2 and lightly esteemed the Rock of their sal∣vation: But now in their affliction and distresse, they are taught to know themselves, to look home, and acknow∣ledge
that God called their sins to ac∣compt, and justly punished them for them.
This the Lord himself doth witness unto, * 1.3 when he saith, I will be unto E∣phraim as a Lion, and as a young Lion to the house of Judah; I, even I will tear and go away, I will take away and none shall rescue; I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence and seek my face, for in their affliction they will seek me early. And so they did; for in the next Chapter they say one to another, * 1.4 Come, let us return to the Lord, for he hath wound∣ed us and he will heal us, &c.
Thus Esay; * 1.5 Lord, in trouble have they visited thee, they poured forth thei, prayers when thy chastisements were upon them. The Scriptures are ful of ex∣amples in this kinde, how that in times of peace and prosperity many sins in Gods people have lyen hid and undiscovered, which Gods judge∣ments have discovered and brought to light. * 1.6 An excellent example where∣whereof we have in the Brethren of Joseph, whose sin against their brother
never came to Conscience, for many years together, untill they came into Egypt, and were there stayed as spies. Then their hearts smote them for their sin; We have justly suffered these things, for we sinned against our bro∣ther.
The like we may see in Manasses, who did much evil in the fight of the Lord, till he was carried captive into Babylon, and there laid in cold irons: Then Manasses knew that God was the Lord. * 1.7
And this we may see in the Prodi∣gall; whilest his purse was full, he cared not for his father, * 1.8 nor for his fa∣thers house, onely a famine makes him think of returning home. Thus did Hagar grow proud, and insolent, in Abrahams house, she then knew not her self but despised Sara her Mistris; but being in the wildernesse in want, was taught to know her self.
It is true, the Philistines could not understand Sampsons Riddle, * 1.9 how sweet should come out of sowre, and meat out of the eater: So worldlings cannot understand, that tribvlation
bringeth forth patience, * 1.10 and patience experience, and experience hope; and our light and momentany afslictions should cause us a far more excellent and eternal weight of glory.
But Gods children finde it true by comfortable experience, that howso∣ever no visitation be sweet for the pre∣sent, yet afterwards it bringeth forth the quiet fruits of Righteousnesse unto them that are thereby exerci∣sed.
And it must be so, in regard,
Because miseries and afflictions are excellent means to humble the heart of man, [Reas. 1] and to abate its pride; for such is our corrupt nature, that in times of health, peace and prosperity, men are lifted up, swell with pride, and forget themselves. Now there is no sin makes a man more odious to God, then pride doth. * 1.11 God resisteth the proud. Now the Lord many times layes sore affli∣ctions upon his own children, for this end and purpose, to cure the evil. And this is one end that God aimeth at in correcting man, * 1.12 That he might hide the pride of man. Miseries and afflictions
awaken Conscience, and bring those sins to remembrance that were long ago forgotten.
Secondly, [Reas. 2] miseries and afflictions bring a man to a more clear and expe∣rimental knowledge of God and of himself, then otherwise he could at∣tain unto. As of Manasses it is said, Then Manasses knew that God was the Lord, he that in his prosperity forgat God.
And as they bring a man to know God so likewise to know himself; as the Prodigall, of whom it is said, * 1.13 He came to himself; when he was tho∣roughly pinched with poverty and his companions had cast him off, now home, home, welfare home, I will home again, I will go to my father. And as Job hath it, * 1.14 If they be bound in fetters and holden with the cords of afsliction. then he sheweth them their works, and their transgressions that they have ex∣ceeded. And thus at one time or other, by one affliction or another, we shall be brought to know God and our selves if we belong to him.
Seeing that Gods judgements bring [Use 1]
thus sin to light, that in times of peace and prosperity lay undiscovered;
This may serve for matter of tryal, whether we have made the right use of our sufferings, yea or no, which may be known by this; If we have disco∣vered those corruptions in us, that be∣fore were undiscovered.
Many are at that pass to bear off cros∣ses and afflictions with head and shoul∣ders, as they say. Many have been sick, say they, and have been well a∣gain. Many have this Ague amongst them, and done well enough, and so I hope shall I. Thus men flatter them∣selves as they did, * 1.15 It is my sorrow and I will bear it. Why the best have their afflictions and whom God loves them he chasteneth and with these and the like conceits men put off Gods strokes and dealings with them.
But alas where is that searching in∣to our own hearts and wayes, to finde out our sins that have not yet been discovered, the cause of Gods anger and displeasure? few make this use of Gods judgements, to say, What have I done? what are those sins I am guil∣ty
of that have provoked the Lord to be thus angry with me? But it may be truly said of many of us in our af∣flictions and miseries, * 1.16 He hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and he knew it not; and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart.
And this is the reason the Lord ma∣ny times brings long and lasting sor∣rows and afflictions upon us, till we be brought to know our selves, and finde out those sins, for the which the Lord is so displeased with us. O that men were wise in this particular, to finde out the cause of Gods anger and dis∣pleasure, and to desire the Lord to help them in this search; as holy Job did, Shew me (sayes he) wherefore thou contendest with me: and again, * 1.17 Shew me my rebellion and my sin. Till we do this we do nothing, neither can we have any comfort in our sufferings that the Lord intends our good therein, or that the same are sanctified unto us.
Secondly, [Use 2] seeing the Lord by his judgements many times brings sin to light, which in times of peace and
prosperity lies hid undiscovered This may teach us to admire the won∣derful wisdome, power and goodnesse of God, who hath so many wayes to do us good, to humble sinners, and to bring them home unto himself.
Indeed the preaching of the Word is the ordinary means whereby God doth break the stony heart of man this is Gods Hammer, * 1.18 appointed by him to that end. It will make the har∣dest heart to quake, and tremble as Fe∣lix did; and the most desperate sin∣ners to be humbled, as those wicked Jews that had imbrued their hands in the blood of the Lord Jesus. * 1.19 It is a two-edged sword cutting both wayes.
But when that will not serve the Lord can clap such irons upon the soul and conscience as can make the stoutest heart to buckle. As the Lord dealt with Manasses, laid him in cold irons, and then he knew that God was the Lord. Thus dealt he with the Pro∣digall, * 1.20 the Jaylor, and with this peo∣ple here, by sharp and sore afflictions, he makes way many times for repen∣tance: So that we may cry out with
Paul, * 1.21 O the deepness of the riches both of the wisdome and knowledge of God? how unsearchable are his judgements, and his wayes past finding out. Surely the greatnesse of his wisdome and power is wonderful, that by so many means can work good to his peo∣ple.
And last of all this may serve for matter of terror unto such that have been in the furnace of affliction, [Use 3] and have had the hand of God lien heavy upon them, yet have not been bettered by them, to finde out their sins; and to be humbled for them; there is few families amongst us but have felt Gods hand in our late visitation. To have affliction is no certain signe of Gods favour, but to profit by affliction; as to finde out our sins, to be humbled for them, and bettered by them, thus are the afflictions of the godly sanctified unto them.
But alas, the Lords hand hath been upon many of us, upon some in one kinde, and upon others in another, and yet they are not bettered. It was a sad complaint that the Lord takes up
of his people, I have corrected them, but they have not been humbled; there cannot be a greater signe of Gods an∣ger, then to set light by afflictions. In that day did the Lord call for weeping, * 1.22 and mourning, &c. and behold joy and gladnesse, &c. But what saith the Lord, This iniquity shall not be purged till ye die. * 1.23 Shall a Trumpet be blown in a City, and the people not be afraid? Shall Gods judgements be upon a land and Nation, or upon any particular person and they not lay them to heart? There can be no more certain sign of a hard heart, and desperate sinner, then not to profit by the rod. I have brought thy way upon thy own head, * 1.24 yet hast thou no consideration of thy abominations. And as it is said, Re∣probate silver shall men call them, * 1.25 be∣cause the Lord hath rejected them.
Times of affliction discovers corrupti∣on.
Deut. 32.15,
Hos. 5.14, 15.
Hos. 6.1.
Es. 26.16
Gen. 37.24.42.21
2 Chron. 33.13.
Luke 15.
Iudg. 14.14.
Ro. 5.3. 2 Cor. 4.13. Heb. 12.11.
Iam. 4.6.
Iob 33.17.
Luke 15.
Iob 36.8, 9.
Ier. 10.19.
Es. 42.25.
Iob 10.2. & 13.23.
Ier. 23.
Act. 2.37
Acts 16.
Rom. 11.33.
Es. 22.12.13, 14
Am. 6.9.
Eze. 16.43.
Ier. 6.30.