III. The certahifij of ihe lifting up of those that

humble thcm^^elves under humbling circumstances. If one would assure you, when reduced to poverty, that the time should certainly come yet, that yc should be rich j when sore sick, that ye should not die of that disease, but certainly recover, — that would help you to bear your poverty and sickness the better, and you would comfort yourselves with that prospect. Kov. ever, one may continue poor, and never be ricli, may be sick, and die of his dis- ease ; but, V hocver huiiible themselves under their humbhng circumstances, we can assure them from the Lord's word they shall certainly, without ^11 peradventure, be lilted up out of, and relieved from, their hunibling circumstances : they shall certainly see the day of their ease and relief, when they shall remember their burdens as waters that fail. And ye may be assured thereof from the follov.'ing considerations.
1. The nature oi Odd, duly considered, ensures it, Psalm ciii. 8, 9. *' The Lord i= merciful and " gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. •' He will not always chide ; neither will he keep *''" his anger {cr ever." The humbled soul, look- ing to (iod in Christ, may sje thr'ee things in hi? mature joinily secuvi)ir it.
The Crook hi the Lot. loG
^1.) Infinite ^(jnrr, that can do all things. No circumstances are so lov*-, but he can raise them ; so intangling and perplexed, but he can unravel them ; so hopeless, but he can remedy them, Gen. xviii. 14. " Is any thing too hard for the Lord:"' Be our case what it will, it is never past reach with him to help it; but then is the most proper season for him to take it in hand, when all others have given it over, E'cut. xxxii. 36. '' For the Lord ** shall judge his people, and repent himself for '* his servants ; when he seeth that their power i'? '' gone, and there is none shut up, or left."
(2.) Infinitc^§^ ;ood and gracious in his nature, Exod. xxxiv. ^ — 9. And therefore his pov/er is a spirit of comfort to them, Rom. xiv. 4. Men may be wil- ling that are net able, or able that are not willing; but infinite goodness, joining infinite power in (.lod, may ascertain the humbled of a lifting up in due time. That is a word of inconceivable sweet- ness, 1 John iv. 16. " And we knov,' and believe ' the love that God hnth to us. God is love ; and ' he that dwelleth in love, dwelkth in God, and ' God in him.'* ile has the bowels of a father to- wards the humble, Psalm ciii. 13. " Like as a fa- '* ther pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth -' them that fear him.." Yea, bowels of mercy more tender than a motlier to her sucking child, Isa. xlix. 15. Wherefore, howbeit his wisdom ma\ see it necessary to put them in humbling circtim- stances, and keep them in them for a time, it is not possible he can leave them in them for al- together.
(3.) Infinite ivisc/om^ that cloth nothing in vain, mcl therefore will not needlesslv keep one in hum- M
1 54 rhe Crook hi the Lot,
bling circumstances, Lam. iii. 32, 33. /' But
" though he cause grief, yet he will have cdmpas- " sion, according to the multitude of his mercies; " for he doth not afflict willingly, nor gneve the *' children of men." God sends them on for hum- bling as the end and design to be brought about by them ; when that is obtained, and there is no more use for them that way, we may assure ourselves they will be taken oif.
2. The providence of God, viewed in its stated method of procedure with its objects, ensures it. Turn your eyes which way you will on the divine providence, ye may conclude thence, that in due time the humble will be lifted up.
(1.) Observe the providence of God, in the re- volutions of the whole course of nature, day suc- ceeding to the longest night, a summer to the win- ter, a waxing to a waning of the moon, a flowing to an ebbing of the sea, &c. Let not the Lord's humbled ones be idle spectators of these things; they are for our learning, Jcr. xxxii. Z5, 36, 37. *' I'hus saith thie Lord, which giveth the sun for a " light by day, and the ordinances of the moon, " and of the stars for a light by night, which di- " videth the sea, when the waters thereof roar; '' the Lord of Hosts is his name. If th^se ordi- " nances depart from before \ue, saith the Lord, " then the seed of Israel shall cease from being a " nation before me for ever." Will the Lord's hand keep such a steady course in the earth, sea, and visible heavens, as to bring a lifting up in them after a casting down, and only forget hi^^ humbled ones? No, by no means.
(2.) Observe the providence of God, in the dis- pensations thereof, about tlie man Christ, the most noble and august object thereof, more valua-
The Croak in the Lot. . ISB
ble than a thousand worlds, Col. ii. 9. Did not Providence keep this course with him, first hum- bling him, then exalting him, and lifting him up? first bringing him to the dust of death, in a course of sufferings thirty-three-years, then exalt him to the Father's right-hand in the eternity of glory t Heb. xii. 2 — '^ Who, for the joy that was set be- '*fore him, endured the cross, despising the shame, "and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." Phil. ii. 8, 9, '' And beingfound in fashion as " a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient '*Gnto death, even the death of the cross : Where- "fore God hath also highly exalted him." The exaltation could not fail to follow his humiliation. Luke xxiv. 26. " Ought not Christ to have suffer- " ed these things, and to enter into his glory ?" And he saw and believed it would follow, as the springing of the seed doth the sowing it, John xii. 24. There is a near concern the humbled in hum- bling circumstances have herein.
(1 .) This is the pattern Prpvidence copies after in its conduct towards you. The Father was so well pleased with this method, in the case of his own Son, that it was determined to be followed, and just copied over again in the case of all the heirs of glory. Rom. viii. 29. *' For whom he did fore- " to the image of his Son, that he might be the first "born among many brethren." And who would not be pleased to walk through the dark valley treading his steps ?
(2.) This is a sure pledge of our lifting up. Christ, in his state of humiliation, was considered as a public Person and Representative, and so is he in his exaltation. So Christ's exaltation ensures your exaltation out of your humbling circumst^ri"
lotj The Crook in the Lot.
*•
ces. Isa. XXV!. 19. " Thy dead men shall hvj, to *'• gethcr with my dead body shall they arise ; awake *'Hnd sing, ye that dwell in the dust." Hos. vi. 1, 2. *' Come and let us return unto the Lord ; i'oi "he hath torn and he will heal us; he hath smit ** ten, and he will bind U3 up. After two days h. " will revive us ; in the third day he will raise us ''up, and we shiU live in his sight." Eph. ii. 6. ^' And hath raised us up together, and made us sit " together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.'* Yea, he is gone into the state of glory for us as our fore- runner. Hcb. vi. 20. ^* Whither the forerunner is ** for us entered, even Jesus, made an High P " for ever."
(3.) His humiliation was the price of your e^ altaiion, and his exaltation a full testimony of the acceptance of its payment to the full. . There are no hum; -ling circumstances ye are in, but ye would have perished in them, had not he purchased youi lifting up out of them by his own humiliation, Isa. xxvi. 19. — Vow, his humbling grace in you is an evidence of the acceptance of his humiliation fo ' your lifting up. A
3. Observe the promdtnce of God towards th- chv.rch in all ages. This h^s been the course the: Lord has kept with her, Psal. cxxix. 1—4. Abel was slain by the wicked Cain, to the great grief of Adam and Eve, and the re.-^t of their pious chil dren : but then there was another seed raised up iu AbePs room after. Gen. iv. 25. Noah and his sons were buried alive in the ark more than a year ; but then they were brought out into a new world and blessed. Abraham for many years went childless , but at length Isaac was l)orn. Israel was long in miserable bondage in Egypt ; but at length seated in the promised land, &c. We must be content
The Crook in the Lot. 13r
lo go by the footsteps of the flock ; and if in hu- miliation, we will surely follow them in exaltation too.
4. Observe the providence of God in the dispen- sation of his grace towards his children. The ge- neral rule is, 1 Pet. v. 5. *' For God resisteth the " proud, and giveth grace to the humble." How- are they brought into a state of grace ? Is it not by a sound work of humiUation going before ? Lake vi. 48. And ordinarily the greater measure of grace is designed for one, the deeper is their hu- miliation before, as in Paul's case. If they are to be recovered out of a back-slidden case, the same method is followed : so that deepest humiliation ordinarily makts v/ay for the greatest comforts, and the darkest hour goes before the rising of the Sun of Righteousness upon them, Isa. Ixvi. 5,— 13.
5. Observe the providence of God at length throwing down xvicked men, however long they stand and prosper. Psalm xxxvii. 35, 2)Q>. *' I *' have seen the wicked in great power, and spread- *' ing himself like a green bay tree ; yet he passed ^' away, and lo he was not ; yea, I sought him but " he could not be found." The}- are long green before the sun, but at length they are suddenlv smitten with an east wind, and wither away -, their lamp goes out with a stink, and they are put out in obscure darkness. Now, it is inconsistent with the benignity of the divine nature, to forget the humble to raise them, while he minds the proud to abase thcni.
The ivcrd of God puts it beyond nil peradven- ture, which, from the beginning to the end, is the humbled saint's sccuritv for lifting up. Psalm M Kl
l38 The Ci-oofi in tne L(*u
cxix. 49, 50. " Remember the word unto th\- sei *-' vant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope. "" This is ray comfort in my affliction ; for thy won! *■' hath quickened mt?." His word is the great let ter of his name, which he will certainly see t^ cause to diine. Psalm cxxxviii. 2. " For thou '' hast magnified thy word above all thy name;" and in all generations has been saf.lv l-^t-ned t Psalm xii. 6. Consider,
(1.) The doctrines of the word, wmcU teach lajiii and hope for the time, and the happy issue the ex- ercises of these graces will have. The whole cur- rent of scripture, to those in humbling circumstan- ces is, " Not to cast away their confidence, but to " hope to the end ; and that for this good reason^ '* that it shall not be in vain." See Psalm xxvii. 14. '' Wait on the Lord ; be of good courage, and he " shall strengthen thine heart ; Wait I say, on the " Lord." — And compare, Horn. ix. 33. Isa. xlix. 23. *' For they shall not be ashamed that wait for '•me."
(2.) T\\Q protnises oftlie word, whereby heaven is expressly engaged for a lifting up to those that humble ' then-iselves in humbhng circumstarffces. James iv. 10. " Humble yourselves in the sight '' of the Lord, and he shali lift you up." Matt. xxiii. 12. ^' And he that humbleth himself shall '^ be exalted." It may take a time to prepare them for lifting up, but tliat being done, it is secured. Psalm x. 17. ** Lord, thou hast h '* of the humble; thou wilt prepare their heart ; *' thou \Tilt cause thine ear to hear." They have his word for deliveran-e. Psalm 1. 15. And though they mav seem to be forgotten, they shall not be always so ; the time of their deliverance will come. P^alm ix. 18. *'• For the needv shall r.ct alivav*
X lir i^tooA iiv iiic Lot- 139
'* be forgotten : the expectation of the poor bhall " not perish for ever." Psalm cii. 17. " He will " regard the prayer of the destitute, and not des- ^' pise their prayer."
(3.) The examples of the word suuiciently con- firming the truth of the doctrines and promises. Horn. xv» 4. " For whatsoever things v.'ere writ- '• ten afore time, were written for our learning ; ** that we through patience and comfort of the " scrip-^ures might have hope." In the doctrines and promises the lifting up is proposed to our faith, to be reckoned on the credit of God's Avord; but, in the examples it is, in the case of others, set be- fore our tyes to be seen. Jam. v. 11. "Behold '* we count them happy which endure- Ye have *•' heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the *' end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, " and of tender mercy." There we see it in the case of Abraham, Job, David, Paul, and other saints ; but above all, in the case of the man Christ.
4. The intercession Qi Christy joining the pray- ers and cries of his humbled people, in their hum- bling circumstances, ensures a lifting up for them at length. Be it so, that the proud cry not when he bindcth them ; yet his own humbled ones will not do so, they v;ill cry. Psalm xlii. 7, 8. '' Deep ** calleth unto deep, at the noise of thy vrater- *' spouts \ all thy waves and thy billows ai-e gone *' over me. Yet the Lord will command his loving ''• kindness in the day-time, and in the night his ** song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the ** God of my life." And though unbelievers may 80on be outwearied, and give it over for altogetli- er, sure believers will not do so ; but though they may, in a fit of teinptrttion) lay it by as hopekss>
140 The Crook in the Lot,
they will find themselres obliged to take it up a-r gain. Jer. xx» 9. " Then I said, I will not make *^ mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. '* But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire *' shut up in my bones, and I was weary with for- " bearing, and I could not stay ;" and continue to cry on night and day, Luke xviii. 7. knowing no time for giving it over till they be lifted up. Lam. iii- 49, 50. " Mine eye trickleth down, and cea- *' seth not, without any intermission ; till the Lord *' look down, and behold from heaven.'* Now, Christ's intercession being joined widi these cries, there cannot miss to be a lifting up — Consider,
1. Christ's intercession is certainly joined with the cries and prayers of the humbled in their hum- bling circumstances. Kev. viii. 3. " And another ** angel came i^nd stood at the altar, having a gol- " den censer ; and there was given unto him much "■* incense, that he should offer it with the prayers '* of all saints upon the golden altar, which M'as be- *' fore the throne." They are by the Spirit help- ed to groan for relief, Rom. viii. 26. and the pra)'- ers and groans, which are through the Spirit, are certainly to be made effectual by the intercession of the Son. Jam. v. 16. And ye may know they are by the Spirit, if so be yc are helped to continue praying, hoping for your suit on the ground of God's v/ord of promise ; for nature's praying is a pool that will dry up in a long drought. It is the spirit of prayer is the lasting spring, John iv. 14. Psahn cxxxviii- 3. " In the day when I cried, thou ** answeredst me ; and strengthenedst me with *' strength in my soul." Truly there is an inter- cession in heaven, on account of the humbling cir- cumstances of the humble ones. "Then the an- tt g
The Crook in the Lot. 141
" hostb, how long wilt thou not have mercy on -' Jerusalem, and on the cities of Judah, ag?anst '* which thou hast had indignation these three-score '* and ten years ?" Zech. i. 1 2. How then can they miss of a lifting up in due time r
2. He is in deepest earnesi in his intercession lor his people in their humbling circumstances. Some will speak a good word in favour of the help- less, that will be little concerned whether they come speed or not ; but our Intercessor is in earnest in behalf of his humbled ones : for he is touched with sympathy in their case, Isa. Ixiii. 9. " In all their ** afflictions he was afflicted." — A most tender sym- pathv, Zech. ii. 8. *' For he that toucheth you, " toucheth the apple of his eye." He has their case upon his heArtj where he is, in the holy place, in the highest heavens, Exod. xxviii. 29 and he keeps exact account of the time of their humbling cir- cumstances, be it as long as it will, Zech. i. 12. Moreover* it is his ovrn business ; the lif- ting up they are to have is a thing that is secu- red to him, in the promises made to him on the account of his blood shed for them, Psalm Ixxxix. 33, 36. So not only are they looking on earth, but the Man Christ is in heaven looking for the ac- complishment of these promises, Heb. x. 12, 15. " But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice " for sins, for ever sat dow^n on the right hand of ''God ; from henceforth expecting till his enemies ^M>e made his footstool." How is it possible, then, that looking should be baulked ? Moreover, these humbling circumstances are his own sufferings still, though not in his Person, yet in his members, Col. i. 24. '* Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, *■'" and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of *' Chribt in my flesh, for his body's sake, which i?
142 The Crook in the Lot.
" the church." Wherefore there is all ground tD conclude he is in deep earnest.
(3.) His intercession is always effectual^ Joli i