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CCCXXXIII. GOD'S INTERPOSITIONS SEASONABLE.

Zech. xiv. 7. It shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light.

IT often happens that passages of Scripture, which are obscure in some points of view, are in other respects both clear and profitable. Of this kind is the passage before us. Commentators are by no means agreed about the precise events to which the prophet refers in the preceding and following context. We shall not attempt therefore to explain what perhaps no one perfectly understands; but shall confine ourselves to such observations as will elucidate the text in those points which are more plain and obvious. We shall point out

I. Its prophetic reference

Whatever be the immediate event alluded to, it evidently refers to

1. The apostolic period

[Our Lord, whose advent and death are so clearly foretold in the foregoing chapter, seems to be spoken of in this place. The time of his ministry was "a day neither clear nor dark." The sun was risen; but it was eclipsed by clouds; the light of his instructions shined in the land; but it was greatly obscured by the shadows of the Mosaic ritual.

By the death of Christ the light seemed to be altogether removed; and the darkness of despair succeeded the dawn of hope. His own disciples were confounded, and gave up all for lost. But behold, by his resurrection, their hopes were revived; by his converse with them for forty days, their minds were led to see the accomplishment of all the prophecies relating to him: and by his ascension "from the mount of Olives," together with the express commission that he gave them just previous to his departure, they were enabled to wait for his promised Spirit; on the descent of which a light was kindled, that never was, nor ever will be, extinguished.] 2. The millennial period

[Before the gospel shall universally prevail, there will be

b Ver. 6.

a Zech. xiii. 1. c Luke xxiv. 21. d Compare Acts i. 9, 12. with Ver. 4. which is thought to be a prophecy that after Christ's ascension from the mount of Olives a way should be opened for the Gentiles to come into the church of Christ. See Luke iii. 5, 6.

a season of great darkness in the church of Christ. By whatever it may be accomplished, whether by means of infidelity or Popish superstition, we are taught to expect that there will be a dreadful defection from the faith of the gospel, as well as a general prevalence of iniquity throughout the world. But then, even while gross darkness is covering the people, shall a light suddenly arise upon the world, and one bright day be visible in either hemisphere. The church itself shall be quite astonished at the suddenness of the change, which will pass like lightning from one end of the world even to the other, insomuch that accommodations will be wanted for the multitudes of worshippers in every place."]

But this prophecy, like numberless others, may be further improved by considering

II. Its spiritual application

Prophecies have different degrees, and different seasons, of accomplishment. And the Apostolic writers sometimes speak of them in an accommodated sense, and apply them to events to which they had not any direct reference. We would not be understood to say, that the prophet had any the remotest reference to the concerns of our nation: but in an accommodated sense we may say, that they have been remarkably verified at this time_ --Not however to insist any longer on this, we may properly affirm that they are frequently accomplished in the souls of men;

1. In their first conversion

[To what an astonishing length of wickedness are many suffered to proceed before God interposes to stop their career! The apostle Paul seemed to have attained almost the summit

e 2 Thess. ii. 3, 8. 1 Tim. iv. 1. Matt. xxiv. 10-14. Perhaps also Dan. xi. 32-36. may refer to this as well as to what is past. f Isai. Ix. 1-3. with ver. 9, 20, 21. g Matt. xxiv. 27. h Isai. xlix. 18-23.

i Jer. xxxi. 15. with Matt. ii. 18; Isai. liii. 4. with Matt. viii. 17. * If this were a Thanksgiving Sermon for the Peace, it would be proper to mention here, 1. The fluctuations of success during the war (it has not been all day, or all night," ver. 6.) 2. The dark season that had arrived (our allies conquered; the northern confederacy; all Europe against us; the discontent in Ireland; and, in the midst of this dreadful storm, the helm deserted by the pilot; the king himself so indisposed as to be unable to hold the reins of government; and the nation almost in a state of famine.) 3. The sudden deliverance we have experienced (by the victories at Copenhagen and in Egypt, the dissolution of the Northern league, and the restoration of peace and plenty.)

of impiety before God arrested him in his course: and the dying thief seemed to be gone almost beyond redemption, when Jesus at his last hour converted and saved his soul.

m

Many too are reduced to the very borders of despair, before they are enabled to apply the promises of the gospel for the comfort of their souls. The description given of those in Ezekiel," and of those in the 107th Psalm, exactly accords with the experience of many. But "in the evening time it is light:" and "when their tongue faileth for thirst, then God opens to them rivers in high places and fountains in the midst of the valleys."]

2. In their subsequent walk with God

[Deep are the distresses which many of God's people endure through temptation or spiritual desertion. Exceeding bitter are the complaints of David upon this subject, as are those of holy Job. But in their extremity God heard their cry: and when there seemed to be no prospect of any thing but of increasing misery, or of utter destruction, then God appeared for them to their unspeakable consolation. Thus it is with many others at this day. To the wicked, their sun often sets at noon-day:t but to the righteous it is promised, that their sun, if need be, shall arise at midnight."]

We may IMPROVE this subject

1. For caution

X

[Though God glorifies himself frequently by interposing his power in the last extremity for the conversion of men, we are not therefore to run into great excesses in expectation of deliverance from them; or to defer our repentance to the time of death, in hopes that God will call us at the eleventh hour. This would be a dangerous experiment indeed: and God forbid that we should ever subject ourselves to so great a risk. The word of God calls upon us to turn to him without delay. Let us consider, that with respect to the continuance of our lives, or to the continued offers of divine grace it may be evening already. Surely with many of us "the day is far spent; and it is high time that we awake out of sleep." Let us then pray that the day-star may arise in our hearts," and that instead of having our lamp extinguished in darkness, "a light may arise to us in obscurity, and our darkness be as the noon-day."a]

11 Tim. i. 13. Acts xxvi. 10, 11.

n Ezek. xxxvii. 11, 12. • Throughout.

m Matt. xxvii. 44. P Isai. xli. 17, 18.

9 Ps. xlii. 6, 7. Ixxvii. 1-9. lxxxviii. 3-7, 14—16. cii. I—10.

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2. For encouragement

[We know not what dark seasons we may yet experience in this world. But we are sure that they who trust in the Lord shall never be confounded. God has promised that our extremity shall be his opportunity. He does indeed sometimes bring his people into straits on purpose that he may be the more magnified in their deliverance. If then the vision tarry ever so long, let us wait for it, in certain expectation that it shall come at last.d

Let us trust in God even though our difficulties should increase to ever so great a degree: yea, in humble dependence on his promise, let us say, Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.f]

b Deut. xxxii. 36. d Hab. ii. 3.

c Mic. iv. 10. Exod. xiv. 10-14. Isai. li. 10. e Hab. iii. 17, 18. f Job xiii. 15.

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CCCXXXIV. GOD'S MERCY CONTRASTED WITH

OUR SINFULNESS.

Jer. li. 5. Israel hath not been forsaken, nor Judah of his God, of the Lord of hosts; though their land was filled with sin against the Holy One of Israel.

THE peculiar people of God in their most afflictive circumstances have a sure prospect of a happy deliverance-But his enemies in their most prosperous state are only like beasts fattening for the slaughter—The Jews were reduced to the lowest ebb of misery in Babylon, on account of their multiplied iniquities: yet did God promise to restore them to their native land-On the contrary, the Babylonians, who were exalted to the highest pitch of grandeur, were in due time to be altogether extirpated-Both these events were foretold by the Prophet in this and the preceding chapters: and, in the text, he appeals to the Jews that they had not been forsaken, notwithstanding the abundant cause they had afforded for an utter dereliction

From these words we shall take occasion to consider I. The provocations we have given to God

1. In our national capacity

[All "sin," of whatever kind, is properly and primarily

"against the Holy One of Israel"-Now there is no sin, whether against the first or second table of the law, which has not abounded in this land——-Nor is there any rank or order of men, from the highest to the lowest, that have not yielded up themselves as willing servants to sin and Satan -Even the flock of Christ itself, both the Pastors who watch over it, and the people who compose it, have contributed in no small degree to the tremendous mass of iniquity, that has incensed our God against us—➖ ➖➖➖➖ ➖➖➖➖ -]

2. In our individual capacity

[Since a sight of other's sins rarely begets any true humiliation in us, let each of us in particular search out his ownLet our thoughts, words, and actions be strictly scrutinizedLet those sins which are more immediately against God, beenquired into; our pride, our impenitence, our unbelief, our ingratitude for temporal blessings, and especially for the unspeakable gift of God's dear Son; our obstinate resistance of God's holy Spirit, together with all our neglect of duties, or our coldness in the performance of them; let these be counted up, and be set in order before us; and the very best of men will see cause for the deepest humiliation; yea, we shall wonder that we have not long since been made like to Sodom and Gomorrah-]

Having taken a view of our sins, let us contrast with them

II. The mercies God has vouchsafed to us

Justly have we deserved to be entirely abandoned by our God

[The history of the Jews shews us what we might well expect at his hands-He himself bids us go to Shiloh, and see what he did to it for the wickedness of his people"-Indeed the whole of his dealings with them in their Assyrian and Babylonish captivity, and in their present dispersion, may teach us what we might well expect at his hands]

But he has not dealt with us according to our desert

[He has "not forsaken us" as a nation-In proof of this, we appeal to the comparative lightness of our troubles,-the signal interpositions with which we have been favoured in the midst of our troubles, and lastly, the happy termination of them, by a seasonable restoration both of peace and plenty.-Nor has he forsaken us as individuals He is yet calling us by his word, and striving with us by his Spirit-And we behold amongst us the evident tokens of his presence, in that

a Ps. li. 4,

Oct. 4th, 1801.
VOL. IV.

b Jer. vii. 12, with 1 Sam. iv. 10, 11.

3 I

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