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,
A. M.
One of the Ministers of
Canongate.
Published by Desire of the Lord High Commissioner.
EDINBURGH,
Printed by R. FLEMING: For A. KINCAID. M.DCC.XLVI.
To the RIGHT HONOURABLE ALEXANDER Earl of LEAVEN, HIS MAJESTY's HIGH COMMISSIONER TO THE General Assembly of the Church of
SCOTLAND;
This SERMON is inscrib'd, with the highest Respect and Esteem, by
His Grace's most obliged, most humble, and most obedient Servant, HUGH BLAIR.
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 Deliverance in which the Hand of God visibly appeared, rescuing his People from imminent 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
2 King xix. 35.
. To this signal Interposition of the Divine Arm, these Expressions in the Context may be naturally applied;
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 Jacob, both the chariot and the horse are cast into a dead sleep.
In the Words of our Text, we have the Psalmist's religious and wise Reflection upon all these Events; upon the violent 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 Intention 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
extracting
Health; and of Things, most unwilling and unapt in themselves to yield him Glory,
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 further; and here shall thy proud waves be stayed
Jam. i. 20.
. All this, the last Issue of Things shall fully verify and declare: When we shall be able more clearly to trace the divine Administration 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 divine Conduct and Wisdom, is at present manifest, as gives just Ground for this Observation, that the
wrath of man praises God,
now, before the whole World.
Job xxxviii. 11.
This was the Meditation of the Psalmist after Victory and Conquest. 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 Meditation, must be acknowledged very suitable and becoming now: That by serious Contemplation 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 endeavour 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 Improvement we ought to make of such a Meditation.
THE different Ways, in which the
wrath of man
turns out to the
praise of God,
are reducible chiefly to these three. I. As it
manifests
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 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 adjusted; and so many different Movements to be regulated and kept in Order: Interfering 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 soever 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,
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 Designs just ripe for bursting into Execution; how oft by some unforeseen. Turn of Providence, hath he call'd upon Mankind to observe, that there is one
higher than the highest on Earth,
who can baffle all their Devices with the Breath of his Mouth; and command 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,
and that boasted Tempest of Wrath he threatned 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
2 Kings xix. 23.
. 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
Psal. ii. 1, 2, 4, 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 Divine 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 and Resentment of his Mistress, and the Wrath of
Potiphar,
should all
conspire
to his Advancement, 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 Enemies had thrown him into the Den of Lions for worshipping GOD; they presumed his Destruction accomplish'd; and themselves completely delivered from so formidable 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
Dan vi. 25.
. Thus GOD
snareth the wicked in the works of their hands
Pasl. ix. 16.
: 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.
3. I might observe further, that the
wrath of man
praises the
Goodness
of GOD; in all these Purposes of general
Benefit,
both
temporal
and
spiritual,
to which his Providence renders it subservient. But these will fall to be afterwards considered; I therefore proceed 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 Punishment with the Crime, causing their
own wickedness to reprove them, and their backslidings 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 Saying of the Psalmist to receive its Accomplishment;
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
Pasl. xxxvii. 14, 15.
. —The
wrath of man
praises also the Divine Justice, by being the
Instrutment
of punishing
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 cemented by Conspiracy against the Good) their continually interfering Views and Interests, render them, in the just
Judgment
of Providence, 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 Violence 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 awakened to the Observation of the awful Government of GOD, by the sudden Fall and Destruction of Tyrants? GOD represents himself 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
Exod, ix. 16.
. The Divine Administration is glorified as well in the
strange Punishment
he hath decreed for the Workers of Iniquity, as in the
Reward
he hath prepared 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
Isa. xiv, 26.
!
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, open a Field for
signalizing
the Divine Administration more, than if all Things went on in a
quiet undisturbed
Tenor. The Waters must be sometimes
troubled,
that we may
attend
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 purify it from that
Corruption
which all Things contract by too much Rest. Bad Men appear sometimes to have obtained entire Power over the Just: they exercise their Tyranny, perhaps, with a very heavy and oppressive Hand: the Just complain and groan; and in the Bitterness of their Soul, can hardly forbear 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 knowledge in the Most High?
"—Their Oppressors 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 Intemperance 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 represented to us in Scripture; as
Scourges
in the Hand of GOD, sent forth to do his Work upon a degenerating People: They are employed in the Execution of righteous and wise Purposes,
concealed
from themselves; and, when their Commission is fulfilled, recalled and destroyed. Of this we have a remarkable Example 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: —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
Isa. x. 6, 7, 12.
. Vainly then doth the
warth of man
lift itself up against GOD.—
Shall the ax boast itself against him that heweth therewith? Or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it?
Isa. x. 15.
—
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 Accomplishment 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 Chastisement, but as the Instrument of
improving
and
signalizing
the Graces of good Men; and thereby raising them to higher
Honour
and
Glory.
—Had there been no Persecutors and Tyrants, no Oppressors of Liberty, no wrathful and furious Men in the World, what a Number of
great
and
worthy
Actions had never been heard of? What shining Examples of Fortitude, Constancy and Patience, had been lost to the World? What a Field of Virtues,
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
Improvements
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 Exercise 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 publick Interests, these give us the Means of discovering true publick Spirit, and Love to our Country. When we suffer in our private Concerns, 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 desirable Opportunity afforded us, of gaining Honour truly immortal, by being Witnesses for GOD, and maintaining an exemplary and heroic 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 Martyrs, 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 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 moral and religious Improvement to the
bettering
of our Souls; but also are often made, in their Consequences, to produce other unlook'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 appears. Thus,
THE Hardships which good Men suffer from others in their
private
Concerns, are often seen to
give Birth
to their succeeding Prosperity. Many Exemplifications of this we find in History. The unfortunate Circumstances 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
Mordecai
his Enemy, at the very critical Time When he thought his Designs ripe for sinking 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
Prov. xix. 21.
. 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 latent Seeds of future Prosperity.—How frequently 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 Violence, prov'd the Occasion of calling forth their
Courage
and
Activity,
and of putting them upon such
Efforts
to do themselves Justice, as have raised them higher than ever they fell? How many, in the Course of their Life, have had Reason to be
thankful
for being disappointed by the Wrath of their Enemies, in Designs, which, perhaps, they very
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
Psal. cvii. 34.
.
BUT if thus, in
private
Life, the
wrath of man
is often made to praise GOD, by becoming 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 dismal 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 awaken'd to see their
true Interests;
and taught more effectually to
secure
them. Publick Affairs being once thrown into a
Ferment,
the Corruptions of Government, like bad Humours in the Body, have been purg'd and wrought off. The Feeling of grievous Oppression has frequently been the first Thing that made Nations
shake off
the
Yoke;
and led them to assert their own
just Rights
against tyrannical Governors;
which,
had their Tyranny been less insolent, these Nations would have remain'd longer, perhaps for ever,
depriv'd of.
Of this we have a memorable Example in the late glorious and happy
Revolution
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
Sovereign: and, instead of that mild and temperate 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 arrogantly claim us as their
Property
by
Divine 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 Provinces;
and Liberty, from a few inconsiderable Fisher-towns, has raised them to the most flourishing Height of Trade and Opulence. —As to the first
Establishment
of Freedom, 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
strengthned
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 confirm'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
Persecution
of
Religion
and
Truth,
signally praises GOD, when it is made to turn to the greater
Advancement
of Religion, and further Propagation of Truth.—The Church of GOD, since 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 waters 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 Christians, their
Constancy
and
Fortitude
in giving 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 Attempts 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 itself,
to the Destruction of its own Purpose;— like Waves, that, assaulting a Rock with impotent Fury, discover its immoveable Stability, whilst they dash themselves in Pieces at its Feet. Prosperity, Greatness, and worldly 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 accomplishing Ends of most extensive Benefit: and that is,
the Death of
JESUS CHRIST.—Never did Malice, Rage and Envy please themselves 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 amongst 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 Counsel 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, 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 contributed 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
Exemplification
of the Conduct of Providence in many
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 Perfections,
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 Impulse; 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 Contemplation of the
Hand of God,
in all the Occurrences and Transactions of the World. We behold a very mixed and busy Scene of Things passing before us: the Passions of Men variously agitated and new Changes daily brought forth upon this Stage of Time. We behold Peace and War taking their Turns: the 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 Nature; —stop at the Surface of Things;— contemplate them not like rational and religious Beings. The
Life
and
Beauty
of the Universe 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 remaining 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 Spirit,
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 Men, but to the Ways of GOD; deeply impress'd with the Belief, that we and all our Concerns are Parts of his great Administration!
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 clearly
trace,
of the Workings of Passion and Wickedness, render'd subservient to worthy and good Ends, give us the highest Reason to conclude, that, in all other Cases of seeming Evil, the like Ends are promoted. This ought to satisfy our Minds, even where the Prospect is most
discouraging,
and the State of human Affairs most
dark
and
embroil'd.
The Schemes of Divine 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 his path in the great waters: his footsteps are not known
Psal. lxxvii. 19.
. Although thou sayest thou canst not see him, yet judgment is still before him, therefore trust thou in him
Job xxxv. 14.
. His it is, to educe Good from Ill, Order from Confuision, his own just Praise from Man's Wrath. As in the natural World, there is no
real
Deformity; 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 discordant Notes, to the
Harmony
of his Goodness. As he hath rear'd the goodly Frame of Nature, 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 amazing is that Wisdom, which comprehends such infinite
Diversities,
and
Contrarieties,
within 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'
divided from one another
by a Multiplicity of Pursuits, 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
Rom. xi. 33.
!
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 befal us not
in vain:
they are not to be considered as mere Effects of the arbitrary
Pleasure
and
Will of Men:
nor are we to believe ourselves the
Sport
of
Fortune
and
Passion.
But, good Designs are
going on:
GOD is always 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 the most peaceable
Acquiescence
on our Part? Ought not we, as
Parts
of the
Whole,
chearfully 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 Issue. 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
Submission
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
Gratitude,
when view'd in their just Light. For, in these very Trials, their Advantage is
consulted;
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,
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 Conduct of Providence, let us observe, how much Reason there is for acknowledging with Thankfulness the Hand of GOD, in all these
Deliverances,
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 receives a Check, we ought to remember, it is his Hand which
restrains
it. In
both
these, the
wrath of man,
either
permitted,
or
restrain'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 very
beautiful Scene
in the History of Providence. —GOD beheld a Nation, whom he had favoured with long Tranquillity and Peace, sunk, by that Peace and Tranquillity, into
Luxury
and
Corruption of Manners.
He had bless'd them with a happy Constitution, a mild Government, and equal Laws; but long Enjoyment had
deaden'd
their
Sense
of so invaluable a Blessing, and fed a
giddy
and
factious Spirit.
He had distinguish'd them with the purest Enjoyment of pure Religion above most Nations of the Earth; but their religious Privileges,
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 fostered
Luxury
and
Impiety
under its Wings; to threaten
that Religion,
and
that Government,
to the Blessings of which we had beeninsensible; 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 render 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 of the
Favour
and
Countenance
of Heaven:
Countenanced
they were by Heaven, but not for their
own Sakes;
and the Success permitted them for a Time, was meant for the
Improvement
and
Benefit
of
those,
whom they intended 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 melancholy Scenes of
Oppression
and
Terror,
and surveys the fair Prospect now open'd, by this 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
Psal. cxviii. 23.
!—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 away, and as chaff before the wind.—Give unto the Lord, ye mighty, give unto the Lord glory and strength
Psal. xxix. 1.
!
He breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in fire
Psal. xlvi. 9.
.
His excellency is over Israel: his strength is in the clouds: He giveth strength and victory to his people
Psal. lxviii. 34, 35.
. —PRAISE
ye the
LORD.
The END.