 Chapter 8 of the Crook and the Lot, or the Sovereignty and Wisdom of God, in the Afflictions of Men displayed. This is a labor box recording. All labor box recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit laborbox.org. Recording by Kathleen. The Crook and the Lot, or the Sovereignty and Wisdom of God, in the Afflictions of Men displayed by Thomas Boston. Chapter 8, 1 Peter 5, 6. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. In the preceding part of this chapter, the Apostle presents the duties of the church officers towards the people, and then the duty of the people, both towards their officers and among themselves, which he minds up in one word, submission, for which causes he recommends humility as the great means to bring all to their respective duties. This is enforced with an argument taken from the different treatment the Lord gives to the proud and the humble, is opposing himself to the one and showing favor to the other. Our tax is an exhortation drawn from that consideration, and in it we have, first, the duty we are to study. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time, and therein we may notice, one, the state of those to whom it is proposed, those under the mighty hand of God, whom his hand has humbled or brought low in respect of their circumstances in the world. And by these, I think, are meant not only such as are under particular signal afflictions, which is the lot of some, but also those who, by the providence of God, are in any kind of way lowered, which is the lot of all. All being in a state of submission or dependence on others, God has made his life a state of trial, and for that cause he has, by his mighty hand, subjected men one to another, as wives, children, servants to husbands, parents, masters, and these again to their superiors, among whom, again, even the highest depend on those under them as magistrates and ministers on the people, even the supreme magistrate. This state of the world God has made for the trial of men in their several stations, and dependence on others, and therefore, when the time of trial is over, it also comes to an end. Then comeeth the end, when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 1 Corinthians 15 24 25. Meantime, while it lasts, it makes humility necessary to all, to prompt them to the duty they owe their superiors, to whom God's mighty hand has subjected them. 2. The duty itself, namely, humiliation of our spirits under the humbling circumstances the Lord has placed us in. 3. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time, whether we are under particular afflictions which have cast us down from the height we were some time in, or whether we are only inferiors in one or more relations, or whether, which is most common, both these are in our case. We must therein eye the mighty hand of God, as that which placed us there, and is over us, there to hold us down in it, and so, with an awful regard there to, bow down under it, in the temper and disposition of our spirits, suiting our spirits to our lot, and careful of performing the duty of our low sphere. 3. A particular spring of this duty, therefore, we must consider that those who cannot quietly keep the place assigned them of God in their afflictions or relations, but still press upward against the mighty hand that is over them. 4. That mighty hand resists them, throwing them down and often farther down than before, whereas it treats them with grace and favor that compose themselves under it to a quiet discharge of their duty in their situation. So, eyeing this, we must set ourselves to humble ourselves. Secondly, the infallible issue of that course, that he may exalt you in due time, the particular that is not always to be understood finally, as denoting the end or design the agent proposes to himself, but sometimes eventually only, as denoting the event or issue of the action, John 9.2.3.1 John 2.19. So here, the meaning is not, humble yourselves, on design he may exalt you, but, and it shall issue in his exalting you. Compare James 4.10. 1. Here is a happy event of humiliation of spirit secured, and that is exaltation or lifting up on high by the power of God, that he may exalt you. Exalting will as surely follow on humiliation of spirit, suitable to the low lot as the morning follows the night, or the sun rises after the dawning, and these words are fitted to obviate the objections that the world and our corrupt hearts are apt to make against bringing down the spirit to the low lot. Object 1. If we let our spirit fall, we shall lie always at folks' feet, and they will trample on us. 2. Answer, no. Pride of spirit, on subdued, will bring men to lie at the feet of others forever. 3. Isaiah 66. 24. 4. But humiliation of spirit will bring them undoubtedly out from under their feet. 5. Malachi 4.2.3. 6. They that humble themselves, now will be exalted for ever. They will be brought out of their low situation in circumstances, cast ye yourselves even down with your low lot, and assure yourselves ye shall not lie there. Object 2. 7. If we do not raise ourselves, none will raise us, and therefore we must see to ourselves to do ourselves right. 8. Answer, that is wrong. Humble ye yourselves in respect of your spirits, and God will raise you up in respect of your lot or low condition, and they that have God engaged for raising them have no reason to say they have none to do it for them. Bringing down of the spirit is our duty. Raising us up is God's work. Let us not forfeit the privilege of God's raising us up by arrogating that work to ourselves, taking it out of his hand. Object 3. But sure we shall never rise high if we let our spirits fall. Answer, that is wrong too. God will not only raise the humble ones, but he will lift them up on high, for so the word signifies. They shall be as high at length as ever they were low. Were they ever so low, nay, the exaltation will bear proportion to the humiliation. 2. Here is the date of that happy event when it will fall out, in due time, or in the season, the proper season for it, Galatians 6-9. In due season we shall reap if we faint not. We are apt to weary in humbling, trying circumstances, and would instantly have up our head, John 7-6. But Solomon observes, there is a time for everything when it does best, and the wise will wait for it. Ecclesiastes 3-128. There is a time too for exalting them that humble themselves. God has said it, and it is the due time for the purpose, the time when it does best, even as sowing in the spring, and reaping in the harvest. When that time comes, your exalting shall no longer be put off, and it would come too soon should it come before that time. Document 1. The bent of one's heart, in humbling circumstances, should lie towards a suitable humbling of the Spirit, as under God's mighty hand, placing us in them. We shall consider, one, what things are supposed in this. It supposes that, one, God brings men into humbling circumstances. Ezekiel 17-24. And all the trees of the field shall know, that I the Lord have brought down the high tree. There is a root of pride in the hearts of all men on earth, that must be mortified ere they can be made for heaven. And therefore no man can miss, in this time of trial, some things that will give a proof, whether he can stoop or no. And God brings them into humbling circumstances for that very end. Deuteronomy 8-2. The Lord that God led thee, these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in line heart. Two, these circumstances prove pressing as a weight on the heart, tending to bear down Psalm 107-12. Therefore he brought down their hearts with labor. They strike at the grain of the heart, and cross the natural inclination, when a trial arises, whether, when God lays on his mighty hand, the man can yield under it or not, and consequently, whether he is meat for heaven or not. Three, the heart is naturally apt to rise up against these humbling circumstances, and consequently against the mighty hand that brings and keeps them on. The man naturally bends his force to get off the weight, that he may get up his head, seeking more to please himself than to please his God. Job 35-9-10. They cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty, but none sayeth, where is God my maker? This is the first gate the heart runs to in humbling circumstances, and in this way, the unsubdued spirit holds on for, but what God requires is, rather to labor to bring down the heart, than to get up the head. James 4-10. Here lies the proof of one's meatness for heaven, and then is one in the way heaven ward. When he is more concerned to get down his heart than to get up his head, to go calmly under his burden than to get it off, to bow under the mighty hand than to put it off him. Five, there must be a noticing of the hand of God in humbling circumstances. Here ye the rod, and him who hath appointed it. Micah 6-9. There is an abjectness of spirit, whereby some give up themselves to the will of others in the harshest treatment, merely to please them. Without regard to the authority and command of God, this is real meatness of spirit, whereby one lies quietly to be trampled on by a fellow worm from its imaginary weight, and none so readily fall into it as the proud at some times to serve their own turn. These are men pleasers, Ephesians 6-6, with Galatians 1-10-2. What are those humbling circumstances the mighty hand of God brings men into? Supposing here what was before taught concerning the crook and the lot being of God's making. These are circumstances. One of imperfection. God has placed all men in such circumstances under a variety of wants and imperfections. Philippians 3-12. We can look nowhere where we are not beset with them. There is a heap of natural and moral imperfections about us, our bodies and our souls, in all their faculties, are in a state of imperfection. The pride of all glory is stained, and it is a shame for us not to be humbled under such wants as a tendice. It is like a beggar strutting in his rags, too, of inferiority in relations whereby men are set in the lower place in relations and society, and made to depend on others. 1 Corinthians 7-24. God has, for a trial of men's submission to himself, subjected them to others whom he has set over them. To discover what regard they will pay to his authority and commands at second hand. Dominion or superiority is a part of the divine image shining in them. 1 Corinthians 11-7, and therefore a reference of them, consisting in an awful regard to that ray of the divine image shining in them, is necessarily required. Ephesians 5-23, Hebrews 12-9. The same holds in all other relations and superiorities, namely that they are so far in the place of God to their relatives, Psalm 82-6. And though the parties be worthless in themselves, that loses not from the dead due to them. Acts 23-4-5, Romans 13-7. The reason is because it is not their qualities, but their character, which is the ground of that debt of reverence and subjection. And the trial God takes of us in that matter turns not on the point of the former, but of the latter. Now, God having placed us in these circumstances of inferiority, all refractoriness, in all things not contrary to the command of God, is arising up against his mighty hand, Romans 13-2. Because it is immediately upon us for that effect, though it is a man's hand that is immediately on us. 3. Of contradiction, tending directly to bulk us of our will. This was a part of our large state of humiliation. And the Apostle supposes it will be a part of ours too, Hebrews 12-3. There is a perfect harmony in heaven. No one to contradict another there, for they are in their state of retribution and exaltation, but we are here in our state of trial and humiliation and therefore cannot miss contradiction, be replaced ever so high. Whether these contradictions be just or unjust, God tries men with them to humble them, to break them off from addictiveness to their own will, and to teach them resignation and self-denial. They are in their own nature humbling, and much the same to us, as the breaking of a horse or a bullock is to them. And I believe there are many cases in which there can be no accounting for them, but by recurring to this use God has for them four of affliction. Proverbs 16-19. Prosperity puffs up sinners with pride, for it is very hard to keep a low spirit with a high and prosperous lot, but God, by affliction, calls men down from their heights to sit in the dust, plex away their gay feathers wherein they prided themselves, rubs the paint and varnish from off the creature, whereby it appears more in its native deformity. There are various kinds of affliction, some more, some less humbling, but all of them are humbling. Wherefore, not to lower the spirit under the affliction is to attempt to rise up when God is casting and holding us down, and cannot fail, if continued, in to provoke the Lord to break us in pieces. Ezekiel 24-13. Five of sin. As the punishment of sin, we may allude to that, Job 30-19. All the sin in the world is a punishment of Adam's first sin, man threw himself into the mire at first, and now he is justly left waltering in it, men willfully make one false step, and for that cause they are justly left to make another worse. And sin hangs about all, even the best, and this is overruled of God for our humiliation, that we may be ashamed, and never open our mouth any more. Wherefore, not to be humbled under our sinfulness is to rise up against the mighty hand of God, and to justify all our sinful departings from Him, as loss to all sense of duty, and void of shame. Three, what it is in humbling circumstances, to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God. This is the great thing to be aimed at in our humbling circumstances, and we may take it up in these eight things. One, noticing God's mighty hand, as employed in bringing about everything that concerns us, either in the way of efficacy or permission. And he said, It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good. One, Samuel 318. And the king said, The Lord hath said unto him, Curse David, Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so? Two, Samuel 1610. He is the fountain of all perfection, but we must trace our imperfections to his sovereign will. It is he that has posted every one in their relations by his providence. Without him we could not meet with such contradictions. Four, the king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water. He turneth it wither, so ever he pleaseth. Proverbs 21. One, he sends afflictions, and justly punishes one sin with another. Isaiah 6. Tim. Two, a sense of our own worthlessness, and nothingness before him. Psalm 144. Three, looking to the infinite majesty of the mighty hand dealing with us, we should say, With Abraham, Genesis 1827. Behold, I am but dust and ashes, and say Amen to the cry. Isaiah 40. Six, all flesh is grass, and so forth. The keeping up of thoughts of our own excellency under the pressure of God's mighty hand Is the very thing that swells the heart in pride, causing it to rise up against it. And it is the letting of all such thoughts of ourselves fall before the eyes of his glory. That is the humbling required. Three, a sense of our guilt and filthiness. Romans 3. 10. Isaiah 64. Six, the mighty hand doth not press us down, but as sinners. It is me then that under it we see our sinfulness, our guilt whereby we shall appear criminals justly cause to suffer, our filthiness whereupon we may be brought to loathe ourselves, and then we shall think nothing lays us lower than we well deserve. It is the overlooking our sinfulness that suffers the proud heart to swell. Four, a silent submission under the hand of God. His sovereignty challenges this of us. Romans 9. 20. Nay, but, O man, who art thou that replyest against God, and nothing but unsubdued pride of spirit can allow us to answer again under his sovereign hand. A view of his sovereignty humbled and awed the psalmist into submission with a profound sense. Psalm 39. 9. I was dumb, I opened not my mouth, because thou didst it. Job 1. 21. The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord. And 40. 4. 5. What shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth, once have I spoken, but I will not answer. Yay, twice, but I will proceed no farther. And Eli 1 Samuel 3.18. It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good. 5. A magnifying of his mercies towards us in the midst of all his proceedings against us. Psalm 144. 3. Has he laid us low? If we be duly humbled, we shall wonder he has laid us no lower. Ezra 9.13. For however low the humble are laid, they will see they are not yet so low as their sins deserve. Lamentations 3.22. 6. A holy and silent admiration of the ways and counsels of God as to us unsearchable. Romans 11.33. Pride of heart thinks nothing too high for the man, and so arraigns before its tribunal the divine proceedings, pretends to see through them, censures freely and condemns. But humiliation of spirit disposes a man to think awfully and unrobily of those mysteries of providence he is not able to see through. 7. A forgetting and laying aside before the Lord all our dignity whereby we excel others. Revelations 4. 10. Pride feeds itself on the man's real or imaginary personal excellency and dignity, and being so inured to it before others cannot forget it before God. Luke 18.11. God, I think thee I am not as other men, but humiliation of spirit makes it all too vanish before him as death, the shadow before the shining sun, and it lays the man in his own eyes lower than any. Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man. Proverbs 30.2.8. A submitting readily to the meanest offices, requisite in, or agreeable to our circumstances. Pride at every turn finds something that is below the man to condescend or stoop to, measuring by his own mind and will. Not by the circumstances God has placed him in, but humility measures by the circumstances one is placed in. And readily falls in with what they require. Hereof our Saviour gave us an example to be imitated. Philippians 2.8. Being found in fashion as a man he humbled himself and became obedient unto death. John 13.14. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, ye ought also to wash one another's feet. Use of exhortation. Let the bent of your heart then, in all your humbling circumstances, be towards the humbling of your spirit, as under the mighty hand of God. This lies in two things. One, carefully notice all your humbling circumstances, and overlook none of them. Observe your imperfections, inferiority in relations, contradictions you meet with, your afflictions, uncertainty of all things. And your sinfulness. Look through them designately, and consider the steps of the conduct of providence toward you in these, that ye may know yourselves and may not be strangers at home, blind to your own real state and case. Two, observe what these circumstances require of you, as suitable to them. Bend your endeavors towards it, to bring your spirits into that temper of humiliation, that as your lot is really low in all these respects, so your spirits may be low too, as under the mighty hand of God. Let this be your great aim through your whole life and your exercise every day. Motive one, God is certainly at work to humble one and all of us. However high any are lifted up in this world, providence has hung certain badges for humiliation on them, whether they will notice them or not. Isaiah 46. Now it is our duty to fall in with the design of providence, that while God is humbling us, we may be humbling ourselves, and that we may not receive humbling dispensations in vain. Two, the humiliation of our spirit will not take effect without our own agency therein. While God is working on us that way, we must work together with Him, for He works on us as rational agents, who being moved, moved themselves. Philippians 2, 12, 13. God by His providence may force down our lot and condition without us, but the spirit must come down voluntarily and of choice, or not at all. Therefore, strike in with humbling providences, in humbling yourself, as mariners spread out the sails when the wind begins to blow, that they may go away before it. Three, if ye do not, ye resist the mighty hand of God. Acts 7, 51. Ye resist insofar as ye do not yield, but stand as a rock keeping your ground against your maker in humbling providences. Jeremiah 5, 3. Thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved. Thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction. They have made their faces harder than a rock. They have refused to return much more when ye work against Him to force up your condition, which ye may see God means to hold down. And of this resistance consider, one, the sinfulness, what an evil thing it is. It is a direct fighting against God, a shaking off of subjection to our sovereign Lord, and a rising and rebellion against Him. Isaiah 14, 9. Two, the folly of it. How unequal is the match? How can the struggle end well? Job 9, 4. What else can possibly be the issue of the pots, herds of the earth dashing against the rock of ages, but that they be broken to pieces? All men must certainly bow or break under the mighty hand of God. Job 41, 8. 4. This is the time of humiliation, even the time of this life. Everything is beautiful in its season, and the bringing down of the Spirit now is beautiful, as in the time thereof, even as the plowing and sowing of the ground is in the spring. Consider, one, humiliation of Spirit is in the sight of God of great price. 1 Peter 3, 4. As he has a special aversion to pride of heart, he has a special liking of humility. Chapter 5, 5. The humbling of sinners and bringing them down from their heights, wherein the corruption of their nature has set them, is the great end of his word and of his providences. 2. It is no easy thing to humble men's spirits. It is not a little that will do it. 3. It is a work that is not soon done. There is need of a digging deep for a thorough humiliation in the work of conversion. Luke 6, 48. Many a stroke must be given at the root of the tree of the natural pride of the heart. Air, it falls. Often times it seems to be fallen, and yet, it arises again. And, even when the root stroke is given in believers, the rod of pride buds again, so that there is still occasion for new humbling work. 3. The whole time of this life is appointed for humiliation. This was signified by the 40 years the Israelites had in the wilderness, Deuteronomy 8, 2. It was so to Christ, and therefore it must be so to men. Hebrews 12, 2. And in that time they must either be formed according to his image, or else appear as reprobate silver that will not take it on by any means. Romans 8, 29. So that whatever lifting up men may now and then get in this life, the habitual course of it will still be humbling. 4. There is no humbling after this. Revelations 22, 11. If the pride of the heart is not brought down in this life, it will never be. No kindly humiliation is to be expected in the other life. There the proud will be broken in pieces, but not softened. Their lot and condition will be brought to the lowest pass, but the unhumbleness of their spirits will still remain. Whence they will be in eternal agonies through the opposition betwixt their spirits and the lot. Revelations 16, 21. Wherefore beware lest ye sit your time of humiliation. Humboldt we must be, or we are gone forever, and this is the time, the only time of it. Therefore make your hay while the sun shines, strike in with humbling providences, and fight not against them while ye have them. Acts 13, 41. The season of grace will not last. If ye sleep in seed time, ye will beg and harvest. 5. This is the way to turn humbling circumstances to a good account, so that instead of being losers, ye would be gainers by them. Psalm 119, 71. It is good for me that I have been afflicted. Would ye gather graves of these thorns and thistles? Set yourselves to get your spirits humbled by them. Humiliation of spirit is the most valuable thing in itself. Proverbs 16 and 32. It cannot be brought to dear whatever one is made to suffer. If his spirit is thereby duly brought down, he has what is well worth bearing all the hardships for. 1 Peter 3, 4. Humility of spirit brings many advantages along with it. It is a fruitful bow, well-allowed and wherever it is. It contributes to one's ease under the cross. Matthew 11, 30. Lamentations 3, 27 to 29. It is a sacrifice particularly acceptable to God. Psalm 51, 17. The eye of God is particularly on such for good. Isaiah 66, 2. To this man will I look, even to him that is poor, and of a contrite spirit, and trembleeth at my word. Yea, he dwells with them. Isaiah 57, 15. And it carries a line of wisdom through one's whole conduct. Proverbs 11, 2. With the lowly is wisdom. 6. Consider it is a mighty hand that is at work with us. The hand of the mighty God let us then bend our spirits towards a compliance with it, and not wrestle against it. Consider, 1, we must fall under it, since the design of it is to bring us down. We cannot stand before it, or it cannot miscarry in its designs. Isaiah 46, 10. My counsel shall stand, so fall before it we must, either in the way of duty or judgment. Psalms 46, 5. Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies, whereby the people fall under thee, too. They that are so wise as to fall in humiliation under the mighty hand, be they ever so low, the same hand will raise them up again. James 4, 10. In a word, be the proud ever so high, God will bring them down, be the humble ever so low, God will raise them up. End of chapter 8. Chapter 9 of the Crook and the Lot, or the Sovereign Wisdom of God in the Afflictions of Men displayed. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org recording by Elsie Selwyn. The Crook and the Lot, or the Sovereign Wisdom of God in the Afflictions of Men displayed by Thomas Boston. Chapter 9, Directions for Reaching Humiliation. 1. General Directions. Direction 1. Fix it in your heart to seek some spiritual improvement of the conduct of Providence toward you. Micah 6, 9. Till once your heart gets a set that way, your humiliation is not to be expected. Hosea 14, 9. But nothing is more reasonable if we would act either like men or Christians than to aim at turning what is so grievous to the flesh unto the prophet of the spirit, that if we are losers on one hand, we may be gainers on another. 2. Subtle the matter of your eternal salvation in the first place by betaking yourself to Christ and taking God for your God and Him according to the Gospel offer. Hosea 2, 19. Hebrews 8, 10. Let your humbling circumstances move you to this, and while the creature dries up, you may go to the fountain, for it is impossible to reach due humiliation before His mighty hand without faith in Him as your God and Friend. Hebrews 11, 6. 1, John 4, 19. 3. Use the means of soul humbling in the faith of the promise. Psalms 28, 7. Moses, smiting the rock in the faith of the promise, made water gush out which otherwise would not at all have appeared. Let us do likewise in dealing with our rocky hearts. They must be laid on the soft bed of the Gospel and struck there as Joel 2, 13. 1. Turn to the Lord your God for He is gracious and merciful. Or they will never kindly break or fall in humiliation. 2. Particular Directions 1. Assure yourself that there are no circumstances that you are in so humbling, but you may get your heart acceptably brought down to them. 1. Corinthians 10, 13. 1. But God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able, but will with the temptation also make a way to escape that ye may be able to bear it. 2. Corinthians 12, 9. 1. My grace is sufficient for my strength is made perfect in weakness. 3. You shall be persuaded of it with application to yourselves if ever you would reach the end. 4. Philippians 4, 13. 1. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. 2. God allows you to be persuaded of it whatever is your weakness in the difficulty of the task. 1. For our sakes this is written that he that ploweth shall plow and hope, and he that thresheth and hope should be partaker of his hope. 1. Corinthians 9, 10. And the belief thereof is a piece of the life of faith. 2. Timothy 2, 1. If you have no hope of success your endeavors as they will be heartless so they will be vain. Quote. Wherefore lift up the hands that hang down in the feeble knees. End quote. Hebrews 12, 12. 2. Whatever hand is or is not in your humbling circumstances, do you take God for your party and consider yourselves therein as under his mighty hand. Micah 6, 9. Men in their humbling circumstances overlook God so they find not themselves called to humility under them. They fix their eyes on the creature instrument. And instead of humility their hearts rise but take him for your party that ye may remember the battle and do no more. Job 41, 8. 3. Be much in the thoughts of God's infinite greatness. Consider his holiness and majesty to awe you into the deepest humiliation. Isaiah 6, 3-5. Job met with many humbling providences in his case but he was never sufficiently humbled under them till the Lord made a new discovery of himself unto him in his infinite majesty and greatness. He kept his ground against his friends and stood to his points till the Lord took that method with him. It was begun with thunder. Job 37, 1, 2. Then follow God's voice out of the whirlwind. Chapter 38, 1. Whereon Job is brought down. Chapter 40, 4, 5. It is renewed till he is farther humbled. Chapter 42, 5, 6. Quote. Wherefore I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes. End quote. 4. Annour yourselves silently to admit mysteries in the conduct of providence toward you which you are not able to comprehend but will adore. Romans 11, 33. Quote O the death of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God how unsearchable are his judgments and his ways past finding out. End quote. That was the first word God said to Job. 38, 2. Quote. Who is this that darkness counseled by words without knowledge? End quote. It went to his heart, stuck with him and he comes over it again. Chapter 42, 3. As that which particularly brought him to his knees to the dust. Even in those steps of providence which we seem to see far into. We may well allow there are some mysteries beyond what we see and in those which are perplexing and puzzling sovereignty should silence us. His infinite wisdom should satisfy that we cannot see. 5. Be much in the thoughts of your own sinfulness. Job 44, Quote. Behold I am vile what shall I answer thee. I will lay mine hand upon my mouth. End quote. It is overlooking of that which gives us so much a do with humbling circumstances. While the eyes are held that they cannot see sin, the heart rises against them. But when they are opened it falls. Wherefore, whenever God is dealing with you and humbling dispensations, turn your eyes upon that occasion on the sinfulness of your nature. Heart and life and that will help forward your humiliation. 6. Settle it in your heart that there is need of all the humbling circumstances you are put in. This is truth. 1 Peter 1 6. Quote. Though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations. End quote. God brings no needless trials upon us. Afflicts none but us their need requires. Lamentations 3 33. Quote. For he doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men. End quote. That is an observable difference between our earthly and our heavenly father's correction. Hebrews 12 10. Quote. They, after their own pleasure, but he, for our prophet, that we might be partakers of his holiness. End quote. Look to the temper of your own hearts and nature, how apt to be lifted up. To forget God, to be carried away with the vanities of the world. What foolishness is bound up in your heart. Thus you will see the need of humbling circumstances for ballast and of the rod for the fool's back. And if at any time you cannot see that need, believe it on the ground of God's infinite wisdom that does nothing in vain. 7. Believe a kind design of providence in them towards you. God calls us to this as the key that opens the heart under them. Revelation 319. Satan suggests suspicions to the contrary as the bar which may hold it shut. 2. Kings 633 Quote. This evil is of the Lord. What should I wait for the Lord any longer? End quote. As soon as the suspicion of an ill design in them against us rains, the creature will, like the worm at the man's feet, put itself in the best posture of defense it can, and harden itself in sorrow. But the faith of a kind design will cause it to open out itself in humility before him. Case. Quote. Oh if I knew there were a kind design in it, I would willingly bear it, although there were more of it. But I fear a ruining design of providence against me therein. End quote. Answer. Now what word of God or discovery from heaven have you to ground these fears upon? Not at all, but from hell. 1. Corinthians 1013. What think you the design towards you in the Gospel is? Can you believe no kind design in all the words of grace they're heaped up? What is that I pray but black unbelief in its hue of hell flying in the face of the truth of God and making him a liar? Isaiah 41. 1. John 5. 10 11. The Gospel is a breathing of love and goodwill to the world of mankind's sinners. Titus 2 11. 3 3 4 1. John 4 14. John 3 17. But ye believe it not in that case, more than devils believe it. If he can believe a kind design there, ye must believe it in your humbling circumstances too, for the design of providence cannot be contrary to the design of the Gospel, but contrary wise the latter is to help forward to the better. 8. Think with yourselves that this life is the time of trial for heaven. James 1 12. Quote, Blessed is the man that endureth temptation for when he is tried he shall receive the crown of life which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. And therefore there should be a welcoming of humbling circumstances in that view verse 2. Quote Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations. End quote. If there is an honorable office or beneficial employment to be bestowed, men strive to be taken on trial for it and hope they may be there upon legally admitted to it. Now God takes trial of men for heaven by humbling circumstances as the whole Bible teaches, and shall men be so very loathe to stoop to them? I will ask you. 1. Is it nothing to you to stand a candidate for glory to be put on trial for heaven? Is there not an honor in it, an honor which all the saints have had? James 5 10. 11. Quote Behold we count them happy that endure end quote. Etc. In a fair prospect in it, 2 Corinthians 4 17. For our light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. Do but put the case that God should overlook you in that case as one whom it is needless ever to try on that head that he should order you your portion in this life with full ease as one can. What would that be? 2. What a vast disproportion is there between your trials and the future glory. Your most humbling circumstances, how light are they in comparison of the weight of it? The longest continuance of them is but for a moment compared with that eternal weight. Alas, there is much unbelief at the root of all our uneasiness under our humbling circumstances. Had we a clearer view of the other world, we should not make so much of either the smiles or frowns of this. 3. What thing ye of coming fowl off in the trial of your humbling circumstances? Jeremiah 6 29 30 Quote, the light is consumed of the fire, the founder melteth in vain, for the wicked are not plucked away. Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the Lord hath rejected them. End quote, that the issue of it be only that your heart appear of such temper as by no means to be humbled, and that therefore you must and shall be taken off them while yet no humbling appears. I think the awfulness of the dispensation is such as might set us to our needs to deprecate the liftiness that from our humbling circumstances air our hearts are humbled. Isaiah 1 5 Ezekiel 24 13 9 Think with yourselves how by humbling circumstances the Lord prepares us for heaven. Quote, giving thanks unto the Father who hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints and light. End quote. Colossians 1 12 2 Corinthians 5 5 The stones and timbara laid down turned over and over and hewed ere they be set up in the building and not set up just as they come out of the quarry and wood. Were they capable of a choice such of them as would refuse, the iron tool would be refused a place in the building. Pray, how think ye to be made meet for heaven by the warm sunshine of this world's ease and getting all your will here? Nay, sirs, that would put your mouth out of taste for the joys of the other world. Vessels of dishonour are fitted for destruction that way, but vessels of honour for glory by humbling circumstances, I would here say one. Will nothing please you but two heavens, one here, another hereafter? God has secured one heaven for the saints, one place where they shall get all their will, wish and desire, where there shall be no weight on them to hold them down, and that is in the other world. But ye must have it both here and there, or ye cannot digest it. Why do you not quarrel too that there are not two summers in one year, two days in the 24 hours? The order of the one heaven is as firm as that of the years and days, and ye cannot reverse it. Therefore choose ye whether you will take your night or your day first, your winter or your summer, your heaven here or hereafter. Two. Without being humbled with humbling circumstances in this life, ye are not capable of heaven. Two Corinthians 5 5 quote, now he that hath wrought us for the self same thing as God. You may indeed lie at ease here in a bed of sloth and dream of heaven big with hopes of a fool's paradise wishing to cast yourself just out of Delilah's lap into Abraham's bosom, but except ye be humbled ye are not capable. One. Of the Bible heaven, that heaven described in the Old and New Testaments, is not that heaven a lifting up in due time, but how shall ye be lifted up that are never well got down? Where will your tears be to be wiped away? What place will there be for your triumph? Who will not fight the good fight? How can it be a rest to you who cannot submit to labor? Two. Of the saints heaven. Revelations 7 14 quote, and he said unto me, These are they which came out of great tribulation and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the lamb. End quote. This answers the question about Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all the saints with them there. They were brought down to the dust by humbling circumstances and out of these they came before the throne. How can ye ever think to be lifted up with them with whom ye cannot think to be brought down? Three. Of Christ's heaven Hebrews 12, 2 quote, Who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is now set down at the right hand of God. End quote. Oh, consider how the Forerunner made his way. Luke 24, 26, quote, ought not Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into his glory? End quote. And let your account with it that if ye get where he is, ye must go thither as he went. Luke 9, 23, quote, And he said if any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me? End quote. Ten. Give up at length with your powering hopes from this world and confine them to the world to come. Be as pilgrims and strangers here, looking for your rest in heaven and not till ye come there. There is a prevailing evil, Isaiah 47, 10, quote, Thou art wearied in the greatness of thy way, yet saidest thou not, there is no hope, end quote. So the Babel building is still continued, though it has fallen down again and again. For men say, quote, The bricks are fallen down but we will build with stones. The sycamores are cut down but we will change them into cedars, end quote. Isaiah 9, 10. This makes humbling work very longsome. We are so hard to quit hold of the creature to fall off from the breast and be weaned, but fasten on the other world and let your hold of this go. So shall ye be humbled indeed under the mighty hand. The faster you hold the happiness of that world, the easier it will be to accommodate yourselves to your humbling circumstances here. 11. Make use of Christ in all his offices for your humiliation under your humbling circumstances. That only is kindly humiliation that comes in this way. Zechariah 12, 10, quote, And they shall look upon me whom they have pierced and they shall mourn, end quote, etc. This you must do by trusting on him for that effect. One, as a priest for you. You have a conscience full of guilt and that will make one uneasy in any circumstances, and far more in humbling circumstances. It will be like a thorn in the shoulder on which a burden is laid. But the blood of Christ will purge the conscience. Draw out the thorn, give ease. Isaiah 33, 24, and fit for service doing or suffering. Hebrews 9, 14, quote, How much more shall the blood of Christ purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God, end quote. 2. As your prophet to teach you, we have need to be taught rightly to discern our humbling circumstances, for often we mistake them so far that they prove an oppressive load. Whereas could we rightly see them just as God sets them to us, they would be humbling but not so oppressive. Truly we need Christ in the light of his word and spirit to let us see our cross in trial as well as our duty. Psalms 25, 9, 10. 3. As your king, you have a stiff heart loath to bow even in humbling circumstances. Take a lesson from Moses, what to do in such a case. Exodus 34, 9, quote, And he said, Let my Lord I pray thee go amongst us for it is a stiff-necked people and pardon our iniquity and our sin. End quote. Put it in his hand that is strong and mighty. Psalms 24, 8. He is able to cause it to melt and like wax before the fire turn to the seal. Think on these directions in order to put them in practice. Remembering, if ye know things, happy are ye if ye do them. Remember humbling work is a work that will fill your hand while you live here and that you cannot come to the end of it till death and humbling circumstances will attend you while you are in this lower world. A change of them, ye may get, but a freedom from them, ye cannot, till ye come to heaven. So the humbling circumstances of our imperfections, relations, contradictions, afflictions, uncertainties and sinfulness will afford matter of exercise to us while here. End of chapter 9. Chapter 10 of the cook in the lot or the sovereignty and wisdom of God in the afflictions of men displayed. This is a Libydox recording. All Libydox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit Libydox.org Recording by Ruth The cook in the lot or the sovereignty and wisdom of God in the afflictions of men displayed by Thomas Boston. Chapter 10. In due time, those that humble themselves under the mighty hand of God will be lifted up. What remains of the purpose of this text I shall comprise in. Doctrine 2. There is a due time wherein those that now humble themselves under the mighty hand of God will certainly be lifted up. 1. Those who shall share at this lifting up must buy their account in the first place with a casting down. Revelation 7 14 John 16 33. In the world he shall have tribulation. There is no coming to the promised land according to the settled method of grace, but through the wilderness, not entering into this exaltation, but through a straight gate. If we cannot away with the casting down, we shall not taste the sweet of the lifting up. 2. Being cast down by the mighty hand of God, we must learn to lie still and quiet under it, till the same hand that casts us down raises up if we would share of this promise lifting up. Lamentations 3. 27. It is not the being cast down into humbling circumstances by the providence of God, but the coming down of our spirits under them by the grace of God that brings us within the compass of this promise. 3. Those who are never humbled in humbling circumstances should live up in the way of this promise. Men may keep their spirits on the high bend in their humbling circumstances, and in that case may get a lifting up. Proverbs 16. 19. There is such a lifting up as will end in a more grievous fall. Surely thou deset them in slippery places, thou castest them down in a moment. Psalm 73. 18. Those who are not humbled in humbling circumstances will find that obstinacy will keep their misery ever faster than them without remedy. 4. Humility of spirit in humbling circumstances as the tains are lifting up out of them some time with the good will and favour of heaven. Luke 18. 14. I tell you, this man went down rather than the other, that every one that exalted himself should be abased, and he that humble of himself should be exalted. Solomon observes. Proverbs 15. 1. That a soft answer turneth away rough, the grievous words stir up anger. And so it is that while the proud through their obstinacy do but read the yoke faster about their own necks, the relief sure. 1 Samuel 2. 8-10. He raises up the poor out of the dust and lifted up the beggar from the downhill to set them among princes and to make them inherit the throne of glory. He will keep the feet of his saints and the wicked shall be silent in darkness, for by strength shall no man prevail. The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken in pieces. They shall break down a stone wall while yielding packs of wool will take away its force. 5. There is an appointed time for the lifting up of those that humble themselves in their humblest circumstances. Havocook 2. 3. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak and not lie, though it tarry wait for it there is a time as for humbling so for lifting up. Pleasiosity is free, free. We know it not, but God knows it, who have appointed it. Let not the humble ones say I shall never be lifted up. There is a time fixed for it as precisely as for the rising of the sun after a long and dark night, a return of the spring after a long and sharp winter. 6. It is not to be expected that one's humbling himself the lifting up is to follow. No, one is not merely to lie down under the mighty hand, but to lie still waiting the due time. Humbling work is long some work. There is a light at 40 years of it in the wilderness. God's people must be brought to put a blank in his hand as to the time and while they have a long night of walking in darkness must trust a sigh of 50. 10. Who is among you the foe of the Lord but a bow of the voice of his servant that walketh in darkness and have no light. Let him trust in the name of the Lord and stay upon his guard. 7. The appointed time for the lifting up is the due time, the time fittest for it wherein it will come most seasonably. And that does not be weary for in due season we shall reap if we faint not. Galatians 6, 9 For that is the time God has chosen for it and be sure his choice as the choice of infinite wisdom is the best and therefore faith sets to wait it. Isaiah 28 16. He that believeth shall not make haste much of the beauty of anything depends on the timing of it and he has fixed that in all that he does. Ecclesiastes 3 2. He hath made everything beautiful in his time. 8. The lifting up of the humble will not fail to come in the appointed and due time. Habakkuk 2 3. Time makes no halting. It is running day and night so the due time is fast coming and when it comes it will bring the lifting up along with it. Let the humbling circumstances be ever so low, ever so hopeless. It is impossible but the lifting up from them must come in the due time. A word in the general for the lifting up abiding those that humble themselves. There is a two fold lifting up. 1. A partial lifting up competent of the humbling time during this life. Psalm 31 I will exult thee, O Lord, for thou has lifted me up and has not made my foes rejoice over me. This is a lifting up in part and but in part not wholly and such liftings up the humbled may expect while in this world but no more. These give a breathing to the weary a change of burdens but do not set them at perfect ease. So Israel in the wilderness in the midst of their many morning had some singing ones. Exodus 15 1. 21. 17. 2. A total lifting up competent to them at the end of time at death. Luke 16 22. It came to pass that the beggar died and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom. Then the Lord deals with them Hebrews 12 22 23. Then he takes off all their burdens eases them of all their weights and lays no more on forever. He then lifts them up to a height they were never at before no not even at their highest. He sets them quiet above all that is low and there in thick system never to be brought down more. Now there is a due time for both these. One for the partial lifting up. Every time it's not fit for it but we're not always fit to receive comfort and ease or change of our burdens. God sees there are times where it is needful for his people to be in heaviness 1 Peter 1 6 to have their hearts brought down with grief Psalm 107 12 but then there is a time really appointed for it in the divine system. When he'll think it as needful to comfort them as before to bring them down. 2 Corinthians 2 7 so that contrary wise he ought rather to forgive and comfort him. There's perhaps with such a one to be swallowed up with over much sorrow. We are in that case in the hand of God as in the hand of our physician who appoints the time the drawing plaster shall continue and when the healing plaster shall be cleaned and leaves it not to the patient. 2 for the total lifting up when we are sore oppressed of our burdens we are ready to think owed to be away and set beyond them all. Job 7 2 and 3 as a servant to earnestly desire of the shadow and as a highly looker for the reward of his work so am I made to possess months of vanity and we're some nights appointed to me. But it may be fitter for all that that we stay awhile and struggle with our burdens 2 Philippians 1 24 25 nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you and having this confidence I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your fervence and joy of faith. A few days might have taken Israel out of Egypt into Canaan but they would have been too soon there if they had made all that speed so they behoved to spend 40 years in the wilderness till their due time of entering Canaan should come and be sure the saints entering heaven will be convinced that the time of it is best chosen and there will be a beauty in that it was no sooner and thus the lifting up is secured for the humble. If one should assure you when reduced to poverty that the time will certainly come yet that you would be rich when sore sick that you would 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. However one may continue poor and never be rich may be sick and die of his disease but whoever humble themselves under their humbling circumstances we can assure them from the Lord's word they shall certainly without all per adventure be lifted up out of lead from their humbling circumstances they shall certainly see the day of their ease and relief when they shall remember their burdens as waters that fail and you may be assured thereof from the following considerations the nature of God duly considered ensures it Psalm 103 8 and 9 the Lord is merciful and gracious slow to anger and plentious in mercy he will not always charred neither would he keep his anger forever the humbled soul looking to God in Christ may see free things in his nature jointly securing it one infinite power that can do all things no circumstances are so low but he can raise them so entangling and perplexing but he can unravel them so hopeless but he can remedy them Genesis 18 14 is anything too hard for the Lord? be our case what it will it is never passed we eat with him to help it but then it is the most proper season for him to take it in hand and all of us have given it over Luke 32 36 for the Lord shall judge his people and repent himself for his servants when he seeeth that their power is gone and there is none shut up or left 2 infinite goodness inclining to help he is good and gracious in his nature Exodus 34 6 and 7 and therefore his power is a spring of comfort to them Romans 14 4 men may be willing that are not able or able that are not willing but infinite goodness joining infinite power in God may ascertain the humbled of a lifting up in due time that he is a word of inconceivable sweetness 1 John 4 16 we have known and believed the love that God have unto us God is love and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him he has the bowels of a father towards the humble Psalm 103 13 like as a father pity of his children so the Lord pity of them that fear him Ye bows of mercy more tender than a mother to her sucking child Isaiah 49 15 wherefore, how beard his wisdom may see it necessary to put them in humbling circumstances and keep them there for a time it is not possible he can leave them therein altogether free infinite wisdom that doth nothing in vain and therefore not needlessly keep one in humbling circumstances lamentations free 32 and 33 but though he cause grief yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies for he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men God sends afflictions for humbling as the end and designed to be brought about by them when what is obtained and there is no more use for them that way we may assure ourselves they will be taken off the providence of God viewed in its stated methods of providence with its objects ensures it turn your eyes which way you will on the divine providence you may conclude thence that in due time the humble will be lifted up observe the providence of God in the revolutions of the whole course of nature days exceeding to the longest day a summer to the winter a waxing to the waning of the moon a flowing to an ebbing of the sea etc let not the Lord's humbled ones be idle spectators of these things they are for our learning Jeremiah 31 35 to 37 there saith the 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 divide of the sea when the ways thereof roar the Lord of hosts is his name if those ordinances depart from before me saith the Lord then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me forever 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 casting down and only forget his humbled ones know by no means observe the providence of God and the dispensations thereof about the man Christ the most noble and august object thereof more valuable than a thousand worlds Colossians 2 9 did not providence keep this course with him thirst humbling him then exalting him and lifting him up thirst bringing him to the dust of death in a course of sufferings 33 years then exalting him to the Father's right hand in an eternity of glory Hebrews 12 2 who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross despising the shame and is now set down at the right hand of the throne of God Philippians 2 8 9 and being found in fashion as a man he humbled himself and became obedient on to death even the death of the cross where though God also have highly exalted him the exaltation could not fail to follow his humiliation Luke 24 26 ought not Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into his glory and he saw and believed it would follow as the spring in the seed doth the sowing it John 12 24 near concern the humbled in humbling circumstances have herein this is the pattern providence copies after in its conduct toward 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 Romans 8 29 for whom he did for know he also did predestinate to be conformed 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 darkest valley treading his steps this is a sure pledge of your 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 exaltation ensures your exaltation out of your humbling circumstances thy dead men shall live together with my dead body shall they arise awake and sing ye that dwell in the dust Isaiah 26 19 come and let us return on to the Lord for he have torn and he will heal us he has smitten and he will bind us up after two days he will revive us in the third day he will raise us up and we shall live in his sight Isaiah 6 1 and 2 and I raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus Ephesians 2 6 yea he has gone into the state of glory for us as our forerunner whether the forerunner is for us entered even Jesus made in high priest forever Hebrews 6 20 his humiliation was the price of your exaltation the acceptance of his payment to the full there are no humbling circumstances you are in but you would have perished in them had not he purchased your lifting up out of them by his own humiliation Isaiah 26 19 now his humbling grace in you is an evidence of the acceptance of his humiliation for your lifting up observe the pardons of God toward the church in all ages this has been the course the Lord has kept with her Psalm 129 1 to 4 Abel was slain by wicked Cain to the great grief of Adam and Eve and arrested their pious children but then there was another seed raised up in Abel's room Genesis 4 25 Noah and his sons were buried alive in the ark for 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 born Israel was long immeasurable bondage in Egypt but at length seated in the promised land etc we must be content to go by the footsteps of the flock and if in humiliation we shall surely follow them in exaltation too observe the providence of God and the dispensation of his grace toward his children the general rule is 1 Peter 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 humiliation going before Luke 6 48 and ordinarily the greater is the measure of grace designed for any the deeper is the humiliation before as in Paul's case if they are to be recovered out of a backsliding case the same method is followed so that the deepest humiliation ordinarily makes way for the greatest comfort and the darkest hour goes before the rising of the son of righteousness upon them Isaiah 66 5 to 13 observe the providence of God at length throwing down wicked men however long they stand and prosper Psalm 37 25 and 36 I have seen the wicked in great power and spreading himself like a green bay tree yet he passed away and no he was not yea I sought him but he could not be found they are long green before the sun but at length they are suddenly smitten with an east wind and wither away their lamp goes out with a stench 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 them the word of God puts it beyond all per adventure which from the beginning to the end is the humbled saint security for a lifting up Psalm 119 49 and 50 remember the word unto thy servant upon which there has caused me to hope this is my comfort in my affliction for thy word have quickened me his word is the great letter of his name which he will certainly cause to shine Psalm 138 2 for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name and in all generations has been safely relied on Psalm 12 6 consider 1 the doctrines of the word which teach faith and hope for the time and the issue which the exercise of these graces will have the whole current of scripture to those in humbling circumstances 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 27 14 wait on the Lord be of good courage and he shall strengthen thine heart wait I say it on the Lord Isaiah Romans 9 33 Isaiah 49 23 for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me 2 the promises of the word whereby heaven is expressly engaged for lifting up to those that humble themselves in humbling circumstances humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and he shall lift you up James 4 the word that humble of himself shall be exalted Matthew 23 12 it may take a time to prepare them for lifting up but that being done it is secured Lord that has heard the desire of the humble that will prepare their hearts then that will cause thine ear to hear Psalm 10 17 they have his word for deliverance Psalm 50 15 they seem to be forgotten they shall not be always so the time of their deliverance will come for they needy shall not always be forgotten the expectation of the poor shall not perish forever Psalm 9 18 he will regard the prayer at the destitute and not despise their prayer Psalm 102 17 3 the examples of the word sufficiently confirming the truth of the doctrines and promises Romans 15 4 for whatsoever things were written a foretime were written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures 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 word but the examples it is in the case of others set before our eyes to be seen and to do behold we count them happy which endure he have heard of the patience of Job and seen the end of the Lord 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 and cries of his humbled people in their humbling circumstances ensures the lifting up for them at length be it so that the proud cry not when he bind of them yet his own humbled ones will certainly cry on to him Psalm 43 7 and 8 deep call upon to deep at the noise of thy waterspouts all thy ways and thy billows have gone over me yet the Lord will command the living kindness in the daytime and in the night his song shall be with me and my prayer unto the God of my life and though unbelievers may soon be outwearyed and give it over all together surely believers will not do so but though they may in a fit of temptation laid by his hopeless they will find themselves obliged to take it up again Jeremiah 20 9 then I said I will not make mention of him nor speak any more in his name but his word was in my heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones and I was weary before bearing and I could not stay they will cry night and day unto him Luke 18 7 knowing no time for giving it over to a baby lifted up Lamentations 3 49 and 50 now Christ's intercession being joined with these cries they cannot fail to be a lifting up Christ's intercession is certainly joined with the cries and prayers of the Humboldt in their humbling circumstances Revelation 8 3 another angel came and stood at the altar having a golden censer and it was given unto him much incense and it was given unto him much incense that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne they are by the spirit helped to groan for relief Romans 8, 26 and the prayers and groans which are through the spirit are certainly to be made effectual by the intercession of the Son James 5, 16 and you may know they are by the spirit if so be ye a helped to continue praying hoping for your suit at last on the ground of God's word of promise the nature's praying is a pool that will dry up in a long drought the spirit of prayer is the lasting spring John 4, 14 Psalm 138 3 in the day when I cried that answers me and strengthens me with strength in my soul truly there is an intercession in heaven an account of the humbling circumstances of the humble ones then the angel of the Lord answered and said oh Lord of hosts how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah against which thou hast had indignation these three score in ten years 2nd wire 1, 12 how then can they miss of the lifting up in due time Christ is in deep earnest in his intercession for his people in their humbling circumstances some will speak a good word in favour of the helpless that will be a little concerned whether they speed or not but our intercession is in earnest in behalf of his humble ones for he's touched with sympathy in their case Isaiah 43 9 in all that affliction he was afflicted and most tender sympathy 2nd wire 2 8 touch of you, touch of the apple of his eye he has their case upon his heart where he is in the holy place in the highest heavens Exodus 28 29 and he keeps an exact account of the time of the humbling circumstances be it as long as it will endure and he joined with the cries and prayers of the humbled in the humbling circumstances Revelation 8 3 and another angel came and stood at the altar having a golden censer and it was given unto him much incense that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne they are by the Spirit helped to groan for relief Romans 8 26 and the prayers and groans which are through the Spirit are certainly to be made effectual by the intercession of the Son James 5 16 and you may know they are by the Spirit if so be ye are helped to continue praying hoping for your suit at last on the ground of God's word of promise for nature's praying is a pool that will dry up in a long drought the spirit of prayer is the lasting spring John 4 14 Psalm 138 3 1 2 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 11 12 how then can they miss of a lifting up in due time Christ is in deep earnest in his intercession for his people in the humbling circumstances some will speak a good word in favour of the helpless that will be little concerned whether they speed or not but our intercessor is an earnest in behalf of his humbled ones he is touched with sympathy in their case Isaiah 43 in all the affliction he was afflicted a most tender sympathy Zakkariah 2 8 for he that touch of you touch of the apple of his eye he has their case upon his heart where he is in the holy place in the highest heavens Exodus 28 29 and he keeps an exact account of the time of the humbling circumstances be it as long as it will Zakkariah 1 12 moreover it is his own business the lifting up which they are to have is a thing that is secured to him the promise is made to him on the account of his blood shed for them Psalm 89 33 to 36 so not only are they looking on earth but the man Christ is in heaven the punishment of these promises Hebrews 10 12 13 but this man after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever sat down on the right hand of God from henceforth expecting to his enemies be made his footstool how is it possible then that he should be bulked moreover these humbling circumstances are his own suffering still though not in his person yet in his members Colossians 1 24 who now rejoice in my sufferings for you I fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake which is the church where thar though is all ground to conclude he is in deep earnest again his intercession is always effectual John 11 42 and I know that thou hast me always it cannot miss to be so because he is the father's well-beloved son his intercession has a plea of justice for the ground of it 1 John 2 1 we have an advocate with the father Jesus Christ the righteous moreover he has all power in heaven and earth lodged in him Matthew 28 18 and finally he and his father are one and their will won Christ and his father do will the lifting up of the humbled ones but yet only in the due time I now proceed to a more particular view of the point and one we will consider the lifting up as brought about in time which is the partial lifting up this lifting up does not take place in every case of a child of God one may be humbled in humbling circumstances which is not to get a lifting up in time we would not from the promise presently conclude that we being humbled under our humbling circumstances shall certainly be taken out of them and freed from them ere we get to the end of our journey for it is certain there are some such as our imperfections and sinfulness and mortality we can by no means be rid of while off while in this world and there are particular humbling circumstances the Lord may bring about one and keep about him till he goes down to the grave while in the meantime he may lift up another from the same human was pressed down all along from his youth psalm 38 15 others all their lifetime Hebrews 2 15 object if that be the case what comes of the promise of lifting up where is the lifting up when we go to the grave under the weight answer were there no life after this there would be ground for that objection but since there is another life there is none in it at all in the other life the promise will be accomplished to the humbled as it was Luke 16 22 consider that the great term for accomplishing the promises is the other life not this these all died in the faith not having received the promises having seen them afar off were persuaded of them and embrace them Hebrews 11 13 and the whatever accomplishment of the promises here is not of the nature of a stock of a sample or a pledge question but then may we not give over praying for the lifting up in that case answer we do not know when that is our case for a case may be passed all hope in our eyes and the times of others in which God designs the lifting up in time as in Job chapter 6 2 what is my strength that I should hope and what is my end that I should prolong my life but be as it will we should never give over praying for the lifting up since it will certainly come to all who pray for it if not here then hereafter the promise is sure and that is the commandment so much praying cannot miss of a happy issue at length Psalm 50 15 call upon me in the day of trouble I will deliver thee and thou shall glorify me the whole life of a Christian is a praying waiting life to encourage where onto all temple deliverances are given as pledges Romans 8 23 not only they but ourselves also which have the first fruits of the spirit even we ourselves grown within ourselves waiting for the adoption to wit the redemption of our body and Whoso observes that full lifting up at death to be at hand must certainly rise if he has given over his case as hopeless however there are some cases where in this lifting up does take place God gives his people some notable liftings up even in time raising them out of remarkably humbling circumstances the storm is changing to a calm they remember it as waters that fail Psalm 40 1 to 4 some may be in humbling circumstances very long and sore and hopeless yet a lifting up may be abiding of them of a much longer continuance this is sometimes the case with the children of God who are set to bear the yoke in their youth as it was with Joseph and David and of them they get it laid on them in their middle age as it was with Job who could not be less than 40 years old at his troubles coming but after it lived 140 Job 43 16 God by such methods prepares man for peculiar usefulness others may be in humbling circumstances long and sore and quite hopeless in the ordinary course of providence yet they may get a lifting up if they come to their journey's end the life of some of God's children is like a cloudy and rainy day wherein in the evening the sun breaks out from under the clouds shines fair and clear a little and then sets and it shall come to pass in that day that the light shall not be clear nor dark but it shall come to pass that at evening time it shall be light Zechariah 14 6 and 7 such was the case of Jacob in his old age brought in honour and comfort into Egypt onto his sons and then died yet whatever liftings up they get in this life they never want some weights hanging about them for their humbling they may have their singing times but their songs while in this world will be mixed with groanings to Corinthians 5 4 for we that are in this tabernacle do groan being burdened the own mixed dispensation is reserved for the other world but this will be a wilderness onto the end where there will be howlings with the most joyful notes all the liftings up which the humbled meet with now are pledges and but pledges and samples of the great lifting up abiding them on the other side and they should look on them so Hosea 2 15 and I'll give her her vineyards and vents and the valley of Acor for a doth hope and she shall sing there as in the days of her youth and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt our Lord is now leading his people through the wilderness and the manner and the water of the rock are earnest of the milk and honey flowing in the promised land they are not yet come home to their father's house but they are travelling on the road and Christ their elder brother with them who bears their expenses takes them into inns by the way as it were and refreshes them with partial liftings up after which they must get to the road again but that entertainment by the way is a pledge of the full entertainment who will afford them when they come home object but people may get a lifting up in time that yet is no pledge of a lifting up on the other side how shall I know it then to be a pledge answer that lifting up which comes by the promises is certainly a pledge of the full lifting up in the other world for as the other life is the proper time for the accomplishing of the promises so we may be sure that when God once begins to clear his bond he will certainly hold on till it is fully cleared the Lord will perfect that which concern of me Psalm 138 8 so we may say as Naomi to Roof upon her receiving the 6 measures of barley from Boaz Roof 3 18 he will not be in rest till he have finished the thing this day there are liftings up that come by common providence and these indeed are single and not pledges of more but the promise chains mercies together so that one God is a pledge of another to come yea of the whole chain to the end 2 Samuel 5 12 question but how shall I know the lifting up to come by the way of the promise answer by the way of the promise comes in the low way of humiliation the high way of faith or believing the promise and the long way of waiting hope and patience continuing James 5 7 be patient therefore brethren unto the coming of the Lord behold the husband man waited for the precious fruit of the earth and have long patience for it till he receives the early and latter rain humility prepares for the accomplishment of the promise faith sucks the breast of it and patient waiting hangs by the breast till the milk comes abundantly but no liftings up of God's children here any more than pledges of lifting up God gives worldly men their stock here but his children get nothing but a sample of theirs here Psalm 17 14 even as a servant at the term gets his feet in a round sum while the young air gets nothing but a few pence of spending money the truth is this same spending money is more valuable than the world stock Psalm 4 7 there has put cloudness in my heart more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased but though it is better than that and their services too and more worth than all their waiting yet it is below the honor of their God I have brought them off with it Hebrews 11 16 but now they desire a better country that is in heavenly where thought God is not ashamed to be called their God for you have prepared for them a city end of chapter 10 recording by roof