SERMON XIII. Preached at Haberdashers-Hall, ISAIAH LXIII. 10. But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit; therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them. I N the foregoing part of this chapter you have a representation, as it is generally a greed, of our Lord Chrift in triumph; returning as a conqueror from his victories, with garments difcoloured with the blood of the flain. Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatnefs of his ftrength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to fave. The enemies, whom the Meffiah is fupposed to have ingaged againft, are reprefented and fet forth by Edom, and the metropolis thereof, Bozrah; because they were the next enemies to the church of GoD, mostly confined within Palestine, upon which Idumea bordered, and who were continually P 2 VOL. nually vexatious, and afflictive to them: by II. thefe, I fay, are the fpiritual enemies reprefented, which our Lord Jefus Chrift was to fet himself againft. And fo I have taken notice of a certain Author (though I profefs not to like all his allegories) who allegorically speaks of the The carnal part, under the name of Edom. "mind or fpirit ought to follow GOD unwea"riedly, without deviating or turning aside, "left he come into Edom." Alluding no doubt to the word it felf Edom or earth, as the name of Adam comes from the fame root. Against these spiritual enemies, that readily fall in with our carnal earthly part, did our Lord Jefus 'Chrift ufe his prowess, unto a glorious victory and triumph. This being represented, how ready the Redeemer was to undertake on the behalf of them, who were to be defended, and faved by him; a reflection is made upon God's former dealings on the behalf of this people, and their unequal carriage and deportment towards him, in the feventh, eighth, and ninth verses. But I cannot go distinctly over them. Unto which this complaint is fubjoined; But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit; therefore be was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them. THERE are two things, which present themfelves to our view, and confideration, from these words: namely, that the rebellions of a people profeffing the name of GOD, are very vexatious to his fpirit; and that fuch vexations ingage him against against them, as their enemy. To fpeak to both S ER M. thefe together, for the fake of difpatch, I fhall XIII. do only these two things. FIRST, Inquire concerning the evil done; that is, vexing the fpirit of GOD, by rebelling against him. And, SECONDLY, Concerning the evil fuffered; and that is his turning against them, fo as to become their enemy. Upon which the use of all will enfue. FIRST, AS to the evil done, we are to inquire in the first place, concerning the nature of it; and then in the next place, the cause thereof. I. LET us confider the nature of the evil done, namely, the vexing of the spirit of God. We are not to understand it as if the bleffed fpirit of GOD was capable of fuch vexation, as we are in our felves; that is, of real perturbation or paffion. That, common reason will tell us, the divine nature is not capable of. But yet, notwithstanding, this doth not fignify nothing; there is fome great thing lies under this expreffion, which we may conceive of in thefe two particulars. (1.) HIS will is really croffed; fomewhat is done, that is against his will. I mean his will concerning our duty, not his will concerning the event; against his preceptive will, and confequently against that good, which he wills to us: upon the supposition of our compliance with his P 3 just II. VOL. juft and righteous will. He really wills many things in reference to men, which he doth not will effectually to procure that they shall be done. He wills our obedience and duty; and, as this is connected with it, he wills alfo our felicity and happiness. The will of GoD in the former part, is expreffed by his precepts; in the latter, by his promises, so far as they are of a general tenor. But there is a will of his in reference to the event, of which it may be truly faid, Who bath refifted bis will? When the commands of GoD are difobeyed, and persons by their disobedience rush upon vengeance, and put themselves under the effects of divine displeasure; then is that done, which is averfe to the legislative will of Go D, as it is fignified to us by his word. And this is implied in the expreffion in the text of his being vexed; namely, that there is a matter or object lying before him, at which he may take offence, or refent. (2.) IT is implied also, that he doth apprehend and refent this matter; though without any commotion, or perturbation. He refents it so as not to look upon it as a matter of indifference. I does not escape his notice, as profane, atheistical fpirits are apt to fancy; who fay, The Lord fhall not fee, neither will the GOD of Jacob regard it. No, there is no fuch thing to be imagined. GOD takes notice of the matter, and refents the wrong done to him; yet fo calm is the refentment, as every way agrees with the felicity of a Rom. ix. 19. Pfal. XCIV. 7. the the divine nature. It is this which he lays It is this which he lays up in SERM." ftore, as it is emphatically expreffed by Mofes, XIII. and feals up among his treasures. This he keeps by him as the juft matter of a controversy, which he will manage; and will animadvert upon it in his own time, and when a fit and proper feafon fhall come. So much then are we to conceive as spoken of God, or of the Spirit of GOD, under the expreffion of its being vexed. 2. We are now to inquire concerning the cause of this vexation; or fhew, what it is that thus vexes the fpirit of God. We may well understand in the general that fin does fo; being in its own nature a direct contrariety to his good, and holy, and acceptable will. But especially rebellion against the Spirit of God is vexatious, which is an higher pitch of fin; and implies a continued courfe of difobedience. Rebellion speaks a prevalent, and continued malignity of fin. They rebelled, and vexed his Spirit. BUT to be more particular here; we may understand what fin is more efpecially vexing to the Spirit of Go D, if we allow our felves to confider what the titles and attributes of this Spirit in Scripture are. By these we shall know what is the tendency of the office, and operations of the bleffed Spirit of GOD; and fo more easily conceive what tends to vex, and to grieve it, as you know the expreffion is elsewhere. Grieve not the holy Spirit of Gop, whereby ye are fealed unto the day of redemption ". Deut. xxx11. 34. P 4 Ephef. IV. 30. (1.) |