It may well be sufficient to induce us to resolve to cleave to those that forsake their sins and idols to join themselves with this people, that God is with them, Zech. viii. 23: “Thus saith the Lord of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, we will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.” So should persons as it was taken hold of the skirt of their neighbors and companions that have turned to God and resolve that they will go with them because God is with them.
III. Happiness is nowhere else to be had, but in their God, and with their people. There are that are called gods many, and lords many. Some make gods of their pleasures; some choose Mammon for their god; some make gods of their own supposed excellencies, or the outward advantages they have above their neighbors: some choose one thing for their god, and others another. But men can be happy in no other God but the God of Israel: he is the only fountain of happiness. Other gods can’t help in calamity; nor can any of them afford what the poor empty soul stands in need of. Let men adore those other gods never so much, and call upon them never so earnestly, and serve them never so diligently, they will nevertheless remain poor, wretched, unsatisfied, undone creatures. All other people are miserable, but people whose God is the Lord. —The world is divided into two societies. There are the people of God, the little flock of Jesus Christ, that company that we read of, Rev. xiv. 4. “These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb.” And there are those that belong to the kingdom of darkness, that is without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, strangers from the covenant of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world. All that is of this latter company are wretched and undone; they are the enemies of God and under his wrath and condemnation. They are the devil’s slaves, which serve him blindfolded, and are befooled and ensnared by him, and hurried along in a broad way to eternal perdition.
IV. When those that we have formerly been conversant with
are turning to God, and to his people, their example ought to influence us.
Their example should be looked upon as the call of God to us to do as they have
done. God, when he changes the heart of one, calls upon another; especially
does he loudly call on those that have been their friends and acquaintance. We
have been influenced by their examples in evil; and shall we cease to follow
them when they make the wisest choice that ever they made, and do the best
thing that ever they did? If we have been companions with them in worldliness,
in vanity, in unprofitable and sinful conversation, it will be a hard case, if
there must be a parting now, because we are not willing to be companions with
them in holiness and true happiness. Men are greatly influenced by seeing one
another’s prosperity in other things. If those whom they have been very conversant with grow rich and obtain any great earthly advantages, it awakens
their ambition and eager desire after the like prosperity. How much more should
they be influenced, and stirred up to follow them, and be like them, when they
obtain that spiritual and eternal happiness that is of infinitely more worth
than all the prosperity and glory of this world!
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