Man is not able to stand alone, under the weight of his afflictions. Both sin and sorrow are burdens too heavy for us to bear: if you would have ease, lay both upon Christ, it is no unbecoming boldness to do so, for, he calls us to it, and bids us do it, Psal. 55. 22. Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee. Christ is willing to bear a part and put his shoulder under these burdens, yea, it is his strength that bears the whole. The committing of our cause to God, is at once our duty, our safety, and our ease. Thus David did, Psal. 142, 2. I poured my complaint before him, I showed before him my trouble. David brought out his evils and set them (as it were) one, by one, in the sight of God, and told him, thus it is with me. We may see David acting this rule, to the life, when Absalom had fomented a most unnatural rebellion against His: He hastens out of Jerusalem, All the Country wept with a loud voice, and the Priests with the Ark of the Covenant of God came with him also. In what posture was Davids spirit, in the midst of these commotions? His words to Zadok show (no doubt) ⟨p. 232⟩the true picture of it. And the King said to Zadok, carry back the Ark of God into the City, if I shall find favour in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me again, and show me both it and his habitation: but if he say thus, I have no delight in thee, behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him (2 Sam. 15. 25, 26.) As if he had said, I am uncertain what God will do with me: but I am resolved to let the Lord do with me, what he will, I am willing to be, what God will have me; I lay my cause and leave my business at his foot-stool, if he will have me dethroned and unkinged, I am content my honour should lye in the dust. If he say, I shall never come again to Jerusalem, or see the Ark of his strength and presence, I am content for ever to be banished Jerusalem, never to see the Ark, (which to me is the most beautiful and desirable sight in the world) any more. Here was self-resignation, and cause-committing to the height. And when David had brought his heart to this, his heart was unburdened, he (doubtless) found the weight and stress of the whole business lying upon God himself, His cause was with God, and his cares were with God; And therefore, Though his throne shaked, yet his heart was fixed.
Man is not able to stand alone, under the weight of his afflictions. Both sinne and sorrow are burdens too heavie for us to beare: if you would have ease, lay both upon Christ, it is no unbecomming boldnesse to doe so, for, he cals us to it, and bids us doe it, Psal. 55. 22. Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustaine thee. Christ is willing to beare a part and put his shoulder under these burdens, yea, it is his strength that beares the whole. The committing of our cause to God, is at once our duty, our safety, and our ease. Thus David did, Psal. 142, 2. I powred my complaint before him, I shewed before him my trouble. David brought out his evils and set them (as it were) one, by one, in the sight of God, and told him, thus it is with me. We may see David acting this rule, to the life, when Absolom had fomented a most unnaturall rebellion against His: He hastens out of Jerusalem, All the Country wept with a loud voyce, and the Priests with the Arke of the Covenant of God came with him also. In what posture was Davids spirit, in the midst of these commotions? His words to Zadok shew (no doubt) ⟨p. 232⟩the true picture of it. And the King said to Zadok, carry back the Arke of God into the City, if I shall find favour in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me againe, and shew me both it and his habitation: but if he say thus, I have no delight in thee, behold, here am I, let him doe to me as seemeth good unto him (2 Sam. 15. 25, 26.) As if he had said, I am uncertaine what God will doe with me: but I am resolved to let the Lord doe with mee, what he will, I am willing to be, what God will have me; I lay my cause and leave my businesse at his foot-stool, if he will have me dethroned and unking'd, I am content my honour should lye in the dust. If he say, I shall never come againe to Jerusalem, or see the Arke of his strength and presence, I am content for ever to be banisht Jerusalem, never to see the Arke, (which to me is the most beautifull and desirable sight in the world) any more. Here was self-resignation, and cause-committing to the height. And when David had brought his heart to this, his heart was unburden'd, he (doubtlesse) found the weight and stresse of the whole businesse lying upon God himselfe, His cause was with God, and his cares were with God; And therefore, Though his throne shaked, yet his heart was fixed.
