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GOD’S GOVERNMENT, A GROUND OF JOY
IN the government of Jehovah all acquiesce, so far as relates to his conferring of rewards upon his obedient people: but from his inflicting of punishment on the disobedient the minds of the generality revolt; because they have formed to themselves an idea of a God whose mercy swallows up, as it were, all his other attributes. But justice is, in its place, as honourable to the Deity as mercy: and the exercise of it, towards those who shall die in their sins, will be a subject of praise and thanksgiving through all the hosts of heaven, no less than the exercise of mercy itself. The whole preceding chapter proclaims the destruction of the mystical Babylon, that is, of Rome; whose abominations have reached unto heaven [Note: Rev_18:5.], and whose persecutions of the saints have been long crying out for vengeance against her [Note: Rev_18:24.]. At the execution of God’s judgments upon her, all heaven is represented as rejoicing: and the one song which is heard through all the regions of the blest, is “Alleluia! for true and righteous are God’s judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. And again they said, Alleluia: and her smoke rose up for ever and ever [Note: ver. 1–3.].” In this, all on earth are called to unite: and the entire chorus of the assembled universe is “as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth.” Connected with the ruin of antichrist is the diffusion of the Redeemer’s kingdom throughout the world: for then will be the marriage of the Lamb, and his taking of the Church into a visible union with himself, and his consummation of her happiness. Then will the Lord God Omnipotent reign on earth; and nothing but hallelujahs be heard throughout the universe. Let me then call upon you, as it were by a voice from heaven, to commence this song,
I. As an expression of grateful acknowledgment—
Certain it is, that we have abundant ground for this song in this present world—
[Let us look back to the circumstances of our birth; the time, when the Sun of Righteousness had arisen upon the earth; and the place, where his rays were shining forth in their meridian splendour. This can be traced to nothing but God’s sovereign will and pleasure: for it is to Him alone that we owe it, that we were not born amidst all the errors of Popish delusion; or in a heathen land, under the darkness of Pagan superstition, or of Mahometan imposture.
Let us survey our whole life; our dangers, both seen and unseen; and our deliverances, which nothing but an overruling Providence could ever have effected. Particularly, let us view our temptations to sin, and the wonderful preservations which we have experienced; sometimes, perhaps, through the remonstrances of conscience; sometimes through the intervention of some seasonable occurrence; and sometimes through a mere want of opportunity to execute the secret wishes of our hearts. Let us, in this respect, compare ourselves with, those who, having been less favourably circumstanced in relation to their temptations and restraints, have been left to carry into effect the evil dictates of their hearts; and we shall, if we know any thing of ourselves, find abundant occasion for thanksgivings to our God.
If, through the grace of God, we have been brought to the knowledge of Christ, and been made partakers of his salvation, shall we not, in that case, pour forth our acclamations and hosannahs? Or, if we be yet in our unconverted state, shall we not praise him, that “space is yet given us for repentance?” If there were no other ground of praise than this, that we are not at this moment lifting up our eyes in the torments of hell, and crying in vain for a drop of water to cool our tongues, there is not one amongst us who may not well lift up his voice, even as thunder itself, in hallelujahs to the Lord God Omnipotent, who, by his sovereign power and grace, has distinguished us from the millions who are gone beyond a possibility of redemption.]
And shall we not burst forth into this song, the very instant that we enter into the invisible world—
[There we shall have a complete view of all the dangers to which we ever were exposed, and all the deliverances that ever were vouchsafed unto us here below. Our feelings will be not unlike to those of Joshua and the Israelites after their establishment in the land of Canaan. They doubtless would look back on all their way, from the time that Moses had come to Egypt for their deliverance: they would call to remembrance the many successive plagues that had been inflicted on that land for the humiliation of Pharaoh, and the terrible slaughter of the first-born that had at last constrained him to consent: they would have strongly painted also before their eyes the dangers to which they had been exposed, when, with the sea before them, and mountains and morasses on either side, the enraged army of Pharaoh pressed upon their rear. They would, in particular, review their passing of the Red Sea as on dry ground, and the total destruction of their pursuers in the returning waters. In a word, they would have before their eyes the diversified events during the whole of their sojourning in the wilderness, the mercies and the judgments of every kind, till at last they were brought in safety to the possession of the promised land. Nor would they be unmindful of the myriads, who, through their unbelief, had fallen short of that rest; and of the distinguishing favours which they themselves had experienced at the hands of God. Thus, I say, will our souls, if ever they be permitted to reach the heavenly land, behold at one glance all the wonders of grace and mercy which they have experienced in this vale of tears: and, O with what rapture will they adore and magnify their God! Methinks the deafening sound of cataracts, or the terrific roar of thunders, will be as nothing, in comparison of the hallelujahs that shall burst from the millions of the redeemed at that day.]
But there is another view, in which the words of my text may be considered; namely,
II. As an effusion of confident anticipation—
This, indeed, is the precise view in which they should be understood; for Rome is not yet destroyed; and, consequently, the “alleluias” are uttered only in the prospect of that event. And we too, with a prospective regard to future events, may utter this song: we may utter it,
1. In reference to the world at large—
[Most awful is the state of the world at this time. Revolutions and counter-revolutions are occurring in mighty kingdoms, and in rapid succession: and no one can foresee what their end shall be. But it is a sweet consolatory thought, that God reigneth, and is accomplishing his own designs by these unconscious and unwitting agents. In the rise and fall of the four great empires, God wrought his own sovereign and unerring will. Cyrus little thought whose instrument he was, in the subversion of the Chaldean empire; nor did the mighty conquerors, who, in succession, reduced the Persian, Grecian, and Roman empires, know whose decrees they executed, or whose purposes they fulfilled. So, at this time, contending nations little imagine that there is One on high who makes use of them for the effecting of his own purposes; and who will infallibly direct their ambitious and selfish projects for the attainment of his own ends. Nothing can appear more independent of the Deity than “winds and storms:” yet they, all of them without exception, “fulfil his will:” and truly this may well compose our minds, in relation to the issue of these events: and whilst others are filled with terrors, we may calmly and confidently say, “Alleluia! for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth.”]
2. In reference to the Church of God—
[This is at a low ebb. Whole countries, where religion once flourished, are now as destitute of it as if the Gospel had never been proclaimed unto them. Even the Churches of Asia, once so distinguished by the favour of Heaven, have their candlesticks removed, and are now immersed in total darkness. And Christendom itself is in a very dark degraded state; few, very few, experiencing the power of godliness, or adorning in any respect the principles they profess. But shall the light of divine truth be wholly extinguished, or the powers of darkness ultimately prevail against the Church of Christ? No: we are assured that “the gates of hell shall never prevail against it.” Not all the efforts of God’s enemies, therefore, need intimidate us, or partial failures tempt us to despond: for “God’s counsel shall stand; and He will do all his will.” God sees the impious conspiracies of the wicked; and he laughs them to scorn; saying, “Yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Zion [Note: Psa_2:1-6.].” And the time is surely coming, when “all the kingdoms of the world shall become the kingdom of the Lord and of his Christ:” so that, with as much confidence as if we saw this already actually existing, we may celebrate it with the loudest hallelujahs to God and to the Lamb.]
3. In reference to our own souls—
[Many discouragements do we meet with in our way; so that we are ready at times to say, like David, “I shall one day perish by the hands of my great enemy.” But it is our privilege to know, that “God has laid help for us upon One that is mighty,” and that “greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world.” See the spirit of David, when replying to the boasts of the self-confident Goliath: such should be our spirit, in the midst of all our conflicts: nor should we doubt the issue of the contest, when we go forth in the name of the God of Israel, though we have nothing but a sling and a stone wherewith to oppose our mighty adversary. In a certain prospect of being “more than conquerors through Him that loveth us,” we may adopt the language of the prophet, “The Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint; and I know that I shall not be ashamed. He is near that justifieth me: who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me. Behold, the Lord God will help me: who is he that shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old, as a garment: the moth shall eat them up [Note: Isa_50:7-9.].” Such was also the Apostle’s boast [Note: Rom_8:34-39.]—: and such also may be ours. “Let the floods lift up their waves ever so high, He who sitteth on high is mightier [Note: Psa_93:1-4.]:” and therefore, in a certain dependence upon him, we may go on our way, assured of victory, and saying, “Alleluia! for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth.”]
See then, beloved, what ground we have in this passage,
1. For submission—
[There will doubtless be many untoward circumstances, which, at the time, will prove very afflictive to our minds. But we must never forget, that, however fortuitous they may appear, or with whatever hostile intention they may be contrived, they are all ordered by unerring wisdom and unbounded love: and, however bitter they may be, we should say, “The cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?” We should remember, that, though “clouds and darkness may be round about him, righteousness and judgment are the basis of his throne.” Jacob’s complaint, “All these things are against me,” was far from being justified by the event: for the very events which he complained of, were the means ordained for the preservation of his whole family. Only bear in mind, that God rules on high; and then, whatever may occur, you will say, “It is the Lord: let him do what seemeth him good.”]
2. For gratitude—
[See the hand of God in every thing; and your mouth will be ever filled with praise. What is painful, will be received as a token of his love; and what is pleasing, as a fruit of his favour. But, above all, the security which will be felt in the soul, and that in the midst of this tumultuous and ensnaring world—methinks, in the contemplation of this, a man’s songs of praise should be as loud and constant as those in heaven. Dear brethren, think of this: nothing is done, which does not proceed from the hand of God; nor shall any thing be done, which shall not “work together far your good.” Rejoice then, and shout for joy: and let your Alleluias go forth unto your God day and night.]
3. For affiance—
[Put yourselves, and all your concerns, into the hands of your Almighty Friend: and fear not, though all the men on earth, and all the fiends in hell, should be confederate against you. If you cannot comprehend God’s dealings with you now, be content; and say, “What I know not now, I shall know hereafter.” Wait, to “see the end of the Lord:” and if, like Job, you are afflicted now, expect that, like him, you shall ere long see reason to glorify your God for all his dispensations, however dark, however afflictive. Of this you may be assured, that they who wait on him shall find him ready to help; and “those who trust in him shall not be ashamed or confounded world without end.”]