Israel shall be ashamed of his own Counsels

Israel shall be ashamed of his own Counsels.

Now what was that Counsel? What? Why it was this counsel: 1. The Counsel that was between Jeroboam & his Princes and the Priests, together with some eminent of the people, for the setting up of the way of false worship.

And secondly, For the forcing of all men that belonged to the ten Tribes to forbear going to Jerusalem. This was thought a notable Plot, a notable Counsel, they thought this was the only Counsel to keep things in peace among them. Why (say they) if we shall suffer men, that every one that has a fancy in his head, that they shall go to Jerusalem to worship, we shall have nothing but confusion, and therefore let us take such a course that people shall have a place to worship in, that they worship thus; it is but only some people that are so strict that they must needs worship in Jerusalem, and therefore let us determine this, That we will have a constant way that every one shall be bound to, and we will have no more going to this Jerusalem to worship, but they shall be content to worship at Dan and Bethel, and this will keep things in peace. Now this counsel seemed to be a fine plot to keep things in order. But says the Lord, They shall be ashamed of it; though they think they have wise men, that do thus advise, sage men, and some men it may be that seem to have some good in them too, and stand for peace: thus it was a Counsel cried up mightily, yet the Lord he sits in Heaven and laughs at this Counsel, and says he, They shall be ashamed of their Counsels; perhaps now while they are let go on and carry all before them, they bless themselves in their Counsel, and think it is a very excellent plot, and God favors it; but when my time shall come, when they shall see what evil it brings upon them, then they shall be ashamed of their Counsels. From there there's these two Notes;

First, That mens own Counsels bring them to shame, especially in matters of Religion.

Secondly, That men are strong in their own Counsels, till they see some eminent evil to come of them, and then they will be convinced and ashamed, but not before.

To speak a little of each of these.

Mens own Counsels bring shame to them, especially in Religion. For men naturally are very blind in the things of God, they do not see far in them; mens hearts are full of corruption, they are biased by their corruptions; seeing there's much self-love in men.

If there be any appearance that is mens own, that's much regarded, a great deal more than truth that is another mans; if it be their own they mind that, but let another man speak that which has truth, that's little regarded. There is in mens hearts much violence to maintain their own Counsels, and therefore very like that their Counsels will bring them to shame. There's nothing that men can bear to be contradicted in, less than in their Counsels. And the more men are set upon their own Counsels the more it is like to bring shame in the conclusion.

And besides, There's a judgment of God upon mens spirits, that if they will set upon their own Counsels, I say, there's ordinarily a judgment of God upon men to leave them to folly when they rest upon their own Counsels: and it's threatened in (Psalm 81:12) as a great judgment of God upon men, to give them up to their Counsels. Says God, They would not hearken to my Counsel, therefore did I give them up to their own Counsel: Oh! it's a terrible place: I beseech you consider of it; These are times wherein every one is plotting, Oh! tremble at that text; I gave them up to their OWN COUNSELS. Mens own Counsels bring them to shame, often times they come to nothing; after they have made a great deal of do, and they will do this, and they will go on; at length it comes to nothing, so that they are fain to sit down and there's an end of all their labor and stir, perhaps they have labored to put on their Counsels by much evil, much sin, much heart burning, and when it comes to all, there it lies, there's an end of it; thus they are ashamed of their counsels. Yes, many times the Counsels of men work quite contrary; God does much glory in this, in making use of mens own Counsels to bring them into snares. What has brought our Adversaries into snares but their own Counsels? What brought the Prelates down but their own Counsels? So that they would bite their very fingers for what they did in their Protestation. God has been pleased to deal thus graciously for us, to bring our enemies into snares by their own Counsels. In (Job 18:7) 'tis verified of many that their own Counsels have cast them down. And (Psalm 9) toward the latter end, The wicked is snared in the work of his OWN HANDS: Higgajon Selah. You have not those two words put together in all the Book of God besides. That is, Oh! 'tis a thing to be meditated on very much, the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Oh! think of this, consider of this, Oh! the work of God in bringing men down by their own Counsels (says the text.)

And just it may be so; for men provoke God by their Counsels, in (Psalm 106:43) Oh! the Lord looks upon the Counsels of men, and is much provoked by them, and therefore just it is with him to make their Counsels to be a snare so to them, as that they should be ashamed of them at the last. It concerns us therefore (my Brethren) to look to our Counsels what they are. I'll give you a few Rules about your Counsels that you may not be ashamed of them.

First, Keep out from your Counsels those things that would hinder you.

1. Be sure to keep out of your Counsels your false principles, be not acted in your Counsels by false principles.

2. Keep out of your Counsels wicked men, take heed that they do not join with you in your Counsels, in (Job 21:16) Their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me. And so in (Job 22:18) Oh! keep out wicked men from your Counsels.

3. Keep out your own ends, take heed how they come in: If any of a mans ends come into his Counsels, they will warp then.

4. Keep out of your Counsels conceitedness, and pride; when you come to Counsel, Oh take heed of a conceited spirit, in leaning to your own understanding; God does use to blast such.

Keep out of your counsels flesh and blood. I consulted not with flesh and blood, says Paul in the first Chap. to the Galatians: I did not look to carnal excellency, but laid aside all carnal kind of excellency; they would have advised me to this and this, and I should never have done as I did if I had consulted with flesh and blood.

Yes, keep out of your counsels passion and frowardness. In Job (5:13), He taketh the wise in their own craftiness; and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong. If once you find in your counsels your hearts begin to be hot, rather break off; take heed of such resolutions in your counsels as are in a heat. It's a safe way for you if you would consult about business of moment, as soon as there begins to be a heat, rather fall to prayer; we had need of cool and quiet spirits when we are consulting. As if you would weigh a thing exactly with gold scales (as in counsels we should weigh things very exactly) you would not weigh in the midst of a wind: when men's passions begin to be up they weigh things as a man should weigh gold abroad in the wind: but you cannot weigh exactly. Oh! take heed of passion in your counsels.

Divers other things there are that spoil our counsels that we should be aware of. And if we would have our counsels right, then observe these further rules in your counsels:

Be sure to look up first to Jesus Christ that great Counsellor. He is called in Isaiah 9, THE COUNSELLOR: it's he that is wonderful in counsel: God has given a style to his Son to be The Counsellor, he is to be the Counsellor of your soul for your eternal estate, yes, and to be your Counsellor for all matters of religion, and the worship of God, look up to him.

And pray much. If you would not have your counsels miscarry, pray much. In Proverbs 8:14, Counsel is mine (says Wisdom). It's spoken of Christ. It's very observable that some note of the counsel of Achitophel, and the counsel of Hushai: the counsel of Achitophel, the truth is, if we examine it, it was the wiser counsel of both, and Absalom loved Achitophel exceedingly, and his counsel was ordinarily accounted as the oracle of God, yet at such a time (because God had an intent to bring down his counsel) that was rejected, and the counsel of Hushai was embraced, and he did hear the prayer of David when he prayed — Lord turn the counsel of Achitophel into folly. And let us pray much that God would be with our COUNSELLORS, that there may be none there that may be like those that are spoken of in Ezekiel 11:2, These are they that give evil counsel in the city, and that likewise the Lord would sway counsels, and that men may yield to that that is the safest and the best counsel, to that that is best in the eyes of God. Many times when a company meet together, there are some things that are darted in that are neglected by the company, whereas if God were with them, to guide them, that thing (it may be) would sway all their counsels. And pray much, Guide me with your counsel, and so bring me to glory (Psalm 73:24). Oh! especially in matters that concern our souls and religion, we should pray much that God would guide us by his counsel, and so bring us to glory.

If you would have your counsels right, let the fear of God be strong in your hearts when you come to counsel. Oh! it's a good thing when any are going to counsel about matters of consequence, that they would prepare their hearts before they go with the possession of the fear of the great God upon their hearts, and then they will counsel well. You have a notable scripture for this in Ezra 10:3, Come, let us go to do according to the counsel of my Lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God. It may be there are some that have deeper reaches than they have; I, but have they the fear of God in them? There is hope that they are guided by the Lord, and therefore let us do according to the counsel of those that tremble at God's Word. Do you see a man whose heart is possessed with the fear of God and his Word? if his parts be but ordinary you may expect that God will be with him rather than with those that are bold and presumptuous, and slight the Word of God.

In your counsels (especially in matters of religion) be sure to look at the Word; and think not thus, In way of reason and prudence such a way were better, and would conduce for peace. As I remember Luther has such an expression, Reason is a most deadly enemy even to faith, it is dangerous to reason matter of faith. And so in the matters of the worship of God, there's a great deal of danger. Keep to the Word therefore in all your counsels, and labor for sincerity of heart in all your counsels. This is that that makes men miscarry in their counsels, their hearts are biased with some lust or other, and therefore when any thing is spoken to them that is suitable to what they have a mind to, that they embrace; and if any thing be spoken to them that is otherwise, that they reject. Oh! it's just with God to answer you according to the idol that is set up in your own heart.

In all your counsels, take heed of being put off with some fair shows. When the Lord is leaving any, yet he will suffer those that give evil counsel to mix a great many good things with that which is evil. As some that will put a few brass shillings into a great bag of money, the other is all good current money, yes but here's some brass shillings put among it. So sometimes in the midst of a great deal of good counsel, there is a little mixture that may turn all. Therefore those that would counsel, especially the public affairs, they had need have their eyes about them, and poise every word and line, and examine every particular, or otherwise they may quickly come to be ashamed of their own counsel.

There are many rules might further be given.

God has promised to direct the humble, therefore come with humility in your counsels, and be sure in what is right to follow: and then you may with the more confidence expect God should help you in other things.

Consult with indifferent judgment.

If the thing touch others, think what we would have if we were in their case.

9. Whether it may not cost too dear, though good. Consider whether the attaining of it, though good, may not occasion so much evil, as it is not worth it: if it be not of present necessity (non deliberand. de necessariis) the rubs attending it may shew it is not good at this time, or not thus, or not for me.