Luke 5:5 And Simon answering said to him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing… Now, if we search into the grounds and reasons of these disappointments by the hand of Providence, we shall find them reducible to a threefold cause and reason. 1. The sovereign pleasure of God so disposes it. 2. The good of the people of God requires it. 3. The manifold sins of men in their callings provoke it. 1. The sovereign pleasure of God so disposes it. He is the Rector of the universe, and as such will still assert His dominion. If Providence had alike prospered every man's designs, and set them upon a level, there had been no occasion to exercise the rich man's charity or the poor man's patience. Nay, without frequent disappointments, itself would scarcely be owned in successes, nor those successes be half so sweet to them that receive them, as now they are. The very beauty of Providence consists much in these various and contrary effects. 2. And if we consider the gracious ends and designs of God towards His own people, it appears needful that all of them, in some things, and many of them in most things (relating to their outward condition in this world), should be frustrated in their expectations and contrivances. For if all things here should succeed according to their wish, and a constant tide of prosperity should attend them — (1) How soon would sensuality and earthliness invade their hearts and affections! Much prosperity, like the pouring in of much wine, intoxicates, and overcomes our weak heads and hearts. Can a Christian keep his heart as loose from the smiling, as from the frowning world? (2) How soon would it estrange them from their God, and interrupt their communion with Him I He had rather you should miss your desired comforts in these things, than that He should miss that delightful fellowship with you which He so desires. (3) How loth should we be to leave this, if constant success and prosperity should follow our affairs and designs here! 3. And as disappointments fall out as the effects of sovereign pleasure, and are ordered as preventive means of such mischief, which prosperity would occasion to the people of God; so it comes as a righteous retribution and punishment of the many evils that are committed in our trading and dealings with men. It is a hard thing to have much business pass through our hands, and no iniquity cleave to them and defile them. And, from among many, I will here select these following evils, which have destroyed the estates and hopes of many. (1) Irreligious and atheistical neglect and contempt of God and His worship, especially in those that have been enlightened and made profession of religion. (2) Injustice and fraud is a blasting sin. A little unjust gain mingled with a great estate will consume it like a moth. (3) Oppression is a blasting sin to men's estates and employments. (4) Falsehood and lying is a blasting sin to our employments; a sin which tends to destroy all converse and disband all civil societies. (5) Perjury, or false swearing, is a blasting sin. The man cannot prosper that lies under the guilt thereof. It now remains that we apply it.Inference 1. Doth God sometimes disappoint the most diligent labours of men in their lawful callings? Then this teacheth you patience and submission under your crosses and disappointments.Consideration 1. And, in the first place, if thou be one that fearest God, consider that disappointments in earthly things fix no mark of God's hatred upon thee. The bee makes a sweeter meal upon two or three flowers, than the ox that hath so many mountains to graze upon.Consideration 2. And what if by these disappointments God be carrying on the great design of His eternal love upon thy soul? This may be the design of these providences; and if so, sure there is no cause for thy despondencies.Consideration 3. Be patient under disappointments; for if you meekly submit and quietly wait upon God, He can quickly repair all that you have lost and restore it by other providences double to you.Consideration 4. And why should it seem so hard and grievous to you for God to disappoint your hopes and purposes, when you cannot but know that you have disappointed His expectations from you so often, and that in greater and better things than these?Inference 2. If it be so, then labour to make sure of things eternal, lest you be eternally disappointed there also. (J. Flavel.) Parallel Verses KJV: And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. |
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