I answer, Gods children (as well as naturall men) may also act from Rules of Reason, and naturall wisedom, but withall they act from an higher ground, and principle, that is they hear they see Gods wise, and holy permitting hand in the foulest mouth; So David acknowledgeth God in Shimeis railing, and Hezekiah in Rabsheka his provocations, and blasphemies.
Reproaches send Gods people unto God.
2dly. Gods children by reproofs, by slanders, and reproaches, are sent to God: So David as a figure of Christ Jesus, and so Moses also, when the people in their murmurings, reproached him, as the cause or occasion of their miseries, he runs to God, and praies even for those unworthy, and unthankfull men.
Lastly, with reference to our walking with others, it is an argument of great strength of grace, when glory of the Lord and the salvation of Gods people is so great, and so dear in our eyes, that we can with (upon supposition of them two) that we not onely loose our temporall, but our eternall state and welfare: Hence those two famous and wonderfull speeches of those two glorious stars Moses and Paul: Blot me out of thy book saith Moses: And I could wish to be accursed from Christ, saith Paul, for Israels sake.
Ob. But can such a wish be lawfull though for the gain and glory of Christ, since to be accursed from Christ cannot be without sin against Christ?
I answer: I will not dispute what accursedness or separation from Christ, that is, some saying that Paul wished onely a temporall, and some an eternall separation from Christ: some a separation from joy and delight in the presence of Christ, but not from the puritie and holiness of Christ: But I say, doubtless so neer as any soul approacheth to these heavenly copies of Moses and Paul, so neer comes he to the greatest strength, and health, and beautie of a Christian life.
Ob. But can any man now attain to such a strength of grace as this, so to wish?
Different manifestations of Christ Jesus in his people.
I answer: as it is in nature so in grace, there are children and young men (or strong men,) and there are old and aged men in Christ: Again, as it is nature, so in grace; there are differences of children, and differences of young and aged men in Christ: every Israelite had not the strength of Samson: nor every of Davids Souldiers the strength and valour of Davids worthies: yet so neer to these heavenly copies as we approach, the stronger we are in the grace of God in Christ: And doubtless it cannot be but it is in the desire of every true childe of God, not onely to enjoy a prettie moderate health of spirituall life, but to be as strong in faith as Abraham, in meekness as Moses, in patience as Job, in affection to God as David, and as zealous for the Lord and his glory, as were this blessed pair of zealous servants of the most high, Paul and Moses.