(2.) A froward unsubmissive frame, that cannot submit to God's will, is unworthy of a Christian's profession ; he professeth to live by faith, yet repines at his condition ; " Faith lives not by bread alone," it feeds on promises, it makes future glory present: faith sees all in God : When the fig-tree doth not blossom, faith can joy in the God of its salvation, Hab. iii. 17, 18. Now, to be troubled at our present estate, because low and mean, shews weak faith. Sure that is a weak faith, or no faith, which must have crutches to support it. O be asham- ed to call thyself believer, if thou canst not trust God, and acquiesce in his will, in the deficiency of outward comforts !
(3.) To be of a froward unsubmissive spirit, that cannot surrender its will unto God, is unworthy of the high dignities God hath put upon a Christian. 1. He is a rich heir ; he is exalted above all creatures that ever God made, except the angels • yea, in
some sense, as his nature is joined in an hypostatical union to the divine nature, so he is above the angels. O then, how is it be- low his dignity, for want of a few earthly comforts, to be froward, and ready to quar- rel with the Deity ! Is it not unworthy of a king's son, because he may not pluck such a flower, to be discontented and rebel against his royal father ? 2. A Christian is espoused to Jesus Christ. Wliat ! to be married to Christ, yet froward and unsubmissive? Hast not thou enough in him ? As Elkanah said to Hannah, 1 Sam. i. 8., " Am not I better to thee than ten sons ?" Is not Christ better than a thousand worldly comforts; Omnia bona in summo bono. It is a dispa- ragement to Christ that his spouse should be froward when she is matched into the crown of heaven.
(4.) To be of a froward unsubmissive spirit, is unsuitable to the prayers of a Chris- tian ; he prays, " thy will be done ;" it is the will of God he should meet with such troubles, whether sickness, loss of estate, crosses in children, God hath decreed, and ordered it ; why then is there not submis- sion ? Why are we discontented at that which we pray for ? It is a saying of Lati- mer, speaking of Peter, who denied his mas- ter, Peter, saitli he, forgot his prayer, for that was, " hallowed be thy name :" so, oft we foiget our piayers, nay, contradict them; for we pray " thy will be done." Now, if un- submissiveness to God be so unworthy of a Christian, should not we labour to brino- our wills to God's, and say, Lord, let me not disparage religion, let me do nothing unwortliy of a Christian.
IWi. Consideration, frowardness and un- submissiveness of will to God, is very sinful. (1.) It is sinful in its nature ; to murmur when God crosseth us in our will, shews much ungodliness. The apostle Jude speaks of ungodly ones, v. 15. ; and tliat we may better know who these are, he sets a mark upon them, v. 16., " These are murmurers." Some think they are not so ungodly as o- thers, besause they do not swear, nor get drunk, but you may be ungodly in mur- muring ; there are not only ungodly drunk- ards, but ungodly murmurers ; nay, this is the height of ungodliness, namely, rebellion. Korah and his company murmured against
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God, and see Tiow the Lord interprets this, Num. xvii. 1 0., " Bring Aaron's rod to be kept for a token against the rebels:" to be a murmurei", and a rebel, is, in God's account, all one ; Num. xx. 13., " This is the water of Meribah, because the children of Israel strove with the Lord." How did they strive with God ? because they murmured at his providence, v. 3. What ! wilt thou be a rebel ajrainst God? It is a shame for a servant to strive with his master, but what is it for a creature to strive with its maker.
(2.) To quarrel Avith God's providence, and be unsubmissive to his will, is sinful in the spring and cause; it ariseth from pride. It was Satan's temptation, " ye shall 1 e as gods," Gen. iii. 5. A proud person makes a god of himself ;,lie disdains to have his will crossed ; he thinks himself better than o- thers, therefore he finds fault with God's wisdom, that he is not above others.