4. We may submissively pray for the removal of his hand from us, and entreat, that his anger may cease, and that he will turn again and heal us and our families, and not draw forth his anger for ever. So did David, Psal. xxxix. 10. " Remove thy stroke awav from me ; " I am consumed by the blow of thine hand ;'"* q. d. Ah, Lord, I am not able to endure another stroke. All this while, we are safe, within the bounds of our duty. But then.
Query 2. Wherein lies our sin and danger, in exceeding these bounds.' I answer,
Sol. When forgetting God's sovereignty, and the desert of our iniquities, we arrogantly censure his affecting, or permitting provi- dences, as if they had no conducency to his own glory, or our good. This is both sinful and dangei*ous : For,
1. This is a proud exalting of our own reason and understandino* above the infinite wisdom of God. God hath made our reason a
judge and arbiter in matters ^vithin its own sphere and province: but when it comes to summon God to its bar, and article against heaven, it is an insufferable arrogancy ; and we do it at our own peril. God will have all men know, that he is an unaccountable being, Jobxxxiii. 13. Yea, he will have us to know, thot the " foolishness of God is '' wiser than men,'' 1 Cor. i. 25. That is^ that those very works of God, which man's proud reason adventures to censure as not so wise a method as their own would be, hath more wisdom in them, than all the deep-laid designs of the greatest politicians in the world. And it is strange that men should dare to attempt such a wickedness as this, after God hath so severely punished it in the fallen angels.
2. It is no less than a spurning at the sovereignty of God, from whose pleasure we derive our beings, and all our mercies, Rev; iv. 11. In these quarrellings at providence, and frets at divine appoint- ments, we invade his throne, and controul his sovereign pleasure : How monstrous were it to hear a child quarrelling with his father, that he was not so and so figured ; or the clay to chide the potter for moulding it as it is ?
3. It is destructive to our inward peace and tranquillity of mind, which is part of the punishment of this sin: and a smart stripe, a sore rebuke it is from the hand of God upon us.
Contention is uncomfortalile, thouo^h but with a neig-hbour, worse with a near relation ; but a quarrel with God is destructive to all comfort in the world. Afflictions may disturb a good man's peace; but a mutinous spirit against God, destroys and stabs it at the very heart. What is the sin and torment of the devils, but their rage a- gainst the Lord, and swelling against the metliods of his grace.? "He " seeketh rest, but findeth none," Mat. xii. 43. The peace of our spirit is a choice mercy, and might be maintained amidst all our af^
134j a sermon rHEACHED AT THE
flictions, were but our interest in his promises, and the true level of his providences cleared to us.
4. It is irrational, and highly unjust, to give the cause, and quarrel at the effects. God hath righteously and inseparably linked^^TiaZ with moral evils ; sin and sorrow, by the laws of heaven are tacked and linked together; he that doth evil, shall feel evil, Gen. iv. 7. We adventure upon sin, and then fret at affliction, Prov. xix. 3. " The " foolishness of man perverts his way, and his heart fretteth against " the Lord."" Is this becoming a reasonable creature ? Doth not every man reap as he soweth ? Can the seed of sin bring forth a crop of peace and comfort ? " Why doth the living man complain, a man " for the punishment of his sins .^" Lam. iii. 39- Search your hearts, and search your houses, and you will quickly find that all your af- flictions in this world, were they ten thousand times more, and heavier than they are, do not come near to the desert of one sin. All sorrows, losses, afflictions on this side hell, are quite below the value of sin, the meritorious and provoking cause of them all.
5. It is foohsh and vain, to strive against God, and contest per- versely with him. Can our discontents relieve us.'^* Or our murmurs ease us ? Will they turn God out of his way ? No, He is in one mind, and wlio can tnrn him aside? Job xxiii. 13. The wheels of providence go straight forward, and turn not when they go, Ezek. i. 17. We may bring them over us to crush us, by standing thus in their way ; but cannot turn them out of their way.
" If they still walk contrary to me, then will I walk contrary to " you, and pvmish you yet seven times for your sins,^"* Lev. xxiii. 14. Or I will walk in the rashness of mine anger,-|- smiting you without moderation, as men do in their rage and fury. This is all we shall get by fretting against God. Never expect relief under, or release from the yoke God hath laid on your necks, till you be brought to accept the punishment of your iniquities. Lev. xxvi. 41.
6. It is a sin full of odious ingratitude towards your God : Which appears (1.) In murmuring because it is so bad, when we should be admiring that it is no worse. Are there not millions in hell that never sinned at higher rates than you have done.^ Is this affliction as bad as hell ! Hath God pardoned you and saved you, and yet doth he deserve to be thus requited by you ? (2.) In murmuring that our condition is so bad, when we may every day see others in a far worse case, who are equal with us by nature, and we are equal with them in guilt and provocation. If we speak of outward afflictions, certainly others would be glad to exchange conditions with us, and account themselves happy in our circumstances. Consider the description given of those persons. Job xxx. 3, 4, 5. And how little they differ in the manner
* When a patient struggles under the physician's hand he receives a smarter touch.
t ^Ipl tcmere ambulabo^ u e. I will walk rashly.
of life from brute beasts : And if we speak of inward troubles, com- pare your own with those of Heman, and Asaph, in Ps. Ixxvii. and Jxxxviii. and if both together, and that in an intense degree, consider Job vii. 4. and you will soon find your condition full of sparing mercy: Those excellent persons that were so much above you in grace, were yet plunged so much deeper than you into afflictions. And is it not then vile ingratitude in you, thus to mutiny and charge your God JboUshly? (3.) But especially here lies our ingratitude, in quarrellino- and censuring those providences, whose very end and errand is our eternal good ; Heb. xii. 10. " But he for our profit, that we might " be partakers of his holiness."
7- It is a sin that deprives us of the fruits and benefits of our afflic- tions : A tumultuous raging spirit reaps no good by the rod. The fruits of affliction are called the peaceable Jt'uits^ Heb. xii. 11. becausO they are always gathered and reaped down by the afflicted soul in a quiet and peaceful temper : Anima sedcfulo, Sf qu'iescendofit sapie?is. Blossoms and flowers open not in the boisterous storms of winter, but in the mild and gentle spring.