Secondly, For what we have lost. We complain when God taketh away such a child, or such a comfort, or blasteth such a confidence of ours as our affections were much set upon, and in bitterness of heart speak unworthily of God and his dispensations : see 2 Sam. xviii. 33. We hate going back a degree or two, and count it miserable to be once happy, &c. But, 0 Christians ! remember, when anything is lost, it is a wonder all is not gone. Job lost all, and yet ' blessed God,' Job i. 23. Ahstulit, sed et dedit,^ 'He took, but he gave first. That we were once happy showeth we have not always been miserable ; our pilgrimage might have been wholly evil and uncomfortable : ' Shall we receive good and not evil at the hands of the Lord' ? Job ii. 10. There is much gone, but somewhat left ; that little that is left is more than we have deserved ; many in the world would be glad of our relics. Hath he taken aught from us ? He might have taken more ; he taketh part that giveth all ; all is his own, he reserved the property to himself ; as much right as we had to our comforts was long since forfeited. If God hath lent us blessings and demand them again, shall we oTudge them to the riirht owner ? It is needful now and then that God should take our comforts from us. When we have gotten a carnal pillow under our heads we are apt to fall into a deep sleep, and dream many a fond dream till God take it from under us. He withdrawetli
^ Seueca.
302 AX EXPOSITION, WITH NOTES, [VeR. 16.
comforts to see how we ■uill take it, and bear up upon our great and everlasting hopes : Heb. x. 34, ' Ye took joyfully the spoiling of your goods,' &c. You will say that was by martyrdom, but your loss by an ordinary providence ; and will not you let God take as willingly as thieves and persecutors ? You have the same encouragements, ' a better and enduring substance.'
Thirdly, For what we affect. We are wont to murmur at the small- ness of our portion ; we have not so much as others ; our condition in the world is not so great, so rich, so honourable as theirs ; we have but a single, but they a double, a Benjamin's portion. Oh ! but consider this is mere murmuring. God never undertook to maintain all his children at the same rate, and we cannot expect so much. Variety of conditions is necessary for the preservation of the world. Levelling is not God's dispensation. Some must be high and some low. The wise preserver of all things distributeth his gifts variously — wealth to one, skill to another, strength to a third ; one must reign, another serve, and all for the common good. A piece of arras is com- posed of several parcels. We should all famish for company if all were of one sort. Who should endure the handy labours ? How low soever thou art, thou art there where God hath set thee, and there thou must tarry till the fair invitation of providence call thee higher. Look backward ; thou hast made some increase. Jacob took notice that he was become ' two droves,' Gen. xxxii. 10, though when he first came into the country he had notliing but his staff in his hand. Many of God's children are not so high as thou art. If you murmur, what should others do that have less ? We cast our eyes forward on those before us, and because we have not so much as they, so good trading, houses so well furnished, such honour and esteem in the world, all is as nothing. You do not look about you to the thousands that come short of you. You say, AA^hy should not we thrive as they, be preferred as they ? Joseph knew why Benjamin had a larger mess, tliough the rest at the table did not. So doth the Lord know why he giveth to one and not to another.
Secondly, Let me show you the heinousness of the sin by — (1.) The causes of it ; (2.) By the injustice of it.
1. The causes of murmuring are many, but all naught, as —
[1.] Pride and self-love. When men are conceited of themselves, they storm that others are preferred before them. A proud man must needs be discontented, because he sets a high price upon himself ; and when others will not come up to his price he is troubled. You will find such a proud thought rising in your heart that men of your worth are not taken notice of, and yet they that deserve least complain and mur- mur most. The best say, I am not worthy. Eeal worth is humble. The laden boughs hang their heads ; the nettle mounteth when the violet lietli shrouded under its leaves, and is only found out by its own scent. All God's blessings are low to him that is high in his own eyes.
[2.] Impatience. We cannot endure the least inconvenience. Touchy natures would be at ease, tumbling and wallowing in all kinds of pleasure. Therefore, as soon as we are touched in our skins, we fall a-murmuring, ' Whv is this evil befallen me?' and ' Why should