[2.] It is injurious to others; it puts us upon acts of violence and sedition ; the murmurers are called ' rebels,' Num. xvii. 10. Schism in the church and sedition in the commonwealth are but the fruits of murmuring. Men dislike their own rank and station, and then mur- mur, and tlien perturb all. ' Oh, that I were a judge !' said Absalom, and afterwards breaketh out into open rebellion. Thin exhalations end in great storms. Servants would be masters, and the poor Avould be rich, and subjects would be in office and power ; and by giving vent to their repining thoughts, inflame the zeal of persons like- minded with themselves, till all be embroiled in blood and con- fusions.
[3.] It is injurious to ourselves. Man is a foolish creature ; what doth he get by complaining of God ? Who shall right us ? Before what tribunal will you put him in suit ? Of all sins, murmuring is most unreasonable, but very pernicious. What do we get by it but disquiet and judgment? It is like spitting against the wind, the
1 ' Quantumlibet ssepe obligati hoc solum memiueruut quod negatum est.' — Plin., Ep. iv., lib. 3,
^ ' Nou quod habet numerat, tautum quod non habet optat.' — 3/ani7.
VeR, 16.] UPON THE EPISTLE OF JUDE. 305
diivel is retiirued upon our own heads. Disquiet it breedeth us. A murmuring spirit is a greater evil tlian any affliction ; like a sour vessel, it turneth all things that are put into it into sourness. Most men's misery ariseth from their discontent ; if their heart and their condition were suited, they would do well enough in the world ; we trouble our own peace. If we could learn to frame our minds to our estates, as the skilful musician letteth down the strings a peg lower when the tune requireth it, we should pass to heaven more comfortably. Again, it bringeth down judgment; expressions tending to God's dis- honour have a loud cry in his ears. Miriam was smitten with leprosy for murmuring, and Dathan and Abiram swallowed up alive ; fiery serpents, and plagues, and exclusion out of Canaan were Israel's judg- ments when they were sick of the fret : see 1 Cor. x. 10, ' Neither murmur ye, as some of them murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.'
Let us now make application. Beware of murmurings, it is a greater sin than the world taketli it to be. Here I shall speak of two things : — (1.) Murmuring at the times and public changes which have happened amongst us; (2.) Murmuring in our own private ease.
First, Murmuring at the times. It is a repining age we live in ; many factions are disajipointed, and therefore the most are full of discontent, forgetting that all this is the work of a wise God. Mistake me not ; I list not to become the times' advocate ; it little beseemeth us to be patrons of public miscarriages, or factors for any private interest.
Therefore, let me proceed with the greatest scripture evidence and conviction, and state what is murmuring at the times. It is forbid- den, Eccles. vii. 10, ' Say not thou that the former times were better than these ; for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.' Now, what is the sin taxed in this scripture ? I answer : —
1. Not godly sorrow, and complaining to God, and bewailing the corruptions of the times. No ; the mourners in Sion are marked for preservation, Ezek. ix. None are better friends to public interest. It were well if these ' doves of the valleys ' had more company. This is no sin, for this is the only way of entering our protest, and being free from the corruptions of the age. God hath bound up all politic bodies in the same bundle, and we are concerned in others' sins. It is the art of divine mercy by this means to prevent public ruin, by inte- resting his people in the welfare of those places where they live, that every man in his place may be sensible of present sins and approach- ing judgments. Two dry sticks will set a green one a-fire. Can you blame the children of God, then, if they mourn, and enter their protest against the iniquity of the times ? The Corinthians were not clear of the incest committed amongst them till they had mourned ; then the apostle saith, ' Now ye are clear in this matter,' 2 Cor. vii. 11. Surely they that are involved in the guilt, concerned in the judgment, had need mourn.
2. Not zeal in public reproof: Isa. Iviii. 1, 'Cry aloud, spare not,' &c. Vitium sceculi is no excuse. If we spare, God will not spare ; if we hazard our bodies in bearing our testimony, we save our souls. We must cry out upon sin with a full throat, and that again and again, provided we be clear in our principles and aims, and do it without
VOL. V. u
306 AN EXPOSITION, WITH NOTES, [YeR. 16.
clamour and popular invectives. When a fire is kindled in a city, we do not say coldly, Yonder is a great fire, I pray God it do no harm. In times of public defection we are not to read tame lectures of con- templative divinity, or fight with ghosts and antiquated errors, but to oppose with all earnestness the growing evils of the world, whatever it cost us.