(2.) ' There is nothing new under the sun,' Eccles. i. 7. We say, * Is there any sorrow like unto my sorrow ?' things never were as they are now. Certainly you do not rightly inquire after this matter ; the world is the world still ; men have ever had the same principles, the same corruptions, the same temptations ; there were Douatists
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then as well as Separatists now, Pelagians then as well as Arminians now, Avians then as well as Socinians now ; all new lights are but old darkness revived, neither neiu, nor lights. It is easy to parallel what is most odious ; there is a circular motion of opinions and fashions, as the sun returneth every year to the same points of his compass.
(3.) All Cometh to pass by G-od's providence ; he is the great master of the scenes that present the world with a new stage both of acts and actors : 1 Sam. ii. 7, 8, ' The Lord maketh poor and maketh rich ; he bringeth low, and he lifteth up ; he raiseth up the poor from the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among the princes, and make them inherit the crown of glory ; for the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and he hath set the world upon them.' The government of the world is in God's hands, and he casteth down some, and raiseth up others from beggary to sovereignty, from the dunghill to glory. You see there his course is contrary to levelling ; he will have some upon the throne of glory. And you see, again, that God hath a hand in all the mutations and changes that fall out in the world, and that these mutations are frequent. The world is tossed to and fro like a ball from hand to hand, that God's sovereignty and dominion over events may the better appear, and that power may not want a bridle, nor the low condition a comfort. Again, that all the kings of the earth do hold their estates of God. Say, then. If God hath set up these persons, let me see what God will do with them.
(4.) The good of times is not to be measured by the carnal quiet of them. Physic provoketh ill humours ; better they should be stirred than lie still and foment a disease. God usually cometh with a fan and a sword : we should not murmur against the sword, because of the benefit of the fan.
(5.) If every one did amend himself, the times would soon amend. Mend thyself and as many as are under thy charge, and mourn for others, and thou hast no cause to complain : Josh. xxiv. 15, ' I and my house will serve the Lord.' If every one did sweep before his own door, the common tilth would be sooner carried away. Usually com- plainers do least, as the crafty lapwing will go up and down fluttering and crying to draw the fowler from her own nest. We have some secret nest of our own, and we are loath it should be rifled and exposed to public view.
(6.) The worse the times are the more exercise for grace. We have more opportunities of showing love to God than formerly, and zeal for his interests, 'and industry in finding out the right way. Man is never contented ; sometimes we question God's love if we meet with no opposition, and yet we complain when the ways of God are opposed.
(7.) There is an antiperistasis in grace as well as nature. You should be better in bad times, as fountain water is hottest in winter, and fire scaldeth most in frosty weather, or stars shine brightest in the darkest night ; see Phil. ii. 15. When the air is infectious we are the more careful of our diet.
(8.) Complaining will not excuse duty ; it argueth little faith — is
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Dot Christ king ? doth not he reign ? — little obedience and care of reformation ; a gracious heart is most apt to retui-n upon itself. If the times be bad, what have I done to make them better ? If not, thou art one that hast made them worse.
(9.) He that is not -good in bad times will be naught in better, Isa. xxvi. 10, ' In the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly.' A sick man tliinketh to have ease in another bed, in another room ; carry him thither, his pain continuetli. If a carnal man had lived in the pro- phets' times or the apostles' times, he would be the same as now ; see Mat. xxiii. 29, 30. A briar is a briar wherever it groweth ; change of times will not do the work without a change of heart. Adam sinned in paradise, the apostate angels in heaven ; Lot was unchaste in the mountains, where were none but his own family; in a howling wilder- ness where they had no outward enticements, the Israelites were given to fleshly lusts.
Secondly, The next part of use is to rebuke murmuring in our own private case. By way of consideration take these helps : —