2. There are certain particular seasons when we are most in danger of atheism ; usually when the soul is under a passion and pet against providence, and we cavil at God and repine at his dispen- sations ; for all grievances breed passions, and passions exceedingly cloud the soul, and then we are in danger. There are several seasons when this is like to befall us.
[1.] When we see the holy and pure worshippers of God to be in the worst case, then we fall into a distrust of all religion ; and if there be a God, that he doth neglect his duty to the world. When mischief falls upon the good, it is a shrewd temptation to atheism ; indeed nothing should be out of order to faith, and providence should not work thus on us, but thus it doth. This hath been a wind that hath shaken not only shrubs and reeds, but the tallest cedars in Lebanon ; as David, Jeremiah. Habakkuk, and the holy men of God, they have been questioning, Why doth the way of the wicked prosper ? This hath been their great temptation. God's children must be put to sore trials that their graces may appear ; they will not understand that this is the place of exercise, nor of recompenses, and therefore they take offence against God.
[2.] When our own prayers are not heard, when we have been solicitous at the throne of grace with much earnestness and impor- tunity, and yet speed not, we are apt to be so partial to our own desires, that we fall a questioning the being of God himself, as if we would take a kind of revenge upon him, because he hath not heard our prayers. Fond creatures would have grace at their own beck and command, and if we be disappointed, and God do not come in when we will, then we storm. And thus the devil hath a great advantage against many poor trembling souls that have lain under the terrors of the Lord ; they have been calling for mercy and quietness of conscience, and yet their fears increase, ^o'w the devil abuseth their discontent, and seeks to draw them to atheism. Exod. xvii. 7, when Israel wanted water, then they said — ' Is the Lord among us or not ? ' and the prophet, Hab. i. 2, ' 0 Lord, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear ! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save ; ' He had been calling upon God, and the Lord seemed not to answer. How did this work ? it brought him to this temptation, to question the being of God ; but see how he corrects himself : ver. 12, ' Art not thou from everlasting, 0 Lord my God, mine holy one ? 0 Lord, thou hast ordained them for judgment.' Thus he doth expostulate with himself, Why should I have these dreadful thoughts ? God is God still ; and then he begins to recover out of the temptation. Pettish desires, that are earnest and solicitious and finally crossed, do always put us upon mur- muring, and murmm'ing upon doubts and discontent ; and then the devil hath a great advantage, for he works exceedingly upon spleen
142 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS ZI. [SeE. XXXII.
and stomach. Therefore when men are in a pet, angry with God, and have not their heart's desire, they are liable to this sin.
[3.] "When oppression goes unrevenged, men pervert judgment, and others forswear themselves ; and our innocence doth not prevail, but we perish in it ; the devil works npon this, and takes advantage of our discontent. Diagoras, a notable atheist among the heathens, became so upon this occasion ; he saw a man deeply forswearing himself, and because he was not smitten suddenly with a thunderbolt, he turned atheist, and falls a questioning whether there was a God or no. AVhen we see such oppression, it is a sore temptation, and we cry out. Is there a God ? See how the Holy Ghost prevents such kind of thoughts as these are : Eccles. iii. 16, 17, 'I saw under the sun the place of judg- ment, that wickedness was there ; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.' What then ? He interposeth timely, for fear lest a temptation should prevent him — 'I said in my heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked : for there is a time there for every purpose, and for every work ; ' ver. 18, ' I said in my heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.' God will have a time to judge this matter ; he doth recover this great principle out of the hands of the temptation. So Eccles. v. 8, ' If thou seest the oppres- sion of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter.' A man's heart is apt to rise upon such an occasion ; he stands trembling — What ! is there any divine power, any God that takes notice of human affairs ? The Holy Ghost interposeth seasonably — ' For he that is higher than the highest regardeth, and there be higher than they.' There is a God. A man is apt to unravel all religion in his thoughts, and to think that there is none to take cognisance of the matter ; therefore when it goes ill with the best, when your prayers are not answered, when oppression goes unrevenged, you should guard your heart with this consideration, There is a higher than the highest.