[2.] Take heed of transferring. Man is mightily given to it ; some- times charging it on the wickedness of former generations, that we may remove it far enough from ourselves. This is in the nature of
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man. Ask the Jews the reason of all their present calamities ; and they "will tell you their fathers worshipping the calf in the wilderness ; but this will not fit us, for we have overpassed the deeds of the wicked of former generations, Acts v. 28. They have far outgone them in sin. Many declaim against the evil of the times, like the crafty lapwing that goeth screaking abroad to draw the fowler from her own nest. Have you no sins of your own to bemoan ? Are not the times the worse for 3'ou ? Is there notliing wherein you may exercise your per- sonal repentance in reference to God ? The sins of the land, you should be affected with them as if they were your own, because of your concern for God's glory, and because you be members of that society that hath so greatly sinned against God. So did Moses : Exod. xxxiv. 9, ' Pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for thine inherit- ance;' so Daniel, chap, ix. 5, 6, 'We have sinned and committed iniquity,' &c. ; and ver. 13, the holy man joineth himself with the common body of which he was a member. Some transfer it upon the opposite faction, maliciously misinterpreting and misapphdng provi- dence to the disgrace and disparagement of those from whom they differ ; as Shimei imputed all David's calamities to his severity to the house of Saul : 2 Sam. xvi. 8. ' And the Lord hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned.' Thus men take the boldness to sit as a coroner's inquest on the souls of others, by their bold glosses and comments on the providence of God, and make it speak their own language, AVhen they themselves live in apparent defiance of God, they will censure his people for doubtful matters, or lesser failings. God doth not use to contend with a nation for lesser faults or ordinary infirmities ; nor do his judgments come for doubtful things, but the apparent breaches of unquestionable duties : Hosea iv. 2, ' By swearing, lymg, killing, stealing, committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.' Now for men guilty of such like crimes to lay all on the people of God, it is as if a man overgrown with leprosy should upbraid another with a pimple in his face, or that hath in his drunkenness plunged himself into the sea, should revile another for slipping into a ditch. But then, on the other side, the people of God ought not to put ofi" this wholly from them- selves, as if they were to bewail the sins of others when they appear in these duties. For —
(1.) They have their sins; a spirit of division and unsubjection to all that may be called lawful power, freely speaking evil of dignities ; a censorious spirit, and a spirit of detraction, which men professing godliness make little conscience of ; a spirit of murmuring against God and man ; a libertine spirit, that runneth out more to pride than duties ; impaling, enclosing religion within a party, and care not what hard things they think, speak, and do against others, thus impro- priating Christ, as if the word of God came to them only, making private and doubtful opinions the characteristic of a godly man ; hazarding the main of religion for the interest of a party, and fighting apart from the body of Christ's army, anathematising a christian nation, considering how far they differ, not how far they agree ; railing against and obstructing the office of the most useful ministry Christ hath upon earth that I know of or ever read of.
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Besides their many personal miscarriages, whereby they have offended God.
(2.) The sins of professors, yea, the regenerate amongst them, are most provoking, Amos iii. 2. Tliey sin against a nearer relation, which is more than if a stranger did these things, 1 Peter i. 14 ; against a principle of life within, 1 John iii. 9. There is more uukindness in their sins, John vi. 67 ; more knowledge of their duty, James iv. 17. They have felt more of the sting of sin, Josh. xxii. 17, tasted the bitter waters. They are in covenant with God, Lev, xxvi. 25. They make profession of a strict obedience, Neh. v. 9. They harden and justify the wicked, Ezek. xvi. 51.
2. Inquire wherein you should return. Find out the provoking sin. To do so — (1.) There needeth much searching and self-communing, Lam. iii. 40. If you know wherein j^ou have departed from God, you may know wherein to return to him. (2.) There needeth much prayer. Beg of God, Job xxxiv. 32 : ' That which I see not, teach thou me ;' seek for a further information from God, if anythiog divideth be- tween you and him. Your hearts are deceitful ; he must give you light. (3.) There needeth much observation of 3'our own ways : Prov. iv. 26, ' Ponder the path of thy feet ; ' then you will soon see how God is dishonoured and provoked by you. But if all this will not do —