[2.] We can the better judge of the greatness of that sin ; for we know causes by effects, and can the better see our folly by our smart : Jer. ii. 19, ' Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy back- slidings shall reprove thee. Know therefore, and see that it is an evil thing and a bitter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God.' God is fain to teach us as Gideon taught the men of Succoth, by briars and thorns. By the evil that we suffer he showeth us the evil which we commit, and so helpeth our faith by our sense.
3. Our sufferings else are more uncomfortable. No rod so uncom- fortable as a dumb rod, when we do not know the cause and use of it, but barely feel the stroke, and see no more. But when we see the use, that maketh for comfort: Ps. xciv. 12, ' Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, 0 Lord, and instructest him out of thy law.' When the rod hath a voice, and speaketh out the mind of God to us : Micah vi. 9, ' Fear the rod, and who hath appointed it.'
Use 3. It is lawful humbly to desire God to show us the reason of • his dispensations. And here I shall a little speak to the case.
1. For men who are wicked to make this request to God is to leave the matter of repentance upon an uncertain debate : and it is all one as if a man should break through a thorn hedge, and curiously desire to know Avhich thorn had pricked him. For those that are overgrown with sin, it is enough to know that the author of all afflictions is God ;
68 SERBION UPON JOB X. 2.
the cause is sin, and the end is repentance ; that they must he new creatures, or they are undone for ever. To be more particular with them is to defeat the purpose of the dispensation, and to put them upon the leaving of one sin when God calleth for a change of state, or ia passing from death to life ; and this is hut like mending a hole in an house that is ready to drop down.
2. To put this question to God when we do not search diligently ourselves is to betray a duty by our prayers : for when you complain, you must also search : Lam. iii. 39, 40, ' Wherefore doth a living man complain ? a man for the punishment of his sins. Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord.' Let us search what sins have an hand in all that cometh upon us, and what special provocation we are guilty of.
3. When one that for the main hath walked faithfully with God puts the question, these two cautions must be observed —
[1.] That it be not out of the impatiency of the flesh, murmuring against and taxing God's providence, as if he dealt hardly with them, who for wise reasons will dispose of the temporal interests and condition of his people according to his own pleasure, for his honour and their profit. If there be an overvaluing of the prosperity of the flesh, we bewray the cause, and yet do not see it. This is that God aimeth at, but you would translate the matter to some other thing. He would teach you that your happiness lieth not here ; that patience and humility under the sharpest trials is better than immunity from them.
[2.j That it be not from an over-conceit of our own holiness, so that you wonder why God should afiiict you. Alas ! the sins of the regene- rate are very provoking, and may occasion sore afflictions in this life : Amos iii. 2, ' You only have I known of all the families of the earth, therefore will I punish you for all your iniquities.' They sin against a nearer relation than others do, even against God, who is their Father by the new birth, which is more heinous than if a stranger did it, 1 Peter i. 17. They sin against more excellent operations of the Spirit than others do, a principle of life within them : 1 John iii. 9, ' Whoso- ever is born of God doth not commit sin.' There is more unkindness in their sins: Ezra is. 14, 'Should we again break thy command- ments ? ' > They know more of the sting of sin, and have drunk of the bitter waters, Joshua xxii. 17 ; against more knowledge, for they know more what the will of God is, James iv. 17. They make profession of a strict obedience, and that by covenant, vow, and dedication. God's quarrel against you is the quarrel of liis covenant, Lev. xxvi. 25. You dishonour God more than any others by your sins : Neh. v. 9, ' Is it not good that ye should walk in the fear of God, because of the heathen ? ' You harden the wicked more than such sins in other men ■would do: Ezek. xvi. 51, 'Neither hath Samaria committed half of thy sins ; but thou hast multiplied thine abomination more than they, and hast justified thy sister in all thine abominations which thou hast done.' Think of these things, and then put the question.