(2.) It is so, for the humbling of our souls under a sense of sin ; which would better become some of us, than feeding on the ashes of reserves for exemption in the day of distress.
Some may suppose, that, by reason of their personal freedom from those public provoking sins which abound in the nation, — that on one account or other, by one moans or other, they shall be safe, as in some high place, whence they may look downi and behold others in distress and confusion. But it is to be feared their mistake will sei-ve only to increase their surprisal and sorrow.
But yet farther ; even the practice of provoking sins abounds among all sorts of persons. I do not say that all individuals amongst us are guilty of them ; for were it so, our case were irreparable, like that of Sodom, when there were not ten righteous persons to be found in it, — that is, such as were free from the guilt of those sins whose cry came up to heaven ; for then there would be no room for repentance or
THE DESIGN OF IMPENDENT JUDGMENTS. 615
reformation. But whereas there are several sorts and degrees of persons, some high and some low, some rulers and some ruled, some rich and some poor, — there is no order, sort, or degree, in court, city, countiy, church, or commonwealth, that are free from provoking sins. Individuals of all sorts may be so, but no entke sort is so. And this farther entitles a nation unto the condition inquired after.
Thirdly. It is so when the world is full of such sins as are its own, — as are proper to it; and the churches or professors, of such as are peculiar unto them. If either of these were free from their several provocations, there might be yet room for patience and mercy. And these are distinct.
The sins of the world are, " the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of Hfe," — sensuality, luxury, uncleanness, cove- tousness, ambition, oppression, and the like, with security. In these things the nation is fertile towards its own ruin.
The sins peculiar unto churches and professors are intimated by our blessed Saviour in his charge on the Asian churches, Kev. ii. iii. — decays in grace, loss of faith and love, barrenness in good works, deadness, formality, coldness in profession, self-pleasing, pride, hypo- crisy, want of zeal for God and dehght in him, divisions among themselves, and conformity unto the world. And some of these things at present are so prevalent among us, that they can never be sufficiently bewailed.
It is no small evidence that the day of the Lord is nigh at hand, because the virgins are all slumbering. And it is not unlikely that judgment will begin at the house of God. All flesh hath corrupted its way ; and therefore the end of all, as to its present condition, is at hand.
Fourthly. It is so when the sins of a people are accompanied with the highest aggravations that they are capable of in this world; and those arise from hence, — when they are committed against warmngs, mercies, and patience. These comprise the ways and means which God in his goodness and Avisdom useth to reclaim and recall men from their sins; and by whomsoever they are despised, they treasure up unto themselves " wrath against the day of wrath, and the revela- tion of the righteous judgment of God," Rom. ii. 4, 5. What can save a people, by whom the only remedies of their relief are despised ? What warnings and previous judgments we have had in this nation shall be afterward spoken unto. That there hath been no effect, no fruit of them, is evident unto aU. Their lang-uage is, " Except ye repent, ye shall perish." Who hath complied with the calls of God herein? what reformation hath been engaged in on this account? Have we not turned a deaf ear to the calls of God? Who hath mourned? who hath trembled? who hath sought for an entrance into the cham-
61 G THE DESIGN OF IMPENDENT JUDGMENTS.
bers of providence in the clay of indignation? By some these warnings have been despised and scoffed at; by some, jiut off unto others, as their concernment, — not their own ; by the most, neglected, or turned into matter of common discourse, without laying them to heart.
And as for mercies, the whole earth hath been turned into a stao-e for the consumption of them on the lusts of men. The nation hath been soaked with " showers of mercies," enough to have made it very fruitful unto God ; but, through a vicious, malignant humour in the hearts of men, there have been truly brought forth nothing but pride, vanity, gallantry, luxury, and security, in city and country, everywhere. The pestilent, deceitful art of sin, hath turned the means of our con- version unto God into instruments of rebellion against God. How will England answer for abused mercies in the day of visitation ? And in all these things hath the patience also of God been abused, which hath been extended unto us beyond all thoughts and expecta- tions. And yet, men of all sorts please themselves ; as if that, were they over this or that difficulty, all would be well again, without any return unto God.