Look upon the estate of this people, as they were differ- enced seven years ago, so for some continuance, and as they are now, and you shall find in how many things we have returned to others, and not one instance to be given of their return to us. That this may be clear, take some particulars.
(1.) In words and expressions, those are * index anirai.' Turn them over, and you may find what is in the whole heart: 'Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth
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speaketh.' Now is not that language, are not those very expressions which filled the mouths of the common adver- saries only, grown also terms of reproach upon the tongues of men, that suffered sometimes under them, and counted it their honour so to do? Hence that common exprobation, A parliament of saints, an army of saints, and such,-like derisions of God's ways, now plentiful with them, who sat sometimes, and took sweet counsel with us. Ah ! had it not been more for the honour of God, that we had kept our station, until others had come to us, so to have exalted the name and profession of the gospel ; than that we should so return to them, as to join with them in making the paths of Christ a reproach ? Had it not been better for us with Judah to continue ' ruling with God, and to be faithful with the saints,' Hos. xi. 12. than 'to stand in the congregation of the mockers, and to sit in the seat of the scornful V What shall we say, when the saints of God 'are as signs and won- ders to be spoken against in Israel?' Isa. viii. 18. Oh, that men would remember how they have left their first station; when themselves use those reproaches unto others, which for the same cause themselves formerly bare with comfort ! It is bitterness to consider, how the gospel is scandalized by this woful return of ministers and people, by casting scriptural expressions by way of scorn, on those, with whom they were sometimes in the like kind companions of con- tempt. Surely in this we are returned to them, and not they to us.
(2.) In actions, and those,
[1.] Of religion, not only in opinion, but practice also, are we here under a vile return. We are become the lions, and the very same thoughts entertained by us against others, as were exercised towards ourselves. Are not others as unworthy to live upon their native soil in our judgments, as we ourselves in the judgments of them formerly over us ? Are not groans for liberty, by the warmth of favour, in a few years hatched into attemjjts for tyranny? And for practice, what hold hath former superstition in observing days and times, laid hold upon the many of the people again? Witness the late solemn superstition, and many things of the like nature.
[2.] For civil things, the closing of so many, formerly
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otherwise engaged, with the adverse party in the late re- bellion, with the lukewarm deportment of others at the same time, is a sufficient demonstration of it. And may not the Lord justly complain of all this? 'What iniquity have you seen in me, or my ways, that you are gone far from me, and walked after vanity, and are become vain ?' Jer. ii. 4. 'Why have you changed your glory, for that which doth not profit?' ver. 11. 'Have I been a dry heath, or a barren wilderness to you?' Oh, that men should find no more sweetness in following the Lamb under wonderful protections, but that they should thus turn aside into every wilderness ! What indignity is this to the ways of God ? I could give you many reasons of it; but I have done what I intended, a little hinted, that we are a returning people, that so you might be exhorted to help for a recovery. And how shall that be ?
2. By your own keeping close to the paths of righteous- ness. If you return not, others will look about again. This breach, this evil is of you, within your own walls was the fountain of our backsliding- Would you be the repairers of breaches, the restorers of paths for men to walk in ? Do these two things.
(1.) Turn not to the ways of such as the Lord hath blasted under your eyes. And these may be referred to three heads.
[1.] Oppression; [2.] Self-seeking; [3.] Contrivances for persecution.
[1.] Oppression. How detestable a crime it is in the eyes of the Almighty ; what effects it hath upon men, ' making wise men mad ;' Eccles. vii. 7. how frequently it closeth in the calamitous ruin of the oppressors themselves, are things known to all. Whether it hath not been exercised in this nation, both in general by unnecessary impositions, and in particular by unwarrantable pressures, let the mournful cries of all sorts of people testify. Should you now return to such ways as these, would not the anger of the Lord smoke against you? Make it, I beseech you, your design to relieve the whole, by all means possible, and to relieve particulars, yea, even of the adverse party where too much overborne. Oh, let it be considered by you, that it be not considered upon you. I know the things you are necessitated to are