[Almost every kind of plague, as war, famine, and pesti- lence, has been lately sent us by God'' ; and what are we pro- fited by them ? What national sin has been put away ? I miglit almost ask, What unregenerate man has laid to heart his transgressions, and turned to the Lord ? Does not sin reign amongst us as much as ever ? Are we not like the incorrigible Jews ^ ; or rather like King Ahaz, who had a brand of infamy set upon him on this very account, that " he trespassed yet more in his distress^?" ]
What reason then have we to hope that our pre- sent troubles will be sanctified to our good ?
[From past experience we have reason to fear, that we shall still remain a perverse and rebellious peojile, and only " revolt more and more." And, if God foresee that this will be the case, what can we expect, but that our present troubles should be sent, not for our correction, but for our utter de- struction ? What can we expect, but that he should execute upon us the vengeance he has threatened^, and that "his wrath should now come upon us to the uttermost?"]
Advice —
1. Let us adore our God for the patience he has long exercised towards us^
2. Let us tremble at his judgments now impending over us '
3. Let us take encouragement from his present dealings with us, to turn unto him''
^ This, of course, must be accommodated to existing circumstances, e Jer. v. 3—5. f 2 Chron. xxviii. 22. s Ezek. xxiv. 13, 14. ^ 2 Pet. iii. 15. Eom. ii, 4.
' How soon may we find those threatenings fulfilled ! Lev. xxvi. 27, 28, 36, 37.
^ See Jer. xviii. 7, 8. and Judg. x. 15, 10.