12 Men do not only fail in prayer unto the Lord: but also they murmur many times against such as he hath set over them to be their guides: for the latter sin ariseth of the former. The Israelites quarrelled with Moses: yet what had Moses done against them? they thought no doubt that he of malice, and contrary to the will of the Lord, had brought them into the wilderness, for they thought God had a nearer way and a better to bring them into the promised land: and because they could not consider the work of the Lord, therefore they must needs quarrel against some body, and wreak their grief upon him, laying the fault upon Moses. Thus did Rachel, whom when the Lord punished, for that she was Proud (because her husband loved her best) and made her barren, when he gave children to Leah, she not considering that the Lord punished her pride with barrenness, began to quarrel with her husband; asking him why he gave no children to her? To whom he answered: Am I in stead of God unto thee, to give thee children? And this is the manner of the people in all ages, that when they cannot see the Lord punishing them for their sins, they straightway lay the fault upon some or other, by whom they think it cometh. As now if the Lord do send tumults and storms into the common-wealth, so that the people be brought to some trouble; do we not straight ways lay the fault upon the Magistrates, and say, is not this the doing of the Magistrates? They consider not that the Lord doth by this means punish them for their sin: for it is certain that the Lord loveth a multitude better than one or few, and therefore he will not punish a whole realm or nation, if the sins of a multitude did not provoke him thereunto. But it oftentimes cometh to pass, that for the sins of the people, he doth harden the hearts of the Magistrates, that they cannot love their subjects so well, nor that they can be so profitable,1 ⟨p. 761⟩and do them so much good, as otherwise they might, as is reported by Jehoshaphat, 2. Chron. 20. This if the people could or would consider, they would not be so ready to lay the faults▪on their Magistrates, when trouble or trial cometh upon them: in like case do they also deal with their Ministers. If trouble come, do they not straightways say, see what our Preachers have done? and is not this the fruit of their preaching?
12 Men doe not onely faile in prayer vnto the Lord: but also they murmure many times against such as he hath set ouer them to bee their guides: for the latter sinne ariseth of the former. The Israelites quarrelled with Moses: yet what had Moses done against them? they thought no doubt that he of malice, and contrarie to the will of the Lord, had brought them into the wildernesse, for they thought God had a neerer way and a better to bring them into the promised land: and because they could not consider the worke of the Lord, therefore they must needes quarrell against some bodie, and wreake their griefe vpon him, laying the fault vpon Moses. Thus did Rachel, whom when the Lord punished, for that she was Proud (because her husband loued her best) and made her barren, when he gaue children to Leah, she not considering that the Lord punished her pride with barrennes, began to quarrell with her husband; asking him why he gaue no children to her? To whom he answered: Am I in stead of God vnto thee, to giue thee children? And this is the manner of the people in all ages, that when they cannot see the Lord punishing them for their sinnes, they straightway lay the fault vpon some or other, by whom they thinke it commeth. As now if the Lord doe send tumults and stormes into the common-wealth, so that the people be brought to some trouble; doe we not straight wayes lay the fault vpon the Magistrates, and say, is not this the doing of the Magistrates? They consider not that the Lord doth by this meanes punish them for their sinne: for it is certaine that the Lord loueth a multitude better than one or few, and therefore hee will not punish a whole realme or nation, if the sinnes of a multitude did not prouoke him thereunto. But it oftentimes commeth to passe, that for the sinnes of the people, he doth harden the hearts of the Magistrates, that they cannot loue their subiects so well, nor that they can bee so profitable,1 ⟨p. 761⟩and doe them so much good, as otherwise they might, as is reported by Iehoshaphat, 2. Chron. 20. This if the people could or would consider, they would not be so ready to lay the faults▪on their Magistrates, when trouble or triall commeth vpon them: in like case doe they also deale with their Ministers. If trouble come, doe they not straightwaies say, see what our Preachers haue done? and is not this the fruite of their preaching?
- 1Magistrates
