11 This is the plea of the Lord against us, that we dwell in a land, where we are usurpers1 and have no right. No man is of so reprobate a sense, but he will grant, that whatsoever we have, we have it at the Lords hand. But are these free gifts, and without all condition? No, Come to the land of Canaan. Was it given to the Israelites upon no covenant or without any agreement? It is not so. For it is plain, Psal. 105. The Lord gave them the possessions of the Heathen. What barely? No, but upon this condition, that they should keep his statutes. There is no man hath a foot of ground, or never so small a possession to dwell in, but he hath it on this condition: Whosoever inhabits this or any other land, he keeps all by violence, because he keeps it without performance of the condition: but if we keep the Lords statutes, we keep the condition, and consequently have a good right, and the Lord hath nothing against us: otherwise (I say) we are violent usurpers, because the Lord his grant is upon limitation, and for such a one, if the Lord either remove him from the land, or take the land from him, he cannot say, but that the Lord his action is just against him. Now albeit if we seek elder times, this people of England hath as much been dispossessed, as any country. But it is all one, whether this displacing be general, or particular in losing some part of our possessions. If we enquire of the reason, why it comes to pass that tenures and lands be often alienated▪ so as they be here among us: our verdict is, that howsoever sinful the father was, the son is an unthrift, I ask then, why another keeps his inheritance. Thus they say, he is wiser; then this man was a fool. True, the question is, how he comes to be so: answer is made, the fault is in education. But there is no end in2 these things. Men will not see the cause to be sin, but they fly to coverings and curtains. Let us come then to the Lord his awarding, and that is, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge: but killing▪ stealing, and whoring, Hos. 4 1. 2. Whether then we know of whole towns, or of particular families, that have lost their inheritance: we must know the Lord his indictment to be executed there against some sin. Therefore when we bless our selves for our riches, and say, the Lord be blessed for my wealth, this is a goodly inheritance:
11 This is the plea of the Lord against vs, that we dwell in a land, where we are vsurpers1 and haue no right. No man is of so reprobate a sense, but he will grant, that whatsoeuer we haue, we haue it at the Lords hand. But are these free gifts, and without all condition? No, Come to the land of Canaan. Was it giuen to the Israelites vpon no couenant or without any agreement? It is not so. For it is plaine, Psal. 105. The Lord gaue them the possessions of the Heathen. What barely? No, but vpon this condition, that they should keepe his statutes. There is no man hath a foote of ground, or neuer so small a possession to dwell in, but he hath it on this condition: Whosoeuer inhabits this or any other land, he keepes all by violence, because he keeps it without performance of the condition: but if we keepe the Lords statutes, we keepe the condition, and consequently haue a good right, and the Lord hath nothing against vs: otherwise (I say) we are violent vsurpers, because the Lord his grant is vpon limitation, and for such a one, if the Lord either remoue him from the land, or take the land from him, he cannot say, but that the Lord his action is iust against him. Now albeit if we seeke elder times, this people of England hath as much been dispossessed, as any countrie. But it is all one, whether this displacing be generall, or particular in losing some part of our possessions. If we enquire of the reason, why it comes to passe that tenures and lands be often alienated▪ so as they be here among vs: our verdit is, that howsoeuer sinfull the father was, the sonne is an vnthrift, I aske then, why another keepes his inheritance. Thus they say, he is wiser; then this man was a foole. True, the question is, how he comes to be so: answere is made, the fault is in education. But there is no end in2 these things. Men will not see the cause to be sin, but they flie to couerings and curtaines. Let vs come then to the Lord his awarding, and that is, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge: but killing▪ stealing, and whoring, Hos. 4 1. 2. Whether then we know of whole townes, or of particular families, that haue lost their inheritance: we must know the Lord his inditement to be executed there against some sinne. Therefore when we blesse our selues for our riches, and say, the Lord be blessed for my wealth, this is a goodly inheritance:
- 1The Lord will condemn us for the unworthy possession of his creaturesThe Lord will cōdemne vs for the vnworthie possession of his creatures
- 2Sin the cause of the loss of many blessings.Sin the cause of the losse of many blessings.
