Babylons downfall a sermon lately preached at Westminster before sundry of the honourable House…

Miriam and Aaron murmured against Moses, and envied at him, for which she was stricken with leprosy, whereby the whole congregation was stayed, and their march hindered. It is said 2 Chron. 20. 33. that the high places were not pulled down, because the people were not prepared for the Lord; not because the Prince was not prepared, or the great ones not prepared, but because the people were not prepared. It is in regard of truth, as in regard of error in this particular, though the Baker may have kneaded his dough, that is, his false opinion, and made it ready, yet as the Prophet Hosea speaks, and as Zanchy interprets the place, he sets not in, till the Oven be heat, that is, the heart of the people warmed, and prepared for it. So for a truth also, or a public mercy, and deliverance, though God have provided it for a people, yet it is not handed to them, and set in, till their hearts be warmed & prepared for it. You may observe therefore, that when David had made his penitential Psalm for his own sin, Psal. 51. after much supplication for the pardon of his own evil, and for grace, and comfort he comes at last in the 18. ver. to this petition; Do ⟨p. 25⟩good in thy good pleasure unto Zion, &c. How comes that in here? Yes, when a man hath once repeated of his own sin, and cleared that reckoning, then he is fittest to ask mercy for the Church, and till then unfit. Therefore though in regard of your own souls, your own eternity, you will not part with your own sins, yet if you have any pity, any compassion, any bowels towards y[…]wne Country, or Churches of God, put away the evil of all your doings.

Miriam and Aaron murmured against Moses, and envied at him, for which shee was stricken with leprosie, whereby the whole congregation was stayed, and their march hindered. It is said 2 Chron. 20. 33. that the high places were not pulled downe, because the people were not prepared for the Lord; not because the Prince was not prepared, or the great ones not prepared, but because the people were not prepared. It is in regard of truth, as in regard of error in this particular, though the Baker may have kneaded his dough, that is, his false opinion, and made it ready, yet as the Prophet Hosea speaks, and as Zanchy interprets the place, he sets not in, till the Oven be heat, that is, the heart of the people warmed, and prepared for it. So for a truth also, or a publike mercy, and deliverance, though God have provided it for a people, yet it is not handed to them, and set in, till their hearts be warmed & prepared for it. You may observe therfore, that when David had made his penitentiall Psalm for his own sinne,