That it is a very great evil, 1when wicked men seem to prosper a little in their outward condition more than Gods People; for those that are the people of God to begin to think that therefore those wicked ones are in a better condition than themselves, this is an evil that doth go very much to the heart of God;2 and very ordinarily it is in some degree or other among the People of God, I appeal to your consciences in this very thing, though at some time your souls have had sweet refreshing from the Lord in the enjoyment of communion with him, but yet when Gods hand hath been out against you, when you looked upon others though you knew them to be wicked and ungodly yet they have prospered, their Ships came home safely and richly, and their trading goes on; Do you not sometimes find such rising of your thoughts within you as if so be that these men were in a •etter condition than your selves? Oh! if you have but the least thought rising that way, know it is that which doth exceedingly grieve the Spirit of God by which you are sealed, that because they have a few loaves more than you, though you have all the riches of God and Christ, though you have the inheritance of Saints, yet that you should think them in a better condition than you are in:3 As a child, if he sees some stranger have a bit of meat better than he hath, he should think presently that his father loves the stranger better than him; this the father takes ill. How ordinary is it upon this ⟨p. 60⟩ground for those that have profest themselves to be godly rather to withdraw themselves from the afflicted Saints, and seek correspondence with wicked men that prosper. God would have his people see an all sufficiency in himself in their sadest condition, so as they need not go out from him for help, but still wait upon him and keep his way; the Lord by his Prophet rebukes Jehoshaphat in 2 Chron. 19. 2. for loving the ungodly and helping them that hate the Lord. And is there not as great an evil to seek the love of the wicked and ungodly and help from them that hate the the Lord? certainly the evil is very great, it argues very little love that we have to God, it charges God of unfaithfulness, as if though he hath engaged himself to his people, yet he would leave them in the lurch; this encourages the wicked in their wicked ways, and it charges God with that which is accounted one of the most vile things among men.
That it is a very great evil, 1when wicked men seem to prosper a little in their outward condition more than Gods People; for those that are the people of God to begin to think that therefore those wicked ones are in a better condition than themselves, this is an evil that doth go very much to the heart of God;2 and very ordinarily it is in some degree or other among the People of God, I appeal to your consciences in this very thing, though at some time your souls have had sweet refreshing from the Lord in the enjoyment of communion with him, but yet when Gods hand hath been out against you, when you look'd upon others though you knew them to be wicked and ungodly yet they have prospered, their Ships came home safely and richly, and their trading goes on; Do you not sometimes find such rising of your thoughts within you as if so be that these men were in a •etter condition than your selves? Oh! if you have but the least thought rising that way, know it is that which doth exceedingly grieve the Spirit of God by which you are seal'd, that because they have a few loaves more than you, though you have all the riches of God and Christ, though you have the inheritance of Saints, yet that you should think them in a better condition than you are in:3 As a child, if he sees some stranger have a bit of meat better than he hath, he should think presently that his father loves the stranger better than him; this the father takes ill. How ordinary is it upon this ⟨p. 60⟩ground for those that have profest themselves to be godly rather to withdraw themselves from the afflicted Saints, and seek correspondence with wicked men that prosper. God would have his people see an al sufficiency in himself in their sadest condition, so as they need not go out from him for help, but still wait upon him and keep his way; the Lord by his Prophet rebukes Jehoshaphat in 2 Chron. 19. 2. for loving the ungodly and helping them that hate the Lord. And is there not as great an evil to seek the love of the wicked and ungodly and help from them that hate the the Lord? certainly the evil is very great, it argues very little love that we have to God, it charges God of unfaithfulness, as if though he hath engaged himself to his people, yet he would leave them in the lurch; this encourages the wicked in their wicked waies, and it charges God with that which is accounted one of the most vile things among men.
- 1Obs. 4.
- 2Admonition to Saints.
- 3simile.
