For this, I say in general, such wishes or desires are not sinful. It is not absolutely sinful, to wish that not to be, which is; Nay some things which are, ought to be wished they had not bin, and it is a sin not to wish, they had not been. As those things that are displeasing to God, provocations to the eyes of his glory; things that are dishonourable to God, we ought to wish that such things had never been. God himself wisheth in that manner, Psal. 81.13. O that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways! They did not walk in his ways, he wisheth they had, he desireth they had been better, more holy and more obedient then they were. To wish that a thing had not been, out of a tenderness that God should be offended by sin, is not only lawful, but very commendable. But to wish things otherwise then they are, as murmuring against and misliking Gods administration, or out of a tenderness, because we suffer, is not only sinful but abominable; When our wills rise up against the will of God, when we cannot be contented to be what God will have us to be, and to suffer what God would have us suffer, when we who should learn to be content in every estate, are angry with our estates, and on that ground wish, O that this had never been, O that I had never seen this day, because it hath so much trouble in it; this wish hath I know not how much evil in it. So likewise when man shall (as it were) take upon him to direct the Almighty and only wise God in governing the world, secretly surmising, or openly complaining, that things might be dispensed and managed with more wisdom, justice and moderation; such boldness is plain blasphemy. Some are ready to say in their hearts about the Lord Christs governing the world, as Absalom did concerning his father Davids government ⟨p. 407⟩of Israel; Things are carried, as if there were none deputed to hear or redress the wrongs of men. O that I were made Judge of the world, that every man which hath any suite or cause might come to me, and I would do him justice: 1Things should not go thus if I had the ordering of them; such boldness is highest blasphemy. And yet with caution of due reverence to the Name of God, he gives us leave to debate the matter with him, both concerning the state of things in public, and our own personal estates.
For this, I say in generall, such wishes or desires are not sinfull. It is not absolutely sinfull, to wish that not to be, which is; Nay some things which are, ought to be wished they had not bin, and it is a sin not to wish, they had not been. As those things that are displeasing to God, provocations to the eyes of his glory; things that are dishonourable to God, we ought to wish that such things had never been. God himselfe wisheth in that manner, Psal. 81.13. O that my people had hearkned unto me, and Israel had walked in my wayes! They did not walke in his wayes, he wisheth they had, he desireth they had been better, more holy and more obedient then they were. To wish that a thing had not been, out of a tendernesse that God should be offended by sin, is not only lawfull, but very commendable. But to wish things otherwise then they are, as murmuring against and misliking Gods administration, or out of a tendernesse, because we suffer, is not only sinfull but abominable; When our wills rise up against the will of God, when we cannot be contented to be what God will have us to be, and to suffer what God would have us suffer, when we who should learne to be content in every estate, are angry with our estates, and on that ground wish, O that this had never been, O that I had never seene this day, because it hath so much trouble in it; this wish hath I know not how much evill in it. So likewise when man shall (as it were) take upon him to direct the Almighty and only wise God in governing the world, secretly surmizing, or openly complaining, that things might be dispenced and manag'd with more wisedome, justice and moderation; such boldnesse is plaine blasphemie. Some are ready to say in their hearts about the Lord Christs governing the world, as Absalom did concerning his father Davids government ⟨p. 407⟩of Israel; Things are carried, as if there were none deputed to heare or redresse the wrongs of men. O that I were made Judge of the world, that every man which hath any suite or cause might come to me, and I would doe him justice: 1Things should not goe thus if I had the ordering of them; such boldnesse is highest blasphemy. And yet with caution of due reverence to the Name of God, he gives us leave to debate the matter with him, both concerning the state of things in publike, and our own personall estates.
- 12 Sam. 15.3, 4.
