He is more careful of the honour of God, then of his own peace, and had rather die then the glory of God should suffer. O Lord (saith Daniel, chap. 9.7.) righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of face; And (vers. 14.) the Lord is righteous in all his works which he doth, for we obeyed not his voice. When the Angel was smiting Israel with the plague of pestilence, David bespeaks the Lord in reference to the people, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly; but these sheep, What have they done? Let thine hand I pray thee be against me, &c. (2 Sam. 24.17.) I take the blame to my self, Lord, upon me let thy stroke be, even upon me, not upon Israel: So saith the soul, in reference unto God, upon me be the blame of all the troubles and afflictions which I feel, not upon God, What hath God done? All that he hath done is right, and just, and good. It is an argument of a holy frame of heart, to be often judging our selves, and always acquitting of God: To be often complaining of our selves, and to be ever exalting God: To be always thanking him for our comforts, and always saying, we may thank our selves for our sorrows. Whatsoever the Lord saith or doth concerning us, we should not only say with Hezekiah (when a sad message was brought him, 2 King. 20.19.) Good is the Word of the Lord, but also, Good are the works of the Lord. Many men are ready to lay their sins (much more their sorrows) upon God. So the Apostle represents them (Rom. 9.19.) Thou wilt say unto me, Why doth he then find fault? Why doth God complain of us? we have more reason to complain of, and charge our faults on God. If he hardeneth whom he will, Why are we blamed for being hardened? For who hath resisted his will? Thus they question God, Who hath resisted thy will? whose lives are nothing else but a continued war against, and resistance of his will. They who strive most to comply with the will of God, complain often of themselves for resisting it. And though they know God hardeneth whom he vvill, yet they will not leave the hardening of any upon God, as his fault, but as his prerogative. They confess it to be as great an act of holiness in God, to harden some men in sin, as it is to soften others by his grace: Mercy appears chiefly in the one, justice appears chiefly in the other, but holiness equally in both.
He is more carefull of the honour of God, then of his own peace, and had rather die then the glory of God should suffer. O Lord (saith Daniel, chap. 9.7.) righteousnesse belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of face; And (vers. 14.) the Lord is righteous in all his works which he doth, for we obeyed not his voice. When the Angel was smiting Israel with the plague of pestilence, David bespeaks the Lord in reference to the people, Loe, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly; but these sheep, What have they done? Let thine hand I pray thee be against me, &c. (2 Sam. 24.17.) I take the blame to my self, Lord, upon me let thy stroak be, even upon me, not upon Israel: So saith the soul, in reference unto God, upon me be the blame of all the troubles and afflictions which I feel, not upon God, What hath God done? All that he hath done is right, and just, and good. It is an argument of a holy frame of heart, to be often judging our selves, and alwaies acquitting of God: To be often complaining of our selves, and to be ever exalting God: To be alwaies thanking him for our comforts, and alwaies saying, we may thank our selves for our sorrows. Whatsoever the Lord saith or doth concerning us, we should not only say with Hezekiah (when a sad message was brought him, 2 King. 20.19.) Good is the Word of the Lord, but also, Good are the works of the Lord. Many men are ready to lay their sins (much more their sorrows) upon God. So the Apostle represents them (Rom. 9.19.) Thou wilt say unto me, Why doth he then finde fault? Why doth God complain of us? we have more reason to complain of, and charge our faults on God. If he hardeneth whom he will, Why are we blamed for being hardened? For who hath resisted his will? Thus they question God, Who hath resisted thy will? whose lives are nothing else but a continued warre against, and resistance of his will. They who strive most to comply with the will of God, complain often of themselves for resisting it. And though they know God hardeneth vvhom he vvill, yet they will not leave the hardening of any upon God, as his fault, but as his prerogative. They confesse it to be as great an act of holinesse in God, to harden some men in sin, as it is to soften others by his grace: Mercy appears chiefly in the one, justice appears chiefly in the other, but holinesse equally in both.
