The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

But what shall we think to be the very cause that God hath thus dejected us;¹ if I shall say, Our sins, and former unthankfulness unto God, I speak the truth, but yet I speak more generally then the present necessity requireth: For when the sins of men are rebuked in general, seldom it is that man descendeth within himself, accusing and condemning in himself that which most displeaseth God; but rather he doubteth that to be a cause, which before God is no cause indeed. For example, The Israelites fighting against the Tribe of Benjamin, were twice discomfited with the loss of 40000 men. They lamented and bewailed both first and last; but we find not that they came to the knowledge of their offence and sin which was the cause that they fell by the edge of the sword, but rather they doubted that to have been a cause of their misfortune, which God had commanded, for they asked, Shall we go and fight any more against our brethren the sons of Benjamin. By which question it is evident, That they supposed that the cause of their overthrow and discomfit was, Because they had lifted the sword against their brethren and natural Country-men: And yet the express Commandment of God that was given unto them, did deliver them from all crime in that cause. There is no doubt, but that there was some cause in the Israelites that God gave them so over into the hands of these wicked men, against whom he sent them, by his own express Commandment, to execute his Judgements. Such as do well mark the History, and the estate of that people, may easily see the cause why God was offended: All the whole people had declined from God,² Idolatry was maintained by the common consent of the multitude, and, as the Text saith, Every man did that which appeared good in his own eyes. In this mean time the Levite complained of the villainy that was done unto himself, and unto his wife, which oppressed by the Benjamites of Gibeah, died under their filthy lusts: which horrible fact inflamed the hearts of the whole people to take vengeance upon that abomination (and therein they offended) but in this they failed, That they go to execute judgement against the wicked without any repentance, or remorse of conscience of their own former offences, and defection from God. And farther, Because they were a great multitude, and the other were far inferior unto them:

But what shall we think to be the very cause that God hath thus dejected us;