The zealous Christian taking heavenThe zealovs Christian taking heaven

3. If you ask any thing of God, and he gives it in wrath, you may know by this; if it be an occasion of sin to thee, it is given thee in wrath. So it was with the Israelites, even now mentioned, the meat that God gave them proved an occasion of sin, vers. 32.—they sinned still, and believed not his wondrous works. When the mercies ¹you enjoy becomes fuel to your lusts, those mercies are accompanied with the curse and wrath of God; and this using of mercies will turn to the aggravation of wrath.

1. 1Vers. 32.

4. Mercies are given thee in wrath, when the enjoyment of them hinders thee from the receipt of greater mercies from God. Thus it was with the Devils, Matth. 8. 31, ¹32. They besought Christ that they might go into the Herd of Swine: Christ granted them that, he let them enter into swine, that they might not enter into men. When the giving of temporal mercies, hinders thee from the receipt of spiritual mercies, they are given in wrath. There are many men to whom God gives temporal mercies, they have riches in abundance, pleasure at will, every thing they can desire; but these mercies take off their thoughts and affections from better things; by getting these they loose Christ, and grace, immortality, and eternal happiness. Now in these cases, though God doth give mercies, yet they are given in wrath; and so notwithstanding this objection, the privilege of Gods people, is much greater then the privilege of wicked men.

4. Mercies are given thee in wrath, when the enjoyment of them hinders thee from the receit of greater mercies from God. Thus it was with the Devils,