5. It is wantonness rather than want puts us upon Tempting of God. There is a Humour in men; we are very desirous to try Conclusions, condemning things common, and are fond about strange Novelties. It was told the Israelites as plain as could be, that they should not reserve Manna till the morning, and they need not to have reserved it, they had fresh every day; yet ⟨p. 109⟩they would needs keep it for experiments sake, to try whether it would stink or no, Exod. 16. 20. And though they were forbidden to gather it on the Sabbath day, having on the evening before enough for two days, and it was told them they should find none on the Sabbath day, yet they must try. Where need is, there a man may commit himself to the Providence of God, and rely upon him; and where means fail us, God can help us by Prerogative, that we may say with Abraham, when we have no help present, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen, Gen. 22. 14. and with Moses, when the Red Sea was before them, and the Enemy was behind them, Fear ye not, stand still, and ye shall see the salvation of the Lord, which he will show to you to day, Exod. 14. 13. when Elijah was in distress, the Angel brought him meat, 1 King. 19. 5, 6. when Hagar and Ishmael was in the Wilderness, and the bottle spent, then God comforted her from Heaven, Gen. 21. 17. when the three Children were in the fiery furnace, then God sent an Angel to be their Deliverer, Dan. 3. 28. But now in Wantonness to desire extraordinary proofs of Gods care over us, when he hath in ordinary ways provided for us, is to tempt the Lord, Psal. 106. 14. They lusted exceedingly ⟨p. 110⟩in the desert, and tempted God in the wilderness, when they had so many convictions of Gods Power and Providence over them, which should in reason have charmed them into a full and cheerful resignation and dependence upon him, they remembering the Flesh-pots in Egypt, must have their luxuriant Appetites gratified; and because they had not that Festival plenty, which could not be expected in the Wilderness, they reproached Moses for having brought them out of Egypt, to dye in the Wilderness; and now God must show them a Miracle, not for the supply of their wants, but to pamper and feed their lusts, Psal. 78. 18, 19. And they tempted God in their heart, by asking meat for their lust. Yea they spake against God, they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?
5. It is wantonness rather than want puts us upon Tempting of God. There is a Humour in men; we are very desirous to try Conclusions, condemning things common, and are fond about strange Novelties. It was told the Israelites as plain as could be, that they should not reserve Manna till the morning, and they need not to have reserved it, they had fresh every day; yet ⟨p. 109⟩they would needs keep it for experiments sake, to try whether it would stink or no, Exod. 16. 20. And though they were forbidden to gather it on the Sabbath day, having on the evening before enough for two dayes, and it was told them they should find none on the Sabbath day, yet they must try. Where need is, there a man may commit himself to the Providence of God, and rely upon him; and where means fail us, God can help us by Prerogative, that we may say with Abraham, when we have no help present, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen, Gen. 22. 14. and with Moses, when the Red Sea was before them, and the Enemy was behind them, Fear ye not, stand still, and ye shall see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day, Exod. 14. 13. when Elias was in distress, the Angel brought him meat, 1 King. 19. 5, 6. when Hagar and Ishmael was in the Wilderness, and the bottle spent, then God comforted her from Heaven, Gen. 21. 17. when the three Children were in the fiery furnace, then God sent an Angel to be their Deliverer, Dan. 3. 28. But now in Wantonness to desire extraordinary proofs of Gods care over us, when he hath in ordinary wayes provided for us, is to tempt the Lord, Psal. 106. 14. They lusted exceedingly ⟨p. 110⟩in the desert, and tempted God in the wilderness, when they had so many convictions of Gods Power and Providence over them, which should in reason have charmed them into a full and chearful resignation and dependance upon him, they remembring the Flesh-pots in Egypt, must have their luxuriant Appetites gratified; and because they had not that Festival plenty, which could not be expected in the Wilderness, they reproached Moses for having brought them out of Egypt, to dye in the Wilderness; and now God must show them a Miracle, not for the supply of their wants, but to pamper and feed their lusts,
