We are apt in our distresses to howl, and repine, to gnaw our tongues, and tear our flesh in the anguish of our sufferings. Like the silly Hart, which runs mourning and bleeding, but never thinks of getting out the fatal dart which sticks in his side. We look cupward to see whether help will drop into our mouths; and we look downward, to see whether humane succours ⟨p. 25⟩will avail us. But we look not inward, to find out the aplague of our own hearts, that we may be rid of that. And till this be done, sin doth as naturally draw and suck judgements to it., as the Lodestone doth iron, or Turpentine fire. Indefatigable have been the pains of this High Court, to make up the breaches that threaten us, and to heal the Land. Whence comes it that our distractions remain unremoved? Certainly our leaks are not stopped, our sins are not thrown away, we labour at the pump to get the water out, but we do not take care to cure the passage at which it enters in: we are old bottles still, and bGod will not put new wine into old bottles. If men would spend their murmurings and reproaches rather upon their sins then upon their physicians, the work would be sooner done. When the Temple of God was to be new built, and a public restitution of the face of things unto glory and splendour was in agitation, the cProphets call upon Gods people in special then to repent. Impenitency puts obstructions to Gods mercy, and to all noble enterprises. So long as our lives are as bad as before, how can we expect that our condition should be better? in that case mercies themselves become no mercies: as in the case of Repentance, judgements would be no judgements. If we turn from our evil ways, God hath engaged himself by a solemn promise, that he will do us no harm, Jer. 2•.6. Otherwise to busy our selves in outward Ceremonies of Repentance, bodily fasting▪ and verbal praying, is ⟨p. 26⟩indeed but to flatter God, and, if we could, to deceive him: And God will answer such men not according to the prayer of their lips, but according to the Idol of their hearts, Ezek. 14.4, 5:
We are apt in our distresses to howl, and repine, to gnaw our tongues, and teare our flesh in the anguish of our sufferings. Like the silly Hart, which runs mourning and bleeding, but never thinks of getting out the fatall dart which sticks in his side. We look cupward to see whether help will drop into our mouthes; and wee look downward, to see whether humane succours ⟨p. 25⟩will availe us. But we looke not inward, to finde out the aplague of our own hearts, that wee may bee rid of that. And till this be done, sinne doth as naturally draw and sucke judgements to it., as the Loadstone doth iron, or Turpentine fire. Indefatigable have beene the paines of this High Court, to make up the breaches that threaten us, and to heale the Land. Whence comes it that our distractions remaine unremoved? Certainely our leakes are not stopped, our sinnes are not thrown away, wee labour at the pump to get the water out, but we doe not take care to cure the passage at which it enters in: wee are old bottles still, and bGod will not put new wine into old bottles. If men would spend their murmurings and reproaches rather upon their sinnes then upon their physicians, the worke would bee sooner done. When the Temple of God was to be new built, and a publick restitution of the face of things unto glory and splendor was in agitation, the cProphets call upon Gods people in speciall then to repent. Impenitency puts obstructions to Gods mercy, and to all noble enterprises. So long as our lives are as bad as before, how can wee expect that our condition should bee better? in that case mercies themselves become no mercies: as in the case of Repentance, judgements would bee no judgements. If we turne from our evill wayes, God hath engaged himselfe by a solemne promise, that he will doe us no harme, Ier. 2•.6. Otherwise to busie our selves in outward Ceremonies of Repentance, bodily fasting▪ and verball praying, is ⟨p. 26⟩indeed but to flatter God, and, if we could, to deceive him: And God will answer such men not according to the prayer of their lips, but according to the Idol of their hearts,
- cIsa. 8.21, 22.
- a1 King• 8.38
- bMat. 9 17
- cHag. 1.6 Zach. 1.2
