Again, How much soever God punisheth them in this life, they have no reason to complain, or say to God depart from us; for even those punishments are messages from God to awaken them out of their sins, and so to prevent worser punishments; therefore when God perceived that stubborn people going on in their sins, telleth them he will smite there no more, as implying that it was his favour to smite them. (Isa. 1.5.) Why should ye be smitten any more, ye will revolt more and more. Surely then such have no reason to say to God, depart from us, when he smites them, as if he did them ey there hurt or wrong, seeing he smites them, that they might return unto him; Those judgements of God are a mercy, which are sent to teach man his duty. Now if the judgements of God have sometime mercy in them, and never have any injury in them, what hurt or injury can there be to man in the service of God? Hath the Almighty done any thing against them, whom he lovingly invites to the doing of his will? And yet some complain of wrong when they are only called to do what is right, and cry out as if God hurt them, when he doth but govern them. The Lord calls his murmuring people to account about this thing, (Mich. 6.3.) O my people, what have I done to thee (that is, what hurt, what wrong have I done unto thee) and wherein have I wearied thee, testify against me; As if he had said? thou hast nothing to bring against me in evidence, unless it be my kindness, as it follows (ver. 4.) For I brought thee up out of the Lord of Egypt, and redeemed thee our of the house of servants, and I sent before thee, Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. O my ⟨p. 169⟩people, remember &c. Consider all my dealings with thee, all the deliverances I have wrought for thee, all the Statutes and Ordinances, all the Laws and Commandments which I have given thee, and then let thy Conscience speak; What have I done unto thee, which is an evil to thee? or wherein have I wearied thee, in the things which I have required thee to do? I have done many good works for thee, and I have commanded thee to do many works, such works as are not only good in themselves, but good for them who do them; for which of these is it that thou art weary of me? There is not that wicked man in the world but God may say to him, what have I done to thee, or what have I called thee to do, that thou shouldest be weary of me?
Againe, How much soever God punisheth them in this life, they have no reason to complaine, or say to God depart from us; for even those punishments are messages from God to awaken them out of their sinnes, and so to prevent worser punishments; therefore when God perceived that stubborne people going on in their sinnes, telleth them he will smite there no more, as implying that it was his favour to smite them. (Isa. 1.5.) Why should ye be smitten any more, ye will revolt more and more. Surely then such have no reason to say to God, depart from us, when he smites them, as if he did them ey ther hurt or wrong, seing he smites them, that they might returne unto him; Those judgements of God are a mercy, which are sent to teach man his duty. Now if the judgements of God have somtime mercy in them, and never have any injury in them, what hurt or injury can there be to man in the service of God? Hath the Allmighty done any thing against them, whom he lovingly invites to the doing of his will? And yet some complaine of wrong when they are onely called to doe what is right, and cry out as if God hurt them, when he doth but governe them. The Lord calls his murmuring people to account about this thing, (Mich. 6.3.) O my people, what have I done to thee (that is, what hurt, what wrong have I done unto thee) and wherein have I wearied thee, testifie against mee; As if he had sayd? thou hast nothing to bring against me in evidence, unlesse it be my kindnes, as it follows (ver. 4.) For I brought thee up out of the Lord of Egypt, and redeemed thee our of the house of servants, and I sent before thee, Moses, Aaran, and Miriam. O my ⟨p. 169⟩people, remember &c. Consider all my dealings with thee, all the deliverances I have wrought for thee, all the Statutes and Ordinances, all the Lawes and Commandements which I have given thee, and then let thy Conscience speake; What have I done unto thee, which is an evill to thee? or wherein have I wearied thee, in the things which I have required thee to doe? I have done many good workes for thee, and I have commanded thee to doe many workes, such workes as are not onely good in themselves, but good for them who doe them; for which of these is it that thou art weary of me? There is not that wicked man in the world but God may say to him, what have I done to thee, or what have I called thee to doe, that thou shouldest be weary of mee?