A sermon preached to the Parliament, Octob. 13. 1652. A day of solemn humiliation.…A sermon preached to the Parliament, Octob. 13. 1652. A day of solemne humiliation.…

Men would fain come to some certainty, and commonly by the thoughts and ways whereby they press unto it, they put all things into more uncertainty then ever, and so promote the design of God, which they so studiously endeavour to decline: Hence is that description of the presence of the Lord in his mighty works, Psal: 18. 9, 11. darkness was under his feet; men could not see his paths, &c. He hath Ends of surprisal, hardening, and destruction towards some, for which they must be left unto their own spirits, and led into many snares and by-paths, for their Trial, and the Exercise of others, which could not be accomplished, did he not come in the clouds, and were not darkness his Pavilion, and his secret place: on this Account, is that cry of men of profane and hardened spirits: Isai: 5. 19. Let him make speed and hasten his work that we may see it, and let the counsel of the holy one of Israel draw nigh that we may know it. They know not what to make, of what they see; of all that as is yet done or accomplished, they would have the whole work out, that they might once see the end of it, and so know what to judge: they would be at a point with him, and not always kept at those perplexing uncertainties: and this is another cause of the trouble of mens spirits, in consideration of the dispensations of God: God still keeps a cloud hanging over, and they know not when it will fall, nor what will be done in the issue of things; this makes some weary of waiting on him, and with the profane King ⟨p. 27⟩of Israel to cry, this evil is of the Lord, there is no end, confusion will be the issue of all, why should I abide any longer.

Men would faine come to some certainty, and commonly by the thoughts and wayes whereby they presse unto it, they put all things into more uncertainty then ever, and so promote the designe of God, which they so studiously endeavour to decline: Hence is that description of the presence of the Lord in his mighty works, Psal: 18. 9, 11. darknesse was under his feet; men could not see his pathes, &c. He hath Ends of surprisall, hardning, and destruction towards some, for which they must be left unto their owne spirits, and led into many snares and by-pathes, for their Triall, and the Exercise of others, which could not be accomplished, did he not come in the clouds, and were not darknesse his Pavilion, and his secret place: on this Account, is that cry of men of prophane and hardned spirits: Isai: 5. 19. Let him make speed and hasten his work that we may see it, and let the counsell of the holy one of Israel draw nigh that we may know it. They know not what to make, of what they see; of all that as is yet done or accomplished, they would have the whole work out, that they might once see the end of it, and so know what to judge: they would be at a point with him, and not alwayes kept at those perplexing uncertainties: and this is another cause of the trouble of mens spirits, in consideration of the dispensations of God: God still keeps a cloud hanging over, and they know not when it will fall, nor what will be done in the issue of things; this makes some weary of waiting on him, and with the profane King