The saints everlasting rest

2. And as you are guilty of their perishing, so are you of every sin which in the mean-time they commit. If they were converted, they would break off their course of sinning: and if you did your duty, you know not but they might be converted. As he that is guilty of a man's drunkenness, is guilty of all the sins which that drunkenness doth cause him to commit: so he that is guilty of a man's continuing unregenerate, is also guilty of the sins of his unregeneracy. How many curses and oaths, and other sins of a most heinous nature are many of you guilty of, that little think of it? You that take much pains for your own souls, and seem fearful of sinning, would take it ill of one that should tell you, that you are guilty of weekly, or daily whoredoms, and drunkenness, and swearing, and lying. And yet it is too true, even beyond all denial, by your neglect of helping those who do commit them.

3. You are guilty also of all those judgments, which those men's sins bring upon the town or country where they live. I know, you are not such atheists, but you believe it is GOD that sendeth sickness, and famine, and war; and also that it is only sin that moveth him to this indignation. What doubt then is there, but you are the cause of judgments, who do not strive against those sins which cause them? GOD hath staid long in patience, to see if any would deal plainly with the sinners of the times, and so free their own souls from the guilt: but when he seeth that there is none, but all become guilty; no wonder then if he lay the judgment upon all. We have all seen ⟨p. 227⟩the drunkards, and heard the swearers, in our streets, and we would not speak to them: we have all lived in the midst of an ignorant, worldly, unholy people; and we have not spoke to them with earnestness, plainness, and love; no wonder then if GOD speak in his wrath both to them and us. Eli did not commit the sin himself, and yet he speaketh so coldly against it, that he must bear the punishment. GOD locketh up the clouds, because we have shut up our mouths. The earth is grown as hard as iron to us, because we have hardened our hearts against our miserable neighbours. The cries of the poor for bread are loud, because our cries against sin have been so low. Sicknesses run a pace from house to house, and sweep away the poor unprepared inhabitants, because we swept not out the sin that breedeth them. As Christ said in another case,