50 A CALL TO deed? If the town was wilfully set on fire, ym~ would ask, what wicked wretch did this? So when we read that many souls will be miserable in hell for ever, we must needs think with ourselves, how comes this to pass? and whose fault is it? Who is it that is so cruel as to be the cause of such a thing as this? and we can meet with few that will own the guilt. It is indeed confessed by all, that Satan is the cause; but that doth not resolve the doubt, because he is not the principal cause. He doth not force men to sin, but tempts them to it, and leaves it to their own wills whether they will do it or not. He doth not carry men to an alehouse and force open their mouths and pour in the drink; nor doth , he hold them that they cannot go to God's service; nor doth he force their hearts from holy thoughts. It lieth therefore between God himself and the sinner; one of them must needs be the principal cause of all this misery, whichever it is, for there is no other to lay it upon; and God disclaimeth it; he will not take it upon him; and the wicked disclaim it usually, and they will not take it upon them, and this is the controversy that is here managing in my text. 'I' he Lord complaineth of the people; and the people think it is the fault ofGod. The same controversy is handled, chap. xviii. 25; they plainly say, "that the way of the Lord is not equal." So here they say, verse 19, "If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we fine away in them, how shall we then live?'' As i they should say, if we must die, and be miserable, how can we help it? as if it were not their fault but GoJ's. But God, in my text, cloth clear himself of it, and telleth them how they may help it if they will, and persuadeth them to use the ,means, and if they will not be persuaded, l1e lets them know that it is the fault of themselves; and if this will not satisfy them, he will not forbear to punish them, It is he that will be the .Judge, and he ~vill judge t~em according to their ways; they are no JUdge of hm1 or of themselves, as wanting au-
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