474 The NATURE and Pow ER wombof fin that is able to conceive monfters every moment. Yea, for the molt part they are forging and framing follyall the day long: one luft or o- ther they are contriving how to fatisfy., they are either devourik by ma- lice and revenge, or vitiating by uncleannefs, or trampling on by ambition, or fwallowing down by coveteoufnefs all that Rand before then. Many of their follies and mifchiefsthey bring to the very Birth, and are in pain to be delivered i but God every day fills them with difappointinent, and (huts up the womb offin. Some aretad with hatredofGod's people all their days, and never once havean opportunityto exercife it. So Daviddefcribes them, I°fal. 59. 6. They return at evening, they make a noife like a dog, andgo round about thecity. Theygaupand down, andbelch out with their mouths, fwords are intheir lips, verf. 7. and yet are not able to accomplilh their de- fìgns. What torture dofucli poor creatures live in? Envy, malice, wrath, revenge, devour their hearts, by not getting vent. And when God hath exercifed the other altsof his wife providencein cutting fhot their power, or oppofing a greater power to them, when nothing elfe will do, he cuts them off in their fins, and to the grave they go full of purpofes of iniquity. Others are no lefs hurried and diverted by the, power of other lofts which they arenot able to fatisfy: this is the fore travail they are exercifed with all their days. If they accomplifh theirdefgns, they are more wicked and hellifh than before i and if they do not, they arefill'd with vexation and dif- éontentment. This is the portion of them who know not the Lord,nor the power of his grace. Envy not their condition, notwithftanding their out- ward glittering fheù, their hearts are full of anxiety, troubleand forrow. [4.] Do we fee fometimes the flood-gates of mens tufts and rage fet open againft the churchand intereft of it, and doth prevalency attend them, and power is for a feafon on their fide, let not the faintsof Goddefpond. He hath unfpeakably various and effeftualways for the ftifling of their concep- tions, to give them dry breath and a mifcarrying womb. He can ftop, their fury when he pleafeth i Surely, faith the Pfalmift, the wrath of man frail praife thee, the remainder ofwrath fialt thou refirain, Pfal. 76, so. When fo much oftheir wrath is let out as (hall exalt his praife, he can when he pleafeth fet up a power greater than the combined ftrength ofall finningcrea- tures, and refrain the remainderof the wrath that they had conceived. Ha pall cut off. thefpirit ofprinces,be is terrible to the kings ofthe earth, ver. 12. Some he will cut off and deftroy, foine he will terrify and affright, and pre- vent the rage of all. He can knock them on the head, or breakout their teeth, or chain up their wrath, and who can oppofe him? [5.] Thofe whohave received benefit by any ofthe ways mentioned, may know to whomthly owe °their prefervation, and not look on it as a com- mon thing. When you haveconceived fin, bath God weakned your power for fin, or denied you opportunity, or took away the objekt of your lofts, or diverted your thoughts by new providences, know affuredly that you have received mercy thereby. Though God deal not thefe providences always in a fubferviency to the covenant ofGrace - yet, there isalways mercy inthem, always a call in them to confider the author ofthem. Had not God thus dealt withyou, it may be this day you had been a terror to your felves, a íhame toyour relations,and under the punifhment due to fome notoriousfins which you had conceived. Befides, there is commonly an additional guilt in finbrought forth, above what is in thesneer conceptionof it. It maybe others would have been ruined by it here, or drawn into a partnerfhip in fin by it, and fo have been eternally ruined by it, all which are prevent- ed by thefe providences; and eternity will witnefs that there is a fingulari- ty of mercy in them. Do not look then on any fuch things as common ac- cidents,
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=