286 SEVENTH SERMON Rom. ix. 19, 20. casting reproaches upon it, Jer. xx. 8, 9. enviously swelling at it, Acts xiii. 45. There are few sins more dangerous than this of picking quarrels at God's word, and taking up weapons against it. It will prove a burdensome stone to those who burden themselves with it, Zech. xii. 3. Matt. xxi. 44. Therefore whenever our crooked and corrupt reason doth offer to except against the ways of God as un- equal, we must presently conclude as God doth, Ezek. xviii. 25. that the inequality is in us, and not in them. When the lame man stumbleth in a plain path, the fault is not in the way, but in the foot : nor is the potion but the palate to blame when a feverish distemper maketh that seem bitter, which indeed was sweet. He that removeth in a boat from the shore, in the judgment of sense seeth the houses or trees on the shore to totter and move, whereas the motion is in the boat, and not in them. Unclean and corrupt hearts have unclean notions of the purest things, and conceive of God as if he were such a one as them- selves, Psa. 1. 21. (2.) It should teach us to come to God's word always as to a rule, by which we are to measure our- selves, and take heed of wresting that to the corrupt fancies of our own evil hearts ; as the apostle saith some men do to their own destruction, 2 Pet. iii. 16. Acts xiii. 10. Every wicked man Both, though not formally and explicitly, yet really and in truth, set up his own will against God's, resolving to do what pleaseth himself, and not that which may please God ; and consequently followeth that reason and counsel which waits upon his own will, and not that word which revealeth God's. Yet because he that will serve himself, would fain deceive himself too (that so he may not do it with less regret of conscience)
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