98 The Uffulnefs of Confideration, Vo1. iI. ftupid and inconfiderate, ver. 28. For they are a Nation void of Caunfel, neither i3 there it any ilnderfianding in them. And in the concluulonof all, he reprefents God as it were breaking out into this vehement and affe&ionate Wifh, 0 that theywere wife, that theyunderfloodthis, that they would confider their latter end ! 0 that they werewife, that they underfiood this ! What is that ? This may refer to all that went before. O that they were wife to confider what God had done for them, and what they had doneagainft him, and what he will do againft them, if they continue or renew their former Provocations! O that they were but duly aliprehenfive of this, and would lay it ferioufly to heart!. But from what follows, it feems more particularly to refer to thofe particular Judgments, which God had threatnedthem withal, and which would certainly be- fal them, if they (till continued in theirdifobedience. O that they were wife, that they underflood this, that they would confider their latter end ! That is, the fadCon- fequences of thefe their Provocations, that by the Confideration thereof, they might prevent all thofe Evils and Calamities, by turning from thofe Sins which would unavoidably bring them upon them. From the words thus explained, I (hall obferve thefe four things. I. That God doth really and heartily delire the Happinefs of men, and to pre- vent their Mifery and ruin. For the very defign of thefe words is to exprefs this to us, and it is done in a very vehement, and as I may fay, paflionate manner. II. That it is a great point of wifdom to confider ferioufly the Taft Iffue and Confequence of our Actions, whither they tend, and what will follow upon them. And therefore Wifdom is here defcribed by the Confederation ofour latter end. III. That this is an excellent means to prevent that Mifery, whichwill otherwife befal us. And this is neceffarily implied in this With, that if they would but confider thefe things, they might be prevented. Iv. That the want of this Confideration is the great caufe of mens Ruin. And this is likewife implyed in the words, that one great reafon of mens Ruin is be- tause they are not fo wife, as to confider the fatal I(fae and Confequence of a firt- h] Courfe. I (hall (peak.briefly to eachof thefe. I. That God doth really and heartily delire the Happinefs of men, and topre- vent their Mifery and Ruin. To express this tous, Goddoth put on the vehe- mency of a Human Paillon, 0 that they were wife, 8cc. The Laws of God are a clear evidence of this; becaufe the obfervance of them tends to pur Happinefs. There is no good Prince makes Laws with any other defign, than tb promote the Publick Welfare and Happinefsof his People: and with much more Reafon may we imagine, that the infinite goodGod does by all his Laws defign theHappinefs of his Creatures. And the Exhortationsof Scripture, by which he enforceth his Laws, are yet a greater evidence how earnestly he desires the Happiness of his Creatures. For it thews that he is concerned for us, when he ufeth fo many Ar- guments to perfwade us to our Duty, and when he expostulates fo vehemently with us for our negle&of it, faying toSinners, Turn ye, turnye, why willye die, 0Houfe of Ifrael ? Te will not come unto me, that ye might have life, fays our Bleffed Saviour, with great trouble to fee men fo obftinately fet against their own Hap- pinefss and again, How often would Ihavegathered you, as a Hengathereth herChick- ens under her wings, and ye would not ! And to fatisfte us yet farther, thatit is his real desire, by our obedience to his Laws, to prevent our Ruine, God doth fre- quently in Scripture put on the Paffions of Men, and ufe all forts of vehement expreflions to this purpofe, Dent. 5. 29. 0 that there weresuch a heart in them, that thy would fear me, and keep all my Commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their Childrenfor ever! An Pfal. 81. 13. 0 that my People had hearkned unto me, and Ifrael had walked in myways! I/hould loon have fubdued their enemies, and turned my hand againfi their Adverfaries. Jer. 13. 27. O lfraei ! wilt thou not be made clean ?' when Pall it once be ? And to name but one Text more, when our bleffed Saviour wept over 7erufalem, how pa(fíonately does he with that She had known in that her day, the things that belonged toher Peace nd
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