A Word to Israel in the Wilderness, Section 1
Uſe of the Point.
IF Diſtruſt in our ſtreights be ſo great a Provocation, then let us ſearch and try our ways, and make narrow inquiry into our hearts, and we ſhall find upon the Obſervation of their Frames and Carriages under the ſtreights which we have met withal, more ſin to be humbled for, than we have yet been ſenſible of. God hath many ways to bewilder a people, ſomtimes in their Perſonal, ſometimes in their Family Concernments; ſometimes by bringing private ſometimes publick Intereſts to loſs; ſometimes by clouding our Civil, and ſometimes our Spiritual Comforts; and ſometimes again, He brings dark Providences upon us, and even fruſtrates our Expectation in every Creature: He takes away thoſe who might have been Props to us, and perhaps hides himſelf, and we grope in thick darkneſs for the way.
Now it is obſervable, that Affliction makes us look back upon former Conditions, and inquire what hath been the ſin of them; as David, in his trouble ſees the folly of his proſperity, Pſal. 30.6, 7. But our Proſperity ſeldom leads us back to conſider, and mourn over the miſcarriages that we have been guilty of, under Affliction. Notwithſtanding we murmure, and expreſs much Impatience, at leaſt are full of Diſtruſt, and Deſponding thoughts, touching God's Providence and gracious Care over us: Yet we ſeldome recal thoſe to judg our ſelves for them, and the reaſon is, we think theſe are Lapſes of eaſie pardon, and that there is reaſon to be fetcht for theſe things from our Condition. We think our ſtreights will juſtifie our diſtruſts; and we reckon theſe among the Frailties of Gods people: But what we have excuſed as frailties and Infirmities, the Holy Ghoſt condemns as Provocations. Wherefore if you recollect your thoughts, you will find cauſe to bewail thoſe things as great Provocations, which you have ſlightly paſſed over as ordinary weakneſſes. Therefore let us judg our ſelves, for our diſtruſt of God under former tryals; let us ſay as David did of himſelf, in the like caſe, Pſal. 73.22. So fooliſh and ignorant was I, and as a beaſt before thee. A ſound and thorow humbling of your ſelves for theſe things, may prevent the like miſcarriages for time to come.