Some live in it wilfully and habitually, others are surprised into it, beside their general purpose, and in spite of their prayers, occasionally. Be the case, however, as it may, with any of us, sin is that which makes wise men weep, when they see it in others. What is each of us then to do, when he perceives it in himself? Let us all humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt us in good time. Let us all flee for refuge to the hope set before us in Jesus Christ. Let us all confess, and lament our own miscarriages, and be angry with ourselves for having made our good God angry. Zeal must begin at home; and every self observer, every man who has been used at all to consider what treatment, if I may so speak, he himself has received personally from Almighty God; every man whose own recollections lead him, as whose may not?-to say unto the Lord, surely goodness and mercy have followed me all the days of my life: every such person, I say, every reflecting person without exception, will be able to see some peculiar reasons why sin in him was exceeding sinful, exceedingly ungrateful, exceedingly inexcusable. How have we all requited God; foolish people and unwise as we are every one of us, let us come to him ourselves with weeping, and with supplications let him lead us; let us "remember and be confounded, and never

open our mouth any more, because of our shame, if he will be pacified towards us for all that we have done." From us he desireth not sacrifice, and delighteth not in burnt offerings. But though not in a way of payment, he doth look for one thing, and will be pleased with it. "The sacri

fices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.'

* Psalm li. 17.

41

SERMON III.

PECULIAR MERCIES AWFUL THINGS.

AMOS iii. 2.

"You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities."

THIS is God's word to his people Israel, written for our learning. It delivers to us this doctrine which concerns us deeply, and which therefore, by God's help, shall be the subject of my dis

course.

Peculiar mercies are very awful things: for they who have them must account for them, and therefore, unless they can give a good account of them, as having employed them to God's honour, and for the purposes for which he bestowed them, they must look for condemnation in proportion to the good abused.

I. I shall first submit to you some considera

tions for illustration of this doctrine, and to show its applicability to ourselves.

II. And then add what seems suitable for practical exhortation and direction.

I. And first, as to the doctrine brought before us in the text, and its applicability to ourselves.

The divine saying, "Unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required,”—is one which commends itself immediately to every man's conscience, so that none will be hardy enough to dispute the justice of it. Indeed, our blessed Saviour, in delivering it, makes his appeal to the common sense of mankind themselves, and quotes their own ordinary proceedings; for he adds-" and to whom men have committed much, of him will they ask the more." This is universal practice. We look for returns always in proportion to our outlay: for much gratitude where we have shown much love; for much improvement, where we have bestowed much pains in teaching; for large profits, where we have advanced a large capital, and have given the person entrusted the best advantages and opportunities for trading :—and if our interests have been least regarded by those whom we have most obliged; if we have "nourished and brought up children, and they have

* Luke xii. 48.

rebelled against us ;" if the best instructed have committed the grossest errors, and the best endowed have been the farthest off from giving us back" our own with usury," our complaints are proportionably loud, and we look upon ourselves as aggrieved and injured inexcusably.

Then see how the case stands between Almighty God and ourselves.

Addressing himself to Israel in the text, he says, "You only have I known of all the families of the earth." He delivered them out of bondage in Egypt; gave them statutes and ordinances for their special guidance; constituted them the keepers of the lively oracles of his word; called them to be a nation of priests; set them up for a light to the world, and looked therefore that they should " keep themselves from idols," live to his honour and glory, and be the means of spreading the knowledge of him among men. But they remembered not his hand, nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy;"* instead of being a benefit to them that sat in darkness, they were " mingled" themselves" among the heathen, and learned their works;" when the Lord "looked that his vineyard should bring forth grapes, it brought forth wild grapes." Then what could be expected, but that they, beyond others, should be

"

* Psalm lxxviii. 42.

+ Psalm cvi. 35.