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his work: The laws of Nature at least are of his appointment. Now according to these laws, we fee that children are every day fuffering the most grievous calamities, on account of the crimes of their parents and progenitors. It is God's will, that they fhould do fo: he has made the world fo, that they must. What therefore we know he hath done, in many inftances which we fee, we may well believe he will do in others, if he be pleased to tell us fo.

But the inftances which we fee, are according to the courfe of nature. That is the very thing infifted on. God hath established the course of nature; and by the course of nature we find a multitude of fuch fufferings inflicted, as those which he threatens in the commandment.

Would you urge, that these natural fufferings are not punishments? Shall I ask, whether they are vifitations? Alas! to how

little purpose both of us! Will our words make any alteration in them? Are the things changed, because we name them differently? Do they become, either lefs the act of Almighty God, or lefs calamijous to thofe on whom they fall?

When a new born infant is carried off by a malady, owing, fuppofe, to the intemperance of it's parent; the child is not to blame, yet it feels pain and dies.

15.

It is written, The Lord ftruck the child 2 Sam. xii. that Uriah's wife bare unto David. Are not the laws of nature, by which the child of the intemperate perfon dies, the hand of the fame God, who flew this child of David? Or was this fufferer more innocent, than the other?

The Supreme Governor is directed, no doubt, by his wisdom and rectitude in all his actions, and all his appointments. The reasons of his general laws, and of

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I.

his particular acts may be different, and yet both, no doubt, are alike good. But in the guilt of the parents, and the consequent death of the innocent children, the two instances are perfectly fimilar: and no complaint can be made against the Divine Government in favour of the one fufferer, that will not be equally applicable to the other.

Can we but admire that heavenly wif dom, which reacheth, as the wise man Wifd.viii. speaks, from one end to another, and fweetly doth order all things? and among the rest, hath established this harmony between. natural religion and revealed? in fo much that every cavil at the doctrines of revelation, is found to be an objection against the religion of nature, and an arraignment of the Creator of the world.

Ezek.

Yet, fay we, The way of the Lord is not xviii. 29. equal: The fathers have eaten four grapes, and the children's teeth are fet on edge.

ver. 2.

There

Therefore will I judge you, O house of Ifrael, every one according to his ways, faith the Lord God.

You complain of the partiality of my Providence; therefore will I be indeed impartial to you, and deal with you according to your deferts: you demand justice, and you shall have it; but remember, that it will defcend in punishment. Since you call me so strictly to account, I will be strict and exact in my reckoning with you: I will judge you, O house of Ifrael, every one according to his ways, faith the Lord God.

Oh! can there be a feverer threatening in the whole ftorehouse of divine vengeance? How impatiently do we call out, for what will be our greateft calamity! Alas! God is but juft, when He condemns us finners to everlafting punishment: and is this, what we defire of Him? this, what we reproach Him for refufing? Forgive

Job

xxxiii. 33.

Him this wrong. His denial may be no more than a delay. The recompence we require may overtake us: not fo foon indeed as we ask, or as we have deserved; but in full weight and measure at last, and with fuch clear demonftration of it's justice, as to overwhelm all our complaints and hopes together.

Instead of cenfuring the Divine ways, let us amend our own. Let us do, what we know certainly to be our duty; and not prefume to fay what is His: His Duty! to us! who, what are we? He giveth not account of any of his matters. He will do what He fees fit; and that will be what is fo.

Nay, He is ready to do for us, not that which is not right, That be far from Him; but that which we have no right to require: He will reward us, if we do what is but our duty; and when we do it not, if we repent, He will forgive.

Repent,

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