Page:Cry from the dead, or, The ghost of Mr James Guthrie appearing.pdf/8

 valued the precious manna, which God ſent down from heaven, for feeding of them, Numb. xxi. 5. Our ſouls loathed this light bread.

5th Sin. A fifth ſin is, their murmuring, grudging, and repining againſt God.

6th Sin. A ſixth ſin is, their complaint of coming out of Egypt; their rebellion and ſpeaking of a captain to return back again.

7th Sin. The last ſin is, their corrupting the worſhip of God, and making a golden calf. And becauſe of theſe ſins, the Lord is angry and correcteth and chaſtiſeth them forty years long in the wildernesſ.

2d Reaſon. A ſecond reaſon is, the Lord’s bringing ſad ſtorms on the back of glorious manifeſtations of himſelf in his word and works, is, for purging of his people. As he will correct them, and have them to know the bitternesſ of their ſin, ſo he will have them to be purged of it. There is a ſad trial in the xi. of Daniel, and this is given as the reaſon of it; to purge, to try, and to make white, in the 35th verſe, And ſome of them of underſtanding ſhall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: becauſe it is yet for a time appointed. There is in the church and people of God, much droſs, therefore he ſees it neceſſary, they be put to the fire, for purging away their droſs.

3d Reaſon. A third reaſon wherefore the Lord brings ſad ſtorms, on the back of glorious manifeſtations of himſelf, is for diſcovering and bringing forth the hypocrites, and ſuch as are unfound, Daniel xi. 34. Many cleave to the Lord’s people by flattery; eſpecially, it is ſo, when the Lord is eminently appearing; and revealing himſelf gloriouſly in his word and works; many then undertake a profeſſion, in whoſe hearts there is no ſincerity and truth; many then cleave to the cauſe and work of God by flattery, which his ſoul cannot endure; therefore he brings a winnowing fan, and ſets them up before the wind, that he may know who is chaff, and who is corn, Pſalm cxxv. 4, 5. He doth good to thoſe that are upright in heart; but, as for ſuch