Page:Cry from the dead, or, The ghost of the famous Mr James Guthrie appearing.pdf/14

 of his dealing with his church, for the chaſtiſing of his ſin, and correcting of their iniquity. A people to whom he manifeſts himſelf in his power and glory, and mercy, and truth, do not always behave themſelves as they ought to do, but even while he is dealing kindly with them, they do many ways provoke him to wrath. Therefore God, for correcting their ſin, and chaſtiſing their iniquity, brings troubles and ſtorms upon them. In the xcix. Pſalm, the Lord is brought to take on vengeance on the intentions of his people in the wilderneſs that ye may underſtand this the better, look the lxxviii. Pſalm, which is a clear commentary to this, where his rod wherewith he puniſhed that people in the wilderneſs, and delayed their entrance into Canaan, and their ſin both are let down their unſtedfaſtneſs in the Lord's covenant. Ye may look ſome of the proof of the ſins.

1ſt Sin. Firſt, In the 10th and 11th verſes of Pſal. lxxviii. 'They kept not the covenant of God, and refuſed to walk in his law and forgat his works, and wonders that he had ſhewed them.' They were unſtedfast in the Lord's covenant. In the xix. and xx. chapter of Exodus, they entered in a moſt ſolemn covenant with God, that all of them undertook to ſtand to, and to prove faithful therein, but they kept not his covenant but dealt deceitfully in it, therefore he brought ſuch ſtorms on them in the wilderneſs, and ſo long ſuſpended their entrance in the promiſed land.

2d Sin. A ſecond ſin is, in the 18th verſe, they ſinned yet more, and tempted him in their hearts, by aſking meat for their luſts. They are not ſatisfied with things that God has allowed them, but luſted after ſtrange things, and became luſtful in their appetites: therefore God is wrath and exerciſeth them in the wilderneſs.

3d Sin A third ſin is, in the 29d verſe, their diffidence and unbelief they believed not God, and truſted not in his ſalvation; they put tempting questions,