hat we hear whispers this unto our ears, "that
we sin not, that he made us, and not we ourselves, and that we are the
very work of his hands." This speaks our absolute and essential dependence
on him, and therefore proclaims with a loud voice, that sin, which would
cut off this subordination, and loose from this dependence upon his holy
will, is a monstrous, unnatural thing. Take all his mercies towards us,
whether general or particular, the transcendent abundance of his infinite
goodness in the earth, that river of his riches that runs through it, to
water every man, and bring supply to his doors, that infinite variety that
is in heaven and earth, and all of them of equal birth-right with man; yet
by the law of our Maker, a yoke of subjection and service to man is
imposed upon them, so that man is, in a manner, set in the centre of all,
to the end, that all the several qualifications and perfections that are
in every creature, may concentre and meet together in him, and flow
towards him. Look upon all his particular acts of care and favour towards
thee, consider his judgments upon the world, upon the nation, or thine own
person. Put to thine ear, and hear. This is the joint harmonious melody,
this is the proclamation of all, "that we sin not," that we sin not
against so good a God, and so great a God. That were wickedness, this were
madness. If he wound, it is "that we sin not:" if he heal again, it is
"that we sin not." Doth he kill? It is "that we sin not!" Doth he make
alive? It is for the same end. Doth he shut up and restrain our liberty,
either by bondage, or sickness, or other afflictions? Why, he means "that
we sin not." Doth he open again? He means the same thing, "that we sin no
more, lest a worse thing befall us." Doth he make many to fall in battle,
and turn the fury of that upon us? The voice of it is, that you who are
left behind should "sin no more." Is there severity towards others, and
towards you clemency? O the loud voice of that is, "sin not!" But alas,
the result of all is, that which is written, Psal. lxxviii.
32.--"Nevertheless they sinned still." In the midst of so many concurring
testimonies, in the very throng of all the sounds and voices that all the
works of God utter, in the very hearing of these, nevertheless to sin
still, and not to return and inquire early after God,--this is the plague
and judgment of the nation.

But let us return to the words, "these things," &c. "That which is written