e, and then himself seconds it either by prayer, or crying out for
misery, Job xxxv. 9. All men's prayers and professions will not outcry
these two. The people's many prayers could not be heard, (Isa. i. 15),
because their hands were "full of blood," which had a louder cry than
their prayers. The poor also oppressing the poor, is like a sweeping rain
that leaves nothing behind it.

It is read in the margin, "that they are not his children,--that is their
blot." And indeed it is so. It is a great blot and stain in the face of
any man whoever he be, that he is not born of God--that he can reckon
kindred to none but Adam. But what indignity is it and disgrace, for a
people professing his name, yet to have no other generation, to reckon no
higher than the earth and the earthly. What is now the great blot of our
visible church? Here it is, the most part are not God's children, but
called so; and it is the greater blot that they are called so, and are
not.(271) O poor saints, esteem your honour and high privilege; ye have
received this, to be the sons of God! It is no blot to you that you are
poor and despised in the world; but it is and shall be an eternal blot to
the great and rich, and wise in the world, that they are not the children
of God. Christianity is no blot, though it be in reproach among men, but
it is really the glory and excellency of a man; but the want of it, alas!
how doth it abase many high and noble, impoverish many rich, and infatuate
many wise! Ye think all of you are the children of God, because ye are in
the church, and partake of the ordinances and sacraments; and so did this
people. But Moses did not flatter these Jews, but told both princes and
people in their face, that they were not children of God, because only
Israel in the letter, they had not children's manners. O that it might not
be said of the most part of you, that ye are not children of God, and that
that is your blot and shame! It is the shame of rulers not to be the
children of God. They are wise, they are active, they are noble, but one
spot disgraceth all, one fly maketh their ointment to stink, they are not
gracious, many of them, but sons of men at the farthest reckoning, are not
begotten again to a lively hope. "Not many wise, not many noble, not many
rich." The scantiness of gracious men is the spot of judicatories,(272)
that there are many children of the world, but few children of light in
them. O how beautiful and glorious would