e the causes of other sins and transgressions so much
abounding among us, and our true and unfeigned purpose, desire, and
endeavour for ourselves, and all others under our power and charge,
both in public and in private, in all duties we owe to God and to
man, to amend our lives, and each one to go before another in the
example of a real reformation, that the Lord may turn away his wrath
and heavy indignation, and establish these churches and kingdoms in
truth and peace."--_Ed._]

266 [Nemo repente fuit turpissimus--Juv. Sat. II. v. 83.]

267 [Num. xxiii. 21.--_Ed._]

268 [Jer. l. 20.--_Ed._]

269 ["About the time of the first renewing of the covenant, there was a
sensible change to the better in men's carriage and conversation,
most of all those who joined in opposing the defection not only
reforming themselves from common and gross sins such as drunkenness,
uncleanness, swearing, profaning the Lord's day, slighting of the
ordinances, self seeking, covetousness, oppression, &c., but giving
themselves to the duties of religion and righteousness, such as
sobriety, edifying discourse, chaste behaviour, hallowing of the
Lord's day, diligent seeking of the Lord in secret and in their
families, attending on the preaching of the word as often as
opportunity is offered, liberality, love, charity one toward
another, a public spirit and zeal for God. But all these things are
now decayed in many and they are again grown as ill if not worse
than before." Causes of the Lord's Wrath against Scotland. pp. 48,
49. Printed in the year 1653.--_Ed._]

270 [Much less.--_Ed._]

271 [An inference unfavourable to the religious character of the
countrymen of Binning, has been too hastily drawn from this and some
other passages in his works. (Orme's Mem. of Dr. Owen, p. 129). The
late Dr M'Crie observed, that this was like "the attempts of popish
writers to prove the _Reformation_ a _Deformation_, by culling
quotations from the sermons of such Protestant preachers as
inveighed most freely against prevailing vices." (Christ. Inst. vol.
xx. p. 624). In the "Representation, Propositions, and
Protestations," however, "of divers Ministers, Elders, and
Professors," printed in the year 1652, and probably about the time
this sermon was preached, it is