Seeking for Something Better?
"Both nations in general, and private persons, are apt to grow remiss and lax in a time of prosperity and seeming security; but when their earthly comforts are endangered or withdrawn, it lays them under a kind of necessity to seek for something better in their place. Men must have comfort from one quarter or another. When earthly things are in a pleasing and promising condition, too many are apt to find their rest, and be satisfied with them as their only portion. But when the vanity and passing nature of all created comfort is discovered, they are compelled to look for something more durable as well as valuable. What therefore, can be more to the praise of God, than that when a whole people have forgotten their resting place, when they have abused their privileges, and despised their mercies, they should by distress and suffering be made to hearken to the rod, and return to their duty?"
Sermon 17: John Witherspoon, The Dominion of Providence Over the Passions of Men, as found in the book by Ellis Sandoz, Political Sermons of the American Founding Era, Vol. 1 (1730-1788) [1991] and available electronically at www.oll.libertyfund.org
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