ation is
pleased to think that it ought to be so?

We are taught from Holy Writ, that Cities and whole Nations have been
destroyed by the especial Vengeance of God for their heinous
Transgressions. But except we had been so told by an infallible Spirit,
and who could not deceive us by false Conjectures, we had no Right, nay,
it would be impious in us so much as to suspect that such Cities suffered
for their Sins by the Hands of a special Providence. _Judge not, lest ye
be judged_, is a Precept of universal Extent, and strongly inculcated by
the Founder of our Holy Religion, who in a particular Manner checked the
_Jews_, who of all Nations were the aptest to explain every Occurrence
into a special and revengeful Providence. "There were present at that
Season some, that told him of the _Galileans_, whose Blood _Pilate_ had
mingled with the Sacrifices; and _Jesus_ answering said unto them, suppose
ye, that these _Galileans_ were Sinners above all the _Galileans_, because
they suffered such things? I tell you Nay, but except you repent ye shall
all likewise perish. Or those Eighteen, upon whom the Tower in _Siloe_
fell, and slew them, think ye that they were Sinners above all Men that
dwelt in _Jerusalem_? I tell you Nay, but except you repent, ye shall
likewise perish." _Luke_ Ch. xiii, ver. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.

This, Friend, is the Sense of the Son of God upon a Case almost similar to
what your Subject led you to treat of; and how different is it from the
Sense you would put upon a very natural Occurrence? How much more amiable
is the Picture he gives us of the Father in that Parable that immediately
followeth the above Verses. Verse 6, He speaks also this Parable. "A
certain Man had a Fig-tree planted in his Vineyard, and he came and sought
Fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the Dresser of his
Vineyard, behold these three Years I come seeking Fruit on this Fig-tree,
and find none; cut it down, why cumbereth it the Ground? and he answering
said unto him, Lord, let it alone this Year also, till I shall dig about
it, and dung it: And if it bear Fruit, well; and if not, then after thou
shalt cut it down." How much more amiable, I say, is the Doctrine our
Blessed Redeemer would inculcate by this short Parable, than the Idea we
conceive from explaining every natural Accident as the Manifestation of
the Wrath of an angry, incensed, and avenging God! The _Jewish_ Doctors,
like you, Friend, were willing to explain th