t they mocked his servants, and would not
return unto the Lord their God to walk in his ways." (2 Kings xvii.) Yea,
Judah itself kept not the precepts of the Lord God, but walked in the
manners and ordinances of Israel; that is, of such as then had declined to
idolatry from the days of Jeroboam; and therefore, the Lord God abhorred
the whole seed of Israel, that is, the whole body of the people; he
punished them, and gave them into the hands of those that spoiled them,
and so he cast them out from his presence.

Hereof it is evident, that their disobedience unto God, and unto the
voices of his prophets, was the cause of their destruction. Now have we to
take heed how we should use the good laws of God; that is, his will
revealed unto us in his word; and that order of justice, which by him, for
the comfort of man, is established amongst men. There is no doubt but that
obedience is the most acceptable sacrifice unto God, and that which above
all things he requires; so that when he manifests himself by his word, men
should follow according to their vocation and commandment. Now so it is,
that God, by that great Pastor our Lord Jesus, now manifestly in his word
calls us from all impiety, as well of body as of mind, to holiness of
life, and to his spiritual service; and for this purpose he has erected
the throne of his mercy among us, the true preaching of his word, together
with the right administration of his sacraments: but what our obedience
is, let every man examine his own conscience, and consider what statutes
and laws we would have to be given unto us.

Wouldst thou, O Scotland! have a king to reign over thee in justice,
equity, and mercy? Subject thou thyself to the Lord thy God, obey his
commandments, and magnify thou the word that calleth unto thee, "This is
the way, walk in it;" (Isa. xxx.) and if thou wilt not, flatter not
thyself; the same justice remains this day in God to punish thee,
Scotland, and thee Edinburgh especially, which before punished the land of
Judah, and the city of Jerusalem. Every realm or nation, saith the prophet
Jeremiah, that likewise offendeth, shall be likewise punished. (Jer. ix.)
But if thou shalt see impiety placed in the seat of justice above thee, so
that in the throne of God (as Solomon complains, Eccles. iii.) reigns
nothing but fraud and violence, accuse thine own ingratitude and rebellion
against God; for that is the only cause why God takes away "the strong man
and the man of