Englands sickness, comparatively conferred with Israels Divided into two sermons, by ThoEnglands sicknes, comparatively conferred with Israels Diuided into two sermons, by Tho

Was this strange in Israel; and is it nothing in England: Look upon the inhabitants of the earth, somewhat remote from us, to whose face the Sun of the Gospel hath not yet sent his rays; people blinded with ignorance, blended with lusts. What were our desires or deserts, former matter or latter merit, congruity before conversion, or condignity after, more then they might show; that God should put us into the Horizon of his Grace? whiles they sit in darkness and shade of death? Want they nature, or the strength of flesh? are they not tempered of the same mortar? are not their heads upward toward heaven? have they not reasonable souls, able for comprehension, apt for impression,¹ if God would set his Seal on them, as well as we? Are they not as likely for flesh and blood, provident to forecast, ingenuous to invent, active to execute, if not more then we? Why have we that star of the gospel, to light us to Christ Jesus, standing over our Country, whiles they neither see it, nor seek it: It is clearly, merely Gods mercy. Now why are our lives worse, our knowledge is better? Why devour we their venom, refusing our own healthful food; whiles they would feed on our crumbs, and have it not. Woe unto us, if we scant God of our fruits, that hath not scanted us of his blessings.

Was this strange in Israel; and is it nothing in England: Looke vpon the inhabitants of the earth, somwhat remote from vs, to whose face the Sunne of the Gospell hath not yet sent his rayes; people blinded with ignorance, blended with lusts. What were our desires or deserts, former mater or latter merite, congruity before conuersion, or condignity after, more then they might shew; that God should put vs into the Horizon of his Grace? whiles they sit in darkenesse and shade of death? Want they nature, or the strength of flesh? are they not temperd of the same morter? are not their heads vpward toward heauen? haue they not reasonable soules, able for comprehension, apt for impression,¹ if God would set his Seale on them, as well as we? Are they not as likely for flesh and bloude, prouident to forecast, ingenuous to inuent, actiue to execute, if not more then we? Why haue wee that starre of the gospell, to light vs to Christ Iesus, standing ouer our Country, whiles they neither see it, nor seeke it: It is clearely, meerly Gods mercy. Now why are our liues worse, our knowledge is better? Why deuoure wee their venome, refusing our owne healthfull foode; whiles they would feed on our crums, and haue it not. Woe vnto vs, if we scant God of our fruites, that hath not scanted vs of his blessings.