The Return of Prayers

Obser. 2 There must needs be some great reason for this they being his people, which is the second thing that is intimated, and may be observed out of these words, namely, the reason, or moving cause provoking God thus to interrupt ⟨p. 252⟩the peace of his people: they had fallen into some gross folly or other, some sinful inordinate dispositions had been indulged unto, and nourished in them, which is usually, though not always, the cause of this his dealing: this is evident by this, that the conclusion of their peace, when it is made up again hath this clause, as the only article of reconciliation between them, that they return no more to folly, implying they had formerly run out into some inordinacy, which to reduce them from, God had took up arms against them, and thereby taught them wisdom ⟨p. 253⟩to take heed of losing, and then buying peace at so dear a rate again. And indeed all the quarrels, that God hath against a Nation, a particular place, or person, that belongs to him, do begin there; They rebelled, and He fought against them, Isaiah 63. 8. For the iniquity of his covetousness I was wroth, Isa 57.

Obser. 2 There must needs be some great reason for this they being his people, which is the second thing that is intimated, and may be observed out of these words, namely, the reason, or moving cause provoking God thus to interrupt ⟨p. 252⟩the peace of his people: they had fallen into some grosse folly or other, some sinfull inordinate dispositions had beene indulged unto, and nourished in them, which is usually, though not alwayes, the cause of this his dealing: this is evident by this, that the conclusion of their peace, when it is made up againe hath this clause, as the onely article of reconciliation between them, that they returne no more to folly, implying they had formerly runne out into some inordinacy, which to reduce them from, God had tooke up armes against them, and thereby taught them wisdome ⟨p. 253⟩to take heed of losing, and then buying peace at so deare a rate againe. And indeed all the quarrells, that God hath against a Nation, a particular place, or person, that belongs to him, doe begin there; They rebelled, and Hee fought against them, Esay 63. 8. For the iniquity of his covetousnesse I was wroth, Isa 57.