BE not affrighted, O ye righteous ones, be not affrighted over-much at the judgements, though they be terrible judgements, which fall out in the world. Though by reason of the multitudes of wicked ones among whom ye live in this world ye be every one forced to complain and cry, aWoe is me that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar: and to wish and say, bO that I had in the wilderness a lodging place of way-faring men, that I might leave my people: yet can the Lord single you out, and when he comes to sweep them with the besom of destruction, set ⟨p. 21⟩you aside: and as a few precious jewels in the middest of a great heap of rubbish sift them out, and preserve them safe to himself, when the rubbish is cast away. It is said of Christ, that He will thoroughly purge his flour, and gather his wheat into his garner: but will burn up the chaff with unquenchable 3fire. Men when they fan their corn cannot do it so thoroughly clean, but that some chaff or tares will remain with the wheat, and some wheat be cast out with the chaff: witness the offal that remains after the best fanning that men can make. But Gods fanning, is a thorough fanning, not a 4grain, not a Saint shall be overslipped. This is indeed most properly meant of the last fanning of the world at the day of judgement: yet in the mean time doth the Lord take notice of every one of his, to provide for them, and in the most common and general judgements to do that which in his wisdom he seeth to be fittest for them. When Elijah 5thought he had been left alone in Israel, God knew many more, yea he could tell the just number of them. Thou mayest therefore, O faithful one, say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in him will I trust. Surely he 6shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence, &c.
BE not afrighted, O ye righteous ones, be not afrighted over-much at the judgements, though they be terrible judgements, which fall out in the world. Though by reason of the multitudes of wicked ones among whom ye live in this world ye be every one forced to complaine and cry, aWoe is me that I sojourne in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar: and to wish and say, bO that I had in the wildernesse a lodging place of way-fairing men, that I might leave my people: yet can the Lord single you out, and when he comes to sweepe them with the besome of destruction, set ⟨p. 21⟩you aside: and as a few precious jewels in the middest of a great heape of rubbish sift them out, and preserve them safe to himselfe, when the rubbish is cast away. It is said of Christ, that He will thorowly purge his floure, and gather his wheate into his garner: but will burne up the chaffe with unquenchable 3fire. Men when they fan their corne cannot do it so thorowly cleane, but that some chaffe or tares wil remaine with the wheat, and some wheat be cast out with the chaffe: witnesse the offall that remaines after the best fanning that men can make. But Gods fanning, is a thorow fanning, not a 4graine, not a Saint shalbe overslipt. This is indeed most properly meant of the last fanning of the world at the day of judgement: yet in the meane time doth the Lord take notice of every one of his, to provide for them, and in the most common and generall judgements to do that which in his wisdome he seeth to be fittest for them. When Eliah 5thought he had bene left alone in Israel, God knew many more, yea he could tell the just number of them. Thou maist therefore, O faithfull one, say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortresse, my God, in him will I trust. Surely he 6shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence, &c.
- aPsal 120. 5.
- bJer. 9. 2.
- 3Mat. 3. 12.
- 4[Greek or Hebrew].〈non-Latin alphabet〉.
- 51 King. 19. 18.
- 6Psal. 91. 1, 2, &c.
