1If in any case speed and haste be needful, surely it is most needful, yea and necessary in appeasing the wrath of God. No fire, no flood like to it. For the point therefore in hand, what course soever ye take, (having good warrant for it) That you do, do quickly. Whether the judgement be public or private, on our selves or others, let us make no delay. Take *this opportunity now at length offered for public humiliation by prayer and fasting: and what you outwardly make show of before men, do inwardly and effectually before God the searcher of hearts. Put off no longer time. tWherefore as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice harden not your heart. There is just cause to speak to you in such a manner, as in another case uPaul did to those that were in the ship with him, Ye should have harkened to Gods Ministers, and not have loosed from your ⟨p. 52⟩loosed from your covenant with God, and have gained this loss and harm which by fierceness of the plague hath befallen us. You should (as *hath been noted of Job) upon suspicion have used means to prevent this Plague: or at least, when one or two in a week died of the Plague in the suburbs of the City, you should have used all the means that Gods Word warranted, then and there to have stayed it. Have ye not heard of the counsel that Elijah gave to Ahab. 6When there arose a little cloud out of the sea like a mans hand, he said, prepare thy chariots, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not. So upon the sight of the smallest sign, and first beginning of this Plague, we should have used all warrantable means to have prevented, if it had been possible, these showers of Gods vengeance which have day after day fallen upon us. But seeing those opportunities have been too carelessly passed over, let us now be made more wise. Quickly speedily, as quickly & speedily as possibly we can, seek yet to quench this fire, to make an atonement for our selves and others yet living. 7O consider how many have died, who if they had this time for repentance, which ye have, would fast and pray, and turn from sin, and do what might be done to obtain pardon. And will ye spend this precious time in eating, drinking, and sporting, which is afforded to get grace, and attain to glory? Think with thy self how many souls are now in hell without hope of pardon and mercy.
1If in any case speed and haste be needfull, surely it is most needfull, yea and necessary in appeasing the wrath of God. No fire, no floud like to it. For the point therefore in hand, what course soever ye take, (having good warrant for it) That you doe, do quickly. Whether the judgement be publique or private, on our selves or others, let us make no delay. Take *this opportunity now at length offered for publique humiliation by prayer and fasting: and what you outwardly make shew of before men, do inwardly and effectually before God the searcher of hearts. Put off no longer time. tWherefore as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will heare his voice harden not your heart. There is just cause to speake to you in such a manner, as in another case uPaul did to those that were in the ship with him, Ye should have harkened to Gods Ministers, and not have loosed from your ⟨p. 52⟩loosed from your covenant with God, and have gained this losse and harme which by fiercenesse of the plague hath befallen us. You should (as *hath beene noted of Iob) upon suspition have used meanes to prevent this Plague: or at least, when one or two in a weeke died of the Plague in the suburbs of the City, you should have used all the meanes that Gods Word warranted, then and there to have stayed it. Have ye not heard of the counsell that Eliah gave to Ahab. 6When there arose a little cloud out of the sea like a mans hand, he said, prepare thy chariots, and get thee downe, that the raine stop thee not. So upon the sight of the smallest signe, and first beginning of this Plague, we should have used all warrantable meanes to have prevented, if it had beene possible, these showers of Gods vengeance which have day after day fallen upon us. But seeing those opportunities have been too carelesly passed over, let us now be made more wise. Quickly speedily, as quickly & speedily as possibly we can, seek yet to quench this fire, to make an attonement for our selves and others yet living. 7O cōsider how many have died, who if they had this time for repentance, which ye have, would fast and pray, and turne from sinne, and do what might be done to obtaine pardon. And will ye spend this precious time in eating, drinking, and sporting, which is affoorded to get grace, and attaine to glory? Thinke with thy selfe how many soules are now in hell without hope of pardon and mercy.
- 1Speedy repentance very profitable.
- *At the time when this was preached. viz. Aug. 1625 a public fast was weekly celebrated.At the time when this was preached. viz. Aug. 1625 a publique fast was weekely celebrated.
- tHeb. 3. 7, 8.
- uAct. 27. 21.
- *§. 6.
- 61 King. 18. 44.
- 7Considera quam multi modò moriuntur, quibus si haec hora ad agendum poeni tentiam concederetur quae tibi concessa est, quo modò per attaria & quam festinanter currerent, & ibi flexis genibus, vel certè toto eorpore in terram prostrato, tam diu suspirare•t, plorarent, & orarent, donec plenissimam peccatorum veniam d Deo consequi mercrentur. Tu verò commedende, bibendo, j•c•ndo & ridendo, tempus o••ose vivends perdis, quod tibi. in dulserat Deus ad acquirendam gratiam, & promereadam gloriam. Cogita etiam quot animae in inserno nunc cruciantur sine spe veniae, & misericordiae. Si amor Dei te tenere non potest, saltem teneat & terreat timor judicij, metus gehennae, &c. Bern. de Interiori Domo. cap. 63.
