2. The main point that Anger is in God, and wrath may come from him, gives great matter of humiliation, in regard of the many great provocations thereof day after day. We know that fire is very fierce where it finds matter to work upon. Would it not thereupon much grieve and perplex men, to see desperate fellows in every house blowing up fire to make it catch hold on houses. More desperate are impudent and impenitent sinners. For no fire so fierce, so fearful as Gods wrath. No such means to kindle and inflame fire, as sin to incense Gods wrath. No such danger and damage can come by any fire, as by the wrath of God. Were not the patience of the Lord more then ordinary, whereby the fire of his wrath is kept from flaming 1out, our houses, our villages, our Cities, our nations, yea, the whole world, and all therein would soon be utterly consumed. O let not the consideration of Gods wrath be passed over with an unrelenting heart, or with dry eyes. I am sure, if it be well weighed, and deeply laid to heart, it will give just occasion to every one of us to cry out and say, Oh that mine eyes were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the many provocations of the wrath of the Lord. Oh that I had in the wilderness a lodging of wayfaring men, that I might leave my people, and go from them: For they are all desperately set to incense the wrath of the Lord more and more, till they and all they have be brought to nought. Were the terror of the Lords wrath better known and believed then it is, it would certainly restrain mens excess in provoking the same: and make them more careful and diligent to pacify it. If men be incensed, what pains is taken, what friends are used, what cost is expended, what time is wasted with waiting to pacify them? If the offender be once, twice, yea many times ⟨p. 73⟩rejected, yet will he not give over. Is any such thing done to pacify God?
2. THe maine point that Anger is in God, and wrath may come from him, gives great matter of humiliation, in regard of the many great provocations thereof day after day. We know that fire is very fierce where it finds matter to worke upon. Would it not thereupon much grieve and perplexe men, to see desperate fellowes in every house blowing up fire to make it catch hold on houses. More desperate are impudent and impenitent sinners. For no fire so fierce, so fearefull as Gods wrath. No such meanes to kindle and enflame fire, as sin to incense Gods wrath. No such danger and dammage can come by any fire, as by the wrath of God. Were not the patience of the Lord more then ordinary, whereby the fire of his wrath is kept from flaming 1out, our houses, our villages, our Cities, our nations, yea, the whole world, and all therein would soone be utterly consumed. O let not the consideration of Gods wrath be passed over with an unrelenting heart, or with dry eyes. I am sure, if it be well weighed, and deeply layed to heart, it will give just occasion to every one of us to cry out and say, Oh that mine eyes were waters, and mine eyes a fountaine of teares, that I might weepe day and night for the many provocations of the wrath of the Lord. Oh that I had in the wildernesse a lodging of wayfairing men, that I might leave my people, and go from them: For they are all desperately set to incense the wrath of the Lord more and more, till they and all they have be brought to nought. Were the terrour of the Lords wrath better knowne and believed then it is, it would certainely restraine mens excesse in provoking the same: and make them more carefull and diligent to pacifie it. If men be incensed, what paines is taken, what friends are used, what cost is expended, what time is wasted with waiting to pacifie them? If the offender be once, twice, yea many times ⟨p. 73⟩rejected, yet will he not give over. Is any such thing done to pacifie God?
- 1Jer 9. 1, 2. Tu hominem quidem exacerbans, amicos rogas, & pecunia• expendis, & multos absumis dies accedens & supplicans: & sive semel, sive his, sive millies te repulerit irritatus, non recedis, sed magis contendens majorem affer• supplicationem. Deo autem omnium exacerbato oscitamus, & recedimus, & deli•ijs, & ebrietati vacamus, &c. Chrys ad Pop. Hom. 46.Ier 9. 1, 2. Tu hominem quidem exacerbans, amicos rogas, & pecunia• expendis, & multos absumis dies accedens & supplicans: & sive semel, sive his, sive millies te repulerit irritatus, non recedis, sed magis contendens majorem affer• supplicationem. Deo autem omnium exacerbato oscitamus, & recedimus, & deli•ijs, & ebrietati vacamus, &c. Chrys ad Pop. Hom. 46.
