Secondly, this profaneness discovers it self to the world, by want of reverence to Gods works. Let the Lord send unseasonable weather, or famines, or plagues, or any strange signs in heaven or in earth; forthwith they are but fools that cry out, Behold the finger of God, the hand of God: No, this is nature, and is produced by natural causes. Ill weather comes from the stars: famines from ill weather, and mens covetousness: Plagues from famines, or from ill airs, or else by apparent infection from another place. But cannot Nature and natural means have their place, unless they have Gods place? God overthroweth not them: why should they overthrow God? Yet thus it is in the world, and thus God is robbed of his glory: and he is but a simple fellow, which is moved with reverence at sight of such things, or begins to magnify Gods power and justice in them. This is too apparent to be denied: for, have we not now as great causes of fear as can be? Noah heard of water; and we hear that fire is to destroy the world: and ye• where is he that is moved with reverence, as Noah was? and yet Noah could say, The flood shall ⟨p. 114⟩not be, these 120. years: but who can say and prove that this world shall not be destroyed by fire within these 120. years? And till the flood came, they had doubtless many othe• plagues, which were fore-runners of the general destruction; all which as they came, Moved Noah unto reverence: and so we, in this age, do see the great works of Gods Judgements, upon men, upon families, upon towns, upon countries, and whole kingdoms, and we feel his heavy hand in many sharp strokes; but who and where are they whose hearts fear God the more, and do tremble in the consideration of his Judgements. Nay, alas, amongst many it is but a matter of mockery so to do. This is not the fault of our religion, but the want of it: for if men truly knew and believed in God, they could not think nor speak of God, nor look at his works, but with fear and reverence. For as our fear of God is, so is our faith: little fear of God, little faith: and no fear at all, no faith at all. Let therefore all men show their religion by their fear of God, and let every Christian acknowledge God in his works. England hath been faulty herein in one point especially. We have had great plagues, which have taken away many thousands in short time;
Secondly, this profanenesse discouers it selfe to the world, by want of reuerence to Gods workes. Let the Lord send vnseasonable weather, or famines, or plagues, or any strange signes in heauen or in earth; forthwith they are but fooles that cry out, Behold the finger of God, the hand of God: No, this is nature, and is produced by naturall causes. Ill weather comes from the starres: famines from ill weather, and mens couetousnesse: Plagues from famines, or from ill aires, or else by apparant infection from another place. But cannot Nature and naturall meanes haue their place, vnlesse they haue Gods place? God ouerthroweth not them: why should they ouerthrow God? Yet thus it is in the world, and thus God is robbed of his glory: and he is but a simple fellow, which is moued with reuerence at sight of such things, or begins to magnifie Gods power and iustice in them. This is too apparant to be denied: for, haue wee not now as great causes of feare as can be? Noah heard of water; and wee heare that fire is to destroy the worlde: and ye• where is hee that is mooued with reuerence, as Noah was? and yet Noah could saye, The floud shall ⟨p. 114⟩not be, these 120. yeeres: but who can say and proue that this world shal not be destroyed by fire within these 120. yeeres? And till the floud came, they had doubtlesse many othe• plagues, which were fore-runners of the generall destruction; all which as they came, Moued Noah vnto reuerence: and so wee, in this age, doe see the great workes of Gods Iudgements, vpon men, vpon families, vpon townes, vpon countries, and whole kingdomes, and wee feele his heauie hand in many sharpe strokes; but who and where are they whose hearts feare God the more, and doe tremble in the consideration of his Iudgements. Nay, alas, amongst many it is but a matter of mockerie so to doe. This is not the fault of our religion, but the want of it: for if men truly knew and beleeued in God, they could not thinke nor speake of God, nor looke at his workes, but with feare and reuerence. For as our feare of God is, so is our faith: little feare of God, little faith: and no feare at all, no faith at all. Let therefore all men shew their religion by their feare of God, and let euery Christian acknowledge God in his workes. England hath beene faulty herein in one point especially. Wee haue had great plagues, which haue taken away many thousands in short time;
