A cloud of faithful witnesses, leading to the heavenly Canaan, or, A commentary upon…A cloud of faithfull witnesses, leading to the heauenly Canaan, or, A commentarie vpon…

Now, that which this Judgement of God wrought in Noah, the same effect should Gods Judgements work in us; namely, they should move us with reverence. For, as Christ saith, Our days are like Noah's: As it was in the days of ⟨p. 116⟩Noah; so shall the days be before the coming of Christ (Matthew 24.37). These days are as wicked, men are as covetous, as cruel, as malicious, as voluptuous, and yet as secure, as they then were; as full of sin, and yet as dead in sin as they were then. Therefore Noah looked for a flood 120. years after: and who can tell whether our world shall last so long a time or no? At least we may safely say (whatsoever the world doth) there is no man liveth, but within far less time then 120. years, is assured to be thrown to hell by a flood of Gods wrath at his death, unless in the mean time he repent: and yet alas where is he that is moved with reverence at consideration hereof? The wicked man may escape the water of a flood: but he cannot scape the fire of hell, he cannot escape death, he cannot escape the last Judgement. These are to come, yet they are sure: why then do not men fear as Noah did? he feared, 120. years afore it came. We can indeed tremble a little at a present Judgement: as, when fire breaks out, when waters overflow, when the plague destroyeth, or when famine consumes: but to tremble at a Judgement threatened, though it be afar off, this is the work of true faith. This was in Noah, & wrought in him a reverence: and so would it in us, if it were in us. When men cry fire, fire; we stir, we run, we tremble: but God crieth in his word, the fire of hell, the fire of his wrath; and we care not, we stir not, we leave not our sins, we are not moved with reverence, as Noah was: therefore it is more then manifest, that holy faith is wanting in the world, which Noah had.

Now, that which this Iudgement of God wrought in Noah, the same effect should Gods Iudgements worke in vs; namely, they should moue vs with reuerence. For, as Christ saith, Our dayes are like Noahs: As it was in the dayes of ⟨p. 116⟩Noah; so shall the dayes be before the comming of Christ (Mathew 24.37). These dayes are as wicked, men are as couetous, as cruell, as malitious, as voluptuous, and yet as secure, as they then were; as full of sinne, and yet as dead in sinne as they were then. Therefore Noah looked for a floud 120. yeeres after: and who can tell whether our world shall last so long a time or no? At least wee may safely say (whatsoeuer the world doth) there is no man liueth, but within farre lesse time then 120. yeeres, is assured to be throwen to hell by a floud of Gods wrath at his death, vnlesse in the meane time hee repent: and yet alas where is hee that is moued with reuerence at consideration hereof? The wicked man may escape the water of a floud: but hee cannot scape the fire of hell, hee cannot escape death, hee cannot escape the last Iudgement. These are to come, yet they are sure: why then doe not men feare as Noah did? hee feared, 120. yeeres afore it came. We can indeede tremble a little at a present Iudgement: as, when fire breakes out, when waters ouerflowe, when the plague destroyeth, or when famine consumes: but to tremble at a Iudgement threatned, though it be afarre off, this is the worke of true faith. This was in Noah, & wrought in him a reuerence: and so would it in vs, if it were in vs. When men crie fire, fire; wee stirre, wee runne, wee tremble: but God crieth in his word, the fire of hell, the fire of his wrath; and wee care not, wee stirre not, wee leaue not our sinnes, wee are not moued with reuerence, as Noah was: therefore it is more then manifest, that holy faith is wanting in the world, which Noah had.