Secondly, here Christ describeth the means whereby Gods people may arm themselves against all perils and troubles whatsoever, to wit, Christian fortitude: which is a gift of God proceeding from true faith enabling a man to lay aside all fear, and with courage to undergo all dangers whatsoever, that he may in life and death maintain faith and a good conscience. This virtue God prescribed to the Prophets when they were to enter into their calling, and our Saviour Christ to his Apostles, and to this church of Smyrna. And it were to be wished that all the ministers of the gospel might speak unto their people as Christ speaketh unto this church, Fear not. But the truth is, if they deal faithfully they must change their note, and say with Joel, (a)Wail and howl ye priests and people lying in sackcloth and ashes, because the day of the Lords vengeance is at hand. For it is lamentable to see▪ the state of the whole body of our people, of whom we may generally say with the Prophet, (b)There is no knowledge of God in the land. And where knowledge is, there is little conscience to live thereafter. Consider also how the most are carnal minded, dead in sin, they savour not th• things that pertain to Gods kingdom, but their hearts are wholly possessed with earthly desires & delights, and spiritual things affect them not. Yea in all places we shall see that as natural sleep wrappeth up the senses of the body: so a spiritual slumber benummeth their minds and hearts. For though God preach daily unto us by his judgements, yet like the old world we know nothing of the evil day: we never call to mind the judgement to come. And if hereunto we join the common crying sins of this land, as swearing, cursing, oppression, Sabbath breaking, drunkenness, whoredom, and all uncleanness, yea Atheism it self the ground of all: How can we say with Christ, Fear not? yea rather we must call men to repentance in sackcloth and ashes. For God is jealous of his glory, neither will he alway be chiding, nor wink at our iniquities, he hath whet his sword, and bent his bow, and unless we repent the day of havoc will come shortly, wherein he will take vengeance upon all our iniquities.
Secondly, here Christ describeth the meanes wherby Gods people may arme themselues against all perils and troubles whatsoeuer, to wit, Christian fortitude: which is a gift of God proceeding frō true faith inabling a man to lay aside all feare, and with courage to vndergo al dangers whatsoeuer, that he may in life and death maintaine faith and a good conscience. This vertue God prescribed to the Prophets when they were to enter into their calling, and our Sauiour Christ to his Apostles, and to this church of Smyrna. And it were to be wished that all the ministers of the gospell might speake vnto their people as Christ speaketh vnto this church, Feare not. But the truth is, if they deale faithfully they must change their note, and say with Ioell, (a)Waile and houle ye priests and people lying in sackcloth and ashes, because the day of the Lords vengeance is at hand. For it is lamentable to see▪ the state of the whole body of our people, of whom wee may generally say with the Prophet, (b)There is no knowledge of God in the land. And where knowledge is, there is litle conscience to liue therafter. Consider also how the most are carnall minded, dead in sin, they sauour not th• things that pertaine to Gods kingdome, but their hearts are wholly possessed with earthly desires & delights, and spirituall things affect them not. Yea in all places wee shall see that as naturall sleepe wrappeth vp the senses of the body: so a spiritual slumber benummeth their minds and hearts. For though God preach daily vnto vs by his iudgements, yet like the old world wee know nothing of the euill day: we neuer cal to mind the iudgement to come. And if herunto we ioyne the common crying sinnes of this land, as swearing, cursing, oppression, Saboath breaking, drunkennesse, whordome, and all vncleannesse, yea Atheisme it selfe the ground of all: How can we say with Christ, Feare not? yea rather wee must call men to repentance in sackcloth and ashes. For God is iealous of his glorie, neither will hee alway be chiding, nor winke at our iniquities, he hath whet his sword, and bent his bow, and vnlesse wee repent the day of hauocke will come shortly, wherein hee will take vengeance vpon all our iniquities.
- (a)Joel. 1.1•.15.Ioel. 1.1•.15.
- (b)Ho• ▪ 4▪ •
