God hath sundry times sent his judgements among us; generally by plague, and famine; and particularly on sundry families, and persons; but who regardeth them? Wherefore unless we will double Gods judgements upon us, let us remember our duty, and seriously think upon them. And that this consideration may be profitable unto us, we must do three things: first, we must carefully observe, mark, and remember them: Psal. 119. 52. I remember thy Judgements of old, O Lord. The Lords people were much wanting therein, ⟨p. 199⟩as Psal. 78. 11. 42. Secondly, we must apply them to our own person in particular, so as the thought thereof may make us afraid, though they befall others. Whenc Habakkuk in a vision saw the judgements of God, which were to come upon the Chaldeans, the consideration thereof was so powerful with him, that it made him tremble and quake In a family when the father beateth his servant the child feareth; and when one child is beaten, then all the rest cry: even so when God our father poureth down his judgements, though upon the heathen, yet we must fear; but when any of his children are afflicted, it must strike sore to our hearts. Thirdly, we must make use of ⟨p. 200⟩Gods judgments that light upon others, by applying them to our selves. When certain men brought news to our Saviour Christ of an heavy judgement upon some fGalileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their own sacrifices, immediately our Saviour labours to bring them that told him to make use thereof for their own good, saying, that thereby they ought to be moved to repentance: for they that were slain, were no greater sinners then the rest: and therefore except they who told that news did amend their lives, they should also perish. So that whensoever we see or hear of any judgement of God upon others, we must thereby be moved to repent: and ⟨p. 201⟩thus doing, we shall come to a right consideration of gods Judgements.
God hath sundry times sent his iudgements among vs; generally by plague, and famine; and particularly on sundrie families, and persons; but who regardeth them? Wherefore vnlesse wee will double Gods iudgements vpon vs, let vs remember our dutie, and seriously thinke vpon them. And that this consideration may be profitable vnto vs, we must doe three things: first, we must carefully obserue, marke, and remember them: Psal. 119. 52. I remember thy Iudgements of old, O Lord. The Lords people were much wanting therein, ⟨p. 199⟩as Psal. 78. 11. 42. Secondly, we must apply them to our owne person in particular, so as the thought thereof may make vs afraid, though they befall others. Whenc Habakuck in a vision saw the iudgements of God, which were to come vpon the Chaldeans, the consideration thereof was so powerfull with him, that it made him tremble and quake In a familie when the father beateth his seruant the child feareth; and when one child is beaten, then all the rest crie: euen so when God our father powreth downe his iudgements, though vpon the heathen, yet wee must feare; but when any of his children are afflicted, it must strike soare to our hearts. Thirdly, we must make vse of ⟨p. 200⟩Gods iudgments that light vpon others, by applying them to our selues. When certaine men brought newes to our Sauiour Christ of an heauie iudgement vpon some fGalileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their owne sacrifices, immediately our Saviour labours to bring them that told him to make vse thereof for their owne good, saying, that thereby they ought to be mooued to repentance: for they that were slaine, were no greater sinners then the rest: and therefore except they who told that newes did amend their liues, they should also perish. So that whensoeuer we see or heare of any iudgement of God vpon others, wee must thereby be mooued to repent: and ⟨p. 201⟩thus doing, we shall come to a right consideration of gods Iudgements.
- cHab. 3. 16.
- fLuk. 13, 1, 2, 3.
