OF Gods anger and the fear thereof, being the first punishment, we have heard. Now followeth the next, which is the effect of it. For they who are angry, consult and devise, how they may revenge themselves upon such as have offended them: the […] out •ffect: the effect of whose anger is set down, first to be the spoiling […] good, and then the bondage ⟨p. 126⟩they came in to their enemies, which was far greater. And these are the sorer because God dealt not with them himself, but gave them over to men, yea cruel men, such as David desired he might not fall into their hands, because there was no mercy with them. But to say some what of the former of these two; to such as be in prosperity, we know that the loss of wealth is found by experience, and taken of men to be one of the hardest judgements that do befall them; the reason is, for that they love their money and goods almost if not altogether as well as their lives. And yet a great punishment is this which they sustain by them, that when the Lord hath given them as blessings, they lose the right use of the, for and through their foolishness and sin, and cause that for the most part they become curses to them. And God in his wisdom doth send such penalties oft times among many other unto them, as it is said here, he gave them into the hands of spoilers. But this was yet far worse, when they must go under it, and yet never consider by whom, and why they were thus punished. Behold in this people, the extreme folly of sinners at this day; who though their hearts are set upon their wealth and commodities, yet never bethink themselves to be freed from the danger of Gods wrath, which often wasteth them to nothing. Know we therefore, that if we decay in our goods, by barrenness 1of the ground, or unseasonableness of the weather, by debt, suretyship, 2or by any other such like, and especially by misspending them; know we (I say) we have a warning thereby, sent us of God, for some ill parts of life, as it is said in Deuteronomy, If thou wilt not obey the voice of the 3Lord thy God, then the fruit of thy land, and all thy labour shall a people that thou knowest not, eat: and the heaven that is over thee shall be brass, and the earth under thee, iron.
OF Gods anger and the feare therof, being the first punishment, we haue heard. Now followeth the next, which is the effect of it. For they who are angry, consult and deuise, how they may reuenge themselues vpon such as haue offended them: the 〈…〉 out •ffect: the effect of whose anger is set downe, first to be the spoiling 〈…〉 good, and then the bondage ⟨p. 126⟩they came in to their enemies, which was farre greater. And these are the sorer because God dealt not with them himselfe, but gaue them ouer to men, yea cruell men, such as Dauid desired he might not fall into their hands, because there was no mercy with them. But to say some what of the former of these two; to such as be in prosperity, we know that the losse of wealth is found by experience, and taken of men to bee one of the hardest iudgements that doe befall them; the reason is, for that they loue their money and goods almost if not altogether as well as their liues. And yet a great punishment is this which they sustaine by them, that when the Lord hath giuen them as blessings, they lose the right vse of the, for and through their foolishnesse and sinne, and cause that for the most part they become curses to them. And God in his wisedome doth send such penalties oft times among many other vnto them, as it is said heere, hee gaue them into the hands of spoilers. But this was yet farre worse, when they must goe vnder it, and yet neuer consider by whom, and why they were thus punished. Behold in this people, the extreame follie of sinners at this day; who though their hearts are set vpon their wealth and commodities, yet neuer bethinke themselues to be freed from the danger of Gods wrath, which often wasteth them to nothing. Know we therfore, that if we decay in our goods, by barrennesse 1of the ground, or vnseasonablenesse of the weather, by debt, suretiship, 2or by any other such like, and especially by mispending them; know we (I say) we haue a warning thereby, sent vs of God, for some ill parts of life, as it is said in Deuteronomie, If thou wilt not obey the voice of the 3Lord thy God, then the fruit of thy land, and all thy labour shall a people that thou knowest not, eate: and the heauen that is ouer thee shall be brasse, and the earth vnder thee, iron.
- 1Note.
- 2Penny-wise. Pound-foolish.Pennie-wise. Pound-foolish.
- 3Deut. 28. 15. 33
