Let us labour to talk of the judgements of God (when they are abroad,1) as we should.2 In regard of God, to raise our hearts above all second causes, to see him in it: It is the hand of God, as the Scripture calls the plague, whatsoever the second causes are, whether it be the air, and the devil mingling himself oft times to corrupt the air, all is by Gods permission and providence. We should look to the first wheel that leads the rest, and sets them going, we should see God in all, and therefore speak reverently of him. And in regard of our brethren, to speak charitably of them, and think, it is the goodness of God that he hath not stricken us as he hath them. And when we speak of our selves, when the judgements of God are on us, let us humble our selves, and justify God; we may complain: but it must be of our selves and of our sins, that have brought judgements upon us, of our want of making use of the judgement of God upon others, or upon our selves: lesser judgements would not serve turn, therefore God is fain to follow us with greater; let us ⟨p. 88⟩alway justify God, and complain of our selves, and then in regard of our selves, we speak aright of the judgements of God. Let us never speak of the judgements of God, but with affections fit for judgements, with awful affections. Shall the Lyon roar, and shall not the beasts of the forrest tremble? Shall we hear God roar in his judgements, and hear the trumpet blown, and not be affected? we see here how God complains, that when he harkened and heard they spake not aright. Let us therefore make conscience of all our words. We shall if not now, yet at the day of judgement, give account for every idle word, for every cruel word, as it is in the prophecy of Enoch, cited in the Epistle of Jude: But especially let us take heed of our words when we speak of Gods judgements; for it is the not speaking aright of them that is here especially meant: I hearkened and heard but they spake not aright. So much for the evidence, come we now to the next clause, Gods complaint upon this evidence.
Let us labour to talke of the judgements of God (when they are abroad,1) as we should.2 Jn regard of God, to raise our hearts above all second causes, to see him in it: Jt is the hand of God, as the Scripture calls the plague, whatsoever the second causes are, whether it be the ayre, and the divell mingling himselfe oft times to corrupt the ayre, all is by Gods permission and providence. We should looke to the first wheele that leades the rest, and sets them going, wee should see God in all, and therefore speake reverently of him. And in regard of our bretheren, to speake charitably of them, and thinke, it is the goodnesse of God that hee hath not stricken us as hee hath them. And when we speake of our selves, when the judgements of God are on us, let us humble our selves, and justifie God; wee may complaine: but it must be of our selves and of our sinnes, that have brought judgements upon us, of our want of making use of the judgement of God upon others, or upon our selves: lesser judgements would not serve turne, therefore God is faine to follow us with greater; let us ⟨p. 88⟩alway justifie God, and complaine of our selves, and then in regard of our selves, we speake aright of the judgements of God. Let us never speake of the judgements of God, but with affections fit for judgements, with awefull affections. Shall the Lyon roare, and shall not the beasts of the forrest tremble? Shall wee heare God roare in his judgements, and heare the trumpet blowne, and not be affected? wee see here how God complaines, that when he harkened and heard they spake not aright. Let us therefore make conscience of all our words. Wee shall if not now, yet at the day of judgement, give account for every idle word, for every cruell word, as it is in the prophesie of Enoch, cited in the Epistle of Iude: But especially let us take heed of our words when wee speake of Gods judgements; for it is the not speaking aright of them that is here especially meant: I hearkened and heard but they spake not aright. So much for the evidence, come wee now to the next clause, Gods complaint upon this evidence.
- 1Use.Vse.
- 2To talk aright of Gods judgements.To talke aright of Gods judgements.
