Answ. 1Because they issue from his Anger and displeasure: for it is not the judgements, but the Anger in them, which lies heavy upon the soul; when they come from Gods Anger, they are intolerable to the conscience, else when we suffer ill, knowing that it is not from Gods Anger, but for trial of our graces, or for exercise we bear it patiently. Therefore God saith, mine Anger is turned away from him, for this unremoved embittereth every cross though it be never so small. Let Gods Anger be upon a man, and he will make a conceit, a very light thing, to be as a heavy cross unto him, and vex him both in body and state, more then mightier crosses at some other time shall. Will you see this in one instance, where God threateneth his own dear people thus: And the Lord will smite thee with the botch of Egypt, 2and with the Emerods, and with the scab, and with the itch whereof thou canst not be healed. What is a scab, and an itch and the like such a terrible judgement, which in these days is set so light by? O yes, when it comes with Gods displeasure, when the least scratch is set on fire by Gods anger it shall consume us, it proves incurable, as there it is threatened: whereof thou canst not be healed. When the vermin came in Gods Anger upon that hard hearted King; all Pharaohs skill, and his Magicians skill, could not beat them out,3 because (as they confessed) this was the finger of God. Let any thing come as a messenger ⟨p. 187⟩of Gods Anger, it comes with vengeance and sticks to the soul, like a fretting leprosy, 4which when it entered into a house, many times could not be gotten out again with pulling out stones, or scraping them, till the house were demolished. So when Gods Anger is raised and kindled against a person, you may remove this and that, change place and company, and use of helps, yet it will never leave fretting till it have consumed him, unless it be removed by Repentance, if it be never so small a scratch or itch, all the Physic in the world shall not cure it. For as the Love of God makes all other things in God comfortable unto us, so it is his Anger which makes all his Attributes terrible: as for his Power, the more he loves me, the more he is able to do me good. But otherwise, the more he is Angry and displeased, the more his other Attributes are terrible. If he be Wise, the more he will find out my sins;
Answ. 1Because they issue from his Anger and displeasure: for it is not the judgements, but the Anger in them, which lies heavie upon the soule; when they come from Gods Anger, they are intollerable to the conscience, else when we suffer ill, knowing that it is not from Gods Anger, but for triall of our graces, or for exercise we beare it patiently. Therefore God saith, mine Anger is turned away from him, for this unremooved imbittereth every crosse though it be never so small. Let Gods Anger be upon a man, and he will make a conceit, a very light thing, to be as a heavie crosse unto him, and vexe him both in body and state, more then mightier crosses at some other time shall. Will you see this in one instance, where God threatneth his owne deare people thus: And the Lord will smite thee with the botch of Aegypt, 2and with the Emrods, and with the scah, and with the itch whereof thou canst not be healed. What is a scab, and an itch and the like such a terrible judgement, which in these daies is set so light by? O yes, when it comes with Gods displeasure, when the least scratch is set on fire by Gods anger it shall consume us, it prooves incurable, as there it is threatned: whereof thou canst not bee healed. When the vermine came in Gods Anger upon that hard hearted King; all Pharoahs skill, and his Magitians skill, could not beate them out,3 because (as they confessed) this was the finger of God. Let any thing come as a messenger ⟨p. 187⟩of Gods Anger, it comes with vengeance and sticks to the soule, like a fretting leprosie, 4which when it entred into a house, many times could not be gotten out againe with pulling out stones, or scraping them, till the house were demolished. So when Gods Anger is raised and kindled against a person, you may remoove this and that, change place and company, and use of helpes, yet it will never leave fretting till it have consumed him, unlesse it be removed by Repentance, if it be never so small a scratch or itch, al the Physick in the world shal not cure it. For as the Love of God makes all other things in God comfortable unto us, so it is his Anger which makes al his Attributes terrible: as for his Power, the more he loves me, the more he is able to doe me good. But otherwise, the more he is Angry and displeased, the more his other Attributes are terrible. If he be Wise, the more hee will find out my sinnes;
- 1That the least cross, if set on by Anger proves as the most terrible.That the least crosse, if set on by Anger prooves as the most terrible.
- 2Deut. 28.27.
- 3Exod. 8.9.
- 4Levit 14.45, 46.
