Who would have thought that Solomon when he prayed in the temple, and was termed by God the wisest man in the world, would have taken mo concubines unto him than any heathen in the world? How are the mighty overthrown, saith David? 2. Sam. 1. Like Peter which said he would never forsake Christ: and forsook him first. The strange men are fallen. Even Solomon himself, and David, and Noah, and Lot, and Sampson, & Peter, the light of the world, fell like the stars of heaven: these tall soldiers, strong oaks, fair pillars lie in the dust, whose tops glittered in the air, that they which think they stand, may take heed least they fall. Can I look upon these ruins without ⟨p. 12⟩compassion, or remember them without fear, unless I be a reprobate, & my heart of flint? Who am I that I should stand like a shrub, when these Cedars are blown down to the ground, and showed themselves but men, the best man is but a man, the worst are worse then beasts, no man is untainted but Christ, they which had greater gifts then we, they which had deeper roots then we, they which had stronger hearts then we, they which had more props then we, are fallen like a bird which is weary of her flight, & turned back like the wind in the twinkling of an eye. 2. Kin. 8.13. Who would have mocked him, that should have said sometime as Elisha said to Hazael, what wickedness he should do in time to come, that he should slay and trample men, women and children, Hazael blushed to hear thus of him, and said, Am I a dog that I should do this, as if he would never do it while he were a man, but count him a dog when he comes to that: so they which are changed ⟨p. 13⟩like Hazael blush to hear thus of him, and would have scorned sometime at him which should once have said when they were zealous and studious preachers, & persecuted for their preaching, that the time would come when they should be loiterers, time-servers, lovers of the world, & greedy wolves, devourers of their flocks, and persecutors, they would have said, Am I a dog? Am I a beast? Am I a reprobate, that I should do this? they would never believe this till it came to pass, and being fallen, they say they sinned like Hazael, which blushed before he sinned and was impudent after.
Who would haue thought that Salomon vvhen he praied in the temple, and was tearmed by God the wisest man in the world, would haue taken mo concubines vnto him than any heathen in the world? How are the mightie ouerthrowen, saith Dauid? 2. Sam. 1. Like Peter which said he would neuer forsake Christ: and forsoke him first. The straunge men are fallen. Euen Salomon himselfe, and Dauid, and Noah, and Lot, and Sampson, & Peter, the light of the world, fell like the starres of heauen: these tall souldiers, strong oakes, fayre pillers lie in the dust, whose tops glittered in the aire, that they which think they stand, may take heed least they fall. Can I loke vpon these ruines without ⟨p. 12⟩compassion, or remember them without feare, vnles I be a reprobate, & my heart of flint? Who am I that I should stand like a shrubbe, when these Caedars are blowen downe to the grounde, and shewed themselues but men, the best man is but a man, the worst are worse then beasts, no man is vntainted but Christ, they which had greater gifts then we, they which had deeper roots then we, they vvhich had stronger hearts then wee, they which had more props then vve, are fallen like a bird vvhich is vvearie of her flight, & turned back like the wind in the twinkling of an eie. 2. Kin. 8.13. Who would haue mocked him, that shoulde haue said sometime as Elisha said to Hazael, vvhat vvickednes he should do in time to come, that he should slay and trample men, vvomen and children, Hazael blusht to heare thus of him, and saide, Am I a dog that I should doe this, as if he would neuer doo it vvhile he vvere a man, but count him a dog vvhen hee comes to that: so they which are changed ⟨p. 13⟩like Hazael blush to heare thus of him, and would haue scorned somtime at him which should once haue saide when they were zealous and studious preachers, & persecuted for their preaching, that the time would come when they should be loiterers, time-seruers, louers of the world, & greedie wolues, deuourers of their flockes, and persecutors, they would haue saide, Am I a dog? Am I a beast? Am I a reprobate, that I should doo this? they would neuer beleeue this til it came to passe, and being fallen, they saie they sinned lyke Hazael, which blusht before he sinned and was impudent after.
