Then remember this (my dear brethren) and forget not, how plentiful Gods word hath been among you, and praise his name for it, with prayer to continue it; and know how greatly it hath been contemned. Whoredom is haunted, (and be not some of those curs here, that do use to this carrion?) the Sabbath is polluted) the name of God is blasphemed, usury and envy, with such like abomination, is used: and yet will you say Gods word is regarded? Be not blind, but see how God hath warned our Town by fire fearful to behold, with the plague of pestilence beating at our doors, and the sharp sword of famine and hunger, with many other diseases, one presently after an other. What have these wrought in our hearts? where is any reformation of manners? Pride increaseth, &c. Christ told the Jews, when an unclean spirit is gone out of a man he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and finding none. Then he saith: […] will return into mine house from whence I came: and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept and garnished. The• ⟨p. 135⟩he goeth and taketh unto him seven other spirits worse then himself, & they enter in and dwell there: and the end of that man is worse than the beginning. Even so shall it be with this wicked generation. Pharaoh his heart was hardened to his own destruction. Is yours think you, to salvation? You should not forget that Esau, 1when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place to repentance, though he sought the same with tears. But what may we look for, among whom, I fear, for our sins, tears are as plentiful, as snow in summer? There are none. Corazin, Bethsaida, Sodom, 2& Gomor, with Tyre, Sidon, & Capernaum, &c. are in the lake of torments that burneth with fire and brimstone, for contemning the word of God. Dives would have had Abraham (when he could get no help for himself) to send Lazarus to warn his brethren, Least (saith he) they come into this place of torments. But Abraham answered again, saying:3 They have Moses and the Prophets, (with whom, we have Christ & his Apostles also) let them hear them. As if he should say, if they will not hear them, for such is that place ⟨p. 136⟩of torments and woe prepared. Peradventure thou dost think to have repentance at thy call, as the Centurion had his servants. Thou seest by Esau, thou mayest be deceived.
Then remember this (my deare brethren) and forget not, how plentifull Gods word hath bene among you, and praise his name for it, with prayer to cō tinue it; and know how greatly it hath bene contemned. Whoredome is haunted, (and be not some of those curres heere, that do vse to this carrion?) the Saboath is polluted) the name of God is blasphemed, vsurie and enuy, with such like abhomination, is vsed: and yet will you say Gods word is regarded? Bee not blinde, but see how God hath warned our Towne by fire fearefull to behold, with the plague of pestilence beating at our doores, and the sharpe sword of samine and hunger, with many other diseases, one presently after an other. What haue these wrought in our hearts? where is any reformation of manners? Pride encreaseth, &c. Christ told the Iewes, when an vncleane spirit is gone out of a man he walketh through drie places, seeking rest, and finding none. Then he saith: 〈…〉 wil return into mine house frō whence I came: and when he is come, he findeth it emptie, swept and garnished. The• ⟨p. 135⟩hee goeth and taketh vnto him seuen other spirits worse then himself, & they enter in and dwell there: and the end of that man is worse thē the beginning. Euen so shall it be with this wicked generation. Pharao his heart was hardned to his owne destruction. Is yours think you, to saluation? You should not forget that Esau, 1when hee would haue inherited the blessing, hee was reiected: for hee found no place to repentance, though he sought the same with teares. But what may wee looke for, among whom, I feare, for our sinnes, teares are as plentifull, as snow in sommer? There are none. Corazin, Bethsaida, Sodome, 2& Gomor, with Tyre, Sydon, & Capernaum, &c. are in the lake of torments that burneth with fire and brimstone, for contemning the word of God. Diues would haue had Abrahā (when he could get no helpe for himselfe) to send Lazarus to warne his brethren, Least (saith he) they come into this place of tormēts. But Abraham answered againe, saying:3 They haue Moses and the Prophets, (with whom, we haue Christ & his Apostles also) let thē heare them. As if he should say, if they will not heare thē, for such is that place ⟨p. 136⟩of torments and woe prepared. Peraduenture thou dost thinke to haue repentance at thy call, as the Centurion had his seruants. Thou seest by Esau, thou mayest be deceiued.
- 1Heb. 12.17.
- 2Math. 11.20.
- 3Luk. 16.23.
