Four godly and fruitful sermons two preached at Drayton in Oxford-shire, at a fast,…Foure godlie and fruitful sermons two preached at Draiton in Oxford-shire, at a fast,…

but when they saw Gods end in trying them that way, when Isaac was spared, and Joseph advanced, and made an instrument of humbling his boisterous brethren, and of relieving his father and all his family, besides many others, then they must needs acknowledge that it was fittest for them to be crossed in their children, and that Cods ways are the best, whatsoever we may judge of them for a while.

but when they saw Gods end in trying them that way, when Isaac was spared, and Ioseph aduanced, and made an instrument of humbling his boisterous brethren, and of releeuing his father and all his familie, besides many others, then they must needs acknowledge that it was fittest for them to be crossed in their children, and that Cods waies are the best, whatsoeuer we may iudge of them for a while.

Secondly,¹ here is matter of terror unto all ungodly men that will not be persuaded to judge themselves: look what judgement will most vex, and sting, and torment, and even kill their souls, that let them make account of. If Haman might have been the chooser, of all other miseries he would not have chosen that which befell him: to wit, that Mordecai his enemy should be advanced and honoured and that by himself, who did bear him such deadly hatred for that he could not obtain honour and reverence from him: what an horrible torment must this needs be unto his heart, that Mordecai now should ride, and he go by him on foot? that now he must bow the knee to Mordecai, that would so fain have had Mordecai to do it to him? that the gallows that was by him prepared for Mordecai, must now serve for himself: &c. This must needs be an exceeding ⟨p. 33⟩torture unto him: and this shall befall all impenitent sinners: What they are most loth to undergo, that shall light upon them, and that at unawares when they least think of it, and shall continue with them, and never leave them till it have either turned them unto God, or brought them unto hell, the place of all such reprobate sinners. And that we may apply this to the present occasion, are there not many that are horribly afraid of the pestilence? yea far more then they are of sin which bringeth it: in so much that they absent themselves from Sermons, and from public prayers, lest they should be infected. Are there not very many (I say) that are possessed with such fears? Let them look to it: for of all other strokes the pestilence is likely to fall upon them: if it were a sword in the hand of the Pope, or of Satan, then it stood them upon to beware of Gods ordinances: but seeing none but Atheists will deny but it is ordered by Gods overruling hand, they take a bad course to escape his stroke: for where can they hide themselves, but he will find them out? And whither can they flee from his all-seeing presence?