God's anger

It is reported of Alexander, that when he thought (and did but think so) he had conquered all this world, he fell a weeping, that there were no more worlds to conquer. But there was remaining another world, a better then ever Alexander discovered. But this was not for an Alexander by force of Arms, but for a Mary Magdalen by force of tears, to overcome.

It is reported of Alexander, that when he thought (and did but think so) he had conquered all this world, he fell a weeping, that there were no more worlds to conquer. But there was remaining another world, a better then ever Alexander discovered. But this was not for an Alexander by force of Armes, but for a Mary Magdalen by force of tears, to overcome.

It is true, that the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence: but the way of Conquest is not through ⟨p. 84⟩the blood of bodies, but through a flood of tears, gushing out for our sins. This is such a stratagem of war, such a policy of Conquest, as the great Monarchs of the world never understood: Yet even this through faith overcomes the world.

It is true, that the Kingdome of Heaven suffers violence: but the way of Conquest is not through ⟨p. 84⟩the blood of bodies, but through a floud of tears, gushing out for our sins. This is such a stratagem of war, such a policy of Conquest, as the great Monarchs of the world never understood: Yet even this through faith overcomes the world.

Faith hath a plot, which she hath taught her daughter Repentance, Concedendo superare, to overcome by yielding. It is a stratagem among Wrestlers, that if a man can get himself under his antagonist, he lifts him up, the sooner to cast him down; yea, to give him the greater fall. Repentance stoops as low as she can: she lies, like Joshua, upon the bare earth, yea wallows in dust and ashes. She holds her self not worthy to be Gods foot-stool: let him trample upon her, and tread her under his feet, she still holds him by the feet, washeth them with her tears, and wipeth them with the hairs of her head, and kisseth them, though she be spurned by them. Doth this humble prostration provoke fury? No, it rather invites mercy. Parcere prostratis scit nobilis ira Leonis: The Lyon of the Tribe of Judah, will spare such Lambs of humiliation; and in the pastures of consolation; he will both feed and preserve them. That thunder which dissolves the stubborn metal, yet spares the yielding purse: When power and policy have spent their spirits, submission is found the only way of Conquest. The fearful thunder of vengeance is resisted by the soft wool of repentance.