For the Lord spake thus to me with a Strong hand, & instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, God did not only tell the prophet his duty, but he spake with a strong hand, so when God comes sometimes he tells you what you ought to do, but he doth not always come with a strong hand as sometimes he doth: Job, 36.10 He openeth also their Ears to discipline and commandeth that they return from iniquity: does not God command men at all times to return from their iniquities doth not god command men in prosperity to return from their Iniquities, yes, but in the time of affliction ordinarily the truth comes with more commanding power, then he sealeth instruction as in Job. 33.16. when people came to hear the word they heard instructions to do such and such duties, but those instructions did not come with command, they were not sealed, but in affliction God seals them, if a man see a writing and see the hands of others to it, it is something to persuade him to see others are of that opinion, but when he sees the broad Seal to it then it comes with authority, and so when men come and hear the word of God, they think it is but our opinion, and cast it off, but in affliction those truths come with authority, and have the seal of Heaven upon them, and then they prevail, you have other manner of thoughts of them then before; that which Saint Paul spoke it was in power to the hearts of the people; and they could not resist the spirit wherewith Stephen spake because he was full of faith and power. So sometimes God speaks with so much power as they cannot ⟨p. 105⟩stand out: we may see the different spirits of men by the different representation of a truth in our selves or in others, sometime when God pleaseth to convince us, and work upon us, we admire it our selves, did we not hear these things before, what was it that kept me from being convinced, I never was stirred before, and now methinks there is such mighty power in them as I cannot stand against them, what was the matter? and so in others: let there be two men, that shall go upon the same principles, and their ends shall be the same, and both their hearts shall be upright, and yet they cannot yield to the same thing, because the same thing is presented to the one, one way, and he sees it clearly, and the same thing is presented to another, another way, and he cannot see it;
For the Lord spake thus to me with a Strong hand, & instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, God did not only tell the prophet his duty, but he spake with a strong hand, so when God comes sometimes he tels you what you ought to do, but he doth not alwaies come with a strong hand as sometimes he doth: Job, 36.10 He openeth also their Eares to discipline and commandeth that they returne from iniquity: does not God command men at al times to returne from their iniquities doth not god command men in prosperity to return from their Iniquities, yes, but in the time of affliction ordinarily the truth comes with more commanding power, then he sealeth instruction as in Job. 33.16. when people came to hear the word they heard instructions to do such and such duties, but those instructions did not come with command, they were not sealed, but in affliction God seals them, if a man see a writing and see the hands of others to it, it is somthing to perswade him to see others are of that opinion, but when he sees the broad Seal to it then it comes with authority, and so when men come and hear the word of God, they think it is but our opinion, and cast it off, but in affliction those truths come with authority, and have the seal of Heaven upon them, and then they prevail, you have other manner of thoughts of them then before; that which Saint Paul spoke it was in power to the hearts of the people; and they could not resist the spirit wherewith Stephen spake because he was ful of faith and power. So sometimes God speaks with so much power as they cannot ⟨p. 105⟩stand out: we may see the different spirits of men by the different representation of a truth in our selves or in others, somtime when God pleaseth to convince us, and work upon us, we admire it our selves, did we not hear these things before, what was it that kept me from being convinced, I never was stirred before, and now methinks there is such mighty power in them as I cannot stand against them, what was the matter? and so in others: let there be two men, that shal go upon the same principles, and their ends shal be the same, and both their hearts shal be upright, and yet they cannot yeild to the same thing, because the same thing is presented to the one, one way, and he sees it cleerly, and the same thing is presented to another, another way, and he cannot see it;
