Let us not flatter our selves, although we can say that some things here amongst us are not so bad as heretofore they have been. Suppose there be some partial reformation, this is not ground enough to secure us. We cannot reason thus, Why heretofore the Land was more sinful then now; and the Governors were more oppressing then now, there hath been (thanks be to God) much reformation. This is not enough, we may be nearer the forest misery at this time (if our reformation be not a through reformation) then we were before. And the reason is this because God when he comes against a Nation, he doth not only come against it for the present sins that they are actually guilty of at that time, but to reckon with them for their sins committed ⟨p. 66⟩fore, though the judgement falls out to be inflicted just at that time. It may be a concourse of many passages of Gods providence might so fall out as might su•e with Gods ends, that the destruction of this nation should be at this time rather then before, yet the nation not more sinful then before, but to fulfil other passages of providence that God intends; and then he comes to reckon with them for sins that were along time ago committed, & for their present sins altogether. As he doth sometimes with particular persons: perhaps they have been drunkards, unclean, wicked, 20. years agone, God hath spared them, afterward upon some lesser sins, God may take advantage to come against them for all their other sins together. We use to say, It is not the last blow of the axe that fells the oak,1 perhaps the last may be a weaker blow then any of the former, but the oak was a felling down all the while before, the other blows made way for the felling of it, and at length a little blow comes and doth it. So our former sins may be the things that make way for our ruin, and then at length some lesser sins may do it.
Let us not flatter our selves, although we can say that some things here amongst us are not so bad as heretofore they have beene. Suppose there be some partial reformation, this is not ground enough to secure us. We cannot reason thus, Why heretofore the Land was more sinful then now; and the Governours were more oppressing then now, there hath been (thanks be to God) much reformation. This is not enough, we may be neerer the forest misery at this time (if our reformation be not a through reformation) then we were before. And the reason is this because God when he comes against a Nation, he doth not onely come against it for the present sins that they are actually guilty of at that time, but to reckon with them for their sins comited ⟨p. 66⟩fore, though the judgement falls out to be inflicted just at that time. It may be a concourse of many passages of Gods providence might so fall out as might su•e with Gods ends, that the destruction of this nation should be at this time rather then before, yet the nation not more sinful then before, but to fulfill other passages of providence that God intends; and then he comes to reckon with them for sins that were along time ago committed, & for their present sinnes altogether. As hee doth sometimes with particular persons: perhaps they have been drunkards, unclean, wicked, 20. yeers agone, God hath spared them, afterward upon some lesser sins, God may take advantage to come against them for all their other sins together. We use to say, It is not the last blow of the axe that fells the oak,1 perhaps the last may be a weaker blow then any of the former, but the oake was a felling down all the while before, the other blowes made way for the felling of it, and at length a little blow comes and doth it. So our former sinnes may be the things that make way for our ruine, and then at length some lesser sinnes may do it.
- 1Ultimus ictus non dejicit queteum.Vltimus ictus non dejicit queteum.
