And then the Fourth is this,1 The times of Gods Wrath and Judgments forces acknowledgement from men that they did not fear God. When God comes against them in ways of wrath, now they can acknowledge that they feared not God; should the Prophet have come to them before and told them, Oh! you are a wretched vile people, there is no fear of God among you. Why, wherein do not we fear God? as in ⟨p. 335⟩Malac. 1. 2they would not be convinced, but, Now shall they say, &c. Now when the wrath of God is upon men, now they shall say, we see now apparently we feared not the Lord.3 As it's said of Cardinal Woolsey when he was in distress, Oh saith he, Had I but served God as well as I served the King, it would have been otherwise with me than it is; but I sought to please the King rather than God, and now I am left in this distressed estate. He would have scorned that any should have told him before that he pleased the King more than God;4 but afflictions they will draw forth acknowledgement: for in afflictions God appears dreadful to the soul, it is no dallying, and trifling, and putting off then, we see we have to deal with an infinite, Glorious, and dreadful God, and in times of affliction now conscience will brave over men, it will not be quieted and stilled so as in the times of prosperity, but it will speak, as we read of Zebul in Judges, 9. 38. 5saith Zebul, Where now is thy mouth wherewith thou saidest, Who is Abimelech? So saith conscience in times of affliction to wretched creatures,6 Where now is that bold and presumptuous heart of thine? Thou scornest at fearing and trembling before God, and slightest his Word, but where now is that proud wretched heart of thine? And in times of afflictions now are mens hearts abased and humbled, and therefore now they are ready to say, It is, because they feared not the Lord.
And then the Fourth is this,1 The times of Gods Wrath and Judgments forces acknowledgment from men that they did not fear God. When God comes against them in waies of wrath, now they can acknowledg that they feared not God; should the Prophet have come to them before and told them, Oh! you are a wretched vile people, there is no fear of God among you. Why, wherein do not we fear God? as in ⟨p. 335⟩Malac. 1. 2they would not be convinced, but, Now shall they say, &c. Now when the wrath of God is upon men, now they shall say, we see now apparently we feared not the Lord.3 As it's said of Cardinal Wolsie when he was in distress, Oh saith he, Had I but served God as well as I served the King, it would have been otherwise with me than it is; but I sought to please the King rather than God, and now I am left in this distressed estate. He would have scorned that any should have told him before that he pleased the King more than God;4 but afflictions they will draw forth acknowledgment: for in afflictions God appears dreadful to the soul, it is no dallying, and trifling, and putting off then, we see we have to deal with an infinite, Glorious, and dreadful God, and in times of affliction now conscience will brave over men, it will not be quieted and still'd so as in the times of prosperity, but it will speak, as we reade of Zebul in Judges, 9. 38. 5saith Zebul, Where now is thy mouth wherewith thou saidest, Who is Abimelech? So saith conscience in times of affliction to wretched creatures,6 Where now is that bold and presumptuous heart of thine? Thou scornest at fearing and trembling before God, and slightest his Word, but where now is that proud wretched heart of thine? And in times of afflictions now are mens hearts abased and humbled, and therefore now they are ready to say, It is, because they feared not the Lord.
- 1Obs. 4
- 2Malach. 1.
- 3Cardinal Woolsey.Cardinal Wolsye.
- 4In affliction God appears dreadful.In affliction God appears dredful.
- 5Judg 9. 38.Iudg 9. 38.
- 6Zebul's exprobatiōZebul's exprobatiō
