That,1 God looks upon dainty, tender, delicate people that mind nothing but their ease and delicacy with INDIGNATION. What! Ephraim must be so tender and delicate that nothing must come upon her neck! I'll make the yoke to come upon it (saith God.) When people through their delicacy they must live in the world and altogether be tended, and all things must be serviceable to them, and they of no use at all, God cannot bear it. And as for the eminency of any of you, either in estates, or honours in the world above others, it ought not to be the cause of envy, for it is God that puts the difference between one and the other; we do not envy that some should go finer than others, but this is that which neither God nor man can endure, That men and women should have so much in the world, and yet be so little useful to the world,2 should be through their delicacy as if they were born for nothing else but like Babies to play withal. Saith God, I'll make the yoke to pass over them. But now, there are other manner of works, than servile works, though you do not put your hands to servile labour; But then you through your delicacy, if you meet with any hard work, will do nothing for God, the Lord looks upon such dispositions as sinful, and with Indignation, and God hath his time to bring them to hardness,3 as he hath done to many. How many delicate and fair necks that could not endure any difficulty hath God brought the yoke upon in these days, that were so nice and tender, and complaining of every little difficulty in any ⟨p. 436⟩work that God would have them to do? God hath made the yoke to pass over there heads, and to lie heavy upon their necks; God threatens this to the Daughters of Babylon, to the Antichristian party especially, 4in Isa. 47. 1, 2. Come down, and sit in the dust, O Virgin, Daughter of Babylon, sit on the ground: there is no Throne, O Daughter of the Chaldeans; for thou shalt no more be called, Tender, and Delicate. Take the Mill-stones and grind meal; uncover thy locks, make bare the leg, uncover the thigh, 5pass over the rivers. And then in the 3. vers. Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea thy shame shall be seen: I will take vengeance, and I will not meet thee as a man. That which you cannot endure so much as to hear of now,6 (your very ears are so delicate, as well as your necks) that I'll bring upon you.7 Oh my Brethren!
That,1 God looks upon dainty, tender, delicate people that mind nothing but their ease and delicacie with INDIGNATION. What! Ephraim must be so tender and delicate that nothing must come upon her neck! I'le make the yoke to come upon it (saith God.) When people through their delicacy they must live in the world and altogether be tended, and all things must be serviceable to them, and they of no use at all, God cannot bear it. And as for the eminency of any of you, either in estates, or honors in the world above others, it ought not to be the cause of envy, for it is God that puts the difference between one and the other; we do not envy that some should go finer than others, but this is that which neither God nor man can endure, That men and women should have so much in the world, and yet be so little useful to the world,2 should be through their delicacy as if they were born for nothing else but like Babies to play withal. Saith God, I'le make the yoke to pass over them. But now, there are other manner of works, than servile works, though you do not put your hands to servile labor; But then you through your delicacy, if you meet with any hard work, will do nothing for God, the Lord looks upon such dispositions as sinful, and with Indignation, and God hath his time to bring them to hardness,3 as he hath done to many. How many delicate and fair necks that could not endure any difficulty hath God brought the yoke upon in these daies, that were so nice and tender, and complaining of every little difficulty in any ⟨p. 436⟩work that God would have them to do? God hath made the yoke to pass over ther heads, and to lie heavie upon their necks; God threatens this to the Daughters of Babylon, to the Antichristian party especially, 4in Isa. 47. 1, 2. Come down, and sit in the dust, O Virgin, Daughter of Babylon, sit on the ground: there is no Throne, O Daughter of the Caldeans; for thou shalt no more be call'd, Tender, and Delicate. Take the Mill-stones and grind meal; uncover thy locks, make bare the leg, uncover the thigh, 5pass over the rivers. And then in the 3. vers. Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea thy shame shall be seen: I will take vengeance, and I will not meet thee as a man. That which you cannot endure so much as to hear of now,
- 1Obs.
- 2A caution.
- 3Examples in our time of the truth of the text.
- 4Isa. 47. 1. 2▪
- 5Vers. 3.
- 6Tender ears.
- 7Christs yoke easier than the yoke of the Enemy▪
