Judah seeing Gods Judgments upon Israel, doth not make that use of the Judgments of God upon their brethren, so as to consider their own sins, and fall down before ⟨p. 132⟩the Lord and be humbled in his sight, but when they saw that Gods hand was against the ten Tribes, all their care was to fortify themselves; let us build strong Cities that we may be delivered from the miseries that are come upon our brethren; This is that which carnal hearts do, when God expects that they should be put upon humiliation and repentance, and look to it and consider whether they have not the same sins among them that were among their brethren, they regarded nothing but carnal means; It's lawful to build strong Cities, to fence our selves against enemies,1 yea but we had need lay the foundation of them in humiliation and reformation, and when they are built they may not be rested in, for saith God, I will send a fire and devour them; we must not bless our selves in any strong places as if that could deliver us from the wrath of God. I have read of a City that fearing their enemies, they sent to a neighbour Prince to come and help them, and charged their Ambassadors to tell him their strength they had.2 I but saith the Prince, have you got a cover to defend you from Heaven, and if not, I will not meddle with you, for you must have something to award Gods wrath from you, because you are so wicked a People, and except you have something to deliver you from that I will not assist you. So though we have strong walls, yet we must look for a cover from Heaven, which is our peace with God through Jesus Christ.
Judah seeing Gods Judgments upon Israel, doth not make that use of the Judgments of God upon their brethren, so as to consider their own sins, and fall down before ⟨p. 132⟩the Lord and be humbled in his sight, but when they saw that Gods hand was against the ten Tribes, all their care was to fortifie themselves; let us build strong Cities that we may be delivered from the miseries that are come upon our brethren; This is that which carnal hearts do, when God expects that they should be put upon humiliation and repentance, and look to it and consider whether they have not the same sins among them that were among their brethren, they regarded nothing but carnal means; It's lawful to build strong Cities, to fence our selves against enemies,1 yea but we had need lay the foundation of them in humiliation and reformation, and when they are built they may not be rested in, for saith God, I will send a fire and devour them; we must not bless our selves in any strong places as if that could deliver us from the wrath of God. I have read of a City that fearing their enemies, they sent to a neighbor Prince to come and help them, and charged their Embassadors to tell him their strength they had.2 I but saith the Prince, have you got a cover to defend you from Heaven, and if not, I will not meddle with you, for you must have something to award Gods wrath from you, because you are so wicked a People, and except you have something to deliver you from that I will not assist you. So though we have strong walls, yet we must look for a cover from Heaven, which is our peace with God through Jesus Christ.
- 1Strong places to be dedicated by prayet and reformation.
- 2A notable story.
