Carnal hearts in straits will rather make any thing to be their refuge than God. 1And my brethren, just these for all the world have been (I fear) and it may be yet are the thoughts of many among us; Why, (think they) Ministers of God ⟨p. 182⟩they threaten Judgments,2 that God hath a controversy against us, and we see now some tokens of Gods wrath upon us; Well, let the worst come that can, we hope to shift some way or other, we may get into Holland, or Germany, or France, or New-England, if the worst come that can, I hope we may have time enough to get one way or other to make shift to live;3 and these back-doors that their eyes are upon, have made them less solicitous about, and less helpful in the great things that God calls all with a loud voice to join together with all their strength, that they may deliver their own Land from that heavy wrath that hangs over you. Well, notwithstanding mens thoughts are for shifting, it will prove that all will be vain. Saith God, You think to shift to this place and the other, you may be disappointed, for Egypt shall gather you, and Memphis shall bury you, my wrath and sore displeasure shall pursue you thither. It's a vain thing for men to seek to fly from the presence of God:4 But certainly in some cases a man may fly from danger: As in regard of mens Relations and Stations, they see that their work is done in one place, and God by providence opens them a door to another, though not out of distrust, but if when God calls for further work here and there is no door opened by providence, but what's broken open by themselves out of a distrust and slavish fear only to provide for the flesh, I say, such may expect wrath to pursue them wheresoever they go, their safest places may prove to be their graves, Egypt shall gather them, (that is taken from the gathering of dead bodies) Memphis shall bury them: 5Memphis was a principal city in Egypt that now is known by the name of Grand Cairo, 6your Merchants and Mariners they know that City that here the holy Ghost speaks of by that name; and then it was called Memphis upon the name as some think of one of the King of Egypts Daughters.7
Carnal hearts in straits will rather make any thing to be their refuge than God. 1And my brethren, just these for all the world have been (I fear) and it may be yet are the thoughts of many among us; Why, (think they) Ministers of God ⟨p. 182⟩they threaten Judgments,2 that God hath a controversie against us, and we see now some tokens of Gods wrath upon us; Well, let the worst come that can, we hope to shift some way or other, we may get into Holland, or Germany, or France, or New-England, if the worst come that can, I hope we may have time enough to get one way or other to make shift to live;3 and these back-doors that their eyes are upon, have made them less solicitous about, and less helpful in the great things that God calls all with a loud voice to joyn together with al their strength, that they may deliver their own Land from that heavie wrath that hangs over you. Well, notwithstanding mens thoughts are for shifting, it will prove that all will be vain. Saith God, You think to shift to this place and the other, you may be disappointed, for Egypt shall gather you, and Memphis shall bury you, my wrath and sore displeasure shall pursue you thither. It's a vain thing for men to seek to fly from the presence of God:4 But certainly in some cases a man may fly from danger: As in regard of mens Relations and Stations, they see that their work is done in one place, and God by providence opens them a door to another, though not out of distrust, but if when God calls for further work here and there is no door opened by providence, but what's broken open by themselves out of a distrust and slavish fear only to provide for the flesh, I say, such may expect wrath to pursue them wheresoever they go, their safest places may prove to be their graves, Egypt shall gather them, (that is taken from the gathering of dead bodies) Memphis shall bury them: 5Memphis was a principal city in Egypt that now is known by the name of Grand Caer, 6your Merchants and Marriners they know that City that here the holy Ghost speaks of by that name; and then it was call'd Memphis upon the name as some think of one of the King of Egypts Daughters.7
- 1Obs. 2.
- 2Applied to England.
- 3We should think of helping our own Nation, rather than of flying.
- 4When a man may fly.
- 5Memphis.
- 6Grand-Caer.
- 7The Pyramids there.The Pyramides there.
