It is an argument sufficient that there is a possibility, though not a 1certainty. This was enough to work upon the Ninevites: Let us cry mightily to God, and every man turn from his evil way. Who 2can tell if God will turn, and repent, &c.? Who knows but that God may rear us up a glorious Church? E•ra blesses God, that 3be had given them a little reviving in their bondage. We must do as the servants of Benhadad: Behold (say they) We have heard 4that the Kings of Israel are merciful Kings, let us put sack-cloth upon our loins, and ropes upon our heads, per adventure he will save thy life, &c. And when they came to the King, they did diligently observe whether any thing would come from him, and did hastily catch at it, &c. So must we diligently observe and catch at the very first appearance of mercy, and lay hold upon the very first opportunity; I read, Zach. 4. 10. Who hath despised the day of small things? The Prophet speaks of the rebuilding of Jerusalem, which at the first was so small, that Sanballat, Tobiah, and the rest of the enemies of Gods Church laughed them to scorn and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they make an end in a 5day? will they revive the stones, out of the heaps of the rubbish which are bu•nt? even that which they build, if a Fex come up, he shall even break down their stone wall, &c. Yet notwithstanding they did go on, and build, and finish the work, and all the mountains of opposition, became a plain before them; And therefore let us not despise ⟨p. 39⟩the day of small things. It is with the friends of the Church as with the enemies of the Church, when the Churches enemies begin to fall before Gods people, they shall certainly fall. As Hamans wise men told him, if Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, 6before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him. (Mark those words; if he be of the seed of the Jews, that is, of the people of God.) And when they fall, they fall by degrees, as it is, Exod. 14. First, God troubled the Egyptians, then he took off their wheels from their Chariots, then he drowned them in the Red Sea. So it is with the friends of the Church. If they begin to rise before the enemies of the Church, they shall certainly rise, and be advanced higher and higher.
It is an argument sufficient that there is a possibility, though not a 1certainty. This was enough to worke upon the Ninivites: Let us cry mightily to God, and every man turne from his evill way. Who 2can tell if God will turne, and repent, &c.? Who knowes but that God may reare us up a glorious Church? E•ra blesses God, that 3be had given them a little reviving in their bondage. We must doe as the servants of Benhadad: Bebold (say they) We have heard 4that the Kings of Israel are mercifull Kings, let us put sack-cloth upon our loynes, and ropes upon our heads, per adventure he will save thy life, &c. And when they came to the King, they did diligently observe whether any thing would come from him, and did hastily catch at it, &c. So must we diligently observe and catch at the very first appearance of mercy, and lay hold upon the very first opportunity; I read, Zach. 4. 10. Who hath despised the day of small things? The Prophet speakes of the rebuilding of Jerusalem, which at the first was so small, that Sanballat, Tobiah, and the rest of the enemies of Gods Church laughed them to scorne and said, What doe these feeble Jewes? will they fortifie themselves? will they make an end in a 5day? will they revive the stones, out of the heapes of the rubbish which are bu•nt? even that which they build, if a Fex come up, he shall even breake downe their stone wall, &c. Yet notwithstanding they did go on, and build, and finish the worke, and all the mountaines of opposition, became a plaine before them; And therefore let us not despise ⟨p. 39⟩the day of smal things. It is with the friends of the Church as with the enemies of the Church, when the Churches enemies begin to fall before Gods people, they shall certainely fall. As Hamans wise men told him, if Mordecai be of the seed of the Jewes, 6before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevaile against him, but shalt surely fall before him. (Marke those words; if he be of the seed of the Jewes, that is, of the people of God.) And when they fall, they fall by degrees, as it is,
- 1Answ.
- 2Jonah 3. 7 8, 9.Ionah 3. 7 8, 9.
- 3Ezra 9. •0
- 4[…] Kings 20 31, 32, 33.〈…〉 Kings 20 31, 32, 33.
- 5Neh. 4. 2, 3
- 6Ester. 6. 13
