Gods free mercy to England presented as a precious and powerful motive to humiliationGods free mercy to England presented as a pretious and powerfull motive to humiliation

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,