An exposition with practical observations continued upon the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh chapters…

Creatures cannot stand before the curse of God. How strongly soever they are rooted, the blast of the breath of Gods displeasure, will either blow them down, or wither them standing. The curse comes powerfully, suddenly and secretly, it is often an invisible stroke. When we see neither axe nor spade at the root, nor storm at rhe top, yet down it comes, or stands without leaf or fruit. When Christ in the Gospel curst the fruitless fig-tree, his Disciples passing by that way, wondered saying, how quickly is ⟨p. 197⟩this fig-tree withered? it was but only a word from Christ, Never bear fruit more, and the fig-tree which had no fruit, lost its life. Some are such tall Cedars, such mighty Oaks, that men conclude there is no stirring of them, no Axe can fell them, or blast loosen them; yet a word from the Lord will turn them up side down: or if he do but say to them, never fruit grow upon your actions or out of your counsels, presently they wither. The curse causeless shall not come, but when there is a cause, and God speaks the word, the curse will come; Neither power nor policies, neither threatenings or entreaties can hinder or block it up. It is said of the water of jealousy in the book of Numbers, that when the woman drank that water, if there were cause of her husbands suspicion, presently her belly swelled, and her thighs did rot, the effect was inevitable. So, if God bid judgement take hold of a man, family or Nation, it will obey. A word made the world, and a word is able to destroy it. There is no armour of proof against the shot or stroke of a curse.

Creatures cannot stand before the curse of God. How strongly soever they are rooted, the blast of the breath of Gods displeasure, will either blow them downe, or wither them standing. The curse comes powerfully, suddenly and secretly, it is often an invisible stroake. When we see neither axe nor spade at the roote, nor strome at rhe top, yet downe it comes, or stands without leafe or fruit. When Christ in the Gospell curst the fruitlesse figg-tree, his Disciples passing by that way, wondred saying, how quickly is ⟨p. 197⟩this figg-tree whithered? it was but onely a word from Christ, Never beare fruit more, and the fig-tree which had no fruit, lost its life. Some are such tall Cedars, such mighty Oakes, that men conclude there is no stirring of them, no Axe can fell them, or blast loosen them; yet a word from the Lord will turne them up side downe: or if he doe but say to them, never fruit grow upon your actions or out of your counsels, presently they wither. The curse causlesse shall not come, but when there is a cause, and God speaks the word, the curse will come; Neither power nor policies, neither threatnings or entreaties can hinder or block it up. It is said of the water of jealousie in the booke of Numbers, that when the woman dranke that water, if there were cause of her husbands suspition, presently her belly swel'd, and her thighes did rot, the effect was inevitable. So, if God bid judgement take hold of a man, family or Nation, it will obey. A word made the world, and a word is able to destroy it. There is no armour of proofe against the shot or stroake of a curse.