When they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travel upon a woman with child, and they shall not escape (1 Thess. 5.3.) Wicked men are never so near destruction, as when they are most secure. And that (by the way) is the reason why we have least cause to fear those men, who fear God least: Security springs from infidelity, and both from slighting, if not contemning the Word of God; no marvel then if the Lord hasten his wrath to justify his truth, and slay them on a sudden, who would not believe, no not at leisure. But to the point. The Prophet describes it elegantly (Isa. 30.13.) This iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall; that is, this iniquity shall produce a judgement, which shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, Swelling out in an high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant. If once a high built wall do but swell, down it comes. Such a swelling wall fell upon, and slew twenty and seven thousand of Benhadad's scattered Army (1 King. 20.30.) And such a tower in Silo fell upon eighteen, and slew them (Luk. 13.4.) The Prophet Jeremiah at once imprecates and fore-tells a speedy scourge upon the gain-saying Jews, Let a cry be heard from their houses, when thou shalt bring a troop suddenly upon them, Jer. 18.22. This hath been the case of many among us, who thinking of no danger have been surprised by a troop, themselves made prisoners, and their houses spoiled in one hour. Such was the condition of our Brethren in Ireland; it is almost incredible how suddenly that scourge slew them: there was scarce a Protestant that had so much as a suspicion of the danger; nay, some would not believe it, when a great part of the country was on a flame, and the enemy had butchered thousands. That scourge (if ever any) slew suddenly the perfect and the wicked. As mercies may come so suddenly to our senses, that they overcome our faith, so may judgements. Some have been surprised with mercy (Psal. 126.4.) When the Lord turned our captivity as the streams in the South: that is, gave us sudden deliverance (rivers in the South, rise not from a constant spring, but from accidental rains, which make violent land-floods on a sudden.) At the approach of this sudden mercy, the Jews were like to them that dream.
When they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction commeth upon them, as travel upon a woman with childe, and they shall not escape (1 Thess. 5.3.) Wicked men are never so neer destruction, as when they are most secure. And that (by the way) is the reason why we have least cause to fear those men, who fear God least: Security springs from infidelity, and both from sleighting, if not contemning the Word of God; no marvell then if the Lord hasten his wrath to justifie his truth, and slay them on a sudden, who would not believe, no not at leisure. But to the point. The Prophet describes it elegantly (Isa. 30.13.) This iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall; that is, this iniquity shall produce a judgement, which shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, Swelling out in an high wall, whose breaking commeth suddenly at an instant. If once a high built wall doe but swell, down it comes. Such a swelling wall fell upon, and slew twenty and seven thousand of Benhadads scattered Army (1 King. 20.30.) And such a tower in Siloe fell upon eighteen, and slew them (Luk. 13.4.) The Prophet Jeremy at once imprecates and fore-tels a speedy scourge upon the gain-saying Jews, Let a cry be heard from their houses, when thou shalt bring a troop suddenly upon them, Jer. 18.22. This hath been the case of many among us, who thinking of no danger have been surprized by a troop, themselves made prisoners, and their houses spoil'd in one hour. Such was the condition of our Brethren in Ireland; it is almost incredible how suddenly that scourge slew them: there was scarce a Protestant that had so much as a suspition of the danger; nay, some would not believe it, when a great part of the countrey was on a flame, and the enemy had butchered thousands. That scourge (if ever any) slew suddenly the perfect and the wicked. As mercies may come so suddenly to our senses, that they overcome our faith, so may judgements. Some have been surprized with mercy (Psal. 126.4.) When the Lord turned our captivity as the streams in the South: that is, gave us sudden deliverance (rivers in the South, rise not from a constant spring, but from accidentall raines, which make violent land-floods on a sudden.) At the approach of this sudden mercy, the Jews were like to them that dream.
