An exposition with practical observations continued upon the eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of…An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of…

If the eye of God be upon us for good, that brings us in all good: therefore (Zech. 2. ult.) when the Church was in her return from Babylon, the Prophet concludes with an exultation of spirit, Be silent, O all flesh, before the Lord, for he is raised up out of his holy habitation; it is this word, He is awaked out of his holy habitation, now be silent, O all flesh, before the Lord: All flesh, ye that are the wicked of the world, ye that are enemies, be ye silent, leave your boasting, your reproaching and blaspheming, for the Lord is awaked, now he begins to stir for his people, he will stop your mouths shortly: All flesh, takes in the Church and people of God too, O be ye silent, in regard of your fears and doubtings, murmurings and distracted complainings, silence all these, why? The Lord is awaked, he is raised up out of his holy habitation; that is, he that seemed before to confine himself to those higher regions, and as the Atheist speaks in Job, to walk in the circle of the heavens, not intermeddling with the earth: This God is now awaked, he is raised out of his holy habitation, and now ye shall know that he orders all things here below: therefore be silent, O all flesh. When Christ was asleep (Matth. 8.25.) A grievous tempest arose (saith the text) insomuch as the Ship was covered with waves. When storms and tempests are upon the Church, God is then asleep, though even then he directs the storms, and gives law to the proud waves. But what did the Disciples in this storm? They awoke Christ, Master, save us, we perish; and as soon as ever Christ was awakened, He rebuked the storm, and there was a great calm. Thus, when we are tossed up and down with contrary winds, and in danger to be split and sunk, if God once awake, all is calm. How quietly may they sleep for whom God wakes. I do not say they should sleep carelessly, but confidently they may. God doth not wake for us, to the intent we should sleep in security; but we may sleep quietly, when He shows himself awake for us, ⟨p. 43⟩who (indeed) never slumbereth nor sleepeth. And if God awake not for us, all our watchfulness is as useless to us, as our sleepiness, The watchman waketh but in vain, except the Lord keep the City. Except he awake our watching can do no good; and if he awake, good will come, though we be asleep.

If the eye of God be upon us for good, that brings us in all good: therefore (