An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty second, the thirty third, and…An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the thirty second, the thirty third, and…

First, Was not the end of our late unnatural wars, the gift of God? was it not he that made our troubles to cease from one ⟨p. 735⟩end of the nation to the other, yea throughout the three nations? If the Lord had not given the sword a check, or counter-mand, if the Lord had not called in the commission which he once gave the sword, it had been devouring flesh, and drinking blood to this very day. We read (as it were) a dialogue between the Prophet and himself concerning the sword (Jer: 47.6, 7.) O thou sword of the Lord, (said the Prophet being grieved for the slaughter and desolation which the sword had made even in a strange land) how long will it be ere thou be quiet? put up thy self into thy scabbard; rest and be still; Himself answers himself; how can it be quiet seeing the Lord hath given it a charge against Ashkelon, and against the Sea-shore? there hath he appointed it. I spake to the sword of quietness (saith the Prophet) But alas! how can it be quiet, how can that sheath it self in its scabbard, and not in the bowels of men, seeing the Lord hath given it a charge against Ashkelon? As if he had said, I see no entreaties can persuade the sword to rest and quietness, till it hath fully executed the command of God, and done his work, though it be very bloody work, even the making of it self drunk with blood. The Lord can make the sword quiet; & it will hearken to no voice but his; if the Lord give a charge for the sword to return into the sheath then it will, and if not, it will not. The sword raged in these nations till the Lords work and will was done, and then that had done. And as we have reason to acknowledge, that the Lord hath commanded the sword back into its sheath, and given us peace out of war, so

First, Was not the end of our late unnaturall warres, the gift of God? was it not he that made our troubles to cease from one ⟨p. 735⟩end of the nation to the other, yea throughout the three nations? If the Lord had not given the sword a check, or counter-mand, if the Lord had not called in the commission which he once gave the sword, it had been devouring flesh, and drinking blood to this very day. We read (as it were) a dialogue between the Prophet and himselfe concerning the sword (Jer: 47.6, 7.) O thou sword of the Lord, (sayd the Prophet being grieved for the slaughter and desolation which the sword had made even in a strange land) how long will it be ere thou be quiet? put up thy selfe into thy scabbard; rest and be still; Himselfe answers himselfe; how can it be quiet seeing the Lord hath given it a charge against Ashkelon, and against the Sea-shore? there hath he appointed it. I spake to the sword of quietnesse (saith the Prophet) But alas! how can it be quiet, how can that sheath it selfe in its scabbard, and not in the bowels of men, seeing the Lord hath given it a charge against Ashkelon? As if he had sayd, I see no entreaties can perswade the sword to rest and quietness, till it hath fully executed the command of God, and done his work, though it be very bloody work, even the making of it selfe drunke with blood. The Lord can make the sword quiet; & it will hearken to no voyce but his; if the Lord give a charge for the sword to returne into the sheath then it will, and if not, it will not. The sword raged in these nations till the Lords work and will was done, and then that had done. And as we have reason to acknowledge, that the Lord hath commanded the sword back into its sheath, and given us peace out of warre, so