'Tis said, the very Vermin, Mice and Rats, will (by a natural presage) come out of a house that is ready to fall. They are more senseless than Mice or Rats, who hasten not to a place of safety, when they perceive the foundation of that sinful State wherein they stand, sinking, and the walls cracking on every hand. How faithless then are they, how presumptuous and senseless who hasten not out of Babylon, when they hear the Scriptures of truth saying not only that Babylon shall fall, or is falling, but, as of a thing already done and past, Babylon is fallen, is fallen! Is it not dangerous to stay in a falling house, in a house which shall so certainly fall, that 'tis said, and said again, 'tis fallen, 'tis fallen. O take heed of a hard heart when you hear of a falling house, or of a storm ready ⟨p. 486⟩to fall upon your heads. When God threatened Pharaoh to bring a storm of hail upon the land of Egypt (that was indeed a rain of his strength) a mighty rain of hail, the text saith (Exod. 9.20.) He that feared the word of the Lord amongst the servants of Pharaoh, made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses; but they whose hearts were hardened, let them stay abroad, and so they perished. Sinners, you hear of a worse storm of hail threatened than that which fell upon Egypt, even the great rain of the strength of the Lords wrath, revealed from heaven against you; shall the beasts in such a day of distress go into dens, and remain in their places, and do you think to abide the day of the Lords terrible coming? Do you think to stand it out when he appeareth? The Prophet foreshowing the day of Christs first coming in frail flesh, said (Mal. 3.2.) Who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiners fire, and like fullers soap. Now if the day of Christs first coming was such as sinners could not abide, when he came only with refining fire to fetch out the dross of their sins, and purge away their corruptions, shall sinners (impenitent and unbelieving sinners I mean) presume that they shall be able to abide or endure that day of his second coming, when he shall come with consuming fire to punish and take vengeance on them for their sins! Away with these vain confidences, which (as the Prophet told the Jews, Jer. 2.37.)
'Tis said, the very Vermine, Mice and Rats, will (by a natural presage) come out of a house that is ready to fall. They are more senseless than Mice or Rats, who hasten not to a place of safety, when they perceive the foundation of that sinful State wherein they stand, sinking, and the walls cracking on every hand. How faithless then are they, how presumptuous and senseless who hasten not out of Babylon, when they hear the Scriptures of truth saying not only that Babylon shall fall, or is falling, but, as of a thing already done and past, Babylon is fallen, is fallen! Is it not dangerous to stay in a falling house, in a house which shall so certainly fall, that 'tis said, and said again, 'tis fallen, 'tis fallen. O take heed of a hard heart when you hear of a falling house, or of a storm ready ⟨p. 486⟩to fall upon your heads. When God threatned Pharaoh to bring a storm of hail upon the land of Egypt (that was indeed a rain of his strength) a mighty rain of hail, the text saith (Exod. 9.20.) He that feared the word of the Lord amongst the servants of Pharaoh, made his servants and his cattel flee into the houses; but they whose hearts were hardned, let them stay abroad, and so they perished. Sinners, you hear of a worse storm of hail threatned than that which fell upon Egypt, even the great rain of the strength of the Lords wrath, revealed from heaven against you; shall the beasts in such a day of distress go into dens, and remain in their places, and do you think to abide the day of the Lords terrible coming? Do you think to stand it out when he appeareth? The Prophet foreshewing the day of Christs first coming in frail flesh, said (Mal. 3.2.) Who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiners fire, and like fullers sope. Now if the day of Christs first coming was such as sinners could not abide, when he came only with refining fire to fetch out the dross of their sins, and purge away their corruptions, shall sinners (impenitent and unbelieving sinners I mean) presume that they shall be able to abide or endure that day of his second coming, when he shall come with consuming fire to punish and take vengeance on them for their sins! Away with these vain confidences, which (as the Prophet told the Jewes, Jer. 2.37.)
