When the Judgments of God are abroad in the earth, it is no time then to make mirth, Ezek. 21. 10, 11. Should we [then] make mirth? It contemneth the rod of my son as every tree. (i. e.) As if it were a common Rod, and ordinary affliction; whereas the Rod of my Son is not such as may be had of every Tree, but it is an Iron Rod to such as despise it, Psal. 2. 9. O it is a provoking evil, and commonly God severely punishes it. Of all persons, such speed worst in the common calamity, Amos 6. 1. Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, that are not grieved for the afflictions of Joseph, as ver. 4. It may be (as one observes upon the Text) they did not laugh at him, or break Jests upon him; but they did not condole with him. And what shall be their punishment? See vers. 7. Therefore now shall they go captive with the first that go captive: God will begin with them first. Solomon tells us, Eccles. 3. 4. There is a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance: Only (as Master Trap notes upon the Text) we must not invert the order, but weep with Men, that we may laugh with Angels. To be merry and frolic in a day of tribulation, is to disturb the order of seasons. That is a terrible Text, Isai. 22. 12. which should make the hearts of such as are guilty in this kind to tremble: In that day did the Lord of Hosts call to mourning, and to girding with sackcloth; and behold, joy and gladness, slaying Oxen, killing Sheep, drinking Wine, &c. Well, what is the issue of this? Surely, this iniquity shall not be purged from you, till ye die. O dreadful word! Surely (my Brethren) Sympathy is a debt we owe to Christ Mystical. Whatever our Constitution, Condition, ⟨p. 92⟩or Personal Immunities be, yet when God calls for Mourning, we must hear and obey that call. David was a King, an expert Musician, a Man of a sanguine and cheerful constitution; yet who more sensible of the evil of those times, than he? Rivers of water ran down his eyes at the consideration of them. Melanchthon was so affected with the Miseries of the Church in his days, that he seemed to take little or no notice of the death of his Child, whom he entirely loved. At such a time we may say of laughter, Thou art mad, and of mirth, What doth it?
When the Judgments of God are abroad in the earth, it is no time then to make mirth, Ezek. 21. 10, 11. Should we [then] make mirth? It contemneth the rod of my son as every tree. (i. e.) As if it were a common Rod, and ordinary affliction; whereas the Rod of my Son is not such as may be had of every Tree, but it is an Iron Rod to such as dispise it, Psal. 2. 9. O it is a provoking evil, and commonly God severely punishes it. Of all persons, such speed worst in the common calamity, Amos 6. 1. VVo to them that are at ease in Sion, that are not grieved for the afflictions of Ioseph, as ver. 4. It may be (as one observes upon the Text) they did not laugh at him, or break Jests upon him; but they did not condole with him. And what shall be their punishment? See vers. 7. Therefore now shall they go captive with the first that go captive: God will begin with them first. Solomon tells us, Eccles. 3. 4. There is a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance: Only (as Master Trap notes upon the Text) we must not invert the order, but weep with Men, that we may laugh with Angels. To be merry and frolick in a day of tribulation, is to disturb the order of seasons. That is a terrible Text, Isai. 22. 12. which should make the hearts of such as are guilty in this kind to tremble: In that day did the Lord of Hosts call to mourning, and to girding with sackcloath; and behold, joy and gladness, slaying Oxen, killing Sheep, drinking VVine, &c. Well, what is the issue of this? Surely, this iniquity shall not be purged from you, till ye die. O dreadful word! Surely (my Brethren) Sympathy is a debt we owe to Christ Mystical. Whatever our Constitution, Condition, ⟨p. 92⟩or Personal Immunities be, yet when God calls for Mourning, we must hear and obey that call. David was a King, an expert Musician, a Man of a sanguine and chearful constitution; yet who more sensible of the evil of those times, than he? Rivers of water ran down his eyes at the consideration of them. Melancthon was so affected with the Miseries of the Church in his days, that he seemed to take little or no notice of the death of his Child, whom he entirely loved. At such a time we may say of laughter, Thou art mad, and of mirth, What doth it?
