This is plainly implied in the Text, that there are times of indignation appointed to befall the world; yea, and more than this; not only that such times shall come, but the duration and continuance is also under an appointment. Hide thy self for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. The Prophet tells us in Zeph. 2. 2. that these Stormy times are under a decree, and that decree is there compared to a pregnant Woman which is to go out her appointed months, and then to travel and bring forth: Even so it is in the judgments God brings upon the world. We see them not in the days of provocation, sed adhuc faetus in utero latet, but all this while it is in the womb of the decree, and at the appointed season they shall become visible to the world. As there are in Nature fair Halcyon days, and cloudy, overcast, and stormy: So 'tis in providences, Eccles. 7. 14. God hath set one over against the other. Yea, one is the occasion of the other; for look as the Sun in a hot day exhales abundance of vapours from the Earth and Sea, these occasion showers thunder and tempests, and those again clear the Air, and dispose it to fair weather again. So it is here, Prosperity is the ⟨p. 147⟩occasion of abundance of sin, this brings on adversity from the justice of God to correct it; adversity being sanctified, humbles, reforms, and purges the people of God, and this again by mercy procures their prosperity: So you find the account […] in Psal. 107. 17. Fools because of their iniquities are▪ afflicted, then they cry to the Lord in their troubles, and he saveth them out of their distresses.
THis is plainly implyed in the Text, that there are times of indignation appointed to befal the world; yea, and more than this; not only that such times shall come, but the duration and continuance is also under an appointment. Hide thy self for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. The Prophet tells us in Zeph. 2. 2. that these Stormy times are under a decree, and that decree is there compared to a pregnant Woman which is to go out her appointed months, and then to travel and bring forth: Even so it is in the judgments God brings upon the world. We see them not in the days of provocation, sed adhuc faetus in utero latet, but all this while it is in the womb of the decree, and at the appointed season they shall become visible to the world. As there are in Nature fair Halcyon days, and cloudy, overcast, and stormy: So 'tis in providences, Ec•les. 7. 14. God hath set one over against the other. Yea, one is the occasion of the other; for look as the Sun in a hot day exhales abundance of vapours from the Earth and Sea, these occasion showers thunder and tempests, and those again clear the Air, and dispose it to fair weather again. So it is here, Prosperity is the ⟨p. 147⟩occasion of abundance of sin, this brings on adversity from the justice of God to correct it; adversity being sanctified, humbles, reforms, and purges the people of God, and this again by mercy procures their prosperity: So you find the account 〈…〉 in Psal. 107. 17. Fools because of their iniquities are▪ afflicted, then they cry to the Lord in their troubles, and he saveth them out of their distresses.
