Two treatises the first of fear, from Isa. 8, v. 12, 13, and part…

And it is not to be wondered at, if we consider that even the Saints themselves have an hand in the provocation of these judgments, as well as others, Deut. 32. 19. And when the Lord saw it he abhorred them, because of the provoking of his sons and of his daughters. We have contributed to the common heap guilt, and therefore must justify God if we partake with others in the common calamity.

And it is not to be wondered at, if we consider that even the Saints themselves have an hand in the provocation of these judgments, as well as others, Deut. 32. 19. And when the Lord saw it he abhorred them, because of the provoking of his sons and of his daughters. We have contrihuted to the common heap guilt, and therefore must justifie God if we partake with others in the common calamity.

2. They are greatly concerned in such judgments upon a Religious and Christian account, for it is usual for the flood of Gods judgments not only to sweep away our civil and natural, but our spiritual and best enjoyments and comforts. Thus the Ordinances of God ceased in Babylon, and there the faithful bewailed their misery upon that account, Ps. 137. per totum; we wept when we remembered thee, O Zion. Not only Israel flies, but the Ark is taken prisoner by the enemy, 1 Sam. 4. 11. And you find the people of God more deeply concerned upon this account, than for all their outward losses and other sufferings, Zeph. 3. 18. I will gather them of thee that are sorrowful for the Solemn assemblies, to whom the reproach of it was a burden. For by how much our souls are more excellent than our bodies, and the concerns of Eternity over balance those of time; by so much more are ⟨p. 152⟩