6. To conclude, the mutual animosities, and feuds among that professing people, evidently showed judgment to be at the door. Hos. 9. 7. The days of visitation are come, the days of recompense are come, Israel shall know it: the Prophet is a fool, the spiritual man is mad, for the multitude of thine iniquity, and the great hatred. This great hatred was one of the greatest sins, and saddest signs upon them. This Spirit of enmity sowed by the Devil among them hastened their calamity. If Ephraim will envy Judah, and Judah vex Ephraim the common enemy shall part the fray: when the whole Nation was under water, and the Roman Armies under the very walls of Jerusalem, their own Historians tell us, what bitter contentions and sharp conflicts continued among them to the very last. These things must be looked upon by all Wise and considerate men, no otherwise than we look upon Glazing Meteors, and Blazing Comets, portending judgment and ruin at the door. We have had indeed terrible Signs in Heaven, a dreadful rod of God shaken over us of late, which all men ought to behold with trembling: Yet I must say those Moral Signs of judgment forementioned, are much more terrible and portentous. According therefore to the evidence of these signs among us; let all upright hearts be affected and awakened with expectations of Gods righteous judgments. It is indeed below faith to expect evil days with despondency and distraction; but surely it is a noble exercise of Faith, so to expect them, as to make due preparation for them.
6. To conclude, the mutual animosities, and feuds among that professing people, evidently shewed judgment to be at the door. Hos. 9. 7. The days of visitation are come, the days of recompence are come, Israel shall know it: the Prophet is a fool, the spiritual man is mad, for the multitude of thine iniquity, and the great hatred. This great hatred was one of the greatest sins, and saddest signs upon them. This Spirit of enmity sowed by the Devil among them hastened their calamity. If Ephraim will envy Iudah, and Iudah vex Ephraim the common enemy shall part the fray: when the whole Nation was under water, and the Roman Armies under the very walls of Ierusalem, their own Historians tell us, what bitter contentions and sharp conflicts continued among them to the very last. These things must be looked upon by all Wise and considerate men, no otherwise than we look upon Glazing Meteors, and Blazing Comets, portending judgment and ruine at the door. We have had indeed terrible Signs in Heaven, a dreadful rod of God shaken over us of late, which all men ought to behold with trembling: Yet I must say those Moral Signs of judgment forementioned, are much more terrible and portentous. According therefore to the evidence of these signs among us; let all upright hearts be affected and awakened with expectations of Gods righteous judgments. It is indeed below faith to expect evil days with despondency and distraction; but surely it is a noble exercise of Faith, so to expect them, as to make due preparation for them.
