A41644:103
God's call to England, for thankfulness after gracious deliverances
God's call to England, for thankfulness after gracious deliverances wherein is showed, that our deliverances, not answered with reformation, will be followed with sorest destruction / by Thomas Gouge.God's call to England, for thankfulness after gracious deliverances wherein is shewed, that our deliverances, not answered with reformation, will be followed with sorest destruction / by Thomas Gouge.
London: printed for John Hancock, 1680
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
1. Because the longer judgments are coming, the greater severity they are attended with, when falling upon us. The longer a blow is fetching, the deeper impression is made by its force. If God tarries long before he punishes, the greater terror will be in his punishment. The destruction of the old world was delayed for many years, but at last it was accomplished with the greater severity. Deus tardus est ad iram, sed tarditatem vindictae gravitate compensat. Whilst sinners ruin is ⟨p. 70⟩deferred, God is putting himself into postures of judgment, whetting his glittering sword, sharpening his terrible arrows feathered with our sins, that so he may make the more sharp and sudden destruction. There is Crudelitas parcens, sparing cruelty, as well as misericordia puniens, punishing mercy.
1. Because the longer judgments are coming, the greater severity they are attended with, when falling upon us. The longer a blow is fetching, the deeper impression is made by its force. If God tarries long before he punishes, the greater terrour will be in his punishment. The destruction of the old world was delayed for many years, but at last it was accomplisht with the greater severity. Deus tardus est ad iram, sed tarditatem vindictae gravitate compensat. Whilst sinners ruine is ⟨p. 70⟩deferr'd, God is putting himself into postures of judgment, whetting his glittering sword, sharpning his terrible arrows feathered with our sins, that so he may make the more sharp and sudden destruction. There is Crudelitas parcens, sparing cruelty, as well as misericordia puniens, punishing mercy.
The longer the cloud is gathering, the more dripping shower is expected when it falls. So the greater provocations are treasured up in the days of Gods patience, the more miserable destruction will be in the days of his vengeance: Isa. 42.14. A long time have I held my peace; I have been still and refrained my self; now will I cry like a travailing woman, I will destroy and devour at once. You shall know I have not lost my power, though I have exercised my patience; though yo have shared so much in my mercy, I will at length proportion the severity of my justice, to the clemency of my mercy. I will destroy you at once; I'll give no more alarming warnings, awakening calls, or monitory afflictions; but now will I bring ruin on a sudden, with unavoidable calamities: