A41644:192
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.
What if the Lord should suffer them to mistake the means of our recovery, or fall short in what they do? Sometimes it hath been known that Governors have been too sparing to the wicked, to ⟨p. 150⟩their own ruin. The King of Israel lost his life, for sparing Benhadad that should have died, 1 Kings 20.41. Thus saith the Lord, Because thou hast let go out of thine hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore thy life shall go for his life, and thy people for his people. It seems Ahab had too great a kindness for Benhadad, who deserved to dye, being an implacable enemy to them: And are there not such enemies to be destroyed at this day? He also held by Tyranny places belonging to the Israelites, and therefore deserved death: And are there not those who are seeking to possess what belongs unto us, that ought to be cut off for their malicious enterprises? He was also one that God did manifest his displeasure against, by destroying 100000 Footmen of them, whereby he might understand Gods displeasure against him. Now for him to spare this enemy, to entreat so honourably this public Adversary, when given into his hands, brought him under this threatening. Should our enemies be even spared like him, should we not suffer after this manner? And will not this be a bad exchange, to give our lives for theirs? Will this be a worthy deed, to ⟨p. 151⟩spare a thief from the gallows to cut our throats? See 1 Sam. 14.21, 23. There is little trusting such enemies, whatever pretences they make. Judaeo baptizato, & lupo domestico, non est credendum. We must not trust a baptized Jew, being an inward enemy to a Christian; nor a house-wolf, that will still make murder among the sheep.
What if the Lord should suffer them to mistake the means of our recovery, or fall short in what they do? Sometimes it hath been known that Governours have been too sparing to the wicked, to ⟨p. 150⟩their own ruine. The King of Israel lost his life, for sparing Benhadad that should have died,