The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

Repinest thou when God requireth obedience? Thou hearest to thine own condemnation. Mockest thou at Gods threatenings? Thou shalt feel the weight and truth of them, albeit too late, when flesh and blood cannot deliver thee from his hand. But the visitation (whereof our Prophet speaketh,) is only proper to the sons of God, who in the time when God taketh from them the pleasures of the world, or showeth his angry countenance unto them, have their recourse unto him, and confessing their former negligence with troubled hearts, cry for his mercy. This visitation is not proper to all afflicted, but appertaineth only to Gods children: For the reprobates can never have access to Gods mercy in time of their tribulation, and that because they abuse as well his long patience, as the manifold benefits they receive from his hands; For as the same Prophet heretofore saith, Let the wicked obtain mercy, yet shall he ⟨p. 111⟩never learn wisdom, but in the land of righteousness, that is, Where the very knowledge of God aboundeth, he will do wickedly, which is a crime above all others abominable; for to what end is it that God erecteth his Throne among us, but that we should fear him? Why doth he reveal his holy will unto us, but that we should obey it? Why doth he deliver us from trouble, but that we should be witnesses unto the world, that he is gracious and merciful?

Repinest thou when God requireth obedience? Thou hearest to thine own condemnation. Mockest thou at Gods threatnings? Thou shalt feel the weight and truth of them, albeit too late, when flesh and blood cannot deliver thee from his hand. But the visitation (whereof our Prophet speaketh,) is onely proper to the sons of God, who in the time when God taketh from them the pleasures of the world, or sheweth his angry countenance unto them, have their recourse unto him, and confessing their former negligence with troubled hearts, cry for his mercy. This visitation is not proper to all afflicted, but appertaineth onely to Gods children: For the reprobates can never have accesse to Gods mercy in time of their tribulation, and that because they abuse as well his long patience, as the manifold benefits they receive from his hands; For as the same Prophet heretofore saith, Let the wicked obtain mercy, yet shall he ⟨p. 111⟩never learn wisdome, but in the land of righteousnesse, that is, Where the very knowledge of God aboundeth, he will do wickedly, which is a crime above all others abominable; for to what end is it that God erecteth his Throne among us, but that we should fear him? Why doth he reaveal his holy will unto us, but that we should obey it? Why doth he deliver us from trouble, but that we should be witnesses unto the world, that he is gracious and mercifull?