A53702:45
An humble testimony unto the goodness and severity of God in his dealing with…
An humble testimony unto the goodness and severity of God in his dealing with sinful churches and nations, or, The only way to deliver a sinful nation from utter ruin by impendent judgments, in a discourse on the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, Luk. 13, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 / by John Owen.An humble testimony unto the goodness and severity of God in his dealing with sinful churches and nations, or, The only way to deliver a sinful nation from utter ruine by impendent judgments, in a discourse on the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, Luk. 13, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 / by John Owen.
London: printed for Nathanael Ponder, 1681
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
2. It is the height of security in such a time and season, either to neglect the consideration of extraordinary Providences, or to miss-interpret them as unto any thing, but Tokens of approaching Judgements, if not prevented.
Nothing can be questioned herein without an Arraignment of the Divine Wisdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, in the Interpretation and Application that he makes of these Accidents. No doubt but they were neglected and despised by the most, as common things; to take any great notice of such Occurrences, is esteemed Pusillanimity or Superstition. So it is by many at this day, wherein all things, as we shall see afterwards, are filled with Tokens of divine displeasure: But things will ⟨p. 11⟩come shortly unto another account; in the mean time it is safe to follow this Divine Example, so as to find out sacred Warnings in such Providential Occurrences.
2. The Providential Accidents spoken of, are two, and of two sorts.
1. The first was that wherein the bloody Cruelty of men had an hand. The Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. When this was done, on what occasion, and what was the number of the Persons so slain, the Scripture is silent. However it is certain that it was done at Jerusalem; for Sacrifices might not be offered any where else. Thither came the Galileans with their Sacrifices; that is either the Beasts which they brought to the Priests to offer for them; for they might not offer Sacrifices themselves, or the Paschal Lamb, which they might slay themselves.