I am persuaded that the notoriously ungodly of this generation will not go out of this World, without some remarkable temporal judgment; and that the Lord will make them feel something even here, what an evil thing, and a bitter it is so audaciously to fly in the face of the great God, by their hideous oaths and blasphemies, by their horrid wickedness and abominations, whereby they do as it were challenge God to do his worst against them; and when God doth draw forth his glittering Sword, and make ready his sharp arrow upon the string; when God doth clothe himself with fury, as with a garment, and his hand doth take hold on vengeance; when their iniquities are grown fully ripe, and the day of their visitation and recompense is come, how then will these sinners of England be afraid, and what amazing terror will there then surprise this vile generation? Can their hearts endure, or their hands be strong in the day that the Lord shall deal with them? Ezek. 22. 14. Then the Lord will roar from his holy habitation, with such a terrible voice, as shall make their ears to tingle, their hearts to quake and tremble; he will roar like a Lion, and tear them in pieces, when there shall be none to deliver. If the shaking of his rod hath moved them, and the beginning of his judgments, ⟨p. 81⟩which he hath executed upon others, hath affrighted them; what will their behaviour be when the scourge is laid upon their own backs, and judgment shall fall upon their own heads? Surely the judgments intended purposely for the most ungodly, are not yet come; yet, as they are like to be exceeding great, because more of pure, and unmixed wrath will accompany them: so they are like to be very near; because they are filling up the measure of their wickedness so fast, and they seem to be arrived even to the uttermost of sin; surely their judgment doth neither linger, nor slumber, but is upon the wing, hastening towards them; surely the arm of the Lord is awakened, and lifted up on high, and though infinite patience doth hold it up a little while, to try whether the judgments already executed upon others, before their eyes will work any good effect upon them, so as to awaken them, and stop them, and turn them from their evil ways;
I am perswaded that the notoriously ungodly of this generation will not go out of this World, without some remarkable temporal judgment; and that the Lord will make them feel something even here, what an evil thing, and a bitter it is so audaciously to fly in the face of the great God, by their hideous oaths and blasphemies, by their horrid wickedness and abominations, whereby they do as it were challenge God to do his worst against them; and when God doth draw forth his glittering Sword, and make ready his sharp arrow upon the string; when God doth cloathe himself with fury, as with a garment, and his hand doth take hold on vengeance; when their iniquities are grown fully ripe, and the day of their visitation and recompence is come, how then will these sinners of England be afraid, and what amazing terrour will there then surprize this vile generation? Can their hearts endure, or their hands be strong in the day that the Lord shall deal with them? Ezek. 22. 14. Then the Lord will roar from his holy habitation, with such a terrible voice, as shall make their ears to tingle, their hearts to quake and tremble; he will roar like a Lion, and tear them in pieces, when there shall be none to deliver. If the shaking of his rod hath moved them, and the beginning of his judgments, ⟨p. 81⟩which he hath executed upon others, hath affrighted them; what will their behaviour be when the scourge is laid upon their own backs, and judgment shall fall upon their own heads? Surely the judgments intended purposely for the most ungodly, are not yet come; yet, as they are like to be exceeding great, because more of pure, and unmixt wrath will accompany them: so they are like to be very neer; because they are filling up the measure of their wickedness so fast, and they seem to be arrived even to the uttermost of sin; surely their judgment doth neither linger, nor slumber, but is upon the wing, hastning towards them; surely the arme of the Lord is awakened, and lifted up on high, and though infinite patience doth hold it up a little while, to try whether the judgments already executed upon others, before their eyes will work any good effect upon them, so as to awaken them, and stop them, and turn them from their evil wayes;
