God's terrible voice in the city

2. Those whose houses have fallen by the fire, the Lord could, and confident I am, the Lord hath made them greater gainers another way, they have lost it may be much in temporal things, but they are or may be, if they be not wanting to themselves, gainers in spiritual things, which are of a higher and more excellent nature; I have known and heard of many of Gods people whose houses are burnt, and goods spoiled, who have taken the loss with so much cheerfulness, humility, meekness, patience, contentment, and thankfulness that any thing was saved, if it were only their lives, that it hath been my wonder and joy; to gain such a spirit hath more of good, than the loss of all external enjoyments hath of evil.

2. Those whose houses have fallen by the fire, the Lord could, and confident I am, the Lord hath made them greater gainers another way, they have lost it may be much in temporal things, but they are or may be, if they be not wanting to themselves, gainers in spiritual things, which are of a higher and more excellent nature; I have known and heard of many of Gods people whose houses are burnt, and goods spoyled, who have taken the loss with so much chearfulness, humility, meekness, patience, contentment, and thankfulness that any thing was saved, if it were only their lives, that it hath been my wonder and joy; to gain such a spirit hath more of good, than the loss of all externall enjoyments hath of evil.

3. Further, if these judgments have fallen upon Gods people, we must know that they have their sins, which have deserved them, possibly some have begun now to comply with the wicked in their wicked ways, it may be they were grown more loose in their walking, and formal in ⟨p. 79⟩the service of God, & their hearts more set on the World, of which sins more largely when I come to speak of the sins of the City; and the sins of Gods people have more heinous aggravations, than the sins of the wicked, being committed against clearer light, dearer love, sweeter mercies, stronger obligations, and therefore provoke God the more to wrath; therefore he threateneth his own people especially to punish them when they transgress, Am. 3. 2. You only have I known of all the Families of the Earth, and therefore I will punish you for your iniquities.