God's terrible voice in the city

When Balaam's Ass saw the Angel stand in the way with a drawn Sword, he was afraid, and would not go forward, though spurred on, ⟨p. 203⟩and beaten by his Master. And when God stands in the way with his Sword of Judgement which hath made such slaughter already, and is lifted up again to strike you, methinks you should be afraid, and turn back: It is the way to Hell that God stands in by his Judgements; and will you break through all into those flames? Oh stand in awe, and sin not, commune with your own hearts. Consider what hath been doing in London, and who hath done these things. You have nearly escaped it may be with your lives; Oh learn to fear the glorious and fearful Name of the Lord God in these dreadful Judgements.

When Balaams Ass saw the Angel stand in the way with a drawn Sword, he was afraid, and would not go forward, though spurr'd on, ⟨p. 203⟩and beaten by his Master. And when God stands in the way with his Sword of Judgement which hath made such slaughter already, and is lifted up again to strike you, methinks you should be afraid, and turn back: It is the way to Hell that God stands in by his Judgements; and will you break through all into those flames? Oh stand in awe, and sin not, commune with your own hearts. Consider what hath been doing in London, and who hath done these things. You have neerly escaped it may be with your lives; Oh learn to fear the glorious and fearfull Name of the Lord God in these dreadfull Judgements.

And as God doth expect that the World and his Enemies should stand in awe of him; so also much more that the righteous and his people should. Some it may be when God gave them free access to him, and admitted unto familiarity with him, and encouraged them to boldness and confidence, and strewed their path with nothing but Mercy; it may be might abuse his goodness, and forget to mingle faith and love with due reverence and respect; and began to be too saucy with God, and peremptory, and did not consider their original and distance, and forgot the severity which they deserved for sin. Therefore God appears in the way of these Judgements with such terrible rebukes, that his own people might be brought unto a due awe and fear of his Name; that if they love him, they may fear him too; if they pray with boldness, they may pray also with reverence; if they rejoice in his goodness, they may tremble also at his Judgements.