God's terrible voice in the city

The reason is, because people don't hearken unto him, speaking any other way, God ⟨p. 20⟩speaketh once, yea twice, but men perceive it not, Job 33. 14. Gods gentle voice is not heard or minded, therefore he speaks more loudly and terribly, that people might be awakened to hear. Particularly God speaks thus terribly,

THe reason is, because people don't hearken unto him, speaking any other way, God ⟨p. 20⟩speaketh once, yea twice, but men perceive it not, Iob 33. 14. Gods gentle voice is not heard or minded, therefore he speaks more loudly and terribly, that people might be awakened to hear. Particularly God speaks thus terribly,

1. Because People do not hearken to the voice of his word and messengers; God speaks audibly by Ministers, and when they are not regarded, he speaks more feelingly by judgments; he speaks first by threatenings, & when they are slighted, he speaks by executions. God first lifts up his voice and warns by his word, before he lifts up his arm and strikes with his Rod; when men grow thick of hearing the sweet calls of the Gospel, God is even forced to thunder, that he may pierce their ear; when God speaks to the ears and they are shut, God speaks to the eyes and other senses, that his mind may be known; especially when men obstinately refuse to hear, God is exceedingly provoked to execute his terrible judgments upon them, see Zach. 8. 11, 12. But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears that they should not hear: yea they made their heart like an Adamant stone, least they should hear the Law, and the words which the Lord of Hosts had sent in his spirit by the former Prophets: Therefore came there a great wrath from the Lord of Hosts. So also when God gave up Jerusalem to desolation and ruin, see the sin which provoked the Lord hereunto.