USE. IV. It calls upon us seriously to consider, and solemnly to lay to heart the providence of God in this respect: It may teach us sadly to bewail, and greatly to lament the loss of so many righteous men as God hath lately taken from us, for them indeed, we have cause of congratulation, for they are taken from the evil to come; but for our selves, there is reason to mourn, because their going bodes and beckons evil a coming, and at the door: I might here urge many incentives; but I shall only say this much; that to be duly affected with Gods hand, and to hear the r•d, and him who hath appointed it, may be a ⟨p. 160⟩mean to continue our tranquillity: God is angry with the World, when his Children die unlamented, he takes it well when their loss is bewailed: And if we would make a right improvement of these things, let us lament, and repent of those sins which have procured us these miseries; let us say, Woe to us, that we have sinne• Have not the Righteous been slighted, and ill requited for all their faithful service? Have we not slandered, reviled, and trampled upon them? And was it not then time for God to take them to a place where they should be in more honour and esteem? Repent of these sins, lest you hurry away those that are left, and then you may too late sit-down and howl out your Ichabod. Oh! be not brutish, but sit down and consider; when the Pillars are gone, how shall the building stand? When the Watch-men are asleep, who shall descry, and warn us of the enemies approach? When the Wall is plucked down, and the hedge removed, who shall keep out the Bore of the Wilderness? When the Gap-men are taken away, who shall stand in the breaches? When the lights are put out, who shall direct us in a right way? When the Chariot and Horsemen of Israel are removed, who shall defend us from misery and mischief? When God is gone what but woes and calamities can befall us?
USE. IV. It calls upon us seriously to consider, and solemnly to lay to heart the providence of God in this respect: It may teach us sadly to bewail, and greatly to lament the loss of so many righteous men as God hath lately taken from us, for them indeed, we have cause of congratulation, for they are taken from the evil to come; but for our selves, there is reason to mourn, because their going bodes and beckens evil a coming, and at the door: I might here urge many incentives; but I shall only say this much; that to be duely affected with Gods hand, and to hear the r•d, and him who hath appointed it, may be a ⟨p. 160⟩mean to continue our tranquillity: God is angry with the World, when his Children dy unlamented, he takes it well when their loss is bewailed: And if we would make a right improvment of these things, let us lament, and repent of those sins which have procured us these miseries; let us say, Wo to us, that we have sinne• Have not the Righteous been slighted, and ill requited for all their faithful service? Have we not slandered, reviled, and trampled upon them? And was it not then time for God to take them to a place where they should be in more honour and esteem? Repent of these sins, lest you hurry away those that are left, and then you may too late sit-down and howle out your Ichabod. Oh! be not brutish, but sit down and consider; when the Pillars are gone, how shall the building stand? When the Watch-men are asleep, who shall descry, and warn us of the enemies approach? When the Wall is pluckt down, and the hedge removed, who shall keep out the Bore of the Wilderness? When the Gap-men are taken away, who shall stand in the breaches? When the lights are put out, who shall direct us in a right way? When the Chariot and Horsmen of Israel are removed, who shall defend us from misery and mischief? When God is gone what but woes and calamities can befall us?
