so were the eyes of their children, to whom Zechariah speaketh, witnesses, that Gods wrath was in perfection poured forth upon their fathers, which also did abide upon them, even unto that day, that the Prophet did admonish them. For they saw Jerusalem lie […] and waste, as the Chaldees had left it, they saw the ruins & ⟨p. 35⟩miserable stones overcovered with powder of that beautiful & holy temple of God, which by Solomon was builded. They farther felt them selves in poverty & bond dage of strangers. For albeit they had obtained liberty to return to their country: yet perceived they their condition […] little amended. Their enemies were more strong then they,1 even in their own land. Their work was imp•aded, & they did live in greater fear, then those which still remained in dispersion▪ & thus I say were both their fathers & they compelled to confess in the end, that the words of the prophets were no vain threatenings. For the fathers did feel in a strange country the heavy yoke of bondage the space of 70. years, after that the bodies of many thou sands had fallen upon the edge of the sword, and the eyes ⟨p. 36⟩of the children did see the force and vehemency of Gods wrath once kindled. Of one thing be assured,2 dear brethren, that the self same God, who then spake by his prophets, doth now speak to you by his messengers, how contemptible soever they be in your eyes. and fa•ther be assured, that in all his proprieties he remaineth immutable for ever & ever, & therefore persuade your selves, that what he hated in them, he can not love in you, and what he punished in them, he can not spare nor pa•do in you. In them he hated murder, deceit, oppression, licentious life, declining from the true religion and manifest Idolatry committed and suffered in all their land. In them he punished (and that most extremely) defence of their since, contempt of mercy and persecution of his prophets. If these things be common ⟨p. 37⟩amongst you, as alas they are to manifest, flatter not your selves, as that your prosperity should long continue, no brethren but rather let the sharp judgements of God, all ready executed against the like offenders, put you in mind, that the plagues and vengeances, which are contained in his holy Law, & which your ears have often hard, do presently hang over your heads:
so were the eies of their children, to whome Zacharie speaketh, witnesses, yt Gods wrath was in perfection powred forthe vpō their fathers, which also dyd abide vpon them, euē vnto that day, that the Prophet dyd admonishe thē. For they sawe Ierusalem lie 〈…〉 and waste, as the Caldeies had left it, they sawe the ruines & ⟨p. 35⟩miserable stones ouercouered wt powder of that bewtifull & holy temple of God, which by Salomon was builded. They farther felt them selues in pouertie & bō dage of strāgers. For albeyt they had obteyned libertie to returne to their countrie: yet perceyued they their condition 〈…〉 litle amēded. Their ēnemies were more strong then they,1 euen in their owne lande. Their worke was imp•aded, & they dyd lyue in greater feare, then those which stil remayned in dispertion▪ & thus I saie were bothe their fathers & they compelled to confesse in the ende, that the wordes of the prophetes were no vayne threatnīgs. For the fathers dyd fele in a straunge countrie the heauie yoke of bondage the space of 70. yeres, after that the bodies of many thow sandes had fallen vpon the edge of the sworde, and the eies ⟨p. 36⟩of the children dyd see the force and vehemencie of Gods wrathe once kyndled. Of one thing be assured,2 deare brethern, that the self same God, who then spake by his prophets, dothe now speake to you by his messingers, how contemptible soeuer they be in your eies. and fa•ther be assured, that in all his proprieties he remayneth immutable for euer & euer, & therfore persuade your selues, that what he hated in thē, he can not loue in you, and what he punished in them, he can not spare nor pa•do in you. In them he hated murther, deceite, oppression, licencious lyfe, declyning frome the true religion and manifest Idolatry committed and suffred in all their lande. In them he punished (and that most extremely) defence of their synnes, cōtempt of mercie and persecution of his prophetes. Yf these things be cō mon ⟨p. 37⟩amongst you, as alas they are to manifest, flatter not your selues, as that your prosperitie shulde longe contynue, no bretherne but rather let the sharpe iudgementes of God, all ready executed agaīst the like offenders, put you in minde, that ye plagues and vengeances, which are conteined in his holy Lawe, & which your eares haue often harde, do presently hāge ouer your heades:
- 11. Esd. 3. 1. Esd. 4. 2. Nehe. 4.
- 2The same God that spake in times past by his prophets, speaketh as effectually now by his messengers.The same God that spake in tymes past by his prophetes, speaketh as effectually now by his messingers.
