Secondly, Use. 2 here is matter of terror unto all ungodly men that will not be persuaded to judge themselves: look what judgement will most vex, and sting, and torment, and even kill their souls, that let them make account of. If Haman might have been the chooser, of all other miseries he would not have chosen that which befell him: to wit, that Mordecai his enemy should be advanced and honoured, and that by himself, who did bear him such deadly hatred for that he could not obtain honour and reverence from him: what an horrible torment must this needs be unto his heart, that Mordecai now should ride, and he go by him on foot? that now he must bow the knee to Mordecai, that would so fain have had Mordecai to do it to him? that the gallows that was by him prepared for Mordecai, must now serve for himself? &c. This must needs be an exceeding ⟨p. 33⟩torture unto him: and this shall befall all impenitent sinners: What they are most loth to undergo, that shall light upon them, and that at unawares when they least think of it, and shall continue with them, and never leave them till it have either turned them unto God, or brought them unto hell, the place of all such reprobate sinners. And that we may apply this to the present occasion, are there not many that are horribly afraid of the pestilence? yea far more then they are of sin which bringeth it: in so much that they absent themselves from Sermons, and from public prayers, lest they should be infected. Are there not very many (I say) that are possessed with such fears? Let them look to it: for of all other strokes the pestilence is likely to fall upon them: if it were a sword in the hand of the Pope, or of Satan, then it stood them upon to beware of Gods ordinances: but seeing none but Atheists will deny but it is ordered by Gods overruling hand, they take a bad course to escape his stroke: for where can they hide themselves, but he will find them out? And whither can they flee from his all-seeing presence?
Secondly, Vse. 2 heere is matter of terrour vnto all vngodly men that will not be perswaded to iudge themselues: looke what iudgement will most vex, and sting, and torment, and euen kill their soules, that let them make account of. If Haman might haue beene the chuser, of all other miseries he would not haue chosen that which befell him: to wit, that Mordecai his enemie should be aduanced and honoured, and that by himselfe, who did beare him such deadly hatred for that he could not obtaine honour and reuerence from him: what an horrible torment must this needs be vnto his heart, that Mordecai now should ride, and he goe by him on foot? that now he must bow the knee to Mordecai, that would so faine haue had Mordecai to doe it to him? that the gallowes that was by him prepared for Mordecai, must now serue for himselfe? &c. This must needs be an exceeding ⟨p. 33⟩torture vnto him: and this shall befall all impenitent sinners: What they are most loth to vndergoe, that shall light vpon them, and that at vnawares when they least thinke of it, and shall continue with them, and neuer leaue them till it haue either turned them vnto God, or brought them vnto hell, the place of all such rebrobate sinners. And that we may apply this to the present occasion, are there not many that are horribly afraid of the pestilence? yea farre more then they are of sinne which bringeth it: in so much that they absent themselues from Sermons, and from publike prayers, lest they should be infected. Are there not very many (I say) that are possessed with such feares? Let them looke to it: for of all other strokes the pestilence is likely to fall vpon them: if it were a sword in the hand of the Pope, or of Sathan, then it stood them vpon to beware of Gods ordinances: but seeing none but Atheists will denie but it is ordered by Gods ouerruling hand, they take a bad course to escape his stroke: for where can they hide themselues, but he will finde them out? And whither can they flee from his all-seeing presence?
