The Romans sacked the famous City of Corinth, and razed it to the ground, for a little discourtesy they offered to their Ambassadors. And they slew many of the Illyrians, and the Tarentines, for misusing of their Ambassadors. And do ⟨p. 327⟩you think that the Lord is not as tender of the credit and honour of his faithful Ministers, and that he will not avenge the affronts, wrongs and injuries that are done unto them? Surely he will. Jer. 29. 17, 18, 19. Thus saith the Lord of Hosts, Behold I will send unto them the Sword, the Famine, and the Pestilence, and will make them like vile Figs that cannot be eaten, they are so evil. And I will persecute them, with the sword, with the famine, and with the Pestilence: And I will deliver them to be removed to all the Kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse, and astonishment, and an hissing, and a reproach among all Nations, whither I have driven them. But why will God do this? Because they have not hearkened 1to my word, saith the Lord, which I sent unto them by my servants the Prophets, rising up early and sending them, but ye would not hear, saith the Lord. Now mark, though these temporal judgements are not visible among us, yet spiritual judgements, which are the worst of judgements, are very visible. Though there be no sword, no famine, no Pestilence, yet there is spiritual madness, spiritual drunkenness, spiritual giddiness. Oh! the blind minds, the corrupt judgements, the hard hearts, the seared consciences, that are to be found among the Professors of this age! As there are no mercies 2to spiritual mercies, so there are no judgements to spiritual judgements. Oh the slightness, the coldness, the deadness, the barrenness that is abroad in the world! God suites his judgements to mens sins, the greatest sins are always attended with the greatest judgements. In these days men sin against more glorious means, more great love, more clear light, more tender bowels of mercy, &c. then formerly, and therefore God gives men up to more sad and dreadful (spiritual) judgements, then formerly.
The Romanes sacked the famous City of Corinth, and razed it to the ground, for a little discourtesie they offered to their Ambassadours. And they slew many of the Illyrians, and the Tarentines, for misusing of their Ambassadours. And doe ⟨p. 327⟩you think that the Lord is not as tender of the credite and honour of his faithfull Ministers, and that he will not avenge the affronts, wrongs and injuries that are done unto them? Surely he will. Jer. 29. 17, 18, 19. Thus saith the Lord of Hosts, Behold I will send unto them the Sword, the Famine, and the Pestilence, and will make them like vile Figgs that cannot be eaten, they are so evill. And I will persecute them, with the sword, with the famine, and with the Pestilence: And I will deliver them to be removed to all the Kingdomes of the earth, to be a curse, and astonishment, and an hissing, and a reproach among all Nations, whither I have driven them. But why will God doe this? Because they have not hearkened 1to my word, saith the Lord, which I sent unto them by my servants the Prophets, rising up early and sending them, but ye would not heare, saith the Lord. Now mark, though these temporal judgements are not visible among us, yet spirituall judgements, which are the worst of judgements, are very visible. Though there be no sword, no famine, no Pestilence, yet there is spirituall madnesse, spirituall drunkennesse, spirituall giddinesse. Oh! the blind minds, the corrupt judgements, the hard hearts, the seired consciences, that are to be found among the Professors of this age! As there are no mercies 2to spirituall mercies, so there are no judgements to spirituall judgements. Oh the slightnesse, the coldnesse, the deadnesse, the barrennesse that is abroad in the world! God suites his judgements to mens sins, the greatest sins are alwayes attended with the greatest judgements. In these dayes men sin against more glorious means, more great love, more clear light, more tender bowels of mercy, &c. then formerly, and therefore God gives men up to more sad and dreadfull (spirituall) judgements, then formerly.
- 1See 2 Kin. 17. 13, 14, 15. The Lamps went out, and Leander was drowned, said he in the History.
- 2Jer. 13. 13. Ezek. 23. 33. 1 Tim. 4. 2. Tit. 1. 15.