First, When Gods lesser afflictions work not, 1there God will be most terrible. You heard of the moth and little worm before; they are lesser afflictions, and it seems the moth and little worm did not work their hearts to repentance, to bring them unto God, therefore God doth turn to be a fierce Lyon and a Lyons whelp unto Ephraim and Judah. Gods wrath is as Elijahs cloud that at first appeareth but as a handbreadth, but within a while after the whole Heavens were overspread with it: It is as the thunder, that when you hear it first it is simile 1 but a little roaring noise a far off, but stay a while and it will be a dreadful crack. It is as the fire that at first burneth a little within upon a few boards, but when it prevaileth it simile 2 bursteth out in a most terrible flame. As in that known place Levit. 26.18. If you will not yet for all this saith the Lord, hearken unto me, then will I punish you seven times more for your sins; and again, seven times more, and seven times more. God will go on in His wrath from a little unto a great deal of wrath; From being as a moth and as a little worm, to be like a Lyon. Such degrees there are in Gods wrath. You had need look to it when the hand of God is stretched out but a little against you, though it be but as a moth and as a worm yet if you look not to it, there may be such a gradation of Gods wrath upon you; For as great a difference as is between a moth and a fierce Lyon, such a difference may be between wrath now and that which is to come. Thus the Lord is many times unto mens spirits: Many men have gripes and nips of conscience,2 and God causeth secretly that worm of conscience to be gnawing upon them, and there is some kind of trouble, but notwithstanding they go on in their sins; and at length God cometh upon them as a Lyon, tearing their spirits. Did you never see a sinner lying upon his death bed in the torment of ⟨p. 500⟩his soul, Gods wrath like the paws of a Lyon preying upon the very caul of his heart,3 when he lies roaring out he is damned, he is damned! and now he sees, yea feels the heat of the wrath of God against him. Thus God comes as a Lyon to prey upon those that will not regard the gnawings of the worm: When the worm was but little and small, they slighted it, and that caused God to bring the greater judgment. So it is with families;
First, When Gods lesser afflictions work not, 1there God will be most terrible. You heard of the moth and little worm before; they are lesser afflictions, and it seems the moth and little worm did not work their hearts to repentance, to bring them unto God, therefore God doth turn to be a fierce Lyon and a Lyons whelp unto Ephraim and Judah. Gods wrath is as Elijahs cloud that at first appeareth but as a handbreadth, but within a while after the whol Heavens were overspread with it: It is as the thunder, that when you hear it first it is simile 1 but a little roaring noise a far off, but stay a while and it will be a dreadful crack. It is as the fire that at first burneth a little within upon a few boards, but when it prevaileth it simile 2 bursteth out in a most terrible flame. As in that known place Levit. 26.18. If you will not yet for all this saith the Lord, hearken unto me, then will I punish you seven times more for your sins; and again, seven times more, and seven times more. God will go on in His wrath from a little unto a great deal of wrath; From being as a moth and as a little worm, to be like a Lyon. Such degrees there are in Gods wrath. You had need look to it when the hand of God is stretched out but a little against you, though it be but as a moth and as a worm yet if you look not to it, there may be such a gradation of Gods wrath upon you; For as great a difference as is between a moth and a fierce Lyon, such a difference may be between wrath now and that which is to come. Thus the Lord is many times unto mens spirits: Many men have gripes and nips of conscience,2 and God causeth secretly that worm of conscience to be gnawing upon them, and there is some kind of trouble, but notwithstanding they go on in their sins; and at length God cometh upon them as a Lyon, tearing their spirits. Did you never see a sinner lying upon his death bed in the torment of ⟨p. 500⟩his soul, Gods wrath like the pawes of a Lyon preying upon the very caul of his heart,3 when he lies roaring out he is damned, he is damned! and now he sees, yea feels the heat of the wrath of God against him. Thus God comes as a Lyon to prey upon those that will not regard the gnawings of the worm: When the worm was but little and small, they slighted it, and that caused God to bring the greater judgment. So it is with families;
- 1Obser. 1.
- 2Admonit. to those that are a little touched in spirit.
- 3A dying & terrified conscience.
