An exposition with practical observations continued upon the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh chapters…

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;