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

The Lord had threatened the sword many times by the Prophet, and their hearts were secure, stupid; but now he comes and presents it as present and real unto them, Blow ye the trumpet, the danger is now at hand, here it is saith the Prophet. There is a great deal of difference between mens hearing of wars and rumours of wars, and the very reality of the evil it self when that cometh before their eyes. This judgment of war,¹ of the sword, it hath been threatened against this Nation long ago. I dare appeal to you, for a matter of twenty years since (you that remember the way & the common strain,² almost of all the godly Ministers in the Kingdom) was not their usual theme about such an argument as this, to show what were the forerunners of Gods judgments against a Nation?³ Ever since I was a youth and took any notice of Sermons, I know no argument that kept the sound in mine ears more than that: Usually it was the theme almost of all the places in the Kingdom, of all your eminent Ministers to search into Gods word to see what were the sins that brought public judgments upon a Nation and apply them unto England; ⟨p. 439⟩what were the forerunners of destruction upon a Nation and apply them unto England: But this was ordinarily slighted. Some indeed of our brethren that feared the Lord and feared his judgments, and thought that they did foresee a storm, upon that they withdrew themselves, and they were scorned and contemned for their labours. But now we see the thing that was feared and threatened is come, it is upon many Countries: & do we not apprehend it after another manner than we did when we only heard of it? In those Countries where the sword hath been raging, do not they apprehend the evil of war in another manner than ever they did when they heard it threatened in Sermons? O when it is come indeed and made real it works after another manner than it doth when it is spoken of.⁴ Those men that continually have their ears filled with the noise of the Drum and Trumpet, with the neighing of Horses and roaring of the Cannon, they will tell you that war is a dreadful thing indeed. So it is in all other afflictions that are threatened; how little are they regarded in their threats? but when they come indeed, Oh then how do the hearts of men sink within them! Oh now God is coming against me, now wrath is upon me saith the guilty soul, how far it may go out I know not;