Though we have been in security before, yet if Gods wrath come near to us we had need to stir. It is high time to look to our selves when our neighbours house is on fire. The truth is,1 we in England have been a long time in deep security, though Germany, though France, though the Low Countries, the Palatinate, Italy and almost all the Countries about us have been on fire, the Sword hath raged amongst them, and it hath been threatened that it is likely we were the next, and been told us that the Sword takes its circuit and that the Lord is going about to judg the Nations of the earth, and had judged the Nations about us; but because we felt nothing, though it was near us, we had no hearts to prevent it: Therefore God is now come amongst us, and come into the very midst of us. The truth is, we in England did lie a great while as it were like a faggot upon the fire, you know when many faggots are on the fire,2 the under-faggots they are on fire and they flame, and the faggots a little above they begin to be taken, and the next above those they grow black; but if so be you would not have the uppermost faggot burnt, will you let it lie there and say, though the nethermost faggots be burnt yet this is not touched? Is not that faggot think you in danger? So I compare several Nations to faggots in the fire; It is true, Germany was the under faggot and was in the flame, and other faggots have been burning, and we in England lay as it were on the top of all, and it was a good while ere the flame took us and though we were cried unto to pluck our selves as a fi•e brand out of the fire, yet we through security lay still, and now the flame hath got us yea though we be now burning in many places in the Kingdom, ⟨p. 446⟩yet because we find that the heat of the wars are it may be twenty, thirty, or forty miles from us, how secure are we, as if God did not intend us at all, as if we had nothing to do to take notice of Gods hand upon our brethren. Wrath is pursuing, but because it is not upon us, Oh the security and desperate folly that is amongst us in the mean time! Just so it was in Germany as travellers observed, that if the wars were but a Town or a few miles from them, they went on in their trading as quietly and securely as ever till at length it came upon them and devoured them. Hath it not been so in many places in England?
Though we have been in security before, yet if Gods wrath come neer to us we had need to stir. It is high time to look to our selves when our neighbors house is on fire. The truth is,1 we in England have been a long time in deep security, though Germany, though France, though the Low C•untries, the Palatinate, Italy and almost all the Countries about us have been on fire, the Sword hath raged amongst them, and it hath been threatned that it is likely we were the next, and been told us that the Sword takes its circuit and that the Lord is going about to judg the Nations of the earth, and had judged the Nations about us; but because we felt nothing, though it was neer us, we had no hearts to prevent it: Therefore God is now come amongst us, and come into the very midst of us. The truth is, we in England did lie a great while as it were like a faggot upon the fire, you know when many faggots are on the fire,2 the under-faggots they are on fire and they flame, and the faggots a little above they begin to be taken, and the next above those they grow black; but if so be you would not have the uppermost faggot burnt, will you let it lie there and say, though the neathermost faggots be burnt yet this is not touched? Is not that faggot think you in danger? So I compare several Nations to faggots in the fire; It is true, Germany was the under faggot and was in the flame, and other faggots have been burning, and we in England lay as it were on the top of all, and it was a good while ere the flame took us and though we were cryed unto to pluck our selves as a fi•e brand out of the fire, yet we through security lay still, and now the flame hath got us yea though we be now burning in many places in the Kingdom, ⟨p. 446⟩yet because we find that the heat of the wars are it may be twenty, thirty, or fourty miles from us, how secure are we, as if God did not intend us at all, as if we had nothing to do to take notice of Gods hand upon our brethren. Wrath is pursuing, but because it is not upon us, Oh the security and desperate folly that is amongst us in the mean time! Just so it was in Germany as travellers observed, that if the wars were but a Town or a few miles from them, they went on in their trading as quietly and securely as ever till at length it came upon them and devoured them. Hath it not been so in many places in England?
- 1Englands security.
- 2A fit similitude
