A81131:26
The arraignment of unbelief, as the grand cause of our nationall non-establishment
The arraignment of unbelief, as the grand cause of our nationall non-establishment: cleared in a sermon to the Honourable House of Commons in Parliament, at Margarets Westminster, upon the 28th. of May, 1645. being the day of their public fast. / By Joseph Caryl, late preacher to the Honourable Society of Lincolns-Inn, now pastor at Magnus near the bridge, London.The arraignment of unbelief, as the grand cause of our nationall non-establishment: cleared in a sermon to the Honourable House of Commons in Parliament, at Margarets Westminster, upon the 28th. of May, 1645. being the day of their publike fast. / By Joseph Caryl, late preacher to the Honourable Society of Lincolnes-Inne, now pastor at Magnus neer the bridge, London.
London: printed by G. Miller for Giles Calvert, 1645
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Secondly, That as soon as the Lord sees a wound in the spirits of his people, he presently provides a Physician, and sends a plaster. As soon as ever it was said, their hearts were moved, God raiseth up his Prophet, and puts a healing reviving word in his mouth to strengthen and settle them again: Go forth now to meet Ahaz, and say unto him, Take heed, and be quiet, fear not, &c.
Secondly, That as soon as the Lord sees a wound in the spirits of his people, he presently provides a Physician, and sends a plaister. As soon as ever it was said, their hearts were moved, God raiseth up his Prophet, and puts a healing reviving word in his mouth to strengthen and settle them again: Go forth now to meet Ahaz, and say unto him, Take heed, and be quiet, fear not, &c.
As the Lord gives them counsel not to fear, so he shows them reason why they should not. First, from the persons who appeared so dreadful, ver. 4. They are but two tails of smoking firebrands. As if he had said, You look upon these men as a devouring fire, or unquenchable flames; but I assure you they do but smoke, and they are but brands, and they are but tails of brands, they have almost consumed themselves; they are but brands ends, and they are smoking rather then burning. As that phrase in the Gospel, smoking flax, notes the lowest degree of grace which Jesus Christ will not quench or put out: so here, smoking firebrands, note the least degree of remaining power, or malice almost spent and going out, ⟨p. 4⟩not in regard of desires, but abilities to do mischief.
As the Lord gives them counsell not to fear, so he shewes them reason why they should not. First, from the persons who appeared so dreadfull, ver. 4. They are but two tails of smoaking firebrands. As if he had said, You look upon these men as a devouring fire, or unquenchable flames; but I assure you they do but smoak, and they are but brands, and they are but tayls of brands, they have almost consumed themselves; they are but brands ends, and they are smoaking rather then burning. As that phrase in the Gospel, smoaking flax, notes the lowest degree of grace which Jesus Christ will not quench or put out: so here, smoaking firebrands, note the least degree of remaining power, or malice almost spent and going out,