A81241:190
Gods rising, his enemies scattering
Gods rising, his enemies scattering; delivered in a sermon before the Honourable House of Commons, at their solemn fast, 26. Octob. 1642. But, through many occasions and hinderances, not printed till this 25. of May 1644. By Thomas Case, preacher, at Milk-street, London, and one of the Assembly of Divines.Gods rising, his enemies scattering; delivered in a sermon before the Honourable House of Commons, at their solemne fast, 26. Octob. 1642. But, through many occasions and hinderances, not printed till this 25. of May 1644. By Thomas Case, preacher, at Milk-street, London, and one of the Assembly of Divines.
London: printed by J. R. for Luke Fawne, 1644
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.
This being the unhappiness of all wicked men, and haters of God, that though they have murdered their consciences, in respect of the instigative, and directive Office of conscience, they cannot kill it in respect of the accusing, condemning, and executing office of conscience. Though they have killed conscience as a Preacher, they cannot kill conscience as a Judge and executioner; or if they have wounded, and seared conscience so, that it seems to lie dead for a time, yet this is their misery, when God awakes, conscience will awake too, when God ariseth, conscience revives, to take Gods part against them, and that in a double reference.
This being the unhappinesse of all wicked men, and haters of God, that though they have murthered their consciences, in respect of the instigative, and directive Office of conscience, they cannot kill it in respect of the accusing, condemning, and executing office of conscience. Though they have kil'd conscience as a Preacher, they cannot kill conscience as a Judge and executioner; or if they have wounded, and seared conscience so, that it seems to lie dead for a time, yet this is their misery, when God awakes, conscience will awake too, when God ariseth, conscience revives, to take Gods part against them, and that in a double reference.
First, In reference to their persons; conscience will arise, when God ariseth to tell them that they are none of Gods, as ⟨p. 30⟩you see in Cain; conscience began to misgive, sad and ominous forebodings there lay upon his spirit, that God had chosen his brother, and rejected him; conscience began to tell him, that God hated him, and that was the ground of his malice against his brother, and against God too: And so it is with wicked men, the haters of God, when God ariseth against them: As God gives his children some prelibations, and praegustations of his love, and of that glory to which he hath ordained them, sealing them up to the day of redemption; so God gives his enemies some prae-apprehensions, and fore-tastings, some secret earnests, and impressions of his wrath, and final rejection, sealing them as it were up to eternal perdition. Oh saith their consciences, God hates me; Oh that I were above God, &c.