A85436:26
The great interest of states & kingdoms. A sermon preached before the Honourable House…The great interest of states & kingdomes. A sermon preached before the Honorable House…
The great interest of states & kingdoms. A sermon preached before the Honourable House of Commons, at their late solemn fast, Feb. 25. 1645. / By Tho: Goodwin, B.D. one of the Assembly of Divines.The great interest of states & kingdomes. A sermon preached before the Honorable House of Commons, at their late solemne fast, Feb. 25. 1645. / By Tho: Goodwin, B.D. one of the Assembly of Divines.
London: printed for R. Dawlman, 1646
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.
Having thus explained the words, I come to those Observations which I shall make out of them, and insist on at this time. I resolve the words into these three parts.
1. Here is the nearness and the dearness of the Saints ⟨p. 6⟩unto God; They are dearer to him then Kings and States, simply considered; that is, otherwise then as they in their persons are also Saints; for you see that for their sakes he reproved Kings, and so showeth that he preferreth them to Kings.
1. Here is the neerenesse and the dearnesse of the Saints ⟨p. 6⟩unto God; They are dearer to him then Kings and States, simply considered; that is, otherwise then as they in their persons are also Saints; for you see that for their sakes he reproved Kings, and so sheweth that he preferreth them to Kings.
2. Here is the great danger to Kings and States, to deal with his Saints otherwise then well. Which appeareth many ways: For he doth not only in words give a charge not to touch them, but he carries it in a high way, (for so God may do when he pleads their cause) Touch them not: as if he had said, Let me see if you dare so much as touch them: and it is with an intimation of the highest threatening if they should; upon your peril, if you do; for that is the scope of such a speech: and accordingly in deeds he made this good, for the Text saith, He suffered no man to do them wrong; Not that he did altogether prevent all wrong and injuries, for they received many as they went through those lands; but at no time did he put it up at their hands, or let it go unpunished: in that sense he suffered them not. You know how he plagued Pharaoh King of Egypt with great plagues, and all his household, for Abraham's wives sake,