2. A second principle, whereby they are put upon their enquiries, is Fear. They fear them, and therefore will know how things stand with them, and what are the works of God amongst them. Hab. 3. 7. I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction, and the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble; I saw it; when God was doing the great work described in that Chapter with many lofty allegorical expressions, of bringing his people out of bondage, to settle them in a new state and condition; the nations round about, that looked on them, were filled with affliction, fear and trembling. They were afraid whither these things would grow. Psal. 48▪ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the City of our God, in the mountain of his holiness; Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the City of the great King; God is known in her palaces for a refuge. For lo, the Kings were assembled, they passed by together; They saw it and so they marvelled, they were troubled and so they hasted away; For fear took hold upon them there, and pain as of a woman in travail. The close of all the considerations of these Kings, and their attendants, is, that fear took hold upon them. Fear is solicitous and enquiring; it ⟨p. 17⟩will leave nothing unsearched, unlooked into, it would find the inside and bottom of every thing wherein it is concerned. Though the more it finds, the more it is increased, yet the greater still are its enquiries; fearing more what it know's not, then what it know's, what is behind, then what appear's. This put's the nations upon their inquiry, they are afraid what these things will grow to. Psalm. 126. 2. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing, then said they among the heathen, the Lord hath done great things for them: They are the words of men pondering their affairs, and filled with fear at the issue: If God do such things as these for them, what think you will be the issue? I dare say of the proudest adversaries of the people of God at this day; notwithstanding all their anger they are more afraid then angry. The like also may be said concerning their wrath, revenge, and curiosity, all pressing them to such Enquiries.
2. A second principle, whereby they are put upon their enquiries, is Feare. They feare them, and therefore will know how things stand with them, and what are the works of God amongst them. Hab. 3. 7. I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction, and the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble; I saw it; when God was doing the great work described in that Chapter with many lofty allegoricall expressions, of bringing his people out of bondage, to settle them in a new state and condition; the nations round about, that looked on them, were filled with affliction, feare and trembling. They were afraid whither these things would grow. Psal. 48▪ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the City of our God, in the mountain of his holinesse; Beautifull for situation, the joy of the whole earth is mount Sion, on the sides of the north, the City of the great King; God is known in her pallaces for a refuge. For lo, the Kings were assembled, they passed by together; They saw it and so they marvelled, they were troubled and so they hasted away; For feare took hold upon them there, and pain as of a woman in travail. The close of all the considerations of these Kings, and their attendants, is, that feare took hold upon them. Feare is sollicitous and enquiring; it ⟨p. 17⟩will leave nothing unsearched, unlooked into, it would find the inside and bottome of every thing wherein it is concerned. Though the more it finds, the more it is increased, yet the greater still are its enquiries; fearing more what it know's not, then what it know's, what is behind, then what appear's. This put's the nations upon their inquiry, they are afraid what these things will grow to. Psalm. 126. 2. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing, then said they among the heathen, the Lord hath done great things for them: They are the words of men pondering their affaires, and filled with feare at the issue: If God doe such things as these for them, what think you will be the issue? I dare say of the proudest adversaries of the people of God at this day; notwithstanding all their anger they are more afraid then angry. The like also may be said concerning their wrath, revenge, and curiositie, all pressing them to such Enquiries.
