Theol. True indeed. For it is an ordinary thing with GOD, when men will not profit by mild corrections, and common punishments, then to lay greater upon them. And when a former trouble doth us no good, we are to fear a final consuming trouble. For so we read in the Prophecy of Hosea, 1that at the first God was to Ephraim as a moth, and to Judah as rottenness: but afterward, when as they profited not by it, he was to Ephraim as a Lion, and to Judah as a Lions whelp. So the Lord saith in another place, that if they will not come in, and yield obedience at the first call of his wrath, then he will punish them seven times more: 2but if they continue in their stubbornness, then he threateneth to bring seven times more plagues upon them, 3according to their sins. If by all these they would not be reformed, but walk stubbornly against him, then he threateneth,4 yet seven times more for their sins: 5and the fourth time, yet seven times more. The proof hereof we have in the book of the Judges: where we read how the people of Israel for their sins were in subjection ⟨p. 231⟩to the King of Aram Naharaim eight years: afterward,6 because they profited nothing by it, but returned to their old sins; therefore they served Eglon King of Moab eighteen years.7 After that again, for their new sins and provocations, the Lord gave them up into the hands of Midian seven years. After all this,8 for the renewing of their sins, the Lord sold them into the hands of the Philistines and the Ammonites, 9which did grievously vex and oppress them for the space of eighteen years. Last of all we read, that when neither famine,10 nor pestilence could cause them to return unto him, then he delivered them up to the sword of their enemies, and held them in bondage and captivity threescore and ten years. After all this, when they were delivered out of captivity, and returned home safely to their own Nation, and enjoyed some good time of peace and rest, yet at last they fell to the renewing of their sins: and therefore the Lord plagued them most grievously, by the divided Greek Empire, even Magog and Egypt, 11Seleuciae and Lagidae, and that by the space almost of three hundred years.
Theol. True indeed. For it is an ordinary thing with GOD, when men will not profit by milde corrections, and common punishments, then to lay greater upon them. And when a former trouble doth us no good, we are to feare a finall consuming trouble. For so we reade in the Prophecy of Hosea, 1that at the first God was to Ephraim as a moth, and to Judah as rottennesse: but afterward, when as they profited not by it, he was to Ephraim as a Lion, and to Judah as a Lions whelp. So the Lord saith in another place, that if they will not come in, and yeeld obedience at the first call of his wrath, then he will punish them seven times more: 2but if they continue in their stubbornnesse, then hee threatneth to bring seven times more plagues upon them, 3according to their sins. If by all these they would not be reformed, but walke stubbornly against him, then hee threatneth,4 yet seven times more for their sinnes: 5and the fourth time, yet seven times more. The proofe hereof we have in the booke of the Iudges: where wee reade how the people of Israel for their sins were in subjection ⟨p. 231⟩to the King of Aram Naharaim eight yeares: afterward,6 because they profited nothing by it, but returned to their old sinnes; therefore they served Eglon King of Moab eighteen yeares.7 After that againe, for their new sinnes and provocations, the Lord gave them up into the hands of Midian seven yeares. After all this,8 for the renewing of their sins, the Lord sold them into the hands of the Philistims and the Ammonites, 9which did grievously vexe and oppresse them for the space of eighteen yeares. Last of all wee reade, that when neither famine,10 nor pestilence could cause them to returne unto him, then he delivered them up to the sword of their enemies, and held them in bondage and captivity threescore and ten yeares. After all this, when they were delivered out of captivity, and returned home safely to their owne Nation, and enjoyed some good time of peace and rest, yet at last they fell to the renewing of their sins: and therefore the Lord plagued them most grievously, by the divided Greeke Empire, even Magog and Egypt,
- 1Hos. 3.12.
- 2Lev. 26.18.
- 3Ver. 21.
- 4Ver. 24.
- 5Ver. 28.
- 6Judg. 3.8.
- 7Judg. 3.
- 8Judg. 6.1.
- 9Judg. 10.7.
- 10Psal. 103.3.
- 11Ezek. 3•.
