behold and enquire in the open places thereof, if ye can find a man, or if there be any that executeth Judgement, and seeketh the truth: and I will spare it. Oh then mark and consider, what a man may do: yea, what one man may do: what an Abraham may do: what a Moses may do: what an Elijah may do: what a Daniel, what a Samuel, what a Job, what a Noah may do! Some one man (by reason of his high favour with the Eternal) is able sometimes to do more for a Land by his prayers and tears, then many prudent men ⟨p. 235⟩by their counsel, or valiant men by their swords. Yea, it doth evidently appear (in the sacred Volume of the holy Ghost) that some one poor Preacher, being full of the Spirit and Power of Elijah, doth more in his Study (either for offence, or defence: either for the turning away of wrath, or the procuring of mercy) then a camp royal, even forty thousand strong: yea (as the Spirit speaketh) Though they all have their swords girded to their thighs, 1and be of the most valiant men in Israel. And this is clearly proved in one verse of the book of Psalms, where the Prophet, having reckoned up the sins of the people, addeth,2 Therefore the Lord minded to destroy them, had not Moses (his chosen) stood in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them. See therefore what one man may do with God. Some one man doth so bind the hands of God, that when he would strike, he hath no power to do it: as it is said of Lot, 3I can do nothing till thou be come out. See how the Lord saith, he can do nothing, because he will do nothing: He doth wittingly and willingly suffer his hands to be manacled and bound behind him, for some few sake, which he doth make more account of then all the world ⟨p. 236⟩besides; so precious and dear are they in his sight. Likewise it is written, that the Lord was exceedingly incensed against the Israelites for their Idolatrous Calf which they made in Horeb: yet he could do nothing, because Moses would not let him. And therefore he falleth to entreating of Moses, that Moses would let him alone, and entreat no more for them. Oh (saith the Lord to Moses) let me alone, 4that my wrath may wax hot against this people, and that I may consume them. Thus we see, that except Lo• go out of the City, and Moses let him alone, he can do nothing. O the profoundness and altitude of Gods mercy toward mankind!
behold and enquire in the open places thereof, if yee can find a man, or if there be any that executeth Judgement, and seeketh the truth: and I will spare it. Oh then marke and consider, what a man may doe: yea, what one man may doe: what an Abraham may doe: what a Moses may doe: what an Eliah may doe: what a Daniel, what a Samuel, what a Job, what a Noah may do! Some one man (by reason of his high favour with the Eternall) is able sometimes to doe more for a Land by his prayers and teares, then many prudent men ⟨p. 235⟩by their counsell, or valiant men by their swords. Yea, it doth evidently appeare (in the sacred Volumne of the holy Ghost) that some one poore Preacher, being full of the Spirit and Power of Eliah, doth more in his Study (either for offence, or defence: either for the turning away of wrath, or the procuring of mercy) then a camp royall, even forty thousand strong: yea (as the Spirit speaketh) Though they all have their swords girded to their thighs, 1and bee of the most valiant men in Israel. And this is cleerly proved in one verse of the booke of Psalmes, where the Prophet, having reckoned up the sinnes of the people, addeth,2 Therefore the Lord minded to destroy them, had not Moses (his chosen) stood in the breach, to turne away his wrath, lest hee should destroy them. See therefore what one man may doe with God. Some one man doth so bind the hands of God, that when he would strike, he hath no power to doe it: as it is said of Lot, 3I can doe nothing till thou be come out. See how the Lord saith, hee can doe nothing, because hee will doe nothing: Hee doth wittingly and willingly suffer his hands to be manacled and bound behind him, for some fewes sake, which he doth make more account of then all the world ⟨p. 236⟩besides; so precious and deare are they in his sight. Likewise it is written, that the Lord was exceedingly incensed against the Israelites for their Idolatrous Calfe which they made in Horch: yet hee could doe nothing, because Moses would not let him. And therefore he falleth to entreating of Moses, that Moses would let him alone, and entreat no more for them. Oh (saith the Lord to Moses) let mee alone, 4that my wrath may wax hot against this people, and that I may consume them. Thus we see, that except Lo• goe out of the City, and Moses let him alone, he can doe nothing. O the profoundnesse and altitude of Gods mercy toward mankind!
- 1Cant. 3.7.
- 2Psal. 106.23.
- 3Gen. 29.30.
- 4Exod. 32.1•.
