Preparation for sufferings. Or The best work in the worst times Wherein the necessity,…

Thirdly, Stupidity, and senselessness of Gods hand, and the tokens of his anger, was a provoking cause, and forerunning of their National desolation; they neither saw the hand of God when it was lifted up, nor humbled themselves under it when it was laid on; the hand of God ⟨p. 18⟩is then said to be lifted up, when the Providences of God prepare and posture themselves for our affliction; when the Clouds of Judgment gather over our heads, and grow blacker and blacker, as theirs did upon them, and do upon us at this day, but they took no notice of it, Isa. 26.11. Lord, when thy hand is lifted up, they will not see; and (which is the height of stupidity) they all remain senseless and regardless when the Hand of God was laid upon them, Isa. 24.25. Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not the Lord? he against whom we have sinned, for they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient to his Law; therefore he hath poured upon them the fury of his anger, and the strength of Battle, and it hath set him on fire round about, and he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart. O prodigious sottishness! it was not some small drops of Gods anger, but the fury of his anger, not some lighter skirmish of his Judgments with them, but the strength of Battle; it was not some particular strokes upon single persons, or families, but it set him on fire round about, a general Conflagration; yet all this would not awaken them.

Thirdly, Stupidity, and senslesness of Gods hand, and the tokens of his anger, was a provoking cause, and forerunning of their National desolation; they neither saw the hand of God when it was lifted up, nor humbled themselves under it when it was laid on; the hand of God ⟨p. 18⟩is then said to be lifted up, when the Providences of God prepare and posture themselves for our affliction; when the Clouds of Judgment gather over our heads, and grow blacker and blacker, as theirs did upon them, and do upon us at this day, but they took no notice of it, Isa. 26.11. Lord, when thy hand is lifted up, they will not see; and (which is the height of stupidity) they all remain sensless and regardless when the Hand of God was laid upon them, Isa. 24.25. Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not the Lord? he against whom we have sinned, for they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient to his Law; therefore he hath poured upon them the fury of his anger, and the strength of Battel, and it hath set him on fire round about, and he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart. O prodigious sottishness! it was not some small drops of Gods anger, but the fury of his anger, not some lighter skirmish of his Judgments with them, but the strength of Battel; it was not some particular stroaks upon single persons, or families, but it set him on fire round about, a general Conflagration; yet all this would not awaken them.