B36604:98
Preparation for sufferings. Or The best work in the worst times Wherein the necessity,…
Preparation for sufferings. Or The best work in the worst times Wherein the necessity, excellency, and means of our readiness for sufferings are evinced and prescribed; our call to suffering cleared, and the great unreadiness of many professors bewailed. By John Flavel minister of Christ in Devon.Preparation for sufferings. Or The best work in the worst times Wherein the necessity, excellency, and means of our readiness for sufferings are evinced and prescribed; our call to suffering cleared, and the great unreadiness of many profesours bewailed. By John Flavel minister of Christ in Devon.
London: printed for Robert Boulter, 1681
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.
5. In the next place, this fore-sight and preparation, must needs be an excellent thing, because the Spirit of God every where sets an honourable Character upon it, and always mentions such persons with some singular and commendation and respect. These only are wise men in the Judgment of God; and all the rest (what great Politicians soever they are famed to be among men) are accounted Fools, Prov. 22.3. Eccles. 2.14. The Wise mans Eyes are in his head; that is, he is a foreseeing man; but the Fool goes on, and is punished: Rushes on without consideration, suspecting no danger that he at present sees not, and so smarts for his folly. Beloved, there are Signs of the Times, as well as of the Weather, Mat. 16.3. You may see the Clouds of Judgment gathering before the Storm falls upon you: And this is the meaning of Zeph. 2.1, 2. Gather your selves together, before the Decree bring forth, and the Day pass as the Chaff. Where there is a Conception of Judgment, there will be a Birth, unless the Reformations and Prayers of ⟨p. 32⟩the Saints give it a miscarrying Womb. But it requires Wisdom to discern this; they must be men of much Observation, that can descry it at a great distance: yet this may be done, by considering what GOD hath done in like Cases in former Ages, when Nations have been guilty of the same sins as now they are: For God is as just now as then, and hates sin as much as ever he did; and partly, by attending to things present, to what fullness and maturity the sins of a Nation are grown, Joel 3.16. or what beginnings of Judgment are already upon a people, as Harbingers and Fore-runners of more at hand, Luke 3.30, 31. 1 Sam. 2.12. Or what is the universal Vote and Cry of Gods Ministers, who are his Watch-men to foresee danger,