A sermon preached upon Ezek. 22. 30, 31. Occasioned by the death of the…

Answ. The phrase is an improper kind of Speech, uttered according to the manner ⟨p. 8⟩of men, who seek in order to finding a thing: but God sees all things with one sight: but the intention of it is, to represent before us the patience of God, in delaying the full Execution of his wrath, and when Judgement hath begun, he waits to see what those Preludia of sorrows will effect upon a people, and whither they will awaken men that are in Authority to set their shoulders to this […]: Gods beginning lighter strokes upon a revolting people, are probationary, to see if there be any sparks of such a Spirit to be found in those that are Rulers, or whither there be an absolute security and sottishness fallen upon them: and when God doth this; though he may see and find many mourners in Zion, and such as tremble at his word yet these do it in secret, they save their own Souls, but the breaches are not made up by them; sin rules and reigns abroad notwithstanding, and meets no check nor restraint: In sum, when Rulers in Common-wealth and Church are not such men, there are none at all, it exceeds the advantage of men in a private Capacity to be so; so that when these men are all, either degenerate, or discouraged from their work, and do not attend it sedulously, there is none to do this business, and we may be sure the Hedge will not grow up spontaneously, or of its own accord: an apostate people will not reform of themselves, but must be quickened and led to it, if therefore they are thus neglected, breaches will no doubt grow wider every day, and new breaches will be daily made, by renewed provocations the Gap will be laid wide open, and any devouring plagues may come in.

Answ. The phrase is an improper kind of Speech, uttered according to the manner ⟨p. 8⟩of men, who seek in order to finding a thing: but God sees all things with one sight: but the intention of it is, to represent before us the patience of God, in delaying the full Execution of his wrath, and when Judgement hath begun, he waits to see what those Preludia of sorrows will effect upon a people, and whither they will awaken men that are in Authority to set their shoulders to this 〈…〉: Gods beginning lighter strokes upon a revolting people, are probationary, to see if there be any sparks of such a Spirit to be found in those that are Rulers, or whither there be an absolute security and sottishness fallen upon them: and when God doth this; though he may see and find many mourners in Zion, and such as tremble at his word yet these do it in secret, they save their own Souls, but the breaches are not made up by them; sin rules and reigns abroad notwithstanding, and meets no check nor restraint: In summe, when Rulers in Common-wealth and Church are not such men, there are none at all, it exceeds the advantage of men in a private Capacity to be so; so that when these men are all, either degenerate, or discouraged from their work, and do not attend it sedulously, there is none to do this business, and we may be sure the Hedge will not grow up spontaneously, or of its own accord: an apostate people will not reform of themselves, but must be quickned and led to it, if therefore they are thus neglected, breaches will no doubt grow wider every day, and new breaches will be dayly made, by renewed provocations the Gap will be laid wide open, and any devouring plagues may come in.