52. Then Jesus said unto the Chief Priest, and Ca∣ptains of the Temple, and the Elders which were come to him, Be ye come out as against a Thief, with Swords and Staves!
SEE how these Wretches arm themselves against Omnipotence; as if Christ, if he would, could not, with a Breath, have broke their Swords, and snapped their Staves in sunder. How secure hast thou thought thy self, O my Soul, against the Vengeance of Heaven, when Riches have flown in upon thee, and thy Friends have been multiplied! How little hast thou regarded Men's Threatnings, and, what is more, God's Anger, while thy Years have been crowned with Wealth, and Waters of a full Cup have been wrung out unto thee! This hath tempted thee to sin with a Lawless Freedom; and made thee think, God was afraid to sink thy Ves∣sel, because its Sails were of Silk. Alas, how easily could God have made thee know the Vanity of these Cobwebs; and with the least Blast blown thee up, and sent thee, with thy Riches, to the Vault of Outer Dark∣ness! Neither Treasures nor Attendants can keep out a Revenging Arm: And it is but a childish Attempt to get a strong Guard about us, that God's Rods and Axes may not reach us.