To the extent possible under law, the Text Creation Partnership has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above, according to the terms of the CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/). This waiver does not extend to any page images or other supplementary files associated with this work, which may be protected by copyright or other license restrictions. Please go to http://www.textcreationpartnership.org/ for more information.
So two or three Cities wandred unto one City to drink wa∣ter, but they were not satisfied; yet have yee not re∣turned unto me, saith the Lord.
RAin in the Land of Canaan where Israel dwelt, it being a very hot Eastern Country, was very necessary, not only
for the fruites of the earth, but also for the quenching of thirst both of Man and Beast, especially if it be true which some learned men affirm, viz. That there were but few Springs here, and no considerable rivers but only Iordan; this made them glad to keep Rain-water in Cisterns for all uses, being most afflicted with Thirst and Drought if it rained not.
This made them run from one City to another to seek wa∣ter; for as hunger, so thirst breaks thorow all di••ficulties. Those Cities that had no water, did run to those Cities that had either Spring-Water, or Rain-water, but they were not sufficed, saith the text, so great was the Drought, and so many that wanted, that they could not get water enough to relieve their necessities, no not in those pla∣ces where they had heard that it had rained. This shewes the great straight that they were in, no digging nor delving for Water at home could help them, no new nor old Springs could supply them, but they were forced to leave their houses, and to goe from City to City to seek water, and yet they could not be satisfied; for the Wells, or Water which might sup∣ply one City, yet could not supply so many. This one would think should have awakened them, and brought them to Re∣pentance, no doubt but it did afright them, and made them sad, but yet they were not bettered by their sadness, for they went on still in their sins and superstitions dangerously, and desperately, without any returning, and therefore the Lord upbraids them once more with a yet have yee not returned unto me, saith the Lord.
1 Sin, and specially the sin of Idolatry brings a People into great straights. The Earth here languisheth, the Corn wither∣eth, and men run up and down for water to quench their thirst▪ and yet cannot get it, and why is all this? why for the sin and Apostacy of this people, 1 King. 8.35. & 17.1.
2 Obs. God hath variety of Iudgements in store, where∣with to punish a rebellious people. If want of Bread will not mend them, he will try what want of VVater will doe, and if nei∣ther of these will work, yet he hath the Pestilence and Sword
to follow. Great Judgements are like great men, they seldom goe alone, they have many attendants. Hence when the Lord had threatned many sore Judgements against his People, hee tells them that if they will not be reformed by these things, he will yet plague them seven times more, according to their sins, yea and seven to that, and seven to that (Levit. 26.18.21.24.28.) seven times, that is, many times, and more ex∣treamly than formerly; if one Judgement will not work upon Pharaoh, he hath nine more that shall, and if lesser will not stir and mend him, he hath greater that shall end him, Exod. 11. & 12. God hath not only written Judgements, but also many unwritten ones to send upon a rebellious people, Deut. 28.61.
3 Obs. True repentance is a very difficult thing. It is not so easily wrought as many imagine. This people here had Line upon Line, Sermon upon Sermon, Prophet upon Prophet, and Plague upon Plague, and yet you see the charge lies a∣gainst them still, that they had not yet returned to the Lord. The change of nature is no easie thing, it is an act of Omnipo∣tency; now true repentance is no less than the changing of the nature, it is not only a change of the words, or of the works, but of the heart and inward man; it is the changing of a Lion into a Lamb, of a VVolf into a Sheep, of Fire into VVater, and of Darkness into Light, Isa. 11.8. Ephes. 5.8. None can change Nature, but the God of Nature, no rods or afflictions of themselves can doe it; they rather stupifie men, or else make them fret, and so drive them further from God, till he by his grace doe sanctifie them, and set them home up∣on our hearts, they will never better us; how many are cor∣rected, but are never taught; but when the Lord teacheth Mortification, Sanctification, Humiliation, and obedience by our sufferings, then happy are we, Psal. 94.12.
V, Babington on Exod. 11.1. p. 221. folio.
Se Mr. Case his Morning Lecture, quarto p. 487.
See an excel∣lent little Tract of Mr. Cases, on Psal. 94.12. and Mr. Harsnets Cor∣dial for the Af∣flicted, and Trapps Love Tokenss