that go out by thousands to return by hundreds, and reduceth their hundreds to tens. Wee use to complain of such as un∣people Towns and Villages; sin is the Arch-depopulation of Towns and Cities, it brings the Sword, Plague and Famine upon Nations, which sweep men away by thousands. As obe∣dience multiplies a people, and makes them like the sand of the Sea for multitude, 1 King. 4.20. So disobedience makes men few in number, which were before as the Stars of heaven for multitude, Deut. 28.62. We should therefore unanimously rise in arms against this Cut-throat sin; if an enemy should come to Town that had killed our fathers, mothers, wives and children, and robbed us of all our pleasant things, with what indignation and fury would men, women and children joyntly rise to ruine such an enemy? Sin is this adversary, it robs So∣vereigns of their subjects, Pastors of their people, and robs us of our dearest relations. We should therefore do by it as the Iews did by Paul (whom they lookt upon as their adversary, Act. 22.27, 28.) when they saw him, they stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him, saying, Men of Israel help, This is he that is against this people, and against the Law, and against this place. So should we encourage each other against sin, and suppress it, saying, Ma∣gistrates, Ministers, men and brethren help, this is that which destroyes our people, wastes our Cities, unpeoples our Towns, opposeth the Laws, and brings confusion every where.
2 Obs. In the midst of judgement, God remembers mercy. All had deserved death here, yet such is his clemency that hee spares a Tenth, and leaves a remnant, Isa. 1.9. and 6.11, 12, 13. 'Tis the Lords singular mercy that any remain alive, and it is his overflowing goodness that wee are not all utterly consu∣med, and hurled out of the world at once, Lam. 3.22. In the midst of these devastations, here is a gleaning left to praise him.
3 Obs. The threatnings of Gods Ministers are Gods threat∣nings. Thus saith the Lord, the City that went out by a thou∣sand, shall leave an hundred. Tis not I (saith Amos) but the Lord by mee his weak instrument, that tells you this. Wee are Ambassadors for Christ, 2 Cor. 5.20. Now the words of an Ambassador are esteemed as the words of him that sent him. This made Cornelius (though a Souldier and a Commander) yet to set himself as in Gods presence, and so to hear as if God himself spake to him, Act. 10.33. and so did the Thessalonians,