Revel. 14.18. Though he bear long yet he will not alwayes bear, but when sin is come to maturity, he will cut it down with the sickle of his wrath, and will recompence his patience with the fierceness of his fury; and then though Noah, Iob, and Daniel should stand before him for such a people, yet they could not prevail, Ezek. 14.14, 20. nor preserve them from ruine, Ier. 16.5. Lam. 4.18. Ezek. 5.11. & 7.5, 6. Nah. 1.8, 9.
Q. But when are a people ripe for ruine?
A. I have shewed at large elsewhere, viz. when the mul∣titude, magnitude, strength, growth, impudency, and obsti∣nacy of peoples sins are come to the height, then is a peoples downfall near; when no Preaching, no Praying, no Judge∣ments, no Mercies can better a People, but they fall away more and more, and grow worse and worse, it is a most cer∣tain sign that sin is ripe, and that people nigh to ruine.
3 God will not spare his own people when they rebel against him.
Though Israel be his People, and in Covenant with him, yet if they walk not up to the terms of the Covenant, God will cast them off, and bring an end even upon Israel, for so saith the text, The end is come upon my people of Israel. Peo∣ple are apt to sooth themselves up in their Priviledges, and to think that their Prerogatives should save them from wrath, but in vain, as I have shewed elsewhere.