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But because for mine owne part, * 1.1 M••••gis misercor gaudentem in flagitio, quam dura perpessum de∣trimento perniciosae voluptatis, aut amissione mise•• ae faelicitatis, I pitie more a great deale impenitent Sinners rejovcing in sinne, then others howsoever grievously af∣flicted with Crosses or Calami∣ties:
If wee consider, First, the publike punishments of Sin, which are alwayes infallible evidences of the Lords displeasure against sinners; Wee may perceiue that though the Lord hath smitten vs more then the Men of Beth∣shemesh, yea then the Assyrians, * 1.2 at one time; Yet we rejoyce rather in our Sins, then lament them. Verely wee haue seene with our Eyes, even those Iudgements which may be abundant matter of Weeping, and are very neere fore-runners of the great and terrible day of the Lord. Wee haue seene prodigious Appariti∣ons in the Ayre, incredible In∣vndations in the Sea, wee haue had incomparable Earthquakes, fearefull Fires in our Houses, Extraordinary Plagues in the most Populous parts of this Kingdome, grievous and pining
Famines, vnseasonable Seasons, and many more Visitations, all which we haue felt in such extre∣mity and vehemency, of which these parts of the World are not naturally capable: So certaine it is that the Finger of God hath beene in them. * 1.3 And even now, the Sword is sharpened, and also fourbished; It is sharpened to make a sore slaughter; It is four∣bished, that it may glitter; Should wee then make Mirth? Or should we not rather Mourne and Weepe? May we not com¦ plaine. * 1.4 Ecce irrogantur divinitus plagae, & nullus Dei metus est; Ecce verbera desuper & flagella non desunt, sed trepidatio nulla, nulla formido est. Si non interce∣deret rebus humanis vel ista censu∣ra; Quanto ad hue Major in homi∣nibus esset audacia facinorum, im∣punitate secura? Behold, Behold,
We feele the Iudgements of the Lord, yet we feare not the Lord; What if Man were not thus pu∣nished, how much more secure would his boldnesse be, through the impunity of his Sinnes? Death and Bloodshed, Strife and Sword, Calamities, Famine, Tribulation, and the Scourge, these things the Lord hath crea∣ted for the Wicked to punish them. For there is no Evill (of Punishment) but the Lord hath done it: * 1.5 And every such evill is inflicted for Sinne; * 1.6 So evident it is that whatsoever common Punishments doe befall vs, they are from the Lord, and likewise for sinne. * 1.7 If Mordecai then and the Iewes had cause to Weepe, at the bloody Decree of an Earthly King; * 1.8 how much more cause haue we to Weepe at the Revelation of the Righteous
judgements of God? And with the Prophet, to Weepe bitterly, and not be comforted, because of the spoyling of the daughter of our People. For now is a day of trouble, and of treading downe, and of Perplexitie by the Lord God of Hosts. What shall wee then thinke or say of these punishments, * 1.9 but as Moses and Aaron of one suddaine Pesti∣lence, There is Wrath gone forth from the Lord, and the Plague is begun. * 1.10 For the Lord hath a Controversie with the Inhabitants of our Land, be∣cause there is no Trueth, nor Mercy, nor Knowledge of God in the Land; By Swearing, and Lying, and Killing, and Stealing, and committing Adultery, they breake out, and Blood toucheth Blood; Therefore shall the land Mourne. And therefore doth
our Land Mourne, and yet we doe not Mourne, for all these Signes of our displeased God.
Aug Conf. l. 3. c. 2.
1 Sam 16.19. 2 Sam. 19.35.
Ezek. 21.9.
Cypr. ad Demet.
Amos 36.
Lam 3.37.
Esth. 4.3.
Isa. 22.4.5.
Numb. 16.46.
Hos 4.1.