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Or shall a trumpet be blowne in the citie, and the people be not afrayd? or shall there be euill in a citie, and the Lord hath 〈◊〉〈◊〉 done it?
THe fourth similitude the which with that following conteineth as it were an ouerplus, that is to say, most earnest exhortations, and sheweth what is the most true fruite of the former admoni∣tion, and what is their dutie, vnto whom God threatneth any thing that is, that they giue diligent eare or heed vnto those threatnings
of God, and doe in the end themselues repent.* 1.1 For like as when a trumpet giueth a signe or token out of a watch tower, the people hearkeneth, and is troubled, and prepare themselues this way, or that way, accordingly as the trumpet gaue the token: so at the voyce of GOD, as a most shrill trumpet, wee ought to be atten∣tiue, or giue eare, and to bee moued with the sound thereof, and accordingly as he giueth warning, prepare our selues, and looke a∣bout vs.
* 1.2And these words (Is there an euill in the citie, and the Lord hath not done it?) are a reason, whereby the great loue of God euen to∣wards those whom he punisheth, is described, as who doth first ex∣presly shewe them of these punishments, to wit, to this end, that they might auoyd them, and amend themselues. Which thing if they doe not, then God doth chastise and correct them, and that iustly, as obstinate or disobedient persons. God then according vn∣to his singular and endles mercie towards his Church, doth fore∣shewe his iudgements, wherewith he doth punish her, if she doe not repent. After which manner God is not alwaies wont to deale with other people: but towards his Church he is exceedingly and singularly mercifull. To this purpose, besides many other places, appertaineth almost the whole 65. chap. of the Prophet Isai, where God maketh a notable difference betweene his Church, and those that appertaine not vnto the same, but especially vers. 13.14.15. Therefore thus sayth the Lord God, Behold, my seruants shall eate,* 1.3 and ye shall be hungrie: behold, my seruants shall drinke, and ye shall be a thirst: behold, my seruants shall reioyce, and ye shall be ashamed. Be∣hold, my seruants shall sing for ioy of heart,* 1.4 and ye shall crye for sorrow of heart, and shall houle for vexation of mind. And ye shall leaue your name as a curse vnto my chosen: for the Lord God shal slay you, and call his seruants by another name.
But here by the name of (Euill) we doe not vnderstand sinne, or the euill of guiltinesse, but affliction or trouble, or the euill of pu∣nishment. For God is not either the author, or the cause of our sinne, but we our selues. And so Iames cap. 1. vers. 13.14. teacheth, when he sayth: Let no man say when he is tempted, (that is, moued vnto e∣uill) I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with euill, nei∣ther tempteth he any man (vnto euil) But euery man is tempted, when he is drawne away by his owne concupiscence, and is entised. And the Prophet Osee doth learne vs, that God is not the author of our de∣struction, but of our saluation, cap. 13. ver. 9. O Israel (sayth he) one
hath destroyed thee, but in me is thine helpe. Speaking thus in the per∣son of God.
The fourth si∣militude.
The great loue of God towards those whom he punisheth.
What is ment by the word (Euill) in this place.
Euill