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Verse. 9. And it shall come to passe in that day, saith the Lord, that I will cause the sun to go downe at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day.
In the third place, Whereas they trusted in their pros∣perous and comfortable condition; The Lord threatens to send a suddain change, like a Sun set at noon-day, or some suddain darkning of the earth, in day-time. Whence learn. 1. Sinners, by Gods permission and long-suffer∣ing, may enjoy a very prosperous and comfortable out∣ward condition; And this may get time to continue and encrease, till it come to an height and prime; for, so is imported, they had a noon and clear day. 2. Albeit sinners do rest and lean on such a condition; yet it can∣not secure them against God, but he is provoked to make the very height of their prosperity, the time of the sad change of their condition; and to surprize them with a stroak when they do least expect it: for, the Lord God will cause the Sun to go down at noon, and darken the earth in the clear day, See Jer. 15.9. 3 Times of calamities and real desertions will prove very sad to the impenitent and wicked, and so much the bitterer, as their condition hath been better outwardly: Therefore is their condition compared to a Sun-set, and darkned earth, and that at noon, and when the day hath been clear.