262, Chap. 3o. An Expofition upon the Book of Je B. Verf. 27. them ; Noah did both believe and feare the coming of the 'flood , and fo efcaped it ; while his faith affured him the i lood would come , his feare provoked him to provide an Arke (as God had appointed) to lave himfelfe and his in when it came. To be prevented by mercy, is the fweereft and pureft way ofreceaving mercy, and to be prevented by afflìetion is the foreft wayof enduringof iftíon. This latter age ofthe world, or (as I may call it) Dregs of Time, bath much need of this awakning confederation ; teeing Chrifi himfelfe bath foretold us that the fame Spirit of (lumber and carnal fecurity which poffeffed the old world (as wee com- monly call it) (half alto poffeffe the world when 'tis indeed grown old, ( Luke 17.26, 27, 28, 29.) As it was in the dares ofNoe,fo /baithe in the dayes ofthe Son of man,(that is,in all the dayes whereinChrift reveales himfelfe in any eminent way of judgement againft the world, and efpecially in the 14 judgement day) they dideate, they draseke, they married wives, they were gi- ven inmarriage, ( that is, theydid all thefe things as if they had nothingelfe to doe,and nothing at all to feare,though Noah had thunder'd the approachingdeluge in their ears)untill the day that Noah enterd into the Arke : and theflood came anddefiroyed them all. Thedayes of Afflidion bywater did not more prevent and furprife that old world, then the day of Afili&ion by fire (hall prevent this. That day ¡hall come when (as the Apoftle Peter fpeakes, 2 Ep: 3. 2,, 3.) (ccfers (hall come, walkingafter their owne luflr, andfaying , where yr the promife of bid coming ? Will not that day of afi&ion prevent thefe men ? Let all prepare for it, the molt will be prevented by it. )%3B 30..
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