Greenham - Houston-Packer Collection BX9315 .G82 1601

on the ll9.PPfalme. 597 Butthis isWallin and fpeciall graceofGod, tobeexempted from thatgenerallcorruption; as was Naah,whowaspreferued towalkbefore theLordatfuch time, as all ftefh had corruptedhis waierand Lot who hueda iuli maneuen amongthe fihhieSodomites. If then we fhal bepre- krued from corrupt religion,when religion isvfedbutofcuflome, andnot of confcience,when isisvfedcoldly,and thereisno heat in it,f when mensmanners aregenerally becomecorrupt, fo that there isnohumilitie, no mercies no pities nochaftitie, nopuritie, norighteoufneffe,no true dealing, no careof our neighbourscredit ; wee can walke inthe loveof God , and obedience of bis will, doubilelfethisisafpeciallgraceofGod. thisfenfe theProphet prayedon thisforte. Therefore haueI doubted myprayer , becaufe I feefolittlehelpe among men , I cannot feeany goodexamples toedifieme, Lord helpemer It is time for theeO Lord toworke , formenham deflroyed thy lam Wefee then how wet thisdependeth on that which goethbefore. For in the beginningof thisPortion lice prayed, thathe might not beoppreffedof his enemies, now bee praieth thathis enemies might be fuppreffed. . At thefirft fight thiswould feemenot tobe a charitablekinde of dealing, to pray againlihis enemies, becaufe loue requireth that we lhouldpray forour enemies : how thendoth this agree o withthe rule of loue?orfhallwe thinke that the manofGoddid any thinghereagainll thelaw omt óf chatitie.? Webane (hewed , that the children of Godwere neuerinkindled withwrath lot HainJi eñmies. their ownecaufe,but for the breach of the lawof God : fo this manof God, hadno refpebì of himfelfe,but ofÇods law : hisesufe wasgood , his perfecutours caufe waseuill, her hurt them not, but laboute bÿallmeanestooueecomethemwithgood, hedid notfor awhile, but con. tinued long in it; he wasnot wearie ofhisweldoing,bist went forward, euento the veryfailing of hiseyes,yea hiseyes,ashefaith in the Ian verfeof the7.Portion, gufh outwithScares, becaufe their finnes werefo great; hee taught peace,and enfued it, andyet he taw noamendment,but that they wereworfe and ,totfe : wherefore, feeing their thinewaspaft recouerie, andthat there was no ordinarie helpeon earth, her prayeth God rodealewith them fromheaurn. Neither clothhepray herefor their confulion and otter perdition, as fome may falfely thinke, but rather fheweth,that is is now time, that theLord (hould vfe tome chaflifement , that theymay know that there wasa God,and that theyhad broken thelawesof God,that theythey might come to a fight and feelingoftheir finne , that they mightbepunilhed, if it were fothe willof God,to 7(ate. theirconuerfion,or at the leaft,that they mightbenomorea plagueto theworld,anda reproch totheword. When ouraffe&ionsaremingledwith ourcaufe ,weare tbfufpedl our felues, butotherwife whenwe hauea good caufe, and fee that we haue perfeuered in executing iudgement andiu. ffire, and yet the iniquitieofour aduerfarieslayeth it Idle fo open , that it groweth defperatr,r thenwemay deftrethe Lordto takehis caufe intohisowne hand. Andhere wearetoobferue, theProphet faith, Theybane &c.wherehenoteth not any par- ticular perfon, notmakethmentionof thedelituaÜonof any fingularman, butyfah ageneral! rule; whereeforeforourinfiruéiion, theirrulesaremorediligentlytobeobfetued. Fiat, we are Fntes for NY to looke,that our caufe begood,andour aduerfariescaufe beeuil. Secondly,thatvve benot in- Mega"'it efe- cenfedvvithanger, becaulevveearecontemned, but becaufèGodsvvordisdefpifed. Thirdly, that vvekeepeour(clues inovendoing , and thereby heape coales of fire vpon their head,that a vvebeare them,euen to thebreakingofourbackes: Fourthly, then,vvhenavehautevfed cour- ; troutadmonitions, andby theMinifterieof thevvord, orMagifiracte,if the matter forequire, 4 and may be obtained,haue fought to turne them.Fifily,vvhen ryehaueprayed for theiramend- í ment, andwept for their finnes, andyet all theft things will not ferue,wemay fay as ina lafi re- fuge, Lord take the rodinto thinehand, fpare themnot; alwayesprouidingthis, that weepray not againftanyparticularperfon , butteaue themtoGods fecret iudgement. 'Thus we fee here is no breachofcharitie. But now adayeswee mayhereby fee, men reuengerather theirowneof a fiions, then defend Gods glory. Wherefore whenwe haue prayed ill againil them,for whomwee neuer prayedfor some prayed , good, I fay to them, tremble andfeare t for this is notthe zealepf Eliah; this isnot thezeale of vviththegea t Dared; k is azeale of thefie(h andnot of the fpirite, itwill worke their fingular woe, vnleffe ofthefteih. theyrepent. Jr i.e time. That manofGod here teacheth Gods children,that when Gods law isde- firoyed,

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