L r il. XI X. Samariaesfamine releeved. 1 n51 · j !'> when luddmly God reveales to him the bloody intent, and melfageof ' '"""" and - ' he at oote reveals it to his fellows. See1" ho"' thil fonofa murderer hJth fmtt; take AIVaJ mimhead. Oh the unimitable libmy ofaProphet! The fame God thlt O>ewcd him his danger,fuggdled his words;He maybe bold,wherewe mull beawfull · S:ill is N•boths blood laid in lthorams dilh: The foule fael of Ahab blemilheth hi• Polle. rity,and now when the fon threats violence to the innocent, murder is objce!ed ro him as hereditary. He that fore.taw his own p<rill, provides for his fafety; [ sh.t the dom and hold him fo/1., the time. ]No man is boundto tender his throlt to an unjufl flroke : This bloody commillion was prevented by apropheticall fore·fi~ht: The fune eye that faw theexecutionercommingto fmite him, faw alfo the King hafting after him,to .B flay the blow:The Prophet had been no other the gull ty of his own blood,ifhe had not referved himfelfa while,for the rrfcue of authority : Oh the inconflancy ofcar. nailhearts! It was not long fince uh•wn could fay to Elifba, MJ fathtr,jhall![mitt the111! now he is ready to fmite him asnnenemv,whom he honoured as a father: Yet again, his lips had no fooner given fentence ofdeath again(! the Prophet, then his feet flir to recall it: It thould feem that Elijha, upon the challenges & expoflulations of lthorams meU:enger, had fent a per[waliye '?effage to the King of lfrad, ycca while to watt pauencly upon God for hiS dehverance :The dtlcontented Prince flies olfinan impotentanger, Beh•ltl,thil eviO iJ oftht Lord, ~hat fhould I wait fortheLord '11'f l"'ger? Oh the defperate refolutions ofimp1tienc minds !Thcy have ainted God both for his time and hismeafure; if he exceed either, they either turne theirbacks C upon him,or fly in his face: Thepolidon wastrue, the inference deadly: All that <vill was of the Lord;tbey deferved it;he fent ic: Whatthen~ It thould havr bedne therefore argued, He that feat it, can removo it: I will wait upon his mercy, under whofe juflice I fuffer:fmpatience and dittru(l thall but aggravate my judgement: 11 iJ tbe Lord,let hi,J~e~h•t ht•ill: But now to defpaire becaufe God is jufl,to defie mercy becaufe it lingers, to rcjea God for correClion,it is a prefumptuous madnelfe, an impious pettilhnelfe. Yet iofpight ofallthefe provocations both of King, and people, P.lifha hath good newes for lehor•m: 'Thmfllth tht LITII, 'TI"''""" •6••• thu time[ball ameA{tm •fftntjll,.rt bt foldfor aShekel, and tfiiD mtAji.rtsofB•riJJirla Shektl i~ thegate •fS• - m.,ia: Mif:rable Ifradnow fees an end ofthis hard triall , One dayes patL<nce I hall free them bothoffiege,and famine. Gods deliverances may over-flay our cxpee!a· D tion, not the due period of his owncounfds. Oh infinite mercy , when man f.1yes, NI longer, God fayes;tomorro.,: As ifh: would condefcend where he might judge; and would pleafe them who deferved nothing but punifhment. Theword feemed not more comfortable, then incredible: ...A Lord,oM who(t handthe King luned, aJJ- {•trttltht mani[God, and[•id, Beh•ld, iftht Lord wouldmake wi•tlooues In h<A<·tn, "'ight thil thing 6e?Prophecies,beforetheybe fulfilled,are riddks;no fpirit canareed them, but char by which theyare delivered. le is a foolith and injurioHs infidelity to quefliona poffibilicy,where we know the meffage is Gods: How eafie is it for that omnipotent hand to dfeel thofe things, which furpalfeall the reach of homane con. ceit?HadGod intenoied a miraculous multiplication,was it not as eafie for him to increafe the cornor mealeofSamaria, as thewidowes oyle? was it noras eafie for him E to give plenty ofvictuals without opening the windows of heaven, as to give plenty of water without wind or rain~ The Almighty hates tobe d1llrufled : This Peer of lfradlhall rue his unbdeef; Behold, thou fhalt fi• it with thine eJts,6•t fbalt "" w thrruf: Tile fight thall be yedded for convie!ion, the fruition thall be d<nied for puoilhment : Well is that man worthy towant the benefit which hewould not b<· leev<: Who can pity to fee infidelity excluded from the blellings ofearth, from the gloryofheoven~ How flrange a choice doth God make of the intellig<ncers offohappy • change: Foure Lepers fit at the enrring ofthe Gate, they fee nothing but death before them, famine within the wals,thc <nemy, without: The elee!ion is wofull, atla(l they re· folvc upGnthe leffer'evill; Famine is worf< then the Syrian; In the famine there is N nn nn ~ ccrrainty
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