G 0 D COMPARED TO A B E A R. Book II. SIMILR PARALLEL come upon them. Pliny fhews us*, fets out the fearful Wrath of God againft wicked how they hide their Heads, and Men. God fees his infinite Wifdom on work, to what great Policy they ufe in feizfind out fit Times and Opportunities to let out ing their Prey. his Wrath and Fury upon them: I will watch over them for Evil, Jer. xliv. 27. The Lore\ watches over his own People for Good; but wo to them, that he like a Leopard, ob– ferves, and watches over to deftroy. It lS marvellous to confider, how long the pati– ent God bears wnh an ungodly Soul, People, or Nation, ere he brincrs his fweepino– Judgments in upon them. The Wicked think God will never !hike, becaufe he de~ fers the Execution of his Wrath, and hence they are hardened in an evil Work. When -alas poor Souls! they are greatly miftaken; God is watching for a fitter Time, where– in he will get himfelf a greater Name, and more Glory in their Dellruetion, Pfal. I. 2 1, <and x. I r, 13, '4· We have a plain Proof of this in Pharaoh King of Egypt; God like a Leopard, obferved him, and watched over him for Evil; and at laft, thoucrh it was not prefently, got hold of him, and broke his Bones, and defrroyed his Power, 0 and all his mighty Hol1. God's Time of executing his Judgments and Wrath upon the Ungodly, is the mail amazing and terrible: In due '!'imejhaii_Jhe Feet ofthe Wickedflip. IV. Naturahfrs obferve, that IV. God though he leenH to tarry long before when a Leopard comes upon his he comes upon the Ungodly, yet when he doth .Prey, he leaps upon it fuddenly. come, -he leaps (as it were) upon them, comes on a fudden : I will come upon thee as a 'Ihief, Re-v. iii. 3· The Wicked will be furprifed when Vengeance comes to be executed upon them. V. It is obfervedoftheLeopard, V. God though he may feem to be aneep, and that he will Geep long, even three to hold his Peace, and let Sinners alone; yet Days together; but after he awakes, will he at !aft awake out of Sleep, and then lee he is more fierce. Sinners look to it, Ifa. xlii. 14G 0 D COMPARED TO A B E A R. I will meet them as a Bear bereaved of her Whelps, Hofea xiii. 8. -THIS is the third Simile God makes ufe of in this Place, I •will meet them as a Bear bereaved of her Whelp!. SIMILE. I. THE Bear is a very fierce Creature, very terrible. Two She-Bears tore forty-two Children at once. H is Voice is fierce, faith one, he is fearlefs in his Rage. U. It is obferved, that the Bear will not willingly fight with, or fet upon a Man, unlefs he is forced thereunto. I!I. No Creatures (as Naturalifts tell us) love their Young more than the Bear. PARALLEL. I. WHO is fa fierce and terrible as the great God, whofe Anger is refifrlefs, and whofe juft vVrath, when provoked, is unavoidable? U. God cloth not willingly affii<'t, fight with, or grieve the Children of Men, till their daring Impudence, and oft repeated Provocations, force him (as it were) to do it. Ill. No Creatures that God has made, love their Young or Off-fpring, as God doth them that fear him. A Woman may f orget herfucking Child, yet will not be forget his Childrm, Ifa. xlix. '5· His Love exceeds the Love of Women to their tender Babes. IV. The Bear is furious, and in IV. 0 how furious is the Almighty! how is a dreadful Rage, when fhe is behe in an holy Rage, if any hurt his poor Children! reaved of herYouna, as appears by '!'hey that touch yott, touch the Apple of mzne Eye, Hujhai's Words ti:/dbfalom: '!'hou Zech. ii. 8. What then will become of the bloody /wowejl, that thy Father andhis Men Perfecmors, that have not only bereaved G?d of -they be chafed in their Fury as a his Children, but cruelly torn them to pieces, Bear bereaved of her Whelps,;Sam. bored out their Eyes, roafted them alive, flayed • Pli"J' Lib. viii. P· :ao-t• their
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