194 FIFTH SERMON eternity itself will not deliver that poor soul which is lost, and fallen in the wars of lust. Therefore if you would have peace as a mercy, get it from God, let it be a dew from heaven upon your conversion unto him. A king's favour is said to be as dew on the grass, Prov. xix. 12. and as a cloud of the latter rain, Prov. xvi. 15. and it would with all joyfulness be so apprehended, if by that means the blessings of peace were bestowed upon these distressed kingdoms. How much more comfortable would it be to have it as a gift from God unto a repenting nation. For God can give peace in anger, as well as he doth war. A ship at sea may be distressed by a calm, as well as broken by a tempest. The cattle which we mean to kill, we do first prefer unto some fat pasture : and sometimes God gives over punishing, not in mercy but in fury ; leaving men to go on quietly in their own hearts' lusts, that they who are filthy may be filthy still, Psa. lxxxi. 12. Hos. iv. 14. 17. Isa. i. 5. Ezek. xxiv. 13. God was exceeding angry with Israel when he gave them their hearts' desire, and sent them quails, Num. xi. 32, 33. Many men get their wills from God's anger by murmuring, as others do theirs from his mercy by prayer ; but then there comes a curse along with it. Now, therefore, when our own sword doth devour us, when our land is through the wrath of the Lord of hosts so darkened, that the people thereof are as fuel of the fire, no man sparing his brother, every man eating the flesh of his own arm. It is the sad character which the prophet gives of a civil war, Isa. ix. 19, 20. Let us take heed of God's complaint, In vain have I smitten your chil- dren, they receive no correction, Jer. ii. 30. Let us make it our business to recover God. It is he that causeth wars to cease in the earth, Psa. xlvi. 9. And
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=