that is meek and lowlie Even when he rideth in Majestie it is upon truth and meekness as the words may be rendered Psal. 45 4. When He rideth in state it is upon Meekness He is a King that cometh having Salvation lowlie and rideing upon an Asse and upon a colt tho fole of an asse Zech. 9 9. Mat. 21 vers 5. Though He be the terriblest King that ever was unto Enemies and Rebels yet He is all meekness unto his own 11. This King who sitteth and ruleth upon His throne is a Priest upon His throne Zech. 6 12 13. Behold the man whose name is the Branch and He shall grow up out of His place and He shall build the Temple of the Lord even He shall build the Temple of the Lord and He shall bear the glory and shall sit and rule upon his throne and He shall be a Priest upon his Thron and the Counsel of peace shall be betwixt them both Such a King is He that will not destroy His followers notwithstanding of their sins and rebellions but will rather make an attonement for them lay down His life for them and become an Intercessour on their behalfe 12. He is an ancient King His throne is established of old and He is from everlasting Psal. 93 2. The goings forth of this Ruler of Israel have been of old from everlasting Micah 5 2. And thus His throne is from everlasting to everlasting 13. This King of Zion hath Dominion over all the earth over hell over death Angels and Authorities and Powers are made subject unto him 1 Pet. 3 vers 22. He hath them all under his command and Authority that He may dispose and make use of them as He seeth fit By Him were all things created that are in heaven and that are in earth Visible and Invisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers all things were created by Him and for Him Col. 1 16. God hath put all things under His feet and hath given Him to be Head over all things to the Church Ephes. 1 22. He is King of all the earth and He reigneth over the Heathen Psal. 47 7 8. All Power in Heathen and in Earth is given unto Him Mat. 28 18. 14. He is a King that rideth prosperously Psal. 45 4. The work He undertaketh doth not misgive in His hand nothing miscarrieth or can miscarry which He undertaketh He is the happiest sweyer of a scepter that ever was His purposes fail not He is not disappointed of his Projects or Designes all of them succeed well in His hand The pleasure of the Lord shall Prosper in His hand Esai 53 10. Secondly From these Comfortable Propositions let us draw some comfortable Conclusions 1. The Church and People of God are not an headless helpless Company as many take them to be They have an Head and a living head though Strangers and On-lookers do not observe it nor beleeve it The world and the men of the world look upon them as a contemptible Company yet they have a King reigneing over them and a King that shall reigne for ever and ever They themselves are oft times perplexed and distressed in minde when they see not one great Person owning them and their Interest and offering himself to be an head unto them but if they knew what anone they had for their Head Husband and King they would not be much troubled though not one great Person in all the earth should owne them and theirCause So that when all earthly Powers forsake them and withdraw their helping hand this may comfort them That there is a standing relation betwixt Christ and them as is betwixt a King and his Subjects and this relation neither is nor can be broken off 2. Let devils men do what they can they shall not be able to destroy and root out the People of God They may intend to destroy to cut them off from being a Nation that the name of Israel may be no more made mention of and may make a strong combination for this end as Psal. 84 vers 4. But this their Interprise is vaine they will never be able to effectuate what they designe Seing He is a King that reigneth on his Throne He must have a Kingdom and a People whom He must governe and over whom He must swey His scepter So that whoever would resolve to destroy His Kingdom must first think of making Him no King take away His Kingdom and take away His Scepter too Himself must be dethroned ere He have no Kingdome Enemies then may attempt great things and promise to themselves great success but in end they will prove themselves to be fooles for He must reigne for ever and ever and His Kingdom must be to all Generations He shall reigne for ever and of His Kingdom there shall be no end Luk. 1 vers 33. His people then may be at peace though they know what great things their Enemies designe against them and that their cruelty and rage is such as nothing but their utter overthrow and destruction will satisfie seing it is all one as if they should presume to pull God from His throne Let the Devil and his trustee Livetenant Antichrist conspire and use what Machinations and bloody Devices they will to destroy the whole Interest of Christ He must not want Subjects He shall not want a Kingdom so long as Sun and Moon endure Howbeit the people of God may be several times brought very low yea and almost out of sight as a Woman fled to the wilderness yet this exalted King who is set upon His throne by an everlasting Decree must have a Kingdom shall have a Kingdom over which to swey His Scepter 3. Yea Christ's Kingdom must be a coming and a growing Kingdom Luk. 1 vers 32. He must be great and have the throne of His Father David Many excellent promises have we of this Micah 4 1 2 3. But in the last daies it shall come to passe that the mountaine of the house of the Lord shall be established on the tope of the mountains and it shall be exalted above the hils and people shall flow unto it and many Nations shall come and He shall judge among the people So Esai 2 2 3 4. Rev. 11. vers 15. And the seventh Angel sounded and there were great voices in heaven saying the Kingdomes of this world are become the Kingdomes of our Lord and of His Christ and He shall reigne for ever ever We are taught to pray daily Let thy Kingdom come Our Lord shall be great to the ends of the earth Micah 5 4. 4. Wherefore Let Enemies do what they can His Church shall not get much hurt For so long as He is in the midst of her she cannot be moved though the earth be removed and though the Mountains be carried into the midst of the sea though the waters thereof roar and be troubled though Mountains shake with the swellings thereof Psal.
46 5. It is promised Mic. 4 7. That the Lord shall reigne over them in mount Zion and what followeth And thou ô Toure of the Flock vers 8. the strong hold of the Daughter of Zion unto thee shall it come even the first Dominion the Kingdome shall come to the Daughter of Ierusalem 5. Though it frequently come to passe that God's people are brought low and Enemies get the upper hand yet Zion's King liveth and therefore He will Assemble her that halteth and will gather her that is driven out and her that have been afflicted and make her that halteth a remnant her that was cast off a strong Nation Mica 4 6 7. Because He liveth His members must live also Seing the Churches Head is above the water she cannot drown Wherefore upon this very ground that Zions King liveth and reigneth His Church and People even while low and under the feet of Enemies may lift up their head in hop and be sure that their day of redemption draweth neer and they may conclude with the Church Esai 33 22. The Lord is our judge the Lord is our King He will save us Seing He is King He can command deliverance Psal. 44. 4. and work Salvation Psal. 74 12. Upon this ground David inferreth a Delivery and a Victory Psal. 10 v. 16. The Lord is King for ever and ever the heathen are perished out of his land Enemies will not be able to stand long in Immanuel's Land It is His work as King to deliver and defend His Subjects and they may be sure He will not deny Himself He will answere â—…is Title and Relation 6. When His people see that all their Strength is gone and that there is none shut up or left they are ready to conclude that all is gone But what cannot this King in Zion soon leavy an Army How easie is it for Him to speak to dry bones and make them armed men Ezek. 37. When mention was made of this Ruler in Israel whose goings forth were from of old and who should stand and feed in the strength of the Lord in the Majesty of the Name of the Lord His God Micah 5 4. It is added This man shall be the peace when the Assyrian shall come into our Land and when he shall trade in our Palaces then shall we raise against him Seven shepherds and eight Principal men and they shall waste the Land of Assyria with the sword and the Land of Nimrod in the entrance thereof Thus shall He deliver us from the Assyrian when he cometh into our Land and treadeth within our borders And the remnant of Iacob shall be among the Gentils in the midst of many people as a Lion among the beasts of the forest as the young Lion among the Flocks of sheep Thine hand shall be lift up upon thine Adversaries and all thine enemies shall be cut off vers 5 6 7 8 9. When His people are brought very low so that in all probability they shall not be able to raise up themselves then this King can help the business He can raise up an invincible army out of lame sick souldiers He can make Ierusalem a cup of trembling and a burdensome stone for all people Zech. 12 2 3. He can make the Governours of Iudah like on hearth of fire among the wood and like a toarch of fire in a sheaf and they shall devoure all the people round about on the right hand on the left ver 5. He can make Him that is feeble among them like David and the house of David as God as an Angel of the Lord before them v. 8. Out of Him cometh the corner out of Him cometh the nail out of him the battel bow and He can make them to be as mighty men which tread down as the mire of the street in the battel and He can strengthen the house of Iudah Zech 10 4 5 6. He can bend Iudah for himself and fill the bow with Ephraim raise up Zions sones against their Enemies Zech. 9 13 He can make poor worm Iacob a new sharp threshing Instrument having teeth and say to them thou shalt thresh the mountains and beat them small and shall make the hils as chaff c. Esai 41 14 15. 7. This Consideration speaketh dread and terrour unto Enemies for He is a King that is terrible to the Kings of the earth He maketh the Earth and the heavens to tremble the hils melt and quake before him what then can weak man do What will they be in the hands of the Almighty who shaketh Nations The Lord reigneth Let the earth tremble He sitteth between the Cherubims Let the earth be moved Psal. 99 1. At the wrath of this everlasting King the earth shall tremble and the Nations shall not be able to abide his Indignation Ier. 10 10. Where then shall His Enemies stand in the day of His Indignation We are oft afraid of the terrour of Enemies but saw we Him who is our King we would see that our Enemies had more cause to be afraid of Him who is clothed with Majestie there goeth a smoak out of his nostrils and fire out of His mouth devoureth and coals are kindled by it Psal. 18 vers 8. Read what followeth 8. When we are thinking on the Wit Skil and Activity of the Adversaries let us call to mind that our King is infinitly beyond them He searcheth the heart and tryeth the reines He knoweth the thoughts afar off He is privie to all the motions of Adversaries He knoweth when they march and when and where they halt Esai 10 28 29. See what is said of our King Esai 11 2 3. The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him the Spirit of Wisdom Understanding the Spirit of Counsel and Might the Spirit of Knowledge and of the Fear of the Lord and shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord. Though the Adversaries should soon out-wit us yet they will not be able to out-wit Him who is our King for the treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge are in Him So that it is an easie business for Him to countermine all their Plots and Machinations He hath formed all their hearts and so He knoweth what is in their hearts Nothing can be hid from Him His very eye-lids try the Children of Men Psal. 11 4. Wherefore when we are at a non-plus and know not what to do this may comfort us and compose our Spirits our King knoweth very well how to carry on his own Contrivances glorious Projects So that when we are blinde we are to look to Him who knoweth what to do when we know not what to do and let Him alone with His own work 9. It is sad when the Children of God are wronged and cannot get faire Justice wickedness is to be seen in the place of judgment and iniquity in the place of righteousness Eccles. 3 v. 16. judgment is turned away backward and Justice standeth afar off for truth
incense not a few who would be accounted Masters in Israel who have been busie while he was busied about the work of the Lord in backbiting defaming reproaching him that because he withstood them all to the face wherein they were are justly to be blamed But I must lay my reckoning and have done it with that and many such things Onely by way of Apologie I must tell such that it is not my work to engage with them at present on this head they may exspect to hear of that afterward yet next till more come I doe not crave their libertie or pardon to say that it shall be amongst the posteritie as it is already with the more serious in this generation a stain which shall never be vviped off the memorie of the reproachers vvhen his memorie shall be blessed and his cognizance in the succeeding generations of the Church shall be that in the day vvhen he fell a sleep the Church of Scotland was deprived of the most incomparably able and the most absolutly burning and shining light belonging to that Church Secondly it may be an appreciating and endearing consideration unto thee that this Treatise is not only the work of such a worthy vvorkman such a Walker with God such a Wrestler with him such a Witnesse for his Master and such a beloved Disciple But it is his last Work this he wrote at the close of a long walk with God For in his walk with him and after him having by experience found there neither would nor could be courage nor constancy nor comfort in that course except faith were acting vigourously upon its blessed object that Fountain of all fulnesse both for furniture frame both for the light of direction consolation and for a measure of life in order to action according to the emergent difficulties dangers that are the inseparable attendants of the duties of the present day He was taught by the things which he suffered frō all hands to make a blessed beneficial vertue of this necessitie so he held on in his way being thus upheld and supported without turning aside to the right hand or the left and without being diverted or deterred from following the Lord fully The things that he suffered of late especially at the hands of Brethren their shame but his garland and glory put him to studie and learn the obedience of faith wherein he was helped and taught to make such progresse and proficiency as he enjoyed a sweet serenitie calme in the midst of all these boisterous blasts which out of all airths blew in his face but most bitterly out of that airth whence the storme could or should least of all have been exspected so that he did not onely possesse his soul in patience as moved by none of these things which befell him from foes or friends but he was quieted quickened and comforted in his conflictings yea he got meat out of the eater out of weaknesse he was made strong enabled to doe exploits as knowing his God And finding the sweetnesse of this life otherwise of many sorrowes and experiencing how much he was enabled for all things through Christ strengthening him he was moved and constrained from the aboundant furniture the sweet facilitie yea the begun felicitie he found in this life and course to point forth this way of pleasantnesse and this path of peace to such as are put to walke in the midst of trouble that so they may finde by following this course the same Light arising to them in Darknesse and the same life strength courage and comfort springing up and communicat unto them whereby they may be enabled to goe foreward through all difficulties all dangers yea and all deaths Hereby thou who in the sight of difficulties and the sense of thy impotency art made to say What is my strength that I should hope Art taught to anwer by another question Since he is strong why should I despond or doubt For all things are possible to him that believes all difficulties are superable to faith for faith is the engaging of an Omnipotent God for an impotent Creature whereby the believer is more than a conquerour And because that stronger is he who is in the believer than he that is in the World therefore being by him that dwells in him strengthened with all might according to his glorious power unto all patience and long suffering with joyfulnesse conquer he must and this is the victorie whereby he overcomes the World even his faith for faith's valour is when overpowered to cast it self and its burden upon God who performeth all things for the believer and so how weake so ever in the conflict yet by faith he carries away the conquerours Crovvn in the issue and is set dovvn at last to sing Thanks be to God who hath given me the victory I say then these are the last vvords of a great Student in this blessed and mysterious art and of a noble proficient in this happie studie for he speaks vvhat he knovves he speakes vvhat he hath found and tasted instructing thee hovv thou mayest with him hold on in thy vvay and vvax stronger and stronger yea hovv thou mayst surmount all difficulties othervvise insuperable as carried uppon eagles vvings and run vvith the greatest burden upon thy back and not be vveary and vvalk vvith the greatest load upon thy loins and not be faint Naturalists you knovv and Mariners tell us of the flieing fish vvhich vvhen pursued in the vvater by the Shark flies up into the air as a foul and so escapes the danger But it can flee no longer in the air than its fins continue vvet and vvhen these become dry it falls down again into the sea A lively embleme of a lively Christian vvho vvhen in hazard to be svvallovved up of trouble and devoured by the teeth of sharks mounts up above them upon eagles vvings and so escaps them But that vvhich vvaters these vvings vvhereby faith flies and that vvhich gives it this vigour is fresh influence of the Spirit The supplie of the Spirit of Christ quicken's and strengthen's faith and then failing and feeble faith renews its strength as the eagle renews her age It s this which gives weake and withered faith a fresh vigourous and youthful greennesse and puts the beleever in case both to say in God have I put my trust I will not fear what flesh can doe unto me and also I am able for all things through Christ vvho strenghtens me or puts povver in me Now the Authors scope and aim is to tell thee and teach thee how thou mayest be expert in this noble flight above trouble O happy dexteritie in a time of trouble upon earth to know how to make use of faith's wings in flieing heaven height and to be instructed in the exercise of that blessed art how to make use of thy faith whereby thou pleases God in thy ordinarie walk for performing these high heroick acts in
print of the nails and thrust his hand in his side Ioh. 20 25. And what unbeleefe these Disciples vented who were going to Emmaus unto the Lord himself whom they knew not we may see Luk. 24 21. and may gather from Christ's sharpe rebuke vers 25 26. O fools and slow of heart to beleeve all that the Prophets have spoken Ought not Christ to have suffered these things and to have entered into his Glory 2. Fainting of heart So long as the shipe saileth faire before the winde a raw sea-man will have courage enough Men at Christ's back who have not yet had a storme blowing in their face will be as stout as Peter who nothing doubted but he would lay down his life for his Master who yet when the Lord is out of sight and his cause seemeth to be upon the declineing hand will shrink and turn back at a very small temptation As Peter did deny his Master and that with cursing and swearing at the very word of a Damsel 3 Self love is another evil that such a day as this will discover Many will appear very self denied and willing to hazard all for Christ and His Cause in a faire day who when a storme cometh will be unwilling enough to cast their goods over board to save the shipe In a day when the Lord is hiding himself many will seek to save skin and life by such indirect courses as sometime they would have been ashamed of 4. Impatience How doth the heart of many too often say little less than that graceless King said This evil is of the Lord why should I waite any longer for the Lord 2 King 6 vers 33. Such expressions as that good man had in that dark day do evince this sufficiently Psal. 77 v. 7 8 9. Will the Lord cast off for ever And will He be favourable no more Is His mercy clean gone for ever Doth His promise fail for evermore Hath God forgotten to be gracious Hath He in anger shut up His tender mercies 2. The Lord followeth this way and methode that he may put his people to the trial and exercise of the graces of His Spirit such as these 1. Their Faith in Him and in His Word and Promise It is no great art or difficulty to beleeve that God will make good His promise when he is in the sight of all beholders most manifestly accomplishing whatever he said and promised But for Abraham to beleeve that in his seed all the Nations of the Earth should be blessed and that his Seed should be multiplied as the Stars of the Heaven for multitude when he had not one Child and himself was stricken in years his body now as good as dead he being about an hundered Yeers old and when Sarahs Womb was also dead that was faith then his faith appeared while he against hope beleeved in hope when he staggered not at the promise of God through unbeleefe but was strong in the faith giving Glory to God for he was fully perswaded that what God had promised He was able also to perform Rom 4 vers 18 19 20 21. Againe It was no great matter for Abraham to beleeve that it would be as the Lord had said when Sarah was with Childe had brought forth her Son and he was healthy and thriving but to beleeve the accomplishment of the promise when God said unto Him Go offer up thy Son thy only Son Isaac there was faith accounting that God was able to raise him up from the dead Heb. 11 vers 19. Thus faith is both tried and exercised 2. Patience is also tried and exercised when the Lord is out of sight seemeth to say He will not yet come the time is not yet come We oft cry out How long will the Lord hide his face not so much out of an earnest love and desire to see his face againe as out of impatience Psal 6 vers 2. and 13 v. 1. and 35 17. and 90 13. Iob. 7 v. 19. Hab. 1. v. 2. The Lord will thus teach his people to stand upon their watch and upon the watch towr till the Vision that is yet for an appointed time and tarrieth shall speak Hab. 2 vers 1 3. 3. To try and exercise their hope for that is the fit time for the exercise of this grace when humane appearance and probability faileth and when the Lord hideth himself and delayeth his coming Rom. 8 v. 24 25. for usually then people are ready to say there is no hope Esa. 57 10. our hope is lost Ezek. 37 11. What is my strength said holy Iob Ch. 6 11. that I should hope It is good in such a case to say with the Church Lam. 3 24. The Lord is my portion therefore will I hope in Him 4. To try and exercise their Submission to and Dependance upon Him That they may learne to carry as humble Children that they may say with David Psal. 131. Lord my heart is not haughty nor mine eyes lofâ—…y neither do I exercise my self in great matters or in things too high for me Surely I have behaved and quieted myself as a Childe that is weaned of his Mother my soul is as a weaned Childe And so hope in the Lord not arrogantly set limites unto the holy One of Israel nor prescribe a way that he must follow but leave him to follow His own way and method with due Submission and Dependance laying the hand upon the mouth when He is pleased to hide himself and to take another way then we would possibly wish or desire 5. To try exercise their Diligence and Constancy in Prayer and Watchfulness As when the Master delayeth his coming so when he hideth himself as if he were not coming or would not come many are ready to fall from duty and fall a beating their fellow servants and to eating and drinking c. Mat. 24 48 94. Therefore the Lord will have all His People set a watching as not knowing what houre or after what manner He will come and to exercise them in this duty of Watchfulness and Diligence he will come and not let them know of His coming nor tell them when or after what manner He will come The Consideration of this should in general teach all His people as upon the one hand to guard against and bewar of these evils mentioned which Satan and Corruption upon occasion of the Lords hiding of His Way and keeping Himself under clouds after the manner mentioned doth provoke stirre up the soul unto so upon the other hand to minde faithfully set about the Duties mentioned which are especially called for at such a time But more particularly we may mentione some duties and recommend them to the practice of His People in such a day as this As 1. This Dispensation calleth upon all Gods People to be observing the Lord in all His wayes and actions and to mark His footsteps even when they can not be seen to observe His stately goings in Majestie
thus hate Him and corrupt His Ordinances This was also given as a cause of the destruction that came on this People 2 Chron. 36 v. 14. They polluted the House of the Lord which He had hallowed in Jerusalem So Ezek. 5 vers 11. it was threatned Wherefore as I live saith the Lord God surely because thou hast defiled my Sanctuary with all thy detestable things and with all thine abominations therefore will I also diminish thee neither shall mine eye sparer neither will I have pity See also the following Verses where the dreadfulness of the blow is laid forth yea saith he Vers 13. thus shall mine anger be accomplished and I will cause my fury to rest upon them and I will be comforted And all is sealed in end Vers 17. with this I the Lord have spoken it So Ezek. 7 vers 20. As for the beauty of his Ornament he set it in Majesty But they made the Images of their Abominations and of their detestable things therein This was their sin and what followeth Therefore have I set it far from them or made it unto them an unclean thing And further in the following Verses He threatneth to give it into the hands of strangers for a prey and to robbers who shall defile it c. See likewise Chapt. 8. throughout and Chap. 23 vers 38 39 So Jerem. 9 vers 12 13 c. The Land was perishing and was burnt up like a Wilderness that none passeth thorow And wherefore was this Because saith the Lord they have forsaken my law which I set before them and have not obeyed my voice neither walked therein but have walked after the imagination of their own heart and after Baalim which their Fathers taught them c. 4. When a land or Church maketh defection from God apostatizeth breaketh wedlock renounceth their Covenant relation then a sword is to be expected wherewith the Lord shall avenge the quarrel of His Covenant Levit 26 25. there is ground to fear that judgment shall inevitably overtake such sinners For thus was it with this people of Judah Ier. 2 9 10. 11 12 13. So Ier. 4 16 17 18. They had forsaken God and rebelled against Him and therefore came destruction upon destruction v. 28. and Ier. 11 10. Because they brake God's Covenant which He had made with their Fathers Therefore v. 11. He threatned to bring evil upon them which they should not be able to escape and that He would not Hearken though they should cry unto Him And then followeth vers 14. Therefore pray not thou for this people c. So Ier. 22 6 7. The Lord threatned to make them a wilderness and Cities not inhabited in so much that Nations shall be astonished and enquire what can be the cause of this And the answere they shall receive is this v. 9. Because they â—…ave forsaken the Covenant of the Lord their God and wâ—…rshipped other Gods srved them And in this same place Ier. 15 6. it is said Thou hast forsaken me saith the Lord thou art gone backward therefore will I stretch out mine hand against thee destroy thee I am weary with repenting See what was threatned for breach of Covenant Ier. 34 v. 17 18 19 20. The Lord said He would proclame a liberty to the sword to the pestilence and to the famine and would make them to be removed into all the Kingdomes of the earth and give all ranks among them into the hands of their Enemies and give their dead bodies to be meat unto the fowls of heaven and to the beasts of the earth We see Ezek. 16. how the Lord deduceth along process against them and proveth them to have plaid the harlot and that in a most impudent manner And how therefore he saith that He will judge her as a woman that breaketh wedlock v. 38. make his fury towards them to rest and his jealousie shall depart and He will be quiet vers 42. and againe v. 59. He saith I will even deal with thee as thou hast done which hast despised the oath in breaking the Covenant See the like charged upon Israel as the ground of their desolation Hos. 4 12 13 14. 5 4 5 6 7. 8 1 2 9 1 2 3. 13 16. 5. When this Defection and Apostasie from God in the matter of Religion is accompanied with gross immoralities fearful sins against the Second table of the Law which the very light of Nature condemneth then may the guilty fear an unavoidable stroke a blow of justice that shall not be evited for the Lord will not have it said or supposed by strangers that He will bear with gross impieties in His own professed people and suffer them to exceed the heathen in wickedness without control or punishment We see this people of Judah upon whom inevitable ruine was coming were charged likewise with many gross and hainous impieties Ier. 5 26 27 28 29. There vvere among them wicked men they did lay waite as such as laid snares they set a trap they watched men their houses were full of deceit yea they did overpasse the deeds of the wicked thereupon it followeth v. 29 Shall I not visite for these things saith the Lord Shall not my soul be avenged of such a Nation as this So Ier. 9 1. They were all adulterers an assembly of treacherous men they bend their tongues for lies like bowes they did proceed from evil to evil they taught their tongues to speak lies and deceived their Neighbours they spoke peacably but in heart they did lay wait Therefore it is added v. 9. Shall I not visite them for these things c. So Jer. 21 12. O house of David thus saiâ—…h the Lord execute judgement in the morning and deliver him that is spoiled out of the hand of the oppressour lâ—…st my fury go out like fire and burn that none can quench it because of the evil of your doings These things were neglected by them and therefore wrath came upon them at length and there was no remedie Jer. 22 3 4 5 6. And the Prophet Ezekiel hath the same charge against this people Chap. 5 5 6. They changed Gods judgments into wickedness more than the Nations and his statutes more than the Countreys And therefore the Lord threatned v. 8 9 10. to execute judgment in the midst of them and to do that unto them which He had not done before and the like whereof He would not do any more He would bring on them an unexemplified stroke and a stroke that should not have a parallel And againe Chap. 9 9 10. The iniquity of the house of Israel and of Judah is exceeding great and the Land is full of blood and the city full of perversness And therefore it is added mine eye shall not spare neither will I have pity but I will recompense their way upon their head Therefore was it that commission was given to the Lord's executioners to go thorow and slay Old and young