,
abjured in our solemn covenant, insomuch that Gamaliel (Acts v. 38, 39)
and Gallio (Acts xviii. 14-17), men who regarded alike the Jewish and the
Christian religion, are highly commended, as "examples for all
Christians,"(1361) and as men walking by the rules not only of policy, but
of "reason and religion." Now, let all those that are either against us or
not with us do what they can, the right hand of the most High shall
perfect the glorious begun reformation. Can all the world keep down "the
Sun of Righteousness" from rising? or, being risen, can they spread a vail
over it? And though they dig deep to hide their counsels, is not this a
time of God's overreaching and befooling all plotting wits? They have
conceived iniquity, and they shall bring forth vanity: "They have sown the
wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind" (Hos. viii. 7). Wherefore we
"will wait upon the Lord, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob,
and will look for him" (Isa. viii. 17); and "though he slay us, yet will
we trust in him" (Job xiii. 15). The Lord hath commanded to proclaim, and
to say "to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh" (Isa. lxii.
11); "Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, all ye that mourn for her" (Isa. lxvi.
10); for "behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of
salvation" (2 Cor. vi. 2). But I have more to say: Mourn, O mourn with
Jerusalem, all ye that rejoice for her; "This day is a day of trouble, and
of rebuke, and of blasphemy: for the children are come to the birth, and
there is not strength to bring forth" (Isa. xxxvii. 3): it is an
interwoven time, _warped_ with mercies, and _woofted_ with judgments. Say
not thou in thine heart, The days of my mourning are at an end: Oh! we are
to this day an unhumbled and an unprepared people; and there are among us
both many cursed Achans, and many sleeping Jonahs, but few wrestling
Jacobs; even the wise virgins are slumbering with the foolish (Matt. xxv.
5): surely, unless we be timely awakened, and more deeply humbled, God
will punish us yet "seven times" (Lev. xxvi. 18, 21, 24, 28) more for our
sins; and if he hath chastised us with "whips," he will "chastise us with
scorpions;" and he will yet give a further charge to the sword to "avenge
the quarrel of his covenant" (Lev, xxvi. 25). In such a case, I cannot
say, according to the now Oxford divinity, that _preces et
lachrymae_,--prayers and tears,--must be our only one shelter and fortress,
and that we must