ing and reforming kingdoms, is this any other than the word of the
Lord, that when Christ cometh into his temple, "Who may abide the day of
his coming, and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a
refiner's fire, and like fuller's soap."

And for the invasion of Scotland by such an enemy after a reformation, is
it any new thing? May we not say, that which is hath been? Did not
Sennacherib invade Judah after Hezekiah's reformation? 2 Chron. xxxii. 1.
And though, after the reformation of Asa, and after the reformation of
Jehoshaphat also (2 Chron. xiv. 9; xx. 1), the land had a short rest and a
breathing time, yet not long after a foreign invasion followed both upon
the one reformation and the other. Nay, look what is the worst thing which
hath befallen to Scotland as yet;--as much, yea, worse, hath formerly
befallen to the church and people of God toward whom the Lord had thoughts
of peace, and not of evil,--to give them an expected end. I say it not for
diminishing anything either from the sin or shame of Scotland; the Lord
forbid:--we will bear the indignation of the Lord, because we have sinned
against him; we will lay our hand upon our mouth, and accept the
punishment of our iniquity; we will bear our shame for ever, because our
Father hath spit in our face, our rock hath sold us, and our strength hath
departed from us;--but I say it by way of answering him that reproacheth in
the gates, and by way of pleading for the truth of God. Some have objected
to our reproach, that when the Lord required the Israelites to appear
before him in Jerusalem thrice a year, he promised that no man should
invade their habitations in their absence, Exod. xxxiv. 23, 24; "which
gracious providence of his, no doubt (says one(1415)), continues still
protecting all such as are employed by his command;" yet it hath not been
so with Scotland during the time of their armies being in England. I
answer, besides that which hath been said already, even in this the word
and work of God do well agree; and that Scripture ought not to be so
applied to us, except the Canaanites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites
of our time had been all cast out of our borders (we find this day too
many of them lurking there, and waiting their opportunity); for the
Septuagint, and many of the interpreters(1416) read that text thus: "For
when I shall cast out the nations before thee, and enlarge thy borders, no
man shall desire thy land when thou shalt go up