The reasons of this course and order of Gods dealing , who warneth before he smiteth , are eyther in respect of God , or in respect of the godly , or in respect of the ungodly . In respect of God , to justifie his proceedings and judgements with men even before the sonnes of men : to stop the mouth of iniquitie , that it might have nothing to object or plead against him , 2 Chro. 36.15 . Ier. 25.3 . and 35.15 . Secondly , in respect of the godly , because hee would not take his people at unwares , who is friendly unto them , and loveth them as his owne children . Now it were the part of an enemy , and not of a friend to come upon them & surprise them at unwares , as they doe that come to assault a Citty ; and therefore God to shew his favour and friendship to them that are his , doth foretell and give them warning before hand , that so they might happily prevent it by their repentance , 2 Pet. 3.9 . and thereby have judgements kept from them . Thirdly , in respect of the ungodly themselves , because God would have those that are none of his to be left without excuse , that they might not be able to accuse God of any unjust dealing , or murmure against him , for as much as they had warning , but would not bee warned ; they heard of his judgements , but they would not judge themselves ; neither labour to prevent them , Matth. 24.14 . therefore the damnation of such is just .

Vse 1. Vse 1 Behold from hence the wonderfull mercy , goodnesse and patience of our good God , whose manner is alwaies to give warning before hee proceede in judgement . He seeketh not to take any at advantage , neither desireth hee the death of a sinner : And therefore the Prophet saith , Lam. 3.33.36 . He doth not afflict willingly , nor grieve the children of men : to crush under his feet all the prisoners of the earth , to subvert a man in his cause , the Lord approveth not , Lam. 3.33.36 . He would have none to perish that are his , but all to repent and to be saved . He instructeth , that he may not threaten : he threatneth , that he may not smite : he smiteth , that he may not destroy : 1 Cor. 11.32 . yea and sometime he destroyeth temporally , that he may not destroy eternally . This is the course which he neede not observe ; because upon our owne perill , the perill of our soules , wee are bound to take heed of judgements to come , that wee should prevent them before they come , He would have us to send out our Embassadours , which are our prayers , to treate of conditions of peace betweene God and us . Such as intend revenge and the execution of their wrath , are not wont to give warning , but to watch their opportunity , as we see in Absolom , 2 Sam. 13.22 . who spake neither good nor evill to his brother Amnon , because he hated him , and then suddenly , when his heart was merry with wine , commanded him to be smitten . If God had a purpose to destroy us as his enemies , and to come upon us at unwares , hee would never threaten us , and give us such faire warning to avoyd the stroke of his sword drawne out against us . For wherefore doth hee not destroy us ? Is it for want of desart on our part ? No doubtlesse : he findeth just cause to proceede against us , and hee is of infinite power to punish us . The Prophet teacheth , Num. 11.23 . Esay 59.1 . that his hand is not weakned as though he could not strike us , neither is his arme shortned as though hee could not reach us , Esa. 59.1 . v.

Secondly , if any man bee overtaken with any judgement , he must know thus much , that certainely God was true , and that his purpose was , we should prevent it , or else he would never have given warning of it . There is no man that can justly say , that the silence of God is the cause of his security : for Gods manner is , never to come with any judgement , and to discharge a whole volly of shot , but he alwayes sendeth a warning peece before . But you will say , we have no Prophets to foretell , Ob. they are all gone ; it is not with us as it was in former times . Answ. To this I make answer , as our Saviour saith of the rich man in the Gospell , that his brethren had both Moses and the Prophets among them , Luk. 16.29.31 . when indeed both Moses and the Prophets were all dead long before : but his meaning was , that they had the bookes of Moses and the writings of the Prophets before them . So may I say , that wee have the Prophets and Apostles still among us , I meane we have the holy Scriptures , wherein are contained the workes of the Prophets and of the Apostles : and besides these , God hath given to us his Ministers , that they might as it were put life againe into the dead Prophets , that they might open and declare unto us those things which are doubtfull and obscure : and therefore if any man be admonished by these , that judgements shall certainly come , let him take heed he withstand not the Spirit of God , for it is as true and evident , as if the Prophets and Moses himselfe were alive and uttered these threatnings ; and it is the wonderfull goodnesse of God , that hee will foretell us of his judgements , and after a sort send them home to our owne hearts . Our consciences tell us , that wee are guilty of those sinnes which have formerly beene reprooved , and whereof we have beene forewarned : let us therefore conclude with our selves , that it is the mercy of God , that hee doth threaten hell and judgements unto us , as well as promise heaven and happinesse : and let us blesse his name in our hearts , that he hath granted such a gracious warning unto us , and endeavour to breake off our sinnes , that so hee may bee pleased to proceede no farther with his judgements against us .

Lastly , this dealing of God must provoke us to repentance and to turne unto God , Rom. 2.4 . 2 Pet. 3.13 . because his patience serveth to leade us to repentance , Rom. 2.4 . The daies of his patience last long , but they are not everlasting , if we repent not . Let us meete him betimes , while hee is in the way , before he approach nearer unto us and come upon us . Sinne separateth betweene him and us , and maketh God our utter enemy . Let us make an attonement with him , before his wrath burne like fire . True it is , he beareth long , but if we greeve his Spirit , we shall beare his indignation , and our owne condemnation whosoever we be . He forbeareth long , but he will not alwaies forbeare , Exod. 34.6 . he will come speedily and suddainly upon us . The longer he is in drawing his bow , the deeper do his arrowes pierce . Thus much of the generall doctrine .

Yet forty daies . Before we come to the cheefe point offered to our considerations in these words , Septuagint 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Intiellgit post 40. dies non intrà , ut quidavolunt . Vide Drusij Lection . a question may bee demanded , how this threatning standeth with the truth of God , and the issue and event of the matter mentioned in the end of this prophesy ? to pronounce such a dreadfull sentence against a City and the inhabitants thereof , which tooke not that effect ; or shall wee thinke that God changed his minde , to propose that which he purposed not ? and doth not the Scripture teach us , that he is unchangable , and no shaddow of turning with him ? I answer , the threatnings of God are oftentimes conditionall , though the condition be not expressed , as appeareth in the last verse of the 3. Chapter : Chap. 3.10 . God repented of the Evill that he had said that he would doe unto them , and he did it not . True it is , he might have destroyed them justly for their crying sins , if it had pleased him , Chap. 1.2 . seeing their wickednesse was come up before him , calling for judgement , and it had beene as easy for him to have sent a destroying Angell to overturne them , as a preaching Prophet to turne them unto him . From hence wee learne , Doct. 2 that the threatnings of God and denouncing of his judgements are not absolute , but conditionall toward his people ; Gods threatnings are conditionall . Gen. 6.3 . 1 Pet. 3.20 . 1 Cor. 6.9.10 . Eph. 5.5 . they containe an exception and limitation , except they repent and amend their waies . The condition is understood . So it was to the old world , Their daies were an hundred and twenty yeares , which S. Peter calleth the time of his patience , while the Arke was preparing . See the same , 2 King . 20.1 . Gen. 20.3 . Mic. 3.12 . and Ier. 26.18 . Sometimes it is expressed , as Lu. 13.3.5 . Re. 2.5 .

Let us see some reasons . Reason 1 First , because after threatnings , if we repent and lay them to our hearts , it causeth forgivenesse and blotting of our sinnes out of his remembrance . For sinne , the cause of Gods judgements , being removed , Ezek. 33.14 . &c. the effect will cease : as Ezek. 33. If I say to the wicked , you shall dye the death ; if he turne from his sinne and doe that is lawfull and right , none of his sinnes that he hath committed shall be mentioned , he shall live and not die . Secondly , God is a God of long sufferance and much patience , ready to forgive and receive to mercy , yea in judgement to remember mercy , as 2 Sam. 24 , 16. and Hab. 3.2 . when once we turne unto him , Ier. 3.22 . and 33.20 . as Ier. 3. O ye disobedient children , returne and I will heale your rebellion : and Chap. 31. when Ephraim after his corrections lamented , saying . Thou hast chastened me and I was chastened , as a Bullocke unaccustomed to the Yoke , surely after that I was turned , I repented : the Lord answered , My bowels are troubled for him , I will surely have mercy upon him , he is my deare sonne , he is my pleasant child . Thirdly , it is a speciall end and purpose , why God doth denounce his judgements and threaten his plagues , that we should repent , and so that he might repent : therefore they are not absolute , but limited with condition , except we change and amend . And thus did the King of Nineveh understand this threatning , Chap. 3.9 . Chap. 3. Let every one turne from his evill way , for who can tell , if God will turne and repent , and turne away from his fierce anger , that we perish not ?

Vse 1. Vse 1 There is comfort in the greatest , the heaviest , and most fearefull threatnings of certaine judgements ; there is hope of grace and mercy to be found , if we doe repent , as it were light shining out of darkenesse . Let none say , it is too late , my sinnes are too great or too many that they cannot be forgiven , as Caine said , Gen. 4. The Elders of Iudah did profit better by the threatnings of Ieremy . For when he had threatned desolation of the Lords house , and the destruction of the whole land , for which the Priests and Prophets would have put him to death , they pleaded the practise and example of good King Hezekiah for their comfort , as we noted before ; when the Prophet Micah threatned that Ierusalem should be plowed up like a field , and lye desolate as a Forrest , he did not put him to death , Mic. 3.12 . Ier. 26.18 . but feared the Lord : and the Lord repented him of the evill which he pronounced against them . But it may be objected , Ob. If God threatneth and willeth one thing , and yet doth another , as heere he threatned to destroy Nineveh and did it not , then Gods will is changeable , or else he hath two willes , one will to destroy , another to preserve , which seeme contrary the one to the other . I answer , Answ. as God is one , so he hath but one will . Howbeit , it is distinguished into that which is revealed and secret . The secret is of things hidde with himselfe and not manifested , as Deutero. 29.29 . The revealed is of things made knowne by the word and by daily experience . The secret will is without condition annexed unto it : the reveald is with condition , and it is joyned with exhortations , admonitions , instructions , and reprehensions , as may best serve for mans salvation , and to keepe him in awe of God and his threatnings . The secret shall and must be accomplished , notwithstanding all the opposition and gainesaying of men and Angels , Rom. 9.19 . For who hath resisted his will ? and therefore albeit it bee most just and righteous , yet it is not to us a rule of righteousnesse : The revealed onely is the rule of our lives , and the square to measure and direct all our actions . The ignorance of these two parts of the single and simple will of God leadeth into manifold errour , and the sound knowledge thereof beateth downe to the ground the perverse and corrupt practise of many . For when they breake out into sundry evils and much prophanenesse contrary to the expresse commandement of God and rule of the word left unto us for our instruction , a Plaut. Aulid . act. 4. sc. 10. Factum est , fieri infectum non potest , deos credo voluisse , nam ni vellent , non fieret , scio . Terent. in Eumuch . Act. 5. sc. 2. Quid. si hoc quispiam Coluit deus . they follow the practise of the heathen , and excuse themselves , because forsooth it was the will of God it should be so , or else it could not have beene done . A grosse abuse of God and his wil. For when they walked in their owne waies , as it were in by-paths , and followed their sinfull lusts and pleasures , did they set Gods will before their eyes ? or did they aske counsell of him ? or did they enter into such practises with a purpose to doe his will ? No doubtlesse , they were ledde by their owne fansy as by a false guide , that turned them out of their right way , and therefore let them not excuse themselves by his will , but rather accuse their owne wickednesse .

Secondly , it is the duty of all men in hearing the threatnings of God , to beware of all impediments and hindrances of repentance , for as much as they must take effect , unlesse we observe the condition . If wee doe not keepe the condition , the threatning is absolute , and surer than the heavens . Take heede therefore of these lets , which , as so many stumbling blockes , lye in our way to cause us to fall . Impediments hindring true repentance . First wee must not slight the threatnings of God , nor set light by them , as the manner of many is , who for the most part regard them no otherwise , Esa. 28.15 . than as if they had made a covenant with death , and were at league with hell , and not with God , to serve him in holinesse and righteousnesse all the daies of their life . Such were the sonnes in law of Lot that should have married his daughters ; when they heard of the overthrow of Sodome with fire and brimstone , and were exhorted to save themselves from that crooked generation , and to depart from the tents of those wicked men , and to separate themselves from among that Congregation , least they were consumed with them : hee seemed as one that mocked unto his sonnes in law , Gen. 19.14 . and therefore they perished in those flames . Secondly , we must not exempt our selves from them , and post them over to others , or thinke they belong not at all to us , Esa. 28.15 that albeit the overflowing scourge shall passe through , it shall not come upon us , for wee have made lies our refuge , and under falsehood have wee hidde our selves , Esa. 28.15 . These are they that hide their owne sinnes like Adam , and turne them over to others , as hee did to the woman , and the woman to the Serpent , Genesis 3. wee care not on whose shoulders wee lay the burthen ; so that wee doe not beare it nor touch it with our little finger , neither who smart for it , so that wee be free and doe not beare it . Thus wee flatter our selves , and never lay his threatnings to heart , untill his judgements fall full upon our heads , as they did upon Pharaoh and the Egyptians .

Thirdly , bee not deceived to thinke by riches , or honour , by power or pollicy , by favour or friendship , to fave and deliver our selves from the punishments of God ; whereas nothing shall prevaile with him , nothing in the world , but repentance and turning from sinne , hating and forsaking it . True it is , in the courts and consistories of men , these may beare sway and get the upper hand ; a man may escape by his purse , or winde himselfe out of trouble by might of men , and so avoyd the danger of the Law : but it is not so with God . For howsoever men use to reason , I care not , I will doe well enough , as long as I have money and friends : howbeit this will not serve to free us from Gods Plagues and punishments , as Zeph. I. Zeph. 1.18 . When God had threatned to consume all things from off the Land , both man and beast , least they should imagine by their wealth or other wiles to escape , hee saith , Neither their silver , nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lords wrath . Fourthly , delay not the time , nor put off the threatnings , which the Lord abhorreth , as Ezek. Ezek. 12.22.23 . 12. Sonne of man , what is that proverbe that yee have in the Land of Israel , saying , The dayes are prolonged , and every vision faileth ? Tell them therefore , thus saith the Lord God , I will make this proverbe to cease , they shall use it no more : but say to them , The daies are at hand , the word that I speake shall not be prolonged , for in your dayes , O rebellious house , will I say the word , and ( in your daies ) I will performe it saith the Lord God . Let us therefore stirre up our selves to repentance and amendment of life to prevent his wrath , least we rushing on in sinne doe rush into our destruction .

Thirdly , if God threaten and there follow no repentance , be well assured , that which he hath threatned shall come to passe . Gen. 15.16 . Gen. 15.16 . the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full : but when they had filled up the measure , then his judgements were to fall upon them . O how many examples have we to terrify us , and to verify this to our hearts and consciences ! as the old world , Sodome and Gomorrah , the falling of the Israelites into the hands of the Cananites , the Ammonites , and the Amalekites , mentioned almost in every place of the booke of Iudges ; the carrying away of the ten Tribes never restored , the captivity of the rest , the seven Churches of Asia , the destruction of the Iewes by the Romans called the abomination of desolation standing in the holy place , Dan. 9.27 . Matth. 24.15 . and sundry others : all which assure us of the truth of this point . Let us apply this to our selves , and reason as the Apostle teacheth , Rom. 11.20.21 . If God spared not the naturall branches , take heed , least he also spare not thee : and if the branches were broken off through unbeleefe , let not us be high-minded , but feare . We heare the threatnings of God denounced , and his fearefull judgements published and pronounced by his faithfull servants , but what repentance , what amendment followeth ? May we not say with the Prophet , I hearkned and heard , but they spake not aright , Ier. 8.6.7 . no man repented him of his wickednesse , saying , what have I done ? every one turne to his course , as the horse rusheth into the battell , &c. And is it not so in our times , nay rather is it not worse ? We are so farre from repentance and turning to God , that the Lord seemeth in his just judgement to have given us over and forsaken us , and to have blinded our eyes , to have stopped our eares , and to have hardned our hearts , least we should see with our eyes , and heare with our eares , and understand with our hearts , and should returne and bee saved . Sometimes he doth take away his word utterly , and hee threatneth it as a grievous judgement unto the Iewes , Matth. 21.43 . The kingdome of God shall be taken from you , and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof : and we are assured of the accomplishing thereof , Rom. 11.12 . because the fall of them was the rising of the world , and the diminishing of them , the riches of the Gentiles . Sometimes , he will have it to remaine and continue among a people , for the farther hardning of their hearts , and the increasing of their just judgement and condemnation . This is a secret judgement , and therefore more sharpe and greevous than the former , as Esa. 6. Make the heart of this people fat , Esay 6.10 . as they had fatted and fleshed themselves in sinne , and even glutted themselves in iniquity : make their eares heavy , as they had stopped and stuffed them with vanity , that the word could not enter : and shut their eyes , as they had drowsie and sleepy eyes , and had closed the eyes of their bodies , so God threatneth to shut the eyes of their minds , as men benummed and past feeling , least they should see with their eyes , and convert , and be healed .