sin but yet they are servants unto Christ and in exercising his power according to him above the Church 2 Cor. 4 5. We preach Christ and our selves your servants for Christ yet therein above them Hence being their servants if they sin they are under the censure of the Church and the Church may cast them by So being Christs servants if not submitted to the Lord doth account himself cast off 1. Because their power thus rightly executed is the power of Christ Jesus Hence refuse it you refuse to be subject to him If men wil not be ruled by Gods Ordinances but will rule Ordinances they go about to tule Christ. 2. Because if there shall be no subjection here 't is profest licentiousnesse and not liberty in Churches You have liberty but what liberty to be subject to Christs power in pure liberty and that in his servants Now when men will not and shall refuse without shewing reason or convicting Elders of sin this is to cast off the Government of Christ. 3. Elders are helpers of people and there is no people but will stand in need of such helps if humble and able to discern to attend the publick good to teach and convince c. Hence when there is no sin appearing in the execution of their office they should with a holy â—ear submit and say if ye be faithfull watchmen what am I that I should be unsatisfied my ignorance may mislead others c. 4. They have power to over-see when they see cause Acts 20. 28. and to see into and enquire into the estate of the stock of God to know their spirituall condition so far as is fit to be known that so they may be comforted in the work of Christ though there be no sin break out not they come to them 1. Thes. 3. 5 6. The Apostle enquired into their faith charity and prayer vers 7. and hence was comforted c. And this Paul doth not as an extraordinary man but leaves his example as a president to the Elders of Ephesus to go from house to house and enquire to teach and exhort Acts 20. for Elders are to prevent scandals as well as to remove them left when they come they say Oh that I had known this before especially where they see need Now hence it is that men cast off the government of Christ when they will not have their spirituall condition searched into the Elders foot is now too great for his shoe I am to give an account to God so are they also of thee now thou canst not give it if thou enquirest not how thy condition stands neither can they with comfort unlesse thou tellest them how it stands with thee 'T is true there are many secret things they can never find out yet they are to attend their duty The Ministers charge is to cast the seed the Elders duty is to enquire after the fruit in the husbandry of Christ it is a sad condition when a man hath such a wound that he will not go to the Lord for help because hee loves it and will not have man to know it at because hee is ashamed of it But you shall know it the last day that the Lord would have healed you and you would not but can quarrell and snap at the Elders when they come to enquire of your condition and why do ye inquire you take too much on you 5. They have power to guide and counsell and warn the Church at least in all weighty affaires which may concern them and their common good hence they are called guides and leaders to the people Heb. 13. 17. Mal. 2. 7. I do not mean in all personall things Acts 20. 31. I warned you of wolves c. Hence 1. For members in matters of great and weighty affaires which concern the good of the whole Church may all Churches never to enquire at Abel is casting off the Lord as in election of Offices in Church and Magistrates in the Common-wealth c. 2. Hence to receive any opinion different from all the Elders in the Church and never â—o much as speak much lesse come to a sad debate about it is to cast off this yoke and contrary to covenant and Elders would never have undertook the care of the Church without it and it sads their hearts that they do their work feebly 3. Hence to propose a doubtfull question to the Church which may trouble or bring an offenders sin to the Church without counsell of the Elders who may encourage them if of God and ripen it for the Church or discourage it if not of God Christ when he writes to the Churches he superscribes his Epistles to the Angels and if one man may propose a doubtfull opinion another may and a third and one may side with another and so much confusion will follow 4. Hence when men shall not take warning of evils to come upon evident grounds it 's casting off the Lords yoke and when they come on thee thou mayest say it is because I have refused to hearken to my watchers they warned me of this and it may be you will find else such evils which the Seripture notes according to the word of the Lord by his servant Elisha so will the Lord make good the words and threatnings of his faithfull servants 5. They have power of publick reproof of any member of the Church in case of plain open and publick offences others without leave cannot nor ought not although others may tell them Reproofs are part of the power peculiar to the governours in any society where governours are present especially and at hand as now in a Family no wise man will suffer brawles amongst his children or servants but sayes he tell me 1. Tim 5. 20. Now this is sad when a man cannot forbear reproof of others nor hear reproofs of Elder but turns again and will be judge in his own cause though never so grosse a sign of an extream froward high spirit Hosea 4. 4. which makes the Lord to take away Elders as soon as any sin is committed and stop their mouths Exod. 2. Who made thee a Iudge c. And when afflictions come and you then enquire what is the cause of it you may be sure this is one even by the confession of the blindest deboist ones Prov. 5. 12. How have I hated Instruction and not obeyed the voice of my teachers 6. They are to feed with power as the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth every one in their places publickly instructing exhorting comforting and privately also which though private men may do yet here is the stamp of authority also and so the more power the more blessing usually if God be acknowledged therein Acts. 20. 28. Hence 1. When men despise their food they are poor things they speak and they can see no matter in them and that after study prayers and tears c. and so cast it by this is to cast off the Lord. 2. When men
Government 1. Absolute 2. Derivative 3. Ministeriall 30 1. Absolute and Kingly when men cast off this 31 2. Derivative power which Christ gives to the Church what this is see 45 c What power a private member of the Church hath 41 c. 3. There is a Ministeriall Power 54 What this Power is 55 c. Power of Christ in a Commonwealth when it s cast off 63 See Majestrates Of inferiors power and when that is cast off 68 R. REproofs to be taken and the taking of them is the tryall of a Christian and a Hypocrite 47 S. SAtan to be given over to him a judgement of God 9 Service what it is 2 Servants censured for running from their Masters 75 Subjection see Government Dangerous not to yeeld subjection to Christ. 76 Subjection to Christ when it is to be yeelded 82 Directions how to yeeld subjection to Christ. 85 T. THankefulness We are to be thankefull for our liberty and freedom from bondage 77 Motives and Directions to it 77 c. Objections answered that hinder this duty 80 U. UNbelief The occasions of it 83 W. WIll of Christ twofold 23 How man cast off Christâ— will â—4 A WHOLESOME CAVEAT For a time of LIBERTY 2 CHRON. 12. 8. Neverthelesse they shall be his servants that they may know my service and the service of the kingdoms of the Countrey THe greatest part of this Chapter is spent in setting down that famous War which Shishak King of Egypt made against Rehoboam King of Iudah The cause of this War in regard of Shishak is not set down probable conjectures there be Ieroboam probably might be treacherous who having a party in Egypt lest Rehoboam should grow too great together with some other pretended wrongs might awaken this Bear from his den but in regard of God you may see the Reason set down Vers. 2. Because they had transgressed against the Lord. The time of this War is set down in the 1. Vers. When he had established the Kingdome by wholesome Lawes erecting Gods worship and countenancing godly men 2 Chro. 11. 16 17. which continued three years and strengthened himself by fortified places and munition fit for war as in the foregoing Chapter appears Now when he had most peace and quiet he and all Israel suddenly forsake the Lord which was the fourth year and in the fifth year comes Shishak and with a mighty hoast wastes all before him untill he come to the chief City Now in Vers. the 5. and 6. is set down the repentance of the people with their Princes especially Shemajah who no doubt had spoke against their idolatrous courses before takes his season when they were low and tamed and tels them the true cause of their misery Vers. 5. Many sins there were in the Land as Idolatty and Whoredoines c. yet the venom was They had forsaken the Lord Let the sin be what it will be yet let it be such a one as men forsake the Lord by it that 's the provocation hereupon they humble themselves some effectually some hypocritically yet all outwardly and say the Lord is righteous they extenuate not their sin they lay not the blame on man no not on Shishak but see the Lord justifie his proceedings the Lord is righteous we unrighteous although it were more heavy then it is Now in the 7. Vers. and in the words read is set down the mitigation of Gods plague and the moderation of his chastisement I will not pour out all my wrath yet I think it not fit to shew perfect deliverance I 'le make them servants to let them know c. There are two parts in the words read 1. The punishment or chastisement on Iudah for forsaking the Lord and backsliding from him which is hondage and privation of the liberty they had they must be shishaks servants 2. The Lords end it was very gracious That they may know my service c. For explication 1. What is meant by service Answ. There are two things in service 1. Government 2. Subjection cheerfull obedience to that governemt Both the Hebrew word as also the nature of the thing it self hath these two God sets up his Government over a people his people do or should subject cheefully to this government By my service is therefore meant my government and your subjection wrought by me to this governmemt 2. They shall know 1. Not by the knowledge of the brain for that they know now but knowledge of experience as it 's said in Ezek. 6. ult When I shall have made the Land desolate in all their habitations they shall know that I am the Lord. Now what shall they know of it Answ. the difference betweâ—n them the sorrow of the one the sweet of the other the misery of the one and blessednesse of the other the bondage of the one and the liberty of the other There might be many things observed from the words but I note only the generall Obser. That when any people of God forsake the Lord and cast off his government â—ver them they provoke the Lord to put them under the bondage of another government They that abuse Gods liberty must be under bondage the Lord hath a Kingdome in this world most glorious hence when men will not be under it if they will not be ruled by him they must be ruled by the whip and if Christs laws cannot bind Christs chains must Ier. 5. 19. And it shall come to passe when ye shall say Whereâ—ore doth the Lord all these things unto us then shalt thou answer them Like as ye have forsaken me and served strange gods in your land so shall ye serve strangers in a land that is not yours Psal 107. 10 11. Such as sit in darknesse and in the shadow of death being â—ound in affliction and iron because they rebelled against the words of God and contemned the counsell of the most high Ezek. 20. 24 25. Because they had not executed my Iudgements but had despised my Statutes and polluted my Sabbaths c. Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good and judgements whereby they should not live c. Zach. 11. 15 16. And the Lord said unto me Take unto thee yet the instruments of a foolish Shepherd Vers. 16. For lo I will raise up a shepherd in the land which shall not visit those that be cut off nor seek the young one nor heal that that is broken nor feed that that standeth still c. When people break convenant with God and loath him then saith the Lord I 'Ie not feed and then he sets over them Idol shepherds This is certain when the soul will not subject it self to God he goes about to subject God to him nay to his lusts Isa. 43. 24. Thou hast made me to serve with thy sins For one of them must stoop and a man would have the Lord be mercifull patient and pittifull to him when he is in league with his lusts now this
grow glutted and full Mal. 1. ult although they cannot a bit and hence thrive not but a spirit of slumber and a deep sleep grows on them that they cannot be awakened by all the Ordinances of God These things call for chains Amos 8. 12. When will these Sabbaths be ended for which the Lord threatens a â—amin and then you shall know the worth of them in the want of them These things I speak 1. Because I see the Apostle in many of his Epistles layes this charge on the people Heb. 13. 7 17. 't is twice repeated 1. Lest Officers be sadded in their work that 's heavy 2. Lest it be unprofitable for you you think to get this and that good by it but it will be nothing in the conclusion 2. Because we lie under slander of many and that godly as if Elders in Churches were but only Ciphers 3. Because people begin to run to extreames Elders taking all to themselves and people taking all for themselves 4. Because if here be not attendance you quickly see the miserable ruine and fall of Churches more sad than the burning of Solomons Temple 'T is observed of Ierobeam when he was sacrificing he had no leprosie but wheâ— he stretched out his hand against the Prophet it was withered for the Lord will not bear here they may be depised and you may think your selves Kings without them 1 Cor. 4. 8. and they will say so they may rule as they will but you will do as you list But the Lord will be provoked for this all Satans subtilty lies here disgrace the Elder sayes one divide them sayes another pull thom down sayes the third that there may be no King in Israel no nor in Sion that we may do what is right in our own eyes 3. Try when the externall Kingdome of Christ in a Common-wealth is cast off for when any Common-wealth is ordered according to the sacred will of Christ by such persons especially whose aim is to advance the Kingdome of Christ by their rule and power 't is then become the Kingdome of Christ Jesus And hence Revel 11. 15. when the seventh trumpet is blown and the Lords last wo is come upon the world and the Kingdoms thereof which have opposed Christ and those Kingdomes are turned to imbrace the Gospell and submit to the power of Christ in the same then it 's said The Kingdomes of the world are become the Kingdomes of Christ it 's not said Christs Kingdome is become the Kingdome of the word as if Christ should put down civill authority and exercise rule by it himself but The Kingdomes of the world i.e. the various Kingdomes are become Christs i.e. to advance it and debase themselves at his feet Eph. 1. 2â— it 's said All things are put under Christs feet and he is head over all things to the Church that is universally chiefly nextly particularly so then earths Kingdomes when they are subject to Christ for his ends now they exercise the Kingdome of Christ in a manner and hence to cast off this is to cast off the Kingdome of Christ and so to provoke the Lord to put us under bondage Quest. When is Christs Power and Kingdome cast off here Answ. There is a double Power in the Kingdoms of the world which I suppose when they become Christs Kingdomes they will retain First There is some supreme or higher power in the chief Magistrates Ptinces or chief Court of Justice Secondly There is some inferiour power by some superiour power set over particular Persons Cities and Towns for the well ordering of them The ground of this is that naturall necessity which Iethro propounded from God to Moses Exod. 18. 17 18. ' T is not good for thee to be alone but thou wilt both wear out thy self and thy people Publick authority must have many eyes and many hands and like a River that is to water a Countrey it must have many streams And hence they had in the Common-wealth of Israel which was for God in every City Judges and in Towns such as were over fifties and tens Exod. 18. 25. which it seemes continued long till all fit men for government were taken away and then Isaiah 3. 3. their condition is lamented Now the form of this government is not in all Common-wealths alike the Lord not binding to any and hence called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an ordinance of men Hence it is a foolish vanity to ask a warrant in Scripture for such a form of Government for humane wisdome may teach this though not in Church-government Yet this supreme and inferiour Government hath been in all Kingdomes 1 Pet. 2. 13 14. to both which subjection is required to refuse to give it is to cast off the Lords Government and there are couched four reasons in that place to prove this 1. Do it for the Lords sake for the name of Christ and that honour and majesty of Christ stamped on them submit hence cast them off you cast by respect unto nay the name of Christ Jesus 2. Because they are in the room of the Lord to do the work of the Lord In punishing evil doers and for the praise of them that do well It 's true they may abuse their power otherwise but yet their power is one thing and their abuse of it another 3. Because this is the will of Christ and you do well in it and so you shall stop the mouthes of foolishmen apt to speak against you for sin 4. Because this is the liberty of Christ vers 6. and you are servants to Christ in it and to do otherwise is licentiousnesse and their liberty to exempt themselves from the power of lawfull authority was but a cloak of it For so it seems in those dayes some held it part of their Christian liberty to be free from all bonds and said that Christ had made them Kings on Earth c. So that if they did cast off subjection they did cast of the name of Christ power of Christ will of Christ liberty of Christ Jesus Even under heathen Magistrates what then do they that cast it off under others Quest. 2 When is Christs Government cast off in respect of the supreme power Answ. Those that know the questions about the power of Princes and people especially revived in these last dayes cannot but know the field is large where now I am I shall be wholly silent unlesse I saw greater cause of speaking than I do and only point out two or three particulars to prevent such sins as stand next to the door to break in upon this power 1. When men cast off secretly dread and fear and reverence of the Majesty Dominion and Sovereignty that God stamps upon authority and so come to have low mean thoughts of them and contempt of them It 's true none should be elected but such as men can honour for some eminency or other and that of God seen in them Able men fearing God
chief amongst the people was the counsell of God by Iethro and Mâ—ses but when they be Elected now to despise them and hence not to bow the knee or stir the hat and speak rudely before them it 's casting off not only their power in sight of God but the very root of it which is honour And hence in the fifth Commandment all duties to them are comprehended under the word Honour And who sees not but this is a sin which is apt to attend the spirits of men in a place of liberty and in our weak beginnings and day of small things Reports are abroad that no men of worth are respected and hence the Countrey is neglected I cannot say so after many thoughts for I am perswaded no place in Europe more ready to honour men of publick spirits and of eminency in piety and humility without the seeing of which no Countrey more apt to vilisie because grace is the glory in the eye of a Countrey led by Religion But take heed lest such a spirit be all us lest the Lord put out our Lamps and cast our Crown down to the ground 2. When men seek to pluck the sword of revenge for sin hurting the Commonwealth out of their hands without which the greatest power in a Common-wealth is but a pageant and a meer vanity almost a nullity Hence Rom. 13. 4. He is Gods Minister yâ—s when he gives good counsell and when he is a revenger to execute wrath on him that doth evill So that be the evill what it will be if it hurt the Common-wealth or be against any wholesome Law thereof he is Gods Minister to punish it civilly In the first Reformation of Geneva there were as many heresies and errours almost as truths of God Servetus he denyed the Deity of Christ whereupon the Magistrate put him to death who dyed with extream horror Whereupon heresies being begun to be sâ—ibb'd aud blasted Bellius writes a Book 1. That men should punish no heresie at all but be mercifull and â—eek as Christ was to the adulterous woman 2. If they did yet that Magistrates they should not punish for errors or heresies 3. If they did yet not with such severity as they begun To all which Beza hath given a most learned and solid answer detesting the hypocrisie of the man and the sad consequences of such opinions if their power should be diminished I conceive 't is casting off Christs power to take away power from Magistrates to punish sins against the first Table of which errors and heresiâ—s in Religion are part It 's as clear as the Sun that the Kings of Iaâ—ah that were gâ—dly did it and were commended for it and 't is as clear they were commended for it not as types of Christ but because they did therein that which was right in Gods eyes and according to the commandment of the Lord Which judiciall commandments concerning the punishing of Sabbath-breakers false Prophets Hereticks c. Gâ—ds fence to preserve morall lawes 〈◊〉 are of morall equity and so to be observed to this day of Christian Magistrates c. To exempt Clergy-men in matters of Religion from the power of the civill sword is that â—â—pery by means of which Antichrist hath risen and hath continued in his pomp and power so long together The indulgence of Princes towards the Papal function in matters of Religion hath undone Christendome 'T is true every error is not to be immediately committed but when 't is like a gangrene of a spreading nature then the Magistrate in due time must cut it off speedily Ohject Leave them to the Church Answ. True leave them 1. there But 2. Sometimes the Church will not sometimes they are not of any Church A â—apist an Arminian may come in and leaven and damne many a soul for which they had better never been If it were but one and if he sayes I do it with a meek spirit their trick of late and none must meddle because mercy must be shewen to their wolves A wise shepherd had rather let a hunter come in and kill one of his sheep then let a Wolf or Fox escape Acts 20. 29 and see his people persecuted than their soules worried Heresie and Error hath this property it ever dies by severe opposition and truth ever riseth the more because Christ is against the one Hence it must fall but or the other hence it shall rise by its fall Hence set your selves against this 't is to oppose the power of Christ Jesus And hence in Henry the 8th time the Abbies fell and never could rise to this day but the six Articles against the Saints pursued with blood made them increase the more 3. When men will not submit to the wholesome Laws of Magistraâ—â—s which are either fundamentall and continuing or Oâ—ders that have their date and time of expiring made for common good When men will either have 〈◊〉 laws or as good as none or submit to none but what they please Deut. 17. 12. He that will not heaâ—ken but do presâ—mptuously shall dye He being the Minister of the 〈◊〉 and indeed it is to cast off the Lord. I go not about here to establish a sovereign power in Magistrates when is proper to God to maâ—e what lawes they will about civiâ—l Religious or indifferent things and then people to 〈…〉 for no other â—eason but because of their willâ— under which notion superstition in Churches hath been ushered and maintained you must 〈…〉 in that case it 's better to sâ—ffer than to sin and nor to do than do But suppose the lawes just righteous holy and for publick good and that apparently so and not in saying so only Now here to cast off lawes is to cast off Christ. There are two things especially which are the cause and occasion of the breach of all other lawes and the strongest sins and sweetest which men young men especially the hopes of the Common wealth are catcht with Prov. 2. 13 16. 1. Whoâ—edome secret lusts and waâ—tonnesse and other strange lusts which I â—â—ase aâ—d dare not name 1 Kings 1â— 24. The sin before Shishah came a sin which many times Solomon cannot see thorow his window nor the eye of authority discern but God will judge for it Heb. 13. 5 and if he be â—udge who shall be thy Jailor but Satan and what shall be thy sentence but death and what thy â—naines but a hard heart for the present and horrour afterward A sin which pollutes the very earth the land the very dust of the ground and the cause of all sin almost in a place as drunkennesse idleness corrupt opinions scoffing at the Ministers of God and wayes of God For I seldom knew a persecutor but he was an adulterer though it 's not alwayes true and in the end poverty and ruine And know it though no mans eye has seen thee no power of Magistrate can reach thee this word shall be fire to consume thee unlesse thou repent for thy
the Jews and this is the estate of all unregenerate men Hence Christ Luke 19. 41. laments and weeps over Ierusalem saying Oh that thou hadst known in this thy day c. 1. Quest. How did the Iewes hear and yet not hear God speaking Answ. There is a twofold word or rather a double declaration of the same word 1. There is Gods externall or outward word containing letters and syllables and this is his externall voice 2. There is God internal word and voice which secretly speaks to the heart even by the externall word when that only speaks to the ear The first the Jewes did hear at Christs Baptism in Christs Ministery and in reading the Scriptures and when they did hear it it was Gods word they heard full of glory and so they heard the word spoken but only man speaking it the other comes to few who hear not only the word spoken but God speaking the word Rom. 10. 18 19. Israel did hear but Israel did not know Christ speaks in parables Hence in seeing they did not see Luke 8. 10. And this is one way how 't is true that Christ sayes They never heard his voice As 't is with a painted Sun on the wall you see the Sun and Stars but there is a difference between seeing this and the Sun and Starres themselves wherein is an admirable glory go to a painted Sun it gives you no heat nor cherisheth you not so it is here c. 2. This inward word is double 1. Ineffectuall though inward 2. Effectual 1. Ineffectuall is that which hath some inward operation upon the heart but it attains not Gods end to bring a man into a state of life and thus Heb. 6. 2 5. Many tasted of the good word of God yet fell away And such a heart is compared to a field which a man plowes and sowes and rain falls on it and yet the end is not attained it brings forth thistles and this many Jewes did hear and hence had some kind of faith in Christ. 2. Effectual is that which hath such an inward efficacy upon mens hearts as that God attains his end thereby Isa. 55. 11. and brings men to a state of life of which Christ speaks Iohn 6. 45. and this voice none but the Elect hear and of this Christ speaks here as appears v. 38. Him whom he sent ye beleeve not Hence it is you have heard God at no time Hence he speaks of such a hearing knowing such a hearing outwardly as is accompanied with such a hearing inwardly Ioh. 14. 17. so that many men may hear the word spoken outwardly but never inwardly they may hear it inwardly but never effectually translating them from state to state from death to life from life to life and glory No sense of the Majesty of God speaking nor effectuall hearing of the word spoken When the Sun is down the Moon may arise but yet a man is cold and dark but when the Sun ariseth oh it warms nourisheth and cherisheth c. nothing is hid from it so it is here when the Lord speaks inwardly and effectually to the heart Reas. 1. From that great distance and infinite separation of mens souls from God that though God cals yet they can't hear no more than men a 1000 mile off Eph. 2. 1. men are dead in sin Now what is spirituall death but separation of the soul from God and God from it A dead man cannot hear one word at no one time he was not dead if he could Mens minds are far from God and hearts also that they are neither stricken with the sight of his glory nor sense and savour of his goodnesse but must be vain and have worldly hearts in the Church nay adulterous eyes or if they listen God is gone from them and from his Word also Hos. 5. 6. Reas. 2. From the mighty and wonderfull strange power of Satan which blinds their eyes they cannot see nor hear 2 Corinthians 4. 4. never such clear light never such an effectuall Word as that of the Apostles yet it was hid why The God of this world blinded them either he will keep such a noise and lumber in their heads that they cannot hear God speaking for the noise or else turn himself into an Angel of light and speak and by their light will blind them that the light in them shall be darknesse Rom. 1. 22. When men with naturall light began to be most wise then they became the greatest fools so 't is with other knowledge of Scripture and things they hear Happy were it for many a man if he had never heard nor seen for that which he hath heard and seen keeps him from hearing Tyre and Sidon would hear sooner than Capernaum that heard most Reas. 3. From the righteous judgement of God in leaving men to be blinded and made deaf from and by the means whereby they should hear and know that as it is with the Saints all evill things are for their good so all good things are for their hurt Isa. 6 10. the meriting cause is unbelief and sin but the deep and hidden rise of all is Gods eternal dereliction of them God never intended love speciall love to them hence he never speaks one word to them 2 Cor. 4. 3. Iohn 6. 65. Many were offended at his words and forsook him Now to take off this offence I said None can come to me except it be given him of the Father what is that see v. 45. and 37. Vse 1. Hence see the reason why the Word is so wonderfully ineffectual to the souls of many men that it never stirs them that it 's a strange thing to them it 's Heb. 12. 19. like the law a voice of words a sound of words so they hear men speak but understand no more than if they spake in a strange language or if they do it concerns not them or if it stirs 't is but as the blowing of the wind upon a rock which blusters for a time but when the wind is down they are still Truly they hear the word spoken but they do not hear God speaking They heard Latimer speak but not God speaking they hear a sound which every one sayes and they think is the wordâ— but they hear not God speaking it One would wonder that those Jews that heard Iohn and his Disciples Moses and the Prophets nay Gods voice from heaven saying This is my Sonne that they should not hear this and receive him with all their hearts but they did not hear his voice One would wonder to see that such things which a gracious heart thinks this would draw every heart yet main not stirr'd things which the devils tremble at and others which Angels wonder at yet they hear not Oh they hear not God speak they are dead in their graves farre from God and there they are kept by the mighty power of Satan like one in a deep dark cave kept by fiery dragons