do Iniquity shall be cast immediately thereupon into a Furnance of Fire and then the boldest worker thereof would fear tremble and refrain He could stir up those terrible ones from under the Earth Devils and infernal Spirits the Executioners of his VVrath who should over-awe poor Mortals all one as a mighty King with his Armies doth now make them do this or that thing at his pleasure For hath he not the same power as Man to whom he gave being and hath before committed unto him the Power of doing whatever he doth Cannot he who sitteth upon the Circle of the Earth and the Inhabitants thereof are as Grashoppers do as much or rather more than any two-footed Creature that now walks thereon Cannot the High and Lofty One who sitteth upon his Throne and commandeth over the Armies in Heaven who are greater in power and might as that wide place above is bigger than this spot of ground here where we dwell send forth his Authority and execute the same here Is this too far off when it is his Footstool for he filleth all places and all things even those under the Earth with his presence If I make my Bed in Hell behold thou art there Psal 139. 8. Even now he sends sorth his Lightning unto the Ends of the Earth and his Arrows go throughout the World But because God doth not yet manifest his Power and shew forth all his Might a thought doth arise in them who know not God as if he cannot do this They who have a little more knowledge are sometimes apt to imagine That because he acts here by outward means which are but little and small that by reason of them is the Defect and they are unable to atchieve such great and mighty things whereas his infinite Wisdom and Glory are here to be seen in ordaining strength out of weakness VVho first made he will also enable them to perform what he would have them to do He can send forth his Angels or other Instruments whom we have not known nor heard of as yet A Temptation doth arise that though God can yet he will not do thus for so we have heard in Old Time and in our days over and over and yet all things continue as they were since the Creation But the Apostle in 2 Pet. 3. 5 6. answers this by what God did of Old both by Creation of and Drowning the VVorld For this they are willingly ignorant of That by the Word of God the Heavens were of Old and the Earth stamding out of the Water and in the Water whereby the World that then was being overflowed with Water perished But the Heavens and the Earth which are now by the same Word are kept in store reserved unto Fire against the day of Judgment and perdition of Vngodly Men. That same VVord which spake them first into Being acquainted Noah Gen 6. of the intended Flood and afterwards this same word brought the VVaters for God Commanded them The same VVord hath likewise said that it shall be thus in the latter days to which we now haste Thus it is determined upon all those who in the mean time have been Ungodly or are or shall hereafter not give regard to the great God above or are disobedient to him for all such are ungodly without God in the VVorld who do not live in sense of Submission and Duty under him These might even now conceive that as in the beginning the Lord laid the Foundations of the Earth and it abideth as they find by moving and dwelling thereon As they see the gathering of the VVaters which is called Sea and as we behold the Heavens upheld and the Stars in their Courses and Places So surely doth the threatning lye against such and will be fulfilled when these things shall be so changed as we are further foretold of As before it was observed of the stedfastness and immutability of the Promise from Isa 45. So from 2 Pet. 3. it may be gathered of the utmost certainty of the Evil and Good things there spoken of They seem therefore to be out of sight and to come to prove how we in the mean while will be concerned and affected towards them There is a little imperfect Good in the One at present and a lesser Evil and Harm in the other but God will so add further that the one shall be perfected in Reward and Happiness the other shall end in Punishment and Misery My Son forget not my Law but let thine heart keep my Commandments for Length of Days and long Life and Peace shall they add unto you Prov. 3. 1 2. and when the first is ended there shall succeed Immortality and Glory And the Peace here shall go out in Ravishment Extasie and unutterable Rejoycing So again Sin which now hurts for a moment doth bring on Torment for ever What occasions Sorrow and Vexation doth deliver over to the VVorm which shall never die VVhat occasions Sickness and Pain doth likewise bring forth Death and the Vengeance of Eternal Fire All that is seen or had here is but an earnest of like and worse things to come The less do fore-run and give notice of the greater And as in the former case by the comfort and satisfaction of the one we should much more desire and pray after that which exceedeth So by the sensible inconvenience and trouble of the latter way we should much more abhor and dread the End thereof which is Death As we now taste and feel it is thus so we may believe and be fully assured it shall be so hereafter as the faithful and true VVitness saith Behold I have told you before By the real Good of one way we may well depend further upon the substance of things hoped for By the hurt and deceitfulness of the other we may be sufficiently forewarned of the Destruction and Misery in that way The Nature of Rewards and Punishments Exhortation and Dehortation Promises and Threatnings do denote that Man is left to his Liberty and Freedom All these do inform and acquaint him how things stand pertaining to him That he might partake of the Good and avoid the Evil. God hath thus established the Connexion and Order of things They are set before Mankind and placed so near that they are become as closely appendant to him as his Flesh and Spirit so they must have the one or the other His trial is appointed in things absolutely necessary which he cannot be without as Meat Drink and Rayment to the Body and in Thoughts as to the Soul which are the very Essence of it for the Soul will cease to be when it shall cease to think And lest the Soul should degenerate into Sloth and Bruitishness of that we are rouzed up to take heed by the Parable of the unprofitable Servant whose Doom was Cast him into outer Darkness there shall be weeping and gnashing of Teeth VVho would not receive and ascend up towards the Light but walked all his days in
Practical Discourses On Sundry TEXTS OF SCRIPTURE Wherein is shewed and made known The absolute Necessity for all People TO Turn Immediately Unto the Lord their GOD. By RICHARD STAFFORD formerly a Batchelor of Arts of Magdalen-Hall in Oxford LONDON Printed and are to be Sold by Ralph Simpson at the Harp in St. Paul's Church-yard 1695. To the Courteous READER THE Subject of this ensuing Book A Call to all the Inhabitants of the Earth to turn immediately to the Lord their God is Great and Good Even what all the Words and Preaching that have ever came forth into the World in all the several Generations and Countries have endeavoured at For Christ also hath once suffered for Sins the Just for the Vnjust that he might bring us to God 1 Pet. 3. 8. Besides the Sufferings of Christ The End and Intent of all the Words which Christ spake or made known and so it is the same of all the Transactions which have ever passed between God and Man are that he might bring us to Himself who is God Though this hath been indeed effected of some few Peculiar People of the several Generations yet it hath not been of the Multitude and Generality of Mankind Notwithstanding God was manifested in the Flesh and put to Death in the Flesh but quickned in the Spirit for this alone End and Purpose How can it then be expected that one who is born out of due Time and the least of all in the Kingdom of God can by publishing a few words more accomplish so great a thing when all the Books and Preaching in the World have not yet done it Especially when the Word it self which was made Flesh and dwelt among us Full of Grace and Truth who spake as never Man spake did not so bring it to pass that all should though some did believe on him Far be it therefore from me to expect or imagine That this little Book or Treatise of mine will ever have so great an Effect But it is only offered as another Mile to be thrown into the Treasury of Divine Truths It is the Thoughts of one single Creature which have arose in his Mind whereby himself is actually perswaded to God and good things and to turn unto the Lord Immediately Luke 12. 36. As Paul conferred not with Flesh and Blood but immediately went to Jerusalem So for my part I would utterly lay aside all Carnal and Worldly Considerations and immediately give up my self to the Guidance of the Lord as he leads me in the way to Jerusalem that is above whithersoever that way goes And I do desire that these same Thoughts may be published and made known abroad Out of this Hope and Expectation If Peradventure the God of all Truth who perswadeth us throughout our Life in all the several Circumstances and Conditions thereof That we may be able to perswade other Men and Women by the very same Thoughts wherewith our selves are perswaded of God He fashioneth the Hearts of the Sons of Men alike Psal 33. 15. and it is commonly seen That by what one is perswaded another under the like Thoughts and Circumstances is Perswaded also And if the like things were made known unto and believed by the mixt Multitude and generality of Mankind as is to the elect People and real Servants of God in all outward Likelihood and Probability They would also be brought over unto God To this alone End and Purpose are these Words laid before Men that whosoever will may read And for such who will not read the Saying among the Latins is Pertinaciae nullum Remedium Posuit Deus So we the Ministers of his Word cannot tell what to say to it Nor do we know how to help and remedy it though we would never so fain But we can only warn such Behold ye Despisers and Wonder and Perish Such are in real danger to fall under the same Doom as the Sons of Eli and Amaziah did Notwithstanding they bearkned not unto the Voice of their Father Because the Lord would slay them 1 Sam. 2. 25. But Amaziah would not hear for it came of God that he might deliver them into the hand of their Enemies 2 Chron. 25. 20. And so it is They that will not Hear Read and Receive the Words of Instruction Knowledge and Reproof It is a certain foregoing sign that such will be punished with everlasting Destruction from the Presence of the Lord and from the Glory of his Power It is commonly alledged that there is no new thing under the Sun and there is nothing said especially in Books but what hath been said before for my part I would endeavour somewhat further in what I publish to the World which as yet is not so clearly made known in other Books and Sermons or otherwise I would not publish at all Or at least I would seek out acceptable Words and that which is written may be upright even Words of Truth Eccles 12. 10. If Words or rather Sentences of Truth are indeed brought forth Although they be without Method and Connexion as there are very many of this sort in the following Treatise yet they are never the less worth for want of that All one as pieces of Gold or so many Pearls are not the less valuable although they be not linked and chained together Again Although my writing here is not with enticing words of Mans Wisdom nor yet according to the exact Rules of Oratory But things are expressed so plainly that they may be understood by the meanest Capacity Nevertheless God is more glorified and the Reader may be more edified hereby then in what is called more Learned and Polite Discourses It was both a puzling and also a sudden Question of Pilate What is Truth To me it seems to be the expressing forth the Nature of things as they are with the Connexion between themselves and how they pertain to us Men. Things are again divided into Visible and Invisible Present or Future Now the present and visible things soon pass away and are but little But the great Object of what is commonly called Divine Truth which is the subject of the ensuing Book is only invisible and future things which are the only thing needful even the greatest and nearest Concern All things are Gods for he created them and the principal Matter here insisted on throughout the whole is what God requires of Man with a Word of Exhortation to enforce him the more to the Obedience and Observance of the same and more especially what God will do unto us Men and Women the reasonable Inhabitants of this Earth both hereon in the latter days and also after that they are gone off from this Stage of the middle part of the World As to that great Controversie which the Lord hath had for so many Generations past and foregoing concerning their universal Obedience to Himself their God Psal 50. 7. which all the words that ever came forth and were made known in the World heretofore
Contempt and cast them into a bottomless Pit to suffer the Vegeance of eternal Fire In God is first contained and from him is derived every good and perfect thing even what is enjoyed or can be further desired by the Sons of Men. O Lord the Hope of Israel all that forsake thee shall be ashamed and they that depart from me shall be written in the Earth because they have forsaken the Lord the fountain of living waters Jer. 17. 13. God sendeth Rain upon the just and the unjust He giveth common Mercies promiscuously and indifferently to all but there is somewhat more and greater in being the Hope of Israel Somewhat is hidden and reserved there only for those who come unto him as again who forsake him miss thereof And when this shall be opened and actually given then Shame Vexation and Anguish will possess those who by their former demerits and provocation have lost their share and portion in this matter They that depart from me shall be written in the Earth When they have left and gone aside from him above they must cleave unto and pursue after somewhat And they cannot follow after any thing but what is in this place where they live And seeing they have chosen the Earth either the Men or Things therein let them make the most thereof But what will they do when the Earth and all the Works thereof shall be burnt up When themselves and others who inhabit here shall die And if they thought themselves well enough because tho' the things herein are perishing yet themselves are perishing likewise and they serve for their Time Nevertheless they must remain elsewhere for they have immortal Souls and returning Bodies And what shall they do throughout the Length and Space of Eternity when all the things wherein they before trusted are utterly gone and removed from them Even the Men of this World which have their Portion in this Life Psal 17. 14. might thus know and conclude As they thought it worth their while to secure this Place and Time who were for getting the best and fattest things that they might live happily and comfortably who were for the greatest and wisest Company in the whole Country of their Abode they might have looked up and have learned to be acquainted with thee O King of Nations for as much as among all the wise Men of the Earth and in all their Kingdoms there is none like unto thee They might understand and seek after the Lord whose is not only the Earth but the whole World and all that is therein for he made Heaven and Earth and all things Who whilst they lived did bless their own Soul Psal 49. 18. did so hug themselves with the Comforts and Conveniencies of this short Time they might much more hope for and endeavour after the good things of Eternity and take a more diligent and greater Care how themselves might live blessed for ever They might have further trusted unto him who as they experimentally found did good giving them Rain from Heaven filling their Souls with Food and Gladness So the Lord will perfect that wich concerneth them Psal 138. 8. Those perishing and fading Comforts were an Earnest and Assurance that he would give the true and enduring Happiness for such who should endeavour to be found worthy for to receive the same If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous Mammon who will commit to your Trust the true Riches Luke 16. 11. As he provided them with the meat which perisheth which was had by Labour Dressing and other forgoing Means and that did preserve Health and Life for the Time so likewise he afforded the Meat which endureth unto everlasting Life which also was to he had by using such Means of Grace And as many as did receive and comply with the Workings of that Grace they shall be crowned and actually invested with the other to which it did tend and grow up As he is the God of the Earth so of the Heavens also And as he hath determined our Dwelling and Abode here for a Space so he will take us up unto the Heavens for evermore Here we have no continuing City but now we desire that which would continue and that must be an heavenly Wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God for he hath prepared for them a City Heb. 11. 16. which like himself must remain for ever He took us out of our Mothers Womb and doth hold us up from the Cradle unto the Grave In the mean while he reneweth his Mercies and Preservation every Morning and there is still something more than all this Blessed be the Lord who daily loadeth us with Benefits even the God of our Salvation He that is our God is the God of Salvation and unto God the Lord belong the Issues from Death Psal 68. 19 20. In that Word Salvation is comprised more than can be possibly had in this World Salvation imports to be free from all Evil Fear and Danger which none is in this World For consider of those who are in the most safe Condition and think themselves so yet the last Enemy waits for them which is Death and thence is Fear and Doubt But we have Assurance from our God who brought us into Being who carrieth us thro' here who is Lord of Life and hath Power over Death that he will give a Rising and Deliverance from that Now we have the most doubtful Apprehensions concerning Death and the future State For though on this Earth we are encompassed about with Fear Pit and the Snare yet we know what is the utmost of things here and what usually happens unto others So we are contented and freed from Terror and Amazement But further on if we did consider rightly we have more Hope and Security from the Lord being our Hope and the God of our Salvation And there he declares beforehand that neither he nor we shall be ashamed For hereby he will do more for us than we can ask or conceive and we shall find it to be infinitely more than we could expect and which will make an abundant Compensation for whatever Difficulty Loss or Trouble we did sustain in coming to be Partaker thereof And though our God shall cause us to inherit high Places Isa 58. 12. yet we shall not be in the least Danger or Suspicion of falling Thou shalt be far from Terror for it shall not come near thee Isa 54. 11. We shall be more strongly secured from every Evil or Misery and be wholly exempt from the Thought and Apprehension thereof as we shall be let into the Possession and Enjoyment of all Good and Excellency so the Continuance thereof to everlasting that we shall never lose nor be deprived of it will be made so sure and ratified unto us as they are certain of that Moment wherein they have it or as we are at present sensible that we live and breath or that we have what we grasp at this Instant
shall fall therein Hos 14. 19. The VVise and Prudent know the difference between vain words Exod. 5. 9. those there were not so tho a Proud Ignorant and Ungodly Pharaoh did call them so and the words of Truth and Duty the VVise and Prudent know the difference between what words pertain to real Instruction and what words are of empty Speculation what serve unto Godliness or tend unto vain Jangling what is good unto the use of Edifying or ministers only unto Idleness and Vanity But Sinners do contrariwise in all these They chuse and are employed in the worse instead of the better And though they make their boast not to regard nor live by Words yet they are acted by Thoughts which Thoughts are made up of Evil and Vanity Falshood and Folly And even all their Thoughts might be uttered and written in Words as themselves know what they think and by what they are guided which they could speak forth or set down and then they become words But if these did appear in like manner how ridiculous and foolish and vain would they be Destroy thou them O God let them fall by their own Counsels Cast them out in the multitude of their Transgressions for they have rebelled against thee Psal 5. 10. Which is accordingly fulfilled for they go on in their own Counsels till they fall and are Destroyed and they are intangled in the multitude of their Transgressions till they actually drop into Punishment and Misery The Holy Ghost calleth them a Rebellious People which walketh in a way that is not good after their own Thoughts Isa 65. 2. This is the Question and Controversie which the Lord hath with the Inhabitants of the Earth whether they shall do according to his revealed Will and Commandment or go after their own Thoughts Indeed they are for the last because it hath a shew of Pride Humour and Conveniency but this is their Reward and utmost they will have for it will never attain to any real and lasting Good And when a single VVorm of the Earth shall prefer and follow his own will against that of the great Lord of the VVorld it doth Provoke the Lord to Anger conninually Isa 65. 3. As if their own Thoughts were better than God's Thoughts They will strive for Masterdom and have their own Imaginations and Sayings above the VVill and Commandment of God This is plain Walking contrary to him to which is threatned that he will bring seven times more Plagues upon them according to thiir Sins Lev. 26. 21. And again it is further added Then I will walk contrary also unto you in Fury and I even I will chastise you seven times for your Sins Verse 28. If ye walk contrary c. Their manner of doing is expressed in the Present Tense For now is the time of their Trial but how God will deal with them is Future for it shall be rendred accordingly As also to prove in the mean while whether they will be reformed from their Sin and Iniquity and do according to his Law Indeed all People do one or the other Either they live according to what is contained or directed in the word God or according to what is thought and Imagined in the Hearts of Men. VVhich as aforesaid might be expressed forth in words so it is near the same thing Or the Men are led by the Temptations and Suggestions of Satan which also as they appear to the Mind in an intelligible manner so they might be spoken forth But none will plead outwardly for them and therefore the Question in short turns upon this Point VVhether we shall go according to Divine or Human VVords for all People High and Low Rich and Poor are guided continually by one or the other VVhich of the twain is our bounden Duty and which is the best and also which is the wisest way for the attainment of Good and Happiness that hath been largely before demonstrated There is Line upin Line Line upon Line Precept upon Precept Precept upon Precept Here a little and there a little Isa 21. 10. throughout the whole Book of God And yet more in quantity and number of words hath been delivered from the Tongue and Pen of his Saints of the several Generations since the World began So much hath been said and done to make this appear unto the ungodly and disobedient in order to restrain them from the Error of their ways that if it was all written as indeed a great deal thereof is I suppose that a Man's whole Life would not suffice to Read it Nay they seem to reject it because of that seeming multitude of words touching this Matter yet themselves go according to their own Thoughts though these are more than what do occurs to their Mind concerning Goodness and Duty They are acted and led by the multitude of their own Thoughts and they do not refuse to go according to them for all their vast number Like Brute Beasts made to be taken and destroyed They follow the Herd not knowing whether they go for they perceive not when they are pressing on to be Killed and Destroyed And there are also to be found too many called Reasonable Creatures who remain altogether as Ignorant when they are in the way to Death and Hell The way of Ungodliness and Sin leads directly to it and yet too many continue therein without fear They have the Multitude and Fashion on their side and they are for doing what the most do especially those of the Richer sort They are for going according to the course of the World though they should be condemned with the World 1 Cor. 11. 32. And they think it good to swim with the Stream not knowing that it tends to the bottomless Pit Satan who deceiveth the whole World Rev. 12. 9. hath found out this device to blind them in his and their own Deceivings so called 2 Pet. 2. 13. For they imagine that they do not Err because they have so many of their side however they shall fare as well as the most and they shall be in the same condition with others according to whom they do in this present World To do as others do is one Thought by which the Men of this World act and it is here expressed forth in words So it is the same principle of Action which they hold unto tho it be not spoken out or written But to do barely as others do without regard had to Good or Evil Duty or Sin to what is Commanded or what is Forbidden is Transgression and Folly now which ends in Punishment and Misery hereafter Alas such do not consider there is a great God over all who now looketh from Heaven upon all the Inhabitants of the Earth and considereth all their Works who hath given a Law for them to live by and he is to judge and render to every Man according to his Deeds If People did consider throughly and would do acccording to the Most they should do according to
love thee O Lord my Strength the Lord is my Rock and my Fortress and my Deliverer my God my Strength in whom I will trust my Buckler and the Horn of my Salvation and my high Tower And so they may go on to declare and make a Rehearsal in order of the several great and good things which God hath done in his works of Creation and Redemption how that from the Forming and Transgression of Adam unto Jesus Christ being manifested in the Flesh and from thence to the Pouring out of the Spirit upon us from on High till the very last days it went on all along with Men and Women in all the Habitable parts of the Earth and throughout all the several Generations till at last it came to this Blessed upshot Conclusion and Period Thou hast deliver'd me from the Strivings of the People and thou hast made me the Head of the Heathen By which two Words People and Heathen are comprehended all those who Worship God and who Worship him not as also both them who Worship him in a true or in a false manner for when David Prays in another Place to to Visit all the Heathen Psal 59. 5. He includes under that Word Heathen also those sinful and Wicked Jews whom he there speaks of and amongst whom he dwelt Even as there have been all along Those of the Synagogue of Satan who say they are Jews but are not but do lie Rev. 3. 9. Which say they are Christians and Servants of the Lord and are not but do lie for they are Heathen in Manners tho not in Worship And such for all their Name of Christian are not known of Christ they being workers of Iniquity but many of them shall cease to be such and then he shall begin to own and know them When such and all others come to serve him When the People are gathered together and the Kingdoms to serve the Lord Psal 102. 22. When that which hath been said will be fulfilled A People whom I have not known shall Serve me I am sought of them thâ—… asked not for me I am found of them that sought 〈◊〉 not I said Behold me Behold me unto a Nation that was not called by my Name Isa 65. 1. And when the Prophet doth afterwards complain I have spread out my hands all the day unto a Rebellious People He saith the first of the Gentiles but this last and worst Character he gives of the Jews By which is intimated forth and confirmed that old and true Observation That as good People do commonly meet with more Kindness and Civility from meer Strangers than from Acquaintance and Kinsfolks So it is a more easie matter to convert and bring over unto God meer Heathen and Infidels than to Reform obstinate Jews superstitious or formal Christians from the Error of their ways and to bring them off from their vain and sinful Customs So God speaks unto Ezekiel Son of Man go get thee unto the House of Israel and speak with my Words unto them for thou art not sent unto a People of a strange Speech and of an hard Language whose Words thou canst not understand Surely had I sent thee unto them they would have hearkened unto thee But the House of Israel will not hearken unto thee for they will not hearken unto me Ezek 3. 4 5 6 7. And so God doth elsewhere take notice how they did Pollute his Name among the Heathen which before was Sanctified among them It is a more easie matter to instruct them in the true Knowledge of God who never heard of him before then it is to them who have heard him Preached and Talked of all their Lives long and yet they have not the Knowledge of God I speak this to their shame For manysuch are found to be in this Christian Nation who know nothing more of him than in a general way what they have heard only with the outward Ear or they have received in false Notions and Apprehensions concerning him for in this case so many things must be unlearned again and so many Errors must be removed out before the Truth can come in That one who is a pure Man not before prepossessed with wrong Imaginations but hath the common Principles of Nature and Powers of Knowledge when such an one is instructed truly and perfectly in the ways of God he will forthwith assent unto them and he will judge it the most reasonable thing in the World to do according to what is written At that day shall a Man look to his Maker and his Eyes shall have respect unto the Holy One of Israel Isa 17. 7. That Mortal Man should be Subject and Obedient unto the Almighty and everlasting God for a Creature to be Governed by his Creator especially when he sees hears and finds it in his Heart to be enforced with that Demonstration and Power as it may be As soon as they hear of me they shall Obey me The Strangers shall submit themselves unto me The Strangers shall fade away and be afraid out of their close Places There is a manifold Wisdom of God and so there is a manifold Sense and Interpretation of his Word which yet is all true and genuine so besides that meaning of the word Strangers before assigned There may be intended also such as are Jews Christians and Servants of God in Name or Profession only for they are Strangers or strange Children Psal 144. 7. Who pretend and seem outwardly to own and serve God when indeed and in truth they do not serve and obey him Whatever Thoughts Deceits or false Imaginations such have in their Minds they shall fade and come off from them and they shall be afraid thereof when the Earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord and of the things pertaining to his Kingdom all their own Reasonings and Imaginations shall Vanish and be utterly Abolished and every High thing that heretofore exalted it self against the Knowledge of God shall be cast down and fall to the Ground that the Lord alone may be exalted in that day and every thought both in Man or Woman will be brought into Captivity unto the Obedience of Christ As soon as they hear of me they shall Obey me The CONCLVSION THE Wickedness and Rebellion of former Generations did endeavour to Dethrone God and Christ Nay it did put Christ to Death who was the Prince of Life whom God again loosed from the Pains of Death it being not possible that he should be holden by it for God raised him up And the very same degree of Rebellion and VVickedness would if such a thing were possible which was not with Reverence be it spoken have Killed God himself Yea they would what lay in them Vngod him from whence they are properly called Vngodly Men for they would not that God should reign over them Hence did arise up those Strivings of the People But herein the Heathen did rage and the People did imagin a vain thing For after