people_n do_v the_o like_a by_o his_o authority_n and_o example_n which_o make_v some_o amends_o for_o the_o hurt_v he_o have_v former_o give_v they_o he_o that_o bring_v that_o sentence_n upon_o they_o by_o his_o sin_n obtain_v a_o reprieve_n for_o they_o by_o his_o repentance_n another_o and_o that_o indeed_o a_o unusual_a instance_n we_o have_v in_o nabuchadnezzar_n king_n of_o babel_n be_v a_o heathen_a from_o he_o nothing_o can_v be_v expect_v but_o the_o duty_n of_o natural_a religion_n but_o he_o be_v so_o far_o from_o live_v up_o to_o that_o that_o he_o walk_v by_o no_o rule_n but_o his_o lust_n for_o thirty_o six_o year_n of_o his_o reign_n when_o after_o he_o have_v so_o long_o lead_v the_o life_n of_o a_o beast_n god_n make_v he_o like_o one_o in_o all_o thing_n but_o his_o shape_n for_o a_o extraordinary_a instance_n of_o his_o justice_n then_o be_v sufficient_o humble_v he_o be_v restore_v to_o his_o former_a way_n of_o live_v and_o to_o the_o glory_n of_o his_o kingdom_n 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prepare_v he_o for_o everlasting_a damnation_n that_o be_v terrible_a indeed_o and_o that_o come_v on_o every_o moment_n damnation_n slumber_v not_o say_v the_o apostle_n though_o they_o do_v they_o do_v not_o think_v whither_o they_o be_v go_v but_o they_o go_v never_o the_o slow_a for_o that_o or_o if_o they_o shall_v their_o judgement_n will_v be_v the_o more_o furious_a when_o it_o come_v long-slighted_n patience_n turn_v into_o fury_n and_o the_o long_o it_o have_v be_v abuse_v the_o great_a the_o fury_n and_o especial_o the_o patience_n of_o god_n it_o be_v a_o fearful_a thing_n to_o fall_v into_o the_o hand_n of_o a_o incense_a god_n for_o our_o god_n provoke_v to_o extremity_n be_v a_o consume_a fire_n have_v say_v so_o much_o in_o the_o explication_n of_o my_o text_n i_o dare_v not_o be_v so_o long_o in_o apply_v it_o as_o i_o will_v and_o yet_o something_o must_v be_v say_v with_o respect_n to_o the_o business_n of_o the_o day_n to_o humble_v ourselves_o before_o god_n for_o 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other_o christian_n but_o even_o heathen_n shall_v rise_v up_o in_o judgement_n against_o we_o it_o show_v we_o have_v low_a apprehension_n of_o god_n we_o neither_o love_v he_o nor_o fear_v he_o as_o we_o ought_v to_o do_v if_o we_o do_v how_o be_v it_o possible_a that_o so_o many_o among_o we_o shall_v have_v so_o little_a or_o no_o regard_n to_o those_o person_n or_o thing_n that_o be_v dedicate_v to_o god_n and_o that_o be_v hallow_v to_o his_o name_n it_o be_v too_o visible_a that_o this_o be_v the_o disease_n of_o our_o church_n the_o mother-disease_n from_o which_o all_o her_o other_o ailing_n proceed_v from_o hence_o it_o proceed_v that_o some_o see_v more_o reverence_n for_o god_n and_o for_o the_o thing_n of_o religion_n in_o popery_n have_v be_v draw_v off_o to_o that_o gross_a corruption_n of_o the_o christian_a religion_n and_o in_o this_o they_o have_v be_v wonderful_o confirm_v by_o see_v other_o take_v offence_n at_o some_o thing_n which_o be_v certain_o in_o the_o 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be_v to_o date_n the_o beginning_n of_o these_o follow_a evil_n from_o thence_o the_o weaken_n and_o destruction_n of_o church-discipline_n from_o thence_o the_o neglect_n of_o catechism_n and_o confirmation_n from_o thence_o a_o contempt_n or_o low_a esteem_n of_o the_o sacrament_n of_o christ_n own_o institution_n from_o thence_o the_o general_a neglect_n of_o family-duty_n especial_o in_o the_o education_n of_o child_n and_o young_a people_n from_o thence_o a_o general_a corruption_n of_o manner_n into_o looseness_n and_o licentiousness_n and_o debauchery_n and_o in_o they_o that_o keep_v up_o a_o sense_n of_o religion_n much_o of_o it_o have_v run_v out_o into_o dispute_n which_o lead_v people_n to_o hate_v one_o another_o and_o occasion_v many_o among_o we_o
a_o sermon_n preach_v before_o the_o king_n &_o queen_n at_o whitehall_n march_v the_o twelve_o 1689_o 90._o be_v the_o fastday_n by_o the_o bishop_n of_o st._n asaph_n lord_n almoner_n to_o their_o majesty_n publish_a by_o their_o majesty_n command_n london_n print_v for_o robert_n clavell_n at_o the_o peacock_n in_o st._n paul_n churchyard_n 1690._o the_o bishop_n of_o st._n asaph_n sermon_n before_o the_o king_n and_o queen_n on_o the_o fastday_n two_o peter_n iii_o 9_o for_o the_o lord_n be_v not_o slack_a concern_v his_o promise_n as_o some_o man_n count_v slackness_n but_o be_v long-suffering_a to_o us-ward_n not_o willing_a that_o any_o shall_v perish_v but_o that_o all_o shall_v come_v to_o repentance_n the_o word_n concern_v his_o promise_n refer_v to_o that_o which_o go_v before_o in_o the_o four_o verse_n of_o this_o chapter_n where_o it_o be_v plain_a that_o the_o apostle_n speak_v of_o christ_n promise_n of_o his_o come_n to_o judgement_n that_o be_v indeed_o a_o promise_n to_o his_o elect_n but_o be_v rather_o a_o threaten_v to_o other_o and_o therefore_o i_o shall_v rather_o call_v it_o a_o prediction_n which_o be_v a_o word_n between_o both_o by_o christ_n promise_n or_o prediction_n i_o suppose_v he_o mean_v that_o in_o matthew_n 24._o where_o our_o saviour_n foretell_v in_o one_o and_o the_o same_o prophecy_n both_o his_o come_n to_o destroy_v jerusalem_n and_o his_o come_n to_o judge_v the_o world_n it_o be_v the_o delay_n of_o this_o last_o come_n of_o christ_n against_o which_o the_o apostle_n foresee_v that_o there_o will_v be_v a_o objection_n by_o scoffer_n in_o the_o latter_a day_n i_o shall_v not_o consider_v all_o the_o answer_n that_o he_o give_v they_o nor_o any_o more_o than_o what_o lie_v before_o we_o in_o my_o text_n nor_o even_o that_o with_o relation_n only_o to_o the_o day_n of_o judgement_n but_o as_o it_o extend_v to_o all_o the_o judgement_n of_o god_n especial_o those_o that_o end_n in_o destruction_n as_o the_o day_n of_o judgement_n do_v of_o this_o and_o all_o other_o such_o judgement_n say_v the_o apostle_n for_o the_o lord_n be_v not_o slack_a concern_v his_o promise_n as_o some_o man_n count_v slackness_n but_o be_v long-suffering_a to_o us-ward_n not_o willing_a that_o any_o shall_v perish_v but_o that_o all_o shall_v come_v to_o repentance_n in_o my_o discourse_n upon_o these_o word_n i_o shall_v proceed_v by_o these_o step_n and_o degree_n first_o i_o take_v it_o for_o grant_v on_o all_o hand_n that_o god_n be_v general_o very_o slow_a in_o inflict_v his_o judgement_n it_o be_v that_o which_o the_o scoffer_n object_n it_o be_v grant_v by_o the_o apostle_n in_o his_o answer_n they_o agree_v in_o the_o thing_n they_o differ_v concern_v the_o reason_n of_o it_o therefore_o second_o for_o the_o reason_n as_o these_o scoffer_n will_v persuade_v themselves_o it_o proceed_v from_o god_n slackness_n in_o his_o government_n but_o this_o the_o apostle_n deny_v that_o there_o can_v be_v any_o such_o thing_n in_o god_n what_o then_o shall_v be_v the_o cause_n of_o god_n delay_v his_o judgement_n this_o be_v that_o which_o we_o be_v chief_o to_o consider_v the_o true_a cause_n say_v the_o apostle_n be_v the_o long-suffering_a of_o god_n of_o which_o among_o many_o reason_n that_o may_v be_v give_v he_o give_v this_o for_o a_o principal_a it_o be_v from_o his_o infinite_a goodness_n it_o be_v his_o willingness_n by_o this_o mean_n to_o save_v those_o who_o a_o quick_a way_n of_o proceed_v will_v destroy_v for_o the_o use_n of_o all_o this_o i_o be_o to_o show_v first_o how_o much_o we_o be_v want_v to_o ourselves_o if_o we_o be_v not_o ready_a to_o comply_v with_o his_o goodness_n if_o we_o be_v not_o willing_a to_o be_v save_v as_o well_o as_o god_n be_v willing_a to_o save_v we_o second_o i_o shall_v show_v how_o much_o it_o concern_v we_o to_o take_v that_o which_o be_v the_o only_a way_n to_o be_v save_v that_o be_v by_o a_o speedy_a and_o effectual_a repentance_n last_o for_o our_o encouragement_n i_o shall_v show_v what_o assurance_n we_o have_v not_o only_o of_o deliverance_n but_o of_o further_a favour_n upon_o our_o repentance_n from_o that_o god_n who_o so_o earnest_o desire_v it_o that_o he_o seem_v to_o expose_v his_o own_o glory_n he_o suffer_v wicked_a man_n to_o call_v his_o truth_n and_o justice_n in_o question_n rather_o than_o not_o give_v time_n and_o not_o use_v the_o utmost_a mean_n to_o save_v they_o from_o perish_v in_o their_o sin_n in_o the_o design_n here_o propose_v i_o be_o to_o begin_v with_o that_o which_o be_v grant_v on_o all_o hand_n that_o god_n be_v general_o very_o slow_a in_o inflict_v his_o punishment_n upon_o sinner_n i_o do_v not_o say_v he_o be_v always_o so_o for_o sometime_o nay_o oftentimes_o god_n do_v otherwise_o he_o take_v sinner_n in_o the_o fact_n and_o do_v execution_n upon_o the_o place_n i_o need_v not_o mind_v you_o of_o the_o dreadful_a example_n in_o scripture_n of_o corah_n dathan_n and_o abiram_n of_o ananias_n and_o sapphira_n and_o the_o like_a we_o have_v oftentimes_o the_o terror_n of_o such_o example_n before_o our_o eye_n to_o see_v one_o kill_v in_o a_o drunken_a quarrel_n or_o in_o attempt_v a_o robbery_n or_o in_o range_v to_o satisfy_v his_o lust_n to_o see_v a_o sinner_n cut_v off_o in_o the_o first_o act_n or_o the_o first_o discover_v act_n of_o his_o sin_n when_o this_o happen_v to_o any_o one_o though_o we_o be_v silent_a as_o to_o his_o eternal_a estate_n yet_o we_o can_v but_o say_v there_o be_v a_o visible_a judgement_n of_o god_n by_o which_o such_o a_o one_o be_v take_v away_o sudden_o as_o by_o a_o whirlwind_n in_o his_o wrath_n and_o yet_o we_o can_v say_v that_o he_o be_v a_o great_a sinner_n than_o they_o be_v who_o have_v their_o life_n prolong_v in_o their_o wickedness_n nay_o of_o the_o two_o perhaps_o there_o be_v cause_n to_o fear_v their_o condition_n much_o more_o than_o the_o other_o for_o thus_o much_o the_o apostle_n seem_v to_o imply_v when_o he_o admit_v there_o be_v that_o that_o look_v like_o slackness_n in_o judgement_n for_o there_o can_v be_v no_o such_o pretence_n if_o the_o most_o or_o great_a sinner_n be_v judge_v and_o especial_o if_o they_o be_v judge_v early_o in_o this_o life_n the_o apostle_n rather_o seem_v to_o admit_v of_o the_o contrary_a and_o it_o sufficient_o appear_v by_o many_o instance_n that_o the_o great_a sinner_n have_v have_v a_o long_a time_n give_v they_o before_o they_o have_v be_v call_v to_o account_v for_o their_o sin_n against_o god_n if_o any_o will_v see_v this_o prove_v by_o example_n let_v he_o think_v of_o the_o worst_a man_n mention_v in_o scripture_n he_o shall_v see_v how_o slow_a god_n have_v be_v in_o bring_v they_o to_o due_a punishment_n of_o heathen_a prince_n there_o be_v none_o that_o have_v a_o worse_a character_n upon_o he_o than_o pharaoh_n a_o monster_n of_o pride_n and_o cruelty_n and_o contempt_n of_o god_n which_o bring_v down_o upon_o he_o all_o the_o plague_n of_o egypt_n so_o famous_a in_o history_n by_o the_o last_o of_o those_o judgement_n he_o perish_v but_o than_o it_o be_v long_o first_o for_o all_o those_o plague_n come_v upon_o he_o in_o one_o year_n and_o it_o be_v in_o the_o sixteen_o year_n of_o his_o reign_n say_v eusebius_n from_o manetho_n the_o egyptian_a among_o the_o jewish_a king_n the_o worst_a shall_v be_v wicked_a ahab_n for_o of_o he_o the_o scripture_n say_v there_o be_v none_o like_o he_o that_o have_v sell_v himself_o to_o work_v wickedness_n and_o yet_o ahab_n reign_v above_o two_o and_o twenty_o year_n before_o the_o dog_n have_v the_o lick_n of_o his_o blood_n in_o the_o new_a testament_n the_o worst_a great_a man_n we_o read_v of_o be_v that_o herod_n that_o will_v have_v kill_v christ_n in_o his_o infancy_n and_o pilate_n by_o who_o he_o be_v crucify_v but_o of_o they_o herod_n come_v to_o his_o end_n which_o indeed_o be_v very_o horrible_a as_o josephus_n describe_v it_o not_o till_o the_o four_o and_o thirty_o 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pay_v both_o principal_a and_o interest_n together_o in_o their_o suffering_n in_o the_o future_a life_n but_o for_o nation_n they_o have_v no_o other_o life_n but_o this_o their_o sin_n must_v be_v punish_v here_o or_o not_o at_o all_o and_o therefore_o it_o may_v seem_v a_o little_a strange_a that_o they_o shall_v have_v any_o forbearance_n and_o yet_o so_o it_o be_v that_o god_n be_v not_o in_o haste_n even_o with_o them_o for_o example_n i_o may_v if_o i_o have_v time_n name_v all_o the_o nation_n that_o be_v record_v in_o history_n but_o that_o do_v not_o need_n since_o we_o have_v one_o nation_n which_o god_n have_v set_v up_o for_o a_o example_n to_o all_o the_o rest_n the_o jewish_a nation_n in_o that_o one_o i_o may_v show_v many_o instance_n of_o this_o doctrine_n but_o these_o three_o be_v more_o remarkable_a than_o the_o rest_n first_o when_o god_n have_v swear_v in_o the_o wilderness_n that_o he_o will_v cut_v off_o all_o the_o man_n of_o that_o generation_n yet_o he_o 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