Hence the heavy _stroakes_ upon _Lot_, upon _Lots wife_, upon _Moses_, upon _Aaron_, upon _Sampson_, upon _Eli_, upon _David_, upon _Hezekiah_, upon _Josiah_, &c.
_Object._ But some may say, _God_ sees no sin in _Jacob_, &c.
[Sidenote: Gods holy end in his sore afflictions upon his people.]
_I answer_, Their calamities are Judgements, that is righteous sentences of the most high, _Judgements_, though not eternall Judgements: these vindicate _Gods_ name and _Justice_ before an unrighteous _world_, and beare him witnesse of his _impartiality_, even towards his owne _children_; these humble and bring his people to repentance and confession, and quicken their pace, and their hearts, to watch against future _sins_ and _provocations_.
Hence saith the _Spirit_ of _God_ expresly, _1. Cor. 11_. For this _cause_ (that is for his childrens abuse of the _Lords Supper_) many are _weak_ and _sick_, and some are falne _asleep_; _God_ chastiseth his own people, true _christian Churches_, for the abuse of his holy _Ordinances_ and _appointments_.
[Sidenote: Gods justice visibly seen in the present sorrows of all sorts.]
In the second place, let us cast our eyes abroad and behold the direfull signs and tokens, of _Gods_ severe Justice executed at this present in the _world_. How lamentably doe we see before our eyes the daily and continued effects of that first _wrath_ upon mankind, in so many _sorrows_ of all sorts for the first transgression.
Let us consider of the great constant _reproach_ and misery over all the _Nations_ of the _World_, by reason of _Gods_ righteous _Sentence_ in the division of so many _Tongues_ and _Languages_.
[Sidenote: The horrible desolations of late years.]
O come and see (saith _David_) what _Desolations_ (_Psal. 46._) the _Lord_ hath wrought in the _Earth_? How many _hundred thousands_ of _men_, _women_ and _children_ have of late years been swept away in the _world_, by _wars_, _famines_ and _pestilences_?
And since we are commanded to _weep_ with them that _weep_; O that our _heads_ were _fountains_, and our _eyes rivers_ of _waters_, that wee might weep with _Germany_, weep with _Ireland_, yea, weep day and night with _England_ and _Scotland_ (to speake nothing of other remote _Nations_) in laying againe and again to _heart_ the stroakes of _Gods_ most righteous _judgements_, in their most fearfull slaughters and _desolations_.