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I have forsaken mine house: I to deliver them, &c.-Exod. iii. 7, 8; have left mine heritage: I have given Acts vii. 34. the dearly beloved of my soul into the hands of her enemies.-Jer. xii. 7-10.

At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it: if that nation, &c.-Jer. xviii. 7, 8.

O thou sword of the Lord, &c. how can it be quiet, seeing the Lord hath given it a charge against Ashkelon? &c.-Jer. xlvii. 6, 7.

Is there any sorrow like unto my sorrow, wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger?-Lam. i. 12, &c.; iii.

Shall there be evil in a city, and the Lord hath not done it?-Amos iii. 6.

Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, &c.-Amos iv. 12.

Before these days there was no, &c. neither was there any peace to him that went out or came in, because of the affliction: for I set all men every one against his neighbour.Zech. viii. 10.

SECT. 2.-The Privileges of the Righteous, and Servants of God, in Times of Calamity.

WHEN God destroyed the whole world by the flood, Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord, and he and his family were saved in the ark.-Gen. vi. 8. 17, 18; vii. 1, &c.

God would have spared Sodom, for the sake of ten righteous persons. -Gen. xviii. 32.

In the destruction of Sodom, Lot was preserved and all his, and sent out by the angel, from the overthrow, and escaped.-Gen. xix. 12, 13. 15

17.

Jacob and his family nourished by Joseph in the great famine.-Gen. xlvii. 12, 13.

I have surely seen the affliction of my people, &c. and I am come down

God smote the Egyptians universally in the destruction of their firstborn. But he said, Against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast, &c. The plague shall not be upon you.-Exod. xi. 5—7; xii. 13.

The Lord shall judge his people, &c. when he sees that their power gone. Deut. xxxii. 36; 2 Kings xiv. 26.

Elijah and the widow fed in the time of the famine.-1 Kings xvii.

God said to Josiah, Thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace, and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place.2 Kings xxii. 20.

In famine he shall redeem thee from death: and in war from the power of the sword: at destruction and famine thou shalt laugh.- Job v. 20. 22; Ps. xxxiii. 18, 19.

Though the earth be moved, &c. There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, &c. God is in the midst of her, &c.-Ps. xlvi. 2-6.

Thou shalt not be afraid, &c. nor for the pestilence, &c. nor for the destruction, &c. Ps. xci. 5-7; xxxvii. 18, 19.

Despise not the chastening of the Lord: neither be weary of his correction.-Prov. iii. 11, 12.

Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee hide thyself, &c. until the indignation be overpast: for behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth, &c.-Isa. xxvi. 20, 21.

The whole land shall be desolate, yet will I not make a full end.—Jer. iv. 27; v. 18; Isa. xvii. 4-6; Ezek. vi. 8; xi. 16.

For my name's sake will I defer mine anger, &c. that I cut thee not off, &c. for my name's sake, &c.— Isa. xlviii. 9. 11.

Run ye to and fro through the

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streets of Jerusalem, &c. if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth, and I will pardon it.-Jer.

v. 1.

When Jeremiah was taken with the rest of the Jews, God took care of him.-Jer. xxxix. 11, 12. 14; xl. 2, &c.

I will make a full end of all nations, whither I have driven thee; but I will not make a full end of thee.-Jer. xlvi. 28; Levit. xxvi. 44, 45.

Set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh, and that cry for all the abominations, &c. Slay utterly old and young, &c. but come not near any man upon whom is the mark.— Ezek. ix. 4-6.

Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls only. Ezek. xiv. 14. 18. 20.

All ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment, &c. it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord's anger.-Zeph. ii. 3.

Hurt not the earth, &c. till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.-Rev. vii. 2, 3.

And it was commanded them, that they should not hurt, &c. but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.-Rev. ix. 4.

SECT. 3.-The Duties of the Righte

ous in such times of Distress. WHEN God had said he would not go up with Israel, but send his angel, because they had sinned: the people mourned, and no man did put on his ornaments.-Exod. xxxiii. 1, &c.

If they shall confess their iniquity, &c. if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity: then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, &c.-Levit. xxvi. 40-42. When God's anger brake out against Israel, Moses prayed for them.Numb. xi. 1, 2.

When Israel fled before the men of Ai, Joshua prayed, and God com

mands him to arise, and search out the sin, and remove the cause.-Josh. vii. 6-16.

Israel in all their distresses cried to the Lord, and he helped.-Judges iii. 9; iv. 3; vi. 7; x. 10-14; 1 Sam. xii. 9, 10; 2 Kings xix. 14—19.

If I shut up heaven, that there be no rain, &c. or if I send pestilence among my people: if my people which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their evil ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sins, and will heal their land.-2 Chron. vii. 13, 14; Deut. iv. 29, 30; xxx. 1, &c.

When Jerusalem was in distress, the princes and the king humbled themselves, &c. And God said, They have humbled themselves, I will not destroy them, but I will grant them, &c.-2 Chron. xii. 6, 7; xxxii. 26.

For a long season Israel had been without the true God, &c. but when they in their trouble did turn unto the Lord God of Israel, and sought him, he was found of them.-2 Chron. xv. 3, 4.

When Judah was beset by Israel, they cried unto the Lord.-2 Chron. xiii. 14.

So Asa cried, &c.-2 Chron. xiv. 11. Jehoshaphat proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah, in such a case. -2 Chron. xx; Ezra viii. 21-23.

Nehemiah mourned, and wept, and fasted, when he had heard of the sad calamity of the Jews; and he prayed, &c. So did Jeremiah.-Neh. i. 3-5; ii. 2, 3; Lam. iii. 48, 49.

When the Jews were near destruction by Haman's means, &c. Mordecai and the Jews greatly mourned, fasted, wept, lay in sackcloth.-Esth. iv. 13. 16.

The Psalmist makes complaint, and prays to God earnestly for the church in great calamity.-Ps. lxxiv; lxxix; lxxx.

By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion, &c. If I forget

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thee, O Jerusalem, let, &c.-Ps. | will repent of the evil that I thought cxxxvii. 1. 4—6. to do unto them. Behold, I frame evil against you, &c. return ye now, every one from his evil way, &c.— Jer. xviii. 7, 8. 11.

Despise not the chastening of the Lord, neither be weary of his correction.—Prov. iii. 11, 12.

The people turneth not to him that smiteth them, neither do they seek the Lord of hosts.-Isa. ix. 13, 14.

I will weep bitterly, labour not to comfort me, &c. And in that day did the Lord of hosts call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, &c. and behold joy, and gladness, slaying of oxen, &c. This iniquity shall not be purged from you till ye die, saith the Lord God of hosts.

Isa. xxii. 4. 12-14.

In the way of thy judgments, O Lord, have we waited for thee, &c. Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, &c. until the indignation be overpast.-Isa. xxvi. 8. 12. 20, 21. Hezekiah spread Rabshakeh's letter before the Lord, and prayed unto the Lord, &c.-Isa. xxxvii. 14, &c.

There is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee; for thou hast, &c. consumed us, &c.-Isa. lxiv. 7—10.

Thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved: thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction, &c. They refused to return. Jer. v. 3; ii. 30.

O that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night, for the slain of the daughter of my people.Jer. ix. 1.

My soul shall weep in secret places for your pride and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the Lord's flock is carried away captive.-Jer. xiii. 17.

In the great famine, Jeremiah confesseth the sin of the people, and prays and pleads with God for Israel at large. Jer. xiv.

At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it: if that nation, &c. turn from their evil way, I

God complaineth against Judah, that though they were destroyed, yet were they not humbled.-Jer. xliv. 6. 10.

The Lord blamed Baruch for seeking great things for himself in a day of affliction.-Jer. xlv. 5.

Arise, &c. pour out thine heart like water before the Lord: lift up thine hands toward him, for the life of thy young children, &c.-Lam. ii. 19, 20.

Let us search, and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord: let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.-Lam. iii. 40, 41.

Set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh, and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.—Ezek. ix. 4.

I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none.-Ezek. xxii. 30.

Daniel in the captivity confesseth, and prayeth.-Dan. ix. 3, &c.

Come, let us return unto the Lord, for he hath torn, and he will heal us. -Hosea vi. 1.

God calls upon Israel to sanctify a fast, and to cry unto the Lord.-Joel i. 13, 14; Zeph. ii. 1-3.

Turn ye even to me with all your hearts, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God, &c. Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him? Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast.-Joel ii. 12 -17; Deut. xxx. 1, &c.

Because I will do this, &c. prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.-Amos iv. 12.

The prudent shall keep silence in that time: for it is an evil time, &c. let judgment run down as waters, &c.

-Amos v. 13-15. 24; Micah vii. 5-7.

Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, &c. but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.-Amos vi. 1. 3. 6; Isa. lvii. 1.

The mariners called upon Jonah to pray, and inquired for what cause they were in danger.-Jonah i. 5, &c. The people of Nineveh upon a threatening, fast, pray, and turn from their evil way.-Jonah iii. 5, &c.

Though there shall be no herd in the stalls; yet will I rejoice in the Lord; I will joy in the God of my salvation. Hab. iii. 17-19.

Is this a time for you to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste? now therefore, thus saith the Lord of hosts, Consider (or set your heart upon) your ways.--Hag. i. 4, 5.7. When ye fasted and mourned, did ye at all fast unto me? &c. Execute true judgment, &c.-Zech. vii. 5. 9, 10; Isa. lviii. 3—8.

When ye hear of wars, &c. be ye not troubled for such things must needs be.-Mark xiii. 7.

Jesus said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, nay: but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or, those eighteen upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them; think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, nay: but except ye repent, &c.-Luke xiii. 1-5.

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Against all the gods (or princes) of Egypt, I will execute judgment: am the Lord.-Exod. xii. 12.

And the Lord said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy of the elders of Israel, &c. and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them: and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, &c.-Numb. xi. 16, 17. 25.

Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the Lord thy God giveth thee throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people.-Deut. xvi. 18.

He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory.-1 Sam. ii. 8.

When the people asked a king, the Lord said unto Samuel, &c. For they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign. over them.-1 Sam. viii. 5-7; x. 18, 19; xii. 12. 17—20.

Saith Cyrus king of Persia, The Lord God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth.-Ezra i. 2.

The kings whom thou hast set over us because of our sins; also they have dominion over our bodies, and over our cattle, &c.-Neh. ix. 37.

Promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, &c. but God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.-Ps. lxxv. 6,7.

God, &c. judgeth among the gods, &c. I have said, Ye are gods, &c.Ps. lxxxii. 1. 6.

By me kings reign, and princes decree justice: by me princes rule, ARE and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.-Prov. viii. 15, 16.

SECT. 1.-That Magistracy is the Or-
dinance of God: that by him are
Magistrates advanced to offices, &c.
The Titles given them.

THE kingdom is the Lord's, and he
is the governor among the nations.-
Ps. xxii. 28; Dan. iv. 17; John iii.
27; xix. 11.

For the trangression of a land, many are the princes thereof.-Prov. xxviii. 2.

In that day shall the Lord of hosts be, &c. for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment.-Isa. xxviii. 5, 6.

I have made the earth, &c. and have given it unto whom it seemed meet

Accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor; for they are all the work of his hands: in a moment shall they die.-Job xxxiv. 18--20.

unto me. And now have I given, &c. | unto man, &c. in so doing, my Maker, to Nebuchadnezzar.--Jer. xxvii. 5--7. &c.-Job xxxii. 21, 22. Blessed be the name of God, &c. he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings and setteth up kings, &c. For the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory, &c. he is a God of gods, and Lord of lords.Dan. ii. 20, 21. 37, 38. 47.

To the intent that the living may know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men, &c. And they shall drive thee from men, &c. until thou know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. Dan. iv. 17. 32.

O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour; and for the majesty that he gave him, all people, &c. trembled, &c.-Dan. v. 18, 19; ii. 37, 38.

I gave thee a king in mine anger, and took him away in my wrath.Hosea xiii. 11.

Be wise now, therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth: serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling: kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled.-Ps. ii. 10-12.

He shall cut off the spirit of princes: and is terrible to the kings of the earth.-Ps. lxxvi. 12.

I have said ye are gods, &c. but ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.-Ps. lxxxii. 6, 7.

The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord: as the rivers of water, he turneth it whithersoever he will.— Prov. xxi. 1.

If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice, &c. he that is higher than the highest, regardeth, and there be higher than they.-Eccles. v. 8.

The Lord will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes, &c.-Isa. iii. 14.

There is no power but of God; the powers that be, are ordained (or ordered) of God: whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God. Rulers are not a terror, &c. for he is the minister of God to thee for good.--Rom. xiii. 1--4. SECT. 2.—What they are in the sight of God, and considered as Men. AGAINST all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord.--16. 18. Exod. xii. 12..

He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools: he looseth the bonds of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle: he leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty, &c. he poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty. -Job xii. 17-21; Ps. cvii. 40. Let me not accept any man's person, neither give flattering titles

Ye scornful men, that rule this people, &c. because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, &c. thus saith the Lord, &c. Your covenant with death shall be disannulled, &c. when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then shall ye be trodden down by it.-Isa. xxviii. 14

He that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, &c. that bringeth the princes of the earth to nothing: he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity.Isa. xl. 22, 23.

Say to the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord God: Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a god, I sit in the seat of God, &c. yet thou art a man, and not God; though thou set thine heart as the heart of God, &c. therefore, thus saith

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