Page:Saint's duty in evil times (4).pdf/3

Rh David, and the bright and morning-star. And the Spirit and the bride say come, and let him that heareth, say. come, and let him that is a-thirst come. And whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely.’ And if this, and each sweet invitations will not prevail, he makes taws to ship his own, to himself: terrors within, and judgements without, and he never lays on a blow, but he is still provoked to it, and when be lays it in the tears are in his eyes, because he must do it, Lam. iii. 33. “For he doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men,” yea, when his own turn their backs upon him, he lets them not alone, but is still calling them back again. Zech. i. 3, “Turn ye unto me, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the Lord of hosts.” and also, when he threatens most sadly, he fails not to make large promises to the faithful, and to observe the ample invitations “to come to him,” for their pleasure and for their safety, “come my people &c. When the Lord is coming out of his palace, to sit in judgement upon the inhabitants of the earth, and to give out sentence upon them, according to their doings, and to punish them for their iniquities, he calls his own people to himself, 'there they are to be bid and preserved. O stand. still amazed, and wonder at his tender love, and fatherly care of his children, who will not come with his cloak of zeal, and clothes of vengeance, to give out, and to execute his sentence of justice Upon his enemies, until that he give his people fair warning thereof, and also invites them to their shelter and safety, which he hath prepared for them. Ye know, Ezek. ix. the Lord sends forth, adrift, “ A man clothed in linen, with a writer’s ink-horn by his side, to set a mark upon the forehead of them that sigh and cry, for all the abominations that be done in the earth,” and commands,