Page:Saints' duty in evil times (2).pdf/3

 with him as with the men of the world, for they count them the best good-fellows, who give most and freeliest; but he counts them the best good-fellows, who will take most and freeliest; and he debars none from him, but discovers his riches, and invites all, Rev. xxii. 16. ''I am the root and off-spring of 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.'' If this, and such sweet invitations, will not prevail, he makes taws to whip his own to himself; terrors within, and judgments without; and he never lays on a blow, but he is still provoked to it, and when he lays it on, the tears are in his eyes, because he must do it, Lam. iii. 33. For he doth not afflict willingly, nor grieveth the children of men; yea, when his own turns their back 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 give them ample invitations to come to him, for their pleasure and for their safety. When the Lord is coming out of his place, to sit in judgment 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, when they are to be hid and preserved. O stand still amazed, and wonder at his tender love and fatherly care of his children, who will 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 gave his people fair warning thereof; and also invites them to their shelter and safety, which he hath prepared for them. Ye know, Ezekiel ix. the Lord sends forth, first, A man clothed in linen, with a writer's inkhorn by his