their nursing-fathers, &c. which shews us this lesson, That after God hath promised a thing he doth not instantly and immediately perform it; but between God's giving a promise to a people; and the accomplishment thereof, there may follow such things as may make us think it will never be but that rather the contrary will be. And while the people are under these things that prognosticate the contrary of what he hath promised in his word, and on which he hath caused us to hope, then he comes in himself; But thus saith the Lord, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, verse 25. which is an answer to this, Shall the prey be taken from the mighty? —the mighty says, You shall never be taken out of our hands; yea, most of all the people say so: but thus saith the Lord, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered?—Believe ye this? I am sure if ye believed this, ye would be content to be fined and cast out of your houses, wander, and take your lives in your hands for a time: there is as much in this word as may make us go away singing, that may comfort us against all the troubles this time can afford us.
Ye will talk of news, here is good news, the prey shall be taken from the mighty, and the lawful captive delivered—But, say ye, there is little likelihood for it; wherefore, where is the man to do it? I know no noblemen, gentlemen nor commons;—we had these to go to within these few years; but now the commons are involved in the same guilt with the gentlemen, and are lying by as well as they; there is no minister nor professor to do it, and indeed the Lord will not lippen to one of us;—thanks be to God for that; for if it were lippened to us, we would be always under troubles, and the work would be razed to the foundation, so that there would be no memory of it to posterity.—Then will you say to the Lord, How shall this prey be taken from the mighty, &c. ?—And I will tell you what will be the answer, which is this,For
