(17)
king of Perſia, and load the people of God with falſe aſperſions, that they were about to rebel, &c, by which ſuggeſtions they obtained letters from the king, commanding them to ceaſe building of the temple, and when the copy of the king's letter was read, they made them to ceaſe by force and power, &c.
2d Way. A ſecond way it, by corruption, when he ſuffers evil inſtruments, not only to make an interruption, but to make a corruption, ſo to ſpeak, and to mingle theſe with the purity of his ordinances and worſhip. God raiſes up ill inſtruments to make people lick up the vomit of theſe corruptions, which have been formerly caſt out. There had been bleſſed reformation in the days of Hezekiah, and all corruption caſt out, but all that corruption is brought in again in the days of Manaſſeh, and more and worſe than ever had been before.
3d Way. A third way it, by deſtruction, ſo to ſpeak not only when the work of reformation is interrupted, and corrupted, but when it is deſtroyed and taken away. There is in the days of Zedekiah, a total deſtroying of the temple, and all the work.
4th Way. A fourth way is by perſecution to thoſe that cleave to the truth and work of God. Thus it was in the days of the apoſtles, Acts v. They fall on the miniſters of the Lords house, and ſlay ſome of them with the ſword, and put others in priſon; 'ſo they could not preach the word in Jeruſalem.' Some one or all of theſe ways, the Lord ſets on foot ſuch diſpenſation.
1ſt Uſe. We would now ſpeak ſomewhat of the uſe we would make of it. And, firſt, Itſays this to us, that we of this church and nation would be looking for a ſtorm: the Lord hath been graciouſly pleased to make glorious diſcoveries of his power and mercy in his word and works amongſt us, now there many years and even on that account, we would be looking for a ſtorm: and we ſhall give you theſe few reaſons wherefore we would look for it.
C
