Thunder from Heaven Against Backsliders and Apostates, Title page – To the reader
THUNDER From HEAVEN Againſt the BACK-SLIDERS and APOSTATES Of the TIMES. In ſome Meditations on the 24 Chapter of Iſaiah.
By W. A.
Amos. 3. 8. The Lyon hath roared, who will not feare? The Lord hath ſpoken, who can but Propheſie?
Jer. 23. 8. Then I ſaid, I wi… … …ake mention of him, nor ſpeak any more in his nam… … word was in mine heart as a burning fire ſhut up …; and I was weary with forbearing, and I could …
LONDON, Printed for Livewell Chapman, and are to be ſold at the Crown in Popes-head-alley, 1655,
THE AUTHOR TO THE Reader.
THE words of Jehovah are pure words, as ſilver tryed in a furnace of earth, purified ſeven times, Pſal. 12. 6. They are alſo precious, and more to be deſired then gold, yea then much fine gold, Pſal. 19. 10. And as it's with purified ſilver or gold, each grain is precious, and hath its weight: ſo is it with the word of God. Each word, ſyllable, and letter, yea each vowel and accent hath its worth and weight; as in part I have ſhewed, in a little brief explication of the ſeventh of Daniel. Which poor labour hath received ſome ſquint blows, that are not worthy the anſwer; in as much as they contain more words then weight, and leave too much upon humane authority (though none of them would be thought ſo to do) and without which, their ſtrength would faile; as hereafter I may poſſibly manifeſt in ſome meditations upon the eighth of Daniel, a place very much miſtaken by ſome good men, for want of due attendance to Scripture-language. And now I do here preſent thee with ſome meditations upon the twenty fourth of Iſaiah; in which Chapter are contained many ſad predictions of ſore calamities to befal a Land, to which the Prophet gives no name. Wherefore I have took occaſion, at vacant hours, to weigh the words and circumſtances in the text, for my own private help, to underſtand the Counſel of God therein. And perceiving many things therein (if duly attended) might be both publikely and privately uſeful; I durſt not conceal it within my own breſt, leſt I ſhould incur the guilt of unfaithfulneſs, if having but one poor Talent, I ſhould go & hide it in a napkin. And though the Prophet apply it not to any particular Land by name, neither dare I preſume to make particular application thereof (wanting a clear word for my warrant) yet foraſmuch as Scriptures may be Analogically applyed, and ſo become uſeful to all ſucceeding times, nations, and perſons; I thought it would not be unuſeful to explicate the words of this Propheſie, according to the property of the language wherein they are written, as Maſter Ainſworth hath done upon the books of Moſes and other Scriptures. That ſo every one that reads may conſider how far they are, or may be concerned therein, and make a profitable uſe thereof for themſelves. For this let me ſay to thee, whoſoever thou art, If thou fall under the guilt of theſe ſins of Apoſtacy, hypocriſie, and Covenant-breaking, &c. mentioned in this Chapter; be aſſured, God hath reſerved FEAR, or a PIT, or a SNARE for thee, to wit, variety of puniſhments of ſuch a nature, to humble thee withall. But beware of making miſ-applications of what the Prophet ſpeaketh, and is here briefly unfolded, leſt theſe evils be thy portion. And though many who minde not the things of God and his threatnings, will much leſs minde any thing I have ſaid in this little Treatiſe; yet the poor flock of Chriſt (for whoſe ſake I have chiefly penned it) will incline their ears and liſten: and if they perceive the voice of Chriſt breathing therein, they will ſoon diſcern it, from the voice of a ſtranger. When they hear the Lyon of the tribe of Judah roar, they will tremble: and when he invites them with an amiable compellation (as indeed he doth, Iſa. 26. 10.) Come my people, they will attend his voice, and enter into their chambers, and draw neer to God, and wreſtle with him as Jacob did, for mercy in behalf of themſelves, and of the land wherein they live, that the anger of the Lord may be turned away from them. Read therefore and conſider, and let not the obſcurity and tenuity of the Author make thee to ſlight it, but conſider the Majeſty and Authority of the word of the Lord, and receive that, and nothing but what agrees thereunto. As touching the particular time and ſeaſon, when the words of this propheſie are to be accompliſhed, the text doth not ſpeak to it, nor dare I; onelyonly this is evident, that all theſe ſad predictions ſhall receive their accompliſhment, at or a little before the glorious raign of Chriſt Jeſus, before his ancient people the Jews. Which, as I have elſwhere obſerved, will not be above nineteen yeers yet to come: I mean, the firſt beginning of the Jews return. Wait therefore and ſtand, having your loins girt. For he that will come, will come, and will not tarry.
Prae-monitus prae-munitus.