the expectation of others,
if from this chief Watch Tower we should give no Seasonable Warning to the
City of GOD: While we think of these things, _For Sions sake we will not
hold our peace, and for Jerusalems sake we will not rest:_ trusting that
GOD will give, though nor to all, yet to many, a seeing Eye, a hearing
Ear, and an understanding Heart: _For who is wise and he shall understand
these things, prudent and he shall know them; For the Waves of the Lord
are right, and the just shall walk in them, but the transgressors shall
fall therein, and the wicked shall do wickedly and none of the wicked
shall understand._

That which we principally intend, is to hold forth (so farre as the Lord
gives us light) how this Nation ought to be affected with the present
Mercies and Judgements; What use is to be made of the Lords dealings: And,
what is required of a people so dealt with.

Had we been timely awaked, and taken warning, either from the exemplary
judgement of other Nations; or from Gods threatnings by the mouths of his
servants amongst our selves; or from our owne former visitations, and
namely, The Sword, threatned and drawn against us, both at home and from
abroad, but at that time through the forbearance of GOD, put up in the
Sheath again, wee might have prevented the miseries under which now we
groane. But the Cup of trembling, before taken out of our hands, is again
come about to us, that wee may drink deeper of it: And although when these
bloody Monsters, the Irish Rebels, together with some degenerate,
unnaturall, and perfidious Countreymen of our own, did first lift up their
heads, and enter this Kingdome in a hostile way, it was looked upon as a
light matter, and the great judgement which hath since appeared in it, not
apprehended: yet now wee are made more sensible, that they are _The rod of
Gods __ wrath, and the staffe in their hand_, which hath stricken us these
three times, is _his indignation. He hath shewed his people hard things,
and made us to drink the wine of astonishment_. Take we therefore notice
of the hand that smiteth us, _for affliction cometh not forth of the dust,
neither doth trouble spring out of the ground. There is no evill in the
City_ nor Countrey _which the Lord hath not done._ He it is _that formeth
the light, and createth darknesse; Who maketh peace, and createth evill_:
He it is that hath given a charge to the Sword, _so that it cannot be
still_: He it is that hath his other _Arro