btained, not
once only, but twice, and that by the merciful visitation of the Lord.

But how did Ahab visit God again for his great benefit received? Did he
remove his idolatry? Did he correct his idolatrous wife Jezebel? No, we
find no such thing; but the one and the other we find to have continued
and increased in their former impiety: but what was the end thereof? The
last visitation of God was, that dogs licked the blood of the one, and did
eat the flesh of the other. In few words then we understand, what
difference there is betwixt the visitation of God upon the reprobate, and
his visitation upon his chosen. The reprobate are visited, but never truly
humbled, nor yet amended; the chosen being visited, they sob, and they cry
unto God for mercy; which being obtained, they magnify God's name, and
afterwards manifest the fruits of repentance. Let us therefore that bear
these judgments of our God, call for the assistance of his Holy Spirit,
that howsoever it pleaseth him to visit us, we may stoop under his
merciful hands, and unfeignedly cry to him when he corrects us; and so
shall we know in experience, that our cries and complaints were not in
vain. But let us hear what the prophet saith further:

"Like as a woman with child, that draweth near her travail, is in sorrow,
and crieth in her pains, so have we been in thy sight, O Lord; we have
conceived, we have borne in vain, as though we should have brought forth
the wind. Salvations were not made to the earth, neither did the
inhabitants of the earth fall," verses 17, 18.

This is the second part of the prophet's complaint, in which he, in the
person of God's people, complains, that of their great affliction there
appeared no end. This same similitude is used by our Master Jesus Christ;
for when he speaks of the troubles of his church, he compares them to the
pains of a woman travailing in child-birth. But it is to another end; for
there he promises exceeding and permanent joy after a sort, though it
appear trouble. But here is the trouble long and vehement, albeit the
fruit of it was not suddenly espied. He speaks no doubt of that long and
dolorous time of their captivity, in which they continually laboured for
deliverance, but obtained it not before the complete end of seventy years.
During which time, the earth, that is, the land of Judah, which sometimes
was sanctified unto God, but was then given to be profaned by wicked
people, got no help, nor perceived any del