370

Meditations and Observations Iheologicall

XXVIII.

Robbing Bees will desperately adventure to spoyle andplunder their neighbours. But if they find sentinels before theports to question them, and a strong guard at the gates to op-pose them, and when they have with danger and difficultie pas-sed through these, numerous forfes within stoutly charging thefirst assailants with their ruine and destruction. The survivorswill be weary and wary, doubtfull and fearfull further to pro-secute their treacherous designes. For even naturally all brutecreatures avoyd that place where they are sensible by a tokenthat their fellowes have miscarried. But how great the neglectof Gods judgements among men is appeares: perhaps at firstthey are deeply affected with them,but yet as a pang it is quick-ly overpast, and as newes it soone gtowes out of date. Pharaohwas no sooner quitted from one plague, but presently his heartwas hardened to draw on another. The Israelites that were soaffected, flighted and frighted at the horrible end of Corah andhis complices, even the morrow after fall on Moses and Aaron sDr Prideaux, an( * upbraid them for the losse of the people of God. ManyH'iggtm and looke on others judgements, as furnished with a supersedeasSelch. from all arrests, and argue from their punishment how theyhave deserved, without the least reflex upon their owne muta-ble condition.

XXIX.

As Bees are industrious to gather, so what they diligentlyget, they doe not carelesly and at randoms disperse about thehive, but discreetly and orderly, beginning ar the top and sodownwards, dispose it in their waxen cabinets, and as soone asthey be full of honey close them fast with a waxen lock, both toprevent robbers, and also to necessitate themselves to furtherlabour as long as the season of gathering continues. Manyheare, but the word heard profits them not, because they arecarciesse to treasure up the truths delivered, they quickly sor-dines I. rz. get; such are like unto a man who beholds his natural! face ina glasse, and goeth his way,and forgetteth what manner of man

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