But vain are such hopes: God will say to them, as heretofore to the Jews: If I bring my great judgments upon the earth, as I live faith the Lord, tho' Noah, Daniel, and Job were there; they should save neither sons, not daughters, but their own fouls only.
God can, if he pleases, by very extraordinary means, preserve such as he thinks fit. But in general judgments, the righteous must undergo one common fate, with the wicked. God's mercy will be shown to them after this life, to make the superabundant amends.
But this is a solid lesson to us, of the necessity of a future life. We may as well banish God out of the earth, as to deny his attributes of power, and goodness, and justice, and the like. And these will insure us of a future state; when an exact return will be made, for our behaviour in this; otherwise we might justly expostulate, as Abraham did. Will not the judge of all the earth do right?
Good men, who have endeavour'd to do their duty, may say, God is our refuge and strength, a wry present help in trouble, Therefore will not we fear, tho' the earth be remov'd; tho' the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; tho' the waters thereof roar, and be troubled; tho' the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.
