false worship, so that all who remain therein must finally perish.
Therefore, although proud, powerful, and rich worldlings
[Sardanapaluses and Phalarides, who surpass even the Persians in
wealth] are now to be found, who boast defiantly of their Mammon, with
utter disregard whether God is angry at or smiles on them, and dare to
withstand His wrath, yet they shall not succeed, but before they are
aware, they shall be wrecked, with all in which they trusted; as all
others have perished who have thought themselves more secure or
powerful. And just because of such hardened heads who imagine because
God connives and allows them to rest in security, that He either is
entirely ignorant or cares nothing about such matters, He must deal a
smashing blow and punish them, so that He cannot forget it unto
children's children; so that every one may take note and see that this
is no joke to Him. For they are those whom He means when He says: Who
hate Me, i.e., those who persist in their defiance and pride; whatever
is preached or said to them, they will not listen; when they are
reproved, in order that they may learn to know themselves and amend
before the punishment begins, they become mad and foolish so as to
fairly merit wrath, as now we see daily in bishops and princes.

But terrible as are these threatenings, so much the more powerful is
the consolation in the promise, that those who cling to God alone
should be sure that He will show them mercy that is, show them pure
goodness and blessing not only for themselves, but also to their
children and children's children, even to the thousandth generation and
beyond that. This ought certainly to move and impel us to risk our
hearts in all confidence with God, if we wish all temporal and eternal
good, since the Supreme Majesty makes such sublime offers and presents
such cordial inducements and such rich promises.