Commentary on 2 Peter, Commentary on 2 Peter volume 1 · Chapter 2 · Verse 1 (3 of 3)
But what good could man doe to him, to induce this love? None: Our well-doing extendeth not unto him, Pſal. 16.2. When wee were made, wee added nothing to God: if we were diſſolved to nothing, we take nothing from God. That which the Lord ſaw in us, was apoſtacie and rebellion. Every creature obeyes God, in running that courſe which he diſpoſed to them. But how was this true: when the Sunne being appointed to move his inceſſant race, did yet ſtand ſtill in Gibeon? When the ſea being charged to keep within his bounds, doth yet burſt out with inundations? I anſwer; God bade them do ſo, diſpenſing with his former command, and they obeyed him. Well, yet man, rebellious man he loved: What did he give for him? Paradiſe, large kingdomes, or mines of gold? No, they are but a farthing token to the price of this purchaſe.Eſay 5.4. He gave his only begotten Sonne: as he ſayes, What could I doe more for my vineyard? ſo, what could I give more for my vineyard? This Son he gave pro ingratis, for unthankfull men, that ſaid not ſo much as God-a-mercy for him: pro injuſtis, for unrighteous men, that denied him that was not denied to them. Here was a Sic dilexi, no man could ever find a Sicut for it. Auguſtine ſuppoſeth that ſome great Prince had a poore deſertleſſe ſubject, maimed in minde, without reaſon or honeſtie; leprous is body, without any ſoundneſſe; yea, ſo full of ſtench that none could endure him: yea, more than all, ſo arrant a traytour to the ſame Prince, that he would vex him, kill him. He hath one onelyonly ſonne, a ſweet and hopefull Prince, the joy of his heart, the light and delight of his eyes, the ſingular heire of his kingdome. Yet when nothing will cure this forlorne wretch of his leproſie, but onelyonly this young Princes bloud, he freely gives that to bathe and cleanſe him. This is much, and ſuch as never was found, yet ſtill ſhort of this precedent. For if the life of a Prince was given for a gnat, it is not ſo much as for Gods Son to be given for man. Hee is worth ten thouſands of us, more worth than all: O unſpeakable love, gift, price!
Saint Peter tels us what was the price of this purchaſe, 1 Pet, 1.19. The precious bloud of Chriſt, a Lambe without blemiſh. Had he emptied the veines of the earth, and ſpoiled them of their richeſt oares: had he plucked the ſpangles from heaven, and impoveriſhed the firmament of her ſparkling beauties: had he given the whole inheritance of the world; yet all had beene infinitely leſſe. When David ſaid to Mephiboſheth; Thou and Ziba divide the Land: he anſwered; Yea, let him take all, ſeeing my Lord the King is come againe in peace. This was much, yet Mephiboſheth's content was for David, a friend, a King: but God parts not with an Inheritance, but with his Sonne; and this for man, an enemie, a ſervant. Let death ſeize on my Son, that my ſervant may come againe in peace. O never was ſo poore a purchaſe at ſo high a price! That he might ſhew love to us, he forbore love to himſelfe. Now ſee, O renegate, whom thou refuſeſt: Neſcis temeraria, neſcis, quem fugias, ideóque fugis; Thou knoweſt not whom thou denyeſt, therefore thou denyeſt. If thou haſt bought honour by thy valour, thou calleſt it Thine: if indeared a friend by thy loyaltie, thou calleſt him Thine: if purchaſed an houſe with thy money, thou calleſt it Thine Chriſt hath bought thee with his bloud, and yet thou denyeſt to be his. This ranſome is paid, and now in a mercifull offer he tenders it to thee; wilt thou in a peeviſh ſullenneſſe refuſe it? Conceive this dialogue betweene the Redeemer and the Denyer. Red. Open to me. Den. No, I know not whence thou art. Red. Riſe and ſee. Den. No, I am in my warme bed of pleaſures and carnall ſatisfactions, I will not riſe: who art thou? Red. I am IESUS, thy Redeemer: wilt thou ſtill ſweare and for ſweare, I know none ſuch? I bought thee, thou art mine: I come to embrace thee, deny me not. Den. Yes, take me, when all other delights forſake me: let mee be thine when I am not mine owne: till then keepe thy cheare to thy ſelfe, I have married my pleaſure, and I cannot come. O obſtinate hearts, whom the King of heaven muſt buy with his bloud, wooe with his grace, wait upon with his patience, enrich with proffers of merciemercy; and yet at laſt be denyed? LORD turne to ſad as love thee, wee deny not thee, deny not us, O good LORD IESUS. Amen.
This is the latitude and dimenſion of their wickedneſſe; wherewith I will have done, when I have declared the Penaltie of it. Their puniſhment is proportioned to their fault: they denyed him that bought them, and he that bought them will deny them, 2 Tim. 2.12. If we deny him, he will alſo deny us. How, where, and when will he deny them? They ſurfet on pleaſures, and enjoy the wiſh of their owne hearts; how then doth he deny them? Doth not God bleſſe whom he loves and love whom he bleſſes? Alas, thoſe bleſſings to ſuch men prove curſes: Conceditur opulentia, abſcinditur miſericordia: wealth is granted, but merciemercy is withholden. The earth ſeemes their owne, the world applaudes them; and is not Vox populi, Vox dei; the voice of the people, the voice of God? No, for the whole world lyeth in wickedneſſe: but here they are honoured, where then ſhall they be denyed? The eccho anſwers, Here: even where Saul would be honoured, there was he denyed, before the people. They ſpend their dayes in peace, their minds are not troubled, they ſit not ſighing and blubbring for their offences, ſure God is not angry with them; when ſhall they be denyed? Now, even in that they lament not, their caſe is moſt lamentable: their pulſe hath left beating, this argues Gods direliction; that their life breath is painted out, and they have given up the (Holy Ghoſt.) Will you heare how, where, and when? Take it from CHRISTS owne mouth. Matth. 10.33. Whoſoever ſhall deny me before men, him will I alſo deny before my Father which is in heaven. For the manner, How; I will deny him, not conceale him, nor excuſe him, not hold my peace and ſilence it, but deny him. For the place where; Before my Father, where my word will be taken: for I have the key of heaven, to let in and keepe out whom I pleaſe. Coram Patre, who hath committed all judgement to me, and ſet me to ſentence every man according to his workes. Coram Patre, if it had beene onelyonly. Coram hominibus, before men, where thou denyeſt me, they would approve my juſtice: if Coram daemonibus, before the divells, they would be glad of thy company, and with a haſty rape hurry thee to perdition: if only, Coram Angelis, before the Angels, (which is alſo expreſſed, Luk. 12.9. He that denyeth me before men, ſhall be denyed before the Angels of God.) They would witneſſe how often I have ſent them to guard thee, how little thou didſt regard me. But what is the deteſtation of men, the rejection of Angels, the deriſion of divells, to the loſſe of my Fathers love? This Coram Patre, ſhall ſtrike thee with horrour Matth. 21. Ver. 37. When the Father ſent CHRIST, hee ſaid, Sure they will reverence my Sonne: but they conſpired, This is the heire, come, let us kill him. Reject them ô Father, for they rejected me. Away muſt their faces be turned, from joy, from light, from bleſſedneſſe; to wander in horrid darkeneſſe, to lie bound in the chaines of torment; where unquencheable fire, and unſatiable death ſhall not be denyed them, that denyed everlaſting life. For the time when; In heaven: when they knocke with hope to be let in at that gate, when they ſhall ſee millions of confeſſors enter in and be made welcome: In heaven I will deny them, that is in the day of judgement. On earth they ſpake their pleaſures, their tongues were their owne, they denyed me without controll: but when I have denyed them in heaven, and they have acknowledged me in hell, then ſhall they gnaw thoſe tongues for paine, and wiſh that they had beene borne dumbe, never to have denyed him that bought them, Revel. 16.10.
This is a fearefull plague, when God will ſuffer men to fall off from CHRIST, and to reject their Redeemer: alas, they doe no leſſe then ſplit and ſinke that Ship in the midſt of the ſea, which alone ſhould ſave them. Whom ſhall they truſt to make them righteous? none can doe this but CHRIST, and they have denyed him. Rom. 6.33. Who ſhall condemne? it is CHRIST that juſtifieth: ſo who ſhall juſtifie, when CHRIST condemneth? They have ſinned, and God is offended, who ſhall make an atonement for them? Only CHRIST can doe this; If any man ſinne, hee is our Advocate and propitiation: and this Advocate they have denyed. Whom ſhall they call upon for love and favour? there is none to bee had but in CHRIST, and him they have denyed, Revel. 2.4. I have ſomewhat againſt thee, becauſe thou haſt left thy firſt love. He that hath once broken his faith, will not eaſily be truſted. Him, that hath once vowed love to a virgin, and after fallen off with breach of covenant, no wiſe maide will ever admit within diſtance of liking. They waxe wanton againſt CHRIST, having damnation, becauſe they have caſt off their firſt faith. Whom ſhall they call upon in the day of trouble? the Lord. This was the voice of Elias in his agonie, of Ionas in his furie; Lord, take away my life. Of the Apoſtles in their feare. Matth 8.25. Lord ſave us, we periſh. Of the malefactor dying on the Croſſe. Luk 23.42. Lord, remember me in thy kingdome. Of Stephen under the ſtones, Act. 7.59. Lord, into thy hands, &c. Of Saul caſt downe from his horſe. Act. 9.6. Lord, what wilt thou have me to doe? This is the eccho of miſerie, the ſuppliant for merciemercy: but alas how ſhall they call on this Lord, that have denyed him, Rom. 10.14. How ſhall they call on him, in whom they have not beleeved: Yea, whom they have denyed? What wonder is it, if God doth not heare, where he hath not beene heard? if he ſhut againſt them, that would not open to him? complaineſt thou, Why haſt thou forſaken me O Lord? he replies, why haſt thou denyed me ô ſervant? There is grievous puniſhment for them that feare not God: Powre out thine indignation upon them that feare thee not, ſaith the Prophet. Grievous, for them that ſeeke him not. Pſal. 10. The wicked will not ſeeke after God, therefore are loſt in the devices of error. Grievous, for them that call not on him; for he will be a ſtranger to their acquaintance. Grievous, for them that truſt not on him, for they ſhall be left to themſelves. Grievous, for them that love him not, for they ſhall be written in the duſt. But moſt grievous for them that deny him here, for they ſhall be denyed for ever hereafter.
The uſe that we are to make of it, is by this conſideration to fortifie our faithfulneſſe and loyaltie to CHRIST. Let us not deny him, yea let us deny all things for him. For ſaith Hierome; if neceſſitie require it, Odium in ſuum, eſt pietas in deum; it is godlineſſe to hate our owne delights in reſpect of the Lord. What good thing can be loſt by our profeſſion, which Ieſus requites not in himſelfe? loſe wee riches? In him dwells all fulneſſe. Libertie? The Sonne makes us free indeed. Wife? he is a husband. Children? he is a Father. Life? Ego ſum vita, he is the true life. Therefore is he called All in all: ut qui omnia propter Chriſtum dimiſerit, … pro omnibus inveniat, & liberè clamet, Pars mea Dominus, Hieronym. That he which hath left all for CHRIST, many find CHRIST in ſtead of all, and ſing chearefully, The Lord is my portion. Why ſhould wee deny him? hee never denyed us. Not to the Phariſies, Matth. 9.12. Why eateth your Maſter with Publicans and ſinners? this was their queſtion. I came not to call the righteous, but ſinners to repentance: this was his anſwer. Not to Pilate. 1 Tim. 6.13. Before Pontius Pilate he witneſſed a good confeſsion. Not to the Angels, for hee makes them Miniſtring ſpirits for our good. Not to GOD the Father himſelfe, Ioh. 17. They are all mine, and thine. When he was betrayed and tken, he denyed us not to Iudas; Ego ſum, I am he. When he was ſcourged, he denyed us not: when he was condemned, and nailed to the Croſſe, loe, he did not then deny us, Though enemies denyed merciemercy, by-ſtanders denyed him pitie, Angels muſt deny him helpe, God himſelfe ſeemed to deny him eaſe and comfort; ſo he cryes, My God, why haſt thou denyed me? yet even then he did not deny us. But he confeſſed us to the death, Luk. 23.34. Father, forgive them: and after death, as appeares by his charge to Peter, Feed my ſheepe: and for ever, Matth. 10.32. Whoſoever ſhall confeſſe me before men, him will I confeſſe before my Father in heaven. A way then with all excuſes of denyall: there are two temptations or cauſes of it; Infirmity, and Infidelitie. Infirmitie riſe…h from feare of paine, Infidelitie from love of pleaſure. Is any paine like the ſeparation from CHRIST? thinke of that Diſcredite, Matth. 25. Depart from me … curſed. Is any pleaſure like the pleaſures at the right hand of God for ever? Away with that coldneſſe of heart, that like Northerne cloth ſhrinkes in the wetting, I meane in the flouds of perſecution. Away with that thin-danw'd profeſſion, that like mowen graſſe withers in the ſunne, with the heate of proſperitie. Let us deny our owne worth, and become nothing in our ſelves, that wee may bee wholly all in CHRIST. The poore man depends not upon the reliefe of others, till he find nothing at home. Vntill our hearts be purged of pride and ſelfe-love, we never depend on the favour of God. Be every thing denyed that is not in ordine ad Deum, and hath no relation to Ieſus Chriſt. Let us deny our pleaſures, deny our luſts, deny our wills, deny our covetous deſires, deny our ſeducing friends, deny our ſelves: but let us never deny the Lord that bought us. To this bleſſed Lord of our redemption, with the Father of our creation, and the Spirit of our adoption, three Perſons and one moſt holy God, be praiſe and glory for ever, Amen.
They bring upon themſelves ſwift deſtruction. We have anatomiſed the fault of …heſe falſe teachers, in denying their Redeemer. Which haply was not with an open and manifeſt recuſancie, for then orthodoxe Chriſtians would have refuſed converſing with them, and the Church excommunicated them. But rather, becauſe ſuch a denyall did ariſe by juſt conſequence out of their dogmaticall, ſtigmaticall aſſertions. For if we underſtand Saint Peter by Saint Iude; the very paralel …nd harmonie one of the other: we find theſe heretickes chalenged for Turning the grace of God into licenciouſneſſe, Iud. ver. 4. Whereupon is inferred, that they deny the only Lord God, and Ieſus Chriſt. So that to turne Grace into wantonneſſe, is to deny CHRIST. Neither was this only exemplary in their practiſe, but alſo doctrinall in their pofeſſion. For he that calls himſelfe Chriſtian, and teacheth that in CHRIST is granted libertie of ſinning, denyes the Redeemer. Luk. 1.74. We are delivered out of the hands of all our enemies, that we might ſerve him without feare. That we might ſerve him without feare, not ſinne without feare. CHRIST came to unbinde us from Satan, and to vexe him at our new goodneſſe, not to make him laugh at our wickedneſſe: that we ſhould ſin leſſe; not ſinne more, and more ſecurely. Rom. 6.1. Shall we continue in ſinne, that grace may abound? God forbid. An ſit, quia ſit? abſit. Shall there be preſumption in ſinne becauſe there is abundance of grace? God forbid. This is a true poſition: Quicquid Chriſtus operatur pro nobis, hoc …peratur in nobis. Whatſoever the Lord Ieſus worketh for us, that he alſo worketh in us. If hee hath freed us from the damnation of ſinne, then alſo from the dominion of ſinne. If with his bloud he hath quenched the fire of hell for us, he hath quenched the fire of luſt in us. They are miſerable men, qui luxuriantur in Chriſto, that are wanton in Chriſt: as if the Law had loſt it ſelfe in the Goſpell: and the Statutes againſt blaſphemie, adulterie, idolatrie, covetouſneſſe, were now repealed, to ſtand in no more force: but like an Almanacke out of date, to be ſacrificed to forgetfulneſſe. This is a left-handed taking of Chriſt: Non conſolatur Chriſti infantia garrulos, non Chriſti lacrymae cachinnantes, non panni ejus ambulantes in ſtolis, non praeſepe amantes primas cathedras, Bern. Chriſts humility doth not comfort the proud: his patience ſhall doe no good to the revengefull: nor his love to the uncharitable. He was a prodigall young heire that encouraged his companions; come let us drink, revell, throw the houſe out at the windowes; the man in the ſcarlet will pay for all; meaning his father, who was a Iudge: but he adjudged the patrimonie from him to one of his younger ſonnes more obedient. So ſay the luxurious; let us ſweare, oppreſſe, abuſe, be wanton, be merry, be mad; the man in the Scarlet hath paid for all; meaning Chriſt, that he is in his Scarlet and bloudy robes ſhall juſtifie and acquit them. But be not deceived; as good men as we, and as jolly they were, that ſtood upon the Fatherhood of Abraham. (We may put away our wifes, we may ſweare, we may hate our enemies. We may kill the Prophets, ſubject Gods word to our Traditions, and follow our owne wayes. Why? Abraham is our Father, Ioh. 8.39.) But by their leave, Chriſt calls them baſtards, and finds out another father for them. Ver. 44. Yee are of your father the divell, and the luſts of your father yee will doe. So yee prophane wretches, beare your ſelves ſo long as you will upon CHRIST, and fleſh your luſts on his merits; if you thinke to take wilfull ſinne in one hand, and Chriſt in the other, you ſhall find both your hands ful indeed, b… Chriſt in neither of them: the one being full of wickedneſſe, the other full of vengeance; you have denyed the Lord Ieſus.
They bring on themſelves ſwift deſtruction.] This is the puniſhment. The… are plagues enow, that wound the fleſh, and fetch bloud of the ſoule, without periſhing; but this the utter ruine, Deſtruction. But yet this may be farre off, and happily doth waite the ſucceſſion of ages, and intervention of many yeares: and when it commeth, it ſhall give warning of the approch, like a Porcpoſe before … ſtorme: nay, it comes on a ſuddaine, it is Swift deſtruction. But who ſhall inflict this, that they may fortifie themſelves againſt it? Themſelves: here need no e… gines, no enemies, no invaſions; foreign, Superinducunt ſibi, Themſelves bring it, or, They bring it on themſelves. So that their puniſhment is deſcribed, by the Autho…, Meaſure, and Manner. The Author, Themſelves: the meaſure, no leſſe than Deſtruction: the manner, Swift and ſuddaine.
They bring on themſelves.] Very kind men! what would they doe with others, that deſtroy themſelves? Cui bonus, qui ſibi nequam? He that is evill to himſelfe, … whom will hee be good? Every man thinkes, that he loves himſelfe farre better than his enemie: yet while he affecteth ſinne, he loves his enemie better than himſelfe,Aug. Vnuſquiſque vult eſſe beatus, etiam ſic vivendo ut ſit miſerrimus. All men would be happy, albeit moſt men take the courſe of infelicity. We hate our foes; thou haſt no worſe foe than thy ſelfe: hate thy ſinfull ſelfe. If there were no harlot, no drunken aſſociate, no theefe to cry, Caſt in thy lot with us; no divell to doe his office; wicked men would beget deſtruction on themſelves. Accerſunt, ſo ſome read; They ſend for deſtruction; as a man diſpatcheth meſſenger after meſſenger, becauſe the expected partie delayes his comming. So as if damnation were leaden-heeld, they ſend anger to fetch it to them, after that malice, after that murder, a bloudy meſſenger. So worldlings ſend covetouſneſſe for it, after that lying, after that ſwearing, after that Vſurie, after al oppreſſion. Leſt vengeance ſhould be too ſlow, & forget it ſelfe, theſe be the meſſengers to bring it. Hoſ. 4.2. By ſwearing, and lying, and killing, and ſtealing, and committing adulterie, they breake out, and bloud toucheth bloud. Therefore ſhall the land mourne, and every inhabitant languiſh. Now whe… the plague comes, and ſayes, Ecce adſum, Here I am: they crie as the divell did to CHRIST, What have we to doe with thee: why commeſt thou to torment us before … time? Before your time, replies deſtruction? Why, did you not ſend for me? was not pride rapping at my doore, blaſphemie thundring in mine eares, Sacriledge pulling me by the hand? all crying, vengeance come away, thou art ſent for? And eſpecially, when ſacriledge haſtened me, it was high time to come. As Aha…i… three Captaines and their fifties that were ſent to fetch Eliah: one ſaid, come down: another, come downe quickly: the laſt on his knees intreate; loe then God ſaith g… downe with him, 2 King. 11.14. Wickedneſſe ſaies, wrath come downe: preſumpti… ſaies, come downe quickly: but rebellion begges it without nay: and then G… ſaith, Goe downe with it. Yea, as if ſending for it were not ſpeedy enough, and th…y would not in this buſineſſe truſt a meſſenger; they put off all ſtate, and goe themſelves to fetch it. They bring it on themſelves, Eſay. 5.18. They draw iniquity … cords of vanity, and ſinne as it were with a cartrope. That ſame threefold cord, … eaſily broken, that Saint Iohn ſpeakes of, 1 Ioh. 2.16. The luſt of the fleſh, the laſt … the eyes, and the pride of life; this drawes it home. But leſt all theſe cords ſhall … hold, hard-heartedneſſe is the cartrope that ſhall fetch it with a miſchiefe. W… then doth a man complaine for the puniſhment of his ſinnes? Lam. 3.39. Puniſhment reaſſons with the wicked; why doeſt thou murmure in thy ſufferings? Haſt th… beene ſo many yeares a bringing me, ſent ſo many meſſengers for me: and now I am here complaineſt thou? I was long a comming, I will be longer a departing. Ne…o fit repentè miſerrimus: no man becomes miſerable on the ſuddaine; ſuch is Gods patience: but being once made miſerable, it is long before happineſſe returnes; ſuch …s God Iuſtice. Miſerie comes come on horſe-backe, but goes away on foote: ſin quickly brings her, long repentance muſt drive her gone. From this point of doctrine may be deduced three collections.
1 That the wicked are the cauſers of their owne condemnation. Eſa. 50.1. Which of my creditours is it to whom, I have ſold you? Behold, for your iniquities ye have …old your ſelves. I tooke no money ſaith God, no price of any creditors for you; …ee have ſold your ſelves. Prov. 5.22. His owne iniquitie ſhall take the wicked him…elfe: there need no ginnes nor ſnares, nor plots to ſurpriſe him; his owne ſinnes …hall doe it. Thou mayeſt ſay of thy ſinne, (as of thy ſonne:) it is a childe of …hine owne begetting: concupiſcence the mother layes it to thee, and thou muſt fa…her it. Pſal. 64.8. They ſhall make their owne tongue to fall upon themſelves. Let …here be no plaintiffes to endite, no divells to accuſe, their owne tongues ſhall condemne them. Ier. 2.17. Haſt thou not procured this unto thy ſelfe? Selfe doe, ſelfe have. Procuring is a diligent labouring of a buſineſſe: ſo they ſtudy to bring evill on themſelves. Mic. 2.1. They meditate miſchiefe; ſtudy to be nought. Let our …rovidence be never ſo vigilant, our circumſpection heedfull; ſorrow will come: …ut theſe men ſtudy for it; they beat their braines, and breake their ſleepes, plot, conſult, contrive; and all to bring on themſelves ſwift deſtruction. It is true, that …his is not their immediate propoſed end, but it is a neceſſary conſequent. He that …o digge for ſome hidden treaſure undermines the foundation of a houſe; his end …s wealth; yet he knowes the whole building will fall on his head, and quaſh him to pieces: if he doe periſh, let him thanke himſelfe.
2 Obſerve that God is not the cauſe of mans tranſgreſſion or damnation. Iam. ….13. Let no man ſay when he is tempted, I am tempted of God. Seneca hath a ſaying not …nlike of the gods; Hii nec habent, nec dant malum. But it is objected; It is Gods will that I ſhould thus ſinne, and thus fall. Rom. 9.19. Why doth he yet find fault? who …ath reſiſted his will? My will is borne by the ſtreame of his inevitable will, I ſin by …ompulſion; why doth he then complaine? ô deteſtable ſpeech, that charges God with our iniquity; than which the grand divell could not rore a worſe above ground. Conſider their dilemma: evill is done, and God doth ſuffer it; whether then doth …e ſuffer it againſt his will, or with it? If againſt his will, this takes away his omni…otence: if with his will, than he willed it. For anſwer, the will of God is partly …ecret, wholy juſt: it is two wayes conſidered. Firſt as it is Signata, written in tables …ubliſhed by a trumpet, ſeconded with bleſſings, curſes, Then as Reſervata, con…ealed, written in another booke, wrapped up in the counſells of his owne breſt. What God formerly wills, is not done alwayes, yea is done ſeldome: what in the …ther reſpect he wills, is infallible. Senacherib is a foole to challenge to himſelfe; What God can deliver out of my hand? Nero to plead; my authoritie gives me licence …o doe all things. Rome, to challenge to her chaire an impetuous, imperious, and …aſterleſſe will; to whom no man muſt ſay, as to the Lord, Cur ita facis, why doeſt …hou ſo? Thus they ground it. Eſa. 10.15. Shall the ſaw magnifie him that ſhaketh …? The ſaw muſt not lift up it ſelfe againſt him that moveth it; ergo let no man …udge the Pope. But they ſhall find to their woe, that this is only true of God; who …oeth whatſoever he will. If we preſſe further into his ſecrets, we are bid ſtand back. Adam was driven out of Paradiſe for affecting too much knowledge: the Iſraelits …ad died the death, had they paſt their bounds, and climbed up to the Mount. Fifty …houſand threeſcore and ten men of the Bethſhemites were ſlaine for looking into …he Arke. 1 Sam. 6.19. There are ſome unſearcheable myſteries, as high as the …igheſt heavens, covered with a curtaine of ſacred ſecrecie, not to be drawen till the …ay come, wherein we ſhall know as we are knowen. Now when men have ſpilt bloud, defiled the marriage bed, provoked heaven with rapes, treaſons, depopulations, blaſphemies; what, have they then done the will of God? Indeed, in reſpe…t of his hidden purpoſe they have done his will, ſpight of all their malicious … ſworne contradictions. For De his qui faciunt quae non vult, facit ipſe quae vult. VponUpon them that will not doe as he would have it, he will doe himſelfe as he would … it. But in reſpect of themſelves the wicked have done what God willed not, for … commanded the contrary; and hath expreſſed that will in his word.
But yet he wills their deſtruction, therfore they bring it not on themſelves? G… found them revolted to ſinne, indiſpoſed to beleeve, and ſo he leaves them: he … not give them faith, he needs not, he is not bound to it. This is Gods hardeni…g Nolle emollire, when he will not ſoften. His making blind is Nolle illuminare, whe… he will not enlighten. His caſting off is Nolle vocare, when he will not call ho… Neither is this only a meere permiſſion; for their is a degree of ſome forwarder diſpoſition in God concerning the actions of unrighteousmen, than a bare toleration There is great difference betweene theſe ſpeeches; Non vult, and Vult non: between he hath not a will to doe it; and, he hath a will not to doe it. The former arg… … careleſſe neglect, this a bent and reſolved decree. A poore man asketh almes, ſo… are not willing to relieve him, as not waighing his neceſſitie: another hath a will not … doe it, a determinate refuſall of merciemercy. This is then the concluſion; Multi … laberentur detenti, nulli ut laberentur impulſi: God lifteth many up, there are … whom he properly caſteth downe. Ab illo eſt quòd ſtatur, a nobis quòd ruitur: b… him we ſtand, we fall off our ſelves. O Iſrael, thou haſt deſtroyed thy ſelfe; if the… be any helpe, it is in me. Indeed it is my hand of juſtice that ſtrikes, but thou by thy wickedneſſe didſt draw out the ſword, and put the arrow into my bended bow: thy peſtilent and ſtinking ſinnes have conflated the plague wherewith I ſtrike thee. Go… would have ſpared them, they would not bee ſpared; Accelerant ſibi; They bring deſtruction on themſelves; and ſtill Thou continueſt holy, Oh thou worſhip of Iſrael.
3 Obſerve that themſelves bring it; therefore not any fatall neceſſitie out of themſelves, but their owne malice within them. There be ſome that ſay, It is … deſtinie to doe this or that ſin, the ſtars have ſigned it. Mercurie committed the theft, Mars the murther, Venus the adulterie. This is a barking at Gods Iuſtice indirectly, involvedly, and ſomewhat afarre off, to charge the influences of heaven. As if forſooth, God did not inſtigate them to ſinne immediately by himſelfe, yet by other inſtruments. Thus Adam inſinuated an imputation upon God; M…li… quam tu mihi dediſti; The woman which thou gaveſt me: as if God had given him … woman to tempt him. Sed haec ruina eſt maxima, Deum putare cauſam ruinae: this i… the fearefulleſt ruine of all, to accuſe the Lord for the cauſe of our ruine. There i… no fatall neceſſitie from above, that drives man to ſinne. Saint Auguſtine confi… them that uſed to charge the ſtarres with their impietie. A woman was given to …, and often played the harlot: which when her husband found, and objected to her ſhe excuſed her ſelfe, and pleaded that it was Venus which cauſed her to doe ſo. H… upon he tooke a ſtaffe, and cudgell'd her for it: then ſhe complained of his un… ralneſſe, to ſtrike his owne fleſh: that ſhe was his wife, deare unto him, and he o…g… not to beate her. He replied, it is not you, wife, that I ſtrike but Venus: declari… that as it was not ſhe that played the whore, but Venus in her: ſo it was not ſhe … he did beate, but Venus out of her. A theefe hath ſtollen thy goods, thou takeſt … in the manner: he cryes, let me alone, and charge Mercurie with it, he ſtole… goods. No wiſe Iudge would indite or arraigne Mercurie, call a ſtarre from … ven; but cut off an ill member from the earth. Thus neither can the wicked ch… the ſtarres or any other creatures with their deſtruction. True it is that God … their inſtrumentall meanes often in executions. Iudg. 5.20. They fought from he… the ſtarres in their courſes fought againſt Siſera. In the dayes of Noah the windo… … heaven were opened ſo wide, that they drowned the world. 2 King. 1.10. Fire … downe from heaven, and conſumed thoſe that came to apprehend the Prophet. But there could be no deſtruction about us, if there were no corruption within us, 1 Pet. 3.13. Who, or what ſhall harme you, if ye follow that which is good? nothing. It is our wickedneſſe that makes the earth barren, the aire infectious, the influences of heaven unkindly. If Pharaohs heart had not beene hard, all thoſe plagues had fallen beſides him. Let us goe into our ſelves; the head akes, the members are ſicke, but the ſtomacke is in fault. Neither man nor devill could deſtroy us, if we did not deſtroy our ſelves. GOD makes a wicked man Heautontimoreumenon, a ſelfe-troubler▪ it is a ſore pu…iſhment, when men are forced to puniſh themſelves. The whip that muſt ſcourge the wicked, is of their owne making; every cord whereof they have curiouſly …wiſted. The potion of bitterneſſe which they muſt drinke off, hath all the ingredients of their owne putting in. Indeed, ſaith the Pſalme; The Lord hath mixed it; …e may compound it, but of their materials: hee need not put in a dramme more, …or they afford themſelves deſtruction enough. Pſal. 109.18. As hee clothed him…elfe with curſing, like as with a garment, ſo let it come like water into his bowels, and like …yle into his bones. He made curſing his clothing; it is fit he ſhould weare his owne garment. Indeed Hell was not made for nothing, and Tophet was prepared for them: …ut they ſhould never feele it, till they had prepared themſelves for Tophet. GOD in his Iuſtice would not bring them to deſtruction, unleſſe they firſt by their wic…edneſſe did bring deſtruction to themſelves. Wee ſee the puniſhment of denying Chriſt: O let us never be ſuch enemies to our ſelves, that have ſo good a friend as I…SUS CHRIST.
Deſtruction.] This is the meaſure of their puniſhment. O yet if the Iuſtice of God would but chide them, not beat them: or if it did beat them, yet with rods, …ot with ſcourges: or if it did ſcourge them, yet with whips, not with Scorpions: or …f with Scorpions, yet not with burning flames: or if with burning flames, yet not with unquenchable flames: Oh yet it any thing might ſerve but utter and endleſſe …uine; Deſtruction! This is an indefinite word, of full latitude, that knowes neither meaſure nor ceſſation; but comprehends all plagues, externall on body, internall on …oule, eternall on both: a puniſhment of extremitie, of univerſalitie; Deſtruction.
God concealeth the m…nner, but denounceth the meaſure. Deſtruction is either …emporall in this world, or eternall in the world to come. If wee firſt conſider it …emporally, we ſhall finde it heavie enough: Incerti generis, ſed certiſsimi ponderis. …onas 3.4. Yet fortie dayes, and Niniveh ſhall be deſtroyed. He lets them know of a de…ruction, but he tells them not how: the quantitie is plaine, the qualitie is hidden. …iniveh might have beene plagued many wayes, and yet ſtood upon her foundation …ill. With want of raine, as Samaria in the dayes of Ahab: with want of bread, …at women did eat their owne children, as in the dayes of Iehoram: with peſtilence, …s in the dayes of David: with the ſiege of enemies, as was Betulia: with the ty…annie and exaction of her owne Kings, as once was Rome. But theſe are all too …ght in GODS balance, and nothing will ſatisfie his Iuſtice, but her finall ſubver…on. So is it denounced againſt the wicked, Hoſea 7.13. Deſtruction unto them, be…uſe they have tranſgreſſed againſt mee. Prov. 16.18. Pride goeth before deſtruction. …hus they underſtand the generall, not the ſpeciall: this holds them in ſuſpenſe, …d addes to their feare, when they know not what they ſhould ſtudie to prevent. …OD hath alwayes enow to doe it; Mille nocendi artes; he ſpeakes of foure grie…ous plagues, Ezek. 14.21. The ſword, the famine, the noiſome beaſt, and the pestilence. … he ſhould particularly threaten the famine, how would they hoord up corne, like …ſeph; fill their barnes, their grainars, penuaries, and ſtore-houſes? If the Beaſts, …ow would they be provided of engines to kill them? If the Peſtilence, how would …y ſhift ground, and run from their countrey, as vermine from an houſe on fire? If …e enemies Sword, what muſtring of men, ſcowring of armour, preparing of muniti…, levying of forces, exerciſe of armes, would there be? Cities would be victualled, …piers repaired, Holds fortified; art and labour would ſtudy the beſt prevention, at leaſt ſo far as their wiſdome reached. Though indeed the beſt is flying to God by penitent ſupplication. Amos 4.12. Thus will I doe unto thee, and becauſe I will doe th…, Prepare to meet thy God, O Iſrael. Divers plagues are threatned in that Chapter; from which the prophet proves there is no evaſion, but by repentance. Yet are men ſo averſe from goodneſſe, that as a guilty perſon before the Magiſtrate, ſeekes not … amend his fault, but to know his accuſer, and to be quit with him. Which of theſe ſhall be it, God knowes: the leaſt will ſerve, what havocke will the greateſt make.
Deſtruction.] there is nothing to be bated of totall ruine. Ier. 49.9. If Grape-g… therers come, would they not leave ſome gleaning grapes? If theeves by night, they will … till they have enough. This juſtice will leave none, but the wicked ſhall be preyed upon by inſatiate judgement, till nothing be left. Mat. 18.25. His Lord commanded him to be ſold, &c. That ſervant ought ten thouſand talents; what had he received? But to pay this debt, non habuit unde; he had not wherewithall. Nec aurum, nec arvum, nec amic…; No workes, no prayers, nothing. Then the Lord commanded him to be ſold, and his wi…, and children, and all that he had, to make payment. He might have beene ſold Himſ…e▪ but his wife? Or, himſelfe and his wife, but his poore children? Or, if himſelfe, wi…, and children, yet alſo All that he had? Nothing to be left him, not ſo much as bread … ſuſtaine him, nor apparrell to hide his nakedneſſe? No, all muſt be ſold, that all may be paid; here is utter deſtruction. Gods judgement like a canker on a tree, firſt ears … the leaves; but leaves not there; at laſt conſumes tree and all.
Let this teach us how to thinke of our ſins, and their violent precipitating … to deſtruction. Vnleſſe we value the wealth of our country, the health of our friends, the peace of our conſciences, the life of our bodies and ſoules, at ſo low a rate: as H… rius lying quietly at Ravenna, priſed Rome. When he heard that Rome was taken, he looked pale, fearing it had beene his Hen, called Roma: but underſtanding it …o be no worſe than the Cities loſſe, he laughed at the newes. So except wee eſteeme our owne luſts and vanities, more than the well-fare of the whole Land, and thinke the loſſe of all no more than if a Fly were taken in the web of a Spider: let us confeſſe and redreſſe our ſinnes. Doe we marvell in this rebellious age, why the barren turfe yeelds pale and hungrie graſſe, if the haile ſpoile the Vine, whirle-winds the Olive; if peſtilent breaths corrupt the aire: let us looke to our ſinnes, and ce…ſe marvelling. Not that there is deſtruction, but that there is not deſtruction, is the wonder. No marvell if miſeries come, the marvell is that they ſtay ſo long. Let it not be ſo with us, as Ioſephus thought of Ieruſalem; that if the Romans had not invaded them, the very earth would have ſwallowed them. Let us fall to our ſeaſonable deprecation, that the LORD deſtroy us not. Ierem. 3.22. Returne … back-ſliding children, and I will heale your back-ſlidings. Behold, we come unto thee, f… thou art the Lord our God. Be our ſinnes leſſe, and our prayers more, that we may finde mercy.
We have yet but lightly weighed the unſupportable lode of their puniſhme…, and confined it to the circle of this preſent world. Now this wound will be deepe enough, eſpecially when an almightie hand ſhall give it. Ezek. 21.27. I will ov…rturne, overturne, overturne it, and it ſhall be no more. If the firſt ſubverſion ſerve n…, the ſecond ſhall effect it: if they both leave any thing undone, the third ſhall acco… pliſh it. Overturne his Diadem, (for there it is ſpoken of the evill Princes cro… yet hee remaines a man: overturne his life, yet there is hope of another: nay, … overturne his ſoule, here is Destruction in her extremeſt ſpoile. So verſ. 14. I… … ſword bee doubled the third time; if the two firſt blowes ſhould leave any life be… them. Ioel. 1.4. What the Palmer-worme leaves, let the Locuſt eat: what the Locuſt … let the Canker-worme eat: what the Canker-worme leaves, let the Caterpiller devo…re. … the ſword have left ought, the plague ſhall conſume it: if the glutted plague … any ſcrappes, the famine ſhall eat them up. So Exod. 10.15. what the haile h… … that the Locuſts devoured. Puniſhment ſhall grow like a gangrene, and never reſt … ling, till all be feſtered. Eſay 1.5. Why ſhould ye be ſtriken any more? He ſmites … when there ſhall be no need of a ſecond blow. Nah, 1.9. He will make an utter end: affliction ſhall not riſe up the ſecond time. Here deſtruction is like Sodome fire, that left nothing behind it: they were ſtricken but once, that once was enough. As Abiſhai ſaid to David concerning Saul in the trench, 1 Sam. 26.8. Let mee ſmite him with the ſpeare even to the earth at once, and I will not ſmite him the ſecond time. Let this deſtruction take away their friends, yet they can live of themſelves: let it take away their riches, they can beginne the world againe, and ſet up their trade afreſh, though they were broken. Let it take away their libertie, they can begge thorow a grate: let it take away their life, they are then destroyed. This is part of their potion, one bitter ingredience of their Cup, Pſalm. 75.8. In the hand of the LORD there is a cup, and the wine is red: it is full of mixture, and hee powreth out of the ſame: but the dregges thereof all the wicked of the earth ſhall wring them out, and drinke them. It is a Cuppe; well, there is a cuppe that David thirſts for, Pſalm. 116. I will take the Cuppe of ſalvation. There is Wine in it, better: for wine cheares the heart, and puts alacritie into the ſpirits. That wine is Red, better ſtill: ſo it ſhould be, this argues the luſtre and goodneſſe of it, Prov. 23.31. Looke not upon the wine when it is red, and gives the colour in the cup: the colour addes to the pleaſure. But now it is Full of mixture, alas this mixture ſpoiles all: it is compounded, brew'd, made unwholeſome: this changeth the condition of the cup, of the wine, of the colour, of all. It is mixed with the wrath of God, malice of Satan, the anguiſh of ſoule, the gall of ſinne, the teares of deſpaire: it is Red, that is, of a ſanguine colour, the wine of bloud. But yet ſo long as it is in the cup they need not meddle with it: nay but the Lord will powre it out, he ſhall hold their mouthes to it, and make them drinke it: the rankeſt poiſon in the world, the gall of Dragons, and venome of Aſpes, is pleaſant and healthfull to it. Yet be it but a little of the top, let them but taſte it: nay they muſt drinke it off, to the very bottome, the ſediments, dregges, lees and all; even the very filth of vengeance. And leſt any drops ſhould be left behind, they ſhall wring them out, and ſucke them downe to their confuſion. The Cup is all bitter, and full of ſorrow, ſaith Auguſtine: the godly doe often taſte the top, and feele the bitterneſſe, but then it is ſuddenly ſnatched from them: but the ungodly ſhall drinke the very grounds, and extremeſt poiſon. Prov. 16.5. Though hand joyne in hand, they ſhall not be unpuniſhmed. Though head be laid to head for councell, and hand knit in hand for ſtrength, yet ſhall there be no prevailing againſt it. Though Achitophel ſide with Abſalom, Herod conſpire with Pilate, Dathan confederate with Corah: though the drunkard joyne hands with the blaſphemer, the blaſphemer with the adulterer, the adulterer with the Idolater, the Idolater with the perſecuter, the perſecuter with the traitour, the traitour with the Ieſuite, the Ieſuite with the Devill; yet they ſhall not eſcape unpuniſhed. Deſtruction ſhall ſticke as faithfully to them, as the skin to their fleſh. Our ſinnes deſerve deſtruction, our repentance is no ſatisfaction; it is only Gods mercy in Chriſt that gives abſolution.
Yet is all this but a temporall or corporall ſubverſion, there is more behinde, even eternall periſhing. This is the ſore extent, which reacheth to hell it ſelfe. Therefore we finde theſe two, Hell and Deſtruction, moſt commonly united, Prov. 27.20. Hell and deſtruction are never full. Phil. 3.19. Their end is deſtruction, that is miſerable: their deſtruction without end, that is more miſerable. If man only ſmarted with the diſlodging of his ſoule; alas, ſhe might by Ieſus find a better bed: Death being to the faithfull but a buſie dreame; When they awake, Pſal. 17.15.they ſhall behold the face of God in righte…ſneſſe, and be ſatisfied with his likeneſſe. Like the red-ſea, puts them over to the Land of Promiſe. There is a lake of fire and brimſtone, where the beaſt and falſe prophet are, Revel. 20.10.and …all …e tormented day and night, for ever and ever. This is the place of reſidence for …heſe falſe prophets: this is Deſtruction in her full pay, weight, and meaſure.
They bring on themſelves ſwift deſtruction.] Swift: You ſee the Authours of their …uniſhment, foreign, Themſelves: the meaſure, which is beyond all meaſure, Deſtruction. Two full aggravations of their unhappines: Themſelves; O yet, Si alienâ manu, non propriâ; that they might complaine of others, and acquit themſelves! Needs muſt thoſe ſins be ſowen like hemp-ſeed with curſes, which muſt make halters for themſelves. They might ſay to an enemy, or to their old companion in errors. Liceat perituris …iribus ignis, igne perire tuo; and this might ſeeme Cladem authore levare. But themſelves bring it; not that they lay violent hands upon their owne fleſh or ſpirit, but by con… quent. As no man properly and immediatly calls the dropſie to him, yet by inſati…e drinking of unwholſome liquors he procures it, Rom. 6.21. For the end of theſe things is death. Deſtruction is tied to the end of ſinne, as Sampſon tied fire to the foxes tailes. Or, as a great weight of lead is bound to a ſmall cord; it ſeemes nothing to pull the cord, but the lead comes withall, and quaſheth the puller to pieces. Th… is the vexation, when they feele extreame torments, they ſhall curſe themſelves … the cauſe. True it is, they ſhall blaſpheme God deſperately, Rev. 16.11. Curſe the devill malitiouſly, and execrate other company: expreſſed by gnaſhing their teeth, the effect of an impatient fury: but at laſt they ſhall be convinced, and have this …cknowledgement extorted from them; Proprijs configimur armis, we have deſtroy… our ſelves. Beſides, the meaſure of this ſelfe-procured woe, is deſtruction: all the dregs of the violl, all the plagues in the ſtore-houſe of Almighty Iuſtice; ſo farre … mans paſſive nature is capable; infinite in extention; what falls ſhort in bredth, to be ſupplied in length; infinite in everlaſting paſſion. Now the laſt ingredient to … bitter potion remaines: to the authour and meaſure, the manner, Swift. When i… ſhall come, it makes no ſparing; before it doe come, it gives no warning. Nothi… is more ſure to diſpatch them, nothing more quick to attach them; it is Swift deſtruction.
Suddaine deſtruction ſeiſeth on the wicked. There are judgements that creepe on a man by degrees, every pull of paine being a warning of diſſolution. Theſe are eaſier. 1. Becauſe preparation is rendered, and ſo the minde beginnes to bee fortified againſt them. The firſt ſeene Cockatrice is leſſe noxious. Either wee may hide our ſelves, Prov. 22.3. The prudent man foreſeeth the evill, and hideth himſelfe. Where? Pſalme 9.6. The Lord is a Refuge in the time of trouble. VnderUnder the wings of mercy, he hideth himſelfe in the Lord, from the Lord. Or, by a well furniſhed and reſolute oppoſition; Pugnent arma armis: put…ing it to a courageo…s venture for the victorie. Or, by a well-tempered patience to ſuſtaine; as woo… meetes iron, and turnes the ſterne violences to ſoft embraces. 2. Becauſe the mind is the better inured to beare or encounter thoſe evils, to which it hath beene exerciſed; as with wooden weapons men learne to fight at the ſharpe. Lam. 3.27. It … good for a man to beare the yoke in his youth. In the Fable, when the new and old Ca… went together, the new made a creaking noiſe under the lode, and wondred at the ſilence of the old: which anſwered; I am accuſtomed to theſe burdens, therefo…e beare them and am quiet. This is the benefit of ſuſtaining croſſes in youth, ſuch a one knowes how to beare them ſtill. Thus death becomes welcome to us, becauſe we are acquainted with his meſſengers. Fot when life which is held a friend, becomes an enemy; then death which is an enemy becomes a friend. It was promiſed to o… Iſraelite, that he ſhould beat ten enemies: now he that conquer'd the oddes, will … cowardly ſhrinke at the equalitie. 3. Becauſe the ſenſe is weakened by much … fering: uſuall beating makes the childe leſſe to feare the rod. The faithfull are … well acquainted with Gods gentle chaſtiſements, that they know it is the ſame h… that ſtrikes ſtill: perhaps now in death a little ſmarter at once, that it may ne… ſtrike them more. Thus a conſumption doth ſo by degrees ſpend up the cholerick … mours, exhauſt the ſpirits, and weaken the ſenſe; that the tyranny of death is … in the want of our feeling. Some of the martyrs that were tumbled downe from exceeding high rockes, left the bitterneſſe of the pangs of death in the mid-way … their journey; and their ſoules went up to heaven, before their bodies came downe to earth. 4. Laſtly, threatned puniſhment hath loſt the nature of ſuddenneſſe, tho…gh not in the paſſion, yet in the perſon: it may diſpatch with ſpeed, but the pati… before expected it. So when God menaceth, and formerly gives notice, he meanes not to deſtroy. Ionah comes to Niniveh, and peremptorily threatens deſtruction, with the determinate limits of forty dayes: but God gave a feeling of it in the heart, that there might not be a feeling of it in the fleſh. Non eſt everſa, ſed converſa; The ſinne of the Citie was overthrowne, the Citie ſtood. All menaces are not categoricall, ſome are hypotheticall: neither doth this argue in God levitie, but mercy. Novit Deus aliquando mutare ſententiam, nunquam novit mutare conſilium. God ſometimes altereth his ſentence, but he never altereth his purpoſe. Minatur quod faciat, ne faciat quod minatur; If mens apprehenſive hearts repent, there is a retraction of the judgement. If God give not his preventing forrow, the puniſhment ſhall be new enough to the ſufferer, how old ſoever it be in reſpect of the decreer. Eſay 10.22. The conſumption decreed ſhall over-flow with righteouſneſſe.
But this is Swift perdition: Quò celerius, eò ſeverius; A man thinkes lingring evils ſwift enough, though they come the Tortoiſe pace, pedetentim, yea, ſerpentim, ſliding on. Though the fabricke of his body bee as long a plucking downe, as the Temple of Ieruſalem was a building up; ſix and thirty yeares. Yet ſtill they ſay to ſickneſſe, as the devils ſaid to Chriſt; Why commeſt thou to torment us before our time? Matth. 8.29. Yea, could it give us as long warning, as Noah gave the old world; a… hundred and twentie yeares; yet Feſtinas Domine, Lord thou art too haſty: they finde fault with the precipitation. Let the ſiege to thy life be as the Grecians to Troy, of ten yeares continuance; yet ſtill thou ſayeſt, it comes De improviſo, I did not looke for it ſo ſoone. But we know whoſe mouth hath ſpoken it. Pſal. 55.23. Men of blouds and deceit; non dimidiabunt dies ſuos; ſhall not live out halfe their dayes. Not halfe thoſe which in the courſe of nature, and opinion of the world, they might have run. Herod was taken away quickly, in the midſt of his popular applauſe; and the Angell of God immediately ſmote him, Act. 12.23. God ſhall ſhoot at them with an arrow, ſuddenly they ſhall be wounded, Pſalm. 64.7. As a man-ſees not the thunderbolt, till it ſtrike him dead, Pſal. 73.19. How are they brought to deſolation as in a moment, and utterly conſumed mith terrours? In a moment there is nec prius nec poſterius. Verſ. 20. As a dreame when one awaketh, &c. All their proſperity is but a dreame, they laugh in their ſleepe, but they awake howling, Pſal. 37.10. Yet a little while, and the wicked ſhall not be: thou ſhalt diligently ſeeke for his place, and it ſhall not be found. Deſtruction ſhall leave nec hominem, nec locum, neither the man, nor his place. Verſ. 36. The wicked ſpreads himſelfe like a greene Bay-tree: yet he paſſed away, and loe he was not: I ſought him, but he could not be found. Thou ſaweſt him to day aſpiring like the Cedars; Digito monſtrari, & dicier hic eſt; Seeke for him to morrow, and thou returneſt with a Non inventus. Prov. 14.11. The houſe of the wicked ſhall be overthrowne. How? Zach. 5.2. What ſeeſt thou? a flying roule. What ſhall it doe? Verſ. 4. It ſhall enter into the houſe of the wicked, and ſhall remaine in the midſt of his houſe, and ſhall conſume it with the timber and ſtones of it. It is a flying roule, a winged curſe, not ſeene till it be felt. It ſhall deſtroy, not with a lingring conſumption; to dwell upon his tabernacle, and doe it by a long ſucceſſion of plagues: but in alluſion to Sodome; Brimſtone ſhall be ſcattered upon his habitation, Iob 18.15. By the Civill Law, every mans houſe is his caſtle: no man may be dragged out of his owne doore Iudicio civili: yet in ſuch as we call Crown-caſes, Treaſons and Contumacies, great houſes have bin thundred downe over the owners heads. And like the Houſe of Baal, 2 King. 10.27. And of ſuch Idolaters, Dan. 3.29. They may bee converted into filthy draughts, dung-hils, and receptacles of excrements. When God ſaw his owne Temple made a den of theeves, he deſtroyed it: therefore how much leſſe will hee ſpare private houſes, when they are …ade ſhops of miſchiefe, and monuments of iniquitie? Hab. 2.11. The ſtone ſhall crie … of the w…ll, and the beame out of the timber ſhall anſwer it. The ſtones at every joynt ſhall weepe like marble, and the timber at every pinne ſhall bleed like the Vine: both joyning in a mournefull Antheme; one beginning, the other anſwering; Woe unto him that buildeth with bl…ud. Yet if the man himſelfe might eſcape, more houſes might be had for money: nay, ſaith Bildad, Iob 18.18. he ſhall be chaſed out of the world. But though his body be accurſed like the barren Fig-tree; Never fr… grow on thee more: yet hee might have his eſtate continued to his poſterity. No, Verſ. 19. He ſhall neither have ſonne nor nephew among his people, nor any remaining … his dwellings. His houſe ſhall be deſtroyed; and this in Scripture containes the whole family, Ioſh. 24.15. I and my houſe will ſerve the Lord. The materials and form… ſhall be deſtroyed. But though body, houſe, and poſterity be loſt; yet ſtill he may ſay as Abſalom ſaid, and doe as Abſalom did, 2 Sam. 18.18. He reared up for himſelfe a pillar, ſaying, I have no ſonne to keepe my name in remembrance: and he called the pill… after his owne name; Abſaloms place. So Pſal. 49.11. Their inward thought is, that their houſes ſhall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations: therefore they call their lands after their owne names. Let me build an houſe, and reare a monument after mine owne name: No, downe with it to the ground. Iob 18.17. His remembrance ſhall periſh from the earth; and he ſhall have no name in the ſtreet. As Valeri… ſpeakes of thoſe Romans, who beſides their owne deaths, Penatium quoque ſtrage p… niuntur. This is a fearefull deſtruction, to be ſo rooted out as Rovillas, that their very name becomes a ſtench. But that all this ſhould be done ſuddenly, uno actu, … ictu; Vengeance it ſelfe, men thinke, can doe no more.
He ſhall be deſtroyed: might it not be ſaid, much ruinated? As an houſe h…h the windowes broken, yet it ſtands: the covering is ſtripped off, yet it ſtands: the walls are beaten downe, yet it ſtands: take away the foundation; then you may ſay, Hîc ſuit domus; here was an houſe. Iob 8.18. If he deſtroy him from his place, then … ſhall deny him, ſaying, I have not ſeene thee. May it not be ſaid of man, as of a clocke; which growing foule, the maker reſumes, takes it in peeces, layes it wheele by wheele, and pin by pin; ſcowres it, puts it together in frame againe, and ſets it going? No, alas, the wicked is deſtroyed, put out of tune for ever, and that as ſwiftly, as if a clocke were daſhed againſt the ſtones. O that it had any other meaſure but perdition, any other manner but celerity! Iob 14.7. There is hope of a tree, if it be cut downe, that it will ſprout againe, and that the tender branch thereof will not ceaſe. Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the ſtocke thereof die in the ground, ye… through the ſent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughes like a plant. B…t man dieth, and waſteth away, and where is he? He that ſhould reade the Chronicle of ſome great mans life, finde him endowed with ſingular gifts of nature, beautified with rare qualities of art, befriended with the ſucceſſes of fortune: whom his Prince had highly honoured, the people admired, flatterers adored; where nothing wanted to the concurrence of happineſſe: and thus purſuing the ſtory, meaſuring the hopes of future glory by the experience of preſent proſperity; ſhould now turne over the leafe to reade, and finde a blanke, no more to be read, an abrupt ſuſpenſion; he would either thinke the writer had miſtooke, or that ſome leaves were torne o… of the booke. No, there was an high finger that blotted it out, and broke off the hiſtory with an unexpected cataſtrophe. For Haman the ſecond man in the Court, to forfeit all his glories at the galhouſe! As if Deſtruction had the charge, th… CHRIST gave to Iudas; Quod facis, cito fac, Ioh. 13.27. What thou doeſt, … quickely.
The dejection of Iob was ſudden, but it was not deſtruction, Iob 1.16. While … was yet ſpeaking, there came alſo another, &c. As if hee might not be allowed reſt … conſider of the former wretchedneſſe. The fall of Iehoram was deſtruction, b… … was not ſudden, 2 Chron. 21.19. In proceſſe of time, after the end of two yeares, … bowels fell out by reaſon of his ſickneſſe: day by day, for two yeares together. But … it is both deſtruction, and ſwift deſtruction; as to Nabal; The Lord ſmote him, and … died, 1 Sam. 25.38. It is ſudden, both becauſe it prevents the expectation of na… and becauſe the blow is like to that which David with his ſling gave to Goliah, t… ſunke him downe for ever. Such, according to our Apoſtles Prophecie, hath be… the deſtruction of the Churches enemies. Pharaoh by the ſea, Corah by the earth▪ the haters of thoſe three faithfull ſervants by the fire, Simon Magus in the aire: all deſtructions, by all the Elements, and all ſudden, with a fearefull expedition.
Swift deſtruction.] There are many ſwift things, none ſwifter than the reprobates deſtruction, when God will haſten it. Birds are ſwift, the Eagle cuts the aire, and is gone. Therefore Salomon compares the ſuddeneſt vaniſher, Riches to an Eagle, that makes her ſelfe wings and flies away, Prov. 23.5. Yet is this deſtruction ſwifter. An arrow is ſwift, 1 King. 22.34. A certaine man drew a bow at a venture, ſm…te the King of Iſrael, and rid him. Deſtruction is a ſwift arrow, that ſame Sagitta per diem volitans, the arrow that flieth by day, Pſalm. 91.5. Surer and ſwifter than the arrow of Cephalus; Conſequitur quodcunque petit. Ovid. Metam. 7.Or that Hercules ſhot into Neſſus, Met. 9. When he ran away with his Deianica; he told him that though hee could not come to him, he would ſend after him: Vulnere, non pedibus te conſequar: …nd he made it good; Fugientia terga ſagittâ Trat…icit. Theſe are not Ionathans pricke-…rrowes, to give warning: but deſtructive arrowes, ſuch as God ſhot againſt Sodom, …etherd with fire, conſuming in a moment. Such, Pſal. 18.14. He ſent out arrowes …nd ſcattered them, he ſhot out lightnings and diſcomfited them. Thunder and lightning, … ſwift and diſpatching arrow. Pſal. 144.6. Caſt forth lightning and ſcatter them: …hoote out thine arrowes and deſtroy them. Man may ſhoote and miſſe, or his arrowes be ſo ſlow of flight that it may be avoided: but if God ſhoots, he hits and kills. The Parthian arrow was ſo admired for ſwiftneſſe, that Lucan ſaies of Ceſar, he was …orto Balearis verbere fundae Ocyor, & miſſâ Parthi poſt terga ſagittâ. And Philoctetes …rrowes are noted Sophocles for fatall deadlineſſe; foreign, fore-runners of …eath: & habent ſub arundine plumbum, headed with heavy vengeance. Yet are all theſe …oth weaker in fight, and duller in flight, than Gods arrowes, which as the Pſalmiſt …peakes, come from the hand of a Gyant. When he ſhall draw them up to the head, …hey wound with an incurable blow. Iob 20.24. The bow of ſteele ſhall ſtrike him …hrough, it ſhall come gliſtering through his gall. The Sunne is ſwift, per diem peragens curſum; he rejoyceth as a ſtrong man to runne a race. Yet the ſame dayes ſunne …ath ſeene a man; high mounted with pompe in the morning; yet covered with deſtruction before the evening. But as Moſes told Iſrael concerning the Egyptians; Whom yee have ſeene to day, yee ſhall ſee them againe no more for ever, Exod. 14.13. Thus ſwift is Gods judgement, and outrunning the Sun, flame is ſwift: the Poets gi…aine that ſhe is the daughter of Titan and Terra, the Sunne and the Earth. The Sun …ing her ſuch an aeriall and ſpirituall ſwiftneſſe by his generation, that if the mother …y her groſſeneſſe had not a little bated her agility; ſhe would the firſt houre of her …irth have runne out of the world. Indeed ſhe ſtill flies apace, and like a channell by …ontinuall acceſſions, growes up to a river; vires acquirit eundo. As a little ball rol…ed in the ſnow, gathers it ſelfe to a great lumpe. The report that is but a little ſpark …f fire at London, proves a great flame by that time it comes to Yorke. But alas, …ven fame is ſlow-footed, and beſides the invention of lies, muſt have intervention of ſpace, before it arrives: and though it out-run the clouds, as Ahimaaz over ran Chuſhi, becauſe he ranne by the way of the plaine: yet ſtill Iudgement is ſwifter, and …o diſpatching that it l…aves none to carry the report. When Iob was afflicted, there was one reſerved to bring newes to him: what the Sabeans had done upon the Oxen, the Chaldeans upon the Camels, the fire upon the ſheepe, all theſe upon the …ervants; Ego ſolus aufugi, I am alone eſcaped to tell thee. But deſtruction is ſurer and …orer, when it leaves none to beare tydings. Iud. 4.16. All the hoſte of Siſera fell up… the ſword, and there was not a man left. His mother, and her wiſe Ladies inſult; Have …hey not ſped? have they not divided the prey? Iudg. 5.30. No forſooth, for there …as no body left to carry newes. Lightning is ſwift, Matth. 24.27. It commeth …t of the Eaſt, and ſhineth even unto the weſt: a ſimilitude uſed by CHRIST him…elfe to deſcribe the ſuddaineſſe of his ſeco…d appearing. The thunder is called the …ords voice, Pſal. 29.3. The voice of the Lord, is upon the waters, the God of glory th…n…reth. This breaketh the cedars, makes them skip like calves, Lebanon and Sirion caper like an Vnicorne. This is a ſudden manner of deſtroying, as the Lord ſmote the Philiſtines with a great thunder, 1 Sam. 7.10. When the Lord raines this ſtorme, he kills quickly: etiam comedentem abſorbet. Iob 20.23. When he is about to fill his belly, God ſhall caſt the furie of his wrath upon him, and ſhall raine it upon him while he is eating: there is another ſwift perdition. The ordinance charged with that ſalt minerall, makes quicke deſtruction: it bruiſeth and quaſheth to pieces before it gives the … port, and therein is truely ſuddaine Innumerable lives have fallen by this engine; a thing that can ſend the errand of death a great way off. I know not to what to compare it, unleſſe to the peſtilence that killeth a farre off, Ezek. 6.12. Gunpowder … invention of a Monke, of a divell, the daughter of ſalt and ſulphure, the mother of deaths nimbleſt children; nothing maketh a quicker end.
The fift of November puts us in mind of this fatall deſtruction; intended by the malice of men, but prevented by the merciemercy of God. Thoſe ſmoky locuſts … prepared and furniſhed a blacke pit, the very image of hell; and had reſolved o… that deſperate cry, Incendium extinguatur ruinâ: they had deviſed communem reg…, a common bonefire, an univerſall combuſtion, both of mortall men and immortall monuments; Churches, Charters, and Records of antiquitie. Bloudy Prieſts that would have offered a whole burnt ſacrifice, and made our ſons and daughters pa…e through the fire, an oblation to their Moloch of Rome. Thinke countrey men, and let it never die in your memories, whiles the merciemercy of God may find a roome in your hearts: conſider a ſwift deſtruction; never was example of ſo facinorous an e… terpriſe, the Primum genus of all ſinne, a crying, a roring, a thundring ſinne, as our Soveraigne truly termed it: a ſin not onelyonly of bloud, but of fire, fire mingled with brimſtone, ſuch as the attempters (without extraordinary mercy) now feele in hell. Aske from Eaſt to Weſt, from one Pole to the other; ſearch all records under heaven, if ever there was the like. Their vault was a penuary and ſtore houſe of deſtruction; againſt us in the intent, againſt themſelves in the event. Let us ſay as thoſe four Lepers, 2 King. 7.9. This day is a day of good tydings, and we doe not well to hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, ſome miſchiefe will fall upon us. Conſider with them. 1. The ſpecialtie of the time, This day. 2. The occaſion of that ſpecialtie, it is a day of good newes. 3. The dutie of that occaſion, not to hold our pe…ce. 4. The neceſſitie of that duty, leſt miſchiefe fall upon us. But you will ſay, the day is paſt, and let it paſſe with the day; Sufficit diei malitia ipſius; ſufficient to the day is the ſorrow thereof. I anſwer; Day unto day uttereth ſpeech, and night unto night ſheweth knowledge, Pſalm. 19. Verſe 2. The day gone reads a lecture to the day preſent: that day tells newes to all dayes, without which they had not beene dayes to us. In regard of the marvellous attempt, a day of newes: in regard of the gracious deliverance, a day of good newes. Newes in the Intention, good newes i… the prevention: a privative, a poſitive good; for a negative is made an affirmative by reduction. Suppoſe you had ſeene it done; the King, Prince, Nobles, Senators, Prieſts; the flowers and ornaments of the land; without diſtinction of Majeſtie, dignitie, ſex or age, degree or merit, reaſon or religion; toſſed up with barrells and billets, piec…s of timber, barres of iron, and great ſtones; the murthering artillerie together with the murdered bodies, into the aire, up toward heaven, their fleſh accompanying their ſoules ſo farre as that violence could ſend them; till their mangled carcaſes fell downe againe to the mother earth, to receive their remaining blo… crying vengeance againſt their butchers. Behold here the type of the deflagration … Sodom, the modell of Tophet, the neereſt repreſentation that earth could afford … that Ignitum dil…vium, the fiery deluge at the laſt day: yea the image of that Ge… na ignis, which God hath prepared for the wicked. When father and ſonne, dam… and young in a neaſt together, had beene blowen away with a blaſt; a whirlewind … deſtruction: the whole ſtate of a kingdome diſſolved, and that in an inſtant of ti…, before they could have ſwallowed their ſpittle, or in remembrance and remorſe of their ſinnes have ſaid; Lord have merciemercy on us. This had beene deſtruction in the winged precepice, and moſt deſperate ſuddenneſſe. As it was threatned to the houſe of Ier…boam, to be cut off in a day: but what? even now in a moment, before they had leaſure to thinke of it. But as the three ſervants of God were caſt into a fiery fornace …hat burnt them not: and as Moſes ſaw a buſh that flamed and conſumed not: ſo the good will of him that dwelt in the buſh defended us, Deut. 33.16. The Lord brought …s backe from death to life, and we were comforted as men awaked out of a fearefull dreame. Their deſtruction was ſwift, but the merciemercy of God was ſwifter. There wanted nothing but an actor to bring on that catholike doomſday: yet before the match could be brought to the powder, their artificiall fireworkes were diſcovered; their projection, prodition, deperdition, all diſcloſed; and ſeaſonably returned on their owne heads.
So periſh all thine enemies, O Lord.] Now the merciemercy of God turne deſtruction, …nto ſalvation, and then be as ſwift as he pleaſe: the ſooner we get home, the ſooner …aſe: therefore Come Lord Ieſus, come quickly, Amen.