Commentary on 2 Peter, Commentary on 2 Peter volume 1 · Chapter 2 · Verse 3 (2 of 3)
Hypocrites thinke that they doe all their villanie now unſeene: but the Iudge beholds, and the day of retribution ſhall lay them open.aZeph. 3.5. The juſt Lord doth bring his judgements to light every morning: but the unjuſt knoweth no ſhame. The unrighteous will not yet be ſenſible of ſhame, though the Lord bring his Iudgements to light every morning. Still he encourageth his ſin with this ſuppoſall,bLuk. 12 45. My maſter is gone into a farre countrey. cEccl. 8.11.Becauſe ſentence againſt an evill worke is not executed ſpeedily; the heart of men is fully ſet in them to doe evill. Tuſh, the Lord ſees it not, neither doth the higheſt regard it. Becauſe thou art one of thoſe ſcape-goates, in whoſe temporary reprievement the Iudge of all fleſh doth but repreſent the neceſſitie of his laſt aſſiſſes: ſhall not thy skin of hypocriſie be pulled over thine eares, and thy f… ned words be made an evidence againſt thy wicked deeds? When an architect proffered Livius Druſus an heathen, to build him an houſe free from the ſight of all men he deſired him rather; if he had any skill, to build it ſo that all men might ſee whatſoever he did. So cleane ſhould be our hands, and ſo honeſt our hearts; as if our bodies were tranſparant, and men might ſee through us. Howſoever, God ſees here, and men ſhall ſee hereafter the ſhame of the wicked.d2 Tim. 3.9. Their follie ſhall be manife… unto all men. Now they lie, diſſemble, ſweare, forſweare, in a deſperate madneſſe: as if a malefactor ſhould ſwagger at the foote of the galhouſe, becauſe there are ſome few rounds of a ladder betweene his necke and execution. Yet a little, and behold the Iudge in the clouds, the only viſible perſon in the Trinitie; over a place, though not the ſame, yet as conſpicuous as the valley of Iehoſhaphat: the bookes all open, and the ſecrets of all hearts manifeſt. When that Sun of Iuſtice ſhall appeare, hypocriſie (that cold gloworme of the night) ſhall loſe her vainglorious ſhining. Theſe faining and fawning counterfeits, whoſe tongues are the tongues of mournebankes, their hands the hands of painters, and their lives the lives of players; which neither did what they ſaid, nor ſaid what they did; nor were in any point the ſame they ſeemed; they all muſt now appeare in their likeneſſe. The rotten inſide ſhall be turned outwards, and painted ſepulchers of ſtones ſhall ſpew out more painted ſepulchers of men. Bleſſed ſoules then, in whoſe mouth there is found no deceit: happy Iſraelites,Revel. 14.5. Ioh. 1.47. in whom there is no guile. Such let us all be, that we may be redeemed from the earth, and like pure virgins be received into the boſome of CHRIST. Wh… as that ſpurious generation of Loyoliſts, that coozen all lawes and magiſtrates wi… their baſtardly doctrine of equivocation; ſhall be rejected from the Lambe beca…ſe guile and fained words are found in their mouthes. Our God is the God of Truth, CHRIST is the word of Truth, the Holy Ghoſt is the Spirit of truth; let us all bee children of truth; caſting out diſſimulation from our habites, guile from our mouthes, hypocriſie from our hearts; that we may live on Mount Sion with the Lambe of God, our glorious Ieſus for ever.
Whoſe Iudgement now of a long time lingreth not, and their damnation ſlumber… not. This is their perdition; wherein conſider the ſeverity or extremity of it; it is Iudgement, and damnation: the vicinitie or propinquitie and neareneſſe of it; it lingers not, ſlumbers not. Firſt for the extremitie, ſet downe in two termes; Iudgement and damnation. Which howſoever ſome referre to one and the ſame thing, their eternall confuſion: yet becauſe Iudgement properly and in order goes before condemnation; as the malefactor is arraigned and judged before he be executed: ſo I am willing to diſtinguiſh theſe two; Iudgement into their puniſhment temporall, and Damnation into their puniſhment eternall.
The ſumme is this, there are certaine plagues ordained for lyars, and the teachers of wickedneſſe. Be not deceived with their glorious ſhewes, ſumptuous magnificence, mountains of honours, piles of riches, victorious triumphs (as they vaunt) over the truth: for this world will not laſt ever with them. If you ſee faithfull Miniſters diſcountenanced, impoveriſhed, perſecuted: and theſe Impoſtors advanced, …upported, honoured: yet totter not in your faith: their caſting downe, and your lif…ing up is neare: neither ſhall they living eſcape Iudgement, nor dead damnation. God …uffers them to riot upon his forbearance, and to grow luxurious on his mercies: but …here is a rod of Iudgement made, and a caldron of damnation ſet a boyling for them. The Lord ſhall conſume them with the breath of his mouth, 2 Theſ. 2.8.and deſtroy them with the brigh…eſſe of his comming. Firſt therefore, leſt any beleevers ſhould ſtumble at their temporall proſperity, whereby they bluſter and dominere in the world; they ſhall ſee …heir Iudgement. And then that they may avoid them, oberve the confuſion that is …eady to ſwallow them. Numb. 16.26. Depart from the tents of theſe wicked men, leſt …ee be conſumed in all their ſinnes. Be not involved in their ſinnes, leſt ye be diſſolved with their plagues. This whole diſcourſe I will reſolve into certaine extractions, obſervations and inferences.
1 Their judgement.] The menaces of God are not alwayes followed with an …nfallible event: being ſometimes on purpoſe ſignified, that they may be by peni…ence prevented. Conſider this fearefull curſe for a part of Gods counſaile, then …olloweth an abſolute ratification of it. Eſa. 46.10. My counſell ſhall ſtand, and I …ill doe all my pleaſure. Who hath reſiſted his will? None can or ſhall doe it by their …ower: if they doe attempt it, be it at their perill. For hoc ipſo quod contra Dei volun…tem fecerunt, de ipſis facta eſt voluntas Dei, Aug. Even in that they have done againſt …is will, his will is done upon them. None but the King of Kings hath right to …he ſtile imperiall, (I will, or I will not) without all limitation. Becauſe his will …nd power be matches onelyonly: and when his decree hath gone before, an anſwerable …cceſſe doth ever attend it. Therefore for the correction of thoſe Merchants, who …ould trafficke without God, and reſolve on voyages without his paſport: the Apo…le chargeth all humane language to obſerve that neceſſary Parentheſis;Iam 4.15. If the Lord …ill. William Rufus proudly threatned, from the rockes of Wales to make a bridge …ver into Ireland. But a Prince there underſtanding that he asked no leave of God; …nſwered, that he never feared that bridge whoſe foundation was not God: the Name of whom the King had omitted, in a preſumptuous confidence of his owne …rength.
If it be the Lords determinate decree, this Iudgement ſhall come upon them. But …ecauſe God often threatens, before he once ſtrikes; allow it not ſo abſolute, but that may admit an intervention of repentance. When God threatens to pull downe,Ier. 18.8. …ucke up, and deſtroy a nation; if that nation ſhall repent of the evill they have …one, God will repent of the evill he thought to doe. But whoſoever ſhall con…ue in this blaſphemous courſe of diſobedience, their Iudgement ſhall haſten, and …eir damnation not linger. The conſumption decreed ſhall overflow with righteouſneſſe. Eſa. 10.22.…o cloſe up the paſſage or hinder the courſe of divine Iuſtice, will be more impoſſi…e than for a man to ſtop the flowing of the ſea with his armes, or to beate backe the …htning into the clouds with his breath. The name of God ſhall be famous in eve… ſinners infamie. The wicked may as ſoone ſteale the booke of vengeance out of Gods hand, as ſteale themſelves from the plagues written in his booke: Their judgement ſhall come. They can no more flie the power of their Iudge above them, than they could ſtand ſtill if there were an earthquake under them. There is no appeale from this tribunall: no writ of error lies againſt this Iudge, though hee be both Iudge and party; becauſe he can neither be over-borne, nor overſeene. It is the LORD of hoſtes that can muſter up plagues out of the duſts of the earth: that Strong man, that will breake forth in a Martiall manner againſt his enemies.
2 For whoſe ſake doth God execute iudgement and confuſion upon theſe falſe Teachers; and cut off the Inſtruments of ſedition and error? For his owne glory, and the Churches good, that they may no longer cozen mens ſoules with their Impoſtures. God hath two ſorts of workes; ſome of poſition, ſome of privation. His poſitive workes are thoſe of Creation, making heaven and earth; of Supportation, bearing up all things with the word of his power; of Redemption and reconciliation, God was in Chriſt reconciling the world to himſelfe: 2 Cor. 5.19.of Reſtitution and reparation, the time of the reſtitution of all things. Thus hee giveth, maintaineth, or bettereth the being of things.Act. 3.21. Which we now clearely reade in the booke of nature, more clearly in the booke of grace, moſt clearely ſhall read in the booke of glory. His privative workes are of judgement; corruptive, deſtructive works; acts of deſolation; deſtroying the annoyances of his Saints. Both theſe he appropriateth to himſelfe, Deut. 32.39. I kill, and I make alive: I wound, and I heale. Now in theſe deſolating actions of his Iuſtice, the onelyonly end is not to marre, deſtroy, and deprive of being: but to further the growth of the Church; as a man rootes up the weeds of his garden, that the good herbes may grow the better.aLuk. 13.7. Cut it downe, why cumbreth it the ground? why does it take up the roome where a good plant might proſper, and bring forth acceptable fruite? So that their corruptions are our generations; their deſolations our conſolations; their impairings our repairings: judgments upon them are creations, recreations to us. As God deſtroyed the Canaanites, to make roome for the Iſraelites.bPſal. 75.7. Pſal. 46.9. God is the Iudge: he putteth downe one, and ſetteh up another. He breaketh the bow, &c. Cutteth the ſpeare in ſunder, hee burneth the Chariot in the fire. Thoſe inſtruments of ſpoile and murder; the bow that kills a farre, the ſpeare at hand, thoſe winged Chariots, with hookes and ſythes to mow downe all their oppoſites: theſe doth the Lord diſappoint and deſolate. Thoſe menaces againſt his children, and inſolencies againſt his owne Maieſtie, his Iuſtice doth retaile into their owne boſomes. That 88 for a yeare, and 5th of November for a day, put us in minde of ſuch an intended deſtruction, and ſuch an intervenient deſolation; as that day and yeare ſhall bee for ever both famous and infamous for. It is the ruine of enmitie, that is the reſurrection of peace: unleſſe ſeveritie be ſhewed to our adverſaries, ſecuritie cannot dwell in our ſtreets. Our Redemption was a worke of this nature: ſinne by the Devill,Rom. 5. and death by ſinne, not onelyonly entered, but triumphed over the world as a tyrant: like Alexander; Pervenimus ad ſolis ortum et occaſum. Now becauſe no man hath lived and not ſinned, or having ſinned ſhould have lived, or could have eſcaped the ſecond death, by reaſon of his univerſall uſurpation of ſinne: thefore there came a worke of deſtruction betweene, that diſappointed the worke of death.cIoh. 3.8. For this cauſe the Sonne of God was manifeſted, that hee might deſtroy the workes of the Devill. He raſed, ſpoiled, unharneſſed thoſe principalities and powers;Col. 2.15. confounding our enemies, that we might be ſaved. So ſtill doth he deale wi… all the inſtruments of Satan; their Iudgement and Damnation is haſtened, that deli… rance may be to all that truſt in him.
3 Though the Lord will judge theſe wicked perſons, yet this forbids not Magiſtrates to execute their iuſtice upon them. They that are called after Gods o… name, ſeated on his owne throne, armed every way with his owne authorit…, let them alſo bring forth Iudgement, in imitation of their father. It is a cruell … that is ſhewed to incorrigible offenders: like water powred upon lime, that in ſtea… of quenching, doth enflame the furious heate of ſinne.dEſa. 26.10. Let favour be ſhewed to …he wicked, yet hee will not learne righteouſneſſe. I know that the life of man is …recious, yet is the life of the whole Church more precious. And though in …eſſe important things, Iudges may proceed on by faire and not faſt degrees: yet in …ch capitall cauſes as indanger the whole, the expedition ſhould be more quick and …eremptory.ePſal. 101.8. I will early, or in the morning, deſtroy all the wicked of the land. It was Davids morning work, let none put it off to th'evening of their declination; as the ſet…ng ſun makes the larger ſhadowes. This killing preſervation of notorious and inſuf…erable offenders, is a diſcouragement to them that in the moſt deſperate times dare …eepe a good conſcience. If Popiſh Incendiaries may be tolerated to make merchan…iſe of mens ſoules, and never be iudged for this; what remaines, but that we appeale …o a greater Court, and open our grievances to a higher Iudge! no Iudge dormant; …hoſe ſentence is no dead letter, but a determinate Oracle without admiſſion of ei…her appeale or reprieve.fEſth. 4.14. If they hold their peace, enlargement and deliverance ſhall ariſe … us from another place: but they and their fathers houſe ſhall be deſtroied. gEccl. 12.14.God ſhall bring …very worke into judgement; every worke, not one ſhall eſcape: with every ſecret …ought: not the worke onelyonly, but even the thought, and that bee it never ſo deeply …id up in the heart: to cut off all opinion of ſecrecie; ſo well as of impunitie. Sin…ers ſhall heare and feare; and wofull experience ſhall wring from them this ac…nowledgment; that when God enters into iudgement, no ſinfull fleſh ſhall be ju…ified. Iudgment, that rough hand-maide of heaven, remaines ſtill a virgin: nei…er power can force her, not wealth winne her, nor any thing in the world corrupt …er.hPſal. 58.10. The righteous ſhall rejoyce when he ſeeth the vengeance: he ſhall waſh his …eete in the bloud of the wicked. So that a man ſhall ſay, verily there is a reward for the …ighteous: verily, he is a God that judgeth in the earth.
4 Their judgement.] Their owne: as proper to them as the Inheritance they have …ought with their moneys.iIon. 2.8. They forſake their owne merciemercy: the merciemercy that might …ave beene their owne, to imbrace vengeance which they have made their owne. So …s it ſaid of dead Iudas; kAct. 1.25.He went into his owne place: as the ſtone naturally inclines …o the center, the proper place and home: ſo the wicked are never at home, and in …heir proper place, till they be in hell.lPſal. 125.3. The rod of the wicked ſhall not reſt upon …he lot of the righteous. It is Their rod, made for them; if God ſcourge his children … little with it, he doth but borow it from the immediate and naturall uſe for which …t was ordained: Their rod, Their judgement. So it is calledmPſal. 11.6. Their cup; This is …he portion and potion of their cup. If the godly be made to taſt a little of the top, it …s but a draught lent from their cup: But the dregges thereof the wicked ſhall wring out, …nd drinke off, Pſal. 75.8.nPhil. 3.19. Their end is damnation, ſuch an end can come to none …ut themſelves. Theirs, it is as ſurely their owne, as if they already had it.oIoh. 3.18. He that …eleeveth not, is condemned already: as we ſay of a ſentenced malefactor, Mortuus in …lege; he is dead in Law.
Whence inferre, that ſinne doth naturally draw on puniſhment: and is like the …hunder that breakes the cloud, and makes way, for the lightning of Gods vengeance. Whereſoever preſumption goes before, deſtruction followes after.pMat. 18.25. When the evill ſervant had not to pay, his Lord commanded him to be ſold, his wife and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The wife may be taken for concupiſcence, the children for fruites of it. Or thus, Vxor ſtulti eſt ſtultitia; the wife of the covetous is avarice, the wife of the haughtie is Pride, &c. Theſe things are very deare to them, but they muſt be ſold.q1 Cor. 10.8. The children of Iſrael committed fornication, and fell in one day three and twenty thouſand. There is puniſhment of ſin, 1. In the full meaſure, They fell; nothing bated of utter ruine. 2. In the full number. 23. thouſand; a few examples would not ſerve the turne. 3. In the due time, In one day, no long forbearane. For the meaſure, it was not ſickneſſe, not flying before enemies, not ſcourging, but death; They fell: either by plague, or ſome other immediate Iudgement: ſome of them were hanged up againſt the Sunne. For number the Apoſtle ſpeakes of three and twenty thouſand: but (Numb. 25.9.) there is mention of one thouſand more. Paul did not exceed the number; nor doth the Scripture tie it ſelfe alwayes ſo preciſely. It is moſt probable, that the Princes with their ſervants that were hanged up, made up the other thouſand. For time, it is in one day; no ſpace of preperation, they preſently fell. Thus if adulterie walke in our ſtreetes, the plague will beare it company. GOD is angry with all ſinne, but his wrath is moſt hot againſt univerſall ſinne: thouſands fall, a whole army of men. When God rides his circuite, hee will ſtrike fearfully; with death, with generall death. Vniverſall ſinne will bring univerſall deſtruction: and it is his great merciemercy, if he doe not alwayes puniſh ſo generally. Error omnium, p… paucorum: all offend, ſome only are puniſhed; becauſe ſo it pleaſeth him. There is no policie againſt Gods judgements: Ceſar Borgias is made by Machiavell, a Precedent of Policie to Princes; yet he was caught at his owne tricke. The eſcaping for a while, is no argument of exemption: Gods temporall plagues are but ſhort excurſions before the maine battell.
5 Their Iudgement: but is it ſo certaine theirs, that no repentance can prevent i…, yes, ſerious repentance may avert the vengeance, if their gracious God gives the repentance. For the Apoſtle makes a Propheticall prediction of ſuch Heretickes, as ſhould invade Chriſts flocke after his time: and threatens them with the malediction of God, if they attempt ſuch impoſtures. By which if they receive warning, and lay it to heart, they may avoide the ſinne, and ſo eſcape the denounced Iudgement. And this hath ever bene the merciemercy of our God, that he will ſpeake before he ſtrike: and preach the lecture of premonition, before hee pronounce the ſentence of perdition. And this is a courſe that ſhall make men either preveniently thankfull, or inexcuſably deſperate.
Whither it be better to foreknow, or not to foreknow, the evills that will come.It is a queſtion among Philoſophers, whether it be better Praeſcire vel neſcire mala futura; to know or not to know future evils: and this diſpute is crept into the Schooles Eraſmus oppoſing the Aſtrologians, held all prognoſtications and predicttions unprofitable: for if they foretold joyfull newes, they decreaſe our future pleaſure: if evill tydings, they increaſe our preſent paine: the feare of danger being often more bitter than the danger it ſelfe:Apud Gellium. lib. 14. Pejor bello timor ipſe belli. Thus Phav…rit… reaſons; either adverſe or proſperous fortunes are foretold. If they ſay proſperous, and thoſe faile thee; Miſer fies fruſtra expectando, thou art made miſerable by thy vaine expecting: if adverſe, and thoſe thou ſcapeſt, yet Miſer fies fruſtra timend…, thou art made miſerable by thy vaine fearing. Howſoever, thus wretched is a man made by a falſe prediction. Suppoſe they foretell a truth: let it be calamitie; I… inde ex animo miſer fies, antequam a fato fias: thy owne mind ſhall afflict thee, before fate touch thee. Let felicitie be promiſed and come, yet here are two incommodities. Firſt our mind will be tyred with expectation: and our joy be abated before the object reach us. Again, hoping for a proſperous eſtate to come, we grow idle for the preſent. Men of an indifferent fortun having, (after the expiration of ſome yeares) a great Inheritance aſſured them; prodigally ſpend that which is, for that which ſhall be; yea, they ſpend that which ſhall be before it is.
But they run this argument beyond a gallop; let them take truth along with them. Whatſoever Eraſmus and Favorinus have written more ſubtly than ſoundly, in this argument; it is a concluſion acknowledged by all ſober men, that it is better to know a calamitie before we feele it, than to feele calamitie before we know it. Indeed, any unhappineſſe that ariſeth from preſcience, is only incident to a weake mind. Where there is not a well fortified reaſon, there expectation makes an evill greater, and a good leſſe. But in a reſolved mind, it digeſts an evill before it comes, and makes a future good long before preſent.
Firſt, they ſay; evill foretold rackes a man with as much torment of feare, as when it is preſent, it doth with torment of paine. Nay, but it rather pre-armes the well temperd mind, vel vincere vel ferre, & ferendo vincere: either to conquer or to ſuffer, and in ſuffering to conquer. He that hath already borne the burden, and overcome the extremeſt brunt, takes up the croſſe with joy: heaIam. 1.2. Counts it his joy to fall in…o tryall, and out of trouble extracts peace.b2 King. 6.15 When the Prophets ſervant ſaw the hoſte of chariots compaſſing the citie, he cryed out; Alas, Maſter, how ſhall we doe? Eliſha anſwered, Feare not, there be more with us: he knew it before. When Satan …hinkes to ſcare thee with ſorrowes, and ſaies as Dalila, The Philiſtims bee upon the Sampſon, there is an armie againſt thee; anſwer, I feare not, my ſoule knew that be…ore, and I have by prayer made my proviſion againſt them. The burden ſeemes …ight, that hath beene borne before.
But then they ſay, ſuppoſe the threatned evill comes not, then in vaine thou haſt diſquieted thy ſelfe with a needleſſe feare. Nay, but I have bettered my ſoule by a …autionate repentance. Niniveh was menaced, Yet fortie dayes and it ſhall be deſtroyed. They quaked, and repented in ſackcloth and aſhes, turning from their wickedneſſe; Niniveh ſtood ſtill. Did they loſe any thing by their ſorrow, faſting, humiliation? No, their converſion ſaved them from ſubverſion: had they not ſorrowed, they had …eene deſtroyed indeed. No man is the worſe for his repentant griefe: if the evill doe come, it is a labour well ſpent: if the evell doe not come, it is a labour well loſt. …f the body be not the worſe, yet the ſoule is the better.
But would it not have doubled Sauls ſorrow, if he had knowne that hee was to fall into the mountaines of Gilboah, and that his enemie ſhould ſucceed him? Could …iron the French martiall have beene ſo merry at the banket, had he knowne his inſtant arreſt for treaſon? would Iulius Caeſar have gone to the Senate, knowing his ruine there? Theſe bee poore exceptions againſt the forwarning of future evills: for, as knowing them contingent, they would have ſought to prevent: ſo knowing them certaine, they would have ſought to repent. But ſaith Boskier, this made CHRIST himſelfe Agelaſtum, kept him from laughter; the preſcience of his dire future paſſion: he wept for other cauſes, but for this eſpecially: he often ſpake of it, becauſe it ran in his mind: and in the garden, he ſwet bloud to thinke of it. Grant this in part to be true: he told it to his Apoſtles, not for his owne feare, but to ſhew how much he loved them, that would ſuffer this for them: to ſtrengthen their faith in him, and love to him; neither wept he ſo much for his owne ſorrowes, as for our ſins. We were more unkind and cruell to him than the thornes and nailes. That which drew bloud from his ſide, drew teares from his eyes: we were ſo guil…ie, that he could not be merry. Therefore he foretold his Diſciples,Ioh. 6.10. that they ſhould …e ſorrowfull, weepe and lament. As a learned Phyſitian lookes not only to the diſeaſe of his patient that afflicts him for the preſent, but often adminiſters phyſicke to prevent a future maladie. Therefore he called together his Diſciples, as Iacob did his ſons; and told them what evills they ſhould ſuffer for his names ſake.
This then be the ſumme; Iudgements forewarned comes more eaſily on the prepared heart. Minus Iacula feriunt quae praevidentur, Greg. The wiſe mariner in a calme makes all his tacklings ſure and ſtrong againſt a ſtorme. The fen-man mends his bankes in ſummer, leſt his ground be drowned in winter. Howſoever theſe predictions may afflict the body, they benefite the ſoule, Therefore if the phyſitian perceive evident reaſons of approching death in his patient, he is bound not to flatter him with hope of life: Ne dum quaerat quod ſuum eſt, perdat quod Chriſti eſt: leſt ſeeking his owne gaine, hee loſe CHRISTS purchaſe. But the conceit will exaſperate his diſeaſe, and the dejection of mind hinders the recoverie of body. Yield it, yet is this no reaſon of concealement, unleſſe the body were more worth than the …oule, a life mortall than a life immortall, the company of ſinners on earth, than the communion of Saints in heaven. I have ſeene ſome ſuch phyſicians, (for not ſeldome the phyſitian and Divine meete in the ſick chamber) that when we have beene …t prayers to the God of life, have neither bowed their knee, nor uncovered their head: as if the name of God were but a mockerie, and they could cure a man without him. But let not my body fall into his hands, that hath no care of his owne ſoule: he that loves not God, will never love me. Alas, how ſhould that potio… worke health where the chiefe ingredient, the grace of God is left out? Or, how ſhould the bleſſing of God be found, when the God of bleſſing is not regarded?
Indeed no man is worthy to know the time of his owne diſſolution: God … ignota veſtigia, Pſal. 77.19.ſecret ſteps. Thy foot-ſteps are not knowne. Though wee dare … pray: Lord, let me know the number of my dayes, that I may be certified how long I … to live: yet ſtill we pray, Deliver us from evill; eſpecially from that evill; From ſuddaine death good Lord deliver us. Some naturalliſts have affirmed that ſudden diſsolution is the beſt: and ſeemed to deſire, (if at leaſt they did deſire in heart) ſo to … Vbi non est ſpes futuri, nec dolor praeteriti, ſola manet cura praeſentis. They looked … backward to their ſinnes paſt, nor forward further than death: of that they ſaw a neceſſity, therefore wiſhed a facilitie. Now the leaſt ſenſe is of the ſhorteſt p… though it be violent, it is not permanent. There is no protraction of ſorrows, nor extention of paines in ſuddaine diſpatching: death doth not like a tyrant keep… them long a dying,Eſa. 38.12. racking out life to farther dayes, and cutting off with pi…ing … neſſe; but quickly begins and makes an end. But let it rot in the duſt with them, … that ſuddenneſſe be ſuddenly forgotten.
There is a generation of men amongſt us, Chriſtians, yea the moſt ardent and furious Chriſtians, that blame our Liturgie for that prayer; From ſudden death Lord deliver us. Theſe men are ſo ſure of heaven, that let God take them where he will and when hee will, they are for him. Preſumptuous men! doe they ſinne, and would they in that ſinne be taken away? There is a time when the deareſt Saints … God had rather live then die.aPſal. 30.9. What profit is there in my blood, when I goe down to the pit? he was ſicke, but at that time had no heart to die. Eliſha, when hee … in Spirit, that the King had ſent a meſſenger to kill him, bade themb2 King. 6.32 ſhut the … and hold him faſt. Sicke Hezekiah wept and prayed to live. Ionah cryes from the diſmall priſon not to die yet, but to bee forborne to a longer day. Theſe Sai… would not die then: they found ſome ſinnes yet burdening their conſciences, … ſcower off which they wiſhed the conveniencie of farther time.cIob. 10 20. Let mee alone, that I may take comfort a little, before I goe whence I ſhall not returne. It was a violent and ſwift departure which David and Iob deprecated: but alas, what doe you compare David and Iob to theſe men; meere dwarfes to theſe gyants? They have caſt up their accounts as well as Paul, and are every moment prepared; their reckoning is ever ready in their pockets: they know themſelves choſen, the ſpirit told them ſo, and then the elect cannot periſh.Rom. 8.38. It is true indeed, that not death amongſt the re…, death of what kind ſoever, lingring or ſuddaine, can ſeparate true beleevers from Chriſt: yet pardon me, if I be charitably jelous of ſuch preſumers of ſanctification. Do they never lie to their neighbour, never luſt after forbidden fleſh, never rankle anothers credit with malitious report, never pamper the grome with feeding, never covet peny of another mans, are they never puffed up with a ſelfe-opinion? Suppoſe God ſtrike thy proud heart in this act of ſinne, when thou haſt not ſo much leaſ… or ſenſe as to ſay, Lord have merciemercy on me; goes not thy ſoule then to the Iudgement ſeat without a prepared anſwere? We leave thy cenſure and ſentence to him that knowes thy heart: but though charitie hopes a merciemercy inter pontem et fontem; … ter actum culpae, et ictum paenae: yet be not angry with me for praying; God keepe my ſoule from ſuch a venture. There proceed from heaven lightnings, from ea… dampes, from the body palſies and apoplexies, from men thoſe murderous engines, piſtols and poinards: theſe make ſudden riddance, and allow not the leaſure and liberties of repentance.
Thinke ye ſecure wretches, that have promiſed your owne ſoules to repent when you are ſicke: alas, the leaſt of a thouſand things can kill you, and give you … leaſure to be ſicke. Loe now if there be any hope, it is the extraordinary merciemercy of God in Ieſus Chriſt. For us, vita eſt in indicium, mors eſt in judicium. We have charitie, God hath merciemercy.
To conclude, Deprecamur talem mortem, non damnamus taliter mortuum: we …ondemne not him that ſo dies, yet we pray againſt ſuch a death. We ſay of death, …s David of Abſalom; d2 Sam. 15.14.make ſpeed to depart, leſt he overtake us ſuddenly. Lord, ne…er let the ſin of our ſoules, and the end of our lives, come ſo neere together. Give …s grace to breake off our ſins by repentance, before thou breake off our lives by …eath let us have time to repent, grace to our time, thy merciemercy to both, and the me…its of our Saviour CHRIST to all: and then come Lord IESUS, come quickly. Oh it is ſwift when the prayers of our hearts ſhall uſher the journey of our ſoules: …hen our faith hath unlocked the gates of heaven, ready for our ſpirits to enter: when by our comfortable declarements, we have teſtified our aſſurance of bleſſed…eſſe; left the perfume of a good conſcience to ſweeten our death-beds; and our …ertues and graces, like fragrant flowers to ſticke round about our hearſe. When af…er a conſolating valediction to our mourning friends, we have commended our ſpi…ts into the hands of IESUS CHRIST. Let the confidence of others be as bold …s it pleaſeth; let my ſoule pray, and let them that love their ſoules joyne with me, …nd the God of merciemercy heare us all; From ſuddaine death good Lord deliver us, Amen.
6 Their judgement, and their damnation.] Obſerve, the proportion and aptation …f their puniſhment to their ſin. It holds in diverſe analogies. 1. They denyed the Lord …hat bought them, therefore the ſame Lord ſhall judge them. It is fit, ut quem fece…nt ſuum carnificem, inveniant ſuum judicem. They made the profeſſion of Chriſt colour for their bloudineſſe, and under the counterfeit ſeale of his name committed …utrages: now therefore the ſame injured King ſhall ſit upon them and condemne …hem. 2. They acted all their villanie in ſecret, therefore now it ſhall be laid open. …. The way of truth hath beene blaſphemed by them; therefore now it is fit that it be …lorified on them. 4. Before they ſold men in covetouſneſſe: therefore now they …all bee ſold themſelves in juſtice. GODS debts muſt bee payed: and they that …ade merchandiſe of others are fit to bee made merchandiſes themſelves. 5. Be…re they brought in the Hereſie of damnation: therefore now they ſhall ſuſtaine the …enaltie of damnation. 6. Before they did pull on themſelves deſtruction volunta…ly: therefore now muſt father the child of their owne begetting, and ſuffer deſtru…ion neceſſarily. 7. Their ſinne did haſten puniſhment, and make it ſwift: there…ore fit it ſhould no longer tarry; it lingers not. You ſee with what a pro…er analogie, their ſinning meetes with their ſuffering: and makes way for …is note.
God alwayes puniſheth De condigno, ſometimes De congruo. For the former, … the Schoole truely ſaies, that God rewardeth his elect Supra meritum, above their …eſerts: ſo it teacheth, that he puniſheth the reprobate citra condignum, ſhort of their …e-merits. But as he will requite any thing in merciemercy, that willeMatth. 10.42. recompence a cup …f cold water: ſo he will deny any thing in juſtice, that willfLuk. 16.24. deny a cup of cold wa…r. CHRISTS tribunall is ſaid to be agRev. 20.11. white throne; milke white, without any …rop of injuſtice to alter the colour, or ſtaine the ſeate. Morall men have com…ended Iuſtice: the Grecians placed her betweene Leo and Libra; courage and in…fferencie. The Egyptians in their hieroglyphickes had the figure of a man with…ut hands, winking with his eyes. And our embleme is as good as the reſt; as …e beſt: the picture of a man holding a balance in one hand, and a ſword in the o…er. By the balance intending judgement, and by the ſword due execution. The …lance puts no difference betweene gold and lead, but gives them equall or unequall …oiſe: not attributing more to the gold for the excellencie of the metall; nor leſſe … the lead for the droſſy baſeneſſe: but with an even hand waighes the poore mans …ſe with the rich. It is ſaid of the throne of Davids houſe, that it was placed in the …te of the Citie towards the Sunne riſing. In the gate, that all might have acceſſe … it, poore and rich: for all ſorts had egreſſe and regreſſe through the gate. To…ards the ſun riſing; to ſignifie that their judgements ſhould be as cleare from corruptions, and errors, as the Sun in his glorious brightneſſe. Now hee that calls upon magiſtrates to doe iuſtice, ſhall he not do it himſelfe?hGen. 18.25. Shall not the Iudge of all the world doe right? yes certainly; as he will crowne the faithfull with eternall glory above their deſerts, ſo he will lode the wicked with eternall torments according to their deſertsiPſal. 58.11. So that a man ſhall ſay, verily there is a reward for the righteous, verily he is a God that iudgeth in the earth.
For the other, as he will puniſh all ſinne in ſome kind, ſo he will puniſh ſo… ſinne in the owne kind. For it is juſt with him to recompence tribulation to them the trouble you, 2. Theſ. 1.6. With the froward he will ſhew himſelfe froward. Pſal. 18.26.kGen. 9.6. Who ſo ſheddeth mans blood, by man ſhall his blood be ſhed. But ſomtimes it is not ſo, but alwayes it ſhould be ſo, and certainly the magiſtrate that omits it, ſhall find his caſe like Ahabs; l1 King. 20.32.Thy life ſhall goe for his life. Mat. 26.52. They that take the ſword, ſhall periſh with the ſword: they that Take it, before it be given them by lawfull authority. His puniſhment is qualified to his ſin, that is made Gladio pe…, who did Gladio perimere. mProv. 21.13.He that ſtoppeth his eares at the crie of the poore, … crie himſelfe and not be heard. Qui non tribuit petenti, petet a non tribuente. nIam. 2.23.Iudgment without merciemercy ſhall be to him that ſhewes no merciemercy. Fruſtra quaerit e… ſe, quod noluit habere intraſe. In vaine he ſeekes merciemercy out of himſelfe, that had nowe within himſelfe, Eſa. 33.1. Woe to thee that ſpoileſt, for thou ſhalt bee ſpoiled. It is juſt that they who ruine others, ſhould bee ruined themſelves, Gal. 5.15. If yee but and devoure one another, take heed yee be not conſumed one of another. If the greater ſerpent devoures the leſſe, there is a dragon to devoure him. The fire of the Sodomites luſts flamed up to heaven, therefore heavens fire of wrath flamed downe upon them, Levit. 10.2. Nadab and Abihu offered ſtrange fire, and therefore they ſuffered ſtrange fire. Hoſ. 4.12. They have gone a whoring from their God, therefore their Daughters ſhall commit whoredome, and their ſpouſes adulterie. Spirituall fornication ſhall be puniſhed with corporall pollution. If we conſider that ſhop of pride, Eſa. 3. we ſhall find every ornament made an abhorment, ver. 24. In ſte… of ſweet ſmell, there ſhall be a ſtinke: for the girdle, a rent: for well ſet haire, baldneſſe. Obſerve how the particular plagues are proportioned to the nature of the particular ſins, Prov. 23.29. They loved the rednes of wine, they ſhall feele the redneſſe of eyes. Gen. 20.18. Doe they detaine Abrahams Wife? none of their wives ſhall be pregnant. This Iob acknowledged to be juſt: If mine heart have beene deceived by a woman, then let my Wife grind unto another, Wiſ. 11.15. Beaſts they worſhiped, and by beaſts they ſhall be devoured. That they might know wherewithall a man ſinneth, by the ſ…me he ſhall alſo be puniſhed, Exod. 19.24. Let not the people breake thorow unto the Lord, leſt the Lord breake forth upon them. Ionas croſt to the ſea, therefore he was loſt i… the ſea. He would needs to the water, he ſhall have water enough, Iudg. 8.16. Their fleſh was torne with briers and thornes, that were bryers and thornes to teare others. Rev. 16.6. They have ſhed the blood of thy Saints, and thou haſt given them bloud … drinke. as Tomyris gave Cyrus: to give one blood, is to put him to death, Ezek. 1…. I will cauſe thee to be ſlaine, as men are ſlaine in the burning rage of wrath and jelouſie, ver. 39. Thou didſt lay open thy nakedneſſe in ſin, I will therefore lay open thy nakedneſſe in ſhame. To allow the ſins of others, is to bee come guilty of … ſame ſins: as CHRIST condemned the living Iewes for killing of Zachary, wh… their anceſtors ſlew many ages before: becauſe they approved their courſes, and therefore juſtly inherited their fathers ſins and judgements, Mat. 23.
I might be endleſſe in the proſecution of this doctrine.oIer. 7.32. They ſhall bury i… P… phet, till there be no more place. In Tophet they had committed that monſtrous th… nation, burning their children in the fire to Moloch: in Tophet they ſhall find deſtruction. The Iewes report that in Tophet there was a deepe pit or ditch, called Os Inferni, never filled: in the pit that Caldeans threw their ſlaine bodies, Mat. 1….25. The Lord commanded him to be ſold, wife and children and all that he had. Perhaps he ſinned in his wife and children, therefore was puniſhed in his wife and children. He might turne his wife into an Idol, and ſet her in the place of God: hee might be indulgent to the vices of his children: therfore,pPſal. 109.9 Let his children be fatherleſſe, and his wife a widdow. How uſuall is it for men to obey the will of their wives before the will of God! How juſt is it with the Lord to ſuffer the wife ſo luxuriouſly allowed, to dote on adulterous mixtures: and for anothers ſak to break her faith with her husband who for her ſake had broke his faith with God! Why doth ſuch a man find fault? he doth by his ſervile affordments what he can to make his wife a harlot, and then complaines that ſhe is ſo. Immoderate dyet, inordinate will, immodeſt apparell, himſelfe proudly vouchſafes her: what are theſe but mid-wives to bring forth that ſhame, he is loth to heare of? what more uſuall than to buy places in reverſions, expectant on the lives of three, foure, ſixe, to be ſerved and expired, before theirs beare date? Therefore what more juſt, than to cut them ſhort, and extend the decaying termes of the other?qPſal. 109. Let his dayes be few, and another take his office. They have admitted invaſions upon their owne honeſtie, ſecretly to wiſh that the dayes of others might be few, that they might take their office. Therefore ſhall their owne dayes be few, and another take their office. The Proverbe fits them; hee that waites for dead mens ſhooes, ſhall goe bare-foote. The Rivers that Pharaoh bloudied with the ſlaine infants, are turned into blood: that hee might read the colour of his ſinne in the ſanguine waters. Thus murderous men, ſo prodigall in ſlucing out bloud, have beene affronted and affrighted with bloudy viſions. They thinke their eyes ſee nothing but bloud, their eares heare nothing but the ſound of bloud, all their meate taſts of bloud, their drinke hath a bloudy colour: the very wayes they travell are ſanguine, they dreame of nothing but bloud, till their heads, like Nero's, be ſoaked in bloud: Thou haſt thirſted for bloud, of bloud take thy fill. This ſufferance could not even David ſcape: his houſe was haunted with the ſword. Hee ſinned in a proud numbring of his people, therefore was puniſhed in ſhortning the number of his people.
Herodias daughter, that like a dancing whirlegig footed away the head of Iohn Baptiſt, was her ſelfe cut ſhorter by the head with yee. Ceſar had undone three and twenty countreyes, he dyed of three and twenty wounds. Creſus that loved gold inſatiately, had of gold his throate full. Aurum ſitiſti, aurum bibe. Many penurious fathers are ſo ſcraping for their children, that they raviſh the poore children of God:rN…h. 2 13. but the hand of the LORD ſhall be againſt their young Lions. They joyn houſe to houſe, and field to field:ſPſal. 109.10. but their children ſhall be vagabonds, and beg; ſeeking their bread out of their deſolate places. How many a covetous moale is now digging a houſe in the earth for his poſterity, and never dreames of this ſequele? That God ſhould make thoſe children beggars, for whoſe ſake the fathers have made ſo many beggars! This is a quittance which the Sire will not beleev, but as ſure as God is juſt the ſon ſhall feele. Now if he had but leave to come out of hell for an houre, and ſee this, how ſhould he curſe his follie? ſure if poſſible, it would double the paine of his infernall torture. Bee moderate then ye that ſo inſatiately devoure, as if you had an infinite capacitie: you overlode your ſtomachs, it is fit they ſhould be disburdened in ſhamefull ſpewing. How quickly doth a worldly minded man grow a defrauder, from a defrauder to an Vſurer, from an Vſurer to an oppreſſor, from an oppreſſor to an extortioner: if his eyes doe but tell his heart of a bootie, his heart will charge his hand, and he muſt have it, Mic. 2.2. They doe but aſpicere, concupiſcere, and arripere: ſee it, like it, and take it. Obſerve their due payment. Pſal. 109.11. Let the extortioner take all he hath: they got all by extortion, they ſhall …oſe all by extortion. They ſpoiled their neighbours, ſtrangers ſhall ſpoile them. How often hath the poore widdow and orphan cryed, wept, groned to them for …ercie, and found none! They have taught God how to deale with themſelves: Let there be none to extend merciemercy to them. tPſal. 109.12.They have advanced houſes for a memoriall, and dedicated lands to their owne names: Pſal. 49.11. All to get them a name, and even in this they ſhall be croſſed. Pſal. 109.13. In the next generation their name ſhall bee quite put out.
Our neighbours of Rome preſume that they have the keys of heaven and hell ſome they bring downe from heaven to hell, as they did that bleſſed Queene, Eliz… beth: others they lift up from hell to heaven, canonizing bloudy Traitours: they cenſure as they will, not as God will. But their puniſhment is fitted by CHRIST, Mat. 7.2. With what judgement ye judge, yee ſhall be judged. When they ſhall find that they have miſtaken the keyes, and learne what it is to condemne, by being condemned. Becauſe they have put away ſacred marriage, therefore they are given upon uncleane cloiſtures, ſtinking brothels, and preternaturall ſtewes.
Not to be favourable to our ſelves at home; what is the reaſon that this land … ſo defiled with bloud; and that (not feeling the ſword of an enemie) a man complainesuZ…ch. 13.6. I am wounded in the houſe of my friends? Nor is this alone in thoſe un… ly trialls of man-hood in the fields; but even in the ſtreetes, in the houſes: no place is ſafe, but a miſtaken word is requited with a ſtabbe or ſome mortall blow. And when this comes to be cenſured, it is found chance-medley, at worſt man-ſlaughter and that perhaps Se defendendo. Whereupon theſe homicides are ſo fleſhed with bloud, that they make no more to kill a man, than a flie. Oh they may mend, and become good Chriſtians, good ſubjects: but that ſin is rarely repented off. If he had beene cut off for the firſt murder, the ſecond man had beene alive. Why doe we preſume to coozen God by the warrant of Law, to purloine the maintenance of the Miniſter, and to put our ſelves in Gods place! What is this, but to point God the way to plague us, and to ſend upon us a famine of preaching, who have brought a famine upon the preachers? Is it not juſt with God to take away the Lampe from that nation, which hath taken away the holy oile that ſhould maintaine it? And Lord, that I might herein be a falſe Prophet! I feare that England ſhall want the Goſpell, when the Barbarians receive it: becauſe England had the Goſpell, and would not give a penny to keepe it. We hope this nation ſhall live to ſee the fall of Rome and Antichriſt, ſo we may, if our ſins, and among the reſt unthankfull ſacriledge, doe not firſt give Rome a triumph over us. Conſider how immediately upon this charge of rendring the Teacher his portion, the Holy Ghoſt inferres;xGal 6.7. … not deceived, God is not mocked: for whatſoever a man ſowes, the ſame ſhall he alſo reape. You may deceive your ſelves, you ſhall neuer mocke God: you ſhall drinke as you have brewed. Thus when we ſee ſurfets doe we not point at gluttonie precedent? when a body is drowned with a dropſy, doe we not ſay, there hath gone an in un… tion of drinke before? When that Neapolitane evill hath waſted the marrow, and rotted the fleſh; we know this fire was f…tched from the hearth of whoredome. The matter of ſinne is written with capitall letters in the puniſhment. God is juſt, he hath wayes enough to puniſh us, we have no way to eſcape him. If he doth not puniſh the adulterer with rottenneſſe in his bones, yet he can adde fire to fire; to the flame of luſt, the flame of hell. If the Vſurer eſcape bonds here: yet he that bound others above, may be bound himſelfe below. The litigious may get the better, untill God comes to enter his action againſt him. There is no evaſion but ſeaſonable repentance: let us puniſh our ſelves, that God be not put to doe it. Let us correct drunkenneſſe by abſtinence, pride by humility, covetouſneſſe by charity, crueltie by merciemercy, uncleanneſſe by chaſtitie, anger by patience, uſury by reſtitution. This is to take a congraous and proportionate vengeance on our ſelves, that God may ſpare us in the day of reckoning.
7 Damnation is principally taken for the cenſure or ſentence condemning: as the ſentence followes the triall, and the execution the ſentence: here it intends the extration of the Iudgement. But if damnation be meant for the execution, how doth it preceede the ſentence? Seeing it ſeemes very unjuſt to execute a man before his ju… gement; after that old ſcandall of the Stanneries Law; that hanged a man in the forenoone, and ſate in judgement on him in the afternoone. The day of judgement is the ſecond appearing of Chriſt: now for evill men to receive their damnation before hand, were to antedate the ſentence, and to execute perſons unjudged. It is eaſi…y anſwered; Every unbeleever muſt paſſe through two Iudgement dayes: a particu…ar, when his guilty ſoule leaves his unfortunate body: a generall, when both body and ſoule having beene co-inſtruments of ſinne, ſhall be made copartners in puniſhment. Hence the ſoule, as it hath beene the principall in offending, being that part of man wherein God hath placed naturall reaſon and knowledge of his will, ſhall be the firſt in ſuffering. Leaving the body a dead and inſenſible piece of earth, while her ſelfe growes under the burden of unſupportable torments alone, till the body comes …o ſuffer with it.
If it bee objected; what need any ſecond Iudgement, ſeeing the world ſtands wholly either of beleevers or unbeleevers? And the beleever.yIoh. 5.24. Shall not come into …ondemnation, but is already paſſed from death unto life. And the unbeleever is already condemned, Why then any further Iudgement? Yes, for though the beleever ſhall not come into the judgement of condemnation, yet he muſt alſo paſſe the judgement of abſolution: and as he is made juſt by Chriſt, ſo muſt he before all the world be pronounced. Vt juſtitia, qua juſtificatur coram Deo, ipſa juſtificetur coram mundo. The firſt juſtifies the perſon, the ſecond juſtifies Gods righteouſneſſe. So the unbeleever is condemned already in effect three wayes. 2. Propoſitor Dei; God did foreſee and fore… appoint his damnation, as it is the puniſhment of ſin, and execution of his Iuſtice. 2. Verbo Dei, by the word of God, which ſets downe his damnation, finding him in the number of thoſe to whom it is due, and out of Chriſt by whom alone he might eſcape it. 3. Testimonio conſcientiae, by the verdict of his owne conſcience; which doth ſo judge him here, as God will judge him heareafter: therefore it is called Vicede…us, a deputie God. But if their bee a precedent damnation upon the reprobates, why is it here ſaid, Their damnation haſtens? That cannot be called cloſely propinquant, nearely future, which is actually preſent, yea which hath beene before. If they were damned in the purpoſe of God for their ſinne, and are damned in the word of God judging ſinne, how are they ſaid to be hereafter damned, or, Their damnation lingers not? I anſwer; for their former damnation in the decree of God, they know …it not: for their preſent damnation in the word of God, they mind it not: and for the damnation of their owne conſcience, they feele it not. Therefore the execution of this ſhall fall upon them, and then they ſhall know it, mind it, feele it.
Thus death ſhall execute his office to kill their bodies, and hell his office to receive their ſoules, and the Devill his office to infflict torments; when God hath pronounced on them the particular ſentence of his Iuſtice. This damnation then is that fearfull puniſhment of ſin impoſed on reprobates: made up of an extremity, univerſality, and eternity of torments. So extreme that they refuſe addition, ſo univerſall that no part hath exemption, ſo everlaſting that they never admit concluſion. Their extremitiy is undefin'd, their univerſality unconfined, their eternity without hope of end.
But how doth this ſtand with the Iuſtice of God, for finite tranſgreſſion to give infinite deſtruction? Sins are the actions of time, done in a temporalitie, limited in a certaine ſpace. Now if the puniſhment be proportionate to the ſin, how can the one bee temporall, the other eternall: ſin tranſient, plague permament? I anſwer, this equitie and equality is obſervable in our civill punitions: the theefe diſpatcheth a robberie in halfe an houre; hee lyes many dayes in irons for this, and at laſt anſweres it with his necke. Adulterie is ſoone perpetrated, a long and infamous ſhame depends upon it. Treaſon may be a villanie of no length; yet the delinquent finds merciemercy if he but lie in priſon for it all his life, and loſe his poſſeſſions for ever. Hic non quaer…da temporis aequalitas, ſed expendenda ſceleris gravitas. A man quickly gives himſelfe a wound, but the Surgion cannot ſo quickly heale him. David was not long in killing Vriah with the ſword, yet did the ſword never depart from his houſe. A man commits murder but once, and it was ſoone done; yet hee is condemned to the perpetuall galleys. There was one ſicke 38 yeares, Ioh. 5.14. and Chriſt ſayes, this was becauſe of his ſin. Conſider ſome reaſons why their puniſhment is not leſſe than damnation eternall.
Reaſons why the puniſhments of reprobates are infinite.1 Becauſe their ſinnes are infinite in number. David propounds a Quoties, who can find a Toties for it? Pſal. 19.12. Who can tell how oft he offendeth? No man, The haires of a mans head may bee told: the ſtarres appeare in multitudes, yet ſome have undertaken to reckon them: but no Arithemticke can number our ſinne. Before we can recount a thouſand, we ſhall commit ten thouſand more; and fo… ther multiplie by Addition, than divide by Subtraction: there is no poſſibilitie of moderation. Like Hydra's head, while we are cutting off twentie by repentance, we find a hundred more growne up. It is juſt then that infinite ſorrowes ſhould follow infinite ſins.
2. Becauſe they are committed againſt an infinite Majeſtie. He that clippeth the Kings coine, or, defaceth the Kings armes; or, counterfeits the broad. Seale of England, or the privy. Seale, is adjudged to die as a Traitor: becauſe this fact offences diſgrace againſt the perſon of the King: much more doth he deſerve the ſecond death, that violates the Law of the King of Kings: ſeeing that breach doth not only tend to the defacing of his owne Image in us; but reflects upon the perſon of God himſelfe, who in every ſinne is contemned and diſhonoured.a1 Sam. 2.25. If one man ſin againſt another, the Iudge ſhall judge him: but if a man ſinne againſt the Lord, who ſhall … for him? compare Protafis with Apodoſis, ſequel with ſequele, the former with the latter, by the rules of oppoſition. What doth the former affirme? no more but a civill meditation for a temporall ſatisfaction. What doth the latter deny? a religious or divine interceſſion for eternall ſatisfaction. Sins receive their nature from their objects in a formall conſideration: to be plaine with all capacities, ſinnes take their nature from their aime. When the will from within ſhall give the King o… Arams charge;b1 King. 22. Fight neither againſt ſmall nor great, ſaving onelyonly againſt the King of Iſrael: this muſt needs be immediate treaſon. According to worth, Injur… patientis auget culpam facientis, Salvian. That ſinne is fowleſt, that ſtrikes at the faireſt. Therefore the ſin directed againſt an infinite Majeſtie, deſerves infinite penaltie. Aske a Recuſant what that ſervant merits, which like an Oneſimus, is a fugitive from his maſter. What will he ſay, but the whipping poſt, or, houſe of correction? But what deſerves he that changeth his God, his religion? yet there and be no whipping poſt for ſuch a renegade, no correction-houſe for him; whatſoever he condignely ſuffers, is held perſecution. Aske the ſacrilegious what ſhall be done, to him that ſteales; hang him, he cries. But what ſhall be done to him that robbes his God? here he can ſee no felonie: he ſhall feele it. Aske a man abuſed in his name whether he will ſend his reviler: he preſently curſeth him, as if he meant him to hell, but howſoever he will ſend him to the conſiſtorie. But whether ſhall he goe, that diſhonours the name of God? Doth that beare no action? no, curſing and ſwearing inferrs no defamation. Yes, hee is foreign,cTit. 3.11. damned of his owne ſelfe. If they could ſatisfie an infinite Iuſtice ſimul & ſemel, at once together; their plague, though it admits of no latitude or waight, being in univerſall extremitie; yet if ſhould have an end. But what to the uncapable ſubject is defective in place, muſt be made up in durance. He ſhall not come forth,dMatth. 5.26. till he hath paid the uttermoſt for thing. He might pay this at once if he had it: but becauſe non habet unde, he hath i… not; he muſt be paying it ſucceſsivè ſine fine, and anſwer it with his owne impriſonment for ever.
3 Becauſe they fruſtrate a price of redemption that is infinite. Did the Sonne of God accept their nature, ſhed his precious blood, and pay that infinite de… … Gods Iuſtice for all beleevers; and will they make voide to themſelves that would of unſpeakeable goodneſſe? He is worthy of eternall damnation, that deſpiſeth the redemption of him that is eternall. It is juſt with Chriſt to forſake them for ever that forſake him for ever.eHebr. 10.26. There remaines no more ſacrifice for them: therefore … Chriſt die againe, they muſt lie in hell, that is for ever. They that fall from everlaſting grace, juſtly meete with everlaſting wrath: from ſalvation eternall, to deſtruction eternall. Every drop of Chriſts blood doth ſave the beleeving ſoule for ever: if that ineſtimable treaſure be trode under foot, the ſoule is juſtly loſt for ever. Who pitties that mans death; who having the medicine by him which can helpe him, dies and will not take it? Serjeants are out to arreſt thee, the Law hath condemned thee; we may ſay of thee as of a ſentenced malefactor, mortuus in lege; thou art dead in Law: ſpeed then to Chriſt, if thou be taken before thou get to thy Suretie, thou wilt be laid up for ever.
4 Becauſe they are unthankfull for bleſſings and graces infinite. God give them life while they can live: if they be ingrate, he will give them death while they can die. His merciemercy ſtrove the utmoſt to make them bleſſed, his Iuſtice ſhall ſtrive the utmoſt to make them curſed. If any deliverance, preferment, or content come to an unthankfull perſon; let him know that it is but his impropriation; God will make him pay for it. Contribution of bleſſings requires retribution of thankes, or will bring diſtribution of plagues. We have many Adeodates, but returne few Deodates. God gives freely and continually, ſo let us praiſe him: voce & corde, with the voice and the heart: not the voice alone, for then the heart is tied; not the heart alone, for then weare tongue-tied. Continually; for if thou canſt find one houre wherein he doth not give thee ſomething; take that houre to returne him nothing. Yet is there thankes enough owing for the former: but there is no new houre which is not witneſſe of new benefites.fLam. 3.23. Thy mercies are new every morning. CHRIST hath bought us both in body and ſoule; we muſt glorifie him in both, or he will deſtroy us in both. He will be glorified either in our voluntary obedience, or neceſſary vengeance. Thus how eaſy is it for a reprobate to bring upon himſelfe damnation. The more God lodes him with benefites, the more he lodes himſelfe with accounts. Bee thankfull, this is the way to eaſe thy reckoning: flie to CHRIST, this is the way to get it quite taken off. As Alcibiades told the ſteward, when he complained of his trouble about making his accounts; that his care were better beſtowed, Quòd non reddat, quàm quod reddat, how to make no account at all, than how to make his accounts even. If our faith have gotten CHRIST to account for us, wee ſhall make no reckoning at all. Every benefite forgotten in preſent gratitude, muſt be remembred in future ſervitude. Thus he that receives infinite favours, and remaines unthankfull, deſerves infinite paines.
5 Becauſe they have omitted infinite duties: the houres that are not ſpent in obedience againſt ſin, are ſpent in ſin againſt obedience. Wicked men thinke they commit but a ſingle ſin, when indeed they alwayes double it. For in faciendo quod non debent, non faciunt quod debent: While they doe what they ſhould not, they leave undone what they ſhould, and ſo bind two ſins together. The Sabbath-ranger that is gone about the buſineſſe of the pot, thinkes he only offends in his exceſſe, forgets his not ſerving God at the Church. It is one ſin to be abſent from the houſe of God, though, he did not admit the other, to be preſent in the houſe of ſin. Doth the oppreſſor barely tranſgreſſe in wringing the poore? yea, at that very time he ſhould have relieved the poore. Thinke not thy houres waſt papers, to fill them up with nothing but blankes: as if God would take this for a good reckoning, When the booke of thy conſcience comes to be opened, all thoſe blankes are filled up with Indictments: and thou ſhalt find it a nequam, which thou thoughtſt a nequicquam. No greatneſſe of bloud can priviledge idleneſſe, no more than much money can juſtifie Vſurie. When God calls thee to account, Quare te non praebuiſti ſolertem? Why waſt thou not induſtrious? It will be no good anſwer; Quia tu me feciſti divitem; becauſe thou haſt made me rich. Now that theſe omiſſions deſerve eternall deſtruction, it is manifeſt, becauſe we are bound to the duties. Therefore in the forme of CHRISTS judiciall proceeding, the wicked are condemned for ſins of omiſſion, perpretrations not being ſpoken of, as if there were no queſtion of their guiltineſſe: to ſhew that their is damnation enough wrapped up in thoſe very omiſſions. Neither ſhall they be only puniſhed with the privation of all joyes and peace, and no further for then they were meere indifferences. But with the poſition of torments, to declare that good workes were impoſed; not voluntary, but neceſſary. Now if theſe be as innumerable as our waking minutes; how infinite muſt be the unrepentants deſtruction for them!
6 Becauſe ſin is infinite in their deſires, and the deſire of ſinning God judgeth ſin it ſelfe. As the deſire of grace is grace, and the deſire of repentance is one degree of repentance: ſo the concupiſcence of iniquity is the iniquitie.gMatth. 5.24. He that l…ſts after a woman, hath already committed adulterie with her in his heart. Optans, oper…: deſiderator, ſcortator. Now what is more inſatiate than the deſires of the wicked? They inlarge themſelves beyond all bounds, and are ſcarce limited with the world. How unſatisfied is the adulterers deſire! he goes from woman to woman, as the ſicke man from fountaine to fountaine, and none can quench his thirſt. For woman is not the bounds of luſt, but womankind. Loves number is no number, but one: he that erres from that, is inceſſant in concupiſcence; and if it were poſſible, would embrace all the beauties he ſees, in his luxuriant armes. Vice hath no meane, meaſure nor ceſſation; till it hath no being. One wife is the deſire of love, but luſt would have infinite. And though it be ſtraitned to enjoy but one at once: ye… it hath an infinite deſire to many; neither doth all the varietie of the earth change it: whenſoever his pleaſure is ſerved, hee is the ſame man he was before, and begins againe to deſire a freſh. For luſt is ſtill a beginning, and would more common be than any one, could it, as other ſins, be done alone. But age ceaſeth it, therefore not infinite: thenhEccl. 22.7. Deſire faileth? yet many in age though they cannot deſire, yet deſire to deſire. Now an infinite fire of luſt, muſt have an infinite fire of hell. What limits hath the ambitious deſire? what degrees of honour, though Phaeton like to for in the chariot of the Sun, would content him? Let him reduce all the kingdomes of the world to one monarchie, and poſſeſſe as much as ever the divell promiſed Chriſt: yet Aeſtuat infaelix anguſto limite mundi, he wants elbow-roome. He calls for more worlds, or, is angry that God made this no bigger: yea erects his ſtatute, and would be worſhipped as the Lord himſelfe. He thought the whole earth too little for him, and why ſhould God thinke the whole hell too much for him? The Angell that would have all the glory in heaven, is juſtly damned to all the paines i… hell. If thou be infinite in thy ſinning, why may not God be infinite in thy puniſhing.