Commentary on 2 Peter, Commentary on 2 Peter volume 1 · Chapter 2 · Verse 6

Commentary on 2 Peter · Commentary on 2 Peter volume 1 · Chapter 2 · Verse 6

p. 598VERSE 6. And turning the Cities of Sodome and Gomorrha into aſhes, and condemned them with an overthrow, making them an enſample unto thoſe that after ſhould live ungodly.

THis is the third inſtance of Gods ſeverity and merciemercy; ſeverity to the obſtinate, merciemercy to the penitent. Firſt, he confounded the Apoſtate Angels, and preſerved the obedient. Secondly, he drowned the ſecure world, and ſaved the faithfull Noah. Here he burned the ungodly Cities, and delivered the ju…t Lot. He begun with honour and ſublimitie, caſting downe Angels; to ſhew that no Celſitude can priviledge rebellion againſt his will. He went on with multitude and univerſalitie, drowning a whole world, to ſhew that no numbers, legions, or armies of ſinners can prevaile againſt his Iuſtice. He concludes with opulencie and worldly eſtate, in this overthrow of Sodome, to ſhew that no riches and proſperity ca… availe in the day of wrath.

Sodome was a ſecond Eden, the garden of the world yet he that for tranſgreſſion did throw Adam out of Paradiſe, did alſo for the ſame reaſon overthrow Sodome with all her pleaſures. There only eight were ſaved out of the whole world, and here are but halfe eight delivered from this ruine. And as one of thoſe eight was after curſed by his father, and became a precedent for all rebellious children: ſo one of theſe foure was puniſhed by the Father of all, and for her tergiverſation or retroſpection rather, was turned into a pillar of ſalt, and became a monument of Apoſtacie to all ſucceeding ages: this was Lots Wife.

Only this latter exceeded the former deſtruction in ſome things. 1. For generalitie, it was more univerſall and impartiall: eight there eſcaped, here but fou…. 2. In regard of the Inſtrument, that was by water, this by fire; an element of greater furie and torment. 3. For the ſuddaineſſe, the water drowned them by degrees, ſo that by the continued aſcending it might ſoften them to repentance. The fire conſumed all thoſe quickly, without giving them leaſure to thinke of their … ſave with a deſperate conſideration. 4. The water choked their corporall lives, and killed only that was mortall; there is hope that ſome of their ſoules eſcaped. … here the elementary fire ſent them to eternall fire; and their deſtruction was followed with damnation.

Two Principalls in the verſe.

The

Puniſhment, Turning the Cities, &c.

Monument, made them an enſample.

p. 599The puniſhment is deſcribed by three termes, which are

Burning.

Overthrowing.

Condemning.

…ome would have them all ſignifie one thing, as if they were diverſe characters of …he ſame deſtruction; but this doth not ſufficiently honour the pen of the HOLY GHOST. We may better reſolve it thus; referring the burning to the vaſtation of …heir cities, the overthrowing to the ſpilling of their lives, and the condemning to the …erdition of their ſoules. Their cities were burned, their bodies ſubverted, their ſoules …ndemned. Wherein the Lord, like ſome angry warriour, not only contents him…elfe to ranſake the houſes of their goods, but fires their Cities: nor is ſo pacified, …ut puts all to the ſword; as Saul had a charge for Amalek; aa1 Sam. 15.3.1 Sam 15:3Vtterly deſtroy all they …ve, ſlay man and woman, infant and beaſt. Yea, he goes further than any mortall …onqueror; for they can puniſh but temporally and corporally; but the Lord eter…ally;bbIud. ver. 7. They ſuffer the vengeance of eternall fire.

The Monument hath two things

In it

What; an enſample

To whom, To thoſe, &c.

…o that if we avoid their ſins, we ſhall eſcape their plagues. Here are various obſer…ations deducible.

Firſt, the number of the Cities; but two are mentioned in the Text, but cer…inely moe were involved in the ruine.ccGen. 19.25.Gen 19:25 All the plaine; likely that more cities on that …laine than two. It was a great circuite of ground, as appeareth by the dead ſea there, …hich Ioſephus, who was brought up in the countrey, gives to bee threeſcore and …elve miles in length, and nineteene miles broad. The number of them is moſt like …o be foure, ſo many rehearſed by Moſes; ddDeut. 29.23.Deut 29:23Sodome, Gomorrha, Admah, and Zebo…. But it is objected,eeWiſ. 20.6. That the fire fell downe upon the five Cities: therefore five…ome thinke that Zoar alſo periſhed, though for a time it was preſerved by the inter…ſſion of Lot. But this ſuppoſition is falſe, for it was knowen by the name of Zo… inffEſa. 15.3.Isa 15:3 Eſay's time; His fugitives ſhall flee unto Zoar. Before it was called Bela, now … Lot changed the name, ſo God changed the condition; little in quantitie, great in …e favour of merciemercy. And for that of the Five cities, the word is Pentapolis, that … the place where thoſe five Cities ſtood. Two more cities periſhed, but Sodome …d Gomorrha are only mentioned, becauſe they were the capitall cities, and metro…lies both in the ſin and puniſhment. Where obſerve,

The force of example prevaileth ſtrongly to produce the likeneſſe of manners. …acile tranſitur ad majores, ad plures. The authoritie of greatneſſe doth often cor…pt the integrity of goodneſſe. The bad conditions of popular perſons are like Ia…s ſpeckled rods, which make the ſheepe, the beaſts of the people, bring forth the …e parti-coloured actions. The ill cuſtome of an eminent place is drawen up like …me peſtilent exhalation, and corrupteth the aire round about. The proverbe ſpeaks … bad cuſtomes, bad opinions, and bad ſervants; that they are better to hang then … hold. If Ieroboam worſhip calves, how eaſily will moſt Iſraelites become ſuch …aſts! We may ſay of an exemplary ſin, as Ioab of Rabba, it will be called after …e founders owne name. A ſtone throwen into the water, makes of it ſelfe but one …cle, but that one beges a hundred. Though few men will confeſſe their ſins, yet …ny mens ſins will confeſſe their Maſters. To beget a precedent of vice, is like the …ting a mans owne houſe on fire: it burnes many of his neighbours, and he ſhall …ſwere for all the ruines. A ſicke head makes a diſordered body, a blind eye endan…s all the members. A rulers unrighteouſneſſe, like the late blaſing ſtar; it hath …ong taile, drawes a traine of miſchiefes after it, and is ominous to the whole land. …hereas pietie in a P…ince, like Aarons ointment, runs downe to the skirts of his gar…nts, bleſſeth all his ſubjects.

An exemplary offender, is like a malicious man ſicke of the plague, that runnes p. 600into the throng to diſperſe his infection. Vrbis ad exemplum, &c. Sodomes filthineſſe is not confined at home, but runnes like Nilus, over all the Plaine; not a village but glories in the imitation. When a publike perſon is tempted to ſinne, hee ſhould anſwer as Nehemiah, when he was tempted to flee:ggNeh. 6.11.Neh 6:11 Should ſuch a man … I flie? Should ſuch a man as I thus groſſely offend? To ſinne before the face of God, is to diſhonour him; but withall to ſin before the face of men, is doubly to diſhon… him. Many an Iſraelite committed fornication, and yet upon repentance got pardon but Zimri, that would wilfully do it in the face of God and man, was ſure to peri… This aggravated Davids errour, that it made the enemies of God to blaſpheme.

Such a bitter roote ſhall anſwer for it ſelfe, and for all the corrupt branches: … ſin that is done abroad, ceaſeth to be ſingle: it is many ſinnes in one. Let us therefore give good example: when Chriſt told that noble petitioner,hhIoh. 5.50.John 5:50 Thy ſonne liveth; … the firſt hearing he beleeved: but when he came home, and weighed the matter; … onelyonly himſelfe, but by his meanes, the whole houſhold beleeved. And for thoſe th… take advantage to ſin by precedent; Tutum eſt peccare authoribus illis; let this be their terror. Other Cities followed Sodomes luſt, and they were all conſumed wi… Sodomes fire. It is a common plea, our fathers did thus before us, and the whole world doth thus about us. But what comfort is it, to fulfill the meaſure of o… forefathers, or to periſh with our neighbours. The high Prieſts ſervants can make Peter deny his Maſter. Quantò caleſcebat igne Sacerdotali, tantò frigeſcebat amore Divino. Let Corah kindle a fire of conſpiracie, two hundred fifty Captaines will bri… wood to encreaſe it. A lewd man drawes vengeance on others, by the puniſhme… of his ſin, or by the inf…ction of it.

Secondly the matter: they were Cities, not Hamlets or Villages, but pop…l… and walled Cities. Famous Cities, not leſſe than kingdomes:iiGen. 14.8.13.10.Gen 14:8Gen 14:13Gen 14:10 The kingdome of Sodome, &c. Fruitfull Cities, as the Garden of God: Cities lent to men, but better beſeeming the Majeſtie of God: ſo glorious that they tempted a Saint. Lot ſeeing th… goodly plaines of Iordane, the commodious ſprings, delightfull rivers, richneſſe … the ſoile, ſituation of the townes: without enquiring further, is in love with … dome. Obſerve,

1. That the ſtrongeſt Cities are not ſhot-proofe againſt the arrowes of God but even things ordained for refuge, are by his juſtice made deſtructive. There is … thing peaceable, where God is an enemie. The wind is a meteor whereby in ſo… ſort we live, a fanne in the Lords hand to purge the aire: yet how often doth … make it carry infection on the wings, and ruine buildings with violence: Child… are comfortable fruites; yet was David ſcourged, and Senacherib butchered, by th… owne bowels. Sampſon is betrayed by the wife of his boſome: and the Iſraelites … of quailes provided for their ſuſtenance. In vaine we build, unleſſe the Lord lay … firſt ſtone: or plant, unleſſe he ſay, let it grow. Bleſſed is the CitiekkPſal. 147.13.Ps 147:13 whoſe … God barreth up with his power, and openeth againe with his m…rcy. There is … thing can defend where his juſtice will ſtrike; and there is nothing can offend, … his goodneſſe will preſerve.

2 Sinne can bring downe the moſt magnifique Cities, and lay them eve… … the ground. Can Sodomes pompe of ſtate, confluence of pleaſures, abundan… riches,llNah. 3.8.Nah 3:8 pride of inhabitants, ſecure her life? It was Gods challenge to Nini… Art thou better than No? Let it be a challenge to London, Art thou richer th… … dome? It is written of Tyrus, that hermmEſa. 23.7.Isa 23:7 Merchants were Princes, and her trafiq… the Honourable men of the earth; yet God makes diſport at her overthrow; B… that glorious Citie, &c. Babylon, a little world in it ſelfe; Ieruſalem, the pride of … whole earth; both found wickedneſſe to undoe their compoſition. Rome, ſtiled … Eternall Citie, ſhall feele the immortality of her ſoule, ſupremacie over Kings; … den under feete. Greatneſſe of ſinne will ſhake the foundation of the greateſt … ties, though their heads ſtood among the clouds, and lay their honour in the …

3 None of theſe wicked Cities eſcaped: Strabo thinkes that ſome fled … p. 601but Gen. 19.25. Men, women, children, houſes, plants, monuments, all that grew on the earth, were deſtroyed. And who will wonder that their ungodlineſſe brought deſtruction upon the harmeleſſe creatures; that conſiders, how we nocent wretches cauſed innocence it ſelfe to be crucified for us? not onelyonly were the plants and herbs ſmitten for the time, but curſed into everlaſtingnnPſal. 107.34. See Eſa. 34.9. and Wiſ. 10.7. Ioſeph.Ps 107:34Isa 34:9Wis 10:7 Barrenneſſe. There now runnes the ſalt and dead ſea, whoſe bitterneſſe is ſuch, that no fiſh can live in it. Ariſtotle. Other that have viewed the Countrey affirme, that no graſſe groweth there, and that it ſtill ſmoketh: that the fruit appeareth faire; but within, it is nothing but embers and rottenneſſe. Inſomuch, that the Proverbe makes a Sodome apple, the embleme of an Hypocrite. So univerſall was their corruption, that ſome thinke they brought up their children to their owne beaſtly conditions, Gen. 19.4. Young and old, a concourſe of all the Citie. With fury, envie, and luſt provoked, they dare attempt that in troupes, which to act ſingle had beene too deteſtable: to imagine, unnaturall. Continuance in evill makes wicked men worſe; but company in evill, worſt of all.

Therefore God deſtroyed them all; the communitie of their ſin preceded the univerſalitie of their ruine. H…re is the difference betwixt Gods people, and Idolaters; the latter are deſtroyed utterly; but of his Church the Lord alwaies leaves a number; ſome ſeeds to encreaſe his harveſt.ooEſa. 1.9.Isa 1:9 Except the Lord had left us a ſeed, we ſhould have beene as Sodome, and like unto Gomorrha. In this we ſhall not be like Sodome; which is our ſpeciall comfort: though this whole land grone under ſinnes, and all the foundations be out of courſe: yet there are ſome that feare God in ſincerity of heart, and CHRIST hath his number of Elect among us. And ſo long as that number remaines, we ſhall not be made as Sodome, the matter of fire, and brimſtone; a ſtinke to our neighbours about us, and a ſcorne to all ſucceeding generations. But diſclaime we our own merites, and honour the true cauſe of all our happineſſe; the merciemercy of God,ppLam. 3.22.Lam 3:22 whoſe compaſsions faile not.

5 Great is the danger of living in opulent and delightfull places. That Sodome abounded with all varietie of pleaſures, it is plaine: being watered with the river Iordan, as Paradiſe with Euphrates, and Aegypt with Nilus: Yea, Aegypt was watered with more difficultie; asqqDeut. 11.10.Deut 11:10 appeares. Iordan was the nobleſt of all rivers, riſing out of two fountaines; Ior, and Dan: from both the heads, united in the valley, it was called Iordan. It was famous for foure occaſions. 1. For the paſſing of therrIoſh. 4.18.Josh 4:18 Iſraeli…es over it, the waters being miraculouſly divided: and a monument ſet up in the middeſt of it. 2. For the parting of the ſtreame againe byſſ2 King. ….14. Eliſha, after that Elias was by the ſame river taken up in a fiery Chariot. 3. For the healing oftt2 Ki…g. 5.12. Naaman the Syrian of his Leproſie: he thought as well of Abanah and Pharphar; but the Lord was with Iordan. 4.uuMatth. 3.13.Matt 3:13 For the baptiſing of our bleſſed Saviour above all other waters he ſeemed to honour Iordan.

This noble river ſerving ſo ignoble a countrey, made it fruitfull; that Lots heart was fixed on it. Outward appearances are deceitefull guides, and it is no hard thing for the affection to coozen the Iudgement. He is worthy to be deceived, that values things as they ſeeme. He payes deare for his raſhneſſe: warre ſpoileth Sodome, and Lot is taken priſoner with all his ſubſtance. Now that Abraham, whom he forſooke, muſt reſcue him: and that wealth which made him leave his Vncle, is become a prey to mercileſſe heathens. The place which his eye covetouſly choſe, betrayes his life and goods: how eaſie is it for men, while they looke at gaine, to loſe themſelves.

Such was the richneſſe of Sodome, full of magnificent building, gardens, vineyards, paſtures; a concurrence of all earthly commodities; therefore the more likely to run into all licentiouſneſſe. The people of Laiſh, becauſe they wanted nothing, would havexxIudg. 18.7.Judg 18:7 buſineſſe with no man. Where is no want, is much wantonneſſe: and to be rich intemporalls, haſtens povertie in ſpiritualls. What ſhould humble them, that doe not find themſelves to ſtand in need of God? Cyrus would not ſuffer p. 602his Perſians to change a barren ſoile for a fruitfull: becauſe dainty habitations make dainty inhabitants. If we conſider Sibaris, and Campania, the ſtore-houſe of Rome, Sicilie; the Stove of luxurie, Capua: where can we looke, that the rankeneſſe of the ſoile hath not betrayed it ſelfe in the rankeneſſe of ſin? Men have naturall inclinations according to the Genius of their countrey: and it is rare to find Gods pietie, where is Gods plentie. In a ſcantneſſe, the things themſelves doe ſti… and reſtraine our appetites: but where is abundance, and the meaſure is left to our owne diſcretion, our diſcretion is too often deceived.aaEſa. 28.1.Isa 28:1 The valley of them that bee f…, and overcome with wine. They that live in fat valleys, are ſoone overcome with wi…e. To apply it.

Ilands are the richeſt ſoiles, therefore Ilanders are held the moſt riotous people. We lie at the dugs of a moſt fruitfull mother, repoſe our ſelves in her indulgent boſome: we live in as dangerous a place for proſperity as Sodome: and as the fatteſt earth is moſt ſlippery for footing, we had need of ſpeciall grace at every turne, and urgent cauſe to pray for that grace, that in the midſt of all abundance we may not want temperance.bbProv. 39.8. Agurs prayer is no Paradoxe; Give me neither povertie, … riches: both extremes are dangerous, but the greater perill is in the exceſſe, than defect. Let us pray with Saint Paul, that we may know how to want: but eſpecially that we may know how to be full and abound in all things. The Prayers of our Church have it, let our underſtandings marke it, and our hearts implore it, And time of our wealth good Lord deliver us. When God himſelfe tells us, how hard it is to bee made happy, by being made wealthy; and we ſee by experience, how common a precipice it is to deſtruction; we find cauſe to redouble that petition, In al… time of our wealth good Lord deliver us.

The pride of apparell, exceſſe of cheare, and ſuperabundance of ebrietie, agre civitatis indicia, Sen.are the effects of an opulent kingdome. Have we not ſeene that make artificiall conveyances of ſinne to poſterity, that labour to purchaſe vice a perpetuitie, that have leaſure to ſtudy arguments for the Iuſtification of evill? Thrice happy he that can be chaſt in Sodome, that can be temperate in England. Thus high are we growen in proſperity and iniquity; Summiſque negatum eſt ſtare diu. Let us all look backe upon Sodome: me thinkes we ſhould rather wiſh to learne at the charges and by the ſtripes of others, than that the Doctrin of deſtruction ſhould come to our owne doores. We ſee great Cities, mighty kingdomes, and the faireſt flowers of all hiſtories, trampled under foote: they ſhould learne us to beware. Peace we have, and the God of peace continue it, to his glory and our good: the bees may hive themſelves in our helmets, and our horſes of warre have little uſe, ſave to draw our Co… ches up and downe the ſtreets. It is the eye-ſore of our enemies, and let envy looke her ſelfe blind. Yet let not all this ſecure us, leſt we be forced unto that forlorne crie; O that our feare had looked forward to the prevention, before our ſorro… conſtraines us to looke backward upon this deſolation. Let repentance cure our ſins, and procure merciemercy to our ſoules, and bring us to that citie above; where i… plentie of riches, plentie of honours, plentie of pleaſures, plentie of knowledge, love, joy; plentie of all bleſſings, without all abuſe of plentie.

5 We are ſent to the Author of this dire overthrow, the Lord: He turned, the Cities, &c.ccGen. 19.14.Gen 19:14 The Lord rained fire and brimſtone from the Lord out of heaven. It is not enough to ſay, the Lord rained from himſelfe: nor doth it only ſignifie a miraculous raine, beſide the courſe of nature: but well have the Fathers urged this place to prove the Eternitie of CHRIST; to whom the Father hath committed … Iudgement: the LORD CHRIST did raine, from IEHOVAH the LORD his Father.

Thoſe wonderfull events, which the ignorant aſcribe to fortune, the Atheiſt to nature, the ſuperſtitious to their Idols, the polititian to his plots, the proud to his o… power, too many to ſecond cauſes: in all theſe the ſervants of God looke higher, reſolving all ſuch effects to their firſt principle; Digitus Dei. The fame of Alexander, p. 603the renowne of Caeſar, have beene much applauded for their victorious triumphs: Vlyſſes for policie, Hector for valour. The beſt of them have their matches in the Booke of God. Ioſhua fought as magnanimouſly, as ſucceſſefully; yet (when he had conquered five Kings and kingdomes) the glory is the Lords,ddIoſh. 10.42.Josh 10:42 God fought for Iſrael. The Ethiopian army was a thouſand thouſand; Aſa vanquiſhed them: yet ſaid,ee2 Chro. 14.12.2 Chr 14:12 The Lord ſmote the Ethiopians. Chuſai was politicke, and taught the Traitor a tricke to overthrow himſelfe: yet is it ſaid,ff2 Sam. 17.14.2 Sam 17:14 The Lord deſtroied the counſell of Achitophel. Salomon was magnified for his wiſedome; yet in that admirable proofe, the deriſion betwixt the two harlots; it is calledgg1 King. 3.28.1 Kgs 3:28 the Wiſedome of God. It will ſuffer no glory to cleave unto earthen veſſels: let the principall and firſt mover have it; The Lord did it.

hhPſal. 9.16.Ps 9:16The Lord is knowen by executing Iudgement; upon Sodome and all the world. If Pharaoh will not know him at Moſe's mouth, he ſhall feele him to his coſt in the bottome of the Sea. If Herod will not know to honour him, he ſhall be loathed of his flatterers: they ran to him as a deitie, they ſhall run from him as carrion. If Sodome will not know God by Lots preaching, they ſhall know him by the fire about their eares. God is knowen by his Iudgements: his almightineſſe is knowen by the creation, his merciemercy by our redemption, his wiſedome and goodneſſe by the worlds conſervation: ſo his Iuſtice is knowen by the wickeds deſtruction.

That this is the Lords doing appeares, in that he ſpares others that have beene as guilty: for his merciemercy every where matcheth his Iuſtice. He confounded Sodome yet he hath converted many as wicked as they: his free grace hath brought thoſe to heaven, who have deſerved as deepe a place in hell. Manaſſeth broke his covenant with God, yet his repentance found merciemercy. As therefore we ſhould feare to ſinne, leſt we periſh as Sodome: ſo turne we to God in hope of ſavour, for he hath ſpared ſome as ſinfull as Sodome.iiEſa. 1.10. ver. 18.Isa 1:10 Heare the word yee Princes of Sodome, and people of Gomorrah. They are compared to Sodome, yet merciemercy is offered, if it be penitenly and faithfully accepted.

6 Laſtly, yet more to juſtifie this Iudgement of God, that is, to make it appeare juſt; as ſinfull as Sodome was yet the Lord deſtroyed it not without premonition. Firſt, hee ſent among them a bloudy warre; which, whom it left not dead on the earth, it tooke alive into bondage. Here was one warning: yet in how few yeares hath Sodome forgot that ſhe was ſpoiled and led captive? Had ſhe beene warmed by the ſword, ſhe had eſcaped the fire. Yet did not that ill ſucceſſe either make Lot leave Sodome, or Sodome leave ſin: he ſtill loves his commoditie, and ſhe her impietie. Wicked men grow worſe after afflictions, as water growes more cold after a heate.

This was not all, but according to the ſtintleſſe viciſſitude of their ſins, God followes them with a ſucceſſion of plagues. Yet after all theſe warnings, they become worſe; ſo bad, that there were not ten good men to be found in five cities. This heape muſt needs be fit for the fire, that was all chaffe. Beſides, God is ſaid tokkGen. 18.21.Gen 18:21 Come downe from heaven about this examination. Which is a figurative ſpeech; for he that filleth all things, neither goeth nor commeth: and he that knoweth all things, needs not inquire. But to ſhew that hee does not proceed in the extremity of Iuſtice, without ſuch a precedent ſcrutiny as may leave them without excuſe.

Lot continually preached to them, by his perſwaſion to holyneſſe, by his regu…ar and exemplary life: here was ſtill further warning. He had fire in his tongue, but they had a ſea of water in their hearts to quench it. His converſation was as great a vexation to them, as theirs was to him. He reproved them the very night before their ruine: but ſuch as be bent upon villanie, are more exaſperated by diſſwaſions: …ike violent ſtreames that, when they are reſiſted by floud-gates, ſwell over the bankes. Not being able to reclaime the multitude, he ſingles out ſome: and when the reſt of the night was ſhort an… dangerous; he being ſought for by the Sodomites, and newly puld in by the Angels: yet he ventures abroad to ſeeke his Sons in p. 604aw. They were but betrothed to his daughters, yet ſuch was his charity, that he hazards his owne ſafety to preſerve theirs: faith would never be ſaved alone, but win all ſhe can. He did admoniſh them like a Prophet, and adviſe them like a father; but both in vaine. He ſeemed to them as one that mocked, and they did more than ſeeme to mocke him againe. Why ſhould to morrow differ from other dayes? Who ever ſaw it raine fire? No Almanacke ever ſpake of ſuch weather. Or how ſhould brimſtone be ingendred, or exhaled into the aire? The clouds are bottels of waters, not of flames. Or if ſuch a ſhower ſhould fall, why muſt it not burne all the earth, as well as the valley? Why not as univerſall as was the deluge? Or grant it doe come, yet it cannot be ſo ſuddaine, but we ſhall have time to call for mercy: it will be as long a diſpatching us, as the flood was a drowning them. Thus carnall men count preaching fooliſhneſſe, devotion idleneſſe, and Prophets mad men. Certainly theſe mens unbeleefe was as worthy of the fire, as the others uncleanneſſe: hee that beleeveth not, is already condemned.

Laſtly, in the attempt of that horrid impiety, the AngelsllGen. 19.11.Gen 19:11 ſmote them with blindneſſe: now this being ſo miraculous and immediate a worke, might have warned them enough, that the buſineſſe they undertooke was damnable. They ſmote not the Medium, which was the aire: nor the object, which was the doore: but their ſight with ſuch a blindneſſe, that they could not diſcerne one thing from another. As the Aramites, that they could not deſcry the Prophet, nor the way, nor the Citie. Both their outward and inward diſcerning faculty was dazeled. Yet doth not this ſenſible warning better them: they go groping up and downe the ſtreets, curſing thoſe men whom they could not find: and yet they bethinke not themſelves, that vengeance muſt needs be neere them. All this while Lot and the Angels be in light, and ſee them ſtumbling, and foreſee them burning. God firſt ſtroke them with blindneſſe, whom he will after conſume with fire: it is his uſe to beſot them he meanes to deſtroy. This darkneſſe was a forerunner of eternall darkneſſe, as the next mornings flame was an enterance to their ever-burning fire in hell.

Let this teach us to admire Gods patience, that will not deſtroy a Sodom without ſome warning and forbearance. If we wormes and duſt ſhould be ſo uſed of men, as God is uſed of us, we ſhould quickly ſhew our corrupted ſtomachs. We have vengeance in our will, but not in our power: God hath vengeance in his power, but forbeares it in his will. We are commanded while we breath, to pray the Lords prayer; Forgive us our treſpaſſes: which teacheth us that there is mercy in God without wearineſſe. Sodome cracked the earth with the weight of her ſins, and made the aire ſtinke with her loathſomenes; yet the Lord was long-patient. And will that God be furious and haſty againſt that ſoule that groones, weepes, bleeds for her offences? If it were not for this, how could we ſcape being ſacrificed to deſtruction, to expiate his Iuſtice?

God chargeth Iſrael, that they had ſeene his glory, yetmmNum. 24.22.Num 24:22 Provoked him ten times. nnLuk. 13.34.Luke 13:34How often would I have gathered you! his mercies exceed all numeration. We have beene aooIer. 31.31.Jer 31:31 Provocation to him ever ſince we were made, as Ieruſalem was ever ſince it was built. But though the LORD be pleaſed at ſome times, and to ſome ſinners, … enlarge his patience; let not us be bold to enlarge our diſobedience. He puniſhed the Angels in heaven for one fault, Achan for one ſacriledge, Miriam for one ſlander, Moſes for one unbeleefe, Ananias for one lie: he may be as quicke againſt our offences. How often ſoever he knockes, our ſafeſt courſe is to riſe at the firſt call. Many are prevented by his Iuſtice, their ſpirits departing from them, as Iacob from Laban, or Iſrael from the Aegyptians, without taking leave, carrying away their Iewels and deareſt treaſures. Let us feare the price of angring ſo dreadfull a Majeſty, and abuſing ſo rich a patience: he now lookes for our fruite, or we muſt looke for his fire.

Next, be we taught here to take the hint of Gods warning; and not to let hi… that is the breath of the Father and the Sonne, ſpend his breath upon us in vaine. p. 605He deales with ſinners, as David with Saul: who tooke away his ſpeare, and his waterpot, and ſomtimes a piece of his cloake; as it were ſnatches and remembrances, to let us underſtand that we are in his hands, and if we take not warning, he will further puniſh us. We call, and he heares: we aske, and he grants: we knocke, and he opens: cannot all this prevaile with us to deale ſo with him? Which of us can ſay, he hath not beene warned? It is Gods charge to his Prophets;ppMat. 21.5.Matt 21:5 Tell my people; Diximus, we have told them:qqEſa. 58.1.Isa 58:1 We have ſhewed his people their tranſgreſsions, and the houſe of Iacob their ſins. Hath death given us no warning, did we never find ſtitch and convulſion? did the head never ake? the ſtomach never refuſe nouriſhment? All theſe are warnings of death, as death is a citation to Iudgement.

There is ſcarce any thing in the world, but it may ſerve for a monitor to us: as the meſſengers of Iob came one after another, to informe him of his unhappineſſe; every one ſaying, Ego ſolus aufugi, I alone am eſcaped: to what purpoſe? To tell thee; Some of the Iewes are delivered from that raging deſtruction: to what end?rrEzek. 12.16.Ezek 12:16 To declare their abominations among the heathen, that they may know the Lord. But many are like the Sodomites, hardned by the warnings of God. Inſtead of embracing the counſell, they rage at the counceller. But when men are growne to that paſſe, that they are not better by afflictions, yea worſe with admonitions, God finds it high time to ſtrike. Now they have done ſinning, God begins to plague. Wickedneſſe hath but a time, the puniſhment of wickedneſſe is beyond all time. Even the good Angels ſhall be the executioners of this judgment; and having firſt delivered Lot in Sodome, then from Sodome, they let drive at Sodome. There cannot be a more noble art, than to do Iuſtice upon obſtinate malefactors. God doth not often puniſh for impurity, but impenitency.

Thus farre we have walked in generalls, ſuch uſefull obſervations as the ſtory affords us: now to the particulars wherein conſider principally two things; the meaſure, and the manner. The meaſure was a totall ruine, the manner, by fire. Frſt for the meaſure.

Overthrew them.] It was a plenary and univerſall deſtruction. Their outward happineſſe was ſo great, that like rotten fruite they could no longer cleave to the tree. It is ſaid of the wicked,ſſPſal. 73.5.Ps 73:5 They come in no misfortune like other men. No misfortune? now therefore all at once. It is not good to be too happy for this world: there is danger in being without dangers. The very heathen were loth to ſurfet on pleaſures, and tooke it an introduction to further miſchiefes. When Philip heard that his Army had got the conqueſt, that his Son Alexander was borne, and that his Chariots wonne the prize at Olympus, all in one day; he called on fortune to ſpice his joyes with a little bitterneſſe, leſt hee ſhould forget himſelfe. The Aegyptian King bleſt himſelfe from Policrates, becauſe he was over-fortunate: when he would …ry an experiment in deſpight of fortune, throwing a rich jewell into the ſea, and finding it at his houſe in the bowels of a fiſh. It was a heathen curſe, to wiſh all good …ucke to their very enemies. It is not good for a man to engroſſe proſperity, leſt like … waſted candle, Extremum occupet fumus, faetor, & caligo. Belſhazzar had no …ooner drunke his voluptuous health in the Cup of the Temple, but a new Cup was …eached unto him, the Cup of vengeance, and he muſt drinke off that too.

Here was a ſuddaine alteration: this houre a land flowing withall delights and …iches; whitherſoever they looke, beholding nothing but pleaſures; and a few …inutes have determined all this. Now nothing is viſible but ruine, not a houſe, …ot a tree, not a plant, not a pile of graſſe ſtanding: ſmoke and ſulphur, and ſtench …nd barrenneſſe poſſeſſing all the Plaine. When Amalek was deſtroyed, the trees …ood: when Iericho was burnt, the gold was preſerved: though the foundations of …roy cannot be ſeene, yet graſſe growes in the ſtreets. But heere, ſilver and gold, …lants and trees, graſſe and beaſts, houſes and monuments, all conſumed. This is ſuch … overthrow, as the like never went before it, nor ſhall ever any match come after it; …t that one univerſall combuſtion of heaven and earth. Therefore the Scripture, p. 606when it ſpeakes of an utterttAm. 4.11.Amos 4:11 Overthrow, points at Sodome. She might have endured many plagues, yet ſtill ſtood upon her foundations: but this is ſuch a ruine as admits of no reparation. Such a one, as Sodome did only beare it, and may it pleaſe God that none but Sodome may ever feele it.

Condemned them.] The ſpoiling of their houſes was much: yet had only their cities beene demoliſhed, they might have built others, or lived in caves, or fled into forraine countreyes. The ſpoile of their goods was more: yet graſſe that is trod… downe, may grow againe: the world hath more wealth. The maiming of their limmes had beene greater: yet life is ſweet, and their coaches, and couches, and c… ches, artificiall legges; and hoſpitalls, charitie is not quite dead. The killing of their bodies, and conſuming their lives, yet neerer: the merchant will loſe his proviſion, loſe his wards, loſe his veſſell, to ſave his life. Yet if life be loſt, is there not a day of reviving? Let death crumble the body to duſt, ſhall not the reſurrection reſtore it whole? Or if they muſt periſh, yet let it not be by fire, the extremeſt of all torments. But what if fire turne the body to aſhes, may not the ſoule aſcend the heavens, and live in peace? O but what ranſome ſhall a man give for his ſoule? D… navit, he condemned them; this the moſt inſuppportable burden.

To turne ſuch goodly buildings into aſhes, will not this ſatisfie his Iuſtice? To ſlay the beaſts, wither the plants: not this? To ſluce out the blouds and lives of ſo many thouſands; mothers having no leaſure to cry for their infants, becauſe it is their owne turnes to ſuffer: not all this? No, the ſoule muſt anſwere for the ſoules offenſes; He condemned them. The traveller yields to the theefe; take my purſe, my horſe, my garments; only ſpare my life. And man beſeecheth God; take goods, and pleaſures, and honours, and libertie, and life; only ſpare my ſoule; let not that be a prey to Satan. Miſerable wretches! if they knew the worth of their ſoules, they would beſpeake deſtruction, as the King of Sodome did Abraham; uuGen. 14.21.Gen 14:21Da nobis animas … ſtras; Give us our ſoules, take all the reſt. Let us ſave our houſes, if we can, and ſave our goods, and ſave our lives: but howſoever, let us ſave our ſoules, though we loſe houſes and goods and lives.

All was ſharpe enough, but as our Saviour ſaid to the man ſicke eight and thirty yeares (a long and hopeleſſe torment)xxIoh. 5.14.John 5:14 Sinne no more leſt a worſe thing happen … thee: there is a worſe behind: all extremities are light and ſlight to Condemnation. Innumerable are the curſes of God againſt ſinners: but the laſt is the worſt, comprehending and tranſcending all the reſt; Damnavit; a Condemning ſentence. The Sodomites felt a diſmall Iudgement; fire and brimſtone ſcalding their blouds to death: but what a ſlight ſpark doe they Iudge it to that they now feele in the fornace of hell. This is the Lords finall ſword, when all his rods be worne out, and the wicked … the better. A ſmart blow comes, and the ſinner is ſenſible, cryes out for caſe, and hath it granted: now he thinkes this puniſhment hath pacified Gods wrath, and … hath payed his owne debt. Another Iudgement comes, and he beares it with imp… tient ſorrow, humbles himſelfe, like Ahab: that once removed he hopes now God hath done with him. A third ſucceeds, now he grumbles under the load, thi… that God doth him wrong; that he takes more than he ſhould, and plagues him beyond his deſert. But all this doth not better him: at laſt the Lord comes with… Damnavit; Condemneth him: and then if all his riches, all his pleaſures, the obl… on of his ſon for his ſin, the racking of his joynts, tearing of his fleſh, the b… of his body for the ranſome of his ſoule, could ſerve, he would make a joyfull … der of them all: but then they will not bee accepted. If any thing but d… tion could excuſe the reprobates, their condition were not ſo fearefull: … this Deſcendere ad infernum, condemning to hell, is the perfection of all … chedneſſe.

Let us prevent Gods Iuſtice, by doing to our ſelves what he threatens to doe … to ſinners. Let us overthrow our ſins, that he may not overthrow our houſes: … demne our ſelves, that he may not condemne our ſoules: turne our iniquities to … p. 607that his fire may ſpare our Cities. As Niniveh by taking to heart the meſſage of …eir overthrow, did overthrow the meſſage. Their walls and buildings ſtood, by …ting their tranſgreſſions fall. They turned to deprecation and repentance, and …od turned to commiſeration and forbearance. The ſubverſion was threatned, the …nverſion effected. Thus let us ſave God a labour, that when he comes to correct … he may find it done to his hand. Let us be ſelfe-afflicters, as we have beene ſelfe-…pters: and ſet repentance to doe what God threatneth. Have we ſinned in intem…rance, let us puniſh our ſelves with abſtinence: then God will not inflict on us fa…ne. If in uncleanneſſe, chaſtiſe we the fleſh by contrition, and clenſe it with reſo…ion againſt all unchaſtitie: ſo may we eſcape the diſeaſes both of body and con…ence. Let us breake off our covetice by merciemercy to the poore: ſo in ſtead of being …poveriſhed on earth, we ſhall find riches in heaven. If in anger, let us returne to …tience: ſo when the Lord comes in anger againſt us, we ſhall move him to be pati…t toward us. If in pride, come we downe to humility: when he lookes to find us …the chaire of preſumption, let him ſee us in the humble duſt: then inſtead of cal…ng us downe to hell, he will lift us up to heaven. Thus with the fire of grace from …ods Altar, let us conſume our naturall, unnaturall corruptions; that the fire of …ngeance may never touch our houſes, nor bodyes, nor ſoules. Lord, overthrow …r ſinnes, and let our ſelves ſtand: teach us to condemne our errors, that thou …ayeſt never Condemne us. That ſo ſerving thee with pureneſſe of heart, wee …ay bee brought to the brightneſſe of thy glory, through the greatneſſe of thy …ercie.

Turning the Cities into aſhes.] I come to the manner of their deſtruction, which …as by fire: wherein conſider foure circumſtances. The ſtrangeneſſe, the ſharpe…eſſe, the ſuddenneſſe, the deſtructiveneſſe.

1 The ſtrangeneſſe; it was a miraculous raine; brimſtone mingled with the …re, as a fit matter to diſperſe it: and, it is very likely, ſalt too:aaDeut. 29.23.Deut 29:23 It ſhall burne with …rimſtone and ſalt. Yea, and that water was powred downe alſo, from which was …athered the dead ſea remaining to this day. This Raine came from Heaven, the up…er region of the aire, the place for fiery meteors. And haply the nature of the …oile being full of pitch, ſlime, and other combuſtible matter, did much encreaſe …he burning.bbGen. 14.10.Gen 14:10 The vale of Siddim was full of ſlime pits, and the Kings of Sodome and Gomorrha fell there. This was ſtrange indeed, that fire and brimſtone, the materialls …f hell, ſhould come downe from heaven: or that flouds of water ſhould grapple with ſtreames of fire: and that all, as water does ſet lime a burning, ſhould helpe ra…her to enflame.ccPſal. 11.6.Ps 11:6 VponUpon the wicked ſhall the Lord raine fire and brimſtone, and ſtormy …empeſt. That brimſtone, a minerall of the earth, ſhould be found in the aire, draw…n up by an extraordinary exhalation, to be ſent downe after an unexampled confu…ion! But this was the Lords doing, and it is marvellous to our thoughts.

2 The ſharpeneſſe. It is ſaid of fire, that it is the beſt friend, the worſt enemie: no element is more noble when it is our friend, none more terrible when our foe. God himſelfe is a conſuming fire: and he maketh his Angels a flame of fire. As the fire lies hid in the hard flint, ſo God is in every thing: it is quicke and ſhining, like the Trinitie. Fire conſumeth wood, and purgeth gold: ſo doth the Lords grace con…ume our creature, and refine his owne creature. We deſire not to be too farre off from the fire, leſt we be too cold: nor too neere, leſt it burne us. If we be too farre off from God by our Apoſtacie, we ſoone periſh with cold death. If we dare come …oo neere him him by our preſumption, we are ſwallowed up with his infinite and inacceſſible glory.

There was Ignis ſacer in the Temple: that holy fire went out in the captivitie: but ſome of the Iewes ſay, it was hid in a pit. The Holy Ghoſt came downe upon the Apoſtles in the ſhape of fire. The fire concurres to the generation of things with the other elements, yet is it ſelfe child-leſſe, it hath no fruit of his owne. So p. 608doth the Spirit worke with the other Perſons in our Redemption, yet hath no p… ſon Proceeding from him.

Thus excellent is fire while at peace with us: it heates, purges, enlightens, c… ſumes: ſo doth grace heate our hearts, enlighten our minds, purge our affecti… conſume our corruptions. But when it is at warre with us, the rage is terrible things moſt beneficiall in their uſe, are moſt peſtilent in their enmitie. The… graue to ſwallow Corah, water to drowne the old world, a ſword to fall upon … a plague to ſlay Iſrael, a ſcourge for the backe of fooles; but nothing ſo ſharpe … fire? The heathen have worſhipped it for a god: for which choice being repu… they demanded any thing that could overcome fire, and they would adore that. … Image was made by a cunning Artiſt, the ſubſtance whereof was clay, full of … which were ſo done up with ſome liquid matter that they were not ſeene. The … vincible God of fire was put under this Image; which quickly hardned the … and was put out by the melting liquor. But here was a ſtupid ignorance, to ſlip o… … one Idolatrie to another: and inſtead of a naturall element, to give over themſ… to an artificiall Idole. Fire hath over-maſtred ſtronger Images than ever … made of clay, and left their ruines ſhamefull reproches to all their ſuperſtitio… Idolaters.

There is no element in the extremeſt fury more afflictive to the ſenſe, … fire. Water doth only drowne, and ſoone choake the breath by ſtopping the … ſages of reſpiration: ſo Pharaohs deſtruction was in this reſpect farre ſhort of Sodomes. The aire doth only ſtiffle the ſpirits, and by infecting the bloud, do… … more than a pleuriſie or plague, diſpatching if not with like ſpeed, yet with leſſe … ture: thus the Iſraelites in the plaines of Midian, ſped not ſo ill as the Sodomites i… the plaine of Iordan. The ſwallowing earth that opens her jawes with a quaking m… tion, devoures men alive, but it ſoone with a falling cloſure makes them dead: … Corah and his confederates ſuffered eaſier than Sodome and her inhabitants. But … killeth not only with the reſt, but tormenteth above them all: ſcorching the limbes puckering the skinne, enflaming the bloud, enraging the ſenſe, torturing the whol… man. The ſword is a ſharpe executioner, armed with hoſtilitie, it hath unpriſon… millions of ſoules. The teeth of wild beaſts roaring for their prey, are mercileſſe, as the enemies of Daniel felt. The neereſt of all plagues that comes to the torme… of fire, is famine: and the very anguiſh of famine ends in a kind of fire: when for want of vivid moiſture the radicall heate is inflamed, and burnes up the vitall ſpirits. Gunpowder,Novemb. 5. the moſt damnable minerall that ever hell begat, or Rome made uſe o… (for thoſe worſhippers of the Succeſſor of Saint Peter found much emploiment fo… ſalt-peter) yet can doe nothing without fire: it is but a ſpeeding meſſenger that f… ſendeth.

All manner of deaths murders have in them ſome more merciemercy, or at leaſt le… crueltie, than his fiery maſſacres. It is reſerved in humane Iuſtice for the moſt horrible offenders; murderers, witches, denyers of CHRIST, Atheiſts; of which laſt number we have too many, but that the cunning Devill dares not be ſo bold … to profeſſe it. But there is another fire for them, which ſhall quickly burne out Atheiſme; for they ſhall feele eternally that there is a God; and their flame muſt be ſo much the hotter, becauſe they would not beleeve in their offered Saviour. Thi… is the incomparable torture of fire ſo powerfull, that no other element ſhall have the honour of purging heaven and earth, but fire: none able to burne this univerſall machine but fire. None other ordained to be the ſpeciall matter of the reproba…s torment in hell, but fire: whether in figure to ſhadow, or in realitie to performe, the extremeſt tortures, fire muſt doe it. That hath the moſt ſearching propertie, and can onelyonly refine what is ſubſtantially good, and conſume what is quali…ively evill.

Beſide all theſe expreſſions comparatively, the ſharpeneſſe of this puniſhment by fire, is aggravated by three gradations.

p. 6091 By the quality; it was not onelyonly fire, but a deluge of fire.ddGen. 19.24.Gen 19:24 The Lord rained fire: not ſprinkled by drops, like a gentle ſhower, but Rained, as it were whole ſheets of fire, the flaſhes of lightning are nothing to it; but flakes and ſtreames of fire; The higheſt gave his thunder, haileſtones and flames of fire. Not a little kindled, as fire in a houſe, that gathers force by degrees, and from ſmall ſparkes riſeth to a violent cumbuſtion; but the very beginning was a raine of fire. They had rained on the earth great cataracts of ſins, and heaven rained on them great catacliſmes of flames.

2 By their indiſpoſedneſſe to beare it; men quite deſtitute of the grace of God, …nd forfeited to all diſcomfort. Fleſh and blood, in either valour or deſperateneſſe, …ave endured many ſtrange torments in this world; lancings, ſearings, rackings, all …o protract a miſerable life. Divers martyrs have leap'd into their beds of flames, as …eds of downes. But the ſenſe of the torment hath been qualified by Gods aſſiſtance …nd their patience. But he that could cooleeeDan. 3.27.Dan 3:27 the burning fornace by the will of his mercy, did inflame this fire by the breath of his fury. There was fire for doing well, here is fire for doing ill. There was the fire of man againſt the love of God, heare …he fire of God againſt the luſt of man. There was grace to allay it, here was ſin …o enrage it. The puniſhment was the more ſenſible, as the patients were more …enſuall.

3 By the addition and mixture of it: not fire alone, but fire mingled with Brim…tone; a matter fit not to allay it, but encreaſe it. Extendit, non extenuat flammam …ulphur. The perplexing properties of Brimstone are three: to burne darkely, ſharpe…y, loathſomely. Darkely to grieve the ſight, ſharpely to afflict the ſenſe, loathſomly …o offend the ſmell. The Scripture, to deſcribe the extreme tortures of fire, addes often Brimstone. ffEſa. 30.33.Isa 30:33Fire and much wood, Ezek. 38.22. Pſal. 11.6. Rev. 19.20.Ezek 38:22Ps 11:6Rev 19:20and the breath of the Lord like a river of brim…tone to kindle it. Where is both a Proſopopoia in the Breath, and a Topographia in the Brimſtone: both figures to expreſſe the furious indignation of the Author, and fierce …everity of the Act. For the Allegory of Breath, to denote the rage of Saul againſt …he lambes of Chriſt, he is ſaid toggAct. 9.1.Acts 9:1 Breath out ſlaughter. To ſignify the Lords wrath …gainſt ſinners, he is ſaid to breath out fire. For Brimſtone, it makes fire more terrible; darkening the ſplendor of it to the ſight, ſharpening the ferve… of it to the ſenſe, and …ugmenting the ſtench of it to the ſmell.

This diſcovers to us the nature of ſin, how ſtinking and loathſome it is to God, …hat burning Brimſtone is not more offenſive to us. Fatidius Deo peccatum, quàm …omini ſterquilinium. No perfumes are more pleaſant to the ſinner, no dunghills more noiſome to the Lord. Abſalom thought his pride ſweete, Zimri his adultery, Nabal his wealth ſweet: the uſurers gold, the laſcivious mans harlot, the defrauders …gaine; all fragrant ſmells to them; becauſe they breath no other aire but ſuch peſti…ent corruptions. And the very ſent of goodneſſe would ſet them hard, as fen-men …re ſicke with a ſubtle aire, or the ſoile-man ſwooned when he paſſed through Buck…ersbury. But if their hearts were unſtop'd, and clear'd from the cold and congeald …atarres of ſin, they would be ſenſible of the ſtench; and there is no worke of dark…eſſe but they would ſmell Brimſtone in it. Our bleſſed Saviour feedeth among the …ilies, lodgeth in the beds of ſpices, the ſweet graces of his Church: let not us like Dor…es, love the dunghills: or like Scarabees, paſſe over all beauties, to light upon ſores …nd ulcers. O that we could but diſcerne ſin as it is in it ſelfe: how ſhould we then …ate our luſts, our lies, our oathes, our covetous deſires and practiſes; ſmelling the …inke of Brimstone in them all! Indeed we are all unſavowry of our ſelves, odious …o that God, who hath pure eyes and pure noſtrills: onelyonly our hope and comfort …s, to be ſweetnedhhEph. 5.2.Eph 5:2 with the perfume of Ieſus Chriſt.

3 The Suddenneſſe; the fire was not long a diſpatching them: but as it fell be…ore their expectation, ſo it deſtroyed them before their recollection. When the …un did riſe, then began the raine to fall; now this was juſt atiiGen. 19.15.23.Gen 19:15Gen 19:23 Lots entring into Zoar: …t breake of day he went out of Sodome, at ſunne-riſing he came into Zoar: betweene which ſpaces a man may goe foure miles, ſay the Hebrewes. NowkkGen. 19.27.Gen 19:27 Abraham roſe p. 610up early in the morning, yet he ſaw not the falling of the fire, but the riſing up of the ſmoke onelyonly. This muſt needs be done ſuddenly: in all likelyhood, leſſe than halfe an houre determined all the glory of Sodome. The Prophet ſayes, In a moment:llLam. 4.6.Lam 4:6 Sodome was deſtroyed in a moment. Why then ſhould not men beleeve the ſame power of the laſt fire to conſume the world, and our changing even in a moment?mm1 Cor. 15.521 Cor 15:52 In a moment, in the twinckling of an eye, at the laſt trumpet. That fire gave the Sodomites no time of remembrance, nor ſhall the laſt fire give the world any time of repentance. Vita brevis, & ipſa brevitas incerta: that may come ſuddenly, which wee know will come certainely. Wee have no more Patent of forbearance th… had Sodome: it is ſaid of the wicked, In momento ad infernum, In a moment they goe downe to hell. Death doth not alwaies creepe upon a man by degrees, likennEzek. 47.3.Ezek 47:3 Ezekiels waters; from the ancles to the knees, from the knees to the loynes, and ſo … the heart: but ſwallowes ſome ere they can ſwallow their ſpittle.ooIam. 5.9.Jas 5:9 The Iudge ſtandeth before the doore. Would the theefe breake into the houſe, if he knew the Iudge ſtood at the doore? We may ſay of our ſinning and dying, as Phyſitians of their criticall dayes; the firſt is Index, the ſecond Index. Our ſins ſhewes we ſhall die, our death judgeth us for our ſinne. But betwixt both theſe there is Me…, remedium, a gracious helpe, the intervention of our ſeaſonable amendment, and applying the ſatisfaction of Ieſus Chriſt.

4 The deſtructiveneſſe; Turned them to aſhes. It is a fearfull degree in puniſhment, in cineres redigi, to be reduced to aſhes. God went farre with Iſrael, wh… they were Titio ereptus, ppAm. 4.11.Amos 4:11a brand ſnatched out of the burning. He proceeded further, when he ſet the whole Forreſt of his people on fire; yet ſtil a remnant was preſerved, ſome did eſcape, even thorow the fire. The Prophet by theqqEzek. 37.Ezek 37 Dry bones, ſhadowes out a deſperate eſtate. A man is ſicke, there is danger: panting for life, great feare: dead, no hope: buried, deſpaire: the fleſh conſumed, nothing but bones l…ft, here is the utmoſt extent, ſaving onelyonly his wholly mouldring to aſhes. rrIob. 14.7.Job 14:7There is hope of a tree if it be cut downe, that it will yet ſprought againe: but cut downe, caſt into the fire, and converted to aſhes, no hope.

Yet is this the end of all fleſh: the innumerable army of Xerxes, all become aſ…es. Herod that was honoured as a god by men, was proved to be a man by wormes; turned to aſhes. The Roman Palace, the Spaniſh Eſcuriall, all the glorious Cities and buildings of the earth, ſhall meet in this cataſtrophe; bee turned to aſhes. Salomon from his royalty, Achitophel from his policy, Caeſar from his monarchy, Plato from his Philoſophy, even Moſes from his humility; all good men from their ſanctity, all bad men from their impietie, muſt deſcend to make aſhes. Death is that impartiall metamorphoſer, that turneth all ſecular glory into aſhes. Where are they that credits this Temple wherein we pray, that built thoſe houſes wherin we dwell, that founded the Citie wherein we live, that begun thoſe ſocieties whereof we are? ye know, all turned to aſhes. Not turned to birds and beaſts, as the Poets fain'd, much leſſe to ſtars; neither to plants nor planets; leaſt of all to celeſtiall Angels, but to duſt and aſhes.

There is difference of eſtates while we live; Cinerum ſub pulvere nulla. Yee … gods; there he conſidered their pompe and dignity: but yee ſhall die like men, there …e minds their end, that with the change of his note, they might alſo change co… nance. He tells them their honour, but withall their lot. In power, wealth, tra…e, titles, friends, they differ from others: in death they differ not from others. They are cold when winter comes, witherd with age, weake with ſickeneſſe, and melt away with death, as the meaneſt: all to aſhes, ſſ1 Pet. 1.24.1 Pet 1:24All fleſh is graſſe, and the glory of m… as the flower: the glory, that is the beſt of it, but a flower. No great difference, the flower ſhewes fairer, the graſſe ſtands longer, one ſithe cuts downe both. Beaſts f… and leane fed in ſeverall paſture, kild in one ſlaughter. The Prince in his lofty palace, the beggar in his humble cottage, have double difference; locall and ceremoni… height and lowneſſe: yet meet at the grave, and be mingled in aſhes. We walke i… this world, as a man in a field of ſnow: all the way appeares ſmooth, yet cannot …e p. 611be ſure of any ſtep. All are like actors on a ſtage, ſome have one part and ſome ano…er, death is ſtill buſie amongſt us: here drops one of the Players, we bury him …th ſorrow, and to our ſcene againe: then falls another, yea all, one after another, … death be left alone upon the ſtage. Death is that dampe, which puts out all the …mme lights of vanitie. Yet man is eaſier to beleeve that all the world ſhall die, …n to ſuſpect himſelfe. Though we be older than thoſe we follow to the grave, yet …l we hope for a longer reprieve. If any thing could have hired death to ſpare, …r fore-fathers would have kept our poſſeſſions from us. But aſhes muſt to aſhes: …ſt was our compoſition, and to duſt muſt be our diſſolution: only we looke for a …ter reſurrection.

From all this obſerve the fit proportion of the puniſhment to the ſin. They …ich burned with the fire of luſt, are conſumed with the fire of vengeance. They …ned againſt the rule of nature, and they periſh againſt the courſe of nature. They …d conjured up hell to earth; and God ſent hell out of heaven. For their unnatu…l luſt, unnaturall fire: there is a loathſome ſtench in their wickedneſſe, and there …s the ſtinke of brimſtone in their confuſion. Such is the Iuſtice of God, not onelyonly … ſtrike for offending: but alſo the wiſedome of God to ſtrike according to the man…r of offending.ttPſal. 9.16.Ps 9:16 The Lord is knowen by executing Iudgement: makinguuPſal. 73.15.Ps 73:15 Their ſword …er into their owne heart. The Gibbet which Haman built for Mordecai, ſhall hang …mſelfe. Pharaoh made away the Hebrew males, and was requited with the death … his firſt borne. Herod ſlew the infants of Bethlem, and was puniſhed by the …rder of his owne children. Hildebrand ſuborned a villaine with a great ſtone on …e Churches roofe, to braine Fredericke the Emperor doing his devotions after his …onted manner: and the ſame Traitor tumbled downe, and was quaſhed in pieces …th the ſame ſtone. Thus was Alexander the ſixt poyſoned with the ſame liquor …ich he had ordained to make away ſome of his Cardinalls. Three of thoſe fie… conſpirators were maimed and disfigured, by the fiering of powder at Holbecke … Worceſter ſhire; who had meant by powder to blow up a whole State. Let all …eſe examples terrifie the wicked: God will meet with them in their owne kinds, …d fill them a cup with their owne tempering. As their tongues have walked a…inſt heaven, ſo they ſhall be confined to hell: Propter ſolutas linguas, they ſhall …ve Catenatos pedes. For drunkenneſſe, want of a drop of water: for covetouſneſſe, …erlaſting povertie of comfort.

Two things are yet further to be looked into. 1. how the Iuſtice of God may … juſtified in this univerſall confuſion of the Sodomites. 2. what was the utmoſt …ent, or what followed the ruine.

For the former; it is the Atheiſts exception againſt the Iuſtice of God, that he …founded the innocent with the guilty. The men indeed were given over to licenit…ſneſſe, but no ſuch thing is teſtified of the women: and if the women were alſo ſin…, yet the infants were not capable nor culpable of ſuch faults. For anſwere, firſt let …hold this undenyable Tenent; The judgements of God are often ſecret, alwaies juſt … will ſhew merciemercy to whom he will, and he does us undeſerved favour. He will execute …gement on whom he will, and he does us no wrong. That he ſaves any, the cauſe …n himſelfe: that he condemnes many, the cauſe is in them.

God is abſolute Lord over all his creatures: and as it was his only pleaſure to …e life, ſo alſo to take it away. Neither are we more to demand a reaſon of the …ter, than we are able to conceive a reaſon of the former. Whether he gives, or …akes, ſtill bleſſed be the Name of the Lord.

Children are parts of their Parents, and therefore may bee juſtly infolded in …ir fathers puniſhments. They are guilty of originall ſin, a filthyneſſe that they …ve by propagation from their parents: for their ſoules were infected, ſo ſoone as …r they were infuſed. Before the Iuſtice of God there are none innocent. They …t have ſinned from their parents, may juſtly bee inrolled with their parents. …ough they be not guilty of their fathers actualls, yet they have by nature ſo much p. 612corruption, as may deſerve ſharpe correction. How frequently hath God chaſtiſed the children for the fathers offences. Davids child begotten in adultery muſt diexxIoh 9.2.John 9:2 Who did ſinne, this man, or his parents, that he was borne blind? This the Apoſtl… could eaſily ſee,Chryſ. howſoever they undeſcreetly asked: Quia antequam naſceretur, p… care non potuit ut cacus naſceretur. aaEzek. 18.20.Ezek 18:20But the Sonne ſhall not beare the iniquity of the Father; a good ſonne ſhall not anſwere for a bad father. But the child is a ſinner, … parvulus unius diei: and when it hath the fathers ſin with the owne it is puniſhed … the owne ſin, not for the fathers.

Thus doe many children ſuffer for their parents beeing conceived in offence, and deriving their diſeaſes from their birth: there is Morbus haereditarius, as Phyſicians ſpeake.bbIob 14.4.Job 14:4 Who can bring a cleane thing out of an uncleane? Both the trees and fruite were corrupt, the ſpring and chanels uncleane, therefore involved in one ge… rall ruine. So fully did the Iuſtice of God triumph over them, that he left none … maining; but even the very ſeed and off-ſpring of the Sodomites periſhed.ccEſa. 1.9.Isa 1:9 Vnleſſe the Lord had left us a remnant, wee had beene as Sodome? they had no rem… left. The very little ones infected with their parents ſins, were wrappd up in their parents flames.

Nor only fell thoſe Sodomites for the preſent but for ever; ſuffering the v… geance of eternall fire. A Iudgement ſo fearefull and ſingular, that it is able to ſtrike a horror into our hearts with the very thought. This God did. 1. To ſhew hi… perfect deteſtation of that wicked people; ſo apoſtate from all goodneſſe, that their very ſeed was accurſed. Becauſe the fathers blaſpheme againſt heaven, the childr… goe to hell. 2. To encreaſe their ſorrow and torment in ſeeing the deſtruction of their children: for if nature were not quite extinct, and they had but as much affection as beaſts to their young; it muſt needs wound their hearts to ſee the lamentable ruine of their children. Who can heare the confuſed cry of ſo many Infants, and not cry for company? to ſee their tender and ungrowen limbes wrapp'd up in ſt…s of fire, as ſwath-bands: the ſhrinking of their ſoft nerves at every pull of griefe their fleſh ſcorched like a ſcrole of parchment; ſprawling on the ground, and rock'd a ſleepe with dire deſtruction; would melt a heart of Adamant.

God himſelfe, at other times, had a ſpeciall regard to Infants: excepting only ſome places that were execrable in his ſight,ddDeut. 20 17.Deut 20:17 as Iericho, eeoſh. 6.21.Edom, andffPſal. 147.9.Ps 147:9 Babylon, and here Sodome. Now the ſight of ſuch a Iudgement among the little ones, that knew not the right hand from the left, that cleaved to their mothers breſts, as apples … the tree; to be ſnatched away with death, and death in the frightfulleſt viſage, b… ning and tormenting death: this did aggravate their plague, and it had beene much eaſier for them to have ſuffered alone. There is nothing more naturall to us, tha… … love our children; thoſe living monuments of our ſelves, that piece out morta… with ſucceſſion, continue our names and Images upon the earth. Theſe if we … affect with our loves, let us not infect with our lives: let us hate our ſins, leſt th… alſo periſh with our ſelves. Why ſhould we deſtroy thoſe, whom we have in a … ner made? we brought them into the world with paine, up in the world with c… let us not ſend them out of the world with ſorrow. Repentance and amendme… … life helpe us to prevent ſuch an unhappineſſe; that wee may neither ſmart f… the wickedneſſe of our forefathers, nor make our children everlaſtingly ſma… us. Let us obey our Father in heaven, that hee may bleſſe our children up… earth.

For the other conſideration; the extremitie of their puniſhment was not … temporall death, but everlaſting torment:ggIud. ver. 7. Eternall fire. Their preſent fire … not buy out the future. Run they into the fields, it raines fire: into the houſes, … flame with fire: into holes and caves, all places burne with brimſtone. Miſe… men, whether they fly or ſtay, ſtruggle or lie ſtill, fire poſſeſſeth them. Sc… ſulphure, and burning ſtench, univerſally racking them. Yet is not all this enou… purge out their corrupption, but a worſe torment ſucceeds, and the judgement … p. 613earth doth but deliver them over to the condemnation of hell: which continually burnes their ſoules, and ſhall never turne them to aſhes; a fire neither tolerable nor …erminable. The breath of the Lord, like a river of brimſtone doth inflame it, and the breath of ten thouſand reprobates ſhall never be able to blow it out. When a drop of water ſhall be allowed, to coole the tongue that boiles with unſufferable flames. Where heat doth follow ſmoke, and fire heat, and ſtench fire, and torment ſtench, and burning ſhall be added to burning. Thus are they caſt into utter darkeneſſe, where neither light of Sun nor Moone, much leſſe the light of heaven, and Gods glorious face ſhall ever appeare. Where their eyes muſt diſtill like fountaines, and their teeth clatter like armed men.

Theſe are thoſe fearefull vialls of wrath, when God gives bloud to drinke unto them that boile with heate. Who can expreſſe their horrors, nay what horrors cannot they expreſſe? Sorrowes are met on their ſoules as at a feaſt: feare, deſpaire, and anguiſh leape upon their hearts as a Stag, and the furies of hell divide their ſpirits among them. Torment calls to deſperation, horror to paine, come and helpe us to torture theſe wretches. Luſt ſends one plague, and pride another, and covetouſneſſe a third; till they run thorow a thouſand deaths, and yet cannot die. All their …ights are put out at once, they have no ſoules fit to be comforted. Thus they lie, as if they bore the weight of the whole earth: and ſo let them lie, ſaith the LORD, for ever.

Heare him that ſpake by experience.hhLuk. 16.23.Luke 16:23 Being in hell in torments, hee lifts up his eyes, &c. He looked upward, for he was low enough: he lift up his eyes, that could not lift up himſelfe. Retruſus in locum imum, qui affectavit locum primum. He would not look down to Lazarus in his miſerie, he muſt now look up to Lazarus in his felicity. Oculos quos voluptas clauſit, acerbitas aperit. Where remembring his pleaſures paſt, conſidering his joyes loſt, ſenſible of paines preſent, and fearefull of greater tortures to come: he ſees Ad cumulum ſuae paenae. iiGreg.Lazarum in ſinu Abrahae: Lazarus in Abrahams boſome. (Every beleever is a child of Abraham, and whither ſhould the child goe but to the boſome of his Father?) Now he begges with more flouds of ſcalding teares, than ever Eſau ſought the bleſſing, to have ſome comfort from Lazarus; ſend Lazarus, &c. His envious pride doth not yet forſake him. Non potuit ad Lazarum duci, ſed Lazarum ad ſe deduci. He would have Lazarus come from the reſt of heaven, to the terrors of hell. And what craves he? not an Ocean, not a river, not a pond or ſome ſmall fountaine, not a bucket or ſpoonfull; but a drop. And what if all the rivers in the South had beene granted him, his tongue would ſtill have withered, and he never have cryed in the language of hell; It is enough. Or had his tongue beene eaſed, the reſt of his parts would ſtill have fryed. Water might be by him, but Vinctae ſunt manus, he hath no hand to reach it. O bitter day! when not the leaſt finger (I ſay not, of God, but) of the meaneſt Saint in heaven, ſhall bring the leaſt drop (I ſay not, of the waters of life, but) of the waters of the brooke to give him comfort. He fared as delicately as the Sodomites, in the fulneſſe of all rare viands: he went not in ſacke-cloth, or common garments, nor with a diſeaſed body as Lazarus: but in purple and fine linen, not on the beſt day of the ſeven, or when he went to the Court, where it is ſomewhat tolerable; but every day. But now, like the Sodomites, he is ſnatched from his libertine ſurfet to famine, from a table of viands to a Table of vengeance, from boules of the luſtieſt wines to drinke ſulphur, from beds of downes to beds of flames, from bravery to miſery, O here is the embleme of wretchedneſſe! He would have one ſent to his brethren, let this calamitie give warning to us all. Flame torments him, not a moderate fire. In a flame there is Ardor and Splendor: but in hell there is burning without ſight, as in the Empyreall heaven there is light without burning.

Thus had the Sodomites their portion on earth, and from the want of all miſeries, were driven to the miſerie of all wants. God does not damne men becauſe they be rich, for himſelfe is infinitely rich; and Abraham that rejected the rich man, p. 614was on earth richer than he. Nor becauſe they are Great, for himſelfe is the greateſt of all. But becauſe they abuſe theſe to the diſhonour of his glorious Name. And to conclude; their torments are eternall.kk2 Cor. 4.17.2 Cor 4:17 As our ſhort affliction cauſeth to us an excellent and eternall Glory. ſo their ſhort pleaſure cauſeth to them an exceeding and eternall paine. Their ſorrowes are infinite, ratione finis: they lie preſſed under an unſupportable load, and ſtill call for more weight to diſpatch them, but cannot have it. What the Pſalmiſt ſings of Gods merciemercy, is true alſo of his Iuſtice, that it endure… for ever. Bern. Greg.Horrendum incidere in manus mortis viventis, & vitae morientis. Fi… ſemper incipit, & defectus deficere neſcit. If after ſo many millions of yeeres as there be drops in the ſea, there might be deliverance, they had ſome hope. Men may comfort themſelves in temporall ſufferings, Dabit Deus his quoque finem: but there is no limitation in hell: when the Lord ſhall give over his being, they ſhall have eaſe and not before; which is Never. An infinite Majeſty is offended, therefore an infinite penalty impoſed. In hell they ſhall ever remaine ſinners, therefore in hell they ſhall ever remaine ſufferers. Sin is like oile, and torment like fire: ſo long as the oile laſteth, the fire burneth, and that is for ever. This is a long confuſion, and therfore not to be paſſed over with a ſhort meditation. Let us thinke againe and againe of it, and ſo feare it, that we may never feele it. It is a deſperate madnes, for the pleaſure that one houre determines, to incurre thoſe paines that are capable neither of eaſe nor end. Thus I have inſiſted on the Sodōites puniſhment, that we being terrified with it, might learne by their example to prevent it. Which is the next point conſiderable, the Monument.

Made them an enſample to thoſe that after ſhould live ungodly.] This example of Gods Iudgement is one of the moſt conſpicuous and remarkeable in all the ſacred Hiſtory, and ſet out for a ſpeciall precedent by the pen of the Holy Ghoſt; with a note of recordation, like a hand in the margent that directs to ſome obſervable thing in the Text; with a Marke this, as a thing of great conſequence. Where collect foure obſervations.

1 The right uſe of all Gods mighty wonders, is when we take them for wonders: trembling at the ſight of the workes, and fearing the omnipotence of him that wrought them. When Iſrael ſaw that migh…y worke upon the Aegyptians,llExod. 14.31.Exod 14:31 They feared the Lord. They are drowned in a ſea of water, and the other doe not drowne it in a ſea of forgetfulneſſe.mmIon. 1.16.Jonah 1:16 The ſea was troublous, and the mariners feared: the ſea was quiet, and yet they feared: this may ſeeme ſtrange; but the firſt was the feare of nature, the ſecond of Grace: then they feared the creature, now the Creator. When Ananias and his wife fell ſuddainly dead,nnAct. 5.11.Acts 5:11 feare came upon all the Church. The Iudgement was upon ſome, the feare came upon all. When the earth opened her jawes to ſwallow Corah, the people opened their mouth to cry;ooNumb. 16.34Num 16:34 Let us flee. pp1 Cor. 10 11.1 Cor 10:11Theſe things came unto them for enſamples, and are written to admoniſh us. Theſe things they might have ſuffered, and their calamities have died with themſelves, never beene knowne to poſterity: but they are written for us. God made a record of them, and if there be any faith in us, they be as preſent to us, as if they were done before our eyes.qqLuk. 16.31.Luke 16:31 If they heare not Moſes and the Prophets, nor will they beleeve one from the dead. Where faith makes a doubt, there ſenſe will never be ſatisfied.

But if we truſt not our eares; in all this ample theater of Gods Iudgements, did we never ſee any fetched away from a proſperous eſtate by ſtrange accidents? were not they precedents for us? Cannot all make us afraid of overlaying Gods patience. Did the blaſphemer never heare how Rabſhaceh ſped? Did they that bluſh not to be called the roaring crew, (therein ſentencing themſelves) never reade what beca…e of the Sons of Beliall? Did the ſecure worldlings never heare of the generall del…ge? Nor murmurers of thoſe fiery Serpents? Nor uncleane perſons with their catam…s, of the condemnation of the Sodomites? Shall not al this make us to breake forth into thoſe acclamations,rrPſal. 118.23.Ps 118:23 this was the Lords doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes.

Indeed theſe may work with the wicked to admiration, not to repentance. The very Iewes beholding the wonders of Chriſt, could ſay, wee never ſaw it on this fa…: p. 615and, The like was never done in Iſrael. Herod deſired to ſee Chriſt for a miracle, as Faelix to talke with Paul for a bribe. But God doth not worke miracles for miracles, but for us. The gratious Lord hath ſo done his marvellous workes, that they ought to bee had in remembrance. ſſPſal. 118.17.Ps 118:17I will live, to what end? to declare the workes of the Lord: hitting the right end and uſe. The workes of his Providence are miranda: of his Iuſtice, miranda & metuenda: of his merciemercy, miranda, & diligenda. 1 Sam. 12.18.1 Sam 12:18The thunder ſhould waken our ſecure hearts, the raine ſoften our ſtony bowels, the lightning mind us of the comming of Chriſt to Iudgement.

Theſe things hath God left as memorials to the world, to be read and preached. We have the bookes, let us not be ſtrangers to their contents. Our forefathers could once have ſaid;ttPſal. 74.9.Ps 74:9 Wee ſee not our ſignes, there is not one Prophet among us, nor any that divineth: or if any did divine, they divined lies. Though this ſacred Booke was not hid in a corner, as whenuu2 King. 22.8.2 Kgs 22:8 Ioſias began to raigne: nor cut with a penknife. and throwne into the fire, as in the dayesxxIer. 36.23.Jer 36:23 of Iehoiakin. Yet the comfortable uſe was interdicted, the knowne language concealed, and men bound with a curſe not to read it. It now lies open in our Churches, in our windowes; God grant we ſhut …t not to our owne hearts. Preaching applies it, and this helpe we have alſo: may we never know the want of it: yea we ſhall not, unles we voluntarily put it from us, …s a matter not worthy the keeping, and (with the Iewes) judge our ſelves unworthy of the kingdome of heaven. Diverſe fearefull calamities are threatned to the Iewes, ſuch …s ſhall turne their feaſts into mourning &c. But if their eyes do not yet dazle, nor their eares tingle; behind is a woe, that is beyond all woes;aaAm. 8.11.Amos 8:11 the famine of the word of God. Famine of bread is a ſore plague, when abb1 King. 17.121 Kgs 17:12 wofull mother for herſelfe and ſonne, is dreſſing their laſt proviſion. The extremity harder, whencc2 King. 6.28.2 Kgs 6:28 mothers by turnes eate up their owne children. But this is nothing to a dearth of holy knowledge. It is better not to be, than not to know: better unborne, than untaught.Sen.

2 God without all exception to the honour of his Iuſtice, might enrole all the wicked at once in univerſall confuſion: but ſo it pleaſeth his goodneſſe to ſingle out ſome, and propoſe them as bleeding witneſſes to the world: that their vengeance might bring many to repentance. Perit unus, ne pereat univerſus. Such an execution of his Iuſtice doth more magnify his mercy; when he puniſheth ſome, that he may ſpare many. As when many ſouldiers have faulted in a mutiny, the Generall executes martiall law upon ſome, to ſtrike a terror into the whole army. So doth the Lord; Nobis fit miſericordia, illis non fit in juria. We have deſerved, what they have ſuffered, they have ſuffered, that we might be delivered. If we make not uſe of this merciemercy, we deſerve the greater penalty.

3 There is no ſin which man can now commit, but God hath declared his wrath againſt it, in his puniſhments for it: we can doe nothing without a precedent. …s any ſacrilegious? there be precedents to forewarne him; Geheſi, Iudas, and they …hat kept a market in the Temple. But theſe men feare nec lepram Geheſi, nec ſuſpendium Iudae, nec ejectionem è Templo per Chriſtum. Will the Ieſuite be a traitor? there … precedent. Abſalom rebels, what was the end? His huge army defeated by a few, …he wood devouring that day more than the ſword: twenty thouſand loſt. A ſenſ…eſſe oake performes the part of a good ſubject, and apprehends the traitor: his beaſt …eft him to the gal-houſe, who was turned beaſt in renouncing his allegiance. The …arth refuſed to receive him, heaven was ſhut againſt him, none of his troupes left to …uard him; who had ſo unnaturally wronged the maker of all in his annointed vice…erent. The King gave charge for his reprievall, but the King of heaven had other…iſe determined of him. And he that had ambitiouſly provided a ſtately monu…ent for his corps, a Pyramis or Pillar in the Kings dale; was tumbled with infa…ie into a ditch, like carrion under a heape of ſtones.

Can any be covetous without precedent? did he never read of Nabals baſe pe…riouſneſſe, and accurſed end? Hath not the adulterer, Zimri for his example? …an he thinke of his ſuddaine end, and not tremble to embrace his harlot? And for p. 616the factious, that are ſubject to their owne luſts, but will be ſubject to no lawes; obſerve they not the conſpiracie of Corah againſt Moſes; whom the earth buried alive, and ſtayed for neither executioner to diſpatch them, nor ſexton to make a grave for them? Can a man exact upon his brother by a biting intereſt, without a Iewiſh example? Or throw his unable debter into priſon without a precedent? The VſUs… is a legall theefe, the unmercifull creditor a legall murtherer: they doe nothing but by Law, and by Law they may goe to the Devill together. The fraudulent trafficker cannot abuſe his ſimple cuſtomer, but there is precedent for him, in Ananias; Did you ſell the land for ſo much? coſt your commoditie ſo much? Yes, what followed? the lie he told before men, he was ſuddenly ſent to anſwere before the God of truth. Doe tyrants now perſecute the Church, without example? So Iulian ſent his ſubjects to heaven in earneſt himſelfe went to hell merrily and in jeſt. Homicides have the example of Ioab, whoſe gray haires went not to the grave in peace. There is no profane libertine but had the example of Eſau before him: who loſt the bleſſing of heaven, for the pleaſures of earth. They cannot tell a lie but by precedent: not ſweare an oath, not breake a Sabboth, nor worſhip an Image, but by example. All theſe ſinnes, and what other we can Imagine, have beene committed in former ages, and plagued by former judgements. Non tulit nos ſine exemplo, ut inveniat ſine def… cto, vel tollat ſine patrocinio. Theſe iniquities if we admit, they retaine not in ſo meane a qualitie, as before. Fratricide is now worſe than in Cain, becauſe it h… Cains enſample. Apoſtacie now worſe than inddLuk. 17.32.Luke 17:32 Lots Wife, becauſe her example hath forewarned us. Adulterate painting worſe now than in Ieſabel, becauſe we underſtand her fearefull end. Vncleaneſſe now worſe than in Sodome, becauſe the Lord hath made them enſamples to thoſe that after ſhould live ungodly.

4 Gods Iudgements are ſo many reall Sermons againſt the ſins of men. He doth not only preach vocally by the miniſtery of his ſervants, but alſo actually by the execution of his Iudgements.eePſal. 62.11.Ps 62:11 Once hath God ſpoken, twice have I heard it: once in his word written, a ſecond time in his worke done; his actions being ſo many declarations of his will. So Elihu in Iob. ffIob 33.29.Job 33:29Theſe things will God worke twice or thri… with a man, to bring his ſoule backe from the pit. Once hee ſpake it, another time performed it, a third time redoubled it. There is no people can plead ignorance, or exuſe themſelves by wanting meanes of Inſtruction: for the whole earth is filled with the Iudgements of God. When the fire devoures a mans eſtate, or the ſea wrackes the Merchants hopes, or ſuddaine death takes away our neighbours life, God preacheth viſibly to us. Though we pronounce nothing by a peremptory raſhneſſe, for feare of CHRISTS objurgation:ggLuk. 13.4.Luke 13:4 Doe you thinke they were greater ſinners? For the cauſe is not revealed to us, as the Prophet ſpake of the troubled Shunamite;hh2 King. 4.27.2 Kgs 4:27 … ſoule is vexed, and the Lord hath hid it from me. Yet let us take them to heart; we cannot diſcerne them, they all concerne us.

Let us be the better for all this, leſt we become the worſe. It had beene eaſier for us never to have heard of Sodomes ruine, than not to mend our lives by the e… ſample. Gods hand would have beene lighter upon impenitent ſoules, if ſuch precedents of his Iuſtice had never beene ſet before them. Lege Hiſtoriam, ne fias Hiſ… ria. Let us raiſe our ſelves out of their fall, and make their ſubverſion the matter a… meanes of our converſion. Exempla obſervemus, ne exempla ſimus. Let us be wa… by examples, leſt we be made examples. If we will not learne by others, others … learne by us. There is no learning ſo cheape, as that which comes at anothers co…. If their poiſon by good allaying, be made our phyſicke: if the ſword of vengea… that devoured them, amend us with the very ſight and ſhaking of it: we ſhall eſcap… Gods fury, and become the bleſſed examples of his mercy.

Now there are three impediments which fruſtrate the good uſe of this doctrine, Contempt, neglect, and miſ-interpretation.

1 Contempt, which is a proud and preſumptuous humour in men; whom th… moſt palpable judgements, and evident executions, ſhall never deterre from their p. 617damnable projects.iiPſal. 10.5.Ps 10:5 The Iudgements of God are high above his fight: tell him how …thers have periſhed, he anſwers; Tut, I ſhall never be moved. Cypr.But this is the grea…eſt Iudgement of all; Non intelligere delicta, ne ſequatur panitentia: not to under…tand their errors, leſt they ſhould be brought to repentance.

2 Neglect and a forgetfull ſlighting of ſuch terrible things. It is to them but a …ang, or a tranſient ſtitch, a nine dayes wonder, or newes that is quickly out of date. …haraoh was no ſooner quitted of the plague but preſently his heart was hardned. While God thundred, he trembled: but then as if the Lord had ſpent all his pow…er and ſhot, he is the ſame man he was.kkHoſ. 6.4.Hos 6:4 Like Ephraims goodneſſe, a morning dew. While the weather is cloudy, they are melancholy: but when the Sun of proſperi…y riſes, and the ſtorme of affliction cleares up, their moiſture is dryed. Such a dew …ou ſhall have ſtand upon the ſtones of the Church againſt raine, but the ſtones are …ever the ſofter for it.ll1 King. 21.27.1 Kgs 21:27 Ahab hearing the denunciation of wrath, was humbled: the …and of judgement did but cruſh his heart like a piece of clay, till the moiſture was …reſſed out, leaving it then but more hardned earth. All Iſrael was affrighted at the …earefull end of Corah; yet even the very morrow after they fell upon Moſes and …aron, murmuring;mmNumb. 16.47.Num 16:47 Ye have killed the people of God. Such ſmall impreſſion doth …he miſerie of others leave in us; as if we had, a protection from all arreſt, a ſuper…edeas againſt all ſuites. And what plagues ſoever we ſee inflicted on others, we think …hey have deſerved them, never reflecting upon our owne merits and mutable condi…ons. We come ſhort of the circumſpection that is in birds and beaſts: for they can …void the places where they ſee their fellowes have miſcarried, and are ſenſible by …at token to remove.

3 Miſ-interpretation, by ſoothing our ſelves in our owne courſes, and turning …e ſtreame of Gods Iudgements another way. Some ſport with theſe examples: …nd being ſet forth as Crocodiles in terrorem, they make them their play-fellowes, …nd the ſubjects for the exerciſe of their wits. As to reſpect the converſion of …ots wife, no better than one of Ovids Metamorphoſes; Niobe into a Stone: as if …ere was no difference betwixt Gods actions, and Poets fictions. So they aſcribe …oahs floud to ſome extraordinary aſpect of the Moone, or concurſe of watry pla…ets: and thinke not that God opened the windowes of heaven, and fountaines of …rth. The drowning of Pharaohs Hoſte, to the inconſiderate venturing over upon high Tyde. It ſhall be imputed to any thing rather than the true cauſe; Gods an…er: theſe enſamples working no more upon them, than meere caſualties. But woe … thoſe that ſhall not ſo underſtand them, as God meant them.

Here I have juſt cauſe to declare againſt three ſorts of miſtakers: with whoſe …rors I will deale, as the venerable Iudges doe with ſeditious Attourneys, call them … the Bench, pitch them over the Barre, put out their names from the Roll and let …em goe.

1 The Impeachers of Gods providence, among whom there are ſixe errors, …. Of the Stoickes, who call providence by the name of fate or deſtiny: which runs …orow a ranke of cauſes, ſo bringing in an abſolute and inevitable neceſſitie, that pini…s the armes of God and man. Theodoret beates the noſe of this error flat to the devi…rs face. 2. Of ſuch as tie Gods providence only to celeſtiall things, exempting … ſublunary and corrupt matters. Ierome ſaies,Averroes. this error was crept into the hearts …f the Iewes; as he collects from Ezek. 9.9. The Lord hath forſaken the earth, and …th us not. Therefore the LORD anſwers, mine eye ſhall not ſpare them; to ſhew that …is power is alſo upon the earth. 3. Nicenus, with others, held that Gods provi…ence extends it ſelfe to corruptible things only in a generall manner: ad rerum gene… vel ſpecies, non ad ſingularia, non ad individua. But our Saviour comprehends un…er it not only the haires of men, but even the feathers of birds. 4. Aquin. ſpeaks of …e error of Rabbi Moſes the Iew; that among corruptible things, man only apper…ineth to the divine providence. This Ieremie confutes. Deus univerſae carnis; nnIer. 32.17.Jer 32:17I … the God of all fleſh; both of men and beaſts. 5. Of the Platoniſts, that diſtinguiſh p. 618three kinds of providence Firſt, of the ſupreme God, that ſtretcheth primarily to ſpirituall things, in a ſecond degree to all the world. The ſecond, of ſeparated ſubſtances, that move the heavens Circulariter; Intelligences. The laſt, of certaine Damones, powers, which they place in the middle betwixt God and man. Such are thoſe that worſhip Devills for a Ne noceant. 6. Of Atheiſts, that deny all providence, and admit only fortune. Lactantius hath confuted it by many arguments; b… Davids conviction is the beſt diſgrace to it, who ſets a Cockeſ-combe on the head of it; The foole hath ſaid in his heart, There is no God. In his heart he hath Said it, but i… his heart he never beleeved it. Looke upon all creatures; they make one glorious army, marſhalled into their ſeverall rankes, and marching to the will of their great generall. Why doe ſtones, plants, and inſenſible things, tend to the end for which they were created, when as yet they have no knowledge of it, but that they are directed by God? Young ones are no ſooner borne, but they turne their mouthes … the breſt of their mothers: yet man, againſt nature, reaſon, religion, doth not turne his mouth of confeſſion, to acknowledge that God who made him. Wee ſee birds to come of egges, and living things engendred of dead ſeed: why ſhould we… as well beleeve the reſurrection of our bodies, and the laſt account of all our actions?

2 As miſ-conſtruing perverters of Gods Iudgements. That the Iewes after a curſe of fifteene hundred yeares, and a vagabond diſperſion like Cain, ſhould not bethink themſelves of their murder of the Lambe of God, is the ſtupefying ſpirit of error. One of them is driven to confeſſe that as this plague ſo far exceeds all their former, captivity ſo the ſin that cauſed it muſt exceed al their former ſins. As much may juſtly be ſaid of our Italianated fugitives; who ſeeing the terrible Iudgements of God upon them, will not yet know the Lord. The powder plot is paſſed over with An unfortunate attempt; and the Inſtruments no further blamed than for their raſh and ill lucke: as if they confeſſed that it wanted nothing but ſucceſſe to make it lawfull: worſe than the ſorcerers of Aegypt; they could cry out; This is the finger of God.

They call for a Iudge of controverſies betwixt us, yet will not ſee that God himſelfe is the Iudge: declaring his ſentence and deriſion by helping the ſide which he favoureth. All his judgements upon the conſpirators, cannot learne them how much he deteſteth ſuch practiſes. Still they will not gather the unwarrantableneſſe of their deſignes, though they have beene forced in indignation to blunder out, that the Iudge of all the world is become a Lutheran. Still they are mad to be made t…e wretched engines of his ambition, that ſells the ſoules of men to buy himſelfe reputation. Cannot the Catholickneſſe of their doctrine, and the infallibilitie of their director, make their plots ſucceſſefull, and ſtill are they blind? Such palpable demonſtrations of Gods wrath ſo directly againſt their proceedings; might at leaſt make them ſuſpect that ſomething is amiſſe, and examine where the fault reſteth. To have their Infallibilitie ſo deceived, might cauſe them to recollect themſelves, if they were not drunke with the wine of Sodome. Though they ſmart with the vialls of fury, yet they will not leave their ſorcerie,ooRevel 9.20.Rev 9:20 according to the prophecie of them. They will ratherppRevel 16.9.Rev 16:9 knaw their tongues for paine, than acknowledge Gods judgements for ſin. If we were ſuch damnable heretickes as they would make us, how comes it to paſſe that the Lord ſo takes our part? That they ſo often tempting us by flatterie, and attemtping us by fury, have not yet prevailed againſt us? Th… … ther the Popes Bulls nor curſes have wrought the intended effects? Certainely if the LORD did not favour our cauſe; hee would never ſo protect our S…e. Yet all theſe enſamples worke not upon their conſciences, nor will they confeſſe their pernicious courſes. Though many hundred of their trecherous Emiſſari… have miſcarried, yet ſtill more follow on, as if no Precedent had bid them take heed. But Antichriſt deales with them, as Amnon did with Thamar: firſt raviſheth them, and then turnes them out of doores. But becauſe they would not take example by whom they ſhould, they ſhall be made examples to whom they would not: even … reproch to all poſterity, and a ſtinke to the ſucceeding generations.

p. 6193 All profane perſons that miſapply theſe enſamples: what plagues ſoever come to others, they conceit of themſelves no ſuch deſert: Quod perit, pereat: and no further mind it. In ſtead of a ſerious application, to make a jeſt upon others miſery, …his is common. We ſhouldqqRom. 12.15.Rom 12:15 Weepe with them that weepe: woe to ſuch as laugh at …heir brothers teares. Whereas, Ille hodiè, ego cras, was Saint Bernards uſe: and we …re, have been, or may be, as miſerable as they; was Saint Auguſtines. The ſeaman that ſees another ſhip ſplit on a rocke, will avoid it. Paſſengers feare to travell …hat way, where they heare of continuall robberies. Yet cannot theſe iudiciall pre…edents humble them; as if they had their ſalvation by Patent. Yea, they are but …emporally ſenſible of their owne plagues: nor doth the thought outlaſt the ſmart. As that Father ſpeakes of the afflicted Pagans; Perdiderunt utilitatem calamitatis: …iſeri fiunt, & peſsimi permanent: worſe in body, and no better in ſoule. Either they …hinke they need no affliction, or ſo ſure that they are above affliction. As if God,Aug. …ke ſome skill-leſſe Chirurgion, when he comes to let bloud, could not find a veine; …t were not wiſe enough to chuſe that veine which is fitteſt to bleed.Eſa. 1.5.Isa 1:5

They are lethargically ſecure, no ruine but their owne can ſtirre them. But …hat which could not Inſtruere, muſt Deſtruere: if they be not deterred by others …hey muſt be deſtroyed themſelves. Thunder proceeds from a vapour lifted up from …he earth, and compaſſed with a cold cloud: in the agitation or ſtruggling it takes …re, and then breakes out where the cloud is thinneſt: and being out, ſometimes it …rikes the clothes, not the body: ſometimes the body, not the clothes. So doth …reaching; it is the vapour or breath of the Spirit, ſurrounded with the cold and …atriſh humours of our ſins: it ſtruggles with them, and in the ſtrife catcheth fire; …nd ſo vents it ſelfe to the terror of the world. Somtimes by menaces and examples, … ſtrikes our garments, not our ſelves: ſometimes it goes farther, and ſtrikes alſo our …wne hearts. Oh then let us feare Gods Iudgements upon others, that we may ne…er feele them our ſelves.

To conclude with application, albeit indeed the whole diſcourſe is but a doctrine …f Application: for wherefore is an example propounded, but to be applied? …ypocrites are ſicke, and will not be knowne to ſtand in need of phyſicke; they can …ve no remedy. Profane ones are ſicke, and will accept of no phyſicke; they will …ave no remedy. It is hard to ſay, which caſe is worſt: now God have mercy on …hem both! Can we thinke, God will not deale with us, as he hath dealt with others …efore us? Ieſabel ſuborned falſe witneſſes, and had her necke burſt for it: is there no …udgement for ſuch offenders? Achan for Sacriledge is ſtoned, our Church rob…ers hope to ſcape. Miriam was proud, and became leprous: our plaiſterd popin…yes feare not. Iſraelites diſtruſting in the Lord, die by a plague: how many want …ith, and yet looke not to want mercy? Eſau ſeemes to ſay unto all profane wretches; …ake warning by me: Ahab to al ſuperſtitious Idolaters, Saul to all malicious perſecu…rs, Abſalom to all unnaturall ſonnes, Geheſi to all falſe ſervants,Numb. 14.37.Num 14:37 Nabal to all cove…us churls, Shimei to all blaſphemous railers Take warning by us. And the Sodo…ites here are made to ſpeake in the language of ſorrow, to all ſecure wantons, Take …arning by us.

Such meaſure is to be expected from Gods hands, if ſuch wickedneſſe be found … ours. If men like it well, to have their buildings on fire about their eares, to ſee …eir infants daſhed againſt the ſtones, or ſcorched with flames, to feele a bloody …emy triumphing in their ſtreets, to have their names a deriſion, their Cities a deſo…tion, their carcaſes expoſed to fowles, and perhaps their ſoules to furies and tor…ents: they may then run on their impious courſes without any repentance or de…recation. It is Gods mercy, that we were not made the firſt fruits of his wrath, …nd examples to all the world: but how great is our unthankfulneſſe, if having thus …ſcaped, we are not bettered? Or if we ſcape all this, yet the Lord will ſtrike when …e ſees his time, perhaps when we are in worſe caſe to beare it. He can make our …eath-beds ſmart for this; he may reſerve all horror and amaſement to that deſperate p. 620houre, and then lay on us the burden of all our ſins. There is one thing, if we heare it, and heart it, enough to fright us all: Tolerabilius erit Sodomae: rrMat. 11.24.Matt 11:24It ſhall bee eaſier for them of Sodome in the day of Iudgement, than for thee: and yet the Sodomites are now in hell. If we receive not the bleſſed Goſpell with faith and feare, Sodome and Gomorrah never ſinned as we ſin; and Sodome and Gomorrah were never plagued as we ſhall be.

But as it is a happy alarme that brings in the ſtraggling ſouldier to his Colours: and a good chance for the wandring ſheepe, by ſeeing the wolfe prey on a goate, to be gathered home to the fold. So let the deſtruction of Sodome, be the inſtruction of England; let their curſe become our bleſſing. It is a good compaſſion of nature, that ſhall bring us to the compunction of grace. So inſtead of fire and brimſtone from heaven, or in hell; the Angels ſhall lift us up from the vale of mortality, and the brightneſſe of glory receive us in the Paradiſe of joy; through the mercy of GOD that hath promiſed it, and the merits of CHRIST that hath purchaſed it for us.

To thoſe that after ſhould live ungodly. What Saint Paule ſayes; Lex non eſt p… ſita juſto, ſſ1 Tim. 1.9.1 Tim 1:9The law is not made for the righteous man: ſo nor here is the Example ſet for the holy. But the law is for the lawleſſe, and the example of the ungodly is for the ungodly. Ex malis moribus oriuntur bonae leges. He that freely obeyes the truth, finds no adverſary of the law:2 Cor. 3.17.2 Cor 3:17 it ſerves to chaſtiſe the bad and backward, not to reſtraine the good and forward. The horſe that reineth well, needs no bitte: nor …e that runneth freely,Chryſ. a ſpurre.ttGal. 5.23.Gal 5:23 Againſt the righteous there is no law. There is … Condemning law, for they are in Chriſt: there is no Compelling law, for the Spirit is in them; and they doe as willingly obey God, as if there was no law. Were the… no hell, and God would not puniſh tranſgreſſion with eternall death; yet would they avoid all ſin becauſe it diſpleaſeth CHRIST Yea further, if CHRIST would not give them eternall life, yet would they love him, and deſire the advancement of his kingdome. So theſe examples are not for the righteous, but for the ungodly.

1 Let us conſider what this ungodlineſſe is in the proper nature of it: for it ſeemes to conſiſt both in the privative or negative, excluding ſomewhat, and coming ſhort of what is required: and in the Poſitive, committing ſomewhat that is prohibited. Vngodlineſſe is a ſin, which many defie in their mouthes, and embrace i… their hearts: ſo much greater than the ſeven Popiſh deadly ſins, as it is indeed the ground of them all. More dangerous; becauſe being rooted in the heart, it is not ſo viſible to the eye, nor diſcernible to his reaſon that owes it. More hainous, becauſe it is more ſpirituall, immediatly directed againſt God himſelfe; being a brea… of the firſt commandement of the firſt Table, robbing him of his due honour. … conſiſts, either in the true worſhip of a falſe god, or in a falſe worſhip of the … God, or in the true worſhip of the true God with a falſe heart. Whereas Godlin… is a true ſervice of the true God, in a true religion, with a true heart.

Firſt, it gives him not his honour: ſecondly, it gives it to another: thirdly, … doe give him due honour, yet not after a due manner.uuPſal. 14 1.Ps 14:1 The foole ſayes in his …, There is no God: not but that his conſcience is convinced of the contrary: but on the leaſt temptation his heart is willing to acknowledge none. Said, ot beleeved: examine him according to his Creed, and never foole beleeved in his heart, there is … God. If he muſt confeſſe his being, yet he renounceth all ſubjection.xxIob. 21.14.Job 21:14 They ſay … the Almighty, Depart from us &c. This is too outragious to be the ſpeech of th… tongue, it is the rebellion of the heart; not vocall, but actuall.aaLuk. 19.29.Luke 19:29 They will not … him raigne over them. They ſcorne to beg a bleſſing of him,bbPſal. 14 4.Ps 14:4 They call not upon … Lord. They that will crouch and attend the Court for a Lordſhip on earth, wi… not ſo much as be petitioners for the Kingdome of heaven.ccZeph. 1.12.Zeph 1:12 They ſay the Lord … doe neither good, nor evill: they ſleepe, and dreame that the Lord ſleepes too. O… they not onelyonly deny this tribute to their Creator, but give it to ſome creature; … p. 621David tooke the land from honeſt Mephiboſheth, and gave it to Ziba a varlet. Or …ſe they reſolve to honour him, with that he hath declared to offend him: as Paul …n perſecuting, and the Iewes in executing CHRIST; thought they did God …ervice. Laſtly, even in their beſt workes, that may carry ſome ſhew of devotion, …hey have a falſe heart: halting betwixt God and Baal; a mixed ſervice. So Demas, …hough he forſooke Paul, yet turned not to his Idols againe.

But he that will admit the ſervice of God no way but his owne, ſhall find the mer…ie of God no way at all. There may be a denyall of God in reall fact, even when …here is a confeſſion of God in verball faith. A diſeaſe which this age labours of: in …reat ones it is a Noli me tangere; Phyſicians and Divines call it incurable. Yea our …ulgars are not exempted, and the Pulpit can prove nothing ſo appoſitely and direct…y by Scripture, but if it diſpleaſe the people, it ſhall never come in their Creed. Let …eligion and the Goſpell goe whiſtle, if they ſpeake not as this people would have …hem. When Gods word and this ungodlineſſe meetes, you ſhall heare a ratling and …ſſing, as in the encounter of fire and water. Paul caſts fire at Epheſus, Demetrius …oares: in comes the Towne-clarke with the magnificence of Diana: alas, that was … painted fire, no noiſe nor tumult at it. If we ſtroake your ſplene, and tell you that …ou are predeſtinated to goe to heaven in a Coach, or that a wherry ſhall gently waft …ou to Canaan; this is a painted fire that never troubles you. But when we ſpeake …f denying your covetous luſts, abjuring your ſacriledge, bleeding for malicious lies …nd ſlanders; here is preſently an hiſſing, a mutinous mad rebellion.

The word in us labours to deſtroy ungodlineſſe in you, and ungodlineſſe in you …bours to deſtroy the word in us. But conſider what the Prophet told Amaſiah; Qua non acquieviſti conſilio meo; dd2 Chron. 25 162 Chr 25:16Becauſe thou haſt not obeyed my counſell, I know that …od hath determined to deſtroy thee. The Sonnes of Eli would not hearken,ee1 Sam. 2 25.1 Sam 2:25 becauſe …he Lord meant to ſlay them: their hearts muſt be hardned, that they may be deſtroyed. Alas, the ſcholer is but the patterne of his maſter, and our knowledge but a beame …f Gods knowledge: while ungodly men refuſe us, (Truth hath ſaid it) they reject God himſelfe. They got Zechariah to be made awayff2 Chron. 24 21.2 Chr 24:21 by the Kings command: he ſaid …o more at his death, but videat Dominus, The Lord looke upon it; what followed? While ungodly men are whetting a knife to cut our throtes, God is whetting a word to cut their throtes. One ſingular proofe of ungodlineſſe, is a conteſting againſt …he preachers of Ieſus Chriſt.

2 This example is ſet downe for the ungodly; but it is rare to find any that …ill confeſſe themſelves ungodly: now men that have no ſenſe of being ill, will …ever care for any medicines to make them well. And though the fruites of it were …ever more viſible and notorious, yet the roote lies buried in the ground, and boaſts …f a concealement. We have ſome to whom the very Church is a ſhadow of death, …nd they have earneſt buſineſſe, which they love above God and their owne ſoules. …xamine your fields, ſtreetes, waters, in the times of devotion; is not this ungodli…eſſe? And for them that make as though they would be ſaved, doe they not ſue for …heir inheritance in heaven, Formâ pauperis; refuſing to give the leaſt ſcrap of their …uperfluitie for eternall life? Yea, doe not they even pull downe that kingdome, …hich they ſeeme to crave? Is not this ungodlineſſe? If they heare, is it not with …ontempt, ſplene, cenſure, and (if they durſt) with controlment? How few, when …he Sermon is done, thinke either the worſe of themſelves for the preſent, or become …he better afterward? How manyggPſal. 94.8.Ps 94:8 brutiſh men find we, that continually miſtake …he ſoule for the body?hhLuk. 12.19.Luke 12:19 Soule, eate, drinke, &c. his meaning was, body eate. He …hought his ſoule was delighted with ſenſualls, whereas it is the lay-part, the very …aſt of man, that is thus pleaſed.

Luſt is with the affections, as Ieſabel with her chamberlaines; ſhe paints and …eaſes: grace comes like Iehu, who is on my ſide? O that ſhe were hurled downe. If …ealth encreaſe, there is a diſh added to the table, a ſet to the ruffe, a tie to the ſhooes: …t not a dramme to devotion, not a mite to the Church, not a ſcrap to the poore, p. 622not a grace to the ſoule. Not to ſpeake of the profeſt enemy to all goodneſſe, the engines of hell, and deputies of the Devill, whoſe ſoules are nothing els but moving anatomies: ſuch as are yet to chuſe their faith, and thinke religion an humour or fancy following the complection. Like a condemned wretch, that Explet ventrem, damnatus effundere ſanguinem; jeſts away his ſoule. (Pardon all holy impatience: … ruly patients make ſharpe phyſitians.) Men that thinke all we preach to be but fables: yet on their death-beds, if their lethargiz'd conſcience be ſuffered to wake … it goe to hell; they would give all the world to be ſure what we ſay were not true: are not theſe ungodly?

To omit thoſe hypocrites, that are ſhufled among profeſſors, as Saul was among the Prophets: for there is no cure of an unknowne griefe. To omit thoſe ſwearers and adulterers, who are out of the reach of civill Iuſtice, but God puts them in his owne kalendar:iiHebr. 13.4.Heb 13:4 Iudging the one, and;kkExod. 20.7.Exod 20:7 not holding guiltleſſe the other. And thoſe Toes of the land that rot with Idleneſſe; laſy beggars: as it hath beene obſerved;S^r Thomas Mores Vtop. Great men make theeves, and then hang them up: make them, by ſuffering ſloth to ſlide into villany. And all thoſe capitall oppreſſors, that like Faelix, when they can get no money, will bind Paul, if it be but to curry favour with the Iewes. They grew rich by the undoings of men, yet under the ſhadow of power and authority,llMic. 7.3.Mic 7:3 They wrappe it up. Wrappe it up, as mud in Chryſtall, or a fowle thing in a faire clout. Which was deteſted by a very Tiberius, chiding his polling officer; Tonderi volo pecus, non deglubi. This is ranke impiety: but to come cloſer home, and happy is the boſome which is not conſcious of theſe evils.

Have we any more than a meere forme of godlineſſe, reſerving the pride and choiſe allowance to our owne luſts? As our trecherous Romiſts, that give their liege their complements, but to a forraine Prince their hearts. Doe not men ſpend ten houres about Mammon, before one minute about devotion? doe they not thinke of their laſt account, as the laſt thing to be thought of? Is not covetouſneſſe chiefe commander of the Fort, and nothing done without her permiſſion? Where did the bad ſervant bury his tallent, but in the Earth? earthy affections, covetouſneſſe buries all. This is that which eates out the heart of grace, by eating grace out of the heart. Is not this ungodlines got into the midſt of that execrablemmRom. 1.29.Rom 1:29 rable? The Devil may ſeeme to take example by covetous worldlings, to chide his ſpirits, and upbraid their ſloth: mortall men in ſo few yeares can heape up ſo many thouſands, and g… abundance into their hands: and you that ſhould in quickneſſe outſtart them, lie ſleeping like drones by the hearth of hell, and ſeeke not to people our kingdome.

And who can wonder that thoſe men diſregard their Miniſters, that have caſt away all reſpect of their owne ſoules? Or what marvell that S^t Anthonies viſion, which is ſaid to be two years before the Arrian hereſy aroſe; ſhould now be palpable Beaſts about the Altar, kicking it with their heels, daſhing it with their hornes, and trampling on it with their fowle hooves; till like Iob, it be made poore to a proverbe. Covetouſneſſe makes ungodlineſſe flouriſh. Yet is not this all: for where is the ſubjection of heart to the will of God? Who ſuffers that ſupreme law to rule his actio… and affections? who trembles at that thing which may offend his maker? Men little thinke of their conſcience, when they are going about to pleaſe their concupiſcence: they ſtudy their ends, not their End. And how hardly will they preferre God… glory before their own ſoules, that will not prefer it to a piece of artificiall clay? Is not this ungodlineſſe? Innumerable be the fruites of an ungodly heart, whereof the fewer we ſee in our ſelves, the more they be, and the more to be lamented. If we be not evill, why doe we pray, Deliver us from evill? Wretched are they that ſtat… themſelves, and bleſſed are they that can prove themſelves, to be out of the ranke of the ungodly. The omniſcient eye can find ungodlines enough in the beſt. To us the… is this Enſample applyable: let it make us confeſſe that we are as they were, and repent that we may never be as they are. Lord, take away our ungodlineſſe, and th… ſhall find none.

p. 6233 Laſtly, conſider the ſtate of ungodlineſſe. To be ungodly implies two things; …ickedneſſe and wretchedneſſe. He is mortall, yet covetous: poore, yet proud: …oliſh, yet head-ſtrong. He takes great paines to build an houſe on another mans …ound: he ſeekes for ſweet water in the midſt of the ſalt ſea. He ſtudies more to be …vanced, than to be worthy of that advancement. He hath loſt himſelfe, and de…erately cares not what he does, to find his will. Nor his goods, nor his honours, …r his friends goe with him, but his ſinnes: ſo he departs to torments boundleſſe, …dleſſe.

The Scripture ſayes of him, that he isnn1 Cor. 15.17.1 Cor 15:17 in ſinne: it is one thing to have ſin in …, another thing for us to be in ſin. Sin is in us all; Saint Paul conf…ſſeth it of him…lfe;ooRom. 7.20.Rom 7:20 ſinne dwelleth in me. But all are not in ſin, drowned, captivated, dungeon'd. …e ſay, ſuch a man is in drinke: drink may be in him, and yet he ſober: but for him … be in drinke, argues him drunken. The ungodly doth hunt after ſin: the eye and …e eare being a couple of beagles to put up the game, and the whole man turn'd in… a beaſt to follow the courſe. Only here is the difference: there the hart or hare …at is chaſed dies, and the hound lives: here the ſin ſurvives, and the hunter peri…es. He is ſlaved to ſin; whatſoever luſt dictates, he ſubſcribes to: there is no baſe …ficer in his familie of wickedneſſe, but let him come with the moſt unnaturall ſuite, … writes Fiat. ppProv. 5.22.Prov 5:22He is holden with the cords of his ſins: God helpe the man thus ma…cled: this is a caſe, wherein a King may be pitied by a galley-ſlave. Here is no fly…g, no changing his maſter: ſua mutare poteſt, non ſe: he may change his place, e…te, repoſe; lodging, repaſt; he cannot change himſelfe. Whetherſoever he goes, … takes himſelfe along with him.

He hath latam & expanſam conſcientiam, a broad conſcience; which is like a …rne doore, it can take in a whole load of corne: he can ſwallow a camell. All ra…nous fiſhes have large and wide mouthes: the divell will never mince this mans …eate, he is able to ſwallow it whole. (Whereas the good conſcience is like the lit… doore to the Sanctum ſanctorum, that lets in none but the high Prieſt, IESUS …HRIST.) He confirmes his heart in evill a by voluntary cuſtome; till he can wi…h …ore eaſe digeſt the heardeſt offence, than the ſtomach of an Oſtrich can digeſt yron …e is pleaſed with the ſucceſſe, vexed with the prevention of any ſinfull purpoſe. If …s plot be croſſed, and his hand cannot act that wickedneſſe by day which his head …th deviſed by night; he is taken with a fit of melancholy, ſicke of the ſullens; as …s Ahab and Haman. He thinkes it a death that he cannot be ſuffered to die, it is a …l to him, that the gates of hell are ſhut againſt him.

If he be puniſhed, he can grieve at the ſmart, not at the cauſe: in ſickneſſe he can …. My head, my head, or my belly, my belly: but my ſin, or my ſoule, is none … his complaint. To waile ſome ſmall effects, and never to thinke of the cauſe; is … be curious in healing the clifts of skin at the roote of our nailes, never minding … corruption that is in our heads or hearts. His whole buſineſſe is ſinne, he hath …thing elſe to doe in the world. He may taſt of the waters of life by chance, as a …gge laps at Nilus; but his voyage is bound for miſchiefe. And like a fire…rke on a line, he runnes on while his matter laſts, then goes out with ſtinke and …racke.

Though I cannot ſay to all men, be not ſinners: yet let me ſay, be not ungodly …ough you admit ſinne, doe not intend ſin: doe not ſeeke it, though it finds you. …ould men know what is in their hearts, and diſtinguiſh betwixt rebellions and in…mities? Pyrates forrage on the ſeas, rob Merchants, refuge themſelves at Dun…ke or Argiers. They complaine to the Spaniard or Turke for redreſſe: No, ſay …y, they are none of ours, we give them no ſuch allowance, we owne them not. …ell, if yet ſecretly they receive them to land, helpe them with freſh water, meate, …kling, proviſion; and thus under hand releeve them; ſure theſe doe allow them. …n profeſſe pietie, yet admit, of luſts in themſelves, injuries to others: whoſe acts …heſe? none of ours, alas! againſt our wills, we cannot but ſinne, yet we conſent p. 624not to it. Nay, but if concupiſcence be in the meane time foſtered, purveyed for by the eye, battend by riot, armed with approbation, juſtified by diſſembling; this is not weakeneſſe, but rank ungodlineſſe. It is a habite; every act doth not make a habite, diverſe have fallen into incontinence, ſoone repented, and avoided the ſin; this cannot be called ungodlineſſe. Tranſient eſcapes doe not denominate an ungodly ma…, becauſe the ſins committed are now loathed. But avarice, injuſtice, malice, &c. Theſe are ungodlineſſe: becauſe here is a continuance of will, and a will of continuance. Now as the Orator ſaid, when he had declaimed againſt drunkenneſſe, it was but to keepe men ſober: ſo this diſcourſe of ungodlineſſe is intended to t… mens hearts to pietie. But this may be planted by Paul, and watered by Apellos, … encreaſe can be but by the Spirit of Ieſus Chriſt.

This was their ungodlineſſe. God often ſpareth the wicked for the righteous ſake: ſuch as are either allied in bloud, as Cham was in the Arke: or by cohabitation and proximitie, as Paul had all the ſoules in the ſhip given him. Sapiens eſt ſtulti redemptio: as a Phyſician is an antidote againſt ſickeneſſe, and a valiant man a muniment againſt enemies. When Augustus had conquered Anthonie, and taken Alexandria, and the Citizens expected nothing but preſent maſſacre: the Emperor proclaime… a generall pardon, for Arrius ſake, a philoſopher of that Citie, and his familiar friend. Thus doth God forbeare men for men, one for another, but all for IESUS. B… where all apoſtates, all periſh. Noah could deliver but eight out of a world, and Abraham beginning at fifty, went no lower than ten, leſt hee ſhould have beene … bold with God. He doth ſtay at ten, not as though God for a leſſe number will not ſpare a citie: for as ſometimes for more than fifty he will not ſuſpend his Iudgements; as Samaria and Iſrael found, when ſeven thouſand good men were among them: ſo for fewer than ten he will ſometimes ſhew merciemercy, as he promiſed to ſpa… Ieruſalem for one.qqIer. 5.1.Jer 5:1 Find but one man that ſeeketh the truth, and I will ſpare it. B… here all were ungodly, onelyonly one familie ſhunned their filthy converſation, and ſ… eſcaped their fiery conflagration.