Gods Three Arrows, Section 80 – Section 84
§. 80. Of Gods ſwearing vengeance.
II. *See §. 76.MAns wickedneſſe forceth God to ſweare vengeance. Hereunto aPſal. 95. 11. Num. 14. 21, &cthe Iſraelites in the wilderneſſe provoked God: and b1 Sam. 3. 14.the houſe of Elie: and cIer. 22. 24.Ieconiah: and dEzek. 17. 16.Zedekiah: and eAm. 6. 8.the ten Tribes that revolted from the houſe of David: and fEzek. 5. 11.the children of Iudah while they lived in their land, and gIer. 44. 26.after they were gone into Egypt: and h—46.18.the Egyptians: and iZeph. 2. 9.the Moabites and Ammonites: and kIſa. 14. 24.the Aſſyrians and Babylonians: and ſundry Non ideò Deus jurat, quod fide credentis indigeat, &c. Deus cum loquitur fidelis eſt: cujus ſermo ſacramentum eſt. Non enim propter ſacramentum fidelis omnipotens Deus:ſed propter Deum etiam fidele ſacramentum eſt. Amb. de Cain & Abel. l. 1. c. 10. Quia illud verius ſolemus credere quod jurejurando firmatur, ne noſtra claudicet fides, jurare deſcribitur Deus, Amb. loc. citat.other as well as theſe Amalakites mentioned in this text.
What may be the reaſon that the Lord ſhould ſweare? Is it not enough for him to threaten? Surely in regard of himſelfe, and his owne divine properties it is enough. God doth not ſweare, becauſe he needs credit. Every word of God is true and faithfull: and it is as an oth. For, God is not faithfull by reaſon of his oth, but by reaſon of God, his oth is true and ſtable. For, he is able to make good every word that cometh out of his mouth; al in heaven and earth cannot hinder the execution therof: and in this kind when by his word his truth is engaged, he wil without failing do what he is able to do. The reaſon therefore of Gods oath reſteth on man, who is prone to make ſleight account of Gods word, who hath a ſtiffe necke, an hard heart, an obſtinate ſpirit. Wherefore to terrifie him the more, the Lord by oath bindeth himſelf to take vengeance. As on the contrary, Because we are wont to believe more ſtedfaſtly that which is confirmed by an oath, that our faith ſhould not waver, God is ſaid to ſweare. So as the Lord in tender reſpect to the weakneſſe of his children, who by reaſon of the fleſh in them, are prone to make queſtion of Gods promiſes, doth bind them with his oath, (as he did to lIſa 54. 9.Noah, to mGen. 22 16.Abraham, to the nExo 13. 5.other Patriarchs, to oPſal 89. 3.David, and to other Saints) ſo by reaſon of the wickeds incredulous diſpoſition, God binds his threatnings with his oath.
1. This gives evidence of the corruption of nature, which Mans ſlownes to beleeve.is ſo poſſeſſed with infidelity, as more then ordinary means muſt be uſed to worke our hearts to give credit to that which ought upon the leaſt intimation to be with all reverence Sihominibus affirmantibus ſe vera dicere, etiamſi non addant ſermoni juramentum, credere ſolemus, quis adeò furioſus eſſe poteſt, ut non credat Conditori omnium rerum, praeſertim iuramento interpoſito. Theodor Dialog. 1.believed. God is the Lord God of truth, (Pſal. 31. 5.) He can not lie, (Tit. 1. 2.) It is impoſſible that he ſhould, Heb. 6. 18 His bare word is more then all other arguments or inducements whatſoever can be uſed to worke faith. Yet is it by corrupt man little regarded. If we uſe to believe men, when they avouch that they tell truth, who can be ſo mad, as not to believe the Maker of all things? eſpecially when he interpoſeth his oath? O the infidelity of mans heart to God ward! Muſt God be put to his oath, and forced to ſweare? What matter of humiliation doth this miniſter unto us?
2. Much terrour muſt this needs miniſter to ſuch as Gods oath for vengeance, terrour.provoke God thus to ratifie vengeance againſt them. There can bee no hope for ſuch to eſcape. For, by an oath he that ſweares binds himſelfe to that which Quibus juravi in jrâ meâ. Magnus terror. Aug. Enar. in Pſal. 94.he ſweares to doe. The bonds of an oath are ſuch as theſe.
1. A calling of one to witneſſe for that which is ſpoken. Inſtance this forme of oath uſed by the Apoſtle, s2 Cor. 1. 23.I call God Bonds of an oath.for a record upon my ſoule.
2. An appointing of one to be a Iudge of what is ſaid, which this phraſe, tGal. 1. 20.before God I lie not, importeth.
3. A making of one to be an avenger, if that which is ſworne be not ſo. So did ſhe that thus ſwore, uRuth. 1. 17.The Lord do ſo to me, and more alſo, if ought but death part thee and me.
4. A pawning of ſomthing for the truth of that which is ſworne. Hee pawned the life of his Soveraigne, who thus ſwore, xGen. 42. 15.By the life of Pharaoh ye ſhall not goe hence, &c.
5. An imprecating of ſome evill to ones ſelfe, if it be not as he ſweares: as yNum. 5. 20.that forme of oath which by the law is preſcribed to a woman ſuſpected of uncleaneneſſe.
By all theſe bonds doth God in his oath binde himſelfe. For, z Having no greater to ſweare by, makes himſelfe witneſſe, judge, and avenger of what he ſweareth. aHeb. 6. 13.He ſwore by himſelfe. The things alſo which he pawnes are moſt precious to him, as, his bIer. 51. 14.Soule, his c—44. 26.Name, his dAm 8. 7.Excellency, his ePſal. 8. 35.Holineſſe, his fIſa. 62. 8.Right Hand, and Strong Arme, and here his gExo 17. 16.Throne. Yea, he doth alſo by way of hPſal 95. 11.Imprecation bind himſelfe, but ſo as the thing imprecated is never expreſt.
By the way note, that in all the formes of Gods oath he hath relation onelyonly to himſelfe: whereby is evicted that Iurat per ſemetipſum, ut vel juranti Deo, credas alium Deum omnino non eſſe Tertul adverſ. Marcion. lib. 2.there is none above him, none equall to him: no God but he.
Can any now imagine that that whereunto God ſo binds himſelf ſhall not be performed? Or that any can free themſelves from his wrath, when he is provoked to ſweare vengeance. O ye that thus far provoke the great Lord of heaven and earth, tremble and quake at his oath. Shall ſuch a Lyon roare, and the beaſts not tremble? The Kings wrath Loqui Dominum magnum eſt. Quanto magis jurare Deum? Iurantem hominem debes timere, ne propter ju rationem faciat quod contra voluntatem ejus eſt, quanto magis Deum qui nihil temerè iurare po left? Aug. Enar. in Pſal. 94.(even a mortall Kings) is as the roaring of a Lyon, Pro. 19. 12. as meſſengers of death, Prov. 16. 14. Who ſo provoketh him to anger ſinneth against his owne ſoule, Pro. 20. 2. What is it then to provoke the wrath of the King of Kings? Yea, ſo to provoke it, as to force him to ſweare in wrath that he wilbe avenged on them? It is a great matter for the Lord to threaten vengeance: how much more to ſweare it? We have cauſe to feare when a man ſweareth, leaſt by reaſon of his oath he do what he would not. How much more ought we to feare when God ſweareth, who ſweareth nothing raſhly?
3. It wilbe our wiſdome to take notice of ſuch particular ſinnes as God doth bind himſelfe to revenge, that we may the more carefully avoid them. They are ſuch as follow.
1. Infidelity, eſpecially when God hath plainely revealed his purpoſe, and made many promiſes, and by his oath confirmed the ſame, Deut. 1. 34.
2. Diſtruſtfulneſſe, and doubting of good ſucceſſe in that which God giveth in expreſſe charge, Deut. 4. 21.
3. Idolatry, whereby the true God is forſaken by thoſe to whom he hath made knowne himſelfe: and falſe gods ſet in his roome, Ier. 44. 26.
4. Profanation of holy things: which manifeſteth a diſreſpect of God himſelfe, Ezek. 5. 11.
5. Toleration of ſuch as are impious againſt God: whereby men are honoured above God, 1 Sam. 3. 14. & 2. 29.
6. Contempt of Gods word. For, what is that but a contempt of God himſelfe? Ier. 22. 23, 24.
7. Perjury: which is a kind of daring God to take vengeance, Ezek. 17. 16.
8. Light esteeme of Gods favours: and continuall murmuring at his providence, Pſal. 95. 11.
9. Indolency, and want of compaſſion at the miſeries of Gods people, Am. 6. 8.
10. Inſultations over the Church of Chriſt in her calamities, and when enemies prevaile againſt her, Zeph. 2. 9.
11. Oppreſſion of the poore, Am. 4. 1, 2. & 8. 7.
12. Vnſatiable cruelty againſt ſuch as fall into their clutches, Iſa. 14. 24.
§. 81. Of Gods undertaking his Churches quarrels.
III. *See §. 76.GOD undertakes his Churches quarrels. What elſe doth that import which aIoſ, 5 13, 14.Iehovah appearing to Ioſhua in the ſhape of a man with a ſword drawne in his hand, ſaid, As a captaine of the hoſt of the Lord am I now come? In this reſpect is the Lord ſtilled bExo. 15. 3.a man of warre: and the warres of Gods Church are ſtiled c1 Sam. 18. 17.warres of God. As one evidence herof, God hath oft viſibly ſhewed himſelfe by extraordinary meanes to fight for his: as dExo. 14 24, &c.in the Red Sea againſt Pharaoh: eIoſ 6. 20.by cauſing the walls of Iericho to fall downe without warlike inſtrument: f—10. 11.by caſting downe great ſtones from heaven upon enemies: gIudg 3. 31.by enabling a man to kill 600 with an oxe goade: h—7. 8. 12.by giving victory to 300 againſt an army that for multitude were as the ſand of the ſea: i—15. 8.by the extraordinary ſtrength which he gave to Sampſon: k1 Sam. 7. 10.by ſcattering enemies with a great thunder: l—14. 13, &c.by putting an army to flight at the ſight of two men: m2 Sam. 5. 24. 1 Sam. 14, 15. 2 King. 7. 6.by affrighting enemies when none appeare againſt them: nIudg. 7. 22. 2 Chro. 20. 22.by ſtirring up enemies that have conſpired together againſt the Church to deſtroy one another: o2 King. 19. 35by ſending his Angell to deſtroy in one night 185000. To theſe viſible evidences may be added ſuch phraſes in Scripture, as aſcribe the waging of warre, diſcomfiting of enemies, and victories to the Lord: ſuch as theſe, pExo. 14 25:The Lord fighteth. qIoſ. 10. 10.The Lord diſcomfited them, and ſlew them. rIudg 7, 22.The Lord ſet every mans ſword upon his neighbour. ſ1 Sam. 14 15.The earth was ſtricken with feare by God. t2 Sam 5. 24.the Lord goeth out to ſmite the host.
This the Lord doth both to encourage his people, and alſo to daunt his enemies.
Feare not therefore O Church and People of God. u2 Chro. 20. 20Believe in the Lord your God, ſo ſhall ye be establiſhed. xRom. 8. 31.If God be for us who can be againſt us? Well may we on this ground ſay, y2 King 6. 16.They that be with us are moe then they that be with them.
And know O ye enemies that you have more then fleſh and bloud to fight againſt you: even the Lord of hoſts in whoſe power your breath is. zAct. 9. 5.It is hard to kicke against the pricks.
§. 82. Of mans implacableneſſe making God implacable.
IIII. *See §. 76.THey are malicious and implacable enemies against whom Gods wrath is implacable. How malicious and implacable enemies the Amalekites were, againſt whom the Lord ſweareth, hath beene ſhewed a§. 2.before. Little (if at all) better minded were the bIer. 46. 18, 19.Egyptians, cZeph. 2. 9.Moabites, Ammonites, dIſa. 14. 24, 25.Aſſyrians, Babylonians, and other enemies againſt whom God with like reſolution did ſweare vengeance. Theſe phraſes, e1. Sam. 2. 30.They that deſpiſe me ſhalbe deſpiſed. fLev. 26. 23.If ye walke contrary to me, I will walke contrary to you, ſaith the Lord gIſal. 18. 26.With the froward thou wilt ſhew thy ſelfe froward. Theſe and ſuch like phraſes ſhew, that it is mens implacableneſſe which maketh God implacable.
When men are dealt withall according to their owne dealings, God is juſtified, and men are brought to ſight of their folly: whereby if repentance be not wrought in them, their blacke mouthes wilbe ſtopped, and kept from barking againſt Gods ſeverity.
1. They that deſire to underſtand Gods mind againſt them, let them take notice of their owne mind againſt God and his Church.
2. They that deſire that God ſhould ceaſe ſmiting before they are conſumed, let them ceaſe to provoke Gods wrath. Fire will burne ſo long as fuell is put to it.
§. 83. Of warres deſolations.
V. *See §. 76.WArre is a meanes of utter ruine. When God would have the Canaanites and other nations whoſe land he had given to Iſrael, to be rooted out, he ſtirres up aIoſ. 12. 6, 7.Moſes, Ioſhua, and the Iſraelites under them to make warre againſt them. By warre was b2 King. 17. 6.Samaria, and c—25. 9.Ieruſalem ruined. So was the ſpacious and populous city of Troy. It was made as an open field. The foure great Monarchs Iamſeges eſt ubi Troia fuit. Ovid. in Epiſt. Penel. ad Vliſſ.of the world that made many places in the world deſolate, did what they did in that kind by warre. Experience of all ages gives too evident proofe of the truth hereof.
Warres ordered by God are the inſtruments of his wrath and juſtice againſt impenitent people: in juſtice therefore they cauſe utter ruine in ſuch cauſes. As for men that delight in warre, they are commonly cruell and mercileſſe. No marvell then though they, where they can, utterly deſtroy all before them.
Should men now delight in warre? True it is that lawfull it is, and neceſſary, as hath beene proved *§. 13.before. But, it is mans iniquity that makes it a lawfull remedy, and neceſſary. It is directly contrary to comfortable and profitable peace, and in that reſpect ſtiled dIſa. 45. 7.evill.
O take heed of provoking the Lord of hoſtes, leaſt to other lighter judgements he adde this the heavieſt externall judgement, and ſo bring us to utter ruine. e2 … 14.Let me not fall into the hand of men. By men are warres waged. Whence it comes to paſſe that the evils there of are many and great.
§. 84. Of the continuance of Gods vengeance.
VI. *Sec §. 76.DIvine vengeance may continue age after age. The extent of that vengeance which is denounced in the law giveth evidence hereof: for it ſaith, that, aExo. 20. 5.—347. Num. 14. 18.The Lord viſiteth the ſins of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation. This in particular is threatned against bIſa. 13. 20. Ier. 50 39.Babel, that executed much cruelty upon the people of God. By a propheticall ſpirit the cPſal. 109. 13.Pſalmiſt imprecateth as much againſt the enemies of Chriſt.
1. dRom. 2. 4. 2 Pet. 3. 9.Gods patience and long ſuffering is one cauſe hereof. For, he doth not utterly deſtroy and cut off all at once that give him cauſe ſo to do, to try, if by forbearing the extremity of vengeance, they or their poſterity may be brought to repentance. Read Ier. 26. 18, 19, &c.
2. Gods jealouſie, and fiery indignation is alſo a cauſe of the continuance of vengeance. For, his wrath is ſuch a laſting fire, as if it be once kindled, it cannot eaſily be put out. The Law before the fore-named denunciation premiſeth this cauſe, *Exo. 20. 5.The Lord is a jealous God.
3. Mens perſiſting in their impiety, they and their poſterity is another cauſe hereof, and that the more immediate and meritorious cauſe: which eIer. 44. 21, 22.the Prophet expreſly upbraideth to the rebellious generation of the rebellious Iewes. The law mentioneth this cauſe in this clauſe, fExo. 20. 5.Of them that hate me.
Here have we a ready anſwer to ſuch as take boldneſſe to Eccl. 8. 11.themſelves, becauſe they behold not the whole wrath of God powred out at once. But here they may learne that God can have warre with his enemies generation after generation: now ſlaying ſome, then others, and at length all. It was above 400 yeares before all Amalek was utterly deſtroyed: yet here by Ioſhua were many ſlaine. After this, more by gIudg. 6. 33.Gideon, yea h—10. 17.more alſo by other Iudges. By Saul they were i1 Sam. 14. 48.once, and k—15. 7.againe ſmitten: and finally, by l—30. 17.David they were utterly vanquiſhed. And whereas, many generations after this, mEſt. 3. 1.Haman the Agagite, who was of this ſtocke, got ſome head, the Lord had warre with him, and deſtroyed n—7. 10.him, and o—9. 10.his poſterity.
Let children of wicked parents, and ſucceeding generations of impious predeceſſors take heed how they tread in the wicked foot-ſteps of ſuch as have gone before them: eſpecially where there are enſignes diſplaid of Gods battels againſt them. For, in ſuch caſes he uſeth to have warre from generation to generation. Be not as your wicked fore-fathers were. But ceaſe yet to ſin againſt God, that he may ceaſe to warre againſt you. We have worthy preſidents hereof in p2 Chro. 29. 6, &c.Hezekiah, and q—34. 20, &c.Ioſiah.
Hitherto of ſuch particular obſervations as ariſe from the words of this hiſtorie.
Now further, in that, Warre is here noted to be the means of Gods executing his fierce wrath on an obſtinate people, it is requiſite that the evills of warre be diſtinctly noted, and, for aggravation thereof the benefits of peace.