The Christian Governor in the Commonwealth and Private Families, Exposition 1 · Part 22
Betimes I will destroy all the wicked. &c.Ver. 8.
THE Prophet, as a cleane soule, comming out of the hand of the Creatour, and entring into the Realme (left by Saul) as into a bodie altogether vncleane, and polluted with great filth of much iniustice and wickednesse that then abounded, doth heere take a bond of himselfe presently, by Gods helpe, to roote out wicked persons, and to purge that whole bodie; where, without delay (as it were rising early) he promiseth (betimes) to set vponupon the worke with purpose to effect the cure of the holy Citie, and whole land. And here he resembleth the Sun in the heauens, which (as soone as it riseth, or before it appeare) chaseth the darknes before it, and is cloathed with glory, as with a Roabe: for so, as soone as he came to the Kingdome, or before he was placed in it (as the Sunne of that Firmament) like a right Noble Starre in an obscure Land, hee gaue forth (as his beames of approach) these holy promises, which he holily obserued so soone as with the consent of all the Tribes, hee was made and confirmed King. Further, he saith that betimes, or, morning after morning, he will destroy, or vtterly cut off all the wicked of the Land Hee saith all, without acception of persons, or exception of Men. And for the wicked, he sheweth in the words following what he meaneth by them; as namely, workers of iniquitie: and these hee will with his morning care dispatch out of the Church and Common-wealth of Israel; that is, he will presently so doe, and from time to time. This is the meaning of the words: wherin we may consider (further) the manner of his reformation; it shall be instantly done, and constantly followed; and the obiect or substance of the same: and this in the punishment it selfe, or persons whom he will punish: the punishment is destroying or cutting off: the persons are, all the wicked of the Land; whom by exposition, he calleth the workers of iniquitie: for the manner of reformation here promised, it is promised that it shall be made betimes, Doct.or without delay.
From whence the Doctrine is: Magistrates and other Gouernours, must betimes without putting off, proceede against the wicked in their greater or lesser charges, at home and in the Common-wealth: that is, good and quick iustice must be done vponupon euil doers whosoeuer they be, that are within their authoritie, as it were gates: and they whom God hath bid to rise vp to giuegive iudgement, must say, presently, by Gods grace, I will commaund iustice, and establish peace; Vertue shall be my first care, and forthwith I will banish vngodlinesse. So Iosua rose earely in the morning, to finde out the trespasses of Achan, Iosh. 7.16. He lay not all day in bed, when Israel had committ…d an execrable sinne: Hauing found out the sinne hee executed the Malefactor the same day. S…l…mon, Dauids sonne, prayed for this Wis…dom…, and obtained it, 1 Kin. 3.7. For, so soone as hee was set vponupon the throne of Dauid his Father, and God had established the Kingdome in his hand, hee proceeded to sentence against diuers …icked persons, whom his Father had spoken of, to doe vntounto them according to the wise…ome of his heart, 1 Kings 2.24.26.31.66.44.45.46. and Iehu is sayd to be zealous for the LORD, 2 King. 10.16… though (otherwayes) no good King, because hee beganne vvith the Lords sword in his hand to destroy wicked Iehoram, and to roote out the vvhole house of Ahab, and worship of Baal, 2 King. 9.24.33. & 10.1.2.3.7.8.10 11.17.25.28. A…a did not put off to doe good therefore he is said to hauehave done that that was good and right in the eyes of the Lord, 2 Chron. 14.2.3. though his end was not like his beginning, Chap. 16.2.10.12. For, when sentence against an euill worke is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of men will be fully set in them to doe euill, Eccles. 8.11. In other things (as the saying is) occasion i… bald behind … but here men may see her braines, if they who hauehave the opportunitie and calling to punish vice, deferre to doe it, and take not hold of her forel…ckes. Besides, the greatest hauehave no Patent, or Charter of their life: what care (then) should they hauehave, as GOD hath called them; to walke to day, and to morrow, and the third day, euen till they hauehave finished their course with ioy?
The Reasons.
First, they are not sure of to morrow, and therefore the good they are able to doe, they should doe it with the present day, redeeming the season, Ephes. 5.16. Secondly, punishments are as medicines, which (if they be kept too long) hazard the patient, and loose their worke: and Magistrates are as Phisicians, who must not let a disease goe too long, lest by sufferance, it proue incurable, which might hauehave beene holpen by timely ministring. Delay in common matters is dangerous, but vnspeakeably banefull in the case of punishment. For, in the time of so large intermission, the wicked will make friends, and the offence so borne vvith, get a protection. And, as a small fire which at the first beginning, may bee put out with a handfull of dust, yet (neglected for some time) so rageth against houses and vvhole Townes, that it preuaileth against, not onelyonly a great deale of vvater brought vntounto it in vessels from Welles and Conduits, but sometimes against Ponds and Riuers: so an euill member, vvhichwhich at first might hauehave, vvith small hurt to a multitude, beene remoued, by the diligent hand of a good Magistrate; yet suffered long vvithout punishment, and hauing by such vnmercifull sufferance, gotten a deepe root and long growth of acquaintance, among those vvho are of good sort and note in a Countrey, cannot but breede great offence, and be occasion of much euill before he be, or can be cast out. Thirdly, by deferring of punishment, Mens heate, (that vvhichwhich they had against the sinne) vvill grow colde, and that fault, vvhichwhich they thought to be vvorthie of sharpe punishment, vvill in time seeme, or passe, as vnworthie of any punishment. And not to punish the wicked speedily, vvhat is it but by such euill impunitie, to set them at a greater libertie to doe hurt, as so many Lions, and Beares, and Beares-whelpes, let loose among harmelesse Sheepe and Lambes.
Vses.
An instruction to Gouernours with a ioyfull quicknesse to seeke after God, Vse 1.and not to delay, or put off, to keepe his Commandements: so will they with more speed and courage set vponupon offenders. Psal. 119.60. For, wherefore is sinne so spared, and they who commit it so seldome and sparingly punished, but because they so little feare God, who hauehave receiued charge and power to proceede against such to punishment and vengeance for euill doing? When did iniquitie more multiply in Israel, then when there was no Ruler in it? Iudg. 17.6. It was not vvithout Rulers: but as good there had beene none as such, seeing they vvere (spiritually) so sluggish and (generally) so naught that eueryevery man did that which was good in his owne eyes. The Scripture is plentifull in examples of this kinde.
Vse 2.A reproofe (therefore) to lingring Rulers) who, being Magistrates but for a yeere in Cities and Townes, passe that whole time without drawing the sword of iustice vponupon the sinne of any Malefactour; and who so long beare vvith the wicked, (of vvhom there is little hope that they will euer proue better) that they doe nothing but multiply offenders; where their calling is to visite for faults. Such in their owne causes are soone stirred, and yet they can beare with outragious euill liuers, and such as they know long to hauehave liued in drunkennesse, fornication, and other deadly enormities. And so farre off are their purposes from cutting off the wicked betimes from the Common-wealth if they be Magistrates, and from their owne houses if they be Masters of families, that neither betimes, nor at any time doe they with any good conscience, performe this dutie. The cause of this in some is the euill that raigneth in themselues, which therefore maketh, that they cannot impeach the sway of it in others. For, who shall punish idolatrie, when Ieroboam (he who is King) is giuen vntounto it? I King. 12.28.29. in some the cause is more feare of man then of God. For, because they shall be Maiors and Bailiffes but for a yeere, and after their yeere be as another man, therefore (while they are in office) they will vnserue GOD… and serue flatterers, that they may not offend. To such wee may say: who art thou that fearest mortall Man (that must be giuen to the wormes, and fearest not the glorious God that spread out the heauens? Esa. 51.12.13. But we feare too much, and where we should not, because we feare too little or nothing, where wee should feare onelyonly, or specially, euen the Lord who is to be feared. If (therefore) we would sanctifie the Lord in our hearts, and m…ke him our feare, Esa. 8.13, wee should neither feare so much, nor vainely as we doe.
But the Prophet will not onelyonly presentlyDoct. 2. punish offenders, but constantly punish them. From vvhence the Doctrine is: as Magistrates should not put off to reforme vice: so, after they hauehave begun well, they must not be wearie till they hauehave finished their course. The summe is; good is to be done constantly, and not by starts. It is the Apostles exhortation: where he not onelyonly exhorteth to a continuance in well doing, but also promiseth from the Lord, a reward to those who continue well-doers. Gal. 6.9. Also, the fruit of the tree of life is promised, not to Souldiers, but to Conquerours, no… to him that fighteth, but to such as ouercome. Apoc. 2.7. The meaning is; vvee are Souldiers, and our life is militant; and the militant life of a Christian must be, not a striuing but conquering life, if he will be crowned. Hee vvho continueth to the end, (saith he, who is the beginning and the end) shall be saued. Matth. 24.13. And the labourers in the Vineyard had their pe…ny of reward in merciemercy, not in the morning, vvhen they begun well, but at night, vvhen they had done their worke. Matth. 20.8. And vvherefore vvas the taile of the sacrifice commanded to be offered, but to teach vsus to sacrifice to God, not onelyonly the beginning of a good vvorke, but the taile or end? Leuit. 3.9.11. Wee hauehave a saying, that the end makes all, as (contrarily) the vvant of a good end marres all: and it is a true saying, that constancie and continuance in well doing, doth eIerom. Finis corenat opus.crowne the worke.
The Reasons.
Many hypocrites are hot at hand, vvho can humble themselues for a day: Esa. 58.5: but the true Christian (and he onelyonly) keepeth his heate till the last field be fought, and till he receiue the Garland of his labours in glory. Againe, to begin a thing is pleasant, and varietie delighteth vvhile things are daintie and new. For, if eueryevery day vvere as our marriage-day, vvho vvould be vvearie? Secondly, perseuerance is the Garland of our race: and he is crowned, not that runneth, but that so runneth, that is, so by his patience to the end, that he may obtaine. 1 Cor. 9 24. For in this case, as good, nay better, neuer a vvhit, as neuer the better.
Vses.
Vse 1.A reproofe to those Magistrates, who are diligent vvhen they (first) enter into office, or, till they be a little better acquainted with the ayre of the place. After, vvhen vvith Asa, they hauehave taken the gowte of sloath in their doings (vvhichwhich is the sicknesse of letting all alone, a sicknesse familiar to Towne-Magistrates, if to any) they fall quite away by despaire and idlenesse. 2 Chron. 16.12. And (heere) some are as Nabuchadnezzars image (being images of gouernment rather then liuing Gouernours;) the head was gold, the armes siluer, the thighes brasse, the feet yron and clay, and so the neerer the end the worse stil. Dan. 2.32.33. Which may be spoken (also) of some Preachers, who in the first or second yeere or monethmonth of their incumbence, like a bottell (at the first pulling out of the stopple) teach profitably and with full-…unning; after, more seldome and distractedly, as with a smaller streame and flower running; and at last, drop after drop, if the vessell be not so emptie of spirit and full of earth, that it vvill runne no longer. But in the iourney of godlinesse there must be no giuing ouer, nor in the race of our callings. When vvee are in a good way, vvee must hold on to our wayes end, not looking backe with Lots wife, much lesse going backe with Demas. For, as soone as vvee cease to be better, vve begin to be worse.
An instruction to those, that cast to be Officers in Cities or Townes, to cast their charges, like wise builders, Luk 14.28.29. least beginning, and not able to make an end, God cast them off. They who desire the sweet of an Office, must take the sauce of the labour vvith it: and he that would not be damned for lacke of good gouernment, or for guilt of euill, must consider vvhat it is to be a Gouernour before he desire rule. For, to whom much is committed, of him much shall be required. Luk. 12.48. He that hath the fiue talents of gouernment, shall answere for more then he vvho hath but the two, or one, of a more priuate life. Matth. 25.20.22.25. I doubt not (Christian Lord) but GOD hath put into your heart the consideration of your great dutie, to doe it in feare before him: vvhichwhich maketh you so earely and so late to be present (your selfe) in Court at all Terme-causes, and so, as nothing can passe shufflingly, but (as it vvere) openly in the Court or at the Table before an honourable and reuerent Session. But remember vvhat your Sauiour saith: Be constant, and I will giuegive thee the Crowne of life. Apoc. 2.10. It is the propertie of true vertue, not to begin well but to end well. And yee to vvhom God hath committed much, consider what I say, and the Lord (as the Apostle speaketh) giuegive you vnderstanding in all things. So much for the Prophets manner of reformation, the matter followeth.