The Christian Governor in the Commonwealth and Private Families, Exposition 1 · Part 25
All the workers of iniquitie, &c.
THe wicked which the Prophet before spake of, he here, by an exegesi… or exposition, calleth the workers of iniquitie. By which he meaneth such as giuegive themselues ouer to wantonnesse, to worke al vncleanenesse euen with greedinesse, Eph. 4.19. and such as commit sinne, not vnwillingly, but with purpose of heart.
Doct.From whence this Doctrine is taught, that eueryevery doer of euill is not a wicked person, but he that doth euill, and will doe it. Dauid had many faults; so hauehave the best Men; for in many things we sinne a…, Iam. 3.2. yet they are not to be numbred among the wicked. Zacharie and Elizabeth were both sinners, yet the Scripture calleth them not wicked, but iust persons, and persons iust before God; that is, in Gods account iust; and concerning the Law vnreproueable; that is, vnreproueable by Man, Luk. 1.6. Paul likewise after his conuersion had a bodie of death, but no body of wickednesse, Rom. 7.24.
The Reasons.
First, the doer of euill may doe euill against his will, or as caried to it by some violence, and yet be a good Man, and so opposite to one that is wicked and doth purposely offend: for hee is no sinner, vvho in truth and deede desireth to be none.
Secondly, hee is a wicked person, not who sinneth, but vvho is of the trade and vvorke of sinne, and vvho is led by it, as a Dogge in a line after his Keeper. Also, hee that worketh sinne, 1 Ioh. 3.8. that is, that followeth it as a man doth his trade, is a wicked sinner. But hee that doth euill (sometimes) doth not so offend: and vvhen a good Man offends, …t is not his worke but the sinne that dwelleth in him, Rom. 7.17. and, can hee who thus is rather ouertaken by sinne then an ouertaker of sinne, be properly called wicked.
Vses.
Vse 1.Here we see what may be thought of those, who when they behold or heare of the frailties of Gods children, iudge them as wicked as themselues, vvho daily offend and with greedinesse; and excuse their wilfull wickednesses by the vnwilling slippes of those that are sory that they doe euill. But it is one thing to hauehave sinne in vsus, and another thing to hauehave it raigning in vsus, as it doth in the workers of iniquitie, who giuegive their willes, affections, and members, as seruants vntounto it. Indeede no man can say his heart is cleane, Pro. 20.9. and sinne dwelleth, and hath dwelt, and will dwell in the best that euer vvas, is, or shall be begotten by Man. But sinne is in the godlie as an ill Tennant, that they would but cannot put out: and the godlie are in sinne as a Malefactor in prison, that is in hold, and vvould be at libertie. So it is not with the wicked; for they, without striuing, willingly serue sinne, make it their trade and occupation, and delight in nothing more then to doe euill. They liue by it, as a man doth by his meate, and walke in it ordinarily, as Trauellers by the way. Sinne raigneth in them, Rom. 6.12. and, by such regiment, expelleth all voluntary goodnesse, it selfe onelyonly hauing the Kingdome and glory. They wallow in sinne, and rise not from vnrighteousnes. And these the Prophet calleth the wicked of the land.
An instruction (therefore) to put difference betweene the sinnes of Gods children, and the works of iniquitie in Saethans children. Both may doe euill, but both doe not euill in like measure, nor with like minde: therefore the one sort …re, and may be called the doers of euill; the other wicked. The place followeth, out of which the Prophet purposeth to destroy these wicked of the Land.