Exposition of Hosea 6, Exposition · Verse 5
VERSE. 5.
Therefore hauehave I cut downe by the Prophets, I hauehave ſlaine them by the words of my mouth, and thy iudgements were as the light that goeth foorth.
HAuing heard of their ſinue, now wee are to ſpeake of their puniſhment, which the Lord inflicted vponupon them for the ſame; namely, fearefull deſtruction and vtter ouerthrow.
In ſpeaking of their puniſhment, we are hence to obſerue foure things.
Parts of the Text.Firſt, the Author of it, I, that is the Lord himſelfe.
Secondly, the greatneſſe of it, Cut downe and ſlaine them.
Thirdly, the Inſtruments the Lord vſeth, My Prophets, my word.
Fourthly, the equity of it; namely, that the Lord made his iudgements as cleare as the noone day vntounto them, ſo as they could not plead ignorance, or want of knowledge.
Therefore hauehave I cut downe.
Therefore, that is, becauſe I hauehave on my part done what I can to reclaim you, and bring you to ſome good paſſe; but you refuſed, and hardned your hearts, and contemned my words: for then the cauſe of Gods iudgements is their rebellion againſt the meanes, and their contempt of the Word of God, and preaching of his Prophets. Doct. 1
Then hence wee learne, what a grieuous ſinne it is to contemne the meanes of ſaluation,To contemn the meanes of ſaluation is a grieuous ſinne, and neuer goes vnpuniſhed. Gen. 7.10.11.12. to contemne the Goſpell of Chriſt Ieſus, it neuer goes vnpuniſhed. When Noah had preached repentance to the people of the old World, for the ſpace of one hundred and twenty yeares together, and the people had deſpiſed the ſame; what followed in the end, but a fearefull deſtruction, euen a generall Deluge, which ſwept them all away? When Lot ſpake to his ſonnes in Law which married his daughters, and warned them to eſcape out of Sodom, for the iudgements of God were at hand, to bee layde vponupon that City: The Text ſayth,Gen. 19.14 that Hee ſeemed to his Sonnes in Law as though hee had mocked: but what followed, did not they periſh with thoſe ſinnefull Sodomites? And Iob makes this one of the marks of a reprobate: They ſay vntounto God, Depart from vsus, Iob. 21.14.for wee deſire not the knowledge of thy wayes: not that there are any ſo deſperately wicked as to vſe ſuch ſpeeches againſt the Lord: but the meaning is, that men declare ſo much by their liues, they liue in open contempt of the gracious meanes of their ſaluation, whatſoeuer they pretended in words, their deeds declared, that they cared not to bee acquainted with Gods will. To the ſame purpoſe is that complaint in the Pſalme My people would not heare my voyce, and Iſrael would none of mee. Pſal. 81.11.12The Lord had often ſpoken to that people by his ſeruants, the Prophets, but they regarded them not; much like to our people in theſe times: but what followed? the Lord would neuer put vp this great ingratitude at their hands, but ſayth in the verſe following,Ver. 12.1.1 So I gaue them vp vntounto the hardnes of their owne hearts, and they walked in their owne councels. And this is further cleared by that ſpeech of Almighty God by his Prophet Ieremy, where hee ſayth,Ier. 7.13. I roſe vp earely, and spake vntounto you: but when I ſpake, yee would not heare me; neyther when I called, would ye anſwere. Behold here the deſperate eſtate and condition of this people, that notwithſtanding God had dealt ſo graciouſly with them from time to time to offer vntounto them ſo many gracious oportunities of their ſaluation, following them, as it were, at the heeles with the ſame; ſometimes by his Word, ſometimes by his mercies, ſometimes by his iudgements, yet they neglected them al, they contemned thē al. But afterward the Lord made good the words of his ſeruants, he brought his iudgements vponupon them and their Temple, Verſe. 14.in the which they ſeemed ſo much to truſt vppon the Lord made it as Shilo, and as the ſame Prophet complaineth in another place, That the wayes of Sion lamented, Lam. 1.4.becauſe no man came to their ſolemne feaſts: all her gates are deſolate, the Prieſts ſigh, &c. It was not their outward priviledges that would now ſtand them in ſtead, that they were the poſterity of Abraham, that they had amongſt them the Arke of Gods couenant, the Mercy ſeat,Pſal. 132.14. the Temple of the Lord; and that the Lord had appointed that for his reſt for euer. Seeing they contemned his Prophets,Ier. 6.10. delighted not in Gods voyce, but tooke pleaſure in vnrighteouſneſſe. And this is that our Sauiour layes to the charge of the people of Ieruſalem, Mat. 23.37.How often would I hauehave gathered you together, and yee would not: Behold now, your habitation is loft deſolate: Mat. 11.21.Yea, our Sauiour Chriſt tels them of Capernaum, that it ſhall bee eaſier for the land of Sodom in the day of iudgement, then for them: ſo then we may ſafely conclude this doctrine with that ſpeech of the Apoſtle,2. Theſ. 2.10.11.12. Becauſe they receiue not the louelove of the truth, that they may be ſaued, therefore God will ſend them ſtrong deluſions, that they ſhould beleeue lyes, that all they may bee damned that beleeue not the truth, but take pleaſure in vnrighteouſneſſe. The Lotd graunt vsus more ſanctified hearts, that wee may make better vſe of his gracious oportunities that hee doth offer vntounto vsus, that for the time to come, we may make more righter ſteps to his kingdome
This Doctrine maketh,
Firſt, for the iuſt reproofe of all Papiſts, and all ſuch Ʋſe. 1 as are popiſhly affected, as ſuch as the Lord may moſt iuſtly taxe with this great ingratitude of contemning the meanes of their owne ſaluation, that will rather hearken to erronious and hereticall doctrine, then to the truth of God contained in his holy Word. Let them ſtand neuer ſo much of their works of piety and deuotion, as Faſtings, prayer, almes, &c. they are without the Word, but abhomination to the Lord, the Lord hates them, and his ſoule abhorres them, being not done in faith, repentance, and true obedience, as Salomon ſayth, He that turneth away his eare from hearing the Law, euen his prayer ſhall be abhominable. But oh, the iuſt iudgement of God vponupon them, they hauehave refuſed to embrace the louelove of the truth, and hauehave beleeued lies, and therefore it is a righteous thing with God, to giuegive them ouer to hardneſſe of heart, and rebrobate minds to be deluded by Sathan, and ſo to periſh with him for euer.
Secondly, this Doctrine doth nearely concerne Ʋſe. 2 vsus all. Wee ſee here, what a fearefull ſinne it is before the Lord to contemne his Word, to neglect his Doctrine, and lightly to eſteeme of the meanes of our ſaluation, it is of that nature that the Lord cannot at any hand put it vp, but will moſt ſurely puniſh the contempt therof, as we hauehave ſeene before by the examples of the old world, the Sodomites, the people of the Iewes and the like, And yet alas, wee ſee it a ſinne too too common, ſo as men doe generally neglect & contemne, if not deſperately deſpiſe the means of their ſaluation, the moſt glorious Goſpell of Ieſus Chriſt, making no account of it, but trample it vnderunder foot, & eſteeme no more of the Word preached, then they do of their old ſhooes, they wil not go to the dore to heare it, but rather lye vponupon their beds, ſit by the fire, talke in the ſtreetes, play in their bowling Allies, and to doe any baſe or vaine thing then to come into Gods houſe to heare his Word, whereby their poore ſoules might be ſaued. Oh horrible impietie! Well I remember that Saul obſerued Dauids ſeat when hee was wanting: much more doth the Lord take notice of our emptie ſeates and ſolitary Pewes when wee are wanting. Will you heare how the Lord hath grieuouſly puniſhed ſuch contempt, yea the neglect of holy meanes: and hath not the Lord met with vsus for this ſinne? yes queſtionleſſe, as the plague and peſtilence is ſent for ſin, ſo I am perſwaded no one ſinne of the land hath been a greater cauſe to prouoke the Lord to anger, and to plague our land ſo often with the peſtilence, and other grieuous iudgements of vnſeaſonable weather, & the like, then our long, our generall, and our continuall contempt of his moſt holy Word, and prophaning of his Sabbaths: ſo as the Lord may ſay to vsus, for this cauſe hauehave I cut you downe, euen by hundreds and thouſands, for the contempt of the gracious means I hauehave vſed to do you good. Oh then I beſeech you in the feare of God, let vsus lay this to heart: and ſeeing the Lord will neuer ſuffer the contempt of his Word goe vnpuniſhed: let vsus now at laſt repent of this ſinne; let vsus eſteeme better of the Word, let vsus receiue it, beleeue it, and bee more carefull to heare it, otherwiſe if wee liue in the open contempt of it, as now wee doe; I ſay vntounto you in the name of the Lord, and from the warrant of his ſacred Word, by the which wee ſhall al bee iudged at the laſt day,Mat. 11.21. that it ſhall bee eaſier for the men of Sodom & Gomor then for vsus: yea, the time may come when wee ſhall weepe and howle, crie out and ſay, Oh that I were a Sodomite, Oh that I had beene borne one of Gomorah, and enuy the felicity euer of the Sodomites in compariſon of our own torments,Heb. 2.3. If now wee neglect ſo great ſaluation.
Thirdly and laſtly, ſeeing the Word preached and taught is the ordinary meanes of our ſaluation, and the neglect and contempt thereof doth draw downe Ʋſe. 3 ſuch heauy iudgements vponupon vsus as we hauehave heard before; how may this teach vsus all according to godly Salomon his aduice, to take heed to our feet when we come into Gods houſe, and as our Sauiour ſayth,Eccl. 4.17. Mat. 13. Luk. 8.18. to take heed how wee heare? It is not to bee accounted a light matter that we hauehave this liberty to come into Gods houſe, that wee may heare him ſpeake vntounto vsus in his Word: for if wee benefite not by theſe holy exerciſes of religion, and draw nearer vntounto heauen, wee are made by them the more hardned in ſinne to our greater confuſion at the laſt: let vsus not therefore come for faſhion ſake or for cuſtome, but for conſcience ſake before God, & in obedience to his commadement. And to this end wee muſt learne to prepare our ſelues before wee come, by heartie prayer to God, both that he would direct the tongue of the Miniſter his ſeruant, that hee may deliuer the Word truely and powerfully, as alſo that hee would open our hearts as hee did the heart of Lydea, that wee may attend vntounto thoſe things that ſhall bee taught; which godly preparation if it were carefully obſerued of our hearers, it could not bee after ſo much and long teaching, they ſhould remaine ſo ignorant and barren of Gods Worke, as generally they bee. Well, to conclude this Doctrine, let this be for our preſent inſtruction, that if we would bee free from the accuſation of wicked, graceles and prophane perſons; let vsus labour to bee willing and well affected hearers, that wee come with hungring and thirſting deſires vntounto the ſpirituall food of our ſoules, that it may bee vntounto vsus a ſauor of life vntounto a better life: and that the Lord may neuer bee conſtrained to vſe the ſame, as here hee did to this people; namely, as an inſtrument to Cut downe, and a meanes of our further condemnation at the laſt; would wee not hauehave beene loath to hauehave beene in Sodom, when God rained downe fire and brimſtone from heauen vponupon their heads? Oh Lord, how ſhould wee quake and tremble to thinke of this ſlaughter, that the Lord threatneth here, namely, To cut downe by his Prophets, and to ſlay by the words of his mouth.
I hauehave cut downe.
IN that the Lord profeſſeth here that he was the author of their puniſhment,The Author of this iudgement. and did inflict this iudgement on them for their ſinnes and rebellions: Wee learne hence this point of Doctrine:
Doct. 2 That the Lod is the Author of all puniſhments for ſinne;The Lord is the author of all puniſhments for ſinne. though hee vſe ſecondary cauſes, and ſome outward meanes; yet hee is the Author of all iudgements and puniſhments vponupon men and women: Indeed hee vſeth ſometime men to do his will, as his rod to puniſh his people: for ſo is Aſhur called the Lords rodde,Eſay. 10.5. to whip his people, and his Staffe to beat them. The Lord vſeth ſometimes the Deuils themſelues to afflict his people,Iob. 1. as wee ſee in Iobs affliction, yet ſo, as the Lord was the chiefe Author thereof, the Deuill but an inſtrument: Euen ſo, al iudgements come from God, hee impoſeth and inflicts them on his people for their ſinnes. Excellent is that place of the Prophet Eſay to this purpoſe; But now, Eſay. 43.1.2.3thus ſayth the Lord that created thee O Iacob, and hee that formed thee O Iſrael, feare not for I hauehave redeemed thee, I hauehave called thee by name, thou art mine, when thou paſſeſt thorough the waters, I will bee with thee, and thorough the flouds, that they ſhall not ouerflow thee, &c. And againe, Shall there be any euill in the City, and the Lord hath not done it? This point is fully declared by Moſes, when hee ſayth; If yee will not obey mee, nor doe all theſe commandements, Leu. 26.16.17.I will appoint ouer you fearefulneſſe, a conſumption, and a burning ague, the ſword, famine and peſtilence to deſtroy you, and to make you few in number. Let this ſchoole vsus if the Lord ſo deale with vsus: If the Croſſe come to vsus as a thing iudged fit of God: Let vsus not ſet him a ſtint to ſay, thus much will I beare, and no more; but leaue the ſame to his owne good pleaſure, expecting, and enduring euen one vponupon the necke of another, taking hold of his promiſe by a liuely faith, that Hee will neuer lay more vponupon vsus then wee ſhall bee able to beare; but will giuegive vsus a happy iſſue vntounto them all, that wee ſhall gaine more in the Spirit, then we can loſe in the fleſh, and that the Croſſe in Gods due time ſhall depart to our aduantage, to leaue a bleſſing behind it. This Doctrine hauehave I cleared in the firſt verſe of this Chapter; Let this ſuffice for this Text. Wee come to the vſes of it.
Let vsus all take knowledge of this Doctrine, that Vſe. 1 the Lord is the Author of all puniſhments whatſoeuer, by what inſtrument ſoeuer it pleaſeth him to vſe for the accompliſhing of the ſame; Iob the faithfull ſeruant of the Lord acknowledgeth this, when he ſaith The Lond giueth, the Lord taketh away: yet wee know that it was the Deuil and wicked men, whom the Lord vſed as his inſtruments to afflict this his holy ſeruant. And let vsus learne to acknowledge, that all puniſhments ſent of God come from his hand, and he impoſeth and layeth them vponupon vsus, eyther as puniſhments of our ſinnes,Iob. 2.10. as heere in this Text, or elſe for the triall of our faith, patience, and the like graces. But of this before.
Secondly, this may ſerue to condemne thoſe fooliſh Vſe. 2 men that impute all to fortune and chance, all their troubles, miſeries, croſſes, ſickneſſes, loſſes, and the like that happen vntounto them in their bodies, children, goods, cattell, they impute them all to blind Fortune and chance, and neuer looke vp to the hand of God, to ſee his angry countenance turned towards thē by reaſon of their ſinnes and horrible impieties. Here is Ignorance with a witneſſe: Where is the prouidence of God all this while, which rules and gouernes all things that are in heauen and earth? Oh let vsus labour to reforme this common fault amongſt vsus, and looke higher euen vntounto God himſelfe, from whence they come.
This knowledge and acknowledging that God doth inflict his iudgements, puniſhments, and afflictions vponupon vsus for our ſinnes; it is a good meanes to bridle vsus, and to keepe vsus from impatiency, murmuring and muttering againſt the Lord. The Lord ſent Shemi to curſe;2. Sam. 16.10. who dare ſay then, why doeſt thou curſe mee? ſo Iob, The Lord giueth, the Lord taketh away, bleſſed bee the name of the Lord: And the want of this, is the cauſe why men bee ſo impatient in ſickneſſe and miſery, becauſe they do not conſider that it is the hand of the Lord layd vponupon them for their ſinnes; and ſo they neuer make any vſe at al of Gods iudgements, thinking eyther that they come by chance, lucke, or fortune; or elſe looke onelyonly vponupon the outward means and inſtrument, and not vntounto the Lord himſelfe. Oh let vsus learne to bee wiſe, to lift vp our eyes higher, to ſee that it is the hand of the Lord: I draw my ſword, I kill and make aliue, I ſend the plague and peſtilence to conſume & to deſtroy. And the knowledge of this is a good meanes to humble vsus, and to make vsus to confeſſe our ſinnes, that the Lord is holy in all his wayes, and righteous in all his works, the which is acknowledged by the Prophet Dauid, when hee ſayth, I know O Lord, Pſal. 119.75.that thy iudgements are right, and that thou haſt afflicted me iuſtly. And if wee can but once truely apprehend this, that it is the Lord that ſtriketh, it will make vsus euen to bleſſe God, when hee ſeemes to deale with vsus moſt hardly, giuing him the prayſe of equity, as Dauid doth, here acknowledging that his ſharpeſt corrections are not ſo great as our ſinnes. And theſe two things will bee great motiues to patience in trouble, if wee conſider that the ſame affliction is meaſured out vntounto vsus from the Lord, Who is faithfull, and will lay no more vponupon vsus, then we are able to beare. And next, that our ſtripes are not according to our ſinnes: for if he ſhould beate vsus with as many rods as wee hauehave grieued him with ſinnes, hee ſhould adde yet ten times more vntounto our greateſt afflictions.
I hauehave cut downe and ſlaine them.
THe ſecond point, is the indgement and puniſhment it ſelfe, and the manner of it,The iudgement it ſelfe. which ſhewes that the ſame is no ſmall iudgement, but a very grieuous puniſhment, For I hauehave cut downe and ſlaine them: as though the Lord ſhould hauehave ſayd; whereas they would not receyue my Doctrine, nor beleeue my Word, that they might bee brought to repentance, and ſo bee ſaued. I hauehave now cut them down & ſlaine their ſoules by my Word, and wounded them euen to death eternall: for as my Word which I would hauehave made the ſweet ſauour of life vntounto life, is now by their rebellion and ſtubbornneſſe turned vntounto them to bee the wofull ſauour of death vntounto death
Hence wee may obſerue, that of all the iudgements Doct. 3 of God that befal a man in this life, there is none more grieuous or feareful, then an hard heart, that wil not ſtoupe to Gods Word,Hard heart the greateſt iudgement that can bee layde vponupon man. nor profite by the meanes of ſaluation. Oh, it is the heauieſt iudgement that God can lay vponupon man in this life; and it is a ſure and certain fore-runner of eternall condemnation in the end: for when the Word of God doth light vponupon a hard heart, oh, it wounds it and kils it, and giues many a mortall and deadly wound, though the wretched ſoule of the ſinner ſee it not, or feele it not. The Scriptures affoord vsus diuers examples, and all to confirme the truth of this point vntounto vsus.Gen. 4.5.6. This is clearely to be ſeene in the example of Cain; how did the Lord deale with Cain, both before hee had murdered his brother, and afterward, and all to hauehave kept him, if it had been poſſible, from that moſt horrible ſinne of his? Before how did God deale with him; Cain, why is the countenance of thy face changed? If thou doeſt well, ſhalt thou not be rewarded? If thou doest euill, ſin lyeth at thy dore. Had not this beene inough, if Cain had had but the leaſt ſparke of grace, to hauehave kept him and ſtayed him from committing that horrible ſinne? but when this preuailed not, but Cain would needs ſhed the innocent bloud of righteous Abel; How did the Lord deale with Cain afterwards? Cain, where is thy brother Abel? but what now, did Cains heart relent? did hee confeſſe his ſinne with Dauid, and ſay, I hauehave ſinned. Did hee reſolue into teares of repentance with Peter? No, no, but rather deſpiſed God to his face, ſaying; Am I my Brothers Keeper? Oh fearefull and horrible ſpeech! What, was his conſcience ſo ſeared, that neyther the ſhame of the world, the innocent bloud of his ſlaine brother, nor the glorious preſence of the Lord could any whit aſtoniſh him? Behold here an example indeed of a heart that is hardned; and let the remembrance of the ſame euer poſſeſſe our ſoules, to make vsus watchfull ouer our owne hearts, how we euer contemn the means of grace when the ſame is offered vntounto vsus. This is to be clearely ſeen in Pharaoh, vntounto whom the Lord ſent ſeuerall plagues and iudgements vponupon him & his people, one vponupon the necke of another,Exod. 9. ten in number, yet all would not humble Pharaoh, Exod. 7.23.but anſwered ſtoutly, ſaying; I know not the Lord, neyther will I let the people of Iſrael goe. This is taught by Iob, Iob. 18.5. Zeph. 1.17.when hee ſayth, The light of the vngodly ſhall bee darkned, and the wicked ſhall become blind, becauſe they hauehave ſinned againſt the Lord. And againe, Their hearts being fat, their eyes heauy, and their eares ſhut, they ſhall heare indeed, but ſhall not vnderſtand, they ſhall ſee, and not perceyue. And the Prophet Ieremie doth mow liuely ſet out vntounto vsus the wofull eſtate and condition of ſuch a ſoule that is thus forſaken of the Lord, and giuen ouer to ſinne, ſaying;Ier. 7.16. & 11.14. Becauſe you hauehave done theſe things, and I ſpake vntounto you, & you would not heare, therefore thou ſhalt not pray for this people, nor lift vp, cry, nor entreat mee, for I will not heare. Though Noah and Iob ſhould intreat mee, though Moſes & Samuel ſhould pray vntounto mee, yet will I not heare, neyther bee intreated. This is a lamentable eſtate, this is a fearfull iudgement, for a man to bee thus left vntounto himſelfe, giuen vp to Sathan, and forſaken of God for euer; Oh wofull is the eſtate of ſuch a one: let that exhortation of the Apoſtle bee precious with vsus,Heb. 3.12.13 Take heed brethren leſt at any time there bee in any of you an euil heart, and vnfaithfull, to depart away from the liuing God. And of the Gentiles it is ſayd,Epheſ. 4.17. that they liued in the Ʋanity of their minds, hauing their cogitations darkned, ſtrangers from the life of God, through the ignorance that is in them, becauſe of the hardneſſe of their hearts. So that you ſee that a hard heart, it is the moſt fearefulleſt iudgement of God that can befall a man in this life; for it is capable of no good, eyther by the Word preached, promiſes, or threatnings, mercies, or iudgments. The Word of God it is mighty in operation,Ier. 23.…9. it Diuideth the ſoule and ſpirit aſunder. This Word of God is called the Hammer of the Lord; for by it the Lord doth breake in ſunder the hard, ſtony and flinty hearts of man. This Hammer of the Lord is not able to breake the heart of a wicked man, but as the bright beams of the Sunne doe harden clay, and ſoften waxe; ſo this moſt heauenly and eternall Word of God ſhall neuer returne in vaine, but (by reaſon of the different diſpoſition in the Subiect) it illuminateth, it melteth the righteous, it obdurates, it hardens the wicked. Now where the Word doth not preuaile with vsus, to humble vsus, there can bee no true repentance, as the Apoſtle teacheth,Rom. 2.5. when he ſayth, But thou after thy hardnes, and heart that cannot repent, heapeſt vntounto thy ſelfe wrath againſt the day of wrath. Now where there is no repentance, there can bee no ſaluation,Luk. 13.5 for, ſo ſayth our Sauiour; Except yee repent, yee ſhall all periſh. This is a lamentable eſtate indeed, this is a iudgement with a witneſſe, for a man to bee left thus vntounto himſelfe, to be giuen vp to Sathan, and to be forſaken of God for euer: Oh this, this is the eſtate and condition of eueryevery hard hearted ſinner: Oh happy then is that man or woman that ſinneth leaſt: next he that returneth home by repentance ſooneſt; but moſt wofull is the eſtate of him that with Ieroboam hath ſolde himſelfe to commit ſinne; for this man,Rom. 1.28. 1. Tim 4.2 Zach. 1.12. though hee would weepe with Eſau, and ſhed euen a fountaine of teates, yet all will not helpe; woe, alas, there is no recouery.
This may ſerue in the firſt place to reproue thoſe Ʋſe. 1 that iuſtifie the wicked, as in Malachy his time, The wicked prosper, and they that worke iniquity are ſet vp: Mal. 3.13.14.They ſeeme to bee the onelyonly men of the World; they enioy their pleaſures, they ſeeme not to be troubled for any thing, and who but they; Alas, alas, what of all this? If the heart bee frozen in the dregges of ſinne, they are of all men moſt miſerable, and of all men moſt to bee pittied; For thou after thy hardnes, and heart that cannot repent, Rom. 2.4.5.heapeſt vp vntounto thy ſelfe wrath againſt the day of wrath. Their damnation ſleepeth not all this while, but ſtill they runne in ſcore in Gods booke, and when their iniquity is once full, the Lord will then come with his iudgements, and they ſhall pay full deare for their ſweet pleaſures, euen the loſſe of their owne ſoules for euer and euer. No greater iudgement can God inflict vponupon the ſonnes of men in this life, then ſuch a ſtony heart; of all Gods iudgements, Oh let my ſoule bee free from this, for To whom will I hauehave respect vntounto (ſayth the Lord) but to him that is of a contrite heart, and trembles at my Word. Eſa. 66.2.5.This Word is to the godly heart that is humbled for ſinne, the ſweet ſauor of life vntounto life; but to the ſeared heart, the woful ſauor of death vntounto death: and in this reſpect the Word is like to the thunderbolt, the thunderbolt is of that nature, that if it light vponupon any ſoft matter, it hurteth it not, wounds it not, nor breaks it not: But if it fall vponupon any hard matter, as vponupon a tree, a ſtone wall, it breakes it in peeces, and rents it in ſunder, it will breake the bones, and hurt not a mans fleſh: Euen ſo the Word of God it is of that nature, that if it fall vponupon a ſoft heart and tender heart, it will doe it good, it will comfort it, and inſtruct it, it will burne vp the droſſe and filth of ſin in that ſoft heart: But if this thunderbolt of the Word of God light vponupon a hard and ſtony heart, it will wound it, rend it, yea kill it, euen to eternall death, vnleſſe they repent: This is the ſtate of a wicked mans heart, and therefore of al men he is moſt miſerable.
Ʋſe. 2 Secondly, doth the Word of God wound and kill to death eternall, ſuch rebellious and ſtubborne ſinners; doth it hurt none but ſuch ſtony hearts; doth the Lords thunderbolt kill none but ſtony hearts? Oh then let vsus intreat the Lord to free vsus from this great and heauy iudgement of hardneſſe of heart, which makes the Word of God and all other meanes vnprofitable vntounto vsus; and let vsus labour to hauehave ſoft hearts, broken hearts, and bruſed hearts. Oh, let the Word of the Lord enter, giuegive it paſſage, that it may cut down ſinne in thee, that thy ſinnes cut not thee down at the laſt:Note this well. for this bee thou ſure of, O man whatſoeuer thou bee, that if thou find not out thy ſinnes now, they will bee ſure to find out thee hereafter. When the Lord ſpeaketh of a great mercy that he would ſhew vntounto a people, hee ſayth thus; I will take away their ſtony hearts, Ezech. 36.26.and I wil giuegive them hearts of fleſh. Oh that the Lord would take away our ſtony hearts, and giuegive vsus fleſhy and tender hearts, that his Word might not kill vsus and ſlay vsus to death eternall! But alas, though this hard heart bee the moſt grieuous iudgement of God that can befall a man in this life; yet who thinks ſo of it; who feeles it, who complaines of it? No, no, men and women hauehave no feeling of it; yea, though this hard heart, and heauy iudgement of God raigne in moſt places, and moſt men bee poſſeſſed with hardnes of heart and carnall ſecurity; and ſo dead a ſleepe in ſinne, that the Lord may thunder from heauen, and his iudgements rattle about our eares; yet by reaſon of this deadneſſe and hardneſſe of heart, men are like the Smithes dogge, ſleepe ſtill, ſnort ſtill, though the flame and ſparckles flie about his eares, and ſindge his haire, and though men can complaine, and rore at the paine of the ſtone in the Kidney, and ſeeke & ſend farre and neare for eaſe, and ſay, they are neuer able to endure it: yet of this fearefull and moſt heauy iudgement, The ſtone of the heart, men feele no paine, neuer cry for helpe, to be eaſed of it. Wee know, Oh wee know eueryevery man in his owne boſome, the ſinnes, the which wee moſt ſecretly foſter, and will not let goe. But as Saint Paul exhorteth the Iewes, euen ſo will I you: To conclude this Doctrine, Take heed, Heb. 3.13. Ezech. 36.26.Oh take heed, leſt in any of you there bee found a falſe and an euill heart, to depart from the liuing God: for of all the iudgements that Almighty God can lay vponupon the ſons of men, this is the greateſt: from this eſtate the Lord of his endleſſe mercy deliuer vsus. Amen, Amen.
Thirdly, let vsus marke heere how the Lord iudgeth Ʋſe. 3 of ſuch as bee wounded and killed by his Word, and cut downe by his iudgements, publiſhed out of his Word, the Lord accounts of this iudgement as that that is the moſt fearefull and terrible: for the Lord heere inflicts it as the greateſt puniſhment of all for their euill wayes, their ſtubbornneſſe and rebellion againſt the Lord, and againſt all thoſe gracious meanes that hee had vſed for their good, for their hypocriſie and hardneſſe of heart, and the like horrible ſinnes that were to bee found amongſt them: for the puniſhment of them all, the Lord ſayth, I hauehave cut them downe and ſaine them; but not with the ſword, not with duplicate page duplicate page the plague, which are fearefull and terrible, but with my Word, q. d. I hauehave not onelyonly taught and inſtructed you by my Word, and ſhewed you what I would hauehave you to doe, and what to leaue vndone: but I hauehave by this plaine teaching of you, and by my doctrine propounded vntounto you, euen pearced your very ſoules and conſciences, ſo as in ſpite of your teeth you muſt needs acknowledge, though yee bee neuer ſo obſtinate and rebellious, that you hauehave been wounded, and hauehave felt the force of my Word, to kill you, to conuince your conſciences of your ſinnes and rebellions, and that my iudgements are moſt iuſtly brought vponupon you.
Hence wee ſee what a fearefull iudgement of God it is for thoſe which liue in ſinne, and delight in ſinne, when as they heare their ſinnes condemned out of the Word of God; they know that they doe euill, they muſt needs confeſſe, that the Word of the Lord hath conuicted their conſciences of their ſinnes, and euill wayes, ſo as they know it, and hauehave felt their ſoules beaten and wounded, and euen ſlaine by the power of the Word of God. This is a grieuous ſinne indeed, to ſinne againſt conſcience, to ſinne againſt knowledge, to ſinne preſumptuouſly with a high hand, it is a high ſtep to the ſin againſt the Holy Ghoſt, when men hearing and acknowledging the Word of God to bee true, feele their conſciences to checke them for their vile and wicked wayes, and yet they will walke on ſtill againſt knowledge, and againſt conſcience, and ſo draw downe Gods iudgements vponupon themſelues. Oh then, if wee heare the Word of God, and perceiue the Lord to touch our hard hearts, ſo as we muſt needs acknowledge this Doctrine, that the Lord ſmites thy hard and benummed heart, as that thou canſt ſay, I am guilty of this ſinne, I heare God will puniſh it ſeuerely, and cut me downe by his Word, and ſlay mee: I ſay, Oh then eſpecially take heed, how thou liueſt in thy ſinne ſtill, againſt knowledge, and againſt conſcience: It is the high way to the ſinne againſt the Holy Ghoſt which cannot be pardoned: but let vsus rather leaue our ſinnes, and forſake them, and take heed of going on in the ſame: for certaine it is, it is but the fore-runner of ſome fearefull iudgement vntounto the ſoule of that man.
I hauehave cut them downe by my Prophets, I hauehave ſlaine them by the words of my mouth.
IN that the Lord doth threaten this iudgement of al Doct. 4 other, as the greateſt that hee could bring vponupon them, namely, to Cut them downe, and to ſlay them, The Word of God is able to pearce the hardeſt heart.and that not by an ordinary meanes or ſlaughter, but by his Prophets and Word: that is, that he would make good his Word in their mouthes, and bring to paſſe all thoſe terrible and fearefull iudgements that they had denounced againſt them from the Lord.
Hence we ſee the great power of the Word of God, it is able to pearce the hardeſt heart that is. The word of God makes mention of two ſorts of ſwords. The ſword of the mouth, and the materiall ſword, as that place in the Hebrewes, The Word of God is liuely and mighty in operation, and ſharper then a two edged ſword, Heb. 4.12.& entereth thorough, euen vntounto the diuiding aſunder of the Soule and the Spirit, and of the Ioynts and the Marrow, and is a decerner of the thoughts, and the intents of the heart. The people of the Iewes before that Peter ſpake vntounto them, were full of hardneſſe of heart: yea, their hearts before were as hard as ſteele, nothing could pricke or pearce them,Act. 2.37. they had committed monſtrous murder, they ſhed innocent bloud, euen the bloud of the ſonne of God, and yet they were neuer touched in their hearts for that ſinne. But when Peter came with his weapon, namely, the Word of God, and told them that they were thoſe that had crucified the Lord of life: this wounded them to the quicke, as that they cryed out in the bitterneſſe of their loules, O men and brethren, what ſhall wee doe to bee ſaued? Oh tell vsus, tell vsus, whether there be not ſome courſe yet to be taken, that wee that hauehave beene ſuch deſperate ſinners, might yet againe obtaine Gods fauour, and bee ſaued? This was a bleſſed battel that was fought with them; behold then in them the wonderfull power of the Word of God, It cuts the throat of ſinne, and makes men become dead vntounto ſinne, that they might become a liue vntounto God.Ier. 23.29. Is not the Word of Iehouah like vntounto fire? It is able to melt and mollifie a heart of ſteele, it is like a hammer that breakes the hardeſt ſtone: euen ſo this Word of God is able to bruiſe a ſtony heart, which is as hard as flint;Rom. 15.16. I am not aſhamed (ſayth the Apoſtle) of the Gospell of God, becauſe I know that it is the power of God to ſaluation to all them that beleeue. 1. Cor. 1.21.Yea, it is compared to a ſacrificing knife,Epheſ. 2.1.2. which will kill and cut the throat of ſinne, and make the moſt rebellious heart to breake. It will put ſpirit and life in the dead hearts of dead & ſecure ſinners, euen ſuch as lay dead, & rotting in ſin. If it enter not into thee to the rooting out of ſinne, and the cutting downe of thy vncleanneſſe; for then it pearceth for thy good to life eternall, It wil bee ſure to wound and to pearce thy dead and benummed ſoule, to the hardning of thee in thy ſinnes, to death eternall,Eſay. 55. for it neuer returnes in vaine, but is eyther the ſauor of life vntounto life, or the ſauor of death vntounto death.
The Lord ſent his word vntounto Pharaoh againe and againe by Moſes and Aaron, but hee would not bee humbled by it,Exod. 9.…7. 1. Reg. 22.8. therefore hee became the more hardned in ſinne. And Ahab was then the deadlieſt enemy to his owne ſoule,Mich. 2.7. when hee hated Michai for not ſpeaking to his fantaſie, but warned him faithfully of the iudgement which afterward came vponupon him.Zach. 7.11. The Word of God is an aduerſary to none, but to ſuch as are aduerſaries to themſelues;Note this well. neyther doth it condemne any but ſuch as (without repentance) aſſuredly ſhall one day bee condemned of the Lord. And therefore let the wicked wretches of the world ſtoppe their eares neuer ſo much from the hearing of the threatnings of the Word, yet they ſhall neuer ſtoppe that iudgement which the Word hath threatned. There is a cry that will come at Midnight, and will waken the dead: But, Oh bleſſed are they, who in time are wakened out of the ſleepe of their ſinnes, before that dreadfull iudgement come.
This ſerues to commend vntounto vsus, the excellencie Vſe. 1 and power of the Word of God, which is able both to kill ſinners, and to make them aliue again, and puts a manifeſt difference hetweene the Word of man, & the Word of God. All the wiſdom, learning, eloquence and wit of men is not able to wound the hard heart of a wicked, obſtinate and rebellious ſinner, onelyonly the Word of God can doe it, euen the plaine and ſimple preaching of the Word can doe it.1. Cor. 1.21. Pſal. 19. The Law of the Lord is perfect to conuert the ſoule. There is more power in the plaine, rude, and ſimple preaching of the Word of God to conuert a ſinner, then in the moſt learned and excellenteſt eloquence in men; nay,Rom. 10.14.15. it is impoſſible for all the eloquence in the World to ſaue a Soule; it is peculiar onelyonly to the ſimple preaching of the Goſpell, nor all the Writings of men cannot turne the heart vntounto God, vnleſſe the Lord doe bleſſe the preaching of the Word to doe it; and though nothing bee ſo contrary to our Nature as the Word of God, yet nothing is ſo powerfull to conuert, as is this word, by Gods bleſſing vponupon it, being his owne ordinance, appointed to that end.
Secondly, ſeeing the Word of God is of this power, Vſe. 2 that it will enter and pearce into ſtony hearts; and ſeeing if it cut not downe ſinne and corruption, it will wound to death eternall all rebellious and hard hearted ſinners; Oh then let vsus ſubmit our hearts vntounto it, let vsus ſuffer the Word to pearce and wound our hearts for ſinne, to cut downe all ſinne and corruption in vsus here, or elſe it will bee the Lords Sword of the Spirit to kill vsus and to wound vsus to death eternall:Epheſ. 6.1. Hee will ſmite the earth with the rodde of his mouth, and ſlay the wicked and rebellious with the breath of his lippes; that is, the Lord will make good all thoſe feareful iudgements which his ſeruants hauehave denounced againſt them in his name:Eſay. 11.4. And as the raine that fals, makes the earth more fruitfull, or elſe more barren: ſo it fareth with the Word, it eyther cuts downe ſinne to our amendment, or elſe leaues moſt deadly wounds in our ſoules, euen to death eternall. Now then ſeeing the Word of God is ſo powerfull: Oh how ſhould this ſtirre vp eueryevery man and woman to the hearing of the Word of God, continually to frequent Sermons, to liſten to the Doctrine of God, to beleeue that they heare, to yeeld vntounto it, and to lay their hearts open and naked, that this Sword of Gods Spirit way wound them for ſinne: for though thou beeſt a notorious ſinner, a monſtrous blaſphemer, a common drunkard, a filthy whoremaſter, yet if thou ſhalt heare this Word, and giuegive credite to it, it is able to wound thy Soule, and to pearce thy heart; and experience teacheth, that the Word of God hath done great things, it hath conuerted moſt fearefull and monſtrous ſinners, as Dauid, 2. Sam. 12.1. Act. 9. Rom. 1.16.Saul, Peter, Mary Magdalen. Zacheus, &c. And therefore wayte on the meanes, attend on the Word, heare Sermons, and thou ſhalt find in the end, that the Word of God ſhall bee the power of God to ſaue thy Soule, if thou doe not harden thy heart againſt it. And as for thoſe the which do deſpiſe the Word, and will not goe to the dore to heare it: truly, ſuch men and women doe euen wilfully caſt away their owne ſoules, and ſuffer themſelues to bee led euen blindfold to hell: but if with care and conſcience thou wilt attend vntounto it, as Lydea did, and not caſt it vp againe as thoſe that hauehave queaſie ſtomackes doe wholeſome Phyſicke; ſurely, thou ſhalt find great power in the Word, to ſaue thy ſoule.
By my Prophets, and the words of my mouth.
HEre is layde downe now the meanes and the inſtruments which God vſed for the effecting of his iudgements, namely, his ſeruants the Prophets, The Inſtrument.I hauehave cut downe by my Prophets: that is, I hauehave brought vponupon you thoſe plagues and iudgements which were threatned againſt you by my faithfull ſeruants the Prophets, euen thoſe iudgements the which they hauehave denounced againſt you in my name, I hauehave inflicted, and brought them vponupon you to ſlay, and to deſtroy you for your ſins.
Seeing the Lord did effect and bring to paſſe Doct. 5 thoſe iudgements the which the Prophets pronounced againſt his people for their ſins, to ſlay them,The Word of God in the mouthes of his Miniſters ſhall bee accompliſhed. and to deſtroy them: Hence wee learne that the Word of the Lord in the mouthes of his Miniſters, it ſhall be accompliſhed; Looke what iudgement they pronounce againſt ſinne in the name of the Lord (if men will not repent) they ſhall certainely bee accompliſhed, and come to paſſe: howſoeuer men regard them not, and will not beleeue them. Indeed many times his iudgements are deferred, and his puniſhments are prolonged, becauſe hee is a patient God, & would not the death of a ſinner;Mat. 14.35. yet hee is euer iealous of his Word, that not one iot or tittle of his Word ſhal not paſſe, but ſhall hee fulfilled. This is clearely to be ſeene by the examples of Gods iudgements in all ages.Gen. 2.17. &. 3.7. Conſider this truth in our firſt parents; God threatned them, that if they taſted the forbidden fruit, they ſhould die the death; and did not God accompliſh the ſame? yea, all their poſterity do to this day feele the ſmart of the ſame curſe. When all the World were diſobedient in the dayes of Noah that Preacher of righteouſneſſe,2. Pet 2.5. Gen. 6.3. God gaue them time & ſpace to repent in, euen a hundred and twenty yeares; and when they repented not, the Lord did not fayle to bring his Iudgement vponupon them. A moſt cleare and liuely example of this, wee hauehave in the booke of Ioſuah: Ioſu. 6.26.The man is curſed there before the Lord that ſhould attempt the rebuilding of the City Iericho, and this is the curſe that ſhould paſſe vponupon that man, namely this, That hee ſhould lay the foundation of it in his eldeſt ſonne, and in his youngeſt ſonne ſhall hee ſet vp the gates of it. This was the irreuocable curſe that almighty God had threatned againſt the man that ſhould attempt the building of that City. Now afterwards when this threatning ſeemed to bee quite forgotten, God is ſtill mindfull of his Word, and time is not able to weare that out:1. Reg. 16.34. for when Hiel the Bethelite did goe about to erect the ſame, God doth bring his former iudgement to paſſe vponupon him. What ſhal wee ſay of Ahab and of Iezabel, vntounto whom many fearefull and terrible iudgements were denounced by Elias the Prophet of the Lord,2. Reg. 9.37. That the carkas of Iezabel ſhall bee as dung in the field of Iſrael. This did God in his due time bring to paſſe vponupon Iezabel, and vponupon the whole houſe of Ahab, according to the Word of the Lord. So that we may ſafely conclude this point,Num. 23.19. Sam. 3.19. and ſay with Moſes that ſeruant of the Lord, God is not as man that hee ſhould lie, or the Sonne of man that he ſhould repent.
Gods iudgements threatned may ſeeme to vsus as vnlikely as the plenty the Prophet ſpake of, ſeemed to one of the Princes of Samariah: Though the Lord would make Windowes in heauen, could it come ſo to paſſe? But what ſayd the Prophet? Behold, 2. Reg. 7.2. & 19.20.thou ſhalt ſee it with thy eyes, but thou ſhalt not eat thereof: and ſo it came vntounto him, for the people trode him in the gate, and hee died. Thus did our Sauiour foretell the deſtruction of the City Ieruſalem, which came ſo to paſſe accordingly within the ſpace of forty yeares after our Sauiour his Aſcention.Mat. 24. And is not the Word of God as true now in the mouthes of his Miniſters, yea, whatſoeuer iudgement they ſhall proclaime in the name of the Lord, and by vertue of the Word of God, it ſhall certainly come to paſſe: As they hauehave a long time threatned famine, peſtilence, and the like iudgements; and hath not the Lord brought theſe iudgements and the like moſt iuſtly vponupon vsus for our ſins? doe not wee feele the truth of it? yea, this Winter and Summer laſt, when the Lord ſeemed to ſtoppe his eares at the prayers of his ſeruants, and would not a long time be intreated. And therefore let all wicked and vngodly wretches lay this Doctrine to heart, that are ready to ſay. Where is the promiſe of his comming? and where bee thoſe iudgements our Preachers hauehave ſo long ſpoke of? Oh, they ſhall know, euen to their eternall ſhame and confuſion at the laſt, that the Lord will make good his Word, & bring to paſſe all thoſe iudgements that hauehave been denounced againſt them.
And as it is true of Gods iudgements againſt rebellious ſinners: ſo is it true of the gracious promiſes of the Goſpell to all them that doe truely repent: Ieſus Chriſt was a Miniſter of the Circumciſion for the truth of God. Rom 15.8. Pſ. 89.33.And againe, I will not falſifie my Truth, my Couenant will I not breake, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lippes. This was that worthy reſolution of the Prophet long before Chriſt was borne: Thou wilt performe thy truth to Iacob, Micha. 7.20and mercy to Abraham, as thou haſt ſworne to our fathers in olde time: Tit. 1.2. Pſal. 102.27.And as this was accompliſhed touching the comming of the Meſſias, In the fulneſſe of time: So the ſame holds true concerning all other the promiſes of God made vntounto his Church and people. And the reaſon of all is this, becauſe God is of an vnchangeable nature; Reaſon. Mal. 3.6.I am the Lord I change not: Whatſoeuer he hath ſayd, ſhall be done, and whatſoeuer hee hath ſpoken ſhall bee accompliſhed: For with him is no variableneſſe, nor ſhadow of change.
Ʋſe. 1 This checks thoſe proud ſpirits, and deſpiſers of the Prophets of the Lord, who eſteeme of Gods ſeruants and meſſengers as the ſcumme of the world, will not giuegive any credite to their Doctrine, make ieſts of them: and if they pronounce iudgements againſt ſin; Tuſh, wee hope it is not ſo as theſe Preachers tell, wee hope wee ſhall doe well enough for all their threatnings: They hauehave denied the Lord and ſayd; It is not hee, neyther ſhall the plague come vponupon vsus: Ier. 5.12.13.neyther ſhall wee ſee ſword nor famine: And the Prophets ſhall bee as wind, and the Word is not in them. Like to them are many of our people amongſt vsus, they make but a Tuſh of all thoſe threatnings that Gods Miniſters doe denounce againſt them in the name of the Lord, till they come vponupon them; & then they can acknowledge they had a fayre warning: Read that place diligently in Zachariah, and the Lord giuegive vsus a right iudgement in all things,Zacha. 1.4.5.6. the words are theſe; Bee yee not as your Fathers vntounto whom the former Prophets hauehave cryed ſaying, Thus ſayth the Lord of hoſtes, Turne you now from your euill wayes, and from your wicked works: but they would not heare, nor hearken vntounto mee, ſayth the Lord: Your Fathers, where are they? and doe the Prophets liue for euer? But did not my words and my ſtatutes which I commanded by my ſeruants the Prophets, take holde of your Fathers? and they confeſſed, and ſayd, As the Lord of Hoaſts hath determined to doe vntounto vsus, according to our own wayes, and according to our works, ſo hath hee done vntounto vsus. See heere how the Lord ſends theſe rebellious Iewes to former times, euen to looke vponupon Gods iudgements, vponupon their forefathers, q. d. Though your Fathers bee dead, yet my iudgements in puniſhing them ought ſtill to be before your eyes: and though the Prophets bee dead, yet their Doctrine remaineth for euer: Behold yee then the force of my Doctrine in puniſhing your Fathers, and feare yee the threatnings contayned in the ſame, and declared a freſh vntounto you by my Prophets. Oh may not this bee a fayre warning to vsus that yet liue, to admoniſh all thoſe that deſpiſe the Word of the Lord in the mouthes of his Miniſters, to take heed how they contemne Gods faithfull Miniſters, which eſteeme their words but as wind; for if they ſpeake in the name of the Lord, and hauehave the Word for their varrant, it ſhall certainely bee accompliſhed; Shall I ſpare ſuch a people (ſayth the Lord) ſhall I not bee auenged on them. Ier. 5.14.Behold (fayth the Lord to his Prophet) I will make my Word as fire in thy mouth, and this people ſhall bee as wood, and it ſhall deuoure them. Euen ſo ſhall the Lord vſe his Word in the mouthes of his Miniſters, as the ſword of his Spirit to Cut down & ſlay, and will bring to paſſe his iudgements proclaymed by them; ſo as all wicked and vngodly men at the laſt, ſhall confeſſe and ſay, Oh I had a fayre warning. I was told of this long agoe, if I had beene wiſe to beleeue it: and now I ſee the Word of God is true in the mouthes of his Miniſters. Oh what ſhall become now of all rebellious and hard-hearted ſinners, who ſeeme to hauehave Made a Couenant with Death, Eſay. 28.15.and an agreement with the graue: which go on in ſinne and feare, no danger; but what followeth, Your Couenant with Death ſhall bee diſanulled, and your agreement with hell ſhall not ſtand, &c. Their hopes ſhall faile them in the end (God will not bee mocked) they ſhall bee ſure to pay full deare for their contempt when it ſhall bee too late to amend. Oh let vsus not then harden our hearts through the deceitfulneſſe of ſinne:Eſay. 55.6. but Let vsus ſeeke the Lord while he may bee found, and call vponupon him while hee is neare.
Secondly, wee are taught heere not to bee diſmayed when wee ſee the wicked to proſper and to flouriſh heere, ſpreading themſelues as the greene Bay-tree: Ʋſe. 2 for loe, God doth ſet them in ſlippery places: their damnation ſleepeth not, Gods iudgements are gone out againſt them, they are determined with God, there wants nothing but the execution of them, the which in Gods due time ſhall bee accompliſhed, euen by an irreuocable decree. Now, what if in the meane time they rufle it out with great words and ſhewes, and who but they: Alas, their eſtates are rather to bee pittied, then enuyed, becauſe Gods Word is againſt them, & their ſinnefull courſes, and by it at the laſt they ſhall bee ſure to bee Cut downe.
Pſal. 2.Pharaoh and the Egyptians may take crafty counſell together againſt the people of God; But hee that dwelleth in heauen doth laugh them to ſcorne, And this Pharaoh which ſeemed for a while to bee ſo terrible, his end was moſt fearefull. And what if Ahab and Iezabel plotte together, and abuſe their authority for the winding in of Naboths Vineyard into their owne poſeſſion, and Naboth is ſlain,1. Reg. 21. Gods Word went out againſt him therfore by his Prophet Elias, and it was not his walled Pallace that could keepe backe Gods iudgements. A man that had ſeen Lazarus a poore begger,Luk. 16.22. deſtitute of all helpe and comfort, lying at the rich mans gate, his mind poſſeſt with cares, with his body full of ſores, whileſt the rich man within was clad of the fineſt, and fed of the daintieſt; a man I ſay, that had beheld theſe rwo, if hee had had no more then naturall reaſon, would eaſily hauehave concluded the begger to bee miſerable, and the rich man to bee happy: But God ſees not as man ſees, neyther are his thoughts as mans thoughts: for euen in this great miſery of this poore begger, hee was a happy and a bleſſed man; & notwithſtanding the great pompe of the other, in the middeſt of it all, hee was but wretched and miſerable. Then let vsus not reſt in beholding the preſent face of outward things, but poſſeſſe our ſoules with patience, conſidering that All things happen alike to all: Yet in the end it ſhall goe well with the iuſt. And howſoeuer the wicked proſper wel in the world;Pſal. 73.17. yet they are ſet but in ſlippery places: Gods threatnings in Gods due time ſhal be inflicted vponupon them.
Thirdly, ſeeing the menaces and threatnings of Vſe. 3 God ſhall bee accompliſhed vponupon the wicked and vngodly; ſo is it true of the bleſſed promiſes of the Goſpell: ſo as, looke what promiſe God hath made there, either of pardon of ſinne, or of life and ſaluation, they ſhall likewiſe bee performed; wee are not to doubt of it: for will God keepe touch with the wicked, and will hee not much more remember his promiſe to his children, this were iniurious to the Spirit of God ſo to thinke. Oh then let vsus learne to depend vponupon God,2. Cor. 1.20. and to wayte duely vponupon his gracious promiſes: Knowing that all his promiſes are yea, and Amen, and Hee is faithfull which hath promiſed. Let vsus learne then to reſt vponupon him, for the pardon of our ſinnes, the hearing of our prayers, the reſurrection of our dead bodies, and life euerlaſting: the Lord is iuſt and true in all his promiſes. Oh what a comfort is this to poore diſtreſſed ſoules! Doeſt thou mourne for ſinne, and deſireſt to feare thy God, and walke in his wayes? wel, aſſure thy ſoule, that whatſoeuer gracious promiſe hee hath made vntounto thee in his Word, it ſhall be performed: Heauen and Earth ſhall paſſe, but one iot or tittle of my Word ſhall not paſſe away: but a… eueryevery iudgement and plague pronounced againſt ſinne and ſinners, ſhal bee brought vponupon them to deſtruction: euen ſo eueryevery gracious promiſe made to Gods Church and people, ſhall bee performed to their eternall comfort and ſaluation: and therefore let vsus beleeue this, and reſt vponupon it, that the Lord will perform his Word in the mouths of his Prophets and Miniſters, Whatſoeuer yee bind on earth I will bind in heauen, Mat. 16.19.and whatſoeuer yee looſe on Earth, I will looſe in heauen.
And thy iudgements were as the light that goeth forth.
The equity of the iudgement.IN theſe words the Lord ſhewes that they could not pretend ignorance of the will and Word of God; for the Lord had taught them, and declared vntounto them manifeſtly and apparantly what hee would hauehave them to doe: for by Iudgement in this place is meant the doctrine of God taught vntounto them by his ſeruants the the Prophets. q.d. my Doctrine in the mouthes of my ſeruants, where I ſhewed and layde open before your eyes the way to lead holy liues, and to ſerue mee, it was cleare as the light, as the Sunne-ſhine at Noone day when there is no cloud: ſo as you hauehave now no excuſe at all for yourſelues, but muſt needs acknowledge that my iudgements are now iuſtly inflicted vponupon you, and that you hauehave of malice with a hie hand and moſt rebellious heart, ſinned againſt mee So then you ſee what is heere meant by the iudgement of the Lord; namely, the cleare and manifeſt doctrine of God to direct vsus in the way to life eternall.
Seeing the Lord doth heere profeſſe vntounto his people, Doct. 6 that his Iudgements, that is, the Doctrine of God, wherein hee would hauehave taught them how ro liue well and bleſſedly, was cleare and manifeſt,God neuer ſtrikes with his iudgements before hee giues warning. and that they could alleadge no excuſe of ignorance.
Hence we learne, that the Lord doth neuer ſtrike with his iudgements, but hee firſt giues warning; ſo as if men would bee wiſe to beleeue his Word, and to amend their liues, they might auoyde his iudgements: but if they will bee ſo rebellious and hard hearted, that they will not amend, they muſt needs acknowledge, & confeſſe, that they are moſt worthy to bee plagued and puniſhed.
This was Gods mercifull dealing towards the people of the old world, vntounto whom the Lord vouchſafed one hundred and twenty yeares to repent in, before hee brought his iudgements vponupon them: beſides all which time he vouchſafed vntounto them Noah that Preacher of righteouſneſſe,Gen 6.3. 2. Pet. 2.5. warning them ſtill of a iudgement to com, to this end that they hearing from Noah what iudgement the Lord had intended againſt them, if they repented not, their condemnation might be ſo much the more heauy vponupon them. Thus dealt the Lord with thoſe ſinnefull Sodomites,Gen. 19. vntounto whom hee ſent his ſeruant Lot, Exod. 9.Whoſe righteous ſoule was vexed from day to day. Thus dealt hee with Pharaoh and his people, vntounto whom hee ſent Moſes & Aaron againe, and againe, and ſtill againe, to admoniſh him to let the people of Iſrael goe: When this preuailed not, he ſent iudgement vponupon iudgement, and all to humble the hard heart of Pharaoh. What ſhall wee ſay of Ahab and Iezabel, vntounto whom the Lord ſent Elias? ſuch is the goodneſſe of God towards the ſonnes of men, that hee will euer warne before hee ſtrike, and admoniſh before hee correct: for ſo did the Lord deale with this people, as in the former verſe, Oh Ephraim what ſhall I doe vntounto thee? Hoſ. 11.8.Oh Iudah, how ſhall I entreat thee? Meaning thereby, that the Lord had vſed many wayes and meanes to humble them if it might bee, before he proceeded in iudgement againſt them. This is moſt liuely ſet out vntounto vsus in the booke of the Prouerbs, Pro. 1.20.21.where Salomon brings in Chriſt Ieſus the wiſdome of the Father, ſometime by his Miniſters, and ſometimes by himſelfe, calling and crying vntounto vsus to heare his voyce, and to receyue inſtruction; and if this fayre meanes that the Lord ſhall vſe, will not ſerue to humble vsus, the Lord doth there threaten, That the time ſhall come when wee ſhall cry and call vponupon him, and hee will not heare vsus: Yea, hee will bee then ſo farre from pittying in the time of our diſtreſſe, as that hee will then Laugh at our deſtruction, and that becauſe wee did not chuſe the feare of the Lord. This was the mercifull dealing of God towards the Niniuites,Ion. 3.4. vntounto whom hee ſent his Prophet Ionas to bring them home by repentance; and thus dealt hee with Ieruſalem, Mat. 23.38.vſing all means poſſible to humble them before the iudgement came foorth: For, if God would reclaime vsus by his Word, hee would neuer take his Rodde. But of this before.
And the reaſon of this Doctrine is cleare, Reaſon. becauſe the Lord by this meanes will leaue the wicked, and thoſe that are reſerued to deſtruction, without all excuſe; for this doth the Apoſtle declare,Act. 14.16.17 when he ſayeth, In times paſt hee ſuffered all the Gentiles to walke in their owne wayes: Neuertheleſſe he left not himſelfe without witneſſe, in that hee did good, and gaue them raine from heauen, and fruitfull ſeaſons, filling their hearts with ioy and gladneſſe. Now, if the giuing of them ſhowers of raine, the dew of Heauen bee vntounto them the Lords witneſſes, and the Teſtimonies of his power: Oh how much more thē is the word of God, which is the ſauor of life vntounto thoſe that beleeue? Surely, this warning that the wicked hauehave heere hence, ſhall much more leaue them without excuſe, in the day of the Lord.
Seeing then the Lord is not eaſily drawne to the Ʋſe. 1 execution of iudgement, before hee hath offered many meanes of repentance and reconciliation, Oh let vsus apply this Doctrine to our ſelues: Let vsus looke backe vntounto our former times: Let vsus take notice of Gods mercifull dealing with vsus: Hath not the Lord warned vsus by many meanes, and proued vntounto vsus, that there is a neceſſity impoſed vponupon vsus, that wee muſt needes Returne vntounto him? I appeale vntounto thy conſcience, whoſoeuer thou art that readeſt this: HaueHave wee not beene told plainely of our ſins, that liuing in that courſe wee doe at this preſent, we cannot be ſaued? hath hee not againe warned vsus of his iudgements by his Miniſters? wee know, wee know eueryevery one in the ſecret of his owne boſome, that the Lord hath ſpoken vntounto vsus, warning vsus of iudgement: but when this means would not ſerue to bring vsus home to himſelfe by repentance, nor to returne vntounto God: Now the Lord hath met vsus with iudgement, euen this vnſeaſonable weather that makes the creature to mourne vntounto vsus, to teach vsus to mourne: beſides, how many particular afflictions & chaſticements hath the Lord layd vponupon vsus in our bodies, goods, and good names, wife, children, cattell and the like? do not they al ſummon vsus to repentance, and cry aloud in our deafe eares, that the Lord is at hand with his udgements? Oh let vsus bee warned betimes to ſeeke vntounto him by repentance, leſt the Lord vſing all theſe meanes vntounto vsus to bumble vsus, and wee remaine rebellions and hard hearted ſtill, bee take occaſion, euen therehence, to lay the heauier iudgement vponupon vsus. Let vsus then acknowledge the Lord to bee a iuſt God, that giues vsus ſuch warning; and when his iudgements ſhall lye heauy vponupon vsus, let vsus not accuſe the Lord of any hard dealing, but rather accuſe the hardneſſe of our owne hearts, which would not bee warned by his Word and Iudgements.Dan. 9. Daniel confeſſeth, that becauſe the people would not beleeue the Lords Prophets and faithfull ſeruants, therefore they were iuſtly plagued for their ſinnes: Let vsus do the like, and take heed, that wee doe not neglect the checks of our owne conſcience, reprouing vsus of our ſinful waies; for the time commeth apace, and wee know not how ſoone, when this conſcience of ours the which now doth checke vsus, ſhall iudge vsus, and this heart of ours, the which now doth reproue vsus, ſhall torment vsus, and that becauſe wee hauehave wilfully neglected the meanes of our owne ſaluation, when the Lord hath offered the ſame vntounto vsus.
Ʋſe. 2 Secondly, ſeeing the Lord doth vſe ſo many means to humble vsus, and to bring vsus home to himſelfe by repentance; wee are taught hence, that if any doe periſh in his ſinnes, hee muſt not impute the fault vntounto God, but vntounto himſelfe; for the Lord may iuſtly ſay vntounto vsus, as ſomtimes to the people of Iſrael, Eſay. 5.4.What could I hauehave done more to my Ʋineyard that I hauehave not done? ſo what ſhould I hauehave done more to the ſoule of this ſinner that I hauehave not done? my Word, my Iudgements, my mercies, the motions of my Spirit, all theſe hauehave I vſed to humble them: So that in all our plagues and iudgements, in all our woes and miſeries, whether in this world, or in the world to come; the whole blame muſt light vponupon our ſelues, whoſe hearts are ſo hard that they will not repent from this fearefull iudgement or hardneſſe of heart: the Lord keepe vsus all for his Chriſts ſake.