The Drunkards Character, Section 131
§ 131.
THe eight circumstance which aggravates thy sinne, is the object, or party which is offended;8. They abuse and persecute, not the evill, but the good, who are to God as the Apple of his eye. and in this respect, thou art liable to the greater condemnation, in that thou injurest those whom God tenderly loves, which is farre more displeasing unto him, then if the same were done unto others: they are as the signet upon his right hand, yea, as the Apple of his owne eye, he that toucheth you, saith God, meaning the Iewes, his chosen and beloved people, toucheth the Apple of mine owne eye, Zach. 2. 8. And who are they which thou scoffest at, traducest, nicknamest, revilest, and persecutest, but the best of men, such as are most religious and conscionable, such as wil not sweare, nor be drunke, nor commit such wickednesse as thou doest? Now he which doth these things to evill men, who are Gods enemies, grievously offend him; for what saith the Scripture? him will I destroy, that privily slandereth his neighbour, Psa. 101. 5 and the word neighbour includes very heathens. How heinously then doe they offend, which doe the same, and worse to his children? 2 Cor. 6. 18. Galat. 3. 26. Iohn 1. 12. who partake of the Divine nature, 2 Peter 1. 4. and are like God in hol… nesse, 1 Pet. 1. 15. members of Christs body, 1 Corinth. 12. 27. bone of his bone, and flesh of his flesh, Ep. 5. 30. and being Temples of the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 6. 19. If the Goates at the great day, shall bee bid depart into everlasting torment, for not feeding, cloathing, visiting, Matt. 25. 41. to .46. what shall be done to those that persecute Christ in his members?
But let as many as have eares, heare what God hath threatned in his word against such. I will produce but a few of many, the Holy Ghost affirmes, that hee will destroy them for ever and root them out of the land of the living, whose tongues imagine mischiefe, and are like a sharpe Razor, that cutteth deceitfully; loving to speake evill, more then good, Ps. 522. to .5. that hee will confound such as persecute his children, and destroy them with a double destruction, Ier. 17. 18. yea, that he will render unto their enemies, sevenfold into their b… some, their reproach wherewith they have reproached the Lord, Psal. 79. 12.
O consider this yee that forget God, least he teare you in peeces, and there be none that can deliver you. In fine, that hee will raine upon them snares of fire and brimstone with stormes, and tempests, Psal. 11. 6. and after all, cast them into a furnace of fire, where shall be wailing; and gnashing of teeth for evermore; when the just, whom they now despise, shall shine as the Sunne in the Kingdome of their Father, Matthew 13. 42. 43.
Men may dip their tongues in venome, and their pens in poyson, to speak against the righteous; but the Lord will once revenge the cause of his poore ones, he will not alwayes hold his peace, nor hide his face; well may the vengeance of this sin sleepe, but it can never dye: yea, as truly as God hath threatned, to curse all them that curse his children, Gen. 27. 29. so as truly will he performe it, in one kind or other; either cursing them in their bodies, by sending some foule disease; or in their estates, by suddenly consuming them; or in their names, by blemishing and blasting them; or in their seed, by not prospering them; or in their minds, by darkening them; or in their hearts, by hardening them; or in their consciences, by terrifying them; or in their wits, by distracting them; or in their soules, by damning them.
It were endlesse (for the Sea of examples hath no bottome) to recite all, which Scripture, and Ecclesiasticall history makes mention of, with the variety of fearefull and incredible judgements, both spirituall and corporall, which God hath executed upon them, even in this life; though I count it a mercy to smart here, (if they dye penitent) rather then bee reserved to those flames, which are easelesse and endlesse, that fearefull damnation, made up of an extremity, universality, and eternity of torments.
Yea, if God caused two and forty little children to bee devoured of wild Beares, for calling Elisha bald-head, 2 Kings 2 24. how can these aged persecutors hope to escape? yea, what vengeance shall bee prepared, or is enough for them? If God will come in flames of fire, to render vengeance unto them which knowe him not; how terrible will hee appeare to these his profest enemies, who wittingly, willingly and maliciously oppose him, and his image, all they can?