The Drunkards Character, Section 139
§ 139.
ANd thus you see,Their ingratitude and great …olly. that the righteous man keepeth off judgements, and procureth blessings, not only to himselfe, but others, his family, friends, enemies, to the whole City, and Nation wherein he lives, yea, his posterity for many ages fare the better for him; as God promiseth to establish David's house, for his sake, and blesse it for ever, 2 Sam. 7. 12. 13. 15. 16. And promiseth to Phineas the sonne of Eleazar, who turned away the Lords anger from the children of Israel, and saved them from being consumed, that hee would give unto him his covenant of peace, and to his seede after him, together with the Priests office for ever, Numb. 25. 11. 12. 13. Thus Israel, from time to time, were blest and fared the better for Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob's sake, even many yeares after they were dead, De. 4. 37. 1 Kin. 11. 12. as Abraham, Is…ack, and Iacob, yea all the posterity of Adam, are blessed, for Iesus sake, for else all, even the best, should have perished, all were apostates, Adam did forfeit his Patent, and none but a Saviour could renew it; but see the different natures of the godly and the wicked.
God forbeareth the wicked for the godlies sake. As when Augustus had conquered Antheny, and taken Alexandria, the Citizens expecting nothing but present massacre, the Emperor proclaimed a generall pardon, for Arrius his sake, a Philosopher of that City, and his familiar friend. Whereas the wicked, in requitall, persecute the godly, for whose sake they are forborne; and contemne those, to whom they owe their very lives: like as Brutus, Cassius, Domitius, Trebonius, Cimber Tullius, and many others, slew Iulius Caesar, with 23. wounds in the Senate house; albeit hee had lately pardoned them for sighting against him on Pompi…'s side: or as they, whom William the conqueror most advanced, had the speciall hand in his destruction; or as Pompilius Lan…, whom Marcus Tullius Cicero, saved from the Gallowes, by pleading his cause before the judges, when he was accused for murthering his Father, was the prime man, that puld his head out of the Litter, and cut it off.
But, O foolish and unwise! is this any other peece of policy, then if the Sodomites should make hast to turne out Lot, and his familie, that fire and brimstone may make hast to destroy them… for as when the Prophets went from Hierusalem, then Sword, and Famine, and Pestilence, and all plagues rained upon them; even as fire came downe upon Sodome, so soone as Lot was gone out. Or as when Noah, and his family, were once entred the Arke, the Flood came, and destroyed the first world, Gen. 7. 11. 13. so the number of Christs Church being accomplished, fire shall come down to destroy the second world; yea, the raine should not fall, nor the earth stand, but for the elects sake, the earth should burne, the elements melt, the heavens flame, the divels, and all reprobates bee laid up in hell, the elect men and Angels imparadised in heaven all, but for this, Gods number is not yet full; till this be done, Sathan may range abroad, the wicked domineere, the righteous suffer misery, and sinne walke their round, the heavens move, the Seas ebb and flowe, the world stand, and the Lord suffers all.
Wherefore cease yee malicious sinners, to vex the religious; you are beholding to them for your very breath: if they were taken away, you should be tormented before your time: yea, make you friends of such as feare God, for it is no smal happinesse to be interrested in them, who are favourites in the Court of Heaven; one faithfull man on these occasions, is more worth, then millions of the wavering and uncertaine.
Indeed, you may so long provoke the Lord, that he will not suffer his people to pray nor intreat for you, as is well set forth, Ier. 7. 13. to 17. and then can you expect nothing but death and hell. Yea, the time will come, when all Christs enemies shall be dragged out of the prison of their graves, to behold him whom they have pierced, Revelation 1. 7. at whattime, there shall be no Moses to stand in the gap for them; no Aaron, to stand betweene the living and the dead; no, Noah, Daniel, or Iob to pity, or pray for them; yea, when there shall bee no more mercy, no more patience, no more repentings in God towards them, but judgement without mercy or mitigation, but God laughing at their destruction, and the Saints, which shall judge the world, 1 Cor. 6. 2, 3. rejoycing to see the vengeance, that they may at length wash their feet in the blood of the wicked, Prov. 1. 26. Psal. 58. 1 …. when there shall be no Rocks, nor Mountaines to fall upon them, when the earth shall melt with heate, when the day of the Lord shall burn as an oven, and eat their flesh as it were fire, Revel. 6. 16. 2. Pet. 3. 10. Mal. 4. 1. 2, 3. lam. 5. 3.