The Drunkards Character, Section 62
§ 62.
NOw a word of exhortation to the sober, touching this time of visitation,Exhortation to the sober, touching this time of visitation. that God may bee pacified, and wee delivered.
First, let us be sure that our delights exclude not his presence.
2 Because the coles of his wrath will not bee quenched, without the teares of true repentance; let us weepe with them that weepe, others afflictions must move our affections, as Q. Elizabeth to the afflicted States, Haud ignaramali, miseris succurrere disco. Yea, weepe for them that will not weep.
If any, whose crying sinnes have pierced the Heavens, and brought downe the plague, will not cry for themselves; God requires that we should cry for them, we must mourne for them that will not mourne for themselves, Ezek. 9. As indeed,In all ages the godly alone have mourned for the abominations of their time. who were they in all ages that mourned for the abominations of the times? Not they that committed the abominations, as we read, Ezek. 9. 4. Alasse! their cheekes were dimpled with laughter. And in the old world, who, but righteous Noah was grieved for the sinnes of that age, and the judgment which followed? And in Sodom, who, but faithfull Abraham and just Lot was vexed with the uncleanly conversation of the Sodomites, and prayed to God for them? And the like in other ages; as what saith holy David, Mine eyes gush out with rivers of water, because they keepe not thy law, Psal. 119. 136. and againe, verse 158. I saw the transgressors and was grieved, because they keepe not thy Word. And Ieremy, Lam. 3. 48. mine eye, saith he, casteth out rivers of water, for the destruction of the daughter of my people, when they were not once touched for their owne sinnes.
Yea, as for the wicked; when God is angry, and their brethren are in distresse, they are no more troubled then Ioseph's brethren were, when they had throwne him into the pit, who sate downe to eate, with no more compunction then Esa…, having sold his birthright, fell to his pottage; but farre be this from us. It's true, the onelyonly meanes to prevent a judgment, is for the wicked to repent, for the Godly to pray: yet since there is great neede of mourning, neede of great mourning, for heauy judgments will not be turned away without deepe sorrowes; and considering we have but a few to share with us in the worke, let us double our knockes at the gate of Heaven: the greater the number of these mad men, and the greater their mirth; the greater had neede to be the company of mourners; or the mourning of that company: it is the mourning of the penitent, that maintaines the mirth of the delinquent: it is the ten righteous men, that keepes fire and brimstone from these abominable Sodomites. Yea, let them pray, that could never pray in their lives: as Athis Sonne to King Cr…sus, bring dumbe from his nativity; seeing his Father ready to be slaine, by one of King Cyrus his souldiers, suddenly brake forth into words of entreaty, and by his passionate speeches saved his Fathers life.
And this done, we shall at least deliver our selves, that is,So many a… repent shall be singled out for mercy. the plague shall not touch us, nor our families; of if it doe, it shall be so sanctified, that it shall rather pleasure, then hurt us.
First, it's probable it shall not touch us; as when Sodom was destroyed, Lot and his family were singled out, the Angel could do nothing, till he was safe. Gen. 19. And when the Lord smote all the first borne throughout the land of Egypt; he spared all the children of Israel, whose doreposts were sprinkled with the blood of the Passeover, Exod. 12. 22. And when all Hierusalem, both old and yong were utterly destoyed; all the mourners were marked on their foreheads, to the end, the destroying Angell should passe by, and not touch them, Eze. 9. 4. 5. 6. The like wherof we have, Revel. 7. where the Angell useth these words, hurt ye not the earth, neither the Sea, neither the Trees, till we have sealed the servants of God in their foreheads, ver. 3.
Or if the corne be cut downe with the weeds, it shall be to a better purpose; for the one shall be carried into God's Barne, as Lazarus was; the other cast into the fire, like Dives; one Hypocrite was saved with the godly, for Noah's sake, not one righteous person was swept away with the rest for company. The world may be compared to some great Farme, wherein each Nation, is a severall field; the inhabitants, so many plants; God, the owner; whose manner is if he meete with a very good field, he pulls up the weeds, and lets the corne grow; if with an indifferent, he lets the corne and weeds grow together; if very ill, he gathers the few eares of corne, and burnes the weeds, but never destroyes both.
Indeed, that every Mother's sonne of us have not perished by the Pestilence, as the old world did by the Deluge; it is not because we are lesse wicked, but because God hath beene more mercifull. And so much of the perpetuity of this sinne: only, let it teach and encourage us to hold out and persevere in good; for if they be obdurate in vice, it is a shame if we be not constant in vertue.