Sin Stigmatized, Part 1 · Section 59
§ 59.
CUſtome of ſucceſſe makes men confident in their ſinnes, VVere they not meere strangers to themſelves, they could be no other then confounded in themſelves.and cauſes them to miſtake an arbitrary tenure for a perpetuity.
But as the Heathen Menander could ſay in the like caſe, if they were not meere ſtrangers to themſelves, they could be no other then confounded in themſelves; their caſe being like that of Damocles, whom Dionyſius cauſed to ſit in his chayre of State, abounding with all kind of delicates; when over his head hung a naked ſword, held up onelyonly by a ſmall haire: yea, farre worſe, for while they are dancing, the trap-dore falls under them, and they in Hell before they are aware, their hope makes them jocund, till the ladder turnes; and then it is too late to care or crave.
Security is the certaine uſher of Deſtruction; Security the certaine uſher of destruction.neither is deſtruction ever neerer, then when ſecurity hath chaſed away feare, 1 Theſ. 5.3. as the Philiſtines were neereſt their deſtruction, when they were in their greateſt height of jollity, Iudg. 16.25. to 31. Little doe ſinners know how neere their jollity is to perdition; how nere was Nabal to a miſchiefe, and perceived it not? David was comming at the foote of the hill to out his throate, while he was feaſting in his houſe without feare or wit, and drinking drunke with his ſheepeſhearers. Many a time judgment is at the threſhold, whilſt drunkenneſſe and ſurfeit are at the board.
Yea, this hardneſſ of heart and impenitency, is alwayes the harbinger to ſome ſearefull plague, Iſay, 6.10.11. When God will give over men to his judgements, he firſt gives them over to this judgement, of an hand and impenitent heart: and what doth impenitency, but turne all deliverances into further curſes and judgements? ſo that ſuch a mans deliverance is a worſe judgment, then the judgment from which he is delivered; for it argues, either Gods utter forſaking of them, as deſperate Patients are given over by the Phyſitian; why ſhould yee be ſmitton any more, for yee fall away more and more, ſaith God to the ſtiffenecked Iewes, Iſaiah, 1.5. or elſe it argues a reſervation of them for ſome more fearefull plague; if by theſe former judgments yee will not be reformed by me, (ſaith God) but walke ſtubbornely against me; then I will walke stubbornely againſt you, and ſmite you yet ſeven times more for your ſins: Lev. 26.18. to 40. So that an impenitent mans preſervation out of one judgment, is but a further reſervation of him to ſeven judgments. What did it availe Cham, that he eſcaped drowning with the multitude? he had better have periſhed in the waters, then have lived unto his Fathers curſe? What did it availe Lot's wife, to eſcape turning into aſhes in Sodom, when ſuddenly after ſhe was turned into a pillar of ſalt in the plaine? Or what did it availe Pharaoh, that himſelfe was not ſmitten with many of thoſe judgements, wherein others periſhed? it was farre from being a mercy; yea, it was a reſervation to the greateſt temporall judgment of all here, and to that eternall judgment alſo in the burning lake, from which there is no redemption. So that it is not ſimply our deliverance, but our thankfulneſſe for it, and obedience after it, that gives ſufficient argument to our conſciences, that God delivered us in mercy and favour.
Yea, to proſper in ill deſignes and ungracious courſes, to goe on in ſinne uncontrolled, is the greateſt unhappineſſe, the heavieſt curſe: for he that uſeth to doe evill, and ſpeeds well, never reſts, till he come to that evill from which there is no redemption. Ioab kills Abner, and ſcapes; againe he embrues his hands in the blood of Amaſa, and is not indited for it; now David is old, and Adoniah towardly, he furthers him in the uſurpation, and big with prefidence of his owne command, he thinkes to carry it; but this carryed him to his grave. Faire Abſalom was proud and ambitious, yet he flouriſheth; hee kills his owne Brother, yet eſcapes; he inſinuates himſelfe into the affections of the people, and bold of their fidelity to him, he ſwels even againſt his owne royall Father, and becomes a diſloyall Traytor. God owes that man a grievous paiment, whom he ſuffers to runne on ſo long unqueſtioned; and his puniſhment ſhall be the greater, when he comes to reckon with him for all his faults together. Yea, though proſperous wickedneſſe is one of the Devills ſtrongeſt chaines, yet the currant paſſage of ill enterpriſes is ſo farre from giving cauſe of encouragement, that it ſhould juſtly fright a man, to looke backe to the Author, and to conſider, that he therefore goes faſt, becauſe the Devill drives him.