Sin Stigmatized, Part 1 · Section 131
§ 131.
THe eight circumſtance which aggravates thy ſinne, is the object, or party which is offended; and in this reſpect, 8. They abuſe and perſecute, not the evill but the good, who are to God as the Apple of his eye.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 holineſſe, 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 bee 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 ſpeakee vill, more then good, Pſ. 5.22. 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 boſome, 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 proſpeing 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?