Four Treatises Dissuading from Four Heinous and Common Sins, Treatise 3 · Chapter 12
CHAP. XII. Of the publicke puniſhments which the Lord inflicteth vponupon the common-wealth for the ſinne of whoredome.
ANd theſe are the puniſhments which for the ſin of whoredome are inflicted vponupon priuate perſons.§. Sect. 1. That the common-wealth is diuerſly puniſhed for the ſinne of whoredome. Beſides which the Lord impoſeth manie heauie iudgements vponupon the publicke ſtate, and vponupon the whole common-wealth: for where whoredome aboundeth, there the whole land mourneth, and being ſpoiled of her fruites,Ier. 23.10. wherewith ſhe ſhould nouriſh her inhabitants, ſhee ſitteth ſorrowfull hanging downe the head, like a miſerable mother, who being importuned for foode by her ſtarued children, hath not any thing to giuegive them to ſatisfie their hunger, and preſerue them from famiſhing. Sometimes the countrie is ſo grieuouſlie ſicke through the noiſome humours and burthenous corruptions of vncleanneſſe, that it hath no other meanes to eaſe it ſelfe, but by vomiting out all the inhabitants, as appeareth in the example of the Cananits, Leuit. 18.25.28.Leu. 18.25.28. ſometimes when men neglect the puniſhment of theſe ſinnes of vncleanneſſe, their cry aſcendeth vp into heauen importuning the Lord to take extraordinarie vengeance, when ordinarie iuſtice is not executed; as we may ſee in the example of Sodom & Gomorrah,Gen. 19. which were deſtroied with fire and brimſtone that came downe from heauen. And ſometime the heate of this filthie luſt ſo inflameth the iuſt wrath of God, that nothing will appeaſe and quench it, but a large ſtreame of the offenders blood; as appeareth in the example of the Iſraelites, who for their ſpirituall and carnall whoredome with the Moabites were deſtroyed to the number of 24000. at one time; as appeareth Numb. 25.9.Num. 25.9. And in the Beniamites who were almoſt all put to the ſword for committing and defending theſe ſinnes of vncleanneſſe. And alſo in the Sichemites,Iud. 20 who for the filthines of their Lords ſon, in deflouring Dinah, Iacobs daughter were vtterly deſtroied.Gen. 34. The which as it was a bloudie ſinne in Iacobs ſonnes, ſo no doubt it was a fearefull iudgement of God vponupon that citie, the which hee hath left as an example vntounto after ages, to ſhew how odious and abominable the ſinnes of whoredome and vncleanneſſe are in his ſight.
The conſideration whereof ſhould both reſtraine priuate men from defiling themſelues with the carnall filthineſſe of their vncleane luſts,§. Sect. 2. That louelove to our countrie ſhould make priuate men abhorre, and Magiſtrates puniſh this ſinne of whoredome. ſeeing thereby they not only bring ſo manifold miſchiefes vponupon their owne heads, but alſo make their deere countrie which hath giuen vntounto them their firſt breath, and continuall maintenance, education and defence, liable vntounto Gods fearefull plagues, which they ſhould more tender and preciouſlie eſteeme, then either goods, lands, or life it ſelfe. As alſo it ought to moue Magiſtrates, who are appointed by God as his deputies on earth, yt in zeale for Gods glory, and louelove to their country, they both make wholeſome lawes, for the puniſhing and ſuppreſſing of theſe vices, and alſo ſee them duely executed, but inflicting iuſt and deſerued puniſhments vponupon the offenders; for where ſinne is puniſhed with ordinarie puniſhments, there the Lord ſeldome inflicteth his extraordinarie plagues; neither doth our Soueraigne Lord and ſupreame Iudge, take the execution of iuſtice into his owne hands, but when it is neglected by his inferiour and earthly officers. Whereas contrariwiſe when Magiſtrates ſleepe and wincke at enormous crimes, then the Lord eſpecially watcheth and beholdeth them; when as their ſword of iuſtice moſt ruſteth in the ſcabberd, then is the Lord moſt readie to draw out the terrible ſword of his fearce vengeance, whereby he deſtroyeth both the wicked people and the negligent Magiſtrates.