The Best Remedies for the Worst of Maladies, Title page

The Best Remedies for the Worst of Maladies · Title page

THE Beſt of Remedies, FOR THE VVorſt of Maladies: OR, Spiritual Receipts and Antidotes for the Preſervation of a Plague-ſick Sinfull Soul.

Wherein is ſhown, Sin is the Cauſe, and Repentance the Cure of the Peſtilence.

Seaſonably Publiſhed by a Lover of Peace and Truth; and one that deſireth, that all would (though the Lords hand ſeems to be withdrawn, as to the late univerſally raging Peſtilential Diſeaſe) forſake thoſe Provoking Sins, which call for Vengeance and Judgements on the Sons of Men. R. A.

LONDON, Printed Anno 1667.

p. 1THE CAUSES & CURE OF THE Peſtilence.

THe firſt Sin which I ſhall inſiſt upon, ſo highly provoking unto the Lord, to ſend the deſtroying Peſtilence among a people, is the ſin of Oppreſſion: When the Supream Powers and Authorities of a Nation, do exerciſe a Uſurpation or Oppeſſion over the Bodies and Conſciences of the people of God. This was the ſin of Pharoah, who tyrannized, not onelyonly over the Bodies, but over the Conſciences alſo, of the Children of Iſrael; He ſets Task-maſters over them, to afflict them with their burdens; And the Egyptians made the Children of Iſrael to ſerve with rigour, and made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in Morter and in Brick, and in all manner of ſervice in the field; all their ſervice wherein they made them ſerve, was with rigour. By reaſon of which bondage, the Children of Iſrael ſighed and cryed, and their cry came up unto God, Exod. 1.11, 13, 14. comp. with Chap. 2.23. So Chap. 3.7. The Lord ſaid, I have ſurely ſeen the afflictien of my people which are it Egypt, and have heard their p. 2cry, by reaſon of their Task-maſters, for I know their ſorrows; And in the 9th. Verſe. Behold the cry of the Children of Iſrael, is come up unto me; and I have alſo ſeen the Oppreſſion wherewith the Egyptians oppreſs them. This was an oppreſſion that Pharoah and his cruel Task-maſters did exerciſe over their bodies.

The oppreſſion that he exerciſed over their ſouls and conſciences, did evidently appear in this. The Lord he called, and commiſſionated Moſes to go unto Pharoah, and he with the Elders of Iſrael, were to ſay unto him; The Lord God of the Hebrews hath met with us, and now let us go (we beſeech thee) three days journey into the Wilderneſs, that we may ſacrifice unto the Lord our God, Exod. 3.18. This they often preſt upon him: And the reaſon wherefore they ſo much urged it is very obſervable, in the 3d. Verſ. of the 5th. Chap. Let us go we pray thee three days journey into the Deſart, and ſacrifice unto the Lord our God, leſt he fall upon us with Peſtilence, or with the Sword; That is, Leſt he ſlay us and deſtroy us with Peſtilence, and with the Sword, as in Judges 8.21. Pharoah he hardens his heart, and is diſobedient unto the word of the Lord. And Pharoah ſaid, who is the Lord, that I ſhould obey his voice, to let Iſrael go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Iſrael go. They be idle (ſaith he) therefore they cry, ſaying; Let us go and Sacrifice unto our God, Exod. 5.2, 8, 17. But the Judgments of God purſuing him at the very heels, and the greivous ſwarm of Flies coming into his houſe, and into his ſervants houſes, and into all the Land of Egypt; ſo that the Land p. 3was corrupted by reaſon of the ſwarm of Flies: then he calls for Moſes and Aaron, that they might go and Sacrifice to God; but where? in the Land, that is, in his own Land, the Land of Egypt. But what ſaid Moſes? It is not meet ſo to do, for we ſhall ſacrifice the abominations of the Egyptians to the Lord our God; Lo, ſhall we Sacrifice the abominations of the Egyptians before their eyes, and will they not ſtone us? We will go three days journey into the Wilderneſs, and Sacrifice unto the Lord our God, as he ſhall command us. It is not meet, or it is not right ſo to do, as being not ſo appointed of God, who called into the Wilderneſs to Sacrifice, Exod. 3.18. Shall we Sacrifice the abominations of the Egyptians? That is, The Beaſts which the Egyptians do worſhip, and do abhor to kill, or to ſee killed for Sacrifice. And the Sentence twice repeated, may imply two ſenſes.

1. Shall we Sacrifice to our God, ſuch things as the Egyptians Sacrifice, that would be an abomination to the Lord?

Or, 2. Shall we Sacrifice ſuch things as God requireth, that would be an abomination to the Egyptians.

The Scripture often calling the Gods and Services of the Heathens, Abominations; As Deut. 7.25. and 12.30, 31. 2 King. 23.13. Ezra 9.1. Iſa. 44.19. Now the principal Sacrifices of the Hebrews were Oxen and Sheep, Gen. 15.9. And all Shepherds, or Sheep-keepers were an abomination to the Egyptians. Gen. 46.34. For the Egyptians abſtained from Sheep, and Sacrificed Goats. By all which it is very evident, that p. 4Pharoah denying the Iſraelites to Worſhip, as God had appointed them, did oppreſs them, not only in their bodies, but in their Conſciences likewiſe; which drew down the dreadful Judgments of God upon him and his Land; among which; this of the deſtroying Peſtilence. For proof whereof, ſee Exod. 3.19, 20. I am ſure (ſaith the Lord) that the King of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand And what follows? I will ſtretch out my hand and ſmite Egypt with all my wonders, &c. So Exod 9.13, 14, 15. Thus ſaith the Lord God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may ſerve me; for I will at this time ſend all my plagues upon thy heart, &c. and eſpecially in the 15. Verſ. For now will I ſtretch out my hand, that I may ſmite thee and thy people with Peſtilence, and thou ſhalt be cut off from the Earth. And in the 12. Chap. and 29. Verſ. See what a dreadful ſlaughter the Lord made accordingly in the Land of Egypt. And it came to paſs, that at Mid-night the Lord ſmote all the firſt-born in the Land of Egypt, from the firſt-born of Pharoah that ſat on his Throne, unto the firſt-born of the Captive that was in the Dungeon, and all the firſt-born of Cattel; and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a Houſe where there was not one dead. See further the ſeverity of God in puniſhing this ſin of Oppreſſion, Jer. 34.17. Therefore, thus ſaith the Lord, ye have not hearkened unto me in proclaiming liberty every one to his brother, and every man to his neighbour; Behold, I proclaim a liberty for you, ſaith the Lord, to the Sword, to the Peſtilence, and to the Famine, and I will make p. 5you to be removed into all the Kingdoms of the earth. So highly diſpleaſing it is unto the Lord, for a people to be oppreſſed, either in their civil or ſpiritual liberties and enjoyments, according to that in Pſa. 12.5. For the oppreſſion of the poor, for the ſighing of the needy, now will I ariſe (ſaith the Lord) I will ſet him at ſafety from him that puffeth at him. And further, in Iſa. 49.25, 26. A dreadful place to all cruel Oppreſſors of Gods people; ſaith the Lord there, I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will ſave thy Children; And I will feed them that oppreſs thee, with their own fleſh, and they ſhall be drunken with their own blood, as with ſweet wine; And Amos 2.6. Thus ſaith the Lord, for three tranſgreſſions of Iſrael, and for four, I will not turn away the puniſhment thereof; Why? Becauſe they ſold the righteous for ſilver, and the poor for a pair of ſhoes. So Iſa. 52.4, 5, 6. Thus (ſaith the Lord) my people went down aforetime into Egypt to ſojourn there, and the Aſſyrian oppreſſed them without cauſe; Now therefore what have I here, (ſaith the Lord) that my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them, make them to bowl, (ſaith the Lord) and my name continually every day is blaſphemed. Therefore my people ſhall know my name, therefore they ſhall know in that day, that I am he that doth ſpeak, behold it is I. By which it is very evident that the Lord does not onelyonly intimate unto us, how ſorely he plagued the Egyptians, becauſe they had grievouſly afflicted and oppreſſed his people, which voluntarily, and of their own accord went down into Egypt, but alſo that he will much more grievouſly plague the p. 6Aſſyrians that carried them away out of their own Land, the Land of Canaan, which he had given them for an Inheritance, and there dealt ſo cruelly and unmercifully with them.

So ſorely diſpleaſing is it unto the Lord, when thoſe that rule over his people, ſhall make them to howl; that is, to cry bitterly, to mourn and lament ſo ely, as it is rendred, Jer. 4.8. and Ezek. 21.12. To this agrees that in the 50th. Chap. of Jeremiah, and the 33, and 34. Verſes. Thus ſaith the Lord of Hoſts. The Children of Iſrael, and the Children of Judah were oppreſſed together, and all that took them Captives held them faſt, they refuſed to let them go. Their Redeemer is ſtrong, the Lord of Hoſts is his name, he ſhall throughly plead their cauſe, that he may give reſt unto the Land, and diſquiet the Inhabitants of Babylon. What we may underſtand by the Lords pleading of the cauſe of his people here, and diſquieting the inhabitants of Babylon that oppreſſed them, that of Jerem. 51.35, 36. doth evidently declare. The violence done to me and to my fleſh, be upon Babylon ſhall the Inhabitants of Sion ſay, and my blood upon the Inhabitants of Chaldea, ſhall Jeruſalem ſay. Therefore thus ſaith the Lord, behold I will plead thy cauſe, and take vengeance for thee, and I will dry up her Sea, and make her Springs dry. When the Lord ſhall plead the cauſe of Sion, then will he take vengeance for her, that is, he will avenge himſelf of his and her cruel oppreſſing enemies; According to that which the Lord of Hoſts, the mighty one of Iſrael ſpeaks in Iſa. 1.24. Ah, I will eaſe me of mine Adverſaries, and avenge me of mine Enemies. p. 7This is the time when he will make his Arrows drunk with blood, and his Sword to devour fleſh. And then what follows? Rejoyce O ye Nations, with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his Servants, and will render vengeance unto his Adverſaries, and will be merciful unto his Land, and to his people; As it is in Deut. 32.42, 43. This is that time which is called by the Prophet Iſaiah, The day of the Lords vengeance, and the year of recompenſes for the controverſies of Sion, Iſa. 34.8. called by Jeremiah, the vengeance of the Lord our God, the vengeance of his Temple, Jer. 50.28. And take notice then how ſevere the Lord will be. He tells us, that his Sword ſhall be bathed in Heaven, and it ſhall come down upon Idumea, and upon the people of his curſe to Judgement. By Idumea, we are to underſtand Edom, or the Edomites, who were the higheſt Kindred of the Iſraelites, but notwithſtanding they were their greateſt enemies and oppreſſors; And therefore ſaid the Lord, by the Prophet Obadiah, Verſ. 10. For thy violence (meaning the Edomites) againſt thy Brother Jacob, ſhame ſhall cover thee, and thou ſhalt be cut off for ever. And theſe are a Type and Figure of all the enemies of the Church of God, who indeed do boaſt and brag that they are deſcended and born of the Church, crying up the Temple of the Lord, The Temple of the Lord, ſetting up a Worſhip of their own deviſing, and are in the practiſe of Sacraments and Ordinances, as the true Church and Spouſe of Chriſt, yet, indeed, and in truth, do hate, perſecute, and oppreſs the true ſpiritual and ſincere worſhippers p. 8of Jeſus. Whereby it is very evident, what dreadful plagues and puniſhments the ſin of oppreſſion doth bring upon a Land and Nation.

2. The ſecond Peſtilential ſin, is the ſin of Perſecution, and hatred againſt God and his people: As God hath his Arrows of his deliverance for the preſervation of his people againſt their enemies, 2 King. 13.17. So he hath the Arrows of his Indignation and wrath, which Job being under a ſpirit of deſertion and temptation apprehended were within him, the poiſon whereof he ſaid did drink up his ſpirit, Job 6.4. So David in the like condition, That the arrows of the Lord did ſtick faſt in him, and his hand preſſed him ſore, Pſal. 38.2. And the Prophet Jeremy in his Lamentations; He hath bent his bow (ſaith he) and ſet me as a mark for the Arrow. He hath cauſed the arrows of his quiver to enter into my reins, Lam. 3.12, 13. I ſay whatever might be the apprehenſions of theſe holy and righteous men, yet ſurely the Lord has his arrows of his ſore diſpleaſure and wrath, which as the inſtruments of death, he hath prepared and ordained againſt the Perſecutors, Pſal. 7.13. And this of the deſtroying Peſtilence is one of the ſoreſt and ſharpeſt of them, as reckoned amongſt his four ſore judgements, Ezek. 14.21. And as the wicked do bend their bow, and make ready their arrows upon the ſtring, that they may privily ſhoot at the upright in heart, Pſal. 11.2. So the Lord he has his bow and arrows, and his Bow is bent alſo, and his arrows he hath ready, Pſa. 7.12. which he ſends out and ſcatters his enemies with, Pſal. 18.14. With theſe he breaks their bones and p. 9pierces them through, Num. 24.8. yea, makes them drunk with their blood, Deut. 32.42. Theſe are ſharp in the heart of the Kings enemies, Pſal. 45.5. The Inſtruments and means that the Lord makes uſe of againſt his enemies are piercing, yea ſo piercing, that the heart, the cloſeſt and ſtrongeſt part, even that wherein life conſiſteth, ſhall be peirced thereby. The arrows of the Lord are like the ſwords of Saul and Jonathan which did execution and returned not empty, 2 Sam. 1.22. You think by flying away and hiding your ſelves in the thickets of the forreſt, you ſhall be ſecured from the ſtroke of theſe arrows of Gods vengeance; but know, if you are Gods Enemies and perſecutors, his hand will find you out, yea his right hand will finde out thoſe that hate him; and he will make you as a fiery oven in the time of his anger, Pſal. 21.8, 9. For wickedneſs burneth as fire, and it ſhall devour the briars and thorns, and ſhall kindle in the thickets of the forreſt, and they ſhall mount up as the lifting up of ſmoke; for through the wrath of the Lord of Hoſts the land ſhall be darkned, and the people ſhall be as the fewel of the fire, no man ſhall ſpare his brother, Iſa. 9.18, 19. I ſay, if you be the Lords Adverſaries, then if the Scriptures be true and cannot be broken, you ſhall aſſuredly be broken in peices, yea out of heaven will the Lord thunder upon you, 1 Sam. 2.10. And if that will not do, he will throw you into the deeps, as a ſtone into the mighty waters, as he dealt with the perſecutors of his people, Neh. 9.12. I cannot let paſs thoſe dreadful imprecations which the Prophet David thundereth out againſt his and the Lords Adverſaries, under the perſon of Judas; Set a wicked p. 10man over him (ſaith he) Let Satan ſtand at his right hand; let him be condemned and his prayer become ſin, and his days few, and his children fatherleſs, and vagabonds, begging their bread; and ſuch like prophetical direful wiſhes; And why all this? Becauſe that he remembred not to ſhew mercy, but perſecuted the poor and needy man, that he might even ſlay the broken in heart, Pſa. 109. to ver. 17. ſo Pſa. 69. verſe 22. and onward; Let their table become a ſnare before them, and that which ſhould have been for their welfare, let it become a trap: Let their eyes be darkned that they ſee not, and make their loins continually to ſhake. Pour out thine indignation upon them, and let thy wrathful anger take hold of them. Let their habitations be deſolate, and let none dwell in their tents. Add iniquity to their iniquity, and let them not come unto thy righteouſneſs: Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous. Now what's the reaſon that David devoteth his and the Lords enemies to ſuch dreadful deſtructions? why? even for this cauſe; For they perſecute him whom thou haſt ſmitten, and talk to the grief of thoſe whom thou haſt wounded. By all which he meaneth, that the wicked laid grievous afflictions and puniſhments upon ſuch, whom the Lord in his fatherly love had chaſtiſed, whether you underſtand it of Chriſt or of his afflicted and perſecuted members: This is a ſin that is highly provoking unto the Lord, drawing down the wrath of God to a Kingdoms inevitable deſolation and deſtruction; as upon Judah and Jeruſalem, 2 Chron. 36.15, 16. where it is ſaid, That the Lord God of their fathers ſent to them by his meſſengers, or prophets, riſing p. 11up betimes and ſending, becauſe he had compaſſion on his people, and on his dwelling place. But they mocked the meſsengers of God, and deſpiſed his words, and miſuſed his Prophets, untill the wrath of the Lord aroſe againſt his people, till there was no remedy, or no healing; becauſe on the one ſide the people repented not, and on the other ſide Gods Juſtice required that their impenitency ſhould be moſt ſeverely puniſhed. Its a ſimilitude taken from ſick bodies that are incurable; For (as Stephen ſaid truly, whom they ſtoned) which of the Prophets have not your fathers perſecuted? and they have ſlain them which ſhewed before of the coming of the Juſt one (meaning Chriſt) of whom (ſaith he) ye have been now the betrayers and murderers, Acts 7.52. And therefore it was that our bleſſed Saviour took up that ſad lamentation and complaint; O Jeruſalem, Jeruſalem, thou that killeſt the Prophets, and ſtoneſt them which are ſent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not? And what follows? Behold your houſe is left unto you deſolate, Matth. 23.37, 38. Perſecution is the certain fore-runner of a Nations deſolation and deſtruction. And God does uſually retaliate the ſin of perſecuting and deſtroying men upon their own heads; Let their way be dark and ſlippery, and let the Angel of the Lord perſecute them, Pſal. 35.6. As the fire burneth the wood, and as the flame ſetteth the mountains on fire, ſo perſecute them with thy tempeſt, and make them afraid with thy ſtorm: Fill their faces with ſhame that they may ſeek thy name: O Lord, let them be confounded and troubled for ever, yea let them be put to ſhame p. 12and periſh: That men may know, that thou, whoſe name alone is Jehovah, art the moſt high over all the earth, Pſal. 83.15, 16, 17, 18. And who are they whom the Pſalmiſt imprecates theſe dreadful judgments to fall upon, but Gods Enemies and Perſecutors? For lo, thine enemies make a tumult, and they that hate thee have lift up the head, they have taken crafty counſel againſt thy people, and conſulted againſt thy hidden ones. They have ſaid, Come, let us cut them off from being a Nation; that the name of Iſrael may be no more in remembrance. God has his hidden ones, ſuch whoſe life is hid with Chriſt in God, Col. 3.3. whom the Lord eſteems as his jewels, keeping them in faithful and ſafe cuſtody, hiding them in the ſecret of his preſence from the pride of man, which betake themſelves to the Lord for refuge to be hid and ſecure under his tuition and protection, Pſal. 27.5. and 31.20. And theſe are they that the enemies of God did conſult and conſpire againſt, even to extirpate them, and to root them out of the land. But ſee how juſt the Lord is in the exeution of his righteous and terrible judgements upon ſuch: Thou ſhalt take up this proverb (ſaith the Lord) againſt the King of Babylon and ſay, How hath the Oppreſſor ceaſed? the golden City ceaſed? the Lord hath broken the ſtaff of the wicked, and the Scepter of the Rulers. He that ſmote the people in wrath with a continual ſtroke (mark that) he that ruled the Nations in anger is perſecuted, and none hindereth, Iſa. 14.4, 5, 6. O that this were ſeriouſly laid to heart by the perſecuting ſpirits of this generation; whether Gods controverſie with the Kingdom at this time, in this ſore viſitation p. 13of the Plague among us, doth not in a great meaſure ſpring from this evil and bitter root; ſo heinous and provoking ſin it is unto the Lord.

3. The third peſtilential deſtroying ſin, is the ſin of Murder and Blood-ſhed that is exerciſed upon the people of God. See Jer. 50.11, 12 13. the dreadful threatnings of the Lord againſt Babylon for this very ſin: Becauſe ye were glad (ſaith the Lord) becauſe ye rejoyced, O ye deſtroyers of mine heritage, becauſe ye aro grown fat as the heifer at graſs, and bellow as bulls: Mark, they were the deſtroyers of Gods heritage, that was their ſin; and now what muſt be their puniſhment? Your mother ſhall be ſore confounded, ſhe that bare you ſhall be aſhamed; behold the hindermoſt of the Nations ſhall be a wilderneſs, a dry land and a deſert; becauſe of the wrath of the Lord it ſhall not be inhabited, but it ſhall be wholly deſolate, every one that goeth by Babylon ſhall be aſtoniſhed, and hiſs at all her plagues. So in Jer. 51.34, 35. The Church complains there, that Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon had devoured her, and cruſhed her, and made her an empty veſſel, and had ſwallowed her up like a Dragon, and filled his belly with her delicates and caſt her out. What then is the Churches dreadful imprecation hereupon? but that which was mentioned before, The violence done to me and to my fleſh be upon Babylon, ſhall the inhabitants of Sion ſay, and my blood upon the inhabitants of Chaldea ſhall Jeruſalem ſay. Therefore thus ſaith the Lord, Behold I will plead thy cauſe, and take vengeance for thee, &c. And Babylon ſhall become heaps, a dwelling place for Dragons, an aſtoniſhment, a hiſſing without an p. 14inhabitant. And in the 33. Verſe, The Daughter of Babylon is like a threſhing floor, it is time to threſh her, yet a little while and the time of her harveſt ſhall come. So Rev. 18.4. God calls his people there to come out of Babylon, and wherefore? that ye be not partakers of her ſins (ſaith the voice from Heaven) and that ye receive not of her Plagues. So in the 8th. Verſe, Therefore ſhall her Plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine, and ſhe ſhall be utterly burnt with Fire, for ſtrong is the Lord who judgeth her. And what was Babylons great ſin? They have ſhed the blood of Saints and Prophets, and thou haſt given them blood to drink, for they are worthy, ſaid the Angel of the waters. Rev. 16.6. So Rev. 17.6. And I ſaw (ſaid John in a Viſion) the woman drunken with the blood of the Saints, and with the blood of the Martyrs of Jeſus: And in her was found the blood of Prophets, and of Saints, and of all that were ſlain upon the earth, Rev. 18.24. And what follows? Allelujah, ſalvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God, for true and righteous are his judgments; for he hath judged the great Whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his ſervants at her hand And again they ſaid, Allelujah, and her ſmoke roſe up for ever.

For the ſpeedy execution of which righteous judgements of God, upon this inſatiable and blood-thirſty Whore, it is, that the ſouls under the Altar, that have been ſlain for the Word of God, and for the Teſtimony which they held, are ſaid to cry with a loud voice, ſaying, How long Lord, p. 15holy and true, doſt not thou judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the Earth? To which anſwer is made, That they ſhould reſt yet for a little ſeaſon, until their Fellow-Servants alſo, and their brethren that ſhould be killed as they were, ſhould be fulfilled, Rev. 6.9, 10, 11. That is, ſlain by Antichriſt and his Miniſters, who having Apoſtatized from the faith, ſhould ariſe in the Church of Chriſt ſoon after this, and by their ſpiritual pride and tyranny, oppreſs the Church, and perſecute and kill the Lords faithful Witneſſes, in like manner as the Gentiles the Jews, and other falſe Chriſtians had formerly done, Rev. 11.7. and 12.15, 17. Yet this is very obſervable, as that which may miniſter matter of ſtrong conſolation to the Saints ſuffering under Antichriſts bloody perſecutions, that there is the determinate time of Gods appointed Judgments, and that however for a while the Lord defers his puniſhments, yet he certainly hears the Prayers of his faithful ſervants, and at laſt will be fully avenged on their Adverſaries. And though Antichriſts rage and tyranny is very great, yet it is limited according to the purpoſe and decree of God, who hath determined the number of Martyrs, which number being once accompliſhed, not one drop of blood ſhall be more ſpilt by that man of ſin, that Son of perdition; who (Satan like) worketh with all his power, compelling men by Fines, confiſcation of Goods, Impriſonments, Baniſhments, and the like, to ſubmit unto his ways and laws, 2 Theſ. 2.3, 9. and that under fair and glorious pretences too, for the ſuppreſſing of Errors p. 16and Hereſies, for the beating down of ſin, for the working of men to conformity and uniformity, and the bringing of them into obedience unto the Church; which to do, if the Eccleſiaſtical power is not ſufficient, the Magiſterial power muſt be made uſe of. But it is very evident, that the Antichriſtian religion, conſiſting for the moſt part in Will-worſhip, and in humane traditions and inventions, could never have ſubſiſted to this day, had it not been ſupported by an Arm of fleſh; when as our Lord Jeſus with his Apoſtles and Diſciples, never ſought to the Civil Magiſtrate, or Powers of the World upon that accompt, nor is the Kingdom of Chriſt to be erected and eſtabliſhed in this way of humane force and power. The weapons of our warfare (ſaith the Apoſtle) are not carnal, 2 Cor. 10.4. It is the powers of the world that ſhall deſtroy the holy people, Dan. 8.24. It is the Little Horn, the Romiſh Antichriſt, that ſhall make War with the Saints, and prevail againſt them, until the Ancient of days come, and that judgment be given to the Saints of the moſt high, and that the time come that the Saints ſhall poſſeſs the Kingdom, Dan. 7.21.22. It is he, that ſhall ſpeak great words againſt the moſt high, and ſhall wear out the Saints of the moſt high, &c. Ʋntil the Judgment ſhall ſit, and then they ſhall take away his dominion, to conſume and to deſtroy it unto the end, Dan. 7.25, 26. And in one day ſhall Babylons Plagues come, death, and mourning, and famine, and ſhe ſhall be utterly burnt with fire, for ſtrong is the Lord God who judgeth her, Rev. 18.8. The ſeverity of the Lord againſt p. 17this ſin of bloodſhed and cruelty, that is exerciſed on the Saints of God, is further ſet forth in that of the Prophet Amos Chap. 1. Verſ. 11. (Thus ſaith the Lord) for three tranſgreſſions of Edom, and for four I will not turn away the puniſhment thereof; and why? Becauſe he did purſue his Brother with the Sword, and did caſt off all pity, and his anger did tear perpetually, and kept his wrath for ever. For this alſo hath the Lord a controverſie with the Land; becauſe, by killing and ſtealing, &c. they break out, and blood toucheth blood. Therefore ſhall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein ſhall languiſh, Hoſea 4.1, 2, 3. So in the Pſal. 94.5, 6. They break in pieces thy people, O Lord, and afflict thine heritage, they ſlay the widow, and the ſtranger, and murder the fatherleſs; yet they ſay, the Lord ſhall not ſee. And what then? O Lord God, to whom vengeance belongeth, ſhew thy ſelf: Lift up thy ſelf thou Judge of the earth, render a reward to the proud. So highly provoking is it unto the Lord, for any to have a hand in the deſtroying of Gods heritage; As the Pſalmiſt ſaith, When the Lord ſhall make inquiſition for blood, he will remember them, and not forget the cry of the humble, or of the afflicted.

4. The fourth peſtilential and highly provoking ſin, is the ſin of Idolatry, which is the worſhipping of falſe Gods, or the true God in a falſe manner. This is that ſin, that hath greatly incenſed the Lord to ſend this ſore Judgement of the Plague or Peſtilence, and the Sword among a people, Judg. 5.8. It is ſaid, they choſe new gods, then was war in p. 18the gates. When Iſrael forſook the Lord, and his true worſhip, and fell to the worſhipping of the Idol-Gods of the Heathen, then the Lord ever and anon puniſhed them with war. And as the Sword, ſo the Peſtilence brake in among them for this very ſin, Pſal. 106.28, 29. They joyned themſelves alſo to Baal-Peor, and eat the ſacrifices of the dead; Thus they provoked him to anger with their inventions, and the Plague brake in upon them. See Num. 25.2. to which this in the Pſalmes doth referre. It is ſaid, they called the people to the Sacrifice of their Gods, and the people did eat and bowed down to their gods. And Iſrael joyned himſelf to Baal-peor, and the anger of the Lord was kindled againſt Iſrael; ſo that there died in the Plague, no leſs then four and twenty thouſand, and many more had been deſtroyed had not Phinehas ſtood up and executed judgement, and turned away the wrath of the Lord, and ſo the Plague was ſtayed, as in the 30. verſe of that 106. Pſalm comp. with Num. 25.11. Baal-peor was the Idol-god of the Moabites, and the Daughters of the Moabites they called or invited the people to the ſacrifices or offerings of their gods; they allured the people by fleſhly baites to defile their bodies and ſouls with whoredom and idolatry, and the people they participated or communicated with them in their idolatry, which ſin God in a ſpecial manner had forewarned them of, Exod. 34.12, 13, 14, 15, 16.

Take heed to thy ſelf, leſt thou make a Covenant with the Inhabitants of the Land, whither thou goeſt, leſt it be for a ſnare in the midſt of thee. p. 19But ye ſhall deſtroy their Altars, break their Images, and cut down their Groves. For thou ſhalt worſhip no other God, for the Lord whoſe name is Jealous, is a jealous God. Leſt thou make a Covenant with the Inhabitants of the Land, and they go a whoring after their gods, and do ſacrifice to their gods, and one call thee, and thou eat of his ſacrifice, and thou take of their Daughters unto thy Sons, and their Daughters go a whoring after their gods, and make thy Sons go a whoring after their gods. And hence it was, that the Apoſtle Paul dehorted the Corinthians, leſt they ſhould be guilty of the like ſin, and ſo incurre the like puniſhment, 1 Cor. 10.8. Neither let us commit fornication, as ſome of them committed (meaning ſpiritual as well as corporal uncleanneſs) and fell in one day three and twenty thouſand, though there was four and twenty thouſand fell in all, but three and twenty thouſand of them fell or periſhed in one day.

So when Moſes was in the Mount with God, and the People had made them a Molden Calf, and gave it Divine Adoration, ſaying, Theſe be thy gods O Iſrael which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt; How did the wrath of the Lord begin to wax hot againſt them for to conſume them, had not Moſes (his choſen) ſtood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, leſt he ſhould deſtroy them; yet, ſaith the Lord, Nevertheleſs, in the day when I viſit, I will viſit their ſin upon them.

And the Lord plagued the people, becauſe they made the Calf which Aaron made. See Pſal. 1….23. comp. with Exod. 32.4. and 35. verſes. … p. 20whence was that dehortation of the Apoſtle likewiſe in that 1 Cor. 10.7. Neither (ſaith he) be ye Idolaters, as were ſome of them, as it is written, the people ſate down to eat and drink and roſe up to play. The word is uſed for laughing or rejoycing, Gen. 21.6. here it is meant of their ſinging and dancing about the Golden Calf they had made, as in the 18. and 19. verſes of Exod. 32. as aforeſaid. So Jer. 19.3, 4, 5. Thus ſaith the Lord of Hoſts, the God of Iſrael, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, the which whoſoever heareth, his ears ſhall tingle. And wherefore will the Lord be ſo ſevere? Becauſe they have forſaken me, ſaith the Lord, and have eſtranged this place, and have burnt incenſe in it unto other gods, whom neither they nor their fathers have known, nor the Kings of Judah, and have filled this place with the blood of Innocents; they have built alſo the high places of Baal to burn their Sons with fire for burnt offerings unto Baal, which I commanded not, nor ſpake it, neither came it into my mind: Therefore, behold, the days come ſaith the Lord, that I will cauſe them to fall by the Sword before their enemies, &c. and their Carkaſes will I give to be meat for the fowles of the heaven, and for the beaſts of the earth; and I will make this City deſolate and an hiſſing: every one that paſſeth thereby ſhall be aſtoniſhed and hiſs, becauſe of all the Plagues thereof. So Ezek. 33.25, 26, 27. Wherefore (thus ſaith the Lord) ye eat with the blood and lift up your eyes towards your Idols, and ſhed blood, and ſhall ye poſſeſs the land? &c. Thus ſaith the Lord God. As I live, ſurely, they that are in the waſtes ſhall fall by the Sword, &c. and p. 21they that be in the Forts, and in the Caves ſhall dye of the Peſtilence. For I will lay the Land moſt deſolate, and the pomp of her ſtrength ſhall ceaſe. Hence it is ſaid, that in Horeh they provoked the Lord to wrath, ſo that the Lord was angry with them to have deſtroyed them, Deut. 9.8. And Deut. 32.16, to 21. They provoked him to jealouſie with ſtrange gods, with abominations provoked they him to anger. They ſacrificed to Devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom their Fathers feared not. Of the Rock that begat them they were unmindful, and had forgotten God that formed them. What then? And when the Lord ſaw it, he abhorred them, becauſe of the provoking of his Sons, and of his Daughters. And he ſaid, I will hide my face from them, I will ſee what their end ſhall be.

For this ſin of Idolatry it was that the Lord brought evil upon the houſe of Jeroboam, ſmiting all his houſe, in ſo much that he left not to him any that breathed, but took them away, as a man taketh away dung, till it be all gone; for ſaith the Text, He made him other gods, and molten Images, to provoke the Lord to anger, and did caſt the Lord behind his back. See 1 King. 14.9. comp. with Chap. 15.29. and 30. &c. Add to this, that in the 44. of Jeremiah the 7. and 8. Verſ. Thus ſaith the Lord, the God of Hoſts, the God of Iſrael, Wherefore commit ye this great evil againſt your ſouls, to cut off from you man and woman, child and ſuckling out of Judah, to leave you none to remain; In that ye provoke me unto wrath with the works p. 22of your hands, burning incenſe unto other gods, &c. that ye might cut your ſelves off, and that ye might be a curſe and reproach among all the Nations of the earth. So highly provoking is this ſin of Idolatry unto God, as you many ſee further Exod. 20.4, 5. Deut. 6.14, 15. and 32.21. which I ſay (that we may not be miſtaken concerning it) doth conſiſt, not only in the worſhiping of Idols and falſe gods, but of the true God in a falſe manner.

It may be, thou wilt not be ſo groſs, to fall down and give divine Adoration to an Image, yet if thou doſt worſhip God before and by an Image, thou art an Idolater. The Image which the Jews made of the true God, is condemned of God himſelf Exod. 32.8. and they that made it were puniſhed as Idolaters 1 Cor. 10.5, 7. It … a dotage in Popery, to diſtinguiſh between Idol and Image, and to make the Picture of a falſe god onelyonly to be an Idol; not conſidering, that the making of an Image, or the likeneſs of God, or of any Creature in Heaven or Earth for a religions end, to give it divine adoration and worſhip, or to worſhip God by it, is Idolatry, forbidden by the Scriptures, even by the Lord himſelf, Deut. 5.8, 9. Thou ſhalt not make thee any graven Image, or any likeneſs of any thing, &c. Thou ſhalt not bow down thy ſelf unto them, nor ſerve them.

2ly. Idolatry may be ſaid to be all humane inventions and traditions of men, thruſt into the divine worſhip and ſervice of God, Deut. 12.32. Whatſoever I command you, ſaith the Lord, that obſerve and do, thou ſhalt not add thereto, &c. So ſaid our bleſſed Saviour, In vain they do worſhip me, teaching p. 22for Doctrines the Commandments of men. And you tranſgreſs (or reject; fruſtrate and make void) the commandments of God by your traditions, Matth. 15.3, 9. Mark. 7.9. Therefore all traditions and ſuperſtitions contrary to the Word of God, are to be avoided and abhorred by all who will be found worſhipping of God in ſpirit and in truth, according to his own inſtitution and preſcription.

3ly. The ſetting the heart inordinately upon any creature, by fearing, loving, and truſting in it more then in God, and above God, is Idolatry in Gods account. Phil. 3.19. The Apoſtle complains of ſome, whoſe God was there belly; and the Prophet Ezekiel ſpeaks of ſetting up of Idols in the heart. Ezek. 14.2, 4.

4ly. The Immoderate love unto, and the diſtruſtful care for the things of this life, falls under this denomination of Idolatry. Hence it is that the Apoſtle ſaith, That no unclean perſon, or covetous man who is an Idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Chriſt and of God, Eph. 5.5. the one makes his luſt, the other his mony his God. And the Apoſtle in Col. 3.5. among other the ſins and luſts of the fleſh, calls Covetouſneſs Idolatry; For which things ſake (ſaith he) the wrath of God cometh on the children of diſobedience. All theſe kinds of Idolatries by the Apoſtle Peter are expreſt I conceive, under the name and title of abominable Idolatries, 1 Pet. 4.3. Hence it is, I ſuppoſe, that John in the concluſion of his Epiſtle hath this exhortation to the beleivers of his time, Little children keep your ſelves from Idols. Now all Idols being vanities, and the work of errors, which in the time of their viſitation ſhall periſh, p. 24Jer 10.15. Then it muſt needs follow, That they that obſerve lying vanities, forſake their own mercy, Jon. 2.8. And this is the fourth Peſtilential ſin, ſo highly provoking the Lord:

5. The fifth peſtilential deſtroying ſin, is the ſin of Covetouſneſs, conſiſting in a greedy inordinate deſire after gain, unto which evill whoſoever is ſubject is the ſervant and ſlave of all other ſins. So inſatiable and unſatisfied he is, that like the man that hath the Dropſie, the more he drinketh, the more he thirſteth. This ſin of Covetouſneſs is called Idolatry, Col. 3.5. and Epheſ. 5.5. Becauſe the covetous perſon not only prefers his treaſure, before God, but doth place the happineſs and felicity of his life in his ſubſtance; like the fool in the Goſpel, Luk. 12.15, 16. And what ſin is there that is more provoking unto the Lord, or that pulls down more the wrath of God upon a Nation or Kingdom, as I inſtanced before, then the ſin of Idolatry? For which things ſake the wrath of God cometh on the children of diſobedience, Col. 3.6. So abhorring a ſin it is unto the Lord, Pſal. 10.3. The wicked bleſſeth the Covetous, whom the Lord abhorreth. And therefore I finde it rankt with thoſe other aforementioned ſo highly provoking ſins of Bloodſhed, Oppreſſion and Perſecution, Jer. 22.17. But thine eyes and thine heart are not but for thy covetouſneſs, and for to ſhed innocent blood, and for oppreſſion, and for violence to do it. And what before? Wo unto him, that buildeth his houſe by unrighteouſneſs, and his chambers by wrong: Shalt thou reign becauſe thou cloſeſt p. 25thy ſelf in cedar? Did not thy father eat and drink, and do judgement and juſtice, and then it was well with him? &c. Jer. 22.13, 15. The like woe or denunciation of judgement againſt this vile provoking ſin, you have in Iſa. 5.8, 9. Woe unto them that joyn houſe to houſe, that lay field to field, till there be no place; that is, for the poor to dwell, that they may be placed alone in the midſt of the earth. And mark what follows, In mine ears ſaid the Lord of Hoſts, of a truth many houſes ſhall be deſolate, even great and fair without inhabitants. O that our great Builders and Incloſers of our times, would ſeriouſly lay this Scripture to heart. How many houſes now hath God made deſolate in City and Suburbs? how many great and fair dwellings now ſtand empty without an inhabitant? You have the like woe denounced in Micha. 2.1, 2, 3. Wo to them that deviſe iniquity, and work evil upon their beds, &c. and they covet fields, and take them by violence, and houſes and take them away, ſo they oppreſs a man and his houſe, even a man and his heritage; And what follows hereupon? Therefore thus ſaith the Lord, Behold againſt this Family do I deviſe an evil, from which ye ſhall not remove your necks, neither ſhall ye go haughtily, for this time is evil. Mark, I pray you, its ſaid they covet fields, and houſes, and take them by violence; If they do but fancy or get a mind to ſuch and ſuch a piece of Land, to ſuch a Houſe, or ſuch like poſſeſſions, they will have it, and force it away from the owners thereof; As Ahab in the caſe of Naboths Vineyard, 1 King. 21. And thus they oppreſs, or practiſe violence upon a man and his houſe, even a p. 26man and his heritage, or his inheritance, that is, they make him poor and ſad, diſpoſſeſſing and bereaving the Proprietor thereof, which God would in no wiſe allow to be taken away, or alienated from the heir. Therefore, ſaith the Lord, Behold I deviſe an evil againſt this Family, or againſt this generation: Even as they wickedly deviſe, contrive and practiſe the evil of ſin, ſo do I now deviſe the evil of puniſhment, that ſhall be executed upon them; from which ye ſhall not remove your necks; the yoke of bondage which ye ſhall be made to undergo, ſhall be ſo cloſe and ſtrong upon you. And from whence proceeds all theſe evil incroachments, theſe violent oppreſſions and practiſes, but from this evil and bitter root of covetouſneſs? Againſt which the Prophet Habakkuk comes forth with the like woe, and denunciation of judgment; Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetouſneſs to his houſe, that he may ſet his neſt on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil. And mark what follows? Thou haſt conſulted ſhame to thy houſe, by cutting off many people, and haſt ſinned againſt thy ſoul; For the ſtone ſhall cry out of the Wall, and the beam out of the Timber ſhall anſwer it. Woe to him that buildeth a Town with blood, and eſtabliſheth a City by iniquity. Behold, is it not of the Lord of Hoſts, that the people ſhall labour in the very fire, and the people ſhall weary themſelves for very vanity, Hab. 2.9, 10, 11, 12, 13. Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetouſneſs, that he may ſet his neſt on high, that is, that ſeeks and practices by all manner of baſe, unworthy, and unwarrantable ways, to inrich himſelf, p. 27his wife, children, and poſterity, that he and his family may riſe and become great and famous in the world, and live ſecure and ſafe. A ſimilitude taken from the Eagle and ſuch Birds, as love to build their Neſts in high places. Obad. 4. Well, but conſider a little what thou art doing all this while in contriving to be ſo great; Thou haſt but conſulted ſhame to thy houſe, ſaith the Lord, as if he had ſaid, Thou haſt (ſetting all honour and honeſty aſide) raked much riches together, and raiſed great and ſtately Palaces and Places, and filled and adorned the ſame with all manner of rich and ſumptuous furniture, yet all this ſpeaks but thy own ſhame and infamy, becauſe thou haſt accumulated, and heaped all this together, by thy covetous and unworthy practiſes. And thou haſt ſinned againſt thy own ſoul in all that thou haſt done. And therefore the ſtone out of the Wall ſhall cry; The very Stones wherewith thy Palaces are built, ſhall teſtifie againſt thee, namely, that thou haſt built them unrighteouſly, by wronging, and injuring of others, which call aloud to God for vengeance againſt thee. And therefore woe to him that buildeth a City with blood, or bloods, as it is in the Original; that is, with murder, or with the goods of him or them that are ſlain or murdered, or with the ſweat and blood of the people. Ezekiel calls it the bloody City; Woe to the bloody City, I will even make the pile for fire great, Ezek. 24.9. So the Prophet Nahum; Woe to the bloody City, or City of bloods, it is full of lies and robberies, the prey departeth not. And therefore, Behold, it is not of the Lord, that the p. 28people ſhall labour in the very fire, and weary themſelves for vanity? It is of the Lord ſurely, it comes to paſs by the ſecret counſel of God, that theſe Houſes and Cities which they build, ſhall either come to be conſumed by fire; And what dreadful fires hath hapned amongſt us of late days? or elſe the people ſhall weary themſelves in vain, for vanity and to no purpoſe; ſeeing it comes ſo ſoon to be deſtroyed and ruinated, what they build.

Therefore ſaith the Lord, Behold I have ſmitten my hand at thy diſhoneſt gain which thou haſt made, and at thy blood which hath been in the midſt of thee, Ezek. 22.13. intimating an abhorring of their wickedneſs, and a purpoſe to proceed againſt them in fury, as is expounded in Ezek. 21.17. I will ſmite my hands together, and I will cauſe my fury to reſt; I the Lord have ſaid it. All holding forth the Lords great diſpleaſure againſt this ſore evil, which is more evidently manifeſted, by conſulting ſome few Verſes more in that 22. of Ezekiel, beginning at the 24th. Verſe. Son of man, ſay unto her, Thou art the land that is not cleanſed, nor rained upon in the day of indignation. As if the Lord had ſaid, Thou art the Land that is not amended or reformed by my Judgements, and puniſhments, that hath not had her ſhowers of rain to cleanſe thee; my judgements will not cleanſe thee. As a great ſhowre of rain (you know) is wont to cleanſe and waſh away the filth and dirt of the ſtreets; Thy filthineſs remains ſtill unwaſhed away: But how comes this to paſs? There is a conſpiracy of her Prophets in the midſt thereof, p. 29like a roaring Lyon ravening the prey: they have devoured ſouls: And what elſe? They have taken the Treaſure and precious things: they have made her many Widows in the midſt thereof. They did devour the godly mens eſtates, and bereaved the Women of their Husbands, by their falſe accuſations, and evil practiſes, cauſing them to be put to death.

This was that devouring of Widows houſes, which our bleſſed Saviour ſo ſharply reproved, the Scribes, and Phariſes, and Hypocrites of thoſe days, and all under a pretence of making long Prayers. Therefore, ſaid he, ye ſhall receive the greater damnation, Mat. 23.14. Much like to what the Prophet Micha ſpake of in his day, Micha 3.10, 11, 12. They build up Zion with blood, and Jeruſalem with iniquity. The heads thereof judge for reward, and the Prieſts thereof teach for hire, and the Prophets thereof divine for money; Obſerve that, Yet will they lean upon the Lord, and ſay, is not the Lord among us? none evil can come upon us. The Prieſts taught for hire, that is, out of a covetous diſpoſition, they ſuffered themſelves to be drawn for money to Teach and Preach according to mens Pallates, like to thoſe which Paul ſpake to Titus of, who ſubverted whole houſes, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucres ſake, Tit. 1.11. Whereas they ſhould have been content with Gods allowance, and held forth the pure Word of God without regard to men. In whoſe mouths the Law of truth ſhould be, and in whoſe lips iniquity ſhould not be found, Mal. 2.6. Thus for the Prieſts; Then for the Prophets, they p. 30did divine for money, meaning the falſe Prophets. The Lord implying here, that both in the Civil and Eccleſiaſtical State among his people all was corrupted, and to be bought and ſold for money; According to what the Prophet Iſaiah complained in his time, Iſa. 1.23. Thy Princes are rebellious and companions of Thieves; every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards, they Judge not the Fatherleſs, neither doth the cauſe of the Widow come unto them.

Or as he proceeds further in Ezek. 22.26, 27. Her Prieſts have violated my law, and have prophaned my holy things; they have put no difference between the holy and prophane, nor between the unclean and the clean. Her Princes in the midſt thereof are like roaring wolves, ravening the prey, to ſhed blood and to deſtroy ſouls, and to get diſhoneſt gain. And yet ſays the Prophet Micah, They did lean upon the Lord. How lean upon the Lord? not with a holy truſt and confidence (which is ever accompanied with godlineſs) but in hypocriſie, out of an impudent arrogancy, and a vain, bold and carnal preſumption; as if God was engaged to protect them, let them live and do what they pleaſed; Like thoſe that the Prophet Iſay ſpeaks of, That ſwore by the name of the Lord, and made mention of the God of Iſrael, but not in truth, nor in righteouſneſs; And yet they called themſelves of the holy City, and ſtaied themſelves upon the God of Iſrael, Iſa. 48.1, 2. Or like unto them in the Prophet Jeremies time, that cried The Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord, and yet in the mean time they oppreſſed the ſtranger, the fatherleſs, and the widow, and ſhed innocent blood, p. 31and did ſteal, and murder and commit adultery, and ſwore falſely, Jer. 7.4, 6, 9. But how intollerable this was with God, the ſequel makes it evident; Therefore ſhall Sion for your ſakes be ploughed as a field, and Jeruſalem ſhall become heaps, that is, ſhall be utterly deſtroyed and laid waſte; So little care and regard had God of Sion and Jeruſalem, and of his holy Temple it ſelf, being thus polluted and defiled. And therefore ſaith the Lord (in Ezekiel 3, 2. ult.) have I poured out mine indignation upon them, I have conſumed them with the fire of my wrath: Their own way have I recompenſed upon their heads, ſaith the Lord. So again, for this doth the Lord threaten, That their houſes ſhall be turned unto others, with their fields and wives together. And he will ſtretch out his hand upon the inhabitants of the land. For (ſaith he) from the leaſt of them even unto the greateſt of them, every one is given to Covetouſneſs, and from the Prophet even unto the Prieſt, every one dealeth falſly, Jer. 6.12, 13. Which avaricious or covetous diſpoſition was ſo predominant in them in the Prophet Iſaiah's time, Iſa. 56.10, 11. That he termed the Watchmen then (which were the Prieſt and Rulers of the people, as Jer. 8.10. and Eze…. … not only blind, and ignorant, and dumb do… that could not bark, &c. but greedy dogs alſo, th t could never have enough. Like dogs ſtrong in deſire, in luſt, in appetite, greedy and unſatiable, that could not be ſatisfied with money or large revenues. And what follows in the next chapter v. 17. For the iniquity of his covetouſneſs was I wroth, ſaid the Lord, and ſmote him; and whether this might not be a ſmiting with the peſtilence, p. 32Deut. 28.22, 27. comp. with Ezek. 33.27. and 31. verſes; I ſhall leave it to the wiſe to judge. How did he ſmite Gehazi with the Plague of Leproſie for this thing? 2 King. 5.27. ſo highly provoking a ſin, is this ſin of Covetouſneſs unto the Lord. And oh, that this were wiſely conſidered and applied by the men of this Generation, yea by the carnal and earthly minded Profeſſions of our times. For ſure it is, That the love of money is the root of all evil, which while ſome coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themſelves through with many ſorrows, 1 Tim. 6.10.

6. The ſixth Peſtilential deſtroying ſin, is the ſin of Curſing, and Swearing, and Falſe-ſwearing. This was the ſin of Shemei that curſed David, mentioned in the 2 Sam. 16.5. And ſee how the Lord did return his wickedneſs upon his own head, being ſlain by the Command of King Solomon, 1 King. 2.44, 46. This the Pſalmiſt lays down as the certain Character of a wicked man, that his mouth is full of Curſing and deceite: And what imprecations does he uſe in his Prayer againſt him? Break thou the Armes of the wicked, and the evil man: Seek out his wickedneſs till thou find none, Pſal. 10.7, 15. Rom. 3… 14. So in the 109. Pſal. Let Satan ſtand at his righthand, and when he ſhall be judged, let him be condemned, and let his prayer become ſin, let his days be few, his Children Fatherleſs, his Wife a Widow, his Children Vagabonds, and beg their bread: Let their be none to extend mercy unto him, let his Poſterity be cut off, and in the generation following, let their name be blotted out, let the iniquity p. 33of his Fathers be remembred with the Lord, and let not the ſin of his Mother be blotted out, and let the Lord cut off the memory of them from the earth. And mark what follows. As he loved curſing, ſo let it come unto him; as he delighted not in bleſſing, ſo let it be far from him. As he cloathed himſelf with curſing like as with a Garment, ſo let it come into his bowels like water, and like oyle into his bones. Let it be unto him as the garment which covereth him, and for a girdle wherewith he is girded continually. It is true the Apoſtle Peter doth apply ſomething of this to Judas, who betrayed our Lord Chriſt, Act. 1.20. But it cannot exclude all other the curſed enemies of Chriſt, who love curſing, and cloath themſelves with it as with a garment. So Jer. 23.9, 10. Mine heart within me (ſaith he) is broken, becauſe of the Prophete, all my bones ſhake, &c. becauſe of the Lord, and becauſe of the words of his holineſs. For the Land is full of Adulterers, for becauſe of Swearing the Land mourneth. To this agreeth that of the Prophet Hoſea Chapter 4.1, 2, 3. verſes. Where it is ſaid, That the Lord hath a Controverſie with the Inhabitants of the Land, becauſe there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the Land. By ſwearing and lying, &c. they break out and blood toucheth blood: Therefore ſhall the Land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein ſhall languiſh. The dreadfulneſs of this ſin is further ſet forth by Zacharies flying roll, Zach. 5.3, 4. This is the Curſe that goeth forth, over the face of the whole earth, for every one that ſtealeth ſhall be cut off, and every one that ſweareth ſhall be cut off, &c. I will bring it forth, p. 34ſaith the Lord of Hoſts, and it ſhall enter into the houſe of the Theif, and into the houſe of him that ſweareth falſely by my name; and it ſhall remain in the midſt of his houſe, and ſhall conſume it with the Timber thereof, and the Stones thereof. And in the 3. of Malachy and the 5. I will come near to you to Judgement, and I will be a ſwift witneſs againſt the Sorcerers, and againſt the Adulterers, and againſt Falſe-ſwearers.

O that theſe things were ſeriouſly laid to heart by the prophane Curſers, and Swearers, and Falſeſwearers, and the Damme-creatures of our times. O that they would conſider, how their curſed helliſh hideous, new-invented, unheard of, Diabolical oaths, do now make the Land mourn, and thoſe that dwell therein to languiſh! and how near the Lord is come unto them in the terribleneſs of his judgment! Is it not very evident that the Lord for theſe things hath a controverſie with the Inhabitants of the Land?

7. The ſeventh Peſtilential deſtroying ſin, is the ſin of Adultery, Fornication, and ſuch like corporal uncleanneſs. See this in that 25. of Num. 1, 6, 7, 8. verſes. When Iſrael abode in Shittim, it is ſaid the people began to commit Whoredome with the daughters of Moab. And Zimri and Cosbi being taken in the very act of uncleanneſs, Phinehas the Son of Eleazar, the Son of Aaron the Prieſt, when he ſaw it, he roſe up from amongſt the Congregation, and took a Javelin in his hand, and he went after the man of Iſrael into the Tent, and thruſt both of them through, the man of Iſrael, and the woman through her belly: So the Plague p. 35was ſtayed thereupon from the Children of Iſrael, yet thoſe that died in the Plague, as was mentioned before, was no leſs then Twenty and four Thouſand. So in the 12. of Gen. 14, 15, 17. When Abraham came into Egypt with Sarai his wife, a fair woman to look upon, and ſhe was no ſooner beheld by the Egyptians, and the Princes of Pharaoh, but they commended her before Pharaoh; and ſaith the Text, the woman was taken into Pharaohs houſe, that is, ſhe was taken away from Abraham, into the Royal Seraglio or Palace, to be fitted and prepared there, according to the Cuſtome of thoſe Countries, that the King might take her to Wife, as Heſt. 2.9. In the mean time God provided for Abrahams entertainment, and his Wives chaſtity together; for Pharaoh entreated Abram well for her ſake. And in the 17. verſe is is ſaid, The Lord plagued Pharaoh and his Houſe with great Plagues, becauſe of Sarai, Abrams wife. What kind of plagues thoſe were is uncertain, but doubtleſs they ſerved as well to hinder and obſtruct the abuſing of Sarai's body, as to puniſh the King, and his Domeſticks, and Courtiers treſpaſs. This great deliverance David celebrateth in Pſal. 105.14. When they went from one Nation to another, from one Kingdom to another People. He ſuffered no man to do them wrong, yea, he reproved Kings for their ſakes, ſaying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my Prophets no harm.

But this is obſervable, that if the Lord was ſo ſevere to puniſh this filthy ſin of Adultery, or Uncleanneſs, when it was but deſignedly or intentionally committed (and Pharaoh knew not that Sarai was Abrams wife) with what ſeverity may we think p. 36will he proceed againſt ſuch, who deliberately, knowingly, delightfully and impudently live in the perpetration and commiſſion of it? and when did this ſin of Whoredom, Adultery and Fornication ever walk upon down ſo brazen-faced, with ſuch an imperious woriſh forehead, as in the men and women of our generation? ſo unſatiable they are in their filthineſs and uncleanneſs. Upon which account may not the Lord ſay to this City of London, yea to the Land and Nation in general, as he did to Jeruſalem in the Prophet Jeremy's time? How ſhall I pardon thee for this? thy children have forſaken me, and ſworn by them that are no gods: When I had fed them to the full, they then committed Adultery, and aſſembled themſelves by troops in the harlots houſes. They were as fed horſes in the morning, every one neighed after his neighbours wife; Through luſtfulneſs, like wanton horſes: And mark what follows? Shall I not viſit for theſe things, ſaith the Lord? and ſhall not my ſoul be avenged on ſuch a Nation as this? Go ye up upon her walls and deſtroy, but make not a full end; take away her battlements, for they are not the Lords, &c. Jer. 5.7, 8, 9, 10. And may we not think the Lord may juſtly have a controverſie with the inhabitants of this Land, as he had with the children of Iſrael in the Prophet Hoſea's time; And wherefore? Becauſe there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land; But by ſwearing, and lying, and killing, and ſtealing, and committing Adultery they break out, and blood toucheth blood. Therefore ſhall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein ſhall languiſh, &c. Hoſ. 4.1, 2, 3. So that good Prophet Jeremy, Mine heart (ſaith he) p. 37within me is broken, becauſe of the Prophets, all my bones ſhake, I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine hath overcome, becauſe of the Lord, and becauſe of the words of his holineſs. For the Land is full of Adulteries, Jer. 23.9, 10. And in Jer. 13.27. I have ſeen thine Adulteries, and thy neighings, the lewdneſs of thy Whoredoms, &c. What then? Wo unto thee O Jeruſalem. This, though it may have reference to their ſin of Idolatry, as before, which may be called ſpiritual Adultery, yet it cannot exclude that which is corporeal, which God will ſeverely puniſh; For Whoremongers and Adulterers God will judge, as ſuch, who ſhall have no inheritance in the Kingdom of Chriſt and of God, Heb. 13.4. and Eph. 5.5. Thus we ſee how highly provoking this ſin of uncleaneſs is for the bringing down of National judgements, even this of the Peſtilence among a people.

8. The Eighth Sin that provokes the Lord to ſend the Peſtilence among a people, is the ſin of Infidelity, diſtruſt and murmuring againſt God, notwithſtanding the great and marvellous works which the Lord hath wrought for the ſalvation and deliverance of his people. See to this purpoſe the 13, and 14. chapters of Numbers; There were certain men, the heads of the children of Iſrael, who by the commandment of the Lord was ſent to ſearch and ſpie out the land of Canaan, and being returned they made a rehearſal thereof to Moſes and Aaron, and to all the congregation, and brought an evil report upon the land which they had ſearched, ſaying, The land through which we have gone to ſearch it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants p. 38thereof, and all the people that we ſaw in it are men of a great ſtature: And there we ſaw the giants, the ſons of Anak, which come of the giants, and we were in our own ſight as Graſhoppers, and ſo were we in their ſight. This evil report cauſed all the congregation to lift up their voyce and cry, and to murmure againſt Moſes and Aaron, ſaying, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt, or would God we had died in this wilderneſs. And wherefore hath the Lord brought us into this land to fall by the ſword, that our wives and our children ſhould be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt? and they ſaid one to another, Let us make a Captain, & let us return into Egypt. But Joſhua the ſon of Nun, and Caleb the ſon of Jephunneth, which were of them that ſearched the land, rent their cloaths, and they ſpake unto all the company of the children of Iſrael, ſaying, The land which we paſſed through to ſearch, it is an exceeding good land, if the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us, a land which floweth with milk and honey, Only rebell not ye againſt the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land: for they are bread for us: Their defence is departed from them, & the Lord is with us; fear them not: this ſo greatly incenſed the congregation, that they badeſtone them with ſtones. But ſee how highly provoking was this unto the Lord: And the Lord ſaid unto Moſes, How long will this people provoke me, and how long will it be ere they beleive me, for all the ſigns that I have ſhewed among them? And mark what follows; I will ſmite them with the Peſtilence and diſ-inherit them, verſe 12. I the Lord have ſaid, I will ſurely do it unto all this evil congregation, that p. 39are gathered together againſt me; in this wilderneſs they ſhall be conſumed, and there they ſhall die. And further it is ſaid, That the men which Moſes ſent to ſearch the land, who returned and made all the congregation to murmure againſt him, by bringing up a ſlander upon the land, even thoſe men that did bring up the evil report upon the land, died of the Plague before the Lord, verſ. 35, 36, 37, of the 14. of Numb. And the Lord renders the reaſon why their carkaſſes ſhould fall in the Wilderneſs, v. 22. Becauſe all thoſe men which have ſeen my glory (ſaith he) and my miracles which I did in Egypt, and in the wilderneſs, & have tempted me now theſe ten times, and have not hearkned to my voyce, ſurely, they ſhall not ſee the land, which I ſware unto their fathers, neither ſhall any of them that provoked me ſee it. So greatly diſpleaſing it is unto the Lord, for a people who have ſeen the wonderful works of the Lord, and his miraculous preſervations, to cheriſh a murmuring, diſtruſting and unbeleiving ſpirit againſt the Lord; not beleiving his promiſes, nor relying on his mighty power, and outſtretched arm to defend them. And therefore ſaith the Pſalmiſt, was the Lord wroth, and a fire was kindled againſt Jacob, and anger alſo came up againſt Iſrael, Becauſe they beleived not in God, and truſted not in his ſalvation, Pſ. 78.21, 22. So in Heb. 3.17, 18, 19. With whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had ſinned, whoſe carkaſſes fell in the wilderneſs? And to whom ſwore he that they ſhould not enter into his reſt, but to them that beleived not? So we ſee that they could not enter in becauſe of unbeleif. For this cauſe it was that the Lords wrath was kindled againſt them, ſo that he excluded them out of the good land, Becauſe p. 40they beleived not in God, nor hearkned unto his voyce, but murmured againſt him, after they had ſeen his glory, to wit his glorious works, and the miracles that he did in Egypt and in the wilderneſs. See Exod. 16.2, 3. comp. with Nehem. 9. from the 10th. to the 18th. verſe. O then that this might be ſeriouſly laid to heart, by all ſuch, who having ſeen the wonderful outgoings, and appearances of God in this latter age of the world, and had a deep ſhare in the glorious deliverances which God had wrought have yet through a heart of infidelity and diſtruſt departed from God, & thereby brought up an evil report upon the good land, even the good and honourable ways of the Lord, ſhaking hands again with a carnal, corrupt intereſt, and longing after the fleſh-pots, the Onyons and Garlick of Egypt, have turned again to the weak and beggarly elements or rudiments of the world, whereunto they are, as in Egyptian bandage, again captivated and enſlaved.

For I intend not here by this ſpirit of Infidelity and Unbeleif, ſuch carnal, unbeleiving and regenerate perſons, to whom, as the Apoſtle ſaith, 2 Cor. 4.3, 4. the Goſpel is hid, and are loſt, and whoſe minds the God of this world hath blinded, that the light of the glorious Goſpel of Chriſt cannot ſhine into them; but ſuch rather, who with open face, having beheld as in a glaſs the glory of the Lord; even the glory of his grace in the Goſpel, and the glory of his great and wonderful works in the world, do yet through baſe fear, and diſtruſt of his power and promiſes, ſuffer their hearts to depart and turn aſide from the Lord. And this was the ſin of Aſa, who when the Lord had delivered p. 41into his hand a huge hoſt of the Ethiopians and Lubims, becauſe they relied on him, did afterwards rely on the Kings of Syria, and not on the Lord his God; For which he received ſo ſharp a rebuke from the Lord, 2 Chron. 16.7, 8, 9.

9. The ninth Peſtilential ſin, is the ſin of Diſcontent, accompanied alſo with a ſpirit of diſtruſtfulneſs and unbeleif; When a people will not be content with Gods allowance, but will loath his bleſſings and his proviſions, and fall a luſting after evil things to ſatisfie their inordinate deſires. This was Iſraels provoking ſin, Numb. 11.4. The multitude that was among them fell a luſting, and they wept and ſaid, Who ſhall give us fleſh to eat? We remember the fiſh which we did eat in Egypt freely, the Cucumbers, and the Melons, and the Leeks, and the Onyons, and the Garlick; but now our ſouls is dried away, there is nothing at all beſides this Manna before our eyes: Though it was the corn of heaven, and Angels food that they eat, and ſuch as did prefigure Chriſt himſelf, his word and grace, Joh. 6.31, 32, 33. and 1 Cor. 10.3. yet now they look upon it, and count it but as a deſpicable thing; and nothing no… would ſatisfie them but fleſh, and this to ſatisfie their luſt. And therefore it is ſaid in the 78 Pſalm and the 18th. verſe. They tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their luſt; yea they ſpake againſt God and ſaid, Can God furniſh a table in the Wilderneſs? Behold, he ſmote the rock that the waters guſhed out, and the ſtreams overflowed; Can be give bread alſo? Can be provide fleſh for his people? Therefore the Lord heard this and was wroth: So a p. 42fire was kindled againſt Jacob, and anger alſo came up againſt Iſrael, &c. Well, nothing would ſatisfie their luſts but fleſh, and fleſh they ſhall have with a witneſs, till it come out at their very noſtrils, and was loathſom unto them, ſo they did eat and were filled; for he gave them their own deſire: they were not eſtranged from their luſt; but while the fleſh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, The wrath of the Lord was kindled againſt the people, and the Lord ſmote the people with a very great plague: And the name of that place was called Kibroch-hattanah (that is, the graves of luſt) becauſe, there they buried the people that luſted.

Hence it was that the Apoſtle treating of the bountiful dealings of God with the children of Iſrael, ſaid, That with many of them God was not well pleaſed; for they were overthrown in the wilderneſs. Now theſe things (ſaith he) were our examples, to the intent we ſhould not luſt after evil things, as they alſo luſted, 1 Cor. 10.5, 6. This is a ſore evil, an inteſtine evil, a ſickneſs indeed, that gnaws and torments the very heart, called therefore the Plague of Diſcontent, which many of the people of God themſelves, as well as the men of the world are too too often infected with, when not contenting our ſelves, I ſay, with the mercies and bleſſings which God affords us, we fall a luſting after evil things, as the Iſraelites hereafter fleſh, to ſatisfie their luſts, loathing the heavenly Manna which God gave them: And our deſires oftentimes are ſo inordinate after them, that like unto Rachel in the caſe of her barrenneſs (though otherwiſe bleſt with many comfortable enjoyments) we are crying p. 43out, Give me children or elſe I die, Gen. 30.1. I cannot live, my life will be a burden unto me if I have not this or that; I muſt have it whatever it coſt me, though I part with half of my eſtate; nay, with Herod, it may be to the half of the Kingdom, for his Herodias ſake, becauſe ſhe pleaſed him; and to ſatisfie this luſt, Off muſt go John Baptiſts head, Mark 6.22, 23, 24. Or like unto Haman, who though he was ſo highly promoted in King Ahaſuerus Court, Yet (ſaith he) all this availeth me nothing, ſo long as I ſee Mordecai the Jew ſitting at the Kings gate, Heſt. 5.13. Mordecai could not bow the knee, nor do him that reverence, as his proud ambitious heart panted after, and this ſowres all other his great advancements and enjoyments, and now nothing will ſatisfie him leſs then his deſtruction, and the total deſtruction of all the Jews, Heſt. 3.9.

So violent are perſons ſet upon the ſatisfying of their luſts oftentimes, though it be to their own hurt: This was the ſin of the Iſraelites, they could not content themſelves that God was their King, and that he ſhould reign over them, but they muſt have a King to reign over them, like unto other Nations; rejecting the Lord and his Government, who himſelf had ſaved them out of all their adverſities and tribulations, 1 Sam. 8.5, 6, 7. and chap. 10.19. And how great this wickedneſs of theirs was in the fight of the Lord, the ſignal teſtimonies of his diſpleaſure did evidently declare it, 1 Sam. 12.17. So is it not juſt with God when a people falls a loathing of the heavenly Manna of Gods Word (and where hath the Goſpel been more powerfully preached, and more obſtinately contemned p. 44then in England?) that the Lord ſhould ſend a famine in the Land, if not a famine of bread and a thirſt for water, yet a famine of hearing the Words of the Lord, Amos 8.11. O that this was ſeriouſly laid to heart, and fruitfully applyed both by Profeſſors, as by the propbane perſons of this Nation. So dangerous and deſtructive a thing it is to cheriſh a carnal diſſatisfied and diſcontented ſpirit againſt the Lord.

10. A tenth Peſtilential and God-provoking Sin, is the ſin of Pride and Ambition, and a truſting in an Arme of fleſh, not relying on the mighty power and faithfulneſs of God. This was Davids ſin in of numbring the people, which was followed with a ſore Prſtilence among them. See the ſecond of Samuel 24. Chap. comp. with 1 Chron. 21.1. Satan he provoked David to number the people, that he might know how many valiant men there were in Iſrael, that could draw the ſword. And queſtionleſs Davids heart was lifted up hereby, when Joab gave up the ſum of the number of the people unto him, there being in Iſrael eight hundred thouſand valiant men that drew the ſword, and the men of Judah were five hundred thouſand. And what ſhould move David to ſuch a thing but a proud ambitious deſire to know the ſtrength and number of his men of war, accompanied with a diſtruſtfulneſs of the mighty power of God, and his All-ſufficient arme, which had ſo often ſaved and delivered him out of the hands of Saul, and from the hand of all his enemies. As in the 18th. Pſal. wherein he praiſeth God for his manifold and marvellous deliverances. For this Davids heart ſmote him, acknowledging that he had ſinned p. 45greatly in what he had done, and prayeth that the Lord would take away his iniquity, for he had done very fooliſhly. Yet the Lord would ſhew his juſtice, & make all the world to ſee and know, that he will not indulge ſin, no not in his deareſt Servants, and moſt beloved Saints; but if they ſin they muſt expect to ſuffer and ſmart for it. As Amos 3.2. You only have I known of all the families of the earth, therefore I will puniſh you for all your iniquities. And therefore he puts David upon his choiſe of three things, whether the Famine, the Sword, or Peſtilence he would make choiſe of, and this did put him into a great ſtreight, but he choſe rather to fall into the hands of God, then into the hands of men, for that the mercies of the Lord are great. So the Lord ſent a Peſtilence upon Iſrael, from the morning even to the time appointed, and there died of the people from Dan even to Beerſheba, Seventy thouſand men. And when the Angel ſtretched out his hand upon Jeruſalem ready to deſtroy it, it is ſaid, the Lord repented him of the evil, and ſaid to the Angel that deſtroyed the people, It is enough, ſtay now thy hand. This alſo was Edoms ſin, Jer. 49.16, 17, 18. Thy terribleneſs hath deceived thee, & the pride of thine heart, O thou that dwelleſt in the clefts of the rock: That holdeſt the height of the hill: though thou ſhouldſt make thy neſt as high as the Eagle, I will bring thee down from thence ſaith the Lord. Alſo Edom ſhall be a deſolation, every one that goeth by it ſhall be aſtoniſhed, and ſhall hiſs all at the plagues thereof. As in the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, and the neighbour Cities thereof, ſaith the Lord, No man ſhall abide there, neither ſhall a Son of Man dwell in it. This was p. 46King Aſa's ſin before mentioned, in the 2 Chron. 16.7, 8, and 9. verſ. ſo ſharply reproved and puniſhed by the Lord. For this was a dreadful wo denouned againſt the Inhabitants of Jeruſalem, Iſa. 30.1, 2, 3. Wo to the rebellious children (ſaith the Lord) that take counſel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my ſpirit, that they may adde ſin to ſin. That walk to go down into Egypt (and have not asked at my mouth) to ſtrengthen themſelves in the ſtrength of Pharaoh, and to truſt in the ſhadow of Egypt. And mark what follows. Therefore ſhall the ſtrength of Pharaoh be your ſhame, and the truſt in the ſhadow of Egypt your confuſion. Which cauſed the Lord to take up that bitter complaint, Jer. 2.12, 13. Be aſtoniſhed, O ye heavens at this, and be horribly afraid: Why? whats the matter? My peo- have committed two evils: They have forſaken me the Fountain of Living Water, and hewed them out Ciſterns, broken Ciſterns that can hold no water. All other things to relye upon beſides God, will prove but as broken Ciſterns. Therefore ſaid David at another time, when his faith and confidence was ſtrong in God. I will not truſt in my bow, neither ſhall my ſword ſave me. Through thee will we puſh down our enemies, through thy name will we tread them under that riſe up againſt us, Pſal. 44.5, 6. Yea, we have the Lord himſelf declaring, that the ſalvation of his people muſt proceed from himſelf, and not from any ſecondary cauſes, Hoſ. 1.7. But I will have mercy upon the houſe of Judah, and will ſave them by the Lord their God, and will not ſave them by bow, nor by ſword, nor by battel, by horſes, nor by horſemen.

p. 47Take we heed then of any preſumptuous relying on our own ſtrength, or of ſtrengthening our ſelves in the ſtrength of any creatures, whether Armies, or Parliaments, or Navies, or any ſinful confederacies or Aſſociations of men whatſoever, Iſa. 8.9. Curſed is the man that truſteth in man, and maketh fleſh his arme; and whoſe heart departeth from the Lord, Jer. 17.5. But let us ſay with the Church, Hoſ. 12.3. Aſhur ſhall not ſave us, we will not ride upon horſes, neither will we ſay any more to the work of our hands, ye are our Gods. As if they had ſaid, We will not put our truſt any more in men, we will confide no more in any humane means, nor ſend abroad for help and confederacies, all beſides thee being vanity, and the relying on it apparent ruine. Therefore we will truſt in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlaſting ſtrength. For he bringeth down them that dwell on high, the lofty City he layeth it low, he layeth it low even to the ground, he bringeth it even to the duſt. The foot ſhall tread it down, even the feet of the poor, and the ſteps of the needy, Iſa. 26.4, 5, 6. So dangerous and deſtructive a thing it is to have a heart lifted up, putting confidence in an arme of fleſh, and not relying on the Lord our God. For it is he that ſheweth ſtrength with his arme, and that ſcattereth the proud in the imagination of their hearts, Luk. 1.51.

11. The eleventh provoking Peſtilential deſtroying Sin, is the ſin of Apoſtacy, Back-ſliding, and Revolting from God, Jer, 2.18, 19. And now what haſt thou to do (ſaith the Lord) in the way of Egypt to drink the waters of Sihor? or what haſt thou to do in the way of Aſſyria, to drink the waters of the river? p. 48Thine own wickedneſs ſhall correct thee, and thy back-ſliding ſhall reprove thee: Know therefore and ſee that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou haſt forſaken the Lord thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, ſaith the Lord of Hoſts. So in the 36. verſe. Why gaddeſt thou about ſo much to change thy way? thou alſo ſhalt be aſhamed of Egypt. And now behold, how the Lord for this did threaten, that his judgement, even this of the Peſtilence ſhould overtake them, Jer. 42.13, 14, 15, 16, 17. We will not dwell in this land (ſay they) nor obey the voice of the Lord your God; No, but we will go into the land of Egypt, where we ſhall ſee no war, nor hear the ſound of the trumpet, nor have hunger of bread, and there will we dwell. And now therefore hear the Word of the Lord, ye remnant of Judah, thus ſaith the Lord of Hoſts, the God of Iſrael; If ye wholly ſet your faces to enter into Egypt, and go to ſojourn there. What then? Then it ſhall come to paſs, that the Sword which ye feared ſhall overtake you there in the land of Egypt, and the Famine whereof you were afraid ſhall follow cloſe after you there in Egypt, and there ye ſhall dye; ſo ſhall it be with all the men that ſet their faces to go into Egypt to ſojourn there, they ſhall dye by the Sword, by the Famine, and by the Peſtilence, and none of them ſhall remain or eſcape from the evil that I will bring upon them.

And ſays further, that as his anger and fury had been poured forth upon the Inhabitants of Jeruſalem, ſo ſhould his fury be poured forth upon them, when they ſhould enter into Egypt, and they ſhall be an execration, and an aſtoniſhment, and a curſe, and a reproach, and ſhould ſee the place (meaning the land of Judea) no more. So in the 19. verſe, p. 49O ye remnant of Judah, go ye not into Egypt; and now I have this day declared it unto you, but ye have not obeyed the voice of the Lord your God, &c. Now therefore know certainly that ye ſhall dye by the Sword, by the Famine, and by the Peſtilence, in the place whither ye deſire to go and to ſojourn. So in the 44. Chap. of Jer. 13. ver. For I will puniſh them that dwell in the land of Egypt, as I have puniſhed Jeruſalem, by the Sword, by the Famine, and by the Peſtilence. To which I ſhall add that in the 14. of Jer. 10. and 12. verſ. Thus ſaith the Lord unto the people, Thus have they loved to wander, they have not refrained their feet: therefore the Lord doth not accept them, he will now remember their iniquity, and viſit their ſins. Then ſaid the Lord unto me; Pray not for this people for their good. When they faſt, I will not hear their cry, and when they offer burnt-offering, and an oblation, I will not accept them: but I will conſume them by the Sword, and by the Famine, and by the Peſtilence. So dreadful and dangerous a thing it is, for a people brought out of Egyptian bondage and darkneſs, to long after the Fleſh-pots, the Leeks, and the Onions, and the Garlick of Egypt again. For if any man draw back (ſaith the Lord) my ſoul ſhall have no pleaſure in him, Heb. 10.38. And as for ſuch as turn aſide unto their crooked ways, the Lord ſhall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity, but peace ſhall be upon Iſrael, Pſal. 125.5.

O that this were well conſidered by all ſuch who have Apoſtatized and Revolted from the Lord and his ways, in this ſinful and back-ſliding generation. Who as the Prophet Hoſea ſays, Are profound to make ſlaughter, though the Lord is a Rebuker of them p. 50all, Hoſ. 5.2. Who once did appear to be forward Aſſertors of the Cauſe of righteouſneſs and truth; but now ſay a Confederacy, with all ſuch as ſay a Confederacy, Iſa 8.12. Who once did ſeem to eſcape the pollutions of the world, through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt; but are now again intangled therein and overcome, turning with the Dog to his own vomit again, and with the Sow that was waſhed, to the wallowing in the mire. Let ſuch know, That their latter end will be worſe with them then the beginning, 2 Pet. 2.20, 21, 22.

12. The twelfth Peſtilential and highly provoking Sin, is the ſin of Rebellion, and Obſtinate Diſobedience againſt God and his Commandments, Levit. 26.23, 24, 25. And if ye will not be reformed by theſe things (ſaith the Lord) but will walk contrary unto me, then will I alſo walk contrary unto you, and will puniſh you yet ſeven times for your ſins. And I will bring a ſword upon you, that ſhall avenge the quarrel of my Covenant; and when ye are gathered together within your Cities, I will ſend the Peſtilence among you, and ye ſhall be delivered into the hand of the enemy. So Deut. 28.15, 16, 20, 21. If thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to obſerve to do all his Commandments, and his Statutes, &c. Theſe curſes ſhall come upon thee, and overtake thee; Curſed ſhalt thou be in the City, and curſed ſhalt thou be in the field, &c. The Lord ſhall ſend upon thee curſing, vexation, and rebuke in all that thou ſetteſt thy hand for to do until thou be deſtroyed, and until thou periſh quickly. And wherefore? p. 51Becauſe of the wickedneſs of thy doings whereby thou haſt forſaken me. The Lord ſhall make the Peſtilence cleave unto thee until he hath conſumed thee, and the Lord ſhall ſmite thee with a Conſumption, and with a Feaver, and with an Inflammation, and with an extream Burning, and with the Sword, and with Blaſting, and with Mildew, and they ſhall purſue thee until thou periſh. So in the 58, and 59. verſ. If thou wilt not obſerve to do all the words of this Law, that are written in this Book, that thou mayſt fear this glorious and fearful name; The Lord thy God. Then the Lord will make thy Plagues wonderful, and the Plagues of thy ſeed, even great plagues, and of long continuance; and ſore ſickneſſes, and of long continuance. So Deut. 29.22, 23, 24, 25. The Generations to come when they ſhall ſee the Plagues of the Land, and the ſickneſſes which the Lord hath laid upon it; and that the whole Land is Brimſtone, and Salt, and Burning, &c. like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, &c. with the Lord overthrew in his anger, and in his wrath.

Even all Nations ſhall ſay, Wherefore hath the Lord done this? What meaneth the heat of this great anger? Then men ſhall ſay, Becauſe they have forſaken the Covenant of the Lord God of their Fathers, &c. To this agrees that of the Prophet Jerom. 29.17, 18, 19. Thus ſaith the Lord of hoſts, Behold, I will ſend upon them the Sword, the Famine, and the Peſtilence, and will make them like vile figgs, that cannot be eaten they are ſo vile. And I will perſecute them with the Sword, with the Famine, and with the Peſtilence, and will deliver them to be removed to all the Kingdomes of the Earth, to be a Curſe, and an Aſtoniſhment, and a Hiſſing, p. 52and a Reproach among all the Nations, whither I have driven them. And wherefore will the Lord be ſo ſevere againſt them? Becauſe they have not hearkened to my words, ſaith the Lord, which I ſent unto them by my ſervants the Prophets, riſing up early and ſending them; but ye would not hear, ſaith the Lord. So Ezek. 6.11. Alas for all the evil abominations of the houſe of Iſrael: for they ſhall fall by the Sword, by the Famine, and by the Peſtilence; He that is far off ſhall die of the Peſtilence, and he that is near ſhall fall by the Sword, and he that remaineth, and is beſieged, ſhall dye by the Famine. Thus will I accompliſh, ſaith the Lord, my fury upon them, Ezek. 7, 11. The Sword is without, and the Peſtilence and the Famine within, he that is in the Field ſhall dye with the Sword, and he that is in the City, Famine and Peſtilence ſhall devour him. And why? Violence is riſen up into a rod of wickedneſs, v. 11. The rod hath bloſſomed, pride hath budded. So Ezek. 14.19, 21. If I ſend a Peſtilence into that Land, and pour out my fury upon it in bloud, to cut from it Man and Beaſt, though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it; As I live, ſaith the Lord, they ſhall deliver neither Son nor Daughter, they ſhall but deliver their own ſouls, by their righteouſneſs. For thus ſaith the Lord God, How much more when I ſent my four ſore Judgements upon Jeruſalem, the Sword, and the Famine, and the noyſome Beaſt, and the Peſtilence, to cut off from it Man and Beaſt? And when will the Lord execute this great ſeverity, and be ſo inexorable the 13. verſ. declares it, When the land ſinneth againſt me, ſaith the Lord, by treſpaſſing grievouſly.

p. 53I ſhall conclude with that in the Prophet Amos Chap. 2. ver. 4, 5. Thus ſaith the Lord, For three tranſgreſſions of Judah, and for four, I will not turn away the puniſhment thereof: Becauſe they have deſpiſed the law of the Lord, and have not kept his Commandements, &c. And what follows? I will ſend a fire upon Judah, and it ſhall devour the Palaces of Jeruſalem. So Amos 4.10. &c. I have ſent among you the Peſtilence after the manner of Egypt, your young men have I ſlain with the Sword, and have taken away your horſes, and I have made the ſtinck of your Camps to come up into your Noſtrils; yet have ye not returned unto me, ſaith the Lord. So incorrigible hard-hearted and un-reformed were they under all the ſore Judgements, that the Lord had inflicted upon them: Yet before he will make an utter deſtruction, he invites them once again to repentance. Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Iſrael, and becauſe I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God O Iſrael.

Thus you ſee what a high provoking ſin it is to rebel againſt God, and his Commandments. As Samuel ſaid to Saul, when he diſobeyed the Word of the Lord. Rebellion is as the ſin of Witchcraft, and Stubornneſs is as Iniquity and Idolatry, 1 Sam. 15.23. And if God was ſo ſevere to puniſh the tranſgreſſions of the law, with what ſeverity will Chriſt proceed againſt the willful contemners, and diſobeyers of his Goſpel? according to that of the 2d. of the Heb. 2, and 3. verſ. If every tranſgreſſion and diſobedience, received a juſt recompence of reward, that is, of puniſhments inflicted on them: How ſhall we eſcape if we neglect ſo great ſalvation? that is, the Goſpel, which is called a Miniſtry of the p. 54ſpirit and of life, whereas the law is a killing letter, or the miniſtration of death and condemnation, 2 Cor. 3.6, 7, 9. And the wrath of God cometh upon the children of (Goſpel) diſobedience, Epheſ. 5.6.

13. The thirteenth peſtilential and highly provoking ſin, is the ſin of Inſurrection and riſing up againſt the Lords lawful Governours and Government, whether Civil or Eccleſtaſtical, in Church or Commonwealth. This was the ſin of Corah, Dathan and Abyram and their copartners, mentioned in Num. 16. God had choſen Moſes and Aaron to be the cheif Leaders and Governors of his people, and placed the Government in their hands, both as to the Civil and Religious adminiſtration thereof; Korah and his companions gather themſelves together againſt them, and told them they took too much upon them, ſeeing all the Congregation was holy, every one of them, and that the Lord was among them, wherefore then ſhould they lift up themſelves above the Congregation of the Lord? But ſee how highly incenſing and provoking was this unto the Lord; Separate your ſelves (ſaith he to Moſes and Aaron) from among the congregation, that I may conſume them in a moment; and now the Lord he will ſhew who are his, and who are holy, and a ſtrange work will he do; theſe men muſt not dye the common death of all men, nor be viſited after the viſitation of all men, but a new thing will the Lord make, The earth muſt open her mouth and ſwallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they muſt go down quick into the pit; and ſo they did, and the earth cloſed upon them, p. 55and they periſhed from among the Congregation.

Nor did the puniſhment of this Inſurrection end here, but the Lord cauſes a grievous Plague to break in upon the Congregation. And Moſes ſaid to Aaron, in the 46. verſe, Take a cenſer and put fire therein from off the Altar, and put on Incenſe, and go quickly unto the Congregation, and make an attonement for them; and why all this haſte? For there is wrath gone out from the Lord, the Plague is begun: And Aaron did ſo, and ſtood between the dead and the living, and the plague was ſtaied. Now they that died in the plague, were fourteen thouſand and ſeven hundred, beſides them that died in the matter of Corah; So highly diſpleaſing is it unto the Lord, for perſons to oppoſe his lawful Authority and Government which he hath put into the hands of his faithful Miniſters and Servants. Under which conſideration undoubtedly muſt thoſe Scriptures be comprehended that enjoyn ſubjection and obedience, whether to the Lords Civil or Eccleſiaſtical Rulers and Governors, Rom. 13.1. Tit. 3.1. 1 Pet. 2.13, 14, 15. 1 Theſſ. 5.12, 13. Heb. 13.7, 17. O that this were ſeriouſly and timouſly conſidered and laid to heart, by all ſuch who flye in the face of Chriſt, and carry themſelves contemptuouſly againſt his lawful Governours and Government which he hath ſet in his Churches, I mean the Churches of Chriſt, making unjuſtifiable and diſhonorable rents, ſchiſms and diviſions in the body whereof they are members, which ſhould be as the ſeamleſs coat of Chriſt, woven from top throughout, Joh. 19.23.

Of ſuch who deſpiſe the Lords Government or p. 56Dominion, I may ſay without wronging or injuring of them, as Peter of ſome ſcandalous backſliding Profeſſors in his time, who were ſpots and blemiſhes in their feaſts of Charity; Preſumptuous are they and ſelf-willed, they are not afraid to ſpeak evil of Dignities, 2 Pet. 2.10, 13. And while they promiſe themſelves liberty, they themſelves are the ſervants of corruption. verſ. 19. They deſpiſe Dominion; The word it ſeems ſignifieth, a removing of a thing from its place, with ſome ſcorn and indignation: They would remove the Lords Governors or Rulers over them, with ſcorn and indignation; And whereas they are ſaid to deſpiſe dominion, that is more then to deſpiſe their Rulers; for they deſpiſe not only the Lords Governors, but the Government it ſelf. And to ſpeak evil of Dignities, or to reproach Dignities, is in the Original it ſee us to blaſpheme Glories, to ſpeak reproachfully of Dominions which are placed in glory amongſt men, or which are ſet over them by the Lord, in eminency, power, honour and authority. Hence it is that lawful Magiſtrates ruling in the fear of the Lord, are ſaid to be Gods, Pſal. 82.6. And the Lords Miniſters and Meſſengers of Churches, are ſaid to be the Glory of Chriſt, 2 Cor. 8.23. And as ſtars in his right hand are the Angels of the ſeven Churches, Rev. 1.20. All holding forth that Glory and Dignity which the Lord hath conferred upon them. And for any perſons to riſe up, as Korah and his complices did againſt Moſes and Aaron, though it be in a preſumption of their own holineſs, Numb. 16.3. Such are like to periſh in the gainſaying of Core, as Jude expreſſeth, verſ. 11. of his Epiſtle. It being very obſervable, how the Pſalmiſt does expreſs this act of Korah's Inſurrection, or riſing up againſt Moſes p. 57and Aaron, to be no leſs then an envying of them; They envied Moſes alſo in the camp, and Aaron the Saint of the Lord. The earth opened and ſwallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram. And a fire was kindled in their company; the flame burnt up the wicked, Pſa. 106.16, 17, 18. That example alſo of Miriam and Aarons ſpeaking againſt Moſes is not to paſs without its due obſervation neither, Numb. 12.1, 7, 8, 9, 10. The Lord giving that teſtimony of Moſes his ſervant, that he was faithful in all his houſe; Wherefore then (ſaith he) were ye not afraid to ſpeak againſt my ſervant Moſes? And the anger of the Lord was kindled againſt them, and Miriam became leprous, as white as ſnow. Let ſuch therefore who are guilty in this matter, conſider how provoking a ſin this is unto the Lord, and whether they may not have a hand in pulling down this ſore viſitation among us.

14. A Fourteenth Peſtilential, and highly provoking ſin, is the ſin of Prophanation of Gods holy things, and an Over-curious, preſumptuous ſpeculation, and prying unwarrantably into the Secrets of God. This was the ſin of the men of Aſhdod, for which the hand of the Lord was ſo heavy upon them, viſiting them with greivous plagues, when they took the Ark and brought it into the houſe of Dagon (the Temple of their Idol-god) and ſet it by Dagon; ſo ſore was the hand of God on them that he ſmote them with Emrods, and deſtroyed them, and ſuch a deadly deſtruction there was throughout all the City, inſomuch that the cry of the City went up to heaven, 1 Sam. 5. The Ark was a Cheſt or Coffer, which was made of Shittim or Cedar wood, overlaid round about with gold, whoſe cover, called the Mercy-ſeat was alſo of pure gold, on which was two glorious Cherubs p. 58of gold, from whence God gave his oracle, Numb. 7.89. Theſe Cherubims were placed at the the two ends of the Mercy-ſeat. and they ſpread out their wings on high, which covered over the Mercy-ſeat, with their face, one to another, Exod. 37.1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9. In this were the two Tables of the Law or Teſtimony put, written with the finger of God, Exod. 25.16, 21. Deut. 10.3, 4, 10. Between the Cherubims God was ſaid to ſit, Pſal. 80.2. There will I meet with thee (ſaith the Lord) and will commune with thee from above the Mercy-ſeat, between the two cherubims, which are upon the Ark of the Teſtimony, verſe 22. Now this Mercy-ſeat on which God did thus ſit between the wings of the Cherubims was a figure of Chriſt, by whom our tranſgreſſions of the law are forgiven and covered, who is the propitiation for our ſins, 1 Joh. 2.2. And therefore called the Propitiatory, Rom. 3.15. To this glorious ſeat, where Gods preſence with his Church was manifeſted, the Throne of God is anſwerable in the Chriſtian Church, in the preſence of which Throne his people are, and ſerve him day and night in his Temple, Rev. 7.15, 17.8.3.21.3, 5. Now this Ark being thus a type or figure of Chriſt and of his Church, and of his glorious preſence with the ſame, its no wonder if the Lord ſhall ſo ſeverely puniſh the prophanation of it, when men ſhall ſet it in the Temple of Dagon. Surely if the Ark ſtand there Dagon muſt fall, yea and it ſhall fall before the Ark of the Lord, which is called the Ark of his ſtrength. Pſal. 132.8. And when the Ark ſet forward, then Moſes ſaid, Riſe up Lord, and let thine enemies be ſcattered, and let them that hate thee flee before thee. God cannot endure p. 59to have his holy things prophaned, that the abomination of deſolation ſhall ſtand in his holy place; that men ſhall ſet their threſholds by Gods threſholds, and their poſts by Gods poſts, by defiling his holy name with their abominations, Wherefore (ſaith the Lord) I have conſumed them in mine anger; No ſurely, the place of the ſoles of his feet, where he will dwell in the midſt of the children of Iſrael for ever, and his holy name he will not ſuffer to be defiled, but he will beautifie the place of his ſanctuary, and make the place of his feet glorious, Iſa. 60.13. comp. with Ezek. 43.7, 8. Let men take heed then of offering ſtrange fire before the Lord, which he commandeth them not, leſt there comes out fire from the Lord and devoureth them; as in the caſe of Nadab and Abihu the ſons of Aaron, who for this cauſe died before the Lord. And what ſaid Moſes to Aaron thereupon, This is that that the Lord ſpake ſaying, I will be ſanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified, Lev. 10.1, 2, 3. So likewiſe when men will be preſumptuouſly and unwarrantably prying into the ſecrets of God, ſee how ſeverely the Lord hath puniſhed this evil; as in the caſe of the men of Beth-ſhemeſh ſaid, whom the Lord ſorely ſmote, becauſe they looked into the Ark of the Lord, even he ſmote of the people Fifty thouſand and threeſcore and ten men, and the people lamented, becauſe the Lord had ſmitten many of the people with a great ſlaughter. And the men of Beth-ſhemeth ſaid, Who is able to ſtand before the holy Lord God? 1 Sam. 6.19, 20.

So dangerous a thing it is to be over-curiouſly preſumptuous in looking into the Areana Dei, the p. 60ſecret and hidden things of God, which he hath not revealed. Therefore it was that the Lord had commanded, that Aaron and his ſons, even they, and not others, ſhould take down the covering vail, and cover the Ark of the Teſtimony with it. And thus do unto them (ſaith the Lord) that they may live and not die, when they approach unto the moſt holy things, Aaron and his ſons ſhall go in and appoint them every one to his ſervice and to his burden. But they ſhall not go in to ſee when the holy things are covered, leſt they dye, Numb. 4.19, 20. See alſo Levit. 8.35. So exact was the Lord for the keeping of his charge. It is ſad to conſider, how wiſe ſome men have ſeemed to be above that which is written, calculating perſons, and things, and times for the meridian of their own brain; like thoſe lying Prophets which the Lord ſent not, nor ſpake unto, wherefore he complained that they propheſied unto the people a falſe viſion and divination, even a thing of nought and the deceit of their heart, Jer. 14.14. So in Ezek. 13.6, 7, 8, 9. They have ſeen vanity, and lying divination, and they made others to hope, that they would confirm the word; See now the ſevere puniſhment of the Lord againſt ſuch; Behold, I am againſt you, ſaith the Lord God, and mine hand ſhall be upon the Prophets that ſee vanity, and that divine lies: they ſhall not be in the Aſſembly of my people, neither ſhall they be written in the writing of the houſe of Iſrael, neither ſhall they enter into the land of Iſrael. But ſetting aſide ſuch groſs lying Prophets, it is ſad to think how many profeſſing the fear and knowledge of God, have been over-curiouſly prying into Gods ſecret counſels, and the hidden purpoſes of his minde, limiting, p. 61and preſcribing the holy one of Iſrael, advancing, and extolling the idle phantaſies, and enthuſiaſmes of their own brains, more then the declarative mind and will of God, contained in the Scriptures of truth. But whatever may be mens pretenſions to high, inward unſcriptural revelations of God, let us not be believing every ſuch ſpirit, but trying the ſpirits, whether they are of God or no; and for this reaſon, Becauſe many falſe Prophets are gone out into the world, 1 Joh. 4.1. And what ſaith Peter, We have alſo a more ſure word of propheſie (more ſure then the voice, which they heard to come from Heaven, when they were in the Holy Mount) whereunto ye do well (ſaith he) that ye take heed, as unto a light that ſhineth in a dark place, until the Day dawn and the Day-ſtar ariſe in your hearts, 2 Pet. 1.19. Ever remembring that in Deut. 29.29. That ſecret things belong unto the Lord our God: but thoſe things which are revealed, belong unto us, and to our children for ever.

15. The fifteenth and laſt thing, that I ſhall briefly ſpeak of as a Peſtilential deſtroying ſin, is that of Adding or Diminiſhing from the Word of God; for which the Lord Jeſus hath threatned ſuch dreadful plagues and puniſhments. For I teſtifie (ſaith he) unto every man that heareth the words of the Propheſie of this Book. If any man ſhall add unto theſe things, God ſhall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book. And if any man ſhall take away from the words of the book of this Propheſie; What ſolloweth then? God ſhall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy City, and from the things which are written in this book. That man p. 62may be ſaid to add, that ſhall mix other things, beſides what the Lord Jeſus hath revealed by his Angel; He addeth, that adjoyneth a lye: For whatſoever is patched to the Scriptures of mens inventions, that it might be accounted as divinely revealed, or the pure Oracles of God, is a lye. Such are the Papal unwritten traditions, or other writings of men whatſoever, which are made with them of like Authority with the written word of God, and which added to the Scriptures are lies. So he takes away, that not onelyonly derogates from the Divine Authority of Gods book; but he alſo, that any ways changeth, or maliciouſly perverteth, or contradicteth any thing therein written. Chriſt will have the integrity, ſincerity, and ſacred Authority of this Propheſie to be faithfully preſerved in the Churches, and that the contemners, falſifiers, and corrupters thereof, be no way ſuffered under the pain of Anathema, or dreadful curſe. For if falſifyers of Coin are lyable unto the civil curſe of the law: much more ſhall the Anathema of eternal damnation be inflicted upon the corrupters of the Scriptures, which are the words of God. Theſe with the Beaſt, and the falſe Prophet, ſhall the Lord caſt into the Lake of fire burning with brimſtone, Rev. 19.20. This is a dreadful ſin, drawing down the Lords ſevereſt plagues and puniſhments. Therefore take we heed that we add not unto the word which God commands us, nor diminiſh ought from it, but that we keep the Commandments of the Lord our God which he commandeth us, Deut. 4.2, And mark well the reaſon that Solomon giveth: Every word of God (ſaith he) is pure, he is a ſhield to them that put their truſt in him. And conſider what follows.

p. 63Add thou not unto his words, leſt he reprove thee, and thou be found a lier, Prov. 30.5, 6.

Having now ſpoken of the ſeveral Sins which ſo highly provoke the Lord to pour down his ſore Judgements, even this of the Plague or Peſtilence among a people. I ſhall now come to ſpeak of ſome ſpecial ſpiritual Remedies, which may be fitly applied, and made uſe of, as Soveraign Antidotes and Preſervatives to prevent the further ſpreading of this peſtilential contagious diſeaſe among us.