The Bibles Abstract and Epitome, Part 80 – Part 83
Gods Justice Deceit and Guile punished.
SUch is the corruption of the Nature of man in this age, that they convert that into Deceit which God gave them for good reason, whereby it falleth out that one deceit bringeth another, and so consequently cousenages are heaped upon cousenages.
There are two kinds of Deceit or Guile:
The one Carnall▪
The other Spirituall:
Carnal Is that wherein men defraud one the other by bargaining, selling, changing, and such like; in things promised to be good that are bad,Hos. 12. 7. &c. to be of better value, then found: as also by false weights and measures forbidden by God; together with all kinde of cunning used contraryDeut. 25. 11. Levit. 19. 35. to Gods Word.
And
1. Spirituall Is a double kinde of dealing betweene God and mans owne selfe in the things which concerne the soule, springing from Godly duties, and good actions, which sinne hath many branches, and was found in Paul, saying, Once was I alive without the Law, &c. and in the proud PhariseeRom. 7. 9▪ Gal. 1. 14. Luk. 1…. 11. Matth. 9. 1…. praying, I thanke God, &c. and in the man whom Christ called righteous in the Gospel.
2. It is to extenuate and lessen sinne: So did King Saul.1 Sam. 13. 11.
3. To place Religion only in outward observances: So doe Papists.
4. Is a wrong reasoning from the Example of Gods Children falling into sinnes: Many will say, Was not David▪ an Adulterer, &c? Why should not I satisfie my lust? It may be as well with me as with them: whereas the Holy Ghost hath set them down, that men repenting might not despaire by their Example, not that men should thereby presume to sinne more freely.
5. It is a misle-interpreting of certain gracious places of Scripture, to wit, that God will spare the Elect: That he will accept the will for the deed; which indeed God doth in their beginnings, but hereupon the wicked run on in their grosse… Cor. 8. 12. sins and wicked courses, abusing Gods mercies.
6. Is drawn of a false conclusion out of Gods long-suffering, saying, that sentencesPsal. 50. 21. Eccl. 8. 11. against evil works are not executed speedily, therefore Preachers (say they) perswade that God is more severe, then he …s indeed.
7▪ Is a hope to satisfie and make amends for many evill courses by a little devotion, or by some shew of Charitie, and this is the conceit of Papistrie.
8. Is to look no further then to the shew of Godlinesse, thinking to be religious enough if they have learned the art of seeming, and can make an outward semblance,2 Tim. 3. 5. of which Saint Paul speaketh.
Through Guile and Deceit
Absalom practising with the people to aspire to his fathers Kingdome, inviting2 Sam. 15. 2 Sam. 13. 2 Sam. 13. Act. 5. 2 Sam. 11. Iudg. 16. Ammon to his house, caused him to be slain.
Ammon faining himselfe sick lay with Tamar, sending for her to attend him.
Ananias kept back part of the money made of his possession.
David made Ʋriah drunken, and after caused him to be slain.
Delilah did undergoe Samson, till his strength was taken from him▪
Gibeonites pretending to come from far…e, moved Ioshua to make peaceIosh▪ 9. 2 King. …1. Esth. 3. with them.
Gehazi got change of garments and silver from Naaman.
Haman got a Commission from the King to hang all the Jewes.
The high Priests made the people beleeve that Christ was stollen by hisMatth. 28. 2 Sam. 3. … Sam. 20. Gen. 27. 1 Ki. 12. 2 Ki. 10. 18. 1 Ki. 14. Jer. 41. Mal. 1. 8. Jewes. Disciples.
Ioab spake pe…ceably unto Abner when he slew him.
Ioab pretending to kisse Amaziah calling him brother, smote him.
Iacob putting on his brother Esaus garments got the blessing.
Ieroboam Erected two calves that the people might follow him. Sent his wife disguised to the Prophet to enquire of him.
Iezebel pretending friendship to Gedaliah and others, slew them.
Certain Jews Perswaded the people that Paul did preach unlawfull ordinances,Act. 16. Chap. 19. Chap. 23. Gen 29. Chap. 31. 7. &c. as also did lie in wait to have slain him, under pretence of great matters they had to object against him.
Laban gave Leah the elder sister for Rachel the younge…, as also changed his wages for his service often.
The Patriarchs took Iesephs coat, and dipping it in bloud, sent it to their father, affirming that some beast had slain him.Gen. 37.
Certain Princes To take away the life of Daniel made a law that noneDan. 6. should make a petition for certain dayes, but to the king… They were by their own law devoured in the lions den.
Pharaoh promised to let the Israelites depart, so that Moses would pray forExod. 7. Chap. 8. Exod. 8. him, whereas no such matter was meant by him.
Pharaohs for ceters wrought strange things before him, which deluded him.
Old Prophet telling a lie to the seduced prophet made him to go with him.
The Pharisees asked Christ, if it were lawfull to give tribute to Cesar or not,Matt. 22. 15. thinking thereby to have entangled him.
Rachel covered her fathers idols by excuse, when he sought them.Gen. 3….
Rechab and Boanah Slew Ishbosheth, pretending to buy corn of him, they were both of them by King Davids command slain again.2 Sam. 14. Gen. 5.
The serpent moved Eve to eat, perswading her thereby to know each thing.
King Saul sent David for an hundred Philistines fore-skinnes for match with his daughter, thereby to have him slain: and then in stead of Merab, 1 Sam. 18.Adriel was given by him.
Simeon and Levi Caused the Shechemites to be circumcised, pretending thereby toGen. 34. marry their sister to Shechem, whereas indeed their purpose was to slay them.
Simon Magus used witchcraft to be accounted a great man.Act. 8.
Tamar attired her selfe in the habite of a whore to deceive Iudah her father in law, who lay with her unknowne.Gen. 38.
Ziba reporting an untruth of Mephibosheth unto David, moved David to give Mephibasheths land unto him.2 Sam▪ 16.
The false Prophet Zedekiah made hornes of iron, and brought them before Ahab, saying, With these shalt thou push the Aramites till thou have consumed 2 King 22.them; whereas in the battell as Ramoth-Gilead he was overcome by them.
Theudas drew many after him, reporting himself to be a great man.Act 5. 26.
Wicked men by false weights and measures get riches unto them.Amos 8. 8. M
False ballances, divers weights and measures are an abomination to the Lord.Prov. 11. 1. & 20▪ 10.
The deceitfull man rosteth not that he took in hunting: The bread of deceit is sweet to Prov. 12. 27. & 20. 17.him, but his mouth shall be filled with Gravell.
As a cage full of birds, so is his habitation full of deceit; of the treasures of wickednesse, Ier. 5. 27. Micah 6. 10.scant measures, and deceitfull weights.
Reade Prov. 20. 17. 1 Th…s. 4. 6. Ier. 9. 4. Chap. 7. Prov. 26. 18, 19.
The Remedie of Deceit.
To prevent deceiving, beware of smoothing dissemblers, for that none ever have been deceived, but in that whereof they are ignorant, or else in that whichSyr. 10. 8. is obscure and darkned. They that perceive not deceit shall be oftentimes by themselves deceived: it is prodigious by a good man to be deceived.
Of Subtiltie.
Through Subtiltie
Ehud presenting a gift unto Eglon, pretending a secret errand unto him, with his dagger stabbed him.Iudg. 3. 16.
Iael pretending friendship unto Sisera, inviting him to turne in to her, was by her with a nayle slain.Iudg. 4.
Ioab, sending a woman, disguised unto David, of Tekoah, reconciled Absalom (having slain Amnon) unto him.2 Sam. 14.
Iehu called all the prophets of Baal together, pretending to have a great sacrifice to doe unto Baal, who being assembled were all of them slain.2 King. 10. 19.
Ioseph caused his silver Cup to be put into the sacke of Benjamine, that thereby he might accuse his brethren, as by a just cause to imprisonGen. 44. them.
The Philistines suffered no smith to dwell in the land of Israel, that thereby1 Sam. 13. 19. they might not make themselves any swords, &c. onelyonly they allowed them a file to sharpe their mattockes and their goads.
Reade more of Meanes, page 42.
Gods Justice Theft punished.
THere is comprehended under the name theft, all evill trades and deceits, by which we get to our selves other mens goods, which is usually done five mannerDeut. 25. 13. Pro. 11. 1. of wayes.
1. By sacriledge, when a man taketh things dedicated to God.
2. By robbery, when a man taketh that which is another mans.
3. By fraud, selling counterfeit wares for good wares.Pro. 21 6. Psal 15.
4. By usury, when gaine is taken contrary to Gods word.
5. When men under the colour of the law steale mens goods, which they doe that pervert the law.
Now under these kinds be comprehended the favourers of theft, and all they which by pr…tling exact a greater prize, or else that deceiveth by false weights and measures, as also that receive from theeves, having stolen from others.
stole
Adam
From God the forbidden fruit, he paid deare for it.Gen. 3 Iosh. 7. Gē. 27 Gē. 31 Gē. 34. Dani…es Iud. 18. 18 & 9. 25. Shechemites.
A…han
Things appertaining to God, he was with his stoned.
Iacob
The blessing from his brother: he was forced to slie.
Rabel
Labans gods, she was barren a long time thereby.
Simeon
The Shechemites goods with his brethren: Iacob blamed them.
Shechemites
From others, they were by Abimelech in the end slain.Iudg. 9. Mal. 3. Mat. 27. Prov. 21. 7.
Israelites
Their tithes from God, they were cursed and their land barren.
The theeves
That were with Christ crucified: and Barrabas b…ing imprisoned.
The Person
That stealeth a man, and selleth him shall die, and that stealethProv. 9. 17. Exod. 21. 16. Chap. 22. 1. Zech. 5. 3. 7an oxe, sheepe, &c. shall make restitution, and that stealeth shall be cut off, and the curse shall consume that he hath.
Cursed is he that hangeth on a tree: Cursed is the land where theeves be.Deut. 21. Hos. 4. 2 Sam. 12. Iob. 12. 6. Prov. 21. 7. Prov. 4. 24. 1 Cor. 6. 10. Prov. 5. 15.
David judged him to die, that had taken away his neighbours sheepe.
Iudas was counted a theefe, a fearfull example for theeves.
The man that is partner with a theefe, slayeth his own soul by his deed: And the theefe shall not enter into the kingdome of God.
The Remedy of Theft.
B…ware of covetousnes, that is the desire of riches.
Avoyd prodigality, spend not thy goods wastefully.
Fly idlenes, follow Pauls counsell, worke with thy hands.Ephes. 4. 28. Ex. 20. Lev. 19. 13.
Thou shalt not steale, wrong thy neighbour or rob him.
Let him that stole steale no more, but rather l…t him labour, working with his hands the thing which it good, that hee may have to give to him that Ephes. 4. 28.needeth.
Of Fidelity and Faithfulnesse.
FIdelity is the closet of the secret of another, which stands in two duties: The one to make conscience of a lye, and to speake the truth, yea such as we thinke it is, and not to speake one thing and thinke another: The other when a man hath made a promise that is lawfull and good, to keepe and performe the same.
Faithfully
Abrahams servant did the message committed to him concerning Isaac hisGen. 24. sonne.
David Performed his promise made to Ionathan in shewing merciemercy to Mephibosheth 1 Sam. 20. Chap. 22. Chap. 24.his son, as also behaved himselfe towards Saul and towards Abiathar in relieving of him.
The Gibeonites did sight for the Israelites, after their peace made withIosh 10. them.
Hushai dealt with David in discovering Abithophels counsell.2 Sam. 15. Gen. 29. 1 Sam. 20. 1 Sam. 14.
Iacob served Laban seven yeares for his daughter Rachel.
Ionathan carried himselfe alwaies towards King David.
Ionathan did in all things as his heart desired.
Faithfully
Ioseph proved to his master in denying what his mistresse requested.Gen. 39. 2 Sam. 12. 2 King. 11.
Ioab did in giving the praise to David of the victory got by him.
Ieh…iada dealt with Ioash in procuring his kingdome to him.
The men
Of Jabesh Gilead shewed themselves in burying Saul and his sons: and the men of Judah in taking part with David against1 Sam. 31. 2 Sam. 20. Matth. 25. his enemies: and two of the three men by imployment made of their T…lents.
Mordecai discovered the treason intended against Ahasuerus the king.
The people dealt with David by willing him to continue in the citie theEsth. 2. 2 Sam. 18. time that they fought against Absalom.
Paul dealt for the poores necessitie in the Collection.2 Cor. 9. 2 Sam. 17. Iosh. 2. 2 King. 12. Chap. 22. 7.
The woman of Bahurim preserved Abimaaz and Ionathan.
Rahab hid the spies sent by Ioshua; the king sending for them.
The workmen
Bestowed the mony gathered to repaire the Temple delivered them, yea so as that the people required no account to be given thereof by them.
Blessed is the man that shall be found at the Lords comming to be faithfull and wise: He shall be made ruler over his goods.Matth. 24. 45.
A faithfull servant is as cold snow in the time of harvest, refreshing his mastersProv. 25. 13. soul (saith Salomon.)
The man that is faithfull in that which is least, is faithfull also in much; andLuk. 15. 10, 11, 12. Syr. 29. 3. he that is unjust in the least, is unjust also in much, &c.
Gods Justice