Inquiry for a Suitable Return for Continued Life In and After Time of Plague, Part 2 · Section 11
SECT. XI.
Queſtion Fourth.Why God is pleaſed to remove Judgements, though many men are worſe than they were before?
THat God ſhould ſtay his hand, and put up his Arrows into his Quiver, and his Sword into his ſheath, and call in the deſtroying Angel, is indeed matter and cauſe of great admiration; that when men ſin ſtill, God doth not ſlaughter ſtil; when men provoke him ſtill, that he doth not by the Plague puniſh them ſtill: The ſins that were offenſive unto God at firſt, are amongſt us ſtill; the ſins continue, the Judgement removed: Oh ſtand and wonder at this, that when Juſtice hath cut down ſo many, that Mercy yet hath ſpared ſo many; eſpecially if you ſeriouſly conſider Gods holineſs and purity, Gods juſtice and ſeverity, Gods infinite hatred unto ſin, and that it is not the death of thouſands that can ſatisfie Gods Juſtice, nor the death of thoſe that are gone down into the grave, that have pacified Gods wrath for us that do yet remain alive. What may be the Reaſons?
1.Reaſons are, 1. From God. God hath done this for his own Names ſake: If you goe to the Church-yards and Burial places in and about the City, and ſee the heaps of dead bodyes, and ask, Why hath God done this? We muſt anſwer, We all have ſinned. If you goe into your houſes and dwelling places, and finde ſo many living, after ſo great a Mortality, and ask, why hath God done this? We muſt anſwer, It is for his own Name ſake. The Plague was inflicted becauſe we had diſpleaſed him, but it is removed becauſe Mercy hath pleaſed him: We had deſerved the inflicting of it, but could not merit the removing of it. In this late Providence Juſtice and Mercy have been wonderfully magnified; Juſtice in removing ſo many thouſands, and laying them in their graves; Mercy in ſparing ſo many thouſands, and maintaining them in life that have been ſo long walking in the Valley of the ſhadow of death: This is, becauſe God in the midſt of Judgement hath remembred Mercy. Ezek. 36.21. But I had pity for mine holy Name,—ver. 22. Therefore ſay unto the houſe of Iſrael, thus ſaith the Lord God, I doe not this for your ſakes, O houſe of Iſrael, but for mine holy Name ſake. So when God gives good things, as well as when he removeth evil, it is for his Name ſake. God hath taken away your ſickneſs and plague-ſores, and given you health. Verſ. 31. Then ſhall ye remember your own evil wayes, and your doings, that were not good, and ſhall loathe your ſelves in your own ſight, for your Iniquities, and for your Abominations. V. 32. Not for your ſakes doe I this, ſaith the Lord God, be it known unto you; be aſhamed and confounded for your own wayes, O houſe of Iſrael. Oh if you have been ſpared for his Names ſake, then let all the praiſe of your life be unto his holy Name. But then you muſt not be worſe but better than you were.
2. 2. From the Elect converted.God hath removed his Judgement in anſwer to the Prayers of his people. Prayer hath been an ancient Antidote againſt the Plague, and many have been preſerved from the grave as a return to prayer; and ſo it hath of old been prevalent for the removing of the Plague: And therefore Magiſtrates commanding the people to faſt and pray, proceeded in Solomons courſe to have it removed: 1 King. 8.37. If there be in the Land Famine, if there be Peſtilence— whatſoever Plague, whatſoever ſickneſs there be. What muſt they do then? Verſ. 38. What prayer and ſupplication (prayer you ſee is a Panpharmacum, a remedy for every diſeaſe) ſoever be made by any man, or by all thy people Iſrael, which ſhall know every man the plague of his own heart, and ſpread forth his hands towards this houſe. Verſ. 39. Then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive— Prayer is the remedy preſcribed by Solomon, But what are the perſons whoſe prayers ſhall prevail for the removing of ſo ſore a judgement? Not thoſe that have Plague-wiſhes ſo often in their mouthes, but the prayer of any man, that knoweth (i. e. ſeeth and is ſenſible of) the Plague of his own heart.
3.3. From Elect unconverted. God may remove judgements for the benefit of his Elect that yet may be unconverted, and in mercy to them, who may be yet in their ſins, God may ſtay this Plague, it might be for ſome yet unborn, that may proceed from the Loyns of ſome that are now worſe than they were before. The patience and long-ſuffering of God is conducible to the converſion and ſalvation of Gods Elect, 2 Pet. 3.15. And doth lead men to repentance, Rom. 2.4. Many peradventure have not yet repented, whom God will bring to glory; and he that hath deſigned them to the end, will preſerve them in life till the means have been effectual to fit them for that end.
4. 4. From Reprobates.God may ſpare ſome that are worſe, by removing judgements, becauſe as yet they are not ripe enough for ſlaughter: The Oxe is ſpared longer time, becauſe not yet fit for the Shambles. Thus God ſpared Jeruſalem till they had filled up the meaſure of their ſins, Mat. 23.32. And ſo God exerciſed patience towards the Amorites, till their iniquity was full, Gen 15.16 God may remove and keep off judgement from ſome; and this may be in judgement to them, as he may in mercy, deny ſome mercies unto ſome.