Inquiry for a Suitable Return for Continued Life In and After Time of Plague, Part 2 · Section 7
SECT. VII.
Ʋnder what diſpenſations do wicked men grow worſe and worſe?Queſtion Third.
IN the generall I anſwer, wicked men are the worſe in all conditions that God puts them into: more particularly they are worſe and worſe,
Under
Gods Providences,
Gods Ordinances.
First, Wicked men wax worſe under all Gods Providences, whether
Of
Proſperity,
Adverſity,
Deliverances,
Proſperity makes the wicked worſe.I. Ungodly men are worſe under their proſperity, when the world ſmiles upon them, and when they have all that their carnall hearts can wiſh and deſire: If the Sun ſhine, it hardens the clay, and the more it makes the dunghill ſend forth unſavory ſmels, Rom. 2.4. Or deſpiſeſt thou the riches of his goodneſs and forbearance, and long-ſuffering, not knowing that the goodneſs of God leadeth thee to repentance, ver. 5. But after thy hardneſs and impenitent heart, treaſureſt up wrath againſt the day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous judgement of God. A wicked man is more hardened by Gods kindneſs to him; Animus Iniquus beneficio fit pejor. A wicked heart is made worſe by every kindneſs. As, Chriſt fed Judas at his table, and he runs preſently to betray him. The more God aboundeth to them in common goodneſs, the more they abound againſt God in multiplied wickedneſs. Neh. 9.16. ad 27. Pſal. 78.12, 17. Prov. 1.32. The proſperity of fools ſhall deſtroy them, Iſa. 26.10. Let favor be ſhewed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteouſneſs: in the land of uprightneſs will he deal unjuſtly, and will not behold the majeſty of the Lord. They are worſe by proſperity.
1. Becauſe they are thereby liſted up with pride and carnall confidence; many men the more rich, the more proud, and the prouder, the worſer; the more their riches increaſe, the more they ſet their hearts upon them, and the more a mans heart is upon the creature, the worſe he is. Proſperity is full of ſnares; and we are apt then to forget God, and to lift up the heel againſt him. Deut. 32.15. But Jeſurun waxed fat and kicked, thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatneſs; then he forſook God which made him, and lightly eſteemed the Rock of his Salvation. Here is great proſperity, and great impiety; and God ſeeing how apt his own people are to be worſe by proſperity, doth caution them largely againſt it, Deut. 8.7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18.
2. Wicked men are worſe by proſperity, becauſe then they have more fuell to feed their luſts. Sodomites had fulneſs of bread, and that did feed their uncleanneſs. They turn Gods grace into wantonneſs, and his mercies into fuell for their wickedneſs. Thoſe things which ſhould be cords of love to draw them to God, they turn to the nouriſhment of their ſinnes againſt God, and deſire riches not that they may glorify God, but gratify their luſts, Jam. 4.3. The more abundance of outward things a drunkard hath, the more he is able to pleaſe his palate with great abundance of the richeſt Wines; the more the adulterer hath, the more he beſtows upon his harlot: and ſo the greater plenty, the more they lead a ſenſuall, bruitiſh, fleſh-pleaſing life, and the more of that, the worſe they be.
3. Wicked men in proſperity are the worſe, becauſe they are apt to gather Gods ſpecial love to them, from the common bounty he beſtowes upon them. Becauſe the world ſmiles upon them, they think God doth ſo too: Becauſe Gods hand is opened to them, therefore they think they are engraven upon his heart, and think Divine Toleration *Pſal. 50.18, 19, 20, 21.is Divine Approbation, when indeed it is a ſign of Gods great diſpleaſure, to give proſperity to a man in a ſinfull courſe. God was angry with the rich man in the Goſpel, when he gave him more abundance than he knew how to beſtow, Luk. 12.18, 19, 20. and 16.19, 20. They are apt to think that is the beſt way, which is the moſt proſperous way, Jer. 44.17. But we will certainly doe what ſoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn Incenſe to the Queen of heaven▪ and to pour out drink-Offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our Fathers, our Kings and our Princes, in the Cityes of Judah, and in the ſtreets of Jeruſalem, for then had we plenty of Victuals, and were well, and ſaw no evil: Verſ. 18. But ſince we left off to burn Incenſe to the Queen of Heaven, and to pour out drink Offerings unto her, we have wanted all things, and have been conſumed by the ſword and by the famine. By proſperity they take encouragement to proceed in their Iniquity.
4. Wicked men by proſperity are worſe, becauſe, they are apt to put far from them the evil day, and the hour and thoughts of Death and Judgement, and the Life to come: In health they have not ſerious thoughts of ſickneſs; a wicked man is too apt to think that the Sun of Proſperity which ſhines upon him, will never ſet, nor be clouded. Pſal. 49.11. Their inward thought is, that their houſes ſhall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations: they call their Lands after their own Names. In Proſperity they think little of death. Luk. 12.19. And I will ſay to my ſoul, Soul, thou haſt goods laid up for many years, eat, drink, and be merry. They promiſe themſelves a continuance of their outward happineſs, and ſo ſin more freely and abundantly. Iſa. 56.12. Come ye, ſay they, I will fetch Wine, and we will fill our ſelves with ſtrong drink, and to morrow ſhall be as this day, and much more abundant. This perſwaſion begets carnal ſecurity, and the more ſecure, ſtill the worſe.