Samarias Downfall, Verse 5 · Observations

Samarias Downfall · Verse 5 · Observations

p. 64OBSERVATIONS.

1 God usually warns before hee smites.

Hee sends Hosea to tell them before, Samaria shall bee made a desolation. Hee speaks before hee strikes, and denounceth judgements before hee executes them. Seldome doth hee send any great judgement against his own people, p. 65but hee tells them of it first. Hee lightens before hee Thunders, shoots off his Warning-peeces, before his Murdering peeces, and hangs out the white flag of mercy, before the black flag of destruction. Hee deals not with us as one di… with Diogenes, who first brake his head, and then bid him …ke heed. No… like the Canon, that first kills, and then makes the report. But hee first admonisheth us to repent (as hee did the seven Churches of Asia before their destruction) else hee tells them hee will come against them, Rev. 2. 5. Hee first cuts men down with the sword of his mouth, Hos. 6. 5. before hee cut them down with the sword of his hand. Hee first blows the Trumpet (and commands men so to do, Deut. 20. 10, 11, 12.) before hee sends the sword, Hos. 5. 8, 9. 2 Chron. 36. 14, 15. Ier. 7. 25. and 26. 18. Amos 4. 12. Ioel 2. 1. Zeph. 2. 1, 2, 3.

1 Sometimes God warns by extraordinary and immediate revelation. Thus hee warned the wise men that came to Christ, not to go to Herod, but to return to their own Country another way, Mat. 3. 12.

2 By prodigious Signs and Comets. These are the usual fore-runners of some judgement approaching. They have a Voyce as well as the Word, Exod. 4. 8. if they will not hearken to the Vo…ce of the first sign, yet they will beleeve the Voyce of the second. Christ tells us, that before the destruction of Ierusalem, there should bee many fearful sights and signs, Luke 21. 11, 25. And Iose…hus affirms, that before its destructio…, for a whole years space there appeared a Comet like a Sword. Before our German wars, there appeared that blazing Comet, 1618.

3 By his Ministers, Ezek. 33. 3, 7, 8. Thus hee warned the old world, an hundred and twenty years, by the preaching of Noah, before hee drowned it, Gen. 6. 13. Before the destruction of Ierusalem, hee sent Christ himself and his Apostles to call them to Repentance.

4 By his lesser Iudgements. First, Hee comes as a moth, which eats one thread now, and another anon, and without any noise devours all. 2 As a Worm, or rottenness, which eats out the heart of the strongest Oak. 3 If that will not do, there lyes a Lion that tears all in peeces without resistance Hos. 5. 12, 14.

p. 665 By his Rods on others, as on the Palatinate and Savoy, &c. so hee sent the Iews to Shiloh, See eight Voyces by which God warns England, in that elaborate Sermon of Mr Calamy on Jer. 18. 8. preached 1641. Mr. Gatakers Sermon on Heb. 11. 7. Mr. Greenhil on Ezek. 9. 1. p. 205. and my Comment on 2 Tim. 3. 1. p. 6, 7.Jer 18:8Heb 11:7Ezek 9:12 Tim 3:1Jer. 7. 12. also by taking away eminent Magistrates and zealous Ministers, Isa. 3. 1. to 6.

6 By the Motions of his Spirit, hee knocks at the door of our hearts, and warns us to return, Rev. 3. 19.

And this hee doth 1 In mercy to his people, Paenas minatur ne paenas inferatthat they might prepare to meet him, and so prevent his Judgements, as those that beleeved the threatning of the Hail, housed themselves and their Cattel,Calamitas dicitur ventura ut agente populo paenitentiam non veniat Hietom. and so were saved, Exod. 9. 18, 19, 20, 21. Hee deals not with us like an enemy, who surprizeth his adversary unawares; but like a faithful friend hee tells us of the storm approaching, that wee might hide our selves from it, 2 Chro… ▪ 12. 6, 7. Iob 22. 29. Hab. 3. 16.

2 For the manifestation of his Iustice upon the wicked, who shall bee made inexcusable in that they had such fair warning given them, but they would not take it. Nineveh at the preaching of one Ionah repented and escapes; the Lord bee merciful to England, how many hundred of Ionahs have wee had to call us to Repentance, and yet wee turn not, but fall away more and more? It is a sad aggravation of mens sins, and puts a sore sting into mens troubles, when conscience shall flye in their faces, and say, Thou wast foretold of such Judgements, and forewarned of such and such miseries, but thou contemnedst the voyce of thy Teachers, and didst set at nought all their counsels; and therefore now thou must expect no more pitty or patience from God, but mayest justly expect that hee should fulfil the word which hee spake by his servants against thee.

Let then his warnings win thee, and his patience, and longsuffering lead thee to repentance. Let not his admonitions bee alwayes lost upon thee. Bee not still secure and senseless like Lots sons in Law, who when hee warned them of danger approaching, hee seemed as one that mocked and …eas…ed with them, Gen. 19. 14. but how soon did they finde that hee was in earnest? So Isa. 5. 19. they mocked at the Prophet that told them of Captivity and Judgement, and bid him let them see p. 67the things hee spake of, and so they did to their sorrow; and is it not so in our dayes? when wee tell people of judgement approaching,See Gr…n…il Ezek. 17. p. 427.Ezek 17 and ready to ceise upon them, they look upon it as some vain dream, or melancholy fancy, till they bee made to feel the contrary. See how dreadfully God threatens such secure unbeleeving sinners, Deut. 29. 19, 20, 21.

Without faith all warnings are ineffectual. It is onelyonly Noah that by faith feared and built an Ark that was saved both hee and his houshold, Heb. 11. 7.

2 Obs. The Ministers of God must apply the word to their people.

The Prophet preacheth at Samaria against the sins of Samaria, and tells them to their faces, that for their rebellion they shall bee made a desolation. Thus did all the Prophets, they made Ierusalem to know her abominations, Isa. 58. 1. Ezek. 16. 2. So did Christ himself apply the word particularly to his hearers, Matth. 11. 21, 23, and 23. 37, 38. Ioh. 4. 17, 18. So did the Apostles, Act. 2. 36, 37.

This is the onelyonly way to convince and convert men; what is spoken generally to all, few will apply unto themselves, Quod dicitur omni, dicitur nulli.

Bee not then offended at the plain and powerful preaching of the word. A plaister that is not applied, will never heal. A Minister shall never profit his people, till hee apply the word to their particular cases.See more at large in my Com. on 2 Tim. 4. Obs. 2. p. 4212 Tim 4 Those whom the Lord intends for conversion, by his Spirit hee sets the word so home upon their hearts, that they think the Minister knows all their secret thoughts, &c.

3 Obs. Iudgements seldome go alone.

Ephraim was plundred before, but now hee must bee butchered; before hee lost his goods, now his life must go, which is more precious than all pleasant things, Iob 2. 4. How oft do wee read of Sword, Plague, Famine, those three Arrows of God shot together against a rebellious people? Ezek. 14. 22. As sins seldome go alone, so neither do judgements. See what a concatenation and chain of Judgements is set down t…ther, Deut. 28. 15, 16. &c. God wants not variety of judgements to inflict upon a sinful people, that they may know what a sad and bitter thing it is that they have provoked him. Pharaoh had ten Plagues one after another. The Trumpets, and p. 68the Vials in the Revelations came not single, but by sevens, bringing in mischief upon misc…ief, and plague upon plague, till hee had consumed them. See Deut. 31. 17. Ier. 51. 31, 32.

4 Obs. When lesser Iudgements do not mend a people, God usually comes with greater.

If plundring will not mend Ephraim, desolation shall end him, Hos. 5. 12, 14. When Chederlaomer had plundred Sodome, and that did not better them, Gen. 14. 11. at last comes fire from heaven and consumes them, Gen. 19. When gentle Physick will not work out the peccant humour, the Physician applieth stronger; if gentle correction will not mend our children, wee double our stroaks. If one bea…ing will not mend a people, Godwill plague them yet seven times more according to their sins, Lev. 26. 21, 23. Isa. 1. 5. Ier. 5. 3, 6. When no judgements will work upon Ph…raoh, then hee is drowned. When temporal judgements do not mend a people, hee sends them to eternal. It is an ill sign when men bee incorrigible under judgements, and are the worse for beating, Isa. 9. 13. Ahaz had a brand set upon him, to warn all others to take heed of t…is sinning sin, 2 Chron. 28. 22, 23. In the time of his distress hee sinned yet more against the Lord; This is that King Ahaz. That King, it is emphatical, i. e. that wicked, infamous, irresigious King, who sacrificed to the gods of Damascus that smote him. What madness is this to serve such as beat them for their pains, and ruine their servants; for so it follows, They were the ruine of him, and of all Israel.

Desperate sores must have desperate cures.See more in B. Babington on Exod. 11. 1. p. 221, 222, 223 fol.Exod 11:1 Hard knots must have hard wedges; Fitches are beaten out with a staff, but the Cummin must have a rod, Isa. 28. 27. When the Lord had used all means to bring Israel to repentance, hee had sent blasting, plague, famine, and sword upon them, and yet they were impenitent, Amos 46 to 11. hee comes in the 12. verse to tell them that now hee would deal more sharply and severely with them. Therefore now, Thus will I do unto thee, Quid sit sacturus tacet, ut dum ad sing… la paenarum genera pendent incerti, paenitentiam agan…, ne inferat quae minatur. Hieron.i. e. Thus terribly, thus dreadfully, in a more fierce and furious manner than ever; therefore now prepare to … p. 69him who is coming towards thee, before hee come to thee. There is no meeting him in a way of opposition or rising up against him (for who ever hardned himself against God and prospered?Mi…tamus preces & lach…ymas cordis legatos. Cyprian) but meet him in a way of humiliation and repentance with prayers and tears, dispatch those messengers to meet him on the way whilst hee is afar off, that you may prevent the execution of Gods wrath. A Lion will not seize on a yeelding prey; the bending reed is preserved, when the stubborn Oak is pulled up by the roots, Isa. 2. 11, 12. &c. By …his means wee shall either remove the judgement, or get it sanctified, so as all shall bee for good unto us, or else God will take us away, as he did Iosiah, before the evil comes. Wee shall escape those trials wee cannot bear, and bee inabled for to undergo those trials which wee cannot escape.

5 Obs. Eminent places oft-times are eminent in sin.

In great Cities usually there are great sinners. Ierusalem was a great City, and what great abominations were in it? there was murder, oppression, bribery, prophanation of Sabbaths and holy things, her Princes were roaring Lions, her Iudges ravening Wolves, and the Priests did violence to the Law, Ezek. 22. per totum. Babylon a famous, wealthy, populous City, yet full of cruelty and pride, full of Witchcraft and Fornication, both corporal and spiritual, Ier. 50. 31, 32, 33, 36, 38. The Cities of Sodome and Gomorrha were full of crying sins, as pride, idleness, gluttony, inhumanity, and notorious uncleanness; and here in the Text Samaria was full of Idolatry and rebellion against God, I King. 13. 32. Isa. 10. 10, 11. Hos. 8. 5. the lesser Cities were called the Daughters of Samaria, Ezek. 16. 46. and those were like their Mother. Great Cities have great influence upon their neighbour Towns; if they bee Idolatrous, superstitious, riotous, proud, prophane, so will the places round about them bee, if great Babylon bee an Harlot, shee will quickly bee the Mother of more Harlots and abominations, Rev. 17. 3. Wee should not therefore desire to live in such populous places (unless wee bee called by God to them, for then hee will keep us, as hee did Lot in Sodome) but to go live in them without a call, onelyonly for pleasure, or to see fashions, &c. is a sore temptation. Wee see Travellers that go to such great places to see fashions, return oft-times infected both in body and soul. So true is that of One, p. 70Nunquam inter homines fui, quin minor homo redii.

6 Obs. Such places as have been eminent for sin; usually are eminent for punishment.

As wee see in the old world, Sodome, Ierusalem; and Samaria, here for her sin, is made a desolation, Mic. 1. 6. When sin grows general and National, it brings National judgements, Isa. 8. 18. Ier. 11. 9, 11. Hos. 4. 1, 2, 3. When all Israel transgressed the Law, no wonder if the curse come upon them; Dan. 9. 11. Many think to escape the better because they have so many companions, when the more general the sin, the nearer to judgement. If all Nations sin, all Nations must have the cup of Gods wrath given them, Ior. 25. 15. Mal. 3. 8, 9. It is as easie with God to destroy a world of men, as one man, they are al, but as a drop, and a little dust to him, Isa 40. 15, 17. Multitudes of sinners increase wrath. When the Iews assembled themselves by troops into the Harlots houses, then God would pardon them no longer, Ier. 5. 7, 8. The more wicked the times and places are that wee live in, the greater our praise will bee if wee bee godly. To bee good in good times and places, an hypocrite and formalist may bee;Asiam nunquam vidisse nulla laus est, v…rum summa laude dignum si quis pie & pudice in Asia vix…rit. Vixit Noah non aetate unt, sed multis; non cum bonis, sed cum hominibus corrup…issimis. Junius. but with Lot to bee good in Sodome, and Iob in the Land of Vz, and with Noah, Gen. 6. 9. and Elijah to bee righteous and zealous in the midst of an unrighteous and perverse generation, that is praise-worthy indeed, and argues much sincerity. It was the commendation of the Church of Pergamus, that she professed Christs Name where Satan had his throne, and did not deny him in the days when Antipas his faithful Martyr was slain, Rev. 2. 12, 13. Flye sin then which brings destruction, not only on the sinner, but also on the very Towns, Cities, Castles, and places where they dwell. As God hath promised that peace and prosperity shall bee in the dwellings of the righteous, Iob 5. 24. and 8. 6. Prov. 3. 33. and that hee will make a hedge about them, and all that they have, to preserve them from robbery, fire, molestation by evil spirits, and other calamities, Iob 1. 10. So on the contrary, sin makes a man naked, and exposeth him, and all that hee hath, to the curse of God. Hee will destroy the very dwellings of Idolaters, Swearers, Cursers, Bribers, &c. Iob 12. 6. and 15. 34. Zach. 5. 4. The p. 71wickedness that hath been practised in the great houses and Castles of this Land, hath said so many of them in the dust, and wee may look to bee brought yet lower; wee have brought God low in our judgements, low in our affections, low in our actions, low in his Ordinances, low in his Vicegerents and Ambassadors; and therefore it is just with God to lay us low, and to debase us, who have so many wayes debased him.

7 Obs. No Fortifications can preserve a sinful people from ruine.

Let them make walls as high as heaven, and ditches as deep as hell, yet if sin reign within, it will bring all down. It is not a Fleet by Sea, nor Forces by Land, it is not a Magazine of Treasures, nor an Arsenal of Armour, that can preserve a wicked Kingdome from ruine. As Samaria was a well fortified, so it was a rebellious, Idolatrous, sinful place, and this brought it down, Ezek. 16. 46. and 23. 4, 5. Hos. 7. 1. Amos 3. 9, 10. Mic. 1. 5, 7. though it were strongly fortified both by Art and Nature, and very large, about three miles in compass, yet Samaria's sin was Samaria's ruine. Niniveh was a populous, antient, great, strong, wealthy City, yet her great sins laid her in the dust, and made all her strong holds drop like ripe figs with little ado into the mouth of the Caldeans. Babylon a most ancient, ample, wealthy, well fortified, potent, populous,V. Ravanel in V. Babylon. pompous City, yet abounding with sin, all her power, and policy could not keep her from ruine Ierusalem that strong City, encompassed with Mountains, Towers, and Bulworks, fortified both by Art and Nature, and so powerfully protected by the Lord himself for many years together to the admiration of all the world, that it was judged invincible, Lam. 4. 12. The Kings of the earth, and all the Inhabitants of the world would not have beleeved that the enemy should have entred into the gates of Ierusalem, yet Ierusalems sin was Ierusalems ruine; and therefore for her sake, let none confide in Cities, or any Priviledges whatsoever. Wee are apt in our distresses to run to well-fortified places, but in vain is salvation looked for from those creature-confidences, if the Lord help not, how should these help? This is to forsake God the fountain of living waters, Almighty, and All-sufficient, a present help in trouble, and to go to Cisterns, p. 72broken Cisterns of creature-comforts, that will fail and forsake them in a time of trouble.

8 Obs. Sin is a bitter thing.

Samaria hath rebelled or imbittered (as the word is in the fountain) God, and provoked him to anger most bitterly by her sin, Hos 12. 14. Ephraims sins were bitter to God,Irritavit Ephraim Deus (Tameru…im) amaritudi…bus, vel in amaritudines, i. e. ad iram amarulentam provocavit eum Idolis suis, quae & Deo, & cultoribus suis amaritudinem afferunt. Rivet. yea they were bitternesses in the abstract, and in the plural number also. This may discover to us the cursed nature of sin, and the iniquity of our iniquities, which turns Gods sweetness into bitterness, his patience into wrath, and his bowels into wormwood. If any thing can sadden God. and imbitter his soul, it is sin. To see every base lust preferred before him, to see Satan in the Throne, the heart, and the Spirit of God kept out, must needs imbitter his Spirit against us. The Lord that made heaven and earth, and sustains the Pillars of it, yet never complains of that burden, but sin is such a burden, that hee oft complains of that as tyring him out▪ Isa. 1. 14 24 & 43, 24. Amos 2. 13. and the bitterness thereof is as gall, which hee cannot indure, Deut. 32. 32. God is all love and sweetness, and would not deal thus bitterly with us, did not our bitter sins provoke him to it.

Sin is bitter

1 To God,

2 To Christ,

3 To the Spirit of God,

4 To Angels, both good and bad,

5 To Men, both good and bad,

6 To Kingdomes and States,

7 To Creatures,

8 In its effects,

Privative,

Positive.

1 Sin is bitter to God, as wee have seen before.

2 To Christ, it made him cry in the bitterness of his soul, My God, my God why hast thou forsaken mee? And made his soul heavy unto death.V. Schools Guard, Rul… 12. p. 85, 86. So bitter were our sins to him that they made him a man of sorrows, Isa. 53. 4. and made him sweat, non gu…tas sed grumos, clods of blood, Luke 22. 44. When Christ hung upon the Cross, they gave him gall and vinegar to drink: p. 73every sin is as gall to him. Lam. 1. 18. The Lord is righteous, for I have rebelled against him; or as it is in the fountain, because I have imbittered him; hee is righteous in all his judgements on mee, for I have imbittered him against mee by my bitter sins.

3 It is bitter to the holy Spirit of God. Nothing grieves it, and drives it out of the soul, but sin, Gen. 6. 3. Ephes. 4. 29.

To the Angels. 1 To the good Angels, it is bitter and displeasing to them to see their Lord and Master daily provoked by a company of sinful, rebellious creatures; and should the Lord give them but a word of Command, they would suddenly smite all the wicked dead, and revenge the dishonours done to him, as wee see in Sena…heribs blasphemous Camp, where one Angel in one night killed an hundred fourscore and five thousand men.

2 It is bitter to the evil Angels; it hath thrown them from heaven to hell, and of Angels it hath turned them into Devils, and keeps them in chains of darkness to the Judgement of the great day, Iude 6.

5 To Man. 1 To good Men, there is nothing so bitter to them as sin, nothing grieves them like this, that they have grieved the good Spirit of God. All losses, crosses, reproaches, are light with them in comparison of sin. The Church of Ephesus could bear any affliction; but not sin, Rev. 2. 2. Good David oft complains of the burden of his sins, seldome of his sufferings, Psal. 38. 4. So bitter a thing is sin to them, that it oft-times makes them weary of their lives, and long to bee dissolved that they may sin no more, Rom. 7. 24. 2 Cor. 5. 4. it makes them a burden to themselves, Iob 7. 20. and causeth them to weep bitterly, Matth. 26. 75. Hence Iob 13.See Mr. Caryl on that Text. 26. calls sins bitter things, Thou writest bitter things against mee; what is that? Why thou makest mee to possess the sins of my youth.

2 It is bitter to wicked men. Though whilst conscience sleeps they may think it a light matter, yet to an inlightned and an awakened conscience nothing is more bitter. This made Adam to hide himself, and Cain to complain that his sin was a burden too heavy for him to bear. Iudas could not indure the bitterness of it, but went forth and hanged himself. Nothing p. 74so bitter as sin when it is once charged by God upon the conscience; of all heavy things this is the most heavy: A wounded spirit who can bear? Those that will not now beleeve it, yet shall one day finde it, that it is an evil and bitter thing that they have sinned against God, Ier. 2. 19. and 4. 18. Lam. 3. 15. Amos 8. 10. Prov. 9. 17, 18. and 14. 13. and 23. 32. Gal. 5. 19, 21. Act. 8. 23. Solomon, who had found sweetness in the wayes of the flesh, yet at last felt and acknowledged the bitterness of such courses, Prov. 5. 3, 4. Eccles. 7. 26. Though sin may for a time seem sweet to the sinner, and it bee a pastime to them to do wickedly, yet it will bee bitterness in the end, the poyson of Aspes is in it, Iob 20. 12, 13, 14.

Quest. If sin bee so bitter, how com…s it pass that wicked men are no more sensible of it?

Answ. V. Bolton Comfort afflict. Consc. part. 2 Chap. 2 p. 90, 91, &c.I Their consciences are …eared with the custome of sinning,Elementum in suo loco non est ponderosum. Ari…t. which hath taken away the sense of sin, so that now it is become connatural and pleasant to them, and so is not grievous. Poyson in a Toad is not troublesome, hee is never sick of it, nor sensible of it, because it is natural to him; but poyson in a Man, a Sheep, a Dove, is deadly, because it is not in its proper place.

2 It is a spiritual bitterness, now wicked men have no spiritual life in them, they are dead in sin and so are insensible of it.

3 The Devil that Prince of darkness, keeps wicked men in darkness and ignorance, so that they know not the terrours of the Lord, nor what a fearful thing it is to fall into the hands of an angry God, and this makes men so fearless of sin. As wee cannot desire what we know not (nihil volitum nisi prius cognitum) so wee cannot fear it. A childe that knows not what a terrible thing a Lion or a Bear is, will venture to provoke them; but a man of understanding will run from them. It is fools who make a mock of sin, who never knew the danger of it: but the godly who know its bitterness, will rather chuse any misery, than the least iniquity, any affliction, rather than sin.

6 Sin is bitter to States and Kingdomes, and provokes the Lord to send bitter enemies against them, Hab. 1. 6. the very land where wicked men dwell is sick of them, and cannot p. 75have ease till it hath spewed them out. As a man that hath poyson in his stomach is not well till hee bee rid of it; and as the Sea would not bee quiet till Ionah was thrown overboard; so Nations can have no rest till they have vomited up such wicked men, which like corrupt humours oppress and burden them, Lev. 18. 25, 28. and 20. 22. This is that bitter water which causeth the curse to seize on persons and Nations, Num. 5. 18. and brings upon them bitter destruction, De…t. 32. 24. Thus the ten Tribes here were spewed out for their Idolatry, when they were carried captive by Salmaneser into the Land of the Medes from whence they never returned, 2 King. 17, 18. And the Iews were vomited up when they were carried captive into Babylon for the space of seventy years, 2 Chron. 36. 21.

7 It is bitter to the Creatures. See Mr. Fenner his Sermon on Rom. 8. 22. p. 295. fol.Rom 8:22They all groan under the burden, and as a woman in travel longs to bee disburdened and eased of her birth; so the whole Creation travels in pain, and longs to bee delivered by reason of that bondage, vanity, and corruption that it is subject to by reason of the sin of man,Ipsae creatur… irrationales suo creatori semper obedientes, detestantur detestatione & appetitu naturali, quo i… … totiusque universi ac Dei voluntatem impl…ndam feruntur atque a…versantur c… que sunt his co…traria; idem… factur… appetitu… rationali, sieum haberent, a Lapide. Rom. 8. 20, 21, 22.

8 It is bitter in the effects of it, which are twofold, I Privative, 2 Positive.

The Privative effects of …in are sevenfold.

1 It deprives us of the favour of God which is the very life of our souls, Psal. 30. 5. In his favour is life.

2 It deprives us of Gods fatherly care and protection over us, Gen. 4. 14. Exod. 32. 25.

3 It deprives us of the guard of the Angels. Every godly man hath not one Angel, but a guard of Angels about him, to keep him whilst hee keeps Gods wayes, Psal. 34. 7. and 9…. 11, 12. Heb. 1. 13.

4 It deprives us of Peace of conscience. A Jewel of more worth than all the world; Adam when hee had sinned, hee was affraid, and hid▪ himself. David after his sin▪ complained of broken bones, his sight and sense of sin was as p. 76bitter to him as if hee had broken all his bones, Psal. 51. 8.

5 It deprives us of our Excellency. Purity is our excellency; it is sin, and onelyonly sin that robs us of our glory, and makes us like other men. As Iacob said of Reuben when hee had defiled his Fathers bed, Thou shalt not excel, Gen. 49. 4.

6 It deprives us of all true right to the creature. V. Dave…nt Determin. Q. 30.A wicked man is an usurper, though hee may have a civil right in foro soli, yet in foro poli, hee hath a sanctified right to nothing. When men are in Christ, then, and not till then, All is theirs, I Cor. 3. 22.

7 It deprives us of heaven and eternal happiness, Rev. 21 ult.

2 The Positive effects of sin are more especially th…ee. It exposeth us to all miseries,

External,

Internal,

Eternal.

1 Sin exposeth us to miseries External, in body, goods, good name; wee may thank sin for all our sicknesses, sorrows, sores, losses, plagues, poverty, &c. Deut. 28. 16. to the end of the Chapter, Lam. 3. 39.

2 Internal. It brings hardness of heart, the …oreft of plagues, all the plagues of Pharoah, all the sores of Iob, and all the sorrows of Ioseph are nothing, compared with it. This brings spiritual blindness, a reprobate sense, a spirit of slumber, and strong delusions, Isa. 6. 9, 10. Rom. 9. 17. and 11. 8.

3 Eternal miseries both in soul and body;See the mischief that sin doth us, in about twenty particulars, in Dr. Prestons Pauls Conversion on A…. 9. 6. p. 172. to 29…. V. my Comment on 2 Tim. 4. 1. p. 308.2 Tim 4:1 it brings sorrows endless, easeless, and remediless. So that there is no evil like the evil of sin, no plague like this plague. As piety hath the promise, and carries its reward with it, and though no man should recompence it, yet the good wee do▪ is recompence it self, not onelyonly for, but in the very keeping of Gods Commandements there is great reward, Psal. 19. 11. The act of keeping them is a reward as well as the issue. As every good work brings its reward with it, so every evil work brings its sorrow with it; and though no man punish it, yet it is a punishment to it self, it is finis operis, though not finis operantis; Jer. 4. 18. Thy way, and thy doings, have procured thee these things. Sin is that which procures us all our sorrow, we should p. 77therefore hate it with a pure and perfect hat…ed, and get this cause of all our sorrows removed, and then the effect will cease.

Now is sin so bitter? I Then take heed of pleading for sin, or extenuating of it. Put not sweet names upon so bitter a thing. There is a woe denounced against such as do so, Isa. 5. 20. Wo to them that call evil good, that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter. Such look upon sin through the Devils spectacles, and then no wonder if they call Drunkenness, Good-fellowship, Covetousness Frugality, Pride Decency, &c. Those put a fair glove upon a foul hand, and false glosses upon filthy vices, the better to deceive. But let no man deceive you with vain words, for even for these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Call not therefore sin so as the corrupt world calls it, but esteem and call it as the Word of God calls it; How is that? Why it calls it an abomination, poyson, sorrow, sickness, bitterness, filth, vomit, folly, madness, darkness, dung, death, &c.

When the judgement is thus truly convinced of the vileness of sin, it is an excellent preservation against sin.

2 If sin bee so bitter, then sad is the condition of such as are insensible of its bitterness, who make that their Recreation here, which will bee their damnation hereafter, who plead not onelyonly for infirmities (which yet no good man dares do) but also for enormities. They declare their sin like Sodome, impudently and impenitently; they thank God they never knew what the burden or bitterness of sin meant, the more is behinde; for if sin bee not bitter here, it will bee in another world.

And therefore this may comfort those that groan and grieve under the burden and bitterness of sin, such as make their sin their greatest sorrow, Christ will bee unto them their greatest joy. Christ calls such as it were by name to come to him, Isa. 55. 1, 2. Matth. 11. 28. This qualifies a man, and fits him for Christ; when Christ sees of the travel of his soul in our souls, it delights him, Isa. 53. 10, 11. This sense of sin argues some spiritual life in the soul. Nature will not complain of Nature, nor will corruption complain of corruption; it is onelyonly grace that makes us truly sensible of the bitterness of sin.

p. 783 Pitty those that groan under the burden and bitterness of sin. No sorrow like their sorrow, no burden like the burden of a wounded conscience. Adde not affliction to the afflictions of those whom God hath wounded, but power the oyl of mercy into their sin-sick souls. Bee not like Iobs friends, miserable comforters, and Physicians of no value; if wee must ease our enemies Oxe or Ass when hee lyeth under his burden, shall wee not much more ease our brothers soul?Scr…p…losi non … … Exod. 23. 5. Bee not harsh or hasty, bee not sowre and censorious to such, but bee meek and merciful, and so bear each others burdens, Gal. 6. 1, 2.

9. Obs. It is a sad Aggravation of peoples sins when they sin against their God.

The God of all their mercies, the fountain of all their enjoyments. Their God in Covenant with them,Deus illorum esse dic…tur, ut qui foederis nexu conju…ctus sit …ll is, quem jure societatis colere debebant, a quo non poterant citra perfidiae crim…n de…icere. Wolphius in 2 Reg. 17.2 Kgs 17 whom they have avouched for their God, and vowed openly that hee shall bee their God, and they would bee his people, to love, serve, fear, and obey him; yet contrary to all Vows, Baptistical, Eucharistical, personal, National, to flye from God, and to rebel against him, this is the heighth of s…n, and makes it …xceeding sinful, and provokes the Lord to say, Lo-ammi, yee are no people of mine, as hee said to Ephram here, H…s. 1. 9.

And is not this Englands sin? God hath taken us into Covenant with himself, he hath owned us above all the people in the world, hee hath made us the head and terr…ur of the Nations, hee hath done wonders for us at home and abroad, hee hath made us his darling Nation, whilst others swim in blood, wee swim in blessings of peace, whilst others are weeping, and wayling by the waters of Babylon, wee dwell in an Eden, joy, and gladness is found in us, thanksgiving, and the voyce of melody. Hee hath made us his Ephraim, hee hath laid his right hand upon us, hee hath planted us in a fruitful soyl, hedged us about with his gracious protection and good Laws; hee hath removed from amongst us all the apparent impediments of our growth and fruitfulness; hee hath furnished us with cho…ce persons, and those persons with excellent gifts and graces. Hee hath a special care over us for good; and now hee looks (as well hee may) for the pleasant grapes of obedience, p. 79but behold the sowre and wilde grapes of confusion, disorder, errour, and disobedience abound amongst us. Wee have broken all our Covenants, wee are not onelyonly Sermonproof, but wee are also Covenant-See my Comment on 2 Tim. 3. 3. P. 77, 78. &c.2 Tim 3:3 proof; no bonds so sacred, so strong, but wee can as easily break them as Sampson did the cords of the Phi…istims. So that what can wee expect but that the Lord should take away his hedge of Government both Temporal and Spiritual, breaking down the wall which defended us from our enemies, and letting in all the wilde beasts that might destroy us. Justly might hee withdraw his good hand of providence and protection from us, and expo…e us to all manner of rapine and ruine for our Apostasies and Rebellions.

10 Obs. Sin, especially the sin of Rebellion, brings the sword upon a people.

They shall fall by the Sword. This is Gods last and great Rod, and hee never brings it forth till hee bee … greatly provoked by his peoples sins, Iob 36. 12. Isa. 1. 20. When no other means will better a people, then comes the Sword and cuts them off.See the Evils of War in ten particulars, D. Gouge his Arro…s, on Exod. 17, 16. sect. 85. p. 342, &c. Mr. Clerks Mirror, cha. 134. p. 688Exod 17:16 God hath three evil Arrows, which hee shoots at a Rebellious people, viz. the Sword, Famine, and Pestilence, Ezek. 5. 16. these are called Arrows, because they are sharp and deadly; and evil, because of the misery and mischief which they bring; Of all the three, the Sword is the …orest, as appears by Davids choice, 2 Sam. 24. 14. besides the Plague and Famine are the usual attendants of War, where the Sword goes before, there Famine and Pestilence usually attend.

Their Infants shall bee dashed in peeces.

11 Obs. Little Infants are great sinners.

1 That great Sin and Rebellion of Adam is imp…ted to them for sin; what hee did, they did, wee were all in the loyns of that one man, Rom. 5. 12.

2 They have not onelyonly original sin imputed, but imparted also, they have inherent original sin, which is radically, seminally, fundamentally all sin. The youngest childe carries an old man of sin within him. Wee are no sooner born into the world, but wee have a world of sin about us.

p. 803 The sad diseases, pangs, and dismal deaths which seize on Infants, are strong proofs of this point; their very dying speaks them sinners. The wages of sin, bee it original or actual, is death, Rom. 6. 23. Original sin, which is the greatest sin in the world, cleaves to their natures, and makes them odious and abominable in Gods sight, so that they are by nature children of wrath, and obnoxious to all his judgements. VVee are all daninati antequam nati, and so might justly have been sent from the VVomb to the Tomb, &c.

12 Obs. Wicked parents bring judgements on their posterity.

Their poor little ones fare the worse for them, Hos. 9. 12, 13. Though they bring up children, yet I will bereave them of them, and they shall bring forth children to the murderer, who is Gods executioner, and so become Paricides, rather than Parents. Thus the old world was drowned, and their children with them. And the Sodomites were burnt, and their children with them. Achan was not onelyonly stoned himself, but his sons and daughters, yea and his cattel perished with him. The accusers of Daniel were slain by the Lions, both they and their children, Dan. 6. 24. The Iews that rejected and crucified Christ, brought a curse, not onelyonly upon themselves, but also upon their children, Matth. 27. 25. His blood bee on …s, and on our children, which hath lain on them above sixteen hundred years.

It is just with God to cut off the wicked and their seed, as wee kill the VVolf vvith her VVhelps, and the Fox vvith her Cubs; though the young Toad hath not actually poysoned any, yet because it hath a posonous nature in it vvee destroy it. So doth God by the children of the vvicked, Gen. 19. 25. Numb. 16. 32, 33. I Sam. 15. 3. Isa. 13. 16. Ier. 44. 7. Hos. 10. 14. When men rebel against God, and reject his wayes, hee vvill send against them a barbarous and cruel Nation, that shall not regard the persons of the old, nor have compassion on the young, Deut. 28. 50. and 32. 25. Ez…k. 9 6.

Q. Are not Infants called Innocents? Psal. 106. 38. Ier. 19. 4. how then can it stand with the justice of God thus severely to punish them?

Answ. They are not called so because they have no sin, p. 81but I In respect of those cruel men, who without any cause shed the blood of those little ones who had deserved no such thing at their hands. So the Assyrians here were guilty of great inhumanity, in killing those Infants, and God in his due time did retaliate it to them, Nahum 3. 10.

2 Though they may bee called Innocent in respect of any actual sin, See Mr. Hildersham on Psal. 51. 5. Tract. 55. p. 277. &c.Ps 51:5yet they are not so in respect of original sin, which seminally and radically is every sin. The guilt of that sin cleaves to their natures, and makes them obnoxious to all tortures here, and eternal torments hereafter.

3 The sins of the Parents may bee also a moving cause, and may provoke the Lord to smite the Parents with their children. Exod. 20. 5. The Lord threatens to visit the sins of Idolatrous Parents upon their children, because either they already walk in their fathers sins, or else in time they would do so, or it may bee worse, which God onelyonly knows.

3 God hath a sovereign right and power over all his creatures; hee is the Potter,God may, jure Dominii, as absolure Lord inflict temporal evils on the s…n for the fathers sin without injustice, for it is onelyonly an affliction to the son, which God can turn to his good, but a punishment to his father, who is punished in his son. B. Andrews in 2. Command. and wee are his clay, hee may do with his own what hee pleaseth, hee may make us, or mar us, raise us, or ruine us; and none may say unto him, What doest thou? Hee that giveth life may take it away, how, and when hee pleaseth; his will is the rule of Justice, yea Justice it self; wee must therefore adore Gods Judgements when wee cannot comprehend them, and know, that though they may bee secret, yet they are alwayes just.

4 Children are parts of their Parents, part of their Family, and part of their substance, and God may justly punish the sinful parent in his childe, as wel as in his cattel and estate, because they do not onelyonly belong to him, but also are a part of him.

5 Sin committed by a particular man that is a member of a Politick body,See the large Annot. on Josh. 7. 15.Josh 7:15 doth after a sort belong to the whole body. Thus Achans sin,Est sy…ecdoche fr…quens in Scriptur is, per quam factum unius in ceatu aliquo vel societate, toti caetui vel societati ascribitur, quia tanta est inter eos …onjunctio ut sint veluti unum corpus. Lavater in Josh. though not known to the people, yet made them all guilty, till hee was put to death, Iosh. 7. 11.

p. 826 Yet these temporal Judgements may bee mingled with spiritual mercies; as wee see in Ierob…ams childe, who was taken away in mercy, because there was some goodness found in him,Infantes sunt pars Ecclesiae, op…rtet eos cum Ecclesia affligi, ut reddantur conformes filio Dei. Luther. I King. 14. 12, 13. especially the Infants of Gods people that are in Covenant with their Parents, there is great grounds of hope that they have changed their temporal life for an eternal; and are freed from many sins, sorrows, and tentations, which men that live to riper years are exposed to; yea if they should bee cast away for their original sin, yet their damnation will bee lighter than if they had lived longer. It had been good for reprobates if they had not been born, or that they had dyed as soon as they had been born; for then they would not have had so many sins to answer for.

Quest. But hath not God said, The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father? Deut. 24. …6. and 2 King. 14. 16. Ezek. 18. 20. it seems then to bee cruelty to kill the children for the Parents sins, especially such as are unborn, and have not deserved such evils.

Answ. 1 It is true in respect of the Assyrians, it was cruelty and horrid barbarousness in them to kill poor harmless little ones, and God threatens to visit such sins upon the heads of such sinners.

2 It is not cruelty in God, for children are children of wrath as well as their Parents; as all have sinned, so hee may punish all without injustice. Besides, hee permits and orders the cruelty of wicked adversaries to his own glory and his peoples good. As for that Deut. 24. 16. It speaks of Gods restraining of Magistrates, who may not punish the children for the fathers offences. True it is, God findes cause enough in children themselves to punish them, but when they imitate their wicked parents, this hastens and heightens wrath, by adding sin to sin.

3 The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, if hee depart from the fathers iniquity, and do not walk in his steps. Ezek. 18. 14, 17. If a man beget a son that seeth all his fathers sin, and feareth, and doth not the like, hee shall not dye for his fathers iniquity. But if the son tread in his fathers steps, hee shall bear his own iniquity, and becomes accessary to his fathers sin, by imitation, and approbation of it, Matth. 23. 32. p. 83Luke 11. 48, 50. the blood of former generations had not been required of that generation, if they had not been as bloody as the former. But where old sins are continued and approved of by new acting of them, there the old sins as well as the new are justly punished. So that the threatning is not to bee understood absolutely,V. Pemble on Neh. 1. 1. p. 365 fol.Neh 1:1 but conditionally, viz. If the children do persist in their fathers sins, and walk in their wicked wayes.

4 The son shall not bear the personal iniquities of the father in reference to eternal punishment;See this Point more fully cleared in eight particulars, and all cavils answered, by Mr. Love I Sermon on Lam. 5. 7, 8. p. 2. to 12. and Mr. Cudworth on Gal. 6. 4. p. 373. and S…holastically by Laurentius on Rev. 2. 22. Homil. 39. p. 300.Lam 5:7Lam 5:8Gal 6:4Rev 2:22 God will not damn a son simply for the sin of his father, it is a mans own sin which is his everlasting ruine; yet hee may lay many temporal chaf…isements upon a good son for the sin of his father. The Lord in Ezek. 18. 20, 23, 32. seems to speak of eternal, and not of temporal punishment.

1 This should make Parents fearful of displeasing God, lest they bring miseries, not only on themselves, but also on their children; their Idolatry may bring a curse upon their childrens children to many generations. No children in Scripture are threatned like the children of Idolaters. In none of the Commandements doth God threaten to visit the sin of the fathers upon the children but onelyonly in the second,Mr. Love in his I. Ser, on Lam. 5. 7, 8. p. 11, 12.Lam 5:7Lam 5:8 Exod. 20. 5. It is well observed by a pious and precious Divine, that there are eight sins which do more especially bring Judgements on a mans Posterity, whereof the first is Idolatry.

2 Adultery, 2 Sam. 12. 14.

3 Covenant-breaking, 2 Sam. 21. 13.

4 Persecution of the godly, Matth. 23. 31. to 36. Psal. 137. 7.

5 Murder, 1 King. 21. 21. Jer. 15. 4.

6 Oppression, Job 20. 19, 26. Hab. 2. 9.

7 Contempt of Magistracy and Ministry, Num. 16. 32. 41. 49. 1 King. 13. 33, 34.

8 When men pretend Reformation, and intend themselves, as Iehu did, Hos. 1. 4.

God is very pittiful and tender over Infants, as appears p. 84in that hee would not destroy Nineveh for the Infants sakes that were in ti, Ionah 4, 11. and in the sacking of Cities, hee commands them to spare Infants, Deut. 20. 14. but it is the sin of Parents which many times hardens Gods heart against them, and makes him to delight in the destruction both of them and theirs; yea and it hardens mens hearts against them, so that they cannot but act such cruelty against them, as they never intended, as wee see in Hazael, 2 King. 8. 11, 12, 13. when the Prophet Elisha wept, and told him what mischief hee should do to Israel, viz. that hee should kill the young men, and dash the Infants against the stones, and rend in peeces the women with childe; Am I a dog (saith Hazael) that I should do such things as these? Hee then thought it a base and barbarous thing, when hee was King Benhadads servant, to act such inhumane villany upon the mothers with their infants; the Prophet onelyonly tell▪ him that hee shall bee a King, vers. 13. and then when hee had changed his condition, hee would also change his manners, and commit all the abominations which hee mentioned. Let Parents then labour for grace, that they may leave a blessing, and not a curse to their posterity, Gen. 17. 7. Exod. 20. 6. Psal. 112. 2. If you will not pitty your selves, yet pitty your little ones, let not them fare the worse for you.V. Carylon Job 21. 19. p. 730, 731.Job 21:19 It is ill-being a wicked mans childe, yea their very beasts fa…e the worse for them, Iosh. 7. 24, 25. Achan was stoned, and his cattel with him. Wicked Egyptians bring a Murrain upon their cattel, Exod. 9. 3. As a good man is a publick good, the Family, City, Kingdome, fare the better for him, yea his cattel are spared for his sake, Exod. 9. 4. The Lord shall sever between the cattel of Egypt, and the cattel of Israel, there shall nothing dye of all that is the children of Israels. God blesseth the very cattel of his people, and if the creature could speak, it would desire to serve those that serve God. Most Parents provide Inheritances for their children, but oft-times they leave their sins with them too. It was a sad Legacy that Ioab left to his children, that one should bee a Leper, another a weakling, a third beg his bread, 2 Sam. 3. 29. So many a man, to one childe hee leaves his Murder, to another his Adultery, to a third his Usury, to a fourth his Swearing. Gehazi left a Talent of silver behinde him to his posterity, but hee left the Leprosie with it. Better want such p. 85mens lands and inheritances, than thus to inherit their sins too.

2 Let children bee humbled then for their forefathers sins, that they bee not imputed to them, L…v. 26. 41. So did Nehemia, ch. 1. 6. and David, Psal. 79. 8. Remember not against us (iniquitates praecedentium, saith the Original) the sins of our forefathers. Hee that sees the sins of his Predecessors, and is not humbled for them, approves of them, and so becomes accessary to them. Hence the Lord blames Belshazzar for not humbling himself for his fathers sin and punishment which hee knew of, Dan. 5. 22. Let us therefore acknowledge our selves to bee the children of sinful parents, and say with him, Deut. 26. 5. A Syrian was my father, ready to perish; and with David, Wee have sinned with our fathers, Psal. 106. 6. and with Daniel, ch. 9. 8. Deprecate the punishment which is due to u… for their sins. So Ier. 14. 20.

3 Admire the patience of the Lord, that hath born so long with us who have been sinners from the womb. If little ones who never sinned against the patience of God as wee have done, indure such pangs, sorrows, sickness, and death; what may men of years look for, who have added to original corruption a numberless number of actual transgressions? If this bee done to the green tree, what shall bee done to the dry? If Infants (who are Innocents, and righteous comparatively) shall scarcely bee saved, where shall the ungodly and rebellious sinner appear? If hee spare not little ones that lye in their mothers bowels, but suffer wicked men to drag them thence; where, oh where shall those wicked parents appear, that have been the primary cause of all this mischief and sorrow to them, and have been the authors and actors of that wickedness which hath brought this misery on them? It should therefore bee matter of great humiliation to us all, when wee see the sharp and sore judgements that oft light upon little ones for their original sin.

As Gods people were wont in extraordinary cases to bring their infants and sucklings with them to keep Fasts, Ioel 2. 16. the better to affect their hearts, and break them with sorrow for sin, which threatned destruction to them and their little ones. Even this use should wee make of the miseries of infants, when wee see Gods hand upon them, wee should humble p. 84duplicate page p. 84duplicate page p. 86our selves to think what judgements are due to us who have so many actual sins to answer for, which these little ones are free from. Wee should therefore mourn over them, as David did for the people,Me, me ad sum qui fcci, in me convertite f…rrum. Vir g. As for these sheep, what have they done? it is I that have …inned. So let us say, As for these little ones, what have they done? it is wee, even wee that have sinned, and provoked the Lord to anger with our transgressions.

12 Obs. Rebellion brings destruction.

Samaria shall bee made desolate, for shee hath rebelled. When Gods heritage is as a Lion that roars and rageth against him, then hee gives it into the hands of its enemies, Ier. 12. 7, 8, 9, 11. and 4. 17. and 44. 16, 17, 22. Lam. 1. 18. 20. Micah 6. 13. Matth. 23. 38. Israel had sinned, and now the Assyrian destroyes their Cities, eats up their fruits, passeth through their land, carries the people into Captivity, and makes slaves and exiles of them in a strange Country.

Rebellion is a capital sin, it is not every sin (though every sin more or less hath something of rebellion in it, being committed against that allegiance wee owe unto God by the Law of Creation) but it is an habitual obstinacy and stubbornness in sin; hence such are said to have necks of iron, and brows of brass, hard and uncircumcised hearts; they are called a froward generation, lying children which refuse to obey the Law, Isa. 30. 9. rebelling against the light, Job 24. 13.

It is reckoned amongst the greatest sins, and is compared to Witchcraft, I Sam. 15. 23. which is the highest and most hideous Idolatry in the world; it is a renouncing of God, to follow the counsel of the Devil. It is a sin that God will certainly visit for, his Justice will not suffer it …o go unpunished, Exod. 34. 7. Isa. 1. 2, 7.

For sins of meer infirmity there is a pardon in course; but sins of presumption, committed with a high hand against …ight and warning, are very dangerous, and therefore David prayes of all sins to bee kept from such, Psal. 19. 13.

Those great sins call for great humiliation, before there can bee any pardon expected, Exod. 34. 7. 2 Chron. 33. 12. Psal. 68. 18.

2 Do not envy the prosperous condition of rebellious sinners; though they may flourish for a time, and waters of a p. 87full cup bee wrung out unto them, yet their feet shall slide in due time, and every threatning shall light upon them. They are rather to be pittied, than envied.

3 As ever wee desire to bee free from desolation,Quorum exitus perhorr…scis▪ corum opera pertimescas. let us flye those sins that cause it. Look what sins brought desolation upon Eph…aim, those sins will bring desolation on England, if they reign amongst us; for God is the same to the same sinners.

Quest. But what were Ephraims sins which brought desolation upon him?

Answ. Upon search I finde them to bee many, but about twenty signal ones there are which brought destruction on him. Whether they bee not England sins, as well as Ephraims, the Application will shew.

A Catalogue of Ephraims sins.

1 Idolatry.

2 A ready complying with mens inventions.

3 Contempt of the true Prophets.

4 Delight in false Prophets.

5 Pride.

6 Hypocrisie.

7 Self-seeking.

8 Witchcraft.

9 Barrenness under the means of grace.

10 Ingratitude.

11 Covenant-breaking.

12 Security.

13 Anarchy.

14 Lukewarmness and Neutrality.

15 Division.

16 Carnal-confidence.

17 Incorrigibleness.

18 Oppression.

19 Atheism.

20 A fulness of sin.

Lastly, Corrupt Rulers.

1 Their first grand, bosome, beloved sin was Idolatry. They forsook the Lord, and set up Calves, when they should have p. 88cryed, Kiss the Son and worship him, they cry, Kiss the Calves, which Ierobo…m hath set up, and worship them, Hos. 13. 1, 2. and this Idolatry was universal, it was not in one, but in all their Cities, 2 King. 17. 9, 10, 11. Ezek. 23. 4, 5.

This is a God-provoking,Qantum hoc sce…us? mavult …sse p…llex Satanae, quam sponsa Christi. Wolphius. Gillu…m, Dii st…rcorei, per cont…mptum, quia faetore suo Deum offendunt. The word is used for dung and dirt. Ezek. 4 12. & 14. 10. V. Weems on 2. Command. chap. 6. vol. 2. p. 82.Ezek 4:12Ezek 14:10 and a Land-destroying sin, it is the chusing (as it were) another husband, it breaks the Covenant, and the Marriage-knot between God and a people. It is a preferring of the Devil before Christ, and dirty dunghil gods (as the word signifies) before the living God, 2 King. 17. 12.

What ever sinners may escape, yet Idolaters are sure to pay for it. When men begin to chuse new Gods, the next news is, War is in the gates, Judg. 5. 8. Psal. 78. 58. Ier 22. 7, 8, 9. Micah 1. 5, 6, 7. Many sorrows attend this sin, Psal. 16. 7. This, even this was that fatal sin which laid Samaria in the dust, Amos 8. ult. and therefore Hosea doth more inveigh against their Idolatry, than against any other sin.

And is not this Englands sin? Have not wee chosen of late many new Gods, and with Ephraim set up Idols according to our own understanding? Hos. 13. 2. and have made a light within us, and not Gods word, the rule of our actions? Wee have forsaken his faithful Ministers to follow Calves, Socinian, Arrian, Arminian, Anabaptistick, Quaking Calves. Moses bare with many provocations from the people of Israel, but when in his absence they set up a Calf, hee was all of a flame, and could bear no longer. Where can wee go, but wee meet with Ieroboams Calves? What Town, City, County is not pestred with them? These prophesie falsly, and too many love to have it so, but what will they do in the end thereof, when God shall call them to account for all their Heresies and Blasphemies? Ier. 5. ult.

Besides the gross Idolatry that still abounds in the land, many falling openly to Popery, and many in their affections hankering after the bewitching allurements of that Babylonish Harlot. A sad omen of an approaching judgement, as wee see in France and Germany.

And adde to this the great worldly-mindedness and inordinate p. 89love of the world that abounds amongst us, which is Idolatry in Gods esteem, Col. 3. 5.

2 A second sin of Ephraim was a ready compliance with the Traditions of men, Hos. 5. 11. and 11. 6. Ephraim is opprest and broken in judgement, because hee willingly walked after the Commandements and Traditions of men, preferring them before Gods Commandements. Ieroboam could no sooner command Idolatry, but the people readily obey, I King. 12. 32, 33. Omri another of their Kings makes Statutes for grosser Idolatry, and even in those Statutes did they walk, Micah 6. 16. And for this the Lord threatens to destroy them, Hosea 5. 12, 14.

And is not this Englands sin? Are not many, too many amongst us, more ready to hearken to a Seducer, than to a faithful Teacher, and more ready to follow Vanity than Verity? preferring the chaffe of mens inventions, before the wheat of Gods word. Let the ablest Minister in the land preach in some Towns, yet how many are there that prefer a rayling, seducing Sectary that preacheth the fancies and dotages of his own brain, before the faithful servants of God that dispense his word sincerely?

This also is a sad presage of some approaching Judgement.

3 Contempt of the true Prophets. It was a rare age of Prophets, they had the best preaching a little before their ruine. So great was the Lords care over them, and so loath was hee that they should perish, that hee sent extraordinary Prophets to them, more in number than hee did to the Kingdome of Iudah, and by them hee supplied the defect of the ordinary Ministry of Priests and Levites. They had Elijah, Elisha, Ionah, Amos, Micah, Ioel, and Hosea, who prophesied about seven and forty years unto them, besides these Prophets, Ahijah, Semaja, Iehu, Iddo, Amani, Azariah, &c. yet such was their obstinacy and perversness, that no wooings, nor warnings could work upon them: instead of hearkning to those Messengers which the Lord in great compassion sent unto them to reclaim them from their Idols,1 Subsannabant nuncios Dei. 2 Cont…mnebant verba ejus. 3 Illudebant Prophetis, 2 Chron. 36. 15, 16. His tribus verb is summus Prophetiae contemptus videtur significari. Lavater.2 Chr 36:152 Chr 36:16 they mocked, jeered, p. 90mis-used and persecuted them, and looked upon them as a pack of Cheats and deceivers that frighted people without a cause, till the wrath of the Lord broke forth against them, and there was no remedy; his anger was so fierce it could not bee extinguished. When David sent messengers to comfort Hanun, and hee abused them, Davids anger was kindled against him,Verbi divini contemptus tanquam via ad extremam impietatem cavendus est. Wolphius. V. Burroughs Hos. 5. 2. p. 363 364 Perkins 3 Vol. p. 421. &c.Hos 5:2 and it cost him dear, 2 Sam. 10. 4. Contempt of the word, is an infallible fore-runner of judgement. When Elies sons hearkned not to the counsel of their father, God cut them off. When Amaziah contemned the counsel of the Pr…phet, it was a sign the Lord had a purpose to destroy him, 2 Chron. 25. 16.

And if this bee an infallible sign of a Nations ruine, the Lord bee merciful to England; never was the land so full of pious, painful, learned Ministers, and never were any so coorsely and ingratefully dealt withall by many, as these are. What loads of reproaches, and floods of bitter raylings are cast out against us, not for any evil that wee have done, but solely for discharging our duty, and stopping men in their sinful, heretical, destructive wayes? Wee are their enemies, onelyonly because wee tell them the truth. Those that formerly were ready to pull out their own eyes to do us good, now they are ready to pull out our eyes. Thus have wee been wounded in the house of our friends. To bee derided by Egyptians, is threatned as a misery, Hos. 7. ul…. but to bee reproached by friends and professors, is very grievous. The good Lord lay not this ingratitude and contempt to their charge. Though wee bear, yet God will not alwayes bear. When Moses is silent, then God ariseth; when hee is dumb, then God speaks; when hee is deaf, then God hears and stirs, Numb. 12. 1, 4. God will smite through the loyns of those that rise against his Messengers, and of those that hate them, that they rise not up again, Deut. 33. 11.

It is not so much the Minister as the Ministry that is cried down, that which they should principally love us for, viz. for our work sake, that is the ground of these mens hatred. As it was not the Baron, but the Barony that was the Traytor; so fo… the most part, it is not so much the man that they smite at, as the Maintenance, the Tythes, the Glebe, and the Ordinances of God, wherewith they are intrusted.

p. 914 As the true Prophets were contemned, so they delighted in false ones. Elijah is persecuted, when eight hundred and fifty false Prophets are entertained and fed, I King. 18. 4, 19. Though they were fools and mad-men, Hos. 9. 7. The daies of Visitation are come, how doth that appear? why, the Prophet, the false Prophet is a fool, and flatters the people with vain hopes; yea, the spiritual man is mad.

i. e. Hee who braggs so much of the Spirit, and falsly boasteth that hee is inspired by the holy Spirit, and that hee speaks all by the Spirit, this man is mad, hee is smitten with a spiritual frenzy, doating upon his own dreams, and lunatick illuminations, and venting his brain-sick notions instead of Gods Word. These Priests, Ieroboam (in his carnal policy) chose out of the meanest of the people (fit servants for such gods, Calves suit well with Calves) which were not of the Sons of Levi, who were set apart by Gods special command for the service of his house, but whosoever would, might thrust himself into the office, how unworthy soever, I King. 13. 33. But see what follows in the next, vers. 34. This thing became a sin to the house of Ieroboam, even to cut it off from the face of the Earth. This, even this, was that indeleble sin which ruined both him and his Family.

And is not this the sin of England? are not false Prophets by many thousands preferred before the true?Witness the Quakers Petition five and twenty yards long, with twenty thousand hands at it against the Ministery. will not many go ten miles to hear a deceiver, that will not go two to hear a faithful Minister of Christ? when men go by troops to such harlotrymeetings, the Lord will visit for this, as well as for corporal harlo…y. Ier. 5. 7, 9. The quaking Seducers are certainly lead by this spirit of the Devil, as will easily appear, if wee consider the Men, the Matter, or the Manner of their speaking.

1 The Men, both Speakers and Hearers, are generally a prophane Generation, they are mordaces & mendaces, notorious Railers and Lyars, as like their Father the Devil, as ever they can look.

2 What is the Matter of their Speaking? why, it is against Ministers, and their Maintenance, or against the Coercive power of the Magistrate, against Scripture, Ordinances, &c.

3 The Manner of their Meeting is prophane and tumultuous. A rout meet together, on a Mountain, a Common, or under some Hedge, and there without any praying before, p. 92some speak, others jeer, some dispute, some quarrel and fight, others take Tobacco (amidst such an unsavoury company they had need of some better Antidote) so that one would think they were at some Bear-baiting, and not at the Service of God. That men should bee tolerated, yea and commanded to serve God, is commendable, but that men should bee tollerated to blaspheme and worship the Devil, is abominable.

2 What folly and madness hath seized on the false Prophets of our times, the swarms of blasphemous Pamphlets do sufficiently testifie to the world; and the thousands and ten thousands that have been infected by them, do plainly fore-tell that some judgement is at hand.

3 How many of Ieroboams Priests have thrust themselves into the work of the Ministery? who vent heresies and blasphemies instead of truth, and what tolleration and countenance hath been given to such, is known now to all the world, and forreign Churches complain against us for it; and what cause wee have to fear that wrath is coming upon us for this sin, Let the wise Reader judge. If ever that Caution of our Saviour were in season, it is now, Mat. 10. 17. Beware of men. Christ doth not say, beware of Serpents, or Devils, (hee promised them power over these, Mark. 16. 17, 18. But, Beware of men.

1 Beware of wicked men, woolfish persecutors, and bloodsuckers, who hate us without a cause, Psal. 69. 4. how much more when by our unwise walking wee shall expose our selves to their fury and malice?

2 Beware of Hypocrites, and seeming good men. The Devil can transform himself into an Angel of Light, and oft …ears in Samuels Mantle, the better to deceive; hee is never more to bee feared, than when such; it is this Sanctus Satanas, this white Devil, that doth us most hurt. The swearing, cursing, black Devil, every one cries shame of; but it is the preaching, praying, professing Devil, who pretends to extraordinary sanctity and mortification that deceives even many a good soul by its over-much credulity. These are more dangerous (in some sense) to us, than the very Devil himself; for if the Devil should appear to us in his own likeness, and ugly shape, wee should run from him for fear, no man would hearken to him; if the Devil should come in person, and call men to the Alehouse, or call them from their callings, who would obey? but p. 93when hee comes to us in a friend, a wife, a bosom-companion, &c. hee is not so easily perceived, and so wee are sooner ensnared; and therefore our Saviour doth not say, Beware of Satan, but, Beware of those men who are the Instruments of Satan; if they should come like Angels, wee should suspect them, if like Beasts, wee should shun them, if like fiends, wee should fear them; but coming to us like men of the same profession with us, and professing great kindness to us, how soon are poor plain souls deceived by such? and therefore Beware of men; for as God loves to work upon men by the Ministry of man, and sends them to such: So the Devil, who is Gods Ape, loves to draw men from God, by men, viz. by seducers and deceivers, who are inspired, fitted and filled by him for that purpose; if Ahab will not hear Micaiah the true Prophet of the Lord, the Devil hath four hundred false Prophets at hand to deceive him. When hee would seduce Adam from his obedience, hee doth not appear himself, but hee sets Eve his wife upon him, and so prevails. When hee would have innocent Abel slain, hee doth not do it himself, but hee hath a malicious Cain that will do it. When the Devil would have Christ crucified, hee hath a Iudas, a Devil incarnate, ready at hand to betray him, Iohn 13. 2.

3 Beware of real good men. The Devil can shrowd himself under a Peter, and tempt our Saviour by him, Matth. 16. 23. by his example hee can compel the Gentiles to live after the Jewish manner, in observing the Ceremonial Law, Gal. 2. 14. The best of men, are but men at best; they know but in part, they have their infirmities, and must have their grains of allowance; wee may not therefore glory in men, nor pin our Faith on their sleeves, because wee know not whither they may carry it. The great sin of this age, is, building on man; Such a holy man is for a tolleration, and such a one holds such opinions; what tell you mee of men? Wee must live by Rule, not by Example, neither may wee follow any good man further than hee follows Christ in his Word, I Cor. 11. 1. Bee it Paul, you must try his Doctrine by the touch-stone of the Word, before you trust it, Acts 17. 11. Remember, every man is a lyar, Rom. 3. 4. either actively, or passively; either by Imposture, and of purpose, or else by Impotency, and in event.

p. 944 Beware of great men. Wee are apt to bee lead by their examples; if Prince such a one, or Sir Thomas such a one rise, &c. how apt are people to follow, without any consideration? Great men many times are great sinners, they have their native corruption heightened by their pomp and prosperity, Iob 21. 7, to 15. Ier. 4. 5. When great men are wicked men, and have great parts, and great wits, they do great mischief, as Achitophel, Catiline, &c. Beware then of following such great ones.

5 Beware of subtil seducers, that pretend New-light, Gen. 3. 5. Revelations, glorious Mysteries, &c. Rom. 16. 17. but inwardly they are ravening wolves, Mat. 7. 15. Poison in it self is dangerous, but never more dangerous than when it is mixt with honey. These have mens persons in admiration, but it is for their own ends and advantage, Iude 16. and if ever this Caution were in season, it is now, when there are so many Juglers and chearers gone forth into the world. Their number is greater than formerly, and they act more subtilly and mystically, they act against Christ, under the Name of Christ, Mat. 24. 5. and that so cunningly and craftily, that if it were possible they would deceive the very Elect, Mat. 24. 24. they have Iacob's voice, but Esau's hands; they talk so divinely, as if they had no bodies, and live so lewdly, as if they had no souls; hence it is that wee are so oft admonished to take heed of them, Rom. 16. 17. 2 Tim. 3. 5. 2 Iohn 10.

Object. They cite Scripture.

Answ. So did the Devil, Matth. 4. 6.

Object. There is some truth in what they say.

Answ. So there is in the Mass, and in Stage-plaies. It is the Devils usual practice, to mix some sugar with his poison, to make it go down the better; and to mingle some truths with his errours; as the Fowler mingles corn with his chaff, that hee may catch the sooner. You will shun those that poison your bodies, Oh take heed of those that would poison your souls. No murder like soul-murder. Shun a seducer, as you would shun the Devil himself, whose factor hee is; and when hee speaks fairest, and pretends most love, then fear him most; when Herod intended Christs destruction, hee then pretended devotion, Matth. 2. 8. When Absolom sought his Fathers Kingdome, hee pretends a Vow at Hebron; when Saul would p. 95mischief David, hee makes him his Son-in-Law, I Sam. 18. 17. Beware then of men, who put fair Gloves upon foul hands; who pretend pitty, but act cruelty, who promise liberty, when they intend thraldome.

Object. But they are great Professors.

Answ. So were those that followed Christ, yet hee would not trust them, for hee knew the deceit that was in them, Ioh. 2. 24, 25. All is not gold that glisters, nor are all Israel, that are of Israel; and therefore take heed whom you trust.

6 Beware of thy foes. Wee are beset round with them, and that both corporal and spiritual, wee had need therefore to bee sober, and watch, and to pray with David, Help mee, O Lord, and that because of mine enemies, Psal. 27. 11. Many there bee that watch for our halting, wee also should watch and countermine them. There is a cursed enmity in the wicked against the righteous, Gen. 3. 15. Psal. 37. 4. So that they could even slay them all, as Cain did Abel, I John 3. 12. because by their light and life they reprove them; and this enmity,

1 It is Natural, and so is constant and delightful.

2 It is Intensive. As a good man loves good men appretiative & intensive, affectu & effectu, with a high degree of affection, and shew… it in actions: So the wicked hate the godly with an inveterate, intensive hatred, they could even wish that they had more lives than one, that they might exercise their malice on them; Antipathy is against the whole kinde, they desire that even the name of Israel might bee no more in remembrance.

3 It is Irreconcilable. Enemies may bee reconciled, but enmities never, till nature bee changed; when Saul is converted, and become a Paul, then, and not till then hee prizeth whom before hee persecuted.

7 Beware of thy Frien ds and Relations. By these the Devil oft-times doth us more hurt, than by our open enemies; and therefore when one was praying, Lord deliver mee from my foes; Nay, said one that heard him, rather pray, Lord deliver mee from my friends. Wee usually shun our foes, and take heed of their counsel; but it is the Devil in a friend that undoes us. The Italian Proverb is, God keep mee from the hurt of my friends, and I will see to my foes.

p. 96Object. It is my wife that perswades mee, and shall I not hearken to her?

Answ. If thy wife give thee good counsel according to the word, then in all that Sarah shall say unto thee, hearken to her voyce, else you must stop your ears against those Sirens. How many wives have deluded their husbands and drawn their hearts from God? Adam by hearkning to Eve undid himself, and all his posterity. Solomon was besotted by his Idolatrous wives. Sampson betrayed by Dalilah, and Iob had undone himself, had hee hearkned to his wives wicked counsel, Iob 2. 9.

Object. It is my son, my brother, my kinsman that counsels mee.

Answ. Even these may deceive you, if you take not heed, A mans enemes are those of his own house. What the Scripture speaks in case of persecution, is most true in case of temptation; brother shall betray brother, the father the childe, and children shall rise against the father, Matth. 10. 21. 36. Even Christs brethren rose against him, Ioh. 7. 5. and the Iews that were his kinsmen according to the flesh, were so fiercely set against him, that they preferred Barrabbas a Robber before him, and sought to stone him, Matth. 26. 20. Ioh. 11. 8. Thus Cain slew his brother, Ishmael persecutes Isaac, Esau Iacob, and Iosephs brethren sell him. So that if ever that counsel also were in season it is now, Micah 7. 5. Trust not in a friend, put no confidence in a guide, keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lyeth in thy bosome; why so? for the son dishonours the father, the daughter riseth against the mother (wee may adde, the servant against his Master, the subject against his superiour, &c.)

8 Beware of Strangers. Try men before you trust them. Time discovers mens tempers; the heart of man is so deeply deceitful, that it requires some time to know it; and if it bee not safe to trust Relations, much less strangers. Hypocrisie is spun with a fine thread, and none are so soon deceived, as the over-credulous; and therefore Solomon so oft blames men for trusting strangers, Prov. 5. 20. and 6. 1, 2. Christs sheep will not f…llow strangers, Ioh. 10. 5.

9 Above all, take heed of that evil man thy self. It is a secret, subtil, daily, deadly, bosome enemy, which doth us p. 97most mischief, wee our selves are the sorest enemies to our selves (Inimicorum pessimus, quia proximus) all the Devils in hell, and all the men in the world could not hurt us, if wee were but true to ourselves. It was a good prayer of St. Austin, Lord deliver mee from that evil man my self. The way to conquer Satan, is first to conquer our selves. This is the highest and hardest Martyrdome, to deny our selves universally. Let us then walk wisely in this day of Englands trial, remembring, that the Scripture calls wicked men Wolves for ravening, Dogs for greediness, Lions for cruelty, and Foxes for subtilty. Any of these creatures, when inraged, are terrible, and wee will take heed of them; but when the cruelty and subtilty of all these creatures shall concenter and meet in man, how great is the danger, and how had wee need to beware of men, especially when they come with fair pretences, and with fine words parget over foul matters, 2 Pet. 2. 3. calling Pride, Decency; Errour, New-lights; Hypocrisie, extraordinary sanctity; Hereticks, the servants of God, &c? The Devil knows that if sin should appear in its own proper colours, men would hate it, so ugly and loathsome it is. If Ieroboam had told Israel plainly, they must worship Devils, when they worshipped the Calves, who would have followed him?

5 They were full of Pride, Hos. 5. 5. and 7. 10. The pride of Israel doth testifie to his face. They were proud of their riches, and proud of their buildings, and therefore the Lord threatens to smite the Winter-house with the Summer-house, which they had built for Pride and Pleasure, Amos 3. ult.

And is not this Englands sin? Was there ever more pride in heart,In my Comment on 2 Tim. 3. 2. p. 49.2 Tim 3:2 in habit, in hair, in vestures, gestures, words, and works? And doth not pride ever go before destruction, and a high minde before a fall? But of this elsewhere at large.

6 Hypocrisie abounded amongst them, they were like a deceitful bow that breaks and deceives the Archer; they compassed the Lord about with their Iyes, crying, My father, my father, howling before him in their misery, when alas their righteousness was but, as the morning dew which suddenly vanisheth away, Hos. 5. 6. and 6. 4. and 8. 2. and 7. 14, 16. and 11. 12. 2 King. 17. 9. This made the Lord to reject and abhor p. 98both them and their services, Amos 5. 21, 22.

And how doth this sin reign in England from Dan to Beersheba, from East to West, from one corner of the Land to another? Never was the Land so full of praying and preaching, Lectures, Repetitions, Private-meetings, &c. and never such unmortified, unholy, unrighteous, unanswerable walking to those duties. This abuse and prophanation of holy things makes the Land to tremble under us, Ezek. 22. 8. The Land is full of Science, but where, oh where is the conscience? The Voyce is Iacobs Voyce,Odi improbum qui proba loquitur verba. Menander. but the hands are the hands of Esau. Many talk like Angels, but live like Devils; they talk as if they had cloven Tongues, but walk as if they had cloven feet. Most amongst us live directly contrary to their prayers. They pray against pride, and yet their pride is visible. They pray against worldly-mindedness, and yet they are notoriously worldly. They pray for self-denial, and yet are great self-seekers, &c. Oh this cursed Hypocrisie, Hypocrisie, Hypocrisie ruines all. It is that leven that sowers all our services, that Coloquintida that makes our duties deadly. If any sin destroy England, In oculis Dei nullum ma…us scelus est hypocrisi, Scultet.it is this. God may bear with other sins, but this provokes him to his face, and is such a horrid mocking of him, that his soul abhors.

[Against Hypocrisie, see Mr. Torshel his Trea…ise against it, and Mr. Crook, and Mr. Sheffeild, Mr. William Shepherd, Mr. Ant. Burges Spi. Refin. 2. P. Mr. Rob. Bolton on Psal. 1. p. 24. Mr. Fenner on Isa. 58. 4. p. 407.]

7 The Israelites were great self-seekers. They brought forth fruit, but it was to themselves. They were all for present profit, and present pay, like the Heifer that loves to tread out the corn (where shee may eat as shee goes) but shee loves not plowing, that is hard and hungry work, Hos. 10. 1, 11. They were all for liberty and ease, they could not abide Gods yoak, and therefore the Lord tells them, that since they loved liberty so well, they should have enough of it, but to their ruine. Israel was a wanton Heifer, the whole pasture could not contain, nor content her, and therefore the Lord threatens to give her the liberty of the Lamb in the wilderness, where it should bee exposed to a thousand dangers and miseries, Hos. 4. 16.

And is not this the great sin of England? Was there everless p. 99self-denial, and more self-seeking in the Land? where shall wee finde a plain, simple, single-hearted Iacob, that prefers Gods glory before his own interest, and can bee content to perish, so that Gods Name may flourish? Shew mee, Oh shew mee that man, that I may give thanks unto God for him.

Most men in our daies are squint-eyed, See more in my Comment on 2 Tim. 3. 2. p. 16, 17, &c.2 Tim 3:2they pray, hear, repent, fast, give Alms, but still they have an eye to themselves in all they do. Zach. 7. 5. Matth. 6. 2.

And as Ephraim, so England is all for Liberty; Liberty in Church, and Liberty in State; Liberty in Spirituals, and Liberty in Temporals. We have those, that like Sons of Belial, can bear no yoak, none must reign over them. They must have Liberty, Liberty, Liberty; and I will proclaim a Liberty to you (saith the Lord) A Liberty to the Sword, a Liberty to the Famine, and a Liberty to the Pestilence; This is the portion of such Libertines, Ier. 34. 17.

8 Witchcraft and Inchantments; This also was a sin that helpt to ruine Ephraim. They had familiarity with the Devil, and by his aid they could divine and inchant, 2 King. 17. 17.

And was there ever more Witchcraft in England, than at this day? Oh this sinning sin grows rife amongst us. Those seducing, deluding, quaking sots and sectaries that go up and down the Land with their inchanting Ribbons, and other Diabolical practices, plainly shew that too many of them are in league with the Devil. They talk much of the spirits moving, and the spirits leading them; their bastards, their railing and blasphemy, shews that it is an evil spirit that leads them.

This sin helpt to ruine the Jews,See more in my Comment on 2 Tim. 3. 13. p. 225, 226.2 Tim 3:13 Because they had forsaken the Lord, and were south-sayers, like the Philistims, Isa. 2. 6. And if England bee guilty of the like sin, it must also look for the like punishment.

9 Barrenness under the means of Grace. God was not wanting in any means of Grace to Ephraim, but Ephraim was an empty Vine, and wanting to himself, Hos. 10. 7.

This also is the great sin of England, wee are dead under lively Oracles, and fruitless under fruitful Ordinances, and lean under soul-enriching means. Like Pharaohs lean kine, that devoured the fat ones, yet themselves were still lean, Gen. p. 10041. 20, 21. Wee dishonour the Lords Pastures, and discredit his Ordinances by our unfruitfulness, and open the mouths of the wicked, to cry, Ecce quales sunt qui Christum colunt! Behold how dead and dull, how base and barren, how unholy and unrighteous these Christians are! such barren ground is nigh to cursing, Heb. 6. 8. Which of us will plow the Rocks, or sow the Sands, or bestow cost upon ground which will bring forth nothing but briars and thorns? The barren figg-tree was cut down, because it cumbred the Earth, and made the ground about it the worse, Luk. 13. 6, to 10. The figg-tree that had no…hing but bare leaves of profession, was cursed for want of fruit, Mark 11. 13, 14. God will lay his Axe to the root of those trees that bring not forth good fruit, Matth. 3. 10. and lay waste his Vineyard, and command the clouds to Rain no more upon it, when after all his cost and care it brings forth nothing but wild grapes, Isa. 5. 2, to 8. when the Lord comes to walk in the beautiful Vineyard of his Church, and findes a tree that grows not in so fruitful a soil, hee will cut it down, it shall no longer cumber the ground.

Our great unfruitfulness under the rich means that wee enjoy, should deeply affect us. If Han…ah wept for the barrenness of her body, how should wee lament the barrenness of our souls? and cry as Rachel, Give mee children, or I dye: So, give mee Grace, or I am undone, make mee fruitful, or I perish for ever. Complain to God against it, the best and most fruitful Christians have made the saddest complaints against themselves. Holy Bradford, how oft did hee lament that deadness, unfruitfulness, unthankfulness that cleaved to his nature? David, how oft doth hee begg for quickning Grace? Do by your barren hearts, as men do by their barren grounds, they will digg, dung, drain them, and use all means to make them fruitful: So do you, pray, re…d, meditate, hear, confer, and use all means to get your dead hearts bettered, and your graces quickned.

Yet le…t any should deceive themselves, thinking that they grow in grace, when they do but deceive themselves; you must therefore know that there may bee a growing in gifts, …hen there is no growing in grace. Many a man knows more, and can pray longer than formerly, and yet no growth in grace. True growth is principally internal, in the Root, in p. 101Humiliation, Sanctification, Faith, Obedience. It is a growing up, not onelyonly in some things, but in all things, (Ephes. 4. 15.) True growth is universal, it is not onelyonly a growing in the head (as some that have the Rickets do) but in heart,See Dyke on the Sacrament, chap. 15. p. 367 head, and every part. True growth (saith Aristotle) is a diffusing of nourishment to all the parts, uniformiter & difformiter; The Understanding, Will, Memory, Affections, Body, Soul, all is bettered.

2 It may bee you do grow, but do you grow answerable to all the means and mercies which God hath bestowed upon you? They that have much, of them shall bee much required. Where the Husbandman bestows extraordinary cost, there hee expects an extraordinary crop; and herein the best of us all have great cause to bee humbled in the dust. Who can say hee hath answered the Lords cost and care, and grown answerably to all those Sermon…, Sabbaths, Sacraments, good books, corrections, and all other rich means which God hath afforded us in these latter daies. Oh what Gyants might wee have been in waies of grace and goodness, if every Ordinance had been effectual upon our hearts! hee that is weak amongst us, might have been as strong as David, and hee that is strong as David, might have been as an Angel of the Lord, for wisdome, and purity, Zach. 12. 8. Like Saul, we might have been taller by the head and shoulders (in the waies of Grace) than other men.Against barrenness; See Gross his Serm. on Col. 2. 10. p. 207. Strong 31. Serm. p. 1. Robins…n, Christ All in all, 2 p. p. 259.Col 2:10 Our leanness, and our lewdness, our barrenness, and unfruitfulness, our unanswerable walking to the rich means of Grace that wee enjoy, doth certainly fore-tell a storm approaching.

10 Ingratitude, and abuse of Gods mercies to the promoting of Idolatry. The more God did for them, the less they did for him; their fulness bred forgetfulness, and the more they were increased, the more they sinned. Hence the Lord so oft complains of this sin, as provoking him more than all the rest, Hos. 2. 8. & 4. 7. & 10. 1. & 11. 3, 4. & 13. 5, 6.) It was this sin especially that brought the sword upon them, Hos. 2. 9. & 13. 7. The Prophet Amos also, who was contemporary with Hosea, doth notably set forth the great Ingratitude of this people in abusing Gods mercies, Amos 2. 9, 10, 11.

And is not this that crying sin of England? Do wee not…fight against God with his own blessings, abusing our health, wealth, wit, peace, plenty, corn, wine, gold, silver, Scriptures, Ordinances, yea all our comforts, and creatures, to the dishonour of the giver of them? His mercies make us proud, his riches covetous, his peace secure, his food intemperate, and all his benefits serve us but as weapons to rebel against him.

And do wee thus require the Lord, O foolish and unwise? is this the thanks wee give him for all his patience,See more in my Comment on 2 Tim. 3. 2. p. 69, 70.2 Tim 3:2 preservations, success and deliverances? Will not the Lord visit for these things? and shall not his soul bee avenged on such a Nation as this? Had England no more sins to answer for but this, even this were sufficient to make it a desolation, as it did Samaria.

11 Covenant-breaking. God had betrothed them to himself, and chosen them from the rest of the world, to become his people, But they like men transgressed the Covenant, there did they deal treacherously against him, Hos. 6. 7. & 10. 4. Like Sons of Adam, they walkt in his steps; though they were abundantly blest by God, yet they revolted from him, and transgrest the Covenant, there, even th…re (it is put emphatically) where they should have been most faithful, viz. in the Covenant, there they dealt most falsly and perfidiously with him.

And is not this one of the crying sins of England? Never was there a wiser and better composed Covenant in the Nation, and never any worse performed; wee have lifted up our hands to the most High, that wee will (in our places and callings) extirpate heresies, and yet many walk as if they had taken a Covenant to propagate them; many amongst us make no more of their Covenants, than an Ape doth of his coller, which hee can put off or on at his own pleasure.

Let any man but read all the branches of the Covenant, and then compare our contrary walking to it; and hee cannot but admire the infinite patience of the Lord,See more before Obs. ninth, and Burroughs on Hosea 4. 1. p. 26, 27. & 5. 7. p. 420.Hos 4:1 that hee hath not long since sent a sword to avenge the quarrel of his Covenant upon us, Levit. 26. 25. wee must not think to do such things, and escape, or to break our Covenants with God, and then bee delivered, Ezek. 17. 15, to 20. If the Lord so sadly p. 103avenged the breach of Covenant with a man, yea with a Heathen, and Idolater, what shall bee done to him who breaks his Covenant made with the great God of Heaven and Earth? and if a good man will perform the Covenant which hee made, though it bee to his disadvantage; how great is their sin then, who perform not the conditions of such Covenants as tend to their everlasting welfare? Psal. 15. 4. The Jews have a saying, That there is no punishment that befalls them, but there is a dram of the golden Calf in it: so there is no misery that befalls England, but there it a dram of Covenant-breaking in it.

12 Security. Though strangers had devoured his strength, yet hee knew it not; the Syrian and Assyrian had consumed him, and made a prey of him, yet such was his stupidity, that hee knew it not, viz. with a practical saving knowledge, so as to repent, and make a right use of it: Yea gray hairs were sprinkled here and there upon him (which were a sign of weakness, and old age, and death approaching) yet they laid it not to heart, Hos. 7. 9. but they were at ease in Sion, and trusted in the Mountain of Samaria, putting the evil day far from them, and therefore a woe is denounced against them, Amos 6. 1, 3. & 9. 10.

And was there ever more security, and sensless stupidity in England, than at this day? Do not the Ministers of Christ generally complain that they see not that life, zeal, activity, tenderness, compunction, &c. in their people, as formerly? Many applaud and flatter themselves with their gifts and external profession of sanctity, but the power of it is very much wanting amongst us. A great calm oft times is a fore-runner of a storm; and great security is a great fore-runner of some great judgement. When the old world was eating, drinking, buying, building, marrying, and thought not of a flood, then it came and swept them all away; when men cry peace, peace, then comes sudden and swift destruction, 1 Thes. 5. 3.

13 Anarchy. They devoured all their Iudges, all their Kings were fallen, Hos. 7. 7. They discovered their rage in their seditious and frequent conspiracies, to the devouring and destroying of their Judges and Magistrates, as appears in the frequent murders of their Kings.

p. 104What Anarchy and confusion is amongst us,The danger of Anarchy you may see in my Comment on Psal. 82. 1.Ps 82:1 hee is a great stranger in our English Israel that knows not.

14 Lukewarmness. This is another sin that helpt to ruine Ephraim, Hos. 7. 8. Ephraim is a cake not turned, and so but half-baked, or dough-baked; neque crudus, neque coctus, neither hot nor cold, neither fish, nor flesh, but of a middle mongrel Religion, halting between two, partly for God, and partly for the Devil, partly for Christ, and partly for Baal; but God hates such halting, … doings; and therefore spues them out of his mouth, and sends them packing into captivity.

And is not this the sin of England? Are wee not a lukewarm generation, neither hot nor cold, that halt, not between two, but two hundred opinions? Wee have a knee for God, and a knee for Baal; a tongue for Christ, and a tongue for Antichrist; a tongue for Truth, and a tongue for Falshood; Like the harlot, wee are all for dividing: But God will bee served truly and totally, without halting or halving; hee hath made our whole hearts, and hee will have all, or none at all. Oh, this sin of formality and lukewarmness cries for some judgement against us. Where is our zeal for Gods glory? our mourning for the great dishonours that are done to his Name? our crying out, and witnessing against the blasphemies, heresies, witchcraft, juggling, and Satanical delusions that abound amongst us? Nay, do not many plead for a general Tolleration of all sorts and sects? and if under a colour they make a Law against such, yet it is either made so wide, that offenders creep thorow, or the Rulers are so over-awed, that they dare onelyonly admonish, when they should punish, and barely shave the head, which of right should bee cut off.

Now,See more in my Comment on 2 Tim. 4. 2. …. 334.2 Tim 4:2 will not the Lord visit for these things? and shall not his soul bee avenged on such a cold and careless Nation as this is?

15 Divisions. Ephraim was against Manassse, and Manasses against Ephraim; there was division upon division amongst them their sins had divided them from their God, and now God in his just judgement sets a spirit of division amongst themselves to their destruction,… desolabuntur. Vulg. & Montan. V. Burroughs Ire…cum, p. 1, 2, &c. Hos. 10. 2. Their heart is divided, now shall p. 105they bee found faulty; or as some render the word, they shall bee ruined. For desolations in a State oft follow divisions in the Church, as wee see in Poland, Germany, &c.

And was England ever more sadly divided and sub-divided than at this day? What separations, and sub-separations are found amongst us? One is of Paul, another of Apollo; divisions in principles, divisions in practice, divisions in judgement, and divisions in affection; divisions in Church, and divisions in State: For the divisions of England there bee sad thoughts of heart. Ierusalems divisions were Ierusalems ruine; The Lord grant that Englands divisions prove not Englands ruine. These give the enemy great advantage against us, and encourage them to set upon us. When Isra…l and Iudah were at variance, then comes Shishak the Egyptian and troubles Ierusalem, 2 Ch…on. 12. 2.

It is observed,Dum pugnant singuli, vincuntur universi. Tacitus. that England was never conquered, but when it was divided within it self.

Oh that God who hath made our hearts would mend them, and unite them, that wee may never lose our Religion, Laws, Estates, Persons, Posterity, and all that is dear to us, and lay our selves open to the malice of a bloody enemy, who hath no way to overthrow us sooner than by our sinful dissen…ions.

16 Carnal-confidence. For this sin they are frequently reproved; one while they trusted in their Kings, anon they go down to Egypt for help, and then seek to the Assyrian; they forsook the Lord, and trusted in an arm of flesh, which yet could not help them in their troubles, Hos. 5. 13. and 7. 11. and 12. 1. and 13. 10.

And doth not this sin abound in England? Have not wee trusted in Kings, Princes, Protectors, Parliaments, Armies, Navies, &c? Wee have leaned so long upon our staves, till wee have broken them all, and ruined our carnal confidences by idolizing them.

17 Incorrigibleness under lesser judgements. God had been as a moth to Ephraim, which consumed him by little and little, but since that did not better him, the Lord came as a Lion against him, and tore him all to peeces, Hos. 5. …2, 14. Like a good Physician hee used all means to heal them, Hos. 7. 1. by his word, by his mercies, by his judgements, but since p. 106nothing would mend them, the Lord swears by himself, to root up them, and their posterity, for their stubbornness, Amos. 4. per totum.

And is not this our sin? Hath not the Lord used all gentle means, and spent all his lesser rods in vain upon us? Who can say hee hath been the better for all the Agues, Feavers, Taxes,Plectim…r sed non flectimur, corrip…m…r sed non corrigimur. Salvian. Poverty, Sickness, &c. or any of those lesser rods which God hath laid upon us? May not the Lord complain of England as hee did sometime of Israel for their incorrigibleness? Amos 4. 6. to 12. Thus and thus have I done to you, yet have yee not returned to mee, saith the Lord; and therefore now I will bring some greater judgement on you, unless by repentance you prepare to meet your God, and so prevent his wrath.

18 Oppression and cruelty. They acted their oppressions upon the poor in a violent, virulent manner, which brought destruction upon them, Amos 3. 9, 10, 11, 12. and 4. 2. They used false weights, and loved to oppress, they were all for getting, though it were by force and forgery, Hos. 12. 7.

And doth not this sin reign amongst us? Was there ever more wracking of Tenants, grinding the faces of the poor, squeezing them, and eating them peece-meal? Was there ever more couzening, cheating, over-reaching, over-reckoning, and unrighteous dealing in the Land, and that by some who pretend to an extraordinary measure of Religion? I beleeve the like hath not been known in the memory of man. Our fore-fathers had less light and knowledge, but there was far more pla…nness and single-hearredness in those dayes, than is in ours.

I have but little dealing in the world (had I less I should bee well contented) yet I must profess, that I can scarce tell where to finde a plain, simple, single-hearted Nathanael; let such know that God abom…nates them, Deut. 25. 13, 14. and will bee avenged on them,See more in my Comment on 2 Tim. 3. 3. p. 81, …2.2 Tim 3:3 1 Thess. 4. 6. The whole land fares the worse for such. This was one of those sins amongst the rest, that brought judgements on Ierusalem, and will certainly bring judgements on London, and the rest of our Cities where such enormities abound, Ezek. 22. 12, 29, 31.

19. Atheism. They forgat God dayes without number, hee was not in all their thoughts. Hence the Lord so oft complains p. 107that they knew him not, nor considered that hee remembred all their doings, Hos. 2. 5. 8. 13. and 5. 4. and 7. 2.

Atheism at this day is the crying sin of England, wee are not in so much danger of Papism, now, as of Atheism; how hath this God-provoking, Land-ruining sin over-spread, the whole Island! wee have all sorts of Atheism amongst us,

Mental,

Vocal,

Vital.

Wee have close Atheists, and gross Atheists; wee have Atheists contemplative, and Atheists practical; some are closer Atheists, they do not directly and plainly cast God out of the world; yet these fools (who are the worlds wise men) say in their hearts, There is no God, Psal. 14. 1. This kinde of Atheism is not so easily discovered, nor reproved, and so it wants that help which gross Atheism meets withall.

2 Many that confess God in their words, yet deny him in their works, and by consequence deny his All-seeing eye and Being, as if God took no notice of things below; these are practical Atheists, Titus 1. 16. Eliphaz sets the brand of wickedness upon the fore-head of this sin, Iob 22. 5, 13, 14. and God threatens to search, as with Candles, for such Atheistical ones, i. e. Hee will search narrowly, and sift them thorowly, as the woman that lighted a candle to search for her lost groat, Zeph. 1. 12. yet Atheism is frequently acted in the world in one degree or other, Psal. 10. 4. The wicked in the pride of his heart will not seek after God, i. e. hee thinks hee hath no need of him, but hath enough in himself, and therefore hee will not go to God: God is not in all his thoughts, i. e. hee is in none of his thoughts, no not in one of his thoughts or wayes. It is an Hebraism. The Devil would fain make men not beleeve that which himself cannot but beleeve, viz. that there is a God. This is one of the highest degrees of wickedness in the world. To deny God is so high a sin, that it takes away all at once, the Devil needs not come a second time. This is to sin against the greatest light, it is not onelyonly a sin against the light of Christianity, but against the light of nature, against the witness of the creature, and the whole Creation. Such sin against the Providence of God▪ and against the common consent p. 108of all Nations. Tully could say, There was never any Nation so barbarous, as to deny that there was a God. I have seen … City without walls. but never any City but acknowledged a God. I have heard of some that have denied that there was a God, yet never knew the man, but when hee was sick, hee would seek unto God for help; Therefore (saith Seneca) They do but lye, that say, there is no God; they sin against the light of their own consciences; they who most studiously go about to deny God, yet cannot do it, but some check of conscience will flye in their faces; hence Heathens have condemned some to death, that denied there was a God. This is a Mother-sin, and the root of all abominations, yea, In every sin there is a virtual, tacit, interpretative Atheism; they say, as it were, in their hearts, that God doth not see, Psal. 14. 1, 2, 3. & 73. 11, 12. & 94. 5. to 9. This sin ruined Ierusalem, Ezek. 9. 9. and if it spread in England, as it hath done of late years, it will certainly ruine us also.

Wee all carry the root of this Prolifical sin about us, and in every sin there is a grain a least of Atheism; when wee are charged with it, wee are apt to say, as Hazael, Am I a Dogg? hee would not beleeve that there was so much wickedness in him: Thou shalt bee a King (saith the Prophet) and then thy corruptions will soon appear, when thou hast power and opportunity to act them: So say I, thou art a Son of Adam, lapsed and fallen in him, thou hast the seed of this sin within thee, and when a temptation comes, it will quickly discover it self to the world.

2 Take heed of Polytheism, which is the ready way to Atheism; the having of many gods, is the ready way to have no God. An Omni-Religion, is the ready way to no Religion. The world abounds with false gods.

1 Whatsoever wee have more than God, that is our God, Amor tuus, Deus tuus.

2 Whatsoever wee confide in more than God, that is our God, Iob 31. 24.

3 Whatever wee glory and rejoyce in more than God, Ier 9. 23. Phil. 3. 19.

4 Whatever wee ascribe efficiency to, Hab. 1. 16. God will have all power ascribed to himself, Deuteronomy 8. 12, 13, 17, 18.

p. 1095 Whatever wee obey against the mind of God, bee it friend or foe, men or Devils, that wee make our God.

[Against Atheism, See Capel on Tentat. p. 2. ch. 2. p. 153. Edit. ult. Mr. Henry Smith, his Arrow against Atheists, amongst his Ser. 2. p. p. 1, to 96. Mr. Trapp, at the end of his Comment. on the Epistles, p. 1103. Robinsons Essaies, Obs. 11. D. Cl…rks Ser. on Psal. 14. 1. p. 319. Weemse 4th. Vol. p. 1. Church his Miscel. p. 154. Taffin on Amendment. p. 4, to 25. B. Andrews Catechisme, p. 25.

Fullers Holy State, p. 378. Mr. Clerks Mirrour, chap. 9. Edit. 3.]

20 Their sin was full, and they ripe for ruine. God had born with their provocations about two hundred and sixty years, even till they had filled up the measure of their sins, and then hee brought destruction on them.

Now Ephraims sin was full

1 In respect of Multitude.

2 Magnitude.

3 Strength.

4 Growth.

5 Impudency.

6 Obstinacy.

1 There was a fulness of Number and Multitude. 1 All sorts of sin abounded, both in Doctrine and Manners; there was Idolatry, Adultery, Murder, Witchcraft, Lying, S…ealing, Oppression, 2 King. 17. 9, 10, 11. Hos. 4. 1, 2, & 7. 7. Amos 2. 6. 2 All sorts of Sinners abounded, high and low, Princes, Priests, and People, all were Idolaters, and delighted in false worship, Hos. 5. 1. Micah 7. 3, 4, 5, 6.

This universality of sinning is ever a fore-runner of judgement; when All the old world had corrupted themselves, then came the flood; when All Sodom was wicked, and All Ierusalem rebelled, when the mean man bowed to Idols, and the great man humbled himself, then God will not forgive, Isa. 1. 5, 6. & 2. 9. Ier. 5. 1, 4, 5, 6, 7. & 7. 18, 19.

2 There is a fulness of Magnitude, which is a fore-runner of destruction; When the sins in themselves are great, as Idolatry, Witchcraft, Hypocrisie, Apostacy, &c. and these sins are heightened by circumstances, being committed against great Light, Love, Patience, &c. and this was Ephraims, p. 110I wish it were not also Englands case.

3 A fulness of S…rength, when men do wickedly with both hands, i. e. Earnestly and actively, Micah 7. 3. When men draw iniquity with the cords of Vanity, and study how they may do mischief with all their might, Isa. 5. 18. Ezek. 22. 6.

4 A fulness of Growth, when men sin more and more, as Ep…m did, Hos. 13. 2. and grow worse and worse, 2 Tim. 3. 13. persevering in their sin, without end or measure, this also prognosticates ruine to a Nation. The Lord did not presently destroy the Amorites, but suffered their sin to come to its fulness, that hee might pour upon them the fulness of his fury, Gen. 15. 16. The sins of the Amorites is not yet full. Though they were notoriously wicked, yet hee bears with them till their sins were ripe for ruine. A woman must go her forty weeks, till the childe bee come to perfection, and then comes her travel suddenly and surely: So sin hath its conception, rise, reign, and ruine, Psal. 7. 14. Iames 1. 15.

5 A fulness of Impudency, A Quaker came lately to Aldermanbury on the Sabbath day, and in Sermontime gets in the Pulpit, and pulls out a pocket, and falls to working in the Church. Others in Londo… work openly upon the Lords day. See Solomon. (per Antiphrasin) Eccles. a Quaker his blasphemous Narrative of this business.when men declare their sins, like Sodom, and openly profess their wickedness with Whores fore-heads that cannot blush, Isa. 3. 9. Ier. 3. 3. & 6. 15. Zeph. 3. 5.

6 A fulness of Obstinacy, when nothing can reclaim a People, but they are resolvedly wicked, as Ephraim here, who was married to Idols, and would not return, being deeply rooted in iniquity, Hos. 4. 17. & 5. 14. & 9. 9. They sold themselves to do wickedly, 2 King. 17. 17. they would not bee warned by the falls of others, whom God had punished before them for the same sins, 2 King. 17. 8, 13, 14, 15. but rejected the counsel of his Prophets▪ till the wrath of the Lord broke forth, and there was no remedy, as you may see, 2 King. 17, 7, to 24▪ where you have Ephraims sins, and Ephraims punishment fully set forth.

Now what could the Lord do less, than root up such a people, so obstinate under reproofs, so unthankful for mercies, so p. 111incorrigible under judgements, so uncapable of repentance, so impatient of remedies, so impenitent under all the means of grace which God had afforded them?

Let us now reflect upon our selves, and see whether Ephraims sins, bee not Englands sins; if so, parity of sins will bring parity of judgements; if our sins run parallel with those of Ephraim wee may justly expect Ephraims downfall.

It is said of Lot, that his righteoussoul was vexed with the sins of Sodome, 2 Pet. 2. 7, 8. the word is in the original, his soul was wracked and tormented, when hee saw the abominations of the Sodomites.foreign, torqucor, equul…o imponi. These twenty sins which abound in England, and abode some judgement approaching, should even wrack and torment our souls with grief, that so wee may bee marked for mercy when judgement comes, Ezek. 9. 4. Hab. 3. 16.

The counsel which the Lord gave to Ephraim, shall I give to England, Hos. 14. 1, 2, 3. Return, O back-sliding England, from thy Atheism, Apostasie, Heresie, Bl…sphemy, Hypocrisie, Formality, Ingratitude, Witchcraft, Security, Anarchy, &c. and take with you words of sincere confession, and turn unfeignedly to the Lord, so will hee receive you graciously, and accept both of your persons and performances.

[If any would see more Land-destroying sins, let him peruse D. Corn. Burges on Ier 4. 14. p. 38, 39. preached 1642. Perkins 3. Vol. p. 420. D. Gouge his Arrows, on Numb. 16. 46. Sect. 46. p. 79. and 139. Mr. Case his Sermon on Exod. 5. 22. p. 11, 12. preached 1646. D. Peter Smiths Fast Sermon on Psal. 107▪ 6. p. 30, 31. preached 1644.]

Lastly, their Rulers were corrupt, their Kings, Princes, Judges were Idolaters, Revolters, Violaters of the Law, Bribers, &c. Hos. 4. 18, 19. and 5. 10. and 9. 15. and the people were corrupted by them, for where the head is rotten, the members cannot bee sound. Of all the twenty Kings of Israel (after the division of the State) there was not one good from first to last, they were all Idolaters, which serves to clear and vindicate the Justice of God in the utter overthrow of those Kings, and their Kingdome, who had for the space of two hundred thirty seven, or two hundred and sixty years (say some) abused the goodness and patience of the Lord, and p. 112since there is none that I know of, that hath distinctly described these twenty Kings of Israel in any set Treatise, I shall briefly describe the men, and their manners, and give some useful and seasonable Observations from them.