A Dissuasive from Conformity to the World, Treatise 3
GODS Severity against MAN for Iniquity.
Isa. 65. 6.
Behold, it is written before me: I will rot keep silence, but will recompence, even …compence into their boson.
BEhold, observe, take notice of it; It is written before me: It is written: First, What? Secondly, Where?
First, What? Your iniquities, vers. 7. Sin, Jer. 17. 1.
Your rejecting Christ.
Secondly, Where? In Gods book; we enter in books such matters as we would not have forgotten. Thus Ezra 4. 15, 19. & 6. 2. Esth. 6. 1.
So God also has books of remembrance, not only of what,
1. Is done for him, Mal. 3. 16. Psal. 56. 8.
2. But against him, Deut. 32. 34. Hos. 7. 2.
The meaning is, God keeps it in mind as well as if it were booked down.
Before me; It lieth before my face, that it may not be forgotten.
q. d. Their wicked doings are upon record with me, and this record alwayes lies open before my face.
They did it, Isa. 65. 3. to my face, or in my sight, as Deut. 31. 29. Psalm 51. 4 and it remains still before him.
I will not keep silence; i. e. I will no longer forbear as I have hitherto done.
But will recompence, even recompence into their bosom; or will repay, yea repay into their lap.
1. Certainly, undoubtedly; therefore is the threat doubled, to put it out of doubt.
2. Abundantly, largely, as repaying into their bosom or lap signifies; he will recompence and repay them, not by tail, measure, or weight; but by pouring forth into the receivers lap without any regard how much.
Doct. Though God delay the execution of vengeance for some time, yet at length he will undoubtedly and abundantly pour out his wrath upon impenitent sinners.
First, God delayes to execute vengeance for a time.
Secondly, At length he will take vengeance.
1. God delayes for a time to take vengeance, Psal. 50. 21. Isa. 42. 14.
Thus God did bear long with the old world, 1 Pet. 3. 20.
He will avenge at last though he bear long, Luke 18. 7.
After a long time the Lord of those servants cometh and reckoneth, Mat. 25. 19.
Though God keep silence for a time, yet he will speak at last. See Habak. 2. 3.
Reasons.
Negatively, Not because God is slack, as we are too apt to conceive, Psal. 51. …1.
No, not as if God were slack, backward through weakness, forgetfulness or fickleness and inconstancy, 2 Pet. 3. 9.
They are not slack that are long ere they come, but they that come not at the due and appointed time. Now God never stayes beyond that time, Heb. 10. 37. Habak. 2. 3. So then this is not the Reason: but,
Affirmatively, 1. Because God is longsuffering, 2 …et. 3. 9. willing that we should have time and means to repent, and so not perish. See Rom. 2. 4.
2. To leave sinners at last without excuse, as Prov. 5. 11, 12, 13.
3. Because he has an eternity wherein to be revenged on them.
2. At length God will take vengeance, &c.
He will do it, Psal. 50. 21, 22. Isa. 42. 14. Ezek. 24. 13, 14.
Consider we a little,
First, Who it is that will recompence?
Secondly, How he will do it.
Thirdly, When.
Fourthly, Why.
First, Who it is?
He to whom it belongeth, and who claims a propriety in it; Deut. 32. 35. Rom. 12. 19.
Who this is? See Jer. 32. 18, 19. Nah. 1. 2. Jer. 51. 56.
Secondly, He will do it,
1. Abundantly, plentifully, Psal. 79. 12. Sevenfold, seven times more, and seven times more, Levit. 26. 23, 24.
He poures it out, Nah. 1. 6.
2. Terribly, Joel 2. 11, 31. Isa. 2. 19.
What terrible things did he do by the Red Sea? Psal. 116. 22. See Nah. 1. 6.
So terribly that the ears of those that hear shall tingle, 1 Sam. 3. 11. 2 King. 21. 12. Jer. 19. 3. Shall have his ears stricken with horror and astonishment, at the report of it, though he see it not. See also, Psalm 119. 53, 120. Ezek 21. 7.
Thirdly, Certainly, surely, Jer. 51. 56. and therefore is the threat,
1. Doubled in the Text, and Isa. 59. 18.
2. Sworn to; God swears he will do it, Dent. 32. 40, 41.
3. Written down, Exod. 17. 14. & 34. 27.
Or thus, God will do it: For,
1. He has said it.
2. Said it again and again in the Text, Ezek. 24. 14.
3. Sworn it, Deur. 32. 40, 41.
4. Set his hand to it, written it, Exod. 34. 27.
5. Sealed it, Deut. 32. 34.
Thirdly, When? In due time, Deut. 32. 34, 35. Joel 3. 13.
When … is ripe, Gen. 15. 16.
Their iniquities were,
Execrable Idolatry.
Grievous Oppression.
Prodigious Lust.
These were not yet full, not at their growth. Sin comes to it by degrees, Jer. 51. 13. Dan. 8. 23. Matth. 23. 32.
Fourthly, Why? Because Gods Holiness, Justice, Truth, and Honour requires it.
1. His Holiness; Which is such, that he cannot away with iniquity, Hab. 1. 13. See Isa. 1. 13.
2. His Justice; He must render to every one according to his doings, how else can he be just, Rom. 2. 6, 9. Jerem. 32. 19.
3. His Truth, and Oath requires it; he hath said it, and doubled it; and sworn it, and caused it to be written, as you have heard.
4. His Honour; See Mal. 2. 17.
5. Their enmity to God and his people requires it, Psal. 83. 1, to 6.
6. Gods Soveraignty over all requires it, Psalm 83. 18. with the foregoing verses.
Use.
First, Of Admonition.
1. Be not hardned in your sins, because sentence is not presently executed; See Eccles. 8. 11.
For God, you hear, will punish at length.
2. Be not mockers and scoffers as they, 2 Pet. 3. 4.
For God will punish at length.
Nor like them, Isa. 5. 19. …er. 17. 15. Psal. 14. 1. But let such read, Isa. 22. 13. 14.
Secondly, Use of Exhortation.
1. Fear and tremble sinners, for God will punish at length if you persist.
Be affected as David was, Psal. 119. 53, 120. He thought God was to be feared, Psal. 76 7.
God will,
In general, Avenge himself of you, Isa. 1. 14.
Abase you, Job 40. 11. Dan. 4. 37.
Affright you, Deut. 28. 66, 67.
Break you with a rod of iron, Psal. 2. 9.
Cast you off, 1 Chron. 28. 9.
Cut off all your horns, Psal. 75. 10.
Cause your Children to behave themselves proudly, Isa. 3. 5.
Destroy and devour you at once, Isa. 42. 14.
Execute vengeance on you in anger, and f… ry, Micah 5. 15. Ezek. 25. 17.
Fill your faces with shame, Psal. 83. 16.
Give your substance and treasures to the spoil, Jer. 17. 3.
Heap mischief on you, Deut. 32. 23.
Impoverish you, Judg. 6. 6. Jer. 5. 17. Psal. 106. 43. Margin.
Keep wrath for you, Nah. 1. 2.
Lead you forth with the workers of iniquity, Psal. 125. 5.
Make you si…k in smiting you, Micah 6. 13.
Not acquit you, Nah. 1. 3.
Not spare you, Deut. 29. 20.
Ordain arrows against you, Psal. 7. 13.
Overthrow you house, Prov. 14. 11.
Prepare Instruments of death for you, Psal. 7. 13.
Pour out wrath upon you, Psal. 79. 6.
Punish you seven times more, Levit. 26.
Persecute you with his storm, Psal. 83. 15.
Quench you as tow or flax, or the wick of a candle, by casting it into the water, Isa. 43. 17.
Rain upon you fire, &c. Psal. 11. 6.
Separate you unto evil, Deut. 29. 21.
S…te you with a scab, Isa. 3. 17.
T…ke away your bravery, Isa. 3. 18.
Tear you in pieces, Psal. 50. 22.
V…x you in his, &c. Psal. 2. 6.
W…ste you in the sight of passers by; Ezek 5. 14. Isa. 5. 6.
W…e your mountains and hills, and dry up your herbs, rivers, and pools, Isa. 42. 15.
2. Prepare to meet the Lord, Amos 4. 12.
1. By serious consideration, Hag. 1. 5. Psalm 119. 59. Psálm 50. 22. Jerem. 8. 6.
2. By sincere confession of your sins, Jer. 3. 12, 13.
3. By deep humiliation, 2 Chron. 33. 12, 13.
4. By quiet submission, Judg. 10. 15. Levit. 26. 41.
5. By earnest supplication, Judg. 10. 15. 2 Chron. 33. 13. Job 11. 13.
6. By believing, application to God by Christ, Dan. 9. 17. Eph. 1. 6. Allude to Act. 12. 20. See Zech. 1. 12, to 18.
7. By thorow reformation, Ezr. 7. 10. 2 Chron. 27. 6. Judg. 10. 16.
8. By firm resolution to cleave to the Lord for the future; Covenanting so to do, 1 Chron. 29. 18. Nehem. 9. 38.
Otherwise▪ if you take not this course, though you▪ be professors, worshippers, and servants of God in profession; if you be no more, nor no better, what has befallen other professors, may befall you.
You may be,
Afflicted, Psal. 94. 5.
Abborred greatly, Psal. 78. 59. & 106, 40.
Appointed to dy…, Psal. 79. 11.
Your Blood may be shed like water, Psalm. 79. 2.
Broken in pieces, Psal. 94. 5.
Cast off and put to shame, Psal. 44. 9.
Cut down and burnt with fire, Psalm 80. 16.
Your Dayes may be consumed in vanity, and your years in trouble, Psalm 78. 33.
Devoured, and your dwelling place laid waste, Psalm 79. 7.
Enemies may laugh at you, Psal. 80. 16.
Familiar friends may lift up their heel against you, Psal. 41. 9.
Fowls of Heaven, and beasts of the field may feed upon your flesh, Psal. 79. 2.
God may be angry against your prayer, Psal. 80. 4. and forsake your Tabernacle, Psal. 88. 60, 61. and be wroth with them, Psal. 78. 62, 21, 31.
Your Hedge may be broken dawn, Psalm 80. 12.
Haters of you may rule over you, Psalm 106. 41.
Jealousie of God may burn like fire against you, Psal. 79. 5.
Killed all the day long, Psal. 44. 22.
Low brought, Psalm 80. 8.
Made a by-word to your neighbour, Psalm 80. 6. A by-word and shaking of the head, Psalm 44. 14.
None may bury you, Psalm 79. 3.
Oppressors may seek after your soul, Psalm 54. 3.
Punished severely, Amos 3. 2.
Your Priests may fall by the sword, Psalm 78. 64.
Scattered, Psalm 44. 11.
Scorned and derided by them about you, Psal. 44. 13.
Tears may be given you to drink in great measure, Psal. 80. 5.
Vile accounted, &c. Lam. 3. 45. Even as a scum, 1 Cor. 4. 13.
Wild beasts and boars out of the wood may waste you, &c. Psal. 80. 13.
Seeing this is so, will you take the course prescribed, that if possible none of these things may come upon you; or if they should, that your eternal estate may be secured.
First, What can you object against it?
1. Is it not the course that God hath prescribed. That it is, has been proved before; therefore you can't object, 'tis not required; you cannot say, Who hath required this; for you have heard that God does.
2. Is there any unreasonableness or unrighteousness in the prescribing of it? Can you object against it as being unreasonable and unrighteous? nay is it not most reasonable and righteous, that having sinned and provoked God, you should consider, confess, humble, &c.
3. Is it not that course that others with success have used? as Nineveh, and 2 Chron. 12. 7, 12.
Can you object, and say, others have taken this course to no purpose? Ahabs external humiliation was not without some success? The judgment was deferred upon it, 1 King. 21. 29.
4. Have not others perished for want of taking this course: See 2 Chron. 36. 12. of Zed…ki… to 18. Dan. 5. 22, to 29. of Bel…hazar.
Can you now object, and say, others have neglected this course and done well enough?
Thus you see you cannot object against this course.
Secondly, Can you think of a better, a safer course? Can you, or you, or you, &c. speak if you can; by your silence I take it for granted that you cannot.
Thirdly, If you cannot, are you resolved upon this? To consider, confess, &c.
Fourthly, If you be not resolved on this course as yet; must I dismiss you unresolved and desperate as they, Jer. 44. will you say as they, ver. 16. & 18. 12.
FINIS.