When warning is given of Gods Judgements, as here there was, iThey fear least, whom they most concern; and they fear most, whom they least concern. They fear most, that have least ⟨p. 103⟩cause to fear; and they fear least, that have most cause to fear. He feared here that was to be saved; when they feared not that were to be destroyed. Gods children oft-times fear for them, when they fear not for themselves. As for matter of grief, DAVID saith of himself, kI beheld the transgressors and was grieved, to see how they brake thy Law: And, lMine eyes run down with streams of water, because men keep not thy Statutes. He was grieved for them, when they were not grieved for themselves; yea he sorrowed, with mPaul, for them and their sins, because they sorrowed not for them themselves. nIf you be sorry, saith Bernard, I am sorry with you; if you be not, I am sorry for you: and the more sorry for you, the less sorry you are your self. And indeed, oHe is most to be bewailed, saith Gregory, that bewaileth himself least. pIn the natural Body the pain of one limb causeth pain to all his fellow limbs: but in the spiritual Body politic, not the pain only of a limb, but qthe want of pain in a limb, is a means of pain to the fellow-members. So for matter of fear; rFear, saith he, is fallen upon me, for the wicked, because they forsake thy Law. And, when sThou takest away the wicked of the earth like dross: My flesh ttrembleth for fear of thee, and I am afraid of thy Judgements. DAVID feareth for them, when they fear not themselves: their very security maketh him fearful.
When warning is giuen of Gods Iudgements, as here there was, iThey feare least, whom they most concerne; and they feare most, whom they least concerne. They feare most, that haue least ⟨p. 103⟩cause to feare; and they feare least, that haue most cause to feare. He feared here that was to be saued; when they feared not that were to be destroyed. Gods children oft-times feare for them, when they feare not for themselues. As for matter of griefe, DAVID saith of himselfe, kI beheld the transgressors and was grieued, to see how they brake thy Law: And, lMine eyes run downe with streames of water, because men keepe not thy Statutes. He was grieued for them, when they were not grieued for themselues; yea hee sorrowed, with mPaul, for them and their sinnes, because they sorrowed not for them themselues. nIf you be sorie, saith Bernard, I am sorie with you; if you be not, I am sorie for you: and the more sory for you, the lesse sory you are your selfe. And indeed, oHee is most to be bewailed, saith Gregory, that bewaileth himselfe least. pIn the naturall Body the paine of one limbe causeth paine to all his fellow limbes: but in the spirituall Bodie politique, not the paine only of a limbe, but qthe want of paine in a limbe, is a meanes of paine to the fellow-members. So for matter of feare; rFeare, saith hee, is fallen vpon mee, for the wicked, because they forsake thy Law. And, when sThou takest away the wicked of the earth like drosse: My flesh ttrembleth for feare of thee, and I am afraid of thy Iudgements. DAVID feareth for them, when they feare not themselues: their very securitie maketh him fearefull.
- iMalach. 3. 16, 17.
- kPsal. 119. 148.
- lPsal. 119. 136.
- m2 Cor. 12. 21.
- nSi doles, condoleo; si non doles, doleo tamen: & boc doleo magis, quo tu minus doles. Bern. de consid l. 1.
- oGemend▪ est valdè qui non gemit. Greg. in Evang. hō. 36.Gemend▪ est valdè qui non gemit. Greg. in Euang. hō. 36.
- p1 Cor. 12. 26. Membro dolenti membra reliqua condolent.
- qDe non dolente caetera gravius dolent.De non dolente caetera grauius dolent.
- rPsal. 119. 53. Timeo, ne non timeas, vel parum timeas. Bern. ep. 87.
- sPs. 119. 119, 120.
- t- acta securae quoque Horrenda menti. - Sen. Herc. fur. 3. 2.
