The benefit that they would have the Rocks and the Mountains do them, is to Fall on them, & hide them. Whence we derive three observations. 1. Despair is ever wishing for death: often impatiently snatching at it in this world; but when the last day comes, so greedily longing for it; that to be sure of it, they desire the mountains to dispatch them. Death by the wicked is now most feared; death at the last shall be the thing most wished: They shall desire death, and shall not find it. They that sit in the warm nest of riches, hatching up their brood of lusts, quake at the hearing of death. There are some fear to die, others not so much to die as to be dead. The former are cowardly, the other unbelieving souls. Some fear both, to whom nothing in life then life is more desirable. But when th•s last extremity ⟨p. 42⟩comes, m•ricupiunt, they desire to die. And that death, like a merciless executioner, might not have too many strokes at their lives, they beg help of the Mountains: that they might be throughly dispatched at once, without need of a second blow. Cain at his arraignment for his brother would needs live: God grants it; as if it were too much favour for him to die. But he yields it for a curse; as if he heard his prayers in anger. He lives, but banished from God, carrying his hell in his bosom, and the brand of vengeance in his forehead. God rejects him, the earth repines at him, and men abhor him. Lo now Cain would die: himself now wisheth the death he feared, and no man dares pleasure him with a murder. As Nero in the like case; Nec amic•m, nec mimicum h•beo; I have neither friend nor enemy: or as Sau• found in his Armour-bearer, not 1a will to kill him, though he had a will to be killed by him. Death these reprobates feared, and only death is now desired. They cry to the mountains; Fall on us. 2 Observe, that rocks and mountains are far lighter then sin. Zechariah compares it to a Talent of lead: 2Isaiah calls it a Burden. Such a weight bore our Saviour, that he groaned under it. I am pressed under you, as a cart 3is pressed that is full of sheaves. The wicked that like Babel-builders think to aspi•e to heaven by multiplying of earth, would be glad if •umulitumuli; their bodies might be buried under their heaps of wealth, where their souls had been buried long before.
The benefit that they would haue the Rockes and the Mountaines doe them, is to Fall on them, & hide them. Whence we deriue three obseruations. 1. Despaire is euer wishing for death: often impatiently snatching at it in this world; but when the last day comes, so greedily longing for it; that to be sure of it, they desire the mountaines to dispatch them. Death by the wicked is now most feared; death at the last shall be the thing most wished: They shall desire death, and shall not find it. They that sit in the warme nest of riches, hatching vp their brood of lusts, quake at the hearing of death. There are some feare to die, others not so much to die as to be dead. The former are cowardly, the other vnbeleeuing soules. Some feare both, to whom nothing in life then life is more desireable. But when th•s last extremitie ⟨p. 42⟩comes, m•ricupiunt, they desire to die. And that death, like a merciles executioner, might not haue too many strokes at their liues, they begge helpe of the Mountaines: that they might be throughly dispatched at once, without need of a second blow. Cain at his arraignement for his brother would needs liue: God grants it; as if it were too much fauour for him to die. But hee yeelds it for a curse; as if he heard his prayers in anger. He liues, but banished from God, carrying his hell in his bosome, and the brand of vengeance in his forehead. God reiects him, the earth repines at him, and men abhorre him. Loe now Cain would die: himselfe now wisheth the death he feared, and no man dares pleasure him with a murther. As Nero in the like case; Nec amic•m, nec mimicum h•beo; I haue neyther friend nor enemie: or as Sau• found in his Armour-bearer, not 1a will to kill him, though he had a will to be killed by him. Death these reprobates feared, and onely death is now desired. They cry to the mountaines; Fall on vs. 2 Obserue, that rockes and mountaines are farre lighter then sinne. Zachary compares it to a Talent of lead: 2Esay cals it a Burden. Such a waight bore our Sauiour, that he groned vnder it. I am pressed vnder you, as a cart 3is pressed that is full of sheaues. The wicked that like Babel-builders thinke to aspi•e to heauen by multiplying of earth, would bee glad if umulitumuli; their bodies might be buried vnder their heapes of wealth, where their soules had beene buryed long before.
- 11. Sam. 31. 4.
- 2Zach. 5. Esa. 21.
- 3Ammo. 2. 13.Amo. 2. 13.
