VI. *Stubbornness after some strokes causeth utter destruction. aSo much is threatened in the Law: and bby the Prophets declared to be accomplished. Many particular remarkable instances hereof are recorded in Scripture, 4that succeeding ages might be the better warned thereby. cSodom and the Cities that took part with her, were overcome and sacked by the four Kings that came against them. This was no light stroke: yet it wrought no amendment. Wherefore not long after dthey were utterly destroyed with fire and brimstone from heaven. Pharaoh and his subjects were so smitten with eten several plagues, as gave sufficient demonstration of their folly in standing out against the great Lord of heaven: yet still continued they to harden their hearts against God: therefore at length fhe and his whole host was drowned in the Red Sea. The Israelites were oft and sorely punished by many judgements, but no whit bettered by any of them: so as the Lord was provoked at length to make their land desolate. gThis hphrase which John the Baptist useth (The axe is put to the root of the tree) importeth as much. By the axe he meaneth Gods judgement: by the tree the nation of the Jews: by putting to the root, an utter extirpation. A tree may be lopped, and yet stand, and grow and flourish again. But if it be cut at the root, down falls body, boughs and all. He implies therefore, that whereas God had formerly by Plague, famine, sword, captivity, and other like judgements lopped them, and oft times made them bare, now he intends to cut their root, utterly to cut them down, and cast them off.
VI. *STubbornenesse after some stroakes causeth utter destruction. aSo much is threatned in the Law: and bby the Prophets declared to be accomplished. Many particular remarkable instances hereof are recorded in Scripture, 4that succeeding ages might be the better warned thereby. cSodom and the Cities that tooke part with her, were overcome and sacked by the foure Kings that came against them. This was no light stroake: yet it wrought no amendment. Wherfore not long after dthey were utterly destroyed with fire and brimstone from heaven. Pharaoh and his subjects were so smitten with eten severall plagues, as gave sufficient demonstration of their folly in standing out against the great Lord of heaven: yet still continued they to harden their hearts against God: therefore at length fhe and his whole host was drowned in the Red Sea. The Israelites were oft and sorely punished by many judgements, but no whit bettered by any of them: so as the Lord was provoked at length to make their land desolate. gThis hphrase which Iohn the Baptist useth (The axe is put to the root of the tree) importeth as much. By the axe he meaneth Gods judgement: by the tree the nation of the Iewes: by putting to the root, an utter extirpation. A tree may be lopt, and yet stand, and grow and flourish againe. But if it be cut at the root, downe falls body, boughs and all. He implies therfore, that whereas God had formerly by Plague, famine, sword, captivity, and other like judgements lopt them, and oft times made them bare, now he intends to cut their root, utterly to cut them downe, and cast them off.
- *See §. 11.
- aLev. 26, 18, &c.
- bIsa. 1. 5 &c.—9. 13, 14. Am. 4 6, &c
- 4Deu. 29 19, &c
- cGen. 14. 10, 11
- dGen. 19. 24.
- eExo. 7. 20. &c
- fExo. 14. 28.
- gLam. 1. 1, &c
- hMat. 3. 10.
