The use of this should teach us not to delude 1our selves in the matter of afflictions; in afflictions we are ready to conclude, because our afflictions ⟨p. 270⟩are greater then others, that therefore we are greater sinners; but here you see the contrary, the greatest sinners are not always outwardly the greatest afflicted, for God uses a great deal of difference in afflictions, some he afflicts young, he takes them when they are green; others he lets them go a long on the score, till they be old, yet he will meet with all at last, either sooner, or latter; therefore think not that thou art a greater sinner, or that thy sins are greater then other mens are, or that God loves thee less, because of thy outward afflictions: remember what the Lord said unto the Jews. Luk. 13. 2. 3. Think not, saith he, that the Galileans on whom the Tower of 2Siloam fell, were greater sinners then you, or others sinners: think not because judgement was in that manner inflicted upon them, that they were greater sinners: or that their sins were greater, and did exceed others: but except you repent, ye shall all likewise perish; I will meet with you, and you shall know that your sins are as great as theirs was; and so look upon every sin that God hath punished, presently, and the sin is as great still, as ever it was: as for example the sin of lying. Acts 5. Ananias and Sapphira they lied, and you see what a judgement was inflicted upon them, because 3they had lied to the holy Ghost: even against that light which the holy Ghost had revealed unto them, and yet you must know that a lye is not the sin of the holy Ghost; for any regenerate man, that is in the covenant, may through ⟨p. 271⟩infirmity speak an untruth, and yet not sin the sin against the holy Ghost; but I say, the sin of lying is now as great as ever it was, and he that inflicted that judgement upon them, may inflict the like upon thee: yet you must know that this sin is not greater then other sins; but because men might take heed of this sin for the time to come, he made them examples. Again in Levit. 410. 1, 2, 3. they that offered strange fire in the time of the law they were strucken with death, not that this was a greater sin then any now, but to teach men reverently to draw near unto God;
The use of this should teach us not to delude 1our selves in the matter of afflictions; in afflictions we are ready to conclude, because our afflictions ⟨p. 270⟩are greater then others, that therefore we are greater sinners; but here you see the contrary, the greatest sinners are not alwayes outwardly the greatest afflicted, for God uses a great deale of difference in afflictions, some hee afflicts young, he takes them when they are greene; others he lets them goe a long on the score, till they be old, yet he will meete with all at last, either sooner, or latter; therefore thinke not that thou art a greater sinner, or that thy sinnes are greater then other mens are, or that God loves thee lesse, because of thy outward afflictions: remember what the Lord said unto the Iewes. Luk. 13. 2. 3. Thinke not, saith hee, that the Galileans on whom the Tower of 2Shiloim fell, were greater sinners then you, or others sinners: thinke not because judgement was in that manner infflicted upon them, that they were greater sinners: or that their sinnes were greater, and did exceed others: but except you repent, yee shall all likewise perish; I will meete with you, and you shall know that your sinnes are as great as theirs was; and so looke upon every sinne that God hath punished, presently, and the sinne is as great still, as ever it was: as for example the sinne of lying. Acts 5. Ananias and Saphira they lyed, and you see what a judgement was inflicted upon them, because 3they had lyed to the holy Ghost: even against that light which the holy Ghost had revealed unto them, and yet you must know that a lye is not the sinne of the holy Ghost; for any regenerate man, that is in the covenant, may through ⟨p. 271⟩infirmitie speake an untruth, and yet not sinne the sinne against the holy Ghost; but I say, the sinne of lying is now as great as ever it was, and he that infflicted that judgement upon them, may infflict the like upon thee: yet you must know that this sinne is not greater then other sinnes; but because men might take heed of this sinne for the time to come, he made them examples. Againe in Levit.
- 1Use.Vse.
- 2Luke 13. 2. 3.
- 3Acts 5.
- 4Levit. 10. 1, 2, 3.
