But by these words it might seem he meant to inflame the Jews with a desire to revenge, Object. which is directly contrary to the nature of Gods spirit: to which vice we being too much inclined, the Lord often commands us to repress these desires of revenge; so far off is he from allowing them in us: nay, doth he not on the contrary exhort us to pray for our enemies? Math. 5.44. We ought much less then to rejoice in their miseries and calamities. I answer, Ans. that the Prophet shows here what shall come to pass; but he neither commands, nor counsels them to desire the ruin of their enemies. Object. If any reply, that we must not only expect, but also desire that which the Lord hath promised, seeing it turns to his glory, Ans. and our salvation: I confess indeed, that this consolation greatly assuageth our sorrows, in that he promiseth to punish our enemies one day who have cruelly vexed us, in rendering them the same measure which they have measured. Yet this hinders not the law of love, which enjoins us rather to sorrow for the evils which they voluntarily pull down upon their own heads,1 and to bewail their condition, then to wish their overthrow. If we embrace this promise with such faith as is meet, that is, in casting down all the impatience of the flesh at her feet, ⟨p. 425⟩then shall we first of all be disposed to patience; and in the next place we will with a moderate zeal wait for the accomplishment of Gods judgements. We must therefore labour to quench all those inordinate passions of the flesh, and with an humble and meek spirit to wait for the fit time when this judgement shall be executed: not so much in regard of our own particular profits, as to see Gods justice exalted, according as it deserves. David hath written to this effect, Psal. 58. The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance, he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked: not that they take pleasure in their miseries, but as it is said afterwards in that Psalm, Men shall say, Verily there is fruit for the righteous, doubtless there is a God that judgeth the earth. For God manifests his just judgements to the world, when the wicked are punished for their misdoings.
But by these words it might seeme he meant to inflame the Iewes with a desire to reuenge, Obiect. which is directlie contrarie to the nature of Gods spirit: to which vice we being too much inclined, the Lord often commands vs to represse these desires of reuenge; so farre off is he from allowing them in vs: nay, doth he not on the contrarie exhort vs to pray for our enemies? Math. 5.44. Wee ought much lesse then to reioice in their miseries and calamities. I answere, Ans. that the Prophet shewes here what shall come to passe; but he neither commands, nor counsels them to desire the ruin of their enemies. Obiect. If any replie, that we must not only expect, but also desire that which the Lord hath promised, seeing it turnes to his glorie, Ans. and our saluation: I confesse indeed, that this consolation greatlie asswageth our sorrowes, in that he promiseth to punish our enemies one day who haue cruelly vexed vs, in rendring them the same measure which they haue measured. Yet this hinders not the law of loue, which enioines vs rather to sorrow for the euils which they voluntarily pull downe vpon their owne heads,1 and to bewaile their condition, then to wish their ouerthrow. If we imbrace this promise with such faith as is meet, that is, in casting downe all the impaciencie of the flesh at her feet, ⟨p. 425⟩then shall we first of all be disposed to patience; and in the next place we will with a moderat zeale wait for the accomplishment of Gods iudgements. We must therefore labour to quench all those inordinate passions of the flesh, and with an humble and meeke spirit to wait for the fit time when this iudgement shall be executed: not so much in regard of our owne particular profits, as to see Gods iustice exalted, according as it deserues. Dauid hath written to this effect, Psal. 58. The righteous shall reioyce when he seeth the vengeance, he shall wash his feete in ye blood of the wicked: not that they take pleasure in their miseries, but as it is said afterwards in that Psalme, Men shall say, Verily there is fruit for the righteous, doubtlesse there is a God that iudgeth the earth. For God manifests his iust iudgements to the world, when the wicked are punished for their misdoings.
- 1Note.
