Use. 1 Admonition to every one that feareth God, to look well to his heart and ways, that he retain the fear of God constantly, and not be venturous to do any thing that may offend him. The Lord hateth sin as well in the godly as in the wicked, and will sooner smite the godly for his sin, then the wicked, though not so grievously. An example hereof was already shown in the Prophet slain as he was going from Bethel. Jeroboam's transgressions were begun long before the fault that he committed; and yet the struck came upon him for his fault long before the destruction of Jeroboam and his house. And let no man say, I am safe, because I am sure to be saved; he may fall into great misery in this life, though he be in state of happiness for the life to come. Freedom from perdition doth not free men from all manner of punishments. What plague besides destruction can Christians say, we shall certainly escape, unless they be sure to escape such sins as may provoke God to plague them? The Magistrate hath many punishments for offenders besides death, as the stocks, the goal, the whip, the pillory, &c. and God hath more judgements besides damnation, as every man may hear by the threatenings, and see by the execution, and feel by the burden of them. David was as safe from being condemned, as Satan is out of all hope to be redeemed; and yet his calamities made him to groan, and cry, and roar as he saith. His blood was dried up, his moisture was like the drought of summer. His torment was as great 1as if his bones had been broken. And as no man should take encouragement by ought that is in himself to do that which is displeasing to the Lord; so is there a care to be had that we be not led by the examples of other men to do any thing which the word doth not allow. Some hereby take liberty for breach of the Sabbath, some for gaming, some for one thing, some for another. Good men, say they, use these things, and why then may not we also? But it is no part of their goodness, say we, and then why should you follow them therein at all? Their practise leadeth you to the like facts, but can it preserve you or themselves from the reward ⟨p. 111⟩thereof? The question is not therefore who they be that do it, but with what warrant, and how well they are like to speed for their doing.
Vse. 1 Admonition to euery one that feareth God, to looke well to his heart and wayes, that he retaine the feare of God constantly, and not be venturous to doe any thing that may offend him. The Lord hateth sinne as well in the godly as in the wicked, and will sooner smite the godly for his sinne, then the wicked, though not so grieuouslie. An example hereof was alreadie shewne in the Prophet slaine as he was going from Bethel. Ieroboams transgressions were begun long before the fault that hee committed; and yet the strooke came vpon him for his fault long before the destruction of Ieroboam and his house. And let no man say, I am safe, because I am sure to be saued; he may fall into great miserie in this life, though he be in state of happines for the life to come. Freedome from perdition doth not free men from all manner of punishments. What plague besides destruction can Christians say, we shall certainly escape, vnlesse they bee sure to escape such sinnes as may prouoke God to plague them? The Magistrate hath many punishments for offenders besides death, as the stocks, the goale, the whip, the pillarie, &c. and God hath more iudgements besides damnation, as euery man may heare by the threatnings, and see by the execution, and feele by the burden of them. Dauid was as safe from being condemned, as Satan is out of all hope to be redeemed; and yet his calamities made him to groane, and crie, and roare as he saith. His bloud was dried vp, his moisture was like the drought of summer. His torment was as great 1as if his bones had been broken. And as no man should take incouragement by ought that is in himselfe to doe that which is displeasing to the Lord; so is there a care to bee had that wee bee not led by the examples of other men to doe any thing which the word doth not allow. Some hereby take libertie for breach of the Sabbath, some for gaming, some for one thing, some for another. Good men, say they, vse these things, and why then may not wee also? But it is no part of their goodnes, say wee, and then why should you follow them therein at all? Their practise leadeth you to the like facts, but can it preserue you or themselues from the reward ⟨p. 111⟩thereof? The question is not therefore who they bee that do it, but with what warrant, and how well they are like to speede for their doing.
- 1Psal. 32. 4. and 51. 8.
