And may not this seem strange and amazing? Sodom was a City that was wicked to a Prodigy, and to a Proverb. It's said, Gen. 13.13. That the men of Sodom were sinners and wicked before the Lord exceedingly. And impudency in sin is called a declaring their sin like Sodom, Isai. 3.9. And they are to me like Sodom, saith God, speaking of the sin of the Jews, Jer. 23.14. And wicked Rulers are called Rulers of Sodom, Isai. 1.10. Whereupon Lot is said to vex his righteous Soul with their unlawful Deeds, 2 Pet. 2.8. And there is a sin, not fit to be mentioned, called by the name of Sodomy; so denominated from the place. Yet notwithstanding all this, it will be more tolerable for Sodom than Capernaum in the day of Judgment: Capernaum was lifted up to Heaven by many favours and privileges, which were not vouchsafed to Sodom; had means of knowing the Saviour of the World, and the way of Salvation above what Sodom had; had Christ himself, the Son of God present, preaching, and doing many wonderful Works in it, which Sodom never had. Many things are recorded in the Evangelists about this Capernaum, and its Privileges above most Cities. It's said, that Christ dwelt here, ⟨p. 37⟩Matth. 4.13. Here he healed the Centurion's servant by a word from his mouth, Matth. 8. Here he healed Peter's Wife's Mother, and many that were sick, and possest of Devils, ibid. And here he healed the Paralytic man let down through the Tiles of the House, Mark. 2.1, 2, 3, &c. And here he cast out the unclean Spirit by a rebuke from his mouth, Mark 1.24. Here he wrought the Miracle of the Tribute-money taken out of the mouth of a Fish, Matth. 17. Here he entered the Synagogue, and taught once and again, that they were astonished at his Doctrine. And here he preached that divine and mysterious Sermon about the Bread of life which came down from Heaven, and eating the Flesh, and drinking the Blood of the Son of Man, John 6.59. And this City was so famous for Christ's Miracles, that when he came to Nazareth, they expected him to do the works there which he had done in Capernaum, Luke 4.23. Now when after all this, Capernaum did not receive him nor his Doctrine, but murmured at both, John 6.41. and turned not to God by true repentance: this was the Sin of that City, which will make it more tolerable for Sodom in the day of Judgment, than for it.
And may not this seem strange and amazing? Sodom was a City that was wicked to a Prodigy, and to a Proverb. It's said, Gen. 13.13. That the men of Sodom were sinners and wicked before the Lord exceedingly. And impudency in sin is called a declaring their sin like Sodom, Isai. 3.9. And they are to me like Sodom, saith God, speaking of the sin of the Jews, Jer. 23.14. And wicked Rulers are called Rulers of Sodom, Isai. 1.10. Whereupon Lot is said to vex his righteous Soul with their unlawful Deeds, 2 Pet. 2.8. And there is a sin, not fit to be mention'd, call'd by the name of Sodomy; so denominated from the place. Yet notwithstanding all this, it will be more tolerable for Sodom than Capernaum in the day of Judgment: Capernaum was lifted up to Heaven by many favours and priviledges, which were not vouchsafed to Sodom; had means of knowing the Saviour of the World, and the way of Salvation above what Sodom had; had Christ himself, the Son of God present, preaching, and doing many wonderful Works in it, which Sodom never had. Many things are recorded in the Evangelists about this Capernaum, and its Priviledges above most Cities. It's said, that Christ dwelt here, ⟨p. 37⟩Matth. 4.13. Here he heal'd the Centurion's servant by a word from his mouth, Matth. 8. Here he healed Peter's Wife's Mother, and many that were sick, and possest of Devils, ibid. And here he heal'd the Paralytick man let down through the Tiles of the House, Mark. 2.1, 2, 3, &c. And here he cast out the unclean Spirit by a rebuke from his mouth, Mark 1.24. Here he wrought the Miracle of the Tribute-money taken out of the mouth of a Fish, Matth. 17. Here he entred the Synagogue, and taught once and again, that they were astonish't at his Doctrine. And here he preached that divine and mysterious Sermon about the Bread of life which came down from Heaven, and eating the Flesh, and drinking the Blood of the Son of Man,
