Casuistical morning-exercises the fourth volume /

Seventhly, Magistrates by a vigorous suppression of profaneness may most happily both prevent the coming of those Judgments which are impending over a Nation, and remove those which are incumbent and heavy upon it. They may stay the hand of revenging justice, when it is lifted up, as Abraham's was, and ready to give the fatal stroke, and also they may take off the hand of God when it lies heavy upon a people, and presseth them sore, or, to use Davids expression▪ they may remove the stroke away from it, and hold his hand when it is about repeating of the blow. I shall speak to both these under this head. They may prevent a Judgment, and dispel that Cloud which threatens a storm. Hence it was that when the people had most grievously offended and provoked God by making a Golden Calf, and then worshipping it after the manner of Egypt, Moses said unto the Sons of Levi who had gathered themselves together unto him as Persons resolved to be on the Lords side, Exod. 32.27. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, put every man his Sword by his side, and go in and out from Gate to Gate throughout the Camp, and slay every man his Brother, ⟨p. 346⟩and every man his Companion, and every man his Neighbour. And the Children of Levi did according to the word of Moses, and there fell of the People that day about three thousand men. Observe his temper; He was the meekest Man in the Earth, of a most sweet and loving Disposition, knowing how to bear and forbear, but now he was all on a flame, the Lamb was turned into a Lion, He was nearly and greatly concerned for the Name and Honour of his God, and He accordingly set upon the doing of Justice, and therefore made many a Sacrifice; and when that was done he said unto the People upon the Morrow, ver. 30. Ye have sinned a great Sin, and now I will go up unto the Lord, peradventure I shall make an Atonement for your Sin. Now that I have done the Duty of my place, now that I have vindicated the Honour of God, now that there hath been this due Execution of Justice, Now I will go up unto the Lord, and I will go up in hope, now I have a peradventure to encourage me to think, that I shall make an Atonement for you. And let us not pass over in silence, that which you have in ver. 29. of the same Chapter.

Seventhly, Magistrates by a vigorous suppression of prophaneness may most happily both prevent the coming of those Judgments which are impending over a Nation, and remove those which are incumbent and heavy upon it. They may stay the hand of revenging justice, when it is lifted up, as Abrahams was, and ready to give the fatal stroke, and also they may take off the hand of God when it lies heavy upon a people, and presseth them sore, or, to use Davids expression they may remove the stroke away from it, and hold his hand when it is about repeating of the blow. I shall speak to both these under this head. They may prevent a Judgment, and dispel that Cloud which threatens a storm. Hence it was that when the people had most grievously offended and provoked God by making a Golden Calf, and then worshipping it after the manner of Egypt, Moses said unto the Sons of Levi who had gathered themselves together unto him as Persons resolved to be on the Lords side,