4. In this Relation of Saints to Sinners that should put them upon §. 25 Mourning for them, 'tis very considerable, that the Godly and the Wicked make up one Community, or political Body, in the places where they live, in which respect, the Sins of some particular offender or offenders may ⟨p. 120⟩pull down Judgments upon the whole body, or lump of persons that abide where those offenders live. So that every one had need do his utmost by mourning, and in whatever other way he can to redress the Sins, and so to prevent the Plagues of the place where he lives. 'Tis very evident, Deut. 21.1, 2, 3. &c. the Blood of one man murdered, defiles the whole bordering Land, and provokes the Lords displeasure against a people, even all the place where one notorious Wickedness is committed. The Sin of making the Golden Calf, though 'twas not the Sin of all, yet it endangered all. The Altar built by the two Tribes and an half, which the rest of the Tribes thought had been built for Sacrifice, was thought by Phinehas to be so great a provocation, as that Josh. 22.18. for it the Lord would be wroth with the whole Congregation of Israel. For the villainy by some of the Inhabitants of Gibeah committed in abusing the Levites Concubine;1 the Vengeance came not only upon the City where it was committed,2 but upon all the Tribe of Benjamin: Achans Sin troubled all Israel: There came a Famine upon Israel for three years together, for the Sin of Saul in killing the Gibeonites contrary to his Fidelity. This was the chief Cause of the custom, which was at the public Fasts in Israel for the finding out of notorious Offenders, and offences to have Vengeance taken on them openly. Hence was the pretence of Jezebel for the killing of Naboth, 3under a show of Execution of Justice against a Blasphemer, to pacify Gods anger. By all this 'tis evident, what just cause the Godly have to mourn for all the Abominations committed among them, which else may pull down Divine Vengeance upon them.
4. In this Relation of Saints to Sinners that should put them upon §. 25 Mourning for them, 'tis very considerable, that the Godly and the Wicked make up one Community, or political Body, in the places where they live, in which respect, the Sins of some particular offender or offenders may ⟨p. 120⟩pull down Judgments upon the whole body, or lump of persons that abide where those offenders live. So that every one had need do his utmost by mourning, and in whatever other way he can to redress the Sins, and so to prevent the Plagues of the place where he lives. 'Tis very evident, Deut. 21.1, 2, 3. &c. the Blood of one man murdered, defiles the whole bordering Land, and provokes the Lords displeasure against a people, even all the place where one notorious Wickedness is committed. The Sin of making the Golden Calf, thô 'twas not the Sin of all, yet it endangered all. The Altar built by the two Tribes and an half, which the rest of the Tribes thought had been built for Sacrifice, was thought by Phineas to be so great a provocation, as that Josh. 22.18. for it the Lord would be wroth with the whole Congregation of Israel. For the villany by some of the Inhabitants of Gibeah committed in abusing the Levites Concubine;1 the Vengeance came not only upon the City where it was committed,2 but upon all the Tribe of Benjamin: Achans Sin troubled all Israel: There came a Famine upon Israel for three years together, for the Sin of Saul in killing the Gibeonites contrary to his Fidelity. This was the chief Cause of the custom, which was at the publick Fasts in Israel for the finding out of notorious Offenders, and offences to have Vengeance taken on them openly. Hence was the pretence of Jezabel for the killing of Naboth, 3under a shew of Execution of Justice against a Blasphemer, to pacifie Gods anger. By all this 'tis evident, what just cause the Godly have to mourn for all the Abominations committed among them, which else may pull down Divine Vengeance upon them.
- 1Judg. 20.46.
- 2Josh. 7.12. 2 Sam. 21.1.
- 31 King. 21.9, 10.
