The temporal Prosperity of the Wicked, is consistent with ⟨p. 177⟩God's Hatred. When Men turn his Blessings into the fuel of their Lusts, and his Patience into an advantage of sinning more securely, how flourishing soever they are in the World, he looks on them with an avenging Eye. He hates all the workers of Iniquity. His seeming connivance is no Argument that he is not highly provoked by their Sins, or that they may obtain an easy Pardon. Yet this is the inward principle of the gross and outward Sins in the lives of Men, tho unobserved by them. As the vital Heat is not felt in the Heart, that is the Cause of all the Heat that is felt in the outward parts of the Body. These things hast thou done, (saith God to the rebellious Sinner) and I kept silence, that is, suspended1 the terrible Effects of Justice, ⟨p. 178⟩thou thoughts I was altogether such a one as thy self. Astonishing blindness! not to discern the apparent antipathy of such Connections. As if God's forbearance of the Guilty were forgiveness: and rebellion against his Commands, and the love of Sin which is enmity to him, were consistent with the fruition of his Favour. But we have the most clear and convincing assurance, God cannot be pleased with Men, without their being made like him in Righteousness and true Holiness. He sees and hates Sin, and abhors the Sinners tho for a time they are spared. Justice and Patience are his Attributes: He is slow to 2anger, and great in Power, and will not acquit the Guilty. He endures with much long-suffering the Vessels of 3Wrath, till they are fitted for destruction▪ ⟨p. 179⟩The presumptuous Sinner that is encouraged and hardened, as if Sin were not so hateful to God, because he enjoys the World in abundance, and expects an easy remission at last, fearfully deceives his Soul: He sows the Wind, and shall reap the Whirlwind.
The temporal Prosperity of the Wicked, is consistent with ⟨p. 177⟩God's Hatred. When Men turn his Blessings into the fuel of their Lusts, and his Patience into an advantage of sinning more securely, how flourishing soever they are in the World, he looks on them with an avenging Eye. He hates all the workers of Iniquity. His seeming connivance is no Argument that he is not highly provok'd by their Sins, or that they may obtain an easy Pardon. Yet this is the inward principle of the gross and outward Sins in the lives of Men, tho unobserved by them. As the vital Heat is not felt in the Heart, that is the Cause of all the Heat that is felt in the outward parts of the Body. These things hast thou done, (saith God to the rebellious Sinner) and I kept silence, that is, suspended1 the terrible Effects of Justice, ⟨p. 178⟩thou thoughts I was altogether such a one as thy self. Astonishing blindness! not to discern the apparent antipathy of such Connexions. As if God's forbearance of the Guilty were forgiveness: and rebellion against his Commands, and the love of Sin which is enmity to him, were consistent with the fruition of his Favour. But we have the most clear and convincing assurance, God cannot be pleased with Men, without their being made like him in Righteousness and true Holiness. He sees and hates Sin, and abhors the Sinners tho for a time they are spared. Justice and Patience are his Attributes: He is slow to 2anger, and great in Power, and will not acquit the Guilty. He endures with much long-suffering the Vessels of 3Wrath, till they are fitted for destruction▪ ⟨p. 179⟩The presumptuous Sinner that is encouraged and harden'd, as if Sin were not so hateful to God, because he enjoys the World in abundance, and expects an easy remission at last, fearfully deceives his Soul: He sows the Wind, and shall reap the Whirlwind.
- 1Psal. 50.
- 2Nahum 1. 3.
- 3Rom. 9. 22.
