Thirdly, I answer, That 'tis not holiness but wickedness, §3'tis not sanctity but impiety, that is the reproach, the dishonour, the disgrace, and disparagement of man. Pro. 14.34. Righteousness exalts a nation; but sin is a reproach to any people, or as the Hebrew has it, to nations. 1The world usually accounts either beggarliness of estate, or badness of situation, or rudeness of behaviour, or changes in Government, or dullness of invention, or a disuse of Arms, or some such like imperfections to be the reproach of Nations; but the holy Ghost tells us, that 'tis sin, 'tis sin that is the reproach of nations, that is the shame of nations, that is the contempt and scorn of nations, and that blots and blurs all the excellencies and glories of nations; impious persons makes the nations infamous, and the more impious any nation, City, or person is, the more infamous that nation, City, or person is. Pro. 6.32, 33. But who so committeth adultery ⟨p. 436⟩with a woman, 2lacketh understanding: he that doth it destroyeth his own soul. A w•und and dishonour shall he get, and his reproach shall not be wiped away. There is nothing that is such a blemish and such a wound to a mans honour as sin; sin leaves such a blot, such a blur, and such a reproach upon a mans name, fame, and reputation, that no Art, no pains shall ever be able to wipe it out; all the water in the Sea cannot wash away, nor all the rubbing in the world cannot wipe away the disgrace, disdain, and contempt, that enormities, that wickednesses lays a people under. Jer. 24.9. And I will deliver them to be removed, into all the kingdoms of the earth for their hurt, to be a reproach, and a proverb, a taunt and a curse in all places whether I shall drive them. 'Twas not for their holiness, their godliness, but for their wickedness and ungodliness, that God was resolved to make them a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse in all places. Pro. 10.7. The memory of the Just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot. The wickedness of the wicked heaps so much disgrace, disparagement, and dishonour upon them, that it makes their very names to rot and stink above ground; their carcasses do not more rot and stink under ground, then their very names do rot and stink above ground;
Thirdly, I answer, That 'tis not holiness but wickedness, §3'tis not sanctity but impiety, that is the reproach, the dishonor, the disgrace, and disparagement of man. Pro. 14.34. Righteousness exalts a nation; but sin is a reproach to any people, or as the Hebrew has it, to nations. 1The world usually accounts either beggerliness of estate, or badness of scituation, or rudeness of behaviour, or changes in Government, or dulness of invention, or a disuse of Armes, or some such like imperfections to be the reproach of Nations; but the holy Ghost tells us, that 'tis sin, 'tis sin that is the reproach of nations, that is the shame of nations, that is the contempt and scorne of nations, and that blots and blurres all the excellencies and glories of nations; impious persons makes the nations infamous, and the more impious any nation, City, or person is, the more infamous that nation, City, or person is. Pro. 6.32, 33. But who so committeth adultery ⟨p. 436⟩with a woman, 2lacketh understanding: he that doth it destroyeth his own soul. A w•und and dishonour shall he get, and his reproach shall not be wiped away. There is nothing that is such a blemish and such a wound to a mans honor as sin; sin leaves such a blot, such a blurr, and such a reproach upon a mans name, fame, and reputation, that no Art, no paines shall ever be able to wipe it out; all the water in the Sea cannot wash away, nor all the rubbing in the world cannot wipe away the disgrace, disdaine, and contempt, that enormities, that wickednesses lays a people under. Jer. 24.9. And I will deliver them to be removed, into all the kingdoms of the earth for their hurt, to be a reproach, and a proverb, a taunt and a curse in all places whether I shall drive them. 'Twas not for their holiness, their godliness, but for their wickedness and ungodliness, that God was resolv'd to make them a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse in all places. Pro. 10.7. The memory of the Just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot. The wickedness of the wicked heaps so much disgrace, disparagement, and dishonor upon them, that it makes their very names to rot and stinke above ground; their carkasses doe not more rot and stinke under ground, then their very names do rot and stinke above ground;
- 1[Greek or Hebrew] Nations or peoples.〈non-Latin alphabet〉 Nations or peoples.
- 2What an indelible blot was this still upon David, viz. That his heart was upright in all things save in the matter of Uriah.What an indeleble blot was this still upon David, viz. That his heart was upright in all things save in the matter of Ʋriah.
