Fifthly, God inflicts sore and great Judgments upon the sons of men, that he may try them, and make a more full discovery of themselves to themselves. Wicked men will never believe that their lusts are so strong, and that their hearts are so base, as indeed they are. 2 Kings 8. 12, 13. And Hazael ⟨p. 21⟩said, Why weepeth my Lord? and he answered, Because I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the Children of Israel; their strong holds wilt thou set on fire, and their young men wilt thou slay with the sword, and wilt dash their children, and rip up their women with child. And Hazael said, But what, is thy servant a dog, that he should do this great thing? And Elisha answered, The Lord hath showed me that thou shalt be King over Syria. Hazael could not imagine that he should be as fierce, cruel, murderous, and merciless as a dog, that will tear all in pieces that he can come at. It could never enter into his thoughts, that ever he should do such cruel, barbarous, horrid, and inhumane acts, as the Prophet spoke of; but he did no• know the depth of his own corruption, nor the desperateness, nor deceitfulness of his own heart. Isa. 18. 21. And they shall pass through it hardly bestead and hungry: and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall fr•t themselves, and curse their King, and their God, and look upward. When Judgments are upon them, then their wickedness appears rampant. They shall curse their own King for not defending, protecting, or relieving of them; they shall look upon him as the cause of all their wants, sorrows, and sufferings: and as men overwhelmed with misery, and full of indignation, they shall fall a cursing of him. And they shall curse their God, as well as their King, that is, say some, the true God, who deservedly brought these plagues upon them. Their God, that is, say others, their Melchom to whom they had sacrificed, and in whom they see now that they vainly trusted. So those desperate wretches under the Beast, Rev. 16. 8, 9. And the fourth Angel poured out his vial upon th• 2Sun, and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. And the men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the Name of God which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not, to give him glory. Vers. 10. And the fifth Angel poured out his vial upon the scent of the Beast;
Fifthly, God inflicts sore and great Judgments upon the sons of men, that he may try them, and make a more full discovery of themselves to themselves. Wicked men will never believe that their lusts are so strong, and that their hearts are so base, as indeed they are. 2 Kings 8. 12, 13. And Hazael ⟨p. 21⟩said, Why weepeth my Lord? and he answered, Because I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the Children of Israel; their strong holds wilt thou set on fire, and their young men wilt thou slay with the sword, and wilt dash their children, and rip up their women with child. And Hazael said, But what, is thy servant a dog, that he should do this great thing? And Elishu answered, The Lord hath shewed me that thou shalt be King over Syria. Hazael could not imagine that he should be as fierce, cruel, murderous, and merciless as a dog, that will tear all in pieces that he can come at. It could never enter into his thoughts, that ever he should do such cruel, barbarous, horrid, and inhumane acts, as the Prophet spoke of; but he did no• know the depth of his own corruption, nor the desperateness, nor deceitfu•ness of his own heart. Isa. 18. 21. And they shall pass through it hardly bestead and hungry: and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall fr•t themselves, and curse their King, and their God, and look upward. When Judgments are upon them, then their wickedness appears rampant. They shall curse their own King for not defending, protecting, or relieving of them; they shall look upon him as the cause of all their wants, sorrows, and sufferings: and as men overwhelmed with misery, and full of indignation, they shall fall a cursing of him. And they shall curse their God, as well as their King, that is, say some, the true God, who deservedly brought these plagues upon them. Their God, that is, say others, their Melchom to whom they had sacrificed, and in whom they see now that they vainly trusted. So those desperate wretches under the Beast, Rev. 16. 8, 9. And the fourth Angel poured out his vial upon th• 2
- 1Jer. 17. 9.
- 2Plutarch observes that it is the quality of Tigers to grow mad, and tear themselves in pieces, if they hearbut Drums or Tabers to sound about them, l•b. de superstitione.Plutarch observes that it is the quality of Tygers to grow mad, and tear themselves in pieces, if they hearbut Drums or Tabers to sound about them, l•b. de superstitione.
