Fourthly, the consideration of this calls for a trembling heart unto all those that have been 1guilty in any degree of casting reproaches upon the people of God. In this Use we have three branches: First, those that have done it themselves: Secondly, those that rejoice in the reproaches that others cast upon Gods people: Thirdly, those that are the divulgers and spreaders of the reproaches of Gods people. In Zeph. 2. The Holy Ghost there rebuking Moab for reproaching his people in the eighth and tenth verses, at the eleventh verse it is said, The Lord will be terrible to them: there are some of you, that howsoever God have shown you better things now, yet heretofore you have been guilty, and it may be some of you are guilty of this still; and if you be guilty, the Lord will be terrible to you. God hath contempt and dishonour for you, as you have cast contempt and dishonour upon Christ: suitable to your sin shall be your punishment. That is observable that we have in Psalm 59. verse 6. their sin is, They return at evening, they make a noise like a dog, and go round about the City: thus is their sin, and it is their sin of reproach and scorn, as appears in the following words, verse 7. They belch out with their mouth: and observe ver. 14. their judgement is expressed in the same words, And at the evening let them return, and let them make a noise like a dog, and go round about the City. Did ⟨p. 425⟩your reproaches reach no further then the Saints themselves, yet in regard of that excellency there is in them, it is an abominable wickedness. Mark with what indignation the Spirit of God speaks against such as are guilty herein, Isa. 57. 3, 4. Draw near hither ye sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer, and the whore, against whom do ye sport your selves? against whom do ye make a wide mouth, and draw out the tongue? are ye not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood? What, you who are so vile and filthy your selves, will you presume to reproach the Saints of God, such as are so precious in the eyes of God, and so near to Christ? Know, you have not to deal with them only, but with Christ in them. You think you have to do only with a company of poor weak creatures that are not able to right themselves; but know, you have to do with Christ himself. Mark that expression we have in Isa. 37. 23. it is spoken concerning Rabshekah, Whom hast thou reproached?
FOurthly, the consideration of this calls for a trembling heart unto all those that have been 1guilty in any degree of casting reproaches upon the people of God. In this Use we have three branches: First, those that have done it themselves: Secondly, those that rejoyce in the reproaches that others cast upon Gods people: Thirdly, those that are the divulgers and spreaders of the reproaches of Gods people. In Zeph. 2. The Holy Ghost there rebuking Moab for reproaching his people in the eighth and tenth verses, at the eleventh verse it is said, The Lord will be terrible to them: there are some of you, that howsoever God have shewn you better things now, yet heretofore you have been guilty, and it may be some of you are guilty of this still; and if you be guilty, the Lord will be terrible to you. God hath contempt and dishonor for you, as you have cast contempt and dishonor upon Christ: suitable to your sin shall be your punishment. That is observable that we have in Psalm 59. verse 6. their sin is, They return at evening, they make a noise like a dog, and go round about the City: thus is their sin, and it is their sin of reproach and scorn, as appears in the following words, verse 7. They belch out with their mouth: and observe ver. 14. their judgement is expressed in the same words, And at the evening let them return, and let them make a noise like a dog, and go round about the City. Did ⟨p. 425⟩your reproaches reach no further then the Saints themselves, yet in regard of that excellency there is in them, it is an abominable wickedness. Mark with what indignation the Spirit of God speaks against such as are guilty herein, Isa. 57. 3, 4. Draw near hither ye sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer, and the whore, against whom do ye sport your selves? against whom do ye make a wide mouth, and draw out the tongue? are ye not children of transgression, a seed of falshood? What, you who are so vile and filthy your selves, will you presume to reproach the Saints of God, such as are so precious in the eyes of God, and so near to Christ? Know, you have not to deal with them onely, but with Christ in them. You think you have to do onely with a company of poor weak creatures that are not able to right themselves; but know, you have to do with Christ himself. Mark that expression we have in Isa. 37. 23. it is spoken concerning Rabshekah, Whom hast thou reproached?
- 1Use 4.
