An exposition with practical observations continued upon the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh chapters…

An objection may seem to lye against this, from that award of judgement against Babylon: Double to her double, according to her works, it may seem that her harvest of punishment must exceed in ¹double proportion, her seed time of sinning; The Psalmist speaks yet higher, Render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom, their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee O Lord. Render ²sevenfold, that is, manifold: That number in Scripture, multiplies the sense into any number; To render sevenfold, may be rendered the greatest number.

An objection may seeme to lye against this, from that award of judgement against Babylon: Double to her double, according to her works, it may seeme that her harvest of punishment must exceed in ¹double proportion, her seed time of sinning; The Psalmist speakes yet higher, Render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosome, their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee O Lord. Render ²sevenfold, that is, manifold: That number in Scripture, multiplies the sense into any number; To render sevenfold, may be rendred the greatest number.

1. 1Rev. 18. 6.
2. 2Psal. 79. 12.

I answer, Babylons punishment shall be double, respecting what Babylon shall have acted, but not double, respecting what Babylon shall have deserved; Give to her double; if it be possible, let her have as much blood more to drink, as she hath spilt, for she deserveth to drink an hundred times more. The blood of Saints, is precious blood; one drop of the blood of Zion, is more worth than a whole ocean of the blood of Babylon, therefore give her double; though it be more in quantity, it is not so much in value. And so, reward our neighbours that have reproached thee sevenfold, it is not sevenfold beyond their deserts; for one scorn that a wicked man poureth upon a child of God (and so upon God, for that's the meaning of the Psalm) cannot be recompensed with ten thousand reproaches, poured upon wicked men: Reproach is the due of ungodly men here, and everlasting reproach, shall be their portion hereafter. But the least reproach cast upon God, is an infinite wrong; and the reproach of his people is so much his, that he reckons it as his own: And will therefore take away all reproach from his people, and render to their unkind neighbours, their reproach sevenfold (and that's but equal) into their bosoms.