An exposition with practical observations continued upon the eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of…An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of…

Paul having escaped death in a wreck at sea, could not escape a hard censure at land, when a viper was seen upon his hand: This man (say those Barbarians of Melita among themselves) is no doubt a murderer, whom though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live (Act. 28.4.) We find also that those exemplary judgements which befell the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices (it seems he caused them to be slain, while they offered sacrifice) and those upon whom the Tower of Silo fell, left them all under a charge of highest wickedness; else Christ had not taken it off, saying, Suppose ye that those Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans, because they ⟨p. 433⟩suffered such things? or those eighteen upon whom the Tower of Silo fell, think ye that they were sinners above all that dwelt in Jerusalem? As if he had said, I, who know your thoughts, know ye are ready to think so. It is a very ill, but it is a very common thing, to judge both of persons and of causes by success. Doth a man gain and thrive in the world; here's a man sure whom God loves, saith the world. Though a Jeremiah can say, Why doth the way of the wicked prosper? He can see them to be wicked through all their prosperity; yet, how often are they accounted righteous, who prosper; and good, who enjoy good? But doth a man wither and go down the wind in the world? He's a man sure whom God hates, saith the world. Man is apt to think them the worst, who suffer worst, and that they have sinned most who have most sorrow. The Prophet (Isa. 53.4, 5.) fore-tells that Christ himself, While he bore our griefs, and carried our sorrows, should be esteemed stricken, smitten of God and afflicted. Christ was esteemed a great sinner, when God gave him up to be smitten for sinners; therefore he adds, but he was wounded for our transgressions, &c.

Paul having escaped death in a wreck at sea, could not escape a hard censure at land, when a viper was seen upon his hand: This man (say those Barbarians of Melita among themselves) is no doubt a murderer, whom though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live (Act. 28.4.) We finde also that those exemplary judgements which befell the Galileans, whose bloud Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices (it seems he caused them to be slain, while they offered sacrifice) and those upon whom the Tower of Siloe fell, left them all under a charge of highest wickednesse; else Christ had not taken it off, saying, Suppose ye that those Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans, because they