Secondly, The Lord doth it not only that he may have witnesses of his Justice, but also that his Justice and the proceedings of it, may have an effect and a fruit upon those who did not feel it, nor fall under it. This was the reason why the Lord threatened to punish Jerusalem in the sight of the nations (Ezek: 5.5, 6, 7, 8, 14, 15.1) Thus saith the Lord God, this is Jerusalem, I have set it in the midst of the nations and Countries that are round about her. God is said (Psal: 74.12.) To work salvation in the midst of the Earth; that is, in Jerusalem, or among his people, who were placed as it were in the Centre, and middle part of the world: not that Jerusalem stood exactly in the midst of the world, but because many Nations stood about it, that might well be called a City standing in the midst of the nations; and therefore it is added (v. 8.) Thus saith the Lord God, Behold I, even I am against thee, and will execute Judgement in the midst of thee, in the sight of the nations. God would execute Judgement in Jerusalem a City placed in the midst of the nations, that as the nations had taken notice of the extraordinary favours, benefits, deliverances, and salvations which God wrought for Jerusalem; so they might also take notice of his judgements and sore displeasure against them. Jerusalem was not seated in some nook, corner, or by-place of the world, but in the midst of the nations, that both the goodness and severity of God towards them might be conspicuous; And that ⟨p. 697⟩the nations round about seeing the sufferings of that people for their sin, might fear and tremble to sin as they had done; for if Jerusalem the seat of instituted worship and Gods peculiar people were not spared when they provoked God, their neighbours might well conclude, surely we shall not be spared: As the Lord himself argued it against those uncircumcised nations (Jer: 25.20.) Behold I will bring evil upon the City that is called by my name, and should ye go utterly unpunished? Certainly no! If God punish his own people in the sight of the heathenish nations when they do wickedly, what then are heathen nations to expect, who do nothing but wickedness?
Secondly, The Lord doth it not onely that he may have witnesses of his Justice, but also that his Justice and the proceedings of it, may have an effect and a fruit upon those who did not feele it, nor fall under it. This was the reason why the Lord threatned to punish Jerusalem in the sight of the nations (Ezek: 5.5, 6, 7, 8, 14, 15.1) Thus saith the Lord God, this is Jerusalem, I have set it in the midst of the nations and Countryes that are round about her. God is sayd (Psal: 74.12.) To work salvation in the midst of the Earth; that is, in Jerusalem, or among his people, who were placed as it were in the Center, and middle part of the world: not that Jerusalem stood exactly in the midst of the world, but because many Nations stood about it, that might well be called a City standing in the midst of the nations; and therefore it is added (v. 8.) Thus saith the Lord God, Behold I, even I am against thee, and will execute Judgement in the midst of thee, in the sight of the nations. God would execute Judgement in Jerusalem a City placed in the midst of the nations, that as the nations had taken notice of the extraordinary favours, benefits, deliverances, and salvations which God wrought for Jerusalem; so they might also take notice of his judgements and sore displeasure against them. Jerusalem was not seated in some nooke, corner, or by-place of the world, but in the midst of the nations, that both the goodnesse and severity of God towards them might be conspicuous; And that ⟨p. 697⟩the nations round about seeing the sufferings of that people for their sin, might feare and tremble to sin as they had done; for if Jerusalem the seate of instituted worship and Gods peculiar people were not spared when they provoked God, their neighbours might well conclude, surely we shall not be spared: As the Lord himselfe argued it against those uncircumcised nations (Jer: 25.20.) Behold I will bring evill upon the City that is called by my name, and should ye goe utterly unpunished? Certainly no! If God punish his own people in the sight of the heathenish nations when they doe wickedly, what then are heathen nations to expect, who doe nothing but wickednesse?
- 1Jerusalem dicitur medium terrae, ut pote quae su in quarto climate ideo autem urbem in medio mundi constitutam et quisi in loco videntium elegit deus, ut sicut beneficia ita et supplicia eorum omnibus essent conspicua. Pined:
