Lastly, Not to bear the evil is mercy, not only to Reason. 5 the good, but to the evil. You cannot be more cruel to them, then in sparing them. The greatest stroke that ever Israel felt from the hand of God was this, Why 1should they be stricken any more. Ephraims sorest judgement for Idolatry was this, Let him alone. If you would 2be a friend to evil men, wound them. A kiss is enmity. Favour and compliance fattens their sins, and hardens their hearts, whereas reproof and punishment may possibly reform and heal them. It was the wish of that good King; Let the righteous smite me, it shall 3be a kindness; and let him reprove me, it shall be an excellent Oil, which shall not break my head. There is no standing still in evil, the best, if let alone, when they do amiss, will be worse; How bad then will the worst be if they be let alone. And when they are at the worst, it is worst for themselves. Is it not then a kindness to smite them? It is always a kindness offered, though often it be not a kindness received: For of many that of Solomon is verified, Though thou shouldst 4bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle; yet will not his foolishness depart from him. And the Apostle is express in a Prophetic threat, Evil men and seducers 5(that is, evil men who are seducers, or among all evil men, especially seducers) shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. They cozen others, and the Devil cozens them. But if these will not receive ⟨p. 42⟩this kindness of smiting (ad correctionem) to amendment, it will be a kindness, which they cannot put off, to smite them (if they by Law deserve it) ad ruinam, to death. Seeing they as through the patience of God, so through the patience of man in bearing and forbearing them, do but treasure up wrath against the day of 6wrath, and the Revelation of the righteous judgement of God. The judgement of many had been (comparatively) Light, if they had not been so much borne with. As favour to a murderer often kills a second man, so it often adds a degree of wrath to the second death of the murderer. And this is proportionably true of every evil one we bear, unless such repent, they poor souls bear the more for ever.
Lastly, Not to beare the evill is mercy, not onely to Reason. 5 the good, but to the evill. You cannot be more cruell to them, then in sparing them. The greatest stroake that ever Israel felt from the hand of God was this, Why 1should they be stricken any more. Ephraims sorest judgement for Idolatry was this, Let him alone. If you would 2be a friend to evill men, wound them. A kisse is enmity. Favour and complyance fattens their sinnes, and hardens their hearts, whereas reproofe and punishment may possibly reforme and heale them. It was the wish of that good King; Let the righteous smite me, it shall 3be a kindnesse; and let him reprove me, it shall be an excellent Oyle, which shall not breake my head. There is no standing still in evill, the best, if let alone, when they doe amisse, will be worse; How bad then will the worst be if they be let alone. And when they are at the worst, it is worst for themselves. Is it not then a kindnesse to smite them? It is alwayes a kindnesse offered, though often it be not a kindnesse received: For of many that of Solomon is verified, Though thou shouldst 4bray a foole in a morter among wheate with a pestell; yet will not his foolishnesse depart from him. And the Apostle is expresse in a Propheticke threat, Evill men and seducers 5(that is, evill men who are seducers, or among all evill men, especially seducers) shall waxe worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. They couzen others, and the Devill couzens them. But if these will not receive ⟨p. 42⟩this kindnesse of smiting (ad correctionem) to amendment, it will be a kindnesse, which they cannot put off, to smite them (if they by Law deserve it) ad ruinam, to death. Seeing they as through the patience of God, so through the patience of man in bearing and forbearing them, doe but treasure up wrath against the day of 6wrath, and the Revelation of the righteous judgement of God. The judgement of many had been (comparatively) Light, if they had not been so much borne with. As favour to a murderer often kils a second man, so it often addes a degree of wrath to the second death of the murderer. And this is proportionably true of every evill one we beare, unlesse such repent, they poore soules beare the more for ever.
- 1Isa. 1. 5.
- 2Hos. 5. 17.
- 3Ps. 141. 5.
- 4Pro. 27. 22
- 52 Tim. •. 13.
- 6Rom. 2. 5.
