1See from hence that as God doth Register the good works of his People, so he hath a Book of Remembrance to write down the sins of the wicked, Isa. 30.8. Go, write it before them in a Table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come, for ever, that this is a Rebellious People, ⟨p. 147⟩that will not hear the Law of the Lord. Mens sins are written in the book of Conscience, and the Book of Gods Omniscience. They think because God doth not speak to them by his loud Judgements, therefore God doth not know their sins; but though God doth not speak, he writes, Jer. 17.1. The sin of Judah is written with a Pen of Iron and the Point of a Diamond. God scores down every act of Oppression, Bribery, Uncleanness, Hos. 7.2. They consider not in their Heart, that I remember all their wickedness. King Belshazzar was carousing and drinking wine in bowls, and praising his Gods of Gold and Silver; but while he was sinning, God was writing, Dan. 5.6. In the same hour came forth fingers of a mans hand, and wrote upon the Plaster of the Wall of the Kings Palace, and the King saw part of the hand that wrote: then the Kings countenance was changed. We read of Gods Book, Rev. 20.12. The books were opened: and his Bag, Job 14.17. My transgression is sealed up in a bag. It seems to allude to Law-Courts where there are Indictments against such Malefactors ⟨p. 148⟩sealed up in a Bag, and are produced at the assizes. When God shall open his black book wherein mens Names are written, and his bag wherein their sins are written: then their Hearts will tremble, and their knees smite one against another. Every Lye a sinner tells, every Oath he Swears, every drunken bout, God writes it down in his book of Remembrance; and woe to him if the book be not crossed with the Blood of Christ.
1See from hence that as God doth Register the good works of his People, so he hath a Book of Remembrance to write down the sins of the wicked, Isa. 30.8. Go, write it before them in a Table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come, for ever, that this is a Rebellious People, ⟨p. 147⟩that will not hear the Law of the Lord. Mens sins are written in the book of Conscience, and the Book of Gods Omnisciency. They think because God doth not speak to them by his loud Judgements, therefore God doth not know their sins; but though God doth not speak, he writes, Jer. 17.1. The sin of Iudah is written with a Pen of Iron and the Point of a Diamond. God scores down every act of Oppression, Bribery, Uncleanness, Hos. 7.2. They consider not in their Heart, that I remember all their wickedness. King Belshazzer was carousing and drinking wine in bowls, and praising his Gods of Gold and Silver; but while he was sinning, God was writing, Dan. 5.6. In the same hour came forth fingers of a mans hand, and wrote upon the Plaister of the Wall of the Kings Palace, and the King saw part of the hand that wrote: then the Kings countenance was changed. We read of Gods Book, Rev. 20.12. The books were opened: and his Bag, Job 14.17. My transgression is sealed up in a bag. It seems to allude to Law-Courts where there are Indictments against such Malefactours ⟨p. 148⟩sealed up in a Bag, and are produced at the assizes. When God shall open his black book wherein mens Names are written, and his bag wherein their sins are written: then their Hearts will tremble, and their knees smite one against another. Every Lye a sinner tells, every Oath he Swears, every drunken bout, God writes it down in his book of Remembrance; and woe to him if the book be not crossed with the Blood of Christ.
- 12 Branch.
