And this is the meaning of these words: The doctrines 1which arise out of them are divers. First we may observe out of the general scope of this Chapter our exceeding proneness to run into two extremes, secure presumption, & abject desperation, in respect of our divers estate and condition: when we are in prosperity we are deaf to all reprehension, admonition & threatenings, we flatteringly persuade our selves, that this Sun of Gods favour will ever shine upon us, notwithstanding that our sins continually ascend, and as a thick cloud interpose themselves between us & the beams of Gods love; and when we hear Gods curses, we bless our selves in our hearts saying: I shall have peace although I walk 2according to the stubbornness of mine own heart, adding drunkenness unto thirst, as it is, Deut. 29 19. Yea when the Lord beginneth to punish, we are ready in the security of our hearts to promise unto our selves immunity, and to say with those wicked men. Isaiah. 28. 15. We have made a covenant with 3death, and with hell we are at agreement, though a scourge run over, and pass through, it shall not come at us, &c. And on the other side, when God withdraweth from us his gracious countenance, and taking away our prosperity, in stead thereof layeth upon us affliction and adversity, then we are as ready to fall into the contrary extreme, concluding that God hath utterly rejected us, and cast us off for ever, foolishly imagining that when our Sun of comfort is once set, and the night of sorrow and adversity hath overshadowed us, that it will never arise again and replenish our hearts with joy and consolation. An example hereof we have in the Israelites, in this place, and in David. Psal. 30. 6. 8. The consideration whereof should move all Gods Ministers according to the practise of the Prophet in this place, wisely to intermix ⟨p. 8⟩comminations with consolations, judgement with mercy, threatenings with promises, and the Law with the Gospel, that they may keep men in an even course, and in the golden mean, neither presumptuously going forward in sin, in regard of Gods mercies and benefits, nor desperately sinking under the weight of sin and punishment, when they are overtaken of Gods judgements.
And this is the meaning of these words: The doctrines 1which arise out of them are diuers. First we may obserue out of the generall scope of this Chapter our exceeding pronenesse to run into two extreams, secure presumption, & abiect desperation, in respect of our diuers estate and condition: when we are in prosperity we are deafe to all reprehension, admonion & threatnings, we flatteringly perswade our selues, that this Sunne of Gods fauour will euer shine vpon vs, notwithstanding that our sinnes continually ascend, and as a thick cloud interpose themselues betweene vs & the beams of Gods loue; and when we heare Gods curses, we blesse our selues in our hearts saying: I shall haue peace although I walk 2according to the stubbernenesse of mine owne heart, adding drunkennesse vnto thirst, as it is, Deut. 29 19. Yea when the Lord beginneth to punish, we are ready in the securitie of our hearts to promise vnto our selues immunitie, and to say with those wicked men. Esay. 28. 15. We haue made a couenant with 3death, and with hell we are at agreement, though ascourge run ouer, and passe through, it shall not come at vs, &c. And on the other side, when God withdraweth from vs his gracious countenance, and taking away our prosperitie, in stead thereof layeth vpon vs affliction and aduersitie, then we are as ready to fall into the contrary extreame, concluding that God hath vtterly reiected vs, and cast vs off for euer, foolishly imagining that when our Sunne of comfort is once set, and the night of sorrow and aduersitie hath ouershadowed vs, that it will neuer arise againe and replenish our hearts with ioy and consolation. An example hereof we haue in the Israelites, in this place, and in Dauid. Psal. 30. 6. 8. The consideration whereof should moue all Gods Ministers according to the practise of the Prophet in this place, wisely to intermixe ⟨p. 8⟩comminations with consolations, iudgement with mercy, threatnings with promises, and the Law with the Gospell, that they may keep men in an euen course, and in the golden meane, neither presumptuously going forward in sin, in regard of Gods mercies and benefits, nor desperately sincking vnder the waight of sinne and punishment, when they are ouertaken of Gods iudgements.
- 1Our proneness to fall into desperation or presumption.Our pronenesse to fall into desperation or presumption.
- 2Deut. 29. 19.
- 3Isaiah. 28. 15.Esay. 28. 15.
