But thirdly it is read plainly by most thus, I will not punish them when they commit adultery] that is, I will show my wrath against you in this that I will even give up your children and your wives, let them do what they will I will not restrain them by any punishment. And this is many times a way of Gods judgment against wicked ones, that the Lord will not restrain them in their evil ways, that's the especial Note from these words,1 That it is one of the most fearful judgments of God in the world, for the Lord not to restrain men from their wicked ways but to let them go on and to have their will in them for a while. Hierom 2upon those words in Ezek. 7.4. I will not spare. God doth not spare saith he that he might spare, he hath not mercy that he might have mercy upon people, that is, when God intends any good then he will not spare, that is, he will afflict and chastise, those that he loves he will chastise, but if you be bastards and not children he doth not care for chastising of you.3 All the while a parent hath any respect to a child and intendeth he should inherit, he doth correct him, but when once he hath cast off a child and is fully resolved he shall never inherit one penny of all that he hath, he lets him go on and take his course. A Physician doth so with a patient, he will give him potions and bitter potions all the while that there is hope, but if the disease be grown too strong and there is no hope,4 he lets him alone; thus God deals with sinners many times in this world. Origen 5in one of his Sermons upon Exodus quoting this Scripture he hath this expression, Will you hear the terrible voice of a provoked God! I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom nor your spouses when they commit adultery, this is the most terrible thing this is the most extreme thing of wrath and judgment that can be imagined, here is a terrible voice of God indeed, I will not punish you. So Luther, Woe to those men at whose sins God winketh. It is a fearful judgment to fall into the hands of the living God, but it is a more fearful judgment to fall out of the hands of the living God in this regard.
But thirdly it is read plainly by most thus, I will not punish them when they commit adultery] that is, I will shew my wrath against you in this that I will even give up your children and your wives, let them do what they will I will not restrain them by any punishment. And this is many times a way of Gods judgment against wicked ones, that the Lord will not restrain them in their evil waies, that's the especial Note from these words,1 That it is one of the most fearful judgments of God in the world, for the Lord not to restrain men from their wicked waies but to let them go on and to have their will in them for a while. Hierom 2upon those words in Ezek. 7.4. I will not spare. God doth not spare saith he that he might spare, he hath not mercy that he might have mercy upon people, that is, when God intends any good then he will not spare, that is, he will afflict and chastise, those that he loves he will chastise, but if you be bastards and not children he doth not care for chastising of you.3 All the while a parent hath any respect to a child and intendeth he should inherit, he doth correct him, but when once he hath cast off a child and is fully resolved he shal never inherit one penny of all that he hath, he lets him go on and take his course. A Phisitian doth so with a patient, he will give him potions and bitter potions all the while that there is hope, but if the disease be grown too strong and there is no hope,4 he lets him alone; thus God deals with sinners many times in this world. Origen 5in one of his Sermons upon Exodus quoting this Scripture he hath this expression, Will you hear the terrible voyce of a provoked God! I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom nor your spouses when they commit adultery, this is the most terrible thing this is the most extream thing of wrath and judgment that can be imagined, here is a terrible voice of God indeed, I will not punish you. So Luther, Wo to those men at whose sins God winketh. It is a fearful judgment to fall into the hands of the living God, but it is a more fearful judgment to fall out of the hands of the living God in this regard.
- 1Obser.
- 2Hierom.
- 3simile
- 4Hom. 8. in 20. cap Exod. vis indignantis Dei terribilem vocem audire, &c. Luther Vae illi ad quorū peccata conni•eo Deus.Hom. 8. in 20. cap Exod. vis indignantis Dei terribilem vocem audire, &c. Luther Vae illi ad quorū peccata conni•eo Deus.
- 5Origen
