A sermon preached upon Ezek. 22. 30, 31. Occasioned by the death of the…

2. To stand in the Gap notes an act, or continued acts of zeal, and it is done when there are such as thrust themselves in between a sinning people, and a provoked God, and do their utmost to stand in the way of Judgements and stop them: when there are those, who though they cannot do what they would in Reformation, yet do the utmost they can both with God, and with a revolting people; both intercede with God, and bear a due testimony against sin. Thus Aaron when a flood of misery was broke in, throws himself in the midst of it and makes an atonement. Numb. 16. 47, 48. He took incense, and stood between the living and the dead, and the plague was stayed: when they hold Gods hand, so that he cannot do what he otherwise would, as long as they are there. Sodom would not burn so long as Lot was in it, but as soon as he was out it proved but tinder to the sparks of divine indignation. As also when they execute the punishment upon those that are the procuring cause of these Judgments, thus the Levites by their integrity and impartiality turned away wrath from the people, when they appeared on the Lords side, and slew every man his brother, Ex••. 32. 26. thus Phinehas his zeal, when he slew Zimri and Cosbi, those impudent sinners, was greatly acceptable unto God, and stayed his anger, which was […] against his people. Numb. 25. 11, 12. these are those Worthies that have power with God himself that blunt the edge of his fury, and turn by the stroke of his revenge, that it cannot light where else it would.

2. To stand in the Gap notes an act, or continued acts of zeal, and it is done when there are such as thrust themselves in between a sinning people, and a provoked God, and doe their utmost to stand in the way of Judgements and stop them: when there are those, who though they cannot doe what they would in Reformation, yet doe the utmost they can both with God, and with a revolting people; both intercede with God, and bear a due testimony against sin. Thus Aaron when a flood of misery was broke in, throws himself in the midst of it and makes an atonement. Numb. 16. 47, 48. He took incense, and stood between the living and the dead, and the plague was stayed: when they hold Gods hand, so that he cannot doe what he otherwise would, as long as they are there. Sodom would not burn so long as Lot was in it, but assoon as he was out it proved but tinder to the sparks of divine indignation. As also when they execute the punishment upon those that are the procuring cause of these Judgments, thus the Levites by their integrity and impartiality turned away wrath from the people, when they appeared on the Lords side, and slew every man his brother, Ex. 32. 26. thus Phinehas his zeal, when he slew Zimri and Cosbi, those impudent sinners, was greatly acceptable unto God, and stayed his anger, which was against his people.