AnExpofition upon theBoe& ofJ OB. Verf. 4, 25 which theirfin defervedfrll upon them ; He bath rewarded then; ac- cording to their iniquity (Ifa. 64.6,7 jQur iniquities like the vi,zd have taken us away :1hou haft hid thyfacefrom its, and haft confu= med (or melted) us becaufe of our iniquities. The Hebrew is, Thou haft conjumed or melted us in the hand, or in the power ofour ffltu0z iH iniquities. And fomewhat parallel to this fenfe, is that (Gen... 6.) monuznigaira- Ifthou doff ill (faithGod to Cain)fin lies at the door ; As if he tánoflrx.yut. had laid, thou thalt be given into the hand of fin prefently , thy fin fhall arreft thee, and bring thofe evils upon thee which it de-- ferveth; thou (halt not need any other punifhinent, then thyown wickednefs. Hands and power are afcribed to fin, becaufe God gives men over to thofe puuifhments which their fins challenge at his hands. Some fins have a louder voice then others ; but every fin unpar- cjoned(themouth whereof is not fiopt by the blood ofChrifi)cries to God for vengeance, till God put the fìnner into the hand of fin, that he may at once receive pay for, and from hisown folly. Ob- ferve from the former interpretation, Ertl, That The Lorddoth often in judgemeut give man ;ep to the power of hi fitful luffs. This is a general truth, thoughwe cannot draw it down to the infiance ofjobs children:the Lord in wrath leaves man to himfelf. Everyman by nature finsfreely, and many are left by God to a judiciary freedome in finning.He cannot reflrain himfelf,and fome- times God will not refirain him,but lets him take his till of fiìn, and be as wicked ashe will (Rev. 22. i i .) He that is unjuft, let him be unjuff ffill ; he that is filthy,let him befilthy Rill. This per- mi(lion is thehigheft and foreft affliâion.Thisliberty is worfe then any bondage. Thusalfo the Church leaves thofe to their igno- rance, who obflinately refufe inflruftion( r Cor. 14. 38.) He that is ignorant,let him be ignorantjfill. Thofe fouls are in a deíperatc. condition, who areput out of thecare either of God or of hn Church. Secondly, Obferve, That Sin is apunifhment. Sin is the punifhment of fin : Thy children finned againfi him, and hegave them into the hand of their fin ; he never goes Tu, Donige, unpunifhed for fin, who finsand repentsnett. Thou, .Lord (faith dixillit7 ita one of the Ancients( haft decreed it, and fo it is, that every evil eß, ut omnis mind is it's own.fcourge. The Apoftle tells us (Heb. ro. 3 i) that m sfnunur 1 it it afearfitlthingtofall into the ndofthe living God it is indeed; a, Auguß.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=