Chap.i-5. An Expofitionupon tbe BookofJ OB. Yerf.35, i97 aman built thefe by iniquity. Bribes may build houfes, but bribe- takers cannot protcó them : The Tabernacles of Bribery !hall be confumed. Hence Obferve Firti, Bribery is an odiousfin : That fn which -is putto ex- prefs all things'againtt our neighbours, mutt needs be a very odious, as well as a very comprehenlïve lin. God loves judge - ment, bribery oppofes what God loves. God commands cha- rity, as well as judgement , and delights to fee men bounti- ful as well as righteous: Yet charity without judgment, and bounty without righteoufnefs, are an abomination to God. God isa God ofjudgemen+, they that are againil judge, ment, ad' not only againit the rule which God makes, but a- gainft the examplewhichGod g;ves.It is as much the honor of God, thathe is a God ofjudgment, giving all their due ; as, that he, is a God ofmercy, giving to all his, what they have not at all deferved. Secondly, Obferve._ That which iJ finfullygotten, (hall be miferably loft. Firefhrsll confume the Tabernacles ofbribery. There is nothing gained, though much be gotten by injuftice, Many give bribes to undo others, and aal who receive, bribes, undoe themfelves, what is the advantsge of any tinful ..gain, when the fire of Gods wrath confumes the gainer ? What fhall a man give ira exchange for hisfoul ? And as the lots is irfinite,that comes by fin, in reference to the next life tto at bell, the gain is lit. tle, in reference to this prefent life : either the ac`,for of inju Itíce, or his heire !hall find a fire in the foundation, a fire in the Stones and Timber ofhis houle, and down 'twill come bribery never brought any jailing materials to build with. Woe be to him (faith the Prophet, Hab, 2. 9. 10, 11, i2.) that covetetban evil.covetoufnefs;(or according to the Hebrew) that gainer, an evil gain to hishoufe, that he may fa bis neff on high, that be maybe deliveredfrom thepower ofevil : Thou haft con- fishedfhame to thy houfe, &c For the Stonefhall cry out ofthe walls, and the Beams out of the Timber (hap anfwer it. What than the hones cry ? Owhat than the beams anfwer ? The hones tall cry, that the mo;ter in which they were laid,was tempered with the blood of innocents, and the beams than anfwer-t.that it was fit up by puling down the poor.. Theft..
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