442 Chap.17. An Expedtionupon the Book of J O 13: Verf.5 Ahabs Houle, and rooting out his Idolatry ( though 3ehte himlelf was a very bad man, and did it with abadheart, yet I fay, it ¡hewed that the deed ) was very good, becaufe the Lord promifed to reward his Children for it, with the pof- fefìion of the Throne ofIfrael to the fourth generation,2King. JO. 20. Now as thole ads have a great deal of Excellency in thern, for which God rewards and bleffcth topoflerity ; fo thole fins have a fpecial malignity in them, which are threat- ned and purfued with revenges to poflerity. Such fins have a touch of the farfl fin in them. The punifhing of `Adams fìrft fn is hereditary to the Taft man , all have fmarted for that fin, and the eyes of his Children have failed becaufe he lo.,ked upon, and eat the forbidden fruit.Now every fin which is thus fpoken of in Scripture, as Idolatry in the fecond Com- mandment, and here flattery bath a fpecial !lamp of the firft fin upon it ; not only as being a fin , and fo a derivative from it, but as having much of the fanfulnefs of that fin in it : The evils of which did **knot die wit h thofe who gave . it life. And as all flattery is very Panful, fo Spiritual flattery, or flattery about fpirituai things is moil finful ; both becaufe about them we ought to be molt plain- hearted,and becaufe a deceit about them doth molt hurt.Any kind of flattery is bad enough , but this is worfl ; fuch was that ofthe falle Pro- phets , who daubedwith untempered 14 orter, and cryed Peace, peace,when there was nopeace. Who ¡et themfelves to pleafe, not to inflru(.f the people, and were therefore buffe in fewing pillows under every Elbow. A flatterer would make all men lean loft , fit Bale , and be well perfawded of themfelves , though their cafe be 'lark naught.: He that thus (peaks flatte . ry to his Friend, doth indeed !peak mifery, yea, and death to his friend. The flatterer is the greateft hater, and no man fpeaks worfeof another then he who (peaks better of him then he deferves, or then his (late will bear. It is dange- rous to fpeak all the good of a man that is true, but to (peak good of himwhich is not true , may be his utter un- doing. And though it bath been laid and often experienced_, that flattery gains Friends, and Truth f 'peakinghatred ; yet none have run into to much hatred as flatterers, For as it is. laid.
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