604 Chap. 20. tria Expofirica upon tkr Bookof J O x. Verf. 2cj; Lion is rnifery; though they (crape and heape much together, though they bud and bloffome, yet" their encreafe goes into captivitie, and their goods flow away. Their pomp is brought downe, and their beauty is Stained. 'Pis rare to finde a wicked man flow, thing to the end ofhis dayes, or his hoaryhead go- ing to the grave in peace. As David obfe.rvedof the Godly (Tfal.37.2 5 ) 1 have beenyoung andnow am old, yet have I not [-erne the righteoaas.forfe kets, nar bis feed begging bread. So they who have been young and noware old, have often feene the wicked who profpered a while,yet atlaif fozfaken,and their feed begging bread. Secondly, The Propofition Cands firmeupon this grounds, becaufe mifery is the defert ofwicked moon; 'cis as their heri- tage as they are children ofdifobedience, and their wages as they are workers ofiniquitie. Wrath is the portion appointed for them, though theyhave it not prefently in their hands, We fay of achilde who is heire to a great eftate, fuck lands are his heritage, hisportion, thoughhe path nothing in poffeffion,but the bread he eates,and the cloathes which he puts on. We fay of a condemnedmalefa&or, death is his portion, becaufe he de- ferves dew h, and the fer,ter.ce is gone out againft him, though hebe reprieved for manyyeares-after. Thirdly, Though fome wicked men are not actually in a miferable outward condition, yet theyare 1iabjed to it every moment. The cloud hangs over them, and who can tell how Toone it may breake ?The word is out, the decree is --pact, and who can teli how loonGod may Peale the Writ for execution, or command the judgement written to take hold of them,or be done upon them. They have no fence for it, no plea,nothing to keepe it off, or avoyd it with. He that.may jnftly expe?l eviïl.at any time, is at no timefreefrom it. Fourthly, The very prefent profperitie of wicked men is a punifhment to them:; Their Table is their Snare and that which (according to the nature,and ufe of it) fhould have been for their welfare, becomes (as the Pfalmift fpeaks,Tfal 69 22.) aTrap. Their good is evill to them, and it had been better for them if they hadnever had fo much good. For as it had been better for a mannot to haveknównethe way of righteoufnes, then after he bath knowne. it to turne from the holy cowman- dement
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