Chap. z 2. fin Expofition upon the Boon, of r OB. Verf. 20. houleand people; but the wicked are many times ju dged while the houfeand people of God are preferved and untoucht ; and when both good and bad both the innocent, and the wicked a re wrapt up in the famecalamity, when they are (as it were) thruft together into the fame furnace, the Lord makes a difference,they are not cut down as the wicked are cut downe, nor confumed as they are confutned.When the righteous arecall into the fire they are purged but not confumed,but(as it follows in the fecond part of this conclufion, (hewing the Rate of the wicked ) The remnant ofthem the jrtre eonfumeth. Fire in this place is not taken ftridly, as oppofed to water;God indeed hath often madefire in kind his fcourge. And the Apoftle ?tide faith ofSodome, That it fuffered the vengeance of eternal( fire. Butall the judgements of God are in Scripture compared to fire (Mala. 4. 5.) Behold the day cometh that 'hall burn like an Oven, and all the proud, yeaall that doe wickedly (hall be Jubble, and the day that cometh (hall borne them up,faith the Lord ofhofl.e, that it /ball leave them neitherfruit nor branch. There is a burn- ing, andnot by fire; There is fogreat a judgement and terror in fire let bootie andbreaking its bounds, that it may well íìgnifie all judgements, or any thing that is terrible. (Ifa. 52. 4.) f4J the fire, devoureth the Rubble, and the flame confumeth the chaffe, fo their root (ball be rottenneffe, and their blefome Jhallgot up ae duff, Thus here,she remnant of them the fire confumeth, that is, the wrath of God appearing in fome vifible judgment confumeth the remnant. But what is this remnant which the fireconfumeth I anfwer. Firft, we may expound it of perfons. The remnant ofperfons, all that are left oftheir family, their children and po- fterity, their kindred and relations are taken away andconfumed from off the face of the earth. Secondly,Wemay expound it of things,the remnant ofgoods,'' whatfoever remains of their eftate,theodde ends, the very glean- ings and leavings of their great riches and wordly fubftance, are all eatenup and brought to an end, fo that nothing of themor theirs remaineth. Thirdly, The remnant of them may be the remembrance of them.A fire (ball confume their name and memorial!, they (halt never be thought of nor fpoken ofany more with honour. D d Fourthly0, 205
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