420 Chap_3 r. An Expoltion upon the Booke of J o s. Verf.i The morefiefull anyfan is, the more certaine are the wofuli ef- fiat ofit. By how much any fingoes higher in tranfgreffing the rule of the law of God, by fo much doth it fail the lower under the pe- nalty ofthe law, Every fin hath deftruftion in it, yet dellruc$ ion is no the iffue of every fin ; But lob fpeakes of this fin as una- voydably concluding under this iffue, le is a fire that confumeth to diJiruciion., Thirdly , Whereas 74having fpoken ofthis fin as calling for punifhment from the Judges, prefently fpeakes of its punifliment by God, we may note,, ifMigiiratesterglecc to puoi!?) adultery, yet God will net: TheLord will kindle a fire that (hall confume Inch (inners to de_ftruetion, though men touch them not with a little finger. The Judges of the earth often let thofe wholeforne 'awes which have been made againft this heinout crime (as it was once complained Lex J'adia dor in theCommon wealthofRome) lie dormant oratleepe ; yet the mie judgement ofGod.againft it flumbreth not. (Heb. r 3. 4.) Mar- s:iage is honourable in all, and the bedundefiled : hut whoremongers and adulterers God will judge : As if theApofile had fayd,let men neglec't to judge Adulterers,God will be lure to judge them,&c. But will not God judge all other finners ? Doubtlefle he will. Why then loth the Apofife fay, whoremongers and adulterers. God willjudge. The meaning is, firft, he will judge them certain, ly ; fccondly, he will judge them,feverely God kath wayes e- nough to punifh this fin, hehath rods, yea fcorpions ready for llaternuscigdis the backs of thefeTooles. And he can make his little finger hea- sii. divini ed vier upon the backe of this.fin, then the MagiEfrases loynes ; And riptút et Taffa- where the Magiftrate doth not hispart, he ufually doth fo. It is proper va thecomplaint ofa moderne Expofiter upon this place ; The fire gas 1.bidines, ofdivine fudgements ( faith he) loath walledJarre and neare in qua; tnundus revenge of thefe unruly lnfle, which the worldmakes but apart of, lzic p o iocs et andpal thby asa jfling matter, fo that they are themfelves the lode davit, its ut pvd,citiæfief defiroyers of Chafity who ought tobe themaintainers anddefenders espugnatorec, of it. If this.fin be not;uriged and punifhed in privateoffenders, qui ejus dtfen it may quickly call downe publicke Judgements. The Prophet e` eiJe &he- (Hoof. i, 2.) numbers Adultery-among thole abominations, eäMUt. Merl. for
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