Chap. 31. AAn Expefition upon the Beone of J o a. `'erl. 12. 1.2r for which the Lord hath a Controverfie with the inhabitants ofa land, yea for this unoppofed and unpunifhed fin a land forms- times fpeweth or vomiteth out its inhabitants ( Ltv e8. 20. Z . 28'.) And O how burdenfome are the inhabitants ofa land to it, when it fpeweth out its inhabitams l fourthly, In that the Spirit of God direas 76b to expreffe this fin, which is a metaphorical fire in the nature ofit , by 114:u- rail fire, as to the deltru&ire effeasofit. Here again Obr'erve ; God fometimes (berceth us the nature of afrn in the punifhment of it, or lets men fee theirfin in their punifhnlert This bodily luff is a fire, As the Apofile fpeakes (R.m. I, 27) They burned in their lufl one toward' another ; So here one fire kindlesanother,and God punifheth burning with burning; many make it their buinrffe to blow up chore luttfu!! fires , ( whereas we fllould make it our bufneffe to quench and mortifie them) therefore the Lord kindles a fire in his anger to borne them up. This was litterally afted upon Sodom and Gomorrha; They bur., nedin their unnatural! heilifh lulls ( Gen. 19 ) and theLord rent a fire from heavenwhich care them up. We may conceive that many Nations and Commonwealths have appoynted that pu- trifhment of fire for Adulterers , becaufe that fin bath in it the nature of fire. Yea God hath prepared that lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, to punifñ there burnings and ui thy fires. Further 70b fpeakingof this fin, Acquaints us not only with the evil! nature ofit, as it is an heinous crime , but with the evil! effests of it, as it renders us obnoxious to the lawes of men, efpe- cially to the lawofGod, and thole terrible fires which arekind led inhis wrathagainft it. All thefe confiderationsyob layd to his owne heart, and improved them to keepe himfelfe at the utmuft diftance from complyingwith the Allurementsofthis luftc Hence note. We may looke to the ell:RS s andfadconftguentt rf fin, as wtdas the nature ofit, to keepeour(elves fromfailing into it. A godly man is carried out againft fin, chiefly as it is a breach of the law, a defilement ofthe foule,and a griefe to the Spirit of God,.
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