Soo Char. 3 T. An Expofetion upon the Book! of J o N. Verf.z3. deftru&ionwhich God in his word threatneth dinners, efpecially opprefors with, as ifI had already felt ir. DeffruEtionfrom god' W41 eu a terror to me. There is a two-fold terror; Firft, that which doth arils from. a meere flavifh flareofGod as a Judge or avenger; Secondly, there is a terror, which arifeth from a child like feare , at once looking uponGod as a father, and as a righteous Judge. This terror was upon `fob ; Heknew that ( though a forme, though a Child) if he atould take liberty to breeke the bonds of duty, and tranfgref e the Law ofGod, he fhould 1n art for it ; his fa- ther would not be a cockering, or an indulgent father to him, but he fhould feele the (mart ofhis rod, and feels it the more, by bow much he was the neerer to him. Thus the Lord told his ownepeople ( Amos 3. 2.) Tin only have 1knowneof all thefa- ',Wye.: ofthe earth, therefore 1 willpunifh yenfor allyour iniqui- tier. DeflreglionfromGod wasa terror to me.. Hence note. Firft. Cod is mighty to deftray, as well as tofave. There it one Law-giver, ( faith the Apoftle, lames4. u.) !salvo is able tolave, and todeflroy, be can as eafily deflroythofe who violate as fave thofe who obeyhis Lawes.There is the fame power ofGod in both, and God is honoured in the exercife of both there powers. That Title by which God is fo often ex- pref ed El fbbaddai, imports the deftroying, as Is ell as the prefer- ving, faving, and nourifhíng powerof God. As God bath de- clared himfelfe, fo we ought to honour him,to owne him, to ftu- dy him, and toknow him ; know then, there is deftruâion from God, as well as falvation fromGod. And, as to the LordourGod belong the iifner (or out-gates )from death, that is, God bath choyce ofWayes to deliver his fervants from the extreaineft dan- gers of death; Soto the Lord our Godbelong the entrances unto death ; that is, God bath infinite wayes to lead his enemies into the chambers and fnares ofdeath. Se caldkr, If we confider who are the objeâs of this de ftruetion, even they who are guilty ofoppreffion;or in what cafe yob feared it, namely, if he had lift up his hand violently or un- trghteoufly a aix:ft the fatherlefíe. Obferve,
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