Downame - BV209_D69_G6_1640_v1

of Imprecations. 189, Of the firfl there is no queftion, feeing it is made not againft their perfon but their finne. Now it is profitable not onely for him that prayeth, but for the other alfo that is prayed againft, that his finne may be reftrained,and his wicked pra %ices prevent- ed. Nor is there any great queftion to be made of the fecond, if it be made in hatred of the finne and love of the perfon, that the finne by the affliction may be mortified and the fanner Paved. Concerning the third, we are to diflinguifh between fuch im- precations as are generally conceived againft the wicked and obilinate enemies of God, and thofe which are particular. For of the firfl there is no queftion to be made, that they be warrantable and lawfull, as they are generally propounded without having a fpeciall eye to fome particulars whom per- haps we maligne; Judg. 5.31. Pfal.'3 1.17. Dent. 27.I, &c. to the end of the chapter. 1. Cor. 16. 22. Anathema Maranatha. Again, thofe that are di- reded againft particular men,fometimes they are,as Auguftine faith, ver6a prifdicentiusn, the words of Contra Fa. thofe who foretell, rather then vota imprecantium, J "rra. the witlhes of them that imprecate; as Gen. 9.25. Pfal.ro9.7,8. with Ads i. 20. Jof.6.26. with r. Kings 16. 34. And fuch are the words denounced by our Saviour to Chorazin and Bethfaida, Matth. 11.21. againft the Phar fées, Matth. 2 3. and Luke 11.42, &c. againft Judas, Matth.26.24. As touching the reff of the curies which the ho- ly men of God in the Scriptures have denounced againft the wicked, wifhing the ruine and de(lruti- on of their perfons, we are to hold that howfoever they