1044 [ontemplationr. L 1 n.-lli; the God ofmercy fpeaks fuch bloudywords, the provocation muft needs be vehe- !\. I mem: linsofinfirmirydoe but mutter; fpighrfull fins cry loud for judgement in the 1 cares ofGod:Prepenred malice in couns ofhumane jufticeaggm•ates themurther, ' and fharpens the fentenceofdeath. Whatthenwas this finne of v1malek, that is called unto this late reckoning~ What~ but rhw env10us and unprovoked bnfets upon the back ol lfrael this was it, that God took foro bean, as that he not only remembers it now by s)mutl, but he bids Ifrael ever to remember it,by Mofts: Remember how Amalek met thee hy the rPay,and[mote the hin~moji ofyo~<, all that""" feeble behinde thee, when thou wap faint andweary. Be/ides thts,d•d Amalek meet Ifrael ma pttcht barrel!openly, inR.ephidim;for that, God payed them in the prefent : The hand of t.Mofes lifted up onthe Hill,flew them in the Valley: He therefore repeats notthat quarrel!; but the cow- B ardly,and cruel! attempts upon an impotent enemy, ftick ftill in the ftomack ofthe Almighty: Opprdlion and wrong upon eaven termes,are not fo hainous unto God asthofe,thatareupon manifeft difadvantage:Inthe one,there is an hazardof return~ In the other,there is ever a tyrannous infultation:God takes ftill the weaker part,and will be fure therefore to plague them, which feek to put injuries on the unable to refift. This fin of Amalek flept all the time ofthe Judges, thofe governours were O'!ely for refcue anddefence; nowfo fooneas Ifrad hath a King,and thatKing isfet!ed in peace,God gives charge ro call themto account: Itwas that, which God had both I , threatned and [worn, and now hechufes out a fit feafonfortheexecution; As we ufe to fay ofwinter,the judgements ofGod doe never rot in theSky,but lhallfa.ll(if C late, yet)furely, yet feafonably: There is fmallcomfort in the delay ofvengeance, whiles we are fure it fhalllofe nothing in the way,by length ofprotraction. The Kenites were the off-fprings of Hobad, or l<thro,fathcr in law to Mofts; the affinity ofhim,to whomIfrael owed their deliverance andbeing,was worthy ofrefpect ; but it was the mercy of that good and wife Midianite !hewed unto Ifrael in the wilderneffe,by hisgraveadvice, chearfull gratulation, and aide,which won this gratefull forbearanceofhis pofterity: He that is notle{fe in mercy,then in juftice,as he challenged Amaleks finoftheir fucceeding generations,fo he derives the r<compenceofIethro'skindneffe, unto his far-defcended ilfue; Thofe that wereunborne many ages after ltthro's death,receive life from his duft, and favour from his hofpitality;Thename oftheirdead grandfatherCaves them from thecommondeftrutlion D oftheir neighbours.The Cervices ofour loue toGods childrenare neverthankldfe; when we are dead and rotten, they !hall live and procure blellings to thofe, which neverknew perh•ps,nor heard oftheir progenitors :Ifwe fow good works, fucceflion!hall reap them,and we !hall be happy in making them fo. The Keniresdwclt in the bordersof t.Amalek, but in tents, (as did their ilfue the Rechabites) fo as they mightremove with eafe: They arewarned to 01ift thcir habirations,lelhhey 010uld perifh with ill neighbours:It is the manner ofGod,firft to feparare, before be judoe, as a good husband weeds his corne, ere it be ripe fortbe fickle; and goes to the fanne,ete he goe rothe fire. When the Kenites pack up their fardels,it is time to expect judgement. Why fhould n0t we imirat<God, and feparateour [elves that we may notbe judged~ feparate, not one Kenite from another, E but every Kenitefrom among the Amalekites, elfe ifwe will needs live with Ama· lek, we cannot think much to diewith him. The Kenites are no fooner removed, then Saul f.1lls upon the Amalekites: He deftroyes all the people, but fpares their King : The charge ofGod was univerfall, for man and beaft: Jn the corruption ofpartiality,lightly thegreateftefcape: Co. vetoufneffe, or mif-affeilion are commonly guilty ofthe impunity ofthofe, which arc at oucernore eminent in dignity, and in offi:nte: Jiis a fhamefull hypocrilie to makeour commodity themeafure and rule ofour execution ofGods command,and under prerence of godlineffe to intend gaine; The unprofitable vulgar muft die ; A gag may yeclda rich ranfome : The !caneand feeble cattle, rbat would but fpend ftover, and dye alone, Olall perifh by the fword of Ifrael, the beft rmy ftock the grounds,
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=