LIB. I I I. OfJu o A H andTH A M A R. / · 813 A chaftiry, of modefty,neverche contrary. It is nocrufling thofe,whichdoenot wi!b to appeare good. J•dahefteemes her by herhabit : and now the fight ofan harlot bath ftird up in hima thought ofluft; Satan findes well, that afit object is halfe a victory. Who would nor be a!bamed to fee a fonne of Iaco6 rhus tranfported with filthy affections ? At che firft fight he is inflamed ; neither yet did he fee the faceofher, whom he lufted afcer: ir was enough motive to him chat !be was awoman; neither could the prefence of his neighbar, the Adullamite, compofe thofe wicked thoughts,or hinder his unch•ftc acts. That finne muft needs be impudent which can abide awicneffe : yea fo hath his luft befotted him, that he cannot difcerne the voyce ofTha.war,thathecannot forefee the dangerofhis !bame in parcingwich luch pledges. There isno paffion, which 8 dorh not for chc time bereave • man ofhimfelfe : Thamar had learned not to truft himwithout apawne ; He had promifed his fonne to her as adaughter, and failed . now he promifed a Kid to her, as an Harlor,and performerh it : Whether his pledg~ confrrained himor the power ofhis word, I inquire nor : Many are filirhfull in all rhings fave rhofewhich are the greateft, and dearefr; Ifhis credit had beenasmuch indangered in the former promife he had kept it : now hath ThtVJJir requiredhim. Sheexpected long rhe enjoyingofhis promifed fonne, and he performed nor : bur here he perfurmes rhe promife ofrbeKid, and lhe ftayesnot eo expect ir. INd•h is forry tharhe cannot pay che hire ofhis lufr, and now feareth left he lha!lbebearen with his own ftaffe, left hisGgner £ha!! ~eufed coconfirme, and feale his reproach; refolving not co know them; and wr£hmg they were unknown of others. Shame is C che ealiefr wagesofGn, and thefurefr,which everbegins firfr inour felves. Nacure is not moreforward tO commit finne, then willing co hide it. 1bene as yet ofno remorfe in cudah, bucfeareoflhame. Threemoneths bath his finneOept, and now!'henhe is fec.ure~, itawakes.andbaits him. Newsis ~rought hjm chatTha/Jiar begms to (well With.her conceptron, .andnowhe fwels wrtlHage, and cals her forth to the flame hke a rrgorous Judge, Without fo muchas fraying for che timeofher deliverance, that his cruelty in this Juftice,lhould beno Jeffi: ill, then rheunjufriceofocafioningit. lfl•d•hhadnot forgotten his finne, his pirryhad been more then his hatred to this ofhis daughters : How eafie is it to deceit chafe finnesinothers,which weflatterin our felves! Th~m•r doth not dony the finne,nor refufe puni£hmem, but calsfurchatparmerin herpuni!bment , whichwasher pareD ner in the finne: the fralfe,rhe lignec, the handkercbifeaccufe and convince lHdah and noiYheblu£hes at his owne fentence, much more at his act, and cries our, She i; more righreousrhen I. God willfinde a rime to bring his children upon their knees and to wring from them penitent confetfions : And rather then heewill not hav~ themroundly afuamed' hewill make them the trumpets oftheir own reproach. Yecdoth he notolferhimfelfe to the flamewirhber, but rather excufes her by himfelfe.This relenting in hisowncafe, !bamedhis formerzeale : Even in the befr men nature isparriall to itfelfe: It is good fo to fentence othersfrailties , that yet we rememberourowne,whecherchofethathavebeen,ormaybe: with what lbame , yeawith whathorror muft INri~h needs Jooke upon the great belly ofT h.,,.., and onher cwofonnes, the monuments ofhis filthindfe? ' How muft it needs wound his fonle, to hearethemcallhimbothFather and Grandfather; tocallhermother and fifter ? Ifthis had notcoft himmanya figh, hee had nomore efcapedhis Fathers curfe, then Ru6en did : I fee thedifference not of Gnnes,but ofmen: Remiffion goe5 not by themeafure ofthe finne,butthequalityof E the!inner; yearatherche mercyofthe Forgive~: Bleffed iStheman ( notthat finnes n'ot,but) towhomtheLord imputes not his linne. Of
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=