ON HOSEA. XIV. -VERSE 9. 303 eight degrees, and then the same returns again ; and philosophers when they distinguish degrees in qua- lities, do usually make the eighth degree to be the highest ; but in the wrath of God against those who impenitently and stubbornly stand out against his judgments, we shall find no fewer than eight and twenty degrees threatened by God himself, " I will punish seven times more," and yet " seven times more," and again, " seven times more," and once more, " seven times more for your sins," Lev. xxvi. 18. 21. 24. 28. Thus wicked men do not only stumble at the word by way of scandal, but also- 2. By way of ruin, because they are sure in the conclusion to be destroyed by it ; for the rock stands still, the ship only is broken that dasheth against it. God's word is, and will be too hard for the pride of men ; the more they resist it, the mightier will it appear in their condemnation. The weak corn which yields to the wind, is not harmed by it, but the proud oak which resists it, is many times broken in pieces. The soul which submits to the word, is saved by it ; the soul which rebels against it, is sure to perish. There- fore since the word comes not to any man in vain, but returns glory to God either in his conversion, or in his hardening ; it greatly concerneth every man to come unto it, with meek, penitent, docile, tractable, believing, obedient resolutions, and to consider how vain and desperate a thing it is for a potsherd to strive with a rod of iron ; for the pride and wrath of man to give a challenge to the justice and power of God ; for briers and thorns to set themselves in battle against fire. As our God is a consuming fire himself, so his law is a fiery law, Deut. xxxiii. 2. and his word in the mouth of his ministers a fire, Jer. v. 14. '23. 29. If we be gold, it will purge us ; if thorns, it will 2c2
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