C s A P. 4. Epiftle to the 7heffalonians. V E R. 6. a 80 They allo are injurious to their foules,and to the Grace of God, that therefore cenfure rhemlelues as meerely Gracelelfe, becaufe team of Hell is found fomecimes the flrongeft motiue to obedience; _yea, in times either or their incipience, or tentation, and cannot be perfwaded, feare is filiall,where florae is el chewed with any reipeet to vengeance. Pan/then was no fonne,that profeileth him - felfe to be rr.oued as well by i terrour of the Lords iudgo- ; 1.cor,5.1r. ment, as by loue o fChrifl, to per (wade men : and vanely bath Gods Spirit propounded rneditatib orGods wrath, where be pre!cribes the forme of acceptable lei rn ce,to be performed upon this monde in parr; Becaufe our God k is It a confiirning fire. Ir mull bee confelíed, that Gods loue fhould chiefly Tway with vs. But if his vengeance be a partial] motiue, Ï may wee not bee in Grace? Is there not a mixture of ail j Graces with their contrary, in the flare of this life ? of faith, with infidelitie ; of obedience, with rebellion ; of knowledge,with ignorance ; of feare with feruilirie,yea, and with fecurity ? As it is abfurd to fay,there is no faith, where is Tome doubting ; fo all as vnrealonable,to affirm there is no filial! feare, no grace at all, where is any feare of God in refpeft of his vengeance. cod is auenger. The Apoflle feemes to anticipate the fecure thoughts of the vniuft and fraudulent, piomifng themfelues impunity amongft men: either by cunning conueyance and concealment, or by defeet of Lawes, or partiality ofMagifliate.s. Let this yet be meditated, faith the Apoflle, God is the meenger of allfiecb. Where mans itrflice faileth,G od with his vengeance makes fupply ; that iniuRice may not (cape vnpuni flied. A C H AB and lezabel had in Iliad authoritie without control]; who fhould punilk their oppreflion of Nkboth ? The Lord takes the caufe into his owne hand; and cltereir. blood for blood, and an vtter extinbtion of A c H A B s poffe- rstie. Hence is Salomons aduille; Rob not the poorebecatefe 2> bee
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