Sluggâ—rd to the pismire to learne instructioÌ„ why shold we scorne to earne of pagaâ—s who were endued with excellent gifts of nature Prou. 6.6 Phacion a great Magistrate in Athens when his son in law Charillus was to be endited for extortion would not so much as be preseÌ„t there least his couÌ„tenaÌ„ce might haue procured him some fauor assuming that when he tooke him to be his son in law he hoped he would â—e a good an honest man a Plutarch in praecept polit And Cleon when hee was called to be a Magistrate sent presently for all his friends and renounced then fâ—â—â—â—dship And when Simonides requested something of Thoâ—â—stocles a Magistrate that was not very iust heâ—re Hâ—â—â—â—m with this answer He is not a good Poeâ— that singeâ—â— wâ—tâ—out harmony nor he a good mag strate that sheweth any fauour aâ—aâ—â—st the lawes â—ut there is a most famous example of all other for this purpose recorded by Aelianus The sum of it is this There was a man of the people called Mardi A han lib. 1. cap 34. that had seauen sonnes whereof the youngest being stubborne and dissolute and one that would not be reclaimed the rather taketh him and bindes his hands behind him and bâ—ought him to the Iudges there doth â—arnestly accuse him required that he might bee put to death The Iudges being astonished at the strangenes of the thing would not meddle with â—t but brought the father and the son to Artaxerxes the King Where the father stiâ— pleaâ—ed against the son craued iustice The King seeing his eaâ—nâ—stnesse said vnto him Canst thou then with thine owne eâ—e endure to behold the death of thy son he answ â—ed yea very â—el For when I shall see him that wrongeth dishonoureth my family put to death Land the rest of my children shall liue with â—eater comfort When the King heard this he highly commended the father made him one of his Iudges affirming that he that durst so seuerely so iustly pronounce sentence against his owne childe would doubtlesse shew himselfe a sincere incorrupt iudge vnto others But he pardoned the young man for that time threatning to put him to a most horible death if euer â—e should offend againe in the l ke maÌ„ner â—â—h that our Magistrates and Iudges would follow thâ—se examples For if it did once appeare to the world that rich mighty men should be punished as well as the poore meane persons and that kinsfolke friends should finde â—o more fauâ—ur then those that are strangers it would soone cut off all hope of impuâ—â—â—e from all kinde of malefactors And blessed be God that at this time our eies do see the great care of his Maiesty to haue the â—aÌ„d purged froÌ„ bloud wherwith it hath been poluted that there is so strict so iust proceeding against all that were coâ—eâ—eraâ—e in so wicked a fact nd the Lord streÌ„â—then tâ—e hart â—aÌ„â—â— that most wortâ—y Lord chiefe Iustice that he â—ay stil go forward vnpartially to cut off al those that had any aÌ„ in so foul a murder Wicked As all the wicked must be punished without partialitie so none but the wicked must be enda gered Th y that are innocent and harme esse must not bâ—e mâ—lâ—sted The Lord commanded Moses that in the execution oâ— jâ—st ce Deut 2â— 1 Prou. 17.15 The righteous should bee iustified â—nd the wicked condemned And Solomon saith It is as great abhomination in the sight of od to condemne the iust as it is to iustifie the wickeâ— And the Prophet pronounceth as great a woâ— against â—im that Taketh away the righteous es of the r ghteous from him Isa 5.23 as against him That iustâ—fiâ—th absolueth the wick d for a reward The Lord hath puâ— a sword into the Magistrates hand Rom. 13 4 but it is to this eâ—d that he may Take vengeanâ—◠〈◊〉 him that doth euill And therefore bee abuseth his authorâ—tâ—â— and abuseth his sword if he turneth edge of it against the godly Psal 11 2. and smite them that are vpright in heart as Dauid saith This is a most fearefull and a most horrible sinne and a siâ—ne which God will â—ost seuâ—rely punish Among those se â—en things which the Lord hateth and abhorâ— h Pro 6.16 17 Psal 9. â—â— this is one The hands that shed innocent blood And â—auid saith that the Lord himselfe wiâ—â— make inquisition for blood Sometimes innocent blooâ— is shed vnder colour oâ—â—aw But there will be at tâ—me when the Lord wil câ—â—e with a quest of â—â—quiâ—e to find it out nd to punish it And therefore when the wicked brought the Prophet Ieremiah before the princes and would haue had him put to death he speaketh to them with great boldnesse Ier. 26.14.15 As for me I am in your hands doe with me as you thinke good But know ye for a certaine that if you put me to death ye shall surely bring innocent blood vpon your selues and vpon this city vpon the inhabitants therof Implying that God would reuenge his blood not onely vpon the murderers themselues but vpon the people the whole land should be guilty of it When poore Naboth was vniustly condemned and put to death by wicked Ahab the Lord sent Elijah the Prophet to him with this messag Hast thou killed also gotten possession Thus saith the Lord in the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shal dogs licke euen thy blood also 1. King 21.13.19 22.38 2. King 21.16 24.2.3.4 Which came to passe accordingly Manasseh was a cruell murderer He shed innocent blood exceeding much till he replenished Ierusalem from corner to corner But marke how fearefully the Lord reuenged this sin in his posterity In the daies of Iehoiâ—kim The Lord sent against him bands of the Caldees bands of the Aramits bands of the Moabites bands of the Amonites he sent them against Iudah to destroy it Surly by the commandment of the Lord came this vpon Iudah that he might put them out of sight for the sinnes of Manasseh And for the innocent blood that he shed therefore the Lord would not pardon it Manasseh was dead rotteÌ„ long before this time but we see the Lord had not forgotten his sin but the whole land smarted for it in the third generation after him So likewise Ioash most vnkindly caused Zechariah the son of good Ieâ—oiada to bâ— stoned to death because he reproued him for his idolatry But see what followed 2. Chro. 24.21.22.23.24.25 When the yeare was out the host of Aram came vp against him and they came against Iudah and Ierusalem and destroyed all the Princes of the people from among the people and sent all the spoile of them vnto the King of Damascus Though the army of Aram came with a small company of men yet the Lord deliuered a very great army into their hands After this the Lord somte him
place that as they are famous in this respect that they are brothers by nature a thing seldome or neuer seene before in this cittie so also they would ioine together in brotherly affection that with one heart and one hand they may set themselues to the vttermost of their authoritie to punish and roote out all vngodly persons So shall they transferre a blessed memory of their names to all posteritie and no doubt the Lord will remember them in goodnesse for the same There is another sort of wicked persons that deserue to be seuerely pun shed And they are those which foolish people call wise men and wise women but indeede are wisards and sorceâ—ers very â—iâ—mes of the diuell that take vpon them by the aâ—â—â— of the diuell to helpe men to things that are lâ—st or stoine These are so odious in the sight of God as hee can by no meaâ—es endure them Let none be found among you saith the Lord that vsâ—th witchcraâ—â—â—r is a r garder of times or a sorcerer Deu 18 10 11.12 or a â—kâ—â—er or that câ—â—â—â—â—â—eth with spirits or a soothsayerâ— or that a â—eth counsel of the dead For all that doe such things are â—bhoâ— nation vnto the Lord. And therefore â—e hath giuen expresse commandement that they shall bee put to death Thou shalt not suffer a witch and and these vpon the point are no better to liue And againe If a man or woman haue a spirit of diuination Exo 22.18 Leui. 20.27 or soo hâ—saying â—aâ— doubtlesse these haue they shall die the death they shall stone them to death their bloâ—d shall be vpon them An as Dauid saith of idols that all that trust in them are like vnto them Psal 115.8 So all that 〈◊〉 vnto these instruments of the diuell are euery wâ—nt as abomiâ—able to God as themselues are And therefore hee doth precisely coâ—demne all such practâ—ses Leu 19.31 Ye shall not regard them that work with spirits neither sooâ—h sayers ye shall not seeke to t em â—o be defiled by them I am the â—o d your God And in another pâ—aâ— If any turne af er such as worke with spirits and after sooth sayers to goe a whoâ—â—ing after them Leu. 20.6 then will I set my face against that man and will cut him off from amoâ—g his people And how seuerely th s threatning was execuâ—ed 〈◊〉 aâ— peaâ—e in two fearefull examples The one is of Ahaziah king of Israel who being hâ—rt with a fall out of a window 2. Kin. 1.2 3.4.16.1 sent messengers to enquire of Baaâ—zebub the God of â—kron that is of the diuell to see whether he should recouer of his disease or no. But the Lord sent him word by his messengers and after caused the Prophet Eliah to tell him to his face that because he had enquired of Baal zebub as if there had beene no God in Israell therefore hee should not come downe off the bed on which hee was gone vp but should dye the death And it came to passe accordingly The other is of Saul who â—s the Scripture saith in plaine tearmes 1. Chron. 10.13 14. died for his transgressions which hee committed against the Lord euen agai st the word of the Lord which hee kepâ— not and because hee sought and asked counsell of one that had a familiar spirit and asked not of the Lord therefore heâ— slew him c. Seeing then this practise is so damnable and so much displeasing vnto Go it shall be a worke worthy the care of a Christian Magistrate by due punishment to restraine the aâ—e Buâ— of all other there are none that doe so much deserue to be pu â—shed with all seueritie as our traiterous Pap sts thaâ— viperous brood who being nourished in our bosomes doe most vnnaturally seeke to eate out our bow ls a Cic. in Cat. 4 They that haue so often sought by horrible conspiracies to take away a l our liues are not worthy for one moment to enioy the benefit of their liues much lesse are they worthy to partake in the priuiledge of subiectes It was the Oratours rule against Cataline and it holdeth in all such as heâ— is that b qui reipub hostis est â—s ciuis ste null modo potest ibid. hee that is an enemy to the Common-wea th cannot by any meanes be a true subâ—ect Neither shall our Magist ates neede to feare to be counted cruell in punishing such seditious and rebellious persons as these Nay rather if they bee most seuere in this case they shall bee thought mercifull but if they bee remisse and negligent they shall bee subiect to the imputation of extreame crueltie to their Country and Common-wealth Now among these there are none to be proceeded against with more extremity then their Priests and Iesuites the ringleaders of villeny But I giue them a wrong name they deserue rather to be called Iudasites then Iesuites for they are farre more like to Iudas then to Iesus as Cyprian said of some such as they are c Non potest esse cum christo qui imitator Iudae malâ—â— esse quam Christi serm 6. de orat dominica he cannot belong to Christ that had rather imitate Iudas then Christ Their Church hath long delighted in barbarous cruelty d Crudelibus morsibus pasta et Christianorum sanguine opinata Optat. lib. 2 Reuel 17.6 Reuel 18.6 Psal 137.8.9 it hath beene fed with cruell bits and fatted with the blood of Christians It is that scarlet coloured whore which the Apostle Iohn saith is drunken with the blood of Saints with the blood of the Martyres of Iesus and that without any respect either of sexe or of age not sparing the infant in the mothers belly And therefore it were to be wished that Christian Magistrates according to Gods commandement would reward them as they haue rewarded vs and giue them double according to their workes and in the cup that they haue filled to vs fill them double They are the children of Babel worthy to be destroyed as Dauid saith And therefore Blessed shall he be that rewardeth them at they haue serued vs. Blessed shall he be that taketh their children and dasheth them against the stones Still these wretches doe thirst for blood olâ— that they might once be satisfied but in that sort as Queene Tomyris dealt with blood thirstie Cyrus who hauing ouercome him in battell caused his head to be cut off and cast into a barrell of blood prouided for the purpose and then insulting ouer him said e â—go te sanguine saturabo Herodotan Clio. Sic pereant et qui moliti talia per gunt Psal 124.6 I will giue thee blood thy belly full Beloued we haue cause to giue great thankes to almighty God who hath so often deliued vs from those apparant misch efes which they had intended aâ—ainst vs. The Lord hath not giuen vs ouer for a pray vnto their teeth We may truely say to the glory of
Vrijah the Hittite But the wicked sinne continually they doe nothing but sinne it is their daily practise they make it their ordinary trade and occupation 1. King 21.25 As it is said of Ahab that he did sell himselfe to worke wickednesse in the fight of the Lord. Moreouer the godly sinne but it is with griefe and sorrow of heart they take no more pleasure nor delight in their sinne then the horse doth in his heauy loade or the prisoners in his irons and fetters And therefore the Apostle crieth out as if he were ouer tyred with the masse of sinne that was in his flesh Rom. 7.24 O wrâ—tched man that I am who shall deliuer me from the body of this death Prou. 2.14 4.16 But the wicked sinne with delight and ioy as Solomon saith They reioice in doing euill Nay they caâ— not be merry they cannot sleepe quietly in their beds except they haue done euill Last of all the godly sinne with resistance They wrastle and striue against their sinnes by praier by fasting and all other good meanes Gal. 5.17 The spirit that is the generate part continually â—usteth and fighteth against the flesh And this the Apostle sheweth by his owne experience Rom. 7.15.19 I allow not saith he that which I doe And I doe not the good that I would but the euill which I would not 25. that I doe And againe I my selfe in my minde â—erue the law of God but in my flesh the law of sinne The godly then are in a continuall combate and coâ—flict against their sinnes Heb. 12.4 But the wicked are caried headlong to sinne with full sway with their whole endeauour and with all enforcements that may be Ier. 8.6 They turne to their sinfull courses with as great violence as the horse rusheth into the battell They worke all vncleanenesse euen with greedinesse Ephes 4.19 Neither did the hungry fish more eagerly and greedily follow after the baite then they doe pursue and hunt after the occasions of sinne Yea they striue euery one to excell other Their feete runne to euill Isa 59.7 1. Pet. 4 4 and they make hast to shed innocent blood And they runne into all excesse of riot Thirdly there is difference in their continuance in sinne The godly Prou. 24.16 though They fall seauen times a day as Solomon saith yet they rise againe they renew their acquâ—â—â—tance as oft as they renue their sinnes That which the Apostle speaketh of anger in particular that a godly man will not suffer the sunne to goe downe vpon his wrath Ephes 4.26 that they practise in all sinne They will not sleepe in any sinne but continually breake of their sinnes by righteousnesse Dan. 4.24 as Daniel exhorted that proud King of Babylon But the wicked dwell and continue in their sinnes they he along yea they wallow and â—umble and weltâ—r themselues in them as the sow doth in the mire without any thought of rising againe Psal 1.1 Rom 2.5 Isa 5.18 30.1 They sit downe in the seate of the scornfull They haue brought such an hardnesse vpon their hearts by the custome and continuall vse of sinning as that they cannot repent They are so farre from breaking of the course of their sinnes as they draw iniquity with cordes of vanitie and sinne as it were with cartropes Yea they lay or heape sinne vpon sinne as the Prophet saith Deut. 29.19 adding drunkennesse to thirst And being by the iust iudgement of God giuen ouer and left to themselues Psal 65.27 they fall from one wickednesse to another Last of all they differ in the vse they make of their sinnes The godly are made more wary and more heedfull for the time to come and more carefull to auoid all occasions of sinne And this the Apostle affirmeth when speaking of the fruites of true repentance and godly sorrow he saith that it wrought in them great care great indignation great feare great desire c. We say in our common prouerbe 2. Cor. 7.10 11. The burnt childe dreadeth the fire So a man that hath beene burnt in the hand by his sinne that hath felt the displeasure of God and the horrour of conscience by reason thereof will take heede how he falleth any more into sinne while he liueth But the wicked the more they sinne the more bold and audacious they are to sinne againe Ier. 3.3 Ier. 8.12 They haue gotten an wheres forehead they cannot blush Were they ashamed when â—hey had committed su h abhominations saith the Prophet Ieremiah nay they were not ashamed neither could they haue any shame they were past shame Isa 3.9 The triall of their countenance doth testifie against them yea they declare their sinnes as Sodome they hide them not They care not who seeth them To this purpose Bernard hath a very excellent saying Bern. in Ps l. 91. serm 2. Ho. interest â—iâ—er pioâ—um et implorum câ—â—â— â— c. There is this difference saith he betweene the fals of the godly and the wicked that a righteous man is vpholden by the Lord and therefore he riseth againe stronger then euer he was but when an vnrighteous man falleth he neuer riseth againe Nay he is so farre from rising that either hee falleth into hurtfull shame or else into flat impudency For either he excuseth that which he doth and that is a shame that maketh a man sinne more or else he hath an whores forehead so as he neither feareth God nor careth for man A righteous man hee falleth vpon Gods hand and after a maruellous manner euen his sinne is turned to his good according to that saying of the Apostle All things worke together to the best to those that loue God And saith he doth not that fall make for our good whereby we become both more humble and more wary This then doth serue to confute the fond opinion and conceit of them that thinke it is not lawfull either for the Minister or for any other Christian to iudge any man As our Sauiour Christ saith Iudge not condemne not It is true a man must not iudge rashly and vnaduisedly without good ground and sufficient reason Neither must any man iudge finally of another mans estate For that belongeth solely and onely to God Mat. 7.16 But as a man may iudge of the goodnesse or badnesse of the tree by the fruite that it beareth so by the conuersation of men we may iudge of their present estate If any man shall presume of another mans finall estate whether he shall be saued or damned he goeth further then he hath warrant for and taketh Gods office cut of his hand A iury by the euidence that is produced and by due examination of the cause may finde a man guilty but neither they nor any man els can say he shall be hanged because it is in the power of the king to pardon him In like manner when we see the wicked life and leaude