A view of the threats and punishments recorded in the Scriptures, alphabetically composed with some briefe observations upon severall texts / by Zachary Bogan ...

Oppressours of Any, threatened, and punished.

1 In generall with woe, and unavoidable punishment. Woe to them that devise iniquity, and worke evill upon their beds: when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hands. And they covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away: so they oppresse a man, a man and his house, (which he hath to cover his head) even a man, (such as themselves are) and his heritage (which came lawfully to him from his father, and which cannot but be a great griefe to him, to be defrau∣ded of,) Therefore thus saith the Lord, Be∣hold against this family I devise* 1.1 an evill (for their devising the evill of iniquity, I will de∣vise the evill of punishment) from which yee shall not remove your necks, neither shall ye goe haughtily, for this is an evill time, Mic: 2. 1, 2, 3. See Zeph. 3. 1. Jer. 30. 20.

2 If Kings, with the Revolt of their sub∣jects. Rehoboam being King of Israel, Jeroboam & the people came to him to desire him, to make their heavy yoake lighter 1 Kings 12. 4. but he hearkening rather to the counsell of young hot spirited fellows (who thought

to gain by his oppression, & to have the more liberty to exercise it themselves) made them answer, that, whereas his father CHASTEN∣ED them with WHIPS, his resolution was to WHIP them with SCORPIONS, vers. 14. and therefore was served accordingly; for all Israel hereupon revolted from him, and made Jeroboam King, vers. 16.

3 God's not Hearing their prayer. For the Prophet Micah, after he had complained of the ravenous butcherly cruelty, of the prin∣ces of Israel in their Oppression, c. 3. 2, 3. pre∣sently added. Then shall they cry unto the Lord, but he will not heare them: he will even hide his face from them at that time, as they have behaved themselves ill in their doings, vers. 4. Behaved themselves ill in their do∣ings] I observe, that in most places, where complaint is made of Oppression, there is mention of Evill: evill time, and evill doings: & still in the same word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. either to shew what an Evill, & sinfull thing God accounts it: or what an evill, & hurtfull thing it is in a State. See the place before, Jer 31. 12. Mic. 3. 4. Is. 33. 15. Am. 5. 13. Mi. 2. 3. Ezek. 18. 18.

4 Destruction. The roaring of the Lyon, and the voyce of the fierce Lyon, and the teeth of the young Lion are broken. The old Lyon perished for lack of prey, and the stout Lyon's whelps are scattered abroad, Job: 4. 10, 11.

comp: with vers. 8, 9. See Isa. 49. 26.

Creatures, that never cry, will cry, when they are seized upon for a prey; and never so loud as then. The cry of the Oppressed, is a very lowdlong-lasting cry. God heareth it, saith Job, chap. 34. 28: and forgetteth it not, Saith David, Ps. 9. 12. and therefore they are sure to be avenged.

The Odiousnesse of this sinne in the sight of God, and the danger of it, may be further gathered out of the Scriptures, thus:

1 By the Odious names given to it. Such as Grinding the faces of men,* 1.2 Isa. 3. 15. eating them, Psal. 14. 4. Devouring them, Hab. 3. 14. Plucking off their skinne, and their flesh from their bones: Nay, breaking their bones, and chopping them in pieces, as for the pot, Mic. 3. 2, 3. Blood, (which is the life; and they that take away a man's livelyhood, in effect, take away his life) almost every where in the Prophets, Isay 3. 15. Ezek. 22. &c.

2 By the odious names, that are given those that practise it: as of Lyons, and Wolves. Zeph. 3. 3. Ezek. 22. 27. Psal. 10. 9, 10.

3 By the greatnesse of God's anger, even for not helping those that are oppressed, and that speedily. for thus it was said to Zede∣kiah King of Judah, Execute judgement in the morning, and deliver him that is spoyled, out of the hands of the oppressour. lest my fury

goe out like fire, and burn that none can quench it, Jer. 21. 12.

4 Lastly, by the greatnesse of the reward, promised to those who doe not onely ab∣stain from it: (for that they may out of po∣licy onely:) but hate it. (For though it be not enough for such a reward; yet it is the maine thing mentioned.)—He that despiseth the gaine of Oppression. that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, &c. He shall dwell on high, &c. Isa. 33. 15. What ever they thinke, Princes can never be so safe, nor so secure, when they have the feare; as when they have the love, of their subjects. I have been the longer upon this subject, because I see it is a sinne so much practised in most coun∣tries, even (which I am ashamed to speake) of Christiandome.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the same word that is used vers. 1. ac∣cording to the usuall manner in God's threats (as I have often said) to expresse a retaliation, or punish∣ing with like for like; much used, and prescribed in the Law, Exod. 21.
• * 1.2

  * Wearing them, till they looke thin with poverty.