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

Word of God

Such as obey it not

1 They have no title to God's Covenant, nor to any thing contained in the word. But unto the wicked God saith, what hast thou to doe to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my Covenant in thy mouth? seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee? Ps. 50. 16, 17.

2 They are sure to be punished, (especially if it be the word of the Gospel.) See that ye refuse not him that speaketh; for if they escaped not, who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turne away from him, that speaketh from Heaven, Heb: 12. 25.

3 Their punishments have been great, and without remedy. Because they rebelled against the word of God, and contemned the* 1.1 Counsell of the most high, Therefore he brought downe their heart with labour••, they fell downe, and there was none to help, Psalm. 107. 11, 12. See Jer: 26. 4, 5. 6.

Let such heare the word never somuch;

nay declare it, and preach it never somuch; yet, if they build upon this only, and presume thereupon, that the promises contained in the word are theirs, and that Christ is their Saviour; they are in no better condition, then he that without a foundation built his house upon the sand, for that is our Savi∣ruo's comparison, Mat. 7. 26. Every one that heareth these sayings of mine and doth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand.

Those that believe it not

1 They will not be profited by it, nor be partakers of what it promiseth.* 1.2 For unto us was the Gospel preached, as it was unto them, but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it, Heb. 4. 2.

2 They will without question be condem∣ned. For the word which they have sleight∣ed, shall judge them, He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day, John 12. 48: and all the Ministers, whom they have heard, and their writings which they have read, shall accuse them, Doe not thinke, that I will accuse you to the Father (there is no need of that, though I have cause enough▪) There is

one that accuseth you, even Moses in whom ye trust, chap. 5. 45, 46.

Mark how angrily God threatens the Jews, for not believing the Prophet Jeremy, They have belied the Lord, and said, it is not he: neither shall evill come upon us, neither shall we see sword nor famine: and the Prophets shall become winde, and the word is not in them: thus shall it be done unto them. Wherefore thus saith the Lord God of hoasts, because yee speake this word: behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall de∣voure them, Jer: 5. 12. 13, 14.

Such as will not heare it

1 God is exceeding angry with them. They refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder and stopped their eares, that they should not heare. yea they made their heart as an adamant stone, lest they should heare the law, and the words, which the Lord of hoasts had sent by the former Prophets. Therfore came a great wrath from the Lord of hoasts, Zach: 7. 12, 13. So in Jeremy. To whom shall I speake, and give war∣ning that they may heare? Their eare is uncir∣cumcised, and they cannot harken: behold, the word of the Lord is unto them a reproach: they have no delight in it. Therefore I am full of the fury of the Lord, I am weary with holding in, &c. Ch: 6. 10, 11: See also vers. 19. and ch: 7. 13, 14, 15.

2 They shall be certainly punished. God told Moses, concerning the Prophet, whom he would raise up in his roome, And it shall come to passe, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words, which he shall speak in my name, I will* 1.3 require it of him, Deut. 18, 19.

The punishments which the Scripture mentions, are

1 God's not hearing their prayers in their misery: as in that place of Zachary last quo∣ted: Therefore it is come to passe, that as hee cried, and they would not heare; so they cryed, and I would not heare, saith the Lord of hoasts, v. 13. Nay, insteed of hearing them, abhor∣ring of them. He that turneth away his eare from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination, Prov: 28, 9.

2 Giving up to their lusts. But my peo∣ple would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me. So I gave them up to their own hearts lust; and they walked in their owne counsells, Ps. 81. 11, 12:

3 Greater condemnation then those have, who never had the word to heare. Whosoe∣ver shall not receive you, nor heare your words: When yee depart out of the house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. Verily I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for Sodome and Go∣morrha in the day of judgement, then for that city, Mat: 10, 14, 15. Our Saviour thus spake

to the twelve Apostles, when hee first sent them; and he said the like to the seventy dis∣ciples, Luk. 10, 11, 12.

Such as despise it.

Their end shall be destruction. Who so de∣spiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandement shall bee rewarded, Prov: 13. 13.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Freind∣like coun∣sell, for their owne good only.
• * 1.2

  * Or, and so were they. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, our tran¦slation, as well as un∣to them.
• * 1.3

  Sep. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Vulg. ego ultor existam, I will be re∣venged upon him.