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

After the comming of Christ

You may see it threatened in Luke thus, Ʋnto you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdome of God, but unto others in para∣bles,

that seeing they might not see, and hea∣ring they might not understand, ch. 8. 10. See ch. 19. 42. In John thus, For Judgement I am come into this world, that they which see not, might see, and that they which see, might be made blinde, ch. 9. 39. For, though Gro∣tius would have these last words to be an Hebraisme, for, Be made to appeare blinde; and I acknowledge the* 1.1 Hebraisme: yet I rather chuse to follow Beza, whose words upon the place are these, Illos in densissimas ignorantiae tenebras demergam. Grotius him∣selfe (upon Matt: 15. 14.) produces a say∣ing of the Jews (out of the Midrash Tehil∣lim. Psal. 146.) that, when God should have his Tabernacle among them, their teachers shall be blinde, See ch. 19. 42. ch. 12. 4. Act. 28. 26. Rom. 11. 8.

You may see it inflicted in Paul, 1 Cor. 3. 15. Even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vaile is upon their heart: and threatened to continue. Ʋntill the fulnesse of the Gen∣••••es

come in: by the same Apostle, Rom. ••. 25.

Now this punishment is executed both ••on Jew and Gentile, 1 By not destroying ••e vaile, that is spread over them; but lea∣••ng them in the darke, Esay 25. 7. 2 By ••elivering the word in languages, which they ••annot understand. Wherefore tongues are ••or a signe, not to them that believe, but to ••hem that believe not, 1 Cor. 14. 22. Grotius ••••deed (upon the same principle, as before,) ••nterprets it, Tongues are for the converting ••f those who as yet believe not. But I rather ••gree with Beza, who would have this be∣••ng a signe, here to be meant of a punishment; and those words of Esay, ch. 28. 11. (cited in the verse going before this) to be meant as a threat; and whereas it is said, And yet for all that they will not heare mee, that the meaning in the Prophet, is as if he had said thus, Notwithstanding this grievous punish∣ment, of living dispersed captives among people whom they cannot understand; yet for all that, this perverse people, will not be brought to hear∣ken to my word. Indeed (besides that, the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, rendred, them that believe not, is sel∣dome applyed to any but those, that never believed at all.) I cannot be perswaded, but that delivering the Gospell to a people in no other languages, then such as they cannot

understand, is a signe, that God will leave them to themselves: for by this meanes it is hid; and it is hid, to none but to them that are lost, or (those that* 1.2 shall perish••) In whom the God of this world (the God who is the maker, and is the owner of this world, and therefore may doe with any creature thereof, what he will) hath blinded* 1.3 the minds of them that believe not, lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, who is the Im∣age of God, should shine unto them, 2 Cor 4. 3, 4.

I will conlude with Beza's wish, utinam vero istius horrendae maledictinis dei, domestica exempla nobis non suppeditarent eae gentes, quae solae hodiè Christi nomine gloriantur, That there were no such examples of this punish∣ment, in this manner executed (as are) in the Popish Churches; where the people are not suffered, to have the use of the Bible, in their mother-tongue.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The He∣brew saies made so, o•• did so, in•• d••vers sen∣ses, as 1 ••or said 'tis so, Le•• 13. 3. where we render it, pronoun∣ced him uncleane, in the Hebrew it is, make him uncleane, So Job 9. 20. prov•• mee perverse, in the Hebrew it is, make mee perverse; as w•• say in English, you make mee very foolish, &c. for you account m•• so. 2 For prophecying it shall be so, Ezek. 43 3. When I can to destroy this city: and ch. 32. 18 Cast them downe. 3 F•• using the meanes to have it so, Jer. 51. 9. where we render it, W•• would have healed Babylon, in the Hebrew it is, we heale 4 For suffering it to be so, Ezek. 39. 7. where we render it, I w•• not let them pollute, &c. in the Hebrew it is, I will not pollute.
• * 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.3

  See 2 Thes. 2▪ 1.