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

Impenitence* 1.1 is threatened, in generall termes.

1 With Certaine punishment: for God will whet his sword; so that it shall be sure to cut. If he turne not he, will whet his sword, he hath bent his bow, and made it ready Ps: 7. 12.

2 With Severe punishment (where there hath been extraordinary meanes* 1.2 used to re∣claime.) Then began he to upbraid the Cities wherein most of his mighty workes weere done, because they repented not. Woe unto thee Chora∣zin, woe unto thee Bethsaida Mat: 11. 20, 21.

The Punishments more particularly mentioned are.

1 Shortning of life. For whereas God had promised the old world, to spare them a hun∣dred and twenty yeares, Gen 6. 3: yet when he saw, they would not repent, he cut their time shorter by twenty yeares. For Noah was but 600 yeares old, when the floud of wa∣ters was upon the earth, 7. 6; and yet he was 500,* 1.3 at the time when God made the promise c. 5. 32. Thus some of the * Fathers.

2 Removall of the light of the Gospel. Re∣member therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent and doe the first works: or else I will come unto thee quickly I will remove thy can∣dlestick

out of his place, except thou repent Rev: 2, 5: it is spoken to the Angel of the Church of Ephesus.

3 Destruction temporall (at the least.) And I will fanne them with a fanne in the gates of of the Land, I will bereave them of children: I will destroy my people, sith* 1.4 they returne not from their waies, Jer: 15. 7. So in the Gospel: Suppose ye that these Galileans, were sinners a∣bove all the Galileans, because they suffered such things. I tell you nay, but except yerepent, ye shall all likewise perish, Luk 13. 3, you have this threat repeated v. 5 in the samewords.

4 Destruction eternall, (as is easily gather∣ed.) not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance, 2 Pet: 3. 9. The rich man in hell, supposed it for a certainty, that his brethren would come to his place of torment, unlesse they did repent, Luk, 16, 28, compared with verse 30.

5 Greater condemnation since Christ's time, then before: for thus our Saviour thratened those Cities above mentioned, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon, at the day of judgment then for you, Mat: 11. 25.

The greatnesse of Gods displeasure at not repenting, and the sad condition of those, that doe not repent, may be farther gathered out of the Scriptures.

First by God's extending mercy, upon the

sight of repentance, though it were only in outward shew: as he did to Pharaoh, in ceas∣ing the thunder Exod: 9. 27, 33; and in re∣moving the locusts c. 10. 16, and 19. To Ahab, in not bringing the evill, which he had threatned, in his dayes, 1 Kings 21. 27. To Cain, (if those words 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 be to be rendered, mine iniquity is greater then can be pardoned, Gen: 4.* 1.5 13.) in giving him a marke (or, letter) of protection Ge: 4. 15.

2 By the Joy, which the Saints have at the repentance of sinners: as a man would, when his friend hath escaped death; or as if either condition must needs have been ex∣ceeding miserable, if they had not repented Luk: 15. 7.

3 By those speeches of Paul, of being Hum∣bled for, and Bewailing the Corinthians, (not those that had sinned already, but) those that had sinned already, and had not Repented 2 Cor: 12, 21: as if the condition of those, that doe not Repent, were most deplorable; and the condition of those that sinne, were cheifly made deplorable, by not Repenting.

4 By the greatnesse of the reward, which such shall have, who cause others to repent; as having saved their Soules from death, * which otherwise they could not have esca∣ped. They that be wise, shall shine as the bright∣nesse of the Firmament, and they that turne ma∣ny

to righteousnesse as the starres for ever and ever, Dan: 12. 3.

To conclude, we may gather from our selves, that God must needs be much displea∣sed, at Not repenting, seeing we are so exce∣dingly displeased with it our selves, if a man be not sorry, forwhat he hath done against us, if he have but troden on our foot, yea a∣gainst his will. there is nothing vexes us more; especially if he is ready to doe it againe.

Notes

• * 1.1

  See Hardnesse of heart.
• * 1.2

  See Meanes.
• * 1.3

  Hierom Chryso∣stome &c.
• * 1.4

  Methinks, it is better rendered so, then after the vulgar, and yet they re∣turne not, from their waies: for though we should ren∣der, I have de∣stroyed: yet that might be understood, of purpose and inten∣tion to de∣stroy; accor¦ding to the use of the Scripture, and as it is likely to be meant in this place. the Sept: render 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.5

  Accord∣ing to the Sept: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. and the Vulgar, major est iniquitas mea quā ut veniam merear, where the Papist can∣not say the word mere∣ri signifies to deserve, but only, to obtain; yea the Lovaine Divines translate it qu' elle ne puisse estre pardonnée, that it cannot be pardo¦ned.