SECT. VII.
Ʋnder what dispensations do wicked men grow worse and worse?*
IN the generall I answer, wicked men are the worse in all conditions that God puts them into: more particularly they are worse and worse,
- Page 36Under
- Gods Providences,
- Gods Ordinances.
First, Wicked men wax worse under all Gods Providences, whether
- Of
- Prosperity,
- Adversity,
- Deliverances,
*I. Ungodly men are worse under their pro∣sperity, when the world smiles upon them, and when they have all that their carnall hearts can wish and desire: If the Sun shine, it hardens the clay, and the more it makes the dunghill send forth unsavory smels, Rom. 2.4. Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance, and long-suffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance, ver. 5. But after thy hardness and impenitent heart, treasurest up wrath against the day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous judgement of God. A wicked man is more hardened by Gods kindness to him; Animus Iniquus beneficio fit pejor. A wicked heart is made worse by every kindness. As, Christ fed Judas at his table, and he runs presently to betray him. The more God aboundeth to them in common goodness, the more they abound against God in multiplied wickedness. Neh. 9.16. ad 27. Psal. 78.12, 17. Prov. 1.32. The prosperity of fools shall destroy them, Isa. 26.10. Let favor be shewed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteous∣ness: in the land of uprightness will he deal un∣justly, and will not behold the majesty of the Lord. They are worse by prosperity.
1. Because they are thereby listed up with pride Page 37 and carnall confidence; many men the more rich, the more proud, and the prouder, the worser; the more their riches increase, the more they set their hearts upon them, and the more a mans heart is upon the creature, the worse he is. Prosperity is full of snares; and we are apt then to forget God, and to lift up the heel against him. Deut. 32.15. But Jesurun waxed fat and kicked, thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his Salvation. Here is great prosperity, and great impiety; and God seeing how apt his own peo∣ple are to be worse by prosperity, doth caution them largely against it, Deut. 8.7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18.
2. Wicked men are worse by prosperity, because then they have more fuell to feed their lusts. Sodomites had fulness of bread, and that did feed their uncleanness. They turn Gods grace into wantonness, and his mercies into fuell for their wickedness. Those things which should be cords of love to draw them to God, they turn to the nourishment of their sinnes against God, and desire riches not that they may glorify God, but gratify their lusts, Jam. 4.3. The more abundance of outward things a drun∣kard hath, the more he is able to please his palate with great abundance of the richest Wines; the more the adulterer hath, the more he bestows upon his harlot: and so the greater plenty, the more they lead a sensuall, bruitish, flesh-pleasing life, and the more of that, the worse they be.
Page 383. Wicked men in prosperity are the worse, because they are apt to gather Gods special love to them, from the common bounty he bestowes upon them. Because the world smiles upon them, they think God doth so too: Because Gods hand is opened to them, therefore they think they are engraven upon his heart, and think Divine To∣leration * is Divine Approbation, when indeed it is a sign of Gods great displeasure, to give prosperity to a man in a sinfull course. God was angry with the rich man in the Gospel, when he gave him more abundance than he knew how to bestow, Luk. 12.18, 19, 20. and 16.19, 20. They are apt to think that is the best way, which is the most prosperous way, Jer. 44.17. But we will certainly doe what soever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn In∣cense to the Queen of heaven▪ and to pour out drink-Offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our Fathers, our Kings and our Princes, in the Cityes of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, for then had we plenty of Victuals, and were well, and saw no evil: Vers. 18. But since we left off to burn Incense to the Queen of Heaven, and to pour out drink Offerings unto her, we have wanted all things, and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine. By prosperity they take en∣couragement to proceed in their Iniquity.
4. Wicked men by prosperity are worse, because, they are apt to put far from them the evil day, and the hour and thoughts of Death and Judgement, and the Life to come: In health they have not serious thoughts of sickness; a Page 39 wicked man is too apt to think that the Sun of Prosperity which shines upon him, will never set, nor be clouded. Psal. 49.11. Their in∣ward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all gene∣rations: they call their Lands after their own Names. In Prosperity they think little of death. Luk. 12.19. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast goods laid up for many years, eat, drink, and be merry. They promise themselves a con∣tinuance of their outward happiness, and so sin more freely and abundantly. Isa. 56.12. Come ye, say they, I will fetch Wine, and we will fill our selves with strong drink, and to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant. This per∣swasion begets carnal security, and the more se∣cure, still the worse.
