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§. 137. Of the terriblenesse of Gode wrath being incensed.
For our God is a consumiag fire.
IN this verse is added a motive to enforce the forementioned manner of serving of God, taken from the terror of God.
And to move them to whom he wrote, and others like to them, partakers of the heavenly calling, he setteth out God in that speciall and particular relation he hath to his Church, to such as professe the true Christian Faith. For under this rela∣tive a 1.1 OUR, which is of the first person and plurall number, the Apostle com∣priseth himself, and such as himself was, at least in profession of the true Christian Faith. And questionlesse he here especially intendeth him that is to be Judge of all, the Son of God, made Son of Man, the second person in sacred Trinity, true God, he whom the Apostles do oft stile God our Saviour, as 1 Tim. 1. 1. 2 Pet. 1. 1. Iude v. ult.
The Apostle in giving this title God unto Christ, thereby giveth proof, That Christ is true God. Whereof see Chap. 1. v. 8. §. 107. and v. 10. §. 128.
And in adding this relative particle OUR unto God, giveth us to understand, that Christ is in speciall the God of his Church. See the Saints sacrifice §. 31.
Even this our God, in and through whom the free grace, aud rich mercy of God is set forth, he is a consuming fire. By what resemblance could terror be more set forth to the life, then by this? for of all creatures fire is most terrible; therefore the easelesse, and mercilesse torment of hell is hereby set out, Matth. 18. 9.
But because fire hath light and warmth in it, whereby it giveth light, and quick∣neth and cherisheth, this epithite b 1.2 consuming, is applied thereto. The rather be∣cause God hath sometimes appeared in fire that did not consume, as in the bush, Exod. 3. 2. and in the pillar, Exod. 13. 21. So as the fire here meant is a most terrible fire, and great terror is set out thereby. Whereby the Apostle giveth us to under∣stand, that God incensed is terrible, being here stiled c 1.3 consuming fire. In this very respect doth Moses so stile God, Deut. 4. 24. and 9. 3. In this respect also fire is said to be kindled by the breath of the Lord, Isa. 30. 33. to go out of his mouth, Psal. 18. 8. to come from him, Lev. 10. 2. to go be•…•…ore him, Psal. 97. 2. And he is said to judge with fire. Read how the terror of the Lord is set out, Deut. 29. 20, &c.
For every thing in God is infinit; justice, power, jealousie, wrath. Now infinit∣nesse added to wrath and vengeance, makes it exceeding terrible, even intollerable.
- 1. This doth demonstrate unto us their folly who by their impudency in sinning, & impenitency, incense this fire of Gods wrath, and cast themselves into the midst thereof. Will any one that is in his right wits cast himself into a flaming fire? In∣deed Matth. 17. 15. Its said of one, that oft he falleth into the fire. But who was that one? a very Lunatique, who knew not what he did. And what made him do it? The Devill who possessed him cast him in, Mark. 9. 22. And he must needs go whom the Devill drives. Assuredly the Devill drives on every one that casts himself into the fire here mentioned by the Apostle.
- 2. Let us be admonished to take heed of offending this God; Offences provoke his wrath. His wrath being incensed he becomes such a fire as is here intended.
That this may be the more nearly applied, I will give you a briefe view of such sins as in Scripture are noted to kindle and inflame this fire, as
- 1. Idolatry, Deut. 32. 18, 21, 22.
- 2. Profaning Gods ordinances, Lev. 10. 2. Numb. 16. 35.
- 3. Murmuring against Gods providence, Numb. 11. 1. and 21. 6.
- 4. Abominable p•…•…llutions, Gen. 19. 24.
- 5. Attempting the deaths of Gods Prophets, •…•… King. 1. 10. Dau. 3. 22.
- 6. Haters of God, Psal. 21. 8, 9.
- 7. Revolters and Apostates, Heb. 10. 27.
- 8. Antichristians, Rev. 14. 9, 10.
- 9. False teachers and seducers, Rev. 19. 20.
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