A learned and very useful commentary on the whole epistle to the Hebrews wherein every word and particle in the original is explained ... : being the substance of thirty years Wednesdayes lectures at Black-fryers, London / by that holy and learned divine Wiliam Gouge ... : before which is prefixed a narrative of his life and death : whereunto is added two alphabeticall tables ...

§. 41. Of the Reasons why God is said to judge Whoremongers and Adulterers.

GOD is said to judge those sinners upon sundry weighty grounds:

• 1. Because these sins use to be committed in secret and close places, where no other person can see them. The eye of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, say∣ing, No •…•…ye shall see me, Job 24. 15. When there were none of the men of the house with∣in, Iosephs Mistresse tempted him to uncleannesse, Gen. 39. 11, 12. God by his Pro∣phet saith of Davids adultery, Thou didst it secretly, 2 Sam. 12. 12. Therefore that such sinners might not go unpunished, the Lord (whose eyes is in every place, behold both the evil and the good, Pro. 15. 3.) judgeth them.
• 2. Because great and mighty men on earth, who think by their greatnesse and power, to escape unpunished for all that man can do against them, are exceedingly bold in committing these sins: God taketh upon him to revenge them. God scat∣ureth the proud, and putteth down the mighty, Luk. 1. 51, 52.
• 3. Because men that are in place to punish these sins, use to be too remisse in punishing them; Though Gods Law, and the light of Nature (as was shewed §. 40.) judge adultery to be a capital crime, yet since Christs time, Christian Common∣wealths and States have taken away that just punishment. When men wax remisse in executing condign punishment, God will judge. Because Eli restrained not his sons, God sware that the iniquity of Elies house should not be purged with Sacrifice, 1 Sam. 7. 13, 14.
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• 4. Because men take such an insatiable delight in these things▪ as there needs more then ordinary terror to restrain them; even the terror of the Almighty. To restrain men from sin the Apostle thus useth this motive, Knowing the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the Lord we perswade men, 2 Cor. 5. 11. It is a fearfull thing to fall into the hands of the living God, Heb. 10. 31. They therefore that fear not men, who can but kill the bo•…•…y, may fear God, who after he hath killed, hath power to cast into hell, Luk. 12. 4, 5.
• 5. Because it is a great aggravation of the sins themselves, to hear that God will judge such as commit them; as if all that man can do were not a sufficient revenge of those sins.