Vers. 10. Enter into the rocke, and hide thee in the dust from before the feare of the Lord, and from the glorie of his Maiestie.
BEcause the wicked gaue themselues too much libertie, and were too secure vnder Gods threatnings, it is an vsual custome with the Prophets when they threaten obstinate sinners to adde such liuely descriptions, whereby to terrifie them: euen as if they should set the thing in present view before their eies. This is the reason why the Pro∣phet now commands the contemners of God to enter into the rocks, and holes, to hide them vnder the earth. Wherein hee first shewes them that the iudgement of God is more ter∣terrible then an hundred deaths: seeing to escape the same, the graue is to bee wished for. But when hee forceth them thus into their holes, he doth with the greater em∣phasis manifest the heauy waight of the ven∣gance of God. Although then that by the feare of the Lord, he meanes the scourges wher∣with God should smite this wicked people; yet notwithstanding it is not in vaine that he by and by speakes of the glorie of his Maiestie: as if he should say, God is terrible to the wic∣ked, according to the measure of his glo∣rie, in whose destruction he will manifest his infinite power. And moreouer, al∣though the wicked cannot bee bowed nor humbled by any chastisement whatsoeuer, yet are they constrained to feare, when they feele Gods wrath to approch. But as tou∣ching the Elect,* 1.1 they are taught of God to feare vnder his chastising hand after another sort: for being smitten with the strokes of his rods, they willingly bend themselues to beare the yoke. Isaiah then testifies, that the glory of Gods Maiesty shal shine most cleare∣lie, after hee hath shewed himselfe as a iust Iudge. For whilst he lets men alone, it seemes all is well, and men thinke that hee hath hid himselfe.
Let the Pastors of the word then learne from hence how they ought to behaue them∣selues, when they haue to deale with benum∣med consciences; to wit, that being well awakened by the iudgements of God, they learne to feare this iudgement seate in good earnest. And howsoeuer it often seemes that we lose our labour in singing thus to deafe eares, yet will this terror of Gods iudgement pearce euen into hearts of iron: at the least to leaue them without excuse. And oft times also it comes to passe that some are healed, and the faithfull in like manner do profit by it, when they vnderstand what shal befall the wicked and reprobate by executing such horrible iudgements vpon them.