That which hence I shall observe is only from the variety of these particulars, Avhich are held out as the means of the intended desola- tion.
Observation. God's treasures of ivrath against a sinful peoj)h have sundry and varioiis issues for the accomplishment of the ap- pointed end.
When God walks contrary to a people, it is not always in one path; he hath seven ways to do it, and will do it seven times. Lev. xxvi. 24. He strikes not always with one weapon, nor in one place. As there is with him to/x/Xt) %a^/j, " manifold and various grace," 1 Pet. iv. 10, — love and compassion making out itself in choice variety, suited to our manifold indigencies; so there is hpyri Tidnffavpiff,asv'/j, Rom. ii. 5, — stored, treasured wrath, suiting itself in its flowings out to the pro- vocations of stubborn sinners.
The first emblem of God's WTath against man was a " flaming- sword turning itself eveiy way," Gen. iii. 24. Not only in one or two, but in all their jiaths he meeteth them with his flaming sword. A.H a wild beast in a net,^ so are sinners under inexorable judgments; the more they strive, the more they are enwrapped and entangled; they shuffle themselves from under one calamity, and fall into an- other: " As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him ; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him," Amos v. 19. Oh! remove this one plague, saitli Pharaoh." If he can escape from under this pressure, he thinks he shall be free ; — but when he fled from the lion, still the bear met him ; and when he went into the hoiise, the serpent bit him. And as the fl.-vming sword turns every way, so God can put it into every thing. To those that ' Isa. Ii. 20, » Exod. x. 17.
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cry, Give me a king, God can give him in his anger; and from those that cry, Take him away, he can take him away in his wrath, Hos. xiii. 10, 11.
Oh, that this might seal up instruction to our own souls ! What variety of calamities have we been exercised withal, for sundry years ! What Pharaoh-hke spirits have we had under them ! Oh, that we were delivered this once, and then all were well ! How do we spend all our thoughts to extricate ourselves from our present pressures 1 If this hedge, tliis pit were passed, we should have smooth ground to walk on; — not considering that God can fill our safest paths with snares and serpents. Give us peace, give us wealth, — give us as we were, with our own, in quietness. Poor creatures ! suppose all these desires were in sincerity, and not, as with the most they are, fair colours of foul and bloody designs ; yet if peace were, and wealth were, and former things were, and God were not, what would it avail you? Can- not he poison your peace, and canker your wealth? and when you were escaped out of the field from the lion and the bear, appoint a serpent to bite you, leaning upon the walls of your own house? In vain do you seek to stop the streams, while the fountains are open; turn yourselves whither you will, bring yourselves into what condition you can, nothing but peace and reconciliation witli the God of all these judgments can give you rest in the day of visitation. You see what variety of plagues are in his hand. Changing of condition will do no more to the avoiding of them, than a sick man's turning himself from one side of the bed to another; during his turning, he forgets his pain by striving to move, — being laid down again, he finds his con- dition the same as before.
This is the first thing, — we are under various judgments, from which by ourselves there is no deliverance.
Secondly. The second thing here expressed is, the procuring cause of these various judgments, set down, verse 4, " Because of Manasseh, son of Hezekiah king of Judah, for that which he did in Jerusalem."
The sins of Manasseh filled the ej^hah of Judah's wickedness, and caused the talent of lead to be laid on the mouth thereof Often- times in the relation of his story doth the Holy Ghost emphatically express this, that for his sin Judah should be destroyed, 2 Kings xxi. 1 1. Yea, when they had a little reviving under Josiah, and the bowels of the Lord began to work in compassion towards them ; yet, as it were remembering the provocation of this Manasseh, he recalls his thoughts of mercy, 2 Kings xxiii. 26, 27. The deposing of divine and human things is oftentimes very opposite."^ God himself proceeds with them in a diverse dispensation. In the spiritual body the members offend, and the Head is punished : '•' The iniquity of us all did meet on him," ' Zecli. V. 7, 8. 5 " Est riTitedam iemulatio divinro rei, et liunianse." — Ter. Apol.
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Isa. liii. In the civil politic body the head offends, and the members rue it : Manasseh sins, and Judah must go captive.