did, tlierein, approve of and justif}^ all the blood that was shed in the same cause from the foundation of the world; and made themselves justly hable unto the punishment due unto it. Hence, our Sa\'iour tells them, Matt, xxiii. 35, that they, the men of that generation, slew Zechariah, who was actually slain many hundred years before.
(3.) Our blessed Saviour mentions Abel and Zechariah particularly. This Zechariah, called the son of Barachias, was undoubtedly the Zechariah mentioned, 2 Chron. xxiv. 20-22. For concerning those two alone it is observed, that the one dead, and the other dying, " cried for vengeance." So God testifieth of the blood of Abel, Gen. iv. 10. And Zechariah, Avhen he died, said, " The Lord look upon it, and require it." Hence the apostle affinns, that "Abel being dead, yet speaketh," Heb. :d. 4; that is, his blood did so, — it did so then, and it spake for vengeance, as he intimates, chap. xii. 24. It did so before and until the destruction of Jerusalem : for in the rejec- tion and absolute destruction of that apostatized church and people, the blood of all that suffered under the Old Testament was expiated. Abel's blood cries no more; nor doth God look any more on the blood of Zechariah to require it.
But the same voice and cry is now continued by another sort of men ; namely, those who have suffered in the cause of Christ since his coming, according to the promise, Rev. vi. 9, 10. And this cry shall be continued until the appointed time doth come for the utter destruction of the antichristian, apostatized church-state.
When a sinful church or people have passed the utmost bounds of divine patience and forbearance, they shall fall into such abominable, crying sins and provocations as shall render the utmost vengeance beneath their deserts. So Josephus affirms of this generation, after they had rejected and slain the Lord Christ, that they fell into such a hell of provoking abominations, that if the Romans had not come and destroyed them, God would have sent fire and brimstone upon them from heaven, as he did on Sodom.
And we may, by the way, observe from hence, — It is a dangerous thing to live in the times of declining churches, tvhen they are hastening unto their fatal period in judgments ; such as mil mevitably befall them all and eveiy one. And it is so for these three reasons: —
[1.] Because such times are perilous through temptations from the abounding of the lusts of men in all uncleanness and wickedness. So the apostle states it, 2 Tim. iii. 1-5. If any think they are free from danger, because as yet they feel no evil, wliilst the lusts of men professing Christian religion visibly and openly abound and rage in the world, they "svill be mistaken.
[2.] Though destruction do not immediately befall them, yet, when
coo THE DESIGN OF IMPENDENT JUDG31ENT,S.
tliey have passed the time of divine patience desiL,niing their refor- mation, they shall precipitate themselves into hloodij abominations, as did the church of the Jews.
[3.] Judgment shall at length overtake them, and God will revenge on them the sins and provocations — especially the jJ^^^secutions and blood — of them that went before them, and led them into their apos- tasy. So when he shall come to destroy mystical Babylon, or the antichristian church-state, it is said, that " in her was found the blood of the prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth," Rev. xviii. 2i. Even the blood of saints that was shed by pagan Rome sliall be avenged on antichristian Rome, after she hath espoused the cause and walked in the way of the other, justifying in her own practice what they had done.
2. It was a time wherein judgments were near approaching ; — so our Saviour himself affirms it to have been, Luke xix. 42-4-i, " If
thou hadst known, m this thy day." They had now but a day,
and that now almost ready to expire, though they saw it not, nor would believe it. But the day of their desolation approached conti- nually, and when the apostle wrote his Epistle to the Hebrews, was making its entrance upon them, chap. x. 25, " Ye see the day ap- proaching." And we may hence learn, —
(1.) That in the approaching of desolating judgments on a sinful, provoking church or nation, God is pleased to give previous intima- tions of Ids displeasure, as well in the works of providence as by the rule of his word. Such were those here so interpreted by our Saviour in such a season.
This, I say, is the ordinary process of divine Providence ; and, it may be, no nation, heathen or Christian, ever utterly perished with- out divine warnings of their approaching desolation. Some, indeed, seem to be taken away with a sudden surprisal, as God threateneth, Ps. Iviii. 9-11.
But this is from their own security, and not for want of warnings. So the old world before the flood had warnings sufficient of their de- struction, by the preaching of Noah, and the building of the ark, by which he " condemned the world," Heb. xi. 7, or left them inexcusa- ble, to divine vengeance. Yet they took no notice of these things, but were surprised with the tlood, as if they had never heard or seen any thing that should give them warning of it ; as our Saviour declares, Matt. xxiv. 38, 39. And when the time comes of the destruction of mystical Babylon, she shall say, in that very day wherein her judg- ments come upon her, " I sit as a queen, and shall see no sorrow," notwithstanding all her warnings in the pouring out of the vials of previous judgments. Rev. xviiL 7, 8.