THE DESIGN OF mPENDENT JUDGMENTS. 603
The brute elements tremble at the approaches of God in his judg- ment against the inhabitants of the earth. So the prophet expresseth it, Hab. iii. 10, " The mountains saw thee, and they trembled: the overflowings of the water passed by : the deep uttered his voice, and lifted up his hands on high."
They are, a,s it were, cast into a posture of trembling and suppli- cation. And ^schylus, a heathen poet in Justin Martyr, [thus writes] : —
Tpi/aii 0 of/i, Kai yala, xa) -ziXufiiii 'Bvi'o; BaXd(r(r>i;, x-uj>seuv u'^os fji.iya, "Orav I^TfSXji.^?! yopyof o/^jua, oiffVOTov.
" Wlien the dreadful eye of God (in his providence) is lifted up," all things tremble before it.
III. In the interpretation and application made of these severe accidents by our Saviour, in his divine wisdom, we may observe, —
1. Esijecial judgments in such a season, befalling in any, do not prove an especial guilt or p)rovocation in them. This our Saviour expressly denies, and that with respect unto both the instances in- sisted on, and that distinctly, verses 2, 4. I do not hence absolutely establish a general rule as unto all times and persons. For, — First, The observation is here confined and limited unto such a season as that under consideration; namely, a time of provoking sins in the generality of the j)eople, and approachmg judgments. In such a season, no assignation of especial guilt ought to be made on especial calamitous sufferings. Secondly, Some persons may be guilty of such daring, presumptuous sins, that if they are overtaken with especial judgments in this world, it is the height of impiety not to own the especial revenging hand of God in their destruction. Such was the death of Herod, Acts xii. 22, 23.
2. Judgments on pirivate men in such a season are luarnings to the public. This is intimated by our Saviour in this place; namely, that God uses a sovereignty herein, by singling out whom he pleaseth, to make them examples unto others. This, saith he, was the sole reason, as far as you are concerned to judge or know, why God brought these sore destructions upon them; namely, that by these warnings he might call you to repentance. Yet, I judge, God doth not ordi- narily exercise his sovereignty in this kind, unless it be when all have deserved to be destroyed : and then, as in the sedition and mutiny of military legions, they decimated them, or slew some for an example and terror unto others; so God calls out of a guilty multitude whom he pleaseth, to make 2:)revious instances of approaching judgments.
3. Those who first fall under judgments are not always the tuo7'st that judgments shall befall; nor are the first judgments usually the most severe; — so it is plain in these instances. And because we have
GOl THE DESIGN OF IMPENDENT JUDGMENTS.
instances of tliis natiu'e amongst us, we slioukl consider how to make a right judgment concerning them. And these three things we may safely determine : — 1. That those who suffered were sinners also, though they were not so only, or in an especial manner.^ This is necessary unto the vindication of the justice of God. 2. That he who hath made them warnings unto us, might have made us warnings unto them. Herein his sovereignty and mercy towards us who escape is manifest. 3. That we also have a hand in that guilt, forerunning such providences so far as there is any thing penal in them. For such private previous judgments are the effect of public provocations.
IV. Here is a sure iiile given us of the inteipretation of severe providences in such a season as that here intended ; — such, I mean, as we have had amongst us, in j)/«y/i<e, and^?-e, and blood; and such as we have the signs and tokens of at this time in heaven and earth. For three things we are here taught safely to conclude concerning them : — First, That they are warnings from God. This our Saviour plainly declares in the interpretation and application of these two instances. Secondly, That their voice and language is a call to re- 2)entance and reformation: " Except ye repent," etc. Thirdly, When they are neglected as warnings, calling to repentance, they change their nature, and become certain signs of ajoproaching de- stniction. And in the observation of these rules of interpretation of providential severities given us by our Saviour, we may be preserved from the excesses of neglecting, on the one hand, what is contained in them, and of rash judging of men or causes, on the other.
These things being premised for the opening of the words, the truth wherein we are instructed by them appears to be this: —
When a land, a nation, a city, a church, is filled with sin, so as that God gives them luartiings or indications of his displeasure hi/ 2)revious judgments, or other extraordinary signs, if they are not as warnings complied withal by repentance and reformation, they are tokens of ajjproaching judgments, that shall not be avoided.
This is the sacred truth which our Lord Jesus Christ doth here recommend to our observation. It is the great loile of divine Provi- dence, with the especial seal of our Lord Christ annexed to it, '' I tell you. Nay ; but, unless ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." When warnings for instruction are not received, they are tokens of destruc- tion. This is a truth which none almost deny, and none almost be- lieve. Had it been believed, many desolating judgments in former ages had been prevented ; nations and cities should have abode in prosperity, which are now sunk into ruin, yea, into hell. See Luke xix. 41-44; Matt. xi. 23. And were it believed in the days wherein