Hereof the apostle gives an account, Rom. xi. 5-10. It is there- fore, in a time of great provocations, no certain evidence that inevi- table public judgments are not approaching, because the word and other means of grace are effectual to the conversion of some amongst us; for God may hereby be gathering of his own unto himself, that way may be made for the pouring out of his indignation on them that are hardened.
(2.) He did it that it might be an aggravation of their sin, and a space to fill up the measure of their iniquity; to the glory of his seve- rity in their destruction, — " Towards them that fell, severity." They had time to contract all the guilt mentioned by the apostle, 1 Thess. ii. 14-16; and were brought into the state and condition described by the same apostle, Heb. x. 26-30. See Isa. vi. 10-12.
Of this judgment and destruction, that of the old world was a pre- cedent and token, which was despised by those obdurate sinners, 2 Pet. iii. 5-7.
3. The third instance of a judgment of this nature, which is yet to come, is in the destruction of Antichrist, and the idolatrous kingdom of the great adulteress and the persecuting beast. With respect here- unto, also, God will not repent, nor shall men do so ; so that it is inevi- table. So is it declared, Rev. xviii. 8. This God hath determined, and it shall be accomplished in its appomted season; " for strong is the Lord God who judgeth" them, and none shall dehver them out of his hand, because of the improbability of it, because of the great power of Babylon in itself, and in its allies, the kings and merchants of the earth. The omnipotency of God is engaged to secure the church of its destruction; " strong is the Lord God who judgeth her."' She also hath her day, wherein she will not, wherein she shall not, repent. When God begins to execute his plagues against her, none that belong unto her will repent of any of their abominations. Rev. ix. 20, 21, xvi. .9, 11. Yet is there a day of patience continued unto this idolatrous, persecuting church; — partly that they may " fill up the measure of their iniquities;" and partly that God may, by the word and means of grace, gather out all his people from amongst them, according unto his call. Rev. xviii. 4. And our slowness in coming forth from tliem is probably one means of prolonging the day of her
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THE DESIGN OF IMPENDENT JUDGMENTS. 619
desolation. And now the Lord Jesus Christ seems to say unto his people what the angel said unto Lot, when he led him out of Sodom, Make haste to escape, for I cannot do any thing until you are escaped, Gen. xix. 22. And I hope the time is approaching wherein he will deal with his people as the angel dealt with Lot, verse 1 6. They are apt to linger, and know not how to leave the outward accommoda- tion of the Babylonish state, nor clear themselves of innumerable prejudices received therein; but he, being merciful unto them, -ftdll at length lay hold on them by the word of his power, and take them out of the city in a complete relinquishment of that cursed state.
Now, unto this sort of judgments there are two things concurring: —
L That there is a determinate decree concerning them.
2. That there is o. judicial ohdxiration upon the people whom they are determined against, accompanying them ; — that no calls to repent- ance or reformation shall be complied "withal so as to divert them. I am satisfied, upon such evidence as I shall give afterward, that this is not the condition of England ; howbeit we have cause enough to tremble at the severest of divine judgments.
Secondly. The second sort of judgments are such as are deservedly threatened and determined, yet so as that no judicial hardness doth go along with them, to make utterly void the preceding day of grace and patience, and all reformation impossible.
They cannot, they shall not, be utterly removed, by a total deliver- ance from them ; but yet they may have many alleviations and miti- gations, and be sanctified unto them whom they do befall. A full instance hereof we have in the Babylonish captivity, as an account is given us of it, 2 Kings xxiii. 25-27, " Like unto^ him was there no king before him, that turned to the Lord Avith all his heart, and with all his soul, and A\ith all his might, according to all the law of Moses: neither after him arose there any like him. Notwithstanding the LoED turned not from the fierceness of his great Avrath, wheremth his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations that Manasseh had provoked him Avithal. And the LoRD said, I will remove Judah also out of my sight, as I have removed Israel, and will cast off this city Jerusalem, which I have chosen, and the house of which I said. My name shall be there."
God had decreed and determined to cast off Judah and Jerusalem for their sin, — to bring a wasting desolation upon them. When this judgment was approaching, Josiah endeavours a thorough reforma- tion of all things in the land, religious, civil, and moral; yet would not God revoke his sentence of a gi'eat calamity on the whole nation. The secret reason hereof was, that the body of the people was hyjoo- critieal in that reformation, and quickly returned unto their former abominations, Jer. iii. 10, "Judah hath not turned unto me with her