Reformed Covenanter
Cancelled Commissioner
THE occasion of these words [Luke 13:5] of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, was because there were certain that shewed him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their own Sacrifices: That is, murdered them as they were sacrificing: and so their blood was mingled with the blood of the beasts which were sacrificed. Those men therefore, though that these Galileans were greater sinners then all other Galileans, because they had suffered such things. And that those xviii. also, upon whom the Tower in Siloam fell and slew them, were sinners above all men, that dwelt in Jerusalem. Wherein they did utter a secret corruption naturally engendered in all men, that is very sharply to see into the sins of others, & severely to censure them: but in the meane while to flatter themselves, & to be blindfold in seeing their own sins.
For these men thought, because the like judgments did not fall upon them, therefore they were safe enough, they were not so great sinners but rather highly in the favour of GOD. According as many do falsely suppose, that those are always the worst sort of people whom God doth most strike, and press with his punishing hand, having forgotten that God doth not keep an ordinary rate here below, to punish every man as he is worst, or to favour and cocker him as he is best, but only taketh some examples as he thinketh good, for the instruction and advertisement of all others, and to be as it were looking glasses, wherein every man may see his own face, yea, and his own cause handled, & that God is a severe revenger of sin, that all men may learn by the example of some, to tremble & beware, least peradventure they be worthily constrained to keep their own turns, and to know what they have deserved.
For the reference, see Arthur Dent on evil judging and self-flattery.
For these men thought, because the like judgments did not fall upon them, therefore they were safe enough, they were not so great sinners but rather highly in the favour of GOD. According as many do falsely suppose, that those are always the worst sort of people whom God doth most strike, and press with his punishing hand, having forgotten that God doth not keep an ordinary rate here below, to punish every man as he is worst, or to favour and cocker him as he is best, but only taketh some examples as he thinketh good, for the instruction and advertisement of all others, and to be as it were looking glasses, wherein every man may see his own face, yea, and his own cause handled, & that God is a severe revenger of sin, that all men may learn by the example of some, to tremble & beware, least peradventure they be worthily constrained to keep their own turns, and to know what they have deserved.
For the reference, see Arthur Dent on evil judging and self-flattery.
