And Judah hath multiplied fenced Cities

And Judah has multiplied fenced Cities.

Judah seeing God's judgments upon Israel, does not make that use of the judgments of God upon their brethren, so as to consider their own sins, and fall down before the Lord and be humbled in his sight, but when they saw that God's hand was against the ten Tribes, all their care was to fortify themselves; let us build strong Cities that we may be delivered from the miseries that are come upon our brethren. This is that which carnal hearts do, when God expects that they should be put upon humiliation and repentance, and look to it and consider whether they have not the same sins among them that were among their brethren, they regarded nothing but carnal means. It's lawful to build strong Cities, to fence ourselves against enemies, yes but we had need lay the foundation of them in humiliation and reformation, and when they are built they may not be rested in, for says God, I will send a fire and devour them. We must not bless ourselves in any strong places as if that could deliver us from the wrath of God. I have read of a City that fearing their enemies, they sent to a neighbor Prince to come and help them, and charged their Embassadors to tell him their strength they had. But says the Prince, have you got a cover to defend you from Heaven, and if not, I will not meddle with you, for you must have something to award God's wrath from you, because you are so wicked a people, and except you have something to deliver you from that I will not assist you. So though we have strong walls, yet we must look for a cover from Heaven, which is our peace with God through Jesus Christ.

Again, they have multiplied fenced Cities. For outward safety men think they have never enough, to secure themselves from poverty and from their enemies, but to secure themselves from God's wrath they think they have enough. In spiritual things we are content with a little, but when it comes to our outward security we think we can never be too safe. And indeed this will be an argument what it is that your hearts are most upon, that that you endeavor to secure yourselves most in, that's your chiefest good, that that you would make most sure of, and if any thing in the world could make you more sure you endeavor to do it. A gracious heart will never say, May I not go to Heaven though I do no more? but can there any thing more be done? Does God require any thing more of his creature? God that knows all things knows my heart is ready to do all things that he has revealed to me, and if there were any thing more to do, Oh that I knew it that I might fulfill even all righteousness.