Ezekiel 28

Quest. But what is it to have other gods besides the true God? I fear upon search we have more idolaters among us than we are aware of. Resp. To trust in any thing more than God, is to make it a God. 1. If we trust in our riches, then we make riches our God: we may take comfort,…

(2) Because, they are hurtful and noxious, choaking and hindering good fruits, that otherwise would thrive in the field. So are thorns and briars represented in the Scripture as grieving, piercing and hurtful, and things that are so called by their name (Ezekiel 28:24; Micah 4:4…

1. Pride, self-elation, desire of power and greatness. It is affirmed of the Prince of Tyrus, that he said, He was a God, and sat in the Seat of God (Ezekiel 28:3). And the like foolish thoughts are ascribed to the King of Babylon (Isaiah 14:13, 14).

From hence cometh it, that we fear not in greatest dangers (2 Kings 6:16; Psalm 3:7; Psalm 27:3); that in the time of affliction, we are patient (Proverbs 20:22; Hebrews 10:33); without all murmuring to hold our peace (Psalm 39:10); receiving them as from a father (Job 1:21; Psa…

There are two Adjuncts of the Commands of God; (1.) That they are equal, (2.) That they are Easy, or not grievous. The former they have from the nature of the things commanded and the fitness of our Minds to receive such Commands, Ezek. 28. 25. The latter they have from the disp…

His Affinity, his relation unto them is the nearest imaginable, and he is no otherwise to be accounted of; and there is nothing that God abhors more than an Elation of mind in the forgetfulness of our mean frail condition. You say, said he to the proud Prince of Tyrus, that you…

2. In its evening or latter part, which is bright and glorious, and therefore do we so much hear of the goodness of the latter days — as (Hosea 3:5): they shall make haste to fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter days. So of safety: no provoking briar, no pricking thorn (…

Let comparison be made, so will it be found to be. And 2. by the way of trial: the residue of the world, being pricking briers and grieving thorns to the house of Israel (Ezekiel 28:24). The best of them is a brier, and the most upright of them sharper than a thorn hedge (Micah…

5. Those things which (if we have nothing else) will make us cursed, cannot make us blessed; but the sole enjoyment of worldly things will make us cursed; therefore it is far from making us blessed: Riches are kept for the hurt of the owner (Ecclesiastes 5:13). Riches to the wic…

It is excellent, when the higher we grow in knowledge, the lower we grow in humility. I speak it to the praise of free-grace, God has crowned your silver hairs with golden virtues, every one of which does shine as [reconstructed: those] precious stones, the Sardius, the Topaz, a…

Then shall Satan be bound, and the haters of God shall feign obedience, and his enemies lick the dust. Then will that be understood and experienced (Ezekiel 28:24), 'There shall be no more a pricking briar to the House of Israel, nor any grieving thorn, &c.' But the great glory…

Saint Bernard calls Pride the rich man's cousin. Ezekiel 28:5. Thy heart is lifted up because of thy riches.

That our Nature is liable to such a pernicious folly, which some of tenacious Fancies have turned into Madness, we are beholding alone to our cursed Apostasie from God, and the vanity that possessed our minds thereon. Hence the Prince of Tyrus thought he was a God, and sate in t…

2. Some are proud of their estates. Riches are fuel for pride Ezekiel 28.5. Thy heart is lifted up because of thy riches. Men's hearts rise with their estates, as the Boats on the Thames rise higher with the Tide.

Tyre deified herself, because of her wealth. Your heart is lifted up, because of your riches; and you have set your heart as the heart of God (Ezekiel 28:5-6). According to their pastures so were they filled, they were filled and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forg…

Indeed their pride made them forget any God save themselves, 'I am, and there is none besides me' (Isaiah 47:7-8). It was the blasphemous arrogance of Tyrus the rich city, 'I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, I have a heart like the heart of God' (Ezekiel 28:26). Neither are t…

Examples of God's judgements upon his own people for their sins, are evident confirmations and testimonies that he is a God who proceeds impartially according to his own rule; as when laws are executed according to the tenor of them upon malefactors in the kingdom, we now know t…

I suppose, you know with how many express testimonies of Scripture its self, this truth is confirmed, which, added to that light and evidence, which as a deduction from the former fundamental truth it has in its self, is very sufficient to render it unquestionable. You may at yo…