Yea, they are bold, by seeing this, to conclude, that God, either does not, or will not take notice of their sins. They speak wickedly, they speak loftily. They speak wickedly of sin, for that they make it better than by the Word it is pronounced to be. They speak wickedly concerning oppression, that they commend, and count it a prudent act. They also speak loftily: They set their mouth against the Heavens, &c. And they say, How doth God know, and is there knowledge in the most High? And all this, so far as I can see, ariseth in their hearts from the beholding of the quiet and lamb-like death of their companions. {177a} Behold these are the ungodly that prosper in the world, {177b} (that is, by wicked ways) they increase in riches. This therefore is a great Judgment of God, both upon that man that dyeth in his sins, and also upon his companion that beholdeth him so to dye. He sinneth, he dyeth in his sins, and yet dyeth quietly. What shall his companion say to this? What Judgment shall he make how God will deal with him, by beholding the lamb-like death of his companion? Be sure, he cannot, as from such a sight say, Wo be to me, for Judgment is before him: He cannot gather, that sin is a dreadful and a bitter thing, by the child-like death of Mr. Badman. But must rather, if he judgeth according to what he sees, or according to his corrupted reason, conclude with the wicked ones of old, That every one that doth evil, is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delighteth in them; or where is the God of Judgment? {177c} Yea, this is enough to puzzle the wisest man. David himself, was put to a stand, by beholding the quiet death of ungodly men. Verily, sayes he, I have cleansed my heart in vain, and have washed my hands in innocency. Psal. 73. 13. They, to appearance fare better by far than I: Their eyes stand out with fatness, they have more than heart can wish; But all the day long have I been plagued, and chastned every morning. This, I say, made David wonder, yea, and Job and Jeremiah too: But he goeth into the Sanctuary, and then he understands their end, nor could he understand it before. I went into the Sanctuary of God: What place was that? why there where he might enquire of God, and by him be resolved of this matter: Then, says he, understood I their end. Then I saw, that thou hast set them in slippery places, and that thou castest them down to destruction. Castest them down, that is, suddenly, or as the next words say, As in a moment they are utterly consumed with terrors: which terrors did not cease them on their sick-bed, for they had no bands in their death. The terrors therefore ceased them there, where also they are holden in them for ever. This he found out, I say, but not without great painfulness, grief and pricking in his reins: so deep, so hard and so difficult did he find it, rightly to come to a determination in this matter.