254 The Proud and Scornful S E R M. his faithful fervants, and to punifh the dif- X. obedient; that the hopes formed upon that promife are merely vifionary, and that the threatenings of punifhment are empty fcare- crows ; and the argument to confirm this is taken from fad, and the experience of many ages ; for the promife was made very long ago, yet we fee no effect of it, nor any fen - fible fign of its accomplifhment ; the world goeth on in its old courfe, and things con- tinue on the fame foot fince the fathers fell afleep; they feem to be forgotten, and none of thefe great things come to pafs, in the expeálation of which they died ; one ge- neration fucceedeth another in the fame track, and it is like to be fo Rill, without any evidence of God's interpofing in the manner his promifes import. But fuch fond imaginations under the colour and appear- ance of reafoning, in which the fcoffers flatter themfelves they thew an uncommon trength and genius, courage and freedom of thought, the apofle imputeth to wilful ignorance, ver. 5. a Rupid inattention to the plaineft and molt obvious truths concerning the power and wifdom of God in making the world, and difpofing its feveral parts, and of his having adtually interpofed in the government of it, fo direding events in the 3 inanimate
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