Serm. 22. Wherein ore we endangered by lawful things : 525 with thefe,there is a fecure fleepy forgetful fpirit goes wit t them : and doubtlefs this was the fin of the old world that though Noah was a preachel of righteoufnefs, and his making the Ark was a publike al- arm to the world, yet they went on in their way , eating and drink- ing, &c. very fecurely, prornifìng to themfelves peace and fafety. Such as are filled with what they eat and drink, are apt to drop afleep, and then they are fecure, they apprehend themfelves fafe from dan- ger ; they arc -compared to a drunken man that doth not know in what condition he is, in z Tim. z, 6. áraPhtvoYV, the word is to return to onesfelf afterdrunkennefs, that they may awaken : for it fignifies one that is fecure, and fo goes on in his way, when he returns and re- covers himfelf, he is as a man that was drunk ; and awakes and re- turns to himfelf: whence it is that God did fo often caution his peo- ple againíl a fecure fleepy forgetfull frame of fpirit : and when the Lord was to bring the children of Ifrael into Canaan, he fill bids diem they fhould not forget him, Deut. 6. c. 8. V. 14. but this fin he complains of in them, Hof. 2. 13. When David was in the midil of his comforts he grew fecure, Pfal. 3o. 6. We find fome brought in Ifa. 28. r 5. fpeaking in their thoughts that they had made a covenant with death &hell, &c.they in their fecure thoughts apprehended themfelves free from danger , fuch thoughts ever carry impenitency and hard - nefs of heart with them, Zeph. I. r2. Jer. q.8. r r. when they are fee- lid on their lees, they never confider or fay what have I done ? Jar, 8. 6.Incogitancy and fecurity go together, a fecure perfon never confi- ders his own efiate, danger nor duty : When once a man grows flee - py, prornifing to himfelf freedome from danger and good days , then he falls into fome fin or other, or fome evil falls upon him, Mattb, 24. 48, 50. The evil fervant faid his Mailer delayed his coming, and rerf. 49. He began to beat his fellow- fervanr. i. He is fecure, he promi- feth to himfelf fafety, his Mailer delays, &c. z. He falls to beat his fellow- fervant : Or elfe they fall into fome fin, Matth. 25.5, 8. while they flept their Lamps went out, or force evil befalls them, Lawn. 1.9. Baden deflrtellien, i Thef. 5. 3. when men grow fecure as to their fiate, and of a fupine fleepy carelefs fpirit, fuch are ever in a moll un- fafe, finfull condition nigh to curling, and on the very brink of ruine and utter deflruetion. Xxx 2, How
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