THE UNCONVERTED. 147 . all that they can say to you by your ignorance, and wilfulness, and foolish c'avils, and shifting evasions, and unthankful rejections, so that no good that is offered can find any welcome acceptance and enter· tainment with you. 4. Moreover, it is apparent that you are self:des· troyers, in that you "draw the matter of your sin and destruction even from the blessed God himself." You like not the contrivances of his wisdom; you like not his justice, but take it for cruelty; you like not his holiness, but are ready to think he is such an one as your~elves, Psalm l. 21. and makes as light of sin as you; you like not his truth, but would have his threatenings, even his peremptory threat· enings1 prove false; and his goodness, which you seem most highly to approve, you partly resist, as it would lead you to repentance; and partly abuse, to the strengthening of your sin, as if you might more freely sin because God is merciful, and because his grace doth so much abound. 5. Yea, you fetch destruction fi·om the blessed Redeemer, and death from the Lord of life himself! and nothing more emboldeneth you in sin, than that Christ hath died for you; as if now the danger of death were over, and you might boldly venture; as if Christ were become a servant to Satan and your sins, and must wait upon you while you are abusing him; and because he is become the Physician of souls, and is able to save to the uttermost all that come to God by him, you think he must suffer you to 1·efuse his help, and throw away his medicines, and must save you whether you will come to God by him or not: so that a great part of your sins are occasioned by your bold presumption upon the death of Christ,-not considering that he came to redeem his people from their sins, and to sanctify them a peculiar people to himself; and to conform them in holiness to the image of their heavenly Father, and to their head. Matt. i. 21. T.it. ii. 14. 1 Pet. i. 15, 16. Col. iii. 10, 11. Phil. iii. 9, 10.
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