854 DIRECTIONS AND PERSUASIONS sure is not in their death, but in their conversion and life. And as the Apostle says; ." Because he could swear by no greater, he swaae by himself. For men verily swear by the greater ; and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife: Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath; that by two immutable things, in which it was impos- sible for God, to lie, we might have a strong consola- tion, who have fled for refuge, to lay hold on the hope set before us ; which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast. "(q) If there be any man who cannot reconcile this truth, with the damnation of the wicked, that is owing to his own ignorance ; he has no pretence left to deny or question therefore the truth of the point in hand; for this is confirmed by the oath of God, and therefore must not be distorted to reduce it to other points; but doubtful points must rather be reduced to it, and certain truths must be believed to agree with it, though our shallow brains hardly discern the agreement. USE. I no now entreat thee, if thou be an unconverted sinner, who hearest these words, that thou wouldst bethink thyself awhile, who it is that takes pleasure in thy sin and damnation. Certainly it is not God; he has sworn for his part, that he takes no pleasure in it. And I know it is not the pleasure of him that you intend in it. You dare not say, that you drink, and swear, and neglect holy duties, and quench the motions of the Spirit, to please God. That were as if you should reproach the prince, and break his laws, and seek his death, and say, 'You did all this to please him.' Who is it then that takes pleasure in your sin and death ? Not any that bear the image of God, for they (q) Heb. vi. 13. -16, 17, 18, 19.
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