SE R M 0 N V. without the Senfe Humanity requires ; that Calm is like that of the dead Sea, a real Curfe: Or fu~pofe n~tur~l Affechon works a httle, _yet there i• no Apprehenfion and ~~t~~:;d~~~~~~,G:,~ ~~y~et:~~;, ~~~f~r~~~~~e~~ 1~~~~\I!Yti:or::!~~:i~g~:d a~~ yielding up our felves to his Management; this moll: ju!Uy provokes him : of' this J.c, ,. 3• Temper·were thofe delcnbed by Jeremiah, Thou haft ftricken them, }ut they have HOt grie-ved; thou haft confumed them, fut thej refufed to receive Correflion. Secondly, The C~ufes of this defpiling of God's Chall:enings are : I. A contracted Stupidity of Soul, proceeding from a Courfe in Sin. There is ana· tural Stubbornnefs and Contumacy in the Heart againll: God, a vicious Quality deri• ved from rebellious Adam ; we are all hewn out of the Rock, and dig'd out of the Q)>arry : and this is one of the worll: Effects of Sin, and a great part of its Deceitfulnefs, that by ll:ealth it increafeth the natural Hardnefs, by degrees it creeps on like a !lob. l· 'l· Gangreen, and caules an Indolency. The Practice of Sin makes the Heart like an Z<eh. , . "· Adamant, tile hardell: of Stones, that exceeds that of Rocks. From hence proceeds fuch Untcachablenefs of the Mmd, that when God fpeaks and firikes, yet Sinners will not be convinc'd; that Briars and Thorns are only effectual to teach them; and fuch an Untractablenefs in the Will, that when the Sinner is ll:ormed by Affliction, and fome Light breaks into the Underll:anding, yet it refufeth to obey God's Call. · . 2. Carnal Diverlions are another Caufe of llighting God's Hand. The Pleafures and Luk. "· H· Cares of the World, as they render Men inapprehenlive of Judgments to come, fore. gardlefs of thofe that are prefent. Some when ever they feel the Smart of a Crofs, ufe all the Arts of Oblivion to lofe the Senfc of it. The Affliction in!lead of a leading them to Repentance, leads them to vain Converfations, to Comedies and other finful Delights, to drive away Sorr01v. O thers, alth9' they do not venture upon forbidden things to relieve their Melancholy, yet when God by flmp and fenfible AdmonitiOns calls upon them, they have prefently recourfe to Temporal Comforts, which altho' lawful and innocent in themfelves, yet are as unproper at that rime, as the raking of a Cordial when a Vomit begins to work: for whereas Cha!lifements are fent to awaken and affect us, by confidering our Sins in their bitter Fruits, this unfeafonable Applicati· on of fenfual Comforts wholly defeats God's Def1gn. For nothing fo much hinders fe. rious Confideration as a voluptuous indulging the Senfes in things pleafing; like Opiate Medicines, they fiupifY the Confcience, and benumn the Heart. 'Tis Solomon's Erprellion, I [aid of Laughter, It is mad' for as Di!lraction breaks the Connexion ofthe Thought~, fo Mirth fhuffles our moll ferious Thoughts into diforder, and caufes Men • Kiog. ' '· to pals over their Troubles without Reflection •nd Remorfe. And a> the Pleafurcs, fo the Bulinefs of the World caufe a fupine Security under Judg. ments. We have an amazing Inll:a9ce of it in Hie/ the Bethlemite, who laid the Foun· dation of his' City in the Death of his Fir.fi-born, and fet up the Gates of it in his youngell: Son; yet he was fo intent upon his Building, that he difregarded the Divine Jolh. '· ' '· Nemefs, that was apparent, fulfilling the terrible Thrcatning Prophelied againll: the Bu;l~~~~!;;~~:·liercenefs of Spirit, a Diabolical Fortitude is the Caufe that fametimes Men defpife afHicting Providences fo far as to refill: them. There is a pallive Malignity in all, an Unaptnefs to be wrought on, and to receive Spiritual and Heavenly Imprellions from God's Hand; but in fome of the Sons of Perdition there is an acbve Malignity, whereby they furioully repel Judgments as if they could oppofe the Almighty. Their Hearts are of an Anvil-Temper, .made harder by Affiictwns, and reverberat,e the Blow, like that Roman Emperor, who mfiead of humbhng and reformmg at Gods Voice in Thunder, thundred back a~am. All Judgments that befal them, are 25 Strokes given to wild Bea!ls, that inll:ead ot taming them, enrage them to h1gher degrees of ![3 • 9• 9 , ••· Fie£~~~~~phet de!Cribed fome of this Rank of Sinners, who faid i~ the fride andStout· nefl of their Hearts, the Bricks are fallen down, hut wt IVtlt /Jutld wtfh lwvn Stones : tbe SJ'Z:J'%~~~,:~:~;~·n~:t:X~~~!;l~7:/:i:~i(; J:~i::~ a Refolution notwith!landincr the mofi vif1ble Difcouragements from Heaven, to proceed m their linful courfes with more greedinefs, and from a full en .lecret Atheifm are more firongly earned to rr. gr~tii.r~1~:~c~~~~~~~~ficl~;1~l~et~~he~r~~~r~!I~f"f~f~ting under God's Rebukes. ;., ,,, I. The Original Word fignifies the llackening and relaxmg of thmgs that were firmly join'd together. The Strength of the Body proceeds.from the Umon of the PJ"~ when they arc well compacted together. lly their disjointing 'tis enfeebled,and ren,;;fit
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