470 ofCrHyvertion, or Turning auto 604 S n c T. IX. improbable that they would acknowledge their way anevil way, andyet livein it : whereas they mutt needs do fo, ifthey did in termini+ thus refute the Prophet ; Fer (fay they ) weMill walk everyone in the imagination ofhie evil heat : Ot whether lothnot theProphet fay, They laid ro , becaufe by their lives and convo rations, wilfully perfifting in their formerimpieties; They faid thus by their attions, though not by their words?They might doboth; for we fee the Ifraelites fometimes telling Jèremiah to hisface, Tbat they wouldnet do shat 9'ßdhas commanded them by hs mouth, Jer.94. 16.2 notableplace todifcover theiravowed and open difobedience to God. O{,. Obi. Teat teereare forremen,who though theyhear neverfomuch oftheir duty to turnfrom theirfmt ante god, yet areWilfudtj refolved to conrimee in the fame. It Wes notyeremiaks portion one ly, or the Prophets and Apoales in former times, but in all ages the Miniftrie of God meets wich fucb incorrigible and defpçrate hea- rers. Let the word of God found asterribly, as that Trumpet will at the day of judgement: Let all wales beufed,7ohns aufterity, orChriffs meekneffe: themoun- tains of their fins cannot be removed into a tea oftears, and godly forrow. Dowe not every day feethis fulfilled ? How few are the hearers that comewith this pur- pofe,andprayer unto God, that they may go out from Gods pretence, cleanled from their leprofie ? That they who came (wine, may return fheep? That they who came Crows,maygohome Doves ? This undoeth you, that you come not to hear, that yemay bechanged, madeother men, but buildfillupon your idd rotten foundation. To make this Dottrine like fire inyour bowels, confider, That under theMini. Two kindof ffry ofthe word there are twokindeoflinful and wicked hearers. wicked hearers. Firtt , Thofe that live in their fins; and in an unconverted eltate,by either anaf- t. I noyant. felted, or a grofle ignorance. Or a. Such whohave knowledge, andset knowing, ß ly, and wilfully commie there fins, that inwardly their own Contciences, enlight, nedby the word, condemns them for, 1 n there two ranks all wicked men maybe placed : For as for Heathens, who havea meet negative ignorance or unbelief in God and hisword, becaufe they never had Prophets rent among them, fume (Di vines)fay they are not damned for the not knowing,ornot believ'ngof theft i h.rgt which are manifetted meetly by revelation; butbecaufe they detained the naturEI light of Confcience in unrighteoufnefs. We fpeak not then of fuch, but of thofe who areunder the fun-beamsof the word, andyet are frozen in their (nit, (a Di- vela miracle) or under the fwcet droppings of the Gofpel, yet are a barren wil- dcrne(s : Now tome of theft perfevere in their fins, from a linful damnafle igno, ranee. They know not thenecelfityof convesfion : they underftand not what all thee fermons tend to: They are altogether unacquainted with filch a workof Gods Spirit.Tthis ignoranceBoth notenure. For the (avant that Bothnot know his mailers will, AidJet be beatenWith manyflripet, Luke 12, 47, becaufe it is ei- ther firft,an effeet d igrorance,theydefire to be in darknels,and not to fee the light, that fo they may the more quietly, and fecurely lye down in their fins; they will not underfand , that fo they may not do good : there is this horrible impiety up- onmens hearts, that they are afraid ofdivine light : they (hut the eyes, left they rhould behold that which is Truth, or good : even as a man draweth the curtain that no light may hinder him to take his refs; as the thief hateththe light becaufe it dilcovers his wickedneffe. Take heed then thouart not in the number of fuch prophane wretches ; thoucareft notfor hearing, preaching, for reading the Scri- pture, for acquainting thy felfand family with theprinciples ofreligion : This toil breed temples in thy Confcience : this will make theefee thy prophanne(fe, thy in- jeftice, tobe crying fins; and therefore thouhoppelt thy ear with the deaf Adder, that no inchantingmay draw thee out ofthe hole. This is affefied ignorance. Or fecund ly, It is grolíe ignorance, and that is which cometh by negligence, and pro- phane carelefnefs : and this is the caute that moll inour Congregations are fo igno- rantabout Religion, about Corverfion, and there mainpointsofgodlincfs. Apro- phase
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