S 472 of Converfon, or TurningulnaGod. a cT. DC that manLegion,for manythoutand ofLuftswill quickly pofeffe him; Oh then if thou would!(be keptfrom this pit of confufion , daily quicken up in thee faith in God,and all hisattributes, as the Scripture revealeth him, and fear ofhim in all thy waits ; for ifthefe will keepsman from fwallowingGnats, much more Ca- mels. 2. Secondly, Another caufe iflong enflameitsfinning. This makes a mans Confei- in fin Long (tom ence like Leviathans (cales, as lob (peaks of; this dothnot only makea mandead in fin, but burieth him in the grave, and rolls a great (lone over him : this makes a man like thefat heal prepared for theflaughter,and yet fils us for the prefent with all joy and content : There often fay,There air no hope,We have lived thus long in the plea Cures ofourfin, and they are fohabituated inus, that we cannot do otherwife. Hence experience tels us, that many men fin, and that grievouly; yet they donot to much as think they are (inners, becaufeculomebath taken away allfeeling from them. 3 Thirdly, Pre(peritj andakundance of cafe and plenty in the committing of their Prolperity and fins, loth altomake men lift Hp themfelves prefumptnenflj againfl God: Thus God abundance of by ;eremiah, Ifjake unto thee inthyproßtrity, but thouwouldft not hear : and Solo- mon obferveth it, becaufe judgement was not prelentlyexecuted,Therfore the heart ofmanwatfit in him todo wickedly, Ecclef. S. i a. and David alfo takes notice of this, when being greatly troubled at the profperity of the wicked, and relating all things are according to their heartsdafires, headdeth, Therefore violence eom- paffeeh them as achain, Pfal.73.6, Whatwas it that puffed up Nebuchadnezzar, fo that he made hrmfelf as God, and Tyre andSidon,that they (et their hearts as God, butoutward greatneffe? therefore fucceffe and profperity in wickedneffe, makes men exceedingbold, evenagain( Godhimfelf. 4. Fourthly, Hardnefiofheart : This doth violently carry on men to wiekednetfe, Hardneffe of for aslong as that lone is, there can no mollifying, or foftening impreffion be re- hear,, ceived. Thus the Apolloarguerh, Rom. a, Delhiffi then thegoodneffe ofgod, and after thy harduefs arid impenitent heart treofosref rep wrath? hardneffe, and then im. penitency. Oh what is the reafon that men -donor give over, but fill add more wickedneffe? Is it not becaufe of this hardneffe ? It is a vain thing for the Artificer to think tobring his cold Iron into any form or fafhion before it be melted, and heated in the fire. Fifthly , Defpair, That fometimes makes a man heap iniquity upon iniquity; Dc( sir. he thinketh he can be no worfe thenhe is, and therefore he will eat and drink,for P tomorrow he (hall dye, he {hall be damned : Thus as you heard Come explained this, There ie no hope, that is,we have committed fuck foul abominations,andhave finned foprefumptuouly,that there is no hope,God will not receive us if weGould come. This was Cains condition, de(pair made him cry cut, kitfins were greater then hecouldbear; and thereforehe never hembleth-him felfbefore God,butgoecia on in his refolved wickedneffe. 6. Lally, The Dive!, great power anddominion that be bath over [tech men, makes The divelsdo- themboggle at no impiety. Theft are the Divels infiruments prepared for every minion over high degree of wickedneffe : As God bath hisfervants, and precious veffelsfitted thee. for all hisgreatel imploiwerat;fo theft are by the divel prepared for the worthkind of drudgery:thus when the direl had entred into7udashis heart,eaken greater hold on him then ever, then hecanguide him to that perfidious all of wickednefs robe. tray Chril intohis enemies hands,-yea and can fo horribly dsfi mble as to give him a kirk, pretending much reverence at that very time of treacherie. Thus you fee what arethefe milli ones that are hung about filch mens necks to preffe them down Objeff. into che fea. Here mull beone Objeetionanfwered,and that is, How can men fin willingly, andknowingly? for is it not a received rule amongPhilofopherstand own- ed by Drvmes,that Omnia peceans eft ignorant, Allfins comefrom ignorance? And is it not alto another received maxime,That no man can willevill, becaufe itwevil, New-intendensmalnmoperatnr? and the reafon is, becaufeno facaltie can be carried
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