Cha.p.I2. AnExpoftion upon the ilookofJOB. Verf.V. 34t fall, and fall fo , that they cannever rife again. We may find many parallels ofit abroad , and among our felves -not -a few. Do we not fee men groping in the dark without light, wander- ing in the wildernefs where there is no way ftaggering like drunken men ' It were raper to give particular examples of thefe three effec`fs in all ages and hiftories ofthe world : But . I !hall conclude with three general inftances held out in Scripture. The Firit is that of the Apoftle concerning the Gentiles (Rom.I.2I.)They knew God (they had light) ,barthey glorified him not as God , neither were thankful but became vain'in-weir imaginations, and their foolifh heart was daik ned: they obrcured the light which Godgave them- in the creature , or benighted themfelves in the day time of natural light And what followed: Profefngthemfelvestobe wife, they became fools. Theywander-. ed in the wildernefs oftheir ownhefts and vile a 'ellions, where there Was no way ; They groped in the darkneis of a reprobate minde, without-light. They ftaggerd like a drunken man, from one evil to another, being filled with all unrighteoeefnefs,fornica- tion, wichudnefs, covetoufnefs, malicioufnefs, fall of envy, murder, . debate, deceit, malignity, whifperers, &c. Secondly We read another parallel in the whòle Nation of the Jews (Rom.I i.8 9,1o.) God bath given them the f prrit of flamber, eyes that theyfnould notfee , andears that thry Mouldnot hear unto thisday ; that is, in the ítile ofJob, he bath taken away their hearts and have not the Jews wandered ever lince in a. wildernefs where there is no way ? have they not:groped in dark- nefs without light Thirdly; Take the inftance ofall Ápoj'tate Chriftians, accor ding to that grand Prophecie of the Apoille (2 The f I I.I2: ). They had the light of truth fhining to them,' but did not receive the love ofit. For this caufe god f<sallfend them flreng delufions that theyfhouldbelieve a lye, they fhould be feduced and led into a wildernefs oferrour, they Mould grope in the dark without light, and ftagger from one lye to another from one falle way to another, like a drunken man , till: they felt into that bottom- idspit ofdeftruet;on, as the Apoftle (huts up that dreadful Pro- phefie (verf 12.) That they all might be damnedwhobelieved not the truth, but hadpleefure in anrighteoufnefs. God takes away the heart ofthe chief of the people ofthe earth in reference to civil things , he alto takes away the heart of the people of the X x 3. earth:
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