Caryl - Houston-Packer Collection BS1415 .C37 v7

5 go Chap. 24 Au Expofttion upon the rook of J f) B. Verf. 13. they have defared the ablenceof the former light, fo they (hall be punithed with the ab£ence of the latter. 1. aftly, As in thefe words lob thews who they were that at4ed thofe grofs wickednefres eventhey who rebeled againft the light; We may obferve. They who rebel) againft the ligkt,wildclofe with,andetrbrace any frm nhat `never; or,.They who are,allfor darkptfo, areforany wickednrfe. They who rebel) againft this beautiful) thinglight ,are forward to embrace the-fouleft monfier; thofe things which'tis a fhame to fpeake of, or fo much as to name, thefe rebels againft light are ready todoe. ThePfalmifttmovesGod in prayer to look tohis Covenantby this argument (Pfal. 74. 2,0.) For ibe dartsplacer ofthe earth arefull ofthe habitations ofcruelty ; that is, ofcruel men, or ofmen fo full ofcruelty, that they deferve rather to be called cruelty, then cruel, this fort ofmen inhabit and fill up all thofe places where the light of holy truth doth not fhine.Now if they who want the light, or have no true knowledge of God among them, are hereby (as it were) prepared for and put on to the ailing of all manner ofwickedneffe, how tr:ách more are they prepared for the aidingofany wickedneffe who have thruft the light from them, and are indark places of their own making. The Prophet fl o%ea fhewes (Chap. 4. I.) that where there is no knowledge ofGod in eiand(for want ofineans)there is no eru.h nor mercy, (that is, there is none exercifed) in that land,but op- preffion, deceit, and falfehood, beare down all. howmuch more mull it be fo where there is no knowledge ofGod in a land, be- caule ofrhe contempt ofmeanes, and rebellion againft the light. what wickedneffe will not they do in the dark, who put out the Candle that they nay not fee what they do? Thefeare they who rebel) againft the light, and as it followeth, They know not the way thereof, nor abide in the pathes thereof. Thefe latter words are an illuftrationofthe former. They know not the wojet thereof. This not knowing may be taken either fora fimple igno- rance, when we knew not, either becaufe we have not an ability tet

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