Chap. 28. Expofition upon thtBöek, ofJ o B. Verf. 28. 413 firft, In regardof thoCe gripes of confcience whichoften trouble him ; and fecondly , in regard of outward troubles which often affli&iiim ; but thirdly, in regard\óf the trouble which he-finder in the very a&ings of ir. To ferve and purfue the unceffanc mo- tionsandcommandes of lufl,of pride,of ambition,of covetoufnefs, of malice and revenge, makes many a man toile and Caveat , yea tireand ware himfelf quite out ? Lafily, bath not he a good un- derfianding that can fay ; what tell ye Me of paines inparting with, or departing from fin ?' doe not I beleive and know, or know I notby belaying, that eternal paines will be the portion of all chafe who doe not depart from this fort of evil ? Are the paines of repentance or of Godly farrow which works repentance not to be repentedof here on earth comparable to the painesof that fruitlefs repentance which (inners (hall for ever torment tbemfeives with in hell ? Are there no paines in Tophet ? or isit eaGe todwell in the fiery indignation and everlatiing burniggs of an angry God ? thus be that departs from evil,puts fin to filence, and is it not an a& of underfianding todoe fo ? I might givemany further evidences of this great truth, as fir(i ; It isour underfianding to fubmit to the will of God,but this ishis exprefs will (2 Tim. 2. r9.) Let every one that nameth thename ofChriff depart from iniquity. Secondly, it is our under- fianding to keep our (elver in the love ofGod (Jude v. 21.) both in the love ofGod tous,and in our love to God ; but this we can- not doe, unless wedepart from evil. While the Pialm.ifi advifeth (Pfal. 97. ro.) Te that love the Lord hate evil, he do:h more then intimate that the leafs compliance with evil is inconfi(ient with the love of God. Thirdly,It is our underfianding to preferve our own peace,even our outward peace,but efpecially our inward peace , but this we cannot doe unless we depart from evifl ; For as there is nopeace to the wicked, who give them:elves up todoe evil fo if a godly man infield of a retolure departure from, be found dallyingwith evil, God (as many have found by fad expe- riences) will fooner or later break bis peace. Fourthly, It is our underfianding to maintain our own liberty, or to recover ir ; but we can doeneither of there, unlefs we depart from evil, for whofoever comnaitteth fin, it thefervant offin 8. 34.) on while fnpromifeth us liberty, it doth but make us bonaflaws to corruption.Fifthly,it is,our underflanding.to keep, ourfetyes free for:
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=