32.2 Cl' p 3 r Á xpoftion open the Book! if Jo D. Verf.e. way the heart from whatfoever is holy, juft, and good, fo they pìrch and place the heart upotibafe things; new wine takes away the heart ofa man fromman, and leaves him only the heart of a bead. He that is drowned in (enfuality, loofeth the ufe of com- mon fence and reafon, how much more is he below the exercife of Grace and Godiines ? Even a godly man falling into fin,fhail find an eftrangement from God upon his heart, unleffe he fpee- dily rife againe by repentance. anummicoott Secondly, As there is an adive, fo a paflive alienation from 7D7s VC ano God. Some men are cart our, .or (as it were) excommunicated 'ap,eaar by God ; As there is a pffive alienation from the Church of Sept. cut off when a corrupt member is call out b =oft cen- PorE;3 1 t a y a I" terintevigr rum lure or fentence from fellowfhipwith it ( For as tome withdraw Gra qir aorCZc. fcandaloufly, that is, without any juft caufe from the Church, aerpocess ali- and f rfake (againft which the Apoflle cautions the Hebretees, enano, pod eer Chap. rß.25. ) the affembling of themfelves together, fo others name úr r rf for a juft caufe, that is, for fcandal, are caft our of the Church ) domino! jja fowhen anywithdraw and alienate themfelves fromGod by fol- tenebras exoe- lowing their lufts, then God carts them out, and will have no- nioret abtega- thing to doe with them, beet lets them Rand as perlons excommu- tarua. Merç. nicated and baniflied from his prefence. God cannot beate but loathes unchaft perlons, and faith to them,be pone,get ye hence you have ftrang'ely gone from mee, and my heart is gone and e- lirang'd from you. Thus the Lord prorefted againft his own pep- pie for their Apoftaci s ( Per. i 5. r.) Then laid the Lord unto mee, though Mofes and Samuelflood before mee,yet my mind could not be towards this people, call them out of my light, and let them gee forth. There is a dreadful' alienation of God froma perfon or a people,whenhe openly profeffeth his heart cannot be towards them. Wee have a Prophecyof this concerning both the Leaders and whole body of the Jewifh nation who oppo'ed the mini- ftery of Chrift for the falvation of his people (Zech. i I.8. ). Three Shepheards alfo ( char is, as molt interpret, The Scribes Pharifees and Sadduces) /cat of in one moneeh, and myfoule loot thed them, and theirfoule alto abhorred mee. Here we fee a reci- procal' alienation they abhorred Chrift, and Chrift loathed them; Theynever left abhorring Chrift,till theyhad (by death) calf himout ofthe world; and ehrift never left loathing them, till he had calf themout ofthe Church, and made them wander- ers.
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