$9a Chap.3 I. An Expoftion upon the Book of J o a. Ó'erí.28. in regard ofhis beeing, or that he is. This is the grof eft denial! of him ; Secondly, in reference to the manner of his !seeing, or that he is filch as he bath indeed declared himfelfe to be. Thus God is denied when we forme up Inch notions of him in our brame as are unbecoming his glorious M;jefty. When we have apprehenlons of God tonfutable to his holynes, his me.rcy,his.ju- ftice, and his power, wee deny the God who is, and let up a God who is not. Againe, there is a two-fold denying ofGod Firft, in words expreffely andopenly ; Secondly, in pra6tice, clofely and con- f-quentially. The Apofiié gives us the ground ofthis diatindion (Tit: 1. 16. ) They con(!J'e that they knowGod, but in works theÿ deny him. There may be atonce a profeflìng ofGod, and a de- nial! ofhim. Many a mans practice fpeakrsaloud that there is no God, when he makes a áayrc confeflion and profeffion of him with his tongue. This prata call denyall of God may be run into five wayes. Firft, To live in a profs f ed,courfe of fi n, is adenying of God ; For, firft, fuch deny their obligation to obey God, or the Î bfo. lute dominion of God to command them ; Secondly, they deny, much more, any willin,nes ( which is our duty) to be fubjecl to the will of God Thirdly,they deny the Juftice and goodneffe of that Lawunder which they are, and by which they ought to walke: Anobftinatefinner beares his tettimonÿ boldly againft God in all that he is, and in all that he bath fpoken. Secondly, They may be fayd to deny God in their prssice, who doe not, Firft, hope for the rewardofobedience promifed ; nor Secondly, feare the punifhment of difobedience threatned. Ifany man (hall fay in his heart, what doth it profit, or what good (hall I get by walking holyiy and humbly with God ? and what hurt (hall I get if I take libertie to walke unholyly, and proudly againft God ? This is not only a denying, but a defying of God, who is a rewarder of them that diligently feeke bias, { Heb. z t. 6) and will take vengeance ofall them that willfully and refolvedly difobey Lim. They ( faith the Prophet; Zrph. s. a 2, ) are men fetled on their lees (that is,hardned in fin) that fay in their heart, the Lordwill net doegood neither will he doe mill ; that is, he will neither reward nor punifh. It matters not whether we doe good or evill,for hewill doe neyther to us. Thirdly,
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