Fenner - Houston-Packer Collection BX5037 .F46 1651

2 Demon. Prov.10.4. Wilfull Impenitency he imagines ther's a Thorne hedge in his way, I /hall be prick'd, I cannot get over it. What? is there a Thorne hedge in the way ? No ; for the righteous that goes it, hee finds it plaine, he Tees none. No, there is no fuch Thorne hedg in the way, but he does imagine one; and therefore his will not is his let, not his cannot ; for he does but imagine a cannot. So dolt thou fay, I cannot do thus and thus. Why then art thou flothfull to ima- gine more cannots and Thorne - hedges then there are ? I cannot live then; Oh, I cannot go fo often to Prayer, and if I fhould do as you fay, I / hound be housed at up and downe : you tell me I am a Hell -hound for my pride and my pallions ; Oh, if I fhould beleeve this, I fhould never have merry day more. Alas, all thefe are but ima- ginary canners, imaginary Thorne hedges. I cannot be fo,flriél, neither can I put it up. I fay,thou dolt but ima- gine a company of cannots,and therefore thou wilt not. 2. Demonflration, If thou be flothfull to good duties, then thou make(' every little difficulty a cannot ; nothing but an impoffibility is a cannot. But if thou beefs flothfull, thou makell every little difficulty a cannot: I cannot turne mine own heart, nor break mine own heart.But why then art thou flothfull to make every little difficulty a cannot? a flothfull man makes every little difficulty a can- not. The flothfull man will not plow by reafon of cold; and therefore 1hall he beg he harveil, and have nothing. Hee will not plow by reafon of cold, he flicks at a very little difficulty: his fingers are fo tender, forfooth, they muff not ake; his Toes are fo Lady -like, they mutt not fmart; becaufe its a little difficult, therefore he will'not do it ; He will not plow by reafon of cold. Well, beg then, and yee will. Cannot you endure a little cold ? yea,he could endure it, butitwould be difficúlt. And therefore (ayes the Text, he wil not plow by reafon of cold. He does not flick at an impoff{'bility, for then indeed he could not. But the flothfull man will not plow by reafon of cold ; he flicks onely at a difficulty, and therefore he mill

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