6o rv{n Exp~(ition of the Epi(lle ~ We think we !hould not have been fo bad, we fhould never openly have done ~~ thus and thus, as others do : 0 ! but remember and confider this, that whilil you w~lked in Sin, you were under the lJrmce of the P01ver of.the A~r; and look what Spirit you lee now works m the Chtldren of Dtfobedtence, had you not turned unto God 1 had you beentHJteachable, and unperfuadcable, the fame Spirit would.have been in you. So that now what Wickednefs is abroad in the Wbrld, all Men that are turned to God may make ufc ofit; the like would have been my Heart, I fi1ould thus have been the Slave of the Devil ; as rhefeare carried he:rd– long, fo fhould I have been. And, my Brethren, let me add this lafi : Tho he fpeaks thus offuch, and faith, they areChildren of Difobedience; yet he calls them not the Sons of 'Perdition: He calls them Chi/d,·w of Wrath indeed, in refpetl oftheir prefent State, namely, in rhe next words; but he calls them nor, SonJ of Perdition, as for the future ordained to Defirufrion. Then, altho Men fhould have great high Spirits a~ainfi, and be unteachable, and unperfuadeable to the Truth ofGod, andWays of Religion .; yet pray for them, feek to God for them. Tho they are Children of Dilobedience for the prefent, yet it.follows not, that they are Children of Perdition, as 'juda< is called. In 2 Ti11t. o. 2 5· Saith he, The ./11.inifler of God 11mjl be gentle, in 11tee/,zteji injlr11aing thofe that oppofe themfelves; if God peradven– tllre 1villgive them Repentance, that ttey may recover themfelves 0111 of the Snare of the Dez·il: That tho now they are under the Spirit of Satan, and he bath aSnare upon them, and out of that they do oppofe; yet in meeknefs inflrufr them; they are Children of Difobedience, thou canfl not fay, they are Children ofPer– dition. So much now for the opening of this Text. SERM·
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