Hardneffeofheart, 'info:fblene(j}. finne ; they are ignorant of' theOriginall and Authour of this life ; they know not that hethat bath not the Sonne hathnot life ; they arc ignorant of the means working it, they know not that the word is the word of life, that the Gofpell is the power ofGod unto falvation, the immortal feed of' mans re- generation ; they are ignorant of the neceffity of this life of' grace, they thinke there is a greater latitude in Religion then there is, they know not that the wayto life is a narrowway, they imagine they may doe well enough, though they be not fo (Irk} and fo zealous as others are ; they are ignorant ofthat srorke of ¿brill, of that holy and gracious change of heart, of that faith, repentance, purity ofheart, and circumfpec walking which belongs to this life. And thus, through their ignorance doe they undervalue it and oppofe the working thereof. I. Their corruption doth oppofe it through thehardneffe s,By hardneffe oftheir hearts, being alienated from the life ofGod through of heart. thehardeef/e which is in them. This hardneffeof heart makes them uncapable of the word of life, as thehard ground is un- capable of feed : This catifcth them to refifi the meanes of two 7.1t. grace, as the hard rocke refifleth the raine diftilling there- upon This makes them regardlefe, and feareleffe ofall judge- ments and cominations ; Aftlil_ion doth not better them, but rather make themwork, as the anvil hardens under the hammer This makes them impenitent, they cannot mourne for their firms, any more then a hard rocke can fend forth a fireameof water. O Lord (faith yeremy) thou haft f ric%en g let. 3. them, but they have not grieved ; thouhaft confumed them but they have refufed to receive correEcion, they have made their faces harder then a rock; they have refufed to returne ; and after 'their liardnefl'e and impenitent heart (according to Saint Paul) they treafure up wrath a,ainit the day of wrath; and thus their hardneffeof heart dothoppofe the working of' this fpirituall life. 3. Their corruption oppofeth this fpirituall life through ; tt e rrfcr.. unfrfi6lenefe; they areftrangers to this life(faith the Apoflle) Gblenefíe. Zeing pal feeliná, being unfenfible of their (inne, as a dead man of his difeafe, unfen(ble of the m f ry of their estate, y any; :37 9
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=