Book IV. S I N A W 0 U N D. 2. 'vVhen Sin is in the Affdlion it is dangerous. You know when the Heart is wounded and corrupt, there is no hopes of Life: If in Times of -InfeC1ion you can keep it from the Heart, you are well enough. Phylicians, though they have Medi– cines to keep lnfeC1ion from the Heart, yet they have no Medicine to cure the Heart, if once the Diftemper gets into it. When a Man clofes in with his Sin, likes it, loves it, and makes Provifion to fulfil the Lofts of it, it is a dangerous Sign. 3· \Vhen the Wound fpreads and increafeth, or a Perfon grows more vain, carnal, and filthy, it is a fad Sign. Some Men have been for a Time cautious, and fomewhat tender, their Confciences have reil rained them from yielding unto Sin, but afterwards they came to grow more hard and bold, and have adventured on this and the other Evil, and fa by degrees from little Sins make no Confcience of greater, till •hey are notorious in Wickednefs, and this after common Illuminations; this is a Sign they are near Hell. +· When a Pcrfon is forely and grievouily wounded, and yet is infenlible, does not cry out, nor feel any Pain, it is a lad Sign. Come to fame wounded Perfons, and afk them how they do; they wtl! anfwer you, Very well, I ail nothing, then Relations begin to weep: So fame Sinners, through a cuftom of Sin, grow infenfiblc, they are paft Feeling, they are not only without Pain themfelves, but laugh at fuch who com– plain of their Sores upon the Head, and mourn for their Sin; of this Man you may write in red Letters, Lord ha·ve Mercy upon him. 5· When a Man is dangerouOy wounded, and nothing that is given him will go down, neither Food nor Phyfic; or if he cloth take it, yet it will not flay with him, it is a very bad Sign : So when a Sinner refufeth all good Counfel that is given him, and inflead of vomiting up, by true Repentance, his Sin, he vomiteth up the Phyfic and Food of his Soul that fhould do him Good, and detpifes all Reproof, hardening him– felf againft it, he is near to DeflruC1ion, Prov. xxviii. I. 6. And laftly, When a Man is wounded, and that Balfam, Means, or Medicine, that feldom fails to work a Cure in others, yet will do him no good, but contrary.wife, whilft in Cure, and under the beft Means, he grows worfe and worfe, there is little hopes of him: So when a Sinner under a powerful and fouJ.faving Minilhy, and di– vers fore AffliC1ions, is not at all reformed, but grows worfe and worfe, his Condition is bad ; it may be that Sermon that works no change at all in him, hath tended, through the Mercy of God, to the Converfion of feveral Souls who were as forely wounded as he. If a Phyfician gives the beft Medicine he has, and lays on a moft !overeign Plaifler, and yet the Patient faith, Sir, that which you prefcribed hath done me no good ; I wonder, faith he, it feldom fails me, I fear your Condition, I rr:ufl give up, I have done what I can for you, the Lord pity your Soul, you are no Man for this World; it is an Argument that wound, or Sicknefs will be unto Death, when the beft Preach– ing, the beft Means that can be made ufe of, will not work upon a Man's Heart; he is under Lofl<s and Afflictions, and divers melting l'rovidences, but nothing will do. I N F E R E N C E ~ I. JS Sin a Wound? or doth it wound the Soul, wound the State, Nation, and Church of God? We may then infer from hence the Folly of Men and Women who love and hug their Sin. Wilt thou, 0 Sinner, hug a Serpent in thy Bofom, that ftrives to fting thee to Death ? What Fools are wicked Men ? I!. L et us learn from hence to bewail the Condition of our finful Relations, let the Hufband mourn over his unbelieving 'vVife, and the Wife mourn over the unbelieving Hufband; Fathers grieve for their unconverted and wounded Children, and Children grieve for their wounded and unconverted Parents, &c. What are they that thouloveft to dearly, and who lie in thy Bofom mortally wounded, and wilt thou not be troubled for them ? What not one Sigh nor Tear come from thee for them? Be aftonifhed, 0 Heavens! 'vVhat a hard Heart haft thou? Ill. Seek out for help, you that are unconverted, delay not; and let fuch who are healed, do what they can to get Help and Cure for their Friends: If a Hufband, a Wife, a Father, a Child, or Brother, be dangerouOy Sick, or wounded externally, how ready are you to enquire for fome fkilful Phyfician, or Surgeon 1 and what fpeed will you make! and will you not be as tender and as careful of their Souls? IV. Take heed you do not draw others into Sin. What not only wound thy own Soul, but be cruel alfo to the Souls of others! Wilt thou murder thyfelf, and murder thy Friend too? 10 s V. What
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