1G4 OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS.. sual, or worldly, according as is the nature of the pre- vailing corruption. Yet here God puts bounds to the raging of some men's corruptions, and says to their proud waves, "thus far shall ye proceed, and no fur- ther." He either .lays a restraint on their minds, that when lust hath fully conceived, it shall not bring forth sin, or he sets an hedge before them in his providence, that they shall not be able, in their circumstances, to find their way unto what perhaps they domost earnestly desire. A woful life it is that such persons lead. They are continually tortured between their corrup- tions and convictions, or the love of sin, and fear of the event. With others it pursues its course into outward actual sins, which in some are discovered in thisworld, in others they are not : for " some men's sinsgo be- fore them unto judgment, and some follow after." Some fall into sin upon surprisal, from a concurrence of temptation with corruption and opportunities ; some habituate themselves to a course in sin; though in many it be not discovered, in some it is. But among those who have received any spiritual light, and made profession of religion thereon, this seldom falls out, but from the great displeasure of God. For when men have long given way unto the prevalency of sin in their affections, inclinations, and thoughts, and God hath set many a hedge before them, to put bounds to their inclinations, and to shut up the womb of sin; some- times by afflictions, sometimes by fears and dangers, sometimes by the word ; and yet the bent of their spi- rits is toward their sin; God takes off his hand of re- straint, removes his hinderances, and "gives them up to their own hearts' lusts, to do the things that are not convenient." All things hereon suit their desires, and they rush into actual sins and follies, setting their feet
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