636 TheWifdom of Clod, &c. Vol. I. given us fuch -Encouragement to Repentance , how great mutt the Folly of Im- penitency be ? For confider, I. That Impenitency directly Pets it feif againft the Wifdom of God. If after all this we continue in our Sins, we rejei the counfel of Godagainft our(elves , we . defpife the Wifdem of God, and charge that with Folly; and we do it againfl our felves, to our own injury and ruin. If . we live in our Sins, and cherifh our furls, we directly oppofe the end of our Redemption, we contradi the great Defign ofthe Gofpel, we contemn the admirable Contrivance of God's Wifdom, who fent his Son into the World on purpofe to defiroy Sin ; for we uphold that which he came to deftroy, t Sob, 3. S. re know that hewas manifeffed to take a- way ourfns. Now !hall we continue in fin, when we know the San ofGod was manifefled to take awayfin? God cannot but take it very ill at our hands, when he bath laid out the Riches ofhis Wifdom in this deugn, for us to go about to de- feat him in it ; this is at once to be unthankful to God, and injurious to our felves; 'tis fuch a madnefs, as if a condemned Man fhould defpife a Pardon, as if a Pri- foner .fhould be fond of his Fetters', and refufe Deliverance; as if a Man defperately Fick fhould fight with his Phyfician, and putaway Health from him. Ifwe do not comply with the wifdom ofGod, which hath contrived our recovery; we forfake our own mercy, and neglelf agreat Salvation; we love death, and hate our own Souls, Prov. 8. ¡4, 15, 16. z. Confider, we cannot expel thewifdom ofGod fhoulddo more for our recove- ry, than bath beenalready done; the wifdom ofGodwill not try any further means. I'Aat. zt. 37. laß ofall hefent-his Son. If we defpife this way, if we treadunder foot the Son ofGod, andcount theblood of the Covenant, whereby we arefantlif'ed, an unholy thing, there will remainno morefacriftce for fin, Heb. no. z6, z9. What can expiate the guilt of fin, if the Blood of Chrift do not? What !hall take us off from fin, what naafi fanétifie us, if the bloodofthe Covenant be ineffeétual s Wd ref ft our làit Remedy, and make void the belt Means the Wifdom of God could devife for our Recovery, if, after the revelation ofthe Gofpel, we continue in our Sins. 3. If we fruftrate thisDefign of God's Wifdom for our Recovery, our Ruin will be the more dreadful and certain. Impenitency under the Gofpel will increafe our Mifery. IfChrift hadnot come, we had hadno fin, in comparifon of what we now have ; but now our fin remains , and there is no cloakfor our fin, veípaoav lie xemv., We (hall not be able at the day of Judgment to Preface any thing by way of Excufe or Apology for our Impenitency. What !hall we be able to fay to the 5tuftice ofGod, when that fhall condemn us, who réje6ted his Wifdom, which would have faved us s We would all be faved, but we would be faved without Repentance; now the Wifdom ofGod bath net found out any other way to fave us from Hell, but by faving us from our fins. And thou that wilt not fubmit to this Method of Divine Wifdom, take thy Courfe and let's fee how thou wilt efcape thedamnation of hell. I.will conclude àll with thofe dreadful words which the wifdom of God pronounceth againft thofe that defpife her, and refufe to hearken to her voice, Prov. r. 24, zs, z6. Becaufe I have called, andye refuted, I have ftretchedout my Hand, and no manregarded; But ye have fet at naught my Counfel, and wouldnone of my reproof: I alfo will laugh atyour calamity, I will mock when your fear coraeth. They who will not comply with the Counfol ofGod for their Happinefs, they {hall inherit the Condition which they have chofen to themfelves ; they (hall eat the fruit of their own ways, and le filed with their own devices. SERMON
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