440' An Expofition upon Chap, hearts and wils to good things. This is are lyers, back- biters,promífe- breakers, ',tamers, &c. r.adand hear that which is written, Pfal. 15. verl. 3, 4,5. when covetous perlons, milers, &c. read what is written, t Ccr.6. 9,10. When fuch as live in envie, adultery, &c. hear or read what is written, Gal. 5. 1'9, 20, 21. When ignorant perlons read or hear that which is written 1 7heff. 1. 8. and proud perlons that which is written, 1 Pet. 5. 5. and worldlings read that which is written, Ephef.5.3. and yet are not reformed, nor once fo much as got about to amend themfelves ; the reafon cannot be, for that they think thefe things to be fables ; (for they know and confeffe them to be Gods word) or for that fuch fayings are dark (for they are fo evident, clear, or plain, as any childe may underfland them,) or be- caufe they are never told of theft things, for their ears are continual- ly beaten with thefe fayings. The true reafon thereof is, for that they are like the deaf Adder fpoken of in the Pfalrn, that will not hear the charmer. Thefe !inners are deaf with the worff kinde of deafheffe, for they will not hear and obey ; and who is fo deaf, as he that will not hear ? They are like unto the Jewesfpoken of in Zach. 7. 11, 12, 13. and to fuch fpoken of, Fray. 1.24, 25. and to fuch as God fpeaketh of in another Prophet, I have cryed, and they would not anfwer : even as it fareth with them that are in a Lethargie, though a Trumpet be founded in their ears, yet they flirrenot: fo it is withthefe men, though Gods Miniflers to awake them do thunder out Gods judgements, lifting up their voices like a trumpet, yet they are no whit moved to God - wards, becaufe the fpirit of flumber is upon them. It is written of Pharaoh, that he did not hearken to the words ofMofes, becaufe his heart was hardned. Likewifethe ungodly, while their fouls befenfeleffe, cannot butdefpile all the word, and their teachers which bring it and let it before them ; which is a molt dreadful' (}ate. For the mouth of the Lord bath fpoken it, that when they cry to him in their extremities,be will Doïirine. ufuall in Scripture,when the word[Spi- rit] hath put to it epithites good or bad, then it noteth the operations and et- ie &s of Gods grace or ju(lice. As Spi- rit of truth, peace, grace, love, wife- dome, prayer,&c. fignifieth theft good things, and Gods Spirit to be the wor- ker ofthem.On the other fide, the fpirit of fury, giddineffe, (lumber, fornicati- on, envie, lying,error, &c. noteth thefe bad effe &s, and Satan the evill fpirit to be the worker and neareff cattle of the fame. T 1 I% 1. What doliriner arife from thefe words thus opened ? S r L. Firff, that wicked men which are under hardneffe of heart, rare utterly blockifh and fenfelefle in refpe& of di- vine and heavenly things : as a man which is in a great (lumber, underffan- deth nothing of earthly things. This is that which is plainly laid in Efay 6. 9. and Mat. /3. 15. and Att. 28. 27. that though they fee his works, and hear his words, yet they neither hear nor fee, but are without underffanding,. even like Horfe and Mule; that have no difcretion, Pfal.3 2.9. fo are the wicked very brutifh and flu pid in the matters of heaven. In other matters which belong to this prefent life, they be (for the moll part ofthem)quiok- fighted, very provi- dent and circumfpe&; one muff rife early that would deceive them or go beyond them in bargaining ; Nay they have the Ilight;to fetch over others, and he muff have both his eyes in his head that (hall efcape them : but come to the things that belong to God and eternal' life; it is a wonder how little under- (landing and fight, feeling and fence they have herein. An in fiance hereof we have in Nicodernue, Soh. 3. 4. the Wo- man of Samaria, Joh. 4. the Scribes and Pharifees, &c. Secondly, from hence we may fee why the wicked profit not by the admonitions of the word, even becaule they are fall afleep in finne, and inwardly deaf, having their ears flopped, and their eyes (hut up, and their hearts hardned. When they that
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=