444 An Expofition upon Chap, i e,. their confciences are benummed and deftrutiion is of thy (elfe; which proveth blinded. Secondly, to heare the word ' plainly men to be the proper eaufes of without found affe &ions, as of feare, griefe, joy, hope, love according to the matter. Thirdly, when after plain and oftenwarnings by the word, there fol- lowes no amendment, Prov.X. 2t, 25. Zach.7, 9, IO, it. Pfal. 50. 16, 17. 2 Chron. 36. t 5,56. Laftly, when neither Gods feverity can terrine, nor his kind- ne ffe mollifie the heart, being like the fool fpoken of by Solomon,which though he fhould be brayed in a Mortar,yet will learne no wifdome;or like reftive wel -fed jades which fpurne againfi their feeder, Dent. 32. IT. T t M. How may we apply this to our profit ? S t L. If we be furred up by it to enter into a ferious examination of our owne hearts, whether thefe tokens be- long to us, that we may heartily thanke God if we finde our (elves free, and Cpeedily repent if they have taken any hold of us. Ti M. You have told us what hardneffe of heart is, and alfo what manner of judge- ment it ir, but now declare from whence it comes, that the wicked are blinded in unbeleefe and finite ? S t L. There be three maine caufes of hardneffe of heart : Firt , the wicked themfelves. Secondly, Satan. Thirdly, God. The wicked harden themfelves as authors by wilful? relffance. Satan hardneth as a tempter, by iufpiring un- clean thoughts ; and God as Judge, by punifhing. God when he hardens is au- thour of the punifhment or judgement, but not of the fin. The Devill when he hardens is author of the fin, but not of the punifhment:but man is author ofhis own punifhment through his fin and contempt of the word. T r M.Howprove ye that the wicked are caujes of their orene fpiritxall bliudneffe and ob flinty ? S t L. Firfl, it is expretly Paid , that Pharaoh hardened his heart, Dud. 7. 55. ll/hen Pharaoh jaw that he had refs, he hardened his heart, or made it heavy. Again, it is written in the Prophet Hofea, Chap. 53. verle 9. 0 Ifrael, thy all the evil? that cometh to them, ei- ther in this world,or in the next.Latlly, in Matth.r3.55.and 40128.27. The blame of hardening is laid upon the ungodly themfelves; who winked with their eyes, left they ihould fee : hereby giving us to underftand, that tholè things which they faw again(" their wils, they made as though they did not know them, they faw and would not fee, they were wilfully blinded, their owne perverfeneffe and corruption is the caufe of their blindne& in foule,and of hardnefle of heart, Mat. 23. 37. Here- unto accordeth learned Auguffine;Pbaraoh (faith he) hardned himfelf by his owne free will. Andagain in his book de pra- deff. &gratia, Chap.... he faith, mans heart being infeéted from his birth, whatfoever more hardneffe falleth out after that firft co rruption,he fuffereth it righteoufly and defervedly. And again, whenfoever we read that men were har- dened, or had their eyes flint, or cares made heavy, let us not doubt (faith he) but that their finfull defervings were fuch before,as made themworthy of that punifhment which followed,in his book de lib. &gratia; This fheweth this anci- ent Father to have been of this judge- ment, that evill men were themfelves the principali and proper caufe and procu- rers of hardning ?their owne hearts. As an hot burning coale or fiery Oven and Furnace fendeth forth fparkles, fo the corrupt heart of man fendeth out thofe wicked effe&s in finfull thoughts and a &ions, which caufeth and makes his heart more obflinate and repugnant un- to God. T r M. What profit i1 to be made of this point? S t L. Firft, it cleares Gods jultice again(" finch as fatten the blame of their deflru&ion upon Gods feverity, be- caufe he hardeneth and deflroyeth none but fuch as by their owne malice have deferved it. Secondly, it proveth the Papiffs, flaaderers and falle accufers; for they are not afhamed to write of the Minifters of the Gofpell, that we _teach
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