Englands sickness, comparatively conferred with Israels Divided into two sermons, by ThoEnglands sicknes, comparatively conferred with Israels Diuided into two sermons, by Tho

2 Spiritual sickness for sin in the reprobate hath other effects. To restrain their number, they principal appear in two diseases, or disasters rather, Impenitency and Despair.

2 Spirituall sickenesse for sinne in the reprobate hath other effects. To restraine their number, they principall appeare in two diseases, or disasters rather, Impenitency and Despaire.

1. Impenitency, the symptom of an obdurate and remorseless heart. ^qWho being past feeling, have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. Saint Paul calls it a ^rreprobate mind: a death rather then a sickness. He that labours hereof, is rather deceased, then diseased. This is a heart so hard and impenetrable, that all the holy dues of instructions cannot soften it; all the blows of Gods striking rod put no sense into it. It is invulnerable to any stroke, save that which makes a fatal and final end with it. ^sThou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved, &c. It is just with God, but fearful on whom soever this ju•gement lights, to plague sin with sin, that peccatum sit paena peccantis. For there is evermore some precedent impiety in those ungracious persons, procuring God to deal thus with them. ^tFor this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie. That they all might be damned that believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. First Pharaoh hardens his own heart &c. God all this while holds his peace, gives him the hearing and looking on. In the end he saith I will harden Pharaohs heart; and then puts iron to iron, adamant to adamant, and there is perfected a relentless repentlesse