2. What now may be thought of such children of men, as, notwithstanding the means of reconciliation and atonement, which God hath ordained and revealed for mans good, still stand at odds with God, and maintain enmity against him? Their case may well be accounted desperate. 1While they who are sick admit Physicians, and remedies, there is much hope of recovery. But if like mad men they admit no means for their good, they must needs be irrecoverable, having none to cure them: not so much for the nature of the disease, as for want of means to cure them. In this case they may be supposed to be worse then Devils. Had a Redeemer been given to Devils, and an atonement by him made betwixt God and them, we cannot but think that they would most readily and willingly have embraced reconciliation. Yet how many children of men have there been in all ages, in all places, against whom the ⟨p. 56⟩Lord may justly take up this complaint, aHow oft would I have gathered you together even as the hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! And this, bI have spread out my hands all the day to a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts: A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face. Too too many such there are among us, who most ungratefully and contumeliously reject all the means which God in his goodness and wisdom hath afforded to allure and draw men to himself. For means of reconciliation, and salvation, what nation hath more plentifully enjoyed them, then England, and what part of England more then London? But let the impiety and iniquity, profaneness and licentiousness, drunkenness, and all manner of uncleanness, swearing and lying, debate and deceit, extortion and oppression, and other like offences against God and man, committed in this bright light of the Gospel, give evidence, whether reconciliation offered on Gods part be answerably accepted on mans part. Can we now wonder at Gods judgements among us, and heavy hand upon us? Have we not rather cause to admire his long suffering and lenity, in that he hath so long held his hand from striking: and in that he now strikes, he doth it so gently. For howsoever this stroke of the Plague considered in it self be heavy: yet compared to our deserts, it is but light.
2. WHat now may be thought of such children of men, as, notwithstanding the meanes of reconciliation and attonement, which God hath ordained and revealed for mans good, still stand at odds with God, and maintaine enmity against him? Their case may well be accounted desperate. 1While they who are sicke admit Physitians, and remedies, there is much hope of recovery. But if like mad men they admit no meanes for their good, they must needs be irrecoverable, having none to cure them: not so much for the nature of the disease, as for want of meanes to cure them. In this case they may be supposed to be worse then Devils. Had a Redeemer been given to Devils, and an attonement by him made betwixt God and them, we cannot but think that they would most readily and willingly have embraced reconciliation. Yet how many children of men have there beene in all ages, in all places, against whom the ⟨p. 56⟩Lord may justly take up this complaint, aHow oft would I have gathered you together even as the hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! And this, bI have spread out my hands all the day to a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their owne thoughts: A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face. Too too many such there are among vs, who most ungratefully and contumeliously reject all the meanes which God in his goodnesse and wisdome hath afforded to allure and draw men to himselfe. For meanes of reconciliation, and salvation, what nation hath more plentifully enjoyed them, then England, and what part of England more then London? But let the impiety and iniquity, profanenesse and licentiousnesse, drunkennesse, and all manner of uncleannesse, swearing and lying, debate and deceit, extortion and oppression, and other like offences against God and man, committed in this bright light of the Gospell, give evidence, whether reconciliation offered on Gods part be answerably accepted on mans part. Can we now wonder at Gods judgements among us, and heavy hand upon us? Have we not rather cause to admire his long suffering and lenity, in that he hath so long held his hand from striking: and in that he now strikes, he doth it so gently. For howsoever this stroake of the Plague considered in it selfe be heavy: yet compared to our deserts, it is but light.
- 1Infirmi donec medicantes admittunt, multam habent spem sanitatis: post quàm verò in mentis alienationem deciderint, immedicabiles sunt nullo curante: non propter morbi naturam, sed propter curantis absentiam. Chrs. Hom. 22. ad Pop.
- aMat. 23. 37.
- bIsa. 65. 2.
