We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as one without eyes, we roar like bears, and mourn like doves. So complaineth Hezekiah in the bitterness of his soul;1 Like a crane or a swallow so did I chatter, I did mourn as a dove:2 And when David crieth, Create in me O God a ⟨p. 92⟩clean heart, renew in me a right spirit. Restore to me the joy of my salvation, establish me with thy free spirit: doth he not declare that his heart was unclean, his spirit cr•ked, the joy of his salvation lost, and himself subject to •he spirit of bondage? so that wanting the spirit of liberty or adoption, he could neither cry Abba Father, nor have any power against sin. Thus you see how Gods children may be blinded in mind, and hardened in heart for a time, so that they feel in themselves the grace of the holy spirit to be as it were perished and dead. Fa•ther to relieve the infirmity of your judgement in this case, because I know it may much distress you, you must understand that there be two kinds of hardness of heart, the one which is not felt nor perceived; The other which is perceived & felt; and of the former that there be two sorts, the first (which is most fearful) when any do purposely resist the motions of Gods spirit, and wilfully refuse the means of their salvation; of which the Prophet Zechariah speaketh. 7.11. They refused to hearken, and pulled away their shoulder and stopped their ears that they should not hear: yea, they made their hearts as an Adamant stone, least they should hear the law, and the words which the Lord of hosts sent in his spirit by the ministry of the former Prophets. The outrageous ⟨p. 93⟩sin of these men, the Prophet Isaiah expresseth in these their own fearful terms,3 we have made a covenant with death, and with hell, we are at agreement: though a scourge run over and pass through, it shall not come at us: for we have made falsehood our refuge, and under vanity are we hidden. This was a fearful estat• indeed; yet for all that no man can say, but some of those having hardened their hearts, might be, and were afterward converted. The other kind of hardness of heart which is not felt not perceived, or if perceived, y•t not felt; (which albeit it is less fearful, yet it is dangerous enough) is in such, as although they wilfully resist not God• spirit in good means;
Wee grope for the wall like the blinde, and we grope as one without eies, we rore like beares, and mourne like doues. So complaineth Ezechias in the bitternes of his soule;1 Like a crane or a swallow so did I chatter, I did mourne as a doue:2 And when Dauid crieth, Create in me O God a ⟨p. 92⟩cleane heart, renue in me a right spirit. Restore to me the ioy of my saluation, establish me with thy free spirit: doth he not declare that his heart was vncleane, his spirit cr•ked, the ioy of his saluation lost, and himselfe subiect to •he sp•rit of bondage? so that wanting the spirit of liberty or adoption, he could n•yther cry Abba Father, nor haue any power against sinne. T•us you see how Gods children may be blinded in minde, and hardened in heart for a time, so that they feele in themselues the grace of the holy spirite to be as it were perished and dead. Fa•ther to releeue the infirmitie of your iudgement in this case, because I know it may much distresse you, you must vnderstand that there bee two kindes of hardnes of heart, the one which is not felt nor perceiued; The other which is perceiued & felt; and of the former that there be two sortes, the first (which is most fearefull) when any doe purposely resist the motions of Gods spirite, and wilfully refuse the meanes of their saluation; of which the Prophet Zachary speaketh. 7.11. They refused to harken, and pulled away their shoulder and stopped their eares that they should not heare: yea, they made their heartes as an Adamant stone, least they should heare the law, and the wordes which the Lord of hostes sent in his spirit by the ministery of the former Prophets. The outragious ⟨p. 93⟩sinne of these men, the Prophet Esay expresseth in these their owne fearefull termes,3 we haue made a couenant with death, and with hell, we are at a•reement: though a scourge runne ouer and passe through, it shall not come at vs: for we haue made falshoode our refuge, and vnder vanitie are we hidden. This was a fearefull estat• indeede; yet for all that no man can say, but some of those hauing hardened their eartes, might bee, and were aferward conuerted. The other kinde of hardnes of heart which is not felt not perceiued, or if perciued, yt not felt; (which albeit it is lesse fearefull, yet it is dangerous enough) is in such, as although they wilfully resist not God spirite in good meanes;
- 1Esa. 38.14
- 2Psal. 51.10
- 3Isaiah. 28.15Esay. 28.15
