The first let which is an hinderance to the work of faith, is this:1 there is a settled kind of contentment which the soul taketh up in its own estate: and the heart of a sinful creature sitteth down well apaid in that sinful miserable condition wherein he is, and he desireth no other; nay, he would have no change in this kind. This is one main bolt which stoppeth the way, and keepeth faith from coming into the heart. This is the frame of every mans heart naturally. So we see in Deut. 29.19. And if it come to pass, that when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine own heart, or add drunkenness to thirst: The Lord will not spare him, but the anger of the Lord, and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book, shall fall upon him, and the Lord shall blot his name from under heaven. People bless themselves in their condition, notwithstanding all the promises of blessing, and threatening of judgement. If any man have such a root of bitterness in him, and shall bless himself in this condition, and say, I will promise my self an happy end, let Moses threaten what he can: I tell ⟨p. 8⟩thee, the wrath of the Lord shall smoke against that man. See that notable place in Job 21.14. It imports so much: For they said to God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways: that is, we are as we would be. When wholesome counsels and exhortations are ministered, namely, that they would take up a better course, and be more holy before God, and yield obedience to him in his Word; and the Minister biddeth them take a farewell of their pleasures and profits, and they think we invite them to loss: now all the while that a poor sinner quiets his heart in this condition, it is merely impossible, (in the course of providence,) nay, it is a flat contradiction, that ever grace should be bestowed upon that soul, or that ever faith should come there. For faith purgeth the heart, wheresoever it comes: as the Apostle saith, 2 Cor. 5.17. All things are become new, all old things are passed away. There must be a new frame of the heart, and a new course of life and conversation. Now for the soul to approve of its condition, and yet desire to go out of it, these two cannot stand together in reason;
The first let which is an hinderance to the worke of faith, is this:1 there is a settled kind of contentment which the soule taketh up in its owne estate: and the heart of a sinfull creature sitteth downe well apaid in that sinfull miserable condition wherein he is, and hee desireth no other; nay, hee would have no change in this kind. This is one maine bolt which stoppeth the way, and keepeth faith from comming into the heart. This is the frame of every mans heart naturally. So we see in Deut. 29.19. And if it come to passe, that when hee heareth the words of this curse, that he blesse himselfe in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walke in the imagination of mine owne heart, or adde drunkennesse to thirst: The Lord will not spare him, but the anger of the Lord, and his jealousie shall smoake against that man, and all the curses that are written in this booke, shall fall upon him, and the Lord shall blot his name from under heaven. People blesse themselves in their condition, notwithstanding all the promises of blessing, and threatning of judgement. If any man have such a root of bitternesse in him, and shall blesse himselfe in this condition, and say, I will promise my felfe an happy end, let Moses threaten what he can: I tell ⟨p. 8⟩thee, the wrath of the Lord shall smoake against that man. See that notable place in Iob 21.14. It imports so much: For they said to God, Depart from us; for wee desire not the knowledge of thy wayes: that is, wee are as we would be. When wholsome counsels and exhortations are ministred, namely, that they would take up a better course, and be more holy before God, and yeeld obedience to him in his Word; and the Minister biddeth them take a farewell of their pleasures and profits, and they thinke wee invite them to losse: now all the while that a poore sinner quiets his heart in this condition, it is meerely impossible, (in the course of providence,) nay, it is a flat contradiction, that ever grace should be bestowed upon that soule, or that ever faith should come there. For faith purgeth the heart, wheresoever it comes: as the Apostle saith, 2 Cor. 5.17. All things are become new, all old things are passed away. There must be a new frame of the heart, and a new course of life and conversation. Now for the soule to approve of its condition, and yet desire to goe out of it, these two cannot stand together in reason;
- 11 Let. To seek contentment in the natural condition.1 Lett. To seek contentment in the naturall condition.
