The souls vocation or effectual calling to Christ. By T.HThe soules vocation or effectual calling to Christ. By T.H

Now further to discover the fearfulness of this sin, and the misery of them that continue in it, let me lay it open by four particulars, whereby it shall appear, that howsoever unbelievers make no great matter of it, yet if they have the hearts of men about them, they shall see the misery of their own souls, and that in th•se four particulars.

Now further to discover the fearfulnesse of this sinne, and the misery of them that continue in it, let mee lay it open by foure particulars, whereby it shall appeare, that howsoever unbeleevers make no great matter of it, yet if they have the hearts of men about them, they shall see the misery of their owne soules, and that in th•se foure particulars.

First it keeps off the riches of mercies that are in Christ, from the soul, that it cannot enjoy them; there is no happiness but only by communion with God; and now infidelity keeps off God from us, and keeps out that goodness which God is willing to bestow upon us, if we had hearts fitted to receive it. Infidelity shuts up a poor ⟨p. 353⟩sinner that he cannot look out, nor look up towards Heaven, and that's the reason why when the Lord chains ups poor sinner under the power of his chief displeasure, he gives them up to hardness of heart, and unbelief, Rom. 11.32. He hath shut up all in unbelief: it is a comparison thus to be conceived, as it is with a heinous malefactor that hath conspired against the King, and when he is taken they put him into little ease, or some such close dark dungeon, and clap cold irons upon him, and if any friend come to bring him any thing, he cannot speak with him, nor he cannot receive it because he is close prisoner: So the Lord doth in his heavy displeasure, he locks up the soul in unbelief, and holds the heart in the chains of unbelief; that howsoever judgements pass up and down the world, yet all these judgements cannot awaken him, nor all mercies; why? because the unbeliever is sure enough he cannot so much as look to that mercy prepared, and offered in Jesus Christ; and that's the reason why when the Lord comes by in all his glory, and mercy, as he did