A03617:134
The unbelievers preparing for Christ. By T.HThe vnbeleevers preparing for Christ. By T.H
The unbelievers preparing for Christ. By T.H.The vnbeleevers preparing for Christ. By T.H.
London: printed by Tho Cotes for Andrew Crooke, 1638
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Thirdly, as in a stone there is a close setting […] a near knitting of the parts thereof together, […] whence comes the hardness thereof, and secondly as from this hardness there proceeds strength; and as in the third place from this strength ariseth a resistance against the blow that is […] upon it, so it is with a stony heart, there is a […] union between sin and it: secondly, by […] of this union sin comes to have a […] ⟨p. 144⟩power in the soul, and not only so, but in the third place, there is a great resistance in the soul against Gods Command▪ Look as it is with a stone, of a man striketh a blow upon it, it resists the blow and beats it back, so it is with the soul, with a stony heart; the Word, the Sacraments, Admonitions, Reproofs, Counsels, Exhortations, they enter not into it, they prevail not with it, but it resists and opposeth all means of grace and salvation that are offered unto it; what help soever God bestows upon it, it beats it back, it will not be disposed, it will not be framed and fashioned according to Gods holy Will, Zach. 7.12. there saith the Text,1 They made their hearts as an adamant stone, least they should bear the l•s, and the words which the Lord of Hosts sent by his Spirit in the Ministry of the former Prophets; that is, they closed with their corruptions and grew strong in their corruptions, and resisted the commandments of the Lord, and therefore it is said of Pharaoh, that he hardened his heart, that is, he strengthened his heart in sin, and would not obey the commandment of the Lord, but refused to let the people of Israel go: when there comes to be a near union between sin and the soul, then the soul doth strengthen it self in sin, and opposeth the Law of God; the proud man saith, he will have his lust, let God say what he will, the covetous man he will have his corruption, let God say what he will, and the drunkard he will have his own way, and the adulterer he will take ⟨p. 145⟩up his own course; let God say what he will they grow strong in their sins, and therefore resist all means which may be for their good, until the Lord by his almighty power doth break this fast knot that is between corruption and the soul, and removes the power and strength of sin, and then by a strong hand takes away this resistance and over-powers a soul in this case: