A Golden Chain

By reason of this combat, when corruption prevails against grace in the will and affections, there ariseth in the godly a certain deadness or hardness of heart, which is nothing else but a want of sense or feeling. Some may say, that this is a fearful judgement: but the answer is, that there be two kinds of hardness of heart: one which possesseth the heart, and is never felt: this is in them, who have their consciences seared with an hot iron; who by reason of custom in sin are p•st all feeling,¹ who likewise despise the means of softening their hearts. And indeed this is a fearful judgement. There is an other hardness of heart which is felt: and this is not so dangerous as the former: for as we feel our sickness by contrary life and health; so hardness of heart when it is felt, argues quickness of grace, and softness of heart. Of this David often complained in the Psalms: of this the children of Israel speak when they say,² Why hast thou hardened our hearts from thy ways?

By reason of this combat, when corruption preuailes against grace in the will and affections, there ariseth in the godly a certaine deadnesse or hardnesse of heart, which is nothing else but a want of sense or feeling. Some may say, that this is a fearefull iudgement: but the answer is, that there be two kindes of hardnesse of heart: one which possesseth the heart, and is neuer felt: this is in them, who haue their consciences seared with an hote yron; who by reason of custome in sinne are p•st all feeling,¹ who likewise despise the meanes of softening their hearts. And indeede this is a fearefull iudgement. There is an other hardnesse of heart which is felt: and this is not so daungerous as the former: for as we feele our sicknesse by contrarie life and health; so hardnesse of heart when it is felt, argues quicknesse of grace, and softnes of heart. Of this Dauid often complained in the Psalmes: of this the children of Israel speake when they say,² Why hast thou hardned our hearts from thy waies?