Here further we must know that this want of good consideration is a grievous evil and a mother sin, from whence as from a fountain, streams of corruptions and transgressions both of heart and life do issue forth; first, hereby we are disabled from yielding unto God that obedience of heart which his law requireth; for how can we love the Lord with all our thought and mind; & our neighbour as our selves, as Godn commandeth, when as naturally our hearts are void of all good thoughts towards God, and towards our neighbours? Again, whence comes sinning with an high ⟨p. 157⟩hand, when men sin, and will sin? whence comes it that men bless themselves in their sins, and flatter themselves in their own eyes, while they go on in sin, but from want of consideration of Gods presence, and of Gods judgements? This Abraham knew well, and therefore said of the people of Gerar, because othey wanted the fear of God, that is, all consideration of Gods presence, and of Gods judgements, therefore they would kill him for his wives sake. Whence also comes that sensuality, whereby men addict them-selves wholly to the profits, pleasures, and honours of this world, never minding heaven or hell, but from want of consideration of their duty to ⟨p. 158⟩God? If men did use to call themselves to account for their sins, or did set before their eyes the judgements of God due unto them, it could not be that there should be such want of contrition towards God, or of compassion towards their brethren, as every where abounds. And the like might be said of many other capital sins, all which proceed from the want of good consideration. Where, by the way, we may observe, that our common people do far deceive themselves in this persuasion of themselves, that by nature they have good hearts, and good meaning: If you charge them with the sins of their lives, they will straightway plead their good intention, and ⟨p. 159⟩say, though they sometime fail in action, yet they mean well always. But the truth is, naturally well meaning, and good consideration, spiritual things is altogether wanting. And therefore while men do soothe up themselves in their good meaning, they deceive their own hearts through ignorance of their natural estate: and they must know, that they can never come unto Christ that they might have life, till they be quite gone out of themselves in regard of such conceits.
Heere further wee must know that this want of good consideration is a grieuous evill and a mother sinne, from whence as from a fountaine, streames of corruptions and transgressions both of heart and life doe issue forth; first, hereby we are disabled from yelding vnto God that obedience of heart which his law requireth; for how can we loue the Lord with all our thought and mind; & our neighbour as our selues, as Godn commandeth, when as naturally our hearts are void of all good thoughts towards God, and towards our neighbours? Againe, whence comes sinning with an high ⟨p. 157⟩hand, when men sinne, and will sinne? whence comes it that men blesse themselus in their sinnes, and flatter themselues in their owne eies, while they goe on in sinne, but from want of consideration of Gods presence, and of Gods iudgements? This Abraham knew well, and therfore saide of the people of Gerar, because othey wanted the feare of God, that is, all consideration of Gods presence, and of Gods iudgements, therefore they would kill him for his wiues sake. Whence also comes that sensualitie, whereby men addict them-selues wholly to the profits, pleasures, and honours of this world, neuer minding heauen or hell, but from want of consideration of their dutie to ⟨p. 158⟩God? If men did vse to call themselues to accompt for their sinnes, or did set before their eyes the iudgements of God due vnto them, it could not be that there shoud be such want of contrition towards God, or of compassion towards their brethren, as euery where abounds. And the like might be said of many other capitall sinnes, all which proceede from the want of good consideration. Where, by the way, we may obserue, that our common people doe farre deceiue themselues in this perswasion of themselues, that by nature they haue good hearts, and good meaning: If you charge them with the sinnes of their liues, they will straightway plead their good intention, and ⟨p. 159⟩say, though they sometime faile in action, yet they meane well alwaies. But the truth is, naturally well meaning, and good consideration, spirituall thinges is altogether wanting. And therfore while men doe soothe vp themselues in their good meaning, they deceiue their owne hearts through ignorance of their naturall estate: and they must knowe, that they can neuer come vnto Christ that they might haue life, till they be quite gone out of themselues in regard of such conceits.
- nLuk. 10. 27.
- oGen. 20. 11.
