Men bear themselves in hand,1 when the Word of God reproveth them, that they will answer it well enough, and when Preachers convince them, they hope God will not deal with them so hardly, as they do: and men love always to have one thing or other, to ⟨p. 209⟩flatter and deceive their hearts by; like an evil debtor, who is in danger already, yet as long as he can find any to borrow of, runneth further into debt, not wisely foreseeing his overthrow to be at hand, but imagines still he shall come out of it in time. So, when men can shift off the greatness of their sins, that they may not terrify nor press their consciences, they think their estate good enough, and so dance in a net, as if God saw them not; till on the sudden before they be aware, they fall headlong into fear and desperation; or else become so senseless and hardened, that they be past feeling, till they die in impenitency. ⟨p. 210⟩And how can it be otherwise? Doth not the scripture tell us plainly, that he who followeth not the light walketh in darkness, and cannot tell where he goeth. But we may know that when men begin to conceive of their estate, and their doing, not being guided by the light of knowledge, they are out of the way and deceive themselves, and when they cry peace,2 peace, there is no peace; they find not that which they hope for, much like unto them who would have a King, and be like other nations, and that they thought best for them (say the Prophet what he could to the contrary) did they not find to their costs, that they erred in the imaginations ⟨p. 211⟩of their hearts,3 and were deceived? The young man to whom Solomon speaketh, who will needs rejoice in his youth, and take his pleasure; if ye tell him that there is any danger towards him, will he believe it? and doth he not therefore come to judgement, and prove by woeful experience, that his dreams in thinking all is well with him, are vain, and disappoint his foolish hope? And to shut up this point, what is clearer then that in the gospel, to testify that no shifts nor excuses will serve, to hold men in their sin? That when certain were bid to the kings great supper, they returned answer; one this way excusing his absence, and another that: ⟨p. 212⟩one had bought Oxen & must go try them; 4another had married a wife, &c. did their excuses go for payment?
Men beare themselues in hand,1 when the Word of God reprooueth them, that they will answer it well enough, and when Preachers conuince them, they hope God will not deale with them so hardly, as they doe: and men loue alwaies to haue one thing or other, to ⟨p. 209⟩flatter and deceiue their hearts by; like an euill debtor, who is in danger already, yet as long as hee can finde any to borrow of, runneth further into debt, not wisely foreseeing his ouerthrow to bee at hand, but imagines still hee shall come out of it in time. So, when men can shift off the greatnesse of their sinnes, that they may not terrifie nor presse their consciences, they thinke their estate good enough, and so dance in a nette, as if God saw them not; till on the sodaine before they be aware, they fall headlong into feare and desperation; or else become so sencelesse and hardned, that they be past feeling, till they die in impenitencie. ⟨p. 210⟩And how can it be otherwise? Doth not the scripture tell vs plainely, that he who followeth not the light walketh in darknes, and cannot tell where he goeth. But we may know that when men beginne to conceiue of their estate, and their doing, not being guided by the light of knowledge, they are out of the way and deceiue themselues, and when they crye peace,2 peace, there is no peace; they finde not that which they hope for, much like vnto them who would haue a King, and be like other nations, and that they thought best for them (say the Prophet what he could to the contrary) did they not finde to their costs, that they erred in the imaginacions ⟨p. 211⟩of their hearts,3 and were deceiued? The young man to whom Salomon speaketh, who will needes rejoyce in his youth, and take his pleasure; if ye tell him that there is any danger towards him, will he beleeue it? and doth he not therefore come to iudgement, and prooue by wofull experience, that his dreames in thinking all is well with him, are vaine, and disapoint his foolish hope? And to shut vp this point, what is clearer then that in the gospell, to testifie that no shiftes nor excuses wil'serue, to hold men in their sinne? That when certaine were bidde to the kings great supper, they returned answere; one this way excusing his absence, and another that: ⟨p. 212⟩
- 1Use.Vse.
- 21. Sam. 8 17 Compared with 12. 20
- 3Eccles. 12.
- 4Luk. 14.
