The other kind of presumption is, when men will dwell and continue in sin, and think to salve the matter with this plaster, God is merciful: (n)forgetting that he is just and true,(o) and so repentance is deferred, sin is increased, God is blasphemed, and in the end, thou thy self most like to be deceived, like one that over-sleepeth the Tide, and then cannot take Ship: or like the 5. foolish Virgins, who sought •yle when it was too late.(p) Of such ⟨p. 34⟩almighty God complaineth by the Psalmist, saying. The plowers ploughed upon my back, and made long furrows. (q)By which is meant, that to prolong thy sin, and to put off from day to day thy amendment of life, still hoping on mercy, to have it at thy will, is to plough or dig upon Gods back: but mark what followeth. The righteous Lord hath cut the cords of the wicked, to wit, in pieces. Here is a cross bar, or a double gate to stop thy way to presumption, even the justice of God, and the execution thereof according unto truth. Ah fellow, art got up to plough and gore the back of God? he is just as well as merciful, and he will cut in sunder the cords of thy presumption. First he will frustrate thy hope, by which thou drawest on thy sins, as the Oxen do the plough by the chain. And to assure thee of this, the holy Ghost useth the time past in this word, Hath, for the time to come, as that it shall so surely be performed, as if it were past already. To confirm this, the word of God sayeth: The person that doth ought presumptuously, ⟨p. 35⟩whether he be borne in the Land, or a Stranger, the same blasphemeth the Lord: Therefore that person shall be cut off from among his people, because he hath despised the word of the Lord, and hath broken his commandment, that person shall be utterly cut off: his iniquity shall be upon him. (r)Paul also will have no man presume above that which is written.(s) And it is written, Put not off from day to day, for suddenly shall his wrath come, and in the time of vengeance he shall destroy thee. This then expect, except thou repent, &c.
The other kinde of presumption is, when men will dwell and continue in sinne, and thinke to salue the matter with this plaister, God is mercifull: (n)forgetting that he is iust and true,(o) and so repentance is deferred, sinne is encreased, God is blasphemed, and in the end, thou thy selfe most like to bee deceiued, like one that ouer-sleepeth the Tyde, and then cannot take Ship: or like the 5. foolish Virgins, who sought •yle when it was too late.(p) Of such ⟨p. 34⟩almightie God complaineth by the Psalmist, saying. The plowers plowed vpon my backe, and made long furrowes. (q)By which is ment, that to prolong thy sinne, and to put off from day to day thy amendment of life, still hoping on mercie, to haue it at thy will, is to plow or digge vpon Gods backe: but marke what followeth. The righteous Lord hath cut the cordes of the wicked, to wit, in peeces. Heere is a crosse barre, or a double gate to stoppe thy way to presumption, euen the iustice of God, and the execution thereof according vnto truth. Ah fellow, art got vp to plowe and goare the backe of God? hee is iust as well as mercifull, and hee will cut in sunder the cordes of thy presumption. First hee will frustrate thy hope, by which thou drawest on thy sinnes, as the Oxen doo the plough by the chaine. And to assure thee of this, the holy Ghost vseth the time past in this word, Hath, for the time to come, as that it shall so surely bee performed, as if it were past alreadie. To confirme this, the word of God saieth: The person that doth ought presumptuously, ⟨p. 35⟩whether he be borne in the Land, or a Straunger, the same blasphemeth the Lord: Therefore that person shall bee cut off from among his people, because hee hath despised the word of the Lord, and hath broken his commaundement, that person shall bee vtterly cut off: his iniquitie shall bee vppon him. (r)Paul also will haue no man presume aboue that which is written.(s) And it is written, Put not off from day to day, for suddenly shall his wrath come, and in the time of vengeance hee shall destroy thee. This then expect, except thou repent, &c.
- (n)2. Cor. 1.3.
- (o)Ps. 7.9. & 10.14. & 11.7.
- (p)Math. 25.10.
- (q)Ps. 129.3.
- (r)Numb. 15.30.31
- (s)1. Cor. 4.6.1.
