so cool and confound his swaggering humour, that he do not glory in his ⟨p. 122⟩villainy, that he do not pride himself in his blasphemies, and bloody oaths, in his contempt of Grace, and other outrageous carriages. Answer a fool, saith Solomon, according 1to his foolishness, lest he be wise in his own conceit: lest he be too proud. If a desperate and profane wretch will needs swear, and swagger, and rail against the servants and services of God; yet let him know, that all the while, he fights against God, damns his own soul, and pleases none but Devils, Drunkards, and devilish men. If he will needs labour to be famous, by a furious opposition to the Ministry, and ways of God; let him know, that his name shall rot after2 him as vilely, as his carcass in the grave, and himself burn in Hell everlastingly; if he hold on in that humour without timely repentance and reformation.
3. Thirdly, at the least, thou shouldst thereby increase, and aggravate his inexcusableness, and so glorify the Tribunal of Gods Justice; when it shall there appear, that besides many other means afforded, and offered unto him by Gods mercies; thou also diddest lend him thine hand, to have3 pulled him out of the fire, & gavest him one call to have stayed him in the furious and wilful pursuit of his own damnation. But because he still hated to be reformed; because variety of means for his amendment, made him more malicious, and obstinate in his own ways; and that contradiction, and counsel to the contrary inflamed, and set on fire the lustful viciousness of his corrupt nature, to hunt more greedily after forbidden pleasures; therefore I say, he will be more and more fearfully ashamed, and confounded at that great and fearful Day: and the moe occasions he hath had of his conversion, the juster cause then will he see of his deserved confusion; and by consequent more glory will accrue unto the glorious Tribunal of Gods Justice.
Secondly, in such cases the Christian must speak in respect of himself.
1. When the air is impoysoned with any infectious vapour, men use to fill their sense with some Pomander, or other sweet perfume, and so they may declaim ⟨p. 123⟩noisomeness of the smell, and repel the contagious insinuation:
so coole and confound his swaggering humour, that he doe not glory in his ⟨p. 122⟩villany, that hee doe not pride himselfe in his blasphemies, and bloody oathes, in his contempt of Grace, and other outragious carriages. Answer a foole, saith Salomon, according 1to his foolishnesse, lest he be wise in his owne conceit: lest hee bee too proud. If a desperate and prophane wretch will needs sweare, and swagger, and raile against the seruants and seruices of God; yet let him know, that all the while, hee fights against God, damnes his owne soule, and pleases none but Deuils, Drunkards, and deuilish men. If he will needs labour to be famous, by a surious opposition to the Ministery, and wayes of God; let him know, that his name shall rot after2 him as vilely, as his carkeise in the graue, and himselfe burne in Hell euerlastingly; if hee hold on in that humour without timely repentance and reformation.
3. Thirdly, at the least, thou shouldst thereby increase, and aggrauate his inexcuseablenesse, and so glorifie the Tribunall of Gods Iustice; when it shall there appeare, that besides many other meanes afforded, and offered vnto him by Gods mercies; thou also diddest lend him thine hand, to haue3 puld him out of the fire, & gauest him one call to haue stayed him in the furious and wilfull pursuit of his owne damnation. But because he still hated to be reformed; because varietie of meanes for his amendment, made him more malicious, and obstinate in his owne wayes; and that contradiction, and counsell to the contrary inflamed, and set on fire the lustfull viciousnesse of his corrupt nature, to hunt more greedily after forbidden pleasures; therefore I say, hee will bee more and more fearefully ashamed, and confounded at that great and fearefull Day: and the moe occasions he hath had of his conuersion, the iuster cause then will he see of his deserued confusion; and by consequent more glory will accrew vnto the glorious Tribunall of Gods Iustice.
Secondly, in such cases the Christian must speake in respect of himselfe.
1. When the aire is impoysoned with any infectious vapour, men vse to fill their sense with some Pomander, or other sweete perfume, and so they may declaime ⟨p. 123⟩noysomnesse of the smell, and repell the contagious insinuation:
- 1Prou. 26. 5.
- 2[…]. 10. 7.〈…〉. 10. 7.
- 3Jude 23.Iude 23.
