Four godly and fruitful sermons two preached at Drayton in Oxford-shire, at a fast,…Foure godlie and fruitful sermons two preached at Draiton in Oxford-shire, at a fast,…

First, because it doth wonderfully harden them, and makes them even like a Flint: so that they are very hardly wrought upon, either by instructions, or by afflictions. This is evident in Nebuchadnezzar, who notwithstanding that divine dream that God had sent unto him,¹ and the holy instructions and exhortations that Daniel had given him, after his interpretation thereof; yet continued in his arrogance still, and was full of boasting and bragging: in so much that the Lord was fain to strip him of his wits, of his kingdom, of his food, of his apparel, and of the society of mankind, and to cause him, even for seven years together, to live as a beast, among the beasts of the field: and all little enough to take down the stoutness and loftiness of his sinful heart.²

First, because it doth wonderfully harden them, and makes them euen like a Flinte: so that they are verie hardly wrought vpon, either by instructions, or by afflictions. This is euident in Nebuchadnezzar, who notwithstanding that diuine dreame that God had sent vnto him,¹ and the holy instructions and exhortations that Daniel had giuen him, after his interpretation thereof; yet continued in his arrogancie still, and was full of boasting and bragging: in so much that the Lord was faine to strippe him of his wittes, of his kingdome, of his foode, of his apparell, and of the societie of mankinde, and to cause him, euen for seuen yeares together, to liue as a beast, among the beasts of the fielde: and all little enough to take downe the stoutnes and loftines of his sinfull heart.²

1. 1Dan. 4. 24.
2. 2Dan. 5. 20.