A guide to godliness or a Treatise of a Christian life showing the dutiesA guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties

The carnal security which is affected and voluntary, is when as men purposely use all means to harden their hearts against Gods fear, and to stop their ears, that they may not hear any thing which may awaken them of their pleasing sleep of sin, that so they may without any disturbance commit all manner of wickedness with delight and greediness, whereby they much strengthen and increase their natural security, until by custom it becometh habitual. They add Art to Nature, and thinking that they cannot sleep soundly enough, and without fear of disturbance in their natural slumber of security, they stupefy their senses (as it were with opium) till they are brought into an unrecoverable Lethargy and sleep of death. They do not only draw over their already hard hearts and seared consciences, a callum or thick skin, which will not be pierced with the prick of a pin, but (as one saith) even a treble plated armour, ¹which is high proof against the Sword of Gods Spirit, the Word of God; yea, even the Musket shot of his Judgements and Punishments. They do not only quench all good motions of Gods Spirit restraining them from sin, but quite put out those small sparks of the light of Nature, which remain in them. They do not alone stop the voice and cry of their consciences, with the louder clamour of their tumultuous lusts and passions; but put to silence all that would admonish them of their wicked courses, with their impudency in sinning. They harden their fore-heads against all reproofs, and fly in their faces who reprehend their wickedness. They shut their