Casuistical morning-exercises the fourth volume /

6. Impenitency under the Gospel shows greater Wilfulness in sin. As it argues great folly in the Mind, so perverseness in the Will. And the more there is of the Will in sin, the more sinful it is: As the Schoolmen say; Bonitas & malitia moralis sunt potissimùm in voluntate. Paul could say it was not he that sinned, when he did sin, because his Will was against it, Rom. 7.20. The Evil that I would not, that I do. And this God chiefly looks at in Actions both good and evil. There seems to be more wilfulness in Impenitency under the Gospel, than ever before. The more Light and Knowledge men sin against, the more Will there is in sin. And the fairer offers are made to men of Heaven and Salvation, the more wilful is the refusal. And this is the case of Sinners under the Gospel. They do not repent, and they will not repent; they do not hear, and they will not hear; they do not leave their sin, and they will not leave it.

6. Impenitency under the Gospel shews greater Wilfulness in sin. As it argues great folly in the Mind, so perverseness in the Will. And the more there is of the Will in sin, the more sinful it is: As the Schoolmen say; Bonitas & malitia moralis sunt potissimùm in voluntate. Paul could say it was not he that sinn'd, when he did sin, because his Will was against it, Rom. 7.20. The Evil that I would not, that I do. And this God chiefly looks at in Actions both good and evil. There seems to be more wilfulness in Impenitency under the Gospel, than ever before. The more Light and Knowledge men sin against, the more Will there is in sin. And the fairer offers are made to men of Heaven and Salvation, the more wilful is the refusal. And this is the case of Sinners under the Gospel. They do not repent, and they will not repent; they do not hear, and they will not hear; they do not leave their sin, and they will not leave it.

7. Lastly, Impenitency under the Gospel is attended with the greatest resistance of the Spirit: Greater than in former time. There is more of the Spirit goes along with the Gospel-ministration, than with any before it. And there cannot be a disobedience to the Gospel, without resisting that Spirit that goes along with it: Upon some the Spirit prevails, and brings them to repentance; and in others he is resisted. And some resist to that degree, that they are said to offer despite to the Spirit of Grace,