Proposition 1. Those that live in contempt of the Word, cannot out-live the power of it. Many persons live and dye in a self-flattery, that the threatenings against their sins (the sins that they are resolved to live in) shall never overtake them. How many are there that study to be Infidels, and strive to be Atheists; they would fain persuade themselves, that a Scripture faith is but a fancy; and that God will never be so severe, as we report him; but, yet a little while, and they shall feel the contrary. Others hear the Word, and are at present startled, but their convictions wear off, and their sense of duty dyes before them: Alas, Sirs, our obligations to duty do not ebb and flow according to our apprehensions of it. The evil and danger of sin doth not abate as we would have it. Ezek. 2.4, 5. They are impudent children, and stiff hearted: I do send thee unto them, and thou shalt say unto them, thus saith the Lord God. And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear (for they are a rebellious house) yet shall know that there ⟨p. 8⟩hath been a Prophet among them. Beloved Christians, I pray you consider it, The way of sin, is the way of the greatest folly in the world; for men will industriously live in sin, and as industriously avoid taking notice of Gods indignation against it; and because they take no notice, they are willing to persuade themselves, God takes no notice of them. Yet these very persons, when they are under any qualms of conscience, and any tendency towards repentance, then they as industriously persuade themselves, God must needs take notice of them, and that a few gripes of conscience must needs be mortification sufficient. Why, Sirs, what do you make of God all this while? But what need I ask this question, seeing the Word of God hath so plainly resolved it. Psal. 50.21. Thou thoughtest (saith God) that I was altogether such an one as thy self. The sinner thinks, while he hath a kindness for sin, God must needs indulge it, and when he is never so little uneasy under it, God must needs pardon it; while he winks at sin, God must not see it; and when he never so slightly looks up for mercy, God must not deny it. Oh, how do poor Ministers find this by experience! Those that while they are well, all we can say will not move them: If they send for us when sick, we must say nothing to discourage them;
Proposition 1. Those that live in contempt of the Word, cannot out-live the power of it. Many persons live and dye in a self-flattery, that the threatnings against their sins (the sins that they are resolved to live in) shall never overtake them. How many are there that study to be Infidels, and strive to be Atheists; they would fain perswade themselves, that a Scripture faith is but a fancy; and that God will never be so severe, as we report him; but, yet a little while, and they shall feel the contrary. Others hear the Word, and are at present startled, but their convictions wear off, and their sense of duty dyes before them: Alas, Sirs, our obligations to duty do not ebb and flow according to our apprehensions of it. The evil and danger of sin doth not abate as we would have it. Ezek. 2.4, 5. They are impudent children, and stiffhearted: I do send thee unto them, and thou shalt say unto them, thus saith the Lord God. And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear (for they are a rebellious house) yet shall know that there ⟨p. 8⟩hath been a Prophet among them. Beloved Christians, I pray you consider it, The way of sin, is the way of the greatest folly in the world; for men will industriously live in sin, and as industriously avoid taking notice of Gods indignation against it; and because they take no notice, they are willing to perswade themselves, God takes no notice of them. Yet these very persons, when they are under any qualms of conscience, and any tendency towards repentance, then they as industriously perswade themselves, God must needs take notice of them, and that a few gripes of conscience must needs be mortification sufficient. Why, Sirs, what do you make of God all this while? But what need I ask this question, seeing the Word of God hath so plainly resolved it. Psal. 50.21. Thou thoughtst (saith God) that I was altogether such an one as thy self. The sinner thinks, while he hath a kindness for sin, God must needs indulge it, and when he is never so little uneasie under it, God must needs pardon it; while he winks at sin, God must not see it; and when he never so slightly looks up for mercy, God must not deny it. Oh, how do poor Ministers find this by experience! Those that while they are well, all we can say will not move them: If they send for us when sick, we must say nothing to discourage them;
