But now when any mans heart doth condemn him for dealing deceitfully and guilefully with God, in this, or that, or the other particular; or for connivings, or winking at any known Transgression that is kept up, either in his heart, or life, against the Lord; and against the light of his own Conscience, which he will not let go, nor in good earnest use the means, whereby it should be subdued and mortified: It is inot to be expected that such a person can come to any clearness, or satisfaction about their interest in Christ, and the Covenant of Grace, and their right to the great things of that other world; when a person will dally with sin, and will be playing with snares and baits, & allow a secret liberty in his heart to sin, conniving at many workings of it, and not setting upon Mortification with earnest endeavours; though they are convinced, yet they are not persuaded to arise with all their might, against the Lords Enemies, but do his work negligently, which is an accursed thing; and for this, God ca••s such a person into sore straits, and lets him wander in the dark, without any sight, sense, or assurance of their gracious estate or interest in Christ, &c. The Is•ac•••es should perfectly have rooted out the Canaanites, but because they did it but by halves, and did not engage all their power and strength against them, therefore God left them to be as Thorns in their eyes, and as Goads in their sides. So when men have taken Christ's Press-money, and are engaged to fight with all their might, against those Rebels that war against him in their hearts, ways, and walkings; and to pursue the Victory to the utmost, till their Spiritual Enemies lye dead at their feet, ⟨p. 3⟩and yet they do but trifle and make slender opposition against their sins: This provokes God to stand afar off, and to hide his Reconciled Face from them.
But now when any mans heart doth condemn him for dealing deceitfully and guilefully with God, in this, or that, or the other particular; or for connivings, or winking at any known Transgression that is kept up, either in his heart, or life, against the Lord; and against the light of his own Conscience, which he will not let go, nor in good earnest use the means, whereby it should be subdued and mortified: It is inot to be expected that such a person can come to any clearness, or satisfaction about their interest in Christ, and the Covenant of Grace, and their right to the great things of that other world; when a person will dally with sin, and will be playing with snares and baits, & allow a secret liberty in his heart to sin, conniving at many workings of it, and not setting upon Mortification with earnest endeavours; though they are convinced, yet they are not perswaded to arise with all their might, against the Lords Enemies, but do his work negligently, which is an accursed thing; and for this, God ca••s such a person into sore straits, and lets him wander in the dark, without any sight, sense, or assurance of their gracious estate or interest in Christ, &c. The Is•ac•••es should perfectly have rooted out the Canaanites, but because they did it but by halfs, and did not engage all their power and strength against them, therefore God left them to be as Thorns in their eyes, and as Goads in their sides. So when men have taken Christ's Press-money, and are engaged to fight with all their might, against those Rebels that war against him in their hearts, ways, and walkings; and to persue the Victory to the utmost, till their Spiritual Enemies lye dead at their feet, ⟨p. 3⟩and yet they do but trifle and make slender opposition against their sins: This provokes God to stand afar off, and to hide his Reconciled Face from them.
