CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

4. Then men are likely to be Sons of perdition when they have been under divers and frequent afflictions, yet are not preserved but grow worse and worse under them, ¹as the Prophet Isaiah tells the Jews, Chap. 1.5. Why should I smite you any more? your wound is incurable; God he smiteth to awaken men that they shou•d repent and turn unto him; But when this rod makes them more stubborn, and they will hold their sins, though they cost them never so dear, this is a sad Forerunner of perdition; Ahaz because in his distress he grew worse and worse, therefore the Scripture giveth him this brand, This is that King Ahaz: The Judgements and Chastisements of God are medicinal in their Institution, but if they do not kindly purge from sin, they become penal and destructive: They do hurt if they do no good; Oh then let such persons remember this, that have many times been under Gods Chastisements; They have been often in the fiery Furnace, and then with Pharaoh they cry out, They will sin no more, They will let their Iniquities go, but when they see respite, and the Cloud is over, they begin with all greediness to fulfil their sins, as if they were delivered that they might transgress the more; Oh Consider that thy afflictions rise not out of the dust, God hath wisely ordered them against thee but take heed how they leave thee; Dost thou (as Job said) come out of them as Gold out of the fire; Canst thou say, that before thou wast afflicted thou wentst astray, These Rods have brought thy sins to Remembrance, then bless God for it, but if thou art recovered from the Grave, and withal delivered from the bitter pangs and terrors of Death, thou shalt again return to thy folly, then know assuredly a foul Leprosy hath spread it self over thee.

4. Then men are likely to be Sons of perdit••n when they have been under divers and frequent afflictions, yet are not preserved but grow worse and worse under them, ¹as the Prophet Isaiah tels the Jews, Chap. 1.5. Why should I smite you any more? your wound is incurable; God he smiteth to awaken men that they shou•d repent and turn unto him; But when this rod makes them more stubborn, and they will hold their sinnes, though they cost them never so dear, this is a sad Forerunner of perdition; Ahaz because in his distresse he grew worse and worse, therefore the Scripture giveth him this brand, This is that King Ahaz: The Judgements and Chastisements of God are medicinal in their Institution, but if they do not kindely purge from sinne, they become penal and destructive: They do hurt if they do no good; Oh then let such persons remember this, that have many times been under Gods Chastisements; They have been often in the fiery Furnace, and then with Pharaoh they cry out, They will sinne no more, They will let their Iniquities go, but when they see respite, and the Cloud is over, they begin with all greedinesse to fullfill their sinnes, as if they were delivered that they might transgresse the more; Oh Consider that thy afflictions rise not out of the dust, God hath wisely ordered them against thee but take heed how they leave thee; Dost thou (as Iob said) come out of them as Gold out of the fire; Canst thou say, that before thou wast afflicted thou wentst astray, These Rods have brought thy sins to Remembrance, then blesse God for it, but if thou art recovered from the Grave, and withall delivered from the bitter pangs and terrours of Death, thou shalt again return to thy folly, then know assuredly a foul Leprosie hath spread it self over thee.