An exposition with practical observations continued upon the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh chapters…

Thirdly, Their prosperity is the judiciary hardening of their hearts, and a hard heart, is the greatest judgment on this side Hell; As there is a naturally inbred and sinfully acquired hard heart, so there is a judicially hardened, or a divinely inflicted hard heart: When to a natural hard heart, and an acquired hard heart, which men get by many repeated acts of sin, the Lord adds a judicially hardened, or inflicted hard heart, then wrath is heated to the hottest, and judgment is within one step of Hell. Especially if we consider, that every hour of such prosperous impenitence, and hardness of heart increases punishment, and adds to the treasury of that wrath, which is stored up against the day of wrath, and the revelation of the righteous judgment of God. Who thinks that man happy, who is let alone only to gather a mighty pile of wood, and other fuel of flames to burn himself? while ungodly men seem to the world to be gathering riches, honour and pleasure, hey are but gathering a heap of wrath, and a pile of fire; which at the last will flame so bright, that it will make a revelation, of the (formerly secret, but) ever righteous judgement of God.

Thirdly, Their prosperity is the judiciary hardning of their hearts, and a hard heart, is the greatest judgment on this side Hell; As there is a naturally inbred and sinfully acquired hard heart, so there is a judicially hardned, or a divinely inflicted hard heart: When to a naturall hard heart, and an acquired hard heart, which men get by many repeated acts of sin, the Lord adds a judicially hardned, or inflicted hard heart, then wrath is heated to the hottest, and judgment is within one step of Hell. Especially if we consider, that every houre of such prosperous impenitence, and hardnesse of heart encreases punishment, and adds to the treasury of that wrath, which is stored up against the day of wrath, and the revelation of the righteous judgment of God. Who thinks that man happy, who is let alone only to gather a mighty pile of wood, and other fuell of flames to burne himselfe? while ungodly men saem to the world to be gathering riches, honour and pleasure, hey are but gathering a heap of wrath, and a pile of fire; which at the last will flame so bright, that it will make a revelation, of the (formerly secret, but) ever righteous judgement of God.