An exposition with practical observations continued upon the eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of…An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of…

Then take heed of hardening your selves against God. You know the counsel which Gamaliel gave, Act. 5.39. Refrain from these men, and let them alone, &c. (See how tremblingly he speaks) lest you be found even to fight against God; as if he had said, take heed what you do, it is the most dreadful thing in the world to contend with God; he speaks as of a thing he would not have them come near, or be in the remotest tendency to. Man will not meddle with a mortal man, if he be too hard for him: how should we tremble to meddle or contend with the immortal God! Christ, Luk. 14. warning his Disciples to consider afore-hand what it is to be his disciples, gives them an instance of a King: What King (saith he) going to make war against another King, sitteth not down first and consulteth, whether he be able with ten thousand, to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Now, I say to you (if any such be here) that have hearts steeled or hardened against God, who challenge God the field, and send defiance to heaven, O sit down, sit down, consider whether you with your ten thousand, are able to meet God with his twenty thousand, that's great odds, half in half; but consider whether one single, simple man can stand against his twenty thousand; whether a man of no strength can stand against infinite strength; whether you who have no wisdom, are able to stand against him that is of infinite wisdom. Can ignorance contend with knowledge, folly with wisdom, weakness with strength, an earthen vessel with an iron rod? O the boldness and madness of men, who will hazard themselves upon such disadvantages. He is wise in heart, and mighty in power, who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?

Then take heed of hardening your selves against God. You know the counsell which Gamaliel gave, Act. 5.39. Refrain from these men, and let them alone, &c. (See how tremblingly he speaks) lest you be found even to fight against God; as if he had said, take heed what you doe, it is the most dreadfull thing in the world to contend with God; he speaks as of a thing he would not have them come near, or be in the remotest tendency to. Man will not meddle with a mortall man, if he be too hard for him: how should we tremble to meddle or contend with the immortall God! Christ,