An exposition with practical observations continued upon the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth chapters of…An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth chapters of…

An evil heart is never discouraged by any disappointments from going on in evil.

An evill heart is never discouraged by any disappointments from going on in evill.

One would have thought, after he had conceived mischief, and brought forth nothing but vanity, that we should have heard no more of him; that he would now sit down and be quiet, but his belly prepareth deceit presently, he will to it again, he will try once more; if he fail in one plot, he hopes to thrive in another; he will sow his seed of sin in the morning, and in the evening he will not withhold his hand, and though he see neither of them prosper, yea though he see both of them blasted, yet he will to his sowing again. As a gracious heart receives many disappointments and discouragements, but saith he, I will not give over, My belly shall prepare still, holy, and just, and righteous things; and the more he is disappointed the more holily he acts. So doth a wicked man more sinfully; for he acts as strongly and naturally in his state, as a godly man doth in his; and therefore he will not be put off by disappointments. He saith in the words of Solomon (Prov. 23.35.) They have stricken me and I was not sick; they have beaten me and I felt it not, when I awake, I will seek it yet again. Wicked men in general, as well as Drunkards in particular, of whom Solomon there speaks, meet with many blows, and are often sick in following their sin; yet (because they are never sick of sin) as soon as ever they awake, and recover a little, they forget all their wounds and sicknesses, and resolve to seek it yet again. They please themselves so much with what is to come, that they sleight all that hath been done, and resolve with those (Isa. 56.12.) To morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant: They are preparing for sin, even while they are sinning: It is said (Revel. 6.) that he on the Red Horse, went forth conquering, and to conquer: he had not only a present Conquest, but a project to conquer; he was actually a Conqueror, and having conquered, he had fresh designs in his eye. As Christ goes out thus conquering, and to conquer; so wicked men go out doing evil, and to do it; deceiving, and to deceive. Their belly prepareth deceit: Though they have brought forth vanity once and again, yet they prepare, as assured of victory.