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…

First, Against the very being of God; such a wicked man opposeth God as God, he wisheth there were no God, or that himself were God; he would have all power in his own hand: Francis Spira in his despairing distraction said, I would I were above God: In him nature spake her mind plainly, and not in Parables: Nature heightened in wickedness would be above God; therefore a carnal man is called, A hater of God: Now that which we hate we would destroy, and take out of the way.

First, Against the very being of God; such a wicked man opposeth God as God, he wisheth there were no God, or that himselfe were God; he would have all power in his owne hand: Francis Spira in his despayring distraction sayd, I would I were above God: In him nature spake her mind plainly, and not in Parables: Nature heightned in wickednesse would be above God; therefore a carnall man is called, A hater of God: Now that which we hate we would destroy, and take out of the way.

Secondly, There is a stretching out the hand against God, not only in this open bold challenge, or professed opposition; this very few will own. Few Atheists will speak out their blasphemy, or send their Trumpet to defy God; and most wicked men take a suspicion of this, as the highest dishonour and affront that can be put upon them. What? They oppose God? They stretch out their hand against God? They will tell you, they love God, and it may be they will tell you that God is their God, and yet will be found stretching out their hand against God: therefore not only do his professed Enemies stretch out their hand against God, but even those ⟨p. 129⟩his professed Friends, who live in the open violation of his righteous Laws; they who oppose the will and Word of God, the Statutes and Ordinances of God, these will be found to stretch forth their hand against God himself.

Secondly, There is a stretching out the hand against God, not onely in this open bold challenge, or professed opposition; this very few will owne. Few Atheists will speak out their blasphemy, or send their Trumpet to defie God; and most wicked men take a suspicion of this, as the highest dishonour and affront that can be put upon them. What? They oppose God? They stretch out their hand against God? They will tell you, they love God, and it may be they will tell you that God is their God, and yet will be found sretching out their hand against God: therefore not onely doe his professed Enemies stretch out their hand against God, but even those