Judge what a sad and dangerous state such a soul is in. Just like a fiery high mettled Horse, whose eyes are out, furiously carrying his rider among rocks, pits, and dangerous precipices. I remember Chrysostom speaking of the loss of a soul saith, that a loss of a member of the body, is nothing to it; for saith he, if a man lose an eye, Ear, Hand, or Foot, there is another to supply its want. Omnia Deus dedit duplicia. God hath given us those members double animam verò unam, but he hath not given us two souls; that if one be lost, yet the other may be saved. Surely it were better for thee, Reader, to have every member of thy body made the seat and subject of the most exquisite racking torments, than for spiritual blindness to befall thy soul. Moreover,
Thirdly, Consider the indiscernibleness of this Judgement, to the soul on whom it lies. They know it not; no more than a man knows that he is asleep. Indeed, it's the spirit of a deep sleep, poured out upon them from the Lord. Isa. 29.10. Like that which befell Adam when God opened his side; and took out a Rib. This renders their misery the more remediless. Because ye say you see, therefore your sin remaineth, Joh. 9.41. Once more,
Fourthly, Consider the tendency and effects of it. What doth this tend to, but eternal ruin? For hereby we are cut off from the only remedy. The soul that's so blinded, can neither see sin, nor a Saviour; but like the Egyptians during the palpable darkness, sits still; and moves not after its own recovery. And as ruin is that to which it tends, so in order thereto, it renders all the ordinances and duties under which that soul comes altogether useless, and ineffectual to its salvation. He comes to the word, and sees others melted by it, but to him it signifies nothing. O what a heavy stroke of God is this! most wretched is their case, to whom Jesus Christ will not apply this eye salve; that they may see. Did you but understand the misery of such a state, if Christ should say to you as he did to the blind man, Matth. 20.33. What wilt thou that I shall do for thee? you would return, as he did; Lord that my eyes may be opened.
Judge what a sad and dangerous state such a soul is in. Just like a fiery high metled Horse, whose eyes are out, furiously carrying his rider among rocks, pits, and dangerous precipices. I remember Chrysostom speaking of the loss of a soul saith, that a loss of a member of the body, is nothing to it; for saith he, if a man lose an eye, Ear, Hand, or Foot, there is another to supply its want. Omnia Deus dedit duplicia. God hath given us those members double animam verò unam, but he hath not given us two souls; that if one be lost, yet the other may be saved. Surely it were better for thee, Reader, to have every member of thy body made the seat and subject of the most exqu•site racking torments, than for spiritual blindness to befall thy soul. Moreover,
Thirdly, Consider the indiscernableness of this Iudgement, to the soul on whom it lies. They know it not; no more than a man knows that he is asleep. Indeed, it's the spirit of a deep sleep, poured out upon them from the Lord. Isa. 29.10. Like that which befel Adam when God opened his side; and took out a Rib. This renders their misery the more remediless. Because ye say you see, therefore your sin remaineth, Joh. 9.41. Once more,
Fourthly, Consider the tendency and effects of it. What doth this tend to, but eternal ruine? For hereby we are cut off from the only remedy. The soul that's so blinded, can neither see sin, nor a Saviour; but like the Aegyptians during the palpable darkness, sits still; and moves not after its own recovery. And as ruine is that to which it tends, so in order thereto, it renders all the ordinances and duties under which that soul comes altogether useless, and ineffectual to its salvation. He comes to the word, and sees others melted by it, but to him it signifies nothing. O what a heavy stroke of God is this! most wretched is their case, to whom Jesus Christ will not apply this eye salve; that they may see. Did you but understand the misery of such a state, if Christ should say to you as he did to the blind man, Matth. 20.33. What wilt thou that I shall do for thee? you would return, as he did; Lord that my eyes may be opened.
