A44342:1270
The application of redemption
The application of redemption by the effectual work of the word, and spirit of Christ, for the bringing home of lost sinners to God ... by that faithful and known servant of Christ, Mr. Thomas Hooker ...
London: printed by Peter Cole, 1656
The Application of Redemption, by the effectual work of the Word an… › Book 10: The Tenth Book.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
A fourth ground of mistake is because men judg of the evil of their sins by the patience and long suffering of God, which he extends towards them in the midst of their deservings; that because they are not now troubled they think they shall never be plagued, because that judgment is not presently executed it will never be inflicted. Out of a secret kind of Atheism and desperate slighting of the truth of God, in the vileness of their sins which it discovers, and the judgments it denounceth. This was their guise in Psal. 50. 21. I held my tongue and said nothing, and thou thoughtest wickedly that I was such a one as thy self; but I will reprove thee and set thy sins in order before thee. Its so at this day, men judge Gods connivance and forbearance a kind of allowance, and because he forbears to reprove them, that therefore he will never come into judgment against them; when men see the way of the wicked prosper, and them exalted that rebelliously transgress, they conclude sin is not so dangerous as Ministers would bear men in hand, nor God so severe against it or them. And therefore they look at the threatenings of scripture as words of Course used as in way of policy that God only would awe and scare men but doth not purpose to Condemn men. Why do ye not see (say they) that the most base on earth have commonly the best portion and largest allowance of the most pleasing Contents? do not their Breasts run full of Milk, and their Bones full of Marrow? do not their Eyes stand out with fatness, and have they not more than their hearts desire? Psal 73. when such as walk with most exactness are fed with bread of sorrow and water of affliction as their ⟨p. 71⟩constant diet. We see no such danger in sin, nor no such indignation the Lord bears against it. Upon this ground it was that the profane, in Mal. 3. 15. make open protestation against the practice of Godliness, We count the proud happy (say they) The strength of this Temptation took Asaph aside, and almost turned him out of the way, Psal. 73. 2. when he saw the prosperity of the wicked, and the Lords bounty and forbearance, he thought he had cleansed his heart, and washed his hands in vain. And it was too hard for all the art he had to help himself. The wise man makes it a conclusion, which is settled in the hearts of all the sons of men beyond all doubt,