The application of redemption

2 As thus ignorance misleads a mans whole course that it succeeds not, so it perverts the power of all means that they profit not, misapplies all the means he hath, and so spoils them and his own peace and comfort also insomuch that his corruptions grow more strong and incorporated into him and he more unwilling to part with them, and that's the fruit of ignorance; the promises and comforts of the Gospel which do not appertain ⟨p. 90⟩to him, he catcheth greedily at them, as a portion provided for […] and goes away with that dream, and swells unmeasurably […] presumption and self-confidence; Are not all the Congregation holy? what needs this severing and differencing of men? what are […] who would be the only Saints? are not we all sinners, and Christ dyed for such and for us as well as for them? the threatenings and curses which the Lord denounceth against the ungodly […] cast them away with a fearless contempt, as such as do in no wise touch them or concern […] particulars, and therefore should not trouble them; tush say they we have made a league with death and a covenant with Hell, and when the destroying scourge passeth over, it shall not come near to them, Isay. 28. 15. yea they do commit evil, and yet say they are delivered by the Lord, Jer. 7. Thus they grow […] and hard hearted, the wholesome counsels and directions of the word, which should be light unto their feet, and a discovery of all their failings, they slight the exact attendance thereunto as that which God will not exact at their hands, because in many things we sin all, and so become careless or negligent as though they should not answer, and the Lord would not exact what they cannot do. Its with an ignorant sinner in the midst of all means as with a sick man remaining in an Apothecaries shop, full of choicest […] in the darkest night: though there be the choicest of all receipts at hand, and he may take what he needs, yet because he cannot see what he takes, and how to use them, he may kill himself or increase his distempers, but never cure any disease: so here with an ignorant person, he enjoys all means, and yet abuses them, he may increase his corruptions, but not reform them, his heart grows more hard, and his corruptions more strong, but he cannot in reason expect any help.