The application of redemption

There is no good he can receive from any means remaining §2in this blindness. Counsels do not take place; […] cannot persuade, Judgments, Threatenings do no awaken, Admonitions, Exhortation are of no force, they are beyond the reach of all these, they cannot come ⟨p. 93⟩at them, therefore cannot work upon them, But as in some desperate diseases when they are come to the greatest extremity, as in a Quinsy, when it hath swelled beyond measure, that speaking and swallowing are wholly hindered, each man that sees will easily conceive, and conclude, Alas, he is but a dead man, he can take nothing, therefore it's not possible he can continue. The Disease indeed is curable, but how should his Physic cure him, or his Diet nourish him, if he can take neither, there is no good to be expected, to be done, when he can take nothing that can do him good. So it is in the soul, ignorance stops the passage of the power and work of all Gods Ordinances: There is no corruption, but the means are mighty through God to relieve, if they could be taken; were the heart proud, if the Word were received and welcomed, it would humble it; if stubborn, it would meeken and calm it; if unclean, it would purge it. But ignorance stops all the passages, intercepts the work of the Word, the understanding conceives it not, and the heart cannot profit by it, nor be bettered therewith.

There is no good he can receive from any means remaining §2in this blindness. Counsels do not take place; 〈…〉 cannot perswade, Judgments, Threatnings do no awaken, Admonitions, Exhortation are of no force, they are beyond the reach of all these, they cannot come ⟨p. 93⟩at them, therefore cannot work upon them, But as in some desperate diseases when they are come to the greatest extremity, as in a Quinsie, when it hath swelled beyond measure, that speaking and swallowing are wholly hindred, each man that sees will easily conceive, and conclude, Alas, he is but a dead man, he can take nothing, therefore it's not possible he can continue. The Disease indeed is curable, but how should his Physick cure him, or his Diet nourish him, if he can take neither, there is no good to be expected, to be done, when he can take nothing that can do him good. So it is in the soul, ignorance stops the passage of the power and work of al Gods Ordinances: There is no corruption, but the means are mighty through God to relieve, if they could be taken; were the heart proud, if the Word were received and welcomed, it would humble it; if stubborn, it would meeken and calm it; if unclean, it would purge it. But ignorance stops al the passages, intercepts the work of the Word, the understanding conceives it not, and the heart cannot profit by it, nor be bettered therewith.