Look we at the Work it self, There is also a depth of 1infinite wisdom in this Dispensation to bring that about in many hearts, and that by this means, and that with most success the Lord suffers many to go to a great excess of sin, before he lays hold upon them, or seems to take them to task, that the grossness of the evils might make way for their more easy conviction; and so for the entry of the Word upon their souls, and their subjection to the power and evidence thereof. Men or Hypocrites of a smooth refined carriage, when they carry a conformity in their course to the ways of Godliness, and have strength of carnal reason to make the best of an unblameable life, it's hard for any to come within them, either to pass a Sentence of their present condition, because love hopes the best, when it can bring no evidence of the contrary evil, much less to persuade their estate is unsafe ⟨p. 297⟩and not sincere; but when the Lord lets loose Satan, or some loathsome lusts upon them, that they become scandalous and notoriously […], and their […] appears in their fore-heads, then they yield to go out of the Camp, and confess they are unclean. As the Physician when he would cure the cold Palsy, he is content to cast his Patient into a burning Fever, because he can tell how to come the better to the Cure. So here, our Saviour wisheth, Rev. 3. 17. I would thou wert either hot or cold, because then he could tell how to deal with her; if either truly good, he would encourage; if openly naught, he would then convince her, he knew how to apply the means, and she would be content to receive it; but when she conceives her self rich, she will receive nothing; wise, she will hear nothing. So I have known some in experience, that would take it in indignation that any should question their Grace, until the Lord left them to some foul falls, gross cozenage, scandalous drunkenness, &c. that hath made them go deeper, &c.
Look we at the Work it self, There is also a depth of 1infinite wisdom in this Dispensation to bring that about in many hearts, and that by this means, and that with most success the Lord suffers many to go to a great excess of sin, before he laies hold upon them, or seems to take them to task, that the grossness of the evils might make way for their more easie conviction; and so for the entry of the Word upon their souls, and their subjection to the power and evidence thereof. Men or Hypocrites of a smooth refined carriage, when they carry a conformity in their course to the waies of Godliness, and have strength of carnal reason to make the best of an unblameable life, it's hard for any to come within them, either to pass a Sentence of their present condition, because love hopes the best, when it can bring no evidence of the contrary evil, much less to perswade their estate is unsafe ⟨p. 297⟩and not sincere; but when the Lord lets loose Satan, or some loathsom lusts upon them, that they become scandalous and notoriously 〈…〉, and their 〈…〉 appears in their fore-heads, then they yield to go out of the Camp, and confess they are unclean. As the Physitian when he would cure the cold Palsey, he is content to cast his Patient into a burning Feaver, because he can tel how to come the better to the Cure. So here, our Savior wisheth, Rev. 3. 17. I would thou wert either hot or cold, because then he could tel how to deal with her; if either truly good, he would encourage; if openly naught, he would then convince her, he knew how to apply the means, and she would be content to receive it; bu when she conceives her selfrich, she wil receive nothing; wise, she wil hear nothing. So I have known some in experience, that would take it in indignation that any should question their Grace, until the Lord left them to some foul fals, gross cozenage, scandalous drunkenness, &c. that hath made them go deeper, &c.
- 1Reas. 4.
