Another sort are such, who though they are not come to this height of profaneness […] as to slight this Work, yet they […] another way of coming to a Christ, which is as sure (as they conceive) and much more easy; They catch after Christ and comfort in him, before ever there be any breach of league with their lusts, or sad abasement of their hearts before ⟨p. 173⟩the Lord in the sight of their Natural condition. And thus as Travellers when they meet with deep ways, and soul and long lanes that are hardly passable, they make bold to cut a way for […], and break over the Fence and Hedge to avoid the […] of the travel, so they make a way of their own, not keep the Kings Road. So here, when this way of preparation is too narrow and tedious a passage, they have contrived a narrower course and compass […] their own; They will catch at a Christ, and press on for mercy and to take hold of a Christ, and not come by this coast of breaking the league with […], and renouncing the […] of any […] besides, and in a misguided mistake, they […] they have carried the cause. This was the guise of the stony ground, Matt. 13. 20. He […] received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the Word and immediately with joy receiveth it. They should first have ploughed up the stones, there should have been brokenness of heart; they should have received the Word with sorrow first, and then afterwards with joy; and therefore this sudden and disorderly coming, brings as sudden and shameful departing away; therefore it follows in the 21. verse, Yet hath be not root in himself, but dureth only for awhile, and in the time of temptation falls away. As it is with the corn upon the House top, it flourisheth and fades speedily, but no man fills his hand with it.1
Another sort are such, who though they are not come to this height of prophaneness 〈…〉 as to slight this Work, yet they 〈…〉 another way of coming to a Christ, which is as sure (as they conceive) and much more easie; They catch after Christ and comfort in him, before ever there be any breach of league with their lusts, or sad abasement of their hearts before ⟨p. 173⟩the Lord in the sight of their Natural condition. And thus as Travellers when they meet with deep waies, and soul and long lanes that are hardly passable, they make bold to cut a way for 〈…〉, and break over the Fence and Hedg to avoid the 〈…〉 of the travel, so they make a way of their own, not keep the Kings Road. So here, when this way of preparation is too narrow and tedious a passage, they have contrived a narrower course and compass 〈…〉 their own; They will catch at a Christ, and press on for mercy and to take hold of a Christ, and not come by this coast of breaking the league with 〈…〉, and renouncing the 〈…〉 of any 〈…〉 besides, and in a misguided mistake, they 〈…〉 they have carried the cause. This was the guise of the stony ground, Matt. 13. 20. He 〈…〉 received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the Word and immediately with joy receiveth it. They should first have ploughed up the stones, there should have been brokenness of heart; they should have received the Word with sorrow first, and then afterwards with joy; and therefore this sudden and disorderly coming, brings as sudden and shameful departing away; therefore it follows in the 21. verse, Yet hath be not root in himself, but dureth only for awhile, and in the time of temptation falls away. As it is with the corn upon the House top, it flourisheth and fades speedily, but no man fills his hand with it.1
- 1Object.
