The blessedness of the righteous discoursed from Psal. 17, 15 /The blessednesse of the righteous discoursed from Psal. 17, 15 /

that (as the Toads venom offends not it self) their loathsome wickedness, which all good men detest, is a pleasure to them, and while 'tis as the poison of Asps under their lips, they call it as a dainty bit, revolve it in their thoughts with delight. Their wickedness speaks it self out to the very hearts of others, while it never affects their own; ¹and is found out to be hateful while they still continue flattering themselves. And because they are without spot in their own eyes; they adventure so high, as to presume themselves so, in the pure eyes of God too; and instead of designing to be like God, they already imagine him suc• a one as themselves. Hence their allotment of time (in the whole of it,² ⟨p. 205⟩the Lord knows, little enough) for the working out of their salvation, spends a pace; while they do not so much as understand their business. Their measured hour is almost out; an immense Eternity is coming on upon them; and lo they stand as men that cannot find their hands. Urge them to the speedy serious endeavour of an heart-change; earnestly to intend the business of regeneration, of becoming new creatures; they seem to understand it as little, as if they were spoken to in an unknown tongue; and are in the like posture with the confounded builders of Babel, they know not what we mean, or would put them upon. They wonder what we would have them do. They are (say they) Orthodox Christians. They believe all the Articles of the Christian Creed. They detest all Heresy, and false Doctrine; They are no strangers to the house of God, but diligently attend the enjoined Solemnities of Public Worship: Some possibly can say they are sober, just, Charitable, Peaceable; and others that can boast less of their Virtues yet, say they, are sorry for their sins, and pray God to forgive them; And if we urge them concerning their Translation from the state of Nature, to that of Grace; their becoming new creatures, their implantation into Christ. They say they have been Baptized, and therein regenerate, and what would we have more?

that (as the Toads venome offends not it self) their loathsom wickedness, which all good men detest, is a pleasure to them, and while 'tis as the poison of Asps under their lips, they call it as a daintie bit, revolve it in their thoughts with delight. Their wickedness speakes it self out to the very hearts of others, while it never affects their own;