2. Do not run into any wilful and known sin, as if you would try, how far the Patience ⟨p. 116⟩of God will go; nor abuse his fatherly goodness, by going on still in your Trespasses. When a man will try the patience of God without any regard of his Threatenings, or the instances of his Wrath, which are before his eyes, he puts it to the proof, whether God will punish him, yea or no. Remember you are no match for him, Isa. 45. 9. Woe unto him, that striveth with his maker; let the potsherds strive with the potsherds of the earth; As Abner said to Asahel, 2 Sam. 2. 21, 22. Turn thee aside to thy right hand, or to thy left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his Armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him. And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me, wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? So if you will needs be tempting and trying Conclusions, and making Experiments, let men meddle with their Match, those who are equal to themselves, not challenging one infinitely above them; let frail man cope with man, but let him take heed of meddling with God, Ezek. 22. 14. Can thine heart endure, or can thine hands be strong in the days that I shall deal with thee? Many foolish people say, as those in the Prophet, It is an evil, and I must bear it; endure it as well as I can. What, endure the loss of ⟨p. 117⟩Heaven! endure the Wrath of the Almighty God! If Rachel could not endure the loss of her Children, nor Jacob the supposed loss of Joseph, but says he, I will go down into the grave unto my son, mourning, Gen. 37. 35. If Ahithophel could not endure the rejectment of his counsel, and Haman could not endure to be slighted by Mordecai, and many cannot endure the loss of a beloved Child; how wilt thou endure the loss of eternal Happiness! The Disciples wept bitterly when Paul said, ye shall see my face no more, Acts 20. 38. What will ye do then, when God shall say, ye shall see my face no more? Ah Wretch! how canst thou endure the Wrath of God! Thou canst not endure to be scorched a few days with feverish Flames, thou canst not endure the acute pains of Stone and Gout, when God armeth the humours of thine own body against thee, thou canst not endure the scorching of a little Gunpowder casually blown up, thou canst not endure the pains of a broken Arm or Leg;
2. Do not run into any wilful and known sin, as if you would try, how far the Patience ⟨p. 116⟩of God will go; nor abuse his fatherly goodness, by going on still in your Trespasses. When a man will try the patience of God without any regard of his Threatnings, or the instances of his Wrath, which are before his eyes, he puts it to the proof, whether God will punish him, yea or no. Remember you are no match for him, Isa. 45. 9. Wo unto him, that striveth with his maker; let the potsherds strive with the potsherds of the earth; As Abner said to Asahel, 2 Sam. 2. 21, 22. Turn thee aside to thy right hand, or to thy left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his Armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him. And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me, wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? So if you will needs be tempting and trying Conclusions, and making Experiments, let men meddle with their Match, those who are equal to themselves, not challenging one infinitely above them; let frail man cope with man, but let him take heed of medling with God, Ezek. 22. 14. Can thine heart endure, or can thine hands be strong in the days that I shall deal with thee? Many foolish people say, as those in the Prophet, It is an evil, and I must bear it; endure it as well as I can. What, endure the loss of ⟨p. 117⟩Heaven! endure the Wrath of the Almighty God! If Rachel could not endure the loss of her Children, nor Iacob the supposed loss of Ioseph, but sayes he, I will go down into the grave unto my son, mourning, Gen. 37. 35. If Achitophel could not endure the rejectment of his counsel, and Haman could not endure to be slighted by Mordecai, and many cannot endure the loss of a beloved Child; how wilt thou endure the loss of eternal Happiness! The Disciples wept bitterly when Paul said, ye shall see my face no more, Acts 20. 38. What will ye do then, when God shall say, ye shall see my face no more? Ah Wretch! how canst thou endure the Wrath of God! Thou canst not endure to be scorched a few dayes with feavorish Flames, thou canst not endure the acute pains of Stone and Gout, when God armeth the humours of thine own body against thee, thou canst not endure the scorching of a little Gunpowder casually blown up, thou canst not endure the pains of a broken Arm or Leg;
