Secondly, Their misery, they are said to be those that perish. That beareth three senses. (1.) That they are worthy to perish, because they do not use care and diligence to understand their duty, being blinded by their worldly affections. That is the mildest se••e we can put upon it, they deserve to perish. No man perisheth but for his own fault, Hos. 13.9. O Israel thou hast destroyed thy self, but in me is thy help. Now they that will yield to the deceivableness of unrighteousness, justly perish▪ though there be deceit in the Case , yet there is unrighteousness in the Case also. Fraudulent dealing should not so cozen us, as apparent unrighteousness, o• unfaithfulness •o Christ should warn us. 2. That they are in an actual state of perdition and unless they ⟨p. 180⟩come out of it, are undone for ever. The Apostles when they propounded Christian Doctrine at first, did use this term to distinguish impenitent unbelievers, from those that received the Gospel, as 1 Cor. 1.18. The preaching of the Cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us that are saved, the power of God. So 2 Cor. 2.15. We are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that perish, and in them that are saved. So he distinguisheth them that receive the Faith, and them that receive it not; penitent believers are those that are saved, but impenitent unbelievers are those that perish; that is, are for the present, during their infidelity and impenitency, in an actual state of perdition. So 2 Cor. 4.3. If our Gospel be hid, it is hid to those that are lost: that i•, who are for the present in a lost condition. We know not Gods secret decrees, but those that refuse and oppose the only remedy, to all appearance are lost men. Now this he applieth to those that yield to Antichrist, showing them that though they are Christians, yet they have no more benefit the Gospel than Infidels, they receive not the truth, these revolt from the owning of it upon carnal reasons. And therefore it is foretold, Rev. 14.9, 10. If any man worship the Beast and his Image, and receive his mark in his forehead, and in his hand, the same shall drink of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture, into the Cup of his indignation, ⟨p. 181⟩and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone, in the presence of the holy Angels, and the presence of the Lamb.
Secondly, Their misery, they are said to be those that perish. That beareth three senses. (1.) That they are worthy to perish, because they do not use care and diligence to understand their duty, being blinded by their wordly affections. That is the mildest se••e we can put upon it, they deserve to perish. No man perisheth but for his own fault, Hos. 13.9. O Israel thou hast ••stroyed thy self, but in me is thy help. Now they that will yield to the deceivableness of unrighteousness, justly perish▪ though there be de•eit in the Case , yet there is unrighteousness in the Case also. Fraudulent dealing should not so cozen us, as apparent unrighteousness, o• unfaithfulness •o Christ should warn us. 2. That they are in an actual state of perdition and unl•ss they ⟨p. 180⟩come out of it, are undone for ever. The Apostles when they propounded Ch•istian Doctrine at first, did use this term to distinguish impenitent unbelievers, from those that received the Gospel, as 1 Cor. 1.18. The preaching of the Cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us that are saved, the power of God. So 2 Cor. 2.15. We are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that perish, and in th•m that are saved. So he distinguisheth them that receive the Faith, and them that receive it not; pe•itent believers are those that are saved, but impenitent unbelievers are those that perish; that is, are for the present, during their infidelity and impenitency, in an actual state of perdition. So 2 Cor. 4.3. If our Gospel be hid, it is hid to those that are lost: that i•, who are for the present in a lost condition. We know not Gods secret decrees, but those that refuse and oppose the only remedy, to all appearance are lost men. Now this he applye•h to those that yield to Antichrist, shewing them that though they are Christians, yet they have no more benefit the Gospel than Infidels, they receive not the truth, these revolt from the owning of it upon carnal reasons. And therefore it is foretold,
