A fourth volume containing one hundred and fifty sermons on several texts of Scripture…

A •ense of them […] not only lawful, but necessary. The two Extremes must be both a•••ded, Slighting, and Fainting▪ Heb. 12.5. My Son, despi•e not th•u the chastening of the Lord, nor faint •hen thou art rebuked of •im. Without […] sense of them, they cannot be improved; neither do we show that Reverence that is due to our Father's Anger, as not to be afflicted and humbled under his mighty Hand. Numb. 12.14. If her Father had spi• in her Face▪ should she not be ashamed seven days? Some kind of Spirits are stupid and senseless, neither affected with Sin, nor Misery. Not with Sin; tho they provoke God to his very Face with their continual brutish Practices, yet they never lay their Condition to heart▪ Conscience is feared, or at least benumbed; they are past feeling, Eph. 4.19. Shall we say to these, Let not your Hearts be troubled? No, these usurp a Peace and Exemption from Trouble, as if Joy and Comfort were their Portion. The only way for such is to be troubled, that their Trouble may prepare them for Comfort. Christ came to save Sinners, but they are penitent and broken-hearted Sinners, that are weary and heavy-laden under the Burden of Sin; Mat. 11.28. Come unto me all ye that labour, and are heavy-laden, and I will give you Rest. Not the Heart that is whole, but the Heart that is wounded. These he calleth, and calleth to Repentance; Mat. 9.13. I came not to call the Righteous, but Sinners to Repentance. Not with Misery, neither with their Fathers Anger, nor their Brethren's Misery: