THAT you may be warned, take notice that the Signs or Symptoms of the approach of such a season, of such an irrecoverable condition, are (1.) a long continuance in the practice of any known sin. ⟨p. 17⟩There are bounds of divine Patience. The long suffering of God for a time waits for Repentance, 1 Pet. iij. 20. 2 Pet. iij. 9. But there is a time, when it doth only endure Vessels of Wrath, fitted for Destruction, Rom. ix. 22. which is commonly after a long continuance in known sin. (2.) When Convictions have been digested, and Warnings despised. God doth not usually deal thus with Men, until they have rejected the means of their Deliverance. There is a Generation indeed, who from their youth up do live in a contempt of God; such are those proud sinners whom the Psalmist describes, Psal. x. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, &c. There are seldom any tokens of the going forth of the Decree against this sort of Men. The appearing evidences of it, are their adding drunkenness unto thirst; one kind of sin unto another, making a visible Progress in sinning, adding boasting and a profane Contempt of all things Sacred, unto their Course in Sin. But ordinarily those that are in danger of this judicial Hardness, have had warnings and convictions, which made some impression on them; but are now left without any Calls and Rebukes, or at least any sense of them. (3). When Men contract the ⟨p. 18⟩guilt of such Sins, as seem to entrench on the unpardonable sin against the Holy Ghost. Such as proud, contemptuous, malicious Reproaches of the ways of God, of Holiness, of the Spirit of Christ and his Gospel. This sort of Persons are frequently marked in the Scripture, as those who at least are nigh unto a final and fatal Rejection. (4.) A voluntary relinquishment of the means of Grace, and Conversion unto God, which men have enjoyed. And this is commonly accompanied with an hatred of the word, and those by whom it is dispensed. Such Persons God frequently, and that visibly, gives up in an irrecoverable way unto the dominion of Sin. He declares that he will have no more to do with them. (5.) The resolved choice of wicked, profane, unclean scoffing Society. It is very rare that any are recovered from that snare. And many other Signs there are of the near approach of such an hardening Judgment, as shall give up men everlastingly to the service of Sin. Oh that poor Sinners would awake, before it be too late.
THAT you may be warned, take notice that the Signs or Symptoms of the approach of such a season, of such an irrecoverable condition, are (1.) a long continuance in the practice of any known sin. ⟨p. 17⟩There are bounds of divine Patience. The long suffering of God for a time waits for Repentance, 1 Pet. iij. 20. 2 Pet. iij. 9. But there is a time, when it doth only endure Vessels of Wrath, fitted for Destruction, Rom. ix. 22. which is commonly after a long continuance in known sin. (2.) When Convictions have been digested, and Warnings despised. God doth not usually deal thus with Men, until they have rejected the means of their Deliverance. There is a Generation indeed, who from their youth up do live in a contempt of God; such are those proud sinners whom the Psalmist describes, Psal. x. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, &c. There are seldom any tokens of the going forth of the Decree against this sort of Men. The appearing evidences of it, are their adding drunkenness unto thirst; one kind of sin unto another, making a visible Progress in sinning, adding boasting and a profane Contempt of all things Sacred, unto their Course in Sin. But ordinarily those that are in danger of this judicial Hardness, have had warnings and convictions, which made some impression on them; but are now left without any Calls and Rebukes, or at least any sense of them. (3). When Men contract the ⟨p. 18⟩guilt of such Sins, as seem to entrench on the unpardonable sin against the Holy Ghost. Such as proud, contemptuous, malicious Reproaches of the ways of God, of Holiness, of the Spirit of Christ and his Gospel. This sort of Persons are frequently marked in the Scripture, as those who at least are nigh unto a final and fatal Rejection. (4.) A voluntary relinquishment of the means of Grace, and Conversion unto God, which men have enjoy'd. And this is commonly accompanied with an hatred of the word, and those by whom it is dispensed. Such Persons God frequently, and that visibly, gives up in an irrecoverable way unto the dominion of Sin. He declares that he will have no more to do with them. (5.) The resolved choise of wicked, profane, unclean scoffing Society. It is very rare that any are recovered from that snare. And many other Signs there are of the near approach of such an hardning Judgment, as shall give up men everlastingly to the service of Sin. Oh that poor Sinners would awake, before it be too late.
