2 Some make many fair promises of obedience, but it is on the Rack, and in the furnace, or as Scholars under the Rod. O if I might but recover this sickness, 1or be eased of this affliction, I would then be a new man, and redeem my misspent time. And yet many of these, like Pharaoh when they have any respite, find out ways to shift and elude their own promises, and like melted metal taken out of the furnace,2 return again unto their former hardness. So a good Divine observes of the people of this Land in the time of the great sweat in King Edwards days (I wish we could find even so much in these days of calamity which we are fallen into) as long as the heat of the plague lasted, there was crying out pecan, Mercy good Lord, mercy, mercy. Then Lords, and Ladies, and people of the best sort, cried out to the Ministers, for Gods sake tell us what shall we do to avoid the wrath of God. Take these bags, pay so much to such an one whom I deceived, so much restore unto another whom in bargaining I over-reached, give so much to the poor, so much to pious uses, &c. But after the sickness was over, they were just the same men as they were before. Thus in time of trouble men are ⟨p. 89⟩apt to make many prayers, and Covenants, to cry unto God, Arise and save us, Jer. 2.27. Deliver us this time, Judg. 10.15. they inquire early after God, and flatter him with their lips, and own him as their God, and Rock of salvation, and presently start aside like a deceitful bow•. As Austin notes,3 that in times of calamity the very Heathen would flock unto the Christian Churches to be safe amongst them. And when the Lord sent Lyons amongst the Samaritans, then they sent to inquire after the manner of his worship. 2 King. 17.25, 26. Thus many mens Covenants are founded only in Terrors of conscience. They throw out their sins as a Merchant at Sea his rich commodities in a Tempest, but in a calm wish for them again. Neither do they throw away the property over them, but only the dangerous possession of them. This is not a full, cheerful, and voluntary action, but only a languid and inconstant velleity. Contrary to that largeness of heart, and fixed disposition which Christs own people bring unto his service, as David and the Nobles of Israel offered willingly and with joy unto the Lord. 1 Chron. 29.17.
2 Some make many faire promises of obedience, but it is on the Rack, and in the furnace, or as Schollers under the Rod. O if I might but recover this sicknesse, 1or be eased of this affliction, I would then be a new man, and redeeme my misspent time. And yet many of these, like Pharaoh when they have any respite, find out wayes to shift and elude their owne promises, and like melted metall taken out of the furnace,2 returne againe unto their former hardnesse. So a good Divine observes of the people of this Land in the time of the great sweate in King Edwards dayes (I wish we could find even so much in these dayes of calamitie which wee are fallen into) as long as the heat of the plague lasted, there was crying out peccav•, Mercie good Lord, mercy, mercy. Then Lords, and Ladies, and people of the best sort, cried out to the Ministers, for Gods sake tell us what shal we do to avoid the wrath of God. Take these bags, pay so much to such an one whom I deceived, so much restore unto another whom in bargaining I over-reached, give so much to the poore, so much to pious uses, &c. But after the sicknesse was over, they were just the same men as they were before. Thus in time of trouble men are ⟨p. 89⟩apt to make many prayers, and Covenants, to cry unto God, Arise and save us, Ier. 2.27. Deliver us this time, Judg. 10.15. they i•quire early after God, and flatter him with their lips, and own him as their God, and Rock of salvation, and presently start aside like a deceitfull bow•. As Austin notes,3 that in times of calamitie the very Heathen would flock unto the Christian Churches to bee safe amongst them. And when the Lord sent Lyons amongst the Samaritanes, then they sent to inquire after the manner of his worship. 2 King. 17.25, 26. Thus many mens Covenants are founded onely in Terrours of conscience. They throw out their sins as a Merchant at Sea his rich commodities in a Tempest, but in a calme wish for them againe. Neither doe they throw away the property over them, but onely the dangerous p•ssession of them. This is not a full, chearfull, and voluntary action, but onely a languid and inconstant velleitie. Contrary to that largenesse of heart, and sixed disposition which Christs own people bring unto his service, as David and the Nobles of Israel offered willingly and with joy unto the Lord.
- 1Sect. 13.
- 2Dike of the deceitfulness of the Heart, c. 20Dike of the deceitfulnes of the Heart, c. 20
- 3Quos vides petul••ter & procaci••r insul•are servis Christi sunt, in tis plurimi qui illum interitum clademque non evasissent, nisi servos Christi se esse finxissent. De civit. Dei. li. 1. ca. 1. Ejecta in naufragi• dominorum adhuc sunt, quia non eo animo ejiciuntur quod eas habere nolunt, sed ut periculum effugiant. ff. lib. 41. L. 9. Sect. 8. & L. 44 Semisauci•m bac atque bac jactare voluntatem. Aug. confess. l. 8. c. 8Quos vides petul••ter & procaci••r insul•are servis Christi sunt, in tis plurimi qui illum interitum clademque non evasissent, nisi servos Christi se esse finxissent. De civit. Dei. li. 1. ca. 1. Ejecta in naufragi• dominorum adhuc sunt, quia non eo animo ejiciuntur quod eas habere nolunt, sed ut periculum effugiant. ff. lib. 41. L. 9. Sect. 8. & L. 44 Semisauci•m bac atque bac jactare voluntatem. Aug. confes. l. 8. c. 8
