3. Hence it follows that they are strong fears, because the almighty hand of the Spirit sets them on, and shakes the soul; they are not weak fears which a man can shake off, or cure by weak hopes, sleep or business, &c. like some winds that shake the tree, but never blow it down: but these fears cast down the tallest Cedar, and appal the heart, and cool the courage and boldness of the most impenitent and audacious sinner. The Spirit presenting the greatest ⟨p. 70⟩evil in eternal separation from God: hence no evil in this world is so dreadful as this, I had better never been borne then to bear it (saith the soul) and hence casts off all other thoughts,1 and cannot be quiet; and hence it is that these fears force a man to fly and seek out for a better condition. A man like Lot lingers in his sin, but these fears like the Angel, drive him violently out, the Lord saying to him, A way for thy life, lest thou perish with the world, for thy sins are come up to heaven, thou mayest dye before one day be at an end, and then what will become of thee? Ah thou sinful wretched man! may not the Lord justly do it? are not thy sins grown so great and many, that they are an intolerable burden for the soul of God to bear any longer? and hence you shall observe, if the soul after sad fears grows bold & careless again, the Spirit pursues it with more cause of fear, and now the soul cries out, Did the Lord ever elect thee? Christ shed his blood to save his people from their sins, thou livest yet in thy sins, did he ever shed his blood for thee? thou hast sinned against conscience, after thou hast been enlightened and fallen back again, hast not thou therefore committed the impardonable sin? thou hast had many a fair season of seeking God, but hast dallied and dreamt away thy time; is not the day of grace therefore now past? ⟨p. 71⟩it is true, the Lord is yet patient and bountiful, and lets thee live on common mercy, but is not all this to aggravate thy condemnation against that great and terrible day of the Lord which is at hand? are there not better men in hell then thou art that never committed the like sin? thus the Spirit pursues with strong fears, till proud man falls down to the dust before God. The soul is now under fears, not above them;
3. Hence it followes that they are strong feares, because the almighty hand of the Spirit sets them on, and shakes the soule; they are not weak feares which a man can shake off, or cure by weake hopes, sleep or businesse, &c. like some winds that shake the tree, but never blow it downe: but these feares cast down the tallest Cedar, and appall the heart, and coole the courage and boldnesse of the most impenitent and audacious sinner. The Spirit presenting the greatest ⟨p. 70⟩evill in eternall separation from God: hence no evill in this world is so dreadfull as this, I had better never been borne then to beare it (saith the soule) and hence casts off all other thoughts,1 and cannot be quiet; and hence it is that these feares force a man to fly and seek out for a better condition. A man like Lot lingers in his sinne, but these feares like the Angell, drive him violently out, the Lord saying to him, A way for thy life, lest thou perish with the world, for thy sins are come up to heaven, thou maist dye before one day be at an end, and then what will become of thee? Ah thou sinfull wretched man! may not the Lord justly doe it? are not thy sins grown so great and many, that they are an intollerable burden for the soule of God to beare any longer? and hence you shall observe, if the soul after sad fears grows bold & carel•sse againe, the Spirit pursues it with more cause of feare, and now the soule cries out, Did the Lord ever elect thee? Christ shed his blood to save his people from their sins, thou livest yet in thy sins, did hee ever shed his blood for thee? thou hast sinned against conscience, after thou hast been inlightned and fallen back againe, hast not thou therefore committed the impardonable sin? thou hast had many a faire season of seeking God, but hast dallyed and dreamt away thy time; is not the day of grace therefore now past? ⟨p. 71⟩it is true, the Lord is yet patient and bountifull, and lets thee live on common mercy, but is not all this to aggravate thy condemnation against that great and terrible day of the Lord which is at hand? are there not better men in hell then thou art that never committed the like sin? thus the Spirit pursues with strong feares, till proud man falls down to the dust before God. The soule is now under feares, not above them;
- 1Amos 3.8.
