brook least that company that seemed most to satisfy them, and become bitter, harsh, sharp, violent, in speaking evil of those persons and things that were once approved by them; and lastly, some miserable and fearful end (wherein they are either swallowed up of horrible despair, or sold over to the most stony hardness that may be) doth rent them from the land of the living, ⟨p. 7⟩and send them down to hell. And so is fulfilled that of our Saviour in the sixth verse, The branches that abide not in him, are cast forth and wither, and gathered, and cast into the fire and burnt. Now the means of cutting them off, are many, even all things that do befall them: for all works together to the ruin of them that sell themselves over into the hands of sin, as well as for the good of them that work righteousness: but chiefly the Word of God it self (a two-edged sword) because they will not yield unto it, that it might cut off their corruptions from their souls, becomes a savour of death, a weapon of vengeance, to cut off their souls from God: for by their often resisting it, and much setting of their wits and consciences upon the tenters, to shift and dally with it, they become blinder and blinder, and harder and harder, till at length they be sold over unto utter blindness, and given clean into the power of sin and Satan, from which they seemed once to be redeemed. And thus was Judas cut off, as the Scriptures show us. He was first a thief, allowing himself in his covetousness and purloining, and not heeding the checks of his own heart, which, every man must needs know, would be apt to be moving within him, being a person of so great knowledge as he was, and after he proved a very devil, when he dipped his hands into the warm and innocent blood of his heavenly Master, and well-known Saviour. The Lord, to punish his guile, in not opposing his covetousness and falsehood, put ⟨p. 8⟩him clean up into the hands of the devil, and his own both rage and lucre, till Satan had possessed him, with a full purpose of turning on the Pharisees side, (where he saw more likelihood of rising) and of making himself a fair way into their favours, by selling his Master unto them for a little money.
brooke least that company that seemed most to satisfie them, and become bitter, harsh, sharpe, violent, in speaking euill of those persons and things that were once approoued by them; and lastly, some miserable and fearefull end (wherein they are either swallowed vp of horrible despaire, or sold ouer to the most stony hardnesse that may be) doth rent them from the land of the liuing, ⟨p. 7⟩and send them downe to hell. And so is fulfilled that of our Sauiour in the sixth verse, The branches that abide not in him, are cast foorth and wither, and gathered, and cast into the fire and burnt. Now the meanes of cutting them off, are many, euen all things that doe befall them: for all workes together to the ruine of them that sell themselues ouer into the hands of sinne, as well as for the good of them that worke righteousnesse: but chiefly the Word of God it selfe (a two-edged sword) because they will not yeeld vnto it, that it might cut off their corruptions from their soules, becomes a sauour of death, a weapon of vengeance, to cut off their soules from God: for by their often resisting it, and much setting of their wits and consciences vpon the tenters, to shift and dally with it, they become blinder and blinder, and harder and harder, till at length they bee sold ouer vnto vtter blindnesse, and giuen cleane into the power of sinne and Satan, from which they seemed once to be redeemed. And thus was Iudas cut off, as the Scriptures shew vs. Hee was first a thiefe, allowing himselfe in his couetousnesse and purloyning, and not heeding the checkes of his owne heart, which, euery man must needs know, would be apt to be moouing within him, being a person of so great knowledge as he was, and after he prooued a very deuill, when he dipt his hands into the warme and innocent blood of his heauenly Master, and well-knowne Sauiour. The Lord, to punish his guile, in not opposing his couetousnesse and falshood, put ⟨p. 8⟩him cleane vp into the hands of the deuill, and his owne both rage and lucre, till Satan had possessed him, with a full purpose of turning on the Pharises side, (where he saw more likelihood of rising) and of making himselfe a faire way into their fauours, by selling his Master vnto them for a little money.
