First, it is a state of alienation from God. Ephes. 2.12. Ye were without Christ, being aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel, strangers from the Covenant of Promise, &c. Such a one hath no more to do with any Covenant-promise, then he that lives at Rome hath to do with the Charter of London, which is ⟨p. 55⟩the birth-right of its own Denizens, not Strangers. He is without God in the world, he can claim no more protection from God, then an out-lawed subject from his Prince; If any mischief befalls him, the mends is in his own hands, whereas God hath his hedge of special providence about his Saints, and the devil, though his spite be most at them, dares not come upon Gods ground to touch any of them, without particular leave. Now what a deplored condition is that, wherein a soul is left to the wide world, in the midst of legions of lusts and devils, to be rent and torn l•ke a silly hare among a pack of hounds, and no God to call them off? Let God leave a people, though never so warlike, presently they lose their wits, cannot find their hands; A company of children or wounded men may rise up, and chase them out of their fenced Cities, because God is not with them; which made Caleb and Joshua pacify the mutinous Israelites at the tidings of giants and walled cities with this; They are bread for us, their defence is departed from them. How much more must that soul be as bread to Satan, that hath no defence from the Almighty? Take men of the greatest parts, natural or acquired accomplishments, who only want an union with Christ, and renewing grace from Christ: O what fools doth the devil make of them, leading them at his pleasure, some to one lust, some to another; the proudest of them all is slave to one or other, though it be to the ruining of body and soul for ever, Where lies the mystery, that men of such parts and wisdom, should debase themselves to such drudgery work of hell? even here, they are in a state of alienation from God, and no more able of themselves to break the devils prison, then a slave ro run from his chain.
First, it is a state of alienation from God. Ephes. 2.12. Ye were without Christ, being aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel, strangers from the Covenant of Promise, &c. Such a one hath no more to do with any Covenant-promise, then he that lives at Rome hath to do with the Charter of London, which is ⟨p. 55⟩the birth-right of its own Denisons, not Strangers. He is without God in the world, he can claim no more protection from God, then an out-law'd subject from his Prince; If any mischief befalls him, the mends is in his own hands, whereas God hath his hedge of special providence about his Saints, and the devil, though his spite be most at them, dares not come upon Gods ground to touch any of them, without particular leave. Now what a deplored condition is that, wherein a soule is left to the wide world, in the midst of legions of lusts and devils, to be rent and torne l•ke a silly hare among a pack of hounds, and no God to call them off? Let God leave a people, though never so warlike, presently they lose their wits, cannot finde their hands; A company of children or wounded men may rise up, and chase them out of their fenced Cities, because God is not with them; which made Caleb and Joshuah pacifie the mutinous Israelites at the tidings of giants and walled cities with this; They are bread for us, their defence is departed from them. How much more must that soule be as bread to Satan, that hath no defence from the Almighty? Take men of the greatest parts, natural or acquired accomplishments, who only want an union with Christ, and renewing grace from Christ: O what fooles doth the devil make of them, leading them at his pleasure, some to one lust, some to another; the proudest of them all is slave to one or other, though it be to the ruining of body and soul for ever, Where lies the mystery, that men of such parts and wisdom, should debase themselves to such drudgery work of hell? even here, they are in a state of alienation from God, and no more able of themselves to break the devils prison, then a slave ro run from his chain.
