The saints dignity and duty· Together with the danger of ignorance and hardness. /…The saints dignitie and dutie· Together with the danger of ignorance and hardnesse. /…

When as the heart of a man cleaveth to a corruption, when as a mans affections are glued unto it, so that he takes delight in it, let it be what lust so ever it will be, you shall ever find him feeding upon it. The proud man continually feeds himself upon his pride, his mind is ever taken up with the thoughts of this or that fashion, with this or that way of attiring, and adorning himself; The Adulterer is still feeding on the pleasures of his lust, always contemplating on those cursed delights. The covetous man, meet him where you will, as soon as he is up in a morning, presently he is talking of buying and selling, of bargaining and match-making; So the drunkard and the rest of sinners; the meat is never out of their mouths, their hearts are continually set upon those sinful corruptions to which they are addicted. And withal (mark) as there must be feeding, so there must be resting; for daily exercise and labour spendeth a man; and therefore we know those that will feed any creature fat, put it up. So when a man is resolved to continue in that course wherein he is, is settled on his lees, hath set up his staff, he will go no further, but there he will stay; such a mans heart is fat, and what followeth? his eyes will be blind: Whatsoever shall come from the Minister to thwart that sinful disposition of his, to cross that lust which lieth in his bosom, any way to disease him, or stir him off his dregs, though it be never so clear and plain, and delivered with never so much evidence and demonstration of the Spirit of God it self, yet he cares not for it, he is resolved to do what ⟨p. 203⟩he pleaseth, and to take his own course, let them all say what they will. Hence it cometh to pass, that in these days of light, wherein the means of knowledge run through the greatest part of the land, and abound as the rivers from the sea, and yet men remain stark blind in the mysteries of salvation, and altogether unreformed in their lives. Do but observe a little the temper of mens spirits, and you shall find it generally to be this: Those truths out of the word of God which they conceive to cross their quiet, and disturb their peace, they will not endure: Their heart is resolved to be at peace, and at liberty, come what come will; and therefore whatsoever truth it be that causeth any disquietness or disturbance in them, away with it;

When as the heart of a man cleaveth to a corruption, when as a mans affections are glued unto it, so that he takes delight in it, let it be what lust so ever it will be, you shall ever finde him feeding upon it. The proud man continually feeds himself upon his pride, his minde is ever taken up with the thoughts of this or that fashion, with this or that way of attiring, and adorning himself; The Adulterer is still feeding on the pleasures of his lust, alwaies contemplating on those cursed delights. The covetous man, meet him where you will, assoon as he is up in a morning, presently he is talking of buying and selling, of bargaining and match-making; So the drunkard and the rest of sinners; the meat is never out of their mouthes, their hearts are continually set upon those sinfull corruptions to which they are addicted. And withall (mark) as there must bee feeding, so there must be resting; for daily exercise and labour spendeth a man; and therefore we know those that will feed any creature fat, put it up. So when a man is resolved to contiune in that course wherein he is, is setled on his lees, hath set up his staffe, he will go no further, but there he will stay; such a mans heart is fat, and what followeth? his eyes will be blind: Whatsoever shall come from the Minister to thwart that sinfull disposition of his, to crosse that lust which lieth in his bosome, any way to disease him, or stir him off his dregs, though it be never so clear and plain, and delivered with never so much evidence and demonstration of the Spirit of God it self, yet he cares not for it, he is resolved to do what