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. /…

You have an example of this spirit that is in wicked men in Jer. 2.21. We are lords, (say they there) we will come no more at thee. And it is observable in that place I named before, Gen. 19.9. This fellow came to sojourn with us, and shall he be a judge? there lay the pith of the Argument, and that which moved their wicked spirits against Lot, if Lot had ruled them by his counsel, then he should have been master over them, therefore say they, Shall he be a judge? I could tell you woeful experience that we find of this: Wicked men, when they are gainsaid, and when the word of God is with that Evidence and power of the Spirit discovered to them, that it will either stoop them, or work upon their galled hearts and consciences, they are not able to bear it, they cannot endure to be under the government of it, therefore they will rebel against it, and resolve, what, shall the Minister rule us? Doth he think to bring us under his girdle, to make us do what he will, and follow what course he will have us take? Shall he be lord over us? It is the same also with Magistrates and with private families: Any means that God useth, any admonition whatsoever, findeth such entertainment as this with wicked and carnal hearts.

You have an example of this spirit that is in wicked men in Jer. 2.21. Wee are lords, (say they there) wee will ceme no more at thee. And it is observable in that place I named before, Gen. 19.9. This fellow came to sojourn with us, and shall he be a judge? there lay the pith of the Argument, and that which moved their wicked spirits against Lot, if Lot had ruled them by his counsell, then he should have been master over them, therefore say they, Shall he bee a judge? I could tell you wofull experience that we finde of this: Wicked men, when they are gainsaid, and when the word of God is with that Evidence and power of the Spirit discovered to them, that it will either stoop them, or work upon their galled hearts and consciences, they are not able to bear it, they cannot endure to be under the government of it, therefore they will rebell against it, and resolve, what, shall the Minister rule us? Doth he thinke to bring us under his girdle, to make us doe what he will, and follow what course he will have us take? Shall he be lord over us? It is the same also with Magistrates and with private families: Any means that God useth, any admonition whatsoever, findeth such entertainment as this with wicked and carnall hearts.