The saints guide, in three treatises

Answ. 1. First, a carnal heart is marvellous unwilling, and altogether indisposed to listen to the Truth of God, so as to be instructed therein, and examine himself thereby, it is tedious to flesh and blood to wait upon the truth, it is not willing to know its duty, to know what the word saith in such, and such cases, least it should pull some of his sweet morsels from betwixt his teeth, cut off his right hand, pull out his right eye, some bosom sins that are as near and dear unto him as either of them, therefore he is willing to be a stranger to the Truth of God, and though Manna from Heaven lieth at his door, yet he will not step ⟨p. 112⟩out to gather it in, men naturally stop their ears against the truth Isaiah 30.10. They say to the Seers see not, and to the Prophets prophesy not right things, speak to us smooth things, prophesy deceits; Get thee out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the holy one of Israel to cease from before us: So Job. 21.14. They say also unto God depart from us, for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways; They desire nothing more then to be exempt from all subjection unto God, that in Acts. 28.27. is likewise here considerable, For the heart of this people is waxed fat, and their cares are dull of hearing, and with their eyes have they winked, least they should see with their eyes, and hear with their cares, and understand with ⟨p. 113⟩their hearts, and should return that I might heal them. Winked with their eyes, that is, they made as though they saw not, that which they did see, against their wills, carnal men are loath to know the truth, if they do search for it, it is only as a Coward doth for his Enemy, with a hope not to find him, yea with a fear lest he should find him; So a natural man is fearful to search, and loath to find the truth, but if the truth do glance in, and conscience begin to recoil, then, he seeks out for some merry company, that may help him to smother these motions of the Spirit, as Saul sent for David to play before him, when the evil Spirit came upon him.

Answ. 1. First, a carnall heart is marvellous unwilling, and altogether indisposed to listen to the Truth of God, so as to be instructed therein, and examine himselfe thereby, it is tendious to flesh and blood to waite upon the truth, it is not willing to know its duty, to know what the word saith in such, and such cases, least it should pull some of his sweete morsells from betwixt his teeth, cut off his right hand, pull out his right eye, some bosome sinnes that are as neere and deare unto him as either of them, therefore he is willing to be a stranger to the Truth of God, and though Manna from Heaven lyeth at his doore, yet he will not step