Influences of the life of grace

4.¹ There is not a promise made to using of means, but there is a sad threatening of wrath to such as use no means; he that ploughs none, but sleeps in Summer, shall be clothed with rags: but there is no word that all who plough painfully shall be rich men, and clothed in scarlet, Prov. 28. 7. He that turns away his ear from hearing the Law, even his prayer shall be abomination; but all that hear the Law are not converted; this shows that the Lord is provoked by the not using of means in natural men, as both the Lords plea with the wicked cleareth, and their sinful neglect of not putting God to it, to see if God will not do more, when they have done but a little of their duty; the Lord is at the pains to charm them, and doth it wisely, they will be deaf as the adder; well then, Psal. 58. since they will keep the Serpents poison whether God, who useth means to the contrary, will or no. v. 4, 5, 6. Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth. 7. Let them melt away as waters which run continually. 8. As a snail which melteth, let every one of them pass away. So plagued and melted away sinners, you might have been charmed by God and would not, can you blame God? Jer. 51. 9. We would have healed Babylon, but she is not ⟨p. 345⟩healed: well then, it follows, forsake her, let us go every one into his own Country, for her judgement is reached up to heaven, and is lifted up unto the skies. So God is clear, and even Babylons refusing to be healed, and to hear the Prophets, and her neglecting means is justly plagued, Prov. 1. 20. What can wisdom do more but cry and utter her voice, and throw over the line to such as are in the Kingdom of darkness, the promises? 22. Behold, I will pour out my spirit to you. But v. 24. Ye refused, no man regarded. 25. ye set at nought all my counsel, and would have none of my reproof. 29. They hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord; and therefore the Lord laughs at their destruction, and mocks when their fear cometh. And