The Wicked are estranged from the womb they go astray as soon as they are born, speaking Lies; Their poison is like the poison of a Serpent, they are like the deaf Adder that stoppeth her ears, which will not hearken to the voice of Charmers, charming never so wisely, Psa. 58.3, 4, 5. The Serpent when she begins to feel the Charmer, clappeth one ear presently to the ground, and stoppeth the other ear with her tail, although by hearkening to the Charmer (as some observe) she would be provoked to spit out her poison, and renew h•r age. So hot is man upon his Harlot sin, that he is deaf to all that would counsel him to the contrary, he stoppeth his ear, hardeneth his heart, stiffeneth his neck, against the thunders of the Law, the still voice of the Gospel, the motions of the Spirit, and the convictions of his own conscience. When sin calls they run through thick and thin for hast, when the World commands how readily do they hearken, how quickly do they hear, how faithfully do they obey? but when the blessed God crieth to them, chargeth them by his unquestionable authority, beseecheth them for their own unchangeable felicity, they (like statues of men rather then living creatures) stand still and stir not at all. Other things move swiftly to their centres, Stones fall tumbling downward, Sparks fly apace upward, Conies run with speed to their burrows, Rivers with violence to the Ocean, and yet filly man hangs off from his maker; that neither entreaties, nor threatenings, ⟨p. 93⟩nor the word, nor the Works of God, nor hope of Heaven, nor fear of Hell, can quicken or hasten him to his happiness. Who would imagine that a reasonable solely should act so much against sense and reason? Where is the Saint that is not shamed by the very damned, sinners drive furiously (like Jehu) against their God, their Sovereign, but Saints like Egyptians drive heavily though they are marching in the road to the Heavenly Canaan. Ah who presseth towards the mark, for the price of the high calling? Who works so hard to be preferred to the beatifical vision, as wicked men do to be punished with eternal destruction? they sweat at sowing in the Devils field, when all they shall reap thereby will be damnation, and thou freezest in seeking Gods favour when the fruit thereof will be everlasting Salvation.
The Wicked are estranged from the womb they go astray as soon as they are born, speaking Lies; Their poison is like the poyson of a Serpent, they are like the deaf Adder that stoppeth her ears, which will not hearken to the voyce of Charmers, charming never so wisely, Psa. 58.3, 4, 5. The Serpent when she begins to feel the Charmer, clappeth one ear presently to the ground, and stoppeth the other ear with her tail, although by hearkening to the Charmer (as some observe) she would be provoked to spit out her poyson, and renew h•r age. So hot is man upon his Harlot sin, that he is deaf to all that would counsel him to the contrary, he stoppeth his ear, hardeneth his heart, stifneth his neck, against the thunders of the Law, the still voice of the Gospel, the motions of the Spirit, and the convictions of his own conscience. When sin calls they run through thick and thin for hast, when the World commands how readily do they hearken, how quickly do they hear, how faithfully do they obey? but when the blessed God cryeth to them, chargeth them by his unquestionable authority, beseecheth them for their own unchangeable felicity, they (like statues of men rather then living creatures) stand still and stir not at all. Other things move swiftly to their centers, Stones fall tumbling downward, Sparks fly apace upward, Conies run with speed to their burrows, Rivers with violence to the Ocean, and yet filly man hangs off from his maker; that neither intreaties, nor threatnings, ⟨p. 93⟩nor the word, nor the Works of God, nor hope of Heaven, nor fear of Hell, can quicken or hasten him to his happiness. Who would imagine that a reasonable souly should act so much against sense and reason? Where is the Saint that is not shamed by the very damned, sinners drive furiously (like Jehu) against their God, their Soveraign, but Saints like Egyptians drive heavily though they are marching in the road to the Heavenly Canaan. Ah who presseth towards the mark, for the price of the high calling? Who works so hard to be preferd to the beatifical vision, as wicked men do to be punisht with eternal destruction? they sweat at sowing in the Devils field, when all they shall reap thereby will be damnation, and thou freezest in seeking Gods favour when the fruit thereof will bee everlasting Salvation.
