2. That men do wilfully shut their eyes against the Convictions with are laid before them, by which they might be led to Reformation. The Afflictions themselves which they suffer, are for Conviction; there is such a design in them, God sends them for sin, and they are to bring it to remembrance; they have a Voice in them, and it is intelligible; they say that God is ⟨p. 30⟩angry with such a People, and they serve to put men upon enquiry after the cause of them; even the Philistines themselves are led by the light of nature to ask such a question when the hand of God is upon them, acknowledging that it was from him, and thereupon to consult how they might obtain a removal of it, 1 Sam. 6. begin. Yea, and many times the Judgments bring light in and with them, to discover the ground of the controversy, and point to the very sin against which they are witnesses. Adonibezek was thus brought to a Confession of his cruelty, and Gods just vindication, Judg. 1. 7. But besides this, when God comes to punish a People that are in Covenant with him, he is wont, together with these troubles, to send them matter of Conviction in his Ordinances, to awaken his Servants in the Ministry, to touch their hearts, and suggest to them the things that he contends for, and make them to Cry aloud and not to spare, but to show his People the sins they are guilty of; and to do it with all evidence and demonstration; so that if men would but listen and give ear to these cries and Convictions, they might be throughly convinced and not be able to withstand. But the reason why they do not thus do, is because they will not. What they said plumply to the Prophet, Jer. 44. 16. As for the word that thou hast spoken ⟨p. 31⟩to us in the name of the Lord, we will not hearken unto thee. These say the same practically, which amounts to as much in the event, and is so interpreted by God as if their tongues had uttered it: and this is to be charged on all that do not take the warnings, and bring themselves to the light of the truth, that they may know their sins. And what is the reason why they will not readily receive the light, but shut their eyes against it, and do what in them lies to keep it out? it is because they are resolved to hold on their sinful courses, and would be quiet in it;
2. That men do wilfully shut their eyes against the Convictions wich are laid before them, by which they might be led to Reformation. The Afflictions themselves which they suffer, are for Conviction; there is such a design in them, God sends them for sin, and they are to bring it to remembrance; they have a Voice in them, and it is intelligible; they say that God is ⟨p. 30⟩angry with such a People, and they serve to put men upon enquiry after the cause of them; even the Philistines themselves are led by the light of nature to ask such a question when the hand of God is upon them, acknowledging that it was from him, and thereupon to consult how they might obtain a removal of it, 1 Sam. 6. begin. Yea, and many times the Judgments bring light in and with them, to discover the ground of the controversy, and point to the very sin against which they are witnesses. Adonibezek was thus brought to a Confession of his cruelty, and Gods just vindication, Judg. 1. 7. But besides this, when God comes to punish a People that are in Covenant with him, he is wont, together with these troubles, to send them matter of Conviction in his Ordinances, to awaken his Servants in the Ministry, to touch their hearts, and suggest to them the things that he contends for, and make them to Cry aloud and not to spare, but to shew his People the sins they are guilty of; and to do it with all evidence and demonstration; so that if men would but listen and give ear to these cryes and Convictions, they might be throughly convinced and not be able to withstand. But the reason why they do not thus do, is because they will not. What they said plumply to the Prophet, Jer. 44. 16. As for the word that thou hast spoken ⟨p. 31⟩to us in the name of the Lord, we will not hearken unto thee. These say the same practically, which amounts to as much in the event, and is so interpreted by God as if their tongues had uttered it: and this is to be charged on all that do not take the warnings, and bring themselves to the light of the truth, that they may know their sins. And what is the reason why they will not readily receive the light, but shut their eyes against it, and do what in them lies to keep it out? it is because they are resolved to hold on their sinfull courses, and would be quiet in it;
