3. That Impenitent Sinners are the greatest fools of all. The Word of God often useth these words [Sinners, Fools, Wicked] emphatically, for such as are peculiarly so: and then it intends either, (1.) Such as live in most notorious and prodigious sins; thus a common Whore is called a Sinner more than once in the Gospel: or (2.) Such as remain obstinate and impenitent in their ⟨p. 6⟩Sins under, and notwithstanding means used to win them to repentance •ow the means used with them are of two sorts. (1.) Such as are afforded to the Gentiles, who have not the Gospel, viz. the light of a natural Conscience, and the common strivings of the Spirit of God in them; they are therefore said to be a Law to themselves, and their Consciences to bear witness, and either to accuse or excuse, Rom. 2.14, 15. and the Providences of God, which ought to be improved by that light, to excite them to repentance: thus the Goodness of God is said to lead to it, Rom. 2.4. and his common benefits are called witnesses, Acts 14.17. his Judgments also are that the Inhabitants of the World may learn righteousness, Isa. 26.9. (2) Such as those enjoy who sit under the means of Grace, wherein God shows them the evil and danger of their sins, and not only invites them to Repentance, but also gives them all suitable directions, and the greatest imaginable encouragements to help them in it; and these are afforded to such as are in the Covenant with him, Psal. 147.19, 20. he showeth his word to Jacob, his statutes and judgments to Israel: he hath not dealt so with any nation. Impenitence in the former of these is a note of inexcusable folly; and so it is charged on their foolish minds, Rom. 1.21. how much more then may it be imputed to the latter, and their folly be reputed the Paroxysm of madness? inasmuch as they have a price in their hands, and have not an heart to make use of it; and whence is that, but because ⟨p. 7⟩they are fools; according to, Prov. 17.16. Wherefore is there a price in the hands of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it? they have life and death set before them, and they choose death; they have the way to escape the Wrath of God, and obtain Eternal Life, and regard it not; they are told whither their sinful courses do lead, and where they will end, and yet they will take no warnings, but run wilfully and violently on to their own destruction, like that fool, Prov.
3. That Impenitent Sinners are the greatest fools of all. The Word of God often useth these words [Sinners, Fools, Wicked] emphatically, for such as are peculiarly so: and then it intends either, (1.) Such as live in most notorious and prodigious sins; thus a common Whore is called a Sinner more than once in the Gospel: or (2.) Such as remain obstinate and impenitent in their ⟨p. 6⟩Sins under, and notwithstanding means used to win them to repentance •ow the means used with them are of two sorts. (1.) Such as are afforded to the Gentiles, who have not the Gospel, viz. the light of a natural Conscience, and the common strivings of the Spirit of God in them; they are therefore said to be a Law to themselves, and their Consciences to bear witness, and either to accuse or excuse, Rom. 2.14, 15. and the Providences of God, which ought to be improved by that light, to excite them to repentance: thus the Goodness of God is said to lead to it, Rom. 2.4. and his common benefits are called witnesses, Acts 14.17. his Judgments also are that the Inhabitants of the World may learn righteousness, Isa. 26.9. (2) Such as those enjoy who sit under the means of Grace, wherein God shews them the evil and danger of their sins, and not only invites them to Repentance, but also gives them all suitable directions, and the greatest imaginable encouragements to help them in it; and these are afforded to such as are in the Covenant with him, Psal. 147.19, 20. he sheweth his word to Jacob, his statutes and judgments to Israel: he hath not dealt so with any nation. Impenitence in the former of these is a note of inexcusable folly; and so it is charged on their foolish minds, Rom. 1.21. how much more then may it be imputed to the latter, and their folly be reputed the Paroxism of madness? inasmuch as they have a price in their hands, and have not an heart to make use of it; and whence is that, but because ⟨p. 7⟩they are fools; according to, Prov. 17.16. Wherefore is there a price in the hands of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it? they have life and death set before them, and they chuse death; they have the way to escape the Wrath of God, and obtain Eternal Life, and regard it not; they are told whicher their sinful courses do lead, and where they will end, and yet they will take no warnings, but run wilfully and violently on to their own destruction, like that fool, Prov.
