and exhortations that awakened and affected the heart now slide away like water upon a rock and there is no print or the least appearance of any impression left behind the ruine of mens comforts lives and liberties which sin hath brought are open but oh the woful desolation of souls could it be seen of al as it is felt of some whose heart God toucheth it would make sin exceeding sinful and unsupportably evil as they in the Prophet complayned bitterly Why are our hearts hardened from thy fear Isa. 63. 17. Besides this bitter fruit which the sinner is forced to tast of sin in his own particular view wee the extent of that evil which sin doth unto others and that partly which is common to every corruption of what ever kind or degree it is of great or smal open or secret whether more loathsom and not 〈◊〉 to the eyes of men or that which is esteemed less in the account of the world that which is an ingredient into the nature and constitution and making up of every corruption that it makes a breach upon the righteous law of God i. e. not onely shaks of the rule and soveraignty of the law but preferrs in truth the supremacie of our lusts before the authority of the Lord himself which ho hath and ought to exercise over our souls For the sinner in the practice of any sin proclaims this unto the world it s not the royalty of the righteous law of God but mine own distemper shal rule me not his wil but mine own wayward corruption shal 〈◊〉 the ballance It s not the wisdom of the word but my folly and the vanity of my ignorant mind shal lead me in what I do It s not the goodness of the Law of Gods holiness but the pleasing corruptions of mine own carnal heart shal content me in a word each man professeth God shal not be his God but he sets up his lust in his room and doth homage therunto than which what greater indignity can be done to the Almighty Al men look at it as a most hellith expression of the Jews 〈◊〉 him but Barabbas Barabbas was a murtherer vile and base yet a man and therefore somthing of God in him but more hideous is the hateful blasphemy which the practice of every sinner proclaymes not God but sin he advanceth sin in his choyce which is nothing but baseness it self above the infinite holiness of the only blessed God so their profession was they said to the Almighty depart away from us we desire not the knowledge of thy wayes thou saiest in thy heart as much when in the secret resolution of thy soul thou baddest humility depart the pride of thine own heart should carry thee to meekness depart so to the God of Grace and holiness depart the knotty stoutness of thine own spirit was the Liege Lord thou yieldest homage and obedience unto Out of mens Atheism and ignorance this is not thought on and therefore men thinke their sins little nor are they apprehensive of that infinite wrōng that they do to the holy and infinite Majesty of the blessed God Besides this wrong that is common to al sins there be some especially open and scandalous that become out of measure sinful Committed against many mercies against many means against many mercies wherwith God hath 〈◊〉 and allured them that he might have overcome their unkind hearts w th his tender compassions had they but a spark of any good nature or ingenuity within them Thus they sin against more of God therfore their sin becoms unmeasurably 〈◊〉 against the bowels of a Father that hath yerned towards them the blood of a Christ that hath been shed for them the tears of a saviour that have been wept over them Oh that thou hadst known in this thy day the consolation and intimations of the spirit who hath striven and entreated Oh do not do so and sin against God and yet impudently presumptuously and pertinaciously thou wouldest break through al these armyes of compassions to commit that sin that wil be thy ruine how vile thy carriage and how just thy plague Thus Nathan pleads with David when he would lay open the loathsomness of his evil before him 2 Sam. 12. 7. 8. 9. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel I annoynted thee King over Israel and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul and I gave thee thy masters house and thy masters wives into thy bosome and gave thee the house of Israel and the house of Judah and if that had been too little I would moreover have given thee such and such things Wherefore hast thou despised the command of the Lord The heart of the holy man sunk down in sorrow I have sinned Yea these coals of fire if gathered and heaped up I mean these compassions rightly considered and weighed and layd upon the heart they are able almost to melt the most flinty disposition Jud. 2. 1. 2. 3. So the Angel overbore the rebellious spirits of the Israelites I made you to go up out of Egipt and have brought you into the land which I sware unto your Fathers and I said I will never break my Covenant with you and ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land you shal throw down their altars but ye have not obeyed my voyce why have ye done this and it came to pass when he spake these words unto al the Children of Israel that the people lift up their voyces and wept This brake their hearts al in pieces though perverse and rebellious they ceased answering and fel to weeping their tears and mourning were instead of words they would return in their defence Against many means wherwith the Lord hath striven with us to stop us in the pursuit of sin and to reclame us from our iniscarriages God hems in a poor creature on every side by publick dispensations and private 〈◊〉 by ordinary and extraordinary helps way-layes a sinner and hedgeth up his path 〈◊〉 thorns and builds a wal about him that he might find the ways of ungodlyness no more Hos 2. 8. He that adventures upon the commission of sin against such means and breaks through such armyes of ordinances there is a multiplication of many sins in the commission of one because it is against the multiplication of many truths or one truth in a manifold dispensation he sins against so many instructions so many comforts so many counsels he hath heard Confessions he hath made and prayers he hath put up for himself and others have made in his behalf every one of these dispensations hath an action against the soul because it hath been wronged by the sinner John 12. 48. He that heareth and rejecteth hath one that judgeth even that word that I have spoken and he hath heard wil judg him saith our Saviour Christ. Those reproofs that thou haft heard and not submitted to Instructions that thou hast heard and not embraced thou shalt need no other
our part shal be to deliver him into the Kings hand And Saul said blessed be the Lord for ye have had compassion upon me go and prepare see his place where his haunt is and take knowledg of his lurking places where he hides himself so the contrite sinner that seeks the death and 〈◊〉 of his sins it gladly welcomes what ever means are most searching sharpest reproofes clearest discoveries convicting arguments that wil discover the haunts and lurking places of a mans lusts and secret shiftings of devices Oh these hit the desire of his heart he counts them blessed counsels blessed reproofes blessed be ye of the Lord that have compassion on my soul to take those distempers from me that would take away my soul from God and life and happiness from my soul nay the soul wil say I see something but O search more narrowly examin yet more throughly al the sinful windings and turnings of my heart and I wil ioyn with you in al such convictions and 〈◊〉 and if there be any way of wickedness any crevis and corner of falshood to be found in the whol frame of my heart I hope God wil reveal and remove and I wil deal nakedly Such smitings are as precious balms that do not break the head but bring a healing virtue comfort a mans heart content his head and apprehensions also Thus he proceeds against his own sin but there this hatred 〈◊〉 not but he labors also the removal of sin in whomsoever he finds it wheresoever he is and with whomsoever he converseth If there be any corruption stirring his enemies appearing his hatred stirs presently his heart riseth against it attacheth the Traitor if any be under pressures he pities them tenderly if in distress of Spirit he comforts in much compassion and fortifies against the common enemy If he sees any go out of the way led aside with their own distempers Satans delusion he cannot keep off from counselling reproving perswading The Servant that could side it with fellow Servants in stubborn idle and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with 〈◊〉 and consent with them suit with them give them counsel keep their counsel before they were brethren in iniquity but when his heart comes to be pierced and the soul transported with hatred you shal 〈◊〉 the wind in another door if he see them lazy and idle he wil quicken them if stubborn and perverse he wil seasonably advise and pursue them with reproofs and if his 〈◊〉 cannot take place he wil make his complaints to the Governor for redress he cannot endure to see sin thrive and the Traitor live But if the Lord put any Authority into his hand he wil express it to the utmost of al his power and that with the utmost indignation that the nature of the thing wil bear As good Josiah 2 Chron. 34. 4 5 6. He commanded to break down the Altars cut down the Groves carved and molten Images made dust of them and burnt the bones of the Priests upon the Altar in the detestation of their Sacrifices nay he took away all the abominations of all the Countries that appertained to Israel and made all that were present to serve the Lord This Indignation expresseth it self against sin and all that appertains to it and have been Instruments to the commission of it As an Adulterous woman in 〈◊〉 of conscience tore the hair that she had crisped and disfigured the face that she had painted and prided her self Ioathed to look upon the tyres and garments which she had worn to make her beauty a bait and a 〈◊〉 to others So Mary Magdalen c. But if yet the Nation of those noysom corruptions cannot be utterly destroyed but sins live and are mighty abroad and remain in the heart this hatred is beyond all hope and possibility of reconciliation admits no terms of peace no condition of agreement that can be devised or offered will be entertained holds out the quarrel and opposition unto death nay is willing to die and put an end to his daies that he may see an end of his abominations As God with Amaleck Exod. 17. last he commanded it to be writ 〈◊〉 a memorial in a book for God hath sworn he will have war with 〈◊〉 for ever and put out his name from under Heaven this hatred as in deadly feuds gives no quarter the soul wil not tribute his Corruptions and serve his own turn of them but wages War with them until they be utterly destroyed from off the face of the Earth The Counsel that God gave to the Israelites 〈◊〉 carefully and exactly keeps Be sure you make no Covenant with them but smite them and utterly destroy them Deut. 7. 23. c. Reasons of the Point are Three Without this there 〈◊〉 no way to come to Christ for there is no coming of Faith into the soul No man can serve two Masters for if he love the one he will hate the other if he cleave to the one he will despise the other ye cannot serve God and Mammon Matth. 6. 24. If saies Samuel you wil prepare your hearts to seek the Lord put away your Idols 1 Sam. 7. 3. Those must first be removed if God be received there is no halting bet wixt two no man can be in the first and second Adam together the soul cannot be married to two husbands at once The conclusion of our Savior is 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 Luk 14. 26. If any man come 〈◊〉 me and hate not his father and mother wife and children and friends and therefore much more his sins in comparison of Christ he cannot be my disciple he is not worthy i. e. not fit to be Christs disciple Without this there is no salvation can be expected from Christ for this is the method of mercy the order of God in the dispensation of life to lost man and so 〈◊〉 was intended and appointed God sent 〈◊〉 son from heaven to bless you by turning every one of you from his iniquity Acts 3. 26. He wil turn you from your evil way if ever he bless you and it was the way the prophet prescribed of old 〈◊〉 18. 30. turn you from al your transgressions so iniquity shal not be your ruin and Christ came to save his people from their 〈◊〉 Math. 1. 21. that is the first 〈◊〉 to Salvation you cannot be safe if your sins be safe Christ wil not 〈◊〉 you and your sins too if you wil save them he wil not save you this is the great condemnation that light is come into the world and men love darkness more than light he that loves his sins loves his death Sin is the onely enemy of the soul that which is hateful to God and man and makes us hateful also And therefore is the fittest 〈◊〉 indeed the onely proper object of our hatred They are lusts that 〈◊〉 against the soul 1 Pet. 2. 11. there is nothing in the world that could prejudice the peace comfort of the soul were it not
no power receive no profit nor benefit to my own soul and there is a secret conceit that God doth them wrong As she said If it be so Why am I thus Gen. 25. 22. 2. We may know it by a sinking discouragement of heart When the soul wearied with delayes and differings and expectation sits down in a 〈◊〉 condition because he cannot have what he will he will cast away what he hath and conceaves he may be careless of what he might attain As David said I shall one day perish by the hand of Saul 1 Samuel 27. 1. All men are lyars Psal. 116. 11. Alas Iam not fit to Pray or to Hear I find my heart worse after it none was ever in such a case as I better never to use the means than never to have benefit by them better never to enjoy the Ordinances and Priviledges of God than to get no good by them How now Better never use the means It would be better and best of all if you were deeply humbled and abased in the sight of your own vileness As the Apostle saies What if God will not What 〈◊〉 he will never pardon your sins or shew mercy to your soul If he give you nothing doth he 〈◊〉 you any thing You think your worthiness is not attended you secretly think the Lord hath forgot himself your parts and performances your 〈◊〉 and prayers diligence and endeavors ought upon due to be remembered and recompenced No Thank your proud heart you are not prepared for the presence the peace the comfort the coming of a Savior and therefore you want him Do you think your self worthy to be condemned when you think it much to be denyed deserted punished nay but desayed in the dispensation of Gods goodness He must please your pallat and suit your mind and humor at a beck No no mend your self if you be in so hasty a moode the Lord will make you know that you are unworthy of mercy He will not bribe you nor be beholding to you to wait upon him for his mercy yea be thankful to him that you may wait and wonder that you are not past praying hearing and waiting and all A ground of Encouragement to a poor distressed sinner when Devils assault 〈◊〉 grow strong Conscience accuse and the venome of the vengeance of the Almighty drinks up a mans spirits so that the sinner knows not how to bear his condition nor yet how to help himself out of it so that he is at his wits end His Friends pitty him and the Parents conceave their Child is undone they never thought to have seen this day Why so It is the best day that ever his eyes saw he is now in Gods way the Lord now seems to lay hold upon him and to intend good to him be not afraid of the work but be afraid he should miss and spoil in the working As in Child-bed when throws come thick and strong there is most hope of a speedy and happy delivery but when her throws leave her her life leaves her so it is in the new Birth Stormy gales at Sea toss a man most but soonest land him Therefore do not so much fear the blow as be thankful and be willing to follow the blow nor so much desire to be eased as not to be deceived not so much to have the work over as to have it made good upon thy soul labor to get into and keep in that frame prophesied of in all 〈◊〉 Converts Jer. 50. 4. Going and 〈◊〉 with their faces towards Zion they shall 〈◊〉 the Lord their God Exhortation Suffer then the Exhortation of the Baptist the voyce of him that cries in the Wilderness to sound in your ears and to sink into 〈◊〉 hearts Prepare ye the way of the Lord make his paths streight As ever we 〈◊〉 to share in the Merits of our Savior to enjoy him and his presence and everlasting happiness by him address we our selves bestir our souls in the use of all means to 〈◊〉 a Savior and then we may 〈◊〉 expect him and we shall not miss of our expectation There is no lack on his part he is willing and ready He that stands and knocks at the door that he may come in Rev. 3. 20. If the door was open he would come in without question If the way was prepated he hath promised to come speedily and certainly he would not delay his coming I know this manner of entertainment seems hard to flesh and blood loath we are to dislodge so many gainful guests so many special friends darling pleasures and sweet contentments which we have contrived to our selves out of the earthly comforts of this life Hence many are content the King would go another way and secretly wish they had nothing to do with the Lord Jesus there is so much privy search to be made so much examination to be used such a sight of our sins and unworthiness yea that which is worst of all to the corrupt hearted they must vomit up all their sweet morsels shake hands and break league with their beloved darling delights which they tender as their lives they must thrust world and ease prosperity and pompe credit and applause by the head and shoulders out of the doors and turn them going 〈◊〉 therefore I am afraid many 〈◊〉 that in secret in their own hearts which the Devils openly professed What have we to do with thee Jesus thou Son of God art thou come to 〈◊〉 us before the time to deprive us of our profits to pluck away our pleasures and to dislodge those sweet lusts that we harbored so long in our bosoms and bowels learn we then to press some sound Arguments upon our own hearts that we may perswade and prevaile with them if it be possible to set about this work which is so necessary Consider then First Who we be that must 〈◊〉 And Secondly For whom First Let us consider our selves a company of poor miserable sinful and damned Creatures sinful dust and ashes dead dogs Consider of this and think with thy self Will the Lord of Heaven come down will Christ dwell in my heart will he vouchsafe to look in yea to call in as he goes by upon such a sinful Creature And let this move thee to prepare for his coming We are not worthy as the Centurion said that the Lord should come under our 〈◊〉 1 King 8. 27. There Solomon saith Will the Lord indeed dwell on earth Will he dwel in a house made with hands As if he should say Is it possible Can it be imagined that thou Lord being the great God of heaven whom the heaven of heavens cannot contain shouldest once 〈◊〉 to dwell in a house made with hands in the Temple which I have builded And what may we say Is it so Can it be Shall it be that God will come and dwell under our roof that he will come and dwell under our rotten and sinful hearts that he will dwell
his Heart to do Farewel Thomas Goodwin Philip Nye COLE 1216. The Application of Redemption by the effectual work of the Word and Spirit of Christ for the bringing home of lost Sinners to God The Ninth Book ISAIAH 57. 15. Thus saith He that is the High and the Lofty One that inhabiteth Eternity whose Name is Holy I dwell in the High and the Holy place with him also that is of a contrite and humble Spirit THe Work of Preparation having Two Parts First The Lords manner of Dispensation as he is pleased to deal with the Soul for the setting up the praise of his Rich and Glorious Grace and therefore with a holy kind of Violence he plucks the 〈◊〉 from his sins unto himself and his Christ. This hath been dispatched already in the former Discourse The Second now follows And that is the Frame and Disposition which is wrought in the Hearts of such as the Lord hath purposed to save and to whom he hath dispensed himself in that gracious Work of his Contrition Humiliation This Disposition consists especially in Two Things That so I may follow the Phrase of Scripture and retain the Lords own Words in the Text where the Lord saith that he dwels with him that is of an humble and contrite Heart To omit al manner of Coherence and other Circumstances we will pass all the other Specials in the Verse and point at that Particular which will suit our proceeding and may afford ground to the following Discourse that we may go no further than we see the Pillar of Fire the Lord in his Truth to go before us We shal fasten then upon the last words only as those that fit our Intendment To make way for our selves in short there is one word alone to be opened that so the Point may be better fitted for our Application we must know what it is to dwel or how God is said 〈◊〉 dwell in a contrite and humble heart I Answer To Dwell implies Three Things First That the Lord owns such as those in whom he hath an especial interest and claims a special propriety as though he left all the rest of man-kind to lie wast as a Common that the World and the Devil and Sin may 〈◊〉 and use at their pleasure reserving the Honor of his Justice which by a strong hand he will exact as a Tribute due to himself out of all things in Heaven and Earth and Hell and all but persons whom he thus fits he reserves for his own special Improvement As Princes and Persons of place and quality do lease out and let some Forrests and Commons to the Inhabitants bordering thereabout reserving some acknowledgment of Fealty and Royalty to themselves but the choyce and best Pallaces or Granges of greatest worth and profit they reserve for their own peculiar to inhabit in So here the Lord leaseth out the World and the wicked in it to the Devil and his Angels and Instruments reserving a Royalty and Prerogative to himself as that he will have his Homage and Acknowledgment of dependance upon himself but his broken-hearted ones are his own for his own Improvement Deut. 32. 8 9. When the most High divided to the Nations their Inheritance and separated the sons of Adam he set the bounds of his People according to the number of the Children of Israel for the Lords Portion is his People Israel the Lot of his Inheritance Ye are the Temple of the Living God 2 Cor. 6. 16. Yea to them the Lord himself saies Ye are my People and they shall say thou art my God Zach. 13. last Therefore he professeth that though in the course of his Providence he goes on progress over all the world yet he takes up his dwelling and abode amongst his own People For Secondly Where a man dwels as he owns the house so he takes up his abode there it is the place of his residence we say any may know where to seek men or where to find them at home at their own house That 's the difference between Inning and Dwelling we Inn at a place in our passing by when we take repast only and bait but depart presently intending not to stay but where we dwel we settle our abode we take up our stand there and stir no further So the Lord is said then to dwel in the Soul when he vouchsafes the constant expression of his peculiar presence and assistance to the soul. True it is that the Lord fills Heaven and Earth with his presence yea the Heaven of Heavens is not able to contain him Jer. 23. 24. His infinite Being is every where and one and the same every where in regard of himself because his being is most simple and not subject to any shadow of change being all one with himself Yet he is said to take up his abode in a special manner when he doth put forth the peculiar expression of his Work as in Heaven he dwels because he puts forth the constant expression of his Glory and that in the full brightness of it without any alteration and change Here in this Spiritual Temple the Souls of his Saints he puts forth the peculiar expression of the constant assistance of his blessed Spirit I will pray the Father and he shall send you another Comforter who shall abide with you for ever John 14. 16. 1 Joh. 2. 23. Ye have received an anointing which abideth in you Dwelling if it be attributed to the chiefest Inhabitant and Owner of the House it implies also the ruling and ordering of the occasions that come under hand there the exercising of the Government of the house and family where the Owner is and dwels He that lodgeth at a House as a stranger comes to an Inn as a Passenger he takes what he finds hath what he can receive of kindness and courtesie but the Owner is the Commander of the House where he dwels and the orderer of all the Affairs that appertain thereunto So doth the Lord with a broken Heart Thus we are said to live in the Spirit and to walk in the Spirit Gal. 5. 25. And it 's that which follows by Inference upon this ground John 15. 4. 5. If I abide in you and you abide in me you shal bring forth much fruit and therefore it s added also in this place that the Lord dwels in the contrite and humble heart to receive the Spirit of the contrite ones they yeeld themselves to be acted by him and they shall be acted and quickened by him to Eternal Life So that the full meaning is The contrite and humble heart is such to whom the Lord vouchsafes acceptance special presence and abode and peculiar guidance he owns him abides with him and rules in him for ever True it is said Christ dwels in our Hearts by Faith Eph. 3. 17. and as many as beleeve in him they receive him John 1. 12. That is done as by the next and immediate hand by which we say hold on Christ and
their sins as he said but do not drown them with those heart-breaking Sorrows which in truth are poyson to them thus it was with Ahab when he had received that dreadful Message from the mouth of the Lord That he would require the Blood of Naboth at his hand and cut off his house he rent his cloaths and put on Sackcloth and fasted c. 1 Kings 21. 27. the Lord himself observes how he acts this work of 〈◊〉 and that in a comly manner Stage-Player like and abates him for the present execution of the plague the Lord loves his own Work and Ordinances that as it is with a Parent that affects a Child the very Picture of it pleaseth him so it is with God he likes his Ordinances and the acting and using of them but this did not cure but encrease his corruption for he that was an Enemy to Elijah verse 20 he professed after 1 Kings 22. 8. He hated Micaiah his sorrow was too overly and slighty he rent his cloaths when he should have rent his heart Thus it was with those Hypocrites Isai. 5. 8. 2. 3. We have fasted say they and thou regardest not we have humbled our souls and thou respectest it not the Lord Answers You fast for strife and debate and to seek your own pleasure they made way for the maintaining and practising their sins not for the removal of them from their hearts and it 's admirably strange how this delusion wil cozen a man and how far it wil carry him it wil make him Sermon-Proof and help him him to 〈◊〉 his heart against the most sharp and searching Words As he how came he to desire and delight in the most powerful preaching and yet never knew what it was to need a 〈◊〉 or to be relieved by him Answ. I conceive such threatnings are intended against them that wil not repent and sorrow for their sins but that will I. Nay it hath been found by experience from the confessions of many that they would weep over their sins and then fal to commit them men make their lamentation over their distempers and then return to the Commission of them As old friends weep at their parting not because they would be quit one of another but it 's a grievance they should part and they hope to meet again shortly The fifth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the discouraged Hypocrite whom the Lord hath exercised under his heavy displeasure and the poyson of his corruptions hath been Gall and Wormwood to his Conscience the floods of iniquities have followed at the heels and forced him to find his heart and prayers and endeavors and yet al in vain he finds no relief at all no ease no good at all by any means the Lord hath appointed and he improved according to his ability the sinner sinks down in desperate discouragement and casts off the thoughts of mercy and the continuance of any further endeavor he sees no profit accrewing and concludes there is no possibility of obtaining his hands grow feeble and his heart faint he concludes as good sit still as rise and fall I shal never attain it thus and so long I have tried and therefore why should I endeavor it So wretched Saul 1 Sam. 28. 15. God hath forsaken me and answers me neither by Urim nor by 〈◊〉 thus also that wicked King 2 Kings 6. last This comes of the Lord why should I pray to him or waitupon him any longer and thus it was with them Ezek. 33. 10. Men pine away in their sins lie under the weight and never look out for help This is not 〈◊〉 or brokenness of heart for that makes a man restlessly importunate in seeking the Lord it s not therefore sorrow for sin but a kind of sullen waywardness of Spirit a dogged kind of self-willy disposition because the pressures grow heavy and unsufferable and the Lord withdraws himself from our desires 〈◊〉 it 's beyond our power and ability to relieve our selves God denies to hear and will not help and we cannot help our selves nor command help els-where in sullen way wardness the heart casts off any further attendance upon the Lord. Whereas Godly Sorrow rightly set on and that for sin and departure from God wil not suffer the soul to depart further that which takes away the resistance of our corrupt hearts that wil not suffer them yet further to depart these desperate discouragements are Valleys and Ditches that must be filled up before the Lord Christ come into the soul Luke 3. 5. TERROR It shews the direful condition of all hard-hearted 〈◊〉 who are not only in the Chains of darkness and held with the Cords of their own iniquities as the Scripture speaks but shut up in the Dungeon of everlasting destruction and locked in within the Iron Gate of a hard 〈◊〉 stupid heart without the least preparation or expectation of good from the Almighty This Hardness is double there are two sorts at least two 〈◊〉 of it 1. Such as sleep in a careless and secure Course never yet saw at least were not sensible of the plague of Sin or the sting and punishment that is attending thereupon 2. Such as have been in the fire scorched with the fury of the Almighty which hath drunk up their spirits but when God hath abated them of the expression of his Displeasure and allayed the flame they grow cold and careless as the Iron that hath been heated with a long and strong Fire grows more hard when it grows once cold than ever it was before They have been gashed and 〈◊〉 in pieces with the terrors of Conscience but 〈◊〉 worn out their Terrors and Fears they are more seared and senceless than ever Such who are drowned in senceless security have their hearts glutted and surfeted with pleasures and 〈◊〉 of the flesh and contents of this present world To sit moping in a corner sink under the burden of their sins and smoak out their dayes in a melanchollick pressure and pensiveness of spirit they account it a matter of scorn a silly kind of sottish behaviour unbeseeming persons of a generous spirit they wonder what men ayl and conclude its more in mens conceit than that there is any just cause for such a carriage for they bless God they never knew what it meant and they hope they never shal And hence they fearlesly adventure upon the practice and commission of known evils and it never stuck in their stomach nor are they troubled with it but are delighted in it that which is a plague to the broken hearted Saints they are plagued with their pride froward perversness of spirit but it s a pastime a may-game it 's their 〈◊〉 and matter of merriment in their meeting my 〈◊〉 rebuked me sharply saies the Servant my Mother chid me sayes the child but I think I 〈◊〉 them they would have their way and wil and would have it done after their manner And I did it with a witness so il-favoredly that I know