Selected quad for the lemma: heart_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
heart_n	harden_v	pharaoh_n	plague_n	2,988	5	10.1557	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A67748	Englands unthankfulness striving with Gods goodness, for the victory as Abaslom [sic] strove with David, whether the father should be more kinde to the son; or the son more unkinde to the father. Or, enough (being wel weighed) to melt an heart of adamant. By R. Younge, florilegus. In reference to Leviticus 19.17 and Isaiah 58.1. In reading whereof, reflect upon your selves; hearken to conscience; and what concerns you, apply it to others, as David did Nathans parable, 2 Sam. 12.1, to 8. And Ahab the prophets, 1 King.20. 39, to 43. Want of application makes all means ineffectual; and therefore are we Christians in name only, because we think out selves Christians indeed, and already good enough.	Younge, Richard.	1643 (1643)	Wing Y152; ESTC R218135	77,968	74

the binding up of his wound Or how should not that sin be past cure which strives against the cure certainly salvation it selfe will not save those that spill the potion and fling away the plaister O if these Adders had not stopt their ears how long since had they been charmed I grant they have reason so to do such as it is For will a Leper take pleasure in the searching of his sores and Satan the like for if they could clearly see the loathso●…esse of their impieties it were not possible not to abhor them not to abhor themselves for them but their blindnesse makes them love their own filthinesse as Ethiopians do their own swarthinesse §2 And to tell you the truth though I speak against my self ha●… I not a further reach in it it were an unreasonable motion in me if I should request mindes prepossest with prejudice to hear reason Since the World and the Devil hath so forestalled their judgements therewith against Gods people and goodnesse it self that they resolve never to be better then they are And where Satan hath set this his porter of prejudice though Christ himself were on earth that soul would make an ill construction of whatsoever he did or spake as we see in the Scribes and Pharisees who when he wrought miracles reputed him a sorcerer when he cast out Devils thought it to be by the power and Prince of Devils when he reproved sinners he was a seducer when he received sinners he was their favourer when he healed the sick he was a Sabbath-breaker and the like yea they counted him the greatest offender that offended not once in all his life which would make a wise man suspect 〈◊〉 own judgement or the common fame and to examine things throughly before they condemn one whom they know no evil by Yet this is the case of these men of most men for even as an ill stomack turn●… all it receives into ill humours or as a Spider converts every thing she ears into poison so they whatsoever they hear of or see in the godly So blinding themselves with prejudice that like Pyrrhon they will not believe what their eyes see and their ears hear Yea I would fain know what means can possibly be used that shall be able to reclaim them They will neither be softened with benefits nor broken with punishments Gods severity cannot terrifie them nor his kindness mollifie them Yea should these fools be brayed in a mortar among wheat with a ●…stle yet they will not depart from their wickednesse as Solomon expresseth 〈◊〉 Prov. 27. 22. Yea the more these Anviles are beaten upon the harder they are 3. The change of means whether the Word Iudgements Mercies or the like do but obdure their hearts instead of melting them as we see by many examples The nine plagues could not prevail with Pharaoh Yea they hardened his heart the more When Jesus cried with a loud voice and yielded up the ghost the vail of the Temple rent in twain from ●…op to the bottom the earth did quake the Graves did open themselves and the dead Saints came forth and went into the holy City the Sun was forsaken of his light c. as if all were sensible of their Makers suffering when as the generality of the people that had heard his preaching and seen his many miracles yea those great Clerks the Scribes and Pha●…es were altogether insensible and worse then all the rest of the creatures The very stones of the Temple were soft in comparison of their sto●… hearts and they which were dead in their graves were alive to those which were dead in their sins Le●… Malchus be smitten to the ground with the words of our Saviour let him have his right ear cut off and miraculously healed again by him whom he came to apprehend yet he will be one that shall lead him bound to Pilate Let the Sodomites be all struck blinde for contesting with Lot and his two Angels they will not cease seeking his doore to break it open until they feel fire and brimstone about their eares Genes 〈◊〉 And let men look to it for If they will not believe Moses the Prophe●… Christ and his Apostles they would not believe though 〈◊〉 should send an Angel from the living in Heaven or a Messenger from the dead in Hell to warn them as Abraham tells Dives Luke 16. 31. Yea let God himself forbid Balaam to go with Balaks messengers to curse the children of Israel yea let an Angel stand in his way with a drawn sword to stop him yea let him hear his beast speak under him yet he slights all I might instance other examples as what a warning had Haz●…el given him by the Prophet of all the abominable wickednesse he should commit 2 Kings 8. 12 13 c. And likewise Ahab who was told from the Lord that if he went to war he should perish yet neither would take warning but went on and sped accordingly And also of the O●… world so that one were as good speak to liveless stones or senselesse plants or witless beasts as to such men for any thing they will be bettered by it Yea reason once debauched is worse then bru●…shnesse I see the savagest of all creatures Lions Tygers Bears c. by an instinct from Go●… came to seek the Ark as we see swine foreseeing a storm run home crying for shelter not one man do I see except Noah and his family So none b●…t the well-affected whose hearts it pleaseth the Lord to change will be the better for what they have heard of Gods goodness and their ingratitude see 1 Sam. 10. 26. 4. They have been too long sick of sin to be recovered and will rather be confounded then reformed they have brazen browes stiffe necks uncircumcized eares blinded eyes 〈◊〉 and heavy hearts obdura●… souls as strong as a stone and as hard as a neather mil stone Ezek. 11. 1●… by reason whereof it comes to passe that those who are filthy will be filthy still in spite both of Law and Gospel Yea they are stark dead to all ordinary means which is an infallible signe of their eternal ruine as they may see both by testimonies Deut. 17. 12. Prov. 29. 1. and 1. 24 25 26. Heb. 10. 28. Hos. 4. 14 17. Isai. 57. 17. And likewise by pregnant examples 1 Sam. 2. 22 to 26. 2 Chron. 25. 16 20. What should I more say If thou beest an habituated sinner blinded or forestalled with prejudice resolved to go on in thy wickedness and do as others do without either conscience of sin or guidance of reason Thou are dead in sin and not on●…ly dead as ●…us daughter was Matth. 9. 25. Nor onely dead ●…id out and coffin'd as the wi●…owes son of Na●…m was Luke 7. ●…4 But dead coffin'd and buried as Lazarus vvas Iohn the 11. 39. even till thou stinkest in the nostrils of God and all good men So that I have no other message to

course of his so just and so long continued proceedings Yea he binds it with an Oath that whomsoevr he redeemeth out of the hands of their spiritual enemies they shall worship him in holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of their lives Luk. 1. 73 74 75. 1 Pet. 2. 24. Which Scriptures sufficiently shew that they who in life wil yield no obedience to the Law shall in death have no benefit by the Gospel Nor ought any indeed to profess Christ or once to name him wit●… their mouths except they depart from iniquity 2 Tim. 2. 19. 5. The which Scriptures if they be true and they fall short of the Devils that deny it Iam. 2. 19. what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation and godlinesse as the Apostle speaks 2 Pet. 3. 11. And yet most men live as if the Gospel were quite contrary to the rule of the Law as if God were neither to be feared nor cared for as if they were neither beholding to him nor stood in aw●… of him both out of his debt and danger yea as if there were no God to judge nor Hell to punish nor Heaven to reward And which mightily aggravates their sin and will add to their torment let some Boanerges be sent unto them with a message from God it fares with them as with the Adder no charming can charm them The strongest commands the loudest denunciations of judgements the shrillest and sweetest promulgations of mercies will do no good upon them For while they are in Dal●…lahs lap and lie sleeping like Drones by the hearth of hell they think themselves as safe as if they were in Abrahams bosom Their Adamantine hearts will neither yield to the fire nor to the hammer admit of no impression yea let them hear of never so many judgments they tremble and rele●…t no more then the seats they sit on or the stones they tread on Even the declaration of sins denunciation of judgements description of torments and the like no more stir them then a tale moves one in a dream their sup●…ne stupidity is no more capable of excitation then the Sea Rocks are of moti●…n or the Billowes of compassion which would make one even tremble to think of it CHAP. II. 1. But what is the reason why men make no more use of these Predictions of this warning but that as neer as can be computed one of two are lascivious or voluptuous two of three drunkards ●…n Gods account nine of ten cruel unjust persons nineteen of twenty swearers twenty nine of thirty Athiests thirty nine of forty ignorant wretches forty nine of fifty covetous ninety nine of an hundred open or secret enemies to the power of Religion and contemners of holinesse For certainly what God in these three particulars hath revealed in his Word cannot be unknown to any among us that hate not the light for every house almost hath a Bible and Christ hath continued his Gospel amongst us now neer upon an hundred years with such supply of able Ministers that no Nation under Heaven may compare with us 2. I might give you many reasons of this as that they were born stark dead in sin and they thank God they are no changelings that they are as good as their Fore-fathers or those among whom they live and they neither desire to be better nor wiser yea it were a ridiculous singularity so to be That the custome of sin hath brawned their hearts and blinded their minds That they 〈◊〉 as Satan their God 2 Cor. 4. 4. and Father job 8. 44. and King or Prince Eph. 2. 2. would have them to do That they will either not hear the Word for I think I may say that one half of the men and women in the Kingdome come not once a year within the Church-doors I mean the poorer sort that do not know they have soules It were good they were compelled to hear the Word preached for the wicked like sullen children would not forsake their play for their meat but for the Rod of Correction And many Saints in heaven might now confess that they had not known God but for the Laws First compulsory means brought them to the feast whereof once tasting they would never leave it Compel them to come in c. Luk. 14. 23. Or if they do hear the Word and understand it in some measure they will not apply it to themselves That they will not receive the truth in love that they might be saved are therefore given over to strong delusions to believe lies That they will not by any means that Christ can use understand be converted and saved therefore they shall not understand nor be converted nor saved Isai. 6. 9 10. Matth. 13. 15. That they harden their own hearts whereupon their hearts are more hardned That because they will not regard nor retein God in their thoughts God gives them over to a reprobate minde Rom. 1. 28. That because they will not take the Spirits counsel the Spirit gives them up to walk in their own counsels Ier. 9. 14. That they wil believe Satan rather then God therefore God delivers them up to Satan so to be deluded that the light of the glorious Gospel shall not shine unto them 2 Cor. 4. 3 4. Eph. 2. 2. 2 Thes. 2. 9 10. 1 Tim. 4. 7. That they are not as they ought and as it was in the Primitive times cast out of the Church and all Christian society by excommunication as dirt into the street 1 Cor. 5. 4 5. 1 Tim. 1. 20. Rom. 16. 17 18. 2 Thes. 3. 6. 1 Tim. 6. 5. 2 Tim. 3. 5. That they do as their flattering False Prophets teach them That they think they have as good hearts as the best and therefore follow that deceitful guide That they are not ver●…t in the Scriptures at least they understand not the spirituality of the Word nor have they the Spirit to convince them of sin But I have largely handled these upon other occasions wherefore I will passe them and onely give you this one and I pray minde it 3. Wicked men and such are all natural and unregenerate persons whether loose Liberlines or rich worldlings or civil Iusticiaries or formal hypocrites or profound humanists or cunning Politicians are so blockish and void of spiritual understanding that they will not believe what is written till they feel what is written nothing will fully confute them but ●…re brimstone Sin shuts their eyes and only punishment can open them Nor will they once think of Heaven till with that rich man they are tormented in the flames of hell but even that rich man that had so little care of his own soul during life when he was in hell-torments took care for his Brethrens not out of charity but because as he had by his perswasion ill example bin the occasion of their greater sin so they by continuing in those sins should be the occasion of his more grievous torment

sincerity Psal. 16. 11. they would be more obedient upon earth CHAP. III. 1. WHat believe the former Scriptures and nothing appear in mens lives in the whole Land almost but pride covetousness cruelty damnable Hypocrisie prophaning of the Sabbath cursed swearing and cursing abominable and worse then beast-like drunkenness adultery lying slandering persecuting contempt of Religion and all goodness grinding of faces like edged tools spilling of blood like water racking of Rents detension of Wages and workmens hire incredible cruelty to Servants inclosing of Commons ingrossing of Commodities griping exactions with straining the advantages of greatness unequal levies of legal payments spiteful suits biling usury bribery perjury partiality sacriledge simoniacal contracts and soul-murder scurrility and prophaneness cozening in bargains breaking of promises perfidious underminings Luxury wantonness contempt of Gods Messengers neglect of his Ordinances violation of his days and the like as if these were fruits of faith not of Atheism rather 2. Yea as if we had contracted with the Devil that we would abuse all Gods gifts so fast as they come his blessings make us proud his riches covetous his peace wanton his meats intemperate his mercy secure And all his benefits serve us but as weapons to rebel against him so that we turn his grace into wantonness and make a trade of sin yea it is our least ill to do evil for behold we speak for it joy in it boast of it tempt and inforce to it yea mock them that dislike it as if we would send challenges into heaven and make love to destruction 3. And yet we are Christians forsooth I am even ashamed to think that men that rational men should be such Sots or suffer Satan so to gull and beguile them Certainly men are stark mad for otherwise how could it be how were it possible that our eares should be alwayes open to the Tempter shut to our Maker and Redeemer That we should do nothing else but sin and make others sin too That all our thoughts words and works should be the services of the world the flesh and the Devil Yea that we should be even mockers of all that march not under the pay of the Devil And yet fancie our selves the servants of God and followers of Christ Will God be thus mockt O abominable blindness for I dare refer my self to the worst of men that have reasonable souls As let a very Hea●hen read the Gospel compare the rules thereof with our lives he must ●eeds conclude that either it is not Christs Gospel or we are not Christians 4. O that men would come to themselves as it is said of the repent●ng Prodigal Luke 15. 17. And recover their wits again that they have ●ost by the fall and the long custome of sin And then they would clearly ●ee and confess as all that truly fear God know that whatsoever they ●●y or think of themselves they do not in deed and in truth believe a ●eity for if they did how durst they exercise their saucy wits in prophane ●coffs at Religion and disgrace that blood whereof hereafter they would ●ive a thousand worlds for one drop How durst they tear Heaven with ●heir blasphemies and bandy the dreadful Name of God in their im●ure and polluted mouthes by their bloody oaths and execrations How ●ould they be such witless graceless and shameless miscreants as to swear ●nd curse even as Dogs bark yea they have so sworn away all grace ●hat they count it a grace to swear And are so far from believing that the curse of God shall never depart from the house of the swearer And that ●imself will be a swift witness against swearers That the Lord hath a great ●ontroversie with the inhabitants of the Land because of swearing and ●hat of all other sinners they shall not be found guiltless that take his Name ●n vain And that the Land mourns because of Oaths as the Scripture speaks Zach. 5. 1 to 5. Exod. 20. 7. Hos. 4. 1 2. Jor. 23. 10. that as I said before they think to be saved by the same wounds and blood which they swear by and so often swear away And lest they should not themselves soon enough fill up the measure of ●heir wickedness even Boyes in the streets have learn'd of them to wrap ●ut oaths as frequently as they and no man so much as reprove or finde fault with them yea through the Parents accustomary swearing their children have learn'd to speak English and oaths together so to blaspheme God almost as soon as he hath made them So that we may well wonder ●hat the Land sinketh not under us because of Oathes As ô the numberless number of Oaths Blasphemies that this Land groans under which are spit out as it were in defiance of God and al his prohibitions to the con●rary 5. But the case is so clear that I dare refer it to themselves in their sober fits for their consciences cannot chuse but tell them at one time or ●ther when they are alone and at leasure to hear it that either they believe there is no God at all or else that God is not just true nor speaks as he means in his Word which is worse Or if they do believe that he is a just and true God they believe also that they shall be punished as he threatens for their impenitency and provoking of him and they provoke ●im that they may be punished which is worst of all But behold the just ●udgement of God upon the wilfully blinded and obstinate who payes them in their own coin ● they will not see nor hear nor understand nor be converted nor saved but wink with their eyes stop thei●… eares stifle their consciences harden their hearts and believe Satan rather then God walk in their own counsels Therefore saith God the●… shall not see nor hear nor understand nor apply any wholesome truth 〈◊〉 themselves nor be converted nor saved as may plainly be seen by the●… ensuing Scriptures Prov. 28. 14. Exod. 7. 3 22. 10. 20. 14. 8. Isa. 6. 9 10. Psal. 69. 23. Jer. 51. 9. Mat. 13. 15. Ioh. 12. 37 39 40. Rom. 1. 21 to 33. 11. 8●…Acts 28. 27. 2 Thess. 2. 10 11 12. 2 Cor. 4. 3 4. Heb. 3. 8. It is exceeding remarkable how God for this cause inflicteth more spiritual judgements upon this Age and Nation then ever we read of I fe●… few consider it as they ought Wicked men will needs harden themselves without cause therefore they shall have cause enough As ha●… they ever since the world began such cause to speak evil of the way o●… Truth if I may so speak and the Professors thereof as now they have by reason of the many and abominable errours broached and maintained The bitter enmity that is between the very people of God about things no●… fundamental The foul mouths of many whose Religion and zeal is to●… rail upon the most godly able and Orthodox Ministers

he that hath ears let him bear and he that hath wit let him consider and lay it to heart how thankful a people we are And not onely ye ô inhabitants of this our Jerusalem and Judah would I have to judge between Christ and his Vineyard what he could have done for us more then he hath done Isaiah 5. 4 to 8. But heare ye also ô heavens and give eare ô earth be astonished at it and horribly afraid that this foolish people and unwise should so requite the Lord Jer. 2. 11 c. Isai. 1. 2 to 9. and Verse 15 to 25. Deut. 32. 6 c. Oh my Brethren Englands unthankfulness hath striven with Gods goodness for the victory as Absalom strove with David whether the Father should be more kinde to the son or the son more unkinde to the Father We have been fatted with his blessings and then spurned at his precepts resembling the Leopard who wrongs them most that give him most fodder 2. But why do I call it unthankfulness when our sin is many degrees beyond ingratitude it self For not to confesse a benefit is the utmost confine of unthankfulnesse meer ingratitude returnes nothing for good but we return evil yea the greatest and most malicious evil for the greatest and most admired love Argue with all the World and they will conclude there is no vice like ingratitude But we are more ingrateful to God then can be exprest by the best Oratour alive It was horrible ingratitude which the chief Butler shewed to Joseph Gen. 41. 9. which the nine Lepérs shewed to Christ Luk. 17. 17 18. which the men of Succoth and Penuel shewed to Gideon Judg. 8. 6 8. which those five spies shewed to Micha Judg. 18. 14 18. It was worse which the Israelites shewed to Gideons seed Judg. 9. 17 18. which Michael Thraulus shewed to Leo the Emperour which Justinianus shewed to that renowned Captain Bellizarius It was yet worse which Popilius shewed to Cicero which Lycaon shewed to his stranger guests that came to him for relief It was worst of all in the Jews to scourge and crucifie Christ who did them good every way for he healed their diseases fed their bodies enlightened their mindes of God became Man and lived miserably amongst them many years that he might save their souls though in killing him they did their utmost to sink the onely ship that could save them But all these fall far short of our ingratitude to God for his maintenance we take and live on the bread we eat the air we breath the cloaths we weare all are his 3. That we are out of Hel there to fry in flames never to be freed●… That we have the free offer of grace here and everlasting glory hereafter in Heaven where are such joyes as eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither hath entred into the heart of man to conceive 1 Cor. 2. 9. we are beholding to him Yet we not onely deny this Lord that hath bought us as every one does that prefers Mammon or any other thing before him but we hate him as he doth hate and not love God that loves what he hates or hates what he loves but most spightfully and maliciously fight on Salans and sins side against him and persecute his Children and the truth with all our might perswading and enforcing others ●…o do the same even wishing that we could pull him out of his Throne rather then to admit him our just Judge And all this against knowledge and conscience after illumination I wish men would a little think of it and then if this will not melt their hearts no hope that any other means should do it but perish they must 4. I confess I have small hope that what hath been said of Gods love and our odious unthankfulness his goodness and our ingratitude which being seriously considered were enough to bring the whole world upon their knees should make them any whit ashamed or the better because their blockishness is such that they think themselves good enough and that ●…o doubt of it or strive to be more holy were but a foolish and needless scrupulosity Yea they prefer their condition before other mens that are so consciencious A thing strange yet it is so For although there be not a leaf in the sacred Volume but hath matter against a voluptuous life none for it For to please flesh and blood is the Doctrine of the Devill Yet how do a world of men stifle their consciences and force themselves to believe if it were possible that in case men will not swear drink drunk conform to their lewd customes and the like they are over-precise and that God will like a man the worse for his being the better or for having of a tender Conscience And that he looks for less fear reverence and obedience from his servants then we do from our servants and yet hold that a servant can never be too punctual in his obedience to his Masters lawful commands They think it not enough for themselves to prefer the pleasing of their senses before the saving of their souls and to venture tasting the forhidden fruit at the price of death eternal but they account them fools that do otherwise CHAP. VII 1. OMy brethren it is not to be believed how blinde and blockish men are that have hardened their hearts and seared their consciences with accustomary sinning for albeit I have informed them how dangerous their estate is that they might plainly see it truly fear it and timely prevent it yet I have very little hope to do any good upon them For first These lines to them are but as so many Characters writ in the water which leave no impression behinde them as being like one that beholdeth his natural face in a glass who when he hath considered himself goeth his way and forgetteth immediately what manner of one he was James 1. 23 24. or like some silly Fly which being beat from the Candle an hundred times and oft singed therein yet will return to it again until she be consumed Prov. 23. 35. All those Beasts which went into the Ark unclean came likewise out unclean Secondly Though these sparks of grace may kindle piety in others yet not in them for they are out of all hope of being healed For what is light to them that will shut their eyes against it or reason to them that will stop their ears from hearing it and men of their condition do on purpose ●…op their ears and wink with their eyes l●…st they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts and so should be converted as our Saviour shews Matth. 13. 15. and St. Paul Acts 28. 27. yea it 's well if they do not carp and fret against the Word and persecute the Messengers as Herod did John Baptist Demetrius Paul and the false Prophets Jeremiah And how should not that patient perish who after he is launced flies from the Chirurgeon before