may not shine into their hearts 3. Christ rejoyces in and gives thanks for such a Dispensation because the power of God is magnified herein He shews himself to be the mighty Lord of Heaven and Earth in revealing these things unto Babes In making the simple wise unto salvation elevating their weak Understandings to a saving apprehension of those matters which the wisest and most learned of themselves are not capable of attaining unto He shews the power of his own grace to be far above the force of Nature when raised to its highest pitch and glory When he makes things that are not do more than things that are enables them that have not Logick enough to perceive the force of an argument in other matters 1 Cor. 2.4 yet understand the demonstration of the Spirit V. 14 which the most learned cannot know because 't is spiritually discern'd those that can't search into the vulgar Subjects of Philosophy much less into the abstruser parts of it see into the profound depths of the Divine Wisdom those whose discourses on all other Arguments are weak and trifling yet can speak of God Christ Heaven and the great things of the Gospel in such an admirable manner that the best Scholars may not only be astonisht at them as the Rulers were when they perceived Peter and John were ignorant and unlearned men Acts 4.13 but be instructed by them too as Priscilla the Wife of a poor Tent-maker Acts 18.3 26. expounded the way of the Lord more perfecty to an Eloquent Apollos Those that are not able to dive into the cunning Intriegues of States-men shall pierce into the infinitely deeper Counsels of God's Will Those that can't manage the Affairs of this life with common discretion but are easily over-reach'd by their Neighbours in every business yet are not ignorant of Satan's devices nor entangled by the cunning craftiness of them that lie in wait to deceive them to their eternal ruine Those that are dull and heavy in other matters Is 11.3 Is 35.8 yet are of a quick understanding in the fear of the Lord and tho fools yet they err not in the way of holiness in which the unclean tho never so knowing cannot pass He that doth these things declares himself to be a God that worketh wonders Behold God exalteth himself by his Power Job 36.22 who teacheth like him that makes dull Scholars understand in writing by his Hand upon them 1 Chron. 28.19 how to perform those Duties and excel in those Graces which the greatest Men of this World can't so much as know what to make of much less can they imitate To be humble in Prosperity to live by Faith in Adversity James 1.9 10. for a Brother of high Degree to rejoyce when he is brought low as much as other Men when they are raised up to love the most bitter Enemies and hate the dearest Friends and Relations Hab. 3.17 when there is no fruit in their Vines yet to sit chearfully under their Shadow rejoycing in the Lord and joying in the God of their Salvation to set their Affections on things above while they are here below have their Conversation in Heaven while they dwell on Earth to be killed all the day long Coloss 3.3 and yet believe their Life is hid with Christ in God where their Enemies Swords can't reach them to be diligent in their Callings and yet careful for nothing to bear Burdens and yet cast them all upon God carefully to preserve their Lives and yet hate them too and desire Death longing to depart and be with Christ to be meek under Reproach and Injury when smitten on the one Cheek to turn not to requite the Affront but offer the other also to the same Indignity In a word to live by the Spirit walk by the Strength do the Will and design the Glory not of themselves but of another whom they never saw yet they love 1 Pet. 1.8 in whom tho now they see him not yet they believe and rejoyce and that sometimes with joy unspeakable and full of Glory These are things which God by his teaching enables many simple Men to do things that the Wise and Prudent can't so much as understand but gaze and wonder at them as if they were not only Mysteries and Riddles but Impossibilities and Contradictions when they hear us mention them we are Barbarians to them and speak a Language which they know not He that doth all this teaches with a wonderful Authority and a mighty Power 4. Christ rejoyces and gives thanks because in such a Dispensation the Soveraignty of God is declared This is an Attribute that Men do not much care to hear of as if it were like those Flourishes and Pictures that we see in Maps placed there to fill up some void room but of no real use And 't is very remarkable that for preaching this very Doctrin of the Soveraignty of God in the free distribution of his special Favours without any regard to human Worth or Excellency Christ himself was in danger of being murther'd Luke 4.25 For when he discoursed to the Men of Nazareth about one only Widow and she of Sarepta fed by Elijah and one Naaman and he a Syrian too cured by him there being many Widows and Lepers and they in Israel also who were passed by tho they might one would have thought have pretended a better Title to such a Favour than these uncircumcised Gentiles the Men of the place were filled with Indignation against a Preacher of such Doctrin v. 29. and endeavoured to cast him down headlong from the brow of the Hill. But vain Men may think as they please this is one Letter of Gods Name which he himself did not leave out when he proclaimed it and caused his Glory and Goodness to pass before Moses Exod. 33.19 I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious Christ himself in my Text rises up as high as this Well-head and acquiesces in this even so Father for so it seemed good in thy sight And hither must we resort for Satisfaction and here must we rest at last If a Reason be asked of any Person absolutely consider'd Why is God savingly made known unto him It do's not savour of Evangelical Humility nor a Gospel Spirit to say Because he was more worthy or as some mince the matter because he was less unworthy Rom. 9.16 The Scripture answer is 'T is not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth but of God that sheweth Mercy Titus 3.5 according to his meer Mercy and Grace and not for any Works of Righteousness which he hath done If the Question be asked of any one absolutely consider'd Why are not Gospel Truths savingly made known to him 'T is a Truth that will stop his Mouth and his own Conscience will attest it by sinning against natural Light and common Grace he hath deserved it and there is no unrighteousness in God. But
A SERMON Preached before the RIGHT HONOURABLE Sir JOHN SHORTER Knight Lord Mayor OF THE CITY of LONDON AT GROCERS-HALL February the 12 th 1687 / 8. By Nathanael Taylor Published by his Lordships Command LONDON Printed for Thomas Cockeril at the Three Legs in the Poultry 1688. To the Right Honourable Sir JOHN SHORTER Knight Lord Mayor OF THE CITY of LONDON MY LORD HAD I been at liberty to have followed my own Inclinations the ensuing Discourse had been thrown by and lain neglected in my own Study only But having received your Commands for the Publishing as well as the Preaching of it I here present it to your Lordship being resolved there shall be no defects in my Obedience how many soever there may be in my Sermon But it 's not the design of this Dedication to make Apologies or which is another common place usually insisted on write a Panegyric They are generally Hypocrites that blow Trumpets before other Men as well as they that of old did it before themselves If you take care that your Works shall praise you and your own Conscience approve and commend you this will afford you a solid Satisfaction when the good Words of Men only will no more comfort than the Breath wherewith they utter them will nourish you And that your Lordship and your Honourable Brethren may manage your Selves and all your Affairs in that Station wherein Providence hath set you so as to secure this to your selves prevent the Reproaches of Conscience and live down those of malicious Men that this great City and Religion may flourish under your prudent and just Administration is and shall be the Daily Prayer of MY LORD Your most Obedient and Faithful Servant Nathanael Taylor A SERMON Preached before the RIGHT HONOURABLE THE Lord Mayor c. LUKE X. 21. In that Hour Jesus rejoyted in Spirit and said I thank thee O Father Lord of Heaven and Earth that thou hast hid these things from the Wise and Prudent and hast revealed them unto Babes even so Father for so it seemed good in thy sight HE that shall seriously consider the many express Prophecies concerning the Messiah the great and incredible Diligence wherewith every Iota and Tittle of them was preserved and the general Expectation among all forts of men in Judaea of his Coming and Kingdom about our Saviour's Time would be apt to think that our Lord would have been as joyfully welcomed and entertained by them as the first Approaches of the Sun are by those that have been buried in Darkness for many Months together in the remoter parts of the Earth And that as he was usher'd into the World with the Hallelujahs of Angels so he would have been received with the Hosannas of the Wisest of Men. But he that is in the least acquainted with the History of our Saviour as recorded by all the Four Evangelists will easily see Joh. 1.11 that tho he came to his Own yet his Own received him not and that tho when he went out of the World the Dead indeed arose as if they would present him with their Sepulchres yet as for the Living while he was in the World they would not afford him a Place wherein to lay his Head. He had indeed approved himself to be a Teacher sent from God for never did any Man speak the Words or do the Things which he had done and yet the Generality reject him and especially the Sons of Wisdom and of Learning did most furiously oppose him He opened the Eyes of the Blind yet the Pharisees would not see the truth of his Doctrine He cured the Dumb but this was his Reward from the Scribes he himself was spoken against He unstopped the Ears of the Deaf but yet the Rulers would not hear him He removed the Diseases of their Bodies with greater ease than the Errors and Prejudices of their Minds The Spiritual Wickednesses in those high places were the only Evil Ones that would not be subject to him Ephes 6.12 Nay as if those raging Devils which he had cast out of others had entred into them they blaspheme and revile him and their Doctors sate in the Chair of Scorners as well as in the seat of Moses Whilst they that followed him were few in number mean and ignorant despicable as well for their understanding as for their quality Both of which things were very popular prejudices and mightily improved against him to discourage men from owning and submitting to him But yet our Blessed Lord was so far from being dejected and troubled in mind at this that on the contrary as the Evangelist tells us in the words I have now read In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit c. wherein we have these five things 1. The inward motion of Christ's Soul and the external effect or expression of it He rejoiced in spirit and such a passion must have some vent makes him break silence and with an audible voice give thanks 2. The time when this happen'd In that hour which calls us to cast our eye back on the foregoing Verses Ver. 1 And therein we find our Saviour sending forth his Seventy Disciples to preach the Gospel and giving them directions how to behave themselves towards those that receiv'd their Message From ver 3 to 11. From v. 12 to 16. and those that rejected it Then he upbraids and threatens the Cities of Corazin Bethsaida and Capernaum for their impenitence under all those means of Grace which they enjoyed And immediately upon this St. Mat. 11.25 26. V. 17 Matthew brings in our Saviour uttering the same words with those in my Text. But St. Luke that gives us an account of our Saviour's using these expressions at a different time from what St. Matthew speaks of inserts an account of the return of the Seventy Disciples and their being puft up with the success of their Ministry because not only V. 17 diseases but Devils themselves were subject to them Our Saviour hereupon corrects that carnal joy and turns this wandring stream into its right channel and directs them to rejoice in that which was a solid reason and foundation of joy viz. because their Names were written in Heaven V. 20 And then he instructs them by his example as he had done by his words for seriously reflecting upon that scorn and contempt wherewith the Scribes and learned Pharisees rejected his Doctrine and the meanness of them that embraced it in that hour he rejoiced in spirit for that revelation of Divine Mysteries that God had made unto them which he denied unto others 3. The subject matter or reason of Christ's joy and thanksgiving Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes These things i.e. the knowledg of thy self and me which he mentions in the next Verse and those Mysteries of thy Kingdom which I have declared V. 22 and on which eternal salvation doth depend Thou hast hid from some revealed to others By considering
the latter of these words we shall the better understand the former of them Thou hast revealed them He doth not speak of an external revelation for that was not the peculiar privilege of some few only Christ having preached them publickly and plainly in the ears of all the people but of an internal revelation enabling them in a spiritual and practical manner to apprehend those Divine Truths that were outwardly proposed to them And consequently by the hiding these things from others we must understand the denying them that special Grace which might open their minds to see the glory of Divine Mysteries and their hearts to feel the transforming power of them leaving them to their own obstinate wilful ignorance to the lusts of their own hearts and the power of Satan to blind and harden them Thou hast hid these things from the Wise and Prudent Men of great Parts worldly Wisdom humane Learning such as the Scribes and Pharisees were And revealed them to Babes The word properly signifies those that are young in years but being opposed to the Wise and Prudent must be understood of those that are as young Children use to be weak in understanding as Christ's Disciples were 4. The notion under which Christ directs his thanksgiving to his Father for this thing that of Lord of Heaven and Earth which is a title very sutable to the matter insisted on and denotes his absolute Dominion and his infinite Power q. d. It was not for want of ability or of right that thou hast not done otherwise Thou didst act like one who hadst all power in thy hand in thus revealing these thy Mysteries unto Babes and by the same Almighty Power couldst have shined into the hearts of the Wise and Prudent who are thy Creatures also But thou art at liberty to chuse or pass by according as seems good in thy own eyes 5. Christ's approbation of and acquiescence in this dispensation on this account because it was the gracious pleasure of God. Even so Father for so it seemed good in thy sight From the words thus open'd many Doctrines might be raised but I shall take notice of one only Doct. The saving revelation of divine things is usually bestowed on mean and inferior persons and denied nied to the wise and prudent that enjoy the same outward means with them In the handling this Doctrine I shall I. Explain and confirm this Truth II. Shew upon what account this was matter of joy and thanksgiving unto Christ III. Apply all I. I shall explain and confirm this Truth And here 1. As to a notional Knowledge Divine things are so far from being hid from the Wise and Prudent that they are more fully understood by them than any of these weaker ones Daily experience shews us there are many of the Disputers of this World that have a more exact scheme of Divine Truths in their heads than thousands of holy Souls They have such an understanding of Divine Matters as they have of Humane Arts and Sciences Can talk acurately and learnedly about them to the reviving the hearts of some and stopping the mouths of others Tho indeed the great things of God and Christ the Precepts Promises and Threatnings of the Word have not that sound in their ears nor that holy influence on their hearts and lives as they have on many inferior persons They do not see them with life and affection they do not tast the sweetness nor feel the power of them they have not the relish and savour of them on their spirits They do not receive them with respect and veneration with that love delight and holy obedience as those of weaker capacities do All the knowledg that is in them is but like those Lamps that have been discover'd in some Tombs still there are dead bones stench and rottenness within and there the Carcase lies dead and unactive in the very same place and posture notwithstanding all that light that surrounds it 2. Wisdom and Prudence do not in themselves obstruct the saving revelation of Divine Things nor doth the want of them qualify any for the receiving it Humane Wisdom and Learning are the Gifts of God and the proper ornaments of our rational Faculties like a crown of flame to a burning Taper And therefore so far are such excellent qualifications from hindring any in their own nature from an hearty embracing Christianity that if we consider how plainly the Doctrines of the Gospel are revealed how undeniably they are proved to be from Heaven how excellently suited to the distressed state of an Apostate World with what exquisite Wisdom the whole is contriv'd to the admiration of all the glorious Angels how reasonable its commands are how glorious its promises how terrible its threatnings 't is a very amazing thing that men of parts and abilities to weigh and consider things and discern their own Interest should not readily entertain them These noble things are not obstructions to it in themselves but those lusts and that pride that too generally accompany them like rust cleaving unto silver and gold Nor doth the want of these qualify any man for saving Knowledge Nay on the contrary it renders men naturally more unapt and uncapable as well as more unworthy of it As the Woman of Samaria said to our Saviour the Well is deep John 4.11 and the shorter the line is so much the more unlikely it is in it self to reach to the bottom for the drawing up of living Waters If any have the advantage it should be men of quick parts for such generally take a thing presently as spirits immediately catch fire whereas things do not enter so easily nor pierce so deeply into those that are naturally dull and slow of understanding If the Iron be blunt much pains must be taken in whetting the edge Eccl. 10.10 or more strength put forth in the using it 3. The saving knowledge of Divine things is not denied to all that are wise and prudent nor given to all inferior Persons Some renowned for wisdom and learning have been of Christ's Retinue Some curiously carved Pieces have been in our Father's House that have exceedingly grac'd and adorn'd it Sacred Records inform us of Joseph of Arimathaea a rich man and an honourable Councellour Acts 13.7 of Nicodemus a Master in Israel of Sergius Paulus a prudent man of a profoundly learned Paul an eloquent Apollos and in the succeeding Ages there have been some others of a great name that have known the truth as it is in Jesus Eph. 4.21 Some that have had the advantage of the higher ground have breath'd in a clear Air and been refresh'd with the beams of the Sun while more inconsiderable Persons like them that dwell in low and marish Grounds have been wrapt up in fogs and thick darkness The very dust of the Earth being raised by the Prince of the Air flew in Christ's face the common people I mean among the Jews who cried out Crucify him which
now take them comparatively and if you ask Why doth God reveal Divine Mysteries to two or three wise Men only in an Age and not to the rest Acts 26.24 Why to Paul the Scholar whom tho as Festus imagined much Learning had not made mad yet Rage against the Gospel made him exceedingly so and not to Gamaliel the Master a moderate and sober Man that gave very gentle Counsel in favour of the first Preachers of Christianity and was in great Reputation among all the People Or if you ask Acts 5.34 Why should God pass by the generality of wise Men pitch his Love upon and give his saving Grace unto inferiour Persons for the most part What could he not have torn off the Veil from the Heart of the one as well as of the other Was not the refidue of the Spirit with him Yes surely Mal. 2.15 for he is Lord of Heaven and Earth and hath all Power and all Hearts in his Hands He could have made the Dews of his saving Grace as Universal as the Drops of the Morning He could have made his Ministers have blown the Gospel Trumpet with such a Breath made it give so loud a sound that like the last Trump at the Mouth of an Angel it should have awakened all that are dead in Trespasses and Sins and made them to revive Why therefore hath he not done it If you answer he shews his Power Wisdom and Justice in leaving them under spiritual Darkness it may be replied these very Attributes of Wisdom and Power besides that of his infinite Goodness he might have glorified the other way and his Justice had a large Field to display it self in the punishment of Apostate Angels Why therefore hath he not done it You must Center in this at last because his Grace is free he is debtor to no Man he doth with his own what seemeth good in his own Eyes he fashions the same Lump of filthy and untemper'd Clay into what Vessels he pleases And who art thou Rom. 9.20 21. O Man that darest to dispute or reply against thy Maker Be still O proud Dust and know that he is God and a great King over all the Earth Bowels of Mercy made the Motion at first the Eye of Wisdom directed the Management of the whole the right Hand of Power was there to assist Justice did not open its Mouth to contradict and Soveraignty as it became that Attribute sate upon a glorious high Throne far above all the Heavens and from all Eternity selected the particular Persons whom according to the Counsel of its own Will it resolved should be infallibly brought to Salvation through the knowledg and belief of the Truth III. In the last place I shall briefly apply all 1. By way of Information in six Things 1. Hence learn 't is no great wonder there are so many Follies Weaknesses and Miscarriages among the sincere followers of Christ They are a plain simple illiterate sort of People for the most part that mind the Power of Religion and but few of the prudent Ones of this World among them And therefore tho they are wise as to the main in as much as they avoid the greatest Dangers and secure their biggest Interest yet it can't be expected they should manage themselves and all their Affairs according to the exact Rules of human Policy which they generally want and 't is not strange if in many single instances of a lower nature they frequently mistake their VVay and take many a false Step. A Mariner may have so much skill in Sea Affairs as to be able to steer his Ship thro' the main Ocean and make a good Voyage even to the Indies escaping the great Rocks and mighty Sands and yet not know the way into a particular Port so well as an ordinary Pilot of the place but be apt thro' mistake to run his Vessel a-ground where it may receive great Damage and be very difficultly brought off again 2. See one reason why the ablest Ministers are seldom so successful in their Work as those that are more meanly furnish'd Like Canon mounted too high they shoot over the Heads of inferiour Persons whom generally God hath ordained to eternal Life and so they beat the Air but batter down no strong Holds and are qualified to deal with the wise and more rational part of Mankind among whom God hath not much People nor Christ many Sheep The most Soveraign Remedies prepared according to Art shall have no Success John 9.6 when Clay and Spittle if Christ will but use it shall restore Sight to those blind Creatures on whom he hath resolved the Works of God shall be made manifest v. 3. 3. See the Vanity of that Objection against serious Religion drawn from the meanness of those that sincerely embrace it when the far greatest part of the famous Men are on the other side This is an old Engine of the Devils John 7.48 Have any of the Rulers or the Pharisees believed on him The weakness of this Argument appears from what hath been said And indeed if it be of any force against a sincere embracing of Christs ways it will hold good against the practice of common Morality For 't is very evident that multitudes of the wise and prudent Ones of this World are wholly eaten up with their Lusts as the choicest Trees are devour'd by Caterpillars 4. See the reason why weak Christians more stedfastly adhere to Christ his Ways and Truths in times of danger than the wise and prudent This saving Revelation of Divine Things fixes and establishes their Hearts and keeps them faster in the Faith than others can be held by meer dry Reason and naked Arguments so that tho they are none of the great Scholars of the World nor able to answer the specious Arguments of subtil Hereticks Mat. 24.24 yet 't is not possible that all the craft and policy of Hell should finally deceive them For they that are thus taught of God have a spiritual Sense and Judgment to discern between Good and Evil they inwardly know 1 John 2.20 21 27. and have a Witness within themselves of the truth of what this Vnction hath taught them And therefore as all Creatures Plants as well as Animals have a natural instinct whereby they draw to them what is proper for their Preservation and Nourishment but avoid what is destructive to them So these Persons to whom God hath spiritually reveal'd his Truths have a supernatural Instinct whereby they turn aside from pernicious Errors and unmovably retain the great Things of the Gospel with a mighty relish and savour They can't be beaten out of that Truth which hath been so plainly discover'd they know these things to be great Realities that have made such a deep Impression on their Hearts and tho they can't learnedly dispute they can couragiously die for them rather than deny them They will not be disputed out of them no more than a Man will
the Enemies Country while a powerful and well-disciplin'd Army under the conduct of a Politick General hovers about them watching all advantages to defeat them but 't is much more for his honour if he brings them off with victory When by the mouths of babes and sucklings God not only stills the enemy and the avenger Psalm 8.2 but conquers him too he perfects the praises of his own Power and Wisdom 4. The Wisdom and Goodness of God is shewn herein because hereby he prevents the meanest of his Creatures being discouraged from seeking after saving-knowledge Whatever the proud Sinners that are at ease in Sion may imagin yet to a poor convinced Soul that hath a lively view of the Divine Majesty and Greatness it seems almost incredible that ever the King of Kings should stoop so much below himself 1 Sam. 24.14 as to cast a favourable eye on such a Flea such a dead Dog as he who is sensible not only that he hath been the greatest of Sinners but is one of the meanest of Men and whosâ—â—bilities are so small or rather none that he can signify no more to the advancing his Interest than the very dust of the balance to the turning of the Scales Ps 50.21 We naturally think God is altogether such a one as our selves that we must have some good qualities to recommend us to his favour as well as to that of men None of us will trade to barren Countries and we fancy there can be no commerce between us and Heaven unless there be some excellency of our own native growth to invite and encourage it But now by this Dispensation God shews on the contrary how much he values the precious Souls of the lowest of his Creatures That he doth not do by the Treasures of his Wisdom and Knowledge as Princes do by those of their Earthly Substance lock them up from vulgar eyes but is ready to open his arms and his heart to those that humbly sit at his feet and are willing to learn of him how mean soever their state and condition may be So much for the Wisdom of God. II. Christ rejoyces and gives thanks because the hiding these things from the wise and prudent is an act of high justice in God. And that upon these three following accounts 1. Such men do despise and reject the Mysteries of the Gospel Tho there are many things in Nature which they cannot understand and dare not deny yet they are exceeding nice and tender about Mysteries in matters of Religion 'T is below men of their refined parts and piercing intellectuals to assent to any thing which they cannot grasp 't is for Children to swallow Physick which they do not understand They are subtil to evade the force of the strongest Arguments start many plausible Objections against the plainest truths which weaker heads never dream of smart and witty to represent them as contemptible and ridiculous The barren Sands cannot send up so many vapours to keep off the light of the Sun as the richer and fatter Soil does These are the Men that above all others have many high and proud thoughts and vain imaginations exalting themselves in their Souls against the knowledge of the Gospel and will not be brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ 2 Cor. 10.4 5. 2. With the greatest scorn they refuse the grand condition of the Gospel-Covenant To rely on Christ alone for Salvation when they have so many rare things of their own to depend on to stand begging at another's dore and with deep humility and brokenness of heart to sue for pardon and salvation meerly from the Mercy of God and the Merits of a Redeemer 't is such a mortification as their high Spirits can by no means endure to think or hear of Like foolish Children they have the advantage of the ground and therefore think themselves taller their heads touch the Clouds and are nearer Heaven than others To lye at the foot of a Crucified Saviour they judge a posture more suitable for those vile ones of the Earth that are not raised up out of the dust but as for them they will never be brought to it till like Paul they are struck down to the ground And even then too generally when they are convinced of their sins and pained at the heart about them they choose any other way to the Father and if they find themselves under a necessity of returning to God they will rather do it in their own names than his And this is the spring of all that Theism that begins to spread so much among these men in our days To look on all they have done or can do as dross and dung to lay aside their own wisdom and prudence for which they are so highly valued both by themselves and others to be justified by the Righteousness of another Phil. 3.3 to rejoice in Christ Jesus having no confidence in the flesh to be ruled and saved by him alone 't is not a thing suitable to the greatness of their minds They would fain be doing somewhat that should distinguish them from the dregs of the people and recommend them to the Divine favour and acceptance They are not more desirous that their own Wills should be their Lord's than that the Works of their own hands should be their Saviour's They bear up themselves on empty Bladders fill'd with nothing but wind and despise that Ark of God's building wherein alone they can avoid sinking in the storms of Divine Wrath and vengeance and tho glorified Saints in Heaven above Rev. 4.10 cast their Crowns at Christ's feet yet these haughty Sinners here below scornfully refuse to do it 3. They desperately hate the great duties of holiness That first and fundamental thing which is required as preparatory to our learning of Christ the renouncing our own Understandings Mat. 18.3 and becoming as little Children the mortifying of our beloved Lusts crucifying the Flesh with all its affections purifying the Heart loving our Enemies denying our selves taking up the Cross and suffering the loss of all things even their darling Reputation These are hard sayings against which their hearts exceedingly rise within them as a man's bloud would do at the sight of one that would murther his dearest Friend And when at any time any serious thoughts are flasht into their minds they run through their Souls like lightning through the Air which never warms it and quickly vanishes They close their eyes turn away their faces 't is the language of their hearts and lives Depart from us Job 21.14 we desire not the knowledg of these ways They love and cherish darkness rather than light John 3.19 because their deeds are evil Righteous therefore art thou O Lord just and true are thy Judgments O thou God of all Grace when thou sufferest the God of this World to blind the minds of these men 2 Cor. 4.4 that the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ