Sin Stigmatized, Part 1 · Section 143
§ 143
IT is Sathans method, VVicked men are altogether in extreames either God is ſo mercifull that they may live h…w they liſt, or ſo juſt, that he wil not pardon them upon their repentance.firſt, to make men ſo ſenſeleſſe, as not to feele their ſins at all; and then ſo deſperate, that they feele them too much. In the firſt fit, men live, as if there were no Hell; in the laſt, they dye, as if there were no Heaven. While their conſciences are aſleepe, they never trouble them; but being ſtirred by Sathan, (who, when he ſees his time, unfolds his Ephemerides, and leaves not the leaſt of all their ſinfull actions unanatomized, but quoats them like a cunning Regiſter, with every particular circumſtance, both of time and place) they are fierce, as a maſtive Dog and ready to pul out their throat…. This Serpent may bee benummed for a time, through extreamity of cold, but when once revived, it will ſting to death.
The Divell is like Dalilah, who ſaid to Sampſon, the Philistims be upon thee, when it was too late, and ſhe had taken away his ſtrength, Iudges 16.
Wicked men are altogether in extreams; at firſt, they make queſtion, whether this or that be a ſin; at laſt, they apprehend it ſuch a ſin, that they make queſtion whether it can bee forgiven: either God is ſo mercifull, that they may live how they liſt; or ſo juſt, that hee will not pardon them, upon their repentance: no meane with them, betweene the Rocke of preſumption, and the Gulfe of deſpaire: now preſumption encourageth it ſelfe, by one of a thouſand; and deſpaire, will not take a thouſand for one. If a thouſand men be aſſured to paſſe over a Foord ſafe, and but one to miſcarry, deſperation ſayes, I am that one; and if a thouſand Veſſels muſt needs miſcarry in a Gulfe, and but one eſcapes, preſumption ſayes, I ſhall be that one: as we read of but one ſinner, that was converted at the laſt howre, of millions that had leſſe iniquity, yet have found leſſe mercy.
But ſee further the ſtrength of their argument. Objection of the thief upon the croſſe anſwered.The Thiefe was ſaved at the laſt howre; and therefore, I ſhall. Thou maiſt as well conclude, the Sunne ſtood ſtill in the dayes of Ioſhua; therfore, it ſhall doe ſo in my dayes: for it was a miracle, with the glory whereof, our Saviour would honour the ignominy of his Croſſe: and wee may almoſt as well expect a ſecond crucifying of Chriſt, as ſuch a ſecond Thiefes converſion at the laſt howre. Hee were a wiſe man that ſhould ſpurre his Beaſt till hee ſpeake, becauſe Baalams Beaſt did once ſpeake: yet even ſo wiſe, and no wiſer is hee, that makes an ordinary rule, of an extraordinary example.
Againe, the Thiefe was ſaved, at the very inſtant of time when our Saviour triumphed on the Croſſe, tooke his leave of the world, and entered into his glory. Now it is uſuall with Princes, to ſave ſome heinous malefactors at their Coronation, when they enter upon their Kingdomes in triumph; which they are never knowne to doe afterwards. Beſides, the Scripture ſpeaks of another, even his fellow in that very place, and at that very inſtant, which was damned. There was one ſaith S. Auguſtine, that none might deſpaire; there was but one, that none ſhould preſume. That ſuddaine converſion of one, at the laſt howre, was never intended, in Gods purpoſe, for a temptation; neither will any, that have grace, make mercy a Cloak or warrant to ſinne; but rather a ſpurre, to incite them to godlineſſe; well knowing, that to wait for Gods performance, in doing nothing, is to abuſe that Divine providence, which will ſo worke, that it will not allow us idle: and yet by Sathans policie, working upon wicked mens depraved judgements, and corrupt hearts, in wreſting this Scripture, it hath proved, by accident, the loſſe of many thouſand ſoules.
The fleſh propheſies proſperity to ſin, yea, life and ſalvation, as the Pope promiſed the Powder traitors, but death and damnation (which Gods Spirit threatens) will prove the crop they will reape; for God is true, and all fleſh is a lyer.