Exposition of Colossians, Sermons · Chapter 3 · Verse 6
VER. 6. For the which things ſakes, the wrath of God commeth on the children of diſobedience.
Vſe. Confutation of a Popiſh diſtinction.Our Apoſtle hauing verſe 5. laid before the Coloſſians his exhortation to mortifie ſinne, and reckoned vp ſome particular ſinnes, that they were to labour by all good meanes to mortifie in this ſixth verſe and in the ſeauenth following, he labours to ſtrengthen his exhortation, and to vrge it vponupon them, and that by two reaſons.
Reaſon. 1 The firſt is layd downe in this ſixth verſe, and it is taken from the dangerous and fearefull effects, that the ſinnes before ſpecified bring foorth, namely this, that they draw downe the wrath of God on men, the reaſon may thus be framed, thoſe ſinnes that bring downe Gods wrath are to be mortified, but the ſinnes before ſpoken of, bring downe the wrath of God, therfore they are to be mortified, & this reaſon is further enlarged, by expreſſing the perſons on whom theſe ſinnes bring downe the wrath of God (namely) on the children of diſobedience, and that is briefly the reference of this verſe to the former,Interpretation. and the ſumme of it.
For the which things ſakes &c. that is, for the which ſinnes ſakes before ſpoken of (the wrath of God) by the wrath or anger of God, wee are to vnderſtand the effects of his anger, his puniſhments, plagues, and iudgements in this world, but eſpecially the euerlaſting torments in hell, for it is frequent and vſuall in Scripture, to put the anger, or wrath of God for the effects of his anger, Romans 2.5. the Apoſtle ſayth, thou after thine hardneſſe, and heart that cannot repent, heapeſt vppe wrath, that is, heapeſt vppe puniſhments, and iudgements, as it may plainely appeare in the words following, againſt the day of wrath, &c. that is, againſt the day of iudgement, when the Lorde ſhall execute his iuſt iudgement on the wicked, when the Lord Ieſus ſhall ſay to them on the left hand, goe yee curſed into euerlaſting fire, &c. (commeth) that is, certainely, and without all faile, ſeiſeth and taketh hold on (the children of diſobedience) this is a forme of ſpeech often vſed in Scripture, it is an Hebraiſme, and by it wee are to vnderſtand ſuch as are obſtinate and wilfull in their diſobedience, ſuch as will not bee diſſwaded from ſinne, nor yeeld to any diuine admonitions, that might draw them from ſinne, but are as it were, made and framed of diſobedience, and as it were, brought out of the wombe of willfull rebellion, and therefore called children of diſobedience, in one worde, by this manner of ſpeech is meant, ſuch as are diſobedient, rebellious and refractarie in ſinne, and will not yeelde to any good councell or admonition, nor by any good meanes bee brought ro repentance, thus then wee are to conceiue the meaning of the Apoſtle, in the wordes of this verſe, as if hee had ſayd.
For the which ſinnes ſakes before ſpecified, the plagues, and iudgements of God in this life, and euerlaſting torments in hell doe ceaze, and certainely take hold on ſuch as are diſobedient and rebellious, hard-hearted and impenitent, and will not by any good meanes be brought to repentance.
Now before we come to conſider the matter of doctrin offered from the words themſelues, obſerue wee the argument of the Apoſtle, the reaſon he vſeth to perſwade to the mortifying of the ſinnes before ſpoken of. Hee takes his argument from the effect of thoſe ſinnes, that theſe ſinnes, and eueryevery one of them not repented of, brings downe the wrath of God, and therefore they are to be mortified, the Apoſtle would hauehave the Coloſſians to conſider the heauy wrath of God attending on thoſe ſinnes, and thereby to be mooued to the mortifytng of them, hence we may gather thus much.
Doct. 1 That a ſerious and due conſideration of Gods wrath waiting on ſinne,A ſerious conſideration of Gods wrath that abideth for ſin euer goes before true repentance for ſinne. is a notable meanes to mooue men to repentance, for mortification is one part of repentance, or I may thus deliuer the poynt grounded on this context, and other places of Scripture.
A ſerious conſideration of the heauy wrath of God and of our fearefull condemnation, that abideth for ſinne, euer goes before true repentance for ſinne. Neuer did any, nor ſhall any truely repent of any knowen ſinne without a ſerious conſideration of the curſe, and condemnation due to that ſinne going before.
The reaſon is plaine, true contrition of heart, muſt goe before true repentance, Reaſon. theſe two may bee compared to the needle and the thred, contrition is as the needle pearcing the heart, and making way and entrance, then followes the thred of repentance, the heart muſt firſt bee humbled and broken for ſinne, and then followes repentance, now the heart is neuer truely humbled for ſinne, till it be preſſed with the greeuouſnes of ſinne, and the heauy wrath of God due for the ſame, therefore certainely a ſerious conſideration of the wrath of God againſt ſinne, is euer the fore-runner of true repentance, wee may ſee it plainely in the example of the Iewes, Acts. 2.37. firſt they were pricked in their hearts, their hearts were compunct and wounded at the ſight of their ſinne, and of the wrath of God due vntounto it, and then in verſe the 18, followes Peters councell, foreign, repent, or amend your liues.
This lets vsus ſee, Vſe. that many deceiue themſelues in reſpect of true repentance,Many deceiue themſelues in reſpect of true repentance. they hold themſelues truely repentant for their knowen ſinnes, and will needs bee ſo accounted, and yet they can witneſſe to themſelues, that their hearts were neuer wounded with a conſideration of Gods wrath, they neuer ſet themſelues before the iudgement ſeat of the Lord, nor conſidered how greeuous a thing their ſinne is, in the ſight of God, and how diſpleaſing to him, and what fearefull condemnation is due for the ſame. Happily they hauehave had a vaniſhing touch of heart for it, cauſing them to ſend foorth a naturall ſigh or ſob, and cauſing them to ſay they hauehave ſinned, and they are ſorrie for it, and they crie God merciemercy or the like, but their hearts were neuer truely preſſed downe, and broken by the waight and burden of their ſinnes, and with conſideration of the fearefull wrath of God for the ſame. Out of queſtion, I now ſpeake that which manie of vsus know to bee true in our ſelues, if wee deale truely with our ſelues, wee cannot denie it, let vsus therefore not any longer deeeiue our ſelues, but learne this leſſon, that a ſerious conſideration of Gods heauie wrath due to ſinne, euer goes before true repentance for ſinne, and make vſe of it, doeſt thou know thy ſinne, and wouldeſt thou repent for it truely? then ſet thy ſelfe before the iudgement ſeat of God, and conſider the greatnes of thy ſinne, and what fearefull wrath and condemnation abideth thee for it, and let the law bee thy Schoolemaſter, as the Apoſtle teacheth, Galath. 3.24. let it whippe and ſeourge thy naked conſcience, ſhewing thee thy ſinne, and the puniſhment due for the ſame, yea, neuer to reſt till the conſideration of thy ſinne, and of the wrath of God, due to thy ſinne, hauehave brought thee downe as it were to the gates of hell, and to an holy deſpaire in thy ſelfe, and then no doubt (if thou belong to God) Chriſt will ſhew thee comfort, he will worke in thee true repentance, and giuegive thee ſtrength againſt thy ſinne, yea thou ſhalt be deliuered from the guilt and puniſhment of thy ſinne, and from the power of it.
Come wee now to the doctrine offered from the words themſelues.
Firſt obſerue wee in a word, briefely a different manner of ſpeaking in Scripture,A different manner of ſpeaking in Scripture. in reſpect of our holineſſe, and ſinne, wee reade heere, and in other places of Scripture, that for ſinne comes wrath, but neuer ſhall we finde it ſaid in Scripture, that for our holines, or good works comes life and ſaluation, the Apoſtle, Rom. 6.23. hauing ſayd (that the wages of ſinne is death) goes not on with his oppoſition, that the wages of righteouſneſſe is life, but hee changeth his tearmes, and ſayeth, but the gift of God is eternall life.
Reaſons. The reaſon is this, becauſe ſinne is perfectly euill, but our holineſſe, or good workes, euen the beſt of them are good but in part: but I forbeare to ſpeake further of that poynt.
In that the Apoſtle ſayth heere, that the ſinnes before ſpoken of bring downe Gods wrath, no doubt his purpoſe was not onelyonly to perſwade the Coloſſians to mortifie them, but to worke in them a religious feare and care to auoyde them, for hauing the ſame ſentence, Epheſ. 5.6. and againſt the ſame ſinnes, hee addes verſe 7. bee Doct. 2 not therefore companions with them) the poynt hence offered is this.We are to feare and auoyd all knowen ſinne becauſe of themſelues they bring downe Gods wrath and iudgements vponupon vsus.
We are to feare, & auoyd theſe, & all other known ſins whatſoeuer, euen becauſe of themſelues they bring downe Gods wrath and iudgements, howſoeuer wee are principally to feare and auoyde ſinne, euen becauſe it is ſinne, and diſpleaſing to God, if there were no hell nor puniſhment due vntounto it, that is the true feare of Gods children, yet wee may, and wee are in the ſecond place, to feare ſinne in reſpect of Gods wrath and iudgements: and hence it is, that the Apoſtle 2 Corinth. 5. hauing made knowne, verſe 10. That wee muſt all appeare before the iudgement ſeate of Chriſt. Verſe 11. he ſaith, Knowing therefore the terrour of the Lord wee perſwade men. Wee knowing how dreadfull ſhall bee the doome of wicked men at the day of iudgement, wee perſwade men to auoid ſinne; this feare was in …uid, Pſalm. 119.120. My fleſh trembleth for feare of thee. Aſid he addes further, I am afraid of thy iudgements. Dauid had a religious feare of God, he feared God himſelfe, he feared to offend him, and then in the ſecond place hee ſtood in aw of his iudgements, and indeed ſuch is the canker of our nature, that the moſt regenerate hauehave neede to ſet before them the wrath and iudgements of God due to ſinne, that euen in conſideration thereof they may be affraid of ſinne.
Let not then, ſuch as truely feare God, Vſe. thinke themſelues exempt from all feare of Gods wrath, and iudgements,Gods childrē are not exempt from all feare of Gods wrath and iudgements. though they are freed from the wrath of God by Chriſt, and doe feare God for his mercy, with a filiall and childe-like feare; yet that doth not exclude a feare of his iudgements to keepe vsus from ſinne, we are chieflie, and in the firſt place to feare and auoide ſinne, euen becauſe it is ſinne, but in the ſecond place, we are to feare the wrath of God againſt ſinne; yea, wee are often, and diligently to ponder on the threatnings we finde in the Booke of God, againſt ſinne, and to conſider the execution of his wrath vponupon impenitent ſinners, and not to paſſe by the iudgements of God, heard of, or ſeene in the world, but to lay them to heart, that thereby our hearts may bee ſtill kept in the feare of God, and that wee may euer carry in vsus, a reuerent awe of his great and glorious maieſtie.
Obſerue wee further, that the Apoſtle heere ſpeakes in the time preſent, he ſaith not, for which things ſakes, the wrath of God hath come, or will come, but commeth; which implieth a continuall action, that the wrath of God ceaſeth not to come on ſuch, as liue in the ſinnes before named, or in any knowne ſinne; yea, many times the wrath of God is on men liuing in this world, when they hauehave little or no apprehenſion of it; yea, therein is the wrath of God on them in moſt fearefull manner, in that they hauehave no ſenſe nor feeling of it, ſtriking them with blockiſhneſſe and dulneſſe of ſpirit, and hardneſſe of hart, giuing them vp to a reprobate ſorie ſo that hence we may conclude the certainty of Gods wrath.
Doct. 3 That his wrath faileth not to come on ſuch as liue, and continue in knowne ſinnes,Gods wrath faileth not to come on ſuch as liue and continue in known ſinnes. it is ſo certaine that the Lords wrath ſhall ceaze on them, that liue in knowne ſinnes, as that they hauehave the earneſt of it, and it hath already taken hold of them; and to this agreeth that ſpeech of Chriſt, Iohn 3.36. He that beleeueth in the ſonne hath euerlaſting life, and he that obeieth not the ſonne, ſhal not ſee life, but the wrath of God abideth on him. 2. Pet. 2.3. The Apoſtle ſaith, that the damnation of falſe teachers (ſleepeth not) as if hee had ſaid, their iudgement and damnation is comming, and ſhall certainely fall on them; and to that purpoſe our Apoſtle ſpeaks powerfully, Epeſ. 5.6. Let no man deceiue you with vaine wordes; for, for ſuch things commeth the wrath of God vponupon the children of diſobedience, as if he had ſaid, happily ſome will tell you, that fornicaiton &c. are no great ſinnes, but humane ſlips and infirmities, and that they exclude not out of Gods kingdome, but let no man ſo deceiue you, their wordes are but vaine, and deceitfull: learne you to know it for a certaine trueth, that for ſuch things the wrath of God commeth vppon the children of diſobedience.
Ʋſe. And for the vſe of this, let it ſinke into our hearts, and let vsus be fully perſwaded of it,We are, to be perſwaded that Gods wrath ſhall certainly cōe on wicked and rebellious ſinners. that the wrath of God, his plagues and iudgements in this life, and fearefull torments in hell, ſhall moſt certainely come on wicked and rebellious ſinners, men are hardly brought to beleeue this, it will hardly ſincke into their harts that their ſinnes are ſo hainous as preachers would make them, and that Gods iudgements doe ſo certainly abide for them; if they beleeue theſe things, would they liue in whoredome, drunkenneſſe, and other knowne ſinnes as they doe? Would they liue in malice, and enuie? would they lie and ſlander, raile, curſe, and ſweare, and commit all filthy abominations? Their liuing and pleaſing themſelues in theſe, and other like ſinnes make it plaine, they beleeue not that Gods wrath certainly commeth on wicked and rebellious ſinners, they tremble not when Gods wrath and his iudgements are denounced. If one ſhould now runne through the ſtreets, and cry, fire, fire, our hearts would be ſuddenly ſmitten with feare; but let the Miniſter of God, ſtand, and crie, fire, fire, yea the fire of hell, which is kindled by the breath of the Lord, as the Prophet ſpeakes, Iſai 30.33. yet many of our hearts are nothing mooued, and that is a plaine euidence, we beleeue not that Gods wrath abideth for ſuch ſinnes? Well, let vsus neuer reſt till we bee fully perſwaded of this, that ſo wee may ſeeke ſpeedilie to make our peace with the Lord, and withall thinke on the greatneſſe of his wrath: Nahum ſaith 1.6. before the face of his wrath none can abide, the mountaines tremble, the waters flee away, the rockes are rent in ſunder, at the blaſt, or breath of his diſpleaſure, and ſhall wee bee able to endure it? Thinke on it, and the Lord make vsus wiſe to beleeue theſe things.
Now, from this word (commeth) wherein the Apoſtle doth, as it it were, put a perſon on the wrath of God, and as it were, legs, and feet to walke vponupon, I might ſhew that who by cuſtome of ſinne, and hardneſſe of heart are ſo blockiſh that they ſee not Gods wrath in it ſelfe, ſhall one day without repentance ſo ſenſiblie ſee, and feele the ſame, as if it were a perſon doing execution on them, but that may be referd to the doctrine of the certainty of Gods wrath already deliuered: I paſſe by it and come to ſpeake of the perſons one whom the wrath of God commeth for the ſinnes before named, and theſe are the children of diſobedience (that is) as we hauehave heard, ſuch as are obſtinate in their ſinnes, and will not yeeld to any good counſell or admonition, nor by any good meanes bee brought to repentance.
Obſerue then, that the Apoſtle ſaith not, the wrath of God commeth on all whatſoeuer they bee that are guiltie of the ſinnes before named, but he doth limit and bound his ſpeach to the children of diſobedience, the point hence offered is this.
Doct. 4 It is onelyonly obſtinacie in ſinne that brings Gods wrath; It is not any of the ſinnes before named,OnelyOnly obſtinacie in ſinne brings Gods wrath. nor any other particular ſinne whatſoeuer: but the lying in ſin, and not repenting of it, that brings Gods wrath; when men, notwithſtanding all gracious admonitions, or fearefull threatnings, or other meanes that can be vſed, lie ſtill in their ſinne, and tie ſinne to ſinne, they make a way to Gods iudgement to fall vponupon them, it is continuance in ſinne without repentance that pulles downe the wrath of God. For why? Reaſon. Gods merciemercy is greater then the greateſt heape of ſinne, and it is neither number, nor meaſure of ſinne that doth condemne (for God might in iuſtice condemne for one only ſinful thought) yet Gods merciemercy is promiſed, and belongs onelyonly to repentant ſinners; therefore it is not any particular ſin, nor many ſinnes together, but onlie obſtinacy and continuance in ſinne, liuing and dying in ſinne without repentance, that brings iudgement and condemnation, euen the ſinne againſt the holy Ghoſt is therefore vnpardonable, becauſe it is impoſſible that they who fall into that ſinne, ſhould be renued by repentance, as the holy Ghoſt ſaith, Heb. 6.6. We reade Iſay 1. that the Iewes were ſuncke deepe in rebellion, they were neither mooued by the Lord his benefits, nor by his puniſhments to amendement, yet Ʋerſe 16 the Prophet ſtirres them vp to repentance, and ſaith, Waſh you, make you cleane: take away the euill of your workes from before mine eies: ceaſe to doe euill. And then verſe 18. Come now, and let vsus reaſon together, ſaith the Lord, though your ſinnes were as crimſon, they ſhall be made white as ſnow, though they were red like Skarlet they ſhall be as wooll: plainly teaching vsus, that there is mercy with the Lord to true repentance for ſinnes, how great ſoeuer they bee, and therefore it is a certaine truth that not any particular ſinne, nor many ſinnes, but onelyonly continuance in ſinne brings Gods wrath.
Heere then for the vſe of this, is a ground of exceeding Vſe. 1 great comfort for ſuch, as being guiltie of ſin,Comfort for ſuch as hauehave grace to repent of their ſinnes. hauehave grace to repent of it, ſuch as being admoniſhed of their ſin are truelie humbled for it, as Dauid was, 2. Sa. 12. & as Iehoſhaphat was, being told of his ſin by Iehu, 2. Ch. 19.2. ſuch as knowing their ſin confeſſe, and bewaile it, turne from it, and forſake it, heere is comfort for them, they are not liable to the wrath of God for that ſin; and if it be ſo, that after repentance, they fal into the ſame againe of frailtie,Note. and againſt their purpoſe, yet if they recouer thēſelues by repentance, and break of that ſin by new, and ſpeedy repentance, euen that ſin committed after repentance, and againe repented of, makes them not ſubiect to Gods wrath; howſoeuer indeed ſuch a ſinne wil much weaken thy comfort, and thou ſhalt finde, thou haſt iuſt cauſe to pray with Dauid, Pſalm. 51.12. Reſtore to me the ioy of thy ſaluation. Yet certainelie take this for thy comfort, it ſhall neuer be laid to thy condemnation; for we may not imagine, that there is leſſe mercy with the Lord who is the God of mercy, then hee requires of vsus towards our brethren, now he hath enioined vsus, Luke 17.4. That if a brother ſin againſt vsus ſeuen times in a day: which is not to be vnderſtood of new offences only, but of all whatſoeuer, a certaine number being put for an vncertaine, euen all offences, or how often fallen into by frailtie, and ſeuen times turne againe vntounto vsus, and ſay, it repents me, wee muſt forgiue him, and ſhall the creature excell the creator in goodneſſe and mercy? No, no, be aſſured of it to thy comfort: if ſeuen times (that is) many times, thou ſinne againſt God by frailtie, euen in the ſame thing; and ſo often with weeping eies, and ſobbing ſoule fall at his feet for merciemercy, there is grace, mercy, and pardon with him to true repentance; but let no man heereupon preſume, and turne this comfort into a licence to ſinne, and wilfully heape ſinne vponupon ſinne in hope of future repentance; ſo doing, thou doeſt wreſt, and peruert this comfort, and caſt thy ſelfe vponupon a dangerous point, for what knoweſt thou, whether euer thou ſhalt repent, or no; and take this with thee, though God hauehave promiſed merciemercy and forgiueneſſe to true repentant ſinners; yet he hath not promiſed repentance to euerie ſinner, that eueryevery one that ſinnes ſhall repent, thou findeſt not that in any place of the Booke of God, therefore deceiue not thy ſelfe, take heede of ſuch preſumption and learne to make a right vſe of the doctrine of comfort now deliuered; if thou hauehave grace to acknowledge thy knowne ſinne, and to be trulie humbled for it, and to turne from it, though it hauehave beene often committed, yet there is merciemercy for thee with the Lord; yea ſweete, and full of vnſpeakeable comfort is it, that the Lord would hauehave his children ſo ſure of the pardon of their ſinnes, though they be many, whereof he giues them repentance, with a diſlike, and true loathing of them, as he would hauehave it an article of their faith, ſo as they bee not ſound Chriſtians, if they beleeue not the remiſſion of their ſinnes, for which they are truely humbled; let not man ſucke poiſon out of this ſweetnes, and hence draw libertie to ſinne, if he doe, he ſauours this doctrine not to life and ſaluation, but to death, and to his Vſe. 2 deeper damnation.
Againe, is it ſo, that onelyonly obſtinacie in ſinne brings Gods wrath, then it behoueth euerie one to take heede of obſtinacie, and continuance in ſin, and aboue all things in the world to auoid that as the greateſt iudgement of God in this life:It concernes euerie one to take heede of obſtinacie & continuance in ſin, as the greateſt iudgement of God in this life. and to this end, wee are to take heede of cuſtome in ſinne, for cuſtome in ſinne takes away the ſenſe and feeling of ſinne, and many not obſtinate in ſin at the firſt, yet yeelding to ſinne, and continuing in it for a time, at length they become obſtinate and hardned; yea, wee ſhall finde it a certaine truth,Note. that men firſt harden their owne hearts before the Lord come to harden them: they yeeld to ſinne, and lie in ſinne, and refuſe to bee reformed, and then the Lord in his iuſt iudgement giues them ouer to ſinne, and to the will of the Deuill to bee ledde of him at his will, and then they become obſtinate in their ſinne.
We read in the booke of Exodus (and it is woorth our marking) that Pharaoh many times hardened his owne heart before it bee ſaid that the Lord hardened it, wee reade not that till Chap. 9.12. Therefore let euerie one of vsus be admoniſhed to take heede of continuing in any knowne ſinne whatſoeuer it bee, learne thou to bee mooued betimes, and often to bee mooued with conſcience of thy known ſinne, leſt thou hardening thine own heart, the Lord alſo come to harden it, and then thy caſe is moſt fearefull, thou art then liable to the fearefull wrath of God in this life, and for euer in the life to come.
Bcfore we leaue theſe words, one thing more is to bee obſerued, and that is the Phraſe, or forme of ſpeech heere vſed by the Apoſtle, he ſaith not, on the reprobate, as hee might hauehave ſaid, for onelie on them comes the eternall wrath of God: but hee ſaith, Or the children of diſobedience? on ſuch as are diſobedient and rebellious in ſinne, and will not by any good counſell, admonition, or other meanes be drawne from ſinne: hence we are giuen to vnderſtand thus much.
That it is a fearefull thing to be wilfull in ſinne,It is a feareful thing to bee wilfull in ſin. ſtill to Doct. 5 perſeuere, and to goe one in ſinne after many admonitions, and many threatnings vſed to the contrarie, to refuſe all good admonitions, and threatnings againſt ſinne; it is fearefull, it is a ſigne of reprobation, it is a ſigne that ſuch perſons as ſo doe, are appointed to euerlaſting deſtruction; vnderſtand the point aright, I confeſſe there may bee in the deare children of God a refuſing, and a reiecting of the meanes of their good for a time, as they lying vnderunder ſome greeuous temptation, and deſpairing of Gods mercy for a time, may for a fitte refuſe the meanes of comfort, and with Iob curſe the day of their birth, and wiſh for death, Iob 3.11. Yea, the deare children of God may ſometimes fall into ſinne, whereof they are preadmoniſhed, whereof they are warned afore to take heede; it was Dauids caſe, 2. Sam. 24. in numbring of the people, though hee was dutifully admoniſhed by Ioab not to do it; yet he (pricked forward, with the pride of his owne heart) would needes in all haſte hauehave the people numbred: and ſo the deare children of God may for a fit, through the violence of temptation, refuſe good counſell, and the meanes of their good, and may notwithſtanding forewarning, fall into ſinne: therefore thus the point is to be conceiued of vsus, that wilfullneſſe in ſinne, perſeuerance, and going on in ſinne, after many admonitions to the contrarie, is moſt dangerous, when it is with men as the Prophet ſpeakes, Zachar. 7.11.12. That they refuſe to hearken, and pull away the ſhoulder, and stoppe their eares, that they ſhould not heare, and make their hearts as an Adamant ſtone &c. That is fearefull, and that is more then a probable ſigne of their reprobation.
Reaſon. And the reaſon is plaine, namely this, that is a reſiſting of the holy Ghoſt, as Stephen ſaith, Act. 7.51. a withſtanding of the Spirit of God in the miniſtrie of his meſſengers, therefore that muſt needes bee a ſigne of reprobation.
Vſe. Such then as after many admonitions, and threatnings, wilfully perſiſt and perſeuere in their knowne ſinnes,Their caſe is fearefull who wilfully perſiſt in ſin after many admonitions to the contrary. may ſee in what fearefull ſtate they ſtand; haſt thou been often admoniſhed of thy drunkenneſſe, thy whoredome, thy pride, thy ſwearing, thy Sabbath-breaking, or of any other ſinne whatſoeuer? And doſt thou ſtill notwithſtanding ſuch often admonition, wilfully perſeuere, and continue in thy ſinne,; then know thou to thy terrour, that continuing of time in thy ſinne ſeales vp vntounto thee a fearefull concluſion, it is more then probable, thou art in the ſtate of reprobation, and in the number of ſuch as ſhall be damned, thou art a childe of diſobedience, and willfull rebellion, and therefore thou art not onelyonly a childe of wrath as all are by nature, but it is more then likely, that thou ſhalt neuer be receiued to mercy, and that thou art a childe of perdition, and art now trotting apace towards hell, and ſhalt one day be fuell for the fire of hell, which is a fearefull condition to be thought on, euen with trembling, and if it be well conſidered, it is able to make thee (if hell hauehave not taken full poſſeſſion of thee) to bethinke thy ſelfe of ſpeedy reformation, and therefore conſider it, and let this admonition now preuaile with thee to that purpoſe; if it do not, certainely, it ſhall one day bee a bill of enditement againſt thee, to thy deeper condemnation, therfore thinke on it, and in time make vſe of it.