A Christian Library, Chapter 7
CHAP. VII.
§ 1. O My 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. of like some silly Fly, which being beat from the Candle and 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 stop their ears, and wink with their eyes: lest 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 Iohn Baptist, Demetrius Paul, and the false Prophets Ieremiah. And how should not that patient perish, who after he is launced, flies from the Chirurgion, before 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 loathsomnesse of their impieties: it were not possible not to abbor 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, had I not a further reach in it) it were an unreasonable motion in me, if I should request mindes propossest 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 his own judgement, or the common …ame▪ 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, turns all it receives into ill humours: or as a Spider converts every thing she eats 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 Pestle, yet they will not depart from their wickednesse, as Solomon expresseth …t, 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 Iesus cried with a loud voice, and yielded up the ghost; the vail of the Temple rent in twain, from top 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 se…ible 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 Pharistes, were altogether insensible, and worse then all the rest of the creatures: The very stones of the Temple were soft in comparison of their stony hearts: and they which were dead in their graves, were alive to those which were dead in their sins.
Let 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 …ares, Genes. 10.
And let men look to it, for If they will not believe Moses, & the Prophets, Christ and his Apostles: they would not believe, though God 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 curst…e … 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 Ah…b, who was told from the Lord, that if he went to war, he should perish? yet neither would take warning, but wo…t on, and sped accordingly. And also of the Old world: so that one word as good speak to liveless stones, or senselesse plants, or witless beasts, as to such men … any thing they will be bettered by it. Yea, reason…once debauch … is worse then brutlshnesse: I see the savagest of all creatures, Lions, Tyge…s, 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 but the well-affected, whose hearts is 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, sti…e necks, uncircumcized eares, blinded eyes, fat, and heavy hearts, obdurate souls, as strong as a stone, and as hard as a neather mil-stone, Ezek. 11.19. by reason whereof it comes to passe; that those who are fil…hy, 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. 19.1. 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 f…restalled with prejudice; & resolved to go on in thy wickedness, and do as others do, without either conscience of sin, or guidance of reason. Thou art dead in sin; and not onelyonly dead, as Ia…rus daughter was, Matth. 9.25. Nor onelyonly dead, laid out and coffin'd, as the widowes son of Naim was, Luke 7.14. 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 deliver unto thee; then that which the vigilant Captain, delivered together with a deaths wound to his sleeping Sentinels Dead I found thee, and dead I leave thee.
§ 5. OnelyOnly thou, ô Father, to whom nothing is hard, if it be thy good pleasure: (as why not seeing it will make much for the glory of thy great Name, to save such a mighty sinner; who Manasses-like hath multiplied offences above the number of the sand of the Sea; and is bound down with many iron bands.) Say unto his soul, Live; yea, quicken thou him, … merciful Redeemer, who art the fountain of life. It is true, they angry threatning against sinners is importable: but thy merciful promise is unmeasurable, and unsearchable. Thou therefore that are able to quicken the dead; and make even of stones, children to Abraham: mollifie these stony hearts, we beseech thee, with the blood of the Lambe: and make of these children of the Devil (Iohn 8.44.) Members of thy Son Iesus Christ.