The Abuse of Gods Grace, Chapter 5 · Section 1 – Section 2
SECT. 1.
1. WAnts: The failings or omiſſions of nine things, are 1. The omiſſions of ſeveral things are the cauſes of playing the wantons under Grace.the deficient cauſes of wantonneſs under Grace.
1. Want of knowing the work and abuſe of Grace: Many have confuſed notions of Gods grace, who are ignorant of the wrongs they do unto it, and think they are under the priviledge of grace, when they are ſtrangers to, and enemies againſt it. Many ſay that God is gracious, and by Gods grace they will amend, when they conſider not that renewing active grace, would put them upon conſtant, conſcionable, regular and vehement endeavors for reformation, when they practice, but neither know, nor are humbled, for the contradictions to grace; when they are not ſoundly convinced, that ſaving Grace teacheth to deny ungodlineſs and worldly luſts, Tit. 2. 11, 12. which they out of choice and delight fulfil; That it abounds with faith and love, 1 Tim. 1. 14. when it never produced theſe Graces in them; that the will of God is their ſanctification, 1 Theſſ. 4. 3. when they never ſaw the amiable beauty, nor practiced the duties of holyneſs; that grace changeth the heart, when they know nothing of the inward, myſterious, miraculous work of converſion in its Doctrine and experience; that grace is an effectual curb to, and a cleanſing Purgatory of vain and impure thoughts, when they know no hurt in the vanity and pollution of them; that grace leads the heart daily to the Throne of grace, when they are ſtrangers to Prayer in the Holy Ghoſt, and think there is no hurt in its irreligious omiſſion; that it is Grace muſt ſave them, when they know not that a principal part of its ſalvation, is the mortification of luſt and reformation of life: Ignorance of the wrongs done to grace, is a black concealing vail over them, which at once hinders the accuſing conſcience, tempts to dreams of innocence, imboldens to a carnal indulgence to beloved ſins; were the eyes of the Doctrinal and Practical Adverſaries of Gods grace clearly opened, to ſee the Inſolencies, Indignities, and Injuries they do againſt it, they could not but in a trembling conviction conclude, theſe and theſe things are certain diſhonors of grace, Stains of holy Profeſſion, Inconſiſtencies with the new Creature, Luſt and Satans methods of Damnation, and denials of the hope of Glory. As when Paul ſaid to Ananias, God ſhall ſmite thee thou whited wall, he had not ſaid ſo, had he known hee was the High Prieſt. Act. 23. 3, 5. …o had the bold abuſers of Gods Summus Lethargus, & quaſi mors humanae conſcientiae, ignorantia voluntatis divinae.grace, ſtrong and clear convincements, the frame of their hearts, and carriages of their lives, were the high injuries of Grace, eminent perils of deſtruction, and demerits of the hotteſt room in Hell; in the noon-light of ſuch an acknowledgement, they would feare and tremble to ſtumble upon their owne ruin.
SECT. 2.
2. VVAnt of Faith to believe the ſignall danger of ſinne, this 2 Want of Faith to beleeve the danger of ſin is a wrong to Grace. Caecus aſſenſus & plane temerarius ſine praeeunte notitia, non poteſt induere rationem fidei. Parkerus de Traduct. peccat. ad Deum. Theſis 56.huge ſin is the wrong of Grace. It is no wonder that the evill which is not known, is not believed, nor declined. Unbeliefe is the evill heart that departs from the living God. It ſets not to its ſeal, that God is true, in his promiſes nor threatnings; believes not the abominable, damnable nature of ſinne, and dallies with it. As daring wantons, who know that the cup that ſtands before them is of poyſon, yet beleeve it not, but drink and burſt; or the plague is in the houſe they goe into, believe it not, are mortally infected, and die: And as the Egyptians beleeved not that the cattle and men that were found abroad one ſtorming day ſhould die, adventured abroad, and were ſlaine; ſo dallying adventurers that beleeve not the miſchief of their ſinfull pleaſures, contempts of Chriſt and his Goſpel, they are dancing over the mouth of Hell, by the ſudden puſh of death are kickt into it. The looſe old world beleeved not the deſtruction Preached by Noah in the making of the Ark, were not moved with his holy example, and penitentiall inſtructions; The Sonnes of God playd the wantons with the fair idolatrous daughters of men, Gen. 6. 2. and were at length ſwept away with the flood. Faith would make Libertines fear and tremble: Unbelief is daring. Minatur Deus, & negligitis, minatur terrenus Judex, & contremiſcitisThe wrath of man is more feared than Gods. When God (ſaith one) threatens eternal puniſhment, ye neglect it, when an earthly Judge threatens temporal, ye tremble at it.