Of the Day of Grace, Sermons on Psalm 81 · Sermon 2
The Second Sermon.
Pſalm LXXXI. 12.
I gave them up to their own Hearts luſts: and they walked in their own Counſels.
WE can never look back to our primitive ſtate, conſidering how richly and plentifully the Bounty of our Maker …ad provided for us, without admi…ing Thoughts of his Beneficence and Kindneſs: And yet, if we view the Divine Compaſſion unto guilty and …ebellious Man ſince the Fall, and …ow many obſtacles his Grace over…ame; This latter will be Judged to ſurpaſs his former Bounty to Innocent Man. For before the Entrance of ſin, the Current of Divine Love met with nothing to obſtruct its paſſage, the… was nothing to diſcourage its Exe… ciſe towards an Innocent and Obedient Creature: But now ſin hath made a great gulf betwixt God and us; We are in a ſtate of Enmity, and Hoſtility againſt Him; which ſets a value upon the Power, and Freeneſ… of the Grace imployed to Recove… and ſave us.
And yet, after all this diſplay of th… unſearchable Riches of Grace, and Love in the Work of our Redemption, it is a queſtion whether our willful, provoking Obſtinacy againſt God be not more aſtoniſhing, than his undeſerved Compaſſion and Love to us that in contradiction to all the Princ… ples of Reaſon, and Intereſt, we ſhould ſlight his Kindneſs, and deſpiſe his glorious Love, and refuſe his Grace, the only Remedy that can ſave us. That when he offers to be Reconciled to us, and Intreats us to be Reconcile… to him, we will not hearken to his Voice: That we ſhould perſiſt in our choſen Diſtance, and Eſtrangment, and ſay, We will have none of him; Let him depart from us, we deſire not the Knowledge of his ways; We care for …o Reconciliation to him, or Communion with him, or any ſhare in the Happineſs he offers to confer upon …s. Were not this very highly pro…oking, the Bleſſed God would not Complain of it, as he doth▪ and Repreach …s with it, as he alſo doth, in many …laces, and particularly in this, My People would not hearken to my Voice, and …ſrael would none of me; ſo I gave them …p, &c. Both Expreſſions are in the …uture, though we tranſlate them as al…eady inflicted: The Original ſigni…es that God would deal ſo ſeverely …ith them. The Aggravations of his Complaint of God concerning Iſrael have been already mentioned. What I propoſe now to diſcourſe of …s this.
Firſt, That it is matter of moſt Juſt Complaint, and moſt heavy Re…roach, when any People or Perſon will not hearken to the Voice of God.
Secondly, That for any wilful ſin…ers to be given up by God to their own Hearts Luſts, and left to walk in their own Counſels, is one of the moſt fearful Judgments that can be threatned, or inflicted.
In ſpeaking to the Second General, I propoſed to ſhew, Firſt, What it is fo… God to give Men up to their ow… Hearts Luſts. And that ſuch a thing there may be, and is, as Gods giving men over to their falſe Imaginations and Conceptions of things; their inordinate Deſires and irregular Paſſions▪ their wicked Projects and Contrivances for the fulfilling of their variou… Luſts, &c. When he gives them up to theſe Luſts, he caſts them out of hi… ſpecial Care and Protection, ſo as they become an eaſy prey to the Devi… And the Hebrew word which we tranſlate give up, is often uſed for th… caſting out a People out of their Country, as in 44. Pſal. 2. Such Perſons a… alſo left of God under the Tyranny and Dominion of their Luſts, withou… thoſe Reſtraints of Providence an… Grace which before they had. Wha… more may be intended in ſuch an Expreſſion, will appear in ſpeaking to the Second Head, viz.
To ſhew by what steps and Degrees, God doth execute, and inflict ſuch a Judgment upon them. And then, Thirdly, I ſhall ſpeak ſomething further of the Dreadfulneſs of this Judgment, and ſo Apply the whole.
II. By What ſteps or Degrees the Bleſſed God doth uſually proceed in inflicting ſuch a Judgment as this. For the better underſtanding of this, I muſt premiſe by way of Caution.
1. That Whatever Method is taken in the Execution of ſo ſevere a Doom, we muſt remember there is a great depth of Obſcurity in theſe Judgments of God; There is ſo in all his works of Judgment, but eſpecially in ſuch as do more immediately relate to the Souls of Men. We know very little of the manner of Gods Influence upon mens Spirits, and therefore ſhould be very humble and wary, modeſt and cautions in our Expreſſions about it. And yet from what we obſerve of ſuch ſpiritual Judgments, we may cry out with the Apoſtle, Rom. 11.33 O the depth of the Riches both of the Wiſdom and Knowledg of God! How unſearchable are his Judgments, and his Ways paſt finding out! We know very little of the manner of the Holy Spirit's Influence, in forming the Image of God upon the Soul; and much leſs concerning the manner of this Puniſhment in the Text; whereby men are hardened in ſin through the righteous Judgment of God, to their Eternal Ruine. However,
2. Remember, This is a Judicial Act in God, not an arbitrary thing, that depends upon meer Will and Pleaſure, without any reſpect to the Aggravations of Mens wilful Rebellion, and ſinning againſt Light. It is ſuch a Judgment as ſuppoſes very hainous Provocations to precede it. The Inſtance of the Jews doth abundantly prove this; with whom the Patience of God did long bear, and his Spirit ſtrive; But they alwaies reſiſted the Holy Ghoſt, Acts 7.51. From generation to generation, maintaining the war againſt the Divine Spirit, till he turned to be their Enemy, and fought againſt them. Iſa. 63.9, 10. And then their Doom is pronounc'd in a moſt ſolemn manner, with terrible and aſtoniſhing Preparations for it, Iſa. 6. By a glorious Apparition of the great God in the Temple, which made the Prophet cry out, I am undone, &c. The fearful meſſage he was to deliver, to that People, was that 9, 10. v. Hear ye indeed, but underſtand not; ſee ye indeed, but perceive not; make the Heart of this people fat, and their ears heavy, and ſhut their Eyes, leſt they ſee with their Eyes, and hear with their Ears, and underſtand with their Heart, and convert, and be healed. This Doom we find with great Awfulneſs repeated in the new Teſtament by our Saviour, Mat. 13.14. Luk. 8.10.12. John 40. And afterward by the Apoſtle Paul when he was teſtifying againſt the obſtinate Infidelity of the Jews at Rome, Rom. 11.8. We may therefore clear the Righteouſneſs of God in this matter, by conſidering the true Account and Character of Thoſe, whom we find in Scripture, or believe by Experience, to have been given up to their own Hearts Luſts. The Wickedneſs of Pharoah was riſen to a very provoking height, before God is ſaid to harden him, which was not till after the ſixth Plague. The impenitent Cananites had 430 Years, before God gave them over, and their meaſure was full, Joſh. 11.19. This therefore, as it is one of the ſevereſt Judgments, ſo it is one of the laſt.
This alſo may admit of Degrees with reference to ſeveral Perſons. For there is a partial, as well as a total forſaking of God, and being forſaken of him. There are ſome who ſin againſt their Light, and refuſe the Grace of the Goſpel, and may for a time be forſaken and left of God, and yet his Spirit afterwards ſtrive again; Whereas with others he may never ſtrive more. However in all theſe Caſes there is great Provocation that does precede, ſo that we may ſay with the Apoſtle, Is God unrighteous, that he taketh Vengence? Rom. 3.5.
3. I would alſo premiſe, That the Holineſs of God muſt be cleared, as well as his Justice. Though he give them up to their own Hearts Luſts, it is not by a conſenting, approving Act, with reference to the ſins they afterwards commit; much leſs that God inclines their Hearts to ſin, or infuſes, or ſuggeſts evil to them. It is not that He gives them Indulgence and Leave, with his Conſent and Approbation, to ſerve and fulfil any of thoſe Luſts. The ſpotleſs unchangable Purity of the Divine Nature, which hates every ſin, cannot conſiſt with this. He cannot be tempted with Evil, neither tempteth any man to evil.
Therefore ſuch Expreſſions as Ezek. 20.39. As for you, O Houſe of Iſrael, thus ſaith the Lord, go you now every one and ſerve his Idols. Such Expreſſions muſt be taken in an Ironical ſenſe. That is, Go ſee whether the Objects of your Truſt, and Confidence can ſave you in a time of Calamity: Go to the Gods that you have ſerved, and ſee whether they will help you, for I will not. It is like the Expreſſion, Matth. 26.46. Sleep on now, and take your Rest, for behold he cometh, by whom the Son of man is to be betrayed. I deſired you to watch with me, but you would not; and that ſeaſon is now paſt, Sleep on now, if you can. When Satan blinds the Minds of men, he doth it by ſtrengthening of their ſin, he doth it by ſinful ſuggeſtions, and the like: But the Bleſſed God doth not thus give men up to ſin: No ſuch Darkneſs can come from the Fountain of Light.
Theſe things being premiſed, let us Conſider ſome of thoſe ſteps, by which God preceeds in this matter, as Scripture, Reaſon, and Experience may direct us; Though after all, there is a Depth in theſe Judgments of God, which none are able fully to Explain.
1. When God forbears to Afflict, and to reſtrain men from ſin, by the Rod of Correction, and the Rebukes of his Providence: Or doth not ſanctifie ſuch Rebukes for their Reformation. We little think whither we ſhould wander, if God did not hedg up our ways with Thorns, Hoſ. 2.6, 7. If he did not by his Providence make a Wall that we ſhould not be able to find our ſinful Paths; that we ſhould not be able to make Proviſion for our Luſts at an eaſy rate, or have ſo much fewel for them as we deſire. My People Iſrael, ſays God by the Prophet, was reſolved to go after her Lovers; but God ſays I will make her return back in confuſion. She ſhall find an impaſſable hedge of Thorns in her way; I will ſtop her Courſe, I will make a Wall, and a Wall, as in the Original, and ſhe ſhall not find her Paths. Tho ſhe follow after her Lovers, ſhe ſhall not overtake them, ſhe ſhall ſeek them but ſhall not find them.
The like Expreſſion you have 3. Lament. 7, 9. He hath hedged me about that I cannot get out, he hath incloſed me with …ewen ſtone. Some by the Fetters of Education, as they call it, and are glad when they can ſhake them off; Some by the want of Money, or Intereſt, or Power, to accompliſh their wicked Purpoſes, have their Way hedged up. Sometimes by bodily Pains, and ſickneſs, God opens the Ears of men, and ſeals Inſtruction to them, that he may withdraw Man from his Purpoſe, and hide Pride from Man, Job 33.17, 18. God is herein very merciful to many. Young Perſons eſpecially ſhould conſider it, to whom it is a Kindneſs to have ſin made difficult to them: For if they had ſo much Liberty as they would deſire, and ſo much Money at command as they could wiſh, and were let alone by their Superiours to do as they pleaſe, and live as they liſt, without any check, or fear of loſing the favour of thoſe on whom they depend, or from whom they have their Expectation▪ If things were thus with them, they know not unto what Exceſs and Height of ſin they ſhould run. So for Health, and Bodily ſtrength, the abating of theſe may be a merciful Reſtraint from ſome ſort of ſins. The very weakneſs of our Conſtitutions, may be a means to ſave us from ſome kind of Temptations, which others in vigorous Health do ſtruggle with, and are overcome by. So for diſappointments in the World, Diſcountenance and Diſgrace, and other ſuch things, that are apt to humble and afflict the Mind. The more of theſe Reſtraints God is pleaſed to take from us, it may ſo fall out, that the more Angry he therein appeares to be. Eſpecially if former afflictive Rebukes of Providence, have been miſimproved: There being hardly a more terrible place in the whole Bible, than that threatening of God, Hoſ. 4.13, 14. Your Daughters ſhall commit Whoredom, and your Spouſes ſhall commit Adultery; And I will not puniſh your Daughters when they commit Whoredom, nor your Spouſes when they commit Adultery. O quanta Paena, nulla Paena! It is the greateſt Judgment, or the fore runner of that which is ſo, when God abſtains from puniſhing, when by timely Chaſtiſement he does not awaken to Repentance, and ſtop ſinners in their career; when the way to Hell is plain, and eaſy to them; when there is no Thorn, no Obſtacle in the way, but they may ſmoothly go on, and walk after their own Counſels, in the Paths that lead to the Chambers of Death.
How many Young Perſons hath God been kind to, by thoſe Reſtraints of Providence, which he takes off from others? How hath he hedged and walled up your Way? He hath made it more difficult for you to ſin: you cannot do as others, without ſuffering more than they; either in your Reputation, or your temporal Intereſt, or your Health, &c. And yet we find, notwithſtanding all this, many ſuch will not be divorced from their beloved Luſts. As one of the Antients ſpeaks concerning Philotimus, who had weakened his Conſtitution, and impaired his Health, as the Effect of his Intemperance and Riot: And being told by the Phyſicians, that if he would not forbear, and preſently break off his licentious Courſe, that he muſt certainly loſe his Eye ſight: There was no help for him, but in a little time he would be Blind: He preſently anſwers the Phyſician thus, Valeat lumen amicum, Farewell, O pleaſant and deſirable Light, rather than not ſin on, as I have done, I am content never to behold the Light of the Sun more. Will the Bleſſed God, think you, be unrighteous, if he condemn ſuch reſolved ſinners to everlaſting Darkneſs? Or to give them up now to thoſe Luſts, that they are ſo madly ſet upon?
But where he hath Deſigns of Mercy to any, he will not leave them to go on without Correction. As many as I love, I rebuke and chaſten. If you will not be reclaimed by one Rod, you ſhall have another, and a third and a fourth. If you will not for all this turn to the Lord, I will yet puniſh you ſeven times more for your Iniquities, Levit. 26.18. In theſe Caſes, God doth not ſpare that he may ſpare; he doth not ſeem to have Mercy, that he may have Mercy; He doth not forbear his Rod, that we may forbear our ſins; He will not let us alone, that he may not be forced utterly to abandon us: He will rebuke and chaſten, that we may not harden our ſelves unto our Eternal Ruine.
Whenever you behold a wicked Perſon thrive and flouriſh in the World, when you ſee him proſper in his Trade, and boaſting of his Riches, priding himſelf in his Power; when you ſee him ſtrong and healthful, ſurrounded with all that is deſirable to fleſh and blood, flouriſhing with all variety of outward Bleſſings, perſonal and family Advantages, &c. And …et neglect God, and wallow in all …anner of carnal Impurities, reſtrain Prayer from the Almighty, in his Family, and in his Cloſet, and live like a Beaſt, without God in the World; When you behold ſuch ſpectacles, think of the Accompliſhment of ſuch like Scriptures, where God threatens in Anger to forbear to puniſh ſuch and ſuch men. This is the firſt Method, his forbearing to afflict.
2. By taking away the External Means of Knowledg and Grace, or otherwiſe diſpoſing of Perſons ſo as they cannot enjoy ſuch ſeaſons. Acts 19.9. When divers were hardned, and believed not, but ſpake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them. God continues not the outward means in ſuch places, or the perſons remove into remote parts of the world, where the Goſpel of Chriſt is not known. Thus when lewd and diſobedient Youths have ſinned againſt God and their Parents, to that degree, that they know not what to do with them, they either go of themſelves, or are ſent into the Fleet, or Army, or to the Indies, to ſuch Places, where the Goſpel is not preached. And by this means men are left to walk in their own Counſels; The Publick Miniſtery of the Word being the ordinary Means of Sanctification. And ſo 'tis no wonder if they greedily fulfill their brutiſh Luſts. Therefore if God withdraw ſuch a Miniſtery from the Place where you reſide, or you run madly and without a call, or warrant, to dwell in ſuch places where it cannot be had, (I mean ſuch a Miniſtery as is proper to enlighten and awaken, and ſtrive with you in order to your Converſion and your ſalvation;) it is one ſtep to your being given over, and left of God, and to have the things of your Peace hid from your Eyes. I wiſh Merchants, and Traders, and Parents that have undutiful Children, and ſome Others, who are reſolved They will be Rich, would conſider this.
But if you have ſat under a convincing lively Miniſtry, but you begin to diſlike it; in that caſe it looks very ill. Eſpecially the more you were affected with it formerly, and now diſreliſh it, or deſpiſe it. In ſuch Caſes, the means of holy Knowledge and Sanctification not being continued, or improved, it looks fearful as to ſuch Perſons: More eſpecially if They be unaffected, and unconcerned it their own Danger in theſe Circumſtances.
3. God is ſaid to pour upon men a Spirit of Slumber, and deep Sleep, to ſuffer them to harden their Hearts, and ſtupify their own Conſciences the more, by every thing they enjoy; ſo that though the external Means be continued, yet none of the divine Meſſages will be received, nor the moſt uſeful Miniſtry do them any good: nor the Providential goodneſs of God lead them to Repentance. All their earthly poſſeſſions, and temporal Bleſſings ſhall become ſnares, and ſtumbling blocks, Jer. 6.21. Therefore thus ſaith the Lord, behold, I will lay stumbling blocks before this People, and the fathers and the ſons together ſhall fall upon them: The neighbour and his friend ſhall periſh. But this is after they have wilfully hardened themſelves. So it was with Pharoah when he had obſtinately hardened his own Heart, Exod. 7.14.8. chap. 19, 32. ver. After that, upon his continued Obſtinacy, God declares that he hardened him, 9. chap. 12. and 16. ver. And cauſed him to ſtand up, or raiſed him up, that is, kept him alive, when he deſerved to be cut off by a quick and ſudden Deſtruction; for this very end, that he might ſhew in him his Power. So provoking was his former Obſtinacy, and Incorrigibleneſs. Thus are men the faulty Cauſe, by choſen wilful Blindneſs and Hardneſs, before they are forſaken, and left of God under ſuch a Judgment.
4. Another ſtep is God's righteous Refuſal to continue that Influence of the divine Spirit, with the external Means of Grace, which men have abuſed and forfeited. Without this Influence there cannot be a Day of Light and Power under the Goſpel Diſpenſation: Both which are neceſſary to make our day of Grace. But when any People or Perſon have rebelled againſt God, and vexed his holy Spirit, he may ceaſe to ſtrive with their Hearts by any gracious Influence: When he hath knocked often, and they would not open; ſuch inward Motions of the Spirit, as they formerly had, they may have no more; and ſo they are forſaken of God. But whether totally and finally, ſo as not to return again, is more than we can ſay of particular Perſons, till the Event ſhew it. But it is that which Men have reaſon to fear, according to the ordinary Methods of Gods proceeding, who now diſobey the Voice of his Word and Spirit. He might Juſtly withdraw the Influence of his Spirit from them, and ſeal them up to Deſtruction; and ſo it is poſſible their Day of Grace may be ended before they dye; and their not believing or being converted, will certainly follow, John 12.39, 40.
5. Another ſtep is, when God ſends ſtrong Deluſions, whereby men believe Lyes, that they may be damned, 2 Theſſ. 2.11. This is ſevere indeed, but being after obſtinate Refuſal of his Grace, it is righteous ſeverity. For this is threatened as the Puniſhment of backſliding Chriſtian Churches, againſt ſuch who would not receive the Truth in the Love of it. The Deceived and the Deceiver are his, Job 12.16.
Now God may do this two ways: Firſt, By permitting Deceivers, and falſe Teachers, to ſpeak and act at that rate of Cunning, and colour of Truth, that it is very difficult to reſiſt or withſtand the ſnare. And therefore we read of the coming of the Man of ſin with all ſigns, and lying Wonders, or with Wonders to confirm thoſe Lyes. This God foretold and warned the Jews of before hand.
2. God may give Men up to ſtrong Deluſions, by taking away the Aſſiſtance of Reaſon and a clear Judgment, to diſtinguiſh between things that differ. Thus Men wreſt the holy Scriptures to their own Deſtruction, 2 Pet. 3.16. Which they could not do without his Providence, and Permiſſion. And when the Gentiles had ſinned highly againſt the Light of Nature, God gave them over to a Reprobate Mind, Rom. 1.26. or to a mind uncapable of Judging, as the word imports; a blind unjudicious Mind, that could not examine, or diſtinguiſh between Truth and Falſhood. This is as conſiſtent with the Juſtice of God (conſidering it as the Puniſhment of former Guilt,) as the depriving us of any of our ſenſes would be.
And without ſome ſuch thing as this, it will be impoſſible to give an Account of the Growth, and Prevalency of the many ridiculous, abſurd Doctrines, and Practices of Popery. It cannot otherwiſe be accounted for, that ſuch Fooleries as are to be found in their Opinions and Worſhip, ſhould ever be received, believed, complied, with, and pleaded for, by Men otherwiſe of Judgment and Learning; But it is to be feared that they are given over to ſtrong Deluſions to believe Lyes.
There are many others that are no Papiſts, whom this may concern, who, after a great Profeſſion, have fallen back into ſecret Wickedneſs, and at laſt into more open Crimes, againſt Convictions and Reſolutions, Promiſes and former Experience. Many ſuch in the laſt Age, and ſome in this, have been thus left of God, to run into ſtrange Enthuſiaſm, and real Fanaticiſm, to receive the moſt extravagant, and ſometimes blaſphemous Opinions; to eſpouſe and plead for them, againſt the plaineſt Reaſon, and the moſt expreſs Scripture that can be. But uſually it may be obſerved, the Doctrines they receive, and the new Lights they follow, are ſuch as tend to Licentiouſneſs, to encourage the Gratification of their Luſts, that they can ſin on by the help of theſe Opinions, with greater Security and Peace. This is another ſtep, whereby men are given up to their own Hearts Luſts.
LASTLY, When God gives ſpecial Permiſſion to the Devil, the great Enemy of Souls, to exert his Power, and Malice in blinding and deſtroying Sinners.
We do not ſufficiently conſider what we owe to Gods Reſtraint of Satan, that we are not more ſucceſfully tempted to deny the Faith, and caſt off the yoke of Chriſt When the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, an Evil Spirit from the Lord is ſent to trouble and puniſh him, and Satan filled his heart with Rage and Cruelty, 1 Sam. 16.14. Some evil Spirit had leave from God to ſeduce Ahab, 1 Kings 22.21, 22. Who acted his part ſuccesfully to deceive and deſtroy. If our Goſpel be hid, ſays our Apoſtle, it is hid to them that are lost, 2 Cor. 3.4. Whoſe eyes are blinded by the God of this World.
HE is ready to do us all the miſchief he can, if God reſtrain him not. What a Power had he over the Bodies of ſome Men, in the days of our Saviour! He would manifeſt as much over their Souls too, if God did but give him leave. The Red Dragon went out to deceive the Nations, we read in the Apocalyps. As to thoſe who are judicially left of God, and given up to their own Hearts Luſts, it may come to this, and ſometimes doth ſo; that God leaves them to the Power of Satan to deceive and ruine them, and they are led captive by him at his will. How diſmal muſt the Caſe of ſuch Perſons be! Which brings me to conſider.
III. THE Severity of this Judgment. Beſides what has been ſaid concerning it already, let me add a few Particulars.
1. The Severity of this Judgment will appear, if we conſider that it is never inflicted but after many preceeding Provocations, upon habitual and obſtinate ſinners. For ſins againſt Light and Knowledge, preſumptuous and repeated Tranſgreſſions, ſuch for which there was no ſacrifice appointed under the Law, Numb. 15.30.
2. The Severity of this Judgment may be argued from the Subject of it, it falls upon the Soul, it doth eſpecially reſpect that, as its immediate Subject. The diſmal Effects of it reach to the Soul: The Beauty and Comelineſs of the Soul is hereby ſpoiled: For what more diſmal Spectacle can there be, than ſuch a man thus left of God? The Honour and Dignity of the Soul is hereby debaſed; for men given up to their own Hearts Luſts are almoſt transformed into Beaſts.
3. Becauſe the moſt diſhonourable Slavery follows upon it. They are left under the Power and Rage of their own Luſts; and did you know what a Slavery that is, you would rather beg of God that you might fall into the Hands of the moſt barbarous and cruel Tyrant in the World, than to be left under the Dominion of your own Luſts.
4. Becauſe they are left to walk in their own Counſels, as the fruit of their being given up to their own Luſts. And theſe are, Firſt, The moſt fooliſh blind Guides that can be, that fill men with vain Projects and Deſigns. As the rich Fool in the Goſpel, Luke. 16. He would pull down his Barns, and build greater, and ſay, Soul take thine eaſe, &c.
Secondly, They are falſe and treacherous Guides. They promiſe Peace and Happineſs, but procure nothing like it; Promiſe Eaſe and Reſt, but can by no means perform what they promiſe; but leave a man to wander and go aſtray unto his own Deſtruction, Prov. 5.31.
Thirdly, They are cruel and pernicious Guides, as well as deceitful ones. Such Perſons will walk in the way that leads to Deſtruction: He that walketh after his own Counſel, will find the End of that way to be Death.
Laſtly, The Severity of this Judgment will appear, in that it can never be inflicted but in Anger. This is the Fruit of divine Wrath. All other Calamities and Afflictions may be the Fruit of Love, may be ſanctified for our good, may turn to our Advantage: But this Calamity has no ſuch Original, and no ſuch Effect. A man may be given up to Satan for the Deſtruction of the Fleſh, that the Soul may be ſaved; But to be given up to ſin is a thouſand times worſe, becauſe that is the Fruit of Divine Anger, in order to the Damnation of the Soul. Here God wounds like an Enemy, and like a cruel one: And we may boldly ſay, God never puniſhed any Man or Woman, with this Spiritual Judgment, in Kindneſs and Love.