A discourse of an unconverted man's enmity, against God Preached to a country congregation, by J.H. And publish'd by one who wrote it from his mouth.
         Howe, John, 1630-1705.
      
       
         
           1700
        
      
       Approx. 55 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 29 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images.
       
         Text Creation Partnership,
         Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :
         2005-03 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).
         A44674
         Wing H3022
         ESTC R215391
         99827285
         99827285
         31702
         
           
            This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of
             Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal
            . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.
          
        
      
       
         Early English books online.
      
       
         (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A44674)
         Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 31702)
         Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1890:13)
      
       
         
           
             A discourse of an unconverted man's enmity, against God Preached to a country congregation, by J.H. And publish'd by one who wrote it from his mouth.
             Howe, John, 1630-1705.
          
           [2], 53, [1] p.
           
             printed by J. Heptinstall,
             London :
             in the year 1700.
          
           
             J.H. = John Howe.
             Reproduction of the original in the British Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
         Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford.
         Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors.
      
       
         EEBO-TCP is a partnership between the Universities of Michigan and Oxford and the publisher ProQuest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by ProQuest via their Early English Books Online (EEBO) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). The general aim of EEBO-TCP is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic English-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in EEBO.
         EEBO-TCP aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the Text Encoding Initiative (http://www.tei-c.org).
         The EEBO-TCP project was divided into two phases. The 25,363 texts created during Phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 January 2015. Anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source.
         Users should be aware of the process of creating the TCP texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data.
         Text selection was based on the New Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature (NCBEL). If an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in NCBEL, then their works are eligible for inclusion. Selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. In general, first editions of a works in English were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably Latin and Welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so.
         Image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. Quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in Oxford and Michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet QA standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. After proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. Any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. Understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of TCP data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. Users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a TCP editor.
         The texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the TEI in Libraries guidelines.
         Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements).
         
          Keying and markup guidelines are available at the
           Text Creation Partnership web site
          .
        
      
       
         
         
      
    
     
       
         eng
      
       
         
           Repentance -- Early works to 1800.
           God -- Proof -- Early works to 1800.
           Conversion -- Early works to 1800.
        
      
    
     
        2004-10 TCP
        Assigned for keying and markup
      
        2004-10 Aptara
        Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images
      
        2004-11 Jonathan Blaney
        Sampled and proofread
      
        2004-11 Jonathan Blaney
        Text and markup reviewed and edited
      
        2005-01 pfs
        Batch review (QC) and XML conversion
      
    
  
   
     
       
         
         
           A
           DISCOURSE
           OF
           AN
           Unconverted
           Man's
           Enmity
           ,
           AGAINST
           GOD.
           
        
         
           Preached
           to
           a
           Country
           Congregation
           ,
           by
           
             J.
             H.
          
           And
           publish'd
           by
           one
           who
           wrote
           it
           from
           his
           Mouth
           .
        
         
           LONDON
           ,
           Printed
           by
           
             J.
             Heptinstall
          
           in
           the
           Year
           1700.
           
        
         
         
         
      
    
     
       
         
         
         
           
             COLOS.
             I.
             21.
             
          
           
             And
             you
             that
             were
             sometime
             alienated
             ,
             and
             enemies
             in
             your
             mind
             by
             wicked
             works
             ,
             yet
             now
             hath
             he
             reconciled
             .
          
        
         
           IT
           is
           a
           great
           and
           wonderful
           Context
           ,
           whereof
           these
           words
           are
           a
           part
           ,
           which
           the
           time
           will
           not
           allow
           me
           to
           look
           into
           ;
           but
           presently
           to
           fall
           on
           the
           consideration
           of
           the
           words
           in
           themselves
           ;
           which
           briefly
           represent
           to
           us
           ,
        
         
           The
           wretched
           and
           horrid
           state
           of
           men
           ,
           yet
           unconverted
           ,
           and
           not
           brought
           home
           to
           God.
           
        
         
           The
           happy
           state
           of
           those
           that
           are
           reduced
           ,
           and
           brought
           home
           to
           him
           .
        
         
           
             The
             former
             in
             these
             words
          
           ,
           And
           you
           that
           were
           sometime
           alienated
           ,
           and
           enemies
           in
           your
           mind
           by
           wicked
           works
           .
        
         
         
           The
           latter
           in
           those
           words
           ,
           
             Yet
             now
             hath
             he
             reconciled
          
           .
        
         
           I
           shall
           apply
           my
           Discourse
           to
           the
           former
           part
           of
           the
           words
           ,
           and
           thence
           observe
           ;
        
         
           That
           men
           ,
           in
           their
           unconverted
           state
           ,
           are
           alienated
           from
           God
           ,
           and
           enemies
           to
           him
           by
           their
           wicked
           works
           .
        
         
           This
           I
           shall
           endeavour
           ,
        
         
           1.
           
           To
           explain
           ,
           and
           shew
           you
           the
           meaning
           of
           it
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           Evince
           ,
           and
           let
           you
           see
           the
           truth
           of
           it
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           Apply
           it
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           For
           the
           meaning
           of
           it
           .
           'T
           is
           evident
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           the
           unconverted
           state
           of
           man
           that
           is
           here
           reflected
           upon
           ,
           and
           referred
           unto
           .
           
             You
             that
             were
             sometime
             alienated
             ,
             and
             enemies
             in
             your
             mind
             by
             wicked
             works
             .
          
           They
           were
           so
           before
           they
           were
           turned
           to
           God.
           He
           writes
           to
           those
           Colossians
           ,
           as
           to
           Converts
           ,
           to
           them
           that
           were
           Saints
           and
           
             faithful
             Brethren
             in
             Christ
          
           ,
           Vers.
           2.
           to
           them
           that
           were
           now
           Believers
           in
           Christ
           ,
           and
           Lovers
           of
           the
           Saints
           ,
           V.
           4.
           telling
           them
           ,
           they
           sometimes
           had
           been
           
             enemies
             by
             
             wicked
             works
          
           .
           Before
           conversion
           ,
           they
           had
           as
           is
           elsewhere
           said
           ,
           
             their
             understandings
             darkened
             ,
             being
             alienated
             from
             the
             life
             of
             God
          
           ;
           walking
           ,
           as
           
             other
             Gentiles
             walk
             ,
             in
             the
             vanity
             of
             their
             mind
             ,
          
           Ephes.
           4.
           18.
           compared
           with
           the
           preceding
           Verse
           .
           This
           is
           the
           deplorable
           condition
           of
           the
           unconverted
           World.
           They
           are
           alienated
           from
           ,
           and
           enemies
           to
           God
           ,
           by
           wicked
           works
           .
        
         
           We
           are
           to
           consider
           ,
           what
           this
           
             alienation
             from
             God
          
           doth
           import
           .
           It
           signifies
           ,
           estrangement
           ,
           unacquaintance
           with
           God
           ;
           and
           that
           without
           any
           inclination
           towards
           him
           ,
           or
           dispostion
           to
           seek
           his
           acquaintance
           .
           The
           word
           is
           emphatical
           ,
           it
           signifies
           
             people
             of
             another
             Country
          
           .
           You
           were
           like
           people
           of
           another
           Country
           .
           Of
           such
           a
           different
           Language
           ,
           Manners
           ,
           and
           Behaviour
           ,
           they
           that
           are
           converted
           are
           to
           you
           ,
           and
           you
           to
           them
           .
           You
           are
           estranged
           to
           their
           Speech
           ,
           Customs
           ,
           and
           Ways
           .
           All
           that
           is
           of
           God
           was
           strange
           to
           you
           .
           Men
           in
           their
           unconverted
           state
           are
           strangers
           to
           God.
           Wicked
           men
           do
           not
           understand
           the
           
           words
           of
           the
           Gospel
           ,
           Joh.
           8.
           43.
           
           What
           relates
           to
           the
           Kingdom
           of
           God
           the
           unconverted
           man
           dislikes
           ,
           
             Job
             21.
             14.
             
             They
             say
             to
             God
             ,
             depart
             from
             us
             ,
             we
             desire
             not
             the
             knowledge
             of
             thy
             ways
             .
             Man
             ,
          
           who
           was
           originally
           made
           for
           the
           service
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           communion
           with
           him
           ,
           is
           now
           so
           degenerated
           ,
           that
           he
           is
           become
           a
           meer
           stranger
           to
           him
           .
        
         
           The
           next
           word
           to
           be
           taken
           notice
           of
           ,
           is
           ,
           Enemies
           ,
           which
           may
           seem
           to
           add
           somewhat
           to
           the
           former
           word
           alienated
           .
           There
           is
           not
           only
           
             no
             inclination
          
           towards
           God
           ;
           but
           there
           is
           a
           disinclination
           Not
           only
           
             no
             affection
          
           ,
           but
           a
           disaffection
           .
           The
           
             carnal
             mind
             is
             enmity
             to
             God.
          
           And
           the
           effects
           of
           this
           enmity
           are
           obvious
           .
           This
           alienation
           from
           God
           is
           voluntary
           ,
           affected
           ,
           and
           chosen
           .
           Men
           in
           their
           unconverted
           state
           ,
           are
           not
           only
           strangers
           to
           God
           ,
           but
           enemies
           against
           God
           ,
           and
           that
           
             in
             their
             minds
          
           .
           A
           most
           fearful
           case
           ,
           full
           of
           astonishment
           ,
           that
           the
           very
           
             mind
             of
             man
          
           ,
           the
           off-spring
           of
           God
           ,
           the
           paternal
           mind
           ,
           as
           an
           Heathen
           call'd
           him
           ;
           that
           this
           most
           excellent
           part
           ,
           or
           power
           
           belonging
           to
           the
           nature
           of
           man
           ,
           should
           be
           poison'd
           with
           malignity
           ,
           and
           envenom'd
           with
           enmity
           against
           the
           glorious
           ever-blessed
           God!
           The
           mind
           of
           man
           ;
           his
           thinking
           power
           ;
           the
           fountain
           of
           thoughts
           ,
           should
           be
           set
           against
           God
           ,
           who
           gave
           him
           this
           
             power
             to
             think
          
           !
           Yet
           into
           this
           Reason
           must
           every
           mans
           unacquaintance
           with
           God
           be
           resolv'd
           .
           They
           know
           not
           God
           ,
           and
           converse
           not
           with
           him
           ,
           only
           because
           they
           have
           no
           mind
           to
           it
           .
           That
           noble
           faculty
           in
           man
           ,
           that
           resembles
           the
           nature
           of
           God
           ,
           is
           turn'd
           off
           from
           him
           ,
           and
           set
           on
           vain
           things
           that
           cannot
           profit
           ;
           as
           also
           upon
           wicked
           and
           impure
           things
           ,
           that
           render
           them
           more
           unlike
           to
           God
           ,
           and
           disaffected
           to
           him
           .
        
         
           
             By
             wicked
             works
          
           ]
           which
           must
           have
           a
           double
           reference
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           Former
           wicked
           works
           ,
           as
           done
           by
           them
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           Future
           wicked
           works
           ,
           as
           resolved
           on
           by
           them
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           The
           former
           wicked
           works
           ,
           which
           they
           have
           done
           ,
           have
           more
           and
           more
           
           habituated
           their
           Souls
           unto
           a
           state
           of
           distance
           from
           God.
           The
           longer
           they
           live
           ,
           the
           longer
           they
           sin
           .
           And
           the
           longer
           they
           sin
           ,
           the
           more
           they
           are
           confirm'd
           in
           their
           enmity
           against
           God.
           
        
         
           2.
           
           Future
           wicked
           works
           ,
           as
           resolv'd
           on
           to
           be
           done
           .
           They
           purpose
           to
           live
           as
           they
           have
           done
           ,
           and
           give
           themselves
           the
           same
           liberty
           in
           sin
           as
           before
           ,
           and
           will
           not
           know
           God
           ,
           or
           be
           acquainted
           with
           him
           ,
           lest
           they
           should
           be
           drawn
           off
           from
           their
           resolv'd
           sinful
           course
           .
           For
           the
           knowledge
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           a
           course
           of
           sin
           are
           inconsistent
           things
           ,
           1
           
             Cor.
             15.
             34.
             
             Awake
             to
             righteousness
             and
             sin
             not
             ,
             for
             some
             have
             not
             the
             knowledge
             of
             God.
             This
             is
             the
             condemnation
             ,
          
           Joh.
           3.
           19.
           
             that
             light
             is
             come
             into
             the
             world
             ;
             but
             men
             love
             darkness
             rather
             than
             light
             ,
             because
             their
             deeds
             are
             evil
             .
          
           They
           hate
           the
           light
           ,
           because
           they
           will
           not
           have
           their
           course
           altered
           .
           They
           resolve
           to
           do
           as
           they
           have
           done
           .
           And
           that
           light
           ,
           which
           brings
           with
           it
           a
           tendency
           to
           the
           obeying
           of
           God
           ,
           they
           cannot
           endure
           .
           But
           then
           ,
           as
           this
           alienation
           of
           mind
           ,
           and
           
           enmity
           are
           against
           the
           light
           that
           reveals
           God
           ,
           they
           finally
           terminate
           on
           the
           blessed
           God
           himself
           .
           As
           God
           is
           the
           term
           of
           Reconciliation
           ,
           so
           he
           is
           the
           term
           of
           this
           enmity
           and
           alienation
           .
           Wicked
           men
           look
           on
           God
           with
           enmity
           of
           mind
           under
           several
           notion
           ;
        
         
           1.
           
           As
           he
           claims
           to
           be
           their
           Owner
           .
           When
           he
           claims
           a
           principal
           propriety
           in
           them
           ;
           when
           he
           insists
           on
           his
           right
           in
           them
           ,
           as
           their
           Creator
           ,
           as
           having
           made
           them
           out
           of
           nothing
           .
           When
           God
           owns
           ,
           or
           claims
           them
           as
           their
           Lord
           ,
           that
           first
           signifies
           ,
           he
           is
           their
           Proprietor
           ,
           or
           one
           ,
           to
           whom
           they
           belong
           .
           But
           they
           say
           ,
           they
           are
           their
           own
           .
           If
           we
           have
           to
           do
           with
           God
           ,
           we
           must
           quit
           claim
           to
           our selves
           ,
           and
           look
           on
           God
           as
           our
           Owner
           .
           But
           this
           is
           fix'd
           in
           the
           hearts
           of
           men
           ,
           we
           will
           be
           our
           own
           ;
           we
           will
           not
           consent
           to
           the
           claim
           which
           God
           makes
           to
           us
           .
           
             Our
             tongues
             are
             our
             own
          
           ,
           Psal.
           12.
           4.
           
           Wicked
           men
           might
           as
           well
           say
           the
           same
           thing
           of
           their
           whole
           selves
           ,
           our
           bodies
           ,
           strength
           ,
           time
           ,
           parts
           ,
           &c.
           are
           our
           own
           ,
           and
           
             who
             is
             Lord
             over
             us
          
           .
        
         
         
           If
           you
           consider
           God
           under
           the
           notion
           of
           a
           Ruler
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           an
           Owner
           .
           Why
           should
           not
           God
           rule
           over
           ,
           and
           govern
           his
           own
           ?
           But
           this
           the
           spirit
           of
           man
           can
           by
           no
           means
           comport
           withall
           ;
           tho'
           't
           is
           but
           reasonable
           ,
           that
           he
           who
           gave
           men
           their
           Beings
           ,
           should
           give
           them
           Laws
           ;
           and
           that
           he
           who
           gave
           life
           ,
           should
           also
           give
           the
           rule
           of
           life
           .
           But
           this
           man
           ,
           in
           his
           degenerate
           state
           ,
           will
           by
           no
           means
           admit
           of
           .
           There
           are
           two
           things
           considerable
           in
           the
           Will
           of
           God
           ,
           which
           the
           mind
           of
           man
           cannot
           comply
           withall
           .
        
         
           The
           Sovereignty
           ,
           and
           the
           Holiness
           of
           it
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           The
           Sovereignty
           of
           God's
           Will.
           We
           must
           look
           on
           God's
           Will
           as
           absolutely
           Sovereign
           .
           Man
           must
           look
           on
           God's
           Will
           to
           be
           above
           his
           Will
           ;
           so
           as
           that
           man
           must
           cross
           his
           own
           will
           ,
           to
           comport
           with
           an
           higher
           will
           than
           his
           .
           But
           this
           apostatiz'd
           man
           will
           not
           do
           ;
           and
           therefore
           he
           is
           at
           enmity
           with
           God
           ;
           he
           will
           not
           submit
           to
           the
           Will
           of
           God
           ,
           as
           superiour
           to
           his
           Will.
           And
           then
        
         
         
           2.
           
           There
           is
           the
           Holiness
           of
           God's
           Will.
           His
           Law
           is
           a
           holy
           Law
           ,
           and
           the
           renewed
           man
           therefore
           loves
           it
           .
           But
           because
           't
           is
           holy
           ,
           therefore
           the
           unregenerate
           man
           dislikes
           it
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           Lastly
           ,
           God
           is
           consider'd
           under
           the
           notion
           of
           
             our
             end
             ,
             our
             last
             end
             ,
          
           as
           he
           is
           to
           be
           glorify'd
           ,
           and
           enjoy'd
           by
           us
           .
           There
           is
           a
           disaffection
           to
           God
           in
           the
           hearts
           of
           unregenerate
           men
           in
           this
           regard
           also
           .
           The
           spirit
           of
           man
           is
           opposite
           to
           living
           to
           the
           glory
           of
           God.
           Every
           one
           sets
           up
           for
           himself
           .
           I
           will
           be
           my
           own
           end
           .
           It
           shall
           be
           the
           business
           of
           my
           whole
           life
           to
           please
           my self
           .
           Therefore
           ,
           when
           God
           is
           represented
           as
           our
           end
           ,
           as
           in
           the
           1
           
             Cor.
             10.
             31.
             
             Whether
             you
             eat
             ,
             or
             drink
             ,
             or
             whatever
             you
             do
             ,
             do
             all
             to
             the
             glory
             of
             God.
          
           And
           as
           it
           is
           in
           the
           2
           
             Cor.
             5.
             15.
             
             No
             man
             is
             to
             live
             to
             himself
             ,
          
           &c.
           
           The
           great
           design
           of
           our
           being
           delivered
           from
           the
           Law
           ,
           
             (
             viz.
          
           as
           a
           cursing
           ,
           condemning
           Law
           is
           )
           that
           we
           may
           
             live
             to
             God
          
           ,
           Gal.
           2.
           19.
           
           
             I
             am
             dead
             to
             the
             Law
             ,
             that
             I
             might
             live
             to
             God.
          
           This
           the
           unrenewed
           heart
           cannot
           comport
           
           with
           .
           The
           last
           and
           great
           design
           of
           all
           our
           actions
           must
           terminate
           on
           God.
           Now
           self
           is
           set
           up
           ,
           as
           the
           great
           Idol
           ,
           in
           opposition
           to
           God
           ,
           all
           the
           world
           over
           ;
           and
           the
           spirits
           of
           men
           grow
           by
           custom
           more
           and
           more
           disaffected
           to
           God
           in
           this
           respect
           .
        
         
           Again
           ,
           God
           would
           be
           owned
           by
           us
           for
           
             our
             best
             good
          
           .
           This
           should
           be
           the
           sense
           of
           our
           Souls
           towards
           him
           .
           So
           it
           was
           with
           the
           Psalmist
           ,
           Psal.
           73.
           25.
           
           
             Whom
             have
             I
             in
             heaven
             but
             thee
             ,
          
           &c.
           
           But
           says
           the
           unregenerate
           Soul
           ,
           the
           World
           is
           better
           to
           me
           than
           God.
           And
           it
           is
           upon
           this
           account
           ,
           that
           when
           Overtures
           are
           made
           of
           changing
           this
           state
           ,
           the
           unregenerate
           mind
           opposes
           it
           .
        
         
           Thus
           have
           you
           this
           Doctrine
           explained
           ,
           and
           opened
           .
           I
           come
           now
           in
           the
        
         
           2d
           .
           Place
           ,
           To
           evince
           the
           truth
           of
           this
           Doctrine
           ,
           and
           that
           by
           two
           Heads
           of
           Arguments
           ,
        
         
           Partly
           from
           our selves
           ,
           and
           partly
           from
           God.
           
        
         
         
           1.
           
           From
           our selves
           .
           'T
           is
           an
           alienation
           and
           enmity
           of
           mind
           ,
           that
           keeps
           men
           off
           from
           God
           ,
           and
           Reconciliation
           with
           him
           ,
           which
           will
           plainly
           appear
           ,
        
         
           1.
           
           If
           we
           consider
           ,
           that
           our
           minds
           are
           capable
           of
           knowing
           God.
           Such
           a
           thing
           is
           the
           mind
           of
           man
           ,
           which
           was
           originally
           made
           for
           such
           an
           exercise
           ,
           as
           to
           be
           taken
           up
           principally
           with
           things
           relating
           to
           God.
           Our
           minds
           can
           apprehend
           what
           is
           meant
           by
           the
           nature
           of
           God
           ,
           as
           a
           Being
           of
           uncreated
           Perfection
           ,
           in
           whom
           all
           Power
           ,
           Wisdom
           ,
           and
           Goodness
           do
           meet
           ;
           who
           fills
           Heaven
           and
           Earth
           ,
           and
           from
           everlasting
           was
           God.
           Our
           minds
           tell
           us
           ,
           that
           we
           have
           a
           capacity
           thus
           to
           conceive
           of
           God.
           'T
           is
           in
           the
           capacity
           of
           man's
           nature
           ,
           to
           mind
           God
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           to
           mind
           vanity
           ;
           but
           doth
           it
           not
           .
           And
           whence
           doth
           this
           proceed
           ,
           but
           from
           enmity
           ,
           an
           alienation
           of
           the
           mind
           from
           God
           ?
        
         
           2.
           
           This
           appears
           in
           that
           men
           are
           wilfully
           ignorant
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           are
           destitute
           of
           the
           knowledge
           of
           him
           out
           of
           choice
           ;
           ignorant
           ,
           and
           are
           willing
           to
           
           be
           so
           .
           This
           speaks
           enmity
           ,
           and
           alienation
           of
           mind
           more
           expresly
           ,
           and
           fully
           .
           That
           they
           are
           capable
           of
           knowing
           God
           ,
           and
           yet
           are
           ignorant
           of
           him
           ,
           leaves
           no
           other
           cause
           assignable
           .
           But
           their
           desiring
           so
           to
           be
           ,
           plainly
           assigns
           this
           cause
           ,
           
             Rom.
             1.
             28.
             
             They
             liked
             not
             to
             retain
             God
             in
             their
             knowledge
             .
          
           'T
           is
           not
           grateful
           to
           them
           ,
           
             Job
             21.
             14.
             
             We
             desire
             not
             the
             knowledge
             of
             thy
             ways
             .
          
           Men
           are
           ignorant
           willingly
           of
           that
           God
           ,
           who
           made
           the
           world
           ,
           and
           all
           things
           therein
           ,
           2
           
             Pet.
             3.
             5.
             
             For
             this
             they
             are
             willingly
             ignorant
             ,
          
           &c.
           
           They
           will
           not
           know
           God
           ,
           though
           his
           
             visible
             Works
          
           shew
           his
           
             invisible
             Power
             ,
             and
             Godhead
          
           ,
           Rom.
           1.
           19
           ,
           20.
           
           Now
           this
           can
           signify
           nothing
           but
           auenation
           and
           enmity
           of
           mind
           .
           Men
           are
           willing
           and
           industrious
           to
           know
           other
           things
           ,
           and
           labour
           after
           the
           knowledge
           of
           them
           ;
           but
           they
           decline
           the
           knowledge
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           his
           ways
           ,
           being
           alienated
           from
           God
           ,
           
             through
             the
             blindness
             of
             their
             hearts
             ,
          
           Ephes.
           4.
           18.
           
           This
           heart-blindness
           is
           chosen
           ,
           and
           voluntary
           blindness
           ,
           signifies
           their
           having
           
           no
           mind
           or
           will
           to
           things
           of
           that
           nature
           .
        
         
           But
           now
           the
           voluntariness
           of
           this
           ignorance
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           the
           enmity
           that
           is
           ,
           consequently
           ,
           in
           it
           ,
           appears
           evidently
           in
           two
           sorts
           of
           persons
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           In
           many
           that
           are
           of
           the
           more
           knowing
           and
           inquisitive
           sort
           ,
           who
           do
           all
           they
           can
           to
           make
           themselves
           
             notional
             Atheists
          
           ;
           to
           blot
           ,
           or
           rase
           the
           notion
           of
           God
           out
           of
           their
           minds
           .
           Of
           them
           I
           shall
           say
           little
           here
           .
           They
           do
           their
           utmost
           ,
           but
           in
           vain
           .
           It
           will
           stick
           as
           close
           to
           them
           as
           their
           
             thinking
             Power
          
           .
           But
           their
           attempt
           shews
           their
           enmity
           .
           For
           they
           are
           content
           to
           admit
           the
           grossest
           Absurdities
           into
           their
           minds
           ,
           rather
           than
           permit
           that
           notion
           to
           remain
           unmolested
           there
           .
           Rather
           imagine
           such
           a
           curious
           frame
           of
           things
           ,
           as
           this
           World
           is
           ,
           to
           have
           come
           by
           chance
           ,
           than
           that
           it
           had
           a
           wise
           ,
           just
           ,
           holy
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           powerful
           ,
           Maker
           .
           They
           would
           count
           it
           an
           absurdity
           ,
           even
           unto
           madness
           ,
           to
           think
           the
           exquisite
           picture
           of
           a
           Man
           ,
           or
           a
           Tree
           ,
           to
           have
           happened
           by
           chance
           ;
           and
           can
           
           allow
           themselves
           to
           be
           so
           absurd
           ,
           as
           to
           think
           a
           Man
           himself
           ,
           or
           a
           Tree
           ,
           to
           be
           causal
           Productions
           .
           Is
           not
           this
           the
           height
           of
           enmity
           !
        
         
           2.
           
           In
           the
           unthinking
           generality
           ;
           of
           whom
           ,
           yet
           unconverted
           out
           of
           the
           state
           of
           Apostacy
           ,
           't
           is
           said
           ,
           
             they
             are
             fools
          
           ,
           as
           is
           the
           usual
           Language
           of
           Scripture
           ,
           concerning
           wicked
           ,
           or
           unconverted
           men
           ;
           and
           that
           such
           fools
           ,
           tho'
           they
           never
           offer
           at
           saying
           in
           their
           minds
           ,
           much
           less
           with
           their
           mouths
           ;
           
             yet
             they
             say
             in
             their
             hearts
             ,
             no
             God
          
           ;
           i.
           e.
           not
           
             there
             is
             none
          
           ;
           for
           there
           is
           no
           [
           is
           ]
           in
           the
           Hebrew
           Text.
           The
           words
           may
           rather
           go
           in
           the
           Optative
           form
           ,
           than
           the
           
             Indicative
             ,
             O
             that
             there
             were
             none
             !
          
           The
           notion
           is
           let
           alone
           ,
           while
           it
           reaches
           not
           their
           hearts
           .
           If
           it
           do
           ,
           they
           only
           wish
           it
           were
           otherwise
           .
           This
           speaks
           their
           enmity
           the
           more
           ;
           for
           the
           notion
           lies
           a
           continual
           testimony
           against
           the
           bent
           of
           their
           hearts
           ,
           and
           constant
           practice
           ;
           that
           ,
           while
           they
           own
           a
           God
           ,
           they
           never
           fear
           ,
           nor
           love
           him
           accordingly
           .
           And
           they
           grosly
           misrepresent
           him
           ,
           sometimes
           as
           all
           
           made
           up
           of
           Mercy
           ,
           without
           Justice
           ,
           or
           Holiness
           ;
           and
           so
           think
           they
           need
           no
           Reconciliation
           to
           him
           ;
           he
           and
           they
           are
           well
           agreed
           already
           .
           Sometimes
           think
           of
           him
           ,
           as
           merciless
           ,
           and
           irreconcilable
           ;
           and
           therefore
           ,
           never
           look
           after
           being
           reconciled
           to
           him
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           It
           appears
           hence
           ,
           that
           men
           do
           so
           seldom
           think
           of
           God
           ,
           when
           as
           a
           thought
           of
           God
           may
           be
           as
           soon
           thought
           as
           any
           other
           ,
           and
           would
           cost
           us
           as
           little
           .
           Why
           not
           as
           well
           on
           God
           ,
           as
           upon
           any
           of
           those
           vanities
           ,
           about
           which
           they
           are
           commonly
           employ'd
           ?
           'T
           is
           a
           wonderful
           thing
           to
           consider
           ,
           how
           man
           is
           capable
           of
           forming
           a
           thought
           !
           how
           a
           thought
           arises
           in
           our
           minds
           !
           And
           how
           sad
           is
           it
           to
           a
           consider
           ,
           that
           tho'
           God
           hath
           given
           to
           man
           a
           thinking
           power
           ,
           yet
           they
           will
           not
           think
           of
           him
           !
           God
           hath
           given
           to
           man
           a
           mind
           that
           can
           think
           ,
           and
           think
           on
           him
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           on
           any
           thing
           else
           .
           My
           body
           cannot
           think
           ,
           if
           my
           mind
           and
           spirit
           is
           gone
           :
           Though
           God
           gave
           man
           the
           power
           of
           thought
           ;
           yet
           men
           will
           not
           use
           or
           employ
           their
           thoughts
           ,
           
           otherwise
           than
           about
           vain
           or
           forbidden
           things
           .
           God
           forms
           the
           Spirit
           of
           man
           within
           him
           ;
           hath
           put
           an
           immortal
           Spirit
           into
           him
           ,
           whence
           a
           spring
           of
           thoughts
           might
           ascend
           Heaven-wards
           .
           When
           we
           have
           thousands
           of
           Objects
           to
           choose
           of
           ,
           we
           think
           of
           any
           thing
           rather
           than
           God!
           And
           not
           only
           turn
           this
           way
           ,
           or
           that
           ,
           besides
           him
           ;
           but
           tend
           continually
           downwards
           in
           opposition
           to
           him
           .
           Yea
           ,
           men
           cannot
           endure
           to
           be
           put
           in
           mind
           of
           God.
           The
           serious
           mention
           of
           his
           Name
           is
           distastful
           .
           Whence
           can
           this
           proceed
           ,
           that
           a
           thought
           of
           God
           cast
           in
           ,
           is
           thrown
           out
           ,
           as
           Fire
           from
           one's
           Bosom
           ;
           whence
           is
           it
           ,
           but
           from
           the
           enmity
           of
           mind
           ,
           that
           is
           in
           man
           against
           God
           ?
        
         
           4.
           
           It
           further
           appears
           hence
           ,
           That
           men
           are
           so
           little
           concern'd
           about
           the
           Favour
           of
           God.
           Whomsoever
           we
           love
           ,
           we
           naturally
           value
           their
           love
           .
           But
           whether
           God
           be
           a
           Friend
           ,
           or
           an
           Enemy
           ,
           it
           is
           all
           one
           to
           the
           unrenewed
           Soul
           ,
           if
           there
           be
           no
           sensible
           effects
           of
           his
           displeasure
           .
           The
           men
           of
           this
           World
           only
           value
           its
           Favours
           .
           The
           Favour
           
           of
           God
           they
           value
           not
           .
           Whereas
           
             in
             his
             Favour
             is
             Life
          
           ,
           in
           the
           account
           of
           holy
           and
           good
           men
           ,
           Psal.
           30.
           5.
           yea
           ,
           they
           judge
           
             his
             loving-kindness
             is
             better
             than
             life
          
           without
           it
           ,
           Psal.
           63.
           3.
           
           When
           men
           shall
           go
           from
           day
           to
           day
           without
           considering
           ,
           whether
           God
           hath
           a
           Favour
           for
           them
           ,
           or
           not
           ;
           whether
           they
           are
           accepted
           ,
           or
           not
           ;
           whether
           they
           have
           found
           grace
           in
           his
           eyes
           ,
           or
           not
           ,
           &c.
           
           What
           doth
           this
           declare
           ,
           but
           an
           enmity
           of
           mind
           ,
           and
           alienation
           from
           God
           ?
           If
           men
           had
           true
           love
           for
           God
           ,
           it
           could
           not
           be
           ,
           but
           they
           would
           greatly
           value
           his
           love
           .
        
         
           5
           That
           men
           do
           so
           little
           converse
           ,
           and
           walk
           with
           God
           ,
           doth
           speak
           a
           fixed
           alienation
           of
           mind
           ,
           and
           enmity
           against
           God.
           Walking
           with
           God
           includes
           knowing
           ,
           and
           minding
           him
           ;
           but
           it
           adds
           all
           other
           motions
           of
           Soul
           towards
           him
           ,
           together
           with
           continuance
           ,
           and
           approving
           our selves
           to
           him
           therein
           .
           Now
           agreement
           is
           required
           to
           walking
           with
           God
           ,
           
             Amos
             3.
             3.
             
             Can
             two
             walk
             together
             ,
             unless
             they
             be
             agreed
             ?
          
           Hos.
           3.
           3.
           
           Men
           walk
           not
           with
           God
           ,
           because
           they
           are
           not
           come
           to
           an
           agreement
           with
           
           him
           .
           God's
           agreement
           with
           us
           ,
           and
           ours
           with
           him
           ,
           is
           ,
           that
           we
           may
           walk
           together
           .
           If
           we
           walk
           not
           with
           God
           ,
           it
           is
           because
           there
           is
           no
           agreement
           ,
           and
           what
           doth
           that
           import
           ,
           but
           an
           alienation
           of
           mind
           from
           God.
           Says
           God
           ,
           I
           would
           not
           have
           you
           live
           in
           the
           World
           at
           so
           great
           a
           distance
           from
           me
           ,
           I
           would
           walk
           with
           you
           ,
           and
           have
           you
           walk
           with
           me
           ;
           and
           for
           this
           end
           ,
           I
           would
           come
           to
           an
           agreement
           with
           you
           .
           But
           Sinners
           will
           not
           come
           to
           any
           agreement
           with
           God
           ;
           and
           thence
           it
           comes
           to
           pass
           ,
           that
           they
           walk
           not
           with
           God
           ;
           they
           begin
           the
           day
           without
           God
           ,
           walk
           all
           the
           day
           long
           without
           God
           ,
           lye
           down
           at
           night
           without
           God
           ;
           and
           the
           reason
           is
           ,
           because
           there
           is
           no
           agreement
           ;
           and
           that
           denotes
           enmity
           .
           Especially
           considering
           ,
        
         
           6.
           
           That
           daily
           converse
           with
           God
           would
           cost
           us
           nothing
           .
           To
           have
           any
           man's
           thoughts
           full
           of
           Heaven
           ,
           and
           full
           of
           holy
           fear
           and
           reverence
           of
           God
           ,
           &c.
           (
           which
           is
           included
           in
           walking
           with
           God
           )
           what
           inconvenience
           is
           in
           this
           ?
           what
           business
           will
           this
           hinder
           ?
           
           when
           a
           man
           goes
           about
           his
           ordinary
           affairs
           ,
           will
           it
           do
           any
           hurt
           to
           take
           God
           with
           him
           ?
           No
           business
           will
           go
           on
           the
           worse
           for
           it
           ,
           it
           will
           not
           detract
           from
           the
           success
           of
           our
           affairs
           ,
           1
           
             Cor.
             7.
             24.
             
             Let
             every
             man
             wherein
             he
             is
             called
             ,
             therein
             abide
             with
             God.
          
           Let
           your
           state
           be
           what
           it
           will
           ,
           there
           can
           be
           no
           business
           in
           this
           World
           ,
           but
           what
           you
           may
           do
           with
           God
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           without
           God
           ,
           and
           much
           better
           .
        
         
           7.
           
           Which
           makes
           the
           matter
           yet
           plainer
           .
           How
           uncomfortably
           do
           men
           live
           in
           this
           World
           ,
           by
           reason
           of
           their
           distance
           from
           God
           ,
           and
           unacquaintedness
           with
           him
           ,
           
             Job
             35.
             10.
             
             But
             no
             one
             saith
             ,
             where
             is
             God
             my
             maker
             ,
             who
             giveth
             Songs
             in
             the
             night
             .
          
           They
           choose
           rather
           to
           groan
           under
           their
           Burdens
           alone
           ,
           than
           cry
           to
           God
           their
           maker
           ,
           as
           at
           the
           9th
           Verse
           of
           that
           Chapter
           .
           When
           men
           will
           endure
           the
           greatest
           extremity
           ,
           rather
           than
           apply
           themselves
           to
           God
           ;
           what
           doth
           this
           resolve
           into
           ,
           but
           enmity
           against
           God
           ?
        
         
           8.
           
           That
           men
           do
           so
           universally
           disobey
           God
           bespeaks
           alienation
           and
           enmity
           
           of
           mind
           .
           As
           Obedienc
           proceeds
           from
           Love
           ;
           so
           Disobedience
           proceeds
           from
           Enmity
           .
           And
           for
           this
           ▪
           I
           shall
           only
           instance
           in
           two
           great
           Precepts
           ,
           wherein
           the
           Mind
           and
           Will
           of
           God
           is
           exprest
           ,
           which
           I
           mention
           ,
           and
           insist
           upon
           (
           tho'
           briefly
           )
           as
           things
           that
           concern
           the
           constant
           and
           daily
           practice
           of
           every
           Christian.
           
        
         
           1.
           
           A
           course
           of
           Prayer
           to
           God
           in
           secret
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           And
           having
           our
           Conversation
           in
           Heaven
           .
           How
           express
           are
           both
           these
           Precepts
           in
           the
           same
           Chapter
           ;
           the
           former
           ,
           Matth.
           6.
           6.
           the
           latter
           ,
           
             vers
             .
             19
             ,
             20
          
           ,
           21.
           
           Now
           consider
           ,
           whether
           our
           disobedience
           to
           these
           two
           Precepts
           do
           not
           discover
           great
           enmity
           in
           our
           Hearts
           against
           God
           ?
           What
           ,
           to
           refuse
           to
           pray
           ,
           and
           pour
           out
           our
           Souls
           to
           him
           in
           secret
           ?
           To
           refuse
           placing
           our
           Treasure
           ,
           and
           our
           Hearts
           in
           Heaven
           ,
           what
           doth
           this
           signify
           ,
           but
           aversion
           ,
           and
           a
           disaffected
           Heart
           ?
        
         
           Let
           us
           consider
           each
           of
           them
           severally
           and
           apart
           by
           it self
           .
        
         
           We
           are
           a
           Christian
           Assembly
           :
           How
           should
           it
           startle
           us
           to
           be
           (
           any
           of
           us
           )
           
           convicted
           of
           enmity
           against
           God
           ,
           under
           the
           Christian
           Name
           ,
           in
           two
           ,
           so
           plain
           cases
           ?
        
         
           1.
           
           For
           Prayer
           ,
           't
           is
           a
           charge
           laid
           upon
           all
           persons
           ,
           consider'd
           in
           their
           single
           and
           personal
           capacity
           ,
           
             Matth.
             6.
             6.
             
             But
             thou
             when
             thou
             prayest
             ,
             enter
             into
             thy
             Closet
             ,
             and
             when
             thou
             hast
             shut
             thy
             door
             ,
             pray
             to
             thy
             Father
             which
             is
             in
             secret
             .
          
           I
           fear
           ,
           that
           most
           of
           them
           ,
           who
           bear
           the
           Christian
           Name
           ,
           carry
           the
           matter
           so
           ,
           as
           if
           there
           were
           no
           such
           place
           in
           the
           Bible
           .
           When
           the
           mind
           and
           will
           of
           God
           is
           made
           known
           to
           us
           by
           his
           Son
           ,
           who
           came
           out
           of
           his
           Bosom
           ,
           that
           he
           will
           be
           sought
           unto
           ;
           and
           that
           not
           only
           publickly
           ,
           but
           secretly
           ,
           and
           daily
           :
           that
           as
           we
           are
           taught
           by
           our
           Lord
           himself
           ,
           to
           pray
           for
           our
           daily
           Bread
           ,
           and
           the
           forgiveness
           of
           our
           daily
           trespasses
           ;
           we
           are
           also
           to
           
             pray
             in
             secret
             to
             him
             that
             sees
             in
             secret
             .
          
           Can
           such
           commands
           be
           constantly
           neglected
           and
           disobey'd
           ,
           and
           not
           signify
           the
           contrary
           bent
           of
           our
           will
           ,
           especially
           when
           we
           consider
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           enjoyned
           us
           for
           our
           own
           good
           ?
           It
           
           would
           be
           profane
           to
           say
           ,
           what
           profit
           is
           it
           to
           us
           to
           call
           upon
           the
           Almighty
           ?
           But
           it
           is
           most
           justly
           to
           be
           said
           ,
           what
           profit
           is
           it
           to
           the
           Almighty
           that
           we
           call
           upon
           him
           ?
           It
           is
           honourable
           to
           him
           ,
           but
           very
           profitable
           to
           our selves
           .
           If
           we
           know
           not
           how
           to
           pray
           in
           a
           corner
           ;
           confessing
           our
           sins
           ,
           and
           supplicating
           for
           mercy
           ;
           we
           cannot
           but
           live
           miserable
           lives
           .
           When
           therefore
           this
           is
           not
           done
           ,
           whence
           is
           it
           ,
           but
           from
           an
           enmity
           of
           mind
           ?
           To
           a
           Friend
           we
           can
           unbosom
           our selves
           ;
           not
           to
           an
           Enemy
           .
        
         
           I
           might
           also
           enlarge
           upon
           Family
           Prayer
           .
           But
           if
           Closet
           Prayer
           were
           seriously
           minded
           ,
           you
           that
           have
           Families
           would
           not
           dare
           to
           neglect
           Prayer
           with
           them
           too
           .
           But
           if
           either
           be
           perform'd
           with
           coldness
           ,
           and
           indifferency
           ,
           it
           makes
           the
           matter
           worse
           ,
           or
           more
           plainly
           bad
           ;
           and
           shews
           ,
           it
           is
           not
           love
           ,
           or
           any
           lively
           affection
           that
           puts
           you
           upon
           praying
           ,
           but
           a
           frightened
           Conscience
           only
           .
           And
           a
           miserably
           mistaken
           ,
           deluded
           one
           ,
           that
           makes
           you
           think
           ,
           the
           God
           you
           pray
           to
           ,
           will
           be
           
           mock'd
           or
           trifl'd
           with
           ,
           or
           that
           cannot
           perceive
           ,
           whether
           your
           Heart
           be
           with
           him
           ,
           or
           against
           him
           .
           And
           so
           instead
           of
           worshipping
           him
           ,
           or
           giving
           him
           honour
           in
           that
           performance
           ,
           you
           reproach
           and
           affront
           him
           .
           And
           all
           this
           while
           ,
           how
           vastly
           doth
           the
           temper
           of
           your
           mind
           disagree
           with
           the
           mind
           of
           God.
           I
           would
           ,
           saith
           the
           blessed
           God
           ,
           have
           a
           course
           of
           Prayer
           run
           through
           the
           whole
           course
           of
           your
           lives
           ;
           and
           all
           this
           that
           your
           Hearts
           may
           be
           lifted
           up
           from
           Earth
           to
           Heaven
           ;
           that
           your
           Hearts
           may
           be
           in
           Heaven
           every
           day
           ,
           according
           to
           
             Mat.
             6.
             19.
             
             Lay
             not
             up
             for
             your selves
             treasures
             on
             Earth
             ;
             but
             treasures
             in
             Heaven
             ,
          
           &c.
           
           
             Where
             your
             treasure
             is
             ,
             there
             will
             your
             hearts
             be
             also
             .
          
           And
           so
           we
           are
           led
           to
           the
           other
           Precept
           mentioned
           before
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           As
           to
           a
           Heavenly
           Conversation
           ,
           God
           would
           not
           have
           reasonable
           Creatures
           ,
           who
           have
           intelligent
           spirits
           about
           them
           ,
           to
           grovel
           and
           crawl
           like
           Worms
           in
           the
           Dust
           of
           this
           lower
           World
           ,
           as
           if
           they
           had
           no
           nobler
           sort
           of
           Objects
           to
           converse
           with
           ,
           than
           the
           things
           of
           
           this
           Earth
           ;
           nothing
           fitter
           for
           the
           contemplation
           ,
           exercise
           ,
           and
           enjoyment
           of
           an
           immortal
           mind
           .
           The
           Saints
           are
           finally
           design'd
           for
           
             an
             inheritance
             in
             light
          
           ,
           Colos.
           1.
           12.
           and
           their
           thoughts
           and
           affections
           ought
           to
           be
           there
           before
           hand
           ;
           that
           they
           may
           become
           
             meet
             for
             that
             inheritance
          
           .
           Will
           it
           do
           a
           man
           any
           harm
           to
           have
           frequent
           fore-thoughts
           of
           the
           everlasting
           joy
           ,
           purity
           ,
           and
           bliss
           of
           the
           heavenly
           state
           !
           How
           joyous
           and
           pleasant
           must
           it
           be
           !
           And
           why
           are
           we
           called
           Christians
           ,
           if
           he
           ,
           who
           is
           our
           Lord
           ,
           and
           Teacher
           ,
           revealing
           his
           mind
           to
           us
           ,
           and
           expresly
           charging
           us
           ,
           to
           
             seek
             first
             the
             Kingdom
             of
             God
             ,
          
           to
           
             set
             our
             affections
             on
             the
             things
             above
             ,
          
           &c.
           shall
           not
           be
           regarded
           ?
           Why
           is
           not
           Heaven
           every
           day
           in
           our
           thoughts
           ?
           Why
           will
           we
           lose
           the
           pleasure
           of
           an
           heavenly
           life
           ,
           and
           exchange
           it
           for
           earthly
           care
           ,
           and
           trouble
           ,
           or
           vanity
           ,
           at
           the
           best
           ?
           Why
           is
           it
           ?
           no
           other
           reason
           can
           be
           given
           ,
           but
           only
           an
           alienation
           of
           our
           minds
           from
           God.
           
        
         
         
           9.
           
           Another
           Argument
           to
           prove
           this
           alienation
           ,
           and
           enmity
           against
           God
           ,
           is
           ,
           the
           unsuccessfulness
           of
           the
           Gospel
           ,
           which
           can
           be
           resolvable
           into
           nothing
           else
           ,
           but
           such
           an
           enmity
           .
           The
           design
           of
           the
           Gospel
           is
           to
           bring
           us
           into
           an
           Union
           with
           the
           Son
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           to
           believe
           on
           him
           whom
           the
           Father
           hath
           sent
           .
           Christ
           seeks
           to
           gather
           in
           Souls
           to
           God
           ;
           but
           they
           will
           not
           be
           gathered
           .
           This
           is
           matter
           of
           fearful
           consideration
           ,
           that
           when
           God
           is
           calling
           after
           men
           by
           his
           own
           Son
           ,
           that
           there
           be
           so
           few
           that
           will
           come
           to
           him
           .
           How
           few
           are
           there
           that
           say
           ,
           give
           me
           Christ
           ,
           or
           I
           am
           lost
           ?
           None
           can
           reconcile
           me
           to
           God
           but
           Christ
           ?
           You
           are
           daily
           besought
           in
           Christ's
           stead
           to
           be
           reconciled
           ,
           2
           Cor.
           5.
           20.
           but
           in
           vain
           !
           What
           doth
           this
           signify
           ,
           but
           obstinate
           ,
           invincible
           enmity
           ?
        
         
           2.
           
           Another
           head
           of
           Arguments
           may
           be
           taken
           from
           several
           considerations
           that
           we
           may
           have
           of
           God
           in
           this
           matter
           ,
           whence
           it
           will
           appear
           ,
           that
           nothing
           but
           enmity
           on
           our
           parts
           keeps
           us
           at
           that
           distance
           from
           God
           ,
           as
           we
           
           generally
           are
           at
           .
           And
           consider
           to
           that
           purpose
           ;
        
         
           1.
           
           That
           God
           is
           the
           God
           of
           all
           Grace
           ,
           the
           fountain
           of
           Goodness
           ,
           the
           element
           of
           Love.
           Why
           are
           men
           at
           that
           distance
           from
           him
           ,
           who
           is
           Goodness
           ,
           and
           Grace
           ,
           and
           Love
           it self
           ?
           The
           reason
           is
           not
           on
           God's
           part
           ,
           1
           
             Joh.
             4.
             16.
             
             God
             is
             love
             ,
             and
             he
             that
             dwelleth
             in
             love
             ,
             dwelleth
             in
             God
             ,
             and
             God
             in
             him
             .
          
           What
           can
           our
           so
           great
           distance
           from
           this
           God
           signify
           !
           from
           the
           most
           perfect
           ,
           the
           most
           excellent
           goodness
           !
           but
           the
           most
           horrid
           kind
           ,
           and
           the
           highest
           pitch
           of
           enmity
           !
           Did
           men
           apprehend
           this
           ,
           what
           frightful
           monsters
           would
           they
           appear
           to
           themselves
           !
           This
           is
           not
           only
           a
           plain
           ,
           but
           a
           terrible
           declaration
           of
           a
           most
           unaccountable
           enmity
           on
           our
           part
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           God
           is
           still
           pleased
           to
           continue
           our
           Race
           on
           Earth
           ;
           a
           succession
           of
           men
           in
           this
           World
           ,
           from
           age
           to
           age
           ,
           made
           after
           his
           own
           Image
           ,
           with
           minds
           ,
           and
           spirits
           that
           are
           intelligent
           ,
           and
           immortal
           ,
           which
           declares
           a
           strong
           propension
           in
           God
           towards
           such
           a
           sort
           
           of
           creatures
           ;
           the
           inhabitants
           of
           this
           lower
           World
           ,
           tho'
           degenerated
           ,
           and
           fall'n
           from
           him
           .
           Notwithstanding
           all
           their
           neglect
           of
           him
           in
           former
           ages
           ;
           yet
           new
           generations
           of
           men
           still
           spring
           up
           ,
           capable
           of
           knowing
           ,
           and
           serving
           him
           ,
           Prov.
           8.
           31.
           
           In
           the
           foreseen
           heighth
           of
           man's
           enmity
           ,
           this
           was
           the
           steady
           bent
           of
           his
           mind
           towards
           them
           ,
           to
           
             rejoyce
             in
             the
             habitable
             parts
             of
             this
             earth
             ,
          
           and
           to
           
             have
             his
             delights
             with
             the
             sons
             of
             men
             .
          
           Thus
           also
           in
           the
           2
           
             Chron.
             6.
          
           18.
           do
           we
           find
           Solomon
           in
           a
           rapture
           of
           admiration
           on
           this
           account
           :
           
             But
             will
             God
             in
             every
             deed
             dwell
             with
             men
             on
             earth
             ,
          
           &
           c
           !
           And
           the
           Psalmist
           ,
           Psal.
           68.
           18.
           
           That
           
             gifts
             are
             given
             to
             the
             rebellious
          
           (
           the
           most
           insolent
           of
           enemies
           )
           
             that
             the
             Lord
             God
             might
             dwell
             among
             them
             .
          
           How
           admirable
           and
           unconceivable
           a
           wonder
           is
           this
           !
           
             The
             heaven
             of
             heavens
             cannot
             contain
             him
             ,
             and
             will
             he
             yet
             dwell
             with
             men
             on
             earth
             !
          
           And
           we
           yet
           find
           ,
           notwithstanding
           God's
           great
           condescension
           ,
           that
           there
           is
           still
           a
           distance
           .
           Whence
           can
           this
           be
           ,
           but
           from
           man's
           aversion
           ,
           and
           enmity
           of
           mind
           against
           
           God
           ?
           Thus
           are
           men
           still
           requiting
           God
           evil
           for
           his
           goodness
           .
           God
           will
           dwell
           with
           men
           on
           Earth
           ,
           but
           men
           will
           not
           dwell
           with
           him
           ,
           nor
           admit
           of
           his
           dwelling
           with
           them
           .
           They
           say
           to
           him
           ,
           
             depart
             from
             us
          
           ,
           Job
           21.
           14.
           
           'T
           is
           thus
           from
           age
           to
           age
           ,
           and
           generation
           to
           generation
           ,
           which
           shews
           God's
           goodness
           on
           his
           part
           ,
           and
           the
           enmity
           on
           man's
           part
           .
           See
           to
           this
           purpose
           ,
           Psalm
           14.
           and
           53.
           the
           beginning
           of
           each
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           Consider
           the
           forbearance
           of
           God
           towards
           you
           ,
           while
           you
           are
           continually
           at
           mercy
           .
           With
           what
           patience
           doth
           he
           spare
           you
           ,
           though
           your
           own
           hearts
           must
           tell
           you
           ,
           that
           you
           are
           offending
           creatures
           ,
           and
           whom
           he
           can
           destroy
           in
           a
           moment
           !
           He
           spares
           you
           that
           neglect
           him
           .
           
             He
             is
             not
             willing
             that
             you
             should
             perish
             ;
             but
             come
             to
             the
             knowledge
             of
             the
             truth
             ,
             that
             you
             may
             be
             saved
          
           ;
           by
           which
           he
           calls
           ,
           and
           leads
           you
           to
           repentance
           ,
           Rom.
           2.
           4.
           
           On
           God's
           part
           here
           is
           a
           
             kind
             intention
          
           ;
           but
           on
           man's
           part
           nothing
           but
           
             persevering
             enmity
          
           .
        
         
         
           4.
           
           Consider
           God's
           large
           and
           wonderful
           bounty
           towards
           the
           Children
           of
           men
           in
           this
           World
           ,
           and
           the
           design
           of
           it
           ,
           
             Acts
             17.
             25
             ,
             26.
             
             He
             giveth
             to
             all
             life
             ,
             and
             breath
             ,
             and
             all
             things
             ,
             that
             they
             might
             seek
             after
             him
             ,
          
           Psal.
           68.
           19.
           
           
             He
             daily
             loadeth
             us
             with
             his
             benefits
             .
             He
             gives
             us
             all
             things
             richly
             to
             enjoy
             .
          
           Act.
           14.
           17.
           
           
             God
             leaves
             not
             himself
             without
             witness
             ,
             that
             he
             doth
             men
             good
             .
          
           He
           gives
           men
           Rain
           from
           Heaven
           ,
           when
           they
           want
           it
           ,
           and
           ,
           when
           unseasonable
           ,
           he
           with-holds
           it
           .
           'T
           is
           a
           great
           thing
           to
           understand
           
             the
             loving-kindness
             of
             the
             Lord
          
           ,
           Psal.
           107.
           42.
           
             his
             wonderfull
             works
             towards
             the
             children
             of
             men
          
           ;
           to
           understand
           our
           Mercies
           and
           Comforts
           ,
           and
           what
           their
           meaning
           ,
           and
           design
           is
           .
           By
           Mercies
           to
           our
           outward
           man
           ,
           God
           designs
           to
           draw
           our
           hearts
           and
           minds
           to
           himself
           .
           Mercies
           are
           bestowed
           on
           them
           that
           have
           the
           power
           of
           thought
           ,
           to
           consider
           the
           end
           of
           all
           God's
           Mercies
           .
           'T
           is
           bespeaking
           ,
           and
           seeking
           to
           win
           our
           hearts
           to
           himself
           ,
           Hos.
           11.
           4.
           
           'T
           is
           
             drawing
             us
             with
             those
             cords
             of
             a
             man
             ,
             with
             bands
             of
             
             love
          
           ;
           which
           plainly
           shews
           ,
           what
           the
           case
           requires
           ;
           that
           the
           minds
           and
           hearts
           of
           men
           are
           very
           averse
           ,
           and
           alienated
           from
           him
           ,
           and
           therefore
           need
           such
           drawing
           .
        
         
           5.
           
           And
           that
           which
           is
           more
           than
           all
           the
           rest
           ,
           is
           God's
           sending
           his
           Son
           into
           the
           World
           ,
           to
           procure
           terms
           of
           peace
           for
           us
           ,
           and
           then
           to
           treat
           with
           us
           thereupon
           ;
           and
           that
           
             in
             him
             he
             is
             reconciling
             the
             world
             to
             himself
             ,
          
           2
           Cor.
           5.
           19.
           
           Doth
           not
           Reconciliation
           suppose
           enmity
           ,
           as
           here
           ,
           and
           in
           the
           Text.
           
             You
             that
             were
             enemies
             in
             your
             minds
             —
             yet
             hath
             he
             reconciled
             .
          
           As
           we
           have
           noted
           ,
           that
           on
           our
           parts
           ,
           our
           withstanding
           ,
           and
           too
           commonly
           frustrating
           his
           Overtures
           ,
           speaks
           enmity
           ,
           and
           obstinacy
           therein
           ;
           so
           on
           his
           part
           ,
           those
           Overtures
           themselves
           speak
           it
           too
           .
           Here
           is
           the
           greatest
           kindness
           and
           good-will
           ,
           on
           God's
           part
           ,
           that
           can
           be
           conceiv'd
           .
           But
           it
           supposes
           ,
           what
           we
           are
           evincing
           ,
           ill-will
           in
           us
           .
           
             Christ
             came
             to
             seek
             and
             save
             that
             which
             was
             lost
             .
          
           What
           a
           lost
           state
           was
           our
           state
           !
           What
           to
           be
           engaged
           in
           a
           War
           
           against
           him
           that
           made
           us
           !
           
             Wo
             to
             him
             that
             strives
             with
             his
             Maker
             ,
          
           Isa.
           45.
           9.
           
           Fall'n
           man
           is
           little
           apprehensive
           of
           it
           now
           .
           If
           we
           continue
           unreconciled
           to
           the
           last
           ,
           at
           death
           it
           will
           be
           understood
           what
           a
           lost
           state
           we
           are
           in
           .
           Upon
           this
           account
           it
           will
           then
           appear
           ;
           but
           this
           was
           our
           state
           before
           ,
           when
           it
           appeared
           not
           .
           In
           this
           state
           Christ
           pitied
           us
           ,
           when
           we
           had
           no
           pity
           for
           our selves
           .
           Christ
           came
           not
           into
           the
           World
           to
           save
           men
           only
           at
           the
           hour
           of
           their
           death
           from
           Hell
           ;
           but
           to
           raise
           up
           to
           himself
           a
           willing
           people
           ,
           that
           may
           serve
           and
           glorify
           God
           in
           their
           life
           on
           Earth
           .
           He
           is
           for
           this
           purpose
           intent
           on
           this
           reconciling
           design
           .
           And
           how
           earnest
           ,
           how
           alluring
           were
           his
           Solicitations
           in
           the
           days
           of
           his
           Flesh
           !
           
             Come
             to
             me
             all
             ye
             that
             are
             weary
             —
             He
             that
             cometh
             to
             me
             ,
             I
             will
             in
             no
             wise
             cast
             out
             .
          
           How
           pathetical
           his
           lamentations
           for
           the
           unreconcilable
           !
           
             O
             that
             thou
             hadst
             known
             the
             things
             belonging
             to
             thy
             peace
          
           —
           And
           his
           bloud
           was
           shed
           at
           last
           ,
           as
           the
           bloud
           of
           Propitiation
           ,
           of
           a
           reconciling
           Sacrifice
           ,
           
           first
           ,
           to
           reconcile
           God's
           Justice
           to
           us
           ;
           but
           thereupon
           also
           ,
           as
           in
           this
           Context
           ,
           
             Having
             made
             peace
             by
             the
             bloud
             of
             his
             cross
             ,
          
           vers
           .
           20.
           to
           vanquish
           our
           enmity
           ,
           
             to
             reconcile
             us
             who
             were
             enemies
             in
             our
             minds
          
           —
           vers
           .
           21
           ,
           22.
           
        
         
           6.
           
           Consider
           Christ
           sending
           ,
           and
           continuing
           from
           Age
           to
           Age
           the
           Gospel
           in
           the
           World
           ;
           the
           design
           whereof
           may
           be
           understood
           by
           the
           manifest
           import
           and
           substance
           of
           it
           ,
           and
           by
           the
           titles
           given
           to
           it
           .
           As
           it
           reveals
           Christ
           ,
           the
           Mediator
           ,
           the
           Peace-maker
           ,
           in
           his
           Person
           ,
           Natures
           ,
           Offices
           ,
           Acts
           ,
           Sufferings
           ,
           and
           Performances
           .
           As
           it
           contains
           the
           great
           commands
           of
           
             Repentance
             towards
             God
             ,
             and
             Faith
             in
             our
             Lord
             Jesus
             Christ
             ,
          
           with
           the
           promises
           of
           Pardon
           and
           Eternal
           Life
           ,
           with
           whatsoever
           is
           requisit
           to
           our
           present
           good
           state
           Godward
           ,
           and
           our
           final
           blessedness
           in
           him
           .
           As
           also
           the
           various
           enforcements
           of
           such
           Precepts
           ,
           and
           confirmations
           of
           such
           Promises
           ,
           with
           copious
           Explications
           of
           the
           one
           and
           the
           other
           .
        
         
         
           
             And
             as
             it
             is
             called
             ,
             the
          
           Ministry
           of
           Reconciliation
           ,
           2
           Cor.
           5.
           18.
           
           The
           word
           wherein
           Peace
           is
           preached
           by
           Jesus
           Christ
           ,
           Act.
           10.
           36.
           
           The
           Gospel
           of
           peace
           ,
           and
           of
           glad
           tidings
           ,
           
             Rom.
             10.
             15.
             as
             that
             very
             word
          
           Gospel
           signifies
           .
        
         
           This
           Gospel
           was
           ,
           in
           its
           clearer
           manifestation
           ,
           at
           the
           fulness
           of
           time
           ,
           introduc'd
           with
           great
           magnificence
           ,
           and
           solemnity
           into
           the
           world
           ,
           as
           the
           Law
           had
           been
           ,
           by
           the
           Ministry
           of
           Angels
           .
           When
           the
           
             Sun
             of
             Righteousness
             ,
             the
             light
             of
             the
             world
          
           was
           arising
           ,
           and
           dawning
           upon
           it
           ;
           then
           did
           a
           multitude
           of
           the
           Heavenly
           Host
           appear
           ,
           praising
           God
           ,
           and
           saying
           ,
           
             Glory
             to
             God
             in
             the
             highest
             ,
             peace
             on
             earth
             ,
             and
             good-will
             towards
             men
             ,
          
           Luk.
           2.
           13
           ,
           14.
           
        
         
           But
           this
           Gospel
           is
           not
           a
           more
           express
           declaration
           of
           God's
           good-will
           towards
           men
           ;
           than
           their
           deportment
           under
           it
           ,
           their
           continuing
           to
           live
           ,
           as
           without
           God
           in
           the
           world
           ,
           is
           of
           their
           ill-will
           ,
           disaffection
           ,
           and
           enmity
           against
           God.
           
        
         
           7.
           
           And
           lastly
           ,
           The
           strivings
           of
           the
           Spirit
           in
           the
           Hearts
           of
           Ministers
           preaching
           
           the
           Gospel
           ,
           and
           with
           the
           Souls
           of
           men
           to
           whom
           it
           is
           preached
           ,
           shew
           ,
           that
           there
           is
           a
           mighty
           enmity
           to
           be
           overcome
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           God's
           giving
           forth
           his
           Spirit
           to
           Ministers
           ,
           enabling
           them
           to
           strive
           with
           Sinners
           ,
           to
           bring
           them
           to
           Christ
           ;
           
             according
             to
             the
             working
             of
             that
             power
             ,
             which
             works
             in
             them
             mightily
             ,
          
           Colos.
           1.
           ult
           .
           What
           need
           of
           such
           striving
           ,
           but
           that
           there
           is
           a
           great
           enmity
           in
           the
           minds
           of
           People
           to
           be
           conquered
           and
           overcome
           ?
           Sometimes
           we
           read
           of
           Ministers
           of
           the
           Gospel
           weeping
           over
           Souls
           ,
           who
           ,
           for
           their
           too
           intent
           
             minding
             of
             earthly
             things
             ,
             are
             called
             enemies
             to
             the
             Cross
             of
             Christ
             ,
          
           Phil.
           3.
           18.
           
           Sometimes
           they
           are
           ready
           to
           breath
           out
           their
           own
           Souls
           towards
           them
           ,
           among
           whom
           they
           labour
           ,
           1
           Thess.
           2.
           8.
           
           Sometimes
           represented
           ,
           as
           
             travelling
             in
             birth
          
           with
           them
           that
           are
           committed
           to
           their
           charge
           ,
           Gal.
           4.
           19.
           
           There
           are
           Ministers
           ,
           whose
           Hearts
           are
           in
           pangs
           and
           agonies
           for
           the
           Souls
           of
           Sinners
           ,
           when
           the
           things
           of
           God
           are
           too
           apparently
           neglected
           ,
           and
           not
           regarded
           
           by
           them
           ;
           and
           when
           they
           see
           
             destruction
             from
             the
             Almighty
             is
             not
             a
             terror
             to
             them
          
           ;
           and
           while
           they
           visibly
           take
           
             the
             way
             that
             takes
             hold
             of
             Hell
             ,
             and
             leads
             down
             to
             the
             chambers
             of
             death
             .
          
           They
           would
           ,
           if
           possible
           ,
           
             save
             them
             with
             fear
          
           ,
           and
           pluck
           them
           ,
           as
           firebrands
           ,
           out
           of
           the
           fire
           ;
           the
           fire
           of
           their
           own
           lusts
           ,
           and
           fervent
           enmity
           against
           God
           and
           Godliness
           ,
           and
           save
           them
           from
           his
           flaming
           wrath
           .
           Is
           all
           this
           unncecessary
           ,
           and
           what
           makes
           it
           necessary
           ,
           but
           that
           there
           is
           a
           counter-striving
           ,
           an
           enmity
           working
           in
           the
           Hearts
           of
           men
           ,
           against
           the
           Spirits
           striving
           in
           the
           Ministry
           ,
           to
           be
           overcome
           ?
        
         
           2.
           
           The
           Spirit
           also
           strives
           immediately
           with
           the
           Souls
           of
           Sinners
           ,
           and
           pleads
           with
           them
           ,
           sometimes
           ,
           as
           a
           Spirit
           of
           conviction
           ,
           illumination
           ,
           fear
           and
           dread
           ;
           sometimes
           ,
           as
           a
           Spirit
           of
           Grace
           ,
           woing
           ,
           and
           beseeching
           ;
           and
           when
           his
           motions
           are
           not
           complied
           with
           ,
           there
           are
           complaints
           of
           mens
           grieving
           ,
           vexing
           ,
           quenching
           ,
           resisting
           the
           Spirit
           ,
           Acts
           7.
           51.
           
           Which
           resistance
           implies
           continual
           striving
           .
           No
           
           striving
           ,
           but
           doth
           suppose
           an
           obstruction
           and
           difficulty
           to
           be
           striven
           withall
           .
           There
           could
           be
           no
           resisting
           ,
           if
           there
           were
           not
           counter-striving
           .
           And
           hereby
           
             despite
             is
             done
             to
             the
             Spirit
             of
             Grace
             .
          
           O
           fearful
           aggravation
           !
           that
           such
           a
           Spirit
           is
           striven
           against
           !
           'T
           is
           
             the
             Spirit
             of
             Grace
             ,
             Love
          
           and
           Goodness
           ,
           the
           Spirit
           of
           
             all
             Kindness
             ,
             Sweetness
          
           and
           Benignity
           ,
           which
           a
           wicked
           man
           doth
           despite
           unto
           ,
           Heb.
           10.
           29.
           
           How
           vile
           ,
           and
           horrid
           a
           thing
           ,
           to
           requite
           
             Grace
             ,
             Love
          
           ,
           and
           Sweetness
           with
           Spite
           !
           As
           if
           the
           Sinner
           should
           say
           ,
           Thou
           wouldest
           turn
           me
           to
           God
           ;
           but
           I
           will
           not
           be
           turned
           !
           The
           blessed
           God
           says
           ,
           
             Turn
             at
             my
             reproof
             ,
             I
             will
             pour
             out
             my
             Spirit
             unto
             you
             ,
          
           Prov.
           1.
           23.
           
           There
           are
           preventive
           insinuations
           ,
           upon
           which
           ,
           if
           we
           essay
           to
           turn
           ,
           plentiful
           effusions
           of
           the
           Spirit
           may
           be
           hoped
           to
           ensue
           .
           For
           he
           is
           the
           Spirit
           of
           Grace
           .
           When
           we
           draw
           back
           ,
           and
           resist
           ,
           or
           slight
           those
           foregoing
           good
           motions
           of
           that
           Holy
           Spirit
           ,
           this
           is
           despiting
           him
           .
           And
           doth
           not
           this
           import
           enmity
           in
           an
           high
           degree
           ?
           That
           the
           Spirit
           needs
           
           strive
           so
           much
           ,
           that
           it
           may
           be
           overcome
           ;
           as
           with
           some
           ,
           
             at
             his
             own
             pleasure
          
           ,
           he
           doth
           ;
           with
           others
           ,
           in
           just
           displeasure
           ,
           he
           strives
           no
           more
           ,
           and
           so
           it
           is
           never
           overcome
           .
        
         
           We
           come
           now
           to
           the
           Application
           :
           Wherein
           the
           Subject
           would
           admit
           and
           require
           a
           very
           abundant
           enlargement
           ,
           if
           we
           were
           not
           within
           necessary
           limits
           .
        
         
           Two
           things
           I
           shall
           take
           notice
           of
           ,
           as
           very
           necessary
           to
           be
           remark'd
           ,
           and
           most
           amazingly
           strange
           and
           wonderfull
           ,
           by
           way
           of
           Introduction
           to
           some
           further
           Use.
           
        
         
           1.
           
           That
           ever
           the
           Spirit
           of
           man
           ,
           a
           reasonable
           ,
           intelligent
           Being
           ,
           God's
           own
           Off-spring
           ;
           and
           whereto
           he
           is
           not
           only
           a
           Maker
           ,
           but
           a
           Parent
           ,
           styl'd
           the
           
             Father
             of
             Spirits
          
           ,
           should
           be
           degenerated
           into
           so
           horried
           ,
           so
           unnatural
           a
           Monster
           !
           What!
           to
           be
           an
           
             hater
             of
             God!
          
           The
           most
           excellent
           ,
           and
           all-comprehending
           Good
           !
           and
           thy
           own
           Father
           !
           
             Hear
             ,
             O
             Heavens
             —
             and
             Earth
             ,
             saith
             the
             Lord
             ,
             I
             have
             nourished
             ,
             and
             brought
             up
             children
             ,
             and
             they
             have
             rebelled
             against
             
             me
             ,
          
           Isa.
           1.
           2.
           
           Be
           astonish'd
           ,
           O
           ye
           Heavens
           at
           this
           !
           and
           be
           horribly
           afraid
           !
           be
           ye
           very
           desolate
           !
           As
           if
           all
           the
           blessed
           inhabitants
           of
           that
           upper
           World
           should
           rather
           forsake
           their
           glorious
           Mansions
           ,
           leave
           Heaven
           empty
           ,
           and
           run
           back
           into
           their
           original
           nothing
           ,
           than
           endure
           such
           a
           sight
           !
           An
           intelligent
           Spirit
           ,
           
             hating
             God
          
           is
           the
           most
           frightful
           prodigy
           in
           universal
           Nature
           !
           If
           all
           mens
           Limbs
           were
           distorted
           ,
           and
           their
           whole
           outer-man
           transformed
           into
           the
           most
           hideous
           shapes
           ,
           't
           were
           a
           trifle
           ,
           in
           comparison
           with
           this
           deformity
           of
           thy
           Soul.
           
        
         
           2.
           
           That
           it
           should
           be
           thus
           ,
           and
           they
           never
           regret
           ,
           nor
           perceive
           it
           !
           What
           self-loathing
           Creatures
           would
           men
           be
           ,
           could
           they
           see
           themselves
           !
           so
           as
           never
           to
           endure
           themselves
           ,
           while
           they
           find
           they
           do
           not
           love
           God!
           But
           men
           are
           generally
           well
           pleas'd
           with
           themselves
           for
           all
           this
           .
           Though
           the
           case
           is
           so
           plain
           ,
           they
           will
           not
           see
           it
           .
           When
           all
           the
           mention'd
           indications
           shew
           it
           ,
           they
           never
           charge
           or
           suspect
           themselves
           of
           such
           a
           thing
           as
           this
           enmity
           
           against
           God!
           God
           charges
           them
           ,
           and
           doth
           he
           not
           know
           them
           ?
           The
           Pagan
           World
           that
           they
           are
           God-haters
           ,
           
           Rom.
           1.
           30.
           even
           with
           an
           
             hellish
             hatred
          
           ,
           as
           the
           word
           there
           signifies
           .
           They
           that
           profess
           his
           Name
           are
           apt
           to
           admit
           this
           true
           of
           the
           Gentiles
           ;
           but
           do
           we
           think
           our
           Lord
           Jesus
           did
           injuriously
           accuse
           the
           Jews
           too
           ,
           that
           
             they
             had
             both
             seen
             ,
             and
             hated
             him
             ,
             and
             his
             Father
             ?
          
           Joh.
           15.
           24.
           
           How
           remote
           was
           it
           from
           a
           Jew
           ,
           who
           boasted
           themselves
           God's
           peculiar
           people
           ,
           to
           think
           himself
           an
           hater
           of
           God!
           And
           what
           were
           they
           ,
           of
           whom
           he
           says
           ,
           by
           the
           Prophet
           ?
           
             loathed
             them
             ;
             and
             their
             Soul
             abhorred
             me
             ,
          
           (
           which
           is
           presupposed
           )
           Zech.
           11.
           8.
           and
           most
           justly
           ,
           for
           can
           there
           be
           a
           more
           loathsome
           thing
           than
           to
           abhor
           Goodness
           it self
           !
           What
           the
           most
           
             perfect
             Benignity
          
           !
           And
           those
           Cretians
           had
           receiv'd
           the
           
             Christian
             Faith
          
           ,
           whom
           the
           Apostle
           exhorts
           Titus
           to
           rebuke
           sharply
           ,
           that
           they
           might
           be
           
             sound
             in
             it
          
           ;
           and
           of
           whom
           he
           says
           ,
           that
           
             professing
             to
             know
             God
             ,
             in
             works
             they
             denied
             him
             ,
             being
             abominable
             ,
          
           
           Tit.
           1.
           16.
           
           Hence
           is
           our
           labour
           lost
           in
           beseeching
           men
           to
           be
           reconciled
           to
           God
           ,
           while
           they
           own
           no
           enmity
           .
        
         
           Since
           this
           matter
           is
           so
           evident
           ,
           that
           this
           is
           the
           temper
           of
           the
           unconverted
           World
           Godward
           ,
           that
           they
           are
           
             alienated
             from
             him
             ,
             and
             enemies
             in
             their
             minds
          
           toward
           him
           ,
           by
           wicked
           works
           :
           It
           is
           then
           beyond
           all
           expression
           strange
           ,
           that
           they
           never
           observe
           it
           in
           themselves
           ;
           (
           as
           the
           Toad
           is
           not
           offended
           ,
           at
           its
           own
           poisonous
           nature
           )
           and
           are
           hereupon
           apt
           to
           think
           that
           God
           observes
           it
           not
           ,
           nor
           is
           displeased
           with
           them
           for
           it
           .
        
         
           It
           is
           strange
           they
           should
           not
           observe
           it
           in
           themselves
           ,
           upon
           so
           manifold
           evidence
           .
           Do
           but
           recount
           with
           your selves
           ,
           and
           run
           over
           the
           several
           heads
           of
           evidence
           that
           have
           been
           given
           .
           Can
           you
           deny
           you
           have
           minds
           capable
           of
           knowing
           God
           ?
           Cannot
           you
           conceive
           of
           Wisdom
           ,
           Power
           ,
           Goodness
           ,
           Truth
           ,
           Justice
           ,
           Holiness
           ,
           and
           that
           these
           may
           be
           ,
           either
           more
           manifest
           ,
           or
           in
           more
           excellent
           degrees
           ,
           even
           among
           Creatures
           ,
           in
           some
           Creatures
           more
           than
           
           in
           others
           ;
           but
           
             that
             Being
          
           ,
           in
           which
           they
           are
           in
           highest
           ,
           and
           most
           absolute
           perfection
           ,
           must
           be
           God
           ?
           Can
           you
           deny
           that
           you
           have
           lived
           in
           great
           ignorance
           of
           God
           much
           of
           your
           time
           ?
           that
           your
           ignorance
           was
           voluntary
           ,
           having
           such
           means
           of
           knowing
           him
           ,
           as
           you
           have
           had
           ?
           That
           you
           have
           usually
           been
           thoughtless
           and
           unmindfull
           of
           him
           in
           your
           ordinary
           course
           ?
           That
           the
           thoughts
           of
           him
           have
           been
           ungratefull
           ,
           and
           very
           little
           welcome
           ,
           or
           pleasant
           to
           you
           ?
           That
           you
           have
           had
           little
           converse
           with
           him
           ,
           little
           trust
           ,
           reverence
           ,
           delight
           ,
           or
           expectation
           plac'd
           on
           him
           as
           the
           object
           ?
           That
           you
           have
           not
           been
           wont
           to
           concern
           him
           in
           your
           affairs
           ,
           to
           consult
           him
           ,
           to
           desire
           his
           concurrence
           ?
           That
           you
           have
           not
           thought
           of
           approving
           your self
           to
           him
           in
           your
           designs
           and
           actions
           ,
           but
           lived
           as
           
             without
             him
             in
             the
             world
          
           ?
           That
           you
           have
           not
           designed
           the
           pleasing
           ,
           or
           obeying
           of
           him
           in
           the
           course
           of
           your
           conversation
           ?
           That
           the
           Gospel
           under
           which
           you
           have
           lived
           ,
           hath
           had
           little
           effect
           upon
           you
           ,
           to
           alter
           the
           temper
           
           of
           your
           Spirits
           towards
           him
           ?
           That
           ,
           if
           his
           Spirit
           hath
           sometimes
           awakened
           you
           ,
           raised
           some
           fear
           ,
           or
           some
           desires
           now
           and
           then
           in
           your
           Souls
           ,
           you
           have
           supprest
           ,
           and
           stifled
           ,
           and
           striven
           against
           such
           motions
           ?
           Do
           not
           these
           things
           together
           discover
           an
           enmity
           against
           God
           ,
           and
           the
           ways
           of
           God
           ?
           And
           is
           it
           not
           strange
           you
           cannot
           see
           this
           ?
           and
           perceive
           a
           disaffection
           to
           God
           by
           all
           this
           in
           your selves
           ?
           What
           is
           so
           near
           a
           man
           ,
           as
           himself
           ?
           Have
           you
           not
           in
           you
           a
           reflecting
           power
           ?
           
             Know
             ye
             not
             your
             own
             selves
             ,
          
           as
           the
           Apostle
           speaks
           ,
           2
           Cor.
           13.
           5.
           
           Yea
           ,
           generally
           ,
           men
           never
           find
           fault
           with
           themselves
           ,
           upon
           any
           such
           account
           !
           and
           ,
           consequently
           ,
           think
           themselves
           in
           such
           respects
           very
           innocent
           in
           the
           sight
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           think
           he
           finds
           no
           fault
           with
           them
           .
        
         
           Now
           these
           two
           things
           being
           premised
           ,
           will
           make
           way
           for
           the
           following
           Uses
           .
           We
           infer
           therefore
           ,
        
         
           1.
           
           That
           whereas
           it
           so
           evidently
           appears
           ,
           that
           men
           are
           at
           enmity
           with
           God
           ,
           it
           cannot
           but
           be
           consequent
           ,
           
           that
           God
           is
           not
           well
           pleased
           with
           them
           .
        
         
           No
           one
           is
           well
           pleased
           to
           have
           another
           hate
           him
           .
           God
           discerns
           that
           in
           the
           inward
           temper
           of
           mens
           minds
           ,
           wherewith
           he
           is
           not
           well
           pleased
           ,
           viz.
           this
           alienation
           of
           mind
           from
           him
           ,
           this
           wicked
           enmity
           that
           is
           so
           generally
           found
           in
           them
           .
           They
           are
           wont
           to
           make
           light
           of
           secret
           ,
           internal
           sin
           .
           The
           ill
           posture
           of
           their
           minds
           they
           think
           an
           harmless
           innocent
           thing
           .
           But
           this
           he
           remonstrates
           against
           ,
           takes
           notice
           of
           with
           dislike
           and
           displeasure
           ;
           and
           is
           counterworking
           this
           spirit
           of
           enmity
           ,
           not
           only
           by
           his
           word
           ,
           but
           by
           his
           spirit
           of
           love
           and
           power
           .
           Though
           he
           doth
           not
           testify
           his
           displeasure
           by
           flames
           and
           thunderbolts
           ;
           yet
           he
           observes
           ,
           and
           approves
           not
           the
           course
           and
           current
           of
           their
           thoughts
           and
           affections
           ;
           though
           he
           permit
           them
           ,
           sometimes
           without
           sensible
           rebuke
           ,
           to
           run
           on
           long
           in
           their
           contempt
           of
           him
           ;
           yet
           he
           declares
           it
           to
           be
           wickedness
           .
           
             The
             wicked
             have
             not
             God
             in
             all
             their
             thoughts
             ,
          
           Psal.
           10.
           4.
           
           He
           expostulates
           
           about
           it
           ;
           
             Wherefore
             do
             the
             wicked
             contemn
             God
             ,
          
           vers
           .
           13.
           threatens
           them
           with
           Hell
           for
           their
           forgetting
           him
           ,
           Psal.
           9.
           17.
           yet
           Sinners
           are
           apt
           to
           conclude
           ,
           that
           God
           doth
           not
           see
           ,
           or
           disallow
           any
           thing
           of
           that
           kind
           ,
           
             Psal.
             94.
          
           7.
           
           How
           unapt
           are
           they
           to
           admit
           any
           conviction
           of
           Heart-wickedness
           !
           Tho'
           't
           is
           more
           than
           intimated
           to
           be
           destructive
           ,
           
             Jer.
             4.
             14.
             
             Wash
             thine
             heart
             from
             wickedness
             ,
             that
             thou
             mayest
             be
             saved
          
           ;
           q.
           d.
           thou
           art
           lost
           if
           thy
           Heart
           be
           not
           purged
           .
           Yea
           ,
           when
           it
           is
           so
           plain
           in
           it self
           ,
           that
           enmity
           against
           God
           ,
           which
           hath
           its
           seat
           in
           the
           Heart
           ,
           makes
           a
           mans
           Soul
           a
           very
           Hell
           !
           yet
           they
           seem
           to
           think
           themselves
           very
           innocent
           Creatures
           ,
           when
           they
           are
           as
           much
           devilliz'd
           ,
           as
           a
           mind
           dwelling
           in
           Flesh
           can
           be
           !
           This
           is
           the
           common
           practical
           error
           and
           mistake
           men
           lie
           under
           ,
           that
           they
           think
           God
           takes
           notice
           of
           no
           evil
           in
           them
           ,
           but
           what
           other
           men
           can
           observe
           ,
           and
           reproach
           them
           for
           .
           But
           he
           knows
           the
           inward
           bent
           and
           inclination
           of
           their
           minds
           ,
           and
           Spirits
           .
           Why
           else
           is
           he
           
           called
           ,
           the
           
             heart-searching
             God
          
           ?
           And
           knows
           that
           this
           is
           the
           principal
           ,
           and
           most
           horrid
           wickedness
           that
           is
           to
           be
           found
           among
           the
           children
           of
           men
           ,
           an
           alienated
           mind
           from
           God
           ;
           and
           the
           root
           of
           all
           the
           rest
           .
           The
           fountain
           of
           wickedness
           is
           within
           a
           man.
           Simon
           Magus's
           wickedness
           lay
           in
           his
           thought
           .
           'T
           is
           said
           to
           him
           ,
           
             Repent
             of
             this
             thy
             wickedness
             ,
             and
             pray
             the
             thought
             of
             thy
             heart
             may
             be
             forgiven
             thee
             ,
          
           Act.
           8.
           22.
           
           And
           when
           the
           Prophet
           exhorts
           (
           as
           before
           )
           
             Jer.
             4.
             14.
             to
             wash
             the
             heart
             from
             wickedness
             ,
          
           he
           adds
           ,
           
             how
             long
             shall
             vain
             thoughts
             lodge
             within
             thee
             .
          
           And
           our
           Saviour
           tells
           us
           ,
           
             Out
             of
             the
             heart
          
           ,
           first
           ,
           
             proceed
             evil
             thoughts
          
           ,
           and
           then
           all
           the
           other
           wickednesses
           after
           mentioned
           ,
           
             murthers
             ,
             adulteries
          
           ,
           &c.
           
           Matth.
           15.
           19.
           
           And
           that
           enmity
           and
           alienation
           of
           mind
           that
           turns
           off
           the
           whole
           current
           of
           a
           man's
           thoughts
           from
           God
           ,
           is
           the
           original
           evil
           ,
           and
           ,
           by
           consequence
           ,
           lets
           them
           loose
           to
           every
           thing
           else
           that
           offends
           him
           ,
           and
           ruins
           themselves
           .
           Yet
           when
           their
           very
           Hearts
           are
           such
           an
           Hell
           of
           wickedness
           
           (
           as
           what
           is
           more
           hellish
           than
           enmity
           against
           God
           ?
           )
           they
           are
           ,
           notwithstanding
           ,
           wont
           to
           say
           ,
           they
           have
           good
           Hearts
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           Hence
           see
           the
           absolute
           necessity
           of
           Regeneration
           .
           A
           Doctrine
           ,
           at
           which
           most
           men
           do
           wonder
           ;
           which
           our
           Saviour
           intimates
           ,
           when
           he
           says
           ,
           
             Joh.
             3.
             7.
             
             Marvel
             not
          
           at
           it
           ,
           viz.
           that
           
             I
             said
             ,
             you
             must
             be
             born
             again
             .
          
           But
           who
           may
           not
           now
           apprehend
           a
           necessity
           of
           being
           regenerate
           ?
           What
           will
           become
           of
           thee
           ,
           if
           thou
           diest
           with
           such
           a
           disaffected
           mind
           Godward
           ?
           Do
           but
           suppose
           your
           Soul
           going
           out
           of
           the
           Body
           in
           this
           temper
           !
           full
           of
           disaffection
           towards
           the
           ever-blessed
           God
           ,
           before
           whose
           bright
           Glory
           ,
           and
           flaming
           Majesty
           (
           to
           thee
           
             a
             consuming
             fire
          
           )
           thou
           must
           now
           appear
           :
           tho'
           most
           unwilling
           ,
           and
           as
           full
           of
           horrour
           ,
           and
           amazing
           dread
           !
           How
           will
           
             thine
             heart
          
           then
           
             meditate
             terrour
          
           !
           and
           say
           within
           thee
           ,
           
             This
             is
             the
             God
             I
             could
             never
             love
             !
             whom
             I
             would
             never
             know
             !
             To
             whom
             I
             was
             always
             a
             willing
             stranger
             !
          
           whose
           admirable
           
           Grace
           never
           allur'd
           or
           won
           my
           Heart
           !
           who
           in
           a
           day
           of
           Grace
           ,
           that
           is
           now
           over
           with
           me
           ,
           offered
           me
           free
           pardon
           ,
           and
           reconciliation
           ;
           but
           I
           was
           never
           at
           leisure
           to
           regard
           it
           .
           
             The
             love
             of
             this
             world
          
           ,
           which
           I
           might
           have
           known
           to
           be
           
             enmity
             against
             God
          
           ,
           had
           otherwise
           engag'd
           me
           .
           It
           hath
           been
           the
           constant
           language
           of
           my
           Heart
           to
           him
           ,
           
             Depart
             from
             me
             ,
             I
             desire
             not
             the
             knowledge
             of
             thy
             ways
          
           ;
           I
           must
           now
           hear
           from
           him
           ,
           that
           just
           and
           terrible
           voice
           ,
           even
           by
           the
           mouth
           of
           the
           only
           Redeemer
           and
           Saviour
           of
           Sinners
           ,
           
             Depart
             from
             me
             ,
             I
             knew
             thee
             not
             .
          
           And
           into
           how
           hOrrid
           Society
           must
           I
           now
           go
           !
           
             The
             things
             that
             eye
             hath
             not
             seen
             ,
             nor
             ear
             heard
             ,
          
           more
           glorious
           things
           than
           
             ever
             enter'd
             into
             the
             heart
          
           ,
           are
           all
           
             prepared
             for
             lovers
             of
             God.
          
           And
           for
           whom
           can
           everlasting
           
             Fire
             be
             prepared
             but
             for
             the
             Devil
             and
             his
             Angels
             ,
          
           and
           such
           other
           accursed
           God-haters
           ,
           as
           I
           have
           been
           !
           Matt.
           25.
           41.
           
        
         
           Recollect
           your selves
           ;
           consider
           the
           present
           posture
           ,
           and
           temper
           of
           your
           Souls
           ;
           and
           what
           your
           way
           and
           
           course
           is
           :
           You
           care
           not
           to
           come
           nigh
           to
           God
           now
           ,
           but
           love
           to
           live
           at
           a
           distance
           from
           him
           ,
           through
           enmity
           against
           him
           ;
           from
           whence
           proceeds
           your
           departing
           from
           him
           ,
           and
           saying
           to
           him
           ,
           
             depart
             from
             us
          
           ?
           But
           another
           day
           you
           will
           have
           enough
           of
           departing
           from
           God.
           A
           wicked
           man's
           life
           is
           nothing
           else
           but
           a
           continual
           forsaking
           of
           God
           ,
           or
           departing
           from
           him
           .
           I
           appeal
           to
           your
           own
           hearts
           concerning
           the
           justice
           of
           that
           mentioned
           Repartee
           ,
           
             They
             say
          
           now
           
             to
             God
             ,
             depart
             from
             us
             ,
          
           Job
           21.
           14.
           
           And
           God
           will
           then
           say
           to
           them
           ,
           
             depart
             from
             me
          
           ,
           Matth.
           25.
           41.
           
           That
           man's
           Soul
           must
           thus
           perish
           ,
           that
           lives
           and
           dies
           at
           enmity
           with
           God.
           Regeneration
           slays
           this
           enmity
           ;
           and
           implants
           in
           the
           Soul
           
             Divine
             Love.
          
           Therefore
           we
           must
           be
           regenerate
           ,
           or
           we
           
             cannot
             enter
             into
             the
             Kingdom
             of
             God
             ,
          
           Joh.
           3.
           3
           ,
           5.
           
           A
           man
           must
           have
           a
           new
           Heart
           ,
           and
           a
           new
           Spirit
           created
           in
           him
           ,
           in
           which
           Heart
           and
           Spirit
           the
           
             Love
             of
             God
          
           is
           the
           reigning
           principle
           .
           And
           therefore
           I
           repeat
           to
           you
           ,
           
             the
             things
             ,
             which
             eye
             hath
             not
             
             seen
          
           —
           and
           
             a
             crown
             of
             life
          
           ,
           are
           prepared
           ,
           and
           
             promised
             to
             them
             that
             love
             him
             ,
          
           1
           Cor.
           2.
           9.
           
           Jam.
           1.
           12.
           
           You
           may
           your selves
           collect
           the
           rest
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           Hence
           take
           notice
           of
           the
           Seat
           and
           Subject
           of
           this
           Regeneration
           and
           Change.
           It
           is
           the
           
             mind
             of
             man.
          
           For
           
             you
             were
             enemies
             in
             your
             minds
             by
             wicked
             works
             .
             We
             are
             to
             be
             renewed
             in
             the
             spirit
             of
             our
             minds
             ,
          
           Ephes.
           4.
           23.
           
           To
           be
           
             transformed
             ,
             by
             the
             renewing
             of
             our
             minds
             ,
          
           &c.
           Rom.
           12.
           2.
           
           You
           that
           have
           not
           considered
           what
           Regeneration
           is
           ,
           I
           tell
           you
           ,
           't
           is
           to
           have
           your
           minds
           altered
           ,
           and
           changed
           .
           That
           whereas
           you
           did
           not
           mind
           God
           ,
           or
           Christ
           ,
           your
           minds
           being
           changed
           ,
           you
           savour
           ,
           and
           delight
           in
           the
           things
           of
           God
           ,
           
             Rom.
             8.
             5
             ,
             7.
             
             They
             that
             are
             after
             the
             flesh
             ,
             savour
             the
             things
             of
             the
             flesh
             .
             The
             carnal
             mind
             is
             enmity
             against
             God.
          
           It
           is
           the
           mind
           ,
           therefore
           ,
           not
           as
           speculative
           meerly
           ;
           but
           as
           practical
           ,
           and
           active
           ,
           that
           must
           be
           renewed
           .
           Enquire
           ,
           therefore
           ,
           what
           change
           do
           you
           find
           in
           your
           minds
           ?
           Are
           you
           in
           mind
           and
           spirit
           more
           holy
           ,
           spiritual
           and
           serious
           ?
           
           And
           are
           your
           minds
           more
           delightfully
           taken
           up
           with
           the
           things
           of
           God
           than
           formerly
           ?
           Till
           your
           minds
           are
           thus
           changed
           ,
           they
           cannot
           be
           towards
           God
           ;
           but
           will
           be
           perpetually
           full
           of
           enmity
           against
           God.
           You
           will
           only
           mind
           earthly
           things
           ,
           
             Phil.
             3.
          
           19
           ,
           20.
           with
           the
           neglect
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           Heaven
           ,
           and
           heavenly
           things
           .
           If
           ever
           the
           Gospel
           doth
           us
           good
           ,
           it
           must
           be
           by
           the
           change
           of
           our
           minds
           .
        
         
           4.
           
           And
           in
           the
           last
           place
           .
           Hence
           understand
           the
           absolute
           necessity
           of
           Reconciliation
           with
           God
           ;
           because
           you
           have
           been
           alienated
           ,
           and
           enemies
           against
           him
           by
           wicked
           works
           .
           Regeneration
           cures
           in
           part
           your
           enmity
           ;
           but
           makes
           no
           atonement
           for
           your
           guilt
           in
           having
           been
           enemies
           .
           For
           this
           you
           need
           a
           Reconciler
           ,
           that
           could
           satisfy
           for
           you
           .
           What
           will
           become
           of
           the
           man
           that
           is
           not
           reconciled
           to
           God
           ?
           If
           you
           be
           God's
           Enemy
           ,
           can
           he
           be
           your
           Friend
           ?
           And
           if
           God
           be
           your
           Enemy
           ,
           he
           is
           the
           most
           terrible
           Enemy
           .
           How
           can
           we
           lie
           down
           in
           peace
           in
           an
           unreconciled
           state
           ?
           or
           without
           
           knowing
           ,
           whether
           we
           are
           reconciled
           ,
           or
           not
           ?
           Let
           not
           the
           Sun
           go
           down
           this
           day
           ,
           and
           leave
           you
           at
           enmity
           with
           God.
           If
           you
           have
           fallen
           out
           with
           a
           man
           ,
           the
           
             Sun
             is
             not
             to
             go
             down
             on
             your
             wrath
             .
          
           And
           is
           your
           enmity
           against
           God
           a
           juster
           ,
           or
           more
           tolerable
           thing
           ?
           O
           let
           not
           the
           Sun
           go
           down
           before
           you
           have
           made
           your
           peace
           .
        
         
           And
           for
           your
           encouragement
           ,
           consider
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           the
           Office
           of
           the
           Son
           of
           God
           to
           reconcile
           you
           to
           him
           .
           He
           is
           the
           Reconciler
           ,
           the
           Peace-maker
           ,
           the
           maker
           up
           of
           Breaches
           between
           God
           and
           Man.
           He
           is
           ,
           if
           you
           resist
           not
           ,
           ready
           ,
           by
           his
           Spirit
           ,
           to
           remove
           the
           enmity
           that
           lies
           in
           your
           minds
           against
           God
           ;
           and
           ,
           by
           his
           bloud
           ,
           he
           causes
           Divine
           Justice
           to
           be
           at
           Peace
           with
           you
           .
           If
           you
           find
           the
           former
           effect
           ,
           that
           assures
           you
           of
           the
           latter
           .
           Bless
           God
           that
           he
           hath
           provided
           ,
           and
           given
           you
           notice
           of
           such
           a
           Reconciler
           ,
           2
           
             Cor.
             5.
             19.
             
             God
             was
             in
             Christ
             reconciling
             the
             world
             to
             himself
             .
          
           Bless
           God
           that
           he
           hath
           sent
           and
           settled
           one
           among
           you
           on
           this
           errand
           ,
           
             to
             beseech
             
             you
             to
             be
             reconciled
             to
             God
             ,
          
           vers
           .
           20.
           
           
             Blessed
             is
             the
             man
             ,
             whose
             iniquities
             are
             forgiven
          
           ;
           and
           blessed
           is
           the
           man
           who
           can
           say
           ,
           I
           was
           once
           an
           enemy
           ,
           but
           now
           am
           I
           reconciled
           ;
           formerly
           I
           saw
           no
           need
           of
           Christ
           ,
           but
           now
           I
           cannot
           live
           without
           him
           .
           How
           fearfull
           a
           thing
           will
           it
           be
           to
           die
           unreconciled
           to
           God
           under
           a
           Gospel
           of
           Reconciliation
           !
           While
           the
           voice
           of
           the
           Gospel
           of
           Grace
           is
           calling
           upon
           you
           ,
           
             Return
             and
             live
             ;
             Turn
             ye
             ,
             turn
             ye
             ,
             why
             will
             ye
             die
             ?
          
           beware
           of
           dying
           unreconcil'd
           under
           such
           a
           Gospel
           .
        
         
           When
           you
           return
           hence
           ,
           retire
           into
           a
           corner
           ,
           and
           consider
           what
           a
           wicked
           enmity
           of
           mind
           you
           have
           had
           against
           God
           ,
           and
           Christ
           ;
           and
           pray
           that
           you
           may
           be
           renewed
           in
           the
           spirit
           of
           your
           mind
           ,
           Ephes.
           4.
           23.
           
           Let
           an
           holy
           Resolution
           be
           taken
           up
           at
           last
           (
           after
           many
           neglects
           )
           as
           was
           by
           the
           poor
           distressed
           Prodigal
           ,
           after
           he
           had
           long
           liv'd
           a
           wandring
           life
           ,
           Luk.
           15.
           18.
           and
           onward
           ,
           
             I
             will
             arise
             ,
             and
             go
             to
             my
             Father
             ,
          
           &c.
           and
           you
           will
           find
           God
           a
           mercifull
           Father
           ,
           ready
           to
           receive
           
           you
           ,
           and
           with
           joy
           !
           Oh
           the
           joyfull
           meeting
           between
           a
           returning
           Soul
           ,
           and
           a
           sin-pardoning
           God!
           When
           once
           your
           strangeness
           ,
           and
           your
           enmity
           are
           overcome
           ,
           and
           you
           are
           come
           into
           a
           state
           of
           amity
           and
           friendship
           with
           God
           ;
           then
           will
           the
           rest
           of
           your
           time
           be
           pleasantly
           spent
           in
           an
           holy
           ,
           humble
           walking
           with
           God
           ,
           under
           the
           conduct
           of
           Grace
           ,
           till
           you
           come
           eternally
           to
           enjoy
           him
           in
           Glory
           .
        
         
           FINIS
           .
        
      
    
     
       
         Notes, typically marginal, from the original text
         
           Notes for div A44674-e110
           
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             .