SERMON II.On MATTH. 12. 43, 44, 45.—When the Vnclean Spirit is gone out of a Man, &c.THE last Day I opened the several Parts of this place of Holy Scripture,Morning-Exercise on Horsely-Down, August 17▪ 1690. in the usual Method I have all along taken in my Exposition of other Parables, which I have already spoken to, according to that small mea∣sure of Light and Knowledg the Lord hath been pleased to be∣stow upon me. There remains one thing further to be done, and that is indeed the chief and most material of all, which is to shew you the sad State of the false and counterfeit Professor, out of whom the Unclean Spirit is said to be gone, but yet is returned again with seven other Spirits more wicked than him∣self. Our Blessed Lord saith,Mat. 12. 45The last State of that Man is worse than the first. Now in what respect a painted Hypocrite, or one garnished only with common Gifts and Graces of the Spi∣rit, may be said to be in a worse State than the open Prophane, I shall endeavour, God assisting, to demonstrate.'Tis said, Satan returned with seven other Spirits, &c.] Seven is a number of Perfection. I judg our Saviour designed hereby to shew that the Devil hath now got stronger hold and possession of such a Person by many degrees; many unclean Spirits, or worse and more dangerous Sins cleave to him than before, so that he is like to be perfectly miserable. But to proceed;First; That which renders false Professors, or counterfeit Christians, to be in such a deplorable Condition, (which also evidently appeared in the Pharisees and other People in that Ge∣neration, to whom primarily our Saviour refers, as the close of the 45th Verse shews) is, that great Ignorance that cleaves 0