[ 1370] Men easily taken off from their Holy Pro∣fession upon removall of Iudg∣ment, condemned.
JOsephus tells us, that the sons of Noah for some years after the floud, dwelt on the tops of high Mountains,* 1.1 not daring to take up their habitation in the lower ground, for fear of being drownd by another floud; yet in processe of time (seeing no floud came) they ventured down into the plain of Shinar, where their former modesty we see ended in one of the boldest, proudest at∣tempts against God,* 1.2 that the Sun was ever witnesse to; The building of a Tower whose top should reach up to Heaven; They, who at first were so maidenly and fearfull, as not to Venture down their Hills, for fear of drowning; now have a design to secure themselves against all future attempts from the God of Heaven himself. Thus it is oft seen, that Gods Iudgments leave such an im∣pression in Mens spirits, that a while they stand aloof from their sins (as they on their hils) afraid to come down to them, but when they see fair weather con∣tinue and no clouds gather towards another storn; then they can descend to their old wicked practises, and grow more bold and Heaven-daring then ever; O how nice and scrupulous are they while the smell of Fire is about them,* 1.3 and the memory of their distresse fresh, they are as tender of sinning, as one that comes out of a hot close room is of the air; they shrink at every breath of Temptation; but alas, how soon upon the least remove of Iudgment, are they hardned to com∣mit those Sins without remorse, the bare motion of which, but a little before, did so trouble and afflict them.