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1. Sin hath its Forts, Castles and strong Holds.
1. A blind mind is one of sins strong Holds; sin strives to make the Soul as dark as any Dungeon, and keeps the Soul what it can from seeing any light. Thus the Apostle tells us of this strong Hold, 4. Eph.
18. As long as sin can keep the Soul in this posture, 'tis sure of it. O Brethren, this is such a strong Fort, that all the Batteries of the Scripture cannot overthrow it. Men that are resolved to be ignorant, and de∣light in their ignorance (as too many do) O how hard a matter it is to convert such Persons. Now sin raiseth this Fort in the Soul these three ways.
1. It keeps the Soul ignorant of Christ and the ways of Christ, it will not let the Soul see the excellency of these things, which are enough to ravish the Soul. Hence they cry out, 5. Cant. 9. and again 3. Mal. 14. when the Soul is thus 'tis far from conversion; there is no talking to such Persons of Christ and Grace, no perswa∣ding of such Persons to Holiness; they love not to hear of these things, because they know not the excellency of them.
2. It keeps the Soul ignorant of sin, as to the nature and danger of it. O you shall hear People cry out, what harm is there in telling a Lye, in swearing an Oath, in drinking a merry Cup now and then, in taking a little pleasure, 1 Sam. 14. 43. So say sinners, what must I be presently dam∣ned for every small sin, I did but do so and
so, and must I dye for it. Thus ignorant People will do all that they can to excuse and to extenuate and lessen their sins, be∣cause they are ignorant of the nature and danger of them; some will say, they see no reason why Ministers should keep such a stir about such petty trifling businesses, O 'tis a sign sin hath got strong Hold in their Souls.
3. It keeps the Soul ignorant of its e∣state and condition, it cries peace, peace, when God speaks no peace; Heaven frowns on them, and the Scriptures denounce no∣thing but Wrath and Judgment against them, 29. Deut. 13. O tell a sinner of such and such sins, O they will say they hope to be saved for all that; poor blind Souls, how doth sin lead them blindfold to Hell. O Brethren, this is a strong Fort, and 'tis hard to storm it, we may Preach and God may send his judgments on the earth, and all to no purpose, for they will not learn righteousness; O take heed of this; en∣deavour all that you can to learn while you have the means of grace continued to you; take pains for knowledge, for while sin keeps you in blindness, it keeps a strong Hold in you.
2. Another strong Fort or Castle, that sin raiseth up in the Soul, is hardness of heart; hence it is called in Scripture, an heart of stone, or a stony heart, 11. Ezek. 19. we account Castles that are built with Free-stone, and on Rocks, the strongest Castles. O, sin makes it self strong, when it makes it self a Fort, and a Castle of stone in the heart. Oh! how hard is it to get sin out of such an heart, 'tis like a stone hardned in sin; lay a Mountain upon a stone (saith a late Divine) and it never groans, so is it with sinners, let a Moun∣tain of sin, a World of guilt lye upon his Soul, he feels it not, he groans not under it; smite a stone while you will, beat it as long as you can stand over it, it com∣plains not; Oh, reprove sinners, beat them with the hammer of the word of God, they are not moved at all, they complain never the more of sin, read 6. Hosea 5. God hews sinners by the Preaching of the word as a Mason doth hew stones and cut them, yet are they stones still v. 7. A stone will not bend nor bow, break it you may, but bend it you cannot; so sinners, let them hear the best Sermons, sit under the most powerful Preaching and pathetical per∣suasions,
they are like stones still, God may break them to pieces with the stroaks and blows of his Judgments, yet every piece remains a stone still. Oh hard and rocky hearts! how hath sin fortifyed it self to the purpose in these hearts; when their hearts are so hard, that they are Sermon∣proof, or Ordinance-proof, and Judgment-proof, what shall we then say of their Sal∣vation.
3. Another Castle, Fort, or strong Hold, sin erects in the Soul, that it may keep the possession, is a seared Conscience, 1 Tim. 4. 2. Oh, this is an invincible Castle, 4. Eph. 19. When a man is not sensible of his vile∣ness, is not ashamed of sin, but rather boasts and glories in it, this is limen inferni, the very threshold of Hell. Reproof's like pistol bullets, will not enter such coats of mail as these; what will they say? tell us of Sin and Hell and Damnation? we care not a rush for these things. Oh Brethren, have a care of letting sin get such a power in your hearts, as to raise up such an in∣vincible Fort as this is, that all the Ser∣mons in the World, all reproofs and per∣suasions in the World, all the mercies and judgments of God should do you no good.
Oh, when men come to be once past feel∣ing, then do they work all uncleanness with greediness, then do they make hast to damnation, and gallop full speed to Hell; as the hard heart is a Castle of stone, this is a wall of brass, sic murus ahaeneus esto, nil conscire tibi nullâ pallescere culpâ.
Thus I have shewed you the strong Holds of sin, the Forts and Castles 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 its strong Fortifications. Now,