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. Searching, reading, printing, or downloading EEBO-TCP texts is reserved for the authorized users of these project partner institutions. Permission must be granted for subsequent distribution, in print or electronically, of this text, in whole or in part. Please contact project staff at eebotcp-info@umich.edu for further information or permissions.
THe second evill that befals the minde, is inefficacie. The under∣standing by its light, should be as the compasse in the ship, to guide and order men; and as the sailes and wings, to set all in Motion; and as the anchor, to hold up in all stresses; but when God leaves a man to himselfe, how weake is this light, and unable to discharge its
office? it hath not those effectuall ope∣rations that it had upon the soule.
[unspec 1] 1 A man is not so affected with the things that he knoweth, as in former dayes; time was when the apprehensi∣on of Gods love did worke mightily, melting to repentance, quickning to obedience, encouraging to confidence, filling the heart with gladnesse and glo∣rying, and the mouth with praises and songs of rejoycing; but now the thoughts of divine love doe not so raise the heart; So time was, when the sight of sinne was a wound to the soule, ca∣sting shame into the face, and causing griefe in the heart; but now you can behold your sinnes, and cannot say as in the dayes of old, Mine eye hath wounded my heart, Lament. 3.51. This weaknesse and inefficacie of knowledge is a signe you are in an ill case.
[unspec 2] 2 A man is not so impelled to duty where God is present with much assi∣stance, and abundant influences of his spirit, there he rules and holds his sub∣jects in a strict obedience; the scepter by which he ruleth, is the Word, but
not the word as it is written with Inke, and lieth in the letter, but as it is engra∣ven in the heart, and as it is in the throne, seated in the understanding, yea, and as it is swayed by that invisible hand which worheth mightily in those that beleeve, Ephes. 1.19. When God holds backe the working of this power, spi∣rituall truths lie bound hand and foot, and put not forth themselves in their former regall power, which they did exercise as Gods Vicegerents and Vice∣rours to command and governe, but the heart enjoyes a wofull liberty and tolleration, in a barren and unfruitfull conversation; the Majesty and mercy of the great and gracious God, doth not constraineb, as it doth in those who enjoy God, 2 Gor. 5.14. But as if the heart had none to feare, and nothing to hope for, or none to judge it, it is dull, carelesse and heedlesse; in for∣mer dayes, the minde which is Gods statute booke, and the monitor in a man, was often suggesting counsels and perswasions, crying as that voice, Esay 30.21. This is the way, walke in it,
when ye turne to the right hand, and to the left; that is, in all your wayes; but now it is silent, and become like those idoll shepherds, that had eyes, and saw not, and tongues, but spake not: it was as a law, having an obligatory and bin∣ding power, Rom. 7.23. so that there was no peace but in holy walking; but now that light is become weake, and the whole man is out of order.
[unspec 3] 3 A man is not so restrained as he was, this is one office of an enlightned minde, to be as a bridle to corruptions and a checke to impetuous lusts; there is a great power in the naturall mans conscience, when God awakens it, and sets it on, to limit the boundlesse spirits of men unregenerate, as we see in •••• laam, who though he had a good mind to pleasure Balack in hope of profit, yet durst not, the light within him durbed him, and held him so strongly back, that a house full of silver and gold could not draw him; but when God, for the hardnesse of mens hearts ceaseth to quicken this light, it becomes weake, and men are let loose to all evill, as
those, Rom. 1.26. because they impri∣soned the truth which would have ruled in them, therefore God gave them up to a reprobate mindec.
So in the godly there is a renewed conscience, an understanding enlight∣ned with saving light, which while God by continuall pulsations and mo∣tions keeps waking, becomes a strong banke to preserve the soule from the overflowing rage of sinne; but when God ceaseth to worke in it, then the heart is left like a ship in a storme, when her cables breake or faile. David in his grievous foile which he suffered, knew that adultery was a sinne, yet God not adding his influence to this light, it became too weake to raise up resoluti∣ons sufficient, and to chaine up that monster in his soule, 2 Sam. 11. And Asah had light enough to convince him: what a sinne it was to rob Gods treasury, to make a present to send to the King of Syria, that he might curry favour with him; yet he adventures upon this sacriledge; his knowledge could not hold his hands from doing
evill, no not from imprisoning the pro∣phet, who did his duty, 2 Chron. 16. so that if you be lesse restrained by your knowledge, it is a signe that the power of God is not so much put forth in you as heretofore.
[unspec 4] 4 A man is not so humbled: the pra∣cticall understanding being renewed, is the Count Palatined, next to God in the palace of the soule; the power of judgement is in its hands; it hath power to send out writs to summon men to its barre, and to examine causes, and to passe sentence; and when God is with it, it will afflict and chastise the soule for sinne, So it is said, that Da∣vids heart smote him, 2 Sam. 24. but when conscience groweth carelesse, and men judge not themselves, when they condemne not, and afflict not them∣selves for sinne, but the sword lieth still in the scabbard, and execution is not done, but crimes are winked at; the offender is justified or spared; it is a signe of a sleepe fallen upon them, and that God hath withdrawne himselfe; or if you be judged by the light, yet
are not humble, if you can shift and ward off the blows of conscience, so that it cannot wound you; the efficacie of it is weakned, and God is departed: David was in this case, his conscience was too dallying and indulgent, it did not arrest him, nor seise upon him with her wonted Majestie, because God suf∣fered him to he for a time, as he permit∣ted him to fall; but when the spirit came in the ministery, of Nathan, then conscience was armed with a stronger power; and laid hands on him, bound him in chaines, and laid him up in pri∣son; and now David humbleth him∣selfe, confesseth his sinne, weeps, and sighs, and mourns night and day, and could have no quiet till he had his par∣don, and was reconciled to his God, Psal. 32.
The se∣cond evill that befals the minde, is ineffica∣cie. Prov. 10.27. vide Drus. qu. Hebr. l. r. q. 11.
Not affe∣cting.
Not im∣pelling to good.
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, sig∣nificantius forsan con∣strictos te∣net nos, ut luc. 19.43. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Hen. Steph
Not re∣straining from evill.
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. i. mentem sine judicio, Beza: at hoc minus malum est, & saepe na∣turale, mens ergo reproba est judici∣um perver∣sum, distor∣tum, pra∣vum, quo insanda ju∣ditabant licita. Cor. a Lapid. Est. Parae∣us. &c. Vid. Ca∣mer. de∣fens. finem versus.
Not hum∣bling.
Curopala∣tes. vid. Seld. ho∣noris tit.