Now this last way is to labor and strive with this professor by his
Spirit. Therefore the Spirit of the Lord is now come to him; but not
always to strive with man, Gen. 6:8; yet awhile he will strive with
him, he will awaken, he will convince, he will call to remembrance
former sins, former judgments, the breach of former vows and
promises, the misspending of former days. He will also present
persuasive arguments, encouraging promises, dreadful judgments, the
shortness of time to repent in; and that there is hope if he come.
He will show him the certainty of death and of the judgment to come,
yea, he will pull and strive with this sinner. But behold, the
mischief now lies here; here is laboring and striving on both sides.
The Spirit convinces, the man turns a deaf ear to God; the Spirit
saith, Receive my instruction and live, but the man pulls away his
shoulder; the Spirit shows him whither he is going, but the man
closeth his eyes against it; the Spirit offers violence, the man
strives and resists: he has "done despite unto the Spirit of grace."
Heb. 10:29. The Spirit parleyeth a'second time and urgeth reasons of
a new nature, but the sinner answereth, No; I have loved strangers,
and after them will I go. Amos 4: 6-12. At this, God comes out of
his holy-place, and is terrible; now he sweareth in his wrath they
shall never enter into his rest.
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