Ezek. 34:13. I exercised towards
you my patience, yet you have not turned unto me, saith the Lord. I
smote you in your person, in your relations, in your estate, yet you
have not returned unto me, saith the Lord. "Cut it down; why
cumbereth it the ground?"
The second sign that such a professor is almost, if not quite past
grace, is when God hath GIVEN HIM OVER, or lets him alone and
suffers him to do any thing, and that without control; helpeth him
not either in works of holiness, or in straits and difficulties:
"Ephraim is joined to idols; let him alone." "Woe be to them when I
depart from them." "I will laugh at their calamity; I will mock when
their fear cometh."
Barren fig-tree, thou hast heretofore been digged about; God's
mattock has heretofore been at thy roots; thou hast heretofore been
striven with, convinced, awakened, made to taste and see, and cry, O
the blessedness! Thou hast heretofore been met with under the word;
thy heart has melted, thy spirit has fallen, thy soul has trembled,
and thou hast felt something of the power of the gospel. But thou
hast sinned, thou hast provoked the eyes of his glory, thy iniquity
is found to be hateful; and now perhaps God has left thee, given
thee up, and lets thee alone.
Heretofore thou wast tender; thy conscience startled at the
temptation to wickedness, for thou wert taken off from the
pollutions of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ, 2 Pet.
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