Now they shall see they
left glory for shame, God for the devil, heaven for hell, light for
darkness. Now they shall see, that though they made themselves
beasts, yet God made them reasonable creatures; and that he did with
reason expect that they should have adhered to, and have delighted
in, things that are good and according to God. Yea, now they shall
see and be convinced, that though God did not determine to bring
them to heaven against their hearts and wills, and the love that
they had to their sins, yet that God was far from infusing any thing
into their souls, that should in the least hinder, weaken, obstruct,
or let them in seeking the welfare of their souls. Now, men will
tattle and prattle at a mad rate about election and reprobation, and
conclude that because all are not elected, therefore God is to blame
that any are damned. But then they will see that they are not damned
because they were not elected, but because they sinned; and also,
that they sinned, not because God put any weakness into their souls,
but because they gave way, and that wilfully, knowingly, and
desperately, to Satan and his suggestions; and so turned away from
the holy commandment delivered unto them. Yea, then they will see,
that though God at some times did fasten his cords about their heads
and heels and hands, both by godly education and smarting
convictions, yet they rushed away with violence from all, saying,
"Let us break their bonds asunder, and cast away their cords from
us.
Pages:
583
584
585
586
587
588
589
590
591
592
593
594
595
596
597
598
599
600
601
602
603
604
605
606
607