who being most holy and righteous, neither is, nor can be the author or approver of sin'.

V. The most wise, righteous and gracious God, doth oftentimes leave for a season his own children to manifold temptations, and the corruption of their own hearts, to chastise them for their former sins, or to discover unto them the hidden strength of corruption, and deceitfulness of their hearts, that they may be humbleds; and to raise them to a more close and constant dependance for their support upon himself, and to make them more watchful against all future occasions of sin, and for sundry other just and holy endst.

1 John ii. 16. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. Psal. 1. 21. These things hast thou done, and I kept silence: thou thoughtest that I was altogether such a one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.-See also, James i. 13, 14, 17. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:-But every man is tempted, when he is drawu away of his own lust, and enticed.-Every good gift, and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

V. 2 Chron. xxxii. 25, 26, 31. But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem. Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah.-Howbeit, in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart.

2 Cor. xii. 7, 9, 9. And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing

VI. As for those wicked and ungodly men whom God, as a righteous judge, for former sins, doth blind and harden"; from them he not only withholdeth his grace, whereby they might have been enlightened in their understandings, and wrought upon in their hearts"; but sometimes also withdraweth the gifts which they had; and exposeth them to such objects as their corruption makes occasion of sin; and withal, gives them over to their own lusts, the temptations of the I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Psal. lxxiii. throughout. Psal. Ixxvii. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12. Mark xiv. 66th ver. to the end, John xxi. 15, 16, 17..

VI. Rom. i. 24, 26, 28. and xi. 7, 8. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves;-For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections; for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:-and even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient.-What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for, but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.--According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear unto this day.

w Deut. xxix. 4. Yet the Lord hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day * Matt. xiii. 12. But whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. See Matt. xxv. 29.

2 Kings viii. 12, 13. And Hazael said, Why weepeth my lord? And he answered, Because I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the children of Israel: their strong holds wilt thou set on fire, and their young men wilt thou slay with the sword, and wilt dash their children, and rip up their women with child.-And Hazael said, But what, is thy servant a dog that he should do this great thing? And Elisha answered, The Lord hath showed me that thou shalt be king over Syria.

world, and the power of Satan'; whereby it comes to pass that they harden themselves, even under those means which God useth for the softening of othersa.

VII. As the providence of God doth, in general, reach to all creatures; so, after a most special manner, it taketh care of his church, and disposeth all things to the good thereof".

CHAPTER VI.

Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment thereof.

OUR first parents, being seduced by the subtilty and temptation of Satan, sinned in eating the for

Psal. lxxxi. 11, 12. But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.-So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust; and they walked in their own counsels. 2 Thess. ii. 10, 11, 12. And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth; that they might be saved.---. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie; that they all might be damned, who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Exod. viii. 15, 32. But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had said; And Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also, neither would he let the people go. 2 Cor. ii. 15, 16. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ in them that are saved, and in them that perish :-To the one u'e are the savour of death unto death; and to the other, the savour of life unto life. Isai. viii. 14. And he shall be for a anctuary; but for a stone of stumbling, and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin, and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. See also Exod. vii. 3. 1 Pet. ii. 7, 8. Isai. vi. 9, 10. with Acts xxviii. 26, 27.

VII. Amos ix. 8, 9. Behold, the eyes of the Lord God are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from off the face

bidden fruit. This their sin God was pleased, according to his wise and holy counsel, to permit, having purposed to order it to his own gloryb.

II. By this sin they fell from their original righteousness, and communion with Gode, and so became dead in sin", and wholly defiled in all the faculties and parts of soul and body®.

III. They being the root of all mankind, the

of the earth; saving that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob, saith the Lord-For lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth. Rom. viii. 28. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

I. a Gen. iii. 13.-And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. 2 Cor. xi. 3. But I fear lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

b Rom. xi. 32. For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

II. • Gen. iii. 7, 8. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked and they sewed figleaves together, and made themselves aprons.--And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. Eccl. vii. 29. Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions. Rom. iii. 23. For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. a Eph. ii. 1. And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins. Rom. v. 12. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.

e Gen. vi. 5. And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart, was only evil continually. Jer. xvii. 9. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked, who can know it? See also Rom. iii. 10. to the 19th ver.

guilt of this sin was imputed', and the same death in sin and corrupted nature conveyed to all their posterity, descending from them by ordinary gene

rations.

IV. From this original corruption, whereby we are utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite to all good", and wholly inclined to all evil', do proceed all actual transgressions*.

III. f Acts xvii. 26. And hath made of one blood, all nations of men, for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; and Gen. ii. 16, 17. with Rom. v. 12, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19. and 1 Cor. xv. 21, 22, 45, 49. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead: For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive and so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening Spirit.-And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

8 Psal. li. 5. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Gen. v. 3. And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth. Job xiv. 4. Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one. Job xv.

14. What is man that he should be clean? and he which is bern of a woman, that he should be righteous?

IV. h Rom. v. 6. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. Rom. viii. 7. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. John iii. 6. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Rom. vii. 18. For I know that in me, that is in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing; for to will is present with me, but how to perform that which is good I find not. i Gen. viii. 21. And the Lord said, The imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth. Rom. iii. 10, 11, 12. As it is written, There is none righteous, no not one :-There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable, there is none that doeth good, no not one.

James i. 14, 15. But every man is tempted when he is