(3.) The third way whereby God doth judicially give up men to hardness of heart is, by supplying them in his providence with oppor- tunities to draw out their lusts. They shall have opportunity for them. It is commonly given for one of the darkest dispensations of divine providence towards men, when it orders things so that they shall have opportunities, to accomplish their lusts and go on in their ways, administered unto them.
(4.) Lastly; in pursuit of all these, God gives them over to a " re- probate mind," Rom. i.; that is, a mind that can neither judge nor approve of any thing that is good. Propose to men the most con- vincing things wherein their own interest and concern lies; show them that eternal ruin lies at the door; — it is all one; they having a mind that can judge of nothing that is good. And the world is full of evidences of this work of God.
3. God may be said to cause men to err from his ways, and to har- den their hearts from his fear, by withholding, upon their provoca- tion, some such supply of his Spirit and actings of his grace as they have formerly enjoyed, to keep up their hearts to the ways and in the fear of God. And that is the hardening here intended. The Lord had withheld, upon just provocations, those supplies of his grace and Spirit which formerly were enjoyed, and which had given them a vigorous spirit in the ways of God, and a tender heart in the fear of God, which now they have lost, or else they could never have been sensible of it.
From what has been said, we may make the following observa- tions : —
THE CORRECTION OF HIS CHURCH. 301
Observation 1. Even true believers themselves may for a season so err from the ways of God as to have their hearts partially hardened from his fear ; and may fall under this state and condition, to err from the ways of God, by a decay of the principle of grace : and so as to have their hearts hardened from his fear, that they know not where they are, what they are doing, how it is with them, which way to look for relief to supply themselves, or how to recover strength or heal them- selves; but are forced to cry, " 0 Lord, why hast thou caused us to err from thy ways, and hardened our hearts from thy fear?"
Obs. 2. God himself hath a righteous hand in this frame of spirit that sometimes befalls believers.
Obs. 3. This frame is the most deplorable condition that can befall the Church of God at any time ; which is manifest upon these two accounts, — that it both takes away all solid evidences of God's special love, and inevitably exposes us to outward distresses and ruin, if it be not remedied. And therefore it is a most deplorable condition, to be brought into such a state.
Let us now a little inquire, as we before proposed, what it is to have our hearts hardened thus partially from the fear of God.
The fear of God may be considered in several respects: — as it regards sin, and so is a fear of caution and humility ; or as it regards judgments, and so is a fear of reverence, wisdom, and diligence to improve them ; or, lastly, as it regards duty, and so becomes a fear of obedience and watchfulness. Now, the want of a due sense of sin, of judgments, or of a due attendance unto duties, is this partial hardening.
(1.) A partial hardening consists in the want of a due sense of sin. It is the fear of God alone that can give us a due sense of sin. Judg'- ments will give dread, and convictions disquiet; but it is the fear of God alone that gives a due sense of sin. Therefore, when we want this, our hearts are in some measure hardened from the fear of God; which discovers itself in the following particulars: — [1.] A want of a due sense of secret sins ; [2.] A want of a due sense of sin in an un circumspect walking; [3.] A want of a due sense of surprisal into known sins; [4.] A want of a due sense of the sins of others. Where these things are, there is hardening from the fear of God.
[1.] This hardening consists in a want of a due sense of secret sins. And there is much in this. I shall but just name things unto you. The psalmist lays great weight on it, Ps. xix. 12, 13, " Cleanse thou me from secret faults;" also, " Keep back thy servant from presumptuous sins." In these two lie the life of a believer. And there is no more safety, if we are not cleansed from secret sins, than if we are not kept back from presumptuous sins. Every one will conclude, if they are not kept back from presumptuous sins, they are undone for ever; but
302 god's withdrawing his presence,
the danger is the same if they are not cleansed and have not a due sense of secret sins.
If it be asked, " What are these secret sins?"- — 1st. They are the vain imaginations of the mind; 2dly. The corrupt actings of the affec- tions of the heart ; and, Sdly. A frame of soul suited unto them. These are the things I intend by secret sins: —