2. By delaying to comply with them —
[Few, if any, are so impious as to determine that they will never turn to God. Men deceive themselves with some faint purposes of turning to God at a future period. Thus, when the Spirit "knocks at the door of their hearts0," they send him away, as Felix did St. Paul, with an intention to " send for him at a more convenient season." But, as in the instance alluded to, the more convenient season never came, so it too often happens with respect to us. The Spirit is a sovereign agent, that is not at our command: he is "a wind that bloweth where he listeth :" and, if we will not spread our sails to the wind, and avail ourselves of the advantage afforded us, we may bemoan our lost opportunity when it is too late1'.]
3. By entertaining sentiments inimical to them —
[Tt is not uncommon for those whose consciences are awakened to a sense of their condition, to take refuge in infidel opinions. If they do not call in question the divine authority of the Scriptures, they doubt the veracity of God in them, and deny the certainty and duration of the punishment which he denounces against impenitent sinners. Others adopt an antinomian creed ; and from some experience which they suppose themselves to have had of the divine life, conclude they shall never be suffered finally to perish, notwithstanding their present experience attests their hypocrisy and self-deceit. But all of these are "speaking peace to themselves when there is no peace ;" and, if they be not roused from their delusions, will soon reap the bitter fruits of their folly q.]
4. By indulging habits contrary to his mind and will —
[God abhors iniquity of every kind : nor will he dwell in any heart that is allowedly debased by sin. If then we har- bour pride, envy, malice, covetousness, uncleanness, or any other secret lust, we shall provoke him to abandon us to our- selves1: for he has said, "If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy s."]
Lest any of you should be inattentive to the ope- rations of the Spirit on your hearts, we shall,
III. Enforce the caution, not to quench them —
Consider then,
1 . Whom it is that you resist —
0 Rev. iii. 20. P Isai. lv. 6.
<J Jer. viii. 11. Deut. xxix. 19, 20. r Ps. Ixvi. 18.
s 1 Cor. iii. 17.