VI. Nor think, my Soul, that any Refolutions can

be too ftri(5i,any Endeavours too much, upon this Oc- Ezraix i^ cafion. For, after ^// that is come upon me
for ?ny e'v'il Deec-is, and for my great Trefpafs^ feeing that my God hath punifljedme lefs than my Iniquities defer ve y and hath gi'Vtn me fuch a Deti'verance as This ^ yerCe 14 Should I again break his Commandments ^
Would he not then he angry with me till he had con fumed me^ fo that there jhould be no cfcaping ? O Lord, Vcrfe I ^y ^^^} '^^•^^^'^ ^^^ righteous^ for I remain ytt
efcaped ; but let not, I befeech the©, this Mercy, by being forgotten or abufed, turn to my ut- ter and eternal CDndemnacion. For, that this muftbe the fad confeqaence of fuch Ingratitude at iait, not only thy Word hath told me, but I can plainly gather it from ray own Reafoxi and Experience. I feel what
Indig-
Indignation the Unkindnefs of Perfons, whom I hav^ particularly obliged, kindles in my Breait • I find, tha^ no fort of Refentments are more uneafie, no Provoca- tion harder to be born, than that which arifes from the Injuries and Affronts of thofe unworthy People, who prefume upon my Friendfliip to ufe me ill. And can I fuppofe, That the juft and jealous God will not call Them to a fevere Account, who turn his Grace into Wantonnefs, and, when they live by Miracles of Bounty and Long-fufFering, live fo, as to difhonour Him, and reproach the Patience that fpared them ? The more Hgnal and particular his Goodnefs hath been, the heavier and more infupportable, no doubt, will be that Wrath^ which hardened and im- femtent Wretches treafure nf to themfelvesy^^^''^^' ^' againfi the Day of Wrath^ and Re'velaticn of the righteous Judgment of God, So that our blefled Lord's Admoni- tion to the impotent Man is in EfFedt the Voice of Reafon and every Man's own Confcience. Each Afflidion, Each efcape calling out loudly to the Re- ceiver, Sin no more^ left a worfe thing come unto thee, ^ ^^-^ ^- '^•
And how indeed can it be eXpeded, that infinitely worfe fliould not come, when neither Severity will drive, nor Compaffion and Kindnefs lead to amend- ment ; when neither Correcting nor Sparing can do any good ? The Circumftances of thofe Men are dan- gerous, whofe Diftemper only is ftrong i But Theirs rnuft needs be defperate and Mortal, whofe very Re- medies feed and inflame their Difeafe. If Pruning and Manuring be both in vain, the next Sentence upon the barren Fig-tree is. Cut it down, why cum- hreth it the Ground? The Ax is already -^"^^ ^i^'- laid to the Root, and if it be hfted up to give the fatal Stroke, the End of cverj Tree which hringcth forth not good Fruit, We are ex- ^^'^^^^^' ^"• prelly told j(hall bej to be burnt -H'lth unquenchable Fire»
15 b VIL
3 ^ ^eDttattons ana |&?aret:j5