2. * And for this very reason, because he is fast _asleep_, he is, in some sense, at _rest_. Because he is _blind_, he is also _secure_: he saith, _Tush, there shall no harm happen unto me_. The darkness which covers him on every side, keeps him in a kind of peace: (so far as peace can consist with the works of the devil, and with an earthly, devilish mind.) He _sees_ not that he stands on the edge of the pit; therefore he _fears_ it not. He cannot _tremble_ at the danger he does not _know_. He has not understanding enough to fear. Why is it that he is in no dread of God? Because he is totally ignorant of him: if not _saying in his heart, there is no God_, or, that he _sitteth on the circle of the heavens, and humbleth_ not _himself to behold the things_ which are done on earth; yet satisfying himself as well, to all _Epicurean_ intents and purposes, by saying, “God is merciful:” confounding and swallowing up at once, in that unweildy idea of mercy, all his holiness and essential hatred of sin, all his justice, wisdom and truth. He is in no dread of the vengeance denounced against those who obey not the blessed law of God, because he understands it not. He imagines the main point is, to _do thus_, to be _outwardly_ blameless: and sees not that it extends to every temper, desire, thought, motion of the heart. Or he fancies, that the obligation hereto is ceas’d; that Christ came to _destroy the law and the prophets_; to save his people _in_, not _from_ their sins: to bring them to heaven, without holiness. Notwithstanding his own words, _Not one jot or tittle of the law shall pass away, till all things are fulfilled_: and, _Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord! shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doth the will of my Father which is in heaven_. 3. He is secure, because he is utterly ignorant of himself. Hence he talks of “repenting by and by;” he does not indeed exactly know when; but some time or other before he dies: taking it for granted, that this is quite in his own power. For what should hinder his doing it, if he will? If he does but once set a resolution, no fear but he will make it good. 4. But this ignorance never so strongly glares, as in those who are term’d, _men of learning_. If a natural man be one of these, he can talk at large of his rational faculties: of the freedom of his will, and the absolute necessity of such freedom, in order to constitute man a moral agent. He reads and argues, and proves to a demonstration, that every man may do as he will; may dispose his own heart to evil or good, as it seems best in his own eyes. Thus the God of this world spreads a double veil of blindness over his heart, lest by any means _the light of the glorious gospel of Christ should shine_ upon it.