strength against them, therefore God left them to be as ‘thorns in their eyes, and as goads in their sides.’ So when men have taken Christ’s press-money and are engaged to fight with all their might against those rebels that war against him in their hearts, ways, and walkings, and to pursue the victory to the utmost, till their spiritual enemies lie dead at their feet, and yet they do but trifle and make slender opposition against their sins; this provokes God to stand afar off, and to hide his reconciled