An Alarm to Unconverted Sinners

And now, I imagine, many will begin to bless themselves, and think all is well, because they cannot be spotted with the grosser evils above ⟨p. 93⟩mentioned. But I must further tell you, that there are another sort of unsanctified persons, that carry not their marks in their foreheads, but more secretly and covertly in their hands. These do frequently deceive themselves and others, and pass for good Christians, when they are all the while unsound at bottom. Many pass undiscovered, till death and judgment bring all to light. Those self-deceivers seem to come even to Heaven-gate with confidence of their admission, and yet are turned off at last. Mat. 7. 22. Brethren Beloved, I beseech you deeply to lay to heart, and firmly to retain this awakening consideration: That Multitudes miscarry by the hand of some secret sin, that is not only hidden from others, but (for want of observing their own hearts) even from themselves. A man may be free from open pollutions, and yet die at last by the fatal hand of some unobserved iniquity: And there be these eleven hidden sins, by which souls go down by numbers to the chambers of death. These you must search carefully for, and take them as black marks (where-ever they be found) discovering a graceless and unconverted estate. As you love your lives read them carefully, with a holy jealousy of your selves, lest you should be the persons concerned.

And now, I imagine, many will begin to bless themselves, and think all is well, because they cannot be spotted with the grosser evils above ⟨p. 93⟩mentioned. But I must further tell you, that there are another sort of unsanctified persons, that carry not their marks in their foreheads, but more secretly and covertly in their hands. These do frequently deceive themselves and others, and pass for good Christians, when they are all the while unsound at bottom. Many pass undiscovered, till death and judgment bring all to light. Those self-deceivers seem to come even to Heaven-gate with confidence of their admission, and yet are turned off at last. Mat. 7. 22. Brethren Beloved, I beseech you deeply to lay to heart, and firmly to retain this awakening consideration: That Multitudes miscarry by the hand of some secret sin, that is not only hidden from others, but (for want of observing their own hearts) even from themselves. A man may be free from open pollutions, and yet die at last by the fatal hand of some unobserved iniquity: And there be these eleven hidden sins, by which souls go down by numbers to the chambers of death. These you must search carefully for, and take them as black marks (where-ever they be found) discovering a graceless and unconverted estate. As you love your lives read them carefully, with a holy jealousie of your selves, lest you should be the persons concerned.