Directions and persuasions to a sound conversion for prevention of that deceit and damnation…Directions and perswasions to a sound conversion for prevention of that deceit and damnation…

8. When you begin to be indifferent as to your Communion with God, and think not much whether he accept you, and manifest his love to you or not, but can huddle up your prayers, and look no more after them, or what becomes of them, and use Ordinances and seldom enquire of the success: When you can spare the Spiritual Consolations of the Saints; and fetch little of your comfort from Christ, or Heaven; but from your friends, and health, and prosperity, and accommodations; and perhaps can be as merry in carnal company, when you say and do as they, as if you were considering of the Love of Christ: this shows that the threatenings went not deep enough. Sorrow hath yet another part to play: You must be taught better to know your home, and to take more pleasure in your father, and your husband, and your brethren, and your Inheritance, then in strangers, or enemies to God and you.

8. When you begin to be indifferent as to your Communion with God, and think not much whether he accept you, and manifest his love to you or not, but can huddle up your prayers, and look no more after them, or what becomes of them, and use Ordinances and seldom enquire of the success: When you can spare the Spiritual Consolations of the Saints; and fetch little of your comfort from Christ, or Heaven; but from your friends, and health, and prosperity, and accomodations; and perhaps can be as merry in carnal company, when you say and do as they, as if you were considering of the Love of Christ: this shews that the threatnings went not deep enough. Sorrow hath yet another part to play: You must be taught better to know your home, and to take more pleasure in your father, and your husband, and your brethren, and your Inheritance, then in strangers, or enemies to God and you.

9. When you begin to grow wanton with Ordinances, or other Mercies, and in stead of thankful receiving them, and feeding on them, you pick quarrels with them, and nothing will please you: either the Minister is too weak; or he is too curious, or too formal; you must have it this way or that way; either you must have more of a form, or no form; in this gesture, or that order, and something or other is still amiss: this shows that you want humbling, and that you are fitter for the rod, then for meat. If God do but open you a door into your hearts, and show you the monsters and emptiness that is there, you will then see, that the fault lay somewhere else then in the Minister, or the Ordinances: If it were in them, it was more in you. The cause of your loathing, and quarrelling with the Word, was the fullness of your own stomach; and God must give you a vomit, or purge, that shall make your hearts ache before it hath done working, and then your appetites will be mended, and your wantonness will cease; and that will be sweet to you which before you slighted.