and who shall hide our sins, when he will have them brought to light? And God is our Accuser, till we accuse our selves: but if we would Judge our selves, he would not Judge us. 8. The fire is already kindled which revealeth our sin: Judgement is begun at the house of God. Hath the Ministry suffered nothing in England, Scotland, and Ireland? and have there been no attempts for their overthrow? Hath it not been put to the Vote in an Assembly that some called A Parliament of England, whether the whole frame of the stablished Ministry, and its legal maintenance should be taken down? and were we not put to plead our Title to that maintenance, as if we had been falling into the hands of Turks, that had thirsted for our subversion, as resolved enemies to the ⟨image 4⟩Christian cause? And who knows not how many of these men are yet alive? and how high the same spirit yet is, and busily contriving the accomplishment of the same design? Shall we think that they have ceased their enterprise, because they are working more subtly in the dark? What are the swarms of Railers at the Ministry, sent abroad the Land for, but to delude, exasperate and dis-affect the people, and turn the hearts of the children from their Fathers, that they may be ready to promote the main design? And is it not then our wisest course to see that God be our friend, and to do that which tendeth most to engage him in our defence? I think it is no time now to stand upon our credit, so far as to neglect our duty, and befriend our sins, and so provoke the Lord against us. It rather beseems us to fall down at the feet of our offended Lord, and to justify him in his Judgements, and freely and penitently to confess our transgressions, and to resolve upon a speedy and through reformation, before wrath break out upon us, which will leave us no remedy. Its time to make up all breaches between us and Heaven, when we stand in such necessity of the Divine Protection? For how can an impenitent unreformed people expect to be sheltered by Holiness it self? It is a stubborn child, that under the rod will refuse to confess his faults; When it is not the least use of the rod to extort confession. We feel much: we fear more; and all's for sin: and yet are we so hardly drawn to a Confession? 9. The world already knows that we are sinners: As none can suppose us perfect, so our particular sins are too apparent to the world:
and who shall hide our sins, when he will have them brought to light? And God is our Accuser, till we accuse our selves: but if we would Iudge our selves, he would not Iudge us. 8. The fire is already kindled which revealeth our sin: Iudgement is begun at the house of God. Hath the Ministry suffered nothing in England, Scotland, and Ireland? and have there been no attempts for their overthrow? Hath it not been put to the Vote in an Assembly that some called A Parliament of England, whether the whole frame of the stablished Ministry, and its legal maintenance should be taken down? and were we not put to plead our Title to that maintenance, as if we had been falling into the hands of Turks, that had thirsted for our subversion, as resolved enemies to the ⟨image 4⟩Christian cause? And who knows not how many of these men are yet alive? and how high the same spirit yet is, and busily contriving the accomplishment of the same design? Shall we think that they have ceased their enterprise, because they are working more subtilly in the dark? What are the swarms of Railers at the Ministry, sent abroad the Land for, but to delude, exasperate and dis-affect the peeple, and turn the hearts of the children from their Fathers, that they may be ready to promote the main design? And is it not then our wisest course to see that God be our friend, and to do that which tendeth most to engage him in our defence? I think it is no time now to stand upon our credit, so far as to neglect our duty, and befriend our sins, and so provoke the Lord against us. It rather beseems us to fall down at the feet of our offended Lord, and to justifie him in his Iudgements, and freely and penitently to confess our transgressions, and to resolve upon a speedy and through reformation, before wrath break out upon us, which will leave us no remedy. Its time to make up all breaches between us and Heaven, when we stand in such necessity of the Divine Protection? For how can an impenitent unreformed people expect to be sheltered by Holiness it self? It is a stubborn child, that under the rod will refuse to confess his faults; When it is not the least use of the rod to extort confession. We feel much: we fear more; and all's for sin: and yet are we so hardly drawn to a Confession? 9. The world already knows that we are sinners: As none can suppose us perfect, so our particular sins are too apparent to the world:
