Though Gods mind be most plainly revealed to us in his written Word, yet are his Providences also teaching, and it is the duty of his Servants to read and study them, especially the Penal withdrawing or withholding of his grace, and giving men up to believe lies, and to vile affections, to a reprobate sense, and to an abominable conversation, these are such discoveries of the sore displeasure of the Most High, as should make even the beholders to fear, and all that stand but near to this heavy judgement to fly away from it, as the Israelites did at the cries of the Rebellious followers of Corah, Num. 16. lest the earth should have swallowed them up also: I am not of their mind that make light of the strange Providences in our military affairs and changes of State, though I think every carnal admirer of them doth not understand them: But it's a matter of very sad consideration, that many of uhose same men that seem so much to magnify these, do no more observe, understand, and lay to heart the more remarkable Providence of our heavy spiritual judgements! ⟨image 4⟩The overlooking of these Providences makes many fear lest it be but their own interest which they study in the other, and lest by reading themselves and their own Names where they should read God, they turn this light into darkness or seduction, and by surfeiting on this Feast do contract those diseases that are like to be their bane; What is Gods Word for but to make himself and our duty known to us? And so he doth very much by his Works, where we may see his Nature, and something of his Approbation or dislike, especially as they are read by the help of the Word. Certainly God is known by the judgement which he executeth: (specially when) the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands, Psa. 9. 16. The hand of God is apparently gone out against your ways of Separation and Anabaptism: It is your duty to observe it: You may see you do but prepare too many for a further progress, Seekers, Ranters, Familists, and now Quakers, and too many professed Infidels, do spring up from among you, as if this were your Journeys end, and the perfection of your Revolt. And it is your Churches and those that lean toward you that presently receive the Doctrines of the deceiver, and are the stream in which some others with them are carried away. You may see you cannot hold your followers when you have them;
THough Gods minde be most plainly revealed to us in his written Word, yet are his Providences also teaching, and it is the duty of his Servants to reade and study them, especially the Poenall withdrawing or withholding of his grace, and giving men up to beleeve lies, and to vile affections, to a reprobate sence, and to an abominable conversation, these are such discoveries of the sore displeasure of the Most High, as should make even the beholders to fear, and all that stand but near to this heavy judgement to fly away from it, as the Israelites did at the cries of the Rebellious followers of Corah, Num. 16. lest the earth should have swallowed them up also: I am not of their minde that make light of the strange Providences in our military affairs and changes of State, though I think every carnal admirer of them doth not understand them: But it's a matter of very sad consideration, that many of vhose same men that seem so much to magnifie these, do no more observe, understand, and lay to heart the more remarkable Providence of our heavy spirituall judgements! ⟨image 4⟩The overlooking of these Providences makes many fear lest it be but their own interest which they study in the other, and lest by reading themselves and their own Names where they should reade God, they turn this light into darknesse or seduction, and by surfetting on this Feast do contract those diseases that are like to be their bane; What is Gods Word for but to make himself and our duty known to us? And so he doth very much by his Works, where we may see his Nature, and something of his Approbation or dislike, especially as they are read by the help of the Word. Certainly God is known by the judgement which he executeth: (specially when) the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands, Psa. 9. 16. The hand of God is apparently gone out against your waies of Separation and Anabaptism: It is your duty to observe it: You may see you do but prepare too many for a further progresse, Seekers, Ranters, Familists, and now Quakers, and too many professed Infidels, do spring up from among you, as if this were your Journeys end, and the perfection of your Revolt. And it is your Churches and those that lean toward you that presently receive the Doctrines of the deceiver, and are the stream in which some others with them are carried away. You may see you cannot hold your followers when you have them;
