I. Scripture-light the most sure light ... delivered in three sermons on 2 Pet.…

Object. 3 O! but I am not so much troubled about my outward Condition, as about the condition of my Soul, the Lord knows my Souls Condition is very sad; for sometimes I am under the Ordinances, and sometimes not; sometimes I can stir out to an Ordinance, but sometimes oppositions keep me at home; I am not under a settled Ordinance; and when I am under the Ordinance, I get little good thereby; I hear, and I do not remember, my heart is hard, and dead, and dull, and it is little that I profit, and therefore I am thus discouraged; have I not cause, and reason now?

Object. 3 O! but I am not so much troubled about my outward Condition, as about the condition of my Soul, the Lord knows my Souls Condition is very sad; for somtimes I am under the Ordinances, and somtimes not; somtimes I can stir out to an Ordinance, but somtimes oppositions keep me at home; I am not under a setled Ordinance; and when I am under the Ordinance, I get little good thereby; I hear, and I do not remember, my heart is hard, and dead, and dull, and it is little that I profit, and therefore I am thus discouraged; have I not cause, and reason now?

Answ. 1 No, not yet. For •i•st: As for your want of Ordinances, if God lead you to the want of an Ordinance, he will make the very want of an Ordinance, to •e an Ordinance to you. When the Children of Israel came into the Land of Canaan, where there was ordinary food, then Manna ceased; but when ordinary food could not be had, as in the Wilderness, then they had Manna, Bread that was baked in the Clouds, then they had Angels Food immediately from God; and immediate Mercies that come immediately out of the hand of God, are the sweetest Mercies. God doth always give some opportunities of good unto his People; either of doing good, or receiving good; and the less opportunity they have of receiving good, usually the more opportunity they have of doing good: what though your hand be empty of receiving opportunities? ⟨p. 312⟩