A word in season to this present generation, or, A sober and serious discourse…

Sixthly, Be sure you don't take up your rest in any ¹Creature, in any comfort, in any contentment, in any worldly enjoyment. When the presence of God is withdrawn from you, say as Absalom, What is all this to me, ²so long as I am banished my Fathers presence, so long as I can't see the Kings face. When the Mother sees that the Child is taken with the baby, the rattle, the fiddle, she comes not in sight: If you take up your rest in any of the babies, in any of the poor things of this world, God will certainly keep out of sight, he will never honour them with his countenance and presence, who take up in any thing below himself, below his favour, below his presence. I have read of a devout Pilgrim, who going up to Jerusalem, was very kindly and nobly entertained in several places but still he cried out, O but this is not Jerusalem, this is not Jerusalem! So when you cast your eye upon this Creature, or that, O then cry out, This is not the presence of God, this is not the presence of God; & when you begin to be tickled & ⟨p. 222⟩taken with this and that enjoyment, with this or that contentment, O then remember, this is not the presence of God, this is not the presence of God! Here is a gracious yoke-fellow, here are hopeful Children, here is a pleasant habitation, here is brave air, here is a gainful trade, &c. but what are all these to me, so long as my Sun is set in a cloud, and God has withdrawn his presence from me? Remember this once for all, that the whole world is but a barren ³wilderness, without the countenance and presence of God. But,

Sixthly, Be sure you don't take up your rest in any ¹Creature, in any comfort, in any contentment, in any worldly enjoyment. When the presence of God is withdrawn from you, say as Absalom, What is all this to me, ²so long as I am banished my Fathers presence, so long as I can't see the Kings face. When the Mother sees that the Child is taken with the baby, the rattle, the fiddle, she comes not in sight: If you take up your rest in any of the babies, in any of the poor things of this world, God will certainly keep out of sight, he will never honour them with his countenance and presence, who take up in any thing below himself, below his favour, below his presence. I have read of a devout Pelgrim, who going up to Jerusalem, was very kindly and nobly entertained in several places but still he cryed out, O but this is not Jerusalem, this is not Jerusalem! So when you cast your eye upon thiis Creature, or that, O then cry out, This is not the presence of God, this is not the presence of God; & when you begin to be tickled &