The Scripture directory for church-officers and people, or, A practical commentary upon the whole…

Thirdly, Therefore we must look to our foundation, because of the great confusion that will be at last on those, who have failed therein. Thus it was with the foolish builder, when the tempests arose his house fell, and the fall was great. It was terrible and dreadful. He did not think so, he looked for a comfortable and quiet possession, but it proved otherwise. So it is here: Thou hast lived thus many years, thou hast gone on in a customary way of religious duties, thou hast performed them over and over again, but hast never looked to a foundation. Oh the confusion that will fill thy face, when at the Day of Judgement, God shall say for all those duties, I know you not! When you shall see all these to be a broken Reed to trust unto. Oh if men would but consider afore-hand, what the agonies and perplexities are, that will then fall upon them, they would consider and search, and never give over, till all be sure! What confusion was upon the foolish Virgins? How did they bewail their condition, running up and down, if there might be any hope? But all is too late.

Thirdly, Therefore we must look to our foundation, because of the great confusion that will be at last on those, who have failed therein. Thus it was with the foolish builder, when the tempests arose his house fell, and the fall was great. It was terrible and dreadfull. He did not think so, he looked for a comfortable and quiet possession, but it proved otherwise. So it is here: Thou hast lived thus many yeares, thou hast gone on in a customary way of religious duties, thou hast performed them over and over again, but hast never looked to a foundation. Oh the confusion that will fill thy face, when at the Day of Judgement, God shall say for all those duties, I know you not! When you shall see all these to be a broken Reed to trust unto. Oh if men would but consider afore-hand, what the agonies and perplexities are, that will then fall upon them, they would consider and search, and never give over, till all be sure! What confusion was upon the foolish Virgins? How did they bewail their condition, running up and down, if there might be any hope? But all is too late.

Fourthly, Therefore lay a good foundation, For if this be wanting, thou doest nothing but sin in all thou doest. Not only those plain gross acts of sin, but all thy civil, natural, and religious actions, as coming from thee, are altogether sins. To the unclean all things are unclean,