The saints anchor-hold, in all storms and tempests preached in sundry sermons, and published…

for sundry years past, he hath visited us with returns of sicknesses, every following year sharper than the former; because whatever purposes men and women had, and whatever promises they made, when Gods hand was upon them, all wore off and came to nothing, after he had released them: So that we, in this wilderness, may be justly charged for dealing with God, as the people of Israel did in the wilderness, and have cause to expect, as they found from the Most High, Psal. 78. 32. to 38. In this case, God dealeth with his people, as Physicians ⟨p. 148⟩are wont to do with their patients, upon whom when they find that the physic formerly given doth not work, they second it with some stronger purge; and, when they find that the disease is so settled, that quicker courses are not effectual; they prescribe a course of longer continuance. 5. Search, to find out your own special corruptions; the sins of your nature, whereunto you are naturally, that is, by your natural constitutions, more addicted and inclined, then unto other; the fins of your callings, that is, such as whereunto, by occasion of your place and vocation, or your course of life and conversation, you may have more and more frequent occasions of, and greater and stronger inducements, and enticements to, then others, and the sins of the times and places in which you live. This course David took, and thereby proved that he was upright before God, Psal. 18. 23. 6. Call to mind of what sins you have been formerly admonished and convinced, publicly, by the Ministers of the Word, or privately, by godly ⟨p. 149⟩friends, and others; or secretly, by the motions of Gods Spirit, and checks of your own consciences, but have not repented of them, nor turned from them. For it is Gods manner, to open the ears of men, and to seal instructions by afflictions, as Elihu told Job, though he mis-applied it to his case. Job 33. 14. to 30. 2. Having found out the particular causes for which God contendeth with you; add thereunto another search, to find out those sins which hinder the exercise of this hope more directly and immediately; as, 1. Your aptness to have hard thoughts of God. This is very injurious and dishonourable to God, and therefore he frequently in Scripture expostulateth with and complaineth of his people for it: As you may see in