God acknowledged, or, The true interest of the nation and all that fear God…

2. Those that refuse to acknowledge God, or who follow not his Direction, and walk not in his Ways, nor hearken not to his Voice, nor wait for his Counsel, he will in Wrath and Judgment leave, and give them up to their own hearts lusts, and to walk in their own counsel, as he did Israel of old; My people would not bearken to my voice, and Israel would have none of me; so I gave them up to their own hearts lusts, and they walked in their own counsel. God may justly withdraw all his directing influences from such, and blind their Eyes, who, through Pride, think they have Wisdom enough to manage their own Affairs, and direct their own Paths. God's counsel is to men, to forsake their sinful ways, to embrace his Son, or believe in Christ, and trust in him alone, and rest on his word, and cry to him in their trouble; but when they refuse to do this, he oftentimes utterly leaves them, and then they fall, and bring ruin on ⟨p. 38⟩themselves and others, whose counsellors they pretend to be, or chosen to be. The truth is, while the Nation continueth in its Rebellion against God, and all Profaneness aboundeth to such a degree, as to this day it doth, what can we expect but Wrath and fearful Judgments? What signifies a few formal Prayers, whilst men hold fast their sins? Are such Laws made and executed, to check and restrain the cursed enormities of the ungodly? That may tend as an effectual way to accomplish such a Reformation that God calls for. Alas, whilst every Mans Hand at Sea and Land is up against God, fighting against him; can we expect he should appear to fight for us? O what horrid Pride, Uncleanness, Oaths and Blasphemy, and all Profaneness do we see and hear of every day? 'Tis a wonder the Earth opens not its Mouth to swallow them up at Land (as it did them at Jamaica;) and that the Sea doth not swallow up our Ships (and those in them) they having such a wait and load in them▪ Sin is a heavy burden, and our sins are so heavy, they are enough to sink (as one observes) seventeen Kingdoms. Moreover, what Errors and detestable Heresies do abound among us? And also what Divisions, Discord and Animosities are there among Professors? One set against another, little Love and Charity being now to be found in the Earth: Much Preaching, but little Practise: Are not many Professors as Proud, Covetous, Carnal and Loose as others. O where is the Life and Power of Religion?

2. Those that refuse to acknowledge God, or who follow not his Direction, and walk not in his Ways, nor hearken not to his Voice, nor wait for his Counsel, he will in Wrath and Judgment leave, and give them up to their own hearts lusts, and to walk in their own counsel, as he did Israel of old; My people would not bearken to my voice, and Israel would have none of me; so I gave them up to their own hearts lusts, and they walked in their own counsel. God may iustly withdraw all his directing influences from such, and blind their Eyes, who, through Pride, think they have Wisdom enough to manage their own Affairs, and direct their own Paths. God's counsel is to men, to forsake their sinful ways, to embrace his Son, or believe in Christ, and trust in him alone, and rest on his word, and cry to him in their trouble; but when they refuse to do this, he oftentimes utterly leaves them, and then they fall, and bring ruin on