Oh therefore shake off your slumbers and short sleeps,1 lest you fall to sleep; and for sleeping, be awakened by some direful blow; Look upon those men Isa. 29. 10. God hath closed their eyes, that is a fearful thing; look upon many professors, all their savour, and heart, and life is gone almost, and they know not that they be asleep, not all means cannot awaken them, or unseal their minds again; God knows how far you may fall, if you give way to a little; especially if God takes away Ministers from you, and that the Elders that have known the works of God be gathered to their Fathers; especially if you know it, and yet go on in your slumbers; if you will not awaken when God cries and calls, you shall slumber and sleep; like the Smiths dog, the harder the Master strikes, the faster the dog sleeps, being used to it. I knew a man of great estate, oft quickened by the Word; but he lost all life and heat again, and he prayed, and desired the Lord to keep him, and yet decayed, but he could not tell the reason thereof; at last the Word began to grow common, and he slept there also; Conscience told him there was some evil toward him which he feared, yet still slept, and continued so; notwithstanding his fears would thus awaken him oft; at last an affliction came, he regarded not that, but was impatient and froward under it, till at last all he had was gone, and then he looked about him; when his house was burnt, he was asleep; he prayed, but lost all by sleeping when he should watch; so security grew upon him; and hence, no wonder misery met him: Oh! take heed therefore of giving way, liberty, or toleration to a sleeping profession, and your slumbering Religion: as men will not tolerate Ceremonies, because they are the fruitful seed of the body of Popery; so here, &c.
Oh therefore shake off your slumbers and short sleeps,1 lest you fall to sleep; and for sleeping, be awakened by some direful blow; Look upon those men Isa. 29. 10. God hath closed their eyes, that is a fearful thing; look upon many professors, all their savor, and heart, and life is gone almost, and they know not that they be asleep, not all means cannot awaken them, or unseal their minds again; God knows how far you may fall, if you give way to a little; especially if God takes away Ministers from you, and that the Elders that have known the works of God be gathered to their Fathers; especially if you know it, and yet go on in your slumbers; if you will not awaken when God crys and calls, you shall slumber and sleep; like the Smiths dog, the harder the Master strikes, the faster the dog sleeps, being used to it. I knew a man of great estate, oft quickned by the Word; but he lost all life and heat again, and he prayed, and desired the Lord to keep him, and yet decayed, but he could not tell the reason thereof; at last the Word began to grow common, and he slept there also; Conscience told him there was some evil toward him which he feared, yet still slept, and continued so; notwithstanding his fears would thus awaken him oft; at last an affliction came, he regarded not that, but was impatient and froward under it, till at last all he had was gone, and then he looked about him; when his house was burnt, he was asleep; he prayed, but lost all by sleeping when he should watch; so security grew upon him; and hence, no wonder misery met him: Oh! take heed therefore of giving way, liberty, or toleration to a sleeping profession, and your slumbering Religion: as men will not tolerate Ceremonies, because they are the fruitful seed of the body of Popery; so here, &c.
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