Subjection to Christ in all his ordinances and appointments the best means to preserve…

5. When the Lord in this case lets them alone without §5inward or outward troubles, this is a fearful sign. Hosea 4. 17. Ephraim is joined to his Idols, let him alone, the Lord will take no more pains with them, he is wearied out with striving. Isaiah 1. 5. Why should ye be stricken? ye will revolt yet more and more; when the Lord sees men the worse for his merciful corrections, he deals like parents that have striven long with their children, and can do no good on them, they then resolve to let them take their own course, and will own them no longer to be of their family: the Lord never deals thus long with his; but if their sin will not waste by words, the Lord will then try what chains will do, and now they shall find good, now they shall remember their backslidings and apostasies from God, and their impenitency in sin, in secret sins, especially in the days of their peace and prosperity; now the Lord will make sin as bitter as ever it was sweet. Oh consider this ⟨p. 18⟩you that are prosperous, and because the Lord is good to you, therefore you think the Lord likes well of your ways. No greater plague then for the Lord to give a man peace in his sin, or if the Lord begins to afflict thee in thy name, on estate begin to be blasted, and thou canst see Gods hand on thee, and knowest it, and yet thou remainest unhumbled, this is a sign thou art under the bondage of thy sin.

5. When the Lord in this case lets them alone without §5inward or outward troubles, this is a fearfull signe. Hosea 4. 17. Ephraim is joyned to his Idols, let him alone, the Lord will take no more pains with them, he is wearied out with striving. Isaiah 1. 5. Why should ye be stricken? ye will revolt yet more and more; when the Lord sees men the worse for his mercifull corrections, he deals like parents that have striven long with their children, and can do no good on them, they then resolve to let them take their own course, and will own them no longer to be of their family: the Lord never deals thus long with his; but if their sinne will not waste by words, the Lord will then try what chaines will do, and now they shall finde good, now they shall remember their backslidings and apostasies from God, and their impeniency in sin, in secret sins, especially in the dayes of their peace and prosperity; now the Lord will make sinne as bitter as ever it was sweet. Oh consider this