Useful instructions for a professing people in times of great security and degeneracy delivered…

Reas. 1 From the natural security which possesseth the hearts of ⟨p. 51⟩the unregenerate: sinful man is naturally secure, which security ariseth from

1. Their not seeing and being affected with their sin, justly provoking of God, Mal. 2. 7. men grope in their darkness, and cannot see wherein they have done amiss. Men, especially if they have taken a form of godliness, and begin to be sticklers in Religion, they observe not that they want the power, and having taken up a good apprehension of themselves, the Word of Conviction passeth by as a thing in which they are not concerned. Hence they wonder that God should have any thing against them, they cannot believe it, and so they despise, and make a mock of those that tell them of Wrath against them.

1. Their not seeing and being affected with their sin, justly provoking of God, Mal. 2. 7. men grope in their darkness, and cannot see wherein they have done amiss. Men, especially if they have taken a form of godliness, and begin to be sticklers in Religion, they observe not that they want the power, and having taken up a good apprehension of themselves, the Word of Conviction passeth by as a thing in which they are not concerned. Hence they wonder that God should have any thing against them, they cannot believe it, and so they d•spise, and make a mock of those that tell them of Wrath against them.

2. Their misinterpretation of Gods patient dealing with them: Natural men make a God to themselves of their own Minds,