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

2. When we enquire more after Natural then Spiritual Causes: we are very inquisitive to know what may be the Natural Cause of these Blastings which have for many years diminished and corrupted the best of our Grain; and hence, many projective endeavours in vain attempted to prevent it, by a seeking to remove that Cause, which we are to this day baffled in, and as far off to seek as ever: but the Causes Spiritual (which are more manifest, and easy to be discovered) are slightly sought after, and so but little endeavour to remove them, hence no wonder that the Effect remains, we enquire in hypocrisy.

2. When we enquire more after Natural then Spiritual Causes: we are very inquisitive to know what may be the Natural Cause of these Blastings which have for many years diminished and corrupted the best of our Grain; and hence, many projective endeavours in vain attempted to prevent it, by a seeking to remove that Cause, which we are to this day baffled in, and as far off to seek as ever: but the Causes Spiritual (which are more manifest, and easie to be discovered) are slightly sought after, and so but little endeavour to remove them, hence no wonder that the Effect remains, we enquire in hypocrisie.

3. When we enquire, but 'tis without any desire or willingness to see the true Reason or Causes, or b• convinced of them, we enquire with a kind of fore-stalled and prejudicate spirit; we have taken up already what our determination is and must be: hence this it is, and no other thing, hence we arm our selves with a resolution to outstand all Conviction, and so lay a block in the way to prevent any efficacious meeting God i• such a way as might remove his hand off from us, and prevent the process of more and worse miseries.

3. When we enquire, but 'tis without any desire or willingness to see the true Reason or Causes, or b• convinced of them, we enquire with a kinde of fore-stalled and prejudicate spirit; we have taken up already what our determination is and must be: hence this it is, and no other thing, hence we arm our selves with a resolution to outstand all Conviction, and so lay a block in the way to prevent any efficacious meeting God i such a way as might remove his hand off from us, and prevent the process of more and worse miseries.