An exposition with practical observations continued upon the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh chapters…

And as these people that hinder young ones are to be rebuked, so such as seek to corrupt them by false opinions. Certainly it is that by which God is much provoked at this day; and as on the one side there is hope of mercy in regard so many young ones begin to enquire after God, so I know no such dreadful argument of Gods displeasure against this Nation as this, That as soon as young ones begin to come to know Jesus Christ, there are presently corrupt erro•• infused into them, and that under the notion of honouring Christ and free grace and the Gospel so much the more; whereas indeed they do no other than infuse principles of libertinism and looseness and such as will even eat out the heart of godliness. Certainly the Lord hath a quarrel against such as corrupt young ones by their false principles: for there are none so ready to drink in false principles as young ones, especially young converts, who begin to enquire after the ways of God: and these men that are their corrupters, they have this advantage, they come not to them to persuade them to profaneness, but they come to them with seeming pretences of giving honour unto Christ and of magnifying free grace, and in the mean time sow seeds in them that will eat out the power of godliness. Oh to corrupt children and young ones and when they begin to enquire after God and to know him, for you to do that which may estrange them from God, this is that which God will have a quarrel against you for! And it is a greater argument of Gods displeasure against us,¹ that it is so common and frequent at this day, than any one I know; ⟨p. 432⟩there is not any one argument (that I know) that is a greater discouraging argument to us of Gods displeasure, than this thing. But so much for those words, They have begotten strange children. It follows.

And as these people that hinder young ones are to be rebuked, so such as seek to corrupt them by false opinions. Certainly it is that by which God is much provoked at this day; and as on the one side there is hope of mercy in regard so many young ones begin to enquire after God, so I know no such dreadful argument of Gods displeasure against this Nation as this, That assoon as young ones begin to come to know Jesus Christ, there are presently corrupt erro•• infused into them, and that under the notion of honoring Christ and free grace and the Gospel so much the more; whereas indeed they do no other than infuse principles of libertinisme and loosness and such as will even eat out the heart of godliness. Certainly the Lord hath a quarrel against such as corrupt young ones by their false principles: for there are none so ready to drink in false principles as young ones, especially young converts, who begin to enquire after the waies of God: and these men that are their corrupters, they have this advantage, they come not to them to perswade them to profaness, but they come to them with seeming pretences of giving honor unto Christ and of magnifying free grace, and in the mean time sow seeds in them that will eat out the power of godliness. Oh to corrupt children and young ones and when they begin to enquire after God and to know him, for you to do that which may estrange them from God, this is that which God will have a quarrel against you for! And it is a greater argument of Gods displeasure against us,