Preparation for sufferings. Or The best work in the worst times Wherein the necessity,…

Nay, are there not some that have, and others that are ready to throw up their Profession, when they see into what difficulties it involves them? Whilst they could live upon the profession of Truth, they entertained it; but when Truth comes to live upon them, they thrust it out, and cry, Away with this Profession, it will beggar and undo us: They then repent of their forwardness, and secretly wish they had never engaged in it. O examine whether your hearts be not thus turned back, and your steps declined. If so, it's manifest you are hypocritical Professors, and that it was some outward self-respect that first engaged you in your Profession, but can never enable you to hold out when difficult days come. I say it's manifest by this departure from your Profession, that some outward self-respect at first allured you to it. As now when I behold the artificial motions of the Wheels in a Watch, and see how regularly the Needle marks the journal hours of the Sun upon the flat of the Quadrant, and see nothing that moves or guides it, it would cause admiration if I had never seen it before, or did not understand the cause of that motion: but when I look upon the other side, and there find Wheels, Resorts, and Counterpoises, and a Spring that causes all those motions, I cease to wonder; certainly some Lust or other was the spring of all thy religious motions; stop or take ⟨p. 126⟩off that, and motion ceases: And if it be so, this Scab of Hypocrisy will at last break out into the Botch of Apostasy. Thou canst never hold out long under Trials, Matth. 13.21. Oh how many such sad sights may we live to see as Trials come! Difficult times are coming on, 2 Tim. 3.1. and woe to such then as want sincerity at the bottom of their Profession.

Nay, are there not some that have, and others that are ready to throw up their Profession, when they see into what difficulties it involves them? Whilest they could live upon the profession of Truth, they entertained it; but when Truth comes to live upon them, they thrust it out, and cry, Away with this Profession, it will beggar and undo us: They then repent of their forwardness, and secretly wish they had never engaged in it. O examine whether your hearts be not thus turned back, and your steps declined. If so, it's manifest you are hypocritical Professours, and that it was some outward self-respect that first engaged you in your Profession, but can never enable you to hold out when difficult dayes come. I say it's manifest by this departure from your Profession, that some outward self-respect at first allured you to it. As now when I behold the artificial motions of the Wheels in a Watch, and see how regularly the Needle marks the journal hours of the Sun upon the flat of the Quadrant, and see nothing that moves or guides it, it would cause admiration if I had never seen it before, or did not understand the cause of that motion: but when I look upon the other side, and there find Wheels, Ressorts, and Counterpoises, and a Spring that causes all those motions, I cease to wonder; certainly some Lust or other was the spring of all thy religious motions; stop or take