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

Use. 1. For Trial: there is much talk now a days amongst us, ⟨p. 55⟩about the Judgements of God, and those awful Providences that are rolling over our heads: there is a great Enquiry made, but let us not think or conclude our selves ever the better, because we are among the number of those who are possibly the most forward upon this account, but examine our selves whether we do it in sincerity or in hypocrisy.

Use. 1. For Tryall: there is much talk now a dayes amongst us, ⟨p. 55⟩about the Judgements of God, and those awfull Providences that are rolling over our heads: there is a great Enquiry made, but let us not think or conclude our selves ever the better, because we are among the number of those who are possibly the most forward upon this account, but examine our selves whether we do it in sincerity or in hypocrisie.

Signs of hypocritical Enquiry.

Signs of hypocriticall Enquiry.

1. When we enquire more after the Events of Calamity, then the Causes procuring of it: thus those Id••tans, What of the night? i. e. What is like to come upon us? So there is much enquiry, what the issue of these rolling Providences is like to be; what things are like to come to: but there are few say, What have I done? wherein is the Lords anger incensed amp;c.? this shows we are more afraid of sorrow then sin, when we look so much at the Rod, and not at the hand which wieldeth it: This argues a spirit of hypocrisy, for we neglect our work; which is to search and try our hearts, and meddle with Gods work, whose Sovereignty it is to rule and order the affairs of the whole World at his own pleasure.