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

3. When we enquire, but 'tis without any desire or willingness to see the true Reason or Causes, or be convinced of them, we enquire with a •inde 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 in such a way as might remove his hand off from us, and prevent the process of more and worse miseries.

4. When we enquire, but never intend to reform: this was the enquiry of those, Jer. 43. their promises were indeed fair, but when the Prophet had gone to God and enquired for them, and brought ⟨p. 56⟩them word back again, […] they discover their hypocritical heart, Chap. 44. 16. they would make a formal kind of process, as if they had been desirous of Gods counsel to direct them; and had the Answer been to their minds, what godly men might they have past for: Hath God told us nothing? have not his Messengers pointed at something? have not the very Providences themselves given light to our enquiry? but all this while, where is the amendment? who turns from his evil way to the Lord?

4. When we enquire, but never intend to reform: this was the enquiry of those, Jer. 43. their promises were indeed fair, but when the Prophet had gone to God and enquired for them, and brought ⟨p. 56⟩them word back again, 〈…〉 they discover their hypocritical heart, Chap. 44. 16. they would make a formal kinde of process, as if they had been desirous of Gods counsel to direct them; and had the Answer been to their mindes, what godly men might they have past for: Hath God told us nothing? have not his Messengers pointed at something? have not the very Providences themselves given light to our enquiry? but all this while, where is the amendment? who turns from his evil way to the Lord?