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

4. Prepare that if the Night come you may make advantage of it for your good: though the Night hath many sad disadvantages, yet it hath its advantages too; though it pay the sluggard with shame, yet to him that hath done his work, 'tis sweet, and helps his rest: if it find you in a way of righteousness, it can do you no hurt, it shall do you a great deal of good. Oh prepare, get your sins pardoned and done away, if the guilt of these remain, they will interpose as a thick and dismal Cloud, between the light of Gods countenance and your souls, then it will be a black and dark night indeed: get into Christ, make him your shelter and rock, he is a sure refuge, and the tempest cannot break through him to do you any harm, though it should bear down, and wash away the clay house of your earthly tabernacle, yet it cannot keep you from, but will hasten you to a more speedy possession of your Eternal Mansion, your house of rest, whose […] and maker is God.

4. Prepare that if the Night come you may make advantage of it for your good: though the Night hath many sad disadvantages, yet it hath its advantages too; though it pay the sluggard with shame, yet to him that hath done his work, 'tis sweet, and helps his rest: if it finde you in a way of righteousness, it can do you no hurt, it shall do you a great deal of good. Oh prepare, get your sins pardoned and done away, if the guilt of these remain, they will interpose as a thick and dismall Cloud, between the light of Gods countenance and your souls, then it will be a black and dark night indeed: get into Christ, make him your shelter and rock, he is a sure refuge, and the tempest cannot break through him to do you any harm, though it should bear down, and wash away the clay house of your earthly tabernacle, yet it cannot keep you from, but will hasten you to a more speedy possession of your Eternal Mansion, your house of rest, whose 〈…〉 and maker is God.

If ye will enquire, enquire ye:] The Prophet having answered their Question about the Events of Providence, and confirmed his forewarnings, by taking off the objection from present prosperity, and ascertained them of the hastening of their Calamity; being desirous to prevent their utter desolation, adds a […] of serious advice to them from God, wherein he tacitly reproves the hypocrisy of their former inquisitiveness, and calls up to sincerity in their enquiring. Hence