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

Ans. 1. This Objection is strange and impertinent, it is as if a Physician should come to a person all over full of mortal wounds, and yet neglects them all, and strangely cries out, There is one singular wound which I must find out: is not this to suffer the person wilfully to perish, by letting him bleed out his life at the known wounds, while he goes upon the discovery of one unknown? Is not this New-Englands case, such as was once Judahs, Isa. 1 5. and shall we yet grope as in the dark after some singular thing: I therefore fear that this is but a fond and hypocritical excuse, to put off the edge of the conviction of present sins, and keep up our credit too, as if we would willingly know the mind of God. But

Ans. 1. This Objection is strange and impertinent, it is as if a Physician should come to a person all over full of mortal wounds, and yet neglects them all, and strangely cries out, There is one singular wound which I must finde out: is not this to suffer the person wilfully to perish, by letting him bleed out his life at the known wounds, while he goes upon the discovery of one unknown? Is not this New-Englands case, such as was once Judahs, Isa. 1 5. and shall we yet grope as in the dark after some singular thing: I therefore fear that this is but a fond and hypocritical excuse, to put off the edge of the conviction of present sins, and keep up our credit too, as if we would willingly know the minde of God. But

2. Suppose there be some singular sin: yet

First, It doth not need presently terminate upon the Magistracy and Ministry, though wherein they may be wanting in their places, the Lord give them to see & reform it, but it is not my work to scandalize those who cannot hear me speak: yet I say the sin is not needfully theirs. But