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

Use 1. To show us how vain a thing it is to go about to deceive God with vain service, whiles our […] estranged from in; if we had to deal with man like our selves, we ••ght easily cast a […] before their ⟨p. 10⟩eyes, and make them believe strange matters, but God who can in no ways cheat or deceive, though we cover our service with a cloak of deceit, yet God can tell us whether it be alive or dead; and if we go about so to serve him, he will make us to know sooner or later, that he took good notice of them in the day when he comes to set our sins in order before us, and tell us this we did at such a time, and that abomination at another time: See Psal. 50. 18. &c.

Use 1. To shew us how vain a thing it is to go about to deceive God with vain service, whiles our 〈…〉 estranged from in; if we had to deal with man like our selves, we ••ght easily cast a 〈…〉 before their ⟨p. 10⟩eyes, and make them believe strange matters, but God who can in no ways cheat or deceive, though we cover our service with a cloak of deceit, yet God can tell us whether it be alive or dead; and if we go about so to serve him, he will make us to know sooner or later, that he took good notice of them in the day when he comes to set our sins in order before us, and tell us this we did at such a time, and that abomination at another time: See Psal. 50. 18. &c.

Use. 2. This may certify the sinner, that God will take a time to reckon with him, the all-seeing eye sees thee, and cannot choose but take notice of thee, and he will call thee to an account, though be may seem to wink at present and not to take notice of thy ways and doings, but to let thee alone; yet I promise thee time will be when thou shalt know it to thy cost, that he is not such an one as thou art, nor did ever give his consent to and approbation of thy ways and doings: and therefore is there any here that lies and lives in sin; deceive not thy own soul, but let it awaken thee to look about thee, and make thy peace with God, for otherwise what he hath spoken he will perform, he will not come short of his threatenings any whit more then his promises, let then that counsel be acceptable. Am. 4. ult. meet God with Repentance, before he meet us with his heavy plagues But I come from the Context to the words of the Text: God having counselled and warned them; the further to awaken and effect their hearts, and preserve them, sets a lively example before them: in every way suiting and answering the present state of Jerusalem, he therefore sets it forth. 1. By the title it once bare, the place &c. 2. By the evils which were brought upon it: where, 1. The author, God himself: what I did. 2. The procuring cause, the wickedness of my people Israel: Hence.