The peril of the times displayed. Or The danger of mens taking up with…

6. Hence it greatly concerns each of us to try our selves, how far we are personally guilty of, or free from this Sin. If we be not careful on this account, we may deceive our selves; there are many ways in which we may contract Guilt upon this account; and how deeply should it abase us when it is so? and if by the Grace of God, we have been preserved, it will be matter of inward consolation under the greatest troubles that are before us. But how shall we know this, but by a diligent self search? Let us ⟨p. 125⟩then, at such a day as this is, be very industrious and curious about it; and here let us in general observe, that it is not enough for us to cry out of the evil of the times, and make a great many of pathetical complaints about the degeneracy of the age, and the decays which are come upon Religion, and lay abundance of blame on this account, on this or that person, or order of men among us; there is a great deal of this zeal to be seen and heard proceeding from such as are evidently themselves not a little guilty on this account: yea, such is the deceitfulness of sin that is lodged within us, that if we take not the more heed to our selves, it will draw us to hide our own formality and hypocrisy, under this very disguise; and thereby, not only blind others with it, and cheat them in a good opinion of us, whiles we cover our sin with it, but put a cheat too upon our own Souls, by persuading our selves that this heat proceeds from a sincere heart, when it is a mere imposture. Give me leave then to offer a few Rules of Trial, and let us deal faithfully with our own Souls in the application of them.

6. Hence it greatly concerns each of us to try our selves, how far we are personally guilty of, or free from this Sin. If we be not careful on this account, we may deceive our selves; there are many ways in which we may contract Guilt upon this account; and how deeply should it abase us when it is so? and if by the Grace of God, we have been preserved, it will be matter of inward consolation under the greatest troubles that are before us. But how shall we know this, but by a diligent self search? Let us ⟨p. 125⟩then, at such a day as this is, be very industrious and curious about it; and here let us in general observe, that it is not enough for us to cry out of the evil of the times, and make a great many of pathetical complaints about the degeneracy of the age, and the decays which are come upon Religion, and lay abundance of blame on this account, on this or that person, or order of men among us; there is a great deal of this zeal to be seen and heard proceeding from such as are evidently themselves not a little guilty on this account: yea, such is the deceitfulness of sin that is lodged within us, that if we take not the more heed to our selves, it will draw us to hide our own formality and hypocrisy, under this very disguise; and thereby, not only blind others with it, and cheat them in a good opinion of us, whiles we cover our sin with it, but put a cheat too upon our own Souls, by perswading our selves that this heat proceeds from a sincere heart, when it is a meer imposture. Give me leave then to offer a few Rules of Trial, and let us deal faithfully with our own Souls in the application of them.