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

2. These declining times afford great Temptations to it. It is an hour of great trial upon this account; it is a day wherein men generally content themselves with a form of Godliness, and count that to be sufficient, yea, there are a great many who esteem that too much. Observe the frame of many Professors, and it looks, as if they were afraid of having too much of Religion; as if heart piety were a needless thing; as if it were not a credit, but rather a reproach to a man to be sincerely Godly. If you will do as the most do, a form will be enough for you; if you will go farther, and resolve to live up to the Rules of the Gospel, and lead a Conversation in all things worthy of Christ, and carefully avoid the appearances of evil, you must expect to meet with scorn, and reproach, ⟨p. 150⟩and cruel mockings; you will hereby ••actically condemn the Generation you •ive in, if you will now build an Ark, they will malign you for it, and you must look to have it cast in your dish, as a matter of ignominy. If now you will consult with flesh and blood, and hearken to carnal reasonings, they will bid you to be content to do as others do, and tell you that you shall fare as well as they; and that it is pride in you to think your selves wiser than your neighbours, or suppose that none shall obtain heaven and happiness, but such scrupulous persons as you are. Certainly then you lie open to no small hazard.

2. These declining times afford great Temptations to it. It is an hour of great trial upon this account; it is a day wherein men generally content themselves with a form of Godliness, and count that to be sufficient, yea, there are a great many who esteem that too much. Observe the frame of many Professors, and it looks, as if they were afraid of having too much of Religion; as if heart piety were a needless thing; as if it were not a credit, but rather a reproach to a man to be sincerely Godly. If you will do as the most do, a form will be enough for you; if you will go farther, and resolve to live up to the Rules of the Gospel, and lead a Conversation in all things worthy of Christ, and carefully avoid the appearances of evil, you must expect to meet with scorn, and reproach, ⟨p. 150⟩and cruel mockings; you will hereby actically condemn the Generation you ive in, if you will now build an Ark, they will malign you for it, and you must look to have it cast in your dish, as a matter of ignominy. If now you will consult with flesh and blood, and hearken to carnal reasonings, they will bid you to be content to do as others do, and tell you that you shall fare as well as they; and that it is pride in you to think your selves wiser than your neighbours, or suppose that none shall obtain heaven and happiness, but such scrupulous persons as you are. Certainly then you ly open to no small hzard.