and confidence, damnable doctrines, to the perverting of the doctrine of
the gospel of Jesus Christ, and to the subverting and overturning of the
very foundations of our hope and assurance; and that in such a way, and
by such means and stratagems, as seem to have wrath written upon them in
legible letters; for the more plausible and taking a corrupt doctrine
be, it is the more dangerous and judgment-like, and more are thereby in
hazard to be deluded and drawn away.

Nay (which is yet more terrible and dreadful) it is to be feared, that
the jealous God, in his holy and righteous judgment, hath given a
providential commission (to speak to) unto the seducing spirit, to
persuade and prevail; for is not this the clear language of the present
holy and righteous dispensations of God, and of the stupendously
indifferent frame and disposition of the generality of men, called
Christians, not only provoking God to spue them out of his mouth, but a
disposing them also unto a receiving of whatsoever men, lying in wait to
deceive, shall propose and obtrude?

Alas! the clouds are not now a-gathering, but our horizon is covered
over with blackness, and great drops are a-falling, that presage a
terrible overflowing deluge of error, and apostacy from the truth and
profession of the gospel of Jesus Christ, to be at hand, if the Lord
wonderfully prevent it not. And behold (O wonderful!) the generality of
professors are sleeping in security, apprehending no danger. Satan is
more cunning now, than to drive men to Popery by rage and cruelty, (and
yet what he may be permitted to do after this manner, who can tell?) or
by openly pleading in his emissaries, for this abomination, (and yet
even thus is he already prevailing with not a few) or to send forth his
agents for Arminianism and Socinianism (though even this way too, he is
too much prevailing.) But his main work now seemeth to be, to bring in