It is, beloved, high time now to awake, to look about us, to consider
where we are, upon what ground we stand, whether the enemy or we have
the advantage, how and in what posture we are to rencounter with
deceivers that seek to cheat us out of all our souls, and of the Lord
our Righteousness, and draw us off the paths of life, that when we come
to die (beside the unspeakably great loss we would thereby be at, even
here, in missing the comfortable accesses to God through Jesus Christ
the inflowings of grace and strength for spiritual duty through the Lord
our strength; the sweet communications of peace and joy in the Holy
Ghost, the shedding abroad of the love of God in our hearts by the Holy
Ghost, which is given unto us, and the full assurance of hope through
the Lord Jesus our hope) we might be frustrated of all our expectations;
and find, that all that which men made us grip to, lay hold on, and lean
unto, instead of Christ, was but a mere shadow, and a lie in our right
hand, to the unexpressible grief, vexation, and sorrow of soul when all
should end in a dreadful and horrible disappointment.

But let us not think that our purposes, firm-like resolutions to adhere
to the truth, and our present abhorrence at, and detestation of errors
now broached, to the overturning the very foundations of true
Christianity, will sufficiently guard us from, and make us proof against
the shots and assaults of these crafty seducers. Nor think, that our
learning and knowledge in the theory of the truth; nor our abilities to
rencounter sophisters, will secure us from a fall; let us not think that
the enemies are contemptible, and therefore we need be the less anxious,
nor yet think that former experiences and through-bearings, in the like
cases, will be a pillow, whereby we may now lay ourselves down to sleep.
If we do, we shall certainly deceive ourselves, if all our strength and
standing be in ourselves, and through ourselves; and if this be the
ground of our hope, the righteous Lord in his holy justice, may give us