the Maryan days here at home, there was such sweet songs sung in
the fire, such sweet notes answering them from prison, and such
providences, that coals of burning fire still dropped here and
there upon the heads of those that hated God; that it might, and
doubtless did make those that did wisely consider of God's doings,
to think God was yet near, with, and for, a despised and afflicted
people.3

I conclude then, first with a word of counsel, and then with a
word of caution.

First, Let us mend our pace in the way of reformation, that
is the way to hasten the downfall of Antichrist, ministers need
reforming, particular congregations need reforming, there are but
few church-members but need reforming. This twenty years we have
been degenerating, both as to principles, and as to practice; and
have grown at last into an amazing likeness to the world, both as
to religion and civil demeanour: Yea, I may say, so remiss have
churches been in instructing those that they have received into
fellowship with them; and so careless have the received been, of
considering the grounds of their coming into churches, that most
members, in some places, seem now to be at a loss; yea, and those
churches stand with their fingers in their mouths, and are as if
they would not, durst not, or could not help it.

My Second is, A word of caution.

1. Take heed of over-looking, or of shutting your eyes upon your
own guilt: 'He that covereth his sins, shall not prosper.' It is
incident to some men, when they find repentance is far from them,