fome power on your heart; but while the hufbandman flept, the devil he walketh in unto you, and he cafteth the love of this world, the feed of his kingdom, it fell on your heart. Yes, it seems to me thefe fell on your heart near the fame time that the good word of God was falling powerfully about you, and fo those wicked thorns, the world, it hath had the moft room and plentiful place of your heart. And fo the root of wickednefs or bitterness it finketh deepeft and fpreads its large roots in your heart. But the word of God it had no root or growingplace in your heart, fo into you the devil walketh.

And again, as often as you hear the word, he catcheth and carrieth from you the good ufe of God's word; and fo, like a fhadow, it is gone and yet now you are carelefs about these things; and fo to you it is we fay, all our praying, labour and preaching to you it is ufelefs; s; and therefore your glory is gone. Yet remember this, as you fhall anfwer it before the judge of all the earth, this is your day, and you have placed yourfelf with the wicked of this generation, fo your laft ftate is worse than your firft. So for all these things, and for our loft labours, God will bring you; yes, every one of you, you shall come to judgment, Ecclef. xi. 9. And then fee how you fhall efcape, you that have neglected

foo great, fo unspeakably great falvation, Heb. aut slonad 200 121 bne gabarov -10And yet again, as a loud and lafting clap of the thundering word of God, fo doth this parable speak to all, and it reproves you, the plea fant, prattling, fleshly dreamers. Therefore Chrift our Saviour he calleth you, ftony-ground hearers. And because that when you had the favour of God to hear the found, and so receive the offers of the word of the kingdom of grace that good feed fell, and fo then you did receive it though with lightness of carnal joy, of being acquainted with preachers, and forto gad about with them and their favourite hearers, this lightnefs and carnal joy prevented the word from taking fufficient root in the heart. So then these Joys flash and die away as quick as they came. So then a little and by a little your hearts beGame as barren earth or ftony ground. So that which feemed to grow and promise fruit, it foon is feen to die or wafte away. And then, though the word falls plentiful, and the wind bloweth where it lifteth, yet because you feel not his im mediate power as you would have it, therefore heing reftless of your waiting at mercy's door, and lo difcontented and diftrufting, fo in the time of family reflection or national perfecution, becaufe it is a trial too deep for your rooting, and so you fall and turn away from God and

his once defired ways, though now it is to your wounding and your woe, because the devil hath walked out, and with his lords of the black order he is returned again to dwell in you. There fore we may suppose you to be of thisswicked generation, and therefore 1 fay, O ye gene ration of vipers, how fhall youcefcape the damnation of chell?”* *li słusɔɔd hpf.

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Because now we fee that a fenfual gratification of man's own free-will worship, the which is the pompous, gay fights and flesh pleafing founds of outward forms, but truly formlefs, worldly, human-invented worship, called, Religion; this is your own doing, though in the end you shall find it to your own wounding and undoing, yet this is your own joyful puppet-show religion, if it may be called religion. But now behold what God the Almighty he doth say unto you, Ifa. 1. 11. "Behold, you kindled a fire;" that is, your own invented, will-pleafing worfhip, and therefore now it gives you flashes of fleshly joy. So then, if yet you will go on, go on," and walk in the light of your fire, and the sparks that you have kindled; but this shall you have of my hand, you fhall lie down in for row," or in the dark. So it is then your last ftate; as being of the wicked, it is worfe than the first.:!.

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But now, once more, and then let the wicked know, that at the hand of God they fhall take their portion all together. So this parable is a threefold warning unto you of this day and ge neration, tha is, wherefoever, when foever, or how weak foever the gofpel of God is preached, then let it ftir you up who hear it, and while you have an ear to hear it, look to your state and examine your own foul; for as it was, is now, and so it shall be, that many unconverted, gloffy gofpel-hearers did, do, and fhall fall from the truth. And,

Secondly, If you will not hear nor wait upon the word of the Lord, and fo ftay at home to write out bills and fettle your books, and lay new schemes for your trade, and fo keep home on the Lord's day; if you do this with contempt on God, or because the power of his word fhall not call you to feek of God the good of your immortal foul, O think on this word: So it fhall be with this wicked generation. And then, I fay, why not fo with you? Now this is your cay of vifitation, therefore ftrive that you may not fall with the wicked of your day and generation. Take good heed to make your calling fure; for though you fit at home in your houfe, yet by the means of a small inftrument, a child at your elbow therewith, God may be calling

you

you to feek the falvation and reft for your foul; for fo he called Naaman the Affyrian, a leper, and that by the means of a poor flave, but a good little girl, 2 Kings v. 2, 3. for fhe loved the minifter and people of God, and so she spake of them, and therefore Naaman feeketh God for the help of his body, and God gave him a double bleffing, the bleffing of health to his body, and God also gave him grace in his foul. And if you die in your fins, the pains this hea→ then took to feek God, it will condemn you; for you may fee, God is found of them that feek him. And fo I fay, remember how you have read this portion of God's word, because Chrift the Lord hath faid, and so it standeth on record, this fhall be the ftate and fall of this fort of wicked men, and fo of this wicked generation. And if you will not be moved to feek God, then I may fay unto you as Nathan to David, "Thou art the man." So fare you well. And,

Thirdly, It is a warning to you who are now with the thronging crouds of fin-hardened, vainglorious, felf-applaufing friends of this world, I mean the oratorio difciples; for because you know not God, nor love his Christ, and therefore you talk of your painted fhows of masked religion; fo you make God to ferve with your fins, and the place that should be for the wor