Use 1

USE I.

Hence learn how vain a thing it is for any to think that the Visible Church is a place of security for such as bear no fruit. I am not here going about to undervalue the visible covenant, or cast contempt on the Gospel vineyard: it is a great privilege, and consequently an high favor of God for any to have a room there; but this privilege may be abused, and that may prove men's bane. If men think the Sanctuary to be a shelter for wickedness, a place where they may safely sin, and be out of the reach of danger, they wofully cheat themselves. It is to be feared that there are too many of the children of the covenant, that think all is well with them, because they have a place among the people of God; there must therefore no evil come to them; and because God bestows all visible privileges upon them, therefore they are so in his favor as they never shall be in hazard of knowing his displeasure. God waits and [illegible], and they think it must always be so: but the Lord assures us that this is to trust in lying words; thus to presume is for them to make a covenant with Hell, and be in league with death. Know it, divine vengeance can fetch a criminal from the city of Refuge, slay a Joab at the Altar, find out a barren figtree in the midst of the Vineyard. Because God has been patient a great while, it allows not that he must be so still; no, it is to be expected that he will not be so much longer, a day of grace will wear out, and indeed in this place is the greatest danger; and therefore;