Preventing God's Judgment on Our Nation (1)

What course should we take to prevent the judgment of God, and keep it from us?
(1) Labour to meet God by speedy repentance before any decree comes forth against us. There is yet hope; for as we have many things to fear, so we have many things to encourage us to go to God for comfort. We have yet time to seek the Lord. Let us not delay until the very time of judgment comes upon us. Assure yourself of this, you can have no more comfort in troubles and afflictions when they do come, than you have care to prevent them before they come. Get into Christ now, be provided now with a sound profession of religion, and that will be as an ark to shelter us in the evil day. What we know let us do, and then we shall be built on a rock, that if waves or anything come, we shall not be stirred (Matt. 7:24, 25).
(2) Examine upon what ground you profess religion, whether it will hold water or not, and whether you will stand when evil times come. It concerns us all, to seriously consider and narrowly search upon what grounds we venture our lives and souls. If men would search and plough up their own hearts, they would not need the ploughing of Gods enemies. The people of God complained that the enemies had made long furrows on their backs, but if they had ploughed themselves, they would have saved the enemies that labour (Psa. 129:3).
(3) Before any judgment comes, let us store up the fruit of a holy life; every day be doing something; do that now, which may comfort you then. When the 'night is come, we cannot work' (John 9:4). Let us look about us and do what good we can 'while we have time' (1 Cor. 7:29). The time will come before long that you will wish, 'O that I had that opportunity and advantage of doing good as I have had!' But then it will be too late.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Richard Sibbes 'Refreshment for the Soul.'
The Church's Visitation, Works, vol. 1, pp. 381-82
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