they may Minister unto him And ver 41. Thou shalt take the Levites for me I am the Lord instead of all the first-born among the Children of Israel And as this is the way to prevent Judgments when upon their way so to remove them when they are already come For the proof hereof you have a famous instance in Numb 25. The Case was this The People did double their Transgression in committing Idolatry and Whoredom at once It is indeed no cause of wonder to see Spiritual and Corporal Uncleanness going together in Company This kindled the Wrath of God against them which rose to that height that it brake out into a Plague The Plague did not stop the Sin wicked men will harden themselves against God and run upon the mouth of the Cannon on the bosses of his Buckler Notwithstanding the Judgment Zimri one of the Children of Israel a Prince too that should have set a better Example impudently and daringly brought a Midianitish Woman in the sight of Moses and of all the Congregation of Israel while they were weeping before the door of the Tabernacle While the Congregation was drown'd in Tears these two Wretches burned in Lust Phinehas was an eye-witness of it and his Heart was hot within him upon the sight thereof he took a Javelin in his hand entred their Tent and ran both of them thorow With this remarkable Act of Justice and holy revenge God was exceedingly pleased As appeared by the happy consequences which were two healing Mercy upon Israel with a Blessing upon himself and his Posterity You may read what God himself said upon this occasion Numb 25.10 11 12. The Lord spake unto Moses saying Phinehas the Son of Eleazer the Son of Aaron the Priest hath turned away my wrath from the Children of Israel while he was zealous for my sake among them that I consumed not the Children of Israel in my Jealousie Wherefore say Behold I give unto him my Covenant of Peace and he shall have it and his Seed after him even the Covenant of an Everlasting Priesthood because he was zealous for his God and made an atonement for the Children of Israel Do you stem the Tide of prophaneness and in so doing you will stop the Bottles of Divine Wrath. And then hereupon it followeth Eighthly The Suppression of prophaneness is an excellent way for the making Rulers an eminent and choice Blessing unto the People over whom the Providence of God hath set them By this means they will indeed prove as our holy Apostle speaks in the verse immediately following our Text 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ministers of God to them for good For it is a great deal of good that is ministred and conveyed by them golden Oil that is communicated by and through these golden Pipes the whole Land is the better for them every Mothers Child hath reason to rise up and call them blessed Briefly thus By this means they confirm and establish it They are strong supporters while others are wicked and cursed underminers Psalm 75.2 3. When I shall receive the Congregation i. e. The Government of it when I shall be once seated upon the Throne I will judge uprightly or Righteousness a vein of Righteousness shall run through every one of my Actions they shall be done according to the Rule of Equity The Earth and all the Inhabitants of it are dissolved The Reins are now let loose there is a visible apparent disorder both in Church and State all things are for the present in Confusion and therefore running apace to Ruine and Dissolution I bear up the Pillars thereof Some do look upon Religion and Righteousness as the Jachin and Boaz those great and mighty Pillars which uphold a Nation and Magistrates are the Persons appointed to bear up those Pillars if those be the Pillars these are the Basis upon which they stand and these bear up them by judging uprightly In this way it is they bear up the Fabrick and keep it from crumbling into pieces and falling to nothing And further as by this means they bring unto a Nation the Blessing of Stability so they also yield that other lovely and very desireable Blessing of Peace So that all good men shall sit under their own Vines and Fig-trees without others making them afraid they shall have a quiet and comfortable enjoyment of themselves and the good things which God hath graciously vouchsafed to them Unto this I say Magistrates both supreme and subordinate the higher and inferiour Officers in a Kingdom do very much contribute by the Diligent and Faithful discharge of the Work and Duty of their several places This is evident from that Psalm 72.3 The Mountains shall bring Peace to the People and the little hills by Righteousness That Word Peace is very comprehensive carrying in it not only a freedom from War Commotions Quarrels and Disturbances but Prosperity too and Happiness Plenty and Abundance of all good things so that there shall be no complaining in our Streets This is to be brought to a People and sure when it is they will bid it welcome but who shall bring it The Mountains and little Hills i. e. The Metaphorical Ones the Magistrates the King and all that are in Authority under him but it will come only in a way of Righteousness Gods Peace always keeps Gods Way This you learn from that of the Prophet Psalm 85.10 Righteousness and Peace kiss each other They meet and embrace and so go hand in hand Righteousness in the Throne in the Senate and Courts of Judicature is accompanied with Peace in the City yea and all the Countrey over Lastly A Conscientious care for the Suppression of prophaneness in a Land is the way to engage the great and Holy God on the behalf and for the good of those Rulers in whom that care is found And this Argument will I am sure signifie much with all those with whom God signifieth any thing As the place of Rulers is high so the work of their place is hard It carrieth a great deal of difficulty and of danger along with it As wicked men are very filthy so the Psalmist tells us they are always grievous They are like the raging Sea which is continually casting up Mire and Dirt specially when there is a Storm upon it Let there be endeavours used to put a stop to them in their sinful course by a vigorous Execution of Righteous Laws their Hearts do presently swell against those that restrain and punish them and they break out into a rage whereupon they often study to avenge the quarrel of their sordid and impetuous Lusts upon those Worthies who would promote the cleanness of their Lives and the welfare of their Souls Upon this account it is no more than necessary for the Omnipotent God to stand at their right hand for the encouragement of their Hearts and the preservation of their Persons Now see Psalm 7.10 My defence is of God who saveth the upright in Heart
of our expectation of National Mercies notwithstanding National Sins 2. That when this Repentance is not in a Nation we cannot ordinarily expect National Mercies First These things are supposed in the Case as stated Where there is Sin there ought to be Repentance There are National sins as well as Personal sins that a Nation as such becomes guilty by National sins There are Mercies which attend a people as a Community Our National Sins have removed National Mercies or at least prevent and suspend the bestowing of these Mercies God requires a Repentance for National Sins and that as a means of National Mercies There may be a Repentance which may be defective to this end and from which we cannot groundedly expect such Mercies That there is a Repentance for National Sins which if we arrive at may warrant our expectation of National Mercies These and such like are supposed as the Case is stated and therefore I pass them by Secondly I shall enquire what National Sins are and what National Mercies are The rest of the terms in the Case will be handled under other heads Quest What are National Sins in the Question Answ Such gross sins as render a Nation guilty Ezek. 14.13 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Wilfully and repeatedly against Gods Covenant and expose it to National Judgments and forfeit National Mercies When the Land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously then will I stretch out my hand Whatsoever sins God hath threatned to destroy a body of people for are in the Question The Answer directs us to consider these several parts of it First These sins are gross in their nature They are not sins of infirmity Ezek. 7.23 or sins which ordinary care labour and watchfulness could not prevent They are called bloody crimes You may find them ennumerated when God arraigns Nations in the Testimony of his Prophets when calling them to Repentance and when God justifieth the severity of his Judgments against a People I shall name some of them which defile a Land Hos 10.4 Jer. 23.10 Psal 78.50 Isa 3.15 Ez. 21.23 24. Isa 1.21 23. Luke 10.10.11 13. 1 Thess 2.16 Rev. 2.3 Hos 11.7 Isa 59.13 c. Ezek. 35.15 Amos 8.9 Idolatry Perjury Breaking of Covenant Blood Uncleanness Apostacy Oppression Profaneness I need not bring Proof hereof the Scriptures are full Yea among such provocations are reckoned Mens refusal of the Gospel silencing and obstructing the Ministry malignity against good Men Divisions and Enmity Lying Pride abuse of Mercies gross Formality Hypocrisie great Decays among Saints and gross Backslidings Secondly These sins must be National such as denominate a Kingdom sinful We consider them not as the sins of particular Persons but as they affect a Community as United among themselves and distinguished from others by some special Bonds We will enquire for the clearing of this Quest How Sins become National Answ 1. By all or the generality of a People being personally Transgressors as to those Crimes The whole head is sick and the whole heart faint Isa 1.5 from the sole of the foot to the crown of the head there is no soundness Thus Sodom could not afford Ten innocent persons The Infection is oft propagated to the whole Body though begun in a few as Jer. 23.15 from the Prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness gone forth into all the Land This doth not mean that every individual is corrupted but the generality of all sorts Jer. 32.32 Mal. 3.9 Magistrates Priests and People were profane Ye have robbed me even this whole Nation 2. When the Governours Representatives and influencing Persons are Transgressors Hos 9.15 I will love them no more all their Princes are revolters Israel is become vile by the sins of Jeroboam wrath against Judah remained 2 Kin. 23.26 because of the provocations that Manassah had provoked God withall Provoking abominations by the Rulers of a People and cursed Laws 2 Sam. 21.1 defile a Land and expose it Saul brings a Famine on Israel by violating the Covenant with the Gibeonites What Governours do may be said to be done by a Nation Though I think when Judgments take their express rise from the sins of Rulers there is some other guilt among the People Hab. 3.8 ripening them for Judgment or a complyance with their Rulers sins 3. By the generality of a Nation making it self partaker of other Mens sins though it do not actually commit them Some that do not personally commit the sins 1 Sam. 3.13 Zeph. 3.13 Isa 22.12 Hos 7.5 may become guilty of them by not hindering those sins according to their power by rejoycing in those iniquities or Pleading for them by not mourning for them by contributing to those Enormities These wayes a Land may be guilty though a few Chief Men act the sin Thirdly These sins are such as expose to Judgments and forfeit National Mercies These are here intended and reference to both the former heads must be had but besides the grosness of the sins as to the nature of them and their extent as National on both which accounts they become National Provocations The Case requires our observing further 1. That more refined Sins may expose one Nation to Judgments which may not expose another Land This depends on the variety of advantages some people are under above others A Nation that hath Gospel helps and professeth Holiness and Worshipeth the true God may be exposed to Judgments by Formality Backsliding and more Spiritual Evils than other Lands not so circumstantiated Sins below gross Immoralities may as truly forfeit their Mercies as Injustice Blood or Idolatry amongst ignorant Paganish Countries 2. The provoking Sins of one and the same Nation may be made up by various kinds of offences according to the different condition of the offenders Sometimes a Land is polluted by the same sort of Sins propogated through the Body of the People But it is not always so the offences vary and the National Guilt results from the several offences The sins of Magistrates are of one kind and the sins of the Subjects another according to their different Talents and Station The Profane part of a Nation transgress by enormous Crimes and the Professing part are polluted with more Spiritual wickedness as Barrenness Deadness Censoriousness Am. 64.6 Jer. 23.11 Isa 56.10 11. Jer. 28. 5.31 Mic. 6.11 12. Mi. 7.4 6. The offences of the Gentry and Commonalty may be several Ministers and People may fill up the measure of iniquity in a different manner Hence you see that a Nation may be guilty though some remarkable Villany may not be Universal It 's enough if the different sorts of Inhabitants grosly offend in their several kinds 3. Usually the sins of a Nation do not bring Judgments or forfeit Mercies by the simple Commission of them but as attended with some additional aggravations A Land rarely is destroyed unless sins are committed after warnings Utter Destruction comes not before lesser Judgments have
been tryed Am. 4. and prove unsuccessful Security and Impenitency is added to Rebellion before God proceeds against a People The Lords Goodness displays it self in his Calls and Patience waiteth an Answer ere he takes the advantage against a Land Isa 3.9 Oft besides the grosness of sins there is boldness and shamefulness they declare their sin as Sodom I shall not mention antecedent aggravations as Light Convictions Covenant bonds c. which add a weight to sin whiles committing You see what National Sins are in the Question and when they become such as hazard the ruine of a People Quest What are National Mercies in the Case before us Answ Such Blessings as truly and considerably affect the good of a Community They must be Blessings in their nature and National in their extent they must have an aptitude to the Common Weale the more they conduce to make a Land happy the greater the Mercy is Neither is the gracious design of God to bless a Land thereby to be disregarded for sometimes he rains Snares Psal 78.29 31. and gives Quails in judgment These Mercies regard our Souls or our Bodies or both I shall ennumerate some of them * By pardon I mean an exemption from Tempâ—ral Puniâ—hments for those sins The pardon of past sins and help against the like offences the pretence of God as effective of Spiritual and Temporal good Gospel Ordinances a Holy Judicious Faithful Ministry a pure Worship the Spirits energie in the Gospel to the Conversion of many Sinners and real Edification of Saints whereby the estate of Believers may be flourishing a Godly Discipline and Communion of Saints founded on plain Gospel Terms Love and Peace among Churches grounded on essential not disputable Notions and expressed in all the fruits of Christian Love freedom from Persecution and Malignity a Godly Magistracy using its Power to restrain Sin and promote Godliness Peace in our Borders Justice in our Courts Learning in the Schools Wisdom and sincere designs for publick good among Counsellours Plenty by a Blessing on ouâ— Trades and Labours Health in our Streets Credit and Influence among Neighbouring Countries freedom from such Judgments as waste and debate a Land These and the like constitute a happy Nation They are Mercies which National Sins forfeit and without which the aspect of a Land is mournful Greater or less degrees of all or any of these are within the Question as the object of our expectations and the sorts and degrees are oft proportioned to a Nations Repentance and determined by it Thirdly The Case stated and distinguished from what seems like it It is not what Repentance God requireth of particular persons in order to Eternal Life nor what Repentance God requireth of a sinful Nation as its duty nor what 's that Repentance without which a Nation shall never enjoy National Mercies nor what Repentance is that on which every Nation in all cases shall partake of National Mercies nor what shall limit our Prayers nor yet altogether our Hopes as to the state of a Land much less what is that Repentance which will best secure National Mercies But the Question connects our Repentance and warrantable expectations The scope of it is What is the lowest sort or degree of Repentance for National Sins which is requisite to warrant and ordiâ—arily direct our expectations of National Mercies The Reason why I add ordinarily will appear after the indefiniteness of the term National Mercies whether of this kind or of that to this or that degree I insist not upon Supposing that it imports at least so much and many Mercies as render a Nation tolerably happy and exempted from what it esteems calamitous Fourthly The Difficulties of the Case It s not only hard to determine it as the minimum quod sic in any qualification for Mercy nor yet as a thing depending on Multitudes and relating to the Providence of God as to what 's future but there are these other things that make it difficult 1. Other Nations are not under such express Rules with respect to Gods outward dealings as the Jewish Nation was That people was under a Theocracy God was their King 1 Sam. 12.12 on this account the Lord chargeth them when they were for a King 1 Sam. 8.7 that they rejected me that I should not reign over them Idolatry also was High Treason in that State they were Gods peculiar Nation and thereby to live in a more immediate dependance on him even in Civil respects Isa 51.4 than other People The Rules of their External Priviledges both Church and National were express in that Covenant of peculiarity whereinto they were admitted This Covenant easily determined mens Expectations of Gods dealings with them But I think we cannot always conclude from Gods Methods towards them how he will deal with other Nations that are not under the same Law 2. There have been alwayes great displays of Soveraignty in Gods Dispensation of Judgments and Mercy towards Nations He waites longer on some people than on others though no more guilty Sometimes he granteth favour to a Nation though its Sins be many and punisheth it when its provocations appear less Josh 7.1 The Sins of multitudes are connived at sometimes and at other times he afflicteth for the Offences of a few as in the case of Achan He hath diverted Judgments at the Prayer of one Moses Exo. 32.11 14. Ez. 14.14 Jer. 7.16 but sometimes though Noah Daniel and Job be there they shall deliver no more than themselves Yea he hath forbid his Servants to pray for a people as a thing to no purpose God hath sorely rebuked small Sins in particular Persons as Moses Vzzah c. to let men see its Patience in God not Innocency in Men that he still destroys not There is exact Wisdom and Righteousness in all this variety which the light of a higher State will discover though now by reason of darkness his wayes seem perplexed to us However this Soveraign unaccountableness must abate our positiveness in judging what will be the way of God towards a people though it hinders not the determining our ordinary Expectations 3. There are prophetick periods wherein National Mercies shall not be obstructed by impenitence but Repentance shall follow them Israel was not remarkably penitent when the time of Redemption from Egypt was come yet God keeps his day Ezek. 16.62 Hag. 2.14 16 17 18. Rev. 19 1 7 8. Their Release from Babylon found them in the like unfit posture yet God is pacified and brings them to Repentance by their return This people is unclean and what they offer is unclean yet he makes them prosper and build the Temple even though they had not turned to him And it seems to be not much otherwise with the Church when it sings the Praises of God for the consummating stroak against Antichrist Rev. 19.1 7 8. she is not ready nor cloathed with eminent Holiness 4. The Desolation of a
Land is sometimes absolutely determined When it s thus a blessing is withheld from means that tend to make a people penitent and what of Repentance there is becomes uneffectual to divert the Misery Manasseh repented Josiah and the People with some solemnity humble themselves 2 King 23.25 26 27. But notwithstanding this the Lord turned not from the fierceness of his wrath c. because of all the provocations that Manasseh had provoked him withal c. When the utmost limits of the time of Gods Patience is over ruin is unavoidable God bemoaneth a Land in this condition Luk. 19.42 The figure Apostopâ—siâ— is twice used in this verse thou hadst been happy hadst thou known in thy day thou art now undone because they are hid from thy eyes Deut. 32.26 27 Josh 7.9 Isa 48.8 9. Ezek. 36.2 8.22 23. as our Saviour in his Tears over Jerusalem If thou hadst known at least in this thy day the things that belong to thy peace but now they are hid from thy eyes 5. God sometimes moderateth and refrains his Judgments from other Considerations besides Repentance If executing Judgments upon his People will occasion Blasphemy and reproach to his Name he oft forbeareth his People though impenitent I would scatter them into corners c. were it not that I feared the wrath of the Enemy and they should say Our hand is high the Lord hath not done all this Joshuah and others knew it was a strong Plea What wilt thou do for thy great Name Again when his People have been so obstinate under Judgments that if he preceded in his Wrath they must be utterly destroyed rather than do so he hath eased his hand If the sins of his Enemies be full he conniveth at his Church whiles he avengeth himself on his Adversaries especially if his Servants are to be Executioners of his Wrath. Sometimes God hath had respect to some Ancestor or some particular action of a People that hath been pleasing to him and on that account hath been favourable though they have been otherwise obnoxious to judgments 6. It s not very easie at all times to judge of National Judgments or Mercies God may afflict in order to Mercy he may take away lesser Mercies to make way for greater Blessings He oft layes a foundation of lasting good by delays and astonishing struggles On the other hand he may forbear Judgments and bestow good things whereby a Nation is ripened for sorer Plagues He may destroy the Gentry to save the Vulgar or level his stroak against evil Magistrates or Ministers and so shake the State to make the Body of a People or his own people at least prosperous Many such wayes are with him Each of these affect a community and yet the aspect of them are so intricate and clouded that deep thoughts are needful to determine when we see the Mercy we expect or the Judgment which we fear You may perceive that the Case before me though it seemeth so popular is not so easily decided But the greatest Difficulty is to adjust the Nature of Repentance as accommodated to our expectation of National Mercies Which will fall under the next Head Fifthly The Case resolved and somewhat concerning the Rule by which it is resolved The Rule by which we must determine this is hinted in the Case it self The Rule to decide the Case by under those Words what Repentance doth God require Some Expression of the Divine Will must guide us we must not judge by Second Causes or by vain Fancy as we are too apt to do Neither too rigid nor yet too compassionate Inclinations must decide the Matter or lead our Expectations The Directions of the Soveraign Ruler of Kingdoms must alone take place what Notices he hath vouchsafed must be regarded with Reverence natural Principles due Inferences from his Essential Perfections the Nature Order Ends and Methods of his Government well considered and an Observation of his Dealings with our selves in past times and also with other Countreys do all contribute some light in the Matter before us But our chiefest regard must be to the Scriptures especially to such parts of them as urge Repentance on a people with Promises of good in case of compliance and Threatnings of Ruin upon their Obstinacy Also such parts should be observed as contain instances of National Repentance which have been succeeded or accompanied with National Mercies By this rule we must determine what that Repentance for National Sins is whereupon we may expect National Mercies Here we must consider Repentance modified as a means to this proper end viz. National Mercies And it s to be considered as to that lowest degree which will support our expectations of those Mercies Having premised this I think it may thus be determined 1. A Repentance short of that which is injoyned in order to Eternal Salvation will suffice to warrant our expectations of National Mercies Eternal Issues are not determined by the same Rules as Temporal Blessings Unregenerate persons may repent so as to divert present Judgments and secure Mercies This is evident in Ahab and Nineveh 1 King 21.29 Jonah 3. If it were not so we could not expect National Mercies before the generality of a Land became true Converts yea active Converts For Regenerate Persons that shall possess Heaven may come short in that Repentance which secures Blessings to a Nation Saving Repentance is the Grace we calls sinners to by our Ministry the more of this prevaileth in a Land the more sure are the Mercies of that people Without it a Nation will soon run into new forfeitures and bring plagues on it self at last as Niniveh did Nah. ch 2. 3. This saving Repentance is a change of Heart as well as Practice it strikes at the root and excludeth the Dominion of all Sin as well as National Provocations It hath a mixture of Divine Love reigning in the Heart as well as Fear It s excited by a sence of pardoning Mercy through the Blood of Christ as well as Gods Wrathful displeasure it s an effect of the Spirit in-dwelling and not onely of its common Operations it s the fruit of the Divine Life and not meerly of Natural Principles excited by Forreign impressions In these and the like saving Repentance exceeds that Repentance of a Land which yet may afford expectations of National Mercies 2. The Repentance which yields us ground to expect National Mercies I shall describe in these following particulars 1. It hath several things wherein it partakes of the nature and sincerity of a true Repentance 2. It must be for National Sins 3. The Repentance must usually be National 4. It must be suited to the different condition and circumstances of such as make up a Nation 1. It must have so much of the nature and sincerity of a true Repentance as is included in these following heads 1. Clear Convictions of the guilt and offences of a Nation We must believe those things to be sins
repent of their own sins as well as the sins of Unbelievers They must be humbled for their own decays Contentions Worldlyness Barrenness Vanity Pride though less gross then others as well as for the Idolatry and Profaneness of the Irreligious The Reason is that these sins of theirs contribute to the bringing down Judgments and obstructing of Mercies as well as the grosser sins of Unbelievers nay in some sense more because they ought to be Witnesses for God in a degenerate Land Their Examples encourage the grosser Villanies of others they have more Light and Strength to keep themselves pure yea if the number of good Men be considerable in a Land the lot of a Nation is mostly determined by them and Gods regards is much more to them than others If you take the Epistles to the seven Churches to be so particular as most do you may see how God reproves and threatens them though small portions of those States of which they were Members in Civil Respects I think I may say that the Repentance of Believers for their sins must exceed the Repentance of Unbelievers in some proportion to that Life Grace and Aids which they have above those Unbelievers their Humiliation must be deeper and more ingenuous their resolves stronger their return more universal their Prayers more fervent their Reformation more extensive spiritual and vigorous than other men In this its true as a man is so to his strength If their Repentance be no greater than others they may expose a Nation and prove its ruine I might proceed to Gentry and Commonalty to Ministers and People but time prevents me and the same Rules may guide you in these as in the instances before described I shall only add that supposing a part of the Land Persecutors and the other Persecuted for Truths sake these latter must be humbled for the sins of Persecutors and repent of their own sins and that according to the advantage which their Afflictions give for their Humiliation and Amendment While men throw repenting work off of themselves to others as if they could acquit themselves of Gods Challenge are there not also sins among you are you no way guilty The Land is like to suffer and the common condition to be deplorable It 's true if the design of God be to single out any one sort of a Nation to suffer by themselves the impenitents of that sort may not dammage the body of the Nation further than their struggles with or their loss of that part may affect the residue As if God resolve to punish Professors of Religion only their impenitence may affect the whole no further than the distress of such Professors amounts to except as it is an awful omen because Judgment seldom begins at Gods House but it reacheth in woful issues to others afterwards Or if God hath a Controversie with the Gentry of a Land their impenitency may not fatally reach the ordinary people if penitent For if God resolves to punish ravenous domineering Pastors or Persecutors their neglect of Repentance shall not hurt the whole that repents nay it will be their advantage to have them blasted if they remain impenitent as the Kingdoms plagues It 's much more so as to particular Families whether the highest or less influencing the corruption of a Common-wealth But where God designs not a distinct respect in his Judgments the stubbornness of any one sort doth threaten the Nation their not repenting in a way proper to them may plunge the whole into a loss of Mercies Thus I have according to my small light resolved the Case The decision of the Case proved 1. The described Repentance doth ordinarily afford a people National Mercies notwithstanding National Sins In the resolution of the Case there occurred some Reasons and many Scriptures to evidence this so that I shall need to say little more for proof There seems to be an express Rule in this matter Jer. 18.7 8. At what instant I shall speak concerning a Nation or concerning a Kingdom to pluck it up and to pull down and to destroy it If that Nation against whom I have pronounced turn from their evil I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them The Repentance which God hath accepted so as to prolong the wellfare of Nations was of this sort as you see in Niniveh and other places 2 Chron. 12.7 Should we examine the Repentance of any Land it hath rarely arrived to a greater height A defect of the Repentance injoined in the Covenant of Grace is obvious in that Repentance which hath yet been effectual as to National Mercies This Repentance answers the great methods and ends of Gods general Government as to the Temporal Weale of Nations and provides a Foundation to proceed upon in those methods whereby his Spiritual Kingdom is advanced and the Eternal Welfare of Souls is promoted we may expect God will continue National Mercies to a People who come up to that Repentance which hath preserved other Nations 2 Chro. 7.14 And 30.8 9. Jer. 26.3 13. We have great Encouragement to our Hopes from many Texts 2. Where this Repentance obtains not a People cannot justly expect National Mercies Isa 8.9 Let a Nation seem never so safe its security is vain and all its supports shall be blasted by Impenitency Jer. 15.7 What though a People are related to God I will destroy my people sith they return not from their evil ways May not their priviledges and pledges of Gods Presence secure them No Trust not in lying words saying The Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord are these will ye steal murder commit Adultery and swear falsly and say we are delivered to do all these abominations Go to Shiloh and see what I did to it for the wickedness of my people Israel and now because you have done all these works and I spake unto you but you heard not I will do unto this house Jer. 7.4 9 10 12 13 14 15. wherein you trust as I have done to Shiloh and I will cast you out of my sight Mock shadows of your Repentance and weak uneffectual Attempts for it and 14.4.7 12. 44.1 10 11. will leave men under disappointments When a People is given up to impenitency and God with-holds a Blessing from the Methods Isa 6.9 10 11. that tend to their Repentance there 's just cause of Fear that Judgments are determined against that Land Hear you indeed but understand not make the heart of the people fat and shut their eyes least they see with their eyes understand with their hearts and convert and be healed How long Lord till the cities be laidwaste God is so positive against a land refusing to return that their Felicity is impossible Wrath came upon Judah for this their trespass 2 Chro. 24.18 19 20. yet he sent Prophets to them to bring them back to the Lord but they would not give ear Thus saith God Why
1. Such Deliverances are never compleated and seldom long continue where Repentance doth not immediately follow Though God may command Deliverance first yet he annexeth Holiness to it and where that fails the beginnings of safety prove a snare Obad. 17. Ezek. 36.23 25 and do expose to greater distress When he saved from Babylon he cleanseth them from iniquity 2. Do not we find that Deliverance is at a sensible stop for want of our amendment Instruments to save us seem less apt our Enemies are in better heart and a much more threatening posture The hand of God is at a stop Those hopeful touches on the minds of Men are much defaced They that mean well are less spirited and entrusted They who design ill are more vigorous and countenanced What a Change have a few Months made in our hopes though they were raised by the highest displayes of Divine Power and Goodness It 's almost true 2 Kin. 19.3 Isa 26.18 17. and 33.11 You shall conceive chaff and bring forth stubble your breath as fire shall devour you 2. May not we hope that God will finish our Salvation for his own honour and not suffer a work wherein he hath so immediately appeared to be imperfect notwithstanding we reform not Answ 1. God hath his Honour concerned in giving National Mercies to an impenitent People as well as in not perfecting a begun Deliverance He is Sanctified in afflicting a sinful Land Isa 5.16 Ezek. 28.15 Psal 74.10 18. his Government is exposed in sparing an unperswadable People Nay we oftner find him bear the reproach of not Delivering his Afflicted People than of not punishing a Rebellious People 2. God can secure his Honour in both these respects with great consistency He may ruin Popery in other places whiles he exposeth Protestants to it here He may perfect this begun Deliverance in England as to Papists that they may not blaspheme and yet distress Protestants by each other and so still punish the Land for its impenitency Object 4. God seems to single out some particular Families for Judgments who have been most accessary to the sins of our Land He hath altered the succession and so it 's probable he may not punish the Nation for the iniquity of the Throne Answ 1. God may punish a Land for the sins of a former King though the Government be transferred into another Family God punished Israel with three years Famine in Davids Reign 1 Sam. 21.1 for Saul and his bloody house because he slew the Gibeonites 2. If others do not take warning by such Judgments as are levelled against particular persons and repent Judgments will extend beyond those persons or Families Successors by the same neglects and provocations will expose a Land to miseries though their title be not derived by descent from former offenders Yea if a new Government and People purge not the Land of the Crimes which had their rise in a former Court the vengeance will follow to the extent of the infection and the guilty at least be in danger of misery David righted the injured Gibeonites before the Famine ceased 3. How little is Profaneness or Irreligion restrained How faint and few are the attempts for Reforming the Nation since God hath blessed us with a prognostick of good in the Change of our Government Are Men spirited for this as Josiah Ezra Nehemiah c. To be infected by others seems easier than to reform them Object 5. Are we not under such accomplishment of Prophesies as may argue a Protestant Kingdom begun to be delivered shall have its deliverance perfected notwithstanding its sinful distempers Is not the Philadelphian state beginning the Witnesses rising the Ottoman Empire falling and Antichrists ruin just reviving and perfecting even to the utmost of the Judgments determined against him Answ I am well perswaded of all this and have declared it many years when the contrary was more probable as to the posture of affairs here and in the rest of Europe yet let me tell you 1. That in the accomplishment of these Prophesies the Spirit will be abundantly poured out in order to the eminent Holiness of such places as share in these Blessings All the Promises that refer to these latter days are full of Peace Purity of Doctrine and Worship and true Godliness With the Song for Antichrists Fall the Church is made ready and clean linnen which is the righteousness of the Saints is given to her Rev. 19.2 7 8. 2. Almost at the Entrance of fulfilling these Prophesies there will be the most shaking and astonishing Dispensation towards the Churches as ever befel them Then is the great Earthquake and 16.18 and 3.10 such as was not since men were upon the Earth so mighty an Earthquake and so great This is that hour of Temptation which shall eome upon all the world These Epistles I take to be Prophetick of the most eminent periods of the Church-state from Christs time to the End of the World and this Trial is in the beginning of the Philadelphian State It s true indeed this will benefit the Church at last and be fatal to its Enemies and false Members but it will be terrible to all 3. Such an awful Dispensation seems necessary to purge the Church and lay a good foundation of its real and lasting Glory This will be a means to convince false and irreligious Protestants Rev. 3.9 that said they were Jews and were not It will pluck up every plant out of the Church which God hath not planted Hereby all Constitutions repugnant to Christs Interests will be overthrown Without such a Paroxisme how should degenerated Christianity recover it self How shall the power of reforming the Church be rescued out of the hands of such who hate its Purity and Spiritual Welfare Its next to impossible by any Calmer means to settle Peace in the Church or awaken Protestants out of that formal Temper which is the Epidemick Crime of the Sardinian interval You have it expressed in those Words Thou hast a name to live and art dead Rev. 3.1 Many are really dead as Unregenerate others dead in opposition to Spiritual Liveliness Thus I have represented to you what seems most considerable as to the posture of our Land with respect to National Mercies I shall offer my own thoughts upon the whole I think the Repentance of England for National Sins is short of that which may give us grounds to expect National Mercies The methods of God indeed seem design'd to make us a happy people but it must be in the proper way and season The great things God hath begun to work the Liberty he hath settled the disposition in many young ones to return to God and comply with his Designs his manifest exposing such who were likely to obstruct a Reformation support my Hopes that Blessings are in reserve for this sinful Land but yet its probable that some extraordinary Storm will fall upon the Nation as a means to bring us to
at him (e) Psal 8.2 Out of the mouths of very unlikely persons hast thou ordained strength that thou mightest still the Enemy and the Avenger q. d. God doth by the Spiritual Skill and Strength which he gives even to young weak Converts unfit to grapple with an Enemy God enables even such to silence confound and conquer the Enemies of God and his People and the Devil in the head of them whose Kingdom and Power is broken by this means and those that fight under his Banner against God and Christ And pray observe the Title here given him viz. the Avenger he being Sentenced by God to Eternal Torments makes it his business to revenge himself what he can upon God and Christ upon his Children and Servants Christians if you can through Grace make Satan himself against his will help you to profit by the Word this will raise your Souls beyond what is ordinary both for Grace and Comfort Or if God in his Wisdom suspend such manifestations of himself yet such exercise of Grace shall certainly tend to the multiplying of Praises in the other World And now though I have in my pitiful manner answered the Case my work is not yet done till I have answered a Complaint upon the Case and 't is the Complaint of those who have least cause of those who give Christ that Answer to his Question which satisfies him but yet can't give an Answer will satisfie themselves Their Hearts ake from the very proposing of the Question and their Hearts misgive them under all that 's said in Answer to it Complaint We have more Cause to complain than we are able to express Oh the Sermons that we have lost of which we can give no account at all and of those that are not utterly lost we have made no suitable improvement We are convinced that we should be as impartial now in examining whether we have got saving Faith by hearing of the Word We should be as strict now as if we were upon our Dying Bed We know not whether ever we shall have a Death-bed many more likely to live than our selves dye suddenly and why not we Nay rather now for we have not now wearisome Sickness to disable us We have now those helps that we can't have then Freedom of Ordinances in publick Capacities for Duties in secret We may now bring things to an issue which is then next to impossible These and a Thousand such Considerations even fright me when I sit down to think my Thoughts even overwhelm me to reflect what a sorry account I can give of all that I have heard These and more doleful Complaints are the usual entertainments of their most serious Christian Friends To all which I shall offer these Answers Answ 1. The Word of God which they apply to their Sorrow they ought as well to apply to their Comfort for those who are really grieved that they can't satisfie themselves much less as they think Christ They are mistaken for Christ is ordinarily best satisfied with that which the gracious Soul is least satisfied e. g. That Prayer which he is most ashamed of Christ most approves of (f) Cant. 2.12 The Flowers appear on the Earth the time of the Singing of Birds is come and the Voice of the Turtle is heard in our Land 'T is Spring-time in the Soul When the Groans of a contrite Heart sound harsh to others they are Musick in Christs Ears not that Christ delights in his peoples Sorrows but as they are Evidences of his Graces in them and of his Spirit 's abiding with them It is only the gracious Soul that is grieved at Heart that he can't give Christ a better account of his profiting (g) Ezr. 9.6 10. ch 10.2 O my God I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee my God What shall I say after this There 's hope in Israel concerning this thing The Apostle expresly assures us that (h) 1 Cor. 11.31 32. those that judge themselves shall not be judged with a Judgment of Condemnation Chear up therefore poor dropping Soul and to thy comfort consider whether this be not the only thing wherein Christ and you Believers be not of the same mind Christ puts a better interpretation of his actings than he himself dares many a time Christ owns that as Grace which he condemns for Hypocrisie Christ forgives him that which he can never forgive himself Christ says Well done good and faithful Servant for that which he ever finds fault with But the complaining Soul saith I mistake him I speak to the rong person Propose comfort to those that are grieved they can't give Christ a satisfying account whereas I am not troubled enough nor grieved enough a serious reflection upon such returns as mine to Christs kindness would certainly break any Heart but mine But alas I am next to nothing affected with it 2. I therefore further answer Thy complaining for want of sensible complaining entitles thee to Comfort Darest thou own so much as this that thou art troubled thou can'st be no more troubled at the shameful account thou givest to Christ Thou art afraid that Word has overtaken thee (i) Isa 6.9 10. Hear ye indeed but understand not and see ye indeed but perceive not make the Heart of this People fat and make their Ears heavy and shut their Eyes least they see with their Eyes and hear with their Ears and understand with their Heart c. Surely thou canst not think worse of thy self than this Let me tell thee the more thou thinkest of this the less cause thou hast to apply this to thy self for those who God gives up to judicial hardness never think or speak of such things but in scorn and to make a mock of them and that thou darest not do there 's another word for thee to think of (k) Isa 66.1 2 Thus saith the Lord The Heaven is my Throne and the Earth is my Footstool where 's the place of my rest To this Man will I look even to him that is poor and of a contrite Spirit and that trembleth at my Word If God hath any place upon Earth for his Repose it is in that Soul that stands in awe of his Word and with due Reverence receives it What! Dost thou complain thou art not troubled enough Nor contrite enough Not humbled enough How do many Souls bring their Complaints to Ministers and bring their Bills to Congregations for brokeness of Heart and a deep sense of Sin when they are so much broken already that their other Duties are almost justled out by it Don't therefore overlook that Text (l) Rom. 14.17 The Kingdom of God is Righteousness and Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost We should make it our business to live in a ferious course of Holiness towards God and Righteousness towards Men in the love and practice of Peace with all and in the joyful sense of the love of God and hopes of Glory
against will be Hell-fire in their Consciences for ever and the clearer light the hotter fire And the higher they have been lifted up by the opportunities of Grace towards Heaven the lower they will fall under the weight of Guilt and the rebukes of Conscience 2. They will suffer more than others from the Devil and his Angels For that they are the Executioners of God's wrath upon the wicked in this world is out of question and so some think they will be in the world to come but only as under God's Commission which they ground upon that Text Agree with thine Adversary quickly lest he deliver thee to the Judge and the Judge to the Tormentours c. by whom they understand Evil Spirits Matth. 18.34 3. Christ himself will appear in greatest severity against such He is said to be revealed in flames of fire against such that know not God and obey not the Gospel 2 Thess 1.8 By both which expressions are meant impenitent Sinners under the Gospel His first Coming was in a flame of Love to save Men but when Men are impenitent and reject his Salvation he will come next in flames of Wrath to take Vengeance And in the first place against these To the Jew before the Gentile Rom. 2.9 and to the impenitent Christian before both 4. Witnesses will rise up against these more than any other sinners The Heathen will come in against them as our Saviour speaks The men of Niniveh shall rise up against this generation and condemn it The Queen of the South shall rise up and condemn it Matth. 12.41 The Heathen who have gone further by the Light of Nature than many who have lived under the Light of the Gospel will come in as Witnesses against them The Jew may come in as a witness also who under the darker Light of the Law hath out-stripped many that were under a Gospel ministration The good Angels may come in as Witnesses who having been present in the Church-assemblies have heard the Calls there given to Sinners to repent The bad Angels may come in and plead against them that they never refused the Calls of the Gospel to believe and repent for they never had any Ministers may come in as Witnesses who spent their pains and strength upon them to invite and call them to Repentance but they would not hear Many of their Neighbours and Fellow-Christians may witness against them who did believe and repent under the same means whenas these did not All which will contribute to make their Damnation the more intolerable The APPLICATION Vse 1. We may hence learn what to judge of the Heathen who have not heard of Christ I shall not dispute whether any of them may be saved or not yet this I can say that their Damnation will be more tolerable than of many others Those that sinned without the Law shall have more favourable Judgment than those that sinn'd under the Law and those that detain'd only natural Truth in unrighteousness as the Heathen Rom 1.18 shall fare better than those that so detained Truth supernatural And among the Heathen Diogenes may fare better than Dionysius Cato than Cataline Vespasian than Dioclesian The last Judgment will be exactly righteous Vse 2. Hence it appears that what is in it self a great Favour and Priviledge to a People may be the occasion of the greatest Evil. As the Gospel is in it self yet will be an occasion to many of a Damnation that will be most inexcusable and most intolerable Christ was first preached to the Jews which was their priviledge but they rejecting him it brought sorer Calamities upon their Nation than ever before And wrath came upon them to the utmost And that Christ that is a Corner-stone to his Church they first stumbled at and then it fell upon them and did grind them to powder And how it will fare with them in the day of Judgment he tells them John 12.48 The words that I have spoken the same shall judge you at the last day And what Judgment will be more severe than theirs who have refused and rejected words that came immediately from the mouth of the Son of God Words so full of Grace and Mercy Truth and Faithfulness Wisdom and Understanding so that never any Man spake as this Man As the men of Bethshemesh rejoyced and offered Sacrifices of Thanksgiving at the Coming of the Ark to them but it proved an occasion of the destruction of many Thousands of them 1 Sam. 6.19 Vse 3. We may hence take notice how ineffectual the best outward Means are of themselves to bring a people to repentance Could any City have greater means for it than Capernaum Here Christ wrought Miracles that did amaze them and preach'd Doctrine that did astonish them but not bring them to repentance The Gospel doth sometimes make some impressions upon the Minds of people that may still continue impenitent in their sin Some when they have heard a Sermon will applaud it but not repent Whether it be from a Conforming or Non-conforming Minister yet by neither are brought to repentance John Baptist preached Repentance and Christ came and preached Repent and yet the Jews for the greatest part repented not by the one or the other Some are for Gospel-preaching some for preaching the Law and yet hold fast their sins under both Such is the stupidity that is fall'n upon Man and such deceitfulness in his Heart and is so fast bound by the Chains of his Sin Obj. But God can bring Man to Repentance if he will Ans God hath a twofold Power Potestas absoluta ordinata A Power that he exerts immediately or in the use of means God can by his absolute Power preserve Man's life without eating or drinking but he maintains it ordinarily in the use of means which Man is obliged to use and if he reject them will be guilty of his own death God affords Sinners means to bring them to repentance and if they reject them God is not obliged to work by his immediate Power Hereupon God is said to be willing that all should be saved and come to repentance 2 Pet. 3.9 by his calling them and affording means to repentance Q. But why doth God make these means effectual to some not to others by giving special Grace A. When he that makes this Question can resolve me why Christ wrought his mighty Works in Corazin and Bethsaida and not in Tire and Sidon when he foresaw that Tire and Sidon would thereupon repent in dust and ashes and Corazin and Bethsaida would not repent I shall then answer him in his Enquiry Secret things belong to God but tâ—ings revealed to us and our Children Let Sinners use the means and wait there for God's special Grace And can Sodom justly complain that Christ came not to do his mighty Works in it and brought not the Light of the Gospel to it when she offer'd such Violence to the common dictates of the Light and Law of Nature Vse 4.
See hence what little Reason men have to boast of their Knowledge or Gospel-priviledges when these may turn to their sorer Condemnation He that knows his Masters will and doth it not shall be beaten with many stripes Luke 12.47 And so Christ speaks to the Pharisees who boasted themselves to be the Pechachim the seeing men whose eyes were opened Because you say we see therefore your sin remaineth John 9.41 And thus the Jews boasted over the Gentiles That they knew God's will were instructed out of the Law and were instructers of the foolish and teachers of babes Rom. 2.18 19 20. and boasted themselves to be the Circumcision but yet they not keeping the Law the Uncircumcision should judge and condemn them v. 27. We have many among us who boast of a little Knowledge they have more than others and have learn'd to talk and dispute of Religion and despise others as foolish ignorant blind and babes when all this may make their Judgment the more intolerable Some of the Jews have a Tradition that the holy Fire of the Altar was hid in an hole of a Rock all the time of the Captivity and when at their return they lookt for it it was turned into a Jelly which they took and laid upon the Altar and there was kindled into a Fire again by the beams of the Sun When the Light that is in the Mind kindles a Flame of Love in the Heart and thence are presented holy Sacrifices to God this is Light sanctified and sanctifying the Soul but when it rests in the Mind and is resisted in the Heart and Practice of Men it will whether Men will or no shine into their Consciences first or last to their greater Terror and Condemnation And therefore let Men take heed of Sin against Light and Knowledge Against the Light of Nature the Light of Education the Light of good Example especially the Light of the Gospel For such Sins make the greatest noise in the Conscience do most harden Mens hearts make Men self-condemned and will most expose Men at the day of Judgment Vse 5. And so I come to the next Use which is To awaken us of this City and this Nation who have had Gospel-favours and Priviledges above most people under Heaven May we not say of London as Christ of Capernaum O London who hast been lift up to Heaven And if any from hence shall perish and be cast down to Hell how great will their fall be It would be better perishing out of Tire and Sidon and Sodom than out of London Tolluntur in altum ut Casu graviore ruant as the Poet speaks of Men that fall from high places What though God hath by a wonderful Hand open'd us a door of Liberty What though we have such plenty of excellent Preaching and what though we are such constant Hearers of these Lectures Morning by Morning yet if any of us still continue Impenitent it will but encrease our Doom at Dooms-day Obj. But we hope that that day will never come and all this Talk of it is but to fright people a little into good manners A device of Princes to keep People under Government or of Priests to make Markets of their Consciences Ans 1. It 's true few live as if they believ'd it But can any Man say that he is sure it will never come I think no Man dare say that Therefore it is our best wisdom to prepare for that day which may come though we should not be sure it will come A wise Man will provide against an Evil that may possibly come though he is not sure it will come especially considering the dreadful consequence of being surprized 2. And it 's true that this day is delayed but it is because God waits for Sinners repentance and would have Men saved and enter in before the door be shut 2 Pet. 3.9 3. Do any of us not believe it when the Devils themselves believe and tremble When they said to our Saviour Art thou come to torment us before our time It shew'd they believed a day of Judgment But I spake of this before Q. But what will preserve us then from Damnation seeing such a Judgment-day must certainly come Ans That which would have preserved Corazin Bethsaida and Capernaum will preserve us and that is true repentance which you may know what it is by the description I have given before of its contrary which is Impenitency Let us all in good earnest turn to God and repent Let us repent of our Pride and immodest Dresses in Apparel and reform Let our Women take down their high towring Dresses and our Men shorten their monstrous Perukes Let us repent of our Strife and Contention and the Persecutions that have been amongst us Let us repent of the great neglect of Family-duties and our spending so much time at Taverns and Coffee-houses Let others repent of their Frauds in Commerce and Trading and others of their Oaths and Blasphemies and others of their Extortion and Oppression others of their base temporizing in Religion Let Children repent of Disobedience to Parents and Parents of their neglect of the Instruction and Education of their Children so Masters and Servants of the neglect of the Duties of their mutual Relation Let us rerent of our careless Hearing and our unprofitable Hearing of our loose Observation of the Sabbath and unworthy Receiving the Lord's-Supper and bring forth fruits meet for Repentance Let London remember what befel Sodom for not repenting and take heed of Sodom's Sins which are said to be Pride Ezek. 16.49 2 Pet. 2.6 Jude 7. Idleness and Fulness of Bread and Fornication and going after strange Flesh and now have suffered the Vengeance of Eternal fire That this City may not be called Sodom's Sister as Jerusalem was for being so like her in her Sin Ezek. 16.48 and her Fruit not like the Apples of Sodom fair without and within nothing but Ashes But I have better hope concerning this City and that as God hath wonderfully saved it so he will do still and that its case is not as Sodom's not to have in it ten righteous persons when Abraham interceded for the sparing of it And though this City was once laid in Ashes yet not as Sodom which was never built again and is now a bituminous Lake call'd Asphaltites and the Waters of it are deadly and the Fumes out of it mortal and the Ground and Trees about it barren which Pliny Solinus Diodorus Siculus and other Heathen Writers have taken notice of But London stands up out of its Ruins to the terror of those that design'd it to oblivion and perpetual desolation and is more populous than ever and the joyful Sound of the Gospel and the Voice of the Turtle are yet heard in her Streets and not the Voice of Owls and Satyrs as is foretold of Babylon And is spiritually called Sodom Rev. 11.8 And was Typed by the City Jericho which would expose the Man to a fatal Curse that
importance of the Old yet the sincere ones who did believe the Prophets as the Apostles exhorted 1 Acts 26.27 John 20.31 they with Philip and Nathaneel Israelites indeed rejoyced they had found him of whom Moses has written in the Law 2 John 1.41 and whom the Prophet foretold should be the desire of all Nations 3 Hag. 2.7 a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of the people Israel Wherefore I may very fairly hence under this First Head in the explication deduce from my Text I. That the Holy Scriptures read preach'd and heard accompanied with Prayer and other institutions of Christ as the Seals of the new Covenant and the Ministry of Reconciliation are the Means of Grace ordained of God to bring Men and Women to repentance towards God and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ 4 Acts 20.21 That Men by the applying themselves sincerely to the use of these means which tho' they have no natural force in and of themselves to the effecting of a change may by the efficacy of the Spirit exerting insuperable Grace 4 John 15.3 17.17 Eph. 5.26 be cleansed 5 God the great Efficient may in these helps of his own ordaining reveal his own arm 6 Isa 53.1 draw them unto Christ 7 John 6.45 Rev. 1.16 make the Seed of the Word fruitful and putting forth his own Power bring them to salvation in the Heavenly Kingdom and rest sweetly in Abraham's Bosom where they shall not know trouble any more II. These are ordinary means according to the order established by the supream Ruler who knows what 's best for those under his Government in opposition to extraordinary which seldom happen upon some singular work of Judgment or Mercy to a Person or People 'T is true the most Sovereign Agent who is most free he may if he pleaseth without means by an immediate Impression of Light and infusion of Grace work on the Soul as he did on the Apostles and Paul 8 Acts 2.4 9.1 c. Gal. 1.12 but generally and for the most part God revealeth himself mediately by the ordinary means he hath setled to abide in his Church to the end there being an aptness and fitness in them under Divine Influence for converting the Soul 9 Psal 19.17 when Embassadors come in Christs stead beseeching men to be reconciled to God 10 2 Cor. 5.20 having a promise of his Presence with them to the end of the World 11 Mat. 28. ult in communicating of the mind of God by writing or speaking reading or interpreting exhorting and directing 12 2 Pet. 3.1 Acts 21.25 4.20 29. 15.21 8.30 35. 1 Cor. 12.30 Acts 15.32 1 Thess 2.11 every way preaching for the begetting of Faith 13 Ro. 10.13 15 when the advice of Gregory Nazianzen is observ'd namely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Pray and search having pray'd with David Open thou mine eyes or reveal 14 Psal 119.18 that I may behold wondrous things out of thy Law It concerns us to be much in meditating upon it 15 1.2 John 5.39 Gregory called the Great gives an account of an illiterate man who bought a Bible hired one to read to him out of it and thereby became a great Proficient in the School of Christianity Luther ‖ Melch. Adeon in vita by reading of it was turn'd from Popery so was John Hus by reading of our Wickliff's Books proving his Doctrin from it We know Augustine was converted by taking it up and reading * Confess l. 8. ch 8. § 2. Nicephor p. 5. 27. And 't is said Cyprian by reading the Prophet Jonas As Junius by the first Chapter of John's Gospel tho' t is supposed neither of them then had much skill in the Originals but were beholding to Translations Thus we see how the Scripture is the means and the ordinary means The next thing in the explication is to shew II. That this means becomes more certainly succesful or effectual Certainly is to be understood in opposition to that which happens uncertainly and peradventure Not as if every where that the Immortal Seed of the Word is sown Conversion did certainly and always follow it being but a subservient Instrument some Seed meets with bad ground 16 Mat. 13.4 5. some reject the Counsel of God against themselves 17 Luke 7.30 they put it from them judging themselves unworthy of eternal Life 18 Acts 13.46 i. e. by contradicting of the Word they do as evidently deprive themselves of eternal Life as if the Judge did pass that Sentence upon the Bench. So what is the Savour of Life to others becomes the Savour of Death to them 19 2 Cor. 2.16 The Rich-man as he is brought in here conceits after the mode of the Jews seeking for Signs 20 John 4.48 6.30 which Christ gave check to when by his accomplishment of the Prophecies he had demonstrated himself to be the Messiah and they would have him to be a Political or Temporal King 21 Mat. 12.39 that one rising miraculously from the dead and preaching would keep others from Hell But Abraham the Father of the Faithful who knew what it was to repent and believe and be converted was of another perswasion He bids hearken to the written word read and preached on which Faith and Repentance was to be grounded God's Providential Works how admirable soever not being the Rule for Men to go by but his Word It being no good sense that God's extraordinary actings should be our ordinary Rule He that would not Plow or Sow till Manna be rain'd from Heaven because it once did may expect Bread till he starve and so may he that looks to be fed with Ravens as Elias once was Man may be most certainly assured from God's Word what his Mind is God himself indeed doth principally make any means effectual or successful Paul's planting and Apollo 's watering comes to nothing without him his influence and blessing 22 1 Cor. 3.6 7. De Gratia Christi ch 24. Augustine said right Men may read and understand behold and confess not by the Law and Doctrin sounding outwardly but by the inward and hidden wonderful and ineffable power God doth not only work Divine true Revelations but also good Wills Yet from the external preaching of the Word of God as a means of his appointment there is a Godly Sorrow or a sorrowing after God wrought which worketh repentance to Salvation 23 2 Cor. 7.10 11. It proves successful to some who are not hearers only but doers of the Word 24 Jam. 1.22 It falls out prosperously and happily with them using of the means Solomon saith 1 Prov. 13.15 A good understanding giveth favour and success Be sure a good understanding of Gods mind from his Word becomes ordinarily more successful that the Soul may be in health and prosper 2 3 Epist John v. 1. than any expectation of that which can
prophaneness they will pull down upon their own heads the guilt of all that prophaneness which is committed And this I dare say there is no man that liveth in the World no not the best and most holy but he hath sins enough of his own too too many more than he is able to bear or to answer for His own follies and miscarriages if bound upon him will be found sufficient to break his back and sink him into the bottomless pit of misery So David tells us and he spake no more than what his own sense and feeling did suggest and dictate to him Psal 38.4 Mine iniquities are gone over my head as a burthen they i. e. His own iniquities his own head heart and life sins are too heavy for me And as it was with him so it is with every one and therefore no man hath need to add to the load by heaping upon himself the guilt of other mens sins too Though it must be confest that notwithstanding all which the wisest and most circumspect person can do notwithstanding all the care he can take he will hardly be found altogether innocent as to this Holy Austin one of the best of the Fathers saw sufficient yea abundant reason for the putting up this humble Petition Lord deliver me from my other mens sins and it may be feared that no small number of great men who have been yea and are in place of power and authority will when the all-seeing God comes to search them be found deeply culpable and dreadfully chargeable upon this account and therâ—fore others that do at this day possess the same or like places are very nearly concerned to look to themselves Felix quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum Happy the man whom other mens sins and dangers falls and hurts make to beware That hath gone for currant as a certain truth qui non prohibet cum potest jubet He that doth not forbid and prevent the commission of sin when it is in the power of his hand to do it doth interpretativè Command the doing of it He allows it who winks at it he doth encourage it who stops it not He doth so in the account of God who is a righteous Judge He had as good command it as stand by and see it done and say nothing And if men will in this or any other way contract guilt they may expect to tast the bitter Effects of it If Rulers will spare offenders let not them think that God will spare them Ahab in a foolish kindness and pity let Benhadad go whom God had appointed to utter destruction Now observe what a thundering Message the Prophet brought him thereupon 1 Kings 20.42 Thy life shall go for his life and thy people for his people So that this kindness of Ahab to Benhadad was desperate cruelty to himself and Israel And the case of Eli is very pertinent to this purpose and most worthy of observation He was not only Priest but Judge armed with both Parental and Magistratical power His Sons did not write after that Copy which he had set them but were Sons of Belial wicked and prophane to a Prodigy for they Sacrilegiously robbed God and filthily abused the women that were assembled at the door of the Tabernacle and by these means made the offering of the Lord to stink turn'd it to an abomination For this Eli their Father reproved them but it was with very soft and silken words Why do ye such things For I hear of your evil doings by all this people nay my Sons for it is no good report that I hear ye make the Lords people to transgress And here was all he did but Oh how angry was God hereupon It made his fury come up into his face Though Eli was a good man a Priest one that God had caused to draw near to him though he had reproved his Sons and given them good advice yet this was not enough it would not serve his turn God was greatly provoked because he did proceed no further and see how dreadfully he threatned him 1 Sam. 2.31 c. I will cut off thine arm and the arm of thy Fathers house that there shall not be an old man in it thou shalt see an enemy in my habitation the man of thine that I shall not cut off from my altar shall be to consume thine eyes and to grieve thine heart And the dream is doubled the resolution of God is fixed this one threatning that carrieth sorrow and anguish enough in the bowels of it is followed with another 1 Samuel 3.11 I will do a thing in Israel at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle I will perform against Eli all that I have sworn concerning his house when I begin I will also make an end God would go thorow with the work and not only be diligent in the beginning of it but likewise constant in the performance and compleat in the finishing of it For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever Such a punishment shall be inflicted such a burden laid upon him as shall never be taken off for the iniquity which he knoweth because his Sons made themselves vile and he restrained them not Set a mark upon these last words in which indeed the accent and emphasis lies there was the provocation that was it that exposed him to the divine displeasure and brought him under so severe a judgment His Sons made themselves vile they defiled debased and dishonoured themselves by their sins and abominable practices they had render'd themselves odious and loathsom in the eyes of God and in the eyes of the people Eli was not ignorant of this but was told of it it raised a great cry many complaints thereof were brought to him but he RESTRAINED THEM NOT. He did not curb them He was too mild and tender and gentle he carried the matter as one that was not zealous for his God but afraid to offend them and unwilling to grieve them He did not affright and ferret them out of their prophaneness they still continued what they were and held on their former course and yet he did not draw the Sword of justice he did not inflict upon them grievous punishments though they persever'd in the Commission of grievous sins he forgot to act up to the Authority of a Father an High-Priest a Judge and therefore God will severely punish him Eli's Sons run deep in Score and because he thus let them alone God would make Eli himself to pay the reckoning Consider of this and tremble you indulgent fond Parents that hear and see your Childrens Lying Swearing Looseness and Debaucheries but let them alone you timorous Slothful Magistrates that will not make prophane persons smart know and be assured that your selves shall You let them go but Vengeance will hold you But I proceed for though Rulers own concerns should awaken and rouze them up yet that is not all therefore Sixthly
If Rulers will not take due that is utmost care to suppress prophaneness in a Nation where their power lyeth they take a direct course to pull down the wrath of God upon that whole Nation as well as upon themselves Solomon hath these passages Prov. 9.12 If thou be wise thou shalt be wise for thy self but if thou scornest thou alone shalt bear it But we cannot say if a Magistrate will not discharge his duty but suffer wickedness to pass without controul he alone shall bear it no no the burden may light and lye heavy upon more shouldiers than his own His remissness and neglect may turn to the smart of the Land and people over whom he is set the not shutting the floud-gates of sin which let in a deluge of wickedness below is no other than the opening of the Windows of Heaven above for the letting down Showers and Storms of wrath that shall drown and swallow up all For want of this as you heard under the last particular God did not only with great severity judge the house of Eli but also threatned to do a thing in Israel or unto Israel as some read it at which both the ears of every one that heard it should tingle 1 Sam. 3.11 If any enquire what that terrible thing was I answer it was no less than the delivering of the Army of Israel into the hands of the accursed Philistines so that three thousand of them fell in battel before those their Enemies and which was yet worse the Ark of God was taken before which they worshipt and which was the special and delightful Symbol of the Divine presence with them When the Sword of Magistracy lieth still and dormant in the midst of crying abominations then God thinks it fit and high time to awake himself to the Judgment which he commanded and man neglected and to draw his own and how doth he then lay about him what blows doth he give what stupendous work doth he make When one Jonah that had been disobedient to his God and being sent by him upon a Message to Nineveh took him to his heels and run another way when he I say was in the Ship and lay in peace and at ease the whole was in danger nor did the storm cease though the Heathen Mariners called every one to his God till the guilty Criminal received his deserved punishment in being cast into the Sea That is a notable saying of Solomon Prov. 29.4 The King by Judgment stablisheth the Land When it shakes and totters he shores it up he settles and confirms it again and makes all sure But he that receiveth gifts overthrows it These do blind the eyes of men in place and bind or tie their hands so that they shall not do the things they should And he that receives them that will take bribes to stop the course of Justice doth overthrow the Land he turns it upside down he destroyeth the very foundations of it and when he hath once done that where is the wise man that can tell me what he will do himself I can expect no other but his own being buried in its ruins yea probably he shall go first and not live long enough to be a mourner at its Funeral Whereas on the other side Seventhly Magistrates by a vigorous suppression of prophaneness may most happily both prevent the coming of those Judgments which are impending over a Nation and remove those which are incumbent and heavy upon it They may stay the hand of revenging justice when it is lifted up as Abrahams was and ready to give the fatal stroke and also they may take off the hand of God when it lies heavy upon a people and presseth them sore or to use Davids expression they may remove the stroke away from it and hold his hand when it is about repeating of the blow I shall speak to both these under this head They may prevent a Judgment and dispel that Cloud which threatens a storm Hence it was that when the people had most grievously offended and provoked God by making a Golden Calf and then worshipping it after the manner of Egypt Moses said unto the Sons of Levi who had gathered themselves together unto him as Persons resolved to be on the Lords side Exod. 32.27 Thus saith the Lord God of Israel put every man his Sword by his side and go in and out from Gate to Gate throughout the Camp and slay every man his Brother and every man his Companion and every man his Neighbour And the Children of Levi did according to the word of Moses and there fell of the People that day about three thousand men Observe his temper He was the meekest Man in the Earth of a most sweet and loving Disposition knowing how to bear and forbear but now he was all on a flame the Lamb was turned into a Lion He was nearly and greatly concerned for the Name and Honour of his God and He accordingly set upon the doing of Justice and therefore made many a Sacrifice and when that was done he said unto the People upon the Morrow ver 30. Ye have sinned a great Sin and now I will go up unto the Lord peradventure I shall make an Atonement for your Sin Now that I have done the Duty of my place now that I have vindicated the Honour of God now that there hath been this due Execution of Justice Now I will go up unto the Lord and I will go up in hope now I have a peradventure to encourage me to think that I shall make an Atonement for you And let us not pass over in silence that which you have in ver 29. of the same Chapter Moses had said Consecrate your selves to day to the Lord even every Man upon his Son and upon his Brother that he may bestow upon you a Blessing this day The shedding of Blood of the Blood of Man the Blood of an Israelite by the hand of Justice in a cause deserving Death did not defile them but consecrate them Acts of Justice are as acceptable to God as Sacrifice the Blood of Sinners as the fat of Rams and abundantly more and saith Moses upon your doing this the Lord may bestow a Blessing upon you Levi therefore by using a Sword of Injustice and Cruelty against the Shechemites lost the Blessing When their Father Jacob called all his Sons together speaking of Simeon and Levi Gen. 49.5 He speaks of their instruments of Cruelty calls to mind their Sin cursed their Anger and Wrath divided them in Jacob scattered them in Israel but not a word of Blessing That they had lost Now saith Moses do you quit your selves in this great piece of Justice and you may get a Blessing and so they did for God chose the Tribe of Levi for himself above all the Tribes of Israel and appointed and imployed them about his Sanctuary and Service Numb 3.6 c. Bring the Tribe of Levi near and present them before Aaron the Priest that
and one would wonder it should be found among a people but a little before come back to their own Countrey out of a sore and tedious Captivity Yet thus it was But let us see what good Nehemiah that excellent Governour did hereupon and how he bestir'd himself He testified against them in the day whereon they sold Victuals and he contended with the Elders of Judah and said unto them What evil thing is this that ye do and prophane the Sabbath-day Did not your Fathers thus and did not our God bring all this evil upon them And yet ye bring more evil upon Israel by prophaning the Sabbath And after this He shut the Gates and set his Servants to watch and would not suffer the Merchants and Sellers of wares to lodge about the Walls but threatned to lay hold upon them and did not desist nor give over till He had prevented their coming any more upon the Sabbath-day Oh that there were many such Nehemiahs in the World among Christian Nations Shall I gather up what this Scripture affords and shew you what is to be learned from it Briefly thus 1. Trading upon the Sabbath-day is a violation and prophaning of it 2. It is such a prophaning of it as is highly displeasing unto God and will bring down his wrath upon a People that are guilty 3. It is the proper work of the Civil Magistrate not unbecoming the Supream to punish and prevent it 4. In order thereunto He will find it necessary to be very vigilant and active 5. It is not enough to begin well and do something but there must be a going on till there be a thorow Reformation And let not any say such care as this would be Judaizing and the Gospel brings along with it a greater Liberty for though we have a blessed Liberty yet not a sinful one We are delivered from the Ceremonial Law which was an heavy and oppressing yoke but not from the Observation and Obedience to the Moral Law as it is and still it is and to the end of the World it will be a Rule of Life And Gods abounding in his goodness to us whose lines are cast in New Testament-times is a very bad argument for an abating in our care of Sanctifying his Name and his Day Time my beloved hath been when England as well as our Neighbour Nation of Scotland was famous for the sanctifying of the Sabbath and truly for these many years it hath been and to this day it is as infamous for the breaking of it and upon that account and by that means it hath lost much of it's Pristine Glory Do you not see I am sure with grief of Heart I do how vile and wretched Persons set forth their wares to sale upon that Holy Day in our Fields and Streets Do you not see how the Victualling and Alehouses are frequented and filled upon that day Do you not see or at least hear of Plays and Pastimes upon that day As if the Book of Sports were revived and allowed How many among us do make that their Gaming day and their Fuddling day which God hath made his Holy Day What! Oh What is the matter Where doth the fault lie We have something of Law against this blessed be God and what have we no Officers to put the Law that is into Execution I earnestly beseech all those who are concerned as they fear God and as they have any Affection Good will and kindness for the Land of their Nativity that they would put on strength and appear vigorously on this behalf For if you will tolerate the prophanation of the Sabbath you can rationally Promise to your selves no other but a tremendous overflowing of wickedness all the Week after it will be so through the Corruption of man and the most righteous Judgment of God with whom it is far from unusual to punish Sin with Sin Do but read Histories and if you have minded things consult your own Observations and you will find that according to a peoples Holy care or Vile neglect of keeping Holy the Sabbath-day Religion doth flourish or Wickedness abounds and grows rank and rampant among them Having finished the Doctrinal part I proceed to the Application and therein direct my speech to all sorts of Persons among us and oh that it may be acceptable to them and come upon their Souls with Power that so there may be some stop put to these crying Abominations and the wickedness of the Wicked among us may come to an end and they may come over upon this call from God to a temperate sober and Religious Life or if not so yet at least their wickedness may not make such prodigious advances nor rise up to that height as it hath done for so many years to the dishonour and provoking of God the grief of all good men and almost the ruine of the Nation and the pleasing of none but a cursed Company of the Antichristian brood who made it their design and business to introduce Popery at the door of Debauchery Which indeed was the most likely way for when Persons and a People have cast off the fear of God and run cross to the Principles of that Religion which they profess and by leading flagitious lives offered violence to their Consciences they are in a frame ready for the basest impressions and to follow that Devil who shall first tempt them and however it comes to pass through the all-ordering and over-ruling Providence of a wise God who when he pleaseth and as he pleaseth chains the Sea and restrains the lusts of men so that though they go thus far they shall go no farther I shall not at all wonder to see a Practical Atheist become a Doctrinal Papist that so his Religion it 's self may spread his wing over his prophaneness But I come to the Application Vse 1. Let me not by any be counted too bold and going out of my place while I turn me to the great men of the Nation and speak to them as Persons not too high for the Counsels Commands and Exhortations of the Word of God I mean the King as Supream Nobles Gentlemen and all under him to whom any part of the Government in this Nation is committed and these all these from the highest to the lowest I do with all due Humility as knowing my distance from many of them yet with utmost earnestness I do beseech that they would awake unto Righteousness and see to it that they be found faithful in their place and to their trust filling up every one the Province which God hath set them in and trading every one with their Talents whether more or fewer five or two nay let not him that hath but one hide it in a Napkin and bury it in sloth but be abounding in this work of the Lord that through your care and industry Justice may run down among us like a Flood and Judgment like a mighty Water for the washing away that loathsome filth which
Hell unspeakable Glory and Happiness for them that obey the Gospel and conform themselves to the Law and Rule of the new Creature an everlasting shame contempt and torment for those that are workers of iniquity Know such a life hath admirable delights to sweeten it in the way and inconceivable rewards to Crown it in the end I earnestly beseech you to propound such serious and weighty Questions as these to your selves when you do either feel the stirrings and motions of Sin or are assaulted by temptations to it from without Doth such an action become me whether will it contribute to or detract from my honour interest or comfort Is a life of Debauchery and Prophaness worthy of a man that hath an immortal Soul and do expect when I die and leave this World to launch into the Ocean of Eternity would I have my Lord when he cometh find me so doing Is not this that I am now inticed and inclined to contrary to the Law and end of my Creation to the Gospel-Law and to the dictates of right reason will this be for my advantage either now or hereafter if this be the Seed I sow what will be the Harvest that I shall reap will Sin ever pay me for the cost I am at upon it and for the pains that I take about it the Scripture tells us the wages it gives its Servants are Death and what Wise Man will do hard Work for no better Wages Suppose that it doth afford present pleasure that tickles a vain carnal mind will that pleasure last Is there not a Sting to follow that honey will it not be bitterness in the latter end Certainly it will issue in shame and sorrow And who will choose to walk in that way though it be a Carpet one that will go down to and lodge the Traveller at last in the Chambers of Death and the Bed of Flames As for those of you who have hitherto been vain and loose and wicked and God knows there are too many of you do not stop your Ears to the Voice of the Charmers do not oh do not hate to be reformed It is better for you to break off your Sins by a timely and speedy repentance than to go on because none of you can tell but the very next step that you take you may tumble into Hell since every step in Sins way takes hold of it What Daniel therefore said to that proud and haughty Monarch Nebuchadnezzar Daniel 4.27 I will say to you Let my counsel be acceptable to you break off your sins by righteousness and your iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor if it may be a lengthening of your tranquilliâ—y or as you have it in the Margin of your Bibles an healing of your errour If every one would mend one how soon should we see a lovely face and excellent beauty upon the whole nay if the generality or major part of the Inhabitants of England and London would be prevailed with to come over to a Sober and Religious Life if Princes Nobles and Gentlemen will be exemplary therein Sin and Debauchery would learn to abate something of its Impudence and grow more modest than it is In stead of walking up and down with a brazen face at Noon-day in our Streets as it hath done it would seek Corners and hide it self under the covert of darkness as in the Apâ—stles times when they that were drunk were drunk in the night 1 Thess 5.7 Now that I might promote in all Persons according to their several Spheres and Capacities a consciencious care and endeavour to suppress Prophaneness I shall close this Discourse with these few following Directions First Pray for some of Christ's Eye salve that your Eyes being thereby open'd you may see the ugliness and deformity of Prophaneness Do not give credit to that report which Sin makes of it self no nor to theirs neither who are its sworn Slaves and Vassals For what true Information can you expect to receive from them who are under the power of strong delusions who are self-deceived and have their minds blinded by the God of this World and run away with a lye in their right hand But do you sit down and take the Word of God for your guide and counsellor and from thence your measures and seriously consider what beauty can there be in that which hath defaced the whole creation that was at first a most exquisite and curious piece and every thing in it very good What excellency can there be after the most diligent enquiry found in that which is in itself contrary to the best and Supream good and makes every thing else so that is so What desirableness can there be in that from whence have come all those stings with which man is tormented and all the poisons by which he is indanger'd Oh! That you could look upon it with such an eye as the infinitely wise and holy God doth and then I am sure you would see it to be out of measure sinful and so hate it with a perfect hatred and flee from it more than from the Devil for it made him what he is and is worse than He who had it not been for sin would still have continued a glorious Angel Oh that you would take a view of it as it is represented to you in the Glass of Scripture precepts which do expresly forbid it and in the glass of Scripture-threatnings which are most dreadfully thundered out against it and in the Glass of those many tremendous and amazing Judgments which have been executed up and down in the world by which God hath reveal'd his wrath from Heaven against all the ungodliness unrighteousness and wickedness of men sparing neither People nor Princes but hanging up some of both sorts as it were in Chains that they might be for the admonition and warning of them that do survive Once more look upon it in the Glass of our Saviours blood which had never been shed no not a drop of it had it not been for sin but that caused the shedding of it all even his Heart Life Blood And it was absolutely necessary according to the divine determination in order to mans Salvation that it should be so for without the shedding of bloud there would have been no remission Heb. 9.22 Had not the blood of Jesus God-man been shed and made Satisfaction as a propitiatory Sacrifice to Divine justice infinitely provoked by the Sin of man the offence and displeasure caused by sin would have to all everlasting remained without any hope or as far as we know any possibility of a Reconciliation The least sin is such an anomy or transgression of the divine Law such an affront to the Divine Majesty gives such a blow at the Soveraignty and Government of God and carrieth in it so much of malignity and provocation that there needs no more than it to sink the guilty person into the bottomless pit of endless misery I leave it then to you to consider
their sin ver 10. accepted of their punishment and called upon God ver 15. They put away their strange gods and served the Lord then the Soul of God was grieved for their misery and he delivered them ver 16. A parallel you have in Niniveh the charge given by the King Jon. â— 8 9. which was complyed with was Let them turn every one from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hand then they conclude a possibility of escape according to the tacit reserve in the Prophets message Who can tell if God will turn away from his fierce anger and we perish not 2. But yet further The Repentance in these acts must be for National Sins If it be for other Sins and not for the Sins of the Land it will not warrant our expectations of National Mercies God will have Men direct their Repentance to that which his Wrath is kindled for and which his Testimony is against It 's not enough that you bewail your own personal private sins but these publick faults People are loathest to own bewail and leave these National Offences Custom fixeth them they are commonly reputable and by the generality of Transgressours thought innocent they are supported by lnterest and Power there 's danger by Repenting thereof If you reform as to these there 's oft a loss of Places Men are subject to shame by leaving faults in fashion or the reproach of having long offended in those things and how backward are our proud Hearts to acknowledge we have been in an error But let it be never so hard the Arrow of God is levelled against these very sins and even these shall be bewailed and forsaken or he will proceed to embitter them People may think to commute with God and amend in other matters but this is a vain attempt Mic. 6.15 16. to their own delusion and ruine Thou shalt sow but shalt not reap for the statutes of Omri are kept and all the works of the house of Ahab and ye walk in their counsels that I should make thee a desolation and the inhabitants thereof an hissing Therefore you shall bear the reproach of my people This leads me to answer one Objection Object How may we know which be the National Sins Answ If the same particular Sins be universal Consider the carriage of a people in general and compare it with the Word National Sins are too gross not to be seen when the rule of a Peoples walking is set before us But if you would know which are more eminently the National Sins observe what Sins have the greatest influence in Corrupting the Land which cleaveth fastest to a people and most especially leading persons are guilty of which have been longest continued in and in their Nature and Consequences are most grievous which seem the Judgments of God most directed against what sins do the best Ministers and People witness most against By these Rules you may discern what are those National Sins which the Nation agree in the commission of or connivance at But if the National Sins be by accumulation of several sorts of sins according to the different state of people who constitute that Community You then must distinguish a Nation into its constituent or remarkably differing parties as Magistrates and Subjects Ministers and People Rich and Poor Infidels and Believers c. Compare the frame and carriage of each of these with that which God hath made their peculiar Duty and adding the former helps those National Sins will appear which are made up by complication though the same individual Crimes are not entertained by the several parties in a Nation 3. The Repentance must usually be National I do not mean that every individual must repent but the generality or at least some very considerable number and those of such Men that most represent and influence the Body A small number of private Penitents may save themselves but seldom secure a Nation I confess here I must be wary considering how graciously God is pleased to admit sometimes a few to personate a Body and give in Blessings for many on their mediation Phineas his Zeal turns away Wrath from all his people Num. 25.11 Ezek. 22.30 God seems to conclude the unavoidableness of Israels woe from the want of one man to divert it I sought for a man among them that should make up the hedge and stand in the gap before me for the Land that I should not destroy it but I found none This the desolate Church complains of Isa 64.7 There is none that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee But though Sovereignty admits a very few Penitents to profit many Transgressors yet we are not usually to expect this what ever in extremity we may hope for want of better grounds usually a few are called none as to this effect No man repented him of his wickedness Jer. 8.6 Isa 66.4 and 59.16 I called and none did answer he wondered there was no intercessor There were the Prophets themselves and some others that Repented yet so few were as good as none to secure the good which multitudes concurred to remove His Call is to the generality to return and on that he promiseth favour Hear ye the word of the Lord all ye of Judah Jer. 7.2 3. Thus saith the Lord Amend your ways and your doings and I will cause you to dwell in this place And the failure by the refusal he affixeth to the body of them ver 28. Thou shalt say This is a Nation that obeyeth not the voice of the Lord nor receiveth correction c. We can hardly look for good to a Land unless the repenting persons be numerous enough to vindicate the Glory of God and influence the Land to Reformation Joel 1.14 15. Jon. 3.5 6. The assembly of Penitents must be solemn How general was the Repentance of Niniveh from the greatest to the least from the King and Nobles to the most abject Some farther light may arise from the next head 4. The Repentance should be suited to the different Condition and Circumstances of those that make up a Nation Each must repent of the sins common to all yea the gross trespasses of each sort must be bewailed by every sort But yet there is a Repentance peculiar to each which ought eminently to appear or at least really to be and this exerted according to their respective abilities Magistrates ought to mourn for the sins of the People and also to repent of their own ill Examples bad Laws c. And they must express their Repentance by exerting that Power which they have above others They should enact good Laws restrain and punish Sin command days of Humiliation appoint good Ministers c. So Ezra did Ezra 10.8 9. Neh. 13. The same did Nehemiah Magistrates do not repent if they do not so and a Land may perish for their neglect Suppose a Land divideable into Unbelievers and Believers These Believers must
amendment and a Testimony from Heaven against our crying Evils and shameful Impenitency By terrible things God will prepare us for Blessings and introduce our Happiness by that which will try our utmost Faith I can hardly account our Foundations sure while men justifie their Sins and persist in them Our very Reformation is impossible whiles men of most influence have no heart to it yea hate and fear it Whenever I see Magistrates engage in reforming us as their great Duty and with their whole might VVhen men of power esteem Repentance to be the truest Interest of the Nation VVhen the Ministry is awakened to cry aloud and doth impartially represent to the Land all its Sins and Dangers not mistaking or palliating our Offences VVhen the Body of the Land at least a considerable part of it do crave and approve of Reformation and concur with the Means God shall prepare for it Then and not till then shall I account our Repentance hopeful and consequently expect the Blessings to be established which God seems earnest to bestow Numb 24.22 But who shall live when God doth this VVhat overturnings will effect it when so many have failed to do us any good It s something very amazing which can alter Minds so averse or remove men unchangeably Obstinate Yet the Providences of God towards England are like to be terrible in proportion to all this I do not herein limit the Holy One but humbly propose my thoughts as to the usual aptitude of Means to their End not wholly neglecting the indications of present Providences as to this matter much less would I overlook Scripture Prophesies VSE of LAMENTATION Let us Lament the Impenitency of the Nation and its forfeiture of Mercies and hazard of Judgments hereby Jer. 8.6 What can be Cause of Mourning equal to our Obstinateness We are guilty of bloody Crimes and most regard it not We seem reconciled to our Abominations as if they were innocent and are as secure as if God had not threatned to punish a people for them The Land is full of Sin after all the means which were sent to cleanse us The Fire hath devoured yet our Dross remains The plague hath in its Rage swept away Thousands yet the provocations of England abate not How oft hath the Lord cried Wilt thou not be clean when shall it once be Jer. 12.27 But we have held fast our several Iniquities It s but lately that Popery and Slavery were coming on us like a Deluge to the amazement of all that could with any Zeal consider it but the Nation now seems sorry that it was at all Convinced and repents that there was the least motion in it towards amendment Oh the ferment that hastily succeeded our Fears least Sobriety or Holiness should obtain God hath followed his rebukes with undeserved yea unexpected Mercies but this Sun-shine hath made Weeds to grow instead of rendring Judgments effectual to make us Holy What Methods have been untried but none succeed Which is the Nation that ever withstood so many and various Calls to Repentance Niniveh is England's Reproach she repented at the first warning Sodom would have condemned us had it been trusted with half our Advantages Can the Earth shew an Instance of perverseness equal to ours As if the Gospel had extinguished Natural Conscience or a Christian Profession did make us more regardless than Pagans Every thing seems to harden us we grow worse by those things that recover others Alass We have few that bemoan our want of Mourning are all our Jeremiah's asleep that none drop a Tear for England's Security Do all think it needless or hopeless to turn unto the Lord that so few seem to set themselves in earnest about it How very few symptoms have we that we are not under a judicial Hardness Many are convinced they ought to Repent yea many resolve it but how Abortive doth all prove Our Iniquities baffle our Resolves and Satan triumphs over the vanity of our Purposes What a hateful prospect doth our Nation afford to God and Angels We are a wonder to our selves when a Drowsie Mind allows us to entertain any serious Considerations Lord what will the End of these things be Wilt thou always bear and seem to observe our Provocations as slightily as we do Alass this would make us more miserable than Gods sorest Rebukes Judgments more awful than any we have yet felt are become even necessary to our Happiness but though they be needful what heart can endure them What Terror must attend those Dispensations which will separate the Precious from the Vile pluck up Constitutions so rooted by Interest Custom Malignity and Ignorance Disable the Irreligious from settling Church or State and imbitter our reigning Sins to careless scornful and resolute Offenders How dreadful is that storm that will drive all good Men together when they are canton'd into so many Parties embittered by mutual Prejudices fond of and valuing themselves by fond Opinions and distances from others especially whiles self-conceit and ignorance so prevail How hot is that Fire which will purge out the Dross among Churches when it s eaten even into our Hearts What 's that which can awaken drowsie Saints make the selfish publick Spirited bring the careless to holy Watchfulness and revive that simplicity savouriness and heavenly-mindedness which is become such a Mystery and so unfashionable Surely we may expert a complication of Woes and each filled with unusual degrees of Gods avenging Skill and Power What may not we awfully expect Disappointment by the likeliest men dissolution of the most conceited Churches a shaking of the Nations Pillars a successive change of Instruments frequent blasts on begun Deliverances revivals by the most improbable Instruments many entire over-turnings and changes opposition among the best Friends very near Approaches of the most dreaded Mischiefs Mens minds struck with tremblings all Carnal Refuge failing us Reason put to a Non-plus Probable and Improbable confounded beyond Conjecture Counsel hid from the Wise Force and Power baffled Authority become weak all Order disturbed Men at a loss what to wish or deprecate uncertain what to Hope or Fear whom to distrust or confide in These and many such things seem obvious in the Constitution of that day of the Lord that is like to be upon us And how many more awful things are in his Treasures to fill up that Dispensation of which he hath so long warned the World as strange and unusual We cannot judge of this great Earthquake which will affect us as well as other Nations by what hath been for it is to exceed all that is past Who knows what new sights strange stroakes upon the Spirits of Men and unheard of Judgments may be reserved for this Season Can we love our Nation and be unmov'd Can we hate our selves so as not to Lament that these awful things should find us impenitent yea carry in them displeasing rebukes for that impenitency Should not we all wish that each of our Eyes were Fountains of Tears to bewail at once the Obstinateness and the impending Dangers of the Land of our Nativity Look away from me I will weep bitterly labour not to comfort me Isa 22.4 5. because of the spoilings of the daughter of my people For it is a day of trouble and of treading down and of perplexity by the Lord God of Hosts in the valley of vision breaking down of walls and of crying to the Mountains FINIS