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cause_n	judgement_n	lord_n	sin_n	3,017	5	4.8345	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
B09144	An explanation of the solemn advice, recommended by the Council in Connecticut Colony, to the inhabitants of that jurisdiction, respecting the reformation of those evils, which have been the procuring cause of the late judgments upon New-England. By Mr. James Fitch ...	Fitch, James, 1622-1702.; Mather, Increase, 1639-1723.; Fitch, James, 1622-1702. Brief discourse proving that the first day of the week is the Christian Sabbath.; Connecticut. Council.	1683 (1683)	Wing F1063; ESTC W24614	58,047	146

Job for trial chiefly and when affliction cometh for probation and trial principally it will appear upon examination that the person afflicted is found walking in his uprightness before God Iob 1.8 12. and in the night of affliction there shall be nothing found against this afflicted Saint but that which is consistent with uprightness Psal 17.3 but who is able to make this desence for New-England as to the generality of them and as for those who are called the upright what their innocency is and what their guilt is this will appear in that which is in the place of it spoken concerning the divers manners and sorts of guilt 2. Neither did New England in the ti●e of the Wars suffer as witnesses for righteousness sake although so far as the Antichristian Malice of some might be stirring up and working in and with the rage of the Heathen and might by the provocations of New England against the Lord take occasion to persecute that of Christ and the Christian Religion which yet remained in the Churches of Christ in the Wilderness in this respect Meat came out of the E●●er to the godly of the Land and they might say as that holy Martyr Bradford said It is not the condemnation of Bradford simply intended by the Adversary but Christ and Truth and Bradford is nothing but an instrument in which Christ and Truth is condemned and persecuted by the Adversary and in this respect the Lord saith and hath and will do for his People as sometimes he said by the Prophet Zech. 1.15 I am very sore displeased with the Heathen for I was a little displeased and they helped forward their affliction But yet our sins must be confessed to be the Traitors which gave the opportunity into the hands of our Enemies against us and the Lord said of us as sometimes of that People Isai 42.24 Who gave Jacob to the spoil and Israel to the Robbers did not the Lord be against whom we have sinned In the next place Affirmatively concerning the causes of the Judgements upon New-England that New-England is found guilty of those very sins mentioned in the writing of our Rulers and that these are the causes of those judgements will be made most manifest if we consider the divers manners and wayes by which a People are involved in guilt 1. Some are guilty by actual Commission and that is 1. Either openly after the manner of the Prophane sort whose Countenance doth witness against them and they declare their sin as Sodom they hide it not wo unto their Soul Isai 3.9 2. Or secretly and sometimes God doth inflict publick Judgements upon a People for secret sins and that is 1. When they are such sins as are not in the nature and kind of themsecret but as they are by the transgressor bound up and hiden by some deceiving Excuses and fallacious pretences Hos 13.12 and the ignorance these pretend is wilful and they are condemned by the Lord for willing ignorance 2 Pet. 3.5 2. Or such secret sins as go before the open sins and the others do follow them and together do provoke the Lord 2 King 17.9 and cannot be hid 1 Tim. 5.25 both these openly or secretly are guilty of provocations by actual Commission 2. Some are guilty by way of approbation by consenting Psal 50.18 or countenancing and thus Jehosaphat's love unto and helping of ungodly Ahab did provoke the Lord to wrath against him 2 Chron. 19.2 3. Some are guilty by way of toleration and thus Solomon did provoke the Lord to wrath by his tolerating of the Idolatry of his Wives 1 King 11.4 4. Some are guilty by their omission and neglect of means 1. To prevent the provocations and thus some able Expositors have thought that in this sense it was that Israel became guilty and were blamed by the Lord himself for taking the accursed thing even that which was taken by Achan Josh 7.11 2. Or a neglect of means to reform the provocations committed and thus Ely's neglect of a through reforming and removing the abominations of his Sons did provoke the Lord to wrath against him and his house 1 Sam. 2.22 23. Many in New-England are guilty of provoking sins by actual Commission and these kindle the fire and are Fire brands in the hand of Gods wrath and some by approbation do blow up the fire and are as the bellows to make the fire of Gods wrath burn and some by toleration do in their practise say Let the fire burn will do nothing to quench it and at last some come who with their luke warmness and cold practices are but as a dish of water dropping upon a great and vehement flame but doth nothing effectually to extinguish the fire of wrath kindled and flaming by reason of provoking sins the Lord guid every one of us by his Spirit to consider and in a self-examining manner to see and say What have I done to provoke the Lord Jer. 8.5 6. But as to fact the provocations of New-England are proved by many witnesses 1. The witness of the Ministry especially upon most solemn occasions in the most publick assembly have as watchmen warned us of the Lords controversie against New-England and of the evil coming upon them Ezek. 33.7 and this warning was given not only since the Wars but before that evil day come 2. Witness that great Hand writing of our Rule● published by their order in the Congregations of this Colony in a day of Fasting Prayer in that calamitous year 1675. and many Writings and Orders since that calling for a renewed Confession of those crying abominations specified in that Writing and explained in our former Discourse 3. Witness the sighing of those whom the Lord hath marked in our Ierusalem because they do afflict and vex their righteous Souls for the provocations they see or hear of Ezek 9.4 4. Witness the self condemnation the generality of Professors have received within themselves and do frequently at this day express it one to another saying we and our posterity are an undone people if more be not done for Reformation then yet is done yea who can say and prove it that there hath been any considerable reformation wrought in any one matter of weight after all that the Lord hath spoken and done against us But to conclude this Discourse let us state one Question more Qu. What are the Reasons why the work of Reformation doth not proceed but is hindred after these solemn Advertisements by our godly Rulers and after all the awful warnings from the Lords uplifted hand Ans Because some do not see what ought to be reformed some who see but have no heart to this work some who have a heart but little strength some who have strength but do not agree to carry on together every one his part or they spend their labour upon a people who are under the power of Judicial impenitency 1. Some do not see what ought to be reformed and those are either 1.

all cunning evasions to winde away from the equal scope of a Bargain and will not perform it faithfully without unjust vexing and damnifying another Psal 15.2 4. 2. In Wares Merchandize and Trading a gaining what they can possibly as if Justice had set them no bounds but to gain what they can is their professed justice and their gain is their godliness 1 Tim. 6.5 3. In Wages impoverishing him who hireth and their great design in taking work by the great as they call it is that they may receive more Wages than their labour is worth but their Money is put into a Bag with holes Haggai 16. 4. In Trespassings they are not conscientiously careful to prevent damages and when they know they have damnified a Neighbour yet if they can they will hide it and what they cannot hide yet they will not freely and fully make satisfaction so that their Neighbour can not dwell safely by them Prov. 3.29 5. In Debts they will engage that which they know they cannot perform in an ordinary way and when they have promised they are not conscientiously careful to perform their promise according to the true and equal scope of it and that which is due Prov. 3.27 28. but all these and many other unrighteous practices do proceed through the Lords just judgment from a being empty and void of sincere Love to God and those most rich and precious things of God and therefore are given up to an immoderate and inordinate love of deceivable Riches and therefore are left to hold the truth in unrighteousness and to be filled with all unrighteousness Rom. 18.28 29. And what is the horrible event of this and all the former vices and bitter fruits of Apostacy Ans Because of these vile Examples the Heathen do Blaspheme the Name of our God and are hardened in their Heathenish abominations 1. When the Heathen do behold those who do profess to know God and yet do live in prophareness sensuality contentiousness pride unrighteousness therefore they blaspheme the Name of God Rom. 2.24 whatever our words be concerning God and our Religion but the Heathen will judge speak of our Religion and the things of our God according as they see our works are 2. Hence the Heathen grow hardened 〈◊〉 their heathenish abominations and are ready to think and say they do well to run into all manner of prophaneness seeing they behold such vile examples in those who do profess to know the true and great God and especially they grow hardened and abound in that sin of Drunkenness seeing for the sake of lucre many will sell them strong drink But the abominable practise of those who are guilty of this doth testifie against them 1. That they are far off from endeavouring by good works to convince and convert the Heathen seeing for the sake of worldly gain they will feed their Lusts to the ruine of the wealth health and Souls of Heathen 1 Pet. 2.11 12. These are Taverns and Ordinarykeepers for Heathens lusts 2. These love their gain more than their Neighbours or their own safety seeing they cannot but know that many Outrages yeasome Murthers have been committed by Drunken Indians in their Drunken posture and sometimes in the Families of those who have sold them strong Drink or at least the hazard is great 3. These love worldly gain more than God and their own Souls happiness for if they had love to God and to their own Souls good they would practically intend the glory of God in all they do and give no occasion of offence to Jew or Gentile nor to the Church of God 1 Cor. 10.31 32. but if these who thus practise had any use of their Consciences as a witness or judge their consciences would tell them that while they sell strong Drink to those whom they know will abuse it to Drunkenness and in this act contrary to to the saw of the Common wealth founded upon moral and religious Principles and yet in this to intend Gods glory is as far off from the hear●-intention of these Heathen Taverners and as contrary to their practice as Heaven and Hell are contrary one to the other And how just it is with the Lord that the Heathen should be the rod of his anger to punish these crying abominations The selling of Amunition was for many years prohibited but some for gain would secretly sell Guns c. to the Heathen and at last prevailed to make the Law of the Common-wealth of none effect and since that time New-England knows by woful experience the difference between fighting with Indians armed with Guns and those who had only Bowes and Arrows But the selling of strong Drink to the Indians hath by strict Laws frequently revived been prohibited and yet how incorrigibly some do proceed is very manifest and since the Wars more abounding And will not the Lord avenge himself of these for their Provocations and provoke them with a foolish Nation Deut. 32.21 If our Rulers grow weary of punishing this horrible practice the Lord God of Gods will begin to punish it after another manner and make these who are guilty to know that it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God when his time is come to take vengeance for the despising of Moral Laws and the strivings of his Spirit of Grace Heb. 10.31 32. Thus of Apostasie considered in the Nature Degrees and bitter Fruits of the same but before we come to the conclusion of these Discourses let us consider 2. How it doth appear that the judgements come upon New-England are because of the sins of New-England and not for probation or any other cause Answ Because New-England found guilty of those very sins for which the judgements come upon them are threatned by the Word of God and therefore we must confess that what God hath spoken against us by his Holy Word he hath inflicted upon us by his righteous hand And for the Clearing of this let us consider 1. That the judgements come upon New-England are those which are threatned by the Word of God are manifest to all Who knows not the mortal sicknesses the withering blastings the Drought and the Sword to avenge the quarrel of the Covenant threatned in Lev. the 26. the 28. of Deuteronomie and in many other places of Scripture and none can be ignorant that the Lord hath by his righteous hand executed these threatnings upon us unless it be those who are more senseless then the Stork the Turtle and the Swallow who know their appointed times and observe the time of their coming but my People saith the Lord know not the judgment of the Lord Jer. 8.7 2. That these judgements are come upon New-England for the sins of New-England will appear if we consider negatively 1. That these judgements are come not for probation only nor principally for God is not wont to inflict publick judgements upon a people for trial although he doth sometimes send affliction upon an upright

AN EXPLANATION OF THE SOLEMN ADVICE Recommended by the COVNCIL in Connecticut Colony to the Inhabitants in that Jurisdiction Respecting the Reformation of those EVILS which have been the Procuring Cause of the late Judgments upon New-England By Mr. James Fitch Pastor of the Church in Norwich 1 Sam. 7.3 And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel saying If ye do return unto the Lord with all your hearts then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you and prepare your hearts unto the LORD and serve him only and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines 2 Chron. 19.4 And Jehosaphat c. BOSTON IN NEW-ENGLAND Printed by S. Green for I. Vsher of Boston 1683. To the Reader COncerning those Brief and Nervous Discourses which are emitted herewith the Reverend and Worthy Author had no thoughts of Publishing them until such time as others did Importune him thereunto As for the first Treatise it was thus occasioned In the distressing time of the late War with the Indians in N-England many of the Rulers both Civil and Ecclesiastical in Connecticut Colony being sensible that publick Judgements seldome come but as Intimations of Heavens displeasure and that then of all Men the Leaders of the People are concerned to enquire into the Causes of the Lords Controversie 2 Sam. 21.1 they did accordingly meet for that purpose The Ministers drew up in writing what they conceived to be the mind of God respecting the solemn Question before them which Result was approved of by their Magistrates and Recommended to the Consideration of the Inhabitants in that Jurisdiction This faithful Servant of Christ did wifely take hold on that opportunity in his publick Ministry to insist upon both the Malady and the Remedy which there is so great cause to be enquiring into and did reduce his Instructions into a Catechetical Method for the better edification of the younger sort in his Congregation Sundry Persons of Worth and Judgement hapning to be present at some of those Exercises were very earnest to have them made more publick to gratifie whose desires the Worthy Author has been prevailed with to grant the Copy of what was more inlargedly viva voce delivered A Discourse of this nature is very seasonable and needful and I hope will be blessed for the good of many As for the small tractate respecting the Christian Sabbath the Author has so far as I am able to discern with very good judgement and in few words asserted and proved the Truth whose confirmation he has undertaken The most plausible Argument which our Jewish Sabbatarians insist upon is their pretending the Morality of the fourth Commandment Nor do we deny but that by virtue thereof a seventh part of time or one day in the Hebdomadel Revolution ought to be kept as an holy Rest unto God But it is evident that some expressions in the Decalogue do in a peculiar manner respect the Jewish State This is true of the Preface to the Moral Law and of the promise annexed to the fifth Commandment and some particulars in the tenth Commandment are accommodated to the then state of Israel And why some Expressions in the fourth Commandment may not be so too our seventh day Men have as yet given us no solid and sufficient reason Nay the Learned Jews themselves acknowledge it to be so And therefore they are not offended when they see Christians doing servile works upon the seventh day of the week for they say the Gentiles are not obliged to the strict and legal observation of their Sabbath The Jews in Amsterdam told Jackson Sands and other keepers of the seventh day that except they were also Circumcised their observation of that day was groundless There is no place in the New Testament which the Iews do so much object against Christians as Mat. 5.17 18. They perversely cavil and say that the Apostles did act contrary to the Doctrine of their Master Christ by telling Men that they ought not to observe the Ceremonial Law R. Maimon In misna L. 1. C. 9. has a whole Chapter full of Blasphemy against those who teach that the Law is destroyed in whole or in part The most Judicious and Learned of our Writers acknowledge that the place mentioned has respect both to the Ceremonial and to the Moral Law And that as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is set in oppposition 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as destroying is opposite to fulfilling christ did not evert the ceremonial Law he did himself conform to the ceremonies of the law and require other men to do so as long as the author of that law did see meet to continue it and every way fulfilled those Types which pointed at the Messiah that was to come Our Iewish Sabbatarians who abuse those words of Christ to countenance their Error might as well from thence argue that the Ceremonial Law is still in force For its certain it was not abolished until every tittle contained therein was fulfilled It has been objected that Christians in the Primitive times observed the seventh day The Christian Iews in the Apostles time had a religious respect not only for the seventh day Sabbath but for Circumcision and other Ceremonies until such time as the Iudaical World was utterly destroyed but the Apostles never allowed Christianized Gentiles so to Iudaize The Ebionites kept the seventh day but they were never accounted true Christians The Constitutions which pass under the Name of Clement L 7. C. 24. commend the observation both of the seventh and of the first day of the week And Eusebius speaks of some that observed both dayes Such Christians were certainly leavened with Iudaism At this day the Abyssine Christians observe the seventh day they also observe Circumcision and if Men will Iudaize in one particular it is not to to be wondred at if they be left to Iudaize in more Of later times there have not been many of any great Fame or Note in the World that have stood up for this Opinion There was in England formerly Braborn and Trask but they afterwards recanted Within these few years Mr. Bramfield of Sherborn was strangely drawn away into this Error But his weightiest Objections are answered with great judgment and candour by the Reverend Mr. William Ben of Dorchester in Dorset a Man whose Conversion was occasioned by a Sermon of his own after which he continued an eminent Light in the Church of God for fifty years together and than whom I never knew Man upon Earth that did maintain a greater intimacy of Communion with God Nor has Mr. Bramfield made any Reply to Mr. Ben's Book so far as I have seen or heard As for the present Jewish Sabbatarians in Connecticut Colony they out-do all their Predecessors as to Insolent Behaviour being arrived unto that height of impudent Prophaneness that they fear not in the sight of the Sun to bid defiance unto the Christian Sabbath by following the servile works of their particular Callings on the