of doors Deut. 31.17 Mine anger shall be kindled and I will forsake them many evils shall befall them so that they will say in that day Are not these evils come vpon us because our God is not amongst us There is no help in Heaven for us if God leave us This is the bitterness and venome of all Gods Judgements As every affliction is sweetened with Gods presence so the Lords dereliction imbitters every affliction this reacheth the heart Psal 42.10 yea if God leave a people then they are sure to be given up to utter ruine If the Soul leave the Body it becometh loathsome and must be buried so it is here To see a Soul forsaken of God is a doleful sight a flood of vengeance then breaks in and there is no bank to keep it out for if God leave all Creatures leave too so that men shall finde no succour or favour elswhere Then delivered into hands of Enemies 2 Kings 21.14 Psal 21.11 yea then men will be a terrour to themselves 1 Sam. 28.15 In a word to be cast out of Gods presence is the beginning of Hell Matth. 25.41 Moreover there are special Reasons why the Lords Presence should be desired to succeeding Generations which shall be but mentioned First from the less to the greater we desire other blessings for Children much more should we desire this you desire to leave an Inheritance to your Childre Prov. 13.22 15.14 there is much more reason to desire that they might inherit the Lords blessing Secondly Because they have as much need of the Lords Presence as their fathers their fathers could not live and glorifie God in their generation had not the Lord been with them no more can those that succeed them there is like ground to desire for the one as for the other in respect of need that one hath as well as other 1. In respect of the weightiness of the work the work of one Generation is no less then of another which is to serve God and advance the Interest of Religion 2. In respect of Instruments that carry on the work Alas poor feeble creatures little children and what can children do in Family-affairs 1 Kings 3.7 3. In respect of Adversaries difficulties No age but alwayes there is much to hinder the work of God within are the same corruptions Pride Unbelief and without are the same or worse enemies nay later ages are and will be worse then former 2 Tim. 3.1 Thirdly Because this is the Generation-work of every one to pray and labour that the Lords Presence may be with succeeding Generations Fourthly Such as do not thus will incurre the brand of Apostates and be cast off from God for ever for casting off God 2 Chron. 15.2 Fifthly It makes much for the glory of God that the gracious Presence of the Lord should be continued from fathers unto children therefore this is much to be desired and prayed for But to apply this Vse I. Hence take notice what bottom and foundation it is that we stand on all good is wrapped up in this The Lords being with us Can we say that we are safe because of former mercies The Lord hath been with us in dayes of old hath blessed our fathers and are we therefore secure No verily he that hath been with them may leave us he that hath been a Saviour in former Generations may become a wayfaring man as a man astonied that cannot save Jer. 14.8 9. If we forsake him he will forsake us notwithstanding all former engagements It is not what God hath done heretofore that will make us a happy people at present it 's the wisdome of a people to discern the Lords dispensation Psal 107.43 and an heavy sad Judgement it is not to discern the Lords departing Hos 2. Are you like to have good dayes Are things like to go well in your time Is Truth and Peace like to be in your dayes If the Lord be with you as he was with your fathers then it will be otherwise not Oh therefore learn to know the footsteps of God in your own Souls for the Lord draws near by his Spirit and departs first by the Spirits departing therefore consider of this have you as much of God as your fathers had Vse II. What are we to think of them that never prayed such a prayer as this is Verily they bear little love to the place or people where they live that never made this request Many pray for a good Harvest outward temporal mercies but not for the Lords Presence yea some there are that are not sensible of the Lords departing from them but if they have outward Comforts all is well others care not for Gods Presence Job 21.14 A miserable frame this is for They that are far from the Lord shall perish Psal 73.26 Vse III. Take notice of the Presence of God how he doth come or go approach near or draw off from us If this be the great thing to be desired then it is the duty of all to observe what grounds of hopes what of fears respecting the Lords being with us as in dayes of old Much of the Lords Presence hath been shewed unto this people in these Ends of the Earth Deut. 32.2 10 11. We may truly say with the Church Psal 44.1 2. We have heard with our ears O God our fathers have told us what works thou didst in their dayes in times of old how thou didst c. It stands all to consider both such of former Generations that are yet surviving and those of this other Generation that are succeeding in the room of their fathers What is God with us as in times past God was with them and is he with us as he was with them Let us view the footsteps of God and mark whether the Lord be with us as in dayes of old And for that end I shall spread before you some Signs of the Lords leaving a People And the first is this First Sign When the Lord gives up a people to a slight spirit not minding the Lords Presence whether with them or farre off from them Surely the Lord cannot be very near unto that people that are not sensible of it The presence of Gods grace is a very evident sensible thing and therefore if men feel not this nor mourn not for the want of it it is a symptome the Lord is withdrawn Hence the Lord warns his people Jer. 6.8 Be instructed O Jerusalem lest my soul depart from thee if unsensible and unmindful I will be gone further and further from you Jer. 26. when people are left to a regardless heart respecting the tokens of the Lords displeasure against them Hos 7.9 Gray hairs are here and there upon them and they know it not feel other things leave them but not the Lord. It is not with them as it was wont to be in respect of Trade the fruits of the Earth c. this they take notice of but take no notice how it is with them
and no heart but when the contrary hereunto is true that men languish and wither and fall away time is spent in vain these unprofitable hours of life or if they gain it is onely in some things and not in others Alas that men should spend time to no purpose that men live in the light of Gospel dispensations and yet walk in the darkness of their own hearts not knowing whether they must go to Heaven or Hell at last little stability little comfort by all the means they enjoy 5. When men can bear the Lords absence and hidings away of his face and not lay it to heart as the saddest evil They keep Sabbaths and enjoy no God in them yet the heart breaks not though it be thus this is sad indeed 'T is a token that the Lord is not wholly gone that he is not so gone but that he may return again when he gives a heart to mourn after him as they 1 Sam. 7. lamented after the Lord but when men can go dayes weeks nay it may be moneths together and no living communion with God and yet never cry mourn and lament after him this saith the Lord is gone indeed and so gone that unless thou awaken spedily for ought I know this very Sermon he will never return more but leave thee desolate and forsaken to die in thy sins Oh! shall the Lord depart from thee and have this to charge upon thee That he went away from thee for want of being intreated to stay with thee Vse IV. May be a word of Exhortation Oh make this your main business to keep God with you from Generation to Generation I beseech you let this be the care and prayer of every one The Lord our God be with us as he was with our fathers But this Use respects both the first Generation and this other Generation 1. The first Generation that have been betrusted with the management of the Kingdome of Christ and the Interest of Religion mostly hitherto Labour to keep God still with you even as in dayes of old and also to leave his Presence with the Generations that are to come after you that you may say upon your death-beds when you are leaving the world to them that succeed as sometimes old Israel did to Joseph Gen. 48.21 Behold I die but God shall be with you Here consider a few things Motive 1. This is the great End why the Lord hath betrusted you as he hath with his Gospel and why he hath done for you such great things as he hath done that so he might propagate Religion to those that come after you Psal 78.5 6 7. It was not for your sake onely but for the sake of your Children that God made himself known unto you now I beseech you let not the Lord be disappointed of his end God hath not given his Gospel unto men that a few old Christians may enjoy something of the Presence of the Lord while they live and then carry away the Gospel and Religion as * Viz. Worthy Mr. Mitchell one said into the cold graves with them when they die No but that they might hand down Religion and engage the Lords Presence with the Generation after them It s part of the Generation-work of every Christian to do his utmost that the Lords Name and Honour may be held up to the succeeding Generation If you think that all the duty that lyes on you is respecting your selves onely you are much mistaken A godly mans work reaches further then so Psal 77.18 19. 'T is a sad sign God hath forsaken a people when they are unmindful of the work of their Generation That was Davids Spirit that he would endeavour that Gods Name should be declared to and embraced by the people that were to be afterwards Psal 45.17 and Moses his Prayer Psal 90.16 and the Lords Promise Isa 58.12 Thou shalt raise vp Hebr. settle the foundations of many Generations of Age and Age i. e. Lay such foundations of Holiness as shall endure from Age to Age. Mot. 2. To you is committed a special opportunity of propagating Religion and the Presence of God to the Rising Generation 1. In respect of the Lord himself he will do much at the Request of his old Servants A man will do much at the importunity of an ancient Acquaintance Paul thought there was something Argumentative when he writ to Philemon that he was Paul the aged and David made use of the like Argument with respect unto himself in reference to this duty Psa 71.9 18. The Lord knows not how to deny an old Disciple any thing You may go to the Lord and tell him I have served thee so many years and thou hast never denied me any good thing to this day I have asked much and had much now I come to ask for the continuance of thy Presence with the succeeding Generation deny me not now Lord. 2. In respect of men As for those that are to succeed they that are gathering to their fathers have an opportunity to do good by distilling the things of God into their hearts Joshua and the Elders their Presence did tend much to the promoting of holiness Josh 24.31 Judg. 2.7 Whilst Jehojadah lived there was an advantage in that 2 Chron. 24. God and Nature hath put an advantage into the hands of the Ancient Levit. 19.32 Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head and honour the face of the old man and fear thy God I am the Lord q. d. You deny me to be Lord if you do not acknowledge Age. Mot. 3. Consider that it is for a Generation that I speak and such a Generation as that by many weighty and momentous Considerations you are bound to tender As to a Generation for a Generation David thought it was matter of great moment Psal 71.18 q. d. I had rather die then outlive the opportunity of making known the Lord to the Rising Generation It is not one or two or a few but a Generation that I plead for and it is not onely a Generation but your Generation now I come near indeed a Generation that proceeds from your own loyns and from your own bowels Me-thinks this should prove a very feeling Argument 1 Chron. 28.9 Now Solomon my Son not Soloman a Son but Solomon my Son I charge thee by the Bond of Relation that thou serve the God of thy fathers And hence Solomon himself acknowledges his care and instruction What he received from his Parents was an effect of their endeared affection to him Prov. 4.3 4. Fond affections will vent themselves in foolish and temporal things but sanctified affection in care to promove holiness and engage the continuance of the Lords Presence Oh what love what affections what bowels towards your Children Have you none or if you have how do they put forth I labour they may have something to live upon when I am gone they must have House and Land c. and shall they not have a God Shall they
children all ungodly most ordinarily if a man turn with all his heart his children turn too sooner or later more or fewer of them 2. Be very careful in the due performance of Family-duties towards them that are under your charge This is the Lords great Command Deut. 6.7 and Abrahams special Commendation Gen. 18.19 the want of this the Lord punishes with rejecting such children 1 Sam. 3.15 But what are these Duties 1. Oversight of the wayes of the Family that they yield outward Obedience to God and particularly in Sanctifying the Sabbath You shall finde Religion lives and dies as men are exact or remiss in observing the Sabbath And it is observeable that the very words of the fourth Commandment doth expresly binde all Masters of Families which is not to be found in any other Commandment Thou and thy Son and thy Daughter Exod. 20.10 the Lord speaks by name to Family-governours as if it were to make them Overseers of sanctifying the Sabbath 2. To instruct them in matters of Religion that they may not onely profess it but feel the power of it in life and conversation Thus were Parents commanded of old Deut. 6.7 Prov. 22.6 2 Tim. 3.15 3. A careful Endeavour that they may profit by the Publick Ministry When Ministers work in Publick is done the Family work begins for this see Christs example Mark 4.13 4. A declaration of the admirable works of God for his people Josh 4.6 21. Psal 22.31 78.4 5. By giving them a good Example Precept without Patterns will do little good you must lead them to Christ by Examples as well as Counsel you must set your selves first and speak by Lives as well as words you must live Religion as well as talk Religion Josh 24.15 This is rather to be attended because Families are the Seminaries of Church and Common-wealth Keep the Lord with you in Families and keep him then in all Societies let him go thence and he will quickly go from the rest Here begins all Apostacy and degeneration the ruine of Churches and Country springs from thence Ruine Families and ruine all So on the other hand keep God there and keep him every-where The Generation to come will reap the fruit of Family-Education such Children as you bring up such Parents will they be when you are gone to their Children and such Children shall they have who are Parents in the next Generation You then that are Governours of Families are the very making or marring of the world Psa 144.12 Unless Posterity be polished hewn and squared by Domestical Discipline they are never fit to be stones in Gods building Are not some Parents worse then that rich Glutton who being in Hell desired concerning his fathers house that they might be forewarned and therefore desired Abraham to send Lazarus to his brethren to testifie to them that they come not to the place of torment Luke 16.27 28 But you will not admonish them you will not teach them Moses and the Prophets you will not shew them the danger hanging over their heads you will not lead a good Example before them while you live Oh! you may fear that your Children one day will curse you and wish that they had been the Children of Indians rather 3. Keep as much of God as you were wont to do in your own Hearts and Conversations Suffer not the Lord to go away in any degree or measure out of your hearts In a word keep up the life and power of godliness in your own Souls The Lord never takes away his visible presence from the succeeding Generation unless he take away his secret inward presence from former Generations The second Generation seldome or ever prove totall Apostates but the first are deep secret Heart-revolters Heart-sins in the first grow up into Life-sins in the second if you decline at all they will decline altogether The loss of the first love is enough to remove the Candlestick Rev. 2.4 5. You complain against the Pride Profaneness of young ones and alas that there is such cause Oh but who is there amongst you that cries out of the secret sins of their own hearts Those sins of a second growth of Profaneness in some Worldliness in many Deadness and Formality in all Ah! who is it that looks on the hard heartedness impenitency of this second Generation and sayes that now the Lord is punishing my hard heartedness upon my Childe he is whipping me on his back Men Brethren and Fathers You had once another Spirit had you not A right New-England Spirit Oh! should I knock at your breast and ask Is the old Zeal Love Heavenly-mindedness that was in this Heart twenty thirty years ago is it there still Are you the same men you were Are you not strangely changed Have you as much of God as you had Hath not the World got something Wife and Children something Trials and Temptations of a New Place or hard beginnings got something Oh! have you not lived to see much of your former life and godliness laid in the grave Have you the same Hearts you had Are your worst dayes now as good as your best then so it is with growing Saints that live much with God Or rather is not the contrary true that you are grown old and grown cold cold indeed cold at heart Aged in years and decayed in power of godliness But why do I complain Let me perswade Oh recover recover strength for your own Souls sake and for the sake of the Generation that is to come after you How can you hope that you should ever finde much of the Lords Presence if you that once had it lose it and see it no more If in your time Profession and Lukewarmness go hand in hand together then in those that come after you Profession and Profaneness shall go hand in hand together If you keep your Religion and Forms with their buts they that succeed will be Professors with their buts You are Christians Ay! but old but dead but lifeless They shall be Professors but vicious but jeering but scoffing but drinking Companions What hopes that the next Generation will ever enjoy much of the Presence of Gods grace and power of godliness if you see it dead and buried before you go to your graves I remember what the Prophet Elijah said to Elisha if he could see when he was taken up in the fiery Chariot it should be so but if not it should not be so 2 Kings 2.10 I allude to it thus If the Rising Generation could see you going to Heaven with a great measure of Zeal Life Spiritualness then there might be some hopes that they that are left behinde might enjoy a double portion of your Spirit but if they see your Life lost Love cooled Godliness decayed how can it be 4. Lay out Faith and Prayer for them to the utmost There is no help in Earth but there is help in Heaven Plead with God and plead hard Believe and believe strongly Pray more
been blown Not onely the Trumpet of Gods Works but of his Word also hath sounded loud in our ears Shall it be forgotten that the Lord did long since stir up the Spirit of that holy Man of God Mr. Shepard to Preach many Sermons from 2 Chron. 12 8 There are solemn Passages in those Sermons too many here to be mentioned And elswhere the same Author hath awfull Expressions In one place he thus speaketh (d) On the Parable of the Virgins p. 96. O New-England New-England I dare not yet tell thee what Christ Iesus hath to say to thee In another place thus (e) In Sound Believer p. 250 first Edit Verily I am afraid such a dismall night is towards such sore Afflictions of Famine War Blood Mortality Death of Gods precious Servants especially that the Lord will fill the hearts of all Churches Families Christians that shall be saved in those dayes with such rendings rearings shakings anguish of spirit as scarce never more in the worst days of our forefathers that this shall continue until the remnant that escape shall say Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord Blessed be the face and feet of that Minister that shall come unto us in Christs Name And again (f) Ibid. p. 346. Verily the time draweth on wherein the Lord will come for fruits from his Vineyard and if he findes it not assuredly he will not be beholding to us for obedience He can raise his glory out of other people and carry his Gospel to them who shall bring forth the fruits of it The Lord will shortly lay his Ax to the Root of our Tree and if we will not serve the Lord in this good Land in the abundance of peace and mercy we shall serve our enemies in hunger cold and nakedness Thus he And (g) Mr. Norton in the Life of Mr. Cotton p. 46 47. another that was once a famous Seer in our Israel had solemn thoughts concerning this thing who saith Now our Candlesticks cannot but lament in darkness when their Lights are gone and the thrones of David mourn that so many of our late Worthies can be seen there no more our desireable men that remain remove from us and few there are that return And as for those that rise up amongst our selves such is the portion of this Jerusalem that though for her time she hath not been an unfruitful Mother yet they are but few that will guide her amongst all the sons whom she hath brought forth yea very few that take her by the hand of all the sons that she hath brought up What the Counsel of the Lord is concerning the bereaved Churches of New-England is a solemn and awful Meditation The non-considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come was a sympromatical and threatning incogitancy in Isaiahs time c. Now if the Lord should be provoked to deprive succeeding Generations of the Gospel New-England which hath been a Goshen will become the darkest place under Heaven Yet I cannot but here further take notice of the weighty words which are fallen from a judicious Pen writing to a people that once enjoyed great and precious Mans of grace Such a lamentable condition saith (h) Dr. Tuckney in his Epistle on Mr. Cottons Book or Eccles be hath been and may be the lot of such places and people which God hath sometimes highly honoured when they grow fat and wanton together Beth-el hath proved Beth-aven In after-time we finde young profane Mockers in Bethel and scornful Neuters in Penael Go to Shiloh Think of the sometimes glorious Churches of Asia As Empires and Kingdomes so particular Churches have their periods I have sometimes on purpose visited some places where God hath before planted his Church and a faithful Ministry to see if I could discern any footsteps and remembrances of such a mercy and lo they were all grown over with thorns and nettles had covered the face thereof and the stone wall thereof is broken down and which is more sad in some of them never in others very hardly built up again God proving severe when we grow wanton and so as he removeth the Candlestick when we play or fight by the light of the Candle set up in it So he is very hardly induced to set it up again in that place where it hath been wantonly or frowardly put out There are more hopes of recovering a particular person fallen by virtue of an Everlasting Covenant made with him but a particular Church or people unless it be that of the Jews who in the great lubile after their Rejection shall again return to their former possessions cannot claim the like priviledge of such a Covenant The Ark never returned to the same place from whence it was in a way of judgement removed And the glory of the Lord when after its gradual removes was at last quite gone from the first Temple was not fully restored in the second untill Christs first coming nor will it be in their Rejection till his second I think there will be found very few instances of Gods Presence and Ordinances long enjoyed by a people and after abused and rejected if thereupon lost easily if at all restored The Faith once delivered to the Saints is not wont to be either received or lost the second time c. Haec ille I omit here the Conjecture of Learned (i) See his letters to D. Twyss conjectura de Gogo Magogo Mede that the Apocalyptical Gog and Magog shall arise out of America Our making no (k) See a dysng Testimony against this evil in the ensuing Sermons p. 24 25. difference between the Children of the Church and the Children of Infidels bath a direct tendency thereunto Now Mercy forbid that these things should ever be verified upon New-England Yet it must needs be acknowledged that the Gospel hath not been valued as it ought to have been But Beloved although I have thus spoken I intend not thereby any reflection upon you who were the peculiar Charge of him whose dying words are thus revived before you You have approved your selves an obedient people unto them who have had the rule over you Oâ—lâ— it remaineth Brethren that you be stedfast in the Faith and Order of the Gospel which your blessed Pastor did from the Lord instruct you in Remember also his Conversation Some of your selves observed that in his latter years he grew exceedingly in the grace of God which caused you to fear and say that you should not enjoy him long because you saw that he was ripe for Heaven Sic Rosa sic Violae primà moriuntur in herbà Candida nec toto lilia mense nitent Follow him as he followed Christ Then as you were his Joy here you will be his Crown when you shall see him again in another and a better World I rest From my Study in Boston in N. E. 1.1 1671. Yours in the Lord Jesus Increase Mather
in respect of the Lords Presence Jer 44.17 18. Then we had plenty of victuals and were Well and saw ro evil but since wanted all things have been consumed by the sword and by the famine They take notice of outward plenty and outward scarcity of abundance and plenty respecting things of this life but as to the Lords Presence with them not a word spoken of that As mens hearts upon serious consideration of the Lords nearness to or removal from them are affected or not affected therewith so is the Lord answerably abiding with or leaving of a People The Lord is farre gone when there is no enquiry whether he be gone or no. Oh what cause of awakening upon this account What is the stirring Enquiry of men in these dayes What is the solemn Enquiry that passeth from man to man from Plantation to Plantation from Generation to Generation Is this the Enquiry of the old and gray-headed Oh is the Lord with us as he was wont to be Is this the demand of the Rising Generation Have we as much of the Presence of God as our fathers before us had Do we live as near are we as much acquainted with God Is the same Spirit poured out upon us that was on them 2. When the Lord takes away the chief Instruments and Means of his Presence and gracious Blessing to a People When men have a minde to depart and remove their dwelling they will send away their Plate and such things as are of greatest worth and price with them so here Is not the Lord packing up the chief Goods he hath and removing them away when he takes away Props and Pillars this declares that he hath left the house and cares not much though it tumbles down Isa 3.1 3 8. When Ordinances are gone and they that should dispense them gone this is a sign that God himself is gone 2 Chron. 15.2 A Generall when he gives order to remove his Standard it is an evidence that he himself is resolved to go thence so it is here As such are pledges of the Lords Presence so their removal especially when there are not others of the like grace and holiness to stand up and fill their places declare that the Lord is upon his departure It went full ill with Israel when Joshua and the Elders that out-lived Joshua were gathered to their fathers It was a true and weighty speech of one viz. That the Deaths of godly Elders oft proves deaths-Deaths-day of Religion or at least the day of Deaths wound to Religion It s both a sign and an occasion of degeneracy and so of the Lords Spirit departing from a people There is a special hand of Gods Providence exercised in the decease of his Worthies It is either in great wrath or in great mercy If it awaken not to a Spirit of Mourning and Supplication unfeigned and universal Repentance it s a sure sign it s in wrath and speaks nothing but woe to that people Isa 57.1 The righteous perisheth and no man layeth it to heart and merciful men are taken away none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come When the Kings special Favourites are dismissed from Court it s a token the King intends to remove from that place where his Majesty was wont to reside So when God dismisseth his righteous ones it is a sign that he himself will be gone ere long 3. When outward prosperity is unsanctified When the abounding of temporal blessings is accompanied with the abounding of sin Though prosperity in it self be of that nature that it is hand to judge of love or hatred presence on absence of God with or from a people thereby yet as it is attended or accompanied so it is evidential though not in it self yet in the effects and concomitants and consequents of it when prosperity falls on a people that have learned to want as well as to abound when creatures are means to convey divine favour from God and hearty obedience unto God then they are signs of the Lords presence with a people Joel 2.26 But when men have prosperity outward riches and know not what to do with them besides making gods of them this is a sign that the Lords gracious presence is not among a people when men lose Religion in the world and what they get in temporals they lose in Spirituals Psal 106.15 Outward prosperity is a worm at the root of godliness so that Religion dies when the World thrives Dent. 28.47 32.15 There is sometimes a palpable difference as to Holiness between a low under state and a flourishing thriving condition for the former see Zeph. 3.11 for the latter see Hos 13.6 Oh consider the time was when less of the world but was there not more of Heaven less Trading Buying Selling but more Praying more watching over our own hearts more close walking less plenty and less iniquity men lay aside old Prayer are almost afraid to put up the New-England Prayer Lord keep me poor and keep me humble In a word if I were to point out a people from whom God is going by one sure Character it should be this Such people as can make up that they want in God with the prefence of the Creature can stop the crannies and fill empty places of the Heart with Creatures and Creature-comforts they have not so much as they were wont to have yet can fill up the room of God with worldly delights though God be absent yet if they can get more of the world that serves turn Jer. 2.13 Hence mens hearts say How shall I live without my State Honour Peace Friendship but not How shall I live without God 4. When a Spirit of Division and Contention in matters of Gods Worship is the Spirit of the Times and thence Religion turns into Faction that is an evidence that the Lord is a leaving of a people The Lord cares not to dwell in a shaking tottering house long A Spirit of Love and Unity is an evidence of the Lords presence God is love and where love rules God dwells 1 Joh. 4.16 where Brethren live together in unity there the Lord commands the blessing even life for evermore Psal 133.1 3. Unity keeps God amongst a people 2 Cor. 13.11 but when Societies crack in pieces room is made for God himself to be gone What father loves to dwell among fighting and quarrelling children His voice to such is I 'le be gone untill you agree When a House is a-fire what wise man will continue therein Again a Spirit of Contention is an evidence of Gods anger and displeasure against a people Lam. 4.16 and speaks ruine each to other Judg. 9.20 23. Numb 21.28 29. especially when a blessing is taken away from the means of healing Jer. 14.18 Hence this evil follows upon such division that Religion is turned into Faction Godliness lyes in Parties and Siding and in this and that particular Apprehension As Jehu destroyed the house of Ahab and the Worshippers
and speed better the Lord will suffer himself to be Commanded in this case Isa 45.11 you have very good hold of God in the Word Deut. 30.6 and when you pray you must pray feelingly i. e. with a heart sensible of their sins Let the sins of the Rising Generation be the burthen of the first Generation their Unbelief the matter of their Complaint before the Lord. Many complain their Children have not such Priviledges as they ought I pray God grant that they may all have what the Lord hath appointed for them But alas where is the man that complains that his Childe wants saving knowledge of Jesus Christ Oh where is the Parent that sayes in bitterness of Soul My Childe hath a hard Heart and a proud Will an unteachable Spirit Civil he is but alas that 's all the Religion I can see Oh that there were more of those Complaints in secret before the Lord I verily believe the Lord will awaken a Spirit of Prayer before he gives us any sure pledges of his abiding with us in all sorts of men amongst us See how David prayes for Solomon 1 Chron. 29.19 and this will fetch blessings Win it in Heaven and wear it in Earth Monica Austin's Mother after she had cried and wept to a godly Minister for her then ungodly Son was answered by that good man Fieri nequit ut filius tantarum lachrymarum pereat It cannot be that a Childe of so many Prayers and Tears should perish And it is observeable That before the Lord give out any special Generation-mercy he humbles he prepares his people for that mercy by deep humiliation he usually layes them exceeding low as in first Conversion with respect to personal mercies so with respect to Generation-mercy The continuance of the Lords Presence Generation after Generation is a very signal mercy and God the Lord will humble his people in order to this mercy and this humiliation will cause you to sanctifie Gods Name though he should take away his Presence Ezek. 3.12 Secondly He brings a sentence of death on the mercy that to the eye of Sense and Reason there is no likelihood that ever it should come to pass nay it grows more unlikely every day then other as with Israel in Egypt Exod. 5. Isaac must be bound laid on the Altar the knife at his throat that so Faith might receive him as it were from the dead Truly this makes me hope that the Lords Presence may yet continue with his people in our Generations because that mercy seems to be a dead mercy There is no likelihood that it should be so the knife is at Isaac's throat Faith can fetch Isaac from the Altar Isa 26.19 When Churches are dead and the Members of Churches are dead yet then the Covenant lives the Promise lives Oh look to the Lord in that word Isa 65.22 to the end and 62.9 5. If you would have God to be with you and yours after you then see that you each one in your respective places are with and for the Lord You have the duty and encouragement laid before you 2 Chron. 15.2 A professing People they alwayes break with God first before he breaks with them 'T is the very end of the Lords works and dispensations to you that so you might be for him Isa 43.21 Quest But you will say What is this to be with the Lord How shall we be so with or for the Lord as that we may be sure he will still be with and for us Ans Work and work for God in your several capacities Parents Husbands Wives if you do not work for him you are not with him Mark 13.34 He gave to every man his work and therefore it is that their working with God is said to be a being with God Hos 9.8 The watchmen of Ephraim was with my God i.e. they did the work of God and so walking with God as you may see by that of David 1 Kings 4. and of Hezekiah 2 King 18.6 7. 2. Be for the special interest of God Mat. 12.30 He that is not with me is against me Zech. 9.7 He that remaineth shall be for our God i.e. for his Glory for his Christ for his Cause Labour therefore for a Publick Spirit let all your own interest give way to his Oh let nothing be dear in comparison of Christ and his interest Acts 20.24 To be of a private Spirit is not to be for God 3. In a special manner see that you are for his Institutions This is called the Kingdome of God Acts 1.3 If for Christ then for his Kingdome That man is not for God or Christ that is not for Ordinances These are called the Name of Christ Acts 15.14 16. He that is not for building Gods Tabernacle would not indeed that God should have a Name amongst men Remember what you said when you came into the Church Isa 44.5 I am the Lords especially see that you be for those Institutions and Ordinances that are ordained by Christ to bring the Rising Generation into a professed subjection unto the Gospel of Christ Oh take heed how we turn them out of Gods Inheritance lest you bring a curse upon your Souls and their Souls after you 1 Sam. 28.19 When God takes them into his Covenant he saith he will be a God to them Gen. 17. Take heed how you deny them any part in the Lord lest thereby they turn to serve other gods Josh 22.24 25. Where the Lord will enlarge Covenant-mercy Oh tremble to straighten it or bound it to the Precepts of men we and our poor Children after us have need enough of all the grace of the Covenant let us not despise it or cast them out our selves from it If that be the Lords word that the children of his servants shall continue and their seed be established before him Psal 102.28 Labour not to make that Promise of no effect Most certain it is that the Lords Presence is to be sought and enjoyed in Gods Wayes and in them only Will the Lord abide with a Generation that have nothing to do with a Church-state Ordinances Ministry and the visible outward Administrations of the things of his House I know he may for a while But will he long No verily if they must have nothing to do with these God will have nothing to do with them 6. Maintain a Spirit of Love towards God and towards one another If you love he will not leave you Be not like Ephesus that lost their first love but repent and do your first works Rev. 2.3 Love is a uniting grace and will not let the person beloved go This keeps God in Heaven because nothing but love is there for where that is he will be 1 Joh. 4.18 Joh. 14.23 If ever the Lord leave you or yours after you it will be because he is not loved and if it be asked why did the Lord so soon forsake his people after that he had done so much for them the Lord will
answer and say It was because I could not have their hearts I went away for want of love Oh! it is matter of sad lamentation that there is such a spirit of dying affection towards Christ in New-England There is sad declinings in the Spirit of the Churches the Lord knows If the Lord take away any thing of his Presence they can make up the want of God in the enjoyment of the Creature as some men do when they pass by old hedges they throw bushes in and stop up gaps so do men stop all their gaps all their breaches with brambles and bushes of Creatures yea some if the Lord take away any choice mercy from them what do they do why they grow jealous of him and love him the less the reason why he takes away their beloved is that he may have their whole heart Hos 2.6 Ah! how many particular persons are there unto whom Christ is a stumbling-block some offended at one thing some at another some like not this Rule some not that Command some are displeased at this Providence and others at that Oh that you would consult with your own hearts Have you quit one lust for Christ more delight it may be in vain jollity then in secret Prayer 2. Love one to another 2 Cor. 13. Breaches make way for God to be gone 7. Get a sympathizing Spirit with the gasping groaning bleeding and dying condition of that Generation that are to succeed you Oh! look upon them with an eye of pity and let your hearts mourn much for them in secret It may be they speak not for your compassions and how shall they many of them know not their own misery but their condition calls aloud for all the Prayers Tears Faith of the Lords precious ones amongst us 1. Take a view of their present state And what is it Is it not that which justly deserves all the compassions that may be If to be without God and Christ and in danger of death and ruine every moment if to be dead to all Calls and bold and desperate in wayes of Sin and Security be a condition to be pitied many of them need pity Ah! did thy Redeemer mourn over thy Soul and hast thou no tears for others It 's said of Christ when he came to Lazarus grave He wept because he loved him Do you not go to the graves of dead Souls every day but where is your affectionate rowling of bowels where are your sighs and groans possibly one may hear you complain and bewail their deprivement of outward Priviledges Oh but where is that man and where is the woman that bewails before the Lord the Spiritual misery of young men and women that saith in secret Oh what Preaching do they enjoy what Sermons do they hear what Means do they partake of Oh but what hearts have they Oh how blinded how hardened how unperswadeable as if the the Lord sent his Messenger upon that errand Isa 6.10 2. Consider present Providences and they call for pity and compassion towards them The things that concern their peace and comfort cannot be effected and accomplished for their good much talking but little practising Nay that which concerns their Interest is made the Butt of Contention as if the Lord would divide his people when they are conspiring to promote the welfare of the Rising Generation Again those that are most likely to promove their best good are snatched away apace one after another What will become of poor Children when Heads of Families die what will become of unskilful Passengers when Pilot and able Steer-man is taken away What will become of this Generation when these that should lead them and light them in the way of Heaven may not live out half their dayes amongst them ☞ Deus avertat O 〈◊〉 Good Lord let not that befall them that sometime did Israel of old that they should have such Prophets as should make them vain and speak a vision of their own hearts and not out of the mouth of the Lord that should say to them that despise God The Lord hath said ye shall have peace and to every one that walketh in the imagination of his own heart No evil shall come to you so that they should strengthen the hand of evil doers that none return from his wickedness but that from the Prophets of Jerusalem profaneness shall go forth into all the Land Jer. 23.14 16 19. Again 3. If you look to what their condition is like to be at last Will God bear alwayes with a carnal unsavoury Generation Must they not bring good fruit or else will they not be in danger to be cut down Mat. 3.10 Will a few Leaves of Civility and Formality save them from the curse will such lifting up to Heaven not make way to the thrusting down to Hell Mat. 11.23 This I will say that amongst the posterity of a professing people they will either be the most happy or the most unhappy Generation Oh! go get a spirit of pity then You can do but little but can you not pray have you no bowels have you no tears Oh go draw them on to godliness bring them near to God by Faith and Prayer yea and by all wayes of his appointment count it not want of grace so to do Whether think you had more grace Christ or his Disciples yet we see Christ was tender towards Children and loth to reject them when as his Disciples were rigid towards them But it is time for us to address our selves to this present Generation I may speak unto you in the words of Daniel Dan. 5.27 Wherefore let my Counsel be acceptable unto you retain the Lords Presence with you I know it is a very difficult thing to speak prevailingly unto a Generation that have been brought up under the solemn Warnings of Gods Word and yet not wrought upon It 's a very difficult thing to do good in a backsliding time when men have been accustomed to send away the Lord from their hearts It 's now a hard work to perswade men to hold him by main strength and not to let him go In times of degeneracy there is not much likelihood of doing much good Jer. 25.3 4 5. Secure hearts that have had many Means many Warnings many Years and not awakened if one should rise from the dead to such an one he will do little good Luke 16.31 Yet I will try once more what the Lord will do though me thinks my work is something like Ezekiels Chap. 37. who was there commanded to prophesie over dead bones I know I have dead hearts to deal withall but yet the Lord may breathe the breath of life into them Therefore O Generation see ye the word of the Lord Jer. 2.31 You that are the succeeding and surviving Generation whatever you part with part not with God keep God with you whatever you keep or not keep And to stir up hereunto let me spread before you these Considerations 1. That the Lord will
most undoubtedly leave and forsake you unless you do to the utmost of what you can do to keep him amongst you The Lord is resolved on it he will not abide with you except you do besiege him with your prayers tears cries and groars not to be gone Solomon did no more then need required when he cried to him Be with us Verily the Lord will not thrust himself upon such a Generation as do but little care for his Presence If you are of an indifferent spirit at a kinde of disway in your own thoughts as it were the Lord will soon resolve the case Psa 132.11.12 And therefore take the Counsel the Lord gives Jer. 6.8 Be instructed lest my soul depart from you Make no other account but the Lord will take away his Presence and leave you desolate except you rowse up out of your Security and be more in earnest with him then you have been hitherto Those endeavours that you have put forth will not keep God amongst you If you seek him with all your heart and soul you may finde him Deut. 4. and after the same manner that he is sound he is kept amongst a people and therefore I may make use of those words Who is on the Lords side who Who is bent to keep the Presence of God with them as he was with their fathers who Ah! how will you ever be able to stand before God men or your own Consciences another day when it shall be charged upon you that it was because of your sloth and negligence supine security that God is gone from the midst of you Mot. 2. There is no little Expectation concerning you You are a Generation of great hopes and great fears The Lord expects much from you that you will do much for the glory of his Name Isa 63.8 He said Surely they are children that will not lie he hath been expecting a long time Luke 13.7 and your predecessors those that have been before you all their expectations under God himself are in you they hope you will stand up in their stead and bear up the Cause of Religion when they are gone And so also you are a Generation of great fears some they have a holy fear concerning you such a fear as was sometimes in the heart of Job towards his Children Chap. 1. lest you should sin against God lest you should forget God and the things of God yea the Lord is pleased to express himself so as if he had some fears concerning the rising and succeeding Generation of a professing people Psal 78.5 And some they have a sinful fear Satan and all wicked men they are affraid what you will do they are affraid lest you should strengthen what your fathers have done before you And I pray take notice what you have in your hands it is to promove or interrupt the glory of Religion you will be instrumentall above what your fathers have been either to the advantage or disadvantage of Religion the Name of Christ will either gain or lose much by you If two Generations be for God and the wayes of God this will be for the honour of Gods Name and therefore it is that the Lord is so delighted in his Name I am the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob the God of three Generations it 's greatly for the glory of God when Truth hath the advantage of a double Generation so on the contrary Religion will suffer exceedingly if you desert it If it be said 1 Chron 28.1 that the very children pulled down what their fathers builded this will cast dishonour upon the way they walked in Judg. 2.17 and the Lord complains of wrong and reproach cast upon him when men turn away from him to wayes of sin Jer. 2.5 I may allude to the words of Paul spoken in another case 1 Cor. 9.15 It were better for me to die then that any should make my glory void it were better for you to die then that Gods Name should suffer by you as it will suffer if you keep not the Lords Presence with you Oh take heed what you do take heed how you sad the heart of God and godly men and how you glad the heart of Satan and the wicked Mot. 3. Consider that it is the turn of your Generation to stand up for God and what can you do for him if he be not with you Elders are gathered away both in Church and Common-wealth their work is done as to many of them already and the Gospel and Ordinances are to be transmitted into your hands the Affairs of Christs Kingdome will be upon your shoulders Your fathers before you served God in their Generation Judg. 2.7 Acts 13.36 they lived and died in the faith of the Gospel and the profession thereof and now you come to act your part the Lords voice to you is Look you now to it I trusted your fathers and gave them my Laws and Statutes and they were faithful to their death and now they rest from their labours and their works follow them and now I put the like upon you that I did upon them Oh how will you manage this betrustment without the Lords Presence Consider 1. The greatness of your Generation work 't is too heavy for the shoulders of any Angel in heaven to bear Look at personal concerns look at publick concerns it s not work for men for our selves but for God 2. The dayes wherein you live are backsliding times evil dayes 2 Tim. 3.1 times of great degeneracy and Apostacy Alas little humble walking now little self-denial little holiness Oh how weighty and difficult is their work that are now called out to stand up for Christ It is difficult at any time Onus humeris Angelicis formidandum as Chrysostom saith concerning the work of the Ministry A burthen that the shoulders of Angels might shake to come under but especially in such times wherein we are fallen How hard is it to keep up an House when it 's falling down to keep the Ship from sinking when the leak that is sprung hath almost filled it with water 3. The hands that help they are but few and those that hinder are many what can be done at such a time as this if the Lords presence be not with us Mot. 4. You have many special Engagements to hold God with you he is your fathers God and not willing to leave you The holy Ghost gives counsel not to forsake our fathers friend Prov. 27.9 much less your fathers God It 's an heart-endearing consideration that God was the God of Relations this helps to sweeten the presence of God to us as men in other things they will not part with what was their Progenitors Oh this was my fathers and I will not part with it so here Exod. 15.2 he is a God left commended and bequeathed to you by your fathers Those that knew how good he was left this with you as their most weighty Counsel that whatever you did you would make choice of the Lord to be your God 1 Chro. 28.9 1 Kin. 2.3 4. 3. You have the pattern and example of those that were before you to encourage hereunto what is it not well with them did they not live in peace and die in comfort Peace and truth was in their dayes they never repented of their choice they made verily their holiness will be a dreadful witness against you when the Lord shall say as Jer. 22.15 16. But Gods Presence was life to them we may well say as Ruth 1.16 Intreat me not to leave thee or to return from following after thee whither thou goest I will go thy people shall be my people and thy God my God 4. The cost and care that Predecessors have been at that so they might leave God with children is to be seriously thought of they may say of the Gospel and Ordinances thereof as 2 Sam. 23.17 They purchased them with hazard of their lives as sometimes Jacob gave Joseph a blessing that he took out of the hand of the Amorites with his sword and bowe Gen. 48.22 Mot. 5. What will become of you if God be not with you what a condition will you then be in if God leave you and cast you out of his sight Jer. 16.12 13. 1. Your sins will be worse then the sins of others 2 Kin. 21.11 2. You will not be one whit better in respect of any Spiritual advantage that you have sprung from those that had the Lord to be their God Ezek. 16.2 3 4 5. Isa 57.3 4. 3. The want of Gods Presence will bring a curse upon all blessings and make your condition more miserable then the worst In this life nothing but plagues woes miseries Hos 3.3 Deut. 31.17 yea enemies that shall prey on you will pretend they do it justly Jer. 50.7 Ordinances Sabbaths Sermons shall blinde harden and seal you up in sin Oh! to be prayed heard wept down to Hell how dreadful is that You shall be plagued above others Amos 3.2 Gods hand will follow you Judg. 2.15 and at last you shall die in sin Ezek. 18.9 10. and be cast off for ever 1 Chron. 29.9 Jer. 16.12 13. and go to Hell though the children of Abraham Luk. 16.24 your godly Parents will be so far from helping you that they will rejoyce and bless God for executing Justice upon you to all Eternity neither your fathers nor the God of your fathers will own you But oh let it be our prayer and care that the Lord our God may be with us as he was with our fathers let him not leave us nor forsake us REader The Author had intended another Sermon by way of Direction to those of the Rising Generation to shew them what course they must take that so the Lords gracious Presence may be successively continued But here God took him 〈◊〉 serving his Generation who are by reason of the Authors death deprived of the bâ—â—â—fit of those Meditations