is departed from Israel and she named her Son lâ—habod that is â—here is the glory 1 Sam. 4 2â—.22 As if she had said you tell me of the Birth of a Son but where is the Glory of Israel you shew me a Son indeed but can you shew me the Glory no alass the Glory is departed from Israel for the Ark of God is taken The Ark of God was the glory in her eyes But how many among us are there to whom Fâ—oâ—ks and Herds and Earthly Enjoyments are Glory as they were to Labans Sons Gen. 31.1 rather then the Ark of God's presence and his Holy Ordinances where is that love to the Word that affection to Sacraments that longing for Sabbaths and Lecture dayes that holy care to prepare for a meeting with God at such times and to improve them that was wont to be among us Oh that old love and zeal and affection to the Ordinances and Messengers of Christ though it abideth blessed be God with some still is much abated and loâ—t as to the generality of Professors in this Country How Beautiful have the Feet of those that brought the Glad tidings of the Gospel been but now how burdensome that Ministers are reckoned Bills of Charges and were it not for shame I doubt some people could be well enough without them or would entertain and set up any piece of ignorance and confidence that would be cheap enough to dispense the Oracles of God and the Holy Mysteries of Religion unto them rather then to be at the charge to procure and provide for men of Worth and Ability This very thing would make one fear that New England hath seen its best dayes noâ— is it to be wondred at if this undervaluation of the Ordinances of God be attendâ—d with great unfruitfulness Oh what barren Figâ—reâ—s stand in this vineyard of the Lord How much of the Earth here drinks in the rain of Heaven that comes oft upon it and brings forth nothing but briars and thorns what will the end of this be but the câ—tting down of such cumbersoms-Professors and the burning them up Luk. 13.7.8 Heb. 6.8 If men like the deaf Adder shall stop their Ears and will not hearken to the voice of the wisest Charmers Psal. 58.5 Doubtless God will send Serpents and Cockâ—trices among them which will not be charmed and they shall bite them and make those feel that would not hear Jer 8 17. It was the Critical Sin of the Iews that they refused to hearken to the Word of God pulled away the shoulder stopt their Ears made their hearts as an Adamant lest they should hear the Law and the words which the Lord sent in his Spirit by the Prophets And what was the latter end of it why therefore came a great wrath from the Lord of Hosts And as he cried they would not hear so they cried and he would not hear but scattered them with a whirlwind among the Nations and thus they laid their pleasant land desolate Zech. 7.11 12 13 14. God that out of gracious respect to your Fathers and Predeâ—â—ssors that were a willing and obedient people turned this wilderness into a pleasant fruitful land can in severe wrath for your contempt of his Word and messengers turn this land into a wilderness again It is one 〈◊〉 the praise-worthy performances of God to make such Metamorphos◠〈◊〉 alterations Psal. 107.33 34 c. If he call and you refuse to hearken if he stretch out his Hand and you regard not he knows how to laugh at you calamity and mockâ— when your fear cometh as desolation and your destruction as a whirlwind Prov. 1.24 25 c. yea to be deaf to all your calls and cries in the Day of your distress anguish Would it be strange if those that will not hear the voice of the Lords Prophets should be constrained to hear the voice of Oppressors or of Prophets that should speak Lies in the Lords Name and are Prophets of the deceits of their own hearts God may justly give you Pastors not after his own heart but after your own hearts which is a dreadful judgment what can you expect but to have such Pastors as are described Ier. 23. beginn Ezek. 34. beginn He will make a Famine of his Word or smite you with penal judgements that you shall see and not see or see your selves into Blindness and hear away your hearing Ear be a people past Counsel and Instruction and contract that woful deafness which is sometimes gotten by hearing of Sermons and is most incurable and deplorable Verily God will revenge in some way that will make the hearts of men eke the quarrel of his despised Word and Ordinances if this sin and sinful frame be not timely repented of There are few I am afraid in compaâ—ison thaâ— tremble aâ— the Word of God Men are too proud and high and fâ—ll and knowing and good in their own Apprehensions to stand trembling in the presence of God and humbly to receive their Doom and Sentence from the Lord. They come now as â—uges of the Word and not to have the secrets of their hearts opened their Cases scanned and the state of their souls judged by it yea as Criticks to caâ—p and quarrel and find fault with it God will look with a look of favour and gracious aspect to them that tremble at his Word Isa. 66.2 But with such a look as he cast upon the Egyptians through the black and dark side of the cloud on all the proud men among us as those are called that disobeyed the voice of the Lord by Ieremiah Jer. 43.2 At this door came in the great calamity that befel the Iews in their seventy years captivity The Lord God oâ— their Fathers sent to them by his Messengers rising up betimes and sâ—nding because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place but they mocked the messengers of God and despised his words and misused his Prophets until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people till there was no Râ—medy 2 Chron 36.15 16. Verily God will not â—aâ—e to vindicate the Honour of his despised and abused Messengers and Ordinances 3. Consider what will be the latter End of that Worldlinesse that is among us Would not that great Apostle Paul if he were here tell you even weeping that many of you mind â—â—rthâ—y things Phi. 3.19 Is not this an Epidemical disease of Nevv-England the Strâ—in the Gâ—nius the Spirit of many Professors among us Hence general calling neglected the work of Religion goes on heavily the strength and spirits of men are exhausted or laid out on other things and they have no heart to clâ—sâ—t work to family dutyes which are neglected or slubbered and posted over shamefully Hence great Contentions about little things three-penny-mâ—tters and a little spark kindles a great fire Hence grievous oppression a Sin that was notorious in Israel and Iudah and contributed remarkâ—bly to their Calamity And are there not sad
NEW-ENGLAND Pleaded with And pressed to consider the things which concern her PEACE at least in this her Day OR A Seasonable and Serious Word of faithful Advice to the Churches and People of God primarily those in the Massachusets Colony musingly to Ponder and bethink themselves what is the Tendency and will certainly be the sad Issue of sundry unchristian and crooked wayes which too too many have been turning aside unto if persisted and gone on in Delivered in a Sermon Preached at Boston in New-England May. 7. 1673. being the Day of Election there By Vrian Oakes Pastor of the Church of Christ in Cambridge Mic. 6.3 4. O my People what have I done unto thee and wherein 〈◊〉 I wearied thee testifie against me For I brought thee up out of the 〈◊〉 of Egypt and redeemed thee out of the house of servants and I sent before thâ—â— Moses Aaron and Miriam Deut. 28.58 59. If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this Law that are written in this Book that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearfull Name the Lord thy God Then the Lord will make thy Plagues wonderful and the Plagues of thy seed even great Plagues and of long continuance and sore sicknesses c. Ezek. 18.30 Repent and turn from all your transgressions so iniquitâ— shall not be your ruine Cambridge Printed by Samuel Green 1673. Christian Reader OF all Humane Societies on Earth That which in Scripture is called Heaven Rev. 4.1 2. Cap. 12 1 3 7. viz. the Church of God and above all that parâ— of it which is most such upon the account of highest Reformation hath greatest cause to serve the Lord with Fear and rejoyce with Trembling to Fear the Lord and his goodneâ—s to Dread his jealousie and Justice and to walk humbly with her God Height of dignity Nearness of relation and Choiceness of precious Priviledges if not improved as effectual Obligations and Incitements to duty will prove sorest aggravations of sin and provocations of wrath Solomons Apostacie to Idolatry 1 King 11.9 was more then a single sin because against that God who had twice appeared to him Amos 3.2 You only have I known of all the families of the earth therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities No provokings are comparable with those of Sons and Daughters Deut. 32.19 nor is there any fall like that of Jerusalem in the day of the Lords fierce anger shee came down wonderfully because she had sinned grievously Lam. 1.8 9. The Immutable God with whom there is not found so much as a shadow of change is the same he ever was infinitely Holy to hate Just and Powerfull to punish all proud and impenitent Apostates Who ever hardned himself against him and prospered Iob 9.4 Are not the many severe threatnings recorded in Scripture firstly breathed out against this and the other Church and the dreadfull accomplishment of them unto the ruine and perdition of so many sometimes famous Societies intended to hold forth instruction to succeeding generations to the worlds end the truth of the affirmative see unquestionably proved from Rev. 2.7 17. Cap. 3.22 1 Cor. 10.6 12. Rom. 11.20 21. WEE upon whom the ends of the world are come have more places then Shiloh Jer. 7.12 to go to where is Jerusalem what 's become of Ephesus and other the sometimes so renowned golden Candlesticks Iâ— not Bethel become Bethaven and the valley of Vision turned into a valley of the shadow of Death Shall we think our selves altogether unconcerned in what befell them and conclude there are no treasures of wise pre caution and prudent prevention to be raked up out of the ashes of their ruines ought not all people to hear and fear when malefactors are hung up in chains Deut. 17.12 13. see Pro. 24.30 33. How cheap is understanding offered to those who are advantaged to purchase and procure it wholly at the cost of others Let not the manâ— pillars of Salt which stand so thick in the way of the defections of a back sliding people be heedlesly passed by without once observing and considering what they have from God to acquaint us with When the dead are not dumb let not the living be deafe but hear and lay it to their hearts O that we were wise that we understood this that we would consider our latter end To direct herein and press hereto was the Pious design of the Reverend Author of this Treatise in the day whereon he was called to preach it as a message from God to a great and honourable Assembly of his people The only impression then in his heart to desire and pray for was That upon the spirits of all humble hearers of and tremblers at the word of God present but by the concurrent and importunate intreaties of very many his Brethren in the Ministry pressingâ— it as a hopefull Mean of glorifying God and furthering the best good of his â—lear people in this Country he hath been at last prevailed with to permit it to pass through the press into the hands of such as desire to peruse and make a pious improvement of it Amongst the many things which as to the decaying and almost dying state of this poor Country are of a very solemn signification and awfull import there are some that in a valley of Consternation seem to hold open a Door of hope we shall take the liberty to mention two of them First The number and that we hope considerable of mourning faithfull believing praying Souls these how ever over-looked and looked down upon with scorn enough and possibly accounted the troublers of our 〈◊〉 by the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as they are called 2 Tim. 3.2 men in their own conceits of a higher Elevation and streine of profession then others are yet upon a true account the Iâ—â—hin and Boaz Pillars and Strength of our Temple-buildings the Salt of our Land and the Chariots and Horsemen of our Israel Unto the seven thousand who in the dayes of Elijah had not bowed to Baal and lay like the foundation of some structure hidden and unseen did that Apostate people owe their not being utterly destroyed they were the Braces which held together the shaking parts of that almost rotten building when beside their own sins they had against them the prayers of so great a Prophet who upon his knees had wrought wonders O pray that the number and graces of such supporting Pillars may be more and more increased unto a lengthning out of our Tranquility The Second is That a Spirit of Zeal for and Faithfullness to the glory of the blessed God and the best good of his dear people hath not hitherto through grace failed from those whom our glorious Lord and Saviour hath been pleased to send forth and make use of as his mouth and messengers to his poor saints and servants wildering in these American desarts Have they not been heard crying aloud and lifting up their voice like a trumpet shewing Gods people
their transgression and the house of Iacob their sins have they not in the feare of the Lord conscientiously declined and abhorred to palliate dawbe and flatter and upon the account of a carnall interest to couple in and comply with men of corrupt principles and designes May they not with some measure of holy boldness and good conscience say as that great Apostle Acts 20.26 27. that brow beatings censures reproaches calumnies and contempts notwithstanding they have not shunned to declare all the counsel of God if denyed the Pulpits and seats of our houses of publick worship will attest it and New-England what ever the issue be of the contest between her and Christs Embassadours to her shall know that there have been Prophets among them The Eminent faithfulness of the judicious Author which is his praise in our gates in his thorow and home-plain dealing in this Sermon or Treatise as we believe it acceptable to God so we are perswaded it will procure it a friendly reception and entertainment in all humble hearts For such as are otherwise affected let them have thy pitty and prayers Now the good Lord â—ouchsafe so to Assist and Bless his poor Builders and Watchmen that they may not build and watch in vain and so spare and save his people that they may be kept from falling and be presented faultless before the presence of his Glory with exceeding joy Which is the hearts desire and prayer of us Who are Thine in him who is both Lord and Christ. Iohn Sherman Thomas Shepard DEUTERONOMIE 32.29 O that they were wise that they understood this that they would consider their latter end BLessed Moses that Renowned Servant of the Lord and King in Ieshurun having served his own Generation by the Will of God and performed his high and honourable Undertaking in Leading and conducting that untractable rebellious People of Israel to the borders of Canaan and after many Temptations and Exercises in the Wast and Howling Desart brought them to a fair view and near prospect of that long promised and much desired Land was just now ready to deliver up his trust and resigne the weighty charge of that great Congregation unto Ioshua his servant and successor on whom it was devolved by the immediate order and disposal of the Lord. You have in this Chapter his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 His Swan like Song or his Farewell Sermon as I may not ineptly call it dictated to him by the Spirit of God and delivered by him to that people at his departure from them into another World And it is a very precious and a stately portion of Scripture The Hebrews say of this Song of Moses that it is a Summary of the whole Law wherein mention is made of Gods Magnificence the Creation of the World the One true God that is to be Worshipped tâ—â— Generation of the Flood the Division of Languages and Lands the Eâ—â—â—ction and Separation of the Children of Israel for the peculiar Treasure 〈◊〉 Inheritance of the Lord the benefits conferred upon them in the Wildâ—â—ness the future Resurrection of the dead with many other things of grâ—â—â— importance and concernment You may well call it a Song of Degreâ—â— as David doth some of his Psalme in respect of the superlative excellency of it It is certainly a Prophetical Song wherein we have a prediction or Prophetical Declaration of what the Lord the God of their Fathers would do for that people of Israel in that good Land of Canaan and of the manner of their demeanour and deportment of themselves there Moses by the spirit of Prophesie gives us in this Chapter as in a true Glasâ— the feature of that People as it look'd in after-times He begins the 〈◊〉 with a Rhetorical pathetical Apostrophe wherein there is a most 〈◊〉 and weighty contestation or appeal to Heaven and Earth importing the deafness and stupidity of his hearers that he had as good apply his speech to sensless and inanimate Creatures as to them and the great concernment of what he had to speak as fit and worthy that Heaven and Earth and all the World should hearken to it After his Exordium Proem or Preface wherein he labours to procure Benevolence Attention and Docility You have 1. A Narrative wherein he commemorates the great benefits which had been and were to be conferred on that people from ver 4. to 15. The Lord took special care in the first division of the habitable parts of the World that there might be an Inheritance laid out for the Children of Israel and assigned the Land of Canaan to them ver 8. He singled them out for his peculiar people ver 9. he conducted them graciously in the Wilderness ver 10. and afforded them not only safe conduct in the way but also wholsome Instructions in his Laws and Commandments ibid. He granted them protection from the many dangers they were exposed unto and was as tender and careful of them as a man is of the Apple of his Eye or the Eagle of her young ones ver 10 11. He made comfortable provision for them in their Journey introduced them into that Land flowing with Milk and Honey confirmed and settled them in Possession and Fruition of the good things of it ver 13 14. Moses mentions and records in this Song which was appointed of the Lord to be written and taught the Children of Israel that it might be a Song of Witness for the Lord against them Deut. 31.19 these and other loving kindnesses of the Lord. 2. A Prediction of the Apostacy Idolatry and horrible Ingratitude of â—â—rael from v. r. 15. to 19. They would be so far from rendring again unto the Lord according to the benefits done unto them in that good Land that 〈◊〉 would requite him evil for good and load him with their sins Amos 〈…〉 as he loaded them with his benefits All those Cords of a Man 〈◊〉 Bands of Love with which the Lord drew them to himself would not hold them or bind them fast unto him but they quickly snapt all aâ—â—nder and broke loose from all engagements and rushed on prodigiously and desperately in wayes of Provocation and Rebellion 3. A severe Commination of deserved Chastisements and Punishments from ver 19 to 36. 4. A Word of Consolation Administred unto them from ver 36 to â—â— When they should have sinned themselves into a deplorable condition so that all Humane helps and hopes failed and their case in appearance and to the eye of reason was desperate God would then awake and arise and plead their cause against insolent and injurious Adversaries and glorifie himself in their deliverance He would certainly preserve alive an Holy Seed a Remnant in the worst times and shew himself faithful and bountiful even to an undeserving people 5. The Conclusion of the song wherein he predicts the multiplication of the Church and enlargment of the Kingdom of Christ and exhorts the remnant of Israel to praise God for their deliverance from
their Babylonian Captivity and the pious converted Gentiles for the vengeance executed upon the Mystical Babylon that had detained them in spiritual bondage and especially for the expiation of their sins by Jesus Christ which is by many Expositors wise and judicious apprehended to be the sense and importance of the 43. verse Now in that part of the song which is Comminatory and includes my Text the Lord acquaints them by the hand of Mosâ—s with those dreadfull and almost unparalel'd judgments and calamities Temporal as well as Spiritual that should be inflicted and executed on the account of their intollerable Provocations yet not to 〈◊〉 and universal destruction and desolâ—â—ion Though their sins were â—â—ch as deserved utter extirpation and ruine and their provocations so greivous and unsufferable that the Lord was ready to resolve to dissipate and blow them away and make the remembrance of them to cease from among men ver 26. yet the clemency and goodness and moderation of the Lord's anger in the execution of his threatnings should appear in the preservation of a remnant the impulsive cause whereof is intimated to be the consideration of the Wrath and Insolence of the Adveâ—sary and the Dishonâ—â—â— that woulâ—d redouâ—â— to the Name of God thereby ver 27. which is â—mplified by the Antithesis of the Impulsive cause that might have moved him to destroy tâ—em utterly ver 28. God renders the reason of his severe proceedings against them why he heaped so many mischiefs and spent so many Arrows upon them ver 23. and was almost ready to blot out the Name and Memory of that People namely this Because their folly was Incureable For he doth not only signifie in those words that they did inconsiderately rush forward in wayes of sin and precipitate themselves into misery because they wanted the actual exercâ—se of judgement and sound reason but that they acted at such a rate as if there were not the least Drop or Dram of spiritual Wisdome in their hearts nor a possibility in the course of ordinary means of â—educing them ad sanam mentem as judicious Calvin observes upon the place Thereupon we have in the Words read a Pathetical Exclamation wherein the Lord after the manner of men passionately expresseth his desire that they would he spiritually wise to consider what would become of them if they held on their course of sinning against the Lord what would be the sad end and issue of their Rebellions against the God of their mercies I know indeed that some understand these words ver 28 29. as spoken of the Enemies of Israel As if the Lord had said If they were wise in deed they would not say our hand is high and the Lord hath not done all this as ver 27. nor attribute and ascribe their prosperous and victorious proceedings and the destructions they bad brought upon Israel to their Own prowess and policy but would easily understand that God had delivered up his People to misery and destruction for their sins Yea and they would consider also their own latter end that is what end remaineth for themselves also even the like dâ—struction for their great Abominations impenitently persisted in But we have no reason to recede from the received common Interpretation of the Words or question their immediate Application to the People of Israel The Words are plainly spoken of Israel the peculiar People of God in a condition of great degeneracy wherein the Lord intimates and expresseth 1. The gâ—ound and occasion of that Misery and Ruine that was comeing upon them namely their want of Counsel and Understanding ver 28. The misery that befel them at several seasons in these and those Generations was not either undeserved or accidental but as the hand of God inflicted it in a way of just severity so their incurable Folly and Unreasonableness was the meritorious cause that brought it upon them 2. The Cure the Help the only Remedy or rather that which would have saved them and secured thâ—ir Nation with all the concernments of it from those Ruines and prevâ—â—â—ed such a sad issue and calamitous event namely Wisdome ver 29. which is in the words of the Text amplified from the Act and Object thereof First The Act of this Wisdome and that is double 1. To Understand Oh that they were wise that they understood this The Word so translated signifies also to prosper and to make prosperous because though men of Understanding are not alwayes yet they are ordinarily prosperous their counsels and actions are usually attended and waiâ—ed on with success The Word therefore may import a prosperous â—â—ccessful right undâ—rstanding of things Yet it signifies an acute and â—ubtle and accurate understanding with an intense and industrious exerciâ—e of the mâ—nd and is contrary to a word Chasal or Sachal that signifies incognitancy or idle levity in the managing of things as Pagwine observes And considering the Conjugation wherein it is used it signifies to make that is to make themselves to understand Gods donation of this wisdome and understanding excludes not but supposes our endeavours to acquire it 2. To Consider The Original word hath Affinity with Banah is Avenarius notes which signifies to build A man of consideration must be like a wise Architect that disposes in his minde contrives concerâ—â—s models frames and casts the several parts of his Fabrick or building To consider is to cast and conceive and get the model or idea the Platform as it were of this or that Object in our minds And it notes a judicious fixed or abiding dijudication of things Secondly The Object of this Wisdome Understanding and Consideration and that is their latter End End in this place noteth not the final cause as when we say the last end of man is to glorifie God but the exitus the term the issue the upshot the event and the conclusion of those sinful wayes they were engaged in As when it is said the end of some way that seemeth right unto a man are the wayes of death and the end of some mirth is heaviness Prov. 14.12 13. the wisdome of that people should have exprest it self in understanding and considering the latter end of their wayes Not so much finis operantis the end intended by themselves as sinis operis the end of their wayes and doings the scope and tendency and issue of their evil and unworthy deportmentâ— should have been considered by them I shall only adde that the form of this expression in the Text is optative O that they were wise c. we meet with the like form of speech and mode of expression attributed to God in other places of Scripture As Psal. 81.13 O that my People had hearkened unto me and Israel had walked in my wayes and Isai. 48.18 O that thou hadst hearkened to my Commandments c. the like occurs in other places There is indeed some difficulty in it For you will say Obj. How can the Lord be said to wish this
signifie little where he hath to do with the ignorance the pride the perverseness the conceitedness the prejudices the opinionativeness of engaged men Many good men though in no good frame are too like him in the Comedy that said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Aristoph Plut. Thou shalt not perswade me no though thou dost perswade me I considered also that things are run much to ruine among us and gone beyond man the counsel and help of man and that it must be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God alone in some more then ordinary way of working that can retrive the Interest of Christ among us and reduce us again Probable it is that it must be some sharp affliction some smarting red or sore tryal that must come upon these Churches to reduce them generally to their old trembling frame of spirit at the Word of God and humble submission to the dispensation of it And there is great reason to conceive that many Professors may be grown Sermon-proof that we had as good preach to the Heavens and Earth and direct our discourse to the Walls and Seats and Pillars of the meeting house and say Hear O ye Walls give ear O ye Seats and Pillars as to many men in these Churches that are deaf to all that is cried in their ears by the Lords Messengers and are indâ—ed like Rocks in the Sea not to be stirred and moved by the beating and dashing of these waters of the Sanctuary or by the strongest gust of rational and affectionate discourse that can blow upon them I considered also that there may be too many even in the Bosome of New-English Churches that have lived long in that great sin of confronting the faithfull Ministers of Christ and gloried in their Rebellion against the Authority of Christ in his Churches and plausibly but falsly called it an asserting of their Liberties and Defence of the Priviledge of the Brethren and that do even religiously despise and deride those that oppose their darling Notions and he that rebuketh a scorner getteth himself a Blot It may be justly feared that it is all the Religion some men have to vilifie and traduce and low'r the reputation and Authority of the Ministers of Christ. Time was when the Messengers of Christ the Masters of Assemblies were precious and welcome even when they came with a Rod as Paul speakes 1 Cor. 4 21. and their Feet beautifull and their words very acceptable yea were as Goads and Nayls that made great Impression and took fast hoâ—d in the hearts of hearers and were greatly heeded on subh an occasion as this But now they are become the Enemies of some men because they tell them the Truth Too many professors are like Ezekiels hearers that were still talking against him by the walls in the doors of their houses even then when they would come and sit before him hear his words as comming forth from the Lord and it was as a lovely Song and a pleasant fit of musick to them Ezek. 33.30 31 32. I considered also that it is a matter of some difficulty a dangerous undertaking to search the wounds of this poor Country lest instead of Help and Healing they should be but the more enflamed irritated and exasperated thereby However having this oportunity unsought and undesired by me nay thrust upon me I shall adventure as God shall assist to speak something to the present case and condition of the Country If weakly and unadvisedly in any respect I beg pardon of God and of his People And if the Lord help to any words of wisdome I know wisdome will be justified of its Children whoever condemn it and I shall deliver my own soul and express my compassion to the souls of others and my faithfulness to the Interest of Christ in New-England and those that will not hear shall be inexcusable The condition of Affairs at this juncture calls for something In magnis voluisse sat est I beseech you lend me a patient and unprejudiced ear I design not the grieving or gratifying oâ— any party but the faithful discharge of my duty according to the known practise and laudable example of the worthy Servants of the Lord before me some of whom are yet with us and others faln asleep in Jesus on the like occasion That which I have to commend to you and entreat of you even in the bowels of Iesus Christ is the understanding serious consideration of the latâ—â— end of your unsuitable and unbecoming deportments before the Lord in this good Land which he hath graciously given you And because general Discourses affect and edifie 〈◊〉 I crave leave here to instance in some particulars that I may the better accommodate and direct you in the management of this Important Duty of considering your latter end Therefore 1. Consider what will be the latter end of that great decay of the power and practise of Godliness that is but too visible among us Are not even many old Disciples Professors of a long standing that for a long time have been accustomed to the yoke of Religion grown weary and drowsie and next unto formal and customary in their performances Though they do not possibly make any notorious and scandalous Digression and Diversion from the good wayes of God but are drudging and plodding on in a visible regular course of Obedience and Profession yet behold what a weariness is it They are not diligent and active to stir up themselves to take hold of God and work out their own salvation and forgetting the things that are behind to press towards the mark and to pursue and prosecute and reach forth unto these and those Christian excellencies which are before them How few watch and keep their garments and gird up the loins of their minds that walk and are not faint ruâ— and are not weary in the wayes of God Not but that there are yet through the great mercy of God many very many living thriving waking powerful Christians among us that have another spirit and follow God fully as Câ—â—eh did Numb 14.24 whose souls follow hard after God as he speaks Psa. 63.8 and that walk with him with much exactness according to the tenour of the Covenant with whom the Lord is well pleased and for whose sakes it fares the better with us at this day But what shall we say of the Body of Professors among us Are they not grown customary formal superficiary luke warm neither hot nor cold and what can be expected but that the Lord Jesus should grow sick of us and spue us out of his mouth as he threatned the Church of Laodicea Rev. 3.16 He that remembers the good old Spirit of Those that followed God into this wildernesâ— the Faith the Fervency the Zeal for God the good Affection to his Ordinances the dear love to his Messengers the Heavenly-mindedness the Diligence in working out their own Salvation and watching over their Hearts and Tongues and Conversations that practical Piety and power
it is conscientiously maintained by the Erroneous person and he can truly say that he believes â—t in his Conscience For then a Conscientious Papist or Socinian or Quaker the most notorious Hareticâ— in the World must be connived at and suffered yea all manner of Idolatry and Heresy must be tolerated in some persons The Tolerableness therefore of an Errour must be measured judged either from the nature of the Errour it self or some other circumstances Sometimes the Errour is not onely Extrafundamental but so small and inconsiderable and the manner of holding it forth so modest and peaceable and the Condition of the State such as that the Magistrate may keep his Sword in the Scabbard and no hurt donâ— Hence that may be tolerable in one State that is not in another As it was well said by a very worthy person in this case A weaker Body ought not to suffer that upon it self upon the account of Charity to Another that a Stronger may No doubt but it belongs to the Magistrate to judge what is tolerable in his Dominions in this respect And the Eye of the Civâ—l Magistrate is to be to the securing of the way of God that is duly established And if any where this be the Concern and Duty of Rulers Surely it is most of all so in New England which is originally a plantation not for Trade but for Religion Peace Truth Hâ—zekiahs mercies Isa. 39 8. have been the great mercies of this Countrey Lose we Truth of Doctrine Worship and Order and the design of our Founders is ruined and we are an undone people So that it is a most unreasonable and importune Thing in those that unchurch us that deny our Churches to be true Churches that anti-Christianize our Magistrates Ministers Churches and Ordinances and must do so in Faithfulness to and pursuance of their principles and opinions to demand or expect a free Toleration They may as well ask liberty to destroy us We may justly swear the peace against them If I may so speak and say we go in fear not of our Lives but of our Religious Liberties and Enjoyments dearer then our Lives because of such men and supplicate our Rulers that they may be bound to their good behaviour Boundless Liberty will expose us to great danger Charity begins at home and the Charity of a Christian begins at Christ I mean the Truths Wayes Ordinances Name and Honour of â—esus Christ. We must not be so comâ—â—ssionate to Scâ—ismatical Turbulenâ— Errours is persons as to be cruel injurious or unkind to the precious Interest of Christ among us Nature teacheth a man 〈◊〉 reservation Grace should 〈…〉 Magistrate If you will allow me the word Christ preservation I mean the preservation of the Truth Ordinances and Interest of Christ. And I make no question but our Lord Jesus that in the great day of Account will recount and reward the kindnesses of his people to himself in his members in that they gave him meat when he was hungry Drink when he was thirsty took him in when he was a Stranger clothed him when he was naked visited him when he was sick or in prison Math. 25.34 35 36. will in like manner remember and remunerate at that day the kindness and good affection of our pious and faithful Rulers in that they preserved and secured him with respect to his Truth Ordinances Interests and Concernments of his Kingdome from the Insolencies and Enchroachments of Erroneous unruly persons And if it be said God is to be trusted with the preservation of his Truth I Answer So he is to be trusted with the propagation of his Truth Must Ministers therefore neglect to preach the Truth or Magistrates to see that the Truth be preached and propagated in their Dominions and devolve it wholly upon the immediate hand of Christ God is to be trusted with the preservation of thy Life wilt thou not therefore in Case of Ilness bleed and vomit and purge out the peccant and noxious humours God is to be trusted for the preservation of thy Corn in the Field when it is growing up wilt thou not therefore weed thy Corn and take away what offends and hinders the thriving of it If it be replied But this is no means of God's Appointment Magistrates have nothing to do with matters of Religion to interpose and exercise their coercive power in and about the things of God I Answer This is a meer begging of the Question and was never yet proved But I must not dispute or further expatiate here I shall only say for an Issue of this point that Apostacy is the great Crime that many of you brand your Magistrates and Ministers with What was the judgement and practise of our first Worthies in this matter is sufficiently known Let the world then judge who are the Apostates in this Case Those that are for or those that are against a Licentious boundless Toleration 11. Consider what will be the Latter End of the neglect of the Encouragement and Advancement of Learning among us It is the Observation of wise men and indeed a general sad Complaint that the Schools languish and are in a low Condition in the Countrey And what the end of this will be who cannot apprehend Though there are doubtless many Reasons of the languishing of Schools Yet I am very apt to think that the bottom of all is â—he want of due Encouragement to Scholars when they are come to maturity and fitted for service in the Churches If there be no considerable encouragement when Scholars are brâ—d up parents will have no heart to breed their children to Eearning Rich men will not because they have better wayes before them to provide for the comfortable subsistence of their Children and persons of a meaner condition cannot or at least are discouraged from expending all they can upon their Childrens Education because when that is done and they are ready for service there is no Encouragement through the Slenderness and shortness of the Ministers maintenance in most places in the Countrey I have nothing to offer by way of Advice I would be loath to bear too hard in this Case upon the people that are generally poor and low enough But I would Humbly tender it to the Consideration of the Honourable Court that so farre as may be without Injury to the people there may be due provision made in all places Jesus Christ will take it kindly at your Hands For it is one of his great Concernments in this Christian Common-Wealth Not that I speak in respect of want I am the Freer to speak this because it is not my own Concern Through the Goodness of God and the kindness of a good people and their professed Subjection to the Gospel of Christ I have a comfortable Subsistence which I desire to acknowledge with all Thankfulness But I cannot but sympathize with and commiserate the Condition of many others their Family Straits and Difficulties and the many discouragements they
affected or engaged Hear and give ear unto the Word of the Lord and be not Proud Give Glory to the Lord your God by Confession Humiliation Repentance and Reformation before he cause Darkness and your Feet stumble upon the dark Mountains Jerem. 13.15 16. So Consider with Understanding and Judgement what is like to be the Latter end of your sinfull Depâ—rtments before the Lord as to put an end to your way of sin and provocation and to return to the God of your Mercies whom you have forsaken and the Rock of your Salvation whom you have too lightly esteemed Jerusalem remembred not her Last End therefoâ—e she came down wonderfully and had no comforter Lam. 1 9. Not considering aright the Latter End of your Wayes will bring you down though you had set your Nest among the Stars but the due consideration of it will be the way to wonderful Exaltation I am not without some Hopes though many of your wise and faithful Ministers and Watchmen are almost weary and hopeless that men of all parties that are truely pious and serious will at last consider and reform what is amiâ—s and accept well what hath been spoken by way of Reprehension and Admonition And indeed it would be sad with us if our times should be like those which the Historian complains of Qâ—â—bus nec viâ—ia nostra nec Remedia pati possumus Our Distempâ—â—â— such as will ruine us and yet our Temper Disposition and Frame such that we cannot bear the Application of the Remedy Then indeed we do infeliciter agrotare and may conclude that our sickness will be terminated in the Death and Dissolution in the Loss and deserved Bereavement of those Enjoyments that are dearest to us But if the Lord give you Hearing Ears and obedient Hearts that you Consider and Repent and turn to the Lord your God then will he be with you as he hath been with your Fathers and Predecessors those Worthies of the Lord that are now at rest whose Memory is blessed and whose Names shall be had in everlasting remembrance and no Weapon that is formed against you shall prosper Whether there shall be secret Plottings or open Assaulting and Running upon your Civil and Sacred Liberties God will either defeat the Counsels and frustrate the Attempts and Hopes of Adversaries Or turn all that may befal you in a way of Affliction to your singular good the great Furtherance of the Gospel and Advantage of the Glorious Interest of Christ among us Humbling and Sorrowful times may come upon you But the Lords design in humbling and proving you will be that he may do you good at your Latter End Though the Earth should tremble and reel to and fro the Sea roaâ— the Mountains be cast into the midst of the Sea and there be a Day of Gloominess and thick Darkness coming upon the Reformed Churches and there should be a Day of trouble and Treading down and Perplexity in this Valley of Vision yet I have Commission from the Lord to say It shall be well with the Righteous Isai. 3 10. Oh saith Baldam when enlightned Let me dye the Death of the Righteous and let my last end be like his Numbers 23.10 Mark the Perfect Man saith David and behold the Vpright for the end of that Man is Peace Verily verily saith our Saviour to his Disciples Iohn 16.20 You shall weep and lament but the World shall rejoice and ye shall be sorrowful but your sorrow shall be turned into joy All the Sorrows and Afflictions and Sufferings of the People of God shall end in joy They may sow in Tears but they shall reap in 〈◊〉 Psal 126â—◠〈◊〉 their Troubles shall undoubtedly be concluded and issued in everlasting Consolation 〈◊〉 in the end will be the portion of such and we in pleasure 〈◊〉 but it will be the happiness of the Children of God to receive their Good Things at last Luk. 16.25 Whatever Dayes may come upon a sinful and secure World that lies in wickedness or upon a slumbring Slothful licentious Generation of Professors yet it shall undoubtedly go well with the humble waking faithful Servants of God that maintain or recover their first love to the person Truths Ordinances Messengers and wayes of Jesus Christ and walk with God in a course of Evangelical Obedience according to the Tenor of his Covenant having a sorrowful sense of the Sufferings of Gods people abroad and the Sins and provocations at Home Verily the Latter End of such men and Women shall be Vnspeakable peace and Happiness FINIS Errata Page 4 〈…〉 for yet read yea l. ult â— Incogitancy ibid. r. Pagniâ—â— â— â— l. 15. â— a good sâ—ep p. â—4 l. 33 â— and to have p 4â— l. 26. r. necessity p 4. â— l. â—â— r. Government p. 53. l. 20. for have 1. having