a man and this is prefaced with The Lord hath created a new thing in the earth a new thing indeed for a Woman to be both a Mother and a Virgin at the same time a new thing in deed for a Woman to be the Mother of him that was God though not of the God Head yet of the Humane Nature received into Personal Union with the Son of God A woman shall compass a man viz. the man of Gods Right-hand for whose sake Redemption should come and with it Restauration Reformation and Divine Benediction not only to the Jews but also to the Gentiles for God was in Christ reconciling the World unto himself not imputing to them their trespasses and some of the Blessings promised were the manifestation of the New-Covenant the Gathering and Enlarging the Catholick Church writing the Law in the heart c. which the Apostle to the Hebrews refers to Gospel times Heb. 8 10 11.12 And the whole by way of Analogy and just accommodotion may be referred to Kingdoms Countries Places Nations professing the Christian Religion thus the New Testament teacheth us to inâ—erpret accommodate and apply to our selves Texts of the Old Testament See Rom. 15.4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our Learning that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope So 1 Co. 10.11 Now all these things hapned unto them for ensamples and are written for our instruction on whom the ends of the world are come So also 2 Tim. 3.16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction for Instruction in righteousness Thus having shewed how this text that nextly concerned the Jews comes to affect us and concern these last ages of the professing world I shall only for further Explication of the Text shew what intended by Justice what by a Habitation of Justice and then what by Holiness and what by a Mountain of Holiness and then proceed to give you the Doctrines Q. What intended by Justice A. Sometimes it is more strictly taken for that political virtue whereby such as are in Authority punish evil doers and praise and justify them that do well and that this sence is herein comprehended is without doubt but yet it is intended in a more large sence in this text for here it is joyned with holiness and yet distinguisht from it and when it is so it is taken for conformity to the second Table of the Decalogue or six last Commandments the word rendred Justice might as well be rendred Righteousness they are Synonimous and so the same word in the text rendred Justice is in many other texts rendred Righteousness See Isa 1.26 Afterward thou shalt be called the City of Righteousness Q. What intended by Habitation of Justice or Righteousness A. By Habitation of Righteousness is intended a City or place that abounds in Righteousness and excelleth in it or that is full of righteous persons the Abstract being put for the Concrete Compare it with Isa 1.21 It was full of Judgment Righteousness lodged in it that is Equity Honesty Charity Chastity Truth Justice were not as Strangers in Jerusalem but Inhabitants they dwelt in the Temple in the Courts in the Gates in the Streets in their Houses in their Shops and in all their converse commerce And of the New Heaven and the New Earth it is said Righteousness shall dwell therein that is be not only resident but eminent prevalent permanent and aâ—â—â—dant Q. What intended by Holiness A. Some times it is taken in so large a sence as to comprehend in it conformity to the whole Decalogue but when it is joyned with and yet distinguished from righteousness it intends conformity to the first Table of the Law or four first Commandments and with respect to the Holiness and Righteousness mentioned in the text once for all for preventing mistake I declare I intend not only that which is commonly called Morality but conformity to the whole Doctrine which is according to Godliness that Obedience to which men are Created in Christ Jesus that Grace which men derive from him through the holy Spirit in Regeneration and Sanctification whereby they are enabled to live to God and serve him in Holiness and Righteousness Q What intended by a Mountain of Holiness A. As it respect Jerusalem it meaneth that it should regain its ancient purity and be as renowned for Holiness as ever it was that had not only been beautiful for its Situation but for its Sanctification wherein not only Holy men had dwelt but the Holy God there was the holy Temple the holy Oracle the holy Ordinances and holy Assemblies the beauty of holiness the habitation of Gods holiness the Throne of his holiness the Courts of his holiness and where his anointed ones ministred unto him something like as the Angels do in Heaven it was a Comparative Heaven for holiness and a Type of the real Heaven it had been so and should be so again When it is applyed to Christian Countries it means that they should abound in holiness and excel other places therein as much as Judea did other lands and Jerusalem did other Cities in the day that they were Holiness to the Lord So you have the meaning of the Text its words phrases both in the literal sence as it nextly concern'd the Jews and also in its Analogical sence as it concerns Christians of all Kingdoms and Plantations to the end of the world We come now to the Doctrines that result from the Text thus explained which are three The first from the doctrinal hints in the Text the second from the historical hints the third from the Text as it is a Prophesy DOCT. I. That it is the duty of all People or Places professing the Christian Religion to abound and excel in Holiness and Righteousness or to be an Habitation of Righteousness and Mountain of Holiness DOCT. II. That such People and Places as profess the Christian Religion may expect to be Happy or Miserable according as it goeth with them as to Holiness and Righteousness DOCT. III. That although Places that have been Habitations of Righteousness and Mountains of Holiness should become very degenerate and for their Sin be made very desolate yet there is ground of hope that God will again Restore Reform and Bless them The first DOCTRINE Confirm'd by Reasons Reason 1. Because the Moral Law obligeth all mankind to holiness and righteousness from the beginning of the world to the end of it for it was no ways suitable to the Wisdom and Holiness of God to make man a rational Creature which is a cause by counsel of his own actions and so capable of honouring or dishonouring of obâ—ying or disobeying him that made him and then leave it to his liberty whether he would own and honour his maker yea or no whether he would worship God according to his Institution or his own or anothers invention Can it
the Example Prayers Tears of many plain Christians are like to be more wanted then they are lamented Our friend Lazarus sleepeth saith Christ and wept at his grave Godly men must die as well as others and if their Children and Successors made good their Leaders ground it were not so Ominous But alas it hath been often otherwise in New England 5. The lubricity fickleness and unsteadyness of men in the true Religion in which they have been Educated not to say born as well as brought up it is a woful sign of declension when the Children of the Church are like Children tost to and fro with every wind of doctrine Men run away with a perverse interpretation of that of the Apostle 1 Thes â— 21 Prove all things forgetting the very next words hold fast that which is good Alas men are more fixt and steady in a false Religion Hath a Nation changed their gods which yet are no Gods but my people hath changed their glory c. Jer. 5.11 'T is a prodigie of Levity and Vanity to see persons that sucked in such Milk as David who said Thou art my God from my Mothers belly thou hast caused me to hope on my Mothers breasts that had such Mothers and Grandmothers as Timothy had that have been acquainted with the holy Scriptures from their very childhood and by their Godly Fathers Schoolmasters and Ministers were brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord and it may be have made a Personal profession yet hanker after Novelties in Religion without regard to verity and when reproved for it think to justify themselves by that of the Apostle Prove all things as if that would justify their running a gadding and a madding after such Seducers as pretend to divine inspiration immediate revelation infallible guidance by the holy Spirit and yet deny the holy Scriptures to be the word of God and touchstone of truth and deny the Ordinances of Baptism and the Lords Supper and all Instituted worship Truly Sirs as for them that have lived long under the Preaching of the Gospel and can't see that such doctrine needs not much trying whether it be sound or no will be found to have their Religion to choose and that they have unsound hearts as well as itching ears They that have long had the offer of Truth and yet let it go will hold fast-Error They that were so scrupulous about CHRIST who came in his Fathers Name and confirmed his doctrine by Miracles did as Christ foretold believe on one that came in his own name Declension in Doctrine and Worship will bring on declension in Manners They that are not sound in the faith will not long be sound in Gods Statutes they that make Shipwrack of Faith will make Shipwrack of a Good Conscience also 6. The extream Difficulty of recovering from declension renders it very hazardous whether we shall not yet be more Sinful If there were no Devil to tempt nor no evil Example among men nor any temptation from a frowning or flattering World which is all far otherwise yet the inbred corruption of mens hearts that are deceitful above all things and desperately wicked is enough to undoe all This peopâ—â— saith Jeremiah hath a revolting and a rebellious heart they are revolted and gone Jer. 5.23 Such a deceitful revolting rebellious heart can shift off all Conviction and bear up against all reproof Infidelity can despise and disregaâ—d all Promises and Threatnings Security can eat and drink build and plant till the flood come and carry all away Prophaneness can mock at all th s and more till there be no remedy Self-love can blind mens eyes in what concerns themselves so as they shall not be able to see faults in themselves though they be very quick sighted in seeing faults in others Reformation is the most necessary but the most difficult thing in the World because the Enemy of it is not only in a mans own house but in a mans own heart To cure a long contracted Cachexia or ill habit of body to uphold a tottering Empire and to reform a declining People are three very difficult things but the last of them is the hardest of them all These six foregoing particulars may serve to show that the people of New-England are in great danger of being yet more Sinful which is a very humbling and awful consideration Who can seriously reflect upon it and not say as they Joâ—h 22.17 Is the Iniquity of Poor too little for us from which we are not cleansed to this day The more the Danger is the more need our care fear prayer endeavour be lest we add to the heap of New-Englands Transgression Secondly New England is in danger of being much more Miserable than ever yet they were or yet are The fore mentioned danger being found real and impending this cannot be otherwise It unavoidably follows from the premisses for if it be like to fare with New England as to Happiness or Misery according as it goeth with them as to Holiness and Righteousness as hath been proved and that New-England is already very Sinful and in danger of being much more Sinful there must needs be the like danger of being more Miserable God threatned Israel three times in one Chapter that if after they had Sinned against him and thereby brought upon themselves some direful Effects of his displeasure they did not humble themselves return and reform Hâ— would punish them yet seven times more for their sin which accordingly came at last to pâ—ss God did bear for-bear time after time and many a time forgave them upon their repentance such as it was so as not to consume them though at several times he sorely afflicted them for their sin Yet forasmuch they revolted more and more after their respits from their trouble at length they found the threatning executed and so may we if we don't take warning Before I leave those two last heads I will reflect a little on the sayings of some that were they true would render the fore mentioned Warnings needless and useless 1. Some make as if New-England were already as sinful as sinful can be as bad as bad can be To which I reply I have no design to speak diminutively of the Sins of the Countrey I do acknowledge with grief and shame that they have been and are very horrible yet I think such Sayings are not justifyable in any Some well-meaning holy men being of dark melancholly Spirits and little acquainted with the advances that Atheism Idolatry Superstition Prophaneness Iniquity and Sensuality have made in other professing parts of the World are apt to think so and in their indignation against sin sinners to say so But the truth is Though we have cause to abhor our selves for being so bad as we are and to meditate all ways possible to grow better yet it cannot with truth be asserted that as yet we are as bad as bad can be for there is real danger of
it may be said the Lord bless thee O Habitation of Justice and Mountain of Holiness which is the Subject matter of the following Sermon This Elaborate and Pious Discourse of my Reverend Brother Colleague in the Work of the Ministry here at Salem was Preached at Boston on the Anniversary day of Election according to our Custom from the beginning He was called to this Service by the Honorable the Lieutenant Governour and Council and the Publishing of it was Desired Ordered by the General Court There is something in the Text Prophetical something Didactical It is agreed upon by all Sober Divines and Christians that we are not to expect a full understanding of the Prophecies until they be fulfilled and that there may be a gradual and partial fulfilling of sundry Prophecies at several times and yet some special Time be intended for the eminent full accomplishment of them Also that not the Prophecies but the Precepts of Scripture are to be the Rule of our Actions It belongs to God to fulfill with His Hand what He hath spoken with His Mouth and that in the times and by the ways means which are known unto Him but unknown to us it belongs to us to observe His Commandments concerning our present duties whatever the case be leaving all future Events to God Deut. 29 29. Yet are Prophesies a ground of our Faith Hope and Prayer relating to their Accomplishment and so far Prophesies are doctrinal Dan. 9 2 3. And it is the doctrinal part of the Scriptures that mainly concerns us to direct us in all cases in the way of our duty to God men as the Reverend Author according to the Wisdom and Grace given unto him hath declared unto us with much Evidence from Scripture light Hence it is without question the duty of the Church and People of God to be an Habitation of Justice and Mountain of Holiness at all times in all places of the World and because God hath foretold and p omised that it shall be Eminently Conspicuously so at some times and in some places in these last dayes that are come and coming upon the World therefore we are to aime at it and endeavour after it in all the wayes of our duty that it may be so with us in that measure as the Lord shall please to grant the same unto us for it is certain so far as we attain thereunto we shall be a People blessed of the Lord For these two Holiness towards God and Righteousness towards men are like unto the two Pillars in the Temple of God Jachin and Boaz which did signify the Strength and Establishment of the welfare of the Church People of God while they continue in the Righteous and Holy wayes of the blessed God This duty of endeavouring that New-England may be an Habitation of Justice and Mountain of Holiness though it is incumbent upon all yet it is in a special manner committed to and betrusted with Your EXCELLENCY according to that High Station which GOD and the KING have set You in and then it is required of all orders and ranks of men both Magistrates Ministers and People every one in their own place that they move regularly in concurrence with Your Lordship in all things that may conduce unto that end Though it may be SIR You may sometimes meet with difficulties in Your way and find things amiss that cannot presently be amended So did Solomon who though he was the wisest of Kings with a most prudent Council and a morigerous People yet out of his Experience he informs us that which was wanting could not be numbred or that which was crooked could not be made streight and therefore he gives this advice to others Consider the work of God for who can make that streight which He hath made crooked Eccl. 7.13 And therefore it will be no wonder if You should find it so Yet let me tell You from the Word of the Lord that the same Encouragement which the Lord gave unto Joshua for the Substance and Scope of it belongs unto any of His Servants whom He sets in the place of Government over His People viz Be thou Strong and of good Courage in observing all the Commandments of God so shalt thou make thy way prosperous and thou shalt have good Success for I will not leave thee nor forsake thee saith the Lord. Josh 1 from v 5. to v. 10. compared with Heb. 13.5 And when it may be said in any difficult case wherein there is duty to be done Arise for this matter belongeth unto thee as it was said unto Ezra Chap. 10.4 I hope in God it will also be said by all this People as it was then expressed by some in the Name of the rest We also will be with thee viz. That You will have the Hearts and Prayers and endeavours of all the good People of the Land with You in whatsoever may have a tendency to the making of this our New England to be an Habitation of Justice and Mountain of Holiness the Lord grant that it may be so Finally being Old and full of dayes having seâ—n all that the Lord hath done for New England all the Changes of Times that have passed over it from the beginning unto this day and now waiting daily for my own great Change I cannot but express my hearts doing and praâ—er to God for New-England Return O Lord graciously Return to the many thousands of NEW-ENGLAND and cause thy Face to Shine upon it and give unto this thy People a Heart to be continually returning to thee and keeping thy Commandments that thou mayest make them and keep them to be for ever an Habitation of Righteousness and Mountain of Holiness blessed of the Lord And for Your Person That the God and Father of our LORD JESUS CHRIST would Bless You with all Spiritual Temporal and Eternal Blessings in Christ Jesus and in relation to Your Government that He would pour down His Spirit upon You and make You a Minister of God for good unto this People and give You to be like unto David who led and fed the People in the integrity of his heart and by the skilfullness of his hands and like unto Solomon of whom it is said in Psal 72. In his dayes the Righteous did flourish the Mountains did bring Peace to the People and the little hills by Righteousness and there was abundance of Peace That in after times it may be said Because the Lord loved this People therefore He set Your Lord-ship over them and that You left New-England better than You found it And so the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with Your Spirit for ever AMEN YOUR EXCELLENCIES Most Humble Servant in the Work of the Gospel of JESUS CHRIST John Higginson Pastor of the Church of Salem Aetatis 82. Salem June 20. 1698. New-Englands Duty and Interest To be an Habitation of JUSTICE AND Mountain of HOLINESS JERE 31.23 Thus saith the
although there be not a full discrimination between the good bad at present there shall be at the day of the revelation of righteous Judgment And although God's Justice doth not always appear to purblind man yet it doth so often appear that God is known by his Judgments that he executeth Psal 9.16 So that a man shall say verily there is a reward for the Righteous verily he is a God that Judgeth in the earth Thus you have the second Doctrine Explained and Confirmed I proceed to Explain Confirm the third and last Doctrine DOCT. III. That although Places that have been Habitations of Righteousness and Mountains of Holiness should become very degenerate and for their Sin be made very desolate yet there is ground oâ— hope that God will again Restore Reform and Bless them In the third Doctrine there are three particularâ— contained the two first more implicitely the third most expressly 1. That places that have been eminent for the pâ—ofession and practice of holiness righteousness may become very degenerate they may that is possibly not lawfully Judea and Jerusalem offerâ— a woful conviction of this That Kingdom of Priests that holy Nation in which Religion Justice some time dwelt and flourished was in Jeremiah's time degenerate revolted and gone all ranks orders of men had greatly corrupted themselves This hath been already demonstrated and the Churches that were of the Apostles planting if we compare the Scripture account of them with Ecclesiastical history concerning them and their affairs it would call for tears rather than further testimony Declension is down hill and natural Corruption weighs men down ward Facilis descensus Averni The heart of man is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked Man hath long since forfeited his reputation being in honour be abode not and ever since beareth the reproach of being a false deceitful creature Surely men of low degree are vanity and men of high degree are a lie to be laid in the balance they are altogether lighter than vanity Psa 62.9 If men deal falsely and basely and treacherously with God they do but like themselves Hos 6.7 They like men or like Adam as it may be rendred have transgressed my Covenant there have they dealt treacherously with me Besides Mortality in a little time carrieth off the Stage the Rulers Leaders Teachers and best examples of the flock Degrees of true Grace may be lost and the remainders be weakned and obscured that which only seemed to be true Grace may be utterly lost and that goodness that sprang from and depended upon external motive when the Sun and the wind rise will pass away like a morning Cloud the subtle insinuations of Seducers a Spirit of error the force of evil examples New temptations and occasions all or many of them some times do as it were conspire to bring on defection Apostasy and when it is so it is no wonder if woful degeneration ensue 2. Places that are become degenerate howsoever happy they were before may become very miserable very desolate It was so with Judea and Jerusalem The Lamentations of Jeremiah afford plentiful proof of this and the desolations and ruins of the Churches mentioned in the New Testament sufficiently prove it may be so If men do but like men when they make defection and revolt from Religion and Virtue God doth buâ— like God when hi Jealousy burns like fire against such a People and he brings sorrows and miseries upon them even unto Desolation 3. Notwithstanding such degeneration and desolation too there is ground of hope that God will again restore reform and bless such a People I shall prove this position by producing the grounds of Hope the Scriptures offer in this case 1. God Can do it if he Will. That is not altogether incredible which is not impossible What can not Omnipotency do Unbelief and distrust is many times bottom'd upon scrupling the Power of God Psa 78.19 20. They said Can God furnish a Table in the Wilderness can he give bread also can he provide flesh for his people So that they are taxt with not believing in God nor trusting in his Salvation No wonder they did not believe God would when they did not believe God could provide for them If Abraham had Staggered at the promise through unbelief of Gods Power he had not been father of many Nations But against hope he believed in hope knowing that God quickned the dead and called things that are not as if they were He was strong in faith giving glory to God being fully perswaded that what he had promised he was able to perform Rom. 4 17 18 20 21. Such a degenerate and desolate People are much in circumstances for Restoration and Reformation as the bodies of Abraham and Sarah were in for Propagation But what cant he do that quickens the dead The belief of Gods power facilitates the belief of his good will So it was in the Lepers saith Lord if thou wilt thou canst make me clean That which seemeth impossible to men because of their impotency is not difficult to God because of his Omnipotency Though this case be very difficult next to impossible yet it is not desperate for with God all things are possible The Lord of hosts can restore reform and bless a degenerate desolate People 2. God not only can if he will but may if he please What may not he do in a way of mercy who is mercy it self and hath mercy upon whom he will have mercy Rom. 9.15 I will have compassion upon whom I will have compassion Infinite mercy can find motive in it self when there is none in the Creature and divine Soveraignty is not to be Counselled or Controlled by any Creature If he will have compassion he will have it If God be pleased to restore and reform such a people whom doth he wrong What Attribute or Word of his doth he cross or contradict If then Gods power render him able to do it may not his Soveraign Grace and Mercy reâ—der him willing to do it Once hath God spoken twice have I heard this that power belongeth unto God also unto thee O Lord belongeth Mercy Psa 62.11 12. 3. God hath done so already for his Church and professing People viz. The Jews and that more than once or twice And that which hath been may be and is the more easy to be believed This sort of Argumentation is used for a help to faith Isa 51.9 10 11. Awake awake O Arm of the Lord as in the Ancient days art not thou it that hath cut Rahab and wounded the dragon Art thou not it that hast dryed the Sea therefore the ransomed of the Lord shall return to Sion with singing So 2 Cor. 1.10 Who delivered us from so great a death and doth deliver in whom we trust he will yet deliver If God should restore reform and bless such a degenerate and desolate people it would not be the first time Though God may seem
towards us as formerly Might not much of this have been prevented if we had considered what was like to follow upon the degeneration of Gods Covenant-people if we had considered that it must needs be after this sort if God should deal with us as of old he was wont to deal with his Covenant-people in like cases as it was most likely he would so likely that we had no ground to think it should be other wise It is an awful saying of Dr. Goodwin As you look for Storms in Autumn and Frosts in Winter so expect Judgments where the Gospel hath been Preached for the quarrel of the Covenant must be avenged 7. We know how that People dealt with God for many Generations and how God dealt with them and what things came to at last for their Apostacy for their Idolatry against the first and second Commandment their impiety prophaness iniquity impenitently and incorrigibleness and unbelief They were â—roke off Unchurched Unpeopled and seemingly made irreversibly miserable But we know only how we have dealt with God and how God hath dealt with us to this present time and know not how we shall deal with God or how God will deal with us for the future Secret things belong to God Certainly we have cause to fear and tremble lest in the issue our line should run paralel with theirs also seeing there hath been such agreement in the premisses And this brings in sight a two-fold danger which I would not mention without fear and trembling and hope that all good men will joyn with me in praying to the most Merciful God that we may escape them both and that the Warning now following may be one means of it U. 7. Of Premonition forewarning to the People of New England of two Eminent Dangers they are in 1. Of being more sinful yet As sinful as New-England hath been or yet is which is very sinful yet there is great danger lest New-England should yet be much more sinful than ever it was or yet is 2. Of being much more miserable then ever yet they were or yet are The first Danger demonstrated 1. Israel Gods Professing and Covenant People grew from bad to worse and notwithstanding all warnings and methods used to stop their defection yet they were bent to backsliding till the holy People and righteous Nation became a Sinful Nation a People laden with iniquity They went away backward they revolted more and more there was no stopping of them or reclaiming of them Their Reformations were partial and at best but of Short continuance they quickly returned to folly and did worse than their fathers We have reason to fear by their Example least it should be so with us also for we as well as they have principles of revolt connatural to us The Apostle mentioning of their sin and folly saith Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall how much more may we that are sensibly falling already take heed lest we fall utterly and take it kindly that we are warned before the things that concern our peace are hid from our eyes 2. Successless attempts for Reformation are more than presages of worse declensions for that obstinacy that renders such attempts successless sheweth that they are very far gone already and also merits more divine desertions and derelictions and the more persons are left of God the easier a prey they are to every Temptation Although it may be all hath not been done by Magistrates Ministers Churches and Synods that should have been done to promote Reformation and Stopping the progress of Impiety and Iniquity yet one that did not know what hath been done by Courts Synods Ministers and Churches in a publick way besides all private Prayers Tears Counsel and Reproof would not think one half hath been done that hath so little fruit of it appears Nor is it easy to do so much again although the event show much more is needful to be done 3. Notwithstanding all the Judgments of God that have come upon us for our sins yet we are unreformed Irreligion and prophane neglects of the Worship of God Vain and vile Swearing prophaning the Name of God and his Sabbaths Disobedience to Parents and family disorders Violence unrighteousness sensuality pride contention coveteousness and all manner of carnality and carnal security rather increase than decrease There is the less hopes of growing better the more fears of growing worse when mens endeavours for Reformation are fruitless but least of all is the hope of growing better and most of all the fear of growing worse when Divine Endeavours seem frustrate that aim'd at our Reformation and take not that effect that might be expected Isa 26.9 When thy Judgments are abroad in the Earth the Inhabitants of the World will learn Righteousness That is it may most rationally and justly be so expected and how much more may it be expected of those places on which such Judgments fall But when after various sore Judgments God may say I have smitten you so and so yet have you not returned to me as Jer. 2.30 in vain have I smitten your Children they have received no correction that is are never the better as Isa 9.13 The people turneth not unto him that smiteth them and as Isa 1.5 Why should ye be smitten any more ye will revolt more and more if things be thus with us Oh! that they were not so with us are we not in great danger of being more sinful yet 4. When great and good men die thick and fast it portends declension Little doth this ingrateful world know how much of the Religion Equity Peace Order of a Place is under God owing to the Piety Zeal Prudence Activity Fidelity of a few men that God raises up brings into Office in Church and Common wealth and spirits for his Service however let them guess at it by the following texts Deut. 31.16 The Lord said to Moses thou shalt sleep with thy fathers and this people shall rise up and go a whoring after the gods of the Strangers of the land And Moses saith v. 21. While I am alive with you this day you have been rebellious against the Lord how much more after my death Judg. 2.7 The people served the Lord all the days of Joshua 2 Chron. 24.2 Joash did that which was right in the sight of the Lord all the days of Jehojadah the priest v. 17 18. Now after the death of Jehojadah c. they left the Lord God of their fathers I have no design for Funeral Sermons on any in particular but have with Sorrow observed such deaths of Magistrates Ministers and Military Commanders and so many of them that I am afraid of the Omen For such deaths are to a people as Micaiah to Ahab they never prophesie good but either great declension or great judgment or both Religion hath one the less friend on earth for every godly man that dyeth and sin hath one the less enemy And
good forwardness but to hope and pray for the accomplishment of all prophesied to be done in a way of Soveraign grace for the Church or World in the latter days If the Restaurations depended on the Antecedency of Reformation and Reformation depended upon mans free will it would be long enough before either would come to pass But God having foretold promised both our dependance ought to be on his Grace and Truth and Power If God can make Children to Abraham of the Stones of the Street and make a Church to himself out of the forlorn Gentiles When the boughs of the natural Olive were broke off God could graft in Gentiles wild Olives into the same stock therefore cannot be at a loss to graft in the natural branches again Isa 44.2 3 4 5. Fear not Jacob for I will pour water upon him that is thirsty and floods upon the dry ground I will pour my Spirit on thy seed my blessing on thine offspring The ruinous circumstances of Jews and many Gentile places are such as to Sin Misery that there is little hope either of Restauration or Reformation were it not for the Prophesy and the Promise But because of the Prophesie and Promise we must against hope believe in hope and though they and their circumstances promise little yet God in his word hath promised much Therefore we should hope for much and pray for much though there should be as little sign of Reformation as there was of Rain in the days of Elias when it had not Rain'd in 1260 days yet they that can believe and pray like Elias will in the word of God hear the sound of abundance of rain they will look out seven times and pray and pray again though there should not appear so much as a Cloud as big as a mans hand believing on and praying to the Lord till he send Rain on the earth till he come rain down righteousness on Asia Africa Europe and America and the Elect come from all parts and Quarters of the World from East West North South and Sit down in the Kingdom of God He that hath promised these things â—â—useth His Sun to rise on the evil and on the good and his rain to fall on the just on the unjust in a way of common bounty and goodness and he doth no less towards the Elect in a way of special Grace And when the time of Reformation is come he will cause the Sun of Righteousness to shine upon the evil and upon the good and the Rain of Righteousness to fall upon the just upon the unjust and then bad man will be come good and good men will become better and Restauration and Reformation will struggle like twins in the Womb which shall be born first a Nation shall be born at once and the earth shall bring forth in one day Isa 66.8 And deliverance and holiness shall be on mount Sion together Obad. 17. We may confide in this That all prophesies and absolute promises shall come to pass in that time order and manner that God hath ordained And the promised Good is more certainly known than the time and manner It is great Consolation that Restaurations and Reformations Blessings shall come Though we know not the time just when yet there are signals given whereby the Church of God may know that their Redemption draws nigh And as Daniel knew that the Seventy years of the Captivity was out or nigh out which made him set to Prayer So we know that some notable Restaurations and Reformations are nigh though it may be we can't tell just how nigh And I am perswaded one great reason why good mens faith is so wavering and their prayers so few and no more fervent is because they take it for granted that Reformation must needs considerably out-run Restauration For prevention of which Remissness of faith and prayer I desire the premisses may be considered that prophesies and the promises in them falling under the will of Gods purpose are all certainly future as certain to be as if they were already And it is utterly uncertain whether the Reformations will out-run the Restaurations Consider the Restauration out of Egypt Did the Reformation precede Did not the Lord say Let my people go that they may serve me Till some Pharaohs of the world are sunk as a Stone in the Sea No considerable Reformation can advance The Church must get out of the Wilderness as well as out of Egypt before the Glorious Reformation of it can take place Whilst the Church was in Aegypt God saw the affliction of his people and heard their Cry by reason of their Task-masters and he came down to deliver them Exod. 3.7 8. The whole Story shows there was no considerable Reformation antecedaneous to their Deliverance So for the Deliverance out of the Babylonish Captivity it is evident by the Books of Ezra Nehemiah Haggai Zechariah and Malachi that their Deliverance out run their Reformation And the Restauration of the Jews in the last days in the times of the Messias for ought appears to the contrary is like to be much after the same sort in a way that can be accounted for only by the Sovereignty of the Grace of God Mic. 5.7 The Remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the Lord as the Showers upon the Grass that tarrieth not for man nor waiteth for the Sons of Men. What though the whole house of Israel say our bones are dried our hope is lost and we are cut off for our part yet I know no reason why Christians may not hope and pray for the Resurrection of those dry bones If God will have them prophesied over and hath promised to opâ—â— their graves and bring them up out of their graves put his Spirit in them and said they shall live Ezek. 27.11 12 13 14. He that hath spoke it will perform it even the Lord of Hosts the God of Israel What if the Four Horns of the Gentiles have scattered Judah Israel and Jerusalem Hath not God as many Carpenters to fray them away Zech. 1.18 19 20 21. and to cast out the horns of the Gentiles which have lift up their born over the Land of Judah to scatter it The good words the comfortable words which God hath spoken give us ground to believe that the Mahometan Imposture and Tyranny will not always last and that the Remnants and Fragments of the Graecian and African Churches will be gathered up and restored What if Antichrist Exalteth himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped and fitteth in the Temple of God and hath done so above a thousand years is not that Man of Sin a Son of perdition Doth not God see yea and his people too that his day is coming 2 Thes 2.3 4 8. It were Infidelity to conclude that God hath done with the Protestant People and his Witnesses in Germany Bohemia Hungaria France