of Baal out of a factious Spirit and thence measured all Religion according to his own factious Spirit 2 Kings 10.15 16. And thus it was in Christs time there was a division touching matters of Religion some for one way and some for another and thus contending about Circumstances they lost the Substance In a word when men become most irreligious in their Religion I cannot speak it nor you hear it with grief of heart enough Religion is the occasion of our Contentions and breach of Peace 5. When the Lord withholds the essicacious and victorious operations of his Spirit from his own Ordinances that though men have them plentifully dispensed yet they are but as a dead letter they are the words and breath of men onely without life to their Souls for as on the contrary no surer pledge of the Lords presence with a people then when the Spirit accompanies the Ordinances and makes them effectual for the good of Souls when the Lord is at the heels of the Messenger and striketh home to the heart of poor creatures that see God himself in Ordinances 1 Cor. 14.25 this is a sign the Lord is with them so when they are continued to men but the Spirit is not in them they have them but no God in them when the Lord absents himself from those set meetings for people to meet him in now its undeniable the Lord is leaving such a people But when is this you will say that the essicacy and overcoming power of the Spirit is withheld from Ordinances Answ This is matter of great weight and therefore I shall a little stay upon it and shew you when it is in these specialties 1. When mens hearts are not stirred and quickned and warmed by them when the Word is lodged onely in the Porch and never cometh into the House Men get something to talk of and hold up a Profession in the world and bear up the Name of Religion withall but their Hearts are not wrought upon There are not suitable Impressions upon mens Hearts to the Notions that men have in their Heads for the Word comes in power when it passes through all outsides and enters into the heart Psal 45.5 Heb. 4.12 A discerner of thoughts and intents of the heart makes the heart naked so è contra when the Word is without power and virtue on the Souls of men when God is not in it when the Word is light without heat or life as the Sun under a Cloud it warms not the Earth Saints are wont to say of the Word By that I have been quickened Psal 119. But when the Word is like a cold fire that men sit by and finde no warmth surely the Spirit of God is not there for the Spirit quickeneth 1 Cor. 3.6 Joh. 6.63 If Christ speak then there 's life 2. When Ordinances are onely occasions and means of disquiet and of disrest unto men but have no surther efficacy upon them but to cause them to go with galled and condemned Consciences some have not so much as this live and die in Security having not one awakened thought all their dayes But not many that live under the dispensation of the Gospel but the Word is to them at sometimes as Rev. 11.9 a Word that did torment them that dwell on the Earth Though they live under means of grace and the Eternal Spirit is wrestling with them yet they are so shut up under unbelief and so in league and love with lust that the Word doth but torment them There is a generation of Christless sinners that fret with indignation and vexation that they cannot enjoy pleasures and follow lusts with quiet and peace and if they would speak out what is in their heart they would say to Christ as the Devils Mat. 8.29 Art thou come to torment us or as it was with those that heard Steven they were cut to the heart and gnashed on him with their teeth Acts 7.54 Men that are in love with lusts they cannot endure that God should come near them they are not able to bear the strokes whereby he would break their stiff Spirit but grudge against the Lord himself and fall out with the Word that would convince them Rom. 2.8 Hence in the secret of their hearts they could be glad to hear no more such Awakening Heart-searching Soul-rowsing Truths They say to God Depart from us Job 21.14 They pronounce that Sentence upon themselves which the Lord will pronounce at the last day A sad thing when a poor creature is Damned above-ground 3. When the Word of God doth blinde and harden men in their sins and vain hopes but not convert and save them from their sins Then God is with his Word when he doth not suffer poor creatures to escape from him when he will not let them alone but plucks them by the hair of the head as it were out of the fire when he makes the Devil deliver many sinful redeemed Souls then the Lord is with them indeed but when it is otherwise the Lord is not in his Word Mat. 13.15 Men come into the world and know not wherefore and go out and know not whither though they have many Advantages yet they stand it out to the very last they have been put into sad plunges in their own Spiâ—its but have got over them and so go to Hell insensibly When God is in his Ordinances then it shall be said This and that man was born there Psal 87.5 but When few newbarn Christians this is a symptome God is not in his Word As when the Seed is sown and rots under the clods but never springs up there is no blessing but a secret curse on it Oh consider of this Are Conversions frequent amongst us Is God pulling men out of this rueful state If the Lord deny this to his Ordinances it s because he is not in them Oh fearful wrath to have them and be hardened by them and the abuse of them to answer for another day To have them and yet to be plagued more then Sodom and Gomorrah that never heard of them in that day of Eternal Judgement 4. When Ordinances are unprofitable and empty things void of Spiritual advantage when men use them but as bad bargains they lose rather then gain by them as it was with them of old Mal. 3.14 What profit c. Hence take up that quarrelling Complaint Isa 58.3 Wherefore have we fasted and thou seest not c. When God is in them then they bring on to more fellowship with God and Christ Jesus then those that live under them are growing up in the fear of the Lord as David Zech. 12.8 as the Angel of the Lord before them vigorous and active Christians as it was with the Thessalonians 2 Thess 1.3 When the Sun ariseth with healing under his wings then they grow up as Calves in the stall Mal. 4.2 As a watered garden Isa 58.11 And this will be proportionable in root as well as branches not all head
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
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-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
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
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