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
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
sin not repented of Consider what will be the end of thy Unbelief thy contempt of Jesus Christ thy comparative hatred of him and preferring thy base lusts before him The end of Faith is the salvation of the soul 1 Pet. 1.9 therefore the end of Unbelief will be the perdition of the soul. The end of neglecting great salvation will be unavoidable misery Heb 2.3 How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation Yea the end of thy positive Uâ—belief in rejecting the Lord Jesus Christ revealed and off red in the Gospel shall be a more intolerable condition then that of Tyre and Sidon Sodom and Gâ—morrah the Cities which God overthrew and repented not Turks and Indians Heathens and Infidilâ— Mat. 11.21 22 23 24. Oh play the men act the part of rational Creatures set your rational Faculties your Vnderstandings and Consciences awork consider and know whither you are going and what the issue of your wayes is like to be As Solomon saith of the house of the strange woman that it enclineth unto death and her paths to the dead Prov. 2.18 so may I say of the sinful courses and practises of men What are the sons of men generally doing but laying wait for their own blood Prov. 1.18 plotting as it were and projecting contriving and accomplishing their own destruction and know it not Wicked men are inconsiderate men and their way is as darkness they know not at what they stumble Prov. 4.19 The end of their way is bitter as wormwood sharp as a two-edged sword their feet go down to death and their steps take hold of hell as Solomon speaks to another sense Prov 5.4 5. Can a man take fire in his bosome or go upon hot coals and not be burnt Prov. 6.27 28. You would account him a poor distracted creature that should so do and think to escape without harm and inconvenience Sinners are as irrational and as much bereaved of sense and understanding that dally with sin and play with the Serpent that hath a speckled skin and consider not that it will sting them to death at last Thou goest after thy Lusts as the Ox to the slaughter or as the Bird hasteth to the snare and knowest not that it is for thy life Prov. 7.22 23. Remember and judge aright that the end of your natural lives will be death and the end of your sinful lives will be Hell Take heed lest thou mourn at last as Solomon speaks Prov. 5.11 though thou rejoyce at present Make a right Judgement in this respect 2. Fix and dwell upon the consideration of the latter End of your wayes Settle it upon your hearts by frequent and thorough Meditation that it may stick by you and abide with you hold your hearts to it and let not your thoughts easily divert and slip aside from the serious consideration of it Do not rest in a slight and sudden apprehension of it but roll it in your mindes and ponder it throughly that you may laâ— the whole weight of this consideration upon your Souls Do not men know very well that the end of Swearing and Drunkenness and Vncleanness and Disobedience to Parents and Profanation of the Sabbath and Vnfruitfulness under Ordinances and of deriding and maligning the wayes of godliness and those that walk in them will be death and destruction from the Lord Yes verily but they do not consider it and revolve it in their mindes so as to affect their hearts with it Oh ponder the path of thy feet and consider much and often whither it will lead thee in the conclusion 3. So consider the end of thy way of sinning as to put an end to thy way of sinning So as to break off thy course of sinning by sound Repentance serious Application to the blood of Christ for forgiveness effectual Conversion to God and thorough Reformation of thy Life and Conversation Consideration is not meer speculative Contemplation but practical Reformation must be the end of it as it was of David's consideration Psal. 119.59 I thought on my wayes and turned my feet unto thy testimonies The Iews report it for a saying of Adam that No man would sin if he saw from the beginning to the end of things But I shall not stay longer on this Branch of the Exhortation Secondly As the words of my Text respect the Body of a Nation even Israel that were sometimes the peculiar people of God So give me leave to direct my Exhortation to the People of New-England or the Representative Body of the People of this Colony and to perswade the New-England-Israel to get and improve this Spiritual wisdome Vnderstandingly and judiciously to consider what will be the latter End of your sinful wayes and unworthy deportments before the Lord. As you are a people of many Mercies and Priviledges so I may well parallel you with Israel a people graciously conducted and carried by the mighty hand of God to a place of Rest and Peace and Safety and Liberty and setled in the possession of singular Mercies and Advantages and I wish with all my heart that we could not see a cast of their countenanâ—e in our own faces that as in water face answereth to face Prov. 27.19 so our spirits and wayes did not answer theirs that our misdemeanors and unsutable deportments were not commensurate correspondent with theirs as our mercies are I make out the Parallel thus 1. You have been conducted to a place of Rest and Liberty and setled in the possession of very choice and singular Priviledges Enjoyments The Lord hath brought you over the great Ocean from your Native Land the Land of your Progenitors to a place of Rest where you have enjoyed singular mercies As when there was a Division made of the habitable parts of the Earth to the sons of Adam there was an Assignation of that good Land of Canaan in the purpose of God to the Children of Israel which seems to be the sense and importance of that difficult place Deut. 32.8 which hath put Expositors as the body of Asahel in the way did the people 2 Sam. 2.23 to a stand so was there an Allotment in the Counsel of God of these Ends of the Earth unto this part of our Nation for the Bounds of their Habitation This Wilderness was the place which God decreed to make a Canaan to you and what he thought in his heart he hath fulfilled with his hand in bringing you to this good Land and providing wonderfully for your well-being here Many and wondâ—rful are the Favours and Priviledges which the Lord your God haâ— câ—nferred upon you 1. As to your Civil Gâ—vâ—rnment You have had Moses Men I mean of the same spirit to lead and go before you The Lord hath not given Children to be your Leaders and Babes to rule over yâ—â— which is the eatned as a great Judgement portending and making way for the ruine of Ierusalem and fall of Iudah Isa. 3.4 8. but Pious Faithful Prudent Magistrates
every thing though it is their place to be ruled and nothing is well done if they be not at one end of it Factious men are Proud men Self admiring men they look on themselves through their own magnifying Glass and admire that every body doth not admire them and wonder that all the World doth not wonder after them as it is said They did after the Beast when his Deadly VVound was healed Rev. â—3â—3 and that all the Sheaves in the Fâ—â—â—d about them do not fall down and make obâ—ysance to their Sheaves Such men are in their own apprehension good enough to rule and too good to obey and can pick holes and find as many faults with our Rulers in the management of Civil and Ecclesiastical affairs as the mutinous Israelites with Moses and Aaron or proud Absolom with his Father David in his Government Hence men are rebellious against the Word of God and the voice of his Messengers The proud men would not heaâ—ken to the Prophet Ier. 43.2 Hence also Men are stiffe in their Opinions and confident in their perswasions even about things of doubtful Disputation to such a degree that they cannot bear with any that do not comport with them in their Apprehensions And if they have imbibed this or that Heterodox Opinion that is never so much against the sense of the generality of Gods People Wise and Judicious yet they hold in 〈…〉 will not let it go but will rather separate from Churches part with the communion of Saints lose their interest in Ordinances yea 〈…〉 all Order and huâ—lâ—â— into a disturbance and confusion then lay down the Darling notions they have taken up Hence men carry it as though they were infallible they cannot be in an errouâ—â— and impeccable too They cannot be in a fault Hence mens hearts rise and swell against faithful Admonitors and they must not be reproved or contradicted Hence men contend eagerly for disputable things so as to impose their belief on other men and make their Apprehensions the Measure and standard of theirs and conformity to them therein the condition of their Communion with them whereas Humility would teach Placidâ— ferro contra sentientâ—◠〈◊〉 Moderation and Forbearance in such cases without which there will be justling and endless contention Only by priâ—e comes contention Pro. 13 1â— There are many occasions of Contentions But Prias if there were nothing else would occasion and produce Variance and Contentions And what will the latter end be Why Pride goeth before destruction and dishaughty Spirit before a fall Prov. 16.18 If this be the general sin of this Country we may well fear that destruction is coming and that we are in a tottering ruinous falling Condition Pride hath budded the Rod hath Blossomed Ezek. 7.10 Unless this Pride be nipped in the Bud it will certainly thrustforth the Blossome of a Rod. God hath smart Rods for the back of a proud People 5. Consider what will be the latter End of those bitter Contentions and unchristian Distances and Divisions among us All sober and considerate wise men have great thoughts of Heart about them Sad it is if there should be Contentions and Divisions sides and parties and factions in Courts and Churches and almost all Societies amongst us This is very much unbecoming a people in our circumstances Embarked in and exâ—â—es for the same cause and interest in this wilderness And that which renders it more sad is that the Contentions which are among us are not meerly sudden exacerbations or ebullitions of anger and passion occasioned by these or those emergencies but that there seems to be a Froward perverse spirit mingled among us which was the judgment of God upon the Egyptians before their destruction Isa. 19.14 May not the Lord charge us as he did the Israelites Deut. 32.5 20. that we have too much of the spirit of that crooked and perverse Generation even in this respect Hence good Counsels are defeated all manner of Good almost obstructed in theâ—e those Societies And these contentions are not only as a paroxism and fit of a Fever that spends it self and goes off in a little time but like a Chronical distemper they are perpetuated and drawn out from year to year and there is no end of them Either they refuse healing and are the more Exasperated by the best means that can be administred by the ablest hands or admit only of a palliative cure that doth not eradicate the disease but give some check to it and yeild present relief and leave the patient in continuall danger of Râ—claâ—vation or relapsing with lost hope of recovery into the same Distemper again We abhorr and punish that justly Adultery Witchcraft Murders and such like abominations but do we not make too little conscience of Hatred Variance Wrath Strifâ— Emulutions Seditions or Siding â— which are â—l works of the flesh also and to be abandoned Gal. â— 19 20. It is a lamentable thing that wâ—â— should be thus 〈…〉 our selves when Herod and Pâ—late can make themselves friends in order to the crucifying of Christ in his Interest and Members and the enemies of the Church of God though of very different Interests and Apprehensions in many things can cement and unite and combine to subvert the visible Kingdom of Christ upon Earth When Geâ—â—â— and Ammon and Amalek the Philistines with the Inhabitants of Tyre can consult together with one consent and are confederate against the Church of God when the League and Combination of the Anti Christian party in the World against the Interest of Christ is so evident their Advantages so great their Successes so notorious their Rage such as reacheth up unto Heaven Then for a professing people to be contending and quarrelling biting and devouring one another is most unseasonable most unreasonable Your differences will make way for those that will make no difference between Synodists and Antisynodists Old or New-Church men Tros Tyriusve illis nullo diserimine agetur The Hatred of your Adversaries is not derived upon you as you are thus thus distinguished and diversified among your selves but upon one common account The Enmity of the seed of the Serpent is against One and All of the seed of the Woman of what Complexion soever they are and their Hatred is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 against the whole Race and Generation of Religions and Reforming professors among us These Divisions will open a wide door to your Adversaries Those that let out these waters of strife and fill their streames with bitterness that kindle these flames and encrease them or hinder the quenching of them do thereby gratifie them exceedingly that wish ill to our Sion Hoc Ithacus velit magno merceniur Atrida And indeed it would be very strange if the Industrious and indefatigable â—esuites that compass Sea and Land to do mischief and other sly and subtile and malignant Enemies should not Improve and Graffe upon the Stock of our Divisions Our Contenâ—ious render us
labour under And it is a matter of sorrowful and sad Resentment with me that the Nurseries of Piety Learning liberal Education should languish dye away as they do in my Apprehension on this account If this were well considered and provided for I doubt not but our Schools would revive flourish again You have done wel for the New Colledge Thanks be to God as Paul speaks in a Parallel Case 2 Cor. 9.15 for his unspeakable Gift Now therefore perform the doing of it that as there was a readiness to will so there may be a performance also out of that which you have 2 Cor. 8 11. You have done very well for the Reverend President I beseech that the Fellows may be remembred also that there may be a competent comfortable and certain allowance made for their Encouragement who are next to the President the Props and Pillars of that Society and have a câ—reful and Laborious Life of it Think not that the Common Wealth of Learning may languish and yet our Civil and Ecclesiastical State be maintained in good plight and Condition The wisdom 〈◊〉 Foresight and Care for future Times of our first Leaders 〈◊〉 nothing more conspicuous and admirable then in the planting of that Nursery and Nâ—w-England is enjoying the sweet fruit of it It becomes all our 〈◊〉 and Worthy Patriots that tread in their steps to water what they have planted to superstruct on their Foundations to support and cherish and go forward with what they have begun and to carry it on to greater perfection Otherwise who sees not what Ignorance and Rudeness and Barbarism will come in like a Floud upon us Where there is a contempt or neglect of Learning there is a degeneracy from the Primitive Spirit and Way as you call it 12. Lastâ—y Consider what will be the Latter End of that great neglect of the Rising Generation among us The Word in my Text which is translated Latâ—er End Acharith is sometimes rendred posterity as Psal. 109 13. Let Acharitho his Posterity be cut off It is the very same word with that in the Text which is rendred Latter End And it would be happy if we could be wise to understand this to consider Posterity We make very solemn Complaints to God and one to Another of the Degeneracie of the Rising Generation But are not we to blame Do we not grievously neglect them to instruct them to cherish and promote any good in them to go before them with a gracious Example to watch over them according to the mind of Christ we teach them I am afraid by our Examples to sleight Magistrates to reproach and vilify Ministers to be proud and worldly and Factious and Contentious as if we meant to leave Contention for aâ— Inheritance to our Children and to provide for the perpetuation of our Brubbles and Divisions to succeeding Generations As if men were so much in love with Contention that it were not enough for them to contend while they live but they had a mind to do it when they are dead I mean to transmit and make over their Strifes and Variances and Emulations and Wraths and Divisions and peâ—â—y Enmities to after Ages And so to contend and quarrel in respect of the vertue and influence of their Example to the end of the World But alas What good do we do them Our Children are little beholden to us We own them so far as to baptize them But then Fare ye well Children we have nothing more to do with you This is as a wise Man said ingeniously just as you are wont to Brand you Cattel and then turn them into the woods Or as the Popish Priests in the Indies drive scores of Indians to the Waâ—â—r and Baptize them and set down so many for Christian Converts they have made and then let them run wild into the Woods again to their old Pagan courses I fear God is angry with us on this account Certainly something should be done If we are not agreed in all particulars as to the way and manner and other circumstances yet let us practise so far as we have attained and Fast and Pray and Consult the Scriptures and discourse out things in a Brotherly way without Heats and Animositics and wait upon God for the further and fuller Discovery of his mind to us and be willing that Truth should be Truth how contrary soever to any of our apprehensions Sad it is to consider how many poor Children have their Souls overgrown with Ignorance Atheism Security and Prophaness and are going to Destruction without controll whilest we are contending and quarrelling about these things Oh consider with bowels of Affection and Compassion how sad the latter end of our shameful neglect of Posterity will be Thus Honoured and Beloved in our Lord Let us be perswaded in this our day to consider what will be the latter end of our sinful and unsuitable Deporâ—ments before the Lord and be sure to make a right Judgement of it To that purpose take these Directions 1. Consult and credit Scripture-Testimony in this matter The good Word of God informs you what the end of these and those wayes will be and is able to make you wise in this respect if you listen to it The Scripture tells us that the end of false Teachers will be according to their works 2 Cor. 11.15 And of those that blindly follow them to fall into the Ditch or Pit of Destruction with them Mat. 15.14 that the end of Worldly mindedness will be Destruction Phil. 3.19 the end of Back-sliding and Apostacy will be the loss of Gods Favour and Perdition Heb. 10.38 39. The end of unfruitfulness will be to be cut down Luk. 13.7 9. and burned Heb. 6.8 That the latter end and wages of sin one word in the Hebrew signifies both end and wayes will be Death Rom. 6.21 The end of the wayes of sin depends upon the constitution of God in his Law and Covenant and the sanction thereof and the Scripture acquaints us faithfully with it If you would understand the end of man you must go into the Sanctuary Psal. 73.17 To hear Gods Counsel and Instruction in the Scripture is the way to be wise in and about your latter end Prov. 19.20 Make Gods Testimonies the men of your counsel as David phraseth it Psal. 119.24 in this matter 2. Consult instructing Examples and Experiences in order to a right Vnderstanding of the latter end of your wayes The Scripture furnisheth you richly with considerable instances The way of Sensuality Security Neglect of Gods Worship Degeneracy of the Children of the Church and corrupting their way ruined the old World The way of Uncleanness and of unnatural Lusts ruined Sodom and Gomorrah the Cities which God overthrew and repented not The way of Persecution and Oppression of the Church of God ruined Pharaoh and his Co-partners and Followers The way of Rebellion against Civil and Ecclesiastical Authority ruined Korah and his Company when they