The Unreasonableness and Danger of Renouncing Subjection to God

The Unreasonableness and Danger of a Peoples Renouncing their Subjection unto GOD.

THE Lord's Visible Professing people, having • een, by sundry fore-going 〈◊〉 wa • ned of their horrible provoking E • i • s and invited to Repentance and Reformation, left they should Invol • e themselves under his heavy Judgments, but all this in great measure in vain, and to no purpose, the people being so greatly hardened; He do • h at last raise up this Prophet, whose name, as the Learned observe, denotes the 〈◊〉 or the Exaltation of the Lord, a name well becoming one, by whose Ministry the Lord was so Exalted, in many close and sharp Reproof • of sins terrible denunciations of approaching Judgments, and also Divine Promises of Mercy, I say, He raises up this Proph • t, not so much to invite those hopeless ones to Repentance, as to Denounce the Destruction of Jerusalem, and the Temple, and the people's Seventy Years Captivity in Babylon, for their Incorrigible persisting in their Sins. Whether this Chapter contains in it the first Sermon, that the Prophet Jeremiah Preached directly 〈◊〉 this People, or not as it is not positively determine • d, so neither is it Material for us to inquire, altho' it be the first that we have upon Record

The former Chapter contains in it the Commission, which God gave him to this Office of a People, together with some necessary Instructions and Directions, in order to the right discharge thereof, and being set upon so great a piece of service, attended with many Difficulties & hazards, and Weight being added to all these by his being Call • d to this Work in his 〈…〉 ; the • o • d doth as there was occasion, present him with some strengthening, and supporting Considerations. The Prophet being thus called, furnished, and fortified to his Work, is in this Chapter manifestly set about it: which chiefly consists of matters of C ••• icti • n laid before this people (which were visibly God's Professing people) of the greatness of their evil in departing away from God: the Unreasonableness of their so doing he manifests, in that God never gave them any real Occasion so to do. v 〈◊〉 . Thus 〈◊〉 the Lord, wha • 〈◊〉 have your Fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after v • n • ty and 〈◊〉 become vain? In the words now read the Lord doth return to his former Expostulation with them, and therein puts them upon showing, wherein▪ He had by neglecting, or wronging them, laid them under any Necessity, or given them any Occasion, to depart away from Him: And therein makes it evidently, and beyond all question to appear, that if Reason, Experience, or Gratitude had born any sway with them, they would not have forsaken Him In the Words we may observe,

1. The Lord's clearing Himself from blame, in what He had been to, and done for this people, propounded by way of Interrogation: Which Interrogation implies a ve • errent negation, Have I been a Wilderness unto Israel? &c. q. d I have not been so, but on the contrary, like a pleasant fruitful Land to them

2. The Lord's Charge drawn up against them by way of Expostulation. Wherefore say my people, we are Lord's, we will come no more unto the?

Particularly 1. A Compellation. O Generation.

2. Their serious attendance to what he had to propose to them, Required, see ye the Word of the Lord.

3. The Principal thing proposed. Wherein we have

1 An account of the great care which the Lord had had of, and the great kindness He had shown to them, Have 〈…〉 &c &c

2. Their Evil from hence argued, and aggravated, Wherefore • ay my people, &c. O Generation▪ some would have this to be a Note of Admiration, and Exclamation, and Read it thus, Oh Generation! or Oh what a strange Generation is this, into what Times are we fallen! But it rather seems to be a Note of Compellatic calling upon and inviting the People then living, seriously to consider what he was now about to deliver to them, pressing that upon them now, which he had upon their Fathers. v. 5. See ye the Word of the Lord. i. e. Seriously consider it To see, the Word is a Phrase not much unlike to the Hearing the Rod, MIc 6: 9. For the heart hath an Eye to see the one, as well as an Ear to hear the other, there is an Inward, as well as an Outward Eye Dent. 29, 2, 3, 4. And Moses called unto all Israel and said unto them, ye have seen all that the Lord did before your Eyes in the Land of Egypt unto Pharaoh and unto all his Servants and unto all his land; The great Temptations which thine Eyes have seen, the signs, and those great Miracles: Yet the Lord hath not given you an heart to perceive, and Eyes to see, and Ears to hear, unto this day Pro. 20. 11. The hearing Ear, and the seeing Eye, the Lord hath made even both of them. Have I been a Wilderness unto Israel? Israel was a Name firstly given unto Jacob on occasion of his wrestling, and prevailing for a Blessing Gen 32. 28. And • e said, thy Name shall be called no, more Jacob, but Israel: for as a Prince thou hast power with God, and with Men, and hast Prevailed. From hence his Posterity were called I •• a • l; of them consisted the Visible Church of God, until the coming of Christ Psal. 76. I. In Judah God is known, his Name is great in Israel. And from thence the Holy Ghost hath seen meet to make it a name of the whole Invi •• ble Catholic Church, Col, 6. 16. And as many as walk according to this Rule, peace be on them, 〈◊〉 Mercy▪ and upon the Israel of God. Have I been a Wilderness &c? Have I held My People to hard fare, as Cattle that are kept on some barren Heath? Have My People served Me and Reaped no Fruit thereby, as if they had tilled a Barren piece of Land? Have I not rather blessed them, and abundantly Rewarded them, while they were Loyal and Faithful to Me? 〈◊〉 . Your wants were not such, while you kept close to Me, as to enforce you to leave Me, and to look out for new Quarters. A Land of Darkness? A Land of extreme misery; Darkness is sometimes put for misery, Lam. 〈◊〉 . 2. He hath led one, and brought me into darkness but not into Light. A lateward Land, that is very slow in yielding fruit; Have I not been bountiful and forward in doing you good? Wherefore say my People &c Say, Why do they entertain such Thoughts? as Psal. 14. I. We are Lord's, We have gotten that strength that we have no more need of thy support. We will come no more unto thee? We will be ruled no longer by Thee, q. d. We will cast off dependence upon, and Renounce Obedience to God.

DOCT. That when the Lord, Visible professing people, under the deepest Bonds, and Obligations revolt from, and renounce Obedience unto Him, it is most unreasonable in them, and highly provoking unto Him.

This was a people highly favored by the Lord▪ He calls them His People, and He had done very much for them, yea so much as that He might say, what could have been done more? He drew them with the Cords of a M • n and with Bands of lov ••• Now by how much the more kind, and obliging He had been unto them; so much the more unreasonable must their revolt from God be, and consequently very provoking unto God. Jer 8. 5. Why then is this people of 〈…〉 back, 〈◊〉 perpetual back slidi •• ? This Doctrine contains many things in it, which for brevity sake may be comprehended in these two Propositions.

PROP I. That the Lord's Visible professing people, under the deepest Bonds and Obligations, 〈◊〉 liable to revolt from and renounce Obedience to Him. 〈…〉

PROP. II. That when 〈…〉 , that such a people do revolt from the God of their Mercies, and renounce Obedience to Him; it is most unreasonable in them 〈◊〉 highly provoking to Him.

PROP. I. That the Lord's Visible professing people, under the deepest Bonds & Obligations, are liable to revolt from and renounce Obedience to Him.

What an undeniable instance have we of this in our Context v. 5. & 6. Thus faith the 〈◊〉 , what in • quity have your Fathers found 〈…〉 , that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain? Neither said they, where is the Lord this brought us up out of the land of 〈◊〉 , that led us through the Wilderness &c Yea the Truth of this Truth may be undeniably argued from the many, and solemn cautions, which the Lord gave unto Israel of old against their so doing, when they came to their fullness and grandeur in the land of Canaan, Deut. 6. 12. Then beware least thou forget the Lord, which brought thee forth out of Egypt, from the house of Bondage. And again, Deut. 8, 10, 11. When thou hast eaten, and art full, then thou shalt bless the Lord thy God, for the good land which he hath given thee, beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping his Commandments, and his Judgments, & his Statutes, which I command thee this day. And yet so it was, that notwithstanding all these cautions, they forgot, and carried it very undutifully and ungratefully to the God of their Mercys. Some of the great things which the Lord did for them, which if rightly considered were very binding and obliging, together with the great abuse of those mercies, which they were guilty of, we have an account of Deut. 32. 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15. He found him in a desert land, and in the waste bowling Wilderness: He led him about, He instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye▪ As an Eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her Wings, taketh them, bareth them on her Wings; So the Lord alone did lead 〈◊〉 , and there was no strange God with him. He made him ride on the high Places of the Earth, that he might eat the Increase of 〈…〉 , and he made him to suck honey out of the Rock, and oil out of the flinty Rock▪ Butter of kine &c But Jesh •• un waxed fat and kicked: Thou art waxen • at, thou art covered with 〈◊〉 ; then • e f • rsook so • k G • d which made him, and lightly esteemed the rock of his Salvation. Thus the Lord had led them, & sed them, he had skillfully guided them, and safely guarded them; and after many trials and difficulties brought them to a comfortable settlement; and yet we see, what ill requital He met with from them. When Jeshurun was by the doles of Divine bounty Waxen fa • , he in a Beast like or worse manner kicked, grew masterless, and forsook the God that made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock 〈◊〉 his Salvation. God was of no account with him: a prosperous is a dangerous Condition: and a People brought into it, are set in slippery places from whence too often they slide away from God, and are cast down into destruction, Prov. 1. 22. And the P •• sperity of Fools shall destroy them If it be here asked whence it is that the Lord's visible professing people under the Bonds of deepest obligations, are liable to revolt from, and renounce Obedience unto God? I answer

1. Because all that are the Lord's visible professing people, are not really what they profess themselves to be. Rom. 9. 6. For they are not all Israel which are of 〈◊〉 . There are many that have the name of God called upon them, who do not as in Duty bound depart from iniquity: among the many that have a name to live, there are but comparitively a few, that are alive: Many for some low and Sinister ends list themselves in Christ's service, who are • et are far from being cordial to him; and from hence after the hardness and Imp ••• ten • y of their hearts, Treasure up to themselves wrath against the day of wrath, and the Revelation of the Righ • e •• s Judgments of God; not ••• ing that 'the goodness 〈◊〉 God leadeth them 〈◊〉 Repentance.

2 Because Those who are truly 〈◊〉 are but in 〈◊〉 . There is a body of sin dwelling in them, which will not be wholly rooted out of them; during their state of imperfection The great Apostle, who had truth of, and a great measure of Grace, yet declares that of himself, which truly gracious ones may seal to themselves, Rom 72 • . 〈◊〉 see another 〈◊〉 in my Memb ••• , warring 〈◊〉 the law of my mind, and bringing me into 〈◊〉 to the law of sin, which is in my members From hence it is that we read of David, Peter, and many others that had deservedly the characters of godly men, that yet were left to grievous falls. Thus we see the first Proposition made good, which affores solemn warning to all Professors of their danger, and to advise them to bear in mind that of the Apostle, 1 〈…〉 ••• fore • et him that thinketh be standeth take heed 〈◊〉 be fast.

PROP 11 That when it is so, that the Lord • visible professing people, under the Bonds of deeped •••• tions revolt from, and renounce Obedience unto 〈◊〉 ; it is most unreasonable in them; and 〈…〉 to him When because the Lord dea's Well with a people the, deal 〈◊〉 with Him, see how the Lord upbraid •••• People with their ill requiting Him, Deut 32 6. Do you 〈…〉 Lord, 〈…〉 people, and unwise? Is n • t be thy Father, that 〈◊〉 bought thee? hath • e not made thee, and established thee? It is a most unreasonable thing, it would better become Unreasonable than Reasonable Creatures, Yea it is in some respects to act below unreasonable Creatures, for they do in their way, and according to their capacity, pay some kind of acknowledgements and respects to their benefactors, Isa. I. 3. The Ox knoweth his owner, and the Ass his Masters Crib: But Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider, That thus to do is very unreasonable, on the part of the Lord's professing people, and likewise very provoking unto God, will appear from these Reasons.

Reason, • I. Because the Revolting of such a people must needs be spontantous and very willful. This is laid to their charge in the context, v 25. With h • ld thy foot from being unshod, & thy throat from thirst: but thou saidst, there is no hope. No, for I have loved strangers and after them will I go. It could not be, because the Lord had been harsh and severe to them, and so had laid them under Necessity to revolt from Him; there was no iniquity to be found in God see v. 5. of the context God did not begin to for sake them. Isa. 50. 1. Thus saith the Lord, where is the bill of your Mothers divorcement, whom I have put away? A Woman that deserted her Husband, and had not a bill of Divorcement under his hand, was to be accounted the peccant party, so saith the Lord, if I have laid you under any necessity to forsake Me, bring forth the evidence; if I have put you away, then show the Bill of Divorce. Moreover it could not be from Ignorance, because this was a place of great light, it was a place where God had recorded His name, unto whom He had given good statutes and right Judgments, He had unto this People above any other shown what was right▪ Psa • . 147. 19, 20. He showeth his word unto Jacob, his 〈◊〉 and his judgments unto Israel. He hath not dealt so with any Nation and for his judgments; they have not known them. They were compar •• with other Nations, as sitting in Gothen, and the rest groping in the dark. Now if the revolt of such a People be neither of necessity, nor Ignorance, then it must needs be Spontanious, and willful, & so very unreasonable, and highly provoking.

2. Reas. Because this is to deal very ungratefully with God. Ingratitude is condemned by the light of Nature, the very Heathen have looked upon it as a grievous sin, yea as the Mother of many other sins; and much more is it Condemned by God, who has joined the Unthankful, and Unholy together, 2 •• m. 2. 2. Unthankfulness was one of the sins mentioned, Rom 1. 21. For the sake of which, God was provoked to give them up to a Repropa • e mind, and vile affections. To requite Evil for Evil is very sinful: But to requite Evil for Good Oh how heinous! The Lord may in a Wrathful way say to such a People▪ as A • la • om said to H • sha • a Sam 16. 17. 〈…〉 t • o thy 〈…〉 friend▪ Such a people for whom the Lord hath done so much, are under greater and stronger Bonds to walk with and obey God, than any others, Yea, such bonds one would think Holy Ingenuity would feel, and be Commanded by, Deut. 32 6. God had cared for them as a tender hearted Father, He had bought them with a great price, He had given men for them, and people for their life, He had well formed them, both as to Civils and Ecclesiasticals. This People were risen higher in their Profession, and raised higher in their Privileges, than the rest of the Nations, a People therefore, from whom the Lord might claim greater Loyalty, than from any others What Prodigious Ingratitude must it needs be for such a people to be disloyal • for s • ch a people for whom the Lord had done so much, to lay aside all holy Ingenuity, and to cast off all bonds of Love, & to bring forth the Chapes of Sodom and the Clusters of Gomorrah, is very unreasonable, and also provoking, Isa, I. 21. How is the faithful City become an Harlo • ? it was full of Judgment, Righteousness lodged in it; but now Murderes. Amos 3. 2. You only have I known of all the Families of the • arth▪ therefore I will punish you for all your Iniquities. To • ight against God with such Weapons given for no such end, is for such a people to show themselves worse than the very Publican • , of whom we find it Recorded, M • t. 5 46. That they love them that love them.

3. Reas. Because thus to do is for a people to run a bead of their own Experience and to give 〈◊〉 , and feeling the lie. Past experiences may rationally be expected, to afford present counsel: and so to be improved by Men, who are capable of being guided by reason, & much more by Christians▪ Now there never was a professing people taken near to God, but he gave them some Experience of the Good of keeping close to him: He has very liberally, and richly rewarded them, they have been no losers while they have been faithful to God; He has given them to see, that His service is the most profitable, and occasion to say, when they have revolted from Him as Hosea 2. 7. I will go and return to my first husband, for then was it better with me than now. God remembers, and expects that His People should not forget the kindness that he shows to them, while they walk with Him. vid, Context. v. 2, 3. Thus saith the Lord, I remember thee, the kindness of thy Youth, the lo • e of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the Wilderness; in a land that was not sown. Israel was holiness unto the Lord, and the first Fruits of his Increase: all that devour him, shall offend: Evil shall come upon them • aith the Lord. In a Word God was with them, while they were with Him, so that their own experience might teach them other and better than to revolt from God.

4. Reas. Because such a People in so doing are sadly regardless of their own Interst. It is a part of the Covenant which God hath made with His People, and which He will 〈◊〉 alter or break, that if they do transgress. He will Chastise, that He will visit their transgressions with the R • d, and their Iniquities with stripes, Psal. 89 32. And when once the Lord's Professing people revolt from Him, it is not long before He takes His Rod into His hand. Now for a people to revolt, while Divine Judgments are hanging over their heads, and fairly within their view, is very unreasonable, and to be more brutal, than the Feasts, who are not easily driven into Places, where danger is seen, Balaam's Ass would not go forward, when she saw the Angel stand in the way with a drawn Sword.

How many hardships, and sorrows do a Professing people expose themselves unto, while they forsake God, vid context, v. 25. Withold thy Foot from being unshod, and thy Threat from thirst: but thou saidst, there is no hope, q. d Do you not see, how that by departing from Me You do forsake Your own Mercies, cross and oppose Your own Interest? How greatly are You Impoverished by it? Did You while You were Loyal to me, want Shoos for Your Feet, and Water to quench Your Thirst? & now how do You groan for the want of what You then had? Oh how unnaturally cruel to themselves are a revolting people and even contrary to nature hating their own flesh!

5 Reason, Because thus to do is an argument that They do not suitably improve • the Instructions, which from the harms of 〈◊◊〉 has have been offered unto them. Is it not highly Irrational for any Man to go on in such a way, which to his own observation has been fatal to others. It was an aggravat ••• of • e'shazzars sin in that he had had a prospect of his Fathers Punishment, by which he migh have been warned, and yet he made no good improvement of it, Dan. 5. 22. And thou his son, O B •• shazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though' thou knewest all this; though' thou knewest that pride was the overthrow, and downfall of thy predecessor, yet thou wast not humbled Oh the harms of others will (if rightly improved) make those who are observers thereof, cautious.

6 Reason, Because a professing people in thus doing, Crossite Lord, what in them lies, of his reasonable expectation. Where much is given answerable returns may reasonably be expected: Hence the Lord to speak after the manner of Men promises to himself more, and better from a people for whom he has done more and greater things than for others, Isa 41. 21. This people have I formed for myself, they shall show forth my praise. The Lord doth, and reasonably may expect, that his people should be such as will not lie, and he false to him, Isa. 63 8. For he said, surely they are 〈◊〉 people▪ children that will not lie: so he was their Savior.

7 Reason, Because thus to do is to deal worse by a good God, than the beathen do by their dumb Idols As it is an argument of their folly, to trust in them, which are but the works of men's hands, they have mouths but they speak •• , yes have they but they see n •• , Psal 115. 4, 5, 6, 7. so this their ••• fide • ce in & lovalty to their Idols reproves a Pr •• essing people for their revolt from the true God Tho •• the Context, v 11, 12, 13. Hath a Nation changed their gods, 〈◊〉 are 〈◊〉 no gods? but my people have change •• 〈◊〉 glory, for that which doth not profit. To change a Fountain for a Fountain, may not sometimes be disadvantageous: but to change a Fountain for a Cistern, Oh how unreasonable▪ A professing people are highly unreasonable in revolting from the true and living God, when the Heathen clave to their Idols which will appear from these Particulars.

1. The Heathens God's are Impotent, & unable to afford help to them They can neither do Good nor Evil, they can neither Comfort nor Afflict, Isa 41. 23. Hence the Heathen have no real occasion, either to love them, or to be afraid of them. But the true God can do everything: His hand is under no other limitation but his own Job 42. 2. I 〈◊〉 that thou canst do everything. He •• n do good and he can do evil, i. e. Afflictive evil, Isa 45. 7. I form the Light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things Now seeing the Heathen do not part with their God's▪ who they think can, though' indeed they cannot help them, a professing people m • st needs be very unreasonable in revolting from God All sufficient

2. The Heathens gods are dep •• d •• t, but the true God is absolutely I • de • endent They neither have their beings of themselves nor can they uphold their own beings: But the true God hath his being of himself, and by himself doth sust • in his own being

3. The Heathen have not experienced anything from their gods, that might oblige them unto them, but a professing People have had manifold obligations laid upon them by the true God, even their and God's Enemies being judges. Psal. 126. 2, 3. Then said they among the Hea ••• n, the Lord hath done great things for them. Deut • 2 • 1. For th • ir Rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges.

8. Reason Because such a people are God's People, th • s in the Text wherefore say my People: They are God's people not only by Crea •••• but also by Co • v • nant, hence for them to make alienation of themselves from God and to revolt from God must be to rob God of his due.

9. Reason, Because the Revelting of such a People from God casts in • olerable reflection upon G • d. It is practically to say, that they had found iniquity in God; it is to charge him with being an hard Master; Yea, that he had been to them, what a Wilderness is to them that dwell therein. The Language of their forsaking, God is that he had by the straits that they were brought into necessitated them to look out for some better quarters. What Re •• exion of impotency and Weakness, or unfaithfulness may be expected to be cast upon God by the World, when a professing People depart away from him.

USE Having confirmed the Doctrine, I would proceed as the time, and particular occasions of this day will allow, to make some Improvement of it, which may be principally by way of Reflexion upon ourselves

Whether we in these parts of the World have not reason to look upon ourselves a people so circumstanced, as that the Truth we have now heard, affords us a Glass, wherein we may see the merciful obliging bonds we have been under unto God, and at the same time, how unreasonable we have been in revolting from, & renouncing obedience to God.

• Have we not been laid under the Bonds of deepest obligations? has not the Lord been far from being a Wilderness, or a land of darkness to us? So that we have had reason in some measure, from what the Lord has done for us, to seal to what is said Deut. 23 29 Happy art thou O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the Lord, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! There hath been a time when we were in a Wilderness, and the Lord was not a Wilderness to us. What our own eyes have seen, and our Fathers also have told us, show▪ that we have been greatly favored by the Lord, so that it may be said to u • , to New England, to Connecticut, to this 〈◊〉 at Assembly containing as much of it, as may be expected to be spoken to at once, See ye the word of the Lord. The Lord has not in that respect put us off with Words which we can only hear, and ought to believe, but he has made his words to be things, such as we might see, yea and others also might see; God hath not only set New-England as a seal upon his Heart, but as a seal upon his Arm; There have been practical, visible Testimonies of his love to this Wilderness; Yea the time hath been, that the Heathen could say, that the Lord was with us, and that he had done great things for us; Psal. 126 2. Then said they among the heathen, the Lord hath done great things for them Oh they were good times with Israel, when their enemies could see, that the Lord was among them, Num. 23. 21 The Lord his God is with him, and the shout of a King is among them.

The time was (and it may be for a Lamentation, that we are so much forced to say, it was!) that God was with us; It is seldom to be found that a people have had more clear and uninterrupted experience of Divine bounty, that New-England has had▪ therefore suffer me to make use of what Samuel once said to the General Assembly of Israel with particular application to this Great and Honorable Assembly 1 Sam. 12. 7. Now therefore stand still, that I may reason with you before the Lord, of all the righteous acts of the Lord, which be did to you and to your fathers. I have studied brevity and may not here enlarge, but only hint at things briefly.

1 How wonderfully did the Lord appear for the first Settlement of this land, when our Fathers followed God into this Wilderness▪ The Lord did as it were gather▪ a nation out of the midst of a Nation, and spirit them upon a Religious account, to follow the Lord into a land not sown, so that what is said in the Con ••• t, may be in some respect applied for the Lord's Justification and our Humiliation v. 21. Yet I 〈◊〉 • lanted thee a noble Vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate pl • nt of a stran •• Vine unto me?

Moreover, it may not be forgotten, that the religious Settlement, of this Land had be Royal 〈◊〉 . The Kings heart is in the hand of the Lord, And he was pleased to turn it toward this Good design; when Ez • a chap. 6 v. 22 had obtained the Royal favor for carrying on the building of the House of the Lord, they do joyfully acknowledge it to be the work of the Lord For the Lord had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the King of Assyria unto them; to strengthen their hands in the work of the House of God the God of Israel.

2. How has the Lord taken the part, and appeared on the behalf of His People against those who sought our Ruin? How were those who attempted to devour us, looked upon and dealt with by Heaven as offenders, and how did evil come upon them! How early did the Devil animate his vassals the Heathen to make inroad upon this Land with Malice, Murder, and Cruelty▪ yet how manifestly did God's Hand appear against them and made room for his People? How could one as it were chase a Thousand and two put Ten Thousand to flight?

Moreover, how many endeavors have there been at home, and abroad to disturb our quiet Settlement, and yet those Counsels have been turned 〈◊〉 foolishness, and those Weapons formed against us, have not Prospered. And altho' God has many ways, and many times sorely chastened us; Yet he hath stay • d his rough wind in the day of his East wind, so that God has not been a Wilderness to us, by laying us open without being our Protection.

3 How has the Lord been far from being a land of darkness to us, in that there have been, and still are Nurseries of Learning, and Piety amongst us. What a land of darkness would this otherwise have been? From those wholesome Fountains how many Streams have Issued forth to make glad the Cities of our God? The Lord may in this respect appeal to us, as in Amos 2. 11. And I raised up of your sons for Prophets, and o • yo • r Young Men for Nazarites Is it not even thus, O ye Children of Israel? saith the Lord. Yea how may we not only see the Churches of our Land Illuminated by hopeful Persons thus Trained up among ourselves; But also the Seats of our Civil Government, and places of Importance filling up with Persons of Worth, who besides their other good Accomplishments have the additions of a Liberal Education?

And here we may not in silence pass over the Tokens for good in this Colony in that some Pious and well disposed persons have moved for & have had the Approbation, Countenance and Support of this Government, in order to the obtaining a School of the Prophets among us, the flourishing of which (as it hath not for the Time been unfruitful) we hope will not only encourage the Public (whose advantage is Principally aimed at therein) to continue their support: But also Particular Persons of Ability to follow the examples of some, who already by their Liberal Donations have done Worthily for i • s Foundation.

4. What smiles of Providential encouragements hath this Land been favored with? Altho' it cannot be denied, but that there have been days wherein God hath Afflicted us, and Years wherein we have seen evil; Yet what great mixtures of mercies have we had? The Peace we have had when surrounded with the Heathen, Health and Plentiful Provision in a Wilderness are mercies not to be forgotten For how long a Time were our fields unacquainted with Blastings, & the Trees strangers to devouring Worms, and our Plantations to many Diseases which now are come among us▪ so that the Inquiry may be made Joel 1. 2▪ Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye the Inhabitants of the land: hath this been in your days?

5. And above all, how has the time been, that we have had the glory of God in the midst of us, His presence in, and with his Ordinances? How has there been to be seen the goings of our God and King in his Sanctuary, so that there was Reason rejoicingly to • ay of our Zion's, this and that man • as born in them? How did God own his own Ordinances, to the convincing and converting, of Sinners the edifying and building up of Saints? How many were there that did 〈◊〉 as a Cloud, and as the D • ves to their windows? so that that eminent Servant of God who Preached on this occasion many years since reflecting on the first glory of New England, had such expressions as these.

Multitudes were converted to thee, even to thee O H • r • ford, to thee O New Haven, & to thee O Windsor, and the like might be said of many of the Churches in New England.

Surely these things being seriously thought of, may be sufficient to convince us that we are the People that have been under the bonds of deepest obligations. We proceed to inquire▪

II Whether the Lord's way to us be as it hath been? We have indeed great reason to bless God, that things are so well with us as they are, that forfeited, and undeserved Mercies are so plentifully heaped upon us; But yet how often, how many ways, and for how long a Time, has the Lord born awe • ul Testimony against us, and loudly proclaimed that he hath 〈◊〉 controversy with us; and if God be with us as formerly, why are we thus? Has not the Lord been Testifying against us by the Sword of a Cruel and Ba • ba ••• , Enemy unto the Diminishing and greatly Impoverishing of us▪ by Fr • wnin • upon our M ••• tarry enterprises so a • to cause our enemy to laugh among themselves; by amazing Droughts so as to make it a time of great distress; by B • astings, Catterpilars; & more lately by unusual 〈◊〉 of the Fruits 〈◊〉 the field? And what can be the reason of all this? Truly it would be for us to flatter ourselves and to shut our Eyes against the Light, if we do not conclude that it is our revolting from God, that doth lie at the bottom of all this, according to our Context v. 17. Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God, when 〈◊〉 thee by the war? While we dutyfully owned God to be our Leader, he did not fail to be our protector If we had been true to God, and had not L • ed to him, can it be supposed that he would have become our enemy, and so many ways have fought against us? Isa. 63. 8. • 0 〈◊〉 • e said surely they are my people, Children that will not lie: so he was th • ir Savior. But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: Therefore he was turned 〈…〉 enemy, and he fought against them.

Things being thus, is it not high time for us to be Redecting upon our Revolt from God, h • ve we not too much practically said, we are Lord's we 〈…〉 him?

1 〈…〉 time been when New England's walk was 〈…〉 than it is? I do not here speak anything that is liable to Controversy or Dispute; But purely of the beauty of Holiness. Are the Commands of God so weighty with us as they have been heretofore? are the Ordinances of God of that esteem as they have been? Is there now so much of the Fear of God, so much zeal for God, so much Righteousness among men, as always is needful, and as sometimes hath been visible among us? What coldness and remissness is there to be found in Religious concerns? what neglect of Family Instruction and Government? Is o • r way and Walk so becoming & adorning the Gospel, as our Predecessors? We are, it may be, too ready to find fault with some things that they did; but it were well, if we were not in many more things to blame— Truly,

If our pious Predecessors should come from the Dead, how justly and greatly would they blame our revolt from God? Might they not sharply say to us, Is this according to thee good Counsels and Instructions we have given You, and the good examples we have set before You? When did you see us make so light a • matter of Prophaning the Name or day of God? Were we ever so Wordly, so voluptuous • , so regardless, of our duty to God and Man? 〈◊〉 Is our Posterity come to this! Assuredly our sins must needs be greatly aggravated in turning quickly out of the good ways, which our Fathers walked in, Judge. 217. They turned quickly out of the way, whi •• 〈◊〉 Fathers walked in, obeying the Commandments of the Lord; but they did not 〈◊〉

Are we not become greatly degenerate? look we into Hearts, Families, Plantations, the Land, and think what hath been, and what is? are not our Hearts more Carnal, and our ways more Offensive than formerly Particularly,

1 Is there not among is a great neglect of Christ, the Gospel and Gospel Ordinances? The Tender of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Gospel to the World is the greatest tender, that ever God made: hence he is called the gift of God Joh 4 10 Now in the Gospel and Gospel Ordinances there is the most clear, plain and affectionate Tender of him It is there that he stands, and cries Himself unto poor Sinners John 7. 37. Jesus stood and 〈◊〉 , saying, of any Man thirst, let him come unto me, an • drink. There he stands Bes • eching poor Sinners to be Rec •• ciled to God, 2 C • r. 5. 20. There he •• and & kn •• k • at the 〈◊〉 of poor Sinners h • arts, using the most powerful Arguments, and offering the highest Encouragements unto them to open to him, Rev. 2 • 0. Yea there it is, that he presents poor sinners with a lively prospect of his direful Passion, thereby to pers • vade them to open unto him, Cant 5 2 O • en 〈…〉 , my Sister, my Love, my Dove, my undefiled: For my head is filled with dew, and my 〈…〉 the 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 . There he proclaims himself every way able to afford help and relief to poor perishing Sinners, that he has Righteousness to clothe those that are naked, Gold to enrich those that are poor▪ • ye solve to make those that are born blind to see: And that all this with whatsoever they stand in need of he stands ready to bestow upon those that will accept of it, upon Terms ha • are very agreeable to their Circumstances, viz. most 〈◊〉 , John 6 3 • . H • m that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out. Rev 22. 17. And the Spirit and the Bride say come, and let him that heareth say▪ come. And let him that is a thirst, come: And whosoever will, let him take the water of Life freely.

Now the neglecting, disregarding, & under valuing the • e offers must needs be very provoking unto God Mat. 23. 37, 38. How often would I have gathered thy Children together, even as a hen gathereth her 〈◊〉 under her Wings, and ye would not! Behold your hou •• is left unto you desolate. Heb. 2. 3. How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation? How is the dearest love of God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost trampled upon by Gospel neglecters, and the alone Remedy refused▪ And is there not a great deal of this to be found among us, and is not this that which lies at the bottom and is the very Fountain of the rest of our sins and miseries? If the greatest love be slighted greatest Grace rejected, what but proportionable Wrath may be expected? And surely the Lord hath a great Controversy with us on this account▪ nothing wounds God more, than a regardless contempt of the Gospel; Will not God visit for these things?

And what abundance of evidence can there be brought in against us on this account? The Glorio • s Gospel which we have been so long favored with, beings in plentiful evidence against us, and we may hear it plea • ing against us, Where is the Ch ••• , which I have so plainly revealed, so freely offered, so strictly Commanded you to receive, so earnestly beseeched you to give Entertainment to? Where is the prizing of the Pearl of great price? Where is there a desire of him, that is desirable for all N ••••• ?

Moreover the Ministers of the Gospel have abundant reason to renew that Ancient Complaint, We have labored in vain, who hath believed our Report? When poor Sinners have been Piped unto, they have not danced; When they have been Mourned over, they have not lamented. How much cause have they had to fear, that much of their Ministerial labor has been in vain? Yea the Consciences of Sinners do Testifie against them for their Gospel neglects, and assure them, that often when Christ speaks they stop their Ears, when the Spirit strives they quench its motions; And are like the deaf Adder that stoppeth her ear: Which will not hearken to the voice of Charmers Charming • ever so wisely Psal. 58. 4, 5. Assuredly Gospel Sinners are the greatest Sinners, and will certainy be found to be the most inexcusable. It will be more Tolerable for the blind Heathen in the lay of the Lord's Vengeance than for them Job. 〈◊〉 22 If I had not come, and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: But now they have no clo • k for • heir sin.

2. How much Worldly mindedness is there to be found • m •• g us? And this Generally follows upon the former: for it is not to be wondered at where the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness are set light by, • f add •• ional things are too much set by How manifestly is the design of the first Settlement of this Land very much forgotten, and a Worldly design come in its place? Un lo •• 〈◊〉 , there were higher, more nob • e and excellent Things in the E • es and much upon the Hearts of those, who left a pl • a • ant land and under went many hardships in coming to this Wilderness Those who were the H • ng • of this motion, their Design was the following of the Lord, the promoting of Religion the free enjoyment of God in the Purity of all his Ordinances; They soon did experience, that Th • y did leave Greater Things from whence th • y came than Thy could attain unto here: not but that some of them might too much forget, what they came out into the Wilderness to see: But I speak of them that were Leaders in that Great Undertaking.

But what is the Design that now bears Sway? how light do men make of the Things of the Kingdom? And the Thing that is most minded is the World. F • ming, and M •• chandizing, i. e. secular affairs how violently pursued by almost all, except those, who are apparently slothfal? From whence else is it, that there is so much Covetousness, soaring more than 〈◊〉 meet, Grudging at Public and Necessary Charges? Oh! Is it not to be feared, that the love of the World will leave us as little room in God's Heart, as it hath done him in ours?

3. Is not there much • ride to be found among us? From whence else is it, that Persons know not or keep not their proper places? The Ch •• d behaves himself proudly against the ••• cient, and the base against the Honorable? Whence also but from pride is it, that there is so much stout Heartedness, which transports men to an awlessness of men vested with God's Authority? Pride go • h before destruction, and surely our Circumstances loudly call upon us to walk humbly with God

4. Is there no • much sensu • lity to be found 〈◊〉 ? How much Precious Time spent, Estates wasted Families Impoverished, & which is worst of all Bodies and Souls wounded and destroyed, by means of prevailing Insobriety, Intemperance, and Excess?

5 Is there not great formality and outsideness in the 〈◊〉 of God and Godliness? We are indeed conversant in external acts of Worship, but inside Godliness and that which is indeed the Life and Soul of it how Rare to be found? How much do the generality take up satisfied with having a name to live, if so much be attained) with having as form of Godliness, not regarding the power there • f? In a Word how doth Iniquity greatly abound, and the •• ve of many wax cold Things being thus be we all of us Solemnly, Admonished of our great revolt, warned of our great danger and Counselled to our Important duty. Our Sins are too visible to be denied, our dangers greatly to be feared: Therefore before the decree bring forth, let us fall to our duty, and Return wherein we have Revolted, and take heed that we be not farther Unreasonably G •••• y And this we had need to be very serious and busy about, because it is neither casi • to keep from revolting, nor yea to recover when we have Revolted. It 〈◊〉 not ease • to keep from Revoking: It is a thing natural unto men to draw off from and forsake God. It is that, which the nature of man doth not need to be Instructed in▪ hence we are said to go astray from the Womb, Psa. 58. 〈◊〉 . Now to get an head of Nature (which there is too much of even in those that are in part sanctified) this Requires Labor this Requires Work.

Moreover, It is not 〈◊〉 to recover from hath 〈◊〉 from God. This will be found to be up hill work, Afflictions though they be sharp and heavy, yet will not of themselves prevail A ••• . 4. 6. &c. The Lord doth there reckon up several heavy • judgments, which he had brought upon them, and tell • them how ••• ffectual they had been, five times he doth compl • ion. And yet ye have not returned into 〈◊〉 . No • hing short of the special work of God will Recover such a people. Let all Friends all Providences, • all Ordinances agree to do what they can, yet all of them will do nothing, except God be pleased to put to his hand. Therefore we had need with utmost earnestness to join •• with the Church in Psal 80. 〈◊〉 , 7, 19. 〈…〉 O God. To stir us up hereunto, let us Consider.

I. That our Sins are greatly, aggravated.

1. We have fallen from an high pitch of Profession, and Privileges. It is indeed a great mercy for a people to be taken nigh to God, and to be dealt with in a distinguishing way as to religious privileges: But it is no less dangerous to Revold under such Circumstances. Duty and Priv • ledge do or should go together▪ and a neglect • of the former forfeits the latter, or exposes to distinguishing judgments. Amos 3. 2. You 〈◊〉 have I known of all the families of the Earth: Therefore I will punish you for all your iniq • i • ies.

2. Have we not Revolted under, 〈◊〉 been reclaimed by d • s • ries of rebu • es? Have we not Revolted yet mere and more 〈◊〉 1. 5.

3. Are not our Revoltings become very 〈◊〉 There are indeed and it would be very sad if there were not some who do Sigh and cry for 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 that are done in the Land, Ezek 4. 9. But are not the generality Revolting?

2. Consider that our con ••••• g to Revolt from God may be expected to 〈◊〉 followed with the Lord, severe an • madversions: What might we expect upon ou • going on to abuse the goodness of God, but that he should turn and do us hu • t and consume us, after that he hath done us good.

How just would it be for the Lord to be a W •• derness and a Land of darkness▪ to that people who practically 〈◊〉 we are Lord's and wi •• come no 〈…〉 There is no greater misery th •• to have been happy. It is more afflicting to 〈◊〉 brough • than to be • orn low.

3. Consider, How sad it would be▪ • should i • come this, that the Lord should be to us, what a Wildernes • is to • hose that dwell there. Should he leave us unhedged, unwalled, not be our Protection and Defense, what people can there be found more helpless than we should be?

Now seeing our danger, let everyone fall to their duty Oh is there Room for us to hope for such a comfortable word as that, J • r. 2. 22. Retur • ye back s •• ding Children, and I will heal your back s •• ding let us then heartily say, behold, we come unto the, • or thou art the Lord our God.

For which end it is necessary.

1. That each o • e du • ing 〈…〉 and reflect upon his own Particular 〈◊〉 . Indeed the disease is general, but the Recovery must be wrought by dealing with particulars So long as we content ourselves with a general c • y, Oh • it is a declining apostatising time, 〈◊〉 abounds, and love wa ••• and, and all this without any particular Reflexion upon what each of us have done, this doth nothing toward Amendment So long as 〈◊〉 busy ourselves in complaining and casting stones at the sins of others, and remain insensible of our own guilt we are far from making the case better so long as no man S ••• what have I done? No man 〈…〉 one will 〈…〉 J • r. 8▪ 6▪ The Co • nsel of the King of Nineveh was good, Jon • h 3. 8. Let them 〈◊〉 everyone from his 〈◊〉 way, and 〈…〉 that 〈◊〉 in their hands. This is the promising blessed frame of a People Cha •• ized, but yet not • estroyed. Ez • k. 7. 16. 〈◊〉 all of 〈…〉 his 〈◊〉 Untill we come to this we do nothing to purpose.

2. It is needful that true and unfeigned Repentance be laid a • the bottom of our ret • rnings If Judah do not return with their whole heart, The Lord looks upon what they do to be done feignedly. Jer. 3. 10 Our uncircum ••••• hearts must be humbled within us 〈…〉 2 • 41. If the Spirit of God with converting, Edirving Influences may be given to us, this is the Catholieon, that will cure us of our sins and for rows too, yea it will ensure blessings to us, Ezek. 39 19 Neither will I bide my face anymore from them: for I have poured out my Spirit upon the house of Israel saith the Lord God.

3 It is needful that each be vigorous to improve their proper Talent, and Station. There is no Person,' to whom any trust is committed whether Civil, Ecclesiastical, or Domestical, but are thereby advantaged to forward our return to God, and indeed very much of success doth depend upon our lifting together Particularly,

1. Let it be proposed as incumbent upon those Honorable Persons, that may be this day Established, or Restablished Rulers • over this People in the Civil Authority, to be concerned to prevent our farther Revolt, and to help us to return wherein we have backsidden

You need not, right Honorable and Worshipful to be informed, that it is the property as well as the duty of Pious Rulers to seek the welfare of the people over whom they are se • , and methinks our declined condition, and the danger we are in of perpetuating our Revolt from God, doth with utmost earnestness bespeak your Honors in those words Ezra 10. 4 Arise for this matter belongeth unto you. It is your greatest Honor that you are betrusted with so much of the charge o • Religion in the Civil concerns of it, if you may be Instrumental to prevent our farther backsliding, that so the Lord may not be a Wilderness 〈…〉 it will be your and our hapiness▪ God's honor, your honor and our sa • ety do much depend upon it. Much of our way is to be chosen out by you, Right Honorable, whom, we have the privilege to see setting chief among us. We have indeed abundant reason, Reflecting upon your indefatigable and unwearied endeavors to promote the Public Weal of this Colony by suppressing growing Vice and Immorality, by bearing up against the sins of the times, & by giving •• most encouragement unto Godliness, to accept it always and in all places w •• h all Thankfullness▪ And we do with deepest submission beseech your Honors, that ye continue to be strong, and let n • t your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.

Your being set over a declined people, and that also in a Stormy time, make▪ your work to be the more hard and difficult: But you have the Prayers of all whose prayers are worth the having▪ yea the God's of God's will be with you; and may he think upon you for good, according to all that you have done, and shall do, for this people.

2. Those, to w •• m the ministration of the Gospel is committed, are also greatly concerned in this matter Surely it is high time for such to lift up their voices like a Trumpet, to show the Lord people their Trans • ressing, and the house of Israel 〈…〉 If a declining people are flattered this makes their breach like the Breach of the Sea and their wound Incurable. Lam. 〈◊〉 . 13, 14. The Lord help all such to deal plainly and faithfully and though men will not hear, yet you shall reap the fruit of your faithful laborers, surely your Judgment shall be with the Lord, and your work with your God.

3. Moreover the Station, in which those, who are the Representatives, of this Colony, do stand advantages them to help our return. The trust (Gentlemen) which is put into your hands is great, you may do much for the preventing our farther Revolt from God, Oh if anything farther can be done to crush growinging iniquity it will be well worth your deepest consultation!

4 Head • of Families ought to look upon themselves concerned to prevent our farther Revolt from, and to help • ur Return unto God. Families are the Nurseries out of which Common-Wealths, and Churches are Replenished; If there be Degenerate Plants and Strange Children, can it be expected but that more Public Societies should bare Sour fruits

You that are Parents and Masters betray not your Authority, set good examples, Watch, counsel, strive Pray against the Sins of the Times Let not your Houses be receptacles of vain men, and son of Belial, left you should give occasion for your Children and Servants to rise up and call you cursed; But resolve by the help of God, that You and Your houses will serve the Lord.

Finally, Let us beg the down pourings of the Spirit of God, the Reviving of his work, the strengthening of those things that remain, which are ready to die; Then might we hope that instead of the Lord's being to us a Wilderness or a Land of Darkness, we might have the Lord making good to us such comfortable words as those. Isa. 51. 3. For the Lord shall comfort Zion, He will comfort all her • ast places, and he will make her Wilderness like Eden, and her D • sort like the Garden of the LORD.