The Due of a People to Stand in Awe of God and not Sin When Under Judgment
The source for this document is http://name.umdl.umich.edu/N02492.0001.001
Project Note
This is licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND. This license allows reusers to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
The source of this document is the Early English Books Online (EEBO-TCP) website. Those books were transcribed in a character for character manner and can be very cumbersome to read since there was no standard spelling during that time. Many spelling variations such as "unlesse", "vnlesse", and "vnles" regularly appear.
This project was conceived to clean up those books as much as possible and make them more accessible to the interested reader, leading to the creation of a massive list of variant spellings and their corrections. This was used to clean up the text, but is of course only as complete as the list itself. Because of the nature of the original transcription, some words have missing characters or places where the original language (e.g., Greek) was not transcribed. This effort does not change that. Be aware that the original transcription can also be faulty and in some cases entire sentences may be missing.
Although this is no substitute for a properly compared, proofed, and scholarly edition, I believe that the result is a document which is far more accessible, particularly for searching for terms using standard spelling. The document has been cleaned and presented in what I hope is a pleasing and useful format for the vast majority of Christian brothers and sisters who just want access to read these spiritually nourishing works.
However, a word of warning: The Puritans were a very diverse group of people and their age was characterized with godliness, but also much upheaval, disputation and strife. They disagreed on many doctrines and some of these works contain less orthodox or Scriptural views than others. The reader is strongly advised to read with discernment, particularly if it is unknown whether author is trustworthy.
This project took a huge amount of time and skill to bring to fruition. I would particularly like to thank David Jonescue for the initial list of Puritans he found on EEBO and the concept behind this project as well as the continuous, unceasing efforts toward seeing this complete. Without his labor, this would not be available. Alex Sarrouf was invaluable in providing the initial list of over 7,000 spelling variations he had identified and corrected, as well as continuing to review more than 16,000 additions to that list for any typos.
Logan West
(with David Jonescue and Alex Sarrouf)
www.puritansearch.org
Mr. Sewall 's DISCOURSE Deliver'd The Evening after the late Terrible EARTHQUAKE, Which was Between the 29th & 30th of October, 1727.
THE DUTY of a People TO Stand in Aw of GOD, And not Sin, When under His terrible Judgments. A SERMON Preach'd at the South Meeting House in Boston, the Evening after the Earthquake, Which was in the Night between the 29th & 30th of October, 1727.
By Joseph Sewall, M. A. Pastor of a Church of CHRIST in Boston.
Isai 119.120. My flesh trembleth for fear of thee, and I am afraid of thy Judgments.
Isai 29 6. Thou shalt be visited of the LORD of hosts with Thunder, and with Earthquake, and with great Noise with Storm & Tempest, and the flame of devouring Fire.
BOSTON: Printed for D. Henchman over against the Brick Meeting-House in Cornhill. 1727.
Stand in awe, & Sin not.
PSALM, IV. 4.
Stand in awe, and Sin not —.
GOD Calls upon us this Day to Stand in awe of Him; for He hath terribly shaken the Earth under us, and threatn'd to send us down quick into the Pit. At the same time, He also encourageth us to Hope in His Mercy. We might have been suddenly destroyed, and that without remedy. Yesterday might have been the last Sabbath, and the last Opportunity of hearing GOD speaking to us in His Word; but Adored be the divine Patience & Long-suffering! Our gracious LORD hath chosen rather to Warn us by a very awful Providence, and then to give a further space for Repentance. O that His Goodness might lead us to 〈◊〉 . We are now Assembled in His Name and Fear, to humble ourselves under GOD's Mighty Hand, to Cry to Him to turn from the Fierceness of His Angery, and to Praise Him for his wonderful Deliverance O that I could speak, and you Hear under the deep impression of those Things!
The Penman of this Psalm was David; the Occasion of it is uncertain. It seems to have been made
IT is our Duty at all times to fear that glorious and fearful Name, the LORD our GOD, and especially when He displays his terrible Majesty in awful Judgments, we should then look above Second Causes, and obey that word which GOD spake to his People in a time when their Hearts were ready to fail them for fear, Isa. 8.12, 13. Say ye not, a Confederacy,— Sanctify the Lord of Hosts himself, and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. We must at such a time Sanctify the Lord of Hosts — We must have our minds impressed with an holy awe, a reverential fear of his terrible Majesty, and give him the Glory of his infinite Power, Justice, Holiness, Faithfulness and Mercy, and other admirable Perfections which shine forth in his judicial Dispensations; and in that seasonable help which he affords his People under them; Instead of being Slavishly afraid of Evil, which fear brings a snare. We should Exercise a religious filial fear of GOD as Job said, Job 23.15. When I consider, I am afraid of him. We should be deeply concerned, and afraid at the tokens of GOD's displeasure, Even when his Wrath is kindled but a little, and begins to burn; when he gives us to sing both of Mercy and Judgment. And being moved with fear of GOD's displeasure, we should put away our Sins which stir up his Anger, and are the ground of the Controversy between GOD and us. We should be afraid of offending GOD by breaking his Commandments, and accordingly should Repent of, and put far away those Sins whereby we have transgressed his Law. Surely it is meet to be said unto GOD at such a time, I have born Chastisement, I will not offend anymore. That which I see not, teach thou me; if I have done Iniquity, I will do no more, Job 34.31, 32. It is the Duty of a Person or a People thus to stand in Awe, and not Sin; to Fear the Lord and depart from Evil. Here, I would in a practical way, and with a particular Application to ourselves, Consider several Sins which a Person or People under threatening Judgments should put away in the Exercise of an holy Awe of GOD, and dread of his righteous Displeasure.
1. WE should stand in Awe of GOD, and not Sin by Impenitency & Unbelief.
THIS is a very comprehensive Head, however I shall give it a distinct Consideration. When GOD is coming out in Judgments against us, We should humble ourselves under his mighty hand, loath ourselves for our iniquities, and repent in dust and ashes. Thus GOD said to his People of old, Jer. 2.19. Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see, that it is an evil thing and bitter that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord God of hosts. Afflictions should teach us the evil of Sin, and make that most bitter which is the procuring cause of them. When GOD is threatening us we should open our ears to discipline, and from an affecting sight and sense of the evil and danger, the filthiness and odiousness of Sin, heartily grieve because we have offended GOD by breaking his Law, and putting away our Sin, should turn to him. As Ephraim bemoan'd himself thus, Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, Surely after that I was turned I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth, Jer. 31.18, 19. Again, we should stand in awe, and not Sin by Unbelief. This is a very heinous Sin, 1 John 5.10. He that believeth on the Son of God, hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God, hath made him a liar, because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And it is highly displeasing to GOD, and upon the account of it GOD is provoked to bring terrible Judgments upon a professing People. Thus when the Son of God was manifest in the flesh, and came to his own, they received him not. The Body of the Jewish Nation rejected the true Messiah, and then GOD cast them off, and poured out his Wrath upon them in a most terrible manner, Rom. 11.20. Because of unbelief they were broken off —. When GOD is come out in terrible Judgments against us, we should therefore be convinced of Sin, particularly of this great Sin of not believing in Jesus Christ, and take heed there be not in any of us an evil Heart of unbelief. We should give glory to GOD by receiving the record he hath given of his Son, as a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, and rest upon Christ and his righteousness as revealed and held forth in the word of the Gospel, for Justification and Eternal Life. Let us then stand in awe of GOD, while under the tokens of his displeasure, repent and turn from all our transgressions; so iniquity shall not be our ruin. Let us, being moved with fear fly to Jesus Christ who is the hope of his Israel and the Savior thereof in times of trouble. Let us not give our gracious Lord reason to complain as of Jerusalem, Matt. 23.37. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the Prophets and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy Children together even as a Hen gathereth her Chickens under her wings, and ye would not. But let us now fly to Christ and trust under his Shadow, who is an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest: Isa. 32.2.
WE should stand in awe of GOD, and 〈…〉 by Neglecting, Corrupting, or Prophaning GOD's Worship and Ordinances.
THE Second Commandment strictly forbids 〈◊〉 Neglect and Contempt of GOD's Worship; and 〈◊〉 the Corrupting it by the mixture of human 〈◊〉 . And here GOD declareth himself to 〈◊〉 Jealous GOD, visiting the iniquities of the 〈◊〉 upon the Children. — GOD's Covenant People are joined to Him in the bond of an holy Covenant and he Expresseth his Indignation against all false Worship, as against spiritual Whoredom, being the Violation of this Covenant. Ezek. 16.26. — And hast increased thy whoredoms, to provoke me to anger. We should then when under GOD's afflictive Hand, stand in awe of Him, and take heed we do not use or approve any Religious Worship not Instituted by GOD Himself: That we use not any Visible Signs, as Means of Worship which GOD hath not appointed, lest GOD pour out his anger and his fury upon us, as He threatened, Jer. 7.20. Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, mine anger and my fury shall be poured out upon this place, upon man and upon beast, and upon the trees of the field, and upon the fruit of the ground; and it shall burn, and shall not be quenched. And then let us take heed we do not neglect any of His Ordinances and Institutions: But look to it that we be in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the LORD blameless. Let us Pray to GOD daily in the Name of CHRIST, Read and Meditate on his Word, and carefully improve the Opportunities we have for Public Worship. When GOD gives such, Let us not make light of them, as they who went one to his Farm, and another to his Merchandize, Matt. 22.5. Lastly, let us manifest a high esteem for the Seals of the New Testament. If there be any that have not been Baptized, let them obey that Word, Repent, and be baptized everyone of you in 〈◊〉 name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, — 〈◊〉 2.38. If any neglect to seek Baptism for their 〈◊〉 , Let them awfully consider of his anger 〈…〉 Moses, for not Circumcising his Child, Exod. 〈…〉 25. — The Lord met him, and sought to kill 〈…〉 . Or if there are any who live in the neglect 〈…〉 Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, who do not 〈…〉 and show forth the Lord's Death at his 〈◊〉 , as GOD's Word requires. Let them be Exhorted to prepare for, and come up to that Ordinance, Being moved with fear; for you may bring GOD's Judgments upon you by living in the neglect of this duty, as well as by attending it Unworthily.
Again, LET us stand in awe, and take heed we do not offend the glorious GOD, by a profane irreverent use of his Name, or any of his holy Ordinances; for GOD assure ••••• , He will not hold such guiltless, Thus when 〈◊〉 and Abihu were slain by fire. GOD said, Lev. 10.3.— This is it which the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified by them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. If we would not have GOD to be a consuming fire to us, We must glorify Him in the Manner of our Attending on holy Ordinances. Heb. 12.28, 29. — Let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire. If we allow ourselves to come into GOD's presence without a due sense of the Majesty & Glory of GOD, & of our own meanness and vileness; without a due solemnity of Spirit, in a heedless customary manner; we provoke GOD to Sanctify himself upon us by breaking out against us in terrible Judgments. 1 Cor. 11.29, 30. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth & drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
3. WE should stand in awe, and not Sin, by Prophaning the Lord's-Day.
THE Keeping of a Weekly Sabbath, or Day of holy Rest to the LORD is of Divine and Perpetual Obligation, as the Fourth Commandment declares. The First Day of the Week since CHRIST's Resurrection on that Day, is the Sabbath; as appears by the Practice of the Apostles who were divinely inspired, with respect to those Matters which were of general concern to the Church: Act. 20.7. And upon the first day of the week, when the Disciples came together to break bread, 'Paul preached unto them —. 1 Cor. 16.1, 2. — Upon the first day of the week, let everyone of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him —. And this is agreeably called, The Lord's Day, Rev. 1.10. Now GOD requires his People, to whom He gives his Sabbath as a Sign, to Sanctify it by Resting from all Unnecessary Worldly Business, and from Recreations lawful at other times, And then by spending the whole time, unless when works of Necessity or Mercy take us off, in the Secret, Private & Public Worship of GOD. It is our Privilege that we have the Sabbath, and very strong are our Obligations to Remember, and keep it Holy: unless we do it, Religion will languish, and GOD will be provoked to bring terrible Judgments upon us. Jer. 17.21, 24, 27. Thus saith the LORD, Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the Sabbath-day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass, if ye diligently hearken unto me, saith the Lord, to bring in no burden through the gates of this City on the Sabbath-Day, but hallow the Sabbath-Day, to do no work therein. But if ye will not hearken unto me, to hallow the Sabbath-Day, and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the SabbathDay: then will I kindle a Fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched. Let us then take care and Sanctify the Lord's-Day. Blessed be GOD the strict observation of the Sabbath has been no small part of the glory of NEW-ENGLAND, and of BOSTON: O let us take heed and beware of everything that would stain this glory! Let us therefore remember the Sabbath, and bear it in mind, especially when it draws nigh, that we may be disentangled from all Worldly Cares, and ready to enter into this holy Rest.
In the Scriptural Account of the Creation, the Darkness is reckoned before the Light of the Natural Day. And the Evening and the Morning were the Second Day, Gen. 1.8. Agreable to this the Jewish Sabhath was from Evening to Evening, Lev. 23.32. And Nehemiah commanded the Gates to be shut when it began to be dark before the Sabbath, Neh. 13.19. which by reason of the Mountains round about and near Jerusalem, seems to have been about Sunsetting at furthest. The Christian Sabbath is the first Day of the Week. And it must begin as other Days. As to the exact Time of CHRIST's Resurrection, it is not set forth in Scripture.
LET us then dispatch our Worldly Business towards the Evening, before the Sabbath Day. Such as are in Trade, should take Care that their Shops be shut seasonably. Such as have Meat or any other things to buy, should take Care to do it before Night. Or whatever Secular Business is to be done, we ought to finish it so that we may not be cumber'd about it, when we should be keeping an holy Rest to the Lord. On the Lord's Day Morning, we should rise early, if our bodily Health will allow it, and take Care that we and our Housholds separate a whole Day for the Service of GOD; and that we do not thro' Covetousness allow them in any unnecessary worldly Labor. There must be no Burden born on the Sabbath, No! not so much as to setch or carry any wearing Apparel: yea on this Day the Beasts must Rest from Labor 〈◊〉
Again, As we must take Care that our Children and Servants be not Idle at home; so that they attend the Public Worship. GOD requires that we & ours appear before him to do him Homage on this Day, and we must take Care to go up to the House of the Lord; and we must not neglect the Assembling ourselves together on this Day: We must see to it that our Seat be not Empty; and that our Children & Servants do not absent themselves; unless when Sickness, the necessary Occasions of the Family, &c. require it. And though' it be true, that the Sabbath is but one Day in the Week: yet there is Prudence to be used on the Evening after the Sabbath-Day, that we do not lose what we have wrought or got on the Lord's Day, by going Abroad into vain Company, by visits of mere Ceremony, &c. but rather Employ the Time in Catechising our Children & Servants, &c.
LET us then be Exhorted to Keep the Sabbath holy. Let us turn away our foot from the Sabbath, from doing our Pleasure on GOD's holy Day. Let us call the Sabbath our delight, the holy of the Lord honorable, and honor him, not doing our own ways, nor finding our own pleasures, nor speaking our own words. And let us be awakened to great Diligence & Care herein from the Warnings GOD hath given us, and by the shakes of his Rod over us. GOD lately Visited us with a terrible Storm on the Evening before the Sabbath Day-light; And 〈◊〉 with an amazing Shock of an Earthquake, on the Evening after it. O let it not be said that GOD spake once, yea twice, and yet we regarded it not!
4. WE should stand in awe, and not Sin by the Neglect of Family 'Duties.
IT is our Duty to resolve with Joshua, As for me and my House, we will serve the Lord, Josh. 24.15. And with David, Psa. 101.2. I will walk within my House with a perfect Heart., We must walk as in the fight of GOD, and approve our Hearts to him by a conscientious discharge of Family Duties, particularly when his Judgments have an especial threatening Aspect on our Houses. We should be moved with an holy Fear to put all Iniquity far from our Tabernacles, and to serve GOD in them. For GOD threatens the Wicked, Job 27, 28, 29. The heaven shall reveal his iniquity: and the earth shall rise up against him. The increase of his house shall depart, and his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath. This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God.
Now then, that GOD hath caused our Houses to shake under us, and threatened to bury us in the Ruins of them; let us be excited to Worship GOD constantly in and with our Families. Let us offer to him the Morning & Evening Sacrifice of Prayer. For surely, If it be a Duty, to Pray always in everything, at all times, and with all Prayer, we cannot neglect Family Prayer without great Sin. Let us not then practically deny that GOD who sets the Solitary in Families, by refusing this part of Social Worship, for which we have daily Occasion as well as Opportunity. Let us with David, Bless our Household. Let us thus Fear God with all our House, and express our religious Fear by Praying always, as Cornelius did Acts 10.2. Lest we provoke GOD to Consume us in his Wrath according to that dreadful Imprecation, Jer. 10.25. Pour out thy Fury upon the Heathen that know thee not, and upon the Families that call not upon thy Name. If the word Family be here taken in a large sense, it includes particular Housholds. O let us join together in asking GOD's Protection and Blessing on our Houses, in seeking the Pardon of our Family Sins, and in Praising GOD for Family Mercies, lest we provoke GOD to consume us together. Again, Let us Read the holy Scriptures in and with our Houses, and teach our Children & Servants the good knowledge of the Lord. Let us as 'twas said of Abraham, Gen. 18.19. Command our Children and Household after us,— that they may keep the way of the Lord. Let us set them Examples of Sobriety, Righteousness and Godliness: and then use our Authority to Restrain them from all Sin. GOD threatened Eli, that he would judge his House, i.e. Condemn, Punish it — for the iniquity he knew, because his Sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not, &c. 1 Sam. 3.13. O let us then take heed we do not connive at Sin in our Children or Servants; but do our utmost by seasonable Admonitions & Corrections when needed, to Reclaim them, left GOD be provoked to enter into Judgment with us, and Punish us for the Sins of our Houses. Let us bring up our Children in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord. And let us do our Duty towards our Servants also, even the meanest of them, considering we have a Master in Heaven, and there is no respect of persons with him. Job 31.13, 15. If I did despise the cause of my manservant, or of my maid servant, when they contended with me: What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him?
BEFORE I dismiss this Head, I would say, We must stand in awe, and not Sin by being Unjust in our Family Business, or by taking any indirect Courses to Provide for our Families. We must take heed there be no Fraud, Unrighteousness or Oppression in our Trading; the Eighth Commandment requires Justice in Commerce between Man & Man, our rendering to everyone his due; and forbids "whatever may unjustly hinder our own or our Neighbor's Wealth & outward Estate." There is a flying Roll which is called the Curse, and GOD says, it is for everyone that Steals, and threatens to bring it into the House of the Thief, and that it shall consume it, Zech. 5.2 — 4.
5. WE must stand in awe, and not Sin by Quarrelling & Contending one with another. When there is reason to say, What means the heat of GOD's Anger? Then GOD's People should avoid all unchristian Heats, Heart-burnings & Animosities one against another, and endeavor to unite as one Man, in seeking to turn away GOD's Anger from them. It's dreadful indeed for Men to be casting fire Brands, Arrows & Death. For them to seek in their Wrath, in any sort to hurt & wound their Neighbor, either by bitter Words, or injurious Actions. Instead of this, we should do our utmost to extinguish the Fire of Contention; that we may lift up pure hands to GOD without Wrath in servant Supplications, and unite hearts and hands in the great Work of Reformation. Let us then obey that word, Eph. 4.31, 32. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and clamour, and evil-speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be ye kind one to another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
6. WE should stand in awe, and avoid the Sins of Drunkenness & Uncleanness.
I put these together, and indeed they often go together, the former being an especial Provocation to the latter, and therefore forbidden in the seventh Commandment. Prov. 23.31, 32. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red —. At the last it biteth like a Serpent, and stingeth like an Adder. Thine Eyes shall behold strange women. Now that GOD hath fulfilled that word, Isa. 24.20. The Earth shall reel to & fro like a Drunkard; let us avoid this Sin, and obey that word, Eph. 5.18. Be not drunk with wine — but be filled with the Spirited. Let us take the Warning, and not inflame ourselves with strong Drink: Let us not indulge this Sin in ourselves, or connive at it in others; but avoid all Temptations to it, and be ready in our several Places to bear our Testimony against it. Let the Civil Authority be entreated to take Care that Taverns, and other Houses for Retailing strong Drink, do not grow so numerous as to become a public Scandal and hurt to the Religion, and the Morals of our People: And then to keep a strict watch over them, that good Orders may be maintained in them. Let such as sell Strong Drink, take heed & beware of being partakers with others in this Sin, by suffering Persons to drink to Excess. O do not make a gain of the Sins of others, lest you be drowned with them in Perdition. In a word, Let the Inhabitants of the Town be Exhorted to avoid all needless frequenting of Taverns! O do not accustom yourselves to go to such Places when you have no Call to it! O do not spend your precious Time, and your Estates there! O do not tarry long at the Wine, to the dishonor of GOD and the hurt of the Religion and good Order of your Families; lest GOD be provoked to make your Houses desolate.
Again, LET us stand in awe and not Sin by burning with Unclean Lusts, and gratifying our carnal Inclinations.
SODOM was infamous for the Sins of Uncleanness, and the Lord rained upon them Fire & Brimstone from the Lord out of Heaven, Gen. 19.24. Yea they suffered the Vengeance of eternal Fire, Jude ver. • . As Sodom & Gomorrah giving themselves over to Fornication, &c. are set forth for an Example, suffering the Vengeance of eternal Fire. O let us then fly all degrees and kinds of Uncleanness, all Temptations and Provocations thereunto! For Whoremongers & Adulterers God will judge, Heb. 13.4.
7. WE should stand in awe, and fly the Sin of Pride.
EVERY one that is proud in Heart, is an abomination to the Lord, Prov. 16.5. Pride, whereby Men entertain too high though'ts of themselves, and seek to exalt themselves above their Fellow-Creatures, yea above GOD himself, is a very provoking Sin, which GOD threatens with terrible Judgments, Isa. 3.5. — The Child shall behave himself proudly against the Ancient. — ver.8. Jerusalem is ruined, & Judah is fallen. ver. 16. Moreover, the Lord saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty. ver. 17. Therefore the Lord will smite —. Let us then bring every proud Imagination into subjection to the Will of GOD. Now that GOD threatens to level us with the ground, yea to lay us under it, let us lie low in deep Abasement before him. 1 Pet. 5.6. Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God. Hath not this Sin been declared by many, in their high Looks and haughty Carriage, in their ambitious pursuits of the great things of this World, and the Excess of their Apparel and the like, whereby they have sought to make a greater Appearance than their Estates would allow? The Lord subdue this Lust, which is set first where the Sins of Sodom are named, Ezek. 10.49. GOD now speaks aloud, and says to us, Rom. 11.20. Be not high-minded, but seer.
THUS I have in weakness and fear, mentioned some of those Sins from which an holy Aw of GOD, should deter us.
APPLICATION.
USE, I. LET us all be Exhorted to stand in awe of GOD, and not Sin against Him. To sear GOD, and keep his Commandments.
LET us now fear before the Lord, and say as Psal. 119.120. My flesh trembleth for fear of thee, and I am afraid of thy judgments. There's the Voice of GOD crying to us in the inflicted and threatened Judgment. Amos 3.6. Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in the city, and the Lord hath not done it? No surely, this terrible Judgment is the Work of GOD, and he speaks aloud to us by it, as Joh. 5.24. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee. GOD seems to say to us in his Providence, I have given you fair Warning, do not further provoke me. Or, as Hos. 11.8. How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together. Let us then relent under GOD's Hand, and by an hearty Repentance turn unto him. Turn ye, turn ye why will you die, O house of Israel. Let us fear the Lord and his Goodness; and not after our hardness and impenitent Heart, treasure up to ourselves wrath against the day of wrath, by abusing the Riches of it. O that we could each of us, with an heart broken for Sin, fly to JESUS CHRIST, who saves his People from their Sins! O that we could as a People, Repent, and turn from our evil ways unto the Lord, our Covenant GOD! Then we might Hope that GOD would turn from the fierceness of his Anger: But if after all that is come upon us, and GOD hath given us such Deliverance as this, we remain incorrigible, and again break his Commandments, will he not be angry with us till he hath consumed us, so that there shall be no remnant, nor 〈◊〉 .
In the Prosane, the Covetous, the Unjust and Unclean be so still . 〈◊〉 our Case be like that of Jeruzalem, which is compared to a boiling Pot, whose Scum went not out of it, Ezek. 24. i. e. The Filthiness of their abominable Vices was not cast out, though' GOD's fiery Indignation burnt against them. I say, If this be our Case, we shall have Reason to fear the fulfilment of that awful Threatning upon us, ver. 13. Because I have purged thee, and thou wast not purged, thou shalt not be purged from thy filthiness anymore, till I have caused my fury to rest upon thee. Let the Terrors of the last Night then convince us of the Necessity of Reformation, and quicken us to fly our provoking Sins, as we would hope to escape the amazing Judgments of GOD, yea the Wrath to come. And here though' I have already mentioned several Sins which an holy Aw of GOD should excite us to forsake, and put far away from us; yet I would further say; Let this terrible Judgment of GOD teach us the great Evil and folly of a covetous worldly Spirit, which alas dreadfully prevails in this Land. Our Lord & Judge says to us this Day, Take heed & beware of Covetousness. O let us not then immoderately Crave, and with greediness pursue this world's Goods: Let us not Trust in uncertain Riches, when GOD hath caused the Earth to shake & tremble under us. O do not now pant after the Dust of the Earth? Do not practically say, Your Houses are forever, when the Foundation on which they stand is moved! Lest you, your Houses and Estates perish together in the Day of GOD's Indignation.
Now is it not one sign of the prevailing of this Evil that the weekly Lecture in this populous Town, is often so poorly attended? I cannot but fear, My Brethren & Nei'bours, that this Omission is provoking to GOD. Certainly we might have a full Aulitory, and yet give large Allowances for the urgent Affairs of the Town, which require present Dispatch. Let us not then be so careful and cumbered about many things as to neglect this precious Opportunity. Let us in this particular, Seek first the Kingdom of GOD, and other things shall be added. I am satisfied this would not hinder but promote the Success of our Secular Business, thro' GOD's Blessing. And O that we might be quickened in every Instance of Piety towards GOD, and Charity towards our Neighbor, to lay up our Treasures in Heaven, and to seek that Kingdom which cannot be moved!
Again, Is not profane Swearing & Cursing become dreadfully Common with some sorts of People? Now this is an heaven-daring & heinous Iniquity, which GOD is wont severely to Punish. Jer. 23.10. Because of swearing the Land mourneth —. Zech. 5.1. — Behold, a flying Roll. — ver. 3. Everyone that sweareth shall be cut off on that side. O let not any for the Time to come, dare thus to set their Mouths against Heaven; but let the dread of GOD fall upon you; Fear an Oath, and do not take GOD's sacred Name into your Mouths upon every light & trivial Occasion; do not Call him to Witness to a lie, lest he appear as a swift Witness against you, and stop your Breath in a moment. Donit imprecate Curses on yourselves or others, lest the Curse of GOD fall upon you, and you be suddenly sent down to the Place of Torments, where is wailing and gnashing of Teeth forever.
Again, ARE there not such as set light by Father & Mother; who Refuse to give that Honor which is due to their Parents, their Civil Rulers, Pastors and the like? If there be any such, be warned to fly this heinous Sin. Honor thy Father and thy Mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. Remember the Fate of Korah, Dathan and Abiram, that with others of the Children of Israel, gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, ( Numb. 16.) and fly this Sin.
Again, ARE there not Evil Customs prevailing among us, in which we are conformed to the present Age? Tho' GOD forbids this, Rom. 12.2. Be not conformed to this world. Let us search them out, and Reform them, lest we be condemned with the World another Day.
BEFORE I dismiss this USE, I would ask leave to Address several sorts of Persons particularly:
(1.) LET such as are yet in their Sins, be convinced of their extreme hazard; and being moved with Fear, fly to CHRIST for Refuge.
WE read of a great Earthquake at Midnight, while Paul & Silas Pray'd —, after which the Jailor came trembling — and said, Sirs, What must I do to be saved? Acts 16.25, 26, — 29, 30. An inquiry very needful for those to make who are yet under the Guilt & Dominion of Sin, now that GOD reveals his Wrath in this amazing Judgment. Knowing the Terrors of the Lord, we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to GOD. O do not go on obstinately in your Sins, lest GOD send you down to the bottomless Pit 〈◊〉 O make haste, make haste to CHRIST! Lay hold of GOD's strength, and make Peace with him. Do not rest secure in a State of Enmity against this GOD who can Arm any of his Creatures against you for your Destruction, and after he hath killed, 〈◊〉 power to cast into Hell, Luk. 12.5. Now make Supplication to your Judge, and cry for Mercy while He is seated on a Throne of Grace, and says, Come unto me — Look unto me, and be ye-saved —. And if there be any awakened, as I hope there are not a sew, and brought to cry out, What must we do to be saved? The Answer given to the Jailor is ready, ver. 31. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and then shalt be saved. Go out to him, trust in him, and submit to him in all his Offices, and your Souls shall live. Here's a City of Refuge, make haste to it, lest you be destroyed. Who can tell, but GOD designs to make use of this surprising & extraordinary Providence to prepare you to receive and obey the Calls of his Word? O dont neglect this remarkable Day of Grace! You are never like to enjoy such another. To Day then while it is called today, Hear GOD's Voice, and harden not your Hearts. Now! Now! Work out your Salvation with fear & trembling, crying to GOD to work in you to will & to do. If you now reject the Offers of the Gospel, there will be great reason to fear that this Judgment will prove a forerunner of unavoidable Destruction. And woe to you if after all, you Perish because you will not come to CHRIST that you may have life. It will be more tolerable for Sodom & Gomorrah in the Day of Judgment than for you. The Lord speak to your hearts, and make you willing in the Day of his Power!
(2.) LET this rouse up GOD's Children, and awaken them out of their sleepy Frames.
THE Wise Virgins may slumber & sleep, Matth. 25.5. But what a Cry is now heard to awaken you? Behold, The Lord ariseth to shake terribly the Earth. Arise then, and trim your Lamps; Prepare to meet the Lord in the way of his Judgments. Know it, Your Sins may help to pull down Judgments upon GOD's People. Aaron's & David's did so. Pray therefore, as Psal. 143.2. Enter not into Judgment with thy Servant —. Live in the continual Exercise of Faith & Repentance, and Cry to GOD to spare his People. Stand in the Gap, and make Intercession to the Lord of hosts for your People. You may do much to turn away wrath, while you Exercise a strong Faith in the Redeemer, and plead his Merits before the Lord. GOD said to Moies, Let me 〈…〉 that my wrath may wax hot against them, Exod. 32.10. But then you must Watch as well as Pray, and use your best Endeavors to promote the necessary Work of Reformation, according to the Place you are in, and in the faithful Improvement of the Advantages GOD puts into your Hands. You must have no fellowship with the unfruitful Works of darkness; but rather reprove them. O look to GOD then for fresh Influences of his Spirit, and stir up the Grace of GOD in you. Be zealous & active in GOD's Service, and Exemplary in all holy Conversation. Such Persons are under GOD, the Strength and Safety of a People. Had there been ten Righteous in Sodom, GOD would have spared it, Gen: 18.32. I hope there are many hundreds in in this Land. The Lord increase their Number, and pour out the Spirit of Grace and Supplication more abundantly upon them.
(3.) LET our Young People Fear the Lord, and flee youthful Lusts.
HERE is a loud Call to you, to Remember your Creator in the days of your Youth; for you lie as much exposed to this threatened Judgment as the Aged, and can no more escape it. O turn at GOD's Reproos then, lest he laugh at your Galamity, and mock when your fear cometh, when your fear cometh as desolation — Prov. 1.26, 27. You are apt to presume of many days; but now GOD teacheth you that sudden 'Destruction may come upon you. Do you then hear and fear and turn to the Lord. Seek CHRIST early; Receive him without delay, That you may have power to become the Sons of GOD, Joh. 1.12. Then you may go to GOD as to your reconciled Father when in distress. But if you now despise the Son of GOD, and neglect his great Salvation, there will be dreadful Reason to Fear, that GOD will utterly forsake you in the evil Day. Be entreated therefore, O young People, to consider of your ways, and turn your feet to GOD's Testimonies. GOD in his Word and by his Providence speaks to you as, Eccl. 11.9. Rejoice, O young man in thy youth, and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thy heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. It is at your utmost Peril if you go on in the ways of Sin, after such loud Calls and fair Warnings. Now then, forsake the foolish and live; hearken to the Lord, that you may dwell safely, and be quiet from fear of Evil, Prov. 1.33.
IN a word, LET us all be quickened to make ready for the Coming of our Lord.
WE learn from this surprising Providence that we know not how suddenly our Lord may come to us by Death, and call us to appear before Him. Let us not then be at rest till we can in some measure say with the Apostle Paul, Acts 21.13. I am ready to die. And who can tell how near the glorious Appearing of the SON OF GOD may be? Earthquakes are named among the Signs of our Lord's Coming, Matth. 24.7.29, 30. Great Events have been attended with them; as our Savior's Crucifixion, Matth. 27.51, 54. Upon which they said, Truly this was the Son of God. His Resurrection, Matth. 28.2. And are we not directed to expect terrible Convulsions in Nature before our Lord's second Coming, 2 Pet. 3.10, 12. And that it will be very sudden and surprising to a secure World. Matth. 24.36,—39. O let us then stand with our Loins girt, and Lamps burning, as they that wait for the Coming of the Lord! Let us be diligent that we may be found of our Judge in Peace, without spot & blameless.
AND now, LET us Cry to GOD to pour out his Spirit upon us, that we may Obey his Voice, and make an holy Improvement of this awful Dispensation.
THE most extraordinary Means will be ineffectual without GOD's Blessing communicated by his Spirit. And surely, It is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain Righteousness upon you, Hos. 10.12. We are undone without this; for we shall grow worse and worse under the most awakening Judgments, till we are ripe for Ruin. Let us then thirst after this comprehensive Blessing, and ask it of our Heavenly Father, who is ready to bestow it upon diligent Seekers, Luke 11.13. And let us offer up our Requests to GOD in the Name of our Lord JESUS CHRIST, who hath received the Promise of the Holy Ghost. We read, Acts 4.31. When they had prayed the Place was shaken where they were assembled together: and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost. O that this shaking we have felt might be followed with a plentiful Effusion of the Spirit, to convince us of our many heinous Transgressions, to Convert & Reform us! This would take away the ground of the Controversy, and give us good reason to expect all needed Salvation from the light of GOD's Countenance. Ezek. 39.29. Neither will I hide my face anymore from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the House of Israel, saith the Lord God.
USE, II. LET us bless GOD who hath not brought upon us the Destruction we feared, but delivered us from going down to the Pit.
THIS amazing Judgment hath in a great measure destroyed other populous Towns. They have sunk under the weight of GOD's Anger, and been swallowed up. When as we are shaken indeed and terrified; but without any great Damage. Let our Hearts then be deeply affected with this wonderful Deliverance, and our Mouths filled with the high Praises of the great GOD our Savior. But let us not grow secure, as if the bitterness of Death was wholly past; for GOD can easily cause the Judgment to rise up again, and as an overslowing Scourge that shall bear down all before it, and make the Land desolate. O let not our Ingratitude under so distinguishing a Mercy, provoke Him; but let us render to the Lord according to his Benefits.
USE, III. LET such as stand in Aw of GOD, Encourage themselves in him, and hope in his Mercy. Psal. 147.11. The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy. You that dread GOD's displeasure, and fly from Sin as the worst of Evils, should fear nothing with amazement; but should have your hearts fixed trusting in the Lord, Isa. 41.10. Fear thou not, for I am with thee: be not dismayed, for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee, yea I will help thee, yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. GOD is your Father; and your Redeemer is mighty, having all Power in Heaven & Earth. Do you therefore receive and obey that Command, Joh. 14.1. Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. Trust and Rejoice in CHRIST JESUS, who saves to the uttermost. Depend on his watchful powerful Providence, who is the Head over all things to the Church. And then, Let your Hearts be in tune, to sing the 46th Psal. God is our refuge & strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though' the earth be removed, and though' the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea. For GOD will help you, and that right early. You that fear the Lord should Trust in the Name of the Lord, and stay upon your God, Isa. 50.10. Even in your darkest Hours; for he is a present help in Trouble. Thus you may Live in holy Security & Peace, without being tormented with anxious Cares & Fears, and may say with the Psalmist, Psal. 4.8. I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou Lord only makest me dwell in safety.