Neglect of Supporting and Maintaining the Pure Worship of God
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Logan West
(with David Jonescue and Alex Sarrouf)
www.puritansearch.org
NEGLECT of SUPPORTING AND MAINTAINING THE PURE Worship of God, By the Professing People of God: is a God-provoking and Land-Wasting Sin.
And REPENTANCE with REFORMATION of it, the only way to their OUTWARD FELICITY: OR, The Cause of NEW-ENGLANDS SCARCITY: And right way to its PLENTY:
As it was Discovered and Applied in a Sermon Preached at Roxbury on a Fast-Day: July 26 1687.
By James Allen , Teacher to the first Gathered Church in Boston .
BOSTON: Printed for Job How , and John Allen : And are to be Sold at Mr. Samuel Greens by the South Meeting House , 1687.
TO THE CHRISTIAN READER
THis Sermon was Preached on a Solemn Fast-Day, occasioned by the afflictive Providence of God in sending Worms and Caterpillar which in some places, as God's great Army, marched in numero •• Companies, and devoured all before them, both Corn and Grass which Awakened some of the People of God to seek the Lord by Fastin • and Prayer: and Roxbury among others appointed such a Day, to the • e •• ping on which Service the unworthy Author being called, and in preparat •• on • o it more than ordinarily pressed in Spirit with the Subject then handled And being unusual and new, might be the more affecting to some, but th • seasonableness, and necessity of such a truth to be improved among such People who have degenerated greatly into this Sin of Suffering the House • of God to lie waste, undervaluing the Pure Institutions of Jesus Christ denying or witholding God's due for the upholding of them; together wit • the Importunity of some occasioned the publishing of it. A Sin th •• Lord hath been many years testifying against by his Providence, in Blastings and M • ldows, and other wasting Judgments, and now by these Devourers. The Reverend Elders in the Country have been slow of bearin • Minist ••• Testimony against it, least it should be prejudicial to thei • Ministry, among such who are more ready to be angry with their Reprovers than their Sin: It was needful some should do it, and having such an occasion, and unwonted awakening Providence, being also stirred in my Spirit to bear this Testimony, I have endeavored by clear Scripture Evidence to evince the Truth of it, and bring it home to this people; if the Lord will set in with it, and make it a convincing and bumbling word, this sin may he seen and Reformed, and first Love to the House of God, & his Pure Institutions be recovered: I doubt not but then the Lord will be with us as with our Fathers, and will not leave nor forsake us nor ours; But incline our hearts and yours to his Service, that this People may be blessed to a Proverb, and all Nations may call them so.
Which is the Hearty prayer of Your Soul Friend and Well-Wisher. James Allen.
Neglect of Suppporting and Maintaining the Pure WORSHIP OF GOD. &c.
Malachi III verse 9, 10, 11, 12.
9 Ye are cursed with a Curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole Nation.
10 Bring ye all the Tithes into the Store-house, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open you the windows of Heaven, and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
11 And I will rebuke the Devourer for your sakes? and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground, neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of Hosts.
12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land saith the Lord of Hosts.
THis Prophet was the last in the Old Testament, his name signifies Angel, there be some Conjecture he was so and Assumed a Body, others that it was Erra , and this name offends his Office, and his faithful discharge of it, when the Priests so generally declined, chap : 2.7. He was indeed a Messenger of the Lord.
But he sems to be after that time, and in whom Prophesies with them did cease, a person eminently and extraordinarily raised.
1. To reprove the prevailing Evils of the Church of God (that was delivered from Babylonish Captivity; their Temple Erected and Liberty of Worshipping God according to his Will Indulged, but were sadly degenerated in his time, chap. 1 st. and 2 d.
2. To foretell the speedy and sudden coming of the Messiah, in such a way as they did not expect, chap. 3. and chap. 4. and so to stir them up to Repentance of those Evils, they thereby might be prepared for it in this third chapter
1. We have the Prophesy of Christ's first coming in the flesh, verse 1. to 7.
2 Reproof of the sins of this people, with Exhortation to Repentance, verse 7. to 13.
3 Threatning of the Obstinate which he describes, verse. 13. to 16,
4 Encouragement to the Pious, v. 16. to the end.
1 The foretelling Christ's Coming, which he ushers in with a note of Attention and Admiration! Behold!
1 By telling his Forerunner to prepare his way.
2 The Lord himself coming, and that suddenly and certainly, who is described here by his Divine Nature, the Lord; his Office and also Human Nature, the Messenger of the Covenant; or rather his Human Nature is signified by his Coming, which would be according to the Promise of the Seed of Abraham: This was that they sought and delighted in according to their carnal apprehensions of it.
3 The terribleness of his coming,
1 To the good as purifying fire, yet for their benefit, v. 2, 3, 4▪
2 To the Wicked it will be a Day of Judgment, v 5 a destruction of them, and the Jewish Church State which was to that time continued upon account of God's unchangeableness in his Covenant to that People, till the Promised Seed was come, v 6
2 The Reproof of this People for the sin that was the cause of their present Judgments, God's sending Devourers to destroy the fruits of the Earth, and that which did unfit them for that time of Christ's Coming, with Exhortation to a through Repentance of it, v 7 to 13 the sins he chargeth them with.
1 Their Impenitence under former Warnings, and Convictions of this Evil, v. 7. a sin that they had long continued in; this was aggravated thereby.
2 That which is the very sin Which had been the cause of former Judgments of this kind, and that at present they were under; it is Sacrilege, v 8 to 10.
And Secondly Exhortation to Repentance, with Arguments to enforce it, v 10 to 13.
1 The sin charged in the evil nature of it, v 8 which he convinceth them of by appealing to Conscience to judge according to the light of nature, with an Answer to their Enquiry wherein they have done it.
2 The evil effect of it, the Curse upon your outward blessings, which it is a cause of, and when the Judgment is general, the sin is so, v 9.
2 The Exhortation to Repentance, v 10 to 13 with directions to the duty, is to be done, and Motives to the doing it, which we shall open and improve in the Use.
The Ceneral Doctrine hence is,
Doctrine, True and General Repentance is the only remedy of public Judgments upon a Professing people, or the only way to Remove them .
Q 1. What is this true Repentance ?
Q 2 When it is, and why it must be general ?
Q 3 How this appears to be the only and sure Remedy of public Judgments.
Q 1 What is this true Repentance ?
Answer , It consists in these three things.
1 It lies in a through Conviction of sin, especially that Evil whereby the Lord is most provoked.
1 Sin is the cause of all public Judgments, Isa 59.1, 2. It is true in personal afflictions, the Lord sometimes useth Sovereignty, and may do it for trial and many other holy ends, as in Job, Hamon, &c. but when upon a people it is always for sin. The Reason is, because outward mercies and Judgments are the proper rewards and punishments of a people as visible▪
2 It is some special sin of a people the Lord is most provoked with when he sends his Judgments upon a people, the Lord is a God of Judgment, by him Actions are weighed , 2 Sam. 2 3. And there are some sins cast the scale for some particular judgments, see Amos 1·3.6. chap. 2 4, 6.
2 This sin must be known, as there can be no Repentance without Conviction, so where it is only of generals, that is not true: there is some special sin end of a person that is leading & ruling so among a people, this must be known in order to the Confession and Reformation of it as evident by the enquiry, v 8. and the Prophets reply to it, and by the charge the Lord gives about it, Josh. 7.11·12
Two things necessary to be known here.
1 The evil in the nature of it, v 8. Offence against God, and that of an heinous nature; it is a robbing of him, taking away by force.
2 In the effects, the mischief it brings, its that curseth all your blessings, and that upon a whole Nation, by God's violent taking away that which they had, fair hopes and expectation to have enjoyed, which they are to look upon as the fruits of the Curse for this sin: It is God's seizing that which your sin had forfeited into his hand.
2 Another part of true Repentance is deep humiliation, as for all, so especially for this sin, which though it is not so plainly expressed, yet it is fully implied in the Text ; for there will be no thorough Reformation when there is not a heart separated from it, Which is in this way.
This lies in these three things.
1 An humble and penitent Confession of it, Psalm 51.4· In self-condemning, and justifying God in all his Proceedings with you, upon the provocation given, so great a part this is that it is sometime put for the whole, Jer. 3: 13. 1 Joh. 1.9: It being the most difficult where it is sincere, and will certainly be attended with the rest.
2 Inward shame and confusion , Ezra 9 4 Jer. 3.22. Rom. 6.21 it speaks the sinner duly affected with the offense to God, and mischief to himself .
3 Dislike and hatred of it, yourself aborrence , Job 42 6, 7 Isai. 64 6 this is called the knowing the plague of the heart . 1 Kings 8.38, 39.
1 Knows it to be a plague, his sickness.
2 Deadly one is at the heart, without he have Divine Relief.
3 At his heart; this is one case you must needs confess and open unto the Pysician of Souls, and feel it, and cannot but bewail and abhor it. It is also an accepting the punishment of his iniquity , Lev. 26.41.
3 Reformation, Prov 28.13. doing contrary, Mal. 3 verse 10▪ Isai. 1 21
Q 2 Why this must be general?
Answ. 1 The Judgment is general, verse 9 this whole Nation therefore Repentance must: for when judgment is general, sin is public; Judgment declareth the provocation to be so▪ not that every particular person is guilty, there be many Holy Ones there among people that yet may suffer with them that are not personally guilty, yet involved in the affliction and common calamity: so if the Re • enting and Reforming part be the Ruling Part, a lesser number will not hinder the blessing, nor will some few, though eminent prevail to remove such public afflictions; many times where it is not generally seen and bewailed though they may obtain some peculiar favors to themselves , yet not for the whole, Ezek. 14 13, 14 Jon 3 8
Q 3 Why this is the sure and only Remedy.
Answ That it is so is so fully attested in Scripture, and made good by Providence, and a subject you are so well acquainted with that I shall not insist upon it.
1 But that it is a sure way will appear,
1 In that God hath prescribed it as the remedy; and promised that it shall be so, Mal. 3.7.
2 When the very Judgments have been threatened in severest manner, it is with this exception, Jer. 18.7, 8 Jon. 3.10.
3 Yea when he hath begun to execute, it hath been effectual to remove them, 2 Chron. 12.4, 5, 6, 7 Amos▪ 7.1, 2, 3.
2 And the only.
Reason 1.
Because this is the only Remover of the cause of the controversy; such Judgments are effects of God's displeasure, which is not against his creature but the Sinner , Lam. 3.33. Mat. 5.25. Creatures come to execute the curse upon a People of God's Wrath, but where true Repentance, they are not the Subjects it unvalidates their Commission▪ disarms them, his condition is changed where such a changed disposition is, Jer 50 20.
2 It is a duty highly pleasing to God, its new Covenant Obedience, Jer. 31.19, 20. Lev. 26.41.
Improvement of this Truth is my main design, and I shall follow the method of the Prophet in it, my whole Text being an Exhortation to Repentance of this evil especially, urged by cogent Arguments, and furthered by suitable Advice and Counsel; which also gives us sufficient ground of Conviction and Humiliation.
The Uses then shall be,
- 1 Of Conviction and Humiliation
- 2 Of Exhortation▪
USE 1.
Of Conviction and Humiliation which is the main work of such a day as this, and that such Providences call for, and must proceed, for there will never be through Roformation without deep Humiliation▪ This is that we acknowledge, and do openly profess before God to intend in Fasting Days, otherwise they will not be Days of Atonement but of provocation , Lev. 23.27, 29. our business with God, under testimonies of his displeasure, is Atonement, our peace with God through the blood of Jesus Christ, the way to which is sense of sin, and the need of pardon .
Two things are requisite in order to this:
- 1 Enquiry into the cause of the Judgment, or to find out sin, that sin that God is most displeased with.
- 2 A search into our own hearts, whether we are the persons under the guilt of it, Lam 3.40.
1 The first of these is that I shall endeavor to further you in, this being a great part of Ministerial work in such a day, Isa 58 1 To tell the people of their sins; as it is every Christians to inquire of the Lord to show him his sin, Job 10.2 Job 34 32 searching out of sin is the great duty in days of affliction, and in that search, its the Christians duty.
1 To acknowledge their own ignorance and darkness about sin, and especially those God is chastening for, the best may be ignorant, and the humble Soul sees it.
2 To desire God's teaching:
1 By his Word, that is the ordinary and visible way of God's teaching in an Ordinance, 2 Sam. 21.1.
David did by the Ephod inquire for this teaching, Psal. 22.4 inquire in the Temple, Mal. 2.7. he is the Messenger of the Lord, inquire at his mouth.
2 By his Providence, that also is a way of God's teaching.
3 But especially by his Spirit, Isa 14 26 2 Cor 3 6 in the word to give full and an humbling sight of it, that the Spirit only can do, and when he doth it, its ordinarily by the Ministry of the Word, he brings it home, and carries it to the heart, and sets the soul upon its own searching, and bringing itself to the searching of the Word.
To help on this work, we have a plain discovery in my Text.
1 What is that Sin which provokes the Lord, to inflict such Judgments as we are now under, why he sends Devourers to lay your fields waste? It is because the House of God lies waste, it is the neglect of upholding and maintaining God's Holy Institutions, and the Ordinances of his House , verse 7 Hag 1 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Set your 〈◊〉 to your ways, be humbled for that sin that is the cause of your scarcity, and curse in your enjoyments, viz the House of God lies waste.
Two evils the Lord is very angry with his people for, with respect to his right in men's Estates▪
1 Their laying it out upon False-worship, Hos 2 8
2 Denying it, or witholding that which is his due to his own Worship that is charged here.
Q But what is God's due, is there any such thing in New-Testament Times.
Answ To avoid all Controversy, I shall not meddle with the measure and way: but clear b • the New-Testament, that there is a due, & that which God requires by the rule of Justice to be given
1 Cor 9 13.14 The Morality of that appointment is perpetual, that those that serve in the House should be maintained in that service, as by attending the Altar, so in Preaching the Gospel; now they should live of it, have their outward sustentation by those to whom they Minister, Mat 10 30 there the Lord hath said it, and put it under a rule of Justice as due to that Service, Gal 6 6, 7 it is to be from all good things, those that here do partake in them selves, and from all that have anything of their own, 1 Cor 16 2 In proportion to any man's increase , 1 tim 5 17 must be that is honorable and becoming such a Service, and may testify that you do esteem of it.
1 God hath a right in every man's Estate, which is given to Jesus Christ, and by him to his Officers, Psal 16 3 He did reserve such an acknowledgment of his Sovereignty in 〈◊〉 , one of the trees were his propriety, and forbidden to be meddled with upon the highest penalty.
2 The further discovery my Text gives for your Conviction and Humiliation, is that it is a very heinous sin.
1 Its a robbing of God, a sin of the highest injustice, a Theft, yea a Violence & Fraud against the first Table, where God is more immediately injured; which is called Sacrilege, Prov 20 25 its a snare a sin that entangles him, and holds him under the guilt of it, Prov 5 22
2 Its against the light of nature, will a man that acts like a man in free use of his reason do thus? sins against the light of nature, are very great, especially in them advantaged with Gospel light, that which Heathens acting by the sight of nature will not do, so the Lord exagerates the sin of Israel, Jer 2 10, 11 is then such a thing; will the Nations change their God, which are now, yet Israel hath changed their glory when they forsake his true Worship, so it is in the undervaluing of it▪
1 Nature dictates there is a God, Rom 1 20
2 This God is to be worshipped, Acts 17 23 whom they worship ignorantly, they did worship, though ignorant what God was
3 That this worship be maintained and that honourably, and therefore though Heathens were mistaken about the object of worship and means, yet what they did think to be; so they by the light of nature were stirred up to a liberal support of it, Isa 46 10 lavish gold out of the bag; and what a tumult was there in Ephesus, Acts 19 24 when they feared their worship should be set at naught.
So it is with Superstitious Persons that are wrong in the means of Worship, though right in the object, Exod 32 3 part with their Jewels to the worship of Jehovah by a Calf , Judge 17 3 This sin then is worse then the Heathens that have not extinguished the exercise of natural light to despise God's own Institutions that have them, and then those that are superstitious in this thing , Heb 12 15 〈◊〉 is called a Profane Person, that despised his birth-right, that is such an one that sober Heathen did Excommunicate from their Communion in their Worship . Procul hinc estote prophani.
3 The greatness of this sin appears in this, that its from an evil root, an heart of unbelief, Heb 3 12 where there is a forsaking God, and undervaluing him, and overvaluing the Creature, Jer 2 12, 13 God and Christ are despised, in contempt cast upon his Ordinances.
4 It is the cause of great and sore Judgments, this is or should be a sensible evidence; its that brings the Curse of God upon all your blessings? as here you are cursed with a Curse, that blasts your fairest hopes of increase, the Lord sends his Devourets to take it away in the season of it: That God who hath blessed your Fathers, and taken your Children into a blessing Covenant; this sin mars all, and provokes him to curse your blessings , Jer 5 24 It is your sin withholds good things from you , Deut 29 24, 25 and make you a reproach and miserable to a Proverb .
5 It opens the door to all other evils, even spiritual judgments which are the sorest, 2 Thes 2 12 because they love not the truth, so if you love not God's Holy and Pure Institutions, you may be given up to receive men's inventions & temporal evils, Neh 13.6, 7, 8, 9, 10. where there was neglect of bringing the Tithes into God's House, those empty chambers were fit to be prepared for Tabiah and his Goods, Be convinced its a grievous sin and justly provoking to God, yea to such an heat of his anger; and labor to quench it with faith in the blood of Christ, the fruit where of may appear in the tears of true Repentance.
3 That which may further lay this sin before you is, that the professing People of God under the highest and purest Profession of Religion, are most Prone to it, and this evil they are more fearfully under the guilt of, and it is charged u • on Israel, when under greatest Reformation, as here after their coming out of Babylon, and when the Altar of God was set upon its Basis, and they had been Purged from their Whoredoms, and Idolatry in false means of Worship, that they did abhor it, that which was not found among them when Idolaters, the abuse of God's Portion was not by their using it themselves, or withholding it from the Lord, but bestowing it on false Worship.
Luther when he read these Scriptures, urging the care of the Ministry, thought there had been no need of it, he found people rather to exceed when he was a Monk in maintaining Shrines to Diana , but when he was a Preacher of the Gospel, he professed he saw need of all that was said, and that contempt of the Gospel brought these sore judgments after his time, which he did fore+tell would befall them upon that account.
Reason: And the Reason is, because true Worship is Spiritual and supernatural, and cross to corrupt nature, whereas men's inventions are suited to it; hence where men are not truly converted and spiritual, they see no beauty in them at all, where they do keep up outward visible Ordinances, they will do no more than that they may keep up the credit of such a Profession.
And where they are spiritual, its but in part, and unless it be in Eminency, it will grow remiss here, where any declining in the power of Religion, there is no love and esteem of Ordinances, as may be seen and found by sad experience i • New-England Children; who do not rise up in the same spirit with their Godly and Eminent Predecessors, the first Planters in this Country, who like Jeremiah in the Wilderness, when newly freed from Egyptian -bondage, and had set up the Worship of God, and when so •• ee to the Tabernacle, that they needed a Proclamation to restrain them, Exod : 36.5. But as Love to God hath declined, so hath this to his House.
The Errand into this Wilderness was for Purity of Worship, the Lord was highly pleased with it, it was a Love of Espousals: but behold what degeneracy, many can be content to live without them, those under them at great indifferency about them. Let this be an awakening word, bring your hearts to the Bar of it, for Conviction and Humiliation. The Lord may be at peace with you, and so Good may come to you.
USE II. Of Exhortation.
To stir you up to a Reformation herein,
Two things wherein this will lie: As,
1. In giving yourselves up to God, and so to his people, 2 Cor. 8.5. when he had commended their liberality, he tells you the beginning of it, it was in giving themselves to God, and to his people according to his Will; all our offerings to God will not avail without this.
2 Then bring your offering, that which is yours , Mal. 3.10. bring your Tithes, that there may be meat in my house : And let this be done,
1 Chearfully, 2 Cor. 9.7. the Lord loves a cheerful giver, especially in this case, 1 Chron. 29.16, 17, 18. that is of God's giving, and is a singular mercy where it is.
2 Faithfully; do not withdraw any of what is God's due, let there be meat in my house, let it be as the case needs. I might urge and move to this duty by considering,
1 That it is the only wa • now to preserve Pure Worship and Ordinances. God is trying this Love, it is far more like that your want of Love to the House of God will endanger your loss more than the hatred of the Enemy.
2 It is a way in which you most honor God with your Estate, which is your Duty , Prov. 6.3.9.
3 It will manifest your real benefit by Ordinances, and they are blest to you, 2 Pet. 2.3. Job 23.11, 12. that any love they will be at cost to enjoy.
4 Let not Heathens and Superstitious Persons out do you in their false way; will you not show as much esteem to that God hath Instituted? as men will to what they have invented? if true Christians you will.
5 It will turn to your spiritual advantage , Rom. 15 17. Gal. 6.7. It is Spir •••• l Trading, and your exchange and turning will be of Earth+lie Commodities into Spiritual, brass into gold.
7 Nay it shall be your advantage to outward prosperity, and that is the Argument in the Text which I shall a little enforce.
The Lord calls you to prove and try him, whether he will not be as good as his word, and promise, you are willing to try other means if from skillful and faithful men; try and prove the Lord.
There are three ways m •• do try and prove the Lord, but one good one that is here inte ••• d.
1 By sinful ways, whethe • 〈◊〉 will be as good as his threatening: so Flagitious Sinners 〈◊〉 him every day , Deut. 29.19.
2 By disapproving and despising the means God appoints for our Good , 1 Cor 10 2 see Num 21 6 Isai 7 12
3 There is a Proving of him by Obedience to his Command, and in that way expecting the good of his Promises, and this is a way God would be • roved, and in which way he hath abundantly approved himself Josh 23 14 Yea 〈◊〉 confidentl • Joshua asserts that God had never failed in anything he hath promised , Jer 2 5 the Lord challengeth that Nation to charge him if the • could of any failure on his part .
1 To further your willingness to trust him and believe, you have not only his faithfulness engaged, but the Lord obligeth his power, and shows how able he is to make good his word, what ever he promiseth, for he is the Lord of Hosts.
All Creatures are at his Command and are blessings or curses, as they are Commissioned by him, and are absolutely under his Rule and Government; therefore you have no reason to question the fulfilling what he promiseth.
2 That he is as willing as able, he satisfies in this, by his free engagement of himself to Obedience in this thing.
Mal : 2.8.9 Let us then prove the Lord in way of Obedience to this Command, especially when he hath freely engaged himself by such Encouraging Promises.
As 1 That he will open the Windows of Heaven, this is the first Promise: that is, he will give abundance, or plenty of the fruits of the Earth.
God's ordinary way of blessing his people, is by ordering and governing second causes, which he hath ranked in their order, and set in subordination each to other, of which he hath the sole command, they are all his Host, and among these the Heavens have the chief place, Hos. 2 18, 19, 20 when there the Lord promiseth plenty of outward blessings, he doth it in this way, the Earth shall hear the Corn, the Heavens the Earth, and the Lord his people; so that the opening Heaven, implies the fruitfulness of the Earth, when that gives full and seasonable showers and benign influences; the Earth will yield its increase as subordinate to them: Its an Hebrew Phrase and Figure for giving plenty of Showers, and here in mercy not in Judgment, as Gen 7.11 but in fullness of mercy to his Land and People, and withholding, is called a shutting heaven, the cause of Famine, and giving Rain the opening of it, Rev. 11 6 & this the cause of Plenty, and the Lord himself he explains it, and Pours out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it, the like we have, Hag 1.17, 18. and upon the same account, yea and hath given proof of his faithfulness herein, 2 Chron 31 5, 9, 7, 10 As soon as Hezekiah that Eminent Reforming Prince did provide for the maintenance of the Levites, and they brought their Tithes to God's House, the Lord blessed his People. It was the first Fruits did sanctify the Lump; the Excuse and Plea of people, is that they are Poor, and their Land doth not yield its increase.
But whence is it, but for withholding God's due , Hos 1▪ 8 put into a Bag with Holes: the Turks have a Proverb in their justice to man, that if an Asper deta • ned, or taken from another be in their bag, it will make an hole in it, this is true in injustice to God .
But if you pay your Quit Rent to your great Landlord , you will find him a beneficient one, Prov· 3.9. honor the Lord with your sub+stance, and your barns shall be full, paying his reserved due, is that honor by which you acknowledge him the great Proprietor and your dependence on his favor.
The other Arguments you look over with your harvest minds, here methinks you should be fixed, that this is the only way to thrive in outward blessings, Joel 2 24, 25.26. if there be Repentance and Reformation of this Evil, Mat. 6.32, 33. seek first that is, to have chief respect to Christ's Kingdom, and these things shall be added.
Obj. But temporal promises were indeed such as God did fulfil and deal with the Nation of the Jews in, but under the Gospel he fulfills even those more spiritually.
Answ It is true, to believers personally, it is so, and outward mercies are promised more conditionally, so far as God's Glory and their best good may be promoted .
But to a Communitie and a Body of his People, and as such, so he doth fulfil outward Promises literally in the way of their visible obedience, as most suited to them in their Community.
The second Promise is, the Rebuking the Devourers, that they shall not destroy the fruits of the earth, when second causes have concurred to make the earth fruitful, and there may be the fairest appearance of great increase, the Lord can take it away in the season, send his Messengers and Army to gather in your Harvest, Hos. 2.9 and that is a sorer Judgment; this the Lord threatened this year: And it is credibly Reported, that a Person in one of these Colonies was blessing himself in that appearance of a great Harvest, and said, now shall I pay my Debts and get afore-hand, for I shall have a full Crop, and am free from paying anything to the Minister; the Lord sent these Devourers upon his field • , and destroyed his vain hopes.
But if God hath his due, he promiseth that as a gracious Reward of their Obedience, these shall be Rebuked, they shall not destroy their fruits, Isai. 65.23, 24, 25. shall not plant for others but themselves, they shall enjoy the fruits of their own labor, Jer· 2.3 When Israel was holiness unto the Lord he suffered none to injure them, and when your Estates are so, they and you shall be under God's Protection, Isa. 54.13.
3 As the issue of all, you shall be blessed to a Proverb; yea, your Land shall be desirable, God will delight in it, and dwell among you in and with his Holy Ordinances, and have Communion with you in them, where you esteem and delight in them, and others shall delight in it, and desire to dwell there as seeing God among you, Zech. 8 ult Take hold of the skirts of a people under God's apparent & visible blessing, this is the way to true Felicity on earth; if you do it in true Love to God and his House, Psal. 144.14, 15. as abounding in all outward blessings, so in spiritual and eternal. Oh then try the Lord and prove him by this, and see if he make you not a people so happy that all Nations shall call you so, Deut 33 29 Happy Israel who is like thee, a People saved by the Lord .