A Discourse of Earthquakes, Part
An Additional Enquiry on that ſingular Conduct of Providence, which is about the Saints here, and upon ſome of the greateſt Depths thereof, for giving further Light to the foregoing Diſcourſe on that Subject.
I Hope there may be many this day on the Earth, who are indeed on ſo deſirable a Scent, and to whom this will be a Subject of great Weight, to know the way of the Lord, and Out-goings of his Providence towards them, amidſt the various Changes of their Life, and in the more eminent Periods and Stations thereof: But this proves in another manner, an exerciſing Subject in an Hour of great Temptation, to carry the Strength of a Chriſtians Soul thereon, and to penetrate on ſuch Reaſons and Deſigns, that the Majeſty of God hath in more ſtrange and extraordinary Providences, which may for a time, put them in an Amaze when Darkneſs does overſhadow the ſame; ſince for Men thus to be skilled and diſcerning in his ways, is ſurely one of the higheſt Attainments of ſpiritual Wiſdom within time. There are two Myſteries of Divine Truth to be matter of deep Thoughts and Reflection, the one is a Chriſtians Conduct and Paſſage through Time, the other is his Way and Aſcent to that bleſſed World which is above, at Death; which is by the immediate Miniſtry of the Angels: But it is ſurely the firſt that's moſt marvelous herein, ſince the ſpecial leading and Communion of the Spirit of God is ſo Eſſential thereto; yea, the Concurrence of the whole Glorious Trinity, and where every Step in that Paſſage is watched by Infernal Spirits, whilſt they are beſet with a Body of Death: But this is an Experiment alſo does never fail, that the moſt dark and ſearching Tryals, which may be in ſome unuſual manner meaſured out, do ſtill make way for the greateſt Diſcoveries of Providence, and giving more Light to the deep things of God herein.
What I ſhall now ſpeak to, is on ſome ſpecial Enquiry for attaining a more clear Light upon this Subject; in the Reſolution whereof, it will be found how much the higheſt Aſſiſtance and Support of a Chriſtians Faith in the Conflicts of their Warfare, when it comes to the moſt trying part thereof, does lye here; and for having ſome clear and experimental Acquaintance with the ſame, which is one of the moſt choice Improvements of Grace, that we are called to within time.
1. Enquiry that may be ſuitable here, is to know in what ſpecial manner a Chriſtian is ſtated, with reſpect to the Adminiſtration of Divine Providence in his Militant Courſe, and how he is intereſſed herein, above the whole reſidue of Men in a moſt ſingular reſpect; for clearing of which it is evident,
1. That it is ſure with their immediate entry unto a new State by converting Grace, they come then under a ſpecial Conduct and Care of a watching Providence, and of the delegate Miniſtry of the Angels, which will never ceaſe, no not for one Moment, until the putting off of their Armour, and a being carried into the eternal Imbracements of Divine Love.
2. They are in ſuch a manner ſtated alſo, under the Interpoſitions of this ſpecial Care and Overſight of Providence, as if ſuch a Chriſtian were alone on the Earth, and not another, about whom ſo great a Buſineſs and Regard from Heaven is put forth; ſo high is that Value which God does put upon one of theſe, who are the immediate Objects of his Complacence and Delight.
3. It is in ſuch a manner he is intereſted herein, as a Talent under Truſt of the higheſt Concern, how to be anſwerable thereto, both by judicious Obſervation of what this way paſſeth betwixt God and them, and how their Suits have been returned after much waiting hereon; as alſo for anſwering the ſeveral ends thereof, in their Improvements of the ſame.
4. Yea, It is in this reſpect he is ſtated under ſo great an Adminiſtration of Providence which is ever about him, as it is the Seal of Heaven put to the certainty of Divine Truth, and the Adventures of his Truſt thereon, wherein he can ſee with Joy and Admiration, that he on whom he did believe and not ſee, hath in the Iſſue, made him ſee what he did believe, to be undoubted and real.
5. He ſtands thus alſo related thereto, in the matter of a Teſtimony, and Sanctifying of God before others, upon the account of any remarkable Iſſues of Providence, and to keep the Remembrance thereof, up as a part of the moſt valuable Intereſt he hath upon the Earth; when this way one Hour in his Life may occurr, that can fully clear the By-gons, and Conflicts of many years paſt.
2. Enquiry upon this Subject, is to know wherein the Singularity of ſome Steps of Providence, with reſpect to ſome of the Saints beyond others, do moſt ſpecially appear, when they are directed for ſome eminent Deſign of Grace herewith: For a right underſtanding whereof, we may ſee,
1. What ſtrange and different Meaſures the Sovereign God does take in his refining and trying Work, about ſome of his People, which he does not with others, as Iſa. 45. Behold I have refined you, but not as Silver; when it's at a much higher Pitch, that David upon his proper Tryal ſpeaks hereof, Pſal. 66. Thou hast tryed us as Silver is tryed; which is there ſpoke as the moſt intenſe Degree of Exactneſs in ſuch a Tryal, by a hotter Furnace, whilſt herein, ſome eminent Project of Love, hath been found ſtill then in the Iſſue.
2. To what an Extremity alſo he will ſometime bring ſuch to, in a trying work before it be accompliſhed, ſo as to kill firſt er'e he make alive, and render the caſe wholly dependant on a Divine Miraculous Power, as in that Sickneſs of Lazarus, and that laſt Conflict of Davids at Ziglag, which proved the ſoreſt of all, when it was on an immediate turn of Providence, and ſo ſingular an Appearance of God was breaking up herewith.
3. Thus appears in ſo ſtrange a deferring of Light, and concealment of the Thoughts and Counſel of God towards the choiceſt of his People, that may be ſeen even under ſuch a duration of afflicting Providences, as may be ready to faint and ſtagger their Faith, ſo as no Intreaties, no Tears or Wreſtlings can prevail herein, until they have ſtayed out their time wherein they muſt be tryed, as was in the caſe of Jacob on Joſeph's ſuppoſed Death; who was ſo familiar with God, and yet kept ſo long in the Dark therein, as alſo of Joſeph under ſo ſtrange a Scene, and Mystery of Providence towards him, until once the word of the Lord had tryed him.
4. In his taking ſome of his Followers by a moſt ſignal Conduct of Providence, of all viſible and ordinary means of their Relief; and croſſing all their natural Inclinations and Deſires herein, in an irreſiſtable way, that nothing may interpoſe to darken his more immediate Appearance in the Deliverance.
5. But which may ſeem more aſtoniſhing and ſingular is in ſuch a Conduct of Providence, as is by Contraries, and directing of Means, that in their natural Tendency, ſeem only deſtructive to ſuch an end; yea, when by a falling down of the greateſt Darkneſs, he brings their caſe to ſome higher Paroxiſm, as may have all mortal Signs, when yet ſuch Providences do then moſt powerfully work to haſten a comforting Iſſue, above all which had gone before.
6. In an entring of the choiceſt of his People, with a more ſingular Seal, and frequenter Confirmations of his Love than at other times, into ſome extraordinary Courſe and Series of trying Conflicts, which have been as the falling down of a dark and long Night, immediately following ſo great a Brightneſs; yea, thus alſo by ſuch a Conſtraint of Providence, leading them into the ſame, as David ſpeaks Pſal. 66. Thou broughteſt us in the Net, and laidſt Affliction on our Loins, &c. and as the Diſciples of Christ were conſtrained to go to the Sea, when a Storm was to follow thereon.
7. When in following the moſt expreſs and clear Call to ſome ſpecial Service and Acts of Duty, there occurrs greateſt Oppoſitions, and croſs Providences thereto, as was in Paul's Voyage to Rome, when his Commiſſion from Heaven herein was given, under ſo great a Seal and Evidence: And nothing did ſhake Jeremiah's Faith more, than that ſtrange and growing Tide of Oppoſition, which was ſtill in the way of his Work, when his Call herein was ſo clear duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page and extraordinary, as put him to ſpeak thus unto God, Chap. 20. 7. Thou haſt perſwaded me, and I was perſwaded, &c. when he was almoſt overpowered by the Enmity and Violence of Men in his work.
8. In that ſtrange length, to which a deferred hope may be continued before its Enjoyment, even where the Earneſt, and Confirmations thereof, have been in ſome unuſual way made evident, until it ſeem'd wholly deſperate, and beyond hope; yea, when under ſuch a Delay they have been expoſed to all kind of Temptations, which in the Nature thereof, as well as Duration, ſeem'd to contradict the ſame, and give it the Lie.
9. By ſuch a Concurrence alſo in ſome part of a Chriſtians Warfare, as at the ſame time there may be Fightings without, and Fears within, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks, ſuch as may render it a ſtrange Myſtery to others, when yet there is nothing penal herein; yea, when this may be for a time, wholly in the dark to them, until that Deſign of Grace appear for their being trained thus by leſſer Conflicts for ſuch a time in their Life, wherein uſually Satans greatest Effort lyes againſt them, and the higheſt Probation of their Grace, which God hath deſign'd to take whilſt they are on the Earth.
10. I ſhall but add on this Head, that as the Lord hath deſigned ſomething in his way towards each Chriſtian, that's peculiar to them alone, ſo is that Variation in the Methods of Providence about ſuch, remarkable, whilſt ſome have their moſt choice and comforting times firſt, as was Solomons, and his laſt days the worſt, whilſt the latter days of Job were his beſt. But there is alſo ſome Singularity in the Tryals of the Saints, which it's ſure will never be reiterated, either in the Kind or Meaſure; ſuch as in Abraham's being tryed in his Faith; upon the offering of Iſaac; the Intent thereof being purely Typical: And it may be judged that Job was given for an Example, to have a Room only proper to himſelf, until the Church ceaſed to be Militant.
A 3d. Enquiry which is of great Concern on ſuch a Subject, lyes here, in what reſpects it may be ſaid that the light and comforting ſide of ſome very dark and aſtoniſhing Providences is gained, which had held ſuch under greateſt Fears and Suſpence formerly; ſo as they can now keep Sight of the way of the Lord towards them herein: It's true, this is not attained in the way of Light only, but of Power; and one day may fall in to raiſe the Tryal of a Chriſtian, more than many Years paſt have done; when the Night may be both dark and long, without either Moon or Stars then appearing, before there be any Day-break: Yet may ſuch a rare Injoyment in a ſpecial way thus be underſtood, when there is ſome clear breaking up of Light herein upon theſe things.
1. How congruous ſuch Steps in the Spotleſs way of God, that ſeemed to have ſo diſmal an Aſpect, are to the Excellencies of his Nature, to the Teſtimonies and ſetled Constitutions of his Word, and to theſe uſual Methods, which he hath taken with his greateſt Favourites, in caſes of Tryal of the ſame Nature, and under, as trying Circumſtances.
2. When they can thus ſee how great a Deſign it is, which the Holy God hath on the hotteſt Conflicts of his Peoples Warfare, and in redoubling their Aſſaults, and that it is more than on the higheſt civil Intereſt of Kingdoms and Nations: And how intenſely his Eyes are fixed on what part his People does then Act, wherein the Honour of his own Grace, and their Victory over the Infernal World, does ſo much lye.
3. How there is ſurely an appointed Meaſure, which the Work and Tryal of Faith hath to be filled up, not only with reſpect to the perſonal caſe of Chriſtians, but to the State of the Church Militant, from the entry, to the cloſe of time; which hath ſtill a growing Increaſe, wherein each of the Saints hath ſome proper Interest that is allotted to him, for perfecting of the ſame.
4. When they can alſo diſcern by what a ſpecial overruling Providence, the Lord hath uſually bequeathed the choiceſt Mercies, and prevented great Hazards in ſuch a way, as was moſt grieving and contrary to their Thoughts in the preſent time; and hath ever reſerved the moſt rare Experiments and Tryals of himſelf, to the moſt trying times of his Peoples Lot, when their Support was beyond the Poſſibility of Nature.
5. When they can ſee what a Foord and ſtrange Paſſage others have been taken through, in extraordinary caſes, by that alone way of Reliance on an inviſible God; which could have no Riſe from ordinary or natural Cauſes; and how ſweet a Remembrance ſuch Providences have thus tranſmitted to the After-times of a Chriſtians Life, to witneſs that no Joy or Comfort on this Earth, is comparable to that which hath followed the deepeſt Agonies and Downcaſtings.
6. When there is ſome clear breaking up of Light upon the Deſign and deep reaches of Providence, which are in the moſt ſtrange Methods thereof, to promote the Intereſt and Service of many, by the perſonal Conflicts of ſome of his People; yea, for their being thus made a more publick Bleſſing to the time they live in, by Example, and their ſpecial Improvement of the ſame; ſince for this end, more ſingular caſes of Tryal, are uſually allotted by the Conduct of Divine Wiſdom, in order to Services that ſuch are deſign'd for, beyond others.
7. When it's evident both from Scripture Light and Obſervation, how no notable Mercies and Enjoyments of Divine Reſpect, have ever been attained, without ſomething no leſs remarkable in the proving of their Patience and Faith, which hath gone before: Yea, in how ſtrange a manner the Lord hath then choſen, to hide his Work for a time, and ſhut up their way, that the Returns of Light after the ſame, might be more ſweet and diſcernable.
8. How it's unalterably fixed by the ſtanding Laws of Heaven, that the Testimony of God in his revealed Truth, muſt firſt be the Object of his Peoples Truſt and Expectation, e're it be made the Object of their Senſe and Enjoyment in its Performance; and that it's an inviolable Connexion which lyes in ſuch a Method as is ſaid of Abraham, Heb. 6. 15. That after he had patiently endured, he obtained the Promiſe; ſo as they can thus ſee how ſignal a part this hath in the great Frame of Providence, when a long Term of enduring in Hope, and under greateſt Conflicts, goes before the Return and Enjoyment of the ſame.
9. How clear it's alſo in the way and order of Grace, that God will firſt have a ſore Trouble, and depths of Affliction to be deeply exerciſing and humbling, before it be made Comforting; but with ſuch Advantage thereby, that theſe will be leaſt broke by their Conflicts, who have been moſt bruiſed and bowed down by humbling Exerciſe and Work herein; this being ever ſure, that his great Power will never be imployed to ruin, but to raiſe, and revive the Spirits of ſuch.
10. When they ſee alſo theſe tender Methods of Divine Providence, as are made uſe of in the training of Chriſtians by leſſer Eſſays of Tryal, with ſome lucid Intervals betwixt one Degree, and another thereof, before the Lord bring forth his Deſign upon ſome more ſolemn and extraordinary Tryal, which ſhould have otherwiſe cruſh'd and overſet their Spirits, if it had not been thus gradually brought on.
11. But in this reſpect moſt ſpecially it may be ſaid, the light ſide of the most dark and aſtoniſhing Providence, is turned towards a Chriſtian, when he can diſcern and prove his way towards God, with ſuch an humble Reference as that, Job 23. 10. But thou knoweſt the way that I take: And when it's thus made evident in the hid Actings of Grace and that Prevalency it then hath to keep cloſe with God under the greateſt Temptations; in their Applications alſo, and Retirements of their Soul with him, where they can have no Witneſs but himſelf, who ſees in ſecret, that he may reward openly; when it's evident likewiſe in their Deſigns, and being acted from internal Motives herein, to have another Service for God, than ſuch as ſtand with him upon the Wages of the Hireling; yea, can prove their way in a Counter-motion to ſuch Evils, that are moſt Contagious and Exemplary in the times wherein they are; ſo as thus, to ſave themſelves from ſuch an untoward Generation: When alſo their Work hath not only been to prove their State by ſure Evidence, but to know of what manner of Spirit they were in ſuch a caſe towards Men, and theſe who might have had the greateſt Influence on their Trouble and Grief.
But there is yet a 4th. Enquiry, of higheſt Conſequence in order to Light herein, to know where the Life and Comfort of a Chriſtians Confidence in an Hour of Temptation does lye, and what hath the neareſt and moſt immediate Influence on the comforting Work of Faith, not only in caſes of perſonal Tryal, which may be moſt ſearching, but under any Surprizal of publick Judgment, that may be on a nearer Approach than ſeems apprehended by moſt. It's true, it's Honourable for God, both to try his People above the Power and Support of Nature, and to bear them up herein, in the View of the World: But as on the one Hand it ſeems aſtoniſhing, what Providences may occurr to ſome of the Saints of that Nature, as are amongſt the Arcana of the Divine Government, ſo is it no leſs wonderful on the other Hand, what he hath afforded to be aſſiſtant thereto, which lye not in the Reverence of the World, but are a Secret betwixt God and the Souls of his People; who hath not left them in the Dark, as to the hid Spring of their Supplies. This I muſt improve further here, though it be a little touched in the foregoing Diſcourſe, in theſe reſpects.
1. That there is ſurely then ſuch an undoubted Aſſiſtance, as an immediate Communion with the Spirit of God, in Addreſſes to Heaven by Prayer, when no viſible things can be comforting, ſuch as goes above the Support of Miracles, or Miniſtry of the Angels, though this be not comprehenſible by the Spirit of the World; which can in a Moment raiſe the Soul above its greatest Fears, when there is no cauſe by Humane Senſe herein; and affords alſo one of the higheſt Demonſtrations of the Chriſtian Faith.
2. That there is herewith ſuch an Enjoyment attainable, as an ineffable Senſe and Evidence of Divine Love, ſhed abroad on the Soul by the Holy Ghoſt, which goes above any external Providences for this end; and does efficaciouſly work, when no Light, no former Experience, nor habitual Grace can ſtemm the the Tide of ſome extraordinary Afflictions.
3. Yea, There is alſo ſuch a Support to be known then, as the ſenſible and immediate Preſence of the Comforter in his reviving Power, and their Fellowſhip with him, which no local diſtance can poſſibly obſtruct in ſuch an Hour, when their Releaſe muſt either come out of Heaven, or utterly fail. Theſe are indeed great things, which cannot be believed and not admired, that have thus the neareſt Influence on the Joy and Peace of Believing, ſuch as are no abstract Notions, but the greateſt Realities within time.
4. There is the comfort of ſuch Divine Promiſes, which by ſome ſpecial Application of that Seal of the Spirit of Promiſe, hath been formerly known, will in a dark and ſad Hour, afford a moſt ſingular Aſſiſtance: But it's no Contemplation can ſpeak the Power of that Evidence which hath accompanied the ſame, when in an obſignatory way this is given unto the Soul, or the great Improvement that hath been made hereof, when all viſible Refuges are failed.
5. There is likewiſe the Support of Sanctuary Strength, that's in a moſt peculiar way deſign'd of the Lord, for a Supply in the moſt overwhelming caſe; when by the publick Ordinances of the Goſpel (where ſuch a Door is kept open) and under the Bleſſing of that Inſtitution, ſuch hid and immediate Conveyances of Power have been then experienced, as hath made them return with Admiration upon the directing of Truths to their preſent caſe, when nothing could be more ſeaſonable; yea, hath been ſo evident a return oft to ſome humble Reference and Enquiry in the Temple herein, as if it had been by a Voice from Heaven, both in the Light and Power thereof.
6. There is the Improvement of former Experience of ancient Friendſhip and Love betwixt God and their Soul, which in the ſadeſt Hour, is of a ſingular uſe; as alſo of Providences which have been more extraordinary in their Life paſt; ſince it's thus Experience worketh Hope, not only upon our reaſoning from the ſame, but in the way of an eſtabliſh'd Mean and Ordinance for this end, by that indiſſoluble Connexion, which God hath fixed betwixt them.
7. Nor is it perſonal Experience only, (though that takes the deepeſt Impreſſion on Mens Soul) but the Improvement of ſuch eminent Acts of Providence, as have been moſt diſcernable in the caſe of others, under their greateſt Exigencies, and under ſome obſervable Seal of Gods immediate Appearance therein; ſince there is a publick Intereſt that the reſidue of the Saints have in the ſame, for ſtrengthening of their Faith, as well as theſe who are moſt immediately concerned herein; to make ſome new Acceſſion to the Churches Treaſure, when the Iſſue of ſome reſolute and great Adventures of Trust and Reliance on God, hath been made clear and conſpicuous to the World.
8. There is likewiſe that rare Aſſiſtance to a Chriſtians Faith, and its comforting Work in the ſaddeſt Hour, which is ever then found in the actings of Love, and fervent Emotions thereof to him, who is the Determiner of their Lot; ſince it's proper to Love, that it thinks no Evil, but hath ſtill Honourable Thoughts of God, even under the moſt diſmal Appearances of Providence; and is thus watchful, that nothing ſhould eſtrange or ſeparate betwixt them and the Love of Chriſt, whoſe ſevereſt Act of Smiting, is to heal, and is ever ſaving: And where this Love is in Exerciſe, it hath ſuch a piercing Intelligence with its Bleſſed Head, as to diſcern his Heart, and the ſounding of his Bowels towards them, even when his Hand would ſeem to deſtroy; which renders the way of Truſt ſo ſweet and delightful, that if this way could fail, they ſhould make no other Choice.
9. Yea, There is to be known then, how the comfort of Hope does work upon their being in the Iſſue made Overcomers, when the Triumph ſhall be proportioned to the Meaſure and Greatneſs of theſe Conflicts, which have been in their way; and that it's ſo near when this ſhall be made the Object of their Senſe, which is now ſuch a Wonder to their Faith; and that even in this Militant State on the Earth, they ſtand in Right, as a Part of the Church Triumphano, who are inſert as Members thereof, on the Records of Heaven; and tho' they be not yet in Poſſeſſion, yet have a proper Room ſecured them in theſe Regions of Glory, who may have no Title, or comforting Intereſt now in this World: And how ſhort a View are we to take of the things of Time, whilſt that other World, in both the States thereof, is each day filling up, with a growing and new Increaſe?
Let me add this further, that as each obſerving Chriſtian ſhould have ſome Record and Hiſtory of himſelf, both as to what hath been moſt remarkable in the ways of God towards them, and of their Deſigns and Improvements of Grace, which in any meaſure they have attained: So is it not expreſſible, what an Intereſt this makes as a helper to their Joy, when there may be a ſurrounding of them otherwiſe, with matter of Heavineſs under manifold Temptations. It is by this ſhort View which is now offered of Aſſiſtance, that have the moſt immediate and prevalent Influence on a comforting Reliance and Adventuring on God, though Tryals ſhould be at the greateſt height, may let us ſee what an Advantage ſuch have above theſe who ſeem to have the moſt Support and Security from viſible things; yea, we know little how near ſuch a day may be to theſe, who now are at eaſe, when no Comfort or Relief ſhall be found in another way: And oh! that Men would in the way of Reaſon, inquire more deeply about the Truth hereof, and what they will do when Humane Confidences are blaſted, if they have no Intereſt in ſuch a Support.
I ſhould have entred on a 5th: Enquiry about the preſent Appearances of the time we are in, but having both in the foregoing Diſcourſe, and another Piece lately Publiſhed, ſpoke at ſome Length thereto, as to what may be juſt Grounds of Fear, and for Confidence and Hopes; I ſhall forbear to add further on that Head; but whatever Regard may be to the ſame, which I muſt ſay, hath a directing Call in a ſpecial way to theſe, who are in the higheſt Station and Power, this day in Britain; I can with humble Confidence ſpeak that what is there offered to be awakening to us as matter of Fear, when ſuch unuſual Grounds are for the ſame, was under the Dread and Fear of that God, to duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page whom I muſt e're long give an Account of the Commiſſion I have received, as a Watchman to his Church; yea, with ſuch inward Quiet and Aſſurance of Mind hereIn, as if the Cloſe of this Diſcourſe, ſhould be the laſt of my Work and Service within time; though ſomething may poſſibly ſeem ſtrange of what hath been offered on ſuch an Account: But I hope therein will be found nothing which may not be convincing to any of a ſerious and conſiderate Spirit in the way of ſolid Reaſon and was for this Intent deſigned, that by our anſwering to the Call and Warnings of God, which have been very extraordinary and evident in our day, there might be yet a meeting him whilst he is in the way, to prevent threatned Judgment, which tarrieth not for Man, nor is dependent on viſible things, when the time thereof, is once come: Only I muſt ſhut up this with Two ſerious Reflections on the preſent Juncture of things, as may be too Obvious. 1. That it's now ſome Years paſt, ſince an unuſual and conſpicuous Signal of Judgment hath been given, not only to theſe Nations, but to the whole Reformed Churches, in that aſtoniſhing Stroak, and Devaſtation of the Church of France, where hath been a plucking up of what was ſo eminently planted there, and caſting down of what was built, ſo as for a time, the Candleſtick is removed thence: This I muſt confeſs hath had to me, a more ſad and affrighting Aſpect, that the Correſpondence which is this day in the Publick State of the Reformed Churches, does ſo evidently in as high a Prevalence of Sin, and of waſting Diſtempers, (if not in a higher Degree) than could be than charged on that Church. 2. That when the Holy God ſets up ſo great and eminent a Beacon as ſuch a Ruin is this day in our ſight, he does uſually for ſome time, allow it to be Warning and Awakening to other Places for whom it is deſign'd; and herein as to this Inſtance, hath he graciouſly held his Hand, that the Outcaſt of his People there, might have both a Retreat and Relief in other Churches; but oh! when the Intent of ſuch an aſtoniſhing Beacon is not anſwered, and ceaſeth to be affecting to our Spirits as at the firſt, I muſt refer it to the Thoughts and Enquiry of others, whether the Deſign of ſuch a Rod as hath been there raiſed and made uſe of for Judgment and breaking down, as well as Tryal, be yet ſiſted, and hath no further Work for the ſame Intereſt and Vindication of the Glory of God, as to other of the Churches; or if there be no cauſe now to fear that the Dregs of ſuch a Cup is not yet wrung out? which may be feared to be more ſevere at laſt, than what was in the firſt part thereof, if Grace do not in a ſingular way, interpoſe: And it is on that Account my Heart cannot but meditate Terror this Day.
FINIS.
End of the text · Robert Flemming, A Discourse of Earthquakes (1693)