Humiliations Followed with Deliverances, Sermon

Humiliations Followed with Deliverances · Sermon

Humiliations follow'd with Deliverances.

A Brief Diſcourſe On the MATTER and METHOD, Of that HUMILIATION which would be an Hopeful Symptom of our Deliverance from Calamity.

Accompanied and Accommodated WITH A NARRATIVE Of a Notable Deliverance lately Received by ſome Engliſh Captives, From the Hands of Cruel Indians. And ſome Improvement of that Narrative.

Whereto is added A Narrative of Hannah Swarton, containing a great many wonderful paſſages, relating to her Captivity and Deliverance.

Boſton in N. E. Printed by B Green, & J. Allen for Samuel Phillips at the Brick Shop. 1697.

p. 3Humiliations, follow'd with Deliverances.

At Boſt…n Lectu…e; 6 d. 3. m. 1697. The Week before a General FAST.

2 Chron XII. 7.

When the Lord ſaw, that they Humbled themſelves, the Word of the Lord came unto Shemajah, ſaying, They have Humbled themſelves, I will not Deſtroy them, but I will grant them ſome Deliverance.

WHen the Puniſhment of S…rging was uſed upon a Criminal in Iſrael, it was the O der and Uſage, that while the Executioner was Laying on his Thirteen (and therein Forty ſave one) Blowes, with an Inſtrument, every ſ…oke whereof gave Three Laſhes to the Delinq…nt, there were ſtill preſent p. 4Three Judges, whereof, while one did Number the Blowes, and another kept crying out, Smite him! a Third Read Three Scriptures, during the Time of the Scourging: and the Scourging Ended with the Reading of them: The firſt Scripture was That in Deut. 28.58. If thou wilt not obſerve to do all the words of this Law, that be written in this Book that thou mayſt Fear this Glorious and …earful Name, THE LORD THY GOD; then the Lord will make thy Plagues wonderful. The ſecond Scripture was That in Deut. 29 9. Keep therefore the words of this Covenant, and do them, that you may proſper in all that ye do. The laſt Scripture was That in Pſal. 78 38. But He, being full of Compaſſion, forgave their Iniquity, and deſtroy'd them not. This was done, partly for the Admoniti…n, partly for the Conſolation of the Chaſtiſed Criminal.

Chriſtians, We are all ſenſible, That the Scourges of Heaven, have long been Employ'd upon us, for our Crimes againſt the Holy and Juſt and Good Laws of the Lord our God: Alas, our Plagues have been wonderful! We have been ſorely Laſhed, with one Blow after another, p. 5for our Delinquencies. Who is there to Number the Blowes? Yea, The Anger of God, is not for all this Turned away, but His Hand ſtretched out ſtill! It is but proper, while we are thus under our Puniſhment, for us, to have a Text of the Sacred Oracles, agreeable unto our preſent State, Read unto us. Behold, an Agreeable Text, now ſingled out, for our Entertainment; & I do the rather ſingle it out becauſe the next Week, a General HUMILIATION is to be attended among us; for which, I cannot eaſily do a more Uſeful Thing, than to give you a Praeparative; while I am ſpeaking unto the Chriſtians of many Churches, here come together, in One Great Aſſembly.

In our Context, we ſind the People of God, beginning to Forſake the Law of the Lord: They many wayes Tranſgreſſed againſt Him. Sad Calamity overtook them, for this their Iniquity, and Apoſtaſy; But God bleſſed the Preaching of His Prophet Shemajah unto them, under this Calamity to produce a Notable Humiliaiion in them. The Clauſes now before us, repreſent a bleſſed Effect of that Humiliation; a gracious Promiſe of ſome Deliverance p. 6from Deſtruction, was, by that Prophet of the Lord, when they Humbled themſelves, brought from the Lord unto them.

The Truth which Lies plainly before us, is, That when a Sinful People Humble themſelves before the Almighty God, it is an Hopeful and an Happy Symptom, that He will not utterly Deſtroy ſuch a People.

Now, The CASE, which this Encouraging Truth, does at this Time Encourage us, to ſpeak unto, is,

After what manner is the Self-Humiliation of a Pe…ple that would …ſcape a Sore Deſtruction, to be Expreſſed and Excited?

Which to ſpeak yet more pertinently and profitably, is to ſay.

After what manner are we our ſelves, O our Dear People, to Humble our ſelves before the Lord?

Give your Attention.

I. When we Paenitently Confeſs our p. 7Sins, and much more, when we vigorouſly ficform our Sins, we Then do to good purpoſe Humble our ſelves, before the God, againſt whom we have Sinned. More diſtinctly;

Firſt, A Paenitent Confeſſion of Sin, is that Self Humiliation which our God expects from ſuch a people as our ſelves. Thus, in Luk. 18.13, 14. He that ſaid, God be merciful to me a Sinner, is, He that Humbleth himſelf. Thus, Lev. 26.40, 41. They that Confeſs their iniquity, and the Iniquity of their Fathers, have their Uncircumciſed Hearts Humbled in their doing ſo.

Accordingly, Firſt, In our Humiliations, we ought ſeriouſly to Confeſs out Provocations to the Moſt Holy God, and the Iniquities that we have done, before Him who is of purer Eyes than to behold Iniquities. But, what a ſad Catalogue of Provocations, have we to b…ing forth before the Lord.

When we Humble our ſelves,

I. Let us Humbly Confeſs, That th… People of this Land, in a growing Apostaſy from that Religious Diſpoſition that Signalized the firſt Planting of theſe Colonies, p. 8have with multiplied Rebellions againſt the Almighty, Sinned exceedingly.

II. Let us Humbly Confeſs, That the Spirit of this World, hath brought an Epidemical Death, upon the Spirit, and Power of Godlineſs.

III. Let us Humbly Confeſs, That the Glorious Goſpel of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, here Enjoy'd, with much Plenty as well as Purity, hath not been Thankfully and Fruitfully Entertained by thoſe that have been Bleſſed with the Joyful Sound.

IV. Let us Humbly Confeſs, That the Covenant of Grace Recognized in our Churches, hath been by multitudes not ſubmitted unto; and of them that have ſubmitted unto it, multitudes have not walked according to the Sacred Obligations thereof.

V. Let us Humbly Confeſs, That the Unreaſonable Vices of Raſh and Vain Swearing, with Helliſh Curſing in the Mouths of many, have rendred them Guilty Sinners.

VI. Let us Humbly Confeſs, That a Flood of Exceſſive Drinking, hath begun to Drown much of Chriſtianity, yea, and of p. 9Civility it ſelf, in many places among us.

VII. Let us Humbly Confeſs, That ſome Engliſh, by Selling of Strong Drink unto the Indians, have not only prejudiced among them, the Succeſſes of the Word of Life, but alſo been the Faulty & Bloody Occaſions of Death unto them.

VIII. Let us Humbly Confeſs, That a Vanity of Apparrel, hath been affected by many perſons, who have been ſo vain, as to Glory in their Shame.

IX. Let us Humbly Confeſs, That wicked Sorceries have been practiſed in the Land; and yet in the Troubles from the Devils, thereby brought in among us, thoſe Errors on both Hands were committed, which, Who can underſtand?

X. Let us Humbly Confeſs, That the Dayes of Sacred Reſt among us, have been diſturbed with ſo many Profanation… that we may not wonder if we See no Rest.

XI. Let us Humbly Confeſs, That the woful Decay of good Family Diſcipline, hath opened the Flood Gates, for Innumerable, and almoſt Irremediable Woes, to break in upon us.

XII. Let us Humbly Confeſs, That M… gistrates p. 10Miniſters, and others that have ſerved the Publick, have been but great Sufferers by their Services, and met with Unrighteous Diſcouragements.

XIII. Let us Humbly Confeſs, That the Pyracies, which, 'tis to be feared, ſome who belong to theſe, have perpetrated in other parts of the World, are Scandals, that call for much Lamentation.

XIV. Let us Humbly Confeſs, That we have in former years uſed Unjuſtifiable Hardſhips, upon ſome that have Conſcientiouſly Diſſented from our perſwaſions in Religion.

XV. Let us Humbly Confeſs, That we have treated one another, very Ill, in the Various Temptations, Cententions, and Rev…luti…ns, which have been upon us.

XVI Let us Humbly Confeſs, That the Sins of the moſt Filthy Uncleanneſs, have horribly Defiled the Land.

XVII Let us Humbly Confeſs, That the Joy of Harveſt, hath been filled with Folly, and Lewdneſs, and Forgotten the Glad Service of God, whom we ſhould have Served in the Abun…lance of all things.

XVIII Let us Humbly Confeſs, That much Fraud hath been uſed in the Dealings p. 11of many, and the Spirit of Oppreſſion hath made a Cry.

XIX. Let us Humbly Confeſs, That Falſehood and Slander hath been commonly carrying of Darts through the Land and the Wounded have been many!

XX. And, Let us Humbly Confeſs, That the Succeſſive and Amazing Judgments of God upon us, for our thus Treſpaſſing, have not Reclamed us, but we have prodigiouſly Gone on ſtill in our Treſpaſſes.

In our Humiliations, Let theſe things be Reflected on; and with our moſt Humble Reflections, Let us do like them, in 1 Sam. 7.6. Gather together, and Draw water, and pour it out, [in a Showre of Tears] before the Lord, and Faſt on that Day, and ſay, we have Sinned againſt the Lord.

But that this our Confeſſion of our Provocations, may be Penitent, we muſt, Secondly, Incorporate thereinto, a Confeſſion of what we have Deſerved by theſe Provoking Evils. Particularly.

We have ſeen many Troubles: but on our Day of Humiliation, concerning all our Troubles, Let us Humbly make that p. 12Confeſſion, in Ezra 9.13. Thou, our God, beſt puniſhed us, leſs than our Iniquities Deſerve.

Have we loſt many Thouſands of Pounds, by the Diſaſters of the Sea? Let us Humbly Confeſs, our Sins have Deſerved, that inſtead of making one Good Voyage, we ſhould have been ſtript of all the Little that is left unto us.

Hath one bad harveſt after another, diminiſhed our Ordinary Food? Let us Humbly Confeſs, our Sins have Deſerved, that the Earth which hath been thereby Defiled, ſhould have yielded us n…thing at all.

Have Bloody, Popiſh, and Pagan Enemies, made very dreadful Impreſſions upon us, and Captived and Butchered multitudes of our Beloved Neighbours? Let us Humbly Confeſs, our Sins have Deſerved, that we ſhould be all of us, altogether given up, unto the will of our Enemies, to Serve our Enemies in the want of all things, and have our Lives continually hanging in Doubt, under their turious Tyrannies.

Have we been Broken ſore in the place of Dragons, and Covered with the Shadow of Death? Say Humbly before the Lord, with them, in Lam. 3.39. Why ſhould a p. 13man Complain, for the puniſhment of his Sin?

And yet, we have had Comforts, to mitigate and moderate, our Troubles: In the midſt of wrath, God ha's Remembred Mercy. Now concerning all our Comforts, on our Day of Humiliation, Let us Humbly make that Confeſſion, in Lam. 3.22. It is of the Lords mercies, that we are not Conſumed.

Have we not the Tidings of Salvation by our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, Preac'd unto us, to ſweeten the Bread of Adverſity, and the Water of Affl…ction, which the Lord hath given us? Let us Humbly Confeſs, 'Tis of the Lords Mercies, that this Countrey ha's the Bread of Life, and the Waters of Life, yet continued unto it, and that it is not become a Region of the Valley of the Shadow of Death.

Are our Poor, though greatly Increaſed and Afflicted, yet more Comfortably provided for, than in many other parts of the World? Let us Humbly Confeſs, 'Tis of the Lords Mercies, that we are not all Seattered, and fami…hed, and peri…hed in our Poverty.

Do we ſee leſs of the Diſtreſs of Nations, and Perplexity, with the Sea, and the p. 14waves thereof Roaring, than they do in a great part of Europe 8. Let us Humbly Confeſs, 'Tis of the Lords Mercies, that all the Things, which the fainting Hearts of men any where do fear, coming on the Earth, are not come upon our ſelves.

Why do not our Adverſaries uſe the Advantages which they have to Confound us, but are themſelves in ſuch Confuſion, that we Endure not an Hundredth part of the Diſturbance from them, which they might give unto us? Humbly ſay before the Lord, with him, in Gen. 32.10. We are not worthy of the leaſt of all theſe Mercies!

This, This would be the Language of a True Humiliati…n.

But a Second Admoni…ion, muſt be added unto This. What Signities Confeſſion, without Reformation? Tis all but Hypocriſy, all but Impiety. We are told in Prov. 28.13. Tis he that Confeſſeth & Forſaleth, who ſhall have Mercy.

The Ancients, would well call the Confeſſion of Sin, The Vemit of the Soul. But now, if we return, and proceed, unto the Commiſſion of the Sins, which we have by our Confeſſion, as it were Vomited up; what p. 15are we, but the Dogs that Return unto their Vomit? When Sins are Sincerely Confeſſed, the Repenting Sinners, will ſay, as in Hoſ. 14.8. What have we any more to do with them?

Come then; We have now and then, that which we call, A Day of Humiliation. But, Sirs, A Day of Reformation; Oh! when ſhall we ſee ſuch a Day? When ſhall it once be! Behold, an Eſſential Piece of work, to be attended, when, A Day of Humiliation, arrives unto us. Let every one of us, Earneſtly Enquire with our ſelves, What is there, that I am now to Reform in my own Heart and Life, and in the Family which I belong unto? and importunately implore, the Help of the Spirit of Grace, to purſue ſuch a Reformation. But then, l…et all that Suſtain any Publick Office, whether Civil, or Sacred, further carry on the Enqui…y: What ſhall we do to Reform any ſpreading Evils in the Publick? Lei the Paſtors of the Churches, in their ſeverat Charges, Labour Watchfully to prevent, all growth of Sin in their Vicinities; and the Churches joyn with their Paſtors, in Sharpening their Diſcipline againſt Offences that may ariſe, and in preſerving the p. 16Liberty, and Purity, which they have heretofore been clothed withal.

And Let Juſtices, Grand Jury men, Conſtables, Tythingmen, have their mutual Conſultations, to procure the Executions of Good Laws, and Remember the Oath of God upon them.

Were ſuch an Humiliation once obtained, Then would our God ſay, I ſee, they have Humbled themſelves, I will not utterly Deſtroy them! The Land of Canaan, is as much as to ſay, in Engliſh, The Land of the Humbled. Oh! if we were univerſally thus Humbled, our Land would ſoon be a Canaan, for the Reſt, the Peace, the Plenty, which would be therein vouchſafed unto us.

II. The Exerciſes of a Sacred Faſt have a particular and peculiar Character of Humiliation in them, and we are to Humble our ſelves with Faſting before the Lord. Thus the Pſalmiſt of old manifeſted his Humiliation, in Pſal. 35.13. I Humbled my Soul, with Faſting.

There is that Call Now, and Often [perhaps not often enough!] heard, thro' the Province, in Joel 1.14. Sanctify p. 17a Faſt, Call a Solemn Aſſembly, Gather the Elders; and all the Inhabitants of the Land, into the Houſe of your God, and Cry unto the Lord. And I perſwade my ſelf, that we generally concur in the General Principle, hitherto Eſpouſed, by the Church of God, in every Generation, That a Religions Faſt, is a Needful Duty, (pro Temporibus et Cauſis, as Tertullian long ſince well ſtated it,) on Juſt and Great Occaſions for it. That Merry Sect, who Explode Faſting, as a thing not Agreeable to our Goſpel Times, appear not among us. We know, that Faſting hath, in all Ag…s, been eſteem'd, a Duty incumbent on the People of God. We find ſuch Faſting uſed in Elder Times, [Judg. 20.26. and 1 Sam. 7.6.] Both more publickly, [2 Chron. 20.30. and Ezr. 8 21.] And more privately; [2 Sam. 12.16 & Neb. 1.4.] What tho' theſe things were in the Dayes of the Old-Teſtament? I hope, the Old Teſtament is not become Apoc…ypha, with any of us. But in the New-Teſtament alſo, we have a Praediction, of our Faſting, [Math. 9.15.] Yea, and a Praeſcription for it, [M…th. 6.16.] For d…ing it more pub…ickly, we have … W… rant, p. 18[Act. 14.23.] and more privately too. [1 Cor. 7.5.] Yea, we are told, that there are certain Bleſſings, which cannot now be obtained, but in ſuch a way. [Mar. 9.29.] And I am ſure of one thing more; when the Apoſtles, and the Believers in the Primitive Times, were moſt Filled with the Holy Spirit of Chriſt, then it was that they were moſt in Faſting before the Lord!

Now, if our Faſt, be ſuch a Faſt as the Lord hath choſen, we ſhall therein Humble our ſelves, moſt acceptably, moſt profitably, moſt efficaciouſly. And becauſe, the Right Performance of this Duty, is a thing of great Conſequence in Chriſtianity; 'tis what is frequently required, and much Weal or Wo will follow upon the management of it; I will ſet before you, the Rules of that Sacred Faſt, wherein we are to Humble our Souls.

Having firſt, Praepared our ſelves for our Faſt, as one would for an Extraordinary Sabbath, we have theſe things to do.

Firſt; There is the Internal Humiliation of our Faſt; The Duties of Praying, Repenting and Believing, are the Soul of that Faſt wherein we are to Humble p. 19our Souls; and we are to Labour in thoſe Duties. The Duties of a Faſt, are thoſe, in 2 Chron. 7.14. My People ſhall then Humble themſelves, and Pray, and Seek my Face, and Turn from their wicked wayes. For men to think, that they Serve God, by a Faſt wherein they do nothing but Faſt from Corporal Suſtenance, and they draw not near to God in Devotions all the Day long, 'tis a plece of Ignorance; yea, more than one Commandment of God is broken, by this piece of Ignorance.

When we Celebrate a Faſt, we are in more than ordinary Prayers, to Acknowledge our own Sinfulneſs, and the Greatneſs and Justice of God, in Chaſtiſing our Sinfulneſs; and we are to Supplicate thoſe Favours of Heaven, which our Sins, our Wants, and our Fears, make Neceſſary for us. The Thing which we have to do, on a Faſt, is what the Praying Daniel did; in Dan. 9.3. I ſet my Face unto the Lord God, to ſeek by Prayer, and Supplications, with Faſting. And haing thus Quoted, the Ninth Chapter of Daniel, I may Remark, That there are Three N…nths, which admirably well deſcribe the Task of a Faſt unto us; the p. 20Ninth Chapter of Ezra, the Ninth Chapter of Nehemiah, and the Ninth Chapter of Daniel. When the Faſt comes; Remember, Chriſtians, to conſult thoſe Three Chapters, with Lively Meditations thereupon. A Day of Faſt, is to be a Day of Prayer. As in Act. 13.3. ſo elſewhere, Faſting and Praying, are what God has joyned, and here, Man may not ſeparate them. Would you hear, what you have to Do, when a Fast is to be kept? The words of an Order for a Faſt, once ran ſo, in Jon. 3.8. Cry mightily unto God. Prayer, 'tis That, whereof the Jewes in one of their Ancient Adagies, tell us, Nulla eſt pulchrior virtus hac ipſa; There is no vertue like it. It is beyond all Oblations. But Repenting and Believing as well as Praying, muſt ſignalize our Faſt. Reconciliation with God, is the End of a Fast; without Repenting and Believing, this Reconciliation is not applied unto us.

A Faſt, is but a Form, an Hungry and Empty Form, if we do not therein heartily Repent of our Miſcarriages. Thus we are adviſed, in Iſa. 58.6, 7, 8. Is not this the Faſt, that I have choſen? To Looſe the Bonds of Wickedneſs. On a Faſt, Let p. 21us be thoſe Ephraimites, who ſhail bemoan themſelves; Thou haſt Chaſtiſed me, O Lord, and I was Chaſtiſed, Turn thou me, and I ſhall be Turned! On a Faſt, Let us take thoſe Directions, in the midſt of our Lamentations, Let us Search and Try our ways, and Turn again unto the Lord. A Faſting Day muſt be a Soul grieving Day, and a Sin killing Day, or 'tis nothing. Our Faſt, are to Slay our Luſts; thoſe are the Beaſts, which are then to be ſlaughtered. Indeed, when ever a Faſt recurrs, we ſhould go the whole Work of Converſion over again! Our Faſt will notably be, Ci…us virtutis, if we do ſo.

Again; The Satisfaction and Interceſſion of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, muſt on a Faſt …e Repaired unto; and we muſt Be…eve in it for our Atonement. It was the …ite appointed for a Faſt, in Lev. 16.27 …0. The Blood of the Sin Offering, muſt be. …rought in, to make Atonement; On that Day all the Prieſt make Atonement for you, to …eanſe you, that you may be clean from all …ur Sins before the Lord. Our Lord Jeſus …hriſt is our Prieſt; What He hath done …r our Atonement, muſt be this Day, …ith a ſtrong Faith Laid hold upon. A p. 22Fast is a Day of Expiation; but we know it is only the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, that hath by His Unknown Sufferings (as the Greek Church at this Day expreſſ…s it) made Expiation for our Sins. Hence on a Faſt, we muſt Renew the Dependance of our Souls, on the Obedience which our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, our Surety, hath yielded unto God for us. Our Sin has procured the Death of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt; In a Faſt, our Faith is to Feed upon it. A Faſting Day, is with Faith, a Feeding Day. In our Fasts, we are to Imitate the Action of the Moloſſians, who ſeeking the Kings Good will unto them, took the Son of the King into their Arms, and preſenting themſelves thus before him, ſaid, Syr, For the ſake of this your Son, we hope, you'l be favourable to us. Thus, Let us preſent our ſelves before the Eternal King of Heaven, on our Faſt, with His Only Begotten, His Dearly Beloved Son, in the Arms of our Faith, and plead, Oh! for the Sake of this thy Son, do Good unto us. But then.

Secondly; There is the External Humiliation of our Faſt; when we Humble our ſelves in a Faſt, we are to Abſtain p. 23from all our Secular Pleaſures and Affayrs, that we may the better go thorough our Duties. Like Silly Children, we know not when to Feed, and when to Forbear Feeding. But our Good God, in His Word has taught us! We are Taught, that we muſt ſometimes have a Day for Faſting, which muſt be a Day of Reſtraint upon us; and this Reſtraint muſt Extend unto the Dimenſions of a Sabbath. Of a Fast, it is preſcribed, in Lev. 23.32. It ſhall be unto you, a Sabbath of Reſt, and ye ſhall Afflict your Souls; from Evening unto Evening ſhall ye Celebrate your Sabbath. The Deſign of the Abstinence thus to be uſed on a Fast, is, not only that we may be more free for the ſeveral Spiritual Employments, which are then incumbent on us, (our Lord, like a wife Falconer, will by keeping of us a little Sharp, fit us for the Higheſt Flights in our Prayers!) but alſo to Show, and Speak, the Humiliation of our Souls in thoſe Employments. Tis a Ceremony of Gods Appointment, a Symbolical Ceremony, which God Himſelf hath appointed, and a part of Worſhip, whereby we are to Signify, That we … our ſelves utterly unworthy of all thoſe Bleſſings, p. 24which we now Deny unto our ſelves, and therefore of all other Bleſſings whatſoeever. And the First Sin of man, which Lay in Eating, is to be conſidered, as very particularly herein referred unto.

Now, Firſt, A Faſt is to be kept with an Abſtinence from the Pleaſures of this Life. Our uſual Diet muſt on a Faſt be Abſtained from. It was therefore ſaid, in Eſth. 4.16. Faſt, and neither Eat nor Drink. The very Term of a Faſt, implies thus much; and it hath been of old ſaid, They that will not ſo Faſt with the Children of God, muſt Eat and Drink of the Furious Wrath of God, with the Wicked There are indeed Caſes of Neceſſity, wherein our merciful God call; for, Mercy rather than Sacrifice; and in thoſe Caſes, doubtleſs the Abſtinence may be ſomewhat Abated and Relaxed. Some cannot Encounter a ſevere and a total Abstinence, it would utterly Diſable them, for the Service of the Day: the Severity may then be mitigated. Yet our Abſtinence muſt be ſuch as to produce our Affliction. Of a Faſt, it is ſaid, in Iſa. 58.5. It is a Day for a man to Afflict his Soul; and it is ſaid, in Lev. p. 2523.29. Whatſoever Soul it be, that ſhall not be Afflicted in that ſame Day, he ſhall be cut off from among his people. We may not Eat or Drink ſo much, nor may we Eat or Drink ſo well, on ſuch a Day, as at another Time. In the Faſt of a Daniel, we have this Abſtinence obſerved, ch. 10.3. late no pleaſant Bread, neither came Fleſh nor Wine, into my mouth, neither did I anoint my ſelf at all: And in Tertullians Time, they had their Xerophagiae, a Dry ſort of Repaſt, for ſuch as found that a Rigid Fast, was too hard for them. But by conſequence, all other Delights of the Senſes, are then alſo to be avoided. If you read, Joel 2.16. and … Cor. 7.5. You'l find a particular prohibition of this Importance. Hence likewiſe, our Sleep is then to be Retrenched. If we are inclinable to Sleep ſo long on a Faſt, as we do on another Day, we are to Awake… our ſelves, with ſuch a Call from God, as that, What meaneſt thou, O Sleeper, Ariſe, and Ca…l upon thy God! And it is not improper here to be noted, That our Alms are to be one Concomitant of our Faſts. It was ſaid, in Iſa. 58 7. Is … this the Faſt that I have Choſen? Is it … p. 26to deal thy Bread to the Hungry? When we come to ſeek Mercy of God, we ſhould, in Thankfulneſs for our Hope to find what we ſeek, ſhow Mercy to men. In our Fasting, we Deny to our ſelves our uſual Nouriſhments; and we ſhould then Beſtow on others at leaſt as much as we Deny to our ſerves, in Token of our Senſe, That we are more Undeſerving of the Divine Bounty, than any that we know in our Neighbourhood. Our Alms are to go up with our Prayers, as a Memorial, (we Remember who's did ſo!) before God. But there is yet one thing more to be added; Fine Cloathes muſt in a Faſt, be Abſtained from. If there were no Scripture for this, why might not meer Nature teach it unto us, as well as unto the Ninivites? But we have Scripture for it, in Exod 33.4. The people mourned, and no man did put on him his Ornaments. I have ſee… a Fault in this place, and My Neighbours, 'Tis utterly a Fault among you; That on a Faſt, many people, will come to the Worſhip of God, in as Gay Cloaths, as if they were going to a Feaſt. Methinks, I hear, the Holy Angels of God thus uttering their Indignation p. 27againſt ſuch Offenders; What? will thoſe vain people, never have any ſign of an Abaſed, and an Afflicted Soul up…n them? Truly, to be arrayed in Gorgeous Apparrel on a Faſt, is very offenſive unto God. Rags are fitter than Robes, for the Children of men therein to appear as Malefactors before God the Judge of all. They that come to the Aſſembly, in a ſplendid, and flanting Attire, on ſuch a Day, do but Affront the God, whom they profeſs to Humble themſelves before. Would you Speed in a Faſt? Then be able to ſay, if not with him, in Pſal 35.13. My Cloathing was Sackcloth, when I Humbled my Soul with Faſting, yet, My Cloathing is Sober, Modeſt, Proper, and very Humble!

And, Secondly, A Faſt, is to be kept with an Abſtinence, from the Affayrs of this Life. The Works of our particular Vocations are to be laid aſide, when a Faſt is Indicted; and All Servile Labour on the ſaid Day is Inhibited. A Faſt, is to be kept with the ſtrictneſs of a Sabbath. It is Enjoined in Lev. 23.28, 30, 32. Ye ſhall do no work in that ſame Day, for it is a Day of Atonement. Whatſoever Soul it be, that doth any work in that ſame Day, the ſame p. 28Soul will I destroy from among his people. It ſhall be unto you a Sabbath of Rest; from Evening to Evening ſhall ye Celebrate it. When the Services of the Congregation are over, we are not preſently at Liberty to do what we will: Thoſe perſons do but help to Debauch the Land, who take ſuch a Liberty. The Edicts of Heaven run ſo, in Joel 2 14. Sanctify a Faſt. The whole Day of the Faſt is to be Sanctified, or, ſet apart, for Communion with God: When we keep a Day, we muſt keep it unto the Lord. The Expectation of our God, is intimated unto us, in Iſa 58.13. Turn away thy Foot from the Sabbath, (take no long Journeys on it) from doing thy pleaſure on my Holy Day: Honour him, not doing thine own wayes, nor finding thine own pleaſure, nor ſpeaking thine own words. Indeed, the Weekly Sabbath lays a claim to all the things here ſpoken of; nevertheleſs, I ſuſpect that a Fasting Sabbath is here more peculiarly intended. A Faſt, is no leſs than twice in one verſe, Lev. 23.32. called a Sabbath: and why may not that be the Sabbath more eſpecially meant throughout the whole fifty eighth Chapter of Iſaiah? An Expreſſion twice uſed in p. 29the verſe newly quoted, namely, Doi… thy pleaſure, and Finding thy own pleaſure, on the Sabbath, occurs in the third verſe, In the Day of your Faſt, you find pleaſure; which finding of pleaſure is oppoſed unto the Affliction, both of Spirit and of Body, wherein we are to Judge our ſelves on ſuch a Solemnity. Becauſe we do not Fast, with a due conformity, to the Edicts of Heaven, therefore as of old, Pompey Siezed the Jewiſh Temple, on their Faſt-Day, and Soſius on their Faſt-Day took the City, ſo we in this Land, have on, o… near our Faſt-Dayes often felt ſuch Rebukes of Heaven, that it has become the juſt Aſtoniſhment of many that have wiſely obſerved it, and it ſhould be the Humiliation of us all. But now, conform to this Expectation of Heaven, on your Faſt: Then ſhalt thou Delight thy ſelf in the Lord, for the mouth of the Lord hath ſpoken it.

III. That our Humiliation may b… Quickene…, Let us Humbly, Awfully and Mourn…ily, Conſider the moſt Humbling Circumſtances, which the Mighty Hand of God, hath brought us into. I… was the Counſel, in 1 Pet. 5.6. Humble p. 30your ſelves under the Mighty Hand of God. Wicked and Hurtful men, have been called, The Hand of God: ſee Pſal. 17.14.] It may be, Nero, a Mighty man Raiſed by God, for the Vexation of mankind, may be more particularly deſigned, in that paſſage, The Mighty Hand of God. And by a French Nero, have we alſo been ſo vexed, that we have cauſe to Humble our ſelves under what we have Endured from that Mighty Hand. But indeed, there is the Mighty Hand of God, in all Afflictive Diſpenſations of His Providence; and now, O Let us Humble our ſelves, by Conſidering, how much the Diſpenſations of His Mighty Hand have Humbled us.

The Circumſtances of Affliction are Humbling Circumſtances. It was ſaid of the Afflicted, in Pſal. 107.39. They are brought Low through Affliction. It was ſaid by the Afflicted, in Pſal 39 8. We are brought very L…w. An Afflicted people may ſay, as the Afflicted Paul ſaid, My God Humbles me. Afflictions keep under our Aſpiring Spi…its, and make us feel and own our own wretchedneſs. But Oh! what Afflictions has this poor people, been Humbled withal!

p. 31It was a Prophecy concerning, The Daughter of Zion, in Iſa. 3.26. She being Deſolate, ſhall ſit upon the Ground. When Zion was Deſolate, by the Roman Conqueſt, (unto which this Prophecy might Extend) there were Coins made in Commemoration of that Conqueſt, and on thoſe Coins there was a Remarkable Expoſition of this Prophecy. On the Reverſe of thoſe Medals, which are to be ſeen unto this Day, there is, A Silent Woman ſitting upon the Ground, and leaning againſt a Palmtree, with this Inſcription IUDAEA CAPTA. Nor was any Conquered City or Countrey, before this of Judaea, ever thus drawn upon Medals, as, A Woman ſitting upon the Ground. Alas, If poor New-England, were to be ſhown upon her old Coin, we might ſhow her Leaning againſt her Thunderſtruck Pine tree, Deſolate, ſitting upon the Ground. Ah! New England! Upon how many Accounts, mayſt thou ſay with her, in Ruth 1 13. The Hand of the Lord is gone out againſt me!

An Excellent Miniſter, who dyed among us, a Young Man, Conſiderably more than Twenty years ago, [It was Mr. John Eliot, the younger,] when he p. 32lay on his Death-bed, and was Drawing his Preſagious Breath, had theſe Memorable Expreſſions. My Lord Jeſus Chriſt, hath been a Great while, preparing a Manſion, which is now ready for me. He will quickly take me, as He did John, by the Right Hand, and preſent me unto the Father, who has Loved me, with an Everlasting Love. As for New England, I believe, that God will not Unchurch it; but He will make a Poor and Afflicted People in it Boſton, and the Maſſachuſet Colony, is Coming Down, Coming Down, Coming Down a pace! Expect ſad and ſore Afflictions; but Oh! Get an Intereſt in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and you may Live on That, all the World over. So ſpoke an Eminent Servant of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, when he was juſt Entring into the Joy of His Lord. Now this Praediction, we have ſeen very terribly Accompliſhed; It has been Strangely and Sadly Accompliſhed, ever ſince the Time that it was uttered: And in almoſt all our Concerns, our Story hath been that in Judg. 2.15. Whitherſoever they went out, the Hand of the Lord was againſt them for evil, as the Lord had ſaid, and they were greatly Diſtreſſed.

p. 33We have been Humbled, with an Annual Blaſt upon our Daily Bread, until at laſt, the very Staff of the Countrey ha's been broken for Two years together, and an horrible Cry, for Bread, Bread, hath been heard in our Streets.

We have been Humbled, with ſuch Loſſes by Sea & Land, that Strangers afar off, take notice of it, Concluding, Surely Almighty God is in ill Terms with that Country!

We have been Humbled by the Angels of Death ſhooting the Arrows of Death, with direful Repetitions of Mortality, in the midſt of us!

We have been Humbled by a Barbarous Adverſary once and again let looſe to Wolve it upon us, and an unequal Conteſt with ſuch as are not a People, but a Fooliſh Nati…n.

We have been Humbled by all Adverſity vexing us, in our Going out, & our Coming in, and in the Conſtant Miſcarriages of our moſt Likely Expeditions.

We have been Humbled by the Wrath of the Lord of Hoſts Darkning our Land, when Evil Angels broke in among us, to do thoſe Amazing Things, of which no Former Ages give a parallel.

p. 34We have been Humbled, by the Ireful, and the Direful Rebukes of Heaven, upon all our Precious and Pleaſant Things: But above all, by Spiritual Plagues whereto we are abandoned. The Plagues of a Blind Mind, and an Hard Heart, and an Aſtoniſhing Unfruitfulneſs under all the Means of Grace; and a Stupid Inſenſibility of the Cauſes for which, & the Manners in which, the Almighty God is Contending with us, have Siezed upon us. Some of our Seers have a miſt before their Eyes; Some of our Churches fall aſleep till they are ſtript of their Garments; under the Sharpeſt Chaſtiſements of Heaven, we grow worſe and worſe, with ſuch a Swift Apoſtaſy, that if we Degenerate the Next Ten Years, as the moſt Impartial obſervers do ſay, that we have done the Laſt, God be Merciful unto us! What a Swift Deſtruction are we likely to be overwhelmed withal?

Now there is a Loud Voice, in all theſe things; the Voice of them is, Be Humbled, O New-England; Humble thy ſelf, Leſt a fiercer Anger of the Lord yet come upon thee! Oh! Let not that be written on our Doors, in Jer 44.10. They are not Humbled unto this Day! Sirs, We p. 35are every Day Coming down moſt wonderfully; But let us then Fall down moſt Humbly, in the Conſideration thereof, and let our Lamentation be That, in Lam. 3.19, 20. Remembring my Affliction and my Miſery; my Soul has them ſtill in Remembrance, and is Humbled in me!

IV. What will our Humiliation Signify, if it carry us not unto our Lord Ieſus Chriſt? Wherefore, when we Humble our ſelves, Let us Humbly Rely on our Lord Ieſus Chriſt alone, for our Acceptance with God. So are we Di…ected, in Jam. 4.10. Humble your ſelves in the ſight of the Lord: That is to ſay, With an Eye to the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, in all you do.

That the Humiliations of men, are of no Account, with God, while the Lord Ieſus Chriſt is not therein referred unto, the poor Jewiſh Nation have given to us, a doleful Experiment: related in a Book Tranſlated by one Paul Iſaiah, a Jew, by that among other motives, converted unto the Faith of our Bleſſed Ieſus. After many former Humiliations, that the End of their Captivity might be Revealed unto them, they did in the year p. 361502. make a Publick Repentance, thro' all their Habitations, all over the face of the whole World, and both old and young, men, women and children, ſpent almoſt a year together in ſuch marvellous Devotions as were never heard of in the world before. But all ſignified nothing; why? Becauſe they do as the Prophet Iſaiah foretold that they would; they ſtill Reject our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, through whom alone it is, that any of our Humiliations have Acceptance with the God of Heaven. The Great God has promiſed, That He will be favourable unto that Nation, in Lev. 26 41. When their Uncircumciſed Hearts be Humbled, and they then Accept the puniſhment of their Iniquity. The Sacrifice, upon whom the puniſhment of our Iniquity does fall, [Iſa. 53.6. and 2 Cor. 5.21.] is that of the Meſſiah; and the Meſſiah therefore is by that Name intended. When the Jewes come to leave off their Thoughts and Hopes, of any other Sacrifice, or their Dreams of making Satisfaction by bearing the puniſhment of their own Iniquity, but Accept the Meſſiah, as the only Help of their Souls againſt all the Guilt of their Sins; THEN p. 37God will Remember His Covenant. O That they would at Laſt, and at Leaſt come to ſuch Thoughts, as were in the famous Rabbi Samuel Marochianus, who upon that Prophecy of Amos, where the Lord threatens to puniſh Iſrael for Selling the Righteous for Silver, has theſe Memorable words; The Prophet Amos, Expreſly declares the Wickedneſs, for which we are in our Captivity: It manifeſtly appears to me, that we are juſtly puniſhed, for that Sin of Selling the Righteous. A thouſand years and more, are ſpent, in all which Time our condition among the Gentiles is not minded, nor have we any Hopes of mending it. O My God, I am afraid, I am afraid, Leſt the IESVS, whom the Chriſtians Worſhip, ſhould be the Righteous One, whom we have Sold for Silver! In the mean time, Let us that own our ſelves Christians, now prove our ſelves to be ſo, by our Humbling our ſelves before God, but Looking for the Succeſs of it, only from and thro' our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, our only Mediator. Let the Humiliation of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, be our Meditation, and our Conſolation. Of Him 'tis ſaid, in Pſal. 2.8. He p. 38Humbled Himſelf. And let it provoke our Humiliation, when we meditate on what our Lord Jeſus Chriſt ſuffered, when God Laid no Him the Iniquity of us all. But when we have Humbled our ſelves never ſo much, Let us count that we have cauſe to be Humbled over again, for the defects of our own Humiliation. As he of old ſaid, Lava meas Lachrymas Domine; Lord, My very Tears want waſhing! So let us be ſenſible, There is enough in our best Humiliations, to call for more Humiliations. Fly then to the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, whoſe Prayers were alwayes perfect, and whoſe Faſts were ever Faultleſs, and whoſe Blood being Sprinkled upon our Humiliations, is that, which alone, can render ſuch Defective Things Acceptable unto the Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty. Put all into the Hands of the Great Angel of the Covenant: His Incenſe perſuming of them, they will Aſcend before God, with glorious Effects following thereupon. Among ſome of the Americans, 'tis reported, they have a ſtrange Uſage, when they are Humbling themſelves before their Gods, to bring their Sheep into their Aſſemblies, that by the Bleats and Cries of their Sheep p. 39they may move the compaſſion of their Gods. We are better taught than ſo! when we are Humbling our ſelves, we are to bring before our God, that Lamb of God, which takes away the Sins of the world. Syrs, There was a Sacrifice for the Congregation, which was on a Day of Humiliation of old Commemorated. Our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, is to be on our Day of Humiliation, Look'd unto, as the Sacrifice for our whole Congregation. Our Faith is to Argue it, That God has had more Honour from the Sacrifice of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, than if all our whole Congregation, were deſtroy'd for ever. Our Faith is to Reſolve it, That whatever Salvation is vouchſafed unto all our whole Congregation, the Sacrifice of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt ſhall have the Honour and the Merit of it all, aſcribed thereunto. Now, who can tell, how far one Humble Soul, may prevail, that ſhall put in Suit, the Sacrifice for the Congregation? The Faith of one Moſes, of one Samuel, yea, of one Amos, one poor, obſcure, honeſt Husbandman, Oh! how far, may it go, to obtain this Anſwer, from the Great God, They have Humbled themſelves, I will not deſtroy p. 40them, but grant them ſome Deliverance!

¶ AND, I ſuppoſe, there happens to be at this very Time, in this Aſſembly, an Example, full of Encouragement unto thoſe Humiliations, which have been thus called for.

In our Solemn Humiliations before the Lord, we have with a very particular Fervency beſought His Mercy for our poor Captives, that were become the Prey of the Terrible; Yea, we have done it, with ſome Aſſurance, that the Glorious Hearer of Prayer, would Vouchſafe of His Mercy to ſome of thoſe Miſerables.

Now, I think I ſee, among you, at this Hour, Three Perſons, namely, Two Women, and one Youth, who have juſt now, Received a Deliverance from a Captivity in the Hands of houid Indians, with ſome very Singular Circumſtances; And therefore, Let it not ſeem an Unſuitable or Unſeaſonable Digreſſion, it I Conclude, this Diſcourſe, with making this unexpected occurrence, to be Subſervient unto the main Intention thereof.

p. 41[A Narrative of a Notable Deliverance from Captivity.]

ON the fifteenth Day, of the Laſt March, Hannah Duſtan, of Haverhil, having Lain in about a Week, attended with her Nurſe, Mary Neff, a Widow a Body or Te…i…le Indians, drew near unto the Houſe where ſhe lay, with Deſigns to carry on the bloody Devaſtations, which they had begun upon the Neigh bourhood. Her Husband, haſtened from his Employments abroad, unto the Relief of his Diſtreſſed Family; and firſt bidding Seven of his Eight Children (which were from Two to Seventeen years of age,) to get away as faſt a… they could, unto ſome Garriſon in the Town, he went in, to inform his Wife, of the horrible Diſtreſs now come upon them. E're ſhe could get up, the fierce Indians were go… ſo near, that i…tetly deſpairing to do her any Service, he can out after his Children; Reſolving, that on the Horſe, which he had with him, he would Ride away, with That, which he ſhould in this Extremity find his Affections to pitch moſt upon, and leave the Reſt, unto the care of the Divine p. 42Providence. He overtook his Children, about Forty Rod, from his Door; but then, ſuch was the Agony of his Parental Affections, that he found it Impoſſible for him, to Diſtinguiſh any one of them, from the Reſt; wherefore he took up a Courageous Reſolution, to Live & Dy with them All. A party of Indians came up with him; and now, though they Fired at him, and he Fired at them, yet he manfully kept in the Reer of his Little Army of unarmed Children, while they March'd off, with the pace of a Child of Five years old; until, by the Singular Providence of God, he arrived ſafe with them all, unto a place of Safety, about a Mile or two from his Houſe. But his Houſe muſt in the mean Time, have more diſmal Tradegies acted at it▪ The Nurſe, trying to Eſcape, with the New born Infant, ſell into the hands of the formidable Salvages; & thoſe ſurious Tawnies, coming in to the Houſe, bid poor Duſtan, to Riſe immediately. Full of Aſtoniſhment, ſhe did ſo; and Sitting down in the Chimney, with an heart full of moſt fearful Expectation, ſhe ſaw the Raging Dragons riſlle all that they p. 43could carry away: and ſet the Houſe on Fire. About Nineteen or Twenty Indians, now led theſe away, with about Half a ſcore other, Engliſh Captives: but e're they had gone many Steps, they daſh'd out the Brains of the Infant, againſt a Tree, and ſeveral of the other Captives, as they begun to Tire in their ſad Journey, were ſoon ſent unto their long Home, but the Salvages would preſently bury their Hatchets in their Brains, and leave their Carcaſes on the ground, for Birds & Beaſts, to feed upon [Chriſtians, A Joſhua would have Rent his Clothes, & fallen to the Earth on his Face, and have Humbled himſelf Exceedingly upon the falling out of ſuch doleful Ruines upon his Neighbours!] However, Duſtan (with her Nurſe,) notwithſtanding her preſent Condition, Travelled that Night, about a Dozen Miles; and then kept up with their New Maſters, in a long Travel of an Hundred and fifty Miles, more or leſs, within a few Dayes Enſuing; without any ſenſible Damage, in their Health, from the Hardſhips, of their Travel, their Lodging, their Diet, and their many other Difficulties. Theſe p. 44Two poor Women, were now in the Hands of thoſe, Whoſe Tender Mercies are Cruelty: but the Good God, who hath all Hearts in His own. Hands, heard the Sighs of theſe Priſoners unto Him, and gave them to find unexpected Favour, from the Maſter, who Laid claim unto them. That Indian Family conſiſted of Twelve perſons, Two ſtout men, three women, and ſeven Children; and for the ſhame of many a Prayerleſs Family among our Engliſh, I muſt now publiſh what theſe poor women aſſure me; 'Tis This; In Obedience to the Inſtruction which the French have given them, they would have Prayers in their Family, no leſs than Thrice every Day; In the Morning, at Noen, and in the Evening; nor would they ordinarily let ſo much as a Child, Eat, or Sleep, without firſt ſaying their Prayers. Indeed, theſe Idolaters, were, like the reſt of their whiter Brethren Perſecutors, and would not Endure that theſe poor Women ſhould Retire to their Engliſh Prayers, if they could hinder them. Nevertheleſs, the poor Women, had nothing but fervent Prayers, to make their Lives comfortable …r p. 45tolerable; and by being daily ſent out, upon Buſineſs, they had opportunities together and aſunder, to do like another Hannah, in pouring …ut their Souls before the Lord: Nor did their Praying Friends among our ſelves, forbear to pour out Supplications for them. Now, they could not obſerve it, without ſome wonder, that their Indian Maſter, ſometimes, when he ſaw them Dejected, would ſay unto them; What need you Trouble your ſelf? If your God will have you Delivered, you ſhall be ſo! And it ſeems, our God, would have it ſo to be!

This Indian Family, was now Travelling with theſe two Captive women, (& an Engliſh Youth, taken from Worceſter, laſt September was a Twelve month,) unto a Rendezvouz… of Salvages, which they call a Town, ſomewhere beyond Penacook; and they ſtill told theſe poor women, that when they came to this Town, they muſt be Strip…t, & Scourged, and Run the Gantlet, through the whole Army of Indians. They ſaid, This was the Faſhion, when the Captives firſt came to a Town; and they derided, ſome of the faint hearted Engliſh, p. 46which, they ſaid, fainted and ſwooned away under the Torments of this Diſcipline. [Syrs, can we hear of theſe things befalling out Neighbours, & not Humble our ſelves before our God!] But on this Day Se'night, while they were yet it may be, about an hundred and fifty miles from the Indian Town, a little before Break of Day, when the whole Crew, was in a Dead Sleep, ('twill preſently prove ſo!) One of theſe women took up a Reſolution, to Imitate the Action of Jael upon Siſera, and being where ſhe had not her own Life ſecured by any Law unto her, ſhe thought ſhe was not forbidden by any Law, to take away the Life, of the Murderers, by whom her Child had been butchered. She heartened the Nurſe, and the Youth, to aſſiſt her, in this Enterpriſe; & they all furniſhing themſelves with Hatchets for the purpoſe, they ſtruck ſuch Home Blowes, upon the Heads of their Sleeping Oppreſſors, that e're they could any of them ſtruggle into any effectual Reſiſtance, at the Feet of thoſe poor Priſoners, They bowed, they fell, they lay down; at their feet they bowed, they fell; p. 47where they bowed, there they fell down Dead. OnelyOnly one Squaw Eſcaped ſorely wounded from them, and one Boy, whom they Reſerved Aſleep, intending to bring him away with them, ſuddenly wak'd and ſtole away, from this Deſolation. But cutting off the Scalps of the Ten Wretches, who had Enſlav'd 'em they are come off; and I perceive, that newly arriving among us, they are in the Aſſembly at this Time, to give Thanks unto, God their Saviour.

[An Improvement of the foregoing Narrative.]

IF we did now Humble our ſelves throughout the Land, who can ſay, whether the Revenges on the Enemy, thus Exemplified, would not proceed much rather unto the Quick Extirpation, of thoſe B…o…y and Crafty men.

Ho…r, I may not Conclude, until I have ſa… …mething unto YOU, that I ſee, now …nd before the Lord, in this Aſſem… …e Subjects of ſuch a Wonderful De…ce, from your Captivity; a Deliver… …hich hath been Signalized p. 48with ſuch Unuſual Circumſtances. Words that are ſpoken in an Ordinance of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, carry with them a peculiar Efficacy and Authority. The Lord Jeſus Chriſt, hath by a Surpriſing Providence of His, brought you this Day, to wait upon Him, in that Great Ordinance, which is His Power for the Salvation of our Souls. Hear a Servant of the Lord JESUS CHRIST, in His Name, now Publickly & Solemnly calling upon you, to make a Right uſe of the Deliverance, wherewith He ha's Highly favoured you. The Uſe, which you are to make of it, is, To Humble your ſelves before the Lord Exceedingly. As you have had the Extraordinary Judgments of God upon you, to Humble you, ſo, Except His Extraordinary Mercies do likewiſe Humble you, you do but Exceedingly Abuſe them: The Rich Goodneſs of God unto you, is to Lead you unto Repentance!

When you were Carried into Captivity, We did not ſay, That you were greater Sinners, than the reſt that yet Eſcape it. You are now Reſened from Captivity, and muſt not think, That they are greater Sinners, who are Left behind in the moſt p. 49barbarous Hands imaginable. No, you, that have been under the Mighty Hand of God, are to Humble your ſelves, under that Hand. But it you do indeed ſo, I know, what you will do. You will ſeriouſly conſider, What you ſhall render to the Lord for all His Benefits? And you will ſincerely Render your very Selves unto the Lord: You are not now the Slaves of Indians, as you were a few Dayes ago; but if you continue Unhumbled, in your Sins, you will be the Slaves of Devils; and, Let me tell you, A Slavery to Devils, to be in Their Hands, is worſe than to be in the Hands of Indians! I beſeech you then, by the Mercies of God, that you preſent your ſelves unto the Lord Jeſus Chriſt; Become the ſincere Servants of that Lord, who by His Blood has brought you out of the Dungeon, wherein you were lately Langui…ing; Oh! Deny not the Lord, who has thus Bought you, out of your Captivity. I tell you truly, The Lord Expects great Returns of Humiliation, of Thankfulneſs, and of Obedience, from you; and I therefore Leave with you, one Sentence of Scripture to be often p. 50thought upon; 'Tis That, in Ezra 9.13. 14. After all that is come upon us, for our Evil Deeds, ſeeing thou, our God, haſt given us ſuch Deliverance as this, ſhould we again break thy Commandments, wouldeſt thou not be angry with us, till thou hadst Conſumed us?

Now, Let all Conſider what hath been ſaid, and the Lord give us Underſtanding …n all things!