The Bostonian Ebenezer, Part 2

The Bostonian Ebenezer · Part 2

p. 4THE Thankful Servants … God, have uſed ſometime… to Erect Monuments … Stone, as dureable Token of their Thankfulneſs t… God, for Mercies Received in the place… thus diſtinguiſhed. Jacob did ſo; Joſhu… did ſo; and Samuel did ſo; but they ſo did it, as to keep clear of the Tranſgreſſion forbidden, in Lev. 26 1. Ye ſhal… not ſet up an Image of Stone in your Land for to Bow down unto it.

The Stone Erected by Samuel, with the… Name of Ebenezer, which is as much as …w… ſay, A Stone of Help; I know not whet… t… any Thing might be Writt upon it: but B… p. 5… ſure, there is one thing to be now …ad upon it, by our ſelves, in the Text …ere we find it: Namely, thus much, That a People whom the God of Heaven …h Remarkably Helped, in their Diſtreſſes, …ht Greatly and Gratefully to acknowledge, …hat Help of Heaven they have Received.

Now, '…is not my Deſign to lay the …ene of my Diſcourſe, as far off as Bethcar, …e place where Samuel ſet up his Ebenezer. …am immediately to Transfer it into the …eart of Boſton, a place where the Remar…ble Help Received from Heaven, by the …ople, does loudly call for an Ebenezer. …nd I do not ask you, to change the …ame of the Town, into that of Help-…tone, as there is a Town in England of …at Name, which may ſeem the Engliſh, … Ebenezer; But my Sermon ſhall be …is Day, your Ebenezer, if you will with Favourable, and a Profitable Attention …ntertain it. May the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, …ccept me, and Aſſiſt me now, to Glorify …im, in the Town, where I drew my Firſt …nful Breath; A Town, whereto I am un…r Great Obligations, for the Precious …pportunities to Glorify Him, which I have p. 6quietly and publickly enjoy'd therein, for… Near Eighteen years together. O my Lord God, Remember me, I pray thee, and Strengthen me this once, to ſpeak from thee, unto thy People!

And now, Sirs, That I may ſet up an… EBENEZER among you, there are theſe Things to be Inculcated.

I. Let us Thankfully, and Agreeably, and Particularly, Acknowledge What Help we have Received from the God of Heaven, in the years that have Rolled over us… While the Bleſſed Apoſtle Paul, was, as it ſhould ſeem, yet ſhort of being Threeſcore years old, how affectionately did he ſet up an Ebenezer, with an Acknowledgment in Act. 26.22. Having obtained Help o… God, I continue to This Day! Our Tow… is now Threeſcore and Eight years old; an… certainly 'tis Time for us, with all poſſible affection, to ſet up our Ebenezer, ſaying Having obtained Help from God, the Town is continued, until almost the Age of man i… paſsed over it! The Town hath indee… Three Elder Sisters in this Colony; but i… hath Wonderfully Outgrown them all; an… p. 7…er Mother, old Boston, in England alſo; …ea, within a Few years, after the firſt-…ettlement, it grew to be, The Metro…olis of the whole Engliſh America. …ittle was This Expected, by them that Firſt-Settled the Town, when, for a while, Boſton, was proverbially called, Loſt Town, for the mean and ſad Circumſtan…es of it. But, O Boſton, it is becauſe thou …aſt Obtained Help from God; even from …he Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who, for the ſake of His Goſpel, Preached and once prized …ere, undertook thy Patronage. When …he World and the Church of God, had …een Twenty ſix Generations, a Pſalm was Compoſed, wherein that Note occurs with Twenty ſix Repetitions; His Mercy endu…eth for ever. Truly, there ha's not one year paſſed over this Town, Ab Urbe Condita, upon the Story whereof, we might not make that Note, our Ebenezer; His Mercy endureth for ever. It ha's been a Town of Great Experiences. There have been ſeveral years, wherein the Terrible Famine, hath Terribly Stared the Town in the Face: We have been brought ſome…imes unto the Laſt Meal in the Barrel; p. 8We have cryed out, with the Diſciples, We have not Loaves enough to feed a Tenth part of us! B…t the fear'd Famine ha's alwayes been kept off; alwayes, we have had Seaſonable and Sufficient Supplyes, after a Surpriſing manner ſent in unto us: Let the Three laſt years in this thing moſt Eminently Proclame the Goodneſs of our Heavenly Shepherd and Feeder. This ha's been the Help of our God; Becauſe His Mercy endureth for ever! The Angels of Death, have often Shot the Arrows of Death, into the midſt of the Town; The Small Pox, ha's eſpecially Four Times, been a Great Plague upon us: How often have there been Bills deſiring Prayers, for more than an Hundred Sick, on one Day in one of our Aſſemblies? In One Twelve-Month, about one Thouſand of our Neighbours, have one way or other been carried unto their long Home: And, yet we are after all, many more than Seven Thouſand Souls of us, at this Hour, Living on the Spot. Why is not, a, Lord, have Mercy upon us, written on the Doors of our Abandon'd Habitations? This hath been the Help of our God; Becauſe His Mercy endureth for ever. p. 9…ever was any Town under the Cope of …eaven, more liable to be laid in Aſhes, …ither through the Careleſneſs, or through …e Wickedneſs, of them that Sleep in it. That ſuch a Combuſtible Heap, of Contigu…us Houſes, yet Stands, it may be called, A …tanding Miracle; It is not, becauſe the …atch-man keeps the City: Perhaps there …ay be too much cauſe of Reflection in …hat thing, and of Inſpection too; No, It from thy Watchful Protection, O Thou keep… of Boſton, who neither Slumbers nor Sleeps. Ten Times ha's the Fire made Notable …uines among us, and our Good Servant …een almoſt our Maſter: But the Ruines …ave moſtly and quickly been Rebuilt. … ſuppoſe, That many more than a Thou…nd Houſes are to be ſeen, on this little …iece of Ground, all fill'd with the un…eſerved Favours of God. Whence this …reſervation? This hath been the Help of …ur God; Becauſe His Mercy endureth for …er! But if ever this Town ſaw a Year … Salvations, tranſcendently ſuch was the …aſt Year unto us. A Formidable French …quadron, hath not Shot one Bomb, into …e midſt of thee, O thou Munition of Rocks; p. 10Our Streets have not Run with Blood, & Gore, and horribly Devouring Flames have not Raged upon our Subſtance Thoſe are Ignorant, and Unthinking, an… Unthankful men, who do not own, tha… we have narrowly Eſcaped as dreadfu… Things, as Carthagena, or Newfoundland have Suffered. I am ſure, our more conſiderate Friends beyond Sea, were very Suſpicious, and well nigh Deſpairing, Tha… Victorious Enemies had ſwallow'd up the… Town. But thy Soul is Eſcaped, O Boſton as a Bird out of the Snare of the Fowlers Or, if you will be Inſenſible of This, Ye Vain men, yet be ſenſible, That an Engliſh Squadron, hath not brought among us, the Tremendous Peſtilence, under which a Neighbouring Plantation, hath undergone prodigious Deſolations. Boſton, 'Tis a marvellous Thing, a Plague has not Lai… thee Deſolate! Our Deliverance from ou… Friends, has been as full of Aſtoniſhing Mercy, as our Deliverance from our Foes▪ We read of a certain City, in Iſa. 19.18▪ called, The City of Deſtruction. Why ſo … ſome ſay, Becauſe Delivered from Deſtruction. If that be ſo, Then haſt thou been p. 11… City of Deſtruction: Or, I will rather …y, A City of Salvation: And this, by the Help of God; Becauſe His Mercy Endureth …or ever. Shall I go on? I will. We …ave not had the Bread of Adverſity and …e Water of Affliction, Like many other …laces. But yet, all this while, Our Eyes …ave ſeen our Teachers. Here are ſeveral …olden Candleſticks in the Town. Shining …nd Burning Lights, have Illuminated them. There are gone to Shine in an Higher Orb, …even Divines that were once the Stars …f this Town, in the Paſtoral Charge of …; beſides many others, that for ſome …ears gave us tranſient Influences. Church… flouriſhing with much Love, and Peace …nd many Comforts of the Holy Spirit, have …itherto been our greateſt Glory. I wiſh, That ſome ſad Eclipſe do not come e're …ong upon this Glory! The Diſpenſations …f the Goſpel were never Enjoy'd by any Town, with more Liberty and Purity, for …o long a while together. Our Opportuni…es to Draw near unto the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, in His Ordinances, cannot be pa…allel'd. Boſton, Thou haſt been Lifted …p to Heaven; There is not a Town upon p. 12Earth, which on ſome Accounts ha… more to anſwer for. Such, O Such, ha… been our Help from our God, Becauſ… His Mercy Endureth for ever.

II. Let us Acknowledge, Whoſe Hel… it is, that we have Received, & not Giv… the Glory of our God unto another. Poorl… Helped had we been, I may tell you, i… we had none but Humane Help, all thi… while to depend upon. The Favours o… our Superiors we Deny not; we Forge… not the Inſtruments of our Help. Nevertheleſs, this Little Outcaſt Zion, ſha… with my conſent, Engrave the Name o… no MAN, upon her Ebenezer! It was we… confeſs'd in Pſal. 108.12. Vain is the Hel… of man! It was well counſell'd in Pſa… 146.3. Put not your truſt in Princes, nor i… the Son of man, in whom there is no Help

Wherefore,

Firſt, Let God in our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, have the Glory, of Beſtowing o… us, all the Help, that we have had. Whe… the Spirit of God came upon a Servan… of His, he cried out unto David, in … Chron. 12.18. Thy God Helpeth thee. This p. 13This is the voice of God, from Heaven …o Boſton this Day, Thy God hath Helped …hee: Thou haſt by thy Sin deſtroyed thy ſelf, but in thy God hath been thy Help. A Great man, once Building an Edifice, cauſed an …nſcription of this Importance, to be written on the Gates of it, Such a place …lanted me, Such a place watered me, and Caeſar gave the Increaſe. One that paſs'd …y, with a witty Sarcaſm, wrote under …, Hi… Deus nihil fecit. i. e. God, it ſeems, …id nothing for this man. But the Inſcrip…ion upon our Ebenezer, owning what Help, this Town hath had, ſhall ſay, Our …od hath done all that is done! Say then, O Helped Boſton, ſay as in Pſal. 121.2. My Help is from the Lord, which made Heaven and Earth. Say, as in Pſal. 94.7. Unleſs the Lord had been my Help, my …oul had quickly dwelt in ſilence. And, …oldly ſay, 'Tis only becauſe the Lord has …en my Helper, that Earth and Hell, have …ver d…ne all that they would unto me.

Let our Lord JESUS CHRIST, be …ais'd as our Bl…ſſ…d Helper: That Stone …hich the Fooliſh Builders have refuſed, …h! Set up that Stone; even, that H gh p. 14Rock, Set Him on High in our praiſes, and ſay, That, That is our Ebenezer. 'Tis our Lord JESUS CHRIST, who in His Infinite Compaſſions for the Town, hath ſaid; as in Iſa. 63.5. I Looked, and there was none to Help; Therefore my own Arm hath brought Salvation unto it. It is foretold concerning the Idolatrous Roman Catholicks, That together with the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, they ſhall Worſhip other Mauzzim: that is to ſay, other Protectors. Accordingly, All their Towns, ordinarily have ſingled out their Protectors, among the Saints of Heaven; ſuch a Saint is Entituled unto the Patronage of ſuch a Town among them, and ſuch a Saint for another: Old Boſton, by Name, was but Saint Botolphs Town. Whereas, Thou, O Boſton, ſhalt have but one Protector in Heaven, and that is, our Lord JESUS CHRIST. Oh! Rejoice in Him alone, & ſay, That Lord is my Fortreſs and my Deliverer! There was a Song once made for a Town, which in its Diſtreſſes had been Helped wondrouſly; & the Firſt Clauſe in that Song, [you have it in Iſa. 26.1.] may be ſo rendred, We have a p. 15ſtrong Town; Salvation [or JESUS, the Lord whoſe Name hath Salvation in it] Will appoint Walls and Bulwarks. Truly, What Helps we have had, we will Sing, 'Tis our JESUS, that hath appointed them. The old Pagan Towns, were ſometimes mightily ſolicitous, to conceal the Name of the particular God, that they counted their Protector, Ne ab hoſtibus Evocatus, alio commigraret. But, I ſhall be far from doing my Town any Damage, by publiſhing the Name of its Protecter; No, Let all Mankind know, That the Name of our Protector, is JESUS CHRIST: For, Among the Gods, there is none like unto thee, O LORD: Nor is any Help like unto thine: And there is no Rock, like to our God.

Yea, When we aſcribe the Name of Helper, unto our Lord JESUS CHRIST, Let us alſo acknowledge, that the Name is not ſufficiently Expreſſive, Emphatical, and Significant. Lactantius of old, blamed the Heathen, for giving the Higheſt of their Gods, no Higher a Title, than that of, Jupiter, or, Juvans Pater, i. e. An Helping Father, and he ſays, Non intelligit Divina Beneficia, qui ſe a Deo tantummodo p. 16Juvari putat: The Kindneſſes of God, are not underſtood, by that man, who makes no more than an Helper of Him. Such indeed is the penury of our Language, that we cannot coin a more Expreſſive Name. Nevertheleſs, when we ſay, The Lord JESUS CHRIST hath been our Helper, Let us Intend more than we Expreſs; Lord, Thou haſt been All unto us.

Secondly; Let the Sacrifice of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, moſt Explici…ly, have the Glory of Purchaſing for us all our Help. What was it, that procured, an Ebenezer, for the People of God? We read, in 2 Sam. 7.9. Samuel took a Sucking-Lamb, and offered it a Burnt Offering wholly unto the Lord; and Samuel Cryed unto the Lord for Iſrael, and the Lord Heard him. Shall I tell you? Our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, is that Lamb of God; and he has been a Lamb Slain as a Sacrifice; and He is a Sacrifice pleadable, not only for perſons, but alſo for peoples, that belong unto Him. To Teach us this Evangelical and Comfortable Mystery, there was, A Sacrifice for the whole Congregation, preſcribed in the Moſaic Paedagogy. 'Tis notorious, that the Sins of this Town, have been many p. 17Sins, and mighty Sins; The Cry thereof hath gone up to Heaven. If the Almighty God ſhould from Heaven Rain down upon the Town, an horrible Tempest of Thunderbolts, as He did upon the Cities which He overthrew in His Anger, and repented not, it would be no more than our Unrepen…ed Sins deſerve. How comes it then to paſs, that we have had ſo much Help from Heaven after all? Truly, The Sacrifice of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, has been pleaded for Boſton, and, Therefore, ſay, Therefore it is, that the Town is not made a Sacrifice to the Vengeance of God. God ſent Help to the Town, that was the very Heart and Life of the Land, that He had a pitty for: But why ſo? He ſaid, in Iſa. 37.35. I will defend this Town, to Save it, for my Servant Davids ſake. Has this Town been Defended? It has been for the ſake of the Beloved JESUS; Therefore has the Daughter of Boſton ſhaken her Head at you, O ye Calamities, that have been Impending over her Head. O Helped, and Happy Town! Thou haſt had thoſe Believers in the midſt of thee, that have pleaded this with the Great God; Ah! Lord, Thou haſt been more Honoured by the Sufferings of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt than thou couldeſt be Honoured by overwhelming this Town with all the plagues of thy Just Indignation. If thou wilt Spare, and Feed, and Keep, and Help this poor Town, the Sufferings of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, ſhall be own'd, as the price of all our Help. 'Tis This, that hath procured us all our Help: 'Tis This that muſt have all our praiſe.

Thirdly; Let the Lord be in a ſpecial manner Glorified, for the Miniſtry of His Good Angels, in that Help that has been miniſtred unto us. A Jacob lying …n a Stone, ſaw the Angels of God Helping him. We are ſetting up an Ebenezer; but when we Lay our Heads and our Thoughts upon the Stone, Let us then ſee, The Angels of God have Helped us. When Macedonia, was to have ſome Help from God, an Angel, whom the Apoſtle, in Acts 16.9. Saw Habited like a man of Macedonia, was a mean of its being brought unto them. There is abundant cauſe to think, That every Town in which the Lord Jeſus Chriſt is worſhipped, hath an Angel to watch over it. The Primitive Chriſtians, p. 19were perſwaded from the Scriptures of Truth, to make no Doubt of This, Quod per Civitates diſtributae ſunt Angelorum praefecturoe. When the Capital Town of Judaea, was reſcued from an Invaſion, we read in 2 King. 19.35. The Angel of the Lord WENT OUT, and ſmote the Camp of the Aſſyrians. It ſhould ſeem, There was an Angel, which did Reſide in, and Praeſide over the Town, who went out for that amazing Exploit. And is it not Likely, That the Angel of the Lord WENT OUT, for to ſmite the Fleet of the Aſſyrians, with a Sickneſs, which the Laſt Summer hindred their Invading of this Town? The Angel of BOSTON, was concerned for it! Why have not the Deſtroyers broke in upon us, to prey upon us, with ſore Deſtruction? 'Tis becauſe we have had, A Wall of Fire about us; that is to ſay, A Guard of Angels, thoſe Flames of Fire, have been as a Wall unto us. It was an Angel, that Help'd a Daniel, when the Lions would elſe have ſwallowed him up. It was an Angel, that Help'd a Lot, out of the Fires that were coming to Conſume his Habitation. It was an Angel, that p. 20Help'd an Elias to Meat, when he wanted it. They were Ang…, …hat Help'd the whole Pe…l… of God, in …he Wilderneſs, to their Daily Bread: Their Manna, was Angels Food And is it nothing, that ſuch Angels have done for this Town, Think you? Oh! Think not ſo. Indeed, If we ſhould go to Thank the Angels for doing theſe things, They would zealouſly ſay, See thou do it not! But if we Thank Their Lord, and ours, for His Employing Them to Do theſe things, it will exceedingly gratifie them. Wherefore, Bleſs ye the Lord, ye his Angels; And Bleſs the Lord, O my Town, for theſe His Angels!

III. Let the Help which we have Hitherto had from our God, Encourage us to Hope in Him, for More Help Hereafter, as the Matter may Require. The Help that God had given to His People, of old was Commemorated, as with Monumental Pillars, conveying down the Remembrance of it, unto their Children. And what for? We are told, in Pſal. 78.7. That they might ſet their Hope in God, and not Forget the Works of God. I am not willing to ſay, p. 21How much this Town may be Threaten…d, even with an Utter Extirpation. But …his I will ſay, The Motto upon all out …benezers is, Hope in God! Hope in God! The Uſe of the Former Help that …e have had from God, ſhould be an Hope …or Future Help, from Him that is, A Pre…nt Help in the Time of Trouble. As in the Three Firſt Verſes of the Eighty Fifth Pſalm, …ix times over there occurs, Thou haſt, …hou haſt: all to uſher in this; Therefore …hou WILT ſtill do ſo. O Let our Faith …roceed in that way of Arguing, in 2 Cor. ….10. The Lord hath Delivered, and He doth Deliver, and in Him we Truſt, that He will …ill Deliver. We are to Day Writing, …itherto the Lord hath Helped us; Let us …rite under it, And we hope, the Lord ha's …ore Help for us, in the Time of Need! It …ay be, ſome are purpoſing Suddenly and …aſtily to Leave the Town, through their …ars of the Straits that may come upon

But I would not have you be too …udden and Haſty in your purpoſes, as …o many have been, unto their After…orrow. There was a Time when People …ere ſo Diſcouraged about a Subſiſtence in p. 22the principal Town of the Jews, that the… talk'd of plucking up Stakes, and flying away; but the Miniſter of God came to them, [And ſo do I to you, this Day! … Saying, in Iſa. 30.7. I Cried concerning This, Their Strength is to Sit Sill! Boſton was no ſooner come to ſome Conſiſtenc… Threeſcore years ago, but the People found themſelves plunged into a ſad Non plus what way to take for a Subſiſtence. God then immediately put them into a way▪ and, Hitherto the Lord ha's Helped us! The Town is at this Day full of Widows and Orphans, and a multitude of them, are very Helpleſs Creatures. I am Aſtoniſh'd, How they Live! In that Church, whereof … am the Servant, I have counted, The Widows make about a Sixth Part of our Communicants, and, no doubt, in the whole Town, the proportion differs no… very much. Now, ſtand ſtill, my Friends and Behold, the Help of God! Were any of theſe ever Starved yet? No, Theſe Widows are every one in ſome ſort provided for. And let me tell you, Ye Hand-Maids of the Lord, You ſhall be Still provided for! The Lord, whoſe Family you p. 23belong unto, will conveniently and won…erfully provide for you; if you ſay, and Oh! Say! of Him, The Lord is my Helper, … will not Fear!

What ſhall I ſay? When Moſes was …eady to faint, in his Prayers for his Peo…le, we read, in Exod. 17.12. They took a …tone and put it under him Chriſtians, …here are ſome of you, who abound in …rayers, that the Help of God may be …ranted unto the Town; the Town is …uch upheld by thoſe Prayers of yours. …ow, that you may not faint in your …rayers, I bring you a Stone: The Stone, …s our Ebenezer; or, the Relation of the …elp that hitherto the Lord hath given us.

IV. Let all that bear Publick Office … the Town, Contribute all the Help they …n, that may continue the Help of God …nto us. Auſtin, in his Confeſſions, gives …hanks to God, That when he was an …elpleſs Infant, he had a Nurſe to Help him, … one that was both Able & Willing to Help …m. Infant-Boſton, Thou haſt thoſe, whom …e Bible calls, Nurſing-Fathers. Oh, Be not …oward, as thou art, in thy Treating of …y Nurſes; but give Thanks to God for p. 24them. I Forget my ſelf; 'Tis with the Fathers themſelves, that I am concerned.

When it was demanded of Demoſthenes, what it was, that ſo long Preſerved Athens in a flouriſhing State, he made this anſwer, The Orators are men of Learning & Wiſdom; the Magiſtrates do Justice, the Citizens love Quiet, and the Laws are kept among them all. May Boſton flouriſh in ſuch happy Order!

And firſt, You may aſſure yourſelves, That the Miniſters of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt among you will be Joyful to approve themſelves, as the Book of God has called them, The Helpers of your Joy. O our dear Flocks; we owe you our All; All our Love, all our Strength, 'all our Time; We, Watch for you, as thoſe that muſt give an Account: And I am very much miſtaken, if we are not willing to Dy for you too, if called unto it. If our Lord Jeſus Chriſt ſhould ſay, to us, My Servant, if you'l Dy to Night, you ſhall have this Reward; The People that you Preach to, ſhall be all Converted unto me. I think, We ſhould with Triumphi…g Souls Reply, Ah! Lord, Then I'l Dy with all my Heart. Syrs, we ſhould go away Rejoycing with Joy unſpeakable & p. 25full of Glory. I am ſatisfied, That the moſt Furious and Foul mouth'd Reviler, that God may give any of us, to be Buffeted withal, if he will but come to ſober Thoughts, he will ſay, That there is not any One man in the Town, but the Miniſters wiſh that man as well as they do their own Souls, and would gladly Serve that man by Day or by Night, in any thing that it were poſſible to do for him. Wherefore, O our Beloved People, I beſeech you, Leave off, Leave off, to Throw Stones at your Ebenezers. Inſtead of That, Pray for us, and Strive together with us, in your Prayers to God for us. Then with the Help of Chriſt, we'l promiſe you; We will ſet our ſelves to obſerve what Special Truths may be moſt needful to be Inculcated upon you, and we will Inculcate them. We will ſet our ſelves to obſerve the Temptations that beſet you, the Afflictions that aſſault you, and the Duties that are incumbent on you, and we will accommodate our ſelves unto them. We will ſet our ſelves to obſerve, what Souls among you, do call for our m…re particular Addreſſes, and we will Addreſs p. 26them faithfully, and even Travail in Birth for them. Nor will we give over Praying, and Fasting, and Crying to our Great LORD for you, until we Dy. Whatever other Helpers the Town Enjoyes, they ſhall have that convenience, in Ezra. 5.2. With them were the Prophets of God, Helping them. Well then, Let the reſt of our Worthy Helpers, Lend an Helping Hand, for the promoting of thoſe things, wherein the Weal of the Town is wrapped up! When the Jews thought that a Defiling Thing was breaking in among them, in Acts 21.28. They cried out, Men of Iſrael, Help. Truly, there is cauſe to make that Cry, Men of Boſton, Help! for Ignorance, and Prophaneſs, and Bad Living, and the worſt things in the World, are breaking in upon us.

And now, Will the JUSTICES of the Town, ſet themſelves to conſider, How they may Help to Suppreſs all growing Vices among us?

Will the CONSTABLES of the Town, ſet themſelves to conſider, How they may Help to prevent all Evil Orders among us?

There are ſome who have the Eye of p. 27the Town ſo much upon them, that the very Name of, TOWNS-MEN, is that by which they are diſtinguiſhed. Syrs, Will You alſo conſider, How to Help the Affairs of the Town, ſo as that all Things may go well among us?

Moreover, may not SCHOOL…MASTERS, do much to inſtil Principles of Religion, and Civility, as well as other points of good Education into the Children of the Town? Only Let the Town well Encourage its Well Deſerving School-Maſters.

There are ſome other Officers; But concerning All, there are theſe Two Things to be Deſired. Firſt, It is to be Deſired, That ſuch Officers as are Choſen among us, may be Choſen in the Fear of God. May none but Pious, and Prudent men, and ſuch as Love the Town, be Choſen to Serve it. And, Secondly, It is to be Deſired, That Officers of ſeveral ſorts, would often come together, for Conſultation. Each of the ſorts by themſelves, may they often come together, to Conſult, What ſhall we do to Serve the Town, in thoſe Intereſts which are committed unto p. 8our Charge. Oh! What a Deplorable Thing, will it be, for perſons to be Entruſted with Talents, [your Opportunities to Serve the Town, are ſo many Talents!] and they never ſeriouſly conſider, What Good ſhall I do, with my Talents, in the place where God hath Station'd me?

And, Will the REPRESENTATIVES of the Town, be conſidered among the reſt, as Entruſted with ſome ſingular Advantages for our Help! The Lord give you underſtanding in all Things.

V. God Help the Town, to manifeſt all that Piety, which a Town ſo Helped of Him, is oblig'd unto! When the People of God, had been carried, by His Help, through their Difficulties, they ſet up Stones, to keep in mind how He had Helped them: And ſomething was written on the Stones: But what was written! See; Joſh. 8.32. Joſhua wrote upon the Stones, a Copy of the Law. Truly, upon thoſe Ebenezers, which we ſet up, we ſhould write the Law of our God, and Recognize the Obligations which the Help of our God, ha's laid upon us to keep it.

p. 29We are a very Unpardonable Town, if after all the Help which our God ha's given us, we do not ingenuouſly Enquire, What ſhall we Render to the Lord, for all His Benefits? Render! Oh! Let us our ſelves thus anſwer the Enquiry; Lord, we will Render all poſſible, and Filia… Obedience unto thee, becauſe Hitherto thou haſt Helped us: Only do thou alſo Help us, to Render that Obedience! Mark what I ſay; If there be ſo much as one Prayerleſs Houſe in ſuch a Town as this, 'tis Inexcuſable! How Inexcuſable then, will be all Flagitious Outrages? There was a Town, [T'was the Town of Sodom!] that had been wonderfully Saved out of the Hands of their Enemies. But after the Help that God ſent unto them, the Town went on to Sin againſt God, in very prodigious Inſtances. At laſt, a provoked God ſent a Fire upon the Town, that made it an Eternal Deſolation. Ah, Boſton, Beware, Beware, left the Sins of Sodom get Footing in thee! And what were the Sins of Sodom? We find in Ezek. 16.49. Behold, This was the Iniquity of Sodom; Pride, Fulneſs of Bread, and Abundance of Idleneſs was in her; Neither did ſhe Strengthen the p. 30Hand of the Poor and the Needy; There was much Oppreſſion there. If you know of any Scandalous Diſorders in the Town, do all you can, to Suppreſs them, and Redreſs them: And let not thoſe that ſend their Sons hither from other parts of the world, for to be improved in Virtue, have cauſe to Complain, That after they came to Boſton, they lost, what little Vertue was before Budding in them: That in Boſton they grew more Debauched & more Malignant than ever they were before! It was noted concerning the famous Town of Port Royal in Jamaica, which you know, was t'other Day Swallow'd up, in a Stupendous Earthquake, that juſt before the Earthquake the People were Violently and Scandalouſly ſet upon going to Fortune-Tellers upon all Occaſions: much Notice was taken of this Impiety, generally prevailing among the People: but none of thoſe Wretched Fortune-Tellers could Foreſee, or Foreſtal the direful Cataſtrophe. I have heard, That there are Fortune-Tellers in this Town, ſometimes conſulted by ſome of the Sinful Inhabitants. I wiſh the Town could be made too Hot for theſe Dangerous Tranſgreſſors. I am ſure, the p. 31preſervation of the Town, from horrendous Earthquakes, is one thing that beſpeaks, our, Ebenezers; 'Tis from the Merciful Help of our God unto us. But, Beware, I beſeech you, of thoſe Provoking Evils that may Expoſe us to a Plague, Exceeding all that are in the Catalogue of the Twenty Eighth of Deuteronomy. Let me go on, to ſay; What? Shall there be any Bawdy-Houſes in ſuch a Town as This! It may be, the Neighbours, that could Smoke 'em, and Rout'em, if they would, are loth to Stir, for fear of being reputed Ill Neighbours. But, I ſay unto you, That you are Ill Neighbours, becauſe you do it not: All the Neighbours are like to have their Children and Servants poiſoned, and their Dwellings laid in Aſhes, becauſe you do it not! And, Oh! that the Drinking-Houſes in the Town, might once come under a laudable Regulation. The Town ha's an Enormous Number of them! Will the Haunters of thoſe Houſes, hear the Counſils of Heaven? For You that are the Town Dwellers, to be oft, or long in your Viſits of the Ordinary, 'twill certainly Expoſe you to Miſchieſs more than ordinary. I have ſeen p. 32certain Taverns, where the Pictures of horrible Devourers were hang'd out for the Signs; and thought I, 'twere well, if ſuch Signs were not ſometimes too too Significant! Alas, men have their Eſtates Devoured, their Names Devoured, their Hours Devoured, and their very Souls Devoured, when they are ſo beſotted, that they are not in their Element, except they be Tipling at ſuch Houſes. When once a man is Bewitched, with the Ordinary, what uſually becomes of him? He is a gone man; And when he comes to Dy, he'l cry out, as many have done, Ale ho… ſes are Hell-Houſes! Ale-houſes are Hell houſes! But Let the Owners of thoſe Houſes, alſo now hear our Counſils. Oh! Hearken to me, that God may Hearken to you another Day! It is an Honeſt, and a Lawful, tho' it be not a very Deſireable, Employment, that you have undertaken: You may Glorifie the Lord Jeſus Chriſt in your Employment, if you will, and Benefit the Town conſiderably. There was a very Godly man, that was an Inn-keeper; and a Great Miniſter of God, could ſay to that man, in 3 Joh. 2. Thy Soul proſpereth. O p. 33Let it not be ſaid of you, ſince you are fallen into this Employment, Thy Soul withereth! It is thus, with too many: Eſpecially, when they that get a Licenſe perhaps to Sell Drink out of Doors, do ſtretch their Licenſe to Sell within Doors. Thoſe Private Houſes, when once a Profeſſor of the Goſpel, comes to Steal a Living out of them, it commonly praecipitates them, into abundance of wretchedneſs and confuſion. But, I pray God, aſſiſt you that keep Ordinaries, to keep the Commandments of God, in them. There was an Inn at Bethlehem; where the Lord JESUS CHRIST was to be met withal. Can Boſton boaſt of many ſuch? Alas, Too ordinarily it may be ſaid, There is no Room for Him in the Inn! My Friends, Let me beg it of you; Baniſh the unfruitful works of Darkneſs from your Houſes, and then the Sun of Righteouſneſs will ſhine upon them. Don't countenance Drunkenneſs, Revelling, & Miſpending of precious Time in your Houſes: Let none have the Snares of Death Laid for them in your Houſes. You'l ſay, I ſhall Starve then! I ſay, Better Starve than Sin. But you, ſhall not. p. 34It is the Word of the Moſt High, Truſt in the Lord, and do Good, and verily thou ſhalt be Fed. And is not Peace of Conſcience, with a Little, better than thoſe Riches, that will ſhortly melt away, and then run Like Scalding Metal down the very Bowels of thy Soul!

What ſhall I ſay more? There is one Article of Piety more to be Recommended unto us all; and it is an Article, which all Piety does exceedingly Turn upon. That is, The Sanctification of the Lords Day. Some very Judicious Perſons, have obſerved, That as they Sanctified the Lords Day, Remiſly or Carefully, juſt ſo, their Affayrs uſually proſpered all the Enſuing Week. Sirs, You cannot more conſult the Proſperity of the Town, in all its Affayrs, than by Endeavouring that the Lords Day may be Exemplarily Sanctifyed. When People about Jeruſalem, took too much Liberty on the Sabbath, the Ruler of the Town Contended with them, and ſaid, Ye bring wrath upon Iſrael by prophaning the Sabbath I fear, I fear, There are many among us, to whom it may be ſaid, Ye bring wrath upon Boſton, by prophaning the Sabbath. And what p. 35Wrath? Ah Lord, prevent it! But there is an awful Sentence in Jer. 17.27. If ye will not Hearken unto me, to Sanctify the Sabbath-Day, then will I kindle a Fire on the Town, and it ſhall Devour, and ſhall not be Quenched.

Finally, Let the Piety of the Town manifeſt it ſelf, in a due Regard unto the Inſtitutions of Him, whoſe Help ha's Hitherto been a Shield unto us. Let the Ark be in the Town, and God will Bleſs the Town! I believe, it may be found, That in the Mortal Scourges of Heaven, which this Town ha's felt, there ha's been a Diſcernable Diſtinction, of thoſe that have come up to Attend all the Ordinances of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, in the Communion of His Churches. Though theſe have had, as 'tis fit they ſhould, a Share, in the Common Deaths, yet the Deſtroying Angel, ha's not had ſo great a proportion of theſe in his Commiſſion, as he ha's had of others. Whether This be ſo, or no; To Uphold, and Support, and Attend the Ordinances of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt in Reforming Churches, This will Entitle the Town to the Help of Heaven; for, Upon the Glory, there ſhall be a Defence! There were the Victorious p. 36Forces of Alexander, that in going backward and foreward, paſs'd by Jeruſalem, without Hurting it. Why ſo? ſaid the Lord, in Zech 9.8. I will Encamp about my Houſe, becauſe of the Army. If our God have an Houſe here, He'l Encamp about it. Nazianzen, a famous Miniſter of the Goſpel, taking his Farewel of Conſtantinople, an old man, that had ſat under his Miniſtry, cryed out, Oh! my Father, Don't you dare to go away, you'l carry the whole Trinity with you! How much more, may it be cryed out, If we Looſe or Sleight, the Ordinances of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, we Foregoe the Help of all the Trinity with them!

VI. Extraordinary Equity & Charity, as well as Piety well becomes a Town, that hath been by the Help of God ſo Extraordinarily ſignalized. A Town marvellouſly Helped by God, has This Foretold concerning it, in Iſa. 1 26. Afterward thou ſhalt be called, The City of Righteouſneſs, The Faithful City. M… …ie E…en…zer, of this Town, rende… it, A Town of Equity, and, A … of Charity! Oh! There ſhould be … Fair …lings in a Town, … p. 35with Heaven ha's Dealt ſo Favourably. Let us Deal Fairly in Bargains; Deal Fairly in Taxes; Deal Fairly in paying Reſpects to ſuch as have been Benefactors unto the Town. 'Tis but Equity, that they, who have been Old Standers in the Town, and both with Perſon and Eſtate Served the Town unto the utmoſt for many years together, ſhould on all Proper Occaſions be conſidered. For Charity, I may indeed ſpeak it without Flattery, this Town has not many Equals on the Face of the Earth. Our Lord Jeſus Chriſt from Heaven, wrote, unto the good people of a Town, in the Leſſer Aſia, [Rev. 2.19.] I know thy works, and Charity. From that Bleſſed Lord, I may venture to bring that Meſſage unto the Good people of this Town; The Glorious Lord of Heaven, knows thy works, O Boſton, and all thy Charity. This is a poor Town; and yet it may be ſaid of the Boſtonians, as it was of the Macedonians▪ Their Deep poverty hath abounded unto the Riches of their Liberality. O ye Bountiful people of God, All your Daily Bounties to the Needy, All your Subſcriptions to p. 36Send the Bread of Life abroad unto places that are periſhing in Wickedneſs, All your Collections in your Aſſemblies as often as they are called for; All theſe Alms are come up for a Memorial before God! The Lord Jeſus Chriſt in Heaven hath Beheld your Helpfulneſs, and Readineſs to every good Work; and He hath Requited it, with His Helpful Ebenezers. It was ſaid, in Iſa. 32.8. The Liberal Deviſeth Liberal Things, and by Liberal Things he ſhall ſtand. There are ſome in this Town, that are always Deviſing Liberal Things, and our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, Lets the Town Stand for the ſake of thoſe! Inſtead of Exhorting you, to Augment your Charity, I will rather utter an Exhortation, or at Leaſt, a Supplication, that you may not Abuſe your Charity, by miſapplying of it. I remember, I have Read, That an Inhabitant of the City Piſa, being asked, Why their Town ſo went, as it then did, unto Decay, he fetched a deep ſigh, and ſaid, Our young men are too prodigal, our old men are too Affectionate, and we have no puniſhment for thoſe that ſpend their years in Idleneſs. Ah, The laſt ſtroak of that complaint, I muſt here p. 37Sigh it over again. Idleneſs, alas, Idleneſs, increaſes in the Town exceedingly: Idleneſs, of which there never came any Goodneſs; Idleneſs, which is a Reproach to any people. We work hard, all Summer, and the Drones count themſelves wrong'd, if they have it not in the Winter divided among them. The Poor that can't Work, are Objects for your Liberality. But the Poor, that can Work and won't, the beſt Liberality to them, is to make them. I beſeech you, Syrs, Find out a method quickly, That the Idle perſons in the Town, may Earn their Bread; It were the beſt piece of Charity, that could be ſhown unto them, and Equity, unto us all. Our Beggars, do ſhamefully grow upon us, and ſuch Beggars too, as our Lord Jeſus Chriſt Himſelf hath Expreſly forbidden us to countenance. I have Read a printed Sermon, which was Preached before Both Houſes of Parliament, the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London, and the Aſſembly of Divines; the Greateſt Audience then in the World: And in that Sermon, the Preacher had this paſſage; I have Lived in a Countrey, where, in ſeven years, I never p. 38ſaw a Beggar, nor heard an Oath, nor look'd upon a Drunkard. Shall I tell you where that Utopia was? 'Twas NEW-ENGLAND! But they that go from hence, muſt now tell another Story.

VII. May the Changes, and eſpecially the Iudgments, that have come upon the Town, direct us, what Help to petition from the God of our Salvations. The Iſraelites had formerly ſeen diſmal Things, where they now ſet up their Ebenezer: The Philiſtines had no leſs than Twice beaten them there, and there taken from them the Ark of God. Now we are ſetting up our Ebenezer, Let us a little call to mind ſome Diſmal Things that we have ſeen; the Ebenezer will go up the better for it.

We read, in 1 Sam. 6.18. concerning, The Great Stone of Abel. Some ſay, That Adam Erected that Stone, as a Grave stone for his Abel, and wrote that Epi…aph upon it, Here was poured out the Blood of the Righteous ABEL. I know nothing of This, The Names, I know, differ in the Original; But as we may Erect many a Stone p. 39for an Ebenezer, ſo, we may Erect many a Great Stone of ABEL, that is to ſay, We may write, MOURNING and SORROW, upon the Condition of the Town in various Examples. Now, from the Stones of Abel, we will a little gather what we ſhould wiſh to write upon the Stones of our Ebenezer.

What Changes have we ſeen, in point of Religion? It was Noted by Luther, He could never ſee Good order in the Church, last more than Fifteen years together in the Purity of it. Bleſſed be God, Religion hath here flouriſhed in the Purity of it, for more than Fifteen years together. But, certainly, the Power of Godlineſs is now grievouſly decay'd among us. As the Prophet of old Exclamed, in Joel 1.2. Hear this, ye old men, and give Ear, ye Inhabitants; Ha's this been in your Dayes: Thus may I ſay, Hear this, ye old men, that are the Inhabitants of the Town: Can't you Remember, that in your Dayes, a Prayerful, a Watchful, a Fruitful Chriſtian, and a well Governed Family, was a more common Sight, than it is now in our Dayes? Can't you Remember, that in your Dayes, thoſe Abominable Things did not p. 40Show their Heads, that are now Bare-faced among us? Here then is a Petition to be made unto our God; Lord, Help us to Remember whence we are Fallen, and to Repent, and to Do the First Works.

Again; What Changes have we ſeen, in point of Mortality? By Mortality, almoſt all the Old Race of our Firſt Planters here, are carryed off; the Old Stock, is in a manner Expired. We ſee the Fulfilment of that word, in Eccl. 1.4. One Generation paſſeth away, and another Generation cometh. It would be no unprofitable Thing for you, to paſs over the ſeveral Streets, & call to mind, Who Lived here ſo many years ago? Why? In that place lived ſuch an one; and in that place lived ſuch an one. But, Where are they Now? Oh! They are Gone, They are Gone into that Eternal World, whither We muſt quickly follow them. Here is another Petition, to be made unto our God; Lord, Help us to Number our Dayes, and apply our Hearts unto Wiſdom, that when the places that now know us, do know us no more, we may be gone into the City of God.

Furthermore; What Changes have we p. 41ſeen, in point of Poſſeſſions? If ſome that are now Rich, were once Low in the World, 'tis poſſible, more that were once Rich, are now brought very Low. Ah! Boſton, Thou haſt ſeen the Vanity of all Worldly Poſſeſſions. One fatal Morning, which laid Fourſcore of thy Dwelling Houſes, and Seventy of thy Ware houſes, in a Ruinous Heap, not Nineteen years ago, gave thee to Read it in Fiery Characters. And an huge Fleet of thy Veſſels, which they would make, if they were all together, that have miſcarried in the late War, ha's given thee to Read more of it. Here is one Petition more, to be made unto our God; Lord, Help us to Enſure a Better and a laſting Subſtance in Heaven, and the Good part that cannot be taken away.

In fine; How dreadfully have the Young People of Boſton, periſhed under the Judgments of God! A Renowned Writer, among the Pagans, could make this Remark; There was a Town, ſo Irreligious and Atheiſtical, that they did not pay their Firſt-fruits unto God: (which the Light of Nature taught the Pagans to do!) and ſayes he, they were, by a Sudden Deſolation ſo p. 42Strangly Deſtroy'd, that there were no Remainders either of the Perſons, or of the Houſes, to be ſeen any more. Ah, My Young Folks; There are few Firſt-fruits paid unto the Lord Jeſus Chriſt among you. From hence it comes to paſs, that the Conſuming Wrath of God, is every day upon you. New England ha's been like a Tott'ring Houſe; the very Foundations of it have been Shaking: But the Houſe thus over-ſetting by the Whirlwinds of the Wrath of God, hath been like Jobs Houſe; It falls upon the Young men, and they are Dead! The Diſaſters on our Young Folks have been ſo multiplied, that there are few Parents among us, but what will go with Wounded Hearts, down unto their Graves: Their dayly moans are, Ah, My Son cut off in his Youth! My Son, my Son! Behold then, the Help that we are to ask of our God; and why do we, with no more Dayes of Prayer with Faſting, ask it? Lord, Help the Young People of Boſton, to Remember thee in the Dayes of their Youth, and Sanctify unto the Survivers, the Terrible Things that have come upon ſo many of that Generation.

p. 43And now as Joſhua, having Reaſoned with his people, a little before he Died, in Joſh. 24.26, 27. Took a Great STONE. and ſet it up, and ſaid unto all the people, Behold, this Stone ſhall be a witneſs unto you, Lest ye Deny your God. Thus, we have been this Day ſetting up a STONE, even an Ebenezer, among you; & I conclude, Earneſtly teſtifying unto you, Behold this Stone, ſhall be a witneſs unto you, that the Lord JESUS CHRIST, has been a Good Lord unto you; and if you Seek Him, He will be ſtill found of you, but if you Forſake Him, He will caſt you off for ever.