An Holy Connection, Title page – To the reader
AN HOLY CONNEXION, Or a true AGREEMENT Between Jehovahs being a WALL of FIRE to his People, and the GLORY in the midst thereof: Or a Word in Season to stir up to a solemn Acknowledgement of the gracious Protection of God over his People; and especially to a Holy Care that the Presence of God may yet be continued with us.
As it was delivered in a SERMON Preached at Hartford on Conecticut in N. E. May 14. 1674. being the Day of ELECTION there:
By JAMES FITCH Pastor of the Church of Christ in Norwich.
Exod. 33.….16
…, it thy presence go not with us, carry us not up …. For wherein … Land …hy People… … in thy …, is it not us that thou ….
1 King 8.57, 58.
T…e Lor… …ur God … as he was with our Fathers, let him not leave us nor …, that he may … our heart… … him to walk in all ….
…. … 19.
Yet thou in thy … not in the W…lderness, …he Pillar of the … the Pillar of F…re by night to show them …, and … they sh…uld go.
Hos. 4 5
An … create upon every dwelling plac… of Mount Sion, and up…n her Assemblies a Cloud and Smo… …, and … of a flaming … Glory shall ….
CAMBRIDGE: Printed by Samuel Green. 1674.
At a COURT of ELECTION held at HARTFORD May 14th. 1674.
It is Ordered that the Thanks of this Court be returned to the Reverend Mr. James Fitch for the great pains he hath taken in Preaching the Election Sermon before this Court, and that he be desired to grant a Copy of his said Sermon that it may be Printed. Extracted out of the Court Records,
John Allyn Secr.
Christian Reader,
IT is amongst the sayings of the Wise Man, A Word fitly spoken is like Apples of Gold in Pictures of Silver, Prov. 25.11. A Word aptly circumstanced in respect of time, and other concurrences i… …f singular usefulness, weight and excellency: Did the Discourse following not suffic…ently commend it self, or needed there any further Testimony to be added thereto; we might with confidence affirm, that it was indeed a Word fitly spoken, well Timed, and otherwise also Circumstanced as to them to whom it was delivered: and surely it is no other to such to whose perusal it is now presented.
The Condition of Gods Wilderness-People (with other considerations also attending the same) bear full witness to it therein; when the Glory is departing (may we not say in some, Oh that it were not in great measure departed) and the Defence also with it; what more seasonable or fitly-suited then such a … the design whereof is to awaken and advise to a Faithful Endeavour for … very and Continuance of both; How far or by what gradual Removes … is made already, with reference to the Lords People here in … Societies in particular, is not so easie nor all things Conside…ed so … to determine; that there is indeed a diminution or abatement of the Glory in the midst of us (an awful presage of its yet further and at last final withdrawing, if not timely prevented by an intervening Repentance, Faith and effectual Reformation, thereby stirring up our selves to take hold of God.) that we are in danger also of being deprived of the Wall of fire about us (threatning Aspects of Providence of late appearing towa…ds us therein) cannot well be denied by them that have been studi…us to keep the eye upon things past and present. Time was that Israel was holiness to the Lord, then all that devoured him did offend, evil came upon them, as in Jer. 2.3. But is it so at this day in respect of degrees? alas how low are we fallen? though we doubt not but the Lord hath his number, and that very considerable, whose hearts he keeps up in a holy warmth and forwardness of love …o him, his will and wayes, yet how many have forsaken first love; (may we say the love of N. Englands Esp…usa…s) upon the decayes whereof, or neglect to r…cover it, a …emova… of the Candlestick is expresly threatned, even …h…re there are many things …o amendable, Rev. 2.2—5 that the Lord hath indeed b…en the Glory and Salvation … peop…, and therein grea…ly manifested his mercy towards us amidst many provocations, is alwayes to be acknowledged with great thankfulness; that the s…me Lord is our alone hope in both respects for the future, it concerns us deeply, nothing more deeply to Remember. Alas what are we if the Lord leave us? if the glory depart f…om us what shall we be? but a dishonour to his Name, a reproach to Religion, a Shame to ourselves, and Grief to others, a very heap of Sins, and Chaos of Confusion; if the Wall of Fire forsake us, what shall we be, but a prey to them that are ready to devour? how soon and easily will our Adversaries have occasion and spirit to say insultingly enough, they are bread for us? how resistless an inroad will all manner of Evil and Enemies make upon us?
Observations of what hath been, and is, with intimations also about what may, or is like to be, according to Scripture discovery and the Lords w…nted way of dealing with a professing priviledged People; may not too easily be overlookt. However the great work still remains, (which without peculiar help from above will certainly fail in its accomplishment) viz. that we believe in earnest, and demean our selves as believing, that our All is in the hand of God; In respect of Glory, and Defence, we stand and fall therein as his pleasure is to deal with us; One thing only we may further remark, that our great Concernment is so to carry in several Capacities and Performance of Duties therein, that the Lord may be and continue to be the Glory in the midst of us, so shall we without failure experience the fulfilling of his … Wall of fire shall not be wanting: That it may so be, is the … Aim of the ensuing Sermon, wherein the Learned Author, a Faithful Servant in his Masters Work according to the Wisdome given him, Warns, Counsels and Excites, with reference to what may further the attainment of such an end.
That this also amongst other the Labours of the Lords Worthies formerly, and of late may be made successful by a Blessing from Heaven; to awaken the secure, and buicken the backward, to Rouse sinners, and Recover Saints to a right sense of their several Duties in this dark and threatning day; That the work of our God may appear unto his Servants, and his Glory to their Children, that his Enlightning, Converting, Sanctifying, and therewith also Protecting, Saving Presence may be with us, that the Beauty of Truth, Peace and Holiness, an encreasing shine of zeal for God, the Purity of his wayes, and Fellowship with him …herein, may yet be found amongst us; and that upon all the Glory may … and alwayes be a Defence;
Is the Hearts Desire and Prayer of us, who are thine in him that is the Saviour of all men, especially of them that Believe.
John Whiting.
Joseph Haines.