The Lords Voice Crying out to His People, Title page 1 – Title page 2

The Lords Voice Crying out to His People · Title page 1 – Title page 2

The Lord's Voice, Crying to His People: IN SOME Extraordinary Diſpenſations Considered In a SERMON, … Preached 27 d. 1 m. 1715. Occaſioned By the Terrible Tragedies of a Man Barbarouſly Murdering his Wife and her Siſter, and then Burning his Houſe, … Together … Man … Living

By Nathanael Clap, M. A. Preacher …

Boston: Printed by B. Green. Sold at the Bookſellers Shops. ….

HEAR the Rod, AND Who hath Appointed it.

Micah VI. 9.

The Lords voice cryeth unto the City, and the Man of Wiſdom ſhall ſee thy Name; Hear ye the Rod, and who hath appointed it.

MAY the GOD of all Grace in our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, by His holy Spirit, ſo influence our Souls, that by Minding the diſpenſations of His holy Ordinances, we may come to underſtand ſomething of the meaning of the diſpenſations of His awful Providences among us. Then will there be ſome room for us to hope, that God is making all things to p. 2work together for good unto us, among them that Love God.

It would be inexcuſable inadvertency in us, and a dreadful token of lamentable Stupidity in our Souls, if we ſhould take no Notice of the late Stupendous, Tremendous dealings of the glorious Lord among us, while the very bars of the Infernal Pit have ſeemed, as it were, to ſhiver and the dreadful Smoke of the bottomleſs Lake hath begun to break out and aſcend before our Eyes: And the venemous Vipers of Hell have had a Permiſſion to raiſe up their heads and after a very uncommon manner, to ſpit about their Venom upon us, and to ſhew us a little of their curſed and cruel diſpoſition, by the blood that hath been ſhed, and the fire that hath been kindled in our Neighbourhood.

What means the heat of this anger of the Lord our God! The Words of God muſt be attended that we may underſtand the Works of God. We muſt regard the Works of the Lord and conſider the Operations of His hands, or we ſhall be deſtroyed with yet more terrible deſtructions. But that we may know what God ſays by His Works, we muſt mind what He ſpeaks by His Words: The holy Bible is written for the admonition and the information of p. 3us upon whom the ends of the World are come, and we ſhall do well to give heed unto that ſure Word of Prophecy: The Oracles of God in His Book are to explain the operations of God in the World. And our conſiderations upon the Words that have now been read unto us may by the Divine Bleſſing, help us to know ſomething of the intention of the Moſt High, in the Works that have been lately done among us.

In the beginning of this Sixty Chapter of Micah, the Lord by the Prophet manageth a Controverſy with His People. He enters an Action againſt them, and in His declaration charges them with unaccountable unreaſonable ingratitude For, after the Lord had called for Attention, by ſaying, Hear ye now what the Lord ſaith, Ariſe, contend thou before the Mountains, and let the Hills hear thy voice, Hear ye, O Mountains, the Lords controverſy and ye ſtrong foundations of the Earth: for the Lord hath a controverſy with his People and he will plead with Iſrael. Then He goes on to plead with his People, by ſaying, Oh, my People. What have I done unto thee; wherein have I wearied thee? Teſtify againſt me. For I brought thee out of AEgypt and redeemed thee out of the houſe of Servants, and ſent before thee Moſes & Aaron, p. 4and Miriam Oh! my People remember now what Ba…ak the King of Moah conſulted, and what Balaam the Son of Beor anſwered him, from S…ittim unto G…gal, that ye may know the Righteouſneſs of the Lord. The Lord would have them to conſider the tokens of His kindneſs towards them from time to time; and in one Place after another, that they might be …ffected with His goodneſs toward them, and be aſhamed of their Unthankfulneſs toward Him. He enumerates divers Particularities of his care about them, for the aggravation of their Wickedneſs in their unanſwerable returns to him. And He appeals to their own Conſciences and makes them Judges to … the caſe between Him and them. He knew that they could not but acknowledge his Righteouſneſs, and muſt condemn themſelves for their own Sinfulneſs Nevertheleſs after the declaration of the Lords controverſy with them, and the demonſtration, by the cleareſt and fulleſt evidences of their ingratitude to him. The People being thorowly convinced in their own conſciences, that they were very faulty and that God had juſt reaſon to be very angry at them; They ſeem to demand what they ſhould do to appeaſe the anger of God, by ſaying, Where with ſhall I come before the p. 5Lord and …ow my ſelf before the High …? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings and ca…es of a year old, will the Lord be pleaſed with thouſands of rams or with ten thouſands of rivers of … Shall I give my firſt born for my tranſgreſſion, the fruit of my …eay for the Sin of my Soul? Hereby they ſeem to inſinuate that there will be …oundance of difficulty in their endeavours to pleaſe God and pacify his Wrath; it would be a difficult thing for them to ſatisfy his demands to remove the cauſes of his controverſy with them, ſo as to obtain reconciliation with God. But he there upon tells them. The Lord hath ſhewed thee, O man, what is good [or who is the good One: may this intend the Meſſiah, who is the Good One: as if the Lord had ſaid I have found a Ranſom, I have provided a Redeemer, who will ſatisfy my Juſtice for all that will accept of him for their Saviour, and I have ſhewed him and offered him to you, that through him there may be a Poſſibility of Reconciliation Then he goes on, ſaying] and what doth the Lord require of thee [upon thy accepting the Redeemer, the good One] but to do juſtly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God The terms of Reconciliation between God and Man are plain, eaſy, poſſible and highly p. 6reaſonable. There can be no good objection made againſt the propoſals for accommodation between their God and their Souls But the Sinful People ſtanding out againſt the offer of Mercy, the Lord ſhews that he deſigns a Proceſs of Judgment againſt them in the Words of our Text.

The Lords voice cryeth unto the City. The Word of God proclaimes Wrath, Anger, Indignation againſt all Impenitent Sinners. The Wrath of God is by the Word of God revealed from Heaven againſt all Ungodlineſs and Unrighteouſneſs of them that hold the Truth in Unrighteouſneſs. If Sinners be convinced of their Duty, but will not do it; or convinced of their Sin, but will not forſake it; the word of God is againſt them. The Lords voice then cryes againſt them in his Word.

The Man of Wiſdom ſhall ſee thy Name. It will be Wiſdom for every one then to Mind what the Lord ſayes in his Word and to ſee his Name who cryes with his voice: to Mind who it is that ſpeaks to them. And then there is that call. Hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it. Something extraordinary is implyed, If the cry in the Word be not regarded, then comes the Rod. And there is a voice in the rod p. 7that ſhould be heard by all, and ſo heard as to excite all to conſider who ſends the rod, and upon what errand the rod is ordered to come.

To Doctrine then, to be now conſidered by us, muſt be this.

DOCTRINE. It would be the Prudence of all People, and will be the Practice of wiſe People to take ſuch notice of the Extraordinary diſpenſations of GOD as to learn the deſign of GOD in managing of His Controverſy with Sinners, by thoſe Diſpenſations.

We have ſeveral Propoſitions to be conſidered under this Doctrine.

I. PROP. The GOD of Heaven does frequently manage a controverſy with Sinners upon Earth for their Miſdemeanours before Him. He ſhews that he is diſpleaſed at them. And he ſhews them that he hath juſt cauſe to be ſo diſpleaſed. Their wayes are not pleaſing in his ſight, and ſo he walks in wayes toward them, that are not pleaſing nor eaſy to them. So in the Second Verſe of this Chapter, it is ſaid, p. 8The Lord hath a Controverſy with his People and he will plead with Iſrael. Then he tells them what he had done for them. And they had not done before him, as he might juſtly have expected, and therefore he was offended, and they ſhould be made ſenſible of his diſpleaſure. And ſo it was foretold unto the People of God, in Levit 26, 27 If you will walk contrary unto me, then I will walk contrary unto you. The Lord having told them that if they were willing to obey him, then they ſhould enjoy the bleſſings of his Covenant. But if they would not hearken to his voice and obey his Commandments and walk in his Statutes, then he would be angry againſt them, and they might expect the tokens of his anger: Then he ſhews them that if they would not repent and be reformed by leſſer Judgments, then he would bring up on them greater Judgments and puniſh them yet Seven times for their iniquities and yet Seven times more, and Seven times more, until their Uncircumciſed hearts be humbled When he hath begun a controverſy with Sinners, he will go on with it until they be reformed or deſtroyed.

p. 9II. PROP. The Lord is often pleaſed to bring Judgments upon Sinners for their Sins, while He is managing his Controverſy with then. He hath threatned them with Judgments for their Sins, if they don't turn from their Sins He muſt bring the Judgments threatned, that he may appear to be the God of Truth. And he hath done from time to time according to his threatnings, thus in the Thirteenth verſe of this Chapter, He declares, I will make thee ſick in ſmiling thee, in making thee deſolate becauſe of thy Sins. Thus alſo in Deut 28 58. Sayes the Lord, If thou wilt not obſerve to do all the Words of this Law, that thou mayeſt year the glorious and fearful Name, THE LORD THY GOD. The Lord ſhall make thy Plagues wonderful. He told them that if they would be obedient, they ſhould enjoy abundance of bleſſings, but if they would be rebellious, then there ſhould be curſes multiplyed upon them. Accordingly it came to paſs. The Promiſes of bleſſing having been fulfilled, Joſhua and Solom…n could bring in their teſtimony for that, ſo far as to their dayes, [in Joſh. 23. 14 1 King. 8 56] The threatnings of curſes were alſo wonderfully accompliſhed, as both Jeremiah and Daniel obſerved, p. 10[in Lam. 2. 17. Dan. 9 11.] So the Lord often brings various Judgments upon Sinners, while he manageth his controverſy with them. They find it a perillous thing to continue in wayes of Sin againſt the Holy God. But,

III. PROP. GOD in pleaſed graciouſly to Warn Sinners, before He brings Judgments upon them in His managing to His controverſy with them. And theſe warnings of God are in various wayes delivered.

For ſometimes the Lord warns by his Word. So the Lords voice Cryes unto the City. People that read the Word of God, may diſcern a cry in the Word which they read, like that in Iſaiah 3. 10. We to the Wicked, it ſhall be ill with him. The Written Word of God plainly cryes, Evil purſueth Sinners, it cryes, The Soul, that Sinneth, ſhall dye, it cryes, The wages of Sin is Death, The cry of the Word is, God will render to every one according to their Works: To them that are contentious and will not obey the truth, he will render indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguiſh, upon every Soul of them. The plain cry of the Word is, The Wicked ſhall be turned into Hell & all the Nations that forget God. God will rain upon Impenitent Sinners, fire and brimſtone, a p. 11burning Tempeſt muſt be the Portion of their cup. God will find a time to call to remembrance the Sins of Sinners, and will ſet their Sins in order before them for their Eternal confuſion. The plain Cry of the word is that in the a Theſ. 1. …—The Lord Jeſus will be revealed from Heaven, with his Mighty Angels in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that obey not the Goſpel of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt; They ſhall be puniſhed with everlaſting deſtruction from the preſence of the Lord, and from the Glory of his Power. And beſides and before the terrible things, that will come at laſt upon all finally Impenitent Sinners, there are awful cryes in the Word of God againſt them, denouncing terrible things in this Life and World. Would People Read the Word of God, as they ſhould, they might find the Written Word crying againſt them for their multiplyed Impieties againſt and before God.

So People that hear the Word of God, may often perceive a cry, like that in Ezek. 18 30. Repent and turn from all your tranſgreſſions, that iniquity may not be your ruine. A cry, like that in John 3 36. He that believeth not the Son of God, the wrath of God abideth on him. A cry, like that in Zeph: 2. 3. Seek ye the Lord, Seek Righteouſneſs and Meekneſs, that ye may be hid in the day of the Lords anger.

p. 12The Ambaſſadours of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who are to Preach the Word of God, are commanded, as in Iſaiah 58 1. Cry aloud, ſpare not, lift up thy voice like a Trumpet, ſhew People their tranſgreſſions. And as in Ezek 33 8. 9. Thou ſhalt hear the word at my Mouth and warn People from me, when I ſay unto the wicked, Thou ſhalt ſurely dye; and thou doſt not ſpeak to warn the wicked from his way the wicked ſhall dye in his iniquity, but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheleſs if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn him from it, if he do not turn from his way, he ſhall die in his iniquity, but thou haſt delivered thy Soul. Thus muſt the Miniſters of God warn Sinners about their Sins, againſt their Sins, that they may turn from their Sins. They muſt cry with earneſtneſs, with vehemency, with ſolemnity againſt the Sins and Vices of the Times and Places, wherein they live.

Indeed Sinners don't love to have their Sins cryed againſt. And if the Miniſters of God will venture to cry againſt the Sins of Sinners, then will Sinners be ready to cry againſt the Miniſters of God. And if the Miniſters will not let Sinners alone to Sin quietly and to live in quiet, while they live in Sin, they be ſure Sinners will not … let the Miniſters of God alone, to p. 13have any quietneſs in their Lives o… any comfort in the World, if they can help it. Did not Elijah, Eliſha, Iſaiah, Jeremiah, John the Baptiſt, and the Apoſtles of our Lord find it ſo. But if Miniſters do let Sinners alone to live in Sin, to Sin as they pleaſe, then God will not let Miniſters no… Sinners alone very long They ſhall neither of them enjoy any long time of quietneſs. For,

So lies the caſe. If Sinners will Sin againſt God, and God ſend his Miniſters among them, He will have them to cry againſt their Sins. But if the Miniſters of God will not cry againſt the Sins of Sinners, but will be ſilent, then will Sinners be in danger of periſhing in their Sins: but negligent Miniſters muſt anſwer for the Souls of the periſhing Sinners. Their blood will be required at the hands of thoſe that ſhould have cryed and given them warning, that they might have turned from their Sins: Therefore the Miniſters of God muſt not dare, for their Lives, to be Silent; They muſt cry againſt Sin, if they love their own Souls. They muſt be as Trumpets thorow which the Lords voice cryes unto Sinners. Thus there is the cry of the Word, by which the Lord is pleaſed to warn Sinners, that they may turn from p. 14Sin, ſo as to prevent his Judgments from coming.

But ſometimes notwithſtanding all the cryes of the voice of the Lord by his Word, Sinners will go on ſtill in their treſpaſſes. But what comes then?

Then,

Sometimes the Lord warns by His Rod And therefore is it ſaid, Hear ye the rod an… who hath appointed it. If Sinners will not hear the Word of God, then comes the Rod of God. If the cry of the Word be deſpiſed, then the ſmart of the rod muſt be endured. Leſſer Judgments come to war… Sinners of greater Judgments coming i… they continue Impenitent, if they are no Reformed by leſſer Judgments. The rod comes to tell that the Sword is coming, in Sinners will not be perſwaded of the rod to forſake their Sins. For when God hath begun his controverſy with Sinners, the… may expect that he will go on, to finiſh in Righteouſneſs, if they will not be Reformed they muſt be ruined. The Lord will overcome when He judgeth. Thus we find it with the People of God, of old, it the fore-mentioned 26th of Leviticus, and 28th of Deuteronomy, and in divers other Places of Scripture we find that they were told that if they would not hear the Words p. 15of God, they ſhould feel the rod of God. There ſhould come leſſer Judgments, and if they did not reclaim them, then there ſhould come greater Judgments. And if they would not be Reformed by the Lord, by theſe Judgments, then He would puniſh them yet Seven times more for their Sins. The Lord would break the Pride of their Power, and would ſend the Sword to avenge the quarrel of his Covenant. So afterwards we find, the Lord began with them as a Moth, by leſſer Judgments conſuming of them; and then went on as a Lyon, by greater Judgments, devouring of them. So the Lord is pleaſed to deal with Sinners. The Word cryes unto Sinners. You have Sinned againſt God, Oh! Turn from Sin, left God bring his rod. But if the Sinners do not turn from Sin, then they may juſtly look for the rod. And when the rod comes, then the rod cryes unto Sinners Oh! The Word of God has been deſpiſed therefore is the Rod come Take heed, leſt you deſpiſe the rod: For if you don't hear the Rod, the Sword may come next The cry of a leſſer Judgment, is, Oh! Be Reformed by this leſt a greater come. And if there be no Reformation, a greater does come, and if Sinners continue ſtill incorrigible, it may be ſtill complained according to Iſaiah 9 11. p. 16The Lord hath brought ſad things upon his People, they are environed with Enemies; they know not which way to turn, they are exceedingly diſtreſſed, yet, For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is ſtretched out ſtill: For the People turneth not … him that ſmiteth them, neither do they ſeek the Lord of Hoſts. By theſe things we learn that God is pleaſed to give warning to Sinners, before He brings Judgments upon them He warns by his Word, before he ſtrikes with his Rod. And by leſſer Judgments coming, He warns that greater will come, unleſs there be amendment by leſſer. So it is commonly with a People externally in Covenant with God. He ſpeaks by the Word for their Inſtruction, before he ſmites with the Rod for their Correction: or ſtrikes with the Sword for their Deſtruction. But if they will not be Reformed by the Word, nor Amended by the Rod, they may fear being ruined by the Sword.

IV. PROP. It would be the Prudence of all People to take ſuch Notice of the extraordinary Diſpenſations of God, as to learn what is the deſign of God in his managing of his Controverſy with His People by thoſe Diſpenſations. We are to remember that the God of Heaven p. 17is pleaſed ordinarily to walk in a way of Mercy toward Sinners, while they live in this World. The Sinfulleſt People in this World enjoy more Mercies than they endure Sorrows while they live here upon the Earth. And when God begins to bring any Sorts of Judgments upon Sinners: they are ſtrange, uncouth, unuſual, unexpected things; and ſo may be ſtyled the extraordinary diſpenſations of God. He goes out of his common Road, when he ſteps into a way of Judgment with Sinners. The judicial diſpenſations of God may be called His Strange Works, for at their firſt coming, they are frequently ſurprizing and amazing unto Sinners. Tho' they have been told & warn'd about them, yet when they come they ſeem to wonder at them, as new & ſtrange things. Indeed when judgments have continued ſome time & are grown common, then People grow leſs and …eſs affected & concerned with them. So when War, Famine or Peſtilence are grown common Evils among a People, then Sinners frequently grow hardened, unconcerned, unaffected. They make light of the Evils. But then frequently the Lord is pleaſed to bring ſomething that is uncommon. There ſhall happen ſome extraordinary things, that ſhall mightily aſtoniſh p. 18People, and put them into great confuſion at leſt for a while.

And the All wiſe God hath evermor… ſome holy deſign in His extraordinary diſpenſations toward Sinners. For He is cauſe by Counſel, ever acting with Infinite Wiſdom. He does nothing in vain. He doth never amuſe the World with any ſtrange thing, without ſome wiſe aim. He hath ſome Glorious Intention in all his extraordinary diſpenſations about his Creatures. For we are ſure from Eph 1. 11. He worketh all things after the Counſel of his own Will. And therefore with Infinite Wiſdom, conſummate Prudence, and exquiſite Contrivance. All his Actions a… weighed, ordered and contrived with a view at ſomething for the Advancement of His Own Glory.

And about all the Evils of Trouble that come upon Sinners, all ſorts of Judgment whether they be ordinary or extraordinary Ones, it may be demanded, as in Amos 3. 6 Shall there be Evil in the City, and the Love hath not done it? [The Lord has a han… in all the Judgments that come upon Sinners] The Lord will do nothing, but he revealeth his ſecrets to his Servants the Prophets. And elſe-where it is demanded, Who is b… that ſaith and it cometh to paſs, when the Lo… p. 19commandeth it not? The Counſel of the Lord ſhall ſtand, the Thoughts of his Heart to all Generations. Every thing that cometh to paſs in the World, is directed by the Infinite Wiſdom of God. He knows and ſees all, yea He foreſees and orders all. Nothing can come to paſs without His permitting Will.

Indeed He does not force the Wills of Sinners, nor compel them to Sin againſt himſelf in breaking of his Laws. There is no ſuch decree or purpoſe of God as lays any neceſſity of compulſion upon the Wills of any of his Creatures, that may be improved as Inſtruments in the hand of God, in bringing to paſs thoſe things that may be called the Judgments of God: For God may appoint what ſhall be, and may deſign to direct his Inſtruments in their Actions, while they act moſt Willingly and moſt Wickedly, without his being the Author of their Sin. For we are ſure that God 'fore knew, for He 'foretold unto Moſes, that the heart of Pharaoh would be hardned ſo that He would not be willing to let the Children of Iſrael go out of his Land. Yet Pharaoh did voluntarily harden his heart. Neither the Purpoſe of God to permit Pharaoh to hearden his heart, nor his Prediction of that purpoſe unto Moſes, had any ſuch Influence upon Pharaoh to harden his heart, p. 20as that he had any reaſon to complain that he was neceſſitated by any coactio… or compulſion upon his Will by the permiſſion of God, to harden his own Sins heart; he willingly hardened his heart Yea though God upholdeth Sinners … their Being, and ſtrengtheneth them … their Acting about thoſe things that and very Sinful, He is not chargeable with their Sins, while thy do, what they do againſt his Revealed Will. And the All wiſe God knows how to govern the Wil… of Sinners, in all their Actions for his Own Glory; and hath ſome glorious Ends all his diſpenſations about all his Creatures. Thus it was in a peculiar manner obſerved about the crucifixion of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. The Servants of God would acknowledge (in Acts 4 28) The Sinner in Crucifying our Saviour, have do… What thy hand and thy counſel determined before to be done. Him being delivered … the determinate counſel and fore-knowledge of God, they had by wicked Hand crucifyed and ſlain. So our Lord Jeſus Chriſt hath told us, about the Providence of our heavenly Father extending it ſet unto the very Hairs of our Heads ( … 10 29 30) Not a Bird nor an Hair can fall on the ground without the Providence p. 21… God Governing the World. Then God orders all things, directs all with Infinite Wiſdom, deſigns all for his Own Glory, hath glorious deſigns in all his Works, and eſpecially in his more extraordinary diſpenſations about the Children of Men.

But what now follows here upon? Certainly it would be the Prudence of all to like Notice of the extraordinary diſpenſations of God ſo, as to learn what is the de…g…n of God in thoſe diſpenſations. For …is is implyed in Hearing the Rod, and who hath appointed it. The Rod of God …ath a voice; it is their duty to Hear …at voice, and to Hear it ſo as to Mind it; to Mind it ſo as to conſider … and to conſider it ſo as to underſtand …e intention of the Glorious God in ſending his Rod: that by diſcerning the intention of the Rod, they may be prepared to anſwer the intention of God in uſing His God. This would be the Prudence of all people, when they behold the extraordinary diſpenſations of God in His holy Providence, that they might conform to His deſigns. For all People are call'd upon to …ear the Rod, and who hath appointed it.

And,

p. 22V. PROP. This will be the Practice … Wiſe People: They will take ſuch Notice … the extraordinary diſpenſations of God, as … learn ſomething of the deſigns of God in theſe diſpenſations, while He is managing of a Controverſy with Sinners. The Man of Wiſdom will ſee the Name of God. He will not only Hear the voice of God in His Word; but he will endeavour alſo … Mind the voice of God in His Rod, ſo a… to diſcern ſomething of the intention o… the Rod of God, that he may be prepare to comply with the intention of Him that ſends the Rod. They that are furniſhes with the beſt Wiſdom. The Fear of the Lord, and are made Wiſe unto Salvation thro' Faith in Chriſt Jeſus; when the behold any extraordinary diſpenſations … Divine Providence, they will conſider ſuch as theſe things.

(1) They will conſider & acknowledge that there is a Providence of God managing … things. All things are under the direction of the Glorious God. The People of God will aſcribe nothing to blind fate, nor to wild chance, whatever Philiſtines may do They that are Iſraelites indeed will Subſcribe unto the ancient Acknowledgment of the Church of God, in Pſal. 115. 3. Our p. 23God is in the Heavens, he hath done what ever the pleaſed: And in Pſal. 135. 6. What ever the Lord pleaſed, he did in Heaven and Earth, in the Seas and in all deep Places. That is every where. All Creatures, both Inanimate and Animate, both Irrational and Rational, both Good and Bad, both Men and Angels, are ſo in the hand of God, and ſo under his Command, that they cannot move nor ſtir without His Permiſſion. All his Creatures and all their Affairs are …der his abſolute Government, ſo that they can do nothing without his leave, Yea, He hath ſo determined about all their Actions, that he knows What and When every One of them ſhall be; and He deſigns to Glorifie Himſelf in them all, by them all. Nothing comes to paſs any where in the whole World, but what the Almighty God hath determined to perform or permit. He performs what is Good, He permits what is Evil, or elſe it …ould not be. And as His Kingdom is an everlaſting One: Pſal. 145. 13. Thy Kingdom is an Everlaſting Kingdom, and thy Dominion endureth throughout all Generations; Thus it is an Univerſal Kingdom, Pſal. …03. 19. The Lord hath prepared his Throne … the Heavens, his Kingdom ruleth over all. Then all things are under the Government p. 24of Divine Providence. The … High doth according to his Will, in … Armies of Heaven, and among the Inhabitants of the Earth; and none can ſtay his Hand, or ſay unto Him, What doeſt thou He ſayes, My Counſel ſhall ſtand, I will do all my Pleaſure. This the People … God will conſider, and they will acknowledge all things to be under the inſpection of Divine Providence.

And then,

(2) They will conſider & acknowledge that the Lord manages all things in His H… Providence with Infinite Wiſdom. We m… ſay as in Pſal. 104. 24. O Lord, How many fold are thy works! in Wiſdom haſt thou … them all. The Wiſdom of God appear not only in the works of Creation, and more gloriouſly in the works of Redemption, but alſo in the w…ks of Providence there is the Infinite Wiſdom of God appearing. We read in Iſaiah 18. 29. … Lord of Hoſts is wonderful in Counſel and excellent in working. And we read of it purpoſe of him who worketh all thing after the Counſel of His Own Will. … having purpoſed about all that hath, … ſhall come to paſs, the purpoſes of … muſt be framed with Infinite Wiſdom, and He muſt act wiſely in His bringing to … p. 25all His Purpoſes. Both Wiſdom & Might …re His. Nothing can come to paſs without the Divine Will; and the Wiſdom of God is continually exerciſed in his taking …are about all his Creatures, and eſpecially about his Children: For if things come to paſs by an Heatheni…h, fatal Neceſſ…y, then might the bleſſed God ſay to His Children: Such and ſuch Troubles and Sorrows will come upon you, there is no help for you to avoid them, and therefore you muſt endure them and improve them, as well as you can: But our heavenly Father has provided better comfort for his Children than ſo; in the advice that our bleſſed Saviour hath given to his People, in Matt. 10. 28. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the Soul: but rather fear him which is able to deſtroy both Soul & Body in hell. Are not two Sparrows ſold for a farthing, and one of them ſhall not fall on the ground, without your Father; but the very Hairs of your head are all numbred. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many Sparrows. It means, that if God take care of the Birds in the Air and of the Hairs of our Heads, then be ſure he will take care about our Lives and our Souls, and alſo about all our Affairs in this World. And then ſurely he does wiſely in all that he p. 26does. And if an heatheniſh Empero… would acknowledge about the King … Heaven, as in Dan. 4. 39. All his works … Truth and his ways Judgment; Surely god… People muſt acknowledge and conſider and remember he is Wiſe in Heart as we as Mighty in Strength.

But then.

(3) They will conſider and acknowledge that the All-wiſe God wiſely manages … things, in His Providence for His own Glory The Glory of God is the Ultimate End … all the works of God. He hath deſigned his own Glory in all his Purpoſes and … his Performances. All his determination from Eternity, and all his diſpenſatio… throughout all Time are levelled at th… End, The advancement of his own Glory Thence that Admiration, Rom. 11. … Oh! the depth of the riches of the Wiſdom … Knowledge of God! how unſearchable are … Judgments and his Wayes paſt finding … for who hath known the Mind of the Lord, who hath been his Counſellor; for of him a… through him, and to him are all things, whom be Glory for ever So the People God conſider and acknowledge that Go… hath deſigned his Glory in all the work of His holy Providence.

p. 27(4) They will realize unto themſelves that the extraordinary Diſpenſations of God, are ſet before them for their conſideration, that they may learn ſomething from them, for His Glory & their Own benefit. For the Children of Wiſdom look upon the God of Heaven as their Father; and they cannot believe that their All-wiſe Father would preſent things before the Eyes of his Children, without any deſign of Honour to his Name or advantage to their Souls. They don't imagine that he only deſigns to amaze them or amuſe them with his diſpenſations. But they Believe that …he would have them to conſider of them ſo as to glorify Him, and get good for themſelves. They reckon themſelves call'd upon as in Job 37. 14. Stand ſtill and conſider the wondrous works of God. They conſider, Pſal. 111. 2. The works of the Lord are great, ſought out of thoſe that have pleaſure therein. So they think themſelves under obligation to take notice of the works of God. They conſider, Pſal. 107. 43. Whoſo is wiſe will obſerve thoſe things. that are done by God in his holy Providence. All the works of God are to be conſidered, wiſe Perſons are willing to conſider them as they have leiſure, advantage, ability and opportunity. But the more p. 28ſurprizing, and ſtupendous works of God call for more cloſe attention to ſee into the intention of them, and ſhould be mov… narrowly conſidered that they may be more thorowly underſtood and uſefully improved by thoſe that fear God, ſo the they may anſwer the expectations of God concerning them. The People of God ſhould bend their Minds to look into his more notable and terrible works.

And therefore,

(5) They muſt not ceaſe conſidering the extraordinary diſpenſations of God until they have learned ſomething of the… own duty, unto which they ſhould be excited by thoſe diſpenſations, that they ma… know how to behave themſelves under All the awful dealings of God. Theſe thing are implyed in Hearing the Rod and wh… hath appointed it: and in ſeeing the Name of God, when the Lord's voice cryes by extraordinary diſpenſations: We read … Heb. 12. 11. No chaſtening ſeemeth, for … preſent, joyous, but grievous; nevertheleſs afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruits of Righteouſneſs to them that are exerciſed thereby When God is by extraordinary diſpenſations of his Providence chaſtening a Sinful People, they ſhould ſo conſider of his dealings with them as to bring forth fruit p. 29of Repentance, and of Righteouſneſs, that may iſſue in everlaſting Peace to their Souls. And therefore they muſt conſider the works of God ſo that they may know what He would have them to do: It was a good reſolution of a Religious Man, Pſal. 85. 8. I'le hear what God the Lord will ſay, for he will ſpeak peace unto his (holy) People, but let them not return again to folly, (or that they may not return again to folly.) This may imply that as we muſt mind What God ſayes by his Words, that we may be reduced or preſerved from Sin; ſo we ſhould mind what God ſayes by his Works that we may be reclaimed or diverted from Sin; Be ſure we ſhould mind what God the Lord ſayes to us, both by his Words and by his Works, that we may more fully underſtand what our behaviour ought to be before the Lord. As the goodneſs of God ſhould lead us to Repentance, that we may do better than we have done; ſo by the Chaſtizements of God we ſhould be excited unto more Holineſs. And be ſure the more Awakening diſpenſations of the Moſt High are to be conſidered and improved for ſuch Ends. While dreadful Judgments of God are in the Earth, the Inhabitants of the World ſhould learn Righteouſneſs. Then would they ſee the Name p. 30of the Lord and hear his Rod. And they are made no better by the extraordinary diſpenſations of God in his Providence, it may be juſtly complained againſt them, they do not as they ſhould, behold the Majeſty of the Lord. But that the… may be no juſt reaſon for any ſuch complaint to be made againſt us:

The APPLICATION of the thing that have been delivered muſt now follow in this Uſe of Exhortation.

USE.

Let all of us evidence our ſelves to … the Children of Wiſdom, in taking ſuch Notice of the voice of the Lord crying … to us in the late extraordinary diſpenſations of His holy Providence, that we … learn the deſign of God in theſe diſpenſations, for his Glory and for our O… Benefit.

You need not, now, to be told that there have, lately, happened among us, thoſe things about which we may ſay, as … Pſal. 119. 120. My fleſh trembleth for fear thee, O Lord, and I am afraid of thy Righteous Judgments. The glorious Lord of … has been crying with … voice to … p. 31Town. We ſhould approve our ſelves the Children of Wiſdom, in ſeeing the Name of God, and hearing the Voice of his Rod, and who hath appointed it, that we may …now ſomething of what He would have … to do.

May we, in ſome reſpects, ſay the very face of the Earth under our feet, the floor …ver the Pit of Hell ſeems to be ſo bur…ened with our Sins, that it ſinks and …racks, and begins to break and ſplit and …ery dreadfully give way under the burthen? Do the Fiends of darkneſs begin … appear, as it were, above ground, acting horrible Tragedies among us? What, …ay we think, would the Devils do, might …hey do what they would, and as they would upon the Face of the Earth? Would they not ſtrike People down with cruel blows and ſtab them to Death, and …ry to burn them in their Blood to Aſhes, and make the whole Inhabited World a …neer Aceldama, a fi…ld of Blood & of Fire? Have we not ſeen ſome of the horrible …parks of the S…lphureous Lake riſing up and flying about among us? Don't we profeſs to believe that the All wiſe God …ath permitted theſe things in His holy Providence? Can we imagine that theſe things have come to paſs without the p. 32Divine Permiſſion? But if the glorious God has permitted ſuch things among … muſt we not believe that He has had ſon Holy deſigns therein?

Then ſhould we not endeavour to know what God would have us to learn by …. Tremendous, Horrendous diſpenſations Are we not willing to Hear what the voice of the Lord cryes unto us by His Rod with which He hath been ſcourging of … That we may be aſſiſted about this …: [and if we are indeed the Children of Wiſdom, we ſhall be glad of any ſuitable ſuggeſtions for our aſſiſtance] Let … following things be, in the fear of Go… Religiouſly entertained in our Serious Conſiderations.

I. Does not the Lords Voice cry … unto us? Oh! Let all People conſider more, than they have done, about the … Nature of In-dwelling Corruption, … dreadful venome of Original Sin; the Wonderful violence of the evil that doth eaſily beſet us, if the common reſtraints … God be removed from our wicked heart. And let us manifeſt our ſelves to be the Children of Wiſdom, in duly laying … heart the Venemous evil of our Sinful Natures. And why ſhould not the … p. 33Rod of God upon us make us more ſenſible, than ever we have been, of our dreadful danger of being ruined for ever, by the wickedneſs of our own hearts, if the Righteous and Holy GOD ſhould but leave us unto our own curſed inclinations to comply with the cruel Solicitations of the Adverſaries of our Souls. For, Alas! We do not all of us enough conſider this thing: …on't all of us enough conſider this thing! Alas! where be any of us that duly conſider it, and lay to heart, as we ſhould the wickedneſs of our own Hearts? Don't …oſt of us, when we hear of any uncommon …illany committed by any of our Neighbours, think within our ſelves, I hope I …all never be ſo wicked. And are we not …clinable to think that we are better Principled than to do ſuch wickedneſs. And therefore may the Righteous and Holy, God, now and then, ſuffer a wicked Sinner to run furiouſly and horribly into outragious wickedneſs, that we might more conſider the dreadful wickedneſs of the … that dwelleth in us.

We do know, we may own, that our firſt Parents were made Holy and Righteous. They were created in the Image of God. They had no Sin dwelling in them … cleaving to them, as they come out of p. 34the hands of their glorious Creator: … when they had hearkened unto the … Solicitations of their grand Adverſary, … enemy of God and of all goodneſs, as eaten to the forbidden fruit of the … in the midſt of the garden, where the were placed, of the fruit of which … God has forbidden them to eat; the they were deprived of that Original Righteouſneſs wherein they were created; as in the room of that Righteouſneſs, the… had a vicious diſpoſition immediately ſe… ing of them and cleaving to them. The preſently became Sinners, hating of the Maker: Their Souls were filled … hatred againſt the God that brought them out of nothing into Being.

And about the Farther of all the People that have lived ſince the Flood, we rea… (in Gen. 5. 3.) Adam begat a Son, in own likeneſs, after his own Image, and call his name Seth. And all the Children Seth are born Sinners. About them, well as about the Children of Cain, we read (Gen 6. 5.) Every imagination of the though… of his heart was onelyonly evil continually. … we read (in Gen. 8. 21.) The imagination of mans heart is evil from his youth. As … a Man as Job demands, Who can bring clean thing out of an unclean? As holy p. 35Man as David, Confeſſes, In Iniquity was I ſ…apen, and conceived in Sin. Solomon acknowledges before God, Every man hath the plague in his own Heart. He alſo demands, Who can ſay, I have made my Heart clean, I am pure from my Sin? Iſaiah acknowledges, We are all as an unclean thing. Jeremiah declares, The Heart is deceitful above all things and deſperately wicked. Our Saviour ſays, Out of the Heart proceed evil Thoughts, Murders, Adulteries and other vile Things. What! Do we need any more Teſtimonies? All the Saints of God muſt …nite and agree in that Acknowledgment … Eph. 2 3. We are all by nature Children of Wrath. All of us are Born into the World, with Hearts full of Sin, with Corrupt Natures empty of Grace, ready to Sin, ready only to Sin, always ready to Sin. About all Wicked Sinners we find in Pſal. 58. 3. They go aſtray as ſoon as they are born, ſpeaking lies. And who are not ſuch Wicked Sinners by Nature? We find in Pſal. 14. 2. The Lord looked down from Heaven, to ſee if there were any that did underſtand and ſeek God. (But how did things appear? If follows.) They are all gone aſide, they are together become filthy, there is none that doth good, no not one. The ſame things are told over unto us in p. 36Pſal. 53. People are too unwilling … believe ſo ſad a Truth as this, that the have ſuch Corrupt Natures. Be ſure Unconverted Sinners don't love to conſider it. And may not the beſt of the Saint of God, by their own lamentable experience, find in their own Souls, too much of Inclination to forget the Wickedneſs o… their own hearts, upon many ſorrows Occaſions? Therefore the Lord ſees … often to inculcate the conſideration of th… Truth in, Rom. 3 9. All are under … There is none Righteous, no not one, … the World is become Guilty before Go… all have Sinned and come ſhort of the Glory of God. And in Rom. 5. 12. By … man Sin entred into the World and Death Sin, ſo Death hath paſſed upon all, for … (in him,) all have Sinned. But alas, … conſiders it, how few duly conſider … corruption of their Natures, and their clinableneſs to Sin againſt God. It ſhould be more conſidered. Now does not … Lord by His Voice, in what He has late done among us, call upon us all to … this matter more into our ſerious conſideration, than we have commonly don… Oh! think more ſadly about the ſinfulneſs of Indwelling Sin. But,

p. 37II. Does not the Lords Voice cry this unto us? Oh! Let all People be more Thankful unto God, than ever they have been, for the common Reſtraints, whereby God has preſerved People from that Outragious Wickedneſs and Horrendous Miſery, that their Indwelling Corruption would carry and hurry them into, if they were not ſo Reſtrained by God: and remember Chriſt Purchaſing this good. And let us all manifeſt our ſelves the Children of Wiſdom in giving Thanks to the Glorious God for His common Reſtraints upon Sinners, and conſider, if this may not be one Voice of the Rod of God lately ſcourging of us. Oh! be more thankful to God for common Reſtraints from …in and from Woe.

Are any People Reſtrained by a Principle of Grace within them? Hath God put this fear ſo into their Hearts, that they dare not do Wickedly, but ſay, upon any Solicitation to Sin, as he in Gen. 39. 9. How ſhall I do this wickedneſs and ſin againſt God? Certainly, thoſe Gracious Perſons, thoſe Fearers of God will be Thankful to God, every day, for His Grace to their Souls, and for his Preſervations of their Souls from Sinning againſt Him: and they will own Chriſt procuring p. 38this good. If People think that they have Saving Grace in their Souls, but are no Thankful to God for being preſerved from Sin; they have juſt reaſon to fear, that they have hitherto deceived their own Souls. If you are holy Perſons, you will be Thankful to God, in Chriſt, for His Grace, and will own as in 1 Cor. 15. 10 By the Grace of God, I am what I am. … in Gal. 2. 20. I live, yet not I, but … liveth in me, and the life that I live in … Fleſh, I live by the Faith of the Son of … who hath loved me, and given Himſelf for … This will be the diſpoſition of truly Gracious Perſons. But if People have been Reſtrained from Sin, chiefly, by the Convictions of their Conſciences, Oh! … them be Thankful to God for thoſe Convictions. Bleſs the Lord for enkindling thoſe Convictions in your Souls, and … keeping them alive. And while you have been preſerved from great Wickedneſs Remember, God may ſay unto you, as … him in Gen. 20 6. I withhold thee from Sinning againſt me. Oh! What Sins an… Woes would Unconverted Sinners quickly ruſh into, if they were not withheld … the Glorious God. If the Martyr (Bra… ford) might ſay, there is that Wickedneſs in my heart, that would make me do as Wickedly p. 39as the Wickedeſt of Sinners, if God ſhould leave me to my ſelf. And if the Father (Bernard) might ſay to any, that told him of any fault of another, Ay, he is fall'n, I ſhall fall next, and then you may fall; if the Lord do not uphold us. And if the Man after Gods own Heart ſaw cauſe to Pray, as in Pſal. 19 13. Keep back thy Servant, O Lord, from Preſumptuous Sins. Then what Sins would Ungodly People fall into, if left unto themſelves? And then what reaſon have all to be Thankful for the Reſtraints of common Grace afforded unto Sinners.

And if you have been Reſtrained from Sin, by any ſort of Afflictions, Oh! then acknowledge, It is good to have been Afflicted, that I might be preſerved from Sinning againſt God. Hath God ſo hedged up your way with Thorns, that you could not break into the Paths of Ungodlineſs, without expoſing your ſelf to many, certain, ruining inconveniencies? Be thankful for ſuch Reſtraints of God.

And be Thankful to God for Civil Government, ſo far upheld in the World, as it is, that Sinners who have no Grace in their Souls, no fear of God before their Eyes, no Conviction upon their Conſciences, nor be they Bridled nor Fettered by, p. 40any Afflictions: yet are under ſome ſet of the Wrath of the Civil Magiſtrate, … is not to bear the Sword in vain; but ſhould be a Terror to thoſe Evil Doers, that … not be terrifyed from their Villanies … any other means. How many Sinner would be much more Wicked than they are, if they were not a little awed … ſome good Order, by ſome fear of the Sword of Humane Juſtice, that might read them for ſome or other of their Wickedneſſes. We find it was very bad with Iſrael, when there was no King in Iſrael, … every Man did what was right in his o… Eves; and very ſad with another People when there was no Magiſtrate [or Maſt of Reſtraint] that might put People ſhame, by reſtraining them from at Wickedneſs. Then ſhould we acknowledge the goodneſs of God in upholding of Civil Government, ſo much, in … World for the preventing of the Wickedneſs of Sinners.

But beſides all theſe things, we m… conſider, the immediate care of the Glorious God, over his Creatures, and m… give Thanks unto the Lord for that … without which, all … means, for … preventing of the Wickedneſs of Sinner would be unſucceſsful. We read in Pſal. p. 41127 1. Except the Lord keepeth the City, the Watchman waketh but in vain. So we may ſay, that except the Lord exerciſe an immediate care about his Creatures, all the common means for their preſervation from Sin and Woe, would be inſufficient. For we ſee, we know that ſome Sinners may arrive to ſuch degrees of Wicked Madneſs, that they fear neither God nor Man; They care not what becomes of themſelves, their Souls or Bodies, for Time or for Eternity. And in their Mad Rage, what Miſchief would they not do, if they were not Reſtrained by the Almighty Power of God? by His more immediate Providence? What Raging Fury do ſome Sinners diſcover, ſometimes, in their Drunkenneſs or in their Paſſion? What Wickedneſs, would they not do at ſuch times; did not the All Powerful and All-Merciful God hinder them, in Compaſſion to their Neighbours, that would be very Miſerable, if the Wrath of ſuch inconſiderate People were not Reſtrained by His Power, who alone can keep the World in any good Order, Then let us be Thankful to God, for His continual and immediate care about us, …hat we may walk in the Street, and ſit in the Houſe ordinarily, without a continual and aſtoniſhing dread upon our minds, leſt p. 42any wicked Sinner near us, might be … wicked, as to ſtrike us with Mortal Blow or ſtick us with Killing Stabs, unawa… unto us. Oh! Give Thanks to the Lor… for his continual and hitherto-continued Preſervations.

But we have not well done with the Article of Thankfulneſs, until we have Thankfully conſidered, unto whom … are obliged for the purchaſing of all the Preſervations. They are all from the … Grace of God, and they all come to moſt freely, without any deſert in us. … deſerve none of thoſe Preſervations, … we, every day, experience. But yet the are purchaſed by One, that has paid … for them. Our Lord Jeſus Chriſt has been expoſed unto innumerable Woes an… Sorrows and Miſeries, and hath been mad… a Sin-Offering, that we might be preſerve from common Miſchiefs, in this Wor… as well as from Eternal Miſery. And we may readily acknowledge, that Jeſus Chriſt, who is is the Living God, is the Saving of all Men. [All People in the World generally, enjoy abundance of Tempor… Salvations, by the Mediation of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt] Tho' we muſt ever mo… firmly believe, that He is the Saviour, ſpecially, of them, that believe in Him. The p. 43… ſaved, with Eternal Salvation, while others do experience multitudes of Temporal Salvations, by common Preſervations while they live in this World, by means of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. And therefore ſhould we be Thankful to God, in our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, for common Preſervations, while we are living in this preſent evil World. All People have cauſe to Thank God for Chriſt. Now may'nt we hear his Voice of the Lord Crying unto us, Oh! … very Thankful to God, in Jeſus Chriſt, … that you are yet alive. And

III. Does not the Lords Voice Cry … unto us? Oh! Let all People be more concerned, than ever they have yet been, make ſure, about ſaving Converſion, that … are turned from Sin to God, in Jeſus Chriſt, that the Body of Sin may be conquered and ſubdued. And therefore be adviſed to repair to and rely on the once …ucifyed, but now Glorifyed Redeemer, … His Life and His Death may bring Life into your Souls, and may bring Death into your Sins; that by vertue of a real …ion with Him, your Souls may, by … Grace and Power of His Holy Spirit, … preſerved from the power of Indwelling Corruption. Let us all now manifeſt our p. 44ſelves the Children of Wiſdom in ſee … the Name of God ſo as to comply wi… this Voice of His Rod. Oh! No long delay the Work of ſerious Converſion … God in Jeſus Chriſt. But now turn from all Sin to God, in Chriſt; now get a principle of Grace in your Souls; now get your Souls poſſeſſed with the Holy Spirit … God; now Believe in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt that you may have Life Everlaſting … in your Souls; and therefore now Cry … the God of all Grace, for His Grace, … you may Believe in Chriſt; now try … commit your periſhing Souls into … Hands of a Merciful Saviour; now co… ply with the firſt and the leaſt Motion of the Holy Spirit of God, exciting … to Believe in Chriſt; and fear to contin… one day longer, under the power of … a pernicious Principle of Indwelling Corruption. But

Then, if you hope that there is a … of Grace, begun in your Souls, & …hat yo… Souls begin to Live, and the Body of … in your Souls, hath received it's Death wound, be not ſatisfyed with hopes, … you are got into a good ſtate, a ſtate Grace; but Pray daily for more ſtrength and for new ſupplies of Grace from … Lord Jeſus Chriſt, that you may be … p. 45ſerved from all the energy of Indwelling Corruption, that no Iniquity may have Dominion over you, that the remainders of Sin within you, may not be too hard for you; For there is need of the ſame powerful Grace, to keep a Soul from going in the way of Sin, that is needful to … a Soul out of a ſtate of Sin. The …eſt of Saints have ſo much of Sin, ſtill abiding in them, as long as they abide in …s World, that they have need of daily, and hourly, continual, aſſiſting Grace for their preſervation from falling into Sin, as well as they had need of the Grace of God … turn them from a courſe of Sin. Tho' … be very common for not only Sinners, … fear they are not Converted, to think; Oh! If they were once brought into a … of Grace and furniſhed with a principle of ſaving Grace in their Souls, then they ſhould be able to keep from Sin; …ut even real Saints are too often ready to imagine, that they ſhall be able, by the ſtrength of Grace received, to overcome … Temptations, with which they may be Aſſaulted. But they ſhould remember, how it was with the Fall'n Angels and with our Firſt Parents, before they Sinned. And remember, that ſome of the beſt of Saints, that ever lived, in the World, failed, p. 46when they were tryed, in ſome of the graces, wherein lay their peculiar excellency; as Abraham in his Faith, Job in his …, David in his Tenderneſs of Heart, … in his Courage for his Maſter. … found that they could ſtand no long than while they were upheld by the … Power of God. They needed the … of God with them, to keep alive the … of God in them. How did Joſeph con… greater Temptations, than thoſe … with David was conquered? Sovereign Grace, coming with ſeaſonable aſſiſtance made the difference. Therefore as … have heard, the experienced Saint of … Prays, Lord, keep back thy Servant … Preſumptuous ſins; and in Pſal. 119. Let not any iniquity have dominion ever And the Apoſtle complains, While I … do good, Evil is preſent with me. The… there need for the ſtrongeſt of Chriſti… while in this World, to Pray for … ſtrength, for new Grace from Chriſt, of whom, they can do nothing (as … 15 5) that they may be able to ſay Phil. 4. 13. I can do all things … Chriſt, who ſtrentheneth me.

IV. Does not the Lords Voice … this unto us, Oh! Let all People … p. 47more carefully than ever they have done, avoid all thoſe things, that would hinder thoſe Duties of Secret, Private and Publick Religion, wherein they might have Communion with God ſo as to maintain their Victory over Indwelling Corruption. For … you neglect Secret Duties, no wonder if … as grow ſecretly, and get ſtrength inſenſibly. Therefore ſhun Sloth, Idleneſs, Indifferency about the Secret Duties of Region. If you are grown ſlack to or cold … the Duties of the Cloſet, there is need … beware. And if you neglect Private duties, no wonder if ſin break out into …en view, and cauſe much trouble. Therefore ſhould, Husbands and Wives, carefully ſhun all ſinful ſtrife and contention, …oſt lovingly agree about every thing, that their Prayers may not be hindered. And … you neglect Publick Duties, wonder not … ſin prevail more and more! Therefore … all Pride & Self-conceitedneſs. Don't …ink that becauſe you know ſo much, Therefore there's no need of your attending … Publick Worſhip of God: For that is … be attended, not only, to encreaſe Knowledge, but alſo to excite Practiſe. And … the Glory of God as well as for your … benefit, and the benefit of others… you have, all, need to attend at the p. 48means of Grace, that you can attend, that you may improve all the helps for good that you can improve, as long as you liv… in this World: Therefore dread forſaking the Aſſembling of your ſelves together to the Service of God. For if you leave God God may leave you: But then who will take you? What will become of you? What Wickedneſs and Miſery may yo… quickly fall into? And take heed … Stifling the Convictions of Conſcience as ſo grieving the holy Spirit of God Grieve Him not by Sinful delayes abo… doing good: For if you grieve the holy Spirit, he may go from you. And if … goes, who will come? The evil Spirit may come and Poſſeſs you. But wo un… you, if you are Poſſeſſed by Satan.

V. Does not the Lords Voice cry thi… unto us. Oh! Let all People be mo… careful, than ever they have been, to ſhut all the Paths of the Deſtroyer of Souls, that he may never meet them, in any of hi… Paths. All Sin gives the Devil an advantage againſt our Souls. But ſome Sins, … more Peculiarly, furniſh him with adva… …ages to do miſchief unto us: Drunkenneſs Uncleanneſs, Idleneſs, Unlawful Gaming Vain Company Keeping, Blaſpheming … p. 49Name of the Lord, Prophaning his Day or his Houſe: And conſulting Books, that pretend to help to the Knowledge of any forbidden curioſities about ſecret or future things. Books of Palmſtry, or Chiromancy, Judicial Aſtrology or Fortune telling, turning, what they call, the Wheel of Fortune; or when People go to thoſe, whom they call Cunning Perſons, … find their loſt or ſtol'n Goods, or to know …ow they ſhall be Related or Circumſtanced in the World. And when they … ſilly Notions about ſuch and ſuch things being Signs of Good or Evil to themſelves or others; and when they think ſome dayes to be Lucky or Unlucky for …his or that buſineſs. And when they Place a great dependance on fooliſh Dreams. Too many Sinners, by theſe things and the like, do (as one ſayes) play upon the hole of the Aſp. And the Fiends of darkneſs …ake, hold of them ſooner, and oftener than they are aware. Let not the enemy of our Souls ever find any of us in any of theſe Paths of his; but conſtantly remember the advice, in 1 Pet. 5. 8. Be ſober, be watchful, for your Adverſary the Devil goes about like a roaring lion, ſeeking whom he may devour. But if in this Walks, he find any of us nibling at any of the baits, that he p. 50hath laid; or playing among his Nets … Snares, no wonder if he lay ſuch hold … us, as will iſſue in our laſting Ruin… Remember you have been warned, not … to reſiſt the Devil, that he may flee from you, but alſo, to keep out of all his wayes And therefore conſider,

IV. Does not the Lord cry this … us. Oh! Let all People, more than … they have done, beware of all back ſliding from good beginnings. For they that begin to backſlide from good, are going … one of the wayes of the Devil; who … begun to do well, to Praiſe God; once … the Sons of God ſang together and ſhould for joy, (Job. 37. 8.) But he left off doing well: So they that leave off to do … they do like the Devil, they take his … and they give advantage to him againſt their own Souls. Then if you have … to Pray to God, begun to Read & … the Word of God, begun to take heed … to your wayes according to Gods … begun to order your Steps in his Word begun to make ſome Eſſays about Securing your Intereſt in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, as getting aſſurance of an Union with … glorious Redeemer, and begun to be earneſtly concerned about the affairs of you… Souls, and to work out your Salvation … p. 51Fear and Trembling. Oh! Take heed of all declenſions from ſuch good beginnings, for if you begin to decline from what is good, you begin to incline to what … evil: And then will your iniquity get more power over you, than ever, and then will the Adverſaries of your Souls get more Poſſeſſion of your Souls than ever: And then will your condition grow more dreadful than ever: Therefore frequently remember and conſider the awful Admonitions that have been frequently mentioned and repeated unto you, in the Name and …ear of the Lord, from, 1 Chron. 28… Pſal. 73. 27. Pſal. 125 4. Prov. 14. 14. … 17. 5. Luke 9. 62. Heb. 3. 12. Heb. 10. …8. 2 Pet 2. 20—22. 1 Job. 2. 19. And Oh! Take heed of the firſt and the leaſt Motions to depart from God, or to draw …ack or decline from the wayes of God…ineſs. For if your Souls do but begin to decline, there is danger of your declining more and more, unleſs your do preſently endeavour to recover from thoſe beginnings of declenſions from God. For the Devil may know more about the Motions of …our Sinful Hearts than you do imagine. He may have more of an hand, than you are aware, in moving of your hearts to Sin, … turning of them from God & from the, p. 52Truths & Wayes of God, and from tho… things that concern the Lord Jeſus Chriſt and the good of your Souls; Therefore Oh! Don't give way to any Sinful Motion to a revolt from God. The Motions … a revolting backſliding Heart are of a dangerous tendency.

But if you have uttered any expreſſion about your intentions, to leave any of … wayes of Religion, than it is high time … look about you. The Devil has gains a dreadful point againſt you, he has … a fearful power over you. And you … Repent of your Sinful intentions, and … from your Sinful expreſſions, and confeſs and bewail them before the Lord, … before the World too, as openly as … you have diſcovered them, or you can … no aſſurance that you are clear from … power of Satan. For if he hath prevail ſo far as to perſwade you to engage, … your Tongue or Pen, for his intereſt, … hath gained a very dreadful dominion … your miſerable Souls: But if you … begun openly to decline from God, a… others have ſeen your declenſions, yo… danger grows daily greater and greater And if you have been adviſed and … to Reform, and yet you continue … a ſtupid frame, this would be … p. 35ſad Sign upon you. And ſtill more ſad will things look upon you, if you can Mock and Scoff at all admonitions or ex…ortations to turn to God. And if you have ſaid, that you will never take any Notice of any Reproofs to reduce and reclaim you from the evils and errors of your ways, it will appear yet more ſad. But, if, inſtead of recovering from your own Backſlidings, you are endeavouring to en…ice and ſeduce others into the ways of Apoſtacy and Impiety: and if you begin … Perſecute and Vilify the holy People of God on account of their Holineſs, and hate …hem the more, becauſe of their likeneſs …nto the Holy God; then the Devil has … faſt hold of your Souls, and there will quickly be room for little more to be ſaid or you, than The Lord have Mercy on you. Conſider theſe things ye that forſake the Lord, le…t He quickly tear you in Pieces, and there be none to deliver you. But we have not yet heard all the things, that … Lords Voice Crys unto us. For

VII. Does not the Lords Voice Cry his unto us? O, Let all People conſider, …ore than ever they have conſidered, what dreadful thing it is to fall into the hands … Satan! A dreadful thing it is to be under p. 54the Power of … Devil! A dread thing it is for Sinners to be led Cap… by the Devil, at his …ill! A dreadful … for the Devil to have his will … Undone, Miſerable Sinners! Have … not ſeen what ſhould make us to this Oh! The dreadfulneſs of the Miſery … thoſe, of whom it may be ſaid, The … has the maſtery of them. He does what … pleaſes with them Dreadful the Con… tion of thoſe that are ſo delivered to Satan that he continually Tyrannizes over th…. The holy Apoſtle would ſay, Heb. 10 It is a fearful thin. [in a peculiar manner for Backſliders from Chriſtianity!] to … into the hands of the Living God. Yet he… David would ſay, (1 Chron. 21. 13.) … me fall into the hand of the Lord, (for … great are His Mercies,) but let me not … into the hand of Man. He conſider the tender Mercies of many Men are c… elty. But then, what would he think falling into … hands of Satan? Be … that is dreadful! Oh! how dreadful dreadful!

We learn from the Holy Bible that … may be angry … an whole People, for … Sin: Then he may ſuffer one Perſon, … occaſion that miſery, that ſhall be a Puniſhment upon the whole People, for … p. 55…. But he may ſuffer Satan to ſtir up … Perſon to that thing that ſhall occaſion Miſery to the whole People. So the Lord …ay be ſaid to do that, as the Supreme A…ent which may be done by Satan, as the inſtrument. And Satan may be ſaid to do …at by another, which he moves another … by his Temptations: According to …hat we read, in 2 Sam. 24 1. where we … The anger of the Lord was kindled … Iſrael, and he moved David againſt … to ſay, Go, number Iſrael and Judah. … when we read the Story, in 1 Chron. … 1. We find it thus related;—Satan … up againſt Iſrael and provoked David to … Iſrael—The meaning is this, the … was angry at his People for their Sins, their Unthankfulneſs for his Mercy might … their Sin] Satan was willing to take … of any occaſion to vent his Malice … Venome againſt the People of God, … to ſhew his hatred againſt the Lord; the Lord gave Satan leave to move David, (probably by his Courtiers) to Number the People. David numbring the People without any juſt occaſion or direction … God, Sinned againſt God. The Lord puniſhed the Sin of David, by deſtroying ſeveral Thouſands of his People: And the Lord puniſhed the Ingratitude of the People for his Mercies, by the deſtruction that p. 56came upon them. What is now to be … is this; The Lord may, in ſome reſpect be ſaid to do that, which may, in another reſpect, be ſaid to be done by Satan. … Satan may be ſaid to do that, which may move other Sinners to do. And … then? Thus alſo may Sinners be … to fall into hands of the Lord, and … to the hands of Men, at the ſame in when they may alſo be ſaid to fall into hands of Satan.

But now we are to conſider, It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of Satan To be Knock'd and Maul'd and Bea… Bang'd and Stab'd and Chopp'd, and in Pieces by the cruel ſtrokes of his … leſs hands: Who will not ſay, 'Tis dreadsful? Then, Oh! Take heed of all … keep clear from all Sin: make haſte to … out of the hands of Satan; make ſpeed … get under the Wings of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. And commit & reſign yourſelf into his Almighty & Merciful hands, ve…ture your ſelves into his Arms; Do … NOW, before it be too late. He is … to Save to the Uttermoſt, all that come God, through him, and he will, in no … caſt out any, that come to him. Then pair to him, rely on him, reſt and truſt him for all Salvation. Don't abide p. 57…nger under the power of Satan. Dread … a Miſery, Be impatient, while ſo Miſerable. God allows you and requires you … be impatient, while under ſuch terrible …avery. Beg and Cry and Pray, as for our Lives, that you may experience thoſe bleſſings, in Act. 26 18. To have your eyes opened, to be turned from darkneſs to light from … power of Satan to God, to receive the forgiveneſs of Sin, with an inheritance among …em, that are Sanctifyed through faith in Chriſt.! And Beg and Cry and Pray unto the God all Grace, that he would glorify his free …ace for the ſake of Chriſt, in giving you … Faith, whereby you may believe in … Son of God with all your Hearts for … Salvation of your Souls. And,

Oh! Let the Little Children here get … keep clear from the devourer of their …! Children! If you would get and … out of the hands of Satan, you muſt … ſure to hate and …hun all the ways and …ws of Sin. Don't Speak bad Words; … call Vile Names, don't tell Untruths, … rebel againſt your Parents, don't …rrel with your Companions, don't Profane the Lords Day, don't Sinfully ſpend …ay your own Young Days in Idleneſs; … honour your Father and Mother Keep … Tongue from Evil. Try to pleaſe p. 58and help all about you. Fear God, Le… his Truths, Mind his Wayes, Love & … the Lord Jeſus Chriſt Pray to God as you Heavenly Father, Night and Day, in for Secret Place: And earneſtly deſire of … to help you to believe in his Son Jeſus Chriſt. Pray that he would give you S… ving Grace in your Souls, Pray that … Holy Spirit may dwell in you Pray … his Holy Angels may defend you … that you may Live in … Fear and … …y in his Love, that … and … you may …e the Lords. Then ſhall deſtroyer of Souls have to power … you.

… not the Lords Voice his unto us. Oh Let … People. … diligently, prontably and thankfully … ever, improve all Opportunities … do get good, with all Relations, becauſe … not how ſpeedily. … ſuddenly Opportunities may expire. They may … Oh … now ſhort a time. … the call of God, now unto every … Ecel. 9 10. Do with my might, … that … for … not now ſoon all Seaſons for do Good may be ever for ever: nor … wayes, God … out in end p. 59any time, to do good, or to get good with thy Relations. Then Children, Be thankful to God, that you have your Parents yet with you. Love them, Honour them, Obey them, carry it Dutifully to them, and make their Souls glad by your walking in the Wayes of God. Walk in the Truth and Walk after Chriſt, and Walk in the Way to Heaven, that your Parents may have Joy in you, while Living and when Dying. And think, ſome Children among our Neighbours, had Parents living with … this day Se'nnight, but where are they, …ow? The Condition of theſe Children … have been yours: Oh! Be Thankful to God that your Condition is better than theirs, and get good by your Parents.

And Parents, Be Thankful to God, that …ou have your Children continued with … while other Parents are Mourning with broken, bleeding Hearts, on account … their Children, whoſe Blood has been, … Inhumanely, ſhed, within theſe few … and they may now ſay of them, They … For they are gone Oh! Pity thoſe … Bereaved Parents and Pray for them, that they may experience the Compaſſions of Heaven, the Conſolations of …. And Oh! do all the good you can p. 60for the Souls of your Children, while the are continued with you; Adore, Admit the Diſtinguiſhing Mercy of God unto … in their being hitherto preſerved and continued with you, that you may ſtill be doin… good for their Immortal Souls.

And Husbands and Wives do all … good you can for the Souls one of … while you have time to be ſo doing good. And take heed, leſt by Omitts of any Duty of Religion, the God of Heaven be ſo provoked, as to leave any of … unto the committing of ſome Evil or other that may be fatally pernicious unto yo… Souls. Oh! make Conſcience of conſtantly preſerving and cheriſhing … Affection that ſhould, in the fear of God be continually maintained by ſuch Relatives. Live together, as Heirs together of the Grace of Life.

And Brothers and Siſters Love one another, and be Thankful to God, for continuing your Opportunities to be helpful … the Souls, one of another, and improved your Opportunities, under the Impreſs… of this Conſideration, that you know … how ſoon they may all come unto … final Period.

p. 61IX. Does not the Lords Voice Cry this unto us: Oh! Let all Perſons be alwayes ready for Death, for Judgment and for Eternity! And let them all make haſte and make ſure about their Preparation for thoſe things; becauſe they know not how ſurprizingly the Lord may call them away by Death, to appear before His Tribunal, … receive their Eternally Unchangeable Doom. It was of Old, adviſed, Mat. …4. 44. Be ye ready, for in ſuch an hour, is you think not, the Son of Man cometh. So … is very often, The Lord comes and …alls by Death, when Perſons, leaſt of all think of any ſuch thing. Little or nothing did thoſe Poor Women, Murdered within theſe Six Days, think of their own Death being ſo near, but a few Minutes before the Mortal ſtrokes were given. So little or nothing do any of us think about things that may ſuddenly come upon ſome or other of us. There may come ſudden, awful things, that are now altogether unexpected by any of us. Who, among us all, expected this day Se'n night, what hath happened within this Week? Tho' we had not been without warning … look and fit for awful things. And is there not reaſon ſtill to fear more awful things to come, unleſs means be attended p. 62for the preventing of them? Oh! th… they might be prevented! Oh! that tho… things might be done, that muſt be do… if they are prevented! But what are the things that muſt be done, that bad thing may be prevented. Briefly, Three thing muſt be done, that bad things may be prevented. If any one of theſe three thing be neglected, generally, among us, … may juſtly fear that ſadder things … come than all thoſe that have come. Th… what are thoſe three things, to be attended? One thing is this; Let Prayer God be more conſtantly attended by … People, than it has, generally, been attended. Oh! That all Perſons would Pray ways, [in all Times for Prayer,] with … Prayer [all Sorts of Prayer, Publick, Private, Secret, both Ejaculatory and continued on ordinary and extraordinary Occaſions] with Supplications in the Spi… watching there-unto with perſeverance requeſting the bleſſings of Heaven … themſelves and all their Neighbours, as eſpecially the Saints of God; this wou… be a means to preſerve the Preſence God with us, and then God would preſerve us from evil. Another thing is this Let care of Truth be, more commonly regarded by all People than it has, generally, p. 63been regarded. Oh! that all Perſons would get Truth of Grace in their Hearts, keep Truth of Speech in their Lips, and mind the Truth of God's Word for the ordering of their Lives: Then might we hope that the God of Truth would be graciouſly preſent with us, and then what evil could befall us? But there is another thing that muſt not be forgotten. That other thing is this; Let Love to Chriſt be, univerſally, entertained in our Souls and evidenced by our Lives. This would be … Token for good unto us. If all Perſons among us, would maintain a due Eſteem …or Chriſt, in their affections, and expreſs … high value for Chriſt by their Converſations and would be continually and ſolicitouſly exerciſed, upon all ſuitable Occaſions, with ſerious endeavours to ſecure their intereſt in the glorious Redeemer of Souls, and to be promoting the Glory of the Son of God; then we ſhould have God with us, and he would effectually drive the Devils, and all Evils away from us. He would ſoon chain up thoſe Tygers of Hell, ſo that they ſhould, no longer, annoy …, nor do us any real harm. Oh! that theſe counſels might be followed! But if Sinners will ſtill generally, continue as they have been, Prayerleſs, Deceitful, Undervaluing p. 64the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, neglecting … great Salvation, freely offered in his Goſpel; then there will ſad things come, ſadde… than all that have come. God knows wh… they will be. However it is good for … to make ſure about our own Preparation for Death, for Judgment, for Eternity, ſeeing the Lords Voice cryes unto us, You know no… how ſuddenly your Lives … end.

X. Certainly, the Lords Voice cry this, very plainly, very loudly unto … Let unfeigned Repentance, and evidence Repentance be practiſed by all People, … ſo their terrible, eternal perdition may … prevented. Oh! let us all ſhow our ſelves to be the Children of Wiſdom, in hearkening to this cry of the Voice of the Lord our God, in what he has been lately … among us; let all Repent, that ſo no… may periſh. This would be to hear … Rod, ſo as it ſhould be heard, to hear well.

After the Lord had told his People …old, about ſeveral dreadful Judgment brought upon them, and yet they remain impenitent, He tells them thus; I on threw ſome of you, as I over-threw Sodom a G…m…rrha, [burning, fiery Judgments … p. 65been brought upon them; for he ſayes] and ye were as a Fire-brand pluck'd out of the burning; yet you have not returned unto me, ſaith the Lord: They were ſtill incorrigible after all; then he tells them, as in Amos 4 12 Therefore thus will I do unto thee O Iſrael! [How is that? As he had threatned with an Oath, in the ſecond verſe. The Lord God hath Sworn by his holineſs, that lo, the dayes ſhall come upon you, that I will take you away with books, and your Poſterity with fiſh-books. Both Parents and Children ſhould ſuffer grievous Miſeries, and be, generally, miſerably deſtroyed. But yet ſayes the Merciful God] And becauſe I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Iſrael, How better then with deep Humiliation, ſincere and fervent Supplication, with penitential Confeſſion of their Sins, with bitterneſs of Soul, with brokenneſs of Heart; with Hearts broken for and from ſin, ſo as to be ready and willing to forſake Sin, putting away all their iniquities, far from them, relying on the Great Sacrifice for obtaining Pardon of Sin and Reconciliation with God. Such Preparation to meet the Lord, would well become us, at this day. There ſhould be Repentance for Sin; this hath two things implyed in it, as in Prov. 28. 13. Confeſſing of Sin with p. 66forſaking of Sin. It is not enough to Confeſs our Sins, if we are not inclined to forſake them: nor is it enough to forſake … Sins, if we are not diſpoſed to Confe… them. Confeſſing and Forſaking of si… muſt go together; if Repentance be … feigned, if it be, as it ought to be, from thy Heart. But if it be from the Heart, it will be in the Life: Unfeigned Repentance will be evident Repentance. If Repentance be real in the Heart, it will appear in the Life, and it will continue as long … Life continues.

Now ſuch Repentance does the Lo… call for from us, with a loud Voice: … loud Voice of the Lord cryes to us, Oh Repent of all your Sins, with all … Hearts, that you may be Saved; And … unto the Exalted Saviour to give ſuch Repentance & Remiſſion of Sin. Get you Penitent Souls waſhed from all wickedneſs in the blood of the Lamb of God, th… you may not periſh: And Live Repenting as long as you live; Then dy Repenting when you come to dy. Dy, exerciſes Repentance unto life, unto Salvation, … you have been evidencing a Life of Repentance through the whole courſe of your life. That our Lord Redeemer calls … ſuch Repentance, you may find before … p. 67Sermon is finiſhed, in Luk. 13 3 5. Where, after ſome had told him concerning one terrible tragedy of ſeveral Perſons, that were dreadfully butchered, and their blood mingled with fire, & he had told them concerning another ſorrowful Accident, whereby ſeveral Perſons were ſuddenly hurryed out of the World; he cautions them againſt the too common evil of Uncharitably cenſuring thoſe that had been the greateſt Sufferers, as if they had been the greateſt Sinners; and then adviſes them unto the ſuitableſt improvement of ſuch, terrible, ſorrowful things, to excite their …nfeigned Repentance, that they might void their eternal Perdition. Saying to them, Suppoſe ye, that thoſe, who ſuffered ſuch things, were therefore greater Sinners than others, I tell you, no; But except ye repent, … ſhall all likewiſe periſh.

p. 68New-port on Rhode-Iſland.

NEver was this Town put into great Conſternation, ſince I came into … than that which was occaſioned by … Terrible Tragedies of the Evening … after March 22. 1715.

All the Alarms that have been … by the Notices of Enemies upon the … have never ſo Terrifyed the General of People here.

For on that Evening, a Poor … having been for ſome time Exerciſed … Grievous Hurries of Mind, after he … ſat on his Houſe Top ſome part of Day, and been in his Chamber much the Afternoon; His Wife and her Siſ… upon his Invitation, going up into … Chamber to him, after Sun-ſet; while … were ſtriving to Perſwade him to do… with them, or to Prevent his Hurting himſelf, He Stabb'd his Wife in … Throat with a Pen knife, and then … her and her Siſter down with an … Barbarouſly Murdering them, and miſerbly mangling their Bodies with ſeveral Dreadful Stroaks, and then ſtood on Guard, with his Pen knife, and his in his Hand; Knock'd one Man … p. 69is he was going up Stairs; Others Endeavouring to Apprehend him, by Breaking up the Floor under him and Roof over him, and carrying ſome Fire Flaming before them, to light their way, He Snatch'd away the Fire, laid it among, …ome combuſtible Matter, got Ready more, quickly Kindled a great fire in the Chamber, made the Room too hot for himſelf, …prang out at the Window, among the people, that were now Surrounding his …ouſe. And being Apprehended, was impriſoned: And the Court Speedily Approaching, He was Tryed, found Guilty, condemned, and within a ſhort Time Ex…cuted, as the World hath been already …formed.

This Poor Man had, in his Younger …ime, Enjoyed ſuch a Religious Education, that his Converſation was, for a while, accounted by ſome, that knew him remarkably Religious; before he began … leave Religiouſly inclined Company.

But according to his own Acknowledgments, in the Time, when he ſeemed to …ve the cleareſt Apprehenſions about …ings of that Nature, He had grievouſly …un'd againſt the Light of his own Conſcience, in Apoſtatizing from Godlineſs: …or he own'd that he had Forſaken the p. 70Lord, Prophaned His Holy Sabbath, Neglected His Publick Worſhip, and Miſpent Abundance of Precious Time with Ungodly Company. And the Lord had juſtly Forſaken him, and left him ſo to the Power of Satan, as to be Guilty of the wickedneſſes that Brought him to his untimely End.

He ſaid, He would give Thouſands of Worlds, if he had them, that what was done might be Undone, that he might Live to improve the Helps for Good that he had Sinfully Deſpiſed; But he profeſſed, that he Entirely Relyed on the Free Grace of God in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt for all Salvation.

But now he is gone beyond the Reach of all his Neighbours, to make any Poſitive-Determination, what Benefit … might obtain by the Means of Grace that he Enjoyed at any Time while he was among the Living: It is the During of all that are yet among the Living … Try to Benefit their own Souls, by wh… they are Acquainted with, concerning Him.

So Great was the Conſternation upon the Minds of People, thus occaſioned, th… not only little Children were affraid … Lodge, in the Night, in their uſual Place p. 71and were willing to have their Beds Remov'd into Places, where lodged bigger Perſons; but even up-grown Perſons were Affraid, in the Day Time, to go into a Room alone far Diſtant from the Reſt of the Family: Such a Dread was upon their Spirits.

While the Minds of People were under this Dreadful Conſternation, the Sermon Publiſhed here-with, was Preached in a Congregation, where Divers then ſeemed mightily Affected, as if Deſirous to Know the meaning of the Voice of God in His Providence: and to Comply with His Will.

When I underſtood that many of the Hearers deſired the Publication of the Sermon, as a more Durable Remembrancer of the impreſſions then made upon their Souls, than their own Treacherous Memories were like to be; I was not utterly, Unwilling to Gratify the Deſires of them, who Deſigned not only their own Benefit, but alſo the Benefit of Other. In what they Propoſed.

If the Bleſſing of Heaven may ſo Accompany the Sermon, as to make it, by the Grace of Chriſt, Beneficall to the Souls of them that have Deſired the Publication, or any Others of Gods Elect; and if People p. 72may be thereby at all Directed and Aſſiſted and Excited ſo to Hear and Mind the Lords Voice crying to them, in the … things that Occaſioned the Sermon, that Sadder things may be Prevented; or that they may be ſuitably Prepared Profitably to Improve all the ſad things that may come, ſo as to Promote their Everlaſting Good, Let the Sovereign Grace of the Glorious GOD in the Lord JESUS CHRIST be continually Acknowledged and For ever Glorifyed.

So Deſires,

N. Clap June 9th. 1715.

Some of the Laſt Words OF Several Dying Perſons Conſidered: In a DISCOURSE On Luke XXIII. 39—43. For the Excitation of Repentance unto Life AND Faith unto Salvation. Delivered On a very awful Occaſion. The Laſt SERMON That ever was heard by the Poor Man Condemned to Dy, for Murdering his Wife and her Siſter, March 22. 1714, 5.

It was Preached, Afternoon, April 10. 1715.

By Nathanael Clap, M. A.

BOSTON in N. E. Printed by B. Green. Sold at the Bookſellers Shops. 1715.