Gods Conduct of His Church Through the Wilderness, Title page – Dedication
God's Conduct of His Church Through the Wilderneſs, With His GLORIOUS ARM, To make Himſelf an Everlaſting Name.
A SERMON Preached by Order of the Honourable Repreſentatives, of the Province of the Maſſachuſetts-Bay, in New-England. On May the 25th, 1715.
Being their Anniverſary Day for Election of His Majeſties Council for that Province.
By JEREMIAH SHEPARD, A. M. Paſtor of the Church of Lynn.
Deut. 8. 2. And thou ſhalt remember all the way which the Lord th… God led thee theſe forty years in the Wilderneſs, to humble thee, and to prove thee, and to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldeſt keep his Commandments o… …o….
Boſton, Printed by John Allen, for Nicholas Boone, at the Sign of the Bible in Cornhill. 1715.
To the Honourable Houſe of REPRESENTATIVES, Of the Province of the Maſſachuſetts-Bay, in New-England.
THE Mercies ſhewed by the God of Iſrael, to his People in this Wilderneſs, deſerve a laſting Memorial; And the Glorious Arm of Divine Conduct in the ſeveral paſſages thereof to be Recorded, that they may be tranſmitted to Poſterity to Read and Admire; and that the Lord may obtain an Everlaſting Name.
I have been honoured ſo far as to utter ſomething of the Memory of Gods great Goodneſs, (by your Choice) before a Great and Honourable Audience; you were pleaſed to Command my Service on that Publick Exerciſe, (on your Day of Election) which when performed, I juſtly expected might have periſh'd as ſome immature Abortive, and never more have ſeen the Light: But ſince your pleaſure is to make Publick what my weakneſs then deliver'd, your Order hath not le…t me at liberty (without unmannerlineſs) to deny the Publication thereof.
Obedience to your deſires, I hope may ſerve for an Apology, & help to make it the more facile unto all Ingenious Readers, what of my weakneſs is here expoſed to Publick View.
I gratefully acknowledge your acceptance of my weak and indigeſted Labours; Praying that Gods Glorious Arm may yet be our Conduct in this Land, and your ſelves improv'd as Inſtruments to advance our Religious Interests; believing and hoping, that no other Interests and Advantages will in the leaſt warp your Spirits from Eſpouſing the Intereſt of Christ among us, and the Welfare of the ſeveral parts of this Province you ſtand Related unto, who have betruſted you with their greatest Interests; not doubting of your Fidelity therein.
I Remain Your Devoted Servant Jeremiah Shepard.