A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 189 (Question 66)
SERMON CLXXXIX.
QUESTION LXVI.
WHAT is the Reaſon annexed to the Fiſth commandment?
ANSWER.
THE Peaſon annexed to the Fiſth Commandment, is a Promiſe of long Life and proſperity, (as f…r as i… ſhall ſerve for God's Glory and their own Good) to all ſuch as keep this Commandment.
THE Words here reſerred to, are expreſt in the Command, that thy … may being ſee. In the Hearer Text it is, That they … Probing; and is ſuppoſed nextly to refer to father & Mother, for the Word is of an Adive …fi…ation: For altho' God hath the diſpoſe of Life and Death in His hand; yet that is …times referred to the Inſtrumental Cauſe, which …ly belongs to the Principal Efferent. Now Parents may he ſaid to Prolong the Days either … Moral Ca…ſ…s; and that is … their Faithful Endeavours to Educate ta…m in the Four of God, which is the way to by up Bleſſing for them: And the way for Children …come by, and Inherit this Bleſſing, is for them carefully to Comply with the Duties re…el of them in this Command: And in this ſenſe it ſtands to di…c: Parents, how to expects this B…ſt Love to their Children; and quicken them to Care in their Religious Education. But if we, with our Tranſtation, take it to be an …na…ge of the Active for the Paſſive or Neuter, … is not infrequent in the Heaven Language, and them it is, Teat thou waiſt be lang…ted; and ſo the Apoſtle interprets it, Eph. 6.3 Trot it may be well with thee, and that th… may… …ve…l…ng on the earth. And ſo it is directed to Children, to excite them to their Duty. And we are here to take it extenſively, to all the Relations in every Order of Men, which we before obſerved to …me under this Command.
BUT for a more full & clear taking up of the mind of this Reaſon, we may conſider the ſeverals contained in the Anſwer and refer them to the Words of the pr…cept; which will ſh… us, of what Importance it is, that all Ranks of Man be very Careful in the diſcharge of the Duties here required of them.
HERE then we may Conſider,
I THE Nature of the beaſon is expreſed. It is called a …: And ſo the Apoſtle interprets it, Eph. 6.2— … …st commandment with Promiſe. The Words themſelves are properly an …, That it may … with thee, &c. Law whatſoever … God gives unto Men in His Word, … the Nature of a Promiſe in them; for He doth not … about to Dective Men: Nor can any thing be a pr…er Motive to a Man; th… a Proſpect of G…, in the Parſon: of … thing that is before him: the hope of …ying whereof in… … a way, … him to Proſecute it. Nor … Ra… Hope have greater Security, than from a Word of Promiſe made by God Himſelf, who cannot Lye. There ſeems alſo in the Encouragement to be intimated a R…onality of the thing it ſelf; for, Orders obſerved among all Ranks of Men, hath a natural Tendency to the upholding and eſtabliſhing of Peace among them; and Peace is big with manifold Bleſſings. The Apoſtle tells us not only that there is a Promiſe, but that it is the Firſt Command with Promiſe: And we may here Conſider how; for we know that there is a Promiſe, ſubjoyned to the Second Command, of ſhowing Mercy, &c. Some think that the Apoſtle intends, that it is the Firſt Command with Promiſe in the Second Table; others that it is the Firſt Affirmative Precept, that hath a Promiſe Connected: But it rather intends. That it is the Firſt with a Special Promiſe, to particular Obedience to One Command; the former being General, referring to the whole Law, and pointing only to Mercy in general; whereas this Intimates a perticular Benefit.
II. THE Subjects of this Promiſe; or thoſe who have Right & Title to the Beneſit laid up in it; viz. All ſuch as do keep this Command. This alſo is implied in the Words; for as the Precept in ſelf is Indefinite, and amounts to an Univerſal; ſo is the Promiſe Coextenſive with it; it being offered to All for their Encouragement to Obey it: Only it is to be obſerved, That the Promiſe is Hypothetically Connected with the Command; Obedience to it being preſcribed as the Medium to obtain it; ſo that if a Perſon neglect his Obedience, or Tranſgreſs this Command, he forfeits all Claim to the Good engaged in it. For the Rule formerly obſerved, viz. That where the Affirmative or Negative is mentioned, the contrary is implied; is true of the Reaſons of the Command, as well as of the Precepts themſelves: And it is to be obſerved, That the Word of God utters ſevere and awful Threatnings againſt them who Violate this Command: Deut, 27.16. Curſed he be that ſetteth light by Father or Mother. Prov. 20. 20. & 30.17. So that Diſobedience to this Command, doth not only cut off the Entail of the Bleſſing, but alſo brings the Man under a Curſe of God; which ought to be well conſidered: But every one that is Faithful to this Duty, is Owner of the Promiſe, and ſhall not fail of the Good of it; tho' as to the Manner of the Performance of it, we ſhall preſently conſider.
III. THE Benefits which are contained in this Promiſe, which are long Life & Proſperity: That thy Days may be long in the Land, &c. This Promiſe, as it was given by God to Iſrael from Mount Si…ai, had doubtleſs a ſpecial reſpect to that People, and to the Land of Canaan, which God had given to them by Promiſe, and to which he was then Conducting of them. But that it had a reſpect to the People of God in all Ages and Nations, whom he ſhould bring into the Covenant with Him, is very certain: For which reaſon the Apoſtle urgeth not only the Precept, …t alſo the Promiſe upon his Epheſions, who were Originally Gentiles; Eph. 6. beg. Children, Obey your parents in the lord: for this is right. …our thy father and mother, (which is the firſt commandment with promiſe) That it may be well with th…e, and that thou mayeſt live long on the earth. Her are us (as ſome do) to Limit the Temporal Promiſe of the Old Teſtament, to Spiritual things under the Goſpel, ſo as to exclude thoſe that are Temporal from them; for the Apoſtle aſſures us, 1 Tim. 4.8. Godlineſs is profitable to all things, having the promiſe of the life that now is, … of that which is to come. Peter applies that is Pſal. 34.12.13. to Chriſtians for their Encouragement, 1 Pet 3.10, 11. For be that will low life, and ſee good days, let him refrain his tought from evil, and his lips that they ſpeak no guiſe. Let him eſchew evil, and do dood: let him ſoth peace and enſue it. Now theſe Beneifts are h… reduced ot Two Heads, viz.
1. LONG Life it ſelf. And that this d… nextly intend a Temporal Life, appears, becauſe it is ſaid to be in the Land; and the Apoſtle interprets it of the Earth, Eph. 6.3. Long Life is in it ſelf a Bleſſing; Death, and that a Bodily one, being the fruit of the Curſe, and brought into the World by Sin, Rom 5.11. It is therefore threatned as a Judment, to … Men off in the midſt of their Days: For … the Sin of Man, hath put a great deal of D… into Life it ſelf, which renders it very … to the Man; yet both a Man naturally de… it, and it affords him many Advantagen, which if he aright improves, will tend to his Fe…i…ings. Hence that is declared a Bleſſing, Job 5.26. Thou ſhall come to thy grave in a full age, … as a ſh…ck of corn cometh in, in his ſeaſon. … 8.4. There ſhall yet old People dwell in the ….
2. PROSPERITY: Under which … comprehended all ſorts of Bleſſings. And that this is included in the Promiſe, is evident, becauſe God Himſelf ſo Expounds it in Deut. 5.…6. — That thy Days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee. Philoſophers define Life to be an Act with Delight; intimating. That ſo much of Sorrow as the Life is incumbered withal, ſo much of Death is in it; and tho' it in God's Pleaſure, that the beſt of Men ſhall meet with many Troubles in this Life; yet this Promiſe in it contains ſo much of Relief againſt, and comfortable Support under it, as ſhall made it become a Bleſſing to them.
NOW under this Proſperity there are theſe things principally included;
1. HEALTH of Body. Hence we have that Promiſe, Prov. 3.8. It ſhall be health is thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. Sickneſs of Body is one of the Appendages of Death, in that it diſturbs the Man's outward quiet, and takes him off from the Buſineſs of his Life; and tends to haſten his Diſſolution: It is therefore one of the Bleſſings promiſed to the latter Eſtate of the Church, and a fruit of their Re… ciliation to God, Iſa. 33.24. And the inhabitant ſhall not ſay, I am ſick: i. e. They ſhall have no occaſion to ſay ſo; and therefore Sickneſs ſent among a People, are anoume, …ted to theſe Judgments, which proceed from God's Anger.
2. PEACE & Qui…t from the Mo…ſtation of Enemies. And this is included in then Living long in the Land of their Inheritance, which calls for Peace, to make it a bleſſing indeed. It is therefore a frequent Threatning of Men for their Sins, that God will take away …o…e from them, and let in their Enemies upon them to lay them Waſte, and to carry them into Captivity: When therefore the Pſalmiſt ſaith, Pſal. 37.34. Wait on the Lord, and keep his they, and he ſhall exact thee to inherit the …. In intends a Living safely from the In…chments of the Adverſary, and enjoying Peace among themſelves; to keep them from Inward Broils, and Attacks from Abroad.
3. A Flouriſhing State of outward proſper…ty i… all their Affairs: Good Succeſs i… their Undertakings, according to that Comprehenſive Promiſe made concerning ſuch, Pſal. 1.3. And he ſhall be …ake a …ree planted by the river, of …er, that bringe…h forth …ts fruit in his ſeaſon; his …af alſo ſhall not wither, and whatſoever he doth ſhall proſper. Men therefore that enjoy Proſperity, are ſaid to Live, 1 Sam. 25.6. The Comfort of Man's Life hath a Subordinate Dependence, on the Supplies of the Good things of the World, which were made for the Support of we Outward Man: Extream and Pinching Poverty being one of the Evils, which make Man's Life a Burden to him; and is therefore one of the Penalties inflicted on Man for Sin.
4. TERNAL Life is alſo without doubt included in it; And may well here be ſuppoſed to be Promiſed to thoſe that do …incerely and Evangel cally Diſcharge the Duties here required: Not but that Men may be acted with Moral Principles, and do things Conſcientiouſly, which are the Matter of Duties, (without a Principle of Regenerating Grace in them) which yet God may take ſo much Notice of in His Providence, as to give them long Life and Proſperity in this World, which was all they ſought after. Nevertheleſs, That this Promiſe graſps Eternal Bleſſedneſs in it, will be evident, if we conſider that this Promiſe was Typical, and had therefore a deſigned Reference ultimately to Spiritual and Eternal things: The Land of Canaan was therefore a Type of Heaven; and all the Bleſſings of it, were a Repreſentation of Spiritual and Eternal Bleſſings, tho' not excluding of thoſe which are Temporary, ſo far as they had a Subſerviency to theſe. And hence the Bleſſings Promis'd in that Land, are ſaid to be for ever, becauſe they were, (tho' in themſelves Temp…rary,) yet ſhadows of thoſe things that are to come, which are Eternal.
IV. WE have the Limitation of this Tenure, i… regard of the Diſpenſation of Good laid up in the Promiſe: So far as ſhall ſerve to the Glory of God, and their Good, who are thus Obedient. This Limitation indeed is not expreſt in the Body of the Precept, but is to be underſtood according to the general Rule given by God in … Word: That general Interpretation given by God himſelf, may here ſuffice, Jer. 18.7, 8. At what inſtant I ſhall ſpeak …on…e…n…ng a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to p…li d…wn, and to deſtroy it. If …at nation againſt whom I have pronounced, … from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. And that particular M…a…e may further I…iuſtrate it, 1 Sam. 2. …. Them that honour me, I will h…n…ur and they that deſpiſe me, …all be lightly eſteemed. It is true, There are ſome Abſolute and Inc…nditi…nate Promiſes and Threatnings Recorded in the Word of God, which are the expreſs Declarations of God's Purpoſes, and are therefore like them Immutable; of ſuch we have that, 1 Sam. 15.29. And alſo the strength of Iſrael will not lie, nor repent, for he is not a man that he ſhould repent. But in others there is a Reſerve; and that not only on the Hypotheſis of Men's Behaviour, but alſo on the Account of God's Sovereign Wiſdom and Pleaſure.
NOW the Limitations here mentioned are Two,
1. SO far a… ſhall be for God's Glory. That is His own Laſt End in all His Works, Prev. 16.4. The Lord hath made all things for himſelf. Somtimes it is moſt ſuitable to God's Holy …nds, that the Godly ſhould be exerciſed with all ſorts of Trials and Afflictions, in which this among others is included; and He hath not parted with His Prerogative on this Account; and this more peculiarly when they are called to Suffer in his Cauſe, and for the Defence of His Truth, as in Times of great Perſecution.
2. SO far as is for their Good. God in all His Promiſes, and the Performance of them, hath a regard (next to, and in Conjunction with His own Glory,) to the beſt Good of His Children: And as He ever intends them Real Good, by all that He doth to them, ſo He reſerves the Judgment of what is beſt for them, to Himſelf; for He hath Promiſed, Rom 8 28. That all things work together for good, to them that love God.
HERE therefore for a more Clear and Satisfactory Account of this Affair, give me leave to obviate a Doubt or two whichly in the way.
[1.] IT is Objected, That there is no Difference in the Providence of God on this Account: But ſuch as are notorious Breakers of this Command, Live as long, and Proſper as much, in this World, as thoſe who are never ſo Careful on this Account: And hence Men are ready to think that it is all one on this Account, and that God Diſpenſeth things Promiſcuouſly.
Anſw. IT is not to be denied, but that God doth ſometimes ſuffer it in His Providence, that Men notoriouſly Wicked do Proſper; and that ſuch as break all the Bands of Order in the World, live Long, and flouriſh in Worldly Proſperity: and this is oftentimes an occaſion of Stumbling to Good Men: Hence we have ſu… an Enquiry on the Obſervation, Job 21.7 &c Wherefore do the wicked l…e, bec…e old, y… are mighty in pa…?— But this ought … Prejudice us at God's Providence, or make …s to think ever the better, of Proſpe…ns Wickedneſs. Here therefore let us obſerve,
1. THAT God … … in …ering it to be ſo in the World. Th…ſe are many and myſterio…s: He W…lls it to … that His Love and Hatred are not to be judged of by the outward State of Men in this Life, Eccl. 9. beg. No man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them. He hath ſeen it meet to make …ſe of ſuch Men as T…ls, by whom to Puniſh a Sinful World for their Wickedneſs; who are hereby ſitted for ſuch a Service, Iſa. 10.5. He will hereby try the Faith and Patience of his own, and ſometimes Chaſten their Follys, and put them upon ſecuting to themſelves a better Portion than any in this Life; and make them to walk more ſteadily in a Life of Godlineſs. It is the Day of His Patience and common Benignity, which he will have the Vileſt of Men to Taſte of here, Matth. 5.45. For he maketh his ſun to riſe on the evil and on the good, and ſendeth rain on the juſt and on the unjuſt.
2. THERE is a vaſt Difference between the Proſperity which God offerds to ſuch, and that which he hath promiſed to the Godly and Obedient. There may may be no outward or ſenſible Difference indeed, but there is a Real one; the one is a fruit only of His Common Providence, the other proceeds from His ſpecial Love, and is an Effect of it; theſe therefore hold upon a better Tenure than thoſe: The Pſalmiſt therefore hath that Obſervation, Pſal. 37.16. A little that a righteous man hath, it better than the riches of many wicked. Hence,
3. THE long Life & Preſperity of theſe Men, are under God's Curſe, which is all this while at work for their Rain. Such Turbulent Men, who brea… all Order, and diſturb the Tranquillity of Humane Society, and Proſper in it, are not only under the Threatning, which ſhall in due time take Place upon them effectually, if they Repent not; but by the Secret Judgment of God, it ripens them for Deſtruction, & in due time their foot ſhall ſlide: it is an awful Word, Pſal. 92.7. When the wicked ſpring as the graſs, and when all the workers of iniquity do flouriſh: it is that they ſhall be deſtroyed forever. God is therefore brought in Laughing at them, Pſal. 37.13. And it is the Wiſe Man's Remark, Feel. 5.13. There is a ſore evil which I have ſeen under the ſun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt. They are but as Beaſts fed in a fat Paſture, reſerved for the more fearful Plagues: Hence that in, Prov. 1.32. The proſperity of ſools ſhall deſtroy them. And we have David's Obſervation, Pſal. 37.35, 3….
[2.] IT is further Objected, But how often do we ſee that the …eſt of Men, & ſuch as carried themſelves moſt Orderly in their Rank and Station, have the Shorteſt Lives, and meet with the moſt of Adverſity in this World: How then is this Promiſe accompliſhed for them; or what Encouragement can they gather from it?
Anſw. THIS indeed hath been a great ſtumbling Block to the Godly in all Ages: For this Job's Friends Cenſured him; and how many Holy Men have we on Scripture Record, who were brought to a Loſs about it: The Pſalmiſt Confe…ieth, Pſal 73.2, 3. But as for me, my ſeer were almoſt gone: my ſteps had well-nigh … F…rd … us at the ſo …ſh, w…en I ſaw the proſperity …f the wicked. Ver. 13. Ve…ty, I have cleanſ…d my heart in vain, and waſhed my …an…s in inno…c…cy. The Prophets De…n…tred upon it, Jer. 12.1. Righteous are thou O Lord, when I plead with th…e…: yet let … talk with thee of thy judgments: If …r…fore doth the way of the wicked proſper? wherefore are all they happy that deal very …cherouſly? — Ha…. 1.13, 14. But the Word of God gives us abundant Relief in this Caſe.
HERE then Conſider,
1. THAT God ſometimes Puniſheth the Sin of Superiours, in Afflicting of the… Correlates. It is an awful Menace in the Second Command, Exod. 20.5. — Viſiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me. And how often do we ſee the Sins of Rulers bring Judgments upon their Subjects: Did not David's do ſo upon Iſrael, 2 Sam. 24. Chap. And did not A…han's Sin bring Deſtruction on his whole Family, Juſh. 7. Chap Nor do the moſt Holy of them eſcape, when God ſees meet thus to Puniſh them. J…rebram had but one Pious Son, and he muſt Die, for his Father's Puniſhment, 1 Kings 14.13. And the Equity of this God will make to appear one Day, whatever Prejudices Men may now entertain againſt it, becauſe of their Ignorance and Pride.
2. THAT God many times takes ſuch Early out of the World in Mercy to them. Though long Life be in it ſelf a …ſſing; yet, as things may be Circumſtanced, it is a Mercy to D…e: It may be a Judgment to others, but to the Perſons themſelves, it is a ſignal and diſtinguiſhing Favour; ſuch God declared that of the Death of Young Ab…ja…, in the fore cited, 1 Kings 14.13. When great Miſe…es and Calamities are coming on a Miſerable World; when Storms of Diſtreſs and Calamity …e haſtening: It is now no little Kind…s which God affords to ſome, to remove them out of the reach of Storms and Tempeſt; for we are told, Iſa. 57.1. That the Righteous is taken away from the … come. And the Grave is one of thoſe Chambers, &c. Iſa. …. 2…. Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers; and ſ…t thy d…s about thee: hide thy ſell as it were for a little mom…nt, until the indignation be over paſt. He calls them as he did L…t out of Sal…m. And it was by a ſhort Life, and immature and violent Death, that God brought to paſs that Promiſe which he had made to Godly Joſi…b, 2 Kings 2….2….
3. THAT God many times calls ſuch to ſuffer for His Truth ſake, which is their Honour and Happineſs. Notwithſtanding the Promiſe of long …ſ… and Proſperity, God hath warned His People to expect to ſuffer Tribulation and Perſecution for His Name-ſake and the Goſpel: Chriſt thus warned His Diſciples, Joh. 16. ul…. In the world ye ſhall have tribulation: but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. And Paul tells us, that it is the common Lo… of the Godly, A… 14.22. Now this d…tn n…t Contradict the Promiſe, but only Molily it; for if God's … , as her… it is. He Reſerved a L…erty: And that is ſo far from Harting them, that it affords them a ſpecial Advantage to Glorify God, and turn… to their Comfort and Felicity: Hence that of Chriſt, March. 5.11, 12. Bleſſed are ye when men ſhall … you, and perſecute you, and ſhall ſay all …ter of evil againſt you fa…ſly for my ſake. Rej…e and be exceeding glad: for great is your …a…rd in heaven. And of the Apoſtle Peter, 1 Pet. 4.14. If ye be reproached for the name of Chriſt, happy are ye; for the ſpirit of glory, and of …d refleth upon you: out their part he is evil ſpoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
4. THAT God evermore Sanctifies this ſhort and trouble ſome Life to them for their G…od. As He conſults His own Glory in it, ſo He doth … forget to promove their real Benefit by it, Rom. 8.28. The Beſt of the Je…s were firſt …ed Captive to Babylon, which look'd as if it had been Severe, but was really for their Advantage: Hence that. Jer. 24.5. God ſees that it is needful & beſt for them that it ſhould be ſo, which He hath ever an Eye at; 1 Pet. 17. That the trial of your faith being much more p…ci…es thin of gold which periſh…th, though it be tried with ſire, might be ſound unto praiſe, and … and glory at the appearing of Jeſus Chriſt. Sometimes by their Folly they put Him upon it, and by this Means He cures it; to be ſure, the great End of it is expreſt in Deut. 8.16. & ſIſa. 27.9. Gods great Deſign in all His Diſpe…ſ…tions to His own, is to make them meet for the Inheritance; and this Deſign he falls out of carrying on, by ſuch Providences as theſe. And whilſt they Experience the Operation of His Spirit with theſe, they are abundantly ſa…feed in the Care and Faithfulneſs of God herein manifeſted.
5. THAT God hath given eminent Inſtances of His Literally fulfilling of this Promiſe to ſuch is this Life. It is true, the Juſt is to Live by his Faith; and accordingly to wait for the Accompliſhment of every good Word of God, in His Way and Time: But as He hath given Me…rie…s Inſtances of His Puniſhing the horrid Breaches of this Command, for Men's Warning; ſo of His ſignal Fulfilling the Promiſe for ſuch as have been Obedient. The very P…gans themſelves have obſerved, That often a ſ…ort Life and a miſerable, hath been the Lot of ſuch as were Diſobedient to their Superiours; but a long and happy, to ſuch as were Exemplary upon this Account: And many like Inſtances have been Collected by Chriſtian Hiſtorians; and theſe are Earneſts of the Security of the Promiſe to all ſuch.
6. THAT Eternal Life ſhall, without fail, Compleat this Promiſe for them. This therefore we before obſerved, to be comprehended in the Promiſe; and doubtleſs, Life Everlaſting hath is it the whole of Bleſſedneſs that the Creature on deſire, or be Happifyed by: And whatſoever is made an Effectual Medium of bringing them to this, muſt needs be a … of their I… …hbate F…ity: And th… God may try … Faith and …bedience, by a Troub…-ſome and ſort Li…, yet this alſo ſhall turn to the Fulfilment of the great Promiſe: And that alſo ſhall be Verified to them; Iſa. …3.2…. There ſhall be no more thence an inſult of days, nor an old man this hath nor ſtiled his days, for the child ſhall die on han…red years old, but the finner being an hundred years old ſhall be accurſed. He hath Lived long enough, and happily enough, who is here made meet for Eternal Glory, and ſo waſted over to Enjoy that Long and Bleſſed Day of Eternal Life, where all Temporary Promiſes ſhall be ſwallowed up, and compleated with over-weight.
USE. GIVE me leave to ſhut up this Diſcourſe on this Command, with a Lamentation for the woful Neglects and Tranſgreſſions of this Precept among us. And I am perſwaded that it is no ſmall ground of God's Controverſy at this Day, with this Sinful Land. God may ſay as, Jer 2.34. What Order of Men can ſay, We are Innocent? Is there not a neglect in all ſorts of Superiours, in the diſcharge of their Duties Relative? And is their not alſo a woful Riſing up of Inſeriours againſt their Superiours, ours, whether in Natural, Civil or Eccleſiaſtical Subordination? In ſpecial, Do not Parents neglect the due Education of their Children, and Children riſe up againſt the Government of their Parents? Is not there a Spirit of Diſcontent and riſing up againſt the Magiſtracy and Miniſtry? Do not Young Men Deſpiſe thoſe that are Aged; and caſt Dirt upon them, ſuppoſing themſelves to be Wiſer? Are there not abounding Contentions between Neighhours; and the Time come when there is no Truſting in any Friend?
AND as theſe things have a natural Tendency to Diſturb the Tranquillity of a People, ſo they are highly Provoking to that God, who is a God of Order. This doubtleſs is an Ill Preſage; and calls us all into the Duſt and Trembling, to expect a Severe Teſtimony in Providence againſt theſe things.
ONLY let me offer this Word of Encouragement to ſuch as Run not with the Stream of the Times; but do carefully Comply with God's Command on this Account, and Mourn for the Sins which they cannot Reform: That God will obſerve and acknowledge your Fidelity; and it ſhall go well with you and yours in the Evil Day; either you ſhall be marked for Deliverance, or preſerved in perfect Inward Peace, till you are Removed where you ſhall Enjoy Length of Days, even Life for evermore.
[JUNE 27. 1704.]