A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 164 (Question 54 cont.)
SERMON CLXIV.
II. IN particular, with regard to the ſeveral kinds of Oaths, there is ſomething ſpecial, wherein this Reverence is to be expreſſed, beſides the forementioned general Duties.
NOW every Oath is either Aſſertory or Promiſſory.
1. AN Aſſertery Oath is with reſpect to Things d…me; and it reſpects Matter of Foci. And here the great comprehenſive Duty is, that we be deliberate in it, and be very careful that it may anſwer all the Ends of ſuch an Oath. Raſhneſs is for that end to be avoided by us. Now the End of ſuch an Oath is mainly that Righteouſneſs may be advanced, and Truth may rake place among Men. An Aſſertory Oath is to end Controverſies, and Judgment is therefore to proceed upon it; ſo that God's Name is here brought in to iſſue ſuch Matters; and we are aſſured, that his Name is not to be eſpouſed to any thing … what is Truth and Righteouſneſs, and is … honoured by every thing that is contracy thereto. This Reverence therefore require greateſt Exactneſs and Caution, leſt by any miſtake the Truth ſuffer, and Juſtice be … verted: For if we occaſion any Man … by our wrong information, and bring Gods Name in, to maintain it, we ſhall thereby take it in Vain.
2. A Promſion Oath hath reſpect to Things is be …e: In watch we oblige ourſelves to the doing of them, and call God to be … Voucher in it. Now the thing which … oblige ourſelves to by ſuch. Oath, is … miſed …ther to Man, or to God, and th… ter is uſually called a V…. Although ſ… diſtinguiſh between an Oath and a Vo… … I know not where it can be better aſ…gh than to a Promiſſory Oath. I ſhall not ſp… of theſe … …ly, ſince the Duty is out and the ſame in both. As to the Reverence of to Oath, and touching the Lawfulneſs of V… I ſhall not here debate. It was once a D…y, and it belongs to natural Worſhip, and … therefore not ceaſed ſtill And it is … that ſuch a Vow is implied in every Add… we put up to God, for any Favour, pr…ing him O…dience. But in all Promiſſory Oa… the Fear of God ought to make us cauti… to obſerve theſe Rules.
1. IT muſt be of northing, but what is inſ… lawful. That which it is a Sir to do, is … gravated by binding ourſelves in an Oath … do it; and to fulfil ſuch an Oath, is … increaſe our Guilt. Such was that of … Acts 23 12. And to vow any thing to Gods which is a Sin, is an offer to mock him. … that our Fear of God ſhould put us always … on friſt conſidering whether the thing begins able to God's Will, and ſo whether if … it, it will be acceptable to him. And … ingly, if it be not ſo, to withhold our … ing, or elie if our Oath be paſt, to rep… … it, and not add Iniquity to Sin by perſ… ing it.
2. It muſt be of that which is in … P… …perſorn. Not but that God hath a … riour Power over us, and can obſtruct … Perpoſes in his Providence, when he pl… for which reaſon, all ſuch Promiſes ought to carry this Reſerve in them, viz. It God … mit. But ſtill it muſt be in ſuch Thing … the ordinary courſe of Providence, we … a proſpect that we may perform them. … promiſe any thing which is above out Abil… and for which we have no reaſon to po… our ſelves that God will make us ab… is to deſpiſe God and muſt needs in the iſſue re… upon his Honour. Such Oaths are in themſelves fallacious, and muſt be broken eventually, and then to charge that upon God's Pro…, dence, is an Act of high Profaneneſs.
3. When we have paſt ſuch an Oath lawfully we ought to ſtand to it, whatſoever hac… niences may afterwards ariſe upon it. If they be made to Men, we have that part of the Charater of a g…dly Ma…. Pſal. 15.4. He that ſ…e… his own bu…, and …geth not. And if it be a V…w t… G…d, we hav… that Caution given us Eccl. 5.5. Better is it that thou ſhould of … v…w, then that thou ſ…u…deſt …re and not …. And, Prev 20.25. It is a ſnare is a man who dev…ret… that which is he.); and after … is make inquiry. And indeed. Reverence to God's Name, which ſtands concerned, ſh…ld bear down all the Temptations from out…d Damage appearing Yea, and it is our D…ty …ot to delay here; and ſome have thought, that the Evil which befell Jacob's …ily, was a Chaſtiſement of his delaying to p…y the Vow, he had made at Bethe!.
4. …T…OTHETICAL Pr…ſes, obl…ge only …ically. It I promiſe upon Condition, the Perſon to whom I make it can demand is only upon that Condition; and it he doth … perform it according to the Nature of the …digation, the Promiſe is reſcinded, and the Perſon diſcharged, without any reflection on the Name of G…d. And thought there is a … …ifference between Promiſes to Men, and … to G…d, yet ſpecial Vows made on ſuch … Hypotheſis, do not oblige further, becauſe God, by withholding of the Favour ſought, … of the Opportunity of our Performance; … Promiſes made to Duties, that always … ſo, are not hereby made void.
5. A Promiſſ…ry Oath, tho' lawfully made to … yet may be diſcharged by the perſon to … it is made, if he ſees meet. And the rea… is, becauſe the end of it is ſo anſwered, which was the ſecuring to him the perfor…ce of ſuch a thing, which he, by ſuch a …ſe, accepts of as performed; and ſo God's … is not wronged hereby. And ſome… it may be a moral Duty in Perſons who … ſuch a power, ſo to take off the Obli… and it may be oppreſſion in them not … do it. Yea, and God himſelf ſometimes … of the Will for the Deed, and prohibits … …ual performance of Vows made to him; … the caſe of David's Vowing to Build an … for God. Compate, Pſal. 132.2. &c. … 1 Kin. 8.17, &c.
6. THE Fear of God, calls f…r Uprightneſs … …grity, in all our Promiſſory, Oaths, either … …t Man. What we thus promiſe, muſt … with a ſincere purpoſe to perform, in all p…ceſs, according to the te…our of the Pro… without fraud, or any ſiniſter deſigns. And the reaſon is becauſe God himſelf is … in as a Witneſs, who knows the Heart a…d is not mocked. Hence when thoſe Men … advice of the Prophet, and ſo engaged themſelves, Jer. 42.5, 6. God makes that …dverſion upon it, ver. 20. For ye diſ…ed in your hearts, when ye ſent me unto the Lord your God, ſaying, Pray for us unto the … our God, and according unto all that the … our God ſhall ſay, ſo declare unto us, and … do it.
Thirdly, WE ſhould carry the awe of theſe …es, Triles, and Attributes of God upon our Hearts, ſo as to influence …r …ale Converſation. Our Lives ſhould in all things be ſo …idered, as that every of theſ… ſhould appear to have made a ſuitable impreſſion upon us. For this reaſon we ſhould do as David did, Pſal. 16.8. I have ſet the Lord always before me. And hence, we ſhould be as muc… careful to our ſelves, in the moſt ſecret A…tions, as in thoſe which are done before Men. We ſhould improve every Attribute of God practically, by it to learn what is our Duty, and make an Argument of it, to be very circumſpect in all that we do. In a word, to purſue that great Precept of our Saviour, Mat. 5.48. Ec ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
AND here, beſides the Univerſality of this Duty in all things, of which we have that general Precept, Prov. 23.17. Be thou in the fear of the Lord all the d…y long. There is one ſpecial uſe, in which this is to be obſerved, viz. in Lottery. The word Lottery, is ſometimes uſed largely, for any thing in which there is a meet contingency, in reſpect of ſecond Cauſes; and ſo there is a Lottery in almoſt every thing that we intermeddle withal in this Life, Eccl. 9.11. I returned, and ſaw under the ſ…n that the race is not to the ſwiſt, nor the barrel to the ſtrong, neither yet bread to the wiſe, nor yet riches to men of underſtanding, nor yet favour to men of skill, but time and chance happeneth to them all. But ſometimes it is taken more reſtrainedly, for the determining of any matter in Controverſy, by an application to the Divine Providence, in the uſe of a Medium, which hath nothing in its own Nature, to diſcover the equity of the Caſe.
THAT it is Lawful, and ſometimes Expedient among Men to make uſe of ſuch a Medium, is beyond Diſpute; elſe Controverſies muſt be undecided by Men, and give endleſs troubles, becauſe there is no other way to iſſue them. God therefore ordained them among his People. Now tho' a Lot, as to the uſe of it, is a Civil thing, yet in the Nature of it, it is Religious, and in that reſpect belongs to the firſt Table, and is by ſome aſſigned to the Firſt, by others to the Third Command. And doubtleſs the reverence to be obſerved in the uſe of it, is to be referred hither.
NOW that Reverence due to the Name of God upon this Account, will be diſcovered by the Nature, Occaſion, Matter and Manner of it. Here then,
THE Nature of a Lot, is the referring the determination of any caſe in debate, to God's Providence. Hence we have that Obſervation, Prov. 16.33. The l…t is cast into the lap; but the whole diſpoſing thereof is of the Lord. The Name and Attributes of God are therefore to be acknowledged in it, which do always required the reverence of the Creature; and his Supremacy and Wiſdom are to be adored in it, which requires a ſuitable behaviour. Which, what it is, will be conſidered under the laſt Head.
THE Occaſion of this is the determining ſome Controverſy by the g…verning Providence of God. So that there muſt be ſomething that is controverted, elſe there is no Occaſion for it. Now that it may give juſt Occaſion for this, two things are requiſite,
1. THAT it is a Caſe that requires a determination. It muſt be a matter of moment, either in it ſelf, or in its c…rcumſtances. To uſe ſuch a Solemnity, in matters of no moment, is inconſiſtent with that reverence of God's Name, which is due to it. In ſmall and trifling matters, it becomes ſuch as fear God, rather to come …ne to the other, than by contending to drive it to ſuch an iſſue.
2. THAT it be n… otherwiſe determinable. For this is an applying of ourſelves to a more than ordinary courſe of Providence, and that is more immediate, though not abſ…lutely ſo. For it is above the common Rules of humane Judgement. So that if God's ordinary Providence, hath already determined the thing, it is Vanity to provoke to that, which is more than ſo. For why ſhould I exp…ſe my Right to Lot, when God hath made it already indisputable? Or if the thing be at preſent under a Debate, and not determined, yet if the common Law of Equity and Juſtice will decide it, which God hath given us for the Rule of Government, there is no need of an higher Appeal to God; inaſmuch as God hath made it Man's Duty, to conform to theſe Rules, where they may be uſed, and acquieſce in them; and what is it leſs than tempting of God, to ask a father Determination of that, which he hath already determined? And that is far from the Reverence which is due to him.
THE Matter of it; and this will come under a double Conſideration, viz.
1. THE Matter about which it is to be uſed. This we obſerved, is a Caſe under Debate; but there are two ſorts of Caſes, which may be ſo, viz. Things done and paſt, and things not yet done, but future. That Lots of both theſe ſorts were in former times among Iſrael, made uſe of, by God's Appointment, is evident, by the Hiſtory of thoſe Times. Thus was Achan detected of his Sacriledge by a Lot, Joſh. 7. And thus were the Lands of Iſrael appointed to be divided by Lot. But the former of theſe was not appointed for a common Rule, to detect Crimes by, no not Murder it ſelf; which was therefore to be left a ſecret till Men were otherwiſe diſcovered in the ordinary way. As will apear from that Law, in Deut. 21. begin. So that no Lot might be caſt for the finding out things paſt, without an extraodinary and ſpecial Command of God for it, ſince there is no Precept for it, either in the Law of Nature, or in the written Law: Whereas of things future, about which there may alſo be Contention, it hath a foundation in both, viz. for the Dividing Eſtates, eſpecially of Inheritance; and Election of Perſons to Places of Truſt.
2. THE Matter of a Lot; or the Medium which is to be uſed in the determining the question controverted; and that is a thing in it ſelf meerly Contigent. And by this I intend ſuch a thing as in its own Nature hath no power to determine the Juſtice or Equity of the Caſe, but is equally capable of falling out this way or that. So that every Contingency is not fit matter for a Lot: becauſe in ſome there may be the skill or art of Man in it; or the thing though not neceſſary, yet hath more of probability to fall out this way than the other. For there is nothing of advantage to be given to either Party in it; for that would take away the reaſon, and ſubvert the very end deſign of a Lot.
THE Ma…ner; and this is to be gathered from the Promiſes. And here theſe Rules are to be obſerved,
1. THE Univerſal Governing Providence of God, is to be acknowledged and adored by us. Without this the whole Action would be irrational. The very Heathen, being ignorant of the true God, did on this account make blind Fortu…e a Goddeſs: And ſo do all they interpretatively, who reſign the caſe up to meer Contingency, to be determinded by it, unleſs they have a due regard to the Governing Providence of God. It's therefore to be practically believed, that he doth Efficiently over-rule things that are moſt Contingent, and determine them according to his infinitely wiſe Counſel; according to the forecited, Prov. 16.23.
2. HENCE the Matter is to be intirely ſu… mitted to this Providence. God is not el…e duly reverenced. We ought therefore always to addreſs our ſelves to God, at leaſt with our Ejaculatory requeſt, that he would p…t the iſſue to this Affair, according to his Holy and Sovereign Counſel: That he would accompliſh his Al-wiſe Purpoſe in it. We are to chuſe him Umpire in this matter, and acquieſce in him as ſuch. And ſay as he …. 14.41. The Lord God of Iſrael, give a …ſe… lot.
3. HENCE there is no courſe to be uſ… … foreſtall this Providence, by any cunning of … eren. There is no humane Art at all … uſed to influence the Lot, ſo as to make it to incline more on one ſide than another. There is no craft to be uſed, or endeavour in know how to put a bias upon the thing, ſo as that it ſhould incline to our ſide: No foreſight, to over rule our Choice: No bribing of the Perſon that is to manage it: Which things have been too frequent in ſuch Occaſion. Nor any trying by ſuch things that we have more skill in, than our Antagoniſt: For ſo I… ceaſeth to be a Lot, and is turned to a Mockery, wherein God's Name is greatly diſhonoured.
4. THE determination is quietly to be reſted in, as the voice of God himſelf. And this is a genuine practical Concluſion from the Promiſes. To murmur of be diſcontent at t… event, plainly argues irreverence, and that we did not aright acknowledge God in the Thing. For God doth certainly tell us his mind by the Lor, and not to be content with it, is to riſe up againſt his Government.
2. IN reſpect of God's Ordinances, viz. thoſe Inſtitutions of his Worſhip, which have his Name underwritten: I am the Lord. And this Reverence is to be uſed in three reſpects.
1. IN a due Preparation to attend upon theſe Ordinances. In them we draw near to God, to enjoy Communion with him; we ought therefore to get ourſelves in a readineſs for ſuch a Meeting, as we would do to meet with a great King. We ſhould gather up our Hearts, that we may carry them with us; Rouſe up our Graces, that they may be ready for Exerciſe. Lay off our Affections to other things, and go with the moſt earneſt longings to meet with God, and enjoy Fellowſhip with him. Get into the Pſalmiſts Frame, Pſal. 84. begin. How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of beſts? My ſoul longeth, yea, even ſainteth for the courts of the Lord: my fleſh crieth out for the living God. It is our Duty, whenever we come before him in the way of his Ordinances, to do it with Reverence. Lev. 26.2. Ye ſhall keep my ſabbaths, end reverence my ſon…ry: I am the Lord. Pſal. 85.7. God … greatly to be feared in the aſſembly of the ſaints: and to be h…d in reverence of all them that are about him. We ought therefore to prepare before head, by due Meditation and Prayer, accounting it our Happineſs to enjoy him, and making his reckoning, Pſal. 84.10. For a day in i… …ts is better than a thouſand. We ſhould therefore put every thing aſide, which will of…er any Impediment to our free Communi… with him, 1 Pet. 2.1, 2. And guard our …ctions that they do not carry us after …in Objects, Eccl. 5.1. Keep thy foot when th… goeſt to the bouſe of God.
2. IN our attending upon the Ordinances, … ſhould take heed to our Carriage both of in…l and outward Man. As to our inward Man, we ſhould attend with greateſt Diligence and Submiſſion; and tho that end, get our …rts fixed, our Minds intent, our Underſtandings exerciſed, our Wills ſubdued, our Faith enlarged, our Affections preſſed for Service, and our whole Man in an obediential …h…m…, ready to hear what God hath to ſay, and practice whatſoever he requires of …. And as to the outward Man, we ought … well to our Behaviour; that we uſe to h…verend Geſtures, in the Ordinances, … diſpenſed, but in our whole Carriage …ber whoſe Preſence we are in, and to be …ry careful to guard our ſenſes; to ſee thus … Eyes and our Ears are rightly employed, and to take heed of Drowſineſs, and …y Indiſpoſitions: For the Body is to …, or elſe it will obſtruct the Soul.
3. IN our after Improvement of Ordinances. They are appointed for our Growth in Grace and Knowledge, for our Conviction, Direction, and Excitation. And we then only pay God due Reſpect for them, when we live upon on the Supply we have by them, and improve it to our ſpiritual Nouriſhment. Hence that, 1 Per. 2.2. As new born babes deſire the ſincere milk of the word, that …e may grow thereby. For this end we ſhould both meditate on what God hath offered to us; Pray over it for his Bleſſing, and ſet ourſelves to live the Truths which we hear,
III. IN Reſpect of God's Word. Which is alſo one great Part of his Name: and we cannot duly reverence him, unleſs we do pay an aweful Deference to that. Here alſo three Rules may be conſidered.
1. WE muſt pay a Divine Credit to it, i. c, we muſt entertain it as the Word of God, …d the Manifeſtation of his Will to …s. And for that Reaſon we muſt pay an entire Belief to the Truth of it, not in the leaſt queſtioning the Truth of any part of it. It is true, we ought to be well grounded in the Perſuaſion, that it is intallibly the Word of God, and no cunningly deviſed Fable. But on this Conviction, we are neither to doubt of the Truth of one Article of it, how far ſoever ſome of them may ſurpaſs the Comprehenſion of our Underſtandings; not to think meanly of any part of it, as if impertinent, thought we do not ſee into the Deſign. Nor deſpiſe it for the plainneſs of the Stile, but give it all Honour becauſe it is his Word, who is infinitely Wiſe and True. This Commendation Paul gives to them, 1 Theſ. 2.13. For this cauſe alſo thank we God without …erſing, becauſe when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the world of men, but (as it is in truth) the word of God, which effectually worketh alſo in you that believe.
2. HENCE we ought to pay an entire Subjection to it, and to God in it. We muſt make it the whole Rule of our Faith and Manners. We muſt reſolve our whole Faith into the Revelations of it, and take all our Meaſures from it, and order our whole Converſation according to it, Pſal. 119.105. Thy word is a lamp unto my ſeet, and a light unto my path. Iſai. 8.20. To the law and to the teſtimony, if they ſpeak not according to this word, it to becauſe there is no light in them. We muſt take nothing from it, not make any Additions to it but content ourſelves with the Directions of it, Deut. 12.32. What thing ſorver I command you, obſerve to do it; thou ſhalt not add thereto, nor diminiſh from it. We ought to be entirely at the Command of it, and yield a compleat Obedience to all the Procepts of it, and not turn from it to the right hand or the left. We ought to give Credit to the Threatnings of it, and he ever awed by them, and to rely upon its Promiſes, as ſure, and which cannot ſail. And all this becauſe it is His Word, who is to be Feared and Reverenced.
3. WE ought to be very cautious how we take this Word into our Months. We ſhould beware of a common frame of Spirit, when we either read it, or ſpeak of it. Hence we ought to be very ſerious at all times when we mention it, and do it with Gray …, S…h… …d Vereration of the A… …. We ought put therefore to uſe … …lar Pa…pſes, much leſs to …nſl curt… f…r pr… … D…cou…es. We ought not to ad… evil M…rth with it, much le…val. l…r…l…ay, by making Jo…s of … all which are directly contrary to the h…ly Reverence due to the Name of God.
IV. IN re…ped of God's Works. God's Name is … up all … theſe, and we ong…t to read …-…ce it i… them. It is tree, the W…, … …l…es are … to be adored by us, …etau…. God is in them. This was a great part … Pagan …larry and Superſ…tion. But … me are to, Merve what of God is to be ſeen in them, and pay him the V…cration which is due, to ſuch a God, as they diſe…ver …n to be. Now th…e W…s or God, are …er thoſe of Creation, or of Fr…nce.
1. WE are is river we live in the Works of Creation; by …rving and aſ…ion…g to …m, thoſe glorious Per… … of his, which are imprinted on them, and there forth in them: As, his … and admitable Wiſdom Power and Good of. We are told, Rom. 1.20. For the in…ſi…e things of him from the creation of the …r…d a…e …rly ſ…en, being …derſto…d by the thing, to … …ere made, even … power and …ad. ſ…th…t they are without encuſe. And them are a…niſhing Ra…s of his Divinity, which appear, … only in the great Works of the Heavens Sun, Moon an Stars, of which, Pſal. 19. began. But in the leaſt and moſt contemprible, vea, in all of them. O… his Wiſdom, Pſal. 102.22. O Lord, how mini ſaid are thy works, in wi…m … th… made them …. His Power in ſpe…g ſuch. World into Being, Pſal. 33 …, 9. By the w…r… of the Lord were the heavens made: and all the …ſt …f them by the cr…th of his …ath. F…ribe ſpike, end it was done, …e commanded, and it ſtood ſaſt. His Goodneſs, ver. 5. T…e earth is full of the goodneſs of the Lord. And there is not the leaſt Worm that we tread on, not the leaſt p…e … Graſs which grows out of the Earth, but carries m…re Wonders in it, than the greateſt Ph…lo… p…er is able to …eſ…lve, and Proclaims God to be its Au…nor, and it calls us to fear this God.
2. WE are to abore him in regard ſ…i… Works of Providence. The Preſervation and Guber nation of the Lord are ſo admitable, that God is to be ſeen in them, and they afford matter of awful Speculation and Improvement. And that we may ſuitably expreſs this Reverence,
1. WE muſt acknowledge him to be the Author of all theſe Providences that fall out in the World. We muſt not aſcrive them to Chance. or the Management of ſecond Cauſes, but to God alone, that it is his Hand, and ſecond Cauſe; his Inſtruments. This therefore are Men faulted for, Iſai. 26.11. Lord when thy bind is liſted up, they will not ſ…e.
2. WE maſt ſdudy thoſe L…ſſ…s from thoſe P…es which may ſor…y our reverential Fear of …im. And this will be by reading thoſe Perſection which ſhine forth in them, from whence theſe Leſſons are to be leated. We are here to ſee his S…verei…nty, that be doth his Pleaſure in all, and that the who… Creation are at his Diſpote, Pſal 125.6. Whatſeover the L…rd ſ…ſed, that dad be in heaven and in earth, in th…ſeas and in all deep places. His Wiſdom and Power, in upholding all things, and keeping the World in that Order in which it is. His Holineſs and Righteouſneſs, in … the Telt mo…s which h…ea…s …; the W…ckedneſs of M…, His …ve to his … ple and Fa…u…neſs to his Promiſe, in all …s Appearances for them in their hours of …ed. And hence learn, how fearful a thing it is for Sinners to fall into his Hand, and … great is the Happineſs of all thoſe who fa…e him for their God and Portion; which will p…ns on ſtudying to plea…e him, and Care loſt we offered him.
3. A ſ…t the …nt of him it … the Providences … us in the World Theſe are either Merciful 1 Afflictive; if he heſt w…s Kindneſſes upon us, we ſhould acknowledge his Be…gni…y, e…d…ſer…ed by …, and e…gage …rſeives t…e thy the more …o his F…ir. And therefore we have that, …, 2.5. And ſ…il…er the Lord and his goodneſs. And if he lays his Hand on us in Afflictions, we are to a… …re his Suprumecy, to acknowledge his Righteouſneſs, to celebrate his … the … to ſ…it to his Hand, to accep… of his Chaſ…ring, and to avoid all Fre… a… Murmuri…g at him: much m…re charging of him, wi…h the l…ſt Injuſtice. And in all theſe Reſpects we are to who care, that … preſerve the Honour and Glary of God's …oly Name.
USE. AND if this be our Duty, l… … gage us to ſee and bewail our woſ… … coming; and accordingly ſhew … fiſt need we have of Chriſt, to anſwer for … procure our Pardon: ſo to put us upon … more careful heed to, and watch over … ſelves in this …gard: and in the Se… of our own u…ter ſmp…ency to comply with the Precept of ourſelves, to ſeek to Chriſt, for his Spirit and G…ve to help us … our Duty, that we may ſincerely and c…nly purſue it; a…d to give acceptance to … … cerity. And for us entertain an hi… eſec… of God's pr…us Name, and when we … ſo much taken in vain by vile Men, … … gage us, with the greateſt Circumſpetion, to lock after our Hearts and Lives; that ſi…g a deeply rooted veneration for him in … Hearts, we may regulate our Thought, Words and Actions according there…: That ſo we may be found in the Number of thoſe that fear before him, for whom be … laid in great and precious Promiſes; which give us to underſtand that God: M… … commanded us to fear him in vain.
[APRIL 7. 1702.]