The Judgments of Providence in the Hand of Christ, Sermon 3 – Title page
SERMON III.
WE have ſeen both the awful Threatning in the terrible Earthquake, and alſo our Preſervation in it to come from CHRIST. Let us then reverently and earneſtly hearken to his Voice in both. This is the proper USE which we ought to make of the Providence and Doctrine before us. As when Joſhua ſaw the LORD with his hand full of judgments againſt the wicked Cananites, but filled with ſalvation to Iſrael, he fell down and worſhipped ſaying, What ſaith my LORD unto his ſervant? Truly ſo if we have ſeen the hand of CHRIST fill'd both with judgments and mercies towards us, our people and families, ſhall we not humbly and earneſtly enquire of the LORD, and ſeek from his Word, what is his mind and meaning in ſuch a diſpenſation? What ſaith the LORD to his people collectively, and what to me and mine inparticular?— It is a very ſerious, profitable and and neceſſary Enquiry, and to be made in a very ſolemn manner before the LORD, And to be ſure,
I. The threatning in the terrible earthquake, and the preſervation from a ſudden deſtruction by it, do both of them call aloud upon us to repent and turn from all our ſins, and that inſtantly and earneſtly with fear and trembling. This is the voice of the aſtoniſhing judgment and this the voice of the wondrous mercy and deliverance.
1. Repentance, inſtant earneſt and deep repentance, is the loud voice of CHRIST to us in the judgment and ſudden deſtruction, with which we were threatned. The earth trembled under our ſins, and roar'd under the burden and weight of them. The ſhake bro't our ſins quick to remembrance, and threatned us with a ſwift and irreſiſtible deſtruction, without giving us any ſpace for repentance, or the asking mercy. And if it was CHRIST the lover of ſouls who threatned us in a manner ſo very dreadful; then ſurely there are very great and diſmal ſins with us againſt our LORD REDEEMER. As Moſes ſaid in the caſe of the rebels in Iſrael, Num. 16.30. If the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth and ſwallow them up, with all that appertain to them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye ſhall underſtand that theſe men have provoked the LORD. And as the prophet Iſaiah teaches us, Iſai. 24.5. The earth is DEFILED under the inhabitants thereof; becauſe they have tranſgreſſed the law, changed the ordinances, broken the everlaſting covenant; therefore hath the CURSE devoured the earth: Therefore the LORD maketh the earth empty, maketh it waſte, and turneth it upſide down: v. 19, 20. The earth is clean diſſolved, the earth is moved exceedingly; the earth ſhall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and be removed like a Cottage; and the tranſgreſſion thereof ſhall be heavy upon it, and it ſhall fall and not riſe again. This conviction of ſin an Earthquake brings with it, and this call to humiliation and repentance. It cries to us, as the wall of the tower of Siloam did to the ſinners of Jeruſalem, Luke 13.5. Except ye repent ye ſhall all likewiſe periſh.
When our Lord JESUS came down from heaven, it was to call ſinners to repentance. *Mat. 9.13. Mark 6.12. Luke 24.47. Acts 5.31.When he ſent forth the twelve to preach, it was that men ſhould repent. When he was returning to heaven, he commanded that repentance and remiſſion of ſins ſhould be preached in his name among all nations. And now he is exalted to the right hand of GOD a Prince and Saviour to give repentance. What then is his voice if he come to us in fearful judgments? in a terrible Earthquake? Surely he repeats aloud the vehement warning of the holy Baptiſt; who came before him in the ſpirit of Elias, to turn the hearts of parents and children to GOD, leſt he come and ſmite the earth with a curſe: Matth 3.5—12. When he ſaw many of the Phariſees and Sadducees come to his baptiſm, he ſaid unto them, O Generation of vipers! who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: And think not to ſay within your ſelves, We have Abraham to our father, &c. And now alſo the ax is laid to the root of the tree: therefore every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and caſt into the fire.— He that hath an ear let him hear what the SPIRIT ſaith unto the Churches in ſuch an awful diſpenſation as the Earthquake ‖Rev. 2.23. 3.3. 24.7.: He ſaith with a loud voice, Fear GOD and give glory to him, for the hour of his judgment is come; and worſhip him that made heaven and earth, and the ſea, and the fountains of waters. He ſaith— Repent or I will come upon thee as a thief, and thou ſhalt not know at what hour I will come upon thee: And I will kill thy children within thee, except thou repent.
2. This alſo is the voice of the gracious preſervation which we have received; the goodneſs and forbearance of GOD herein calls upon us to repent. Rom. 2… 3, 4, 5. And thinkeſt thou O man,—that thou ſhalt eſcape the judgment of GOD? or deſpiſeſt thou the riches of his goodneſs and forbearance and longſuffering? not knowing that the goodneſs of GOD leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardneſs and impenitent heart treaſureſt up unto thy ſelf wrath againſt the day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous judgment of GOD; who will render unto every man according to his deeds. The voice of CHRIST to us in his ſparing mercy is†Rev. 2.21. Ezek. 18.31, 32, 33. Luke 19.42. Act. 5.19., "I give thee ſpace for repentance: O that thou wouldeſt know that at leaſt in this thy day the things of thy peace! Repent and be converted that your ſins may be blotted out: Repent and turn your ſelves from all your tranſgreſſions, ſo iniquity ſhall not be your ruine: Make you a new heart and a new ſpirit, for why will you die? For I have no pleaſure in the death of him that dieth, ſaith the LORD GOD; wherefore turn your ſelves, and live ye. This is the ſmall and ſtill voice of Grace, after the ſtormy wind and earthquake: Let us cover our faces and reverently liſten to it. CHRIST ſays to us now as he did to the impotent man whom he had healed, John 5.14. Behold thou art made whole, ſin no more leſt a worſe thing come upon thee. A worſe thing cannot well come, ſave a worſe earthquake; or any other judgment that may bring an equal and ſudden deſtruction on thee.
When the jailor had felt the earthquake, and yet was not devoured by it, he ſprang in trembling and ask'd, What muſt I do to be ſaved? ſcil. from ſin and the wrath of GOD! In like fright ſhould every ſpared ſinner make the like enquiry, and with his concern and earneſtneſs. And if we do not our crime and guilt is like theirs, Rev. 16.9. who when they were ſcorched by the fire of divine judgments, yet repented not to give glory to GOD.
The deſtroying Angel has paſs'd thro' every Town, and thro' every ſtreet, and cried at every door; REPENT, REPENT! every perſon, every family, every age order and degree of men! Sanctify your ſelves and your houſholds to the LORD, leſt he break forth upon you! Sanctify your ſelves every one upon his own ſins, his moſt beloved ſin! ſmite upon thy own breaſt, feeling the plague of thy heart, and ſay What have I done! and ſigh and cry for the ſins of others, that the mark of GOD may be ſet upon thee, before the coals of fire be ſcattered down.
Thus the threatning in the terrible earthquake and the preſervation from it, call us to repentance.
II. They do more particularly mean to convict men of and deter them from thoſe flagrant crimes and heights of impiety which GOD has ſometimes puniſhed or threatned to puniſh with deſolating earthquakes. Such are the ſin and wickedneſs of the Old World, of Sodom and Gomorrah, of Jeruſalem the holy City, and of Babylon which now is.
1. An earthquake warns men of the ſin and general corruption of the Old World; when mankind by a univerſal contempt of religion, fearleſsneſs of GOD, and diſſolution of manners, bro't the flood of water upon the earth. A deluge of iniquity and impiety firſt covered the face of it, and then came the flood of Divine wrath which tore it to pieces. Gen. 6.5, 11, 12. GOD ſaw that the wickedneſs of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the tho't of his heart was only evil continually: And it repented the LORD that he had made man upon the earth, and it grieved him at his heart: And he ſaid I will deſtroy Man, whom I have created, from the face of the earth: — The earth was corrupt before GOD, and was filled with violence; for all fleſh had corrupted his way upon the earth. All manner and degrees of impiety toward GOD, and unrighteouſneſs toward one another, is the charge here exhibited againſt every order, rank and age of mankind: A univerſal degeneracy into the very dregs of all ungodlineſs, profaneſs and licentiouſneſs. Nor was it this place, or that, which was ſo vile and abandon'd, but every place and people. Noah alone was found righteous before GOD, and he only was faved with his houſe. When wickedneſs is become general and univerſal, ruine is not far off: While there is a remnant of praying people in a nation or countrey to empty the meaſure as it fills, judgments may be kept off a great while; But when all hands are at work to pull down the fences of ſin, and none ſtand in the gap to make up the breach, What can be expected but an Inundation of wrath? So Mr. Henry.
We may obſerve that in the day of Sodom, and of the Cananites, and of Jeruſalem, and ſo of Babylon, a general corruption brings on the deſolation. This GOD warns againſt by every earthquake.
2. The ſins of Sodom come firſt in order of time and degree of impiety in the new world. The cry of their grievous ſin was great before CHRIST, and an earthquake devoured them. The fire of luſt burnt among them in a rage and flame that reach'd up to heaven, and bro't down fire and brimſtone on them; made them a hell above ground, and then the pit ſwallow'd them up. Intemperance and luxury was their ſin, pride and idleneſs, and lewdneſs in ſuch a kind and exceſs as has left the name and brand of Sodomy on the unnatural luſt forever. GOD gave them up to uncleaneſs and then to the flames and the earthquake. Read their ſin, Romans, 1.26, 27, 28. and Eph. 4.19. Who being paſt ſeeking, have given themſelves over to work all uncleaneſs with greedineſs. When they ſaw but a beauteous Angel in the form of a man they were for knowing him; to ſatisfy their worſe than brutiſh luſt upon him. And ſo furious was their luſt, and ſo general the contagion, that before bed-time they compaſſed the houſe round, both old and young, all the people, from every quarter, threatning Lot if he did not render up his lovely gueſts to them. No like example of impurity has been known on the earth, and therefore theſe are ſet forth for an example, ſuffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Jude. v. 7. When the like promiſcuous and inceſtuous mixtures were found in Iſrael, there came an earthquake in the days of Amos: Amos. 1.1. and 2.7. An Earthquake therefore comes to convince of and warn againſt the ſins of Sodom, and every tendency thereunto.
3. The ſins of Jeruſalem alſo, the holy city by profeſſion and covenant obligations, are bro't to mind when GOD viſits his profeſſing people with an earthquake.
The Prophet Zechariah remembers the remnant of Iſrael, how their Fathers fled before the Earthquake in the days of King Uzziah. Zech. 14.5. The Jews have a tradition, that it hapned juſt at the time when Uzziah preſumptuouſly invaded the prieſt's office, and went in to burn incenſe. 2 Chron. 26.16. If it were ſo it would lead us alſo to think of the rebellion of Corah and the preſumption of his aſſociates; Num. 16. The fire of GOD conſumed the firſt, and the earth ſwallowed up the latter. Such are named after the ſinners of Sodom, Iude v. 8. Filthy dreamers, that defile the fleſh, deſpiſe dominion, and ſpeak evil of dignities.
But to come to Jeruſalem's ſin in the days of Uzziah when the earthquake viſited them, and that a horrible one which put them into a very great terror. Iſaiah and Amos were the LORD's prothets in thoſe days. Amos dates his Prophecy two years before the Earthquake. He warn'd them of it before it came. The ſins of Iſrael and Judah at that time provoked the LORD to ſend the earthquake. And what their ſins were may be gathered from theſe prophecies; from the whole of Amos, and from the five firſt Chapters of Iſaiah.
The ſins of Sodom were among them: Amos. 2.7. A man and his father will go in to the ſame maid, to profane my holy name. Vile and filthy inceſt, equal to almoſt any of the Abominations of the heathen. Therefore Iſaiah began his prophecy with that ſevere rebuke and reproach, Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear to the law of our GOD ye people of Gomorrah. Such was the vine of Iſrael become, and ſuch their grapes and cluſters; and except the LORD of Hoſts had left a very ſmall remnant, they would have been as Sodom and Gomorrah in their puniſhment; overthrown like them.
Their ſins were numerous, multiplied, repeated and perſiſted in; there were three tranſgreſſions and four among them before the judgments came: Amos. 1.4. They were laden with iniquity. Iſai. 1.4. They ſinned againſt great light and many means of grace, which inhaunc'd their guilt and haſten'd on the judgment: Amos. 3.2. You only have I known of all the families of the earth, therefore I will puniſh you for all your iniquities. They corrupted religion which they had received pure and undefiled in the word of GOD; they confounded moral good and evil, Iſai. 5.20. and mixt the worſhip of GOD and the calves together. Amos. 4.4. They were worldly, panting after the duſt of the earth, Amos. 2.7. weary of their Sabbaths and new moons, and wiſhing them over, that they might ſet forth their wheat and ſell corn: Amos. 8.5. They were for joyning houſe to houſe, and laying field to field, that they might be plac'd alone in the earth. Iſai. 5.8. They were unjuſt, unrighteous and oppreſſive, both in their private dealings and in their Courts of juſtice†Amos 2.6. 3.10. 5▪2. 6.12. They ſold the righteous for ſilver, and the poor for a pair of ſhoes: they turned aſide the way of the meek: They ſhored up violence and robbery in their palaces, and know not to do right: They afflicted the juſt, they took a bribe, and turned aſide the poor in the Gate: Theſe were their manifold tranſgreſſions and mighty ſins: They turned judgment into gall, and the fruit of righteouſneſs into hemlock! They ſwallowed up the needy and made the poor of the land to fail: They made the Ephah ſmall, and falſified the weights and ballances: For theſe things the Land was made to tremble, and the earth was darkned in the clear day, and their houſes were ſmitten, the winter houſe and the ſummer houſe together. Amos. 3.15. Iſaiah *Iſai. 1.21,—27. 3.14, 15. 5.23.brings the ſame charges againſt them, and mentions it as a ſcarlet and crimſon ſin that they did not ſeek judgment, relieve the oppreſſed, judge the fatherleſs and plead for the widow; but every one loved gifts, and followed after rewards; Therefore the Mighty One of Iſrael ſaid, Ah, I will eaſe me of my adverſaries and avenge me of my enemies.
All this was done under a form of Godlineſs, a profeſſion and ſhew of religion, and this render'd it much the more ungodly and vile. Under a high pretence of devotion and obedience they were thus unrighteous, prſane and impious. Iſaiah therefore asks them to what purpoſe the multitude of their ſacriſices were? and bids them bring no more vain oblations: for their incenſe was an abomination, and their very Sabbaths an iniquity. And Amos tells them the ſame, Amos 5.21. I hate, I deſpiſe your feaſt days, and I will not ſmell in your ſolemn aſſemblies, &c. take away from me the noiſe of your ſongs,— but let judgment run down as water, and righteouſneſs as a mighty ſtream.
This corruption was general, Iſai. 1.4, 6. The nation was ſinful, they were a ſeed of evil deers, children that were corrupters; from the ſole of the foot even to the head there was no ſoundneſs, but wounds and bruiſes and putrifying ſores. They were bold and impudent in ſin, declaring it as Sodom: Iſai. 3.9. They were proud and haughty in their attire, the dau'ters of Sion walked with ſtretched forth necks and wanton eyes, mincing and tinkling with their feet: but they were told that the LORD would take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments, and their round tires like the moon: Iſai. 3.18.
They were fearleſs of judgments, and would not obſerve them when they came; they derided GOD's threatnings, and ſinned on after all his warnings: GOD overthrew ſome of them as he had Sodom and Gomorrab, and they were as a brand plucked out of the burning; yet would they not return unto him. Amos 4.11. They roſe up early in the morning to follow ſtrong drink, and continued at it in the evening till wine inflamed them; The harp and viol, the tabret and the pipe were in their feaſts; but they regarded not the work of the LORD, neither conſidered the operation of his hand: Iſai. 5.11, 12. They drew iniquity with cords of vanity and ſinn'd as it were with a cart-rope; They ſaid, Let him make ſpeed, and haſten his work that we may ſee it; believing and fearing nothing of it; They caſt away the law of the LORD of Hoſts, and deſpiſed the word of the Holy One of Iſrael. v. 18, 19, 24. They put far away the evil day, and cauſed the ſeat of violence to come near. Amos. 6.3.
This was the ſtate and theſe the ſins of Judah and Iſrael when they were viſited of the LORD of Hoſts with the earthquake in the days of Uzziah. And the Earthquake that has lately viſited us warns us from GOD of any tendencies among us to the ſame iniquities. And in whatſoever degrees they are found among us, it calls aloud upon us to repent and turn from them with fear and trembling. For ſhall I not viſit for theſe things? ſaith the LORD. As the ſinners in Iſrael fled at the cry of their ſinking brethren, ſaying, leſt the earth ſwallow us up alſo! ſo ought we at the roar of an earthquake to fear and fly from thoſe ſins for which GOD hath ſometimes viſited his people. —It remains that I juſt mention,
4. And laſtly, The ſins of Babylon which now is, the Romiſh Babylon. She is ſpiritually called Sodom, and is like to periſh by earthquake and fire. Idolatry and Blood are eminently her ſins; but luſt and ſodomy, pride and idleneſs, every abomination and filthineſs, corporal and ſpiritual, are found with that mother of harlots. The blood of the ſaints is found in her; and great will be her fall: Even as if we ſaw a mighty Angel take up a great milſtone, and caſt it into the ſea. Thus with violence ſhall that great City Babylon be thrown down, and ſhall be found no more at all. Her ſins reach to heaven, and ſtrong is the LORD GOD that judgeth her. Revel. 18. init.
By every ſhake of the earth GOD ſays to his Proteſtant people, Partake not of her ſins that ye receive not of her plagues. So he ſaid of old Babylon, Jerem. 51.6. Flee out of the midſt of her, and deliver every man his ſoul: Be not cut off in her iniquity; for this is the time of the LORD's vengeance. So the Angels ſaid to Lot in the laſt night of Sodom, Gen. 19.12. Haſt thou here any beſides? ſon or daughter? bring them out of this place; for the LORD hath ſent us to deſtroy it.
Thus I have briefly pointed out thoſe ſins and ſinners which GOD has ſometimes puniſhed, or threatned to puniſh with earthquakes. Let us be afraid of ſuch kind and degrees of ſin. Let our fleſh tremble for fear of GOD and let us be afraid of his judgments. Let us depart from the tents of theſe wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, leſt we be conſumed in all their ſins. Should we join in affinity with the people of theſe abominations, would not GOD be angry with us, and conſume us with them? — Yet how many of their ſins are there with us before the LORD? for which the righteous GOD has been awfully threatning us. We remain eſcaped this day, and the Lord our GOD is righteous! it becomes us to humble our ſelves and ſay with Ezra; Behold we are before thee in our treſpaſſes, and we cannot ſtand before thee becauſe of this †Here this Sermon may be divided..
III. The Earthquake that viſited us, and wherein we have been mercifully preſerved by CHRIST not only meant to awaken greater Sinners to repentance, but all and every one, even the leaſt of ſinners. The ſhake was common to all; the greater and the leſs, elder and younger, godly and ungodly; and awful to all, awakning to all. It bro't every ones ſin to remembrance, and ſet every one a trembling. Every ones Conſcience anſwer'd to the terrible Voice of GOD at that inſtant, as ſpeaking to him. The child's heart ſmote him as well as the Parents, and his that feared GOD as well as his who feared him not.
He that is without ſin let him be without fear, and ſtand excepted from the call to repent. It came not to call the righteous but ſinners to repentance; even as CHRIST himſelf came. Who can ſay, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my ſin? And if not, Who then can ſay, The warning was not to me? Every ſin (and much more every ſinner, the leaſt of whom is guilty of many ſins) "deſerves the wrath and curſe of GOD both in this life and that which is to come.
Indeed the greateſt ſinners are in the greateſt danger, and ſhould be in the greateſt fear: But it is not always ſo. Very often the leaſt ſinners fear moſt under the judgments of GOD, and always the moſt Godly fear beſt, if not moſt, under his awful threatnings; while greater ſinners are too often fearleſs and hardned. So Moſes was afraid of the fierce anger of the LORD, leſt it ſhould break forth upon the fearleſs ſinners; and Joſiah's heart was tender and he rent his robes, when it may be his Courtiers were not a whit moved.
Firſt then let me ſay, The Earthquake came to awaken greater ſinners to a great repentance for their many and mighty ſins. It came to ſet theſe in order before them, and it call'd upon them to rend their hearts. Did not their hearts ſmite them? was not their Countenance changed, and how did their tho'ts trouble them? Well might their joynts be looſed, and their knees ſmite one againſt another? Fearfulneſs and trembling came upon them, and horror overwhelmed them. A viſion paſs'd before them which made all their bones to ſhake, and the hair of their head ſtood up. Every hardy ſinner ſprang up trembling; the atheiſt believ'd and trembled, the prayerleſs called upon GOD, the profane tongue faulter'd, and the lips of the blaſphemer quiver'd: The worldling felt his earth ſinking, the drunkard ſaw it reeling like himſelf, and rottenneſs enter'd into the lewd man's bones: the liar, the thief and the falſe ſwearer ſaw the flying-roll enter'd into their houſe, to conſume it with the timber and ſtones thereof: The Sabbath-breaker tho't his ſoul that night required for the profanation of the Day †The Earthquake was in the night after the Lord's day.paſt; and every formal, careleſs, irreverent and hypocritical worſhipper had that peal of woes rung in his cars, Matth. 23.
Thus CHRIST came in the earthquake, as he will hereafter in the judgment day, to convince all that are ungodly of their ungodly deeds and hard ſpeeches; yet to ſoften and take away the heart of ſtone, and to break the rock in pieces. The wicked are harder than the earth and ſtones if they are not moved and ſhaken and broken under ſuch a providence; harder than the cruel hearts of the inraged mob and magiſtrates at Philippi, who when they had ſorely beaten Paul and Silas, and thruſt them into the dungeon, yet when the earthquake came at night they were ſo terrified and convinced of their unrighteous act, that as ſoon as it was day they ſent and releaſed them; yea came themſelves and beſo't them and brought them out of priſon. And well might "their Conſciences make furious reflections on them for what they had done, when they came to conſider that they had uſed the Men of GOD ſo barbarouſly only for caſting the devil out of a poſſeſſed damſel; and when GOD had ſhook the City, made the ground to tremble, at their horrid deed.
But ſecondly, Leſſer ſinners ſhould be awakned and much affected at a terrifying earthquake, as well as greater ſinners. And indeed theſe are more likely to hear and fear, and receive inſtruction. The impreſſion enters the eaſier and deeper on a tender heart. In what a fright were our Children and young people, many of them, when they heard and felt the Earthquake? how did they run to the preſence and arms of their helpleſs Parents, and attend to their prayers in that hour of conſternation? what gracious words did many of them ſpeak to their pious Parents at that time? And how were all that fear GOD affected with his hand, humbled under it and the more penitent before him? The men of GOD did, like Moſes, fear exceedingly; were afraid of his fierce anger. Like Abraham they were moved for the ſouls and bodies of others, for the godly and for the wicked, for Lots houſe and for every ſodomite. Like Ezra they rent their hearts for their own and their people's ſins. Like Joſiah their heart was tender, and they cried out— Great is the wrath of the LORD againſt us. Like Moſes they ran into the gap, and ſtood in the breach, to turn away GOD's anger. And like David ſome might open their own conſcious hearts to the ſword of juſtice, and ſay, Upon me LORD let thy hand be, but ſpare the ſheep of thy paſture.
Every gracious heart is tender and contrite before GOD, and trembles at his voice, whether in his written Word or ſpeaking Providence: And to every ſuch perſon the high and lofty One will look. Iſai. 66.2. Gracious Elihu could not ſee the lightning of GOD nor hear his thunder (things much more common than an Earthquake, yet awful like it) but his heart trembled and was moved out of its place: Job 37.1. Hear attentively (ſays he) the noiſe of his voice, and the ſound that goeth out of his mouth! He directeth it under the whole heaven,— after it a voice roareth:— Hearken to it, O. Iob: ſtand ſtill, and conſider the wondrous works of GOD. The beſt of men need to be awakned, and to awake themſelves to a very humble diligent attention to the mind of GOD in his wondrous works. And none will hearken to him with like reverence and godly fear as the moſt godly. Like the Prophet Habbakkuk who heard GOD's ſpeech and was afraid, and pray'd, O LORD in wrath remember mercy. Hab. 3.16. When I heard my belly trembled, my lips quivered, rottenneſs enter'd into my bones. Well might this be, had the Prophet been holier than he was; for he ſaw the everlaſting mountains ſcattered and the perpetual hills bowing before the Majeſty of GOD.
So then under ſuch a diſpenſation as this, of a dreadful Earthquake, every ſinner, the greater and the leſs are loudly called to humiliation and repentance. Surely the greater will think the ſhake ſent to them, and ſurely not to them only, but to me alſo, will the leaſt of ſinners be ready to ſay; Yea to me the chief of ſinners will he ſay that is moſt eminent in grace and in repentance. — But to go on,
IV. The earthquake came and CHRIST preſerv'd us in it to awaken us to an inſtant flight to Him as the Refuge of our ſouls, the rock and tower of ſalvation to us. The name of the LORD is a ſtrong tower, the righteous runneth into it and is ſafe. Prov. 18.10. Such is CHRIST, his righteouſneſs and the promiſes in him. The name of GOD is in him, and we muſt flee to him for ſafety from the deſerved judgments of GOD. We muſt put our ſelves by faith into thoſe ſaving hands which are filled with the burning coals. No other hand can ſave us. The Man clothed with linnen ſays to us, Look unto me and be ye ſaved all ye ends of the earth. The coals in his hands muſt haſten our flight to him. We muſt flee unto him to hide us. He will cover us with his ſpotleſs robe, and not a ſpark from the coals ſhall fall on us. How would he gather us, as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings in a time of danger! How gladly then ſhould we gather to him, to the covert of his wings. Pſal. 57.1. Be merciful unto me O GOD, be merciful unto me, for my ſoul truſteth in thee; Yea in the ſhadow of thy wings will I make my refuge until theſe calamities be overpaſt. There is no ſafety for us now, at death, nor in the day of judgment, without an intereſt in CHRIST by faith. We muſt count all things loſs that we may be found in him. He is our Ark when the flood comes, He our Zoar when the fire and brimſtone falls, He the rock to build on that our houſe may ſtand when the wind and rains beat. The deſign of the preached Goſpel, and the end of mercies and of judgments, is to lead ſinners to him. The cities of refuge of old were figures and types of CHRIST the refuge of guilty and repenting ſinners; they have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope ſet before them. Hebrews. 6.18. They need not fear, tho' the earth be removed, and tho' the mountains be carried into the midſt of the ſea.
An Earthquake ſhould ſhake ‖Eph. 5.14. Gen. 19.17. Zech. 9.11, 12. Job. 22.21. Iſai. 27.4.ſinners under the Goſpel out of their Security. It cried in their ears at midnight, Awake thou that ſleepeſt, and ariſe from the dead, and CHRIST ſhall give thee life. It bid them eſcape for their life to the mountain, without looking behind them. It cried to them, Turn to the ſtrong hold ye priſoners of hope! Come forth from the pit wherein is no water! by the blood of thy covenant thou art redeemed from it. Acquaint now thy ſelf with CHRIST and be at peace: take hold of his ſtrength and get into a ſtate of reconciliation and peace with GOD. How ſhall briars and thorns ſtand before devouring fire?
It would alſo awake drowſie Saints out of their ſlumbers, being as the midnight cry too in the ears of the wiſe to ariſe and trim their lamps, becauſe the Bridegroom cometh. Their faith ſhould be invigorated by ſuch a Providence; their hope and truſt actuated; My GOD, my ſtrength, the horn of my ſalvation, and my high tower. Their godly fear and reverence ſhould be excited and increaſed; as when he rais'd and laid the terrible tempeſt, they feared exceedingly, and ſaid one to another, What manner of man is this? It becomes us ſo to fear the LORD and his greatneſs; the LORD and his goodneſs. Hoſea. 3.5. Moved with fear, like Noah, let us get into our ark.
When Jonah was in the tempeſt, ready to founder, he ſaid, I fear the GOD of Heaven, that hath made the Sea and the dry land. And when Darius ſaw Daniel preſerved in the den of lions and taken out alive, he made a very pious Decree; to which we and ours ſhould be obedient with the utmoſt reverence and gratitude; Dan. 6.26. I make a decree, that in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the GOD of Daniel; — who delivereth and reſcueth, and worketh ſigns and wonders in heaven and in earth.
Love is the next duty, and our firſt, to CHRIST our merciful Preſerver. In love to our ſouls he has delivered us and ours from going down into the pit; and what leſs can we render to him than our beſt and higheſt love? To love him with all the underſtanding and all the heart is more than all whole burnt offering and ſacrifice. Pſalm. 18.1, 2. I will love thee, O LORD my ſtrength, my rock, my fortreſs and my deliverer. Pſalm. 116.1. I love the LORD becauſe he hath heard my voice and my ſupplication.
Faith fear and love will produce prayer and praiſes to our King, our Judge and our Saviour. Prayer is a grand part of our homage. Pſalm. 18.3. I will call upon the LORD who is worthy to be praiſed, ſo ſhall I be ſaved. Pſalm. 116.4. Then called I upon the name of the LORD, O LORD I beſeech thee deliver my ſoul. When CHRIST comes forth as a Judge we ſhould meet him with Abraham's moſt reverend Supplications: And when we look to him as a Saviour it muſt be with David's prayer; Unto thee will I pray, my King and my GOD.
To be ſure Praiſe waiteth for Him in Zion who is the Saviour. His name and benefits can't be tho't of, and much leſs duely mention'd without Thankſgiving and praiſes. Bleſs the LORD O my ſoul, and all that is within me bleſs his holy Name! O bleſs our GOD ye people, and cauſe the voice of his praiſe to be heard; who holdeth our ſoul in life, and ſuffereth not our feet to be moved. I will extol thee my GOD, O King, and I will praiſe thy name for ever and ever; Every day will I bleſs thee and I will praiſe &c. One generation ſhall praiſe thy works to another, and ſhall declare thy mighty acts. I will mention the loving-kindneſſes of the LORD, and the praiſes of the LORD, according to all his great goodneſs, and the multitude of his loving kindneſſes †Pſalm 103.66.145. Iſai. 63.7.. When CHRIST had ſhewn great mercy to one, and had wro't a great deliverance for him, he bid him neturn to his houſe and declare what great things the LORD had done for him: And he forth and publiſhed every where what JESUS had done for him. Luke 11.24. Let us go and do likewiſe, and ſing to CHRIST the 118. Pſalm, 17,—24.
To conclude this head, Self-dedication and the renewed ſolemn acts of it, is the Offering due from us to CHRIST as our Judge and our Deliverer. As the Egyptians ſaid to Joſeph, Thou haſt ſaved our lives, we will be Pharaoh's ſervants. It is our ſelves, body and ſoul with all their powers, the devotion of our hearts and the obedience of our lives, that we muſt render to our Saviour. So we are taught, Rom. 6.13. Yield your ſelves unto GOD. So we are beſought, Rom. 12.1. I beſeech you, brethren, by the mercies of GOD, that ye preſent your bodies a living ſacrifice, holy and acceptable to GOD. The grand reaſon for this duty is given us, 1 Cor. 6. ult. Ye are not your own, but are bought with a price; therefore glorify GOD in your body and in your ſpirits, which are GOD's. When the Plalmiſt made a record of a ſingular ſalvation which GOD had granted him, thus he made his grateful return to his GOD and Saviour; Pſalm 116. O LORD; truly I am thy ſervant, I am thy ſervant! I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.
Thus the Earthquake, and our preſervation in it by the hand of CHRIST, ſhould haſten our flight to Him as the refuge of our ſouls; with faith, fear, love, prayer, praiſe, and ſelf conſecration. We ſhould be very ſolemn, fervent, deliberate and yet ſpeedy in this perſonal tranſaction with the great GOD.
V. FAMILY-RELIGION is a very ſpecial duty which the earthquake and our preſervation in it admoniſhes us of and calls us to. The threatning was to families and the preſervation was of them. Our houſes were ſhaken, and yet ſpared. They might have cruſh'd and buried us. CHRIST's voice to us is ſerve me in your houſes; and our anſwer ſhould be that, Joſh. 24.15. As for me and my houſe we will ſerve the LORD. Our houſholds and our ſubſtance ſhould be bro't under a renewed conſecration to CHRIST, and have HOLINESS TO THE LORD written on them. The walls and ſtones of our houſes in a manner cried to us as they ſeem'd falling, and they may cry out againſt us if the fear and worſhip of GOD be not always in them for time to come.
CHRIST calls us to repent of and reform our family ſins, and that we put iniquity far from our tabernacles. Job. 22.23. And he warns us to make more conſcience of family and relative duties. For inſtance, FAMILY INSTRUCTION; according to the command of GOD Deut. 6.6, 7, 8. And theſe words which I command thee this day ſhall be in thy heart, and thou ſhalt teach them diligently unto thy children; and ſhalt talk of them when thou ſitteſt in thy houſe, and when thou lieſt down and when thou riſeſt up. FAMILY-WORSHIP is another duty which the preſervation of our dwellings and houſholds demands of us: family prayer and praiſe morning and evening, together with the reading GOD's word. Shall there be any prayerleſs families among us, or prayerleſs perſons and cloſets in any family, after ſuch a ſhake of our houſes? GOD forbid. Read the righteous and terrible Imprecation or curſe that hangs over ſuch irreligious houſes, Jer. 10.25. Pour out thy fury upon the heathen, and upon the families that call not upon thy name. Say not it means the families of falſe worſhip and Idolatry in the heathen nations; for grant it — yet thy houſe (O Chriſtian) is worſe in GOD's ſight than any heathens if CHRIST be not daily worſhipt in it. Carry thy houſe daily to him to be ſprinkled with his blood, the blood of the paſſover, that the Angel of death may not ſmite it. Let our ſpared dwellings be Bethels, for GOD to be worſhipt in, for him to dwell in. And let the preſence of CHRIST in them, with the judgments and ſalvations of Providence in his hand, be awfully apprehended by us in daily family worſhip. As Jacob wak'd in the morning and ſaid, How dreadful is the place! it is the houſe of GOD and gate of heaven. And that CHRIST may come under our roof, and bring ſalvation with him as he did to the houſe of Zaccheus, let FAMILY-GOVERNMENT be preſerved and maintained among us. When GOD threatned our houſes lately, did he not in effect ſend us the meſſage which he did once to Eli, Tell him that I will judge his houſe, for that when his ſons made themſelves vile he reſtrained them not. And now that GOD has preſerv'd our houſes and houſholds, ſhould we not reſolve and pray and ſing with David, Pſalm. 101. I will ſing of mercy and of judgment, unto thee O LORD will I ſing: I will behave my ſelf wiſely in a perfect way; O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my houſe with a perfect heart; I will ſet no wicked thing before my eyes; I hate the work of them that turn aſide, it ſhall not cleave to me:— He that walketh in a perfect way he ſhall ſerve me; he that worketh deceit ſhall not dwell within my houſe; he that telleth lies ſhall not tarry in my ſight.
Moreover,
Not only ſhould Heads of families, but children and ſervants alſo, be greatly aw'd and affected with the threatning and ſalvation of GOD's providence. Be ſubject to your parents, to your maſters and miſtreſſes, as unto CHRIST. Eph. 6.6. Attend the worſhip of the family with great ſeriouſneſs and reverence, and ſubmit to the good order and rule of the Houſe, for it is the Government of CHRIST. There is a parental as well as a paſtoral watch, and it is for your ſouls, as thoſe that muſt give an account, that they may do it with joy and not with grief.— In a word, We read of the voice of ſalvation and rejoicing in the tabernacles of the righteous: So let it be with us; The voice of ſalvation and rejoicing is in our dwellings, let them be the tabernacles of the righteous.
VI. From our own houſes let us paſs to the Houſe of GOD: The threatning Earthquake and our preſervation in it loudly calls us to a more reverend regard to his holy Sabbath and the Ordinances of his Worſhip. The Lord's-day, is the religious ſanctification of it, is the ſpecial ſeaſon and means of holineſs among men, and of glory to CHRIST. Therefore is the obſervation of it ſo ſtrictly commanded, and the profanation ſo ſeverely threatned and revenged‖Levit. 19.30. Exod. 31.13 Jorem. 17.27. Levit. 26.31, 34. 2 Chron. 36.20, 21.. ye ſhall keep my Sabbaths, I am the LORD: Verily my Sabbaths ye ſhall keep, for it is a ſign between me and you thro' out your generations, that I am the LORD that doth ſanctify you. But if ye will not hearken to me to hallow the Sabbath day, then I will kindle a fire in the gates of Jeruſalem, which ſhall devour its palaces. And accordingly the coals in my text were ſcattered on Jeruſalem for polluting GOD's ſabbaths: They burnt the houſe of GOD and brake down the wall of Jeruſalem, and carried the remnant to Babylon, to fulfil the word of the LORD, until the land enjoy'd her Sabbaths. As therefore it was in the night after the Lord's-day that the terrible Earthquake viſited us, ſo it calls us to judge our ſelves for the many Sabbaths which we may have trifled away and loſt, profaned and polluted. Take it as a loud warning againſt the looſeneſs of multitudes on the Evenings of the Lord's-day; as well as for the neglect of GOD's public Worſhip by multitudes among us. And let perſons and families judge themſelves for their ſecret and family omiſſions and diſorders. Do they not bring wrath upon the land by profaning the Sabbath? Nehem. 13.18.
Let thoſe that live in an eaſie and careleſs neglect of the holy Baptiſm of CHRIST, for themſelves or their children, remember how the Angel of the LORD met Moſes in the Inn and threatned to ſlay him, for his omitting to circumciſe his ſon. Exod. 4.24, 25. Omiſſions are ſins, and muſt come into judgment, and particularly the neglect and contempt of the ſeals of the Covenant; for it is a ſign we undervalue the promiſes of the Covenant, and are diſpleas'd with the conditions of it. So Mr. Henry. Moſes inſtantly humbled himſelf, and put the mark of GOD upon his ſon, and the angel of death departed from him.
Some think Moſes was ſtruck with a mortal ſickneſs in the Inn, and GOD let him know that it was for his neglecting to circumciſe his child. And we know the threatning of GOD in the day when he gave the law of Circumciſion to Abraham, Gen. 17.14. The uncircumciſed man-child— that ſoul ſhall be cut off from my people, he hath broken my covenant. The threatning had like to have been executed on the excellent parent for his omiſſion.
Let thoſe alſo fear the judgments of CHRIST who never came to his Table, or come unworthily thereunto. Are the judgments of Providence in his hand? and has he ſaid, This do in remembrance of me? and will he not judge men for their Omiſſion of this duty? Or has he ſaid again, Let a man examine himſelf and ſo let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup; for he that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh judgment to himſelf? and ſhall we not judge our ſelves that we may not be judged? We know how the Corinthians were judged for their irreverence, 1. Cor. 11.30. Many were ſick and weak among them, and ſome died. Judge then, (and ſurely the coals in the hand of CHRIST call us to judge our ſelves) Whether there is not a general faulty neglect of the Table of CHRIST among us? And whether there be not much unworthy eating and drinking found with us? — Should not the loud and terrible threatning of judgment bring both theſe to a ſerious conſideration with us? — Surely CHRIST calls many among us to his long neglected Table, that his houſe may be full; and I hope is bringing many to it by the awful alarm which he has given them. And ſurely he calls all his Churches to a more reverend obſervation of this, and every other of his Inftitutions. Let us remember how Nadab and Abibu, as well as Corah, died with their cenſers in their hands; and what the HOLY ONE ſaid thereupon, I will be ſanctified in them that draw nigh me. Very awful alſo is his threatning, Levit. 26.14, 15. If ye will not bearken to me, and will not do all theſe Commandments; if ye ſhall deſpiſe my ſtatutes, and if your ſoul abhor my judgments, and you break my covenant; I alſo will do this unto you, I will even appoint over you terror.
VII. And laſtly, By the terrible threatning and the merciful preſervation in the late amazing Earthquake, CHRIST warns us to get ready for his Coming; for death, judgment and eternity. Is it not a ſign to us of the Son of man, how quickly and ſuddenly he may come? Is it not a warning to us to get ready for it? Mat. 24.42. Watch therefore, for ye know not what hour your LORD doth come: Therefore be ye alſo ready, for in ſuch an hour as you think not the ſon of man cometh: Bleſſed is that ſervant whom his LORD when he cometh ſhall find ſo doing. Luke 12 35, 36. Let your loins be girded about and your lights burning, and be ye as men that wait for their LORD, to open unto him immediately. Is not this the meaning of his threatning, "Or I will come upon thee quickly? and this the language of his ſparing mercy, "Bleſſed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments.
Surely CHRIST meant to give us a very ſenſible conviction of the vanity and emptineſs of this world and all the enjoyments of it; and to raiſe our affections to and fix them on the things that are above, where He is at the right hand of GOD? O what did this world and life and all the things of it ſeem to us, while the earth was ſhaking and as it were ſinking under us! So let us always look on it as a periſhing thing, and far from being any portion for an immortal Creature. 1. John. 2.17. The world paſſeth away and the luſts thereof, but he that doeth the will of GOD abideth for ever. Col. 3.3. Set your affections on things above, and not on things upon the earth; for ye are dead and your life is hid with CHRIST in GOD; When CHRIST who is your life ſhall appear then ſhall ye alſo appear with him in glory‖Mat. 6.19. 1. Cor. 7 29, — 31.
Let us realize it, that there is a more terrible ſhake before us, than that which ſo lately terrified us; even DEATH! which with a cold but ſtrong hand will ſhake our ſouls out of our bodies. And what will it avail us that we have been delivered from an Earthquake now, if a few days hence the pit below, the bottomleſs pit, open its mouth upon us and ſwallow us up? What will it avail us that CHRIST grants this ſpace for repentance, if after a hard and impenitent heart we only treaſure up wrath againſt the day of wrath! When it ſhall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah than for us; and they that went down quick into the pit ſhall riſe up in judgment againſt us and condemn us! What will it ſignify to us that the Earth did not ſwallow us up three weeks agoe, if the day is coming upon us hereafter when we ſhall cry to the rocks and mountains to fall upon us and hide us from the face of the LAMB!
The ſinners of the Old world, on whom the Long, ſuffering of GOD waited in the days of Noah, tho' they periſhed by a flood of water for their impenitence, will fare better in the day of judgment than Goſpel ſinners. And the wicked Sodomites, who rejected the warnings of Lot's righteous and grieved ſoul from day to day, tho' they periſhed by fire here, yet will hereafter find a more tolerable place in hell than Goſpel ſinners. And the ſinners of Jeruſalem, that had ſuch a Vengeance taken of them in the firſt and ſecond deſtruction of that famous City, yet will be leſs miſerable than we in the day of judgment, if we periſh in their ſins. For the records of their ſins and of their Judgment is written for our warning; and a Greater than Noah or all the Prophets has ſpoken to us from heaven; and we have ſeen Him with the judgments of Providence in his hand and with the eternal Judgment alſo committed to Him; and at the ſame time he invites us to repentance by all the tenders and arguments of Grace that can poſſibly be made to us; Wherefore of how much ſorer puniſhment ſuppoſe ye muſt we be tho't worthy, both in this world and in that to come, if we go on impenitently in thoſe ſins for which they periſhed? Hebrews. 10.26; — 31.
Let theſe things ſink deep into our hearts *Philip. 4.5. 1 Peter 4.7.2.3.10, — 15.Let your moderation be known to all men, the LORD is at hand. The end of all things is at hand, be ye therefore ſober and watch unto prayer. The Day of the LORD will come as a thief in the night, in the which the Heavens ſhall paſs away with a great noiſe, and the elements ſhall melt with fervent heat; the earth alſo and the works that are therein ſhall be burnt up: Seeing then that all theſe things ſhall be diſſolved, what manner of perſons ought ye to be in all holy converſation and godlineſs? looking for and haſting unto the coming of the day of GOD, wherein the Heavens being on fire ſhall be diſſolved, and the elements ſhall melt with fervent heat? Never the leſs we according to his promiſe look for new Heavens and a new Earth, wherein dwelleth righteouſneſs: Wherefore, Beloved, ſeeing that ye look for ſuch things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without ſpot and blameleſs: And account that the longſuffering of GOD is Salvation —
The Earth devoured by the Curſe.
A SERMON Preached at Boſton Novem. 2.1727.
On a Day of Prayer and Faſting, four days after the EARTHQƲAKE.
Amos I. 1, 2.
The word of Amos,— which he ſaw concerning Iſrael, in the days of Uzziah king of Judah,— two year before the Earthquake: And he ſaid, The LORD ſhall rore from Zion, &c.
BOSTON: Printed for J. Phillips at the Stationers-Arms on the South ſide of the Town-Houſe, and T. Hancock at the Bible and Three Crowns near the Town Dock, 1727.