Repentance the Sure Way to Escape Destruction, Sermon 1

Repentance the Sure Way to Escape Destruction · Sermon 1

Mr. Sewall's Two SERMONS From JER. XVIII. 7, 8.

Occaſioned by the EARTHQUAKE.

Repentance The ſure Way to Eſcape Deſtruction. Two SERMONS On JRR. 18.7, 8. Preach'd December 21ſt. on a Publick Faſt occaſioned by the Earthquake the Night after the LORD's-Day Octob. 29th. And on the LORD's-Day December 24th. 1727.

By Joſeph Sewall, M.A. Paſtor of a Church of CHRIST in Boſton.

Publiſh'd with ſome Enlargement.

Ezek. 33.11.

Say unto them, As I live ſaith the Lord God, I have no pleaſure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye, from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O houſe of Iſrael.

BOSTON: Printed for D. HENCHMAN, at the Corner Shop over againſt the Brick Meeting-Houſe in Corn-hill. 1727

p. 1GOD will not Deſtroy a Penitent People.

JER. XVIII. 7, 8.

At what inſtant I ſhall ſpeak concerning a Nation, and concerning a Kingdom to pluck up, and to pull down, and to deſtroy it: If that Nation againſt whom I have pronounced, turn from their Evil, I will repent of the Evil that I thought to do unto them.

IN this Chapter, 1. We have a Declaration of God's Sovereign Power to deal with a People as He pleaſeth, under the Parable or Similitude of a Potter and his Clay, ver. 1,—6. If the Potter hath power over his yellow Clay to faſhion it as he will; ſurely that God, who hath given being to us and all Creatures, may diſpoſe of us as ſeemeth good in His ſight, Rom. 9. p. 220, 1. Nay but O man, who art thou that replieſt againſt God? ſhall the thing formed ſay to him that formed it, why haſt thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay—? 2. God ſhews that in his Dealings with Nations, He acts as a righteous Judge; yea as a God gracious and merciful, ver. 7,—10. At what inſtant—God ſpeaks againſt a People when He threatens to bring deſolating Judgments upon them, and 'tis implied that this is for their Sins, whereby they tranſgreſs His holy Laws: This is the ground of the Controverſy. Notwithſtanding, we are here aſſur'd that tho' a ſinful People give God cauſe to come out againſt them, ſo that if He ſhould mark iniquity they could not ſtand; yet He is not wont to deal with them in a way of rigorous Juſtice; but firſt threatens and warns, before He comes out againſt them to deſtroy them: Yea, that if they take the Warning, and turn from the Evil of their Sins unto unto Him; God will alſo repent of the Evil of Puniſhment He threatned to bring upon them, and ſtay His Hind. Not as if God chang'd His Mind, or alter'd His Decree. No! He is the Almighty, All-wiſe, and Unchangeable God. I am the Lord, I change not—Mal. 3.6. God is of one mind, and who can turn Him? God can do nothing but what is worthy of His infinite Perfections, p. 3and therefore He can't Repent in a ſtrict and proper ſenſe, 1 Sam. 15.29. The Strength of Iſrael will not Repent— He is not a Man that He ſhould Repent. However, God is ſaid to Repent, ſpeaking after the manner of Men, when He changeth His way, and the Courſe of His Providence towards a Perſon or People, Gen. 6.6. Jon 3.10. Agreeably, the Expreſſion here us'd intends that God would not execute the Judgments denounced, nor bring the threatned Evil upon them; but e c. would return unto them in a way of Grace and Favour. On the other hand, God ſhews that His Promiſes of proſpering and eſtabliſhing a People are Conditional, ver. 9, 10. If it do Evil, I will repent of the good — God will ſtop the Courſe of His Mercies, and walk contrary to them. Now the due Obſervance of theſe Rules would help us to underſtand the Juſtice, Truth and Equity of God's Providential Diſpenſations towards His ancient People, and others. 3. We have the Improvement of the foregoing Diſcourſe with an eſpecial Application to God's Covenant People the Jews, ver. 11,—17. In which the Prop et is commanded to declare to the Men of Judah, that God was framing Evil againſt them; and then to call them to Repentance and Amendment of life, ver. 11. But their obſtinacy in ſiuning is foretold, p. 4and they are upbraided with their folly in forſaking their Covenant God, ver. 13,—15.4. We have an account of the People's deſperate reſolution to plot miſchievous Devices againſt Jeremiah, becauſe he faithfully delivered God's Meſſage to them, ver. 18. ad ſin. And then an Imprecation of Judgment, in which the Prophet was not acted by an evil ſpirit of perſonal Revenge: He deſir'd not the woful Day; but by the Spirit of Prophecy.

BUT to return to the Text, from which, and as related to the Context, I ſhall obſerve theſe Doctrines.

1. GOD is wont to Threaton a People, and give them Warning before He brings Deſtroying Judgments upon them.

II. IF they Repent of the Evil of their Sins, and turn from them to the Lord; God will alſo Repent, and not bring the threatned Evil of Puniſhment upon them.

III. BUT if a People when thus Threatned go on obſtinately in their Sins, they may expect that God will bring His Deſtroying Judgments upon them till they are made Deſolate.

DOCT. I. GOD is wont to Threaten a People, and give them Warning before He brings Deſtroying Judgments upon them.

p. 5AT what inſtant I ſpeak, to pluck up — God utters His Voice in dreadful Threatnings before He gives the fatal blow. He cauſeth the Woe-Trumpets to ſound before He pours out the Vials of His Wrath. Thus God threatned the Sinners of the Old World, and yet ſpared them One Hundred and Twenty Years before He brought the Flood upon them to deſtroy them, Gen. 6.3,—7 In which time Noah was a Preacher of Righteouſneſs, and the building the Ark a ſign. Yea the great Prophet and Teacher, our LORD JESUS CHRIST, is ſaid to Preach to thoſe Sinners, whoſe Spirits are now in Priſon, 1 Pet. 3 19, 20 By which alſo he went & preached unto the ſpirits in priſon: Which ſometime were diſobedient, when once the long ſuffering of God … in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is eight ſouls were ſaved by water, In or by which—i. e. His God Head, which is an eternal Spirit. Noah was but an Inſtrument in His Hand. God early denounc'd dreadful Threatnings againſt the Iſraelites upon Condition of their Revolt and Apoſtacy, Lev 26.14. — 34. — If ye ſhall deſpiſe my ſtatutes —I will ſet my face againſt you, and ye ſhall be ſlain before your enemies. ver. 21. And if ye work contrary to me — I will bring ſeven times more plagues upon you — your Land ſhall be deſolate &c. And thus God ſent the Prophet p. 6Jonah to the Ninevites, tho' they were not his peculiar Covenant People, with that Meſſage, Chap 3.4. — Yet forty days and Nineveh ſhall be overthrown Notwithſtanding which, God had ſpating Mercy in reſerve for them. Now, God doth thus threaten, and ſpeak againſt a People,

1. IN and by His Word. Herein God's Wrath is reveal'd from Heaven againſt all ungodlineſs and unrighteouſneſs of Men. God threatens His degenerate People by His Word in the mouths of His Miniſters, Hoſ. 6.5. I have hewed them by the prophets, I have ſlain them by the words of my mouth. Tho' Men were the Inſtruments in Writing, or Pronouncing theſe Threatnings; yet they wrote and ſpake as mov'd and inſpir'd by the Holy Ghoſt, 2 Pet. 1.21. And therefore this Word is to be received not as the Word of Men; but as indeed it is the Word of God. Thus faith the Lord. And this Word of God abideth in full force and virtue throughout all Generations, 1 Pet. 1.24, 5. All fleſh is as graſs — But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. It not only concerns thoſe to whom it was nextly directed; but all to whom it comes, and they may aſſure themſelves that if their Caſe be the ſame it will take place on them. Rom. 15.4. Whatſoever things were written aforetime, were written for our Learning. And thus p. 7the Puniſhments recorded in Scripture, are ſaid to be our Examples, — 1 Cor. 10.6. In them we do as in a figure behold the truth and faithfulneſs of God in fulfilling His Word. Sinners muſt therefore realize it that the Threatnings of God's Word are denounced againſt them as truly as if their Names were mentioned. Thou art the Man. And if they continue impenitent they ſhall find it ſo in the Day of the Revelation of the Righteous Judgment of God, when as many as have ſinned in the law, ſhall be judged by the law, i. e. the written Word. Rom. 2.12. All muſt hear what the Spirit faith to the Churches, Rev. 2.7.

2. GOD ſpeaks against a People by His Providential Diſpenſations. When together with the Threatnings of His Word, He ſtretcheth out His Hand to ſmire them. There's a Voice in the Rod, and by it God ſays, Turn at my Reproof, Mic. 6.9. The Lord's Voice crieth unto the City — hear ye the Rod — When God in His Providence threatens to bring deſolating Judgments on a backſilding People, and then ſtays His Hand; or when He brings lighter Chaſtiſements, and in Judgment remembers Mercy, ſo that they are not concerned; He then gives a People warning, and ſays, Prepare to meet thy God —. Or as Lev. 26.23, 4. And if ye will not be reformed by theſe things, p. 8but will walk contrary unto me: then will I alſo work contrary unto you, and will puniſh you yet ſeven times for your ſins. By ſuch jud cial Diſpenſations, God calls to a People to ſtrand in Awe of Him; to Repent and turn to Him, when His Wrath is kindled but a little, and begins to burn. The Voice of Chriſt, to whom all Judgment is committed, is that, Joh. 5.14. Sin no more, lest a worſe thing come unto you. Don't go on to provoke me, leſt I bring utter ruin upon you.

USE. I. LEARN from what hath been ſaid, The Mercy, Patience and Forbearance of God. Surely. He doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the Children of Men, Lam 3.33. Judgment is his ſtrange Work. Iſa. 28.21. And he doth not uſually proceed to it, till he hath tried other means, and given his People fair Warning. Neh. 9.17. Thou art a God ready to Pardon, Gracious and Merciful, ſlow to Anger. — and for ſookeſt them not. God endureth with much long ſuffering, even the Veſſels of Wrath — Rom. 9.22. He is the God of Patience. Rom. 15.5. And when he proclaims His Name, one Letter in it is that, Long ſuffering, Exod. 34.6, Sometimes when His Hand hath been lifted up ready to give the deadly Blow, His Bowels of Compaſſion have moved Him to ſtay His Hand, Hoſ. 11, 8, 9. How ſhall I p. 9give thee up Ephraim? how ſhall I deliver thee, Iſrael? how ſhall I make thee as Admah? how ſhall I ſet thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me — I will not execute the fierceneſs of mine anger, I will not return to deſtroy Ephraim; for I am God, & not man,— O let us then give God the Glory of theſe Divine and amiable Perfections! Let not us deſpiſe the Riches of His Goodneſs and Forbearance and Long-ſuffering, not knowing that the Goodneſs of God leadeth to Repentance. Let us not after our hardneſs and impenitent Hearts treaſure up to our ſelves Wrath againſt the Day of Wrath, Rom. 2 4, 5. But,

2. LET us take the Warning God gives us, and Turn unto Him. Let not any of us encourage and harden our ſelves in Sin becauſe God may have threatned again and again, and yet hath not brought the deſerved Deſtruction. Sinners are very prone to this pernicious and provoking Evil, Eccl. 8.11. Becauſe ſentence againſt an evil work is not executed ſpeedily; therefore the heart of the ſons of men is fully ſet in them to do evil. O take heed of this Preſumption and Secu…y! It is often a preſage of Ruin. Prov. 29.1. He that bring often reproved, Lardneth his neck, ſhall ſuddenly be deſtroyed, and that without remedy. O take the warning then which God gives you in his Word and Providence, p. 10and turn to Him without Delay. Now that God ſays to us, as Ezek. 33.11. Say unto them, As I live, ſaith the Lord God, I have no pleaſure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways: for why will you die, O houſe of Iſrael; Let us relent, and without delay make our Peace with God thro' Jeſus Chriſt. Let us as a People take the Warning; Hear and obey God's Voice in His inflicted and threatned Judgments. Let us Repent, and put away the Evil of our Doings, that God may Repent of the Evil, and not bring it upon us. Which leads me to the

II. DOCT. IF a People, when thus Threatned, Repent of the Evil of their Sins, and turn from them to the Lord; God will alſo Repent and not bring the threatned Evil of Puniſhment upon them.

1. What is implied in a People's Repenting of the Evil of their Sins, and turning from them to the Lord.

2. IF they Repent. God will alſo Repent of the Evil which he thought to have done unto them.

WHAT is implied in a People's Repenting of the Evil of their Sins, and turning from them to the Lord?

p. 11Anſw. 1. IT ſuppoſeth, That they are truly and generally Convinc'd of the Evil and Danger of their Sins. Sin is the worſt of Evils: the wages of it is Death, Rom. 6.23. But alas! Such is the Power of deceitful Luſts, to blind Mens minds, that they flatter themſelves in their own Eyes. Pſal. 36.2. Agreably there is a woe denounced againſt thoſe that call Evil Good, and Good Evil; that put Darkneſs for Light — Iſa. 5.20. Wicked Men whoſe underſtanding is darkneſs, have wrong notions of God, of Sin, &c. For in their Practical Judgments, they prefer the gratification of their Luſts before the enjoyment of God. The old Man is Corrupt according to Deceitful Luſts; ſo that while a Perſon or People are under the governing influence of Sin, they do not make a right Judgment concerning the Nature and pernicious Conſequences of this Deadly Evil. But when God gives them Repentance, he ſends his Spirit to Convince them of Sin, making them to ſee and know that it is, an evil and bitter thing that they have forſaken the Lord their God. Such a people, are brought to conſider and realize it, that they have Diſhonoured God, and Wounded themſelves, by their Iniquities. God ſays to them. Thou haſt fallen by thine Iniquities, Hoſ. 14.1. Thou haſt deſtroy'd thyſelf; and his Word is quick and powerful, p. 12carrying Light and Conviction with it, when ſet home by his Spirit. So that they are brought to ſay, as Job 33.27. I have ſin'd, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not. Yea, they are convinced that this is the procuring Cauſe of the Calamities they ſuffer, and are brought to determine it muſt be forſaken, or it will be their ruin. Before they might be ready to attribute their Miſeries to other Cauſes; but now God makes them know that their Iniquities have ſeperated between them and their God, Iſai. 59.2. His Voice to them is that, Jer. 4.18. Thy way and thy doings have procured theſe things unto thee, this is thy wickedneſs, becauſe it is bitter, becauſe it reacheth unto thine heart. And they are made ſenſible that Sin is the accurſed thing which troubleth them. Such a Conviction as this is given by the Spirit of God, commanding the Bleſſing on the Calls of His Word and Providence, when a People attend to this great Duty of Repentance. The ſaving Convictions made on God's Children are reviv'd; ſo that they awake out of their ſleepy frames, and become active and vigorous in promoting the neceſſary Work of Reformation. Others have good Impreſſions made upon them, which the Spirit of God faſtens and makes preparatory to ſaving Converſion. And p. 13tho' there may be many at ſuch a time that fall ſhort of this; yet even of theſe there are not a few who are ſo convinced in their Conſciences of the evil and danger of Sin, that they outwardly Reform, and do many things ††Mark 6.20.Mark 6:20. Deſtruction from God is ſuch a terror to them that they dare not commit thoſe groſs Sins which they before allowed themſelves in **2 Pet. 2.20.2 Pet 2:20, nor omit thoſe Religious Duties they before liv'd in the neglect of.

2. IT ſuppoſeth that they inwardly grieve and mourn for their Sins whereby they have diſhonoured and provoked God. In true Repentance, Sin which was before lov'd and delighted in, is loathed and hated; and inaſmuch as it is an evil preſent, this hatred is expreſſed in hearty Sorrow upon the account of it, 2 Cor. 7.10. Godly Sorrow worketh Repentance. The true Penitent mourns heartily becauſe he hath offended ſo great and glorious, ſo good and gracious a God, by his Iniquities. He looks unto Jeſus his Compaſſionate Saviour, conſiders how his Iniquities have pierced Him, and kindly relents, yea mourns bitterly. Agreably it is Prophecied, that when God would pour out the Spirit of Grace upon the Houſe of David, and upon the Inhabitants of Jeruſalem; They ſhould look upon him whom they had pierced, and mourn, as one p. 14mourneth for an only ſon—, Zech. 12.10, 12. The Land ſhall mourn—. And this is what God calls his backſliding People to, Joel 2.12, 13. Therefore now ſaith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with weeping, and with mourning. And rent your heart and not your garment, and turn unto the Lord your God. Agreably, when a People are bro't to Repentance, there's a general Mourning and Sorrow upon the account of their Sins; they are affected with grief, and their Souls are wounded within them under the terrible Apprehenſion of the evil and danger of Sin. And tho' all do no not mourn after a godly ſort, becauſe they have offended God, and vexed. His Holy Spirit; yet there are many who do thus ſigh and cry for all the abominations done in the midſt of them, Ezek. 9.4. And others have Sin ſo imbittered to them, that they can't take pleaſure in it, as they us'd to do; but abſtain at leaſt from the outward Commiſſion; ſo grievous are the pains, and ſo ſore the wounds of their Conſciences.

3. WHEN a People are Penitent, they Confeſs their Sins before the Lord, & ſolemnly engage to forſake them. Such a People do not ſeek to cover and extenuate their Sins; do not go on to juſtify themſelves, and complain of God, as if he dealt hardly with them. As they, Ezek. 18.25. Ye ſay, p. 15the way of the Lord is not equal. But they juſtify God in all the Evils He brings upon them, and acknowledge that they are puniſhed leſs than their Iniquities deſerve. Thus they give Glory to God, when they Repent, taking ſhame and blame to themſelves. Accordingly, this is named as one ingredient of Repentance, Lev. 26.40. If they ſhall Confeſs their Iniquity, and the Iniquity of their Fathers—. And we find that God's ancient People attended this duty when brought to Repentance, Judg. 10.10. And the children of Iſrael cried unto the Lord, ſaying, we have ſinned againſt thee, both becauſe we have forſaken our God, and alſo ſerved Baalim. And thus the Seed of Iſrael ſtood and confeſſed their Sins, — Neh. 9.2. When this good Spirit prevails among a People, they will be ready to confeſs with Ezra, Chap. 9.6. O my God, I am aſhamed and bluſh to lift up my face to them, my God: for our iniquities are increaſed over our head. And with Daniel, Chap. 9.5. We have ſinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled by departing from thy judgments. ver. 7. O Lord, righteouſneſs belongeth unto thee, but unto us confuſion of faces, as at this day. ver. 8. O Lord, to us belongeth confuſion of face: to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, becauſe we have ſinned againſt thee. Their Petitions for Pardon p. 16and Favour will be accompanied with ſuch penitent Confeſſions: yea, they will ſolemnly engage to forſake their Sins whereby they have diſhonoured and provoked God. When God is pleading the Quarrel of His Covenant with them, they will not only confeſs their Violations of it; but alſo, as they may be call'd, be ready afreſh to enter into God's Covenant and Oath, that they will forſake thoſe Sins which appear to be the Sins of the times wherein they live. Thus God's People did on a ſolemn Fast, Neh. 9.38. We make a ſure Covenant, and write it, and our princes, levites, and prieſts, ſeal unto it. Chap. 10.29. They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entred into a curſe, and into an oath to walk in God's law, which was given by Moſes the ſervant of God, and to obſerve and do all the commandments of the Lord our God, and his judgments, and his statutes. And in particular, they engag'd to watch againſt ſome Iniquities that had prevail'd among them. Agreable to this, A Venerable Synod of our own have obſerv'd, We ſeldom read of any Solemn Reformation, but it was accompliſhed this way, as the Scripture doth abundantly declare and teſtify ††Reſult of Synods, p. 112.. I would here ask leave with all humility to expreſs my deſires that this Duty might be again ſolemnly p. 17attended by theſe Churches. But to return, All I ſhall further ſay under this Head is, that where Repentance is ſincere, our Confeſſion of Sin will be free and ingenuous, flowing from an afflicting ſenſe of the diſhonour done to God, and an hearty deſire to give Glory to Him. The Confeſſion of ſuch is not extorted, as Judas, when under the rack of a tormenting Conſcience, ſaid, I have ſinned, Mat. 27.4.

4. A Penitent People humble themſelves under God's Threatnings, and Submit to Him. The pride and ſtubbornneſs of their Spirits are ſubdued, that they dare no longer contend with God, being convinced of the truth of that Word, Wo to him that ſtriveth with his Maker, Iſai. 45.9 They now fall down at God's foot, and reſign themſelves to His Sovereign Will, being ready to accept the puniſhment of their Sins, and willing to be reconciled to God upon His own terms, Lev. 26.41. —If then their uncircumciſed hearts be humbled, and they then accept the puniſhment of their iniquity. Such a People are of a broken and contrite Spirit under the Tokens of God's diſpleaſure againſt them, ſubmit to Him, and are more concerned to have their Sins and God's Anger removed, than to be delivered from outward Calamities. Before they might refuſe to receive Correction; but now they p. 18can ſay with Ephraim, Thou haſt chaſtiſed me, and I was chaſtiſed—, Jer. 31.18. They ſubmit to the Yoke God lays upon them, and humble themſelves under His mighty Hand.

5. A Penitent People Turn from their Evil Ways, and Return to the Lord their God. Thus a People's Repenting is expreſs'd in the Text by turning from their Evil, i. e. the Evil of Sin, which is the worſt and the only Evil that ſtirs up God's holy diſpleaſure against a Perſon, or Nation. The true Penitent not only confeſſeth, but alſo forſaketh his Sin. Prov. 28.13. There's a turning from Sin in inward Averſion to it, and an hearty endeavour to put it far away as the abominable thing he hateth. Agreably, Repentance is called Repentance from dead works, Heb. 6.1. i e. Sins, which are dead Works; for they proceed from the body of Death in us, and if perſiſted in, end in Death. Sin when it is finiſhed bringeth forth Death. Accordingly, it is not enough that a degenerate People ſanctify Faſts, confeſs their Sins, and promiſe Amendment. No! they muſt forſake them and reform, or they do not Repent, Ezek. 14.6. Say unto the houſe of Iſrael, Thus ſaith the Lord God, Repent and turn your ſelves from your idols, and turn away your faces from all your abominations. There muſt be a fixed Reſolution, by the help of God, to abandon our p. 19Sins, and this muſt be put in execution: The Wicked muſt forſake their Thoughts, and evil Ways. As the Children of Iſrael, put away the ſtrange gods from among them, and ſerved the Lord: and His Soul was grieved for the miſery of Iſrael, Judg. 10.16. We muſt not hold faſt our Iniquities, refuſing to let them go; but muſt break off our Sins by Repentance. We muſt in our ſeveral Places ſeriouſly engage in the Work of Reformation. Civil Rulers in their Places muſt lead in this neceſſary Work, improving their Authority to ſuppreſs thoſe Evils which threaten the Deſtruction of their People, as they provoke God to depart from them; they muſt endeavour to turn away Wrath, by being a Terror, not to Good Works, but to the Evil. Thus King Joſiah, put down the Idolatrous Priests, &c. 2 King. 23.4, 5. The Miniſters of the Goſpel muſt in their Places bear due Teſtimony againſt the Sins of a backſliding People, Iſai. 58.1. Cry aloud, ſpare not; lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and ſhew my people their tranſgreſſion, and the houſe of Jacob their ſin. lieads of Families muſt endeavour to put all Iniquity far from their Tabernacles; and put Joſhua's Reſolution in practice; As for me, and my Houſe, we will ſerve the Lord. Particular Perſons muſt be ſenſible of the Plague of their own Hearts, and ſeek to p. 20God their Saviour to convert and heal their Souls. In a word, the Body of a People muſt hear and obey God's Voice, in Iſai. 1.16, 17. Waſh ye, make you clean, put away the evil of your ways and doings from before mine eyes, ceaſe to do evil, Learn to do well —. It was ſaid even of Nineveh, Jon. 3.10. God ſaw their works, that they turned from their evil way—. I would hope ſome of them were ſo taught the knowledge of the true God, and of the only way of Salvation by the promiſed Meſſiah, that they ſincerely repented, and were eternally ſaved. However there muſt be, as there was among them, an outward prevailing Reformation of thoſe hainous Evils for which God threatens Deſtruction. And upon this, we find God hath ſpar'd a finful People; as the Nenevites; and His Covenant People Iſrael, delivering them from thoſe publick Calamities which threatned their ruin; tho' it appear'd afterwards by their ſpeedy Apoſtacy, when the Judgments were removed, that the generality of the People were not thoroughly reformed, not ſted faſt in God's Covenant. Upon the account of which, God again and again turn'd againſt them, and puniſhed them ſeven times for their Iniquities. So that in order to a People's obtaining laſting Peace in the enjoyment of God's eſpecial Favour and Bleſſing, it is p. 21needful that they be generally ſincere in their Repentance, & thorow in their Reformation. In which there is an hearty Turning from all known Sin, as it is contrary to the revealed will & declarative Glory of God, and a returning to that One God, who is the Father the Son and the Holy Ghoſt, as to our higheſt End and chief Good; as to our Lord and Portion; to walk in His Ways, and keep all His Commandments, 1 Kin. 8.48. And ſo return unto thee with all their heart, and with all their ſoul. There muſt be ſuch a Repentance towards God, Act. 20.21. Such a turning to the Lord, Chap. 11.21. if we wou'd hope, as a People, to enjoy the continued ſhines of God's face, and the peculiar Tokens of His favour. The Power of Godlineſs muſt take place among us in the general Eſtabliſhment of pure and undefiled Religion, in Doctrine, Worſhip and Manners. Now, ſuch a Repentance and Reformation as this, muſt be the eſpecial Work of the Spirit of God poured out upon a People, in His Divine Gifts and Graces, Ezek. 36.26, 7. A new heart alſo will I give you, and a new ſpirit will I put within you, and I will take away the stony heart out of your fleſh, and I will give you an heart of fleſh. And I will put my ſpirit within you, and cauſe you to walk in my ſtatutes, and ye ſhall keep my judgments, and do them. And ye ſhall dwell p. 22in the land that I gave to your fathers, and ye ſhall be my people, and I will be your God. I will alſo ſave you from all your uncleanneſſes, and I will call for the corn, and will increaſe it, and lay no famine upon you. And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increaſe of the field, that ye ſhall receive no more reproach of famine among the heathen. Then ſhall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and ſhall loath your ſelves in your own ſight, for your iniquities, and for your abominations. Not for your ſakes do I this, faith the Lord God, be it known unto you: be aſhamed and confounded for your own ways, O houſe of Iſrael. Thus ſaith the Lord God, in the day that I ſhall have cleanſed you from all your iniquities, I will alſo cauſe you to dwell in the cities, and the wastes ſhall be builded. And the deſolate land ſhall be tilled, whereas it lay deſolate in the ſight of all that poſſed by. Chap. 39.29. Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my ſpirit upon the houſe of Iſrael, ſaith the Lord God. The Spirit of God is the Diſpenſer of the ſaving Bleſſings purchaſed by our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. O that this comprehenſive Bleſſing might be beſtow'd on us, and the whole Iſrael of God! Lord ſave thy People, and bleſs thine Inheritance, ſeed them and lift them up for ever.

p. 23II. IF a People thus Repent, God will alſo Repent, and not bring the threatned Evil upon them.

GOD often Threatens a People and Warns them with a gracious Deſign of Delivering them, by Awakening and ſo Reforming of them, &c. But I now proceed to make ſome brief Improvement of what hath been already d…ered.

USE, I. LEARN that GOD's ways are equal, and his dealings with Nations, as well as particular Perſons, are Righteous. Though God is Sovereign, God over All; yet He doth not uſe an Arbitrary Power, and Abſolute Sovereignty in Puniſhing the Children of Men. No! The Judge of all the Earth doth right: He proceeds in Judgment according to known and eſtabliſh'd Rules of Righteouſneſs, and makes it appear that Juſtice and Judgment are the Habitation of his Throne. Pſal. 89.14. God could Appeal to his People. Ezek. 18.25, — 29. Hear now, O houſe of Iſrael, Is not my way equal? Are not your ways unequal? When a righteous man turneth away from his righteouſneſs, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done, ſhall he die. Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedneſs that he hath committed, and doth p. 24that which is lawful and right, he ſhall ſave his ſoul alive. Becauſe he conſidereth, and turneth away from all his tranſgreſſions that he hath committed, he ſhall ſurely live, he ſhall not die. Yet ſaith the houſe of Iſrael, The way of the Lord is not equal. O houſe of Iſrael, are not my ways equal? Are not your ways unequal? Yea, when God was about to Deſtroy Sodom & Gomorrah, He ſays, ſpeaking after the manner of Men, Gen. 18.21. I will go down now, and ſee whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know. And righteous Lot was remarkably delivered from the Overthrow. There's none of God's Diſpenſations towards the Children of Men, but what may be fairly accounted for from a due Conſideration of the Covenant of Works which God at firſt entred into with Adam, "not only for himſelf, but for his Poſterity"; of the Covenant of Grace, and of the State of Mankind, as the World is under the Government of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, God-Man-Mediator. If there be any perplexing Difficulties to us, theſe muſt proceed from the darkneſs and weakneſs of our own minds. God's righteouſneſs is like the great Mountains, even when his Judgments are a great Deep. Pſal. 36.6. Let us then give God the Glory of his Juſtice and Rectoral Holineſs, acknowledging p. 25that he is clear when he judgeth. And let not Sinners take up Prejudices againſt God, as if he dealt hardly with them; But rather Condemn themſelves, and in a believing Penitent manner, ſeek to be Reconcil'd to him, for he is gracious and merciſul, and repenteth of the Evil.

Which leads me to

USE II. LET us all be Exhorted to Repent, and turn to the Lord, that He may Repent of the Evil, and Spare us. God is this Day Calling us to Humble ourſelves under his Amazing Judgment, whereby He threatn'd to ſend us down quick into the Pit, when he terribly ſhock the Earth. And what reaſon have we to fear before Him, when we conſider our many provoking Sins, and the Tokens of God's Anger in the Courſe of His Providence? God hath known us above moſt of the Families of the Earth, and therefore may Viſit us for our Iniquities; which have been committed againſt ſhining Light, and Covenant Bonds. There hath been great Contempt caſt on Jeſus Chriſt, and His great Salvation, while many have appeared to prefer the World, and their Luſts before Him: Great Oppoſition to the Spirit of Grace, while formality in Religion hath ſadly prevailed; yea p. 26many have been profane and vicious, God's Ordinances, His Houſe, His Day, have not been valued as they ſhould have been. There have alſo been Scandalous Immoralities found among us, as Injuſtice, Oppreſſion, Intemperance, Uncleanneſs, &c.— And alas? we have ſeem'd, till this late ſurpriſing Providence, to be in a dreadful meaſure unconcern'd under our Sins, and the awful withdrawments of God from us. Few comparatively have appear'd to lament after the Lord, and to ſtir up themſelves to take hold of a departing God. Nor have we been duly Affected with the foregoing Diſpenſations of Divine Providence, in which there hath been a wonderful mixture of Judgment and Mercy. I might here remind you of ſome of them. God hath drawn the Sword of the Wilderneſs to plead the quarrel of his Covenant; but now grants us a good meaſure of Peace and Quietneſs. He hath threatned & afflicted us with Scorching Heat and Drought; and yet in a good meaſure ſpar'd and recover'd the Fruits of the Earth. He hath ſent mortal Sickneſs in ſome places, and loudly call'd to us to be Ready, by Repeating Sudden Deaths in an extraordinary manner; and yet we now enjoy general Health. The God of Glory hath utter'd his Voice in Terrible Thunders, and threatn'd to Conſume p. 27us by the Flame of his devouring Fire; And yet the Lives of his People have been Precious in his ſight. He viſited us with a violent Storm by which we ſuſtain'd conſiderable Damage; And yet much ſparing Mercy was extended towards us, as to our Lives and Eſtates, by Sea and Land. And the day following, which was the Lord's-Day, God ſet his Bow in the Cloud, a Token of his Covenant, that he will not again deſtroy the Earth with a floud. Gen. 9.13, — 16. And if we conſider the Day, and the fair opportunity we had of attending the Means of Grace after the Storm, we may in ſome ſort behold our Glorious Saviour with a Rainbow about his head, as he appear'd to John in a Viſion. Rev. 10.1. And thus, there appear'd a Rainbow round about the Throne, 4.3. "Whereby is fitly repreſented God's Covenant of Grace with his Church, that namely, notwithſtanding all the ſtorms and rempeſts of perſecution and other troubles they muſt encounter with in this unſteady World, yet he will never ſuffer them to Periſh, as God ſpake once of the Waters of the Deluge, Gen. 9." **Dutch Annotations.. God might in this bright Appearance give us a Token for Good, that in Judgment he will remember Mercy; and may we not p. 28humbly hope his Voice to us is that, Iſa. 54.9. For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have ſworn that the waters of Noah ſhould no more go over the earth; ſo have I ſworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. Wroth, "To wit, ſo as I have been, or ſo as to forſake thee utterly" **Pook.. However, as we were not reform'd by theſe Things, God hath more lately Viſited us with an Amazing ſhock of an Earthquake, which Providence appears ſtill more wonderful, now that we hear there was a terrible ſhake of the Earth at Barbados, near Two Thouſand Miles diſtant from us, about Thirty Six Hours before. God then threatned to deſtroy us ſuddenly, and yet ſpared us in His great Mercy, tho' the Earth trembled, yet was it kept by the ſame Almighty Hand which ſhook it, from Opening and Swallowing us up. We were perplexed, but not in deſpair; caſt down, but not deſtroyed. Or, whatever diſmal Apprehenſions many might have of ſudden Deſtruction, God's thoughts were not our thoughts ††Iſa. 55.8, 9.Isa 55:8Isa 55:9; but as the Heavens are higher than the Earth, ſo did he magnify his Mercy in the Article of our extremity; Indeed in this Judgment God hath ſpoken againſt us, and yet he earneſtly remembers p. 29us ſtill, and gives a ſpace for Repentance, while ſome places are alarum'd by repeated Shakes and Noiſe. And is not this the Voice of God's Providence to us; If ye turn from the Evil, I will repent of the Evil — and that of our Lord and Judge, Luk. 13.3. Except ye repent, ye ſhall all likewiſe periſh. Let us then be Exhorted earneſtly and ſpeedily to engage in this neceſſary Work, Seeking to God in the Name of Chriſt, to pour upon us his Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Repentance and Reformation. And certainly, we ſhould take Encouragement, when we hear, that God hath Sanctified theſe extraordinary means together with the diſpenſation of his Word, to make good impreſſions on many. I ſuppoſe, few, if any can remember the time when People were ſo generally Awakened, and brought to ſay with trembling, What muſt we do to be ſaved **Act. 16.29, 30.Acts 16:29Acts 16:30. O let us then lift up the hands that hang down, let us continue inſtant in Prayer to the God of all Grace that He would by His Spirit carry on this Work 'till a ſincere Repentance and thorough Reformation be wrought among this People. Nor ſhould the ſenſe of our great Sinfulneſs and Unworthineſs diſhearten us; but excite us to have the more p. 30entire dependance on the Merits of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt; for Worthy is the Lamb that was ſlain ††Rev. 5.12.Rev 5:12. His Blood cleanſeth from all Sin; it is of Vertue ſufficient to cleanſe a Nation, Thouſands and Millions, as well as one ſingle Perſon. For, It is the Blood of God, Act. 20.28. In Chriſt Jeſus there's a Fountain open'd to the houſe of David, and to the inhabitants of Jeruſalem, for ſin, and for uncleanneſs, Zech. 13.1. Here's Merit and Grace eno'. Let ſuch then as are ſenſible of the Guilt of their numerous & hainous Tranſgreſſions, come and receive the perfect Righteouſneſs of Chriſt for their Juſtification before God. Let ſuch as are ſenſible of the power and pollution of their Sins, come, and receive the Spirit and Grace of Chriſt, to renew and ſanctify them. Whoſoever will let him take the water of life freely, ††Rev. 22.17.Rev 22:17. And is not the Day near when the Fountain now mention'd ſhall be in a ſignal manner opened in the extenſive Preaching of the Goſpel, and the abundant Effuſions of the Spirit of Grace, ſo that many Nations ſhall be ſprinkled, yea waſhed from their Sins; when all Iſrael ſhall be ſaved; and the receiving of them ſhall be Life from the Dead to the Gentiles! See Rom. 11.15, — 26. Let us then pray and wait; believe p. 31and not make haſte. The viſion is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it ſhall ſpeak, and not lie, though it tarry, wait for it, becauſe it will ſurely come, it will not tarry, Hab. 2.3. And in our Prayers, let us be earneſt with God that He would pour out His Spirit upon us, and His Bleſſing upon our Offspring. Did not our Fore fathers importunately ask this Bleſſing of God? Are there not innumerable Petitions upon the File in Heaven, if I may ſo ſpeak, the Prayer of which is chiefly this, that God would pour out His Spirit upon the Children of New-England, and ſo Bleſs them with all Spiritual Bleſſings in Heavenly Things in Chriſt Jeſus? Hath not our Advocate in Heaven aſſur'd us that whatever we ask of the Father in His Name, He will give it ††Joh. 15.16.John 15:16? Hath not that God who can't lie promis'd that He will ſhew Mercy to Thouſands of them that love him, and keep his Commandments, Exod. 20.6. Yea, hath He nor begun to anſwer our Prayers for this great Bleſſing? Let theſe Conſiderations then Excite us to Repent, leſt having been lifted up to Heaven in Privileges, we be caſt down the deeper into Hell for our abuſe of them: Let them encourage us to turn to the Lord our God, with thoſe words which p. 32He hath put into our Mouths, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciouſly, Hoſ. 14.2. And to Watch unto Prayer with all perſeverance; 'till the Lord come, and Rain down Righteouſneſs upon us.

The End of the Firſt SERMON, Preach'd December 21ſt. 1727. On a Day of Publick Faſting and Prayer, Occaſioned by the EARTHQUAKE.