Observations Historical and Practical on the Rise of New England, Half title – Preface
Mr. Foxcroft's Sermon ON THE Beginning of New-England &c.
OBSERVATIONS Hiſtorical and Practical ON THE Riſe and Primitive State OF NEW-ENGLAND, With a ſpecial Reference TO The OLD or firſt gather'd Church in Boſton. A SERMON preach'd to the ſaid Congregation Aug. 23. 1730. Being the laſt Sabbath of the firſt CENTURY ſince its Settlement.
By THOMAS FOXCROFT, M. A.
Pſal. 80.
—Thou haſt brought a Vine—and planted it.—Return, we beſeech Thee, O God of Hoſts: Look down from Heaven, and behold, and viſit this Vine.
BOSTON, N. E. Printed by S. KNEELAND and T. GREEN, for S. GERRISH in Cornhil, M DCC XXX.
To the Old or firſt gather'd CHURCH in BOSTON.
Dear Chriſtian Friends,
AS I have often review'd with Wonder, ſo I take Leave on the preſent Occaſion thus publickly to mention with Gratitude, the ſignal Conduct of Divine Providence in bringing me at firſt among you, while I was in a manner an utter Stranger to you all, and when by reaſon of my young Years, and apprehended Unfitneſs for ſo important a Station, I could not entertain the leaſt Expectation of ſuch a Preferment. And the uncommon Unanimity that (as you may remember) attended your Invitation and Call, was what I have thought a very happy Circumſtance of my Settlement, and do often look back upon with equal Pleaſure and Surprize. This indeed was one peculiar Encouragement I had to give up my own Inclinations, which were not to fix in the Miniſtry ſo very early.
I have Reaſon to admire your Candour toward me, while I have been with many Infirmities ſerving in the Goſpel among you: And I deſire to take a thankful Notice of the Favour of God in continuing us together thus long in ſo much of mutual peace and Satiſfaction; now the 14th Year†Feb. 1716, 17. By Vote of the Church I enter'd on ſtated Preaching.
I have ſometimes very anxious Thoughts of Heart upon that of the Apoſtle, 2 Cor. 12. 2. I knew a man in Chriſt above fourteen years ago.—Happy the Miniſter, happy the Profeſſor, that hath ſuch Aſſurance of his ſaving Union to Chriſt! And happy the People, who have thoſe to teſtify the Goſpel of the Grace of God among them, who are vitally united to Chriſt, and have the Witneſs in themſelves!
IT has always been very affecting to me to conſider what Men of God they were, in whoſe place I ſucceed. This Church of Chriſt has been diſtinguiſh'd with a Succeſſion of burning and ſhining Lights; Paſtors and Teachers eminent for their Gifts, and no leſs eminent for their Graces and Experience in all the Myſteries of the Divine Life; Wilſon, Cotton, Norton, Davenport, &c. Theſe Venerable Fathers were in their Day very much New-England's Strength and Glory; and in each of them this Church enjoy'd a peculiar Treaſure. I have often bluſh'd and been full of Confuſion within my ſelf, from a Conſciouſneſs of my own comparative Nothingneſs: Yet I hope the Reflection has ſometimes been a Help to me in my Work, to direct and animate my Miniſtrations among you.
I have taken a ſingular Delight in reading the Lives of my excellent Predeceſſors; ſo many of which we ſee in Print: have often thought I cou'd deſire no better Patterns to copy after; and made it my Heart's Deſire and Prayer to God, That I might by the Grace of Chriſt be principl'd and ſpirited, as they were; that I might have the like Preſence of Chriſt with me, as they had; that the Work they ſo happily began, might not miſcarry in my hands.
ALAS! there is among us a viſible Decline of Religion in the power and practice of it, and not the ancient Succeſs of Goſpel-Ordinances. Sure I am, It becomes us all, both Miniſters and People, humbly to inquire into the Grounds and Cauſes hereof.
I readily take to my ſelf my part of the Blame, as being ſadly ſenſible of many Defects in me, with regard both to thoſe Abilities and Graces, which form the Character, and direct the wiſe and holy Management, that is neceſſary in thoſe that wou'd by their Example, as well as Preaching, win Souls to Chriſt, and lead the Way in ſeeking the Kingdom of Heaven. Verily the beſt of us all need merciful Allowances, before we can claim the Character and Reward of good and faithful Servants of Jeſus Chriſt. O for the Application of the Blood of Sprinkling, that I may be made accepted in the BELOVED! And for the Supply of the Spirit of Jeſus Chriſt, that I may watch in all things and make full Proof of my Miniſtry! I earneſtly ask the Help of your fervent Prayers for me (as alſo for my worthy Brother and Collegue) that the Sins of my Miniſtry may be done away by the Blood of Chriſt, and that the Succeſs of it may be ſecured by his powerful Bleſſing: that Chriſt our Maſter may be with us continually, in the Study and in the Pulpit, and in all our Converſation, Viſits, and private Labours among you.
AND we beſeech you (Brethren) in the fear of God to conſider what Defects there are on your part, that may be a further Obſtruction to the Succeſs of the Goſpel in this once flouriſhing Church. "Let your Miniſters have their juſt Share of Cenſure: Nevertheleſs we are perſuaded, you do not think the whole Blame lies at our Doors. Even the SON of GOD himſelf, of whom it was witneſſed, That never man ſpake or liv'd like him; yet meets with little Succeſs, and finds himſelf conſtrained to throw back Men's juſt Condemnation on their own Heads, Ye will not come to me, that ye might have Life".
BE much in ſerious Self-Examination, to know what on your part hinders the Goſpel; and be much in Prayer, and in the Uſe of all proper Methods, that the Power of Godlineſs may be revived among us. Let Goſpel-Truths, Goſpel Order, and Goſpel-Worſhip be precious in your Eyes. Stand faſt in the Liberty, wherewith Chriſt hath made you free: and keep the Ordinances as they have been delivered to you, in their primitive Purity, without ſuffering any Alloy of human Inventions. If ſome from an Antichriſtian Spirit wou'd impoſe upon you in Matters of Religion, remember theſe are ſacred to God and Conſcience; and be not the Servants of Men. As we are a ſpiritual Corporation, let us take Care to exerciſe and reverence the holy Diſcipline that Chriſt hath inſtituted; Charitable to receive all viſible Saints, cautious to admit only ſuch, and faithful to expel ſcandalous Sinners from our Communion. Purge out the old Leaven, that ye may be a new Lump. O let the Duty of Brotherly Admonition, ſo much neglected in this Day of Degeneracy, be reſtored to a ſerious and univerſal Practice; and yet let none, under a ſpecious pretence of lamenting others Sins, act the Buſy-Body, as the manner of ſome is, whiſpering Things which they ought not, to the prejudice of their Neighbours Reputation, the great Hurt of Religion, and the manifeſt Forfeiture of all Pretenſions to a Spirit of Charity and Brotherly Kindneſs. Watch over one another, for good, and not Evil. Provoke one another to Love and good Works. Exhort one another daily, left any of you be hardned through the Deceitfulneſs of Sin. Be not Partakers of other Men's Sins: but by bearing due Teſtimony againſt them, deliver your own Souls. Such as are Heads of Families, O take a religious Care of the Youth committed to your Charge: And Children, ſee that you obey your Parents in the Lord.
IT's a day abounding with Temptations, to our young People in ſpecial, to deſert the Intereſt of pure Religion, and betray the Cauſe of God, in which our Forefathers were engag'd. O let us do all we can to fortify and fix them, and to recover ſuch as are fallen from their Stedfaſtneſs. What greater Joy than to ſee our Children walking in the Truth! Let us labour their early Converſion to God, and uſe all poſſible Means to form them to Virtue, to furniſh and diſpoſe them to be active Bleſſings to their Generation. And thou Solomon, my Son, know thou the God of thy Father, & ſerve him with a perfect Heart & with a willing Mind: for the Lord ſearcheth all Hearts. If thou ſeek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forſake him, tremble leſt be caſt thee off for ever.
IN a word, let us glorify God for his ſignal Appearances in the days of our Forefathers; and conſider them as Obligations on us, who reap the happy fruits thereof, to adhere with Steadineſs and Zeal to the ſpiritual and exalted Ends of that great Undertaking, which brought them over to America. Let us always maintain a peculiar Eſteem for the Memory of our pious Progenitors, and train up our Children in the ſame Veneration: be often telling them of the excellent Character and Spirit of our Forefathers, their Errand into this Wilderneſs, the Covenant wherein they've bound their Poſterity to the Lord, and their many ardent Prayers for ſucceeding Generations. As we are building on the Foundations they have laid for us, and rejoycing in many deſirable Reſults of their Pains and Prayers, ſurely it becomes us never to mention their Names but with Diſtinctions of Reſpect, as the Fathers of New-England. And let us ſee to it that we act and behave worthily of our noble Deſcent: Elſe this will turn for a Teſtimony againſt us.
STAND ye in the Ways, and ſee, and ask for the old 'Paths, the good Way, and walk therein: and ye ſhall find Reſt for your Souls Remember them that have had the Rule over you, who have ſpoken to you the good Word of God. And be ye Followers of them, who thro' Faith and Patience inherit the Promiſes.
To promote theſe excellent Purpoſes, is my Aim in the following Diſcourſe: which I now put into your Hand for your ſerious Peruſal, and commend to the Bleſſing of GOD for the deſired Succeſs. Unto WHOM be Glory from you, & in all the Churches of the Saints, by Chriſt Jeſus, World without end! 'Tis the affectionate Wiſh of,
Dearly Beloved, Your ſincere Friend, And Servant in the Goſpel, T. FOXCROFT.