God Sometimes Answers His People by Terrible Things, Sermon

God Sometimes Answers His People by Terrible Things · Sermon

p. 1GOD Sometimes Anſwers His People, BY Terrible things in Righteouſneſs.

PSALM LXV. 5.

By Terrible things in Righteouſneſs, wilt thou Anſwer us, O God of our Salvation,—

IN this Pſalm, David begins by ſaying, that Praiſe waited for God in Zion and unto him the Vow ſhall be performed. What if we ſhould conjecture Now, that this may poſſibly have reference to that period of time, when David finding a little reſpite from his Wars and having Conquered Jebus (which was afterward, called Jeruſalem) and particularly taken the Strong-hold of Zion, which was called the p. 2City of David, And having fitted up a place for the reception of it, was preparing to bring the Ark of God in thither; To be ſure, this is what he had Vowed, and at length happily Accompliſhed and he elſewhere Appeals to the Lord to be graciouſly remembred for his Zeal in that matter, as we find in Pſal. 132. beg. Lord, Remember David and all his afflictions, how he ſware unto the Lord and vowed to the mighty God of Jacob, Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my houſe, nor go up into my bed, I will not give ſleep to mine eyes, or ſlumber to mine eye lids until I find out a place for the Lord, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob, Lo, we heard of it in Ephrata, we ſound it in the fields of the wood: We will go into his Tabernacles, we will worſhip at his footſtool, Ariſe, O Lord, into thy reſt, thouſand the Ark of thy ſtrength.

Praiſe waited or was Silent for God, (as the Hebrew word ſignifies) now in Zion, The Servants of God ſtood ready, as ſoon as the Ark ſhould be brought in, and the Worſhip of God be ſet up there, to Celebrate his praiſe and there he ſhould be praiſed from Generation to Generation.

And not only God's peculiar people the Jews but Proſelites and people out of all Nations, brought by the Fame of the God of p. 3Iſrael, ſhould come to Zion with their prayers and praiſes, as we learn from, ver. 2. O thou that heareſt prayer, unto thee ſhall all fleſh come.

As to their Preſent ſtate indeed, he Acknowledgeth it to be bad Enough, Iniquities prevailing and abounding among them (In his Predeceſſor's reign, too little care had been taken about the Exerciſe and Eſtabliſhment of religion, Neither had he that juſt authority in his own Court as yet, which were to be wiſhed, while the Sons of Zerviah were frequently too hard for him) But then he Exerciſeth faith, that God would graciouſly pardon their Iniquities and heal their backſlidings. Ver. 3. Iniquiries prevail against me: as for our tranſgriſſions thou ſhalt purge them away.

And now he refreſheth himſelf with the Conſideration of the bleſſedneſs of their condition, who ſhall he admitted to approach into the preſence of God in the way of his appointment (a thing too little underſtood and Valued by vulgar and carnal minds) ver. 4. Bleſſed is the man whom thou chuſeſt and cauſeſt to approach unto thee that he may dwell in thy courts; we ſhall be ſatisfied with the goodneſs of thy houſe and of thy holy temple.

p. 4Why may it not be thought that David hath particular reference to himſelf here? Eſpecially when we compare the words with a Sam. 6.21. — It was before the Lord which choſe me before thy Father.—

Now come in the words of the Text, which ſeem a little to cloud and Darken this glorious proſpect, wherein he ſaith, By terrible things in righteouſneſs, wilt thou anſwer us.

If the foregoing Expoſition ſhould hold and may be allowed, whither theſe words may not refer to the breach that was made upon Ʋzzah, in the Day when the Ark was bringing up to the City of David, An account whereof we have at large, in 2 Sam. 6. I ſubmit to better Judgments. Certainly, it was an awful and terrible thing, And it was done in Righteouſneſs too, however ſevere it might ſeem; David was much affected with it, And it put a ſtop to the bringing home of the Ark for ſome years afterwards.

Some Interpreters Expound theſe words of the terrible Judgments which God is wont to Inflict upon the Enemies of his Church and People; They pray to him in their diſtreſs, when they are ſet upon and uſed hardly by their Enemies and the Lord p. 5hears in heaven his dwelling place and Executes Judgments oftentimes in a terrible manner upon theſe their Enemies in Anſwer to their prayers, So he did at the red Sea, upon Pharaoh and his hoſt, So he did in the Days of Jehoſhaphat, upon the Children of Moab and the Children of Ammon, And often at other times.

Other Interpreters, tell us, that this may be underſtood, Of the rebukes which God in his providence gives ſomtimes to his own People, He often anſwers them by terrible things for the Awakening and Quickning of them, But always in righteouſneſs, He neither doth them any wrong, nor means them any hurt; for Even then he is the God of their Salvation, By wonderful things, Things which are very Surprizing, Things that ſtrike an Aw upon us wilt thou anſwer us; The holy freedom that we are admitted unto in God's Courts, and the Nearneſs of our approach unto him, muſt not at all abate our reverence and godly fear of him, For he is terrible in his holy places, Pſal. 68.34, 35.††Henry in loc.

The term Anſwer us here uſed, doth not always ſtand for a reply to ſomthing before p. 6ſpoken, or for a return made to ſome petition preferred and put up, which are the uſual ſenſes of this phraſe (altho' taken in this ſenſe it was Literally true in the days of Samuel. 1 Sam. 12, 18. So Samuel called unto the Lord and the Lord ſent thunder and rain that day; and all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel.) When our Lord accommodated his Diſcourſe to what was in the hearts of the people and met with ſomthing that was running in their minds and they were ready to Object, he is ſaid to Anſwer them. Luke 14.355. Yea, when God ſuits his providential diſpenſations to ſomthing before done by a perſon or people, he is ſaid to Anſwer them Pſal. 99.8. Thou anſweredſt them, O Lord our God; thou moſt a God that forgaveſt them though thou wokeſt vengeance of their inventions. Perhaps in the Text this term Anſwer may be taken as Equivalent to the Terms Shew or Manifeſt, By terrible things in righteouſneſs, wilt thou manifeſt thy ſelf to us, O God of our Salvation. When God puts on glory and arrayeth himſelf with Majeſty and comes near to his people in any of his great and mighty works, ſtriking an aw and dread into their hearts and cauſing them to feel ſomthing of the weight of his hand, then he may be ſaid by terrible things in righteouſneſs to anſwer them.

p. 7In the farther ſpeaking to theſe words, we may Conſider,

Firſt, That ſomtimes God appears and manifeſts himſelf to his people in very terrible things.

Secondly, That when he doth ſo, it is always in righteouſneſs.

Thirdly, That yet at the ſame time he is the God of their Salvation.

I. We may Conſider, That ſomtimes God appears and manifeſts himſelf to his people in very terrible things. Things that are wonderful and ſurprizing, that ſtrike an aw and a dread into them and cauſe them to ſay, as in Pſal. 119.120 My fleſh trembleth for fear of thee, and I am afraid of thy Judgments. Or as Moſes, Heb. 12.21. And ſo terrible was the ſight, that Moſes ſaid, I exceedingly fear and quake. And here,

1. The Execution done upon Sinners, the Enemies of God and their Enemies in their ſight, hath ſtruck an aw into them.

This way (as it hath been obſerved) Interpreters have carried the ſenſe of theſe words, But then the things which God hath done, have not only been Deſtructive p. 8to his and his people's Enemies, but it hath been awful to behold and Conſider of it, No doubt, Noah, ſhut up as he was in the Ark, was greatly affected to think of the deſtruction of the whole world by the flood, to whom he had long been a preacher of righteouſneſs, but all in Vain. No doubt Lot was mightily affected with the Deſtruction of Sodom and Gomorrha and the Cities of the plain, by that horrible Tempeſt that was ſent upon them out of heaven, The good man flyes and dared not look behind him or ſtop till he was Entred into Zoar, having received ſuch a Charge from the Angels, No, tho' his wife were turned into a pillar of Salt for her diſobedience, Gen. 19 16, 17 Concern for his own particular preſervation drove him thus along, Yet at the ſame time, we may well conceive, his heart to be full of thought and ſollicitude about the poor people that were actually periſhing under the fatal ſtroke.

For tho' as it is the Execution of God's will & pleaſure, they may arquieſce and approve of it, and the memory of the Injuries done to them, may abate very much of their concern, So that in a ſenſe as it is in, Pſal. 58.10. They may rejoice when they ſee the vengeance, Yet it is ſtill an awful & melancholy thing to behold the deſtruction of many, p. 9when it is ſudden and violent, Even though they are the Enemies of God and of his people.

2. The works of God's common providence when they are unuſually ſignal and remarkable, done before our Eyes and when they come any thing near to us, are very terrible and ſtrike an aw into us. Among theſe things, we may reckon raging and Epidemical Sickneſſes; Tho' theſe operate more ſlowly, yet they carry a great terror with them, all faces gather blackneſs and every heart is filled with apprehenſion, Expecting when they ſhall be ſeiſed and carried into Eternity with their Neighbours that are dying daily round about them; As alſo, Stormy Winds, fulfilling God's word; when theſe blow Tempeſtuouſly, whither by Sea or Land, the hearts of the people are moved as the trees of the wood are moved by a mighty wind; So, when ſome Earthquake happens, who that feel the Earth trembling under them and all that is upon it ſhaking and tottering and that hear the mighty roaring within, do not alſo at the ſame time feel their hearts failing for fear and looking after ſome dreadful and fatal Conſequences immediately? Once more, When ſome fearful Storm of Thunder and Lightning comes over us, when the Voice of the Lord (as the Pſalmiſt calls it) waxeth Louder & Louder, p. 10all Nature is made to tremble, an aw is ſtruck upon every mind, that is not altogether ſtupid and Inſenſible, becauſe they are uncertain where it may pleaſe God that the hurtful Strokes ſhall light, Thus the Pſalmiſt ſpeaks of it, Pſal. 29.3, — 9. The voice of the Lord is upon the waters, The God of glory thundreth, The Lord is upon many waters; The voice of the Lord is powerful, The voice of the Lord is full of majeſty, The voice of the Lord breaketh the Cedars, yea, the Lord breaketh the Cedars of Lebanon; He maketh them alſo to skip like a Calf; Lebanon and Syrion like a young Ʋnicorn; The voice of the Lord divideth the flames of fire, The voice of the Lord ſhaketh the wilderneſs, The Lord ſhaketh the wilderneſs of Kadeſh; The voice of the Lord maketh the hinds to-calve and diſcovereth the forreſts; And in his Temple doth every one ſpeak of his glory. Yea, and it is not unbecoming Even godly people to ſtand in aw of God's terrible Majeſty at ſuch a time; A ſlaviſh fear indeed ſhould be ſtriven againſt, becauſe our heavenly Father hath the whole Direction of the Storm; Yet we ſhould ſtand in aw of him when he thus loudly utters his Voice. Job 37: 1, — 5. At this alſo my heart trembleth and is moved out of its place. Hear attentively the noiſe of his Voice and the ſound that goeth out of his mouth. He directeth it under the whole p. 11Heaven and his Lightning unto the Ends of the Earth. After it a Voice roareth; He Thundreth with the Voice of his Excellency, and he will not ſtay them when his Voice is heard. God Thundereth marvellouſly with his Voice. Theſe works of God are terrible and ſhould ſtrike an Aw into us, Eſpecially,

(1) When we are particular Sufferers, or are hurt in any of our Intereſts by ſuch providences, our hearts ſhould ſtand in aw of God. Even when we hear of ſuch things happening to Others at a diſtance, our hearts ſhould ſtand in aw of that God who doeth ſuch marvellous things; But when it lights upon us or on our relations, when we are wounded by his hand and broken by his power, it becomes us to tremble and bow before him, Now the Lord comes nearer to us and they muſt be ſtubborn Children indeed that will not yield, when they feel the ſmart and ſuffer under the Effects of his Diſpleaſure.

(2) When Death is brought upon any by theſe means in our preſence, then our hearts ſhould ſtand in aw of the Lord. So when the Bethſhemites were ſmitten in ſuch great numbers, the reſt that ſurvived thus Expreſs themſelves, 1 Sam. 6.20. — Who is able to ſtand before this Holy Lord God? p. 12So when Uzza was Smitten, David is ſaid to have been Diſpleaſed, This doth not ſound ſo well, For ſhall mortal man pretend to be more juſt than God? to arraign his Proceedings, or charge him with doing any thing that is wrong? But afterward he is ſaid to have been afraid of the Lord, And this may be a little upon the other Extream, But certainly an holy aw of God is proper and becoming on ſuch an Occaſion, 2 Sam. 6 7, 8, 9. To ſee any perſon die, be it ever ſo Leiſurely, pined and broken with diſtempers, hath ſomthing in it awful and ſolemn, which may well compoſe the ſpirits and fill the beholders with thought and Concern; But when they are taken off at once, in full health and ſtrength, we are ſtruck with ſurprize and aſtoniſhment, and ſcarce know how to behave or which way to turn. Once more,

(3) When God comes to break in upon ſome obſtinate Sinners heart, many times his appearance is very Terrible. Eſpecially if they have gone far, continued long and done much Evil againſt the Lord, Then an Heart-quake is raiſed within them; They look pale, they tremble, they know not what to do, They cannot reſt Day nor Night. They repair to their Cloſets, They retire to the Woods, They make their moan to their Friends, p. 13They Enquire of the Watchmen, They endure no little Anguiſh and are indeed in a ſad Condition for a time, till God do give them reſt from this day of trouble, So the three thouſand Converted at the Apoſtle Peter's Sermon, were in a mighty taking for a time. Act. 2 37 When they heard this, they were pricked in their heart and ſaid unto Peter and the reſt of the apoſtles, Men and Brethren, what ſhall we do? Much ſuch a condition was that which Paul was in, Act 9 6. And he trembling and aſtoniſhed, ſaid, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? So the Jailour, Act. 16 30. — Sirs, what muſt I do to be ſaved? Perhaps the Pſalmiſt may have ſome references to this, when he ſaith, in, Pſal. 45.4, 5. And in thy majeſty ride proſperouſly becauſe of truth, and meekneſs and righteouſneſs, and thy right hand ſhall teach thee Terrible Things; Thine arrows are ſharp in the heart of the Kings Enemies, whereby the people fall under thee.

II. We may Conſider, That when God thus manifeſts himſelf to his people in Terrible things, it is always in Righteouſneſs. Text. Not only doth God now manifeſt his Almighty Power and Uncontrolled Sovereignty, againſt which there is no diſputing or contending, but his Righteouſneſs too. This we muſt readily own and acknowledge, God will be Juſtified p. 14when he ſpeaks and Clear when he Judgeth. Pſal. 119.75 I know, O Lord, that thy Judgments are right and that thou in faithfulneſs has afflicted me. Pſal. 145 17. The Lord is righteous in all his ways and holy in all his works There is no blemiſh or defect in any thing which God doth, Nothing of which we ſhould dare to ſay, That it ought to have been otherwiſe; There are faults Enough and Enough in us to Juſtify the Lord in his moſt ſevere Diſpenſations towards us; We muſt hold our peace and not open our mouths to Complain, nor ſuffer an uneaſie or grudging thought to ſtir in our hearts, how heavy ſo ever the Stroke be, or how much ſo ever we are made to ſmart thereby, We muſt ſtill aſcribe Righteouſneſs to our Maker & our Judge. So doth Nehemiah, Chap. 9.33. Howbeit, thou art Juſt in all that is brought upon us, for thou haſt done right, but we have done wickedly.

And here,

1 When God Executes Judgments upon his and his peoples Enemies, how ever Awful it be, yet this is done in Righteouſneſs. They Deſerve it all; Even they ſhall not be able to ſay, that he lays upon them more than is right, that they ſhould enter into Judgment with him. The people of God, perhaps, may be more ready to allow that God is juſt and right in theſe caſes, It is what they have Expected, p. 15waited and prayed for, Yea and wondred that it came no ſooner; But certainly the Lord is not governed by a weak fondneſs and partiality for his people, to lay upon their enemies more than is right; They are … for Judgments before they are ſent: Their Iniquities come to the full, before he Viſits, When the Harveſt is ripe, then he gives Order to put in the Sickle, Theſe phraſes are uſed, Joel 3.13, 14. Put ye in the ſickle, for the Harveſt is ripe; Come, get ye down for the preſs is full, the Fats overflow for their wickedneſs is great Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of deciſion, for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of deciſion. The Enemies of the Lord and his people have ſomtimes fallen wonderfully. His hand hath been Heavy upon them; But yet the Lord hath been always righteous, Their mouths have been ſtopped, They could not with any Juſtice Complain and it was really wonderful that the Lord ſuffered them ſo long as he did. Rom 9.22 — Endured with much long-ſuffering the veſſels of wrath, fitted to Deſtruction.

2. When God inflicts heavy ſtrokes upon his People in the courſe of his providence, he is certainly and muſt be acknowledged to be, juſt and righteous therein. Whatever they fear, what p. 16ever they feel, even they muſt acknowledge with Ezra Chap. 9.13. — Thou, our God, haſt puniſhed us leſs than our Iniquities deſerve. And indeed, why ſhould a living man complain, a man for the puniſhment of his ſin? We are much unacquainted with the Nature of Sin, if we think that they who are guilty of it in any Degree, may be overloaded with Sufferings in this life; Neither doth the Lord in this world always obſerve a Mathematical proportion, in ordering out an equal Degree of Sorrow to an equal Degree of Sin: That is reſerved to the great & final Judgment, When HOW much perſons have glorified themſelves and lived Deliciouſly, ſo much Sorrow and torment ſhall be given them. But in this world, Somtimes they that have ſinned leſs are Corrected and afflicted more, And on the other hand they that have ſinned more are Corrected and afflicted leſs; This is according as it ſeems good in the ſight of our heavenly Father, But ſtill all is done in Righteouſneſs; They that ſuffer moſt do not meet with a Jot too much. It any are more ſpared it is always mercy & Clemency & is ſo acknowledged by them that have a right ſenſe of things. And when God lays heavier Strokes upon his people, there is Nothing amiſs. The Lord doth all things well.

p. 173. When God comes to ſubdue the heart of ſome Careleſs and obſtinate Sinner, whatever pain and Anguiſh is raiſed within, he is not only Juſt and righteous, but very merciful therein. Eſpecially if theſe ſtrong Convictions do happily Iſſue in a ſiving Converſion; For it is very ſit that all ſhould ſtoop to God's Authority and bow to his Scepter, It is very Juſt that they who have taken pleaſure in Unrighteouſneſs ſhould be made heart Sick of their folly, that they who have ſwallowed down Sin as ſome delicious morſel, ſhould find this meat to be turned in their bowels and be made as the gall of Aſps within them, This is not only Juſt, but it is a good day when the people are made willing in the day of God's Power; Tho' their hearts ake and throb and a ſword pierceth through their Souls, vet if theſe Awakenings and Convictions iſſue in Converſion, they themſelves in time to come, will acknowledge, that it is not only juſt and righteous, that they ſhould be brought to God's foot, but alſo that it was the greateſt Mercy that ever they received in all their Lives, For it may be ſaid of them as the Father did of his prodigal Son, at length returned home, Theſe poor Creatures were dead and are alive again, were loſt and are found.

p. 18III. We may Conſider, That yet at the ſame time He is the God of their Salvation. So he is ſtyled in the Text, And this Conſideration is as Comfortable and refreſhing, as the other is awful and Terrifying Terrible things from an almighty, ſtern and inexorable Judge are overwhelming indeed, but when they come from a reconciled Father, the God of our Salvation, this Conſideration may well ſuſtain and bear us up; Often in Scripture is the Lord ſtyled, the God of Salvation, and the God of our Salvation. 1 Chron 16.35. Save us, O God of our Salvation. Pſal. 24.5. He ſhall receive — righteouſneſs from the God of his Salvation. Pſal. 68.19, 20. — Even the God of our Salvation, He that is our God is the God of Salvation and unto God the Lord belong the iſſues from Death. And frequently elſewhere.

In two reſpects principally the Lord our God may fitly be ſtyled the God of Salvation.

1. On the account of the Eminent Salvations and Deliverances given to his people in times of Danger, Difficulty and Diſtreſs. Whatever Salvations they receive God is the Author of them, Whatever means or Inſtruments are uſed, he is the principal Cauſe and they p. 19are effectual only in his hand; When Deſtruction is near people, God many times reſcues them from the ſtrokes of it and that very remarkably, He puts them a little out of the way of it, He ſhields and covers them and as it were hides them in the Hollow of his hand that they ſhall not be at all hurt; In Battles, when Deſtruction is flying on every ſide, In Storms at Sea and in Tempeſts and other Dangers on Shore, The Lord covers their heads, is their Shield and the God of their Salvation; We wonder how they Eſcaped when we come afterwards to reflect and Conſider of it; We ſhould have thought it almoſt Impoſſible that perſons in ſuch Circumſtances, in ſuch a Situation, could have Eſcaped Death; but God preſerveth them by his power and goodneſs and they receive little or no hurt; The Pſalmiſt uſeth many metaphorical yet apt Expreſſions to ſet this forth. Pſal. 91.3—7. Surely he ſhall deliver thee from the ſnare of the fowler and from the noiſom peſtilence, He ſhall cover thee with his feathers and under his wings ſhalt thou truſt, His truth ſhall be thy ſhield and buckler, Thou ſhalt not be afraid of the Terror by Night, nor the arrow that flyeth by Day, Nor for the peſtilence that walketh in Darkneſs, nor for the Deſtruction that waſteth at Noon-day; a thouſand ſhall fall at thy ſide and ten thouſand p. 20at thy right hand, but it ſhall not come nigh thee. On this account he is the God of Salvation, Creatures may be Means of Salvation, but He is the God of it.

2. He may be ſtyled, The God of Salvation, in that he is the Author of their Eternal Salvation from Sin and all the fatal Conſequences thereof. When all had been ruined and loſt by mans Apoſtaſy from God, he graciouſly deviſed means for their recovery and laid help upon One that is mighty to Save, He ſent his Son into the world to take our Natures upon him and therein to make Satisfaction for our Offences, to lay a foundation for our recovery and reconciliation to God; He hath ordered this good News to be brought to our Ears and Life and Happineſs to be offered us in his Name; If any of the Sons of men, hearing of theſe things, do cloſe with Jeſus Chriſt upon his own terms, it is he that Enableth them to do it; He ſaveth them and calleth them with an holy Calling, not according to their works, but according to his own purpoſe and grace; And Finally, he brings them ſafely at laſt, through many Hardſhips and tryals, temptations and difficulties to Everlaſting Life; On this account He is (as he is here termed) the God of Salvation.

p. 21And Even when perſons fall by temporal Judgments, as Eli and Uzza and Joſiah and others did, it would be hard to think or ſay, that they muſt needs on that account, come ſhort of Eternal Salvation.

I proceed to the IMPROVEMENT.

1. Doth the God of their Salvation ſometimes manifeſt himſelf to his people by Terrible things in Righteouſneſs? Then it is a weakneſs even in them to Expect, that the Courſe of his providential dealings with them, ſhould be always Smooth, gentle and eaſie. They may look that ſomtimes he will write bitter things againſt them, that he will ſhew them hard things and cauſe them to Drink the wine of aſtoniſhment, as the Expreſſions are, Job 13.26. Pſal. 60.3. It is Enough, that he is the God of our Salvation and that he will take a fatherly Care of them that Love him and deſire to fear his Name and that at length their Souls ſhall be bound up in the bundle of Life; They muſt not think to be Exempt from the Common Accidents, troubles and ſorrows of Life, No, nor from Extraordinary ſtrokes Neither, at what time or in what manner it ſhall pleaſe our heavenly Father to inflict them.

p. 22II. Doth the God of our Salvation ſometimes manifeſt himſelf to his people by Terrible things in Righteouſneſs? Then it is not for them to Murmur and Complain, no, not ſo much as to think hardly of the providence of God, when ſuch things happen to them. All is done in Righteouſneſs, There is Enough in our Conduct to juſtify even a much greater Severity, Our mouths muſt be ſtopped from Charging God fooliſhly, and we muſt ſay with the Pſalmiſt, Iſal 103.10. He hath not dealt with us after our ſins nor regarded us according to our iniquities. Or. Lan. 3.22. It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not conſumed, becauſe his compaſſions fail not. Inſtead of finding fault or thinking hardly, it will become us on ſuch Occaſions, with Job. to fall down and worſhip and Adore. Job 1.20, 21.

III. Doth the God of our Salvation ſometimes manifeſt himſelf to his people, by Terrible things in Righteouſneſs? Then all their religious Friends that hear of ſuch ſevere diſpenſations of divine providence, towards any perſon or people, ſhould be ſure to pity, Sympathize with and pray for them. They ſhould put themſelves in their place and Imagine that their Souls are in their Souls ſtead; If they have Opportunity they may do very well to get about them, direct, counſel and p. 23Comfort them under all that hath befallen them, So Job's three friends propoſed to do, and it had been well if they had performed the good Office aright; But they ſeemed to have quickly forgotten their Deſign. Job 2.11. — They had made an appointment together to Come to mourn with him and to comfort him. People ſhould not be careleſs and unconcerned about what befals others, while their Condition cries to them in that Language, Job 19.21. Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends, for the hand of God hath touched me.

IV. Doth the God of our Salvation ſometimes manifeſt himſelf to his people by Terrible things in Rightcouſneſs? It becomes them then in ſuch a day, to Conſider what the can and Language of ſuch providences is, and to Comply as readily and punctually as ever they can, with the Lord's deſign and Intention. There is a meaning in all ſuch providences, which we ſhould be ſollicitous and Inquiſitive to find out, with a reſolution to Comply with; Now we need the Interpreter, One of a thouſand, which Elihu ſpeaks of, to ſhew unto man his uprightneſs, Job 33.23. Now we ſhould apply our ſelves unto God, as Job did. Job 10.2. I will ſay unto God, Do not condemn me, ſhew me wherefore thou Contendeſt with me.

p. 24And this brings me to Diſcourſe more particularly of the Awful Diſpenſation of divine providence towards Us of this Congregation the laſt Lord's Day.

We had finiſhed our forenoon's Service and were returned again to the houſe of the Lord, when no ſmall Storm came over us, which prevented diverſe of the Congregation from aſſembling together with us; No ſooner had we, that were met, riſen up to worſhip and ſcarce had we begun to utter our ſelves before the Lord, when a dreadful Thunder-Clap broke upon us, with an amazing Noiſe, as if diverſe Cannon had been Diſcharg'd at once; The fire of God fell among us, rending the Houſe in a wonderful manner, which I may not ſtand, neither would it be ſo proper, now to Deſcribe; Striking down to the ground great Numbers of people, Burning and wounding ſeveral in a moſt ſorrowful manner; One deſirable Youth after a little ſtruggle preſently Expiring, the Lightning having licked up his ſpirits beyond recovery.

Others, upon the application of proper remedies, being brought to their Senſes, were after a while carried home, where ſome of them ſtill are the Lord's priſoners, p. 25waiting upon the ſame hand that wounded, graciouſly to heal and reſtore, And others are come Halting hither to Day, to give thanks to the God of their Salvation; All of us Stunned and aſtoniſhed with the ſudden and ſurprizing Blow; Methinks the dreadful Sound is ſtill in our Ears and we ſhall ſcarce forget it to our Dying Day, Thus did the God of our Salvation anſwer us by Terrible things in Righteouſneſs;

It can ſcarre be Expreſſed by words the Concern, the Surprize, the Conſternation that was among us on that Occaſion, Every ones Countenance was changed at what had happened Uncertain whither there might not be ſomthing yet more Severe preſently to follow.

When we could a little recover our ſelves, then the Cries of friends for them that needed help, were very pitiful and affecting.

We ran to the aſſiſtance of One, and behold Another and Another and Another in every corner of the Houſe, wanted us at the ſame time; We were all buſied in doing good offices for our friends, of one kind or another, to recover them that were quite ſtunned with the blow, to revive them that p. 26fainted and bind up the wounded and at length (when they were in condition for it) to attend and bear them to their ſeveral homes; And only one, by the awful diſpenſation of providence, was carried off dead, beyond all poſſibility of recovery; Thus inſtead of the uſual Exerciſes of the Lord's Day, this was our Imployment for that afternoon, And when we had ſent off our dear friends ſufficiently attended, we had no more time left, but only to call together the remains of the Congregation and in a ſhort and humble addreſs to God, to give thanks for our preſervation and bewail the burning which the Lord had kindled; So we haſtened home to the farther aſſiſtance of our wounded and Languiſhing friends and alſo to bemoan and Comfort them that had been ſo awfully bereaved.

The Lord himſelf was pleaſed to preach to us more Immediately, that afternoon in a tremendous manner, cauſing ſuch a ſeriouſneſs, trembling and Conſternation, as it did at Mount-Sinai, at the giving of the Law. Exod. 20, 18, 19. And all the people ſaw the thunderings and the lightnings and the voice of the trumpet and the mountain ſmoaking and when the people ſaw it, they removed and ſtood afar off. And, they ſaid unto Moſes, Speak thou with us & p. 27we will hear, but let not God ſpeak with us, leſt we die. The Apoſtle relating this matter, adds ſome more Circumſtances, Heb. 12.18-21

Too often (we muſt Confeſs) we have made too light of the Calls and warnings that have been given us by men, but how ſhall we Eſcape if we turn away from him, that thus ſpeaketh from Heaven?

I ſhall Caſt what I have farther to ſay upon this Occaſion into the following method.

Firſt, I ſhall Conſider what Conſtructions may poſſibly and alſo what ought to be made, of this aſtoniſhing diſpenſation of divine providence.

Secondly, I ſhall call upon the whole preſerved Congregation never to forget, but always to praiſo God for their Eminent Deliverance.

Thirdly, I ſhall put you upon Sympathizing with the more Immediate Sufferers and eſpecially with them who have been ſo ſorely bereaved.

And, Fourthly, I ſhall Invite and preſs you, Every one to make that wiſe and good improvement of this providence, which our heavenly Father now Expects.

p. 281. I ſhall Conſider, What Conſtructions may poſſibly and alſo what Ought to be made, of this aſtoniſhing Diſpenſation of divine providence. In ſuch caſes, Every one have their Sentiments, all perſons have their Say; Some perhaps may Cenſure us as greater Sinners than Ordinary, becauſe we have Suffered ſuch things; Others, that are more forſaken of ſenſe and reaſon, may Interpret it, as a Teſtimony from Heaven, againſt our Obſervation of Holy Time and profeſſing to ſpend it in the worſhip and ſervice of God; To theſe laſt I would ſay, That when we are commanded, not to forſake, the aſſembling of our ſelves together, as the manner of ſome is, When the word is to, be preached in ſeaſon and out of ſeaſon; when a Seventh part of our time hath been set apart from the beginning and made Sacred to the ſervice of God and the care of our Souls, by a Statute for Ever; We may Eaſily paſs by ſuch Cenſures as theſe and pity thoſe that offer them, Could we Obſerve holy time and attend theſe religious Duties in a right manner we might Eaſily Juſtify our ſelves both to God and the world, for our Obſerving them at all.

To the firſt, I would ſay, in our Bleſſed Saviour's words, Judge not that ye be not Judged, And put them upon remembring what he alſo ſaid, Luke 13: 1, —5. There p. 29were preſent at that ſeaſon, ſome that told him of the Galileans whoſe blood Pilate had mingled with their ſacrifices, And Jeſus anſwering ſaid unto them, Suppoſe ye that theſe Galileans were ſinners above all the Galileans, becauſe they ſuffered ſuch things? I tell you Nay, but except ye repent, ye ſhall all likewiſe periſh; Or thoſe Eighteen upon whom the tower in Siloam fell and ſlew them, Think ye that they were ſinners above them that dwelt in Jeruſalem? I tell you Nay, but except ye repent, ye ſhall all likewiſe periſh.

We may be allowed, poſſibly, to make ſome ſuch returns unto men.

But before the Lord our God, we muſt fall down and adore his Soveraignty, acknowledge his righteouſneſs, Kiſs the rod, accept the puniſhment of our Iniquity and own that he hath puniſhed us Leſs than our Iniquities have Deſerved, while he thus ſpits in our Faces and makes us an Example before the world. There is no Juſtifying our ſelves before him, Nor may we Expoſtulate the matter with him, ſaying, Wherefore haſt thou done this unto us? There hath been Enough and Enough amiſs in our Conduct, to draw down this and heavier Calamities upon our heads. We muſt ſay with Judah, Gen. 44.16 What ſhall we ſay unto the Lord? what ſhall we ſpeak? or how ſhall we clear our ſelves? God hath p. 30found out the Iniquity of his Servants. And, Oh! may the fruit of it be to purge away our Sin and make us partakers of his holineſs.

From all our Fellow-ſervants, who are wiſe and Conſiderate and that are partakers of the true ſpirit of Chriſtianity, we promiſe our ſelves, their pity and prayers, that they will not deſpiſe our Sufferings, but will cordially Commend us to him, who is able to make all things work together for our good.

II. I ſhall call upon the whole preſerved Congregation never to forget, but always to praiſe God for their Eminent Deliverance. We might have died by Scores and by Hundreds, Yea, the whole Congregation might have been diſpatch'd at once into Eternity. The Houſe might have been burnt about our Ears, Death came round about us, Deſtruction hovered over us, Diverſe were bro't to the gates of Death, the very brink of the pit, and one actually carried thither, more likely to have lived many Years the moment before, than multitudes of us; How is it that we have Eſcaped, but only that it pleaſed our heavenly Father to have Care of our Lives and mix abundance of Mercy with this Judgment; And ſhall we not now cry out in the Language of the Text, O God of out Salvation! O God of our Salvation!

p. 31We are as ſo many brands plucked out of the Burning; when we were all of us, as it were thrown into the fiery ſurnace, our Lives were precious in God's ſight; And though ſome were more Scorched in the flames, yet they are now in a fair way of recovery, And upon the moſt of us, not ſo much as the ſmell of fire hath paſſed, And that promiſe hath been, Even Literally fulfilled unto us, Iſa. 43.2, — When thou walkest through the fire, thou ſhalt not be burnt, neither ſhall the flame kindle upon thee.

And it is well worthy of Remark, that there were many Inſtances of perſons, who but juſt before, removed from their uſual places of Sitting, Some to avoid the rain that came down upon them, Some moved with fear and ſome (perhaps) for no manifeſt reaſon, who, if they had Continued but ever ſo little longer in the places where they were, would have been in Eminent hazard of Immediate Death, whither by the Thunder, which ſtruck very near thoſe places with a dreadful force and Effects; Or by the fall of pieces of Timber from the roof, ſo large and long, as might have cruſhed many to Death at once, or at leaſt, made them Cripples for their whole Lives;

So narrowly have we Eſcaped; ſo ſignally did providence Exert it ſelf for our preſervation! p. 32And ſhall we not now ſay and ſing with the pſalmiſt, Pſal. 103.1, 2, 4. Bleſs the Lord, O my ſoul, and all that is within one bleſs his holy Name, Bleſs the Lord, O my ſoul and forget not all his benefits. Who redeemeth thy life from deſtruction, who crowneth thee with loving kindneſs and tender mercies.

Some (perhaps) may pleaſe and bleſs themſelves, that they were not preſent in the Congregation that awful Day and ſo, that they were more out of the way of Danger; But to have been preſent & been witneſſes, as we were, not only of God's terrible Majeſty, with which he was then pleas'd to Aray himſelf, but of his tender Care and goodneſs to his Unworthy people, It is a rich Experience, well worthy to be laid up in Everlaſting remembrance, Eſpecially if God will pleaſe to bleſs it too for our ſpiritual good, as (it is to be hoped) he will.

III. I ſhall put you upon Sympathizing with the more Immediate Sufferers & Eſpecially with them, who have been ſo Awfully bereaved. We, who have Eſcaped better, ſhould bear a tender Regard to them who have fared worſe; We might have been in their places and they in ours, had it ſo pleaſed God; Now as they that know the heart of a Stranger, do better know and are more inclined to ſhow kindneſs p. 33and do good offices unto Strangers than others be, So we, that were ſo near the Danger and did ſo narrowly Eſcape, It is to be preſumed, can better Sympathize with them that did more ſmart by it, And the rather, becauſe this is one good way to ſhew our thankfulneſs to God, for our deliverance; Their wounds and ſores and bruiſes & lameneſs, ſhould, in a ſort, be felt by Each of us and we ſhould be ready to do all manner of good offices about them. And, I bleſs God, that there is no manner of reaſon of Complaint of any backwardneſs on this ſcore.

But what ſhall we ſay to, or do for our dear Friends, that have been Called to part with, a near and dear Relation, in ſo awful and ſolemn a manner?

Perhaps, it would but aggravate grief, to obſerve that he was a very promiſing & deſirable Youth, One that had Eſcaped more Untainted in his Manners, in this dangerous time, One that by his Diſcreet Conduct had recommended himſelf to every ones Eſteem, and that none had any Evil thing to ſay of him; Juſt arrived to his Freedom; Juſt ſetting out in the world, which he might have done with good advantage; His Parents promiſing themſelves much from him and even ſaying with the parents of Noah, This ſame ſhall Comfort us concerning our work and the toil of our Hands.

p. 34Hither he was come that Day, to worſhip with us and it ſeems he muſt not be Diverted, though propoſals were made of his going ſome other ways (for he choſe to worſhip with us, now that matter was left to his own choice and diſcretion) And here the Providence of God met with him, on a good Day, in a good place and (we truſt) on a good Deſign; He falls in the Sanctuary (where ſome good people have wiſhed to Expire, if it were the will of God) and Dyes at the very horns of the Altar; He was obſerved to be more than ordinarily thoughtful and Concerned, as the Storm gathered and blackned and drove more fiercely upon us; And who can tell but that he dyed praying for himſelf and us? Who can ſay, but that our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, looking upon the Youth, might Love him, cloath him with the bright robes of his Righteouſneſs and ſo receive him to his Mercy?

Theſe are things that we muſt leave, They are not to be Determined by us; Wherefore I would ſay to his bereaved Relations, Sorrow not, my Friends, as they that have no hope; We know your Tryal is great & you will have need of abundance of Grace and patience to behave ſuitably under this Soveraign diſpenſation of divine providence. But Remember the Inſtance of Aaron, He loſt two Sons and both dyed in actual Sin (which p. 35was a much harder Caſe than yours) and yet he held his peace, Lev. 10.1, 2, 3. So, do you labour to Acquieſce in the diſpenſations of an holy God and ſay, The Will of the Lord be done. Eſpecially ſince you have much more to Quiet you under his hand.

And the good Lord make up to you this Loſs in Spiritual and better bleſſings and give you a Name better than that of Sons and of Daughters.

You have ſeen the Sympathy of your Fellow-Servants, how forward they have been to mingle their Tears with yours, in our late (almoſt) univerſal attendance at his Funeral, We all look'd on with pity and join'd in Imploring mercies from the God of Heaven, And now, May we all be Edified by your Example of patience, Submiſſion and reſignation to the will of God, that we may learn the better how to behave, if Ever God ſhould call us out to any the like Trial;

And the Lord prepare us, Every one, for our Diſſolution, at what time and in what manner ſoever it may come, that then we may be found of him in peace.

IV. I ſhall invite and preſs you, Every one, to make that wiſe and good Improvement of this providence, which our heavenly Father now Expects: p. 36The Eve, both of GOD and Men will be now more upon us, to obſerve what our Conduct and behaviour will be after this; Some things are Evident, what is plainly our Duty at this Day and ſome things may Eaſily be Searched out and come at, if we will be at the pains to Examine;

Shall we not think now Every one of us, What if it had been our Lot to have been ſtruck dead at once in that awful Day, when Death was ſo very Near us? What condition ſhould we have been in? Was our peace made with God? Had we gotten an Intereſt in Jeſus Chriſt? Was there no guilt lying Unpardoned upon our Souls? If ſo, we ſhould then only have been haſtened a little ſooner into the preſence of our Redeemer, and aſcended, as in a Chariot of fire, into the region of the bleſſed; But if we had been yet in our Sins, Unregenerate, Unconverted, Alienated from the life of God, Servants to diverſe Luſts and pleaſures, it would have been a dreadful ſtroke indeed upon us, We ſhould have gone from one fire to a worſe and it had been good for us that we had never been born; Methinks every profane Sinner, when he remembers it, may Yet tremble at his very Narrow Eſcape, to think how near he was to his being paſt all hope and help and remedy. Well, now we are all ſpared a little p. 37Longer and have a little more time to think and to ſet, our Souls in Order, if we have but the heart to do it, And ſurely the loud Call, which we have had from heaven, ſhould be ſufficient to rowze us; Shall we ſtill put off and Delay? Shall we ever cry to morrow, when God is ſaying, To Day? To Day if ye will hear his Voice, Harden not your hearts.

The Great Deſign of the Goſpel and indeed of all religion is, to bring us to Love and to Fear God and to Subject our ſelves to him, To help us to Govern well our paſſions and affections, our appetites & inclinations; To make us juſt and righteous, kind and Benevolent and uſeful to all that are about us, good Neighbours and good men, Thus it is repreſented, Tit. 2. 11, — 14. For the grace of God, that bringeth ſalvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us, that denying ungodlineſs and wordly luſts, we ſhould live ſoberly, righteouſly and godly in this preſent world, Looking for that bleſſed hope and glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, who gave himſelf for us that he might redeem us from all Iniquity and purify to himſelf a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

And ſince we are fallen by our Iniquity and there is a Neceſſity of a Saviour, Surety and Mediator between God and us, upon p. 38whoſe account we may be accepted in God's ſight, Repentance towards God and Faith towards our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, are much Inſiſted upon in the New Teſtament Act. 20.21, Teſtifying both to the Jews & alſo to the Gentiles, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. Heb. 6.-1—The foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith towards God. And often elſewhere. Theſe are the things that we muſt Enquire after and not reſt till we can find them in our ſelves; Wherefore now eſpecially ſince we have been under ſuch Awakening Diſpenſations.

1. Let us Every one reform what hath been amiſs in our Conduct and teſtify againſt Sin in Others. We all know, better than other perſons, what Sins they be that do moſt Eaſily beſet us and moſt frequently prevail againſt us, We muſt be beſt acquainted with the Plague of our own hearts and whatever our faults and Irregularities be, whither we have Indulg'd our ſelves in any of the kinds of Evil Speaking, taking God's Sacred Name in Vain, or Injuring of men; Whither we are addicted to the Sins of Intemperance and Unchaſtity, to Injuſtice and Unrighteouſneſs, to Uncharitableneſs and Cruelty, or what ever other Fault it be; Let us ſearch it out and put it away, For why ſhould p. 39we Indulge our ſelves in any thing ſo Miſchievous and fatal, that is like to End in Death? Let us think, What fruit we have already had in theſe things, They have done us no ſervice and we have reaſon to be aſhamed of them.

Thus having Reformed our ſelves, let us go forth to teſtify and appear againſt Sin, where ever it is to be met with; From this day, let us not be mealy-mouth'd; If others will tranſgreſs the Laws of God, let us be ſo free & bold as to tell them of it; Let thoſe that are in Authority Exert their Power for the Suppreſſing of Vicious practiſes, as they that do not mean to bear the Sword in vain.

Pray alſo for me, that Utterance may be given me, that I may ſpeak the Word boldly and as I ought to ſpeak.

Let wildneſs & Extravagance ceaſe from this Day forward and Oh! that this Stroke which hath been upon us, might thro' the bleſſing of God, produce a greater Circumſpection, Sanctity and regularity in our Manners.

2. Let us ſet our ſelves Carefully to practiſe, the great Duties of righteouſneſs and mercy, which would make us bleſſings in our places and uſeful to all that are about us. So Daniel Counſelled p. 40Nebuchadnezzar, Dan. 4.27. Wherefore, O king, let my counſel be acceptable unto thee and break off thy ſins by righteouſneſs and thine iniquities by ſhewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthning of thy tranquillity. Let us learn to be juſt to our ſelves, and not live in Idleneſs, prodigality or any ways of unneceſſary Expence. And then, let us be juſt to other people, giving to Every one their due, and doing to them, as we would have them to do unto us, Let there be no grinding of the faces of the Poor, No Impoſing upon the weak, ſimple and Credulous, any more among us; Yea, let us learn to deviſe Liberal things and ſhew mercy with Chearfulneſs. There will be ever among us, ſome that are Poor, ſome that are Afflicted, ſome that are in Diſtreſs; From theſe we muſt not turn away our Eyes, or ſhut up our bowels of Compaſſion, but run and even fly to their aſſiſtance and relief; How much Religion lies in this the proceſs at the great day of Judgment may inform us, where our bleſſed Saviour tells us that all theſe things ſhall be Conſidered and brought to an account, Mat. 25.34, &c. And the Apoſtle James informs us, Jam. 1.27. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to viſit the fatherleſs and widows in their affliction and to keep himſelf unſpotted from the world.

p. 413. Let us live in the Ʋſe of the Inſtrumental Duties of religion which are Deſigned to bring us to the Love of God and our Neighbour and uſe them as means for this farther End.

Such as reading, hearing, meditating, Examining our ſelves, and attending upon the Ordinances of the Goſpel.

We muſt make Conſcience of doing theſe things, becauſe God hath Commanded them and makes uſe of them as Means to bring us to an Intimate Acquaintance with Jeſus Chriſt, to fill our hearts with Love to God, to make us fit for Service and meet for the Inheritance among the Saints in Light hereafter; Wherefore let me Exhort you Every one to ſtudy and peruſe your Bibles and Meditate in the Law of God Day and Night, This is the Rule by which we muſt live and by which we muſt one day be Judged, We had need Endeavour therefore that we may be intimately Acquainted therewith;

Get alone, frequently, by your ſelves, to think what Condition you are in and what you muſt do to be Saved, to call your ſelves to a ſtrict Account and accompliſh a moſt diligent Search. Then and there pray to your heavenly Father that ſeeth in ſecret and your Father that ſeeth in ſecret ſhall reward you openly. p. 42And let me beſeech all ſuch as are Maſters of Families to ſet up and keep up practical Religion there, walking within your Houſes with perfect hearts, that God may come and Dwell with them. Oh! Why are not your Voices heard in the Morning and why in the Evening are you ſo very Silent; The Lord grant that we may ſee this Fruit of the Frown that hath been upon us, that there may not be found One Prayerleſs Family among us any more; If hitherto you have not Learned the way to the Throne of Grace, begin this very Night and now take it upon you to Open your mouths to the Lord; And the Lord grant you according to your wants and the deſires of your Hearts, Yea, when ever you come in your anguiſh and bitterneſs of your Hearts, then let the Lord pleaſe to hear in heaven his Dwelling place and grant you anſwers of peace.

And ſhall I not prevail that the Sanctuary may be more frequented? Let no perſons place be Empty, when God gives you an opportunity to be preſent, that you may not miſs of any good for your Souls; Love the Habitation of God's Houſe, the place where his honour dwelleth, But come ſtill in the multitude of God's mercies and worſhip in his Fear towards his holy temple: From this time forward keep your feet when you go to the Houſe of God and be p. 43more ready to hear, than to give the ſacrifice of fools who conſider not that they do wickedly. Remember that God will be Sanctified in them that come nigh him and before all the people he will be glorified.

The Voice of the Lord which we have lately heard, was not meant ſo much to drive us from our place of publick Worſhip, as to make us Cautious, Serious & Devout whenever we Come thither, Now we ſhould remember, that God is a Spirit and they that Worſhip him ſhould do it in ſpirit and in Truth,††Among the Romans, during the ſtate of Heatheniſm, if any place were ſtruck with Lightning. It was ſtraitway Expiated by the Sacrifice of a Sheep, of two Years old and from thence it was termed Bidental, It was preſently tail'd in; None were allowed to approach to it, It was Eſteemed Impiety to remove the boundaries placed about it and it was accounted Sacred to their gods, It was uſually called triſte Bidental & Evitandum Bidental.

Farther, Why do ſo many Live ſo long without Baptiſm for themſelves, or for their Children? Arife and be Baptized and waſh away your Sins, calling upon the Name of the Lord.

And why do More Live in the Neglect of the Lord's Supper? As if he had never ſaid to us, Do this in the remembrance of me, Or as p. 44if they did not Concern themſelves though he had; Oh! When ſhall the Lord's Houſe be better filled, For as yet, there is room.

It is time that we ſhould be rouzed and Quickned to the Obſervation of theſe things with greater diligence preparation & Care.

Once more,

4. Let us ſee to it, that the ſaving change of Converſion be wrought upon us; Let us not be able to reſt, till we can find that it is happily begun. Our Lord himſelf hath told us, in, Mat. 18.3. — Except ye be Converted and become as little children, ye ſhalt not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. And again, Joh. 3.3, 5 — Except a man be born again, he cannot ſee the Kingdom of God — Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. We muſt begin to Live before we can act & work, We muſt Enter in at the ſtrait gate, before we can Walk in the narrow way that leadeth unto Life; Let no perſons flatter themſelves, or reſt in a deceitful Work, thinking that they are ſomthing, when indeed they are nothing, Imagining that they are Rich and Full and ſtand in need of Nothing, when at the ſame time they are Poor and Wretched and Miſerable and Blind and Naked. But let them Accompliſh a diligent Search and not ceaſe till they can find the Lineaments of the p. 45New Creature and that Chriſt is formed in their Hearts. Better had it been that we had not been Born at all, than not be New Born before we Die; When ſhall the time to favour us come, the ſet time, when ſhall it come? When they that are yet Dead in Treſpaſſes and Sins, ſhall be made to hear the Voice of the Son of God, and hearing it, ſhall Live?

To Conclude, We have heard that a Work of God hath been happily begun & carried on, in ſome parts of the Country, People, in a general way, being greatly Concern'd for the Everlaſting welfare of their Souls; It may be the Lord means good unto Us alſo (When will he think upon us!) and begins with this Terrible Stroke, For there was need of ſomthing very Awakening to Rouze us out of that deep Security, into which many of us were fallen, But this alone will not do; It may ſtartle and make us tremble for a time, but we ſhall ſoon get over it and return again to folly, unleſs the Lord pleaſe to ſend down his Effectual grace, to pour out the Spirit of grace and Supplication to Accompany it; The caſe may be ſomthing reſembled by that paſſage, we meet with, in, 1 King. 19. 11, 12, — And behold the Lord paſſed by and a great and ſtrong wind rent the mountains and brake in pieces the rocks before the p. 46Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake, And after the earthquake, a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire, a ſtill ſmall voice.

We have had Earthquakes among us, a while ſince, which have rent the Mountains, And though ſome were Awakened thereby to greater Seriouſneſs. Yet too many remain'd Unaffected; We have had a Violent Wind this preſent Year, that hath born down Buildings, Trees and the Fruits of the Earth before it; And now we in this place have been Encompaſſed with this Terrible Fire;

But all will not do for the Amendment of our Hearts and Lives, if the Lord be not in them; Oh! That he would pleaſe to utter the ſtill, ſmall Voice, which ſhall ſilently and ſweetly. Yet powerfully Transform us all into the divine Image.

Can theſe dry bones Live? ſaid the Lord once to the prophet; And he Replies, O Lord, thou knoweſt. The Lord knows how to ſoften the hardeſt hearts, Enlighten the blindeſt minds and turn Even the worſt of Sinners into Eminent Saints; Turn us and we ſhall be turned, Heal us and we ſhall be healed, for thou art the Lord Our God.

FINIS.

End of the text · Eliphalet Adams, God Sometimes Answers His People by Terrible Things (1735)