A Seasonable Memento for New Years Day, Sermon

A Seasonable Memento for New Years Day · Sermon

Mr. Foxcroft's SERMON January 1. 1746,-7.

A ſeaſonable MEMENTO for New Year's Day.

A SERMON Preached ſummarily at the Old Church Lecture in BOSTON, On Thurſday January 1. 1746,-7. WHEREIN The important Duty of Remembring the Years of the Right Hand of the moſt High, and commemorating God's wonderful Works of Creation, Redemption, and Providence, is inculcated; and recommended as good Employment for the firſt Day of the Year in particular.

By THOMAS FOXCROFT, A.M. One of the Paſtors of the ſaid Church.

Pſal. LXV. 11.

Thou crowneſt the Year with thy Goodneſs.—

Pſal CXI. 2.

The Works of the Lord are great, ſought out of all them that have Pleaſure therein.

Pſal. CV. 5.

Remember his marvellous Works, that he hath done—

BOSTON: Printed and Sold by S Kneeland and T. Green in Queen-Street. 1747.

A ſeaſonable MEMENTO FOR A NEW-YEAR'S DAY.

PSAL. LXXVII. 10, 11.

— I will remember the Years of the Right Hand of the moſt High. I will remember the Works of the Lord.—

FROM theſe Words, conſider'd in their Connection and Dependance, I might raiſe a Variety of inſtructive Notes, for your profitable and pleaſing Entertainment. But this would ſomething carry me away from the ſpecial Deſign I had in chuſing this Text; which was, to lead you into ſome Meditations agreable to the preſent Seaſon, the Commencement of a New Year, — after a wonderful Year of great Deliverances and ſignal Mercies; tho' ſhaded with a Mixture of cloudy and afflictive Diſpenſations. I will ſing of Mercy and Judgment: unto Thee, O Lord, will I ſing.

To commemorate the Works of God, and remember the Years of the right Hand of the moſt High, is a Duty of perpetual, as well as univerſal Obligation, and can never be out of Seaſon: but on ſuch a Day as this, it appears to be eminently in Seaſon; it ſeems the ſpecial Duty of the Day. — It has been the Practice of God's Children (a very fit and reaſonable Practice) to take ſome peculiar Notice of the Beginning and Ending of the Year, p. 2in their ſolemn Meditations and religious Exerciſes. And while we are careful to avoid every Thing of a ſuperſtitious Aſpect, not turning back to weak and beggarly Elements, nor obſerving Days and Months and Times and Years (from a Principle of Conſcience toward God, ſtrictly, as if any Seaſon had the ſame Character of Holineſs upon it as the Lord's Day) but only employing common Time to holy Purpoſes, as we have Opportunity, from a Principle of Zeal toward God, and of Care for our Souls; I cannot but think it a laudable Cuſtom, to begin and end the Year with the Exerciſes of more ſolemn Devotion. It ſeems to fall within the Limits of thoſe general Rules, — Walk circumſpectly, not as Fools, but as Wiſe, redeeming the Time: — Gird up the Loins of your Mind: — Stabliſh your Hearts; for the Coming of the Lord draweth nigh: — Be diligent, that you may be found of Him in Peace, without Spot, and blameleſs.‡‡By Means of the Abuſe of Chriſtmas-Holidays, when many, that pretend to commemorate one of the moſt glorious Facts in the ſacred Story, our Lord's Nativity, do on that Occaſion indulge a looſe Behaviour, Idleneſs, and ſenſual Exceſs, commonly more than at other Times, it's to be fear'd the Year is begun and concluded in ſuch a Manner by Multitudes, that ſcarce any Part of it ſeems proſtituted ſo much as this Seaſon, to the Service of Sin and the Diſgrace of Chriſtianity, by making Proviſion for the Fleſh to fulfil the Luſts thereof, inſtead of putting on the Lord Jeſus Chriſt.

Among the religious Exerciſes of New Year's Day, a very fit one is Meditation: and on ſuch Occaſions one very fit Subject to employ our devout Thoughts, is that pointed out to us by the Pſalmiſt in our Text. I will remember the Years of the right Hand of the moſt High: I will remember the Works of the LORD.

Poſſibly he may not here intend ſtrictly the Period of a Year; but only in general, by Years he may mean the Times and Seaſons, wherein the Works were wrought, which he reſolves to recollect and celebrate. In the Context he uſes the Terms of Day and Year as equivalent. So by Years in our Text may be underſtood in general the Aera's of God's marvellous Works, the Times or Seaſons of his remarkable Diſpenſations of Kindneſs. — Only, it may be, ſo much is hinted, ſometimes at leaſt, p. 3when the Word Year is made Uſe of, — as in our Text, the …ears of the right Hand of the moſt High, — that it refers to …vine Works protracted to a conſiderable Length of Time; it may point at a long Seaſon of glorious divine Operations. A Year being the moſt extended Period in the natural Diviſion of Time, this Word may be choſen to denote a Series of Days of God's Power and Goodneſs, a continued Courſe of his wonderful Works to the Children of Men.

However, taking the Term in its literal Signification, for the Space of Duration properly denominated a Year, it muſt be granted, that ſome Years are eminently the Years of the right Hand of the moſt High.

We muſt note here, 'tis but by a Figure that Hands are aſcribed to God, who is a Spirit, and hath not bodily Parts or Paſſions as Men have. The Hand being one of the comelieſt, ſtrongeſt, moſt active and important Members of the human Syſtem, of conſtant and extenſive Uſe, ſerving to a vaſt Variety of valuable Purpoſes in human Life; hence, while the Scripture condeſcends to accommodate its Language to our Capacity, in deſcribing the bleſſed God, we find his Hand frequently ſpoken of: which yet is to be underſtood only as expreſs'd by Way of Analogy or Alluſion, and principally imports the divine Influence and Activity, or the Exertment of God's Power and Perfections on the Creature. — We may further obſerve, that as Man, to whom ſuch Expreſſions allude, is privileged with a Duplicity of Hands, a right and a left, hence in the ſame analogical Way a Plurality of this excellent Member is attributed to God in Scripture, and under the expreſs Diſtinction too of his right Hand and his left; — tho' when the Hand of God is mention'd with one or other of theſe Epithets join'd to it, 'tis the former that is moſt commonly uſed. So in our Text, the Years of the Right Hand of the moſt High.

It mayn't be unfit to note here more particularly,

1. The Right Hand commonly being the ſtrongeſt and the moſt uſed, and having a greater Aptitude for Exerciſe, hence this does moſt ſignificantly expreſs Power, and Action, and Skill: and when figuratively apply'd to God, it often denotes his infinite Strength, Activity, and Dexterity in Operation. So the Years of the right Hand of the moſt High may intend the Years of his mighty Works, and glorious Atchievements, diſplaying p. 4his immenſe Wiſdom, moſt active Nature, and divine Omnipotence.

2. The Right Hand is of all the Members of the Body one of the moſt beloved and endeared to us. This is the Favourite-Hand. In Alluſion to which Property, the Mortification of a darling Luſt is compar'd in Scripture to the Cutting off a Right Hand. — The Patriarch Jacob's Son Benjamin (which ſignifies a Son of the Right Hand had his Name given him for this Reaſon, becauſe he was the Son of his peculiar Affection. — So the Years of the right Hand of the moſt High may intend ſuch as have been diſtinguiſh'd by the Smiles of Heaven, and been full of the Bleſſing of the Lord, — remarkable Years of his Loving-kindneſs and Favour, wherein his good Hand has been ſignalized towards his People; — and ſuch as may be called the Favourite-Years, which he hath as it were embraced with his Right Hand.

3. The Right Hand is ſignificant, among Men, of Dignity and Preheminence. The Right Hand is that on which, as the worthieſt, the Signet has been wont to be worn: and in Token of Honour, Perſons of Diſtinction are placed on our Right Hand. Hence Chriſt's Exaltation in the heavenly Places is repreſented in figurative Language, by his ſitting down on the Right Hand of the Majeſty on high: which imports his being near and dear to God, and crown'd with ſuperlative Glory. Hence he is ſaid to be ſet down with his Father on his Throne: and is called the Man of his right Hand. To him God hath ſworn by his Right Hand; Him hath God exalted with his Right Hand; Him hath He exalted to his Right Hand; and he is indeed his Right Hand, the Right Hand of his Righteouſneſs, and the Strength of his Salvation. — So the Expreſſion in our Text, the Years of the right Hand of the moſt High, may be underſtood of Years which God has eminently dignify'd, raiſed in Fame above other Years, and put a remarkable Luſtre and Diſtinction upon, by great Works of the Arm of the Lord bringing Salvation and Proſperity, that make them ſhine in the Annals of the Church. Theſe may be called Years crowned with his Goodneſs, as the Expreſſion is in Pſal. 65.11. — He hath ſtretched out his Right Hand, and laid it on their Head, honouring them (as the Firſt born) with a double Portion of his Bleſſing.

p. 5It may be ſubjoin'd,

4. The Right Hand is given among Men, one to another, in Token of Covenanting, and profeſſing Friendſhip. Holding up the Hand was the ancient Mode of taking a ſolemn Oath: and giving the Hand has always been practiſed as a federal Rite, as a Signal of Agreement, and an Expreſſion of Friendlineſs. This was the Token between Jebu and Jebonadab, when he came to meet him; Is thy Heart right, as my Heart is with thy Heart? If it be, give me thine Hand. In this View the Apoſtle uſes the Phraſe; When James, Cephas, and John perceived the Grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the Right Hands of Fellowſhip. — Thus the Years of the right Hand of the moſt High may intend the ſpecial Seaſons of God's covenanting with his People, giving them the Aſſurances of his Friendſhip, and confirming his Promiſes by an Oath, to ſhew the Immutability of his Counſel. The Lord is ſaid to ſwear by his Right Hand; and that's the Form of the Oath, I lift up my Hand to Heaven, and ſay, I live for ever. Beſides the Oath which he ſware to Abraham, there were Promiſes made to the Fathers both before and after him. The Lord ſware unto David, both the Type and Antitype; and he ſpake by the Mouth of all the holy Prophets, which have been ſince the World began; remembring his holy Covenant, and renewing the Promiſes of it from Age to Age; declaring himſelf the God of the righteous Seed, and avouching them to be his peculiar People. In particular, he often repeated theſe federal Tranſactions with Iſrael, but more ſolemnly in Horeb; and finally, having broken down the Wall of Partition, he has extended his Covenant to the Gentiles, ſaying to them which in Times paſt were not a People, Thou art my People, and bringing them to avouch the God of Iſrael for the Lord their God. — Now ſuch Covenanting-Times may be included in the Idea of the Years of the Right Hand of the moſt High: and theſe as God is ever mindful of, ſo ſhould we; taking Heed to ourſelves, leſt we forget the Covenant of the Lord our God; for our God is a conſuming Fire, a jealous God.

Thus I have aſſign'd ſome of the moſt probable Senſes of the Phraſe in our Text. Poſſibly they may all be comprehended: tho' Expoſitors generally interpret it as uſed here with a ſpecial View to the firſt Senſe, and more directly intending the peculiar Seaſons of God's diſplaying his Power and Perfection in great and wonderful Works of Goodneſs. And indeed this is countenanced p. 6by the Connection of the Words. I will remember the Years of the Right Hand of the moſt High: I will remember the Works of the Lord: Surely I will remember thy Wonders of old, &c. Then in the following Verſes the Pſalmiſt proceeds to celebrate the mighty Acts of God, and his gracious Appearances for his People. — Accordingly in the preſent Diſcourſe I ſhall have a particular Eye to this Senſe, as primarily intended; tho' not excluding the others. — And when the Text ſpeaks of remembring the Works of the Lord, and the Years of his Right Hand, we are to underſtand by this, not a meer ſpeculative Exerciſe of the Mind and Memory on theſe Objects, but alſo correſpondent Actions of the Judgment and Conſcience, Will and Affections, with agreable Practice and Behaviour in the outward Life.

Having premiſed theſe general Obſervations, I ſhall now diſtinctly mention ſome of thoſe Years of God's Right Hand, and ſome of thoſe Works of the moſt High, which challenge from us this devotional and practical Commemoration.

1. I begin with commending to your Remembrance the Year of the Creation, and its mighty Wonders.

This is a great and notable Year of the Lord; as it were, the Beginning of his Strength, and the Firſt-born among the Years of the Right Hand of the moſt High. This ancient Year, the firſt Date of Time, muſt never be forgotten, when we profeſs to remember the Works of the Lord, and to conſider the Days of old, the Years of ancient Times. It muſt ever be remembred, that in the Beginning God created the Heaven and the Earth, and formed all Things by the Word of his Power. Then his Right Hand became glorious in Power, and wrought wondrouſly: He revealed his mighty Arm, ſtrong was his Hand, and high his Right Hand. Then the Greatneſs of his Excellency appeared; then he manifeſted forth his Glory, the Glory of his Strength, and Wiſdom, and Goodneſs, Sovereignty, and Alſufficiency, in producing theſe Worlds out of Nothing, in forming them with ſuch admirable Beauty and Harmony, filling them with ſuch unſearchable Riches, and ſtocking them with ſuch glorious Inhabitants: All which ſhould come into our Remembrance. — We ſhould conſider his Heaven, the Work of his Fingers; and enter with our Meditations into the upper and inviſible World, the Habitation of bleſſed Angels. — But the Years of the Right Hand of the moſt High is a Phraſe that calls our Thoughts down to this viſible p. 7and lower World, the Stage of Time and the Seat of Mankind. The Sons of the Morning ſaw that great Work, which the Lord did, when he created this Earth, and brought forth Man upon it: thoſe Morning-Stars ſang the Praiſes of their and our Creator, and ſhouted for Joy at the building this Temple, ſacred to the Honour of his Name. The Lord himſelf rejoiced in the Works of his Hand: and upon a Review of the whole, pronounced all very good. He conſtantly claims it as his Prerogative to create, and glories in his Character of univerſal Creator. Thus ſaith the Lord, I am the Firſt, and I am the Laſt; and beſides Me there is no God. — I am the Lord that maketh all Things, that ſtretcheth forth the Heavens alone, that ſpreadeth abroad the Earth by my ſelf. And again, I have made the Earth, and created Man upon it; I, even my Hands have ſtretched out the Heavens, and all their Hoſt have I commanded.

Verily the Year of the Creation is one of the moſt glorious and memorable Years of the Right Hand of the moſt High. — The inviſible Things of Him from the Creation of the World are clearly ſeen, being underſtood by the Things that are made, even his eternal Power and Godhead. — The Heavens declare his Glory; the Earth alſo is full of his Riches; at its firſt Formation 'twas eminently ſo. In its Production and Eſtabliſhment, the Glory of the Lord brake forth with an aſtoniſhing Luſtre, and the Right Hand of his Power wrought marvellous Things without Number. — Well may we adore the Creator in that Language, Who is a God like unto Thee! Glorious in Holineſs, fearful in Praiſes, doing Wonders. — Worthy art Thou, O Lord, to receive Glory, and Honour, and Power; for Thou haſt created all Things, and for thy Pleaſure they are, and were created.

We ſhould often contemplate on the Glories of the Creation in its general View; and wiſely apply the Meditation to its proper practical Uſes, — to make us hate and mourn for Sin, which caſts Contempt on God and his wonderful Works, — to raiſe our Admiration of the divine Excellency, Fulneſs and Bleſſedneſs of the great Creator, — to excite our Veneration, Love, Gratitude, with every other devout Paſſion; — particularly to confirm our Faith in the Promiſes of an alſufficient God, — eſpecially with Reſpect to the coming Day of the Reſtitution of all Things.—And ſince our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, the only Begotten of the Father, ſuſtains in common with him this exalted Character of the Former of all Things, as well as the Saviour of his p. 8Body the Church, this Reflection ſhould eſtabliſh us in the Belief of his eternal Divinity, ſo plainly taught us in the Scriptures: for He that built all Things is God. Hence, according to his Demand, all Men ſhould honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. The Earth is the Lord's, and the Fulneſs thereof; we ſhould therefore honour the Lord with our Subſtance; and we ſhould glorify him in all Things, conſecrating our ſelves and all our Enjoyments to his Service and Honour: Particularly as we believe in God the Father, ſo ſhould we alſo in God the Son, by whom he hath in theſe laſt Days ſpoken to us, by whom alſo he made the Worlds, and whom he hath appointed Heir of all Things. What a powerful Motive have we to the firmeſt Truſt in Jeſus Chriſt, ſince he is the Maker, and therefore Lord of all! And well may the conſcious Believer triumph in the Name of Jeſus, to whom he has committed and devoted himſelf. — But Sinners in Zion, on the contrary, may well be afraid, when they conſider Whom they deſpiſe and refuſe, even the great Creator and high Poſſeſſor of Heaven and Earth, the one Lawgiver that is able to ſave and to deſtroy; who ſpared not the old World, but brought a Flood upon the Ungodly, nor will ſpare the World that now is, but reſerveth it unto Fire againſt the Day of Judgment and Perdition of ungodly Men, which ſhall ſo come as a Thief in the Night, in the which the Heavens being on Fire ſhall be diſſolved, and the Elements melt with fervent Heat, the Earth alſo and the Works therein ſhall be burnt up. Seeing then that ye look for ſuch Things, make the World no longer your Idol: but mind the one Thing needful, your eternal Intereſt; ſeek and chuſe the good Part, that (being obtained) ſhall never be taken from you. Brethren, the Time is ſhort, and the World paſſeth away, with the Luſt thereof: but he that doeth the Will of God, abideth for ever, and poſſeſſeth a moſt durable and bliſsful Inheritance. And this is the Will of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath ſent, who is the alone Saviour, and whoſe Favour only can be your Security at the laſt Day amidſt the Terrors of a diſſolving World. May you therefore now be perſwaded to flee for Refuge to lay hold of the Hope ſet before you, and be diligent that you may be found of him in Peace.

But to proceed,

Among all the glorious Occurrences of the Creation-Year, the moſt illuſtrious and ſignal were thoſe referring to Man, his Formation, and the divine Diſpoſition of him and Tranſactions with him.

p. 9Tho' it be the general Character of Man, that he is born of a Woman, yet our firſt Parents were the immediate Offspring of God, brought into Being by his creating Hand. Male and Female (one of a Sex) created he them. God formed the firſt Man out of the Duſt of the Ground, and the firſt Woman out of one of his Ribs: and the Lord breathed into their Noſtrils the Breath of Life; ſo they became each a living Soul. He brought the Woman to the Man, and joined them by the Bond of Matrimony even in Paradiſe; and of this one Blood (originally pure and uncorrupt) hath God made all Nations of Mankind, of every Colour and Language, dwelling on all the Face of the Earth. Now indeed they are in a depraved State univerſally, and the Wickedneſs of Man is great upon the Earth; nor can he be clean, that is born of a Woman: But from the Beginning it was not ſo; for God made Man upright, — in the Image of God created he him, with a ſuperior Light in his Underſtanding, a heavenly Bias on his Will and Affections, and a divine Rectitude in all the Powers of his intellectual and moral Nature; whereby he ſhone at firſt as a little Image of God upon Earth, and had the Beaſts of the Field in League with him, a League of Friendſhip and Submiſſion.

The Production of this noble Creature, Man, is celebrated every where in Scripture as a tranſcendent Work of divine Wiſdom and Power, and the Account we have of it in the Moſaic Hiſtory is accordingly introduced with that peculiar Enſign of Counſel and Solemnity, Let us make Man. — And truly if Man be conſider'd in his twofold Nature and original Conſtitution, he appears to have been fearfully and wonderfully made. — His Body an admirable Structure, full of Myſtery and Glory, a meet Tabernacle for his pure and immortal Spirit, and the Temple of the living God, every Way fitly framed together, and exhibiting the infinite Skill and Perfection and Goodneſs of its divine Creator. — But the Soul of Man ſtill more excellent, as it firſt came out of his forming Hand; participating of the divine Nature, in its Spirituality and Immortality, in its Powers of Perception, Judgment and Choice, and in the Harmony, the moral Purity and Perfection of all its Faculties. — And above all the viſible Creation, Man had a conſpicuous Reſemblance to his bleſſed Maker and Sovereign, in the Dignity and Felicity of his exalted Condition; as having Dominion over all the other Creatures in this ſublunary World, ſituated in Paradiſe, the Centre of all terrene p. 10Pleaſures, Riches and Glories, and enjoying the moſt intimate Communion with his divine Maker.

What a happy and excelling Creature was Man in the Beginning! How dignify'd and diſtinguiſh'd! An Angel in Fleſh, a Kind of terreſtrial God, an illuſtrious Image of the ſupreme Majeſty!

And how did his Maker exalt him by entring into Covenant with him, a Covenant of Friendſhip and of glorious Grace, containing the wiſeſt and moſt righteous Demands, as well as enforced with the moſt weighty Sanctions, perfectly adjuſted to his Nature and State, addreſſing to his Reaſon and Conſcience, to his Hopes and Fears, and to every Paſſion of his Soul; and thus moſt excellently calculated to ſecure his Obedience, and hereby his Happineſs! Surely this is a memorable Occurrence: one of the moſt ſignal and admirable in the primitive Year of Wonders.

But after all it muſt be obſerved, there's one dark and moſt melancholy Event (which not God, but Man only was the Author of) that eclipſed the Glory of this Year of the Right Hand of the moſt High, ſpread a univerſal Gloom upon the Face of the Earth, turn'd Man out of Paradiſe, and degraded him to a Level with the brutal Herd, — I mean Adam's Tranſgreſſion, in the Matter of the forbidden Fruit. An amazing Fall! and a horrid Guilt, that reach'd Heaven and ſpread through all the Earth, that terminated not in his ſingle Perſon, but extends to his whole natural Poſterity through all Generations! Alas, Man being in Honour, underſtood not, but quickly corrupted his Way, and became like the Beaſts that periſh. God made him holy and happy, but with a mutable Nature and in a mutable State; and having in his adorable Sovereignty put him upon Trial, by a diſciplinary Prohibition, he diſobey'd, and fell by Tranſgreſſion, loſt the Image of God his Maker, forfeited the divine Preſence and Favour, and involved his numerous Progeny in Guilt and Ruin together with himſelf. For ſo the Scripture teaches us to account for the preſent State of this evil World, — By one Man's Diſobedience many were made Sinners — By the Offence of one, Judgment came upon all Men to Condemnation — By one Man Sin entred into the World, and Death by Sin; and ſo Death paſſed upon all Men, for that all have ſinned.—In Adam all die.—And curſed was the very Ground for his Sake, the Creature by Reaſon of him was made ſubject to Vanity, and the Earth groans under the Burden of its p. 11guilty Inhabitants, and the Effects of Adam's Fall, even until now. Thus the Creation was ſcarce finiſh'd before Man revolted, and by the Merit of his Sin filled this habitable Word with Darkneſs and Death, and introduced a moſt formidable Train of Evils. This is for a Lamentation; and it ſhould always be called to Mind with juſt Reſentments of Shame and Grief, while we are recollecting the wondrous Events of the Year of God's creating Hand.

However, it ſhould be remember'd too, that God our Maker, in his ſovereign Grace, preſently upon the Fall of Man, publiſh'd the good Tidings of Peace; and opened a new Covenant, in the Promiſe, that the Seed of the Woman ſhould bruiſe the Serpent's Head, who had beguiled Eve through his Subtilty: — which imply'd a Declaration of God's gracious Purpoſe to viſit and redeem his People, and to raiſe up a Horn of Salvation in his own appointed Time.

Thus I have hinted at ſome of the memorable and ſurprizing Occurrences of this firſt Year of the Right Hand of the moſt High, the Year of Creation.

Now this ſurely is a Year much to be remembred, and never forgotten by us. While we read our Bible, we find it frequently reminding us of this memorable Year, and calling its remarkable Events to our Remembrance. Indeed it's here only, that we meet with the Hiſtory of theſe ancient Facts. How thankful ſhould we be for the ſacred Scriptures, to which we are indebted, as for peculiar Diſcoveries of the Mind and Will of God, ſo of his Works? In this divine Revelation to Mankind we have ſuch Diſcoveries as tranſcend thoſe of the moſt improv'd Philoſophy, particularly in Relation to the firſt Cauſe and the laſt End of all Things, the Origin of Good and Evil, the priſtine perfect and preſent fallen States of Man, &c. Diſcoveries, of the laſt Importance to us, and ſuch as ſpeak the Scriptures to be of incomparable Excellency and Uſefulneſs. How thankful ſhould we be for this ſingular Privilege of Scripture-Revelation? How diligently ſhould we conſult it? And while we do ſo, we ſhall find it often reading to us entertaining Lectures on the Works of God, particularly thoſe in the memorable Year of Creation: calling this to our Thoughts, and ſpeaking of its various Events as deſerving our ſolemn Attention and Conſideration; in which therefore we ſhould frequently exerciſe our ſelves, — not on a mere Philoſophic Deſign, but on Theological Principles, and with p. 12a View to thoſe devotional and practical Ends, which this Meditation has in its Nature a Fitneſs to ſubſerve.

Our whole Life is not too much to be employ'd in the Commemoration of God's wonderful Works in the Year of Creative. The longeſt Life, yea, Eternity itſelf, can never exhauſt the boundleſs Subject. We ſhould enter early on the Buſineſs of remembring God and his Works. What ſaith the Scripture I Remember now thy Creator in the Days of thy Youth. Under this his firſt relative Character, we ſhould all of us, Young and Old, be much in remembring the Lord our God. — We ſhould remember, that God made the Earth, and created Man upon it; gave him his Being, and this at firſt a Being admirably excellent, attended with all the Advantages of intrinſick Perſection, and every deſirable external Accommodation. Our Commemoration of theſe Things ſhould be frequent; nor merely contemplative, but influential on our Hearts and Lives.

Let it be ſaid here diſtinctly,

1. Conſidering the Production of Man, in its general or more ſimple and abſolute, View, it is to be remembred by us, with due Acknowledgments to God, practical and devotional.

We ſhould confeſs God the firſt Cauſe of Man's Exiſtence, the Origin of our Being, the Author of human Nature, in its very firſt and all ſucceſſive Inſtances. And this Work of the Right Hand of the moſt High is to be remembred by us in the Exerciſe of every correſpondent Diſpoſition, and with all agreable Deportments. — We ſhould ſee and own our common Obligations to God our Maker, and ever maintain a thankful Senſe of the Riches of his creating Goodneſs. — We ſhould, by often viewing Him as Creator, ſtudy to get and keep our Minds under the deepeſt Impreſſion of our abſolute Dependance on him; and learn the great Leſſon of intire Submiſſion to his ſovereign Will. —We ſhould apply this Reflection to invigorate and enliven our Belief of a divine Providence, ſuperintending the World moral, as well as natural; and learn accordingly to refer all our Affairs, all our Intereſts (together with our Perſons) to the divine Direction and Diſpoſal, with a firm Confidence in God, as a Being perfectly ſufficient to preſerve us, and to provide for us, whether in Relation to Body or Soul, to Time or Eternity. — The Conſideration of God as Creator ſhould ſerve alſo to awaken in us the moſt humble Fear, and awful Apprehenſions of him. This divine p. 13Character ſpeaks his infinite Diſtance from us in Nature, his infinite Dignity above us, his abſolute Authority over us; therefore ſpeaks him the juſt Object of our higheſt Reſpect and ſolemn Dread, and challenges our moſt ſolicitous Care to pleaſe and honour him, and to walk humbly before him.— Should we not alſo love, as well as reverence the Hand that formed us? Ought not our Deſire to be unto his Name, and to the Remembrance of him? As we are in a natural Senſe the Offspring of God, ſurely our heavenly Father deſerves our beſt Affections. Accordingly that is his Demand, My Son, give me thy Heart. A Demand founded in the moſt perfect Reaſon, and approving itſelf to every enlighten'd Conſcience. How then can any of us (viler than the Ox, that knoweth his Owner) be ſo ſtupid and ungrateful, as not to inquire after God our Maker, but forget the Rock that beg at us! Or how can we deny him our whole Thought and Heart, who gave us our very Breath and Being! Yet this is our Manner from our Youth. — And how abſurd our Conduct, while by breaking the Law we diſhonour God that made us! Surely we ought to be in Subjection to the Father of Spirits, and learn Obedience from this View of God. The Creator muſt needs be the Lawgiver and the chief End of Man. He that made all Things for himſelf, has an undoubted Right of Propriety in and Dominion over them, and juſtly claims a Tribute of Praiſe from them, according to their various Natures and Capacities: and moſt certainly he propoſed his own Glory as the ſupreme Deſign of Man's Creation, whom he fram'd with a Capacity of rendring to him a reaſonable Service, a voluntary active Homage, and religious Worſhip; thereby diſtinguiſhing him from the Fowls of Heaven and Beaſts of the Earth, that have no Underſtanding, to conſtitute them fit Subjects of moral Government. Wherefore, as we would ſhew ourſelves Men, it becomes us to ſtudy the Will of God, and be obedient in all Things. And how befitting the fallen Creature is that Prayer of the Pſalmiſt? Thy Hands, O God, have made and faſhioned me; Give me Underſtanding, that I may learn thy Commandments.—Now (to add no more here) the Commandments which reſpect our Neighbour, as well as thoſe which more immediately reſpect God, are what we have to learn. That comprehenſive and excellent Law, Thou ſhalt love thy Neighbour as thy ſelf, receives Light and Force from the Conſideration of God as our original Creator and common Father. This Thought ſhould reſtrain us from deſpiſing, injuring, or p. 14maligning any of our Fellow-Creatures: yea, it ſhould teach us to do Good unto all Men, as we have Opportunity, to be kindly affectioned to one another, and to love as Brethren; ſince we all have one Father, ſince one God created us.

But I go on to ſay,

2. When we contemplate the Manner of Man's Production, and how he was form'd originally, this complex View of the Caſe will afford us ſtill more Leſſons of Wiſdom; and lead us to other practical Uſes, to which we ſhould apply our Reflections on the Year of God's creating Hand.

Particularly as to Man's Body, when we remember that this was originally made out of the Duſt of the Ground, it ſhould lead us to admire the infinite Power and Skill of the Creator, in forming ſo curious and comely a Fabrick, out of ſuch mean and unapt Materials: and to admire the Myſtery of Wiſdom in the Union of two ſuch diſtant Natures, a heavenly Spirit and earthly Fleſh, in one human Perſon:— as alſo to admire the infinite Condeſcenſion of God in admitting an embody'd Spirit to the Privileges of his ſacred Preſence and Communion, while he had Thouſands of Angels to miniſter about his Throne above, nor ſtood in any Need of the ſublimeſt Homages and Honours of his moſt exalted Creatures, much leſs of the mean Services of Man upon his Footſtool here below. — And when we reflect, that Man (as to his viſible Part) was formed out of Clay, that the firſt Man was of the Earth earthy, and that we have born the Image of the Earthy, this ſhould mortify the Pride of Life, humble us by a Senſe of our mean Original, and make us afraid to ſtrive with our Maker, or to exalt ourſelves in the Vanity of our Mind above our Fellow-Creatures. — This ſhould teach us, not to over-rate our bodily Part, but to prefer our ſpiritual and immortal, in all our Care and Proviſion for our ſelves. — And may not this adminiſter ſome Encouragement to us (at leaſt to the People of God) to hope for divine Compaſſion towards us? For he remembreth that he hath made us as the Clay, he knoweth our Frame, and remembreth that we are but Duſt. — However, let all our Complaints be for ever ſilenced by the Sovereignty of God that made us; and let none murmur, that they are of them who dwell in Houſes of Clay, whoſe Foundation is in the Duſt; nor even that they are put to ſuffer grievous Things in the Body. Wo unto him, that ſaith to his Father, What begotteſt thou? Shall the Clay ſay to him that p. 15faſhioneth it, What makeſt thou? Even our firſt Parents in their Innocence dwelt in Clay-Tabernacles: and ſhall we, in our fallen State, repine and fret, becauſe we are not as the Angels, but Spirits dwelling in Fleſh, and Men of like Paſſions with others! In a Word, while we remember that we are of the Earth, it ſhould likewiſe be remember'd that we are doom'd to return to the Earth, from whence we were taken; that our earthly Tabernacle, in which we ſojourn at preſent, muſt ere long be depriv'd of its cohabiting Spirit, and be reſolved into its original Duſt; and this, principally, as the Fruit of the original Curſe upon Man, for his firſt Tranſgreſſion: — Which is a Reflection that ſhould excite us much to bewail the Sin & Fall of Adam, who thereby introduced Death into the World, and entailed it on all his unhappy Progeny. — Nevertheleſs, at the ſame Time, we ſhould magnify the Grace of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, the ſecond Adam, who has undertaken to ſave his People from the Sting of Death, to purchaſe for them the Redemption of the Body, as well as Salvation of the Soul, and who will one Day change our vile Body, that it may be faſhioned like unto his glorious Body. — How ſolicitouſly therefore ſhould we all ſeek an Intereſt in Chriſt, that being joined to the Lord, we may fall aſleep in Jeſus, when the Duſt ſhall return to the Duſt, but the Spirit to God that gave it; and ſo may not only ſecure to our ſelves the Tranſlation of our Souls to Heaven when we die, but our Fleſh having reſted in Hope, may at laſt obtain the Reſurrection of Life! — And how ſhould Believers be excited by this Reflection, to be looking beyond Mortality, and longing for the Glory that ſhall be revealed in them, that in the fulleſt Senſe they may win Chriſt, may know the Power of his Reſurrection, ſhine in his perfect Image, and dwell in the Joy of his immediate Preſence!

Let it now be obſerv'd,

When it's remembred how the Soul of Man was at firſt made in the Image of God, this Reflection alſo may be apply'd to many profitable Uſes in Religion, and ſhould conſtantly be directed to its juſt practical Ends.

Thus, it ſhould lead us to review and admire the Perfections of God, his Sanctity and Skill and Power and Goodneſs, diſplay'd in forming the Spirit of Man within him; an intelligent, active, holy and unblemiſh'd Spirit, as it was when it came firſt out of his creating Hand. We ſhould magnify his Name with Thankſgiving, for the exalted natural Powers of the human p. 16Mind, and for the moral Rectitude, Purity, and ſpiritual Beauty, theſe were all originally endow'd with. We ſhould admire and celebrate the Goodneſs of God to Man, in the many diſtinguiſh'd Advantages and Excellencies of his primitive State, as with Regard to the Perfection of his Knowledge & Wiſdom, the Tranquillity of his Conſcience, and the Empire of his rational Powers over all his animal Appetites and Paſſions, ſo with Regard to his having a meet Help and a bleſſed Habitation provided for him, as alſo to the Order and Place he ſuſtain'd in this lower Syſtem of created Beings, and the Command he had over the whole Circle of natural Agents; all Sheep and Oxen, yea, and the Beaſts of the Field, the Fowl of the Air, and the Fiſh of the Sea, being made for his Uſe, and put in Subjection to him. For God made him little lower than the Angels; crowned him with Glory and Honour, with Majeſty and Dominion over the Works of his Hands, and put all Things under his Feet, in Point both of Dignity and Empire. Thus, Man was at firſt a little Image of God in the World, ſhining with all the Glories of intellectual and moral Perfection, compatible to human Nature in its probationary State, and with the Honours of Sovereignty over all other ſublunary Creatures. With what Gratitude and Praiſe ſhould we always remember the Goodneſs of God our Maker, in all this!

Yet at the ſame Time, with what Tears of bitter Grief and Confuſion of Face ought we again to reflect on the unhappy Fall of our firſt Parents, and mourn the firſt Rebellion, as a Diſhonour to God, a Reproach and Ruin to themſelves, and fatal to their Poſterity, in ſpiritual and moral Regards eſpecially!

However, we ſhould take a thankful Notice of God's ſparing Goodneſs, in that there are ſtill ſome Remains, in the Soul of Man, of the Similitude of God, in natural Reſpects, I mean, in Regard of natural Reaſon, and natural Conſcience; which preſerves a Diſtinction between the human and brutal Kinds, and lays the Foundation for a Poſſibility of our Recovery, makes us (tho' fallen Creatures) ſtill capable Subjects of moral Government, and by the Influence of divine Reſtraints ſtill capable, in ſome Meaſure, to purſue the Ends and enjoy the Good of Society.

Hence, in Conformity to the Precepts of Scripture, as well as Reaſon, we ſhould learn, not to deſpiſe human Nature, even under its moſt uncomely Forms, but to honour all Men, tho' in the moſt ſervile and abject Condition, as excelling the Brutal p. 17Creation, in their rational Make; and in their general Nature (excluſive of gracious and ſpiritual Reſpects) made after the Similitude of God himſelf. — But eſpecially ſhould the Saints in the Earth be honoured as the Excellent, in Regard that they have the divine Image (in its moral View) reſtored in their Souls; which ſpeaks the Righteous more excellent than his Neighbour.

Nor can we be excus'd, if we don't every Man learn to reverence himſelf; I mean, to ſhew our ſelves Men, and be concern'd to live up to the Dignity of our Nature, and Rank in the Creation; not ſetting our Affections upon Things on the Earth, after the Manner of Beaſts that grovel in the Duſt; but ſeeking thoſe Things which are above, where Chriſt ſitteth on the Right Hand of God, and which only are commenſurate to the Duration and ſuited to the Wants and genuine Cravings of our unperiſhable and intellectual Part.

Should we not alſo be convinced by the Reflection before us, that the great God, the Former of Spirits, is the ſupreme Happineſs of Man, and the only Object of our religious Worſhip? And ſhould it not teach us the abſolute Reaſonableneſs of all that Duty which God requires of Man, to reflect, that we are his Creatures, and as made at firſt in his Image, had originally ſufficient Power perfectly to obey his Will? — But, on the other Hand, ſhould not this Reflection ſerve to convince us of the utter Unreaſonableneſs and Baſeneſs of Sin, in all its Kinds and in every Inſtance and Degree? Ought it not to awaken in us a Reſentment and Horror of ſo malignant an Evil, which has at once diſhonour'd the Creator, and degraded the Creature, obliterated the moral Image of God, and defiled the univerſal Nature of Man? Ought we not to be aſham'd of that which hath ſo polluted and debaſed us? Ought it not to make us bluſh, and even abhor our ſelves in our own Eyes, to think how (thro' the Influence of Sin, which dwelleth in us) we naturally contemn God, and deſpiſe our own Souls, daily abuſing and perverting our nobleſt Powers or Underſtanding and Will to miniſter to the Gratification of our inferior Appetites and Paſſions, tamely ſubmitting to the Tyranny of fooliſh and hurtful Luſts, and taking unhappy Methods to deſtroy our ſelves, who once bore the very Image of God, and are ſtill (ſubjectively) capable of a bleſſed Conformity to him, by the Impreſſions of ſupernatural Grace?

In brief, this Reflection, as it ſhould humble us, and make as groan under a Senſe of the Degeneracy of our Nature, ſo it p. 18ſhould teach us the abſolute Neceſſity of a Renewal of the Image (as well as Recovery of the Favour) of God, in order to our true and ſolid Happineſs; and ſhould accordingly put us upon earneſtly ſeeking to be renewed in the Spirit of our Mind, after the Image of him that created us; yea, ſhould put us upon ſeeking this at the Hand of God, humbly conſcious of our own ſpiritual Impotence, and the utter Inſufficiency of all created Power, and ſenſible that only the ſame Right Hand of the moſt High, which at firſt made Man after the Likeneſs of God, is able to reſtore our Souls, by a transforming Work of his Almighty Grace.

It muſt now be obſerv'd in the laſt Place,

3. While we remember God's Tranſactions with, and various Diſpenſations to his Creature, Man, in the Year of Creation, we ſhould be in Care to improve our Tho'ts of theſe Things wiſely to their genuine practical Purpoſes. If we would remember the Hand of God our Maker, as we ought, we muſt recollect and rightly apply theſe Circumſtantial, but important Events; ſeveral of which I will here briefly mention, and lead you to ſome ſuitable Reflections on them.

Thus, God's forming the Garden of Eden for our firſt Father, and putting him into it, a Place abounding with all terrene Riches, Beauties, and Delights, perfectly ſuited to all the regular Propenſities of animal Nature, and undoubtedly adjuſted to the ſuperior Purpoſes of divine Contemplation and ſpiritual Devotion (perhaps ſacred to the peculiar Uſes of a holy Temple, and exhibiting a moſt lively emblematical Idea of the heavenly Paradiſe) as alſo God's planting therein, amidſt other Trees moſt beautiful to the Eye and good for Food, that ſingularly excellent one, the Tree of Life, which beſides it's beneficial and lovely natural Properties, ſeems to have been deſtin'd to a Sacramental Uſe, to be a Seal of the Covenant made with Adam, and a Pledge of his Reward in Caſe of Obedience, having this Inſcription upon it, Eat and Live; our Remembrance of theſe Things furniſhes us with Matter of Praiſe and Thankſgiving to God, for his primitive Goodneſs to Man, in this diſtinguiſhing Proviſion for his Comfort and Well-being, both in Soul & Body. It ſhould alſo lead us to contemplate and acknowledge God's ſovereign Right of appointing to Mankind the Bounds of their Habitation, and chuſing out their Inheritance for them. It ſhould lead us to ſee his Hand, and confeſs his merciful Kindneſs to us, if the Lines are fallen to p. 19us in pleaſant Places; and particularly to bleſs his Name, for having given us a goodly Heritage, as our Lot is caſt within the Pale of his Church, where the Tree of Life, Jeſus Chriſt, is exhibited to us, where we enjoy the Sabbath of the Lord, and the diſtinguiſhing Privileges of his Sanctuary, in ſome Reſpects excelling even thoſe of Adam's Paradiſe. And it ought to raiſe our Idea of the Riches of divine Grace to us herein, when we remember, that our firſt Father by his Tranſgreſſion forfeited Paradiſe, both for himſelf and us, ſo God drove out the Man, and to prevent his Return and Acceſs to the Tree of Life, placed an Angelick Guard with a flaming Sword, the viſible Enſign of provoked Majeſty and the Terror of guilty Mortals. On this Occaſion we ſhould aſcribe Righteouſneſs to our Maker, juſtify God in the Expulſion of Man out of Eden, and admire his Goodneſs to the Children of Men, in giving them the Earth, at large, for a Place of Habitation; and in ſtoring the ſame with the rich Fruits of his Benignity from Age to Age; but above all, in creating for us a new and heavenly Paradiſe (ſo preferable to the old and earthly one) in which he hath opened Rivers of living Water, hath planted the Tree of Life, hath erected the Temple of his Holineſs, and a Throne of Grace; the Lord God walking in the midſt of his Garden, eateth his pleaſant Fruits; the Gates of Righteouſneſs are open for his People's Acceſs, they enter in, and praiſe the Lord, and delight themſelves with the Abundance of divine and ſpiritual Glory. Nor indeed are any excluded finally, but ſuch as by Unbelief ſhut the Door againſt themſelves: And theſe indeed will all at laſt find the Gate of the Lord terribly guarded with the flaming Sword of incenſed and inexorable Juſtice, to forbid their Admiſſion; nor will all their knocking at the Door in that Day, and crying, Lord, Lord, open to us, be anſwered otherwiſe than by that tremendous Sentence, Depart from me, ye Curſed, into everlaſting Fire, prepared for the Devil and his Angels.— Now therefore, before it be too late, let us hear the Warning, which a compaſſionate Saviour has given us: Strive to enter in at the ſtrait Gate; for many, I ſay unto you, will ſeek to enter in, and ſhall not be able. When once the Maſter of the Houſe is riſen up, and hath ſhut to the Door againſt you, there will only remain for you Weeping and gnaſhing of Teeth, to ſee ſuch Multitudes in the Kingdom of God, and you your ſelves thruſt out.

But to proceed unto another Fact,

p. 20God's inſtituting a Sabbath for Man, immediately on his Creation (as it's commonly judg'd) and before his Fall, is a further Demonſtration of divine Goodneſs, Holineſs, Wiſdom, and Sovereignty, which ſhould be remembred by us with Gratitude and Praiſe, and with due practical Acknowledgements. God having finiſhed the Work of Creation in the ſpace of ſix Days, reſted on the ſeventh Day; wherefore the Lord bleſſed the Sabbath-Day, and hallowed it. This Reflection ſhould teach us to honour the Sabbath, for its venerable Antiquity, its divine Authority, and the Stamp of Holineſs from the Beginning put upon it. We ſhould celebrate the Wiſdom of God, in appointing ſo fit a Memorial of the World's Creation, and in appropriating to his own immediate Service ſo fit a Proportion of the Life of Man. We ſhould ſee in this Inſtitution an early and laſting Teſtimony of God's Sovereignty over Man; and withal, of his Goodneſs to him. The Sabbath was made for Man, to be a Day of ſpecial Communion with God in this World, and a Pledge of everlaſting Reſt in God, in the World to come. We ſhould admire the Grace of God in continuing to Man the Privilege of a Sabbath, notwithſtanding the Forfeiture of it by his Fall. We ſhould give our Lord Jeſus Chriſt the Glory of having purchas'd this Privilege for his People; and as He has claim'd to be Lord alſo of the Sabbath, we ſhould acknowledge Him in this his divine Character, by remembring the Sabbath-Day, to keep it holy to his Honour; looking to him for the Sabbath-Bleſſing, and performing Sabbath-Duty in his Name; Commemorating as well the new Creation, as the old, and honouring the Son, even as we honour the Father.— A ſeventh Part of Time has been ſacred to God, for a Sabbath, by his own Inſtitution, from the Foundation of the World: and ſince Chriſt's Reſurrection, the firſt Day of the Week (being that on which he roſe) worthily ſuſtains the Honour of being the Lord's Day, ſacred to the Memory of a riſen JESUS, the Lord of Glory, our Creator and our Redeemer.

Another Fact, which ſhews God's Kindneſs to Adam in his Paradiſiacal State, and which we ſhould remember, is the providing and beſtowing upon him a fit Companion. God ſaid, It is not good, that the Man ſhould be alone: and therefore he prepared an Help meet for him, by his own creating Hand made he a Woman, brought her to the Man, &c. — While we remember this admirable Occurrence, we ſhould in general learn from it to conſider our ſelves as converſable Creatures, form'd for amicable and uſeful p. 21Society, — not to herd diſhonourably with the Beaſts of the Earth (as the Manner of ſome is) but as the moral Fitneſs and Reaſon of Things inſtruct us, to aſſociate with thoſe of our own ſuperior Species: And this teaches us, that we ought by all proper Ways to cultivate human Friendſhips and Alliances, to value and promote eſpecially the Communion of Saints, to be ſerving one another in Love, and ſerving our Generation according to the Will of God, in the uniform Practice of every ſocial and relative Duty. — In particular, As the Family was the firſt Society, and is that little Community we are all firſt initiated into, and moſt converſant in, it ſhould be our early and abiding Care to exerciſe our ſelves in Family-Duty, of every Kind ſuitable to the Relations we ſuſtain, and to practiſe all the important Virtues of Domeſtick Life.— As the Relation of Huſband and Wife was inſtituted with a View to their being mutual Helps, even in the State of primitive Perfection, all ſhould conſider this as one valuable End of the conjugal Relation, directing their Choice of a Companion by it, and adjuſting their Conduct in the Relation, to this excellent Deſign; ever ſolicitous to approve themſelves Helps meet for each other. Remembring that they are myſtically one Fleſh, they ſhould alſo be as it were of one Soul, and ſtudy to glorify God with one Mind and one Mouth; living with one another as becometh Heirs together of the Grace of Life, that their Prayers be not hindred. — Moreover, when it's remembred, that the matrimonial State was originally of Divine Inſtitution, and commenced in Paradiſe, while the Man and Woman were innocent, this teaches us to condemn the Doctrine which forbiddeth to marry; it teacheth us to eſteem Marriage honourable in all, and to venerate the Holineſs, the Goodneſs, and the Wiſdom, as well as Sovereignty of God in its primitive Inſtitution, and in its Continuation. Yet in a peculiar Manner ſhould we value and honour the ſpiritual Marriage, of which that between Adam and Eve was a Figure, and by which Souls are joined to the Lord. This is a great Myſtery: but I ſpeak concerning Chriſt & the Church. If we be eſpouſed to Chriſt, if our Maker be our Huſband, He will guide us by his Counſel, and receive us to Glory, where we ſhall be as the Angels of God.—Further, when we recollect, that our firſt Parents were made, the one as well as the other of them, in the Image of God, we ſhould learn to honour each the other Sex, & guard againſt all unrighteous Partiality in our Regards to either: Tho' it's confeſs'd, that as the Woman was made after the Man, and p. 22for him, the Male is in Civil Reſpects to be conſidered as the ſuperitur Sex. But ſtill in the Rights of Religion & Conſcience, and in Point of Salvation, there is neither Male nor Female, but all are one in Chriſt, and Joint-Heirs of the Promiſe. For with God is no Reſpect of Perſons: and thus it was from the Beginning. —. In a Word, when we remember, that God at firſt made Man Male and Female, and but One of a Sex, we ſhould conſider this as a wiſe Proviſion for accompliſhing his Deſigns, to produce Mankind in ſucceſſive Generations, to derive of one Bleed all Nations of Men, to ſeek unto Himſelf a godly Seed, &c. Nor was it one of the leaſt powerful Motives, to induce our firſt Parents to a Care of Perſeverance, that without this they would either miſs the Bleſſing of Poſterity, or entail Miſery on their Children. And this Conduct of God our Maker muſt be confeſs'd wiſe and good, as it ſubſerv'd his Deſign of dealing with the whole Body of Mankind in the Method of a conſtituted Repreſentative and common federal Head; which Character and Capacity the firſt Man muſt be own'd of all our Race the fitteſt (as the Caſe then was) to ſuſtain.—And it ſerv'd too to lay a Foundation for the future Riſe of a ſecond Adam, in due Time; even the Son of God incarnate in our Nature, made of a Woman, made under the Law, and made a Curſe for us, that he might repair the Ruins of the Fall, and become the Reſurrection & the Life to a loſt & periſhing World.

Finally, As another ſignal Event in the Year of Creation was God's making a Covenant with Man, and putting his Obedience on the Trial by a ſpecial poſitive Prohibition, we ſhould remember this, and ſubſcribe to the Wiſdom, the Righteouſneſs, and the Grace of God in this Diſpenſation.— We ſhould adore the Sovereignty and Holineſs of God, in leaving Man to his own mutable Will in this Caſe, and permitting him to fall, thro' the Subtilty of the Serpent, who having firſt beguiled the Woman, employ'd her as a Tempter and Seducer to her Huſband.— And whereas, when Adam had broken the Covenant, and ſo (being a publick Perſon) had forfeited the Good of the Promiſe, as well for his Poſterity, as for himſelf, a righteous God immediately began to execute the Sentence of Death upon him, and entail'd the ſame upon his Deſcendants, we muſt confeſs the Juſtice of God in this Puniſhment and laſting Monument of the firſt Tranſgreſſion; and beware that we indulge no murmuring Thought, neither charge God fooliſhly. — With Regard to our ſelves in particular, we ſhould ſolemnly realiſe our own Relation to that original Covenant, p. 23and in Conſequence hereof our Intereſt in the Guilt of original Sin, our being born under the Law of Sin and Death, and being by Nature Children of Wrath, as Tranſgreſſors from the Womb, as the polluted guilty Seed of a Covenant-breaker and Traitor againſt God. — We ſhould conſequently meditate and realiſe our Need (as of ſupenatural Grace to ſanctify us, ſo) of a ſupernatural Righteouſneſs to juſtify and recommend us to God, even a Righteouſneſs adequate to the Demands of his Law and Juſtice, whether moral or penal; and ought to believe it an unſufferable Prick and Vanity of Mind they are chargeable with, who go about to eſtabliſh their own Righteouſneſs, and ſubmit not themſelves unto the Righteouſneſs of God. — We ſhould ſee therefore and own our periſhing Neceſſity of a Mediator, to interpoſe between us and offended Juſtice; even another Adam, excelling the firſt, and of whom he was a Figure. — We ſhould be deeply concern'd to get Deliverance out of our natural and fallen State, as an indiſpenſable Requiſite to our true Happineſs.— We ſhould be thankful to God, that thro' his ſovereign and arbitrary Grace, there is Hope in Iſrael for us as concerning this Thing; that altho' we were altogether born in Sin, and ſo under Condemnation, yet our natural State is not remedileſs and deſperate, like that of the Angels which ſinned, who are left a Prey to their own Terrors and tormenting Paſſions, and conſign'd over to the Vengeance of eternal Fire; while we have a Saviour and a great One provided for us, and revealed to us.

We ſhould take an admiring and moſt grateful Notice of the diſtinguiſhing Grace of God to fallen Man, in that when the Way to the Tree of Life by the old Covenant was ſhut up, He has been pleas'd to open a new and better Way by an everlaſting Covenant, a Covenant of Pardon & Reconciliation, thro' another and better Mediator, even the Seed of the Woman; at the ſame time viewing this as a Device of infinite Wiſdom for ſecuring the Ends of the firſt Covenant, in the Glory of God and the Happineſs of his People. — We ſhould conſider and admire his Compaſſion and Condeſcenſion in revealing to our firſt Parents the Purpoſe of his Grace, ſo quickly upon their Fall, even while a guilty Conſcience was driving them from his Preſence, and before He drove them out of the Garden, where they had ſinned. Thus He remembred Mercy in the midſt of Judgment; and we ſhould remember this with Admiration and Praiſe. — Eſpecially ought we to be thankful for the fuller Revelation, which we are p. 24favour'd with, of the Covenant of Peace, as exhibited in the Goſpel: and it ſhould be our earneſt Care, that we be not found neglecting ſo great Salvation, but laying Hold on the Hope ſet before us, inſtantly and without Delay. For as we are under the laſt Diſpenſation of Covenant-Grace, ſo our Opportunity is of uncertain Continuance. God waiteth, that He may be gracious. He will be gracious to whom He will be gracious: but none ſhall fail of the Grace of God, who take Hold of his Covenant, and chuſe the Things that pleaſe Him. By Grace are ye ſaved thro' Faith even Faith in the Blood of Chriſt. This is of the firſt Account with God, and without it 'tis impoſſible to pleaſe Him. This therefore challenges our firſt Attention and Purſuit. But then having believed in God our Saviour, we muſt alſo be careful to maintain good Works; which, done in the Name of Chriſt, are acceptable and well pleaſing in the Sight of God; tho' being done with the Spirit of the old Covenant, from a Self-righteous Principle, and not in the Humility of Goſpel-Faith, they are neither well pleaſing to God, nor ſavingly profitable to Men, but will leave us ſhort of final Happineſs: Whereas ſuch as believe in Chriſt, and obey his Goſpel, ſhall eat of the Tree of Life, and enter thro' the Gates into the City of God. Wherefore, let us commit the Keeping of our Souls to Him in well-doing, as to a faithful Creator.

But thus much for the Reflections proper to be made, and the Application we ſhould make of them to the Ends of Devotion and Practice, while we are remembring the firſt Year of the Right Hand of the moſt High, the Year of Creation.