England's Warning, By Late Frowning PROVIDENCES: ESPECIALLY THE Immediate Hand of GOD UPON THE STRAITS-FLEET. Improved in a SERMON, Preached April 1st. 1694. Wherein is plainly showed the Causes and Tokens of Gods present Controversy with us, especially for our Non-improvement of National Deliverances to an Obliged Reformation. From EZEKIEL V. viij. Therefore thus saith the Lord God, behold, I, even I am against thee, and will execute Judgements in the midst of thee, in the sight of the Nations. Luke 13.3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Micah 6.9. The Lord's Voice crieth unto the City, and the Man of Wisdom shall see thy Name; hear ye the Rod, and who hath appointed it. Ezekiel 13.13. Therefore thus saith the Lord God, I will even rend it with a stormy Wind in my Fury; nnd there shall be an overflowing shower in mine anger, and great Hailstones in my Fury to consume it. By Jonathan Owen Pastor of a Congregation in Southwark. London, Printed for the Author, and are to be Sold by John Harris at the Harrow in the Poultry, 1694. TO Capt. Anthony Clifford, At Peckham near London. SIR, THe Subject I writ upon I must confess looks with a dismal Aspect upon this sinful Nation; and were not I well assured of your full Satisfaction in, and your Zealous Affection to the present mercifully Established Government, (even to the hazarding of your Person as formerly, if not superannuated) I should not venture to shelter this poor Essay for the Public Welfare under the Patronage of your Noble Name. Nor do I doubt but you lodge the like Charitable Thoughts in your Breast concerning your unworthy Relate, who in Compliance with the Auditors of this plain Sermon, is at last prevailed with to expose this his mean Endeavour to Public View and Censure, as being constrained thereunto by them that judge better of it than myself, and to whom as I now stand related I can deny no reasonable Request for the Publicks and their good: Therefore I hope, Sir, you will put an amicable construction upon the whole, and condescend to admit this Attempt into your favourable acceptance, and also follow it with your fervent Prayers; that the End propounded, viz. The Convincing and Awakening this sinful secure Nation, that because the Sins specified therein abound in the midst of us, and our late National Deliverances have not been improved to a general Reformation, therefore God by his▪ Judgements, especially his immediate Hand upon the Straits-Floet, doth evidently declare he hath a Controversy with us. That this Necessary End might through influencing Grace be obtained, is and shall be in conjunction with yours, the hearty Prayers of Your Unworthy Nephew, Jonathan Owen. TO THE READER. Candid Reader, THou hast now in thy Hands a plain Discourse, not Polished with that Art and Eloquence which many are studious of, but with an earnest desire to promote the Happiness of this sinful threatened Nation, which the immediate Hand of God upon the Straits-Fleet gave birth unto. I did once little think and in part determine with myself, never to expose my weak Endeavours to Public View and Censure; but since by a more than ordinary Hand of Divine Providence, attended with common difficulties from the unstable, I am (with the Favour of the present Government) fixed in a Pastoral Relation, over a Church of Christ, whose Souls to my utmost I would gladly serve, and for Christ and their sakes, spend and be spent, and in the prosecution of this high and noble End; I would prudently take hold of every opportunity, whether smiling or frowning, which presents itself; and because some that sat under my Ministry are engaged in this unhappy Fleet, both in a Military and Civil respect, and amongst the great number of precious Souls, that with the greatest horror, and most amazing outcry shot the Gulf of Eternity, there is but one as we yet hear lost and that not confirmed; the General concern of the Nation, with, this no small Mercy, made such an impression upon me, as to put by my intended Subject, and determined me upon this awful one, Ezek. 5.8. as that which I judged to be the loud Voice of Providence to us; concluding from hence that doubtless, God hath a controversy with us; but not because of the Happy Revolution of Public Affairs, as unthinking Dreamers do falsely imagine, but because our unspeakable Mercy, in our late Deliverance, is not improved to an obliged Reformation; for it may too truly be said of us, as Psal. 106.7. We remembered not the Multitude of his Mercies, but provoked him at the Sea, even at the Red Sea; as for those (to speak mildly) if not Sons of Belial without yoke, yet Persons of low designs, if any, for God's Glory, and the Public Interest, that are longing to go back into Egypt, that evidently make their own Interest not the Publicks, the Idol of their Care and Endeavours; as for these I hope every Prudent Man will take heed and beware of them, (as Vipers in their Native Land) and in Praying for them, leave them to the Justice of the Nation; in the mean time let us improve our present Mercies, and bless God for what we enjoy of Peace and Liberty at home, and cheerfully contribute to this necessary defensive War abroad, since our Deliverer himself is exposed to the greatest Dangers, (whom God Preserve and Prosper.) Reader, if with the present Hand of God stretched out against us, this Sermon might obtain its desegned and desired end, then may we be a happy People, and I shall greatly rejoice, who in compliance with some of them that affectionately heard it, for Substance as Memory serves, have thrown in my small Mite, for the general good of my Native Country, and shall follow it with my Prayers, who am thine in the bonds of the Gospel, Jonathan Owen. EZEKIEL V. viij. Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I, even I am against thee, and will execute Judgements in the midst of thee, in the sight of the Nations. THE Spirit of God sets forth the Duty of Gospel Ministers, by the Name of Watchmen, Ezek. 3.17. Son of Man, I have made thee a Watchman unto the House of Israel; therefore hear the Word at my Mouth, and give them warning from me: Who in faithfulness to whom they relate, must give seasonable warning of all approaching Calamities and Dangers, that so there may be either a happy Prevention, or a becoming Submission to what is otherwise inevitably befalling them. Now that I might approve myself to Christ, my Country, and those I Watch over in the Lord, I shall endeavour to assist you in making a right Improvement of the late awakening Dispensations of God to us in these Kingdoms; especially the immediate Hand of God upon the Straits-Fleet: In Order to do this, I have exercised my Thoughts upon this awful Subject: Thus saith the Lord God, I even I am against thee, and will execute Judgements in the midst of thee, in the sight of the Nations. In this and the foregoing Verse, the Prophet doth discharge the Duty of a faithful Watchman; and not fearing to give them Disturbance in their sleepy secure State, he lets them understand what eminent Dangers their great Abominations had brought them into, for as much as now God did manifestly declare himself to be against them. In the preceding Verse, I find the Prophet in the Name of God, charges them with their Wickedness thus, because ye multiplied more than the Nations that are round about you; some by this understand the 〈…〉 manifold Blessings and signal Favours which God gave them, and should have been improved to thankfulness and Obedience to God; but were not: but I humbly conceive it rather relates to their Sins; because ye multiplied more than the Nations that are round about you in Sin; thy Transgressions have been more and of a deeper Dye than theirs, thou hast more grievously offended than the very Heathens that know not God; and the following Words explain it: And have not walked in my Statutes, neither have kept my Judgements, neither have done according to the Judgements of the Nations that are round about you: i. e. The Heathens have been more saithful to their false Gods, than you have been to Me the only True God; they have by the Light of Nature been more steadfast to their cruel Injunctions, than you have been to my Holy and Divine Institutions; they have been steadfast to their Gods; but you have been given to change; and not only to comply with them, but you have exceeded them in Sin and Gild: Therefore thus saith the Lord God, I, even I, etc. In the Words you have these things considerable: 1. An Argumentative, awful Preface, Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Wherefore? Because ye multiptied more than the Nations that are round about you: You excelled them in Sin and Wickedness. 2. You have a necessary Duty called for and required from them; Behold, the Word imports the Clearness, Certainty and Awfulness of the things he is about to Denounce and Declare, as being somewhat extraordinary, which duly weighed by them, might make their Ears Tingle to hear it, and cause their Hearts to tremble to Meditate upon it; for it's the worst and severest of Judgements, Thus saith the Lord God, I, even I, am against thee, etc. 3. You have the Subject matter itself, which I can scarce without Horror and Trepidation mention: I, even, I am against thee; mark the Congemmination, I, even I, not once I, but twice I; even I, that it might make the greater Impression upon them. I that formerly set my Heart upon you, am now weaned from you; I that chose you before other Nations, not because you were more than others, but only because I had a Favour for you: I even I, that took you into special Covenant with myself, do now declare against you; I that have Graciously superintended you, do now take my Heart off from you; I that have wrought wonders for you in the sight of the Nations, I that have preserved you alive in Famine, I that delivered you out of the Hands of the Cruel Tyrant Pharaoh, I that divided the Red-Sea, that fed you in the Wilderness, I that have carried you as upon eagle's Wings all your days, I that have been a Father and a Friend to you, I, even I am against you, my Heart can't be toward you, nor can I bear with you any longer. 4. You have the plain Evidence and full Confirmation of this his being turned to be their Enemy, And will execute Judgements in the midst of thee: I will not only shake the Rod over you, but I will lay it heavy upon you; and you shall smart and groan under it sensibly. What I will do in my fury, shall not be done in a Corner, or upon a part of you, but in the midst of you: I will strike at the very Heart, you shall feel it; for I will execute Judgements one upon another in the midst of you; you shall be sick of my Smiting, and groan under my heavy Judgements in the midst of you; my Heart shall not Pity, my Hand shall not help you; but I will with my immediate Hand afflict you with Judgements one on the Neck of another in the midst of you. 5. You have the fore Aggravation of it, and that in the sight of the Nations round about; as your Sins have been, so shall your Sufferings be; you dishonoured me with your Abominations before the Heathens, and I will execute my Judgements before the Nations: You have not ceased to profane my Name before them, and in their sight will I vindicate my great Name; and show that I am of Purer Eyes than to behold Iniquity; they that beheld your Sins, shall be Spectators of my Judgements in the midst of you; Therefore thus, etc. From the Words, I shall Collect and Depose several Doctrines, but shall speak more fully to the last of them. Doct. 1. That Ministers of the Gospel, like faithful Watchmen, must give their People warning of apprehended, present and approaching Judgements: So did the Prophet, and so must all others, if they will be faithful to Christ, and the precious Souls they are to watch over: We must declare, what of the Night, and like Paul, keep back nothing, that we might have their Record, that we are clear from the Blood of all men, Acts 20.27. Isa. 58.1. There faith God to the Prophet, Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a Trumpet, and show my People their Transgressions, and the House of Jacob their Sins. Doct. 2. That whatsoever Personal, Family or National Judgements befall a People, it is certain that Sin is the meritorious procuring cause of them: It's Sin that is the Teeming Mother of all Mischief, the procuring cause of all Calamities whatsoever: Its that which lets in all Misery, and causeth Destruction to come in upon a People like an armed Man, or an overflowing Flood; Therefore thus saith the Lord God, &c because ye multiplied more than, etc. It was Jerusalem's Abominations, which inevitably brought their Desolations; and it's England's Sins that cause God to execute Judgements in the midst of us at this day: If Sin abounds without control, Judgements will follow, Ezek. 14.23. for he doth nothing without a cause; and it's not difficult to relate what is the Cause of great Anger being gone out from the Lord against this Land; not the late Deliverance which God graciously wrought for us, as some little better than Papists dream, but our not improving so unspeakable a Mercy to an obliged Reformation. Doct. 3. In all the Judgements, which are executed upon a People, God himself hath a Hand in it; and sometimes more visibly than at other times, Amos 3.6. Isai. ●2. 24, 25. Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the Robbers; did not the Lord, he against whom we have sinned? For they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto his Law. Therefore he hath poured upon him the Fury of his Anger, and the strength of Battle, and it hath set him en fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid it not to Heart. No Afflictions or Judgements arise out of the Dust; it's an Expression more fit for an Atheist than Christians, to attribute Afflictions and Judgements to Chance and Fortune: I will execute Judgement in the midst of thee, in the sigbt of the Nations. Doct. 4. When God for the Sins of a Nation doth execute Judgements, as he reasonably expects, so they seriously should take due notice of it: Therefore thus saith the Lord, behold, etc. it's no small Aggravation of our Gild and Misery, for Persons lightly to pass over the evident tokens of God's displeasure: This is but to entangle ourselves so much the more, and to make our bands of Sorrow with the Judgements of God so much the stronger and heavier, Isai. 26.11. When thy Hand is lifted up, they will not see, but they shall see and be ashamed at it. Doct. 5. Of all Judgements, for the great God to manifest or declare himself to be against a People or a Nation, is the worst and sorest. As David said of Goliah's Sword, 1 Sam. 21.9. There is none like that; so of all that can befall a People, there is none like this Judgement, for God to be against them, that have set themselves against him: I, even I, am against thee, and will execute Judgements in the midst of thee, in the sight of the Nations. In the Prosecution of this Doctrine, I shall endeavour to keep to this Method. I. I shall lay down some Propositions to explicate this Doctrine, and to preserve good thoughts of God, tho' in a way of Judgement with a sinful People and Nation. II. I shall make some inquiry, What are those Sins that have, and it is to be feared now do, provoke God to proceed in a way of Judgement against a People or a Nation. III. I shall demonstrate, what are the dismal Signs and sad Tokens of Gods being against a People or a Nation. iv I shall evince, that of all Judgements which may befall a People or a Nation, there is none comparable to, or greater than God's manifest declaring himself to be against a People or Nation. V I shall Improve the whole with some Practical Applications. (1.) The Propositions needful to explicate the Doctrine, they are these following. 1. Prop. The Great, Sovereign and Alwise God, doth not absolutely delight in setting himself against a People, or in manifesting himself to be against a Nation in a way of Judgement: God forbidden that any should have such hard thoughts of a good and a gracious God, as to imagine that he takes delight in wasting and destroying his Creatures! he hath fully declared himself to the contrary in his Word, which we have the highest Reason to believe: For he is Truth, and can't deny himself: Therefore the Church kept up believing good thoughts of God under the hottest Furnace of Affliction: Lam. 3.32, 33. Tho he cause grief, yet will he have Compassion, according to the Multitude of his Mercies; for he doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the Children in of Men: i. e, He doth not afflict from his Heart, but like a tender Loving Father, who will not spare to correct his Child as the Fault requires, but yet not without natural Reluctancy and Bowels: Thence it is, that Judgement, tho' it be his Work, yet it is called his strange Act, Isa. 28.21. Isa. 27.4. Fury is not in me, i. e. against my People. Well, let it remembered, that God doth not absolutely delight to be executing his Judgements in the midst of a People, or a Nation. 2. Prop. As God doth not delight to execute his Judgements in the midst of a People, so upon honourable Terms to him, and easy and profitable to us, he is willing to let fall his quarrel, and withhold his Judgements from us: See those Places, and consider them, Jerem. 3.12, 13. Go and proclaim these Words toward the North, and say, Return thou back sliding Israel, saith the Lord, and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon yond: For I am Merciful saith the Lord, and I will not keep anger for ever. Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green Tree, and ye have not obeyed my Voice, saith the Lord. And Joel 2.13. Micah 7.18, 19 Beloved, it's from hence abundantly manifest, that God is willing to be pacified when his Wrath is stirred up against a People or a Nation, if we repent and reform. 3. Prop. When God manifests himself against a People or a Nation, if ever Judgements felt be removed, and feared be prevented, he must be complied with in his just demands from us: If the Fire of God's Wrath be extinguished against a Nation, the fuel that feeds it must be pulled away: and so long as the distemper Reigns, proper Physic must be applied, 2 Chron. 33.11, 12, 13. when Manasseh humbled himself after he was taken, the Lord by entreaty was found of him, to deliver him; and when Nineveh fasted and humbled themselves, the Lord repent him of his anger, and brought not the Destruction threatened upon them; so if ever the Lord be entreated for England, we must be a Reformed People, and turn to the Lord, from whom we have woefully revolted: if ever God hear Prayer, Pardon our National Sins, and heal our wounded and bleeding Kingdom, we must sincerely humble ourselves, earnestly pray and unfeignedly turn from the evil of our ways: 2 Chorn. 7.14, 15. As all sorts of Persons have a Hand in England's threatened Danger, so all should endeavour to prevent it by personal, speedy Repentance, and through Reformation; for is it not the loud Voice of Providence at this day, Luk. 13.3. Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish? So much for the Propositions. (2.) General, is to inquire, what are those Abominations which have, and now do provoke the Lord, by his late Dispensations, to declare, as in the Text, I, even I, am against thee, and will execute Judgements in the midst of thee? I might answer, As all Sin whatsoever is an offence to the Divine Majesty, so like Fuel it adds to the Fire, and helps forwards our now threatened Misery; but more particularly, these following, wherever they are found, pull down Wrath and Judgements upon a People or a Nation. 1. It is corrupting the true Worship of God, and defiling the pure Institutions of Christ with the Inventions of Men; when those things are made necessary, which never came into the Heart of God to ordain, and those things he hath by his Word enjoined, are slighted and disregarded: The Disorder among the Corinthians provoked God to visit them with sore Trial▪ Afflictions and Judgements; and the neglect of God's Order works all things out of order, where it is practised and allowed: If Nadab and Abihu will offer strange Fire, God will declare their Sin, and set up a Monument of his Wrath by the Judgement of strange Fire from Heaven to destroy them. Leu. 10.1, 2. Did not Vzza dig his own Grave by going contrary to the command, tho' out of a good In●●●tion● when he put forth his Hand to support the trembling Ark? 〈…〉 13.10. Beloved, wherefore did God so much let himself 〈…〉 Israel, was it not for their spiritual Whoredoms and Idol●●●●●● See Deut. 6.14, 15. Jer. 1.16. I will utter my Judgements against them, touching all their Wickedness, who have forsaken me, and have burnt incense unto other gods, and worshipped the Works of their own Hands: This way of affronting Gods Authority, always meets with some evident remarks of God's displeasure: His Heart could not be towards Israel for it, and had not Moses his chosen stood in the gap, he had cut them off in his Wrath. And beloved, if this Sin be found with us, you may know whence Destruction comes; nor can we expect it will far otherwise, so long as Persons stand more upon Bowing the Head, and bending the Knee at the Name of Jesus, and at the same time have no regard to be Subject to him in their Hearts and Lives: Corrupting God's true worship provokes Him to declare by his Judgements, I, even I am against you, and will execute Judgement in the midst of you in the sight of the Nations. 2. It's Apostasy, backsliding and departing from God, this also, sets God against a People or a Nation: When the Inhabitants of a Nation, (as the Psalmist speaks of the proudly wicked, Psal. 36.3, 4.) He hath left off to be wise, and do good, and he setteth himself in a way that is not good: When Persons by fearful backsliding from God and his ways, which they formerly made Profession of; when the Power of unbelief Reigns to such a Degree, that Persons generally departed from God, and the true Doctrine of the Gospel. And Beloved is not this Achan in our Camp? and this Jonah in our Ship? yea sure. Ah! how many are there in England, that have forsaken God in their Judgements, by their imbibing Errors for Truth; in their Affections, by losing their first Love; and in their Conversation, by neglecting practical Godliness in their Families and Civil Employments? Ah, alas! how many are there that were taller, like Saul, by the Head and Shoulders in the House of God, now have bid adieu, and never come there? how many that were zealous for God's Worship, Public and Private, now have left off to Hear, to Pray, and instruct their Families, Children and Servants? for this wrath is gone out from the Lord; and by his Judgements he seems to declare, I, even I, am against thee, etc. O that these Scriptures may be considered by those whose Consciences tell them, as Nathan did David, Thou art the Man, Isa. 1.28, 31. They that forsake the Lord shall be confounded. 31. And the strong shall be as Tow, and the maker of it as a spark; and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them. Ezra 8.11. The hand of the Lord is for good upon all those that fear him, but his Power and his Wrath is against all those that forsake him. Well, you see that it is our departing from God, that makes him departed from us; 2 Chron. 15.2. The Lord is with you while ye be with him, and if ye seek him he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you. O England! hast not thou forsaken thy God? Therefore by his Judgements he now saith, I, even I, am against thee, etc. 3. Another Sin which provokes God by his Judgements to declare himself against a People or a Nation, is Pride; pride, as some think, was the Sin that turned the Apostate Angels out of Heaven, and hath shut them up in Hell's Misery; and it's this Diabolical reigning common Sin of Pride, that hath justly incensed the anger of the Lord against this Nation. I grant, that the root of Pride is in the Heart, but the Index of it is in the Carriage and Habit of Persons: And ah, alas! did this Heaven-daring and Nation-destroying Sin ever more abound in England than now, among all Ranks and Degrees of Persons? Is it not become a common thing, for Persons, yea Professors, in effect to quarrel with God's handiwork, and by their Patching and Painting declare their dislike of themselves, because God hath not made them in the Fashion, tho' such Attires are more to be lamented in Bedlam, than permitted in Christian Assemblies: Beloved, the high God and proud Persons, bid defiance one to another. And so long as Pride reigns in the Heart, there can be no Peace from God to such a Soul. I grant, Persons might be distinguished one from another by their Habits; but its unmeet that any, especially Professors, should exceed the approved bounds of Modesty; much more that indecent Practice, when the Maid with her Broom is hardly by Habit distinguishable from Persons of Honour, and Quality; this ought not to be so; and because of this Iniquity, abounding Pride, the Land mourns, and God hath a controversy with us, as is manifest by his executing Judgements in the midst of us. See these Scriptures, Psal. 138.6. Prov. 16.5. Jer. 50.31, 32. Behold, I am against thee, O thou most proud, saith the Lord God of Hosts: For the day is come, and the time that I will visit thee. And the most proud shall stumble and fall, and none shall raise him up: and I will kindle a Fire in his Cities, and it shall devour all round about him. 4. The shameful Profanation of God's Holy Sabbath, is another Sin, which provokes God by his Judgements to declare himself against a People or Nation. Beloved, the great God hath consulted his own Honour, and our good and advantage, and therefore when he might justly have required six days out of seven to himself, he hath allowed us six for our common Callings, and taken to himself but one to be wholly spent (excepting Works of Mercy and Necessity) in his Public and Private Worship: Butah! how many now plead for a sinful licentiousness in this day! and make it a light matter to Rob God of his Honour, by spending this Holy Day in the service of the Devil, and their own Hearts Lusts: Ah Sirs! is not the Lords day converted into the Devil's Drudgery? and do not many amongst us Trade more for Hell than Heaven in it? if we consider how much of this precious Time is spent in Alehouses and Taverns, in idle Walks, sinful Chats, and unnecessary Visits; we must conclude for this also the Land Mourns, and Judgements are executed in the midst of us, in the sight of the Nations. See Neb. 13.15, 18. O that such a Spirit from the Lord might excite our present Magistrates; for verily God is contending for our breach of Sabbaths; and by his late Dispensations loudly cries in our Ears, as in Jer. 17.27. If you will not hearken unto me, to hollow the Sabbath-day, and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the Gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath-day: Then will I kindle a Fire in the Gates thereof, and it shall devour the Palaces of Jerusalem; and it shall not be quenched. Hear O England! if you will not hollow my Sabbaths, saith the Lord, than I, even I, am against thee, and will execute Judgements in the midst of thee; as I have done upon my own Day, by Fire and Water, to show my Controversy with you is very great, and I am against you. 5. Another Sin, which sets God against a People or a Nation, is Stupidity and incorrigibleness, under present Mercies and Judgements: Beloved, what Nation under the Copes of Heaven, have enjoyed greater Mercies than we have formerly and of late, by a merciful Deliverance from Tyranny and Popery? it was but the other day, when we were laying our Hands upon our Loins, and our Faces gathered paleness, and we perceived all that is valueable to us upon the Block, and the hands lifted up to give the fatal blow to all, and yet then did their bloody Inventions meet with a happy Prevention, through Gods raising up for us a Deliverer; but ah! how have we forget our Vows, and the generality live as tho' they were delivered to commit greater Abominations than before: And because Mercies have not melted us to Repentance; therefore Judgements follow one upon the Neck of another, and Gods immediate hand is obviously stretched out against us. Consider what God said of old to Israel, and is it not his Voice to us now? Ezekiel 20. 7, 8. Then said I unto them, Cast ye away every man the Abominations of his Eyes, and defile not yourselves with the Idols of Egypt: I am the Lord your God. But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me: they did not every Man cast away the Abominations of their Eyes, neither did they forsake the Idols of Egypt: then I said, I will pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish mine anger against them in the midst of the Land of Egypt. I think that's applicable to us also, Jer. 2.30. In vain have I smitten your Children, they will receive no Correction. 6. The manifest grieving of God's Holy Spirit, is another great Abomination which provokes God to declare, I, even I, am against thee. The Holy Spirit of God is grieved many ways; when the loud Voice of Providences are not regarded, when Ministers that speak to you with Bowels, in his Name, are slighted, and their Message not received; when the Spirit comes with Light, and you shut your Eyes and will not see; when he comes with powerful Convictions, and you stifle them; when you are called to believe and repent without delay, you will rather hearken to the Devil's Verb mane, delay, than God's Adverb mane, early, or comply with speed; when God's Comminations on the one hand, and his woes on the other, as by the Prophet, have not their due effect upon us, Jer. 13. last, Woe unto thee, O Jerusalem, wilt thou not be made clean? when shall it once be? (or after, when yet) as though God had said, I have stayed long, and sent time after time, waiting and wooing, I am now as it Were tired out, if you will comply, well, if not, I must, though with reluctancy, fall on; but O When once shall it be! But as it was with them, so is it not with us now, Isa. 63.9, 10. In all their Affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love, and in his pity he redeemed them, and he bore them, and carried them all the days of old. But they rebelled, and vexed his Holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them: Beloved, if we in this Nation go on thus to rebel against God's Holy Spirit; if we fight against him, and he against us; it's no hard matter to tell who will have the worst; for if he fights, we must needs fall; Who hath hardened himself against him and prospered? Job 9.4. Thus Beloved, I have shown what are some of those crying Sins that provoke God against a People or a Nation. I might add many more, as Lying, Swearing, Drunkenness, Oppression, Violence, Ingratitude for National Mercies, non-improvement of signal Deliverances from Tyranny and Popery to a thorough Reformation, which God expected, as we in Adversity promised the Lord; these and the like Abominations have stirred up his Wrath against us, who saith, as in Hosea 5.15. I will go, and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my Face: in their Affliction they will seek me early. But I shall not enlarge. (3.) General, What are the black Tokens, and evident Signs of Gods being against a People or a Nation? I, even I, am against thee, and will execute Judgements in the midst of thee, in the sight of the Nations. (1.) When Men of Piety, Prudence, and Conduct, are dispirited in the midst of us, and have not that regular zeal for God, Godliness, and the Public Interest, as formerly: it was a sad Omen to the Egyptians, of what God was about to do with them, when he took off their Chariot-Wheels, that they drove them heavily, Exod. 14.24, 25. Men of Piety, Prudence, and Conduct, are as the Chariot-Wheels of the Nation; and if these abate their Spirit and Zeal for Godliness and the Public good, our Wheels are off, and we are like to be over-flowed with destructive Judgements. I remember what God complains of Ephraim, Hosea 7.11. That he was as a silly Dove without a Heart; and is it not applicable to us? What is become of our late Zeal for Godliness, amongst Men of Piety, Prudence, and Conduct, when Popery was coming in by Policy, and Power? some had a Heart to venture for the public good in the Face of threatening Dangers; but now when God threatens for want of Reformation, we are sitting still, and grudge at the necessary Charges of defensive War, and are ready to impute our present Misery to our invaluable Mercy, and suffer our cruel Vipers unnaturally to eat out our own Bowels before our Faces: well, it's an Argument of Gods being against a People, when such Men have lost their Heart, Spirit and Zeal for Religion, the Public Good and Safety: This speaks to us, I, even I, am against you, etc. (2.) Another Sign of Gods being against a People or a Nation, is his permitting Men to be exalted to places of Dignity and Trust, who are not rightly principled for God's Glory, and the publick's Interest: Beloved, I bless God day and night hearty, for the signal favour showed to these Kingdoms, in the happy Accession of the present King and Queen to the Throne; (what! two Protestants at once!) such a Mercy as hath not been granted to England for many Years past; and not only so, but I bless God Publicly and Privately, that by their Royal Proclamations, they have signified their Pleasure to have Profaneness and Debauchery discouraged and trampled under foot; but yet, where the governing Wheels move regularly, if others subordinate be defective, the desirable end will not be obtained; if some call for and endeavour after a Reformation with hopeful Success, yet if others will affront Heaven, and despise Government, by not executing wholesome Laws; what will become of that People where it is so? it's no less than Irrational to conclude, where the Leaders of the People be Examples of Profaneness and Debauchery, that there can be any hopeful Reformation. It was a doleful time, Isa. 9.13. When the People turned not to him that smiteth them, neither do they seek the Lord of Hosts. But the Leaders of the People caused them to err, and they that are load of them are destroyed. When the Case of a Land is thus, it might be rightly inferred, as the Lord God faith by the Prophet, I, even I, am against thee, etc. (3.) Another Symptom of Gods being against a People or a Nation, is, when neither Mercies nor Judgements are rightly improved: Beloved, it's the hearty desire and endeavour of all whose Hearts are right with God, to have all things sanctified to them, and improved by them to God's Glory and their good; they full well know, that Mercies not fanctified are real Judgements, and Judgements sanctified to a right improvement are eventually Mercies; but when neither have their proper end upon a People, it plainly indicateth Gods displeasure, and loudly speaks that He, even He is against them: And now let me tell you, Beloved, we in England have had as signal Mercies as any Nation under the Heavens; Liberty, Peace, Plenty, and what appertains to this Life and Godliness; with a wonderful and never to be forgotten Deliverance from apparent eminent dangers; but ah! how evilly have we requited the Lord, and by our obstinacy and continuance in impenitency and disobedience, we have caused him to turn his Hand against us: it was but the other day, and God by his own outstretched Arm wrought Salvation for us, when we were expecting the black Cloud of Tyranny and, Popery to empty itself in showers of Protestant Blood, than did the Lord send us a Saviour, and we are escaped out of the hands of them whose avowed Principle it is to murder whom they can't prevail upon to imbibe their damnable Doctrines. And yet so amazingly raging is the Frenzy of some amongst us, that we are longing for the Onions and Garlic of Egypt, and in a mad fit coveting our former Bondage and Slavery: but we hope, as the Blind lead the Blind, so both shall fall into the Ditch ere it be long: but as we have had signal Mercies, so we have no less remarkable Indications of Gods fore Displeasure; have not God's four sore Judgements been amongst us, (Ezek. 14.21.) and do not many now unreasonably complain of a long and chargeable, tho' just, necessary and defensive War? doth not God himself by his immediate Hand upon the Fleet fight against us, for Non-Reformation and Ingratitude? yet who considers this, or lays it to Heart, or takes right measures to have these awful Indications of God's displeasure sanctified to us, or be improved by us? there's little hope of the Patient's health, when no Physic hath its proper end, or kindly operates; so it's a sad Symptom, that the great God is against a People, when neither Mercies draw, nor Judgements drive to Repentance and Reformation; when it may be truly said of them, as in Jer. 2.30. In vain have I smitten your Children, they receive no Correction; or as the Prophet complains, Isa. 26.11. Lord, when thy hand is lifted up, they will not see: but they shall see, and be ashamed. What can we expect, but that he should still punish us seven times more, until we do see and reform whatsoever is amiss, under such public Mercies and National Judgements? (4.) Another black Token of Gods being against a People or a Nation, is Discord, and Variance, concerning those things that make for the common good and public Interest: Beloved, Unity and Concord are, under God, the Walls of our Defence; Discord and Variance makes us weak, and like a great breach in a close besieged Castle, lays us open to the Rage and Fury of the Enemy: and how sad is it with that People, where proper Medicines to heal the bleeding wounds of a languishing Kingdom, are not applied? and how much more sad, when experienced ones are not made use of, where Religion, not Interest, would oblige to the greatest Peril? and how lamentable is it also, when the Godly, who are the Props and Pillars of the Kingdom, are divided amongst themselves; and some stand upon Tithing Mint, Annis and Cummin, and neglect the weightier matters of the Law? It was an old stratagem of some, and proves often true, (First divide, and then Tyrannize, and do your Pleasure:) I pray God we in England may take heed, this seems to be the design at this day; and nothing doth more effectually ferve the Papists Interest, and disserve ours, than this: Divisions like the Trojan Horse, will let in Ruin insensibly upon us: When God would destroy Jerusalem, they made way for it by their Intestine Quarrels; and of old, For the Divisions of Reuben, there were great Thoughts of Heart, Judg. 5.15. so I wish that now for ours also, there were great (searching of Hearts, and Prudent endeavours to heal and compose them made use of: for Dogs to tear and devour one another, is natural, but for Sheep to do so is strange and unusual. I remember a Story in Aesop to this purpose: an aged Father upon a Sick bed, called his Sons together, and commanded them to bring him a bundle of Twigs, he injoins them to endeavour by pulling to break them, but they could not, then to try again one by one, and they did break them: if we unite, we are like to stand; but if we divide, we make ourselves a prey. O how Happy yet might these Kingdoms be, if that once were fulfilled upon us, Isa. 11.13. Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim. I wish hearty, that all who profess themselves to be Christ's sincere followers, would Regard and Practise his dying, and New command, to Love one another, John 13.34. So called, that it might be always minded, and ne'er forgot to be obeyed by us; but if after all that God hath wrought for us, we will obstinately persist in so great Folly, what can we expect but Ruin? as the Apostle hints, Gal. 5.15. For if ye by't and devour one another, take heed ye be not consumed one of another. For by his Judgements, for this, as well as other Sins, he declares, I, even I am against thee. (5.) Another sad Symptom of the great Gods being against a People or a Nation, is Frustration or Disappointment in common, proper, and ordinary endeavours for the Honour, Safety, and Wealth of a Nation: Beloved, the great God Rules and upholds both Kingdoms and Commonwealths by second Causes and subordinate Means, such as Merchandizing abroad, Trading at home; and sometimes by just, necessary and defensive Wars with other Nations; but now, when an incensed God, by his overruling Providence frowns upon any, or all of these, as of late, it surely indicateth he hath a controversy with us: was it not the accursed thing in the Camp, that occasioned that sad disappointment to Israel before Ai? as Joshua 7.1, 4. And were they not compelled to reform, according to God's command, before they could prosper against their Enemies? and was it not the disobedience of Jonah to God's Precepts, that caused a Storm to arise that impeded their Passage, until he was thrown overboard? And what may we imagine hath been the occasion of our late Disappointments by Sea and Land, but our great Provocations here and there? For can a Bulrush grow without Mire, as in Job 8.11? or will a Lion roar in the Forest, when he hath no Prey, as in Amos 3.4? Neither would God thus blast ordinary endeavours, for our Honour, Safety and Wealth, if we had not by our Sins set him against us: I must confess, tho' we have looked for much, and it's come to little; yea, tho' our Trading is Dead in the midst of us, tho' our Merchants wax Poor, and much of their Wealth is swallowed up in the merciless Waves, tho' we have many Widows, Fatherless and Orphans, by the late desolating blow from God's immediate Hand upon the Fleet; yet he that hath done all this, might justly have swallowed up all, and have spared none to inform us of so great a Judgement, commixed with tender, and sparing Mercy to others, by this repeated Judgement, the incensed God hath evidently fulfilled that Commination upon us, Ezek. 13.13. Therefore thus saith the Lord God, I will even Rend it with a stormy Wind in my Fury; and there shall be an overflowing shower in my anger; and great Hailstones in my Fury, to consume it. Thus I have given you the Signs of a Black day, wherein it may be said, as in the Text, I, even I am against thee, etc. (3.) General, Is to Evince and Demonstrate, that of all Judgements, for the great God manifestly to declare himself against a People or a Nation, is the worst and sorest; and the Reasons are these following. 1. Reason: It's so, because if God be against a People or a Nation, than all he is, in himself is against that People; as when a Sinner is brought in to Covenant with God, than all in God is his, and for his good, even every Attribute of God, his Wisdom, Mercy, Goodness, Faithfulness, and the like; so when God sets himself against a People or a Nation, than every Attribute of God is set against that People and Nation. And therefore it must necessarily be the greatest and worst of Judgements, for God to declare Himself against a People or a Nation: Beloved, there is infinitely more in the One great God's manifesting Himself against us, than if all the World besides him should do it; sad was the Case of Israel, when God pronounced by the Prophet, Jer. 18.11. Behold I frame evil against you, and devise a device against you. etc. When the great Jehovah sets his Wisdom on Work to frame Evil, and devise Judgements, it must needs be sad; for not only one, but all the Attributes of God are against that People. 2. Reason: Of all Judgements, for the great God to manifest and declare himself against a People or a Nation, is the worst; because then all the Creatures of God are against that People: the Lord of Heaven and Earth hath all his Creatures at his beck and command; they do and must fulfil whatsoever his Pleasure is; as a great General once said, If he did but nod with his Head, or stamp with his Foot, he could make his Soldiers encounter the greatest difficulties; so if the Lord of Heaven and Earth doth but look out of Heaven, and say as Jehu did, to them with proud painted Jezebel, 2 Kings 9.32. Who it on my side, who? Then all the Creatures in Heaven and upon Earth, in the Sea also, and Winds, shall be ready to look out and obey his Commands, and fulfil his Will, Psal. 148.8. Fire and Hail, Snow and Vapour, Stormy Wind, fulfilling his Word. Did not he cause the Stars to fight against Sisera? Judg. 5.20. and did not he send an Angel to discomfit the Camp of the Assyrians, who blasphemed against the Lord? and many more such Instances we have, wherein the great God, as well as of late upon the Straits Fleet, hath showed, that it's the worst of Judgements for God to declare himself to be against a People, because if he be against them, all his Creatures shall be against them also. 3. It is so, because if God be against a People or a Nation, his Opposition renders all other Means ineffectual for our Preservation, as the Psalmist speaks, Psal. 127.1, 2. Except the Lord build the House, they labour in vain that build it; except the Lord keep the City, the Watchmen watch in vain. 2. It's in vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of Sorrows. So if the Lord doth not bless our Merchandizing, our Trade and Callings, our Forces by Sea and Land, all our Care and Cost will be in vain. It was a dismal time with Saul, when he cried out to him the Witch raised, 1 Sam. 28.15. I am sore distressed and the Philistines make War against me, and the Lord God hath departed from me. So if God forsake us in this time of War, sore Distress must necessarily follow: I pray God deliver us from that woeful Commination mentioned by the Prophet against Egypt, Isa. 19.3. I will destroy the Council of Egypt. Isa. 7.7. Thus saith the Lord God it shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass. As with good Advice War is to be made, and in multitude of Counsel is Safety, under God; so for God to set himself against a People, is the worst and forest of Judgements, because his Opposition renders all means for our welfare ineffectual. 4. It's the worst of Judgements, for God to set himself against a People or a Nation, because then there is no Safety, but the greatest Peril; as it is written concerning the Children of the Wicked, Job 5.4. They are far from Safety. So it may truly be said of that People whom God is against, They are far from Safety; that is, they are in eminent danger, encompassed with hazards on every side, as helpless as a naked man is against an incensed Army, that resolves to put all to the Sword and spare none; when God by Judgements declares as in the Text, I, even I am against thee, it may truly be said to such, as Psal. 142.4. Refuge fails, and which way soever we betake ourselves, there will be no Exemption from the Judgements of an incensed God. I remember what the King said to the Woman in the Famine of Samaria, to this effect, 2 Kings 6.27. When she cried out, Help, O King help! if the Lord do not help thee, whence shall I help thee? intimating, that it was out of his Power, and God only could supply her: so when the great God declares by his Judgements, I, even I am against thee, than it is the Language of all created Being's, If God do not help, we cannot; it is natural and common for Persons in extreme danger to seek out for help some way or other, but when God sets himself against a People, their Fingers are rapt off from Creatural helps: see what God speaks by the Prophet, Zeph. 1.17, 18. I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk, like Blind men, because they have sinned against the Lord, and their Blood shall, be poured out as Dust, and their Flesh as Dung. V 18. Neither their Silver, nor their Gold, shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lords wrath, etc. You see hence, that vain is the help of any Creature, when God is against a People; Power, Policy, Wealth, will avail nothing for Safety, when God declares by his Judgement, I, even I am against thee: Therefore it is the worst of Judgements. Thus you have the Reasons, which evince the Truth of this awful Doctrine. I now come to make some brief Application of the whole. The Application of the Doctrine is this. If this be so, as you hear it is, Of all Judgements, for the great God to manifest or declare himself against a People, or a Nation, is the worst and forest; then, 1. From hence, we may plainly see the evil and Mischievous Nature and Consequence of Sin, wheresoever and by whomsoever it is committed, and continued in without Repentance, and Reformation; it sets the great God and his Creatures at variance one with another: Therefore, saith the Lord God, I, even I am against thee; as in the Text: And wherefore? Because ye have multiplied more than the Nations that are round about you; and ye have committed greater Abominations in my sight, than the very Heathens; you have been in your Morals more defective than they, neither have done according to the Judgements of the Nations that are round about you. You have been more false to Me the true God, than they have been to their false gods; you have excelled them, in Wickedness; Therefore, behold, I, even I am against you, etc. So as you may plainly see, what was the cause of the great Controversy God had with them, even their great Abominations; and so if we ask, Wherefore is Wrath gone out from the Lord against these Kingdoms? why doth the Lord contend with us, by the wasting Sword, and impoverishing Judgements? it is because of the Iniquities that are in our Skirts; as Israel's ways and do procured to them destroying Judgements, so have ours in England pulled down desolating Calamities upon us: may it not too truly be said of us in England, as the Prophet speaks in Jerusalem's Caralogue of Sins, Ezek. 22.7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. In thee have they set light by Father and Mother, in the midst of thee have they dealt by Oppression with the Stranger, in thee have they vexed the Fatherless and the Widow, thou hast despised mine holy things, and hast profaned my Sabbaths. And scarce one mentioned, but the like horrid Abominations are to be found in the midst of us; and when the Lord did for these things manifest himself against them, yet that which was worst of all, is this, Ver. 30. I sought for a Man among them, that should make up the Hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the Land, that I should not destroy it; but I found none. How? was not Jeremiah with them, and Ezekiel it's concluded was in Babylon, and Jeremiah they would not hearken unto: (but it was among them that the Lord looked for one to stand up and reform, and amongst them there was none;) therefore was Indignation poured out upon them: would to God this were not too much our present Case! Well, if of all Judgements, for the great God to manifest himself against a People or a Nation, be the worst and forest; then see what our Sins have done now in the midst of us, the Lord help us to consider before it be too late. 2. If this be so, than we have, just Cause to condole the general Supineness, Stupidity and Carelessness, that Reigns amongst all forts at this day; although it's most evident that God hath a controversy with us, Ah, alas! where is the Person who hath a becoming Sense of the Judgements of God in the midst of us? how few, now God is gone from the Cherub to the Threshold, do sigh, and cry, for all the Abominations done in the midst of us? Ezek. 9.4. There's little hope of the Patient's recovery, when he is insensible of his Disease and Danger; so there is little hope of better times, while there is such a general Lethargy hath seized the Spirits of most in this Land: That's our present Case, which the Prophet complains of, Isa. 26.11. Lord, when thy hand is listed up, they will not see; but they shall see and be ashamed, etc. Well, if it be as you hear, we have great Reason to lament the general Stupidity that abounds in the midst of us at this day, when God is executing his Judgements in the midst of us. 3. If it be so, that of all Judgements this is the forest, for God to declare himself against a People or a Nation, than what cause have we to stand and admire, yea and adore the Infinite Patience of God towards us! That notwithstanding he is executing Judgements in the midst of us; yet he hath not made a full End of us, nor overthrown us quite for our Abominations, as he did Sodom and Gomorrah: At this day is fulfilled, and made good that Word by the Prophet, Isa. 55.8. My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. When Advantage is given, we are for taking it one of another; this is the way of Men too often one with another, but God doth not deal thus with us, after the manner of Men; for in the midst of Judgements he remembers Mercy: Although God by terrible things in Righteousness answers us, yet, we must own here is great Mercy commixed with Judgement; for he that hath with his immediate hand upon the Fleet swept away so many precious Souls, and overturnd so much of our Wealth, might with the same stroke have spared none to give us a report of what God hath done against us in the sight of the Nations: Well, as it's less than deserved, so it's enough to make us fear and tremble before Him; and since he hath manifestly a controversy with us, we should admire Divine Goodness in giving warning, and adore Infinite Patience, that all was not consumed in Wrath, and that we are yet a People, and not destroyed. I come to a Word of Exhortation, for I shall hasten to conclude, not delighting to insist upon such Tragical Subjects; but the hand of God hath engaged me in it, beyond my Intention a few days past: Therefore, By way of Exhortation: Is this so, that of all Judgements, for the great God to declare himself against a People or a Nation, is the worst and forest that can befall us, then, what shall I press upon you? sure I need not exhort you to Credit the Truth of this: It will be easily granted, by all that have their Senses exercised to discern Divine Truth, therefore I address myself to exhort you to these following things. 1. Place: Be persuaded and conclude, that the great God hath a Controversy with these sinful Kingdoms: it's not hard to prove it, God doth by his Frowning Dispensations evidently declare it, by what he hath formerly and of late done in the midst of us, he now as in the Text loudly cries in our Ears: I, even I am against thee. Beloved, so long as we Fancy it is otherwise, we shall not set ourselves in, good earnest to the Work, of Reformation, which we are obliged unto, and God calls for by his Judgements, and saith, to us, as by the Prophet, Jer. 13. last, O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, when wilt thou be made clean? when shall it once be? When, when after all that I have done in the midst of you? 2. Be exhorted to Fear and Tremble before this great God, who now by his frowning Providences, declares, he hath a controversy with us: O that all the Inhabitants of these Nations would stand in awe of him, who hath made himself known to be a Just and Holy God, by his Judgements executed upon us! We may evidently see that our Abominations have provoked him to Wrath, and if we will not after all this be prevailed upon to make him our dread, what can we expect but that he should proceed to visit us with greater Calamities than have yet befallen us? 3. Be exhorted to Reform what in you lies, and lament before the Lord what you can't obtain from others. I earnestly entreat every Soul of you, in the Name of the Lord, to begin with his own Heart and House; and cast away, the detestable things, which God pleads against us for; as good Housewises are most at home, minding their own concerns; so the best and most upright-hearted Christians are most Conversant with their own Hearts, and more concerned to east the beam out of their own Eyes, than to complain of the Mote in another's; therefore set to the Work of Reformation thyself, and when you have stoned the Achan in your own Camp, expect to prosper, and not before; and then lay before the Lord the neglect of Reformation by others, go to the Throne of Grace, and weep over those Sins which are abounding in the midst of us; and that there is so little done to reform, under so great Obligations to it, by what National Mercies we yet enjoy upon Trial. 4. Be exhorted to secure your Interest in Christ, the anointed of God to save lost Sinners; above all things look to this; in times of Distress wise men endeavour to secure their best things, their Jewels, Gold, etc. Beloved in this dark and calamitous day, now God is contending by his Judgements, look to your Souls; above all things, every one get Arkt in Christ; for as every Soul out of the Ark perished in the Deluge, so every Soul that dies out of Christ must perish Eternally, as Rom. 8.1. There is no Condemnation, to them that be in Christ Jesus; so there is nothing but Condemnation to them that die out of him; if the avenger of Blood under the Law laid hold of the before he got into the City of Resuge, there's no relief for him; so if you die out of Christ, you can't escape the Wrath of God: O then flee to Christ, cast Anchor within the Veil upon him, in this stormy Season! that if you are not delivered from Temporal Calamities, you may be freed Him Eternal: study Christ, his Name, Nature and Fullness; even that too much eclipsed Name of his, Jer. 23.6. Toe Lord our Righteousness, and submit to it, that thou be not found naked of that which only can screen the Wrath of God off you, Psal. 9.10. They that know thy Name, will put their trust in thee. O that the Tokens of God's Wrath might in this day move all to prepare an Ark for the saving their Souls, I mean to secure their Interest in Christ: 1 Cor. 1.30. Who of God is made to us, Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification, and Redemption. In him there is enough for your supply, Sinners, therefore hasten by Faith, grapple upon him, who rejects none that come to him, Joh. 6.37. therefore take him at his Word, he is faithful and can't deny himself. 5. Lift up a Cry, and pour out your Souls to God in Prayer for these sinful and threatened Kingdoms; although Wrath is gone out from the Lord, who knows but he will yet be entreated for us, yea if we hear the Rod, and him that hath appointed it; he will remember his former Loving Kindnesses, for he delights not in the Destruction of his Creatures, but upon honourable terms to him, and easy to us if complied with, he will show Mercy; therefore set yourselves to seek the Lord, it may be he hath not said, tho' Noah, Daniel, and Job pray, he will not be entreated for us; he formerly hath showed himself slow to anger, of great kindness and tender Mercy; therefore go home and plead with him, that felt Judgements may be sanctified, and removed and feared Judgements may be prevented, and it may be God will yet dwell in our Land. Thus I have given you my short Meditations upon what the Lord hath done upon our Fleet, by his immediate hand, apparently to all. I pray God, we may see, hear, learn, and do no more so wickedly, lest worse befall us from the Lord than yet hath happened. FINIS. Advertisement. THe Reader is desired to amend the Erratas that have escaped the Press.