*#• 
 

 
 :***■ > 
 
 •^•U .T' ? <». 
 
 V S. OF THE ' 
 
 AT 
 
 PRINCETON, N. J. 
 
 DOXATIOX OK 
 
 SAMUEL AGNEW, 
 
 OF PHILADELPHIA, PA. 
 
 ♦ ??^>«e« 
 
 >?qf: =>3? 
 
 
 Tfi Case 
 
 % Shelf, Sect.onC 
 
 .."/.. -6>-fS9 
 
./rs*?v 
 
 J ; 1~J. 
 


 
LETTERS 
 
 ON THE 
 
 Sacred Predictions: 
 
 Proper for the 
 
 Confideration of all Sorts of People at all Times; 
 more efpecially, whenever in Danger of pub- 
 lick Calamities : Collected out of the Holy 
 Scriptures ; (hewing the Events, which fome 
 Perfons have Reafon to fear ; and thofe for 
 which others have Ground to hope. 
 
 Whereunto is added, a LETTER, containing an 
 Anfwer to the Question, viz. Whether the pub- 
 lick Reading the Holy Scriptures, on the Lord's Days 
 is an Ordinance of divine Appointment; and a 
 Part of the Werfhip which God requires from his 
 People ? 
 
 All intended for promoting Piety, and the Confolation of 
 ferious Chriftians of every Denomination. 
 
 By THEOPHILUS^LOBB, M. D. 
 And C. R. M. L. C. and R. S. L. S. 
 
 Search the Scriptures. John v. 39. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed for J. Buck land, at the Buck in Paler 
 nofter-RQW. MDCCLXI. 
 

ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 PREDICTIONS, are all thofe Decla- 
 rations of future Events recorded in 
 the Holy Scriptures, which God by his 
 Providence has brought, or will bring to 
 pafs 5 whether thofe Events be Punifhments. 
 or Bleflings. 
 
 Thus the Declarations of the Deftruction 
 of Jerufalem, and of the Miferies which 
 befel the Jews, were Predictions. 
 
 Thus the Declarations of the Deliverance 
 of the Children of Ifrael out of Egypt, and 
 from the feventy Years Captivity, were Pre- 
 dictions ; and fo indeed, are all the Threat- 
 nings God has denounced againft the Wick- 
 ed; and all the Promifes of Bleffings, which 
 he has made to Nations, or particular Per- 
 fons, who love and ferve him, and keep his 
 Commandments : And thus the Sacred De- 
 clarations in the two firft of thefe Letters are 
 Predictions. 
 
 The Providence of the righteous and 
 
 faithful God, is always fulfilling his Word : 
 
 Therefore David faid unto God, Iwillpraife 
 
 thee with my whole Heart , — »Jor thy Loving- 
 
 A 2 kindnefs, 
 
iy ADVERTISEMENT. 
 kindnefs, and for thy 'Truth; jor thou haft 
 magnified thy Word, above all thy Name. Pfal. 
 cxxxviii. i, 2. God has done it above every 
 other Way, in which he had made himfelf 
 known ; and he does fo Hill, by bringing to 
 pafs the Events foretold by the Prophets of 
 the Old Teftament, and by the blerfed Jefus, 
 and the Apoftles, and Prophets of the New. 
 It is therefore incumbent on all Chriftians 
 to take Notice of them, fo far as they mail 
 come within their Knowledge ; and to ob- 
 ferve the Dealings of the fupreme Gover- 
 nour of the World, with their own Coun- 
 try, and their Neighbours, and like wife 
 with themfelvesj whether the Events, which 
 occur be merciful, or affliclive. 
 
 The Works cf the Lord (both thofe of 
 Creation, and thofe of his Providence) are 
 greats fought out of all them, that have Plea- 
 fur e therein. His Work (of Providence, as 
 well as of Creation) is honourable, and glori- 
 ous j and his Righteoufnefs endureth for ever. 
 He hath made bis wonderful Works to be remem- 
 bred. Pfal. cxi. 2, 3, 4. We ought there- 
 fore to obferye, and remember them. 
 
 A disregard of the Acts of the righ- 
 teous and gracious God in his Government 
 of the World, and more efpecially in what 
 relates to our own Country, our own Ci- 
 ties, 
 
ADVERTISEMENT. v 
 
 ties, and Families, and Perfons; is a pro- 
 voking Difregard of himfelf. 
 
 Because they regard not the Works of the 
 Lord, nor the Operation of his Hands, he foall 
 deftroy them, and not build them np. It is faid 
 Pfal. xxviii. 5. 
 
 The two firft of thefe Letters were pub- 
 lifhed, 1750. under the Title of Sacred 
 Declarations, confidered, 6cc. and are now 
 publifhed again, with others fubfervient to 
 the fame Defign. 
 
 I have in thefe Letters collected a Sum- 
 mary both of the Law, and Gofpel, and a 
 Summary of the Predictions of Punilhment 
 appointed for the Wicked ; and of the Pre- 
 dictions of Blemngs for the Righteous, for 
 all true Believers in this Life, at Death, and 
 afterwards ; and on thefe Accounts, it may 
 be ufeful for Christians frequently to look 
 into them. 
 
 The lafl Letter is added on the Account 
 of the Importance of its Contents, and the 
 many Advantages which may be obtained, 
 by diffufing the Knowledge of the Holy 
 Scriptures among the People. 
 
 In the poetical Lines cited in thefe Let- 
 ters, I have here and there changed a Word 
 to render them more expreflive of my own 
 Thoughts. 
 
 THE 
 
THE 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 LETTER I. 
 
 WHEN the Inhabitants of any City, cr 
 Country have Reafon to apprehend the Dan- 
 ger of publick Calamities, is fhewn. p. 3, 4. 
 Some Tokens of the divine Arger noted, viz. 
 
 1 . The Mortality, which through feveral Tears 
 dejiroyed the Cattle, p. 4, 5. 
 
 2. The Earthquakes, which lately happened in our 
 Jfland. p. 5, 6. 
 
 Thefe Calamities are the Productions of the al- 
 mighty Power of God, and happens only when, and 
 where he pleafes. p. 6. No Aftronomer, no Phi- 
 lofopher can tell when, or where the righteous God 
 willfhake terribly the Earth, and raife thofe mighty 
 Convu'fions in it, which overthrow Cities, and often 
 fwallow in Multitudes of People, p 6. 
 
 The divine Power is always Acting, and fome 
 Things, which appear to be the immediate Effecl of its 
 Agency, are fpecified. p. 7. 
 
 Famines, and Peflilences are Manifejlations of 
 the divine Anger, p. 7. 
 
 The Day of the Lord's Vifitation for Sin, is a dif- 
 mal Time. p. 8. 
 
 Yet there is no Ground for Defpair, but Room to 
 hope for Mercy, and far don. p. 9. 
 
 Some Sorts of Perfons are particularly threatned 
 with Punifhments in the Day of God's Vifitation for 
 Sin? viz. 
 
 I. Thofe 
 
r/je CONTENTS. 
 
 I. Thofe Minifters of the Word of God of 
 
 every Denomination, who either fet bad Examples, or 
 live in the Negletl of the Duties they owe to the Peo- 
 ple under their Care. p. n. Why thefe are men- 
 tioned in the firfi Place, the Reafons as Jigned, ibid. 
 p. 12. &c. by the Expreffwns Watchmen, and 
 Shepherds, who are meant, ibid. 
 
 II. Prophane Perfons, are another Sort of Sin- 
 ners, p. 14. &c. Who are fuch. ibid. The Hein- 
 oufnefs of their Guilt, ibid, are Qbjecls of God's 
 Curfc, and Scorn, p. 15. 
 
 II[. Idolators, alfo are Objecls of God's threatned 
 Judgments, p. 15. There are two Sorts of Idola- 
 try, viz. One a Tranfgreffion of the firfi Command- 
 ment, viz. When Perfons o%vn, and acknowledge any 
 Creature as God, or pay religious Refpefi, or Re- 
 verence by any inward Aclion of their Mind, or out- 
 ward Gejlure of their Bod'.es to a Creature as God, 
 and as the Ob j eel of their WorfJjip. ibid. 
 
 The other Sort of Idolafry, is making any Image 
 to be the Means of worfhiping the true God, and 
 performing any Atts of religious Worfljip to it. p. 16. 
 and this is a Tranfgreffwn of the fecond Command- 
 ment, ibid. 
 
 The Heinoufnefs of this Idolatry difplayed. p 17. 
 
 IV. Proud Perfons, are particularly threatned 
 with Punifhment, in the Time of God's Vifitation of 
 a People for their Sins. p. 18. The common Incen- 
 tives to Pride mentioned, ibid. What Pride is. p. 19. 
 
 Tbreatmngs agairfl the Proud, ibid, &c. 
 
 V. Thofe who are Lovers of Pleafures, more 
 than of God, are Objecls of divine Threatnings. 
 p. 20. &c. 
 
 If 'ho are fuch defiribed. ibid. If a Man takes 
 all Opportuniti s of being in the Company of one Ac- 
 quaintance, and indufiriGufly fljuns the Company and 
 Converfation of another, it is a Demonflration that 
 he loves the one, and djlikcs the other ; and thus as 
 
 1 ts 
 
The CONTENTS, 
 
 to the Levers of Plea fure, &c. ibid. Threatnings 
 againji them mentioned, p. 21. 
 
 VI. Profaners of the holy Name of Godj are 
 threatned with Punijloment sin this Life, p. 22. &c. 
 
 ^60 are fuch. ibid. 
 
 VII. Profaners of God's Sabbaths, <*r£ likewife 
 tinder the divine Threatnings. p. 24. &c. 
 
 7^0 <zr£ Profaners of the Lord's Days. ibid. 
 
 The Declarations of the holy God, againfi the 
 Tranfgreffors of thefirfl Four of his Ten Commandments, 
 recited in the foregoing Pages, are full of doleful 
 Tidings, p. 27. Never thelefs there is Hope for the 
 very Chief of Sinners, p. 28. As appears from the 
 gracious Invitations, and Promifes of God to them if 
 they repent, and turn to him. ibid, and p. 29. 
 
 There is a fare Way to Reconciliation, and Peace 
 with God, a fure Way to obtain his Love, and the 
 Pardon of all our Sins, a fure Way to Safety, Com- 
 fort, and Happinefs. p. 30. This Way is jhewed by 
 the J acred Scriptures, p. 30. Sec. 
 
 An Addrefs to thofe Perfons, who have hitherto 
 gone on in a Courfe of wilful Difbedience to God. 
 p. 34. How they fhould reafon, and think with 
 themfelves. ibid, and pray to their offended God. 
 
 P- 35> 
 
 Suitable Reflections for thofe who repent of their 
 
 Sins, and accept of Chrift tofave them. p. %6. 
 
 LETTER II. 
 
 The happy Condition of thofe, who are fo in- 
 fluenced by what the holy God hath f aid in his Word, 
 and threatned to inflicl on the ftubborn Tranfgreffors 
 of his Laws, as to repent of their Sins, and by 
 Faith in Chrift to feek Pardon, and Salvation, p. 1. 
 &c. 
 
 How penitent Believers, pious Perfons may think, and 
 reafon within themfelves to their own Comfort, p. 2. 
 
 a Of 
 
^CONTENTS, 
 
 Of the Reafonings proper for thofe, who have 
 hitherto neglected God and their Duty. p. 3. 
 
 There are fever al Sorts of Perfons, who live in 
 wilful Difobedience to one, or other of the Six loft of 
 the ten Commandments. "Particularly, 
 
 VIII. Rebellious Perfons. p. 4. &c. 
 Rebellion is a wilful Oppofition to the Authority, 
 and lawful Commands of thofe whom God hasfet over 
 us. p. 4, &c. 
 
 And it is a TranJgreJJion of the fifth Command- 
 ment, ibid. 
 
 Of Difobedience to natural Parents, p. 4, 5. 
 Of Difregard to ihofe Mmiflers of God's Word, 
 under whofe Care the divine Providence has placed 
 us. p. 6. 
 
 We may from the Behaviour, which God requires 
 of us towards them^ infer the Sinfulnefs of a con- 
 trary Conducl : So far as the Mini Iters of Chrift de- 
 liver to us the Word of God, it is our Duly to believe 
 it, and to be obedient to it. 
 
 But we are to examine by the Holy Scriptures, 
 every Dotlrine they teach, and every Injtruclion in 
 Matters of Practice they inculcate, and -we are not to 
 receive them metrly becaufe delivered by our teachers. 
 p. 7. 
 
 Of obedience to Kings, and fubordinate Magif- 
 trates. p. 8. &c. 
 
 IX. Oppressors, are another Sort of Perfons, 
 who have Reafon to few the Effefts of God's Wrath 
 in the Day of his Vifitation for Sin. p. 10. 
 
 As Rebellion includes the various Sorts of Mi/be- 
 haviour, and Oppofition of Inferiors to their Supe- 
 riors in Authority ; fo Opprefllon comprehends the 
 fever al Abufes, whuh Superiors in Authority, or 
 Power., are guilty of to their Inferiors, ibid. 
 
 When Perfons err e guilty of Oppreffwn is Jhewed. p. 
 
 IO, II, 12. 
 
^CONTENTS. 
 
 The oppreffive Abufes of Authority or Power, are 
 very provoking to the merciful God, And what he has 
 three, tned frrribly to punifh. ibid. 
 
 X. Murderers, are Tranfg'-ejfors of the fixth 
 Commandment ', and are appointed of God to fffer 
 his Vengeance both in this World, and the next. 
 
 p. 12. 
 
 He is a Murderer, who defignedly, and mallcioufly 
 takes away the Life of another, ibid. 
 
 Of Fighting Duels, p. 13. 
 
 The Occafion of a Duel isfome Injury, or Provo- 
 cation by the Challenged, either imaginary or real : 
 Often it. is imaginary, feme Words or Behaviour of 
 the Per/on challenged, mifreprefented, or .mifimder- 
 food ; and often a cool Inquiry into the Cafe would 
 prevent a Quarrel, and confirm a Friend/hip. 
 
 But fuppofe Challengers to be really injured, the 
 Laws of the Land have provided a Remedy, which 
 he may life without Shame or Difloonour, and without 
 becoming a bloody Criminal before God and Man. A 
 Remedy which he may ufe with Reputation, by having 
 his Caufe heard bfore proper Judges, and their Sen- 
 tence given upon the Evidence of the Witneffes of each 
 Party. 
 
 But he mufi not murder the Man that has offend- 
 ed him, (ibid) and thereby rebel againfi, and fub- 
 vert the Laws of God, and his Country. 
 
 And as to the Challenged, the Reafon for his 
 wicked Acceptance of the Challenge is very vain: 
 He doth it to avoid the Char abler of being a Coward, 
 but better to be thought fo by unre'afonable Men, than 
 in Contraditlion to the Law of the great God, vio- 
 lently and malicioufy to take away the Life of another. 
 p. 14. 
 
 The Cafe of a Duel, fated both as to the Chal- 
 lenger, and the Challenged, p. 14. 
 
 The dreadful Confequences of Fighting a Duel, both 
 as to the Per/on killing, and the Perfon killed, p. 
 
 -U. 15- 
 
 az XI. 
 
^CONTENTS. 
 
 XI. Drunkards, Gluttons, and all riotous 
 Livers, are alfo Tranfgreffors of the fixth Command- 
 ment, and a Sort of Perfons whom God has threat- 
 tied with horrible Miferies in the Day of his Vifita- 
 tation for Sin. p. 16. &c. 
 
 XII. Unclean Persons, Whoremongers, and 
 Adulterers, are Tranfgreffors of the feventh Com- 
 mandment, againft whom God has denounced deftroy- 
 ing Judgment, p. 19. &c. 
 
 XIII. Unjust Perfons, likewife are the Objecls 
 of the divine Threatnings, and are Tranfgreffors of 
 the eighth Commandment, p. 21. 
 
 They are unjufi Perfons, who either by Force, or 
 Fraud take, or withhold to their own Ufe any 'Thing 
 that is the Property of another, ibid. 
 
 Three Sorts of unjufi Perfons noted, viz. 
 
 Thieves, Extortioners, and fraudulent Dealers. 
 p. 21, 22. &c. 
 
 Another Sin inconfifieni with that jujl and righ- 
 teous Manner of dealing with others, which the 
 eighth Commandment obliges all Men to avoid, is the. 
 giving and taking Bribes, p. 27. 
 
 A Bribe, is any Gift to another to bias, or in- 
 cline him to do fomsthing he ought not to do, or to 
 cm t doing fomething which he ought to do. p. 27. 
 
 The heinous Nature of this Iniquity, both in the 
 Giver, and Receiver of Bribes, is explained, p. 
 27—30. 
 
 XIV. Persons, who bear falfe Witnefs againfi 
 ethers, are Tranfgreffors of the ninth Commandment, 
 and are Objecls of the divine Threatnings. p. gp, 
 31. A falfe Witnefs foall not go unpunifhed, 
 and he that fpeaLctb Lies, foall not efcape. Pro. 
 xix. 5. 
 
 XV. Covetous Persons, are Tranfgreffors of 
 the tenth Commandment, and are marked for fufering 
 Puniftjmen: in the Day of the Lord's Fiji tat ion for 
 Sin. p. 31. &c. 
 
 A fericus 
 
^CONTENTS. 
 
 A ferious Addrefs to thofe, who have hitherto 
 lived in wilful DiJ "obedience to the holy Commandments 
 of God. p. 35. &c. 
 
 the Happinefs, and Comfort of becoming fincere 
 Chrifiians. p. 42. &c. 
 
 LETTER III. 
 
 Containing the Introduction, with fome 
 thoughts of the Importance of continuing the Ufe of 
 the Expreffions, or Language of the Sacred Scrip- 
 tures among Chrijlians ; and a Summary of the 
 Evidences of the Truth of the Gofpel, for the Con- 
 viction of fuch as are doubting of it ; and for the 
 Confirmation of the Faith of ferious Chrifiians 5 
 withal fhewing the fad State of Infidels, who have 
 the Means of knowing the truth, p. 1. 
 
 LETTER IV. 
 
 Containing Remarks on fome Parts of the Holy 
 Scriptures, by which Prcfeffors may know themfelves, 
 whether they are fincere Chrifiians, to whom the 
 predicted Blejfings do belong : And of their being in 
 Covenant with God, and having the Holy Spirit 
 Dwelling in them : Likewife of the different Man- 
 ner, in which the Holy Spirit bringeth Perfons to 
 be fincere Chrifiians. p. 22. 
 
 LETTER V. 
 
 On the Predictions, of the great Blessings 
 which in this Life are beflowed on every true Be- 
 liever, viz. Juftification, Adoption, and Sancti- 
 fication ; BUJfmgs abfolutely neceffary to the Safety, 
 the Comfort, and Happinefs of every Man ; and 
 which import a great Variety of Benefits ; even Af- 
 flictions are intended as a Means to promote the Holi- 
 nefs, and the future Happinefs of Chrijlians : And 
 
 likewife 
 
^CONTENTS. 
 
 likewise on the Predictions which encourage Back- 
 fiiders to return unto God. p. 39. 
 
 LETTER VI. 
 
 On //^Afflictions of fine ere Chriflians, and the 
 Predi&ions, which may comfort them in the 'times 
 of their Troubles : When they have been under many 
 Afflictions, and are brought into great Perplexity r , 
 there are Predictions, which may fupport them. 
 
 Afflictions are of two Kinds, temporal, and 
 fpiritual : 
 
 I. Of temporal Afflictions particularly, 1. By the 
 Death of Children. 2. The Death of Hufbands. 
 g. The Lofs of dear and ufeful Friends. 4. The 
 falling under falfe Jccufation, with the Predictions 
 which may afford Relief under fuch Sorrows. 
 
 II. Of fpiritual Troubles, and fui table Pre- 
 dictions -, particularly, 1 . Of an habitual Dejpon- 
 dence. 2. Of the Anguijh and Difirefs of the Soul, 
 after the Commfflicn of feme heinous Sin. 3. Of the 
 great Troubles, and Sorrows occo.fioned by the violent 
 Temptations and Affaults of the Devil, p. 64. 
 
 LETTER VII. 
 
 On the Predictions relative to fincere Chriflians, 
 from the Time of their Death. Particularly ; 
 
 1 . // is predicted, that at Death their Souls Jloall 
 be made perfect in Holinefs. What is communion 
 with God, explained. 
 
 2. That their Bodies Jhall remain under the Care 
 of Chrifi after Death. 
 
 3. That their Bodies will be raifed to life again ; 
 end alfo the Bodies of the Wicked. 
 
 4. That the Soul of every Believer at Death, will 
 be put into another Building for its Habitation. 
 
 5. That the Souls of Believers immediately after 
 Death, will be with Chrijl. 
 
 •€. That 
 
The CONTENTS. 
 
 6. That the Time of the general Refurre&ion 
 will he very folemn, magnificenr, and awful. 
 
 Of the Change, that will be made in the Bodies 
 of thofe, who fhall be living at the Time of the gene- 
 ral Refurretlion. And that it will make their Bodies 
 incorruptible and immortal. 
 
 Laftly. It is predicted, that the Saints Jhall have 
 an Inheritance, but not be -put into the Pojfejfion of 
 
 it, till the Day of Judgment. A Kingdom feems 
 
 to be the Inheritance promifed to them -, and as fuita- 
 ble to fuch an Inheritance, it is foretold, that they 
 fhall have a Crown of Righteoufnefs, and a Crown 
 of Life •, and that they fhall reign, reign in Life by 
 Jefus Chrifl. p. 79. 
 
 LETTER VIII. 
 
 Of Predictions of Events, fuhfequent to the Day 
 of Judgment, which will be aftonifhingly terrible to 
 the Wicked, and inexpreffibly happy and glorious to 
 the Saints, p 107. 
 
 LETTER IX. 
 
 Of Predictions, relative to Jincere Chriflians 
 in Times of publick Calamities ; fome of which art 
 general -, and others particular. In Regard, 
 
 1.. To their Safety in Times of War. 2. To their 
 be'ng provided for in Famines. 3. To their Prefer' 
 vation in Seafons of the Peftilence. 4. To their 
 being kept from diftrefling Fears, when defolating 
 Judgments are on the Wicked, p. 114. 
 
 LETTER X. 
 
 Containing an Anfwer to the Quefiion, viz. 
 
 Whether the publick Reading the Holy Scriptures on 
 
 the Lord's Days, is an Ordinance of divine Appoint' 
 
 ^nent, and a Part of the Worfhip, which God^re- 
 
 quires from his People? p. 140. 
 
 BOOKS 
 
BOOKS publiflied by Dr. LOBB. 
 
 I. A DISCOURSE of the divtr T ^ution of 
 
 X\. the Mini/try of the Q^^-. with Anfwers to 
 the Arguments (in a Book intitied, The Rights of the 
 Chrijlian Church, &c.) againft it. 
 
 2. A Discourse, wherein the Being of God; 
 the divine Authority of the Holy Scriptures, and the 
 Doclxine of the Sacred Trinity, are briefly proved. 
 
 3. A brief Defence of the Chriftian Religion 
 for the Conviction of Del/is ; and the Eftablifhment of 
 Chriftians in the Belief of the Gofpel. 
 
 4. A Dialogue between a Majier and his Servants, 
 concerning the Sin of Lying, explaining the Nature, and 
 fhewing the Heinoufnefs of it, and of other Sim, for 
 the concealing of which, Lying is often ufed ; and pro- 
 pofing a fure Way to become free from the ftrong Incli- 
 ijations to it. A fit Prefent from Mafters, and Miftrefles, 
 to their Servants, and from Parents to their Children. 
 
 5. An Answer to the Question, viz. Whether it 
 is lawful for the Profeflbrs of the Chriftian Religion to go 
 to Plays ? With fome Soliloquies, proper in Relation to 
 them. 
 
 6. Letters relating to the Plague, and other in- 
 fectious Fevers, in two Parts, viz. 
 
 Part I. Containing Letters read at feveral Meetings 
 of the Royal Society, fhewing by Reafon, and Experi- 
 ments fome proper Means to preferve People from In- 
 fection, and to alter the morbid Quality of infectious 
 Air. 
 
 Part II. Containing Letters, (not read to the Roy- 
 al Society) (hewing who may fly from a City, when 
 the divine Providence brings the Peftilence, or other in- 
 fectious Fevers into it, and who are obliged in Duty to ftay 
 in it ; and propofing proper Means to preferve Magijlrates, 
 and the Minifters of Cbri/l, and the Aflemblies of Peo- 
 ple when met together, either for the Adminiftration of 
 Juftice, or the Celebration of divine Worfhip : Like- 
 fa wife 
 
BOOKS publifhed by Dr. LOB B. 
 
 wife propofing fuitable Methods of Management In Fa- 
 milies before, and zuben, and after the Diftemper ha 3 
 been in them : 
 
 And lilcewife, as to the Conduct; of Pbyjici'ans, Sur- 
 geonSt apothecaries, Nurfes, and others obliged to attend 
 or viilt the Sick : Intermixed with Advices to ferious 
 Chriftians ; and alfo fhewing the Influence which fuch 
 an awful Vifitation (hould have on the Minds of thofe 
 who have been negligent of Religion, and have lived ill 
 known and wilful Difobedience to the holy Command- 
 ments of God. To which is added a Letter con- 
 cerning the Mortality among the Cattle. 
 
 7. A Letter, intitled Sacred Declarations, cott- 
 fidered, &c. Containing an Account of Things which 
 
 may render People apprehenfive that publick Calamities 
 are approaching ; with a Summary of the divine Laws 
 comprehended in the firff Four of the ten Command- 
 ments ; and of the Predictions of Punifhments on thofe 
 who live in wilful Difobedience to them : Likewife an 
 Account of a fure Way for Perfons under the terrible 
 Threatnings of the holy God to obtain the Pardon of 
 all their Sins, Peace, Safety, Comfort, and Happinefs. 
 
 8. A Letter, containing both a Summary of the 
 divine Laws comprehended in the Six laft of the Ten 
 Commandments ; and of the Predictions of Punifh- 
 ments recorded in the Sacred Scriptures, for the wilful 
 1 ranfgrefjTors of them, with proper Advices. 
 
 9. A Treatise on the Small Pox in its various 
 Kinds, {hewing what ought to be done in the Manage- 
 ment of the Sick, in Regard to the feveral Periods of the 
 Diflem, er. and the dangerous Symptoms incident to it, 
 as to Diet and Medicines: Illuftrated with fifty His- 
 tories it; which the Symptoms are exemplified, even 
 the moft Threatning ; with an Account of the Manage- 
 ment, and Remedies which were effectual to the Reco- 
 very of the Sick from this terrible Difeafe : Recom- 
 mended to the Publick by the late learned Dr. Boer- 
 H.aave, which Recommendation, with his exprefs 
 Confen t, is Printed, and prefixed to the Book. 
 
 ic. Ra- 
 
BOOKS publilhcd by Dr. LOB B. 
 
 10. Rational Methods of curing Fevers, deduced 
 from the Stru&ure, and Oeconomy of human Bodies, 
 and the different States of the Solids, and Fluids, under 
 the different Claffes of them. 
 
 ir. Medical Practice in curing Fevers^ correfpon- 
 dent to rational Methods, &c. Confidered and Exempli, 
 fied in many Cafes of the moft ufual Fevgrs t with an Ac-* 
 count of the Medicines by which they were removed. 
 
 12. A Treatise or DiflhlvenU of the Stone, and on 
 curing the Stone, and Gout by Aliment, fhewing, by 
 Reafon fupported with Experiments and Cafes, the Pro- 
 bability of diflblving the Stone, and preventing the Re- 
 turns of the Gout by fuitable Diet, with particular Di- 
 rections of Diet, not only in regard to thofe Diforders, 
 but likewife for the Benefit of Perfons afflicted with 
 Fevers, and various other Difeafes. 
 
 13. A Treatise on painful Diflempers, the Caufes 
 of them, and the proper Remedies ; illuftrated with Hif- 
 tories of Perfons afflicted with the different Kinds of 
 Pains incident to human Bodies, with an Account of the 
 Method and Medicines by which they were cured. 
 
 14. A Compendium of the Practice of Phyfick : 
 Containing the Heads, orSubje&s treated on in a Courfe of 
 Le£lures, intended for communicating thofe Inftructions, 
 which may qualify Perfons for a judicious and fuccefsful 
 Management of People under the various Difeafes to 
 which they are liable. Whereunto is added a Letter, 
 fhewing, what is the proper Preparation of Perfons for 
 Inoculation, and for having the Small Pox favourably 
 in the natural Way. 
 
 15. General Medical Principles and Cautions, for the 
 Confideration# of fuch as undertake to perform the Office 
 of a Phyfician to the Sick, in three Parts, founded on 
 
 Facts fupported by Reason, and confirmed by Ex- 
 perience. 
 
 16. Letters on the Sacred Predictions, herewith 
 publifhed. 
 
ERRATA. 
 
 In P. 6. L. 12. r. XXX. p. 12. 1. 24. r. faying, p. 
 15. 1. 16. dele av£f«. p. 17. 1. 3 3 . for excepted, r. accepted. 
 p. 18. 1. 23. for Angles, r. Angela p. 21. 1. 2. r. Genera- 
 tion, p. 28. 1. ll. for is, r. it. p. 30. 1. 11. for when, r. 
 where, p. 65. 1. 14. r. *£<?/<?. p. 66. 1. 4. r. Sins. p. 80. 
 1. 2. /or /*, r. in. 
 
A 
 
 LETTER 
 
 T O T H E 
 
 Inhabitants of London and 
 Westminster, &c. 
 
 'HEN the Inhabitants of any City, of 
 Country* have long revolted from 
 God, when Iniquities have long a- 
 bounded among them, they then 
 have Reafon to fear, and to expert a 
 Suffering under theDivineVengeance. 
 When they have long enjoyed the Means, and 
 Opportunities of Knowing God, and his Will, and 
 their Duty to him, and yet ftubbornly remain re- 
 gardlefs of them, and obftinately perfift in Difobe- 
 dience to hys Commandments, they then have the 
 ftrongeft Arguments from the Nature of Things, 
 and the Threatening of the Divine Law, to be very 
 apprehenfive that Deftruftion from the Almighty 
 may btfal them, 
 
 A 2 II 
 
4 Sacred Declarations, &c\ 
 
 It is faid in Heb. x. 26 — 31 . If we Jin wilfully af- 
 ter that we have received the Knowledge of the 'Truth, 
 there remaincth no more Sacrifice for Sin, kit a certain 
 J earful looking for of Judgment, and fiery Indignation, 
 which fhall devour the Adverfaries [of God.] He that 
 defpifed Mofe*s haw died without Mercy under two, 
 cr three Wilneffes : Of how much forer Punifhment, 
 fup'ofe ye, fhall he be thought worthy, who hath trod- 
 den under Foot the Son of God, and hath counted the- 
 Blood cf the Covenant, wherewith he was fantlified, 
 an unholy Thing, and hath doneDefpite unto the Spirit of 
 Grace : For we know him that hath faid, Vengeance 
 belongeth unto me, faith the Lord. And again, The 
 Lord /hall judge his People. It is a fearful Thing to 
 fall into the Hands of the Living God. 
 
 That the Inhabitants of L and W 
 
 have Jono;, and mod dreadfully provoked the Wrath 
 of the Holy God, and go on ftill multiplying the 
 Provocations of his deftroying Judgments, is unde- 
 niably evident from what his Lordfloip the Bifihop of 
 London, in his moft feafonable and ferious Letter to 
 the Clergy and People of thefe Cities, has very juftly 
 obferved. , 
 
 The Righteous God has not only manifefted amaz- 
 ing Patience and Forbearance towards us, and the 
 feft of the People of Great Britain ; but he has, 
 through a Courfe of many Years, and by various 
 Diipen iations of his Providence, both merciful and 
 afflicting, been calling us to Repentance, and Re- 
 formation, calling us to feek Peace with him : And 
 he has given awful Tokens of his Indignation, on 
 the account of the numberlefs Sins againft him, by 
 which the Land is polluted ; Tokens that the Time 
 of his tremendous Vifitation for Sin is very near ; 
 nay, but rather that is already begun. 
 
 I maHoniy mention Two Particulars out of many, 
 
 v'z. 1. The Mortality, which, for fome Years, 
 
 .has been dcitroying the larger Cattle 5 by which 
 
 Govl 
 
Sacred Declarations, &ci 7* 
 
 God plainly admonifhes us, that if we will not be 
 reformed by fuch Judgments, he will deftroy our 
 Perfons. 2. The Earthquakes, which have 
 lately happened, i. The Morrality among the 
 Cattle is one fearful Token. For after God had 
 threatened to inflict divers Calamities on his People, 
 if they would not hearken to him, and would not 
 do all his Commandments, if they Ihall defpife his 
 Statutes, or if their Soul fhould abhor his Judg- 
 ments, fo that they would not do all his Command- 
 ments, but break his Covenant ; I fay, after God 
 had denounced various Judgments to be inflicted on 
 them for their Sins, one of which was, that he would 
 deftroy their Cattle. (Lev. xxvi. 22.) He fays, If ye 
 will not be reformed by me, by thefe 1 kings, but will 
 walk contrary unto me, then I will alfo walk contrary 
 unto you, and willpunifh you /even Times for your Sins. 
 And I will bring a Sword upon you, that fhall avenge 
 the Quarrel of my Covenant : And when ye are gathered 
 together within your Cities, I will fend the Peftilence 
 among you, and ye fhall be delivered into the Hand of 
 the Enemy. Vid. Lev. xxvi. 23, 24, 25. 
 
 The Holy God, by continuing the mortal Sicknefs 
 among the Cattle, tells us, that his Wrath is not 
 turned away from us, that we muft repent, and a- 
 mend our Way?, or expect to feel his Vengeance 
 in our Perfons ; and by the flow Progrefs of the 
 Mortality among the Cattle, through a Courfe of 
 feveral Years, he fhews himfelf a moft merciful 
 God, and that he is loth todtftroy us. Therefore, 
 
 If People will not hearken to the Almighty, but s 
 go on in their TrefpafTes, their Guilt will be mod 
 hemoufly aggravated, and the Righteoufnefs of God's 
 deftroying Judgments will be moit confpicuous, 
 when they fhall be executed. 
 
 The other Token of God's Diipleafure and Con- 
 troverfy with us, are the Earthojjak.es, which 
 
 have 
 
6 Sacred Jbeclaratiom, &c'. 
 
 have lately happened, not only under thefe Two 
 
 great Cities, but in other Parts of this Kingdom. 
 
 Earthquakes are the Productions of the Al- 
 mighty Power of God ; and happen only when and 
 where he commands them to happen : No Aftrono- 
 mer, no Philofopher, can tell when or where the ter- 
 rible and mighty Convulsions of the Earth fhall 
 be : No, no more than they can tell when theWind 
 will change from Eaft to Weft, or to any other Point 
 of theCompafs, or how long it mall blow from this 
 or that Quarter, or when it fhall raife Storms and 
 Tempefts: And although natural Caufes may be 
 employed in producing ibch Effects, yet it is God 
 •who manages thefe natural Caufes, and who can re* 
 ftrain, or quicken their Agency as he pleafes, and 
 who always does fo. 
 
 It is the Mighty God, who makes the Earth to 
 tremble; therefore faid David (Pfalm lx. 12.) O 
 God, thou haft caft us off, thou haft fcattcred us, thou 
 haft been diff leafed ; turn thy/elf to us again. Thou 
 haft made the Earth to tremble, thou haft broken it : 
 Heal the Breaches thereof, for it jhaketh. 
 
 The Lord is the true God, and an everlafting King : 
 At his Wrath, the Earth fhall tremble, and the Na- 
 tions fhall not be able to abide his Indignation, faid the 
 Prophet, Jer. x. 10. 
 
 And the Prophet Jfaiah, declaring God's Indig- 
 nation againft the Inhabitants of Jerufalem, for their 
 Sins, fays to them •, Thouffjalt be vifited of thehord of 
 Hofts with Thunder, and with Earthquake, and great 
 Noife, with Storm, and Tempeft, and the Flame of 
 devouring Fire, Ifaiah xxix. 6. 
 
 And doubtlefs, when any other People fall under 
 the like Guilt, they fall under the like Threatenings, 
 which will be executed when ever the Lord pleafes. 
 
 The Divine Power is never idle, or inactive: As 
 it did act in die Creation of the Univerfe, fo it is 
 
 always 
 
Sacred Declarations, &c, 7 
 
 always acting in upholding, preierving, and regulat- 
 ing all the Parts of it : and fome Things appear to? 
 be the immediate Effects of the Divine Agency ; 
 particularly, the Courfe of the Wind, whence, and 
 whither it blows, Storms, and Tempefts, Thunder- 
 ings, and Lightenings, and Earthquakes. They that 
 go down to the Sea in Ships, that do Bu/inefs in great 
 Waters ; theft fee the Works of the Lord, and his Won- 
 ders in the Veep. For he commandeth, and raifeth the 
 ft or my Wind, which lifteth up the Waves thereof, Pfal. 
 cix. 23, 24, 25. 
 
 The Agency of the Power of God appears like- 
 wife in his Management of Things in the Moral 
 World, the Concerns of rational Creatures, the 
 Things in which Nations, Cities, and Families, and 
 particular Perfons are concerned. Shall there be Evil 
 in the City, and the Lord hath not done it, it is faid, 
 Amos iii. 6. 
 
 Famines, and Pestilences, and Earthquakes 
 are tremendous Judgments of the Almighty and 
 Holy God, by which Multitudes have been deltroy- 
 ed ; yet, tremendous as they are, they are men- 
 tioned by our BlelTed Saviour as foregoing Signs of 
 greater Miferies. For after he had foretold them, 
 he fays, All thefe are the Beginning of Sorrows. Mat. 
 xxiv. 8. 
 
 And have not Famines, and Pejlilences, and Earth- 
 quakes, been lately in divers Places ? And hath not 
 the Inhabitants of Great Britain, and its Cities, long, 
 even through the Courfe of many Years, been pro- 
 voking the Mod High ? Have they not been re- 
 gardlefs of his Laws, affronting his Authority, and 
 defying his Juftice, and his Power ? And do they 
 not ftill go on in their evil Ways, and in a dreadful 
 Rebellion a gainft him ? And what will be the End of 
 fuch a defperate Courfe 1 Are not greater Calamities, 
 find greater Deftru&ions of Sinners, to be feared, 
 and expected ? 
 
 Th c 
 
8 Sacred Declarations^ &e. 
 
 The Prophec Ifaiab having expoftulated with the 
 Inhabitants of Judab for their Wickednefs, and In- 
 corrigibienefs, under thofe Judgments, which had 
 been inflicted on them, adds, {Ifaiab i. 24.) There- 
 fore faith the Lord, the Lord of Hofts, the Mighty One 
 of Ifraely Ah, I will eafe me of mine Adverfaries, and 
 avenge me of mine Enemies. And who are thefe ? 
 Doubtlefs, all who lead ungodly Lives : They evi- 
 dently appear to be God's Enemies by their wicked 
 Works : and inexpreflible are the Terrors of the 
 Time, when the Righteous God (hall avenge him- 
 fclf of them. 
 
 I may like wife obferve, that after the Prophet had 
 faid to the Lord, Thou haft forfaken thy People, he 
 fays to the People, Enter into the Rock, and hide 
 thee in the Duft for Fear of the Lord, and for the 
 Glory of his Majefty, (vid. Ijaiab ii. 6, 10.) And he 
 foretels their going into the Clefts of the Rocks, and 
 into the Tops of the ragged Rocks, for Fear of the 
 Lord, and for the Glory of his Majefty % when he fhall 
 arife to fhake terribly the Earth. 
 
 When the incorrigible Sinners fhall come to fee 
 the dr^adrul Execution of God's threatened Judg- 
 ments, when the Arrows of his Wrath fhall fly 
 thick around them, when they (hall hear nothing 
 but dreadful Tidings, when they (hall hear and fee 
 of many Families, and Multitudes deftroyed, or re- 
 duced to extreme Diftrefs and Mifery, who a little 
 before enjoyed Health, Profperity, and Peace ; 
 when Dangers thicken about them, when their 
 guilty Souls (hall be filled with horrible Fears, they 
 may fly from their Dwellings, and feck hiding 
 Places for their Security, but they cannot fly from 
 God, nor get out of the Reach of his Arm : Whi- 
 therfoever they fhall go, the Jul! God is there; if 
 in the City there comes a Pcflilence, or Famine, 
 without it the Sword may devour. 
 
 And 
 
Sacred Declarations, &c. 9 
 
 And altho' the Wicked, in a Time of Tranquil- 
 lity, may for a while be ftupid, and fearlefs, yet 
 when God proceeds in a Controverfy with them, he 
 will make their Hearts to ach, and their Flefh to 
 tremble, and fill their Souls with Confirmation, and 
 amazing Terrors. Then the Sinners in Zion will be 
 afraid, then Fearfulnefs will furpri/e the Hypo- 
 crites. 
 
 There is Reafon, as I have obferved, to think that 
 the Day of the Lord's Vifitation of this Land for Sin 
 is begun, and proceeding; and therefore the Hearts 
 of ungodly Sinners may well faint with the Ap- 
 prehenfion of the Evils that may juftly be ex- 
 pected. 
 
 I fay not thefe Things to drive any to Defpair, 
 but to excite them immediately to feek Peace, and 
 Reconciliation, with the Holy God, through Faith 
 in the Bleffed Jefus, who is both able and willing to 
 fave even the chief* of Sinners, who return to Gcd 
 •through him. 
 
 There is ftill Room to hope for Mercy and Par- 
 don. Therefore it is that the Lord ftill waits, even 
 that he may be gracious unto us. 
 
 If the Inhabitants of our Cities, if the People of 
 our Land, will, like the Ninevites, believe God, and 
 faft and humble themfclves, and cry mightily unto 
 God, and turn every one from his evil Ways, and 
 from the Violence that is in their Hands, God will 
 turn from his fierce Anger, and we mail not perifti. 
 (vid. Jonah iii.) 
 
 For the Lord hath faid, At what Inftant 1 pall 
 [peak concerning a Nation, and concerning a Kingdom-., 
 to pluck up, and to full down, and to dejlroy it ; if 
 that Nation, againft whom I have pronounced, turn 
 from their Evil, I will repent of the Evil that I 
 thought to do unto them. Jer. xviii. 7, 8. 
 
 B But 
 
jo Sacred Declarations, &c. 
 
 But we can have no well-grounded Hope of es- 
 caping the ddiroving Judgments of God, of God 
 long provoked, till we fee a great Reformation in 
 our C:t ; os and Nation. 
 
 Reformation is the Thing which the World, and 
 the i )\ God do loudly call for ; and that 
 
 I may thro' the divine Blefiing be an Inflrument of 
 his : a fihful People to Repentance, Faith, 
 
 and H linefs, in Heart and Life, 1 fnall give an Ac- 
 count of fouie Sprts of Perfons, whom God will 
 punifh in .he Day of his awful Vifitation for Sin. 
 
 T::e Word of the Lord is the Derifion of pro- 
 fane Sinners in thefe Days, no lefs than in Time 
 pa'ft ; yet the divine Providence is always fulfilling 
 his V- ord. 
 
 Well did David fay to God, Thou haft magnified 
 thj Word above all thy 'Name \ Pfal. exxxviii. 2. The 
 Word of God is the Sword of the Spirit (Ephef vi. 
 xvi'O It is the great Means by which the holy 
 Spirit fubdues Sinners, and brings them to the Obe- 
 dienc e of Faith, and by which he enableth Believers 
 to conflict with, and overcome their fpiritual Ene- 
 mes, the Principalities, and Powers, and the Rulers 
 of the Darknefs of this World. 
 
 But the Generality of People are Strangers to the 
 Word of God, a' d many who feoff at it never read 
 jt; ye in.' Time will come, will furely come, when 
 al: Men will be made to know fomewhat of it, for 
 they will be judged according to it. 
 
 It ;s certainly very feafonable, and needful, when 
 God is rifen out of his Place to punifh the Inhabi- 
 tants of the the Earth for their Iniquities, very need- 
 ful, I fay, to acquaint them with what the Word of 
 the Lord nas fpoken concerning various Sorts of 
 Sinners, and let them obferve whether God in the 
 Courfe of his Providences will not act according to 
 the Qeclaratioris upon Record in his holy Word ; 
 and confider whether it is not their lntereft, as well 
 
 as 
 
Sacred Declarations, &<*. T i 
 
 as Duty, to feek Peace with God, that fo they may 
 efcapethe Evil he has threatned. 
 
 And it deferves the mod ferious Notice, and 
 Confideration, that the following Sorts of Perfon9 
 are particularly threaded with Punifhments in the 
 Day of God's Vifitation for Sin : And happy will it 
 be if thofe guilty Sorts of People, fhall ponder in 
 their Minds, what the Lcrd hath faid concerning 
 them, and be prevailed with to fly from that Wrath 
 which is coming on the Children of Difobedience, 
 by flying to theblefTed Jefus with the Wings of Faith, 
 and becoming his true Difciples, new Creatures in 
 him, fanctified by his Spirit, and made fruitful in 
 Holinefs by Union, and Fellowmio with him. 
 
 I. Thofe Ministers of the Word of God, of 
 every Denomination, who either fet bad Examples, 
 or live in the Neglect of the Duty they owe to the 
 People under their Care, are one Sort of Perfons 
 particularly threatned by the holy God. 
 
 I mention thefe by Way of Preface, becaufe they 
 are as Stewards of the Myfteries of God (i Cor. iv. 
 I.) and have in Charge to teach the People, the 
 Doctrines, the Statutes, the Commandments and 
 the Ordinances of God ; and becaufe their bad Ex- 
 amples, and Neglect of the Duties of their Mi- 
 niftry, are fad Occafions of Irrcligion, and Wicked* 
 nefs among the People. 
 
 In Ifaiah v. 6, 9 — 12. the Word of the Lord 
 fays, All the Beafis of the Field come to devour, yea, 
 all the Bedfts of the Forefi. His Watchmen are blind, 
 they are all ignorant, they are all dumb Dogs, they cannot 
 bark •, fleeping, lying down, loving to /lumber. Tea, 
 they are greedy Dogs, which can never have enough, 
 and they are Shepherds that cannot underjiand : : They 
 all look to their own Way, every one for his Gain from 
 his Quarter. Come ye, fay they, I will fetch Wine, 
 and we will fill our/elves ivith fir eng Drink, and to- 
 B 2 morrow 
 
12 Sacred Declarations, &V. 
 
 morrow flail be as this Day, arid much more abun- 
 dant. 
 
 By Watchmen, and Shepherds, were meant the 
 Prophets and Priefis, who, in the Days of Isaiah, 
 were Minifters of the Word of God, who ought to 
 have underftood it, and been able to inftruct the 
 People in it, able to teach them, what God would 
 have them to know, to believe, and to do •, they 
 ought to be Men free from Avarice, and of great 
 Sobriety. 
 
 The Paflages cited fliew, that the following Sorts 
 of bad Minifters, are plainly threatned with De- 
 ftruction in the Day of the Lord's Vifitation. 
 
 i. Thofe Minifters, who are ignorant, ignorant 
 of thofe Things, which God would have them 
 teach the People, and fo are no more capable of 
 performing their Office, than Watchmen who are 
 blind can fee an approaching Danger, and thereup- 
 on give Warning of it, or guide People in the Way 
 ihey mould go, but are like dumb Dogs, that can- 
 not bark to give Notice when a Wolf is coming : 
 Their Ignorance rendering them incapable of ac- 
 quainting the People under their Care, with the 
 Dangers their Souls are expofed to. 
 
 2. Thofe lazy, carelefs Minifters, who wilfully 
 n 'gle6fc to perform the Duties of their facred Func- 
 tion, and indulge themfelves in Eafe, Idlenefs, and 
 Sloth. This is manifeftly imported in thofe Ex- 
 preflions, Jleeping, lying down, and loving to /lum- 
 ber. 
 
 3. Thofe covetous Minifters, who, tho' negligent 
 of the Service they owe to their People, yet are for 
 getting as much from them as they can, making 
 their own fecular Intereft their chief Concern. This 
 is plainly fignified by thofe Words, viz. they are 
 greedy Dogs, which can never have enough — they all 
 look to their own Way, every one for his Gain from his 
 Quarter. 
 
 4. Thofe 
 
Sacred Declaratio?ts y &c. 13 
 
 4; Thofe tipling Minifters, who are fond of 
 flrong Liquors, and encourage others to drink with 
 them to excefs, and fpeak Words, and act according 
 to the Import of Verfe 12. Come ye, fay they, I 
 will fetch Wine, and we will fill our [elves with firong 
 Drink, and To-morrow flo all be as this Day, and much 
 more abundant. 
 
 In Jerem. ii. 8, 9. are thefe Words, viz. The 
 Priejls /aid not, Where is the Lord ? And they that 
 handle the haw knew me not, the Paftors alfo tranf- 
 greffed againft me, and the Prophets prophejied by 
 Baal, and walked after Things that do not profit. 
 Wherefore I will yet plead with you, faith the Lord, 
 and with your Children's Children will I plead. 
 
 Thefe Words {hew, that the holy God has a 
 Controverfy with ungodly Minifters, who are deftU 
 tute of the faving Knowledge of him, and live in 
 Difobedjence to him ; fuch Minifters, inftead of 
 obtaining a Bleffing on their Children, expofe them 
 to a Curfe, and the Lord will deal with thofe Pa- 
 rents in a Way of Wrath. 
 
 In Jerem. xxiii. 2. it is written, Therefore thus 
 faith the Lord God of Ifrael againft the Paftors, that 
 feed my People, Ye have fcattered my Flock, and driven 
 them away, and have not vifited them : Behold ! I 
 will vifit upon you the Evil of your Doings, faith the 
 Lord. Which Words fhew, that God will vifit 
 upon fuch Paftors, as will not faithfully perform 
 their Duty, but neglect the Care of their People, 
 that he will vifit upon them the Evil of their 
 Doing. 
 
 The Apoftle not only taught the People publickly, 
 but from Houfe to Houfe, teaching Repentance 
 toward God, and Faith toward our Lordjefus Chrift 
 (kcAtls xx. 20, 21.) but thofe Minifters who will not 
 imitate the Example of the Apoftle, but neglect to 
 vifit their Sheep, and behave fo, as to drive them 
 
 from 
 
14 Sacred Declarations, &c t 
 
 from attending the facred Miniftrations, provoke 
 the Anger of God, and have Reafon to expect a 
 Feeling the bitter Effe&s of it. 
 
 In Ezek. xxii. 26, 31. the righteous God fays, 
 Her Pricfls have violated my Law, and have profaned 
 mine holy Things : They have put no Difference be- 
 tween the Holy and Profane, neither have they floewed 
 Difference between the Unclean and the Clean, and 
 have hid their Eyes from my Sabbaths, and 1 am pro- 
 faned among them. I have confumed them with the 
 Fire of my Wrath : Their own Way have I recom- 
 penfed upon their Heads, faith the Lord God. Thefe 
 Palfages fhew, that thofe Miniflers of God in facred 
 things, who (regardlefs of their Duty) admit un- 
 godly Perfons to thofe divine Ordinances which are 
 the peculiar Privilege of the Righteous, and reject 
 the Righteous for whom they were appointed, and 
 who will not look into, and obferve the Laws of 
 the Sabbath, to keep it holy, have Reafon to be 
 afraid, that the juft God will pour out his Indigna- 
 tion upon them, and confume them in the Day of 
 his Vifitation for Sin. 
 
 Happy for them will it be, if thofe Minifters of 
 the Word of God, who are the Objects of the 
 Threatnings mentioned, fhall confider and lay them 
 to Heart, and make the right Improvement of 
 them. 
 
 II. Profane Perfons, who feoff at ferious Things, 
 who deride the Providence, or the Word, or the 
 Commandments, or the Sabbaths, or the Ordi- 
 nances, or the Worfhip, or the People of God, 
 are Objects of his Vifitation and Wrath. 
 
 The Words and Actions of thefe Perfons fhew 
 an Enmity againft God, and an impious Contempt 
 of his Authority, and Laws, and a proud Difdain of 
 his People : And they bring upon themfelvcs the 
 Character of Scorners, or of being fcornful. 
 
 a In 
 
Sacred Declarations , &c. 15 
 
 In Prov. iii. 33, 34. it is faid, TZ^ C«r/£ of the 
 
 Lord is in theHoufe of the Wicked furely hefcorneth 
 
 the Scorners. And in Prov. xix. 29. it is declared, . 
 $hat Judgments are prepared for Scorners. And 
 therefore this Sort of Sinners have Reafon to think, 
 that divine Judgment will come heavy upon them 
 in the Day of the Lord's Vifitation. 
 
 Scorners are dangerous Inhabitants of a City, for 
 k is faid, Prov. xxix. 8. Scornful Men bring a City 
 into a Snare. 
 
 Thefe are Tranfgreflors of the firft Command, 
 which, as it forbids the having any other God, fo it 
 fignifi.es, that it is our Duty to acknowledge, love, 
 and reverence the true God, and have Refpect to all 
 his Statutes, and Ordinances, which thefe Sinners 
 contemn and defpife. 
 
 III. Idolaters. There are two Sorts of Idolatry, 
 one, a Tranfgreffion of the firft of the Ten Com- 
 • mandments, the other, a Violation of the Second 
 of them. 
 
 And thofe Perfons are guilty of tranfgrefling the 
 firft Commandment, who own, or acknowledge 
 any Creature as God, or who pay religious Refpect 
 or Reverence, by any inward Action of their 
 Minds, or Gefture of their Body, to any Creature 
 as God and the Object of their Worlhip. 
 
 Tnefe Actions are an Acknowledgment of fuch a 
 Creature as God, and is the having another God be- 
 fore theFace, or befides Jehovah, the one only living 
 and true God ; and is the Sin, the Idolatry forbid- 
 den in Exod. xx. 3. where the Almighty fays, Thou 
 Jhalt have no other God, before Me. 
 
 Arid this is a moft heinous Impiety ; becaufe it 
 is an Acknowledgment of divine Perfections, Wif 
 dom, Knowledge, Holinefs, Power, and Goodnefs, to 
 be the Attributes of fuch a Creature, and a giving 
 to fuch a Creature the Glory due to God alone. 
 
 And 
 
1 6 Sacred Declarations ', &c; 
 
 And fince God has given to Man an Understand- 
 ing to know Things, and a rcafoning Faculty to 
 draw proper Conclufions, it is the more abfurd and 
 irrational in Man, to entertain an Apprehenfion, 
 that any material Subitance is poiTtHed with the At- 
 tributes of that Being who formed it. 
 
 The fecond Commandment forbids Mens making 
 any Images to be the Means of religious Worfhip- 
 
 ing the true God As the firft Commandment 
 
 relates to the Object of divine Worfhip, fo the Se- 
 cond to the Means of it. It fays, Thou /halt not 
 make to thyfelf any graven Image, or any Likenefs of 
 any Thing that is in Heaven above, or that is in the 
 Earth beneath, or that is in the Water under the 
 Earth. Thou Jhalt not bow down thyfelf to them nor 
 ferve them. (Vid. Exod. xx. 4, 5.) 
 
 And as the Law forbids the making any Repre- 
 fentations, as the Means of Worfhip, and the per- 
 forming any bodily Actions expreflive of Reverence 
 to them ; fo it muft be underftood tor :he fame Rea- 
 fons, to forbid thofe internal Acts of the Mind, 
 which fignify a religious Devotion to them. 
 
 Worfhipp ng the true God by Means of a molten 
 or graven Image, was the Idolatry of the Children of 
 Ifrael. When the golden Calf was made, the Peo- 
 ple faid, Thefe be thy Gods, O Ifrael, which brought 
 thee out of the Land of Egypt, Exod. xxxii. 4. q. d. 
 This Image is to reprefent God, who delivered us 
 from our Bondage to the Egyptians, we will keep 
 in Remembrance our Deliverance, and exprefs our 
 Reverence of Jehovah our God, by A&s of Ado- 
 ration to this Image. 
 
 For they kept a Feaft to Jehovah, by Means of 
 that golden Calf. 
 
 Aaron made Proclamation, and faid, To-morrow 
 is a Feaft to the Lord, i. e. Jehovah. (Exod. xxxii. 
 5.) and ver. 6. it is (aid, They rofe up early on the 
 
 Morrow, 
 
Sacred Declaration, &c. \j 
 
 Morrow, and offered Burnt- offerings, and brought 
 Peace-offerings, (i. e. to Jehovah) and this they did 
 by Means of the Golden Calf, by performing their 
 Acts of religious Worfhip to it, as a Reprefentation 
 of God, who had brought them out of the Land of 
 Egypt. 
 
 Now from what has been obferved, the Nature of 
 the Sin of Idolatry is very manifeft, and the Idola- 
 try forbidden by the fecond Commandment, is a 
 very heinous Iniquity ; obfcuring from the Idolaters, 
 the Brightncfs, the Glory of the divine Majefty, by 
 making Images of Creatures, or other, real or ima- 
 ginary, Reprefentations of God, becaufe fuch Re- 
 prefentations can only excite falfe and debafing Ideas 
 of a Being who is invifible, who never was feen, or 
 can be feen •, and whofe Glory it is to be unlike 
 all fenfible Objects, and infinitely to tranfcend the 
 mofl excellent Creatures. To whom then will ye 
 liken God ? Or what Likenefs will ye compare to him ? 
 fays the infpired Prophet Ifaiah xl. 18. and v. 25. 
 To whom then will ye liken me .? or /ball I be equal ? 
 fays the holy One. 
 
 It is a vile Indignity to the great God, to make 
 any Reprefentation, or Image to be the Means of 
 worshiping him - 3 sl Practice very provoking of his 
 
 Anger. 
 
 How terrible did the holy God refent it, when the 
 Ifraelites were guilty of it. 
 
 The Lord Jaid unto Mofes, Go, get thee down ; for 
 thy People which thou brought eft out of the Land of 
 Egypt, have corrupted ihemfeives. They have turned 
 afide quickly out of the Way which 1 commanded them ; 
 they have made them a molten Calf, and have worfhiped 
 it, and have facrificed thereunto, and faid, Thefe be 
 thy Gods, O Ifrael, which have brought thee up out of 
 
 the Land of Egypt v. 7, 8. Now therefore let 
 
 me alone, that my Wrath may wax hot againjt them, 
 and that I may confume them. v. 10. 
 
 C Mofes 
 
18 Sacred Declarations, &c. 
 
 Mofes indeed prayt ' tor tht People, and God did 
 not deftroy them, though many of the Idolaters by 
 his Appointment wer Ann. 
 
 Mofes bewailed their idolatry, and faid, this 
 People have finned a great Sin, v. 27, 28. — And the 
 Lord plagued the People, becaufe they made the Calf 
 which Aaron made. 
 
 Surely the fad Examples of the Ifraelites herein, 
 and the Manifestations of God's Wrath again ft them, 
 fhould make all Men ever after afraid of worfhiping 
 even the true God by Means of any Images whatever. 
 
 It was the fame Sort of Idolatry which Jeroboam 
 King of Ifrael eftablifhed by his Authority. He took 
 Ccunfel and made two Calves of Gold, and faid unto 
 them, (i. e. his Subjects) It is too much for you to go 
 up to Jerufalem : Behold thy Gods, O Ifrael, which 
 brought thee up out of the Land of Egypt. And he fet 
 the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan. 1 Kings 
 xii. 28, 29. 
 
 And thus did Jeroboam bring the Children of 
 Ifrael to (in againlt the Lord their God. 
 
 And whoever, to exprefs, or fignify their Reve- 
 rence or Worfhip of the mod high God, mail per- 
 form Acts of Homage, Reverence, and Worfhip to 
 any Image, molten, graven, or painted, is guilty of 
 the like Idolatry. • 
 
 God. has, in very many Paflages of his Word, 
 threatned to punifh Idolaters in the Day of his Vifi- 
 tation for Sin. And there are many Initances upon 
 Record in the facred Scriptures of his having done 
 fo •, and it concerns every one that is guilty of this 
 Sin, to confider that Idolaters (hall not inherit the 
 Kingdom of God. 1 Cor. vi. 9. 
 
 IV. Proud Perfons are another Sort whom the 
 holy God has threatened to punifh in the Day of his 
 Vifitation for Sin. 
 
 Various is the Fuel for Pride, viz. fine Houfes, 
 the Ornaments for Apparel, Furniture, Gardens, 
 
 Riches, 
 
Sacred Declarations, &c. ig 
 
 Riches, and Equipage, Beauty, Learning and Ho- 
 nour, and divers other Things. 
 
 Pride is a Man's overvaluing himfelf on Account 
 of fome natural, or acquired, or imaginary Gifts, 
 or Excellencies •, it is when a Man thinks of himfdf 
 more highly than he ougiitto do. 
 
 Proud Perfons are Idols to themfelves, and Tranf- 
 greffors of the firft Commandment, and have not 
 that Love to God, that Reverence of him, or that 
 Humility of Mind which are their Duty ; and God 
 admonifhes them by awful Threatnings. 
 
 In Ifaiab ii. u, 12. the Prophet fays, The 
 lofty hooks of Man Jhall be humbled, and the Haughti- 
 nefs of Men/hall be bowed down, and the Lord alone 
 Jhall be exalted in that Day. For the Day of the Lord 
 of Hofts mail be upon every one that is proud and 
 lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up, and he jhall 
 be brought low. And in Confirmation of this it is 
 added v. ij. And the Lojiinefs of Man Jhall be bowed 
 down, and the Haughtinefs of Men Jhall be made low : 
 and the Lord alone Jhall be exalted in that Day, i. e. in 
 the Day wherein he vifits for Sin. 
 
 And concerning Women it is declared in IJaiah 
 iii. 16. Moreover the Lord faith, Becaufe the Daugh- 
 ters of Zion are haughty, and walk with ft retched 
 forth Necks, and wanton Eyes, walking, and mincing 
 as they go, therefore the Lord will f mite with a Scab 
 the Crown of the Head of the Daughters of Ziom 
 v. 17. 
 
 And the Prophet declares v. 18. In that Day (viz, 
 of Vifitation for Sin) the Lord will take away the 
 Bravery of their Ornaments, and greatly afflict them 
 (read v. 18. to the End of v. 24.) 
 
 Pride goeth before Deftruffion, and an haughty Spi- 
 rit before a Fall, it is faid Prov. xvi. 18. 
 
 The Prophet Ezekiel (in Ezek. xvi. 49.) faid to 
 the Inhabitants of Jerufalem, Behold this was the Ini- 
 quity of thy Sijier Sodom, Pride, Fulnefs of Bread (i. e. 
 
 C 2 Luxury) 
 
20 Sacred Declarations, &c. 
 
 Luxury) and abundance of Idlenefs was in her, and in 
 her Daughters. And what was the Confequence? 
 Truly, a moil: dreadful and utter Deftruction by 
 Fire and Brimftone. 
 
 This Example of the divine Vengeance (with the 
 Threatnings mentioned) they who indulge them- 
 felves in Pride, Luxury, and Idlenefs, have Reafon 
 to be afraid, when the righteous God executeth his 
 Judgments for Sin. 
 
 V. Perfons who are Lovers of Pleafures more than 
 Lovers of God, are another Sort that have Reafon 
 to expect a terrible Feeling of the Wrath of the Al- 
 mighty, when he vifits for Sin. 
 
 Senfual Delights engrofs the Affections of many 
 People. It is the chief Thing they feek after ; for 
 which they take unwearied Pains, and are at Ex- 
 pences far beyond what their Incomings will allow ; 
 and for the Enjoyment of which many impoverifh 
 themfelves and their Families. 
 
 And are not they who love Pleafures more than 
 they love God, are they not in a black Lift ? and 
 placed with Blafphemers, falfe Accusers, incontinent ', 
 fierce, Defpifers of thofe that are good, Traitors, &c. 
 See 2 Tim. iii. 2 — 4. 
 
 And do not they love their Pleafures more than 
 they love God, who neglect the Duties they owe to 
 God, for the Sake of being prefent at places of pub- 
 lick Diverfions and Entertainments ? 
 
 If a Man takes all Opportunities of- being in the 
 Company of one Acquaintance, and induftrioufly 
 fhuns the Company and Converfation of another, it 
 is plain, to a Demonftration, that he loves the one, 
 and diflikes, and hates the other. 
 
 And thus, as to the Lovers of Pleafure, it is mod 
 evident, that they are Haters of God, and fome of 
 his Enemies. 
 
 They go with ardent Defires to Plays, Operas, 
 
 and other Places of fenfual Delights, but will rot 
 
 4 endure 
 
Sacred Declaration*, &c. 21 
 
 endure the Performance of religious Exercifes in their 
 Families, or Clofets, nor will go to the Places of 
 publick Worfhip. 
 
 And will not the Moft High fhew his Indignation 
 againft thole, when he is rifen out of his Place to 
 punifh People for their Iniquities ? 
 
 What God faid concerning Babylon, manifests his 
 Indignation againft this Sort of Sinners ; and that 
 they have Caufe to expect the bitter Fruits of it. 
 Therefore bear now this, thou that art given to Plea- 
 sures, that dwelleft carelejly thefe two Things {hall 
 
 come to thee in a Moment, in one Day, the Lofs of 
 Children, and Widowhood, they /hall come upon thee 
 in their Perfection. Ifa. xlvii. 8, 9. 
 
 The Prophet fays, Woe unto them- the Harp, 
 
 and the Viol, and Tabret, and Pipe, and Wine are in 
 their Feafis, but they regard not the Work of the Lord, 
 neither confider the Operation of his Hands. Ifa. v. if. 
 
 And the Prophet Amos lays, Woe to them that are 
 
 at Eafe in Zion- Te that put far away the evil 
 
 Day, and caufe the Seat of Violence to come near ; that 
 lie upon Beds of Ivory, and fir el ch themf elves upon their 
 Couches, and eat the Lambs out of the Flock, and the 
 Calves out of the midfi of the Stall; that chant to the 
 
 Sound of the Viol that drink Wine in Bowls, and 
 
 anoint them/elves with the cl ief Ointments ; but they 
 are not grieved for the Affliction of Jofeph. See Amos 
 vi. 1 — 7. and read Dent, xxviii. 15. adfinem. 
 
 The holy God will put an End to their Pleafures, 
 and bring them to weeping, and howling, and bit- 
 ter Lamentation, when he viuts a People for their 
 Iniquities. 
 
 The Prophet fays, in Ifa. xxviii. 21, 22. For 
 the .Lord pall rife up as in Mount Pemzim, he fljcdl 
 be wroth as in the Valley of Giles n, that he may do his 
 Work, his firange Work; and bring to pafs his At, 
 his ft range A fit. Now therefore be ye not Mockers, 
 left your Bands be made fircng ; for I have heard from 
 
 the 
 
22 Sacred Declarations, &c. 
 
 the Lord God of Hefts, a Confumption even determined 
 
 upon the whole Earth. 
 
 Then the Mirth of Tabrets ceafeth, the Noife of 
 them that rejoice endeth, the Joy of the Harp ceafeth— - 
 All Joy is darkened, the Mirth of the Land is gone, 
 (Ifaiah xxiv. 8, n.) Thus it will be, when God is 
 punifhing the Inhabitants of a Land for their Iniqui- 
 ties. 
 
 Then will I caufe to ceafe from the Cities of Judah, 
 and from the Streets of Jerufalem, the Voice of Mirth, 
 and the Voice of Gladnefs, fays the righteous God, 
 fpeaking of the Time when he would inflict his 
 Judgment for the Iniquities of his People. 
 
 Thefe Declarations of the Almighty deferve the 
 Notice of them who indulge themfelves in fenfual 
 Pleafures. 
 
 VI. Profaners of the holy Name of God, are 
 another Sort of Sinners that have Reafon to expect 
 Punifhment in the Day of Vifitation for Sin. 
 
 I underftand by Profanenefs, an irreligious Treat- 
 ment, by Words or Actions, of fomewhat facred, 
 in Violation of the divine Laws concerning it. 
 
 God is greatly to be feared in the Ajfembly of the 
 Saints : and to be had in Reverence of all them that 
 are about him, (Pfalm lxxxix. 7.) Holy and reverend 
 is his Name, (Pfalm iii. 9.) 
 
 All the Names, the Titles, Attributes, the Pro- 
 vidence and Word of the Moft High, even every 
 Thing by which he has made himfelf known, ought 
 always to be mentioned and treated with Seriouf- 
 nefs and Reverence. 
 
 But all thofe Words and Actions of Men relating 
 to them, which fignify a Contempt of them, or a 
 Want of Reverence to God, are Inftances of Pro- 
 fanenefs. 
 
 Thou 
 
Sacred Declarations, &c. 23 
 
 Thoufhalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in 
 vain, for the Lord wilt not hold him guilt lefs that tak- 
 eth his Name in vain. Exod. xx. 7. 
 
 People take the Name of God in vain, when 
 they ufe or mention it for trifling and vain Pur- 
 pofes ; as many do in common Difcourfe, without 
 any Occafion ; and when it can only ferve to mew 
 an Irreverence of the Great Jehovah, and to fetbad 
 Examples to all that hear them. 
 
 But let fuch profane Sinners remember, that tho' 
 they may efcape Punimment from Men, yet the 
 Lord will not hold them guilt lefs, and let them con- 
 fider the tremendous Import of that Declaration. 
 
 It is yet a more aggravated Profanenefs of the 
 Name of God, when Men fwear falfely by it; be- 
 caufe it is an impious Calling on God, or appealing 
 to him, as Witnefs to a Falfehood, and is a con- 
 cealing of Truth, or fomething which mould be 
 known, and is often injurious to others. It is fpeak- 
 ing a Lye with an Oath. 
 
 Hear ye this — which fwear by the Name of the 
 Lord, and make mention of the God of Ifrael, but not 
 in Truth, not in Right eoufnefs, faid the holy God to 
 his People, Ifaiah xlviii. 1. Will ye fwear falfely— 
 And come, and fi and before me, and fay, we are delivered 
 to do all thefe Abominations. — Behold, even I hathfeen 
 it, faith the Lord. Therefore I will cafi you out of 
 my fight. Jer. vii. 9, 11. 
 
 Becaufe of Swearing the Land mourneth, faid the 
 Prophet, Jer. xxiii. 10. 
 
 Hear the Word of the Lord, ye Children of Ifrael, 
 (faid Hofea) for the Lord hath a Conlroverfy with the 
 Inhabitants of he Land, becaufe there is no Truth, nor 
 Mercy* ncr Knowledge of God in the Land, Therefore 
 fhall the Land mourn. Hof. iv. 1, 3. 
 
 This is the Cur fe that goeth forth over the Face of 
 the whole Lanh, for every one that Jiealelh fhall bs cut 
 
 off* 
 
24 Sacred Declarations, &e. 
 
 off, as on this Side, and every one that [wear eth shall 
 be cut off, as on that Side, according to it, it is 
 faid, Zech. v. 3. 
 
 There is yet another, and a very dreadful Sort of 
 profaning the Name of God, that is, when a Man, 
 on any Provocation from another, (hall pray to 
 God to damn him, or that the Plague may take 
 him, or that fome other Evil may befal him. 
 
 This is a profane Practice, which not only tranf- 
 greffes the Laws of God, which requires us to love 
 our Enemies, to love all Men, to pray for them 
 which defpitefully ufe us, but it is a treating God as 
 if he was to fulfil rheir malicious Defires, and to 
 make his Power to fubferve their immoral Wifhes ; 
 and fuch have abundant Realon to expect Punifh- 
 menr, when God vifits for Sin. 
 
 VII. Profaners of God's Sabbaths are another 
 Sort of Sinners, which provoke God to fend de- 
 ilroying Judgments. 
 
 The Sabbath is profaned, when People fall into a 
 Oiflike of it, and wilfully mifpend the Time of it, 
 tr.infgreffing thofe Laws,which require us to remem- 
 ber the Sabbath Day to keep it holy, /. e. to em- 
 ploy it in religious Exercifes, except what Time 
 muft be taken up in the Works of Neceflity and 
 Works of Mercy. 
 
 They who wilfully neglect the holy Convocation 
 of People, appointed to be on the Sabbath, and 
 will not give rheir Attendance on the Offices of the 
 publick Worfhip of God, but tranfact their fecular 
 Affairs, buy and fell, or receive or make Vifits of 
 Entertainment, or take their Recreations and Plea- 
 llirc on the Day, or fpend the Time in Idlenefs, are 
 Profaners of the Sabbath. 
 
 Six Days /halt thou labour, and do all thy Work, 
 (i.e. about thy worldly Affairs; but the feventh Day 
 
 is 
 
Sacred Declarations, &c. 2$ 
 
 is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God, in it thoujhalt not 
 do any Work, thou, nor thy Son, nor thy Daughter, 
 nor thy Man-Servant, thy Maid- Servant, nor thy 
 Cattle, nor the Stranger that is within thy Gates. 
 
 And the holy God fays, If thou turn away thy 
 Foot from the Sabbath, from doing thine own Plea- 
 fur e on my holy Day, and (fh-Ut) call the Sabbath a De- 
 light, the Holy of the Lord, honourable, and fhalt ho- 
 nour him, not doing thine own Ways, nor finding thine 
 own Pleafure, nor fpeaking thine own Words. 'Then 
 fhalt thou delight thyfelf in the Lord, and I will caufe 
 thee to ride upon the high Places of the Earth, and feed 
 thee with the Heritage of Jacob thy Father ; for the 
 Mouth of the Lord hath fpoken it. Ifa. Iviii. 13, 14. 
 
 It appears from thefe Paffages, that God does not 
 allow us on the Sabbath, either to do any worldly 
 Bufinefs, or to gratify ourfelves even with thofe Re- 
 creations and Pleafures, which are lawful on other 
 Days : It appears, that if we prize the Day of Sa- 
 cred Reft, and take Delight in the religious Exer- 
 cifes of it, and abftain from our own fecularWorks, 
 and Words, and Pleafures, we fliall then pJeafe our 
 moft gracious God, and have his Bleffing upon us, 
 and have his Blefling manifefted to us by kind Dif- 
 penfations of his Providence towards us : And it ap- 
 pears alfo, that if we allow ourfelves to break his 
 Laws concerning the Sabbath, we provoke his Wrath. 
 God hath promifed to them that keep his Sab- 
 baths, and choofe the Things that pleafe him, 
 and take hold of his Covenant, that he will give 
 them an everlafting Name, that jhall not be cut 
 off : That them who join themfelves to the Lord 
 to ferve him, and to love the Name of the Lord to be 
 his Servants, every one that keepeth the Sabbath from 
 polluting it, and taketh hold of his Covenant, even 
 them will he bring to his holy Mountain, and make 
 them joyful in his Houfe of Prayer. Read lfaiah Ivi, 
 
 4—8. 
 
 J} But 
 
2 6 Sacred Declarations, &c. 
 
 But mod tremendous are the Declarations of the 
 righteous Qod again ft* his own People for profaning 
 his Sabbath. 
 
 Thac is an awful Declaration of the Lord of 
 Hoftsin Ezek. xx. 21. 
 
 T'b y polluted my Sabbaths : 'Then I /aid I would 
 pour cut my Fury upon them. And this Impiety is 
 mentioned as one Caufe of defraying Judgments, 
 and of God's withrholding his Favour and Blcfling. 
 v. 13, 10, 4. 
 
 This Irrehgion is reckoned among the crying 
 5 o 1 the Inhabitants of Jerufalem, (Ezek. xxii. 8. J 
 itbou ha ft dejpifed mine holy Things, and haft profaned 
 my Sabbaths , laid the holy God. 
 
 And after the mentioning of their Provocations, 
 G i fays, (ib. v. 14. J Cm thine Heart endure, or can 
 thine Hands be ftrcng in the Days that I Jhall dxal with 
 thee ? I the Lord havefpoken it, and I will do it. And 
 I will fcatter thee among the Heathen, and difperfe thee 
 in the Countries , and will con fume thy Filthinefs out of 
 thee •, ver. 16. 
 
 Many People break God's Sabbaths without Re- 
 morie, becaufe they meet with no Punifhments 
 from Men, and becaufe the Judgments of God are 
 not fpeedily executed ; but they mult not think to 
 efcape ib in the Day of God's Vifiration for Sin : 
 The Threatnings mentioned plainly fhew, that they 
 fhall not efcape. 
 
 I have, in the foregoing Particulars, confidered 
 the Declarations of the righteous God concerning 
 fome Sorts of Perfons who are wilful, ftubborn 
 TranfgrefTors of one or other of the fourfirft of the 
 Ten Commandments, recorded in Exodus xx. and 
 I intended to have related fome of the awful Things, 
 which the Lord hath fpoken in his Word of theft, 
 who live in wilful Dilbbedience to his other Com- 
 mandments ; but that wh;ic has been written may 
 
 fopner 
 
Sacred Declarations, &c. 2J 
 
 fooner get into the Hands of thofe whom it chiefly 
 concerns, I thought it needful firft to publifh this 
 Part of what I propofed to ofier to the moll ferious 
 Thoughts of People. 
 
 The Declarations of the Judge of the whole 
 Earth, which have been related, are indeed full of 
 doleful Tidings, Tidings which may juitly fill the 
 Minds of People with an awful Fear and Dread of 
 provoking the Divine Anger, and excite them to 
 forfake their Sins. 
 
 Are not the Threatnings mentioned, the Threat- 
 nings of Almighty God, againft thofe Sorts of Per- 
 fons, who are the Objects of them ! And is not the 
 Great God able to execure them ! And will he not do 
 fo, in cafe the Guilty remain incorrigible! 
 
 And when, in Way of his Providence, he pro- 
 ceeds to fulfil his Threatnings, can the guilty Sin- 
 ners, againft whom they are pronounced, expect to 
 efcape them ? Can they fly from God ? Can they get 
 out of the Reach of his almighty Arm ? Can they 
 hide themfelves, where he cannot find them ? Can 
 any hide bimfelf in Jeer et Places, that I .(hall no fee 
 him? saith the Lord. Jer. xxiii. 24. He (ftbll 
 not be able to hide him/elf, fays God, Jer em, xlix. 
 10. 
 
 Every one has Reafon to fay unto God, as "David 
 did, Pf exxxix. 1. O Lord, thou haft fear ched me 9 
 and known me — thou under ft andeft my 'Thought afar 
 off — and- are acquainted with all my Ways — For there 
 is not a Word in my Tongue, but io, O Lord thou 
 
 knoweft it altogether. Whither floall I go from thy 
 
 Spirit? or whither fmll 1 flee from thy Pre fence? If I 
 afcend up into Heaven, thou art there : if 1 make my 
 Bed in Hell, behold thou art there. If I fay, furely 
 the Darknefs floall cover me -, even the Night /hall be 
 Light about me ; yea, the Darknefs hideth not from 
 thee. 
 
 D 2 Thefc 
 
28 Sacred Declarations, &c. 
 
 Thefe are certain Truths : How vain and foolifh 
 is it then for guilty.ftubborn Sinners to feek by Flight 
 a Safety from the Judgments God has denounced 
 againft them. 
 
 But is there no Hope ? Is there no efcaping the 
 Wrath and Vengeance of the holy God ? I anfwer, 
 there is none by Flight, none by Riches, none by 
 human Power or Policy. 
 
 Yet, blelTed be the merciful God, there is fome 
 Hope remaining •, there is a Door of Hope, opened 
 by the gracious Declarations, and kind Invitations 
 whichAlmighty God, infinite in Goodnefs, has made 
 to thofe who provekrd him to deftroy them. 
 
 Wafhye, make you clean (fays our God who de- 
 lights in Meicy, Jfaiab i. 16, &c.) Put away the 
 Evil cf your Doings from before mine Eyes, ceafe to do 
 Evil, learn to do well, feck Judgment, relieve the Op- 
 preffed, judge the Fatherkfs, 'plead for the Widow. 
 
 Come now, and let us reafon together, faith the 
 Lord: Though your Sins be as Scarlet, they flo all be as 
 white as Snow -, though they be red like Crimfon, they 
 fhall be as Wool. 
 
 Jf ye be willing and obedient, ye floall eat the Good 
 cf the Land. v. 19. Which implies not only that 
 God would then pardon them, and forbear to inflict 
 thejudgments threatened againft them, but alio that 
 God would blefs them, and provide carefully for 
 them. 
 
 It is added, ver. 20. But if ye refufe, and re- 
 bel, ye ftoall be devoured with the Sword: for the 
 Alouih of the Lord hath fp-oken it. Signifying, that 
 if they would nor repent of their Sins, but go on in 
 their Trefpaffes, and continue their Rebellion againft: 
 God, they mould certainly be deftroyed. 
 
 In Jerem. xviii. 7, 8. our merciful God fays, At 
 what Infant I fhall fpeak concerning a Nation, and 
 concerning a Kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and 
 
 to 
 
Sacred Declarations, &c. '29 
 
 to dejtroy it, if that Nation, againfi whom 1 have -pro- 
 nounced, turn from their Evil, I will repent of the 
 Evil that I thought to do unto them. 
 
 In Ezek. xxxiii. 11. As I live faith the Lord God, 
 I have no Pleafure 0h the Death of the Wicked, but 
 that the Wicked turn from his Way, and live : Turn 
 ye, turn ye from your evil Ways : for why will ye die, 
 O Houfe of Ifrael ? 
 
 In Ezek. xviii. 21, 22. it is faid, But if the Wic- 
 ked will turn from all his Sins that he hath committed, 
 and keep all my Statutes, and do that which is lawful 
 and right, he fhall furely live, he /hall not die. All his 
 Tranfgreffions that he hath committed, they fhall not be 
 mentioned unto him. 
 
 How amazing is the Mercy of God ' What En- 
 couragement is here to engage the Wicked to turn 
 from their evil Ways, to repent of their Sins, and to 
 return to God and their Duty ? How mould the 
 Loving-kindnefs of God make us afhamed of the 
 Tranfgreffions and Offences we have committed a- 
 gainft him ! Is God willing to be reconciled to us, 
 notwithftanding the Multitudes and Heinoufnefs of 
 our Crimes ! and willing fo perfectly to forgive 
 them, that they fhall not be even mentioned to us for 
 a Reproach, and Condemnation, if we turn from all 
 our Sins, and confcientioufly keep all his Statutes, 
 and do that which is lawful and right. And fhall we 
 not be thankful for the wonderful Manifeftations of 
 Divine Grace, and return unto the Lord our God! 
 O that there was fuch an Heart in all the Wick- 
 ed ! Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, (fays the 
 Prophet) call ye upon him while be is near. Let the 
 Wicked for fake his Way, and the unrighteous Man his 
 Thoughts : and let him return unto the Lord, and he 
 will have Mercy upon him, and to our God, for he will 
 abundantly pardon. Ifa. lv. 6, 7. 
 
 Te 
 
30 Sacred Declarations, &c. 
 
 Te are gone away from mine Ordinances, and have 
 not kept them: Return unto me, and I will return 
 unto you, faith the Lord of Hofis. Mai. iii. 7. 
 
 Therefore fay thou unto them, Thus faith the Lord of 
 Hofis, Turn ye unto me, faith the Lord of Hofts, 
 and I will turn unto you, faith the Lord of Hofis, 
 Zech. i. 3. 
 
 Now thefe glorious Declarations of God, are cer- 
 tain Evidences that God is willing to be reconciled 
 to Sinners, notwithstanding the Number of their 
 Sins, and although they have long lived in Difobe- 
 dience to him : They mew that there is a Way, and 
 a fure Way to Reconciliation and Peace with him, 
 a fure Way to obtain Forgivenefs, and the Favour 
 of God •, and therefore a fure Way to Safety, Com- 
 fort, and Happinefs. 
 
 But what is the Way by which Sinners may re- 
 turn to God ? This is a moft important Enquiry, 
 and our Bleffcd Saviour anlwers it in Johnxw. 6. 
 Jefus faith unto him, (that is, to Thomas, ver. 5.) / 
 cm the Way, and the Truth, and the Life : No Man 
 cometh unto the Father, but by me. 
 
 The fure Way of returning to God acceptably, is 
 through Faith in Chrift Jefus, the only Saviour, 
 and the only Mediator between God and Man. 
 
 Faith in Chrift: is the only Way to obtain Salva- 
 tion from our Sins, and Peace with God, I am the 
 Door -, by me if any Man enter in, he floall be faved, 
 faid our companionate Saviour, John x. 9. 
 
 Look unto me, and be ye faved, all the Ends of 
 the Earth, faith our gracious Redeemer, Ifaiah xlv, 
 22. 
 
 This is the Way that God in his Word has re- 
 vealed, and directs us to. 
 
 And it is what the Minifters of the Gofpel are to 
 inftruct us in. 
 
 They 
 
Sacred Declarations , &c. 3 1 
 
 They are to acquaint us, that there is a Fountain 
 opened for Sin, and for Uncleannefs, {Zech. xiii. 1 .) 
 in which we may wafh, and be clean : They are to 
 preach that the Blood of Jefus Chrijl, cleanfeth us 
 from all Sin, ( 1 John i. y.) if we believe in his 
 Name. 
 
 They are to preach Repentance towards God, and 
 Faith toward our Lord Jefus Chrift, (A5ts xx. 21.) 
 and to publifh thofe Declarations , which the God of 
 Mercy and Salvation has made in his Word, con- 
 cerning thofe that repent of their Sins, and believe 
 in the Lord Jefus, fuch as the following, viz. 
 
 Atts ii. 38. Repent, and be baptized, every one of 
 you, in the Name of Jefus Chrijl, for the Remiffion of 
 Sins, and ye fh all receive the Holy Ghofi. 
 
 Alls iii. 19. Repent ye therefore, and be converted, 
 that your Sins may be blotted out, when the Times 
 of Refrefhing fhall come from the Prefence of the 
 Lord. 
 
 • And that in John iii. 16. viz. God fo loved the 
 World, that he gave his only begotten Son, that who- 
 foever believeth on him (hould not periflo, but have ever- 
 lafling Life. 
 
 John i. 12. As many as received him, to them gave 
 he Power to become the Sons of God, even to them that 
 believe on his Name. 
 
 John xii. 46. I am come a Light into the World, 
 (faid our gracious Saviour) that whofoever believeth 
 on me, fhould not abide in Darknefs. 
 
 Acls xvi. 31. It is faid, Believe on the Lord Jefus 
 Chrijl, and thoufloali be faved. 
 
 Thefe facred Declarations of God, fhew plainly 
 that there is a Way, and a fure Way to obtain the 
 Pardon of Sin and eternal Life, and they fhew to 
 us what this Way is, viz. the Way of Repentance 
 and Faith ; or the turning from our Sins, and re- 
 turn- 
 
32 Sacred Declarations, &c. 
 
 turning to God, and the Obedience we owe unto 
 him ; and the receiving Chrift, as our Saviour, and 
 Prince, and trufting in him alone for Salvation. 
 
 And other Declarations recorded in the divine 
 Word, do manifeft that this Way is the Way to 
 Safely, Comfort, and Happinefs. 
 
 It is the Way to Safety. For in Deut. xxxiii. 
 12. it is faid, The beloved of the Lord fh all dwell in 
 Safety by him, and the Lord fhall cover him (or pro- 
 tect him from Evil) all the Day long. 
 
 And in Prov. xviii. 16. it is faid, The Name of the 
 Lord is aflrong Tower ; the Righteous rnnneth into 
 it, and is fafe. 
 
 In John xi. 18, 19. Thou fh alt take thy Reft in 
 Safety. Alfo thou fhall lie down, and none fhall make 
 thee afraid. 
 
 In Ifa. xxxii. 18. Our God fays, My People fhall 
 dwell in a peaceable Habitation, and in fur e Dwellings, 
 and in quiet rifting Places. 
 
 And that it is the Way to Comfort appears from 
 fuch Declarations as the following, viz. 
 
 Pfal. cxix. 165. Great Peace (and therefore much 
 Com fort J they have which love thy Law, and nothing 
 (hall offend them. 
 
 In Pfal. cxii. 7. it is faid, He fhall not be afraid of 
 evil Tidings ; his Heart is fixed trufting in the 
 Lord. 
 
 In Pfal. xxix. 11. it is declared, that, The Lord 
 will blefs his People with Peace. 
 
 It is the good Pleafure of our heavenly Father, 
 that they who love and ferve rfrm, fhould enjoy in- 
 ward Peace and Confolation. 
 
 Comfort ye, comfort ye, my People, faith your God. 
 Ifa. xl. 1 . 
 
 Comfort ispromifed to repenting Sinners in Ifa. 
 lvii. 18. I have feen his Ways, and will heal him .• 
 I will lead him alfo, and reft ore Comforts unto him. 
 
 And 
 
Sacred Declarations, &£, 33 
 
 And the bleffed Jefus has promifed unto his 
 
 Difciples the holy Spirit as a Comforter in John xiv. 
 
 16. faying, I will pray the Father, and he /hall give 
 
 you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for 
 
 ever. . 
 
 This Way is alfo a fure Way to Happinefs, to 
 Happinefs both in this World and in that which is 
 to come. 
 
 It is declared in 1 Tim. v. 8. That Godlinefs is pro- 
 fitable unto all Things, having the Promife of the Life 
 that now is, and of that which is to come. 
 
 The Abundance of precious Promifes, Promifes 
 of Bleffings, fpiritual and temporal, in this World 
 to ferious Chriftians, who believe in the Lord Jefus, 
 and love, and ferve God in Holinefs and Righteouf- 
 cefs, the Promifes of an eternal Salvation, of a 
 Crown of Glory, of an everlafting Life, and of 
 eternal Inheritance, (Heb. ix. 15.) are Evidences 
 that there is a fure Way to Happinefs. 
 
 The Apoftle Peter fays, Bleffed be the God and 
 Father of our Lord Jefus Chrift, which, accord- 
 ing to his abundant Mercy, hath begotten us again 
 unto a lively Hope, by the Refurreclion of Jefus- 
 Chrift from the Dead, to an Inheritance incorruptible, 
 undefiled, and that fadeih not away, referved in Hea- 
 ven for you, 1 Pet. i. 3, 4. 
 
 In this World, many are the Afflictions of the 
 Righteous, tho' few, very few, in Comparifon with 
 the° Numbers of the Mercies they enjoy ; and 
 light, very light, in Comparifon with the Weight 
 and Importance of the Bleffings God has beftowed 
 on them : But God is prefent with them in all their 
 Afflictions, he puts under them the everlafting Arms, 
 and will moft certainly deliver them out of all their 
 Troubles. 
 
 He will make all Things to iffuewell unto them, 
 as appears from that Declaration, Rom. viii. 28. 
 
 E vir > 
 
34 Sacred Declarations, &c. 
 
 viz. All things work together for Good to them that 
 
 love God, to them vuho are the. Called according to his 
 
 Purpofe. 
 
 I have now (hewed from the infallible Word of 
 GoJ, the Way that leads to the Suffering of his 
 Wrath in this World, and to an endlefs Deftruc- 
 tion in the next ; and alio the Way, and the fure 
 Way to Safety, Comfort, and Happinefs, here and 
 for ever hereafter. 
 
 1 fhall now conclude this Letter, with a brief Ad- 
 drefs to thofe Sorts of Perfons,- whom the righteous 
 God has threatned with Punifhments in this World. 
 
 And let me intreat fuch of you to confider the 
 awful Threatnings denounced againft you. You 
 are the Objects, the miferable Objects of the divine 
 Anger. The Lord's Indignation is againft you, 
 his terrible Controverfy is with you. You have been 
 hitherto heaping up Wrath againft the Day of 
 Wrath ; the Day of his wrathful Vifitation for 
 Sin. 
 
 And tho' he may fuffer many Individuals, in 
 each Sort of Sinners, to efcape, in this World, his 
 threatned Vengeance, yet Multitudes will be de«» 
 ftroyed, and by a dreadful Violence be fent to 
 take their dreadful Abode with Devils refer ved in 
 Chains under Darknefs to the final Judgment. 
 
 And you do not know, that you fhall not be 
 fome of this Multitude. 
 
 O ponder this in your Thoughts, and reafon 
 with yourlelvts in the following Manner, as you 
 have goo-i Caufe to do r o, viz. 
 
 u How lamentabl. is my Condition ! how fearful 
 V are the Threatnings of the Almighty ! how 
 " fhall I be able to bear the Execution of them ! 
 " How bitter are the Reflections on the Iniquities 
 " of my Heart and Life ! What Advantage, 
 " what Confohtion have I, or can I have from 
 " thole Sins, which I have indulged ! How mon- 
 
 " flrous, 
 
Sacred Declarations, &c 4 35 
 
 " ftrous, how heinous, how aggravated are the 
 " Sins which I have been guilty of, and wilfully re- 
 ¥ peated, Times without Number! Alas ! what will 
 " become of me, if I ft ill go on in my evil Ways ! 
 *' God be merciful to me a Sinner ! a vile Sinner,"a 
 " mod Hell- defer ving Sinner ! And may fuch a 
 " one as I, hope for any Mercy ? Is there a Way 
 " for fuch a TranfgrelTor as I have been, to ob- 
 ¥ tain Pardon, and Peace, and Reconciliation with 
 M the holy God, whom I have fo much, and fo 
 " long offended ? 
 
 " Yes, O my Soul ! there is a fore Way, even 
 " for the Chief of Sinners, to obtain all that 
 " Mercy, Salvation and Happinefs, which guilty 
 " and wretched Creatures do want. 
 
 " The Declarations, the kind Declarations 
 ¥ of God which I have read in this Letter, and 
 Si which are recorded in the facred Scripture, are un- 
 ¥ deniable Proofs of it. 
 
 An Address to GOD. 
 
 a 
 
 M And now, O moft gracious God, I humbly 
 praifc and thank thee for them •, I now renounce 
 all my Sins with Shame and Grief: I confefsthem 
 with a Loathing of them, and acknowledge that 
 thou mighteft moft juftly deftroy me. But, O 
 fpare me for Chrift's Sake ! for thy Mercy Sake ! 
 " I believe that the Lord Jefus is both able and 
 willing to fave even the Chief of Sinners, and fuch 
 a vile SiriP.tr as I have been. I believe him to be 
 the promifed Saviour ! Lord increafe my Faith ! 
 Help me againft Unbelief! I take the Bleffcd Je- 
 fus to be my Saviour, and humbly bcieech thee 
 by thy holy Spirit, thoroughly to convert, renew, 
 and fanctifv me! and do thou work continually 
 in me both to wiil, and to do of thy good Plea- 
 fure ! 
 
36 Sacred Declarations, &c'. 
 
 " I now devote myfelf to thee, to be thine in ari 
 ** everlafting Covenant ! I befeech thee from this 
 *' Time to incline, and enable me to live according 
 44 to the holy Rules of thy Word.'* Amen, for 
 Jefus Chrift his Sake. 
 
 Suitable Reflexions, 
 
 " O my Soul reflect upon it, and confider the 
 44 wonderful Patience of God towards thee, in not 
 •' pouring out his Plagues upon thee, and fending 
 44 thee down quick into Hell ! Think on the Riches 
 44 of his Mercy manifefted in giving thee this 
 44 Hour for renouncing thy Sins, and for accepting 
 44 the Saviour whom his Love provided ; and think 
 44 on his Grace in helping thee, by his holy Spirit, 
 •' to return to him through Chrift ; and to truft in 
 44 Chrilt. Jefus alone for Salvation. 
 
 44 Happy Tranfaction, between God and my Soul 
 44 this Hour ! 
 
 " If I had remained thoughtlefs, and inconfide- 
 •• rate, and perfifted in my evil Ways, fome de- 
 '* flroying Judgment might have put an End to my 
 •* Life while I was fo doing ; and then the impor- 
 ** tant Tranfaction could never, never be performed. 
 
 44 But fince I have been through Grace enabled to 
 44 accept of Chrift, and am become one of his Dif- 
 ** ciples ; fince I have devoted myfelf to God, and 
 44 renounced all my Tranfgreflions, I have great 
 4t Reafon to delight in God, as my God, and to re- 
 u joice in Chrift Jefus, as being now my dear Lord, 
 44 M after, and Redeemer. 
 
 41 And may well hope, that whatever Confufions, 
 •' and Calamities may happen in this Country, or 
 44 City, my Condition for Eternity is fafe, and will 
 44 be happy. Now I may lay afide all Fears of 
 44 D^ath, even when the killing Arrows (hall fall 
 4t - thick around me. 
 
 « Fcr 
 
Sdtred Declarations, &c. 37 
 
 « For to a good Man, the Day of Death is bet- , 
 «< ter than the Day of his Birth, and when his Sou 
 " becomes abfent from his Body, it will be prefer* 
 «« with the Lord, and the earthy Houfe of this 
 «« Tabernacle (viz. of his Body) mall be diflblved; 
 i « he has a Building of God, an Houfe not made with 
 " Hands, eternal in the Heavens. 2 Cor. v. 1 . 
 
 " And although in this World I may have Trou- 
 « ble, yet I may well hope for Peace in Chrift 
 « Jefus ; and therefore by the Help of the Holy 
 « Spirit I will continue feeking to, and trufting in 
 " the bleffed Jefus, and endeavour faithfully to ferve 
 " my God and Saviour to the utmoft End of 
 " Life." 
 
 Thus may every one that repents of his Sins, and 
 thankfully accepts of Chrift to be his Saviour, and 
 Lord, as he is freely offered to all Sorts of Sinners 
 in the Gofpel •, thus, I fay, may every fuch Perfon 
 -reafon within himfelf, and be comforted. 
 
 I will only add, that it is my earned Prayer for 
 thofe who have hitherto been regardlefs or God , of 
 an Intereft in Chrift and their Duty, and thoughtlefs 
 of the Concerns of their immortal Souls, and hi- 
 therto walked in Ways of wilful Difobedicnce to the 
 pure and holy Commandments of God, that they 
 may by his Spirit have the foregoing Thoughts 
 made their own, and their Souls inclined, and en- 
 abled to perform thofe Acls fignified by the Ex- 
 preffions in the Addrcfs to God. 
 
 O merciful God ! hear this Prayer, and grant 
 thefe Petitions for Jefus Chrift's Sake' and lor the 
 glorious Manifeftation of the Energy and Sove- 
 reignty of thy Grace, and of the Riches of thy 
 Love ! Amen. And let every one that (hall read 
 thefe Papers fay Amen. 
 
 FINIS, 
 
This Day is Publijhed, 
 
 The Hand of the Lord upon the Cattle, confi- 
 dered and improved, 
 
 IN a Sermon Preached at Northampton, December- 
 7, 1749. On Occafion of the prefent Morta- 
 lity amonglt the Cattle. 
 
 By SAMUEL KING. 
 How do the Beajis groan ? the Herds of Cattle are per- 
 plexed. Joel i. 18. 
 Printed for J. Buckland, in Paternofier-Row. 
 [Price Four-pence.] 
 
 Where may alfo be had, 
 
 I. A Discourse on the Favour of God to the 
 Wicked, the Evil and Danger of abufing his Good- 
 nefs, and not being reformed by his Judgments and 
 Threatnings. On Occafion of the late Earthquakes. 
 
 By JOHN GREENE. 
 
 JZe fure your Sin will find you out. Numb, xxxii. 23. 
 
 [ Price 4-d. or 3 s. 6d.per Dozen. ] 
 
 II. A Dialogue on the Sin of Lying, between 
 a Matter and his Servants. 
 
 Lying Dps are Abomination to the Lord. Prov. xii. 22. 
 He xhdXfpeaketh Lies /hall per ijh. Prov. xix. 9. 
 
 A proper Book in every Family, and a fit Prefent 
 from Majiers and Mijlrejfes to their Servants, from 
 Parents to their Children, and from the Rich to 
 the Poor ; and to Children in Charity-Schools. 
 
 The Second Edition, Corrected, and a little Enlarged. 
 [Price 6 d. or 5 s. per Dozen.] 
 
LETTER 
 
 T O T H E 
 
 Inhabitants of London and West- 
 minster, and all other Parts of 
 Great-Britain, &c. 
 
 J£ HAVE in my former Letter con- 
 is!; fidered fome of the Declarations of 
 ^|lp the Holy God, concern ing_/h;£/z Sorts 
 (c3|l of Peffons ; Declarations, which fig- 
 ^<)lpi nify that he has appointed them for 
 'fe> fufferins the fearful Effects of his 
 
 Wrath in the Day of his Vifitation for Sin ; and 
 happy for them will it be, if they (hall read; 
 and ferioufly confider what has been related ; and 
 if they fhall without Delay repent of their Sins, 
 and by a Faith unfeigned accept of Chrift Jefus, 
 as their only Saviour, and join themfelves to the 
 Lord in a perpetual Covenant, never to be for- 
 gotten : Then will their State be fafe for Eternity, 
 then, in what Manner foever, and whenever Death 
 fhall happen to them, their Entrance into the invi- 
 fible World, the World of Spirits, and their Ap- 
 pearance before the more immediate, and glorious 
 Frefence of God will be mod joyful : Then they will 
 be admitted to an inexpreflibly more full Enjoyment 
 of our God and Saviour, than any Saints ever had 
 
 B on 
 
2 Sacred Declarations, &c. 
 
 on Earth ; then they will be in the Company, and 
 in Communion with the Patriarchs, and Prophets, 
 and A potties, and the Spirits of juft Men made 
 perfect ; thofe happy Souls, who would not be 
 again in this Vale of Tears, in this Wildernefs of 
 Snares, expos'd to Temptations, Dangers, and 
 Troubles, for ten thoufand Worlds : And even as 
 to this World, as foon as ever a Sinner is convinced 
 of his guilty and miferable Condition by Nature, 
 and Practice, and thereupon repents and believes in 
 the Lord Jefus, and is converted from his evil Ways, 
 our merciful God is reconciled to him, forgives all 
 his Iniquities, adopts him into the Number of his 
 dear Children, and makes him an Heir of Heaven : 
 The Almighty becomes his God in a Covenant Re- 
 lation, and his Portion ; and therefore, he may then 
 have Peace, and Joy, whatever Vials of divine 
 Wrath fhall be poured out upon the Earth, for the 
 Wickednefs of thofe who dwell in it. 
 
 Such pious Perfons may be comforted, and fay 
 with the Pfalmift, Pfal. xlvi. i, &c. God is our Refuge 
 and Strength, a very prefetit Help in Trouble. There- 
 fore will we not fear (tho' dreadful Earthquakes 
 happen, nay) though the Earth be removed, and tho* 
 the Mountains be carried into the midjl of the Sea, 
 though the Waters thereof roar and be troubled, though 
 the Mountains fhake with the Swelling thereof : There 
 is a River, the Streams whereof fhall make glad the 
 City of God (there are fuch Communications of 
 Grace, Bleffing, and Comfort, as fhall make glad 
 the Hearts of the Inhabitants of the City of God, 
 the true Members of his Church) God is in the 
 midft of her, fhe fhall not be moved, God fhall help her 
 and that right early. The LORD of Hofis is with 
 us, the God of Jacob is our Refuge. 
 
 The Safety, the Comfort, and the Happinefs of 
 thofe, who through the divine Grace have an Intereft 
 in Chrift, 'and which any others (who hitherto re- 
 main 
 
Sacred Declarations, &c. 3 
 
 main impenitent, unbelieving, and difobedient) may- 
 yet obtain, mould excite all Sorts of Sinners to at- 
 tend to whatever may be propofed from the Word 
 of God, in order to promote their Converfion to 
 him, and excite them to fly from that fearful Wrath, 
 which is coming apace on the Children of Difobe- 
 dience. 
 
 Indeed, they who have hitherto been regardlefs of 
 God, and of a Saviour, and negligent of the Con- 
 cerns of their never-dying Soulc, and have lived in 
 the allowed Practice of Sin, may well reafon thus 
 with themfelves, viz. " Since there is a God, an 
 " Holy, and a Mighty God ; fince thefe Scriptures 
 " called the Bible, contain the Declarations of his 
 " Will, and fince in thofe facred Scriptures are re- 
 " corded not only Promifes of Bleflings to thofe who 
 " knOw, and love, and ferve the Lord ;. but like- 
 ** wife Threatnings of heavy Judgments againft va- 
 " rious Sorts of Perfons, who live in wilful Dif- 
 " obedience to his Laws, who provoke his Anger, 
 " and continue to do fo ; I will no longer be flupid, 
 " and thoughtlefs, but will read the Declarations of 
 " the Righteous God, and obferve whether I am in 
 £ « one or other of thofe Sorts of Perfons, whom he 
 " has marked out for fuffering Punifhment in a time 
 " of general Calamity, in the time when Multitudes 
 " will be deftroyed by divine Judgments : And 
 " now, O moft merciful God, I humbly befeech 
 " thee to help me to read thy Threatnings with 
 M Attention, and do thou fo imprefs my Mind by 
 " thy holy Word, that I may not only know the 
 " Evils threatned againft ftubborn Tranfgreffors of 
 " thy Laws, but be inclined, and enabled to follow 
 " the Directions of thy Word, for gaining thy 
 " Favour, and the Salvation I want.*' 
 
 I wiffi that fuch a Difpofition of Mind, as is fig 
 nified by the foregoing Expreffions, was in every ir~ 
 B 2 religious 
 
4 Sacred Declarations, &c. 
 
 religions Perfon, that fhall take this Letter into his 
 Hands. 
 
 Tii ere are fevcral Sorts of Perfons,who live in wilful 
 DiloDedience to one or other of the/fo laft of the Ten 
 Commandments, and who are Objects of tremend- 
 ous Declarations upon Record in the Sacred Scrip- 
 ture-, and it greatly concerneth fuch toconfider what 
 the Lord hath fpoken of them. 
 
 And therefore I proceed to take thefe into Con- 
 fkleration, viz. 
 
 VIII. Rebellious Perfons. Thefe are another 
 Sort under the Threatnings of the Holy God. 
 
 Rebellion is a wilful Oppofition to the Autho- 
 rity, and lawful Commands of natural, or fpirUual 9 
 or civil Parents. 
 
 It is God's Ordinance that natural Parents mall 
 have Authority, and a Right of ruling, and com- 
 manding their Children ; and that thofe whom God 
 has fct among his People as ipiritual Guides, and 
 Teachers of his Word, of his Doctrines and Pre- 
 cepts, mail have Authority to inltruct the People in 
 them, and to require them to believe his Doctrines, 
 and to obey his Precepts ; and likewife, it is the 
 Will of God that Kings, and fubordinate Magifl rates, 
 fhall have Authority over their Subjects to Com- 
 mand Obedience to thofe Laws which are confident 
 with the divine Precepts, and for the Good of the 
 Community. 
 
 As to natural Parents, The Moral Law of God, 
 a Law in all Nations, and in all Ages of equal 
 Fore-' : This Law fays, Honour thy Father and thy 
 Mother, that thy Days may be long upon the Land 
 which the Lord thy God giveth thee, Exod. xx. 12. 
 m Ephef. vi. f, 2, 3. it is wri ten, Children obey 
 your Parents in thd Lord : For this is right. Honour 
 thy Father and thy Mother (which is the Jirji Com- 
 mandment 
 
Sacred Declarations, &c. 5 
 
 mandment with Promife) that it may be well with 
 thee, and that thou mayeft live long on the Earth. 
 
 The Honour, and Obedience, which God re- 
 quires Children to render to their Parents, fhou'd 
 chearfully be performed by them, as a Part of that 
 Conformity, which they owe to the divine Precepts, 
 (God having appointed their Parents to be their 
 Teachers, Guides, and Governors) and as fome 
 Return (tho' not equivalent) to the Obligations they 
 are under for their Lives, their Maintenance, their 
 Education, and for the tender Care of them under 
 SicknefTes, and other Afflictions, and Troubles, and. 
 for their Expences, and Diligence to introduce them 
 into a comfortable Way of Subfiftence for them- 
 felves, and new Families, when they are grown up 
 to fettle in the World. 
 
 But if Children are refractory, and difobedient, if 
 they come to defpife, and miftreat their Parents, 
 and inftead of adminiflring Comfort to them, they 
 bring Difgrace upon them, and occafion heart- 
 breaking Sorrows, and Griefs unto them •, they fub- 
 vert the Order, God has eftablifhed, they throw 
 the Families to which they belong into Confufion, 
 they are found in the Number of the Rebellious, and 
 greatly provoke the Wrath of the Almighty, and 
 are among rebellious Perfons. 
 
 The alwife, and righteous God pronounces fuch 
 Children rebellious, and commanded that they fhou'd 
 be put to death. In Deut. xxi. 18, 19. the iupreme 
 Lawgiver laid, If a Man has a ftubborn, and rebellious 
 Son, which will not obey the Voice of his Father, or 
 the Voice of his Mother, and that when they have 
 chaften'd him, will not hearken unto them : Thenfloall 
 his Father and his Mother lay hold on him, and bring 
 him cut unto the Elders of his City, and unto the Gates 
 of his Place : And they ji hall fay unto the Elders of his 
 City, This our Son is fiubborn, and rebellious, he will 
 not obey our Voice, he is a Glutton, and a Drunkard, 
 
 And 
 
6 Sacred Declaratio?Js, &c. 
 
 And all the Men of his City, fhall Jlone him with 
 Stones, that he die : Sofhalt thou put away Evil from 
 among you , and all J frael fhall hear, and fear. 
 
 It appears from thefe Pailages that a Courfe of 
 wilful Difobedience to Parents, was by God's Ap- 
 pointment a capital Crime, a Crime to be punifhed 
 with Death : And that altho' the Punifhment has 
 not for many Ages been inflicted by Men, and 
 Children on this Account are more fearlefs of being 
 guilty of the Crime, God is neverthelefs provoked, 
 and it may be reafonably apprehended (tho* the 
 guilty are fullered toefcape Punifhment among Men) 
 that God will not fuffer them to efcape, when he 
 vifits a Land for the Iniquities of thofe that dwell 
 in it. 
 
 As for thofe whom God has appointed to be spi- 
 ritual Guides to his People, Teachers, and Miniflers 
 of his Word, we have the following Laws to direct 
 our Behaviour towards them, viz. 
 
 In Theff. v. 12, 13. where St. Paul fays, We be- 
 feech you Brethren, to know them, which labour among 
 you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonifh you -, 
 and to ejieem them very highly in Love for their Works 
 Sake. 
 
 In Heb. xiii. 7. it is written, Remember them which 
 have the Rule over you, who have fpoken unto you the 
 Word of God: Whofe Faith follow, confidering the 
 End of their Converfation. And in the 17th Verfe 
 of that Chapter it is faid, Obey them that have the 
 Rule over you, and fubmit your J "elves : For they watch 
 for your Souls, as they that mufi give Account, that 
 they may do it with Joy, and not with Grief : For 
 that is unprofitable for you. 
 
 Thefe divine Precepts teach us the following Par- 
 ticulars, viz. 1. That it is our Duty to refpect, and 
 love the Minifters of the Gofpel, and to become 
 acquainted with thofe of them whofe Labours we 
 attend. 2. That fo far as they deliver to us the 
 
 Word 
 
S-acred Declarations , &c. 7 
 
 Word of God, it is our Duty to receive it, and to 
 be obedient to it : But it is our Duty alio to examine 
 every Doctrine they teach, and every Inftruction, 
 which (as a Matter of Practice incumbent on us) 
 they inculcate : We are, I fay, to examine them by 
 the facred Scriptures, and not to receive them merely 
 becaufe delivered by our Teachers. 
 
 The Word of the Lord plainly (hews, he would 
 have us to take this Courfe. 
 
 When our blefled Saviour preached to the Jews y 
 he directed, and commanded them to fearch the 
 Scriptures, fee John v. 29. he appealed to thofe fa- 
 cred Writings as a Proof of the Verity of his Doc- 
 trine, faying, they, are they which teftify of me. 
 
 The Commendation given of the Bereans, {Alls 
 xvii. 1 1.) on the Account that they fearched the Scrip- 
 tures daily (to know) whether thofe Things (the A- 
 poftle preached) were fo ; that is, were according to 
 them, is an Evidence that God wou'd have us to exa- 
 mine by the Scriptures, the Things we hear preached. 
 
 And our doing this is a Matter of Importance, 
 as we may reafonably conclude from the Injunction 
 which Chrift gives to all People, Mark iv. 24. 
 Take heed what you hear. This Precept imports, 
 that it is the Duty of every one, that hears, to ex- 
 amine by the Scriptures what is fpoken, and there- 
 by to judge, whether it is true, and fit to be re- 
 ceived, or not. 
 
 " Further, That we are thus obliged, appears from 
 Ifa. viii. 19, 20. in the 19th Verfe the Prophet 
 mews the People, that they ought not to be in- 
 fluenced by thofe, who would perfuade them to 
 feek for Inftruction and Direction to them that have 
 familiar Spirits, but fhou'd apply themfelves to God, 
 and his Word, if they wou'd know his Will, and 
 their own Duty. Shoudnot a People feek unto their 
 God ? To ths Law, and to the Tejiimony : If they (if 
 Men, or Angels from Heaven) fpeak not according 
 
 to 
 
8 Sactrd Declarations, &c. 
 
 to this Word (the "Word of the Lord delivered by 
 his Servants the Prophets; it is becaufe there is no 
 Light (or Truth) in them. 
 
 And again, i John iv. i. ic is faid, Believe not 
 every Spirit, but try the Spirits, whether they are of 
 God : Becaufe many falfe Prophets are gone out into 
 the World. 
 
 But if any People (hall oppofe, or obftruct the 
 Minifters of the Gofpel in the faithful Performance 
 of their Office, and in preaching, not their own 
 private Opinion, but the Word of God, they are 
 guilty of an heinous Sin, and hinder the Succefs of 
 the Gofptl Miniftry, and greatly provoke God ; and 
 alfho' they may not be liable to Punifliment from 
 Men, yet they have Reafon to fear the the EfFe&s 
 of the divine Dsfpleafure, when the Judgments of 
 the Almighty are brought on a Land for the Ini- 
 quities of the People. 
 
 As forcings and fubordinate Magljlrales, God 
 by his Law requires thofe under their Authority to 
 honour, and to obey them. 
 
 Kings, and Queens may be confidered as political, 
 or civil Parents. Kings Jhall be thy Nurfing-fathers, 
 and their Queens thy Nurfwg-mothers, it is faid in 
 Ifaiah xlix. 23. 
 
 The great God has faid. Honour the King ( 1 Pet. 
 ii. 1 7. J I counlel thee to keep the King's Command- 
 ment, and that, in Regard of the Oath of God. (It 
 is written in Eccles. viii. 2.) 'That firft of all, Sup- 
 plications, Prayers, InterceffionSs and giving of Thanks 
 be made for all Men : For Kings, and for all that are 
 in /Authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable 
 Life in all Godlinefs and Honefy. For this is good, and 
 acceptable in the Sight of God cur Saviour. (1 Tim. ii. 
 1, 2, 3.) Curfe not the King, no not in thy Thought. 
 Eccles x. 21. Thou malt not revile the Gods (the 
 Judges, as the Word is tranflated in the Margin) 
 nor curfe the Ruler of thy People^ (Exod. xxii. 28.) 
 
 The 
 
Sacred Declarations, Sec. 9 
 
 The holy God by his Apoftle fays, Let every Soul 
 be fubjebl unto the higher Powers. For there is no 
 Power but of God: The Powers that be, are ordained 
 of God Whofoever therefore refifieth the Power, re- 
 fifteth the ordinance of God: And they that re/ijl, fkall 
 receive unto themfelves Damnation. Rom. xiii. i, 2. 
 
 And therefore, they who refufe due Honour and 
 Obedience to the lawful IVLgiftrate, have Reafon to 
 be afraid of the divine Wrath in the Day when 
 God vifits a Land for the Iniquities of the Inhabi- 
 tants. The Apoftle adds, Wilt thou not then be 
 afraid of the Power, &c. Ye mufi needs be fubjeel 
 not only for V/rath, but alfofor Conference Sake, tor, 
 for this Caufe, pay you Tribute alfo ; for they are God s 
 Minijlers, &c. Render therefore unto all their Dues : 
 Tribute, to whom Tribute is due, Cuflom, to whom 
 Cuftom, Pear, to whom Fear, Honour, to whom Ho- 
 near. See Rem. xiii. 3, 5, 7. 
 
 It is a Charge committed to the Minifters or the 
 
 " Word of God to teach the People the Duty they 
 
 owe to their civil Governours ; in Tit. in. 1. Put 
 
 them in mind to be fubjeel to Principalities, and Powers, 
 
 and to obey Magijirates. 
 
 And the divine Law fays to the People, Submit 
 yourfelves to every Ordinance of Man for the Lord s 
 'Sake: Whether it be to the King, as Supreme -, or 
 unto Governours, as unto them that are fent by him 
 for the Punifhment of evil Boers, and for the Praife 
 of them that do well. 1 Pet. ii. 13, 14- 
 
 Fear thou the Lord, and the King : And meddle 
 not with them that are given to Change. For their 
 Calamities floall rife fuddenly, and who knoweih the 
 Ruin of them both. See Prov. xxiv. 2 r, 22. 
 
 It may well be obferved, that thofe who realt 
 
 Magiftrates in the right Exercife of their Authorities, 
 
 and rebel againft their lawful Governours, not only 
 
 expofe themfelves to eternal Damnadon in the nexe 
 
 * q World, 
 
io Sacred Declarations , &c. 
 
 World, but bring upon themfelves, and their Fa- 
 milies, Ruin, and Deftrudion in this. 
 
 It appears from the Hiftory of Nations, and King- 
 doms that Multitudes of Ferfons, and Families, have 
 been ruined and deftroyed for the Sin of Rebellion 
 againft their lawful Governours. 
 
 The Confideration hereof fhou'd reftrain all Peo- 
 ple from oppofing either the juft authority of their 
 King, or of the fubordinate Magiftrates. 
 
 IX. Oppressors are another Sort of Perfons, 
 who have Reafon to fear the Effects of God's 
 Wrath in the Day of his Vifitation for Sin. 
 
 As Rebellion includes in it the various Sorts of Mif- 
 behaviour, and Oppofition of Inferiors to their Su- 
 periors in Authority •, fo Oppression comprehends 
 the feveral Abufes, which Superiors in Authority, or 
 Power, are guilty of towards their Inferiors, 
 
 When they exact from Perfons fubject to them 
 Contributions, or bodily Labours, which are not 
 due, or when they reftrain their natural Liberties, 
 without legal Authority, or R.eafon. they are Op- 
 preflbrs, and may be reckon'd among the Tranf- 
 greflbrs of the fifth Commandment, which mud be 
 underftood not only as obliging Inferiours to the Per- 
 formance of the Duties they owe to their natural, 
 ipiritual, and civil Parents, to all in Authority over 
 them, and to forbid every Thing that is inconiiftent 
 with the Practice of thofe Duties, fo very reafonably 
 it fhou'd be underftood to oblige all in Authority, 
 and Power, faithfully to difcharge the Duties they 
 owe to thofe who are fubjeft to them, and likewife 
 to forbid every Thing that is inconfiftent therewith, 
 and confequently to forbid Oppreffion. 
 
 The Nature of the Sin of Oppreffion, according to 
 the Account of it in Holy Scriptures, will be evident, 
 if we con fid er Exod. iii. 7, 9. The Lord fcid, I have 
 furely feen the /iffliclion of my People, which are in 
 Egypt, and have heard their Cry, by Reef on of e uyk- 
 
 Mafters, 
 
Sacred Declarations, &c. 1 1 
 
 Maflers, for 1 know their Sorrows. — And 1 have alfo 
 feen the Opprefjion, wherewith the Egyptians opprefs 
 them. 
 
 The Oppreffton, which Pharaoh, and his People 
 were guilty of towards the Ifraelites, was the re- 
 quiring of them unreafonable Labours, and fetting 
 over them Tajk-Mafiers, to affliff them with their 
 Burdens, Exod. i. u. 
 
 But this Abufe of Authority, and Power, this 
 Miftreatment, Tyranny, and Cruelty towards In- 
 feriors is very provoking to the merciful God. 
 
 It is an Iniquity which God has threatened terribly 
 to punifh. In lfa. xlix. 20. God fays to his People, 
 I will feed them that opprefs thee with their own Flefh, 
 and they fhall be drunken with their own Blood, as with 
 fweet Wine, and in Jer. xxx. 26. the Almighty fays 
 i" will punifh all that opprefs them. 
 
 Thus fpeaketh the Lord of Hofis, faying, Execute . 
 true Judgment, and/hew Mercy, and Compaffion, . every 
 Man to his Brother. And opprefs not the Widow, 
 nor the Father lefs, nor the Stranger, nor the Poor, and 
 let none of you imagine Evil againfi his Brother, in 
 your Heart. Zech. vii. 9, 10. 
 
 / will be afwift Witnefs — againfi ihofe that opprefs 
 the Hireling in his Wages, the Widow, and the Fa- 
 therlefs, and that turn afide the Stranger from his 
 Right, and fear not me, faith the Lord of Hofis. 
 Mai. iii. 5. 
 
 If Parents treat their Children with unreafonable 
 Severity, and withold from them, what, according 
 to their Rank, and Circumftances in Life, and the 
 Occafions of the Children, fhould be allowed them, 
 they are guilty of the Sin of Opprefiion. 
 
 If Mailers make their Servants to ferve with Ri- 
 gour, and by exacting unreafonable Labours, or by 
 not allowing them Food convenient in fufficient 
 Quantity, they imbitter their Lives, they are alio 
 guilty of OppreiTion. 
 
 C 2 If 
 
1 2 Sacred Declarations, 6cc. 
 
 If Men of Riches, or Power, bear hard on their 
 Inferiors, retrench the Liberties they have a Right 
 unto, or put them unnrafonably to Trouble, they 
 are guilty of OpprefTion. St. James faid, Do not 
 rich Men opprefs ycu, and draw you before the Judg- 
 ment-Seats ? James ii. 6. 
 
 But the Lord will be a Refuge for the opprefjed, 
 Pfal. ix. 9. Thus faith the Lord, execute Judgment 
 in the Morning, and deliver him that is fpoiled out of 
 the Hand of the Oppreffor, left my Fury go out like 
 Fire, and burn that none can quench it, becaufe of the 
 Evil of your Doings, Jer. xxi. 12. 
 
 As theft; Words mew the Indignation of the righ- 
 teous God againft thofe who can, and will not de- 
 liver the OpprefTed from their OppreiTors, fo they 
 manifeft that the Wrath of almighty God is greatly 
 provoked by the Iniquity, and Cruelty of OppreiTors ; 
 and 1 hat fuch unmerciful Perfons have Reafon to 
 expect Punifhment, not only hereafter, but even in 
 this World, when the righteous God vifits a Peo- 
 ple for their Sins. For he fhall have Judgment with- 
 out Mercy, that hath floewed no Mercy : Saith the 
 Word of the Lord, James ii. 13. 
 
 X. Murderers mu ft be reckoned one Sort of 
 Perions appointed to fuffer the Vengeance of God 
 bom in this World, and the next. 
 
 Lie is a Murderer, that defignedly, and malicioufty 
 takes away the Life of another, and he is a Tranl- 
 greffor of the fixth Commandment, which lays, 
 Thou /halt not kill, Exod. xx. 13. 
 
 And the juftGod has appointed that all fuch mall 
 be put to death. Whofo JJjeddeth Man*s Blood, by 
 Man fjall his Blood befhed, faid the fovercign Lord 
 of Life and Death. Gen. ix. 6. He that fmiteih a 
 Man fo that he die, ft all fur tly be put to Death, Exod. 
 xxi. 1 3. If a Man come prefumptuoufly upon his 
 Neighbour, to flay him with Guile, thou fhalt take him 
 from mine Altar, that he may die, fays God, Exod. xxi. 
 
 '3. 
 
Sacred Declarations, &c. 13 
 
 13, 14. In Numb. xxi. 13. the Almighty fays, 
 Ye /hall take no Satisfaction for the Life of a Murder* 
 er 9 which is guilty of Death : Bui he Pall furely be 
 put to Death. 
 
 The Con federation of thefe Laws mould deter all 
 Men from the Crime of Duelling. 
 
 There is no Duel fought, but one of the Parties 
 gives the Challenge; and the Occafion of it is fome 
 Injury, fome Provocation either imaginary, or real. 
 
 Oftentimes it is imaginary, fome Words or Be- 
 haviour of the Perfon challenged, mifreprefented, or 
 mifunderftood ; and a cool Inquiry into the Cafe, 
 would prevent a Quarrel, and confirm a Friendfhip. 
 
 But fuppof? the Challenger has indeed been mif- 
 treated, and fuffered a real Injury, the Laws of God, 
 and of the Land have provided a Remedy, and the 
 Law is open to be ufed for obtaining Juftice to one, 
 any Way really injured. 
 
 The injured Perfon muft not murder the Man 
 that has offended him ; fuch a cruel A&ion, is a 
 fubverting, in that Cafe, all the Laws, divine, and 
 human, made to prevent fo heinous a Crime. 
 
 And what is the Apology for his wicked Chal- 
 lenge ? Is it that his Innocence of fomething he has 
 been falfely accufed of may be vindicated, and made 
 manifeft ? 
 
 This is belt done in an open Court of civil Judi- 
 cature, where the real State of Things may become 
 evident by the Teftsmony of WitnefTes on both 
 Sides. But his Innocence can never be cleared by 
 his endeavouring to kill, and murder the Perfon that 
 has falfely accufed him, nor by his expofing him- 
 felf to be murdered by the other. And the true 
 State of the Cafe between the Duellers after their 
 Battle, may continue to the Publick, in as much 
 Darknefs and Uncertainty as before, becaufe of the 
 different Accounts o{ it by the Friends of each Party. 
 
 Or, is the Reafon of the Challenge to get Satif- 
 
 ia 
 
 q 
 
 ion 
 
14 Sacred Declarations, &c. 
 
 faction for the Affront, or Injury done him ? But 
 what Satisfaction can it be for a Man needlefly, and 
 wickedly to expofe himfelf to be murder'd by the 
 Man, whom he challenges. 
 
 If the Satisfaction meant is the Gratification of a 
 malicious Defire of taking Revenge by a wilful 
 fhedding the Blood of his Neighbour, of his Brother 
 who has offended him, it is a wicked Satisfaction, 
 and greatly to be abhorred •, and the Defire of it 
 ought to be contradicted : The gratifying fuch a 
 Defire is an Act of Rebellion againft the divine Au- 
 thority, which fays, Thou (halt not kill, Exod. xx. 
 and which has alfo faid, Avenge not your j elves, Rom. 
 xii. 19. 
 
 And as to the Challenged, what is" his Apology 
 for his wicked Acceptance of the Challenge ? Is it 
 that he fhall be effeemed a Coward, a Man of no Cou- 
 rage, if he does not accept it ? Be it fo, yet better 
 for him that unreafonable Men think fo, than for 
 him (in direct Oppofition to the Will, and Law of 
 the great God) violently, and malicioufiy to take 
 away the Life of another, or thus unjuftifiably to 
 expofe his own. 
 
 In the Cafe of a Duel, the Challenger, and the 
 Challenged (according to their Appointment) meet 
 at the Place fixed upon •, they meet each of them 
 with a premeditated, and malicious Defign to kill, 
 and to murder the other, in Defiance of the Autho- 
 rity of that God who made them both, who com- 
 mands them to love each other, and to promote each 
 others Safety and Good, and if they did fo, they would 
 find true Honour, Peace, and Comfort. But what 
 a fharrieful, horrid Tragedy do they act by their 
 Duelling. 
 
 Let the Cafe be rightly confidered both as to the 
 Perfon killing:, and the Perfon killed : The Perfon 
 killing is a Murderer with his Hands and Heart, 
 and the Character of being a Murderer will always 
 
 molt 
 
Sacred Declarations, &c. 15 
 
 mod juftly belong to him : And if he truly repents, 
 the bed that can be faid of him is, that he is a Pe- 
 nitent Murderer. But there remains an indelible 
 Stain in his Character ; it can never be faid of fuch 
 a Man, that he never was a Murderer. And will 
 the Character of being a Man of Courage compen- 
 fate the juft Shame, Difgrace, and Guilt of being a 
 Murderer ? 
 
 It mould likewife be confidered whether the Per- 
 fon kill'd was fit for Death ; if not, the Murderer 
 forced his Appearance before God, to be fent down 
 among the accurfed Spirits, to be referved to the 
 Judgment of the great Day. 
 
 The Murderer puts a Period to his Space for Re- 
 pentance, to his Opportunity of feeking Peace with 
 God, and eternal Salvation. Thus it is with the 
 Perfon killing. 
 
 O the miferable Confequences of Duelling! 
 
 And then as to the Perfon killed ; he had Mur- 
 der in his Heart, and no Space to repent of it. 
 Duellers take the mod effectual Courfe to render 
 their everlafling Damnation, Shame, and Torment 
 inevitable. 
 
 Thefe fix things doth the LORD hate, yea /even 
 are Abomination unto him : A -proud Look, a lying 
 Tongue, and Hands that Jhed innocent Blood, Prov. 
 vi. 16, 17. 
 
 The Prophet Hofea, faid (Hof. iv. 3, 4.) By 
 Swearing, and Lying, and Killing, and Stealing, and 
 committing Adultery, they break out, and Blood toucheth 
 Blood. Therefore Jhall the Land mourn, and every one 
 that dwelleth therein Jhall laugmfh with the Beajls of 
 the Field, and the Fowls of Heaven ; yea the Fifhes 
 of the Sea alfo Jhall be taken away. 
 
 The righteous Providence of God often has in 
 
 a moft remarkable Manner difcovered Murderers, 
 
 and brought them quickly to fuffer Death by the 
 
 3 Sentence 
 
1 6 Sacred Declarations, &c: 
 
 Sentence of the Magiftrate, according to the divine 
 Law. 
 
 •And although he may permit fome of them for a 
 while to remain undifcovered, yet in the Day of his 
 Vifitation for Sin, when he mall make Inquifition 
 For Blood, they may be lure he will remember them, 
 and they have Reafon to fear that he will deal with 
 them according to their Blood-guiltinefs. 
 
 XI. Drunkards, Gluttons, and riotous Liven, 
 are another Sort, .of Perfons, againfl whom ter- 
 rible Threatnings of God are recorded in the holy 
 Scriptures. 
 
 Thefe likewife are TranfgrefTors of ihejixtb Com- 
 mandment, as by their Intemperance, and frequent 
 Exceffes, they impair their own Health, and fhorten 
 their Lives •, that is, put an End to them as certain- 
 ly, as if they thruft themfelves through with a 
 Sword, though not in fo fpeedy a Manner. 
 
 And then by importuning their Companions to 
 eat, or to drink to Excefs, or to indulge themfelves 
 in any Pleafure inconfiftent with Health, they are 
 inftrumental in deflroying their Health, and haften- 
 ing their Death. 
 
 But what faith the Word of God concerning fuch 
 as thefe ? In Ifa, xxviii. i, g. it fays, Wo to the 
 Drunkards of Ephraim, the Drunkards of Ephraim 
 Jhall he trodden under Feet. 
 
 In Prov. xxiii. 21. it is declared, that the Drun- 
 kard, and the Glutton /hall come to Poverty 5 and there 
 are frequent Inftances of this. 
 
 In Joel i. 5. God by his Prophet fays, Awake ye 
 Drunkards, and Weep, and howl all ye Drinkers of 
 Wine. 
 
 The Prophet Nahum faid, the Lord is good, a 
 Jtrong Hold in the Day of trouble (i. e. to thofc who 
 love and ferve him j and he knoweth them that trufi 
 in him. But with an overflowing Flood, he will make 
 
 an 
 
Sacred Declarations \ Sec. 17 
 
 an utter End of the Place thereof, and Darknefs Jhall 
 pur fue his Enemies. What do ye imagine againft the 
 LORD ? He will make an utter End : AffiiSiion Jhall 
 not rife up the fecond Time. For while they be J olden 
 together as Thorns , and while they are drunken as 
 Drunkards, they Jhall be devoured as Stubble fully dry, 
 Nahum i. y, 8, 9, 10. 
 
 In Ifa. v. ii — 14. it is faid, Wo unto them that 
 rife up early in the Morning, that they may follow 
 Jlrong Drink, that continue until Night till Wine in- 
 flame them. And the Harp, and the Viol, the Tabree, 
 and the Pipe, and Wine, are in their Feajis : But 
 they regard not the Work of the LORD, neither con- 
 Jider the Operation of his Hands. Therefore my Peo- 
 ple are gone into Captivity, becaufe they have no Know- 
 ledge, and their honourable Men are famijhed, and 
 their Multitudes dried up with Thirjl. Therefore Hell 
 hath enlarged herfelf, and opened her Mouth without 
 Meafure: And their Glory, and their Multitude, and 
 their Pomp, and he that rejoiceth Jhall defend into it. 
 In Verfe 22. it is added, Wo unto them that are 
 mighty to drink Wine, and Men of ftrength to mingle 
 Jlrong Drink, i. e. if they abufe their Strength by 
 drinking to Excefs, and that is Excefs, which is 
 more than needful to the healthful Nouriihment, 
 and Chearfulnefs of the Body. 
 
 The Prophet further adds, in Verfe 25. Therefore 
 is the Anger of the LORD kindled againft his People, and 
 he hath Jlr etched forth his Hands againft them, and 
 hath fmitten them : And the Hills did tremble, and 
 their Carcaffes were torn in the midft of the Streets : 
 For all this his Anger is not turned away, but his 
 Hand is Jlr etched out Jlill. 
 
 Thefe, and fuch like Declarations do plainly mew, 
 
 that they who indulge their Appetites with ExcefTes 
 
 in Meats and Drinks, and they who perfuade, and 
 
 tempt others to do fo, have Reafon to fear the 
 
 D Judgments 
 
iS Sacred Declarations, &c. 
 
 Judgments of the Holy God, when he is vifiting 
 for Sin. 
 
 But how much loever they may fuffer by com- 
 mon Calamities in this World, thefe Sufferings will 
 be to them only the Beginnings of Sorrows, unlefs 
 they repent, and amend their Ways. For Drun- 
 kards fo all not inherit the Kingdom of God, See i Cor. 
 vi. 10. 
 
 It is our blefTed Redeemer, who faid, take heed 
 to your/elves, left at an) time, your Hearts be over- 
 charged with Surfeiting and Brunkennefs, and the Cares 
 of this Life, and fo that Day come upon you unawares. 
 For as a Snare fhail it come on all them that dwell on the 
 .Face of the whole Earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray 
 always, that ye may be accounted worthy to efcape all 
 thefe (terrible) Things that /hall come to pafs, and to 
 ftand before the Son of Man, Luke xxi. 34, 35, %6. 
 
 The Things which Chrift refers to, and which he 
 in that Chapter foretold mould come to pafs, were 
 that Jerufalem mould be compaffed with Armies, and 
 Defolation, Verfe 20. He foretold its Days of Ven- 
 geance, Verfe 22. and that there mould be great 
 Diftrefs in the Land, and Wrath upon the People, 
 Verfe 23. And that they mould fall by the Edge of 
 the Sword, Verfe 24. That upon the Earth mould 
 be Diftrefs of Nations with Perplexity, Verfe 25. 
 Men's Hearts failing them for Fear, and for look- 
 ing after thofe Things, which are coming on the 
 Earth, Verfe 26. 
 
 And thus it happened to the Jews, when thejuft 
 God brought upon them the Day of his Wrath, 
 the Day of his Vifiting them for their Iniquities. 
 And in like manner it will happen to other Nations, 
 when the Almighty mall come forth in Judgment 
 againft them, and make a finful incorrigible People 
 to fee, and feel the Miferies of the Days of his Ven- 
 geance. 
 
 Therefore, 
 
Sacred Declarations , &c. 19 
 
 Therefore, Let us walk honejlly, as in the Bay ; 
 not in Rioting and Drunkennejs, not in Chambering and 
 Wantonnefs, not in Strife and Envying. But put. ye 
 on the Lord J ejus Chrijl, and make not Provifion for 
 the Flejh, to fulfil the Lujls thereof, Rom. xiii. 
 
 13' *4- 
 
 XII. Unclean Persons, Whoremongers and 
 Adulterers, are another Sort, on whom God has 
 denounced deftroying Judgments. 
 
 Thefe are Tranfgrefibrs of the feventh Command- 
 ment. 
 
 Whoremongers and Adulterers God will judge, &c. 
 It is declared, Heb. xiii. 4. and in Galat. v. 19, 21. 
 it is faid, Now the Works of the Flejh are manijejl, 
 which are thefe, Adultery, Fornication, Uncleannefs, 
 Lafcivioufnefs ; and it is added, That they who do 
 fuch Things jhall not inherit the Kingdom of God. 
 
 In Ephef. v. 3, 4, 5, 6. But Fornication and all 
 Uncleannefs, let it not be once named amongfiyou, as 
 becometh Saints. Neither Filthinejs nor foolijb Talk- 
 ing, nor Jefting which are not convenient : But rather 
 giving of Thanks. For this you know that no Whore- 
 monger nor unclean Perfon — hath any Inheritance in 
 the Kingdom of Chrijl, and of God — for becaufe of 
 thefe Things cometh the Wrath 'of God upon the Chil- 
 dren of Difobedience. 
 
 What the Holy God has faid concerning the Jews, 
 in Jer. v. 7, 8, 9. fhews evidently that this Sort of 
 Sinners are appointed to fuffer in the Day of his 
 Vifitation. The LORD faid, When I fed them to 
 the full they committed Adultery, and affembled them- 
 felves by Troop in the Harlots Houfes. They were as 
 fed Horfes in the Morning : Every one neighed after 
 his Neighbour's Wife : Shall I not vifit for thefe 
 Things ? faith the LORD, jhall not my Soul be a- 
 venged on juch a Nation as this ? 
 
 D 2. The 
 
20 Sacred Declarations, &e. 
 
 The Prophet Ezekiel alfo, reckoning up feveral 
 Sorts of Tranfgrdlors of the divine Law in Jeru- 
 falem, fays, One hath committed Abomination with his 
 Neighbour's Wife, and another has lewdly defiled his 
 Daughter-in-Lazv, and another in thee hath humbled 
 his Sifter, his Father's Daughter, Ezek. xxii. 
 
 It mull be obferved, that Self- Pollution, the Sin 
 for which the Holy God flew urn, Gen. xxxviii. 9, 
 10. is a Sort of Uncleannefs very heinous in its Na- 
 ture. And likewife that the unnatural Lufts of the 
 Sodomites, Gen. xix. 5. for which the LORD rained 
 upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah, Bnmftone and Fire 
 from the Lord out of Heaven, and overthrew their 
 Cities, and all the Plain, and all the Inhabitants of 
 the Cities, and that which grew upon the Ground, 
 Gen. xix. 24, 25. I fay, thofe unnatural Lufts are 
 Kinds of Filthinefs which cry loudly for divine Ven- 
 geance to be infli&ed on the Guilty : And it is Mat- 
 ter of great Lamentation, that notwithstanding the 
 fearful, and utter Deftruclion of thofe Cities for the 
 Crimes of their Inhabitants, there have been in the 
 fucceeding Ages, Perfons guilty of the fame mon- 
 itions and filthy Practices. 
 
 St. Paul fpeaketh of fuch in Rom. i. 16, 27. 
 faying, For this Catife God gave them up unto vile 
 Affections : For even their Women did change their 
 natural Ufe unto that which is againft Nature : And 
 likewife alfo the Men, leaving the natural Ufe of Wo- 
 men, burned in their Luft, one toward another, Men 
 w ,'h Men, working that which is unfeemly, and re- 
 ceiving in themfeves that Recompence of their Error 
 wheh was meet. 
 
 The Sins of thefe monftrous Tranfgreflbrs, in- 
 deed, aie fecret, they are Deeds of Dafknefs, but 
 the righteous God may openly take Vengeance on 
 them, in the Day of his Viiitation for Sin. Such 
 hive no Re don to hope they fhall efcape the de- 
 itroying Wrath of the Almighty Gcd. 
 
 And 
 
Sacred Declarations, &c. 2 1 
 
 And as the Inhabitants of Jerufalem were incor- 
 rigible, and did not repent of their Iniquities, the 
 Holy God according to his Threatnings, infli&ed 
 ©n them deftroying Judgments. See Jer. v. 31. 
 where he fays, Therefore have I poured out mine In- 
 dignation upon them, 1 have confumed them with the 
 Fire of my Wrath : Their own Way have I recom- 
 penfed upon their Heads, faith the LORD GOD. 
 
 I may add, that Perfons under the like Guilt, 
 have Reafon to expect like Puni fitment ; and 
 therefore have Caufe to be afraid of God's proceed- 
 ing in the Way of his Judgments. 
 
 And happy for them will it be, if the Whore- 
 mongers and Adulterers ; happy will it be, if all 
 the filthy, the unchafte, the unclean Perfons of 
 both Sexes, mail confider the Evil of their Ways, 
 and the Declarations of the Holy God againit them ; 
 if they fhall repent of their Sins, and feek the For- 
 givenefs of them, and Peace with God through 
 Chrift Jefus, before the Viols of his Wrath be poured 
 out upon them. 
 
 XIII. Unjust Perfons, are another Sort againft 
 whom deftroying Judgments are denounced in the 
 Word of God. 
 
 Unjust Perfons are all they, who either by Force, 
 op Fraud, take, or with-hold to their own Ufe any 
 Thing that is the Property of another. 
 
 Thefe all are Tranfgrefibrs of the eighth Com- 
 mandment. 
 
 This Clafs includes not only Thieves of every 
 Denomination, but alfo Extortioners, and fraudulent 
 Dealers with unjuft Weights and Meafures. 
 
 Extortioners are thofe Perfons who take Ad- 
 vantage from the Neceffuies, or Ignorance of others, 
 to conftrain them to give more Money for the 
 Things they buy, than is the Market-price, or to 
 
 perform 
 
22 Sacred Declarations, &c. 
 
 perform more Labour for Wages than is ufual ac- 
 cording to the Cuftom of the Country, thus, e. g. 
 
 If the Sellers of any Commodity know the Buyers 
 to be under a NecdEty of getting the Things they 
 treat about, and that they can have them no where 
 elfe, or that they are ignorant of the Value, and 
 Market-price of them, and therefore exact from 
 them a greater Price than they are worth, or than 
 the Sellera would infift on, if the Buyers were not 
 under fuch Neceffity, or fuch Ignorance, they are 
 guilty of Extorrion. 
 
 And if any Manufacturers, as a Method of Gain 
 to themfelves, mall keep for Sale to their Work- 
 People, varkius Sets of Goods, they at Times have 
 Cccafion for, and fhall oblige them to buy fuch 
 Goods, when they do not want the Goods but the 
 Money for other Ufes, they are Extortioners. 
 
 Thefe two Sorts of Perfons are guilty of Tranf- 
 grelTing that divine Law, which fays, All Things 
 whatfoever ye would thai Men fyould do to you, do ye 
 even Jo to them, Matt. vii. 12. which implies, tliat 
 All Things whatfoever we would that Men mould 
 not do to us, we mould not, we ought not to do to 
 them. 
 
 Thus Gcd has manifefled his holy Will concern- 
 ing our Conduct and manner of Dealing with others. 
 And the Extortioners above-mentioned, would not 
 like to be themfelves treated in fuch Manner as they 
 treat others. 
 
 I muft add, that their Crime is abominable in the 
 Sight of God, who delights in Mercy and Good- 
 i j els'. 
 
 Let fuch TranfgrefTors read, and confider what is 
 faid in Ezck. xxii. 12, 13, 14. Thou haft greedily 
 gained ofthy~Nei%hbov.rs by Extortion, and haft forgotten 
 me, frith the LORD GOD. Behold, therefore I 
 have fmit ten mine Hand at thy difhoneft Gain, which 
 ihou haft made — — Can thine Heart endure, or can 
 
 thine 
 
Sacred Declarations, &c. 23 
 
 thine Hands be ftrong, in the Days that I (hall deal 
 with thee ? I the LORD have fpoken it, and will do 
 it. 
 
 Thefe Declarations (hew that God will deal with 
 Extortioners in the Days of his Vifitation for Sin ; 
 and that their Hearts will not be able to endure the 
 Tokens of his Wrath, or to fuftain the frrokes of 
 his Vengeance. 
 
 There is another Sort of Extortion, cruel in its 
 Nature, and abominable in the Eyes of the Lord •, 
 that is, when Manufacturers or others con ft rain the 
 People they employ to labour for lefs Wages, than 
 Cuftom, or particular Agreement has made their 
 Due, or exact from them more Work than is ufual- 
 ly done for the cuftomary Wages ; or on fome un- 
 reafonable Pretence with-hold from thtm Part of 
 their Wages. 
 
 Thefe may be faid to grind the Face of the Poor : 
 They opprels the Hirelings, the People they employ 
 to-labour, and the Character of Extortioners juftly 
 belongs to them. 
 
 Let fuch confider the Import of this Declaration 
 in Mai. iii. 5. I will come near to you to Judgment, 
 and I will be a fwift Witnefs — agalnfi thofe that op- 
 prefs the Hireling in his Wages — and fear not, faith the 
 LORD of Hojis. 
 
 And in James v. 4. it is faid, Behold the Hire of 
 the Labourers, which have reaped down your Fields, 
 which is of you kept back by Fraud, crieth ; and the 
 Cries of them which have reaped, are entered into the 
 Ears of the Lord ofSabaoth, who will deal with fuch 
 Oppreffors, and take Vengeance on them when he 
 vifits for Sin. 
 
 In Levit. xix. 13. it is faid, The Wages of him 
 that is hired, pall not abide with thee all Night until 
 the Morning. 
 
 In Deut. xxiv. 15. it is written, At his Day thou 
 fhalt give him his Hire, neither JJoall the Sun go down 
 
 upon 
 
24 Sacred Declarations, &c. 
 
 upon it, for he is poor, and fetteth his Heart upon it : 
 left he cry againft thee unto the Lord, and it be Sin 
 unto thee. 
 
 In Levit. xix. 9. are recorded the following Laws, 
 viz. When you reap the Harveft of your Land, ihcu 
 Jhalt not wholly reap the Comers of thy Field, neither 
 Jhalt thou gather the Gleanings of thy Harveft. And 
 thou fhalt not glean thy Vineyard, neither Jhalt thou 
 gather every Grape of thy Vineyard, thou fhalt leave 
 them for the Poor, and Stranger : I am the Lord your 
 God. Signifying that the great God has compaf- 
 fion for the Poor, and Strangers, and approves all 
 Acts of Kindnefs done unto them ; and that he is 
 both able, and willing to recompence with his Blef- 
 fings, thofe who obey his Will, by leaving in the 
 Time of Harveft, and Gathering of Fruit, Glean- 
 ings of their Harveft, and of the Fruit for the 
 Poor. 
 
 In Deut. xxiv. 19. it is likewife enacted, by the 
 fupreme Governor of the World, thus, viz. When 
 thou cutteft down thine Harveft in thy Field, and 
 baft forgot a Sheaf in the Field, thou fhalt not go 
 again to fetch it : It Jhall be for the Stranger, for the 
 Fatherlefs and the Widow : That the LORD thy God 
 may blefs thee in all the Work of thine Hands. When 
 thou beat eft thine Olive-tree, thou fhalt not go over the 
 Boughs again : It Jhall be for the Stranger, for the 
 Fatherlefs, and for the Widow. 
 
 I have mentioned thefe Laws of our good God, 
 becaufe they manifeft his gracious Care for Strangers, 
 and for the Fatherlefs, and for Widows in needy 
 Circumftances ; and becaufe they are Laws always 
 obligatory, thty are divine Laws always binding all 
 Perfons, in all Ages, who are concerned in Huf- 
 bandry, in Sowing, in Reaping, in Raifing, and 
 Gathering-in the Fruits of the Earth. We ought 
 to think, and acknowledge that they are Laws ftill 
 
 in 
 
Sacred Declarations , &c\ 2$ 
 
 m Force, fince God never repealed them, fince 
 neither Men, nor Angels, can annul the Obligations 
 of his Commandments, and fince divers Reafons ot 
 them, viz. the Wants of the Poor, and the Sup- 
 ply, and the Comfort they will have by Means of a 
 due Obedience to thofe Laws : And I apprehended 
 it the more needful to recite them, becaufe many 
 Landholders, Farmers, and Pojfejfors of Vineyards* 
 and Olive Yards, and others employed in railing and 
 propagating the Fruits of the Earth are ignorant of 
 them. 
 
 I mu ft add one Declaration more, viz. that in 
 i Cor. vi. 10. Nor Thieves, nor Covetous — nor Ex- 
 tortioners Jhall inherit the Kingdom of God. There- 
 fore we may reafonably conclude, that this hard- 
 hearted and cruel fort of Sinners, are obnoxious to 
 the deftroying Judgments of God, when he is vifit- 
 ing an ungodly Nation for their Iniquities. 
 
 I have further to obferve, that fraudulent Dealers, 
 'with unjufi Weights and Meafures, muft be reckoned 
 among; the TranfsxefTors of the eighth Command- 
 ment, becaufe by their Frauds they get fo much ot 
 the Buyer's Money unjuftly, as the diminifbed Quan- 
 tity ot the Goods fold amounts to in Value •, and 
 the ufing divers Weights and Meafures, that is, 
 Weights and Meafures different from, and lefs than 
 the Standard eftablilhed by the Laws of the Country 
 in which they live, is in Reality one Way of deal- 
 ing Money from the Buyers, 
 
 Te fliall do no Unrighteoufnefs in Judgment, fays 
 the divine Law, in Mete Yard, in Weight, or in 
 Meafure. Jufl Balances, jufl Weights, ajujlEpbab, 
 and a jujl Hin foall ye have ; 1 am the LORD your 
 God. Therefore (hall ye obferve all my Statutes, and 
 all my Judgments, and do them ; /am the Lord. Lev it. 
 xix. 35, 36, 37. 
 
 In Dent, xxv. 1 $, 14, 15, ij§. it is U\d, Thou 
 & alt not have in ihs B :g divers Weights, a great and 
 
 E a 
 
26 Sacred Declarations , &c. 
 
 a/mall. Thou, jhalt not have in thine Houfe divers 
 Meafures, a great and a [mall. But thou /halt have 
 a perfefi andjuji Weighty a perfecl and a juji Mea- 
 fur e Jhalt thou have -, that thy Days may be lengthened 
 in the Land which the Lord thy God give th thee. For 
 all that do fuch Things {viz. the keeping divers 
 Weights and Meafures) and all that do unrighteoufly 9 
 are an Abomination unto the LORD thy God. 
 
 In Prov. xi. i. it is faid, A falfe Ballance is Abo- 
 mination to the Lord : but a juji Weight is his De- 
 light. And Chap. xx. 10. Divers Weights, and di- 
 vers Meafures, both of them are alike Abomination 
 to the Lord. See alio Verfe 23. 
 
 The Prophet Micah faid to the People (who had 
 provoked deftroying Judgments by manifold Sins) 
 He (viz. God) hath fhewed thee, O Man, what is 
 good, and what doth the LORD require of thee, but 
 to dojujtly, and to love Mercy, and to walk humbly 
 with thy God ? The LORD's Voice crieth unto the 
 City, and the Man of Wifdom fhall fee thy Name: 
 Hear ye the Rod, and who hath appointed it. Are 
 there yet the Treafures of Wickednefs in the Houfe of 
 the Wicked, and the fcant Meafure that is abominable ? 
 Shall I count them pure with the wicked Balances, and 
 with the Bag of deceitful Weights ? For the rich Men 
 thereof are full of Violence, and the Inhabitants there- 
 of have fpoken Lies, and their Tongue is deceitful in 
 their Mouth. Therefore alj'o will I make thee fick in 
 fmiting thee, in making thee de folate becaufe of thy Sins. 
 See Micah vi. 8 — 13. 
 
 Thcfe Declarations (hew moft evidently that frau- 
 dulent Dealers, with falfe Weights and Meafures, 
 have Reafoii to expect Punifhment even in this 
 World, when God is vifiting a Nation for their 
 Iniquities. 
 
 But if they {hall efcape Punifhment in this World, 
 th?y jhould know and confder, that the Hope of un- 
 juji Men perifieth, (Prov. xi. 7.) and that, The 
 
 LORD 
 
Sacred Declarations, &c. 27 
 
 LORD knoweth how — to referve the unjuft unto the 
 Bay of Judgment to be punifhed. 1 Pet. ii. 9. 
 
 There is yet another Sort of Iniquity to be taken 
 Notice of, as inconfiftent with that juft and righte- 
 ous Manner of Dealing with others, which the eighth 
 Commandment obliges all Men to, viz. the Giving 
 and Taking Bribes. 
 
 A Bribe is any Gift to another, to bias, or in- 
 cline him to do fomething he ought not to do, or 
 to omit doing fomething he ought to do. 
 
 And the righteous God, to prevent all unjuft Prac- 
 tices among Men, has ftrictly forbidden this Ini- 
 quity. In Exod. xxiii. 8. he has faid, Thou (halt take 
 no Gift : For the Gift blindeth the Wife, and pervert- 
 eth the Words of the Righteous. It occafions Perfons 
 to form a wrong judgment, or to give an unjuft 
 Sentence inaCaufe, or to pervert, or misinterpret the 
 Words of the Righteous, with whom they have to do. 
 
 In Deut. xvi. 18, 19, 20. the Holy God faid to 
 his People, Judges and Officers {halt thou make thee 
 in all thy Gates which the Lord thy God giveth thee % 
 throughout all thy Tribes : And they fhall judge the 
 People with juft Judgment. Thou (halt not -zvreft 
 Judgment \ thou /halt not rtfpecl Per fans, neither take 
 a Gift : For a Gift doth blind the Eyes of the Wife, 
 and pervert the Words (or Matters, as the Expref- 
 fion is tranflated in the Margin) of the Righteous. 
 That which is altogether juft Jh alt thou follow, that 
 thou may eft live, and inherit the Land which the Lord 
 thy God giveth thee. Which laft Claufe implies that 
 by receiving Bribes, and not following that which is 
 altogether juft, they would provoke God by fome 
 Stroke of Judgment to cut fhort their Lives. 
 
 In Prov. xvii. 23. it is faid, A wicked Man taketb 
 a Gift out of the Bofom (i. e. fecretly) to pervert the 
 Ways of Judgment, Signifying that he is a wicked, 
 Man indeed that receiveth a Bribe. 
 
 E $ Thus 
 
28 Sacred Declarations, &c. 
 
 Thus wicked were Joel, and Abiah, the Sons of 
 Samuel, whom he made Judges ever Ifracl, they 
 turned q/tde after Lucre, and took Bribes, and per- 
 verted Judgment, fee i Sam. viii. i, 2, 3. 
 
 And his W.ckedn fs became general in the Days 
 of the Prophet Jfaiab, fee Ifa. i. 23, 24. where it is 
 written, Every one lovetb Gifts, and follow eth after 
 "Rewards : they judge not the Fatherlefs, neither doth 
 the Caufe of the iVidow come unto them. Therefore, 
 thus faith the Lord, the L,ord of Hofts, the mighty 
 one of lfrael, Ah, I will eafe me of mine Adverfaries, 
 and avenge me of mine Enemies. 
 
 This Declaration fignifies, that fuch Sinners are 
 Enemies to Go^, and that he will avenge himfelf 
 of them ; and that they have Reafon to fear a De» 
 ftruction from the Almighty, when he vifits a Na- 
 tion for Sin. 
 
 But gracious Promifes are made to the Righteous, 
 that Ji hake ih his Hutu* Jrom holding of Bribes, for it 
 is faid, He fl j all dwell on high : His Place of Defence, 
 flail be the Munition of Rocks, Bread fhall be given 
 him, his Waters fhall be jure, Ifa. xxxiii. 15, 16. 
 which Declarations import that akho' Perfons guilty 
 of Bribery are obnoxious to the Miferies of a Day of 
 God's Vifitation for Sin, yet that the Righteous, 
 who abhor the taking of Bribes, may hope for the 
 divine Protection, and be provided for, and com- 
 forted in Times of publick Calamities. 
 
 Many Sins bring Guilt oniy on fingle Perfons, 
 but a Bribe is an accurfed Thing, which pollutes 
 two Perfons, and renders them both guilty before 
 God, and obnoxious to his Wrath, viz. the Giver 
 and the Receiver of it, and the Nature of this Iniquity 
 ought to be known to all Men, and abhorred by all 
 Men, And the Action of the Giver, and the 
 Action or the Receiver as to its Signification de- 
 ferves ferious Notice. 
 
 The 
 
Sacred Declarations, &c. 29 
 
 The Intention of a Bribe is to prevail with the 
 Receiver of it, to do fomething in itfelf finful, as 
 for a Judge to pafs an unrighteous Judgment on a 
 Caufe, or elfe to do fomething, which the Receiver 
 apprehended to be finful, and therefore was unlaw- 
 ful for him to do. 
 
 In both thefe Cafes the Giver endeavours to cor- 
 rupt the Receiver, and engage him to fin againft 
 the holy God, to wound his own Soul, and expoie 
 himfelf to eternal Damnation •, a dreadful Crime I 
 vile in its Nature, and deftructive in its Confequences, 
 both to him that gives, and him that takes the 
 Bribe. A fad Matter to be confidered by the Guilty ; 
 befide the Injury which may be brought on others 
 by Means of a prevailing Bribe. 
 
 The Action of the Giver fignifies that he is a 
 Man of corrupt Principles, chat he fears not God, 
 has no Regard to his Glory, and the Pleafing him, 
 nor to the Welfare and Salvation of the Soul of the 
 Perfon whom he bribes ; it fignifies that he joins his 
 Endeavours with the Devil's to ruin for ever the Per- 
 fon whom he has corrupted. 
 
 And the Action of the Receiver fignifies, that he 
 is deftitute of a right, and good Principle, that he 
 has yielded to, and been overcome by the Tempta- 
 tion, and that he has fold the Favour of God, and 
 his Soul, and Salvation for the Price of the Bribe he 
 has received. 
 
 Thefe Remarks have a like Foundation when a 
 Bribe is given to prevail with any one not to do a 
 Thing which the Law of God has made his Duty, 
 or which he apprehends that God requires of him. 
 
 Both the Givers, and Receivers of Bribes, are 
 Men of very corrupt Minds •, and without fincere 
 Repentance, and a thorough Reformation, they will 
 never efcape the Damnation of Hell, though they 
 ihould be fuftered to efcape Puniihment in to World, 
 
 Thefe 
 
30 Sacred Declarations, &c. 
 
 Thefe Things dcferve the ferious Con (ideration 
 both of thofe, who at Eleclions of Members to ferve 
 in Parliament, give Bribes to engage Votes, and of 
 thofe who receive them. 
 
 XIV. Perfons who bear Falfe Witnefs againft 
 others are another Sort of Sinners who have juft 
 Reafon to fear Punilhment when God vifits a Nation 
 for Sin. 
 
 Thefe are Tranfgreflbrs of the ninth Command- 
 ment, which fays, Thou /halt not bear falfe Witnefs 
 againft thy Neighbour, Exod. xx. 16. 
 
 The Prohibition is not limited to the bearing fa!fe 
 Witnefs againft others on Trials in Courts of Judi- 
 cature, altho' that is a mod aggravated Kind of 
 falfe Witnefs-Bearing, becaufe of the Oath taken 
 by WitnefTes, wherein they appeal to God for the 
 Truth of what they fay falfely. But a Man's Re- 
 putation, and Livelihood may be ruin'd by falfe 
 WitnefTes that are never called before Magiftrates. 
 
 A Man bears falfe Witnefs againft his Neighbour, 
 when he fpeaks that of another, which he knows to 
 be falfe -, whether it be in a Way of Affirmation, or 
 Negation -, whether he affirms of another thac he 
 fpoke fuch Words, or did fuch Things, which he 
 knows he did not ; or denies his having fpoken 
 Words, which himfelf heard, or his doing Things 
 which to his Knowledge the other really did. 
 
 All falfe WitnefTes are Liars, and all Liars fhall 
 have their Part in the Lake which burneth with Fire 
 andBrimfione, as it is fa id in Rev. xxi. 8. 
 
 Wherefore (faith St. Paul) putting away Lyings 
 fpeak every Man Truth with his Neighbour : For we 
 are Members one of another, Ephef. iv. 25. 
 
 A faith] ul Witnefs will not lie : But a falfe Wit- 
 nefs will utter Lies, it is faid Prov. xiv. 5. and Verfe 
 25. a true Witnefs deliver eth Souls \ but a deceitful 
 Witnefs Jpeakitb Lies. 
 
 In 
 
Sacred Declarations, Sec. 3 1 
 
 " In Prov. xix. 15. it is declared, He that juftifieth 
 the Wicked, aid he that condemnelh the Jufi, even 
 they both are Abomination to the Lord. 
 
 The fupreme Lawgiver fays, Thou fJjalt not raife 
 a falfe Report : Put not thine Hand with the Wicked 
 to be an unrighteous Witnefs, Exod. xxiii. 1. 
 
 And in Prov. xix. 5. it is declared that, A falfe 
 Witnefs fhall not be unpunified, and he that fpeaketh 
 Lies /hall not efcape. This Declaration fhews, that 
 thefe Sinners have Reafon to expe<5t Punifhment in 
 the Day of the Lord's Vifitation for Sin. 
 
 The fpeaking falfely of others is a pernicious Prac- 
 tice ; and the doing fo as Witneffes in Courts of 
 Judicature has brought innocent Perfons to fufrer 
 Death for Crimes they never committed, and others 
 to loofe their Eftates, which were their juft Pro- 
 perty, or to loofe their good Reputation, a Blefling 
 more valuable than Life. 
 
 They who are guilty of this cruel Iniquity do not 
 deal towards others, as they would have others to 
 deal with them. 
 
 They imitate their Father the Devil, who is the 
 Accufer of the Brethren* fee Rev. xii. 9, 10. 
 
 And altho' they may for a while efcape Punifh- 
 ment, the Day is coming when the righteous God 
 will take Vengeance on them, when they fhall nei- 
 ther be able to efcape, nor able to bear his Wrath, 
 
 XV. Covetous Perfons, are another Sort of 
 Sinners marked by divine Threatnings for fuffering 
 Punilhmenr. in the Day of the Lord's Vifitation 
 for Sin* 
 
 Thefe are Tranfgreflbrs of the tenth Command- 
 ment, which fays, Thou Jhalt not covet thy Neigh- 
 bour's lioufe, thou Jbalt not covet thy Neighbour's 
 Wife, nor his Man-fervant, nor his Maid-fervant, nor 
 his Ox, nor his Afs, nor any Thing that is thy Neigh- 
 bours, Exod. xx. 19. 
 
 This 
 
32 Sacred Declarations, Sec. 
 
 This Law (hews that it is finful to defire any 
 Thing that is another's Property, and appropriated 
 to his own Ufe-, becaufe the Things of another* 
 which he trades in, and has a Right to fell, and 
 which we have Occafion for, we may defire, and 
 may purchafe -, but appropriated Things we muft 
 not defire, or covet. 
 
 A ftrong Defire, or Coveting another Man's 
 Houfe, or Land, has prevailed with fome to murder 
 the rightful PoiTeflbr, as was the Cafe when Ahab 
 coveted Naboth's Vineyard, i Kings xxi. or to ufe 
 other unjuft Methods to get the Poffeflion of it. 
 
 Thus coveting another Man's Wife, has been fol- 
 lowed with Adultery, and Murther ; of which Da- 
 vid was a fad Inftance. 
 
 And the coveting the Servants of others, has in- 
 fluenced fome to ufe indiredt, or difhoneft Means to 
 prevail with them to leave their Matters. 
 
 And the coveting of Money has led many to rob, 
 ileal, and commit Murder. So are the Ways of 
 every one that is greedy of Gain : Which taketh aivay 
 the Life of the Owners thereof, Prov. i. 19. 
 
 The tenth Commandment muft be underftood to 
 forbid all inordinate, or too flrong Defires after 
 worldly Things, or too much Love to Money : Be- 
 caufe fuch Coveting is not only inconiiftent with the 
 Love we owe to God, and to our Neighbour, but 
 leads on to nlany other Sins. 
 
 For (as St. Paul fays) the Love of Money is the 
 Root of all Evil : Which while fome covet afer, 
 they have erred from the Faith, and pierced themjeives 
 through with many Sorrows, 1 Tim. vi. 10. 
 
 Here I would obferve that a Man's Defire of 
 Money, or other worldly Things is certainly too 
 ftrong, or is a finful Coveting, when for obtaining 
 them, he will ufe unlawful Means, or neglect fome 
 Duty God requires of him ; and likewife, when, for 
 the Sake of increafing his Riches, he will withhold 
 
 to 
 
Sacred Declarations, &C. 33 
 
 to himfelf what Gcd would have him to diftribute 
 for the Ufe and Benefit of oihers. 
 
 Thus, if a Man for Lucre Sake will be guilty of 
 Extortion, he is a covetous Man ; orifinltead of 
 performing the religious Duties of the Sabbath, he 
 will buy, or fell on that holy Day, or if on other 
 Days he will be fo eager in his Purfuits after earthly 
 Riches, as not to allow Time for the Woriliip of 
 God in his Family, and Clofet, he is a covetous 
 Man : And likewife if he will not expend in the 
 Maintenance of his Family, and Education of his 
 Children, fo much as according to nis Rank in the 
 World, and his Riches, ought to be expended, he 
 is a covetous Man; and if he will not diftribute in 
 Acts of Charity, according to his Abilities, and the 
 Occafions, which call for his Affiftance, he may 
 juftly be thought a covetous Man. 
 
 And fuch covetous Perfons certainly do love their 
 Money, more than they love their God ; for they 
 who do not defire, and endeavour to pleafe God, 
 cannot be truly faid to love him •, and of thofe, who 
 wilfully fin againft God in their way of getting, or of 
 keeping Money, it cannot be juftly faid they defire, 
 and endeavour to pleafe him. 
 
 The covetous, the Lord abhorreth, Pfal. x. 3. 
 
 In Prov. xxviii. 16. it is faid, He that hateth Co- 
 vetoufnefs Jhall -prolong his Days, which implies that 
 he who loveth Covetoufnefs, is like to fhorten his 
 Days. 
 
 In Ifa. lvii. 17. The Lor. d faid of his People, 
 For the Iniquity of his Covetoufnefs was I wroth, and 
 fmote him. Hence it is very evident, that in Ages 
 paft, God inflicted deftroying Judgments on his 
 People for their Covetoufnefs. And therefore cove- 
 tous Perfons have Reafon to be afraid of his Judg- 
 ments in the Day that he vifits a Land for Sin. 
 
 It was a fad Complaint which God made of his 
 People in Ezek, xxiii. 3 1 . where he fays to the Pro- 
 
 F phet 
 
34 Sacred Declarations 9 6cc. 
 
 phet concerning them, They come unto thee, as the 
 People cometh, and they fit before thee as my People, 
 and they hear thy Words, but they will not do them : 
 for their Heart goeth after their Covetoufnefs. That 
 is, altho' they profefs Love, and Obedience to God, 
 and attend the folemn AiTemblies to hear the Words 
 of the Lord delivered by his Prophet, yet they will 
 not do them •, their ftrongeft, and prevailing Affec- 
 tions, being after Riches and Other worldly Things, 
 the Objects of their Covetoufnefs. 
 
 Their Riches, and other earthly Things, are the 
 Idols of their Hearts : therefore, Covetoufnefs is de- 
 clared to be Idolatry in Col. iii. 5. where Chrifiians 
 
 are commanded to mortify inordinate Affeblions, 
 
 evil Concupifence, and Covetoufnefs, which is Idolatry. 
 
 In Ephef v. 5. it is declared, That no Whore- 
 monger ; nor unclean Perfon, nor covetous Man, who 
 is an Idolater, hath any Inheritance in the Kingdom of 
 Chrijl, and of God. 
 
 It appears from this Declaration, that it is decreed 
 by the righteous Governour of the World, that co- 
 vetous Perfons mail not be admitted to partake of 
 the Joys, and Happinefs of the Kingdom of Chrift, 
 and of God : And this implies that they will be fent 
 into endlefs Miferies in the next Word, and that 
 they are liable to deftroying Judgments in this, when 
 God proceeds in vifiting a Nation for Sin. 
 
 The Covetous, inftead of looking to, and relying 
 on the Lord, place a Confidence in their Wealth. 
 The rich Man" s Wealth, is his firong City, and as an 
 high Wall in his own Conceit > as it is faid in Prov. 
 xviii. 1 1. But let fuch know, and confider thofe De- 
 clarations recorded in Prov. xi. 4. viz, Riches profit 
 not in the Day ofWraih; and Verfe 28. He that 
 trufleth in Riches Jhall fall. 
 
 Thus faith the Lord Let not the rich Man 
 
 glory in bis Riches, Jer. ix. 23. 
 
 In 
 
Sacred Declarations, Sec. 3 5 
 
 In Jer, xv. 13. God fays to the Wicked among 
 his People, Thy Subjlance, and thy Treafures will I 
 give to the Spoil without Price, and that for all thy 
 Sins, even in all thy Borders, Jer! xv. 13. See alfo 
 Jer. xvii. 3. 
 
 Theie Declarations plainly mew that the Covetous, 
 and they who will go on in difobeying the Com- 
 mandments of the Lord, have Reafon to be afraid, 
 when he is rifen out of his Place to punifh wicked 
 Nations. 
 
 I have now confidered the principal Sorts of Per- 
 fons, TranfgreiTors of one or other of the ten Com- 
 mandments, againft whom the holy God k has de- 
 nounced his awfui Threatnings. 
 
 A righteous Nation, a holy City, whofe Inhabi- 
 tants know, and love, and ferve the Lord, and 
 make it their Practice to obey all his Precepts, have 
 no Caufe to be afraid, but abundant Ground for 
 Comfort, and Joy on the Account of the manifold 
 Promifes of Bleflings in this World, and of ever- 
 lafting Felicity in the next, which are made to the 
 Righteous. 
 
 But if the Inhabitants of a City, or Country, 
 have revolted from God, if the Generality of them 
 have caft off the Fear of the Almighty, and have 
 long been regardlefs of his Authority, and Laws, 
 and have gone on flubbornly in wicked Ways, and 
 remain incorrigible, notwithstanding the Obligations 
 of multiplied Bleflings, notwithstanding die Patience, 
 and long Forbearance of God, notwithstanding the 
 divers Threatnings, and the Feeling of leffer Judg- 
 ments, they have then the flrongeft Reafons to ex- 
 pect that the righteous God will proceed in vifiting 
 them for Sin, and pour out the Vials of his Wrath 
 upon them. 
 
 I (hall now conclude thefe Papers with an Ad- 
 drefs to the Inhabitants of London, JVeJlminfier, and 
 all the other Parts of Great-Britain. 
 
 F 2 I need 
 
36 Sacred Declarations, &c. 
 
 I need not tell you that Infidelity, and Profane- 
 nefs, that a Contempt, and Derifion of the divine 
 Providence, and the holy Scriptures, are crying 
 Sins among us ; nor that keeping holy the Sabbath- 
 Day, and a due Attendance on the publick 
 "Worinip oi God are generally neglected ; nor that 
 our Cities and Country have long been polluted 
 with ail Sorts of Immoralities •, neither need I fay 
 to you that the holy God has fhewn himfelf angry 
 with us, by a Series of awful Judgments, tho' fome 
 of them thro' his abundant Mercy have been taken 
 away. 
 
 And furely I need not fay to you that Iniquities 
 flill abound among us, that Provocations of al- 
 mighty Wrath are ftill committed, and that there 
 appears very little of Reformation •, neither need I 
 add that the Tokens of God's Anger do ftill fub- 
 fift. 
 
 The great God has given us Warning after 
 Warning, and Stroke after Stroke, and then ceafed 
 awhile, and waited to fee whether we will confider 
 our evil Ways, and repent of our Sins, and return 
 unto him : he has waited, and ftill waits that he 
 may be gracious to us ; that he may, confident with 
 the Honour of his Government, with the Glory of 
 his Name, forgive our Sins, and be reconciled unto 
 us, and blefs us. But the Reconciliation is not 
 yet brought about ; No, for we ftubbornly perfift 
 in our Rebellion againft him : And it is too evident 
 to be denied that his Hand is ftill ft retched out 
 againft us. 
 
 Was it not that holy God who is of purer Eyes 
 than to behold Iniquity without Abhorrence, and 
 without being incenfed againft the wilful Tranfgref- 
 fors of his Laws ? Was it not he who permitted our 
 Enemies to draw the Sword, and from a Number, 
 fmall, at firft, to increafe into a Multitude, and to 
 march thro' the Heart of our Country, and to ap- 
 proach 
 
Sacred Declarations, &c. 37 
 
 proach fo near this our Metropolis, as to fill the 
 Minds of all true Proteftants, and faithful Subjects 
 of our gracious Sovereign with a Dread of the Con- 
 fequences, if he had not by his Influence turned them 
 back by the Way that they came, and afterwards 
 intirely fubdued them ? Was it not he, who fent the 
 mortal Sicknefs among our Cattle ? and who has been 
 thro' a Courfeof feveral Years deftroying them ! and 
 fhewing that he can as eafily deftroy our Perfons! 
 and does he not awfully proceed,- in the Way of his 
 Anger, by firming the Beafts of the Field (till with 
 Sicknefs, and Death, in divers Parts of the Country ? 
 
 Pray confidcr, That Beflruclion of Cattle is one of 
 God's threatned Judgments ; and that this tiill fub- 
 fifls in the Land ; and that Earthquakes are another 
 Sort of them, very terrible : And Jet us keep in 
 Remembrance how the Almighty has once and 
 again very lately made the Earth to tremble under 
 thefe great dries ; and has violently fhaketi the 
 Houfes of the Inhabitants over them ; and that the 
 divine Power might either have caufed the Earth to 
 open and fwallow up the Buildings, and all the 
 living Creatures that are upon it, or elfe without the 
 Opening of the Earth might have mattered, and 
 thrown down even the ftrongeft Edifices, and have 
 crufhed to Death thofe who dwell in them ; and who 
 can tell what, or how many of his other Threatnings 
 will be executed among us, or how foon ! 
 
 I entreat you to read again, and again, and re- 
 volve in your Minds what has been offered to your 
 Thoughts in the foregoing Papers. 
 
 Let every one faithfully examine himfelf, and 
 confider whether he is not of one or other of the 
 Sorts of Perlons whom God has threatened, not 
 only with everkfting Torments in the future State, 
 but with Miferies, with Diftrefs, and Deflruction 
 even in this World, when he vifits Cities, and Na- 
 tions for their Sins, 
 
 If 
 
3 3 Sacred Declarations , &x. 
 
 If you compare your Lives with the holy Laws 
 of God, your Conferences will tell you, whether 
 you are among the mile rable Objects of the divine 
 Threatnings. 
 
 And is this your Cafe ! I muft then tell you, that 
 yon are under a dreadful Sentence of Condemnation. 
 
 For hitherto you have not repented of your Sins, 
 nor believed on the Lord Jefus Chrift. 
 
 In John iii. 18, 19. it is thus declared, viz. He 
 that believeth not is condemned already, becaufe he hath 
 not believed en the Name of the only begotten Son of 
 God. And this is the Condemnation, that Light is 
 come into the World, and Men loved Darknefs rather 
 than Light, becaufe their Deeds were evil. 
 
 O how deplorable is your Condition! in being 
 Enemies to God by your wick?d Works, in being 
 the Servants of Sip, and Satan ? How deplorable, I 
 fay, is your Condition, whatever be your worldly 
 Honours, Riches, and PofTeffions, or Eminency for 
 Learning! Know ye not that to whom ye yield your- 
 f elves Servants to obey, his Servants ye are, to whom 
 ye cbey, whether of Sin unto Death, or of Obedience 
 unto Right eoufnefs ! Rom. vi. 16. 
 
 How lamentable is your Cafe in your being Ob- 
 jects of the divine Anger ! For God is angry with 
 the Wicked every Day, (Pfal. vii. n.) He is fo 
 continually ; and how wretched are you, in your 
 being obnoxious to all the Mileries threatned to be 
 inflicted in this Life ! and in being liable to a fpeedy 
 Death, and to the Pains of Hell for ever ! 
 
 And what Comfort, what Peace can you have in 
 your prefent State ? There is no Peace, faith my God, 
 to the Wicked, Ifai. Ivii. 21. 
 
 What have you to yield unto your Souls a ratio- 
 nal, a fincere Confolation ! Have you itately Houfes, 
 rich Furniture, large Eftates, and great Honour:. ? 
 yet thefe do not iatisfy you. 
 
 You 
 
Sacred Declarations, Sec. 39 
 
 You feek after Pleafure, and Joy in {enfual En- 
 tertainments •, your Ears are delighted with e^quifite 
 Mufick ; your Eyes are pleafed with a vail Variety 
 of the agreeable Objects of Sight! Numberlefs are 
 the Recreations, and Atnufements, which human In- 
 vention has contrived to take up your Time. 
 
 But thefe Things do not fatisfy you ! you are at 
 great Expences, and often take great Pains ; ycu 
 fatigue your Bodies, and prejudice your Health in 
 Purfuits of Objects, to gratify one or other of your 
 bodily Senfes. 
 
 And in the mid ft [of your higheft Enjoyments, 
 you (till find fomething wanting to give your Minds 
 fatisfying Joy ! you have not yet found Reft for 
 your Souls ! 
 
 And all the while that you have an Affluence of 
 worldly Things, you are wretched Creatures. The 
 CurfeofGod is upon you ! you are liable to a Variety 
 of Diftempers, to the Gout, to the Stone, and to a 
 thoufand other bodily Difeafes, to Melancholy, toDe- 
 fpair; and you are obnoxious to Enemies, to Shame, 
 and to a Diverfity of Afflictions, which you cannot 
 comprehend, and liable to everlaft.ing Torment in 
 the next World. 
 
 But I may add, that altho' your prefent Condi- 
 tion is bad beyond Conception, yet you may be de- 
 livered from it ! There is a fure Way to Safety, 
 Comfort, and Happinefs, both in this World, and 
 in that to which you are going. Read again, and 
 ponder in your Thoughts what has been propofed 
 to your Consideration in my former Letter, Pag. 28, 
 29, C5V. for the Encouragement of your Hope and 
 Joy in following the Directions of the Gofpel. 
 
 Repent of your Sins, and believe in the Lord 
 Jefus Chrift and all your Iniquities will be forgiven 
 you. Our good God, tho* you have provoked him 
 Times and Ways without Number, will then be 
 reconciled to you ; and your eternal Salvation, and 
 
 Happinefs 
 
40 Sacred Declaratiotis, Sec: 
 
 Happinefs through the crucified, the rifen, the ex- 
 alted and bleffed Jesus will be (lire. 
 
 O become fincere Difciples of the crucified, 
 and rifen Jefus ! take him for your Saviour, and 
 Prince ! for your Matter, and Lord ! and truft in 
 him, and in him alone, for a compleat Salvation 
 from all your Sins, as well as from the evcrlafting 
 Punifhment due unto you for them ! Truft in him 
 alone for Holinefs, and Happinefs •, for Grace to 
 encline, and enable you to lead holy Lives accord- 
 ing to the Will of God. 
 
 Then will you find thofe rational Pleafures, thole 
 fincere Comforts, and that folid Peace and Reft 
 for your Souls, which you never knew before ! then 
 will you know the Difference between the Pleafures 
 of Sin, and the Confolations which the Gofpel ad- 
 minifters to penitent, and believing Sinners ! then 
 you will defpife, and abhor your former carnal, and 
 lenfual Delights, and find that Satisfaction in the 
 Service, and Enjoyment of God, which you would 
 not part with for ten thoufand Worlds. This has 
 been the Experience of thofe who formerly practifed 
 the like Sins, and purfued and enjoyed the fame 
 fenfual Pleafures as yourfelves, but fince have been 
 truly converted, and have accepted of Chrift, and 
 joined themfelves to the Lord in his gracious Cove- 
 nant, and walk clofely with him in the Way of 
 Holinefs, and known by Experience that the Plea- 
 fures of a religious holy Life, are inexpreflibly 
 greater than thofe of Sin. 
 
 And O that it may pleafe the God of all Grace, 
 by the mighty working of his holy Spirit, to put it 
 into your Hearts fincerely thus to exprefs yourfelves 
 unto him, viz. 
 
 " O holy, and moft merciful God ! I am now 
 C£ convinced that I have long been a vile, finful, 
 " guilty, and a rebellious Creature againft Thee ! 
 M convinced that there is a finful, and dreadful De- 
 
 " pravity 
 
Sacred Declarations, &c: 4 1 
 
 «* pravity in my Nature, and a ftrong and prevail- 
 " ino- Bias on my Will and Affedions to Things 
 " contrary to thy Laws ! and that I have been eagerly 
 " purfuing Objects, unbecoming the Defires, which 
 «« i plight to cherifli! I am now convinced that I 
 « want a Saviour ' ami that I mud be miferable for 
 «l ever without one ! 
 
 u I am now convinced that thy only begotten, 
 « and well-beloved Son, the bleffed Jefus, is the 
 " Saviour, and I thankfully accept of him as my 
 « only Redeemer ! as my great Prophet, Prieft, 
 « and King ! 
 
 " Faith is thy Gift ! Lord, beftow this heavenly 
 « Gift on me in a large Meafure! and quicken 
 " me by thy Spirit, who am naturally dead in Tref- 
 " panes, and Sins ! 
 
 ■« O make me a new Creature in Chrift Jefus! 
 « Make the old Things to pafs away, and ail 
 " Things to become new * and holy in me ! 
 
 " I now renounce all my Sins ! I give up myfelf 
 
 • " unto Thee, to be thine in the everlafting Cove- 
 
 « nant •, and to be inftru&ed, inclined, and enabled 
 
 tc always to live according to the Engagements of 
 
 «« it. 
 
 " O pardon all my Sins ! be Thou my reconciled 
 " God, my Lord, my Lawgiver, and my Portion, 
 " now henceforth, and for ever ! Amen, for the" 
 « Sake of Chrift Jefus my Advocate, and Redeemer. 
 " Amen." 
 
 Thus be you prevailed with to accept of Chrift, 
 and devote yourfeives to God ; and tettify the Since- 
 rity of your Faith in Chrift, and the Uprightnefs of 
 your Hearts, by a conftant Attendance on the pub- 
 lick Worftiip of God, and a conscientious Obedience 
 to all his Commandments. 
 
 * % Cor. V. 17. 
 
 G And 
 
42 Sacred Declarations, &c. 
 
 And let not the Scoffs and Derifions of any of 
 your Acquaintance make you afhamed of theGofpel 
 of Chrift, who fuffered Death, that you might obtain 
 Forgivenefs, and everlafling Life ! nor alhamed of 
 obferving his Sabbaths, and Ordinances, nor of own- 
 ing his Caufe, and his People. 
 
 Let the Operations of the Divine Providence be 
 compared with the Declarations of God recorded in 
 his Word, and they are a perpetual Evidence of the 
 Divine Authority of the facred Scriptures, and of the 
 Truth of the Golpel ! An Evidence of the Being, 
 Wifdom, Powt, Goodnefs, and Righteouliefs of 
 God, and of the Unreafbnabienefs of Atheifm, and 
 Infidelity, and indeed of all Irreligion. 
 
 Many other Things I might fitly propofe to the 
 Confederation of the Inhabitants of Great Britain, 
 who have long been under the Threatnings of the 
 "Word and Providence of God ; but I will only add, 
 that God, in the Time of his awful Vifitation of Cities 
 and Countries for Sin, will make a Difference in his 
 Dealings with the Righteous, and the Wicked. 
 See Ifa. iii. 10, n. Say ye to the Righteous that it 
 /hall be well with him : For they (hall eat the Fruit of 
 their "Doings. Wo unto the Wicked, it fhall be ill 
 with him : For the Reward of his Hands JJoalll be 
 given him. 
 
 The E N DJ 
 
LETTER III. 
 
 Containing the Introduction* with fame Thoughts of 
 the Importance of continuing the Ufe of the Ex- 
 preffions in the Sacred Scriptures among Chriftians^ 
 and a Summary of the Evidences of the Truth of the 
 Gofpel for the Conviclion of fuch as are doubting 
 of it 5 and the Confirmation of the Faith of Serious 
 Chriftidns ; with all fhewing the fad State of Infidels $ 
 who have the Means of knowing the Truth. 
 
 N the foregoing Letters I gave a 
 Summary of the Divine Laws* 
 chiefly in the Order of the Ten 
 Commandments, and confidered 
 the Predictions relative to thofe 
 Perfons, who live in wilful Dif- 
 obedience to any of them ; I have fhewed that the 
 Holy God, who has denounced everlafting Pu- 
 nifliments, and Torments on them in the next 
 World, has likewife threatned them with horrible 
 Punifhments, and Miferies in this. 
 
 I have fhewed that the Righteous God will vifk 
 Cities, and Countries with his great Plagues, if 
 the Wicked Inhabitants of them will not be re- 
 formed, either by his Methods of Mercy, or by 
 his lefTer Judgments. 
 
 B Thcfc 
 
2 On the Sacred Predictions. 
 
 Thefe Things I have given an Account of •, that 
 fo by the Confideration of them fome Pcrfons may 
 be brought to Repentance towards God and Faith 
 in the Lord Jefus Chrift, who is both able, and 
 willing to fave, even the Chief of Sinners. 
 
 The terrible Predictions of inexpreflible Mif- 
 eries to be inflicted on incorrigible Sinners, col- 
 lected in the foregoing Papers, may well fill the 
 Minds of impenitent, ftubborn Perfons with A- 
 mazement and Horror. And efpecially fmce the 
 Righteous God is rifen out of his Place to punifh 
 the Inhabitants of the World for their Iniquities ; 
 fmce by his juft Providence thro' the Courle of 
 ieveral late Years, He has been bringing upon 
 many Cities and Countries the Miferies of War, 
 or of Peftilence, or of Famine •, ruining Thoufands 
 after Thoufands, both Rich and Poor, and de- 
 stroying theLives of Multitudes after Multitudes: 
 I fay fince thefe Events, there is Reafon for wilful 
 Sinners to be afraid. 
 
 And thofe Cities and Nations, which have 
 hitherto been preferved in Health, Tranquility 
 and Plenty, have no Ground to imagine they Ihall 
 always efcape unpunifhed ; but they have Reafon 
 to fear fuffering the Jike Judgments except they 
 repent. 
 
 God indeed delights not in the Miferies of his 
 difobedient Servants: Say to them, as I live faith 
 the Lord God / have no Pkafure in the Death of 
 the Wicked, but that the IVicked turn from his Way, 
 and live. (Ezek. xxxiii. n.) Joyful Tidings 
 to all Sorts of Sinners! God in his infinite Mercy 
 has provided a mighty Saviour, his only begotten 
 and well beloved Son \ and in his Gofpel has re- 
 vealed the Way, by which the moft wretched 
 Tranfgrefibrs may obtain a fure Intereft in him, 
 and Salvation by him. 
 
 This 
 
On the Sacred Predictions. 3 
 
 This fure Way, I have likewife confidered in the 
 former Letters, that fo none may Defpair, but all 
 may be prevailed with by the Loving-kindnefs of 
 the Lord ; to renounce their Sins, and with Joy ac- 
 cept of Chrift, and truft in him, to lave them 
 from their Sins, and from the dreadful Wrath, 
 which is coming on the Children of Difobedience. 
 
 I fhall in the following Papers confider thofe 
 Predictions of Bleflings, which may adminifter 
 Comfort to the Minds of ferious Chriftians at all 
 Times ; and particularly when God is vifiting the 
 Inhabitants of any City, or Country, for their 
 Iniquities. 
 
 I may obferve that in all Ages, and in every 
 Town and Nation ; there are in God's Account, 
 but two Sorts of People ; viz. the Righteous, and 
 the Wicked: Into thefe general Claries they are 
 diftributed, in Gen. xviii. 23, 25. 
 
 The Exprefiion the Righteous comprehends all 
 thofe, who did know, love, and ferve God, all 
 who believed his Word, and whofe Courfe of 
 Life was a Practice of all Duties towards God 
 and Man, required by the Divine Laws ; and the 
 Expreflion the Wicked includes all thofe, who 
 would not practice the Duties they owe to God 
 and Man, and did not believe his Word. 
 
 TheExpreflionsftill retain the fame Significati- 
 ons. And at the End of the World people will be 
 divided only into two Sorts. When the Son of Man 
 Jhall come in his Glory, and all the Holy Angels with him, 
 then/hall he Jit upon the 'Throne of his Glory, and be- 
 fore him Jhall be gathered all Nations, and he Jhall fe- 
 parate them one from another, as a Shepherd di~ 
 videth the Sheep from the Goats -, and he /hall fet 
 the Sheep on his right Hand, and the Goats on his 
 left. (Matt. xxv. 31, 32,33.) By the Metaphor 
 of Sheep are meant the faithful Servants of God, 
 the true Difciples of Chrift ; and by that of Goats 
 B 2 are 
 
4 On the Sacred Predictions. 
 
 arc fignified all the Difobedient and Impenitent, 
 who would not believe, and obey the Gofpel. 
 
 Thus from the Beginning of the World to the 
 End of it, there are only two Sorts of People. 
 
 After Chrift (the promifed MefTiah) came into 
 the World, and his Gofpel was preached ! they 
 who were convinced by it, and believed on the 
 Holy Jefus, and accepted of him as their Saviour 
 and Prince, were called Believers. 
 
 By this Title they were denoted in Alls v. 14. 
 Where it is faid, and Believers were the more added 
 to the Lord, Multitudes both of Men and Women. 
 
 Thus alfo in 1 Tim. iv. 1 2. where the Apoftle 
 fays to him, Be thou an Example of the Believers, 
 And the Believers were called Chriftians, firft at 
 Antioch. (Ails xi. 26.) and from that Time they 
 who profeiTed the Gofpel were denominated by 
 the fame Name. But it rnufl be faid that not all, 
 who call themfclves Chriftians are fuch in Truth. 
 They who live in wilful Dilbbedience to the 
 Rules of his Gofpel are not Chrift's Difciples in- 
 deed. 
 
 The Apoftle James fays, Evenfo Failh, if it 
 hath not Works, is dead; (James ii. 17.) that is, it is 
 as ufelefs as a Body without Life. 
 
 No Sorts of wilful Sinners are ferious Chrif- 
 tians •, Know ye not that the Unrighteous Jhall not 
 inherit the Kingdom of God ? Be not deceived, 'nei- 
 ther Fornicator^, nor Idolaters, nor Adulterers, nor 
 Effeminate, nor Abufers of themf elves with Man- 
 kind, nor Thieves, nor Covetous, nor Drunkards, 
 nor Revilers, nor Extortioners fhall inherit the 
 Kingdom of God. (1 Cor. vi. 9, 10.) Therefore none 
 of thofe forts of People are to be reckoned ferious 
 Chriftians. 
 
 But that we may better underftand, who are 
 truly Religious or fmcere Chriftians, to whom 
 the Predictions of Bleffings do belong, Bleffings 
 
 intended 
 
On the Sacred Predictions. § 
 
 intended for their Happinefs, Comfort and Joy ; 
 I (hall confider fome of the Characters by which 
 they are defcribed, or difiinguifhed from others 
 in the Holy Scriptures ; and likewife feme of the 
 Bleflings promifed to them. 
 
 Thefe Things I propofe to give an Account 
 of, not in the Words, which Man's Wifdom teacheth^ 
 but which the Holy Ghoji teacheth ; Comparing 
 Spiritual Things with Spiritual, (i Cor. ii. 13.) 
 Doubtlefs God knows what Words and Expref- 
 fions are fittefl: to convey to our Minds the Ideas, 
 and Thoughts he would have uwto entertain. 
 
 And therefore we are not to lay them afide in 
 Speaking of our Spiritual Concerns, and of the 
 Doctrines he has revealed, or of the Ordinances, 
 and Laws he has enjoined us. 
 
 It is a Duty, and a very weighty Duty, to 
 • retain and ufe the Language of the Holy Scrip- 
 tures i for the Laying afide the Ufe of the Words, 
 and Exprefiions of God, which we find in his 
 Sacred Revelation contained in our Bible, is a 
 Throwing into Oblivion, and a Lofing thofe 
 important Thoughts and Ideas, which they def- 
 cribe and exprefs ; and indeed it is Rejecting fo 
 much of the Gofpel as is contained in them. 
 
 It introduces different Ideas and Notions •, and 
 fo far another Religion, or Gofpel •, although 
 they, who do fo, call themfelves Chriftians. 
 
 Can I with Reafon believe that Man to have 
 been born and lived in England, who neither 
 ufes, nor underftands the Englifh Language ? 
 And have I more Reafon to think that Man a 
 real Chriftian, who neither ufes, nor underftands 
 the Language of the Gofpel, thofe Words which 
 the Holy Ghoft teacheth ? 
 
 It is a bold Undertaking in any Perfon to alter 
 the Language of the Holy Spirit, or to bring 
 into Pilule- thofe Words and Phrafes by which he 
 
 expreffes 
 
6 On the Sacred Predictions. 
 
 exprefles the Doctrines of the Gofpel, and the 
 Things which concern our Salvation. 
 
 In Rev. xxii. 18, 19. it is faid, If any Man 
 Jhall add unto thefe Things, God jhall add to him 
 the Plagues that are written in this Book. And if 
 any Man /hall take away from the Words of the 
 Book of this Prophefy, God Jhall take away his Part 
 cut of the Book of Life. 
 
 It is a heinous Sin to add any Thing unto, or to 
 take away from the Words of any other Book of 
 the Holy Scriptures. 
 
 In Prov. xxxjji 5, 6. it is faid, Every Word of 
 God is pure, he is a Shield unto tfyem that put their 
 Truft in him : Add thou not unto his Words, left he 
 reprove thee and thou be found a Liar. 
 
 In Deut. iv. 2. it is written, Tejhall not add unto 
 the Word which I command you, neither JJjall you 
 diminijh ought from it. 
 
 My Soul trembles at the Thoughts of Laying 
 afide the Language of the facred Scriptures, and 
 fubftituting other Expreflions in the Stead of it. 
 
 St. Paul fays, But though we, or an Angel from 
 Heaven preach any other Gofpel (that is, other 
 Doctrines about Cnrift and Salvation by him,) than 
 that which we have preached to you, let him be 
 accurfed. See Gal. i. 8, 9, 10. 
 
 By ufing the Expreflions of the Sacred Scrip- 
 tures, the Words which the Holy Ghoft teaeheth, 
 I do not mean that we muft not ufe any others ; 
 for the Ufe of other Words is very needful in 
 preaching the Gofpel, and expounding the Scrip- 
 tures, and in catechifing and inftruCting Children 
 and Youth, and in difcourfing on the feveral 
 Parts of Divine Revelation. 
 
 But we muft not difufe the Scripture Language, 
 nor ufe Terms which convey Ideas, or Thoughts 
 different from, and repugnant to it. 
 
 In 
 
On the Sacred Predictions. j 
 
 In every Language, into which the Holy Scrip- 
 tures have been tranflated from the Hebrew and 
 Greek, the Words, are different as to the Letters, 
 Syllables and Sound •, but as the Words in the 
 feveral Tranflations fignify and exprefs the fame 
 Thoughts, and Ideas, which are conveyed to the 
 Mind by the Words in the Original Language, 
 the Words in every Tranflation, may fo far be 
 efteemed the Words, which the Holy Ghoft 
 teacheth. 
 
 If what I have faid concerning the Words of 
 the Holy Ghoft, and of the Importance of con- 
 tinuing the Ufe of them, be a Difgreffion, it is 
 a neceffary One, and needs no Apology in this 
 Age, wherein many are fallen into a Diflike and 
 Difufe of them. 
 
 I (hall now confider fome Parts of the Holy 
 Scriptures, by which it may be known who are 
 real Christians, to whom the Predictions of Blef- 
 fings do relate, and who may be much comforted 
 by them. 
 
 The Character of real Chriftians in general, in- 
 cludes a Believing thofe 'Things, which are written 
 concerning Chriji. 
 
 The Apoftle Paul in Defence of himfelf before 
 Felix, fays, This I confefs unto thee, that after the 
 Way which they call Herejy, fo wor/hip I the God of 
 my Fathers ; believing all Things which are written 
 in the Law, and the Prophets. (Acts xxiv. 14.) 
 That is, all the Things written concerning Chrift, 
 as appears from the Context ; and for the fame 
 Reafons we are to believe all Things that are writ- 
 ten concerning Chrift by the Apoftles in the New 
 Teftament. 
 
 I fhall therefore mention fome of thofe Things 
 which are written in the Sacred Scriptures con- 
 cerning Chriji, and which we are to believe. 
 
 ■ 1 It 
 
(be Sacred Pr editions. 
 plainly evident from what is written in the 
 
 1/ Scrptures, that the promifed Meffiah, (the 
 .Redeemer of Ifrael, and the Saviour of the Gen- 
 tiles, as well as of the Jews,; was a Perfon of 
 tranfeendent Excellency, Majefty, Authority, 
 Power and Goodnefs. 
 
 It was revealed that he mould be a Man-, that 
 is, that he mould have an human Nature, con- 
 fiding of an human Soul, and Body. This ap- 
 pear* from its being declared, That he fhould be a 
 Child, bom of a Virgin. (Ifa. vii. 14.) 
 
 For every Child, every Son that is born of a 
 Woman hath an human Soul, and an human 
 Body. 
 
 And of the Virgin Mary it is faid, that She was 
 found with Child of the Holy Ghoft. (Matt. i. 18.) 
 And when foe brought forth her firfi born Son, his 
 Name was called Jefus, according to the Appoint- 
 ment of God his Father, (ver. 25.) and in (1 Tim. 
 ii. 5.) he is called The Man Chrift Jefus. 
 
 But it is alio revealed that the Mefliah, our 
 blefied Redeemer is God, as well as Man : For 
 thofe Things are affirmed of him, which cannot 
 be applied to any meer Creature. 
 
 It is teflified that when the Mefliah mould come, 
 he fhould be Immanuel, that is, God with us. (Ifa. 
 vii. 14.) and afterwards, that He is the Mighty 
 God. (Ifa. ix. 6.) 
 
 And in (John i. 1, 3.) it is revealed that, In 
 the Beginning was the Word, and- the Word was 
 with God, and the Word was God. All Things were 
 made by him, and without him was not any Thing 
 made that was made. 
 
 And in {ver. 14.) it is faid, And the Word was 
 made Fleffp, and dwelt among us. 
 
 In (John iii. 13 .) the blefied Jefus himfelf fays, 
 No Man l\ith afcended up to Heaven, but he that 
 
 came 
 
On the Sacred Predictions. g 
 
 'came down from Heaven, even the Son of Man which 
 is in Heaven. 
 
 This (hews that the Son of Man, who was 
 born of the Virgin Mary, had another Nature 
 befides the Human; a Nature Omniprefent, which 
 was in Heaven, at the fame Time it was prefent 
 wirh him, while he was on Earth, talking with 
 Nicodemus. 
 
 Hereby Chrift made it known that his human 
 Nature was united to the Divine; and that he is 
 both God, and Man, in one Perfon, and may 
 well be called Wonderful. 
 
 Of this glorious Perfon, the Prophet (in Ifa. 
 ix. 6, 7.) faid, Unto us a Child is horn, unto us a 
 Son is given ; and the Government fhall be upon his 
 Shoulders, and his Name fid all be called Wonderful, 
 Counfeller, the mighty God, the everlafling Father, 
 ■the Prince of Peace. Of the Increafe of his Govern- 
 ment, ("which implies it would be fmall at nrfl) 
 and Peace, there fhall be no End. Upon the Throne 
 of David, and upon his Kingdoms, to order and to 
 ejlabhfh it with Judgment , and with Juflice, from 
 henceforth even for ever : Ihe Zeal of the Lord of 
 Hojls will perform this. 
 
 And (in Ifa. xlix. 5, 6.) Now faith the Lord; 
 (that is, to his promifed Mefliah) I will alfo give 
 thee for a Light to the Gentiles, that thou may eft be 
 my Salvation to the Ends of the Earth. 
 
 He is declared to be A Light to lighten the Gen- 
 tiles, and the Glory of his People Ifrael. (Luke ii. 
 
 He is called The Defire of all Nations. (Hag, 
 
 ii. 7-) 
 
 And all Nations ought to defire him, on the 
 Account of his Divine Excellencies ; his Majefty, 
 and Power, and Honour, and Glory ; and on the 
 Account of his redeeming Love ; his great Com- 
 panion for all Sorts of People, in a State of Sin 
 G and 
 
io On the Sacred Predictions. 
 
 and Mifery ; and undertaking to procure a great 
 Salvation, not for the Jews only, but for all Na- 
 tions. 
 
 In regard to Authority, Wifdom, Power, 
 Juftice and Goodnefs, and likewife in Refpect to 
 his Dominion, the Extent, and Duration of it, 
 the greateft Potentates on Earth are as nothing. 
 
 Yet how did this raoft glorious Perfon, whom 
 the Holy Angels worfhip and adore, how did he 
 enter into this World ? 
 
 Not with Pomp, and Grandeur •, no, he was 
 born of a Virgin in mean Circumftances, tho' 
 deicended from David the King j he was born of 
 one deftitute of the Conveniences common to 
 "Women in her Condition. And altho he was 
 born King of the Jews, he had no Palace for the 
 Place of his Birth, but his firft Accommodations 
 were in a Stable, and to be laid in a Manger. 
 
 Behold, O my Soul, the Beginning of thy 
 Saviour's Life ! The Beginning of a Life of deep 
 Humiliation and Suffering ! Surely he was a Man 
 of Sorrows, and acquainted with Grief, from his 
 Birth to his Death. 
 
 And why was all this, but out of Love and 
 Fity to me and other Sinners like myfelf ? And 
 fhall I not love him, who fo greatly humbled 
 himfelf that I might be delivered from my natu- 
 ral State of Sin and Mifery, and be exalted into 
 a State of Holinefs and Happinefs ? 
 
 I pray that I may be enabled always, to love 
 him in Sincerity. 
 
 In Ifa. liii. 2. the Prophet fpeaking what 
 would be the Thoughts of the Jews, when the 
 Meffiah mould appear, fays, He has no Form nor 
 Comelinefs : And when wejhallfee him, there is no 
 Beauty that we Jhould defire him. That is, none 
 that was agreeable to the carnal Expectations and 
 Wifhes of the Jews. 
 
 The 
 
0?t the Sacred Predictions. 1 1 
 
 The Jews therefore defpifed and rejected him, 
 becaufe he came into the World in a mean, and 
 low Condition, deftitute of the Accommodations 
 of the Attendants, and of the Honours, which 
 are common to Emperors and Kings. 
 
 But did not the gre^t God bear witnefs that this 
 Jefus of Nazareth was his Son, and the very Mef- 
 fiah fpoken of by all the Prophets, notwithstand- 
 ing his Poverty, and mean Appearance among 
 the Jews ? 
 
 Did not the Angel of the Lord appear unto 
 Jofeph in a Dream, faying, J 'feph, thou Son of 
 David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy Wife : 
 For that, which is conceived in her, is of the Holy 
 Ghofi. And fhe Jhall bring forth a Son, and thou 
 fhalt call his Name Jesus: For he fhall fave his 
 People from their Sins? (Matt. i. 20, 21.) 
 
 And when Chrift was born, did not the Al- 
 mighty God make known this grand Event to 
 certain wife Men in the Eaft, and reveal to them 
 that this Child was born King of the Jews ? (Matt. 
 ii. 1, 2.) and did he not incline them to take a 
 long Journey to vifit, and bring Prefents, and 
 pay their Homage to him ? And did he not by a 
 miraculous Star guide them, and made it pafs be- 
 fore them, till it came and flood over where the 
 young Child was ? (Matt. ii. 9.) 
 
 When the Virgin Mary brought forth her firft 
 born Son (in Bethlehem) and wrapped him in 
 Swadling Cloths, and laid him in a Manger, be- 
 caufe there was no Room for him in the Inn.- 
 (Luke ii. 7.) we read, There were in the fame 
 Country Shepherds abiding in the Field, keeping 
 Watch over their Flock by Night : And lo, the 
 Angel of the Lord came upon them, and the Glory of 
 the Lord fhone round about them, and they were 
 Core afraid. And the Angel faid unto them, fear 
 not : For behold I bring you good Tidings of great 
 C 2 Joy, 
 
12 On the Sacred Predictions. 
 
 Joy, which ft) all be (the Occafion of great Joy) 
 to all People, for unto you (and to all People) is 
 born this Day in (Bethlehem) the City of David 
 a Saviour, which is Cbrijl (or the Mefilah) the. 
 Lcrd. And this /hall be a Sign unto you -, ye Jhall 
 find the Babe wrapped in Swadl'wg Clothes, lying in 
 a Monger. 
 
 Thus God fent an Angel to publifh or proclaim 
 10 the Shepherds, that the Meftiah was come ; that 
 theg'oiiots Saviour was born in Bethlehem, Chrifl: 
 the Lord. (Luke ii. 8, 6Yc.) 
 
 But God did not attest this grand Event, by 
 ons Angel only, No, For fuddenly there was with 
 that Angel, a Multitude of the Heavenly Ho]i % 
 frcifing Gcd (on this Account,) and faying : Glory 
 to God in the Hi? heft, and en Ear'.h Peace, Good- 
 will towards Men. (ver. [3, 14.) And when the 
 Angels were gone from them into Heaven, the Shep- 
 herds faid one to another, let us now go even tarto 
 Bethlehem, and fee this Thing, which is come to pafs, 
 which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they 
 cam: with hafle, and found Mary, and Jofeph-, and 
 the Babe lying in a Manger. And when they had 
 fecn it, they made known abroad the Sayingt which 
 was told them concerning ih s Child. And all they 
 th at heard it, wondered at thofe Things which were 
 told them by the Shepherds. 
 
 Thus God himfelf did bear Witnefs that Jefus, 
 Mho was born of the Virgin Mary, was his Son, 
 and the true Median, and thus in the mod mag- 
 nificent and glorious Manner, proclaimed his 
 Birth to the World. 
 
 And as at his Birth, fo through his Life, and 
 at h s Death, and after it did God bear witnefs to 
 the Truth of his Gofpel. 
 
 When the Mefiiah our great Redeemer was 
 baptized, the Heavens were opened unto him and 
 be jew the Spii it of God defc ending like a Dove and 
 
 lighting 
 
On the Sacred Predictions. j 3 
 
 lighting upon him -, and lo, a Voice from Heaven, 
 Saying, This is my beloved Sfen, in whom I am well 
 plea 'fed -, hear ye him. (Mat. jii. 16, 17.) 
 
 When he was cranfigured before his DifcipJes, 
 (viz. Peter, James and John,) while he yet fpake, 
 behold, a bright Cloud over fuadowed them ; beheld, 
 a Voice out of the Cloud (that is the Voice of God,) 
 which faid, This is my beLved Son in whom I am 
 well pleafed, hear ye him. Matt. xvii. 5. 
 
 It may, and itought to be obferved, that our great 
 Redeemer through the whole Courfe of his Life 
 ihewed a continual Difregard to the Honours, the 
 Riches and Pleafures of this World, and wholely 
 employed himfelf in preaching the Gofpel, fhew- 
 ing the People the Way to be faved, and teach- 
 ing them thofe Things they mould know, and 
 believe and piaclife. Daily proving his Million 
 from God, and confirming his Doctrine by num- 
 berlefs Miracles, calling out Devils, raifing the 
 Dead, and healing all Manner of Difeafes. 
 
 And in his laft Sufferings, when he was dying on 
 the Crois as a Sacrifice for us, Behold, the Vail of 
 the Temple was rent in twain, from the Top to the 
 Bo t ton:, and the Earth did quake, and the Rocks rent, 
 and the Graves were opened, and many Bodies of 
 Saints, which flept ' arofe, and come out of the Graves 
 afer his Refurreclion, and went into the Holy City, 
 and appeared (not to a few but) unto many* 
 
 And when the Centurion, and they that were with 
 him, watching Jefus, faw the Earthquake and thofe 
 Things that were done, they feared greatly, faying, Tru- 
 ly this was the Son of God. (Matt, xxvii. 31, &c.) 
 
 Well, after he was dead Joieph, a rich Man 
 of Arimathea buried his Body, and laid it in his 
 own new Tomb, which he had hewn out in the 
 Rock, and rolled a great ftone to the Door of 
 the Sepulchre. 
 
 The Enemies of ChriH remembred his Predic- 
 tion of himfelf, viz. that he would rife again the 
 
 third 
 
J 4 On the Sacred Fr editions. 
 
 third Day, and intreated Pilate to command the 
 Sepulchre to be made fine until the third Day, 
 And Pilate faid unto them ye have a Watch, go 
 ycur Way, make it as fur e as you can, fo they went 
 and made the Sepulchre fure, feeling the Stone and 
 fitting a Watch. (See ver, 63, &c.) 
 
 Vain Precautions ! in Matt, xxviii. 2, &c. it 
 is faid, Behold, there was a great Earthquake -, for 
 the Angel cf the Lord defended from Heaven, and 
 came and rolled back the St-one from the Door, and 
 fet upon it. His Countenance was like Lightning, and 
 bis Raiment white as Snow. And for Fear of him 
 the Keepers did fhake, and became as dead Men. 
 And the Angel anfwered and faid unto the Women 
 ( mentioned ver. 1.) Fear not ye, for I know, that 
 ys feek Jefus, which was crucified. He is not here, 
 for he is rifen, as he faid. Come, fee the Place 
 where the Lord lay. And after he was ri'en from 
 the Dead, he often appeared unto his Difciples, 
 and He did eat, and drink, and converfe with 
 them. It is faid, he /hewed himfelf alive to his 
 Apofiles, by many infallible Proofs being feen of them 
 forty Days, and fpeakng of the 'Things partaining 
 to the Kingdom of God Acts i. 3. 
 
 When he left this World, and had taken Leave 
 of his Difciples he did not go from them into a 
 iecret Place, and thence by himfelf alone afcend 
 up into Heaven : No, but as there were many 
 Witneflesof his Death, and of his Refurredion, 
 fo like wife of his Afcenfion into Heaven. 
 
 The Hiftory of the Holy Jems written by St, 
 Luke teftines, that tivo of his Difciples, (Luke 
 xxiv. 1 3.) went the fame Day (in v/hich our Lord 
 rofe from the Dead) to a Village called Emmaus, 
 and that cur Lord joined himfelf to their Com- 
 pany, (ver. 15 J and beginning at Mofea, and all 
 the Prophets, he expounded unto them in all the 
 Scriptures the Things concerning himfelf. (ver. <j.) 
 
 That 
 
On the Sacred Predictions. 1 5 
 
 That after Ch rift was gone from them, thiy 
 rofe up the Jame Hcu v , and returned to Jerufalem, 
 and found the Eleven (Apoftlesj and them that 
 were with them. (ver. 3.].) That while this Com- 
 pany was together, Jefus himfelf flood in the Midjt 
 of them, and difcourfed with them, (ver. 36.) &c. 
 And opened their Underftanding that they might un- 
 derji 'and the Scriptures, (ver. 45.) And he led them 
 out as far as Bethany , and he lift up his Hands, 
 end blejfed them. (ver. 50.) it is added, And it 
 came ti pafs, while he blejfed them, he was parted 
 from them^ and carried up into Heaven, (ver. 51.) 
 Whence it appears, that the Apoftles, and thofe 
 who were with them, were Eye*Witneffes of our 
 Lord's Afcenfion into Heaven. 
 
 In Acls, i. 4, 11. we are informed, that 
 
 our bleffed Lord being affembled together with 
 
 .them, that is with his Apoftles and Difciples, 
 
 after he had concluded his Difcourfes with them, 
 
 while they beheld, he was taken up, and a Cloud 
 
 received him out of their Sight. And while they 
 
 looked fleadfaftly towards Heaven, as ke went up, 
 
 behold two Men (that is two Angels in the Like- 
 
 nefs of Men,) flood by them in White Apparel, 
 
 which alfo faid, ye Men of Galilee, why ftand ye 
 
 gazing up into Heaven ? 'This fa*ne J ejus, which 
 
 is taken up from you into Heaven -, jhall fo come, in 
 
 like Manner, as ye have feen him go into Heaven. 
 
 After this Glorious Event of Chrift's Afcenfion 
 
 into Heaven, his Prediction, and Promife of the 
 
 Holy Ghoft was fulfilled to the Apoftles, (whom 
 
 he had chofen to be his Witneffes,) while they 
 
 ftaid in Jerufalem to be qualified for, and to be 
 
 enabled to fulfil their Miniftry and ApofHefhip. 
 
 For when they were all with one Accord in one 
 Place, fuddenly, there cawe a Sound from Heaven, 
 as of a rufhing mighty Wind, and it filled all the 
 Houfe where they were fitting. And there appeared 
 unto them cloven Tongues, like as of Fire, and fat 
 
 upon 
 
1 6 On the Sacred Predictions. 
 
 upon each of them, (that is on each of the Apof- 
 tles,) And they were all filled with the Hoy Ghoft, 
 and began to /peak with other Tongues , as the Spirit 
 gave them Utterance. Acts ii. i, &c. 
 
 And many Signs and Wonders were done by the 
 Apt/files^ (Acts ii. 43.) who wrought many Mira- 
 cles in Confirmation of their Teftimony, and 
 Doctrine in the feveral Cities and Countries into 
 which they went preaching the Gofpel of Chrift ; 
 Wherefore it is laid, God alfo bearing them Wit- 
 ness both with Signs and Wonders, and with drivers 
 Miracles^ and Gifts of the Holy Ghojl^ according 
 to his own Will. Heb. ii. 4. 
 
 I have now given myfelf a Pleafure, and a 
 Pleafure to my tellow-Chriftians, who mail read 
 this fummary Account of the Glories of the 
 Meffiah, our only Saviour ; the Confederation of 
 it, may confirm our Faith, eftablifh our Hope 
 in Him, and increafe our Reverence of, and our 
 Love to him. 
 
 The Great, and the Holy God, has demon- 
 ftrated his Being, his Exiftence, and his infinite 
 Perfections two ways, viz. 
 
 By his Works of Creation ; the Heavens de- 
 clare his Glory, and the Firmament, and the vaft 
 Variety of Creatures fhew his handy Work, and 
 all proclaim his infinite VVifdom and Power, and 
 Goodnefs. 
 
 When I view the Heavens, and the Earth, 
 the Sun, Moon and Stars, and the Manifold Kinds 
 of Animals, and Vegetables, I conclude and I 
 ought to conclude, (if I would reafon rightly,) that 
 there is a God, whofe Wifdom contrived, and 
 whofe Power brought them into Exiftence. 
 
 AndlikewifebytheWorksof his Providence, he 
 demonftrates the fame-, efpecially by his giving to 
 us the Holy Scriptures, and the everlafting Gofpel, 
 God has manifested his Being, and his Glory. 
 
 7 Th « 
 
On the Sacred Predictions, t j 
 
 The Doctrines, and Laws, of the Old Tefta- 
 hient, and the Gofpel revealed more clearly in 
 the New, are ratified, or proved to be from God, 
 by a wonderful Conftructure of Predictions* and 
 by the Accomplishment of them. 
 
 And likewife when I read the Holy Scriptures, 
 and the Prophefies of the Events many Years, 
 and fome of them many Ages future, and how 
 exactly the Things foretold have come to p;ifs* 
 I conclude that there is a God, and that our Bible 
 contain his Word, or the Revelation of his Will, 
 and that the Doctrines of both the Teftaments 
 are certainly true. 
 
 Becaule if there was not a Foreknowledge of 
 future Events, there could be no Prophefies of 
 them ; if there was not a God who foreknew his 
 own Acts* what himfelf would do, and what he 
 would permit, or prevent, and whofe Power 
 over-rules all Creatures, and all their Actions, 
 Predictions could not be fulfilled. But as we are 
 certain that the Prophefies, recorded in the Holy 
 Scriptures have very many of them been fulfilled* 
 and that others are fulfilling, fo we are certain 
 that there is a God, and as certain that the Gol- 
 pel is true. 
 
 And that in Chriftian Countries, Unbelievers, 
 thofe Infidels have no Excufe. 
 
 How God will deal with the Heathens, with 
 Nations that never heard the joyful Sound of the 
 Gofpel, we Chriftians know not ; only *e know" 
 that The Judge of all ihe Earth will do right : And 
 that in every Nation he that feareth God, and 
 wonketh Righteoufnefs is accepted with him. (Acts 
 
 x. 35-) 
 
 But as for thofe who live in a Country, where 
 
 the Gofpel i£ preached, and where the People 
 
 have the Holy Scriptures, and may read them if 
 
 D they 
 
 cut. 
 
: 
 
 1 8 On the Sacred Predictions. 
 
 they will, we know how God will deal with 
 them. 
 
 The Holy Jefus faid to the Jews, If ye believe 
 not that I am he, ye [kail die in your Sins. (John 
 viii. 24.) which proves that the Unbelievers, if 
 they continue fuch, can never efcape everlafting 
 DeftrucYi'-n. 
 
 Unbelivers, reject Chrift from being their King ; 
 they will not have this Man to reign over them : 
 But that Time will furely come, when this King 
 will appoint them to be deftroyed. But thoje 
 r,'ine Enemies, which would not that 1 Jhould reign 
 over them, bring them hither, andjlay them before 
 me. Luke xix. 21. 
 
 Are there not Infidels in this Age, Perfons 
 who do not and will not believe that Jefus is the 
 Son of God, and the promifed Saviour ? And 
 may not thofe Predictions of his juftly fill them 
 with Dread ? They may. 
 
 And fo may thofe Predictions, recorded 
 
 (2 Thef. i. 7, 8, 9.) where the Apoftle foretells 
 
 . * that The Lord Jefus fhall be revealed from Heaven 
 
 4'?iQ e ^ With bis mighty Anglm> in flaming Eire, taking 
 
 (J Vengeance on them that know not God, and that 
 
 obey not the Gofpel of our Lord Jefus Chrifl : Who 
 
 fhall be funifhed with everlafting Deftrutlion from 
 
 the Prefence of the Lord, and from the Glory of his 
 
 Power. 
 
 Thefe Predictions may well excite in rational 
 Minds the moft amazing Fears, if they are guilty 
 of difbelieving the Gofpel of Chrift ; becaule 
 their reafoning Faculty renders them capable of 
 coufidering the Evidence of true Propofitions, 
 and thereby of receiving Conviction of the Truth 
 of the Gofpel. 
 
 And if they are not convinced of the moft 
 plain, and molt important Truths, it is becaufe 
 they will not confider the Evidence of them. 
 
 If 
 
On the Sacred Predictions. 19 
 
 If a Man at Noon Day, with a clear Sky, 
 fhall fay the Sun does not fhine, and that there 
 is no fuch Thing as the Sun, he either i< blind, 
 or belies his Senfcs, and either he has no Reafon, 
 or knowingly contradicts it. 
 
 And thus if a Man fhall fay, the Gofpel of 
 Chnft is not true, (fince Chrift by many infallible 
 Proofs has eftablifhed it,) he fpeaks and acfts 
 againft Reafon in rejecting ic. 
 
 What the Holy Jefus laid of the Jews, is ap- 
 plicable to thefe Unbelievers. In John xv. 24. 
 the b'.effed Jefus faid of them •, If I had not done 
 among- them the Works which none other Man did, 
 they had not had Sin ; but now have they both feen 
 and hated me and my Father. And it may be faid 
 of the Infidels (who have the Gofpel among them, 
 and will not believe it,) that they have Sin, and 
 no Cloke for their Sin. 
 
 They fhut their Eyes and will not fee, but 
 they {hall fee, and be afhamed, as it is faid ; Ifa, 
 xxvi. 1 7. and it may be very foon : For when 
 Death comes, tho' it clofes the Eyes of their 
 Bodies, it will open the Eyes of their Minds: 
 And then they will fee that the Holy Scriptures 
 are indeed the Word of God, and that the Gofpel 
 came from God, publishing and offering Salva- 
 tion to all Sorts of Sinners, by Jefus Chrift: 
 Then they will fee the Worth of their Souls, and 
 the Excellency of the Happinefs purchafed by 
 Chrift, and offered to them, and refufed by 
 them. 
 
 O what Horror, what Diftrefs filled the Mind 
 of St. Paul, when Jefus of Nazareth appeared 
 to him in the Way, as he went to Damafcus, and 
 when he found that juft One, whom the Jews 
 had crucified, both Lord and Chrift 1 
 
 But how much greater Horrors, and even a 
 
 dreadful and irremoveable Defpair join'd with 
 
 D 2 them, 
 
2© On the Sacred Frediblions. 
 
 them, will fill the Souls of the Infidels, as foon as 
 they are taken irom their Bodies, by an Angry 
 and a Sin- revenging God ! 
 
 Theie Infidels are more guilty, and their Guilt 
 more ao-aravated than that of the Devils. 
 
 The Devils believe that Jefus or Nazareth is 
 the Son of God, and the Saviour of Men ; they 
 believe all the Facts relating to him, mentioned 
 in the Holy Scriptures. 
 
 But the Infidels deny them •, and their Guilt is 
 the more heinous, as Chrift came into the World 
 on purpofe not to fave the Devils, but the finful 
 Children of Men. And as the whole Series of 
 his Actions, were Acts of Pity, of Love mani- 
 fefted both to the Bodies and Souls of Men, as 
 he came to purchafe the Pardon of Sins, Peace 
 with God, and everlafting Felicity for all that 
 would become his Difciples. 
 
 O Merciful God, awaken the Confciences of 
 thofe defperate Sinners-, biing them to believe 
 that Faith which they have hitherto been labour- 
 ing to deftroy ! Bring them to read, and confider 
 what the bletfed Jefus fays, (in Matt. x. 32, 33.) 
 whofoever the y ef ore Jhall confefs me before Alen, him 
 will I cenfef alfo before my Father, which is in 
 Heaven. But whofoever Jhall deny me before Men, 
 him will 1 afo de>y before my Father which is in 
 Heaven. 
 
 Thefe Words mould engage us not only ro be- 
 lieve in Chrift, but readily to own and acknow- 
 ledge him to be our Redeemer, in whom we 
 truft for Salvation, and thty fhould refrain us 
 from denying him. 
 
 In Mark viii. 36, 37, 3$. Chrift fays, For 
 what Jhall it profit a Man, if he gain the whole 
 World, and lofe his own Soul? or what /hall a 
 Man give in Exchange for bis Sold? Whoever 
 therefore Jhall he ajhamed of me. and of my Words 
 
 (which 
 
On the Sacred Predictions. ?_ j 
 
 (which include his Doclrines and Laws,) in this 
 adulterous, and Sinful Generations, of him alfo fhall 
 the Son of Man be afhamed, when he comeih in the 
 Glory of his Father, zvith the Holy Angels. 
 
 Tkefe Sayings of Chrift import not only that 
 the Unbelievers, but alfo that thofe Frofeffors of 
 his Gofj el, who to avoid Sufferings, or to gain 
 any Worldly Advantage, fhall either deny ChriO, 
 or be afhamed of him, or his Words and Doc- 
 trines, are appointed to inexpreflible and ever- 
 
 *}afting Punifhmcnts, they lofe their own Souls, 
 and all the Happinefs purchafed by Chrift, and 
 offered to Sinners by the Gofpel, and are not to 
 be reckoned real Chriftians. 
 
 But though Men in Words may own Chrift, 
 and call themfelves Chriftians, yet if they live 
 in allowed Difobedience to the Rules of his Gof- 
 
 " pel, they are not fincere Chriftians. In Tit. i. 6. 
 The Apoftle fays, They prof efs that they know God, 
 but in Works deny him, being abominable and dif- 
 qbedienty and to every good Work reprobate. 
 
 Thus it appears fiom infallible Proofs, that 
 Jesus of Nazareth who was born of the Virgin 
 Mary, who led a Life of Sufferings and Sorrows, 
 who was crucified and put to Death under Pon- 
 tius Pilate, and who rofe again from the Dead 
 the third Day •, is Chrift, the promifed Saviour. 
 
 I have faid thus much concerning the Sin of 
 Unbelief, and of ProfefTors being afhamed to 
 own Chrift, and his Gofpel, to warn People againft 
 complying with any Temptations, which may 
 incline them to be guilty of thofe Crimes, 
 
LET T E 
 
 7 
 
 Containing Remarks on fme Vc/U of the Holy 
 Scriptures , by which Perfons m know hem- 
 f elves, whether they are Jinceri Chi «j, to 
 whom the prediclei B effings do belong . And of 
 their being in Covenant wi.b God, and having 
 the Holy Spirit dwelling in them : Likewife of 
 the different Manner, in which the Holy Spirit 
 bringeth Perfons to be fine ere Chrifiians. 
 
 ffil Shall now take Notice of fome 
 |p Parts of the Holy Scriptures from 
 $§S which we may know, who are 
 Sy£ .«! ferious Chrifiians. 
 
 m reai ' 
 
 Jte|p| In Matt. x. 3. the Holy- Jefus 
 ')sM^^i£4&%& fays, Except ye be converted, and 
 become as little Children, ye fhall not enter into the 
 Kingdom of Heaven : Therefore they who are not 
 converted, and do not become as little Children, 
 are not real, and ferious Chrifiians ; becaufe fin- 
 cere Chrifiians have many Promifes, which are a 
 folid Ground of Affurance that they fhall be ad- 
 mitted into the Kingdom of Heaven. 
 
 Another plain Conclufion may be added, viz. 
 that therefore the Miniflers of Chrifl, fhould 
 explain, and prove the NecefTity of that Conver- 
 fion, which Chrifl fpeaks of. 
 
 4 In 
 
On the Sacred Predictions. 23 
 
 In John iii. 3, 5. Chrift the glorious Teacher, 
 who came down from Heaven, fays, Except a 
 Man be born again he cannot fee the Kingdom of 
 God. Except a Man be born of Water •, and of the 
 Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. 
 Therefore they who are not born again, born of 
 Water, and-of the Spirit, are not to be reckoned 
 fincere Chriftians. 
 
 And therefore the Minifters of Chrift fhould 
 explain the Nature, and preach the Neceffity of 
 being born again, according to our Saviour's 
 Doctrine. 
 
 In 2 Cor. v. 17. It is faid, If any Man be in 
 Chrifl , he is a new Creature, old Things are pafi 
 away, behold all 'Things are become new. There- 
 fore, they who are not new Creatures, they in 
 whom the old Things are not pad away, and in 
 whom all Things are not become new, are not 
 ferious, or real Chriftians : And therefore alfo 
 the Minifters of Chrift fhould explain, and preach 
 the Doctrine of the new Creature, and of the 
 palling away of the old Things, and of the Na- 
 ture, and Neceffity of all Things becoming new. 
 
 True Chriftians are diftinguifhed from others 
 by their receiving Chrift, and trufting in him, 
 In John i. 12, It is faid, But as many as received 
 him, to them gave he Power to become the Sons of 
 God, even to them, that believe on his Name. 
 
 The Devils believe that Chrift is the Saviour 
 ef Men, and believe what is related in the Gof- 
 pels of his Birth, of his Doctrines, Miracles, 
 Sufferings, Death and Refurrection, but they do 
 not receive Chrift -, He was not offered to them! 
 
 True Believers receive him as their Saviour, 
 and Prince, and confent to be fubject to his Au- 
 thority, and obedient to his Laws ; and they truft 
 in him for his great Salvation. 
 
 St. 
 
24 On the Sacred Predictions. 
 
 St. Paul fpeaking of Chrift, lays, to the 
 heathen Converts at Ephefus, In whom alfo we 
 have obtained an Inheritance, being predeftinated ac- 
 cording to the Purpofe of him, who woiketh all 
 Things after the Counfel of his own Will: That we 
 (q. d. we Jews,) fhould be to the Praifd of his 
 Glory, who fir ft i rafted in Chrift. 
 
 In whom ye (Gentiles) alfo trailed after that ye 
 heard the Word of Truth, the Gofpel of your Salva- 
 tion : In whom alfo, after that ye believed ye were 
 fealed with that Holy Spirit of Promife. Eph. i. 
 
 II, 12, 13. 
 
 True Believers, ferious Chriftians, are diftin- 
 guifhed by their Love to Chrift, and their keep- 
 ing his Commandments. Unto you therefore which 
 believe, He, (that is Chrift) is precious, fays the 
 .Apoftle, ( 1 Pet. ii. 7.) Therefore they to whom 
 Chrift is not precious, are not true Believers, or 
 fincere Chriftians. 
 
 The fame Apoftle fpeaking of Chrift unto Be- 
 lievers, fays, Whom having not feen, ye love -, in 
 whom though now ye fee him not, yet believing, ye re- 
 joice with Joy unfpeakable and full of Glory. (1 Pet-. 
 8. i,)- 
 
 Divine Love with its happy Fruits, is the ful- 
 filling of the Law. 
 
 In Deut. vi. 5. it is faid, Thou jhalt love the 
 Lord thy God with all thine Heart, and with all thy 
 Soul, and with all thy Mind. 
 
 So in Matt. xxii. 37. which implies that 
 fincere Love to God is eflential to true Piety. 
 
 In John xiv. 21. the bleffcd Jefus faid, He 
 thai hath my Commandments, and keepeth them, he 
 it is that loveth me \ and he that loveth me, Jhall be 
 loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will 
 manifeft myfelf unto him, and ver. 24. he fays, 
 He that loveth mt not, keepeth not my Sayings. 
 
 Whence 
 
On the Sacred Predictions. 1$ 
 
 Whence it is evident, that they who truly love 
 Chrift, do keep his Commandments; and that 
 they who live in Difobedience to them, do not 
 fincerely love him, whatfoever they may profefs ; 
 and they are not real Chriftians. 
 
 In John viii. 42. Jefus faid to the Jews, If 
 Cod were your Father, ye would love me : For I 
 proceeded forth, and came from God. Therefore 
 they who do not love Chrift have not God for 
 their Father, and are not real Chiiftians. 
 
 I would further obferve that real Chriftians, are 
 Perfons in Covenant with God. There is an holy 
 Agreement, or Covenant between the great God 
 and them : It is the Way, the Almighty has in- 
 ftituted of dealing with his beloved People: God 
 made a Covenant with Noah. For it is faid, Gcd 
 fpake unto Noah, and his Sons with him, faying^ 
 And I, behold, I eftabli/h my Covenant with you, 
 and with your Seed after you ; Gen. ix. 8, 9. 
 
 God alfo made a Covenant with Abraham. 
 We read in Gen. xvii. 1, 2. that, The Lord ap- 
 peared unto Abram, and faid unto him, I am the 
 Almighty God, walk before me, and be thou perfetl^ 
 And I will make my Covenant between me, and thee. 
 
 Here are two Engagements in this folemn Co- 
 venant, viz. 1. God's gracious Promife to be 
 Abraham's God, which implies the greatetl Hap- 
 pinefs and Honour, and alio Abraham's Obliga- 
 tion to walk (or live) before God according to 
 his Will, with Uprightnefs of Heart : 2, Abra- 
 ham's Confent to walk as God required. And 
 thus there was a mutual Agreement or Covenant 
 between God and Abraham. 
 
 Frequent Mention is made throughout the Old 
 
 Teftament of God's Covenant : David in a Pfalm 
 
 of thankfgiving, faid, He is the Lord our God, his 
 
 Judgments are in all the Earth, be ye mindful aU 
 
 E wayi 
 
26 On the Sacred Predtctkns. 
 
 ways of his Covenant : The Word which he has 
 commanded to a Thoufand Generations, 1 Chron. 
 xvi. 14, 15. 
 
 In Pf.iL xxv. 15. It is faid, The Secret of the 
 Lord is with them that fear him, and he will fhew 
 them his Covenant. He will make known to them, 
 who are truly pious, fome of his fecret Purpofes ; 
 and the Bleflednefs of their being in Covenant 
 with him •, but unto the Wicked God faith, What 
 has thou to do to declare my Statutes, or that thou 
 fhculdeft take my Covenant in thy Mouth ? Pfal. 1. 
 16. 
 
 Which plainly implies that the Wicked have 
 no Intereft in God's Covenant, and that he did 
 not approve of their being Teachers of his Laws. 
 
 In Ijaiah xlii. 5, 6. we read, Thus faith Gcd the 
 Lord, (that is to the Mefliah) / the Lord have 
 called thee in Right eoufnefs, and will hold thine Hand^ 
 and will keep thee, and give thee for a Covenant of 
 the People, for a Light of the Gentiles. 
 
 Theie Words import that God's Covenant with 
 his People was intended to continue, not only 
 till Chrift came, but through the Times of the 
 Gofpel. 
 
 In Jer. xi. 1 — 4. It is written, The Word that 
 came to Jeremiah from the Lord, faying Hear, ye 
 the Words of this Covenant, and fpeak unto the Men 
 of Judah, and to the Inhabitants of Jerufalem, and 
 fay thou unto them, Thus faith the Lord God of 
 Ifrael, curfed be the Man, that obeyefh not the 
 Words of this Covenant, which I commanded your 
 Fathers m the Day that I brought them forth out 
 of the Land of Egytt, from the Iron Furnace, fay- 
 ing, Obey my Voice and do them, according to all 
 which I command you : fo fhall ye be my People, and 
 1 will be your God. 
 
 Hence 
 
On the Sacred Predictions. 27 
 
 Hence do appear the mutual Engagements be- 
 tween God, and his People in the Holy Cove- 
 nant, viz. on the People's Part, God command- 
 ed them to obey his Voice, and keep all his Com- 
 mandments, and this the People confented, and 
 pro mi fed to do. 
 
 They exprefled to Mofes their Confent, Exod. 
 xxiv. 3. All the People anfwered with one Voice, 
 and f aid, All the Words which the Lord hath faid 
 will we do. 
 
 In ver. the 7th, we read. And he (i. e. Mofes) 
 took the Book of the Covenant, and read in the Au- 
 dience of the People, and they faid ; all that the Lord 
 hath faid, will we do, and be obedient. 
 
 This Engagement the People entered into : 
 On the Part of God, he confented to, and by 
 , Promife agreed that they fhould be his People, 
 and himfelf would be their God. 
 
 It is hkewife evident, that they who will not 
 obey the Words of God's Covenant, and keep his 
 Holy Commandments are Cur fed. 
 
 God dill deals with Men in the Way of a 
 Covenant : Our glorious Redeemer is called by the 
 Prophet Malachi, the Meffenger of the Cove- 
 nant, when he fpake of the Median's Coming 
 into the fecond Temple, Mai. iii. 1. where it is 
 faid, Beheld I will fend my Meffenger, and he fhall 
 prepare the Way before me \ and the Lord whom ye 
 feek /kail fuddenly come to his Temple -, even the 
 Meffenger of the Covenant whom ye delight in j 
 Behold he fhall come, faith the Lord of Hofts. 
 
 And in the EpifHe to the Hebrews, he is de- 
 clared to be the Mediator of the Covenant, (which 
 tinder the Difpcnfation of the Gofpel, is called a 
 new Covenant, Heb. viii. 6. where the Apoftle 
 fays, But now hath he (that is Chrifl) obtained 
 a more excellent Minifiry, (that is better than the 
 Miniftry of Mofes,) by bow much alCo he is the 
 E 2 Afctt- 
 
2& On the S acred TrediBiom . 
 
 Mediator of a better Covenant \ which was ejlabiijh- 
 ed upon better Promifes. 
 
 In Heb. xiii. 20, 21. the Apoftle fays, now the 
 God cf Peace that brought again from the Dead our 
 Lord Jejus, that great Shepherd of the Sbe>p y 
 through the Blood cf the everlafiing Covenant, make 
 you perfetl in every good Work to do his Will, work- 
 i g in you that which is well ple^fing in his Sight, 
 through Jefus Chrijt ; 10 whom be Glory for ever, 
 and ever Amen. 
 
 l/fc Hencejt appears that the Covenant of which 
 Chrift is the Mediator is an everlafting Covenant, 
 ratified, and made lure by the fhedding of his 
 precious Biood for us on the Crofs. 
 
 And ali real Chriftians do devote themfelves 
 to God in Covenant •, they define to have the 
 Lxrd for their God, their Lawgiver, their Por- 
 tion and Happinefs, and in the name of Chrift 
 give tlumfeb es to be his Servant ; they defire to 
 have Chrift as the Mediator between God and 
 them, |hcy defire to have the Lord Jefus in all 
 his Offices, and truft in him alone for all the 
 Solvation they want ; and they defire the Holy 
 Spirit may dwell in them as a Sanclifier, and 
 work in them both to will and to do, and to be 
 always their Guide, and their Comforter. 
 
 j Thus they do confent to be the LorcL and to 
 live according to his Holy Will. 
 
 And all the Promifes of the Gofpel, fhew God's 
 confent to be their God ; and thus it appears, 
 that there is a mutual Agreement, or Covenant 
 between the Holv God, and all fincere Chriftians. 
 There is another Thing to be obferved as to 
 real Chriftians, true Believers and of the utmoft 
 Importance, viz. that they have the Holy Spi- 
 rit due ling in them; they were born of the Spi- 
 rit, and the Holy Spirit abideth in them. 
 
 7 The 
 
On the Sacred Pr editions. 29 
 
 The Predictions on Record in the Old Tefta- 
 ment a-e a iolid Ground for the People of God 
 under that Difpenfation, and for all true Believers 
 under the Gofpel, lor expe&ing the great Blefllng 
 and Dignity of having the Holy Spirit dwelling 
 in them. 
 
 In Ezek. xxxvi. 27. The God of Truth fays, 
 / will put my Spirit within you, and caufe you to 
 walk in my Statues, and ye Jh all keep my Judgments, 
 and do them. A precious Promife! Which may 
 comfort the Hearts of the Saints when they meet 
 with Difficult-es in the Way of their Duty ; and 
 may well encourage them when they meet with 
 the Temptations, and BufFctcings of the Devil. 
 
 And th ; s great Bieffing, the In-dwelling of 
 God's Holy Spirit we fhould pray for it; and we 
 arc incour^ged to do fe, by the Words of our 
 "gracious Redeemer, in Luke xi. 13. where he 
 lays, If ye then being evil, how how to give good 
 Gifts unto your Children : How much more Jh all your 
 heavenly bather give the Holy Spirit to them that 
 ajk him ? 
 
 In John vii. 38, 39. Chrift fay?, He that be- 
 lieve th on me, as the Scriptures hath J (aid ', out of his 
 Belly Jhall Jiow Rivers of liv.ng Water. But this 
 fpake he . of the Spirit, which ihey that believe on 
 him fJjould receive. 
 
 In John xiv. 17. the bleffed Jefus, fpeaking of 
 the Holy Ghoft, fays, Even the Spirit of Truth, 
 whom the World cannot receive, becaufe it Jeeth him 
 not- neither know eth him: But y<? (laid Chrift to his 
 Difciple>) know him, for he dwelkth with you, and 
 fijali be in you. 
 
 In Gal. iii. 14. the Apoftle fays, Thst the 
 Biffing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles 
 through Jefus Chrift ; that we might receive tie 
 Promife of the Spirit (^or the Spirit promifedj 
 through Faith. 
 
 Whence 
 
30 On the Sacred Predictions. 
 
 Whence it appears, that they who have the 
 Faith which the Golpel requires, have alfo received 
 the Holy Spirit. 
 
 In 2 Tim. i. 14. the Apoftle fays to Timothy, 
 That good Thing which was committed unto thee, keep 
 by the Holy Ghoft which dwrtleih in us. 
 
 The Sacred Scriptures, both of the Old and 
 New Teftament, fpeak abundantly of the Holy 
 Spirit : David earneftly prayed, that God would 
 not take his Holy Spirit from him. 
 ^Aa-re; See P fa. li. 11, 12. q wh t q jie prays thus, 0<fi 
 we not cut from thy Prefence ; and lake not thy Holy 
 Spirit from me. Rcjlore unto me the Joy of thy 
 Salvation •, and uphold me with thy free Spirit. 
 
 And in like Manner we fhould pray, that God 
 will not take his Holy Spirit from us ; but con- 
 tinually uphold us with his free Spirit. 
 
 The Offices which the Holy Spirit performs for 
 the Converfion of Sinners, and fitting them for 
 everlafting Happinefs in Manfions of Glory, are 
 manifold, are excellent, and moft important. 
 
 He worketh (I doubt not) in the Souls of all 
 Men, that hear the Gofi el -preached. He awak- 
 ens their Confciences, he convinces them of Sn, 
 and makes known to them, that God in his great 
 Tove has provided a Saviour, and a Saviour who 
 is both able and willing to fave all Sorts of Sin- 
 ners, even the Chief of them : And if they re- 
 main in Unbelief, and go on in a Courfe of Dif- 
 obedience to God, it is becaufe they refill the 
 Holy Ghoft. 
 
 What the Martyr Stephen faid to the ftubborn 
 unbelieving Jews, Acts vii. 51. Te Stiff necked y 
 and uncircumcifcd in Heart and Ears, ye do always 
 refifl the Holy Ghoft, may be faid to ftubborn Un- 
 believers, who have Gofpel preached to them. 
 
 The unbelieving Jews being charged with re- 
 £ fting the Holy Ghoft, is an Evidence that the 
 
 Holy 
 
On the Sacred Pred'iEiiofis. 37 
 
 Holy Ghoft had been working on their Minds to 
 become the Difciples of Chrift. 
 
 The Holy Spirit performs the Offices of a 
 Teacher, a Remembrancer, a Sanctitier, and a 
 Comforter to all, who believe on the Lord Jefus. 
 The Holy Spirit gave to the Apoilles thole won- 
 derful Gifts, which they received at Pentecoft : 
 He enabled them to fpeak with Tongues, and 
 gave them Utterance in Preaching the everhifting 
 Gofpel ; he enabled them to confirm their Tefti- 
 m iny of Chrift, and the Doctrines they taught 
 by a Series of Miracles thro' a Courfe of many 
 Years, and in many Countries at the fame Time: 
 Chrift purchafed a great Salvation for Sinners, and 
 the Holy Spirit makes the Appication of it. 
 
 And his Operations prove that he is truly 
 God. 
 
 . For the Effects of his working could not be 
 produced by any Creature. 
 
 One Man cannot communicate his Wifdom or 
 Sagacity to another : Or a Man ftrong in Body, 
 cannot communicate the like Strength to a Perfon 
 whofe Body is little and weak : 
 
 Neither can an Angel make any Creature : 
 
 But the Holy Spirit maketh new Creatures in 
 Chrift. 
 
 He turneth Sinners into Saints ; which no An- 
 gel in Heaven can do. 
 
 His Operations prove him to be God, the third 
 Perfon of the Sacred Trinity. 
 
 And the Words of the Apoftle Peter in Acts 
 v. 3, 4. do make known his Deity, when he fays 
 to Ananias on the Account of his fpeakinga Lie, 
 Why hath Satan filled thy Heart to lie to the Holy 
 
 Ghoft i thou haft not lied unto Men, but unto 
 
 God, 
 
 Ananias's 
 
3 2 On the Eacred Predi£tio?:s. 
 
 Ananias's lying to the Holy Ghoft, was a lying 
 unto God ; which could not be unlefs the Holy 
 Ghoft is God. 
 
 And the Words of our blefTed Saviour, in 
 Matt. xii. 31, 32, are fo!emn and mod awful, 
 and require our ipecial Notice. / f,y unto you, 
 (that is unto the People prefent,) All manner of 
 Sin, and Blafphemy /ball be forgiven unto Men -, but 
 the Blafphemy againjl the Holy Ghoft, JJmll not be 
 forgiuen unto Men. And whofoever ftj all f peak a 
 Word againjl the Son of Man, it Jljall be forgiven 
 him; (on his Repentance)^/ ivbofoever fpeaketh 
 againjl the Holy Ghoft, it Jhall not be forgiven him, 
 neither in this IVorld, neither in that which is to 
 come. 
 
 Let thofe who deride the Operations of the 
 Holy Ghoft ; thofe who make a Mock of his 
 Workings in the Souls of Men, and they who 
 deny his Being, think on thefe Words which are 
 tremendous Predictions of our bleffed Saviour, 
 and will be fulfilled. 
 
 The Work of Men's Redemption, by the 
 Recovery of them from their State of Sin and 
 Mifery, and bringing them into a State of Holi- 
 nefs, and fitting them tor the perfect Enjoyment 
 of God for ever, is a moft glorious Work ! There 
 is much Myftery in it : The Holy Angels defire 
 to look unto it. 
 
 And for our Parts, we Chrift ians fee, but fee 
 as through a Glafs darkly •, yet we fee, and 
 know fo much by the Gofpel, that if we believe 
 in Chrift, and fhew our Faith, by Living accord- 
 ing to the Rules of his Gofpel we fhall go to be 
 with Chrift, when we mail be taken out of this 
 World. 
 
 But there is much imported in feveral Part3 
 of the facred Revelation, which we cannot dive 
 into. 
 
 There 
 
On the Sacred Predictions; 33 
 
 There feems to have been fomething excellent 
 in Man's Nature before the Fall, which we are 
 ignorant of. 
 
 The Condefcention of the great and Holy God, 
 his Pity and Love to fiich Apoftate Creatures as 
 the Offspring of Adam are, is amazing ! 
 
 Only we know that there is nothing in us to 
 deferve his Companion, and that the Lord our 
 Creator is gracious -only becaufe he will be gra- 
 cious. 
 
 God the Father loved the World, loved our 
 Race of Creatures, and contrived our Redemption, 
 and fent his only begotten and beloved Son to 
 purchafe and accomplifh it. 
 
 God the Son condescended to come down from 
 Heaven, and take into' Union with himfelf our 
 Nature, and to fatisfy vindictive Juftice, by the 
 Sacrifice of himfelf on the Crofs, and to work 
 out a perfect Righteoufnefs for our J unification „ 
 
 And God the Holy Ghoft undertook to make 
 Application of the Redemption purchafed by 
 Chrift : Stupendious Mercy and Goodnefs ! 
 
 Now let the Father, and the Son, 
 
 And Spirit be ador'd : 
 Where there are Works to make him known, 
 
 Or Saints to love the Lord. 
 
 Watts's Hymns, p. 312. 
 
 And let all ferious Chriftians keep in Remem- 
 brance, that the Holy Spirit dwelleth in them. 
 Know ye not (fays the Apoflle,) that ye are the 
 Temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth 
 in you ? If any Man defile the Temple of God, hint 
 fhall God dejlroy -, jor the Temple of God is Holy, 
 which Temple ye are. 1 Cor. iii. 16, 17. 
 
 We mould cherifh in our Minds fuch a Senfe, 
 
 of the Honour, of the Dignity and Happinefs 
 
 F of 
 
34 1 * On the Sacred Predictions. 
 
 of being the Temple of God, and having his 
 Hply Spirit dwelling in us, as may render us 
 watchful to avoid every Thing that is Sinful and 
 Polluting, and to fhun all Temptations. 
 
 We may conclude from what has been collected 
 out of the Holy Scriptures into thefe Papers •, 
 that there is a great Change wrought in every real 
 Chriftian, by the Spirit or God. And every fin- 
 cere Chriftian can teftify, as to himfelf that an 
 H-oly Change has been made in him. 
 
 His Confcience bears him witnefs, that his Mind 
 has bten convinced of the finful Depravity of 
 his Nature, and ot the Odioufnefs of Sin, and of 
 his Want of a Saviour j and that his Underftand- 
 ing has been enlighened to fee the Truth of the 
 Gofpel, and that h'is Will has been fo changed, 
 that although he once was thoughtlefs of what 
 would become of his Soul, and regardlefs of the 
 Favour of God •, of an Intereft in Chrift, and in 
 the Covenant of Grace ; yet that his Will has 
 b:. j cn fo wrought upon, as to chofe the Lord for 
 his God, Chrift for his Saviour, and the Holy 
 Spirit for his Sanclifier; VAid fo as to reject, and 
 renounce all his former Sins, and the Devil and 
 all his Temptations to go on in a Courfe of Sin : 
 And his Confcience bears him Witnefs, that 
 although formerly he loved this World chiefly, 
 and the Things of it, the Honours, or the Riches, 
 or the Pleaiures of it, yet that now he loves 
 God above all, that he loves the Redeemer, and 
 loves all his Commandments, his Sabbaths, his 
 Ordinances, and ail who love the Lord Jefus 
 in .Sincerity, of every Denomination. 
 
 And he experiences a great and happy 
 Change, as in his Heart, fo in his Life and 
 Conversion, for although formerly he was re- 
 gardlefs of his Dutv, negligent of the Worfhip 
 
 Of 
 
0?2 the Sacred Predictions. 3 5 
 
 of God in Secret, in the Family, and in the 
 publick Affemblies on the Lord's Day. 
 
 He now makes Conference of thole, and all 
 other Duties •, and although formerly his chief 
 Satisfaction was in vain Company, and in fenfual 
 Pleafures, yet now he has a greater Value for 
 Perfons truly pious, and has more efteem for 
 the Saints, thofe excellent Ones of the Earth, as 
 they are called. Pfalm xvi. 3. 
 
 He now exercifes himfeif to have always a 
 Confcience void of Offence, both towards God, 
 and towards all Men. 
 
 Every fince Chriftian has experienced a Holy 
 Change wrought in him, and it was wrought 
 by the Holy Spirit : But the Holy Spirit worketh 
 differently in different Perfons. 
 
 Some have been born of religious Parents, 
 and have had a pious Education, have been 
 brought up in the Nature and Admonition of 
 the Lord, and been kept to a confhnt Atten- 
 dance on the publick Worfhip of God, under 
 the Preaching of the Gofptl ; and on fome of 
 thefe the Holy Spirit, gradually and as it were 
 by infenfible Degrees produces the Holy Change j 
 fo that they cannot tell the Month or Day, 
 when they performed the firft Act of true Faith, 
 and became united to Chrift •, but on examining 
 themfelves, they may obferve the Effects of the 
 happy Change, and the Fruits and Evidences of 
 the Holy Spirit dwelling in them. 
 
 Sometimes notorious Sinners, Perfons, who 
 have led profligate Lives, to the Scandal of the 
 Chriftian Profeffion, have by the juft Providence 
 of God been brought into great Diftrefs and 
 Want ; like the Prodigal Son, or have been af- 
 flicted with fome violent Diftemper, or other 
 great Calamity, and then the Holy Ghoft has 
 awakened their Confciences ; and put their Sins in 
 F 2 Order 
 
5 6 On the Sacred Predictions. 
 
 Order before their Eyes, brought them to fee 
 their prefent Mifery and their Danger of greater ; 
 then the Holy Spirit fills their Souls with Anguifh 
 inexpreflible, and influences them to cry out, 
 What mall I do to be faved ? and then they fee 
 their Want of a Refuge to which they may fly ; 
 and then does the Holy Spirit open the Eyes of 
 their Mind to fee the Mighty, and companionate 
 Saviour, and encourages the trembling Souls, to 
 fly to Chrift, both for Salvation and Comfort. 
 
 The Prophet fpoke of the bleiTed Jefus when 
 he faid, (lia. xxxii. 2.) A Man fia'l an hiding 
 Place from the Wind, and a Cover from the 'Tcm- 
 pcft^ as Rivers of Water in a dry Place, as the Sha- 
 dow of a great Rock in a weary hand. 
 
 By this figurative, or metaphorical Defcription 
 of our Redeemer, we may learn the Mifery of 
 guilty Sinners, as obnoxious to the Storms and 
 Temp.fts of Divine Wrath, and likewife the all- 
 (uffitient Help, the Safety and Comfort, that are 
 to be round in Chrfft. 
 
 And when the Holy Spirit reveals Chrift to 
 the amazed, and felf abhoring, and felf con- 
 demning Sinner, and thus fuggefts to him •, believe 
 in tie Lord Jesus, and thou fo alt be faved. How 
 does the poor Heart begin to rejoice ? How is it 
 agitated between Hope and Fear ? How is it 
 amazed with the glad Tidings that there is a 
 Saviour, and a Saviour able and willing to fave 
 him ! O can fuch a Wr tch as I have been, be 
 faved ? Is the Holy Gocl, againft whom I have 
 rebelled fo many Years, willing to pardon me, 
 and willing to be reconciled to me! And is the 
 biefifed Jefus whom I have fo often flighted, and 
 difregarded, and fo often refitted his Government, 
 is he willing to Cave me after all the Indignities 
 and Provocations which I have been guilty of ? 
 
 Amazing Grace : Aftonifhing Mercy 1 
 
 Bteffed 
 
On the Sacred Predictions. 37 
 
 Bleffed Jeflis I believe, thou art the Son of God, 
 and the Saviour, and the only Saviour of Men ; 
 Lord help mine Unbelief ! O Uve me, five me, 
 or I perim ! I fly to thee for Refuge, from all 
 the Vengeance I am obnoxious to ! O Jefus of 
 Nazareth, thou Son of David, thou bleffed Son 
 of God have Mercy on me ! Is not thy Name 
 called Jefus, becaufe thou faveft thy People from 
 their Sins ? O fave me from all my Sins, and 
 from all the Punifhment and Miferies which my 
 Sjns have deferved ; 
 
 Lord if thou wilt, thou can'tl: make my filthy 
 Soul clean -, my ignorant Soul wife unto Salva- 
 tion ! I renounce my Sins, and I give up myfelf 
 to thee, to be thy Difciple and Servant : 
 
 Shew Pity, Lord, O Lord forgive, 
 Let a repenting Rebel live : 
 Are not thy Mercies large and free ? 
 May not a Sinner truft in Thee ? 
 
 My Crimes are great, but not furpafs 
 The Power, and Glory of thy Grace : 
 O wafli my Soul from every Sin, 
 And make my guilty Confcience clean : 
 
 O fave a trembling Sinner, Lord, 
 Whofe Hope ft ill hovering round thy Word. 
 Would light on fome fweet Promife there, 
 Some fure Support againft Defpair. 
 
 Watt's Pfal. 51. 
 
 Thus the Holy Spirit fometimes makes Con* 
 verts, among thofe who have lived diflblute 
 Lives •, and happy Fruits of it, foon appear : 
 For they immediately difcard their old Com- 
 panions in Sin ; they who feldom went to the 
 Floufe of God to join in the Worfhip of him, 
 jk>w are conftantly there : Now many of their 
 
 former 
 
38 On the Sacred Predictions. 
 
 former Acquaintance deride them, and now all 
 pious Perfons, who know any thing of them rejoice 
 in their Converfion. Such a Convert may fay, 
 
 When God revealed his gracious Name, 
 
 And chang'd my finful State, 
 My Rapture feem'd a pleafing Dream, 
 
 The Grace appear'd fo great. 
 
 The World beheld the glorious Change, 
 
 And did his Hand confefs, 
 My Tongue broke out in unknown Strains, 
 
 And fung furprizing Grace. 
 
 Great is the Work, my Neighbours cry'd, 
 And own'd the Power Divine ; 
 
 Great is the Work, my Heart reply'd, 
 And be the Glory Thine. 
 
 Watt's Pfalms, Pfal. 126. 
 
 And how thankful are fuch Converts, for the 
 holy and happy Change of their Condition, and 
 thankful even for the Afflictions which were the 
 Means of it : Such a Chriftian can fay, 
 
 Father, I blefs thy chaft'ning Hand ; 
 Mow kind was thy rebuking Rod, 
 Which forc'd my Confcience to a Stand, 
 And brought my wand'ring Soul to God ! 
 
 Foolifh and vile, I went aftray, 
 E'er I had felt thy Scourges, Lord, 
 ] left my Guide, and loft -my Way ; 
 But now I love, and keep' thy Word. 
 
 Watt's Pfalms, Pfal. no: 
 
LETT 
 
 V. 
 
 On the Prediclions, of the great Bleffings, which in 
 this Life are befiowed on every Believer ; viz. 
 Jiiftification, Adoption, and Sanclification ; Blef- 
 fings abfolutely neceffary to the Safety ', the Comfort, 
 and Happinefs of every Man ; and which import 
 a great Varieiy of Benefits', even Afflictions are 
 intended as a Means to promote the Holinefs, and 
 the future Happinefs of Chriftians \ and likewife 
 of Preditlions, encouraging Backjliders to return 
 unto God. 
 
 Shall now proceed more particular- 
 ly ro confider thofe Predictions 
 of the Blefiings, which are given 
 to fincere Chriftians in this Life ; 
 but muft obferve that there are 
 no Predictions of Immunity to 
 them from Troubles in this World, but feveral 
 of Afflictions in this Life, which therefore they 
 mould expect. 
 
 It is faid, Man that is born of a Woman is of 
 few Days, and full of Trouble. Job xiv, i. 
 
 And it is faid, Pfal. xxxiv. 19. Many are the 
 Afflictions of the Righteous, but it is there fore- 
 told, that the Lord delivcreth him out of them all. 
 
 Our 
 
40 On the Sacred Predictions. 
 
 Our blefled Saviour foretold to his Difciplesj 
 that Troubles would befal them •, for in John xvi. 
 32. he faid to them, In? the World ye fkall have 
 Tribulation. 
 
 In Heb. xii. 6. it is laid, Whom the Lord hveth 
 he chafteneth, and fcourgeth every Son whom he re- 
 ceiveth, and ver. 8. But if ye be without chaftifanent, 
 'whereof all are Partaken, then are ye Baftards, and 
 not Sons. 
 
 Yet notwithstanding all the Troubles and Afflic- 
 tions, which true Believers meet with in this Lite, 
 it will appear from the Predictions of Bleffings 
 relating to them, that they are truly happy, and 
 the only Perfons that are fo in this World, as well 
 as in the next : Particularly from the following. 
 
 I. Prediction. Justification is one of the 
 Blelfings purchafed by Chrift, and revealed in his 
 Gofpel, and is that Act of God by which he ac- 
 cepts of a Sinner as righteous in his Sight, and 
 forgives all his Sins, and becomes reconciled to 
 him : And this Act of Divine Grace is predicted ; 
 It is foretold that they mould be juftified, and 
 pardoned. 
 
 In Ifa. xlv. 25. it is faid, In the Lord (that is, 
 the Lord Jefus Chrift) Jhall all the Seed of If ad 
 be juftified, and (hall glory, that is, all the Spiri- 
 tual beed, ail who truly believe, whether Jews or 
 Gentiles, ihall be juftified in him by' Faith j and 
 in Ifa. liii. ii. it is faid, By his Knowledge foall 
 my righteous Servant jujtify many -, for he /hall bear 
 their Iniquities, (i. e. the Punifhment, which their 
 Iniquities delerved.) 
 
 In Acts xiii. 39. it is faid, By him, all that 
 believe are juftified from all Things, from which ye 
 could no t be jujlified by the Law of Mofes. 
 
 The Apoftle Paul fays, Rom. v. 1. Being 
 juftified by Faith, we have peace with God through 
 
 our 
 
On the Sacred Predictions. 41 
 
 our Lord Jefus Chrift ; and ver. 9. Being jufti- 
 Jied by his Blood, we jhall be faved from Wrath 
 through him. 
 
 In Tit. iii. 7. That being juftified by his Grace, 
 iv e Jhould be made Heirs, according to the Hope of 
 eternal Life. 
 
 It appears from the Texts now cited, 
 
 1. That Men are juftified by Faith: And 
 therefore as fbon as Sinners truly believe in Chrift, 
 they are juftified. 
 
 2. That no Perfons are juftified by a Courfe of 
 evangelical Obedience perfifted in till their Death ; 
 for it Juftification was to be obtained in that Way, 
 Men could not be juftified and their Sins par- 
 doned, till that Courfe of Obedience fhould be 
 compleated •, and till then, they would remain 
 under Condemnation by God's Law, and deftitute 
 of the Pardon of their Sins, and of a fblid Ground 
 for Peace and Comfort in their Confciences. 
 
 Miferabje Comforters are they who preach fuch 
 Doclrine •, but the Gofpel aflures us that we are 
 juftified by Faith, that is, as foon as we believe. 
 
 3. That they who believe have the Pardon of 
 their Sins, a Difcharge from Condemnation, Peace 
 with God, and are made Heirs of God. 
 
 There is therefore now no Condemnation to them 
 which are in Chrift Jefus, who walk not after the 
 Fle/h, but after the Spirit. Rom. viii. 1. 
 
 The Prediction of the BlefTing of Juftification 
 to them who believe, and the Accompliftjmenc 
 of it, fhews that fincere Chriftians are brought 
 into a very happy Condition. 
 
 Before their Faith in Chrift, they were under a 
 dreadful Sentence of Condemnation to everlafting 
 Punifhmems and Miferies : Not one of their nutn- 
 berlefs Sins was pardoned ; but the wretched 
 Perfons were- Objects of God's Wrath and Curfe, 
 G and 
 
42 On the Sacred Predictions. 
 
 ar.d they were obnoxious to the Pains of Hell for 
 ever, till they believe. 
 
 They that remain in a State of Unbelief, and 
 of wilful Difobedience to the Holy, and good 
 God, do remain in a miferable Condition ! A 
 Condition, miferable beyond ExprefTion, and be- 
 yond Thought ; and no Honours, no Dignities, 
 in this World, no ftately Houfes, no great Eftates, 
 no large Pofieffions, nor Heaps of Riches, nor all 
 the Pleafures of Senfe, can render their Condition 
 better. 
 
 In the Midft of the greateft Affluence of earth- 
 ly Felicities, they are but condemned Malefactors 
 in the Sight of God ; and the Lord the Judge 
 of all, may unexpectedly fend Death the Execu- 
 tioner to take them away, and remove them to 
 be among the Devils, who are referved in Chains 
 under Darkneis againft the Judgment of the great 
 Day. 
 
 But as foon as any Sinner by a Faith unfeigned 
 clofes with Chrift, be he high or low, or rich, 
 or poor, he is immediately freed from the Guilt 
 of all his Sins ; the Sentence of his Condemna- 
 tion is cancelled ; all his Iniquities are forgiven ; 
 the Holy, and offended God is at Peace with 
 him, and reconciled to him, and he is juftified 
 in his Sight. 
 
 But how is it, that a Sinner is juftified? 
 
 This indeed is a Queftion, and a Queftion of 
 the utmoft Moment ; and the Gofpel anfwers it. 
 
 That it is by Faith ; by Faith as the Inftru- 
 ment, or Means, and by Faith alone. 
 
 St. Paul fays, not by Works of Right eoufnefs y 
 which we have done. Titus iii. 5. 
 
 Therefore by the Deeds of the Law, there 
 fnall no Flefli be juftified in his Sight, (that is in 
 rhe Sight of God,) for by the Law is the Know- 
 ledge of Sin, Rom. iii. 20. as if he had faid, No 
 
 Man 
 
On the Sacred Predictions. 43 
 
 Man by performing the Deeds, which the Law 
 requires, fhall be justified ; becaufe by examin- 
 ing his Courfe of Life, and all his Actions by the 
 Law, he will know himfelf guilty of many Sins, 
 notwithstanding the Number of Duties he may 
 have performed. 
 
 And ver. 9. the Apoftle takes Notice, that 
 they had before proved both Jews, and Gentiles, 
 that they are all under Sin ; (that is under the 
 Guilt and Curfe of Sin.) 
 
 But what is Righteoufnefs ? It may be replied 
 to this Queftion, that Righteoufnefs in a rational 
 Creature, Righteoufnefs in a Man is that Courfe 
 of Life, and Actions, which confifls in the Per- 
 formance of the Duties he owes to God, to him- 
 felf, and to his Fellow Creatures, and in a total 
 Abftinence from every Thing, which God has 
 forbidden. 
 
 If there is a Neglect of any of the Duties 
 commanded, or a Doing any Thing that is for- 
 bidden by the Divine Law, that Man's Righte- 
 oufnefs is imperfect, and the more numerous his 
 OmifTions of Duty, and his Tranfgreflions are 
 in doing the Things forbidden, the more im- 
 perfect it is. , 
 
 If his Righteoufnefs was perfect for a Courfe 
 of Years, yet that Righteoufnefs could make no 
 Amends for the Sins committed before that Courfe 
 was begun : But there is no fuch Thing as a per- 
 fect Courfe of Righteoufnefs performed by any 
 Man through the Space of one Year, or Month, 
 or Day ; and an imperfect Righteoufnefs can 
 never make any Man to appear perfectly righteous 
 in the Sight of the Holy God. 
 
 Therefore no Man can be juftified by the Du- 
 ties he performs. 
 
 We may well fay with the Pfalmift, If thou, 
 
 Lord, Jhouldefi mark Iniquities, Lord who fhall 
 
 G 2 Jland? 
 
44 On the Sacred P red/ fit ens. 
 
 fiand? Pfal. cxxx. 3. And we may fay to God 
 with David. Pfal. cxliii. 1, 2. Hear my Prayer , 
 
 O Lord / and enter not into Judgment with thy 
 
 Servant, for in thy Sight pall no Man living be 
 jujlifi'd, that is by his own Deeds. 
 
 We have Reafon to confefs to God, and fay 
 Ifa. Ixiv. 6. we are all as an unclean 'Thing, and 
 all our Right coufneffes are as filthy Rags. 
 
 And therefore no Man has any Ground to ex- 
 pect Juftification in the Sight of the AH feeing 
 God, by his own Righteoufnefs. 
 
 If we confider the manifold Defects in our 
 Obedience ; and how our beft Services are pol- 
 luted with Mixtures of Sin, we fhall fee abundant 
 Reafon to admire the Grace and Goodnefs of God, 
 in providing another Righteoufnefs for our Juf- 
 tification •, even the Righteoufnefs of his own 
 beloved Son : We fhall fee Reafon to adore and 
 blefs God for appointing Chrift, who had fulfilled 
 all Righteoufnefs to be the End of the Law, for 
 Righteoufnefs to every one that believeth. Rom. 
 x. 4. 
 
 They who go about to eftablifh their own Righ- 
 teoufnefs, are ignorant of God's Righteoufnefs, 
 the Righteoufnefs which he hath appointed for 
 our Juftification, and have not fubmitted them- 
 felves unto the Righteoufnefs of God : As we 
 may conclude from what is faid in ver. 3. and we 
 may alfo conclude that they have no Intereft in it. 
 
 In Rom. iii. 20, 21. the Apoftle after he had 
 concluded, (ver. 20 ) that by the Deeds of the 
 £aw, (that is the Duties performed in Obedience 
 to it,) no Flejh (or no Man) fhall be juftified in 
 }>is Sight, (that is in the Sight of God,) he fays 
 in ver. 21. But now the Righteoufnefs of God, 
 (not his Attribute of Righteoufnefs, or Holinefs, 
 but the Righteoufnefs, which he appointed for 
 the Juftification of the Ungodly, without their 
 2 Obedj- 
 
On the Sacred Predictions. 45 
 
 Obedience to the Law, that is, the Righteoufnefs 
 of the Mefiiah,) is man if eft, being witnejfed by the 
 Law and the Prophets: and ver. 22. Even the 
 Righteoufnefs of God, which is (received) by' Fait b 
 of Jefus Chrift unto all, and upon all them, that 
 believe. Not that the Attribute of God is unto 
 all, and upon all them that believe, but the 
 Righteoufnefs of Chrift, which is received by 
 Faith, and imputed to all, and is always upon 
 all them that believe in his Name. 
 
 We mould cherifh the fame Difpofitions in our 
 Souls, which the Apoftle expreffes in Phil. iii. 8, 
 9. where he fays, Tea, doubtlefs, and I count all 
 Things but lofs, for the Excellency of the Know- 
 ledge of Chrift Jefus my Lord ♦, for whom I have 
 fuffered the Lofs of all Things, and do count < them 
 but Bung, that I may win Chrift, 
 
 And be found in him, not having mine own Righ- 
 teoufnefs, which is of the Law, but that which is 
 through the Faith of Chrift, the Righteoufnefs which 
 is of God by Faith. 
 
 I dare not think of appearing before the Holy 
 and All-feeing God, with no better Righteoufnefs 
 than my own ; I dare not enter into his Prefence 
 clothed only with my own filthy Rags. 
 
 Wherewith fhall I come before the Lord, and bow 
 myfelf before the High God? Shall I come before 
 him, with Burnt-Offerings, with Calves of a Tear 
 old? Vain Sacrifices. Will the Lord be pleafed 
 with Thoufands of Rams, or with ten Thoufands 
 of Rivers of Oil? No, they are worthlefs Obla- 
 tions. Shall I give my Firft-Born for my Tranfgref- 
 Jion, the Fruit of my Body for the Sin of my Soul ? 
 Impious Thoughts ! As if the Merciful God, 
 who forbid Murder, could be appeafed by mur- 
 dering human Bodies in Sacrifice to him. 
 
 Yet there is a fure Way, and a mod comfor- 
 table Way, for the moft guilty Sinner to obtain 
 
 Mi- 
 
46 On the Sacred Predictions. 
 
 Juftification before God, Reconciliation to him, 
 and Peace with him •, and the Way is to obtain 
 the Knowledge of Chrift, and by Faith to receive, 
 and truft in him, and in his Righteoufnefs, which 
 he wrought. 
 
 O merciful God, I earneftly pray that thou 
 wilt not deal with me according to my own Righ- 
 teoufnefs polluted with numberlefs Sins, both of 
 Omiffion and Commiffion ! Grant that I may be 
 found in Chrift having on his Righteoufnefs, 
 which he wrought for the Juftification of Sinners, 
 who believe in him. 
 
 No more, my God, I boaft no more 
 Of all the Duties, I have done ; 
 I quit the Hopes, I held before, 
 To truft the Merits of thy Son. 
 
 Now for the Knowledge of his Name, 
 "What was my Gain, 1 count my Lofs, 
 My former Pride, I call my Shame, 
 And nail my Glory to his Crofs. 
 
 Yea, and I muft, and will efteem 
 All Things but Lofs for Jesus Sake ; 
 O may my Soul be found in him, 
 And of his Righteoufnefs partake ! 
 
 The beft Obedience of my Hands, 
 Dares not appear before thy Throne : 
 But Faith can anfwer thy Demands, 
 By pleading what my Lord has done. 
 
 Watts. 
 
 It is evident from what has been collected out 
 nf the Holy Scriptures, that all who truly be- 
 lieve in the Lord Jefus, are juftified in the Sight 
 of God from all their Sins •, all their Sins are 
 forgiven them, the Holy God is reconciled to 
 
 them, 
 
On the Sacred PredicJtons. ^rj 
 
 them, and at Peace with them, as foon as ever 
 they perform that Faith in Chrift which the Gofpel 
 requires : Likewife it is manifeft that their receiv- 
 ing this great Blefling of Juftification, is a fulfill- 
 ing of Predictions on Record in the Word of 
 God. 
 
 The Contemplation of the ineftimable Benefits 
 imported in this great Blefling, may adminifter 
 Comfort to ferious Chriftians at all Times ; and 
 not only in Times of Profperity, but in Times of 
 perfonal and family Trouble, and in Times of 
 publick Calamities. 
 
 In every Time of Affliction and Diftrefs, it is 
 matter of Comfort to confider, that the righteous 
 God, is my reconciled God, and has received me 
 into the Number of his beloved People, arid is 
 my God in Covenant. 
 
 II. Prediction. Adoption, is another of the 
 Blefiings, which the Holy Jefus purchafed for all 
 that fhall believe in his Name. 
 
 It is predicted of Believers, that they fhall be 
 Children of God ; that is, it is foretold that they 
 fhall have the great Blefling and Honour of 
 Adoption by the Almighty into the Number of 
 his Sons and Daughters. 
 
 A. In Jer. xxxi. 9. the Lord fays, Tarn a Fa- 
 ther to Ifrael. And fo he was to Abraham and 
 to Ifaac •, and fo he was and is, and will be to all 
 the fpiritual Seed of Abraham •, to all who are 
 Ifraelites indeed, Children of Abraham's Faith, 
 in all Ages, paft, preient, and future. 
 
 B. In Ifa. Ixiii. 16*. the People of God are re- 
 prefented, as faying, Dcubtlefs thou art our Fa* 
 
 ther. Thou* O Lord, art our Father, our Re> 
 
 deemer ; thy Name is from Everlajiin^. 
 
48 On the Sacred Predictions. 
 
 C. In John i. 12. it is faid, But to as many as 
 received him,' that isChrift) to them gavehe Power 
 to become the Sons of God, even to them, that be- 
 lieve on his Name. 
 
 D. The Apoftle Paul fays, As many as are led 
 by the Spirit of God, they are the Sons of God. 
 For ye have not received the Spirit of Bondage 
 again to fear, but ye have received the Spirit of 
 Adoption ^whereby we cry Abba, Father. Rom. viii. 
 14, 15. And in ver. 17. he fays, And if Children, 
 then Heirs j Heirs of God, and joint Heirs with 
 Chrift. 
 
 E. Rom. ix. 26. We read, And it Jhall come to 
 pafs that in the Place (i. e. in the heathen 
 Countries, where the People knew not God, nor 
 Jefus Chrift,) where it was /aid unto them, Te are 
 not my People, there (upon their Converfion to 
 Faith in Chrift, by the Preaching of the Gofpel) 
 
 jhall they be called the Children of the living God. 
 
 F. In 2 Cor. vi. 15, &V. the Apoftle fays, (to 
 the Saints at Corinth) What Concord hath Chrift 
 with Belial? Or what Part hath he that believeth 
 with an Infidel I And what Agreement hath the 
 Temple of God with Idols ? For ye are the Temple 
 of the living God; as God hath J aid, I will dwell 
 in them, and walk in them, and I will be their 
 God, and they Jhall be my People. Wherefore come 
 out from among them, and be ye feparate, faith 
 the Lord, and touch not the unclean Thing, and 
 I will receive you. 
 
 G. And I will be a Father unto you, and ye (hall 
 be my Sons, and Daughters, faith the Lord Al- 
 mighty. 
 
 H. 
 
On the Sacred Predictions. 49 
 
 H. In Gal. iii. 26. the Apoftle fays, Ye are all 
 the Children of God by Faith in Chrift Jefus. 
 
 I. In Gal. iv. 4, 5. it is faid, God fent forth 
 
 his Son, To redeem them that were under the 
 
 Law, that we might receive the Adoption of Sons. 
 
 K. Ver. 7. Wherefore thou art no more a Servant, 
 but a Son ; and if a Son, then an Heir of God 
 through Chrift. 
 
 L. In Eph. i. 5, 6. the Apoftle fays, Having 
 predejlinated us to the Adoption of Children by 
 Jefus Chrift to himfelf; according to the good 
 Pleafure of his Will, to the Praife of the Glory 
 of his Grace, wherein he has made us accepted 
 through the Beloved. 
 
 M. In 1 John iii. 1. it is faid, Behold what 
 Manner of hove the Father hath beftowed upon 
 us, that we jhould be called the Sons of God. ver. 
 2. Beloved now are we the Sons of God. 
 
 Thefe Texts of the Holy Scriptures now recit- 
 ed inftruct us in the following Particulars, viz. 
 
 1. That God was, is, and will be the Father. 
 of all that believe and obey his Word. See Let- 
 ters A. B. C. 
 
 2. That all fuch Perfons are adopted into the 
 Number of his Children. See Letters C. D. E, 
 
 3. That Faith is the Means by which thofe 
 who have been wilful Sinners, the Children of 
 the Devil ; do become the Children of God. See 
 Letters C. H. 
 
 H There^ 
 
50 On the Sacred Predictions. 
 
 Therefore when a Man (or as foon as a Man) 
 believes in Chrift, God gives him, and he receives 
 the great Bleffing of Adoption : 
 
 4. That the Adoption into the Number of the 
 Children of God, is a Bleffing purchafed for us 
 by Jefus Chrift. See Letter I. 
 
 5. That they who have received the Adoption 
 are Heirs of God, Heirs to an Inheritance moft 
 glorious and everlafting •, but of this, I fliall fay 
 more hereafter. See Letters D. K. 
 
 6. That Adoption is an Act of God's free 
 Grace. See Letters L. M. Behold what Man- 
 ner of Love the Father hath beftowed on us in 
 making us his Children I A wonderful Inftanceof 
 free Favour utterly undeferved by us ! 
 
 7. That true Believers are predeftinated of God 
 to this Felicity. See Letter L. 
 
 O how great is the Happinefs of all fincere 
 Chriltians ? To be the Children of God is the 
 higheft Dignity. This Honour have all the Saints. 
 
 But the Unbelieving, and Difobedient have it 
 not : No, they are of their Father the Devil, 
 and the Luft of their Father they do. 
 
 But this great Bleffing includes many others ; 
 which are a Ground of Comfort at all Times. 
 
 They are very many : I fhali only felect fome 
 of them, as follows, viz. 
 
 1. God has foretold, that he will give them 
 his Presence. 
 
 His gracious Prefence will make a Wildernefs to 
 beaParadife: how often has it madePrifons, Houfes 
 of Joy, and Gladnefs to the persecuted Saints ? The 
 Omniprefence of God, which excites painful 
 Thoughts in the Minds of the Wicked, when 
 they think upon it, gives a Pleafure to ferious 
 Chrilliajis. 
 
 And 
 
On the Sacred "Predictions. 5 1 
 
 And how fhould we daily pray for God's Pre- 
 fence with us ? We may pray for it with a chear- 
 ful Hope, if we read fome of his Predictions. 
 
 In Exod. xxxiii. 14. God fays, My Prefence 
 /hall go with thee. In Pfal. cxl. 13. It is faid to 
 God, the Upright (hall dwell in thy Prefence. 
 
 In Jfa. xli. 10. God fays, Fear thou not, for I 
 am with Thee. In Dent. xxxi. 8, It is faid, The 
 Lord, he it is that doth go before thee, he will 
 be with Thee, He will not fail Thee, neither for- 
 fake Thee. 
 
 And in John xiv. 23. Chrift fays, If any Man 
 love me, he will keep my Words : And my Father 
 will love him-, and we will come unto him, and make 
 our Abode with him. 
 
 Let ferious Chriilians contemplate thefe Decla- 
 rations frequently ; and with the Influence of the 
 Holy Spirit, they will derive much Comfort from 
 them. 
 
 2. It is likewife predicted, that God will hear 
 the Prayers, and grant the Petitions of his Chil- 
 dren. 
 
 It is a great Advantage for a Man to have a 
 rich and companionate Friend, able and willing 
 to fupply and help him on every Occafion : 
 
 But the Favour of God affords inexpreflibly 
 more abundant Confolation. 
 
 And there are gracious Predictions that he will 
 regard the Prayers of his People. 
 
 In Pfal. iv. 3. It is faid, But know that the 
 Lord hath fet apart him that is godly for himfelf: 
 The Lord will hear, when I call unto him. 
 
 In Pfal. xxxiv. 15. It is written, The Eyes of 
 the Lord are upon the Righteous, and his Ears 
 are open unto their Cry. ver. 1 7. The Righteous 
 cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth iliem 
 cut of all their Troubles. 
 
 H 2 In 
 
52 On the Sacred Predictions. 
 
 In Pfal. cxlv. 19. It is faid, He will fulfill the 
 Dcjire of them that fear him : He alfo will hear 
 their Cry, and will fave them. Comfortable Pre- 
 dictions ! 
 
 In Zecb. xiii. 9. Our good God fays, They Jhall 
 call on my Name, and I will hear them : I will fay* 
 It is my People, And they fh all fay, the Lord is 
 my God. 
 
 In Matt. vii. 7. Our loving Redeemer fays to 
 his Difciples, Afk, and it Jhall be given you : Seek 
 and ye Jhall find: Knock and it Jhall be opened 
 unto you. 
 
 And in Matt. xxi. 22. he fays, And all Things 
 tvhatfoever ye Jhall afk in Prayer, believing, ye 
 Jhall receive. 
 
 Thefe are comfortable Predictions •, and many, 
 very many more of like Import I might men- 
 tion ; for the Sacred Scriptures abound with them. 
 They are Evidences of our Heavenly Father's 
 Loving-kindnefs to his Children. 
 
 O what Encouragements has he given unto us 
 to the Duty of Prayer ? And to pray with hum- 
 ble Hope of Succefs to our Petitions ? None of 
 his Children ever fought his Face in vain, nor 
 trufted, nor hoped in him in vain. 
 
 If ferious Chriftians did record the Petitions 
 they afk of Him, and the gracious Anfwers to 
 them, which they receive from Him, what a 
 Difplay of the Divine Power, Goodnefs, Mercy, 
 and Faithfulnefs might they behold in God's 
 Dealings with them ? 
 
 The Predictions mentioned, and the Accom- 
 plifhment of them, mould be improved to con- 
 firm our Faith, heighten our Love, and our 
 thankfulnefs to our Father, which is in Heaven j 
 and they mould more and more endear our glo- 
 rious Saviour and Mediator to our Souls. 
 
 As 
 
On the Sacred Predictions. 53 
 
 As we offer up our Supplications at the Throne 
 of Grace in his Name, and as He is continu- 
 ally making Interceffion for us, (6 it is for his 
 Sake, that we are accepted with the Father, and 
 that our Requefts are granted. 
 
 In John xvi. 24. Chrift faid unto his Difciples, 
 Hitherto, ye have ajked nothing in my Name. AJk y 
 (q. d. in my Name,) and yejhall (for my Sake,) 
 receive, that your "Joy may he full. 
 
 III. Sanctification, is another of the great 
 Bleflings predicted for true Believers, and is that 
 Work, by which polluted Sinners become Holy 
 in Heart and Life, and are renewed more and 
 more after the Image of God. 
 
 This, is the Work of God's Holy Spirit : It 
 begins when true Faith begins in the Soul of a 
 Sinner. 
 
 The Bleflings of Juftification and Adoption, 
 tho' different the one from the other, yet are con- 
 joint, and are bellowed on the Believer, in the 
 fame Article of Time ; and at the fame Time the 
 glorious Work of a Sinner's Santlijication does 
 alfo begin. 
 
 But this is gradually carried on through the 
 Courfe of a Believer's Life, from his firft being 
 born again to the Time of his Death ; when Be- 
 lievers are made perfect in Holinefs. 
 
 This, indeed, is a mod blefled and important 
 Work of the Holy Spirit. It is that Divine 
 Operation by which we are renew'd in the Like- 
 nefs and Image of God. A Blefling abfolutely 
 neceffary to fit us for the happy Enjoyment of 
 him; Becaufe without Holinejs no Man fi all fee the 
 Lord. Heb. xii. 14. 
 
 But this Blefling (as is evident from the Sacred 
 
 Scriptures,) belongs to them that believe in Chrift. 
 
 6 The 
 
54 On the Sacred Predictions. 
 
 The holy Jefus, when he pray'd for all his true 
 
 Difciples to his Father, faid, Sanclify them through 
 thy Truth: thy Word is Truth. John xvii. 17. And 
 ver. 19. he adds, And for their fakes I fanclify 
 myfelf, that they alfo may be fanclified through the 
 Truth. 
 
 The Apoftle Paul faid to the believing Thefla- 
 lonians, For this is the Will of God, even your 
 Sanclification. 1 Thef. iv. 3. And in 2 Thef. ii. 
 13. God hath from the Beginning chofen you to Sal- 
 -vat ion, through Sanclification of the Spirit 9 and be- 
 lief of the Truth* 
 
 The Apollle Peter calls the true Believers, 
 Elecl according to the Foreknowledge of God the 
 Father, through Sanclification of the Spirit unto 
 Obedience. 1 t J eter i. 2. 
 
 The Apoftle Paul fays to Titus, Chap. ii. 11. 
 The Grace of God which bdngeth Salvation hath 
 (by the Gofpel) appeared to all Men, teaching us 
 that denying Ungodlinefs and worldly Lujls, we 
 Jhou'd live fiber ly, righteoufly, and godly in this pre- 
 fect World ; locking fcr that bleffed Hope, and the 
 glorious Appearing of the great God, and our Saviour 
 Jefus Chriji ; who gave him f elf for us, that he might 
 redeem us from all Iniquity, and purify unto himfelf 
 (by the Operation of the Holy Spirit,) a peculiar 
 People, zealous of good Works. See alfo Tit. iii. 
 
 4—7- 
 
 The Way which infinite Wifdom has con- 
 trived, for the Recovery and Salvation of fallen 
 Man is moft remarkable : For as our firft Parents 
 fell into a State of Sin and Mifery, through a 
 proud Ambition of being wifer, and in a higher 
 Rank than their glorious Creator thought fit ; and 
 through Unbelief of God's Word to them •, for 
 they believed the Words of the Devil, and dif- 
 believed the Words of the Lord, who made 
 them : So the righteous and wife God has ken 
 
 fit 
 
On the Sacred Predictions. $$ 
 
 fit to require Men to believe his Word ; the 
 Word of the Truth of the Gofpel, and to dis- 
 believe the Suggeftions of the Devil. 
 
 And he requires all Men to believe in his Son. 
 Jefus Chrift, and to follow after Holinefs -, and 
 fent his beloved Son into the World that they 
 might be faved from their Sins, Sanctified and 
 fitted to dwell with Him. 
 
 Itisthe Will of God that we mould be holy ; ho- 
 ly in our Hearts, in our Lives and Converfations. 
 
 But we cannot make ourfelves holy : No, 
 therefore our merciful God and Saviour, has 
 ient down the Holy Spirit to perform the Office 
 of a Sanftifier to us. And the more attentive to, 
 and obfcrvant we are of the Word of God, that, 
 Word of Truth, and of the Motions of the 
 Holy Spirit, the more profperouQy proceeds the 
 Work of Sandtification in us. 
 
 But they who always refift the Holy Ghoft, and 
 quench the Spirit, are not like to have the holy 
 Fruits of the Spirit in them. 
 
 We fhould daily pray for the Holy Spirit 
 always to dwell in us, and guide us in the Way 
 wherein we fhould go, and always to help us to 
 perform every Duty, and reftrain us from every 
 Thing that is finful, and enable us to withftand 
 and overcome every Temptation. 
 
 But notwithstanding the Holinefs of fin cere 
 Chriftians, God fees fit by Afflictions to try their 
 Faith and Patience ; and to moderate their Affec- 
 tions to this World, to purge away their Drofs, 
 and to keep them circumfpect in their PafTage 
 through it. 
 
 Man that is born of a Woman is of few "Days* 
 and full of Trouble. (Job xiv. j .) And the Trou- 
 bles of the Saints are fome of the Means of their 
 Sanctifkation, 
 
 But 
 
5 6 On the Sacred Predictions* 
 
 But there are many Predictions on Record in 
 the Holy Scriptures replete with Comfort for the 
 Children of God, in regard to the Afflictions they 
 meet with in their Courfe through this World. 
 
 Many are the Afflictions of the Righteous, be 
 they high, or low in Life. Job, and David, and 
 Lazarus, and all the reft of God's People in every 
 Age, and every Country, have found it fo, in 
 their own Experience. 
 
 But that is a comfortable Prediction in Rom. 
 viii. 28. which fays, All things (adverfe and prof- 
 perous) work (i. e. (hall work,) together for Good 
 to them thai love God, to them who are the called 
 according to his Purpofe. 
 
 And fo is that recorded in Ifa. xliii. 1,2. where 
 it is written, Thus faith the Lord, that created 
 thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Ifrael, 
 Fear not •, for I have redeemed thee, I have called 
 thee by thy Name, thou art mine. When thou pajfejl 
 through the Waters (i. e. of Afflictions) / will be 
 with thee, and through the Rivers (of Calamities) 
 they fhall not overflow thee : (thou /halt not perifli 
 uridtr them) when thou walkefi through the Fire 
 (through fiery Trials,) thou fhalt not be burnt \ 
 neither fhall the Flame kindle upon thee ; but thou 
 fhalt remain fafe in all forts of Troubles. 
 
 Afflictions are intended as a Means to pro- 
 mote Holinefs, and to keep the Children of God 
 diligent, and faithful in their Obedience to him. 
 
 God promifed his People many Blefiings if 
 they would forbear Idolatry, and keep his Sab- 
 baths, and reverence his Sanctuary, and walk in 
 his Statutes, and keep his Commandments: And 
 he threatened to bring many Calamities upon them, 
 if they would not hearken unto him, and would 
 not do al Ihis Commandments. Levit. xxvi. 7. and 
 
 vsr. 14- 
 
 Our 
 
On the Sacred Predictions. 57 
 
 Our heavenly Father doth not afflitf wi'lingly, 
 nor (willingly) grieve the Children of Men. Lament". 
 iii. 33. They arc chaftifed only when it is need- 
 ful. 
 
 The Apoftle Peter having mentioned to the 
 Saints, the Inheritance referved in Heaven for 
 them, and the Salvation revealed in the Gofpel, 
 fays, Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a 
 Seafon, (if need be) ye are in heavinefs through 
 manifold 'Temptations. 1 Pet. i. 6. 
 
 And ferious Chriftians have reafon to be patient 
 under their Troubles, and to fupprefs every 
 murmuring Thought, and remember, That whom 
 the Lord loveth, he corretleth, even as a Father the 
 Son, in whom he delight eth. Pro v. iii. ir. 
 
 The Apoftle fays, Heb. xii. 6. Whom the 
 Lord loveth, he chafteneth, and fcoargeth every Sen 
 whom he receiveth : And the Pfalmift faid, (Pfal. 
 xcix. 12.) Bleffed is the Man, whom thou chafteneth, 
 O Lord, and teacheft him out of thy Law. 
 
 When Divine Providence brings Afflictions on 
 us, our heavenly Father is then teaching us, and 
 we fhould learn the LefTons which he teaches ; we 
 ihould fee his Name, hear the Rod, and him who 
 appointed it. Mich. vi. 9. 
 
 And the Children of God do find much Benefit 
 by their heavenly Fathers chaftening. 
 
 We know the Experience of the holy Pfalmift, 
 from his faying to God, Before I 'was afflitled, I 
 went aftray ; but now I have kept thy Word. Pfal. 
 cxix. 67. and ver. 71. // is good for me that 1 
 have been afflitled, that I might learn thy Statutes. 
 ver. J 5. I know, Lord, that thy Judgments are 
 right, and that thou in Faithfulnefs haft afflitled me, 
 
 God's People in all Ages have the like Ex- 
 perience : through the Temptations of the World, 
 and the Fiefh, through the Enticements of Ac- 
 quaintance, and the Remainder of indwelling Sin, 
 I ■ Chriftiaris 
 
58 On the Sacred Predictions. 
 
 Chriftians often grow negligent of their Duties, 
 and fall into finful Compliances with Cuftoms of- 
 fenfive to the Holy God ; till He brings fome Af- 
 flictions upon them, and his Spirit by Means of 
 them, awakens their Confciences to fearch their 
 Hearts, to examine and amend their Ways. 
 
 O my Father which art in Heaven ! Help me 
 by thy Grace to walk fo circumfpectly, fo diligently 
 and c hear fully before thee, in the Way of Obedi- 
 ence to all thy Commandments, that Afflictions 
 may become iefs needful for me. 
 
 O that the Lord would guide my Way 
 
 To keep his Statutes ftill ! 
 O that my God would grant me Grace 
 
 To know, and do his Will. 
 
 O fend thy Spirit down to write, 
 
 Thy Law upon my Heart •, 
 Nor let my Tongue indulge Deceit, 
 
 Nor ac~f. the Liars part ! 
 
 Make me to walk in thy Commands, 
 
 'Tis a delightful Road -, 
 Nor let my Head, or Heart, or Hands, 
 
 Offend again ft my God. 
 
 Watts's Pfalms 1 1. 
 
 When Chriftians for a while go on in the Neg- 
 lect: of any known Duty, or in the CommifTion of 
 any known Sin, they bring upon thcmfelves the 
 Character of Backsliders from God, and it is 
 a great Mercy, when his Providences follow them 
 with one Calamity after another, till their Con- 
 fciences are awaken'd, and they are brought to 
 confider the Evil of their Doings, and to repent 
 of their Sins, and tofeekthe Forgivenefs of them 
 through Chrift Jefus. 
 
 That 
 
On the Sacred Predictions. 59 
 
 That is a comfortable Prediction in Ifa. xxvii. 
 2. By this therefore Jh all the Iniquity of Jacob be 
 purged^ and this is all the Fruit (intended) to take 
 away his Sin. 
 
 God's ufing all proper Means to cleanfe his 
 Children from their Iniquities, and to recover 
 them to their Duty, when they have gone aftray 
 from the Way of it, is an Evidence of his Fa- 
 therly Love and Care of them. 
 
 O the Condefcenfion of the holy God to fuch 
 Offenders ! Turn backfliding Children faith the 
 Lord. Jer. iii. 14. and in Hof. xiv. 4. I will 
 heal their Backflidings^ I will love them freely. 
 
 How does the Father of Mercies manifeft his 
 Companion and Love, to his tranfgreffing Child- 
 ren ! He draws them with the Cords of Love. 
 
 And how fhould the Thoughts of the divine 
 Loving-kindnefs, melt the Souls of Backfliders 
 into Shame and Sorrow for their finful Departures 
 from their God and Father. 
 
 How mould every one of them think, and fay, 
 thus within themielves. How have 1 finned 
 againft the Lord •, how great are the Provocations 
 which I have been guilty of ? My Father has 
 been continually laying Obligations on me to love 
 and ferve him, and is always doing me good, 
 and preferving me from numberlefs Evils •, but 
 how bafe has been my Behaviour ? All the In- 
 ftances of his Patience and Favour, fhew the 
 heinous Nature of my Sins : Sins committed 
 againft aftonifhing Go.cinds, I have forfeited his 
 Love : O holy God ! May fuch a wicked Wretch 
 as I have been call thee Father ? Thou mighteft 
 not only difinheric me, but juftly doom me to 
 Death eternal, tor being a rebelli ms Son. 
 
 Have I then any Reafon to think God will re- 
 ceive me, if i return to him ? 
 
 I 2 Hark! 
 
6p On the Sacred Predictions. 
 
 Hark ! O my Soul ! He calls to thee, he fays, 
 Return unto me ye backfliding Children, and I will 
 heal your Backjlidings. (Jer. iii. 22.) And now, O 
 my Soul, anfwer, Behold, I come unto thee, for 
 thcu art the Lord my God. 
 
 And may I not take encouragement to do fo, 
 from the Parable of the prodigal Son ? He fpent 
 all the Subftance his Father gave him in riotous 
 Living ; but when he had fuffered fore Diftrefies, 
 and was reduced to great Want, he refolved to 
 return Home, and to humble himfelf, and to in- 
 treat his Father to receive him again into his Fa- 
 mily, though it was but as one of his hir'd Ser- 
 vants. 
 
 This Prodigal when he came to himfelf, when 
 he came to be in a right Mind, and to a due 
 Senfe of his fad Condition, faid, (Luke xv. 18. 
 19.) I will arife, and go to my Father \ and will fay 
 unto him, Father I have finned againjl Heaven and 
 before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy 
 Son 1 make me as one of thy hrSd Servants. 
 
 He went, and his loving and forgiving Father, 
 (when he was yet a great "Way off) faw him, avd 
 had Compajfion, and ran, and fell upon his Neck, 
 and kiffed him. ver. 20. 
 
 He received his penitent Child, he was imme- 
 diately reconciled to him, and rejoiced in his 
 Converfion, and abraided him not with his paft 
 Sins. 
 
 And may I not hope that my heavenly Father 
 will receive and forgive me ? And be reconciled 
 to me i for he is a merciful God, and deligheth 
 in Mercy. 
 
 O gracious God, though thou mighteft reje<5t 
 me with Abhorrence, though I am no more wor- 
 thy to be called thy Son, yet for the Sake of the 
 blefftd Jefus, pardon my Sins, receive me again into 
 
 thy 
 
On the Sacred Predictions. 6 1 
 
 thy Favour, for in his Name I return unto thee i 
 And Lord evermore keep me in the Way of Faith 
 and Holinefs, Amen. 
 
 He will turn again, he will have Companion on us-, 
 he will fub due all our Iniquities -, and thou wilt caft 
 all their Sins into the Depth of the Sea. Said the 
 Prophet Micah unto God. Mic. vii. 10. Com- 
 fortable Words ! 
 
 God will chaftife his adopted Children ; he 
 may hide his Face from them, but he will not caft 
 them off for ever. 
 
 If his Children for fake my Laws, ffays God,) 
 and walk not in my Judgments -, if they break my 
 Statutes, and keep not my Commandments : 'Then 
 will I vifit their Tranfgreffions with a Rod, and 
 their Iniquity with Stripes. Never thelefs, my 
 Loving- kindnefs will I not utterly take from him, 
 nor fuffer my Faith fulnefs to fail; my Covenant will 
 I not break, nor alter the Thing that is gone out of 
 my Lips, Pfal. lxxxix. 30 — 34. 
 
 If God's Children go aftray like a loft Sheep, 
 (as the Pfalmift did, Pfal. cxix. 176.) he will re- 
 cover, and bring them back. 
 
 Our great Redeemer calleth true Believers his 
 Sheep. In John x. 27, 28. he fays, My Sheep 
 hear my Voice, and I know them, and they follow 
 me. And I give unto them eternal Life, and they 
 fhall never perijh, neither fhall any (neither wicked 
 Men nor Devils) pluck them out of my Hands. 
 
 A plain Proof thefe Words are, that Chrift 
 our good Shepherd, who laid down his Life for 
 the Sheep, will certainly bring all true Believers 
 to the Poffeffion of eternal Life. If any of them 
 wander from him, he will find them out, and 
 bring them back to his Fold. 
 
 The Apoflle Paul in his Epiftle to all the Saints 
 
 in Chrift Jefus, (Philip, i. i.)inver. 6. affurcs 
 
 them of the Certainty of their Perfeverance j for 
 
 3 he 
 
62 On the Sacred Predictions. 
 
 he fays, Being confident of this very Thing, that he 
 which hath begun a good Work in you, will perform 
 it (or carry it on) until the Day of Jefus Chrift. 
 
 And the Apoftle Peter eftablifhes the fame 
 Doctrine, in i Pet. i. 5. where fpeaking of true 
 Believers, he fays, Who are kept by the Power of God 
 through Faith unto Salvation : and as this is true, 
 fo is it true alfo, That at lajl they will receive the 
 End of their Faith, even the Salvation of their 
 Souls. 
 
 This is a comfortable Doctrine to ferious Chrif- 
 tians, when in the Courfe of their Pilgrimage 
 through the Wildernefs of this World towards 
 the heavenly Canaan, they meet with Difficulties 
 and Dangers ; and they are afraid they (hall not 
 be able to hold out to the End of Life. 
 
 As David was afraid that one Day or other, he 
 fhould perifh by the Hand of Saul, though God 
 had promifed to make him King of Ilrael : So 
 ferious Chriftians have fometimes difmal Fears on 
 the Account of their great Frailty, and the ftrong 
 Oppofitions they meet with in the Way of their 
 Duty. 
 
 But it is matter of Comfort to confider, that 
 we are not left to ourfelves : No, Chrift the Cap- 
 tain of our Salvation .has undertaken to obtain 
 for us a compleat Salvation -, we have fkd to him 
 for Refuge, and we have committed ourfelves to 
 Him, both Souls and Bodies, to be faved by him 
 from all our Sins, and from all the Miferies which 
 our Sins have deferved, and from all our Spiri- 
 tual Enemies. 
 
 The Apoftle faid to Timothy, 1 know whom I 
 have believed, 'or tr lifted,) and I am perfuaded that 
 he is able to keep that which I have committed unto 
 him againjl that Day. 2 Tim. i. 13. And every 
 fmcere Chriftian may fay the fame. 
 
 And 
 
On the Sacred Predictions. 63 
 
 And (in Rom. viii. 25' " m 37-) he f a Y s > Who 
 jhall feparate us from the Love of Chrift ? Shall 
 Tribulation^ or Dijlrefs, or Perfection, or Famine* 
 or Nakednefs, or Peril, or Sword? Nay, in all 
 thefe Things we are more than Conquerors, through 
 him that loved us. 
 
 Although without Chrift we can do nothing, 
 yet through his ftrengthening us, we fhall be able 
 to hold on our Way, and obtain a compleat 
 Victory over all the Principalities and Powers 
 of Darknefs. 
 
 The Contemplation of thefe Things may con- 
 folate our Minds, and relieve us from uneafy, 
 unbelieving Fears. 
 
w 
 
 LETTER VI. 
 
 On the Afflictions of fcrious Chriflians, and the Pre- 
 dictions, which may comfort them in the Times 
 of their Troubles. When they have been under 
 many Afflictions and are brought into great Per- 
 plexity^ there are Predictions, which may fupport 
 them: Afflictions*^ of two Kinds, Tem- 
 poral, and Spiritual : I. Of temporal Afflictions 
 particularly. 1. By the Death of Children. 2. 
 The Death of Hufiands. 3. The Lofs of dear 
 and ufeful Friends. 4. The Falling under falfe 
 Accufations, vAth the Predictions which may af- 
 ford Relief under fuch Sorrows. II. Of Spi- 
 ritual Troubles particularly. 1 . Of an habitual 
 Defpondence. 2. Of the Anguifh and Diflrcfs of 
 the Soul, after the Commijjion of fome heinous 
 Sin. 3. Of the great Troubles and Sorrcw OC' 
 cafioned by the violent Temptations^ and Affaults 
 cf the Devil. 
 
 HERE are Times of great Af- 
 flictions and Diftrefs even with 
 ferious Chriftians ; and there are 
 Predictions in the Holy Scriptures, 
 which may relieve, and comfort 
 their forrowful Hearts : Blefied 
 
 be our Companionate God for them ! 
 
 Sometimes 
 
On the Sacred Predi&'icns. 6 5 
 
 Sometimes Afflictions come quick, one after 
 another, and are of long Continuance, and the 
 Troubles are great, and the Afpect of Providence 
 feems to threaten greater. 
 
 They are under thick Darknefs, reduced to 
 great Extremity, and they can fee no Way in 
 which Deliverance can come to them ; and they 
 are ready almoft to give up their Hope. 
 
 Yet in fuch a difmal Time as this, there are 
 Predictions proper for their Support and Comfort. 
 
 For in Ifa. x!i. 17. we read thefe Words, I the 
 Lor d will hear them, I the God of Jfrael will not 
 forfake them : that is, thofe who are his People, 
 he will not forfake : Comfortable Predictions^siias ! 
 And in many Places Go J has promifed to deliver 
 his People. 
 
 And may not ferious Chriftians think that with 
 God, their own God, all Things are poffible ; 
 and may they not think he has Bowels of Pity, 
 as well as bound lefs Power ? 
 
 May they not pray ? May they not fay to their 
 Father which is in Heaven ? O my Father ! Thou 
 art the mighty God, which doth great Things p. ft 
 finding out, yea, and Wonders without Number. 
 
 Have they not Leave to pour out their Com- 
 plaints before Him ? may they not fay ? 
 
 Confider all my forrows, Lord, 
 . And thy Deliverance fend ; 
 My Soul for thy Salvation faints, 
 When will my Troubles end ? 
 
 Yet have I found, 'tis good for me 
 
 To bear my Fathers Rod, 
 Afflictions make me learn thy Law, 
 
 And live upon my God. 
 
 I know thy Judgments, Lord, are right, 
 Tho' they may feem fevere ; 
 
 K The 
 
 t/icJe- 
 
66 On the Sacred Predictions. 
 
 The fharpeft Sufferings I endure, 
 Flow from thy faithful Care. 
 
 Watts's Pfalms 119. 
 
 O my merciffil God, purge away the Drofs 
 j of my Sin from my Soul, by thy Chaftifements ; 
 and forgive, and fave thy Servant that trufteth in 
 Thee! 
 
 True ; to an Eye of Senfe, my Deliverance ap- 
 pears as a Thing impoffible ; and thus appeared 
 the Deliverance of the Children of Ifrael, when 
 they had the Sea juft before them, and their 
 Enemies juft behind them : And thus did appear 
 the Deliverance of Abraham from his agonizing 
 Trial, when his Arm was lifted up to flay his 
 Son, and the only Son of the Promife, as a 
 Sacrifice to God ; and yet thou didfl deliver the 
 Children of Ifrael, and didfl deliver Abraham in 
 the lafl Extremity, and thou canft deliver me. 
 May I not fay ? 
 
 Oft in the laft diftreffing Hour 
 The Lord difplays delivering Power, 
 The Mount of 'Sorrows is the Place, 
 Where we fhalJ fee furprizing Grace. 
 
 Watts. 
 
 Why then art thou cafi dewn, my Soul? And 
 tz hy art thou dif quieted within me ? Hope thou in 
 Gcd, for J Jhall yet Praife him, who is the Health 
 cf my Countenance and my Gcd. Pfal. xlii. 11. 
 
 Our good God in his Predictions has provided 
 for the Comfort of his People, under the various 
 Afflictions wherewith they may be exercifed. 
 
 The Afflictions incident to Chriftians, are 
 either of a Temporal, or of a Spiritual Nature i 
 I fhall briefly take notice of both Sorts. 
 
 I. Of 
 
On the Sacred Predictions. 67 
 
 I. Of the Afflictions of a temporal Kind, thefe 
 are many, but 1 (ball take notice of fome that are 
 very frequent ; particularly the following. 
 
 1. If their Children die, they may confider 
 that there is a Name better than of Sons and of 
 Daughters, which God hath foretold that he will 
 give to them that keep his Sabbaths, and choofe 
 the Things that pleafe him, and take hold of his 
 Covenant. That he will give them an everlafting 
 Name, that fiall not be cut off. Ifa. lv. 4, 5. 
 
 Serious Chriftians under the Lofs of their lit- 
 tle Ones, may take Comfort as David did, by 
 confidering that although their Children cannot 
 return to be with them again in this World; yet, 
 that they mail in a little Time, go to be with 
 them in the other World ; and they mould imi- 
 tate David's Example, and inftead of fecreting 
 themfelves, and indulging an unreafonable Grief, 
 they mould give their Bodies all needful Re- 
 fremment, and go to the Houfe of God and 
 worfhip him in the Seafons of it ; whofe Provi- 
 dence wifely and rightly manageth all Things. 
 
 2. When Hufbands die, our companionate God 
 has provided for the Comfort of the Widows, 
 and of their fatherlefs Children. 
 
 In Jer. xlix. 11. God fays, Leave thy Father- 
 lefs Children, I will preferve them alive, and let 
 thy Widows truft in me. Thefc Words plainly 
 imply a Prediction, that God will take care of, 
 and provide for the Fatherlefs and the Widows. 
 
 In Pfal. lxviii. 5. it is faid, A Father of the 
 Fatherlefs, and a Judge of the Widows is God in 
 his Holy Habitation. Thefe Words fignify a Pre- 
 diction that God will defend and provide for the 
 Widows, and their fatherlefs Children. 
 
 And the Confideration of thefe Predictions may 
 
 well comfort the Minds, and rejoice the Hearts 
 
 K 2 of 
 
68 On the Sacred Predictions, 
 
 of ferious Chriftians in fuch an afflicted Condi- 
 tion ; and more efpecially as the divine Providence 
 is always fulfilling the Predictions recorded in the 
 Sacred Scriptures. 
 
 In Exod. xxii. 22. God fays, Te foatt net af~ 
 fiitl any Widow, or fatherlefs Child. And to en- 
 force this Law, he adds, If thou afflict them in any 
 zcjfi) and they cry at all unto me; I will fur cly hear 
 their Cry, and my Wrath fhall wax hot, and I will 
 kill you with the Sword, and your Wives fjjall be 
 Widows, and your Children fatherlefs, ver. 23, 24. 
 
 Thefe. awful Threat nings fhould not only make 
 all Men afraid of injuring the Fatherlefs and 
 Widows -, but excite all Men to fhew them Kind- 
 nefs as there may be Occafion ; becaufe their do- 
 ing fo will be pleafing to God, as may well be 
 concluded from the aforementioned Law, enforced 
 with fuch terrible Threatnings againft the Tranf- 
 grefibrs of it. 
 
 3. Serious Chriftians may likewife be in great 
 Affliction by the Death of dear and ufeful Friends, 
 who were a principal Support and Comfort to 
 them : Or if not by their Death, yet by their 
 ceafing to be Friends, and fometimes by their be- 
 coming Enemies. 
 
 A Chriftian thus afflicted, may take Comfort 
 in confide ring, that although earthly Friends die, 
 yet their Father which is in Heaven lives for ever ; 
 and can, and often doth raife up new Friends in 
 their flead, and more ufeful than thofe they have 
 loft : Or if God fufTers our Friends to forfake us, 
 he teaches us never to truft in Man, Nor in an Arm 
 of Fief j. 
 
 .This Affliction befel David, as appears from 
 vJhat he f;ys, in Pfal. Iv. ver. 12, 13, 14. For 
 it was not an Enemy that reproached me, then 1 
 could have bo n it ; nei.her was it he that ha'ed me, 
 thai did magnify himfelf againft me t then I would 
 
 have 
 
On the Sacred PrediSiions. 69 
 
 have hid myfelf from him ; but it was thou, a Alan 
 mine equal, my Guide and my Acquaintance; We 
 took fweet Counfel together, and walked unto the 
 Houfe of God in company. 
 
 David very plainly fufFered much Grief, by 
 the Behaviour and Reproaches of his Friends ; 
 but under fuch a Trouble, there are Predictions, 
 which may adminifter Comfort to our Minds. For 
 it is faid, 'The Lord thy God is a merciful God, he 
 will net forfake thee, (No, although worldly 
 Friends may do fo,) but with everlafting Kindnefs 
 will I have Mercy on ihee, faith the Lord, thy Re- 
 deemer, Ifa. liv. 8. 
 
 4. Serious Chriftians may alfo be in great AfBic^ 
 tion by falfe Accufations. 
 
 It was the Cafe of David. Falfe Witneffes did 
 rife up ; they laid to my Charge, Things that 
 • I knew not, was his Complaint. Pfal. xxxv. 
 11. 
 
 But againft Trouble by fuch vile Treatment 9 
 that Prediction in Pfal. xxxvii. 5, 6. viz. Com- 
 mit thy Way (and thy Caufe) unto the Lord j trufi 
 alfo in him, and he fhall bring it to pafs : And he 
 jhall bring forth thy Right eoufnefs as the Lights 
 and thy Judgment as the noon Day, 
 
 His Providence will make thy Innocence ap- 
 pear clearly ; therefore reft in the Lord, and wait 
 patiently for him. 
 
 Some of the Troubles, which our glorious Re- 
 deemer went through for our Sake*, were falfe 
 Accufations, bitter Reproaches, and perverfe 
 Mifinterpretations of his kindeft Actions. He 
 long endured the Contradiction of Sinners againft 
 himfelf, even through the whole Courfe of his 
 Life. And exercifed perfect Meeknefs and Pa^ 
 tience, under all Indignities and malicious 
 Treatment ; and from his Example we fhould 
 karn to exercife Patience and Meeknefs, and en- 
 deavour 
 
Jo On the Sacred Pr editions. 
 
 deavour to behave as he did, under the cruel Be- 
 haviour of thofe who mould have received him 
 as their bell Friend and Saviour, and who mould 
 have rejoiced in him, and fervently loved him. 
 
 IF. Afflictions of a fpiritual Nature are various : 
 I mail only mention the Three following, viz. 
 
 i. An habitual Defpondency or Defpair, from 
 the Difeafe of the Body called Melancholy. This 
 needs Medicines till the Diforder of the Body is 
 removed. 
 
 2. Anguifh, and Diftrefs of the Soul, after the 
 Commifiion of fome heinous Sin. 
 
 This was the Cafe of David after his Sin in the 
 Matter of Uriah. (2 Sam. chap. xi. 12.) His 
 Guilt was great, and great was the Grief, and 
 Remorfe of his Soul on that Account. The 
 Fifty firft Ffalm, was written as a publick penitent 
 Confemon to the World of his complicated Crime, 
 and to exprefs his deep Contrition, and doubtlefs, 
 to preferve in his Confcience a Self-loathing Re- 
 membrance of it. 
 
 The Pfalm is a very mournful Supplication to 
 God, on the Account of thofe Tranfgrefiions f and 
 feveral of the Petitions fhew that his Sorrow was 
 long and grievous ; fo great that they could not 
 be fully exprefled. 
 
 But we may form fome Idea of his Sorrows 
 from his Petitions, viz. 
 
 Have Mercy upon me, O God, according to thy 
 Loving- kindnefs ; according to the Multitude of thy 
 tender Mercies, blot out my 'Traufgreffons : Wajh me 
 throughly from mine Iniquity, and cleanfe me from 
 my Sin : For I acknowledge my 'Traufgreffions, and 
 my Sin is ever before me : Make me to hear Joy and 
 Gladnefs ; that the Bones, which thou haft broken may 
 rejoice. Hide thy Face from my Sins ; and Hot out 
 
 all 
 
On the Sacred Predictions. 7 1 
 
 all mine Iniquities : Create in me a clean Hearty O 
 God, and renew a right Spirit within me : Cqft me 
 not away from thy Prefence ; and take not thy Holy 
 Spirit from me : Rejiore unto me the Joy of thy Sal- 
 vation -, and uphold me with thy free Spirit. A 
 broken and a contrite Heart, O God, thou wilt not 
 defpife. 
 
 Great was the Anguifh, and Diilrefs of his 
 Soul ! And fo it was after he had committed the 
 Sin of numbring the People. 2 Sam. xxiv. 10. 
 After the Thing was done, Davids Heart fmote 
 him-, and David faid unto the Lord, 1 have fin- 
 ned in that I have done : And now I befeech thee, O 
 Lord, take away the Iniquity of thy Servant, for I 
 have done very foolifJoly. 
 
 And how much greater muft be the Horror of 
 his Mind, when the Lord expreffed his Anger 
 .againft him ? And put three dreadful Things to 
 his Choice, viz. kven Years Famine, or to flee 
 three Months before his Enemies, while they pur- 
 fued him -, or to have three Days Peftilence in his 
 Land: As he chofe the Peftilence, ver. 75. So 
 the Lord fent the Peftilence upon Ifrael in the Morn- 
 ing, even to the Time appointed, that is for three 
 Days. 
 
 Who can imagine the Anguifh and Diftrefs of 
 his Soul during thofe three long Days ? But fome- 
 what of it is difcovered by thofe Heart-piercing 
 Words, which he fpoke to the merciful God on 
 the third Day, ver. 17. David fpake unto the 
 Lord, when he J aw the Angel that fmote the Peo- 
 ple, and faid, lo, I have finned, and I have dene 
 wickedly ; but thefe Sheep, what have they done ? 
 Let thine Hand, I pray thee, be againft me, and my 
 Father's Houfe. 
 
 The Words difcover not only great Humanity, 
 and a tender Regard to the Welfare of his Sub- 
 ject, 
 
J 2 On the Sacred Predict ions. 
 
 jeets, but alfo that he was long under agonizing 
 Sorrow. 
 
 O it is a dreadful Thing to provoke the Anger 
 of the holy and righteous God ! 
 
 But as God is juft, fo he is merciful! And how 
 foon was his Companion manifefted to David ? 
 For the Prophet Gad, that fame Day, came to 
 David, and directed him to rear up an Altar unto 
 the Lord in the Threfhing- floor of Araunah. 
 
 He did fo, and offered burnt Offerings, and 
 peace Offerings to the Lord* And the Lord was 
 intreated for the Land, and the Plague was jlayed 
 from Jfrael. ver. 25. 
 
 The Apoftle Peter had like Diftrefs, and An- 
 guifh of Soul, after he had denied his Mailer 
 and his Saviour : When he had done it, he re- 
 membred the Words of Jefus, who foretold him 
 of it, And went out> and wept bitterly. Matt, xxvi, 
 
 IS- 
 
 We have need to watch and pray, left we fall 
 
 into Temptation, and are overcome by it. 
 
 3. Another Sort of fpiritual Troubles, arife 
 From the violent Temptations and Aflaulcs of 
 the Devil. 
 
 The Devil will give no Difturbance to his own 
 Servants and Children, who voluntarily do his 
 Will, and run on in the broad Way of Sin, which 
 leads down to everlafting DeftruCtion. It gives 
 him a Pleafure to fee the Generality of People 
 continuing their Rebellion againft the holy God, 
 and going on boldly in a Courfe of wilful Dif- 
 obedience to his Authority, and his Law. 
 
 It pleafes him to fee the Places where the Gof- 
 pel is preached, thin of People, and the Aifem- 
 blies for fenfual Delights crouded : To fee fuch 
 Multitudes eageily purfuingthe Pleafuresof Senfe 
 at grtat Expence, and at the Hazard of their 
 8 Health • 
 
0?t the Sacred Predictions. 73 
 
 Health : Or elfe labouring with all their Might, 
 early and late, for the Meat that periihes, and for 
 the Riches of this World, which may make 
 themfelves Wings and fly away : Or indefatigable 
 in ufing all Ways and Means to obtain Honours 
 among Men, to the intire Needed: of the Welfare, 
 the Safety, the Salvation and Happinefs of their 
 immortal Souls. Thefe People do as the Devil 
 would have them do ; they pleafe their infernal 
 Mafter, and will be with him in the next World, 
 in Torments, which will never end, except they 
 hearken to the merciful Calls of the Gofpel. 
 
 O merciful God ! Look down with Pity on 
 thefe miferable People! They are dead, dead in 
 their Trefpafies and Sins, and are as infenfibl^ 01 
 their Guilt, and Wretched nefs, and Danger as a 
 dead Body is infenfible of Pain. Lord by thy 
 Holy Spirit do thou quicken them ! Make Mul- 
 titudes of them Converts from Sin and Sa- 
 tan. Have not many of thy Saints been fuch as 
 thefe ? For the Apoftle, after he had declared to 
 the Saints at Corinth, that Neither Fornicators, nor 
 Idolaters, nor Adulterers, nor Effeminate, nor Abu- 
 sers of themfelves with Mankind, nor Thieves, nor 
 Covetous, nor Drunkards, nor Revilers, nor Ex- 
 tortioners fhall inherit the Kingdom of God. He 
 faid unto them, And fuch were fame of you ; but 
 ye are w a [Joed, but ye are fanSiified, but ye are juf- 
 tified in the Name of the Lord Jefu-, and by the 
 Sprit of our God. 1 Cor. vi. 9 — 11. 
 
 O my Father which art in Heaven ! Will it not 
 be a glorious Difplay of the Riches of thy Grace, 
 if thou malt fend down thy Holy Spirit, and a- 
 waken the Confciences of Multitudes of thefe un- 
 happy Creatures, and bring them to repent of 
 their Sins, and by Faith unfeigned with Joy to 
 accept of thy beloved Son to five them ? 
 
 L O my 
 
74 On the Sacred Predictions. 
 
 O my good God, once I was as regardlefs of 
 the State of my Soul, and of an Intereft in Chrift, 
 as any of thefe, and was dead in Sin as thefe are; 
 but thou hadft Mercy on me, and broughteft me 
 to be fenfible of my Want of a Saviour, and 
 didft convince me that Chrift only could redeem 
 me ; thy Holy Spirit did fct the loving Jefus 
 before me, as both able, and willing to fave me : 
 Blefied for ever be thy holy Name tor that Grace 
 which brought me to be one of Chrift's Difciples ! 
 O gracious God, extend that Mercy to thefe 
 miferable People, which thou didft fhew to me ! 
 Will they not rejoice in thy Loving-kindnefs, and 
 labour to promote that Gofpel which many of 
 them have been endeavouring to deftroy ? Lord 
 glorify thy great Name, by fubduing them to 
 thyfelf! 
 
 But although the Devil fulrers wilful Sinners to 
 go on in their evil Ways, without difturbing their 
 Minds •, yet when he finds the holy God work- 
 ing in the Souls of any of them, he beftirs him- 
 felf to hinder it as much as pofilble, and purfues 
 them with his fiery Darts, and many Times they 
 have dreadful Conflicts with this grand Enemy of 
 their Salvation. 
 
 But Chrift, who is in them by his Spirit, 
 is ftronger than all the Principalities and Powers 
 of Darknefs. 
 
 When Satan makes his AfTaults on Chriftians, 
 in the Beginning of their new Life, dees fome- 
 times repeat them with great Violence : He 
 is always watching Opportunities of prefenting 
 his Temptations, to make them neglect Duty, or 
 to do Things, which God has forbidden them. 
 
 And therefore a Chriftian's Life is compared to 
 a Warfare ; and the Difciples of Chrift are in- 
 formed of this in the holy Scriptures, and in- 
 
 ftruflfed 
 
On the Sacred Predictions. j$ 
 
 ftructed how to manage it -, particularly, in Eph. 
 vi. 10 — 17. Where the Apoftle fays to them, 
 My Brethren be flrong in the Lord, and in the 
 Power of his Might. Put on the whole Armour of 
 God, that ye may be able to ft and againfl the Wiles 
 of the Devil. For we wreftle not (only) againfi 
 (the Lufts of) Flefh and Blood, but againfl Princi- 
 palities, againfl Powers, againfl the Rulers of the 
 Darknefs of this World, againfl fpiritual Wickednefs 
 in high Places : Wherefore take unto you the whole 
 Armour of God, that ye may be able to withjland in 
 the evil Day, and having done all to fi and : Stand 
 therefore, having your Loins girt about with Truth, 
 and having on the Breafl-plate of Righleoufnefs : 
 And your Feet fhod with the Preparation of the 
 Gofpel of Peace: Above all, taking the Shield of 
 Faith, wherewith ye ft all be able to quench the fiery 
 Darts of the Wicked, (one) And take the Helmet of 
 Salvation, and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the 
 Word of God. 
 
 The Enemies, which ferious Chriftians mud en- 
 counter with, are very fubtle, very potent and 
 very malicious There is no avoiding them, 
 when God permits them to aflault us : We muft 
 refill, we muft fight, and we muft conquer them, 
 or be overcome and perifh by them. No wonder 
 then, that diftreffing Fears do fometimes arife in 
 the Minds of pious Perfons. 
 
 But there are Predictions in the holy Scriptures, 
 which may animate our Hope, excite our Cou- 
 rage, and adminifter Confolation to our Souls, 
 when under ftrong Temptations. 
 
 In the 1 Cor. x. 11. it is faid, God is faithful, 
 who will not fuffer you to be tempted above that ye 
 are able, but will with the Temptation alfo make a 
 Way to efcape, that ye may be able to bear it. A 
 moll comfortable Prediction this ! And may help 
 L 2 us 
 
j 6 On the Sacred Predict km. 
 
 us again ft our Fears, and revive our Hope, when 
 the Devil continues urging his Temptations 
 ftrongly upon us, and we are afraid of being over- 
 come by them. 
 
 In Rom. viii. %y. After the Apoftle had 
 mentioned fome of the Trials of true Believers, 
 as in Tribulation, Difltfefs, Perfecution, Famine, 
 Nakednefs, Peiils and Sword, he lays, In all 
 thefe Things ive are (and mall be) more than Con- 
 querors, through him that loved us. The Words 
 imply a Prediction, that God will not fufier 
 fin cere Chriftians to be overcome by the Enemies 
 of their Souls, but that through Chrift, who loved 
 them, they (hall be made victorious over all their 
 Adverfaries : And it teaches us to look to Chrift 
 the Captain of our Salvation, and to depend on 
 him for Succefs in our Warfare. 
 
 St. Peter fays, 2 Pet ii. 9. The Lord km' ■ 
 hew to ddiver the Godly out of 'Temptations. Which 
 Words plainly imply a Prediction that the Lord 
 ■will deliver the Godly out of Temptations ; be- 
 oufe crlicrwife the Declaration is no ground of 
 Comfort to the Saints. 
 
 In Rom. xvi. 20. The Apoftle fays to the 
 Saints at Rome, and to the Saints in all Places, 
 2nd Ages; And the God of Peace Jball briiife (or 
 tread) Satan under your Feet portly. Here is a 
 Prediction fignifying, that although the Saints 
 for a while are tempted and atTaulced by the Devil, 
 yet tHat Go.i in due Time, will fubciue the DeviJI 
 under them, and make them victorious over 
 him. 
 
 Thefe Promifes may well encourage us to con- 
 tinue a vigorous Oppofition to all his Attacks, 
 remembring that it is faid, Refift the Devil, and he 
 will fieefrbm you. James iv. 7. 
 
 The Cbriftian in the Day of Temptation, 
 mould do as i\\z Apoftle did, when, There was 
 
 ziven 
 
On the Sacred Predictions. yy 
 
 given to him a Thorn in the Flefh, the Meffe.-iger of 
 Satan to buffet hm, left he fhould be exalted above 
 Meafure. 2 Cor, xii. 7, 8, 9. He fought by 
 Prayer ro his Lord and Mailer, the glorious 
 Captain of his Salvation, for Help and Deli- 
 verance. For this Thing I be/ought the Lord thrice ', 
 th.^t it might depart from me. ver. 8- And he did 
 not pray in vain; for the Lord returned this gra- 
 cious Anfwer to his Petition, faying, My Grace 
 is fufficient for thee ; for my Strength is made -per feci 
 in weaknefs. 
 
 The -Grace of the Lord Jefus was fufficient to 
 fupport the Apoftle all the Time of his Trial, 
 and to relcafe him from it, when it mould be fit 
 to do it ; and the Strength of Chrift is manifeft 
 in fuftaining his weak Difciples, and in making 
 them Conquerors over their mod powerful Ene- 
 mies : And what was the Apoftle's Refolution 
 upon receiving fo gracious an Anfwer to his 
 Prayers ? He tells us, faying, Moft gladly there- 
 fore will 1 rather glory in my Infirmities, that the 
 Power of Chrifi may reft upon me. 
 
 The Confideration that the Power of Chrift 
 refteth upon Believers, may well reconcile them 
 to endure Hard (hips in their fpiritual Warfare, as 
 becometh good Soidiers of the bleffed Jefus, and 
 may keep them from being difcouraged, by the 
 Thoughts of their own Weaknefs and Infirmities. 
 The ferious Chriftian in the Hour of Tempta- 
 tion, fhould go to the Throne of Grace, and pre- 
 fent his Petitions for Support, for Help, and De- 
 liver.; nee. 
 
 We mould look to our great Redeemer, and 
 may fay to him, Lord didft thou not come into 
 the World to deftroy the Works of the Devil ? 
 And didft thou not thyfelf fuffer being tempted ? 
 O pity me now, being forely diftreffed by the 
 
 AfLults 
 
78 On the Sacred Predictions. 
 
 AfTaults and Bufferings of Satan ! For thou art a 
 companionate Saviour, and art able to fuccour 
 them that are tempted : O merciful Jefus help 
 me, and rebuke the Devil, and command him to 
 ceafe his Suggeftions : Thy Grace is fufficient for 
 me, and thy Strength is made perfect in Weak- 
 nefs •, and thou knoweft my Weaknefs, O com- 
 municate Strength to me, and make the Enemy 
 of my Soul to fly from me. 
 
 My God, the Prince of Darknefs tries 
 
 Ail his malicious Arts ; 
 He fpreads a Mi ft before my Eyes, 
 
 And throws his fiery Darts. 
 
 Be thou my Sun, and thou my Shield, 
 
 My Soul in Safety keep j 
 My Foes will fly at thy Command, 
 
 And Satan hide his Head. 
 
 Thou wilt difplay that fovereign Grace, 
 Where all my Hopes have hung ; 
 
 I fhall employ my Lips in praife, 
 And Victory fnall be fung. 
 
 Watts's Pfak p. 34. 
 
LETTER VII. 
 
 On the Pr editions relative tofincere Chrijlians, from 
 the "Time of their Death. Particularly : 
 
 i . // is predicted that at Death, their Souls Jhall 
 be made perfecl in Holinejs. What is communion 
 with God, explained. 
 
 2. 'That their Bodies Jhall remain under the Care of 
 Chrift after Death. 
 
 3. That their Bodies will be raifed to life again -, and 
 alfo the Bodies of the Wicked. 
 
 4. That the Soul of every Believer at Death, will be 
 put into another Building for its Habitation. 
 
 5. That the Souls of Believers immediately after 
 Deaths will be with Chrift. 
 
 6. That the Time of the general Refurreftion will be 
 very folemn, magnificent, and awful. Of the 
 Change, that will be made in the Bodies of thofe, 
 wbofball be living at the Time of the general Re- 
 fur re tlion. And that it will make their Bodies 
 incorruptible and immortal. 
 
 Laftly. 7/ is predicted that the Saints Jhall have an 
 Inheritance, but not be put into the Poffeffion of it, 
 
 till the Day of Judgment. A Kingdom feems 
 
 to be the Inheritance promifed to them ; and as 
 fuitable to fuch an Inheritance, it is foretold, that 
 they Jhall have a Crown of Right eoufnefs, and a 
 
 Crown-' 
 
8o On the Sacred Predictions. 
 
 Crown of Life ; and it is predicted, that th:y 
 ' crL Jhall reign, reign Jit Life by J e fits Chrijt. 
 
 Tp^fS PROCEED now to conflder 
 " the facred Predictions, relative to 
 fincere Chriftians from the Time 
 the wonder- 
 wards them, 
 & appears glorioufly in thofe which 
 
 •dilSi f> ncere Chriftians froi 
 (J%| of their Death : And 
 gyI'M hd Love of God tov 
 
 fhall be mentioned, as well as in thofe which have 
 been confidered. 
 
 Great are the Felicires purchafecf by the blelTed 
 Jeius, and intended for his Difciples : We can 
 have no adequate Notions of them, while we re- 
 main in this Vale of Tears, in a State mixed with 
 Sin and Sorrow. 
 
 As it is written, Eye hath riot feen, nor Ear 
 beard, neither have entered into the Heart of Man, 
 the Th'.ngs <whicb God hath prepared for them that 
 love kirn, i Cor. ii. 9. They are 1*0 many, fo 
 great, fo glorious that we cannot comprehend 
 them. 
 
 The Apoftle adds, But God hath revealed them 
 unto n< by bis Spirit, ver. 10. God, has though 
 not fully, yet in a comfortable Meafure made 
 them known in his Word, by his Spirit. 
 
 And what he has revealed, we iliould endea- 
 vour to underftand, efpecially as to the following 
 Particulars. 
 
 1. That at Death, the Souls of Believers are 
 made perfect in Holinels. 
 
 The Apoftle calls the Souls of true Believers 
 after Death, The Spirits of jujl Men made perfefi. 
 Hcb. xii. 23. 
 
 We 
 
On the Sacred Predictions. Si 
 
 We may from thefe Words obferve, that al- 
 though in this World, there is fome Remainder of 
 finful Corruptions in the bed of Chriftians, fome 
 Imperfection or other, yet at Death every Imper- 
 fection is done away, and the Souls of the Righ- 
 teous are then made perfectly Holy. 
 
 How the Holy Spirit compleats the Sanctifica- 
 tion of true Believers, we know not, and it is not 
 needful for us to know the Manner of his Opera- 
 tion : But it is iufficient for us to know that at 
 Death, the glorious Work will be perfected ; and 
 the Revelation of this Truth, hath the Significa- 
 tion of Prediction, that it fhall be fo with the 
 Souls of all fincere Chriftians at Death in every 
 Age : And the Thoughts of it, may well rejoice 
 our Hearts. Here our Minds are frequently dif- 
 turbed by finful Thoughts and Inclinations rifing 
 .in us, and when we would do good, evil is often 
 prefent with us ; and the Good, that we would do, 
 we do not, and the Evil that we would not do* 
 we do. It is Matter of Grief that our Obedience 
 is mixed with Multitudes of Sins, both of Omif- 
 fion and Commiffion ; and that our belt Services, 
 even our Performances of religious Worfhip, are 
 polluted with a Mixture of Sin : It is Matter of 
 Grief that we meet with many Temptations from 
 the Perfons We converfe with, and from the allur- 
 ing Things of the World, and from the Sugges- 
 tions of the Devil ; and therefore it is a ground 
 of Comfort, that we fhall Sin no more after 
 Death, nor meet with Temptations of any kind ; 
 Then there will be no Hindrance to our Commu- 
 nion with our God and Saviour, and n > Inter- 
 ruption in it. 
 
 Serious Chriftians daily have Communion with 
 God here : But what is Communion with God ? 
 And when may 1 think that I enjoy it ? 
 
 M Thefe 
 
8 2 Oti the Sacred Predictions. 
 
 Thefe are weighty Queftions, and it helps me 
 to form right Anfwers to them, when I confider 
 that I may be faid to have Communion with, and 
 the Enjoyment of a beloved Friend, when we 
 are prefent together, and I am fpeaking to him, 
 and he to me alternately •, when there is a mutual 
 Converfe between my Friend and me. 
 
 And thus it is in the Time of religious Wor- 
 ship in Publick, in the Family and in fecret : In 
 the publick Wormip, when the Word of God is 
 read, or any Fart of it is difcourfed on by a 
 Minifter of Chrift, then God is fpeaking to us : 
 And when the Minifter as the Mouth of the 
 chriftian Affembly prefent, offers up Prayers, and 
 Supplications, and Praifes to God, with Confef- 
 fion of Sin, and thankful Acknowledgment of 
 divine Mercies, then we are fpeaking to God, and 
 thus there is a mutual Converfe, or Communion 
 between God and his People. 
 
 Not that every Perfon prefent in the Affembly 
 has the blefled Enjoyment of God : No ; they 
 whofe Thoughts are wandring after a thoufand 
 Vanities in the Time of divine Service, who nei- 
 ther regard what the Lord fpeaketh by the Word 
 read, or preached, nor what is fpoken to the 
 Lord, in the foiemn Addreffes at the Throne of 
 Grace : 1 hefe have no Communion with God. 
 
 But thofe fcrious Chriftians, who are very atten- 
 tive to the Word of God which they hear, and whofe 
 Souls fay Amen to the feveral Things fpoken to 
 God in the Name of Chrift, may be faid to have 
 Communion with God, in the Ordinances of his 
 publick Worfhip. 
 
 And this may help us to underftand, when a 
 Chriftian has Communion with God, in the Sea- 
 ions of Family, and of fecret Worfhip. 
 
 1 may add that a fcrious Chriftian has Commur 
 
 nion with God, and Fellowfhip with Chrift, not 
 
 8 only 
 
On the S acred Predictions. 83 
 
 only in the ftated Times of religious Worihip> 
 but occafionally, and often between thole happy 
 Seafons. 
 
 When we are abroad, or at home, when we are 
 alone, or in company, if God by his Holy Spirit 
 brings fome good Word of his to our Remem- 
 brance, for our Guidance, Edification and Com- 
 fort ; or fpeaks to us by his Providence, producing 
 merciful Events for our Advantage, thereby call- 
 ing us to immediate thankful Acknowledgments 
 and Praife ; or fpeaks to us by afflictive Events, 
 which fill us with Grief, and bring us fometimes 
 jnto great Perplexity, which excite us to cry to 
 the Lord in Diftrefs, that he would fupport and 
 deliver us: If at fuch Time, our Souls are atten- 
 tive to the Voice of God fpeaking to us, and 
 fuitable Ejaculations of Thanks and Praife, or of 
 humble Supplications afcend from us to our Fa- 
 ther which is in Heaven, fuitably to what the 
 Lord fpeaketh by his Word, or by his Providence, 
 there is then a Communion between God and us. 
 
 And fuch Communion fhallChriftians frequently 
 have, who walk clofely with God. They are 
 fhort indeed, but very comfortable, and conduce 
 much to preferve us in a holy Frame. 
 
 II. It is revealed in the holy Scriptures, that the 
 Bodies of true Believers, are under the Care of 
 Chrift after Death, to the Refurrection of the 
 Dead. 
 
 In John vi. 39. Chrift fays, This is the Father's 
 Will, which hath fen t me, that of all which he hath 
 given me, I fhould lofe nothing, but Jhould raife it 
 up again at the lafi Day. That is, raife up the Bo- 
 dy. Thefe W r ords plainly mew, that the Father 
 hath committed the Bodies of thofe that are given 
 to Chrift, to the Care of Chrift, and by him to be 
 raifed up from the Dead at the laft Day, 
 
 M 2 And 
 
^4 On the Sacred Predictions. 
 
 And thus they are a Prediction that Chrifl will 
 do fo. In ver. 44. Chrift fays, And. I will raife 
 him t'p at the laft Day. i. e. The Body of every one 
 that comerh to him by true Faith. 
 
 It mult be obferved, that the fame Bodies of the 
 Saints, which die are to be raifed again : Chrift 
 does not fay, I will create new Bodies at the End 
 of the World, in which the Souls of my Difciples 
 fhall dwell, but that identical Body, which the 
 Soul of a Believer is taken from, at Death fhall 
 be raifed again. 
 
 It feems hence a jufl Conclufion, that there are 
 certain Parts of Matter in every human Body, 
 which as fixed Stamina abide always the fame, and 
 a certain Modification, or Conltruction of them, 
 peculiar to each individual Body, by which it is 
 diftinguifhed from all others, and become an in- 
 dividual Body. 
 
 By Death the original Stamina are feparated, 
 the Union of them difTolved, and their Conflruc- 
 ture pulled to pieces. 
 
 As if a prudent Man for fome good Rcafons 
 fhculd take his Houfe to pieces, and carefully 
 preferve the Materials, and after fome Time 
 fhould put them together, and in the fame Form 
 in which they were before the Houfe was pulled 
 down. It may very fitly be called the fame 
 Houfe. 
 
 In fomewhat fimilar Manner, the Materials of 
 the Bodies of each dead Saint, are preferved by 
 the Care of the mighty Jefus, and at the Refur- 
 redtion, the feparated Parts of each individual 
 Body, are collected and united to the forming 
 each identical Body, which it was before Death. 
 
 How the feperate Parts are brought fo together, 
 I know not, but it is eafy to an omnipotent Being, 
 with whom all Things are poflible. 
 
 In 
 
On the Sacred Predictions, 8 5 
 
 Jn 1 Thef. iv. 14. It is faicj, Even fo, them 
 (ilfo which Jleep in Jefus, will God bring with him. 
 This is fpoken of the Bodies of true Believers ; 
 for their Souls never deep, but are happily with. 
 Chrift, and a<5tive in their Enjoyment of Him, 
 where he is : It is the Body therefore that fleeps, 
 and the Time which paries between the Death of 
 the Body, and its being raifed to Life again in the 
 Morning of the Refurrection, will feem as no- 
 thing : As does the Time tint paffes between a 
 Man's falling afleep at Night, and remains fleep- 
 ing, till the Morning. 
 
 The Bodies of the Saints being fpoken of as 
 fleeping in Jefus, lets us know that their Bodies 
 are under his fpecial Care ; which likewife is im- 
 plied in the Prediction, That he will raife them up t 
 at the laft Day. 
 
 And the Confideration of this Truth, may be 
 a Means of Comfort to ferious Chriftians, and 
 contribute to abate the Fears of Death. 
 
 III. It is predicted that the Bodies of true Be- 
 lievers mail be raifed to Life again, and likewife 
 the Bodies of the Wicked : This is evident from 
 thofe Words of the Lord Jefus already men- 
 tioned. 
 
 In Rom. viii. n. It is faid, If the Spirit of 
 him that raifed up Jefus from the Dead, dwell in 
 you, he that raifed up Chrifl from the Dead, Jhall 
 alfo quicken your mortal Bodies, by his Spirit that 
 dwelleth in you. 
 
 In many Places of the holy Scripture, the Re- 
 furrection of Mens Bodies again to Life is mani- 
 feftly predicted. The Bodies both of the Righte- 
 ous, and of the Wicked, will be made to live 
 again. 
 
 The Hour is coming in the which, all (both good 
 and bad) that are in the Graves, Jhall hear his 
 
 Voice, 
 
86 On the Sacred Predictions. 
 
 Voice, (that is, the Voice of the Son of God,) and 
 jhall come forth, they that have done Good, unto the 
 Refurretlion of Life ; and they that have Evil, unto 
 the Refurretlion of Damnation -, faid our great Re- 
 deemer. In John v. 28, 29. 
 
 Some of the Dead will be awakened from the 
 Sleep of Death, or raifed up to everlafting Life, 
 and fome to Shame and everlafting Contempt. 
 
 There will be a vast Difference between the 
 State of the Bodies of fincere Christians, and that 
 of the Unbelieving, and Difobedient after the Re- 
 furrection, in the last Day. 
 
 The Saints in their firft believing on the Lord 
 Jefus, Yielded themf elves unto God, as thofe that 
 were alive from the Dead, and their Members as In- 
 struments of Righteoufnefs unto God. According to 
 the Commandment, in Rom. vi. 13. 
 
 And as the dead Bodies of Believers during the 
 Time of their Life here, were faithful Servants 
 to their Souls, always acting according to the De- 
 termination of their Wills, carrying them to the 
 Places of divine Worfhip ; and were Instruments of 
 Righteoufnefs, and happy Instruments in the Per- 
 formance of all Duties required by the Gofpel ; 
 fo at the Refurrection, when thefe fame Bodies 
 lhall be raifed up, and their immortal Spirits, 
 their former Inhabitants are again put into them ; 
 then will they become Partakers of the good 
 Things, which God has prepared for, and will 
 beftow on thofe who love, and ferve him. 
 
 In like manner, when the Bodiesof the Wicked 
 fliall be raifed up out of their Graves, and their 
 guilty, their accurfed, and condemned Spirits 
 fhall again enter into, and be united with them ; 
 then the wretched Bodies which instead of ferving 
 their Souls, in being Instruments of Righteouf- 
 nefs, did by their finful Luftings enltave their 
 Souls, and carried them into Harlots Houfes, or 
 
 to 
 
On the Sacred Predictions. 87 
 
 to feek other finful Pleafures, or hurry them to 
 practife Things, or to perform Actions which the 
 holy God has forbidden ; then will thofe filthy Bo- 
 dies reunited with their former wicked Inhabitants 
 become Partakers with them of the fame everlaft- 
 ing Torments. 
 
 The Unbelievers willingly fuffered Sin to reign 
 in their mortal Bodies, and obeyed it in the Lulls 
 thereof. They yielded their Members as Inftru- 
 ments of Unrighteoufnefs unto Sin. Both their 
 Souls and Bodies were the willing Servants of Sin, 
 while they lived together in this World, and there- 
 fore after the Refurrection, they will together fuffer 
 endlefs Tortures and Miferies. 
 
 But the Bodies of the Saints will have a glori- 
 ous Refurrection. The Apoftle Paul foretells 
 that the Saviour ; The Lord Jefus Chrifi will change 
 our vile Body, that it may be fajhioned like unto his 
 glorious Body, according to the Working whereby be 
 is able even to fubdue all Things unto himfelf. Phil. 
 iii. 20, 21. 
 
 And in 1 Cor. xv. 42, 43. The Apoftle fpeak- 
 ingof the Body at Death, and of the Refurreclion 
 of the Dead, fays, // (that is, the Body at Death,) 
 is fown in Corruption, it is (to be) raifed in Inccr- 
 ruption : It is fown inDifhonour, it is (to be) raifed 
 in Glory : It is fown in Weaknefs, it is (to be) raifed 
 in Power. Thefe are comfortable Predictions ! 
 
 Holy Job comforted himfelf, with the Confi- 
 deration of the Certainty of the Refurreclion of 
 the Dead : The Truth of which God revealed to 
 him : It was a Cordial to his Soul bowed down 
 under complicated Afflictions, and full of Grief 
 and Anguim. Job xix. 23. He fays, Oh that 
 my Words were now written, Oh that they were 
 printed in a Book ! That they were graven with an 
 Iron Pen and Lead, in the Rock for ever! For I know 
 that my Redeemer livetb> and that he /ball ft and at 
 
 the 
 
88 On the Sacred Predictions. 
 
 the latter Day upon the Earth ; And though after 
 my Skin, Worms dejiroy this Body, yet in my Flejh 
 fhall I fee Cod, (my Redeemer,) whom I fhall fee 
 for my f elf, and mine Eyes Jhall behold, and not an- 
 other ; though my Reins be confumed within me. 
 
 What this juft Man faid, by the Infpiration of 
 the Almighty, ought to be efteemed a Prediction 
 of the Refurreclion of the Bodies of the Saints, 
 and fignifying that thofe fame Bodies, which were 
 dead and buried, mould be raifed to Life again. 
 
 It was revealed to him, that there was a Re- 
 deemer, and that this Redeemer will appear at the 
 laft Day. 
 
 And they fignify a Prediction, that every Saint 
 at the Refurrection, fhould with their own Eyes 
 behold the blefied Saviour, and with their Souls 
 and Bodies he admitted to the Enjoyment of God. 
 
 And we may take Comfort in the Consideration 
 of thefe Truths. 
 
 IV. It feems predicted that God will put the 
 Soul of every true Believer at Death, into another 
 Building for its Habitation, inftead of its natural 
 Body. 
 
 The Apoftle Paul fays, We know that if the 
 earthly Houfe of this Tabernacle were diffohed, (that 
 is, dead,) we have a Building of God, an Houfe not 
 made with Hands, eternal in the Heavens. 2 Cor. 
 v. 1. 
 
 1. Here it may be obferved, that the Body of a 
 Man is called a Houfe, and it may be fo called, 
 becaufe it is the Habitation of the Soul, in which 
 it dwelleth here till Death. 
 
 2. It is called our earthly Houfe, and it may be 
 fo called, becaufe the Materials of it are earthy : 
 Man, as to his Body being made of the Earth. 
 
 7. The 
 
X 
 
 On the Sacred Predictions. 89 
 
 3. The Body of aMan is alfo called a 'Tabernacles 
 and very fitly, becaufe as a Tabernacle, whofe 
 Materials are flight, is fbon taken down •, lb the 
 Body of a Man is eafily deftroyed, and taken 
 down. 
 
 4. That the Apoftle fpeaketh of two Habita* 
 tions appointed for the Souls of Believers to re" 
 fide in, viz. the natural Body called the earthly 
 Houfe, and another Building different from it ; 
 and to diflinguifh it from the natural Body, the 
 Apoftle calls it a Building of God\ and he calls ic 
 an Houfe, as the Soul of a Believer is to have his 
 Refidence in it after Death ; and it is called an 
 Houfe not made with Hands, q. d. not made with 
 the Hands of Men. 
 
 5. We may obferve, that the heavenly Building 
 intended for the Habitation of the Soul, is called 
 an Houfe eternal in the Heavens : Our Bodies, 
 thefe earthly Houfes, have their Situation only on 
 this Earth, till the Great and laft Day, [the Day of 
 the general Refurrection ;] but our other Houfes, 
 called the Building of God, have their Situation 
 not on Earth, but in the Heavens. 
 
 We know that if the earthly Honfl of this Taber- 
 nacle were dijfolved, (in Death,) we have a Build- 
 ing of God. The Words plainly imply, that God 
 has made and provided another Houfe, into which 
 the Soul will be removed as foon as the earthly 
 Houfe' of this Tabernacle isdiffolved, and in which 
 it will dwell not on Earth, but in the Heavens. 
 
 There is no Reafon to think that this Building 
 of God, (this Houfe not made with Hands,) was 
 intended for the Soul after the Refurrection, and 
 not before •, for at the Refurrection, the Soul is 
 to be received again into its own natural and iden- 
 tical Body. 
 
 N In 
 
go On the Sacred PrediStiotis. 
 
 In Verfe 2. the Apoftle fays. For in this 'Taber- 
 nacle, (of our natural Body,) we groan eameftly, 
 (on the Account of our Sins, and Afflictions, and 
 Troubles, and the Impediments of our more in- 
 timate Enjoyment of God, and therefore) de/iring 
 to be clothed upon with our Houfe, which is from 
 Heaven. 
 
 We defire at Death to be removed into thofe 
 Houfes, which have their Situation in the Hea- 
 vens, and in which we fhall be perfectly free from 
 all Temptation, from all Sin, and from all Sorrow, 
 and fhall have a more full Enjoyment of our God 
 and Saviour. 
 
 Serious Chriftians have the gracious Prefence of 
 God, and an Enjoyment of him, even while 
 their Souls remain in their earthly Houfes, ac- 
 cording to the gracious Promifes of their heaven- 
 ly Father : And Chrift is prefem with hisDifciples, 
 even while they remain on Earth ; and not only 
 when two or three of them are met together in 
 his Name, according to his Word, but when they 
 are alone, f peaking to him by Petitions or 
 Thankfgivings, and he is fpeaking to them, by 
 his Word and Spirit. 
 
 • But there is fo great a Difference in the Degrees 
 of enjoying God, which believing Souls are ad- 
 mitted to when they are refident in thofe Build- 
 ings, which God has made for them fnuated in 
 the Heavens ; that their Enjoyment of God here, 
 is very little in Companion with what the Saints 
 are Partakers of in the Heavens : On which Ac- 
 count they may in a comparative Senfe, be faid 
 to be abfent from the Lord, while in this World, 
 and to be prefent with him, when they are refident 
 in their Houfes, which are in the Heavens. 
 
 Whether the Souls of the Wicked at Death, 
 will be put into other Habitations, I will not deter- 
 mine i very likely they may j but then it is cer- 
 
 uin. 
 
On the Sacred Predictions. 9 1 
 
 tain, that their new Habitations will not be eter- 
 nal in the Heavens : No; but they will be fituated 
 among the Devils, who are referved to the Day 
 of Judgment. 
 
 They will have long Time in their new Houles, 
 (feparated from all Things, that were pleafant to 
 them in this World,) they will have long Time 
 in them to confider, for how fhort a Space they 
 enjoyed their merry Companions, their Diverfions 
 and Pleafures, or eager Purfuits, after Riches, of 
 Honours, before Death fetched them away ; and 
 to confider for what Trifles, and Vanities, (which 
 endure but for a very little while,) they loft the 
 Salvation of their Souls, and all the folid Blefiings, 
 Joys, and Glories, fit to give Delist to rational 
 Minds, and which will never fade, and never end. 
 They will have Time to confider, that they are 
 under the fame Condemnation with the Devils, 
 and that although they will not have their full 
 Punifhment till the Day of Judgment, when they 
 and the Devils together, will be call into the 
 Lake of Fire, (which indeed, is like to be very 
 many thoufand Years diftant,) yet that through 
 this exceeding long Duration, they are miferable 
 beyond Expreflion, and their aftive Minds, will 
 reflefl: on their Sins and Stubbornefs, in refufing 
 to accept of. Chriu% as their Saviour and their 
 King: Then they will remember their aggravated 
 Iniquities, and their Obftinacy in refufing to com- 
 ply with the kind Invitations of the Gofpel. 
 
 Then they will perpetually feel the Reproaches 
 
 of a Self accufing, and Self-condemning Confci- 
 
 ence, and find nothing to divert their tormenting 
 
 Thoughts, nothing to mitigate; or abate the 
 
 • Horror of their Souls. , 
 
 O that Perfons negligent of Faith and Holinefs, 
 
 would think on ttiele Things ! Now, now while 
 
 the Lord waits to be gracious : Now, while tney 
 
 N 2 nave 
 
92 On the Sacred Pr editions. 
 
 have Opportunity of believing in Chrift, and be- 
 coming his true Difciples ; and then they will be 
 in a mod fafe and happy Condition. 
 
 O merciful God ! Convert many of thefe Ser- 
 vants of Satan unto thyfelf, for Jefus Chrift his 
 Sake, Amen. 
 
 V. It is predicted, that the Souls of true Be- 
 lievers immediately after Death, wiil go to be with 
 Chrift, where he is. 
 
 In Philip, i. 23. The Apoftle fays, I am in a 
 Strait between two, having a defire to depart (out 
 of this World, and out of this natural Body,) 
 and to be with Chrift, which is far better. 
 
 The Words plainly fhew, that the Souls of the 
 Saints, when they are departed out of this World, 
 do become prefent with Chrift. 
 
 When the Souls of the Righteous are taken out 
 of their natural Bodies, (which were confined to this 
 Earth,) they a re conducted into Houfes not made 
 with Hands, into Houfes whofe Situation is[in the 
 Heavens, and in which Houfes they have abun- 
 d mtly more intimate Enjoyment of their God and 
 Saviour. 
 
 Our Hefted Redeemer, when he hung on the 
 Crols, fu fieri ng Death as a Sacrifice for us, fpoke 
 thus to the penitent Thief, who was crucified 
 with him. Verily I fay unto thee, to Bay fl: alt thou 
 be with me in Paradife. Luke xxiii. 43. q. d. 
 As foon as thy Soul departs from thy Body, it 
 (hall be with me in Paradife. But we mult ob- 
 ferve, that the Happinefs which Chrift prom i fed 
 to this believing, repenting Malefactor, was not 
 •peculiar to him, but what Chrift vouchfafes to all 
 who repent of their Sins, and belie ve in his Name. 
 
 In John xii. 26. The blefTed Jefus fays, If any 
 Alan Jerve me, let him follow me, and where I am, 
 tbtre flail alfo my Servant b$, 
 
 Thefe 
 
On the Sacred Predictions. 93 
 
 Thefe Words manifeftly mew, that the Souls 
 of true Believers are with Chrift as ibon as they de- 
 part from their dead Bodies ; and this is an Evi- 
 dence, that they are immediately happy after 
 Death 5 for being with Chrift they are fare from 
 the Aflaults of the Devi), and they are fecure 
 from the Temptations of the World, and the 
 Flefh, and from all Sorrow and Grief; and have 
 no Hindrances to their Communion with God 
 and Chrift, and the holy Angels, and the Spirits 
 of juft Men that went before them into Chrift's 
 more immediate Prefence. 
 
 The Confideration hereof, may convince us, 
 that there is folid Ground for that Declaration, in 
 Ecclef. vii. 1. The Day of one's Death, is better 
 than the Day of one's Birth. 
 
 The Confideration of this Truth, may well a- 
 bate our fears of Dying. 
 
 VI. It is predicted, that the Time of the ge- 
 neral Refurreclion will be very folemn, magni- 
 ficent and awful ; and followed with Events, mod 
 happy to fincere Chriftians. 
 
 Our bleffed Redeemer fays, When the Son of 
 Man pall come in his Glory, and all the holy Angels 
 'with him, then Jhall he fit upon the Throne of his 
 Glory. And before him Jhall be gathered all Nations, 
 and hefoallfeparate them one from another, as a Shep- 
 herd divide th his Sheep from the Goats : And he Jhall 
 Jet the Sheep at his right Hand, and the Goats on the 
 Lejt. Mat. xxv. 31 — 33. 
 
 St. Paul fays, The Lord him f elf fnall defend 
 from Heaven with a Shout, with the Voice of the 
 Archangels, and with the Trump of God. And the 
 Dead in Chrift Jhall rife firjl. 1 Thef. iv. 16. And in 
 2 Thef. i. 7. He declares, That the Lord Jefus 
 foal I be revealed from Heaven, with his mighty An- 
 gels. 
 
 In 
 
94 On the Sacred Predictions. 
 
 In Rev. xx. 1 1 . &c. The general Refurrec- 
 tion, and the general Judgment that is to follow, 
 are in Vifion predicted thus, ver. 1 1 . Jfaw a great 
 white Throne, and him that fat on it, from whofe 
 Face the Earth and the Heavens fled away, and there 
 was no Place found for them. And I faw the Dead, 
 fmall and great fland before God ; and the Books 
 were opened ; and another Book was opened, which 
 is the Book of Life : And the Dead were judged out 
 cf thofe Things-, which were written in the Books, 
 according to their Works. And Death and Hell, 
 were cafl into the Lake of Fire : This is the fecond 
 Death. And whofoever was not found written in 
 the Book of Life, was cafl into the Lake of Fire. 
 
 In Regard to the general Refurrection of the 
 Dead, I may obferve two Things, viz. 
 
 i. That it will be fudden and unexpected ; this 
 is predicted. 
 
 Our blefled Redeemer fays, As the Days of Noah 
 were, fo fhall alfo the Coming of the Son of Man be. 
 For as in the Days, that were before the Flood, they 
 were eating and drinking, marrying, and giving in 
 Marriage, until the Day that Noah entered into the 
 Ark, and knew not until the Flood crme, and took 
 them all away ; fo fhall alfo the Coming of the Son 
 of Man be. Mat. xxiv. 37 — 39. 
 
 And in Luke xvii. 28. Like-wife alfo as it was 
 in the Days of Lot, they did eat, they drank, they 
 bought, they fold, they planted, they builded : But 
 the fame Day that Lot wt nt out of Sodom, it rained 
 Fire and Brim fi one cut of Heaven, and dejlroyed them 
 all: Even thus fhall it be in the Day when the Son of 
 Man is revealed. 
 
 2. It is foretold, that they, who fhall be living 
 at the Time of the Refurrection of the Dead, fhall 
 undergo a great Change in their Bodies. 
 
 Behold, 
 
On the Sacred Predictions. 95 
 
 Behold, (fays the Apoftle Paul, 1 Cor. xv. 51, 
 
 52.) I Jhew you a Myjlery, we Jhall not all Sleep, 
 but we Jhall all be changed, in a Moment, in 
 the Twinkling of an Eye, at the lafi 'Trump, 
 (for the Trumpet Jhall found) and the Dead Jhall be 
 raifed incorruptible, and we Jhall be changed. 
 
 For the Right underftanding of the wonderful 
 Prediction contained in thefe Words ; a few Things 
 fhould be confidered, viz. 
 
 1. That when the Apoftle fays, We Jhall not all 
 Jleep, (or die,) he did not mean, or fpeak of the 
 People of that Generation, who were living at 
 the Time he wrote his Epiftle •, for all the People 
 of that, and the following Generations did die, and 
 fell afleep in Death •, but he fpoke of the People 
 of all Nations, in the Age, wherein the Refurrec- 
 tion fhould happen, that they mould not all die. 
 Which Interpretation agrees with the Account of 
 our Saviour, who fpeaks of People marrying, and 
 giving in Marriage •, buying, felling, eating, and 
 drinking, and planting, and building, when the 
 Son of Man fhould come at the End of the 
 World. 
 
 2. It is declared by the Apoftle, that they, who 
 mail be living (that is, at the Day of the general 
 Refurrevflion) fhall undergo, or experience a great, 
 a wonderful Change in their Bodies, which feems 
 to be a Change equivalent to that, which had 
 paffed on the Bodies of thofe who had died, and 
 been raifed again from the Dead. And therefore, 
 
 3. That as the Bodies of thofe who had died, 
 were raifed incorruptible, and had put on Immorta- 
 lity,' (ver. 52.) fo the Bodies of thofe who fhall be 
 then living, iliall have fuch a Change wrought in 
 
 them 
 3 
 
96 On the Sacred PrediBtom. 
 
 them, as fhall render them incorruptible, and im- 
 mortal. 
 
 4. We muft obferve, that this very great and 
 wonderful Change will be fuprizingly quick, for it 
 will he in a Moment, in the 'Twinkling of an Eye : 
 The Apoftle might well introduce this Prediction, 
 with faying, Behold, 1 fhew you a Myflery : That 
 there will be fuch a Fact, is no Myflery after the 
 Apoftle had foretold it ; but how this marvellous 
 and inftantaneous Change will beproduc d, is and 
 v/ill be a Myftery, that we cannot comprehend. 
 
 5. I may add, that the making the Bodies of 
 thofe who fhall be raifed from the Dead, and of 
 thofe who fhall be living, incorruptible and immor- 
 tal, will be an Event of vaft Confequence, both 
 to the Righteous, and to the Wicked. 
 
 For the Righteous by having their Bodies (which 
 while they lived in this World, were corruptible 
 and mortal, always liable to Difeafes, Death, and 
 Corruption) made incorruptible and immortal, will 
 never more be liable to Sicknefs and Death. There 
 fhall be no more Death. Rev. xxi. 4. But they fhall 
 for ever be Partakers with their Souls of all the 
 Blefllngs, of all the Glories and Joys, which 
 Chrift has purchafed for his Difciples, and with 
 them will enjoy our.God and Saviour to all Eter- 
 nity. 
 
 And it is implied that their Body thus raifed, 
 will be a Means of Comfort, and Felicity to them 
 for ever : And as the Souls will have an Advan- 
 tage from their Bodies, fo will the Bodies receive 
 Good by means of their Souls. 
 
 We know much of the Ufes of the Body to 
 the Soul in this World, but very little of the Ufes 
 of it to the Soul in the next World ; when the 
 Saints fhall be equal to die Angels, when they fhall 
 
 hunger 
 
On the Sacred Predictions. 97 
 
 hunger no more, nor thirft any more: Only we 
 may conclude, that then there will be reciprocal 
 Advantages between them. 
 
 The Bodies of the Wicked, will alfo be raifed 
 incorruptible and immortal j and as fuch, each Body 
 will have its own Soul united to it : But the Con- 
 fequences of their Reunion, are like to be vaftly 
 different from thofe of the Righteous. 
 
 The Bodies and Souls of the Wicked after the 
 Refurredtion, will be joint Sufferers of Miferies 
 and Torments, which no Tongue can exprefs, and 
 no Thought can conceive. 
 
 The Body and Soul inftead of being mutual 
 Comforts, are like to be Torments to each other, 
 and that for ever. And from the Bodies of the 
 Wicked being made incorruptible and immortal* it 
 feems reafonable to conclude, that they are made 
 capable of fubfifting in Fire, and of bearing ths 
 Aclion and Pain of it for ever, without being con- 
 fumed. 
 
 Doubtlefsthe Almighty Power of God can give 
 to the human Body fuch aConhftence: He preferved 
 thole Jews, viz. Shadrach, Mefliachand Abednego, 
 in the Midft of a fiery Furnace. Dan. iii. 12. 
 &c. 
 
 Their Prefervation (hews the Power of God ; 
 and the Confideration of it is very inftruclive : 
 When thefe pious Jews were threatned by King 
 Nebuchadnezzar to be caft into a burning fiery 
 Furnace, if they would not worfhip the Idol he 
 had fet up : They like faithful Servants of the 
 Moll high God, replied, If it be fo, our God whom 
 weferve, is able to deliver us from the burning fiery 
 Furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine Hand, O 
 King : But if not, be it known unto thee, O King, 
 that we will not fcrve thy Gods, nor worfaip the 
 golden Image, which ihou haft fet up. 
 
 G Here- 
 
98 On the Sacred Predictions. 
 
 Hereupon the King, full of Rage and liury, 
 commanded they mould heat the Furnace one 
 feven Times more, than it was ufed to be heat. 
 
 Into this Furnace, thofe faithful Jews were caft 
 bound, in their Coats, their Holen, and their 
 Hats, and their other Garments. 
 
 And becaufe the King's Commandment was urgent, 
 
 and the Furnace exceeding hot, the Flame of the Fire 
 
 flew thofe Men that took up Shedrach, Mefhach, and 
 
 Abednego : And they walked in the Midjl of the Fire, 
 
 and had no Hurt. ver. 25. 
 
 Nebuchadnezzar, and the Princes, Governors, and 
 the Captains, and the King's Ccunfellors, being ga- 
 thered together, faw tkefe Men, Ufon whofe Bodies 
 the Fire had no Power, nor was an Hair cf their 
 Head fmged, neither were their Coats changed, ncr 
 the Smell of Fire had paffed upon them. ver. 27. 
 
 We may here oblerve, that there were very 
 many Eye-witneflTes of the Fact, that God pre- 
 ftrved thefe Men alive, and their Garments, and 
 even the Hair of their Heads from being finged, 
 while in the Midft of the fierceft Fire that could 
 be made. 
 
 This Fact proves, that God can make even the 
 corruptible and mortal Bodies of Men to live in 
 the Midft of Fire ; and a Fire fo ftrong, that the 
 Flames of it flew thofe Men, who caft Shedrach, 
 Mefhach and Abednego into it. 
 
 And this is an Evidence, that God can make 
 (he incorruptible and immortal Bodies of the Wick- 
 ed, to live in Fire everlaftingly without being 
 confumed. 
 
 The Bodies of thofe Jews, fuflfered no Pain 
 from the Fire in which they walked j but it will 
 not be fo with the Bodies of the Wicked, when 
 they fhall be caft into the Lake which burneth 
 wirh Fire and Brimftone: They will there feel the 
 Pains and Torments of ;he Fire for ever. 
 
 But 
 
On the Sacred Predictions. 99 
 
 But if the Word Fire, (when mentioned in the 
 Holy Scriptures, as Part of thePunilhment of the 
 Damned) be ufed as a Metaphor, it can admi- 
 nifter no Relief or Comfort to the Wicked ; be- 
 caufe it imports that th^Torments of the Damned 
 are fo exquifite, that no Words in Language, can 
 convey adequate Ideas of them. 
 
 O that Men were wife, wife in Time to confi- 
 der their latter End, and the Bvents, the horrible 
 Events, they fhall meet with after their Life in 
 this World mail be ended, and after the Judgment 
 of the great Day ! 
 
 O merciful God, open the Eyes of carelefs Sin- 
 ners to fee their Danger, to be fenfible of the Sin- 
 fulnefs, and Miferablenefs of their Condition ; and 
 to fly from'that dreadful Wrath, that will be pour- 
 ed out on thofe who (hall live and die in a Courfe of 
 Unbelief, and Difobedience ; and by the Working 
 of thy holy Spirit prevail with them to fly from the 
 Punifhments threatned in thy righteous Law, by 
 flying to Chrift with a Faith unfeigned ! 
 
 Sad, indeed, is the State of thofe, who are re- 
 gardlefs of an Intereft in Chrift, and of Peace 
 with God ! 
 
 But glorious Things are predicted for true 
 Believers after the general Refurrectiori. Par- 
 ticularly, 
 
 It is predicled, that Chrift will own them in 
 the Day of Judgment. 
 
 In Mat. x. 32. Chrift fays, JVhofoever therefore 
 fhall confefs me before Men, him will I confefs alfo 
 before my Father, which is in Heaven. He will then 
 own them to be his true Difciples, and fauhful 
 Servants. 
 
 In Rev. iii. 5. He fays, I wi' I confefs his Name, 
 
 before my Father, and before his Angels. He will 
 
 do fo in the great Day of Judgment, when all 
 
 the holy Angels fhall be prefent, and be Witnefies 
 
 O z of 
 
loo On the Sacred Predictions. 
 of the righteous Conduct of the bleffed Jefus fit- 
 ting on his Throne judging all Nations, and every 
 individual Ptrfon. 
 
 He will then own all true Believers, acquit 
 them from all Guilt, and will confefs they belong 
 to him. 
 
 Many glorious Things are foretold of the Saints 
 in the laft Day, when their Saviour and their 
 Judge will render to every Man according to his 
 Works. 
 
 In the Time, when the Dead mall be judged, 
 he will give Rewards to his Servants the Prophets, 
 and to the Saints, and them that fear his Name, 
 fmall and great. As we learn from Rev. xi. 18. 
 
 It is predicted, that they fhall have an Inheri-. 
 tance : The Apoftle Peter fays, Bleffed be the 
 God and Father of oar Lord Jefus Chrift, which 
 according to his abundant Mercy, hath begotten us 
 again to a lively Hope by the Refurreftion of Jefus 
 Chrift from the Dead, to an Inheritance incorrupti- 
 ble and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, referv- 
 ed in Heaven for you. i Pet. i. 3, 4. 
 
 In Acts xx. 32. St. Paul fays. And now Bre- 
 thren, I commend you to God, and to the Word of 
 his Grace, which is able to build you up, and to 
 give you an Inheritance among all them which are 
 fanclified. Which fhews that an Inheritance is 
 appointed for all them that are, and that mail be 
 fanctified. 
 
 Andwhenhe (in Actsxxvi. 18.) gave an Account 
 of his Converfion* 'rrom being a violent Perfecu- 
 tor of the Chriflia.is, to be himfelf a Chriftian, 
 and made an Apoftle of that Jefus, whofe Difciples 
 he was hunting alter, to be caft into Prifons and 
 punifhed,) to King Agrippa,' and Porcius Feftus 
 the Governor, and a very auguft AfTembly, ad- 
 dreffing himfelf to King Agrippa, he faid, At Mid- 
 day, Ki.vg> 1 faijin the IVay, a Light from Hea- 
 
 ven, 
 
On the Sacred Predictions. 101 
 
 v en, above the Brightness of the Sun, fh'ming round 
 about me, and them which journeyed with me : And 
 when we were all fallen to the Earth, I heard a 
 Voice /peaking unto me, and faying, in the Hebrew 
 Tongue, Saul, Saul, why perfecuteft thou me ? It is 
 hard for thee to kick againft the Pricks : And I faid, 
 Who art thou, Lord? And he faid, lam Jefus whom 
 thou perfecuteft. But arife, and fiand upon thy 
 Fe:t, for I have appeared unto thee for this Purpofe, 
 to make thee a Minifler, and a Witnefs of thefe 
 Things which thou hafi feen, and of thofe Things in 
 the which I will appear unto thee : Delivering thee 
 from the People, (the Jews) and from the Gentiles, 
 unto whom now I fend thee: To open their Eyes, 
 audio turn them (Gentiles) from Darknefs to Light, 
 and from the Power of Satan unto God, that they 
 may receive Forgivenefs of Sins, and Inheritance 
 among them which are fanclified by the Faith that 
 is in me. 
 
 Hence it appears, that an Inheritance was ap- 
 pointed for all who become fanctified by Faith in 
 Chrift, whether Jews or Gentiles. 
 
 And the Words imply a Prediction, that all 
 that are fanclified (hall have an Inheritance. 
 
 And weChriftians, who are Defendants from the 
 Sinners of theGentiles, are under thegreater Obliga- 
 tions to prize and love the blefied Jefus, for thatcom- 
 paffionate Regard he fhewed to the Gentile Nat.ons, 
 by appointing this Convert to be a Minifler, and 
 an Apoftle to preach the Gofpel to the Gentiles, 
 that their Eyes alfo might be opened, and they 
 brought to believe'in Chrift, and receive Forgive- 
 nefs of Sins, and an Inheritance, as well as the 
 believing Jews. And we have Reafon to be very 
 thankful, that the holy Spirit has made the 
 Preaching of the Gofpel among the Gentiles, sn 
 effectual Means of Salvation, from the fiift; 
 preaching of it to this Day. 
 
 3 la 
 
io2 On the Sacred Predictions. 
 
 In Ephef. i. n. The Apoftle fpeaking of 
 Chrift, fay?, In whom alfo we have obtained an In- 
 heritance : Not the actual PofTeflion of it, but a 
 Title to it. 
 
 In Colof. iii. 24. He fays to the Saints, Know- 
 ing that of the Lord, ye jhall receive the Reward of 
 the Inheritance, for ye ferve the Lord Chrift. 
 Which Words (hew, that the Inheritance was not 
 then in the PolTefTion of the Saints, but that they 
 fliall furely have it in due Time: And likewife 
 it will be given them as a Reward, although they 
 deferve nothing. A Reward it will be, not of 
 Debt but of Grace, the free Gift of God. 
 
 The Inheritance (fo much fpoken of in the 
 Holy Scriptures,) is not to be pofTefled in this 
 World ; but ferious Chriftians mould pray for it, 
 and hope for it, and blefs God, that they have in 
 themfelves the Earned of it. 
 
 The Apoftle fays, to the Saints at Ephefus, 
 After that ye believed, ye were fealed with that Holy 
 Spirit of Promife, which is the Earneft of our In- 
 heritance, until the Redemption of the purchafed 
 Poffeffion, unto the Praife of his Glory. Ephe. i. 
 
 All fincere Chriftians have the Holy Spirit dwell- 
 ing in them, and his Indwelling may be known to 
 their Confciences, by obferving his Fruits in their 
 Souls; and this Indwelling of the Holy Spirit is 
 an Earneft, that they fhall hereafter be put into 
 the PofTeffion of the proroifed Inheritance. 
 
 It is a glorious Inheritance ; but it cannot be 
 enjoyed on Earth, No •, it is referved in Heaven 
 for them : And at the Day of Judgment Chrift will 
 fay unto them, Come ye bleffed of my Father, in- 
 herit the Kingdom prepared for you from the Founda- 
 tion of the World. Mat. xx. 34. 
 
 Chrift (when fitting upon his Throne of Judg- 
 ment,) will fay to the Sheep on his right Hand, 
 
 (that 
 
On the Sacred Predictions. 103 
 
 (that is, to all the Saints,) Come ye Bleffe d - •in- 
 herit the Kingdom -prepared for you, (which im- 
 plies,) that a Kingdom is the Inheritance prepar- 
 ole for them. 
 
 Jn Luke xii. 32. Chrift fays to his Difciples, 
 to thofe who believed on him, Fear not little Flock, 
 for it is your Father's good Pleafure to give you the 
 Kingdom. Not immediately, but at the Day of 
 Judgment; when Chrift mall fay to them, Come, 
 inherit the Kingdom prepared for you. 
 
 The Apoflle James fays, Hearken my beloved 
 Brethren, hath not God chofen the Poor of this 
 World, rich in Faith, and Heirs of the Kingdom, 
 which God hath promifed to them that love him. 
 James ii. 6. 
 
 And fuitable to fuch an Inheritance, it is fore- 
 told, that they fhall have a Crown •, for 2 Tim. 
 iv. 8. The Apoftle fay, Henceforth there is laid 
 up for vie, a Crown of Rightcoufnefs, which the 
 Lord, the righteous Judge will vjve me at that Day, 
 (the Day of Judgment,) and not to me only, but 
 unto all them alfo that love his appearing. 
 
 In Rev. ii. 10. Chrift fays, Be thou faithful 
 unto Death, and I will give thee a Crown of Life. 
 
 In James i. 12. It is faid, Bleffed is the Man 
 that endureth Temptation, for when he is tried, he 
 fhall receive a Crown of Life, which the Lord hath 
 promifed to (all) them that love him. 
 
 It is alfo predicted, that the Saints fhall reign 
 in Life, in Rom. v. 17. Where the Apoftle fays, 
 For if by one Man's Offence, Death reigned by one, 
 much more they which receive abundance of Grace, 
 and the Gift of R'ghteoufnefs, fhall reign in Life by 
 one Jefus Chrift. 
 
 In Rev. xxii. 5. It is faid, They fhall reign for 
 ever and ever. That is, in the new Jerufalem. 
 See the Context. 
 
 In 
 
104 On the Sacred PrediBicm. 
 
 In Heb. xii. 28. The Apoftle fpeaking in the 
 Name of all true Believers, fays, Wherefore tie 
 receiving (the Promife of ) a Kingdom, which can- 
 not be moved> let us have Grace, whereby we may 
 ferve Gcd acceptably with Reverence, and Gody 
 Fear. 
 
 From thefe Predictions it evidently appears, 
 that all true Believers at the Day of Judgment, 
 will receive from Chrift their faithful Redeemer, 
 and righteous Judge-, an Inheritance; an Inheri- 
 tance that fadeth not away ; a Kingdom that fliall 
 not be moved, and a Crown of Righteoufnefs, a 
 Crown of Life, and fhall reign in Life by our 
 Lord Jefus Chrift. 
 
 But who can defcribe the glorious Inheritance ? 
 "Who can give an Account of the Nature, and 
 Extent of the Kingdom which the Saints fhail 
 hereafter pofTefs ? 
 
 A Crown is a Sort of Cap, conftrucled with 
 Jewels, and other coftly Materials, which is let on 
 the Heads of Kings, as a Badge or Sign of Ma- 
 jefty, Authority and Power : But the Crowns 
 that will be given to the Heirs of God, when 
 they fliall receive the Kingdom prepared for them, 
 will be no fuch material Ornament : But they 
 will have Crowns more excellent and glorious : 
 But who can explain them ? 
 
 The Holy Scriptures have not unfolded thefe 
 Things. Things of tranfeendent Value and Glory. 
 Eye hath not feen them, nor hath the Ear heard 
 by any Revelation from God, what they are •, nor 
 is it pofiible for human Minds to form any certain 
 Ideas of them. 
 
 We cannot live by Sight, we muft' live by 
 Faith : The Things which God hath prepared for 
 them that love him, are far more excellent, than 
 can be exprefTed by the Words Inheritance, a 
 Kingdom, and a Crown. But while we remain in 
 this World, they remain under a Veil. Never- 
 
 thelefs 
 
On the Sacred Predictions. 105 
 
 thelefs they are propofed to us as Objects of our 
 Defire and Hope, and we mould be preparing, 
 and praying, and hoping for them. 
 
 But although the future Happinefs of the 
 Saints does in Part remain a Myftery, yet there 
 is fo much of it revealed in the Holy Scriptures, 
 as may well make us aftonifhed at the Riches of 
 the divine Goodnefs, and as may excite in us ear- 
 neft Longings to be Partakers of them. 
 
 We that believe in Chrift, have in PoffelTion, 
 even now while we are palling through the 
 Wildernefs of this World, much to rejoice 
 in, and comfort our Souls. For we have an 
 Almighty and a moft loving Saviour, a faith- 
 ful Redeemer, who will keep what we have com- 
 mitted to nim. — We have an Interefl in all the 
 Promifes of the Gofpel : Many and precious Pro- 
 mifes, which are yea, and amen, fure and cer- 
 tain in Chrift Jefus. We have God for our Fa- 
 ther, and are made his Children and Heirs. 
 
 The Lord is my Portion faith my Soul, therefore 
 will 1 hope in him. Lament, iii. 24. 
 
 O how many joyous Predictions concerning the 
 Saints, do we find in the Word of God ? They 
 fhall have Treafures in Heaven, as we may con- 
 clude from Chrift's faying to the Multitude, who 
 heard his Sermon on the Mount, Mat. vi. 19, 
 20. Lay not up for your f elves Treafures upon Earth, 
 where Mcth, and Rufi doth corrupt, and where 
 Thieves break through and fteal : But lay up for your- 
 felves Treafures in Heaven, where neither Moth, 
 nor Ruji doth corrupt, and where Thieves do not 
 break through, norjleal. 
 
 The Instruction of our Saviour in thefe Words, 
 import, that there are Treafures in Heaven, and 
 a Prediction, that they who diligently ufe the 
 Means mail obtain them. 
 
 P It 
 
jo6 On the Sacred Predictions. 
 
 It is alfo predicted, that the Saints fhall judge 
 the World, and judge Angels : In i Cor. vi. 2, 
 3. Where the Apoftle fays to the Church of God 
 at Corinth, to them that are fanclified in Chrift 
 Jefus, (chap. 1. ver. 2.) Do ye not know, that the 
 Saints /ball judge the Wirld? — Know ye not that 
 we flo all judge Angels? 
 
 Thefe Interrogations imply, that there was a 
 Prediction, that the Saints (hall judge the World, 
 and judge Angels : And that the Truth predicted, 
 was well known to the Chriftians at Corinth. 
 
 I do not pretend to explain the Things predict- 
 ed, but obierve, that they imply great Honour 
 and Glory, intended for the Saints. 
 
 LET- 
 
LETTER VIII. 
 
 Of Predictions of Events, fubfequent to the Day 
 of Judgment, which will be aflonifhingly terrible to 
 the Wicked, and inexprej/ib>'y happy and glorious 
 to the Saints. 
 
 MAY now obferve, that there 
 are Predictions of Events, fubfe- 
 quent to the Day of Judgment : 
 Events, that will be brought to 
 pafs at the End of the World, 
 aftonifhingly terrible to the Wick- 
 ed, and inexpreffibly happy and glorious to the 
 Saints. 
 
 As to the Wicked it is foretold, That the Hea^ 
 vens and the Earth which now are, by the fame Word 
 (of God) are kept in Store, referved unto Fire 
 againft the Day of Judgment, and Perdition of un- 
 godly Men. 2 Pet. iii. 7. Who at the Day of 
 Judgment will be condemned to that dreadful 
 Fire. 
 
 In ver. 10. It is faid, But the Day of the Lord, 
 
 will come as a Thief in the Night, in which the' 
 
 Heavens fhall pafs away with a great Noife, and the 
 
 Elements fhall melt away with fervent Heat, the 
 
 P a Earth 
 
io8 On the Sacred Predictions. 
 
 Earth alfo and the Works that are therein Jh all be 
 burnt up. 
 
 And in this burning World it plainly feems, 
 that the Damned are to have their Habitation : 
 Here feems to be the Lake, that burneth with 
 Fire and Brimftone. 
 
 In Rev. xxi. 8. It is faid, But the Fearful and 
 Unbelieving, and the Abominable, and Murderers, 
 and Whoremongers, and Sorcerers, and Idolaters, 
 and all Liars, jhall have their Part in the hake, 
 which burneth with Fire and Brimjlone -, which is 
 the fecond Death. 
 
 The Predictions relative to the Saints, fubfe- 
 quent to the Day of Judgment, may well excite 
 
 Joy- 
 
 For behold-, (T avs God,) / create new Heavens, 
 and a new Earth, and the former Jhall not be re- 
 membered, nor come into Mind. — But be you glad, 
 and rejoice for ever in that which I create ; for be- 
 held I create Jerufalem a Rejoycing, and her People 
 a Joy. Ifa. lxv. 17, 18. 
 
 And the Apoftle Peter fays, Neverthdefs, we 
 according to his Promife (in the lafl cited Text,) look 
 for new Heavens, and a new Earth, wherein dwell- 
 eth Righteoufnefs. 2 Pet. iii. 13. 
 
 In Rev. xxi. 1. &c. The Predictions are thus 
 . expreiTed, viz. And Ifazv a new Heaven, and a new 
 Earth: for the fir Jl Heaven and the firfl Earth were 
 paffed away ; and there was no more Sea. (No Wa- 
 ter to quench, or abate the Fire of the burning 
 Earth.) And I John f aw the holy Cty, newjerufa- 
 Lm, coming down from God, out of Heaven, pre- 
 pared as a Bride adormd for her Hufband : And I 
 heard a great Voice out of Heaven, frying, beho'd, 
 the '■Tabernacle of God is with Men, and he will 
 dwell with them, and they fhall be lis People, and 
 God himfelf fhall be with them, and be their God : 
 -And God Jhall wipe away all Tears from their Eyes •, 
 
 and 
 
On the Sacred Predictions. 109 
 
 and there Jhall be no more Death, neither Sorrow, 
 nor Crying, neither Jhall there be any more Fain, for 
 the former things are paffed away. And he that fat 
 upon the Throne, faid, behold I make all Things new : 
 And he faid unto me, Write -, for thcfe Words are 
 true and faithful. And he faid unto me, it is done. 
 I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End : 
 I will give unto him that is athirfi, of the Fountain 
 of the Water of Life freely. He that overcometh 
 Jhall inherit all Things, and I will be his God, and 
 he jhall be my Son. 
 
 The great, the marvelloufly great, the inex- 
 preffibly great Events, which will follow the 
 Day of Judgment, although they are now many 
 Thoufands of Years diftant, yet will furely be 
 brought to pafs. Neverthelefs, they ihould have 
 the fame Influence on us, as if they were to hap- 
 pen at the End of our Lives : Becaufe we have 
 only the Jhort and uncertain Time of our Con- 
 tinuance in this World, for feeking an Intereft in 
 Chrift, and the Pardon of our Sins, and Peace 
 with God, and the Sanctification of our Natures, 
 and the Salvation of our Souls. 
 
 Wehave only the very little Time of our fojourn- 
 ing on Earth, for fecuring a Deliverance from all 
 the Curfes, the Miferies, the Punifliments, and 
 Torments predicted againft the Unbelieving, the 
 Impenitent, and Difobedient in this Life, and 
 againft them after Death, and after the Refurrec- 
 tion, and after the Day of Judgment, and the 
 End of the World. 
 
 We have only a ihort Space of Time for lay- 
 ing up for ourfelves Treafures in Heaven, and 
 obtaining a Share in all the Bleflings, the Felici- 
 ties, the Joys, and Glories predicted for fincere 
 Chriftians in this Life, and after Death, and after 
 the Refurrection, and after the Day of Judgment, 
 and the End of the World : But fhort as it is, it 
 
 is 
 
I io On the Sacred Predictions. 
 
 is long enough to efcape Mifery, and obtain all 
 Happinefs ; if Sinners immediately recent of their 
 Sins, and believe in Chrift, and in an humble 
 Drpendance on his Spirit, and Grace, do hence- 
 forth live according to the Rules of the Gofpel. 
 
 And therefore the prefent, I fay the prefent 
 Time, mould be improved for this moft impor- 
 tant Work. It is very uncertain to every one, 
 whether there is any future Time, or how little of 
 future I ime is allotted to them in this World, by 
 the fovereign Lord of Life ? 
 
 how mould the Thoughts hereof, quicken 
 every one to give all Diligence to make their Call- 
 ing and Election fure ! 
 
 1 may obferve, that the End of the World, and 
 the general Conflagration of it, was above feven- 
 teen hundred Years more future than it is now, 
 when the Apoftle Peter wrote his fecond Epiftle ; 
 yet he ufed the Confideration of it, as a Motive 
 to an holy Life. 
 
 In 2 Pet. iii, n. He fays, Seeing then that all 
 ihefe 'Things will be diffolved* what manner of Per- 
 fons ought ye to be in all holy Converfation and Godli- 
 nefs? And in ver. 14. He fays, Wherefore* he- 
 loved* feeing that ye look for fuch 'Things* be diligent 
 that ye may be found of him in Peace* without Spot 
 and blamelefs. 
 
 It it predicted, that eternal Life mail be given 
 to all true Believers. 
 
 In John vi. 40. The holy Jefus fays, This is 
 the Will of him that fent me* that every one* which 
 feeth the Son* and believeth on him* may have ever- 
 lafting Life : And I will raife him up at the laji Day, 
 And in ver. 47 He expreffeth himfelf thus, 
 Verily* verily* I fay unto you* be that be'ieveth on me 
 haih ever lofting Life. That is, he hath a Title, 
 or a Right to it, and it is begun in him. 
 
 St. 
 
On the Sacred Predictions. i i i 
 
 St. John fays, This is the Promife that He, (viz. 
 God,) hath promifed us, even eternal Life, i John 
 ii. 25. and in chap. v. n. He adds. And this is 
 the Record, that God hath given to us (by Promife) 
 eternal Life \ and this Life is in his Son. 
 
 In Rom. v. 22. St. Paul fays to the Saints at 
 Rome. But being made free from (that is, from 
 the Dominion of ) Sin] and become Servants to 
 God, you have your Fruit unto 'Holinefs, and the 
 End everlaftlng Life : For the Wages of Sin is 
 Death ; but the Gift of God is eternal Life, through 
 Jefus Chrifi our Lord. 
 
 It muft here be obferved, that the Exprefllon, 
 eternal Life, fignifies more than an endlels Exif- 
 tence, more than that the Saints fhall live for ever 
 after the Redirection •, and implies, that the ever- 
 lafting Life which God infinitely good and graci- 
 ous, gives unto them is a fpiritual Life, a Life of 
 Holinefs and Happinefs : I apprehend that it be- 
 gins in Converfion, with the. fird Act of true 
 Faith, by which Sinners (before guilty, wretched. 
 and miferable,) become united to Chrift, and 
 living Branches of this bleiTed Vine ; and thus 
 fhew when they are in the Character of the Jufl, 
 whofe Pathis as the jhiningL-ght, that flmieth more 
 and more unto a per feci Day. Prov. iv. 18. 
 
 Their Sanctification through the Working of 
 the Holy Spirit is carried on, divine Blefiings are 
 multipl ed to them, and at Death the Holinefs of 
 the Saints is made perfect, and their Happinels 
 with Chrift in Heaven, is inconceivably increall-d ; 
 and then after the Refurrection of their Bodies, 
 and their Appearance at the Judgment Seat before 
 their Saviour and their Judge ; the Fulnefs of the 
 Rewards purchafed by Chrift, and promifed in 
 the Gofpel, will be beftowed on them : And then 
 the Saints with their Souls and Bodies reunited, 
 will be with God, and*Chrift, with the holy An- 
 gels, 
 
112 On the Sacred Predictions. 
 
 gels, with the Patriarchs, and Prophets, and 
 Apoftles, and all their fellow Saints, in Manfions 
 of Glory for ever and ever : And there will never, 
 never, never be a Period to their Happinefs, and 
 Glory, in the Enjoyment of God : All this I take 
 to be included in thefe ExpreiTions, eternal Life, 
 and L'fe everlaflivg. 
 
 But the Apollle lets us know, that eternal Life 
 is not given to the Saints as Wage^ for any Work, 
 or Service they did on Earth ; for the beft Ser- 
 vices of the beft Chriftians, are n >t only worthlefs 
 Performances, and void of Merit, but polluted by 
 Mixture of Sin : And therefore though he calls, 
 and juftly calls Death the Wages of Sin, he 
 changes his Phrafe, and calls eternal Life the Gift 
 of God, and moft fitly he does lb; becaufe it is 
 undeferved by us, and moft freely beftowed u's. 
 (Rom. v. 22.) 
 
 I may likewife remark, that the Wicked will 
 have an eternal Exigence ; but not worthy of the 
 Name of Life, and is properly denoted by the 
 Word, Death. 
 
 The Death of a Man in this World, is the Se- 
 paration of his Soul from his Body, which fo:n 
 after putrifies, turns into Corruption and Earth, 
 as it was. 
 
 But the Death of the Wicked, is the Separa- 
 tion of their Perfons, both of their Souls and 
 Bodies from God and Chrift •, from Peace and 
 Happinefs, to endlefs Punifhments, Miferies and 
 Torments. This is the Death of Deaths, the 
 moft dreadful of all Deaths ; and it is the Wages 
 of Sin. 
 
 O that carelefs Sinners would think on this 
 Death in Time ! 
 
 O merciful God ! open the Eyes of their Minds, 
 awaken their Confciences to confider whom they 
 
 • are 
 
On the Sacred PrediBiotis. 1 1 3 
 
 are ferving, and what they are doing, and what 
 Wages they mud receive for the evil Works they 
 do ! O turn them from Darknefs to Light *, and 
 from the Power of Satan unto thyfelf, that they 
 may receive Forgivenefs of Sins, and Inheritance 
 among them that are fanclifled by Faith, that is 
 in Chrift Jefus. Amen, for the Sake of our Lord 
 Jefus Chrift. Amen. 
 
 LET- 
 
LETTER IX. 
 
 Of Pr -editions , relative to fine ere Chrijlians in Time 
 of publick Calamities ; feme of which are general, 
 and others particular. In Regard, 
 
 j. To their Safety in Times of JVar. 2. To their 
 being provided for in Famines. 3. To their Pre- 
 fervation.in Seafons of the Peflilence. 4. To their 
 being kept from dijlrejjing Fears, when defolating 
 Judgments are on the Wicked. 
 
 SHALL now take Notice of 
 fome of the Predictions, relative 
 to God's faithful People, in Times 
 of publick Calamities-, of Calami- 
 ties brought on Cities and Coun- 
 tries, by the righteous Providence 
 of God, as Punimments for Sin. 
 
 There are Times when the all-wife God calls 
 his People, his beloved People to Sufferings •, and 
 fuch are the Times when the Wicked are perfe- 
 cting the Saints of the moft high God. 
 
 Our blefled Redeemer who went about from 
 City to City, and from Town to Town •, teaching 
 the People the Doctrines they were to believe, 
 gnd the Way for their Salvation foretold them ; 
 
 t. not 
 
Oft the Sacred PredicJicM. H§ 
 
 not of worldly Profperity, not that they fliould 
 gain Honours or Riches * if they would become 
 his DifcipJes : No ; but he plainly forewarned them 
 of Troubles, and of great Troubles, if they 
 would be his Difciples. 
 
 In Mat. xvi. 24 j 25. Then Jefus faid unto hisDif 
 ciples, if any Man will come after me, (and be my 
 Difciple indeed,) let him deny himfelf, and take up 
 his Crofs and follow me : (in the Way of Suffer- 
 ings.) For whofoever will fave his Life, (by for- 
 faking me,) fhall lofe it, and whofoever will lofe 
 his Life (and fuffer Death) for my Sake, fhall find 
 it, happily and joyfully in the next World.) 
 
 In Mat. x. 38. Jefus fays, He that taketh not 
 his Crofs, and followeth after me, is not worthy 
 of me. And in Luke xiv. 27. He fays, Whofoever 
 doth not bear his Crofs, (when called to it by divine 
 Providence,) and come after me, cannot be my Dif- 
 ciple. In Mark xiii. 9. But take Heed to your' 
 j elves, for they fhall deliver you up to Councils ; and 
 in the Synagogues ye fhall be beaten, and ye fhall be 
 brought before Rulers, and Kings for my Sake. In 
 John xvi. 2. He fays* 'They fhall put you out of the 
 Synagogues, yea the Time cometh, that whofoever 
 killeih you, will think that he doeth God Service. 
 
 Mod frequently did our blefled Saviour, in- 
 culcate the Expectation of Sufferings* and Trou- 
 bles on thofe that would be his Difciples. In this 
 World, ye fhall have Tribulation. He faid in John 
 xvi. 33. 
 
 The Apoftle likewife teftified the fame: For they 
 went about confirming the Souls of the Difciples, and 
 exhorting them to continue in the Faith ; and that 
 we muji through much Tribulation enter into the 
 Kingdom of God. Acts xiv. 22. 
 
 And this Conduct is an evident Proof, that 
 Chrift was a Teachqf come from God; and that 
 the Gofpel is no Impofture, but moft certainly 
 
 Q^a true. 
 
1 1 6 On the Sacred Predictions. 
 
 rtuc. Would any Impoftor ever teach a Syftem 
 of Notions, and expect to make Profelytes by 
 telling his Hearers, that if they will believe and 
 profefs his Doctrine, they will be expofed to 
 manifold Troubles, that it would bring on them 
 the Hatred of Magiftrates, and occafion to them 
 the Lofs of their Houfes, their Lands, their Liber- 
 ty and Lives. 
 
 No Impoftor ever talked in fuch a Strain : The 
 Devil, the fubtile Devil, that he may keep Men 
 in Bondage to himfelf, and prevail with them to 
 so on in Unbelief and Difobedience to God, ex- 
 rites in them the Defire and Hope of fenfual Plea- 
 fu res, or of Riches and Honours. When he 
 tempted our Mafter and Lord, it was with the 
 Things of this World : For when he had taken 
 him up into an exceeding high Mountain, and Jloewed 
 him (a Reprefentation of) all the Kingdoms of the 
 World, and the Glory of them. This lying Spirit 
 faid unto him, All thefe Things will I give thee, if 
 thou 'wilt fall down and worfhip me. Mat. iv. 8,9. 
 
 But our great Redeemer and his Apofiles, in 
 preaching the everlafting Gofpel, propofed no 
 worldly Advantages to induce their Hearers to 
 believe and obey it, but gave undeniable Proofs 
 of the Truth of it, and propofed fpiritual Blef- 
 fings in this World, and a Happinefs in the 
 Enjoyment of God for ever. They propof- 
 ed to their Hopes thofe great Mercies which 
 g'.iilry miferable Sinners ftand in need of 5 
 they propofed Forgivenefs of their Sins, Peace, 
 and Reconciliation with God, and eternal Life : 
 Bleffings fuitable to the wretched Cafe of Men, 
 under the Guilt of Sin, under the Condemna- 
 tion of the Divine Law, obnoxious to the Wrath 
 of God, and the Pains of Hell for ever. And 
 I may add, that the Preaching of the Gofpel, was 
 * accompanied with the mighty Working of the 
 
 • Holy 
 
On the Sacred Predictions. 1 1 7 
 
 Holy Ghoft ; the Lord himfelf bearing Tefti- 
 mony to the Truth of the Word of his Grace ; 
 for every Convert was a Seal and Evidence of the 
 Verity of the Gofpel. 
 
 But a Time of Perfecution of the Saints is not 
 a Day of God's Vifitation for Sin : There is no 
 Divine Wrath in the bitter Cup of their Suffer- 
 ings : No ; but there is wonderful Love in it. 
 
 In fuch Times, God gives his faithful Servants 
 extraordinary Communications of Grace and 
 Strength, and often fills them with Joy unfpeak- 
 able and full of Glory : He enables them to take 
 joyfully the fpoiling of their Goods, and to rejoice 
 in Tribulation, and to count it an Honour to fuf- 
 fer Shame and Death for tfie Name of Chrift:, 
 whom their Souls admire and adore, as the Au- 
 thor of Salvation, and everlafting Happinefs to 
 them. 
 
 And it is predicted, that they who have teftified 
 the Sincerity of their Faith in Chrift, and Love 
 to him, by laying down their Lives for his Sake, 
 fhall live, fhall live again before the general Re- 
 furrection ; for it is faid, in Rev. xx, 4. I faw 
 the Souls of them that were beheaded for the fVitnefs 
 of Jefus, and for the Word of God, and which had 
 not worfhiped the Beafi, neither his Image, neither 
 had received his Mark upon their Foreheads, or in 
 their Hands,', and they lived and reigned with Chrift 
 a thoufand Tears. And in the next Verfe it is 
 added ; But the reft of the Dead lived not again, 
 till the thcufand Tears were finifhed. 
 
 They that fuffer Death in the Caufe, and for 
 the Sake of Chrift, will have peculiar Rewards, 
 and a more exceeding Weight of Gloi-y. 
 
 St. Paul fays, If fo be that we fuffer with him, 
 that we may be alfo glorified together -, for 1 reckon 
 that the Sufferings of the prefent Time, are not 
 "worthy to be compared with the Glory which fhall be 
 
 revealed 
 
1 1 3 On the Sacred PrediBioJis. 
 
 revealed in us. Rom. viii. 17, 18. (It will be Co 
 exceeding great.) 
 
 The Saints are always the Objects of the Love 
 and fpecial Care and Goodnefs of God. And in 
 the Times of publick Calamities, various Pre- 
 dictions relative to them, do (hew the com- 
 panionate and faithful Regards which our Fa- 
 ther in Heaven, has for them while they re- 
 main in this World, even when he is executing 
 his Judgments on wicked Cities and Countries. 
 
 Manifold are the Judgments of God for Sin : 
 The moll frequent are the Sword of War, the 
 Pejiilence, the Famine and Fire. 
 
 But the mighty God takes Care of his People 
 in fuch dreadful, fuch defolating Seafons. 
 
 There are in every Country, and in every City; 
 a great Variety of Sorts of People, both among 
 the High and the Low : But in God's Ac- 
 count, they are diflinguifhed only into two 
 Sorts, viz. his faithful People, who know, and 
 love, and ferve him; who keep his Covenant and 
 his Teftimonies •, and thofe who live in a Courfe 
 of wilful Difobedience to his holy Command- 
 ments. 
 
 And when the Providence of God brings his 
 deftroying Judgments into any Nation or Town, 
 it is to punifh and deftroy the Wicked ; and it is 
 a Day of the Lord's Vifitation for Sin. 
 
 We may be fure that the Lord has a Controverfy 
 with every Place into which he brings the Sword, 
 the Miferies of War, or of the Peftilence, or of 
 Famine, or of any other deftruftive Calamity. 
 
 And we know that in fuch dreadful Times, the 
 Lord's Controverfy is not with the Righteous : 
 The Vials of his Wrath are not intended to be 
 poured out on them : No *, God will take a 
 fpecial Care of them. 
 
 The 
 
On the Sacred Predictions. 1 1 9 
 
 The Predictions which have been taken Notice 
 of in the foregoing Papers, may be as fo many 
 Cordials to confolate their Minds, in Days of the 
 moil terrible Calamities. 
 
 God is our Refuge and Strength, a very prefent 
 Help in Trouble. Pfa. xlvi. 1. 
 
 And there are Predictions on Record in the 
 Holy Scriptures, which mew the Regard which 
 the Almighty and all-gracious God has for his 
 faithful Servants. 
 
 God, before he inflicts Punifhments on any fin- 
 fui People, gives them Warning by his Servants 
 the Prophets : So he did in the Times of the Old 
 Teftament. 
 
 But the divine Threatnings, I think, are not 
 to be interpreted, as if it was intended that every 
 individual wicked Perfon mould be deftroyed. 
 
 Sometimes God has threatned Judgments to 
 take away the fourth Part of Men. Rev. vi. 8. 
 Sometimes a third Part of the People. Rev. ix. 
 5. Which implies, that the merciful God would 
 fuffer very many individual Perlbns to efcape. 
 
 And it is foretold of thofe that mould efcape, 
 that they would remain impenitent and uniform- 
 ed. Rev. ix. 19, 20. It is faid, And the reft 
 of Men which were not killed by thefe Plagues, yet 
 repented not of the Works of their Hands, that they 
 fhould not worflnp Devils, and Idols of Gold, and 
 Silver, and Brafs, and Stone and Wood\ which 
 neither can fee, nor hear, nor walk : Neither repent- 
 ed they of their Murders, nor of their Sorceries, 
 nor of their Fornications, nor of their Thefts. 
 
 And as to the Promifes made to the Righteous, 
 it does not appear to me, that they are to be in- 
 terpreted as if no fincere Chriftians will fuffer by 
 Means of the Calamities, which will be inflicted 
 on the Wicked in the Day of their Vifitation : 
 For many are the Afflictions of the Righteous, 
 2 even 
 
120 On the Sacred Predictions. 
 
 even in Times of publick Tranquility, and of 
 publick Profperity ; and they are at all Times 
 liable to LoOes, Difappointments, a Variety of 
 Troubles, Difeafes, and Death. 
 
 But this I may fay, that they are not the Objects 
 of the divine Wrath ; they are not that Part of 
 the People God is contending with, when he is 
 pouring out the Vials of his Indignation on incor- 
 rigible Sinners. 
 
 But they are that Sort of People, which God 
 will take a fpecial Care of in Times of publick 
 Calamities, and of Diftrefs in Nations and Cities : 
 God would not deflroy Sodom, till he had remov- 
 ed Lot out of it. 
 
 And there are many Predictions of our Father 
 which is in Heaven, which ftiews his Regard to 
 his beloved Children, and what they may hope 
 for and expect in thofe melancholy Days, when 
 they fhall be furrounded with Multitudes of Ex- 
 amples of divine Vengance, ruining particular 
 Perfons, Families and Towns. 
 
 As to the Righteous it is predicted, that when 
 God's Judgments fhall be executed, it fhall be well 
 with them. 
 
 In Ifa. iii. 10, n. God gives thefe Predic- 
 tions to his Prophets, in refpect to the Time of 
 his Judgments on Judah and Jerufalem : Say ye to 
 the Right ecus i that it JhaH be well with him ; for 
 they pall eat the Fruit of their Doings : Wo unto 
 the Wicked itjhallbe ill with him ; for the Reward 
 of bis Hands Jhall be given him. 
 
 The Words mew that God, mod Merciful, will 
 have his People comforted with the AfTurance 
 from him, that when it goes ill with the Wicked, 
 fuffering under deftroying Judgments, it fhall at 
 the fame Time go well with the Righteous : And 
 that Exprefllon, Say ye, mews that it was the Duty 
 not only of Ifaiah, but of all other Prophets and 
 
 Minifters 
 
On the Sacred Predictions. 1 2 i 
 
 Miriifters of God, to declare to the People the 
 fame Affurance. 
 
 And the Words do likewife mew, that it is the 
 Duty Of the Minifters of Chrift in all Ages, and 
 in all Countries, when they learn from the Threat- 
 nings of God's Word, and from the Wickedneis 
 of the Generality of People among whom they 
 dwell, and from the Operations of the divine 
 Providence, that deftroying Judgments are ap- 
 proaching ; it is their Duty then to fpeak comfor- 
 tably to the Godly, and declare to them, that 
 whatever Calamities fiiall come, it will go well 
 with them ; though it will go ill with the 
 Wicked. 
 
 I fhall now collect the Predictions about the 
 Righteous in Times of publick Calamities, under 
 the following Heads* viz. 
 
 i. It is predicted, that they (hall be preferved 
 in Safety in Times of War } they (hall be fafe, 
 though furrounded with Dangers. 
 
 In Prov. xviii. 10. It is faid, The Name of the 
 Lord is aftrong Tower ; the Righteous runneth into 
 it, and is fafe. The Words fignify a Prediction 
 to the Righteous, that if they by Prayer, and 
 Faith feek to God for his Protection, they fhall 
 find Safety. 
 
 In Prov. xxix. 25. It is faid, Whofo pitteth his 
 Trufi in the Lord, fhall be fafe. All the Righteous 
 do put their Truft in him ; therefore the Promife 
 is a Prediction of Safety to them. 
 
 In 2 Chron. xvi. 9. It is laid, The Eyes of the 
 Lord run to and fro throughout the whole Earth 
 to fhew himfelf flrcng in the Behalf of them, whofe 
 Heart is per feci towards him. Which Words im- 
 ply God's watchful Providence over the Righte- 
 ous, and that he will manikft the Greatnefs of his 
 R Power 
 
122 On the Sacred Predictions. 
 
 Power in protecting them from the Dangers they 
 may meet with. 
 
 In i Sam. ii. 9. It is faid, He will keep the 
 Feet of his Saints, and the Wicked Jhall be filent in 
 JOarknefs. 
 
 In Pial. xci. 1. It is faid, He that dwelkth in 
 the fecret Place of the mcji High, Jhall abide (in 
 fafety) under the Shadow of the Almighty. 
 
 Verfe 2. 1 will fay of the Lor b, he is my Refuge, 
 and my Fortrefs, my God, in him will 1 trufl, Verfe 
 4. He jhall cover thee with his Feathers, and under 
 his Wings Jhall thou truji : His Truth Jhall be thy 
 Shield and Buckler. Verfe 10. There Jhall no Evil 
 befal thee. Thefe Words teach us our Duty of 
 trufting in God, and imply a Prediction of Safety 
 to righteous Perfons, who do fo. Pfa. cxxi. Is 
 full of Predictions of the like Import. 
 
 God's faithful Care of his Church and People, 
 is like wife predicted, in Ifa. xxvii. g. ItheL,ORD 
 do keep it, I will water it every Moment, left any hurt 
 it, I will keep it Night and Day. 
 
 In Zech. ii. 5. The Almighty fpeaketh thus, 
 For I Jaith the Lord, will be unto her (i. e. his 
 Church,) a Wall of Fire round about, and will be 
 the Glory in the MidJl of her. 
 
 In Job v. 20. It is faid, In W ar he Jhall 'redeem 
 thee Jrom the Power oj the Sword. 
 
 In Prov. iii. 25, 26. It is faid, Be not afraid 
 cf fudden Fear, nor of the Defolation of the Wicked, 
 when it comet h : For the Lord Jhall be thy Confidence, 
 and Jhall keep thy Foot jrom being taken. 
 
 The Righteous in Countries that are the Seat 
 of War, when oppofite Armies are Marching and 
 Counter-marching, and are frequently Fighting 
 with each other, the Righteous are in the Midft 
 of Perils and Dangers •, but in the Midft of all 
 thefe Perils and Dangers, and even in Battle, if 
 
 God 
 
On the Sacred PrediSticfis. 123 
 
 Go J will preferve them, they are as fafe, as if 
 there were none. 
 
 Every Bullet that is fhot, and every Stroke of 
 the Sword had it's Direction from the Providence 
 of God : Since one Sparrow lhall not fall on the 
 Ground, without our Father which is in Heaven -, 
 (Mat. x. 29.) fince not one of them is forgotten 
 before God; (Luke xii. 6.) fince no Evil hap- 
 pens to thofe little Birds, without his Providence ; 
 we may be fure, that no Wound, no Hurt, hap- 
 pens, to any Perfon in a Battle without it. 
 
 It is the Providence of God which takes away 
 thofe, who are (lain in War, and which preferves 
 thofe, who efcape unhurt. 
 
 In Mat. xxiv. 40, 41. It is faid, Then two 
 /hall be in the Field, the one JhaU be taken, and the 
 other left ; two Women /hall be grinding at the Mill, 
 the one Jhall bs taken, and the other left. And ic 
 is God who determines which of them fhall be 
 taken, and which of them fhall be left. 
 
 In perilous Times, the Righteous may ufe the 
 Words of David, and fay, The Lord is my Light, 
 •and my Salvation, whom fhall I fear ? 'The Lord 
 is the Strength of my Life, of whom fhall I be 
 afraid? Pfa. xxvii. 1. And they may be confi- 
 dent, that the Lord will fulfil all his Predictions, 
 
 2. It is predicted, that the Righteous fhall be 
 provided for in Times of Calamities by Famine. 
 Famine, is a Judgment very terrible ; but blefled 
 be the Name of our bountiful God, we of this 
 Generation have never feen the moft deplorable 
 Effects of it. 
 
 It may help us to fome right Apprehenfions 
 and Senfe of it, if we read what is faid of it by 
 the Prophet. 
 
 The Prophet Jeremiah defctibes the Miferies 
 
 of a Famine in Lament, iv. Where he fays, The 
 
 R 2 Tongue 
 
124 On the Sacred Predictions. 
 
 Tongue of the fuckling Child ', cleave th to the Roof 
 of his Mouth for Thirft ; the young Children ajk 
 Bread, and no Man breaketh it unto them. ver. 4. 
 
 They that did feed delicately, are defolate in the 
 Streets ; they that were brought up in Scarlet , em- 
 brace Dunghills, ver. 5. 
 
 For the Punifhment of the Iniquity of the Daughter 
 of my People, is greater than the Punifhment of the 
 Sin of Sodom, that was overthrown in a Moment. 
 ver. 6. 
 
 Their Vifage is blacker than a Coal; they are not 
 known in the Streets, their Skin cleaveth to their 
 ficries ; ("their Flelh being wafted for want of 
 Food,) it is withered, it is become like a Stick. 
 ver. 8. 
 
 They that be flain with the Sword, are better than 
 they that be flain with Hunger. For thefe pine 
 away, flruken through, for Want of the Fruits of 
 the Field, ver, 9. 
 
 The Hands of thz pitiful Women have fcdden their 
 own Children ; they were their Meat, in the Defiruc- 
 tian of the Daughter of my People, ver. 1 o. 
 
 O how tremendous are the Miferies of a great 
 Famine ! And War often brings on a Famine, even 
 in the nioft fruitful Countries. 
 
 But it is predicted, that God will provide for 
 his own People in fuch defolating and dreadful 
 Times. 
 
 In Pfa. xxxiii. 58, 19. It is faid, Behold the 
 Eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him : Upon 
 them that hope in his Mercy \ to deliver their Sou's 
 from Death, and to keep then alive in Famine. 
 
 In Pfa. xxxvii. 19. It is faid of them, They 
 jhall not be afhamed in the evil Time : And in the 
 Days of Famine they Jhall be fatisfied. 
 
 In Ifa. xli. 1 7. When the Poor and Needy feek 
 Water, and there is none, and their Tongues faileth 
 
 4 f° r 
 
On the Sacred Predictions. 1 25 
 
 for Thirft, 1 the Lord will bear ihem ; / the Gcd 
 of Ifrael will not for fake them. 
 
 Thefe Predictions imply, that God will prc- 
 ferve the Righteous, and provide neceffary Food 
 for them, even when theie (hall be the greatest 
 Scarcity. 
 
 And our gracious Gcd has recorded them in 
 his Word, for the Comfort of his People againft 
 the Terrors of fuch a Judgment : They may be 
 lure that God is faithful to his promife, and will 
 fulfil all his Predictions: His Wifdom knows 
 how to contrive Ways and Means for their Sup- 
 ply ; and his Power is able to procure all that (hall 
 be needful for them. 
 
 3. It is predicted, that the Righteous mail be 
 preferved in Times of the Pestilence. 
 
 In Pfalm xci. 2. The Sentiments, and pious 
 Refolutionof the Righteous are thus exprefied. ver. 
 2. I will fay of the Lord, he is my Refuge, and my 
 Fortrefs, my God, in him will I trufi. And this is 
 the Language of every one of God's faithful 
 People. 
 
 In this Pfalm are many comfortable Predictions 
 relative to them. In ver. 3,&c. it is faid, Surely 
 he fhall deliver thee from the Snare of the Fowler ; and 
 from the noifome Pejlilence. He fhall cover thee with 
 his Feathers, and under his Wings /halt thou trujl : His 
 Truth fhall be thy Shield and Buckler : "Thou foalt not 
 be afraid for the Terror by Night; nor for the Arrow 
 thatflyeth by Bay : Nor for the Pejlilence that walk* 
 eth in Darknefs ; nor for the Dejlruclion, that wafl- 
 eth at noon Day. AThoufand Jhall fall by thy Side, 
 and ten Thoufand at thy right Hand ; but it fhall 
 not come nigh thee. Only with thine Eyes flo alt thou 
 behold and fee the Regard of the Wicked, (ver. 8.) 
 Becaufe thou hajl made the Lord y which is my Re- 
 fuge, even the mojl High, thy Habitation : (by Faith 
 
 and 
 
126 On the Sacred Predictions. 
 
 and Prayer, trufting in him, and praying to him 
 in the Way of Holinefs.) There Jhall no Evil be- 
 fall thee, neither jhall any Plague come nigh thy 
 Dwelling. For he, (God) ft jail give his Angels 
 charge over thee to keep thee in all thy Ways. 
 
 If forne particular Perfons mould die by a 
 peftilemial Fever, they will be immediately hap- 
 py in a better World. 
 
 But it is evident from ver. 8. ift. That 
 when God fends the Peililence into any City, or 
 Country, it is not againft the Righteous : No \ 
 they are the Sort of People, God has appointed 
 for his Protection. And 2dly. It is manifd't that 
 the Wicked are the Sort who are appointed to 
 die by the Peftilence. 
 
 It appears from ver. 5. That God would not 
 have the Righteous to be afraid, when the I efti- 
 lence comes into the Town, and Country where 
 they dwell : And he afllires them of Safety-, that he 
 will furely deliver them : (ver. 3.) That though 
 Multitudes may die round about them, yet the 
 Arrows of Deftruclion (hall not come nigh them : 
 Only with their Eyes (hall they fee Examples of 
 God's Vengeance among the Wicked, and that 
 no Evil mail befal them, or come nigh their 
 Dwelling. God will give his Angels charge over 
 them ; this will be their fecurity. 
 
 Comfortable Promifes thefe are ! BlefTed be our 
 good God for them ! And they will moft faithful- 
 ly be performed : And therefore I need only to 
 obferve, that it is our Intereft and Duty to make 
 it fure, that we are of that Number to which 
 they belong. 
 
 4. It is Predicted, that the Righteous fhall be 
 preserved from diftfejfmg Fears in Times of pub- 
 lick Calamities. 
 
 Fear 
 
On the Sacred Prediftiem. 127 
 
 Fear hath Torment. 1 John iv. 18. Perils and 
 Dangers naturally excite Fear. 
 
 And the greater, and more terrible the Evils 
 are, the greater is the Pain and Anguifh of the 
 Mind at their Approach. 
 
 The Time or publick Judgments, is a Time 
 of difmal Fears to the Wicked : When the Al- 
 mighty cometh forth to take Vengeance on them ; 
 when the Vials of his Wrath are pouring forth 
 among them, they will fear; Fearfulnefs will fur- 
 prize the Hypocrites, lfa. xxxiii. 14. 
 
 In fome Circumftances of Affliclion, a good 
 Man may be greatly diftreffed with Fears : And 
 this feems to have been the Cafe with David. Pfa. 
 Iv. 5. When he faid, Fearfulnefs and Trembling 
 are upon me, and Horror hath overwhelmed me. 
 But every fincere Chriftian may pray, and obtain 
 freedom from his Fears. 
 
 Fears alfo may arife in the Minds of pious Per- 
 fons, under the Apprehention of Miferies like 
 to befal the People of the Land in which they 
 dwell ; which feems to be the Cafe of the Pro- 
 phet. Ifa. xxi. 4, Where he fays, My Heart 
 panteth-, Fearfulnefs affrighted me \ the Night of 
 my Pleafure hath he turned into Fear unto me. That 
 is, by his being informed of the Judgments God 
 was then about to bring on his People. 
 
 But fuch Fears, are not the Fears of guilty 
 Sinners going on in their Trefpaffes, which they 
 feel, when their Confciences are made fenfible of 
 their Guilt. 
 
 God has promifed Peace and Comfort to his 
 own Children and Servants, even when he is pu- 
 nching his, and their Enemies. 
 
 It is a comfortable Prediction relative to a righ- 
 teous Man, in Pfa. cxii. 7. Where it is faid, He 
 ffjall not be afraid of evil Tidings ; his Heart is fixed 
 tr ufting in the Lord. 
 
 There 
 
128 On the Sacred Predictions. 
 
 There is a Fear confident with inward Tniri 
 quility and Comfort of Soul $ there is a Fear which 
 is our Duty. 
 
 It is faid, Thou jh alt fear the Lord thy God, and 
 ferve him. (Deut. vi. 13.) Our good God is the 
 fupreme Object of our Fear : And the Duty of fear- 
 ing him is molt frequently inculcated in the Holy 
 Scriptures. . 
 
 And the Beginning the Practice of this Duty, is 
 the Beginning of Wildom. The Whole of ferious 
 practical Piety, is often denoted by the Expreflion 
 the Fear of God. 
 
 And many Things are predicted, for the en- 
 gaging People to this Duty, Solomon fays, Tet 
 furely I know it /hall be well with them that fear 
 God, which fear before him. Eccle. viii. 13. Surely 
 his Salvation is nigh them that fear him. It is faid, 
 Pfa. Ixxxv. 8. 
 
 There is alfo a Fear due to Magi Urates ; a 
 great Refpect to their Authority •, For Rulers are 
 not a Terror to good Works, but to the Evil: Will 
 thou then not be afraid of the Power ? Says the 
 Apoftle Paul, Horn. xiii. 3. Thereby teaching 
 Chritlians that they ought to have a Fear of their 
 Power, and not incur their Difpleafure by any 
 evil Doings. 
 
 A Fear is likewife due to Parents. In Levit. 
 xix. 1, 2, 3. The L.ord fpake unto Mo fes faying, 
 fpeak unto all the Congregation of the Children of 
 Ifrael, and fay unto them, ye fhall be holy -, for I 
 the Lord your God am holy. Ye fhall fear every 
 Man his Mother, and his Father, and keep my Sab- 
 baths : 1 am the Lord thy God. Ye foa'.l fear every 
 Man his Mother, and his Father. 
 
 Thefe Words are one of the Commandments 
 and Laws of God, and he has never repealed it : 
 The Real ; s . it are always the fame, and fo is 
 the Obligatioi tyit: It implies that Refpect, 
 
 that 
 
On the Sacred Predictions. 1 2 g 
 that Awe, and Regard to Parents, which mail 
 reftrain us from giving them any juft Occafion of 
 Offence, and Grief, and fhall conitrain us to con- 
 tribute to their Support and Comfort, as much as 
 they fhall want, and we mail be able to contribute. 
 
 There is another Law in this Book of Leyfaatft 
 and it may not generally be known •, becaufe all the 
 holy Laws of God are not generally read in the 
 worfhiping Affemblies of Chriftians •, and yet this 
 is an important One, and the Realbns of it have 
 always the fame Weight. 
 
 In Levit. x. 8, 9, io> H. VU Lord /pake 
 unto Aaron-, faying* Bo not drink Wine, nor ftrcng 
 Drink, thou, nor thy Sons with thee, when ye go 
 into the Tabernacle of the Congregation, left ye die : 
 It fhall be a Statute for ever throughout your Genera- 
 tions : And that ye may pit Difference between holy 
 and unholy, and between unclean and clean. And 
 that ye may teach the Children of Ifrael all the Sta- 
 tutes, which the Lord hath fpoken unto them by the 
 Hand of Mofes. 
 
 If the Priefts of God, under the Old Tefta- 
 ment, and the Minifters of Chrift under the New, 
 had the Liberty of drinking ftrong Liquors be- 
 fore they went into the Congregation to adminifter 
 the Ordinancesof divine Worfhip, and to teach the 
 People the revealed Will of God, they might be 
 tempted to drink too much, and becorr.e incapable 
 of a due Performance of their Office ; and if they 
 were earned in their Exhortations, the People 
 might be tempted to think their Zeal and Fervour 
 did not proceed from the A Mi (lance of the Holy 
 Spirit of God, but from the Spirits of the ftrong 
 Liquors they drank. 
 
 But God by his Law abfolutely forbidding 
 them to drink Wine, or ftrong Drink, effec- 
 tually prevents thele ill Confequences, if they 
 
 S who 
 
j 30 On the Sacred Predictions. 
 
 who officiate pubiickly in the divine Worihip, do 
 obferve this Law. 
 
 I have mentioned the proper Objects of Fear, I 
 fhall now fhew whom we ought not to iear : And 
 we ought not to fear cither wicked Men, or wicked 
 Devils. 
 
 We ought not to fear wicked Men. Fear net 
 them which kill the Body, but are not able to kill the 
 Soul : But rather fear him which is able to deftroy 
 both Soul and Body in Hell ; fays our bJeffed Sa- 
 viour. Mat. x. 28. 
 
 Our good God fays to his People, (in Ifa. li. 
 
 12.) I even I am he that comfort eth you; who art 
 
 thou, that thou Jhonldejl be afraid of Man, that 
 
 pall die, and of the Son of Man, which fhall be made 
 
 as Grafs ? 
 
 In lfa. xli. 10. God fays to his People, Fear 
 thou not (thine Enemies,) for I am with thee, be 
 not difmayed for I am thy God •, / will firenglhen 
 thee, yea I will help thee, yea I will uphold thee 
 with the right Hand of my Righteoufnefs. Behold, all 
 they that were incenfed cgainft thee, fhall he apamed 
 and confounded, they pall be as nothing, and they that 
 ftrive with thee, pall perijb, 
 
 O what a Clufter of comfortable Predictions 
 are thefe ! and they have been, they are, and they 
 will be fulfilled to the Saints in all Ages ; and the 
 Saints in all Ages have found much Confolation 
 in mufing upon them. 
 
 But as we fhould not be afraid of wicked Men, 
 fo neither mould we fear the wicked Devils y thofe 
 unholy Angels: There are Multitudes of them 
 - ~4n all Places, though they are fpoken of in the 
 fingular Number, as if there was but one, becaufe 
 one among them is their Chief, the Prince of 
 Devils •, and becaufe they are all one in Defign ; 
 but as numerous as they are, we have no Realbii 
 
 to fear them. 
 
 In 
 
On the Sacred Fredicl'tons. 131 
 
 In James iv. 7. lc is faid, Refift the DJv'd, and 
 he will flee from you. Which Words contain a 
 Prediction, that- the Devil will flee from thofe fe- 
 rious Chriftians who refift him : Chrift the Captain 
 of our Salvation (who himfelf fullered, being 
 tempted) knows how, and is able to fuccour and 
 deliver his Difciples when they are tempted, and 
 will make the Devil to ceafe his' Temptations and 
 to depart from them. 
 
 The Apoftle Peter (in 1 Pet. v. 8, 9.) fays 
 to the Saints, Be feber, be vigilant, becaufe your 
 /idverfary the Devil, as a roaring Lyon, walketb 
 about, feeking whom he may devour : Whom refift 
 Jiedfajl in the Faith, knowing that the fame Afflic- 
 tions are accomplijbed in your Brethren, that are in 
 the World. 
 
 Our mighty Saviour would have us, with flrm- 
 nefs of Mind, to continue our Refiftance to the 
 Devil, and without fear of being overcome by 
 him. 
 
 O how often does our good God fpeak comfort- 
 ably to his People, and fay unto them, Fear not ! 
 
 In Ifa. xxvi. 3. the Prophet by the Infpira- 
 tion of the Holy Spirit, fays to Gxl, Thou wilt 
 keep him in -per feci Peace whofe Mind is flayed on 
 thee, becaufe he trufteth in thee. A Prediction this, 
 which hath been the Means of much Comfort to 
 many a Chriftian in Times of Trouble. 
 
 But where is the Chriftian that hath perfect 
 Peace ? The W T ords of the Prophet imply, that a 
 trufting in God, or Faith in Exercife, is the Means 
 of enjoying the fweet Blefting of Peace, and of 
 freedom from diftrefling Fears : And where is the 
 Chriftian that has his Faith and Truft in God, al- 
 ways in due Exercife? 
 
 There is a Remainder of finful Corruption in 
 the Souls of the Deft Chriftains, fo that the Good 
 they would do, they fometimes do not. 
 
 S 2 Abraham 
 
132 On the Sacred Frcdidlions. 
 
 Abraham, the Father of Believers, and the glo- 
 rious Example of a ftrong Faith, had fpecial and 
 immediate Afiurances of God's Favour and Pro- 
 tection. 
 
 The Lord faid unto Mr am, I will make of thee a 
 great Nation, and I will hlefs thee, and make thy 
 Name great, and thou flj all be a Bleffing : And 1 
 will blcjs them that blefs thee, and curfe him that 
 eurfelh thee : and in thee foal I all Families of the 
 Earth be b'ejfed. Gen. xii. 1, 2, 3. 
 
 And in about a Year after thefe gracious Afiu- 
 rances, gPAn him immediately from the Lord, 
 when he went into Egypt to fojourn there, his 
 Faith was very weak, and unbelieving Fear dif- 
 trefied his Mind, and prevailed with him to deny 
 his Wife, and to engage her to fay, fhe was his 
 Sifter. Gen. xii. ver. 10 — 13. 
 
 Iri Gen. xiii. the facred Hiftory informs us, 
 that when Abram dwelt in the Land of Canaan, 
 The Lord [aid unto him, — All the hand which thou 
 feefl, to thee will I give it, and to thy Seed for ever. 
 (ver. 15.) And I will make thy Seed as the Duft of 
 the Earth, (ver. 16.) 
 
 In Gen. xvii. i. When Abram was ninety Tears 
 old and nine, the Lord appeared unto Abram, and 
 faid unto him, I am the almighty God; walk before 
 me, and be thou per feci ; and I will made my Cove- 
 nant between me and thee, and will multiply thee ex- 
 ceedingly, (ver. 2.) And changed his Name to 
 Abraham, (ver. 5.) And faid, / will make Na- 
 tions of thee, and Kings floaty come out of thee. ver. 
 6. — And I will efiablfjh my Covenant between me and 
 thee, and thy Seed afer thee in their Generations, for 
 an tverlafting Covenant, to be a God unto thee, and 
 to t'i.y Seed after thee. ver. 7. 
 
 As for Sarai thy Wife — I will blefs her, and give 
 thee a Sen alfo of her : yed I will blefs her, and foe 
 
 jhall 
 
On the Sacred Predictions. 133 
 
 Jhall be a Mother of Nations j Kings of People Jhall 
 be of her. ver. 15, 16. 
 
 And after all thefe Promifes ma;!e to Abraham 
 immediately by the almighty and faithful God, 
 did he a fecond Time deny hi^ Wife: He did fa 
 at Gerar to Abimelech the King, who (when 
 Abraham had told him fhe was his Sifter) took 
 her, but the Lord made Abimelech toreftore her. 
 (Gen. xx. 1, 2.) 
 
 This was about twenty and three Years after 
 the Promifes God had made to him, in Gen. xii. 
 
 O what are the bed of Men, if left to them- 
 felves ! Lord, increafe my Faith, and by thy holy 
 Spirit keep it always in due Exercife ! 
 
 Another Inftance of human Frailty we have in 
 David: The Prophet Samuel, byGod's Appoint- 
 ment, anointed David to be king over Ifrael after 
 the Death of Saul : He was, according to Chro- 
 nology, anointed in the Year 1063 before Chrift. 
 
 And yet this good Man in the Year J058 before 
 Chrift, that is, about five Years after Samuel had 
 anointed him to be King, almott defpaired of 
 God's performing his Promife. For in 1 Sam. 
 xxvii. 1. we read that David laid in his Heart, 
 I Jhall now perifo one Day by the Hand of Saul. 
 
 No wonder then, confidering thefe Instances of 
 Faith being fometimes very weak, that ferious 
 Christians at Times have their Doubts and Fears. 
 
 All our past Experiences prove to us, that God 
 is a prefent Help in Trouble, that he has been fo 
 to us in all our paft DifirefTes, he has fupported 
 us, and wrought one Deliverance for us after 
 another ; yet when we meet with new Afflictions, 
 Difappointments, or Straits, or Dangers, how 
 often do unbelieving Doubts and Fears arife in 
 our Minds •, efpecially if the Devil is fufFered, for 
 our Trial, to throw his Suggestions into our 
 Minds. 
 
 Never- 
 
*34 ® n ^ oe Sacred Predictions. 
 
 Neverthelefs, God has provided for our Com- 
 fort, and Remedies againtt perplexing Fears in 
 Times of publick Calamities, whether prefent, or 
 approaching. 
 
 Come my People (fays our God) enter thou into 
 thy Chambers, and jhut thy Doors about thee, and 
 hide thyfelf as it were for a little Moment ', until the 
 Indignation he cverpafi : For behold, the Lord 
 cometh out of his Place, to punijh the Inhabitants of 
 the Earth for their Iniquities. Ila. xxvi. 20, 21. 
 
 1. Thefe Words fliew, that there are Times 
 when God will punifh the Inhabitants of the Earth 
 for their Iniquities. 
 
 2. That God has a gracious Regard to the 
 Safety and the Comfort of his People, through 
 the Time that his Judgments are deftroying ftub- 
 born Sinners, even till the Indignuion be over- 
 pan:, till the Effects of his Wrath ceafe : There- 
 fore did he give Directions to his People, what 
 Courfe they mould take for Safety and Comfort 
 during the Day of his terrible Vifitation ; viz. to 
 enter into their Chambers, and fhut the Doors 
 about them, and to hide themfelves : This Direc- 
 tion, I apprehend fignifies, that the Righteous 
 do daily commit themfelves by Faith and Prayer 
 ro God's Protection, and walk clofely and circum- 
 fpeftly with him, in the Way of their Duty, and keep 
 themfelves from all unneceiTary Converfe with the 
 open Enemies of God, taking fpecial Care that 
 they be not Pai takers of their Sins, left they alfo 
 become Partakers of their Plagues. 
 
 God's People fometimes grow carelefs and re- 
 mifs in their Obedience, and comply with the fin- 
 ful Cuftoms of the Age in which they live .- And 
 to fuch as thefe, the Prophet Zephaniah feems to 
 fpeak, when he faid, Before the Decree bring forth, 
 kef ore the Daypafs as the Chvff, before the fierce Anger 
 
 of 
 4 
 
On the Sacred Predictions. 135 
 
 of the Lord come upon you, before the Bay of the 
 Lord's Anger come upon you : Seek ye the Lord, all 
 ye Meek of the Earth, which have wrought his 
 Judgments (in Time pail,) feek Righteoufnefs, 
 feek Meeknefs ; it may be, ye foall be hid in the Bay 
 of the Lord'j Anger. Zeph. ii. 2, 3. 
 
 If we walk clofely wich God, in the Way of 
 Faith ..and Holinefs, we may hope, he will free 
 and preferve us from terrifying Fears, even if we 
 mould be furrounded with Danger. 
 
 Thofe are comfortable Words in Prov. iii. 23. 
 to ver. 26. Thenfhalt thou walk in thy IVay fafely, 
 and thy Foot fh all not fumble. When thou Heft down 
 thou /halt not be afraid; yea, thou fhalt lie down, 
 and thy Sleep fhall be fueet. 
 
 Be not afraid of fudden Fear, neither of the Befo- 
 lation of the Wicked when it cometh ; for the Lord 
 fhall be thy Confidence, and fhall keep thy Foot from 
 being taken. 
 
 The Loving-kindnefs of God, and his com- - 
 paflionate and and faithful Care of the Righteous, 
 appear in all his Predictions, which relate to 
 them. 
 
 The facred Frediuiions collected in the foregoing 
 Papers, and the very many which have not been 
 mentioned, do abundantly manifeft, that the holy 
 God in the Operations of his Providence, will 
 make a Difference between the Righteous and 
 the Wicked, between him that ferveth God, #nd 
 him that ferveth him not. 
 
 They reveal the Blefiings which all true Be- 
 lievers do enjoy, and may hope for in this Life, 
 and after Death, and at the RefurrecYton, and at 
 the Day of Judgment, and through a never end- 
 ing Eternity after it : They alfo Difplay and that 
 very awfully, the Curfes and Miferies of the 
 Wicked, while they remain on this Farth, and the 
 unutterable Torments they mud endure in- their 
 
 Souis 
 
136 On the Sacred Predictions. 
 
 Souls after De.ith to the Refurrection, and in their 
 Souls and Bodies then reunited, at the Judgment 
 of the great Day, and after the End of the 
 World, in a Duration, which will never, never 
 have an End. 
 
 The righteous and merciful God hath fet be- 
 fore the Children of Men in his holy Word, 
 Life, and Good, and Deaths and Evil, (according 
 to what is faid, Deut. xxx. 15.) 
 
 that every one was Wife to make the right 
 Choice, to choofe Lite and Good, and act ac- 
 cordingly ! 
 
 1 have in thefe Letters, from an ardent Defire 
 cf being, with many others, an happy Inftrument 
 of promoting the everlafting Salvation, and Hap- 
 pineis, and prefent Comfort of Men, fet before 
 my Readers thofe Things which are of the great- 
 eft Importance for them to know, and confider. 
 
 \ have fet before them a Summary of the Laws 
 <af God, that lb by comparing their Lives and 
 Actions, with the holy Commandments, the Guil- 
 tv may be convinced of their Sins, and of their 
 Want of a Saviour. Wherefore the Law ivas our 
 Schoo'imaflcr to bring us unto Cbrtft, that we might 
 bejujlifedbyFaith. Gal. in. 24. 
 
 I have kt before them the Curfes, the Punifh- 
 ments, and Miferies predicted to befal them, ex- 
 cept they repent of their Sins and believe in the 
 Lord Jefus ; that fo they may be excited to rejoice 
 in the »la i Tidings of our glorious Redeemer, 
 ^who is both able and willing to fave, even the 
 Chief of Sinners,) and be prevailed with to be- 
 come his fincere Difc^ples. 
 
 1 have likewife, wtth as much Brevity and 
 Clearnefs as I could, related the Evidences of 
 Chrift's being the promifed MeJ/iab, for the Con- 
 viction of thofe who have denied or doubted of 
 
 the 
 
On the Sacred Predictions. 137 
 
 the Verity of the Chriftian Religion, and for the 
 Confirmation of the Faith of ferious Chriftians. 
 
 I have taken Notice of the Holy Spirit dwelling 
 in true Believers, and of their Juilification, their 
 Adoption to be the Children of God, and his 
 Heirs to an Inheritance in Heaven, and of their 
 Sanctification and Perfeverance till they receive 
 the End of their Faith, the Salvation of their 
 Souls : Thefe are Bleflings predicted for all true 
 Believers, and are neceffary to their Salvation ; 
 and for thefe Reafons, the faithful Miniflers of 
 Chrift do frequently preach on them, and are glad, 
 that they themfelves are Partakers of fuch In- 
 eftimable Benefits ; and glad that they have fuch 
 powerful Motives to make ufe of, for ingaging 
 Men to repent of their Sins, to believe and obey 
 the Gofpel : And ferious Chriftians are glad to 
 hear fuch Doctrines preached, being fenfible that 
 thefe Bleflings are neceflary to the Safety, the 
 Comfort, and Happinefs of their immortal Souls. 
 
 I have taken Notice of the principal Doctrines 
 of the Gofpel, for rectifying the Sentiments of 
 thofe, who have entertained miftaken Notions of 
 them, and for the Eftablifhment of thofe who 
 believe them. 
 
 I have out of the Multitude, collected many 
 Predictions of Bleflings to the Righteous, to all 
 who believe in Chrift, and live according to the 
 Gofpel, for their Confolation at all Times, and 
 under the various Afflictions and Troubles they may 
 meet with in the common Courle of Life : And 
 have mentioned feveral precious Promiles record- 
 ed in the Holy Scriptures for the Comfort ot fin- 
 cere Chriftians of every Denomination, when 'he 
 righteous God mail vifit the Cities and Countries 
 wherein they dwell, with his deftroying Judg- 
 ments for the Iniquities of the Inhabitants. 
 
 T And 
 
i^8 On the Sacred Predictions. 
 
 And I have not in this Service, endeavoured to 
 exprefs myfelf with excellency of Speech, nor in 
 Words which Man's Wifdom teacheth •, but which 
 the Holy Ghoft teacheth, comparing fpiritual 
 Things with Spiritual. 
 
 The Word of Gcd> is the Sword of the Spirit. 
 Ephef. vi. 17. And the Word of God is quick and 
 powerful, and Jharper than any two edged Sword, 
 piercing even to the dividing afunder of Soul and 
 Spirit, and of the Joints and Marrow, and is a 
 Difcerner of the Thoughts and Intents of the Heart. 
 Heb. iv. 12. 
 
 It is the Law of the Lord, that is perfect, con- 
 verting the Soul: It is the Teftimony of the Lord 
 that is fure, making wife the Simple. Pfal. xix. 
 
 7, 8. 
 
 It is by the Word of God, that the Holy 
 Spirit bringeth Sinners to believe in Chrift. St. 
 Paul fays, So then Faith comet h by Hearing, and 
 Hearing by the Word of God, (read, or preached.) 
 Rom. x. 17. 
 
 So it is by the Word of God, that the Saints 
 are fanftified ; therefore faid the blefied Jefus to 
 his Father, Sanfiify them through thy Truth : Thy 
 Word is Truth. John xvii. 17. 
 
 And his Word of Promife is the Means of their 
 Peace, their Comfort, and their Joy : O how 
 mould Chriftians prize the Holy Scriptures, and 
 improve all Opportunities of reading, and hear- 
 ing them ? 
 
 Prophane Perfons will deride them: It is fore- 
 told, that, There /kail come in the lafi Days, Scoffers 
 walking after their own Lufis; 2 Pet. iii. 3. But 
 in the Word of Truth, it is faid, that, The Curfe 
 of the Lord is in the Houfe of the Wicked •, but he 
 bleffeth the Habitation of the Jufi. Surely he fcorn- 
 eth the Scorners : but he giveth Grace unto the 
 Lowly. Prov. iii. ^, 34. 
 
 It 
 
On the Sacred Predictions. 139 
 
 It is exprefsly declared, that Judgments are 
 prepared for Scorners, and Stripes for the Back of 
 Fools. Prov. xix. 29. and there have been In- 
 flances of God's Indignation againft fuch Of- 
 fenders : For (as it is faid, in Ifa. xxix 30.) The 
 terrible One is brought to nought , and the Scorner 
 is confumed, and all that watch for Iniquity are cut 
 off. God will magnify his Word above all his 
 Name. 
 
 If there is any Error or Miftake in thefe Letters, 
 it is mine; and thofe Things which are true and 
 ufeful in them, I collected from the Holy Scrip- 
 tures : And I earnestly pray that God, the God 
 of all Grace, who delighteth not in the Death of 
 the Wicked, and has demonftrated his Willing- 
 nefs to be reconciled to finful Men, and difplayed 
 his amazing Love, by fending his only begotten 
 and beloved Son into the World, that whofoever 
 believeth in him, mould not perifh, but have 
 everlafting Life : Iearneftly pray that he will blefs 
 and profper thefe Endeavours to the faving Bene- 
 fit, and great Comfort of thofe, who fhall read 
 them ; Amen, for the Sake of Jefus Chrift who 
 is worthy, Amen. 
 
 Pfal. viii. 1, 2. O Lord, our Lord, how excel- 
 lent is thy Name in all the Earth ! Who haft thy 
 Glory above the Heavens. 
 
 Out of the Mouth of Babes, and Sucklings haft 
 thou ordained Strength, becaufe of thine Enemies, 
 that thou might eft ft ill the Enemy, and the Avenger. 
 
 Therefore blelTed and praifed be thy Name, O 
 Lord ; becaufe in fo doing the more illuftrious is 
 thy Power, and the greater is thy Glory. 
 
 Luke ii. 14. Glory to God in the Higheft, and 
 on Earth Peace, Good-will towards Men. 
 
 LET- 
 
 T 2 
 
LETTER X. 
 
 Containing an Anfwer to the Que/Hon, viz. Whether 
 the publick Reading the Holy Scriptures on the 
 Lord's Days, is an Ordinance of divine Appoint- 
 ment, and a Part of the Worfiip y which God 
 requires from his People ? 
 
 5/^^7~^V! H E Queftion being about a Cuf- 
 
 WP? ^W tom > or Prac1:ice u fe ^ in the P ub - 
 S» lick Wormip of God in many 
 
 (§r$mk Congregations of Christians, and 
 
 cW^I L^ : |$-fj5 in many others not ufed ; it is of 
 
 (•^i^wvMMrr?: great Moment to enquire what is 
 
 the Will of God concerning it. 
 
 There are two divine Laws, which will lead us 
 
 to a right Determination, viz. 
 
 I. The Firft is in Deut. iv. 2. where God the 
 fupreme Lawgiver, faid, Ye shall not add to 
 the Word which I command you, neither 
 shall you diminish ought from it ; that 
 ye may keep the commandments of the 
 Lord your God. 
 
 As 
 
Of the public k Reading, &c. 141 
 
 As if it had been faid, that ye may keep them 
 pure, and intire, without any Addition to, o:: 
 Diminution from them. 
 
 II. The other is in Deut. xii. 32. where our 
 holy God faid, What Thing soever I com- 
 mand YOU, OBSERVE TO DO IT: THOU SHALT 
 NOT ADD THERETO, NOR DIMINISH FROM IT. 
 
 Thefe Laws have never been repealed : No; 
 but they are obligatory in all Ag.s, and in all 
 Piaces : The Reafons of them are always the 
 fame ; and no Creatures, neither Men, nor An- 
 gels, have a Power paramount, or fuperior to 
 that of the glorious Creator, nor Authority to al- 
 ter, to add to, or take away any Thing from 
 what the mod high God has commanded, who 
 can crufli Angels, and Men into nothing, as eafily 
 as he made them : And therefore the moft wife, 
 the moft potent, and the moft exalted among 
 Angels or Men, mould never dare to change, or 
 prefume to mend the Ordinances he has ap- 
 pointed. 
 
 O my Soul ! Dread the being a Tranfgreflbr 
 of the mentioned Laws! \£ I fhould make any 
 Addition to the Things which the Lord hath 
 commanded ; would it not fignify, that I think 
 them defective ? And if I lay afide the Ufe of 
 any one of his Ordinances, does it not denote, 
 that I think it needlefs ; that I think it wouid 
 have been better if it had not been enjoined ? 
 And as to both thefe Ways of Acting, are they 
 not an Impeachment of the divine Wiftlom, and 
 an Ufurpation of the divine Authority ? Dread- 
 ful Imagination ! to think of mending any of 
 the Inftitutions of the infinitely wife, and holy- 
 God ! 
 
 Horrid Thoughts ! Horrid Thoughts ! Lord 
 evermore preferve me from them, and keep me 
 
 from 
 
142 Of the publick Reading 
 
 from complying with any Alteration of thine Or- 
 dinances ! And enable me always to keep them 
 pure, and intire ! Amen, for the Sake of Jefus 
 Chrift, and for the Sake of thy great Name. 
 
 If the publick Reading the Holy Scriptures in 
 the ArTemblies of Chriftians for the Worfhip of 
 God, be an Addition to the Things, which the 
 Lord hath commanded ; if it is a Thing, he 
 would not have to be done, it mould be laid afide 
 in every Congregation of his People : 
 
 But, if on fearching the Holy Scriptures, it 
 mall appear, that the Reading them in the 
 worfhiping Afiembliesof Chriftians on the Lord's 
 Days, is an Ordinance which God has appointed, 
 and what he will have to be done, then it ought 
 to be done in every Congregation ot Chriftians on 
 thofe holy Days •, and the Neglect of it, is a 
 manifeft Tranfgreflion of the Laws mentioned. 
 
 I may further obferve, that if this Practice of 
 publick Reading the Sacred Scriptures is an Or- 
 dinance of God, and Part of the Worfhip he re- 
 quires from his People, then Sermons and the 
 other Parts of the holy Service mould be fo fhort- 
 ned, as to allow Time for a fufflcient Ufe of it. 
 
 Now in Anfwer to the Question, although 
 the publick Worfhip of God confifts of feveral 
 Parts -, it will be fufficient, in regard to our Sub- 
 ject, if I take Notice of the two following, viz. 
 
 1. That the publick Worfhip, confifts in fo- 
 lemn Addrefles to God : When Chriftians join 
 together in offering up at the Throne of Grace in 
 the Name of Chrift, our glorious Mediator, Pe- 
 titions, and Supplications for Grace, Mercies and 
 Bleflings, for themfelves and others : Thefe 
 Prayers fignify a Senfeof God's Knowledge of all 
 the Wants of his People, and of his Power and 
 Goodnefs £0 fupply them. 
 
 Thus 
 
tfhe Holy Scriptures. 143 
 
 Thus Thankfgivings for Benefits received by 
 us, and by others, are Acts of Worfhip, as they 
 fignify and exprefs to God, grateful Acknowledg- 
 ments of his Mercy manifefted by his beftowino- 
 them. 
 
 And thus all Expreffions to God, which denote 
 a ferious Senfe of his glorious Attributes, and 
 thofe which are exprefiive of a filial Fear of him, 
 and of our Love to him, our Truft and Hope in 
 him, and our Refolution (by the Help of his holy 
 Spirit) to ferve and obey him, are Acts of religi- 
 ous Worfhip : There is no Doubt of all this. 
 
 2. The Worfhip of God confifts in a ferious 
 Attention and Regard to what He fpeaketb unto 
 us. 
 
 The great God fpeaketh unto Men by the Holy 
 Scriptures, by his Word read, and by his Word 
 preached. 
 
 God gives us leave to fpeak unto him, as in the 
 fore-mentioned Part of his Worfhip, and we 
 mould rejoice that he condefcends to fpeak unto 
 us-, and we mould know, that he commands us 
 to hear him. 
 
 A ferious attentive Hearing his Word, that is, 
 his Holy Scriptures, is expreflive of Reverence to 
 him, and of our Regard to his Authority, and to 
 the Doctrines, the Precepts, the Promifes and 
 Threatnings of his Word, and to the Records of 
 his Providence, contained in the hiftorical Parts 
 of it. 
 
 This is a very important Part of the Worfhip 
 we owe to God, the Good of our Salvation, as 
 will appear from the Revelation he has made of 
 his Will. 
 
 In Exod, xxxiv. 7. We are informed that, 
 
 Mofes took the Book of the Covenant, and read it 
 
 1 (and 
 
144 Of the publick Reading 
 
 (and all the Commandments of the Lord) in the 
 ■Audience of all the People. 
 
 I may here obferve, that in every Age, and in 
 every Congregation of God's People, there are 
 always the fame Reafons for the publick Reading 
 of the Holy Scriptures, viz. to inftrucl the Igno- 
 rant, and to ftir up the pure Minds of the Godly 
 by way of Remembrance. 
 
 In Jofhua viii. 34, 25- h * s faid, Jcfloua read 
 all the Words of the Law, the Blefftngs and Curfings, 
 according to all that is written in the Book of the 
 Law. There was not a word of all that 
 Moses commanded, which Jojhua read not before all 
 the Congregation of Ifrael, with the Women, and 
 the little Ones, and the Strangers that were conver- 
 fant among them. 
 
 The important End for which Jofhua perform- 
 ed this Service, was that the People, old and 
 voung, might know the Commandments, and all 
 the revealed Will of God : He did it as a Means 
 of communicating to them that Knowledge, 
 which was neceffary for them to obtain. 
 
 I think it may be faid, that People in every Age, 
 and every Congregation do very much want the 
 fame Means of Knowledge. And that the pub- 
 lick Reading the divine Laws, and the Writings 
 of the Prophets and Apoftles, may with the di- 
 vine Blefling contribute as much to the fame holy 
 Purpofes as in the Days of Jofhua. 
 
 In Nehemiah viii. 1. We are told, That all the 
 people gathered themfehes together as one Man. 
 And they fpake unto Ezra the Scribe, to bring the 
 Book of the Law of Mofes, which the Lord had 
 commanded to Jfrael. 
 
 In Verfes 2, 3. We are informed that, Ezra 
 
 the Priefi brought the Law before the Congregation 
 
 both of Men and Women, and all that could hear 
 
 .'• Under ft an ding, and that he read therein from 
 
 the 
 
The Ho'y Scriptures. 14$ 
 
 the Morning until Midday before the Men, and tloe 
 Women, and thofe that could under/land; and the 
 Ears of all the People were attentive to the Book of 
 
 the Law. , 
 
 In this Account it is obiervable, 
 
 1. That the Reading of the Laws of God> or 
 the Holy Scriptures, which were then extant, was 
 at the Requeft of the People. A good Example 
 for thofe People to imitate, who have not had the 
 Opportunity of hearing the Holy Scriptures pub- 
 licity read. 
 
 2. That in this AfTembly, much of the Law 
 of the Lord was read, as appears from the Read- 
 ing of it, from Morning to the Midday. 
 
 2 That all the People were attentive to the 
 Reading: The holy God by his Word read, did 
 fpeak unto all his People there afiembled ; and 
 and their ferious Attention to it, was a Service of 
 lVorfhipx.0 him, expreffive of their Reverence : or 
 him, and of their Regard to his Authority, and to 
 his holy Commandments : And this is an Example, 
 which ought to be imitated by all People when 
 the Laws of the Lord are publickly read, and 
 they have Opportunity of hearing them. 
 
 In Deut. iv. 10. God faid unto Mofes, 
 Gather me the People together, and I will make them 
 hear my Words -, that they may learn to fear me all 
 the Bays that they fhall live upon the Earth, and 
 that they may teach their Children 
 
 The Reafon, which the great God in this Scrip- 
 ture affigns for his commanding Mofes to read 
 publickly, and the People to hear his Words fo 
 read (hews that God intended more than his 
 Words being once read by Mofes, at the giving 
 the Law at Mount Sinai; even to appoint it an 
 Ordinance for ever to be obfcrvcd by his People 
 U through- 
 
1 46 Of the publick Reading 
 
 throughout all their Generations, fo long as there 
 fhould be a People co learn, to fear, and ferve him, 
 and lb long as there mould be Children, that need 
 inftruclion. 
 
 And the Difufe of this Ordinance, is the Way 
 to have People ignorant of God and their Duty ; 
 ignorant of the Things he has revealed, and in- 
 capable of teaching their Children, what God 
 would have them taught. 
 
 In Deut. xii. 28. Mofcs faid unto the People, 
 Ob ferve and hear all thefe Words ', which I com- 
 wand thee, that it may go well with thee, and with thy 
 Children after thee for ever \ when thou doejl that 
 which is good and right in the Sight of the Lord thy God. 
 
 Here we may obferve, 
 
 1. A Precept to the People, viz. To hear all 
 the Words which the Lord hath commanded : Which 
 implies, that it is the Duty of thofe whofe Office 
 it is to inftruct the People, to read unto them, all 
 the Words which the Lord hath commanded. 
 
 2. That Peoples hearing, and obeying the 
 Words of the Lord, doing that which is good 
 and right in his Sight, is the Way to have the 
 BlefTing of God upon themfelves, and their 
 Children. 
 
 The Book of the Covenant of God with his Peo- 
 ple, and his Laws, his Statutes and Ordinances 
 were publickly read, and heard in the Days of 
 Mofes, who wrote the Book of Deuteronomy about 
 forty Years after his firft reading of the Law to the 
 Feople ; and afterwards in the Time of Jofhua. 
 But was the Reading themd Part of God's publick 
 Worfljip on the Holy Sabbaths ? 
 
 To this Queftion, I return to myfelf this 
 Anfwer, viz. that if nothing had been faid about 
 it in the Hiftory contained in the Holy Scrip- 
 tures, I fhould conclude that it was fo •, becaufe 
 
 it 
 
The Holy Scriptures. 147 
 
 it is as needful a Means of propagating the 
 Knowledge of God, and of his revealed Will, 
 and of bringing People to fear him, and to do 
 that which is good and right in the Sight of the 
 Lord in every Age, Country, and Congregation, 
 as in the Days of Mofes and Jofhua. But from 
 the Holy Scriptures we know certainly, that it 
 was a Part of the publick Worfhip every Sabbath 
 Day. 
 
 In Acts xiii. 27. The Apoftle Paul fays, For 
 they, that dwell at Jerufalem, and their Rulers, be- 
 caufe they knew him not, (did not know Chrift) nor 
 yet the Voice of the Prophets, which are read 
 every Sabbath Day, they have fullfilled them in 
 condemning him. 
 
 In Acts xv. 21. It is faid, For Mofes of old 
 l'ime hath in every City them that preach him, being 
 read in the Synagogues (in every City) every Sab- 
 bath Day. 
 
 Hence it is evident, that the publick Reading 
 the Scriptures then extant, viz. the Writings of 
 Mofes and the Prophets, was part of the publick 
 Worfhip of God, through the Times of the Old 
 Teftament : And the Reading them is here called 
 preaching them. 
 
 As it was an Ordinance of God's commanding, 
 To it was confcientioufly obferved by the People 
 through the Times of the Old Teftament : And 
 the Laws which enjoined it, God has never re- 
 pealed ; and no Angels or Men have Authority 
 to fet it afide. 
 
 Our blefTed Redeemer did himfelf join in this 
 Part of divine Worfhip : In Luke iv. 15, 16. It 
 is faid, He taught in their (the Jews) Synagogues, 
 being glorified of all. And (that) he came to Naza- 
 reth where he had been brought up, and as his Cuflom 
 was, he went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath Day, 
 and food up for to read; which fhews his Approba- 
 U 2 tion 
 
1 48 Of the publick Reading 
 
 tion of the Ordinance; and therefore all hisDifciples 
 fhould prize it, and gladly give their Attendance 
 on the Sabbath Days, and hear the Word of God 
 contained in the Law of Mofes, and in the Writ- 
 ings of the Piophets and Apoftles, and hear with 
 great Attention and Reverence. 
 
 In Mat. xxui. 1, 2. we read thus, Then [pake 
 Jefus unto the Multitude, and falfo) to his Difci- 
 ples, faying, 1 he Scribes and Pharifees Jit in Mofes 
 Seat : All therefore, whatfoever they bid you obferve, 
 (of the Laws of God by Mofes) that objerve and 
 do. Thefe Injunctions of Chrift (hew, that he 
 did not fet afide the Ordinance, but required the 
 Multitude to hear the Word of God, and to obey 
 it. 
 
 If that very antient Cuftom of Reading the 
 Holy Scriptures ever Sabbath Day as a Part of 
 the publick Worfhip, was a meer human Appoint- 
 ment, our blefTed Saviour who faid, Every Plant 
 which my heavenly Father hath not -planted, fball be 
 rooted up. (Mat. xv. 13.) doubtlefs would not 
 have conformed himfelf to it, and joined in that 
 Part of religious Worfhip as he did : And it ap- 
 pears moft evident from what has been noted, that 
 this Part of Worfhip was a divine lnftitution; and 
 the Reafons which God himfelf gives for com- 
 manding it, prove that he intended it to continue 
 fo long as he had a Church and People in the 
 World. 
 
 But this alfo appears evident from his own 
 Words in Luke xvi. 19, &c. where we have the 
 Parable of a certain rich Man, that was clothed 
 in Purple and fine Linnen, and fared fumptuoufly 
 every Day •, and of a Beggar named Lazarus^ 
 who was laid at his Gate full of 6'ores : '1 hefe 
 both die 1 •, but their Condition immediately after 
 Death was vaftly different ; for the poor Beggar 
 was carried by Angels up to Heaven into Abra- 
 ham's 
 
The Holy Scriptures. 149 
 
 ham's Bofom, but the rich Man was taken away 
 from all his Riches and Grandeur, and vqluptuous 
 Way of living, and carried down into Hell, and 
 there was tormented with Flames unquenchable. 
 
 And t,his rich, now, miferable Sinner, feeing 
 Lazarus with Abraham, intreated that he might 
 be fent to his five Brethren, to teftify to them the 
 Torments he endured, that fo being forewarned, 
 they might be excited to an holy Life, left they 
 alfo mould come to the fame Place of Torment. 
 
 Our blefTed Redeemer reprefents Abraham as 
 oivino - this Anfwer, viz. They have Mofes and the 
 Prophet Si let item hear them. ver. 29. 
 
 And when the rich Man repiied, Nay Father 
 Abraham, but if one went unto them from the Dead, 
 they will repent :■ But Abraham faid, If they will 
 not hear Mofes and the Prophets, neither will they 
 be perfuaded, though one rofe from the Dead. 
 
 We may from thefe Words which our bleffrd 
 Saviour reprefents Abraham as fpeaking to the 
 rich Man, learn, 
 
 1. That the publick Reading of the Writings 
 of Mofes and the Prophets, and confequently the 
 Books of the New Teftament, was an Ordinance 
 appointed by God the fupreme Lawgiver. 
 
 2. That this Ordinance was appointed as the 
 Means of bringing Men to repent of their Sins, 
 and to know, and love God, to believe and obey 
 his Word revealed in his Holy Scriptures. 
 
 3. That it is a Duty incumbent on the Minify 
 ters of Chrift, and one great Part of their Work, 
 fince the Eltabliihment of the Gofpel Difpenfa- 
 tion, to read publickly the Holy Scriptures. 
 
 4. That it is the Duty of all Sorts of People 
 to attend on the publick Reading of them : And 
 there are Promifes to engage them to this Duty. 
 
 In 
 
150 Of the publick Reading 
 
 In Ifa. lv. 3. our merciful God fays, Incline 
 your Ear, and come unto we. hear and your Souls 
 Jhall live, and 1 will make an everiajiing Covenant 
 with you. 
 
 It is a very great Duty for People to read the 
 Word of God, but that is not the Duty enjoined 
 in this Text, there is no Ufe of the Eyes in that 
 Exercfe •, the Expreffion, incline your Ear, and 
 Hear, ihews plainly, that the Duty enjoined is a 
 ferious Attention to the publick Reading of the 
 Holy Scriptures. 
 
 In Luke xi. 28. It is faid by our dear Redeemer, 
 BleJJed are they that hear the Word of God, and 
 keep it. 
 
 I may add, that as the Reading the Scriptures 
 of the Old Teftament, was a fufficient Means to 
 bring Men to repent ; To the Reading the Holy 
 Scriptures of both the Old and the New Tefta- 
 ment, is a fufficient Means to the fame End. 
 
 By fufficient, I would not be underftood as if I 
 thought all other Means needlefs and ufelefs : For 
 Parents teaching their Children the Things which 
 the Lord has commanded in his Word •, and the 
 Minifters of God, whofe Office is to inftruct the 
 People by explaining, and difcourfing, or preach- 
 ing on particular Parts of the Sacred Scriptures, 
 are great Duties, which the Lord hath commanded, 
 and of great importance to the People : But how ? 
 Only as they help the People more clearly to un- 
 derftand thofe Parts of Scripture which the Minif- 
 ters of Chrift preach upon, and which are, or 
 ought to be read unto them. 
 
 The Apoftle Paul in his fecond Epiftle to the 
 Corinthians, (writ about fixty Years after our Sa- 
 viours Nativity,) fpeaking of the Jews fays, But 
 their Minds were Winded, for until this Day remain - 
 eth the fame Vail, untaken away in the Reading of 
 the G'd Tefiament, which Fail is dene away in Chrift: 
 
 But 
 
"The Holy Scriptures. 151 
 
 But even unto this Day, when Mofes (that is, the 
 Word of God by Mofes) is read, the Vail is upon 
 their Hearts. 2 Cor. iii. 14, 15. 
 
 What the Apoftle here obferves fhews, that the 
 Writings of Mofes and the Old Teftament, were 
 in his Time publickly Read on the Sabbath Days. 
 And hence we may conclude, that the Writings 
 of the New Teftament, the Gofpels, and the Epift- 
 les of the Apoftles, and the Revelations by the 
 Apoftle John, which containeth further difcoveries 
 of the Will of God, and the Way of our Salva- 
 tion, were likewife publickly Read, as a Part of 
 the Worfhip we owe to God, the God of our 
 Salvation. 
 
 And in 1 Cor. i. 1, 2. St. Paul directs that 
 Epiftle not only to the Church of God at Corinth, 
 but to them that were fanclified in Chrifi Jefus> 
 f wherever they inhabited) called to be Saints, with 
 all them that hi every Place call upon the Name of 
 Jefus Chrift our Lord. 
 
 In 2 Cor. i. 1. The Apoftle directs that Epif- 
 tle, unto the Church of God at Corinth, with all 
 the Saints which are in all Achaia. 
 
 In Colof. iv. 16. The Apoftle who had direct- 
 ed the Epiftle to the Saints, and faithful Brethren, 
 which were in Chrift at ColofTe, (Chap. i. 1.) 
 fays to them, When this Epiftle is read among/tyou, 
 caufe that it be read alfo in the Church of the Lao- 
 diceans, and that ye likewife read the Epiftle from 
 Laodicea. 
 
 We may very reafonably conclude from fuch 
 PaJTages as thefe, that God intended that the 
 Writings of the Apoftles which make the Books 
 of the New Teftament, fhould be read in all the 
 Churches of Chrift. 
 
 The Reafons for the publick Reading of the 
 
 New Teftament, are more numerous than thofe 
 
 for the Old •, on the Account that it is a better 
 
 1 Teftament 
 
152 Of the publick Reading 
 
 Teftament, or Covenant, (Heb. ix. 6.) and that 
 it contains a more clear Revelation of the ever- 
 lofting Gofpel, (Rev. xiv. 6.) the Gofpel of Peace, 
 (Ephef. vi. 15.) the Gofpel of our Salvation, 
 (Epher i. 13.) iheGc-fpelof Chrift, (Rom. i. 16) 
 the Gofpel of the blejfed God, (1 Tim. i. 11.) that 
 glorious Gofpel. (2 Cor. iv. 4.) And brighter 
 Manifestations of the Love of God in fending 
 his only begotten Son into the World to fave Sin- 
 ners : On the Account that the New Testament, 
 contains four Hiflories of the Life, Doctrines, 
 Miracles, Sufferings, Prophefies, Death, Refur- 
 rection, and Alcenfion into Heaven of the Son of 
 God : And more distinct Instructions in thofe 
 Things we are to believe, to practife, and to hope 
 for : And on the Account that the New Testament 
 contains the other Writings of the Apoftles, {hew- 
 ing us more plainly the Way of Faith and Holi- 
 nefs, and forewarning us of all the great Events 
 that are to be brought to pafs in the World. 
 
 The Confideration of thefe things convinces 
 me, that it is the Will of God, that the Scriptures 
 of the New, as well as thofe of the Old Tefta- 
 ment, mould be read in the Congregation of 
 Christians, as Part of the publick Worfhip, he re- 
 quires of us, and as a considerable Part of it ; and 
 that by a ferious and attentive Hearing, we are to 
 exprefs our Reverence of God, and Regard to 
 his Authority and to the gracious Contents of his 
 Word, and to signify our Refolution always to 
 believe and obey it. 
 
 In the third Verfe of the fir ft Chapter of the 
 Book of the Revelations to St. John, it is faid, 
 Blejfed is he that readeth, and they that hear the 
 Words of this Prophecy \ and keep thofe Things which 
 are written therein. 
 
 This Text mews, that notwithstanding thofe 
 Parts of ir, which are difficult to be interpreted, 
 
 God 
 
The Holy Scriptures. 153 
 
 God requires all Chriftians to read it and to hear 
 it, and thofe who cannot read, mould be more 
 diligent to hear it : Which implies, that it be- 
 longs to the Office of fome, even of the Minifters 
 of Chrift to read it publickly, that the People 
 may have the opportunity of hearing it •, and may 
 be informed of thofe many ufeful Inftructions con- 
 tained in it, and which are eafy to be underftood. 
 
 I am not for laying afide the preaching Ser- 
 mons on fome one, or a few more Verfes of the 
 Holy Scriptures, which has been in the pad Ages, 
 as well as in the prefent, one right and good Way 
 of teaching the Word of God, of publishing the 
 glad Tidings of Salvation by Jefus Chrift, and 
 inculcating the great Things God has revealed to 
 us: And I hope 'twill be always in Ufe to the 
 End of the World, for the Conversion of Sin- 
 ners, and for the Confirmation, Edification, and 
 Comfort of the Saints. 
 
 But then thefe Sermons on the Lord's Days, 
 mould not be fo enlarged as to exclude the pub- 
 lick Reading the Holy Scriptures ; fince that is one 
 of the Parts of publick Worfhip, which the Lord 
 requires of u 5 , which is as needful now for the 
 Good of immortal Souls as ever, and will be as 
 much wanted in all future Ages. 
 
 The People ought to have the Opportunity of 
 hearing the Words of God, in that Order and 
 Connexion in which his Wifdom has difpofed them, 
 and I think we mould fhew our Reverence of his 
 Wifdom by the publick Reading them as they 
 were written. 
 
 And as God will be glorified by a due Perfor- 
 mance of this Part of his publick Worfhip, fo 
 with his Bleifing, it may be very beneficial to the 
 feveral Sorts of People that may be Hearers. 
 
 It may be an happy Means of edifying and com- 
 forting the mod ferious Chriftians : The Paflages 
 X of 
 
1 54 Of the publick Reading 
 
 of Scripture which they fhall hear, may occafion 
 fuitable pious Thoughts, and excite holy Deftres, 
 Affections and Relblutions, according to the 
 Matter of them. 
 
 When a ferious Chriftian hears the Command- 
 ments, he can fay in his Mind to God : Lord ! they 
 are all of them holy, wife, juft and good •, O how 
 love I thy Law ! Do thou by thy bleffed Spirit 
 make it the Subject of my Meditation Day and 
 Night, in every Opportunity and Occafion for it ! 
 
 When from the hiftorical Parts of the Scriptures 
 he hears of a wicked Man, and of God's Ven- 
 geance upon him, he may think thus •, By Na- 
 ture I am the fame ; but O my good God, it is 
 thy Grace which has made the Difference, and re- 
 ftrained me from thofe Sins, which were the Ruin 
 of his Soul and Body ! I praife and thank thee, 
 for the Reftraints thou didft lay on me, and for 
 all the Workings of thy holy Spirit in me ! 
 
 When he hears the Account of any of thofe 
 who feared God, and walked daily with him, and 
 of the Tokens of his Favour to them, he may 
 fay within himfelf : Here, O my Soul, is an Ex- 
 ample for thy Imitation ! O my God make me 
 fuch a faithful Servant to thee, and make me to 
 excel in Faith, Holinefs and Humility ! 
 
 When he hears read the Hiftory of the Idola- 
 try, and other Immoralities of God's own People, 
 when he hears of their Departures from God, and 
 the long Abounding of Iniquities among them, 
 and of the deftroying Judgments which his righ- 
 teous Providence brought upon them ; he may 
 think, that 'tis a dreadful Thing for a Nation to 
 forfake their God, and to go on in a Courfe of 
 Rebellion againft him ; and that no fuch Nation 
 can efcape his Vengeance without Reformation ; 
 and hereby he may be excited the more to fear 
 
 God, 
 
The Holy Scriptures. 155 
 
 God, and to avoid all thofe Things which will 
 provoke him. 
 
 When he hears read the Account of God's 
 People repenting, and humbling themfelves, and 
 of their reforming their Lives, and returning to 
 God with earned Supplications for Pardon, for 
 Mercy and Deliverance •, and hears how merciful- 
 ly God forgave them, and delivered them from 
 their Enemies, and made the Storms of his Ven- 
 geance to ceafe ; and Peace, Tranquility and 
 Profperity to return •, he may think how gracious 
 is the great God ! How willing to be reconciled 
 to his difobedient People upon their Repentance: 
 O my God, help me to love thee more and more 
 for thy immenfe Goodnefs ! Oh that all Men would 
 praife the Lord for his Goodnefs, for his wonderful 
 Works to the Children of Men! (Pfal. cvii. 15. 
 24.) 
 
 And when the Pfalms of David are read, which 
 are full of pious Petitions, when he hears thofe 
 which are fuitable to his Cafe, he may fay in his 
 Heart, Lord grant this Petition to me ! 
 
 Pfal. cxix. 12. it is faid, Blejfed art thou, 
 Lord, teach me thy Statutes -> deal bountifully with 
 thy Servant, that I may live and keep thy Word ; 
 open thou mine Eyes, that I may behold wonderous 
 Things out of thy Law. ver. 17, 18. 
 
 A Multitude of Inftances might be mentioned 
 to mew how the Reading the Holy Scriptures, as 
 Part of the publick Worfhip of God, may be 
 profitable to the mod pious Hearers, although 
 they daily read them at Home. 
 
 But this Ordinance in every Congregation, is 
 more efpecially needful for thofe who never read, 
 and feldom hear the Holy Scriptures ; it is necef- 
 fary for thofe who remain in a State of Ignorance, 
 of Unbelief, and Difobedience. 
 
 X 2 And 
 
1 56 Of the fublick Reading 
 
 And if fuch Perfons fhall attend the publick 
 Worfhip in AfTemblies of Chriftians, in which 
 the Holy Scriptures are read evey Sabbath Day, 
 as well as preached, they will be prefent when, and 
 where both thofe divine Ordinances are admini- 
 ftered, which our good God, the God of Sal- 
 vation, has appointed for the Inftru&ion, and 
 Converfion of Sinners, as well as for the Edifica- 
 tion of the Saints : They will be where they will 
 hear that Word of God, which is perfecl converting 
 the Soul-, they are in the Way of being made 
 wife unto Salvation. And who can tell but the 
 Holy Spirit may this Sabbath, or another, fee 
 home on their Confciences fome Word of God to 
 heir Conviction, and to the bringing them to 
 Repentance towards God, and to Faith in our 
 Lord Jefus. 
 
 It is good to be where God would have us to 
 be, and ufing the Means to obtain faving Know- 
 ledge. 
 
 But they who will neither read, nor hear the 
 Word of the Lord, are in the direct Way to die 
 in their Sins, and fink down in the Gulph of end- 
 lefs Miferies. 
 
 Thefe are ignorant, and very ignorant of thofe 
 Things God would have them to know •, ignorant 
 both of his Laws, and of his Gofpel, 
 
 They are ignorant of his Laws; no wonder then 
 that they live in Difobedience to many of them. 
 
 It appears therefore to me a Matter of great 
 Importance, that the holy Laws of God, not 
 only the Ten Commandments, which are but a 
 Summary of them ; but his other moral Precepts, 
 fome recorded in the Old, and fome in the New 
 Teftamenr, mould be made publick; and the 
 Reading the Holy Scriptures every Lord's Day, 
 in every Congregation of Chriftians, is the proper 
 Way of doing it. 
 
 This 
 
T.he Holy Scriptures. 157 
 
 This Reading would be a fetting before People, 
 A Lamp unto their Feet, and a Light unto their 
 Path. (Pfal. cxix. 105.) It would be a fhewing 
 them the Way in which they mould go, a fhewing 
 them what they mould do, and what they mould 
 not do ; and may be a Means of preventing much 
 Sin, and of keeping fome People from thofe finful 
 Ways in which they allow themfelves ; and a 
 Means of their becoming fincere Chriftians. 
 
 There are fome Laws which either are /lot com- 
 monly known, or are not regarded : 
 
 It is commanded, Children obey your Parents ; 
 Honour thy Father and thy Mother ; And thefe 
 Laws are apprehended to bind Children while they 
 are young : But there is another Law, which binds 
 them when they become Men, and Women, I 
 mean that in Levit. xix. 3. Te Jhall fear every 
 Man his Mother, and his Father. And that in 
 Levit. x. 8 — 11. which is as binding on all 
 the Minifters of Chrift in all Ages, as it was on 
 Aaron, and his Sons and their Defcendants ; 
 but thefe have been taken Notice of already. 
 
 In Deut. xxv. 13, 14, 16. God, the righteous 
 and juft God, fays, 'Thou Jhalt not have in 
 thy Bag divers Weights, a great and a fmall. 
 But thou Jhalt have a per j r eff, and a juft Weight, a 
 perfetl, and a juft Me a fur e, Jhalt thou have : For 
 all that do fuch Things, (viz. keeping divers 
 Weights, and divers Meafures) and all that do 
 unrighteoujly, are Abomination unto the Lord thy God. 
 
 Thefe are moral Precepts, and fhould be known 
 to all Men. 
 
 The Doctrines of the Gofpel which we are to 
 believe, and very many of the Duties incumbent 
 on Chriftians, are frequently preached by the faith- 
 ful Minifters of Chrift of every Denomination, and 
 bleffed be God that they are fo ; but this does not 
 render the Reading the Holy Scriptures needlefs 
 
 to 
 
158 Of the public k Reading 
 
 to the mod knowing Chriftians : They find In- 
 ftru<5tion and Comfort in their daily Converies 
 with them in their Clofet, and can alfo profit by 
 them when they hear them read in Publick. 
 
 But as there are fo many in mofl Congregations, 
 who have neither read, or heard the Holy Scrip- 
 tures ; methinks, all who truly love God, and 
 believe in Chrift, and wifh all their fellow Crea- 
 tures to be not only almoft, but altogether fuch 
 as they are, in Covenant with God, and fincere 
 Difciples of the blefled Jefus : Methinks, 1 fay, 
 they fhould rejoice, that God has made the Read- 
 ing his Word a Part of the publick Worfhip of 
 Him. 
 
 It is a proper Means of diftufing in the Minds 
 of the Hearers, the Knowledge of thofe Things 
 which concern their Salvation, and everlafting 
 Felicity, and alfo their Happinefs, their Comfort 
 and Joy, while in this World. 
 
 I apprehend, that if three or four Chapters ot 
 the Holy Scriptures (more or lefs, as Circum- 
 flances mail direct) were publickly Read on our 
 Lord's Days in the Time of divine Worfhip, and 
 the Minifter at the End of each Chapter recited 
 the Contents of it, a little fuller than the large 
 Contents which in fome Bbles are prefixed to the 
 Chapters ; with brief general Obfervations when 
 needful, it would contribute much to the Hearers 
 Underflanding of the bleiled Revelation contained 
 in them. 
 
 It is a pious Cuftom of fome Matters on the 
 Sabbath Day, to read fome Part of a good Book 
 to their Families \ and their doing fo, (hews an 
 Efteem for the Author of the Book, as well as 
 for the Contents of it : 
 
 And fo the ferious Reading God's Book is pay- 
 ing a Refpect to the wife, the great, and the 
 gracious Author of it. 
 
 And 
 
The Hcly Scriptures. 159 
 
 And when this is done ferioufly in Publick, it 
 is a publick Act of Reverence to God, and of 
 Love to his Word -, it is a pubiick Act of religious 
 Worfhip, and our mod reafonable Service. 
 
 And therefore I cannot but wifh that the Ufe 
 of this Ordinance, this ancient, this moil benefi- 
 cial Ordinance, divinely inftituted, may obtain 
 and be improved in every Congregation of Chrif- 
 tains, for the Glory of God, and for the Sake of 
 the many in every worfhiping Affembly, who do 
 greatly want it. 
 
 1 have already obferved, that in Rev. i. 3. it 
 is faid, BieJJed is he that readeth? and they that hear 
 the Words cf this Prophecy, and keep ihofe Things 
 which are written therein. 
 
 I would now a little more distinctly mention 
 the Particulars expreffed, or evidently implied in 
 this Text, which ought to influence the Practice 
 of all Christians, viz. 
 
 1. That God requires every Perfon (who can 
 read) to read his Book of the Revelations, and to 
 keep thofe Things which are written therein : 
 Which fignifies that they believe the Doctrines, the 
 Promifes, and Threatnings, and obey the Com- 
 mandments contained in it. 
 
 This is a juft Inference from God's declaring 
 that every fuch Perfon is blejfed : He is bleffed of 
 God, and bleffed by him. 
 
 2. It is likewife evident, that God requires the 
 publick Reading his Book of the Revelations, 
 without which People cannot hear it. 
 
 3. That it is the Duty of Christians to attend 
 the publick Reading of this Book. 
 
 4. It may be concluded that it is the Duty of 
 the Ministers of Chrift to perform this Office. 
 
 5. We 
 
1 60 Of the publick Reading 
 
 5. We may infer that God requires Men to 
 read his other Books of the Holy Scripture, and to 
 hear them publickly read, and to keep thofe 
 Things which are contained in them : And like- 
 wife, that it is incumbent on the Minifters of 
 Chrift publickly to read them ; efpecially thofe 
 Parts of the Holy Scriptures, which contain the 
 Doctiines, the Promifes and Threatnings, the 
 Statutes, the Ordinances, and the Laws of God ; 
 the Predictions recorded in his Word, and the 
 Hiftories of the Righteous, and the Wicked, 
 and of God's Dealings with them. 
 
 And the Bleflednefs fpoken of mould be a 
 Motive prevailing both with Minifters and People, 
 confcientioufly to perform the Duty now men- 
 tioned. 
 
 We mould always remember that there is one 
 Lawgiver, who is able to fave, and to dejlroy. 
 (James iv. 12 J We fhould always endeavour to 
 know the revealed Will of our gracious God, and 
 faithfully act according to it. 
 
 Should not a People feek unto their God? it is 
 faid, Ifa. viii. 19. and in ver. 20. To the Law, and 
 to the Tejiimony ; */ they /peak not (i. e. do not 
 teach) according to this Word, it is becaufe there is 
 no Light, or Truth, in them. 
 
 It appears to me mod evident, that the right 
 and true Answer to the Queftion confidered, is 
 this, viz. 
 
 Anfwer : That the publick Reading the Holy Scrip- 
 tures in the djfemblics of Chrijiians every (Sabbath, 
 or) Lord's Bay, is an Ordinance cf divine Appoint- 
 ment, and Part of that Worfhip which God requires 
 from his People. 
 
 It is hence manifeft, that the Difufe of this 
 
 Ordinance, is a taking away from the Things, 
 
 which the Lord hath commanded ; and is a Tranf- 
 
 5 grefllon 
 
'The Holy Scriptures. 161 
 
 gretfion of thofe Laws which were mentioned in 
 the Introduction of this Letter. 
 
 Happy will it be, if all the Societies of Chrif- 
 tians of every Denomination fhall examine by the 
 facred Scriptures, their religious Cuftoms in the 
 Worfhip of God ; of the great God, jealous of 
 his own Authority and Glory ; and if they fhall 
 lay afide every Ufage, which is an Addition to the 
 Things which the Lord hath commanded, and 
 fhall let up the Ufe of every Ordinance of God, 
 which has hitherto been neglected. 
 
 The Consequence, the glorious Confequence, 
 will be an endearing Coalition of the different Sects 
 of Chriftians, and a bleffed Reformation among 
 the profefied Difciples of the holy Jefus. Then 
 will Idolatry and Superstition ceafe among Chrif- 
 tians, then the Worfhip of God will be more 
 pure, and intire, more agreeable to his revealed 
 Will, and free from Additions to, and Diminu- 
 tions from his Ordinances, which he has ftrictly 
 forbidden, and which he greatly abhors; and 
 therefore it will be more pleafing to him, and 
 more comfortable and profitable to thofe who fin- 
 cerely worlhip him. 
 
 ^ O gracious God, by the Influence of thy holy 
 Spirit on the Minds of Chriftians of every Deno- 
 mination, do thou bring fuch a Reformation to 
 pafs! Do thou convince all Men of the Excellency 
 and Value of thy Word ! Oh, that they could 
 truly fay unto thee, The Law of thy Mouth is bet- 
 ter to me than Thoufands of Gold and Silver ! (Pfal. 
 cxix. 72.) Lord excite them both to read and 
 hear it"! Open their Understanding, that they may 
 understand it, and help them by thy Grace duly to 
 improve it! Amen. 
 
 2 Tim. iii. 15. The Holy Scriptures; 
 which are able to maize thee wife unto Salvation, 
 through Faith, which is in Chrijl Jefus. 
 
 Y A pious 
 
1 6 2 Of the pub lick Reading 
 
 A pious Poet well exprefTed himfelf to the gra- 
 cious Author of our Bible, in the following Lines, 
 
 iiz. 
 
 Let all the Heathen Writers join 
 
 To form one perfect Book •, 
 Great God, if once compar'd with thine, 
 
 How mean their Writings look ! 
 
 Not the moft perfect Rules they gave, 
 
 Could mew one Sin forgiven •, 
 Nor lead one Step beyond the Grave ; 
 
 But thine conduct to Heaven. 
 
 Watts's Pfalms, p. 318* 
 
 Pfal. cvii. 8. Oh that Men would praife the 
 Lord for his Goodnefs> and for his wonderful Works 
 to the Children of Men ! Amen. 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 This, and the preceeding Letters, are addrefTed 
 unto all Men, becaufe all Men are moft nearly 
 concerned in the Contents of them ; and becaufe 
 all who mail believe the Words of the Lord 
 cited in them will have Peace, Comfort, and 
 Honour in this World ; they will have that 
 Honour which cometh from God only, the 
 Honour of being his true Servants, his beloved 
 Children, and his Heirs •, and they will have in- 
 expreflible Felicities, and Glories in that endlefs 
 World to which we are going. And at the 
 Day of Judgment they will receive the Reward 
 of the Inheritance, they will be put into the 
 PofTefTion of a Kingdom and a Crown, which 
 Chrift has purchafed, and in his Gofpel promifed, 
 to all his fincere Difciples, who lhall reign in 
 Life by him. Rom. v. 17. 
 
 That 
 
$be Holy Scriptures: 163 
 
 That this may be the Cafe of thofe,' who (hall 
 read thefe Papers, is the Prayer of, 
 
 their faithful Servant, 
 
 London, March 17, 
 
 1761. 
 Et in Anno Vita^ 83. 
 
 THEOPHILUS LOBB, 
 
 F I N I Si 
 

mmmssmm 
 

 
 
I 
 
 I