A Wheel in the MJ^DLF, OF A 
 
 OR, 
 The HARMONY and CONNEXION of 
 
 the various Afts of DIVINR P|l O V I D : fe N C E. 
 
 A 
 
 SERMON 
 
 Delivered before the fecond Rev. PRES- 
 BYTERY or NEW-CASTLE, and their CORRESPON- 
 DENTS, met at WHITE-CLAY-CREEK, January 2d, 
 '7S9' 
 
 By ROBERT SMITH, 
 
 Minifter of the Gofpel at PEQ.UEA. 
 
 Publiflied at. the Requeft'of the Hearers, 
 
 PHIL ADELPHI As 
 
 Printed by W. D.UNLAP, at the Nevveft-Printmg. Office, 
 
 MDCCLIX, 
 
p PI 
 547 
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 GIFT OF 
 
 Lewis F, Lengfeld 
 
A Wheel in the Middle of a Wheel, 
 
 ; 
 
 A 
 
 SERMON, 
 
 Ezekiel, i, 16. ffheir Appearance and tbeir Work was 
 as it were a WHEEL IN <IHE MIDDLE OF A 
 
 Y the Vifion of Wheels, and living Creatures 
 in this Chapter, Gondifcovered to E&kiel 
 ?, particularly refpeding the 
 >, together with the Minifers of it. 
 The Minifters of divine Providence, are the 4nge1s t 
 thofe bright Intelligences of Glory, who are faid to 
 be four inNumber(<0, probably anfwering to the four 
 Wheels of a Chariot, the Appearance of which is fup- 
 pofcd in thisVifion(6). They are reprefcnted as hav- 
 ing 
 
 (a) Verfe, 5. 
 
 (b) In the ("acred Oracles, Angels are frequently called CHERU- 
 RJM, which Term has a near Affinity withREHUBIM thatfigni- 
 fies CHARIOTS. Now Chariots being the Honor, Defence, and 
 Military Strength of a Nation, and often ufed to humble haughty In- 
 vadors : and as in this Vifion we have reprefented the Chuiches 
 
 Glory 
 
ing the Face of a Man, to denote their Wifdom and Sa- 
 gacity ; the Face of a Lion, to denote their Strength ; 
 the .Fdce of an Ox, to denote their Diligence in Bufinefs, 
 and the Face of an Eagle, to denote their Sttllimenefs . 
 The #.*<fr o/ <*^/* afcribed to them, may fignify their 
 Facility in doing their Work. Their Feet were 
 Kraight, not weakly, bending to this Side or that, but 
 with unconquered Firmnefs, proceeding to fulfil their 
 Million ; the Sole of which was like the Sole of a Calfs 
 Foot, pointing out their Purity, perhaps, as under the 
 Law, the Ox dividing the Hoof, was clean. They 
 had the Appearance of Lamps, and burning Coals of Fire, 
 their 'Fettfparkled like Brafs, and they ran as a F/ajh of 
 Lightning, to teach us their 48'ivity, their Brightneff, 
 and their faming Zeal for GOD. By their Wings we 
 are taught their Speed in executing divine Orders ; their 
 Readinefs to obey, and Concord, by their Wings ftretcbed 
 up, and joining to each other. As with two lifted up they 
 were ready to fly, fo with two they covered their Bodies, 
 cither to intimate Reverence and Decency, or to conceal 
 themfelves and their Ads, the overpowering Splendor 
 of which, is too glorious for our feeble Sight. Each 
 of the living Creatures had four Wings and four Foces t 
 confequently they ftood in equal Direction to every 
 Quarter of the Earth, ready co proceed where ve r they 
 were commanded. They wentjiraight forward, and 
 turned not when they went, by which it appears, that 
 they feadily profecute their Cottrfe, till they do the 
 
 Errand 
 
 Glory and Safety, Chaftifement and Deliverance from Calamity, by 
 the Providence of GOD conduced by Angels ; I therefore conclude, 
 that, moft probably, the Angels are her likened to liviflg Creature? 
 yoaked in a Chariot. 
 
C 7 3 
 
 Errand on which they are fent, and in the Difcharge 
 of their Truft, they obferve divine Directions ; for wbe~ 
 tberfoever the Spirit was to go, they went. 
 
 THUS we RrAthefeMniflersofGODj arecompleat- 
 ly qualified to tranfact the grand important Affairs 
 committed to them. How they do their Work, we 
 cannot tell, becaufe of our fmall Acquaintance with 
 the World of Spirits. It is of more Importance for 
 us to know the glorious Scene they A&> or divine Provi- 
 dence of which they are the Minifters. Now this is re- 
 prefenred by ONE WHEEL Standing by the LIVING 
 CRE47[/RES(c\ i. e. cne Standing by each of the 
 four living Creatures ; for the Wheels are four in 
 Number(df). And perhaps one only is mentioned here, 
 to teach us, that the Scene of Providence is but ONE t 
 tho* its Acts and Caufes are many. In Colour they 
 were like Beryl, i. e. a Sea-green, which either re- 
 fpscts the fluctuating Nature of external Difpenfations, 
 or rather the iritrinfic Beauty and Vigor of the Church, 
 to which the Wheels have a fpecial Direction. They 
 had ALL ONE LIKENESS, to fliew the exa& Agree- 
 went fubfifting between the various A8$ of divine Provi- 
 dence, which are all framed and direfted by the fame 
 exquiftte 
 
 THEN we are informed in the Words of my Text, 
 that tbeir Appearance and tleir U f ork was as it were a 
 WHEEL 7N THE MIDDLE OF J WHEEL. Some 
 fuppofe the Prophet here alludes to the Wheels of a 
 
 Ifttcb 
 
 (c) Vcrfc, 15. (d) Verfe, 18. 
 
C 8 3 
 
 or Clock, which in their various Movements 
 concur, and mutually aflift each other in promoting the 
 Defgn of the Machine. But it appears more probable 
 to me, that the Figure is borrowed from the Wheels of 
 a Chariot, which are either of a circular Form, alefler 
 one being contained within a greater ; or rather of a 
 fpherical Figure, two Wheels croffing and interfering 
 each other at oppofite Points, the four Semi-circles of 
 which, compofe the four Sides, and the four Faces of 
 the Wheels mentioned Verfe 17. Thus have weaFigure 
 exactly reprefeming the Ideas the Spirit of GOD feems 
 here to teach us, viz. that the various Caufes in, and 
 48s of divine Providence, alike eafily affed: all Places 
 where GOD has Work to do, zn&fweetly concur in effec- 
 ting the Defgns of Heaven, how different foever their Di- 
 rections are ; for the Wheels are connected together ; 'i 
 fuch a Manner, as to form a Globe, or Sphere, with/0#" 
 Sides and four Faces, anfwering to the four Wings and 
 four Faces of the living Creatures, which look to the 
 four Quarters of the Earth ; and can therefore as readi- 
 ly move to one Place as to another, without the diffi- 
 cult, tedious Work of turning round, that (when the 
 Courfe is changed) circular Wheels are oblidged to. 
 
 DOCT. THO* the luflrurnents, and ^Bs of divine 
 Providence, have various tendencies and Directions, and 
 may feem to interfere with each other, yet a beautiful Con- 
 nexion and Harmony /ubfifi between them, in accompUfiing 
 GO D*s glorious Defgns towards the World in general, and 
 the Church in particular. 
 
 THAT 
 
r 9 3 
 
 THAT DIFINE PRQFWEKCE fuperintends the 
 whole Creation, muft be granted by all that credit the 
 Scripture. His Kingdom rule s over d//(e). The Hea- 
 vens and the Earth, with their various H ,fts, all obey 
 the Commandof their Afaker(f)- He obferves the moft 
 minute Affairs ; for the very Hairs of our Head are all 
 numbered ; nor fliali zfngle Sparrow fall to the Ground 
 without his 
 
 THE regular Conduit of the inanimate World, and 
 the various ^Tribes of Infefis, proves a Providence . By 
 the imprefs of the divine Hand, univerfal Syltems ex- 
 off ly perform their various Revolutions . The litile Ant 
 without Intelligence, lays up Winter Stores in Summer, 
 and the diligent Bee builds her an Houfe, unequalled 
 by the skill of the voifef 4rcl>ite8 t r Mathematician. 
 
 No other Caufe can be affigncd for preternatural Ef- 
 feSs. The Lions devoured Daniel's Perfecutcrs be- 
 fore they reached the Bottom of the Den ; but hud no 
 Power againft himfelf. Nebuchadnezzar's fiery Fur- 
 nace, heated feven Fold, had no Influence on the three 
 Children, tho* it confumed the mighty Men who caft 
 them into it. The Fire ftood around Dionyjtus and Po~ 
 lycarp) after the Manner of a Ships Sail full of Wind, 
 and xonld not touch them. Now, whatever a&s only 
 naturally i a&s ncceflarily, the Fire bums (jud uHimum 
 fuipoffet) to the utmoft Extent of its Power, confe- 
 qustly fuch Prefervations can proceed from Nothing 
 v B clfc, 
 
 e) Pfalm tin. 19. (f) Pfalm cxlvii, cxlviii. and Job xxxviii, 
 "atthew x, 29, 30* 
 
C 10 3 
 
 elfe, than the irrejiflable Providence of GOD, idio can 
 give Check to the fixed Laws of Nature. 
 
 BESIDES, if GOD does not rule the World, the 
 Creatures are their own con/ewers^ which is as great ah 
 Abfurdity, as to.fuppbfe they were their own Creators. 
 The World can no more continue independent, than it 
 could exifl independent. Whatfoever owes its Being to 
 Power t owes the Prefervatien of its Being to that Jame 
 Power. 
 
 BUT to prepare this Subject further for Improve- 
 ment, I fliall briefly difclofe the Nature, and Properties 
 of D1F1NE PROVIDENCE, and then illuftrate and 
 confirm the Doctrine. 
 
 I. DIVINE PROVIDENCE, 
 CdREofthe World, by which hepreferves all the Crea- 
 tures, and Governs all their dflions'. 
 
 Firft. Govprefervet tie World, which he does by 
 upholding the Creatures in their diftinft Ranks of ffe- 
 ing, maintaining them, and providing fuicableSuftain- 
 ance for tjie Support of their feveral Natures. In him 
 <welive t move, and have our Bewgs(hy, and he upholds 
 all Things by the Word of fas Power(i). Tee LOKD pre- 
 fer 'ves Ala? and Beafi(]a} ; and the Eyes of alii kings wait 
 en him for Altai in dm Seafon, whoopenrhis Hand liber- 
 ally, and fatiifes the Defre of every Ihing that lives(l). 
 Jiis Blefling Caufes our Cloaths to warm, and Food to 
 
 nourifli 
 
 (h) Afts xvii. a8. (i) Hebrews i. 3, (k) Pfalm X3q<vi. 6. 
 (1) Pfalm cxlv, 15, 16, 
 
C xi 3 
 
 nmii ifti us. Anc!,- b^ a perpetual Influx, he preferves 
 the Virtues and Powers of natural Beings in a Promp- 
 titude for Action, and enables them to aft fo as to at- 
 tain the various Ends of their Natures. As the Crea- 
 tures do not cxift by the intrinfa Principles of their 
 own Natures, they rauft depend on their Caufc for 
 Prefervation : For whatever receives its Being from 
 another, has Nothing to fupport its Being, but its 
 producing Caufe. If the Creatures fubfift independent 
 of JEHOVAH, they muft have a Self- lubfifting Nature, 
 and confequentlx are endowed with an incommunica- 
 ble Perfection of Deity, which is abfurd. 
 
 QUERY. Should GOD withhold [ufai 
 from the Creatures, would they drop into their primi- 
 tive Non-exiftence ? 
 
 ift. ANSWER. A nicer Sufpenfion of fuftanirig In- 
 fluence is impojfible ; GOD muft either/* 7 /// the Creatures 
 Exiftence, or A 1 /// it ; and then the Effect will n^cefla- 
 rily follow. But upon fuch a Sufpcnfion, were it 
 pofible, I cannot think the World would drop into a 
 State 6f Non-exiftence, otherwife the Creatures arc 
 only a meer Phantom, or Shadow. But as they are 
 produced by a pojitive A& of the divine U 7 iU^ they can- 
 not ceafe to be, till GOD really Nill their Exifwce : Ic as 
 certainty requires an Act of Almighty Power to anntii- 
 late, as it did to Create all flings. 
 
 ON the forefaid Hypothefis, indeed, Nature would 
 
 lofeits fyrings ofdffiwj and rulh into a wild Heap of 
 
 B a Corftfoa; 
 
t 1* ] 
 
 Corfu/ton ; the beautiful Order of the Creatioo would be 
 broken, and all Things immediately reduced to their 
 original Chios. No more Ihould we breath vital Air, 
 nor the Crimfon flow in our Veins any more ! The 
 Earth would not produce Food for Man and Bcaft> 
 nor the Wings of the Wind fan the World ! The 
 winged Tribes would skim thro* the Air no more, nor 
 the Sea-Herd fport in the Waves ! Globes would dafh 
 on Globts, and univerfal Syfteras become the Wrack of 
 Matter ! As divine Providence prejerves t fo 
 
 idly. IT governs 'the IPorld, by directing and or- 
 daining all Events arid their Caufes as he pleafes. All 
 the Good or Evil, that affefts Individuals, or public 
 Communities, is ordered and appointed by him, who 
 does whatever pleafes him in Heaven, and in Earth, in the 
 Seaj,~ find all deep Places(m}. He puts down one, andfets 
 up anotber^rC) ; nor is there Evil in the Qty t and tie LORD 
 has not done #(o) ; 
 
 AND, as G o D orders Events, he alfo Rules all the Caufes 
 ufed as Instruments in bringing them to pafs, which 
 are of three Kinds, natural, accidental, and Moral. 
 
 ift. HE governs the natural World, the Heavens, 
 the Earth, theSea, and Air, which, with all the meer- 
 ly natural Beings contained in them, a& by a NeceJ/ity of 
 Nature, not of Choice. Matter attracts, or repels; the 
 Globes mutually Influence each other, and regularly 
 
 perform 
 
 (m) Pfalm cxxxv. 6. (n) Pfalm Ixxv. 7, (o) Araos iii, f 
 
perform their various Movements, by \hc.fxeJ ta&s 
 ef FJeavw imprefled on them. Hence the Tides regu- 
 larly ebb and flow, and the Sun exhales Vapours from 
 our Earth, which, formed into pregnant Clouds, and 
 toffed on the Wings of the Wind, gently diftil hi 
 nourifliing Drops on the Earth again. 
 
 THEIR ALMIGHTY Former, opens the Trcafures 
 of the Snow and Hail, and unftops the Bottles of Hea- 
 ven ; lets loofe the imprifoned Wind, and at his Com- 
 mand Lightnings flafh, and Thunders roar. He gives 
 Springs to thele, and all other natural Caufes ; directs 
 their feveral Motions ; excites and curbs their various 
 Influences, as he pleafes : Where, in what Meafure^ 
 and Seafon, they fluii give,, or withhold their Influ- 
 ence, he keeps in his own Power, and directs to an- 
 fwer the wife Ends of Governmcnt(^) . By thefe the 
 LORD produces, or deftroys the Fruits of the Earth, 
 and varioufly affects the Bodies of Mankind with 
 Health or Sicknefs ; and therefore by thele he governs 
 Moral Agents, rewards and punifhes *'.e World. 
 
 id. GOD governs accidwtalCaufts: Time and Cbance t 
 faysSoLOMON, btppentt all ^(q). Not thatChance, 
 or accident, can do any Thing(r) ; whatever is done, 
 
 has 
 
 (p) Job xjccrili. Joel ii. 23, 14, 25. Amos iv. 7, 8, 9. Jere- 
 . miah v. 24. (q) Ecclefiaftes ix. n. 
 
 (r) Ey Chance, Lack, and Accident, the Heathens understood 
 fomething that fell out without the Obfervation and Direftion of 
 Heaven j and I am apprehenfive that many profefled Chriftians, 
 wjckedly fix fome fuch Idea to thefe Terms. But however cafual, 
 sr accidental many Things are to us, Nothing is fo to GOD wh-a 
 and over-rules the very fmalleft Incidents. 
 
t 14 3 
 
 has {bme natural Caufe that does it, an4 is determined 
 by Heaven's irre/tfable Order. But what we call an 
 accidental Caufe t is fuch a Concurrence of different natu- 
 ral Caufrs, a's produces unexpected and. undefiirnej tffefls ; 
 as one Man is unexpectedly enriched by finding a 
 Pur fe of Money ; another ts undefignedly impover- 
 ifhed by lofirig it. TFhe Hand of Heaven is in all fuch 
 Events, however dtbeijticafyttbuij/regtrtkflbj too ma- 
 ny. Nothing is more cafual than a L&t ; yet the whd* 
 difpofng thereof is ef the LORD(fy 
 
 $d . D TM N E Providence direfis and determines Moral 
 Caufes, or free Agents. When GOD rewards and pun- 
 iffies, heufually makes Choice of Men to execute his 
 Vengeance, and dtfpenie his Favors ; therefore he 
 fnuft have as abfolute a Government over afl their 
 Thoughts and Paflions, Counfels and Actions, as over 
 the Powers and Influences cf natural Caufes, otherwilcf 
 he cannot reward an(J punifh when, and as he pleafes; 
 our Lives, our Character and Eftates, v/ould entirely 
 depend on the fluctuating Humors of the World a- 
 rourdus. But tbe King's Heart is in the Hand of the 
 LORD, he turns it whither he ;/fl(t); and if the King's 
 Heart be in his Hand, certainly the Hearts of aJhthers 
 are in it. A Man's Heart may devife his IPty, but it is the 
 LORD that direfts lots Steps(u). GOD Influences Good 
 JVten to do that, which thro* Grace they have an In- 
 clination to, viz.. to glorify his Name, and do Good 
 to their Fellow-Men : Moved from a Reverence of 
 
 the 
 
 (0 Proverbs xvi. 33. (t) Proverbs xxi. i, (u) Proverbs xvi, 9. 
 
r 15 i 
 
 the divine Law, and Gofpel Motives, thrydo out of 
 Temper and Inclination, what others are conftraincd 
 to. If at any Time they are left to Sin, he over rules 
 even this for Good, as in the Cafe of Jo/epk's Brethren's 
 felling him to the JJbmaelites. And through a peculi- 
 ar Impreffion of Fear, or Hope, Defire of Hoaor, 
 Alteration of Circu romances, or Interceffion of others, 
 the wicked are often reftrained from their evil Pur* 
 pofcs, or obliged to do that .Good which their wicked 
 Hearts did not incline to do. Thus Laban was not 
 fufFered to hurt Jacob, and Efaus Rage againft him was 
 ftayed ; Cyrus gave Orders to build the Temple and 
 Walls of Jerujalern, and dbafucrus commanded Deli- 
 verance to the Jews. Sometimes the LORD permits 
 them to execute the Evil Purpofes their debauched In- 
 clinations prompt them to, and thereby defervedly 
 punifhes themfelves and others, or over-rules their 
 Evil Deeds for Good : The JJJirian, the Rod of bis 4n- 
 ger, was lent againft Ifrael as a Scourge for their Ini- 
 quities, tho' be meant not Jo, nor did his Heart think fo( w); 
 Saul was fuffered to follow his wicked Devices, as a 
 juft Punifhment to himielf, and rebellious Jjrutl ; and 
 Deliverance arofe to Mrdecai, and the Jews, when 
 the Evil Haman defigned againft them, returned oi| 
 himfelf. But it is Time to confider 
 
 II. THE PROPERTIES of DIVINE PROVIDENCE. 
 
 I/. GOD rules the World with Jwtreign, abfohte 
 Power: He ruteth by his Power for ever, and dotb accord- 
 ing 
 (w) Ifaiah x . 6, jr, 
 
[ 16 ] 
 
 ing to lit Will In tie Armies of Heaven, and among tie In- 
 habitants of the Earth, and none can fay bit Hand, or fay 
 unto him what dof /&( x) ? It docs not become 
 infinite WifHom to give Account of his Matters, nor 
 the Modefty of the Creature to demand it ; for, as ab~ 
 ftlttte Power made all Things, it gives an abfolute RigH? 
 to a fovcreign irrt.ffible Government of all Things. He 
 fw ays a Scepter fo arbitrary, and uncontrollable, that 
 no Good, or Evil, can befal any of the Creatures, 
 but what he pleafes, and appoints for them. 
 
 NOR does this infer a fatal Neceflity kid upon hu- 
 man Actions : For Men Will, and Cbitfe as freely, and 
 purfue what they fuppofe makes for their own Intereft 
 and Satisfaction, as much, as if they were left entirely to 
 tfair own Management. Good Men do Good with Com - 
 placency ; and all the Evils wicked Men praclife, are 
 their own free Choice, even when they ferva thofe 
 Ends they never thought of ; fometiir.es alfo, thro* 
 Fear of the Confequcnce of omitting, and Hopes from 
 the Confequence of Acting, they chuie to do Good, 
 contrary to the prevailing Bias of their corrupt 
 Minds ; therefore they are, and always Ac^ as free d- 
 gents. Now, the Liberty of the rational Jj?W, muft 
 confift in ABlng out of Choice, and not in an Indifferency 
 to any Thing or itsoppofite ; otherwifc GOD himfelf, 
 who A&s with infinitely per} eft Liberty, is not free in his 
 Afts ; for tho' he has a moft abfolute Free Jam to do Good, 
 he cannot poffibly do a iveak t orfnful &w>- 
 
 (x) Pfalm kvi. 7, Daniel iv. 3|- 
 
C 17 3 
 
 NEITHER is it any Reflection upon the Purity of the 
 divine Government, that it is abfolute ; for tho* GOD 
 irreverfibiy determines every Event t he moves none to Sin \ 
 but the finful Actions of Men, (which are all of them- 
 felves) he over-rulesfor Good, toaccompliili his own 
 glorious Ends. GOD fent Jofeph into Egypt, and ad- 
 vanced him unto Pharaoh's Throne ; but the Sin of fel- 
 ling him to the Ijbntaelitefj lay at his Brethren's Door : 
 4s for you, (fays he to them) ye thought EvilagAinf me ; 
 but GOD meant it unto Good(y). 
 I 
 
 FROM all which we may learn the Righteoufnefs of 
 divine Conduct, in the various Afflictions laid on the 
 Children of Men ; for as they Sin of Choice, and at- 
 tempt to cake the Reins of Government out of his Hand t 
 with the greateft Equity GOD revenges their Infults on 
 his Majefty, and Contempt of his Authority. 
 
 IT is the Glory of GOD'S Dominion, andourHap- 
 pinefs, that he rules uncontrollable and unlimited ; for 
 all the Attsof his Power are conducted by a righteous 
 Will, and infinite Wifdom which cannot err. Hence 
 we learn how ignprantly fome object againft abfolutc 
 Authority in GOD as tyrannical, meafuring it with 
 what is called fuch among Men. Such a Government 
 among Men, is often prejudicial to the Subjects ; the 
 Reafon of which is, that it is not properly abfolute ; 
 for, being imperfect, it cannot Ao all 'Things. An ab- 
 folute Ruler is not laid under the fame reftraints by 
 the Laws of the Land as other Princes are, he may 
 C order 
 
 (y) Genefis xlv, 5, 7, 8, and 1. ao, 
 
C i8 ] 
 
 order what he pleales, and do what he Wills, as far 
 as he can; hue he cannot obtain ail hisDefires, ahho" 
 no Man oppofe him ; and as to many Things he does 
 defire, neighbor ing Princes may lay a Curb upon him ; 
 and, when he Acts the Tyrant, his own Subje&s too 
 may rifeupagainft, and reiift him. Now, the proper 
 Caufesof the Injuftice practifed by iuch Governors, as 
 well as all others,are, [ i J that they have it not in their 
 Power to do what they have a Mind to do, without 
 doing Injury to others: Who would not rather receive 
 a Purfc of Money freely, than run theRifque of at- 
 tempting an A (Fault Tor ic ? [2] They are fw ay ed with 
 violent Paffions, to do what they know Ihould not be 
 done ; and Paflion di (covers great Weaknefs. But 
 neither the Weaknefs of Pafiion, nor Inability in any 
 Senfc, may be afcribed to GOD, who is fo perfect that 
 he can do whatsoever be U ills, and Wills Nothing but 
 what is tight ; therefore we may rejoice that the 
 LORD GOD OMNIPOTENT REIGNS; for as he is a- 
 l>k to do allVhings, and none can let him ; fo Power is a 
 generous Principle, and ic is ics Glory to do Good. 
 
 Secondly . DIVINE Providence is j/US7s ffe judges 
 tbe People ri^teoujly^ who governs the Nations upon Earth, 
 and is righteous in all his Ways(z}. We fpeak not 
 here of commutative Jufice % which, refpeding x- 
 changes ,.f Rights and Properties, is only found a - 
 mong iL. fe that in fome Refpect or other are Equals : 
 But Goi> being Supreme, the Right is all on his Side ; 
 there can therefore be no commutative Juftice between 
 
 him 
 
 (t) Pfalm Ixvii. 4. and orit. 17. 
 
C 19 3 
 
 him and the Creature. Hence we are only to confl- 
 der diprihutive Juftic^ which confifts in rewarding and 
 punifhing Men according to. their Deeds', and may there- 
 fore be diftin^uifh-d into remunerative and vindictive. 
 According to his gracious Promife, GOD beftows on 
 Good Men, Rewardsofw^GWre, not of Debt : As far 
 as is conducive to his Glory and their Good, he defend? 
 their Perfons, vindicates their Character, fupports 
 them under all Difficulties, and withholds no good Ming 
 from them(a\ That they are often afflicted, is no Ar- 
 gument againft the Eauityof divine Conduct , for to chaf- 
 tize his Children, wliom yet he loves, isflrift Propriety 
 in a Father's Government. Our heavenly Father, in 
 Love, proves and chaftiz.es hisChildren, whofe Offen- 
 ces are greater than all their Sufferings. Be fides, he 
 executes Vengeance, on the impious for their criminal 
 Conduct ? In his Hand is a Cup of Red flPine, full of 
 Mixture ; the Dregs whereof they Jhnll wring out, and, 
 drink them mfb). What remarkable Inftances of this 
 were Cain, Saul, Nebuchadnezzar, Beljhazzar, Judas, 
 Francis Spira, and the overthrow of manyCities, Nati- 
 ons, Kingdoms, and Empires But to enumerate all the 
 Threatnings and Examples of this Kind would be end- 
 lefs. Frequently, indeed, the wicked profper in the 
 Jforld nor are they plagued as other Afen(c). Yet this 
 is no jit ft Objection againft the Ri*hteoufnefs of divine Dif- 
 penfations . For as the Juftice of Government does not 
 confift in hindering, but in punifhing A^ts of Jnjuftice ; 
 fo neither does it confift in always punifhing Crimi- 
 C 2 nals 
 
 (a) Pfalm xci. and xxxiv. 9, lo. and Ixxxiv. II. 
 (J>) Pfalm lixv, 8. (c) Pfsdra IxxiiJ. 5, i. 
 
20 3 
 
 nals immediately as they defer ve ; but in adjuftingthe 
 Time and Meafure of Punifhment io wifely, astoan- 
 fwer, in the beft Manner, the noble Ends of Govern- 
 ment. This being a State of 'Probation, And. not of Re- 
 trilution, GOD fees it malt proper to defer the Execu- 
 tion of his fearful, bur juft .Sentence againft the un- 
 godly. Were they always puniilied immediately as 
 they deferve, the gieareft Part of Mankind would be 
 quickly thurft down to Hell ; which, inflead of go- 
 verning, would be an effectual Method, foon to put an 
 End to the Government of the World. 
 
 Thirdly . A s GOD is righteous in all bis Ways, fo he 
 is holy in all his Works^. He, in whofe Sight the Hea- 
 vens are net dean, and he charges his Aigels with Folly, 
 has no Pleafure in Wickedncfs ; nor faall Evil dwell witb 
 kirn: The foolifofoall not fiand^in his Sight, and he hates all 
 the Workers of Iniquitfa}. Reprefenting to Mankind 
 by his Promifcs, Commands, and Threatnings, theun- 
 fpeakable Beauties and Advantages of Holinefs ; th$ 
 dreadful Deformity andConfeqaences of Sin ; he encou- 
 rages thcmtoaliyiitueand Goodnefs, and difcou rages 
 from all Kinds and Degrees of Vice and Wickednefs. 
 And is not the LORD known by the Judgments he exe- 
 r/rt(f) ? His holy Difpleafure at Sin, is difpiuyed by 
 Pains, Difeafes, and Death ; the Plague, the Peftilence, 
 Famine, and Earthquakes ; violent Changes of Go- 
 vernment, and al I the Mileries and Difolations of War, 
 which fweep Multitudes of Offenders before them, 
 are the woful Effects, and juft Deferts of Sin. Some 
 
 make 
 
 >d) Pfalm cxll. 17. (e) Pfalm v. 4, 5, (f) Pfalmix.iC. 
 
C " 3 
 
 make a mighty Handle of the Exigence of Sin in the 
 World, to fully the Purity of divine Providence. 
 But rheHolinefs of GOD, does not require him toprevent 
 ike Being of Sin ; it only requires that he be not the Au- 
 thor of it, and that he direR the Sins of Men to anfwer the 
 wife Ends of Government. Now, thefe Ends are an- 
 fwered, (for to Mention no more) by the Mifchiefs 
 it does in the World, and all the Puniihments inflicted 
 on the Guilty, Sin is rendered moft infamous and hate- 
 ful; the irreconcilable Qppofjtion ofa holy GOD to it 
 manifested; the Beauties of governing Hoiinefs illu- 
 ftrated; Sinners are detered from offending a Sin- ha- 
 ting GOD; and, finally, divine Glories ihall be dif- 
 played inthe Damnation of fame for Sin, and the Salvation 
 of others from it, by JBSUS CHRIST. Nor is GOD the 
 Author of Sin ; for tho* he permits^ he does not com- 
 mand t nor influence Men to Sin : He fuftains our natural 
 Powers in a Promptitude for Action, and, enables us 
 to perform ^Bs meerly natural', but does not infufe Mo- 
 ral Evil Principles into our Souls; we ourfelves are 
 chargeable with the Immorality of EviUfts, which flows 
 from their Principle and End. Now, if it was no 
 Crime in GOD to form us capable of natural A&s, it 
 can be none in him, to preferve our Powers, and en- 
 able us to exert fuch A6ts. 
 
 Fourthly. IH divine Providence, GOODNESS rules 
 predominant, and Juftice is only its Miniftcr, as it mud 
 needs be in a State of Difcipline, when Corrections as 
 well as Favors are intended for Good. GOD has not 
 
r tz 3 
 
 left liwfelf without a Witnefs) in giving us Rain from Hea- 
 ven, and fruitful Seafens ; filing our Hearts 'with Food anj 
 Gladnefs(g). Every Breath we draw, and all the 
 Train of unnumbered Favors \ye daily receive, loudly 
 proclaim the Surprizing Goodntfs t>f JEHOVAH to the 
 difobedient and unthankful. But here, inftead of 
 proving, we may wonder and adore ; for the whole 
 Earth is full of the Goodnefs of the LQRD(h) ' 
 
 THE Eyes of all Things wait on him for Food, at 
 the opening of whofe liberal Hand they are bountifully 
 fupplied ' No Creature, in this lower World, fo 
 rrean, or miferatye, but is the Subject of innumerable, 
 unmerited Favors! But GOD is peculiarly Good to 
 thofe, to whom he gives a Dtfpenfation of the GOSPEL \ 
 difclofing CHRIST, and the glorious Scheme of Re- 
 demption through him .* Here they may lee Mercy rejoict 
 t^ and Grace triumphant take the Field ! 
 
 Fifthly. THE Providences of GOD are often tre- 
 mendous ; for the Rings of the ff%eels were fo high, that 
 they were dreadfufj}- How folemnly awful did they ap- 
 pear to Job, when one MefTage after another, in thick 
 Sncceffion, informed him of the Death and Captivity 
 of his Sons, his Servants and his Cattle ; and when to 
 thcfe DiftrefTes were added, the Temptations of the De- 
 vil and his own Wife, the Reproaches and falfc Ac- 
 cufations of his Friends, and fore Afflictions in hi* Bo- 
 dy. 
 
 (g) A6h xiv. 17. (h) Pfalm xxxiii. 5. (i) Vcrfe jg, ef 
 ur Context. 
 
t 3 J 
 
 <!y. Sometimes the GOD of friking Majrfy cloathri 
 himfelf with Terror, and feems 10 fcatter Arrows of 
 divine Vengeance around his People ! Deep calls unto 
 Deep at the Noife of his Water^poutt, and his breaking 
 Waves pafs over tbem(k) ! The Wheels rife high, ex- 
 ceeding high indeed^ when Nation's Tumults fweli, and 
 the Thunders of War proclaim the Difpleafure of angry 
 Heaven ! The Rattling of Drums, the Roaring of 
 Cannon, Garments rolled in Blood, and Groans of 
 (laughtercdMen, &r \keConft* (ion cnourEar, while they 
 prefent to our Eye the mo&Jhockiag Scene / And does 
 not the Convulfion of States and Nations, the fuddeu 
 Re volutions and Falls of Empires and Kingdoms, equal- 
 ly fill us with Surprize and Horror ! Yet in fuch doleful 
 Ideas there is fomething awfully pleapng ; for they paint 
 before us the Execution of J*fue> in which we ought 
 ever toacquieice! 
 
 Sixthly . THE Prophet informs us, that the Rings of 
 tie Wheels were FULL OF EMS round about themfour(\\ 
 which points out the Skill and Wifdom with which 
 GOD conduces the whole Scene of Providence. N0# 
 tcecolmpetu vofauntur Rotee, the Wheels of Providence 
 are not moved by blir.d Chance. The facred Oracles, 
 and Hiftories of ail Ages, are pregnant with Marks of 
 the moft exquifue Wifdom diftributing to particular 
 Perfon?, Famihe , and whole Communities, Rewards> 
 Chaftifements and Punifliments, in the propereftSea- 
 fons, Meafuro, and Methods, to difplay the legilla' 
 tive Glory of GOD, diicounienance Vice, encourage 
 
 Piety ; 
 
 (10 Pialm xlii. 7. (1) Vctfe IS, of our Context. 
 
C *4 1 
 
 Piety ; and, in fhort, to anfwer, in the nobkft Man 
 ner, all the Ends of Government. 
 
 Bu T, the Evidences of divine Wifdom, in the Govern- 
 ment of the World, croud in juch Numbers, that 
 Time would fail to difcufs, at any Length, even a ve- 
 ry fmall Part of them ; I fhall therefore briefly hint 
 only the few following Particulars, in which it pecu- 
 liarly appears, [i] It appears in difconcerting, and 
 turning to their own Confufion, the raifchievous 
 Schemes of Satan ; and his ambitious, ill-defigning In- 
 ftruments; and making them Subferve the Glory of 
 GOD ; Interefts of the Church, and the common Good 
 of Mankind. Thus the Counfel of Jhithophel was 
 turned into Fooliflinefs, and the Mifchief defigned a- 
 gainft Daniel by his Periecutors, befel themfclves. 
 The wicked Defigns of the Babel Builders, were fruf- 
 trated by the Confufion of Languages, which unerr- 
 ing Wifdom (by feparating thofe of different Tongues 
 from each other, and forming them into difintt Com- 
 munities thro* the Earth,) over- ruled to promote Com- 
 merce and Induftry, the Cultivation of the liberal Arts 
 and Sciences, and to prevent univerfal Monarchy, 
 which, in this imperfed State, could not fo well an- 
 fwer the End of Government, namely, to take care 
 of the Subjects, and direft their Manners. But in 
 Nothing more clearly does this Point appear, than in 
 direding the Malice of Satan and the Jew, r*fpe6t- 
 ingtheDeathoftheSonofGoi>, O Crime the moft 
 horrid in its Nature ! ) to the. overthrow of the Devil's 
 Kingdom, thegrcateftGoodofMen, and the bright- 
 
C 25 1 * 
 
 eft Ifluftratioa of divine?erf e aions. [2] Means the 
 moft likely, and bed deviled, are frequently baffled, 
 while others tlut are weaker, nay contrary prove 
 cff-ftual : By which theGoo of Wifdom equally pours 
 Contempt on the Strength and ftffacm of Man, and in- 
 ftrufts the World, that*** Race h not to the Swift, nor 
 tie Battle to tie Strong. Gideon, with his three Hundred 
 Men and 'their broken Pitchers, put to Flight the 
 great Koft of the AMianites ; yet all the Tribes of ffraet 
 ' fled before the fiugle Tribe of Benjamin. [3] -Infi- 
 nite Wifdom difappoints our mQ&'fanguine ExpeSatioes 
 and bodeing Fears, and that in Gloomy as well as bright 
 Difpenfations, that we may learn t.o fix our whole De- 
 pendence on POVJDEKCE, in which only> our Safety- 
 arid Happinefs lies. 
 
 [4] No lefs ev : <dent is the difplay of JEHOVAH'S 
 Wifdom, in caufing his People tojing of Mercy and of 
 Judgment^). Mercy excites their Faith, Hope, and 
 humble Gratitude ; Judgment fuppreffes their Prids 
 and Luxuriance ; and a Mixture of both, Iweetly moves 
 their Souls to Repentance. Thus d^es he fulfil his 
 gracious Promife, that all Things Jhall work together for 
 their Good(n), even his mo& cloudy Difyenfxtions\ for if 
 they are left to Sin, their Falls fhail make rheir ftand- 
 ingmorc fure ; if tempted, they have an Errand to 
 the Throne of Grace; ifdefened, they are taught the 
 Meceifity of fupernatural Influences ; and it atflided, 
 they learn the difficult, but neceflai y, Duty of Sub- 
 D 
 
 (m)'Pfalm ci. i. (n) Romans viii, a8. 
 
t *6 ] 
 
 
 
 miflion. [$] Sin is pttnified with Sin % and that 
 often of the fame Kind ; whereby the Crimes of Man- 
 kind are marked on the Punifliment of them, to hum- 
 ble Deliquents more effectually, and give others a fo- 
 lemn Warning. Thus David's Murder and Adultery, 
 were fharply chaftifed by the Murder and Inceft of 
 Amor. t as well as Jbfalotn's unnatural Rebellion ! [6] 
 Divine Wifdom is very confpicuous in deferring 
 to the utmoft Extremity, the Deliverance of righteous, 
 and Punifliment of wicked Men. dbrabam wasjufta- 
 boat to facrifice his well beloved Ifaac t when a Ram 
 was provided for a Burnt- offering in Ifaac's Room, 
 Their Calamities were moft prefltng, when Deliver- 
 ance arofe to ffrael in Egypt > and to the Jews in Eftber'$ 
 Time. Never did a more terrible Storm of Perfecu- 
 tion rage againft the Church, than under Dhctefian, 
 that rnoft bloody Perfecutor, juft before Gonfantine, 
 was advanced to the Throne, who not only afforded 
 her Deliverance, but eftabliflied the Chriftian Religi- 
 on thro* the whole Empire. Now, human Power 
 and Counfels, too often monopolize the Glory of Suc- 
 cefs; but when Matters are fo extreme as to exceed 
 Creature Aids, Relief fwectly Surprizes our Hearts 
 with a Senfe of the Goodnefs of the divine Hand, 
 while it excites our grcatful Acknowledgments of its 
 Favors. When the Jews, after repeated Warnings, 
 continued rebellious, they were carried Captive to Ba- 
 lykn ; when the Cup of their Iniquities was yet far- 
 ther filled, defolating Judgments at the Deftruftion of 
 JeruJ*lem> totally deftroyed their civil Policy, greatly 
 
 diminiftied 
 
Himintfhed their Numbers, and difperfed the fhattered 
 Remains as Fugitives amongft the Nations. By thefe, 
 and/c^ Inftances, GOD magnifies hlsjujlice as well as 
 Patience,, manifeftly charges the Creature with Guilr, 
 and vindicates the Righteoufnefs of his Government. 
 
 Seventhly . DIVINE Providence is very myfterioui: 
 "IhylFay (fays the PSALMIST,) // in the Sea, and thy 
 Path in the Great Waters ; and thy Foot-peps are*ntf 
 known(o'). We are often puxz,led to know what is the 
 JDefign of Providence towards ourfelves or others, till 
 the Event makes it manifeft ; and are drawing the 
 harlheft Conclufions, when GOD has the kindeft In- 
 tentions of Mercy. Jofcph is not , (fays old Jacob,} 
 and Simeon ij not, and ye will take Benjamin away: All 
 theje things are againft wc(p). Yet dark as the Scene 
 appeared to Jacob t GOD was Working for Good to 
 him, and to his Family. 
 
 BUT when the Event difcovers the Meaning of 
 Providence, and fometimes even while it is working, 
 we may perceive a beautiful Chain, in which its vari- 
 ousA6ts and Inftruments are linked together, and 
 mutually concur to produce the fame Efted*, how op- 
 pofitefoever to each other, or to the End intended, 
 they may frequently feem to be. But this is the Point 
 which 
 
 III. I AM to illnjlrate and confirm. 
 
 D 2 You 
 
 (o) Pfalm Ixxvii. 19. (p) Genefii xlii. tf. 
 
C 28 ] 
 
 You may obferve in the natural TPc-rM, a \vonder- 
 fu 'Concatenation of faontlGaufss, which, like; Wheels 
 in a curious Engine, move in their feveral Spheres, as 
 they are moved by the frft grand Spring ; an^i con- 
 netted with each other, -mutually concur to promote the 
 fame glorious Dejirvs. Of this you hive an' elegant 
 Defer ipdon, KOSEA ii. 21, 22. It fall come to pafs 
 in that Day, I will hear, fxitb the LQR.D, I will bear 
 ffyefJeawns, and they (bail hear the Earth, And the Ezrtb 
 foall hear the Ccvn, and the. U'im^ And the. Oil, and they [hall 
 kear Jezrccl. The inanimate Creatures, by a Profipo- 
 peia t are here ir.troduced, as tho* endowed with In- 
 telligence, to know their own and others Wants,' as 
 well as Source of Supplies ; they call for Relief, hear, 
 and anfwer the Demands made on them. The great 
 End to be anfvvered, is the Suftenance ofJ^reeT, or 
 the People of .Gon, in order to which, GOD, the 
 Prime u. iverfal Caufe, Supplies the Clouds with, and 
 commands them todiftil their gentle Drop, of Run on 
 the parched Earth ; the E-irth, when m >llifi:d wi.h 
 refrvfli : ng Showers, Supplies the Seed, the Vine and 
 Olive with Moifture; thefe being nourished, produce 
 Corn, Wine, and Oil, for Food to Jezreel, whofe 
 Vv ants are hereby fully fupplied. 
 
 No lefs aftoniihing are the harmonious Connexion and 
 Subordination of Caufes in the Ajoral H^crld^ or in GOD'S 
 ufing Mankind as the Inflruments of Pr evidence t how 
 difterent foever their Intentions may be, or the Na- 
 ture and Tendencies of the various Incidents and Means 
 moving them to a&. OF this we have fone notable 
 
 Inflates 
 
[ 29 3 
 
 In franc;* in GOD'S fulfilling what he foretold, and 
 promifed to Abraham^ viz< that "his Seed jkould ferve, and 
 be affiifleJkv $tranz?rs four Hundred Years, in a Land that 
 was not theirs ; and afterwards Joe would jud^e the Nation 
 vj^om tb?v fbould ferve> and brin? them forth with great 
 &/&ftnr(q). Jofeph dreams of his Future Advance- 
 ment, and tells his Dreams to his Brethren, for which 
 they hare him ; Jacob fends Jofeph to vifit his Breth- 
 ren in the Fields, who, excited by Malice for his 
 Dreams, determine to kill him ; but, in the mean 
 Time, Providence, fending a Company of Ifbntaelites 
 that Way, they ceafe from their Purpofe, aud fell him 
 them , the IJbmaelites carry Jofeph to Egypt, and fell 
 him to Potiphar ; Potiphar's Wife tempts him to Lewd- 
 nefs with her, but he nobly refitting the Temptation, 
 flic, in Revenge, falfely accufes him to his Mafter, 
 who caft hfm into the King's Prifon. It fo fell out, 
 in the Providence of GOD, that the King's chief But* 
 kr and 'Baker, were at that Time, caft into the lame 
 Prifon; they dream their feveral Dreams, which Jo- 
 feph interprets to them, and the Event proved the 
 Truth of his Interpretation. Two Years afterwards, 
 Pharaol had his Dreams of the fevcn Years Plenty and 
 Famine, which allrhe wife Men of Egypt could not in- 
 terpret ; the chief Butler then informed Pharaoh ofjo- 
 fspb, who is now exalted from Prifon, interprets P&t- 
 raitb's Dreams, and advanced to the Throne of Digni- 
 ty . After feven Years of Plenty, fevcn Years of Fa- 
 mine come on, and Jacob fends his Son to Egypt, to buy 
 Corn ; jfofyh is made known to his Brethren, and 
 
 fends 
 (q) Genefis xv. 13, 14. 
 
C 30 ] 
 
 fends for his Father, and ail his Family, who come to, 
 and are preferred in a Land that is not theirs. 
 
 Ho w various and remarkable were the Movements of 
 the Wheels in this very furpriVKg Scene ! The Objects 
 that excited Ambition, Revenge, Lewdnefs, .Fear, 
 de fire of Gain, V. weredire8edintheproperepSeafons t 
 to excite thefe various Paffions in their refpective Sub- 
 jects, fo as they, in their feveral Orders, were moved 
 to aft in fuch a Manner, as to bring to pafs the grand 
 End in View. Who would have thought, that ail the 
 Sufferings and Reproach of Joftph^ were in order to 
 his Advancement, and neceflary, as a Mean, to fulfil 
 GOD'S Promifesand Predictions rcfpecting Abraham's 
 Seed ? Good old Jacob himfelf mifunderftood the Mean- 
 ing of fome of thefc Events : Mtbeje Wrings (fays he) 
 Are againf me. And, indeed, toSenfe and carnal Biea* 
 fon y they appeared rather to interfere with, than pro- 
 mote, the general Dejign, 
 
 AFTER Jofeph's Death, a King rofe up in Eeypt, 
 that knew him nor, and greatly afflicted the Children 
 oflfrael. But the Time of their Deliverar.ee drawing 
 near, the King gave Commandment to drown all their 
 Male Children. At this very Juncture, Mfes, the 
 great Deliverer of his People, was born ; his Mother 
 feeing that he was a goodly Child, hid him three 
 Months ; but being able to conceal him no longer, 
 fhe puts him into an Ark of BulrufKes by the River 
 Side. Pharaoh's Daughter coming down to the Ri- 
 ver to wafh, finds, and takes Companion on the weep- 
 ing 
 
r 3* 3 
 
 ing Babe, and orders a Nurfe to be called for him, 
 who, without her Knowledge, was his own Mother : 
 By which Means, he became acquainted with his own 
 Kindred, and, no doubt, was inftrudted in the Know- 
 ledge and Worfliip of the TRUE GOD. When Mo- 
 fes was grown up, Pharaoh's. Daughter adopts him for 
 her own Son, and brings him into Court, where he 
 was educated in all the Policies and Learning of Egypt ; 
 by which he was fitted for Government. When Mo- 
 fes was forty Years old, he flew an Egyptian in De- 
 fence of one of his Brethren ; which being known, 
 be feared the Rage of the Court, and fled into the 
 Land of Miaian ; where, by communing with his GOD 
 in lonely Solitude, and accuftomed toa Life of greater 
 Severities, than formerly in Pharayps delicate Court, 
 he was the more compleatly qualified for all the Try- 
 als before him, and the prodigious Fatigue of leading 
 fo numerous a People through the howling Wilder- 
 nefs. ThmMfesby fundry remarkable Events, be- 
 ing amazingly preferved, and fitted for fo great a 
 Truft, after many furpming Signs and Wonder* 
 wrought in Egypt, brought Ifrael thence with great 
 Subftanee, as GOD had promiled to 
 
 WHAT a remarkable Concurrence of Events paved the 
 Way for the fpread of the Mediator's Kingdom, and 
 more extenfive Knowledge of GOD, than had been gi- 
 ven to the Children of Men, in the early Ages of the 
 World ! The Jews, for their Iniquities, were difper- 
 fed through the World, under the Chaldean^ Perpan % 
 Grecian, and Roman Monarchs. Wherever they were 
 
 fcattered, 
 
C 3*' 3 
 
 fcattered, Numbers of the Heathen obtained the 
 Knowledge of the <l RUE GOD, an4 were profelytecf 
 to the Jcwijb Religion. Nebifcbadffezzar, Darius the 
 djede, and Cyrus the Perfian y gave honorable Teftimo- 
 ntesto the Glory of the Goo of Jfrael. Alexander the 
 Great, "the Foander of the Grecian Empire, offered 
 Sacrifice to him at Jerufakm. When after his Death, 
 the Empire was divided among his Generals, and Pto- 
 lemy led Numbers of the Jews to Egypt, Ptolemy Philx- 
 delphus, his Son, a Man equally admired for his Learn- 
 ing, and Love of learned Men, ordered feventy of the 
 Jewijh Rallies , to tranflate the old Teftament, from* 
 the Hebrew into Greek ; by which Means, fome of that 
 Language Iwd anQoportunity of being acquainted with 
 the Scriptures. Twe Jews were (till farther difperfed 
 by the-RcwrtWJ, and the Number of Profelytesincreafed 
 the more ; fo that many from all Parts, coming to Je- 
 wfalem to worfliip, on the Day of Pentecoft, the Ho- 
 ly Ghoft fell on them at the Preaching of the Apof- 
 tlesCO, and r ^ e News of Salvation, by*a Mediaror, 
 was carried to all Parts, and the Number of Converts 
 multiplied exceedingly. Thus, as the univerfal Mon- 
 archs fucceffively declined, the Knowledge of Go 
 prevailed, and a Door was opened for the glorious Pro- 
 grefs of the Gofpel ; by which, (according to the 
 Promifc of GOD,) the Kingdom and Dominion^ and the 
 Greatnefs ofth Kingdom under the whole Heaven^ foall be 
 given to the Saints of the mofi High, whofe Kingdom is an 
 
 cverhjting 
 
 (r) Ale ii. 
 
t 33 3 
 
 rlaying Kingdom^ and all Dominions foafl fervt and oley 
 
 THE Point under Consideration, may be clearly 
 illuftrated from the RISE, and PROGRESS of the Re- 
 formation from Popery, of which I can take Time to 
 give you but a tranfient View. When the Papifs had 
 jiut Job n Huft t and Je rom of Prague to Death, and ba- 
 nifhed the Waldenfes from their Vailics, they rejoiced 
 as if the Day was all their own. But they prefemly 
 found their Miftak* : For a Spark was kindled they 
 could never totally extinguifh, and the l^alderjfes^ 
 fowing the Seeds of Reformation wherever they wore 
 difperfed, the Spirit of Life from GOD foon re-entered 
 his Witntffzs. The Pope having prodigioufly (trctched 
 his ufurped Authority, made exorbitant Exactions OB 
 the Princes of Europe^ and their Subjects, to fupport 
 his Power and Grandeur. Ambitious France, unwil- 
 ling to be fo far under his Jurifdidtion as he wanted, 
 formed the Pragmatrc-fanflion, which contained fundry 
 Decrees made to oppofe and reprcfs his avaricious 
 Claims, and boundlefs ftrctch of Power. Their Ex- 
 ample, in this Inftancc, was afterwards followed b 
 the German- Powers. The Pope perceiving his Trea* 
 fures, by this Means diminish, and that his lawlefs Au- 
 thority was contemned, dcvifes a new Scheme to fup- 
 ply his axhaufted Funds, and fupport his finking Dig- 
 nity, '* under Pretence of carrying on a War with 
 w the *7Wr*." And " having formed the Defign of 
 *' going on with the magnifident Edifice of St. Peter*$ 
 E " Church 
 
 (/) Daniel vii, .*7<, 
 
r 34 3 
 
 " Church at Rome" he fent ever all Europe hi 
 gences and Bulls , promifi ig Pardon to the mo ft notoriuf 
 Offenders, who would give Money for the forefaid Ules(0- 
 Luther 9 a young popijb A/onk, ab'hors, and oppofes rhefe 
 bafe Impofitions; for which, loud Clamors were raif- 
 ed by the Indulgence Mongers t and Complaints made a- 
 gainft him totheP0pe who commanded him to appear, 
 and anfwer for his Crimes, before his impure f/clinefi, 
 Thefe Things put Luther en" defending his Propofidonsi 
 in a great Number of printed Thefes ; and the farther 
 he fcarches into Truth, he fees ic more clearly; is con- 
 verted ; preaches up Reformation, and foon gets a 
 great Number of all Ranks to follow and patronise 
 him ; particularly the Dakes of Saxony and Lunenberg^ 
 Marquifs of Brandenburg, Prince of Anhalt) and Land 
 Grave of Hejfc Cafe? ; who, with other leading Men of 
 the Empire^ and fourteen free Cities* joining him in a Pro- 
 teflation *%ainfi POPER.T. Nowr, how evident was 
 the Hand of GOD in this remarkable Chain of Canfes / 
 One pwr Monk was not only protected and preferved a- 
 midft afurrounding Croud of popijb JSeafls of Prey , but 
 Ufed as an Inftrument in promoting a moft glorious 
 and confounded the whole See 0/Romc i whofe 
 
 fitioo 
 
 ft) TECELIUS, one of the rfuckfters of thofe Pardons, dc- 
 clanr<5, fuch > as the Efficacy of thefe Indulgences, " that there 
 " ouW be no Witkednefs fo great, but might thereby be forgiven ; 
 *< v id that thofe Souls which are tormented in Purgatory, as foon 
 as the Money was flung into the Bafon, /kipped for Joy, and be- 
 < inp: releafed from their Pains, flew to Rights to Heaven : Nay, 
 " tho' one had ravilhed the Virgin MARY herfelf, yet by thefe 
 " Bulls he fliould obtain prefent Remiflion. Adding, that if the 
 < Sum were one Farthing lefs than Ten Shillings, it would not at 
 all avail them.', See Hiftory of Popery, VoK II. Pag, 307, 
 30*. 
 
E 3* 3 
 
 fition to him, contrary to their Expectations, turned 
 out to the Defence, and brighter Dilpfey of Truth ! 
 And the very Means by which the Pope attempted to 
 advance his Wealth and Power, GOD chofe toriimin- 
 iflibothl The Minds of the Princes, being previouf- 
 
 ^ ly Toured by the Pope's Cove oufnefs, and extravagant 
 Claim of Authority, were more eafilv won to embrace, 
 
 I and defend, the Reformation : Thus the Earth helped 
 
 MOREOVER, 9 Wheel within a Wheel, raifed 
 King WILLIAM, the III. of England, (ot glorious 
 Memory, )to deliver the Protcftant Intereft in general, 
 Ihd particularly in Britain, from the flaviih Yqke ot 
 papifh Tyranny. IingCHARLEs the II. that impolitic, 
 infamous Prince, defigning to give Countenance to a 
 popijb Faftion ; ihake off the Reftraints of a Parliament, 
 and introduce arbitrary Government, entered into 
 a League with LEWIS of France, to fubdue his own 
 Subjects ; in which League, it was agreed, firft to fall 
 on and reduce the Netherlands, left they ihould come 
 to England's Afiiftarce, According'y, the two trea- 
 cherous Kings go to War with the Dutch, and bring 
 them to the very Brink of Ruin. The Dutch, after 
 fandry fruitlefs Attempts to defend themfelves, chofc 
 the Prince of Orange to be their chief General, by 
 whofe Courage, and prudent Conduct, under Provi- 
 dence, the Enemies Troops were broken, and drove 
 out of their Territories. His Conduct and Succefs in 
 2 this 
 
 (u) See thefe Accounts more fully, in DUPIN'a Hiftory. Vol. 
 H. *ndHiftory of Popery, VoJ. II 
 
I 36 3 
 
 this Affair, procured the young Prince fo much Cred 
 it with the States- General, that they fettled the StadtM- 
 derfcip perpetually on him, and the Male Ifluc of his 
 Family ; and gave himfo muchlntereft in the AfFecti- 
 ons ot the Protefants in England^ that fome ofjhcm ex- 
 ceedingly defired a Marriage between him and Prin- 
 cefs MARY, the Duke of Turk's Daughter, to fecure 
 a Proteftant Succeflion to the Throne f Great Britain, 
 as the King had no Iffue by his Queen, and the Duke 
 was an avowed Papifl. To this End, a Scheme waf 
 wifely, and fecretly laid, fpcedily, and fuccefsfuliy ex- 
 ecuted, to the great Confufion of France, and ail the 
 popijb Party in London ; particularly, the Duke o| 
 ?ork, and the King hirnfelf, who, rho* he 
 
 fent to the Marriage, yet foon perceived the Confc* 
 quence of it. When the Duke afterwards came to 
 the Throne, and endeavoured to introduce Popery, 
 and en/lave tie Nation, the Proteflant Party, ift Britain^ 
 fent for the Prince of Orange, who, in a fticcefsful 
 Voyage, foon made the britifi} Shore, vanquished the 
 K ; ng's Army ; afcended the Throne ; humbled the/w- 
 fifh Party ; defended and promoied the Proteftant Jnter- 
 eft(w}\ the happy EfFeclsof wfiich, the Church has 
 ever fince experienced. What Reafon have Britons ; 
 what Reafon has every true Protefiant, and what Rea- 
 fon have we this Day, to rejoice, and adore divine 
 Goodnels, that by a Concurrence of fo. mar.yCaufes, and 
 Events, fundry of which feemed rather to rhraten the 
 Churches Ruin, wrought fuch a glorious Deliver ance for 
 far.' 
 
 A 
 
 (w) See BiAop BURNET's ecdefiaftical Hiftory, Vol. W, 
 
r 37 i 
 
 A REMARKABLE Chain of Caufet^ formed PrttJTta in 
 toaKingdom, fitred herHERo for, and advanced him 
 t to that Sphere of Dignity, in which he fo gforibufly 
 moves, and fpreads Confafion on CHRIST'S Enemies, 
 andhj|pwn. His Predcceflors, the Electors of r* 
 denbur^ were notable for defending, and pcmotipg, 
 the Pratt 'ftant fntereft \ by which they attracted the 
 Hearts of Protefantt to them. No Koufe in Germany 
 produced Princes of greater Merit than this, who dif- 
 i died r emfelves for theirValour; Skill in military 
 AftYirs and Politics; great Learning; admirable Elo- 
 quence, and ftrift Juftice ; whereby, they not only 
 advanced their Glory, but greatly extended their Do* 
 minions ; were a Terror to their Enemies, and much 
 cfteemed by their Friends. FREDERICK the III. the 
 prefcnr King of Pruffia's Grandfather, having had great 
 Succefs in his Government, and moved to it, as ibme 
 Suppofe, from feeing King WILLIAM, on Account of 
 his royal Dignity/ feared on an Arm Chair, at a 
 fplende 1 Congrefs of Princes, re folved to take the Title 
 of King of Pmilia ; which, after confiderable Oppofi- 
 tion, he obtained, thro' fome ftrange Incidents. By 
 this Means, he greatly encreafed his Power, and ex- 
 tended his Territories ; was rtvjeh more prized as 
 a Friend, and feared as an Enemy. And, tho* ths 
 Obfcurity and Dif^race of the prefent King cf Prvjjix, 
 during his Father's Reign, Teemed to fpread a difcou- 
 raging Gloom over the young Prince ; yet, by the 
 over-rulling Hand of Providence, his Difficulties only 
 proved tne Occafion of his acquiring a large Acquaint- 
 ance with Learning, and with Mankind; with the De- 
 fects, 
 
t 38 I 
 
 fe&s, as well as the Myfteries of Government ; which 
 have been Means of farther qualifying him for his wife 
 Adminiftration of Governmenr, and glorious Achieve- 
 ments in War, that fo juftly aftonifli all Europe. Thi? 
 quick-fi^hted Prince, early di&overed, by forne re- 
 markable T-irns of Providence, the hellifli Defifns of 
 the Courts of Vitnna, Petersburg, Drefden> and P'erfatlles, 
 to ruin the Proteftant Intereft, and fpoil him of hb Do- 
 minions ; fo prevent Which, he ipecdily entered into 
 wife Meafures, which, thro*. the fmiles of Heaven, 
 he has hitherto fuccefsfully executed(*). And I h >pe 
 that this, and fucceedin^ Generations, will have Rea- 
 fon to blefsGoD, for raifing him up to defend his own 
 Caufe. O ! how ftrangely does the Wheel of Provi- 
 dence turn, to raife up, and fit Inftrumenrs, to do hi? 
 Work, and ferve the Interefts of his Kingdom ! 
 
 I SHALL finifli the doctrinal Part of this Difcourfe, 
 with the folio wing Remark, viz. th^tQoD the Father, 
 has devolved upon JESUS CHRIST, hisSon, as a Branch 
 of hu mediatorial Glory , the Management of all Things 
 that have, in any Refpeft, a Reference to k:s Church 
 Jill Power in Heaven and Earth, given unto 
 We Don of tbe Tribe of Judak^ the Root of Dawd, 
 prevailed to open the Book t and to locfe the feven Seals there- 
 of(z), /. e. CHRIST JESUS MEDIATOR, has obtained. 
 Authority of his Fatherj to difclofe all the Defigns of 
 
 Heaven, 
 
 (x) Time will not admit me to treat of thefe Affairs largely ; 
 but for a mre full Account of them, fee the Hiftory of the prefent 
 State of EUR OPE, the Gentleman's MAGAZINES, and the Life 
 of the King of PRUSSIA. 
 
 (y) Matthew xxviii. 18, (z) Revelations v. . 
 
t 39 3 
 
 Heaven, in the Womb of Providence, relating to his 
 Church, and its Concerns : A Truft that none couid 
 manage but himfelf ! &e&/e/faw, in this Vifion of the 
 Wheels, above the Appearance f a Firmament, that was 
 *ver &* he ad; of the living Creatures, the Liken ffs of a 
 | %hrone> upon which was the Lihenefs as the Appearance of 
 a Man above stpcn ii(^) ; /. e. JESUS CHRIST as GOD 
 MAN, fits enthroned in Heaven, inverted with Power 
 
 kto vindicate his own Honor, in thcPunifhment of fome 
 and Deliverance of others, by his Providence. %%* 
 Color of ^mber t as the Appearance of Fire was round about 
 within it^b) ; which Metaphors reprcfent the Auguft- 
 nefs of his Majefty who conduces the Wheels, and 
 
 i his flaming Indignation againft Rebels. Yet Glory to 
 our GOD, as the Appearance of the Bow that is in the 
 Cloud in the Day of Rain, fj was the Appearance of the 
 
 P Brightnejs round about{C\ which teaches as, that JESUS 
 fets, in the Firmament of his Church, the Bow of his 
 Covenant, fparkling with the Brightnefs of Mercy, 
 Grace, and Truth of Covenant Promifes. There- 
 fore his People have Ground of ftrong Confolation 
 refpefting themfelves, in particular, and the Church, 
 in general ; for they mail be protected and preserved 
 amidft the moft terrible Storms of Indignation that 
 rage through the World, ^ho* the Earth be move^ 
 And the Mountains be carried into the miaft of the Sea ; tho* 
 the M aters thereof roar, and the Mountains jbake with the 
 fwellivq thereof ; there is a River , the Streams whereof Jhatt 
 wake glad the City of GOD : <fi>e holy Place of the Taberna- 
 cles 
 
 (a) Verfe, a6. (b) Vcife, 9,7, (c) Vcrfc, *1. 
 
C 4 3 
 
 tkf of the MOST HIGH. GOD is in the midfi of 
 Jhe {hail not be moved ; GOD foall help her, and that 
 <?4r/y(.d). Hen^the Devil, the Pope, and the French 
 King, may fbrnx their TRIPLE-ALLIANCE, to exrin- 
 guiflithe Proteftant Lamp, to which, thiir blinded Vo- 
 taries too, may add all their Strength ; yet, tho* they J 
 fffift) they cannot deftroy the Church ; for he that fits 
 on the Throne, has fixed in her Firmament, this large 
 and bright Bow, THE GATES OE HEJLL SHALL NOT 
 
 LIL AGAINST IT(e). 
 
 IMPROVEMENT. 
 
 1. FROM what has been faid, we infer the Being of 
 * GOD. To uphold this (lately Fabric, and maintain 
 its comely Or ler, exceeds all created Strength, and 
 Wifftom. The Characters of infinite Counfel, and 
 Almighty Power, irnpreflfed on the Works of Provi- 
 dence, glorioufly proclaim the Ats of an invifible, in- 
 dependent Caufe. 
 
 2. To GOD we owe ail Homage, and Obedience ; 
 for he alone is our fovereigw LORD, To give Being, 
 and preferve it, gives him an indiflolvable Right to the 
 Services of all intelligent Creatures. 
 
 3. HENCE we learn alfo, the furpafllng Conde- 
 fcenfions of JEHOVAH. He mud Stoop to obferva the 
 lojty Heavens ; bow to view exalted Seraphs : How low, 
 
 then, 
 
 (d) Pfalm xlvj, *, 3, 4, 5. (e) Matthew xvi, if. 
 
f 
 
 t 4* 3 
 
 then, muft the LORD of all Things bend, wben he 
 eafts down his >es to our pnjul Earth! 
 
 :- 
 
 4. WHAT a curious Piece of Workmanfhip is the 
 Whctl of divine Providence! Almighty Power, fpotlcft 
 Holinefs, inflexible Juftice, beneficient Goodnefs t 
 dreadful Majefty, exquifire Wifdom, and furprixing 
 Myfteries, meec in it, and fhine with orient Lufler .' 
 The fame and different Caufes and Incidents, of the 
 fame and different Tendencies, concur to bring to pafs 
 the lame grand Events, while they produce many other 
 lei* principle Effects ! O the Depth of the Riches both of 
 the Wifdom and Knowledge of GOD / Bow unfearcbablt 
 are his Judgment s t and his Ways paffnding out ! 
 
 5. OUR Subject fpeaks Comfort to every Child of 
 GOD. The Shepherd ofjfrael, that never Jlumbers not 
 
 Jleeps t guards all your Jlumbering and waking //ww(f). 
 Therefore you need not fear the Terror of the Night ; nor 
 ths Arrow that fies by Day ! His Feathers fhall be thy 
 Cover; thy Reft the Shadow of hit fTi0g(& ! If you 
 walk through the Fire and the Water, they fliall not 
 hurtyouCfc) / And in the Valley of the Sbadow of Deatk t 
 his Rod and Staff jball be your Comfort(i) I 
 
 6. OUR Subject reproves [i] thofe who are Dif- 
 contcnt, and murmur at divine Difpen fat ions. Not be- 
 ing fawned with theRefultof his Providence, you en- 
 ter on GOJ&'S prerogative, and attempt to take the 
 
 F Reins 
 
 (f) Pfalm cxxi. (g) Pfalm xc, (h) Ifaiah xliii, a 
 
 (i) Pfalm xxiiii 4, 
 
C 4* J 
 
 , 
 
 Reins of Government out of his Hand! [2] It reproves 
 thofe that are fall of defponding Frars, finking Dif- 
 couragement, and anxious overwhelming Cares, re- 
 fpedting Events. In this you diltruft divine Power"'* 
 and Goodnefs, that deaths the Grafs of 'the Field) and 
 takes Care of Sparrows ; and, if you caft your Care up- 
 on him, will much more provide for you, O ye of little 
 Faith(\C)! [3] Oar Subjeft reproves thofe who regard 
 not the Works of the LORD, nor the Operation of his 
 Hands(\\ and are always feverely blaming the real or 
 fuppofed Authors of their Grievances, but do not ob- 
 ferve the Hand oi GOD, in thus, puniftiing them for 
 Their Iniquities. Such practically difown a GOD, and 
 a Providence ; therefore they are deftitule of real Re- 
 ligion. Even " natural Religion is founded on the 
 " Belief of a GOD, and a Providence ; for if there be 
 " no GOD, there is no Objtcl: of our Worfhip ; and 
 " if there be no Providence, there is no Reafon for 
 " our Worfhip . " O practical Atheifts, confider that 
 you have to do with a GOD, who is jealous for his Glory ; 
 neither is there any Darknefs or Shadow of Death, whcrt 
 you can hide yourfehes from the View of his all-piercing 
 Eye, or the Reach of his Almighty Power ! If you of- 
 cend Heaven* he 'is there ; if y OK make your Bed in Hell, h 
 fa is there! Jf you take the Wings of the Morning, and 
 dwell in the uttermofi Parts vf the Sea ; even there jhall hij 
 Hand lead you, and his right Handfnd you <w*(m) / By 
 contemning and difregarding his Works, you kindle 
 bis Wrath, and dafliagainft Ten Thoufand Terrors. 
 
 Humble 
 
 (k) Matthew vi. (I) pf a j m X xviii f 5, (m) Pfalm cxxxix, 
 7> *> 9> * H. I*. 
 
I 43 3 
 
 Humble yourfelves then, before your Preferver, 
 your Maker, and your Judge. 
 
 7. FROM what has been faid, be excited to a dut 
 Performance of the Duties you owe to Providence, 
 
 1. SENSIBLE, that on it you live, and, by its 
 Bounty, enjoy all you do, or can pofTefs, fix your 
 whole Dependence on Providence. If you place your 
 Truft in it, the -ingel of the LOR DJhail compafs you about> 
 and deliver you from all Evil, tfbe young Li\,iu may be 
 hungry and lack their Food, but ycujbailnot want any Good 
 Zhing(n}. The LORD will grant ail your Dwfires, or 
 deny them with greater Wifdom and Goodnefs, than 
 he could grant them. 
 
 2. SUBMISSION is another Duty you owe to Pro- 
 vidence. 
 
 ALL Events are the LORD's Doings , and what he 
 does, is his Will ; therefore in afflidive, as well as 
 profperous Circumftances, youfhould ever fay, Good if 
 theWillof the LORD-, let him do what feemeth himGood(Q}. 
 He has a Right to difpofe of your Perfons, and For- 
 tunes in the World, as he pleafes : In every <Ihingt 
 then, that befals you, his Sovereign Authority re- 
 quires you to be dumb, and not open your Mouths ; becaufe 
 be did /Xp)* ^/ which you are not to undcrftand, 
 that you fliouid not feel your Jffliftipns, nor cry for Deli- 
 F z verance 
 
 (n) Pfalm xxxiv. 7, 8, 9, lo, (o) I, Samuel iii, 1$, 
 fp) Pfalm xxxix. 9* 
 
IL 44 J 
 
 No j Submiflion is not that dull A- 
 pathy, fome miftake it for : It is equally oppofed to 
 cenfuring divine Conduct on the one Hand, and ftoical Stu- 
 pidity on the other. It cpnfifts in the Yielding of the 
 Heart to Sovereignty, or the Resignation of the Will, 
 to the Will of GOD. Now, fhe Heart may be fatisfi- 
 cd that GOD fliould do what he pleafes, becaufe this is 
 becoming his MajeRy, while yet Nature may cra.ve t and 
 the tongue plead for Relief : O my Father, ( fay s CH * i s T ) 
 if it be pofftble let this Cup pafs front me: Nevertkclejj, poj 
 as I will t but as thou 
 
 3. You fliould obferve, and make proper 
 on the Motion of the Wheels towards yourfelves, and o- 
 thers, that you may under/land the loving Kindnefs of thf 
 LORD(r\ and be anfwerabty affefied by it. How un- 
 fpeakable the Mercy, that the Womb of Providence 
 gavcyouExiftence in a Land of Vipm / Thar you were 
 educated within the vipble Church , and enjoy its Privi- 
 leges ! Have been often delivered from Dangers, and 
 fnatched from the y<**w f Death] How confpicuous 
 may you fee the Hand of GOD, in the Choice of your Com- 
 panions in Life, the Sharers of your Joys and Cares ! 
 Fixing the Bounds of your Habitation / Appointing you 
 to your feveral Offices, and Employments in Life / With 
 what Plcafure may you recount your feveral perfonal, 
 dome/lie, and relative Mercies / May not fome of you 
 cfpecially remark the particular Kindnefs of GOD to 
 you, in affording you the Opportunity of hearing fuch 
 Sermons, or directing your* Eyes to fuck Lines and Pages, 
 
 as 
 
 fq) Matthew xtvi. 29* (r) Pfalm cvii. 4. 
 
I 4? 3 
 
 as convinced you of your lof State fy Nature, and 
 taught you the Knowledge of CHRIST a SAVIOUR ! 
 
 You ihould alfo obferve divine Conduct cowards 
 you, in your various Jffliftions. May not foroe of you 
 have Matter of daily Humiliation, by viewing the Spe- 
 cies and Bafenefs of your Crimes ftaraped on the Pun - 
 ijhment of them ? And may you not fee divine Goodneft 
 in your greatefl Pains and DtJ appointments ? What aw- 
 ful Lengths would you have ftrayed in Sin, had not 
 the Voice ofJffliSion recalled you to your MAKER ! 
 
 MOREOVER, many Things worthy your Notice, 
 that refoe& the public^ have fell out in our Day: The 
 Divifions of the Presbyterian Church, together with the 
 Re-union of the moft confiderable Body of it, in our 
 Land, deferve the Attention of all that wi^h well to Zi- 
 PN. But it will not comport with my Defign in this 
 Difcourfe, to enlarge on this particular ; therefore, I 
 fhall only add, [i,J that the LORD has been teaching 
 her Sons, to beware of defacing her Beauty by Scbifm, 
 and not to provoke him by their Luxuriancy % andSecu- 
 fhy> to fmite her with Breaches. [2,] Let me intreat 
 her Members, to do Nothing that may have a Ten* 
 dcncy to open her clofed Wounds, and mike them 
 bleed a frcfli again ; left, together with the many o- 
 ther Evils, that may be the Confequence of t 
 o it to their own Gonfttpon, 
 
 WITH equal Pleafure and Admiration, may we ob- 
 ferve the Motion of the Wheels, in planting Churches, 
 
 and 
 
C 4* ] 
 
 and erefting Schools of Learning in the Wildernefs, that, 
 not long fince, was enly the Haunt of Savages, and 
 wild Beafts of Prey; by which Means, theDefarrand 
 folitary Places, have been made to bloflbm and bud as a 
 Rofe, and lift up the Voice with Joy and Singing ! 
 And let it never be forgotten, that a gracious GOD has 
 vifited our Land with a remarkable Difplay of his rich 
 Grace j in the aiuaknmg^ and Converjion of many ! Un- 
 expectedly raifsd up fundry faithful Inftruments t to 
 proclaim the riches of his Mercy, thro* CHRIST, to a 
 guilty World! And furpmingly opened a Door for the 
 joyful Reception of the Gcfpel in many Parts of the Land^ 
 that knew little about, and made as little Account- of 
 Religion ', fo that the poor People, that fat in Dark- 
 nefs, now enjoy a marvelous Light, and have their ri- 
 fmgOff-fpring educated in the precious truths of our 
 LORD JESUS CHRIST ! 
 
 THE late Motions of the Wheels, which have rifen 
 fo high, that indeed they are become dreadful, affords a 
 large Scope of Thought to every attentive Mind ! A 
 few French and Englijk' Traders difputed the Indian 
 Trade on Ohio ; the News of which reaching the Ears 
 of their refpedive Sovereigns, they become fufpicious 
 of each other's Views, and growing Power, form, and 
 profecute Defigns accordingly ! From this Spark, a 
 Flame has flaflied with Vengeance over the Eaf and 
 ieS) the wide Ocean, and many Parts of Eu- 
 
 rope ! The Defolations of War have fpread Horror a- 
 round us ! Our Frontiers are wrecked ! Numerous 
 Societies fcattered.' Some of our Brethren inhumanely 
 
 bsLchered 
 
C 47 3 
 
 butchered by the Heathen ! Others carried into dole- 
 ful Captivity! Our Schemes were baffled, and Attempts 
 to defend our felves generally abortive .' Our Armies 
 fell before, or ihamcfully rurned their Backs on theE- 
 nemy ! The Heavens refufed their nourifhing Influ- 
 ences, and the Earth has been in a Manner parched 
 and barren ! a Brokennefsin Judgment diftrafted our 
 Legiflatures, and unnatural Difputes retarded their 
 Bufinefs, when the Neceiliry of the Times called for 
 Action ! The moft potent Nations of Europe joined in 
 League todeltroy the Protefant Intereft, whik iundry 
 of its profefled Friends, either ftood Neuter, or aided 
 the Enemy ! Under thefe Afflictions, we have been 
 guilry of an awful mifimprovement of the Rod ; a- 
 bounding Iniquities, the Source of our Miferies, and 
 Heaven daring Impenitence ! And now what could rea- 
 fonably be expected as the Refult of all this, but that 
 our Plagues fliould become wonderful ! But, O ' ever 
 adorable, undefervcd Mercy ! In the midft of thofe 
 Clouds of Darknefs and. Diftrcfs, a glorious Door of 
 Hope opens to us ! Our Ships of War are Mafters at 
 Sea ! Our Armies and Fleets wafte, and put into Con- 
 fufion, the French Coafts ! Our Cou-nlels are more vi- 
 gorous, and unanimous ! Our Armies and Attics in 
 Germany fupported and fucceded, next to a Miracle ! 
 The important Forrrefs of Louhbottrg is now in our 
 Hands ! Frontenaci% demolifhed ! And the britijb Flag 
 fliers in Triumph over the Ruins oif Fort 
 (now Pitts-burg!) 
 
 How. 
 
C 48 ] 
 
 How evident may we fee the Hand of Got> in all 
 thefeSucceflcs ! What fearful Havock was made (by an 
 inconfiderable Number) among our large ft Army on 
 the Continent, under the Direction of the Command- 
 er in Chief! While the brave General Jmberfl t with 
 the lofs of very few Livcs fooh reduced Cape- Briton, 
 notwithftanding the prodigious Strength of its Fortifi- 
 cations, and tho* the Rougbnefs of the raging Billows, 
 and fo many terrible Inftruments of Death, obftruded 
 the Landing of his Troops ! Colloncl Rradjireet $ with 
 hi Troops, penetrating Canada, undifcovered to our 
 unfpeakable Advantage, deftroyed the Enemies Forti- 
 fications, and Shipping, and quite difconcerted their 
 Schemes ! And did not General Forbes, tho' in a 
 weakly State of Health, his Army being in great Want 
 of Provisions and other NeceiTaries, march them, in 
 a cold Seafon, through the Wildernefs, to attack the 
 Enemy ; in which Circumftances, they could not pof- 
 fibly have flood a long Siege \ But the LORD fought 
 for them ; for their Terror fo feixed the Enemy, that 
 they abandoned to our Forces the Refuge of Mur- 
 derers ! 
 
 THUS, as is his ufual Method, GOD has made us 
 fng of Mercy and of Judgment ; wounded, before he 
 healed us ; diftrefled, before he granted Deliverance; 
 that our Eyes might be turned to himfelf as the Au- 
 thor of our Salvation, and we prixethc Goodnefsthat 
 granted it the more. 
 
t 49 ] 
 
 4^ THANKSGIVING is another Duty we owe td 
 Providence. 
 
 PRAISE is comely, and befits our Lip*, who are 
 the Partakers of fo many Mercies, perfonal, family, 
 and national. Difpleafed tieaven fought for us, in 
 Queen ELIZABETH'S Time, by deftroying the prodi- 
 geous fpanifo Fleet, impioufly called the invincible 4r- 
 rnada y which wasequiped of Defign to make an intire 
 Cornsjueft of England ! Remarkably was our Nation de- 
 livered from the terrible Confequence of the Gun- 
 powder Plot! In what Mercy to us, as well as Indigna- 
 tion againft them, did divine Vengeance fweep from 
 the Throne and Ifland of Britain, rhepopiih, faithlels, 
 and bloody Houfe of SffEtPARVS ! In Queen ANNE'S 
 Time, when Schemes were laid to bring in the Prcten- 
 der, how feafonably did Providence intcrpofe for our 
 Relief, by fuddenly taking away the Life oftheQueen, 
 and advancing to the Throne ot Britain, King GEORGE 
 the I. 
 
 Nofc. caw we ever fufficiently prize our Mercy, 
 
 that, under the mild Reign of our prefent .Sovereign, 
 
 G King 
 
 (0 The King was by Inheritance from his Father, Duke of 
 P.RUNSWICK-LUNENBERG, and EJeftor of HANOVER 5 by 
 his Mother, the Trincefs SOPHIA, Daughter to FREDERICK, 
 K'ng of BOHEMIA, by ELIZABETH STEWART, Daughter 
 to King JAMES the I. of ENGLAND, and VI. of SCOTLAND. 
 He had in him the Royal Blood of three confidera-ble Kingdoms of 
 EUROPE, viz. ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, and BOHEMIA. 
 And as he Was nobly elcfcended, fo being the next Prbteflant Heir to 
 the Crown, he had an undoubted Right to it by Lineage* as well ai 
 by th unanimous Genfent of the Peojple, 
 
C 5 3 
 
 King GEORGE the II. we enjoy Privileges, exceeding 
 thole of anyother Nation upon Eirch ! And is it not 
 yec frefii in our Memory, fro;n what raighry Fears 
 the LORD delivered us, when the Rebels were defeat- 
 ed in the laft War, and the Pretender fl^d the Kingdom ! 
 By thefe, and many other kind Interpositions of his 
 Hand, has GOD maintained the Throne, and guarded 
 the Coaffs of Britain ! Supported thi Church, and 
 tranfmitied the pure Riys ofGofpel Light to Pojlerity ! 
 Delivered us from the Bandage of arbitrary Government y 
 and the yet mere to be dreaded Bondage of popijh Vy- 
 raxny! Befides, our feveral Succcffes thi* Campaign, 
 Strenthen the enervated Springs of our Hope, and af- 
 ford us new Matter of Praife ! 
 
 THE terrible Mafacre of Protejlants in Paris, by 
 LEWIS the XIV. of France; the late fevere Pcrfecu- 
 tion under LEW is the XV. the Fires of Smith- field, in 
 vicked Queen MARY'S Reign; and all the tragical 
 Scene of Blood- flied, in Britain, and Ireland, fince the 
 Reformation, teach us what we had to expect frompo- 
 pifb Conquerors^ had we been delivered as a Prey to 
 their Teeth ! 
 
 UP to him then, rhat views our Nation from his 
 lofty Throne, and dtftributes to it with a liberal Hand ; 
 let our unceajtng Praifes afcend, and tell the Largenefs of 
 lois Bounty ! Not in Bacchanalian Routs, mingling with 
 the Notes of Drunkards, while we profufely wafte the 
 Bounties of Providence, which, alas ! is the Prac- 
 tise of- tea- many i but with a fcrious thankful Senfe of 
 
 divine 
 
C $1 3 
 
 divine Benignity on our Heart", exprefled by warm 
 Devotion to GOD y in public, and in private. 
 
 5. THE prefenf, as well as the former Morions of 
 the Wheels, loudly proclaim to us che NeceJJity of Re- 
 formation. The LORD'S Voles cn?tl> unto the City t and 
 (to the Country too,) the Man of U' r ifdom [hall fee bis 
 Name: Hear ye the Rod, and who hath appointed #(t). 
 
 THO* he has begun to deliver us, the War is not 
 yet over; and what Turn Aftairs may take, ortowhat 
 farther dreadful Heights the Wheels may arife, be- 
 fore the bloody Scene will be drawn, GOD only knows. 
 But this we may know, that the Fury of his Jealoufy 
 has not awaked without Caufe ; for Afflictions do not 
 Arife out of the Dufl : He ever takes up the Rod for fome 
 Reafon, and with fome Deiign. AU Ranks and De- 
 grees of Men, in our Land, and Nation, have abound- 
 ed in profane Practices of every Kind, Drunkenneft, 
 Unclcannefs, Sabbath breaking, Blafphemy, Lying, 
 profane Swearing, Defrauding, Opprcffion, Pride, 
 Luxury, &c / We have abufed the greateft Mercies, 
 fpiritual and temporal. And, while Iniquity has a- 
 bounded, the Love of many has waxed cold ! Genr.le- 
 men of Eafe and Pleafure, have formed to themftlves 
 a Set of Principles, that fute their vicious depraved Dzfpo- 
 ftioru! Alas ! to what a dreadful Pitch has the Contempt 
 of all revealed Religion arifen, in many Parts of the 
 .britifo Dominions ! Many have rejcded the Foundation 
 Articles of the Goftel, in Place of which, they have in- 
 * G z traduced 
 
 (t) Micah. vi. 9. 
 
I 52 ] 
 
 produced Heathen Morals, new vamped with the 
 of CHRIST, thurft by Force, or accidentally dropped 
 into them ! Have not practical and experimental Religion 
 fceen the Scoff of an ungodly World ; and pious Mep 
 their Derijion ! A due Attendance on divine Ordinances 
 has been faaly negk fad, by Multitudes, and fcorned by 
 the Jaty rising Wits of the ^ge(u). Be {ides, we have 
 been awfully guilty of contemning, and neglecting di- 
 vine Providence : Our Fleets and great Armaments 
 have been boafted in, and our public Prints iweile/i 
 with the Achievements, and Mifcarrjages of Mortals, 
 while the Hand of GOD, in thofe Things, has been lit- 
 tle regarded ! In. Fine, our rejecting CHRIST, and mak- 
 ing light of the Offers of Salvation by kirn, has put the 
 Cape-lrone on all our other Prove cuions ! Thcfe, 
 with many other Evils, have provoked JEHOVAH to 
 
 unflieath 
 
 (u) Will fuck advance as the Reafon of their Conduct, that they 
 know already all that the filly Preacher can tell them, or his plain 
 and home Method of dealing with Mankind ? But let them know, 
 that by this Method of Preaching they efteem Fooli/hnefs, GOD 
 faves them that believe. That DAVID, the King of ISRAEL, 
 the Type of CHRIST, and infpired Prophet, who was wil'er than 
 all his Teachers, Pfalm cxix. 99. and much greater than our Ob- 
 jectors ran pretend to bf, longed, jea even fainted., for the Courts of 
 the LORD, Pfalm xlii. I, i, and Ixxxiv. 2. Divine Ordinances 
 are the Means by which GOD gives his People Difcovcries of his 
 Beauty, and a Tafte of his Love, Pfalm xxvii. 4. Cant, ii 4, 5. 
 therefore did DAVID prize a Day in GOD's Houfe better than .1 
 Thoufand '; and a Door-keeper's Place there, rather than to dwell 
 in all the fplendid Tents of Wickednefs, Pfalm Ixxxiv. IO. So would 
 our fneering Gentlemen too, if they loved the LORD ; but their 
 hating him, and preferring their carnal Eafe, and obfcene Impuri- 
 ties to him, is the true Reafon of r he ; r Conduct, if all the Truth 
 was known 5 for I can appeal to themfelves, whether they do not de- 
 fire to be, where they may have an Opportunity of feeing, ?ind cori- 
 veHing with the Perfcns thsy love. 
 
C 53 ] 
 
 pnflieath the Sword of Juftlce, and ftain it with the 
 Blood of the Slain ! And would to GOD, we had fuffi- 
 cient Ground, in Charity, to exclude them from the 
 fiench, the Bar, the Counfel Chamber, or even from the 
 Pulpit ! 
 
 REFORMATION, or Judgment, is the End for which 
 GOD afflitts uj ; and if we fail of the former, have we 
 notjuft Reafon to fear the latter * But are we reform- 
 ed 1 A few, I hope, are; but, (alas!) that is far from 
 anfwering our Calls I Our Provocations, our Punifli- 
 rncnts, a,ndour Threatnings, have been general J Con- 
 fequemly our Repentance ihould be general ! Afove- 
 reign GOD may, indeed grant Deliverance, where a 
 general Reformation does not precede, and make Judg- 
 ment and Mercy confpire to promote it ; or borh thefc 
 may ferve only as an Occafion to prepare us. for yet 
 more fevcre Strokes, when the Righteoufnefs of his 
 Procedure againft us will be more manifeft, and we the 
 more inexcufable. YVc wcre called to Repentance 
 by the laft War, and fucceeding Peace ; bntperfifting 
 in Impenetence ? heavier Strokes have fell upon us ! 
 POD has many Arrows in his Quiver ; and tho' one 
 Storm blow over, another may ai ife, that will carry 
 all before it i Of this the Jews are a Striking Infhnce, 
 who are fcattered through the \vh-:Je Earth, as Exam- 
 ples of divine Difpjeafure, for mifimpr'oving the re- 
 peated Calls of Providence ! ThcCbaldean, the Per/tan^ 
 the Grecian, and the Roman Empires, that over- top- 
 ped all the World, at length fell for their Iniquities ! 
 Divine Thrcarnings have been fully executed on the 
 
 noble 
 
r 54 3 
 
 noble Churches of dfia ! And has not the once famous 
 Church of Rcme, whofe Faith was fpoken of through- 
 out the whole World, been long fince enflaved with 
 pcpijb Darkyeft and Tyranny / GOD canea/ily deftroy rhe 
 tritifb Nation, and Church, and yet fulfil his Promifes 
 to the Church in general, by promoting her I ate re (h 
 more glorioufly, in fome other Parts of the World. 
 O! that -ire, and our whole Nation, might folemnly lay 
 tkt/eZbiagsto Heart, and turn to GOD by our prcfent 
 Calls, that he msy take delight to dwell with us as a 
 Church, and as a Nation. 
 
 6. REVELATION and the Law of Nature teach us, 
 that Prayer is a Duty we owe to Providence. Ic is the 
 common Senfe of Mankind, that the indigent fhould 
 ask Favors of thofe that can grant, and from whom 
 they expect Relief. Much more fhould we, who are 
 funk into the moft prefling Indigency, and Mifery, ask 
 ,a Supply of our Wants from him, who will not for a 
 fifhghe a Serpent, nor for Bead will he give a Stone. To 
 this we are encouraged by his own Declaration, and 
 Promife ; for he tells us, fa is ever ni?h to all them that 
 call upon kim y that call upon lo'tm In 'Truti). That he wili 
 .-fulfil ike Defre of them that fear him; He alfo will Lear 
 Cry, and will fave 
 
 AND, while you plead for yourfelves, be mindful 
 .of the laboring State. Let Zion t the City of our Sor 
 iemnities. He r.ear.your Heart?. Plead importunately, 
 that GOD would heal her Breaches ; pour down divine 
 
 Influences 
 
 (w) Pfalm cxlv. 18, If. 
 
C $$ 3 
 
 Influences plentifully upon her, that his Pricfts may be 
 clcathed with Salvation, and his Saims ihouc aloud for 
 Joyfulnefs ; that he would revive his Work in the 
 midft olthcfe declining Years, and purge out all the 
 Impurities, that yet cleve to the Protcftant Reforma- 
 tion ; that the Nations of the Earth might be made to 
 ftoopto the royal Scepter of JF.S us CHRIST ; particu- 
 larly, the Various Indian Bribes, tint have imbrued 
 their Hands in our Blood : And, in fhdrt, that all the 
 glorious Things fpoken of the City of our GOD, may 
 bzfpeedity accomplished in their brighteft Gory. 
 
 THE Womb of Providence is big with Events, more 
 glorious to the Church, and terrible to her Enemies, 
 than any flic has ever yet fcen.' And, perhaps the pre- 
 fent Motion of the Wheels, may pave the Way for the 
 Accomplifhmem of them. The Wheels will prefent- 
 \y move with dreadful Vengeance, to tumble Jnti- 
 Chrififrom hisuftsrped Scar, and give the li r bore of Bz- 
 \jy\onherdoubkCup! In Order to which, what Con- 
 vulfrons may we expedt among Natiofns ; for the 4nti~ 
 ent of Days tvillcaft down the Thrones of thofe Kings(x), 
 that had given their Power to the Beaft ! In what glo- 
 rious Triumph fhall the living Creatures then proceed 
 with the VY heels, to deftroy Mahometan Delufan, Jewijh 
 Infdelify % and Pagan Idolatry I To carry the Gofpel to 
 the remoteft Ends of the Earth, which fhall Influence 
 Multirudesof all Nations to flock to JESUS, as the 
 Doves to their Windows ! Then will commence the 
 
 brighteft 
 (x) Daniel vii. 9, 
 
[ 5* 3 
 
 brighteft Period of the militant Churches Glor^ ; to 
 which Glory, all the Inflaences of Light and Heat flic 
 has hitherto enjoyed,' only bear a Proportion, as the 
 Light of the Moon to the Light of the Sun, or the 
 Light of one Day co that of feven ! 
 
 THESE are Events that Demand our Attention^ and 
 fliall be accompli/lied as an Anfaer of Prayer. When 
 GOD vifits his Church in a remarkable Minner, he 
 ufually does it in Anfwer to the Prayers of his People. 
 The pious Jews wereexpeding, and continually pray- 
 ing for the Coming of CHRIST, when he made his Ap- 
 pearance on Earth. And may it not afford us Ground 
 of Hope, that the Dawn of the forefaid glorious Day is 
 not far off, that fundry, not only individuals, but 
 whole Societies, have been for fome Time paft, en- 
 gaged in expecting, and wreftling in Prayer for the 
 fpeedy Aceompliflimentof it. Let us alfo join our 
 Mite, and refolve#0ffc> ceafe^ till the LORD make Je- 
 rufalem a Praife through the whole Earth, whatfoever 
 intermediate Scenes of fearful J dgments, he may fee 
 neceflary to prepare the Way for it. 
 
 DID you need Motives to exciccyou to perform the 
 forcmentioned very neceflary, and important Duties, 
 I might enlarge on many 5. but hiving already conti- 
 nued much beyond my firlt Intention, I can only take* 
 Time barely to Mention the following. In the due 
 Performance of the Duties you owe to Providence, 
 you will glorify GOD by axfwcring its Calls ; be ena- 
 bled to conduct becomingly under the ^icijfttndes of it ; 
 
 fee 
 
C 57 3 
 
 fee more clearly, and walk more fteadily under its 
 frowns ; be comforted in your weary Pilgrimage tbro* 
 the World\ and fupported in the grand Article of Death. 
 Finally, in Heaven, it will be a Part of your Exercife, 
 and Happinefs, to review the feveral Motions of the 
 Wheels. There (hall you behold infinite Beauties in 
 them, that your mod penetrating Searches cannot now 
 difcover. Particularly, you fhall fee with unfpeaka- 
 ble Satisfaction, thar, if one Drop had been taken out 
 of your Cup of Affliction, Heaven would not be fo 
 fwest to you. Every frefh View of thefc Things, 
 will excite triumphant Allelujahs to the glorious Con- 
 ductor of the Wheels, while your Hearts, full with 
 the Song of Mfes and the Lamb, fliall inceflamly rife 
 with your Notes, and keep Way with your Voices. 
 
 To which Happinefs, may GOD of his infinite Mer- 
 cy bring us all, for CHRIST'S Sake. AMEN. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 H 
 
Juft Imported from LONDON, and tq 
 
 be Sold by the Printer hereof. 
 
 A large and well forted Collection of Books and 
 Stationary, of which Catalogues will fhortly be 
 publifhed, and given gratis. Of whom alfo /ray be 
 had, Bibles of fcycral Sizes, Teftanients, Prayer- 
 Books, Dyche'S) Dil<worth*$) Watts's, and Browns Spel- 
 ling -Books, New- England and Royal Primers, Ffoer's 
 Young- Man's Beft Companions: Alfo, all Sorts of 
 Blank Books, ruled and plain, with feather, Parch- 
 nient, and Marble Covers ; all Sorts of writing Paper ; 
 beft Englijh aud Dutch Quills ; Sealing-wax, Wafers, 
 Fountain-pens, Ivory handled Penknives and Folders^ 
 Blacklead Pencils with and without Cafes, beft Bon- 
 net, Fullers, and Book-binders Paftcboards, Slates 
 and Pencils, &c. QPc. 
 
 Where alfo may be had, neatly ftitch'd in blue Paper, 
 
 (Price Vivo Shillings.) 
 
 jpEACE and UNION Recommended; and SELF dif- 
 claim'd, and CHRIST exalted : In two Sermons, 
 preached at Pbitadtlpbia, before the Reverend SYNODS 
 of New-fork and Philadelphia : By Francis dlifon, n. D. 
 yice-Provoft of the COLLEGE, and Redtor of the 
 ACADEMY, in Philadelphia * t And Dai>idBo(lwick t A. M. 
 of the Presbyterian Church t in New fork. 
 

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