Firſt, Sin doth with-hold from a people or nation ſpiritual good things: Now thoſe ſpiritual good things, which ſin doth with-hold from a people, are ſuch as the pardon and forgiveneſs of all their ſins; the ſpecial love and favour of God through Jeſus Chriſt, revealed to their ſouls, in the full and free pardon of their ſins; the ſaving graces of God's ſpirit to change them and renew them; theſe are thoſe ſpecial and excellent good things which ſin doth commonly deprive a people of. God has in his great mercy to our ſouls given us all his ordinary ways and means, whereby theſe ſpiritual bleſſings might be procured; he has given us his Word, his Goſpel, his Miniſters, his Day, and Ordinances. Now in the careful and diligent uſe of theſe means, God has promiſed to give his Son, and with him all the ſaving graces of his ſpirit; b •• if a people will ſlight and contemn the Ordinance of God, and will love, and delight in their ſins, and follow the luſt and carnal deſires of their own hearts; God many times in juſtice leaves them to their own hearts luſt, that becauſe they love and delight to be wicked and unclean, and will be ſo, and never care to ſeek to the Lord by faſting and prayer, and by uſing the means, preſcribed in his word, for the graces of his ſpirit, to change, and renew them: Therefore it is God's order and way, in juſtice, to give ſuch over to obdurancy, and hardneſs of heart, ſo that they will be wicked and unclean ſtill, For this cauſe, ſaith the Apoſtle, Rom. 1. God gave them up to vile affections, and to uncleanneſs, to follow the doſires of their own hearts. Thus God dealt with his own people the Jews, Pſa. 81.12. that becauſe they would not hearken to his voice, and would have none of him, therefore he gave them up to their own luſts, and they walked in their own counſel. Friends, it is our ſins, our wilful fins, our continued rebellion againſt God, that hinders ſpiritual good things from deſcending into our own ſouls, it is our delighting and living in ſin that hinders our prayers from being granted, and that hinders our ſervices from being accepted: If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me. ſaith David, Pſa. 66.18. God declares himſelf not only willing, but able to beſtow the choiceſt of his bleſſings upon thoſe that ſeek him in the uſe of means, Iſa. 59.1. Behold, the Lords hand is not ſhortened that it cannot ſave, neither is his ear heavy that it cannot hear; But, ſaith the Prophet, in ver. 2. your iniquities have ſeparated between you and your God, and your ſins hath hid his face from you that he will not hear. It is a peoples ſins that with-holds good things from them, even ſpiritual good things.

Secondly, The ſins of a people or nation, keeps back from them temporal good things alſo; our bleſſed Saviour has promiſed, Mat. 6. that if we ſ ek firſt the Kingdom of God and the Righteouſneſs thereof, that then all outward good things ſhall be added unto us. But our ſeeking to pleaſe the fleſh, and to ſatisfie our luſt, and living in ſinful ways, this hinders the ſtream of God's bleſſing from deſcending upon this our land. Have we not ſeen within this year or two, ſeveral tokens of God's wroth againſt the inhabitants of this land, for their u • g • dly doings, even in keeping back from us theſe outward good things, which we have expected, ſome times God ſeemed to manifeſt the tokens of his anger, by ſtopping the influences of the Heavens, and threatning to dry up our Corn and Fruits, by ſending of a drought upon the land; at other times, when our Corn has been come to perfection and ripeneſs, then God was pleaſed to manifeſt the tokens of his anger in threatning to deny us the enjoyment of it, by ſending of exceſſive Ruins in the time of harveſt; and now this laſt year it pleaſed Almighty God, as a token of his anger againſt our evil doing, to ſend a blaſt upon our Corn. Friends it is our ſins, our iniquities, that procures theſe judgments; Beloved Friends, let us not murmur at God's dealings with us, but rather let us admire his patience & bounty toward us, in that he hath but only ſent to us the tokens of his anger and wrath, the leaſt mercy that we receive at his hands is more than we deſerve: If we conſider what oppreſſion, cheating, lying, ſwearing, curſing, drunkenneſs, and uncleanneſs, reigns in this Nation, we have reaſon to wonder at God's patience and long ſuffering towards us, in that he bares with us ſo long, and doth not ſend a Famine, or ſome utter deſtruction. Let us conſider, that it is our ſins and evil doings that with holds the Rain from coming in its ſeaſon, and cauſes a drought upon the Land; it is our ſins that brings violent and unſeaſonable floods of Water to deſtroy the fruits of the earth; it is our ſins and iniquities that brings a blaſt and mildew upon our Corn and Fruits. O therefore let every one of us turn from our ways and evil doings, if ever we would delive God to turn from his fierce indignation, that is gone forth againſt us, but I fear there may be as juſt a complaint taken up againſt the inhabitants of this Nation, as there was againſt the Jews in a verſe or two before the Text, That this people hath a revolting and rebe • ious heaert; neither ſay they in their heart Let us now fear the Lord our God, that giveth us both the former and the latter Rain in its ſeaſon, he reſerveth unto us the appointed Weeks of the harveſt; But (ſaith the text) your iniquities have turned away theſe things from you, and your ſins have with-holden good things from you, even temporal good things.

Thirdly, and laſtly, The ſins of a people or nation keeps back and with holds from them National Good things. When God's judgments hangs over a people or nation; when wars, troubles and confuſion are abroad; and when their Enemies are at their backs ready to invade them; then when the ſame people go onſtubbornly & perverſely in their wicked courſes, and will not be reformed; and when God is working mercy and deliverance for them, and they then take the more liberty to wollow in their abominations, and to ſin the more againſt the Lord, and ſpurn againſt his mercies; theſe doings makes themſelves unſit for mercy, and do as it were ſtay the hand of God, and ſtop him in his proceedings. The Lord our God is a God of Marcy, it is his Nature to ſhew mercy, and to work about deliverances; but yet a wicked people many times pull down Judgments upon thier own heads, by their ungodly and wicked doings. Alas how, loath is God to deſtrey a people or nation, if there be any probability that they will at laſt Repent, and turn from their evil ways. How often did the Lord's own people Iſrael provoke him unto wrath by their many Rebellions againſt him, and yet the Lord was gracious towards them and ſpared them, and would not pour out all his wrath; one time when they had provoked him ſo much by their ſins that God was about to deſtroy them, then Muſes ſtood before him in the broach, leaſt he ſhould deſtroy them; At another time, when the people had provokea the Lord by their Inventions, he ſent the plague among them; the Lord was graciouſly pleaſed upon the prayers of Phinchas to Repent of that evil, and remove his ſtroak from them, Pſal. 106. Yea, not withſtanding they provoked him time after time with their Rebellions, yet he wrought many deliverances for them. But yet conſider this, the Lord did not always bear with them, his patience was at laſt worn out, his longſufferance at laſt had an end, he at laſt was provoked to ſware in his wrath that they ſhould never enter intohis reſt. We read that when God ſpeaks of a ſtubborn & rebellions people, he tells them that h • is weary of Repenting; thus he ſpeaks to his own people here, the people of Jeruſalem, Jer. 15.6 After their many and long provocations, and wearying of his patience: Who ſhall have pitty upon thee O Jeruſalem? who ſhall bemoan thee? thou haſ • forſaken me, ſaith the Lord, thou art gone backward therefore will I ſtretch out my hand against thee to do stroy thee, I am weary of repenting, I am weary of Repenting. Behold here how the Lord ſpeaks after the manner of Men, when the Lord is pleaſed b • his providencial diſpenſation to threaten a people 〈…〉 tokens of his wrath and indignation again them, and then in the midſt of Judgment thinks on mercy, and ſo withdraws his hand, and forbears to ſtrike, & works about deliverance for them, then the Lord is ſaid to redent; but then after a long time, after many repentings of God, after many turns of providence, if that people or nation will not turn from their evil ways, but will ſtill continue reſolutely and obſtinately in their ſins, tho' they have many warnings, threatnings, mercies, and judgments, until Gods patience is quite worn out, then God is ſaid to be weary of Repenting, thus it was with Gods people of old, and thus God ſeems to be dealing with the Inhabitants of this nation. When God has many times ſent tokens of his wrath and diſpleaſure againſt us for our ſins, and has been ready to ſtrike, then the Lord has been pleaſed graciouſly to call back his ſhroaks, and has ſeemed to repent of the evil he was about to bring upon us; thus God did gracibuſly deal with us in the days of Queen Mary, when many thouſand poor ſouls ſuffered Martyrdom, and when the whole Nation was next door to ruine and deſtruction, then the Lord ſeemed to repent, and wonderſully ſtept in for our deliverance. Thus in the time of King James the II. Gods hand of Juſtice was then up ready to ſtrike the final ſtroak, then there ſeemed in all outward appearance to be nothing but utter Ruine and deſtruction, but yet in the very nick of time, the Lord ſeemed to repent of the evil that he was a bringing upon this nation, and in the midſt of • dgment thought upon Mercy, and mercifully brought in our gracious Soveraign King, William, to be the happy Inſtrument of our deliverance And many a time when our malicious enemies ha •• been a plotting & working about our deſtruction God has been a working about our deliverance, & bringing to nought their wicked devices, but ye •• let us aſſure our ſelves, that if we donot in time repent & turn from the evil of our ways but continua ſtill provoking him to wrath, his Repentings will have an end, his patience will be worn out, & the he will pour out his wrath to the utmoſt, and deſtroy us utterly, for if after all his ſmiting of us, 〈◊〉 delivering of us, we will ſtill walk contrary to him He will walk contrary to us, & will puniſh us ſeve • times more for our ſins, until he hath conſume us, as he hath threatened, Deut. 26. Therefore now, whilſt the I ord is going forth againſt us 〈◊〉 a way of wrath, it would be our wiſdom to me •• him by true and unfeigned Repentance, and the he will meet us in love and mercy, and delight 〈◊〉 do us good, for God declares himſelf the Lor • God gracious and merciful, ſlow to anger, and 〈◊〉 great kindneſs, and repenteth him of the evil.

Alas, how loath is God to deſtroy a people 〈◊〉 nation, if there be any hopes at all of their 〈◊〉 turn: O how doth the Lord expoſtulate with 〈◊〉 phraim, when he is going to deſtroy them, h •• doth his Bowels ſeem to be troubled, when he about to ſmite, ſaying: How ſhall I give thee 〈◊〉 Ephraim? how ſhall I deliver thee I ſrael? how ſh •• I make thee as Admah? how ſhall I ſet thee as 〈◊〉 boim? my heart is turned within me, my Repent is are kindled together; I will not execute the fiercen •• 〈◊〉 mine anger; I will not return to deſtroy Ephraim, For I am God, and not Man, He ſea 11.8, 9. Thus • ere, when Popery and Slavery was coming upon •• s apace, and our gracious King William was ſtep • ing in for our deliverance, then the Lord ſeemed • o be bemoaning of England, ſaying: How ſhall I • ive thee up England? how ſhall I deliver thee up •• to the hands of thine Enemies; my Bowels are tur • ed within me, I will not deſtroy England. O therefore Friends, let us not run on in ſin after ſuch a • ate as we do, offending and grieving ſo gracious 〈◊〉 God, leſt his patience ſhould be quite worn out, • nd he be weary of Repenting, & ſo be provoked • o deliver us over into the hands of our Enemies, • nd conſume us utterly. Conſider what great • hings the Lord hath already done for this ſinful • ation, and greater Bleſſings he would yet beſtow • pon us, if our ſins did not ſtop him. Almighty God ſeems now to be expoſtulating with England, • s once he did with his people of old, Pſa. 81.13, 14, 15. O that my people had hearkened unto me, and England had walked in my ways, I ſhould ſoon have subdued their Enemies, and turned my hand againſt •• eir Adverſaries, the haters of the Lord, ſhould have submitted themſelves unto them, he would have fed •• em, and ſatisfied them with the fineſt of the Wheat, •• d honey out of the Rocks. O that England would once repent and turn from her evil ways! how •• ickly would the Lord turn away his anger from 〈◊〉 ? how quickly would he put an end to our wars and Troubles? how ſoon would he bring 〈◊〉 a laſting Peace and Tranquility amongſt us, •• d would rejoice over us to do us good; but it is the ſins of a people or nation that withhold good things from them, even national good things.

Thus I have diſpatcht the firſt part of my text which was to ſhew you what are thoſe good thing that the ſins of a nation or people do with-hold from them, they are Spiritual Good Things, Temporal Good Things, and National Good Things

Secondly, The ſecond part of my Text is to ſhe • you what are thoſe common ſins that with-hold Good Things from a People or Nation: No • the Prophet Hoſea gives us a Catalogue of ſome 〈◊〉 them, Hoſea • . 2. By Swearing, & Lying, & Killing & Stealing, & committing Adultery, they break o •• and blood touches blood, therefore ſhall the Land mour •• Now the ſins of England which with-holds Good Things from them, are ſuch as theſe: I ſh •• name ſome few of them, which are the chief, Firſt the firſt ſin which I ſhall here mention, that with holds Good Things from a Nation, is Swearin • and Curſing. O how dreadful it is to hear •• cked Wretches, when they are drinking in a A • e-houſe, and at other times, belch out the Helliſh Oaths; O it many times makes ones hea • ach to hear how they ſwear at almoſt every wo •• they ſpeak, by the Name of God, by Blood and Wounds, and ſuch like horrible Oaths, notwithſtanding that Act of Parliament which has late come out againſt the ſin of Swearing, yet I cannot ſee that people are much more afraid to ſwear 〈◊〉 Oath, Surely, as the Prophet ſaith, Jer. 23.10. Becauſe of ſwearing the Land mourneth; And if ev •• this our • and mourned under this grievous by • len, it mourns now at this day, nay, and if Swearing be not bad enough, many in their Rage and Fury fall a curſing of one another, yea, curſing of themſelves too, nay, and that which is worſt of • ll, many have been heard to curſe themſelves to the pit of Hell, and wiſh damnation upon themſelves. I can tell you of a man, which I ſaw but a little while ago, being a little in drink, I heard him call upon God to damn his ſoul at almoſt every word he ſpoke. O what a moſt dreadful Impre • ation this is? that people muſt wiſh eternal • amnation upon themſelves. O Sinner, what if God ſhould indeed take thee at thy word, that as • oon as the word Damn me is out of thy mouth, he hould ſend ſome ſudden ſtroak of vengeance or other upon thee, and ſend thee immediately out of this world into Eternal Damnation, I tell thee • nner, it is juſt with God to do it, and indeed thou have great cauſe to expect, every time the like imprecation comes out of thy mouth, that he • hould clap the like Judgment immediately upon •• y head; & then thou canſt not but acknowledge • hat God hath given thee no worſe than thou didſt wiſh upon thy ſelf, and didſt call upon him for; • ay ſome there are that are ſo inclinable to the • ns of Curſing, and Swearing, and Railing, and • vil-ſpeaking, that they infect their Off-ſpring with the like Vices; there poor Children, as ſoon is they come to be of any bigneſs, how quickly • o they learn theſe Helliſh Arts of their parents • nd elders, ſo that in many Towns and Streets where children are playing together, they have • een heard to curſe and ſwear one at another in a dreadful manner, and ſome have been heard to call one another all to nought, as Dog, Rogue, and I know not what, as I gave a hint of in my little Book, being a ſecond part for children.

Obj. But many Parents will be ready to ſay, that it is not they that teach their children, but the children learn one of another.

Anſ. To this I anſwer: It is true that young ones having a vitious nature, which they brought with them into the world, they are naturely backward to learn any good, but very inclinable to learn evil even one of another; but pray conſider where the foundation lyes all this while, it is the Parents many times are the firſt Inſtructers in evil, we have had in our days many proofs of this, for ſome ungodly Parents have been many times heard to gape at their own children when they would not come at their call, and would not do juſt as they would have them, they have been heard to curſe and ſwear at them, and call them all to nought, and ſo the poor children think that they may uſe the like words and expreſſions one to another, and then if theſe children happen into the company of thoſe children whoſe parents are godly, and who labour to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, yet how quickly do they learn vitious and foul language of the others, and ſo by this means ordinarily young ones learn one of another. O Friends, are not your children prone enough to evil of themſelves, but you muſt infuſe ſinful Vices into their corrupted Nature? O you that are parents and governours of children, let me beſeech you to conſider what you are doing when you are mouthing at your children, and a uſing foul language in their hearing, that you are a doing your endeavour to infect whole Towns and Families with wicked Vices, nay, and the whole Nation it ſelf, and ſo haſten God's wrath and Judgment upon the whole Nation.

Secondly, Another National Sin, which keeps Good Things from us, is Oppreſſion, Deceit, Treachery, and Unjuſt Dealing, and indeed there is ſo much of theſe ſins reigns in this our Nation, that it is to be feared that Oppreſſion, Treachery and Deceit, will at laſt be the utter Ruine of this Nation: Behold how God complains of his Vineyard, the Land of Iſrael, Iſa. 5.7. He looked for Righteouſneſs, and behold Oppreſſion; for Judgment, and behold a cry: Oh! may not the Lord juſtly complain the like of this Nation? that he looked for Righteouſneſs, Juſtice, and Equity to be in it; and there is nothing in it but Oppreſſion, Unjuſtneſs, and Deceit. The poor and needy beg at the Rich Mens doors for Relief, but the moſt had rather conſume pounds upon their Luſt, than to ſpare one half ſhilling for the Relief of the Needy. And many Farmers there are in the Nation, Oh! how do they wiſh for a Dearth, and watch for an opportunity to raiſe the price of their Corn, and thereby oppreſs, and grind the faces of the poor and needy, that they might hoard of Riches unto themſelves, and the poor Laborours, they muſt be oppreſſed of their wages; there are many poor Labourers now a days are fain to toil themſelves early and late to get a poor maintainance for themſelves and their Families, and in the mean time thoſe that hire them, ſtudy how to abate them in their wages. And likewiſe what a deal of Oppreſſion and Deceit there is amongſt us in buying and ſelling, the Buyer he will Oppreſs the Seller by debaſing his wares, and will not give ſo much as he knows they are worth; and the Seller he will endeavour to oppreſs the Buyer by exalting his Ware above the worth, and will tell the Buyer that his Wares coſt him more than they really did; and the Buyer crys out, it is naught, it is naught; and when he is gone away, then he boaſteth, Pro. 20.14. I verily think that there never was ſo much Oppreſſion, ſo much Deceit as there is now in theſe days, deceitful wares, deceitful weights, deceitful meaſures, deceitful money, and deceitful doings, that ſure it is for our Oppreſſion, Iniuſtice, Treachery and Deceit, that the Lord with-holds good things from us.

Thirdly, Another National Sin is Drunkenneſs, and I think never did this ſin ſo much abound in this Nation as it doth now in theſe our days, many men complain that every thing is dear, and that they can hardly get money for their neceſſary uſe, and grutch to ſpare a penny for a deed of Charity, and yet can find ſhillings to conſume in an Ale houſe; many times I have been at places where there has been drinking, playing, ſinging, and ranting almoſt a whole night together, now there is a woe pronounced againſt ſuch, Iſa. 5.22. Woe to them that are mighly to drink Wine, and Mon of ſtrength to mingle ſtrong drink. O how ſad it in to ſee how Drunkenneſs abounds in every City, in every Town and Street in this Nation, O how much precious time is waſted away in Drunkenneſs, Voluptiouſneſs, and the works of the Fleſh, ſurely theſe ſins of Drunkenneſs, Volupteouſneſs, Fornication, Uncleanneſs, and all other Works of the Fleſh, are a means to with-hold all good things from us.

Fourthly, Another National Sin is neglect of Family Dutys, moſt that are Governours of Familys ſcarce ſo much as pray in their Familys once a Week, they are careful to call upon their Servants to do their work, but never mind them of the concern of their immortal ſouls. There is a ſevere threatning goes againſt ſuch, Jer. 10.21. That the Lord will pour out his fury upon the Heathens that know him not, and upon the Nations that call not an his Name. But I have wrought ſomething of this in my book of Joſhuas Reſolution to ſerve the Lord, therefore I will ſay no more of it here.

Fifthly, Another National Sin is Unfruitfulneſs under the means of grace, though they have Reproof upon Reproof, Sabbath upon Sabbath, Line upon Line, Preceipt upon Preceipt; though they enjoy Sermon Opportunitys, Sacrament Opportunitys, Praying Opportunitys, yet for the generality of them they are never the better, they go on in a Cuſtomary Road of Dutys, but take no care to reform their hearts and lives; now we that are unfruitful under all means of grace, what can we expect, but that the Kingdom of Heaven ſhall be taken from us, and given to a Nation, bringing forth the fruit thereof. And to be cu • down by the A • of Gods judgments, becauſe we are but cumbers of the ground, Luke 13.

Sixthly, Another National ſin, that I ſhall here mention, is Pride, eſpecially pride in Apparel, and ſure never did this ſin reign ſo much both in City and Country, as it does in our days, and if England be deſtroyed, is is thought that pride will be a great cauſe of its Ruine; for how do our Ladys and great Ones invent new faſhions, ſome muſt go with powdered hair, ſome with ſpotted faces, and ſome again with high heads, ſo that they appear more like Mooriſh Dancers than like ſober devout Chriſtians. But ſome will be ready to ſay that pride lyes not in the dreſs, but in the heart. To this I anſwer, that as meat may be known whether it be ſweet or ſower by the taſt, even ſo pride in the heart does often diſcover it ſelf by the outward geſtures of the body. O let the great ones of this Land have a care that they do not lye under that threatning denounced againſt proud perſons, Iſa. 3. from ver. 16. to the end, That becauſe the Daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with ſtretched forth weeks, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinckling with their feet, therefore in that day the Lord will take away their bravery, their chains, braſless and mufflers; their Rings and changable ſuits of Apparel, their mantles, wimples, and criſping pins, their glaſſes, fine linnen hoods and vails, &c. But this is not all, there is a worſer judgment threatened in the two laſt verſes: Their Men ſhall fall by the ſword, and their mighty Men in War, &c. O that the Inhabitants of this nation would break off this ſin by Repentance, leaſt the like Judgment ſhould ſpeedily fall upon them, for ſure pride is a great ſin that hinders good things from us.

Seventhly, and laſtly, I will name but one National Sin more that with-holds good things from us, and that is Sabbath-breaking, and this is a ſin that reigns very much in this land, tho 'there has been good and wholeſome Laws, ſet out by Act of Parliament, againſt the common prophanation of the Lord's day, yet I think the generality of people now a days do but little regard either the laws of God or Man, and a great many there be, tho they dare not work at their callings on the Lords day, yet they will beſure to chuſe that day above all the reſt, to go and viſit their friends, and to make merry amongſt their ſinful Companions, and ſometimes ride abroad about unneceſſary • u • ineſs, becauſe they cannot ſpare time on other days. O how careful are a great many to piſe early on the week days, and work later than ordinarily on Saturday nights, thinking that when the • ords day comes then they may that morning reſt themſelves in their beds, never conſidering to what end that day was given them, nor what is to be done on that day, and when the King and Parliament was graciouſly pleaſed to ſet a part days of faſting and humiliation for the ſins of the nation, that by faſting and praying God might avert and remove thoſe judgments that bang over our heads, yet theſe days were but little minded by a great many, for when a faſt day came, they could not ſpare time from their worldly imployments to attend on God in publick, and many others tho' they do go to church, as ſoon as publick exerciſe is ended away they go to the Ale-houſe to drinking; thus they ſeem to keep a faſt, but it is but a mock faſt, inſtead of keeping that day in offering up unto God an humble and contrite heart-for their ſins, and the ſins of the nation, and importuning of God, by their earneſt prayers, to remove thoſe Judgments which hang over their heads; inſtead of that they muſt go to ſatisfying of their luſt. Ah ſinful people, ah nation laden with iniquity, will you thus continue to provoke the Lord at all times, will not the Lord be avenged on ſuch doings as theſe? but praiſed be the Lord, that there are many in this nation, that do keep a ſincere faſt unto the Lord, and by their fervent and hearty prayers ſtand in the gap, and ſtop God s Judgments from falling upon this ſinful nation, otherwiſe, Woe had it been to us long before this time. Beioved people you that are the inhabitants of this land, if our gracious King and Governours will be pleaſed to ſet a part at any time another day of humiliation, for the Lords ſake let me prevail with you to ſpend that oue day wholly in exainining your hearts and lives, in confeſſing, and mourning for your ſins, and for the ſins of the nation, and reſolving to break off your ſins by repentance, as the people of N • nive did that God may yet turn away from the ſierceneſs of his wrath that we periſh not.

A word or two of Application and I have done.

Beloved Friends, you have ſeen here what thoſe ſins are that with-hold good things from us, & not only ſo, but pulls down moſt heavy judgments upon our heads, and I think theſe ſins never ſo much abounded in this nation as they do now, never was there ſo much ſwearing, lying, oppreſſion, cheating, pride, drunkenneſs, and Sabbath-breaking, as there reigns among us now in theſe days. Beloved Friends for the Lords ſake, let us ſet upon the reforming of theſe ſins, & break them off by a timely repentance, I ſay for the Lords ſake, who is ſtill patient, and is loath to ſtrike, but forbears to the very utmoſt, if it may be that we will yet turn to him; methinks the Lord at this day is bemoaning England, as once before I told you he bemoan'd Ephraim: How ſhall I give thee up England? how ſhall I deliver thee up into the hands of thy Enemys? O that thou wouldeſt once reform and amend, that my wrath may not yet break forth againſt thee. Conſider how the Lord hath timely given us warning by his word, by ſigns and by his ſervants, and ſtill he forbears to ſtrike, and ſhall not we yet take warning until deſtruction comes at our backs? O for the Lords ſake reform & amend, if not for the Lords ſake, yet let us do it for our own ſakes, nay for the nations ſake; what pitty is it that we ſhould by our ſins pull down vengeance upon the whole nation; nay laſtly, Friends, let us all be prevailed with to break off our ſins by repentance, and amend our lives for the ſake of William our King and Governour. A few years ago, when we were even at the brink of utter ruine and deſtruction, and he out of tender love to theſe nations, was graciouſly pleaſed to leave his habitation 〈◊〉 Holland, and did venter thro' many difficultys & l • wgers, and did hazard his own life that he might • ome to deliver us from bondage and ſlavery, and • et muſt we take this love and good-will ſo unkindly, and ſo unthankfully, ſo as to do what in us lyes by our ſins and iniquities to pull down Gods judgments upon his head and the whole nation beſides, O what a dreadful thing this is to conſider of. Friends, we have provoked God ſo much by our ſins, that God has threatened ſeveral times to remove him from us; how often has he been very near to have been ſhot, and yet for our ſakes he preſerved him, and praiſed be his name ſtill preſerves & ſhields him from the hands of his enemies. It was but a little before the Queens death that there was a day of thankſgiving appointed for the Kings return home, which was on the Sabbath-day, but O how ſad it was to behold how the Lord's day was profaned, in many Towns and Citys, by Ringing, ſhouting, and making of bonfires; but alas! how ſoon was this our mirth and jollitry turn'd into mourning; and truly friends, I cannot out look upon the death of our gracious Queen, which happen'd ſoon after, no other wiſe than as part of Gods juſt Judgments to this nation, as for their many other provocations, ſo-particularly for that one abuſe of the Lord's day, and yet people will take no warning, but run on ſtill in the ſame prophanation of the Lord's day: beloved Friends, and inhabitants of this nation, we have, if I may ſo ſpeak, but one ſtring to our how, and if the Lord ſhould be provoked by our ſins, by any means, to remove from us our gracious King, what can we look for then but utter Ruine and Deſtruction: my Friends, if ever the King and Parliament ſhould appoint at any time another day of thankſgiving, he exhorted to ſpend it in publick prayers and praiſes, & the reſt of the day ſpend both in meditating, and alſo in diſcourſing one another concerning God's wonderful works, his mercies, and miraculous deliverances in all Ages of the world, particularly of our Redemption by Chriſt, and of God's mercys to this nation. And towards the end of the day, let it be concluded in reading in your familys, in expounding, in ſinging Pſalms, in praying and praiſes; now a day thus ſpent, would reſemble the life of the Saints in Heaven. If, this day of thankſgiving be on the Lord's day, for the Lord's ſake do not prophane it by drinking, ringing, ſhouting, and bonnring, as the cuſtom has been, and if our Rulers would be pleaſed to ſet a part a day in the week time, which I think moſt convenient, pray let it not be ſpent in ſuch vanity and ſooleries, but in ſpiritual exerciſes, and what money you intend to beſtow in drinking and ringing, and faggots, you intend to give to be conſumed in bonfires, be exhorted to offer up theſe as a thankſgiving offering to God, by beſlowing them upon the poor and needy, to feed and warm them; with ſuch ſacrifice God will be well pleaſed, ſuch a thanks offering as this, will aſcend up as a ſweet ſavour unto God, whereby God's wrath will be pacified, and will remove his Judgments from us, and delight to do us good. To conclude, let us be exhorted to break off our • ins by repentance, and to amend our lives, & then God will bleſs and proſper our King, and the whole nation, and deliver us from all our Enemies, then we ſhall yet ſee Happy Days, and be bleſt with a laſting Peace and Plenty: Which the Lord of his Inſinite Mercy grant, Amen.