God's conduct of his church through the wilderness, with his glorious arm, to make himself an everlasting name. A sermon preached by order of the Honourable Representatives, of the province of the Massachusetts-Bay, in New-England. On May the 25th, 1715. Being their anniversary day for election of His Majesties Council for that province. / By Jeremiah Shepard, A.M. Pastor of the church of Lynn. ; [Five lines from Deuteronomy]

God's conduct of his church through the wilderness, with his glorious arm, to make himself an everlasting name. A sermon preached by order of the Honourable Representatives, of the province of the Massachusetts-Bay, in New-England. On May the 25th, 1715. Being their anniversary day for election of His Majesties Council for that province. / By Jeremiah Shepard, A.M. Pastor of the church of Lynn. ; [Five lines from Deuteronomy]

Table of contents

Title page

To the Honourable House of REPRESENTATIVES, Of the Province of the Massachusetts-Bay, in New-England.

God's Conduct of His Church With His Glorious Arm.

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God's Conduct of His Church With His Glorious Arm.

Isaiah LXIII. 12.‘That led them by the Right Hand of Moses and Aaron, with his Glorious Arm, dividing the Water before them, to make Himself an Everlasting Name.’

IT hath been an Ancient, Laudable, Celebrated Custome, on our Anniversary Elections, (formerly of Governours, but always of Assistants in Government) to Invocate the Divine Presence, and Consult the Sacred Oracles for Direction in so Weighty an Affair.

By the dispose of Divine Providence, it hath fallen to my Allotment, and at the Pleasure of those Worthy and Honourable Gentlemen, the Representatives of this Province, I find my self exposed, and have this task put upon me; which I am very sensible, might have been better performed and accepted by [Page] some other Person, better acquainted with the present circumstances and state of Affairs amongst us.

But since it cannot be prevented, that I would crave, is only a candid Interpretation of what may be very plainly, but sincerely offered; it not being presumption, but obedience, that makes me comply in my present offerings, who have reason to account my self the weakest & most unworthy of my Brethren that minister at the Altar.

That which I have to offer to this Great and Honourable, the General Assembly of this Province; and in the Audience of the Reverend Elders, and all good Christians now Conven'd: Let it be some brief and suitable Reflections on the Divine Providence, in the Lords Conduct of his Church thro' the Wilderness of this World, or from one part of the Wilderness of this World to another.

This is admirably Exemplified in our Text, by the famous Instance of God's Conduct of Israel of Old (the only Church upon Earth, the National Church of the Jews) thro' the Red Sea; and into, and in the Wilderness by the Right hand of Moses, with Gods Glorious Arm (for forty years together) to make himself an Everlasting Name.

Which may be improved as a parallel Instance, and may put us upon a Reflection of Gods Conduct [...] People (our Fathers) over a far greater Sea (the vast Atlantick Ocean) [Page] into this American Desart, this vast howling Wilderness; and his Conducting us here by faithful and excellent Guides and Governours, as it were by the Right hand of Moses and Aaron, with his Glorious Arm, for more than twice Forty Years, whereby he hath made to himself an Everlasting Name.

But lest I should in ipso limine impingere, and forget the limits of time alotted; I must mind you, that our Text is a brief Compendium, or an Abridgement of that Famous Celebrated History of Gods Conduct of his Church from Egypt thro' the Wilderness, and in the Wilderness: In which Conduct, four things are pointed out in our Text.

1. The Divine Power and Providence of God, figuratively set forth by the Metaphor of his Arm, his Glorious Arm; (who led them by the Right hand of Moses with his Glorious Arm) the Arm of God in Scripture Language, denotes the Power of God: Brachium ponitur pro Robore, Fortitudine, Potentia.

2. The Instrument improved in this Glorious Conduct, scil. Moses: Famous for his Preservation in his Infancy, taken out of an Ark of Bulrushes, in his Education in Ravennel, in the Court of Egypt, Exod. 6. 6, 15, 16. Deut. 4. 34. And also the Lords honouring him to be King of J [...]sh [...]un, Captain General of the Tribes of Israel, to lead them by his Right hand, with Gods Glorious Arm, (that led them by the Right hand of Moses, with his Glorious Arm) [Page] i. e. Gods Glorious Arm march'd gallantly at Moses's Right hand, which made the Conduct so much the more Illustrious and Glorious.

3. We have the Glorious Arm of God's Conduct exemplified in one particular Instance, instead of all others, soil. in leading his People miraculously thro' the Sea; intimated in that expression in our Text, (dividing the waters before them, the Red Sea, and also Jordan, Exod. 14. 21. Josh. 3. 15, 16.

4. The ultimate end of this Divine Conduct is pointed to in the close of our Text, soil. Gods Glory, the Glory of his Name; (to make himself an Everlasting Name) with reference both to his Power & Providence, as respecting either his Aim and End in doing what he did; or the effect of it when it was done, it got him Renown: Who led them by the Right hand of Moses, with his Glorious Arm, to make himself an Everlasting Name.

You may take up this Doctrine from the words, as the ground of our Ensuing Discourse.

DOCTRINE. To make Himself an Everlasting Name, is the prime and ultimate end of Gods Exerting his Glorious Arm of Divine Power and [...] Conducting his Church and People thro' the Wilderness of this World; or from one part of the Wilderness of this World to another.

[Page] For Confirmation hereof, I might lead you thro' the whole History of the Scriptures; wherein we may trace the footsteps of the Wonder Working Providences of God in his Care and Conduct of his Church, and Judgments upon their Enemies, which have remarks put upon them every where by Gods Holy Prophets; And by way of Imitation in treating the Subject under our present Consideration, I might improve their method.

Our Prophet Isaiah in our Text, points out unto us the Ancient way of Preaching in Old Testament times, which was an Historical Narration of Memorable Mercies and Remarkable Judgments relating to Gods Church, or his Churches Enemies: Mercies and Judgments were the Texts they Preached on; hence is that of the Psalmist, I will Sing of Mercy and of Judgment unto thee Oh Lord, Psal. 101. 1.

But let it suffice to Confirm this Doctrine from the particular Instance in our Text, wherein as in a Glass we may behold the Providence of God, his Wisdom, Glory, Power and Goodness exercised towards his People at all times. Now that there was so much of the Praise-worthy Excellency and Goodness of God Discovered in this Conduct of his People, the Scriptures do frequently declare: Hence so many Psalms of Praise made concerning it: After Ages transmitting down to their Children the Glory of God appearing therein.a Praise ye the Lord &c. Our Fathers understood not thy Wonders in Aegypt but provoked him at the Sea, even at the Red Sea, nevertheless he sav'd them for his Name sake, that [Page]he might make his mighty Power to be known b Oh God when thou wentest forth before thy People, when thou didst march thro' the Wilderness, the Earth shook, † the Heavens dropped at the Presence of God! Sinai it self was moved at the Presence of the God of Israel. c Gods Conduct of them is elsewhere observed and commemorated: Hence are those frequently repeated Commands at their arrival at Canaan to Remember and never Forget the works of God which they had seen in the Wilderness: No place so much Discovered the Wonderful Works wrought for them by the Glorious Arm of God, as that,d Thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the Wilderness, to Humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what is in thy Heart, whether thou wouldest keep his Commandments or not.

Very memorable were the Wonders wrought for Gods Israel in the Land of Ham, in the Field of Zoan, the Royal City of Egypt, an ancient City.* Marvellous things did he in the sight of their Fathers, in the Land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan. But especially very memorable was the Lords bringing them out of AEgypt by the Right hand of Moses with his Glorious Arm, for it was with a strong Hand, and outstretched Arm, with signs, wonders, and very great terrour,e And hast brought forth thy People Israel out of the Land of Egypt, with signs, and with wonders, with a strong Hand, with a stretched out Arm, and with great Terrour.

No less then Ten Plagues did God send upon [Page] Egypt one after another, before Pharoah would let them go; and after he had dismiss'd them, and they were marched forth, they were as Hotly pursued by that Dragon Phoraoh, and his formidable Army of Chariots and Horsemen, who soon overtook the unarmed Tribes of Israel, Encamping by the Red Sea, besides Phihahiroth, at the mouth of Hiroth, or entrance or straits of Hiroth; where were two great Mountains, betwixt which Israel marched; and were inclos'd on both sides, between Migdall, and Baalzephon, two strong Garrison Cities of Egypt: And thus was Israel Entangled, the Red Sea before them, and strong Garrisons, and Inaccessible Mountains on each side, and Pharaoh with his Enraged Army of Chariots & Horsemen on their backs.* Oh the Distress that Israel was now in! Why s:aith Moses, stand still, and see the Salvation of the Lord; they cry, Heaven hears and Commands the march, the Sea Divides; The Lord discovers to them the Worlds Foundations. The Tribes of Israel they march into the Sea as on Dry Ground, the Sea is made fordable, the waters stand on heaps on each side: The Angel of God, that went before the Camp of Israel, soil. The Angel of Gods Presence, the Lord Jesus Christ, remov'd and went behind them, betwixt Israel and the Host of the Egyptians; so the Glory of the Lord was their Rere-ward. Isai. 5. 12. and 58. 8.

Pharaoh and the Egyptians pursue them into the midst of the Sea; And now was the time that God cut Rahab, and wounded the Dragon, and made the Depths of the Sea a way for the Ransomed of the Lord to pass over. When the Church of God is upon their motion, all things [Page] Conspire for their happy March; their pursuers are destroyed, Pharoah and his Host in the Red Sea, the Sea divides, the Heavens Conduct by the Pillar of Cloud by Day, and of Fire by Night when they march into the Wilderness every thing is mov'd in extraordinary wise; The Mountains Skip'd like Rams, and the little Hills like Lambs; Sinai, and Horeb are moved▪ * All supplies shall be afforded them? Do they want Bread, they shall have Corn from Heaven, Manna, Angels food? Do they want meat, they have flesh rained upon them as Dust, and Feather'd Fowl as the sand of the Sea?† Do they want water in a Droughty Desert? rather than fail, the Flinty Rocks shall yield it; the Flinty Rocks one would think would yield fire rather than water, but God works for his People in mediis oppositis, by contrary means; he turns the watry Ocean into a Pavement, and the Flinty Rock into streams in the Wilderness; the Rock Rophadim is set a br [...]ch, and it made not only a stagnum, a standing Pool, but a running River in the Desert; hence is it said, the Rock follow'd them: When they Approach the swift swelling streams of Jordan, the waters run Retrograde, the Sea saw them and fled Jordan was driven back: Here is another miraculous passage over the Hoods, they pass over Jordan on Dry Land and take up the stones of the Channel for a Memorial.

When they enter Canaan, the Nations tremble, their Cities t [...]mb [...], as when Joshua encompassed Jericho, its impr [...]able Walls fell down flat at the shout and sound of the Rams horns; but we are led into a maze of Miracles: Oh the wonders that God wrought for his People, [Page] but all this was to make himself an Everlasting Name: This indeed was the end of all Gods Wonderful Works, both of Creation and of Providence, but especially of his Churches preservation, and most especially of the Glorious Work of Redemption; the foundation whereof was Everlasting Love, and the Topstone shall be laid with shouting, Grace Grace unto it, Zach. 4. that hereby the Lord might make to himself an Everlasting Name.

1. To make himself an Everlasting Name, was the great end of the Works of Creation; therefore God call'd up this great World out of nothing, for this end he fram'd the stately Fabrick of this vast and beautiful Universe; he hath planted the Heavens, that stately Superstructure, that vaulted Roof, and bespangled Canopy over our heads; wherein he hath set a tabernacle for the Sun, and appointed the Ordnances of Heaven, with the influential Constellations thereof, and guides Arcturus with his Sons, and hath made Orion, the Pleides, and the Chambers of the South; and all this to make himself an Everlasting Name: Hence that of the Psalmist, Psal. 19. 1. The Heavens declare the Glory of God, and the Firmament sheweth his handy-work. And he hath also laid the Beams of his Chambers in the Waters, and fixed the Groundsels and Foundations of the World, and hangeth the Earth upon nothing, Job 26. 7. he stretcheth out the North over the empty place, and the Earth hangs equally poized with its own weight, which made the very Heathen to admire: Hence that of Ovid,

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Terra pilae similis nullo fulcimine nixa,

Aere sublato tam grave p [...]ndet onus.

This is wonderful, that the vast Globe of the pondrous Earth and Sea, should thus hang without some solid thing to uphold it? This makes the Lord an Everlasting Name; who laid the Foundations of the Earth, that it should not be removed for ever.

2. To make himself an Everlasting Name, is the end of all Gods wonder-working Providences in the World; ordering all things to his own Glory, and for the good of his Church, & the destruction of all the implacable Adversaries thereof; as Pharoah is a special example, yielding to us a fair demonstration of a Revenging Deity, and of a Divine Nemesis.

But to come up to the present purpose from the Instance in our Text, to make a parallel of it, in order to Application, we may Enquire,

Quest. Wherein was Gods Glorious Arm so Illustrious in his Peoples Conduct thro' the Wilderness, as to make himself an Everlasting Name.

Answ. In general, the sum or principal of it is, in that he brought his People Israel, by and thro' Travels unto Rest, Troubles unto Peace, Wants unto Supplies, Distresses [...]nto Deliverances; yea, through and from [Page] great wants unto great supplies; and from great and eminent dangers and distresses unto great Salvations, which he wrought for them; he turned all things to the best, even his Churches Bricks made in their Bondage, were turned into Saphires.

Now in this way of the Lords Dispensation, was made bare the Arm of three of Gods Glorious Attributes; the Glorious Arm of his Power, of his Wisdom, and of his Goodness.

1. The Glorious Arm of Gods Power, above the Power of man, in helping when means failed, when they could not help themselves; in working in oppositis mediis means, and commanding light to shine out of darkness, turning evil into good to them, & doing things when at the greatest difficulty; fetching Waters out of Rocks, making Rivers to run in the Dasart, &c *

The Lord doth oft make things difficult that he may the more shew his Power; so oft it was with Israel in the Wilderness, things come to the extremity, and beyond the tho't of man, how they should have help; and then the Lord shews his Power.

When Moses despaired of Provision (and Moses said) The people among whom I am, are six hundred thousand foot-men; and thou hast said, I will give them flesh, that they may eat a [Page]whole month. (Saith Moses) Shall the stocks and the herds be slain for them, to suffice them? or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to suffice them? And the Lord said unto Moses, Is the Lords hand waxed short? thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee, or not.

2. The Glorious Arm of Gods Wisdom appeared, in making curious contrivances of his Works, and bringing things about wonderfully, above the reach of man; leading in a Wilderness: He is a wise Guide that can lead and guide thro' a Wilderness, and find the way out. So these Wilderness Leadings and Salvations are works, wherein Mercy imployes all the Attributes of God, and so Wisdom; in special, Wisdom in bringing things about in a most wonderful manner when at wits end; making Dejection the way to Exaltation; also in using fit means to do his People good, in doing many things at once; taking vengeance on their Enemies, chastising, humbling his own People Saving in fit seasons by wonderful ways and means.

There is an extraordinariness in Gods Wilderness-works, they are not accomplish'd in a plain and ordinary manner; but there is therein a discovery of Infinite Wisdom.

3. The Glorious Arm of Divine Mercy & Goodness appeared, in making his Peoples* [Page] misery his opportunity; in coming in the hour of Difficulty, in the article of Distress, when help was sweet and precious, when mercy would be most illustrious; in remembring in their low estate, as he oft did.

The sweetest help is help in Distress, and then most of the goodness of God is tasted. A Mercy in the Wilderness is the sweetest Mercy of all.

But more particularly, His Glorious Arm of Divine Goodness appeared in Leading His People, if we consider the Terminus a quo ead quem.

1. In regard of the Term from which he brought them, soil. from Egypt, an House of Bondage, a Furnace of Iron, from under Taskmasters, from out of the Brick-kilns, from the midst of Idolatry. That he brought them out of Egypt, we know how much is spoken of in Scripture. Better be in the Wilderness, than in Egypt: Better be serving and following the Lord in a Wilderness, in a Land that was not sown, than serving cruel men, and defiling themselves with the Abominations of Egypt; now the Lord led them, and there was no strange God with them. Egypt was a Type of the state of Sin and Misery, out of which God leads his own People.

2. In regard of the Term to which he was leading them; namely, to Canaan, Rest, that is the end; the Wilderness is the way to Canaan, and there they arrive at last; the hope [Page] of that makes Travel easie and sweet, the Journeys end makes amends for all; and the enjoyment of it at last, is the more sweet; we say, All is well that ends well.

But the Wilderness, tho' a place of Affliction, was a place of much mercy; they were in the Wilderness, but God led them there, was with them there, and did great things there for them. Particularly, let me Instance in some of the special Mercies of God in his Glorious Arm of Conduct of his People by the Right hand of Moses in the Wilderness, which may be of use in the Application.

1. The Lord set up RELIGION among them, gave them Statutes and Judgments, and Rules to walk by; the Lord gave them his Word, this was a distinguishing favour: He shewed his Word unto Jacob, his Statutes and his Judgments unto Israel; he hath not dealt so with any Nation.

Never had the People of God so much of his Word given to them, as now since they came into the Wilderness. Moses the first Writer of Holy Scripture, was given them to be their Leader in the Wilderness, & to deliver the first Scriptures in writing; and it is like he writ not only the four last, but Genesis also, in the Wilderness. He acted as an Extraordinary Prophet; and then also by his Ministry, the Law was given on Mount Sinai. In the Wilderness God gave them both Law & Gospel; the Law was delivered on the Mount, [Page] and the Gospel was Preached in the Renewing Gods Covenant with them; and in the extraordinary Types of the Brazen Serpent, which Moses in the Wilderness lifted up.* And of the Rock, whose waters follow'd them; and of the Manna, &c. In a word, in the wilderness God opened his mind and heart to them; now they were alone, he revealed both Law and Gospel in a larger and fuller manner than ever he did before.

Again, the SABBATH had been Instituted from the Beginning, and the Law of it had always been in force, as other Moral Laws, but much neglected and forgotten; therefore God solemnly made it known, and called them to Remember it on Mount Sinai; this was his great mercy, to give them the clear Rule of the Sabbath in the Wilderness, and to reduce them to the careful Observation of it.

2. He set up his TABERNACLE among them in the Wilderness, he gave them Ordinances and Institutions, and Priests and Levites to Dispense all the Ordinances of God to them, according to that Mosaical Paedagogy; having also caused them to Renew their Covenant with him, their Church-Covenant; for so that is, Exod. 19. being a Social Covenant, wherein many People together, did engage themselves to the Lord; thus God brought them near to him, and Set up his Tabernacle among them.

[Page] 3. The Lord set up Government among them, Civil Government; he gave them Laws, so also Magistrates with Power to execute these Laws. Not only Moses, an extraordinary Person to be King of Jeshurun, whom the Lord raised up to bear their lumber, and to manage the Difficult work of Leading that People as in our Text. He led them by the Right hand of Moses.—But also others were appointed according to Jethro's Council for ordinary standing Rulers.* Thou shalt provide out of the People able Men, such as fear God, men of trust, hating Covetousness; and place such over the People to be Rulers of thousands, and Rulers of hundreds, also of Fifties and of Tens, and let them Judge the People at all seasons. And also afterward the settled seventy Elders to be Moses's Assistants (which were after the settled Council & chief Court, called the Sanhedrin or the Synedrion) of which we Read† Hence we so often Read of the Elders of Israel and the heads of the People and their Judges and Officers, all sorts of Rulers.

The Lord did not bring them from under their Taskmasters in Egypt, into the Wilderness to turn Libertines, and to do what is Right in their own Eyes, to despise to be Ruled by any of their Brethren—Altho' some of them rose up against that Order and Government the Lord had set them under; but the Lord did solemnly and dreadfully declare himself against them, as he will sooner or later show that he will not bear with those that refuse to submit to Order, either in Church or Common Wealth: And Oh what a Mercy is it to Enjoy Government, this was a [Page] favour to Israel in the Wilderness, the Lord appointed Government for them and Officers of all sorts, and this was his great Mercy to them; and so he also in the Wilderness gave them a Militia, and order'd the same Bands of Soldiers and Armies to be ready for Defence; as in the beginning of Numbers we read at large.

4. In the Lords Conduct of them with his Glorious Arm, he delivered them from their Enemies, and gave them peace in the Wilderness. He delivered them from Pharaoh that pursued them, and wrought wonderful Salvation; and so he delivered them from the Amalekites, who set on them in the Wilderness in their weakness. The Lord was their Ba [...]er, the Lord was offended at their Enemies, so he delivered them from Sihon King of [...], and Og King of Bashan; he suffer'd no hand of violence to oppress or overcome them.

5. In the Wilderness God provided for them, and supplyed their wants; their outward wants and [...] wonderfully; they were in wants sometimes, and brought to distress, and unbelieving Hearts failed them, and they cryed out they must perish with Hunger and Thirst; yet the Lord [...] and confounded their unbelief, and prov [...]ed for them wonderfully, and fully supplyed them, gave them Bread; spread a table for them in the Wilderness, gave them water in the Dry & [...] Desart [...] ▪ * caus'd the Rocks to yield it; and made their old cloaths last till provision of new came. And tho' they were in a Wilderness, yet God sent them seasonable supplyes; he provided for them in his own way, and by his own [Page] means; Bread which their Fathers knew not.

6. The Lord wonderfully and mercifully spared them, notwithstanding their Murmuring and manifold Sins and Provocations. Unbelief, Rebellion, Forgetfulness of God, Impatience, Discouragement, Distrust, Idolatries; after so many great works and wonders the Lord wrought among them, and manifestations of himself to them.

One would wonder that God spared them. And when we read the Story, we Marvel that they should be so unbelieving, and refractory, and so soon running after one evil or other. Oh we may Read our selves in it; were a story written of the turnings of our Hearts and ways, it would be as bad.

7. The Lord did them good in the end by all their greatest evils, he humbled them by their Afflictions; yea, by their Corruptions, brought them acquainted with their own Hearts; and their Wilderness troubles prepared them for Canaan.

8. The Lord heard their Prayers in the Wilderness. Were they in any want, it was but ask and have; and how oft did he hear Moses for them; oft God heard the cryes of their Necessities, yea, Murmurings; and when in time of Affliction for their Sins, they cryed to the Lord▪ he heard them tho' vile.

9. In the Wilderness the Lord always Remembred them in their low estate. Deut. 4. 7.Psal. 106. 41, to 45. In the time of trouble and need, and in the extremity thereof, as at the Red Sea, and in the time of their extream wants of bread and water.

But my time is scanted, I find my Preparations too teadious; I must therefore proceed to some [Page] Application, which the Premises afford abundant matter of

Use 1. I might apply this Truth to the Church and People of God in General, and then to our selves in this Wilderness in particular.

1. Relating to the Church and People of God in General, and Gods Conduct of his Church thro' the Wilderness of this World with his Glorious Arm. Gods Church may be said to be in a Wilderness while in this World▪ the World we live in is a Desart Vale, a time and place of Changes, Sorrows, Straits, yea of Sin and Unbelief too.

We read of the Woman i. e. the Church that fled into the Wilderness where she had a place prepared of God, and that she should remain there one thousand three hundred and threescore Days, Rev. 12. 6. And this is asserted, and seems to be fairly intimated by those that affirm, that the forty two months, or the one thousand two hundred and sixty days, mention'd in the preceding Chapter, Chap 11. 3. Of the witnesses Prophesying in Sackcloth, not to be yet expired; for it is evident, that Contemporary therewith, and of the same length of time is the Womans, that is the Churches being in the Wilderness, mention'd, Rev. 12. 6, 14. That these speak of the same thing, is the Judgment of the best Expositours: But whether that Interpretation of these Prophetical numbers and time be undoubted or no; yet surely we need no more then experience to tell us, that the late & present times, have been times of many Changes, Travels, Tryals, Difficulties to the Church and People of God and fitly compared to a Wilderness Condition Oh the Church is yet in the Wilderness, and hath been these two last Centuries past, Travelling [Page] thro' that horrid part of the Wilderness, the depth of the Antichristian Darkness toward Reformation.

Let us but instance in our own Nation: Oh the Difficulties and Discouragements and Oppositions that the first Reformers in the last Age pass'd thro'; but there is still the Glorious Arm of Divine Conduct carrying on the Reformation. God hath Gloriously delivered our Nation from Papal Superstitions and Idolatries: Oh the torch of the truth of the Gospel that hath been lighted up in both Englands! And notwithstanding the many Oppositions to quench it, it hath been kept burning to this Day.

And Oh the Mercy of God to our Nation! wherein the Glorious Arm of Divine Conduct is remarkable in two famous Revolutions fresh in memory, the former Anno 1689. The latter in the happy Accession of so Illustrious a Protestant Prince to the British Throne, as at this Day; and we his Loyal Subjects in New-England Bless our selves with the pleasing Prospect of sharing in his Royal Favours; as thinking our selves secure from a Despotick or Arbitrary Government, or having our Liberties Invaded by Papal Usurpations and Tyrannies. Long let our King live to be the Honour of this present, and the Imitation of future Ages; and never let there want a Successour to that Protestant Line, to Sway the Scepter of Great Britain.

The second branch of the Use is to our selves in this Wilderness; we are, and have been in a Wilderness in propriety of speech so called: But O Generation, may the Lord say, Have I been a wilderness unto you, as Jer. 2. 31. No, but [Page] the Lord hath been as a shadow of a great Rock in a weary Land. Oh the mercies of this Wilderness, have exceeded those of other Plantations in America! A work never to be forgotten, is the Lords preparing this Wilderness for his People, when he swept away thousands of those Salvage Tawnies (those cursed Devil worshippers) with a mortal Plague, to make room for a better People, (I mean our Fathers) that came into this Wilderness to plant the Gospel, and to enlighten these dark Regions. Pardon me, I compare not the place they came from, to Egypt, God forbid I should; it was a Goshen, in comparison of Egypt; yet to speak freely, the time was, when the People of God had their Task-masters, which they sigh'd under; and the power and purity of Religion was in the House of Bondage; and heavy burdens were imposed on the necks of many of the Lords precious Servants; from which, and for the contrary Liberty and Purity, they were glad to fly into this Wilderness; if happily in a Wilderness they might Worship and Sacrifice to the Lord their God. And Oh the powerful calling voice of God to gather his People into this Wilderness! And they were a choice select Number, whom God with his Glorious Arm did bring hither to lay the foundations of the Everlasting Gospel; so that we may glory in it, when we behold the Lord laying our Stones with fair colours, and our Foundations with Saphires.

And God has granted Prosperity to these [Page] blessed Enterprizes, he has caused the Gospel to flourish in this Land; and we have not only brown bread and the Gospel, but the Bread of Life; Manna in plenty, Angels food. Oh how hath God prospered our small Beginnings, and given us Towns and Buildings, and Blessings of all sorts, and hath sown our Land with the Seed of Man and Beast; so that we can now tell of the Beasts of our Forrests, and the Cattle upon a thousand hills, and of our Oxen strong to labour, of our Sheep that bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets, Psal. 144. The time would fail me to enumerate the passages of Gods goodness in his Conduct of his People in this Wilderness with his Glorious Arm: But take a taste in a few parallel Instances by a Reflection on the premises.

1. The Lord hath given us his Everlasting Gospel in this Wilderness. God hath set up the true Religion among us, and this hath been our safety and security. Religion is the Palladium of a People, or Nation; therefore God hath made the World to take notice, that New-England hath been a People Saved by the Lord. Oh we have had the true Religion among us! Oh the Glory of the Gospel that hath shined in this Land! Oh the Lively Oracles that have been delivered to us, the Gate of Heaven hath been here opened; the Gospel hath been here spread in its beauty, plainness and glory! Oh the Bethels, the many Bethels God hath Erected and Set up in this Wilderness!

[Page] 2. The Lord hath furnish'd us with glorious Ordinances and Ministries; he hath set up his Tabernacles among us, the Orders of his House; he hath laid before us a Platform of Discipline, and blessed us with a Gospel Order in our Churches; so that were Balaam himself here, he could not curse, but bless and admire to see the comely Order in the several Flocks of the Lords Sheep, folded together in so many Companies. Vid. Numb. 24. 2, 5. And Balaam lift up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in Tents, according to their Tribes; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he said, How goodly are thy Tents Oh Jacob! and thy Tabernacles, Oh Israel! as the Valleys are they spread forth, as Gardens by the River side. Even such hath been the Blessing of our good God to his Heritage in this Land.

3. The glorious Arm of Divine Conduct, hath fenc'd us with the hedge of Government. Oh what a favour is this! to give Government, to Establish Authority, to have a Wall of Magistracy set and kept about a People; this is a thing of unspeakable concernment; otherwise a people would be left to Anarchy and heaps of Confusion. Oh! it is thro' the love of God to Israel, if he sets a man over them, that will do Justice and Judgment, 2 Chron. 9. 8. Exod, 18. 21. To see those that fear God Exalted, Oh how great a Blessing! And we are to acknowledge the Soveraign and Holy Counsel of God therein; and know that the Most High [Page]Ruleth in the Kingdoms▪ of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. God hath granted us Excellent Guides and Governours in this Land; he hath not left us to turn Libertines, but hath set up his Government among us, hath walled us about with Magistracy; & he hath made our Officers Peace, and our Exactors Righteousness. And there hath been the Execution of wholesome Laws, a testimony born against prevailing Sin: If it had been otherwise, Plectuntur Achivi, the poor People would have paid for it.

4. The Lord with his Glorious Arm hath been our Protection, and delivered us from our Enemies in this Wilderness, as he did Israel from those Amalekites; so God hath delivered us from those Amalekites, the Pequets, the Narragansets, that set upon Gods People when they were weak and tender; but how did the Lord crush and blast them, and blot out their Names from being a People as at this day; so let our Enemies perish that have committed their Outrages in this Land.

5. God hath set up a School of the Prophets among us; a Colledge, a Seminary of Learning; this hath made New-England preferable to all the American Plantations; to the Silver Minerals, those glittering Entrails of the Spanish West-Indies. Let the pre [...]ent good Conduct of [...]t, be continued and encouraged, and Schools of Learning advanced, for the renewed Supplies of such Streams as may rejoice the City and Church of God.

[Page] 6. The Lord hath spread a Table for us in this Wilderness and supplyed our wants from year to year, and every year; the year last past, was an eminent Instance of this; in the time of that lasting scorching drought, when our Hearts and our Hopes failed us: God did secretly and unaccountably (I had almost said Miraculously) Reserve a Blessing for us, that there was Bread to the sower, a supply for our necessities; this was the Lords doing, and it is Marvellous in our Eyes, it was Gods Glorious Arm that effected it; Oh let His Everlasting Name be Magnified.

Oh how hath the Lord provided for us from year to year, and sometimes plentifully; this is indeed to rain Bread in a Wilderness. Oh the Thousands of poor Creatures among us, whose Loins and Bowels do bless the Lord! Very Nature teaches us Gratitude for this, who else in their Poverty might have fainted and perish'd for want of Bread.

7. God hath done all this for us, notwithstanding our many Sins and Provocations. We have been a sinful People. Oh the Lords sparing Mercy in the midst of our Sins, great crying Sins. Prophaness [...]mong the Wicked, Contentions among the Godly, Errours among others, woful incorrigibleness in most under the Lords dealing, we may apply to our selves those words of the Psalmist, Psal. 78. 40. How oft have we provoked him in the Wilderness, and griev'd him in the Desart; and yet being full of Compassion he forgives our Iniquity, and Destroys us not. How many times has he turn'd away his Anger, and has not stirr'd up all his Wrath. We in this Wilderness can speak this Experimentally.

[Page] 8. God hath heard our Prayers in our straits and plunging difficulties, how often hath he heard Prayers and been found of his People in their Supplications, and how often hath he come in the nick. Oh the many sweet returns of Prayer we have had! and God hath made his Arm Glorious for our relief. When we Prayed for Rain, for fair Weather, for removal of Devourers, for Provision, for Health, for Peace, for continuance of our Civil and Sanctuary Enjoyments; God hath made his Arm Glorious, and Glorified that Title among us that he is, A God hearing Prayer.

Ʋse 2. Beware of those Sins that may provoke the Lord to withdraw the Glorious Arm of his Conduct. I shall hint only at some that are more obvious.

1. Take heed of despising a Glorious Gospel, or ill treating the Dispensers of it. When Israel mocked the Messengers of God, despised his Words, and misused his Prophets, the Wrath of God arose against his People; and there was no Remedy.

God expects his Ministers should find suitable entertainment every where, and that they should be so provided for, so as to serve the Lord without distraction. There are many Townships and Precincts readily Granted, and supplyed with burning Lamps, which are like to be extinguish'd for want of Oyl to feed them; the Gospel starving in some Places, and the Dispensers of it fain to work with their own hands, to administer to their Necessities.

It would be pleasing to God, and more Credible for our Christian Profession, if some Methods could be taken for Relief in this case.

Be assured that an impoverish'd starved Ministry, [Page] will not only induce the Contempt of the Clergy, but also introduce a despised Gospel; and if the Gospel be once despised, God will soon withdraw the Glorious Arm of his Conduct.

2. Take heed of the Sin of Worldliness. This our Saviour cautions against, Luke 12. 15. This eats out the very heart of Religion; the sweets of the World, eat out the savour of the Gospel; neither the Dread of God is feared, nor the Grace of God prized by the worldly sensual Heart. Oh the strange alteration in the spirits of men! Our Fathers left the World, for the Enjoyment of Religion in this Wilderness; but the Designs of most are Inverted: Most in these days are leaving Religion in pursuit of the World. They have that, that contents them in this world; hence they are regardless of God, and the World to come. Oh! we came hither for Religion, for the Gospel; but the world hath engross'd our affections, our love, delight, desires, our whole thoughts. Oh, take heed of the World! this caution the Lord gave to Israel of Old, when they had plenty and fulness, Houses full of all things, and Vineyards, and Olive-trees, &c. Deut. 6. 11, 12. Now beware lest thou forget the Lord; so Christ gives caution, take heed of your Farms, Merchandize, Yokes of Oxen, and pieces of Ground, left you make light of the Call of the Gospel; the world is full of Irritamenta malorum; it [Page] proves a snare to new and flourishing Plantations; when the world comes in, & they have a plentiful encrease, they abuse the good Creatures of God to Sensuality.

Noah became an Husbandman, planted a Vineyard, drank of the wine, and was drunken, Gen. 9. 20, 21. The things of the World are incentives to Lust.

There is at this day among us, a great outcry after the World, and after a Medium of Trade, to carry on worldly Interests; it's well if our over-reaching after the world in too unadvised and bold attempts, have not marr'd our worldly Interests.

We live in a good Land, did we but walk humbly with our God, keep his Statutes & his Judgments; were we but industrious & frugal, did we avoid all excesses; we should mount up with wings as Eagles, our peace would be like a River, and our prosperity like the waves of the Sea; and instead of lying among the pots, we should be like Davids Dove, whose wings were covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold, Psal. 68. 13.

3. Take heed of the Sin of Pride. It's tho't there is more expended on that one lust, than goes to the defraying our Publick Charges, ten times told; This Sin is an abomination to the Lord: And sure I am, it is ill-becoming a wilderness Condition, to be poor and proud.

4. Take heed of the Sin of Oppression. That Sin hath its rounds among us; it is a crying sin, Isa. 5. 7. I looked for Judgment, but behold Oppression,[Page]and for Righteousness, but behold a Cry.

Caution 5. Take heed of Sensuality and Intemperance, in all the branches of it; Unchastity, Gluttony, Drunkenness, the prevailing Sins of this Land.

Caution 6. Take heed of the Sin of Murmuring and Discontent, under our Priviledges and Enjoyments. We are a People for changes & alterations, well if God does not make us smart for it before he's done.

7. Take heed of advancing private Interests, under a gilded pretence of promoting a Publick Good. There is too much of Self-interest, playing its part on Publick Stages.

Caut. 8. Take heed of the Sins of the tongue, 1 Pet. 3. 10. Oh the mischief that is done by that one member! that sets on fire the course of nature, and is set on fire of Hell; forging, fomenting false reports, speaking evil of Dignities, Jude 8. severely reproved. All Detraction is positively forbidden; thou shalt not raise a false report, Exod. 33. 1.

Use 3. Hath the Lord led us so long in this Wilderness with his Glorious Arm, to make himself an Everlasting Name. Oh then, let New-England be a Name and a Praise to our God! Oh let us be according to our Profession, and our Priviledges! Our Profession runs very high. The name of a New-England man hath sometime been wont to carry a sound of Sanctity along with it. Most surely our Obligations are very great, that call us to Holiness. Our [Page] Sins therefore have an Emphasis upon them, as theirs had of Old, when it was said, All their wickedness is in Gilgal, Hos. 9. 1 [...]. A place where God had done much for their Fore-fathers.

Mens offences are increased by their Obligations: The Quality of the place, adds much to the greatness of the Sin; as such places as have been formerly eminent for Gods sincere Worship as Gilgal once was, the Ark of the Covenant was there; and they had their Sacrifices there; they were a Priviledg'd People, a People near to God, and God can better bear with Aliens then with his own People when they offend.

The Philistines may Cart the Ark of God, but if David do it, wo be to Uzza, 1 Sam. 8. 11, 15. The Place, the People, the Profession adds [...]n Aggravation. Oh to Sin in New England, is [...]o Sin in Gilgal. I verily believe, God [...]s more dishonour'd by our Sins, then by the Sins of any People in the World.

Use 4▪ Let us be exceeding thankful to God for his Glorious Arm of Conduct of us to this Day in this Wilderness. Oh Magnifie the Lord, and his ever enduring Mercy, this Day even for [...]is Mercies, his Wilderness Mercies, and his Gratious Dispensations to us; The Lord hath found us in this Desart Land, and wast howling Wilderness, and hath led us, and fed us, and kept us, and done wonderfully for us here; so that [...]t may be said of us, as Deut. 32. 10. 11, 12, 13. He found him in a Desart Land, and the wast howling Wilderness: He led him about, he Instructed him, he kept him as the Apple of his Eye. As an Eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her Wings, taketh them, beareth them on her Wings; so the Lord alone did lead him, [Page]and there was no strange God with him. He made him ride on the high place of the Earth, that he might eat the encrease of the Fields, and he made him to suck Honey out of the Rock, and Oyl out of the flinty Rock. Butter of Kine, and Milk of Sheep, with fat of Lambs, and Rams of the Breed of Bashan, and Goats with the fat of Kidneys of Wheat, and thou didst Drink the pure blood of the Grape. The particulars applicable from the Explication, have been hinted at, and every one of these things is verified here, as if appointed to be a Pattern a Glass for us to see things in. Oh let us Bless God for our Wilderness Mercies, and Preservations, and know our Duty; murmur not in this Wilderness, forget not the Works of God;† and let us be Humbled in this Wilderness, let every thing humble us; and let us still be in the exercise of Faith; we know not yet what God may do for us; Unbelief was their Bane, Heb. 3. 17. And let us keep Travelling in the Wilderness, till we come to our Journeys end, to Canaan, to Heaven* and then think but what matter of Everlasting Hallelujahs in Heaven when you come thither to be able to reflect and say as in Isa. 63. 9. In all our Affliction he was Afflicted, and the Angel of his Presence saved us, in his Love, and in his Pitty he Redeem'd us, and he bare us and carryed us all the days of old.

God hath done great things for us in this Wilderness, in his Conduct of us as by the hand of Moses and Aaron, faithful Guides, who have Served their Generation, and are fallen asleep,* and now we may say, as Zech. 1. 5. Our Fathers where are they? And the Prophets do they live for ever? And God is yet thinning our Glory; I cannot pass over without paying affectionate [Page] Obsequies, on the late loss of one of our Renowned Worthies; I mean the Honourable ISAAC ADDINGTON, whose Name ought to be Embalmed in lasting Memorial: Laying us under Lamentations, for the loss of the Prudent & the Ancient, the Honourable and the Counsellor, the Wise, and the Scribe; a Scribe instructed unto the Kingdom of Heaven. Thus our Glory is departing, and the turn must come when Moses must be called up to mount Nebo, and Aaron to mount Hor, to Dye there, and come down no more: Our Fathers have passed thro' this Wilderness to another World, to a Glory above the Sun, to move in a Sphaere above the Star [...], to those Glorious Mansions of Crowned Saints above, while we remain in a fluctuating Condition, toss'd upon the troubled Sea of this World, Subject to Changes and Alterations, in all our States and Conditions: But yet let not these things make us forget our Duty, to Bless God for what we have enjoyed, and for our present Priviledges and Enjoyments continued, putting an high valuation upon them lest God be provoked to make us know the wor [...] of our Enjoyments by the want of them.

FINIS.

Notes

a

Psal. 106. 1, 7, 8.

↵

b

Psal. 78. 4.

↵

†

12. 17. 68. 7, 8

↵

c

Jer. 32. 6. Deut. 32. 10, 11 1 31.

↵

d

Deut. 8. 2. Deut. 4. 9.

↵

*

Psal. 78. 12.

↵

e

Jer. 2. 31.

↵

*

Exod. 14. 9, 19.

↵

*

Psal. 114. 4.

↵

†

Psal. 78. 27.

↵

*

1 Kings 18. 33, 34, [...]8, 39.

↵

*

Numb. 11. 22, 23. Exod. 14. 13,

↵

*

vid. Par. Prol. in Gen Joh. 3. 14.

↵

*

Exod, 18. 21, 22, 25.

↵

†

Numb. 6. 11, 16, 17 26, 30.

↵

*

Jer. 2. 2, 3. Deut. 25. 17, 18, 19. Exod. 16. 3, 4.

↵

†

Deut. [...]. 2, 3.

↵

*

Psal. 106, 13

↵

*

Mat. 13. 32.

↵

§

§

[Page]

[Page]

God's Conduct of His Church Through the Wilderness, With His GLORIOUS ARM, To make Himself an Everlasting Name.

A SERMON Preached by Order of the Honourable Representatives, of the Province of the Massachusetts-Bay, in New-England. On May the 25th, 1715.

Being their Anniversary Day for Election of His Majesties Council for that Province.

By JEREMIAH SHEPARD, A. M. Pastor of the Church of Lynn.

Deut. 8. 2. And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord th [...] God led thee these forty years in the Wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, and to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his Commandments o [...] [...]o [...].

Boston, Printed by John Allen, for Nicholas Boone, at the Sign of the Bible in Cornhill. 1715.

To the Honourable House of REPRESENTATIVES, Of the Province of the Massachusetts-Bay, in New-England.

[Page]

[Page]

THE Mercies shewed by the God of Israel, to his People in this Wilderness, deserve a lasting Memorial; And the Glorious Arm of Divine Conduct in the several passages thereof to be Recorded, that they may be transmitted to Posterity to Read and Admire; and that the Lord may obtain an Everlasting Name.

I have been honoured so far as to utter something of the Memory of Gods great Goodness, (by your Choice) before a Great and Honourable Audience; you were pleased to Command my Service on that Publick Exercise, (on your Day of Election) which when performed, I justly expected might have perish'd as some immature Abortive, and never more have seen the Light: But since your pleasure is to make Publick what my weakness then deliver'd, your Order hath not[Page]le [...]t me at liberty (without unmannerliness) to deny the Publication thereof.

Obedience to your desires, I hope may serve for an Apology, & help to make it the more facile unto all Ingenious Readers, what of my weakness is here exposed to Publick View.

I gratefully acknowledge your acceptance of my weak and indigested Labours; Praying that Gods Glorious Arm may yet be our Conduct in this Land, and your selves improv'd as Instruments to advance our Religious Interests; believing and hoping, that no other Interests and Advantages will in the least warp your Spirits from Espousing the Interest of Christ among us, and the Welfare of the several parts of this Province you stand Related unto, who have betrusted you with their greatest Interests; not doubting of your Fidelity therein.

I Remain Your Devoted Servant

Jeremiah Shepard.

Information about this book

Title statement

God's conduct of his church through the wilderness, with his glorious arm, to make himself an everlasting name. A sermon preached by order of the Honourable Representatives, of the province of the Massachusetts-Bay, in New-England. On May the 25th, 1715. Being their anniversary day for election of His Majesties Council for that province. / By Jeremiah Shepard, A.M. Pastor of the church of Lynn. ; [Five lines from Deuteronomy]

Shepard, Jeremiah, 1648-1720.

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Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

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Ann Arbor, MI :

Date

2008-09.

ID [DLPS]

N01500

ID [TCP]

N01500

ID [STC]

Evans 1780

ID [NOTIS]

APW6296

ID [IMAGE-SET]

1780

ID [EVANS-CITATION]

99012430

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Early American Imprints, 1639-1800 ; no. 1780.

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(Evans-TCP ; no. N01500)

Transcribed from: (Readex Archive of Americana ; Early American Imprints, series I ; image set 1780)

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— God's conduct of his church through the wilderness, with his glorious arm, to make himself an everlasting name. A sermon preached by order of the Honourable Representatives, of the province of the Massachusetts-Bay, in New-England. On May the 25th, 1715. Being their anniversary day for election of His Majesties Council for that province. / By Jeremiah Shepard, A.M. Pastor of the church of Lynn. ; [Five lines from Deuteronomy], Shepard, Jeremiah, 1648-1720., Massachusetts. General Court..

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[2], 34, [2] p. ; 15 cm. (8vo)

Printed by John Allen, for Nicholas Boone, at the Sign of the Bible in Cornhill.,. Boston, :: 1715..

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