IT being the pleaſure of the All-wiſe GOD to ſuffer War to happen in our Nation at this Day as in gives us all grounds to fear that our Ways have not been Pleaſing unto Him; ſo if we are ſenſible o • our Danger, it can ſcarcely be imagined, but that we ſhould be thoughtful & inquiſitive what we may beſt do to ſecure our ſelves from the invaſions of our Enemies▪

And truly at this day, this has been the ſolicitous tho't & Enquiry of many in this Government: And in a time of Danger it is but reaſonable that every one ſhould have a ſuitable Concern for his own & others Safety. But here lies the difficulty▪ fully to determine what is the b • ſt • e h • d & way that a Perſon or People can t • ke for their own Defence and Security from their Enemies. And ſome are for one way and ſome for another▪ And this being an Enquiry of ſuch Importance, that it is needful it ſhould be ſatisfyingly Anſwered, I have therefore tho't it beſt for us to ſeek for an Anſwer to this Enquiry from the Oracles of God▪ For as God is wiſer than men, ſo his Counſels & Directions are the ſafest for us to follow And therefore I have tho't it might be ſeaſon b • e & ſuitable at this time, to Entertain you from this Portion of 〈◊〉 . Writ, even this wiſe Proverb of Solomon; who as he was one of the Wiſeſt of meer men, ſo being a King he had the cleareſt inſight into the affairs of Government, and well knew what would moſt of all conduce to the Peace, Security & Proſperity of a People. And whereas at ſome times and under ſome circumſtances, it might appear a difficult & puzzling Queſtion to ſome how to make their Enemies to become their Friends & to be at Peace with them, he h • th in theſe words reſolved this Problem & wiſely anſwer'd the Caſe in this ſa •• ng, When a many ways pleaſe the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him▪ The words in themſelves are p • ain & obvious, and need little or no Exp • ication. And by one who • e ways pleaſe the Lord, we may underſtand a godly Perſon, one who orders his Converſation a •• ght; One who is careful to obey God in all his ways, one that above all things is ſtudious of g •• ning the friendſhip and favour of God. And when the caſe is ſo with any man or people, God will make even their Enemies to be at Peace with 〈◊〉 Th •• i • , He will not onl • keep his Friends in peace with him but will alſo move and incline his very Enemies unto peace & friendſhip, ſo that they ſhall not in any wiſe 〈◊〉 him▪ As if he h • d ſaid, When •• ce a man has 〈◊〉 the favour & friendſhip of God, God will protect & ſecure him, and not only make hi • Friends 〈…〉 Friends; but will make 〈◊〉 very 〈◊〉 to be either at Peace or become his Friends. God will make his worſt Enemies to be either ſo far at Peace with him as that they ſhall no ways hurt him, or be cordial Friends to him and do him good▪ And ſo in theſe few words, Solomon does very much commend Religion is the moſt likely way to Protection & Security from all Adverſaries.

But here ſeems to be one Objection lying in the way of this Truth which may need a little Solution, and it is this;

How often in all Ages has it been obſerved, That th • ſe that have been godly & whoſe ways did pleaſe the Lord, yet have had Enemies that were never at peace with them, but always endeavoured to do them miſchief? And Chriſt tells his faithful Followers, That they ſhould be hated of all men for his Name ſake. And we read of ſome of the Primitive Saints of the firſt Magnitude, of whom the world was not worthy, Heb. 11. 36,—Who had trials of cruel Mockings & Scourgings; Yea, moreover of Bonds and Impriſonment. They were stoned, they were ſawn aſunder, werr • emoted and ſlain by the Sword; They wandred about in Sheep-skins & Goat-skins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented: They wandred in Deſerts and Mountains, in Dens and Caves of the Earth. So that to a carnal Eye, one would be ready to think this Aphoriſm of Solomon to be but a Paradox, and that the Truth lay in the Reverſe; and that th • ſe had the fewell Enemies and moſt Peace whoſe ways diſpleaſed God: As it hath been often found in Experience, That the tabernacles of Robbers proſper, and that thoſe that temp God are ſecure.

How then muſt we underſtand this ſaying of Solomon, That when a mans ways pleaſe the Lord, he will make even his Enemies to be at peace with him?

Now for an Anſwer to this Objection, we muſt remember, That God makes a mans Enemies to be at Peace with him in a two-fold ſenſe.

1. When he makes them become his Friends: When thoſe that were at Enmity with him and hated him, become Reconciled & cordial Friends to him, to love him & carry it friendly to him.

2. God makes a mans Enemies to be at Peace with him, when He protects & ſecures him from all harm from them: So that tho' their Enmity remains and they would deſtroy him if they could, yet God curbs & reſtrains their Power, ſo that their hands cannot perform their Enterpriſe: And ſo a man is as ſecure from all harm from his Enemies, as if they were at perfect Peace and Amity. In this ſenſe we may underſtand that Text, Job 5. 23. Thou ſhalt be in league with the ſtones of the field, & the beaſts of the field ſhall be at peace with thee. That is, You ſhall be ſecure from harm by them. Now tho' it be true. That when a mans ways pleaſe the Lord, he doth not always make his Enemies become his Friends, and ſo at peace with him in that ſenſe; yet He doth always ſecure him from all harm from his Enemies, whether ſecret or open; and doth in his Providence ſo order the matter, That tho' the Enemies of the godly are ſomtimes permitted to make a ſpoil and a prey of their Eſtates, and to deſtroy their Children & Friends, yea, and ſomtimes alſo to take them Captives & keep them in Slavery, ye • , and ſomtimes to deſtroy their Perſons; yet nothing they do or can do to them, ſhall be for their hurt: And God permits them to take nothing from them, but what they may better want than have: For this ſtands & muſt ſtand as an everlaſting truth, Rom. 8. 28 All things ſhall work together for good, to them that love God. So that in this ſenſe, when a mans ways pleaſe the Lord, He doth always make his Enemies to be at peace with him: That is, So far as that they ſhall do him no hurt, but good, whatever their evil intentions may be.

And we may farther take notice, That Solomon here ſpeaks of man in particular, and not of man in general; becauſe it might then be juſtly Objected, That ſuch a thing never was, and probably never would be, that all men ſhould conſpire together to pleaſe God in their ways; And yet it is ſo ſpoken of man in particular, that all men in general may be encouraged to endeavour after it; and every one has reaſon to hope for the good of the Promiſe if his ways pleaſe God.

And we may farther obſerve, That Solomon here ſpeaks of the Ways of a man pleaſing the Lord, rather than of his Heart, becauſe the ways of man are the beſt diſcovery of his heart; and it is but in vain for men to flatter themſelves that they pleaſe God in their hearts, when they diſpleaſe him in their lives & ways.

And the words thus conſidered may afford us this

DOCTRINE, That the beſt way for men to be Secured from all their Enemies, is to Pleaſe GOD.

So much Solomon here teaches us in this Text, When a mans ways pleaſe the Lord, he maketh even his Enemies to be at Peace with him.

In ſpeaking to this Doctrine, I ſhall offer theſe Two Propoſitions. [I.] That all men are more or leſs ſubject & lye expoſed to Enemies. [II.] That the beſt way for them to be ſecured from all their Enemies is to pleaſe God.

PROP. I. That all men are more or leſs ſubject and lye expoſed to Enemies,

There is no man on this ſide Heaven, can juſtly look upon himſelf as altogether free & out of danger from his Enemies. Now, as men are made up of two main conſtituent parts, Namely, their Souls and their Bodies; ſo there are two ſorts of Enemies that all men are more or leſs expoſed to, Namely, the Enemies of their Souls & the Enemies of their Bodies.

And under the firſt ſort of Enemies may be compriſed the Devil & his Angels; even all the powers of Hell & Darkneſs, even all thoſe Apoſtate Angels that kept not their firſt State, but left their own Habitation; who are reſerved in everlaſting chains under darkneſs to the Judgment of the great Day; who being filled with rage & malice againſt God and all that belongs to Him. Theſe envious ſpirits being grieved that any of the Sons of men ſhou'd fill up thoſe empty Manſions in glory, which they by Sin have loſt, are therefore continually doing their utmoſt to hinder men from happineſs. And they are very ſubtil and cruel Enemies, and ſuch as all men have need to watch againſt & beware of; as the Apoſtle exhorts us, 1 Pet, 5. 8 Be ſober, be vigilant, becauſe your adverſary the devil as a roaring lion walks about, ſeeking whom he may devour. And under this head, may alſo be comprehended the Luſts of the Fleſh, even all Sins which have a tendency to deſtroy the Souls of men, the wages of which is death. And therefore the Apoſtle for this reaſon exhorts men to abſtain from fleſhly Luſts which war againſt the Soul, 1 Pet 2 11 Yea, and men themſelves, ſo far as they by their Temptations, Perſwaſions & evil Examples, do draw us to Sin, are the Enemies of our Souls

And under the ſecond ſort of Enemies, even the Enemies of our Bodies, may be comprehended whatever is Hurtful and Deſtructive to our Bodies and outward Eſtate; Even Men that are Enemies to us in a more ſecret or open way; and all things that tend to the hurt and deſtruction of our Bodies, even all Sickneſs & Caſualties that we are expoſed to in this world, which have a tendency to ſhorten our days & bring us to death. And truly, if there be ſo many things that may be counted Enemies, what man is there or can there be on Earth that is not ſubject to them? And truly, if we look upon ourſelves & conſider, our ſtate, we ſhall ſee our ſelves more or leſs expoſed to Enemies. If we look both within & without, before and behind, on the right hand and on the left, we ſhall ſee our ſelves lying open and expoſed to Enemies. And this brings us to our

PROP. II. That the beſt way for men to be ſecured from all their Enemies, is to pleaſe God.

And to explain this Propoſition, we ſhall conſider two things.

1. We ſhall conſider, How men are to pleaſe God And truly this is a Queſtion of very great importance. And it will be the Inquiry of every Soul truly ſenſible of Sin and of the dreadfulneſs of God's Wrath. Thus the People of God of old, were very inquiſitive how to pleaſe God: And were ready to offer him any kind of Service, even that which was impoſſible, if they might but pleaſe him. Mic. 6. 6, 7 Wherewith ſhall I come before the Lord and how my ſelf before the high God? Shall I come before him with burnt-offerings, with calves of a year old? Will the Lord be pleaſed with thouſands of rams, or ten thouſands of rivers of oyl? Shall I give my firſt-born for my tranſgreſſion, the fruit of my body for the ſin of my ſoul? But however, men are naturally at a loſs about the way how to pleaſe God, yet He hath clearly Revealed it in his Word: As the Lord told his People, aforeſaid, Mic. 6. 8 He hath ſhewed thee, O man, what is good, and what doth the Lord thy God require of thee. And as Adam was to pleaſe God by keeping the Law of his Creation and performing the Covenant of Works, ſo now this power being loſt by the Fall, and man rendered unable to pleaſe God by the works of the Law, we muſt now only endeavour to pleaſe God by direction from the Goſpel. Therein the Lord hath ſhewed us what is good and what he doth require of us in order to pleaſe him. And particularly,

(1) If we would pleaſe God we muſt believe in his Son. This is the great Command of God in the Goſpel, That we believe in the Name of his Only Begotten Son. And this is the ſummary Condition of the Goſpel Covenant. And as the Covenant of Works required us, To do and live, ſo the Covenant of Grace requires us, To believe & be ſaved. And whoſoever now pleaſes God, muſt pleaſe him in his Son: For it is in Him only that he is well pleaſed with ſinners, Mat 3. 17. And all men out of Chriſt, are under the Anger of God; for He is angry with the wicked every day. Man being fallen and ſinful, and God being infinitely holy, of purer Eyes than to behold evil and that cannot look upon iniquity, it is impoſſible for men to obtain the Favour of God without Faith in his Son, So the Apoſtle tells us, Heb 116. That without faith it is impoſſible to pleaſe God. This therefore is the only way which God hath found out & reveal'd in the Goſpel for men to pleaſe him, even to believe in Chriſt: By which we ſhall obtain the forgiveneſs of our Sins and an Inheritance among all them that are ſanctified: And ſo ſoon as we are Juſtified by Faith, we have Peace with God thro' our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, Rom. 5 1.

(2) The way for men to pleaſe God, is to Repent & turn from all their Sins. This is another great goſpel Command, Act▪ 17. 30. He now commands all men every where to repent. This Repentance implies the work of God's grace in the thoro' Change of heart and life; which the Apoſtle calls. A turning from darkneſs unto light, & from the power of ſatan unto God, Act. 26. 18 And this the Goſpel doth require of men, in order to the obtaining the Pardon of their Sins and the Favour of God, Act. 3. 19. Repent ye therefore and be converted, that your ſins may be blotted out. And in this way God does in his Word give men good aſſurance of their obtaining his Favour; See Iſa. 1. 16, 17 Waſh you, make you clean, put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; ceaſe to do evil, learn to do well, &c. Come now, let us reaſon together, ſaith the Lord; though your ſins are as ſcarlet, they ſhall be white as ſnow; though they be red like crimſon, they ſhall be as wool. So Iſa▪ 557. Let the wicked forſake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return to the Lord and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. So Jer. 3 12. Go and proclaim theſe words towards the north, and ſay, Return thou backſliding Iſrael, ſaith the Lord, and I will not cauſe mine anger to fall upon you for I am merciful, ſaith the Lord, and will not keep anger for ever. So Jer. 31. 20. Upon their Repentance God ſaith, Is Ephraim my dear ſon? is he a pleaſant child? for ſince I ſpake againſt him, I do earneſtly remember him ſtill; therefore my bowels are troubled for him, I will ſurely have mercy upon him, ſaith the Lord God. And ſo in the Prodigal's return to his Father, Luk 15 20. While he was yet a great way off, his Father ſaw him and had compaſſion, and ran & fell on his neck & kiſſed him. Chriſt ſhews us how well pleaſed God is in the Return of Sinners to him.

(3) The way for men to pleaſe God, is to become Holy, and that •• th in heart & life. If we would be pleaſing unto God, we muſt be Converted, Renewed and Sanctified by the grace of God: For the Apoſtle tells us plainly Rom. 8 8 That they that are in the fleſh cannot pleaſe God. That is, Thoſe that are in a ſtate of Sin and Unconverted. And as we muſt be Holy in heart, ſo alſo in life. If we would pleaſe God, we muſt lead a life of holineſs and conformity to the Will of God, indeavouring always to keep a conſcience void of offence both toward God and toward men. For altho' our beſt works being imperfect, cannot Juſtify us before God, yet when we are in Chriſt by Faith, God is well pleaſed with our good works & does graciouſly accept them, & will for Chriſt's ſake reward them. Thus we read, That God had a reſpect to Abel and to his offering, Gen. 4. 4. And ſo he hath to the Perſons and Services of his People. Thus the Pſalmiſt tells us, Pſal 11. 7. That the righteous Lord loveth righteouſneſs, and his countenance doth behold the upright And God hath in all Ages of the world manifeſted his Favour & Love to thoſe that have walked obediently before him. And the Lord promiſed his People of Iſrael (and always made good his Promiſe to them) That he would be with them while they are with him. And ſo the Apoſtle ſaith indeed concerning all others, Act. 10 34, 35 Of a truth, ſaith he, God is no reſpecter of perſons; but in every nation he that feareth him and worketh righteouſneſs is accepted with him. And truly it is but vain for men to flatter themſelves that they pleaſe God, when they walk in a courſe of Sin & Rebellion againſt him. For he hates all the workers of iniquity, and is angry with the wicked every day, Pſal 7 11. Theſe are the ways which the Goſpel directs us to in order to pleaſe God, and there is no poſſibility of pleaſing Him in any other way. And thus much for the firſt particular.

2. The ſecond thing for the clearing of this Propoſition, is, To ſhew that thus to pleaſe God is the beſt way to be Secured from all Enemies.

And this appears,

(1) Becauſe God is Almighty. And that he is ſo is fully declared in his Word and Works. Thus God was pleaſed to make himſelf known to the Fathers, to Abraham, Iſaac and Jacob, by the Name of God Almighty, Exod. 6 3. And his Eternal Power & Godhead is ſeen in the things that he hath made, Rom. 1. 20. And God is ſaid to be Almighty, becauſe he can do all things ſimply in their own nature poſſible to be done, which do not contradict the Nature of God nor the Creature And being Almighty he is able to ſecure & defend us from all our Enemies, both of Soul & Body Be they never ſo Po • ent, yet they are not Omnipotent. And if we pleaſe Him he will m • ſt certainly do it. Thus when Job by his holy & upright walking pleaſed God, Satan ſaid▪ of him, That God had made an hedge about him, and about all that he had on every ſide, Job 1. 10. Now it was the Power of God that made this Hedge, ſo that neither Men nor Devil could break over it to do Job any harm▪ until God gave them leave. And therefore Eliphaz adviſed Job, To acquaint himſelf with God and be at Peace: And then tells him, That the Almighty would be his defence, Job 22. 25 And truly a better Defence it is not poſſible for a man to have And therefore Moſes mentions this as the great Privilege and Security of the People of Iſrael, That the Eternal God was their Refuge, and underneath were his everlaſting Arms: And that they were a People ſaved by the Lord, who was the ſhield • f their help and the ſword of their excellency, Deut 33 27, 29.

(2) For men to pleaſe God is the beſt way for them to be ſecured from all their Enemies, Becauſe he is the All-wiſe God, who is infinite in Wiſdom, and knows all things which have been, are, or ever ſhall be. Known unto God are all his works from the foundation of the world. He ſees in the darkneſs, and the light dwells with him▪ And there is no darkneſs nor ſhadow of death where the workers of iniquity may hide themſelves: And all things are naked and opened unto the Eyes of him with whom we have to do: And he ſearcheth the hearts & tries the reins of all the Children of men; and no thought can be withheld from him. And therefore he ſees all the ſecret Plots & Deſigns of our Enemies againſt us, and can eaſily diſcover and diſappoint them, and turn their counſels into fooliſhneſs: And let them dig never ſo deep, they cannot hide their Counſels from the Lord, And therefore to pleaſe God & i • gage him on our ſide, is the beſt way to be ſecured from all our Enemies For he being infinite in Wiſdom, can take the wiſe in their own cra • tineſs, ſo that their hands cannot perform their enterpriſe: And if we have the Almighty & All-wiſe God on our ſide, we need not fear what Men or Devils can do againſt us.

(3) For men to pleaſe God is the beſt way to be ſecured from all their Enemies, Becauſe he is Omni-preſent. He is of Infinite Preſence neither included in any Place, nor excluded from any Place▪ but is every where Preſent. And God being preſent every where, if we can but pleaſe him & get him on our ſide, He will be a preſent help in time of trouble. Many perſons have been overcome by their Enemies, becauſe their help hath been at a diſtance from them: But God is with us always, where ever we are: And we can never go from his Spirit, nor fly from his Preſence. He is not only a God at hand, but a God afar off: And none can hide themſelves in ſecret places that he ſhould not ſee them. Go where we will, God is always with us▪ And ſo his Favour will be our beſt Security from all our Enemies.

(4) To pleaſe God is the beſt way to be ſecured from all our Enemies, Becauſe he is the Everlaſting God. He is the ſame Yeſterday, to Day and for Ever. All other things that we can truſt to or depend upon for Protection from our Enemies, are but mortal, fading & periſhing things: And tho' they might be able to deliver us if they could continue with us, yet by reaſon of their Frailty, they leave us to ſhift for our ſelves; and it may be, when we have moſt need of them. But God is the true God, the living God, and the everlaſting King. He is the Lord JEHOVAH, in whom is Everlaſting Strength. And is the ſame in all Generations. As able to Protect us now, as he was our Fathers in the days of old; and is a strong habitation, where unto we may continually reſort. And his Name is a ſtrong Tower, to which we may 〈◊〉 and be ſafe. And therefore the beſt way for us to be ſecured from all our Enemies is to pleaſe him; and ſo we ſhall get the Eternal God to be our Refuge, and his Everlaſting Arms underneath us.

(5) To pleaſe God is the beſt way to be ſecured from all our Enemies, Becauſe he is the Lord of Hoſts, that hath the command & diſpoſal o • all Creatures in Heaven & Earth, and always doth his Pleaſure both in the Armies of Heaven & amongſt the Inhabitants of the Earth; and none can ſtay his Hand: And even the worſt of Men, n • y, the Devils themſelves are ſubject to his Univerſal Kingdom and are under his Command., Now as we are apt to look upon our ſelves very ſecure when we have the Favour & Friendſhip of ſome mighty King, that has many Subjects under his Domions, ſo much more reaſon have we to look upon our ſelves very ſecure indeed, when the Lord of Hoſts is with us, who hath all Angels, Men and Things under his Command. Therefore the Church doth rejoice & triumph in this, Pſal▪ 46 7. That the Lord of hoſts was with her, and the God of Jacob was her refuge.

(6) It will further appear to be the best way to be ſecured from all Enemies, even to pleaſe God, i • we conſider that he is the Preſerver of all things As he made, ſo he upholds all things by the word of his Power: And every thing is dependant on him for their continuance in being. And God need not put forth any act of Power to deſtroy the World, but the very ſuſpenſion of his Preſerving Power would be ſufficient for that purpoſe. Hence he is called, The Preſerver of man and beaſt. And in his hand is the Soul of every living thing, and the Breath of all mankind: And it is in him we live, move and have our being; and his Viſitation preſerves our ſpirits: And therefore none of our Enemies can take away our Lives from us, without his leave & permiſſion. And neither our Life nor our Enemies, is in their hand, but in God's. And therefore the beſt way for us to be ſecured from all our Enemies, both of Soul & Body, is to pleaſe God and get him on our ſide. And we may then ſay with the Apoſtle, Rom. 8. 31. If God be for us, who can be againſt us?

(7) 〈◊〉 It will further appear that to pleaſe God is the beſt way to be ſecured from all Enemies, if we compare God's Favour & Protection, with whatever m • n do or poſſibly can put their Trust in for Safety, beſides God And truly we ſhall find that whatever we do or can put our Truſt in beſides God▪ is but vain. If we truſt to foreign Aids & Helps, they will commonly prove but as Egypt did to the Jews, Even like a broken Reed, on which if a man lean it will go into his hand & pierce him, Iſa 366 Or if we truſt to our own Numbers of men, the Pſalmiſt tells us, It is better to truſt in the Lord than to put confidence in man, Pſal. 118. 8. Or if we ſhould truſt to our Military Preparations, as Horſes, Chariots, or the like, the Pſalmiſt tells us, That an horſe is a vain thing for ſafety, neither can he deliver any by his great ſtrength, Pſal 33. 17. And the Church renounces truſt in Chariots & Horſes, and rather chuſes to truſt in God, Pſal 20▪ 7. Some truſt in chariots, and ſome in horſes; but we will remember the Name of the Lord our God. And if we ſhould make ſtrong Walls & Bulwarks for our defence, they could not Protect us without God: For the Pſalmiſt tells us, That Except the Lord keep the city, the watchmen waketh but in vain. And if we put our truſt in Kings or Princes, however under God they may be a defence to us, Yet it is better to truſt in the Lord, than to put confidence in Princes, Pſal. 118. 9. And therefore the Pſalmiſt bids us not put our trust in princes, nor in the ſon of man in whom there is no help: His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth, in that very day his thoughts periſh. But ſaith he, Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whoſe hope is in the Lord his God, Pſal. 146. 3, 4, 5.

And thus I have finiſhed what I deſigned for the Proof of the Doctrine, and proceed to the Improvement of it.

USE, I. OF INFORMATION.

1. If it be then as we have heard, That it is the beſt way for a Perſon or People to be ſecured from their Enemies, even to pleaſe God; then hence we may ſee, on the other hand, That for a Perſon or People to Provoke and Diſpleaſe God, is the moſt ready way to lay themſelves Open & Expoſed to their Enemies. And as, when God is for us none can be againſt us; ſo when He is againſt us none can be for us. And as when a People pleaſe God, his Favour is as an hedge and wall of Security round about them, to keep off all Adverſaries & evil Occurrent: So when a People diſpleaſe God they break down this Hedge, and lay themſelves open to all their Enemies. And this we may obſerve in the Experience of the People of God in all Ages. And as the Lord by Moſes threatned them, Deut 32. 21,—25. That Becauſe they provoked him to jealouſie, therefore he would let in their Enemies upon them As we may ſee he did in after ages And while they pleaſed him he gave them Peace, and ſecured them from their Enemies but when they provoked him by their Sins, be ſent the Sword upon them to avenge the quarrel of his Covenant▪ And the like we may expect, that God will ſtill do with his People in all after ages: For God is ſtill the ſame, and with him is no reſpect of Perſons▪ And therefore it is a very dangerous thing for men to diſpleaſe God; and they take the moſt ready way to bring ruin and deſtruction upon themſelves. And truly, he knows not what the anger of God means, that cannot ſee all Woes, Plagues and Miſeries in the boſom of it.

2. This Doctrine may inform ſuch as are concerned in the Electing of Perſons to any place of Civil Rule and Government among a People, how to direct their Choice. If the pleaſing of God be the beſt Protection and Security of a People, then make choice of ſuch Men who are moſt conſcientious in the pleaſing of God in their ways; ſuch as are true fearers of God and beſt friends to Religion. It is true indeed, That Godlineſs alone is not ſufficient to Qualifie men for places of Power and Truſt in the Common Wealth. Every good man is not fit for a Ruler▪ There are other Qualifications tha • 〈◊〉 eye muſt be had to in the Choice of Civil Rulers: For Wiſdom & Knowlege are alſo neceſſary in a Ruler. The great God whom Rulers repreſent, and whom they ought to reſemble, is a God of Knowlege, by whom Actions are weighed. And truly, Ignorent & Imprudent men are as unfit to be placed at the Helm of Government, as an Unskilful Pilot at the Helm of a Ship. And that the happy Ends of Government may be obtained, th • ſe that are intruſted with it ſhould be like the men of Iſſachar, which were men that had underſtanding of the Times, to know what Iſrael ought to do, 1 Chron 12 32. It was therefore a needful direction that Moſes gave to Iſrael about the choice of Rulers, Deut. 1. 13 Take ye wiſe men and underſtanding and known among your tribes, & I will make them rulers over you. And it was a needful requeſt of Solomon, Give me wiſdom and knowlege, to go in & out before the people, 2 Chron. 1. 10. Juſtice and Faithfulneſs are alſo neceſſary Qualifications in a Ruler. This is plainly required, 2 Sam. 13. 3. The God of Iſrael ſaid, He that ruleth over men muſt be juſt. And if this be wanting in Rulers, the Ruled will have cauſe to lament it Prov. 29. 2. When the wicked bear rule the people mourn. And again, Courage & Reſolution is neceſſary. Rulers muſt be men of Courage becauſe of the many difficulties they will meet with in the faithful diſcharge of their Truſt. And they ſhould not fear the faces of men, Deut 1. 17 All ſuch Qualifications are very deſirable in Rulers: But Piety and the pleaſing of God, is the prime Qualification, and that which will put a Luſtre on all the reſt. And therefore as a People deſire their own protection & ſecurity, they ſhould chooſe ſuch to be Rulers as pleaſe God themſelves, and indeavour what they can to promote it in all thoſe under their Government.

USE, II. OF EXHORTATION, Unto all, to indeavour in their reſpective places to promote the • le • ſing of God, ſeeing the Protection & Security of a People doth ſo much depend upon it.

And particularly,

1. This Exhortation may be propoſed to RULERS, Indeavour to promote the pleaſing of God among this People And here, I hope I may take leave, in all humble ſubmiſſion, and in a deep ſenſe of my own unworthineſs, to propoſe this Exhortation to the Honourable the GOVERNOUR, the DEPUTY-GOVERNOUR, and the Worſhipful ASSISTANTS in Government, who are, or this Day may be Eſtabliſhed, or Re-eſtabliſhed Rulers over us, with the reſt of the Gentlemen of the GENERAL ASSEMBLY here preſent. Honourable, Worſhipful and much Reſpected, You doubtleſs know that the Publick good is the end of Government, Rom. 1 • . 4. He is the miniſter of God to thee for good. Rulers are to deſign and indeavour the Publick good of thoſe over whom Providence hath placed them. And this being the end of your Advancement, ſuffer me to remind you, That the moſt likely way to promote the Security & Proſperity of a People, is to promote the Pleaſing of God. And it cannot be reaſonably expected, that a People can do well & be well, while they diſpleaſe God and are a generation of his Wrath. Oh! Therefore do all that may be done by you to promote the pleaſing of God. And,

(1) Be careful always to recommend the pleaſing of God, by your own Example to thoſe under your Rule, and be bright Examples in every good Work. And let all thoſe under your Rule ſee that you make it your main ſtudy, not to pleaſe men but God that tries your hearts. Good Examples are more influential than naked Precepts, and direct us better in the practiſe of Vertue, and have an incouraging influence. And it is on many accounts neceſſary that you ſhine as Stars in your exalted Stations by the light of an holy Converſation; that you be Exemplary in every good work. Rulers being Leaders, had need to be always careful that they don't go wrong, for they will be apt to Lead many after them: and then the Event is like to be very ſad, Iſa 9 16 The leaders of this people cauſe them to err, & thoſe that are led of them are deſtroyed.

(2) You may do much towards the promoting Religion & the pleaſing of God, by putting ſuch in Executive Power, as are truly Religious and have the fear of God in their hearts, & are careful to pleaſe God. Tho' this Qualification be not of it ſelf ſufficient, yet it may not be ove • look'd And truly if regard be not had to this, both our Civil and Sacred in • e • eſt will be much indangered. Men of looſe Principles and Practiſes, are not fit to fill up the Seats of Government. Thoſe that can't rule themſelves, are not fit to 〈◊〉 others. And truly, to advance ſuch to Place as are men of looſe Conver ••• i • n, is the re • dy way to bring in • rophaneneſs like a flood P ••• 12 8 The wicked will walk on every ſide, when the vileſt men are exalted.

(3) You may alſo do much towards the pleaſing of God, by indeavouring 〈…〉 , Prevent and Suppreſs every thing that is diſpleaſing to God, even all Vice & Immorality. This muſt be done, or God cannot be pleaſed: For he hates all the workers of iniquity and is angry with the wicked every day. Sin is that abominable thing that God hates; and his wrath is revealed from heaven againſt all ungodlineſs & unrighteouſneſs of men And therefore, Sirs, as you would pleaſe God, do what you can to ſuppreſs Sin, and improve your Power againſt it to the uttermoſt: and be like Phinehas of old, who was zealous for God and againſt Sin; and bear not the Sword in vain, but whet & brand ſh • it againſt Sin; and indeavour in the uſe of all proper means the Reformation of every thing that is amiſs among us. Let proper Laws be made againſt Sin, wherein they are wanted, and let the juſt and wholſome Laws already made, be faithfully Executed. And remember that you are God's Miniſters avengers to execute wrath on them that do evil Rom. 13. 3 And if Sin be duly Puniſhed, it will be a good means to Suppreſs it. For this is the main deſign of humane puniſhments, to prevent Sin. Deut 1 • . 11. All Iſrael ſhall hear & fear, & do no mo •• ſuch wickedneſs. And truly, if Sin can be prevented & ſuppreſs'd, we have reaſon to hope that God will be well pleaſed.

Theſe, Sirs? • e things of Moment belonging to your Truſt which I would humbly recommend to you. And for your Encouragement, I might remind you, That this will gain you Honour & Reſpect, both with God and men; and the remembrance hereof will be comfortable to you both in Life and Death; and then you will be able to ſay, as he did after great Services done for the Publick, Neh 5 19. Think upon me, O my God for good, according to all that I have done for this People.

2. This Exhortation may be propoſed to my Reverend Fathers and Brethren in the MINISTRY. O Sirs, if the pleaſing of God, be as we have heard, the beſt way to protect & ſecure a People from all their Enemies then ſuffer me, my Brethren, tho' leſs than the leaſt of all Saints, and the moſt unworthy of your Order, to remind my ſelf and you, of the great Neceſſity lying upon us to indeavour the pleaſing of God.

And particularly,

(1) Let us ſee to it that me pleaſe God our ſelves. Let us ſtudy to ſhew our ſelves approved unto God; and let us indeavour to pleaſe him in all our ways. Let us be ſincere & upright in our walking with God▪ and let us indeavour to order our whole Converſation aright before him. We that are ſet to teach others, ought in the firſt place to teach our ſelves; and ſhould learn & practiſe thoſe leſſons which we teach others. And we muſt be le • t Self-Condemned and Speechleſs in the Great Day, if we do it not. Surely, the love and regard of our own Souls ſhould quicken us hereunto And tho' we have been teachers of others, yet if we neglect our ſelves, Chriſt will refuſe us at the Laſt Day: as he hath told us, Mat. 7. 22, 23. Many will ſay unto me, Lord, Lord, have we not propheſied in thy Name? and in thy Name caſt out devils? and in thy Name done many wonderful works? And then I will profeſs unto them, I never knew you; depart from me ye that work iniquity. And, Oh! How ſad & diſmal would our State be, if Chriſt ſhould ſo ſay to any of us in the Laſt Day? We muſt then, when it is too late, eternally Mourn over our wretched Souls, and ſay, as it is in, Cant. 1. 6. They made me the keeper of the Vineyard, but mine own Vineyard have I not kept.

(2) As we ſhould indeavour to pleaſe God our ſelves, ſo let us indeavour to promote it in Others. Let us do our Utmoſt that every one of our People may pleaſe God and become Religious. Let us zealouſly indeavour the Reformation of growing Evils. Let us Cry aloud and not ſpare, and lift up our voice like a Trumpet to ſhew our People their tranſgreſſions and ſins. Let us faithfully Warn the wicked of his way to turn from it. Let us indeavour to do all the Duties belonging to our Miniſtry faithfully. Let us take heed to the Miniſtry which we have received of the Lord Jeſus, that we fulfil it. And let us be inſtant in ſeaſon, and out of ſeaſon; Reprove, rebuke and Exhort with all long-ſuffering & doctrine. Let us not only take heed unto our ſelves, but to all the Flock over which the Holy Ghoſt hath made us Overſeers, to feed the Church of God which he hath purchaſed with his own Blood. Let us teach tranſgreſſors God's ways, that ſinners may be Converted unto him▪ And to all our indeavours, let us add our fervent Prayers to the God of all grace, for the down-pouring of his Spirit: And let us make that our conſtant Requeſt, mention'd by the Prophet, Hab 3. 2. Revive thy work, O Lord, in the midſt of the years, in the midſt of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy. And to quicken us to all faithfulneſs in the diſcharge of our Truſt, let us remember the ſolemn Charge of God that is upon us, and the many Souls committed to our Care: Every one of which is of more Value than all the World; and for every one of which we muſt give an Account unto God: And if any of them 〈◊〉 in through our neglect, God will ſeverely require their Blood at our hands.

3. This Exhortation may be propoſed to PARENTS and HEADS of FAMILIES. Seeing the preaſing of God is the beſt way for the ſecurity of a People from all their Enemies, • e Exhorted to do your utmoſt to pleaſe God, both in your Perſons & Families. Good Family Government and Inſtruction, hath a wonderful tendency to promote Religion, And the ſavour of what ſeaſons our Youth commonly abides till old Age, Prov. 22. 6. Train up a child in the way he ſhould go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. And we may obſerve all the world over, how tenacious men are of what is delivered to them by their Parents, be it good or bad. And the neglect of good Family Government and Inſtruction, is fatal & ruinous to Religion and to the Souls of men. And too many Parents, & ſome of thoſe that are otherwiſe Religious, yet are guilty of too many Neglects herein, either thro' Careleſneſs, worldly Incumbrance, or fond Indulgence. And by this means many of the Off-ſpring of godly Parents, turn into degenerate Plants and prove a generation that know not the God of their Fathers. And thus are many ſpoiled in the Bud, for want of good Family Care. And there are ſome other Parents that are Rude & Ignorant, who perhaps have been Bred themſelves much like the Beaſts they converſe with, and they breed up their Children without any thing of Religion in their Families. And there are others in the world, that breed up their Children as Profanely, as the others do Sottiſhly; Teaching them, at leaſt by their Example, the neweſt Oaths that were laſt formed in Hell; and to Revile & Scoff at all ſerious godlineſs and the Profeſſors of it: And perhaps ſomtime ſmiling to hear with what Emphaſis they can ſpeak in the dialect of Devils, and how wittily they can deride & ſcoff at the godly. Such Families are but Nurſeries for Hell: And though God may ſomtimes ſnatch one or two of them by Converſion, from among them, as Brands out of the Fire, yet generally they die as they live and go to the generation of their Fathers, where they ſhall never ſee light. Oh! Then of what vaſt Importance is it for all Parents to ſee to it, that both they and their Houſes do ſerve & pleaſe God.

And to quicken them here unto,

(1) Let all Parents Conſider what a fearful thing it will be, for them to be the Inſtruments of Ruining for ever, thoſe that received their Beings Inſtrumentally from them; and to ſeek whoſe Welfare they ſtood obliged by all the Laws of God & Nature. And in vain are all your Cares and Studies for their Bodies, whileſt their Souls Periſh for want of Knowlege. You, perhaps, Rejoiced at their Birth; but they will have cauſe to Curſe the day they were Born of you. You were careful of their Bodies, but careleſs of their Souls; Earneſt to ſee them Rich, but indifferent whether they were Gracious. You neglected to teach them the way of Salvation, but the Devil did not neglect to teach them the way of Sin. You will one day wiſh, You had never been Parents, when the doleful Cries of your damned Children ſhall ring ſuch Notes as theſe in your ears, Oh! Curſed Father, Oh! Cruel and Mercileſs Mother, whoſe Example hath drawn me after you into all this Miſery. You had Time enough & Motives enough, to have Warned me of this place of Miſery, while my heart was tender & my affections pliable. Had it not been as Eaſie for you to have Chaſtned me when I Sinned againſt God, as when I Provok'd you about a Trifle? One word ſpoken in ſeaſon might have ſaved my Soul. And, Oh! Who can think without horror & amazement, of theſe & ſuch like Cries & Curſes of their Children, who have been caſt away and eternally loſt, by the very Inſtruments of their Being?

(2) Let all Parents Conſider, That God hath Intruſted them with the Care of their Children; and doth require them to do, as Abraham did, even to command their Children & Houſhold after them to keep the ways of the Lord: And will ſeverely Puniſh them (and probably in their Children) if they prove Negligent herein. Think and tremble at what God threatned againſt good Eli for this, 1 Sam. 3. 13 For I have told him, That I will judge his houſe for ever, for the iniquity which he knoweth, becauſe his ſons made themſelves vile and he reſtrained them not.

4. And laſtly, This Exhortation may be propoſed to the BODY OF THIS PEOPLE. And, Sirs, it being a time of War and Rumors of War, and there is a probability that God will join our Enemies together. Every conſiderate Perſon will be ready to Enquire, What will be our beſt Security from the Invaſions of our Enemies? And, Sirs, in Anſwer to this Enquiry, I have this Meſſage from God unto you, Oh! Endeavour to pleaſe God in all your ways, bec • me truly godly, and devote your ſelves to his Service; and endeavour always to have a Conſcience void of Offence toward God and toward men, and ſo get God to be your Friend, and then you need not fear what man can do unto you. And, dear Sirs, I have little reaſon to believe that I ſhall ever ſtand again in this Desk, upon ſuch a publick Occaſion; for I am now grown into Years, and am going the way of all the Earth: And I would therefore leave it with you as my dying Counſel and ſolemn Charge, That as you deſire to be ſafe here & happy for ever, you would now and hence forward ſet your ſelves to pleaſe God in all your Ways. This, Oh! This, Sirs, will be greatly for your Comfort while you live; this will be your Rejoicing, even the teſtimony of your Conſcience, that in ſimplicity & godly ſincerity, not in fleſhly wiſdom, but by the grace of God you have had your Converſation in the world. And this will alſo be for your unſpeakable Rejoicing when you come to leave the world, if you are able to ſay, as good Hezekiah did upon his ſuppos'd Death-bed, Remember, O Lord, how I have walked before thee in truth, and with a perfect heart, and have done that which was right in thine eyes.

And in this way you may with good grounds expect, That God will ſtill he with you, as he hath been with your Fathers, That He will not leave nor forſake you; but will ſtill be a Wall of Fire round about you, and the Glory in • he midſt of you; and that his Salvation ſhall ſtill 〈◊〉 for Walls & Bulwarks.