Nineveh's repentance and deliverance. A sermon preach'd before His Excellency the governour the Honourable Council and Representatives of the province of the Massachusetts-Bay in New-England, on a day of fasting and prayer in the Council chamber, Dec. 3. 1740. / By Joseph Sewall, D.D. Pastor of a church of Christ in Boston. ; [Five lines from Jeremiah] Sewall, Joseph, 1688-1769. Approx. 63 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 38 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI : 2011-05. N03750 N03750 Evans 4597 APY1616 4597 99028688

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Early American Imprints, 1639-1800 ; no. 4597. (Evans-TCP ; no. N03750) Transcribed from: (Readex Archive of Americana ; Early American Imprints, series I ; image set 4597) Images scanned from Readex microprint and microform: (Early American imprints. First series ; no. 4597) Nineveh's repentance and deliverance. A sermon preach'd before His Excellency the governour the Honourable Council and Representatives of the province of the Massachusetts-Bay in New-England, on a day of fasting and prayer in the Council chamber, Dec. 3. 1740. / By Joseph Sewall, D.D. Pastor of a church of Christ in Boston. ; [Five lines from Jeremiah] Sewall, Joseph, 1688-1769. Massachusetts. General Court. [6], 33, [1] p. ; 21 cm. (8vo) Printed by J. Draper, printer to His Excellency the governour and Council, for D. Henchman in Cornhil., Boston in New-England; : 1740. Half-title: Dr. Sewall's sermon before the General Court.

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Dr. Sewall's SERMON BEFORE THE General Court.

Nineveh's Repentance and Deliverance.

A SERMON Preach'd before His EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOUR The HONOURABLE COUNCIL AND Repreſentatives of the Province of the Maſſachuſetts-Bay in New-England, on a Day of FASTING and PRAYER in the Council Chamber, Dec. 3. 1740.

By Joseph Sewall, D.D. Paſtor of a Church of CHRIST in Boſton.

Jer. xviii. 7, 8.

At what inſtant I ſhall ſpeak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to deſtroy it: If that nation againſt whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.

BOSTON in NEW-ENGLAND; Printed by J. DRAPER, Printer to His Excellency the GOVERNOUR and COUNCIL, for D. HENCHMAN in Cornhil. 1740.

In the Houſe of Repreſentatives, November 29th 1740.

THE Houſe taking into conſideration the many Tokens of Divine Diſpleaſure upon this Province, and more eſpecially the preſſing Difficulties which have long attended and do ſtill attend the publick Affairs thereof, and which are likely to increaſe upon us, unleſs the Government be led into ſome Meaſures for the ſpeedy Remedy thereof;

Voted, That His Excellency be deſired to appoint, as ſoon as may be, a Day of Faſting and Prayer, to be ſolemnized by this Court, as well for Themſelves, as in behalf of the People of this Province, in order to confeſs our Unworthineſs, to implore the Divine Forgiveneſs of our Sins, and the Aſſiſtance and Bleſſing of Heaven upon all the Adminiſtrations of Government; and in particular, That in the preſent unhappy Juncture of our Affairs, GOD would pleaſe to give ſuch Direction to the General Court, that they may be the happy Inſtruments, under GOD, of delivering this People in ſome meaſure from their great Diſtreſs and Danger.

And that the Rev. Miniſters of the Town of Boſton be deſired to aſſiſt in the Solemnity.

Sent up for Concurrence, I. Quincy, Speaker. In Council, Nov. 29. 1740. Read and concur'd, I. Willard, Secr. Copy Examin'd, per I. Willard, Secr.

His Excellency has appointed Wedneſday the Third of December for this Solemnity in the Council Chamber; the Exerciſe to begin at Eleven a Clock in the Forenoon.

In Council, December 4. 1740. Ordered,

THAT John Osborne and Ezekiel Lewis, Eſqrs with ſuch as ſhall be join'd by the Honourable Houſe of Repreſentatives, be a Committee to return the Thanks of this Court to the Rev. Dr. Ioſeph Sewall for his Sermon preach'd Yeſterday before the Court, on the Day of Faſting and Prayer, and Deſire a Copy thereof for the Preſs.

Sent down for Concurrence, I. Willard, Secr. In the Houſe of Repreſentatives, December 4th 1740. Read and concur'd; and Mr. Speaker, Mr. Cotton and Dr. Greaves are joined in the Affair. J. Quincy, Speaker. Conſented to, J. BELCHER. Copy examined, per I. Willard, Secr.
Nineveh's Repentance AND Deliverance. JONAH III. 10.

And God ſaw their Works, that they turned from their evil Way, and God repented of the Evil that he had ſaid that he would do unto them, and he did it not.

IN this Book we have a very memorable and inſtructive Hiſtory. The Prophet Jonah, whoſe Name the Book bears, was call'd of GOD to go to Nineveh, the Capital of the Aſſyrian Monarchy, and cry againſt it—: He criminally attempted to fly from the Preſence of the Lord, by going to Joppa, and from thence to Tarſhiſh; but that GOD whom the Winds and Sea obey, raiſed ſuch a Storm as made the Heathen Mariners conclude there was ſomething very extraordinary, and accordingly they propoſe to caſt Lots, that they might know for whoſe Cauſe this Evil was upon them. Jonah is taken, and caſt into the Sea; upon which it ceaſed from raging: And thus, by the wonderful Providence of GOD, he became a Type of our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, who having appeaſed the Wrath of GOD by his Obedience unto Death, lay buried in the Earth three Days, Matth. 12.40. For as Jonas was three Days and three Nights in the Whale's Belly : So ſhall the Son of Man be three Days and three Nights in the Heart of the Earth. Jonah having cried to GOD, as out of the Belly of Hell, was delivered from his dreadful Confinement. Chap. 2. v. 10. The Lord ſpake unto the Fiſh, and it vomited Jonah upon the dry Land. Thus the brute Creation, even the mighty Whales, obey the Word of GOD's Power, while Men tranſgreſs his Law. Jonah, being thus delivered from the Depth of Diſtreſs, obeys the ſecond Call of GOD to him, Ch. 3. v. 1. Happy is that Rebuke, how ſharp ſoever, which is ſanctified to make us return to GOD and our Duty. And here it is obſerv'd, in the third Verſe, that Nineveh was an exceeding great City, great to or of GOD, Urb magna Dei. Calvin. Things great and eminent have the Name of GOD put upon them in Scripture. of three Days Journey. It is computed to have been ſixty Miles in Compaſs, which may well be reckon'd three Days Journey for a Footman, twenty Miles a Day, ſays Mr. Henry; or as the ſame Author obſerveth, walking ſlowly and gravely, as Jonah muſt, when he went about preaching, it would take him up at leaſt three Days to go thro' all the principal Streets and Lanes of the City, to proclaim his Meſſage, that all might have Notice of it" However, no Greatneſs or worldly Glory will be any Security againſt GOD's deſtroying Judgments, if ſuch Places go on obſtinately in their Sins. O let not LONDON! let not Boſton, preſume to deal unjuſtly in the Land of Uprightneſs, leſt the holy GOD ſay of them as of his ancient People, You have I known of all the Families of the Earth : Therefore I will puniſh you for all your Iniquities, Amos 3.2. But to return, Jonah, in Obedience to the divine Command, cries againſt this great City, Yet forty Days, and Nineveh ſhall be overthrown, v. 4. In the five following Verſes, we have the Faith and Repentance of the Ninevites deſcribed, which our Lord takes particular Notice of, Matth. 12.41. The Men of Nineveh ſhall riſe in Judgment with this Generation, and ſhall condemn it, becauſe they repented at the preaching of Jonas, and behold, a greater than Jonas is here. Let us then attend to theſe Words with Reverence and godly Fear, leſt they alſo riſe up in Judgment againſt us in the terrible Day of the Lord. And here I would more particularly obſerve, 1. The People of Nineveh believed GOD, v. 5 Jonah, we may ſuppoſe, declared to them the true and living GOD, who made Heaven and Earth, and publiſh'd his Meſſage in his Name and GOD wrought ſuch a Faith in them as excited a Fear of his Judgments, and made them deeply concern'd to put away their provoking Sins, that they might eſcape the threatned Deſtruction. And this Impreſſion of Fear and Concern was general; for we find, 2dly, That they proclaim'd a Faſt, and put on Sackcloth from the greateſt of them even to the leaſt of them. Yea, there was a royal Proclamation for this by the Decree of the King and his Nobles, v. 7. And this great Monarch humbled himſelf before the Moſt High, who cuts off the ſpirit of Princes, and is terrible to the Kings of the Earth. The King of Nineveh aroſe from his Throne, and laid his Robe from him, and cover'd him with Sackcloth, and ſat in Aſhes, v. 6. Thus did he practically confeſs, that he had behav'd unworthy his royal Dignity, and deſerv'd to have it taken from him. And the Proclamation requir'd the ſtricteſt Abſtinence, Let neither Man nor Beaſt taſte any Thing Not as if the Beaſts were capable of moral Good or Evil; but as theſe had been abus'd by them, they would have their Moans and Cries under the Want of Food, further to excite penitential Sorrow in themſelves And all are commanded to cry mightily to God, v. 8. Yea, all are exhorted to turn every one from his evil Way, and from the Violence that is in their Hands. The Ninevites were ſenſible, that to outward Signs and Means of Humiliation, they muſt add Repentance and Reformation. 3. We have their Encouragement to attend this Duty, in a Time of impending Judgment, v. 9. Who can tell if God will turn and repent —. We may ſuppoſe that Jonah declar'd to them the Grace and Mercy of the GOD of Iſrael, and ſhew'd them the Way of Salvation thro' the then promiſed Meſſiah; that tho' their Bodies ſhould be deſtroy'd, their Souls might be ſav'd in the Day of the Lord. And they might well infer ſome Ground of Hope as to their temporal Deliverance from this, that the Judgment was not preſently executed; but the Space of forty Days was given them for Repentance. However, as it doth not appear they had any particular Promiſe reſpecting this Matter, ſo their Faith and Hope are here expreſs'd as attended with Doubt and Fear Who can tell? A like Expreſſion we have, even reſpecting GOD's covenant People Who knows if he will return and repent —? Joel 2.14 4. We have an Account of Nineveh's Repentance, and GOD's gracious Deliverance, v 10. GOD ſaw their Works, i. e with Approbation and gracious Acceptance. Their Works "whereby they teſtified the Sincerity of their Faith and Repentance." Dutch Annotations. Our Saviour ſays, they repented at the preaching of Jonas, Luke 11.32. We may conclude therefore that his Preaching was accompanied with the powerful Influences of the Spirit of GOD convincing them of their many hainous Tranſgreſſions, awakening them with Fears of GOD's Judgments, and prevailing upon them to turn from their Sins to the Lord. Had it not been for this wonderful Work of Grace upon them, they had been like to the Sinners of the old World, who went on ſecurely, tho' Noah was a Preacher of Righteouſneſs to them, 'till the Flood came, and took them all away. Here were ſome, I hope, and that not a few, who had ſaving Repentance given them; and others were ſo terrified and awakened, that they engaged at leaſt in an outward and publick Reformation. And may we not ſuppoſe that in this wonderful Work GOD gave his ancient People a Specimen and Earneſt of the Call of the Gentiles? Now, upon this their Repentance it is ſaid, GOD repented of the Evil, and he did it not. Which Words muſt be underſtood in ſuch a Senſe as is conſiſtent with the divine Perfections. It is not ſpoken of GOD, as if he could in a proper Senſe be griev'd for what he had done in threatning the Ninevites; no, this was right, and he had a gracious Deſign in it: Nor, as if he had alter'd his Counſels concerning them He is of one Mind, and who can turn him? Nor, as if he acted contrary to Truth and Faithfulneſs; no, the Threatning was conditional. And accordingly when they repented GOD turned from his fierce Anger, and gave them Deliverance; which is agreable to that Rule of his Government which we have declar'd, Jer. 18.7.8. At what Inſtant I ſhall ſpeak concerning a Nation, and concerning a Kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to deſtroy it: If that Nation againſt whom I have pronounced, turn from their Evil, I will repent of the Evil that I thought to do unto them.

From the Words thus explained to you, I would obſerve the following Doctrines,

[1.] If we would ſeek the Lord in a right manner, we muſt believe Him; the Threatnings and Promiſes of His Word. [2.] It is the Duty of a People to cry to GOD in Prayer with Faſting, when He threatens to bring deſtroying Judgments upon them; and their Rulers ſhould be ready to lead in the right Diſcharge of this Duty. [3.] Our ſeeking to GOD by Prayer with Faſting muſt be attended with true Repentance, and ſincere Endeavours after Reformation. [4.] When a People do thus attend their Duty, GOD will repent of the Evil, and not bring Deſtruction upon them.

I. If we would ſeek the Lord in a right Manner under his threatned Judgments, we must believe Him; the Threatnings and Promiſes of his Word.

The People of Nineveh believed GOD, and proclaimed a Faſt—. We are not told what particular Credentials Jonah produc'd to prove that he was a true Prophet ſent from GOD. His Preaching might be more full and particular than is here recorded; and GOD ſet it home, ſo that they were made ſenſible they had to do with the true and faithful One, whoſe Name is Jehovah; and accordingly they ſet themſelves to entreat his Favour with great Seriouſneſs. And thus we muſt believe, that the Lord is that powerful, holy, faithful, and merciful GOD, which he declareth himſelf to be in his Word. We muſt realiſe it, that his Word is ſure and moſt worthy of Credit, whether he threatens Evil to the Impenitent, or promiſeth Mercy to ſuch as confeſs and forſake their Sins; or we ſhall never be concern'd to ſeek his Face in a right Manner. Without Faith it is impoſſible to pleaſe God, in our Approaches to him: For he that cometh to GOD, muſt believe that he is, and that he is a Rewarder of them that diligently ſeek him. Heb. 11.6. Agreably, in a Time of Danger, that pious King Jehoſhaphet, ſaid to GOD's ancient People, Hear me, O Judah, and ye the Inhabitants of Jeruſalem, Believe in the Lord your God, ſo ſhall you be eſtabliſhed; believe his Prophets, ſo ſhall ye proſper. 2 Chron. 20.20. Certainly then, we who are born under the clear Light of the Goſpel Diſpenſation, muſt believe the Lord our GOD ſpeaking to us in his Word, if we would attend the Duties of this Day, ſo as to obtain Mercy for ourſelves, and this diſtreſſed People. We muſt believe that if we go on obſtinately in our Sins, and deſpiſe the Warnings GOD has given us in his Word and by his Providences, we ſhall after our hardneſs and impenitent Heart treaſure up unto our ſelves Wrath againſt the Day of Wrath; But if we forſake the Way of Sin, and return unto the Lord, He will have Mercy and abundantly Pardon. We muſt believe our Lord Jeſus when he ſays to us, Except ye repent, ye ſhall all likewiſe periſh. And we muſt alſo receive it as a faithful ſaying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Chriſt Jeſus came into the World to ſave Sinners, and will caſt out none that come to Him in the Exerciſe of Faith and Repentance. O that there was ſuch a Faith in us! Then we ſhould fly to GOD's Name, as to our ſtrong Tower this Day, and find Him our Defence and Refuge in the Day of Trouble. By Faith Noah being warnned of God of Things not ſeen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an Ark to the ſaving of his Houſe; by the which he condemned the World, and became Heir of the Righteouſneſs which is by Faith, Heb. 11.7.

II. IT is the Duty of a People to cry to GOD in Prayer with Faſting, when He threatens to bring deſtroying Judgments upon them; and their Rulers ſhould be ready to lead in the right Diſcharge of this Duty.

Thus did the Men of Nineveh, nor did their King refuſe to humble himſelf and lie in the Duſt before that Almighty GOD who threatned to deſtroy them. The Order given was, Let Man and Beaſt be covered with Sackcloth, and cry mightily to GOD This then is a moral Duty incumbent on all as GOD ſhall call. GOD's ancient People practiſed it. Thus when the Children of Moab and Ammon came againſt Jehoſhaphat to Battel, he feared, and ſet himſelf to ſeek the Lord, and proclaimed a Faſt, 2 Chron. 20.1,—3. And we have an Account in Scripture of more private Faſting, Mark 2.18, 20. Where we are informed that the Diſciples of John, and of the Phariſees uſed to Faſt. And our Lord declares that after his departure, His Diſciples ſhould alſo Faſt. And we have particular Direction about religious Faſting, 1 Cor. 7.5. Here then, I would be a little more particular in deſcribing the Duty of Faſting and Prayer, in which we are this Day engaged.

1. IN religious Faſting we muſt chaſten our Bodies, by abſtaining from Meat and Drink, and other Pleaſures which gratify the outward Man.

Thus muſt we acknowledge that we have abuſed GOD's good Creatures, and are unworthy of the leaſt Drop and Crumb even of the Bleſſings of his common Providence. And in this Way we ought to afflict and keep under our Bodies, that our animal Appetites may be bro't into Subjection, and that our Souls may be the more deeply humbled before GOD. Indeed the Neceſſity of Perſons, reſpecting the Weakneſs of ſome Conſtitutions, is here to be regarded. However, When Perſons want only indulge their Appetites, and find their own Pleaſures when GOD calls to weeping and mourning, is ſinful and ſhameful And GOD declares in his Word, that this is a provoking Evil, Iſai. 22.12, — 14. In that Day did the Lord God of hoſts call to weeping and to mourning, and to girding with Sackcloth: And behold Joy and Gladneſs, ſlaying Oxen, and killing Sheep, eating Fleſh, and drinking Wine; let us eat and drink, for to morrow we ſhall die. And it was revealed in mine Ears by the Lord of hoſts, Surely this iniquity ſhall not be purged from you till ye die, ſaith the Lord God of hoſts. And ſurely the Men of Nineveh will riſe up in Judgment againſt ſuch, and condemn them; for we find they were very ſtrict in attending theſe outward Signs and Means of Humiliation. But then, it muſt be granted that this bodily Abſtinence will Profit little, unleſs our Hearts are broken for Sin, and broken off from the Pleaſures of it.

2. IN religious Faſting we muſt afflict our Souls; have the Heart inwardly pierced, and the Spirits broken upon the Account of our Sins.

That GOD who is a Spirit, and forms the Spirit of Man within Him, looks on the Heart, and requireth us to Worſhip Him in Spirit and Truth. The Sacrifices of God are a broken Spirit: a broken and contrite Heart, O God thou wilt not deſpiſe, Pſal. 51.17. The Call of GOD to his People on a Day of ſolemn Faſting, was that, Rent your Heart, Joel 2.13. There muſt then be a deep and thorow Conviction of Sin, and Contrition upon the Account of it. We muſt look to Jeſus whom our Sins have pierced, and mourn as one mourneth for his only Son, and be in bitterneſs, as one that is in bitterneſs for his Firſt-born, Zech. 12.10. There muſt be Hatred of Sin, and Indignation at it, as the accurſed Thing which ſtirs up GOD's holy Diſpleaſure againſt us. There muſt be inward Grief, becauſe GOD has been diſhonour'd and his Law broken by our Sins: That godly Sorrow which worketh Repentance, 2 Cor. 7.10. There muſt be holy Fear of GOD's Judgments. We muſt take Shame and Blame to our ſelves, and make that Confeſſion, Dan. 9.8. O Lord to us confuſion of Face, to our Kings, to our Princes, and to our Fathers, becauſe we have ſinned againſt thee. We muſt abhor our ſelves, lie down before GOD in deep Abaſement, and humble ourſelves under his mighty Hand: Thus muſt we go to GOD ſelf-condemned, and willing to be reconcil'd to Him upon his own Terms; looking to Jeſus as our Advocate with the Father, and depending on Him as the Propitiation for our Sins.

3. WE muſt cry mightily to GOD in Prayer. Earneſt Prayer, in this and other Places of Scripture, is expreſs'd by crying to the Lord, Pſal. 130.1. Out of the depths have I cried unto thee O Lord. Prayer is a great part of the Duty of the Day; and we muſt take Care, that it be that effectual fervent Prayer that availeth much, Jam. 5.16. In-wrought Prayer, that Prayer which is wrought in the Heart by the Holy Ghoſt. For this end, we muſt ask the Spirit of Grace and Supplication to help our Infirmities, and ſtir up the Gift of GOD in us. Thus muſt we pour out our Hearts before GOD and ſay, in moſt humble Importunity as Jacob, I will not let thee go, except thou bleſs me. For GOD ſaid not to the Seed of Jacob, ſeek ye me in vain, Iſa. 45.15. And therefore, if we approve our ſelves the genuine Sons of that Patriarch, we ſhall alſo have Power with GOD, and prevail thro' the Merits and Interceſſion of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt: we ſhall either obtain the Bleſſing for GOD's People, as Elias did, tho' a Man ſubject to like Paſſions; or at leaſt ſhall deliver our own Souls. I might further ſet before you the Prophet Daniel, who has given Rulers a bright Example of a publick Spirit, greatly concern'd for the Peace of Jeruſalem. How earneſt was he when he ſet his Face to ſeek the Lord by Prayer with Faſting! Hear his repeated Cries, Ch. 9.19. O Lord hear, O Lord forgive, O Lord, hearken and do, defer not, for thine own ſake, O my God. And when GOD call'd his People to ſanctify a Faſt, the divine Command is, Joel 2.17. Let the Prieſts, the Miniſters of the Lord, weep between the Porch and the Altar, and let them ſay, Spare thy People, O Lord, and give not thy Heritage to Reproach; that the Heathen ſhould rule over them: wherefore ſhould they ſay among the People. Where is their God? May Moſes and Aaron, lift up their Hands with their Hearts to GOD in Prayer this Day, and receive the Bleſſing from the Lord.

4. WE muſt turn, each One from his evil Way. Thus when the Exhortation given was to cry mightily to GOD, it follows; Yea, let them turn every one from his evil Way, and from the Violence that is in their Hands. And indeed, unleſs this be our Care, our Sins will cry louder than our Prayers, and provoke GOD to cover himſelf as with a Cloud, Iſa. 59.1, 2. Behold, the Lord's Hand is not ſhortned that it cannot ſave: neither his ear heavy that he cannot hear. But your Iniquities have ſeparated between you and your God, and your Sins have hid his Face from you, that he will not hear. And when GOD had declared to his People that he rejected their Aſſemblies and ſolemn Meetings, He gives them that Exhortation Waſh ye, make ye clean, put away the evil of your Doings from before mine Eyes, ceaſe to do evil, learn to do well, ſeek Judgment, relieve the Oppreſſed, judge the Fatherleſs, plead for the Widow, Iſa. 1.16, 17.

But this brings me to the 3d general Head,

III. Our ſeeking to GOD by Prayer with Faſting, muſt be attended with true Repentance, and ſincere Endeavours after Reformation.

GOD ſaw their Works, that they turned from the evil Way. — Here we may conſider, 1. What is implied in this Work of Repentance and Reformation. 2. Why we ſhould thus engage in the Work of Repentance and Reformation.

Firſt, What is implied in this Work of Repentance and Reformation?

A. 1. It implieth, An holy and prevailing Reſolution to turn from thoſe Sins which we confeſs on the Day of Faſting. When we appear before GOD to confeſs our Sins and ask Pardon for them; if we attend this Duty in Sincerity, we are convinc'd that it is an evil and bitter thing that we have forſaken GOD by tranſgreſſing his Law; and we ſhall accordingly reſolve to put away this accurſed thing which ſeparates between GOD and us, and engage to return to GOD and our Duty. Thus did GOD's People on a ſolemn Faſt. They entred into an Oath to walk in God's Law, and ſolemnly promis'd, that they would reform the Evils which had crept in among them; in taking ſtrange Wives, in profaning the Sabbath, in their cruel exacting upon their poor Brethren, &c. Neh. 9.38. 10.29,—31. And it is certainly ſeaſonable and neceſſary for Perſons on ſuch a Day to reſolve, relying on GOD for Grace, to put away ſuch and ſuch Sins as have more eaſily beſet them, to take more Care to keep themſelves from their own Iniquity, and to reform whatever hath been contrary to GOD's Law.

Which leads me to ſay,

2, It intends, That this Reſolution be put in Practice in ſincere Endeavours to put away thoſe Sins and reform thoſe Evils, which have been confeſs'd and bewail'd before God. This GOD requires of us. Thus ſaith the Lord God, Repent and turn your ſelves from all your Idols, and turn away your Faces from all your Abominations, Ezek. 14.6. And after this manner did the Children of Iſrael teſtify their Repentance, when they cried to the Lord under the Oppreſſion of their Enemies. And they put away the ſtrange gods from among them, and ſerved the Lord: and his ſoul was grieved for the miſery of Iſrael, Judg. 10.16. Agreeably, When we have faſted and prayed, we muſt bring forth Fruits meet for Repentance, by engaging in a thorow Reformation of all Sins of Omiſſion or Commiſſion. If we have omitted religious Duties, Secret or Family Prayer, Self-Examination, the Ordinances of GOD's Houſe; we muſt now conſcienciouſly attend upon them. If we have neglected the Duties of thoſe Relations which we ſuſtain towards Men, in publick or private Life; we muſt now with Care and Diligence diſcharge them. If we have committed Sins contrary to the Laws of Sobriety, Righteouſneſs and Godlineſs; we muſt labour by the Spirit to mortify them In a Word, We ſhould cleanſe our ſelves from all Filthineſs of the Fleſh and Spirit, perfecting Holineſs in the Fear of GOD. And in order to theſe Things, we ought earneſtly ſeek to GOD to put his Laws into our Minds, and write them in our Hearts; for it is He alone that can work in us to will and to do, in beginning and carrying on this neceſſary Work of Reformation.

3. That We return to God by Jeſus Chriſt; to believe in, love and obey Him. The Prophet Hoſeae complains, They return but not to the moſt High, 7.16. Whereas, when a Reformation is ſincere and general, we ſhall have a Regard to the Lord our GOD in it, as to our chief Good and higheſt End. We ſhall not be principally concern'd to ſerve a turn, and Eſcape this or the other threatned Judgment. As they, When he ſlew them, then they ſought him: and they returned and enquired early after God. And they remembred that God was their Rock, and the high God their Redeemer. Nevertheleſs, they did flatter him with their Mouth, and they lied unto him with their Tongues, Pſal. 7 8 34,—36. But ſhall make it our great Buſineſs to obtain Peace with GOD thro' Jeſus Chriſt the only Mediator, who has made Peace thro' the Blood of his Croſs. And then ſhall we endeavour to be ſtedfaſt in his Covenant. The Language of our Hearts muſt be as Hoſ. 6 1. Come and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath ſmitten, and he will bind us up 14.3. Asſhur ſhall not ſave us, we will not ride upon Horſes, neither will we ſay any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee the Fatherleſs findeth mercy. We muſt return to GOD as to our Lord and Lawgiver, to obey and ſerve him; as to the Object of our Deſire and Choice, to take our full Contentment in Him: Thus it is ſaid of GOD's People — All Judah rejoiced at the Oath: for they had ſworn with all their Heart, and ſought him with their whole deſire, and he was found of them, 2 Chr. 15.15. As to particular Perſons, It is neceſſary that they thus give up themſelves to the Lord, and then keep the Covenant of their GOD. And as to a People, conſidering them collectively, this muſt be their prevailing Deſire and Practice: If they are generally falſe & hypocritical, they will give GOD reaſon to complain of them, as of his ancient People, O Ephraim, what ſhall I do unto thee: O Judah, what ſhall I do unto thee: for your goodneſs is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away. Hoſ. 6.4.

Secondly, Why ſhould our Days of Faſting be thus attended with ſincere Endeavours after Reformation?

A. 1. GOD demands this of us. When that Inquiry was made, Wherewith ſhall I come before the Lord, and bow my ſelf before the high GOD? Shall I come before him with Burnt-offerings?—Will the Lord be pleaſed with thouſands of Rams or with Ten Thouſands of Rivers of Oyl? The Anſwer is, He hath ſhewed thee, O Man, what is good, and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do juſtly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6.8 And therefore, when GOD's People faſted in a formal cuſtomary manner, without engaging in the neceſſary Work of Reformation, GOD ſaid to them, Did ye at all Faſt unto me, even to me? And then it follows, Execute true Judgment, and ſhew Mercy and Compaſſions every Man to his Brother. And oppreſs not the Widow, nor the Fatherleſs, the Stranger, nor the Poor, and let none of you imagine Evil againſt his Brother in your Heart, Zech. 7.8, 10.

2. GOD makes precious Promiſes to encourage and excite us to this Duty. Thus when GOD had exhorted his People to put away the Evil of their Doings, he adds for their Encouragement, Come now and let us reaſon together, ſaith the Lord: though your Sins be as Scarlet, they ſhall be white as Snow, though they be red like Crimſon, they ſhall be as Wool If ye be willing and obedient, ye ſhall eat the good of the Land. And in the 55th Chapter we have that Exhortation enforc'd with a Promiſe of full and free Pardon, V. 6, 7. Seek ye the Lord, while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near. Let the Wicked forſake his Way, and the unrighteous Man his Thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. Ver. 6, 7. Surely then, we muſt be baſely ungrateful, if we are not drawn with theſe Cords of a a Man, and Bands of Love. While we refuſe to attend this great Duty, we practically deſpiſe the Riches of GOD's Goodneſs whereby He leads Sinners to Repentance. And this is another Reaſon why we ſhould engage in the Work of Repentance and Reformation.

3. If we refuſe to repent and reform, we ſhall be condemned out of our own Mouths, and fall under the threatned Judgments of GOD. One conſiderable Part of the Duty of a Day of religious Faſting is to make an humble and penitent Confeſſion of our Sins whereby we have provoked a holy GOD to come out in Judgment againſt us, and to cry to Him for Grace that we may turn from them. Thus 'tis ſaid of GOD's People on the Day of ſolemn Faſting recorded Neh. 9. The Seed of Iſrael ſtood and confeſſed their Sins, and the Iniquities of their Fathers: 2d v. But if there be no Care to put away the Sins which we have confeſs'd, we ſhall give our Lord and Judge reaſon to ſay to us as to the wicked Servant, Out of thine own Mouth will I judge thee. Now this will be dreadful indeed, and muſt aggravate our Condemnation, to be thus Self-condemned; and ſo to fall under the righteous Judgment of GOD. We have the Proof of this written for our Warning in the doleful Account which the Scripture gives of the Sin and Puniſhment of GOD's ancient Covenant People. Tho' they had their Days of Faſting, particularly on the ſeventh Month, when the High Prieſt was to make an Atonement for himſelf and the People, and enter into the holy Place within the Vail, Lev. 16. Notwithſtanding this, GOD ſaid to his People, If ye will not be reformed, but will walk contrary to me, then will I alſo walk contrary to you, and will puniſh you ſeven Times for your Sins. And GOD fulfilled his Word. They mocked the Meſſengers of God, and deſpiſed his Words, and miſuſed his Prophets, until the Wrath of the Lord aroſe againſt his People, till there was no Remedy, 2 Chron 36 16. Jeruſalem and the Temple were deſtroyed by Fire, and GOD's People led into Captivity to Babylon. And after their merciful Reſtoration, when they had filled up the meaſure of their Sins by diſobeying and crucifying the Lord of Glory, and then by rejecting the Offers of the Goſpel made to them by His Apoſtles; the Wrath of GOD came upon them to the uttermoſt by the Romans, and they are made an Execration and a Curſe unto this Day.

IV. When a People do thus turn from their evil Way to the Lord, He will repent of the Evil, and not bring Deſtruction upon them.

GOD ſaw their Works — and God repented of the Evil that he had ſaid he would do unto them, and he did it not. Judgment is GOD's ſtrange Work; but he delighteth in Mercy. And when GOD threatens, it is with a Reſerve of Grace and Favour to the Penitent. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen & repent, and do the firſt Works; or elſe I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy Candleſtick out of his Place, except thou repent. Rev. 2.5. Thus GOD ſaid to the Prophet Jeremiah, Take thee a Roll of a Book, and write therein all the Words that I have ſpoken unto Thee againſt Iſrael, and againſt all the Nations, from the Day I ſpake unto thee, from the Days of Joſiah, even unto this Day. It may be the Houſe of Judah will hear all the evil which I purpoſe to do unto them; that they may return every Man from his evil Way, that I may forgive their Iniquity and their Sin, Jer. 36 2, 3. GOD knew perfectly well what they would do; but then he here lets his People know how ready he was to forgive the Penitent and receive them into Favour: It's true, Such as repent may be afflicted in this Life; but then it is with the tender Compaſſion of a Father, not with the deadly wound of an Enemy. The firſt and pureſt Times of Chriſtianity were Times of Perſecution; however, while the holy Martyrs overcame by the Blood of the Lamb, not loving their Lives unto the Death; the Church was preſerv'd, yea increaſed and multiplied. And as to a People, conſidering them collectively, I ſuppoſe no one Inſtance can be produc'd in which GOD pour'd out his Fury to deſtroy them, while a Spirit of Repentance and Reformation prevail'd. And even in Times of abounding Iniquity, when the Glory of GOD was departing from his People, and deſtroying Judgments breaking in like a Flood; GOD was pleaſed to make a remarkable Diſtinction between the Penitent, and ſuch as were hardned in Sin. And the Lord ſaid unto him, Go through the midſt of the City, through the midſt of Jeruſalem, and ſet a Mark upon the Foreheads of the Men that ſigh and that cry for all the Abominations that be done in the midſt thereof. And to the others he ſaid in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the City and ſmite: let not your Eye ſpare, neither have ye Pity, Ezek 9.4, 5.

But the Time would fail me, ſhould I attempt to ſpeak particularly to this Head; and I have in part prevented my ſelf by what has been already ſaid. I ſhall therefore only give a few Hints further to confirm & illuſtrate the Truth before us. The faithful and true GOD declareth this in His Word. When I ſay unto the Wicked, Thou ſhalt ſurely die: If he turn from his ſin, and do that which is lawful and right; If the Wicked reſtore the Pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the Statutes of Life, without committing Iniquity; he ſhall ſurely live, he ſhall not die, Ezek 33.14, 15. When Ephraim bemoan'd himſelf and repented, GOD manifeſted his fatherly Compaſſions to him. I have ſurely heard Ephraim bemoaning himſelf thus, Thou haſt chaſtiſed me, and I was chaſtiſed, as a Bullock unaccuſtomed to the Yoke: Turn thou me, and I ſhall be turned; for thou art the Lord my God. Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was inſtructed, I ſmote upon my thigh: I was aſhamed, yea, even confounded, becauſe I did bear the reproach of my Youth. 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. Jer. 31.18,—20. Again, When a People do thus turn from their evil Way to the Lord, They are prepar'd to receive and improve GOD's merciful Deliverance after a ſuitable manner. While a degenerate People are impenitent they will be ready to deſpiſe the Riches of GOD's Goodneſs and Forbearance, and to wax Wanton under ſparing Mercy. Jeſhurun waxed fat and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatneſs; then he forſook God which made him, and lightly eſteemed the Rock of his Salvation, Deut. 32.15. But when Sin is embitter'd by the godly Sorrow which worketh Repentance we ſhall obſerve that Caution after GOD has ſpoken Peace, Pſal. 84.8.—Let them not turn again to Folly. Such a People will be jealous over themſelves and for the Lord of hoſts, and be concern'd to improve all His gracious Appearances for them to the Honour of his great Name. Accordingly, GOD ſays of his People, How ſhall I put thee among the Children, and give thee a pleaſant Land? And then returns this Anſwer, Thou ſhalt call me, My Father, and ſhalt not turn away from me, Jer. 3.19. Again, This Truth is evident from the happy Experience of the Penitent. We have a remarkable Inſtance before us. Now, did GOD ſpare repenting Nineveh, and will he not ſpare his repenting Covenant-People? Yes ſurely, — If their uncircumciſed Hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the puniſhment of their Iniquity: Then will I remember my Covenant with Jacob, and alſo my Covenant with Iſaac, and alſo my Covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the Land. And GOD was pleas'd to fulfill his Promiſe to his People, 1 Sam. 7. and in other Inſtances upon Record in Scripture. In a Word, The Lord JESUS our great High Prieſt, has offered a Sacrifice of infinite Value to make Atonement for the Congregation of his People, whether Jews or Gentiles; and He lives in Heaven to interceed for them: And therefore, When GOD's People look to Him and mourn and turn to the Lord, He will turn from his fierce Anger, and command Salvation.

APPLICATION.

USE 1. Learn that true Religion lays the ſureſt Foundation of a People's Proſperity. Righteouſneſs exalteth a Nation, Prov. 14.34. When we turn to GOD by Jeſus Chriſt, and do Works meet for Repentance; we take the beſt Way to obtain Salvation from the Help of His Countenance, who is the Father of Lights, from whom cometh down every good & every perfect Gift. It's Sin that ſeparateth between GOD and his People: When this accurſed Thing is therefore put away from among them, that GOD to whom belong the Iſſues from Death, will draw nigh to them with His ſaving Health, and appear for their Deliverance. And if GOD be for us, who can be againſt us? There is no Wiſdom nor Underſtanding, nor Counſel againſt the Lord. The Horſe is prepared againſt the Day of Battle: But Safety is of the Lord. Prov. 21.30, 31. Certainly then, the One Thing needful is to ſecure the Preſence and Favour of GOD; and this we do when we return to Him in hearty Repentance, and then walk before Him in New Obedience. Bleſſed is that People whoſe GOD is the LORD: No Weapon form'd againſt them ſhall proſper, and that good Word ſhall be fulfilled unto them, God is our Refuge and Strength, a very preſent Help in Trouble, Pſal. 46.1. and v. 5. God is in the midſt of her, ſhe ſhall not be moved: God ſhall help her, and that right early. O that GOD would impreſs on our Minds the firm Belief of theſe Things! O that He would affect our Hearts ſuitably with them! That we might ſtrive together in our Prayers this Day, crying to GOD with the Prophet, O Lord, revive thy Work in the midſt of the Years, in the midſt of the Years make known; in Wrath remember Mercy. Hab. 3.2.

USE 2. Abounding Iniquity will be the Deſtruction of a People, except they repent. If they perſiſt and go on in the Ways of Sin, refuſing to return to GOD, Iniquity will be their Ruin. Sin is the Reproach of any People, Prov. 14.34. It hath both a natural and moral tendency to lay them low, and expoſe them to Shame. Sin in the Body-politick, is like ſome foul and deadly Diſeaſe in the natural Body which turns the Beauty of it into Corruption, and weakens all it's Powers. Why ſhould ye be ſtricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole Head is ſick, and the whole Heart is faint. From the Sole of the Foot, even unto the Crown of the Head, there is no Soundneſs in it; but Wounds and Bruiſes, and putrifying Sores: they have not been cloſed, neither bound up, neither molified with Ointment, Iſa. 1.5, 6. And then, this deadly Evil provokes the holy GOD to pour Contempt upon a People, and lay their Honour in the Duſt. Thus GOD threatned His People, Thou ſhalt become an Aſtoniſhment, a Proverb, and a By-word, among all Nations whither the Lord ſhall lead thee. Deut. 28.37. And in the 44th and 45th v. He ſhall lend to thee, and thou ſhalt not lend to him; he ſhall be the Head, and thou ſhalt be the Tail. Moreover all theſe Curſes ſhall come upon thee, and overtake thee till thou be deſtroyed Becauſe thou hearknedſt not unto the Voice of the Lord thy God, to keep his Commandments and his Statutes which he commanded thee. And the threatning was fulfilled upon them. GOD ſaid to his People, O Iſrael, Thou haſt fallen by thine Iniquity. And the weeping Prophet laments their Sin and Ruin, Jeruſalem hath grievouſly ſinned: all that honoured her, deſpiſe her, becauſe they have ſeen her nakedneſs: yea, ſhe ſigheth, and turneth backward. Her filthineſs is in her skirts, ſhe remembreth not her laſt end, therefore ſhe came down wonderfully: ſhe had no Comforter. Yea, After this remarkable Deliverance granted to Nineveh, it's ſuppos'd about Ninety Years, when they returned to their former Sins, the Prophet Nahum foretells their Ruin, Chap. 1.

USE. 3. Let us then be ſenſible of the deſtroying Evil of Sin, and the Neceſſity of true Repentance.

GOD ſpeaks to us this Day as to his People of old, Thine own wickedneſs ſhall correct thee, and thy Backſlidings ſhall reprove thee: know therefore and ſee, that it is an evil thing and bitter that thou haſt forſaken the Lord thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, ſaith the Lord God of hoſts, Jer. 2.19. And as 44.4. O do not this abominable thing that I hate. Moſt certainly they are guilty of great Folly, who make a Mock at Sin. This is to caſt Fire-Brands, Arrows and Death; and ſay, Am I not ſport? The wiſe Man obſerves, that One Sinner deſtroyeth much Good, Eccl. 9.18. Thus Achan took of the accurſed Thing; and the Anger of the Lord was kindled againſt the Children of Iſrael, Joſh. 7.1. Let us then fly from Sin as the moſt pernicious Evil, and ſee the Neceſſity of our turning to the Lord by ſincere Repentance. O let that Word of the Lord ſink deep into our Hearts this Day! Turn ye, turn ye, Why will ye die, O Houſe of Iſrael? Ezek. 33.11.

Which leads me to the laſt Uſe;

4. Let us all be Exhorted to turn, every One from his evil Way; and to engage heartily in the neceſſary Work of Reformation.

This, This is our great Duty and Intereſt this Day, as we would hope to be made Inſtruments in GOD's Hand of ſaving our ſelves and this People. Let us then ſeriouſly conſider that we have to do with that GOD who is able to ſave and to deſtroy. And ſettle that Word in our Hearts as a certain Truth, When he giveth Quietneſs, who then can make Trouble? and when he hideth his Face, who then can behold him? whether it be done againſt a Nation, or againſt a Man only. Job 34.29. And accordingly, let us turn from all Sin to the Lord, and in this Way hope and wait for his Salvation. O let us take heed, leſt there be in any of us an evil Heart of Unbelief in departing from the living God. To Day, let us hear his Voice, and not harden our Hearts. May each one of us ſay with Job, Now mine Eye ſeeth thee: Wherefore I abhor my ſelf, and repent in Duſt and Aſhes. And as it has pleaſed the Father to commit all Judgment to the Son; let us look to Him, and encourage our ſelves in Him whom GOD hath exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour, to give Repentance to Iſrael, and Forgiveneſs of Sins. May our aſcended JESUS, who has receiv'd of the Father the Promiſe of the Holy Ghoſt, pour out this great Bleſſing upon the whole Land, and fulfill that Word, Then will I ſprinkle clean Water upon you, and ye ſhall be clean: from all your filthineſs and from all your Idols will I cleanſe you. A new Heart alſo will I give you, and a new Spirit will I put within you, and I will take away the ſtony Heart out of your Fleſh, and I will give you an Heart of Fleſh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cauſe you to walk in my Statutes, and ye ſhall keep my Judgments, and do them. And ye ſhall dwell in the Land that I gave to your Fathers, and ye ſhall be my People, and I will be your God. Ezek. 36.25 — 28. Bleſſed be the Lord, His Spirit has been, we hope, moving on the Hearts of many to convince and awaken them. O let us not reſiſt and quench the Spirit! leſt the Threatning denounc'd againſt the Sinners of the old World, ſhould be fulfill'd on us, My Spirit ſhall not always ſtrive with Man, for that he alſo is Fleſh. Gen 6.3. Let us cheriſh his Motions, and pray the more earneſtly that he may be given in an extenſive manner as a Spirit of ſaving Converſion and thorow Reformation. And ſurely, If we duely conſider the State of this ſinful, diſtreſſed People, we ſhall be conſtrain'd to ſay with the Prophet. It is Time to ſeek the Lord, till he come and rain Righteouſneſs upon you. Hoſ. 10.12. And then with our fervent Prayers, let us unite our beſt Endeavours with regard to ourſelves, our Families, and this People; that all Iniquity may be put far from us, and that we may become zealous of good Works. In this Way we might hope GOD would ſay of us as of the Remnant of Judah; Then will I build you, and not pull you down, and I will plant you, and not pluck you up: for I repent me of the evil that I have done unto you. Or as Iſa. 65.8.—Deſtroy it not, for a Bleſſing is in it.

BUT the Time requireth me to draw to a Cloſe. I would therefore proceed with due Reſpect to make a particular Application of what hath been ſaid, unto our Honoured Rulers, who have call'd us to ſanctify a Faſt with them; and have ſet apart this Day to humble themſelves under the Senſe of Sin, and the Tokens of the divine Diſpleaſure upon this Province.

My Fathers! Suffer the Word of Exhortation: Let GOD ſee your Works, that you turn from every evil Way; that GOD may alſo repent of the Evil, and not bring it upon us. For how dreadful muſt it be if the Example of the Nobles and Men of Nineveh ſhould riſe up in Judgment againſt any of you: They repented at the Preaching "of one Prophet ſent to them by GOD, you have Moſes and the Prophets"; Yea in theſe laſt Days GOD has ſpoken to us by his Son that Prince of the Prophets, who is GOD manifeſt in the Fleſh. You have the ſacred Writings of the New-Teſtament, in which GOD reveals his Wrath againſt all Ungodlineſs and Unrighteouſneſs of Men; and alſo his Grace and Mercy to the Penitent by a Redeemer: And as the Judge of all the Earth hath advanced you to rule over his People; ſo he declareth to you in his Word, That they who rule over Men muſt be juſt, ruling is the Fear of GOD; and requireth you to lead in the Work of Reformation by your Example, and by the right Uſe of that Power with which He hath betruſted you.

This People have obſerv'd many Days of Faſting and Prayer, and yet there's ſorrowful Occaſion to make that Complaint; For all this his Anger is not turned away, but his Hand is ſtretched out ſtill. You have alſo in this more private Way ſought the Lord ſome Years paſt, Decemb. 10. 1736. confeſſing your Sins, and the Sins of this People before Him; notwithſtanding which, the holy and faithful GOD goeth on walking contrary to us, and threatens to puniſh us ſeven Times more for our Sins. What means this Heat of his Anger? Why do we ſtill complain, Judgment is far from us, neither doth Juſtice overtake us: we wait for Light, but behold Obſcurity; for Brightneſs, but we walk in Darkneſs. We grope for the Wall like the Blind, and we grope as if we had no Eyes. Iſa. 59.9, 10. Alas! We muſt take up the Lamentation which follows, v 12,—14 Our Tranſgreſſions are multiplied before Thee, and our Sins teſtify againſt us: for our Tranſgreſſions are with us, and as for our Iniquities, we know them: In tranſgreſſing and lying againſt the Lord, and departing away from our God, ſpeaking Oppreſſion and Revolt, conceiving and uttering from the Heart, Words of Falſehood. And Judgment is turned away backward, and Juſtice ſtandeth afar off: for Truth is fallen in the Street, and Equity cannot enter. O it is Time then, high Time, heartily to engage in keeping the Faſt which GOD has choſen, and we have deſcrib'd for our Inſtruction and Reproof, Iſa. 8.6, 8. Is not this the Faſt that I have choſen? to looſe the Bands of Wickedneſs, to undo the heavy Burdens, and to let the Oppreſſed go free, and that ye break every Yoke? Is it not to deal thy Bread to the Hungry, and that thou bring the Poor that are caſt out to thy Houſe? when thou ſeeſt the Naked, that thou cover him, and that thou hide not thy ſelf from thine own Fleſh? Upon this GOD promiſeth, Then ſhall thy Light break forth as the Morning, and thine Health ſhall ſpring forth ſpeedily: and thy Righteouſneſs ſhall go before thee; the Glory of the Lord ſhall be thy Rereward. Then ſhalt thou call, and the Lord ſhall anſwer; thou ſhalt cry, and he ſhall ſay, Here I am. 8, 9. v. And 12 v They that ſhall be of thee, ſhall build the old waſte Places: thou ſhalt raiſe up the Foundation of many Generations; and thou ſhalt be called, The Repairer of the Breach, the Reſtorer of Paths to dwell in. Be intreated therefore to cry to GOD for Grace that you may cleanſe your Hearts and Hands from all Sin, and ſo turn to the Lord; and then, let it be your conſtant Care and diligent Endeavour to do Works meet for Repentance. As GOD has exalted you above your Brethren, let your Light ſhine before them, that others ſeeing your good Works may glorify your heavenly Father, and be excited to follow you. Let all that behold you, ſee your pious Regards to GOD's Worſhip and Ordinances, his Day and Houſe. Do your utmoſt that the Worſhip of GOD may be maintain'd in the Power and Purity of it, among this People. Let all due Care be taken that Men may Fear this glorious and fearful Name, the LORD our GOD, and not preſume to take it in vain; for becauſe of Swearing the Land mourns. Let the Lord's-Day be ſtrictly obſerv'd; for GOD hath ſet the Sabbath as a Sign between him and his People, that He is the Lord who ſanctifieth them. Let the moſt effectual Means alſo be uſed that the great Abuſe of Taverns may be reformed, that theſe be not converted into tipling and gaming Houſes for Town-Dwellers, to the Diſhonour of GOD and Hurt of the Common-Wealth. Let the Fountains of Juſtice be kept open and pure, that Judgment may run down as Waters; and that ſuch as thirſt after Righteouſneſs may come freely, and be refreſhed. And whereas the preſent Difficulties which embarraſs our Affairs, do very much ariſe from the Want of a ſuitable Medium of Trade, and different Apprehenſions in the Legiſlature about ſupplying the Treaſury, whereby the publick Debts are, in part at leaſt, left unpaid, and the Country naked and defenceleſs, in this Day of Calamity and War: I can't but humbly apprehend, that this awful Frown of Providence calls aloud to you further to conſider, whether there has not been great Injuſtice and Oppreſſion with relation to the Bills of publick Credit which have paſs'd among us, from their ſinking and uncertain Value; and to uſe your beſt Endeavours that whatever Bills ſhall paſs for Time to come in lieu of Money, may be a juſt Medium of Exchange; for a falſe Ballance is abomination to the Lord; but a juſt Weight is his Delight, Prov. 11.1. Whatever Methods may be propos'd to extricate us out of our preſent Diſtreſs, Juſtice and Equity muſt be laid in the Foundation; or we may expect that the Lord who loves Righteouſneſs and hates Wickedneſs, will confound our Devices, and bring them to nought. But then, I preſume not in the leaſt meaſure to determine whether this or that way is right. May that GOD before whom all things are open and naked, direct Your Excellency and the whole Court, into ſuch Paths of Righteouſneſs as ſhall lead to our Deliverance and Safety; that we may neither oppreſs one another, nor become a Prey to an inſulting Enemy! May you be filled with the moſt tender and fatherly Compaſſion for your People under the preſent Diſtreſs and Danger, and do all you can to relieve them! And if there ſhould be a Difference in your Opinion about the Way, may you be enabled to keep the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace, that the GOD of Peace may be with you, who has promis'd to guide the Meek in Judgment!

But in vain is Salvation hoped for from the Hills, and from the multitude of Mountains: Truly in the Lord our GOD is the Salvation of Iſrael!

O GOD! We know not what to do; but our Eyes are unto Thee. We wait upon Thee O Lord, who hideſt thy ſelf from the Houſe of Iſrael; confeſſing that we thy Servants, and thy People have ſinn'd. Thy Ways are equal, our Ways have been very unequal. O Lord, Righteouſneſs belongeth unto Thee, but unto us Confuſion of Faces, as at this Day, becauſe we have ſinned againſt Thee. To the Lord our GOD alſo belongeth Mercies and Forgiveneſſes, tho' we have rebell'd againſt Him. O Lord, hear, O Lord forgive, O Lord, hearken and do, defer not, for thine own ſake, O GOD! for thy City, and thy People are called by thy Name. Look to the Face of thine Anointed, O merciful Father! Behold thy SON in our Nature, who on Earth offer'd a Sacrifice of infinite Merit to atone for the Sins of thy People; and now appears in Heaven, as a Lamb that had been ſlain, interceeding for us. We are unworthy; but the Name in which we now ask thy divine Help, is moſt worthy. O hear us, for thy Son's ſake, and ſpeak Peace to thy People. Give ear, O Shepherd of Iſrael, thou that leadeſt Joſeph like a Flock, thou that dwelleſt between the Cherubims, ſhine forth. Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manaſſeh, ſtir up thy Strength, and come and ſave us. Turn us again O GOD; and cauſe thy Face to ſhine, and we ſhall be ſaved. O remember not againſt us former Iniquities: let thy tender Mercies ſpeedily prevent us; for we are bro't very low. Help us, O GOD of our Salvation, for the Glory of thy Name; and deliver us, and purge away our Sins for thy Name's ſake: So we thy People and Sheep of thy Paſture, will give Thee Thanks for ever; we will ſhew forth thy Praiſe to all Generations.

And would you, Our honoured Rulers, to whom I again addreſs my ſelf, have the all-wiſe-GOD preſent to ſhew you what his People ought to do in this very critical Conjuncture, and to make you the joyful Inſtruments of our Deliverance; then abide with GOD, by taking his Word for your Rule, by making His Glory your higheſt End, and by ſeeking the public-Weal in all Things. Ask of GOD a public Spirit, and by all Means labour to ſubdue a vicious Self-Love, remembring the Warning given us, 2 Tim. 3.1, 2. In the laſt Days perilous Times ſhall come. For Men ſhall be lovers of their own ſelves, covetous. May you have the Love of GOD and his People ſhed abroad in your Hearts by his Spirit; and be ready to ſacrifice private Views and perſonal Intereſts to the publick Good! Shake your Hands, front Bribes of every kind, and when call'd to give your Vote, conſider ſeriouſly what is Right in the Sight of GOD, with whom is no reſpect of Perſons, or taking of Gifts; and act accordingly. And if at any Time you ſhould be tempted to this great Evil, as the beſt of Men may; ſet that Word of GOD in oppoſition to the Temptation. He that walketh righteouſly, and ſpeaketh uprightly, he that deſpiſeth the Gain of Oppreſſion, that ſhaketh his Hands from holding of Bribes, that ſtoppeth his Ears from hearing of Blood, and ſhutteth his Eyes from ſeeing Evil: He ſhall dwell on high, his Place of Defence ſhall be the Munition of Rocks; Bread ſhall be given him, his Waters ſhall be ſure. Iſa. 33.15, 16. In this Way you ſhall obtain the gracious Preſence of GOD with you. The Lord is with you, while ye be with him, 2 Chron. 15.2. And if GOD be with you and for you, who can be againſt you? What can harm you? What can be too hard for you, if the Almighty is pleas'd to own you as his Servants, and command Deliverance for his People by you? Surely the Mountains ſhall become a Plain, crooked Things ſtraight, and the Night ſhine as the Day. Let me ſay to you therefore as 2 Chron. 15.7. Be ye ſtrong, and let not your Hands be weak: for your Work ſhall be rewarded. GOD will be your Shield, and exceeding great Reward. You ſhall ſee the Good of GOD's choſen, rejoice with the Gladneſs of His Nation, and glory with his Inheritance. And when the Son of Man ſhall come in his Glory, and all the holy Angels with Him, then ſhall He ſay unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto theſe my Brethren, ye have done it unto me: Come ye Bleſſed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom.

FINIS.