AN HOLY CONNEXION, Or a true AGREEMENT Between Jehovahs being a WALL of FIRE to his People, and the GLORY in the midst thereof: Or a Word in Season to stir up to a solemn Acknowledgement of the gracious Protection of God over his People; and especially to a Holy Care that the Presence of God may yet be continued with us.  
As it was delivered in a SERMON Preached at Hartford on Conecticut in N. E. May 14. 1674. being the Day of ELECTION there:  
By JAMES FITCH Pastor of the Church of Christ in Norwich.  Exod. 33. 15, 16: 
And he said unto him, if thy presence go not with us, carry us not up hence; For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy People have found Grace in thy sight, is it not in that thou goest with us.  1 King. 8. 57, 58. 
The Lord our God be with us as he was with our Fathers, let him not leave us nor forsake us, that he may incline our hearts unto him to walk in all his ways, &c.  Neh. 9. 19. 
Yet thou in thy manifold mercies forsookest them not in the Wilderness, the Pillar of the Cloud departed not from them by day to led them in the way, neither the Pillar of Fire by night to show them light, and the way wherein they should go.  Isai. 4. 5. 
And the Lord will create upon every dwelling place of Mount Sion, and upon her Assemblies a Cloud and Smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night, for upon all the Glory shall be a defence.  
CAMBRIDGE: Printed by Samuel Green. 1674.   

At a COURT of ELECTION held at HARTFORD May 14th. 1674.  
It is Ordered that the Thanks of this Court be returned to the Reverend Mr. James Fitch for the great pains he hath taken in Preaching the Election Sermon before this Court, and that he be desired to grant a Copy of his said Sermon that it may be Printed. Extracted out of the Court Records,  
John Allyn Secr.   

Christian Reader,  
IT is amongst the sayings of the Wise Man, A Word fitly spoken is like apple of Gold in Pictures of Silver, Prov. 25. 11. A Word aptly circumstanced in respect of time, and other concurrences is of singular usefulness, weight and excellency: Did the Discourse following not sufficiently commend itself, or needed there any further Testimony to be added thereto; we might with confidence affirm, that it was indeed a Word fitly spoken, well Timed, and otherwise also Circumstanced as to them to whom it was delivered: and surely it is no other to such to whose perusal it is now presented.  
The Condition of Gods Wilderness-People( with other considerations also attending the same) bear full witness to it therein; when the Glory is departing( may we not say in some, Oh that it were not in great measure departed) and the Defence also with it; what more seasonable or fitly-suited then such a Word, the design whereof is to awaken and advice to a Faithful Endeavour for the Recovery and Continuance of both; How far or by what gradual Removes the departure is made already, with reference to the Lords People here in general, or any Societies in particular, is not so easy nor all things Considered so meet for us to determine; that there is indeed a diminution or abatement of the Glory in the midst of us( an aweful presage of its yet further and at last final withdrawing, if not timely prevented by an intervening Repentance, Faith and effectual Reformation, thereby stirring up ourselves to take hold of God.) that we are in danger also of being deprived of the Wall of fire about us( threatening Aspects of Providence of late appearing towards us therein) cannot well be denied by them that have been studious to keep the eye upon things past and present. Time was that Israel was holiness to the Lord, then all that devoured him did offend, evil came upon them, as in Jer. 2. 3. But is it so at this day in respect of degrees? alas how low are we fallen? though we doubt not but the Lord hath his number, and that very considerable, whose hearts he keeps up in a holy warmth and forwardness of love ●o him, his will and ways, yet how many have forsaken first love;( may we say the love of N. Englands Espousals) upon the decays whereof, or neglect to recover it, a removal of the Candlestick is expressly threatened, even where there are many things commendable, Rev. 2. 2-5 that the Lord hath indeed been the Glory and Salvation of his people, and therein greatly manifested his mercy towards us amid many provocations, is always to be acknowledged with great thankfulness; that the same Lord is our alone hope in both respects for the future, it concerns us deeply, nothing more deeply to Remember. Alas what are we if the Lord leave us? if the glory depart from us what shall we be? but a dishonour to his Name, a reproach to Religion, a shane to ourselves, and Grief to others, a very heap of Sins, and Chaos of Confusion; if the Wall of Fire forsake us, what shall we be, but a prey to them that are ready to devour? how soon and easily will our Adversaries have occasion and spirit to say insultingly enough, they are bread for us? how resistless an inroad will all manner of Evil and Enemies make upon us?  
Observations of what hath been, and is, with intimations also about what may, or is like to be, according to Scripture discovery and the Lords wonted way of dealing with a professing privileged People; may not too easily be don't. However the great work still remains,( which without peculiar help from above will certainly fail in its accomplishment) viz. that we believe in earnest, and demean ourselves as believing, that our All is in the hand of God; In respect of Glory, and Defence, we stand and fall therein as his pleasure is to deal with us; One thing only we may further remark, that our great Concernment is so to carry in several Capacities and Performance of Duties therein, that the Lord may be and continue to be the Glory in the midst of us, so shall we without failure experience the fulfilling of his Word, that a Wall of fire shall not be wanting: That it may so be, is the purpose and Aim of the ensuing Sermon, wherein the Learned Author, a Faithful Servant in his Masters Work according to the wisdom given him, Warns, Counsels and Excites, with reference to what may further the attaimment of such an end.  
That this also amongst other the Labours of the Lords Worthies formerly, and of late may be made successful by a Blessing from Heaven; to awaken the secure, and quicken the backward, to Rouse sinners, and Recover Saints to a right sense of their several Duties in this dark and threatening day; That the work of our God may appear unto his Servants, and his Glory to their Children, that his enlightening, Converting, Sanctifying, and therewith also Protecting, Saving Presence may be with us, that thc Beauty of Truth, Peace and Holiness, an increasing shine of zeal for God, the Purity of his ways, and Fellowship with him therein, may yet be found amongst us; and that upon all the Glory may still and always be a Defence;  
Is the Hearts Desire and Prayer of us, who are thine in him that is the Saviour of all men, especially of them that Believe.  


John whiteing.  
Joseph Haines.     
ZECHARIAH 2. 5. For I saith the Lord will be to her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her. 
IN the foregoing part of this Chapter we have the Prophets Vision specified, and the sense and meaning of it.  
First. The Vision of a Man with a Measuring Line in his hand, to measure Jerusalem in the breadth thereof, and in the length thereof, in the first and second Verses.  
Secondly, the sense of this Vision Explained and Confirmed.  
1. Explained, That Jerusalem should be Re-inhabited and Replenished, in the third and fourth Verses.  
2. This confirmed with a promise of the Lords presence with them, in this fifth Verse: In which we have;( 1) A promise of the Lords protecting presence, and that likened to a Wall of fire round about; For I saith the Lord, will be to her a Wall of fire round about.( 2.) a promise of the Lords glorious presence in the midst of his people, for saith the Lord, I will be the Glory in the midst of her.( 3.) Let us consider the Copulation, yea, the Connexion of these two, when the Lord was the Glory in the midst of jerusalem, then he would be a Wall of fire round about them, and his being a Wall of fire round about them, was in order to his being the Glory in the midst of them, for so it is expounded in Isai. 4. 5. Upon all the Glory shall be the defence: Hence the Doctrine is this;  
Doct. When the Lord is the Glory in the midst of a People then he will be a Wall of Fire round about them.  
The Lords protecting presence as a Wall of fire round about his People, and his Glorious Presence in the midst of them are concomitants, the one doth inseparably accompany the other. For the Proof and Explication let us consider:  
1. When Gods protecting presence is like a Wall of fire round about a People. 2. When the Lord is the glory in the midst of a People. 3. The Reason of the Relation and Connexion of these.  
First, Gods protecting presence, as a Wall of fire, is when the Lord doth in an evident manner, and terrible manner protect them.  
1. In an evident manner; making his Protection as manifest to his People as if they see a Wall of fire round about them, Isai. 26. 1. In that day shall the Song be sung in the Land of Judah, we have a strong City, the Lord will appoint his Salvation for Walls and Bulwarks: Then is the Wall too high for the Enemy to Scale or climb over, then it is too deep to be undermined, and then the Wall is too high to be broken down or battered; and the Lords Salvation as a Wall of Defence in an evident manner, is, when the Lord doth defend his People, either only by his own hand, or in an extraordinary manner, blessing small and weak means for their defence.  
First, Sometimes the Lord doth defend merely and only by his own hand; and that is either by taking away the desire of the Enemy, that the Enemy shall not desire to do his People any harm as the Lord Promised to his People of old, when they went up to appear before the Lord thrice in the year, at that time no man shall desire their Land, Exod 34. 24 they should at that time be so safe from invasion; or if the Enemy shall desire and attempt to do his People harm: yet sometimes the Lord by his immediate hand stirreth up the spirit of some Cyrus to be their protector, as the People, of whom the Text doth speak, did find it upon experience, Ezra 1. 1. or if the Lord shall permit the Serpent to cast out of his mouth Waters like a flood after the Woman fled into the wilderness: yet the Lord who ruleth in Heaven above, and on the Earth, will sometimes make use of the Earth to help the Woman, and the Earth shall open her mouth and swallow up the floods the Dragon had cast out of his mouth, Rev. 12 15, 16. and thus he doth defend his People only by his own hand.  
Secondly, Or by his blessing of weak and small means for their defence and that is, either when his People are in a fearful and affrighted posture, as it was with the King of judah, and his People when they heard of the confederacie of Syria and Ephraim against them, the heart of the King of judah and his People were moved as the Trees in the Wood are moved with the wind, Isai. 7. 2. and yet the Lord made it manifest, that they were but as the two tails of smoking fire brands, soon extinguished, ver. 4. or when his People are in a divided state, that they cannot so unite in the use of means for their own safety as otherwise they might, as it was in Deborah's time, for the divisions of Reuben were great thoughts of heart, and again for the divisions of Reuben were great thoughts of heart, judge. 5. 15. and yet the Lord gave them a Song of Triumph, and the conclusion was, O God let thine Enemies perish, and those who love thee be as the Sun when it goeth forth in its might, and so the Land had rest, judge. 5. ult. and in what a feeble state was jerusalem in Zerubbabel's time, as to defend themselves by any outward means; what a day of small things, and yet the Lord said, not by might nor by power but by the Spirit of the Lord, and what art thou great mountain before Zerubbabel, Zech. 4. 5, 6. and thus the Lord defends in an extraordinary manner, by blessing weak means.  
2. A defending in a terrible manner; we red in Exo. 14. 24. that the Lord in the Morning watch, right early and timely looked forth upon the Host of Egyptians and troubled them: it was a dreadful dismaying and confounding look, and he looked through the Pillar of fire, called a Pillar, noting strength and stability; but it stood as a Wall of defence between the Israelites and the Egyptians their Enemies: and in our Text we red of a Wall of fire, it scopeth at the same, to show us how effectually but in a terrible manner the Lord doth defend his People; and that is in such a manner as is terrible to the Enemy, and sometimes at the first appearance of it, is terrible to the Lords people themselves.  
1. In such a manner as is terrible to the Enemy, sometimes the Lord by his own immediate hand doth dart into their minds such affrighting Fantasies, and dismaying apparitions as shall fill their Ears, Heads and Hearts with such confounding noises and reports, which shall make them like the Syrians of old, whom the Lord caused to hear the noise of the Chariots and Horse-men, as the noise of a great Host, and they rose up and fled away, 2 King. 7. 6. we red of Zions Enemies in Psal. 48. 5, 6, 7, 8. they saw, they were troubled, and they hasted away, Fear took hold of them as of a woman in travail, there thou breakest the Ships of Tarshish, as we have heard so we have seen in the City of our God, he will Establish her, Selah: This is to defend his People in such a manner as is terrible to their Enemies.  
2. And sometimes in such a manner, as at the first aspect and appearance seemeth terrible to his people: the Lord will sometimes make use of a terrible means to be the carrier of the answer of the Prayers of his People, Psal. 65. 5. thou dost answer us by terrible things in thy righteousness O God of our Salvation, and the Lord chooseth to relieve by terrible things, Isai. 4. 3. thou didst terrible things which we looked not for when thou camest down, and the Mountains flowed down at thy presence, we did no more expect relief by such a means then to see Mountains to melt and become a plain; it is of ourselves to destroy ourselves, but it is the Lord alone can save us by destroying means, to make use of a Bear to preserve a Lamb is a strange and marvelous thing, but Persia was likened to a Bear, in Dan. 7 5. and Cyrus the King of Persia must become to be protector of the Lambs company, Ezra 1. 1, 2. this is to defend his People by a Wall of Fire in a terrible manner.  
Only let us distinguish of the degree of Protection:  
First, Sometimes the Protection is total and full without any loss at all to Gods People, that whatever the Blasphemous threatenings of a Rabshekah hath been in the day of Reproach and time of Zions trouble, yet the Lord putteth a Hook into the Nose, and a Bridle into the Lips of the Enemy, and would not suffer them so much as to come into the City, nor shoot an Arrow, nor come before them with a Shield, Isai. 37. 38. then the Protection is total and plenary.  
Secondly, Sometimes the Lord only defends the Body of his People, the most considerable part of them, and then the loss they suffer shall be valued at a very considerable price; when Joshua had lost about thirty six men, and had sought out and removed the accursed thing, it then must cost the Enemy no less then twelve thousand lives, Josh. 7. 8-25. the Lord will make it manifest that precious in his sight is the death of his Saints, Psal. 116. 15. if a Godly man did foresee at what price the Lord of Hosts doth value his life, and how many lives it must cost the Enemy, if he doth suffer the loss of his own life in the cause of God,& for his People, it would make him surely content samson like, to lay down his life even among the philistines: thus you have heard how the Lords protecting presence is as a Wall of fire round about the Lords People, the conclusion of this, who is like to thee O Israel? a People saved of the Lord, the shield of thine help, the sword of thine excellency, thine Enemies shall be found liars to thee, and thou shalt tread upon their high places, Deut. 32. ult. and of this protecting presence, as a wall of fire the Lords People both in Old England and in New England have enjoyed their time of experience, in dayes of old and lately and in particular this Colony hath found it to be true: let your Enemies in this case be Judges; here are many of you in this great Congregation, now appearing this day before the Lord, who are his witnesses, and are ready to say, as we have heard so we have seen in the City of our God, the Lord is known in Zions palaces to be a refuge, Psal. 48 2. he was thus known in dayes of old to the confusion of your Enemies, and in that day known to you for your abundant joy.  
But at present let us tarry no longer upon the proof of that which is so plain in the Word and Works of the Lord, in the several Generations of the Saints; and to our own experience in dayes of old, and to this very day: but let us proceed to inquire when will the Lord be a Wall of Fire round about a People? the answer to this is from the second part of the Doctrine, When the Lord is the Glory in the midst of his People, then he will be a wall of fire round about them; and therefore let us inquire concerning this Glory, omitting the multiplicity of Interpretations of that Word, and coming as nextly and directly to the true Gospel sense of it( as I can) I take it may be thus described: This Glory is the splendour and Shine of Divine Excellency; as God is a God of Mercy and Holiness, appearing in the Glass of his Word and Ordinances, whereby he transformeth a People into his likeness, and disposeth them practically to his praise and Glory.  
1. A splendour and Shine of his Divine Excellency, it is the Glory of the Sun, Moon and Stars, 1 Cor. 15. 41 their splendour in the Light and Beams suitable to their celestial nature and excellency; we read of the Glory of the Son of God, John 1. 14. We beholded his Glory as the Glory of the Son of God; that is, the Shine of his Divine Excellency suitable to, and becoming him as he is the Son of God: The Glory of God in the midst of a People, is the splendour and Shine of his Divine Excellency in the light, rays and Beams thereof suitable, his excellent Being and well-becoming his Divine Perfection; for how great is his Goodness? how great is his Beauty? Zech. 9. ult. and upon this splendour is the promised defence Psal. 80. 1. O thou that dwellest between the Cherubims, shine bright, and it followeth in the second verse then stir up thy strength and come and save us.  
2. The Shine of Divine Excellency, as God is the God of Mercy and Holiness; for as God is the God of Nature and ruleth the Creatures, so there is a Shine of his Divine Excellency, in Framing and Ruling of the Creatures, Psal. 19. 1. The Heavens do declare thy Glory, and the Firmament thy handy work; but the Glory of which our Text doth speak seemeth rather to be the Shine of his Divine Excellency more especially as he is the God of mercy and Holiness, of Grace and of Purity.  
First, As he is the God of Mercy and Grace, intending especially the splendour and Shine of his Mercy, as in the forementioned place, Psa. 80. 1 O thou that feedest Israel give ear, and leadest Joseph like a Flock, and dwellest between the Cherubims shine bright: who dwellest between the Cherubims, who were nigh to the Mercy Seat, Exod. 25. 21, 22. And the Mercy Seat was a Type of the Throne of Grace, where Christ our merciful High Priest is enthroned, and from whence for his Mercy sake he hath promised to meet with, and graciously to commune with his People in the times and cases of difflculty whatsoever: O thou that dwellest between the Cherubims shine bright; the shine of his Mercy from the Throne of Graces, and then it followeth, stir up thy strength and come and save us.  
Secondly, As he is the God of Holiness; the shine of his Mercy in a very pure and holy manner called the Beauties of Holiness, Psal. 110. 3. and the Cherubims which are called Seraphims in Isai. 6. 3. were crying in the Temple, Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of Hosts: and when the Lord doth appear amongst a People to be Glorious in Holiness, then he will be fearful in Praises, and do wonderful things for their safety, Exod. 15. 11. Jer. 2. 2, 3. I remember the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine Espousals when thou wentest after me into the sourness, Israel was Holiness unto the Lord, and they who destroyed him sbould then surely offend, and evil shall come upon them saitb the Lord, So that upon this Shine of Mercy and Holiness amongst a People is the defence promised.  
Thirdly, Appearing in the Glass of the Word and Ordinances; there is a Glory appearing in the Glass of divine Providences, and is called a Glory, Exod. 16. 7, 10. but the Glory in the midst of a People seemeth to be rather a Glory appearing in the Glass of the Word and Ordinances; that which was typified by the Glory which came first into the Tabernacle of old when finished, Exod. 40. 34. the Glory which likewise came into the first Temple, 1 King. 8. 10. the Glory which came into the second Temple of which our Text speaketh, and is so expounded in Ezek. 43. 4. and applied to that very time in ver. 7. For( saith the Lord) the place of my Throne, and of the Soles of my feet, where I will dwell amongst the Children of Israel, and this Tabernacle Glory, and Temple Glory was a Type of the true Gospel Glory: for now as in a Glass( namely) in the Glass of Word and Ordinances we behold the Glory of the Lord, 2 Cor. 3. ult and a Type of the Glory of the new Jerusalem spoken of in Rev 21 and upon this Glory thus shining in the Glass of the Word and Ordinances is the promised defence, Isai. 4. 5.  
Fourthly, Whereby the Lord transformeth a People into his likeness, and disposeth them particularly to his Praise and Glory; this is effectually and indeed the Character of a People in the midst of whom he will be the Glory, and round about whom he will be the Wall of fire, for they have not only the Glory set before them as in a Glass; so its before multitudes in the Glass of Word and Ordinances: but they by beholding of this Glory are transformed from Glory to Glory by the Spirit of the Lord 2 Cor. 3. ult. and thus its a Glory amongst them by way of transformation, and therefore we say doth practically dispose them to his Praise and Glory, that such a People have not only Glory set before them as a copy, pattern, and Example, as the Rule is the Idea or Example of Eupraxie or Well-acting, but its a Glory in the midst of them by way of imitation and practise, effectually and practically a Glory in the midst of them. And here let us take a brief view how this Glory did appear in the midst of this People of whom the Text doth speak, by way of transformation and imitation, practically and effectually respecting their Church and Civil State, in Rulers and in People.  
1. In General, Let us Consider then the hearts both of Rulers and People were set to seek the Lord their God with their faces Zionward weeping, they did go to join in a Covenant not to be forgotten, and that in a day of public Humiliation; their Hearts subscribing with their Hands, Neh. 9. ult. and they entred into a Curse and into an Oath, to walk in the Law of the Lord, Neh. 10. 29. Into a Curse and into an Oath, O Dreadful! but yet a very beautiful Solemnity they did put upon the staff of beauty the Covenant of their God.  
2. More particularly, then the People did lay to heart the evil of sin, and wept sore because of the Abominations committed, Ezra 10. 1 and they trembled at the Commandment of the Lord, ver. 3. and then was that harmonious speech heard among them, so full of the Splendour of Grace and Godliness, some in the name of many others, saying to Ezra, Arise, this matter belongs to thee, only be of good courage and do it, and we are with thee, Ezra 10. 4.  
3. And yet more especially, how did this Glory practically appear in the Rulers of the Common-wealth and of the Church, as was manifest in their purging Pollutions out of the Temple, Neh. 13. 5-8. in reforming biting Usury, taking( as it were) the prey out of the teeth, yea, breaking the Jaw-bone of the Oppressor, Neh. 5. 1-15 and then they did impartially proceed without fear of any or favour to any whomsoever, as appears in that matter of removing strange Wives, Ezra 10. severity against those who profaned the Sabbath, Neh. 13.  
To conclude this, How did their Magistrates their, nursing Fathers, Zerubbabel, Mordecai, Nehemiah and others shine with pious policy, religious righteousness, and holy courage, that Zions Judges were restored as at first,& her counsellors as at the beginning, as was promised& prophesied concerning them, Isai. 1. 16, 17.& the Glory of the Lord thus appeared by way of transformation and imitation, practically and effectually in the midst of this People, accordingly his protecting presence was as a wall of fire round about them.  
Let us now consider the Reasons of the Relation, and the connexion of these two; why the Lord will be a wall of fire round about a People when he is the Glory in the midst of them:  
Reas. 1. Because he is the Glory in the midst of them: he will not give his Glory to another, Isai 42. 8. you know what Joshua pleaded, josh. 7. 9. that the Enemy would come and cut off their name, and Lord what wilt thou do for thy great Name, it is as if he had said, were it only the cutting off our Name, and the throwing down and burying our Honour in the dust, we should be silent, it becometh us to put our mouths in the dust, and to keep silence, for unto us belongs shane and confusion, but Lord, its thy Great Name, and what wilt thou do for thy Great Name? was it ever known while the Lords Glory is in the midst of a People that he would suffer them to be laid waste, this cannot be with respect to his own Name and Glory.  
Reas. 2. Thence follows an endeared respect the Lord hath to a People while he is the Glory in the midst of them; for he loves his Glory, and therefore hath an endeared respect for those who are transformed into his likeness, he loves them as the apple of his eye, as in Zech. 2. 3. After the Glory saith the Prophet, I am sent to the Nations who spoiled you, for he that toucheth you toucheth the Apple of mine eye saith the Lord: and we red in Zech. 4. ult. that the Church was compared to a Candlestick, and the Rulers in the Common-wealth and Church were likened to two Olive Trees, who were to stand on the right side and left side of the Candlestick, to supply it with golden oil, that which is very precious, that the light of Grace and splendour of Godliness might appear in them; and while they thus stood with the Candlestick, they stood before the Lord of Hosts, the Lord of the whole Earth, as his anointed ones, and who should touch his Anointed to do them any harm.  
Reas. 3. The Conclusion of this is, if the Lord doth promise to protect and defend us, it is upon condition that we be directed and ruled by him, if he be the wall of fire round about us; its upon condition that we do receive and set up himself as the Glory in the midst of us, the Pillar of Fire was to be for Direction as well as for Protection, Isai. 33. 22. the Lord is our Judge; the Lord is our Lawgiver, the Lord is our King and he will save us; while the Lord ruleth among us as our Judge, our Lawgiver and our King, so long he will save us, Numb. 23. 21, 22, 23. Balaam knew this to be verily true, to the confusion of all his enchantments, for he said the shout of a King is in the midst of them; and it followeth, there is no enchantment against Jacob, nor Divination against Israel, and to this time it shall be said, what hath God wrought? not but that the Lord may for a time preserve a People in the midst of whom he is not the Glory, but if he be not the Glory among them, and hath no purpose to set up his Glory in the midst of them, it may be rather called a reserving them for an evil day to come then at present a preserving of them. Let us now proceed to the Use:  
Use 1. By way of Information: In the first place it may serve to discover to us the way of the Lords dispensations and manner of his dealings with a Professing People, while he is the Glory in the midst of them, and maketh them to look forth as the morning, fair as the Moon, elear as the Sun, and terrible as an Army with Banners, Cant. 6. 10. but if the time be come for the coals of the fire of the Lords anger to be scattered among a People, first his Glory departs out of the Temple, and then out of the City, Ezek. chap. 10,& 11. the Glory first departs out of the Church, and then out of Court and Common-wealth, and their Glory becometh like the setting Sun, the shadows of the Evening are stretched out upon them, the Enemy then saith, let us arise and go up by night and destroy her Palaces, Jer. 6. 5, 6. its now Zions night and our time, let us now go up and destroy her Palaces.  
2. By way of Information, we may see what Glory the Lord is engaged to defend: its when he is the Glory in the midst of a People; Hence it followeth:  
1. He is not engaged to defend carnal pomp and worldly Glory, for he hath purposed to slain the pride of all such Glory, and to bring into contempt the honourable of the Earth, Isai. 23. 9. this the Lord is doing upon the kingdoms of the World at this time.  
2. Neither is the Lord engaged to defend the place where sometimes he hath been the Glory and hath put an honour upon that place, jer. 9. 12. go to Shiloh and see what the Lord hath done, Shiloh was the first place where the Ark of the Lord was settled, after his People had possession of the Land of Canaan, and Shiloh was the first place where the Glory of God was seen by the People in a settled manner, josh. 18. 1. but the time came when he forsook his Tabernacle in Shiloh, and the Tent which he had pitched amongst men, and delivered up his strength unto Captivity, and his Glory into the Enemies hand, Psal. 78. 61, 62. the Ark of the Lord, the means of divine strength, and the glass of Divine Glory was taken, thence that lamentation, the glory is departed from Israel, for the Ark of the Lord is taken, 1 Sam 4. ult..  
3. Neither will the Lord be engaged to defend that People who hath enjoyed Visions of his Glory and of his greatness, if they be but mere Visions, and have wrought no gracious reformation, and no glorious transformation among them, we red of a People who had seen his Glory and his greatness, and after all the Visions they had of his Glory, yet his wrath was made known against them according to his Oath, against them in his anger that they should never enter into his rest,& they perished in the way, and we red or a burning kindled under a Glory, and as a fire shall consume, Isai. 10. 16. this is verily true, not only concerning all carnal pomp and worldly Glory, but of all such persons who with a carnal eye acting under the power of carnal and inferior Principles have been beholding Divine Glory in the Glass of Word and Ordinances.  
Use 2. This Doctrine calleth for Self-examination; Let us Examine ourselves, and commune with our hearts according to the former Doctrine, we live in perilous dayes; are some Storms blown over? worse then those may soon come upon New-England, will the Lord be a Pillar of fire round about N. Engl. how pleasing would this be not only to Grace but to Nature, for the sake of your Wives and your Children, and the Cities of our God? but the Answer to this question depends upon an answer to another question, whether the Lord be the Glory in the midst of his Churches in New-England? I cannot say much to the Answer of so hard a question, neither is it expedient for me upon this occasion to say all I can; but I crave liberty to present to your considerations two Rules of trial.  
1. The first, and that which is most manifest is, when the Lords glory in the midst of a people is a rising glory like the rising sun powerfully convincing the beholders, like a rising sun looketh forth as the Morning, so heart gladding to the faithful in Israel while they behold the Lord arising gloriously into his resting place, adorning Sanctuary means with his Salvation,& maketh his Saints shout for joy, this argueth clearly ●s 1329 when Zions voice speaking to her Children so comfortably, come suck of Zions breasts and be satisfied, milk out and be delighted with the abundance of her glory, this argueth very comfortably indeed for a People, Isai. 66. 11. and then the Glory proves to be an affrighting Glory to those who are not faithful in Israel, that they are afraid in their close places and dare not openly show themselves, Psal. 18. 45. and some of them in their affrightment are driven to give God Glory, Rev. 11. 13. so that when the Glory in the midst of a People proveth to be so heart-gladding to the faithful, so spirit affrighting to the unfaithful, and thus powerfully convincing to beholders, doubtless the protecting presence of the Lord shall be in a degree as manifest for their safety, this was the state of N-England at first in her first glory, but we must come lower and proceed to a second Rule of trial.  
2. When there is somewhat of a divine Glory yet breaking through the Clouds of all those things which are against a people, that though it be a cloudy day, and yet a day the light doth prevail, that though a time of Eclipse and yet not to total but the light may be seen: now I beseech you suffer me to exemplify in some plain instances; if Christ hath something against a Church or Christian Common wealth, because they have left their first love and do not their first works, and they are in danger of the removal of their Candlestick if they do not speedily repent, and yet if there be a shine in the midst of these cloudy declinings of that which Christ owneth and calleth labour, work and patience, and cannot bear with them who are evil( who are manifestly and convictingly evil) Rev. 2. 2, 3. if there be yet any of the splendour of Grace and Godliness breaking through those cloudy declinings, this at present bails them, and the Lord at present preserves them, and continueth waiting and striving with them that they would return and do their first works: but this is only general, let me speak yet a little more particularly, whatever the enormities and scandals of some may be, yet if there be a considerable number of those who shine, but especially if the ruling and carrying party do shine in Grace and Godliness this will argue for that People; if there be yet among them a very considerable number of those who have the Seal of God on their Forehead, Rev. 7. 4. and have the qualifications of the Lambs company spoken of in Rev. 14. 1. standing upon mount Zion with and for the Lamb of God, if yet a considerable number of those who sigh because of the abominations committed, Ezek. 9. 6, and weep surely because of th●se evils, as you heard of the People of whom the Text speaketh, but especially if the Ruling party do, though through many difficulties shine in godliness, and the Glory of God appeareth as of old in the Tabernacle of the Congregation of the Lord, to the suppressing and confounding of all scandalous practices, Numb. 14. 10. so if there be a divine Glory appearing in Church Assemblies, and Court Assemblies, and maketh the head of the Malefactor to bow down with shane, and others to hear and fear but in no wise to sadden the hearts of the Righteous, whom the Lord will not have made sad.  
Honoured and Beloved in our Lord, the Question now by way of trial is not whether a Church or Christian Common-wealth be like Rebekah of old who felt two Nations, and two manner of People striving in her womb, a Jacob and an Esau, this is beyond question, for it hath been always thus more or less in any Christian Common-wealth; but the question now with us is, which of these do prevail? whether Jacob prevails in the Church, and prevaileth in the Court and Common-wealth, then we may conclude they are blessed, and shall be blessed, and shall in many times and cases see the face and faithfulness of the God of Israel while they behold the face of an Esau.  
Use 3. In the next place let us proceed to a Use of Exhortation; we see upon what condition we have and hold the Lords protecting presence, its upon condition we have and hold his glorious presence in the midst of us, his protecting presence round about us is for the sake of his Glory in the midst of us: its in vain for us to think or act as if we would hold Gods protecting presence, if we do not practically hold up a high esteem of his Glory in the midst of us.  
I beseech you accept of some means, some Motives;  
The first Rule is, Let us call to mind the first Glory in the first planting of New-England, and of the Churches here; let us not speak or think of this to the undervaluing of that Glory which yet remaineth,( that is far from my scope) let us be humbly thankful for that, but as a means to retain what is, and to recover what is lost( if it may be) and when we call to mind that first Glory, shall not our hearts be poured out within us? not only calling to mind how the Lord did make his Name Glorious by leading his People through Sea perils, and Wilderness dangers, Isai. 63. 14. But O that Converting Glory which did then appear, multitudes were converted to thee O Zion, thine heart afraid and yet enlarged, Isai. 60 4, 5. Let me say Multitudes, multitudes were converted to thee, even to thee O Harford, to thee O enliven, and to thee O Windsor, and the same may be said of many Churches of Christ in New England; and then your Hearts were afraid,( not with base slavish fear in times of danger,)& were enlarged: O the uniting Glory then manifest from the shine of mercy from the Throne, Grace Ruling and Ordering both Rulers and People under the Glorious Banner of true Gospel holy Love, for the Banner over them was Love: then were Colonies united, and Courts united, Magistrates united, and Ministers united, Churches united, and Plantations united; and that strengthening Exhortation how effectual it was? Hag. 2. 5, 6. Be strong O Zerubbabel, be strong O Joshua the son of Iosed●ch the Priest, be strong all ye People of the Land, be strong, be strong, be strong; this threefold Cord how strong it is? and then you were terrible as an Army with Banners, that your dread fell upon all your Enemies round about, and if any adventured to spoil you they did surely offend, so as evil came and that speedily upon them from the Lord, looking upon them through the Pillar of fire in a terrible manner.  
2. Let us in the second place consider, that the gradual withdrawings of the Lords Glory from a professing People are imperceptible things, and are not discerned, unless it be by those who have the eye-pleasing of the Spirit, and are held under special awakenings: As first the withdrawing of that inward and heavenly, that hearty and most real communion with God, and one with another in the ways of God, that, which while enjoyed, makes a Christian society a Heaven upon Earth, and worthy to bear the Name of the Heaven spoken of in Rev. 12. 1. and that which was typified by the Glory which came into the inward Court of the Temple, but when this is withdrawn, there may remain a shine of Ordinances while they are administered in external order, and an outward decency; but this is only a shine in the outward Court of the Temple, and if they be only in form and not in power, that form may be soon defaced by time-serving Principles, or there may be a holding of the form and yet a denying of the power of godliness, 2 Tim. 3. 7. But such withdrawings none at first do discern, unless they be such who have the eye-pleasing of the Spirit spoken of in Rev. 3. 18. and are held under special awakenings upon their Minds, Consciences and Hearts; others Laodicean like, see not their misery until at last the shadows of the Evening are stretched upon them, and it increaseth to the darkness of the midnight, and so to utter Confusion and Destruction.  
3. If we will have the Lord to be the Glory in the midst of us, we must practically deny any glorying in any thing else: we must put far from us glorying in our shane, as those whose b●ll● is their God, and mind earthly things, their end is destruction, Phil. 3. 19. we must put far from us bitter strife and envying, glorying against one another, or over one another, Jam. 3 14 and we must put an end to that glorying which is no better then a being haughty because of a holy mountain, Zeph. 3. 11, 12 if the Lord will be our Glory he will make us and keep us a humble People by Blasting our fruits, or threatening us with a Sword, or by some humbling means or other, if the Lamb of God be our Glory we must cast down our Crowns before him, Rev. 4. and esteem it our Glory, and rejoicing that he hath made us low, Jam. 1. 10. and that through his Grace we can stoop low to him, and to one another in the fear of God.  
4. But I beseech you let the Exhortation come down yet more particularly: we red of an Exhortation in Psal. 24. 6, 7 lift up your heads ye Gates, and open ye everlasting doors that the King of Glory may come in; who is the King of Glory? the Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle, some think this firstly relateth to the opening of the Temple Gates& Doors, when the Ark was to be brought in, upon which between the Cherubims the Lord was said to dwell, 1 King. 8 2-5. but let me use the same Exhortation to you Right Honourable and Beloved in our Lord Jesus Christ; you who sit in Judgement, open your Doors, your Court Doors that the King of Glory may come in, and be the Glory in the midst of you; he is come in already, we bless God for his presence among you: but O that he would come with a greater splendour of his presence, he is mighty in battle, he will defend himself, and he will defend you while he is the Glory in the midst of you.  
There is a Civil Beauty and Moral Glory in a Court, while speech and silence are well observed and rightly ordered, but the Shine is when wisdom, Righteousness and such like virtues are with such a divine lustre and authority, that it commands the Ears and Hearts of those who are your Auditors to bless, and the Eyes of those who behold that they cannot but give Witness while they see Righteousness like a rob, and Judgement like a Diadem, Job 29. 11-14 that is the Glory in the midst of a Court.  
There is a Civil Policy needful in Civil-Estate affairs, but the shine is in Divine Policy, wisdom from above; Civil Policy is a good Servant, but Divine Policy must be the Master and Ruler: Civil Policy maketh the Face of a Court to shine with a human Beauty, and a Moral Lustre, but its Divine Policy maketh to shine as an Angel of God, as was said of Solomon, that is the Glory in the midst of a Court.  
There must be an Acting and Ruling according to human Laws, and the Patent Liberties, and Charter privileges, but the shine is in Divine Laws, upon human Laws, as human Laws are reducable to, or subordinate to Divine Laws, and in no case whatsoever to be contrary to the same, and when the manner of inquiring into a case, and executing of the Law is with the splendour of pious wisdom and religious impartiality, this is your wisdom among the Nations, that shall make them say, what people are like to you, who have God so nigh? Deut 4 6 7. this is the way to be instrumental to put the Crown of the glory of pardoning favour upon the people, Jer. 5. 1. Run you too and fro, and see if you can find a man who executeth judgement and seeketh truth, and I will pardon it, this is the way to fear God and honour the King, and not to muddle with those who are given to change, Prov. 24 21. the good Lord perform that good word more abundantly to you, Isai. 28. 5, 6. that he may be to you the Crown of glory, the Diadem of beauty, the Spirit of judgement to you who si● in judgement, and of strength to you who turn the battle to the gate.  
And let the Exhortation now come to the Temple-gates, O ye Temple-gates, lift up your heads that the King of glory may come in! we hope the Lord is already come into his Temple, and we think we would not loose what yet remains of his presence in his Temple after all our declinings and divisions, not for all the glory of all the kingdoms of the world, but O that he would come with a greater splendour of his mercy and holiness, of his grace and purity, we heard of the glory that it is a Shine of Gods Divine excellency as he is the God of mercy and holiness, of grace and purity.  
But surely Gospel glory is contempered of Gospel peace and Gospel purity, of Gospel privileges and Gospel power, of Gospel liberty and Gospel discipline, to have and hold a proportionable respect to both these; we say a proportionable respect to these, to be as verily, really, and thoroughly faithful in the exercise of Gospel discipline for the honour of Gospel holiness, as extensive of Liberty for the honour of Gospel love and mercy, I am persuaded in this we generally agree, but O that we would Shine more in the practise of it, this would be a Glory in the midst of us. We must put and keep a clean and clear difference between the clean and the unclean, or otherwise holiness will be offended with us, Ezek. 22. 25. and yet we must not call that unclean which God calleth clean, for Gospel mercy and love will take that unkindly at our hands, Acts 10. 15. now the Lord direct our feet to stand in a sure place, in the Courts of our God, and if we thus keep his charge and walk in his ways, we shall have places with those who stand by, nigh unto the Lord, Zoch. 3. 7.  
5. Let us use only such means for our defence as is consistent with the glory of God among us, Zion complaineth of two sorts of enemies; some foreign, they likened to Lions, Bears and Leopards, Dan. 7. 5. the Babylonian compared to a Lion, the Persian to a Bear, and the graecian to a Leopard, and some intestine and domestic enemies, likened to Foxes, Cant. 2. 15. take us th●se Foxes, they spoil the vines: such was the Samarrtan who craftily pretended to help, but intended to hinder the people of God, Ezra 4. and such Tobiah and Sanballat, who many ways conspired to hinder the work of God, Neh. 4. The Lord preserve New-England, Courts, and Churches from any such Confedaracy with the one, or toleration of the other, as cannot consist with real fidelity to the Lords glory, nor real duty to our King, Isai 8. 21. and you who are our soldiery and Instruments in the Lords hand to turn the battle, I beseech you Consider, upon what condition we have the Lord to be our defence, it's upon condition that he be our glory, behave yourselves in all your military affairs and concernments,( not as the profane soldiery of the world) but with such a splendour of religious courage and pious magnanimity, with such sparklings of a Spirit of Faith, Prayer, and Piety, as becometh the guard of New-England Churches, that the Angels who wait upon New-England Churches, and the glory of God in the midst of them, may delight to be your guard, and to be with you in the Camp, and if it must come to the trial, you will soon perceive, that you have more for you then can come against you.  
Let me now add a few words to you who are the Freemen, respecting the work of the day, the Election of your Rulers: the Lord persuade your hearts to put far from you all sidings and party-taking Interests, and to side only with the Lord and his glory, and therefore to choose such whom you are persuaded in the sight of the Lord, will be instrumental( through the Lords blessing) to hold up the glory amongst you. That it may be said of this Colony, as of Judah of old, yet Judah ruleth with God, and is faithful with the Saints, Hos. 11. ult. so that it may be said, yet Connecticot Colony ruleth with God, and is faithful with the Saints.  
In the last place, let us all bow down, and beg earnestly of the Lord for transforming visions of this glory. Multitudes see a glory, and yet they hear and understand not, they see and perceive not, Isai 6. 9, 10. Behold ye Despisers, wonder, and perish, Act. 13 41. they beholded that which causeth them to wonder, and yet wondering they perish, the Lord grant that we may have a transforming sight as you heard out of the 2 Cor. 3. ult. when Moses had been upon the Mount conversing with the Lord, his countenance shined with the reflection of the Beams of Divine Glory; the Lord grant that our Rulers when they appear amongst the People may shine as those who hath been upon a Holy Mount with the Holy one of Israel, and that we also may shine in pious subjection to them in, according to and for the Lord: we are all Exhorted to shine as Lights in the midst of an untoward Generation, Phil. 2. 15. O that Magistrates might more and more shine, and Deputies shine, Ministers shine, and Church-members shine, and Heads of Families shine, and this will be the means to make the Rising Generation shine in Grace and Godliness, or else will at least make them ashamed to appear in a profane posture: but its not Natural nor Moral Abilities, nor common gifts of the Spirit can help us with these transforming Visions, we must down upon our knees at the Footstool of the Lord, and beg of him, that if we have found favour in his sight, if New England hath found favour, if your Courts and Churches hath found favour, if we have found favour for ourselves and for ours, that the Lord would show us this Glory, that yet we and ours may be for a People, for a Name and for a Praise to him.  
And new I beseech you to accept of some Motives to settle the Exhortation:  
1. Let us Consider, That if this Glory leave us what have we by way of Exchange? Jer. ●. 11. My People have changed their Glory for that which doth not profit; if the Glory of this Holiness leave us, what is then left us but a turning the Grace of God into lasciviousness, judas 4. and hellishly shameful, if the glory of this Gospel, Love& Mercy leave us, what is then left us, but unchristianly Divisions and Bitings, until we be consumed one of another, Gal. 5. 15. if this Glory leave our Government, then our Aristocrisie will degenerate into meet Tyranny, and our Democrisie into Anarchy and Confusion. You know what the Kings Daughter pleaded witb her Brother, when he would have forced her, 2 Sam. 13. 13. Nay my Brother deal not so foolishly, and as for me whether shall my shane go: shall New England Churches beforced and spoiled of their peace and purity by their Brethren, yea, by their Children the rising Generation: Nay Brethren, let me this day pled the cause of your Sister, do not so foolishly with your Sister: Nay Children, let me pled the cause of your Mother, deal not so foolishly with your Mother, but if it prove so, as for her whether shall her shane go? where shall she be able to hid her Head in all the Christian World? if this Glory departs from New-England Churches, then they shall be left either to dry Breasts, or to a miscarrying Womb, or to bring forth Children for the Murderer, for the Murderer, Hos. ●. 12, 13, 18.  
2 Let us yet more particularly consider: That if this Glory leave us, we are of all People the most miserable; Its so commonly seen when this Glory leaveth a People, that they are commonly left to such sins that Sodom claims kindred with them, and God calls her their sister, Ezek. 16 49. and Samaria not committed half the Abominations they are left to commit, ver. 52. and aweful consideration respecting the rising Generation; and then the punishments will be proportionable with the sins in a degree, Amos. 3. 2. you I have known of all the Families of the Earth, and you I will punish; and now I cannot wholly omit the consideration, what befell the Posterity of those People of whom the Text speaketh, when they forsook the Lord and the Lord forsook them; Famous Cotton telleth us in his Exposition upon Can. 3. 3, 4. that Antiochus Epiphines, that little Horn spoken of in Dan. 8. who waxed great, and came in upon them, and threw down the true Worship of God, robbed the Temple, took away the daily Sacrifice, set up the stature of Jupiter, Olympius, ( the abominable things) and took the Circumcised Children and hanged them upon the Necks of their Mothers, such horrid Outrages: and he further warneth us what sins made way for these miseries; they were affencted not only with being like to other Nations in respect of Leagues, but in respect of many evil customs and Degenerate Manners, and at last left to such bitter Divisions, that Brethren complained one against the other to Srangers, yea to foreign States.  
Learned Hui● in his Exposition upon Dan. 8. saith what probably were the sins which made way for such Calamities; the Table of the Lord was become contemptible among them Mal. 1. 7. the Sacrifice consisted of the lame and sick, ver. 8. their Priests became mercenary, and Holy things of base account, ver. 12. 13. a robbing of God of what ought to be for the maintenance of his Worship, Mal. 3 8. Religion a vain and bootless thing with a Multitude, the proud prized and preferred,& the humble walker slighted and despised, ver. 14, 15. and th●se made way for the flood of Calamities, and the Outrages committed by that little horn, who waxed great, in Dan. chap. 8.  
My Scope in speaking of these is, that we may see that if this Glory leaveth us, to what sins and sorrows we and ●u●s shall be left: the Lord make New-England wise by the harms of others; he hath this year sent his Warning piece while the Enemy came upon our Borders; O that we could take warning by these things.  
3. The Motive contained in the Text and bosom of the Doctrine the Lord will not be engaged to defend us if we do not keep his Glory in the midst of us; he will not account it honourable to keep house if the house be filled only or principally with vessels of dishonour and reproach: In a great House there are some Vessels of Silver and of Gold, of Wood and Earth, some to honour and some to dishonour, 2 Tim. 2 20. the Lord purge us that we may be Vessels of Honour, and the Lord will love to keep us in the House, and to keep House with us; we must Honour God or else he will honour himself by throwing us down, and we must prepare then for Ely's Doom, upon which followed the Lamentation of that godly Woman, with which she breathed out her Soul, the Glory is departed from Israel, 1 Sam 4. ult she heard of the death of her Father, and of her Husband, but the loss of these did not ly so near her heart as thy loss of the Glory, and therefore above all she lamented that: they  told her of a Man Child she had brought forth, but she did not mind nor regard it, but said, Icabod, where is the Glory; O that more of this Godly Spirit was manifest among us, that whatever our losses are we may not lay them to heart in comparison of the loss of this Glory, and whatever our enjoyments be, we may not regard them but call them Icabod, where is the Glory?  
Lastly, Let us in the last place Consider by way of comfort to those who are Faithful in this matter, of holding up this Glory among them according to the measure of their Abilities and opportunities in public or private occasions and concernments; the Lord knows you have a hard work in hand, and much opposition from without and within, but this is your comfort, the Lord is your Defence, and i●… good, your strong hold, Nah. 1. 7. and if you keep yourself and yours clear of the sins of the times, the Pride, the Prodigality, Vanity and Vileness, those sins for which the Viol of Gods wrath is pouring out upon the Nations, and New-England hath felt some of the drops of those Viols; you shall be the Lords Jewels, Mal. 3 17 and if you cannot deliver the People amongst whom you live, yet ●●ke Noah, Daniel and, Job, you shall deliver your own Son, Ezek. 14 14.  
And before we conclude, let us tune one Song of Thanksgiving to the Lord not only for his protecting and glorious 〈…〉 dayes of old, remembering the work of the Lord, and his wonders of old, ●… 7●. 12 but for these many years, while the Lord hath been pouring our his ●… ignation upon the Nations, yet he hath kept u● as in Chambers, Isai 2● 10 and this last year, while the Enemy was on our borders, and many Thoughts, Cares and Fears what the Event would be, but we have heard the Lord say to us, Rise my Love and come away, the Winter is past, and the Rain is over, the voice of the Turtle is yet heard in your Land, Cant. 2. 11, 12. O that we could rise so that this Glory might rise in our Churches and Courts, in our Families, and in all our concernments: But is there not a rising Glory in some Churches upon whom the shadows of the Evening have been stretched? are there not some pulled as Brands out of the Fire, who were in the Flames? the Lord merease their number, and their glory, and who knows what yet the Lord may do for those who yet are like the Burning Bush, but the good will of him who dwelled in the Bush pity and preserve them; only let us not be high-minded but fear, and yet in fear hope in his Mercy, for Salvation is nigh to them who fear him, that Glory may dwell in our Land, Psal. 85. 9.  
FINIS.