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Les diagrammes sulvants illustrent la m6thode. by errata led to ent une pelure, Fapon d 1 2 3 32X 1 2 3 4 5 6 "■" T^Y"- vJ-^jv*"^ -',"/, "T^ *i *5»*'?!*' •• -Xi 4^^mpatly wkh^m- fui^ and an tm^'^ frovement «/ their Di/ireffiijbewn tc he euf Duty^ I N T W O ^ Ells COURSES; / Oecafioned by the Cruel Oppreffion^ of the Protejlants ^fin France^ And enlarged with a Recent and particular Account of the State of the Pcrfecutioni in that KingdoDi. To which are prefixed. Some fcrious Reflexions on the prefcnt Situation of thefe Nations, and our American Colonies. By T H O M A S G I BB Q N S. StBVUi Jfer J^ttesvi^la'vitDmU novellas I Et rabidisUva Pr^dafuere Ftris: $rg« rediy rUeffUt tuasdt Stde^^nm^ Pntegi , viSrici ftti ngis Arma Motiu, Johnston, Pf. Jxxx. fgr if they do thefi Things toM Green Tree^ what /ball be done to the Dry ? Lukexxui.3i. ~*— -^ ■ ■■ — ^^ ■ -■ I V . -IB ■■ — — ' ■ - — ■ -■ ■ I. LONDON^ Printed for J. Bug kl and, at the Buci^ in Fa/er^wfler-l^oiv; J. Ward, at the Kitig^s Arms^ in Cornhilli T. Field, ac the Corner of Pater-nofler Row^ Ckeapfide ; and M. K i n c, «txhe Bible and Croiun in Fore- fir ett^ near Moorjields, MDCCLV; [ Price One Shilling. ] With large Allowance to fach as give theip away. ■■■i1 i^W ■ -Mv-^ I • .*■" H 2 ^i il XJ .kJ i 1 \ -W. fV •;u ^' i »;oiifcX'' *- »••-.. *>'l* I wji^wi mi il I I .aHOua I .>'<: AM 'J ■' Tva .., ,<,« .-,. cui> t-^^\ # .s£V:'K| -,1 -"»,■ /j: ?^': .tMifaC"V^i\i .% :V-- V ii [> i j > I i>- I nrr f"T' T^^tT'tT \A i \. .-ia-m :;6::K^i^ •v t xm am-^-' 1 in'.i'' I J ^ t^p f 3^7^ ' ( i ) El'i SIS- '1* '51'- *l ^>t h t'i THE r ■■•■ ,v ^ ^^ ,m4^ I * , . «, PREFACE. SEVERAL IVfonths * fiaVe pail fince, as to the Subftance of them, I preached the two following Difcoiirfes. They might have come abroad much foonei* had not my ten- der State of Health, and thy Con- fluence of Work as a Minifter and Tutoi: prevented. At length I of- fer them to the World after a care- ful Revifal, and fbme confiderable Additions, particularly in the Article of recent Intelhgende condeming the ^ State of our perfecuted Brethren. If the Difcourfcs have nothing elfe to )l a 2 recom- 21 T^e P R E FA C E: recommend them, yet the awful and well attefted Fads they contain, and the imj^taht and indifpenfible Ehf-' ties Ihov/n to refult from them, may defcrve a ferious Attention and Re- gard. And I cannot but apprehend that a Publication of thefe tragical, but yet auth^fttic^ AcctJunti ?of the Sfufferings of bur Protefiant fifcthren in France in our prefent critical Situ- ation mufl tend to -endear our Privi- leges and Liberties, to unite out Minds in the ftrongcft AfFedtion and Loyalty to his Majefty and Govern- ment, to open our Eyes to the Mife- Ties we muft exped, if God for our 8in§ fhould fuffer tlie French Fowct ^ againft us, and animate us to ftem, with the femeft Union and the moft determined Magnanimity : and Zeal, the dangerous. Encroach- ments of our rfertlefs, ambftious, an4 cruel Enemies. .,,.s' •> '^ • *^jln thefe Sermons the Reader will ^ 6 fee .^ a ->* 'jh ^ I rhe P R E FACK^ iii fee what ^^French have done to thcic own Nativesi who, amidft all their grievous Ferfecution, have behaved with ^eatSubn^ort to their Prince j a Submiflion it is true that is more than the Right of Tyranny, but a a Submiflion that makes the barba^^ rous Ulage they have received from their cruel Oppreflbrs doubly hd^ nous and wicked, and alone aflbrds 1 fufficient Evidence what an Inunda- tion of Miferies would break in upcxi pur Land was Frame to plant, her triumphant Standard among us, and feize a defpotic and. uncontroulable JlJiJ.J -• . -^ ■i'i'i fc. Power. , JO ^:£:\ t-^ And yet to accomplifh this End, this Nation is now bending all its Po- licy and Strength againfl us, and, like an infatiable Wolf, wiih its Jaw« dropping with the Blood of its own Natives, it now cafts its cruel Eye. over to us, and grows even wild and impatient till it can fubdue us to its o\ Power, «• i^ The PR E FA C ^. Power, an Event which muft un- avoidably be followed with the fame! Havoc and Slaughter. Hence the; Schemes th^^ French have formed, and the Steps they have taken to- wards extending their Dominion j and bringing our populous and flou-^ rifhihg Colonics tinder theii* Tyranny^ and thereby opening a Way to the Conqueft of Great-Britain itfelf. ■ -y -' As a Proof of the dangerous Pro^ jeds andfinterprizesof France againft us, hear the Account given by art , able and pious Minifter * in y^/wmc^, and who, as he is well qualified by his Situation to judge of what the French have been meditating there, ; • • ' r* ' * . - * The Revd. Mr. Aarm Burr^ Prefident of the Col- lege of NeW'Jtrfey. The QiioMtion is taken from his Difcourfe delivered at New- Ark in New-Jir* fey^ January i, 17,55, being a Day fet apart for folemn Fafting and Prayer* on Account of the late Encroafch- ments of the Frenchy and their Defigns againft the Bri' t'Jh Colonies in America. The Sermon Xvas printed at A'm'-l^r^, and is well worthy of a general Perufal^ ar»d I could heartily wifii that it was reprinted, and fpread among us . T ^-.^v'-i • ••: ' fo .. 755^ PRE face: ? fo is beyond all Sufpicion, from the eminent Charader he feears, of wil- fully falfifying any Faft he relates. *^ We have heard, fays he, of the <* Policy and Perfidy of France^ of *« her arbitrary Power, Popi/h Ty- ^* ranny and Bigotry ; we are now *Mike to feel the bitter Fruits thai ** fpring from them. The Cloud ga- <* thers thick and dark upon us ! 'Tii ^* manifeft beyond Difpute that the ^* King of France has for thefe many ^V Years been laying Schemes to en- *' large his Dominions in' America^ ^^ and diftreis us. Though, by the ^^ Treaty of^/>-/^-G§^/>f //^,allThings ** were to remain on the fame Foot- ^' ing as before the War ; yet, no ^* fooner was the Treaty ratified, *^ than he begins to fend Colonies to *^ neutral Iflands — projeds a Settle- ^^ mcnt in Nova-Scotia — raifes a ^^ Difpute about the Limits; embroils ^* the Affairs of our Indians — labours C( to i fi fi The PR1^F4C M. M to draw thejn ofF from our Alli- •^ ancc-"— and enters unrcafonable Qaipis, utterly inconliftent with the Safety and Profperity of our •^ Infant- Ck)Ionies. To lull us aflqep •* he made Sham-Pietences of fettling ^^ a Line between the French and «* Englijh Territories in America : «^ G)mmiflioners were appointed ; ♦^ much Time and Money fpent in ^^ fruitlefs Negotiations at the Couit ^} of France : Which anfwered no •* End, unl^fs to convince every Body, «* that he never had a Defign of fet- «* tling it any otherwife than by the •* Sword : And, for a Deciiion this ^^ way, he has made the moft artful <* and diligent Preparation; It is ** now fufficiently known, that the ** French have been fortifying them- •< felves on our back Parts ; laying <* in great Quantities of Provmon, f * and. Magazines of warlike Stores, ^* ^s if thpy had ^.flually concluded << on ^1 it Alli. >nable with f our aflqep ttling and rica : ited ; nt in Couit d no Body, If fct« )y the n thi« artful It is It the hem- lying iiion, tores, uded (i a on The PREFACE, int^ ** on War, while we have been whol- «* \y fecure. The Mafter^piece of *< theii- Policy has bceh lately difco^ ** vered, though long fincc concert- ^ dd, namely, their compleatirig and '^ fecuring a Communication between ^^ St. Lawrence'^ River, and the <* Mijfifippl They are in Pofleffion <^ of two Forts on the Lake Ontorio. *< ahd have lately built two of three «« belcyw the Lake Errie^ on a; Branch *f of the River 0^/V, that empties into ^<* thi great kiver MiJ/i^ppi ; the «* Mouth of which they have long J^ poffeffed. By the beft Advice^ " they have very much fortified, and <« well-manned thefe Forts; (o that . " now they have aAually furrounded " the Britijh Colonies, and a!re in *^^ Pofleffion of a vaftly extended <« Country, froni Cape^Breton to the ** Bay of Mexico. Enough has ht^n « f 'M of late in the PubHc Prints <* to render it indifputable, that their b " Settle- vlii The P RE F AC E. *« Settlements on the Ohio are with- ^< in our King's Dominions. 'Tis fuf- ** ficient to obferve they were made " without their Confent, and againft " their Inclination, on Lands belong- *^ ing to the Indians in our Alliance, ^* which have been confirmed to them *< under the Protedion of Great-- ** Britain ; and fo are inconfiftent «^ with the Letter and Spirit of their *« Treaties : And if we fufFer them *« quietly to poflefs what they have fo •« unrighteoufly feized upon, and to •* go on fortifying themfelves, there •« requires no Spirit of Prophecy to ** foretel, that it muft fooner or later « prove fatal to thefe Colonies. All ^« Communication with the power- i^ ful and numerous Tribes of our *- Indians will unavoidably be cut *^ off; our profitable Trade with ** them wholly loft, and our Fron- ** tiers conftantly expofed to all the Vi--~ ^ :.■ . ...'-':. . •.. V ..- " bar- ■% A-: ,^ ^ith- fuf- nade ;ainft ong- mce/ them reat-' ilent their them ve fo id to there :y to later All wer- ' our cut with fron- Jthe bar- ne PR E FAC E. ix <* barbarous Cruelties % which wo- <* ful Experience hath taught us,' *^* thofe -^hJk ■ wX- >♦. .^ *. - U'4i«N-o»—. v «*' * How much fuch an Obfervation has been verified fioce the Defeat of General Braddcck will awfully ap- pear from the following Extract of a Letter I latel/ received from a moft worthy Minifter in Firginia, It is true the E}ctra6l contains more than what is necef' fary to my Purpofe, but not more than may be proper to be communicated to the Public. — ^*' I am now happy with my Family and Friends ; ** but, alas ! Jl live in a withering ravaged Country, ** languifliing under the Frowns of an angry God. We *' have Anned on for near two Centuries, and now *' our Iniquities feem to be full, and the Famine and *' the Sword, Mefrengc;s of Vengeance, unknown in *' our Country before, are comiHioned to march out *' in Conjun^ion again ft us. ** I herewith fend you fome public Papers, which *' will give you an Account of the melancholy Fate •* of our Army under the ux^fortunately brave Ge- *' neral Braddock, Beiides this, the Indian Savages *^ have perpetrated the moft unnatural Barbarities upon ** many Families in the Frontiers, furprized them in *^ their Beds, beheaded or fcalped them, mangled them* •' ript up the Women, and even drunk their Blood, *' imbibing a more outrageous Fury with the inhuman ♦* Draught. *' The Inhabitants of this Colony, {Virginia) about ** 300,000 in Number, have, till lately, been in the nioft ** ftupid Security, and could hardly believe that even *' French Papljis could ferioufly intend them any In- ** jury. But now they are rouzed, and a military Spirit *' is fpreading among them. Sundry Companies of *« Volunteers have been formed, particularly one in *« Hanover, in which are fome of my fele6l Friends j 5* and they are gone out to range the Frontiers, with- b ? •* QUt 3t: Tb^ P.^E'FAC ^.- *^ thpfp lavage People, under ^he Inr > " fluence of '^rench Policy, are ca*. ** pa^^e of committing. The Line " of Forts they have already between *« Canada and Miffijifpi^ gives them " an unknown Advantage, to dtaw ^^ off the Natives from our Alliance. <^ To eiledl which, no Pains or Goft *' are Ipared, no Stratagem is left un- " tried. We are well aflured they •^keepMifliouaries conftaptly among ** them to inculate the diftinguifh- *' ing Principles of their Religion ; *'. out Wages or any intcrefted View. The Legi- *< flature has alfo ordered 1200 Men to be ioime'' " diately raifed for the fame Purpofe. {\ .'^ . .^ ♦* The Drought has been very fevere, and very ex-* **j tenfive j and not only ih^ Colonic? on the Conti- ♦* ncnt> but the numerous Engl^ Iflands io the Weft^ «^^ Indies^ that depend upon t;hem for Grain> will ian* " guifh under its Effects. *' Indeed, dear SV, if there is a Place upon our •* guilty Globe tl?at requires your njoft importunate ** Prayers, it is, this. We are a fjnful impenitent ♦J I;c;ople, and th^ gentler Mean$ of Grace have failed <*. to lead us to Repentance. And if withering Fields, ^' fcanty Harveftj, and the Terrors c " War fhould have ^',, this happy £fti^, as I hope they will in fundry In- •f. Irances, our Lolles will be more than compenfated.*' The PR B FA C E, xt *< and what appears ftill more im-/ <* portant in their Eyes, to infufe «' into their Minds, Prejudices againft: ^\ the EngUjhy and attach them to ^^ 1^^ French Intereft. They have "been unwearied in their Pains, " fipce the laft Peace, in alienating ^y their Aff^dipns frpm us. For this ". Purpofe they have defir^d Liberty *' to fei[id Miffionaries among the Six ^^ Nations^ and have lately fent them " an Invitation to come and fettle at ^^r Canada. Should they fucceed in " thefe Attempts, the Confequence " would be very pernicious. Our ^' Frontier Settlements would be <> broken up, and all Hopes of driv- <« in^xh^ French from their Encroach- »■ ■ , 1 > i : -^ j i .• , 1 > t ... - -■■'.■ ' ' ■ , ". ..^ . • --^-? -r~"' . . ( ' ) ' - •• ^-,.- k -* #.a^ V ■.-- ■!^» ^ ,- ,■'? ,> i la Amos vi. 6. -.1 7S^ (ilrmk Wine in Bowlsy and an* oint themf elves with the chief Oint-^ > ., ments ; but they are not grieved for the AffliBion ^ Jofeph. ,,, :i^,!:...a xU ' S/S I /•I IN the Chapter whence I have taken my Text we have a Defcriptioii of the Sins of the Times in which the Prophet lived, and an awful Denunciation of the hea- vy Judgments of God that were prepared to take Vengeance upon them. The laft Article in the Roll of Iniquities, which the Prophet opens in the firft Verfe of our Chapter, and unfolds in the following Verfes down to that of our Text, is an Article of Guilt, that by its Situation at the Top of the Climax^ looks like the moft heinous and pro- voking in the Sight of God of all the reft, and feems at once to fill up the Mcafure of a finful Nation*s Crimes, and the Vials of the Divine Anger, which were now ready to be poured out in overwhelming, and gene- ral Ruin. And they are ngt grieved for the ' i B Jfflidtion mi AffliBio?t of Jofepli. By Jfeph we may on- derftand the Ten Tribes, jimi;ng which the Tribe of Jofeph was vtry CDufiderable, and might therefore denominate the whole Peo- ple oi Ifrael^ as diflingiii(hcd from the other Two Tribes, thofe of Judah and Benja- min, PofTibly there may be a Reference to the * Afflidions of yofeph in Egypt^ whofe Feet were hurt with Fetters, and who was laid in Iron -f*. As yofepFs Brethren were tinconcerned about the Captivitv of their Brother, when he was fold a Slave into a fo- reign Land, fo are the Sinners of the pre- fent Day, as if the Prophet had faid, un- concerned in the Diftreffes of Jofeph's De- fcendants. They feel no fympathctic Grief, nor difcovcr fo much as tlie common Com- paffion of Stranger^when they fhould be con- doling with the Sorrows of Brethren. By the AffiiBion or Breach of Jojcph may be ligni- iied the Troubles, that had broke in upon the Ten Tribes, like Enemies through a Breach in the Walls of a Garrifonj or a Torrent of Waters through a Breach in the Banks of a River, Thele Troubles might be Famine, Peftilence, War, or the like depopulating Calamities j though poffibly the Terrors and Diftreffcs of War may be particularly de- ligned> as this is the Judgment threatened * Sec I-owtli's Comment on the Place, t Plulm cv. IS. "^ •■.;.••.. ' \ ' - 1 m in ( 3 ) in the Verfe after our Text ; and as the Ten Tribes, when Amos delivered his Prophecy, were near .their Conquefl: and Captivity by the Afjyrian Power. But, whatever the Af- flidtions of Jofeph were, this is the Crime of the voluptuous, carelefs, and fenfual Sinners the Prophet defcribes, that they ijere not grieved for the AffliElion of Jofeph. They gave themfelves no Concern about the Mat- ter ; they feemed to be equally loft to all Senfe of Devotion towards God, and Com- paffion to their diftreffed Brethren ; and, though the Judgments of Heaven had broke in upon the Land, and had begun their Progrefs of Deftrudion, yet they were quite -eafy and indifferent, fo long as others, and not themfelves, were the Viftims of the Di- vine Indignation. In difcourfing upon this Paflage I ob- ferve, I. That x^fflid:ions may come upon the People of God. IJ. I fljall fhew^ that we ought to be af- feded with them. And, III. And laftly, I fliall prove that we have juft Reafons to expedl fome fignal Judgments, if we remain unaf- fed:ed with the Afflidions of the Church of God. I, I obferve that Afflidlions may come upon the People of God. Afflidions may B 2 U (4) be either private and perfonal, or they may be public and general. In both thefe Views they may befal the Peop! -^f God. I. Pilvntc and perfoni.. Affli6lions may befal the People of God. AfRidions knock with an impartial Hand at the Tabernacles of the Righteous, as well as the Tents of Wickednefs. Death, and his difmal ad- vanced Guard of Pains and Difeafes, not on- ly attack nnd feizc the Enemies and Scoffers againPi Heaven and Holinefs, but the hum- ble and pious SeiTants of God and Chrift Cannot eficape their Arrefts, and all-conquer- ing Power, jlll things come alike to all : there is one Event to the Righteous^ and to the Wicked', to the Good, and to the Clean, and the Unclean -, to him that facrijiccsy and to him that facrifces not : as is the Good, fo is the Sinner-, and he that /wears, as he that Jears an Oath *. The Fires of a Fever, the Floods of a Dropfy, the excruciating Stone, the corroding Cancer, the gafping Afthma, the pining Confumption, and the outra- geous or the melancholy Delirium diftradt, diftrefs, and deftroy both Saints and Sinners. One Putrefadion invades, one Earth covers, and the fame Worm feeds upon the Bodies of Believers and Infidels, the Pious and Pro- phane : however differently related their liow blended Duft fnay be, and how rc- * Eccl- ix. I. mote i M i % may IViews may knock naclcs Ints of |al ad- oton- coffers : hum- Chrift nqucr- to all: d to the ?/?, and and to >^, fo is he that er, the ; Stone, ifthma, outra- liftraa:, ^inners. covers. Bodies id Pro- i their • DW re- mote ( s) mote foever their final Conditions will prove at the Rclurredion. In like Manner I might inftance as to Povertv, Reproach, Lofs of Relatives, Lofs of Liberty, and the like Calamities. In thefe Cafes Saints can exped: no Exemption ; nay, fometimes the heavieft Weight of Affliction falls, where in- deed, fpeaking comparatively, it is leafl de- ferved, though where it can be bejl fuftain- cd. The very Piety of a Saint, and the Beauties of Holinefs with which he is adorned, fhall fometimes gather a Cloud of Afflidtion about him; and his confcientious and inflexible Adherence to his Dutv to- wards God, though it fhould rather attrad: the higheft Efteem and Veneration, has been known to have drawn the Infamy and Ha- tred of the World upon him. IJ the World hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the World the World would love its own ; but becaufe you are not of the Worlds but I have chofen you cut of the Worlds therefore the World hates you *. I might add, that, if the Chriftian had no other Occafion of Grief, yet the general Iniquities of the World in which he lives would be a perpetual Fountain of his Sor- rows ; and the more his Love to God and Chrift, and his Regard to jmmortal Souls increafe, the deeper will be his Senfibility, ^ Joh. XV. 18, ig. J; and (6) and the keener his Anguifli that fuch Au- thority and Grace are infultcd and abufed, and that Sinners are r ufliing in fuch iVIulti- tudes down the Brow of Time into the Lake of Perdition, while neither the Bonds of Mercy, nor the Bars of Vengeance, nor the Flafhes of Hell within them, can flop their Career. Upon the Whole, the Waves of Afflidion fwallow up Saints and Sinners -, and God has never faid to Death, or Diftem- pers and Pains his dreadful Harbingers, Touch not mine Anointedy although he has charged them in the End to do his People no Harm ; for all Things Jhall work together for Good to them who love Gody and are the Called accord- ing to his Purpofe * : And the World, Life^ Deathy Things pre/enfy and Things to come are theirs \ and they are ChriJVsy and Chriji is God*s "f*. It appears from Scripture that Afflidlion is a Kind of Privilege, and that without it we fliould want the Advantage of one Evidence and Attendant of our Adoption. And ye have forgotten the Ex- hortation, which /peaks unto yoUy as unto Chil- dren : My Son, dejpife not thou the Chajlening of the Lordy nor faint when thou art rebuked of him ; for whom the Lord loves, he chajlens, and Jcourges every Son whom he receives. If ye endure Cha/lening God deals with you as with Sons 5 for what Son is he whom the Father * Rom, viii, 28. f i Cof. iii. 22. ihajlem i -Wi cbi pU pe ou to Hi it. an th( A F; wi he h An- ibufed, Multi- e Lake ids of or the p their ^avcs liners ; iflem- Toucb larged {arm ; }ood to ccord^ come Chrift t that that ntage our Ex" ChiU ming huked flens, If with ither iftem (7). chajlem not ♦. So far therefore are the Pco-» pic of God from having any Warrant to ex«» ped that they fliall pafs through Life with- out Afflidion, that they niight have Reafoa to fufpedt they were not in the Road to Heaven, if they did not find their Crofs ia it. Life is a Voyage, and has its Wave^ and Storms, but they fliall not overwhelm the Chrift ian, but teach him to fix the Anchor of his Hope firmer, endear thf* Foundation upon which it rcfts, or drive liini with a fwifter Courlc towards the Port of his heavenly and eternal Happinefs. Private and perfonal AfSidions therefore are the Lot of the People of God. 2. Not only private and perfonal but pub- lic and general Afflictions may befal the People of God. Afflictions have their fmaller Sickles, with which tiiey enter our Families, cut oflf the Branches of our earthly Com- forts one after another, and deftroy, as one "^ expreflTes it, the fatreji Bloom of fublunary Blijs, But Afflidions have not their fmaller Sickles only, but they fometimes gra{p an enormous Scythe, bend it againft whole States and Kingdoms, and at one Blow lay their Profperity, Power, and Glory in the Duft:. And fometimes thefe States and Kingdoms are compofed of the profeffing People of God, or at leaft they make up ^ Heb. xii. 5, 6, 7. \ Dr. Toung*' great w n ^/nii ( 8 ) great Part of the Number. This was the Cafe with the People of Ifrnel, whofe Land was fometimes blafted by Famine, or thin- ed with Peftilence, or plundered and ravaged by their Enemies, or torn afunder with in- tcftine and unnatural Divifions and Tumults. How great was the Diftrefs of Judah and Benjamin^ when Jerufalem was taken, the Temple of God deftroyed, and the Inhabi- tants of the Land were carried away Captive to Babylon ? Thefe public and popular Cala- mities befel the People of God in antient Days. And have there not been the like overfpreading Diftrefles upon the Church in thef^ later Ages ? Recoiled:, my Friends, the Ten Roman Perfecutions that glutted themfelves with a Profufion of the Lives of Saints and Martyrs in the Three or Four Centuries that immediately fucceeded the Publication of the Gofpel in the World ; I mean from Nero'% infamous Reign, who be- gun the dreadful Tragedies of the Church of Chrift in wanton Cruelty *, to the Reign * Et pereuntibus addita Ludibria, ut, Fcrarum Tergis ' contedi, Laniatu Canuni interirenr, auc Crucibus affixi, aut flamipandi, atquc, ubi defeciftet Dies, in Ulura iiotturni Luminifi, urerentur. 'Taciti AhiigI : Lib. 15. Tacitus^ an Heathen Hiilorian, and an Enemy to the - Chriftians, ioforms us, that " Sport was mingled with thcEx- ' ** ecutions oftheChriftians. Some, being covered over with the *• Skins of Wild Beads, had Dogs {az upon th-^m to tear them " in Pieces, fome were crucified, and the Bodies of others ■" were burnt at Night 10 ilhiminate the City of Rome,''' of 1 I K was the fe Land or thin- ravaged vith in- "umuits. 'dab and :en, the Inhabi- Captive ar Cala- 1 antient the like hurch in Friends, glutted le Lives or Four ided the v^orldi I who be- ! Church le Reign rum Tergis IS affixi, aut ra no^turni rmy to the ^ith thcEx- )vcr with the to tear them es of others of t 9 ] oi Dioclefian in the Fourth Century, who concluded the Series of thele Perfecutions with a Deluge of Chriftian Blood *. Nor have the Papijlsy who feem at once to have adopted * Galerius horrendam Calumniam In .Chriftianos parat. Palatio fubjicit Incendium, & Chrillianos Auftores tradiicit, qui miferc excarnilicati, Sc^ fine ulla Probationc, ad Suppli- cium rapti funt. Quod vero cceptum Nicomedia?, mox ia Paleftina quoque Itah'a, Africa, totoquo Imperio, folis ex- ceptis Galliis, fadlitatum eft. Nullis non Suppliciis, nullo Don Saevitiae Genere vexati Chriftian! ; comburebantur ia Fomacibus ; conjiciebantur in Oleum fervens ; objiciebantur Beftiis ; Suibus etiam, Siliquis involuti, apponebantur j mu- tilabantur Oculis k Lingua ; alfabantur lento Igne, & Aceto Suleque ad fpergebantur ; prjecipites dabantur de Petris &c. Turretini Hiflor. Ecclef. Compend. p. 30. *' Galerius Contrived an horrible Calumny againft the *• Chrifli^ns. Having fet Fire himfelf to the Palace, he ** charged it upon them. The Chrillians were miferably •• butchered, and, without any Proof, were hurried away ** to Execution. The Perfecution, which began at Nico- media, prefently overfpread Palejiine, Italy^ Africa, and the whole iJo/;7«« Empire, except "France. The Chrillians were deftroyed with every Kind of Torture, and Cruelty. They were burnt in Furnaces, put into fcalding Oil, thrown to Wild Beafts, and, being covered with the Shells of Beans, were given to be devoured by Swine. Their Eyes and Tongues were plucked out. They were roafted ** by a flow Fire, being firft: bathed with Vinegar, and fprink- *• led with Sa'f. They were daihcd headlong from the ** Tops of Rocks, Ciff." Will my Readers excufe my Digreftion, and permit me to add the following Paffage from Sulfitius Severu^, to fticw the noble Spirit of the Chriltir4ns at this dreadful Seafon? •' Dio- *• cletiam & Maximiano impcrantibus. acerbiftima Perfecutio '* exorta, quae per decern continues Annos Plebem Dei de- •* populata ell. Qua Tempellate omnia fere facro Marty. *' rum Cruore Orbis infcdus ell. Quippe ceriatim cKoriofa *• iji Calamine lacbatur, muUo^iue avidius turn Martyria C *' |lorioUs *i (( (( «( 1,1 [10] adopted from the Pagansy their idolatrous ^Superftitions *, and their Spirit of Cruelty, come behind them in their Havoc of the Chriftian World. Pope Julius the Second is faid to have occafioned the Slaughter of 200,000 Chriftians, (for Chriftians they were not a whit the lefs becaufe they chofe to be- lieve in Chrift rather than the Pope) in the Space of only Seven Years-f*. I might men- tion alfo how the Holy Inquifitioriy (but was ever Epithet in the World more per- verfely applied ?) in lefs than Thirty Years deftroyed 150,000, with all Manner of Cru- u u gloriofis Mortibus quaerebantur, quam nunc Epifcopatus pravis Ambitionibus appetuntur. Nullis unquam nvagis ** Bellis Mundus exhauftus eft; neque majore unquam Tri- ** umpho vicimus, quam cum decern Annorum Stragibus " vinci nonpotuimus." Sulp, Sever. Hijl. Lib. 2. Cap. 46. ** in the Reign of Dioclfftan and Maximiun a moll bitter *• Perfecution arofe againll the Chriftians, which deftroyed " the People of God for Ten Years together. In this Pe- " riod ahuoft the whole World was drenched with the Blood " of Martyrs. The Chriftians chearfuUy engaged in the glo- '* rious Conflicl, and iVlartyrdoms were then much more " eagerly courted, for the Sake of their honourable Deaths, " than Bifliopricks are now coveted through the Luft of a *' wicked Ambition. The World was never more thinned " by War than it was by the Havoc of this Perfecution ; ** nor did we ever more completely triumph than when we ** ifemained invincible amidft Ten Years Devaftation." * See Dr. Middletoti^ ingi?nious Letter from Rome^ (hew- ing an exad Conformity between Popery and Paganifm, or that the Religion of the prefent Ropnans is derived from that of their Heathen Anceftors. f Dr. Mory^ Divine Dial(5gue«. city. [ XI ] city *, I might enlarge the bloody Chro- nicle with the MafTacre of Paris^ which be- gun a general Slaughter of the Protejlanti over the Kingdom, and the Number taken off is computed at 100,000 -j-. The Ac- count might be ftill increafed with the Op- preffions, Imprifonment, and Burnings of the FrotefianU in our own Queen Mary% Days: And to the Rivers of Blood that would now appear to have been flied by the Papijls^ I might throw in a little Stream more from Ireland^ I mean from the Slaughter there in the laft Century, in which about 200,000 Protejiants were cruelly cut off. And, fuch was the unrelentingBarbarity, and worfe than brutal Joy that thefe Monflers, and not Men, difcovered in thefe hellifh Scenes, that fome of their Priefts expreffing a little Remorfe for what they had been concerned m, could not obtain Abfolution without re- canting it 3 and went in Danger of their Lives X. Upon the Review of thefe r peated and general Butcheries of the PopiJJj Fadion * Dr. Moor ubi fupra. See alfo timhorch\ Hiftory of the Inquifition tiauilated by the Reverend and Ingenious Dr. Chandler. f Bifhop Bur net' % Trafts. — A Relation of tlie barbarous and bloody Mailacre of about an hundred thouiand Protei- tants begun at Puris^ and carried over all France by the Pupjli in the Year 1572, collecled out of Mfs^r^j, TL^anus, &c. t Sir J, Temple's Hiftory of the Irifli Rebellion and Maf- facre. C 2 you [ 12 ] you will not find it hard to believe that Df. Geddes has gone much beyond the Truth, when he tells us, that infinitely more Chrijiian Blood has beenjhed by the Papal Empire ^ and its Agents^ for not complying with the Idolatry of its JVorJhipy then ever wasjloed by Heathen Rome *. Biit it is not my Deiign to fill my Pifcourfe with thefe pad Accounts j I only juft mention them to fliew yon, that public and general Afflictions may befal the People of God, and at the fame Time prove the de- teftable Spirit of Popery^ which, when under Reftraint, is the Arrow that flies by Nighty but w^here it has no Controul, is the De- jirudHon that wajies at Noon-Day, Let me rather, my Friends, lay before you fome re* cent Fads, fuch as have fallen out in the prefent Century, and as are now committing in France; and the rather, as we may not fufficieptly be apprifed of them, as they may tend more effedlually to awaken our Zeal againft Popery and "tyraniiy^ and as there is a Duty belonging to ourfelves arifing fron,i them. During the Minority of Lewis XV", the now reigning Monarch in Prance^ the Duke of Orleans being Regent, the Government was more favourable to the Prqteflants than it had formerly been ; but the Adminillr^- * V>x. Geddei\ Traas. V, III. EfT. 6. tifsa ndt [ 13 ] tion falling into the Hands of a Cardinal de«» voted to the yefuifs^ by their Influence a new Declaration was iffued on the 14th of M^iy^ 1724, which contains in it whatever w^as moft fevere in the Edidts o^ Lewis XIV*., On the Fir ft oi February 1745, Lewis XV, pubiifiied his Ordonnance againft the Pr6^ tej}ants, enforcing the tormer Edidls, and making it Dcatii to the Minifter who offi- ciated, and perpetual Imprifonment for the Wojnen, and Gailies for the Men, who have been prefent at the Meetings •f'. And how dreadfully theft- cruel Orders were obeyed, the Attack, of religious Protejianf AiTemblies by Soldiers vvho fcrupled not to fire in among thcrn, the Condemnation of forne who were apprehended to the Prifon, and of others to the Gailies, and the Murders of Miniflers from the Year 1745 to 1750, dreat'fr.iiv teibfy. In the Year 1750 the French King publifhed an Ordonnance at VerJailleSy January 17, willing, that former Ed ids againft the Fro- teJiantSy and particularly that of 1724, fhould be executed ; and ei/>;)!ninQ: Officers and Judges to attend diligently to their Exe- * See this Edift in Larval'^ Hiflory, Vol. IV^. or in the Appenuix to ^ Pamphlet entituled, Popery airways the fame. f Popery alwa^'s the fame, Appendix, p. 76. cutbn th'it [ H ] cution *. How rigoroufly thefc Edidli have been executed take in the following Ac- counts, V . . Extra ff of a Letter from Mr, — i— a Pro^ . tejlant Minijier of Lower Languedoc, July 26, 1754. - "■ ■'■ " About July 5th, a religious Af- fembly returning Home, tlie Garrifon fell upon them, fired, put them to flight, and feized Three Men and Five Women.—— Another Aflembly having broke up werie attacked by a Party of Dragoons, who fired among them, wounded one Man, and ended his Life with their Bayonets. Forty-five were taken Prifoners. — Other Accounts of the AflTembly inform us that Five or Six were killed on the Spot, and tc e up weriB )on8, who one Man, Bayonets. s. — Other m us that Spot, and w in France, d by my wor- faac Toms^ of his Piece the r Brethren in rowd of Au- with fevera! us Refleftions has publiftied nnals, which done. The to my Read- Vlr. lVaugh\ Fourteen u cc CI , an happy Pro- vidence may change the prelent awful Ap- pearance of Things to Scenes more happy and delightful. The Provinces of this Part of the Kingdom, where the Proteftant Religion has njoft flouriflied, are crowded 4 " with tc cc tc cc cc cc f Pafture, de a gene- t only the n thofe in Fury. A him that , had the 3, and, at- a Fuzee, le Family ?*rifoner to ability he edeceflbrs elf muft ad it not a Catho- rfe glorioufly after having Prifon by his lis Death all of it. Eve- is Meeknefs, )n and Firm- I €€ << ^755* " I have to acquaint you that Mr. — has informed me by laft Poft but one, that in Normandy Things are more quiet, but that they have very few Minifters for above 100,000 Souls. In Langiiedoc Things are cc cc cc cc D 2 C( worfe ,»^ C{ ] In a tender Groan or Sigh for the Afli6lion of yofcph ? Remember, that our Prayers are not only a Proof of our Chriftian Regard to our aflhded Brethren, but that, when we are in a right Frame, they are a beneficial and plen- fant Excrcife to ourfelves ; they keep open the Communication between God and our Souls, and they will one Day come down in Bleflings on our own Heads. Charge it, my Friends, upon your Memories and Con- fciences for Time to come, to bear the Cafes of thcfe glorious Sufferers upon your Hearts, and pour them out in fervent and importu- nate Supplications in your Clofcts, and your Families J and I hope Miniflers will not be wanting in their public Requefts in the Sanc- tuary, and not only intimate the AfHiclions of our Brethren, but durll upon them with Energy and Power, Jf I forget thee, OJe- rufalem, let my Right-hand forget her Ciin^ ning. If I do not remember thee, let my T^ongue cleave to the Roof of my Month -•\ III. And laftly. We ought to be fo affec- ted with the Afflidions of the People of God, as to do all we can for their Relief. " But what can we do for them r Can we foftea the Heart, or break the Power of the French Tyrant, who is grown fo formid- able to Europe? Can we ftrike the Scales of (C (C cc cc Ignorance and Superftition from the ' u.l. cxxxvii, 5, 6. jtics of Chriilianity, the Senfe of our Brethrens Sufferings, will again exert itfelf, in fo moving a Circumtlance, and pro* diicc the mofl: plcafing Fruits, highly redounding to the Ho- nour of our holy Religion, to the Comfort of fo many Souls, tiie maintaining of fo many Families, the Increafe of good and faithful Subjcds, very ufeful to ihe Trade and Manu- fadures of Great Britain^ the ftrengthening of the prefent: Hflablifliment, and the hearty Prayers which thefe Refugees :. f « \ J .. t • T SERMON I : '■■-J ill * . . I 37 ] t*t ' • » -*-r ^>' 1 »« - * ■* SERMON II. I Proceed, as the fecond Branch of the fc- cond general Head. 11. To enumerate and urge feveral Rea- fons, why we ought to be affeded with the Afflidions of the People of God. ^hey are not grie'ueJ, fays the Prophet, for the AffJc" tion of Jofeph. The Text flrongly intimates, that it was their Duty to be grieved at th« Afflidions of the People of God, and that it was their Iniquity, and indeed no fmall Ini- quity, that they were ftupid and unconcerned at fuch a calamitous and interefting Event. Let us therefore take heed, as there is a like Obligation upon ourfelves to be affeded with the Diftreffes of the Church of God, that we are not Followers of antient Sinners in Crime, Idft we fhould be Sharers with them in the Divine Anger, and the exemplary Punifli- ments denounced againft them. And, (i.) God commands and expeds that we ihould be afFeded with the Afflidions of his People. If there is not the exad Form, yet there is the cogent Power of a Command in the Text. But to wave the Argument that arifes thence, let us confider the exprefs In- jundions ■ 7 1 H I 38 ] jundions of the Almighty upon the Head of a^ facred Sympathy and Concern for the Af- flidion of our Brethren. Rejoice with them ^ho rejoice ; and weep with them who weep *. And again, 'Remember them who are in Bonds as bound with them ; and them who fuffer^ as being your felves alfo in the Body '\, And fliall not our God, and their God, the God of all the Nations, Families, and Perfoiis of his People be obeyed by us, when he demands our tender Concern for the Sufferings and Sor- rows of his Saints r O think what it muft be to violate the Command of Heaven, a Com- jnand that fhines fo clear and evident, and the Command of him, whofe Laws arc the Tranfcfipts and Image of his perfeve. IFa-. Po- Ihen Ithls Led-* [ 39 ] Wickednefs of a fupine Indifference to the Groans of his afflicted People, and thus in- folently and flagrantly fin againft him ? If God appoints, there is Authority, there is Reafon, there is immenfe Obligation in the Appointment. Speak, Lord, (hould be the willing Eccho of our Souls, for thy Serva?iti hear* What, (hall Worms contradict Om- nipotence ? Or fliall Creatures, whole whole Eternity will be beatified by the Favour, or , made miferable by the Horifors of the Frown of that God who made them, fo much as delay, or demur to perform his Pleafure? Far be this Rebellion and Ingratitude from and let us one and all be deeply affecfted us with the Sufferings of the Children of God, becaufe God has required this tender Sym- pathy from us. (2.) Let us be excited to a Compaffion foe the People of God in their Diftreffes, becaufe it is a Mark that we are his Children, that we love one another. By this Jhall all Men know^, that ye are ?ny DifcipleSy if ye have Love one to another. .Jjid we know -f* that we have pajfed from Death to Life, becaufe we love the Brethren, He that loves not his Bro- ther abides in Death. And is it a Proof that we are true Saints, fuch who are adopted into the Family of Heaven, and are made Heirs according to the Hope of eternal Life, that * John xiii. 35 < f I John iii. 14, Hi \ m wc ■■W' i we love our Brethren in Chrifl ? how then ought we for our own Sakes, in order to ma- nifeft to ourfelves that v^e are interefted In the Blcflings of Grace, and the Riches of Glory, cherifh this tender Compaflion to the glori- ous Sufferers for the Caufe of God, and Re- ligion ? The more this Grace of brotherly Love grows, the fuller Evidences we fh = 11 "have that we are Chriflians in Deed and in Truth, as the good and ripe Clufters of the V're, not only yield a delicious Repaft, but evince that the Tree enriched with them is a Vine, and that not a Jirange or degenerate Vine, but a noble Viney wholly a right Seed *. Whatfoever attefts our Sanc- tification fhould be diligently ftudied and pur- fued by us, as this Work of God upon us aflures us of our Intereft in the other Blef- fings of Salvation : And as our Love to our Brethren is evidently a Part of this Divine Work, how ready fliould we be to demon- ftrate our Love to them in a Seafon of Af- fli(fl:ion, by returning Groan for Groan ? Love never looks fo beautiful, and never fo glori- oufly demonflrates its Power, as when it fliines through a Cloud of Darknefs, and can live and triumph aniidfl the fierceft Storms. (3.) Let usbenffeded with the Afflidions of the People of God, as we are nearly re- lated to" one another. All true Chriftians, of what^ \ V then to ma- in the Glory, glori- idRe- )therly 5 fl: 11 id and l:ers of lepaft, 1 with nge or wholly • Sanc- id pur- Don us Blef- to our Divine emon- Df Af. Love glori- hen it nd can 3rms. idions •ly re- ans, of ( 41 ) whatever Denomination, or Party, Country, or Nation they may be, are Brethren. They are in an eminent Senfe the Children of one God and Father, the Brethren of one elder Brother, the Lord Jefus Chrift, the Partakers of one Holy Spirit of Grace and Holinefs, and the Heirs of the fame Inheritance of Glory ; and accordingly they fhall ere long be collected and embodied into one Family, and dwell together in one Houfe not made with Hands eternal in the Heavens, All of them (hall drink of the fame Fountain of Life, and bo PofTefTors of the fame infinite and ever- lafting Fulnefs of Joy. We are come, already come ill Defire, in Preparation, in Profpedt, in Afllirance, in Union *, unto Mount Sion, and unto the City of the living God, the heaven^ ly Jerufalem, and to an in?2umerable Compa7iy of Angels, to the Gejjeral AJjembly , and Church of the Firftborn, which are written in Heaven^ and to God the Judge of all, and to the Spirits pfjufi Men made perfedl, and to Jefus the Me- diator of the New Covenant, and to the Blood sf Sprinkling, that fpeaks better Things than that of Kht\, '^Ihe Cup of Blfjing which we blefs -(-, is it ?iot the Com?nunion of the Blood of Chrift? The Bread which we break, is it not the Communion of the Body of Chj'ift ? For we being many are one Breads and one Body% . for we arc all Partakers of that one Bread, * Hel). xii. 22, 23, 24. f I Car. x. 16, 17. i ,' if'' I.\li G And what' ' j ( 42 ) And arc we as Chriftians in fuch near Rela- tion to one another ? Are we Members of the fame Family? Are we not only Fellow- Creatures, and Fellow-Immortals, but alfo Fellow- Saints, united together under one common Head in the Bonds of the Gof- pel ; how ftrong then is the Obligation upon us to be concerned for one another's Afflictions ? If a Perfon was to abufe an unknown Stranger in the Streets, our Re- fentment would probably be awakened, and we {hould be apt to interpofe in the De- fence of injured Innocence : But was a Ruf- fian to enter into the Houfes of our Brethren, and affault and wound them, how would our Indignation burn, and hew eager (hould we be to avenge ourfelves of fuch an Adverfary, whom we (hould, through the powerful Ties of Nature and Affedion between us and our Brethren, confider and treat as an Ene- my to ourfelves ? That is a very lively and expre(rive Similitude of the Apoftle's, and brotherly Love (bines ftrongly and beauti- fully through the Veil *. tor as the Body is one^ and hath mam Members y and all the Mem- hers of that one Body^ being 7}ia?iyy are one Body : So alfo is Chrijl, for by one Spirit we are all baptized into one Body^ whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free -y and have been all made to drmk into one Spirit. * : Ccr. xii. 12, 13, 14. For For ( 43 ) For the Body is not one Member, but many. And again, -f* The Members JJjotild have the fame Love one Jor another. And whether one Member Juffer^ all the Members fuffer with it : Or one Member be honoured^ all the Mem- hers rejoice with it. Now ye are the Body of Chri/i^ and Members in particular. If but a Toe or a Tooth ach, what a quick fympa- thetick Anguifli difFufes itfelf through the Body! The Eye it niay be weeps, the Tongue complains, and the Hands and Feet are rea- dily employed in procuring and adminiflering any Means or Medicines to alleviate the rag- ing Smart. And in like Manner, if an At- tack is likely to be made upon any Part of the human Frame, what a general Alarm is fpread, and how inftantly is the Strength of the whole Body fummoned and colledted toge- ther to avoid the Danger, and difappoint the Blow? And thus fhould it be with the Mem- bers of that Body over which Chrift is the Head. One Article of our Creed is the Com- munion of Saints, If it be hard to be con- ceived how the Communion of Saints can be carried on, fince vaft Trads of Lands and Seas divide between them, and the greateft Number of them will never fee one another's Faces in the Flefli, the Difficulty- will be folved, by con fide ring, that they may maintain Fellowfhip with one another by con- f I Cor. xii 25, 26, 27. G 2 ftant j; m jiffi ft in ilant and ( 44 ) Pray( the Mer- iportunat< cy-Seat, and thus their Hearts from diftant Quarters daily meet in God the univerfal Centre of their Reft and Joy, and through ^heir mutual Interceffions mutual Bleffings are fliowered down upon the whole Church of Chiift. Let us then be afFeded with the Afflidions of the People of God, as we are fo nearly related to one another. (4.) Let us be afteded with the AfHidions of the People of God, as the Afflictions are very hard and grievous in their own Nature, and may ilTue in very evil Confequences to them, unlefs God interpofes for their Help and Salvation. I fuppofe, you would not reckon it a light Matter if your Minifters were apprehended, for no other Crime than for preaching to you, and watching over your Souls, as Shepherds who muft one Day give an Account, and hung up at a Gibbet, to receive the infamous Punifliment of the vileft Drofs of Mankind? I dare fay, it would be counted a very great Hardfhip by you, for no other Reafon, than that of worfhipping God according to the Didates of your own Confciences, to be thrown into a Prifon this Night, there to languifh out the Remainder of your Days in gloomy and hopelefs Bon- dage, or to be chained in the Galley to the galling Oar for Life in all the grievous Ex- tremities If . ( 45 ) tremities of Seafons. The unrelenting Prieft, the fierce Dragoon, the ranfacked Houfe, the barren Wildernefs for your Dwelling, and the Range of Mountains for your Prefervati- on, are Evils greatly to be deprecated, and are among the worft that can befal human Nature ; and yet thefe our Brethren in France have endured, and there is as yet no Profpedt of an End to their cruel Oppreffions*. And have • To this End with 'the Advice or our Council, and of our own fpecial Grace, full Power and Royal Authority, we have required and commanded, and by thefe Prcfents figned with our own Hand, do require and command j and our Will and Pleafure is, I. That the "Roman Catholic and apcfloHc Religion alone be exercifed in our Realms, Dominions, and Countries ; and we forbid ail our Subjefts, of what State, Quality, and Con- dition foever, to pradife any, except the faid Catholic Re!i- gion, or to aflemble for that End, in any Place, and on any Pretence whatfoever, under Pain of being condemned to the Gallies for Life, if they are Men ; and if Women, of being ihorn, and confined for ever in fuch Places as our Judges Ihall think expedient ; with Confifcation of Goods in either Cafe : And even under Pain of Death, to thofe who ftiall af- femble in Arms. II. Being informed, that there have Tprun? up, and ftill Sire fpringing up, daily in ourRealm, a greatNuinber of Preachers, whofe fole Bufinefs is to Itir up the People to Rebellion, and to diffuade them from the Praflice of the i?o»7a» Catholic and Apoftolic Religion,' we do command that all Preachers, who fhall call Affemblies, preach in them, or difcharge any other Funftion, be put to Death; the Punilhment appointed by the Declaration in July 1686, for the Minillers of the pretended reformed Religion; which we would not, for the future, have any one efteem a mere Threatening, which will not be put in Execution. We do likewife forbid our Subjeds to receive the faid Minilters or Preachers, to conceal, aid, or aflifl them, or have direclly or indireftly any Intercourfe or Correfpon- 1 dcncc ■I ( 46 ) have we no Compaflion for fuch SufFercrs ? Can our Hearts be unafTedled w:'.b fuch ter- rible Diftrefs as this? Or will not^Jng excite our Concern ftiort of that Mifery which we adually feel in our own Perfons ? Pity, pity your Brethren thus dreadfully harraffed and afflidled ; and more efpecially, as you mull be fenfible that thefe Calamities are very great Trials to their Patience and Perfeverance, and may prove too hard for them. Plead with God, that the Rod of the Wicked may not refl upon the Lot of the Righteous, lejl the Righteous put forth their Hands to Iniquity *. Peter, you know, denied his Mafter in an Hour of Temptation, and fell to the Difgrace of his Profeffion, and the wounding of his Soul. The great and good Cranmer^m bloody Queen Mary'% Days, (hewed the fad Influence that the Intercfts of Flefh and Blood had over him, when he made his Recantation of the Pro- I y f( a c T ,i.j dence with them : We farther enjoin aU thofe, who fhall know nny of the faid Preachers, to inforra againft them to the Olficers of the refpeftive Places ; the whole under Pain, in cafe of Trefpafs, of being condemned to the Gallies for Life, if Men J and, if Women, of being Ihorn, and fhut up the Remainder of their Days, in fuch Places as our Judges Ihall think expedient; and whc:her they be Men or Women, linder Pain of Confifcation. 'ihe French Kings Declaration concerning Religion. Given at Verfailles, the ij^th (?/'May 1724. N, B. The French King publifhed an Ordonnance, Ye- bruary r. 1745, to the fame Effc£l, and both remain unrepealed. *Pral. cxxv. 3. ifFercrs ? Lich ter- g excite lich we ity, pity Ted and )u muft ry great ice, and thGod, 'eji upon eons put er, you lour of e of his is Soul. Queen ce that id over of the Pro- who fhall : them lo ider Pain, allies for id fhut up ir Judges Women, r. Given ance, Fe- h remain ( 47 ) Proteflant Faith. If you are true Chriftians, you will not approve of Sin either in your- felves or others, and much lefs will Sin be agree- able to you in fuch Perfons, who, by being called out to Suffering for the Caufe of Chrift, are a public Example, and may greatly ad- vance the Interefts of true Religion by a mag- nanimous Conflidl with Perfecution, or greatly injure the Religion they profefs, by a fhame- ful Retreat in the Day of Trial. Pray, and pray conftantly and importunately, that our Brethren may not be tempted above what they are able, and that God would either abate the Storm that beats fo heavy upon them, or that he would grant them inward Strength and Courage to fuftain its fierceft Blafts, and be faithful fo Death that they may receive the Crown of Life *. (5.) Let us be concerned for the People of God, as fuch a Sympathy is what we ihould defire and expedt in the fame Circumftances. Would it not be, if we were fuffering the Per- fccutions which our Brethren in France en- dure, and they were in our happy Situa- tion, a Sort of Revival in our bitter Bondage, to hear that the Churches of Chrift Abroad fympathized with us, prayed fervently and frequently for us, and were ready to aflift us to the utmoft of their Pov^er ? And fhould we not think it verv unkind in them to refufe I) I !: % ■I Rev. 11. 10. US [ H P ((40 )y U9 the Benevolence of their Tears, their In- tercefTions, and their charitable Relief, if we could efcape from our Egyptian Oppreffions and Slavery into their Land of Peace and Liberty. And fliould we defire and expedt to be thus regarded, if we were in their Cir- cumftances, and they were in ours ; then let lis fhew cur perfecuted Brethren that tender Concern which we ftiould be glad, in an Ex- change of Cafes, they would manifeft for us. therefore all T'hings whatfoever ye would that Men jlmild do to you, do ye even Jo to them \for this is the Law [and the Prophets * ; and I might add, Jcfus Chrift, and his Apoftles. O that we did but more confider and prac- tifc this Precept ! What Juflice, what Com- paflion, what univerfal Honour to the Gof- pel of our Lord Jefus Chrift would fuch an heavenly and bleffed a Root as this produce, and, among the Reft of its divine Fruits, what fym.patheric Sorrows, what Energy of Prayers, aud what ready and large Benevo- lence fliould we exerciie towards the fuffer- ing People of God, and every Time we du- ly thought what we in fuch a Condition as theirs fliould exped, and defire, we fliould feel' a Pang of generous Compaffion, and waft up a Groan of Prayer that God woidd arije and have Mercy upon Zion, the "Time to favour her, yea the Jet 'Tifne being come -f- ? Mat. vii. \z. I Pi. Cil. I VL Let \ \ \ lit In- if we eflions :e and expe6t ir Clr- hcn let tender anEx- for us. M that 'in ; for and I poftles. d prac- t Com- le Gof- fuch an reduce, Fruits, ergy of knevo- ; fuffer- we du- ition as fhould DH, and i would Time to owe ^ ? VI. Let t 49 ] (B.) Let us be affcdtcd with the Perfe* cutions of the Church of God, as hereby the Progrcfs and Diffufion of the Gofpel arc checked and obftrudled. Without Queftion we ought to pray, Our Father which art in Heaven hallowed be fhy Name ; thy Kingdom come^ thy Will be done in Earth, as it is in Heaven * : and that the Kingdoms of this World may become the Kingdoms of the Lord^ and of his Chri/i -f : And how earnell ought we to be, that the Promife which God has given to the Redeemer may be fulfilled in its largeft Extent, ylfkofme, and I will give the Heathen for thine Inheritance, and the uttermoji Parts of the Earth for thy Pofjef fion X ? Confequently, when we hear of the Minifters o( Chrift fhut up in Prifons, or Wandering about in Dens and Caves of the Earth, or of their Blood fpilt without any Remorfe or Pity ; or when we hear of the Key of Knowledge being taken away, and the Preaching of the Word forbidden under the fevereft Penalties, thefc lamentable Tid- ings ought to awaken our ardent and inccf- fant Supplications that God would owrturn, overturn^ overturn, till he comes whofe Right the Kingdoms are §, and till his Know/edge^ and the Grace and Glories of his Gofpel cover the Earth as the Waters do the Channels ♦Mat. vi. 9, 10. IPf.ii. I. •f- Rev. ii. I 5. S Bxek;. xxi. 27. H 9f [ 50 3 cfthe Sea *. Gird thy Sword upon thy Thigh, O mo/i mighty, and moji merciful Saviour ; with thy Glory and thy Majejly ride profpe-^ roujly, bccaufe of Truths and Meeknefs, and Right eoufnefs -j-. Send the Rod of thy Strength out of Zion : Rule thou in the Mtdfl of thine ■Enemies, Lei the People be willing in the Day of thy Power in the Beauties of Holi- jiefs X' Can we in this diftrefTed Situation of the Church of Chrifl: restrain our warmed Jnterceflions that every Valley may be exalted, that every Mountain and Hill may be brought low-, that the crooked Places may be madejirait, ' and the rough Places plain, and that the Glory of the Lord may be revealed, and all Flejh may fee it together || ? Vv'e now behold the Earth in the moral View, as it was once in the na- tural, without Form and void ^ and overfpread with Darknefs **. Here Indian and Pagan- ifh Ignorance and Cruelty reign in unmo- lefted and tremendous Concert and Power. Here Mahometan Del u lion leads Captive . Thoufands and Millions of precious and im- mortal Souls. Here Judaifm maintains an obftinate and determined Oppofition to the Acknowledgment cf Jefus, and a Reception of his Gofpel. And here Popery has difplay- ed its Standard, and fet itfelf up in Defiance againft the Caufe of God, and Chrift in the I i"^ * If. ii. 9. f Pf. xlv. 3, 4. X Pf. ex. 2, 3. ii If. xl. 4, 5. ** Gen, i. 2. grofleft 1 5 "J' r 5' ] grofleft Superftition, and the moft cruel Tyranny, and all that will not bow before it muft be crufhed beneath its implacable Malice, and remorfelefs Fury. And can we be calm Spectators of thefe tremendous Scenes ? Can we fee Mankind lying, under the Power of the wicked One, the God of this World, (not fo by Right yet by impious and prevailing Ufurpation) and not pray, and fend out our whote Souls in the Prayer, that God would haften the Hour when he will fay to the World, ^4nfe, Jhi?ie^ for thy Light is come ; a72d the Glory of the Lord is rifen upon thee^, A?id when the Wolfjhall dwell with the La?nb, and the Leopard JJoall lie down with the Kid. -■ j^?id the f up king Child JJmU play on the Hole of the Afp^ ajid the weaned Child JJ:all put his Hand on the Cockatrice's Den ; and they Pmll not hurt nor dellroy in all God's holy Mountain -f*. For Zions Sake let us mt hold our Peace^ and for yerufalems Sake let us not rejly till the Righ- teoufnefs thereof goes forth cis Brigktnefs, and the Salvation thereof as a Lamp that burns %. Look down^ Lord, upon Zion, the City of cur Solemnities ; let t hi fie Eyes fee Jcrujalem a quiet Habitation, a l!abcrnacle that Jhall 710^ be taken down ; let jiqt one of the Stakes therer^ of ever be removed y neither any of tfjc pords 9 it m » If. Ix. I. f If. ii. 6. 8, 9. B 2 J if. ^xii. I. thereof ..■ t [ 52 ] thereof be broken *. Oh ! how fad a Confi- deration is it, that in dry and thirfty Lands, where the Poor and Needy would be glad to drink of the Waters of Salvation, the Dew that defcends upon the Mountain of Zion, the Minifters, thofe divine Clouds that are enriched with thefe Bleffings, and that would be glad to fhower them down upon thefe parched Places of the Wildernefs, are driven away by the Storms of an unrelenting Perfe* cution, and are utterly prevented from difpenf- fmg thofe Streams of htavcnly Life and Joy they are fo impatient to communicate for the Welfare and Happinefs of immortal, but yet perifliing, Souls. Return^ O Lord^ how long ?' and let it repent thee concerning thy Ser^ vahts. O fatisfy them early with thy Mercy \ that they may rejoice^ and be glad all their Days. Make them glad according to the Days ivherein thou haji affli5ied them, and the Teari wherein they have je en Evil-f I (7.) That we fhould be excited to a Concern for the Afflidions of the People of God, as we have fuch exceeding great and precious Promifes made to a facred Sympathy and Companion for our Brethren in Tribula^ tion. Pray fir the Peace of ferufalem % ; they Jkallprcjper that love thee. Blejjed are th€ mer* J * U. xxxi'ii. 20. X Pf. xii. 2. 6. f Ff. xc. 13, 14, 15. cifiil^ r L 53 ] cifuU fciy^ our Lord **, for they Jhall fibtain Mercy. Give -f, fayi he^ and it Jhall be given toyou^ good Meafiireyprejfed down and poaken together^ and running over, Jhall Men give into your Bofom ; for with the fame MeaJ'ure that ye mete withal, it Jhall be nieafured to you again, %God is not unrighteous to forget your Work, and.habour of Lo^e, which ye kav^ Jhewn towards his ISlame, in that ye have mi^ nijlered to the Saints and do minijier, Wl'hey who do Goody who are rich in good JVorks^ who are ready to difribute, and are willing to communicate, are f aid to lay up in Store for themfelves a good Fourulation againji the l!ime to come, that they may lay hold on eternal Lfe* Whofoever **fiall give to drink unto one of thefe little Ones, a Cup of cold Water only in the "Name of a Difcifle, verily I fay unto you ^ he Jhall in no wife loje his Reward. Jina our Lord, when he Jhall come to Judgment, will Jay to them on his Right-^Hand, -f-f- Come ye (flejfed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the Foundation ^ the World, For I was an hungred, and ye gave me Meat : I was thirjly, and ye gave me Drink: I was a Stranger, and ye too^ me in : naked, and ye clothed me ; Iwasjick, and ye vifted me : I was in^Prifon, and ye came * Mat. V. 7. f Luke vi. 38. :|: Heb. vi. 10. || 2 Tim, vi. 18, 19. **Mait x. 42. f f Mat. xxv. 34J unt9 i i h^. r t [ 54 1 tsnto me, Then Jl:all the Righteous anfwer him^ faying y Lord, whenfaw we thee an hwigred^ and fed thee ? or thirjly, and gave thee Drink? When faw we thee a Strafiger^ and took thee in ? Or naked and clothed thee ? Or mohenfaw 'me thee Sick, or in Prijon, and came unto thee. And the Kingjhall anfwer, and fay unto them j Verily, I fay unto you, Inaftnucb as ye have done unto one of thefe my Bretlren ye have done it unto me, — And thefe Righteous fhall g9i away into Life eternal. Who, my Friends, would mifs of a Share in the Bleffings of the Promifes by a cold Indifference to the tBorrows of the People of God, by a Reftraint of his Prayers for them, or by a Denial of his Bounty to their preffing Neceffities? Shall we be any Lofers by our Sympathy and Interceffions for the perfecutcd Flock of Chrift, or by a Communication of our Sub-r fiance to the Relief of their Indigence ? Is there not enough Confolation, enough Trea- fiirCj, enough Duration in the Promifes that have been mentioned, to repay, and infinitely more than repay all that we have done, or 'can do for our diftrelTed Brethren ? Our Want of Charity, Compaffion, and Care for ' afHidcd Saints, will be found in the End to be Uncharitablenefs, Unconcern, and Cruel- ty to ourfelves, and we fhall be as wife as a Man, who fhould for the Sajce of a little V Egjpence let his Houfe and Subllance paf^ into ok thee enfaiif to thee, them\ have e have (hallga riends, !gs of to the ftraint lial of [fities ? ipathy ock of r Suh-r :e ? Is Trea- ts that initely le, or Our ire for ^nd to >uel- e as a liftle e paf^ [ 55 ] the Hands of other Owners, or be confumed in Flames. 1 don't fay, for I don't think, that any of our little tranfient irQperfedt Ser- vices for the Caufe of Chnft, and for the Comfort and Relief of his People, can merit the immenfe Stores of Bleffing, contained in the Promifes made to Chriflian Com- paffion, and Benevolence, or that our Juf- tification and Title to Heaven are de- rired from any other Fountain than the Mercy of God flowing through the Righte- oufnefs and Mediation of our Lord Jefus Chrifl ; but this I am certain of, that we cannot expedl the Fulfilment of the Pro- mifes made to Mercy and Liberality, unlefs we fhew Mercy and Liberality, according to our Abilities, to our Brethren in AfHidlion. Our Mercy and Liberality are Evidences to prove that the Promifes of God are ours, and to thefe Graces of the Spirit the Pro- mifes of God are conned:ed by an inviolable Bond. And fuch as have a tender Sympathy for, and exert themfelves in Chrift's Name, and for his Sake, in a generous Relief of the aiflidted and indigent Members of Chrift, fliall as furely be put in the PolTeffion of the gracious Promifes made to them, as if they adlually merited all their ineftimable and everlafting Bleffings. Let us then be con- cerned for the Afflidions of the People of God, as we hereby are (hewing fuch a Con- cern for ourfelves^ and by helping them in our r U: I \ ■■ [56] our very little Meafure are mote abundant?* ly ferving our own Interefts, and illuftrating and afccrtaining to ourfclves that we are the Children of God, or that we have fome of the cffential Parts of that Sanctificatlon, which is that Link in the golden Chain of Salvation tvhich is united to Pardon in this World, iind Glory in the World to come. ^ There is therefore HoUb no Condemnation to them who are in ChHJi Jefus^ who walk not after thd Flefi, but after the Spirit. And, f Blejed ere they that db his Comma?! Jments^ that they may have Right to the Tree of Life^ and mdy inter in through the Gates into the City. " I only add, (8.) And, laftly, That we ought to be afFedted with the Afflidioris of the People of God, as we are fo much indebted to Com- paflion and Grace ourfelves. Here let us confider the irtnuitter^ble F'^vours and Conrt*- forts which a gracious Providence has (howef-* ed down upon us ; but efpecially, let us re- inember that anlazing Difpliy of the Divine Mercy, the Gift of our Lord Jefus Chrili* God fo loved thetForldX-, (how much he loved it, neither Tongue can fpeak, not Thought conceive) that he ganje his only be^ ' gotten Son, that tohofoever believes in ' him^ fhculd not ferif:}, but have cocrlajling Life : and herein is Love, not that we lolled Gody but • Rom. viii. !♦ f Rev. xxii. 14. % John iii. t6. that ndant^ l:rating are the : of the hich is Ivation iVorld, ' There 'm who 'ter th^ Bleffed at they id mdy to be 3p]e of Com- let us Com*- ower-* us re- Divine :hri!L :h he nor ily be^ him^ Life : dy but i6. ' that ( 57 ) thnt be loved us, and jent hh Son to be the Fro- pit tat ion for our Sijis^, And what is the Inftrudlion, the Improvement arifing from this flupenduous Mercy ? Beloved ^ immedi- ately adds the fame facred Writer, if God fo loved us J we ought al/o to love one another. If fuch inconceivably bright and copious Ema- nations of Divine Love are beftowed upon us, let us refled: abroad the Beams of Mercy which we fo freely and abundantly receive in all the Inftances of a tender Compaflion and Love to our Fellow-Saints ; that fo, •[• though our Goodnefs cannot extend to Gody cannot augment his uncreated and eflential Glories, nor make any Acceffions to his im- mutable and independent Happinefs, yet it may extend to the Saints^ the Excellent of the Earth Jn whom is our Delight. And can I for- get, when I am fpeaking of the Obligations we are under to Compaflion and Grace, to re- mind you of the Example of our Lord Jefus Chrift ? What tender Sympathy did he dif- cover to poor Mankind, in their Gall of Bit- ternefs, their Bonds of Iniquity, and their Gulph of Wrctchednefs ? fince, to refcue them from this deplorable Condition, he left the Bofom of his Father, and the Courts of Heaven, to tabernacle among us, came to be defpifed X of Men^ to be abhorred of his "Na- tion^ and to be aServant of Ruler s^ and indeed * I John iv. 10. f FOal. xvi. 2, 3. JIfa. xlix. 7. I to .; . . _ C 58 ) to ftand a Prifoner, with every Mark of Meannefs and Infamy, at their Bar. How was the Love of our Lord Jefus infcribed, as it were, in Charadters of his own Blood in the Thorns that were driven into his Head, the Scourges that tore his Body, the Nails that pierced his Hands and Feet, and the Spear that was plunged into his Side? The Crofs was the very Triumph of the Re- deemer's Love ; ano, i* wcdobut ferioufly confider what was Iaic C; ife of all the pub- lic Shame, and the agonizing Sorrows he en- dured, what let loofe the Powers of Earth and Hell upon him, and what occafioned his Father's Withdrawment, and his tremen- duous Darknefs of Soul in'^the midft of his foreft Conflidts, we muft refolve all thefe amazing Appearances and Events into I*ove, ■^ He gave bis Life a Ranfom jor us. "f- He was made a Curfe for us, X He was made Sin for us who knew no Sin^ that we might be made the Righteoufnefs of God in him, \\ He was wounded for our T'ranfgreJJiom^ he was bruifed for our Iniquities: fhe Chajlifemeiit of cur Peace was up07i hini; by his Stripes we are healed. All we, like Sheep^ have gojie ajiray : We have turned every one to his own Way, and the Lord hath laid on him the Iniquity of us * Matth. XX. 28. f Gal. iii. 13, :j: 2 Cor. v. 21. Ij Ifa. liii. 5, 6. . alL J / m ( 59 ) nil *. And him hath God fet forth as a Pro^ pitiation through Faith in his Blood, And now what an Obligation is here upon us to (how Kindnefs and Love to our afflidled Bre^ thren, fince our glorious Emanuel (hews all this unparalleled and aftoniftiing Compaflion to us, in faving us from all the Ruins of Sin, and Miferies of Hell, into all the Glories and Bleflednefs of Heaven. His Love to us is an Ocean which none can fathom, it has Heights and Depths^ Lengths and Breadths paft finding out, how then can we refufe our little Streams of Affedion to others, efpecially when wc confider not only what Commands our Lord and Saviour has given to excite us to mutual Tendernefs and AfFedion, but that he hiia* felf, or his Holy Spirit by his Apoftles, has pointed out the Motives that arife from his Love, to engage our Love ta one another. •f If I then your Lord andMaJler have wajhed your Feet, ye ought alfo to wajh one another i Feet ; for I have given you an Example , that ye Jhould do as I have done. So again, % Be ye therefore Followers of God as dear Children^ and walk in Love as Chriji alfo hath loved us^ and hath given himfelffor us, an Offering and a Sacrifice to God for a fweet-fmelling Savour. And to mention no more Paffages, \ || Hereby perceive we the Love of God, becaufe he laid * Rom. iii. 25. \ John xiii. 14, 15. JEph. v. i, 2. jj I John iii. |6. I 2 d0W7l \ i ■I :i -■ { 60 ) Jown his Life for us ; an J we ought to lay down our Lives for the Brethren, Oh, how fuper- latlvely and infinitely great was the Love of our Lord to us ! and how ready fhould we be to go to the utnioft Limit of our little Powers in our Love to our Brethren ? If we take but Pattern from the Love of Chrift, how large and tender will be our Kindnefs to his Friend? and Members ? efpeciaPv, if we confider one Ingredient in this Love of Chrift, which is perhaps too apt to be forgotten, and which I Ihall therefore point out to you in the Words of a celebrated Writer : ** It is objedled, fays he, That itfeems to be a Thing veryincon^ gruous, and much beneath the Dignity of the Son of God, to be united to human Nature, and to fubmit to fo near an Al- liance with that which is fo very mean and defpicable : Yea, to be infinitely more be- low him, than for the greateft Prince in this World to match with the pporeft and moft contemptible Beggar. But herein farcly we meafure God too much by our- felves ; and becaufe we who are evil have feldom fo much Goodnefs as to ftoop be- neath ourfelves for the Benefit and Good of others, we are apt to think that God hath not fo much Goodnefs neither : and becaufe our Ill-nature, and Pride, and Folly, as indeed all Pride is Folly, will not fuflfer us to do it, we prefently con- . , " elude :e in and ( 61 ) f* elude that it does not become God. But what Pliny faid to the Emperor Trajar^, concerning earthly Kings and Potentates, is much more true of the Lord of Glorv, the great King of Heaven and Earth ; Cut nihil ad augeiidum Fajligium fupereji hoc urn modo crefcere potejly Jife ipfefubmittaty ^* fecurus magnitudinis fuce : he that is at the Topy and can rife no higher^ hath yet this one Way left to become greater^ by flooping beneath himfelf \ which he may veryfafely doy being fecure of his own Greatnefs, The lower any Being, be he never \q high, condefcends to do Good, the Glory of his Goodnefs fhines fo much the brighter. Men are many Times too proud and ftifF to bend, too perverfe and ill-natured to ftoop beneath their own little Greatnefs ** for the Good of others. But God, whofe ?* Ways are not as our Ways, and whofe ^' Thoughts are as piuch above our low and f ' narrow Thoughts, as the Heavens are high ^* above the Earth, did not difdain nor think *' it below him to become Man for the Good " of Mankind ^ and, as much as the Divi- nity is capable of being fo, to become mi- ferable to make us happy "f-." How ready then fhould we be to manifeft a tender Sym- pathy to the People of God in Afflidion, as c< '» caeteris Jocis, ob munitronem; ficut et pofl omncs civitates in regno Ifrael devnftatas uklmo fuitCaHrum Sarna- ria: debi-Mlatuni, et mons ZJon, poll; omnia Judeae obtenta ioca, expiignatus. Ad irec igitur optima loca cum Dnminus Ifraelitas pcrduxiiTet k Gentes ante cos expuliilet, obliti iun: ingrati ' • ' { H ) felvcs upon that Account fafe from any Dan- ger, and vainly relied upon the Security of their Situation, indead of imploring and de- pending upon the Divine Protedion. Which lire named Chief of the Natiom^ which have been very highly renowned in the World ; and to whom the Hoiife of Ifrael came 5 Zion or ycrufalem^ and Samaria were the chief Seats of the two Kingdoms, and confequent- ly drew the Refort and Refpedl of the People. Pafs ye unto Calneh, Verfe 2. and fee-, and from thence go ye to Hemath the great : then go down to Gath of the Philiftines : be they better than thefe Kingdoms ? Or their Border greater than your Border ? Go to Calneh (a City in the Land of Shinar^ or Territory of Babylon, Gen. x. 10.) thenco go to Hemath the Great (fuppofed to be a City of Syria^ afterwards called Antioch) and then vifit Gatb of the PhiliJiifieSy and examine if they are better than thefe Kingdoms ? or their Border greater than your Border? that is, " are they in a better Condition than what you are both in Ifrael and fudah, or have they a larger and a more plentiful Country? If " they ingrati homines beneficionim Del» &: paflim fefe in omnia coiijccerunt vitia, putantes fe ftcure habicare, non ob id quod fidaciam in Deum haberent, cum in eum non confiderunt, fed quod bonis abundarent, et munita haberent loca, atquc ob id neminem timebant, nefcienres nullam poteniiam, nul- mmq^ue robu: polie' contra judicu::ij Dei confiileie. :•••' MuNSTERus in loc. o (< s ire M i I (C cc ^). '/ /A Photographic Sdences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 873-4503 ■[ 76 ] know our Land ; our Formality, (I fpcak as to the outwardly Religious among us) our thin and fuperficial Shows of Piety, and deplorable Defedt as to its real Life and Power are fuch a Roll of Lamentation, Mourning, and Woe, that I have not Op- portunity here to unfold and reprefent in You not only are aflured from Obfervation that what I fay is true, but perhaps your own Refledlion convinces you that you yourfelves are the InftanceS. Q then fly, fly from your Sins, * Wajh ye, make you clean^ put away the Evil of your Doings, ceafe to do Evil, learn to do well. Improvement of our Privileges, Love of Gofpel-Truth and Grace, Spirituality, Devotion, Humility, Self-Denial, and in a Word, the Sum and Subftance of evangelical Precepts engraven by evangelical Promifes upon the Heart, and refplehdent through all our Lives and Con* verfatipns, would give us a pleafing Profpedl that God would be flill favourable to our Land, and that he '^•would ftill Jpare Ins People^ (2nJ give not his Heritage to a Reproach -, but, if wc will ftill continue our rrovocations againft Heaven, and will ftill dare tp love and pradife the Deeds of Darknefs amidft the clear Sunbeams of GofpelrLight and Grace, what may we expetfl but that a long-fujfFer* }ng God will at length arife in the Terrors of if. i. 16. f Joelii. 17. his [ 77 1 his Vengeance, and pour in fbme over- whelming Judgment upon us ? And J who knows the Power of the Almighty's Anger ? Even according to his Fear fo is his Wrath, I willoBly add, as a further Motive to Repen- tance and Return to God, that, if only our par- ticular vSelves ihould thus repent and return, and walk worthy of the Privileges we enjoy, and others that are filthy will be filthy ftill, and fo the Divine Judgments fhould at lafl break in upon our Land, be they Famine, Peflilence, Sword, Earthquake, or what they will, yet we ihall be fafe. Either we {hall be hid by Providence in the Day of the Lord's fierce Anger, or we fhall fall in the general Calamity, only to rife to heavenly Glory, and everlafting Life and Joy. Die we muft, and if we die not by common Difeafes and Pains, but fome of thefe greater Minifters of Fate, yet, if they are more aw- ful, yet they are fure, and, fomeofthem, very fliort Roads for the Chriftian to his Father*s JCingdom. Why fhould a Saint be afraid who has an Intereft in an unchangeable God, an unchangeable Saviour, and has a Title to an eternal Glory ? If he fhould even die in a Dungeon, in a Galley, at ' Gibbet, or up- on a Rack, yet he may fmile upon all the Rage and Malice of his Enemies, being afTur- ed that the lafl and utmofl Effort of their his J Pf. xc. n. Cruelty ^i.H Ll4 I V 7\] Cruelty is to difmifs him to the Bofom of his God, and put it eternally out of their Power to vex and dlfturb him more. * Thefe are they which come out of great Tribulation, and have ivajhed their RobeSy and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb, Therefore are they before the Tbrojie of God, and ferve him Day and Night in his Temple : and he that fits on the Throne fhall dwell among them. They floall hunger no more^ neither thirjl any more^ neither pall the Sun light on them, nor any Heat, For the Lamb which is in the Midfl of the Throne fhall feed them, and fhall lead them unto livingFountains of Waters: And God fhall wipe away all Tears from their Eyes, *-* .V-'. :^r:* Rev. vii.i4...i7. ■J I, 'i\ "t. ■ r?"-- r,-r ;, .„ ..; i it '■ <^\' v\*i to •:) ;^ ;v I s. I 'i r ■• *■- \" ^yj i)\* f:'}t:if, tf- •1,. ) Hi ^^ :> hd i 79 ) » •_■■-. AS I found a blank Page or Two remain- ing in the laft Sheet, I fliall take the Liberty of filling them up with the following Quotation from the Rev. Mr. Toms'j Anmls^ &c. p. 27. ''Nothing can be more afFeding than the Complaints of the Proteftants on their being deprived of the free Exercife of their Religion; nothing, more fervent than their Wifhes for having that precious Liberty reftored urito them; nothing more heroick, than the Courage of their Mi- nifters in thefe fad Circumftances, as ap- pears by feveral of their Letters: In a Word, there can be no fevercr Cenfure of the Lukewarmnefs of many amongft us in Point of Devotion, than the unffiaken Zeal of thefe perfecuted Proteftants. Would to God it could fliame our People into a ferious and conftant Pradice of their Dut'es towards their Maker.'* We (hall clofc with two Examples of their holy Ardo'ir, which ought to make us blulh for ourfelves. ' r v -» " Two young Ladies, the Daughters of Mr. Combes an Attorney, being forced from their Father's Houfe, and carried away to Confinement guarded by Soldiers, they add refled themfelves from theirCoach to all the Proteftants they met. — JVe are * going into Exikf and we go with Pleafure. Do cc