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,Some Thoughts,, n^^ 
 
 (j//i'^ Concerning the prefent /i/lOC/^^ 
 
 Revival of Religion 
 
 I N 
 
 NEW-ENGLAND, 
 
 And the Way in, which it ought to be 
 acknowledged and promoted. 
 Humbly offered to the Publick, 
 
 m a 
 
 TREATISE on that Subjed. 
 
 In Five Parts ; 
 
 Part I. Shew^ing thai 
 the Work that has of 
 late been going on ir 
 this Land, is a glori- 
 ous Work of God. 
 
 Part II. Shewins; the 
 Obligations that all are 
 underjto acknowlege, 
 rejoice in and promote 
 this Work, and the 
 great Danger of the 
 contrary 
 
 Part IH. 
 manylnftances , where 
 
 Shewing in 
 
 in the Subjefts, or zea- 
 lous PromoterSjof this 
 Work have been inju- 
 rioufly blamed. 
 
 Part IV. Shew^ingwhat 
 Things are to be cor- 
 re6led or avoided, in 
 promoting chis Work, 
 or iii rur Behaviour 
 undef'it. 
 
 PaIv'v V. Shewing pofi- 
 tively w^hat ought to 
 be done to promote 
 ^is Work. 
 
 By JONATHAN EDWARDS, A,M. 
 
 Paflor of the Church of Christ at Northampton, 
 
 Ifai. 40. ;. Prepare }[e the ITayofihg Lord, make firait 
 in the De/art a high- JVay for our God 
 
 BOSTON : Printed and Sold by S. KneelaM 
 and T, Gr^m in ^em-Str^fty 1742, 
 
[ i ] 
 
 THE 
 
 PREFACE 
 
 /N the enfuing "Treatife, I condemn Mini- 
 fters ajfuming, or taking too much upon 
 them, and appearing as tho' they fuppo- 
 fed that they were the Perfons, to whom 
 it efpecially belonged to ditlate, dire^ and de- 
 termine ; but perhaps Jhall be thought to be 
 very guilty of it my felf: And feme when they 
 read this Treatife, may be ready to fay that I 
 condemn this in others^ that I may have the 
 Monopoly of it. / confefs that I have ta- 
 ken a great deal of Liberty freely to exprefs 
 my Thoughts, concerning almof: every Thing 
 appertatjiing to the wonderful Work of GOD 
 that has of late been carried on in the hand, 
 and to declare what has appeared to me to be 
 the Mind of GOD, concerning the Duty and 
 Obligations of all Sorts of Perfons, and even 
 thofe that are my Super iours 'and Fathers, 
 Miniflers of the . Gofpel, and Civil Rulers : 
 But yet I hope the Liberty I have taken is 
 not greater than can be juftifed. In a free 
 A 2 'Nation^ 
 
1 
 
 11 Tfce P R E F A C E, ! 
 
 Nation, fuch Liberty of the Prefs is allowed, 
 that every Author takes Leave zviihout Of- 
 fence, freely to fpeak his Opinion concerning 
 the Management of public k yiffairs, and the 
 Duty of the Legiflature, and thofe that are 
 at the Head of the Adminiftration,^ tho' vaflly 
 his Superiours, As 7iow at this Bay, private 
 Subje^s offer their Sentiments to the Publick, 
 from the Prefs, concerning the Management 
 of theJVar with Spain ; freely declaring what 
 they think to be the Duty of the Parliament, 
 and the principal Minijiers of State, &:c. PFe'^ 
 in New-England are at this Bay engaged in 
 a mor^ importa?U War : And Frnfure, if%vc 
 confider the fad ' Jangling and Confujion 
 that has attended it, %ve fhall confefs that it 
 is highly reqiiifite that fome Body fhould fpeak 
 his Mind, corxerning the Way in which it 
 ciight to be managed : And that not only a 
 fezo of the rn^ny Particulars, that are the- 
 Matter of Strife- in the Land, fhould' be de- 
 hated, on the one Side and the other, in Pam- 
 phlets ; (as has of late been done, with Heat 
 and Fiercenefs enough \) which don^t tend to 
 bring the Contention in general to an Endj 
 but rather to inflame it, and increafe the Up- 
 roar : But that fomething fhould be publifhed^ 
 to bring the Affair in general, and the mayty 
 things that ({ttend ity that are the Subje£ls 
 
 of 
 
The P R E F A C E. iii 
 
 of Debate^ under a particular Confideration. 
 And certainly it is high Time that this was 
 done. If private Perfons may fpeak their 
 Minds without Arrogance ; much more may a. 
 Minijlcr of the Kingdom of CHRIST' fpeak 
 freely ahoui 'Things of this Nature^ which do 
 fo nearly concern the Interefi of the Kingdom 
 of his Lord and Mafler^ at fo important a 
 Junf^ure. If fome elder Minifter had under- 
 taken this^ ^ I acknowledge it would have been 
 more proper ; but I have heard of no fuch 
 Thing a doings or like to he done. I hope 
 therefore I f}:>all be e^cufed for undertaking 
 fuch a Piece of Work. I think that nothing 
 that I have faid can juflly he interpreted^ as 
 tho'' I would impofe , my Thoughts upon any^ 
 cr did not fuppofe that others hav3 equal 
 Right to think for themfelves, with my felf 
 We are not accountable one to another for our 
 Thoughts V but we mujl all give an Account 
 to him who fearches our Hearts^ and has 
 doubtlefs his Eye efpecially upon us at fuch an 
 extraordinary Seafon as this. If I have well 
 confirmed my Opinion concerning this Work^ 
 and the Way in which it fhould be acknow- 
 ledged and promoted^ with Scripture and Rea- 
 fon^ I hope others that read it will receive it^ 
 as a Manifeftation of the Mind and Will of 
 GODt If others would hold forth further 
 A 3 Light 
 
^r 
 
 iv Ttte P R E F A C E. 
 
 Li^bt to me in any of thefe Particulars^ I 
 hope IJhould thankfully receive, it. I think 
 I have been made in feme Meafure fenfihle^ 
 and much more of late than formerly^ of my 
 Need of more Wifdom than I have. 1 make 
 it my Rule to lay hold of Light and embrace 
 it^ where-ever I fee it., tho" held forth by a 
 Child or -an Enemy. If I have affumed too 
 much in the following Difcourfe^ and havefpo- 
 ken in a Manner that favours of a Spirit of 
 Pride ^ no Wonder that others can better difcern 
 it than I my felf If it be fo I ajk Pardon, 
 and beg the Prayers of every Chriflian Rea- 
 der^ that I may have more Lights Humility 
 and Zeal \ and that I may be favoured with 
 fuch Meafures of the Divine Spirit^ as a 
 Minijler of the Gofpeljlands in Need of, at 
 fuch an evitraordinayy Seafon. 
 
( I ) 
 
 
 P ART L 
 
 Shewing that the extraordinary 
 WORK that has of late been 
 going on in this Land, is a 
 glorious WORK OF GOD. 
 
 ^'S^ HE Error of thofe who have 
 l^f^.g^? had ill Thoughts of the great 
 
 religious Uperation on the 
 
 Minds of Men, that has been 
 carried on of late in New- 
 England^ (fo far as the Ground 
 of fuch an Error has been 
 in the Underftanding, and .not in the Difpo- 
 fition,) feems fundamentally to lie in three 
 Things ; Firji^ in judging of this Work aprioru 
 Secondly^ in not taking the Holy Scriptures as an 
 whole Rule whereby to judge of fuch Operati- 
 ons. Thirdly^ in not juftly feparating and diftin- 
 guifhing the good frgm the bad, 
 
 I. They 
 
i 
 
 I Means made ufe of Part I. 
 
 1. They have greatly err-d in the Way ir. 
 which they have gorfe about to try thus TVor's:, 
 whether it be a Work of the Spirit ci God or 
 no, viz, in judging of it a priori y from the Way 
 that it began, the Inftruments that have been 
 employed, the Means that have been made Ufe 
 of, and the Methods that have been taken and 
 fucceeded, in carrying it on. Whereas, if we 
 duly confider the Matter, it will evidently ap- 
 pear that fuch a Work is not to be judged of 
 a priori^ but a pojleriori : We are to obferve the 
 ElFe6l wrought ; and if, upon Examination of 
 that, it be found to be agreeable to tlie Word of 
 Got), we are bound without more ado to reft in 
 it as God's Work ^ and fhall be like to be rebu- 
 ked for our Arrogance, if we refufe fo to do 'till 
 God fhall explain to us how he has brought this 
 Effeft to pafs, or why he has made Ufe of fuch 
 and fuch Means in doing of it. Thofe Texts are 
 enough to caufe us with trembling to forbear fuch 
 a Way of proceeding in judging of a Work of 
 God's Spirit, Ifai. 40. 13, 14. Jflro hath di- 
 re^ed the Spirit of the LORD ^ or being his Coun- 
 fellor hath taught hi?n ? IVith whom -iook he Coun- 
 fel? and who iriJimSted hitn^ a7id zvho taught him 
 . in the Path of Judgrnent^ and taught him Know- 
 ledge^ andjhewed to him the Way of Underftanding ? 
 Joh. 3. 8. The Wiyid hloweth wha'e )t lijieth ; 
 and thou hearejl the Sound thereof ^ but canfi not tell 
 whence it cometh, and whether it goeth. We hear 
 the found, we perceive the EfFeft, and from 
 thence we judge that the Wind does indeed blow ; 
 WithQUt waiting, before we pafs this Judgment,' 
 
 firft 
 
Part L in tUs IVork. 3 
 
 firft to be fatisfied what fhould be the Caufe of 
 the Wind's blowing from fuch a Part of the Hea- 
 vens, and how it fhould come to pafs that^it 
 fhould blow in fuch a Manner, at fuch a Time. 
 To judge a priori^ h a wrong V/ay of judging of 
 any of the Works of God. We are not to re- 
 folve that we will firfl be fatisfied how God 
 brought this or the other EffecSl to pafs, and why 
 he hath made it thus, or why it has pleafed him 
 to take fuch a Courfe, and to ufe fuch and fuch 
 Mieans, before we will acknowledge his Work, 
 and give him the Glory of it. This is too much 
 for the C% to take upon it with refpeil: to the 
 Potter. GOD gives not Account of his Matters : 
 His 'Judgments arc a greatDeep : He hath his Way 
 in the Sea* and his Path in the 2reat Waters^, and 
 his Footjleps are not kncvjn j and who Jhall teach 
 GOD Knowledge^ or enjoin him his Way^ or fay 
 imto him what doeji thou ? IVe know not what is 
 the Way of the Spirit^ nor how the Bones do grow 
 in the Womb of her that is with Child ; even fo we 
 knoiu 7iot the Works of GOD who maketh all No 
 wonder therefore if thofe that go this forbidden 
 Way to work, in judging of the prefent wonder- 
 ful Operation, are perplexed and confounded. 
 We ought to take heed that we don*t e>:pofe our 
 felves to the Calamity of thofe who pried into the 
 Ark of God, when God mercifully returned it 
 to Ifrael^ after it had departed from them. 
 
 Indeed God has not taken that Courfe, nor 
 made Ufe of thofe Means, to begin and carry on 
 this great Work, which Men in their Wifdom, 
 would have thought moft advifeable, li he had 
 
 afked ,. 
 
4 Means made Ufe of Part L 
 
 afked their Counfel ; but quite the contrary. 
 But it appears to me that the great God has 
 wrought HkeHimfelf, in the Manner of his carry- 
 ing on this Work ; fo as very much to fhow his 
 own Glory, and exalt his own Sovereignty, Pow- 
 er and All-fufficiency, and pour Contempt on all 
 that human Strength, Wifdom, Prudence and 
 Sufficiency, that Men have been won't to truft, 
 and to glory in ; and fo as greatly to crofs,rebuke 
 and chaftize the Pride and other Corruptions of 
 Men ; in a Fulfilment of that Ifai. 2. 17. And 
 the Loftinefs of Man Jloall be hoived down^ and the 
 Haughtinefs of Men Jhall be made loWy and the 
 LORD alone Jhall be exalted in that Day. GoD 
 doth thus, in intermingling in his Providence fo, 
 many Stumbling-blocks with this Work ; in fuf- 
 fering fo much of human Weaknefs and Infirmity 
 to appear ; and in ordering fo many Things that 
 are myfterious to Men'sWifdom : in pouring out 
 his Spirit chiefly on the common People, and be- 
 flowing his greateft and higheft Favours upon 
 them, admitting them nearer to himfelf than the 
 great, the honourable, the rich and the learned, 
 agreeable to that Prophecy, Zech. 12. 7. The 
 LORD alfo Jhall fave the Tents of Judah firji, 
 that the Glory of the Houfe of David ^ and the Glory 
 of the Inhabitants offeriifalem^ do not magnify them-- 
 felves againjl Judah, Thofe that dwelt in the 
 Tents of Judah were the common People, that 
 dwelt in the Country, and were of inferiour 
 Rank. The Inhabitants of Jerufalem were their 
 Citizens, their Men of Wealth and Figure : And 
 Jerufalem alfo was the chief Place of the Habita- 
 tion 
 
Part I. i^^ ^^^^ Work. 5 
 
 tion or Refort of their Priefts, and Levites, and 
 their Officers and Judges ; there fat the great 
 Sanhedrhn, The Houfe of David were the high- 
 eft Rank of all, the Royal Family, and the great 
 
 Men that were round about the King. 'Tis 
 
 evident by the Context, that this Prophecy has 
 Refpedl to fomething further than the faving the 
 People out of the Babylonifti Captivity. 
 
 God in this Work has begun at the lower 
 End, and he has made Ufe of the weak and foo- 
 lifh Things of the World to carry on his Work. 
 The Minifters that have been chiefly improved, 
 fome of them have been meer Babes in Age and 
 Standing, and fome of them fuch as have not 
 been fo high in Reputation among their Fellow* 
 as many others 3 and God has fufFered their In- 
 firmities to appear in the Sight of others, fo as 
 much to difpleafe them ; and at the fame Time 
 it has pleafed God to improve them, and greatly 
 to fucceed them, while he has not fo fucceeded 
 others that are generally reputed vaftly their Su- 
 periours. Yea, there is Reafon to think that it 
 has pleafed God to make Ufe of the Infirmities 
 and Sins of fome that he has improved and fuc- 
 ceeded ; as particularly their imprudent and rafh 
 Zeal and cenforious Spirit, to chaftize the Dead- 
 nefs, Negligence,Earthly-mindednels and Vanity, 
 that have been found among Minifters, in the 
 late Times of general Declenfion and Deadnefs, 
 wherein wife Virgins and foolifh, Minifters and 
 People have funk into fuch a deep Sleep. Thefe 
 Things in Minifters of the Gofpel, that go forth 
 as the Ambafladors of Christ, and have the 
 
 Care 
 
6 GOD begins at Part I. 
 
 Care of immortal Souls, are extremely abomina- 
 ble to God ; va% more hateful in hisSight than 
 all the Imprudence, and intemperate Heats, Wild- 
 nefs and Diftraftion (as fome call it) of thefe 
 zealous Preachers. A fupine Carelefnefs, and a 
 vain, carnal, worldly Spirit, in a Minifter of the 
 Gofpel, is the worft Madnefs and Diftraaion in 
 the Sight of God. God may alfo make Ufe at 
 this Day, of the unchriftian Cenforioufnefs of 
 fome Preachers, the more to humble and purify 
 fome of his own Children and true Servants, that 
 have been wrongfully cenfured, to fit them for 
 more eminent Service, and future Honour that 
 he defigns them for. 
 
 IL Another Foundation-Error of thofe that 
 don't acknowledge the Divinity of this Work, is 
 not taking the Holy Scriptures as an whole^ and 
 in it felf a fufficient Rule to judge of fuch Things 
 by. They that have one certain confiftent Rule 
 to judge by, are like to come to fome clear 
 Determination ; but they that have half a Dozen 
 different Rules to make the Thing they would 
 judge of agree to, no Wonder that inftead of 
 juftly and clearly determining, they do but per- 
 plex and darken themfelves and others. They 
 that would learn the true Meafure of any Thing, 
 and will have many different Meafures to try it 
 by, and find in it a Conformity to, have a Tafk 
 that they will not accomplifti. 
 
 Thofe that I am fpeaking of, will indeed 
 make fome Ufe of Scripture, io far as they think 
 it ferves their Turn i but d^u't make Ufe of it 
 
^ 
 
 PaPvT I. the lower End. ^ 
 
 --Qione, as a Rule fufficient by it felf, but make 
 as much, and a great deal more Ufe of other 
 Things, diverfe and wide from it, to judge of 
 this Work by. As particularly, 
 
 I . Some niake Philofophy inftead of the Holy 
 Scriptures^ their Rule of judging of this Work ; 
 particularly the Philofophical Notions they enter- 
 tain of the Nature of the Soul, its Faculties and 
 AfFeflions. Some are ready to fay, ^' There is 
 '^ but little fober folid Religion in this Work : it 
 <^ is little elfe but Flafh and Noife. Religion 
 '' now-a-Days all runs out into Tranfports and 
 " high Flights of the Paffions and Affe6tions.'^ 
 In their Philofophy, the AiFecSlions of the Soul 
 are fomething diverfe from the Will, and not 
 appertaining to the nobleft Part of tlie Soul, but 
 the meancft Principles that it has, that belong 
 to Men as partaking of animal Nature, and 
 what he has in common with the Brute Cre- 
 ation, rather than any Thing whereby he is 
 conformed to Angek and pure Spirits, And 
 tho' they acknowledge that there is a good Ufe 
 may be made of the Affe6lions in Religion, yet 
 they fuppofe that the fubftantial Part of Religion 
 don't confift in tliem, but that they are rather 
 to be looked upon as fomething adventitious and 
 accidental in Chriftianity. 
 
 But I can't but think that thefe Gentlemen la- 
 bour under greatMiftakes,both in theirPhilofophy 
 and Divinity. 'Tis true, Diftin61:ion muft be 
 made in theAffedtionsorPafTions. There's a great 
 deal of Difference in high and raifed AfFedions,, 
 which muft be diftinguifhed by the Skill of the 
 B Obfenxr. 
 
8 Of Religion conjijling Part I. 
 
 Obferver. Some are much more folid than 
 others. There are many Exercifes of the Affec- 
 tions that are very flafhy, and httle to be de- 
 pended on ; and oftentimes tliere is a great deal 
 that appertains to them, or rather that is the 
 EfFeft of them, that has its Seat in animal Na- 
 ture, and is very much ov^ing to the Conftitu- 
 tion and Frame of the Body ; and that which 
 fometimes more efpecially obtains the Name of 
 Paflion, is nothing folid or fubftantial. But it is 
 falfe Philofophy to fuppofe this to be the Cafe 
 with all Exercifes of AfFedlion in the Soul, or 
 with all great and high AfFeftions ; and falfe Di- 
 vinity to fuppofe that religious Afteftions don't 
 appertain to the Subftance and Eflence of Chjrifti- 
 anity : On the contrarj^, it feems to me that the 
 very Life and Soul of all true Religion corififts 
 in them. 
 
 I humbly conceive that the AfFedlions of the 
 Soul are not properly diftinguifhed from the 
 Will, as tho' they were two Faculties in the 
 Soul. All Acts of the Affedions of the Soul are 
 in fome Senfe Ads of the Will, and all Aas of 
 the Will are Ads of the Afteaions. All Exer- 
 cifes of the Will are in fome Degree or other, 
 Exercifes of the Soul's Appetition or Averfion ; 
 or which is the fame Thing, of its Love or Ha- 
 tred. The Soul wills one Thing rather than 
 another, or chufes one Thing rather than ano- 
 ther, no otherwife than as it loves one Thing 
 more than another -, but -Love and Hatred are 
 AfFeftions of the Soul ; and therefore all A6ls of 
 the Will are truly Afls of the AfFeaions ; tho* 
 
 the 
 
Part I. in the Pajfions ^ Jffeffions. g 
 
 the Exercife^ of the. Will don't obtain the Name 
 of Paffions, unlefs the Will, either in its Aver- 
 fion or Oppofition, be exercifed in a high De- 
 gree, or in a vigorous and lively Manner. 
 
 All vv^ill allows that true Vertue or Holinefs 
 has its Seat chiefly in the Heart, rather than in 
 the Head : It therefore follovv^s from what has 
 been faid already, that it confifts chiefly in holy 
 Jffeaions. The Things of Religion take Place 
 in Men's Hearts, no further than they are affiled 
 with them. The informing of the Underftanding 
 is all vain, any farther than it affe^is the Heart ; 
 or, which is the fame Thing, has Lifluence on 
 the Affecficm. 
 
 Thofe Gentlemen that make light of thefe 
 raifed AfFe6lions in Religion, w^ill doubtlefs allow 
 that true Religion and Holinefs, as it has its Seat 
 in the Heart, is capable of very high Degrees, 
 and high Exercifes in the Soul. As for Inftance ^ 
 They v/ill doubtlefs allov/ that the Holinefs of tj:ie 
 Heart or Will, is capable of being raifed to an 
 hundred Times as great a Degree of Strength as 
 it is in^ the mofl: eminent Saint on Earth, or to 
 be exerted in an hundred Times fo flrong anJ 
 vigorous Exercifes of the Heart ; and yet be true 
 Religion or Holinefs frill, but only in an high 
 Degree. Now therefore I would afk them, By 
 what Name they will call thefe high and vigo- 
 rous Exercifes of the Will or Heart ? Ben't they 
 high Afredions ? What can they confift in, but 
 in high Afts of Love \ ftrong and vigorous Exer- 
 cifes of Benevolence and Complacence \ high, 
 exalting and admiring Thoughts of God and his 
 B 2 Per- 
 
10 High ^ranfprts. Part I. 
 
 Perfeftions ; ftrong Defires after God, Jifc. — ? 
 And now what are we come to but high and raifed 
 AfFedions ? Yea, thofe very fame high and raifed 
 AfFe£lions that before they objected againfl, or 
 made light of, as worthy of Httle Regard ? 
 
 I fuppofe furthermore that all will allow that 
 there is nothing but folid Religion in Heaven : 
 But that there. Religion and Holinefs of Heart 
 is raifed to an exceeding great Height, to ftrong, 
 high, exalted Exercifes of Heart. Now what 
 other Kinds of fuch exceeding ftrong and high 
 Exercifes of the Heart, or of Holinefs as it has 
 its Seat in their Hearts, can we devife for them, 
 but only holy Affecflions, highDegrees of A6lings 
 of Love to God, rejoicing in God, admiring of 
 
 God, i^c, ? Therefore thefe Things in the 
 
 Saints and Angels in Heaven, are not to be de- 
 fpifcd and cafliierM by the Name of great Heats 
 and Tranfports of the Paffions. 
 
 And it will doubtlefs be yet further allowed, 
 that the more eminent the Saints are on Earth, 
 and the ftronger their Grace is, and the higher 
 its Exercifes are, the more they are like the 
 Saints in Heaven. /. e. (by what has been juft 
 nov/ obferved,) the more they have of high or 
 raifed AfFecSlions in Religion. 
 
 Tho' there are falfe AfFe6lIons in Religion, 
 and AfFedions that in fome Refpeds are raifed 
 high, that are flaftiy, yet undoubtedly there are 
 alfo true, holy and folid Affections; and the higher 
 thefe are raifed, the better : and if they are raifed 
 to an exceeding great Height, they are not to be 
 thought meanly of or fufpefted, mcerly becaufe 
 
 of 
 
^ART I. High Tranfprts,. i.i 
 
 of their great Degree, but on the contrary to be 
 efteemed and rejoiced in. Charity, or divine 
 Love, is in Scripture reprefented as the Sum of 
 all the Religion of the Heart ; but this is nothing . 
 but an holy Affeclicn : And therefore in Propor- 
 tion as this is firmly fixed in the Soul, and raifed 
 to a great Height, the more eminent a Perfon is 
 in Hollnefs. Divine Love or Charity is repre- 
 fented as the Sum of all the Religion of Heaven, 
 and tliat wherein mainly the Religion of the 
 Church in its more perfe6l State on Earth fhall 
 confift, v^hen Knowledge, and Tongues, and 
 Prophefyings fhall ceafe ^ and therefore the higher 
 this holy Affe6lion is raifed in the Cburch of 
 God, or in a gracious Soul, the more excellent 
 and perfecSl: is the State of the Church, or a par- 
 ticular Soul. 
 
 If we take the Scriptures for our Rule, then 
 the greater an Jliigher are the Exercifes of Love 
 to God, Delight and Complacence in God^ 
 Defires and Longings after God, Delight in the 
 Children of God, Love to Mankind, Broken- 
 nefs of Heart, Abhorrence of Sin, and Self-ab- 
 horrence for Sin ; and the Peace of God which 
 pafTeth all Underftanding, and Joy in the Holy 
 Ghoft, Joy unfpeakable and full of Glory ; admi- 
 ring Thoughts of God, exulting and glorying in 
 God i fo much the higher is Christ's Reli- 
 gion, or that Vertue which he and his Apoftles 
 taught, raifed in the Soul. 
 
 ^ It is a Stumbling to Ibme that religjous AfFec- 
 tions fhould feem to be fo powerful, or that, they 
 (hould be fo violent (as they exprefs it^) in fome 
 
 B 3 Pel- i 
 
1^ 12 Bodily Efe5fs. Part I. 
 
 Perfons : They are therefore ready to doubt whe- 
 ther it can be the Spirit of God, or whether this 
 Vehemence ben't rather a Sign of the Operation 
 of an evil Spirit. But why fhould fuch a Doubt 
 arife from no other Ground than this ? What is 
 reprefented in Scripture, as more powerful in its 
 Effefts, than the Spirit of God ? which is^there- 
 f iore Q?i\hd the Power of the htghejt^ Luk. i. 35, 
 
 ^ And its faving EfFeft in the Soul called the Power 
 
 % cf Godlinefs. So we read of the Demonjiratlon of 
 
 I the Spirit^ and of Poiver^ I Cor. 2. 4. And it is 
 
 - faid to operate in the Minds of Men with the 
 
 I exceeding Greatnefs of Divine Power ^ and accord- 
 
 ing to the zvorki7ig of GOD' s mighty Pozuer^ Eph. 
 1 . 1 9. So we read o^the effe^ual zuorking of his 
 Power^'E^h. 3. 7. And of the Power that ivork- 
 eth in Chrijlians^ v. 2C. " And of the Glorious 
 Power of God in the Operations of the Spirit, 
 CoL I. II. And. oi the TVork of^ Faith, its be- 
 ing wrought z^///^ P^xt;^r, 2 Thef. I. II. and in 
 2 Tim. I. 7. The Spirit of God is called the 
 Spirit of Poiver, and Lcve^ and of a found Mind, 
 So the Spirit is reprefented by a mighty Wind, 
 and by Fire^ Things moft powerful in their Ope- 
 ration. 
 
 2. Many are guilty of not taking the holy 
 Scriptures as a fufficient and whole Rule, where- 
 by to jucfjs of this Work, whether it be -^thfe ^ 
 Work of God, in that they judge by thofe 
 Things which the Scripture don't give 'as any 
 Signs or Marks whereby to judge one Way or 
 the other, and therefore do in no y/ife belong to 
 the Scripture-Rule gf judging, viz. The EfFe£ls 
 
 that 
 
Part I. Bodily EffeEls. 13 
 
 that religious Exercifes and AfFedlons of Mind 
 have upon the Body. Scripture Rules refpeft 
 the State of the Mind, and Perfons moral Con- 
 du6l, and voluntary Behaviour, and not the phy- 
 fical State of the Body. The Defign of the 
 Scripture is to teach us Divinity, and not Phyfick 
 and Anatomy. Minifters are made the^Watch- 
 men of Men's Souls, and not their Bodies ; and 
 therefore the great Rule which God has com- 
 mitted into their Hands, is to make them Di- 
 vines, and not Phyficians. Christ knew what 
 Inftruilions and Rules his Church would ftand in 
 Need of better than we do ; and if he had i^tn 
 \l needful in order to the Churches Safety, he 
 doubtlefs would have given Minifters Rules to 
 judge of Bodily EfFedts, and would have told 'em 
 how the Pulfe fliould beat under fuch and fuch 
 religious Exercifes of Mind \ when Men fhould 
 look pale, and when they fhould fhed Tears \ 
 when they fliould tremble, and whether or no 
 they fliould ever be faint or cry out \ or whether 
 the Body fliould ever be put into Convulfions : 
 He probably would have put fome Book into their 
 Hands, that fliould have tended to make them ex- 
 cellent Anatoniifts and Phyficians: But he has 
 not done it, 'tx^jcaufe he did not fee it to be need- 
 ful. He judged, that if Minifters thoroughly did 
 their Duty as Watchmen and Overfeers of the 
 State and Frame of Men's Souls, ^nd of their 
 voluntary Conduct, according to the Rules he 
 had given, his Church would be well provided 
 for, as to its Safety in thefe Matters. And there- 
 fore thofe Minifters of Christ and Overfeers 
 
 of 
 
14 Bcdtly Effe£fs. Part L 
 
 Qf Souls, that bufy themfelves, and are full of 
 Concern about the invohintary Motions of the 
 Fluids and Solids of Men's Bodies, and from 
 thence full of Doubts and Sufpicions of the Caufe, 
 when nothing appears but that the State and 
 Frame of their Minds, and their voluntary Be- 
 haviour is-good, and agreeable to God's Word ; 
 I fay 5 fuch Minifters go out of the Place that 
 Christ has fet them in, and leave their proper 
 Bufinefs, as much as if they fhould undertake to 
 tell who are under the Influence of the Spirit by 
 their Looks, or their Gate. I can't fee which 
 Way we are in Danger, or how the Devil is like 
 to get any notable Advantage againft us, if we 
 do but thoroughly do our Duty with Refpedi to 
 thofe tW9 Things, viz. The State of Perfons 
 Minds, and their moral Conduct, feeing to ft 
 that they be maintained in anAgreeablenefs to the 
 Rules that Christ has given us. If Things 
 are but kept right in thefe Refpe£ls, our Fears 
 and Sufpicions arifmg from extraordinary bodily 
 EfFecls feem wholly groundlefs. 
 
 The moft fpecious Thing that is alledged 
 agaim'l thefe extraordinary Eftefts on the Body, 
 is that the Body is impaired and Health wronged ; 
 and that it's hard to think thxat God, in the mer- 
 ciful Influences of his Spirit on Men, would woynd 
 their Bodies, and impair their Health. But if it 
 were (o pretty commonly or in multiplied Inftan- 
 ces, (which i don't fuppofe it is,) that Perfons 
 received a lalling Wound to their Health by ex- 
 traordinary religious Impreffions made upon their 
 Minds, yet 'tis too much for us to determine 
 
 that 
 
Part I. Bodtly EffeSls'. ^ 15 
 
 that God fhall never bring an outward Cala- 
 mitv, in beftowing a vaftly greater fpiritual and 
 eternal Good. Jacob in doing his Duty in 
 wreftling with God for the Blefling, and while 
 God was itriving with him, at the lame Time 
 that he received the Bleffing from God, juffer'd 
 a great outward Calamity from his Hand j God 
 impaired his Body {o that he never got over it as 
 long as he lived : He gave him the Bleffing, but 
 fent him away halting on his Thigh, and he went 
 lame all his Life after. And yet this is not men- 
 tioned as if it wxre any Diminution of the great 
 Mercy of God to him, when God bleffed him, 
 and he received his Name Ifrael^ becaufe as a 
 Prince he had Power with God, and had pre- 
 vailed. 
 
 But, fay fome, The Operations of the Spirit 
 of God are of a benign Nature; nothing is of 
 a more kind Influence on human Nature than 
 the merciful Breathings of God's own Spirit. 
 But it has been a Thing generally fuppofed and 
 allowed in the Church of God, till now, that 
 there is fuch a Thing as being fick of Love to 
 Christ, or having the bodilyStrength weakened 
 by ftrong and vigorous Exercifes of Love to him. 
 And however kind to human Nature the Influ- 
 ences of the Spirit of God are, yet no Body 
 doubts but that divine and eternal Things, as 
 they may be difcovered, would overpower the 
 Nature of Man in its prefent weak State ; and 
 that therefore the Body in its prefent Weaknefs, 
 is not fitted for the Views and Pleafures and Em- 
 ployments of Heaven : and that if God did dif- 
 
 cover 
 
i6 Bodily Effe£ls, Part I. 
 
 cover but a little of that which is feen by the 
 Saints and Angels in. Heaven, our frail Natures 
 would fink under it. Indeed I know not what 
 Perfons may deny now, to defend themfelves in 
 a Caufe they have had their Spirits long engaged 
 in ; but I know thefe Things don't ufe to be 
 
 denied, or doubted of. Let us rationally con- 
 
 lider what we profefs to believe of the infinite 
 Greatnefs of the Things of God, the divine 
 Wrath, the divine Glory, and the divine infinite 
 Love and Grace in Jesus Christ, and the 
 Vaftnefs and infinite Importance of theThings of 
 Eternity ; and how reafonable is it to fiippofe 
 tliat if it pleafes God a little to withdraw the 
 Vail, and let in Light into the Soul, and give 
 fomething of a View of the great Things of ano- 
 ther World in their tranfcendent and infinite 
 Greatnefs, That human Nature, that is as the 
 Grafs, a (haking Leaf, a weak withering Flower, 
 fhould totter under fuch a Difcovery ? Such a 
 Bubble is too weak to bear the Weight of a 
 View of Things that are fo vaft. Alafs ! What 
 is fuch Duft and Aflies, that it ftiould fupport 
 it felf under the View of the awful Wrath or 
 infinite Glory and Love of JEHOVAH ! No 
 Wonder therefore that it is faid, A^^ Man can fee 
 me and Uve^ and Flejh and Blood ca7inot inherit the 
 Kingdom of GOD. That externalGlory &Majefly 
 of Christ which Daniel faw, when there re- 
 mained no Strength in him^ and his Comelinefs was 
 turned in him into Corruption^ Dan. ic 6, 7,8^ 
 And which the Apoftle John faw, when he fell 
 at his Feet as dead ; was but an Image or Shadow 
 
 of 
 
Part I. Effects on the Body. 17 
 
 of that fpiritual Glory and Majefty of Christ, 
 which will be manifefted in the Souls of the 
 Saints in another World, and which is fome- 
 times, in fome Degree, manifefted to the Soul 
 in this World, by the Influences of the Spirit of 
 God. And if the beholding the Image, and ex- 
 ternal Reprefentation of this fpiritual Majefty 
 and Glory, did fo overpower human Nature, is it 
 unreafonable to fuppofe that a Sight of the fpiri- 
 tual Glory it felf, which is the Subftance, of 
 which that was but the Shadow, fhould have as 
 powerful an Effedt ? The Prophet Habakkuk^ 
 ipeaking of the awful Manifeftations God made 
 of his Majefty and Wrath, at the Red Sea, and 
 in the Wildernefs, and at Mount 5/;/^/, where 
 he gave the Law ; and of the merciful Lifluence, 
 and ftrong Impreflion God caufed it to have up- 
 on him, to the End that he might be faved from 
 that Wrath, and reft in the Day of Trouble ; 
 fays, Hab. 3. 16. TFhen I heard my Belly trem- 
 bled^ my Lips quivered at the Voice ^ Rottemiefs en- 
 tered into my Bones y 1 trembled in my felf ^ that I 
 might rejl in the Day of Trouble. Which is much 
 Aich an Effefl as'tlie Difcovery of the fame Ma- 
 jefty and Wrath, in the fame awful Voice from 
 Mount Sinai ^ has had upon many in thefe Days ; 
 and to the fame Purpofes, viz. to give 'em Reji 
 in the Day of Trffubky and fave 'era from that 
 Wrath. The PfaJmift alfo fpeaks of verv much 
 fuch an Effed: as I have often {qqh on Perfons 
 under religious AiFedions of iate, Pfal. iiq, 
 131. I opened my Mmib and panted^ for I longed 
 for thj/ Ccmmandments. 
 
 God 
 
1 8 Effe^s on the Body. Part I. 
 
 God is pleafed (bmetimes In dealing forth fpi- 
 ritual Bleflings to his People, in fome Refpeft to 
 exceed the Capacity of the VefTel, in its prefent 
 Scantinefs, fo that he don't only fill it full, but 
 he makes their Cup to run over ; agreeable to Pfal. 
 23. 5, And pours out a Bleffing, fometimes, in 
 fuch a Manner and Meafure that there is not 
 Room enough to receive it, MaL 3. 10. and 
 gives 'em Riches more than they can carry away ; 
 as he did to ^ehojhaphat^ and his People in a Time 
 of great Favour, by the Word of his Prophet 
 'Jehaziel in Anfwer to earneft Prayer, when the 
 People blefled the Lord in the Valley of Berachah^ 
 2 Chron. 20. 25, 26. It has been with the 
 Difciples of Christ, for a long Time, a Time 
 of great Emptinefs upon fpiritual Accounts ; 
 They have gone hungry, and have been toiling 
 in vain, during a dark Seafon, a Time of Night 
 with the Church of God ; as it was with the 
 Difciples of old, when they had toiled all Night 
 for fomething to eat and caught nothing, Luk, 5. 
 5, and 7<:7^. 21. 3. But now, the Morning be- 
 ing come, Jesus appears to his Difciples, and 
 takes a compaflionate Notice of their Want§, 
 and fays to 'em, Children have ye any Meat ? And 
 gives fome of them fuch abundance of Food, that 
 they are not able to draw their Net ; yea, fo 
 that their Net breaks, and their Veflel is over- 
 loaded, and begins to fmk ; as it was v/ith the 
 Difciples of old, Luk. 5. 6, 7. and Joh. 21. 6. 
 
 We can't determine that God never ftiall give 
 anyPerfonfomuch ofaDifcovery of himfelf,not on- 
 ly as to weaken theirBodies,but to take away their 
 
 Lives. 
 
Part I. EffeSls on the Body. 19 
 
 Lives. 'Tis fappofcd by very learned and judi- 
 cious Divin'es, that Mofes's Life was taken away 
 after this Manner j and this has alfo been fuppo- 
 fed to be the Cafe with fome other Saints. Yea, 
 I don't fee any folid fare Grounds any have to 
 determinejthat God ihall never make fuch ftrong 
 'Impreflions on the Mind by his Spirit, that fhall 
 be an Occafion of fo impairing the Frame of the 
 Body, and particularly that Part of the Body, the 
 Brain, that Perfons fhall be deprived of the Ufe 
 of Reafon. As I faid before, it is too much for 
 us to determine, that God will not bring an 
 <:)utward Calamity in beftowing fpiritual and eter- 
 nal Bleflings : fo it is too much for us to deter- 
 mine, how great an outward Calamity he will 
 bring. If God gives a great Increafe of Difco- 
 veries of himfelf, and of Love to him, the Bene- 
 fit is infinitely greater than the Calamity, tho* 
 the Life fliould prefently after be taken away ; 
 yea tho* the Soul fhould not immediately be 
 taken to Heaven, but fhould He fomc Years-ih 
 a deep Sleep, and then be taken to Heaven : Or, 
 which is much the fame Thing, if it be de- 
 prived of the Ufe of its Faculties, and be un- 
 aftive and unferviceable, as if it lay in a deep 
 Sleep for fome Years, and then fhould pafs into 
 Glory. We cannot determine how great a Ca- 
 lamity Diflradlion is, when confidered with all 
 its Confequences, and all that might have been 
 confequent, if the Diflradion had not happened ; 
 nor indeed whether, (thus confidered) it be any 
 Calamity at all, or whether it be not a Mercy, 
 by preventing fomc great Sin, or fome more 
 C dreadfii 
 
^.o Effe£is on the Body: Part I. 
 
 dreadful Things if it had not been. 'Tis a great 
 Fault in us to limit a fovereign all- wife God, 
 whofe Judgments are a great Deep, and his 
 Ways paft finding out, where he has not limi- 
 ted himfelf, and in Things, concerning which, 
 
 he has not told us what his Way fhall be. 
 
 'Tis remarkable, confidering in v/hat Multitudes 
 of Inflances, and to how great a Degree, the 
 Frame of theBody has been over-powered of late, 
 that Perfons Lives have notwithftanding been pre- 
 ferved, and that the Inftances of thofe that have 
 been deprived of Reafon have been fo very few, 
 and thofe, perhaps, all of them, Perfons under 
 the peculiar Disadvantage of a weak, vapoury 
 Habit of Body. A merciful and careful divine 
 Hand is very manifeft in it, that in fo many In- 
 ftances where the Ship has begun to fmk, yet it 
 
 has been upheld, and has not totally funk. 
 
 I'he Inftances of fuch as have been deprived of 
 Reafon are fo few, that certainly they are not 
 enough to caufe us to be in any Fright, as tho' 
 this Work that has been carried on in the Coun- 
 try, was like to be of baneful Influence ; unlefs 
 we are difpofed to gather up all that we can to 
 darken it, and fet it forth in frightful Colours. 
 
 There is one particular Kind of Exercife and 
 Concern of Mind, that many have been over- 
 pov/ered by, that has been efpecially ftumbling 
 to fome ; and that is the deep Concern and Dif- 
 trefs that they have been in for the Souls of ethers. 
 I am forry that any put us to the Trouble of do- 
 ing that which feems fo needlefs, as defending 
 fuch a Thing as this. It feems like meer trifling 
 
 in 
 
Part I. Biftrefs for others. 21 
 
 in {o plain a Cafe, to enter into a formal and 
 particular Debate, in order to determine whether 
 there be any thing In the Greatnefs and Impor- 
 tance of the Ciife that will anfwer, and bear a 
 Proportion to the Greatnefs of the Concern that 
 fome have manifcfted. Men may be allowed', 
 from no higher a Principle than common Inge- 
 nuity and Humanity, to be very deeply con- 
 cerned, and greatly exercifed in Mind, at the 
 feeing others in great Danger, of no greater a 
 Calamity than drowning, or being buriTt: up in 
 an Houfe on Fire. And if {o^ then doubtlefs it 
 will be allow'd to be equally reafbnable, if they faw 
 them in Danger of a Calamity ten Times greater, 
 to be ftill much more concern'd \ & fo much more 
 ftill, if the Calamity was ftill vaftly greater. Aiid 
 why then fhould it be thought unreafonable, and 
 looked upon with a very fufpicious Eye, as if it 
 muft come from fome bad Caufe, when Perfons 
 are extremely concerned at feeing others in verv 
 great Danger of fufFering the Fiercenefs and 
 Wrath of Almighty GOD, to all Eternity ? 
 And befides it will doubtlefs be allowed that thofe 
 that have very great Degrees of the Spirit of 
 GOD, that is a Spirit of Love, may well be fup- 
 pofed to have vaftly more of Love and Coni- 
 paffion to their Fellovz-Creatures, than thofe that 
 are influenced only by common Humanity. \\^hy 
 fliould it be thought ftrange tha.t thofe that are 
 full of the Spirit of Christ, ftiould be proporri- 
 onably, in their Love to Souls, hketo Chr'ist ? 
 who had fo ftrong a Love to them and Concern 
 for them, as to be willing to drink the Dregs of 
 C 2 the 
 
2 2 Dijlrefs for ethers. Part I. 
 
 the Cup of GOD's Fury for them ; and at the 
 fame Time that he offered up his Blood for 
 Souls, offered up alfo, as their High Prieft, ftrong 
 Crying and Tears,with an extremeAgony, where- 
 in the Soul of Christ was as it v/ere in Tra- 
 vail for the Souls of the Elecl 3 and therefore in 
 faving them he is faid to fee of the Travail of his 
 Soul. As fuch a Spirit of Love to, and Concern 
 for Souls v/as the Spirit of Christ, fo it is the 
 
 ^ Spirit of the Church ; and therefore the Church, 
 in defiring and feeking that Christ might be 
 brought forth in the World, and in the Souls of 
 Men, is rcprefented, Rejr. 12. as a JVomcn cry- 
 ing^ travailing in Birth ^ and pained to he delivered. 
 The Spirit of thofe that have been in Diilrefs for 
 the Souls of others, fo far as I can difcern, feems 
 
 ; not to be different from that of the Apoftle, who 
 travailed for Souls, and was ready to vjijh himfelf 
 cccurfed frojn CHRIST for others. And that of 
 the Pfalmift, Pfal. 119. 53. Horror hath taken 
 hold upon me^ bec-aufe of the JVicked that for fake tljy 
 Laic, And v. 136. Rivers cf Waters run dozen 
 nine Eyes, h^caufe they keep not thy Law, And 
 ::i:it of the Prophet Jeremiah, Jer. 4. 19. My 
 Byjuels! my Boivels ! I am pained at my very 
 Heart ! My Heart maketh a Noife in me ! I can- 
 -:t hold my Peace ! Becaufe thou hafi heard, O my 
 '^:ul, the Sound of the Trumpet, the Alarm of ff^ar f 
 And fo Chap. 9. i. and 13. 17. and 14. 17. 
 and Ifa. 22. 4. We read of Mcrdecai, when 
 he faw his People in Danger of being deftroyed 
 v/itha temporal Deftruftion, Ejlh, 4. i. That 
 "^e rent his Clothes^ and put en Sackcloth with AJhes, 
 
 and 
 
Part I. Extraordinary Appearances. 23 
 
 and went out into the ?nidji of the City, and cried 
 with a loud and bitter Cry. And why then fliould 
 Perfons be thought to be diftradled, when they 
 can't forbear crying out, at the Confideration of 
 the Mifery of thofe that are going to eternal De- 
 ftrudion ? 
 
 3, Another Thing that fome. make their Rule 
 to judge of this Work by, inftead of the Holy 
 Scriptures, is Hiftory, or former Obfervation. 
 Herein they err two Ways ; Fir ft ^ If there he 
 any Thing new and extraordinary in the Cir- 
 cumftances of this Work, that was not obferveJ 
 in former Times, that ia a Rule with them to 
 rejedl this Work as not the Work of GOD. 
 Herein they make that their Rule, that GOD 
 has not given them for their Rule ; and limit 
 GOD, where he has not limited himfelf. Avd 
 this is efpecially unreafonable in this Cafe : For 
 whofoever has well weighed the. wonderful, and 
 myfterious Methods of Divine Wifdom, in car- 
 rying on the Work of the New Creation, or in 
 the Progrefs of the Work of Redemption, from 
 the firft Promife of the Seed of the Woman to ^ 
 this Time, may eafily obferve that it has all along 
 been GOD's Manner to open new Scenes, and. 
 to bring forth to View Things new and wonder- 
 ful, fuch as Eye had not k^n^ nor Ear heard, 
 nor emtred into the Heart of Man or Angels, to 
 the Aftoniihment of Heaven and Earth, not only ' 
 in the Revelations he makes of his Mind and 
 Will, but alfo in the Works of his Hands. As 
 the old Creation was carried on through fix Days, 
 and appeared all compleat, fettled in a State 'ot 
 C 3 Reil 
 
24 New Things. Part I. 
 
 Reft on the feventh ; fo the New Creation, which 
 is immenfely the greateft and moft glorious Work, 
 is carried on in a gradual Progrefs, from the Fall 
 of Man, to the Confummation of all Things, at 
 the End of the World. And as in the Progrefs 
 of the Old Creation, there were ftill new Things 
 accomplifhed \ new Wonders appeared every Day 
 jM the Sight of the Angels, the Speftators of that 
 j^ork J while thofe Morning Stars fang together, 
 new Scenes were opened or Things that they had 
 not feen before, 'till the whole was finiftied ; fo 
 -it is in the Progrefs of the New Creation. So 
 that that Promife, Ifa. 64. 4. For fmce the be- 
 ginning of the Worlds Men have not heard^ nor per- 
 ceived by the Ear^ neither hath the Eye feen^ O 
 GOD^ hejides thee^ what he hath prepared for him 
 that waiteth for him, Tho' it had a glorious Ful- 
 filment in the Days of Christ and the Apoftles, 
 as the Words are applied, \ Cor, 2, g. Yet it 
 always remains to be fulfilled, in Things that are 
 yet behind, 'till the New Creation is finifhed, 
 at Christ's delivering up the Kingdom to the 
 Father. And we live in thofe latter Days, where- 
 in we may be efpecially warranted to expecft that 
 Things will be accomplifhed, concerning which 
 it will be faid, TVho hath heard fuch a Thing? 
 Who hath feen fuch Things P 
 
 .And befides thofe Things in this Work that 
 have been chiefly complained of as new, are not 
 fo new as has been generally imagined : Tho' 
 they have been much more frequent lately, in 
 Proportion to the uncommon Degree, Extent and 
 Swiftnefs, ?iid Qth^r extraordinary Circumftances 
 
 of 
 
Part I . Things falfely fuppofed new. Z5 
 
 of the Work, yet they are not new in theirKind ; 
 but are Things of the fame Nature as have been 
 found and well approved of in the Church of 
 GOD before, from Time to Time. 
 
 We have a remarkable Inftance in Mr. Bolton^ 
 that noted Minifter of the Church of England^ 
 who being awaken'd by the preaching of the 
 famous Mr. Perkins^ Minifter of Christ in the 
 Univerfity of Cambridge^ was fubjeft to fuch 
 Terrors as threw him to the Ground, and caufed 
 him to roar with Anguifh ; and the Pangs of 
 the New-Birth in him were fuch, that he lay 
 pale and without Senfe, like one dead ; as we 
 have an Account in the Fulfilling of the Scripture^ 
 the 5th Edition, p. 103, 104. We have an 
 Account in the fame Page of another, whofe 
 Comforts under the Sun-ftiine of GOD's Pre- 
 fence were fo great, that he could not forbear 
 crying out in a Tranfport, and exprefling in Ex- 
 clamations, the great Senfe he had of forgiving 
 Mercy and his Affurance of GOD's Love. And 
 we have a remarkable Inftance in the Life of 
 Mr. George Trojfe^ written by himfelf (who, of a 
 notorioufly vicious profligate Liver, became an 
 eminent Saint and Minifter of the Gofpel,) of 
 Terrors occafion'd by Awakenings of Confcience, 
 fo overpowering the Body, as to deprive, for fome 
 Time, of the Ufe of Reafon. 
 
 Yea, fuch extraordinary external EiFe6ts of in- 
 ward Impreffions have not only been to be found in 
 here and there a fingle Perfon, but there have 
 alfo before now been Times wherein many have 
 been thus affe^^ed,, in i^xt^^ particular Parts of 
 
 the 
 
y6 Former Infiances of crying out^ Pa. I. 
 
 theChurch of God ; &TuchEffe£ls have appeared 
 ,^in Congregations, in many at once. So it was 
 -in the Year 1625, in the Weft of Scotland^ in a 
 Time of great Out-pouring of the Spirit of GOD. 
 It was then a frequent Thing for many to be 
 fo extraordinarily feized with Terror in the hear- 
 ing of the Word, by the Spirit of GOD con- 
 vincing them of Sin', that they fell down, and 
 were carried out of the Church, who afterwards 
 proved moft folid and lively Chriftians ; as the 
 Author of the Fulfilling of the Scripture informs 
 us, p. 185. The fame Author in the preceding 
 Page, informs of many in France that were fo 
 wonderfully affefted with the Preaching of the 
 Gofpel, in the Time of thofe famous Divines 
 Farel and Viret^ that for a Time^ they could 
 not follow their fecular Bufmefs. And p. 186. 
 of many in Ireland^ in a Time of great Out- 
 pouring of the Spirit there, in the Year 1628, 
 that were fo filled with Divine Comforts, and a 
 Senfe of GOD, thnt they made but little Ufe of 
 either Meat, Drink or Sleep, and profeffed that 
 they did not feel the Need thereof. The fam.e 
 Author gives an Account of very much fuch 
 Things in Mrs. Catherine Brettergh of Lancajhire 
 m England^ (p. 391. 392.) as have been cried 
 out of, here amongft us, as wild and diftrafted : 
 how that after great Diftrefs, which very much 
 afFecled her Body, the Sweat fometimes burfting 
 but upon her, GOD did fo break in upon her 
 Mind with Light and Difcoveries of himfelf, that 
 fhe was forced to burft out, crying^ '^ O the 
 ^^ Jovs, the Joys, the Joys, that I feel in my 
 
 '« Soul f 
 
P.I. FalUngdown^bigblranfports^&cc. 27 
 
 *^ Soul ! O they be wonderful, they be wonder- 
 <* ful ! The Place where I now am is fweet and 
 ♦^ pleafant ! How comfortable is the Sweetnefs 
 ^^ I feel, that delights my Soul ! The Tafte is 
 ** precious ; do you not feel it ? Oh fo fweet as 
 •^ it is ! '' And at other Times, «^ O my fweet 
 ♦* Saviour, fhall I be one with thee, as thou art 
 *^ one with the Father ? And doft thou fo love 
 '' me that am but Duft, to make me Partaker 
 '^ of Glory with Christ ? O how wonderful 
 * ^ is thy Love ! And Oh that my Tongue and 
 ^' Heart were able to found forth thy Praifes as 
 «' I ought." At another Time ftie burft forth 
 thus ; *' Yea Lord, I feel thy Mercy, and I am 
 ^' aiiuredof thyLove ! And fo certain am I there- 
 *' of, as thou art that GOD of Truth : even fo 
 '^ certainly do I know my felf to be thine, O 
 ^^ LORD my GOD ; and this mySoul knoweth 
 " right well!" Which laft Words fhe again 
 doubled- To a grave Minifter, one Mr. Harris 
 fm, then with her, fhe faid, ^' My Soul hath 
 *^ been compafled with the Terrors of Death, 
 '' the Sorrows of Hell were upon me, and a 
 *' Wildernefe of Woe was in me ; but blefled, 
 « bleffed, blefled be the LORD my GOD ! 
 " he hath brought me to a Place of Reft, even 
 '* to the fweet running Waters of Life. The 
 ^' Way I now go in is a fweet and eafy 
 *< Way, ftrowed with Flowers ; he hath brought 
 '^ me into a Place more fweet than the Gar- 
 *' den of Eden, O the Joy, the Joy, the De- 
 '^ lights and Joy that I feel ! O how wonder- 
 '' ful ! '^ 
 
 Great 
 
2 8 Former Injlances of crying out^ Pa. I. 
 
 Great Out-Cries under Awakenings were more 
 frequently heard of in former Times in the Coun- 
 try than they have been of late, as fome aged 
 Perfons now Hving do teftify : Particularly I think 
 fit here to infert a Teflimony of my honoured 
 Father, of what he remembers formerly X.o have 
 heard. 
 
 " '^ I wxil remember that one Mr. Alexander 
 Allyn^y a Scots Gentleman of good Credit, 
 that dwelt formerly in this Town, {hewed me 
 a Letter that came from Scotland^, that gave 
 an Account of a Sermon preached in the City 
 of Edinburgh^ (as I remember) in the Time 
 of the fitting of the general Aflembly o{ Di- 
 vines in that Kingdom, that fo afFefted the 
 People, that there was a great and loud Cry 
 made throughout the Aflembly. I have alfo 
 been credibly informed, & how often I cannot 
 now fay, that it was a common Thing, when 
 the famous Mr. John Rogers of Dedham in 
 England was preaching, for fome of his Hear- 
 ers to cry out ; and by what I have heard, I 
 conclude that it was ufual for many that heard 
 that very awakening and roufing Preacher of 
 GOD*s Word, to make a great Cry in the 
 Congregation.'* 
 Wind/or^ May 5. 
 
 1742. Timothy Edwards. 
 
 Mr. Flavel gives a remarkable Inftanceofa 
 Man that he knew, that was wonderfully over- 
 come with divine Comforts ; which it is fuppo- 
 fed he knew, as the Apoftle Paul knew the 
 
 Man 
 
p. I. Falling down, high Tranfpcrts^ &c. 29 
 
 Man that was caught up to the Third Heaven. 
 He relates. 
 
 That '^ As the Perfon was travelling alone, 
 '' with his Thoughts clofely fixed on the great 
 '<- and aftonifhing Things of another World, his 
 '<^ Thoughts began to fwell higher and higher, 
 '' like the Water in Ezekiel's Vifion, 'till at laft 
 '' they became an overflowing Flood : Such was 
 ^^ the Intenfenefs of his Mind, fuch the ravifli- 
 '' ing Tafles of heavenly Joys, and fuch his full 
 ^' AlTurance of his Intereft therein, that he ut- 
 " terly loft all Sight & Senfe of this World, & the 
 *' Concernments thereof ; and for fome Hours, 
 ^' knew not where he was, nor what he was 
 '^ about : But having loft a great Qiianti^y of 
 '' Blood at the Nofe, he found himfelf fo faint, 
 ^^ that it brought him a little more to himfelf. 
 *' And after he had wafhed himfelf at a Spring, 
 ' " and drank of the Water for his Refreftiment, 
 '^ he continued to the End of his Journey, which 
 *^ was Thirty Miles ; and all this while was 
 ' ' fcarce fenfible : And fays he had feveral Trances 
 *^ of confiderable Continuance. The fame blef- 
 '^ fed Frame was prefer\'ed all that Night, and 
 ^^ m 2l lower Degree, great Part of the next 
 ^' Day: The Night palTed without one Wink 
 '' of Sleep'; and yet he declares he never had a 
 '^ fweeter Night's Reft in all his Life. Still 
 '^ adds the Story ^ The Joy of the Lord over- 
 ^' flowed him, and he feem'd to be an Inhabi- 
 ^' tant of another World. And he ufed for 
 *' many Years after to call that Day one of the 
 ** Days of Heaven s and profefs'd that he under- 
 
 " flood 
 
30 luftances of crying cnl, Sjc. Pa. I 
 
 *^ flood more of the Life of Heaven by It, than 
 ** by all the Books he ever read, or Difcourfes 
 *^ he ever entertain'd about it." 
 
 There have been Inftances before now, of 
 Perfons crying out in Tranfports of divine Joy in 
 New- England, We have an Inftance in Capt. 
 Cbp's Memoirs, publifhed by the Rev. Mr. 
 Prince^ not of a filly Woman or Child, but a 
 Man of folid Underftanding, that in a high Tran- 
 fport of fpiritual Joy, was made to cry out aloud 
 on liis Bed. His Words p. 9. are, '* GOD's 
 ** holy Spirit did witnefs, (I do believe) together 
 *^ with my Spirit 3 that I was a Child of GOD, 
 *< and did fill my Heart and Soul with fuch full 
 *' AlTurance that Christ was mine, that it did 
 ^^ fo tranfport me, as to make me cry out upon 
 *^ my Bed, wi til a loud Voice, He is come^ He 
 '^ is come / '* 
 
 There has, before now, been both crying out 
 and falling down, in this Town, under Awaken- 
 ings of Confcience, and in the Pangs of the New- 
 Birth, and alfo in fome of the Neighbour Towns. 
 In one of them, more than feven Years ago, was 
 a great Number together that cried out and fell 
 down, under Convidions ; in moft of which, by 
 good Information, was a hopeful and abiding 
 good Iffue. And the Rev. Mr. IViUiams of Deer- 
 field gave me an Account of an aged Man in that 
 Town, many Years before that, that being awa- 
 ken'd by his Preaching, cried out aloud in the 
 Congregation. There have been many Inftances 
 in this and fome Neighbour Towns, before 
 now, of Perfons feinting with joyful Difcoveries 
 
 made 
 
[Vart I. .jgrcement with Enthujlajls. 51 
 
 made to tlieir Souls : once feveral together in'this 
 Town. And there alfo formerly hzvQ been feve- 
 ral Inftances here, of Perfon's Fiefh waxing cold 
 and benummb'd, and their Hands cHnch'd, yea 
 their Bodies being fet into Convuifions, being 
 over-power'd with a ftrong Senfe of the aftoniCi- 
 ingly great and excellent Things of GOD and 
 the Eternal World. 
 
 Secondly^ Another Way that fome err in ma- 
 king Hiftory and former Obfervation their Rule 
 to judge of this Work, inftead of the Holy Scrip- 
 ture, is in comparing fome external, accidental 
 Circumftances of this Work, with what has ap- 
 pear'd fometimes in Enthufiafts ; and as they find 
 an Agreement in fome fuch Things, fo they re- 
 je<9: the whole Work, or at leaft the Subftance 
 of it, concluding it to be Enthufiafm. So, great 
 Ufe has been made to this Purpofe of many 
 Things that are found amongft the fakers ; 
 however totally and eflentially different in its 
 Nature this Work is, and the Principles it is 
 built upon, from the whole Religion of the fa- 
 kers. So, to the fame Purpofe, fome external 
 Appearances that were found amongft the French 
 Prophets^ and fome other Enthufiafts- in former 
 Times, have been of late trump'd up with great 
 Afliirance and Triumph. 
 
 4. I would propofeit to be confider'd. Whe- 
 ther or no, fome inftead of making the Scriptures 
 their only Rule to judge of this Work, don't 
 make their own Experience the Rule, and re- 
 jedt fuch and fuch Things as are now profefled 
 D and 
 
j 2 Of unjupy judging ?:. ■ : I 
 
 •md experienced, becaufe they never felt 'em 
 themfelves. Are there not many, that chiefly on 
 this Ground, have entertained and vented Sulpi- 
 cions, if not peremptory Condemnations of thofe 
 extreme Terrors, and thofe great, fudden &extra- 
 ordinary Difcoveries of the gloriousPerfecl:ions of 
 God, and of the Beauty and Love of Christ ; 
 and fuch vehement AfFeftions, fuch high Tran- 
 jports of Lgve and Joy, fach Pity and Diftrefs 
 for the Souls of others, and Exercifes of Mind 
 that have fuch great Effe6is on Perfons Bodies, 
 meerly, or chiefly, becaufe they knew nothing 
 about 'em by Experience ? Perfons are very rea- 
 dy to be fufpicious of what they han't felt them- 
 felves. 'Tis to be fear'd many good Men have 
 been guilty of this Error ; which yet don't make 
 it the lefs unreafonable. And perhaps there are 
 feme ^that upon this Ground don't only reject 
 thefe extraordinary Things, but all fuch Con- 
 viction of Sin, and fuch Difcoveries of the Glory 
 of God, and Excellency of Christ, and inward 
 Conviction of the Truth of the Gofpel, by the 
 immediate Influence of the Spirit of God, that 
 are now fuppofcd to be neceflary to Salvation. 
 
 Thefe Perfons that thus make their own Ex- 
 yciienccs their Rule of Judgment, inftead of 
 bov/incr to the Wifdom of God, and yielding to 
 his Vv^ord as ?sl infallible Rule, are guilty of cafl:- 
 ing a great Reflection upon the Underftanding of 
 the moit High. 
 
 III. Another Foundation-Error of thofe that 
 reiea this ^York, is their not duly diftinguifliing 
 
 the 
 
Part I. the whole by a Part. ^ 33 
 
 the Good from the Bad, and very unjuftly judg- 
 ing of the Whole by a Part ; and fo rejeaing the 
 Work in general, or in the main Subllance of it, 
 for the fake of fjme Things that are accidental 
 to it, that are evil. They look for more in. 
 Men that are divinely influenced, becaufe fubjecl 
 to the Operations of a good Spirit, than is juftly 
 to be expeded from them for that Reafon, in 
 this imperfea State, and dark World, \vhere fo 
 much Blindnefs and Corraption remains in the 
 beft. When any profefs to have received Light 
 and Influence and Comforts from Heaven, and to 
 have had fenfible Communion with God, many 
 are ready to expect that now they appear like 
 Angels, and not flill like poor, feeble, blind and 
 fmful Worms of the Duft. There being fo much 
 Corruption left in the Hearts of God's own 
 Children, and its prevailing as it fometimes do^s^ 
 is indeed a myfterious Thing, and always was a 
 Stumbling-Block to the World ; but won't be (o 
 much wondred at by thofe that are well verftJ 
 in, and duly mindful of, two Things, viz. Firft^ 
 the Word of Go^j, which teaches us the State of 
 true Cbriftians in this World, c^nd Secofidly^ their 
 own Hearts, at leaft if thev have any Grace, and 
 . have Experience of its Confiifts with Corruption. 
 They that are true Saints are moft inexcufeable 
 in making a great Difficulty of a great deal of 
 Blindnefs, and many Imful Errors in thofe that 
 profefs Godlinefs. If all our Conduft, both open 
 and fecret, fliould be known, and our Hearts laid 
 open to the World, how fhould we be even ready 
 to fly from the Light of the Sun, and hide our 
 D 7,, felvqs 
 
34 ^Of imjujily judging. 6<c. Part 1. 
 
 felves from the View of Mankind ! And what 
 great Allowances would it be found that we 
 flioukl need, that others fhould make for us ? 
 perhaps much greater than we are v/illing to make 
 lor others.. 
 
 The great Weaknefs of the bigger Part of 
 Mankind, in any Afrarir that is new and uncom- 
 mon, appears in not diftinguiihing, but either ap- 
 proving or condemning all in the Lump. Tiiey 
 that highly approve of the AfFair in general, can't 
 bear to have any Thing at all found Fault with ; 
 and on the other Hand, thofe that fallen their 
 Eyes upon fome Things in the Affair that are 
 amifs, and appear very difagreeable to them, at 
 once reject the whole. Both which Errois often- 
 times ariTe from want of Perfons due Acquain- 
 tance with themfelves. It is rafh and unjuft when 
 we proceed thus in judging either of a particular 
 Perfon, or a People, or of fuch an Affair as the 
 prefent wonderful Influence on the Minds of the 
 People of this Land. Many if they fe:^ any Thing 
 very ill in a particular Perfon, a Minifler or pri- 
 vate Profeffor, will at once brjnd him as an Hy- 
 pocrite. And if there be two or three of a Peo- 
 ple or Society that behave themfelves very irre- 
 gularly, the whole muft bear the Blame of it* 
 And if there be a few, tho' it may be not above 
 One in an Hundred, that profeffed, and had a 
 Shew of being the happy Partakers of what are 
 called the faving Benefits of this Work, that 
 prove naught, and give the World juft Grounds 
 to fufpeft 'em, the whole Work muft be rejected 
 on their Account ; and thofe in general, that 
 
 make 
 
Part L Good may he accidentally 35. 
 
 make the like Profeflion muft be condemned for 
 their Sakes. 
 
 So careful are fome Perfons left this Work 
 ftiould be defended, that now they will hardly 
 allow that the Influences of the Spirit of God on 
 the Heart, can fo much as indirectly, and acci- 
 dentally, be the Occafion of the Exercife of Cor- 
 ruption, and Commiffion of Sin. Thus far is 
 
 true. That the Influence of the Spirit of God in 
 his faving Operations, won't be an Occafion of 
 the Increafe of the Corruption of the Heart in 
 general, but on the contrary, of the weakening 
 of it : But yet there is nothing unreafonable in 
 fuppofing, that at the fame Time that it weakens 
 Corruption in general, it may be an Occafion of 
 the turning what is left into a new Channel, and 
 fo of there being more of fome certain Kinds of 
 the Exercife of Corruption than there was be- 
 fore ; as that which tends to hinder and ftop the 
 Courfe of a Stream^ if it don't do it wholly, may 
 give a new Courfe to (o much of the Water as 
 gets by the Obftacle. The Influences of the Spi- 
 rit, for Inftance, may be an Occafion of new 
 Ways of the Exercife of Priae, as has been ac- 
 knowledged by orthodox Divines in general. 
 That fpiritual Difcoveries and Comforts may, 
 through the Corruption of the Heart, be an Oc- 
 cafion of the Exercifes of fpiritual Pride, don*t 
 ufe to be doubted of, 'till now it is found to be 
 needful to maintain the War againft this Work. 
 
 They that will harldly allow that a Work of 
 
 the Spirit of God can be a remote Occafion of 
 
 any finfu] Behaviour or unchiiftiaa ConducS-,. I 
 
 D 2 fuppofe 
 
^6 anOccafionof Evil Part I. 
 
 fuppofe will allow that the truly gracious Influ- 
 ences of theSpirit of GoDjyea and an highDegree 
 of Love to God, is confiftent with thefe two 
 Things, vi%. A confiderable Degree of remain- 
 ing Corruption, and alfo many Errors in Judg- 
 ment In Matters of Religion, and in Matters of 
 Praftice. And this is all that need to be allowed, 
 in order to its being moft demonftratively evident, 
 that a high Degree of Love to God may acci- 
 dentally move a Perfon to that which is very 
 wrong, and contrary to the Mind and Will of 
 God. For a high Degree of Love to God will 
 ftrongly move a Perfon to do that which he be- 
 lieves to be agreeable to God's Will ; and therer 
 ,fore, if he be miftaken, and be perfwaded that 
 That is agreeable to the Will of God, which 
 indeed is very contrary to it^ then his Love will 
 accidentally, but ftrongly, incline him to that, 
 which is indeed very contrary to the WiU of 
 God. 
 
 They that are ftudied in Logick have learned 
 that the Nature of the Caufe is not to be judged 
 of by the Nature of the Effed, nor the Nature 
 of the EfFea from the Nature of the Caufe, 
 when the Caufe Is only Caufa fine qua mn^ or an 
 occafional Caufe ; yea, that in fuch a Cafe, often- 
 times the Nature of the Eflfecl is quite contrary 
 to the Nature of the Caufe. 
 
 True DIfciples of Christ may have a great 
 deal of falfe Zeal, fuch as the Difclples had of 
 old, when they would have Fire called for from 
 Heaven to come down on the . Samaritans^ be- 
 caufe thev did not receive them. And even fo 
 ' eminently • 
 
Par. I. Error join d ^vith true Zeal. 37 
 
 eminently holy, and great, and divine a Saint as 
 Mofes^ who converfed with GOD from Time 
 to Time, as a Man fpeaks with his Friend, and 
 concerning whom GOD gives his Teftimony, 
 that he was very meek ^ above any Man upon the Face 
 of the Earth ^yet may be rafh and fmful in hisZeal, 
 when his Spirit is ftirred by the Hard-heartednefs 
 and Oppofition of others, fo as to fpeak very un- 
 advifedly with his Lips, and greatly to ofFend 
 GOD, and fhut himfelf out from the Poffeffion 
 of the good Things thai: GOD is about to ac- 
 complifh for his Church on Earth ; as Mofes was 
 e^jcluded Cariaan^ tho' he had brought the People 
 out of Egypt^ Pfal. 106. 32, 33. And Men, 
 even in thofe very Things wherein they are in- 
 flui^nced by a truly pious Principle, yet, through 
 Error and want of due Confideration and Cauti- 
 on, may be very rafh with their Zeal. It was a 
 truly good Spirit that animated that excellent Ge- 
 neration of Ifrael that v/as in Jojhua's Time^ in 
 that Affair tliat we have an Account of in the 
 2 2d Chapter of Jo/Ima ; and yet they were rafh 
 and heady with their Zeal, to go about to gather 
 all Ifrael together to go up fo furioully to War 
 with their Brethren of the two Tribes and half, 
 about their building the Altar Ed^ without firft 
 enquiring into the Matter, or fo much as fending 
 a -AlefTenger to be informed. So the Chrhlians 
 that were of the Circumcifion, with Warmth 
 and Contention condem^ned Peter for receiving 
 Cornelius J as we have Account, jlcf, 1 1 . This 
 their Heat and Cenfure vns unjuft, and Peter was 
 wronged in iti but there is all Appearance in the 
 
 Story 
 
38 Imprudences ^ Irregularities. Pa. L 
 
 Story that they afted from a real Zeal and Con- 
 cern for the WiU and Honour of God. So the 
 primitive Chriftians, from their Zeal for, and 
 againft unclean Meats, cenfured and condemned 
 one another : This was a bad EfFedl, and yet the 
 Apoftle bears them Witnefs, or at leaft exprefles 
 his Charity towards them, that both Sides adied 
 from a good Principle, and true Refpcdl to the 
 Lord, Rom. iji^. 6. The Zeal of the C^r/«//??/^7»j 
 with Refpeft to the inceftuous Man, tho' the 
 Apoftle highly commends it, yet at the fame 
 Time faw that they needed a Caution, left they 
 fhould carry it too far, to an undue Severity, and 
 fo as to fail of Chriftian Meeknefs and Forgive- 
 nefs, 2 Cor, 2. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. and Chap. 
 7. II. to the End. Luther t\\?it great Refor- 
 mer had a great deal of Bitternefs widi his Zeal. 
 It furely cannot be v/onderM at by confiderate 
 Perfons, that at a Time when Multitudes all over 
 the Land have their AfFeflions greatly moved, 
 that great Numbers ftiould run into many Errors 
 and Miftakcs with Refpeil to their Duty, and 
 confequently into many Afts and Praciices that 
 are imprudent and irregular. I queftion whether 
 there be a Man in New-England^ of the ftrongeft 
 Reafcn and greateft Learning, but what would 
 be put to it to keep Mafter of himfelf, thoroughly 
 to weigh his Words, and confider all the Confe- 
 quences of his Behaviour, fo as to behave himfiftf 
 in all Refpedfe prudently, if he were fo ftroi^y 
 imprefled with a Senfe cf divine and eternal 
 Things, and his Affedlions fo exceedingly moved, 
 as has been frequent of late among the common 
 
Pa. L Impritdences £5? Irregularities, 39 
 
 People. How little do they ccnfider Human 
 
 Nature, who look upon it fo infuperable a Stum* 
 bling-Block, v/hen fuch Multitudes of all Kinds 
 of Capacities, natural Tempers^ Educations, Cuf- 
 (ons and Manners of Life, are fo greatly and 
 varioufiy affeded, that Imprudences and Irregu- 
 larities of Conduit: fhould abound ; efpecially in a 
 State of Things fo uncommon, and when the 
 Degree, Extent, Swiftnefs and Power of the 
 Operation is fo very extraordinary, and fo new, 
 that there has not been Time and Experience 
 enough to give Birth to Rules for People's Con- 
 duit, and fo unufjal in Times paft, that the Wri- 
 tings of Divines don't afford Rules to dire<5l us in 
 fuch a State of Things ? 
 
 A great deal of Noife and Tumult, Ccnfufion 
 and Uproar, and Darknefs mixed with Light, 
 and Evil with Good, is always to be expefted in 
 the beginning of fomething very extraordinary, 
 and very glorious in the State of Things in hu- 
 man Society, or the Chureh of God. As after 
 Nature has long been fhut up in a cold dead 
 State, in Time of Winter, when the Sun re- 
 turns in the Spring, there is, tog^ether v/ith gthe 
 Increafe of the Light and Heat of the Sun, very 
 dirty and tempeftuous Weather, before all is fet- 
 tled xalm and ferene, and all Nature rejoices in 
 its Bloom and Beauty. It is in the New-Creation 
 as it was in the Old, the Spirit of God firft mo- 
 ved upon the Face of the Waters, which was an 
 Occafion of great Uproar and Tumult, and 
 Things were gradually brought to a fettled State, 
 'till at length all flood forth in that beautiful, 
 
 peace- 
 
40 Confujion in the beginning of Part I. 
 
 peaceful Order, when the Heavens and the Earth 
 were finifhed, and God faw every Thing that 
 he had made, and behold it was very good. When 
 God is about to bring to pafs fomething great 
 and glorious in the World, Nature is in a Fer- 
 ment and Struggle, and the World as it werein 
 Travail. As when God was about to introduce 
 the Mejfiah into the World, and that new and 
 glorious Difpenfation that he fet up, he Jhook the 
 Heavens and the Earthy and Jhook all Nations* 
 There is nothing that the Church of God is in. 
 Scripture more frequently reprefented by than 
 
 Vegetables ; as a Tree, a Vine, Corn, b'r. 
 
 which gradually bring forth their Fruit, and are 
 firft green before they are ripe. A great Revival 
 of Religion is exprefsly compared to this gradual 
 Produftion of Vegetables, Ifa. 6i. ii. As th 
 Earth bringeth forth her Bud^ and as the X^arden 
 caufeth the Things that are fown in it to fpring 
 forth ; fo* the Lord God will caufe Right eoiifnefs 
 and Praife to fpring forth before all the Nations. 
 The Church is in a fpecial Manner compared to 
 a Palm-Tree, Cant. 7. 7, 8. Exod. 15. 27. 
 I King. 6. 29. Pfil' 92. 12. Of which Tree 
 this peculiarThins; is obferved. That the Fruit of 
 it, tho' it be very^fweet and good when it is ripe, 
 yet, before it has had Time to ripen, has a Mix- 
 ture of Poifon. 
 
 The Weaknefs of human Nature has always ' 
 appeared in Times of great Revival .of Reli- 
 gion, by a Difpofition to run to Extreams and ■ 
 get into Confufion ; and efpecially in thefe three 
 Things, Enthufiafm, Superftition, and intempe- 
 rate '. 
 
Part I . a grfat Revival of Religion. 4. i 
 
 rate Zeal. So it appeared in the Time of the 
 Reformation, very remarkably ; and alfo in the 
 Days of the Apoftles ; many were then exceed- 
 ingly difpofed to lay Weight on thofe Things that 
 were very Notional and Chimerical, giving Heed 
 to Fables and Whimfies, as appears by i T/w. 
 I. 4. and 4. 7. 2 Ti?7i. 2. 16. and v. 23. and 
 Tit. I. 14. and 3. 9. Many, as Ecclefiaftical 
 Hirtory informs us, fell off into the moft wild 
 Enthufiafm, and extravagant Notions of Spiritu- 
 ality, and extraordinary Illumination from Hea- 
 ven beyond others ; and many were prone to Su- 
 perftition, Will-Worfliip and a voluntary Humi- 
 lity, giving Heed to the Commandments of Men, 
 being fond of an unprofitable bodily Exerclfe, as 
 appears by many PaiTages in the Apoftles Wri- 
 tings : And what a Pronenefs then appeared 
 among Profeflbrs to fwerve from the Path of 
 Puty, and the Spirit of the Gofpel, in the Exer- 
 cifes of a rafli indifcreet Zeal, cenfuring and con- 
 •demning Minifters and People ; one faying, I am 
 ofj^aul, another I of ApolloSy another I of Ce- 
 phas ; judging one another for Differences of 
 Opinion about fmaller Matters, unclean Meats, 
 holy Days and holy Places, and their different 
 Opinions and Praftices refpecling civil Intercourfe 
 and Communication with their Heathen Neigh- 
 bours ? And how much did vain Jangling and 
 Difputing and Confufion prevail through undue 
 Heat of Spirit, under the Name of a religious 
 Zeal ? 2 Tim. 6. 4, 5. 2 Ti?n. 2. 16. and Ttt, 
 3. 9. And what a Tafk had the Apoftles to keep 
 them within Bounds, and maintain good Order 
 
 ia 
 
42 "That there are many Errors Part L. 
 
 in the Churches^ How often are they mention- 
 ing their Irregularities ? The prevailing of fuch 
 like Diforders feems to have been the fpecial Oc- 
 cafion of writing many of their Epiftles. The 
 Church in that great Effufion of the Spirit that 
 was then, and the ftrong Impreffions that God's 
 People were then under, was under the Care of 
 infallible Guides, that watched over them Day 
 and Night j but yet fo prone were they, through 
 the Weaknefs and Corruption of human Nature, 
 to get out of the Way, that Irregularity and Con- 
 fufion rofe in fome Churches, where there was 
 an extraordinary Out-pouring of the Spirit, to a 
 very great Height, even in the Apoftles Life- 
 time, and under their Eye. And tho' fome of 
 the Apoftles liv'd long to fettle the State of Things, 
 yet prefently after they were dead, the Chriftian 
 Church ran into many Superftitions and childifh 
 Notions and Practices, and in fome Refpeds in- 
 to a great Severity in their Zeal. Wnd let any 
 wife Perfon that han't, in the midft of the Dif- 
 putes of the prefent Day, got beyond the C^m- 
 nefs of Confideration, impartially confider to what 
 Lengths, we may reafonably fuppofe, many of 
 the primitive Chriftians, in their Heat of Zeal, 
 and under their extraordinary Impreffions, would 
 foon have gone, if they had had no infpired 
 Guides ; and whether or no 'tis not probable that 
 the Church of Corinth in particular, by an In- 
 creafe of their Irregularities and Contentions, 
 would net in a little Time have broke to Pieces, 
 and diflblved in a State of the utmoft Confufion ? 
 and yet tliis would have been ao Evidence that 
 
 there 
 
Part I. is not to be wondered at. 43 
 
 there had not been a moft glorious and remark- 
 able Out-pouring of the Spirit in that City. But 
 as for us, we have no infallible Apoftle to guide 
 and direft us, to reftify Diforders, and reclaim 
 us when we are wandring ; but every one does 
 what is right in his own Eyes ; and they that err 
 in Judgment, and are got into a wrong Path, 
 continue to wander, till Experience of the mif- 
 chievous Iffue convinces them of their Error. 
 
 If we look over this Affair, and ferioufly weigh 
 it in its Circumftances, it will appear a Matter 
 of no great Difficulty to account for the Errors 
 that have been gone into, fuppollng the Work in 
 general to be from a very great Out-pouring of 
 the Spirit of God. It may eafily be accounted 
 for, that many have run into great Errors, and 
 into juft fuch Errors as they have. It is known, 
 that fome that have been improved as great In- 
 ftruments to promote this Work, have been very 
 young ; and how natural is it for fuch as are 
 themfelves newly 'waked out of Sleep, and bro't 
 out of that State of Darknefs, Infenfibility and 
 fpiritual Death, which they had been in ever 
 fince they were born ; and have a new and won- 
 derful Scene opened to them ; and have in View 
 the Reality, the Vaftnefs, and infinite Impor- 
 tance,and Nearnefs of fpiritual & eternalThings ; 
 and at the fame Time are furprized to fee the 
 World afleep about them ; and han't theAdvan- 
 tage of Age and Experience, and have had but 
 little Opportunity to ftudy Divinity, or to con-- 
 verfe with aged experienced Chriftians and Di- 
 vines 1 1 fay, how natural is it for fuch to fall into 
 E many 
 
44 ^^(^^ Errors as have heen^ Part I. 
 
 .many Errors with Refpecl to the State of Man- 
 kind, with which they are fo furprized, and with 
 Refped to the Means and Methods of their Re 
 lief? Is it any Wonder that they han't at once 
 learned how to make all the Allowances that are 
 to be made, and that they don't at once find out 
 that Method of dealing with the World, that is 
 adapt^ to the myfterious State and . Nature of 
 Mankind ? Is it any Wonder that they can't at 
 once forefee what the Confequences of Things 
 will be, what Evils are to be guarded againft, 
 and what Difficulties are like to arife, that are to 
 be provided for ? 
 
 We have long been in a flrange Stupor ; the 
 Influences of the Spirit of God upon the Heart f 
 have been but little felt, and the Nature of them | 
 but little taught ; fo that they are in many Re-^ | 
 fpecls new to great Numbers of thofe that have ' 
 lately fallen under them. And is it any Wonder 
 that they that never before had Experience of 
 the fupernatural Influence of the Divine Spirit 
 upon their Souls, and never wxre inftrucled in 
 the Nature of thefe Lifluences, don't fo well know 
 how to diftinguifii one extraordinary new Im- 
 preffion from another, rnd fo (to themfelves in- 
 fenfibly) run into Enthufiafm, taking ever}^ flrong 
 Impulfe or Impreffion to be divine ? How natu- 
 ral is it to fuppofc, that among the Multitudes of 
 ■ilhterate People (moft of which are in their 
 Youth) that find themfelves fo wonderfully chan- 
 ged, and brought into fuch new, and before (to 
 diem) almoft unheard of Circumftances, that ;^ 
 many Ihould pafs wrong, and very ftrange Judg- 
 ments 
 
 \ 
 
Part I. not to he wondered cfh^ £^^ 
 
 meats of both Perfons and Things that are about 
 them ; and that now they behold them in fuch a 
 new Light,they in their Surprize fhould go further 
 from the Judgment that they were wont to make 
 of them than they ought, & in their great Change 
 of Sentiments, fhould pafs from one Extreme to 
 another ? And why fliould it be thought ftrange, 
 that thofe that fcarce ever heard of any fuch 
 Thing as an Out-pouring of the Spirit of God 
 before ; or if they did, had no Notion of it ; don't 
 know how to behave themfelves in fuch a new 
 and ftrange State of Things ? And is it any 
 Wonder that they are ready to hearken to thofe 
 that have inftrudled them, that have been the 
 Means of delivering them from fuch a State o^ 
 Death and Mifery as they were in before, or 
 have a Name for being the happy Inftruments of 
 promoting the fame Work among others ? Is it 
 unaccountable that Perfons in thefe Circumftan- 
 ces are ready to receive every Thing they fay, 
 and to drink down Error as well as Truth from 
 them ? And why fhould there be all Indignation 
 and no Compaffion towards thofe that are tlius 
 mifled r 
 
 When thefe Perfons are extraordinarily alFecStcd. 
 With a new Senfe,and recent Difcovery they have 
 received, of the Greatnefs and Excellency of the 
 divine Being, the Certainty and infinite Impor- 
 tance of eternal Things, the Precioufnefs of 
 Souls, and the dreadful Danger and Madnefs of 
 Mankind, together with a great Senfe of God's 
 diftinguifhing Kindnefs and Love to them ; no 
 Wonder that now they think they mufl exert 
 E 2 them- 
 
4-6 Such -(Errors as have been^ Part I. 
 
 themfelves, and do fomething extraordinary for 
 the Honour of God and the Good of the Souls 
 of their Fellow-Creatures, and know not how to 
 fit ftill, and forbear fpeaklng and ading with un- 
 common Earneftnefs and Vigour. And in thefe 
 Ciicumftances, if they ben't Perfons of more 
 than common Stead inefs & Difcretion, or ha'nt 
 feme Perfon of Wifdom to diredl them, 'tis a 
 Wonder if they don't proceed without due Cau- 
 tion, and do Things that are irregular, and that 
 will, in the Iffue, do much more Hurt than 
 Good. 
 
 Cenfurlng others is the worft Difeafe with 
 which this AiRir has been attended : But yet 
 fach a Time as this is indeed a Time of great 
 Temptation to this finful Error. When there 
 has been fuch a Time of great and long conti- 
 nued Dcadnefs, and many arc brought out of a 
 State of Nature into a State of Grace, in fo ex- 
 traordinary a Manner, and filled with fuch un- 
 common Degrees of Light, 'tis natural for fuc|i 
 to form their Notions of a State of Grace wholly 
 tVom what they experience y many of them know 
 no other Vv^'ay ; for they never have been taught 
 much about a State of Grace, and the different 
 Degrees of Grace, and the Degrees of Darknefs 
 and Corruption that Grace is confiftent with, nor 
 concerning the Manner of the Influences of the 
 Spirit in converting a Soul, and the Variety of 
 the Manner of his Operations : They therefore 
 forming their Idea of a State of Grace only by 
 their own Experience, no Wonder that it ap- 
 pears an infuperable DifEcuhy to them to re- 
 concile" 
 
Part L not to he wondered at. 4.J 
 
 concile fuch a State, of which they have this 
 Idea, with what they obferve in ProfefTors tliat 
 are about them. ^Tis indeed in it felf a vei*y^ 
 great Myftery, that Grace fliould be confiftent 
 with fo much and fuch Kind of Corruption as 
 fometimes prevails in the truly godly ; and no 
 Wonder that it efpecially appears fo to unin- 
 ftrufted new Converts, that have been converted 
 in an extraordinary Manner. 
 
 Tho' Cenforioufnefs be a Thing that is very 
 finfiji^ and is moft commonly found- in Hypo-_ 
 crites and Perfons of a pharifaical Spirit, yet. it 
 is not fo inconfiftent with true Godlinefs as fame 
 imagine. We have remarkable Inftances of it in 
 thofe holy Men that we have an Account of in 
 the Book of Job : Not only were Job's three' 
 Friends, that feem to have been eminently holy 
 Men, guilty of it, in very unreafonably cenfuring 
 the beft Man on Earth, very pofitively determin- 
 ing that he was an unconverted Man ; But Job - 
 himfelf, that was not only a Man of true Piety^ 
 but excelled all Men in Piety, and particularly 
 excelled in a humble, meek and patient Spirit, 
 was guilty of bitterly cenfuring his three Friends^ 
 as wicked, vile Hypocrites.* Job 16. 9, 10, 
 1 1 . He teaYetJd me in his Wrath wha hai^ih jne^ k^ 
 gnajheth upon Jne with his Teeth ;' mi^ir 'E^izerfiy 
 Jharpencth his Eyes upon ?ne : They have gaped u.pon 
 
 VIC with their Month, GOD huth^delheredrnf 
 
 to the- ungodly^ arid turned me over into the Hands cf 
 the Wicked, So he is very pcfitfve m it that they 
 are Hypocrites, and (hall be miferably deftrove'i 
 as fuch, in the next Chapter, v, ^l 3^ 4. V^- 
 E 3 
 
4S Irregularities no Part I, 
 
 there not Mockers with me ? And doth not mim Eye 
 continue in their Provocation ? Lay down now^ put 
 me in Surety with thee ; who is he that will Jlr ike 
 Hands with me ?■ For thou haji hid their Heart 
 ■fro?n Vnderjiandlng : therefore Jhalt thou not exalt 
 them. And again, v. 8, g, lo. Upright Men 
 jhallheaftGnifhedatthis^ and the Innocent Jhall Jilr 
 'Up hlmfelf againji the Hypocrite : The Righteous 
 alfo Jhall hold on his Way^ and he that^ hath clean 
 Hands Jhall he Jlronger and Jlronger, But as for 
 you ally do you return and come now : for 1 cannot 
 £nd one wife Man (i. e. one good Man) among you. 
 Thiis I think the Errors and Irregularities that 
 .Liiend this Work, may be accounted for, from 
 tiie Confideration of the Infirmity and Weaknefs, 
 and common Corruption of Mankind, together 
 with the Circumftances of the Work, tho' we 
 fhould fuppofe it to be the Work of God. And 
 it would not be a juft Objection in any to fay, 
 if thefe powerful Impreffions and great AfFecSiions 
 are from the Spirit of God, why don^t the fame 
 Spirit give Strength of Underftanding and Ca- 
 pacity in Proportion, to thofe Perfons that are 
 the Subjefts of them ; fo that flrong AfFeclions 
 raay not, through their Error, drive them to ah 
 -rregular and fmful Condu6l ? For I don^t know 
 ..:;t God has any where obliged himfelf to do 
 it. The End of the Influences, of God's Spirit 
 is to make Men fpixitually know^ng, wife to Sal- 
 vation, v/hich is the moft excellentWifdom ; and 
 he has alfo appointed Means for our gaining fuch 
 Degrees of other Knowledge as we need, to con- 
 dud Qur felve$ regularly, which Mea/is fhould 
 
 be 
 
Part I. fufficient Obje^lion. 49 
 
 be carefully ufed : But the End of the Influence 
 of the Spirit of God is not to increafe Men's 
 natural Capacities, nor has God obliged himfelf 
 immediately to increafe civil Prudence in Pro- 
 portion to the Degrees of fpiritual Light. 
 
 If we confider the Errors that attend this 
 Work, not only as from Man, and his Infirmity, 
 but alfo as from God, and by his Permiffion and 
 Difpofal, they are not ftrange, upon the Suppo- 
 fition of its being, as to the Subftance of it, a 
 Work of God. If God intends this great Re- 
 vival of Religion to be the daw^ning, or a Fore- 
 runner of an happy State of his Church on Earth, 
 ft may be an Inftance of the divine Wifdom, in 
 the beginning of it, to fijffer fo many Irregulari- 
 ties and Errors in Condudl, to which he knew 
 Men, in their prefent weak State, were moft 
 expofed, under great religious Aftections, and 
 when animated with great Zeal. For it will be 
 very likely to be of excellent Benefit to his 
 Church, in the Continuance and Progrefs of the 
 Work afterwards : Their Experience in the firft 
 fetting out, of the mifchievous Confequences of 
 thefe Errors, and fmarting for them in the Begin- 
 ning, may be an happy Defence to them after- 
 wards, for many Generations, from thefe Errors, 
 which otherwife they might continually be ex- 
 pofed to. As when David and all Ifrael went 
 about to bring back the Ark into the midft of 
 the Land, after it had been long abfent, firft in 
 the Land of the Philtjiines^ and then in Kirjath- 
 -jearim^ in the utmoft Borders of the Land ; they 
 at firft fought not the Lord after the due Order, 
 
 and 
 
50 irregularities no Jtart L 
 
 and they fmarted for their Error ; but this put I 
 them upon ftudying the Law, and more tho- 
 roughly acquainting themfeh^es with the Mind 
 and Will of God, and feeking and ferving him ' 
 with greater Circumfpedion ; and the Confe- 
 quence was glorious, iiz, their feeking God in 
 fuch a Manner as was accepted of him ; and the 
 Ark of God's afcending into the Heights of 
 Ziorjy with thofe great and extraordinary Rejoi- 
 cings of the King and all the People, without 
 any Frown or Rebuke fromGoD intermixed ; and 
 God's dwelling thenceforward in the midft of 
 die People, to thofe glorious Purpofes that are 
 expreffed in the 68th Pfalm. 
 
 And 'tis very analogous to the Manner of 
 God dealing with his People, to permit a great 
 deal of Error, and fufFer the Infirmity of his Peo- 
 ple much to appear, in the beginning of a glori- 
 ous Work of his Grace for their Felicity, to teach 
 them what they be, to humble them, and fit 
 them for that glorious Profperity he is about to 
 advance them to, and the more to fecure to him- 
 felf the Honour of fuch a glorious Wt)rk : For 
 by Man's exceeding Weaknefs appearing in the 
 beginning of it, 'tis evident that God don't lay 
 the Foundation of it in Man's Strength or WijG- 
 dom* ^.4. 
 
 And as we need not wonder at the Erroi^ that 
 attend this Work, if we look at the Hand of 
 Men that are guilty of them, and the Hand of 
 God in permitting them*, fo neither fhall-we fee 
 Caufe to wonder at them, if we confider them 
 with Regard to the H^nd tliat Sataa ha3 in them. 
 
 For 
 
Part I. Jiifficient Obje£iion. 51 
 
 For as the Work is much greater than any other 
 Out-pouring of the Spirit that ever has been in 
 New- England ^{q no Wonder that the Devil is more 
 alarmed and enraged, and exerts himfelf more 
 vigoroufly againft it, and docs more powerfully 
 endeavour to tempt and miflead thofe that are the 
 Subjeds of it, or are its Promoters. 
 
 XVhatever Imprudences there have been, and 
 whatever fmful Irregularities \ whatever Vehe- 
 mence of the PafTions, and Heats of the Imagina- 
 tions, Tranfports and Extacies ; and whatever 
 Error in Judgment, and indifcreet Zeal ; and 
 whatever Out-cries, and Paintings, and Agitati- 
 ons of Body ; yet it is manifeft and notorious, 
 that there has been of late a very uncommon In- 
 fluence upon the Minds of a very great Part of 
 the Inhabitants of New- England^ from one End 
 of the Land to the other, that has been attended 
 with the following Effects ; viz, a great Increafe 
 of a Spirit of Serioufnefs, and fober Confideration 
 of the Things of the eternal World ; a Difpo- 
 fition to hearken to any Thing that is faid of 
 Things of this Nature, with Attention and Af- 
 feiStion ; a Difpofition to treat Matters of Reli- 
 gion with Solemnity, and as Matters of great 
 Importance ; a Difpofition to make thefe Things 
 the Subje6t of Converfation ; and a great Difpo- 
 fition to hear the Word of God preached, and 
 to take all Opportunities in order to it ; and to 
 attend on the publick Worfhip of God, and all 
 external Duties of Religion in a more folemn 
 and decent Manner ; fo that there is a remarka- 
 ble and general Alteration in the Face of New- 
 England 
 
52 "Ihe Nature of Part I. 
 
 England in thefe Refpefts : Multitudes in all 
 Parts of the Land, of vain, thoughtlefs, regard- 
 lefs Perfons are quite changed, and become feri- 
 ous and confiderate : There is a vaft Increafe of 
 Concern for the Salvation of the precious Soul, 
 and of that Inquiry, TVhat Jhall I do to be fcwed? 
 The Hearts of Multitudes have been greatly 
 taken ofF from the Things of the World, its 
 Profits, Pleafures and Honours ; and there has 
 been a great Increafe of Senfiblenefs and Tender- 
 cefs of Confcience : Multitudes in all Parts have 
 had their Confciences awaken'd, and have been 
 made fenfible of the pernicious Nature and Con- 
 fequences of Sin, and what a dreadful Thing it 
 is to lie under Guilt and the Difpleafure of God, 
 and to live w^ithout Peace and Reconciliation 
 with him : They have alfo been awakened to a 
 Senfe of the Shortnefs and Uncertainty of Life, 
 and the Reality of another World and future 
 Judgment, and of the Neceffity of an Intereft in 
 Christ : They are m6re afraid of Sin, more 
 careful and inquifitive that they may know what 
 is contrary to the Mind and Will of God, that 
 they may avoid it, and what he requires of them, 
 that they may do it ; more careful to guard 
 againft Temptations, more watchful over their 
 own Hearts, earneftly defirous of being informed 
 what are the Means that God has diredled to, for 
 their Salvation, and diligent in the Ufe of the 
 Means that God has appointed in his Word, in 
 order to it. Many very ftupid, fenfelefs Sinners, 
 and Perfons of a vain Mind, have been greatly 
 awakened. There is a ftrange Alteration almoft 
 
 -aU 
 
Part I. the Work in general. 53 
 
 all over New- England amongft young People : 
 By a powerful, invifible Influence on their Minds, 
 they have been brought to forfake thofe Things 
 in a general Way, as it were at once, that they 
 were extremely fond of, and greatly addicted to, 
 and that they feem'd to place the Happinefs of 
 their Lives in, and that nothing before could in- 
 duce them to forfake ; as their Frolicking, vain 
 Company-keeping, Night- walking, their Mirth 
 and Jollity, their impure Language, and lewd 
 Songs : In vain did Minifters preach againft thofe 
 Things before, and in vain were Laws made to 
 reftrain tliem, and in vain was all the Vigilance 
 of Magiftrates and Civil Officers ; but now they 
 have almoft every where dropped them as it 
 were of themfelves. And there is a great Altera- 
 tion amongft Old and Young as to Drinkins:, 
 Tavern-haunting, profane fpeaking, and Extra- 
 vagance in Apparel. Many notorioufly vicious 
 Perfons have been reformed, and become exter- 
 nally quite New-Creatures : Some that are weal- 
 thy, and of a fafhionable, gay Education ; fome 
 great Beaus and fine Ladies, that feem'd to have 
 their Minds fvvallowed up with nothing but the 
 vain Shews and Pleafures of the World, have 
 been wonderfully altered, and have relinquifhed 
 thefe Vanities, and are become ferious, mortified 
 and humble in their Converfation. 'Tis afto- 
 nifhing to fee the Alteration that is in fome 
 Towns,^ where before was but .little Appearance 
 of Religion, or any Thing but Vice and Vanity : 
 X and fo remote was all that was to be feen or 
 heard amongft them from any Thing tliat favoured 
 
 of 
 
54 ^he Nature of Part I. 
 
 of vital Piety or ferious Religion, or that had any 
 Relation to it, that one would have thought, if 
 they had judged only by v^^hat appeared in them, 
 that they had been fome other Species from the 
 ferious and religious, that had no Concern with 
 another World, and whofe Natures were not 
 made capable of thofe Things that appertain to 
 Chriftian Experience, and pious Converfation ; 
 efpecially was it thus among young Perfons : 
 And now they are transformed into another fort 
 of People; their former vain, worldly and vici- 
 ous Converfation and Difpofitions feem to be for- 
 faken, and tliey are as it were, gone over to a 
 new World: Their Thoughts, and their Talk, 
 and their Concern, AfFeftions and Enquiries are 
 now about the Favour of God, an Intereft in 
 Christ, a renewed fanftified Heart, and a fpi-.« 
 ritual Bleflednefs, and Acceptance and Happinefs 
 in a future World. And through the greater 
 Part of New-England^ the Holy Bible is in much 
 greater Efteem and Ufe than it ufed to be ; 
 The great Things that are contained in it are 
 much more regarded, as Things of the greateft 
 Confequence, and are much more the Subjects of 
 Meditation and Converfation ; and other Books 
 of Piety that have long been of eftabliflred Repu- 
 tation, as the moft excellent, and moft tending 
 to promote true Godlinefs, have been abundantly 
 more in Ufe : The Lord's-Day is more religi«= 
 cufly and ftriftly obferved : And abundance has 
 been lately done at making up Differences, and 
 confeffing Faults one to another, and making 
 Reftitution ; probably more within this two 
 
 Years, 
 
Part I. the IVork in ge^icraL 
 
 DJ 
 
 Years, than was done in Thirty Years before : 
 It has been lb undcubteJly in many Places. And 
 furprizing has been the Power of th^t Spirit that 
 has been poured out on the Land, in many In- 
 ftances, to deftroy old Grudges, and make up 
 long continued Breaches, and to briiig thofe that; 
 feemed to be in a confirm'd irreconcileable Alic- 
 nation, to embrace each other in a fmcere and 
 entire Amity. Great Numbers under this In- 
 fluence have been brought to a deep Senfc of 
 their own Sinfulnefs and Vilenefs ; the Sinfulnefsof 
 their Lives, the Heinoufnefs of their Difregard of 
 the Authority of the great God, and the Hei- 
 noufnefs of their living in Contempt of a Saviour : 
 they have lamented their former Negligence of 
 their Souls, and neglecting and lofing precious 
 ■Time. Their Sins of Life have been extraor- 
 dinarily fet before them : and they have alfo had 
 a great Senfe of their Sins of Heart ; their hard- 
 nefs of Heart, and Enmity againft that which is 
 Good, and Pronenefs to aU Evil ; and alfo of the 
 Worthlefsnefs of^ their own religious Performan- 
 ces, how unworthy their Prayers, Praifes, and 
 all that they did in Religion^ was to be regarded 
 of God : And it has been a common Thing &at 
 Perfons have had fuch a Senfe of their own Sin- 
 fulnefs, that they have thought themfelves to be 
 the worft of all, and that none ever was fo vile 
 as they : And many feem to have been greatly 
 convinced that they were utterly unworthy of 
 any Mei cy at the Hands of God, however mife- 
 rable they were, and tho' they flood in extreme 
 Neceffity of Mercy ; and that they deferved no- 
 F thing 
 
56 ^^he Nature of Part J, 
 
 
 
 thing but eternal Burnings : and have been {tn- 
 fible that God would be altogether juft and righ- 
 teous in inflifting endlefs Damnation upon them, 
 at the fame Time that they have had an exceed- 
 ing afFecSting Senfe of the Dreadfulnefs of fuch 
 endlefs Torments, and have apprehended them- 
 felves to be greatly in Danger of it. And many 
 have been deeply afFedled with a Senfe of their 
 own Ignorance and Blindnefs, and exceeding 
 Hclplefsnefs, and fo of their extreme Need of the 
 divine Pit}^ and Help. And fo far as v/e arc wor- 
 thy to be credited one by another, in what we 
 fay, (andPerfons of good Underftanding and found 
 Mind, and known and experienced Probity, have, 
 a Right to be believ'd by their Neighbours, when 
 they fpeak of Things that fall under their Obfer-^ 
 vation and Experience,) Multitudes inNeit-Eng- 
 land have lately been brought to a new and great: 
 Conviction of the Truth and Certainty of the 
 Things of the Gofpel ; to a firm Perfwaficn that 
 Christ Jesus is the Son of God, and the 
 great and only Saviour of t\iC World ; and that 
 the great Dodrines of the Gofpel touching Re- 
 conciliation by his Blood, and Acceptance in his 
 Righteoufnefs, and eternal Life and Salvation 
 through him, are Matters of undoubted Truth ; 
 -together with a moft affeding Senfe of the. EV" 
 cellency and SufRciency of this Saviour, and -^ the 
 glorious Wifdom and Grace of God fliiningin. 
 this Way of Salvation ; and of the Wonders ©f i 
 Christ's dying Love, and the^Sincerity of | 
 Christ in the invitations of the (iofpel, and ji 
 -^onfequent Affiance and fv> cet Reft of Soul in 
 
 Chrtvt 
 
Part I. the IFork in general. 57 
 
 Christ, as a glorious Saviour, a ftrong Rock 
 and high Tower, accompanied with an admiring 
 and exalting Apprehenfion of the Glory of the. 
 divine Perfections, God's Majefly, Holineii, 
 
 fovereign Grace, &c ; with a fenfible, ftrong 
 
 and fweet Love to God, and Delight in him, far 
 furpafling all temporal Delights, or earthly Hea- 
 fures ; and aReft of Soul in him as a Portion and 
 the Fountain of all Good, attended with an Ab- 
 horrence of Sin, and Self-loathing for it, and 
 earneft longings of Soul after more Holinefs and 
 Conformity to God, with a Senfe of the great 
 Need of God's Help in order to Holinefs of 
 Life ; together with a moft dear Love to all that 
 are fuppofed to be the Children of God, and a 
 Love to Mankind in general, and a moft fenfible 
 and tender Compaffion for the Souls of Sinners, 
 and earneft Defires of the Advancement of 
 Christ's Kingdom in the World. And thefe 
 Things have appear'd to be in many of them 
 abiding now for many Months, yea, more than tt 
 Year and half i with an abiding Concern to live 
 an holy Life, and great Complaints of remaining 
 Corruption, longing to be more free from the 
 Body of Sin and Death. And not only do thefe 
 Effects appear in hew Converts, but great Num- 
 bers of thofe that were formerly efteemed the 
 moft fober and pious People, have, under the In- 
 fluence of this Work, been greatly quickened, 
 and their Hearts renewed with greater Degrec<5 
 of Light, renewed Repentance and Humiliation, 
 and more lively Exercifes of Fsith, Love and 
 Joy in the Lord. Many as I am well know- 
 F 2. ing. 
 
-^ lie Nature of Part I. 
 
 J Jig, have of late been remarkably engaged to 
 watch 5 and flrive, and fight againft Sin, and caft 
 rut every Idol, and fell all for Christ, and give 
 I p themfelves entirely to God, and make a Sa- 
 i rifice of every worldly' and carnal Thing to the 
 Welfare and Profperity of their Souls. And 
 there has of late appeared in fome Places an un- 
 i iiial Difpofition to bind themfelves to it in a 
 i :Iemn Covenant with God. And now inftead 
 cf Meetings at Taverns and drinking Houfes, 
 r.nd Meetings of young People in Frolicks and 
 A ain Company, the Country is full of Meetings 
 cf all Sorts and Ages of Perfons, Young and Old, 
 Men, Women and little Children, to read and 
 pray, and fing Praifes, and to converfe of the 
 Things of God and another World. In very 
 Viany Places the main of the Converfation in all 
 Companies turns on Religion, and Things of a 
 fpiritual Nature. Inftead of vain Mirth amongft 
 young People, there is now either mourning un- 
 der a Senfe of the Guilt of Sin, or holy rejoicing 
 i 1 Christ Jesus \ and inftead of their lewd 
 i^ongs, are now to be h^ard from them Songs of 
 Praife to God, and the Lamb that was flain to 
 jcdeem them by hi^ Blood. And there has been 
 tliis Alteration abiding on ]\;Iultitudes all over the 
 Land, for a Year and half, without any Appear- 
 -iz^jc^ of a Difpofition to return to former Vice 
 and Vanity. And under the Influences of this 
 Work, there have been many of the Remains 
 cf thofe wretched People and Dregs of Mankind, 
 the poor Indians^ that feemed to be next to a... 
 State of Brutality, and with whom, till now, it- 
 
 feemed 
 
Part L * the Work in general. 59 '; 
 
 feemed to be to little more Purpofe to ufe Ea-- 
 deavours for their InftrucSlion and Awakening, 
 than with the Beafts i whofe Minds have now 
 been ftrangely fpened to receive Inftruftion, and 
 have been deeply afFefted with the Concerns' of 
 their precious Souls, and have reformed their 
 Lives, and forfaken their former ftupid, barba- 
 rous & brutifhWay ofIiving;& particularly thatSin 
 to which they have been fo exceedingly addicted ^ 
 theirDrunkennefs ; & are become devout &ferious 
 
 V Perfons ; &many of them to Appearance bro' t truly 
 and greatly to delight in theThings of GoDjand to 
 have their Souls very much digaged. and enter-- 
 tained with the great Things of the Gofpel. 
 And many of the poor Negroes alfo have been in 
 like Manner wrought upon and changed. And 
 the Souls of very many little Children have beea 
 remarkably enlighten'd, and their Hearts won- 
 derfully affe6led and enlarged, and their IVIoutha 
 open'd, exprefling themfelves in a Manner far 
 beyond their Years, and to the juft Aftonifliment 
 of thofe that have heard them >: and fome ox 
 them from Time to Time, for many Months^ 
 greatly and delightfully afFecSted with the Glory 
 of divine Thmgs^ and the Excellency and Love 
 
 ' of the Redeemer,, with their Hearts greatly filled 
 with Love to and Joy in him, and have conti- 
 nued to be ferious and pious in their Behaviour. 
 
 The divine Power of this Work has. marvel- 
 loufly appeared in fome Inftances I have been 
 acquainted with, in fupporting and fortifying the 
 Heart under great Trials, fuch as the Deadi ot 
 Children, and extreme Pain of Body ^ wonder- 
 • F 3 full>^ 
 
6o This is mojl evidently Part I. 
 
 fully maintaining the Serenity, Calmnefs and Joy 
 of the Soul, in an immoveable Reft in God, 
 and fweet Refignation to him. There alfo have 
 been Inftances of fome that have been the Sub- 
 jeas of this Work, that under the bleffed Influ- 
 ences of it have, in fuch a calm, bright and joy- 
 ful Frame of Mind, been carried through the 
 Valley of the Shadow of Death. 
 
 And now let us confider ; Is it not ftrange 
 
 that in a Chriftian, orthodox Country, and fuch 
 a Land of Light as this is, there fhbuld be many 
 at a Lofs whofe Work this is, whether the Work 
 of God or the Work of the Devil ? Is it not a 
 Shame to New-England that fuch a Work fliould 
 be much doubted of here ? Need we look over 
 the Hiftories of all paft Times, to fee if there 
 ben't fome Circumftances and external Appear- 
 ances that attend this Work, that have been for^ 
 merly found amongft Enthufiafts ? Whether 
 the Montmifts had not great Tranfports of Joy,, 
 and whether the French Prophets had not Agitati^ 
 ons of Body ? Bleffed be God ! He don't put 
 us to the Toil of fuch Inquiries. We need nqt 
 fay. Who fhall afcend into Heaven, to bring us 
 down fomething whereby to judge of this Work ? 
 Nor does God fend us beyond the Seas, ;nor into 
 paft Ages, t6 obtain a Rule that fliall determine 
 and fatisfy u?. But v/e have a Rule near at 
 Hand, a facred Book that God himfelf has put 
 into our Hands, with clear and infallible Marks, 
 fufficient to refolve us in Things of this Nature ; 
 which Rook I think we muft rejeil, not only 
 ia fgmc particular Paflages, but in the Subftance 
 
 of 
 
Pa r t L the Work of GOD. 6 1 
 
 of it, if we rejedl fuch a Work as has now been 
 defcribedj as not being the Work of God. The 
 whole Tenor of theGofpel proves it ; all the No- 
 tion of Religion that the Scripture gives us con- 
 firms it. 
 
 I fuppofe there is fcarcely a Minifter in this 
 Land, but from Sabbath to Sabbath ufed to pray 
 that God would pour out his Spirit, and work 
 a Reformation and Revival of Religion in the 
 Countr}^, and turn us from our Intemperance, 
 Profanenefs, Uncleannefs, Worldlinefs and other 
 Sins i and we have kept from Year to Year Days 
 of publick Fafting and Prayer to God, to ac- 
 knowledge our Backflidings, and humble our 
 felves for our Sins, and to feek of God Forgive- 
 nefs & Reformation : and new when fo great and 
 extenfive a Reformation is fo fuddenly and won- 
 derfully acGompliihed, in thofe ver)^ Things that 
 we Have fought to God for, fliall we not ac- 
 knowledge it ? Or when we do, do it Vv ith great 
 Coldnefs, Caution and Referv^e, and fcarcely take 
 any Notice of it in our publick Prayers & Praifes, 
 (jf mention it but flightly and curforily, and in 
 luoh a Manner as carries an Appearance as tho*" 
 we would contrive to fay as litde of it as ever we 
 eould, and were glad to pafs from it ? And that 
 becaufe, (altho' indeed there be fuch a Work at- 
 tended with all thefe glorious Efreds, yet) The 
 Work is attended with a Mixture of Error, Im- 
 prudences, Darknefs and Sin ; becaufe fome Per^ 
 fons are carried away with Impreffions, and are 
 indifcreet, and too cenforious with their Zeal -, 
 and becaufe there are high Tranfports of religious 
 
 Affe6tiQa> 
 
62 This is evidently the Work of God. P. I. 
 
 AiFeaion ; and becaufe of fome EfFefts on Per- 
 fons Bodies that we don't underftand the Rea- 
 fon of ? 
 
 I have been particularly acquainted with many 
 Perfons that have been the Subjecfts of the high 
 and extraordinary Tranfports of the prefent Day ^ 
 and in the higheft Tranfports of any of the In- 
 ftances that I have httn acquainted with, and 
 where the AfFeflions of Admiration, Love and 
 Joy, fo far as another could judge, have been 
 raifed to a higher Pitch than in any other Inftan- 
 ces I have obferved or been informed of, the fol- 
 Towing Things have been united, viz. a very 
 frequent dv/elling, for fome confiderable Time 
 together, in fuch Views of the Glory of the di- 
 vine Perfeftions, aM Christ's Excellencies, 
 that the Soul in the mean Time has been as it 
 were perfeiffy overwhelmed, and fwallowed up 
 with Light and Love and a fweet Solace, Reft 
 and Joy of Soul, that was altogether unfpeakea- 
 ble ; and m.ore than once continuing for five or 
 fix Hours together, without any Interruption, in 
 that clear and lively View or Senfe of the infinite 
 Beauty and Amiablenefs f)f Christ's Perfbn, 
 and the heavenly Sweetnefs of his excellent and 
 tranfcendent Love y fo that (to ufe the Perfbn^s 
 own Expreffions) the Soul remained in a kind of 
 heavenly Elyfium, and did as it were fwim irt the 
 Rays of Christ's Love, fike a littie^Mote 
 fwimming in the Beams of the ' Sun^ or 
 Streams of his Light that come in at a Window ; 
 and the Heart was fwallowed up in a kind of 
 Glow of Christ's Lave, coming down frora 
 
 Christ's. 
 
P A . I. The Nalure of the Work, &:c. 63 
 
 Christ's Heart in Heaveci, as a conftant Stream 
 of iweet Light, at the fame Time the Soul all 
 flowing out in Love tt him ; fo that there feem'd 
 to be a conftant flowinf -end rcflowing from Heart 
 to Heart : The Soul dwelt on high, and was loft 
 in God, and feemed almoft to leave the Body ;, 
 dwelling in a pure Delight that fed and fatisfied 
 the Soul ; enjoying Pleafure without the leaft 
 Sting, or any Interruption ; a Sweetnefs that the 
 Soul was loft in ; fo that {(o far as the Judgment, 
 and Word.,of a Perfon of Difcretion may be ta- 
 ken, fpeaking upon the moft deliberate Confide- 
 ration,) what was enjoyed in each fmgle Minute 
 of the whole Space, which was many Hours, was 
 undoubtedly worth more than all the outward 
 Comfort and Pleafure of the whole Life put to- 
 gether ; and this without being in any Trance, 
 or being at ail deprived of the Exercife of the Bo- 
 dily Senfes : And the like heavenly Delight and 
 unfpeakable Joy of Soul, enjoyed from Time to 
 Time, for Years together ; tho' not frequently 
 fo long together, to fuch an height : Extraordi- 
 narv Views of divine Things, and religiious Af- 
 fedlions, being frequently attended w^ith very 
 great Effedls on the Body, Nature often finking 
 under the Weight of divine Difcoverics, the 
 Strength of the Body taken away, fo as to deprive 
 of all Ability to ftand or fpeak ; fometimes the 
 Hands clinch'd, and the Flefh cold,, but Senfes 
 ftill remaining ; animal Nature often in a great 
 Emotion and Agitation, and the Soul very often, 
 of late, fo overcome with great Admiration, and 
 a kind of omnipotent Joy, as to caufe the Per- 
 fon 
 
64 the Nature of the Work Part I. 
 
 foil (wholly unavoidabiy,) to leap with all the 
 Might, with Jay and mighty Exultation of Soul ; 
 die Soul at the fame Time being fo ftrongly drawn 
 towards God and Christ in Heaven/ tliat it 
 feem'd to the Perfon as tho' Soul and Body would, 
 as it were of themfelves, of NeceiTity mount up, 
 leave the Earth and afcend thither. Thefe EfFecls 
 on the Body did not begin now in this wonderful 
 Seafon, that they fhould be owing to the Influence 
 of the Example of the Times, but about {^\^r\ 
 Years ago ; and began in a much higher Degree, 
 and greater Frequency, ;near three Years ago, 
 when there was no fuch enthufiaftical Seafon, as 
 many account this, but it was a very dead Time 
 through the Land : They arofe from no Diftem- 
 per catched from Mr. Whitefield^ or Mr. 7ennent^ 
 becaufe they began before cither of them came 
 into the Country ; Tliey began as I faid, near 
 three Years ago, in a great Increafe, upon an ex- 
 traordinary Self-Dedication, and Renunciation of 
 the World, and Refignaticn of all to God, made 
 in a great View of God's Excellency, and high 
 Exercife of Love to him, and Reft and Joy in 
 him ; fince which Time they have been very 
 frequent ; and began in a yet higher Degree, and 
 greater Frequency, about a Year and half ago, 
 upon another new Refignation of all to GOD, 
 with a yet greater Fervency and Delight of Soul ; 
 fmce which Time the Body has been very often 
 fainting, with the LoVe of Christ ; and began 
 in a much higher Degree ftill, the laft Winter, 
 upon^ another Refignation and Acceptance of 
 God, as the only Portion and Happinefs of the 
 
 . Soul^ 
 
Part I. in a fartictilar hiftance. c-. 
 
 Soul, wherein the whole World, with the denreft 
 Enjoyments in it, were renounced as Dirt and 
 Dung, and all that is pleafant and glorious, and 
 . all that is terrible in this World, feemed perfeftly 
 to vanifh into nothing, and nothing to be left 
 but GOD, in whom the Soul was perfe6l:ly fwal- 
 lowed up, as in an infinite Ocean of BlelTedncfs : 
 Since which Time there have often been great 
 Agttations of Body, and an unavoidable leaping 
 for Joy ; and the Soul as it were dwelli ig almoft 
 without Interruption, in a kind of Paradife ; and 
 very often, in high Tranfports, difpofed to fpeak 
 of thofe great and glorious Things of GOD and 
 Christ, and the eternal World, that are in 
 View, to others that are prefent, in a moft ear- 
 neft Manner, and with a loud Voice, fo that it 
 is next to impoffible to avoid it : Thefe EfFe6ls 
 on the Body not arifmg from any bodily Diftem- 
 per or Weaknefs, becaufe the greateft of all have 
 been in a good State of Health. This great Re- 
 joicing has been a rejoicing with trembling, ;. e, 
 attended with a deep and lively Senfe of the 
 Greatnefs and Majefty of GODj^and the Per- 
 ioi\'s own exceeding Littlenefs and Vilenefs : 
 Spiritual Joys in thisPerfon never wer^ attended, 
 either formerly or lately, with the- leaft Appear- 
 ance of any Laughter or Lightnbfs of Counte- 
 nance, or Manner of fpeaking ; but with ^ pecu- 
 liar Abhorrence of fuch Appearances in fpiritual 
 Rejoicings, efpecially fince Joys have been greateft 
 Oi all : Thefe high Tranf::)orts when thev have 
 been paft, have had abiding EfFefts in the InCreafe 
 of the Sweetnefs, P^eft and Humility that they 
 
 have 
 
66 The Nature of ihe IVork Part I. 
 
 have left upon the Soul ; and a new Engagednefs 
 of Heart to hve to GOD's Honour, and watch 
 and fight againll Sin. And thefe Things not in 
 one that is in the giddy age of Youth, nor in a 
 new Convert, and unexperienced Chriflian, but 
 in one that was converted above Twenty-feven 
 Years ago ; and neither converted, nor educated 
 in that enthufiaftical Town of Northa?nptcn^ (as 
 fome may be ready to call it,) but in a Town 
 and Family that none that I know of fufpefted of 
 Enthufiafm ; and in aChriftian that has been long, 
 in an uncommon Manner, growing in Grace, and 
 rifing, by very fenfible Degrees, to higher Love 
 to GOD, and Weanednefs from the World, and 
 Maftery over Sin and Temptation, through great 
 Trials and Cpnfli£ls, and long continued ftrug- 
 gling and fighting with Sin, and earn eft and con- 
 ftant Prayer and Labour in Religion, and En- 
 gagednefs of Mind in the Ufe of all Means, at- 
 tended with a great ExacSlnefs of Life : Which 
 Growth has been attended, not only with a great 
 Increafe of religious Affections, but with a won- 
 derful Alteration of outward Behaviour, in many 
 Things, vifibie to thofe who are moft intimately 
 acquainted, fo as lately to have become as it were 
 a new Perfon ; and particularly in living fo much 
 more above the World, and in a greater Degree 
 of Stedfaftnefs and Strength in the Way of Duty 
 and Self-denial, maintaining the Chriftian Con- 
 fli61: againft Temptations, and conquering from 
 Time to Time under great Trials ; perfifting in 
 an unmoved, untouched Calm and Reft, under 
 the Changes and Accidents of Time. The Per- 
 fon 
 
Part I. :,: a particular Inftance. C-j 
 
 foil had formerly in lower Degrees of Grace, 
 been fubje^l to Unlleadmefs, and many ups and 
 da*is, in the Frame of Mind ; The Mind be- 
 ins; under great Diiadvantages, thro' a vapoury 
 Habit of Body, and often fubjedi: to Melancholy, 
 and at Times almoft over-born with it, it having 
 been fo even from early Youth : but Strength of 
 Grace, and divine Light has of a long Time, 
 wholly conquered thefe Diikdvantages, and car- 
 ried tlie Mind in a'^onftant Manner, quite above 
 all fuch Efteflis of Vapours. Since that Refigna- 
 tion fpoken of before, made near three \ears 
 ago, every Thing of that Nature feems to be 
 overcome and cruflied by the Power of Faith and 
 Truft in God, and Refignation to him ; the Per- 
 fon has remained in a conftant uninterrupted 
 Reft, and humble Joy in God, and Affirrance of 
 his Favour, without one Hour's Melancholy or 
 Darknefs, from that Day to this ; Vapours have 
 had great Effefts on the Body, fuch as they ufed 
 to have before, but the Soul has been always out 
 of their Reach. And this Stedfaftnefs and Ccn- 
 ftancy has remained thro' great outward Changes 
 and Trials ; fuch as Times of the moft extreme 
 Pain, and apparent Hazard of immediate Death. 
 What has been felt in late great Tranfports is 
 known to be nothing new in Kind, but to be of 
 the fame Nature with "^vhat was felt formerlv, 
 when a little Child of about five'or fix Years of 
 Age ; but only in a vaftly higherDegree. Thefe 
 tranfporting Views and rapturous AfFeclions are 
 not attended with any enthufiaftick Difpofition, 
 to follow Impulfes, or any fuppofed prophetical 
 G Re- 
 
€8 The Nature of the Work Pai^t I. 
 
 Revelations ; nor have they been obferve'd to be 
 attended with any Appearance of fpiritual Pride, 
 but very much of a contrary Difpofition, ajUfn- 
 creafe of a Spirit of Humility and Meeknefs, and 
 a Difpofition in Honour to prefer others : And 
 ^tis worthy to be remark'd, that at a Time re- 
 markably diftinguifhed from all others, wherein 
 Difcoveries and holy AfFedlions were evidently at 
 the greateft Height that ever happen'djthe Great- 
 nefs and Clearnefs of divine Light being over- 
 whelming, and the Strength and Sweetnefs of 
 divine Love altogether over-pouring, which be- 
 gan early in the Morning of the holy Sabbath, 
 and lafted for Days together, melting all down 
 in the deepeft Humility and Poverty of Spirit, 
 Reverence and Refignation, and the fweeteft 
 Meeknefs,and univerfal Benevolence ; I fay, 'tis 
 worthy to be obferved, that there were thefe two 
 Things in a remarkable Manner felt at that 
 Time, viz. a peculiar fenfible Averfion to a judg- 
 ing others that were profefling Chriftians of good 
 •ilanding in the vifible Church, that they were 
 not converted, or with refpecl: to their Degrees 
 ' of Grace , or at all intermeddling with thatMat- 
 ter, fo much as to determine againft and con- 
 demn others in the Thought of the Heart ; it ap- 
 pearing hateful, as not agreeing with that Lamb- 
 like Humility, Meeknefs, Gentlenefs & Charity, 
 which the Soul then, above other Times, faw 
 the Beauty of, and felt a Difpofition to- The 
 Difpofition that was then felt was, on tJhe con- 
 trary, to prefer others to Self, and to ho^e that 
 thev law more of God and loved him better ; 
 ^ - tho^ 
 
Part I. in' a particular Injlance. 69 
 
 iho' before, under fmaller DIfcoveries, and feebler 
 Excrcifes of divine Affeftion, there had been felt 
 a Difpofition to cenfure and condemn others. 
 And another Thing that was felt at that Time, 
 was a very great Senfe of the Importance of moral 
 ibcial Duties, and how great a Part of Religion 
 lay in them : There was fuch a new Senfe and 
 Conviaion of this, beyond what had been before, 
 that it feemed to be as it were a clear Difcovery 
 then made to the Soul : But in general, there has 
 been a very great Increafe of a Senfe of thefe two 
 Thin2:s, as divine Views and divine Love have 
 increafed. 
 
 The Things already mentioned have been at- 
 tended alfo with the following Things, viz. an 
 extraordinary Senfe of the awful Majefty and 
 Greatnefs of God, fo as oftentimes to take away 
 the bodily Strength ; a Senfe of the Holinefs of 
 G0D5 ^ ^f ^ Flame infinitely pure and bright, 
 fo as fometimes to overwhelm Soul and Body j 
 a Senfe of the piercing all-feeing Eye of God, 
 fo as fometimes to take away the bodily Strength ; 
 and ^n extraordinary View of the infinite Terri- 
 i)lenefs of the Wrath of God, which has very 
 frequently been ftrongly imprefs'd on the Mind, 
 -together with a Senfe of the ineffable Mifery of 
 Sinners that are expofed to this Wrath, that has 
 been over-bearing : Sometimes the exceeding Pol- 
 lution of the Perfon's own Heart, as a Sink of all 
 manner of Abomination, and a Neft of Vipers, 
 and the E)readfulnefs of an eternal Hell of God's 
 Wrath, open'd to View both together 3 with a 
 clear View of a Defert of that Mifery, without 
 G 2 ' the 
 
o The Nature of the IFork Part I. 
 
 t'^e leaft Degree of divinaPityj and that by the 
 Polhition of the beft Duties ; yea, only by the 
 Pollution and Irreverence, and want of Humility 
 that attended once fpeaking of the hcJy Name of 
 God, when done in the bc-fl Manner that ever 
 it H^s done ; the Strength of the Body very often 
 taken away with a deep mourning for Sin, as 
 committed againft fo holy ^nd good a. God, 
 fcmetimes with an afFefting Senfe^of actual Sin, 
 fometimes efpecially indwelling Sin, fometimes 
 the Confideration of the Sin of the Heart as ap- 
 pearing in a particular Thing, as for Inflance, in 
 that there was no greater Forwardn efs and Readi- 
 ncfs to Self-denial for God and Christ, that 
 had fo denied himfelf for us ; yea, fcmetimes the 
 Confideration of Sin .that was in only. fpeakJHg 
 one Word concerning the infimt^Iy; gri^at and 
 holy God, has been fo affecting as to overcome 
 the Strength of Nature.: A very great Se/ife of 
 the certain Truth of the great Things revealed in 
 the Gofpel ; an over-whelming Senfe of the Glory 
 of the Work of Redemption, and- the Way of 
 Salvation by Jesus Christ ; the glorious Har- 
 mony of the divine Attributes appearing therein^ 
 as that wherein Mercy and Truth are met toge- 
 ther, and Righteoufnefs and Peace have kifTed 
 each other ; a Sight of the Fulnefs and glorious 
 Sufficiency of Christ, that has been (o afFe.ciing 
 as to overcome the Body : A conftant imiopve- 
 able Truft in God through Christ, with a 
 great Senfe of his Strength and Faithfijnefs., th? 
 Surenefs of his Covenant, and the Immutabihi/ 
 of his Promifes, fo that the everlafting Mountain > 
 
 and 
 
Part I. in a particular Injidnce. ji 
 
 and perpetual Hills have appeared as meer Sha- 
 dows to thefe Things : Sometimes the Sufficiency 
 and Faithfulnefs of God as the Covenant God 
 of his People, appearing in thefe Words, I AM 
 THAT I AM, in fo affefting a Manner as to 
 overcome the Body : A Senfe of the glorious, un- 
 fearchable, unerring Wifdom of God in his 
 Works, both of Creation and Providence, fo as 
 to fwallow up the Soul, & overcome the Strength 
 of the Body : A fweet rejoicing of Soul at tlie 
 Thoughts of God's being infinitely and unchange- 
 ably happy, and an exulting gladnefs of Heart 
 that God is Self-fufficient, ani infinitely above 
 all Dependence, and reigns over all, and does his 
 Will v^ith abfolute and uncontroulable Power and 
 Sovereignty ; a Senfe of the Glory of the Holy 
 Spirit, as the great Comforter, fo as to over- 
 whelm both Soul and Body ; only mentioning the 
 Word the Comforter, h^s immediately taken 
 away all Strength ; that Word, as the Perfon ex- 
 prefted it, feem'd great enough to fill Heaven and 
 Earth : A moft vehement and paffionate Defire of 
 the Honour and Glory of God's Name ; a fen* 
 fible, clear and conftant Preference of it not only 
 to the Perfon's own temporal Intereft, but fpiri- 
 tual Comfort in this World ; and a Willingnefs 
 to fufFer the hidings of God's Face, and to live, 
 and die in Darknefs and Horror if God's Honour 
 fhould require it, and to have no other Reward 
 for it but that God's Name fhould be glorified, 
 altho' fo much of the Sweetnefs of the Light of 
 God's Countenance had been experienced : A 
 great lamenting of Ingratitude, and the lownefe 
 G 3 oi* 
 
72 ^he Nature of the H'^ork Part I. 
 
 of the Degree of Love to God, fo as to deprive 
 of bodily Strength ; and very often vehement 
 Longings andFaintings after more Love toChrift, 
 and greater Conformity to him ; efpecially long-, 
 ing after thefe two Things, viz. To be more 
 perfeft in Humility^ and AdoraUon ; the Flelh 
 and Heart, feems often to cry out for a lying low 
 before God, and adoring him with greater Love 
 and Humility : The Thoughts of the perfe6l Hu- 
 mihty with which the Saints in Heaven worfhip 
 God, and fall down before his Throne, have 
 often overcome the Body, and fet it into a great 
 Agitation. A giwt Delight in finging Praifes to 
 God and Jesus Christ, and longing that this 
 prefent Life may be, as it were, one continued 
 Song of Praife to God ; longing, as thePerfon 
 expreffed it, to fit and fing this Life away ; and 
 an overcoming Pleafure in the Thoughts of fpend- 
 ing an Eternity in that Exercife : A living by Faith 
 to a great Degree ; a conftant and extraordinary 
 Diftruft of own Strength and Wifdom ; a 
 great Dependence on God for his Help, in order 
 to the Performance of any Thing to G9d's Ac- 
 ceptance, and being reftrain'd from the moft hor- 
 rid Sins, and running upon God, even on his 
 Neck, and on the thick Bofies of his Bucklers : 
 Such aSenfe of the black Ingratitude of true Saints 
 Coldnefs and Deadnefs in Religion, and their fet- 
 ting their Hearts on the Things of this World, 
 as to overcome the bodily Frame : A great long- 
 ing that all the Children of God might be lively 
 in Religion, fervent in their Love, and adive in 
 the Service of God \ and when there have been 
 
 Ao- 
 
Part. 1. in a particular Infta7tce. 73 
 
 Appearances of it in others, rejoicing fo in be- 
 holding the pleafing Sight, that the Joy of Soul 
 has been too great for the Body : Taking Plea- 
 fare in the Thoughts of watching and ftriving 
 againft Sin, and fighting through the Way to 
 Heaven, and filling up this Life with hardLabour, 
 and bearing the Crofs for Christ, as an Oppor- 
 tunity to give God Honour ; not defiring to reft 
 from' Labours 'till arrived in Heaven, but abhor- 
 ring the Thoughts of it, and feeming aftoniflied 
 that God's own Children fhould be backward to 
 ftrive and deny themfelves for God : Earneft 
 Longings that allGOD's People might be cloathed 
 with^Humility and Meeknefs, like the Lamb of 
 GOD, and feel nothing in their Hearts but Love 
 and Compaffion to all Mankind ; and great Grief 
 when any Thing to the contrary feems to appear 
 in any of the Children of GOD, as any Bitter- 
 nefs, or fiercenefs of Zeal, or Cenforioufnefs, or 
 reflecting uncharitably on others, or difputing 
 with any Appearance of Heat of Spirit ; a deep 
 Concern for the Good of others Souls ; a melt- 
 ing Compaffion to thofe that look'd on themfelves 
 as in a State of Nature, and to Saints under 
 Darknefs, fo as to caufe the Body to faint : An 
 imiverfal Benevolence to Mankind, with a long- 
 ing as it were to embrace the whole World in 
 the Arms of Pity and Love ; Ideas of fuffering 
 from Enemies, the utmoft conceiveable Rage and 
 Cruelty, with a Difpofition felt to fervent Love 
 and Pity in fuch a Cafe, fo far as it could be 
 realized in lliought ; Fainting with Pity to the 
 World that lies in Ignorance and Wickednefs ; 
 
 fome- 
 
74 i:he Nature of the Work Part I. 
 
 fometimes a Difpofition felt to a Life given up 
 to mourning alone in a Wildernefs over a loft 
 and miferable World ; Compaffion towards them 
 being often to that Degree, that vi^ould allov^ of 
 no Support or Reft, but in going to GOD, and 
 pouring out the Soul in Prayer for them ; ear- 
 neft Defires that the Work of GOD, that is 
 now in the Land, may be carried on, and that 
 with greater Purity, and Freedom from all bit- 
 ter Zeal, Cenforioufnefs, fpiritual Pride, hot Dif- 
 
 putes, l^c \ a vehement and conftant Defire 
 
 for the fetting up of Christ's Kingdom thro* 
 the Earth, as a Kingdom of Holinefs, Purity, 
 Love, Peace and Happinefs to Mankind : The 
 Soul often entertained with unfpeakable. Delight, 
 and bodily Strength overborn, at the Thoughts 
 of Heaven, as a World of Love, where Love 
 fhall be the Saints eternal Food, and they fhall 
 dwell in the Light of Love, and fwim in an 
 Ocean of Love, and where the very Air and 
 Breath will be nothing but Love; Love to the 
 People of GOD, or GOD's true Saints, as fuch 
 that have the Image of Christ, and as thofe" 
 that will in a very little Time ftiine in his per- 
 fect Image, that has been attended with that En- 
 dearment and Onenefs of Heart, and that Sweet- 
 nefs and Ravifhment of Soul, that has been alto- 
 gether inexpreflible ; The Strength very often 
 taken away with Longings that others might love 
 GOD more, and ferve GOD better, and have 
 more of his comfortable Prefence, than the Per- 
 fon that wa-3 the Subjedt of thefe Longings, de- 
 firing to follow the whole World to Heaven, 
 
 or 
 
Part I. in apf.rlicidar hijiance. J 5 
 
 or Uiat every orxC fnould go before, and be higher 
 ill Grace and Happinefs, not by this Perfon's 
 Diminution, but by others Increafe :. A Delight 
 in converfing of Things of Rehgion, and in feeing 
 Chriil:ians together, talking of the moft fpiritual 
 and heavenly^ Things in Religion, in a lively and 
 feeling Manner, and very frequently cvercome 
 with the Pleafure of fuch Converfation : A great 
 Senfe often exprefled, of the Importance of the 
 Duty of Chtvhy to the Poor, and how nnuch the 
 generality of Chriftians come fliort in the Praftlce 
 of it : A great Senfc of the Need GOD's Mini- 
 fters have of much of the Spirit of GOD, at this 
 Day efpecially 3 and moft earneft Longings and 
 JbVreftlings with GOD for them, fo as to take 
 il*^y the bodily Strength : The greateft, fulleft^ 
 Icangeft continued, and moft conftant Aflurance 
 of. the .Favour of GOD, and of a Title to future 
 Glory, that ever I faw any Appearance of in any 
 Perfon, enjoyifig, efpecially of late, (to ufe the 
 Perfon'^ QW.n Exprefiion) The Riches of full Affu- 
 r(7w^i.* Formerly longing to die 'with fomething 
 of Impatience, but lately, fmce tha4: Refignatioa 
 fore-mentioned about three Years -ago, an unin- 
 terrupted entire Refignation to GOD witli Re- 
 fpe<Sl to Life or Death, Sicknefs or Health, Eafe 
 or Pain, which has remained unchanged and un- 
 fliaken^ when acStually under extreme and violent 
 PainSj and inTimes of Threatnings of immediate 
 Detach- \ But tho' therebc this Patience and Sub- 
 million, yet the Thoughts of Death and the Day 
 of Judgment are alwajs exceeding fweet to the 
 Soul : This Refignation is alfo attended witj;i a 
 
 con- 
 
7 6 The Nature of the JVork Pari 
 
 conftant Refignation of the Lives ofdeareft earthly 
 Friends, and fometimes when Ibme of their Lives 
 have been imminently threaten'd ; often expref- 
 fmg the Sw^eetnefs of the Liberty of having wholly 
 left the World, and renounced all for GOD, and 
 leaving nothing but GOD, in whom is an infinite 
 Fulnefs. Thefe Things have been attended with 
 a conftant fweet Peace and Calm and Serenity of 
 Soul, without any Cloud to interrupt it ; a con- 
 tinual rejoicing in all the Works of GOD's Hands, 
 the Works of Nature, and GOD's daily Works 
 of Providence, all appearing with a fweet Smile 
 upon them ; a wonderful Accefs to GOD by 
 Prayer, as it were feeing him, and fenfibly imme- 
 diately converfing with him, as much oftentimes, 
 (to ufe the Perfon'^ own Expreffions,^ as if Chrift 
 Were here on Eartii, fitting on a vifiDle THpojie^ 
 to be approached to and converfed with j fre- 
 quent, plain, fenfible and immediate Anfwers of 
 Prayer ; all Tears wiped away ; all former Trou- 
 bles and Sorrows of Life forgotten, and all Sorrow 
 and Sighing fled away, excepting Grief for paft 
 Sins, and for remaining Corruption, and that 
 Christ is loved no more, and that GOD is no 
 more honoured in the World, and a compaffionate 
 Grief towards Fellow-Creatures ; a daily fenfi- 
 ble doing and fufFering every Thing for GOD, 
 for a long Time paft, eating for GOD, and work- 
 ing for GOD, and fleeping for GOD, and bear- 
 ing Pain and Trouble for GOD, and doing all as 
 the Service of Love, and fo doing it with a con- 
 tinual, uninterrupted Cheerfulnefs, Peace and 
 Joy . Oh how good, faid the Perfon once, is it 
 
 to 
 
Part I. in a -particular Injiance. 77 
 
 to work for GOD in the Day-time, and at Night 
 to he down under his Smiles ! High Experiences 
 and rehgious AfFeftions in this Perfon have not 
 been attended with any Difpofition at all to neg- 
 led the necefiary Bufmefs of a fecular Calling, to 
 fpend the Time in Reading and Prayer, and other 
 Exercifes of Devotion ; but worldly Bufmefs has 
 been attended with great Alacrity, as Part of the 
 Service of GOD : The Perfon declaring that it 
 being done thus, 'tis found to be as good as Prayer. 
 Thefe Things have been accompanied with an 
 exceeding Concern and Zeal for moral Duties, 
 and that all ProfefTors may with them adorn the 
 Doclrine of GOD their Saviour ; and an uncom- 
 men Care to perform relative and focial Duties, 
 and a noted Eminence in them ; a great Inoffen- 
 fivenefs of Life and Converfation in the Sight of 
 others ; a great Meeknefs, Gentlenefs and Bene- 
 volence of Spirit and Behaviour ; and a great Al- 
 teration in thofe Things that formerly ufed to be 
 the Perfon's Failings ; feeming to be much over- 
 come and fwallowed up by the late great Increafe 
 of Grace, to the Obfervation of thofe that are 
 moft converfant and moft intimately acquainted : 
 In Times of the brighteft Light andhigheft Flights 
 of Love and Joy, finding no Difpofition to any 
 Opinion of being now perfeftly free from Sin, 
 (agreable to the Notion of the TVe/Ieys and their 
 Followers, and fome other high Pretenders to 
 Spirituality in thefe Days ;) but exceedingly the 
 contrary : at fuch Times efpecially, feeing how 
 loathfome and polluted the Soul is,'Soul and Body 
 and every Aa and Word appearing like Roten- 
 
 nefs 
 
78 This is the IVcrk c/Gcd. Part I. 
 
 nefs and Corruption in that pure and holy Light 
 of GOD's Glory: not {lio;hting InftrucSlion or 
 Means of Grace any more for having had great 
 Difcoveries ; on the contrary, never more fenfible 
 of the Need of Inftruftion than now' And one 
 Thing more may be added, viz. That thefe Things 
 have been attended with a particular Diflike of 
 placing Religion much in Drefs, and fpending 
 inuch Zeal about thofe Things that in themfehxs 
 are Mattets of Indifference, or an affecting to 
 fhew Humility and Devotion by a mean Habit, 
 or a demure and melancholy Countenance, or 
 any Thing fingular and fuperflitious. 
 
 Now if fuch Things are Enthufiafm, and the 
 Fruits of a diftemper'd Brain, Let my Brain be 
 eveimore poflefs'd of that happy Diflemper ! If 
 this be Diflraclion, I pray GOD that the World 
 of Mankind may be all feized with this benign, 
 meek, beneficent, beatifical, glorious Diflradion ! 
 If Agitations of Body were found in the French 
 Prophets., and Ten Thoufand Prophets more, 'tis 
 little to their Purpofe who bring it as an Objection 
 aojainfl fuch a Work as tliis, unlefs their Purpofe 
 be to difprove the whole of the Chriflian Reli- 
 gion. The great Affeftions and high Tranfports 
 that others h^ve lately been under, are in general 
 of the fame Kind with thcfe in the Inftance that 
 has been given, tho' not to fo high a Degree, and 
 many of them, not fo pure and unmixed, and fo 
 well'regulated. I have had Opportunity to ob- 
 ferve many Inflances here and elfewhere ; and 
 tho' there are fjme Inflances of great AfFe£tions 
 inwliich dietc has been a great Mixture of Na 
 
 ture 
 
Part I. 7'his is the JVork of God. 71 
 
 ture with Grace, and in fome, a fad degenerating 
 of religious Affections ; yet there is that Unifor- 
 mity obfervable, that 'tis eafy to be feen that in 
 general 'tis the fame Spirit from whence the Work 
 in all Parts of the Land has originated. And 
 what Notions have they of Religion, that rej eft 
 what has been defcribed as not true Religion ^ 
 What fliall we find to anfwer thofe Expi-eiHons in 
 Scripture, The Peace cf GOD that pajffs all Un- 
 der/landing 'y—Rejoicing zuithjoy U7tfpeakeabhl^ full 
 of Glory ^ in believing in and loving an tmfecn Savi- 
 our \— All Joy If^ Peace in believing y—GOD's Jhirung 
 into our Hearts^ to give the Light of the Knotulsdge 
 of the Glory of GOD, hi the Face ofjefus Chrijl ; 
 iK)ith op£n Face^ beholding as in a Glafs^ the Glo7y 
 of the LfOrd^ and being changed i7ito the fame Imag^y 
 from Glory to Glory ^ even as by the Spirit cf the 
 Lord \— Having the Love of GOD Jhed abroad incur 
 Hearts^ by the Holy Ghojl given to us \" Having the 
 Spirit of GOD^and of Glory reji upon us \— A being 
 called out of Darknefs into marvellous Light ; and 
 having iheDay-Star aiife in our Hearts : —I fay, jf 
 thofe Things that have been mentioned, don't an- 
 fwer thefe Expreffions, what elfe can we find out 
 that does anfwer them ? Thofe that don't think 
 fuch Things as thefe to be the Fruits of the true 
 Spirit, would do well to c'onfider what Kind of 
 Spirit they are waiting and praying for, and what 
 Sort of Fruits they expeit he fhould produce when 
 he comes. I fuppofe it will generally be allow'd 
 that there is fuch a Thing as a glorious Out-pour- 
 ing of the Spirit of God to be expeded, to intro- 
 duce very joyful and glorious Times upon religi- 
 H ous 
 
:o Of waiting for the Fruits. , Part 1/ 
 
 ous Accounts ; Times wherein holvLove and Joy 
 will be raifed to a great Height in true Chriftians : 
 But if thofe Things that have been mentioned be 
 rejecSled, what is left that we can find wherewitli 
 to. patch upaNotion^or form anJdea^of the high, 
 blefled, joyful Religion of thefe Times ? What 
 is that any have a Notion of, that is very fweet, 
 excellent and joyful, of a religious Nature, that 
 is entirely of a different Nature from thefe 
 Things ? 
 
 Thofe that are waiting for the Fruits in order 
 to determine whether this be the Work of God 
 or no, would do well to confider two Things ; 
 I. What they are waiting for : Whether it ben't 
 this ; To have this wonderful religious Influence 
 that is on the Minds of People over and paft, and 
 then to fee how they v/ill behave themfelves ? 
 That is, to have Grace fubfide, and the Aftings 
 of it in a great Meafure to ceafe, and to have 
 Perfons grow cold and dead, and then to fee whe- 
 ther after that, they will behave themfelves with 
 that Exaclnefs andBrightnefs of Converfation,that 
 is to be expected of lively Chriflians, or thofe that 
 are in the vigorous Exercifes of Grace. There 
 are "many that v^nll not be fatisfied with any Ex- 
 aftnefs or Laborioufnefs in Religion now, while 
 Perfons have their Minds much moved, and their 
 Affections are high ; for they lay it to their Flafli 
 of i\ffection, and Heat of Zeal, as they call it ; 
 they are waiting to fee whether they will carry 
 themfelves as well when thefe Affections are over 
 That is, they are waiting to have Perfons ' ficken 
 ^mdiofe their Strength, that they may fee whether 
 
 thev 
 
P A R T I . Of waiting for the Fruits. 8 r 
 
 they will then behave thcmfelves like healthy 
 ftrong Men. I would defire that they would alfo 
 confider whether they ben't waiting for more than 
 is reafonably to be expe£ted, fuppofing this to be 
 really a great Work of God, and much more 
 than haslbeen found in former great Out-pour- 
 ings of the Spirit of God, that have been uni- 
 verfally acknowledged in the Chriftian Church ? 
 Don't.they cxpcd fevv-er Inftances of Apoftacy, 
 and Evidences of Hypocriiy in Profeflbrs, and 
 thofe that for the prefent feem to be under the 
 Influences of the Spirit, than were after that great 
 Out-pouring of the Spirit in the Apoftles Days, 
 or that which was in the Time of the Reforma- 
 tion ? And don't they ftand prepared to make a 
 mighty Argument of it againft this Work, if there 
 fhould be half fo many ? And 2. They would 
 do w^ll to confider how long they will wait to fee 
 the good Fruit of this Work, before they will 
 determine in Favour of it. Is not their Waiting 
 unlimited ? The vifible Fruit that is to be ex- 
 pelled of a pouring out of the Spirit of God on 
 a Country, is a vifible Reformation in that Coun- 
 try : What Reformation has lately been brought 
 to pafs in New-England^ by this Work, has been 
 before obferved : And has it not continued long 
 enough already, to give reafonable Satisfadiion ? 
 If God can't work on the Hearts of a People after 
 fuch a Manner, as to fhew his Hand fo plainly, 
 as reafonably to expeft it fhould be acknov/Iedgcd 
 in a Year & half, or two Years Time ; yet furely 
 it is unreafonable, that our Expedations and De- 
 mands fhould be unlimited, and our Waiting v/ith- 
 out any Bounds. As 
 
S2 ms Work is vc'i-y glorious. Part I. 
 
 As there is the clearcft Evidence, from thofe 
 Things that have been obferved, that this is the 
 Work of God, fo it is evident that it is a very 
 great and wonderful, and exceeding glorious Work 
 of God. This is certain that it is a great and 
 wonderful Event, a ftrange Revolution, an unex- 
 pedled, furprizing Overturning of Things, fud- 
 denly brought to pafs \ fuch as never has been feen 
 in NeW'Enghind^ and fcarce ever has been heard 
 of in any Land. Who that faw the State of 
 Things in New-England a few Years ago, the 
 State that it was fettled in, and the Way that we 
 had been fo long going on in, would have thought 
 that in fo little a Time there would be fuch a 
 Change ? This is undoubtedly either a very great 
 Work of God, or a great Work of the DeviJ, 
 as to the main Subftance of it. For tho' undoubt- 
 edly, God and the Devil may work together at 
 the fame Time, and in the fame Land ; and when 
 God is at work,efpecially if he be very remarka- 
 bly at Work, Satan will to his utmoft endeavour 
 to intrude, and by intermingling his Work, to 
 darken and hinder God's Work ; yet God and 
 the Devil don't work together in producing tlie 
 fame Event, and in effeSing the fame Change in 
 the Hearts and Lives of Men : But 'tis apparent 
 that there are fome Things wherein the main Sub- 
 ftance of this Work confifts,^ a certain EfFeA that 
 is produced, and Alteration that is made in the 
 Apprehenfions, Affeffions, Difpofitions and Beha- 
 viour of Men, in which there is a Likenefs and 
 Agreement every where : Now this I fay, is either 
 a wonderful Work of God, or a mighty Work 
 
 of 
 
Part I. T'his Work is very glorious. 83 
 
 of the Devil ; and fo is either a moft happy Event, 
 (^reatly to be admired and rejoiced in, or a moft 
 awful Calamity. Therefore if what has been faid 
 before, be fufficient to determine it to be as to 
 the Main, the Work of God, then it muft be 
 acknowledged to be a ver}^ wonderful and glori- 
 ous Work of Go D . 
 
 Such a Work is in its Nature and Kind, the 
 moft glorious of any Work of God whatfoever ; 
 and is always fo fpoken of in Scripture. It is the 
 Work of Redemption, (The great End of all 
 other Works of God, and of w^hich the Work 
 of Creation was but a Shadow,) in the Event, 
 Succefs and End of it : It is the Work of New- 
 Creation, that is infinitely more glorious than the 
 Old. I am bold to fay, 'that the Work of CtOD 
 in the Converfion of one Soul, confidercd toge- 
 ther with the Source, Foundation and Purchafc 
 of it, and alfo the Benefit, End and eternal Iflue 
 of it, is a m.ore glorious Work of God than the 
 Creation of the whole material Univerfe : It h 
 the moft glorious of God's Works, as it abcA'c 
 all others manifefts the Glovf of God .* It is fpo- 
 ken of in Scripture as that w^hich fhews the exceed-^ 
 ing Greatnefs of GOD' s Povjrr^ and thd Ghry ami 
 Riches of divine Grace ^ and v/herein Christ hai 
 the moft glorious Triumph over his Enemies, and 
 wherein God is mightily exalted : And it is a 
 Work above all others glorious, as it concerns the 
 Happinefs of Mankind ; more Happincfs, and a 
 greater Benefit to Man, is the Fruit of each fingle 
 Drop of fuch a Showier, than all the temporal 
 Good of tlie moft happy Revolution in a Land 
 H 3 
 
8 4 This fFork is very glorious. P a r t I. 
 
 or Nation amounts to, or all that a People could 
 gain by the Conqueft of the World. 
 
 And as this Work is very glorious in its Na- 
 ture, fo it is in its Degree and Circumftances- 
 It will appear very glorious if vv^e confider the 
 Unworthinefs of the People that are the Subjefts 
 of it; what Obligations God has laid us under 
 by the fpecial Priviledges we have enjoyed for 
 our Souls Good, and the great Things God did 
 for us at our firft Settlement in the Land ; and 
 how he has followed us with his Goodnefs to this 
 Day, and how we have abufed his Goodnefs 5 
 how long we have been revolting more and more, 
 (as all confefs,) and how very corrupt we were 
 become at laft ; in how great a Degree we had 
 call off God, and forfaken the Fountain of living 
 Waters : how obftinate we have been under all 
 Manner of Means that God has ufed with us to 
 reclaim us -, how often we have mocked God 
 with hypocritical Pretences of Humiliation, as in 
 our annual Days of publick Fafting, aiul other 
 Things, while inflead of reforming, we only grew 
 worfe and worfc ; how dead a Time it was every 
 where before this '^Vork began : If w^e confider 
 thefe Things, wc fhall be moft ftupidly ungrate- 
 ful, if we don't acknowledge God's vifiting of 
 us as he has done, as an Inftance of the glorious 
 Triumph of free and fovereign Grace. 
 
 The Work i-5> very glorious if we confider the 
 Extent of it ; being in this Refpedt vaftly beyond 
 any former Out-pouring of tlie Spirit that ever 
 was known in Ne^tv- England, There has for- 
 merly fometinies been a remarkable Awakening 
 
 and 
 
Part I. ^his Work is very glorious. ^r^ 
 
 and Succefs of the Means of Grace, in fome par- 
 ticular Congregation ; and this ufed to be much 
 taken Notice of, and acknowledged to be glori- 
 ous, tho' the Towns and Congregations round 
 about continued dead : But now God has bro't 
 to pafs a new Thing, he has wrought a great 
 Work of this Nature, that has extended from one 
 End of the Land to the other, befides what has 
 been wrought in other Britifli Colonies in Ame- 
 rica. 
 
 The Work is very glorious in the great Num- 
 bers that have to Appearance, been turned from 
 Sin to God, and fo delivered from a wretched 
 Captivity to Sin and Satan, faved from everlaft- 
 ing Burnings, and made Heirs of eternal Glory. 
 How high an Honour, and great Reward of their 
 Labours, have fome eminent Perfons, of Note in 
 the Church of God, fignificd that they fliould 
 elleem it, if they fhould be made the Inftruments 
 of the Converfion and eternal Salvation of but cne 
 Soul ? Anci no greater Event than that is tho't 
 worthy of great Notice in Hea\'en, among the 
 Hofts of glorious Angels, who rejoice and fmg on 
 luch an Occafion : and when there are many 
 llioufands of Souls thus converted and faved, 
 fhall it be efteemed worth but littleNotice,and be 
 mentioned witii Coldnefs and IndiiFerence here 
 on Earth, by thofe among whom fuch a Work is 
 wrought ? 
 
 The Work has been very glorious and won- 
 derful in many Circumflances and Events of it, 
 that have been extraordinary, wherein God has 
 in^n uncommon Maimer made hi§ Hand vifible, 
 
 and 
 
86 This U^crk is very glorious. Part I. 
 
 and his Power confpicuous ; as in the extraordi- 
 nary Degrees of Awakening, the Suddennefs of 
 Converfions in innumerable Inftances, in whom 
 tho' the Work was quick, yet the Thing wro't 
 is manifeftly durable. How common a Thing has 
 it been for great Part of a Congregation to be at 
 once moved, by a mighty invifible Power 5 and 
 for fix, eight or ten Souls to be converted to God, 
 (to all Appearance,) in an Exercife, in whom the 
 villble Change ftill continues ? How great an 
 Alteration has been made in fbme Towns ; yea, 
 fome populousTowns ; the Change ftill abiding ? 
 And how many very vicious Perfons have been 
 wrought upon, fo as to become vifibly New-Crea-. 
 tures ? OoD has alfo made his Hand very vifible, 
 and his Work glorious, in theMultitudes of little 
 Children that have been wrought upon : I fuppofe 
 tliere have been fome Hundreds of Inftances of 
 this Nature of late, any one of which formerly 
 would have been looked upon fo remarkable, as 
 to be worthy to be recorded, and publiflied thro' 
 the Land. The Work is very glorious in its In- 
 fluences and Effe6is on many that have been very 
 ignorant and barbarous, as I before obferved of 
 the Indians and Negroes. 
 
 The Work is alfo exceeding glorious in the 
 nigh Attainments of Chriftians, in the extraordi- 
 nary Degrees of Light, Love and fpiritual Joy, 
 that God has beftowed upon great 'Multitudes. 
 In this Refpea alfo, The Land in all Parts has 
 abounded with fuch Inftances, any one of which, 
 " If they had happen'd formerly, would have been 
 tiiought worthy to be taken Notice of by God^s 
 
 People, 
 
Part I. This Work is very glorious. 87 
 
 People, throughout the Britijh Dominions. The 
 New-jerufaUm in this Refpedl has begun to come 
 down &om Heaven, and perhaps never were more 
 of the Prelibations of Heaven's Glorv given upon 
 Earth. 
 
 The:e being a great many Errors and fmful Ir- 
 regularities mixed with this Work of God, arifmg 
 from our Weaknefs, Darknefs and Corruption, 
 don't hinder this Work of God's Power & Grace 
 from being very glorious. Our Follies and Sins 
 that we niix, do in fome RefpecSts manifeft the 
 Glory of it : The Glorjof divinePower & Grace 
 is fet ofF with the greater Luftre, by what appears 
 at the fame Time of the Weaknefs of the earthen 
 Veflel. 'Tis God's Pleafure that there (hould 
 be fomething remarkably to manifeft the Weak- 
 nefs and Unworthinefs of the Subje<5t, at the fame 
 Time that he difplays the Excellency of his Power 
 and Riches of his Grace. And I doubt not but 
 fome of thofe Things that make fome of us here 
 on Earth to be out of Humour, and to look on 
 this Work with a four d^fpleafed Countenance, 
 do heighten the Songs of the Angels, when they 
 praife God and the Lamb for vi^hat they fee of 
 the Glory of God's All-fufficiency, and the Effi- 
 cacy of Christ's Redemption. And how un- 
 reafonable is it that we (hould be backward to 
 acknowledge the Glory of what God has done, 
 becaufe withal, the Devil, and we in hearkening 
 to him, have done a great deal of Mifchief 
 
 PART 
 
88 7le Banger of lying JlilJ Part II. 
 
 PART II. 
 
 Shewing the ObHgations that all 
 are under, to acknowledge, 
 rejoice in, and promote this 
 WORK, and the great Danger 
 of the contrary. 
 
 THERE are many Things in the Word of 
 God, that fliew thatwhenGoD remark- 
 ably appears in any great Work for his 
 Church, and againft his Enemies, it is a moft 
 dangerous Thing, and highly provoking to God, 
 to be flow and backward to acknowledge and hon- 
 our God in the Work, and to lie ftil^and not to 
 put to an helping Hand. Chris T'sPeopIe are in 
 "Scripture reprefented as his Army ; he is theLoRD 
 OF Hosts or Armies : He is the Captain of the 
 Hoftofthe Lord, as he call'd himfelf when he 
 appear'd to Jojhua^ with a Sword drawn in his 
 Hand, Jojhua ^. 13? 14? I5v He is the Captain 
 of his People's Salvation ; and therefore it may 
 well be highly refented if they don't refort to him 
 when he orders his Banner to be difplayed ; or if 
 they refufe to follow him when he blows theTrum- 
 pet, and glorioufly appears going forth againft his 
 Enemies. God expedls that every living Soul 
 
 Ihould 
 
Part II. at fuch a Time as this, 89 
 
 fliould have his Attention rouied on fuch an Oc- 
 cafion, and {hould moft chearfully yield to the 
 Call, and heedfully and diligently obey it ; Ifai. 
 18. 3. All ye Inhabitants of the JVorld,^ and Dwel- 
 ^-''s OK the Earthy fee ye zvhen he liftethup anEnfign 
 the Mountains \ And when he hloweth the Trurn^ 
 pctj)ear ye, Efpecially (hould ziUfrael be gatliered 
 after their Captain, as we read they were after 
 Ehud^ when he blew the Trumpet in Mount 
 Ephraim^wh^n he had flain EglonKing o\ A4oab^ 
 Judg} 3. 27, 28. How fevere is the martial 
 Law in fuch a Cafe, when any of anArmy refufes 
 to obey the Sound of theTrumpet, and follow his 
 General to the Battel. ? God at fuch a Time 
 appears in peculiar Manifeftations of his Glory, 
 and therefore not to be afFedled and animated, and 
 to lie ftill, and refufe to follow God, will be re- 
 fented as an highContempt of him. If a Subjedl 
 fhould ftand by, and be a Spectator of the folem- 
 'nity of his Prince 'sCoronation, and fhould appear 
 filent and fullen, when all the Multitude were 
 teftifying their Loyalty and Joy, with loud Ac- 
 clamations ; how greatly would he expofe him- 
 felf to be treated as a Rebel, and quickly to perifh 
 by the Authority of the Prince that he refufes 
 to honour ? 
 
 At a Tim.e whenGoD manlfefts himfelf in fuch 
 a great Work for his Church, there is no fuch 
 Thing as being Neuters ; there is a Neceflity of 
 being either for or againft the King that then glo- 
 rioufly appears : As when a King is crownM,tnd 
 f there are publicManifeftations of Joy on thatOc- 
 r cafion, there is nQiuch Thing a? ftanding by as 
 
 an 
 
go The Danger of lyhigjiill Part IL 
 
 an indifFerent Speftator ; all muft appear as loyal 
 Subjefts, and exprefs their Joy on that Occafion, 
 or be accounted Enemies : So it always is when 
 God, in any great Difpcnfation of hisProvidence, 
 does remaikably fct his King on his holy Hill 
 of Zioriy and Chrift in an extraordinary Manner 
 comes down from Heaven to the Earth, and ap- 
 pears in his vifible Church in a great Work of 
 Salvation for his People : So it was when Chrift 
 came down from Heaven in his Incarnation, and 
 appeared on Earth in his human Prefence ; there' 
 was no fuch Thing as being Neuters, neither on 
 his Side nor againft him : thofe that fat ftill and 
 faid nothing, and did not declare for him, and come 
 and join with him, after he, by his Word and 
 Works, had given fufficient Evidence who he 
 was, were juftly looked upon as his Enemies ; as 
 Christ fays, Math. 12. 30. He that is not 
 with me is 'Ggai7:Jl me \ and he that gather eth not 
 %vith me^fcattereth abroad. So it is in a time when 
 Christ is remarkably fpritually prefent, as well 
 as when he is bodily prefent ; and when he comes 
 to cany on the Work of Redemption in the Ap- 
 plication of it, as well as in the Revelation and 
 Purchafe. If a King fliould come into one of hi3 
 Provinces, that had been opprefs'd by it's Foes, 
 where fome of his Subjefts had fallen off to the 
 Enemy, and join'd with them againft their lawful 
 Sovereign and his loyal Subje£ls ; I fay, if the 
 lawful Sovereign himfelf (hould come into the 
 Province, and (hould ride forth there againft his 
 Enemies, and (hould call upon all that were on 
 his Side to come and gather themfdves to him ; 
 
 there 
 
Part II. at juch a Tiwe as this, 91 
 
 there would be no fuch Thing, in fuch a Cafe, as 
 ftandino- neuter : they that lay ftill and ftaid at a 
 Diftance would undoubtedly be looked upon and 
 treated as Rebels. So in tlie Day of Battle,when 
 two Armies join^ there is no fuch Thing for any 
 prefent as being of neither Party, all muft be on 
 one Side or the other ; and they that ben't founj 
 with the Conqueror in fuch a Cafe, muft expecl 
 to have his Weapons turned againft them, and to 
 fall with the reft of his Enemies. 
 
 When God manifeftshimfelf with fuch glorious 
 Pov/er in a Work of this Nature, he appears 
 efpecially determined to put Honour upon hisSon, 
 and to fulfill his Oath that he has fworn to him, 
 that he would make every Knee to bow, and 
 every Tongue to confefs to him. God hath had 
 it much on his Heart, from all Eternity, to glo- 
 rify his dear and only begotten Son ; and there 
 are fome fpecial Seafons that he appoints to that 
 End, wherein he comes forth with omnipoteiic 
 Power to fulfil his Promife and Oath to him : 
 And thefeTimes are Times of remarkable pouring 
 out of his Spirit, to advance his Kingdom ; 
 fuch a Day is a Day of his Power, wherein his 
 People Ihall be made willing, and he fhall rule 
 in the midft of his Enemies ; thefe efpecially are 
 the Times wherein God declares his firm Decree 
 that his Son fhall Reign on his holy Hill of Z/^w : 
 and therefore thofe that at fuch a Time don't 
 kifs the Son, as he then manifefts himfelf, and 
 appears in the Glory of his Majefty and Grace, 
 expofe themfelves X.o perijh from thcWay ^-^wlxo be 
 dajh*d in Pieces with a Rod of Iron. 
 
 I As 
 
9 2 "The Danger of lying ft ill, ^c. Pa. 11. 
 
 As fuch a Time is a Time wherein God emi- 
 nently fets his King en his holy Hill of Zion, fo 
 it is a l^ime wherein he remarkably fulfils that 
 in Illii. 28. 16. Therefore thus faith the Lord God, 
 behold, I lay in Zion for a Foundation, a Stone, a 
 tried StG7ie, a precious Cornier Stone, a fure Foun- 
 dation. Which the two Apoftles Peter and Paul^ 
 (i Pet. 2. 65 7, 8. and Ron. 9. 33.) join with 
 that Prophecy, Lai. 8. 14, 15. And he Jhallhe 
 for a San^fuary ; but for a Stone of Stumbling, 
 and for aRock of Offence to both theHoufes of Ifrael, 
 for a Gin and for a Snare to the Inhabitants of 
 Jerufaletn : and 7na7iy among them flmlljlumble and 
 fall, and be broken, and be fnared, a7id taken. As 
 fignifying that both are fulfilled together. Yea 
 both are joined together by the Prophet Ifaiah 
 himfelf ; as you may fee in the Context of that 
 formentionM, Ifai. 28. 16. In Ver.13. proceed- 
 ing it is faid. But the Word of the Lord was 
 unto them Precept upon Precept, Precept upon Pre- 
 cept ; Li7ie up07i Line, Line upon Line ; here a little 
 mnd there a little, that they might go, and fall back- 
 tuard, aud be broken, and fiared and taken. And 
 accordingly it always is fo, that when Chrift is in 
 a peculiar and eminent Manner manififted and 
 magnified, by a glorious Work of God in his 
 Church, as aFoundation and aSanftuary for fome, 
 he is remarkably a Stone of Stumbling and aRock 
 of Offence, a Gin and a Snare to otliers. They 
 that continue long to ftumble, and be offended 
 ^ and enfnared in theirMinds,at fuch a great & glo- 
 "^ousAVork of Chrift, inGod's Account, ftumble at 
 Chrift, and are offended \^ him j for the Work is 
 
 that 
 
p 
 
 P A . II. 7'he Banger of not acknowleging 9 3 
 
 that by which he makesChrlft manifeft,and (hows 
 his Glory, and by which he makes the Stone that 
 the Builders refufed^ to become the Head of the 
 Covfier. This (hows how dangerous it is to con- 
 tinue always ftumbling at fuch a Work, for ever 
 doubting ofit, and forbearing fully to acknow- 
 ledge it, and give God the Glory of it : Such 
 Perfons are in Danger to go^ and fall backward^ 
 and be broken^ and fnared and iakcn^ and to have 
 Chrift a Stone of^StuniUingto them, that fliall 
 be anOccafion of theirRuin ; while he is to others, 
 a SanSfuary^ and 2ifure Foundation, 
 
 The Prophet Ifaiah^ Ifai, 29. 14. fpcaks of 
 God's Proceeding to do a marvellous Work and 
 a Wonder, which fhould ftumble and conl^und 
 the Wifdom of the wife and prudent ; which the 
 Apoftle in ^^j 13. 41. applies to the glorious 
 Work of Salvation wrought in thofe Days by the 
 Redemption of Chrift, and that glorious Out- 
 pouring of the Spirit to apply it that followed ; 
 the Prophet in the Context of that Place in Ifai. 
 29. fpeaking of the fame Thing, and of the Pro- 
 phets and Rulers and Seers, thofe wife and 
 prudent whofe Eyes God had clofed, fays to them, 
 Verfe'g, Stay your f elves and wonder. In the 
 Original it is, be ye flow and wonder, I leave it 
 to others to confider whether it ben't natural to 
 interpret it thus, *^ wonder at this marvellous 
 '^ Work ; let it be a ftrange Thing, a great 
 '' Myftery that you know not what to make of, 
 '« and that you are very flow and backward to 
 '^ acknowledge, long delaying to come to a 
 '^ Determination concerning it.'^ And what 
 I 2 Perfons 
 
94 ^^d rejoicing in this Work. Part II. 
 
 Pcrfons are in Danger of, that wonder, and are 
 thus flow to acknowledge God in fuch a Work, 
 we Jearnbythatof the^Apoftle in that foremen- 
 tion'd A6b 13.41. Behold yeDejYifers, and wonder 
 andperijh'^ for I wnrk a IVork in your Days, a 
 TVcrk which you foall in no wife believe^ tho' a Man 
 declare it unto you. 
 
 The Church of Chrift is called upon greatly to 
 rejoice, when at any Time Chrift remarkably 
 appears, coming to his Church, to cai-ry on the 
 Work of Salvation, to enlarge his own King- 
 dom,^ and to deliver poor Souls out of the Pit 
 wherein there is no Water, in Zech. 9. 9, 10, 
 II. Rejoice greatly O Daughter ofZion^ Jhout^ O 
 Daughter of Jerufalem ; behold thy Ki7ig co?neih 
 unto thee \ h€ is juji and havifig Sahation^'-^-'His 
 
 Do7hinion Jhall be from Sea to Sea^ as for thee 
 
 alfo, by the Blood of thy Covenant^ I have fent forth 
 thy Prifo7iers out of the Pit wherei?! is 710 Water. 
 Chrift was pleafed to give a notable typical or 
 fymbolical Reprefentation of fuch a great Event 
 as is fpoken of in that Prophecy, in his folemn 
 Entry into the literal Jerufalem^ which wa^ a 
 fc Type of the Church or Daughter of Z/<?/7, there 
 fpoken of ; probablv intending it as a Figue and 
 Prelude of that great aftual Fulfillment of this 
 Prophecy, that was to be after his'Afcenfion, by 
 ' the pouring out of the Spirit in the Days of the 
 ■^ Apoftles, and that more full Accomplifhment 
 tha't fliould be in the latter Ages of the Chriftiaii 
 Church. We have an Account, that when 
 Chrift made this his folemn Entry into Jerufalem^ 
 and the whole Multitude of the -Difciples were 
 
 rejoicing 
 
Pa. II. TheDanger of long Silence ^c. 95 
 
 rejoicing and praifing God, with loud Voices, 
 for rJl the mighty Works that they had fecn, 
 the Pharifees from among the Multitude faid to 
 Chrift, Mafier^rehuke tky Difc'iples ; but we are 
 told, Luke 19.39,40. Qhx\9i a7ifwered and faid 
 unto them^ I tell you^ that if thefe Jhotdd bold tk'eir 
 Peace^ the Stones would immediately cry out. Sig- 
 nifying that if Chrift's profeffing Difciples fnould 
 be unaffeded on fuch an Occafion, and fhould 
 not appear openly to acknowledge and rejoice in 
 the Glory of God therein appearing, it would 
 manifeft fuch fearful Hardnefs of Heart, {o ex- 
 ceeding that of the Stones, that the very Stones 
 would condemn them^. Sliould not this make 
 thofe confider, who have held their Peace fo long, 
 fince Chrift lias come to our Zion having Salva- 
 tion, and fo wonderfully manifefted his Glory in 
 this mighty Work of his Spirit, and fo many of 
 his Difciples have been rcjoicttig and praifmg'God 
 v:ith loud Voices ? 
 
 It muft be acknowledged that fo great and 
 wonderful a Work of God's Spirit, is a Work 
 v/herein God's Hand is remarkably lifted up^ and 
 wherein he difplays his Adajejly^ and fliows great 
 Favour and Mercy to Sinners, in the glorious- 
 Opportunity he gives them ; and by v/hich he- 
 makes our Land to become much more a Land 
 cf Vprightnefs : therefore that Place, Ifai. 26. 
 10, II. fhows the great Danger of not feeing^ 
 God's Hai^d, and acknov/ledging hi& Glory and 
 Majefty in fuch a Work : Let Favour hejluwed 
 to the IVicked^ yet will he not learn Righteoufnefs ; 
 In the Land ofUprightnefs he will deal unjujily^ and 
 I 3 ^ will 
 
9 6 7he glorious Times are probably Pa .II. 
 
 vj'ill not behold the.' Majejly. of the Lord, Lord, 
 tuhcn thy Hand is lifted up, they will not fee ; but 
 ilyey Jljallfee^ and be ajhamed for tk/ir Envy at the 
 Peaple y yea the Fire of thine Enemies fhall devour 
 ihem. 
 
 ^Tis not unlikely that this Work of God^s 
 Spirit, that is fo extraordinary and wonderful, is 
 the dawning, or, at leaft, a Prelude of that glori- 
 ous Work of God, fo often foretold in Scripture, 
 which in the Progrefs and IlTue of it, fhall renew 
 the World of Mankind. If we confider how long 
 fince, the Things foretold, as whatfhould preceed 
 this great Event, have been accomplifhed ; and 
 how long this Event has been expe£ted by the 
 Church of God, and thought to be nigh by the 
 moft eminent Men of God in the Church ; and 
 withal confider what the State of Things now is, 
 and has for a confiderable Time been, in the 
 Church God, ^ and World of Mankind, we can^t 
 reafonably think otherwife, than that the Begin- 
 ning of this great Work of God muft be near. 
 And there are many Things that make it probable 
 that this Work will begin in America, 'Tis fig- 
 nified that rt {hall begin in fome very remote Part 
 of the Wo rid, that the reft of the World have no 
 Communication with but by Na\'1gation, in Ifai. 
 60. 9. Surely the Ifles fhall wait for me ^ and the 
 Ships ^/Tarfhifli/r/?, to bring my So?2S from fir. 
 It is exceeding manifeft that this Chapter is" a 
 Prophecy of the Profperity of the Church, in its 
 moft glorious State on Earth, in the latter Days j 
 and I can't think that any Thing'clfe can be here 
 intended but Anwica by'tlie Illes that are far cfF, 
 
 from 
 
Pa. IL to begin in America. 97 
 
 from whence the Firft-born Sons of that glorious 
 Day {hall be brought-. Indeed, By the IJles^ in 
 Prophecies of Gofpel-Times, is very often meant 
 Europe : It is fo in Prophecies of that great fpread- 
 ing of the Gofpel that fhouldbe foon after Chrift's 
 Time, becaufe it was far feparated from that 
 Part of the World where the Church of God had 
 'till then been, by the Sea. But this Prophecy 
 can't have Refpe<3: to the Converfion of Europe^ 
 in the Time of that great Work of God, in the 
 primitive Ages of the Chriftian Church ; for it 
 was not fulfilled then : The Ifles and Ships of 
 Tarfhljh^ thus underftood, did not wait for God 
 firft \ that glorious Work did not begin in Eir- 
 rope^ but in Jeruf&lem^ and had for a confiderable 
 Time, been very wonderfully carried on in ^Jia^ 
 before it reach'd Europe, And as it is not that 
 Work of God that is chiefly intended in this 
 Chapter, but that more glorious Work that fhould 
 be in the latter Ages of the Chriftian Church, 
 therefore fome other Part of the World is here 
 intended by the Ifles^ that fhould be as Europe 
 then was, far feparated from that Part of the 
 World where the Church had before been, by 
 the Sea, and with which it can have no Commu- 
 nication but by the Ships of Tarjhtjh, And what 
 is chiefly intended is not the BritiJJ^ Ifles, nor any 
 Ifles near the other Continent ; for they are fpo- 
 ken of as at a great Diftance from that Part of 
 the World where the Church had 'till then been. 
 This Prophecy therefore feems plainly to point 
 out America^ as th« firft Fruits of that dorious 
 Day, ^ 
 
 God 
 
9 8 T'he glorious T^imes. are probably Pa JL 
 
 God has made as it were two Worlds here 
 beloWj The old and the ne\v, (according to the 
 Names they are now called by,) two great habi- 
 table Continents, far feparated one from the 
 other ; The latter is but newly difcover'd, it was 
 formerly wholly unknown, from Age to Age, and 
 is as it were now but newly created : It has been, 
 'till of late, wholly the Poffeffion of Satan^ the 
 Church of God having never been in it, as it 
 has been in the other Continent, from the begin- 
 ning of the World. This new A^v^'orld is proba- 
 bly now difcovered, that the new and moft glori- 
 ous State of GoD^s Church on Earth mJght com- 
 mence there ; ThatGoD might in it begin a new 
 World in a fpiritual Refpe£l, when he Ci;eates the 
 new Heavens and 72ew Earth. 
 
 . God has already put that Honour upon the 
 other Continent, that Christ was born there 
 literally, and there made the Purchafe of Redemp- 
 tion : So, as Providence obferves a Kind of equal 
 Diftribution of Things, 'tis not unlikely that the 
 great fpiritual Birth of Christ, and the molt 
 ^ox\q\x^ Application of Redemption is to begin in 
 this : As the elder Sifter brought forth Judah^ of 
 whom came Christ, and fo £he was the Mo- 
 ther of Christ ; But the younger Sifter, after 
 long Barennefs, brought forth Jofeph and Benja- 
 min, the beloved Children. Jofeph, that had the 
 moft glorious Apparel, the Coat of many Colours, 
 who was feparated from bis Brethren, and was 
 exalted to fuch Glory out of a dark Dungeon, 
 and fed and faved the World, when ready to perifli 
 with Famine, and was as a fruitful Boush bv a 
 
 Weil, 
 
Part II. to begin in Ameiica. 99 
 
 Well, whoTe- Branches ran over the Wall, and 
 was bleffed with all Manner of Bieffings and pre- 
 cious Things, of Heaven and Earth, through the 
 good Will of him that dwelt in theBufh ; and was, 
 as by the Horns of a Unicorn, to pufli the People 
 together, to the Ends of the Earth, /. e. conquer 
 the World. See Gen. 49. 22, ^ffc and Deut. 33. 
 1-3, GrV. And Benjamm^ whofe Mefs was five 
 Times fo great as that of any of his Brethren, 
 and to whom Jofepb^ that Type of rChrift, gave 
 Wealth a^idRayment far beyond all the reft. G^;/. 
 45. 22.' '"-■:; • 
 
 The other Continent hath fialn Chrift, and has 
 from Age.to Age fhed the Blood, of the Saints and 
 Martyrs of Jefus, and has often been as it v>^ere 
 deluged wkh: the Churches Blood : God has 
 therefore probably referved the Honpur of building 
 the glorious Teniple to the Daughter, that, has 
 not flied fo much Blood, v/hen thofe Times of thej 
 Peace and Profperity and Glory of the Church 
 fhall commeixce^ . that were t)':pified by the R'eigft,^ 
 oi Solomon. . 3:, .T J:*" '^'.41 At 
 
 Tbe^ G'ontildi firfE i^ci^iyedr ,tfeie. true Religion, 
 faiil ,th6 Jeu^ :. Go q 's Church: of ancient Times, 
 Hidvbeen among'tiheim, and Chrift was-.of them :; 
 but that thei'e might be a Kind of Equality in the 
 Difpenfations- of Providence, God has fo ordered 
 it, that wiien the Jews come to be admitted to 
 the Benefits o£ the evangelical Difpenfafion, and 
 to: receive their higheft Privlledgfes of alli, they 
 fhould receive thaGofpel from the Gentiles : Tho' 
 Christ was of them, yet they have been guilty 
 of crucifying liim y it is therefore the Will of 
 
 God, 
 
1 00 The glorious Times are probably Pa. II. 
 
 God, that that People fhould not hare the Hon- 
 our of communicating the BlelTings of the King- 
 dom of God in its moft glorious Statfe, to the 
 Gentiles^ but on the contrary they fhall reteive the 
 Gofpel in the Beginning of that glorious Day, 
 from the Gentiles, In fome Analogy to this, I 
 apprehend God's Dealings will be with the two 
 Contments. America has received the true Reli- 
 gion of the oldContinent \ the Church of ancient 
 Times- has been there, and Christ is from 
 thence : but that there may be an Equahty, and 
 iuafmuch as that Continent has crucified Christ, 
 they fhall not have the Honour of communicating 
 Religion in its moft glorious State to us^ but we 
 to them. 
 
 -The old Continent has been the Source and 
 Original of Mankind, in feveral Refpefts. The 
 firft Parents of Mankind dwelt there 3 and there 
 dwelt i\W; and his Sons; and there the fecond 
 Adam was born, and was crucified and rofe again : 
 afiid 'tis probable that, in fome Meafure to bal- 
 lance thefe Things, the moft glorious Renovation 
 of the World fhall originate from the new Conti- 
 nent, and the Church of God in that Refpeft be 
 from hence. And fo ^tis probable that that will 
 come to pafs in Spirituals, that has in Temporals, 
 with Refpedt to America ; that whereas, 'till of 
 late, the World was fupplied with its Silver and 
 Gold and earthly Treafures from the old Conti- 
 nent, now it's fupplied chiefly from the new, fo 
 the Courfe of Things in fpiritual RefpecSls will be 
 in like Manner turn'd. 
 
 And 
 
Part II. to begin in America. loi 
 
 And 'tis worthy to be noted that America was 
 difctvered about the Time of the ReformationjOr 
 but little before : Which Refonnation was the 
 firfl Thing that God did towards the glorious 
 Renovation of the World, after it had funk into 
 the Deptlis of Darknefs and Ruin, under the great 
 Antichriftian Apoftacy. So that as foon as tL:^ 
 new World is ( as it were) created, and ftands 
 forth in View, God prefently goes about doing 
 fome great Thing to make Way for the Intro- 
 du£l:ion of the Churches Latter-DayGlory, that is 
 to have its firft Seat in, and is to take its Rife 
 from that new World. 
 
 It is agreeable to Goo'sManner of Working, 
 when he accomplifhes any glorious Work in the 
 World, to introduce a new and more excellent 
 State of his Church, to begin his Work where his 
 Church had not been till then, and where was no 
 Foundation already laid, that the Power of God 
 might be the more confpicuous ; that the Work 
 might appear to be entirely God's, and be more 
 manifeftly a Creation out of nothing ; agreable to 
 Hof. I. 10. Afid it jJmllcome t'O pafs that in the 
 Place where it was f aid unto them^ ye are 7iot ?7fy 
 People y there it Jhall be faid unto them^ ye are the 
 Sons of the livi?2g God, When God is about to 
 turn the Earth into a Paradice, he don't begin 
 his Work where there is fome good Growth al- 
 ready, but in aWildernefs, where nothing grows, 
 and nothing is to be feen but dry Sand and barren 
 Rocksi that the Light may fhine out of Darknefs, 
 and the World be replenifhed from Emptinefs,and 
 the Earth watered bv Springs from a droughty 
 
 - Defart; 
 
I o 2 The glorious Times are probably P a.II. 
 
 Defart ; agreable to manyPropbecies of Scripture, 
 aslfai. 32. 15. Until the Spirit be poured from en 
 highland tkeWtldemefs hemne a fruitful Field. And 
 Chap. 18. 19. I will open Rivers in high Places^ 
 and Fountains in tl>e Midjl of the Valleys ; / ii}ill 
 make the Wildernefs a Pool of Water ^ and the dry 
 Land Sprijigs of Water : I will plant in the Wil- 
 dernefs the Cedar ^ th£ ShittahTree^ and the Myrtle 
 and Oyl Tree : I will fet in the Defart the Fir Tree^ 
 and the PiJie^ a?id the Box Tree together ; and Ch. 
 43. 20. Iivillgive Waters in the Wildernefs^ and 
 Rivers in the Defart^ to give Drink to my People ^ 
 ?ny^ Chofen. And many other parrallel Scriptures 
 might be mentioned. 
 
 I obferved before, that when God is about to 
 do fome great Work for his Church, his Manner 
 is to begin at the lower End ; fo when he is about 
 to renew the whole habitual Earth, 'tis probable 
 that he will begin in this utmoft,meaneft, youngeft 
 and weakeft Part of it, where the Church of God 
 has been planted laft of all ; and fo the Firft Ihall 
 be laft, and die Laft firft \ and that will be ful- 
 fiPd in an eminent Manner in Ifai. 24. 19. Fro7n 
 the uttermoji Part of the Earth have' we heardSongs^ 
 even Glory to the Righteous, 
 
 There are fevcral Things that feem to me to 
 argue, that when the Sun of Righteoufnefs, the 
 Sun of the new Heavens and new Earth, comes 
 to rife, and comes forth as the Bridegroo?n of his 
 Church, rejoicing as ajlrong Man to run his Race^ 
 having his going forth from the End of Heaven^ and 
 his Circuit to th^ End ofit^ that nothing niay be hid 
 
 from 
 
Part U. to begin in Amciica. 103 
 
 froTn the Light and Heat of it. * That the Sun 
 fliall rife in the Weft, contrary to the Courfe of 
 this World, or the Courfe of Things in the old 
 Heavens and Earth. The Courfe of God's Pro- 
 vidence fhall in that Day be fo wonderfully al- 
 ter'd in many RefpecSs, that God will as it were 
 change the Courfe of Nature, in anfwer to the . 
 Prayers of hisChurch ; as God chang'd the Courfe 4 
 of Nature5and caufed theSun to go from the Weft 
 to theEaft,wheni/t'2:e'y^/<^^ was healed, & God pro- 
 mifed to do fuch greatThings forhisChurch,to de- 
 liver it out of the Hand of the King of JJJyria^ by 
 that mightySlaughter by the Angel ; which is often 
 ufed by the Prophet Ifaiah^ as a Type of the glo- 
 rious Deliverance of the Church from her Ene- 
 mies in the latter Days : The Refurredion of 
 Hezekiah, thQ King & Captain of the Church, (as 
 he is called 2 A7«.20.5.) as it were from theDead, 
 is given as an Earncft of. the Churches Refur- 
 reftion & Salvation, Ifai, 38. 6. and is a Type 
 of the Refur reftion of Chrift. At the fameTime 
 there is a Refurreftion of the Sun, or coming 
 back and rifing again from the Weft, whether it 
 
 "^ •Til evident that thcHoly Spirit in thofcExprcfliont 
 in /y^/ 19.4,5, e^dr^r/f/, hasRefpea to fomcching 
 clfc bcfidcf the natural Sun ; and that anEyc \i had 
 to the Sim of Rightcoufncfi, that hy hiiLighc con- 
 vert! the Sou^, makes wife the Simple, iDjighfcoi 
 ihcEj^i, &rejoycci theHeart ; and by hii preached 
 Gofpcl cnlightcni* warmi the World of Mankind. 
 Bjr the Pfa&iift*! own Application in i>er 7. and the 
 Apoftlei Application of vir4.in Rom. 10. iS* 
 
 K had 
 
104 TheDanger of not acknowledging^ Pa. 11. 
 
 had gone down ; which is alfo a Type of the Sun 
 of Righteoufnefs. The Sun was bro't back -ten 
 Degrees 5 which probably brought it to the Me- 
 ridian. The Sun of Righteoufnefs has long been 
 going down from Eaft to Weft ; and probably 
 when the Time comes of the Churches Delive- 
 rance from her Enemies, fo often typified hv the 
 AJfyrians^ the Light will rife in the Weft, 'till it 
 fhines through the World, like the Sun in its 
 meridian Brightnefs. 
 
 The fame feems alfo to be reprefented by the 
 Courfe of the Waters of the Sanduary, ^z^/f.47. 
 which was from Weft to Eaft ; which Waters 
 undoubtedly reprefent the Holy Spirit, in the Pro- 
 grefs of his faving Influences, in the latter Ages 
 of the World : for 'tis manifeft that the Avhole of 
 thofe laft Chapters of Ezekiel^ are concerning the 
 glorious State of the Church that fhall then be. 
 
 And if w^e may fuppofe that this gloriousWork 
 of God fhall begin in any Part of America^ I 
 think, if we confider the Circumftances of the 
 Settlement oi New- England^ it muft needs appear 
 the moft likely of all American Colonies, to be 
 the Place whence this Work fhall principally take 
 it's Rife. 
 
 And if thefe Things are fo, it gives Us more 
 abundant Reafon to hope that what is now i^^n 
 in America^ and efpecially in New-England^ may 
 prove the Dawn of that glorious Day : And the 
 very uncommon & wonderful Circumftances and 
 Events of thisWork,feem to me ftrongly to argue 
 that God intends it as theBeginning orForerunner 
 of fome Tiling vaftly great. 
 
Pa. II. and encouraging this Work. 105 
 
 I ha\'e thus long infifted on this Point, becaufe 
 if thefe Things are fo, it greatly manifefts hov^ 
 much it behoves us to encourage and promote 
 this Work, and how dangerous it will be to for- 
 bear fo to do. 
 
 It is very dangerous for God's profeffingPecple 
 to lieftill, and not to come to the Help of the 
 Lord, whenever he remarkably pours out hisSpirit, 
 to carry on the Work of Redemption in the Ap- 
 plication of it ; but above all, when he comes 
 forth in tliat laft and greateft Out-pouring of hJs 
 Spirit, to introduce that happy Day of God's 
 Power & Salvation, fo often fpoken of. That is 
 efpecially the appointed Seafon of the Application 
 of the Redemption of Christ : 'Tis the pro- 
 per Time of the Kingdom of Heaven uponEarth, 
 the appointed Time of Christ's Reign : The 
 Reign of Satan as God of this World lafts 'tiH 
 then: This is 'the properTime of actual Redemp- 
 tion, or new Creation, as is evident by Ifai.b^. 
 17,18. & 66. 12. & Rev. 21. 1. All the Out- 
 pourings of the Spirit of God that are before 
 this, are as it were by Way of Anticipation. 
 
 There was indeed a glorious Seafon of the 
 Application of Redemption, in the firlt Ages of 
 the Chrlftian Church, that began at yerufalem^ on 
 the Day of Pentecoji ; but that was not the proper 
 Time of Ingathering ; it was only as it were the 
 Feaft of the firft Fruits ; the Ingathering is at 
 the End of the Year, or in the laft Ages of the 
 Chriftian Church, as is reprefented, Rev. 14. 
 14, 15, 16. and will probably as much exceed 
 what was in the firllAges of the ChriftianChurch, 
 K 2 tho* 
 
2o6 The gloriousBay of the Church Pa. II. 
 
 tho' tliat filPd the Rotmn Empire, as that ex- 
 ceeded all that had been before, under the old 
 Teftament, confined only to the Land oijtidea. 
 
 The great Danger of not appearing openly to 
 acknowledge, rejoyce in, and promote that great 
 Work of God, in bringing in that glorious Har- 
 veft, is reprefented in Zcch. 14. 1^6, 17, 18, 19. 
 Jnd it Jhallcome to pafsy that every one that is Icft^ 
 cf all the Nations^ which come agaitijl Jerufalem^ 
 /hall even go up^ from Tear to Tear, to worjhip the 
 King^ the Lord of Hojls^ ajid to keep the Feajl of 
 Tabernacles. And it Jhall he^ that zuhofo will 7iot 
 come up^ of all the Families of the Earthy imto 
 Jerufalem, to worjhip the King, the Lord of Hojis^ 
 even upon them Jhall be no Rain. Jnd if the Family 
 ^ Egypt ^^ 7iotup^ and come not, that have noRain, 
 there fhall he the Plague whertvuith the Lord will 
 fmite the Heathen, that come not up to keep the Feaji 
 of Tabernacles. This Jhall be the Punijhment of 
 r;g}^pt, and the Punijhment of all Nations that come 
 not up to keep tbe FeaJI of Tabernacles. *Tis evi- 
 dent by all the Context, that the glorious Day of 
 theChurch of God in the latterAges of theWorld, 
 is the Time fpoken of : The Fenjl of Tabernacles 
 here feems to fignify that glorious fpiritual Feafl:, 
 which God (hall then make for his Church, the 
 fame that is fpoken of Ifai. 25. 6. and the great 
 fpiritual Rejoycings of GoD'sPeopIe at thatTime. 
 There were three great Feafts in Ifrael, at which 
 all the Males were appointed to go up to Jerufa- 
 lem y the Feaft of the PaJJover ; and the Feaft of 
 the firji Fruits, or the Feaft of Pentecoji ; and 
 the Feaft of Ingathering, at the Eiid of tlie 
 
 Year, 
 
P.II. reprefentedby theFeaft of^abernacles. i o 7 
 
 Year, or the Feaft oLTabernacks. In the firft of 
 thefe, viz. TI?e Feaji of the Pajfover^ was repre- 
 fented the Purchafe of Redemption by Jefiis 
 Chrift, the Pafchal Lamb, that was flain at the 
 Time of that Feaft. The other two that follow- 
 ed it, were to reprefent the two great Seafons of 
 the Application of the purchafed Redemption : In 
 the former of them, viz. the Fcaji of the firjl 
 FrUitSy which was called the Feaft of Pentecoji^ 
 was reprefented that Time of the Out-pouring of 
 the Spirit,that was in the firftAges of theChriftian 
 Church, for the bringing in the frji Fruits oi 
 Chrift 's Redemption, which began at Jcrufahm^ 
 on the Day oiPentecoJi : The other, which was 
 the Fea/l of Ingatherings at the End of the Year, 
 which the Children of IfraeJ were appointed to 
 keep on Occafion of their gathering in their Corn 
 and their Wine, and all the Fruit of their Land, 
 and was called the FeaJi ofTatermc/es^re^^efcntcd 
 the other more joyful and glorious Seafon of the 
 Application of Chrift's Redemption, which is to 
 be in the latter Days ; the great Day of Ingather- 
 ing of the Eleft, the proper and appointed Time 
 of gatherings in God's Fruits, when the Angel of 
 the Covenant fhall thruft in his Sickle, and gather 
 the Harveft of the Earth ; and the Clufters of the 
 Vine of the Earth (hall alfo be gathered. This. 
 was upon many Accounts the greateft Feaft of the 
 three : There were much greater Tokens of Re- 
 joycing in this Feaft,thanany other : The People 
 •then dwelt in Booths of green Bouehs, and were 
 commanded to take Boughs of ^goodly Trees^ 
 Branches of Palm-Trees, and the Boughs of thick 
 K 3 Tree:., 
 
I € 8 "The Danger of not acknowteging^ P a . II. 
 
 Trees, and Willov/s of the Brook, and torejoycc 
 before theLord their God : Which reprefents the 
 flourifhing,beautiful5pleafantStatetheChurchfhall 
 be injrejoycing inGoo'sGrace & Lovejtriumph- 
 ing over aJl her Enemies, at the Time typified by 
 thisFeaft. The Tabernacle of God was firft 
 fet up among the Children of Ifraely at the Time 
 of Xh^ Feaji of Tahernacles ; but in that glorious 
 Time of the Chriftian Church, God will above 
 all other Times fet up his Tabernacle amongft 
 Men. Rev. 21. 3. And I luard a gyyat Voice qui 
 of Heaven J f^yi'^^g-i ^^ T'abernacle of God is luith 
 Men^ and he will dwdl with them^ ayid they Jh all 
 he his People^ and God himfelf /hall he with them^ 
 and be their God. The World is fuppofed to have 
 been created about the Time of Ye^j: wherein the 
 Feajl of Tabernacles was appointed ; fo in that glo- 
 rious Time, God v^ill create a new Heaven, and 
 a new Earth. The Temple of Solomon was de- 
 dicated at the Time of the Feaji of Tabernacles^ 
 when God defcended in a Pillar of Cloud, and 
 dwelt in the Temple ; fo at this happy Time, the 
 Temple of God fhall be glorioufly built up in 
 the World, and God (hall in a wonderful Man- 
 ner come down from Heaven to dwell with his 
 Church. Chrift Is fuppofed to have been born at 
 the Feaft of Tabernacles i fo at the Commence- 
 ment of that glorious Day, Chrift (hail be born ; 
 then above all otherTimes fhall the Womoii cloathed 
 with the Sun^ vjith the Moon under her Feet^ that 
 2S in Travail^ and pained to be delivered^ bring forth 
 her Son^ to Rule all Nations^ Rev. 12. at the Be- 
 ^j-inninrr. The Fea/I of Tabernacles, was the laft 
 ^ Feaft 
 
Pa II. andrejoycitjg in this JVork. 109 
 
 Feaft that Ifrael had in the whole Year^before the 
 Face of the Earth was deftroyed by the Winter ; 
 prefcntly after the Rejoycings of that Feaft were 
 part, a tempeftuous Seafon began. A61:. 27. 9. 
 Sailing was now danger ous^hecaufe the Feaft was now 
 already paji. So this great Feaft of the Chriftian 
 Church will be the laft Feaft ftie ftiall have on 
 Earth : foon after it is paft, this lower World 
 will be deftroyed. At the Feaft of Tabernacles, 
 Ifrael left their Houfes to dwell inBooths or green 
 Tents, which fignifies the great Weanednefs of 
 God's People from the World, as Pilgrims and 
 Strangers on theEarth,and their great Joy therein. 
 ^Ifrael were prepared for the Feafi of Tabernacles^ 
 by the Feafi of Trumpets^ and the Day of Atone- 
 ment both on the fame Month ; fo Way fliall be 
 made for the Joy of the Church of God, in its 
 glorious State on Earth, by the extraordinary 
 preaching of the Gofpel, and deep Repentance 
 and Humiliation for paft- Sins, and the great and 
 long continued Deadnefs and Carnality of the vifi- 
 bleChurch. Chrift at the great />^ ofTaberna- 
 cles^ ftood in yerufalem^ and cried ^ f^yi^gt ^f ^^y 
 Man thirfi^ let him come unto me ^ drink : He that 
 lelieveth onme^ as the Scripture hath f aid ^ out of his 
 Belly Jhall flozu Rivers of livingTVaiers : Signifying 
 the extraordinary Freedom and Riches of divine 
 ■ Grace towards Sinners, at that Day, and the ex- 
 traordinary Meafures of the Holy Spirit that fhall 
 be then given ; agreable to Rev. 21.6. iff 22.17. 
 
 . It is threatnei here in this 14th Chap, of ZecL 
 that thofe who at thatTime fhall not come to keep 
 this Feaft i i.e. that fliall not acknowlege Gob's 
 
iio Danger of oppfing Pa. 11. 
 
 glorious Works, and praife his Name, and rejoyce 
 •with his People, but fhould ftand at a Diftance^ 
 as unbelieving and difaffe^Sted ; upon them Jhall he 
 no Rain ; and that this fhall be the Plague where- 
 with they (hall all be fmitten : that is, they {hall 
 have noShare in thatShower of divineBleffing that 
 {hall then defcend on the Earth, that fpiritualRain 
 fpoken of, //^/. 44. 3. But God would give them 
 over to Hardnefs of Heart and Blindnefs of Mind, 
 
 The Curfc is yet in a more aw^ful Manner de- 
 nounced again{l Uich as fhall appear as Oppofers 
 at that Time, Ver. 12. Jnd this Jhall he thePlague^ 
 vjherHvith the Lord Jhall fmite all the People that 
 have fought againji Jerufalem, Their Flejh Jhall 
 cmfjunis' azuoy ivhlle they (land upon their Feet^ and 
 ■their Eyes Jhall con fume ■ away in their Holes ^ and 
 their TTongue p)all coyifume away in their Mouth, 
 Here alfo in all probability it is a fpiritual Judg- 
 ment, or a Plague and Curfe from God upon the 
 Soul, rather than upon the Body, that is intended ; 
 that fuch Perfons, who at that Time {hall dppofe 
 God '5 People in his Work, {hall in an extraor- 
 dinary Manner be given over to a State of fpiritual 
 Death & Ruin, that they {hall remarkably appear 
 dead while alive, and {hall be as walking rotten 
 Corpfes, while they go about amongli Men. 
 
 ,The great Danger of not joining with God's 
 People at that gloriousDay is alforeprefented, Ifai. 
 60. 12. For the Nation and Kingdom that will not 
 ferveihee Jhall perijh ; yea^ thofe Nations Jhall be ut- 
 Urly wajled. 
 
 Mo{l of the great temporal Deliverances that 
 were wro't for Ifraeloi old, as Divines andJExpo^ 
 
 fitors 
 
Pa. II. or lying ft ill. iii 
 
 fircrs obferve, were typical of the great fpiritual 
 Works of God for the Salvation of Men's Souls, 
 and the Deliverance and Profperity of liisChurch, 
 in the Days of theGofpel ; and efpecially did they 
 rcprcfent that areateft of all Deliverances of God's 
 Church, and Chief of God's Works of aftual 
 Salvation, that fnall be in the latter Days ; which 
 as has been obferved is above all others, the ap- 
 pointed Time, and proper Seafon of aduSrl Re- 
 demption of Men's Souls. But it may be ob- 
 ferved that if any appeared to oppofe God's 
 Work in thofe? great temporal Deliverances ; 
 or if there were any of his profeiTmg People, that 
 on fuch Occafions lay ftill,and ftood at a Diftance, 
 and did not arife and acknowlege God in his 
 Work, and appear to promote it 5 it was what 
 in a remarkable Manner incenfed God's Anger, 
 and brought his Curfe upon fuch Perfons. 
 
 So when God wrought that great Work of 
 bringing the Children of Ifrael out of Egypt^ 
 (which w^as aType of God's delivering hisChurch 
 out of the fpiritual Egypt^ at the Time of the 
 Fall oi Jntichriji^ as is evident by iJ^.ii.8. and 
 15,3.) Howhf^hly did God refent it, when thV 
 Jmalekites appeared as Oppcfers in that Affair ? 
 and how dreadfully did he curfe them for it ? Exod. 
 17. 14, 15, 16. And the Lord /aid unto Mofes, 
 IVrite this for a Mernorial in a Book^ and rehearfe 
 it in the Ears of ^o{!ti\x2i ; for I will utterly put out 
 theRemerjibrance of Am2\ckfrGm ujider Heaven, And 
 Mofcs huilt an Altar ^ and called the Name of it 
 Je'hov.-ih-Niffi ; For he faid^ bscaufe the Lord will 
 have War with Amdil^k^ from Generation to Gene- 
 
 ratioru 
 
1 1 2 TheD anger of lying fiilL P a . II. 
 
 ration. And accordingly we find that God re- 
 membered it a long Time after, i Sa???. 15. 3. 
 And how highly did God refent it in the Moabites 
 and Ammonites^ tliat they did not lend an heipin:: 
 Hand, and encourage and promote the Affair : 
 Deut. 23. 3,4. ^« Ammonite oryio2ihht Jhall not 
 enter into the Congregation of the Lord ; even to their 
 tenthGeneration^Jhall they not enter into theCongrega- 
 iion of the Lord forever \ becaufe they met you not with 
 Bread and vjith IVater^ in the JVay when ye cojne 
 forth outofY.%yy^X. And how were theChildren of 
 . Reuben^ and the Children of Gad^ and the half 
 Tribe of Manajfeh threatned, if they did not go 
 and help their Brethren in their Wars againft the 
 Canaanites^ Deut.32. 20, 21, 22, 23. ^-^^Mofes 
 faid unto them^ If ye will do this Things if ye wiil 
 go armed before the Lord to War^ and will go all of 
 you armed over Jord^Uy before the Lord^ until h^ 
 bath driven out his Enemies from before him ^ and the 
 l^and he fubdued before the Lcrd^ then afterward ye 
 Jhall return and be guihlefs before the Lord^ & before 
 Ifrael, ayidthis Land [hall be your Poffeffion before 
 thelu07'd : But if ye will not dofo^ behold ye havefnned 
 againjithe Lord^ and be fur e your Sin will f mi you 
 out. 
 
 That was a glorious Work of GoDthat he wro't 
 ioxlfrael^ when he deliver^ them from xh^Canaan- 
 ites.hy thQH?,ndo{ Deborah ScBarak : almoft every 
 Thing about it fhewed a remarkable Hand of 
 God. It was a Prophetefs, one immediately in- 
 fptrM by God, that called thePeople to theBattle, 
 and conduced them in the whole Affair : The 
 People feem to have been miraculoully animated 
 
 and 
 
Pa. II. 7he Danger of lying JiilL 1 13 
 
 and encouraged in theMatter,when they willingly 
 offered themfelves, and gathered together to the 
 Battle ; they jeoparded their Lives in the high 
 Places of theField, without being prefied or hired ; 
 v/hen one would have thought they fhould ha\'e 
 but little Courage for fuch an Undertaking ; for 
 what could a Number of poor, weak, defencekfs 
 . Slaves do, without a Shield orSpear to he fceyi among 
 forty Tlyoufandof'em^ to go againft a great Prince, 
 with his mighty Hoftj and nine Hundred Char-iots 
 of Iron. And the Succefs did wonderfully fhew 
 the Hand of God ; which makes Deborah exult- 
 ingly to fay, Judg. 5. 21. O my Soul^ thou hajl 
 mdden down Strength ! Christ with his hea- 
 venly Hoft w^s engaged in that Battle ; and there- 
 fore 'tis faid, Ver. 20. They fought from Heaven^ 
 the Stars in theirCourfes fought againjl?i\kx2i. The 
 Work of God therefore in this Vidlory and De- 
 liverance that Christ and his Hoft wrought for 
 Ifrael^ was a Type of that Vidiory and Delive- 
 rance which he will accomplifh for his Church 
 in that great Battle, that laft Conflict that the 
 Church {hall have with her open Enemies, that 
 fhali introduce the Churches Latter-Day Glory ; 
 as appears by Rev. 16. 16. (jpeaking of that great 
 Battle, ) Arid he gathered them together into a Place^ 
 called in the Hebrew y^/Tg-^^, Armageddon, i.e. the 
 Mountain of Megiddo ; alluding, as is fuppofed 
 by Expofitors, to the Place where tlie Battle was 
 fought with the Hoft of Sifera^ Judg. 5.19. The 
 Kings came and fmght^ the Kings of Canaan, in 
 Taanach, by the Waters ^Megiddo. Which can 
 fignify nothing elfe, than th^t this Battle, w^hich 
 
 Chrift 
 
114 The D anger ^of lying JlilL P a . 1 1. 
 
 Chrift & hisChurchfhall have with theirEnemies, 
 is theAntitype of theBaltlc that was fought there. 
 But what a dreadful Curfe from Chrift, did fome 
 of God's profefTing People Ifrael^ bring upon 
 themfelves, by lying ftill at that Tifne, and not 
 putting to an helping Hand ? Judg.5.23. Curfe ye 
 Merozjy^/W the Angel of the Lord ^ curfe ye bitterly the 
 Inhabitants thcreoff?ecaufe they ccnne. hot to the Help of 
 iheLord^ to the Help of the Lord againji the Mighty. 
 The Angel of theLord was theCaptain of theHoit; 
 he that had led Ifrael^ and fought for them in that 
 Battle,who is very often called the Angel of theLord^ 
 in Scripture; the fame that appeared tojofhiia with 
 a Sword drawn in his Hand, and told him that 
 he was come as the Captain of the Hofl of the Lord ; 
 and the fame glorious Captain that we have an 
 Account of, as leading forth his Hofts to that 
 Battle, of which this was theType,^^. 19. 1 1 ^^c. 
 It feems thelnhabitants oi Meroz were unbelieving 
 concerning this great Work, nor would they 
 hearken to Deborah's Pretences, nor did it enter 
 into them that fuch a poor defencelefs Company, 
 (hould ever prevail againft thofe that were fo 
 Mighty ; they did not acknowlege the Hand of 
 God, and therefore ftood at a Diftance, and did 
 nothing to promote the Work : but what a bitter 
 Curfe from God, did they bring upon themfelves 
 by it ! 
 
 *Tis very probable that one great Reafon why 
 the Inhabitants oi Meroz were fo unbelieving con- 
 cerning thisWork, was that they argued aPriori ; 
 they did not like the Beginning of it, it being a 
 Woman that firft led the Way, and had the chief 
 
 Conduit 
 
P A . II. Tie Banger of lying fiilL 1 1 J 
 
 Condua in theAfFair ; nor cbifld they bcli'eA'e that 
 fuch defpicable Inftruments, as a Company ot 
 unarmed Slaves, were ever like to efFeft lo great 
 a Thing ; and Pride and Unbelief v^ro't together, 
 in not being willing to follow Deborah to the Battle. 
 It was another glorious Work of God that he 
 wro'tfor Ifrael^ In the Vidory that was obtained 
 by Gideon over the Midianites and A?na le kites ^ and 
 the Children 6i the Eaft, when they came up 
 againft Ifrael like Grafhoppers, a Multitude that 
 could not be numbered. This alfo was a remar- 
 kable Type of the Vidlory of Christ and his 
 Church over his Enemies, by the pouring out of 
 the Spirit with the preachedGofpel,as is evident 
 by the Manner of it, which Gideon was immedi* 
 ately direcSled to of God ; which was not by 
 human Sword or Bow, but only by blowing of 
 Trumpets, and by Lights in earthen VelTels. We 
 read that on this Occafion, Gideon called the Peo- 
 ple together to help in this great Affair ; and that 
 accordingly, great Numbers reforted to him, and 
 came to the Help of the Lord, Judg, 7. 23, 24. 
 But there were fome alfo at that Time, that were 
 unbelieving, and would not acknowledge theHand 
 of God in that Work, tho' it was fo great and 
 wonderful,nor would they join to promote it ; and 
 they were the Inhabitants of Succoth and Penuel : 
 Gideon defired their Help, when he was purfuing 
 after Tiehah and Zalmunna ^ but they defpifed his 
 Pretences,and hisConfidenceof the Lord^s being 
 on his Side, to deliver thofe two great Princes into 
 the Hands of fuch a defpicable Company, as he 
 and his three Hundren Men, and would not own 
 L tlic 
 
ii6 The Danger of lying JlHl. Pa. II. 
 
 the Work of Gor, nor afford Gideon any Affift- 
 ance : God proceeded in this Work in a Way 
 that was exceeding crofs to theirPride. And they 
 alfo refufed to own theWork^becaufe they argued 
 a Priori y they could not believe that God would 
 do fuch great Things by fuch a defpicable Inftru- 
 ment ; one of fuch a poor, mean Family in 
 MandJJehy and he the leaft in his Father's Houfe i 
 and theCompany that was with him appeared very 
 wretched, being but three Hundred Men, and they 
 weak & faint : But we fee how they fuffcred for 
 their FoUy^ in not acknowleging, and appearing 
 to promote this Work of God. Gideon when he 
 returned from the Viftory, tGokthcm^ and iaugjyt 
 ih cm with the Briers and TI? orris of the Wildtrnefs^ 
 and heat down the Tower of Penuel, ( he brought 
 down their Pride, and their falfe Confidences^ djid 
 flew the Men of the City, Judg. Chap. 8. This, 
 ih all probability Gideon did, as mo\'ed & dire(5ted 
 b"y the Angel of the Lor d ^ that is Ch r is t , that 
 firft called him, and fent him forth in this Battle, 
 and inftrucled & dire6led him, in the wholeAffair. 
 'The Return of the Ark of God to dwell in 
 Zion, in the midft of the Land of Ifracl, after it 
 had been long abfent, firft in the Land of the P/;/- 
 lijlmesy and then in Kirjath-jearhn, in the utmoft 
 Borders of the Land, did livelily reprefent the Re- 
 turn of God to a profefling People, in the fpirltual 
 Tokens of his Prefence, after Jong Abfence from 
 them ; as well as the Ark's afcending up into a 
 Mountain, typified Christ's Afcenfion intoHea- 
 ven. 'Tis evident by the Pfalms that werepenn'd 
 on that Occafion, efpeciajly the 68th Pfalniy that 
 
 the 
 
Part II. 7'he Dagger of lying ftill 1 1 7 
 
 the exceeding Rcjoyclngs of Ifiael on that Occa- 
 fion,reprefentedtheJoyoftheChiirch of Christ, 
 on his returning to it, after it has been in a low 
 and dark State, to revive his Work, bringing his 
 People back^ as it were from Baflian, and from the 
 Depth of the Sea^ fcattering their fpiritualEnemies, 
 and caufing that tho^ they had lien among the Pots^ 
 yet theyjhould be as the Wings of a Dove ^ covered with 
 Silver^ and her Feathers zvith yellow Gold ; and 
 giving the blefled Tokens of his Prefence in his 
 Houfe, that his People md.y fee the Goings of God 
 their King in his San^tiary ; and that the Gifts 
 which David^ with fuch royal Bounty,diftributed 
 amongft the People on that Occafion (2 Sam, 6. 
 18,19. tf I Chron, 16. 2, 3.) reprefent fpiritual 
 Bleffings, that Christ liberally fends down on 
 his Church, by the Out-pourings of his Spirit, 
 See Pfal, 68. I535I35 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24. 
 And we have an Account how that all the People, 
 from Shihor of Egypf^ even unto the entring in of 
 Hemath^ gathered together, and appeared to join 
 and affift in that great AfFair ; and that all Ifrael 
 brought up the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord^zuith 
 Shoutings and with found of the Cornet^ and with 
 Trumpets^ and with Cymbals^ making a Noife zvith 
 Pfalteries and Haj'ps^ i Chron. 13. 2,5. ^ 15.28. 
 And not only the Men, but the Women of Ifrael^ 
 the Daughters of Zion appeared as publickly join- 
 ing in the Praifes & Rejoycings that were on that 
 Occafion, 2 Sam, 6. 19. But we read of one of 
 David's Wives, even Michal^ Saul's Daughter, 
 whofe Heart was not engaged in the Affiiir, and 
 did not appear with others to rejoyce and Praife 
 L 2 God 
 
i 1 8 ne Danger of Deri ding. Pa.IL 
 
 God on this Occafion, but kept away, and ftood 
 ata Diftance, as difafFefted, anddifliking the Ma- 
 magements ; fhe defpifed and ridiculed theTranf- 
 ports, and extraordinary Manifeftations of Joy 
 that then were j and the Curfe that fhe brought 
 upon herfelf by.it, was that, of being barren to 
 
 the Day of her Death. Let this be a Warning 
 
 to'us : Let us take Heed, in thisDay of the bring- 
 ing up of the Ark of God, that while we are in 
 Vifibility and Profeffion the Spoufe of the fpiritual 
 David^ we don't fhew our felves to be indeed the 
 Children of falfe-hearted and rebellious Saul^ by 
 our ftandlng aloof, and not joining in the Joy and 
 Praifes of the Day, and difliking and defpifmg the 
 Joys & Affections of God's People, becaufe they 
 are to fo high a Degree, and fo bring the Curfe of 
 perpetual Barrennefs upon our Souls. 
 
 Let us take Heed that we ben't like the Son of 
 t,he Bond- Woman, that was born after the Fleih, 
 that perfecutcd him that was born after theSpirit^ 
 and mocked at the Feafting and Rejoicings tliat 
 were made for Ifaac when he was weaned ; kit 
 we fhould be caft out of the Family of Abraham^ 
 as he was. G^w. 21. 8,9. That Affair contained 
 fpiritual Myfteries,and was typical of Things that 
 come to fl\s in thefe Days of the Gofpcl ; as is 
 evident by the Apoftles Teftimony, GaL 4. 22. 
 to the End, And particularly it feems to have 
 been typical of two Things, i. The Weaning 
 of the Church from it'sMilk; of carnalOrdinances, 
 Ceremonies, Shadou^, and beggarly Elements, 
 upon the Coming of Christ, and pouring out 
 of the Spirit in\hfi Days of the Apoftles. The 
 ^ Church 
 
Part 11. ^he Danger of Deriding. 1 1 9 
 
 Church of Christ, in the Times of the Old- 
 Teftament,was in it's Mincrity^and was a Babe ; 
 and theApoftle tells us that Babes muft be fed with 
 Milk, and not with ftrongMeat ; but when God 
 weaned his£hurch from thefe carnal Ordinances, 
 on the ceafmg of the legalDifpenfation, a glorious 
 Gofpel Feaft was provided for Soub, and God 
 fed his People with fpiritual Dainties, and fiU'd 
 them with the Spirit, and gave 'em Joy in, the 
 Holy Ghoft. Ijlmiael^ in mocking at the Time 
 of Ifaac^s Feaft, by the Apoftles Teftimony, re- 
 prefented the carnal Jeivs^ the Children of the 
 literal Jerufale7n^ who when they beheld the Re- 
 joicings of Chriftians, in their fpiritual and evan- 
 gelical Priviledges, were filled withEnvy, deriding, 
 contradicting and blafpheming. A^. 2. 13. and 
 CZ?^/).. 13. 45. and 18. 6. And therefore were 
 caft out of the Family of Ahrahcvny and out of 
 the Land oiCajiaan^ to wander through the Earth.. 
 2. This Weaning of iy^/^j's feemsalfo to repre- 
 fent tlie Converfion of Sinners, which is feverd 
 Times reprefented in Scripture by tr.e v/eaning 
 of a Child ; as \n PfaL 131. and Ifui. 28. 9, 
 Becaufe in Converficn, the Soul is weaned from- 
 the Enjoyments of the World, which are as it 
 were, the Breaft of our Mother Earth ; and is alfi> 
 wean'd from the Covenant ofourfirft Parents-,. 
 which we as naturally hang upon, asa Child on 
 it's Mother's Breafts : And the great Feaft that 
 Abrahmn mzA^ on that Occafion, reprefents the 
 fpiritual Feaft, the heavenly Priviledges, and holy 
 Joys and Comforts, which God gives Souls at 
 their Converfion, Now is a Time when God 
 
 L3 
 
1 2a Tlbe Danger of'Oppofi'ng. Pa . If. 
 
 is in a remarkable Manner beftov/ingtheBleflings. 
 of fiich a Feaft. Let every one take Heed that 
 he don't now fhew himfelf to be the Son of the 
 Bond- Woman, and born after thcFlefli, by fend- 
 ing and deriding, with mocking Iftmiael \ left 
 they be caft (Xit as he wa'^, and it be feid concern- 
 ing them^ thcfe Sons of the Bond- Woman, fhall 
 not be Heirs with the Sons of the Free- Woman. 
 Don't let usftiimbleattheThings that have been, 
 becaufe they are fo great and extraordinary ; for 
 if we have run with theFoot-Men, and they have 
 wearied us, hov/ {hall we contend with Horfcs ? 
 There is doubtlefs a Time coming v/hen God 
 will accompliih Things vallly greater and more 
 extraordinary then, thefe. 
 
 And that we may be w^arned not to continue 
 doubting and uabelievijig, concerning tJiisWork, 
 becaufe of the extraordinary Degree of it, and the 
 Suddennefs and Swiftnefs of the Accomplifhment 
 of the great Things that pertain to it. Let us 
 confider the Example of the unbelieving; Lord in 
 Samaria ; who could not believe fo extraordinary 
 a Woj-k of God to be accomplifhed fo fudden ly 
 as was declared to him : The Prophet£7(/2>^ fore-, 
 ipid that the great Famine in Samaria {hould very 
 ilidderJy, everi in ov^^ Day, be turned into an ex- 
 traordinary Plenty \ but the V/ork was too great, 
 and too fud4en for him to believe \ fays he, If 
 the Lord Jhould ?nake. Windows in Heaven^ might 
 this Tlnng he ? And the Curfe that he brought 
 upon himfelf by it, was that he faw it with his 
 Eyes,- and did not eat thereof, but miferably pe- 
 rifhedj and was trodden dov/.n as the Mire of the 
 
 Streets. 
 
Pa. II. 7he Danger of Oppofing. * 121 
 
 Street?, when otherswere fcafting and rejoicing. 
 :► Kings ^ Chap, 7. 
 
 When God redeemed his People from their 
 Bahyhnijh Captivity, and they rebuilt: Jerztfahm^ 
 it was, as is univerfally own'd^ a remarkableTypc 
 Dt' the fpiritual Redemption of God's Churchy- 
 Mid particularly, was an eminentType of the great 
 Deliverance of the ChriftianChurch from fpiritual. 
 Babylon^h their re-building the fpirituaiy^r/^y^z/f;;/, 
 in the latter Days ; and therefore they arc often 
 fjioken of under one by theProphets : and this pro- 
 bably was the main Rcafon that- it- was fo ordered - 
 in Providence, and particularlvjioted inScripture^ 
 that the Children of //; W, on that Occafion, kept 
 the greateft Feaji ofTahcrjiacks^thd^t ever had been 
 krptin Ifracl^ fmce the T>?.ys, oi yojhuf^ when 
 the People were firft fetlcd in Cmzaan ; {Kch, 8. 
 16,17.) becaufe at that Time happen'd that Ref- 
 to ration of IJrael^ that had the greateit Refem- 
 blance of that great Reftoration of the Church 
 of Go D , . of which tr.c FeaJi, of Tabemacks, v/as the 
 Type, of any that had beeniinceyjj/^//^ firfl bro't 
 the People out of the Wildernefs, and fettled them 
 in the good Land. But v/e read of fjme that op- 
 pofed the Jews in that Affair, and weakened their 
 Hands, and ridiculed God's People, and the In- 
 ftruments that were improved in that Work, and. 
 defpifed their Hope, and made as tho' their Con-- 
 fidence was little mprethan a Shadow, and would, 
 utterly fail 'em : JVhat do- ihefe feeble Jeivs f 
 (fay they,) TFill ikcy fortify theinf elves ? tVillihey 
 facrifice ? Will they make an Eyid in a Day ? 
 JVill they revive the Stones out cf th^ Heaps cf the 
 
 Kubbijh 
 
: 2 ♦ To 'promote this Work the IVay P a . 1 1; 
 
 Rubbljh which are burn'' t ? Even that luhich they 
 build ^ if a Fox go up^ he Jhall even break doivn their 
 Stone Wall, Let not uy.be in any Meafure like 
 ihcmj left it be faid to lis, as Nehe?niah faid to 
 them, Neh. 2. 20. JVe his Servants will arife 
 end build ; but you have no Portion^ nor Rights nor 
 Memorial in Jcrufalcni. And Icaft we bring A^^- 
 herniaJys Imprecation upon us, Chap. 4. 5 . Cover 
 7iot their Iniquity^ and let not their Sin be blotted out 
 from before thee ^ for they have provoked thee to 
 Jnger^ before the Builders. 
 
 As Perfons will greatly expofe themfelves to the 
 Curie of God, by oppofing, or ftanding at aDif- 
 tancc, An6, keeping Silence at fuch a Time as this ; 
 fo for Perfons to arife, and readily to acknowledge 
 God, and honour him in fuch a Work, and chearr 
 fully and vigoroufly to exert themfelves to pro- 
 mote it,wiil be to putthemfelves much in the Way 
 of the divine Bleffing. What a Mark of Honour 
 does God put upon ihofe in Ifraely that willingly 
 offered themfelves, and came to the Help of the 
 Lord.againft- the Mighty, when the Angel of the 
 Lord led forth his -Armies, and they fought from 
 Kcaven againft Si f era ? fi^dg, 5. 2, 9, 14, 15, 
 17,18. And what a great Eleirmg is pronounc'd 
 rii faei^ the Wife of Heber^ t-he Kenite^ for hex 
 appearing on the Lord's Side, and for what fhe 
 did to promote this Work ? ^V. 24. Which 
 was no lefs than theCurfe pronounced in the pre- 
 ceeding Verfc, againft Meroz^ for lying ftill : 
 Bleffd above Wc?ncn,, J})all}2id^ the Wfe of Hcbc-v^ 
 the Kenite be^ bleJ/tYlfjallJhe be above Women^ in 
 the Tent, And what a Blelfing is pronounced on 
 
 thofe 
 
Pa. II. to a peculiar BleJJing. 123 
 
 thofe which fhall have any Hand in the Deftruc- 
 tion of Babylon^ which was the Head City of the 
 Kingdom of Satan^ and of the Enemies of the 
 Church of God ? Pfal. 137. 9, Happy Jhall he 
 be^ that taketh^ and dajheth thy little ones againji the 
 Stones. What a particular and honourable No- 
 tice is taken, in the Records of God's Word, of 
 thofe that arofc,and appear'd as Z>^^/^ J Helpers, 
 to introduce him into the Kingdom of IfraeU io 
 the 12 Chap, of i Chron. ^ The Hoft of thofe 
 that thus came to the Help of the Lord, in that 
 Work of his, and glorious Revolution in Ifrael^ 
 ,by which the Kingdom of that great Type of the 
 Mejfiah was fet up in Ifrael^ is compared to the 
 Hoft of God, Ver. 22. At that Time^ Day by 
 Day^ there came to David, to help him.^ until it was 
 agreat Hojl^ Ukey the Hoji of God. And douI>t> 
 lefs it was intended to be a Type of that Hoft of 
 God, that (hall appear with the fpiritual /)^72;/^, 
 as his Helpers, when he fhall come to fet up 
 his Kingdom in the World ; the fame Hoft that 
 we read of, Rev. 19. 14. The Spirit of God 
 then pronounced a fpecial Bleffing on David\ 
 Helpers, as thofe that were Co-workers withGod, 
 Ver. 18. Then the Spirit catne uponAm?i(2ii^who was 
 chief of the Captains^ and he faid^ Thine are we 
 David, and on thy Side^ thou Son of Jefie ; Peace ^ 
 Peace be unto thee^ and Peace be to thine Helpers^ 
 for thyGod helpeth thee. So we may conclude that 
 God will much more give his Bleffing/ to fiich as 
 come to the Help of the Lord, when he fets his 
 own dear Son as King on his holy Hill of Zion ; 
 and they {hall be received by Christ, and he 
 
 will 
 
124 Obligation of Rulers Pa. 11. 
 
 will put peculiar Honour upon thenijas David did 
 on thofe his Helpers ; as we have an Account, in 
 the following Words, Ver. i8. Then David re- 
 ceived them^ and made them Captains of the Band, 
 'Tis particularly noted of thofe that Came to 
 David to Hebron^ ready armed to the War, to 
 turn the Kingdom of 5^a/tohim, according to 
 the Word of the Lord, that they were Men that 
 had underjlanding of the Times ^ to know what Ifrael 
 ought to do, Ver.23. ^ 32- Herein they differed 
 from the Pharifees and other Jtws^ that did not 
 come to the Help of the Lord, at the Time that 
 the great Son of David appeared to fet up his 
 Kingdom in theWorld, whomCHRisT condems, 
 that they had not Underjlanding of thofe Times ^ 
 Luke 12.56. Te Hypocrites^ ye can difeern the Face 
 of the Sfy^ and of the Earth ; hut how is it^ thai 
 ye do not difeern thefeTimes ? So it always will be, 
 when Christ remarkably appears on Earth, on 
 a Defign of fetting up his Kingdom here, there 
 will be many that will not underftand the Times, 
 nor what //rW ought to do, and fo will not come 
 to. turn about the Kingdom to David. 
 
 The favourable Notice that God will take of 
 fuch as appear to promote the Work of God, at 
 fueha Time as this, may alfo be argued from fuch 
 a y^xy particular Notice being taken in the facred 
 Records, of thofe that helped in rebuilding the 
 Wall of Jerufalem^ upon the Return from the 
 Babylonijh Captivity. Nehem, Chap. 3. 
 
 At fuch a Time as this, when God is fetting 
 his King on his holy Hill of Zion^ or eftablifliing 
 his Dominion, or (hewing forth his regal Glory 
 
 from 
 
Pa. II. to promote this Work. 125 
 
 ' from thence, he expedls that his vifible People, 
 without Exception, (hould openly appear to ac- 
 knowledge him in fuch a Work, and bow before 
 hini,& join with him. Butefpecially dccshe expect 
 this of civil Rulers : God's Eye is efpccially upon 
 them, to fee how they behave themfelves on fuch 
 an Occafion. If a newKing comes to theThrone, 
 when he comes from Abroad, and enters into his 
 Kingdom, and makes his folemn Entry into the 
 royal City, it is expected that all Sorts fliould ac- 
 knowledge him 5 but above all others is it expell- 
 ed that the great Men, and public Officers of the 
 Nation (hould then make their Appearance, and 
 attend on their Sovereign, with fui table Congra- 
 tulations, and Manifeftations of Refpedl and 
 Loyalty : If fuch as thefe ftand at a Diftance, 
 at fuch a Time, it wull be much more taken 
 Notice of, and will awaken the Princes Jea- 
 . loufv and Difpleafure much more, than fuch a Be- 
 haviour in the common People. And thus it is, 
 when that eternal Son of God, and Heir of the 
 World, by whom Kings reign, andPrinces decree 
 Juftice, whom his Father has appointed to beKing 
 of Kings, comes as it were from far, and in the 
 fpiritual Tokens of his Prefence|, enters into the 
 royal City Zion \ God has his Eye at fuch a 
 Time, efpecially upon thofe Princes, Nobles and 
 Judges of the Earth, fpoken of Pro v. 8. 16. to 
 fee how they behave themfelves, whether they bow 
 to him, that he has made the Head of all Princi- 
 pality & Power. This is evident by the 2d. Pfah 
 Ver. 6, 7, 10, II, 12. Yet have ^I fet my Kingj 
 upon my hdyHill of Zion. I will declare the De- 
 cree 
 
126 Obligations of Rulers , Pa.IL 
 
 cree ; the Lord hath f aid unto rne^ thou art my Son, 
 this Day have I begotton thee. — Be wife now there- 
 fore^ O ye KingSy he injlru^ed ye "Judges of the 
 Earth \ ferve the Lord with Fear^ and rejoice with 
 Tre?nhling ; kifs the Son^ left he he angry y and ye 
 perijhfrom the JVay^when his Wrath is kindled but a 
 little. There feeins to be in theWords, an Allu- - 
 fion to a new King's coming to the Throne, and 
 making his folemn Entry into the royal City ; (as 
 Zion was the royal City in Ifrael^) when it is ex- 
 pelled that all, efpecially Men in publick Office 
 and Authority, ftiould manifeft their Loyalty, by 
 fome open and vifible Token of Refpe£l, by the 
 Way^ as- he paffes along ; and thofe that refufe or 
 negleft it are in Danger of being immediately 
 flruck downjand periftiing yr<?;w theWay^ by which 
 the King goes in folemn Proceffion. 
 
 TheDay whereinGod does in an eminentMan* 
 ner fend forth theRod of Christ's Strength out 
 oi Zion^ that he may rule in the midft of his Ene- 
 mies,theDay of hisPower wherein hisPeople fhall 
 be made willing, is alfoj eminently a Day of his 
 Wrath, efpecially to fuch Rulers as oppofe him, 
 or won't bow to him ; a Day wherein he fhall 
 Jlrike throughKings^ and fill theP laces with the dead 
 Bodies^ and wound the Heads over many Countries. 
 Pfal. no. And thus it is^ that when the Son of 
 God girds his Sword upon his Thigh ^wiih his Glory 
 andhisMajeJfy^ and in hisMajeJly rides profperouJJy^ 
 hecaufe of Truths Meeknefs and Right eoufuefs^ his 
 right Hand teaches him terrible Things, It was the 
 Princes of 5«tv^^/; efpecially, that fufFered Punifli- 
 ment, when the Inhabitants of that City refufed 
 
 to 
 
Pa. II. to promote this Work. 127 
 
 to come to the Help of the Lord, when Gideon was 
 purluing after Zcbah zndZalmtwna ; we read that 
 Gideon took the Elders o( the City, and Thorns of 
 the Wildernefs, and Briers, and with them he 
 taught the Men of Succoth. 'Tis efpecially taken 
 Notice of that the Rulers, and chief Men oi Ifrael^ 
 were called upon to afliil in the Affair of bringing 
 up theArkof God ; they were chiefly confulted, 
 and were principal in the Management of the Af- 
 fair. I Chro. 13. I. ^«^ David confulted with 
 the Captains of Thoufands and Hundreds J and with 
 tvery Leader. And Chap. 15. 25. So David <^wJ 
 the Elders of Kr^L^l^and the Captains over Thou fayids^ 
 went to bring up the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord y 
 cut of the Houfe of Obed-Edom, with Joy. So 
 2 Sam. 6. I. And fo it was when the Ark was 
 brought into the Temple, i King. 8. i, 3. ^ 
 2 Chro. 5. 2, 4. 
 
 And as Rulers, by neglecling theirDuty at fuch 
 a Time, will efpecially expofe themfelves toGoD^s 
 great Difpleafure, fo by fully acknowledgingGoD 
 m fuch aWork, and by chearfully and vigoroufly 
 exerting themfelves to promote it, they will efpe- 
 cially be in the Way of receiving peculiar Hon- 
 ours and Rewards at God's Hands. 'Tis noted 
 of the Princes of Ifraely that they efpecially ap- 
 peared to honour God with their princely Offer- 
 ing, onOccafion of the fetting up the Tabernacle 
 of God, in the Congregation of Ifrael : (which I 
 have obferved already was done at the Time of 
 the Feaft of Tabernacles, and was a Type of the 
 Tabernacle of God's being with Men, and his 
 dwelling with Men in the latter Days,) And with 
 M • wh^t 
 
128 Obligotions of RuUrs Pa. II. 
 
 what abundant particularity, is it noted of each 
 Prince, how much he ofFere'd to God on that Oc- 
 cafion, for their everlaftingjlonour, in the 7th 
 Chap. of Nmnl ? And fo with how muchFavour 
 and Honour does the Spirit of God take Notice 
 of thofe Princes in Ifrael^ that came to the Help 
 of tlieLord,intheWaragainft5//^r^ ? Judg.5.9. 
 My Heart is towards the Governours ^/Ifrael, that 
 offered themfelves willingly among the People. And 
 Ver. 14. Out ^Machir came down Governpurs, 
 Ver. 15. And the Princes of lihchzr zvere with 
 Deborah. And in the Account that we have of 
 the re-building the Wall of Jerufalem^ in the 3d 
 Chap, of Nehem. It is particularly noted, what 
 an Hand one and another of the Rulers had in 
 this Affair ; v/e have an Account that fuch a Part 
 of the Wall was repaired by theRuIer of the half Part 
 of Jeriifakm^ and fuch a Part by the Ruler of the 
 other Half Part of Jcrufalem^ and fuch a Part by 
 the Ruler of Part of Beth-haccerem^ and fuch a 
 Part by the Ruler of Part of Alizpah^ and fuch a 
 Part by the Ruler of the Half Part of Beth-zur ; 
 and fuch aPart by theRuler of Mizpah^VeT.g^i2^ 
 14,15,16,19. And there it is particularly noted 
 of the Rulers of one of the Cities, that they put 
 not their Necks to the Work of the Ix)rd, tho' 
 the commonPeople did ; and they are ftigm^ftized 
 for it, in the facred Records, to their everlafting 
 Reproach, Ver. 5. And next unto thcm^ theTe- 
 koites repaired ; but their Nobles put not their Necks 
 to the JVcrk cf the Lord. So the Spirit of God, 
 with fpecial Honour, takes Notice of Princes and 
 Rulers of feveral Tribes, that aflifted in bringing 
 lip the Ark^ Pfal 68. 27, And 
 
Pa. II. to promote this iroiJa^ 129 
 
 And I humbly derirc4:hat it may bcconfidered. 
 Whether we han'tReafon to fear thatGoD is pre- 
 voiced with thisLand^that no moreNotice has been 
 taken of this glorious Work of the Lord, that has 
 been lately carried on, by the civil Authority ; 
 that there has no more been done by them, as a 
 public Acknowledgment of God in this Work, 
 and no more Improvement of their Authority to 
 promote it, either by appointing a Day of public 
 Thankfgiving to God, for fo unfpeakable a 
 Mercy, or aDay of Faftmg and Prayer, to humble 
 ourfelves before God, for our paft Deadnefs and 
 Unprofitablenefs under theMeans of _Grace,and ta 
 feek the Continuance and Increafe of the Tokens 
 of his Prefence ; or fo much as to enter upon any 
 public Confultation, what fhould be done to ad- 
 vance the prefent Revival of Religion, and great 
 Reformation that is begun in tlie Land, is there 
 not Danger that fuch a Behaviour, atfuchaTime, 
 will be interpreted by God, as a Denial of Chrift ? 
 If but a new Governour comes into a Province, 
 how much is there done, efpecially by thofe 
 that are in Authority, to put Honour upon him, 
 toarife, and appear publicly, and go forth to meet 
 him, to addrefs and congratulate him, and with 
 great Expence to attend upon him, and aid him ? 
 If the Authority of the Province, on fuch an Oc- 
 carion,{hould all fet ftill,and fay & do nothing, and 
 take no Notice of the Arrival of their new Go- 
 vernour, would there not be Danger of its being 
 interpreted by him, and his Prince that fen t him, 
 as a Denial of his Authority, or a refiifing to re- 
 ceive him, and honour him as thei/ Governour I 
 M 2 ^ And 
 
1 3 o ^I^Nlgations of Minijlers P a . 11. 
 
 And fhall the Head of the Angels, and Lord of 
 the Univerfe, come down from Heaven, in fo 
 wonderful a Manner, into the Land, and fhall all 
 Ibnd at a Diftance, and be filent and unadive on 
 fuch an Occafion ? I would humbly recommend 
 it taour Rulers, to confider whether God don't 
 now fay to them. Be wife now ye Rulers^ be in- 
 jhuBedye Jz^.^/^^J 9^ New-England ; Kifs the So?i^ 
 le/i he be angry ^ and ye perijh from the JVay, 
 
 'Tis prophefied Zecb. 12. 8. That in the glo- 
 rious Day of the Chriilian Church, the Houfe of 
 DaviJy or the Rulers in God's Ifrael^ Jhall be as 
 GOD, as the Angel of the LORD, before bis Peo- 
 ple. But how can fuch Rulers expect to have 
 any Share in this glorious Promife, that don't fo 
 much as openly acknowledge God in. the Work 
 of that Spirit, by wliich the Glory of that Day is 
 to be' accompliftied ? The Days are cg5iniQgi..fe. 
 often- fpoken of, when the Saints :fh'aH reigii pir 
 Earth, and all Dominion and Authority fhall be 
 given into their Hands : But if our Rulers wonli 
 . partake of this Honour, they ought at fuch a Day 
 «is this, to bring their Glory ^nd Honour into the; 
 fpiritual Jerufaleni, agreablc to Revy.^^./l^* . .. : 
 
 But above. all others, is God's Eye:i*pon Miki 
 nlllers of the Gofpel, as expe6ling oftbem, that^ 
 they fhould arife, and ackno.wledgej and hohour'. 
 him in fucl^.a Work as thisi^ and do their utmoft 
 to encourage and promote it: For to promote- 
 fuch a Work, is the very Bufinefs which they are 
 called and devoted to i 'tis the Office to which 
 they are appointed^ as Co-workers with CJbrifl:, 
 and ^ his Ambafladors and Inflruments,. to awa- 
 ken 
 
Pa. II. to-promate this TvWkag 131 
 
 ken and convert Sinners, and eftablifh, build up 
 and comfort Saints ; 'tis the Bufinefs they have 
 been folemnly charged v^ith, before God, An- 
 gels and Men, and that they have given up them- 
 felves to, by the moft facred Vows, Thefe 
 efpecially, are the Ofncers of Christ's King- 
 dom, that above all other Men upon Earth, do 
 reprefent his Perfon, into whofe Hands Christ 
 has committed the facred Oracles, and holy Or- 
 dinances, and all his appointed Means of Grace, 
 to be adminijflred by them ; they are the Stewards 
 of his Houfhold, into whofe Hands he has com- 
 mitted its Provifion ; the immortal Souls of Men 
 are committed to them, as a Flock of Sheep are 
 committed to the Care of a Shepherd, or as a 
 Matter commits a Treafure to the Care of a Ser- 
 vant, of which he muft give an Account :, 'Tis 
 expe£led of them, above all others, ^at they 
 fhould have Underftanding of the Times, and 
 know what I/ra el ought to do ; for *tis their Bu- 
 fmefs to acquaint themfelves with Things per- 
 taining to the Kingdom of God, and to teach 
 and enlighten others in Things of this. Nature, 
 We that are employed in the facred Work of the 
 Gofpel-Miniftry, are the Watchmen over tiie 
 City, to whom God ha& committed the Ke}^s of 
 the Gates of Zion; and if when therightfulKing- 
 of Z/V^ comes, to deliver his People from, the 
 Enemy that oppofes them, we refufe ta open^the 
 Gates to him, how greatly fhall we expofe.cur 
 felves to his Wrath ? We are appointed tO: be 
 the Captains of the Hoft in. this War : And" if^ a- 
 General will highly refent it in a private Soldierj.. 
 M ^. if 
 
iji ^Obligations of Minijters Pa. IL 
 
 If he refufes to follow him when his Banner i> 
 eifplay'd, and his Trumpet blown ^ how much 
 more will he refent it in the Officers of his Army r 
 The Work of the Gofpel-Miniflry, confifting in 
 the Admmiftration of God's Word and Ordi- 
 nances, IS the principal Means tliat God has ap.- 
 pointed, for carrying on his Work on the Souls of 
 Men ; and 'tis his revealed Will, that when ever 
 that glorious Revival of Religion, and Reforma- 
 tion of the World, fo often fpoken of in his 
 Word, is accomplilhed, it fhould be principally 
 by the Labours of his Minrfters ; and therefore 
 how heinous will it be in the Sight of God, if 
 when a Work of that Nature is begun, we ap- 
 pear unbelieving, flow, backward and difaffe£led ? 
 There was no fort of Perfons among the Jews 
 that was in any Meafure treated with foch Mani- 
 feilations of God's great Difpleafure, and fevere 
 Indignation, for not acknowledging Christ, 
 and the ^Vork of his Spirit, in the Days of Chrifl 
 and his Apoffles, as the Minifters of Religion : 
 See how Christ deals with them for it, in the 
 23d Chapter oi Matthnu ; with what Gentleneis 
 did Chr'is T treat Publicans and Harlots, in Com- 
 parifon of them ? 
 
 When the Tabernacle was erected in the Camp 
 of Ifrael, and GOD came down from Heaven to 
 dwell in it, the Priefts were above all others con- 
 cerned, and bufdy employed in the folernn Tranf- 
 r.aions of that Occafion, Levit, Chap. 8. and g. 
 And fo it was at the Time of the Dedication of 
 the Temple of Solo7ncn, i King. Chap. 8. and 
 -!, Chrcn, Chap. c. and 6. and 7. v^hich was at 
 :. the 
 
Pa . If . to promote this TrotkiuM 1 3 j 
 
 the Time of the Feaft of Tabernacles, at the fame 
 Time that the Tabernacle was erected in the Wil- 
 dernefs : And the Levites were primarily, and 
 moft immediately concerned in bringing up the 
 Ark into Mount Zion i the Bufmefs properly be- 
 longed to them, and the Ark was carried upon 
 thefr Shoulders, i Chron. 15. 2. Then David 
 Ja'id^ None Gu^ht to carry the Ark of GOD but the 
 Levites ; for them hath the LORD chofen to carry 
 the Ark of GOD ^ and to min'ijier unto hhn forever. 
 And V, II, 12. And David called for Zadok and 
 Abiathar the Priejis^ and for the Levites, /^r Uriel, 
 Afaiah, and Joel, Shemaiah, and Eliel, and Ami- 
 nadab, mid fatd unto them^ Ye are the chief 
 of the Fathers of the Levites ; fanSflfy your 
 felves^ Both y^, and your Brethren^ that you may 
 bring up the Ark of the Lord God ^Ifrael, unto the 
 Place that I have prepared fcr it. So we have an 
 Account that the Pricfts led the Way, in re- 
 building the Wall of Jerujalem^ after the Babylo-* 
 nijl? Captivity, Neh. 3. at the beginning. 
 
 If Minifters preach never fo good Do£lrine, 
 and are never fb painful and laborious in their 
 Work, yet, if at fuch a Day as this, they fhew to 
 their People, that they are not well affcfted to 
 this Work, but are very doubtful and fufpicious 
 of it, they wrll be very likely to do their People 
 a great deal more Hurt than Good : For the very 
 Fame of fuch a great and extraordinary Work of 
 GOD, if their People were fufFered to- believe ft 
 to be his Work, and the Example of other Towns, 
 together with what Preaching they might hear 
 Qj;cafigiially, wc>uld be likely tQ have a much grea- 
 ter 
 
1 3 4 OUigatlons of Minijlers Pa . II. 
 
 ter Influence upon the Minds of their People, to 
 awaken them and apimate them in Religion, than 
 all their Labours with them : And befides their 
 Minifters Opinion won't only beget in them a 
 Sufpicion of the Work thev hear of abroad, where- 
 by the mighty Hand of GOD that appears in it, 
 lofes its Influence upon their Minds, but it will 
 alfo tend to create a Sufpicion of every Thing of 
 the like Nature,"" that fhall appear among them- 
 felves, as being fomething of the fame Diflemper 
 that IS become fo Epidemical in the Land ; and 
 that is, in EfFedi:, to create a Sufpicion of all vital 
 Religion, and to put the People upon talking 
 againfl: it, and dlfcouraging it, where-ever it np* 
 pears, and knocking it in the Head, as faft as it 
 rifes. And we that are Miniflers, by looking on 
 this Work, from Year to Year, with a difplealed 
 Countenance, fhaH efFeftually keep the Sheep 
 from their Pafture, inflead of doing the Part of 
 Shepherds to them, by feeding them \ and our 
 People had a great deal better be without any fet- 
 tled Minifter at all, at fuch a Day as this. 
 
 We that are in this facred Office, had Need to 
 take Heed what we do, and how we behave our 
 fehes at tl:iis. Time : A lefs Thing in a Minifter 
 will hinder the Work of GOD, than in others. 
 If we are very fdent, or fay but little about the 
 Work, in our publick Prayers and Preaching, or 
 feem carefully to avoid fpeaking of it in our Con- 
 verfation, it will, and juftly may be interpreted 
 by our People, that we who are their Guides, to 
 whom they are to have their Eye for fpiritual 
 Inftrudion, are fufpicious of it 3 and this will 
 
 tend 
 
Pa. II. to promote this JVof^^F 135 
 
 tend to raife the fame Sufpicions in them ; and fo 
 the fore-mentioned Confequences will foHow. 
 And if we really hinder, and ftand in the Way of 
 the Work of GOD, whofe Bufmefs above all 
 others it is to promote it, how can we expeiSl to 
 partake of the glorious Benefits of it ? And by 
 keeping others from the Benefit of it, we fhali 
 keep them out of Heaven ; therefore thofe awful 
 Words of Christ to the Jewljh Fathers, fhould 
 be confidered by us, Matth. 23. 13. Wo unto^ 
 you ^ for you Jhut_^ up the Kingdom of Heaven ; —-for 
 ye neither go tn your f elves y neither fuff'er ye them 
 that are entring^ to go in. If we keep the Sheep, 
 from thdr Pafture, how {hall we anfwer it to the 
 great Shepherd, that has bought the Flock with 
 his precious Bloody and has committed the Care 
 of tbemltQus ? I would humbly defire of every 
 Minifter' that h^ thus long remain'd difafFeited 
 to thi$ Work, and has had contemptible Thoughts 
 of it, to. icpnfider whether he has not hitherto been 
 like Michul^ without any Child, or' af leaft in a 
 gi:eit Meafure barren and unfuccefeful in his 
 Work : I piTay God it may not be a perpetual 
 B&r^ennefs ?ls her*s wter /. : 
 , TbfeiTIimes of C«ki5T*s remarkably appear- 
 ihg,' in Behalf of his Church, and to revive Reli- 
 gion, and advance his Kingdom- in the World, 
 are often fpoken in the Prophecies of Scripture, 
 as Times wherein he will remarkably execute 
 Judgments .on fuch Minifters or Shepherds, as 
 don't.fced the Hock, but hinder their being fed, 
 andib deliver Ms Flock from them, as fer, 23. 
 throughout^ and E%€k\ 34. throughout, and 
 
 ' Zech. 
 
^^^/?PV7/; 
 
 1 3 5 ^^Wgalions of Minijlers Pa . II. 
 
 Zech. 10. 3. and Ifai, 56. 7, 8, 9, C5c. lob- 
 fenced before that Christ's folemn, magnificent 
 Entry into Jerufakm^ feeins to be defigned, as a 
 Reprefentation of his glorious coming into his- 
 ChArch, the fpiritual Jerufalf?n ; and"^ therefore 
 'tis worthy to be noted, to our prefent Purpofe, 
 that Christ at that Time, caft out all them 
 that fold and bought in the Temple, ' and over- 
 threw the Tables of the Money-Changers, and 
 t!ie Seats of them that fold Doves y fignifying 
 that when he fhould come to fet up his Kingdom 
 on Earth, he would caft out thofe out of his 
 Houfe, who, inftead of being faithful Minifters, 
 officiated there only for worldly Gain : Not that 
 I determine that all Minifters that are fufpicious 
 of this Work, do fo ; but I mention thefe Things 
 to fhew that it is to be expefted, that a Time of 
 a glorious Out-pouring of the Spirit of God to 
 revive Religion, will be a Time of remarkable 
 Judgments on thofe Minifters that don't ferve thc- 
 End of their Miniftry. -- a-i^^ • • ■ 
 
 The Example of the unbelieving Lord in Sa- 
 Tnaria^ fhould efpecially be for the Waning of 
 Minifters and Rulers : At the Time when God 
 turned an extreme Famine into a great' Plant)', 
 by a wonderful Work of his, the King appointed 
 this Lord to have the Charge' of the Gate of the 
 City ; where he faw the common People, in 
 Multitudes, entring with great Joy and Gladnefs, 
 loaden with Provifion, to feed and feaft their al- 
 moft famiftied Bodies ; but he himfelf, tho' he 
 faw it with his Eyes, never had one Tafte of it, 
 but being weak with Famine, funk down in the 
 
 Crowd, 
 
P A . II. to promote this IFork. 1 3 7 
 
 Crowd, and was trodden to Death, as a Puniih- 
 ment of God, for his not giving Credit to that 
 great and wonderful Work of God, when fuffi- 
 ciently manifefted to him, to require his Belief.--- 
 Minirters are thofe, that the King of the Church 
 has appointed to have the Charge of the Gate, at 
 which. his People enterinto the Kingdom of Hea- 
 ven, there to be entertain'd and fatisfy'd with an 
 eternal Feaft ; Minifters have the Charge of the 
 Houfe of God, which is the Gate of Heaven. 
 
 Minifters fhould efpecially take Heed of a Spi- 
 rit of Envy towards other Minifters, that God 
 is pleafed to make more Ufe of to carry on this 
 Work, than they ; and that they don't, from fuch 
 a Spirit, reproach fome Preachers, that have the 
 true Spirit, as tho' they were influenced by a falfe 
 Spirit, or were bereft of Reafon, and were mad, 
 and were proud, falfe Pretenders, and deferved to 
 be put in Prifon or the Stocks, as Difturbers of 
 
 , the Peace ; left they expofe themfelves to 
 the Curfe of Shemaiah^ the Nehelamite^ w^ho 
 envied the Prophet Jeremiah^ and in this Manner 
 reviled him, in his Letter to Zephaniah the Prieft, 
 Jer, 29. 26, 27. TI?e Lord hath made thee Prieji^ 
 
 An the Stead of ^€^6\2A2i the PrieJ}^ that ye fhould 
 be Officers in the Houfe of the LORD^ for every 
 
 /Afan that is mad, and maketh himfef a Prophet^ 
 that thou- f})0uldji put him in Prifon, and in the 
 Stocks, Now therefore, TVhy haji thou not reprQ- 
 ved ]txtm\2i\\ ^Anathoth, which maketh himfelfa 
 Prophet to you ? His Curfe is denounced in the 
 2d V. Thenefore, thus faith the LORD^ Behold, 
 wUl punijb Shemaiah the Nehelamite, a^id his 
 
 Seed ^ 
 
 ? 
 
138 Obligations of Minijlers , Pa. 11. 
 
 Seed ; He J]jall not have a Man to dwell among 
 his People^ neither jhall he behold the Good that I 
 will do for my People^ faith the LORD^ becaufe 
 he hath taught Rebellion againji the LORD. All 
 thofe that are others Superiors or Elders, fhould 
 take Heed, that at this Day they ben'^t like the 
 elder Brother, who could not bear it, that the 
 Prodigal fhould be made fo much of, and fhould 
 be fo fumptuoufly entertained, and would not 
 join in the Joy of the Feafl ; was like Michal^ 
 Saul's Daughter, offended at the Mufick and 
 Dancing that he heard ; the Tranfports of Joy 
 difpleafed him ; it feem'd to him to be an mr- 
 feemly and unfeafonableNoifeand Ado, that was 
 made ; and therefore flood at a Diflance, fullen, 
 and much offended, and full of In veftives againfl 
 the young Prodigal. 
 
 'Tis our wifeft and beft Way, fully, and with- 
 out Reluctance, to bow to the great God in this 
 Work, and to be entirely refignM to him, with 
 Refpedl to the Manner in which he carries it on, 
 and the Inftruments he is pleafed to make Ufe of^ 
 and not to fhew our felves out of Humour, and 
 fullenly to refufe to acknowledge the Work, in 
 the full Glory of it, becaufe we han't had fo great 
 a Hand in promoting it, or han't fhared fo largely 
 in the Blellings of it, as fome others ; and not to 
 refufe to give all that Honour, that belongs to 
 others, as Inflruments, becaufe they are young, 
 or are upon other Accounts, much inferiour to 
 our felves, and many others, and may appear to 
 us very unworthy, that Gop fhould put fo much 
 Honour upon them. When God cpmes. to ac- 
 
 comphfh 
 
R II. of bowinl to God in this Work. 139 
 
 complifh any great Work for his Church, and for 
 the Advancement of the Kingdom of his Son, he 
 always fulfills that Scripture, Ifai. 2.17. And the 
 Lofttnefs of Man fhall he bozued doiun^ and the 
 Haughtlnefs of Men Jhallhe made low^ and the Lord 
 alone Jhall be' exalted in that Day, If God has a 
 Defign of carrying on thisWork, every one, whe- 
 ther he be great or fmall, muft either bow to it, 
 or be broken before it : It may be expedled that 
 GoD'sHand will be upon every Thing that;ishigh, 
 and ftifF, and ftrong m Oppofition, as in Ifai. 2. 
 12,13,14,15. FortheDay of thcLord of Rofis^fnall 
 be upon every dne that is proud l^ lofty ^and upon roery 
 one that is lifted upland he Jhall be brought low ; and 
 upon all the Cedars /?/Lebanon, that are high and 
 lifted up^ and upon all the Oaks (j/'Bafhan, and upon 
 all the high Mountains^ and upon all the Hills that 
 are-lifted up ^ and upon e^ery high Tower ^ and upon 
 every feficed Wall, 
 
 Not only Magiftrates and Minifters, but every 
 living Soul, is now obliged to arife, and acknow- 
 ledge God in thisWork, and put to his Hand to 
 promote it, as they would not expofe themfelves 
 to God's Curfe. All Sorts of Perfons, through- 
 out the whole Congregation of Ifrael^ Great and 
 Small, Rich and Poor, Men and Women, helped 
 to build the Tabernacle in the Wildernefs ; fome 
 in one W ay, others in another ; each one accord- 
 ing to his Capacity : Every one whofe Heart 
 ftirred him up, and every one whom his Spirit 
 made willing ; all Sorts contributed, and all Sorts 
 were employed in that AfFair, in Labours of their 
 Hands, both Men and^ Women : Some brought 
 
 N c;oii 
 
I40 All Sorts are ohiigtd Pa.IL 
 
 Gold and Silver, others Blue, Purple and Scarlet, 
 and fine Linnen ; others oftered an Offering of 
 Brafs \ othersjwith whom was foundShittimWood, 
 brought it an Offering to the I.ord : The Rulers 
 brought Onyx Stones, and Spice^ and Oyl ; and 
 fome brought Goats Hair \ and fomc Rams Skins, 
 and others Badgers Skins. See Exod. 35^20, &:c. 
 And we are told Ver. 29. The Children cf Ilrael 
 hrought a willing Offeriyjg unto the Lord^ every Man 
 and Woman ^ whofe Heart made them willing. And 
 thus it ought to be in this Day of building the 
 Tabernacle of God ; with fuch a willing and 
 L. cheerful Heart, ought every Man, Woman, and 
 Child, to do fomething to promote this Work : 
 Thofe that have not Onyx Stones, or are not able 
 to bring Gold or Silver, yet may bring Goats 
 Hair. 
 
 As all Sorts of Perfons were employed in build- 
 ing the Tabernacle in the Wild ernefs,fo the whole 
 Congmgtt^ion of Ifrael were called together to fet 
 up the Tabernable in Shiloh^ after they came into 
 Canaa7i^ Jofh. 18. I. And fo again, the whole 
 Congregation of Ifrael were gathered together, 
 to bring up the Ark oi'GoD ^from Kirjath-jeari?n ^ 
 and again, they were all aflembled to bring it upj 
 out of the Houfe of Ohed-Edom into Mowit Zion \ 
 •b again, all Ifrael met together to affift in the 
 great Affair of the Dedication of the Templ^^and 
 bringing the Ark into it : So v/e have an Account, 
 how tliat all Sorts affifled in the Re-building the 
 Wall of Jerufalem^ not only the propp Inhar > 
 tants of Jerufalemy but thofe that dwelt in oth-i 
 Parts of the Land j not only the Priefts &RuIers. 
 
Pa. II. to promote this Work. 141 
 
 but the Nethmims a^d Merchants, Hufbtndmen 
 and jVIechanicks, andWor^ien. Neh, '^, 5,12, 
 265 3 1 ,32. And we have an Account of one and 
 another, that he repaired over againfl his Houfe, 
 VcT. 10. & 23, 28. and of one that repaired over 
 againft his Chamber, Ver, 30. So now, at this 
 Time of the Re-building the Walls of Jerufale?ny 
 every one ought to promote the Work of God 
 within his own Sphere, and by doing what be- 
 longs to him, in the Place in w^hich God has fet 
 him : Men in a privateCapacity, may repair over 
 againfl their Houfes : and even thofe that have 
 not the Government of Families, and have but 
 Part of an Houfe belonging to them, fhould re- 
 pair, each one over againft his Chamber : And 
 every one fliould be engaged to do the utmoft 
 that lies in his Power, laKouriflfg with the utmoft 
 Watchfulnefs, Care and Diligence, with united 
 Hearts, and united Strength, and the greateft 
 Readinefs, to affift one another in this Work : as 
 God's People re-built the Wall of Jerufahm y 
 who were fo diligent in theWork,that they wro't 
 from break of Day, 'till die Stars appeared, and 
 d[d not fo much as put off their Cloaths in the 
 Night ; and wrought witli that Care & Watch- 
 fulnefs,^ that with one Hand they wrought in the 
 Work, and with the other Handlield aWeapon i 
 hefides the Guard they fet to defend them ; and 
 were fo well united in it, that thev took Care, 
 that one fliould ftand ready, with a Trumpet ia \ 
 ills Hand, that if any v/ere aflaulted i^i on^ Part^ i 
 ,tiiofe m the other Parts, at the found of theTrum- 
 pet,mightrefort to 'em,& help 'em, W^A.atthe 
 latter End. N^ ^ Gi^^ 
 
 1 
 
\\i Authors Jhoiild promote thisWork. R II. 
 
 GreatCare fhould be taken tliat thePrefs fliould 
 be improved to no Purpofe contrary to thelntereft 
 of this Work. We read that when God fought 
 airainft Sifera^ for theDeliverance of his oppreffed 
 Church, They that handle thePen oftheWrtter came 
 to the Help of the Lord in that Mi7i\x^Jud,<^.\\. 
 Whatever Sort of Men in Ifrael they were that 
 were intended, yet as the Words were Indited by 
 a Spirit, that had a perfect View of all Events to 
 the End of the World, and had a fpecial Eye on 
 this Song, to that great Event of the Deliverance 
 of God's Church, in the latter Days, of which 
 ' this Deliverance of Ifrael was a Type, 'tis not 
 unlikely that they have Refpeft to Authors, thofe 
 that fhould fight againft the Kingdom of Saiariy 
 with their Pens,^, Thofe therefore that publifh 
 Pamphlets, to the Di fad vantage of this Work, 
 and tending either directly or indirectly to bring 
 it under Suf^>ition, and to difcourage or hinder 
 it, would do well thoroughly to confider whe- 
 ther this be nQt indeed the Work of God ^ and 
 whether if it be, ^tis not likely that God W'ill go 
 forth as Fire, to confume all that ftands in his 
 Way, and fo burn up thofe Pamphlets ; and whe- 
 ther there be not Danger that the Fire that is 
 kindled in there, will fcorch the Authors; 
 
 When a People oppofe Christ in the Work 
 of his Holy Spirit, it is becaufe it touches 'em, 
 in fomething that is dear to their carnalMindsj and 
 becaufe they lee the Tendency of it is to crofs 
 their Pride, and deprive them of the Objects of 
 their Lulls. We fhould take Heed that at this 
 Day we be not like the Gadarenes^ who when 
 
 Christ 
 
Part II. " Who are Oppofers. 143 ^ 
 
 Christ came into their Country, in the Exer- 
 cife of his glorious Power and Grace,triumphing 
 over a Legion of Devik, and delivering a mife- 
 jable Creature, that had long been their Captive, 
 were all alarmed, becaufc they loft their Swine by 
 it, and the whole Multitude of theCountry came, 
 and befought him to depart outof theirCoafts : they 
 loved their filthy Swine, better than JefusChrift j. 
 and liad rather have a Legion of Devils in their 
 Country, with their Herd of Swine, than Jesus 
 Christ without them. 
 
 This Work may be oppofed, not only by di- 
 reftly fpeaking againft the whole of it : Perfons 
 may fay that they believe there is a good Work 
 carried on the Country ; and may fometimes blef^ 
 God, in their publiek Prayers, in generalTerms, 
 for any Awakenings or Revivals of Religion, there 
 have lately been in any Parts of the Land j and 
 may pray that God would carry on his own 
 Work, and pour out his Spirit more< and more j 
 and yet, as I apprehend, be in the Sight of God, 
 great Oppofers of his Work : Some will expreft 
 themfelves after this Manner, that are fo far from- . 
 acknowledging & rejoycing in the infinite Mercy, 
 and glorious Grace of God, in caufing fo hapf^ 
 a Change in the Land, that they look "upon the 
 religious State of the Country, take it in the 
 Whole of it, much more forrowful than it was 
 ten Years ago ; and whofe Ccnverfation, to thofe 
 that are well acquainted with 'em, evidently 
 fhews, that they are more out of Humour with 
 the State of Things, and enjoy themfelves leis, 
 than they did befgre ever this Work began^. 
 N 3 If 
 
144 Of inftjling on Imprudences, Pa. II. 
 
 If it be manifeftly thus with us, and our Talk 
 and Behaviour with Refpeft to this Work, be 
 fuch as has, (tho' but) an indireft Tendency, to 
 beget ill Thoughts and Sufpicions in others con- 
 cerning it, we are Oppofers of the Work of God. 
 Inftead of coming to the Help of the Lord, we 
 fhall aftually fight againft him, if we are abundant 
 in infifting on, and fetting forth the Blemiihes of 
 the Work, fo as to manifeft that we rather choofe, 
 and are more forward to take Notice of what is 
 amifs,tlian what is good and glorious in the Work. . 
 Not but that theErrors that are committed, ought 
 to be obferved and lamented, and a proper Tefti- 
 mony born againft them, and the moft probable 
 Means (hould be ufed to have 'em amended ^ but 
 an infifting much upon 'em, as tho' it were a plea- 
 fmgTheme,or fpeaking of them with more Appear- 
 ance of Heat of Spirit, or with Ridicule, or an Air 
 of Contempt, than Grief for them, has no Ten- 
 dency to correft the Errors ; but has a Tendency 
 to darken the Glory of God's Power and Grace, 
 appearing in the Subftance of the Work, and to 
 beget Jealoufies and ill Thoughts in the Minds of 
 others, concerning the whole of it. Whatever 
 Errors many zealous Perfons have ran into, yet if 
 the Work, in the Subftance of it, be the Work 
 of God, then it is a joyful Day indeed ; 'tis fo 
 in Heaven, and ought to be fb, among God's 
 People on Earth, efpecially in that Part of the 
 Earth, where this glorious Work is carried on. 
 ^Tis a Day of great Rejoicing with Chrift himfelf, 
 ' the good Shepherd, when he finds his Sheep that 
 I was loft, lays it w his Shoulders rejoicing, ami; 
 
 1 
 
Pa. II. Of inftfiing on Imprudences. 145 
 
 calls together his Friends and Neighbours, faying 
 rejoyce with me : If we therefore are Christ's 
 Friends, now it fhould be a Day of great Rejoi- 
 cing with us. If we view'd Things in a juft 
 Light, fo great an Event as the Converfion of fuch 
 a Multitude of Sinners, would draw and engage 
 our Attention, much rr^ore than all die Impruden- 
 ces and Irregularities that have been ; our Hearts 
 would be fwallowed up with the Glory of this 
 Event, and we fliould have no great Difpofition to 
 attend to any Thing elfe. The Imprudences and 
 Errors of poor feeble Worms, don't hinder or pre- 
 vent great Rejoicing, in the Prefence of the An- 
 gels of God, over fo many poor Sinners that have 
 repented ; and it will be an Argument of fome- 
 thing very ill in us, if they prevent our Rejoicing. 
 Who loves in aDay of great Joy & Gladnefs,to 
 be much infilling on thofe Things that are uncom- 
 fortable ? Would it not be very improper, on a 
 King's Coronation Day, to be much in taking No- 
 tice of the Blemifhes of the Royal Family ? Or 
 would it be agreeable to theBridegroom,on theDay 
 of his Efpoufals, the Day of the Gladnefs of his 
 Heart, to be much infilling on the Blemilhes of his 
 Bride ? We have an Account, how that at the 
 Time of that joyful Difpenfation of Providence, 
 the Reftoration of the Church of Ifrael, after the 
 Babylonijh Captivity, and at the Time of the Feaft 
 of Tabernacles, many wept at the Faults that were 
 found amongft the People, but were reproved for 
 tafang fo much Notice of the Blemifhea of that 
 Affair, as to overlook the Caufe of Rejoicing. 
 
 -^i*• 8.^9, 10, II, \%y ^/wfNehemiab, which is 
 
 the 
 
146 'Danger of not promoting this JVork. P. II. 
 
 the Tirfhatha, andEzvTi the Prieji, the Scribe, and 
 
 the Levites, that taught the People, faid unto all the 
 
 People, This Day is holy unto the Lord your GOD, 
 
 mourn not nor weep ; for all the People wept, when 
 
 they heard the Words of the Law. Then he faid ujito 
 
 them. Go your Way, eat the Fat, and drink the Sweet, 
 
 and fmd Part ions unto them, for whom nothing is pre* 
 
 pared ; for this Day is holy unto our Lord ; neither 
 
 beyouforry, for the Joy of the Lord is your Strength. 
 
 So thelj^xiitsjlilled all the People, faying. Hold your 
 
 Peace, for the Day is holy, 7ieither be ye grieved. And 
 
 all the People wejit their Way, to cat, and to drink, 
 
 ani to fend Portions, and to rnake great Mirth, becauft 
 
 they had underjiood the Words that were declared unto 
 
 them. ^ 
 
 God doubtlefs now cxpeds, that all Sorts of 
 Perfons in New-Eyjgland, Rulers, Minifters and 
 People, high and low, rich and poor, old & young, 
 Ihould take great Notice of his Hand, in this migh- 
 ty Work of his Grace, and fhould appear to ac- 
 knowledge his Glory in it, and greatly to rejoice 
 in it, every one doing his utmoft, in the Place that 
 God has fet them in, to promote it. And God, 
 according to his wonderful Patience, feems to be 
 ftill watting, to give us Opportunity, thus to ac- 
 knowledge and honour him. But if we finally re- 
 fufe, there is not the kaft Reafon to expeft any 
 other, than that his awful Curfe will purfue us, and 
 that the Pourings out of his Wrath will be propor- 
 tionable to the defpifed Out-pourings of his Spirit 
 andGwce% 
 
 PART 
 
( 147 ) 
 
 PART III. 
 
 Shewingjin many Inftances, where- 
 in the Subjedts^ or zealous Pro- 
 moters of this WORK, have 
 been injuriouily blamed, 
 
 THIS Work that has lately been carried 
 on in the Land, is the Work of GOD, 
 and not the Work of Man. It's be- 
 ginning has not been of Man's Power or Device, 
 and it's being carried on, depends not on our 
 Strength or Wifdom ^ but yet GOD expeds of 
 all, that they fhould ufe their utmoft Endeavours 
 to promote it, and that the Hearts of all Ihould be 
 greatly engaged in this AfFair, and that we fhould 
 improve our utmoft Strength in it, however vain 
 human Strength is without the Power of GOD ; 
 and fo he no lefs requires that we fhould improve 
 our utmoft Care, Wifdom and Prudence, tho' hu« 
 man Wifdom, of it felf, be as vain as human 
 S^(^"g^^^- Tho' GOD is won't to carry on fuch 
 a Work, in fuch a Manner, as many Wavs, to 
 Ihew the Weaknefs and Vanity of Means and hu- 
 man Endeavours, in themfelves ; yet at the Ikme 
 I ™e, he carries it on in fuch a Manner, as to 
 
 encourage 
 
T 4 8 "^be Need of Care and Difcretion. P . III. 
 
 encourage Diligence and Vigilance, in the Ulc of 
 proper Means and Endeavours, and to piinifti the 
 Negleft of them. Therefore in our Endeavours 
 to promote this great Work, we ought to ufe the 
 utmoft Caution, Vigilance and Skill, in the Mea- 
 fures we take in order to it. A great AfFairfhould 
 be managed v\^ith great Prudence : This is the nioft 
 important Affair that ever Nciv-En^laudv7'as c^ed 
 to be concerncd'in. When a Peon^eare eh2:^2;ed 
 la War witha powerful and crafty Natiron, it con- 
 cerns them to manage an Affair of fuch Confe- 
 quence with the utmoft Difcretion.' Of what 
 vaft Importance then niuft it be, that we fhould 
 be vigilant and prudent, in the Management of 
 this great War that New-Efigland now has, with 
 fo great aHoft of fuch fubtle and cruel Enemies, 
 wherein we muft ehher conquer or be conquered, 
 and the Cdnfequenc^ of the Viftory, on one'^ide, 
 will be our eternal Deftru6libn, in both Souliand 
 Body in Hell, and on the other Side, our obtain- 
 ing the Kingdom of Heaven, and reigning in it in 
 eternal Glory ? We had Need always to ftand 
 on our Watch, and to be well verfed in the Art 
 of War, and not ta be ignorant of the Devices of 
 our Enemies, and to take Heed left by any Mearus 
 we be beguiled through their Subtilty. ., ,. ; . 
 
 Tho' the Devil be ftrong, yet in fuch a War as 
 this,he depends more.on his Craft than htsStrength : 
 And the Courfe he has chiefly t^ken, from Time 
 to Time, to clog, hinder and overthrow Revivals 
 of Religion in the Church of GOD, has been by 
 his fubtle, deceitful Management, to beguile and 
 miflead thofe that have been engaged therein ; 
 
 and 
 
p. III. Of Addrejes to the AffeElions. 1 49 
 
 and in fuch a Courfe GOD has been pleafed, in 
 his holy and fovcreign Providence, to fufter him 
 to fucceed, oftentimes, in a great Meafure, to 
 overthrow that, which in its Beginning appear'd 
 moft hopeful and glorious. .The Work that is 
 now begun in Ne^v- England ^ is, as I have fhown, 
 eminently glorious, and if it fhould go on and pre- 
 vail, would make New- England 2, kind of Heaven 
 upon Earth : Is it not therefore a thoufand Pities, 
 that it fhould be overthrown, through wrong and 
 improper Management, that we are led into by 
 our fubtle Adverfary, in our Endeavours to pro- 
 mote it ? 
 
 In treating of the Methods that ought to be ta- 
 ^k^n to promote this Work, I would, I. Take No- 
 tice, in fome Inftances, wherein Fault has been 
 found with the Conduit of thofe that have appear'd 
 to be theSubjefts of it, or have been zealous to 
 promote it, (as I apprehend,) beyond juft Caufe. 
 II. I would fhew what Things ought to be cor- 
 recSed or avoided. III. I would fhew pofitively, 
 what ought to be done to promote this dorious 
 XforJcofGOD. 
 
 i. I would take Notice of fome Things, at 
 which Offence has been taken without, or beyond 
 
 jufl Caufe. 
 
 One Thing that has been complained of, is 
 
 ^Miiiiflers addrefiing themfelves, rather to the Af- 
 
 '/eftions of their Hearers, than to their Underfland- 
 
 "^g?3 .^i^^d flriving to raife their Paflions to the 
 
 utmofl Height, ratherby a very afFedionate Man- 
 
 n^offpeaking, andagreat Appearance of Ear- 
 
 neftnefs. 
 
1 50 Of Addrejfes to the j1ffe£tions. P. III. 
 
 neftnefs, in Voice and Gefture, than by clear Rea- 
 foning, and informing their Judgment : By which 
 Means, it is objected, that the AfFeflions are 
 moved, without a proportionable enlightening of 
 the Underftanding. 
 
 To which I would fay, I am far from thinking 
 that it is not very profitable, for Minifters in thei.r 
 Preaching, to endeavour clearly and diftint^ to 
 explain theDocStrines of Religion, and unravel the 
 Difficulties that attend them, and to confirm them 
 with Strength of Reafon and Argumentation, and 
 alfo to obferve fome eafy and clear Method and 
 Order, in their Difcourfes, for the Help of the 
 Underftanding and Memory ; and 'tis very pro- 
 bable that thefe Things have been of late, too 
 much negle<Sted, by many Minifters ; yet, I be- 
 lieve that the Objeftion that is made, of Affeftions 
 raifed without enlightening the Underftanding, is 
 in a great Meafure built on a Miftake, and con- 
 fufed Notions that fome have about the Nature 
 and Caufe of the AfFeftions, and the Manner in 
 which they depend on the Underftanding. All 
 Affeilions are raifed either by Light in the Under- 
 ftanding^ or by fome Error and Delufion in the 
 JJnderJlanding ; for all AfFeftions do certainly arife 
 from fome Apprehenfion in the Underftanding ; 
 and that Apprehenfion muft either be agreeable to 
 Truth, or elfe be fome Miftake or Delufion ; if 
 it be an Apprehenfion or Notion that is agreeable 
 to Truth, then it is Light in the Underftanding,,: 
 Therefore the Thing to be enquired into is, Whe- i 
 ther the- Apprehenfions or Notions of divine and 
 eternal Things, that are raifed in Peoples Minds, 
 
Pa . Ill Of pathetical Preaching. 1 5 ^ 
 
 by thefe affeaionate Preachers, whence their Af- 
 feaions arc excited, be Apprehenfions that arc 
 agreeable toTruth, or whether they are Miitakes. 
 If the former, then the AfFeaions are raifed the 
 Way they (hould be, viz. By informing tne 
 Mind, or conveying Light to the Underftanding. 
 They go away with a wrong Notion, that think 
 that thofe Preachers can't affea their Hearers, by 
 enlightning their Underftandings, that don't do it 
 by fuch a diftina, and Jearned handhng of the 
 doarinalPoints of Religion, as depends on human 
 Difciphne, or the Strength of natural Reafon,and 
 tends to enlarge their Hearers Learning, and fpe- 
 culative Knowledge in Divinity. The Manner 
 of Preaching without this, maybe fuch as fhall 
 tend very much to fet divine and eternal Things, 
 in a right View, and to give theHearers fuch Ideas 
 and Apprehenfions of them as are agreeable to 
 Truth, and fuch Impreffions on their Hearts, as 
 are anfwerable to the real Nature of Things : And 
 not only the Words that are fpoken, but theMan- 
 ner of fpeaking, is one Thing that has a great 
 Tendency to this. I think an exceeding affec- 
 tionate Way of Preaching about the great Things 
 of Religion, has in it felf no Tendency to beget 
 falfe Apprehenfions of them ; but on the contrary 
 a much greater Tendency to beget true Appre- 
 henfions of them,than a moderate,dull, indifferent 
 Way of fpeaking of 'em. An Appearance of Af- 
 feaion andEarneftnefsjin theManner of Delivery, 
 if it be very great indeed, yet if it he agreeable to 
 the Nature of the iSubjea, and ben't beyond a 
 Proportion to its Importance, and Worthinefs of 
 O Affcaion; 
 
^5^ Of paihciud Prcachinz. Pa. Ill 
 
 6- 
 
 Affection, and there be no Appearance of its be- 
 ing feigned or forced, has \q much the greater 
 Tendency to beget true Ideas or Apprehcnfions in 
 the Minds of the Hearers, of the Subject fpoken 
 of, and fo to enlighten the Underftanding : And 
 that for this Reafon, That fuch aWay or Manner 
 of fpeaking of thefe Things, does in Fact, more 
 truly repr^fent them,than"a more ccld and indiitl- 
 rent Way of fpeaking of them. If the Subjea be 
 in its own Nature, worthy of very greatAffeclion, 
 then a fpeaking of it with very great Affecfion, is 
 nioft agreeable to the Nature of that Subjcft, or is 
 the trueft Reprefentation of it, and therefore has 
 moft of a Tendency to beget true Ideas of it, in 
 the Minds of thofe, to whom the Reprefentation 
 is made. And I don't think Mhiifters are to be 
 blamed, for raifing the Affections of their Hearers 
 too high, if that which they are affected with, be 
 only that which is worthy of Affection, and their 
 Affedlions are not raifed bevond a Proportion to 
 their Importance, or Worthinefs of AfFeftion. I 
 fhould think my felf in the Way of my Duty, to 
 raife the Affections of myHearers as high as poffi- 
 biy I can, provided that they are affected with no- 
 thing but Truth, and with Affections that are not 
 difagreeable to theNature of what they are affected 
 with. I know it has long been fafiiionable 
 to defpife a very earneft and pathetical Way of 
 Preaching ; And they, and they only have been 
 valued as Preachers, that have ihow^n the greateft 
 Extent of Learning, and Strength of Reafon, and 
 Correclnefs of Method and Language ;- but I 
 humbly conceive it has beea for want of Under- 
 
 fhndine:, 
 
Pa. in. Of pathetical Preaching. 153 
 
 inding, or duly confidering human Nature, that 
 luch Preaching has been tho't tohavethegreateft 
 Tendency to anfwer the Ends of Preaching ; and 
 the Experience «df the preCent and paft Ages ahun- 
 - dently confirms the fame. Tho%as. I faid before, 
 Clearnefs of DilHnclion &:.IlhiiT:rationsi,&. Strength 
 ofReafon, and a good Methovl, in the doctrinal 
 Handling of the Truths- of Religion, is many 
 Ways needful and profitable, and not to be neg- 
 lected, yet anincrcafe in fpeculative Knowledge 
 in Divinity, is not what is fo much needed by our 
 People, as fomctliing elfe. Men may abound ia 
 this Sort of Light and have no Heat : How much 
 has there been of this Sort of Knowledge, in the 
 -Chriftian World y ia this Age ? Was there ever 
 an Age, wherein Strength andPenetration of Rea- 
 fon, Extent of Learning, Exa£lnefs of Diftinclion, 
 Correflnefs of Style, and Clearnefs of Expreflion^ 
 did fo abound ? And yet was there ever an Age^ 
 wherein there has been fo little Scjnfe of the Evil 
 of Sin,, fo little Love to God, heavenly Minded- 
 nefs, and Holinefs of Life, among the Profeflbrs 
 of the true Religion ? Our People don't fo much 
 need to have their Heads ftored, as to have their 
 Hearts touched ; and they ftand in the gr^ateft 
 Need of thatSort of Preaching, that has the greateft 
 Tendency to do this. 
 
 Thofe Texts, Ifai, 58. i. Cry aloud ^ f^ are not ^ 
 lift up thy Voice like a Trumpet^ ayidjheiv my People 
 their Tranfgrejfion^ and the Houfe of Jacob their 
 Si?is, And Ezek. 6. 11 . Tims faith the Lord God^ 
 fmite with thine Hand^ andjiamp with thy Foot^ 
 and fay ^ alafs^ for all the evil Abomination of the 
 O 2 Houfe 
 
154 Of affe5lionale^earnejlFr caching, P.IIL 
 
 Hotife ^Ifrael ! I fay thefeTcxts, (however the 
 Ufc that fome have made of them has been laugh- 
 ed at,) w^ill fully juftify, a great Degree of P^/Ai?j, 
 and Manifeftation of Zeal & Fervency in preach- 
 ing the Word of God : They may indeed 'be 
 abufed, to juftify that which would be odd and 
 unnatural, amongft us^not making due Allowance 
 for Difference of Manners andCuftom, in differ- 
 ent Ages and Nations ; but let us interpret them 
 how we will, they at leaft imply, that a moft af- 
 feftionate and earnefl: Manner of Deliver}^, in 
 manyCafes, becomes a Preacher of GoD'sWord. 
 
 Preaching of the Word of God, is com- 
 monly fpoken of in Scriptrue, in fuchExprcflions, 
 P.S feem to import a loud and carneftSpeaking ; as 
 in Ifai. 40. 2. Speak ye co?nfortahIy to ]tr\i{?\tm^ 
 and cry unto her^ that her Iniquity is pardoned. And 
 Ver. ?. ne Fci^e of him tb^t cri^th in the PFilder^ 
 
 ne/sy ^prepare ye the Way of the Lord^- Verfe 6. 
 
 Trie Voice f aid Cry : And he f aid ^ what /hall I cry f 
 Jll Flejh is Grafs^ and all the Goodlinefs thereof^ 
 as the Flower of the Field, Jer . 2 . 2 . Go and cry in 
 theEars of ]tr whX^m, fay i7ig^thus faith theLord.kc. 
 Jonah I. 2. Arife.go /^Nlnevah, that great City ^ 
 and cry againjlit. Ifai. 6r. i, 2. Tin Spirit of 
 the Lord God is upon me., hecaufe the Lord hath «- 
 nointed me., to preach good Tidings to the Meek.,-- 
 to proclaim Liberty to the Captives., and the opening 
 if the Frifm to them that are bound., to proclaim the 
 acceptaWrearoftheLord, and the YearofVcnge^ 
 ance of our God. Ifai. 62. 11. Behold, the Lord 
 ^^ath proclaimed unto the End of the World, fay ye 
 10 the Daughter cfZion, behold thy Salvation ccmeth 
 ^ "^ &c. 
 
Pa. III. Of lend and earnefi Preaching. 155 
 
 ^'c. Rom. .10. 18. Their Sound v^ent into all the 
 Earthy and theh Words to the End of the World, 
 Jier. II. 6. Proclaim altthefe Words. 'in^he£ities of 
 Judah, t5f in theStrccts <?/'JerufaIem, fipng^ Hear 
 ye the Words of this Covenant^ and do them. So 
 Chap. 19.2. ^ 7. 2. Prov. 8.1. Doth not Wif 
 dofncry^ and IJnderftanding put forth her Voice ? 
 Ver. 3, 4. She crieth at the Gates., at the Entry of 
 the City., at the coming in at the Doors ; unto you^ 
 O Men., I call., and my Voice is to the Sons of Men ! 
 And Chap. i. 20. TVifdom crieth' luithout., /he 
 uttereth her Voice in the Streets. Chap. g. 3. She 
 hath fent forth her Maidens y Jhe crieth upon the high 
 Places of Ihe City. John 7. 37.. In the lafr Day . 
 that great Day of the Feajl., Jefus Jlood and cried ^ 
 faying., if arty Man thir/1., let hiin ccTne unto ;;; . 
 and drink. 
 
 It feems to beforetold, that the Gofpel fhoi;!'! 
 be efpecially preached in a loud and. earneft Man- 
 ner, at tlie Introduction of the profperous Stat*: 
 of Religion, in the latter Days. Ifai. 4c. 9. U 
 Zion, that hringeth good Tidings^, get thee up into 
 the high Mountain . ! O Jerufal^m, that hringeth 
 good Tidings^ lift up thy Voice with Strer^gth ! lljt 
 up., and he not afraid I Say ujito the Cities of J ud?h^ 
 Behold your God \ Ifai. 52. 7,8. Hczv beautiful 
 upon the Alountafns^ are the Feet of him that hring- 
 eth good Tidings ! -— Thy W^atchvenJhatl lift up the 
 
 Voice. Ifai. 27. 13 And it Jhall czrne to pafs ., in. 
 
 that Day., that the great Trumpet fall he hloijun., ana 
 
 they Jhall 'come luhicfy were ready to perifj\ Arui. 
 
 i-\% will be one. Way, that the Church of GoJ 
 v«U cry at that Time, like a travailing Wcmen,^ 
 O 3 w.cn. 
 
1^6 Ofpreachingterrortothediftrejfed. P.IIL 
 
 when Christ myftical is going to be brought 
 forth ; as Rev. i2» at the Beginning. It will be 
 by Minifters, that are her Mouth : And it will 
 be this Way, that Christ will then cry like a 
 travailing Woman, as in Ifai. 42. 14. Ihavelong 
 Time holden my Peace : I have beenjiill^ and re- 
 framed ?ny felf 'y now will I cry^ like a travailing 
 IVaman, Christ cries by his Minifters, and 
 he Church cries by herOfficers. And 'tis worthy 
 :o be noted, that the Word commonly ufed in the 
 /^'^ew-Teftament, that we tranflate/^r^^^A^proper- 
 )' fignifies to proclaim aloud like a Crier. 
 
 Another Thing that fome Minifters have been 
 .ready blamed for, and I think unjuftly, is fpeak- 
 ■ ng Terror to them, that are already under great 
 rerrofSjinftead of comforting them. Indeed, if 
 Minifters in fuch a Cafe, go about to terrify Per- 
 fons with that which is not true, or to affright 
 'Vm by rej)refenting their Cafe worfe than it is, 
 or in any refpecl otherwife than it is, they are to 
 be condemned ; but if they terrify 'em only by 
 ftill hoWu^ forth more Light to them, and giving 
 th^n to underftand more of the Truth of their 
 Cafe, they are altogether to be juftlfied. When 
 Sinners Confciences are greatly awaken'd by the 
 Spirit of God, it is by Light imparted to the 
 Confclence, enabling them to fee their Cafe to 
 be, in fome Meafure, as it is ^ and if more Light 
 be let in, it will terrify 'em ftill more : but Mi- 
 nifters are not therefore to be blamed that they 
 endeavour to hold forth more Light to theConfci- 
 ence, and don't rather alleviate the Pain they are 
 under, by intercepting and obftruilingthat Light 
 
 that 
 
Pa. III. Of peaching Terror i^c. 1 57 
 
 that {hines already. To fay any Thing to thofe 
 who have never believed in the Lord Jesus 
 Christ, to reprefent their Cafe any otherv^^ife 
 than exceeding terrible, is not to preach theWord 
 of God to 'em ; for the Word of God reveals 
 nothing but Truth, but this is to delude them. 
 Why fliould we be afraid to let Perfons, that are 
 in an infinitely miferable Condition, know the 
 Truth, or bring 'em into the Light, for fear it 
 fliould terrify them ? 'Tis Light |that muft con- 
 vert them,if ever they are converted. The more 
 ^ we bring Sinners into the Light, while they are 
 miferable, and the Light is terrible to them, the 
 more likely it is, that by and by, the Light will 
 be joyful to them. The Eafe, Peace & Comfort, 
 that natural Men enjoy, have their Foundation in 
 Darknefs and Blindnefs ; therefore as that Dark- 
 nefs vanifhes, and Light comes in, their Peace 
 vanifhes, and they are terrified : but that is no 
 good Argument, why we fhould endeavour to 
 hold their Darknefs, that we may uphold their 
 Comfort. The Truth is, that as long as Men 
 reje6lCHRisT,and don't favingly believe in him, 
 however they may be awaken'd, and however 
 ftridl, and confciencious, and laborious they may 
 be in Religion, they have the Wrath of God 
 abiding on them, they are his Enemies, and the 
 Children of the Devil ; (as the Scripture calls all 
 that ben't favingly converted, i?/^/. 1 3.38. i Joh, 
 3. 10.) and 'tis uncertain whether they fliall ever 
 obtain Mercy: God is under no Obligation to 
 fliew 'em Mercy, nor will he be, if they faft and 
 pray and cry never /o much i and they are then 
 
 efpecially 
 
15S Of preaching Terror Pa. II!. 
 
 cfpecially provoking God, under thofe Terrors, 
 tliat they ftand it out againftCHRisT, and won't 
 accept of an ofFeredSAvjouR, tho' they fee fo 
 much'Need of.him : And feeing this is theTruth, 
 they fhould be told fo, that they may be fenfible 
 what their Cafe indeed is. 
 
 To blame a Minifier, for thus declaring the 
 Truth to thofe who are under Awakenings, and 
 not immediately adminiftring Comfort to them, is 
 like blaming a Surgeon, becaufe when he has be- 
 gun to thruft in his Lance,whereby he has already 
 put his Patient to great Pain, and he fhrinks and 
 cries out with Anguifh, he is fo cruel that he 
 won't ftay his Hand, but goes on, to thruft it in 
 further, 'till he comes to the Core of theWound. 
 Such a compaffionate Phyfician, who as foon as 
 his Patient began to flinch, ftiould withdraw his 
 Hand, and go about immediately to apply a 
 Plaift^r, to Ikin over the Wound, and leave the 
 Core untouch'd, would be one that would heal 
 the Hurt flightly,, crying Peace, Peace, when there 
 is no Peace. 
 
 Indeed fomethfng elfe.befi<les Terror,. Is to be 
 preached to them, whofe Confciences are awa- 
 ken'd : The Gofpel is to be preached to them : 
 They are to be told that there is a Saviour pro- 
 vided, that is excellent and glorious, who has (bed 
 his precious Blood for Sinners, and is every Way 
 fufficient to fave 'em, that Hands ready to receive 
 'em, if they will -heartily embrace him -, for this 
 is alfo theTruth, as well as that they now are in an 
 infinitely dreadful Condition : This is the Word 
 of God. Sinners at the fameTime that they are 
 
 tcl-i^ 
 
Pa. III. to difirejfed Confciences, 159 
 
 Id how miferable theirCafe is^fhould be earneftly 
 inited to come and accept of a Saviour, and 
 \ iclJ their Hearts unto him, with all the winning, 
 encouraging Arguments, for 'em fo to do, that 
 the Gofpcl affords : but this is to induce 'em to 
 clcape from the Mifery of the Condition that they 
 are now in : but not to make 'em think their pre- 
 fent Condition lefs miferable than it is, or at all to 
 abate their Uneafmefs and Diftrefs, while they are 
 
 'in it y that would be the Way to quiet them, and 
 
 ^.feften them in it^and not to excite 'em to fly from 
 
 it. Comfort, in one Senfe, is to be held forth, 
 
 '''to Sinners under Awakenings of Confcience, i.e# 
 Comfort is to be offered to 'em in Christ, on 
 Condition of their ^y'lngfrom their prefent mtfer- 
 able State^ to Him : but Comfort is not to be ad- 
 miniflred to 'em, in their prefent State^ as any 
 Thingr that they have now any Title to, or while 
 ^ut of Christ. No Comfort is to be admini- 
 ftred to 'em, from any Thing in them^ any of 
 theirQualifications, Prayers or otherPeformances, 
 paft, prefent or future ; but Minifters fhould, in 
 fuch Cafes, ftrive to their utmoft to take all fuch 
 Comforts from 'em,tho' it greatly increafes their 
 TmoT. A Perfon that fees himfelf ready to fmk 
 into Hell, is ready to ftrive, fome Way or other, 
 to lay God under fome Obligation to hira ; but 
 he is to be beat off from every Thing of that Na- 
 ture, tho' it greatly increafes hisTerror,to fee him- 
 felf v/holly deftitute,on every Side,of any Refuge, 
 or any Thing of his own to lay hold of ; as a 
 Man that fees himfelf in Danger of drowning, is 
 in Terror, and endeavours to Catch hold on every 
 
 Twig 
 
i6o Of preachwg Terror Pa. III. 
 
 Twig within his Reach, and he that pulls away 
 thofe Twigs from him, incrcafes his Terror ; yet 
 rf they are infufficient to lave him, and by being 
 in his Way, prevent his looking to that which 
 will fave hirn-, to puU them away, is neceffary to 
 iave his Life. 
 
 If Sinners are in any Diftrefs, from any Error 
 that they embrace, orMiftake they are under, that 
 is to be removed : Forlnftance, if they are inTcr- 
 ror, from an Apprehenfion that they have com- 
 mitted the unpardonable Sin, or that thofeThings 
 have happen'd to 'em that are certain Signs ofRe- 
 probation, or any other Delufion, fuch Terrors 
 have noTendency to do them anyGood ; for thefe 
 Terrors are from Temptation, and not from Con- 
 vidlion : But that Terror which arifes from_Con- 
 viiSlion, or a Sight of Tf uth, is to be increafed ; 
 for thofe that are moft awakened, have great re- 
 maining Stupidity, they have a Senfe of but little 
 of that which is ; and 'tis from remaining Blrnd- 
 nefs and Darknefs, that they fee no more ; and 
 tjiat remaining Blindnefs is a Difeafe, that we 
 ought to endeavour to remove* I am not afraid 
 to tellSinners,that are moft fenfible of theirMifery, 
 that theirCafe is indeed as miferable as they think 
 it to be, and a thoufand Times more fo ; for this 
 is the Truth. Some may be ready to fay that 
 tho* it be the Truth, yet the Truth is not to be 
 fpoken at all Times, and feems not to be feafona- 
 ble then : But it feems tome, fuchTruth is never 
 more feafonable than at fuch aTime, when Chrift 
 is beginning to open the Eyes of Gonfcience. 
 Minifters.oufrht to adl asCo- Workers with him y 
 
 to 
 
Px.III. to diftrejfed Confciences. i6i 
 
 to take that Opportunity, and to the utmoft to 
 improve that Advantage, and ftrike while the Iron 
 h hot, and when the Light has begun to (nine, 
 then to remove all Obftacles, and ufe all proper 
 Means, that it may come in more-fuUy, and the 
 Work be dojie thoroughly then. AndExpericnce 
 abundanly fliews, thiu: to take this Courfe, is not 
 of an hurtful Tendency, but very much the con- 
 trary : I have k^n^ in very many Liftances, the 
 happy Effects of it, and oftentimes a A'ery fpeedy 
 happy IfTue, and never knew any illConfequence, 
 in Cafe of real Convidtion, and when Diftrefs has 
 been only from thence. 
 
 I know of but one Cafe, wherein the Trutli 
 ought to be witheld from Sinners in Diftrefs of 
 Confcience, and that is the Cafe af Melancholy ; 
 And 'tis not to be witheld from them then, be- 
 caufe the Truth tend to do 'em hurt^ but becaufe 
 if we fpeak the Truth to them, fometimes they 
 v/ill be deceived, and led intoError by it, through 
 that ftrange Difpofition there is in them, to take 
 Things wrong. So that, that which as it is fpoken, 
 is Truth, as it is heard and received, and applied 
 by them, is Falfhood ; as it will be, unlefs the 
 Truth be fpoken with Abundance of Caution and 
 Prudence, . and Confideration of their Difpofition 
 and Circumftances. But the moft awful Truths, 
 of God's Word, ought not to be witheld from 
 public Congregations, becaufe it may happen that 
 fome fuch melancholick Perfons may be in it ; any 
 more, than theBible is to be witheld fromtheChrif- 
 tian World, becaufe it is manifeft that there are a 
 Sreat many melanchoIickPerfons in Chriftendom, 
 
 that 
 
1 62 "Treatment of melanchoiickPn funs, P.III. 
 
 that exceedingly abufe the awful Things contain- 
 ed in theScripture, t0 their own wounding. Nor 
 do I think that tp be of Weight, which is made 
 ufe of by foipe", as a great and dreadful Objedtion 
 againft the 'terrifying Preaching that has of late 
 been m- New England^ viz. That there have been 
 Tome Inftances of melancholick Perfons that have 
 lb abufed it, that the Iffue has been the. Murder 
 of themfelves. The Objeaion from hence is no 
 flronger againft awakening Preaching, than it is 
 againft the Bible it felf : There areHund reds, and 
 probably Thoufands of Inftances, might be pro- 
 duced, of Perfons that have murdered themfelves, 
 under religious Melancholy : Thefe Murders, 
 probably never would have been,if it had not been 
 for the Bible, or if the World had remain'd in a 
 State of heathenifti Darknefs. The Bible has not 
 only been the Occafion of thefe fad EfFefts, but of 
 Thoufands, and I fuppofe Millions,of other cruel 
 Murders, that have been committed, in the Per- 
 fecutions that have been raifed, that never would 
 have been, if it had not been for the Bible : 
 Many whole Countrys have been, as it were de- 
 luged with innocent Blood, which would not 
 have been, if the Gofpel never had been preached 
 in the World. 'Tis not a good Objection againft 
 any Xind of Preaching, thSt fome Men abufc it 
 greatly to their Hurt. It has been acknowledged 
 by allDivines, as aThing common in all Ages,and 
 all Chriftian Countrys, that a very great Part of 
 thofe that fet under i:he Gofpel, do fo abufe it, 
 that it only proves an Occafion of their fiar more 
 a2;gravated Damnation, and fg of Men's eternally 
 
 murdering 
 
Pa.III. Of Self-Murders. ^^j 
 
 n.urdcrin<^-theirSouIs; which is an EffeS infi: , 
 nitelymoreterriblethantheMurderofthei^^^^^ 
 'Tis as -unjuft to lay the Blame of tbeie- Self- 
 Murders, to thofe Minifters who hav.edcclare^ 
 the awful Tmths of God's Word, in the moft 
 lively and affeahig Manner they were capable of, 
 as it'would be to lay the Blame of hardeningMen's 
 Hearts, and blinding their Eyes, and their more 
 dreadful eternal Damnation, to the ProphetT/i/V:^, 
 or Jesus Christ, becaufe this was the Confe- 
 quence of their Preaching, with refpe£l to many 
 of their Hearers. IfaL 6. lo. Joh. 9.39. A4ath. 
 I?. 14. Tho' a very few have abufed the a- 
 wakening Preaching that has lately been, to fo 
 fad an Effefl: as to be the Caufe of their own 
 temporal Death ; yet it may be, to one fuch In- 
 ftance, there have beenHundreds, yea Thoufands, 
 that have been faved, by this Means, from eter- 
 nal Death. 
 
 What has more efpecially given Offence to 
 
 many, and raifed a loud Cry againft fomePreacher s, 
 
 as tho' their Conduft were intolerable, is their 
 
 frighting poor innocent Childrerr, with talk of 
 
 Hell-Fire, and eternal Damnation. But if thofe 
 
 that complain fo loudly of this, really believe, 
 
 what is the general Profeflion of the Country, 
 
 viz. That all are byNaturetheChildren of Wrath, 
 
 andHeirs of Hell ; and that every one that has not 
 
 . been born again, whether he be young or old, is ex- 
 
 -^ pofed, every Moment, to eternal Deftruftion^ 
 
 under the Wrath of Almighty God ; I fay,if the^- 
 
 really believe this, then fuch aComplaint and Cry 
 
 as this, bewrays a great deal o^V^^eaknefs aiid In- 
 
 P conHdcrr. 
 
1 54 OfpreachlngT^tiror.uChiUkin, Pa. 1 11.' 
 
 ^confideration. As innocent as Children Teem to 
 be to u-s, yet, if they are out of Chrift, they are 
 not io in God's Sight, but are young Vipers, 
 and are infinitely more hateful than Vipers^ and 
 are in a moft miferableCondition, as well as grown 
 Perfons ; and they are naturally very fenfelefs and 
 itupid, being horn as the wild JJJes Colt^ and need 
 much to awaken them. Why fhould we conceal 
 the Truth from tliem ? Will thofe Children that 
 have been dealt tenderly with, in this Refpeft^and 
 lived and died infenfible of their Mifery, 'till they 
 come to feel it in Hell, ever thank Parents, and 
 others, for theirTendernefs, in not letting thcni 
 know what they were in Danger of. If Parents 
 Love towards theirChildren was not blind, it would 
 affe£l 'em much more to fee tlicir Children,evcjy 
 Day, expofed to eternalBurnings, and yet fenfelef^, 
 than to fee 'em fuffer theDiftrefs of thatAwaken- 
 . ing, that is neceflary inOrder to thcirEfcape from 
 them, & that tends to their being eternally happy, 
 as the Children of God. A Child that has a 
 dan<yerous Wounds niay need the painful Lunce, 
 as well as grown Perfons ; and that would be a 
 foolifh Pity, in fuch a Cafe, that fhould hold back 
 
 the Lance, and throw away the Life. 1 have 
 
 feen the happy EfFeds of dealing plainly,' and 
 thoroughly v/ith Children, in the Concerns of 
 rlieir Souls, without fparing them at all, in many 
 iV.ftances ; and never knew any ill Confequence 
 of it, in any one Inftance. 
 
 Another Thing, that a great deal has been faii 
 againft, is having fo frequent religious Meetings, 
 and fpending fo much Time in Religion. An.i 
 
 indce«K 
 
Pa .III. Spending much Time in Religion. 1 65 
 
 indeed, there are none of the Externals cf Re- 
 ligion, but what are capable of Excefs : Andl be- 
 lieve it is true, that there has not been a due Pro- 
 portion obferved in Religion of late. We have 
 placedReligion too much in the external Duties of 
 the firft Table ; we have abounded in religious 
 Meetings, and in praying, reading, hearing,ring- 
 ing,and religious Conference ^ and there has njDt 
 been a proportionable Increafe of Zeal for Deeds 
 of Charity, and otherDuties of the fecond Table ; 
 (tho' it muft be acknowledged that they are alfo 
 niudn increafed.) But yet it appears to me, that 
 thisObjection of Perfons fpcnding too muchTime 
 in Religion, has been in the general groundlcfs* 
 Tho* worldly Bufmefs muft be done, and Perfons 
 ought not to negle£l the Bufmefs of their particu-' 
 lar Callings, yet 'tis to the Honour of God, that 
 a People ftiould be fo much in outward Afts of 
 Religion, as to carry in it, a vifible, publick Ap- 
 pearance, of a great Engagednefs of Mind in it, 
 as the main Bufmefs of Life : And efpecially is 
 it fit, that at fuch an extraordinary Time, when 
 God appears unufually prefent with a People, in 
 wonderful Works of Power and Mercy, that they 
 fhould fpend more Time than ufual in religious 
 Exercifes, to put Honour upon that God that is 
 then extraordinarily prefent, and to feekhis Face 5 
 as it was with the Chriftian Church in Jerufakniy 
 on Occafion of that extraordinary pouring out of 
 the Spirit, foon'after Christ's Afcenfion. A6t. 
 2.46. Jind they continued daily J with one Accord^ in 
 the Temple^ and breaking Breads from Houfe ioL 
 Houfe. And fo it was at Epbefus^ at a Time of? 
 P 2 greatt 
 
1 66 Religion' shindringfecularBuJinefs. P.III. 
 
 great Out-pouring of the Spirit there ; theChrif- 
 tians there attended publick religious Exercifes, 
 every Day, for two Years togetJier, Adt. 19. 8, 
 9, 10. Jnd be went into fhc Synagogue^ and f pa It e 
 boldly^ for the Space of three Months^ difputing and 
 perfuading the Things concerning th e Kingdom cf God: 
 But ivhen divers were hardejfd^and believed not ; but 
 fpake Evil of that IFay^ before the Multitude^ he de- 
 parted from them^ and feparated the Difciples^ dif- 
 puting daily ^ in the School of one Tyranny s ; and 
 this continued^ by the Space oftzvo Tears ; fo that 
 all they which dwelt in Afia, hrar'd the Word of the 
 Lord^ both Jews and Greeks. And as to the 
 grand Objedlion, o^ fix Daysjhalt thou Labour^dW 
 that can be underftood by it, and all that the very 
 Obje6lors themfelves underftand by it, is that we 
 fnay follow our fecular Labours in thofe fix Days, 
 that are not the Sabbath, and oi4ght to be diligent 
 in them : Not but that fometimes, we may turn 
 from them, even within thofe fix Days, to keep a 
 Day of Faffing, or Thankfgivirig, or to attend a 
 Ledlure ; and that more frequently or rarely, as 
 GoD^s Providence, and the State of Things, fhall 
 call us, according to the beft Judgment of our 
 Difcretion. 
 
 Tho^ fecular Bufinefs, as I faid before, ought 
 not to be neglefted, yet I can't fee how it can be 
 maintain'djthat Religion ought not to be attended, 
 fo as in the leaft to injure our temporalAflFairs,on 
 any other Principles than thofe of Infidelity. 
 tNone objefts againft injuring one temporal Affiiir 
 for the Sake of another temporal Affair of much 
 ) greater Importance j arid tlierefore, if eternal 
 i ITiings 
 
P.III. ReligiofishindringfecularBufinefs. i6y 
 
 Things are as real as temporal Things, andare 
 indeed of infinitely greater Importance ; then 
 why may we not voluntarily fufter, in fomeMea- 
 fure, in our temporal Concerns, while we are 
 feeking eternal Riches, and immortal Glory ? 
 'Tis looked upon no Way improper for a ^whole 
 Nation, to fpend confiderable Time, and much 
 of their outward Subftance,onibme extraordinary 
 temporal Occafions, for the Sake only of theCere- 
 monies of a public Rejoicing ) and it would be 
 thought difhonourable to be very exaft, about 
 what we fpend, or careful left v/e i.njure our 
 Eftates, on fuch an Occafion ; and why fhould 
 we be exact only with Almighty God, fo that it 
 fhould be aCrime to be otherwife than fcrupuloufiy 
 careful, left we injure ourfelves in our temporal 
 Intereft, to put Honour upon Him, and feck our 
 ov/n eternal Happinefs ? We fhould take Heed 
 that none of us be in any wife like ^udas^ who 
 greatly complain 'd ofneedlefsExpencc,and Walrc 
 of outward Subftaiice, to putHonour uponChriit, 
 when Mary broke her Box, and poured the pre- ' 
 cious Ointment on his Head : He had Indignation 
 within himfelf on that Account, and crys out. 
 Why was this IVaJie of the Ointment made ? For k 
 might have been fold for more than three Hundred 
 Renee^and ha^e been given to the Poor. Pvlark 14. 
 3v45S5 ^^^ And Job. 12. 4, 5, i^c. 
 : Andbefides, if the Matter be juftly conudered 
 and examined, I believe it will be fourid, that the 
 Country has loft no Time from their temporal 
 Aftairs, by the late Revival of Religion, but have ' 
 rather gained Time 5 and that more Time h?3 
 P 3 been 
 
i6S Spending much Time inReligion. Pa. 111. 
 
 been laved from Frolicking, & Tavern-haunting, 
 Idlenefs, unprofitable Vifits, vain Talk, fruitlefs 
 Paftimes, andneedlefs Diverfions, that has lately 
 been fpent in extraordinary Religion ; and proba- 
 bly five Times as much has been faved in Perfons 
 Eftates, at the Tavern, and in their Apparel, as 
 has been fpent by religious Meetings. 
 
 The great Complaint that is made againft fo 
 much Time fpent in Religion, can't be in general 
 from a real Concern that God may be honour^ed, 
 and his Will done, and the beft Good of Men 
 promoted ; as is very manifeft from this, that now 
 there is a much more eameft and zealons Out-cry 
 made in the Country, againft this extraordinary 
 Religion, than was before, againft fo much Time 
 fpent inTavern-haunting, vainCompany-keeping, 
 Night-walking,& otherThings,which wafted both 
 our Time and Subftance, and injured our moral 
 Vertue. 
 
 The frequent Preaching that has lately been, 
 has in a particularManner been objected againft as 
 unprofitable and prejudicial. 'Tis objefted that 
 when Sermons are heard fo very often, oneSermon 
 tends to thruft out another ; fo that Perfons loofe 
 theBenefit of all : They fay,two or three Sermons 
 in a Week is as much as they can remember and 
 digeft. Such Ohjedtions againft frequent Preach- 
 ing, if they ben't from an Enmity againft Religi- 
 on, are for Want of duly confidering the Way that 
 Sermons ufually profit an Auditory. The main 
 Benefit that is obtain'd by Preaching, is by Im- 
 ipreffion made upon the Mind in the Time of it, 
 W not by any Effect that ^ni^ afterwards by a 
 
 Remembrance 
 
Pa . Ill . Of frequent Preaching. 1 69 
 
 Remembrance of what was delivered. And tho' 
 an after Remembrance of what was heard in a 
 Sermon, is oftentimes very profitable ; yet, for 
 the moft Part, that Remembrance is from an Im- 
 preflion the Words made on the Heart in the 
 Time of it ; and the Memory profits, as it renews 
 and increafes that Impreffion ; and a frequent 
 inculcating the more important Things of Religi- 
 on in preaching, has no Tendency to rafe out 
 fuch Impreffions, but to increafe them, and fix, 
 them deeper and deeper in the Mind, as is found 
 by Experience. It never ufed to be objeQed a- 
 gainft, that Perfons, upon the Sabbath, after they 
 have heard two Sermons that Day, (hould go 
 home, and fpend the remaining Part of the Sab- 
 bath in reading the Scriptures, and printed Ser- 
 mons ; which, in Proportion as it has a Tendency 
 to afFedt the Mind at all, has as much of a Ten- 
 dency to drive out-what they have heard, as if they 
 heard another Sermon preach'd. It feems to have 
 been the Practice of the Apoftles to preach every 
 Day, in Places where they went ; yea tho' fome- 
 times they continued long m one Place, J^s 2. 
 42. & 46. Aofs 19. 8,9,10. They did not avoid 
 preaching one Day, for Fear they fhould thruft 
 out of the Minds of their Hearers what they had 
 delivered the Day before ; nor did Chriftians avoid 
 going every Day to hear, for Fear of any fuch 
 bad EiFe(ft, as is evident by JSfs 2. 42, 46. 
 
 There are fome Things in Scripture that feem 
 to fignify as much, as that there fhould be Preach- 
 ing in an extraordinary Frequency, at the Time / 
 "when God (bould be abgut to iijtrgduce that flou- 
 
 rifliing 
 
^ 7^ Of frequent Preach'mg. Pa, III. 
 
 riftiing State of Religion that fhould be in the latter 
 Days 3 as that in Ifai. 62. at the Beginning : For 
 Zion's Sake will I not hold tny Peace ^ for Jerufa- 
 lemV Sake^ 1 zvill not rejl ; until the Righteoufmfs 
 thereof go firth as Brightnefs^ and the Salvation 
 thereof^ as a Lamp that humeth : And the Gentiles 
 jhallfee thy Righteoufnefs , and all Kings thy Glory. 
 And Ver. 5,6. For as a young Man marrieth a 
 Virgin^ fojhall thySons marry thee ; {if as theBride- 
 groom rejoiceth ever the Bride ^ fo /hall thyGod rejoice 
 over thee. I have fet Watchmen upon thy Walls ^ O 
 Jerufalem^ which Jhall never hold their Peace ^ Day 
 7iorNight. The Deftrudion of theCity of Jericho^ 
 is evidently, in all its Circumftances, intended by 
 God, as a great Type of the Over- throw of Sa- 
 tan's Kingdom ; the Priefts blow^ing w^ith Trum- 
 pets at that Time, reprefentsMinifters preaching 
 the Gofpel ; the People compafTed the City feven 
 Days, the Priefts blowing the Trumpets ; but 
 when the Day was come that the Walls of the 
 City were to fall, the Priefts were more frequent 
 and abundant in blowing their Trumpets j there 
 was as much done in one Day then, as had been 
 done in feven Days before ; they compafled the 
 City {^\txi Times that Day, blowing their Trum- 
 pets, 'till at Length it come to one long and per- . 
 petual Blaft, and then the Walls of the City fell 
 down flat. The extraordinary Preaching that 
 fhall be at the Beginning of that glorious Jubilee 
 x)f theChurch,.is reprefented by the extraordinary 
 Sounding of Trumpets, throughout the Land of 
 Canaan^ at the Beginning of the Year of Jubilee ; 
 ,and by the reading of the Law> before all IfraeU 
 
 in 
 
P.III. Of making much of Out- cries, 1 7 1 
 
 m the Year of Releafe, at theFeaft of Tabernacles. 
 And the Crowing of the Cock, at break of Day, 
 which brought Peter to Repentance, feems to me 
 to be intended to fignify, theAwakening of God's 
 Church out of their Lethergy, wherein they had 
 denied their Lord, by the extraordinary Preaching 
 of the Gofpel, that fliall be at the Dawning of the 
 Dj^ of the Churches Light and Glory. And 
 there feems at this Day to be an uncommonHand 
 of divine Providence, in animating, enabling, and 
 upholding fome Minifters, in fuch abundant 
 L.ibours, 
 
 Another Thing, wherein I think fomeMinifters 
 have been injured, is in being very much blamed 
 for making fo much of Out-Cries^ Fain tings, and 
 other bodily EfFedls ; fpeaking of them as Tokens 
 of the Preftnce of God, and Arguments of the 
 Succefe of Preaching ; feeming to ftrive to their 
 utmoft to bring a Congregation to that pafs, and 
 feeming to rejoyce in it, yea even bleffing God 
 for it, when they fee thefe EfFeds. 
 
 Concerning this I would obferve, in the firjt 
 Place, That there are many Things, with RefpecSl 
 to dyings out, Falling down &c. that are charged 
 on M^ifters, that they are not guilty of. Some 
 would have it, that they fpeak of thefe Things as 
 certain Evidences of a Work of the Spirit of 
 God on the Hearts of their Hearers, or that tkey 
 efteem thefe bodily EfFedls themfelves to be the 
 Work of God, as tho' the Spirit of God took 
 hold of,^ and agitated the Bodies of Men ; and 
 fome are charged with making thefeThings efle.*!- 
 tial, and fuppofing thatPerfons can't be converted 
 
 \vithOut 
 
1 7 2 Of making much cf Out-cries. Pa. III. 
 
 without them ; whereas I never yet could fee the 
 Perfon that held either of thefe Things. 
 
 But for fpeaking of fuch EfFefts as probable 
 Tokens of God^ Prefence, and Arguments of 
 the Succefs of Preaching, it feems to me they are 
 not to be blamed ; becaufe I think they are fo in- 
 deed : and therefore when I fee them excited by 
 preaching the important Truths of GoD'sWord, 
 urged and inforced by properArguments and Mo- 
 tives, or are confequent on other Means that are 
 good, I don't fcruple to fpeak of them, and to re- 
 joyc€ in them, and blefs God for them as fuch ; 
 and that for this, (as I think) good Reafon, viz. 
 That from Time to Time, upon proper Inquiry 
 and Examination, and Obfervation of the Confe- 
 quence and Fruits, I have found that there are 
 all Evidences that the Perfons in whom thefe 
 Effe^s appear, are under the Influences of God's 
 Spirit, in fuch Cafes. Cryings out, in fuch a 
 Manner, and with fuch Circumftances, as I have 
 ften them from Time to Time, is as much an 
 Evidence to me, of the general Caufe it proceeds 
 from, as Language : I have learned the Meaning 
 of it, the fame Way thatPerfons learn the Mean- 
 ing of Language, viz. by Ufe and Experience. 
 I confefs that v/hen I fee a great Crying out in a 
 Congregation, in the Manner that I have feen it, 
 when thofe Things are held forth to 'em that are 
 worthy of their being greatly afFe<Sled by,Irejoyce 
 in it, much more than meerly in an Appearance 
 of folemn Attention, and a Shew of Affeftion by 
 Weeping ; and that becaufe when there have been 
 thofeOut- cries, I have found from Time toTinjc, 
 
 1 
 
Pa. in. Of keeping the nffeBed together, 173 
 
 a much greater and more excellent EfFect. To 
 rejoyce that the Work of God is carried on calm- 
 ly, without much ado, is In Effect to rejoyce that 
 *tis carried on with lefs Power, or that there is 
 not lb much of the Influence of GoD'^Spirit : for 
 tho' the Degree of the Influence of the Spirit of 
 God, on particular Perfons^ is by no Means to be 
 judged of by the Degree of external Appearances, 
 becaufe of the different Conftitution, Tempers, 
 andCircumflances of Men ; ye t'if there be a very 
 powerful Influence of the Spirit of God on a 
 mix'dMultitude, it will caufe fomeWay or other, 
 a great vlfible Commotion* 
 
 And as to Minifters aiming at fuch Effects, and 
 driving by all Means to bring a Congregation to 
 that Pafs, that there fliould be fuc^ an Uproar 
 among them ; I fuppofe none aim at it any other- 
 wife, than as they ftrive to raife the Affections of 
 their Hearers to fuch an Height, as very often ap- 
 pears In thefeEffecfls ; and if it be fo, that thole 
 Affections are commonly good, and it be found 
 by Experience that fuch a Degree of them 
 commonly has a good Effect, I think they are to 
 be juftlfied in fo doing. 
 
 Again, fome Minifters liave been blam'd for 
 keeping Perfons together, that have been under 
 great Affe<5tions, which have appeared in fuch ex- 
 traordinary outwardManifeftations. Many think 
 this promotes Confufion, that Perfons in fuchCir- 
 cumftances do but difcompofe each othersMinds, 
 and diffurb the Minds of others ; and that there- 
 fore 'tis beft they fliould be difperfed,and that when 
 any in a Congregation are ftrongly feized, that 
 
 they 
 
1/4 "Ihe happylnfuencc of Exa7nple. Pa.IIL 
 
 they can't forbear outward Manifeftations of it, 
 they fhould be removed that others Minds may 
 not be diverted. 
 
 But I can't but think that thofe that thusobjedt 
 go upon quite wrong Notions of Things : For 
 tho' Perfons ought to take Heed that they don't 
 make an Ado without NecefTity ; for this will be 
 the Way in Time, to have Yuch Appearances 
 lofe all their Efiedi: ^ yet the unavoidable Mani- 
 feftatlons of flrong religious Affections tend to 
 an happy Influence on the Minds of By-ftanders, 
 and are found by Experience to have an excellent 
 and durable Effe£t ; and fb to contrive and order 
 Things, that others may have Opportunity and 
 Advantage to obferve them, has been found to be 
 blefled, as a great Means to promote the Work of 
 God ; and to prevent their being in the Way of 
 Obfervation,is to prevent theEfFecSl of that, which 
 God makes ufe of, as a principal Means of carr)'- 
 ing on his Work, at fuch an extraordinary Time, 
 ^72;. Example ; which is often fpoken of in Scrip- 
 ture, as one of the chief Means by which God 
 would .carry on his Work, in the Time of the 
 Profperity of Religion in the latter Days : I have 
 mentioned fome Texts already to this Purpofe, in 
 what I publifhed before, of the Marks of a Work of 
 the true Spirit ; but would here mention fome 
 others. In Zech, c), 15, 16. Thofe that in the 
 latter Days fhould be fill'd, in an extraordinary 
 Manner with the Holy Spirit, fo as to appear in 
 outward Manifeftations, and making a Noife, are 
 fpoken of as thofe that God, in thefe uncommon 
 Circumftances, will fet up to the View of others, 
 
 as 
 
Pa. III. I'he happy Infiumu of Example, 1 75 
 
 as a Prize or Enfign, by their Example and the 
 . Excellency of their Attainments, to animate and 
 draw others, as Men gather about an Enfign, and 
 run for a Prize, a Crov/n and precious Jewels,fet 
 up in their View. The Words are -, And they 
 Jhall drlnk^ and make a Noife, as thro' Wine ; and 
 . they Jhallhc filled like Bowls, and as the Corners cf 
 th4, Altar : and the Lord their God Jhall fave them^ 
 in that Day, as the Flock of his People \ for they Jhall 
 he as the Stones of a Crown, lifted up as an Enfign 
 upon his Land. (But I ihall have Occafion to fay 
 fomething more cf this Scripture afterwards.) 
 Thofe that make the Objeftion I amupon,inftead 
 of fuftering this Prize or Enfign to be in publick 
 View, are for having it removed, and hid infomc 
 Corner. To the like Purpofe is tnat, Ifai. 62. 3. 
 Thoujhalt he a Crown of Glory, in the Hand of the 
 Lord, and a royal Diadem, in the Hand of thy God 
 Here it is obfervable, that 'tis not faid, thou Ihalt 
 be a Crown upon the Head, but in the Hand of the 
 Lord. i. e. held forth, in thyBeauty and Excel- 
 lency, as a Prizg, to be beftowed upon others th?*: 
 fhall behold thee, and be animated by tlie Bright- 
 nefs and Luftre which God fhall endow thee with. 
 The great Influence of the Example of God's 
 People, in their bright and excellentAttainments^ 
 to propagate Religion, in thofe Days, is furthe- 
 fignified, inlfai.60.3. Aiid the Gentiles Jhall coir- 
 to thy Light, and Kings to theBrightnefs of thy rifmg. 
 With Ver.22. A litth One Jhall become aThcuJand, 
 . and a ftnall One ajlrcng Nation. And Zech. 10. 
 8, 9. And they Jhall increafe, as they have increafed \ 
 and I willfow thm among the People* And Hof. 
 Q. ' 2. 23, 
 
I ; 6 Of earnejl and much Talking P a . I II. 
 
 2. 23. And I will fow her unto me in the Earth, 
 Sojer. 31. 27. 
 
 AnotherThing that gives greatDi fguft to many, 
 is the Difpofition that Perfons ihev/, under great 
 AiFeclions, to fpeak fo much, and, with fuch Ear- 
 neftnefs and Vehemence, to be fetdng forth the 
 Greatness and Wonderfuhiefs and Inifxjitancc of 
 divine h eternal Things ; and to be fo paffionalel^. 
 warning, inviting and intreating others. • 
 
 Concerning which I would fay. That I am fnr 
 from thinking that fuch a Difpofition fhould be 
 wholly >ithout any Limits or Regulation, (as I 
 fhall more particularly fhew afterwards ;) and I 
 believe fome have erred, \v\. fetting no Bornds, 
 and indulging and encouraging this Diipofitiou 
 withoiit any kind of Reftraint or Direction : But 
 yet, it feems to me, that fuch a Difpofition in ge- 
 neral, is v/hat bothReafon & Scripture will jufliry. 
 Thofe that are offended at fuch Things, as. the' 
 they v/ere unreafonaMe, are net jufl : upon Ex.. 
 minatlon it will probably be found, that they ha. . 
 oneRule of reafoning about temporal Things, and 
 another about fpirituai Things. They v/cn*t at 
 all wonder, ifaPerfon on' fome very great and 
 aftecling Occafion, of extraordinary Danger or 
 great Jov, ^hat eminently and immediately con- 
 cerns him and others, is difpofed to fpeak much, 
 and with great Earneftnefs, efpecially to thofe to 
 whom he is united, in theBonds of dear Affection, 
 and great Concern for their Good, And there- 
 fore, if they wcrejuft, why would not they allow 
 it in fpirftual Things ? and m.uch 7nQre in them, 
 agreeably to tiie vaftly greater Imp ortai^ce, and 
 
 moT^? 
 
P A . I II. under AffeSiions. 177 
 
 more aftetSting Nature of fpiritual Things, and 
 the Concern which true Religion caufes in Mens 
 Minds for the Good of others^ and the Difpofition 
 it gives and excites to fpeak God's Praiks, to 
 fhew forth his infinite Glory, and talk of all his 
 glorious Perfections and Works ? 
 
 That a very great .Senfe, of the right Kind, of 
 the Importance of the Thitigs of Religion, and 
 theDanger Sinners are in, fhouJd fometimes caufe 
 an rtlmoic' infuperable Difpofition to fpeak an^ 
 warn others, is agreeable to Jer. 6. 10, 11. To 
 zukom /hall I fpeak ^ end give IVarning^ that they 
 7nay hear ? Behold^ their. Ear is zmcirciwicifed^and 
 they cannot hearken ; behold the Word of the Lord is 
 imto theni^ a Reprgi^h \ they have no Delight in it. 
 Therefore .1 am full of ih^ Fulry^f the Lord \ 1 am 
 weary with holding in ; I will pour it ^t upon the' 
 Children abroad^ and upon the AJfembly of the young 
 Men together:, for even the Hufband tvhh the Wife 
 /hall be taken, the aged, with him that is full of Dap. 
 And that true Chriftians, when they come to be 
 as it were waked out of Sleep, and to be filled 
 with a fweet and joyful Scnfe of the exceJlei.t 
 Things of Religion, by the preaching of the Gof- 
 pel, or by other Means of Grace, fliould be dif- 
 pofed to be much in fpeakiifg of divincThings,tho' 
 before they were dumb, is agfeeable to what 
 CHRisT;fays to his Church, Cant. 7. 9. Anclibe 
 Roof of thy Mouth is like theh^Jl Wine, for my Be- 
 loved, thatgoeth downfweeily, caufing the Lips cf 
 thofe that are afleep to fpeak. The Roof of the 
 Churches Mouth, is the Officers in the Church, 
 that preach tli^Gofpel i theirWord is toCHRIST^s 
 0.2 Beloved, 
 
 
178 Of the Noife Perfons make P a , Ilf . 
 
 Beloved, like the bcft Wine, that goes down 
 fweetly ; extraordinarily refrefhing & enlivening 
 the Saints, caufing them to fpeak, tho' before 
 they vi^ere mute and afleep. "Tis faid ' by fome, 
 that the People that are the Subjefts of this Work, 
 when they get together,talking loud and earneftly, 
 in their pretended great Joys, feveral in a Room, 
 talking at the fame Time, make a Noife juft like 
 a Company of drunken Perfons. On w^hich I 
 would obferve, that it is foretold that God's Peo- 
 ple fliould do fo, in that ferementioned Place, 
 Zech. 9. 15,16,17. which I Ihall now take more 
 particular Notice of : the Words are as follows y 
 The Lord of Ho/is Jhall defend them \ and they Jl:all 
 devour and fubdue with (ling Stmts ; and they Jhall 
 drink, c^ndmaha N<itfe^ as through Wine ^ and they 
 Jhall be filled like Bowls ^ and as the Corners of the 
 Altar : And the Lord their God Jhall fave them in 
 that Day^ as the Flock of his People ; for they Jhall 
 he as the Stones of a Crown^ lifted up^ as an Enfign^ 
 upon his Land : For how great is his Goodnefs I 
 and hew great is his Beauty ! Corn Jhall make the 
 young Men cheerful^ and new JVine the Maids. 
 TheWords are very remarkable : Here it is fore- 
 told, that at the Time when Christ {hall fet 
 up an univerfal Kingdom upon Earth, {Ver,20,) 
 The Children of Zion fhall drink, 'till they are 
 filled like the Veflels of the San6luary : and if 
 we would know Avhat they fhall be thus filled 
 with, the Prophecy does, in EfFeft, explain it 
 feif: They fhall be filled, as the VefTels of the 
 Sanftuary that contained the Drink-OfFering, 
 which was Wine 3 and yet the Words impl/jthat 
 
 it 
 
p.m. 'ij^'hen together under great AffeEl tons, i ^() 
 
 it (halJ not literally be Wine that they fball drink, 
 and be filled with, becaufe it is faid, They {hall 
 drink, and make a Noife, cs through Wine^ as if 
 tiiey had drank Wine : which implies that they 
 liad not liierally done it ; and therefore we muft 
 un-Jerftaad the, Words, that they (hall drink into 
 Lhat, and be filled witli that,, which the Wine of 
 th ; Drink-Offering reprefented, or was a Type 
 of, which is the Holy Spirit, as well as die 
 Blood of Christ, that new Wine that is drank 
 in our heavenly Father's Kingdom : They fhall 
 be filled with the Spirit, which the Apoftle fets 
 in Oppofition to a being drunk with ^Vine, Eph. 
 5. 18. This is the n^w Wine fpoken of, Ver.ii. 
 'Tis the fame with that htji Wine^ fpoken of in 
 Cayiticl^s^ that goes dr^wn fweeily^ caufaig the Lips of 
 thofe that are afuep to fpeak, 'Tis here foretold, 
 that the Children of Z/W/, in the latter Days, . 
 fhould be filled with that which fhould make 'em 
 cheerful, and caufe 'em to make a Noife as thro' 
 Wine, and by which thefe joyful happy 'Perfons 
 that are thus filled, fhall be as die Stones of a 
 Crown, lifted up as an Enfign upon Got)'sLand, 
 being made joyful, in the extraordinary Mani^ 
 feftadons of the Beauty and Love of Christ : 
 as it follows, jf/i/tc^gTt't'?/ h his Goodnefs ! And how 
 great is. his Beauty ! And 'tis further remarkable 
 diat 'tis here foretold, that it fhould be thus ef- 
 pecially amongft young People.; Coi'n jhall make 
 the young Alen cheerful^ arid new Wine the Maids ^ 
 It would be ridiculous to underftand this of literal 
 Bread and Wine : without doubt, the fame fpiri- 
 tual BlelSngs are fignified by Bread & Wine here, 
 0^3 wliichJ 
 
1 8 o OfPerfons making a Noife ^c. P .111 . 
 
 which were reprefented by MelchizedecPs Bread 
 and Wine, and are fignified by the Bread & Wine 
 in the Lord's Supper. One of the marginalRead^ 
 ings is, Jhall make the young Men to /peak ; which 
 is agreeable to that in Canticles^ of the beji Wine's 
 caufmg the Lips of thofe that are ajleep to /peak. 
 
 We ought not to be, Jn any Meafure, like the 
 unbelieving Jews^ in Christ's Time,whowere 
 difgufted both with crying out with Diftrefs, and 
 with Joy. When the poor blind Man cried out, 
 before all thtW[\x\t\t\xdQ^}ESV s ^thouSon of T>7iyiA^ 
 have Mercy on me ! and continued inftantly thus 
 doing, the Multitude rebuked him, and charged 
 bim that he fliould hold his Tongue, Mark lo. 
 46,47,48. wd Luke 18. 38, 39. They looked 
 upon it to be a very indecentNoife that he made ; 
 a Thing very ill becoming him to caufe his Voice 
 to be heard, fo much, and fo loud, among the 
 Multitude, And whenCHRi s T made his folemn 
 and triumphant Entry into Jerufalem^ ( which, I 
 have before obferved, was a Type of the Glory 
 and Triumph of the latter Days,) the whole Mul- 
 titude of theDifciples, of all Sorts,efpec!alIy young 
 People, began to rejoyce and praife God, with a 
 loud Voice, for all the mighty Works that they 
 had feen, faying, Bleffed he the King that cometh in 
 the Name of the LORD ! Peace in Heaven^ and 
 Glory in the highefi ! ThePharifees faid to Christ,' 
 Mhjiery Rebuke thy Difciples. They did not un- 
 dqrfendfuch great Transports of Joy; it feem'd 
 to them a very unfuitahle and indecent Noife and 
 Clamour that they made, a confufedUproar,many 
 frying out together, as tho' they were out of their 
 
 "Wits i 
 
 i 
 
Pa . III. Of many /peaking togtther. 1 8 i 
 
 Wits ; they wondered that Christ would tole- 
 rate it. But what fays Christ ? I tell you^ that 
 I if thefe Jhoiild. hold their Peace ^ the Stones would im* 
 \ mediately cry out. The Words feem to intimate 
 I as much, as that there was Caufe enough to con- 
 I ftrain thofe whofe Hearts were not harder than 
 ^ the very Stones, to cry out, and m^ke a Noife ; 
 ' which is fomething like that other Expreffion, of 
 caufmg the Lips of thofe that are afleep ti> fpeak. 
 
 When many under great religious AfFeftions, 
 are earneftly fpeaking togetherjof divine Wonders, 
 In variousPartsof a Company, to thofe that are 
 next to *em ; fome attending to what one fays^. 
 and others to another, there is fomething very 
 beautiful in it, provided they don't fpeak fo many 
 as to drown each others Voices, that none can 
 hear what any fay ; there is a greater and more 
 affefting Appearance of a joint Engagednefs of 
 Heart,in theLove & Praifes of God-. And I had 
 rather fee it, than to fee one fpeaking alone, and 
 all attending to what he fays ^ it has more of the 
 Appearance of Converfation. When a Multitude 
 meets on any Occafion of temporal Rejbycing, 
 freely and cheerfully to converfe together, they 
 ben't won't to obferve the Ceremony^ of but one 
 fpeaking at a Time, while all the Reft, in a for- 
 mal Manner, fet themfelves to attend to what he 
 fays ; that would fpoil all Converfation, and turn 
 it into the Formality of fet Speeches, and the fo- 
 lemnity of Preaching. It is better for Lay-Per- 
 fons, when they fpeak one to another of the 
 Things of God, when they meet together, to 
 /peak after the Manner of ChriitianCgnverfation, 
 
 thao 
 
1 82 Of frequent Singing, Pa. III.; 
 
 than to obferve the Formahty of but one fpeaking 
 at a Time, the whole Multitude filently and fo- 
 lemnly attending to what he fays ; which would 
 carry in it too much of the Air, of the Authority ' 
 and Solemnity of Preaching. What the Apoftle 
 fays, I Cor. 14.29,30,31. Let the Prophets fpeak^ 
 twOy or ihr>ee^ and let the other judge : if any Thing 
 he revealed to another that fitUth hy ^ let the fir Jl hold 
 his Peace : for ye may all prophecy^ one by one^ thai, 
 all may learn ^ and all may he comforted^ I fay, this 
 don't reach this Cafe ; becaufe what the Apodle 
 is fpeaking of, is the folemnity of their religious 
 Exercifes, in publick Worfoip, "an d Per fons fpeak- 
 ing in the Church, by immediate Infpiration, and 
 in the Ufe of the Gift of Prophecy, pr fome Gift 
 of Infpiration, in the Exercife of which, they. 
 acted as extraordinary Minifters of Christ. 
 
 Another Thing that fome have found Fault. 
 with, is abounding fo much in fmging, in religious 
 Meetings. Objecting againft fuch aThing as this, 
 feems to arife fromaSufpicion already eftabliftied of 
 thisWork : They doubt of the pretended extra or- 
 dinary Love and Joys that attend thisWork^and fo 
 find Fault with the Manifeftations of them. ; If 
 they thought Perfons were truly the Subjefts of 
 an extraordinary De2;ree of divine_Lcvcs;aHid hea-., 
 venly rejoycing iu God,' I fuppofe .ti^jt S^puid 
 not wonder ^t their havmg.atDiipK^fition- to be 
 much in Praife. They wc>n't objefc againft the 
 Saints & Angels in Heav?n.-f:ngH}g Praifes and 
 Hallelujahs to God, wi:hout ceafing-, Day; or 
 ^ Night ; and therefore doubtlefs will allow that 
 \the more the Saints q» Earth are like. ^€m in their 
 ^ ^ Difpofitions^ 
 
Pa. III. Of frequent Singing. 1S3 
 
 Difpofitions, the more they will be difpofed to do 
 like 'em. They will readily own that the gene- 
 rality of Chriftians have great Reafon to be afha- 
 med that they have fo little Thankfulnefs, and are 
 no more in praifmg God, whom they have fuch 
 infinite Caufe to Praife. And why therefore, 
 fhould Chriftians be found Fault wi th, for fhe wing 
 aDifpofition to be much in praifmg God, and 
 manifefting a Delight in that heavenly Exercife i* 
 To complain of this, is to be too much like the 
 Pharifees^vAio were difgufted when the Multitude 
 of the Difciples began to rejoyce, and, with loud 
 Voices, to praife God, and cry Hofanna, when 
 Christ was entring into Jerufalem. 
 
 There are many Things in Scripture, that feem 
 to intimate that praifmg God, both in Speeches 
 and Songs, will be what the Church of God 
 wiU very much abound in, in the approaching 
 glorious Day. So on the feventh Day of com- 
 pafTmg the Walls of Jericho^ when the Priefts 
 blew with the Trumpets, in an extraordinary 
 Manner, the People fhouted with a great Shout, 
 and the Wall of the City fell down flat. So the 
 Ark was brought back from its Banifhment,with 
 extraordinary ftiouting and finging of the whole 
 Congregation of Ifrael. And the Places in the 
 Prophecies of Scripture, that fignify that the 
 Church of God, in that glorious Jubilee that is 
 foretold, fhall greatly abound in finging & fhout- 
 ing forth the Praifes of God, are too many to be 
 mentioned. And there will be Caufe enough for 
 it : I believe it will be aTime wherein both Hea- 
 ven 
 
I S 4 Of Hymns of human Compofure. P a . III. 
 
 vcn and Earth, will be much more full of Joy 
 and Praiie, than ever they were before. ■ 
 
 But w^hat is more efpeciaJIy found Fault with in 
 the fmging that is now praaifeJ, is making ufe of 
 Hymns of humane Compofure. And I am far 
 from thinking that the Book of Pfalms fhould be: 
 thrown by in our publick Worfnip, but that it 
 foou?i always be ufed in the Chriftian Church, to 
 the End of the World : But I know of no Obliga- 
 tion we are under to confine our felves to it- I 
 can find no Command or Rule of God's Word, 
 that does any more confine us to theWords of the 
 Scripture in our finging, tharl it does in oljr pray- 
 ing ; we fpeak to God in both : and I can fee 
 no Reafon why we ihould limit our felves to. fiich 
 particular Forms of Words J that we find.in.thci 
 BiWe, in fpeaking to him by Way of Praife, in 
 Metre, and with Mufick, than when we fpeak 
 to him in Profe, by Way of Prayer and Suppli- 
 cation. And 'tis really needful that we fhould 
 have fome otherSongs befides thePfalms oi David: 
 'Tis unreafonable to fuppofe that the Chriftian • 
 Church, fhould for ever, and even in Times of her 
 greateft Light in her Praifes of God & theLamb, 
 be confined only to the Words of the old Tefta- 
 ment, wherein all the greatefl and moft glorious 
 Things of the Gofpel, that are infinitely the 
 greateft Subjects of her Praife, are fpoken of un- 
 der a Veil, and not fo much as the Name of our 
 glorious Redeemer, e\'er mention 'd, but in fome 
 dark Figure, or as hid under the Name, of fome 
 Type. And as to our making ufe of the Words 
 of others, and not thofe that are conceived by 
 
 our 
 
f A.m. 0/ Childrcns Meetings. 1 8 5 
 
 our fclves,''ti^ no more than we do in all our pub- 
 Ilck Prayers ^ the whole worfhipping AflembJv, 
 excepting one ouly, makes ufe of the Words that 
 are ccncelved by, him that fpeaks for the reft. 
 
 Another Thing that many have diiliked, is the 
 feligioiis Meetings of Children, to read ai:d pray 
 [ together, and perform religiousExerciil-s by them- 
 • M\'<:s. What is objected is Childrcns want of 
 that Knowledge and Difcretion, that is requinte, 
 ill order to a decent and profitable Miinagcment 
 of religious Exercifes. . But it appears to me the 
 Objection is not fufficient : Children, as they 
 have the Nc ture of Men, are inclined to Society ; 
 and thofe of them that are capable of Society one 
 ich another, are capable of the Influences of 
 Lne Spirit of God, in itsaclive Fruits ; and if 
 they are inclined by a religious Difpofition, that 
 they have from the Spirit of God, to improve 
 their Society one with another, in a religious 
 Manner, and to religious Purpofes, who fliould 
 forbid them ? If they han't Difcretion to ob- 
 ferve Method in their religious Performances, or 
 to fpeak Senfe in all that they fay in Prayer, they 
 may notwithftanding have a good Meaning, and 
 God underftands 'em, and it don't fpoil or inter- 
 rupt their Devotion one for another. We thr.t 
 are grov/n Perfons, have Defects in our Prayers, 
 that are a thou fand Times worHe in the Sight of 
 God J and are a greater Confufion, and more ab- 
 furd Nonfenfe in his Eyes, than their childifli Tn- 
 difcretions. There is not fo m^jch Difference 
 before God, between Children & grown Perfons, 
 as we are ready to imagine ; we are all poorj'gno- 
 
 rant. 
 
1 S 6 Of Childrens Meetings. Pa .III. 
 
 rant, foolifh Babes, in his Sight : Our adult Age 
 don't bring us fo much nearer to God, as we are 
 apt to think. God in this Work has (hewn a 
 remarkable Regard to little Children ; never was 
 there fuch a glorious Work amongft Perfons in 
 their Childhocd, as iias been of late, mNew Eng- 
 land : He has been pleaied in a wonderful Manner ; 
 to perfeci Praife out of the Mouths of Babes and 
 Sucklings ; and m:.ny of them have more of that 
 Knowledge and Wifdom, that pleafes him, and 
 renders their religious Wcrfhip acceptable, than 
 many of the great and learned Men of theWorld : 
 'Tis they, in the Sight of God, are the ignorant 
 and foolifh Children : Thefe are grown Men,and 
 an hundred Years old, inComparifon with them ; 
 and 'tis to be hoped that the Days are coming, 
 prophefyed of Ifai.65. 20. when the Child Jhall die 
 an hundred Years old. 
 
 I have ktri many happy EfFefts of Childrens 
 religious Meetings j and God has feem'd often 
 remarkably to own them in their Meetings, and 
 really defcended fromHeaven to be amongft them f 
 I have known feveral probable Inftances of Chil- 
 drens being converted at fuchMeetings. I ftiould 
 therefore think, that if Children appear to be 
 really moved to it, by a religious Difpofition, and 
 not meerly from a childifhAiFedlation of imitating 
 grovv^n Perfons, they ought by no Means to be 
 difcouraged or difcountenanced : but yet 'tis fit 
 that Care fliould be taken of them, by their Pa- 
 rents, and Paflors, to inftrucSt and direct them, 
 and to correft imprudent Condudl and Irregulari- 
 ties, if they are perceived \ or ?^rxy Thing by 
 
 which 
 
Fa.III. Of Childr ens Meetings. i^T 
 
 iKhich the Devil may pervert and deftroy the De- 
 /ign of their Meetings. All (hould take Heed 
 that they don't find Fault with, and defpife the 
 Religion of Children, from an evil Principle, 
 left they fhould be like the chief Priefts and 
 Scribes, who were fore difpleafed at the religious 
 Worfhip and Praifes of little Qiildren, and the 
 Honour they gave Christ in the Temple. We 
 have an' Account of it, and of w^hat Christ faid 
 upon it, in Mat. 21. 15,16. And zvhen the chief 
 
 ' Priejh if Serines Jaw the luonderftd TIAngs that he 
 did^ and the Children crying in the Temple^ ayidfay- 
 
 - ing^ Hofanna to the Son of David, they were fare 
 difpleafed^ and faid unto him ^ Hearefl thcu ivhat 
 
 "thefe fay ? And Je s u s faith unto them^ yea ; have 
 
 ye never read. Out of the Mouths of Babes and 
 Sucklirtgs, thou haft per fe^ed Praife ? 
 
 R PART. 
 
( i88 ; 
 
 PART IV. 
 
 Shewing what Things are to be 
 corrected or avoided^ in pro- 
 moting this V/ORK, or in our 
 Behaviour under it. 
 
 • AVING thus obferved, in fomelnftan- 
 CCS, wherein the Condudi: of thcfe 
 that have appeared to be the Subjecls 
 of this Work, or have been zealous to 
 ^.^romotc it, has been objeded againft or com- 
 plained of, without or beyond juft Caufe, I pro- 
 ceed now in the 
 
 11. Place, to fhew what Things ought to be 
 corrected or avoided. 
 
 ALmy tliat are zealous for this glorious Wor k 
 .jfGOD, ate heartily fick of the great Noife there 
 s in thuCountry, about Tmpri/^ences ^ndDifordcrs ; 
 th(tY have heard it fo often from the Mouths of 
 Oppofers that they are prejudiced againft the 
 .-^ound ; and they loak upon it that That which 
 15 called a h^mg prudent and regular^ 3iivbidiis"& 
 much infifted on, is no other than being afleep,or 
 void and dead in Religion, and tliat the great Im- 
 ; rudence that is fo much cried out of, is only a 
 being alive, and engaged in the Things of God : 
 and they are therefore rather confirmed in an / 
 ?radice, than brought off from it, by theClu- 
 ■lOur ihcy hear againft it, as imprudent and irrc 
 
 oujar. 
 
P . ] '-n. c 7:ca!ous prejudtccd &c. 189 
 
 , :i. :.A.i cv> ijU the Trath, the Cry of Irre- 
 ;iarity aiidlnTgrqcrence has been much more in 
 i! cMouthii of tliafe that have been Enemies to the 
 Main of the Work than others J for they have 
 yvatched for the Malting of the Zealous, and 
 feacrerly catched at anyThing that has been wrong, 
 and have greatly infilled on it, made the moft of 
 it,and magnified it ; efpecially have they watched 
 for Errors in zealous Preachers, thiit are much in 
 reproving and condemning theWickednefs of the 
 Times : Thqy would therefore do well to confider 
 that Scripture, Ifai. 29. 20, 21. The Scorner is 
 cofifumedj and all that^zvatch for Iniquity are cut off'y 
 that niake a Man an Offender for a IFord^ and lay 
 '(^jSmre fr> him. that r^roveth in the Gate^ and 
 iftrn ajidf the Jujl for a Thing of naught. They 
 Han't only too much infifted on, arid magnified 
 real Errors, but have \cxy injurio'ufly charged 
 them as guilty, in Things wherein they have been 
 innocent, and have done their Duty* This has 
 1q prejudiced the Minds of fome, that they have 
 t«en. ready to think that all that has been faid 
 aipyt Errors and Imprudences, v^as injurious and 
 from an ill. Spirit ; and has confirrried them in it, 
 that there is no fuch Thing as any prevailing Im- 
 pjrudences ; and it has made 'em lefs cautious 
 ajj^ fufoicious of themfelves, left they Ihould 
 ern Herein the Devil has had an Advantage put 
 into his Hands, and has taken the Advantage ; 
 ajid,,. doubtlefs, has been too fubtil fox fome of the 
 true Friends of Religion. That would be a 
 ilrange Thing indeed, if in fo great a Commo- 
 tioaand Revolution, and fuch a new State of 
 R 2 Things, 
 
1 go Noife about Imprudences. Pa . W. 
 
 Things, wherein fo many have been engaged, 
 none have been guilty of any Imprudeiice 4 it 
 would be fuch a Revival of Religion,as never was 
 yet, if among fo many ]\!len, not guided by in-' 
 fallible Infpiration, therq had^ot been prevailing 
 a pretty many notable Errors in Judgment and.; 
 ConducSl j our young Preachers, and youngCon- ' 
 verts, muft in general vaftly exceed Luther^ the 
 Head of the Reformation, who was guihy of a 
 great many ExcefTes, in that great Affair, in 
 w^hich God made him the chief Jnftrument. 
 
 , If we look back into the Hiftory of the Church 
 of God in pad: Ages, v/e may obferve that it has 
 been a common Device of the Devil, to overfet 
 a Revival of Religion, when he finds he can keep 
 Men quiet -and ie cure no lon^jer, then to driW: 
 ""emto ExcefTes and Extrav%ante$. He holds' 
 them back as long as he can, but when 'he can 
 do it no longer, then he'll pufh 'em on, and if 
 pcffible, run /em upon their Heads. And it has 
 been'by this Means chiefly, that hehas been fuc'^ 
 cefsful, in leveral Inftances, to overthrew moff" 
 hopeful and promifing Beginnings : yea, the prin^' 
 cipal Means'by which the Devil was fuccefsftilj^ 
 by Degrees, to overfet^that grand religious Revi-* 
 val of the World > that was in the primitive Ages^ 
 of Chriftianity, and in a Manner, to overthrd^' 
 theChriftian Church thro' the Earth, and to make' 
 Way for, and bring on the great antichrift&ri 
 Apoftacy, that Mafter-Piece df all the D^evil's 
 Work, was to improve the indifcreet Zeal 6V 
 Chriftians, to drive them into thofe three Ex- 
 -Uemes, of Enthuf.afm^SuperJfition^ and Severity 
 
 toivardi 
 
Pa.1V* Of the Danger of Exirmes. 1 91 
 
 t.:wards Opppfers ; which ihoiild be enough for an 
 everlafting Warning to the Chriftian Church. 
 Tho' the Devil will do his Diligence to ftir up 
 
 • the open Enemies of Religion, yet he knows 
 what is for his Intereft fo well, that in a Time 
 <ff ]f^'evivaIorReligion, his main Strength fnall 
 be tried with the Friends of it, and he '11 chiefly 
 -eVert himfelf ia hlsAttempts upon them^to iniilead 
 them* One tiuly zealous Perfo 11, in the Time 
 
 'of f :ch an Event^ that feems to have a greatHand 
 •^.in the Affair, and draws the Eyes of many upon 
 him, may do more, (thro' Satan's being too fubt • 
 for him,) to hinder the Work, than an hundred 
 o!;reat, and ftrong, and open Oppofers. 
 " In the Time of a great IFork of Cht.ist, his 
 Hands, with which he worh., are often wounded 
 in the Houfe of his Friends ; and his XVork hin- 
 dred chiefly by them : So that if an y^onj^ inquire:, 
 as in Zech, 13. 6. Tf'l:at areihofe Wcun.h in thtrf 
 Hands ? He may anfwer, Tkoje^ with ziLkh I 
 ivas wounded in the Haufe of ny Friendu 
 
 The Errors of the Friends of theWorkofGod^ 
 
 and efpecially of the great Promoters of it.* give 
 
 'vafl: .Ad\'antage to the Enemies of fuch a Work. 
 
 •Indeed there are many Things that are no Errors^^ 
 
 >but are onlyDuties faithfully and thcroughly-dcne^ 
 
 ^ -that wound the Minds of fuch Per ions more, and 
 
 are more crdfsto 'em, than reaLErrors : but yet 
 
 one realError gives Oppofers .as muchAdvantage, 
 
 and hinders .and clogs the Work, as much - as tci* 
 
 itiiat.are only (ugpofed ones. Real .Errors don't 
 
 * -frst and gaui theEnemies of Religion^ famuch -as 
 
 'ihofe Tilings that are fl:rI6l}y right ^ ^hut-ttey^en 
 
V 
 
 192 Of the ill Confequ^nces of Errors. Pa.IV.' 
 
 courage *em more ; they give *ein Liberty, ind 
 open a Gap for 'em ; *fo that fome that befor-c 
 kept their Enmity burning in their own Bowels, 
 and durft *not fhow themfelves, will on fuch aa 
 -Occafion tikeCourage, and give themfelves Vent, 
 ■ ahd their Rage will be like that of an Enemy let 
 loofe ; and diofe'that lay ftiU before, having no- 
 thing to fay, but whit they would bealhamed of, 
 (agreeable to 717.2.8.) when they have fuch a 
 Weapon put into their Hands, will fight with all 
 ^Vic^ence. And indeed-the Enemies of Religion 
 would not know what to do for Weapons to fight 
 with, were it not for the Errors of the Friends of 
 it ; and fo muft foon fall before them. And be- 
 fides, in real Errors, Things that are truly difa^ 
 greeable to the Rules of God's Word, we can't 
 expe£t the divine Protection, and that God will 
 appear on our Side^as if ourErrors were only fup- 
 pofed ones. 
 
 Since therefore theErrors of the Friends &Pro- 
 moters of fuch-a glorious Work of God, are of 
 . fuch dreadful Confequence j and feeing theDevil, 
 - being fenfible of this, is fo airiduous,and watchfal 
 and fubtil in his Attempts with them, and has 
 thereby been fo fuccefsful to overthrow Religion 
 heretofore, certainly fuch Perfons ought to be ex- 
 ceeding circumfpea and vigilant, <iiffident and 
 icalous of themfelves, and humbly dependent on 
 .he Guidance of the good Shepherdo i Pet-^.;. 
 i,v fober, and watch unto Prayer. And Chap.5. 8. 
 \ Be fohcr^ -ie vigiiant 5 becaufe your Jdverfary the 
 ^Devily ^as a roaring ^Lion^ walketh about^—r or 
 ■^^erfgns to go oa refglutely, in a Kind of Heatand 
 
 Vehemence, 
 
?/ '^ Of'fieedvf GircumJpMon. igs 
 
 Vciicmence, defpifingAdmonkipn antlCorre£lion, 
 -ing ccniident that they muft be in the Right, 
 caufe they are full of the Spirit, is direaiy con- 
 .ry to the Import of thefe Words, be fober^ 
 vigilant. . ' ' . 
 
 'Tis a'-Miftake, I have obferved in feme, 
 by which' they have been greatly expofed, to their 
 Wounding, that they think they are in no Danger 
 of going aftray,or being mlfled bytheDevil,becai>f^ 
 they are near to God ; and fo have no jealous 
 Eye upon themfdves, and neglect Vigilance and 
 Circumfpe6lion, as needlefs in their Gafe. They 
 fay, they don't think that God v^^ill leave them to 
 difhonour him, and -wound Religion, as long as 
 they keep near to him : And I believe fo too, as 
 long as they keep near to God in that Refpect, 
 that they maintain an universal & dihgentWatch, 
 and Gar£ to do their Duty, and avoid Sin and 
 Snares, with Diffidence in themfelves, and hum- 
 ble Dependence andPrayerfuInefs : but not meerly 
 becaufe they are near toGoD,in thatRefpeft, that 
 they now are receiving blefled Communications 
 from God, in -refrefhing Views of him; if at 
 the fame Time they let down their Watch, and 
 are not. jealous over their own Hearts, by P^eafon 
 of it's- remaining Blindnefs and Corruption, arida 
 flibtil Adverfary. 'Tis a grand Error, for' Per- 
 rons' to think they are out of Danger of the Devil, 
 and a corrupt,deceitfuIHeart,even in their higheffi 
 Fh'ghts, and moft raifed Frames of fpiritual' Joy> 
 For Perfons in fuch a Confidence, to ceafe^o be 
 ; jealous of themfelves, and to negjeft Watchful- 
 ftefsand Care, is a Preruinpugal)/ which I have 
 
 knoyvn 
 
'194 Of the Need of Vigilance^ Pa. IV. 
 
 known many wofuUy enfhared . However highly 
 we may be favoured with divine Difcoveries anfl 
 Comforts, yet-aslong as we are in the WorldjWc 
 are in the Enemies Country ; and therefore fliat 
 Direftion of Christ to his Difciples is never out 
 of Date in this World, Luke 21. 36. TVaich anS 
 pray always^thatye may be accounted worthy to efcape^ 
 all thefe Things^ and tojiand before theSon of ManJ 
 It was not out of Date with the Difciples, to 
 whom it was given, after they came to be filled 
 fo full of the Holy Ghoft, and out of their Bellies 
 flowed Rivers of living Water, by that greatEfFu- 
 fion of theSpirit upon them, that began on theDay 
 of P^entecoJ}. And tho' Gdd ftands ready to pro- 
 tect his People, efpecially thofe that are near to 
 . him, yet he expefts great Care and Labour of all ; 
 and that we fhould put on the w^holc Armour of 
 God, that we may ftand in the evil Day : and 
 whatever Spiritual Priviledges we are raifed to^ 
 -we have no Warrant to expe£l Prote6lion in any 
 other Way ; for God has appointed this whole 
 -Xfife, as a 5tate of Labour, to be all, as a Race 
 or a Battle -, the State of Reft, wherein we fhall 
 be fo out of Danger, as to have no Need of Watch- 
 ing and Fighting, is referved for another '^Vorld, 
 1 have known itinAbundance of Inftances,thatthe 
 Devil has come in very remarkably^ even in the 
 Mnidftof flie moft exalted, and upon fome Accounts 
 : excellent Frames : It may feem a great M}^ery 
 ^ that it fhould be fo ; but 'tis no greater Myfteiy, 
 'iban that'GHRiST.fliouId be taken -Captive -by 
 i^e Devil, arid carried into theWildernels, imme- 
 diately after the Heavens had- beea open'd to him , 
 
r A . 1\ . in Times of high Experience. 195 
 
 and the Holy Ghoft defcended like a Dove upon 
 him, and he heard that comfortable, joyful Voice 
 from the Father, faying, This is my beloved Son^ 
 in whom lam wtllpleafed, 'In liKeManner Chrift 
 .in'tbc Heart of aChriftian, is oftentimes as it were 
 taken by the Devil, and carried Captive into a 
 Wildernefs,prefently after Heaven has been, as it 
 were openM to the Soul, and the Holy GholVhas 
 defcended upon i^ like a Dove,and God has been 
 fweetly owning the Believer, and teftifying his 
 Favour to him as his beloved Child. 
 
 'Tis therefore a great Error, and Sin in fome 
 Perfons, at this Day, that they are fixM in their 
 '. Wa)^, in fpme Things that others account Errors, 
 ami ^oii't 'hcaricen to Admonition and Counfel, 
 feut^t^ confident that they are in the right of 
 it, rri^'thofePra<?tices Qiat they find' t^cmfelves dif- 
 pofed to, tecaufe God is much with them, and 
 they have great Degrees of the Spirit of God. 
 There: were fome Rich in the Apoftles Days : 
 The 'Apoftle Paul^ Visiting to the Corinthians, 
 Y'^f ^^^^^^^-^h^t ^ome of them would not be eafily 
 ^^^tY^'^^^ *^^^ ^hey had teen in anyError,becaufe 
 thef looked upon themfelves Spiritual, or full of 
 the Spirit of God. i Cor. 14. 37, 38. If any 
 Man 't^in^ himfelf to be^a Prophet, or fpiritual, lef 
 him acknr^zvhdge that the Things- that I write unto 
 >''•; - -^ Commandment of the Lord -^ but^fam 
 
 ^^ ' - -.:'::rGnt^^^Iet hifhBeJgTtorant. ^ 
 
 And altho^-thofe that kfe fpiritual ahibngfttrs, 
 
 have no infelKble'Apoftfc tbadmoniffi them, \yet 
 
 r\ ^^ intreat them, by the Love of Christ, 
 
 ^'^Myartdumpartialiy -{b ^veigh what may be Bid 
 
 to 
 
I g6 Of fpirifual JPnde.. ^ Pa.1\V 
 
 to tliem, by One that is their hearty and fervent 
 Friend, (tW an inferiour Worm) in giving his 
 humble Opinion, concerning the Errors that have 
 been committed, or that we may be expofed to,in 
 Methods or Pra6lices that have been, or may be 
 fallen into, by the zealous Friends or-Promotcrs 
 of this great Work of God. 
 
 In fpeaking of theErrors tliat have been, or that 
 we are in Danger of,. 1 would in the ^-^ ' 
 
 Fir/i Place, take Notice of the Caufes wberice 
 the Errors that attend a great Revival of Religion 
 ^fually arife j and as I go along, take Notice of 
 Ibme particular Errors that arife from each of 
 thofe Caufes. 
 
 Secondly^ Obferye feme Errors, that fome have 
 ktely gone into, that have b£en owing to the 
 Influence Kjfjfeveral of thofe jCaufes. conjun^Uy. 
 
 As to the firfl of thefev. the Errors that "at 
 •a greatRevival of Religion^ ufiially arife from thefe 
 three Things, i. Undifcerned fpirituaf Pride. 
 2. Wrong Principles- ^ Ig^oxan<;p^iif^5atan^3' 
 Advantages and Devices. .* Iv ^ " f !. 
 
 ,^Theiirft, and the worff Caufe oj Errors, that 
 pH-evail in fuch a State ofThings, is fpirhual Pride. 
 This is the main Door, by which theDevil comes 
 into the Hearts of thofe that are zealous for the 
 Advancement of Religion. ''Tia the chief Inlet 
 of Smoke from the bottomlefs Pit, to darken the 
 Mind, and miflead the Judgn^ent : This is ilwc 
 main Handle by which the Devil has hold of re- 
 ligious Perfons, and the chief Scource of att the 
 Mifchief that he introduces, to clog and hipder a 
 T^iTork of Go d . This Caufeof Error is the main 
 
 Spring, 
 
Pa. IV. Of fpiritual Pride. igy^ 
 
 Spring, or at leaft the main Support of all the reftr 
 'Till this Difeafe is cured, Medicines are in vain 
 applied to heal other Difeafcs. 'Tis by this that 
 " eMind defends it felf in otherErrors, and guards 
 :'jlf againft Light, by which it might be correc- 
 .J and reclaimed. The Ipirituallv proudMan is 
 rullof Light already, he don't needlnftrucliony 
 and is ready to defpife the Ofter of it. But if this 
 Difeafe be healed, otherThings are eafily reftified* 
 The humble Perfon is like a little Chfld, he eafily 
 -receives Inftruclion ; he is Jealous overhimfelf, 
 fenfible how liable he is to go aftray ^ aiid there- 
 fore if it be fuggefted to him that he does fo, he 
 is ready moft norrowly and impartially to enquire. 
 Nothing fets a Perfon fo much out of the Devil's 
 reach, as Humility, and fo prepares the Mind for 
 true divine Light, . without Darknefs, and ^o 
 clears the Eye to look on Things, as they truly 
 are. Pfal. 25. g. The Meek will be guide injiidg- 
 'Trent ^ aiid the Meek he will teach hisWay. There- 
 fore we fhould fight, neither with fmall nor with 
 gre^t, but with the King of Ifrael : Our nrlt Care 
 fhould 'be* to rectify the Heart, and pull the Beam 
 out of our Eye, and then we fhall fee dearly. 
 ' ,\*I know that a. great many Things at this Day, 
 are very injurioufly laid to the Pride of thofe that 
 are.zealoua. in the Caufe of God. When any 
 PcHbn ap^e^rs, in ahyRefpe<ft, remarkably diftin- 
 guifhed ia Rdigion from others, if he prcfeflcs 
 thbfe fpiritual Comforts and Joys that are greater 
 than ordinary,, or if he appears diftinguifliingly 
 zealous in Religion, if he exerts himfelf more 
 'han other,'^ do, in the Catife of Religion, or if he 
 
198 Of fphitual Pridc\ Pa. IV. 
 
 feems to be diflinguifhed with Succefs^ten to one^ 
 but it will immediately awaken the Jealoufy oi 
 thofe that are about him ; ^^^ they'll fufpe^l, 
 (whether they have Caufe or no) that he is very 
 proud of his Goodnefs, and that he afFecSls to 
 have it thought that no Body is- fo good as he ; 
 and all his Talk is heard, and all his Behaviour^ 
 beheld, with this Prejudice. Thofe that are 
 themfelves cold and dead, and efpecially fuch as 
 never had any Experience of tlie Power ofGodli- 
 nefs on their own Hearts, are ready to entertain 
 fuch Thoughts of the beftChriftians ; which arifes 
 from a fecretEnmity againft vital & ferventPiety. 
 
 But then thofe that are zealousChriftians Ihould 
 take heed that this Injurioufnefs of thofe that are 
 cold in Religion, don t prove a Snare to them, 
 and the Devil don't take Advantage from it, to, 
 blind their Eyes from beholding what there is, 
 indeed of this Nature in theic Hearts, and make 
 *em think, becaufe they are charged with Pride 
 wrongfully, and from an illSpirit, in many Things, 
 that therefore it is fo in every Thing. Alas, how 
 much Pride have the beft of us in our Hearts ! 
 'Trs the worft Part of the Body of Sin and Death : 
 'Tis the firftSin that ever entred into theUniverfe, 
 and the laft that is rooted out ; 'Tis God^s moft 
 ftubborn Enemy ! 
 
 The Corruption of Nature, may all be refolved 
 into two Things, Pride and Worldly-mindednefsy 
 the Devil and the Beafl^ or Self and the World. 
 Thefe are the twoPillars oi D agones Temple, on 
 which the whole Houfe leans. But the former 
 of thefe is every Way, the worft Part of the Cor- 
 ruption 
 
Pa. IV. Of fpiritual Pride. i99 
 
 • f Kature • 'tis, the firft born Son of tli© 
 ruption of Nature , u j^.^p 
 
 Devil, and his I-^^e m;heH-^i°f,\i,„er that 
 confifts in It ; ^is tl^ aft 1 h.ng ^,^^^^^ . 
 
 i5 over-born byConvi£lion,morderr 
 and here is thcSauns hardeftConfl.a t, 
 
 xt;lSe:vt^^Tth1t^s^^^^^^ 
 sts'agift f \-j^;ranrrfjft 
 
 the Spirit of the Lamb of God , ^n-i t 
 like the Devil its Father m a ferpentme Decat 
 fulnefs and Secrecy ; it hes f^^P^ft'.^^"f ' . ^[^ 
 aaive, is moft ready fecretly to mix it felf with 
 
 ''Tnd'^of'lKindsof Pride, fpiritualMeisupo^^ 
 many Accounts the moft hateful ; 't.s moft h.ce 
 Se Devil ; 'tis moft like the Sin that he commit- 
 ted in an Heaven of Light and Glory, where he 
 was exalted high in divine Knowledge, Honour, 
 Beauty andHappinefs. Pride is much more difc- 
 cultly difcerned than any other Corruption, for 
 that Reafon, that the Nature of it does very much 
 confift in a Perfon's having too high a Thought ot 
 himfelf : but noWonder that he that has too high 
 a Thought of himfelf, don't know it ; for he 
 neceflarily thinks that the Opinion he has of him- 
 felf, is what he has juft Grounds for, and there- 
 fore not too high ; if he thought fuch anOpinion 
 of himfelf was without juft Grounds, he would 
 therein ceafe to have it. But of allKinds of Pride, 
 fpiritual Pride is the moft hidden, and difficultly 
 difcovered ; and that for this Reafon, Becaufe 
 thofe that arefpirituallyproud,theirPride confifii. 
 much in an highConceit of thofe twoThings,'y:'z, 
 5 Their 
 
 S Their 
 
- ^<^^ Of fpiritual Pride. > ' Pa. IV 
 
 Tlieir Lights and their HurnUlty ; both which are 
 aftrong Prejudice againft a Difcovery of their 
 Pride. Being proud of theirZ/;^/;/,that makes 'em 
 not jealous of themfelve.s ; he that thinks a clear 
 Light fhines around him, is not fufpicious of an 
 Enemy lurking near him^unfeen : And then being 
 proud of their ///^;;//'%, that makes 'em leaft of all 
 jealous of themfelves in that Particular, viz, :2is 
 being under the Prevalence of Pride. TJiere are 
 many Sins of the Heart that are very fecret in 
 thelrNature,and difficultly difcerned. ThePfalmift 
 fays, Pfal. 19. 12. Who can underj} and his Errors? 
 Cleanfe thou 7ne from fecret Faults, But fpiritual 
 Pride is the molt fecret of all Sins. The Heart is ^ 
 fo deceitful .and unfearchable in nothing in the^ 
 World, as it is in tliis Matter, and there is no Sin 
 in the World, that Men are fo confident in, and 
 fo difHcultly convinced of: The very Nature of 
 it is to work Self-Confidence, and drive away 
 Self- Diffidence, and Jealoufy of any Evil of that 
 Kind. There is no Sin fo much like the Devil, 
 as this, for Secrecy and Subtilty, and appearing in 
 a great many Shapes, undifcerned andunfufpe6led, 
 and appearing aV an Angel of Light : It takes 
 Occafion to arife from every Thing ; it perverts 
 and abufes every Thing, and even the Exercifes 
 of real Grace, and real Humility, as an Occa- 
 fion to exert it felf : It is a Sin that has, as it were 
 many Lives ; if you kill it, it will live ftill ; . 
 if you mortify and fupprefs it in one Shape, it 
 rifes in another ; if you think it is all gone, yet 
 it is there ftill : There are a great many Kinds of 
 it, that lie in diiferent Forms and Shapes, one 
 
 under 
 
'a. IV. Needof^reatJVatchfulnefs^^c. 201 
 
 ider another, and enccmpals the Heart h'kc the 
 ; >ats of an Oi|ion ; if you pull off one there is 
 
 other underneath. We had need therefore to 
 ]..ive the greateft Watch imaginable, over our 
 ' '^arts, with refpect to this Matter, and to cry 
 
 d earneflly to the great Searcher of Hearts, for 
 iiis help. He that trulls his own Heart ib a Fool. 
 
 God's own People fnould be the more jealou-^ 
 of themfelves, with refpeft to' this Particular, at 
 thisDay, becaufe the Temptations that many have 
 •to this Sin are exceeding great : The great and 
 diftinguifliing Priviledges to which God admita 
 many of his Saints, and the high Honours that he 
 puts on fome Minifters, are greatTrialsofPerfons 
 in this Refpeft. 'Tis true that great Degrees of 
 the fpiritual Prefence of God tends greatly to 
 mortify Pride and all Corruption ; but yet, tho' 
 in die Experience of fuch Favours there be much 
 to rcftrain Pride one Way, there is much to tempt 
 and provoke it anotlier ; and we fliall be in great 
 Danger thereby without great Watchfulnefs and 
 Prayerfulnefs. There was much in the Circum- 
 ftances that the Angels tliat fell, were in, in 
 Heaven, in their greatHonours & highPriviledges, 
 in beholding the Face of God, and View of his 
 infiniteGIory,to caufe in th^mExercifes of Humi- 
 lity,and to keep .'em fromPride ; yet through want 
 of Watchfulnefs in them, their great Honour and 
 heavenly Priviledge proved to be to them, an un- 
 doing Temptation to Pride, tho' they had no 
 Principle of Pride in their Hearts to expofe 'em. 
 Let no Saint therefore, however eminent, and 
 however near to God, thinkhimfelf outof Dan- 
 'S 2 ser 
 
202 1'he Nature, and EffeSls Pa.1V/' 
 
 ger of this : He that thinks himfelf moft out Q>i 
 Danger, is indeed moft inDanger. The Apoftle 
 Paul^ who doubtlefs was as eminent a Saint as^ny 
 arenaw.5 was not out of Danger, even juft after 
 he was admitted to fee God in the thirdHeavens^ 
 by the Information he himfelf gives us, 2 Ccr. 
 12. Chap. And yet doubtlefs, what he faw m 
 Heaven of the ineffable <5Iory of the divineBeing, 
 liad a diredt Tendency to make him appear ex- 
 ceeding little and vile in his own Eyes. 
 
 Spiritual Pride in its own Nature is fo'fecret, 
 that it is not fo well difberned by immediate In- 
 tuition on the Thing it felf, as by the Effects and 
 Fruits of it ; fome of which, I would mention, 
 ''r^ggther with the co«trary Fruits of pureChriftian 
 Hiimilit)'. 
 
 'Spiritual Pride difpofes to fpeak of otberPerfons 
 >Sins, their Enmity againft GoD and his People, 
 the mIferableDelufion of Hypocrites and their En- 
 mity againft vital Piety, and the Deadnefs of fome 
 Saints, with Bitternefs, or with Laughter and 
 Levity, and an Air of Contempt ; whereas pure 
 'Chriftian Humility rather difpofes, either to be 
 filant about 'em, or to Ipeak df them with Grief 
 •and Pity. 
 
 Spiritual Pride is very apt to fufpeft others ; 
 whereas an humbleSairit is moft jealous of himfelf, 
 he is fo fufpicious of nothing in the World as he is 
 -of his own Heart. The fpiritually proud Perfon 
 is apt to find Fault with other Saints, that they 
 are low in Grace, and to be much in obferving 
 ^ how cold and dead they be,and crying out of them 
 j for it, and to be quick to difcern and take Notice 
 
 of 
 
PaJV. of ffiritual Pride. 203 
 
 of their Deficiences : But the eminently humble 
 Chriftian has fo much to do at Home, and fees fo 
 much Evil in his own Heart,, and is fo concerned 
 about it, that he is not apt to be very bufy with 
 others Hearts ; he complains moft of himfelfjand 
 cries out of his own Coldnefs and Lownefs in 
 Grace, and is apt to efteem others better than. 
 himfelf,and is ready to hope that there is no Body 
 but what has more Love and Thankfulnefs to 
 God than he, and can't bare to tiiink that others 
 fliouTd bring forth no more Fruit to God's Ho- 
 nour than he. Some that have fpiritua]Pride mixVl 
 ■ with high Difcoveries and greatTranfports of Joy, 
 that difpofe 'em in an earneft Manner to^talk to 
 others, are apt, in fuch Frames, to be calling 
 upon other Chriftians that are about them, 2.YiA 
 fharply reproving them for their being (o cold and 
 li'felefs. And there are fome others that behave 
 themfelves very differently from thefe, who ii 
 their Raptures are over-whelmed vnth a Senfe oi 
 their own Vilenefs ; and when they have extra- 
 ordinaryDifcoveries of God *s Glory, are all takeii 
 up about their own Sinfulnefs ; and tho' they alfo 
 are difpofed to fpeak much and very earneftly, vet 
 it is very much in Crj'ing out of themfelves, and 
 exhorting Fellow Chriftians, but in a charitable 
 and humble Manner. Pure Chriftian Humility 
 difpofes a Perfon to take Notice of every Thing 
 that is in any Refpeft good in others, and to make 
 the beft of it, and to diminifh their Failings ; but 
 to have his Eye chiefly on thofe Things that are 
 bad in himfelf, and to take much Notice of every 
 Thing that aggravates them. 
 
 S 3 ^« 
 
204 0/ }>arjh X3 terrible Language Pa.IV. 
 
 In a Contrariety to this, it has been the Man- 
 ner in fome Places, or at leaft the Manner of 
 feme Perfons, to fpeak of almoft every Thing 
 that they fee amife in others, in the moft harfh, 
 fevere and terrible Languge. 'Tis frequent with 
 them to fay of others Opinions or Conduct 
 or Advice, or of their Coldnefs, their Silence, 
 tteir Caution, their Moderation, and their Pru- 
 dence^and many otherThings that appear in them, 
 that they are from the Devil, or from Hell ; 4:hat 
 ilich a Thing is devilifh or hellifh or curfed, and 
 that fuch Perfons are ferving the Devil or the 
 Devil is in them, that they are Soul-Murtherers 
 and the like 5 fo that the Words Devil ^nA Hell 
 ^re aJmoft continually in their Mouths. And 
 fuch Kind of Language they will commonly ufe, 
 Jiot only towards wicked Men, but towards them 
 that they themfelves allow to be the true Children 
 of Goi>, and alfo towards Minifters of the Gofpel 
 and others that are very much their Superi- 
 ours. And they look upon it a Vertue and high 
 Attainment thus to behave themfelves. Oh^ fay 
 they, we muji he "plain hearted and hold for Chriji^ 
 five muJi declare War againft Sin wherever we fee 
 it, w^ muJi not mince the Matter in the Caufe of 
 Cod and whsnf peaking for Chriji, And to make 
 ^y Diftindtioh in Perfons, or to fpeak the more 
 tenderly, becaufe that which is amifs is feen in a 
 Superiour, they look upon as very mean for a 
 Follower of Chaist when (peaking in the Caufe 
 ; <oi his Mafter. 
 
 \ What a ftrangeDevke of the Devil is here, to 
 \ vv^r-throwallChrifWanMeeknefe and Gcntlenefs, 
 
 ^id 
 
[P^.IV. among Chrijlians, 205 
 
 [and even all Shew and Appearance of it, and to 
 defile the Mouths of the Children of God, and to 
 'introduce the Language of comilfionSailors among 
 the Followers of Christ, under a Cloak of high 
 Sandity and Zeal and Boldnefs forCniRsT ! 
 -And it is a remarkaWe Inftance of the Weaknefs 
 of the human Mind, and how much too cunning 
 the Devil is for us ! 
 
 The grand Defence of this Way of Talking is, 
 that they fay no more than what is true; they only 
 fpeak the Truth without mincing the Matter ; 
 and that true Chriftians that have a great Sight of 
 tlie Evil of Sin, and Acquaintance with their own 
 Hearts know it to be true, and therefore won't 
 be offended to hear fuch harfh Expreffions made 
 Ufe of concerning them and their Sins ; 'tis only 
 (fay they)Hypocrites,or cold and dead Chriftians, 
 that are provoked and feel tlieir Enmity rife on 
 fuch an Occafion. 
 
 But 'tis a grand Miftake to think that we may 
 commonly ufe concerning one another all fuch 
 Language as reprefents tbe worft of each other, 
 according to ftri<a Truth. 'Tis really true,that 
 every Kind of Sin, & every Degree of it, is devilifh 
 and from Hell, and is curfed, hellifh, and con- 
 <lemned or damned : And if Pcrfons had a full 
 •Sight of their Hearts they would think no Terms 
 too bad for them ; they would look like Beafts, 
 like Serpents and likeDevils to themfelves ; they 
 would be at a lofs for Language to exprefs what 
 they fee in themfelves, the worftTerms tliey could 
 think of would feem as it were faint to reprefent 
 ^■hat tliey iee in themfdvcs. But fiiall a Child 
 
 ^thoreforc 
 
2o6 RoughLanguage amongChriJiians. P.IV. 
 
 therefore, from Time to Time, ufe fuch Lan- 
 guage concerning an excellent & eminently holy 
 Father or Mother, as that the Devil is in them, 
 that they have fuch and fuch devilifh, curfed Dif- 
 pofitions, that they commit every Day Hundreds ' 
 of hellifb, damn'd AcSls, and that they are curfed 
 Dogs, Hell-Hounds and Devils ? And fhall the 
 meaneftofthe People be juftified, in commonly 
 ufmg fuch Language concerning the moft excel- 
 lentMagiftrates,or their moft eminent Minifters ? 
 I hope no Body has gone to this Height : but the 
 fame Pretences of Boldnefs, Plain-heartednefs, 
 and declared War againft Sin, v^ill as w'ell juftify 
 thefe Things as the Things they are aftually made 
 Ufe of to juftify. If we proceed in fuch a Man- 
 ner, on fuch Principles as thefe, what a Face will 
 be introduced upon the Church of Christ, the 
 little beloved Flock of that gentle Shepherd the 
 Lamb of God ? What a Sound fhall we bring 
 into the Houfe of God, into the Family of his 
 dear little Children ? How far off fhall we foon 
 banifh that lovely Appearance of Humility, Sweet- 
 nefs, Gentlenefs, mutual Honour, Benevolence, 
 Complacence^ and an Efteem of others above 
 themfelves, which ought to clothe the Children 
 of Go D all over ? Not but thatChriftians fhould 
 watch over one another, and in any wife reprove 
 one another, and be much in it and do it plainly 
 and faithfully j but it don't thence follow that 
 •dear Brethren in the Family of God, in rebuk- 
 ing one another, fhould ufe worfe Language than 
 Michael the Arch-angQl durft ufc when rebuking 
 {Ji^D^vUhijufelf. ^ 
 
 Chriffians 
 
I Pa. IV. Of harfi Repmnng. 20 7 
 
 •Chriftians that are but Fellow-Worms ought 
 atleaft to treat one another with as muchHumihty 
 andGentlenefs as Christ that is infinitely above 
 -them treats them. But how did Christ t;eat 
 Ws Difcipks when they v/ere fo cold towards him 
 and {o regardlefsofhim, at the Time when his 
 Soul was exceeding forrowful ev-en unto Death, 
 and be in a difmalAgony was crying and Iweating 
 Blood for them, and they would not watch with 
 him and allow him theGoinfort of their Company 
 one Hour in his great Diftrefs, tho' he once and 
 again defired it of them : One would think that 
 then was a proper Time if ever to haive reproved 
 'em for a devilifh, helHfh, curfed and damned 
 Slothfulnefs and Deadnefs. But after what Man- 
 ner does Christ reprove them ? Behold his 
 aftonifliing Gentlene-fs ! Says he, W^at^ could ye 
 not watch with me one Hour ? The Spirit indeed is 
 willing^but theFleJh is weak. And how did hetreat 
 Peter when he w^as afliamed of his Mafter, while 
 he was made aMocking-Stock and aSpitting-Stock 
 for him ? Why lie looked upon him with a Look 
 of Lfove, and melted his Heart. 
 
 And tho' we read that Christ once //^r?7^<^ 
 and faid unto Peter, on a certain Occafion, get 
 thee behind me Satan \ and this may feem like an 
 Inftance of Harflmefs and Severity in reproving 
 Peter 'y yet I humbly conceive that this is by many 
 taken wrong, and that this is indeed no Inftance 
 of Christ's Severity in his Treatment of P^f^r, 
 but on the contrary, of his wonderful Gentlenefs 
 and Grace, diftinguifhing between Peter and the 
 -Devil in him^ not laying the Blame of whatP^/^r 
 
 . had 
 
2o8 Effe^is of fpiritual Pride. Pa, IV. 
 
 had then faid, or imputing it to him, but to the 
 Devil that infiueneed him. Christ faw the 
 Devil then prefent5fecretly influencing Peter to do 
 the Part of a Tempter to his Mafter ; and there- 
 fore Christ turned him about toPeter^ in whorn^ 
 the Devil then was, and fpake to the Devil, 
 and rebuked him. Thus the Grace of Christ 
 don't behold Iniquity in his People, imputes not 
 what is amifs in 'em to them, but toSin that dwells 
 in them, and^to Satan that influences them. 
 But to return, 
 Spiritual Pride often difpofesPerfons to Singula- 
 rity in external Appearance, to afFedl a fingular 
 Way ofSpeaking,to ufe a different Sort of Dialed 
 from others, or to be fmgular in Voice, or Air of 
 Countenance or Behaviour : but he that is an 
 emfnently humble Chriftian, tho' he will be firm 
 to his Duty, however Angular he is in it ; he'll go 
 in the Way that leads to Heaven alone, tho' all 
 the World forfakes hin| ; yet he delights not in 
 Singularity for Singularity's Sake, he don't affcdt 
 to fet up himfelf to be viewed and obferved as one 
 diftinguifhed, as defiring to be accounted better 
 than others, or difpifing their Company, or an 
 Union and Conformity to them ; but on the con- 
 trary is difpofed to become allThings to all Men, 
 and to yield to others, and conform to them and 
 pleafe 'em, in every Thing but Sin. Spiritual 
 Pride commonly occafions a certain Stiffnefs and 
 Inflexibility in Perfons, in their own Judgment 
 and their own Ways ; whereas the eminently 
 humble Perfon, tho' he be inflexible in his Duty, 
 and in tliofe Things wherein* God's Honour is 
 
 concerned ; 
 
Pa.IV. Effe5is offpiritual Pride, 209 
 
 concerned; and with Regard to Temptation to 
 thofe Things he apprehends to be finful, tho' in 
 never fo fmall aDegree, he is not at all of a yield- 
 ableSpiritj but is like aBrazen Wall ; yet in other 
 Things he is of a pliable Difpofition, not difpofed 
 to fet up his own Opinion, or his own Will ; he 
 is ready to pay Deference to others OpinionSjand 
 loves to comply with their Inclinations, and has a 
 Heart that is tender and flexible, like ahttle Child. 
 Spiritual Pride difpofes Perfons to afFecSl Sepa- 
 ration5to ftand at aDiftance from others, as better 
 than they, and loves the Shew and Appearance of 
 
 ■ theDiftin61:ion : But on the contrary the eminently 
 
 ■ humble Chriftian is ready to look upon himfelf as 
 not worthy that others (hould be united to him, 
 to think himfelf more bruitifh than any Man, and 
 worthy to be caft out of human Society, and ef- 
 pecially unworthy of the Society of God*s Chil- 
 dren ; and tho' he will not be a Companion with 
 one that is vifibly Christ's Enemy ^nd delights 
 
 ' moft in the Company of lively Chriftians, will 
 choofe fuch for his Companions, and will be moft 
 intimate with them,& don't at all delight to fpend 
 away much Time in the Company of thofe that 
 feem to relifh no Converfation but about worldlv 
 Things 5 yet he don't love the Appearance of an 
 open Separation from vifible Chriftians, as "being 
 a Kind of diftindl Company from them, that are 
 .e vifible Company with him by CHRis.T.Ap- 
 nntment, and will as much as poflible fliun all 
 )ppearaiK:esofaSupfcriarity,ordiffinguifhing.him- 
 iclf as better than, others : His univerfal Benevo- 
 lence delists in -the Appearance of Union with 
 
 his 
 
2 lo Pure Chrljiian Humility. Pa. IV. 
 
 his fellow Creatures, and will maintain it as much, 
 as he pofliblycan, without giving open Counte- 
 nance tolniquity, or wounding his own Sou] ; and 
 herein he follows theExample of his meek & lowly 
 Redeemer,who did not keep up fucha Separation 
 and Diftance as the Pharifees, but freclA- eat witKj 
 Publicans and Sinners, that he might win them. ' 
 The eminently humble Chrifihn is as it were 
 cloathed with Lowlinefs, Mildnefs, Meekncfs, 
 Gentlenefs of Spirit andBehaviour, & with a foft, 
 fweet, condefcending, winning Air and Deport- 
 ment ; thefeThings are juft like-Garments to him, 
 he is cloathed all over with them;, i Pet. 5. 5. 
 And be cloathed with Humility. Col. 3. 12. Put 
 071 therefore^ as the ek^ ofGod^ holy and beloved^ 
 Bow eh of Mercies^ Kindnefsy Humbkncf: of Miiid^ - 
 Mecknefs-, Long-fufering. 
 
 Pure Chriftian Humility has no fuch Thing as 
 RoughnefejOrContemptjOrFiercenefs^orBitternefs 
 in its Nature ; it makes aPerfon likeahttleChild^ 
 harmlefs and innocent, and that none need to be 
 afraid of; or like a Lamb, deftitute of all Bitter- 
 nef?, Wrath, Anger and Qamour, agreeable ta 
 Efh 4. 31. 
 
 With fuch a Spirit as this ought efpecially zeal- 
 ous Minifters of the Gofpel to be cloathed, and 
 thofe that God is pleafed to improve as Inftru- 
 ments in hisHands of promoting his Work : thqy 
 ought indeed to be thorough in preaching the 
 Word of God, without mincing the Matter at 
 .all ', in handling the Sword of the Spirit, as the 
 Minifters of the Lord of Hofts, they ought not to 
 be mild and^entlei they are iK>t tobe gende and 
 
 moderate 
 
Pa. IV. T'be hnpp^ hfMCnce of Humility. 21 i 
 
 moderate In fearching & awakening theConfciencc 
 but fhould be Sons of Thunder : The Word of 
 God ,which is in it felf fharper than any two-edged 
 Sword, ought not to be (heathed by its Minifters, 
 but fo ufed^that its fliarpEdges may have their full 
 EfFe6l, even to the dividing afunder Soul and 
 Spirit, Joints and Marrow ; (provided they do it 
 without judging particular Perfons, leaving it to 
 Confcience and the Spirit of God to make the 
 particular Application ; ) But all their Conver- 
 fation fliould favour of nothing but Lowlinefs and 
 goodwill, Love and Pi t}^ to all Mankind ; fo 
 that fuch a Spirit fhould be like a fweet Odour 
 diffufed around *em wherever they go, or like ,a 
 Light (hining about 'em, their Faces fhould as it 
 were fhine with it ; they fhould be like Lions to 
 guilty Confciences, but like Lambs to Men's 
 Perfons. This would have no Tendency to pre^ 
 vent the Awakening of Men's Confciences, but 
 on the contrary would have a very greatTendency 
 to awaken them ; it would make Way for the 
 fharp Sword to enter ; it would remove the Ob- 
 ftacles, and make a naked Breafl for the Arrow. 
 .Yea the amiable, Chrifl-like Converfation of fuch 
 Miniflers,in it felf would terrify die Confciences 
 of Men, as well as their terrible Preaching ; both 
 would co-operate one with another, to fubdue the 
 hard, and bring down the proud Heart. If there 
 had been, conflantly and univerfally obfervable 
 fuch a Behaviour as this in Itinerant Preachers, it 
 would have terrified the Confciences of Sinners, 
 ten T^es as much as all the Inve6lives, and the 
 cenfojTOuS Talk there has been concerning parti- 
 T cukr 
 
1 
 
 z 1 2 Effe^s of Pride and Humility^ Pa. IV. "^^ 
 
 cukr Perfons, for their Oppofition, Hypocrify, 
 
 Delufion, Pharifaifm, &c. Thefe Things m 
 
 general have rather ftupified SinnersConfciences ; 
 they take 'em up, andmakeUfe of 'em as aShield, 
 wherewith to defend themfeh^es from the fharp 
 Arrows of the Word, that are fhot by thefe Prea- 
 chers : The Enemies of the prefent Work Jiave 
 been glad of thefe Things with all their Hearts. 
 Many of the moft bitter of them are probably fuch 
 23 in the Beginning of this Work had their Conf- 
 ciences fomething gauled & terrified with it ; but 
 thefcErrors of awakeningPreachers are theThings 
 they chiefly make Ufe of as Plailiers to heal the 
 Sore that was made in their Confciences. 
 
 Spiritual Pride takes greatNotice of Oppofition 
 and Injuries that are received, and is apt to be often . 
 fpeaking of them, and to be much in takingNoticc 
 of the Aggravations of 'em, either with an Air ef 
 Bitternefs orContempt : Whereas- pure, unmixed 
 Chriftian Humility, difpofes a Perfon rather to be 
 like his bleffedLord,when reviled,dumb,_ not open- 
 ins; his Mouth, but committing himfelf in Silence 
 to'him that judgeth righteoufly. The emineiuly 
 humble Chriftian, the more clamorous and furious 
 the World is againft him, the more filent aud ftill 
 will he be ; udefs it be in his Clofet, and there lie 
 will not be ftill. Our bleffcd Lord Jefus feems 
 r.ever to have been fo filent, as when the World 
 compafled him round, reproaching,buff'etting and 
 fpitting on him, with loud and virulent Out-cries, 
 and horrid Cruelties. '^ , 
 
 There has been a great deal toqinuGh^Xalk ot 
 late, among many of tlie trucjaAd ze4^u& Ffiends 
 
 of 
 
I^.IV. Meeknefs the furejl Way, i^c. 213 
 
 of Rdigioiijabcut Oppofition and Perfecution It 
 becomes theFollowers of the Lamb of GoD5when 
 the World is in an Uproar -about them, and full 
 of Clamour againft them, not to raife another 
 Noife to anfwer it, but to beftill and quiet : 'Tis 
 not bea\itiful, at fuch a Time-, to have Pulpits and 
 Converfation ring with the found, Perfecution^ 
 Perfecution^QX withabundantTalk aboutPharifecs, 
 ca^-nal Perfecutors, and the Seed of the Serpent. 
 
 Meeknefs and Qiiietnefs among Go D'sPeople, 
 when oppofed & reviled, would be the fureftWay 
 to have God remarkably to appear for their De- 
 fence. *Tis particularly obferved of Alofes, on 
 the Occafion of Aarcii and Miriam their envying 
 him,& rifmg up inOppofition againft him5tliat he 
 zuas very meek, above all Men upon the Face of ihs 
 Earth, Num. 12. 3. Doubtlefs becaufe he re- 
 markably ihewM his Meeknefs on thatOccalion, 
 being wholly filent under the Abufe. And how 
 remarkable is the Account that follows of God's 
 being as it wer^ fuddenly roufed to appear for his 
 Vindication ? And what high Honour did he 
 put upon Mofes P And how fevere were his Re- 
 bukes of his Oppofers ? The Story is very re- 
 markable,and worth everj^One's obferving. No- 
 thing is fo eiFectual to bring God down from 
 Heaven in the Defence of his People, as their Pa- 
 tience and Meeknefs under Sufferings. When 
 Christ girds his Sword upon his Thigh, with his 
 Glory andMajefly, and in his Majefiy rides pro fper- 
 oufly^his rightHand teaching him terrihleThings,it i: 
 bccatife of Truth i^MEEKNE'^S ^Righteoufyjefs. 
 Pfal. 4 5.3,4. God imllcaufejudgmm iQ he heard 
 T 2 from 
 
214 Vehemence in the Caufe of God. Pa. IV. 
 
 from Heaven ; the Earth /hall fear and hejilll^ and 
 God will arlfe tojudgment^to fave all theA^EEK of 
 the Earth. Pfal.76.8,9. He will lift up theM^ck^ 
 andcaj} theJVi eked down to theGround. Pfal.i47.6> 
 He ivill reprove zvith Equity^ for the Meek of the 
 Earth, andwillfmiie the Earth tvith the Rod of his 
 Mouthy ajid ivith the Breath of his Lips will he fay 
 the Tf^icked. Ifai. 11. 4. The great Commenda- 
 tion thatCn R I s T gives theChurch of Philadelphia^ 
 is that, Thm ha/i kept the Word of my Patience^ 
 Rev. 3. 10. And we may fee what Reward he 
 promifes her, in the preceeding V^rfe, B-ehold^ 1 
 will make them -of the Synagogue of &atan^ which 
 fay they arejews and an not^ hut do lie \ behold^ I 
 zvillmake them to come andworji.ip at thy Feet^ and 
 to know that I have loved' thee. And thus it is, that 
 we might expedl to have Christ appear for us, 
 if under allReproches we are loaded with, we be- 
 haved ourfelves with a Lamb-like Meeknefs and 
 Gentlecefs ; but if our Spirits are raifed, and we 
 are vehement and noify with our Complaints un- 
 der Colour of Chriftian Zeal, this will be to take 
 upon us our own Defence, and God will leave it 
 with us, to vindicate ourCaufeas well as we can : 
 Yea if we go on in a Way of Bitternefs, and high 
 Cenfuring, it will be the Way to have him rebuke 
 us, and put us to Shame before our Enemies. 
 
 Here fome may be ready to fay, *' 'Tis not in 
 eur own Caufe, that we are thus vehement, but 
 it is in theCaufe of God ; and theApcftle direfted 
 the primitive Chriftians to conj^end earneftly for 
 the Faith once delivered to theSaints." But how 
 was it that the primitive Chriftians contended 
 
 earneftly 
 
Pa. IV. An humble Improvement^ ^c 215 
 
 earneftly for theFaith ? They defended thcTrutli 
 with Arguments 5 and a holyConverfation ; but yet 
 gave theirReafons with Meeknefs & Fear : They 
 contended earneftly for theFaith, by fighting vio- 
 lently againft their'ownUnbelief, and the Corruj^- 
 tions of their Hearts, yea they refifted unto BIo^ 
 ftriving againft Sin ; but the Blood that v/as fbef?: 
 in this earneft Strife, was their own Blood, acd 
 not the Blood of their Enemies. It was in ihc 
 Caufe qfGod^. that P^/^r was fo fierce, and dfew 
 his Sword,and began to fmite with it j but Ghrift 
 bich him put up his Sword again, teKing him that 
 they that take theSwordfhallperifh by. theS word ; 
 and while P^/cT wounds, Christ heais. Thev 
 contend the moft violently, and are the greatefi 
 Conquerors in aTime of Perfecution, who bear it 
 with the greatefi Meeknefs and Patienci?* 
 
 Great Humility .improves even the Reflections 
 and Reproaches of Enemies, to put upon ferioiis 
 Self-Examination, whether or no tkere be not 
 fome juft Caufe, whether they han'^t.in fomeRe- 
 fpe(51: given Occafion to the Enemy to fpeak r^e- 
 proachfully : Whereas f]^iritual Pride improve?; 
 iuch Refle£lions to make 'em tlue mor^ bold and 
 confident, and to go the greater -Leiigths in^ha^t 
 for which they ai;e found fault with/ I defire it 
 may be confider'd whether there has been iiothixig 
 amifs of late, among the trueFriends of yital Piety 
 in thi^RefpecSt \ and whether the Words of Z>^L7^, 
 when re^^iled by M'lchal^ han't been mif-inter^p- 
 ted and mifapplied to juftify them m it, when he 
 faid I will be yet more vile, and .will be bafe iii 
 mine own Sight. ThelrnpoU: of his Words i- 
 T 3 thtU 
 
'^ 10 Of the Fear of Ma-n, Pa.IV. 
 
 that he would humble himfelf yet more before 
 God, being fenfible that he was far from being 
 fufficientlyabafed j and he fignifies this toiW/V^^/, 
 Hnd thai he longed to be yet lower, and had de- 
 figned already to abafe himfelf more in his Beha- 
 Tiour : nat that he would go the greater Length, 
 TO fiiew his Regardlefnefs of her Revilings ; that 
 "Would be to exalt himfelf, and not more to abafe 
 himfelf, as more vile in his own Sight. 
 
 Another Effeft of fpiritualPride is a certain un- 
 fuitable and felf-confident Boldnefs before God 
 and Men. Thus fome in their great Rejoicings 
 before God, han't paid a fufficient Regard to that 
 Rule, in PfaL i. ii. They han't rejoiced with 
 a reverential Trembling, in a proper Senfe of the 
 awful Majefty of God, and the awful Diftance 
 betweenGoD and them. And there has alfo been 
 an improper Boldnefs before Men, that has been 
 -encouraged & defended jbjraMifapplication of that 
 Scripture, Prov. 29. i^\'The Fear of Mmihr'ingeth 
 *a Snare. As tho' it became all Perfons, high and 
 3dw,Men,Women&Children5in all religiousGon- 
 verfatloh, wholly to diveft themfelves of all Man- 
 ner of Shamefacednefs, Modefty orReverence to- 
 wards Man ; which is a great Error, and quite 
 contrary to Scripture. There is a Fear of Rever- 
 ^ence that is due to fomeMen. Rom. 1 3.7. Fear^ 
 to whom Fear \ Honour^ to whom Honour, And 
 there is a Fear of Modefty and Shamefacednefs,in 
 Jiifcriours towardsSuperiours, that is amiable,and 
 requked by Chriftian Rules, i Pet. 3.2. While 
 they iehold your chajie Cofwerfation^ coupled with 
 Fmr. An4 i Tm-. 2r 9, Jn lih Mc^m^r alfi^ 
 
 that 
 
Pa . IV , Of the Fear "of Man. 217 
 
 that IVomen adorn themfelves^ in modeji Afpard^ 
 with Shamefacednefs andSohriety, And theApoftle 
 means that this Vertue {hall have Place, not on!y 
 in civilCommunication^but alfo in fpiritualCom- 
 tnunication, and in our religious Concerns and 
 Behaviour, as is evident by what follov^rs. Ver. 
 II, 12. Let the IVomen learn in Silence^ with all 
 SubjeSficn. But I fnffer mt a Woman to teach ^nor 
 to ufurp Authority over theMan^ hut to he inSilence, 
 Not that I would hence infer that Women's 
 Mouths fhould be fhut up from Chriftian Conver- 
 fation ; but all that I mean from it at this Time 
 is, that Modefty, or Shamefacednefs, and Rever- 
 ence towards Men, ought to have fome Place, 
 even in our religious Communication one with 
 another. The fame is alfo evident by i Pet. 3, 
 15. Be ready always to give an An fiver ^ to every 
 Man that afketh youa Reafon of the Mope that is in 
 you ^withMeeknefs ondFear. ^Tis well if that-very 
 3**ear and Shamefacednefs, which the Apoftle re- 
 commends, han't fometimes been condemned^ 
 under the Name of a curfed Fear of Man. 
 
 'Tis beautiful for Perfons when they are at 
 Prayer as theMouth of others, to makeGoD only 
 their Fear and their Dread, and to be wholly for- 
 getful of Men that are prefent, who let'em be 
 great orfmall, are nothing in the Prefence of the 
 great Goi>. And 'tis beautiful fof a Minifteri> 
 when he fpeaksin the Name of theLord of Hofts, 
 to be bold, and put ofFall Fear of Men. And 'tis 
 beautiful in private Chriftians, tho' they are 
 Women and Children, to be bold in profeffing the 
 
 F^uh Qf Christ, wd w tteftafti^e vf all Re- 
 
2i8 Of an affuming Air. Pa. IV. 
 
 ligion, and in owning God's Hand in the Work 
 of hisPower andGrace, without any Fear of Men, 
 tho' they fhduld be reproached as Fools andMad- 
 men, and frowned upon by great Men, and caft 
 ofFby Parents & all the World. But for private 
 Chriftians, Women and others5to inftru£l,rebuke 
 and exhort, with a like Sort of Boldnefs as be- 
 comes aMinifler when preaching, is not beautiful. 
 
 Some have been bold in fome Things that 
 have really beenErrors ; and have gloried m their 
 Boldnefs in praftifing them, tho' cried out of as 
 odd and irregular. And thofe that have gone th^ 
 greateft Lengths in thefe Tilings, have been by 
 fome moft highly efteemed, as thofe that come 
 out, and appear bold for the Lord Jefus Chrift, 
 and fully on his Side ; and others that have pro- 
 fefs'd to te godly, that have condemned fuch 
 Things, have been fpoken of as Enemies of the 
 Crofe of Chris T , or at leaft very cold and. dead ; 
 and many that of themfelves, were not inclined 
 to fuch Practices, have by this Means been dri- 
 ven on, being afhani'd to be behind, and account- 
 ed poor Soldiers for Christ. 
 
 Another EfFeft of fpiritual Pride is AJfumhig : 
 It oftentimes makes it natural to Perfons fo to 
 aft and fpeak, as tho' jt in a fpecigj. Manner be- 
 long'd to them to be taken Notice of and much 
 regarded. It is very natural toaPerfon that is 
 much under the Influence of fpiritual Pride, to 
 take all that Refped that is paid him : li others 
 fkewa Difpofition to fubmit-to him, and yield 
 him the Deference of a Preceptor, he is open to 
 it. and freely admits it \ yea, 'tis natural for him 
 ' to 
 
P A . IV. Of an affuming Air. 2 1 9 
 
 to exped fuch Treatment, and to take much No- 
 tice of it if he fails of it, and to have an ill Opi- 
 nion of others that don't pay him that which he 
 looks upon as his Prerogative : He is apt to think 
 that it belongs to him to ipeak, and to clothe him- 
 felf with a judicial and dogmatical Air in Conver- 
 fation, and to take it upon him as what belongs to 
 him, to give forth his Sentence, and td determine 
 and decide: Whereas pure Chriftian Humility 
 vaunteth not it felf ^ doth not behave it felf unfeemly^ 
 and is apt to prefer others in Honour. One under 
 tJie Influence of fpiritual Pride is more apt to in- 
 ftrud others, than to enquire for himfelf, and na- 
 turally puts on the Airs of a Matter : Whereas 
 one that is full of pure Humility, naturally has on 
 the Air of aDifciple i his Voice is, ^' Whatfhall 
 I do ? What fhafi I d6 that I may live more to 
 God *s Honour ? What fhall I do with this wicked 
 Heart ? " He is ready to receive Ififtruftion from 
 any Body, agreable to Jam. i. 19. Wherefore^ 
 my beloved Brethren^ let every Man he fwift to hear^ 
 flow tofpeak. The eminently humble Chriftian 
 thinks he wants Help from every Body, whereas 
 he that is fpiritually proud thinks that every Body 
 wants his Help. Chriftian Humility, under a Senfe 
 of others Mifery, intreats and befeeches ; fpiri- 
 tual Pride aiFeds to command, and warn with 
 Authority. 
 
 There ought to be the utmoft Watchfulnefs 
 againft all fuch Appearances of fpiritual Pride, in 
 all that profefs to have been the Subje<5ls of this 
 Work, and efpecially in the Promoters of it, but 
 above all in Itinerant Preachers : The moft emi- 
 nent 
 
2 2 o Minijlers Jhould avoid Pa . IV. 
 
 nent Gifts, and higheft Tokens of God's Favour 
 and Blefling, will not excufe them : Alas ! What 
 is Man at his beft Eftate ! What is the moft high- 
 ly favoured Chriftian, or the moft eminent and 
 fuccefsful Minifter, that he fhould now tlnnk he 
 is fufficient for fomething, and fome-body to be 
 regarded, and that he fhould go forth, and aft 
 among his Fellovi^ Creatures, as if he were wife 
 and ftrong and good ! 
 
 Minifters that have been the principal Inilru- 
 ments of carrying on this glorious Revival of Re- 
 ligion, and that God has made Ufe of, as it were 
 to bring up his People out of Egypt^ as he did of 
 Mofes^ fhould take Heed that they don't provoke 
 God as Mofes did, by aflumingtoo much to them- 
 felves, and by their intemperate Zeal^ to fhut 
 them out from feeing the good Things that God 
 is going to do for his Church in this W#rld. The 
 Fruits of Mofes^s Unbelief, which provoked Goi> 
 to fhut him out of Canaan^ and not to fufFer hitn 
 to partake of thofe great Things God was about 
 to do for Ifrael on Earth, were chiefly thefe two 
 Things ; Firjt^ His mingling Bitternefs with his 
 Zeal : he had a great Zeal for God, and he could 
 not bear to fee the intolerable StifF-neckednefs of 
 the People, that they did not acknowledge the 
 Work of God, and were not convinced by all his 
 Wonders that they had feen : But human Paffion 
 was mingled with his Zeal. PfaL io6* 32, 33. 
 They angred him alfo at the Waters of Strife ; fo 
 that it went ill with Mofes for their Sakes : Be- 
 caufe they provoked his Spirit^ fo that he fpake un- 
 advifedly with bis Lips. Hear now ye Rebels^ fays 
 
 he. 
 
Pa. IV. an ajfuming Behaviour. 2 2 1 
 
 he, with Bitternefs of Language. St'ccmJIy^ He 
 behaved himfelf, and fpakewith an a{rumiiip;Air : 
 He alTumedtoo much to himfelf; Hear now ye 
 Rebels, rnuft JVE fetch Water out of this Reck ? 
 Spiritual Pride wrought in Mofes at that Time : 
 His Temptations to it were very great, for he hud 
 had great Difcoveries of God, and had been pri- 
 viledged with intimate and fweet Communion 
 withliim, ?nd God had made him the Inftru- 
 ment of great Good to his Church ; and tho' he 
 was fo humble a Perfon, and, by God's own 
 Teftimony,meek above allMen upon the Face of 
 the whole Earth, yet his Temptations wxre too 
 ftrpng for him : Which furely fhould make our 
 young Minifters, that have of late been highly 
 favoured, andhave had great Succefs, exceeding 
 careful, and diftruftful of themfelves. Alas ! how 
 far are we from havino; the Streng;th of holy, 
 meek, aged Mofes ! The Temptation at this Day 
 \% exceeding great, to both thofe Errors that Mo- 
 fes was guilty of ; there is great Temptation to 
 Bitternefs and corrupt Paflion with Zeal 5 for 
 there is fo much unreafonable Oppolition made 
 againft this glorious Work of God, and fo much 
 StifF-neckednefs manifefted in Multitudes of this 
 Generation, notwithftanding all the great & won- 
 derful Works in which God has pafled before 
 them, that it greatly tends to provoke the Spirits 
 of fuch as have the InterejR: of this Work at Heart, 
 f6 as to move 'em to fpeak unadvifedly with their 
 Lips. And there is alfo great Temptation to an 
 afluming Behaviour in fome Perfons : When a 
 Minifter is greatly fucceded,£i:om Time to Time, 
 
 and 
 
2 22 Minifiers Temptations to cijjumifjg. P.IV.* 
 
 and fo draws the Eyes of the Alultitude upon him, 
 and he fees himfelf flocked after, and reforted to 
 as an Oracle, and People are ready to adore him, 
 and to OiFer Sacrifice to him, as it was with Paul 
 and Barnabas^ ?xLyJira^ it is almoft impoflible for 
 a Man to avoid taking upon him the Airs of a 
 Mafter, or fome extraordinary Perfon ; a Klan 
 had Need to have a great Stock of Humility, and 
 much divine Afliftance, to refift the Temptation. 
 But the greater our Dangers are, the more ought 
 to be our Watchfulnefs h Prayerfujnefs, and Dif- 
 fidence of our felves, left we bring our felves into 
 Mifchief. Fifhermen that have been very fuc- 
 ccfsful, and have caught a great many Fifli, had 
 Need to be careful that they don't at Length begin 
 to burn Incenfe to their Net. And we fhould 
 take Warning by Gideon^ who after God had 
 highly favoured and exalted him, and mad^ him 
 the Inftrument of working a wonderful Delive- 
 rance for his People, at Length made a God of 
 the Spoils of his Enemies, which became a Snare 
 to him and to his Houfe, fo as to prove the Ruin 
 of his Family. 
 
 All young Minifter? in this Daf of the Ijringing 
 up the Ark ofGOD^ fhould take Warnit^g by 
 the Example of a young Lev'ite in Ifrael^ viz. 
 lj%%a the Son of Abimdah. He feem'd to have a 
 real Concern for the Ark of GOD, and to be 
 zealous and engaged in his Mind, on that joyful 
 Occafion of bringing up the Ark, and GOD made 
 him an Inftrument to bring the Ark out of its long 
 continued Obfcurity in Kirjath-jearim^ & he was 
 fucceeded to bring it a coafiderable Way towards 
 
 Mount 
 
Pa . IV. Of the Example of Uzza. 223 
 
 Mount Zian j but for hisWant of Humility, Revc- 
 ! fence and Circumfpeaion, and afTuming to him- 
 : felf, or taking too much upon him, God brolcQ 
 forth upon him, and fmote him for his Error,, fo 
 that he never Hved to. fee, and partake of the great 
 Joy of his Church, on Occafion of the carrying 
 up the Ark into Mount Zion, and the great Blcl- 
 fings of Heaven upon Jfrael^ that were confc- 
 quent upon it. Minifters that have been iijv 
 proved to carry on this Work have been chiefly 
 of the younger Sort, v^^ho have doubtkf*, (as Uzza 
 had,) a real Concern for the Ark ; and 'tis evi- 
 dent that they are much animated and engaged hi 
 ^ their Minds, (as he was) in this joyful Day ot 
 ; bringing up the Ark ; and they are afraid wliat 
 will become of theArk under theConduft of itsMi- 
 nifters, (that are fometirnes in Scripture compared 
 to Oxen ;) They fee the Ark (hakes, and they 
 are afraid thefe blundering Oxen will throw it ; 
 and fome of 'em it is to be fear'd, have been over 
 officious on this Occafion, and have affumed too 
 much to themfelves, and have been bold to put 
 forth dfcir Hand to take hold of the Ark, as tho' 
 they^jMp the only fit and worthy Perfons to de- 
 fend HP 
 
 If young Minifters had gi*eat Humility, with- 
 out a Mixture, it would difpofe 'em efpecially to 
 treat aged Minifters with Refpect and Reverence, 
 as their Fathers, notwithftanding; that a fovereim 
 God may have given them greater Afliftance and 
 Succefs, than they have had. i Pet. 5. 5. Like- 
 wife ye younger y fubmit your f elves unto the elddr ; 
 yea all of you^ be fubje^ one to another } and be 
 
2 2 4 "I'reatnient of carnal Men. Pa . YV. 
 
 dot bed with Rutntlky \ ^for God rejtjfefh the 'P^ottd^ 
 rad giveth Grace to the Humble. Lev.' i'i)':-'^^:'Thou 
 jhalt rife up before the hoary H^ad. a*id honhvr the 
 Face of the old Man^ and fear ih GOD \ I am 
 the LORD. 
 
 As fpiritual Pride difpofes Perfons to affiime 
 much to themfelves, fo it alfo difpofes 'em to treat 
 others with Negle6t : On the contrary, pure, 
 Chriftian Humility difpofes Perfons to honour all 
 Men, agreeable to that Rule, i Pet. 2. 17. 
 
 There has been in fome, that I believe are true 
 Friends of Religion, too much of an Appearance 
 ©f this Fruit of fpiritual Pride, in their Treatment 
 of thofe that they looked upon to be carnal Men ; 
 and particularly in refufmg to enter into any Dlf- 
 V ourfe or Re^ifoning with them. Indeed to fpend 
 a great deal of Time in Jangling and warm De- 
 bates about Religion, is not the Way to propa- 
 gate Religion, but to hinder it ; and fome are fo 
 tireadfully fet againft this Work, that it is a difmal 
 ' afk to dispute with them, all that one can fay is 
 tterly in vain, I have found it fo by Experic:" - 
 nd to go to enter into Difputes about J^:-_ 
 u fome Times, is quite unfeafonable, ^^Bte^^^ 
 .arly in Meetings for religious ConfereWe 
 Exercifes of ^\'orfhip. But yet we ought to be 
 very careful that we don't refufe to difcourfe witH 
 \ Icw^ with any Appearance of a fupercilious Neg- 
 .61, as tho' we counted 'em not A-orthy to be re- 
 :arJed ; on the contrary we fhould condefcehd fp. 
 arnal Men, as Christ has condefcended W W 
 -o bear with our Unteachablencfs and Stupidity, 
 :ad ftill to follow us with Inftn:(3^ou^^ Xihe\i^on 
 
 Line, 
 
P A . 1 V . Ireaimcnt of carnal Men. 2 1 5 
 
 i.aie, and. Precept upon Precept, faying. Come 
 let us reafon together ; fctting Light before us^ 
 and ufmg all Manner of Arguments with us, and 
 waiting upon fuchdull Scholars., as it were hoping 
 that we fhould receive Light. We Ihould be ready 
 with Mecknefs and Calmnefs, without hot difpu- 
 ting, to give our Reafons, why we think this 
 Work is the Work of GoD^to carnal Men when 
 they afk us, and not turn them by as not worthy 
 to be talk'd with ; as the Apoftle direaed the pri- 
 mitive Chriftians to be ready to give a Reafon of 
 the Chriftian Faith and Hope to the Enemies 01 
 Chriftian^ity, i Pet. 3. 15.' Beready always to ghe 
 Oft Anfwerto every Man that asketh you a Reajou of 
 the Hope that is in you, with Mecknefs and Fear. 
 And we oaight not to condemn all Reafoning about 
 Things of 'Reiigion und«r the Name of carnal 
 Reafon. For my Part, I defir^e no better than that 
 thoic that oppofe this Work, fliould come fairly 
 to fubmit to have the Caufe betwixt us tried by 
 ftriiSl Reafoning. .\0*..:^- 
 
 \ One Qualification that the Scripture Fp^aks of 
 once and again, as requifite hia Minifter is, that 
 he fhould h^Sii^^ru^ apt to teach^ j Tim. 3. 2,. 
 And the Apoftle feems to explain what he means 
 by it, in a Tim, 2. 24, 25. Or at leaft there ex- 
 ■prefies one Thing he intends by it, viz. That a 
 Minifter fhould be ready, meekly -to condefcend 
 to, and linftruft Oppofer s. jlnd the Servant of. the 
 Lordmuji ndtjirive^ hut hegentk unto all Men^ apt 
 to teach ^ patient^ in Meeknefs injiru^ing thofe that 
 oppofe themfelves^ if Godper adventure will give them 
 Repentam^i^ tnJhe acknowledging of thg Truth* 
 V 2 
 
^20 IfHpreffions and Impulfes. Pa . I V". 
 
 ^ 5VcT;^y Another Thing from whence Errors 
 Ml Condua, that attend fuch a Revival of Rdigi^ 
 Oil, (jo anfe, is wr^,/^ Principles. 
 
 And one erroneous Principle, than which fcarce 
 -^.ny has proved more mifchievous to the prefent 
 glorious Work of God, is a Notion that >tis 
 ^OD s Manner, now in thefe Davs, to guide his 
 -aim-s, at leaftfome that are more eminent, br 
 infpiration, or immediate Revelation, and to make 
 itnown to 'em what fhall come to pafs hereafter, 
 or what It is his Will that they fhould do, by Im- 
 preffions that he by his Spirit makes upon their 
 Mmds, either with, or without Texts of Scrip- 
 ture y whereby fcmething is made known to them^ 
 that IS not taught in the Scripture as t-he Words 
 lie m the Bible. By fuch a Notion the Devil has 
 a great Door opened for him ; and if once this 
 Opinion ihouJd come to be fuUy yielded to, and 
 cftablifhed in the Church of God, Satan would 
 have Opportunity thereby to fet up himfelf as the 
 Guide and Oracle of God's People, & to have A/x 
 Word regarded as their iRfallibleRule,& foto lead 
 'em where he would, &to introduce what he pleas'd, 
 and foon to bring the Bible into Njegleft and Con- 
 tempt : — Late Experience in fome Inftances, has 
 fhown that the Tendency of this Notion is to caufc 
 Pcrfons to efteem the Bible as a Book that is in a 
 great Meafr.re ufelefs. 
 
 This Error will defend and f^ipport all Errors.^ 
 As long as a Perfon has a Notion that he is guided 
 by immediate Diredion from Heaven, it makes 
 him incorrigible and impregnable in all his Mif- 
 condu£l : For what fignifies it, for poor blind 
 Worms of the Duft, to go to argue with a Man, 
 
Pa. IV. Imprcfjlons and hnpulfes. 22y 
 
 and endeavour to convince him and correct him, 
 that is guided by the immediate Counfels & Com- 
 mands of the great JEHOVAH ? 
 
 This 2:-reat Werk of God has been exceedingly 
 hi ndercd^by this Error ; and 'till v^-e have .quite 
 taken this Handle out of the Devil's Hands, the 
 Work of GOD will never go on v^rithout grer.^ 
 Clogs & Hindrances. But Satan will always have 
 a vaft Advantage in his Hands againft It, and^ z^ 
 he has improved it hitherto, fo he will do ftill : 
 And 'tis evident that the Devil knows the vaft Ad 
 vantage he has by it, that makes him exceeding loth 
 to let go his Hold. 
 
 'Tis ftrange v/hat a Difpofition there is in many 
 well difpofed and religious Perfons, to fall in with 
 and hold faft this Notion. 'Tis enough to 2fk>- 
 nilh one that fuch multiplied, plain Inftartces o: 
 the failing of fuch fuppofed Revelations, in th ^ 
 Event, don't open every oce's Eyes. I have fecn 
 fo many Inflances of the failing of fuch IinprejTi- 
 ons, that would almofl fiirnifh an Hiftory : J haiT 
 been acquainted wkhthem when made under <1\ 
 •Kinds of Circumftances, and have feen 'em feil 
 in the Event, when made with fuch Circumfta:!- 
 ces as have been faireft and brighteft, and mcfl 
 fromifmg ; as when they have been made upc p. 
 the Minds of fuch, as there was all E.ea{bn x-^ 
 think were true Sabts, yea eminent Saints, -;»j: J 
 at the very Time when they have had great divine 
 Difcoveries, arid have been Ln the high Exercifc 
 of true Comraunion v/ith GOD, andinade with 
 rgreat Strength^ and wi^h great Swee.taefs accGm- 
 •jauying, -and J hare 'bad Reulbn to .think, wJ:ii' 
 Y 2 ^n 
 
..28 ImfreJlJions and Impulfeh , Pa.I\\ 
 
 an excellent heavenly Frame of Spirit, yet con- 
 tinued, and made with Texts of Scripture, that 
 feem'd to be exceeding appofite, yea many Texts 
 ■following one another, extraordinarily and won- 
 derfully bro't-to the Mind, and v/ith great Power 
 and Majefty, and the Impreffions repeated over 
 and o\''er, after Prayers to be direiled ; and yet 
 all has moft manifeftly come to nothing, to the 
 full Conviilion of the Perfons themfelves. And 
 GOD has in lb many Inftances of late in his Pro- 
 vidence, covered luch Things with Darknefs,that 
 -one would think it fhould be enough quite to blank 
 the Expe6lations of fuch as have been ready to 
 think highly of fuch Things ; it feems to be a 
 Teftimony of GOD, that he has no Defign of 
 reviving Revelations in his Church, and a Rebuke 
 from him to the groundlefs Expe6lations of it. 
 It feems to me that That Scripture, Zech. 13. 
 , is a Prophecy concerning Minifters of the 
 Gofpel, in the latter, & glorious Day of the Chri- 
 iHan Church, v;hich is evidently fpoken of in this 
 and the foregoing Chapters ; The Words are, / 
 ! -im no Prophet 'j I am an Hushandrnan : For Man 
 -Light me to keep Cattle from my Youth. The Words, 
 .apprehend, are to be interpreted in a fpiritual 
 'cnfe; I am m Hushand?nan : The Work of Mi- 
 tillers is very often in the Ncw-Teftament, com- 
 pared to the Bufinefs of the Huibandman, that 
 take Car.- of GOD's Hufbandry, to whom" he lets 
 out his Vineyard, and fends '^ern forth to labour 
 Inhis Field, where oneplants and another waters , 
 on^ fows and another reaps; fo Minifters are 
 Srallaa LabQur-^rs in GOD'5 Harvcft* And as it 
 
Pa AW Immediate Revelations. 229 
 
 is added, Man taught me to keep Cattle from my 
 Youth. So the Work of a Minifter is very often 
 in Scripture reprefented by the Bufinefs of a Shep- 
 herd or Paftor. And whereas it is faid, / amjio 
 Prophet ; but Man taught me fro?n my Youth. 'Tis 
 as much as to fay, I don't pretend to have received 
 my Skill, w^hereby I am fitted for the .Bufinefs of 
 a Paftor or Shepherd in the Church of GOD, by 
 immediate Infpiration, but by Education, by be- 
 ing trainM up to the Bufinefs by human Learning, 
 and Inftru£lions I have received from my Youth 
 or Childhood, by ordinary Means. 
 
 And why can't we be contented with the divine 
 Oracles, that holy, pure Word of GOD, that we 
 have in fuch Abundance, ^nd fuch Clearnefs, now 
 fmcethe Canon of Scripture is compleated ? Why 
 fliould we defire to have anj^Thing added to them 
 by Impulfes from above ? Why fhould not wt; 
 reft in that ftanding Rule that GOD has given to 
 his Church, which the Apoftle teaches us is furer 
 than a Voice from Heaven ? And why fhould we 
 defire to make the Scripture fpeakmore to us than 
 it does ? Or why fliould any defire any higher 
 Kindof Intercourfe with Heaven, than that which 
 is by having the holy Spirit given in his fandlifying 
 Influences, infufmg and exciting Graceand Holi- 
 nefs. Love and Joy, which is the higheft Kind of 
 Intercourfe that the Saints and Angels in Heaven 
 have with GOD, and the chief Excellenc)^ of the 
 glorified Man Christ Jesus ? 
 
 Some that follow Impulfes and Impreffions go 
 away with a Notion that they do no other than 
 feliw the Guidance pf GOD's Wprd, ^nd make 
 
 the 
 
"z^o ImpreffwnswithTe^ts of Scripture. P.IV. 
 
 the Scripture their Rule, becaufe tlie ImprefGon 
 is made with a Text of Scripture,, that comes to 
 their Mind, tho'they take that Text as it is im- 
 prefied on their Minds, an^insprove it ns a new 
 Revelation, to all Intents and Purpofes, or as the 
 Revelation of a particular Thing, that is now 
 newly made, while the Text in it felf, as it is in 
 the Bible, implies no fuch Thing, and they them- 
 felves donot fuppofe that any fucli Revelation -was 
 contained m it before. As for Inftance, fupp©fe 
 that Text fhould comeintoa Perfon's Mind v/ith 
 llrong Impreffion,. j^Sf. 9. 6. Arife^ and go into 
 -the City ; end it (hall be told thee what thou ?nu/i do. 
 And be fhould interpret it as an immediate Signi- 
 fication of the Will of GOD, that he fhould now^' 
 forthwith go to fuch a^Neighbour Town, and as 
 a Revelation of that future Event, vi2^ That there 
 he^fhould ^meet with a further Difcovery of his 
 Duty. If ilich Things as thefe are revealed by the 
 Imprefiion of thefe Words, 'tis to all Intents, a 
 jiew Rcvelation,not the iefs becaufeKrertain Words 
 of Scripture are made Ufe of in the Cafe : Here 
 are Propofitions or Truths entirely n^w, that are 
 fuppofed now to be revealed, that thefe Words do 
 not contain in themfelves, and that 'till now there 
 was no Revelation of any where to be found in 
 Heaven or Earth. Thefe Propofitions, That 'tis 
 GOD'5 Mind and Will that fuch a Perfon by 
 Name^ fhould arife at fuch a Time, and go from 
 fuch a Place to fuch a Place, and that tliere he 
 fhould meet v/ith Difcoverief^ are entirely new 
 Propofitions, wholly different from the Propofiti- 
 ons contain'd in that Text of Scri^tufe, no more 
 
 con- 
 
Pa . I V . 'Tke leading of the Spirit. 1 3 1 
 
 contain'djOr confequeiitially implied in theWord^ 
 themfclves, without a new Revelatiqn, than it is 
 implied that he fhould arife and go to any other 
 Place, or that any other Perfon {hould arife and go 
 to that Place. The Propofitions fuppofed to fee 
 now revealed, are as really different from thofe 
 contained in that Scripture, as they are from the 
 Propofitions contained in that Text, Gen» 5. 6. And 
 Seth lived an hundred and fii>e Years ^ Gf begat Enos. 
 This is quite a different Thing from the Spirit^s 
 enlightening the Mind to underftand the Precepts 
 ©r Propofitions of the Word of GOD, and know 
 what is contained and revealed in them, and what 
 Gonfequcnces may }uiHy be drawn from them, and 
 lo fee how they are applicable to our Cafe and Cir- 
 cumftaftces ; which is done without any new Re- 
 velatiofi, iOniy by enabling the Mind to underftand 
 and apply a Revelation already made. 
 • '^ Thofe Texts of Scripture that fpeak of the Chil- 
 dren of GOD as led by the Spirit y have been by 
 feme, brought to defend a being guided by fuch 
 Impulfes ; a^ particularly, thofe Rom. 8. 14. For 
 as many as art led hy the Spirit of God, they are the 
 Sons 9f God: And Gal. 5. 18. Butifyeareledby 
 the Spirit, ye are not under the Law. But thefb 
 Texts themfelv^es confute them that bring them ; 
 for 'tis evident that the leading of the Spirit that 
 the Apoftle fpeaks of is a gracious Leading, or 
 what is peculiar to tl>e Children of GOD^ & that 
 natural Men cannot have ; for he fpeaks of it as a 
 fure Evidence of their being the Sons of GOD, 
 and not under the Law : But a leading or direfting 
 a Perfon, by. immediately revealing to him where 
 
 he 
 
232 U(nv the Saints are Va. IV. 
 
 he fhould go, or what ihall hereafter come to pafs,' 
 or what fhall be the future Confequence of his do- 
 ing thus or thus, if there be any fuch Thing in 
 thefe Days, is r^pt of the Nature of the gracious 
 leading of the Spirit of God, that is pecuhar to 
 God '§ Children ; 'tis no more than a commor\ 
 Gift ; there is nothing in it but what natural Mea 
 are capable of, and many of them have had in the 
 Days of Infpiration : A Man may have ten Thou- 
 iand fuch Revelations and Direftions from the Spi- 
 ^.t of Go D , and yet not have a Jot of Grace in his 
 Heart ; 'Tis no more than the Gift of Prophecy, 
 which ioimediately reveals what will be, or fliouW 
 be hereafter ^ but this is but a common -Gift, as 
 the Apoftie exprefly ibews, i C^. 13. 2,..8v If 
 .JP^rfon has aoyXhing revcakd to^him from Gia^t. 
 or is direfted to anyThing, by a Voice from.He^T 
 ven, or a Whifper, or Words immfidiat^ly fujg^ 
 gefted and put into his Miiid, there is notmiit of 
 tbe Nature of Grace, meeriy'in this ; *tisofthe 
 Nature of a common Influence of the Spirit, 9^ 
 n but Diois and Dung, in Comparifon erf" the Ex- 
 ^llency of that gracious leading of the Spirit that 
 the Saints have- Such a Way of being directed 
 •wiiere one fball go, and what he Ihall do^ is no 
 rtiox^ thau what Balaam had from God, who from 
 Time to Time revealed to him what he fhould do, 
 and when he had done one Thing, then direfted; 
 him what he fhould do next ; fo that he was in 
 this Senfe led by the Spirit, for a confideraWe 
 Time. There is a more excellent Way that the 
 Spirit of God leads the Sons of God ^ that natural 
 Men canaothave, and that is, by inclining them 
 
 to 
 
Pa. IV. led hy the v\ 
 
 to do the Will of God, and go ui d.. 
 Path of Truth and Chriftian Holinefs, 
 an holy heavenly Difpofition, which the >.:-:- 
 rit of God gives them, & enlivens in them \7hich 
 inclines 'enT, and leads 'em to thofe Things that 
 are excellent, & agreable to God's Mind, where- 
 by they are transformed^ hy the roicwing- rf their 
 ATtnds^ and prove what is that good, and acceptable. 
 Gild per fea 1^:11 of God, as in Rom. I2. 2. And 
 fo the Spitit of God does in a gracious Manner 
 teach the Saints their Duty ; and teaches 'em in 
 an' higher Manner than ever Balaa?n, or Saul, or 
 Judas were taught, or any natural Man is capable 
 of while fuch. The Spirit of God enlightens 'em 
 \vith Refpeft to their Duty, by making their Eye 
 fmgle and pure, whereby the whole Body is full of 
 Light, The fanclifying Influence of the Spirit of 
 God re6lifies the Tafte of the Soul, whereby it 
 favours thofe Things that are of GOD, and natu- 
 rally relifhes and delights in thofe Things that are 
 holy and agreeable to GOD's Mind, and like one 
 of a diftinguifhing Tafte, chufes thofe Things that 
 are good and wholefom, and reje6ls thofe Things 
 that ^re evil; for the fan6lified Ear tries Words, 
 and the fanSified Heart tries Actions, as the Mouth 
 taftes^Meat. . And thus the Spirit of GOD leads 
 ^"nd giiides the Meek in his Way, agreeable to his 
 Promifes .; he enables them to underftand theCom- 
 irjands and Counfels of his Word, and rightly to 
 apply them. Ch,RTst blames the Pharifees that 
 they had not this holy diftinguifliing Tafte, to dif- 
 cern and diftinguifli what was right and wrong. 
 ^uk, 12. 57; Tea^ and why, even of your own f elves, 
 judge ye not what is right 9 The 
 
2 34 ^Jf'^ance of the Spirit Pa. IV. :, 
 
 The leadingof the Spirit which God gives hi-sj 
 Children, which is pecuh'ar to thcm^ is that teach- ' 
 ing them his Statutes, and caidlng them to undqr- 
 ftand the Way of his Precepts, which the Pfalmift 
 fo very often prays for, efpecially in the 119th 
 Pfalm ; and not in giving of them nciu Statutes^ 
 and neiu Precepts : He gracioufly gives them Eyes 
 to fee, and Ears to hear, and Hearts to underftand ; 
 he caufes them to underftand the Fear of the Lord, 
 and fo bring the Blind by a Way they knew not, 
 and leads them in Paths that they had not known, 
 and makes Darknefs Light before them,&: crooked 
 Things ftrait. 
 
 So the Affiftance of the Spirit in Praying and 
 Preaching feemsby fome to have been greatly mif- 
 underftood, and they have fought after a miracu- 
 lous Afliftance of Infpiration, by immediate fug- 
 gefling of Words to them, by fuch Gifts and In- 
 fluences of the Spirit, in Praying and Teaching, 
 as the Apoftle fpeaks of, i Cor. 14. 14^ ^6. 
 (which many natural Men had in thofe Days.) 
 Inftead of a gracious holy Affiftance of th^ Spirit 
 of GOD, which is the far more excellent Way ; 
 (as I Cor. 12. 31. & 13. I.) Tbe gracious, and 
 moft excellent kind Affiftance of the Spirit of God 
 in Praying and Preaching, is not by immediate 
 fuggefting of Words to the Apprehenfion, which 
 may be with a cold dead Heart, but by warming 
 the Heart, and filling it with a great Senfe of thofe 
 Things that are to be fpoken of, and with holy 
 AfFeaions, that that Senfe and thofe AfFeaions 
 may fuggeft Words. Thus indeed the Spirit of 
 GOD may be faid, indirefHy and mediately to 
 
 fuggeft 
 
Pa. IV. in Prayer and Preaching. 235 
 
 fu^Q;eft Words tons, to indite our Petitions for 
 ws^h to teach the Preacher what to fay ; he fills 
 the Heart, and that fills the Mouth ; as we know 
 that when Men are greatly affeded in any Mat- 
 ter, and their Hearts are very full, it fills them 
 with Matter for Speech, and makes 'em eloquent 
 upon that Subject ; and much more have fpiritual 
 Affeftions this Tendency, for many Reafons that 
 might be given. When a Perfon is in an holy and 
 
 Jively Frame in fecret Prayer, it will wonderfully 
 fupply him with Matter, and with ExprefTions, as 
 every true Chriftian knows ; and fo it will fill his 
 Mouth in Chriftian Converfation, and it has the' 
 
 •' likeTendency to enable a Perfon in publick Prayer 
 and Preaching. And if he has thefe holy Influ- 
 ences of the Spirit on his Heart in an high Degree, 
 nothing in the World will have fo great a Ten- 
 dene v to make both the Matter and Manner of 
 his publick Performances excellent and profitable. 
 But fince there is no immediate fuggefting of 
 Words from the Spirit of God to be expecled or 
 defired, they who neglect and defpife Study and 
 Pre-meditation, in order to a Preparation for the 
 Pulpit, in fuch an Expectation, are guilty of Pre- 
 fumption ; tho' doubtlefs it may be lawful for fome 
 Perfons, in fome Cafes, (and they may be called 
 to it,) to preach with very little Study ; and the 
 Spirit of God, by the heavenly Frame of Heart 
 that he gives them, may enable them to do it to 
 excellent Purpofe. 
 
 Befides this moft excellent Way of the Spirit of 
 
 God his affifting Minifters in publick Performan* 
 
 cesjwhich (confider'd as thePreacher'sPriviledge) 
 
 X far 
 
2^6 Impreffions and Revelations. Pa. IV. 
 
 far excels Infpiration. There is a common Af- 
 fiftance which natural Men may have in thefe 
 Days, and which the godJy may have intermingled 
 with a gracious Affiftancc, which is alfo very dif- 
 ferent from Infpiration, and that is this aflifting na- 
 tural Principles ; ashisaffifting the natural Ap- 
 prehenfion, Reafon, Memory, Confcience and 
 natural Affeftion. 
 ^ ^ But to return to the Head of Impreffions and 
 immediate Revelations ; many lay themfelves open 
 to a Delufion by expe<fting Diredion from Hea- 
 ven in this Way, and waiting for it ; In fiich a 
 Oafe it is eafy for Perfons to imagine that they have 
 it. They are perhaps at a Lofs concerning fome- 
 thing, undetermined what they fhall do, or what 
 Courfe they fhould take in fome Affair, and they 
 pray to God to direct them, and make known to 
 'em his Mind and Will ; and then, inftead of ex- 
 pefting to be direifted, by being affifted in Confi- 
 deration of the Rules of God's Word, aiad their 
 Circumftances, and God's Providence, and ena- 
 bled to look on Things in a true Light, and juftly 
 to weigh them, they are waiting for fome fecret 
 immediate Influence on their Minds, unaccounta- 
 bly fwaying their. Minds^i and. turnijlg tbeir Tha'ts 
 or Ihclinations that Way that Godi "\RrpuI4 have 
 tbeni go, and are ohferviaig their own Minds,: to 
 fee what arifes there, whether fome Texts qf Scrip- 
 ture don't come into the Mind, or Vv'hether feme 
 Ideas, or inward Motions and Difpofitions don't 
 arife in fomething of an 'unaccountable Manner, 
 tfeat they may call a divine Dire£iion. Hereby 
 they are expofed to two Things, Fh-/I^ They lay 
 
 them- 
 
Pa. IV. Praying in Faith. 237 
 
 themfelves open to the Devil, and give him a fair 
 Opportunity to lead them vi^here he pleafes; for 
 they ftand ready to follow the firft extraordinary 
 Impulfe that they (hall have, gr6undlefly conclu* 
 ding it is from GOD. And Secondly^ They are 
 greatly expofed to be deceived by their own Ima- 
 ginations ; for fuch ah Expectation av/akens and 
 quickens the Imagination ; and that oftentimes h 
 called an uncommon Impreffion, that is no fuch 
 Thing ; and they afcribe that to the Agency of 
 fome invifible Being, that is owing only to them^ 
 felves. 
 
 Again^ another Way that many have been de- 
 ceived, is by drawing falfe Conclufions from true 
 Premifes. Many true and eminent Saints have 
 been led into Miftakes and Snares, by arguing too 
 much from that, that they have prayed in Faith { 
 and that oftentimes when the Premifes are true, 
 they have indeed been greatly aflifted in Prayer foi" 
 fuch a particular Mercy, andfhave had the true 
 Spirit of Prayer in Exercife in their aflcing it of 
 GOD ; but they have concluded more fromthefc 
 Premifes than is a juft Confequence. from them : 
 That they have thus prayed is a fure Sign that their 
 Prayer is accepted and heard, and that GOD will 
 give a gracious Anfwer,according to his ownWif- 
 dom and that the particular Thing that was aflced 
 Ihall be given, or that which is equivalent .; this is 
 ajult Confequence from it; but it is not inferM 
 by any new Revelation now made, but by the Re- 
 velation that is made in GOD's Word, the Pro- 
 mifes made to the Prayer of Faith in the holy 
 Scriptures: But that GOD will anfwcr them in 
 
 X 2 that 1 
 
238 Praying in Faith for P a . IV. 
 
 that individual Thing that they afk, if it ben't a 
 Tiling promifed in GOD's Word, or they don't 
 certainly know that it is that which will be mjoft 
 for the Good of God's Church, and the Advance- 
 ment of C H R I s T 's Kingdom and Glory, nor whe- 
 ther it will be beft for ^hem, is more than can be 
 
 juftly concluded from it. If GOD remarkably 
 
 meets with one of his Children while he is praving 
 for a particular Mercy of great Importance, for 
 himfelf, or fome other Perfon, or any Society of 
 Men, & does by the Influences of his Spirit greatly 
 humble him, & empty him of himfelf in his Prayer, 
 and manifefts himfelf remarkably in his Excellen- 
 cy, Sovereignty and his AU-fufficient Power and 
 Grace in Jesus Ch r i s t , and does in a^emarka- 
 ble Marnier enable the Perfon to come to him for 
 that Mercy, poor in Spirit, and with humble Re- 
 fignation to God, and with a great Degree of Faith 
 in the divine Sufficiency, and the Sufficiency of 
 Christ's Mediation, that Perfon has indeed a 
 great deal the more Reafon to hope that God will 
 grant that Mercy, than otherwife he would have ; 
 the greater Probability is juftly inferM from^That, 
 agreable to the Promifes of the holy Scripture, 
 that the Prayer is accepted and heard ; and it is 
 much more probable that a Prayer that is heard 
 will be returned with the particular Mercy that is 
 aflced, than one that is not heard. And there is 
 no Reafon at all to doubt, but that God does fome 
 Times efpecially enable to the Exercifesof Faith^ 
 when the Minds of his Saints are engaged inTho'ts 
 of, and Prayer for fome particular Bleffing they 
 greatly defire j i. e, GOD is pleafed efpecially to 
 
Pa. IV. for a particular M&cy. 239 
 
 give 'em a believing Frame, a Senfe of his Fulnefs, 
 and a Spirit of humble Dependence on him^at fuch 
 Times as when they are thinking of and praying 
 for that Mercy, more than for other Mercies ; 
 he gives 'em a particujar Senfe of his Ability to do 
 that Thing, and of the Sufficiency of his Power to 
 overcome fuch and fuch Obftacles, and the Suffi- 
 ciency of his Mercy, and of the Blood of Chf.ist 
 for the Removal of the Guilt that is in the Way 
 of the Beftowment of fuch a Mercy, in particular* 
 When this is the Cafe, it makes the Probability 
 ftill much greater, that God intends to beftov/ tfie 
 particular Mercy fought, in his own Time^ and 
 his own Way. But here is nothing of the Nature 
 of a Revelation in the Cafe, but only a drawing 
 rational Conclufions from the particular Manner 
 and Circumftances of the ordinary gracious Influ- 
 ences of God's Spirit. And as God is pleafed 
 fometimes to give his Saints particular Exercifes 
 of Faith in his Sufficiency, with Regard to parti- 
 cular Mercies they feek, foheis fometimes pleas'd 
 to make Ufe of his Word in order to it, and helps 
 the Aaings of Faith with Refpefl: to fuch a Mercy, 
 by Texts of Scripture that do efpecially exhibit 
 the Sufficiency of God's Power or Mercy, infucb 
 a likeCafe,orfpeak of fuch aManner of the Exer- 
 cife of God's Strength & Grace. The ftrengthen- 
 ing of their Faith in God's Sufficiency in thisCafe. 
 is therefore a juft Improvement of fuch Scriptures^; 
 it is no more than what thofe Scriptures, as they 
 ftand in the Bible, do hold forth juft Caufe for. , . 
 But to take them as new Whifpers or Revelations 
 fi-cm Heaven, i§ «ot making a juft ipprovOT*€n<; 
 X 3 " oi: 
 
 1^ 
 
240 Praying in Faith for Pa.IV. 
 
 of them. — If Perfons have thus a Spirit ofPrayer 
 remarkably given them, concerning a particular 
 Mercy, from Time to Time, fo as evidently to 
 fce aflifled to aft Faith in God , in that Particular, 
 in a verydiftinguifhing Manner, the Argument in 
 feme Cafes, maybe very ftrong that God does de- 
 fign to grant that Mercy, not from any Revela- 
 tion novi^ made of it, but from fuch a Kind and 
 Manner of the ordinary Influence of h'xs Spirit, 
 with refpeft to that Thing. 
 
 But here a great deal of Caution and Circitm- 
 fpeftionmuft be ufed in drawing Infer-ences of this 
 Nature : There are m^ny Ways Perfons may be 
 mifled and deluded. The Ground on which feme 
 expeft that they fhall receive tlie Thing they have 
 alked for, is rather a ftrong Imagination, than any 
 true humble Faith in the divine Sufficiency. 7"hey 
 have a ftrong Perfvi'^afion that the Thing afked fliall 
 be granted, (which they can give no Reafon for,) 
 .without any remarkable Difcovery of that Glory 
 andrFulnefs of God and Christ; that is the 
 Grottnd of Faith. And fometimes the Confidence 
 I that Perfons have that their Prayers fhall be an- 
 
 I fwered, is only a Self-righteous Confidence, and 
 
 II no true Faith : They have a high Conceit of them- 
 \\ felves as eminent Saints, and fpecial Favourites of 
 II God, and have alfo a high Conceit of the Prayers 
 h they have made, becaufe they were much eiJarged , 
 fl and affefted in them ; and hence they are pofitive 
 •jl in it that the Thing will come to pafs. And fome- 
 
 ■ times when once they have conceived fiich a No- 
 tion, they grow ftronger and ftronger in it ; and 
 this they'think is from an immediate divine Hand 
 
 upon 
 
Fa: IV. a particular Mercy, l^^x 
 
 upon their Minds to ftrengthen their Confidence ; 
 whereas it is only by their dwelling in their Mlnds^ 
 on their own Excellency, and high Experiences, 
 and great Afliftances, whereby they look brighter 
 and brighter in their ownEyes. Hence 'tis found 
 Oblci vation and Experience, that nothing in the 
 ^Vorld expofes fo much t© Enthunafm as fpiritual 
 Pride and Self-righteoufnefs. 
 
 Tn order to drawing a juft Inference from the 
 firppofed AfTiftance we have had in Prayer for a 
 particular Mercy, and judging of the Probability 
 of the Beftowment of that individual Mercy, ma- 
 iiv 'Ilitiigb mull: be confidered. We muft confi- 
 der the Importance of the Mercy fought, and the 
 Principle whence we fo earneitly defire it 5 how 
 fiir Tt is' good, and agreeable to the Mind and Will 
 of (joD ; the Degree of "Love to GaD that we 
 exerciied in our Prayer ; the Degree of Difcovery 
 that is made of the divine Sufficiency, and the De- 
 gree in wJjich our AfTiftance is maniieftly diftin- 
 guiihing with refpect to that Mercy. And there 
 is nothing of greater Importance in the Argument 
 than "the Degree of Humility, Poverty of Spirit, 
 Self-emprinefs and P.efignation to the holy Will of 
 God, which God gives us the Exercife of in our 
 feeking that Mercy : Praving for a particular 
 Mercy with much of thefe Things, I have often 
 feen blefied with a remarkable Beftowment of the 
 particular Thing afked for. 
 
 From what has been faid, we may fee which 
 Way God may, only by the ordinary eracious In- 
 fluences of his Spirit, fometimes give his Saiin^ 
 fpecial Reafon to hope for the Beftowment of a 
 
 par- 
 
24^ A good Btfpojttton mufi be Pa. IV ^; 
 
 particular Mercy they defire and have prayed for, 
 and which we may fuppofe he oftentimes gives 
 eminent Saints, that have great Degrees of Hu- 
 mility, and much Communion with God. ' And 
 here, I humbly conceive, fome eminent Servants 
 of Je s u s Ch r I s t that have appeared in theChu rch 
 of God, that we read of in Ecclefiaftical Story, 
 have been led into a Miftake ; and through Want 
 of diftinguifhing fuch Things as thefe from imme- 
 diate Revelations, have thought that GOD has fa- 
 voured 'em, in fome In{lances,with the fame Kind 
 of divine Influences that the Apcflles and Prophets 
 had of old. 
 
 Another erroneous Principle that fome have em- 
 braced, that has been a Source of many Errors in 
 theirConducSt, is. That Perfons ought always to 
 do whatfoever the Spirit of GOD (tho' but indi- 
 re6lly,) inclines them to. Indeed the Spirit of 
 GOD in it felf is infinitely perfedl, and all his im- 
 mediate Actings, fimply confidered, are perfect, 
 and there can be nothing wrong in them -, and 
 therefore all that the Spirit of GOD inclines us to 
 direAly and immediately, witliout the Interventi- 
 on of any other Caufe that (hall pervert and mif- 
 improve what is from the Spirit of GOD, ought 
 to be done ; but there may be many Things that 
 we may be difpofed to do, which Difpofttion may^ 
 indireftly be from the Spirit of GOD, that we 
 ought not to do : The Difpofition in general may 
 be good, and be from the Spirit of GOD, but the 
 particular Determination of that Difpofition, ast<J 
 particular Adlions, Objefts and Circumftances, 
 may be ill, aud not fxQW the Spirit gf GOD, but 
 
 may 
 
Pa. IV. regulated by Bifcretion.- 243 
 
 may be from the Intervemion or Interpofition of 
 fomc Infirmity, Blindnefs, Inadvertence, Deceit 
 or Corruption of ours ; fo that altho' the Difpo- 
 fition '\i\ general ought to be allowed & promoted, 
 and all thofe Aclings of it that are fimply from. 
 GOD'S Spirit, yet the particular ill Direction or 
 Determination of that Diipofition^ which is from 
 fome other Caufe, oug[ht not to be followed. 
 
 As for Initance, The Spirit of GOD may caufe 
 a Perfon to liave a dear Love to another, and fo a 
 great Defireof, and Delight in his Comfort, Eafe 
 and Pleafurc : This Difpofuiion in general is good^ 
 'and ought to be followed ; but yet through the In- 
 tervention of IndifcretionjOr fome other bad Caufe, 
 it may be ill dlre(a:ed, and have a bad Determina- 
 tion, as to particular Acts ; and the Perfon indi- 
 reclly, through that real Love that he has to his 
 Neighbour, mav kill him with Kindne(s ; he may 
 do that out of fmcere good Will to him, that may 
 
 tend to ruin him. A good Difpofition may 
 
 through fome Inadvertence or Delufion, ftrojigly 
 incline a Perfon to that, w^hich if he fawall Things 
 as they are^ would be moft contran^ to diat Dif- 
 pofition. The true Loyalty of a General^ and his 
 Zeal for tlie Honour of his Prince, may exceed- 
 ingly animate him in War ; but yet this that is a 
 good Difpofition, thro' Indifcretion and Miftake, 
 may pu(h him forward to thofe Things that give 
 the Enemy great Advantage, and may expofe faimr 
 and his Army to Ruin, and may tend to the Ruin 
 ofhis Mafter'slntereft. 
 
 llie Apoiile does evidently fuppofe that the 
 Spirit of God in bis extraordinary, immediate and 
 
 miira- 
 
244 A good Difpo/ttion tnuji, &c. Pa. IV. 
 
 miraculous Influences on Men's Minds, may in 
 fome Refpeft excite Inclinations in Men, that rf 
 gratified, would tend to Confufion, and therefore 
 muflr fometimes be reftrained, and in their Exer- 
 cife, muft be under the Government of Difcretion. 
 I Cor. 14. 31, 32, 33. For ye 7nay all prophecy^ 
 one by one^ that all may learn ^ and all may be com- 
 farted. And the Spirits of the Prophets are fubje^f 
 to the Prophets ; for God Is mi the Author of Confu- 
 feon^ but of Peace ^ as In all the Churches of the Saints. 
 Here by the Spirits of the Prophets y according to 
 the known Phrafeology of the Apoftle, is meant 
 the Spirit of God adling in the Prophets, accord- 
 ing to thofefpecial Gifts, with which each one was 
 endow'd. And here it is plainly implied that the 
 Spirit of G0D5 thus operating in them, may be 
 an Occafion of their having, fometimes an Incli- 
 nation to do that, in the Exercife of thofe Gifts, 
 which it w^ not proper, decent or profitable that 
 they ftiould ; and that therefore the Inclination, 
 tho' indireftly from the Spirit of God, fhould be 
 reftrain'd, and that it ought to be fubjeft to the 
 Difcretion of the Prophets, as to the particular 
 Time and Circumftancesof its Exercife. 
 
 I can make no Doubt but that it is poffible for 
 a Minifter to have given him by the Spirit of Go d , 
 fuch a Senfe of the Importance of eternal Things, 
 and of the Mifery of Mankind, that are fo many 
 of them expofed to eternal Deftruftion, together 
 with fuch a Love -to Souls, that he might find in 
 himfelf a Difpofition to fpend all his Time, Day 
 and Night, in warning, exhorting and calling upon 
 Men, and fo that he muft be obliged as it were 
 
 to 
 
Pa.IV. Tfue Zeal miift be regulated. 245 
 
 to do Violence to himfelf ever to refrain, fo as to 
 give himfelf any Opportunity to eat, drink or 
 deep. And fo I believe there may be a Difpofnion 
 in like Manner, indireftly excited in Lay-Perfons, 
 through the Intervention of their Infirmity, to do 
 what only belongs to Minifters. Yea to do thofe 
 Thin2;s that v/ould not become either Minifters 
 or People : Through the Influence of the Spirit of 
 God, together vi^ithw^antofDifcretion, and fome 
 remaining Corruption, Women & Children might 
 feel themfelves inclined to break forth and fcream 
 aloud, to great Congregations, warning & exhort- 
 ing the whole Multkude, and to go forth & hallow 
 nd fcream in the Streets, or to leave the Families 
 . ney belong to, arui go from Houfe to Houfe, ear- 
 neftly exhorting others ; but yet it would by no 
 Means follow that it was their Duty to do thefe 
 Things, or that they would. natJiave a Tendency 
 to do ten Times as much Hurt as Good. 
 
 Another wrgng Principle from whence have^ 
 arifen Errofs -in'Condu£l, is, that whatfoever is 
 found to be of prefent and immediate Benefit, may 
 and ought to be praftifed, without looking forw^ard 
 tofutureConfequences. SomePerfons feem to think 
 that it fufficiently juftifies any Thing that they fay 
 Qr do, that it is found to be- for tlieirprefentEdifica- 
 tion, and the Edification of thofe that are with 
 them ; it aflifts and promotes their prefent Affec- 
 tion, and therefore they think they fhould not con- 
 cern themfelves about future Consequences, but 
 leave them with God. Indeed in Things that are 
 ^in themfelves our Duty, being required by moral 
 Rulejs, or abfoluteipOfitive Commands of God, 
 
 they 
 
246 //> niufi lock at Pa. IV. 
 
 t^iev mufl be done, and future Confequcnces muft 
 be left with God ; our/Elcaion and Difcretion 
 takes no Place here : But in other Things we are 
 to be governed by Difcretion, and muft not oniy 
 look at the prefcnt Good, hut our View muft be 
 extenfive, and we muft look at the Confequences 
 of Thm^^. 'Tis the Duty of Minifters efpecially 
 to exercife this Difcretion : In Things wherein 
 they are not determined by an abfolute"Rule, and 
 that are not enjoin'd them by a Wifdom fuperior 
 to their own, Christ has left them to their Qwn 
 Difcretion, with that general Rule,that thev fhould 
 cxercife the utmoft Wifdom they can obtain, in 
 purfuing that, which upon the beft View of the 
 Confequcnces of Things they can get, will tend , 
 moft to the Advancement of his Kingdom. This 
 is implied in thofe Words of Christ to his Dif- 
 ciples, when he fent 'em forth to preach the GofpeJ, 
 Mat,\o. 16. Be ye wife as Serpents, The Scrip- 
 ture always reprefents the Work of a Gofpel- 
 Minifter by thofe Employments that do efpecialJy 
 require a wife Forefight of, and Provifion for fu- 
 ture Events and Confequences. So it is compared 
 to the Bufinefs of a Steward, that is a Bufmefs that 
 in an eminent Manner requires Forecaft', and a 
 wife laying in of Provifion, for the Supply -of the 
 Needs of the Family, according to its future Ne- 
 ceflities ; and a good Minlfter is called a wife Ste- 
 ward : So 'tis compared to theBufmefs of an Huf- 
 bandman, that almoft wholly confifts in thofe 
 Things that are done with a View to the future 
 Fruits & Confequences of his Labour : The Huf- 
 bandman's Difcretion and Forecaft is eloquently 
 
 fet 
 
Fa. IV. the Confcquences ef 'things 
 
 fet forth in Ifa. 28. 2+, 25, 26. Doth the Phu- 
 man piou' all Day to fow ? Doth he open and break 
 
 -Woeat, and the appointed Barly, and the Rye , tn their 
 Place ^ For his Gad doth infru^ him to Dtjcretion, 
 and doth teack him. So the Work of the Minif^y 
 is compared to that of a wife Builder or Architeft, 
 who has a long Reach, and comprchenfive View ; 
 and for whom it is necelTarj^that when he begins a 
 BuiIding,heihould have at once a View of the whole 
 Frame, and all the future Parts of the Strufture, 
 even to the Pinnacle, that all may fitly be fram'd 
 together. So allb it is compared to the Bufinefs of 
 a Tracer or Merchant, who is to gain by trading 
 with the Money that he begins with : This alfo is 
 a Bufinefs that exceedingly requires Forecaft, and 
 without it, is never hke to be followed with any 
 Succcfs, for any long Time ; So 'tis reprefented 
 .by the Bufinefs of a Fiflierman, w^hich depends on 
 Craft a'nd Subtilty : 'Tis alfoxompar'd to the Bu- 
 finefs of a SolJior that goes to War,which is a Bu- 
 \finefs that perhaps, above any other fecular Bufi- 
 nefs, requires great Forefight, and a wife Proviiion 
 Sox future Events and Confequences. 
 
 And particularly Minifters ought not to be care- 
 kfs how much they difcompofe & ruffle the Minds 
 of thofe that they elteem natural Men^ or how 
 great an Uproar they raife in the carnal World, 
 and fo lay Blocks in the Way of the Propagation 
 of Religion. This certainly is not to follow the 
 Example of that zealous Apoftle Pauly who tho' 
 Y he 
 
248 Behaviour tewards natural Men. P.IV. 
 
 he would not depart from his enjoinM Duty to 
 pleafe carnal Men, yet wherein he might with a 
 good Confcience, did exceedingly lay out himfelf 
 to pleafe them, and if poffible to avoid railing in 
 the Multitude, Prejudices, Oppofitions and Tu- 
 rnouts againft the Gofpel ; and lookM upon it that 
 it was of great Confequence that it fh©uld be, if 
 poffible, avoided, i Cor. 10. 32, 33. Give none 
 Offence^ neither to the Jews^ nor to the Gentiles^ nor 
 to the Church of God : Even as I pleafe all Men^ 
 in all Things^ not feeking mine own Profit^ hut the 
 Profit of many y that they Tnay he faved. Yea, he de- 
 clares that he laid himfelf out fo much for this, 
 that he made himfelf a Kind of a Servant to all 
 Sorts of Men, conforming to their-Cuftoms and 
 various Humours, in every Thing wherein he 
 might, even in Things that were very burdenfom 
 to him, that he might not fright Men away from 
 Chriftianity, and caufe them to ftand as it were 
 braced and armed againft it, but on the contrary, 
 if poffible, might with Condefcent^on and Friend- 
 fhip win and draw them to it ; as you may fee, 
 I Cor. 9. 19,20,21,22,23. And agreable here- 
 to, are the Direftions he gives to others, both 
 Minifters and People : So he direfls the Chriftian 
 Romans^ not to pleafe themfehes^ hut every one pleafe 
 his Neighbour^ for hjs Good, to Edification, Rom. 
 15. 1,2. And to follow after the Things that mske 
 /■5rP^jf^,Chap.i4.i9. And he prefTes it inTerms 
 exceeding ftrong,i2^772.i2. 18. If it hepffible, as 
 much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all Men. 
 And he direfts Minifters, to endeavour if poffible, 
 to gainOppofers by a meek condefcending Treat- 
 ment, 
 
fJV. Behaviour towards natural Men. 249 
 ment, avoiding all Appearance of Strife or Fier^^^^ 
 nefs, 2 nm. 2. 24, 25, 26. To the like Pur- 
 pofe, the fame Apoftle direfts Chriftians to walk 
 in JVifdom, towards them that are without^ bph. 4- 
 c. And to avoid giving OfFence to others, if we 
 can, that our Good mayn't be evilfpoken of, Kora. 
 14. 16. So that 'tis evident that the great and 
 moft zealous and moft fuccefsful Propagator ot 
 vital Religion that ever was, looked upon it to be 
 ofgreatConfequence to endeavour, as much as- 
 poflible, by all the Methods of lawful Meeknefs 
 and Gentlenefs, to avoid raifing the Prejudice and 
 Oppofition of the World againft Religion. ---- 
 When we have done our utmoft there will be Op- 
 pofition enough againft vital Religion, agamft 
 which the carnal Mind of Man has fuch an En- 
 mity ; (we fhould not therefore needlefly increafe 
 tfA raife that Enmity) as in the Apoftles Days, 
 tho* he took {o much Pains to pleafe Men, yet be- 
 caufe he was faithful and thorough in his Work, 
 Tcrfecution almoft every where was raifed againft 
 Mm. 
 
 ' A Fiflierman is careful not needlcfsly to ruffle 
 apd difturb the Water, leaft he {hould drive the 
 Pifh away from his Net ; but he'll rather endea- 
 vour if poflible to draw them into it. Such a 
 Fifherman was the Apoftle. 7, Cor. 12. 15, 16. 
 And I will very gladly fpend and be /pent for you ; 
 though the more abundantly I love you y the lefs I be 
 loved » But he it Jo, 1 did not burden you, never- 
 tbelefs, being crafty, I caught you with Guile. 
 
 The Neceffity of fufFering Perfeciifion, in or- 
 der to being a true Chriftian, has undoubtedly by 
 Y 2 fome 
 
.2^0 Cbncerninj^ the Necejftty of Pa. IV5 
 
 fame been carried to an Extreme, and the Doc 
 trme has been abufed. It has been Ibbk'd upon 
 
 ''^''^S'^n!' ""^^^^ ^ ^^^^"'^ Credit amongft others 
 as a Lhnftian, that he ihould be perfeeiited. I 
 ^ave heard it made an Obieclion a^ainft the Sin- 
 cerity of particular Perfons, that \hev were ftb' 
 more hated and reproached. Andthe Mai:ntr of- ' 
 glorying in Pcrfecution, or the Crofi> of CfTRistr 
 has in feme been very wrong, fo as has had too 
 much of an Appearance of lifting up theiiifelv^s in 
 It, that they^were very much hated and reviled, 
 riiore than moll, as an Evidence of their excelling 
 others, in being good Soldiers of Jesus Christ. 
 L buch an Improvement of the Dodrine of the En- 
 I mity between the Seed ofthe Woman & the Seed 
 I of the Serpent, and of the Neceffity of Perfecution, . 
 
 becoming credible and cuftomary, has a direct^ 
 I Tendency to caufe thofe that would be accounted 
 I true Chraiians, to behave themfelves fo towards 
 t, thofe that are not well affeaed to Religion, as to 
 ■ provoke their Hatred, or at leaft to be but little 
 careful to avoid it, and not very ftudioufly aild- 
 ekrneftly to ftrive, (a/ter the Apofde's Example 
 and Precepts,) to pleafe them to their Edification, 
 and by Meeknefs & Gcntlenefs to win them, and 
 by all poflible Means to live peaceably with them. 
 I believe that Saying of our Saviour, I came not 
 to fend Peace on Earthy but Divifton^ has been abu- 
 fed ; as tho' when we fee great Strife and Divifioa 
 arife about Religion, and violent Heats ofSpirk 
 againft the truly pious, and a loud Clamour and 
 Uproar againft theWorkof GoD,it was to be re- 
 joiced in, becaufe it is that M^hich Christ came 
 
 to 
 
JPa-.IV; Juffmng Perfecution. 251 
 
 10 fend. It has ^ilmoft been laid down as a Maxim - 
 by fome, that the nwrc Divifion and Strife, the 
 better Sign ; which naturally leads Perfons to feek 
 it and provoke it, or leads 'em to, and encourages 
 'cm in fuch a Manner of Behaviour, fuch a Rough- 
 nefs and Sbarpnefs, or fuch an afFeiled Negle£l, 
 as has -a natural Tendency to raife Prejudice and 
 Oppofition ;' inftead of ftriving, as the Apoftle did ? 
 to his utmoft, by all Meeknefs, Gentlenefe and-i 
 Benevolence of Behaviour, to prevent or aft.- 
 
 .. fwageit. Christ came to fend a Sword oaf 
 
 Earth, and-to caufe Divifion, no ptherwife thati^i 
 h© came, to fend Damnation ; for Christ that- 
 is kt for the glorious Reftoration of fome^ is fet *^ 
 for the Fail of others, and to be a Stone of Sturn?^ » 
 Wing and Rock of OfFencc to them, and an Cfe^ 
 cafion of their vaftly more aggravated and terrible ^ 
 Damnation ; and this is always the Confequeace i* 
 of a great Out-pourii^ Df th« Spirit and Revi\i?alV. 
 of vital Religion, it is the> Means of the Salvation i^ 
 offome, and the more aggravated Danmation-aof 
 ethers. But certainly^ this- is no juft Argumei*- 
 that Men*s Exppfcdnefi to Damnation is not to 
 be lamented, or that we fhould not exert our 
 felves to our utmoft, in all the Methods- that W€ ^ 
 can devife, that others might be faved, & to avoid -^ 
 aU fuch Behaviour tawards 'em as tends to lead ^' 
 'em down to Hell. - 
 
 I know there is naturally a great Enmity in th^ 
 H^art of Man againft vital Religion > and I be- 
 Jieve there would have been agreat deaj of^ppo- 
 fifionagainft this glorious. Workof God in iVh*;- 
 England if the Subjefts &Pirojuoter« of it had *«-' 
 Y- 3 fcivcd- i 
 
2^1 Of introducing Things P a . 1 V. 
 
 hafved themfelves never fo agreeably to Chriftian 
 
 Rules J and I believe if this Work goes on and 
 
 : fpreads much in the World, faas to begin to (hake 
 
 Kingdoms and Nations, it wiJl dreadfully ftir up 
 
 the Rageof Earth & Hell, and will put the World 
 
 , into the greateft Uproar that ever it v/as in fince 
 
 ' it flood 5 I believe Satan's dying Struggles Mrill be 
 
 ' the moft violent : But yet I believe a great deal 
 
 might be done to reftrain this Oppofition, by a 
 
 good Conformity to that of the Apofile James ^ 
 
 Jam. 3- I3. ff^o is a wife Man^ and cndund with 
 
 I Kmwkdge ? Let him Jheiv out of a good Convcrfa- 
 
 I tim^ his Works^ with Meeknefs of IVifdom. And 
 
 ; lalfo believe that if the Rules of Chriftian Charity, 
 
 I Meeknefs, Gentlenefs and Prudence had been duly 
 
 obferved by the Generality of the zealous Promo^ 
 
 ; ters of this Work, it would have made three^Times 
 
 \ the Progrefs that it has ; /. /. if it had pleafed God 
 
 in fuch a Cafe, to give a Blefiing to Means in 
 
 Proportion as he has done. 
 
 Under this Head of Carelefnefs of the future 
 
 i Confequences of Things, it may be ;)roper to fay 
 
 fomething of introducing Things nev/ & ftrange, 
 
 '* and that have a Tendency by then Novelty to 
 
 fliock and furprrze People. Nothing can be more 
 
 evident from the New-Teftament, than that fuch 
 
 Things ought to be done with great Caution and 
 
 Moderation, to avoid the Offence that may be 
 
 thereby given, and the Prejudices that might be 
 
 \ raifed, to clog & hinder the Progrefs of Religion : 
 
 Yea, that it ought to be thus in Things that are 
 
 in themfelves good and excellent, and of great 
 
 Weight, provided they are not Things that af« of 
 
 i* 
 
IPa. IV. new and Jiran^e. 253 
 
 Ithe Nature of abfolute Duty, which tho' .'they may- 
 [appear to be Innovations, yet can't bentgltci-u 
 [without Immorality or Difobedi.ence to the C^ni- 
 Imands of God. What greatCaution and Mod^^- 
 ration did the Apoftles ufe in introducing Th"' 
 J that were new, and abolifhing Things that v 
 J old in their Day ? How gradually >\'cre the C.e- 
 remonial Peribrmanccs of the L:iw ol zl'icfts j - 
 moved and abohftied among the Ci 
 And how long did even the Apoitlc -: c<i.t ..^t^.i^i^ 
 /:onform to thofe Ceremonies which he culit Aveak 
 and beggarly Elements ? Yea even to ti:e Rite 
 of QrciTmclfion, [Jfis 16. 3.) that he fpe^ks fa 
 much in his Epifiles of the AVcrthlefbefs of, that 
 he might not prv.;judice the Javs. againil Chiiiti- 
 anity ? So it feeins to have been very gradually 
 that the Jewijl} Sabbath was abolifhed, and the 
 Chriftian Sabbath introduced, for the fame P.ea- 
 fon. And the Apoflles avoided teaching Kie Chri- 
 fliansin thofe early Davs, atleall for a great while, 
 f(>me high and excellent divine Truths, becaufe 
 tbey could not bear 'em yet. i Ccr. 3. ii. 2* 
 HiL 5. II. to the End. Thus ftriiily did the 
 A^joflles obferve the Rule that their bleifed Mafter 
 gave them, of not putting new Wine into old Bot- 
 tles, 1 ell they Ihould burft the Bottles, and k)fe 
 the Wine. And how did Christ hijnfelf, while 
 on Earth, forbear fo plainly to teach his Difcipks 
 the great Doi^rines of Chriftianity, concerning 
 his Satisfaftioij, and the Nature and Manner of a 
 Sinner's Juftifrcation & Reconciliation with God, 
 and the particular Benefits of his Death, Refur- 
 K^^a & Afceniian) becaufe m that mfant State 
 ^- the 
 
2 54 Indifcreet and bajly ZmL Pa . W. ^ 
 
 the Difciples were then in, their Minds were not 
 prepared for fuch Inftrudlions ; and therefore the 
 more clear and full Revelation of thefe. Things was 
 reftrved for the Time when their Minds ihould be 
 further enlighten'd and ftrengthen'd by the Qut- 
 peuring of the Spirit after his Afcenlion^ Joh. 
 l6. 12, 13. I have yet many Things to fay untoyou^ 
 but ye cannot bear them now : Howbeit^ ivhen he^ the 
 Spirit of Truth is come, he iv ill guide you into all ^ 
 T^uth. And Mark. 4. 33. Jnd with many fuch 
 Parables fpake he the IVcrd unto them, as they were 
 
 able to bear it, Thefc.Thingi? might be enough 
 
 to convince any one, that don'f think himfelf wifer 
 than Christ and his Apoftles^ that great Pru- 
 dence and Caution fhould he ufed in introducing 
 Things iiUo the Church of God, that are very , 
 uncommon, tho' in themfelves they may be vecy '" 
 excellent, leaftby ourRafhnefs & imprudent Haft^e - 
 we hinder Religion,- much more than we help lU 
 Perfons that are influenced by an indifcreet Zeal 
 are always in too much Hafte ; they are impatient 
 of Delays,^ at^ therefore, are for jumping to the . 
 uppermoft Step firll, before they have taken the 
 pffececdingSteps y whereby they expofe themfiplves . 
 to f*ll and break their Bones : It is a Thing very 
 taking with them to fee the Building rife^very high, 
 and all their Endeavour and Strength is employed . 
 ift advancing ^he Building in Height, without tak-r 
 ing Care withal proportionably to enlarge the Bot- 
 tom ; wher-eby-the wholciis in JDanger of coming , 
 to the Ground; or they, are . for putting on the v 
 StipoiavaridPiDnacle.b.efarethey arc come -t^ it ,01 : 
 fctferc uwJdw^rPattJ of the Building :arc!vdan« ; ,. 
 
Fa. IV. Indifcreet and hajfy Zeal. 2 
 
 i^j 
 
 which tends at once to put a Stop to the BuilJ- 
 . ing, and hinder its ever being a compleat Struc- 
 ture. Many that are- thus iin^irudent and hafty 
 with their Zeal, have a real eager Appetite for 
 that which is good ; but are like Children, tliat 
 are impatient to wait fo!r the Fruit 'till the proper 
 Scafon of it, and therefore fnatch it before it is 
 ripe : Oftentimes in their Flafte thev overfhoot 
 their Mark, and frullrate their own End ; they 
 put that wkich they would obtain further out of 
 Reach than it was before, and eflabUfh and con- 
 firm that which they would remove. Things mufl 
 have Time to ripen : The pradeflt Hufbandman 
 waits *till he has received the former and the kt- 
 ter Rain, and 'till the Harveft is ripe, before lie 
 reaps. We are now juft as it were beginning to 
 recover out of a dreadful Difeafe that we have been 
 long under ; and to icai a M^n recovering from 
 a Fever with ftrong Meat at once, is the ready 
 ^ Way to kill him. The Reformation from Popery 
 was much hinder'd by ihis haily Zeal : Many 
 were for immediately reetifungkl Diforders W 
 Force, which were condemned bv £////^rT, ani 
 were a great Trouble to him. See SleuLn*->ll\? . 
 of the Reformation, pag. 52. cs\\ and Book V. 
 tl^-oughont. It is a vain Prejudice that feme have 
 lately imbibed againft fuch Rules of Prudence and - 
 Moderation : They will be forced to ccnie to 'em ' 
 at l^ft ; tliey'll find thcmielves that tht^ are not 
 able to maintain their Caufe without 'cm ; and if 
 they won't hearken before, Expenence will con- 
 vince 'cm at lafl", when it wi-ii be &00 Jate for them 
 t-^ rectity their M.iliak.,. 
 
 Aiiother 
 
256 A wrong Notkn of Pa. IV. 
 
 Another Error, that is of the Nature of an er- 
 ^ roneous Principle, that fome have gone upon, is 
 a wrong Notion that they have of an Atteftation 
 of divine Providence to Perfons or Things. We 
 go too far when we look upon the Succefs that 
 GaD gives to fome Perfons, in making them the 
 Inftruments of doing much Good, as a Teftimony 
 of God ^s Approbation of thofe Perfons and all the 
 Courfes they take. It .is a main Argument that 
 has been made Ufe of to defend the Conduft of 
 fome of thofe Minifters, that have been Warned as 
 imprudent & irregular, that God has finiled upon 
 them and blefTed them, and given them great Suc- 
 cefs, and that however Men charge them as guilty 
 of many wrong Things, yet 'tis evident that God 
 is with them, and then who can be againft them? 
 And probably fome of thofe Minifters themfclvcs, 
 by this very. Means, have had their Ears ftopp'd 
 againft all that has been faid to convince 'em oX 
 their Mifconducl:. But there are innumerable 
 Ways that Perfons may be mifled, in forming a 
 Judgment of the Mind and Will of God, from 
 the Events of Providence. IF a Pcrfon's^ Succefs 
 be a Reward of fomething that God fees in hini^ 
 that he approves of, yet ^tis no Argument that he 
 approves of every Thing in him. WH^o can tell 
 how far the divine Grace may go in greatly re- 
 warding fome fmall Good that he fees in a Perfon, 
 a good Meaning, fomething good in his Difpofi- 
 tion, while he at the fame Time, in fovereign 
 Mercy, hides his Eyes from a great deal that is 
 bad, that 'tis his Pleafure to forgive, and not to 
 mark againft the Perfon, tho' in it fclf it be 
 
 very 
 
P.IV. the Attefialion of Providence. 257 
 
 very ill ? God has not told us after what Man- 
 lier he will proceed in this Matter, and wc go upon 
 moft uncertain Grounds when we undertake to 
 determine. It is an exceeding difficult Thing to 
 know how far Love or Hatred are extrcifed to- 
 wards Perfons or Actions, by all that is before us. 
 GOD was pleafed in his Sovereignty to give fuch 
 Succefs to Jacob in that, which from Beginning 
 to End, was a deceitful, lying Contrivance and 
 Proceeding of his, that in that Way, he obtained 
 that Blefling that was worth infinitely more than 
 the Fatnefs of the Earth, and the Dew of Heaven, 
 that was given to Efau^ in his BlejQing-, yea worth 
 more than all that the World can afford. GOD 
 was for a while with Judas ^ fo that he by GOD's 
 Power accompanying him, v/rought Miracles and 
 caft out Devils ; but this could not juftly be in- 
 terpreted as GOD's Approbation of hisPerfon, or 
 his Thievery, that he lived in at the fame Time. 
 
 Tlie Difpenfations and Events of Providence, [ 
 with their Reafons, are. too little underftood by j^ 
 tis, to be improved by us as our Rule, inftead of f 
 GOD's Word ; God has his JVay in the Sia, and < 
 'his Path in the mighty fVaiers^ and his Fcotjhps are i 
 not known ^ and he gives us no Account of any of his \ 
 Mattel's ; and therefore we can't fafely take the r 
 Events of his Providence as a Revelation of his \j 
 Mind concerning a Perfon's Condud and Beha- 
 Hriour, we have no Warrant fo to do, GOD has ' 
 never appointed thofe Thing?^, but fomething elfe 
 to be our Rule ; we have but one Rule to go by, 
 and that is his holy Word, and when we join any 
 Thing elfe with it as having the Force of a Rule, 
 
 we 
 
2^S Providence not eiir Rule. Pa. IV. 
 
 we are guilty of that which is ftri6tly forbidden, 
 Deut, 4. 2. Prov, 30. 6. & Rev. 22. iS. They 
 who make what they imagine is pointed forth to 
 'em in Providence, their Rule of Behaviour, do 
 err, as well as thofe that follow Impulfes and Im- 
 preiTions : We ftiould put nothing in the Room 
 of th€ Word of God. It is to be feared that fomc 
 have been greatly confirmed and emboldened by 
 the great Succefs that God has given them, in 
 fome Things that have really been contrary to the 
 Rules of poD's holy Word. If it has been fo, 
 they have been guilty of Prefumption, and abufmg 
 God's Kindnefs to them, and the great Honour he 
 lias put upon them : They have feen that God 
 was with them, and made them victorious in their . 
 Preaching ; and this it is to be feared has been 
 abufed by fome to a Degree of Self-confidence ; 
 it has much taken off all Jealoufy of thcmfelvcs ; 
 they have been bold therefore to go great Lengths^ 
 in a Prefumption that GOD was with them, and 
 woMld defend them, & finally baffle all that found 
 Fault with them. 
 
 Indeed there is a Voice of GOD in his Provi- 
 dence, that may be interpreted and well under- 
 does! by the Rule of his Word ; and Providence 
 may to our dark Minds and weak Faith, confirm 
 the Word of GOD, as it fulfils it : But to im- 
 prove divine Providence thus, is quite a different 
 Thing from mak-ing a-Rule of Providence. There 
 is a good Ufe may be mack of the Ev^ents of Pro-^ 
 vidcn:e, of our own Obfervation and Experience, 
 and human Hiftories, and the Opinion of the Fa- 
 thers, & other eminent Men ; but finally all muft 
 
PJV. "Time of inward Comforts no Rule. 259 
 
 be brought to one Ruhy viz. the Word of GOD, 
 >aiid that muft be regarded as our oiily^ Rule. 
 
 Nor do I think that they go upon lure Ground, 
 that conclude that they have not been In an Error 
 in their Condua, becaufe that at the Time of their 
 doing a Thing, for which tkey have been blamed 
 and reproached by others, they were favoured with 
 fpccial Comforts of God's Spirk. > God's be- 
 Itowing fpecial fpiritual Mercies on a Perfon at 
 fuch.a Time, is no Sign that he approves of every 
 Thing that he fees in him at that Time. David 
 had very much of the Prefence of God while he 
 lived in Polygamy : And Solomon hdid fome very 
 ^ high Favours, and peculiar Smiles of Heaven, and 
 ■ particularly at the Dedfcationof the Temple, v/hiie 
 he greatly multiplied Wives to himfdf, and Hor- 
 fes, 2nd Silver and Gold ^ all contrary to the mc-ft 
 exprefe Command of GOD to the King, in the 
 Law oi Mofes^ Deut. 17. 16, 17. We can't tell 
 how far GOD may hide his Eyes from beholding 
 Iniquity in Jacobs and feeing Perverfenefs in Ifrad. 
 ' We can't tell what are the Reafons of GOD's 
 ' Adlions any further than he interprets for hi;nfelf. 
 GOD fometimesgave fome of the primitive Chri- 
 ftians, the extraordinary Influence of his Spirit, 
 when they were out of the Way of their Duty ; 
 and continued it, while they were abufing it 3 as 
 is plainly implied, i Cor. 14. 31, 32, 33. 
 
 Yea, if a Perfon has done a Thing for which he 
 is reproached, and that Reproach be an Occafion 
 of his feeling fweet Exercifes of Grace in his Soul, 
 and that from Time to Time, I don't think that 
 is a certain Evidence that GOD approves cf the 
 Z . Thue 
 
26o ^ime of inward Contforts no Ruie. P.IV. 
 
 Thing he is blamed for. For undoubtedly a 
 Miftake may be theOccafion offlirringup the Ex- 
 ercife of Grace, in a Man that has Grace- If a 
 Perfon, through Miftake, thinks he has received 
 fome particular great Mercy, that Miftake may 
 fee the Occafion of ftirring up the fweet Exercifes 
 ef Love to GOD, and true Thankfulnefs and Joy 
 in GOD. As for Inftance, if one that is fuU of 
 Love to GOD fliould hear credibje Tidings, con- 
 cerning a remarkable Deliverance of a Child, or 
 other dear Friend, or of fome glorious Thing done 
 for the City of GOD, no Wonder if, iDii fuch an 
 Occafion, the fweet Aftings of Love to GOD, 
 and Delight in GOD fhould be excited, dio' in- 
 deed afterwards it fhould prove a felfe Report that . 
 he heard. So if one that loves GOD, is. much 
 maligned and reproached for doing that which he 
 thinks GOD required and approves, no Wonder 
 that it is fwe^ to fuch an one to think that GOD 
 is his Friend, tho' Men are his Enemies ; no Won^' 
 der at all, that this is an Occafion of his, as it were, 
 leaving the World, and fweetly betaking himfelf 
 to GOD, as his fure Friend, and finding fweet 
 Complacence in GOD ; tho' he be indeed in a 
 Miftake, concerning that wJiich he thought was 
 agreeable to GOD's Will. As I have before (hewn 
 that the Exercife of a truly good AfFeftion, may 
 be the Occafion of Error, and may indire<5>ly m- 
 cline a Perfon to do that whkh is wrong ; .fo on 
 , the other Hand, Error, or a doing that which is 
 ' wrong, may be an Occafion of the Exercife of a 
 truly good AfFedion. The Reafon of it is this, 
 that however all Exercifes of Grace be from the 
 
 Spirit 
 
 T 
 
[Pa, IV. Concerning external Order. 261 
 
 Ispirit of GOD, yet the Spirit of GOD dwells and 
 ladls in the Hearts of the Saints, in fome Meafure 
 [after the Manner of a vital, natural Principle, a 
 [Principle of new Nature in them 5 whofe Exer- 
 crfes are excited by Means, in fome Meafure as 
 other natural Principles are. Tho' Grace ben't 
 in the Saints, as a meer natural Principle^ but as a 
 fovereign Agent, and fo its Exercifes are not tied 
 io Means ^ by an immutable Law of Nature, as in 
 meer natural Principles ; yet GOD has fo confti- 
 tuted, that Grace fhould dwell fo in the Hearts of 
 the Saints, that its Exercifes fhould have fome 
 Degree of Connexion withMeans, after the Man- 
 ner of a Principle of Nature. 
 
 Another erroneous Principle that there has been 
 fomething of, and that has been an Occafion of 
 fome Mik:hief«nd Confuffon, is that extei'nal'Or^ 
 der in Matters of Religion, and Ufe of the Means 
 of Grace, is but little to be regarded : ^Tis fpoken 
 %htly of, under the Names of Ceremonies & dead 
 Forms, ^c. And is probably the more defpifed by 
 fome becaufe their Oppofers infift fo much upon 
 it, and becaufe they arefo continually hearing from 
 
 ^hem the Cry of Diforder and Confufion. 'Tis 
 
 objected againft the Importance of external Order 
 that GOD don't look at the outward Form, he 
 looks at the Heart : But that is a weak Argument 
 againft its Importance, that true Godlinefs don't 
 confift in it ; for it may be equally made Ufe of 
 againft all- the outward Means of Grace whatfc- 
 ever. True Godlinefs don't confift in Ink and 
 Paper, but yet that would be a foolifh Objeftion 
 againft the Importance of Ink and Paper/ia Reli- 
 Z a.- gion, 
 
262 Concerning external Or^er. Pa.' TV; ' 
 
 gion, when without it we could not nave the Word w^ 
 of GOD. If any external Means at all are 'need-, 
 fjul, any outward Alliens of a publick Nature, or- 
 wherein GOD's People are jointly concerned in* 
 publick Society, without Doubt external Or;ler is 
 needful: The Management of an external AfFair 
 that is publick, or wherein a Multitude^. is. con-, 
 rerned without Order, is in every Thir;g found 
 jnpoffible. Without Order there can be no ge- 
 neral DirecSiion of a. Multitude to. any particular, 
 defigned End, their P-urpofes will crofs one ano-. 
 ther, and they won't help but hinder one another. 
 A Multitude can't a6l in Union one with another 
 "without Order j Confulion fe para tes and divides 
 them, fo that there can be no Concert or Agree-^ ^ 
 m^nt* If a Multitude would help^one another ii^ 
 any AfFair, they muft unite themfelves one to ano- 
 ther in a regular Subordination of Members, irf 
 fome Meafure as it is in the natural Body ; by this 
 Means they v/ill be in fome Capacity to aft with 
 united Strength : And thus Christ ha? appointed 
 that it fhould be in the vifible Church, as i Cor.^ 
 12. 14. to the End, and Rom. J2. 4, 5, 65 7, 8, 
 Zeal without Order will do but little, or at leaft it 
 vnlj be efFedlual but a little while. Let a Com- 
 pany that are very zealous againft the Enemy, ga 
 forth to War, without any Manner of Order, 
 every one rufning forward as bis Zeal fhall drive 
 h:m, all in Confufion,' if they gain fomething at 
 nrft Onfet, by furprizing the Enemy, yet how 
 foon do they come to nothing, and fall an eafy 
 helplefs Prey to their Adverfaries ? Order is oac 
 of the moft neceflary of all external Means of the 
 
 fpirltual 
 
P; IV. Of external Order in Rtligicn. 263 
 
 fpiritual Good of God's Church; and therefore 
 It is requifite even in Heaven it felf, where there 
 is the leaft Need of any external Means of Grace ; 
 Order is maintained amongft the glorious Angels 
 there. And the Neceffity of it in order to the 
 carrying on any Defign, wherein a Multitude are 
 concerned, is fo great^ that even the Devib in Hell 
 are driven to fomething of It, that they may carry 
 on the Defigns of their Kingdom. And '^tis very 
 obfervable, that thofe Kinds of irrational Creatures, 
 for whom it is needful that they fhould a£l in Uni- 
 on and join a Multitude together, to carry on any 
 Work for their Prefervation, they do by a won- 
 . derful Inftinft that God has put into them, ob- 
 lerve and maintain a moff regular and exaft Order 
 among themfelves \ fuch as Bees and fome others.. 
 And Order inthevifible Church is not only necef- 
 fary to the carr)'ing on the Defigns of Christ's 
 Glory and the Church's Profperity,. but it is abfo- 
 lutely neceffary to its Defence j without it, it^s 
 like a City without Walls, and can be in no Ca^. 
 pacity to defend it felf from any Kind of Mifchief: 
 And fo however it be an external Thing, yet is not. 
 to be defpifed on that Account ; for tho' it ben'L 
 the Food of Souls, yet it is in fome Refpeft their 
 Defence.~-The People oi Holland vfo\x\6. be very 
 fbolifh to defpife the Dikes that keep out the Sea 
 from overwhelming them,under the Names of jdead 
 Stones and vile Earthy becaufe the Matter of which 
 they are built is not good to eat* 
 
 It feems to be partly on the Foundation o£ this 
 
 Notion of the Worthlefnefs of external Order,that 
 
 feme have feem'd to aft on that Principle, that the 
 
 Z 3 ?gwe^ 
 
' 2^4 Ab fence from Family Werfhip, P.F/. 
 
 Power of judging & openly cenfuring others fhould 
 not be referved in the Hands of particular Perfons, 
 or Confiftories appointed thereto, but ought to be 
 left at large, for any Body that pleafes to take it 
 upon them, or that think themfelves fit for it ; 
 But more of this afterwards — 
 
 On this Foundation alfo, an orderly attending 
 ontheftated Worfhip of God in Families, has 
 been made too light of; and it has been in fome 
 Places too much of a common & cuftcTmary Thing 
 to be abfent from Family Worfhip, & to be abroad 
 late in the Night at religious Meetings, or to at- 
 tend religious Converfation. Not but that thi^ 
 ipay be, on certain extraordinary Occafions ; I 
 have feen the Cafe to be fuch in many Inftances, 
 that I have tliought did afford fufficient Warrant 
 for Perfons to be abfent from Family Prayer, and 
 to be from Home 'till very late in the Night : But 
 we fhould take Heed that this don't become a Cuf- 
 tom or common Pradtice ; if it fliould be io^ we 
 (hall foon find the Confequences to be very ill. 
 
 It feems tg be on the feme Foundation, of the 
 fuppofed Unprofitablenefs of external' Order, that 
 it has been thought by fome, that there is no Need 
 that fuch and fuch religious Services and Perfor- 
 mances fhould be limited to any certain Office in 
 the Church ; (of which more afterwards.) And 
 alfo that thofe Offices themfelves, as particularly 
 that of the Gofpel-Miniflry^ need not be limited 
 , as it ufed to be, to Perfons of a liberalEducation ; 
 I but fome of late have been for having others that 
 \ they have fuppofed to be Perfons of eminent Ex- 
 [ p^rieace, publickly licenftd to preach, yea and or- 
 dained 
 
P.IV. Licenftng unlearned Mento preach, 265 
 
 dained to the Work of the Miniftry ; and fome 
 Miniflers have feemM to favour fuch a Thing : 
 But how little do they feem to look forw^ard, and 
 confider the unavoidable Confequences of opening 
 fuch a Door ? If once it fhould become a Cuiiom, 
 or a Thing generally approved and allowed of, to 
 admit Perfbns to the Work of the Miniftry that 
 have had no Education for it, becaufe of their re- 
 markable Experiences, and being Per fens of good 
 Underftanding, how many Lay-Perfons would foon 
 appear as Candidates for the Work of the Mini- 
 ftry ? I doubt notbut that Ihave been acquainted 
 with Scores that would have defired it. And how 
 fiiall we know where to flop ? If one is admitted 
 becaufe his Experiences are remarkable, another 
 will think his Experiences alfo remarkable ; and 
 we perhaps, fhall not be able to deny but that they 
 are near as great : If one is admitted becaufe be- 
 fides Experiences, he has good natural Abilities^ 
 another by himfelf, and many of his Neighbours, 
 lilay be thought equal to him. It will be found of 
 aWblute Neceffity that there fhould be fome cer* 
 tain, vifible Limits fixed, to avoid bringing Odium 
 upon ourfelves, and breeding Uneafmefs and Strife 
 ahiongft others ; and I know of none better, and 
 indeed no other that can well be fix*d, than thofe 
 that the Prophet Zechariah fixes, viz. That thofe 
 only fhould be appointed to be Paftors or Shep- 
 herds in God's Church, that have been taught to 
 keep Cattle from' their Youth\ or that have had an 
 Education fcr^hat Purpofe. Thofe Miniflers that 
 have a Dilpofkibn to break over thefe Limits^ \% 
 tt^y fhouM do fb^ aiid malice a Pradice of it, wotiM- 
 
 break 
 
266 Of tifing the Slyte of Pa. IV^ 
 
 break down that Fenc^, whidi they themfeh^es 
 after a while, after they have been wearied with 
 the ill Confequences, would be glad to have fome 
 Body elfe build up for them. Not but that there 
 may probably be fome Perfons in the Land, that 
 have had no Education at College, that are in them- 
 felves better qualified for the Work of the Mini- 
 firy than fome others that have taken their De- 
 grees, and are now ordained. But yet I believe 
 the breaking over thofe Rounds that have hitherto 
 been fet, in ordaining fuch Perfons, would in its 
 Confequences be a greater Calamity^ than the 
 miffing fuch Perfons in the Work of the Miniftry. 
 The opening a Door for the Admiffion of unlearn- 
 ed Men to the Work of the Minlfiry,, tho' they 
 fhould be Perfons of extraordinary Experience,, 
 wguld on fome Accounts be efpecially prejudicial 
 at fuch a Day as this ; becaufe fuch Perfons, for 
 want of an extenfive Knowledge,, are oftentimes 
 forwar-d to lead others into thofe Things, which a 
 People are in Danger of at fuch a Time, above all 
 Qther Times, viz, Impulfes, vain Imaginations, 
 Superftition, indifcreet Zeal, and fuch like Ex- 
 tremes ; inftead of defending them from them, 
 for which a People efpecially need a Shepherd, at 
 fuch an extraordinary Seafon. 
 
 Another erroneous Principle that it feems to me 
 fome have been, at leaft, in panger of, is, that 
 idinifters, becaufe they fpeak as CaRisx's Am- 
 bafladors, may affume the fame^ Style, and fpeak as 
 with the fame Authority that the Prophets of old' 
 did,. yea that Jesus Christ himfelf fljd in the 
 23d of Matthew, Te Serpents^ ye Gernration ofVi- 
 
Fa .IV. Chriji and the Prophets. 267 
 
 pers^ &c. and other Places ; and that not only 
 when they arc fpeaking to the People, but alfo to 
 their Brethren in the Miiiiftry^ Which Prirxiple 
 i^ abrurd,. becaufe it makes no Difference in the- 
 different Degrees and OrJers ofMeflengers that. 
 Go p.. has fent into the World, tho' God has made, 
 a, very gieat Difference : For tlVo' they all come* 
 in romc*Rerpc6l in the Name of God, and with, 
 lomethingof his AuthoritvV yet certainly there is. 
 :{,\7i\x Difference in- the Degree offApthority with 
 whichGoD has invelted theihr 'Jesus Christ. 
 was one that w^s fcnt into tlie World as Gap's* 
 Meffenger, and fo was one of his Apcftles^and fo 
 alfo is aiVbrdiriary Paftor of a Church ; but yet it. 
 doji't follow, that becaufe Jesus Christ andean 
 ordinary MiniPcer are both McfTengers cf Go 6^^ 
 that therefore z\ ordinary Minifrer in his Offiire, ' 
 is Vefted with an equal Decree of Authority, that 
 Christ was, in bb. As there is-a great Diffe- 
 rence in their Aurhority, and as Christ came as^ 
 God's Meffenger. in a v aft ly higher Manner, fo. 
 another Style became him, more authoritative than^ 
 is proper for usWorms of the Duft, tho' we alfd' 
 are Meffengers ofinferrbur Degree. It would be. 
 Itrange if God, when he has made fo greata Dif^' 
 ference iirthe Degree, in v/bichhehas inveifed dif- 
 ferent A^effengcjs wiihbis Authority, ftiouKi make- 
 no Difference as to the outVv-ard A^ppearance and* 
 Shcvv' of Authority, in Stvlc aud Behaviour, which 
 is proper and fit to be feen* in them. Tho' God^ 
 has put greatH6nourupon Minifi-ers,and they may 
 ipeak as his Ambaffadors, yet he never intended 
 tliat they fnould have the fameOutv/ard-Appcarance 
 
 af. 
 
26 S Of corrupt Mixtures in the Pa. IV. 
 
 of Authority and Majefty, either in their Behavi- 
 our or Speech, that his Son fliall have, when he 
 comes to Judgment, at the laft Day j tho* both 
 come, in diiferent Refpedls and Degrees, in the 
 Name of the Lord : Alas ! Can any 7"hing ever 
 make it enter into the Hearts cf XVorms of the 
 Duft, that it is fit aiid fuitable that it fhould be fo ? 
 
 Thus I have ccnftdered the two firft of thofe 
 three Caufes of Error in Conduft that were men- 
 tionM ; I come now to the 
 
 Third and laft Caufe of the Errors of thofe that 
 have appeared to be tliC Subjects or zealous Pro-i 
 meters of this Work, viz, a being ignorant or un- 
 ohfervant of fome particular Things, by which the 
 Devil has fpecial Advantage. 
 
 And here I would oarticularlv take Notice i. 
 
 Of fome Tilings whh Refpedl to the inward Ex* 
 periences of Chi iftians thejr^felves. And 2. Some- 
 thing with Regard to the external Effects of Ex- 
 periences. 
 
 There are three Things I would take Notice of 
 .vith Regard to the Experiences of Chriftians, by 4 
 ,vhich the Devil has many Advantages againft us. 
 
 I. The iirft Thing is the Mixture there often- 
 rimes is in the Experiences of true Chriftians j 
 v/hereby when they have truly gracious Experi- 
 ences, and divine and fpiritual Difcoveriesand Ex- 
 r.iles, they have fumething clfe mixM with them, 
 cfides what h fpirirual : There is a Mixture of 
 Jiat which is natural^ and that v/hich is corrupt, 
 \vith that v/hich is divine. This is wh^t Chrifti-, 
 ms are liable to in the prefent exceedi^ imperfei 
 Mtc : The great ImperJSeclion of Grace, and Fee* " 
 
 hlenefi 
 
P A .IV . Experiences of Chrijlians. 2 6^ 
 
 blenefs and Infancy of the new Nature, and the 
 :great Remains of Corruption, together with the 
 ■i^ircumftances we are in in this World, where we 
 are encompafTed all round with what tends to pol- 
 lute us, expofes to this. And indeed it is not to 
 be fuppofed that Chriftians ever have any Experi- 
 ences in this World that are wholly pure, entirely 
 fpiritual, without any Mixture of what is natural 
 and carnal : The Beam of Light, as it comes from 
 the P'ountain of Light upon our Hearts, is pure, 
 but ?s it is reflected thence, it is mixt : The Seed 
 as fent from Heaven and planted m the Heart, is 
 pure, but as it (prings up out of the Heart, is im- 
 pure ; yea there is commonly a much greaterMix- 
 ture, than Perfons for the moft Part km to have 
 any Imagination of ; I have often thought that the 
 Experiences of true Chriftians are very frequently 
 as it is with fome Sorts pf Fruits, that are invelop'd 
 in feveral Coverings of thick Shells or Pods, that 
 are thrown away by him that gathe/s the Fruit, 
 and but a very finall Part of the whole Bulk is the 
 pure Kernel, that is good to eat. 
 
 The Things, of all which there is frequently 
 fome Mixture with gracious Experiences, yea with 
 very great and high Experiences, are thefe three, 
 Human^ or natural Affe^iion and PaJJion ; ImpreJJi- 
 ons on the Imagiyiation ; and a Degree of Self-rigb- 
 ieoiifnefs ox fpiritual Pride, There is very often 
 with that which is fpiritual a great Mixture of that 
 ^ AfFeftion or Paflion which arifes from natural 
 Principles ; fo that Nature has a very great Hand 
 in thofe vehement Motions and Flights of the Paf- 
 iions that appear. Hence the fame Degrees of 
 
 divine 
 
^yo Mixtures in Experiences. Pa. 1Y. 
 
 divine Comm«jnicaticiis from Heaven, fhall have 
 vaftly diiFcrent Eff^cS];?, in wha'^ /outward Iv ap- 
 pears, iir Pci Ions of'clTjfFcicnt iiatural Tempers, j 
 The great Mixture of that which j^ natural Wr4 I 
 that which is fpiritual, is very manifeft in the pe- 
 culiar EiFects that divine Influences, have In fiinic 
 .certain Families, or Perfpnsbf fuch a Blood, la a 
 • diftinguifhing Manner of the operating of thefaf- 
 \i\Qm and Affedions, and the Manner of the '.ddt- 
 ward Exprefiions of 'em. I know fome renlarka- 
 Die Inflances of this. "The fame is alfo evident bv 
 the difFcrent Effects of divine Communications on 
 the fam^ Pcrfon at difterent Times, and in diffe- 
 rent Ci/curhftances:: TheNovdty of Things, cr 
 tlie fudden Tranfitioii from an oppofite E^^treme, 
 .uid many other Things that might be mentioned, 
 greatly coiitribute 'to the ralfing' of the Pailioirs. 
 And fometimes there is not only a Mixture of that 
 /vhich is common and natural with gracious Ex- 
 ;^crience, but even that which is animal, that which 
 :s inagreat'Meafure from,theBody, and is pro- 
 perly the Refult of the animal Frame. In what 
 true Chriftians feel of AftecSlions towards God, 
 all 15 not always purely holy arid divine ; every 
 Thing that is felt in the Affeftions don't arife from 
 fpiritual Principles, but common and natural Prin- 
 ciples have a very great Hand 4 an improper Self- ; 
 Love may have a great Share in the Effect : God 
 is not loved for his own Sake, or for the Excellency- 
 and Beauty of his own Perfections as he ought to 
 be y nor have thefe Things in any wife, that Pro- 
 portion in the Effedt that they ought to have. So 
 in that Love that true Chriftians have one to ano- 
 ther^ 
 
Pa. IV. Mixtures in E:<periences. 271 
 
 ther, very often there is a great Mixture of what 
 arifes from common and natural Principles^ with 
 Grace ; & Self- Love has a great Hand : The Chil- 
 dren of God ben't loved purely for Chrift's Sake, 
 but there may be a great Mixture of that natural 
 Love that many Se£ts of Hereticks have boafted of, 
 w^ho have been greatly united one to another, be- 
 caufe they were of their Company, on their :'itie, 
 againft the reft of the World ; yea, there may be 
 a Mixture of natural Love to the oppofite Sex, 
 with Chriftian and divine Lcve. So there may he 
 a great Mixture in that Sorrow for Sin that the 
 godly have ; and alfo in their Joys ; natural Prin- 
 ciples may greatly contribute to what is felt, a 
 great many V/ays. as might eafily be fhown, would 
 it not make my Difcourfe too lengthy. There is 
 nothing that belongs to Chriftian Experience that 
 is more liable to a corrupt Mi^cture than Zeal ; 
 tho' it be an excellent Virtue, a heavenly Flame, 
 when it is pure : but as it is exercifed in thofe who 
 are fo little fanaified, and fo little humbled, as we 
 are in the prefent State,^tis very apt to be mix'd 
 with human Paffion, yea with corrupt hateful 
 AftecSlions, Pride and uncharitable Bitternefs, and 
 other Things that are not from Heaven but from 
 Hell. 
 
 Another Thing that is often mixed with what 
 is fpiritual in theExperiences of Chriftians,are,Lm- 
 preffions on the Lnagination ; whereby godlvPer- 
 fons, together with a fpiritual underftandlqg of di- 
 vine Things, and Conviftion of their Reality and 
 -Certainty, and a ftrong and deep Senfe of their 
 Excellency or great Importance upon their Hearts^ 
 
 n 
 
272 Mixtures in Experiences. Pa. IV. 
 
 have ftrongly imprefs'd on their Minds external 
 Ideas or Images of Things. A Degree of Imagi- 
 nation in fuch a Cafe, as I haveobferv'd elfewhere, 
 is unavoidable, and neceflarily arifes from human 
 Nature, as conftituted in tht prefent State ; and a 
 Degree of Imagination is really ufeful, and often is 
 of great Benefit ; but when it is in too great a De- 
 gree it becomes an impure Mixture that is preju 
 dicial. This Mixture very often arifes from the 
 Conftitution of the Body. It commonly greatly 
 contributes to the other Kind of Mixture menti- 
 oned before, vix. of natural AfFe£tions & Paffions ; 
 it helps to raife them to a great Height. 
 
 Another Thing that is often mix'd with the Ex- 
 periences of true Chriftians, which is the worft 
 Mixture of all, is a Degree of Self-righteoufnefs 
 or fpiritual Pride. This is often mix'd with the 
 Joys of Chriftians ; the Joy that they have is not 
 purely the Joy of Faith, or a Rejoicing in Chnft 
 Jefus, but is partly a rejoicing in themfelves ; 
 There is oftentimes in^ their Elevations a looking 
 upon themfelves, and a viewing their own high 
 Attainments ; they rejoice partly becaufe they are 
 taken with their own Experiences and great Dif- 
 coveries, which makes 'em in their own Appre- 
 henfions fo to excel ; and this heightens all theii 
 Paffions, and efpecially thofe EfFefts that are more 
 External. . 
 
 There is a much grater Mixture of thefe Thing! 
 in the Experiences of fome Chriftians than others; 
 in fome the Mixture is fo great, as very much tc 
 obfcure and hide the Beauty of Grace in them, lik< 
 a thick Smoke that hinders all the Shining of th , 
 fire. Theft I 
 
P A.IV. Mixtures in high Jffe£iions. ij^ 
 
 Thefe Things we ought to be well aware of, 
 that we mayn't take all for Gold that glitters, and 
 that we may know what to countenance and en- 
 courage, and what todifcourage ; otherwife Satan 
 will have a vaft Advantage againft us, for he 
 works in the corrupt Mixture. Sometimes for 
 want of Perfons diftinguiihing the Oar from the 
 pure Metal, thofe Experiences are moft admired 
 by the Perfons themfelves that are the Subjedb of 
 them, and by others, that are not the moft excel- 
 lent. The great external EfFe6ls,and Vehemence 
 of the Pailions, & violeat Agitations of the animal 
 Spirits, is fometimes much owing to the corrupt 
 Mixture j (as is very apparent in fome Inftanccs) 
 tho' it be not always fo. I have obferved a great 
 Difference among thofe that are under high Affec- 
 tions, and feem difpofed to be earneftly talking to 
 thofe that are about them ; fome infift much more, 
 in their Talk, on what they behold in God and 
 Christ, the Glory of the divine Perfedlions, 
 Christ's Beauty and Excellency, and wonderful 
 Condefcenfion and Grace, and their own Unwor*^ 
 thinefs, and the great and infinite Obligations that 
 they themfelves and others are under to love and 
 ferveGoD ; fome iniiftalmoft wholly on their own 
 high Priviledges, their AlTurance of Gqd's Love 
 and Favour, and the Weaknefs and Wickednefs 
 of Oppofers, and how much they are above their 
 Reach. The latter may have much of the PrQ- 
 lence of God, but their Experiences don't appear 
 to be fo folid and unmix'd as the former. And 
 there is a great deal of DitFerence in Perfons Ear- 
 neftnefs in their Talk and Behaviour j in fome it 
 A a 2 feems 
 
2 74 0/ the Deficiency of Experiences . P . I V . 
 
 feems to come indeed from the Fulnefs of their 
 Hearts, and from the great Senfe they have of 
 Truth, a deep Senfe of the Certainty and infinite 
 Greatnefs, Excellency and Importance of divine 
 and eternal Things, attended with all Appearances 
 of great Humility ; in others their Earneftnefs 
 feems to arife from a great Mixture of human Paf- 
 fion, and an undue and intemperate Agitation of 
 the Spirits, w^hich appears by their Earneftnefs and 
 Vehemence not being proportion'd to the Nature 
 of the Subjeft they infifi: on, but they are violent 
 in every Thing they fay, as mucfi when tl^^ey are 
 talking of Things of fmaller Importance, as when 
 fpeaking of Things of greater Weight. I have feen 
 it thus in an Inftance or two, in which this Vehe- 
 mence at length iffued in Diftra6lion. And there 
 have been fome few Inftances of a more extraordi- 
 nary Nature ftill, even of Perfons finding them- 
 ielves difpofed earneftly to talk and cry out, from 
 an unaccountable Kindof bodily Preffure, without 
 any extraordinary View of any Thing in their 
 Minds, or Senfe of any Thing upon their Hearts ; 
 wherein probably there was the immediate Hand 
 of the Devil. 
 
 2. Another Thing by which the Devil has great 
 Advantrge, is, the unheeded Defers there fome- 
 times are in the Experiences of true Ghriftians, and 
 thofe high AfFedlions wherein there is much that 
 is truly good. 
 
 What I now have Refpeft to is fomething di- 
 verfe from that DefecSljOrlmperfedion of Degree, 
 which is in every holy Difpofition and Exercife m 
 this Life, in the beft of theSaiHts. What I aim r.t 
 
Pa. IV. DefeSls in ExperienceSy &c. 275 
 
 is Experiences being efpecially defe£live in fome 
 particular Thing, that ought to be in them j which 
 tho' it ben't an eflential Defed, or fuch a Defeft 
 as is in- the Experiences of Hypocrites, which ren- 
 ders them utterly vain, monftrous, and altogether 
 abominable, to God, yet is fuch a Defeat as maims 
 and deforms the Experience i the Eflence of truly 
 Chriflian Experiences is not wanting^ but yet that 
 is wanting that is very needful in order to the pro- 
 per Beauty of the Image of Chrift in fuch a Perfon's 
 Experiences ; but Things are very much out of % , 
 due Proportion: There is indeed much of fome 
 Things, but at the fame Time there is fo little of 
 fome otter Things that fhould bear a Proportion, 
 that the Defeft very much deforms the Chriftian, 
 and is truly odious in the Sight of God. 
 
 What I obferved before was fomething that de- 
 foj-m'd the Chriftian, as it was too much^ fomething 
 mixM, that is not belonging to the Chriftian as 
 fuch i what I fpeak of now is fomething that de- 
 forms the Chriftian the other Way, vi%. By their 
 mi h^ivi^ enough^ fomething wanting, that does be- 
 long to the Chriftian as fuch : The one deforms 
 the Chriftian as a monftrous Excrefcence,, the 
 other as thereby thq new Creature is maimec^ and 
 fome Member in a great Meaifure wanting, or fa 
 fciall and withering as to be very much out of due 
 Proportion. This is another fpiritual Calamity 
 that the Saints are liable to through the great Im- ' 
 perfeaion of Grace in thia Life ; likethe Chicken, 
 in the Egg, in^the beginning of its Formatio% ui 
 which, tho' there are indeed the Rudiments or 
 Lineanients of all the Parts, yet fome &w Parts 
 A a 3 jtte \ 
 
276 DefeSfs in the Experiences Pa, IV, 
 
 are plain to be feen, when others are hid, fo that 
 without a Microfcope it appears very monftrous. 
 
 When this Deficiency & Difproportion is great, 
 as fomctimes it is in real Saints, it is not only a 
 great Deformity in it felf, but has many ill Con- 
 fequences ; it gives the Devil great Advantage, 
 and leaves a Door open for Corruption, & expofes 
 . to very deformed and unlovely Actions, and ifTues 
 oftentimes in the great wounding of the Soul. 
 
 For the better underftanding of this Matter, we 
 may obferve that God in the Revelation thajthe 
 has made of himfelf to the World by JefusChrift, 
 has taken Care to give a proportiona'ble Manifefta- 
 tion of two Kinds of Excellencies or Perfeftionsof 
 his Nature, viz. Thofe that efpecially tend to pof- 
 fefs us with Awe and Reverence, and to fearch and 
 humble us, and thofe that tend to win and draw 
 and encourage us : By the cne^ he appears as an 
 infinitely great, pure, holy and Heart-fearching 
 Judge ; by the other ^ as a gentle and gracious Fa- 
 ' ther and a loting Friend : By the one he is a pure, 
 fearching & burning Flame ; by the other a fweet, 
 refrefhing Light* Thefe two Kinds of Attributes 
 are as it were admirably tempered together in the 
 ' Revelation of the Gofpel : 'There is a proportion- 
 able Manifeftationof Jufliceand Mercy, Holinefs 
 and Grace, Majefly & Gentlenefs, Authorfty and 
 \ Condefcenfion. God hath thus ordered that his 
 j diverfe Excellencies, as he reveals himfelf fn the 
 ' Face of Jesuits Christ, fiwuJd have a proportf- 
 ; enable Manifeflation, herein providing forourNe- 
 ceflities ; He knew it to be of great Confequence 
 \ that cur Apprehenfions of thefe diverfe Peift&ions 
 
Pa. IV. of true Chrijlians. 277 
 
 of his Nature fhould be duely proportionM one tb' 
 another ; a Defeft on the owq Hand, viz. Having 
 much of aDifcovery of his Love and Grace, with- 
 out a proportionable Difcovery of his aw^ful Ma- 
 jefty, and his holy and fearching Purity, would 
 tend to fpiritual Pride, carnal Confidence and Pre- 
 fumption ; and a Defeat on the other Hand, viz. 
 Having much of a Difcovery of his holy Majefty, 
 without a proportionable Difcovery of his Grace, 
 tends to Unbelief, a fmful P'earfulnefs and Spirit 
 of Bondage : And therefore herein chiefly confifts 
 thatDeficiency of Experiences that I am now fpeak- 
 ing of. The Revelation God has made of himftlf 
 in his Word, and the Provifion made for our fpi- 
 ritual Welfare in the Gofpel is perfeft, but yet the 
 a<Slual Light and Communications we have, are 
 not perfedt, but many Ways exceeding imperfe£b 
 and maimed. And Experience plainly fhews that 
 Chriftians may have high Experiences in fome Re- 
 (pefts, and yet their Circumftances may be un- 
 happy in this Regard, that their Experiences and 
 Difcoveries are no more general. There is a 
 great Difference among Chriftians in this Refped,. 
 fbme have much more general Difcoveries than 
 others, who are upon many Accounts the mofl: 
 amiable Chriftians. Chriftians may have Expe- 
 riences that are very high, and yet there may be 
 very much of this Deficiency and Difproportion : 
 Tbeir high Experiences are truly from the Spirit 
 of God, but Sin comes in by the Defe<Sl ; (as in- 
 deed all Sin is origrrially from a defedive, priva- 
 tive Caufe ;) and in fuch a Cafe high D^covcries, 
 *t the (anic Time thatthrf are enjoyal, majrbe^ 
 
 sod 
 
278 D'fc^s in Experiences Pa. IV. 
 
 and fomctimes are the Occafion, or Caufa ftn^ 
 qua non of Sin \ Sin may come in at that backDoor, 
 the Gap that is left open \ as fpiritual Pride often 
 does: And many Times the Spirit of Gob is 
 quenched by this Means, and God punifces the 
 Pride and Prefumption that rires,-by bringing fuch 
 Darknefs, and fufFering fuch awful Confequences 
 and horrid Temptations, as are enough to make 
 one's Hair Ibnd an End to hear them. Chriftians 
 therefore fhould diligently obferve their own 
 Hearts as to this Matter, and fhould pray to God 
 that he would give 'em Experiences in which one 
 Thing may bear a PropcTtion to another, that 
 God may be honoured and their Souls edified 
 thereby j and Minifters fhould have an Eye to 
 this, in their private Dealings with the Souls of 
 their People. • 
 
 'Tis chiefly from fuch a Defeft of Experiences 
 that fome Things have arifen that have been pret- 
 ty common among true Chriftians of late, that 
 have been fuppofed by many to have rifen from a 
 good Caufe ; as particularly talking of divine and 
 heavenly Things, and exprefllng divine Joys with 
 Laughter or a light Behaviour. I believe in many 
 Inftances fuch Things have arifen from a good 
 CiiMfe,' as their Caufa fine qua noriy that high Dif- 
 cgveries. and gracious joyful Affeflions have been 
 the Gccalion of them ; but the proper Caufe has 
 been Sin, even that odious Defe<Sl in their Expe- 
 rience, whereby there has been wanting a Senfe of 
 the awful and holy Majefty of God aa prefent 
 with them^ and their Nothingnefs and ViJenefs 
 beiof e hioi) eiopQjE;tiaaabk t9. the Scnfe ths.j have 
 
 had 
 
Pa. IV. Gmfes cf Sin. 279 
 
 had of God's Grace and the Love of Christ • 
 And the fame is true in many Cafes of Perfons un' 
 fuitable Boldnefs, their Bifpofition to fpeak with 
 Autiiority, intemperate Zeal, and many other 
 Things that fometimes appear in true Chriftians, 
 under great religious AfFeclions. 
 
 And fometimes' the Vehemence of the Motion 
 of the animal Spirits, under great Affeftlons, is 
 owing in confiderable Meafure, to Experiences 
 being thus partial. I have known it in feveral 
 Inftances, that Perfons have been greatly afFefted 
 with the dying Love of Christ, and the Confi- 
 derationof the Happinefs of the Enjoyment of him 
 in Heaven, and other Things cf that Nature, and 
 their animal Spirits at the fame Time have been in 
 a great Emotion, but in the midft of it have had 
 given 'em a deep Senfe of the awful, holy Majefty 
 of God, and it has at once compofed them, and 
 quieted animal Nature, without diminifhing their 
 Comfort, but only has made it of a better^ and 
 more folid Nature 3 when they have had a Senfe 
 both of the Majefty & Grace of God, one Thing 
 has as it were ballanced another, &: caufed a more 
 happySedatenefsandCompofureofBody & Mind. 
 
 Prom thefe Things we may learn how to judge 
 of Expeiiences, and to eftimate their Goodnef?. 
 Thofe are not always the beft Experiences, that 
 are attended v/ith the moft violent Affe<5tjons, and 
 moft vehement Motions of the animal Spirits, or 
 that have the greateft EiFe(5ls on tie Bcdy ; nor 
 are they always the beft, that do moft difpofe Per- 
 fons to abound in Talk to others, ajid to fpcak in 
 the moft vehement Manner ; (tho' thefe Things 
 
 often 
 
f 2i?o fVbal are the beji Experiences. P.IV. 
 
 often arifc from the Greatnefs of fpiritual Experi- 
 ences;) Butthofe are the nioft excellent Experi- 
 ences jhat are qualified as follows ; I. That have 
 the leaft Mixture, or are the moft purely fpiritual. 
 
 2. That are the leaft deficient and partial, in which 
 the diverfe Things that appertain to Chriftian Ex- 
 perience are proportionable one to another. And 
 
 3. That are raifed to the highcft Degree : *Tis 
 no Matter how high they are raifed if they are 
 qualified as before mentioned, the higher the bet- 
 ter. Experiences thus qualified, will be attended 
 with the moft amiable Behaviour, and will bring 
 forth the moft folid and fweet Fruits, and will be 
 the moft durable, and will have the greateft EffeCl 
 on the abiding Temper of the Soul. 
 
 If God is pleafed to carry on this Work, and it 
 fhould prove to be the Dawning of a general Revi- 
 val of the Chriftian Church, it may be expeded 
 that the Time will come before long, when the 
 Experiences of Chriftians fliall be much more ge- 
 nerally thus qualified. We muft expe£l green 
 Fruits before we have ripe ones. 'Tis probable 
 
 I that hereafter the Difcoveries which the Saints 
 fliall have of divine Things, will be in a much 
 higher Degree than vet have been ; but yet fliall 
 be fo ordered of an infinitely wife and all-fufficient 
 QoD, that they ihall not have fo great an EfFed, 
 in Proportion, on tiie Body, and will be lefs op- 
 preffive to Nature ; and that the outward Mani- 
 feftations will rather be like thofe that were in 
 Stephen^ when he was full of the Holy Ghoft, when 
 all thai fat in the CounciU looking jh'dfajUy on him^ 
 
 \jaiv his Face^ ss it had been the Face of an AngeL 
 
 Their 
 
p. I V . The degenerating of Experiences, 2 8 1 
 
 Their inward Fulnefs of the Spirit of God, in his 
 divine, amiable and fweet Influences Ihall as it 
 were fhine forth in an heavenly Afpeft, and Man- 
 ner of Speech and Behaviour. But 
 
 3, There is another Thing concerning Expe- 
 riences of Chriftians, of which it is of yet greater 
 Importance that we fhould be aware, than either 
 of the preceding, and that is the degenerating of 
 Experiences, What I mean is fomething diverfe 
 from the meer Decay of Experiences, or their 
 gradually vanifhing, by Perfons lofing their Senfe 
 of Things ; 'Tis Perfons Experiences growing by 
 Degrees worfe and worfe in their Kind, more and 
 more partial and deficient, in which Things are 
 more out of due Proportion \ and alfo have more 
 and more of a corrupt Mixture, the fpiritual Part 
 decreafes, and the other ufelefs and hurtful Parts 
 greatly incraafe. There is fuch a Thing, and it 
 is very frequent, as Experience abundantly evi^ 
 dences : I have k^n it in very many Inftances ;! 
 and great are the Mifchiefs that have rifen through 
 want of being more aware of it. \ 
 
 There is commonly, as I obferved before, 1/ 
 high Experiences, befides that which is fpiritual*. 
 a Mixture of three Things, viz. Natural or com- 
 mon AfFe6lions and Workings of the Im.agination 
 and a Degree of Self-righteoufnefs or fpiritua 
 Pride. Now it often comes to pafs, that through. 
 Perfons not diftinguifhing the Wheat from thjj 
 ChafF, and for want of Watchfulnefs and humblf, 
 Jealoufy of themfelves, and laying great WeigHf 
 on the natural and imaginarv Part, and yielding]' 
 it, & indulging of it, that Part grows & increafd 
 
2 8 2 The degenerating of Experiences, P.IV . ™ 
 
 m 
 
 and the fpiritual Part decreafes ^ the Devil fets in, 
 and works in the corrupt Part, and cheriflies it to 
 his utmoft ; 'till at length the Experiences of feme 
 Perfons, who began well, come to but little elfe, 
 hut violent Motions of carnal Affections, with 
 great Heats of the Imagination, and a great De- 
 gree of Enthufiafm^andrwelling of fpiritual Pride ; 
 very much like fome Fruits which bud, bloflbm 
 and kernel well, but afterwards arc blafted with 
 an Exceis of Moilturc ; fo that tho' the Bulk is 
 monftrouily great, yet there is little elfe in it but 
 v/hat is ufelefs and unwholfome. It appears to me 
 Ytvf probable, that many of the Herefies that have 
 arifen, & Seels that have appeared in the Chriftian 
 World, in one Age and another, with wild enthu- 
 fiaftical Notions and Practices, began at firft by 
 this Means, that it was fuch a Degenerating of 
 Experiences that firft gave Rife to 'em, or at leaft 
 led the Way to 'em. 
 
 There is nothing in the World that does fo 
 much expofe to this degenerating of Experiences, 
 as an unheeded fpiritual Pride & Self-Confidence, 
 and Perfons being conceited of their own Stock, 
 without an humble, daily & continual Dependance 
 on God. And this very Thing feems to be typi- 
 fied of old, by the corrupting of the Manna. Some 
 of the Children of Ifrael, becaufe they had ga- 
 thered a Store of AMma^ trufted in it, there being, 
 as they apprehended, fufficiient in the Store they 
 had gathered and laid up, without humbly looking 
 to Heaven, and ftooping to the Earth for daily 
 Supplies; and the Confcquence was, that their 
 Marma bred Worms and ftank, Exod^ i6. 20. 
 
 Pride 
 
VIV, The degmraiin^ of Experiences, 283 
 
 Pride above all Things promotes this Degeneracy 
 of Experiences, becaufe it grieves & quenches the 
 Spirit of the Lamb of God, and fo kills the fpiri- 
 tual Part 5 and it cheriflies the natural Part, it in- 
 flames the carnal AfFedlions, and heats the Ima- 
 gination. 
 
 The unhappy Perfon that is the Subjedl: of fuch 
 a Degeneracy of Experiences, for the moft Part, 
 is not fenfible of his own Calamity ; but becaufe 
 he finds himfelf ftill violently moved, and greater 
 Heats of Zeal, and more vehement Motions of his 
 animal Spirits, thinks himfelf fuller of the Spirit of 
 God than ever. But indeed it is with him, as 
 the Apoftle fays of the Galatians^ Gal. 3. 3. Ha- 
 ving begun in the Spirit ^ they are made perfe6f by the 
 Flejh. 
 
 By the Mixture there is of common AfFeftion 
 with Love to God, the Love of true Chriftians 
 is liable to degenerate, and to be more and more 
 built on the Foundation of a Suppofition of being 
 his high and peculiar Favourites, and lefs and lefs 
 on an Apprehenfion of the Excellency of God's 
 Nature, as he is in himfelf. So the Joy of Chri- 
 ftians, by Reafon of the Mixture there is with 
 fpiritual Joy, is liable to degenerate, and to come 
 to that at laft, as to be but little elfe but Joy in 
 Self, Joy in a Perfon's own fuppofed Eminency, 
 and Diftin6lion from others in the Favour of God • 
 So Zeal, that at firft might be in great Part fpiri- 
 tual, yet through the Mixture there is, in a W 
 Continuance of Oppofition and Controverfy, may 
 degenerate more and more into human and prouj 
 Paffion, and may come to Bitternefs, and even a 
 
, 284 ^he degenerating of Ex feriences. P. IV. 
 
 / Degree of Hatred. And fo Love to the Brethren 
 may by Degrees come to but little elfe but Fond- 
 nefs, and Zeal for a Party; yea, thro' a Mixture 
 of a natural Love to the oppofite Sex, may dege- 
 nerate more and more, 'till it ifTues in that which 
 IS criminal and grofs. And I leave it with thofe 
 who are better acquainted with Ecclefiaftical Hif- 
 tory, to enquire whether, fuch a Degeneracy of 
 AfFedionsas this, might not be the firft Thing 
 
 ; that led the Way, and gave Occafion to the Rife 
 of the abominable Notions of fome SecSts that have 
 arifen, concerning the Community ®f Women. 
 However that is, yet certainly the mutual Em- 
 braces and Kifles of Perfons of different Sexes, 
 under the Notion ofChriftianLove & holy Kiffes, 
 are utterly to be difallowed and abominated, as 
 having the moft dire6l Tendency quickly to turn 
 Chriftian Love into unclean & bruitifh Luft, which 
 won't be the better, but ten Times the worfe, for 
 being chriften'd by the Name of ChrijUan Love, 
 I fhould alfo think it advifeable. That Meetings of 
 young People, of both Sexes, in the Evening, by 
 
 i\themfelves, without a Minifter, or any elder Peo- 
 
 //ple amongft them, for religious Exercifes, fhould 
 be avoided : For tho' for the prefent, while their 
 Minds are greatly folemnized with lively Impref- 
 fions, & a deep Senfe of divine Things, there may 
 appear no ill Confequence \ yet we muft look to 
 the further End of Things, and guard againft fu- 
 ture Dangers & Advantages that Satan might gain 
 againft us. As a lively, folemn Senfe of divine 
 
 < Things on the Minds of young Perfons may gra- 
 dually decay, fo there will be Danger that an ill 
 
 5 Im- 
 
p. IV. ^he degenerating of Experiences. 285 
 
 Improvement of thefe Meetings may gradually 
 prevail ; if not in any unfuitable Behaviour while 
 together in the Meeting, yet when they break up 
 to go Home, they may naturally confort together 
 in Couples, for other than religious Purpofes ; and 
 it may at laft come to That, that young Perfons 
 may go to fuch Meetings, chiefly for the Sake of 
 ffcich an Opportunity for Company-keeping. 
 
 The DefeSf there fometimes is in the Experi- 
 ences of Chriftians expofes 'em to degenerate, as 
 well as the Mixture that they have. Deficient 
 maimed Experiences do fometimes become more 
 and more fo : TheMind being wholly intent upon 
 thofe Things that are in View, and thofe that are. 
 moft wanting being neglefted, there is lefs and lefs 
 of them, and fo the Gap for Corruption to come 
 in grows wider and wider. And commonly both 
 thefc Caufes of the degenerating of Experiences 
 operate together. 
 
 We had need to be jealous over our felvcs with - 
 a godly Jealoufy, as the Apoftle was over the Chri- 
 ftian Corinthians, left by any Means, as the Ser- 
 pent beguiled Eve thro' his Subtilty, fo our Minds 
 Ihould be corrupted from the Simplicity that is in 
 Christ. God indeed will never fufFer his true 
 Saints totally and finally to fall away, but yet may 
 punifh their Pride and Self-Confidence, by fufFer- 
 ing them to be long led into a dreadful Wildernefs, 
 by the fubtle Serpent, to the great wounding of 
 their own Souls, and the fhtereft of Religion. 
 
 And before I difmifs this Head of the Degene- 
 rating ofExperiences, Iwould mention one Thinz 
 more that tends to it ; and that is Perfon's aimin? 
 Bb_2 i^ 
 
286 Of being righteous ^ aver- much. P. IV. 
 
 in their Experience to go beyond the Rule of 
 God's Word, /. ^. aiming at that, which is in- 
 deed^ in fome Refpeft, beyond the Rule. Thus 
 fome^Perfons have endeavoured utterly to root out 
 and abohfh all ^natural Affection, or any fpecial 
 AfFedlion or Refpeft to their near Relations, un- 
 der a Notion that no other Love ought to be al- 
 lov/ed, but fpiritual Love, and that all other Love 
 is to be abolifhed as carnal, and that it becomes 
 Chriftians to love none upon the Account of any 
 Thingelfe, but the Image of God ; and that there- 
 fore Love ftiDuld go out to one and another only 
 in that Proportion in which the Image of God is 
 feen in them. They might as well argue that a 
 Man ought utterly to difallow of, and endeavour 
 to abolifh all Love or Appetite to their daily Food, 
 under a Notion that it is a carnal Appetite, and 
 that no other Appetite {hould be tolerated but fpi- 
 ritual Appetites. Why fhould the Saints ftriye 
 after that, as an high Attamment in Holiaefs^, 
 which theApoftlein Rom. i. 31. mentions as one 
 Inftance wherein the Heathen had got-to the moft 
 horrid Pafs in Wickednefs, viz,. A being without 
 natural Affeaion ? . , r 
 
 Some have doubted whether they m^ght pray for 
 the Converfion and Salvation of the Souls of therf 
 Children, any more than for the Souls of others ; 
 becaufe theSalvation of the Souls of others would be 
 ^s much to God's Glory, as the Salvation of their 
 Children s and they have fuppofed that to pray 
 moft for their own, would fhew a felfifh Difpofi- 
 tion. So they have been afraid to tolerate a com- 
 paffionate Grief and Concern for their^ne^^^^^^^^ 
 
P; I V . Of being righteous over-much, 287 
 
 Friends, for Fear it would be an Argument of 
 want of Refignation to God. 
 
 And 'tis true, there is great Danger of Perfons 
 fetting their Hearts too much upon their earthly 
 Friends \ our Love to earthly Friends ought to be 
 under the Government of the Love of God, and 
 fhould be attendeiwith a Spirit of Suhmiflion and 
 Refignation to his Will, and-every Thing fliould 
 be fuborcjinated to his Glory : But that is no Ar- 
 gument that thefe Affedions fhould be entirely 
 abolifhed, which the Creator of the World has put 
 within Mankind, for the Good of Mankind, and 
 becaufe he faw they would be needful for them, 
 as they muftbe united in Society, in the prefent 
 State, and are of great Ufe, when, kept in their 
 proper Place ; and to endeavour totally to root 
 them out, would be to reproach and oppofe the 
 Wifdom of the Creator. Nor is the Being oi 
 thefe natural Inclinations, if well regulated ,°in- 
 confiftent with any Part of our Duty to God, or 
 any Argument of a finful Selfifhnefs, any mora 
 than -the natural Abhorrence that there is in the 
 human Nature of Pain, and natural Inclination to 
 i-a.e that was intheManCnRisTjEsus himfelfj 
 
 'Tis the Dutyof Parents to be moreconcern'd,^ 
 and to pray more for theSalvation of theirChildren ,^ 
 than for the .Children. of their Neighbours^; as 
 much as it is the Duty of a Minifter to be more 
 concerned for the Salvation of die Souls of his 
 1^ lock and to pray more fcr them, than thofe of 
 other Congregations, becaufe the>^ are committee} 
 to his Care ; fo our near Friends are more com- 
 mitted to our Care than, others, ar^. aur. neaij ..j 
 
±98 Of being righteous over-much. R IV. 
 
 NeighbourSjthan thofc that live at a great Diftance; 
 and the People of our Land and Nation are more 
 in fome Senfe,conimitted to ourCare than thePeo- 
 pie of C!6/«^7,and we ought to pray more for them^ 
 and to be more concerned that the Kingdom of 
 Christ fhouldflourifli amongthem, than in ano* 
 ther Country, where it would be as much, and no 
 inor« for the Glory of God., Compaflion ought 
 to be efpecially exercifed towards Friends, Job. 6. 
 ^4, Christ did not frown upon a fpecial Affec- 
 tion and Compaflion for near Friends, but coun- 
 tenanced and encouraged it, from Xime to Time, 
 in thofe that in the Exercife of fuch an Affe£lion 
 and Compaflion, applied to him for Relief for their 
 ]f riends ; as in the Inftance of the Woman of Ca- 
 naan^ Jairusy Mary and JVlariha^ the Centurion, 
 the Widow of Nain^ and many others. The Apo- 
 file Paul ytho* a Man as much r^figned and devo- 
 ted to Goi , and under the Power of his Love, 
 perhaps as any meer Man that ever lived, yet had 
 a peculiar Concern for his Countrymen the Jews^ 
 ^e rather on that Account, that they were his 
 Brethren and Kinfmen according /a the Flejh ; he 
 had a very high Degree of compaflionate Grief 
 for them, infomuch that he tells us he had great 
 ijeavinefs and continual Sorrow of Heart for them, 
 . a;>d could wi(h himfelf acc.urfed from Christ 
 for them. 
 
 There are many Things that are proper for the 
 Saints in Heaven, that are not fuitable to the State 
 God has fet us in, in this World : And for Chn- 
 ftians, in thefe and other Inftances, to afFeato go 
 hcj^ond the grefent State of Mankind, . and what 
 
p. IV. Of being rig hteous over-much. 2 89. 
 
 Goo has appointed as fit for it, is an Inftancc of 
 that which the wile Man calls a being righteous 
 over-much y and has a Tendency to open a Door 
 for Satan, and to caufe religious AfFeftions to de- 
 generate int» fomething very unbecoming of 
 Chriftians. 
 
 Thus I have, as I propofed, taken Notice of 
 fome Things with Regard to the inward Experi- 
 ences of Chriftians, by which S^/^« has an Ad- 
 vantage. I now proceed in the 
 
 2d. Place, to take Notice of fomediing with 
 Regard to the external EiFecls of Experiences, 
 which alfo gives Saton an Advantage. What I 
 have Refpeft to,, is the fecret and unaccountable 
 Influence that Cuftom has upon Perfons, with rc- 
 fpeft to the external EfFecSls and Manifeftations of 
 the inward AfFeduons of the Mind. By Cuftom 
 I mean, both a Perfon's being accuftomed to a 
 Thing in himfelf, in his own common, allowed 
 and indulged Practice, and alfo the Countenance 
 and Approbation of others amongft whom he 
 dwells, by their general Voice and Pra£tice. It is 
 well known, & appears fufHci en tly by what I have 
 faid already in this Treatifc and elfewhere, that I 
 am far from afcribing all the late uncommon Ef- 
 fe6ls and outward Manifeftations of inward Expe- 
 riences toCuftom & Faftiion, as fome do \ I know 
 it to be otherwife, ifit.be poffible for me to know 
 any Thing of this Nature by the moft' critical Ob- 
 fervation, under all Manner of Opportunities of 
 obferving. But yet, this aHbis exceeding evident 
 by Experience, thatCuftom has a ftrange Influence 
 ia thefe Things : I know itjiy tbe^differentMian* 
 
290 The Jlrange Influence cf^ Pa. IV! 
 
 jnersand Degrees of external Effects & Manifefta- 
 tions of great AfFeilionS' and high Diicoveries^ in 
 different Towns, according to what Perfons'are 
 gradually led into, and infeniibly habituated to, by 
 Example and Cuftom ; andyjJja inth.e.farne Pkce, 
 at different Times, according to the Contlucl: that 
 they have : If ibmePerfon is among them tocojnduft 
 them, that much countenances & encourages iuch 
 Kind of outv/ardManifefcations of great AffecSii- 
 ons, they naturally and infenfibly prexail, & grow 
 by Degrees unavoid/ible y but when i^fterwards the}' 
 come under another Kind of Condu^, the Manner 
 of external Appearances will ftrangely alter : And 
 yet it feems to be without any propjex Defign cr 
 Contrivance of thofe in whom there is this Altera- 
 tion ; 'tis not properly affected by them, but the 
 Influence of Example and Cuflom is fecret and in- 
 fenfible to the Perfons themfelves. Thefe. Things 
 have a vaft Influence in the Manner of Perfoi"k$ 
 manifefling their Joys, whether with Smiles &an 
 Air of Lightnefs, or whether with more Solemnity 
 and Reverence ; and fo they haveagre^tlnfluencc 
 as to the Difpoiltion Perfons h^ve under high Af- 
 fections to abound in Talk ; and alfo as to the 
 Manner of their fpeaking, the Loudnefs and Ve- 
 hemence of their Speech ; (Tho' it would be ex- 
 ceeding unjufl, & againft all the Evidence of Facl 
 and Experience, and the Raafon of Things, to lay. 
 all Difpofitions Perfons have to be much in fpeak- 
 ing to others, and to fpeak in a verj' earnefl Mi-n- 
 B^$ to.Guftprp,). . 'Tis ni^anifefl th. t Example, and. 
 Cuftonj has forae Way or. other, a fecret and un- 
 fearicfeWe Injauewe QA.tbofe Adions.tb^t ^re.in- 
 
 voluntary 
 
Pa. IV. Example and Cujlom. 291 
 
 voluntary, by the DifFerence that there is in diffe- 
 rent Places, and in the fame Places at different 
 .Times, according to the diverfe Examples and 
 Conduft that they have. 
 
 Therefore, tho' it would be very unreafonable, 
 and prejudicial to the Intereft of Religion, to frown 
 upon all thefe extraordinary external Effeds and 
 Manifeflations of great religious Affeftions,(for a 
 Meafure of them is natural, neceflary and beauti- 
 ful, and the Effect in no wife difproportion'd to 
 the fpiritual Caufe, and is of great Benefit to pro- 
 mote Religion ;) yet I think they greatly err who 
 think that thefe Things fnould be wholly unhmit- 
 ed, and that all fhould be encouraged in going in 
 thefe Things to the utmoft Length that they feel 
 themfelves inclined to : The Confequence of this 
 will be very bad : There ought to be a gentle Re- 
 ftralnt held upon thefe Things, and there fhould be 
 a prudent Care taken of Perfons in fuch extraor- 
 dinary Circumftances, and they fhould be mode- 
 rately advifed at proper Seafons, not to make more 
 Ado than there is Need of, but rather to hold a 
 Reflraint upon their Inclinations ; otherwife ex- 
 traordinary outward EfFedls will grow upon them, 
 they will be more and more natural and unavoida- 
 ble, and the extraordinary outward Show will in- 
 creafe, without any Increafe of the internal Caufe ; 
 Perfons will find themfelves under a Kind of Ne- 
 ceiTity of making a great Ado, with lefs and lefs 
 AfFecSlion of Soul, 'till at length almoft any flight 
 Emotion will fet them going, and they willlbe 
 more and more violent and boiflerous, and will 
 grow louder and louder, 'till their Actions and 
 
 Beha-^ 
 
292 Cenfuring. Pa. IV; 
 
 Behaviour becomes indeed very abfurd. Theft 
 Things Experience proves. 
 
 Thus I have taken Notice of the more general 
 Caufes whence the Errors that have attended this 
 great Revival of Religion have rifen, & under each 
 Head have obferved fome particular Errors that 
 have flowed from thefe P'ountains. I now pro- 
 ceed as I propofed in the 
 
 SecondVhc^^ to take Notice of fome particular 
 Errors that haverifen from feveral of thefe Caufes; 
 in fom.e perhaps they have been chiefly owing to 
 one, and in others to anotlier, and in others to the 
 Influence of feveral, or all ccnjundlly. And here 
 the 
 
 I ft Thing I would take Notice of is cenfuring, 
 others that are profemng Chriftians, in good Stand- 
 ing in the vifible Church, as unconverted* I need 
 not repeat what I have elfewhere faid to (hew this 
 to be againft the plain and frequent and ftri(5t Pro- 
 hibitions of the Word of God : It is the worft 
 Difeafe that has attended this Work, moft contrary 
 to the Spirit and Rules of Chriftianity, & of worft: 
 CQnfequences. . There is a moft unhappyTinfture 
 that theMindsofmany, both Minifters & People, 
 have received that Wav. TheManner of many has 
 been, when they firft enter into Converfttion with 
 an}iPerf6n,that feems to h^ve anyShew or make any 
 Pretences to Religion, to difcern him, or to fix a 
 Judgment of him, from his Manner of talking of 
 Things cfReliglon,whether he be converted, or ex- 
 perimentally acquainted with vital Piety or not,and 
 then to treat him accordingly, & freely to exprefs 
 theidr Thoughts of him to others, efpecially^thofe^. 
 
 that 
 
Pa. IV. Cenfjiring. 293 
 
 that they have a good Opinion of as true Chrifti- 
 ans, and accepted as Brethren and Companions in 
 Christ ; or if they don't declare their Minds 
 exprefly, yet by their Manner of fpeaking of them, 
 at leafl: to their Friends, they'll (how plainly what 
 their Thoughts are. - So when they have heard 
 any Minifter pray or preach, their firft Work has 
 been to obferve him on a Defign of difcerning-him, 
 whether he be a converted Man or no ; whether 
 he pcays like one that feels the faving Power of 
 God's Spirit in his Heart, & whether he preaches 
 like one that knows what he fays. It has been fo 
 much the Way in fome Places, that many new 
 Converts don't know but it is their Duty to do fo, 
 they know no other Way. And when once Per- 
 fons yield to fuch a Notion, and give in to fuch a 
 Humour, they'll quickly grow very difcerning in 
 their own Apprehenfion, they think they can eafily 
 tell a Hypocrite : And when once they have pafs'd 
 their Cenfure, every Thing feems to confirm it, 
 they fee more and more in the Perfon that they 
 have cenfured, that feems to them to fhew plainly 
 that he is an unconverted Man. And then', if the 
 Perfon cenfured be a Minifter, every Thing in his 
 publick Performances feems dead and faplefs, and 
 to do them no Good at all, but on the contrary to 
 be of deadning Influence, and poifonous to the 
 Soul ; yea it feems worfe and worfe to them, his 
 Preaching grows more & more intolerable : which 
 is owing to a fecret, ftrong Prejudice, that fteals 
 in more and more upon the Mind, as Experience 
 plainly and certainly fhows. When the Spirit of 
 God was wonderfully poured out in this^ Place, 
 
 more 
 
294 0/ cenfur'.n^ Minljiers. Pa. IV. 
 
 more than feven Years ago, and near thirty Souls 
 in a Week, take one with another, for five or fix 
 Weeks together, were to Appearance bro't Home 
 to Christ, and all the Town feem'd to be alive 
 and full of God, there was no fuch Notion or Hu- 
 mour prevailing here ; when Minifters preached 
 here, as very many did at that Time, young and 
 old, our People did not go about to difcern whe- 
 ther they were Men of Experience or not : They 
 did not know that they muft : Mr. Stoddard never 
 brought 'em up in that Way ; it didmot feem na- 
 tural to 'em to go about any Thing of that Nature, 
 nor did any fuch Thing enter into their Hearts ; 
 but when any Minifter preached, the Bufinefs of 
 every one was to liften and attend to what he faid, - 
 and apply it to his ownHeart,and make the utmoft 
 Improvement of it. And 'tis remarkable, th^t 
 never did there appear fuch a Difpofition in the 
 People, to relifh, approve of, and admire Mini- 
 fters preaching as at thatTime : Such Expreflions 
 as thefe were frequent in the Mouths of one and 
 another, onOccaficn of the preaching of Strangers \ 
 here, viz. That they rejoyced that there were fo 
 many fuch eminent Minljlers in theCountry ; and they 
 wonder' d they never heard the Fajne of *em before : 
 They were thankful that ether Towns had Jo good 
 Means ; and the like. And fcarcely ever did any 
 Minifter preach here, but his preaching did fome 
 remarkable Service \ as I had good Opportunity 
 to know, becaufe at that Time I had particular 
 Acquaintance, with moft of the Perfons in the 
 T0wn,in their Soul Concerns. That it bas been 
 fo much otherwife of late in many Places in the 
 
 Land, 
 
Pa. IV. Of cenfuring Minijiers. 295 
 
 Land, Is another Inftance of the fecret and power- 
 ful Influence of Cuftom and Example. 
 
 There has been an unhappy Difpofition in fome 
 Minifters toward their Brethren in the Miniftry 
 in this Refpeft, which has encouraged and greatly 
 promoted fuch a Spirit among fome of their Peo- 
 ple. A wrong Improvement has been made of 
 Christ's fcourging the Buyers and Sellers out 
 of the Temple ; it has been expected by fome, 
 that Christ was now about thus to purge his 
 Houfe of unconverted Minifters, and this has made 
 it more natural to them to think that they fhould 
 do Christ Service, and act as Co-workers with 
 him, to put to their Hand, and endeavour by all 
 Means to cafliier thofe Minifters that tliey thought 
 to be unconverted. Indeed it appears to me pro- 
 bable that the Time is coming, when awful Judg- 
 ments will be executed on unfaithful Minifters, 
 and that no Sort of Men in the World will be fo 
 much expofed to divine Judgments ; but then we 
 fhould leave that Work to Christ, who is the 
 Searcher of Hearts, and to whom Vengeance be- 
 longs ; and not withoutWarrant, take the Scourge 
 out of his Hand into our own. There has been 
 too much of a Difpofition in fome, as it were to 
 give Minifters over as Reprobates, that have been 
 look'd upon as Wolves in Sheep's Clothing ; which 
 has tended to promote and encourage a Spirit of 
 Bitternefs towards them, and to make it natural 
 to treat them too much as if they knew God ha- 
 ted them. If God's Children knew that others 
 were Reprobates, it would not be required of them 
 to love them ; we may hate thofe that we know 
 C c Goi> 
 
tg6 Of cenfuring Minijiers. Pa. IV. 
 
 God hates ; as 'tis lawful to hate the Devil, and 
 as the Saints at the Day of Judgment will hate the 
 
 Wicked. Some have been too apt to look for 
 
 Fire from Heaven upon particular Minifters ; and 
 this has naturally excited that Difpofition to call for 
 it> that Christ rebuked in his Difciples at 5^- 
 marta. For my Part, tho* I believe no Sort of 
 Men on Earth are fo expofed to fpiritual Judg- 
 ments as wicked Minifters, yet I feel no Difpofi- 
 tion to treat any Minifter as if I fuppofed that he 
 was finally rejefted of God ; for I can't but hope 
 that there is coming a Day of fuch great Grace, a 
 Time fo appointed for the magnifying the Riches 
 and Sovereignty of divine Mercy, beyond what 
 ever was, that a great Number of unconverted 
 Minifters* will obtain Mercy. There was no Sort 
 ofPerfons in Christ's Time that werefo guilty, 
 and fo hardened, and towards whom Christ ma- 
 nifefted fuch great Indignation, as the Priefts and 
 Scribes, and there were no fuch Perfecutors of 
 Christ and his Difciples as they ; and yet in 
 that great Out-pouring of the Spirit that began on 
 the Day of Pentecojl^ tho' it began with the com- 
 mon People, yet in the Progrefsof theWork, after 
 a- while, a great Company of Priefis in Jerufalem 
 were obedient to the Faith y ASt. 6. 7. And Sauly 
 one of the moft violent of all the perfecuting Pha- 
 rifees, became afterwards the greateft Promoter of 
 the Work of God that ever was. I hope we {hall 
 yet fee in many Inftances a Fulfilment of that in 
 Ifa. 29. 24. They alfo that erred in Spirit Jhall come 
 , ta Underjlandingy and they that murmured Jhall learn 
 
 Do£frine. ^. . . 
 
 Nothing 
 
Pa. IV. Of cenfuring Mtmfters. 297 
 
 Nothing has been gainM by this Praftice. The 
 End that fome have aim'd at in it has not been ob« 
 tain'd, nor is ever like to be. Poffibly fome have 
 openly cenfured Minifters, and encouraged their 
 People's Uneafinefs under them, in Hopes that it 
 would foon come to Tliat^that the Uneafinefe would 
 be fo general, and fo great, that unconverted Mi- 
 nifters in general would be caft ofF, and that then 
 Things would go on happily : but there is no Like- 
 lihood of it. The Devil indeed has obtained his 
 End ; this Pradlice has bred a great deal of Un- 
 happinefs among Minifters and People, kas fpoil'd 
 Chriftians Enjoyment of Sabbaths, and made 'em 
 their moft uneafy, uncomfortable and unprofitable 
 Days, and has ftirM up great Contention, and fct 
 ail in a Flame ; and in one Place & another where 
 there was a glorious Work of God's Spirit begun, 
 it has in a great Meafure knocked all in the Head, 
 and their Minifters hold their Places. Some have 
 aimM at a better End in cenfuring Minifters ; 
 they have fuppofed it to be a likely Means to awa- 
 ken them : Whereas indeed, there is no one Thing 
 has had fo great a Tendency to prevent the Awa- 
 kening of difaff^edled Minifters in general : And no 
 one Thing has acSlually had fuch Influence to lock 
 up the Minds of Minifters againft any good EfiFeft 
 of this great Work of God in the Land, upon 
 their Minds, in this Refpeft : I have known In- 
 ftances of fome that feem'd to be much moved by 
 the firft Appearance of this Work, but fmce have 
 feem'd to be greatly deadened by what has appeared 
 of this Nature. And if there be one or two In- 
 ftances of Minifters that have been awaken'd by it, ^ 
 C.C.2 ther§1 
 
^ 
 
 2gS Of cenfuring Minijlers. Pa. IV. 
 
 there are ten to one on whom it has had a contrary 
 Influence. The worft Enemies. of this Work have 
 been inwardly eafed by this Pradlice ; they have 
 made a Shield of it to defend their Confciences, 
 and have been glad that it has been carried to fo 
 great a Length ; at the fame Time that they have 
 look'd upon it, and imprpy'd it, as a Door open'd 
 for 'em to be more bold in oppofmg the . Woi:Jc in 
 general. 
 
 V. There is no fuch dreadful Danger of natural 
 Men's being undone by our forbearing thus to 
 cenfure them, and carrying it towards them as vi- ; 
 fible Chriftians ; it will be no bloody, Hell-peo- 
 pling Charity, as fomeieem tofuppofe, when it is 
 known that we don't_treat 'em as Chriftians^ be- , 
 caufe we have takeu it upon us to pafs a Judgment 
 on their State, on any Trial, or Exercife of our 
 Skill in examining and difcerning them, but only 
 as allowing them to be worthy of a publick Cha- 
 rity, on their Profeflion and good external Beha- 
 viour ; any more than Judas was in Danger of be- 
 ing deceived, by Christ's treating him a long 
 Time as a Difciple, and fending him forth as an 
 Apoftle, (becaufe he did not then take it upon him 
 to ad as the Judge and Searcher of Hearts, but 
 only as the Head of the vifible Church.) Indeed 
 fuch a Charitv as this may be abufed by fome, as 
 every Thing i's, and will be, tliat is in its own Na- 
 ture proper, and of never fo good Tendency. I 
 fay nothing againft dealing thoroughly with. Con- 
 feience, by the moft convincing & fearching Dif- 
 penfation of the Word of God : L don't defye 
 
 . that that Sword fhould be {heath'd, or gently han- 
 dled, 
 
p. IV. Of cenfuringbecaufe of Beadnefs. 299 
 
 died by Minifters ; but let it be ufed as a two- 
 edged Sword, to pierce, even to the dividing afun- 
 der Soul and Spirit, Joints and Marrow 5 let Con- 
 fcience be dealt with, without any Complements | 
 let Minifters handle it in flaming Fire, without 
 having any more Mercy on it, than the Furnace 
 has on thofe Metals that are tried in it. But let 
 us let Men's Perfonsalone : Let the Word of God 
 judge them, but don't let us take it upon us 'till 
 we have Warrant for it. 
 
 S®me have been ready to cenfure Minifters be-^ 
 caufe they feem, inComparifon of fome other Mi- 
 nifters, to be very cold and lifelefs in their mini- 
 fterial Performances. But then it fhould be con- 
 fidered that for ought we know, God may here- 
 after raife up Minifters of fo much more excellent 
 and heavenly Qualifications, and fo much more 
 fpiritual & divine in their Performances, that there 
 may appear as great a Difference between them, 
 and thofe that now feem the moft lively, as there 
 is now between them, and others that are called 
 dead and faplefs ^ and thofe that are now called 
 lively Minifters may appear to their Hearers, whea- 
 they compare them with others that fhall excel 
 them, as wretchedly mean, and their Performan- 
 ces poor, dead, dry Things ; and many may be 
 ready to be prejudiced againft them, as accou^ing 
 them good for nothing, and it may be calling them 
 Soul-Murderers. What a poor Figure may we 
 fuppofe,, the moft lively of us, and thofe that are 
 moft admired by the People, do make in the Eyes 
 ©f one of the Saints of Heaven, any otherwife than 
 Cc 3 as 
 
If 
 
 300 OfcenfurinibecaufeofOppofttion. P.IV 
 
 as their Deadnefs, Deformity & Rottennefe is hid 
 by the Veil of Chrift's Rigbteoufnefs ? 
 
 Another Thing that has h^tn fuppofed to be fu! 
 ficient Warrant for openly cenfuring Minifters r. 
 unconverted, is their oppofing this Work of God 
 that has lately been carried on in the Land. And 
 there can be no Doubt with nie but that Oppofi- 
 tion againft this Work may be fuch, as to render 
 cither Minifters or People, truly fcandalous, ard 
 expofe 'em to publick Edclefiaftical Cenfure ; ar ^ 
 that Minifters hereby may utterly defeat the Dc- 
 fign of their Miniftry, (as'l obferved before ;) and 
 fo give their People juft Caufc of Uneafinefs : I 
 fliould not think that any Perfon had Power to 
 oblige me, conftantly to' attend the Minlftiy of 
 cMie, who did from Time to Time, plainly pray 
 and preach againft this Work, or fpcak reproach- 
 fully of it frequently in his publick Performances, 
 after all Chriftian Methods had been ufed for a Rt~ 
 medy, and to no Purpole. 
 
 But as to determining how far oppofing this 
 Work is confifteYit with a State of Grace^ or how 
 far, and for how long Time, fome Perfons of good 
 iExperience in their own Souls, through Prejudices 
 "they have receiv'd from the Errors that have been 
 mix'd with this Work, or through fome peculiar 
 'Difadvantages they are under to behold Tbing? in 
 a rFght View ci^ them, by Reafon of the Perfons 
 they con verfe with, or their own cold and dead 
 Frames, is, as Experience ftiows, a very 'difficult 
 -Thing; I have feen that which abundantly con- 
 Tinces me that the Bufinefs is too higli for me ; I 
 Tfm glad that God liss not committed fuch a dif- 
 ficult. 
 
Pa. IV. The ^Dayvger of Ccnjuring. 30 1 
 
 f-'ficult Affair to me ; I can joyfully leave it wholly 
 \ in his Hands, who is infinitely fit for it, without 
 meddling at all with it my felf.— We may repre- 
 fent it as exceeding dangerous to oppofe this Work, 
 for this we have good Warrant in the Word .of 
 God ; but I know of no NeceiTity we are under 
 to determine whether it be pofhble for thofe that 
 are guilty of it to be in a State of Grace or no. 
 
 God feems fo ilrifl-ly to have forbidden this. 
 Practice, of our judging our Brethren in the vifi- 
 ble Church, not onlv becaufe he knew that we 
 were too much of Babes, infinitely too weak, fal- 
 lible and blind, to be well capacitated for it, but 
 alfo becaufe he knew that it was not a Work fuited 
 to our proud Hearts ; that it would be fetting us 
 ^•ai^:Iy too high, and making us too- much of Lords 
 over our Fellow-Creatures. Judging our Brethren 
 and paiKng a condemnatory Sentence upon them^ . 
 fcems to carry in it an Act of Authority, elpecially 
 \i\ ^o great a Cafe, to fcntence them with' refpe(£l: 
 to that State of their Hearts,on which depends tlieir 
 Liablenefsto eternal Damnation \ as is evident by 
 fuch Interrogations as thofc, (to hear which from 
 God's Mouth, is enough to make us fhrink into 
 Nothing with Shame and Confufion, and Senfe o£ 
 our own Blindnefs and Worthlefnefs) Rom. 14. 4. ' 
 JVbo art thou that jud reft another Man' s Servant? ^ 
 To his own Majier hejlandeth orfalleth,^ And Jam. 
 4. 1 2. There is one Latugiicr that is able to fave and^ 
 to dejiroy \ who art thou that judge J r another ? Our 
 v'lfc and merciful Shepherd has gracioufly taken 
 Care not to lay in our Way fijch a^Temptatlon to*' 
 Pride 5 he has cut up allVuch Poifon out of Qurj 
 
 Paftuxg^i 
 
30 2 Offeparating Sheep from Goats. P. IV. 
 
 V Pafture; and therefore we fiiould not defire to 
 have it reftored. Blefled be his Name, that he has 
 not laid fuch a Temptation in the Way of my 
 Pride ! I know that in order to be fit for this Bu- 
 finefs, I muft not only be vaftly more knowing, 
 but more humble than I am. 
 
 Tho' I believe fome of God's own Children 
 have of late been very guilty in this Matter, yet 
 by what is faid of it in the Scripture, it appears to 
 me very likely, that before thefe Things which 
 God has lately begun, have an End, God will aw- 
 fully rebuke that PravSice ; may it in fovereign 
 and infinite Mercy be prevented, by the deep and 
 open Humiliation of thofe that have openly prac- 
 tifed it. 
 
 As this Practice ought to be avoided, fo fliould 
 all fuch open, vifible Marks of Diftindlion & Sepa- 
 _ ration that imply it ; as particularly, diftinguifhing 
 fuch as we have judged to be in a converted State 
 with the Com^pellations of Brother or Sipet- ; any 
 further than there is a vrfible Ecclefiaftical Dif- 
 tin6lion. In thofe Places where it is the Manner 
 to receive fuch, and fuch only to the Communion 
 i of the vifible Church, as recommend themfelves by 
 'giving a fatisfying Account of their inward Ex- 
 periences, there Chriftians may openly diftinguifh 
 fuch Perfons, in their Speech and ordinary Behavi- 
 . our, with a vifible Separation, without being in- 
 confiftent with themfelves : And I don't now pre- 
 tend to meddle with that Controverfy, whether 
 fuch an Account of Experience be requifite to 
 Church-Fellowfhip : But certainly, to admit Per- 
 fons to Communion with us as Brethren in the 
 ! vilible 
 
Pa. IV. Imprecaticns in Prayer. 303 
 
 -vilible Church, & then vifibly to rejedl them, and 
 -to make an open Diftinflion between them and 
 others, by different Names or Appellations, is to 
 be inconfiftent with our felves ; 'tis to make a vi- 
 fible Church within a vifibie Church, and vifibly 
 to divide between Sheep and Goats, fcttingone on 
 the right Hand, and the other on the left. 
 
 This bitter Root of Cenforioufnefs muft be to- 
 
 . tally rooted out, as we would prepare the Way of 
 the Lord. It has nourished and upheld many other 
 Things contrary to the Humility, Meeknefs and 
 Love of the Gofpel. The Minds of many have re- 
 ceiv'd an unhappy Turn, in fome Refpeds, with 
 their Religion : There is a certain Point or Sharp- 
 nefs^ aDifpofition to a Kind of Warmth, that does 
 not favour of that meek. Lamb-like, fweet Difpo- 
 fitjon that becomes Chriftians: Many have now 
 been fo long habituated to it, that they' don^t 
 know how to get out of it ; but we muft- get out 
 o£i4 ; the Point & Sharpnefs muft be blunted, and 
 jwe muft learn another Way of manifefting our 
 
 ^i^eal for God. 
 
 ^.^. There is a VVay of reflecSl'ing on others,anG cen- 
 fiirlng them in open Prayer, that fome have; whicfh 
 
 . thp' it has a fair Shew of Love, yet is indeed the 
 boldeft Way of reproaching others im-aginable, be- 
 caufe tlK:re is implied in it an Appeal to the moft 
 high Got-, ccncerning the Truth of their Cenfures 
 and Reflcdions. 
 , And here I would alfo obfervt by the Way^th^t 
 
 .fome have a Way of joining a Sort of Imprecati- 
 
 . ons with their Petitions for others, tho' but ccn- 
 
 ^^ditionalones, that appear to me wholly ntedlcfs 
 
 and 
 
304 Of praying that others may Pa. IV. ^| 
 
 and improper : They pray that others may either 
 be converted or removed. I never heard nor read 
 of any fuch Thing practiced in the Church of God 
 'till now, unlefs it be with Refpedl to fome of the 
 moft vifibly and notorioufly abandoned Enemies of 
 the Church of Go d . This is a Sort of curfing Men 
 in our Prayers, adding a Curfe with our Blefling ; 
 whereas the Rule is Blefs and curfe not. To pray 
 that God would kill another^ is to curfe him with 
 the like Curfe wherewith EU/ha curfed the Chil- 
 dren that came out oi Bethel And the Cafe muft 
 be very great and extraordinary indeed to warrant 
 it, unlefs we were Prophets, and did not fpeak our 
 own Words, butWords indited by the immediate 
 Infpiration of the Spirit of God. 'Tis pleaded 
 that if God has no Defign of converting others, 
 'tis beft for them, as well as beft for others, that 
 they fhould be immediately taken away and fent to 
 Hell before they have contracted more Guilt. To 
 which I would fay, that fo it was beft that thofe 
 Children that met Eltfl)a^ feeingGoDhad no De- 
 fign of converting them, fhould die immediately 
 as they did ; but yet Elijha's imprecating that fud- 
 den Death upon them, was curfmg them j and 
 therefore would not have been lawful for one that 
 did not fpeak in the Name of the Lord as g Pro- 
 phet. 
 
 And then if we give Way to fuch Things as 
 thefe, where fhall we flop ? A Child that fufpefts 
 he has an unconverted Father and Mother, may 
 pray openly that his Father and Mother may either 
 be converted, or taken away and fent to Hell now 
 quickly, before their Guilt is greater. (For un- 
 converted 
 
Pa. IV. be converted or removed. 305 
 
 converted Parents are as likely to poifon the Souls 
 of their Family in their Manner of training them 
 up, as unconverted Minifters are to poifon their 
 People.) And fo it might come to That, that ft 
 might be a common Thing all over the Country, 
 for Children to pray after this Manner concerning 
 their Parents, and Brethren and Sifters concerning 
 one another, & Hufbands concerning their Wives, 
 and Wives concerning Hufbands ; and fo for Per- 
 fons to pray concerning all their unconverted 
 Friends and Neighbours ; and not only fo,^ut we 
 may alfo pray concerning all thofe Saints that are 
 not lively Chriftians, that they may either be en- 
 liven'd or taken away ; if that be true that is often 
 faid by fome at this Day, that thefe cold dead 
 Saints do more Hurt than natural Men, and lead 
 more Souls to Hell, and that it would be well for 
 Mankind if they were all dead. 
 
 How needlefs are fuch Petitions or Imprecations 
 as thefe ? What Benefit is there of them ? Why 
 is it not fufficient for us to pray that God would 
 provide for his Church, and the Good of Souls, 
 and take Care of his own Flock, and give it need- 
 ful Means and Advantages for its fpiritual Profpe- 
 rity? Does God need to be direded by us in 
 what Way he fhall do it ? What need we a(k of 
 God to do it by killing fuch and fuch Perfons, if 
 he don't convert them ? Unlefs we delight in the 
 Thoughts of God's anfwering us in fuch terrible 
 Ways, and with fuch awful Manifeftations of his 
 Wrath to our Fellow-Creatures. 
 
 And why don't Minifters direiSt Sinners to pray 
 for themfclves^ that God would either convert 
 
 them 
 
:5 
 
 06 Of praying that others^ &c. Pa. IV. 
 
 •1 
 
 them or kill /them, and fend them to Hell now, 
 before their Guilt is greater? In this Way we 
 fliould lead Perfons ia the next Place to Self- 
 Murther : For many probably would foon begin 
 to think that That which they may pray for, tbey 
 may feek, and ufe the Means of. *^ * ' * - * 
 
 Some with whom I have difcourfed about this 
 Way of praying,have faid,that the Spirit of God., 
 as it were, forces them to utter themfelves thus, 
 as it were forces out fuch Words from their 
 Mouths, when otherv/ife they fliould not dare to 
 utter them. But fuch a Kind of Impulfe don't 
 look like the IniSuence of the Spirit of Go- . The 
 Spirit of God fometimes ftrongly inclines Men to 
 utter Words ; but not by putting Expreflions in- 
 to the Mouth, and urging to utter them ; but by 
 filling the Heart with a Senfe of divine Things, 
 and holy Affections ; and thofe AfFecStions and 
 that Senfe inclines the Mouth to fpeak. That 
 other Way of Men's being urged to ufe certain 
 ExprefTions, by an unaccountable Force, is very 
 probably from the Influence of the Spirit of the 
 Devil. 
 
 2. Another Thing I would take Notice of, in 
 the Management of which there has been much 
 Error and Mifcondudt, is Lay-Exhorting ; about 
 which tliere has been abundance of Difputing, 
 Tangling, and Contention. 
 
 In the midft of all the Difputes that have been, 
 I fuppofe that all are agreed as to thefe two Things, 
 viT.. I. That all exhorting one another of Lay- 
 men is not unlawful or improper, but on the con- 
 \^ary, that fonie Exhorting is a Chriflian Duty. 
 
 And 
 
Pa. IV. Of Lay-Exhorting. 307 
 
 And 2. I fuppofe alfo, all will allow that there is 
 fomething that is proper only for Minifters ;' that 
 there isfome Kind or Way of Exhorting & Teach- 
 ing or other, that belongs only to the Office of 
 •Teachers, All will allow, that God has appointed 
 fuch an Office as that of Teachers in the Chriftian 
 Church, and therefore doubtlefs will allow that 
 fomething or other is proper and peculiar to that 
 Office, or fome Bufinefs of Teaching that belongs 
 to it, that don't belong as much to others as to 
 them. 
 
 If there be any Way of Teaching that is pecu- 
 liar to that Office, then for others to take that 
 upon them, is to invade the Office of a Minifter ; 
 which doubtlefs is very finful, and is often fo re- 
 presented in Scripture. But the great Difficulty 
 is to fettle the Bounds, and to tell exadly, how far 
 La} -men may go, and when they exceed their Li- 
 mits 5 which is a Matter of fo much Difficulty, 
 that I don't wonder if many in their Zeal have 
 tranfgrefs'd. The two Ways of Teaching & Ex- 
 horting, the one of which ought ordinarily to be 
 left to Minifters, and the other of which may and 
 ought to be praaifed by the People, may be ex- 
 prefs'd by thofe two Names oi Preaching, md Ex- 
 horting in a Way of Chrijiian Converfation. But 
 then a great deal of Difficulty & Controverfy arifes 
 to determine what is Preaching, and what is Chri- 
 ftian Converfafmu However I will humbly ofFer 
 my Thoughts concerning this Subjeft of Lay- 
 Exhorting, as follows. - 
 
 I. The common People in exhorting one ano- 
 ther ought not to cloath themfelves with the like 
 Dd Au- 
 
^8 Of Lay-Exhorting. Pa. IVi 
 
 « 
 
 Authority with that which is proper for Miniftcrs. 
 There is a certain Authority that Minifters have, 
 and fnould exercife in teaching, as well as govern- 
 ing the Flock. Teaching is fpoken of in Scrip- 
 ture as an. Aa of Authority, i Tim. 2. 12. In 
 order to a Man's preaching, fpecial Authority mufl 
 be committed to him. Rom. 10. 15. How /hall 
 they preach., except they be fent ? Minifters in this 
 Work of Teaching & Exhorting are cloath'd with * 
 Authority, as Christ's Meflengers, {MaL2.^.) 
 .ind as reprefenting him, and fo fpeaking in his 
 Name, and in his Stead, 2 Cor. 5- 18, 19, 20. 
 And it feems to be the moft honourable Thing 
 that belongs to the Office of a Minifter of the * 
 Gofpel, that to him is committed the Word of 
 Reconciliation, and that he has Power to preach 
 tlie Gofpel, as Christ's Meflenger, and fpeak- 
 ing in his Name. The Apoftle feems to fpeak of - 
 it as fuch, I Cor. 1. 16, 17. Minifters therefore , 
 in the Exercife of this Power, may cloath them- 
 felves with Authority in fpeaking, or may teach 
 others in an authoritative Manner. Tit. 2. 15. ^ 
 Thefe Things fpeak and exhort., and rebuke with all ^ 
 Authority : Let no Man defpife thee. But the com- ' 
 mon People in exhorting one another, ought noti - 
 thus to exhort in an authoritative Manner. There : 
 is a great deal of DifFerence between teaching as 
 a Father amongft a Company of Children, & coun- 
 felling in a brotherly Way^ as the Children may 
 kindlv counfel and admonifhone another. Tholt 
 that are meer Brethren, ought not to aflume At- 
 ♦h'irity.in exhorting, tho' one may be better, aro 
 "},ve more Experience than another. Lay-mci^ 
 
 oil eh: 
 
Pa. IV. Of Lay-Exhorting. 309 
 
 ought not to exhort as tho* they were the Am- 
 bafTadors or Meflengers of Christ, as Minifters 
 do ; nor ftiould they exhort and warn and charge 
 in his Name^ according to the ordinary Import of 
 fuch an Expreflionj when applied to Teaching: 
 Indeed in one Senfe, a Chriftian oQght to do every 
 Thing he does in Religion in the Namcof Chrift> 
 i. e. He ought to aft in a Dependance on him as 
 his Head and Mediator,. and do all for his Glory : 
 But the Expreffion as it isufually underftood,when 
 applied to Teaching or Exhorting, is fpeaking in 
 CHRisT*sStead, & as having a Meflage from him. 
 Perfons may cloath themfelves with Authority 
 in fpeaking, either by the authoritative Words they 
 make Ufe of, or in the Manner, and authoritative 
 Air of their fpeaking : Tho* Tome may think that 
 this latter is a Matter of IndiiFerency, or at leaft 
 of fmall Importance, yet there is indeed a great 
 deal in it : a Perfon may go much out of his Place, 
 and be guilty of a great Degree of Afluming, in 
 the Manner of his (peaking thofe Words, which 
 as they might be fpoken, might be proper for him : 
 The fame Words fpoken in a different Manner, 
 may exprefs what is very diverfe : Doubtlefs there 
 may be as much Hurt in the Manner of a Perfon*s 
 fpeaking, as there may in his Looks ; but the wife 
 Man tells us, that an high Look is an Abomination I0 
 the Lord^ Prov. 21.4. Again, a Man may cloath 
 himfelf with Authority, in the Circumftances un- 
 der which he fpeaks \ as for Inftance, if he fets 
 himfelf upas a publick Teacher. Here I would have 
 it obferved, that I don't fuppofe that a Perfon is 
 guilty of this, meerly becaufe he fpeaks in the 
 D d 2 Hearing 
 
5 1 o Of LayExhorting. Pa .' ^V^1p I 
 
 Heading of many : Perfons may fpeak, an4 fpeak 
 only in a Way of Converfation, and yet fpeak in 
 the Hearing of a great Number, as they often do 
 in their common Converfation about temporal 
 Things^ at Feaft^ and Entertainments, whcretV'o- 
 men as well as others, do converfe freely together 
 about WQrldlyThingSyin the hearing of a confidera- 
 ble Number ; and it raay happen to be in the 
 Hearing of a great Number, and yet witht>ut Of- 
 fence : And if their Converfation on fuch Occa- 
 fionsfliould turn onfpiritual Things, & they {hould 
 fpeak as freely and openly, Idon't fee why it would 
 not be as harmlefs. Nor do I think, that if befides 
 a great Number's being prefent, Perfons fpeak 
 with a very earneft and loud Voice, this is for 
 them to fet up themfelves as publick Teachers, 
 if they de it from no Contrivance or premedi- 
 tated Defign, or as purpofely direfting them- 
 felves to a Congregation or Multitude, and 
 BOt fpeaking to any that are compofed to the So- 
 lemnity of any publick Service ; but fpeaking in 
 the Time of Converfation, or a Time when all do 
 freely converfe one with another, they exprefs what 
 \ they then feel, direfting themfelves to none but 
 ' thofe that are near 'em, and fall in their Way, 
 peaking in that earneft and pathetical Manner, to 
 which the Subjeft they are fpeaking of, and the 
 afFefting Senfe of their Souls naturally leads them, i 
 and as it were conftrains them : I fay, that for Per- 1 
 ! fons to do thus, tho' many happen to hear them, \ 
 
 yet it don't appear to me to be a fetting themfelves 
 .. ^»p as publick Teachers : Yea^if this be added to 
 ' tiiefe other Circumftances, that all this happens to 
 
 be 
 
Pa . IV. Of Lay-Exborting. 3 x i 
 
 i;e in a Meeting-Houfe ; I don't think that meerly 
 its being in fuch a Place, much alters the Cafe., 
 provided the Solemnity of publick Service and di- 
 vine Ordinances.be over, and the folemn Aflem- 
 bly broke up, and fome ftay in the Houfe for mu- 
 tual religious Converfation ; provided alfo that 
 they fpeak in no authoritative Way, but in an 
 humble Manner,becoming their Degree & Station^ 
 tho' they fpeak very eameftly and pathetically. 
 
 Indeed Modefty might in ordinary Cafes, re- 
 ftrain fome Perfons, as Women, and thofe that arc 
 young, from fo much as fpeaking, when a great 
 Number are prefent ; at leaft, when fome af thofe 
 prefent are much their Superiours, unlefs they are 
 fpoken to : And yet the Cafe may be {q extraordi- 
 nary, as fully to warrant it. If fomething very- 
 extraordinary happens to Perfons, or it'they ar^" 
 in extraordinary Circumftances : as if a Perfon h 
 ftruck with Lightning, in the midfl of a grea 
 Company, or if he lies a dying, it appears to nonr 
 any Violation of Modefty, for him to fpeak fredv 
 before thofe that are much his Superiours^ Ihav 
 feen fome Women and Children in fuch Circum 
 ftances, on religious Accounts, that it has appear' : 
 tx> me no more a tranfgreffing the Laws ©f Humi 
 lity and Modefty, for them to fpeak freely^ let 
 who will be prefent, than if they were dying. 
 
 But then may a Man be faid to fet up himfelf 
 as a publick Teacher, when he m a fet Speech^ of 
 Defign, diredts himfelf to a Multitude, either i: 
 the Meeting-Houfe or elfewhere, as lookii^ tha 
 ithey fhould compofe themfeives to attend to wha 
 i^« has to fay 3 and much more wbeathis is a cor 
 D d 3 triv4 
 
312 Of Lay-Exhorting. Pa. IV, j 
 
 trivcd & premeditated Thing, without any thing 
 ]ikc a Conftraint, by any extraordinary Senfe or 
 AiFeftion that he is then under ; and more ftill, 
 when Meetings arc appointed on Purpofe to hear 
 Lay-Perfons exhort, and they take it as their Bu- 
 fmtfs to be Speakers, while they expeft that others 
 fhould come, and compofe themfelves, and attend 
 as Hearers j when private Chriftians take it upon 
 them in private Meetings, to ad as the Matters 
 or Prefidents of the Aflembly, and accordingly 
 from Time to Time to teach and exhort the reft, 
 this has the Appearance of authoritativeTeaching. 
 When private Chriftians, that are ho more than 
 meer Brethren, exhort and admonifh one another, 
 it ought to be in an humble Manner, rather by 
 Way of Intreaty, than with Authority ; and 
 the more, according as the Station of Perfons is 
 lower. Thus it becomes Women, and thofe that 
 are young, ordinarily to be at a greater Diftance 
 from any Appearance of Authority in fpeaking 
 than others : Thus much at leaft is evident by that 
 
 4 in I Tim. 2. 9, ii, 12. 
 
 That Lay-Perfons ought not to exhort oneano- 
 Xier as cloathed with Authority, is a general Rule ; 
 Jilt it can't juftly be fuppofed to extend to Heads 
 of Families in their ownFamilies. Every Chriftian 
 Family is a little Church, and the Heads of it are 
 its authoritative Teachers and Govcrnours. Nor 
 can it extend to School-Mafters among his Scho- 
 iars ; and fome other Cafes might perhaps be m^* 
 tion^d, that ordinary Difcretion will diftinguifh, 
 tvhere a Man's Circumftances do properly cloatb 
 ' liim with Authgrity, aad render it fit and fuitable 
 
 i *^^ 
 
Pa. IV. Of Lay- Exhorting. 313 
 
 for him to counfel and admoniih others in an au- 
 thoritative Manner. 
 
 2. No Man but only a R4inifter that is duely 
 appointed to that facred Calling, ought to follow 
 Teaching and Exhorting as a Callings or fo as to 
 negleft that which is his proper Calling. An ha- 
 ving the Office of a Teacher in the Church of God 
 implies two Things, i. A being inverted with the 
 -^«//6^r//y of a Teacher ; and 2. A being called to 
 the Bufmefs of a Teacher, to make it the Bufinefs 
 of his Life. Therefore that Man that is not a 
 Minifter, that takes either of thefe upon him, in- 
 vades the Office of a A4inifter. Concerning 
 afTuming the Authority of a Minrfter I have 
 
 ^^"Tpoken already. But if a Lay-man don*t 
 aflume Authority in his Teaching, yet if he for- 
 fakes his proper Calling, or doth fo at leaft in a 
 great Mcafure, & fpends his Time in going about , 
 from Houfe to Houfe, to counfel and exhort, he 
 goes beyond his Line, and violates Chriftian Rules. 
 Thofe that have the Office of Teachers or Exhor- 
 tefs, have it for their Calling, and fhould make it 
 their Bufmefs, as a Bufmefs proper to their Office ; 
 and none (hould make it their Bufmefs but fuch 
 Rom. 12. 3, 4, 5, 7, 8. For I fay^ through ihi 
 Grace given unto me^ to every Man that is among you , 
 not to think of himf elf more highly than he ought to 
 think ; but to think foberly^ according as GOD hath 
 dealt to every Man the Proportion of Faith* For as 
 we have many Members^ in one Body^ and ail Mem^ 
 bers have not the fame Office \ fo we being many^ are 
 me Body in Chriji. — He that teachethy let him wait 
 
 ■ -m Teachings or he that exhorteiby on Exhortation^ 
 
 1CW4 
 
 I %4M4 
 
314 0/ Lay-E:^hortin^. Pa. IV. 
 
 I Cor. 1 2 . 29. Jre all ApaJiUi ?n. Arez nHvSr»^ 
 phets ? JreGllTeachers ? i Cor. 7. 20. Let every 
 Man abide in the fame Calling wherein he was called » 
 I Thef. 4. II. Jnd that yejiiidy to be quiet ^ and to 
 do your own Bufinefs^ and to work zvith your own 
 Hands J as we corjimanded you. 
 
 It will be a very dangerous Thing for Lay-men, 
 in either of thefe Refpedte, to invade the Office of 
 a Minifter ; if this be common among us we fhall 
 be in Danger af having a Stop put to the Work of 
 Go D, and the Ark's turning afide from us, before 
 it comes to Mount Z//?;?, and of God^s making a 
 Breach upon us ; as of old there was an unhappy 
 Stop put to thejoy of theCongregation of Ifrael^m 
 bringing up the Ark of God, becaufe others car- 
 ried it befides the Levites : And therefore D'avidy 
 when the Error was found out, fays, i Chron. 15. 
 ^ 2. None ought to carry the Ark of GOD^ hut the Le^ 
 vites only ; for them hath the Lord chofen to carry the 
 Ark of God^ ^nd to minijier unto him for ever. And 
 feecaufe one prefumed to touch the Ark that was 
 Wt of the Sons of Aaron^ therefore the Lord made 
 iX Breach upon them, and covered their Day of 
 r kcioicing with a Cloud in his Anger. 
 
 Before I difmifs this Head of Lay- Exhorting, I 
 ould take Notice of three Things relating to it, 
 upon which there ought to be a Reflraintv- 
 
 I . Speaking in the Time of the folemn Wor- 
 
 ,fii:p of God, as publick Prayer, Singing, 01 
 
 ./Preaching, or Adminiftration^f the Sacrament of 
 
 rthe Holy Supper; or any Duty of focial Worfhip\ 
 
 his Ihould hot bediawed,. I know it will be^ 
 
 id, that iaibme Cafes^wh^ Perfons are exceed-^ 
 
 : iiagly 
 
 kk 
 
P A . 1\' . Of Lay- Exhorting. 3 1 5 
 
 ingly afF^cled, they ctmnot help it ;- and^ I beheve 
 fo too : but then I alfo believe, and know by Ex- 
 perience, that there are feveral Things that can- 
 l^xibute to that Inability, befides meerly and abfor- 
 lutely the Senfc of divine Things they have upon 
 theirHearts. Cuflom and Example,or the Thing's 
 being allowed, have fuch an Influence, that they 
 adlually help to make it impoflible for Perfons un- 
 der ftrong Affe£lions to avoid fpeaking. If it was 
 difalIowed,and Perfons at the Time that they were 
 thus difpofed to break out, had this ApprehenHon^ 
 that it would be a very unbecoming,{hockingThing 
 fbr 'em fo to do, it would be a Help^laB 'em, as to 
 tlieir Abihty to avoid it: Their Inability arifesfrom 
 their flrong and vehement Difpofition \ and fofar 
 as that Difpofuion is from a good Principle, it 
 would be weaken'd by the coming in of this Tho't 
 to their Minds, I'/z.^' What I am going to da, will 
 be for the Difhonour of Christ and Religion : 
 And fo that inward Vehemence, that pulhed 'em 
 forward to fpeak, would fall, and they would be 
 enabled to avoid it. This Experience confirms, 
 
 2. There ought to be a moderate Reftraint 01 | 
 the Loudnefs of Perfons talking under high Affec 
 tions ; for if there be not, it will grow natural anc 
 unavoidable for Perfons t© be louder and louder 
 without any Ir.cr.eaie of their inward Senfe j 'til 
 it becomes natural to 'em, at laft, to fcream anc 
 hallow to almoft every one they fee in the Streets, 
 when they are muchaffeded : But this is certain| 
 a Thing very improper, and what has no Tendenjj 
 to promote Religion. The Man ChristJesT 
 v/hen he was upon Earth, had doubtlefs as great] 
 
3i6 Irreverent Singing. ' Pa. IV. 
 
 Senfc of the infinite Greatncfs and Importance ot 
 eternal Things, and the Worth of Souls, as any 
 have now-a-days ; but there is not the leaft Ap- 
 pearance in his Hiftory, of his taking any fuch 
 Courfc, or Manner of exhorting others* 
 
 3. There ftiould alfo be fome Reftraint on the 
 abundance of Perfons Talk, under ftrong Affe6li- 
 ons ; for if Perfons give themfdves an unbounded 
 Liberty, to talk juft fo much as they feel an Incli- 
 nation to, they will increafe and abound more and 
 more in Talk, beyond the Proportion of their Scnfe 
 or AfFeftion ; 'till at length it will become inef- 
 jfe^Sual on thofe that hear them, and by the Com- 
 lonnefs of their abundant Talk, they will defeat 
 leir own End. 
 
 One Thing more I would take Notice of be- 
 fore I conclude this Part, is the Mifmanagement 
 that has been in fome Places of the Duty of fing- 
 ]ng Praifes to God. I believe it to have been one 
 ruit of the extraordinary Degrees of the fweet 
 id joyful Influences of the Spirit of God that 
 Nave been lately given, that there hasappear'd fuch 
 \pifpofition to abound in that Duty, & frequently 
 Yall into this divine Exercife \ not only in ap- 
 Inted folemn Meetings, but when Chriftians oc- 
 ^lonallymeet together at each other'sHoufes. But 
 le Mifmanagement I have Refpefl to, is the get- 
 hg into a Way of performing it, without aimoft 
 ly Appearance of that Reverence and Solemnity 
 \h which all vifible, open Afts of divine Wor- 
 ought to be attended ^ it may be two or three 
 Room Tinging Hymns ofPraife to God, others 
 are prefent talking at the fame Time, others 
 
 about 
 
Pa. IV. Singing in the Streets. 3 1 7 
 
 about their Work, with little more Appearance 
 of Regard to what is doing, than if fome were only ^ 
 fmging a common Song, for their'Amufement and 
 Diverfion. There is Danger, if fuch Things are 
 continued, of its coming to that by Degrees, that 
 a meer Nothing be made of this Duty, to the great 
 Violation of the third Commandment. Let Chri- 
 ftians abound as much as they will in this holy, 
 heavenly Exercife, in God's Houfe and in their 
 own Houfes ; but when it is performed, let it be 
 performed as an holy A61, wherein they have im- 
 mediately and vifibly to do with God. When 
 any focial open Adi of Devotion, orfolemn Wor- 
 fhip of Gon is performed, God fhould be reve- 
 renced as vifibly prefent, by thofe that are prefent. 
 As we would not have the Ark of Go n depart 
 from us, nor provoke God to make a Breach upon 
 us, we ftiould take Heed that we handle the Ark 
 with Reverence. 
 
 With Refpedl to Companies fmging in the 
 Streets, going to, or coming from the Place of pub- 
 lick Worfhip, I would humbly ofter my Thoughts 
 in the following Particulars. 
 
 I. The Rule of Christ concerning />z////;z^ 
 rtroj JFim into old Bottles^ does undoubtedly take 
 Place in Things of this Nature, fuppofmg it to be 
 a Thing that in it felf is good, but not eflential, 
 and not particularly enjoin'd or forbidden. For 
 Things, fo very new & uncommon, and of fo open 
 and publick a Nature, to be fuddcniy introduced 
 and fet up & pradifed, in many Par^s of the Coun- 
 try, without the Matter's be'ing fo much as firft 
 propofed to any pubiick Confideration; or giving 
 
 any 
 
giS Singing tn the Streets. Pa. \\ . 
 
 any Opportunity for the People of God to weigh 
 the Matter, or to confider any P^eafons that might 
 be offered to fupport it, is putting new Wine into 
 <)ld Bottks with a Witnefs ; as if it were with no 
 other Dcfign than to burft them diredly. Nothing 
 elfe can beexpe<51cd to be theConfequence of this, 
 than Uproar and Confufion, and great OfFence,and 
 unhappy mifchievous Bifputes, even among the 
 ChildrenofGoD themfelves: Not that that which 
 is good in it felf, and is new, ought to be forborn, 
 'till there is no Body that will diflike it ; but it 
 ought to be forborn 'till the vifible Church of God 
 is fo prepared for it, at leaft, that there is a Pro- 
 bability that itwill not do more Hurt than Good, 
 or hinder the Work of God more than promote 
 it 'y as is moft evident from Christ's Rule, and 
 the Apoflles Pra6lice. If it be brought in, when 
 the Country is fo unprepared, that the Shock and 
 Surprize on Perfons Minds, and the Contention and 
 Prejudice againft Religion, that it is like to be an 
 Occafion of, will do more to hinder Religion, than 
 the Pra6tice of it is like to do to promote it, then 
 the Fruit is pick'd before 'tis ripe. And indeed, 
 fuch an hafty Endeavour to introduce fuch an In- 
 novation, fuppofmg it to be good in it felf, is the 
 likelieft Way to retard the efFecftual Introdudlion 
 of i t ; it will hmder its being extenfively introdu- 
 ced,much more than it will promote it^and fo will 
 defeat its own End. But 
 
 2. As to the Thing it felf. If a confiderable Part 
 of a Congregation have Occafion to go in Com- 
 pany together to a Place of publick Worfhip, and 
 they fhould join together in f inging Praifes to God , 
 
 ^ as 
 
Pa . IV. Singing in the Streets. 3 1 9 
 
 as they go, I confefs, that after longConfideration, 
 and endeavouring to view the Thing every Way, 
 v/ith the utmoft Deligence and Impartiahty I am 
 capable of, I cannot find any vahd Obje£tion againft 
 it. As to the common Objeilion from Mat. 6t 5. 
 uindivhcn thou pray eft., thou Jhalt not be as the Hypo- 
 crites are ; for they love to pray Jianding in the Syna- 
 gogues^ and in the Corners of the Streets^ that they 
 77iay befeen of Men. It is flrong againft a fingle 
 Pe'rfon's finging in the Streets, or in the Meeting- 
 Houfe, by himfelf, as ofFering to God perfonal 
 Worfliip 5 but as it is brought againft a confidera- 
 ble Company, their thus puMickly worfliipping 
 Gon, it appears to me to have no Weight at all ; 
 to be fure it is of no more Force againft a Com- 
 pany's thus praifing God in the Streets, than 
 againft their praifing him in the Synagogue or 
 Meeting-Houfe,for theStreets&c theSynagogues are 
 both put together in thefe Words of our Saviour, 
 as Parallel in the Cafe that he had RefpeA to. 'Tis 
 evident that Christ fpeaks of perfonal, and not 
 publick Worftiip. If to fing in the Streets be 
 oftentatious, then it muft be becaufe it is a pub- 
 lick Place, and jt can't be done there without be- 
 ing very open ; but it is no more publick than the 
 Synagogue or Meeting-Houfe is when full of Peo- 
 ple. Some Worftiip is in its Nature private, as 
 that which is proper to particular Perfons, or Fa- 
 milies, or private Societies, & has Refpect to their 
 particular Concerns : But that which I now fpeak 
 of, js performed under no other Notion than a Part 
 3f God's publick Worftiip, without any Relation 
 :o any private, feparate Society, or any chofen or 
 E e ^ 
 
3^o Singing in the Streets. Pa. IV. 
 
 pick'd Number, and in which every vifible Chri- 
 ilian has equal Liberty to join, if it be convejiient 
 for him, and he has a Difpofition, as in the Wor- 
 fhip that is performed in the Meeting-Houfe. 
 When Perfons are going to the Houfe of publick 
 Worfliip, to ferve God there with the Aflembly 
 of his People, they are upon no other Defign than 
 that of putting publick Honour upon God, that 
 is the Bufmefs they go from Home upon, and even 
 in their walking the Streets on this Errand, they 
 appear in a publick ASt of Refpeft to God ; and 
 therefore if they go in Company with publick 
 Praife, ^tis not a being publick when they ought 
 to be private. 'Tis one Part of the Beauty of pub- 
 lick Worfhip, that it be very publick ; the more 
 publick it is, the more open Honour it puts upon 
 God ; and efpecially is it beautiful in that Part 
 of publick Worfhip, viz. publick Praife ; For ^e 
 very Notion of publick praifmg of God, is to de- 
 clare abroad his Glory, to publifh his Praife, to 
 make it known, and proclaim it aloud, as is ^evi- 
 dent by innumerableExpreffions of Scripture. 'Tis 
 fit that Gop's Honour fhould not be concealed, 
 but made known in the great Congregation, and 
 proclaimed before the Sun, and upon the Houfe- 
 Tops, before Kinss, and all Nations, and that his 
 Praifes fhould be heard to the utmofl Ends of the 
 
 Earth. , _ . n r.'>o 
 
 I fuopofe none will condemn fingmg Cjod s 
 Praifes; meerlv becaufe 'tis performed in the open 
 Air, and not in a clofe Place : And if it may be 
 performed by a Company in the open Air doubt- 
 Utheyinr'doit moving, as well as flandir^ 
 
Pa. IV. Singing in the Streets. 3^1 I 
 
 ftiU. So the Children of //r^^/praifed GoD,when 
 they went to Mount Zion, with the Ark of God y 
 and fo the Multitude pralfed Christ, when they 
 entred with him into Jerufalem, zYittXt before his 
 Paffion ; and fo the Children of Ifrael were wont, 
 ^ from Year to Year, to go up to Jerufalem, when 
 they went in Companies, from all Parts ot the 
 Land, three Times in the Year, when they often 
 ufed to manifeft the Engagednefs of their Mmds, 
 by travelling all Night, and manifefted their Joy 
 and Gladnefs, by finging Praifes, with great De- 
 cency and Beauty, as they went towards God's 
 holy Mountain ; as is evident by Ifa. 30. 29. Te 
 Jhallhave a Song^ as in the Nighty when a holy So- 
 lemnity is kept, and Gladnefs of Heart ; as when om 
 goeth with a Pipe, to come into the Mountain of the 
 Lord, to the mighty Ow^^/Hrael. - AndPfal. 42. 4. 
 IVhen I remember thefe Things, 1 pour out my Soul 
 in me ; for I had gone with the Multitude, I went 
 with them to the Houfeof God, with the Voice of Joy 
 and Praife, with a Multitude that kept holy Day. 
 Pfal. 100. 4. Enter into his Gates with "Thankf- 
 giving, and into his Courts with Praife. When 
 God's People are going to his Houfe, the Occafion 
 is fo joyful to a Chriftian in a lively Frame, (the 
 Language of whofe Heart is. Come, let us go up to 
 the Houfe of the Lord, and who is glad when it is 
 fo faid to him,) that the Duty of finging Praifes 
 feems to be peculiarly beautiful on fuch an Occa- 
 fion. So that if the State of the Country was ripe 
 for it, and it fhould be fo that there ftiould be fre- 
 quent Occafions for a confiderable Part of a Con- 
 gregation, to go together to the Places of publick 
 E e 2 Wor- 
 
32 2 Singing in the Streets,. Pa. IV. 
 
 Worihip, and there was in other Refpefts a pro- 
 portionable Appearance of Fervency of De- 
 votion, it appears to me that it would be i-avifti- 
 ingly beautiful, if fuch Things were praftifed all 
 over the Land, and would have a great Tendency 
 to enliven, animate and rejoice the Souls of God 4 
 Saints, and greatly to propagate vital Religion. I 
 believe the Time is coming when the World will 
 be full of fuch Things. 
 
 3. It feems to me to be requifite that there 
 Ihould be the Confent of the gov^ning Part of the 
 Tvorfhipping Societies,to which Perfons have join'd 
 themfclves, and of which they own themfelves a 
 Part, in order to the introducing of Things in pub- 
 Kck Worihip,fo new & uncommon,^ and not effen- 
 tial, nor particularly commanded, into the Places 
 where thofe worfhipping Societies belong : The 
 Peace and Union of fuch Societies feems to require 
 it y feeing they have voluntarily United themfelves 
 to thefe worfhipping Societies, to that End, that 
 they might be one in the Affairs of God's pub- 
 lick Worfliip, and obliged themfelves in Covenant 
 to aft as Brethren & mutual Affiftants, and Mem- 
 bers of one Body, in thofe Affairs, & all are hereby 
 naturally and neceffarily led to be concerned with 
 one another, in Matters of Religion and Go n's 
 Worfhip; and feeing that this is a Part of the pub- 
 lick Worfhip, & Worfliip that muft be perform 'd 
 from Time to Time in the View of the whole, 
 being performed at a Time when they ar^ meet- 
 ing together for mutual Affiflance in Worfliip-» 
 and therefore that which all mufl unavoidably be 
 in fomeMeafure concerned in, fo atleaflasto 
 
 ^ fhew 
 
Pa. IV. Singing in the Streets. 323 "j, 
 
 fhew their Approbation & Confent, or open Dif- ^ 
 
 like and Separation from them in it V I fay it be- ^ 
 
 ing thus, Charity and a Regard to the Union and ;| 
 
 Pelce of fuch Societies, feems to require a Confint | 
 
 of the governing Part, in order to the introducing, j 
 
 any Thing of this Nature ; (unlefs they think rfiofb ! 
 
 Societies unworthy that they fhould h% join'd to ij 
 
 them any longer, and fo firft renounce them, as- \ 
 
 the worfhipping Societies of which they are Mem- '; 
 
 bers.) Certainly if we are of the Spirit of the ,] 
 
 Apoftle Paul^ and have his Difcretion, we- fliall \ 
 
 not fet up any fuch Praflice without it : He fee | 
 
 the Sake of Peace, conformed, inThings wherein j 
 
 he was not particularly forbiddea, to the JewSj- | 
 
 when among them j and fo when among thofo ; 
 
 that were without the Law, conformed to them, ; 
 
 wherein he might. — To be fure thofe go muclp j 
 
 beyond proper Limits, who coming from abroad, i 
 
 do immediately of their own Heads, in, a ftrange 
 
 Place, fet up fuch a new and uncommon PraSice^- 
 
 among a People. 
 
 In introducing any Thing of this Nature amoi^ 
 a People, their Minifter efpeciajly ought to be-- 
 confulted, and his Voice taken, as long as^ he^ is^ 
 own'd for their Minifter. Minifters are Eaftors? 
 of worfhipping Societies, & their Heads SeGiridea^ 
 in the Affairs of publick Worfliip. They arc 
 called in Scripture, thofe that rule over them^ and: 
 their People are commanded /> ohey thtm^ becsufe^ 
 they watch for their Souls ^ as thofe thai mujhgiv^^ 
 Jccount. If it belongs to thefe Shepherds & Rulers 
 to dire<a and guide the Flock in-any THn^ at ai^. 
 
3^4 Evilljfue of fore-mention' d Errors. P.IV- 
 
 it belongs to 'em fo to do, in the Circumftantials 
 6f their publick Worfhip. 
 
 Thus I have taken particular Notice of ipany 
 CJf thofe Things that have appeared to me to be 
 amife, in the Management of our religious Con- 
 cerns, relating to the prefent Revival of Religion, 
 and have taken Liberty freely to exprefs my 
 Thoughts upon them. Upon the whole it appears 
 manifeft to me, that Things have as yet, never 
 been fet a-going in their right Channel 3 if they 
 had, and Means had been blefs'd in Proportion as 
 they have been now, this Work would have {o 
 prevailed, as before this Time to have carried all 
 afore it, and have triumph'd over New- England as 
 its Conqueft. 
 
 The Devil in driving Things to thefe Extremes, 
 befides the prefent Hindrance of the Work of 
 God, has, I believe, had in Viev/, a two-fold 
 Mifchief hereafter, in the Iflue of Things ; one 
 with Refpefl: to thofe that are more cold in Reli- 
 gion J to carry Things to fuch an Extreme, that 
 People in general, at length, having their Eyes 
 openM, by the great Excefs, & feeing that Things 
 muft needs be wrong, he might take the Advan- 
 tage to tempt them entirely to rejed the whore 
 Work, as being all nothing but Delufion and Dif- 
 traaion. And another is with Refpeft to thofe 
 that have been very warm and zealous, of Gou 5 
 own Children, that have been out of the Wa)s to 
 fink them down in Unbelief an*Darknefs. The 
 Time is coming I doubt not, when the bigger Part 
 ^ of them will be convinced of their Errors ; and 
 Oien probably the Devil wiU take Advantage to 
 
Pa.IV. Our Need of Chrijl's Help, 325 
 
 lead them into a dreadful Wildernefs, & to puzzle 
 and confound them about their own Experiences, 
 and the Experiences of others ; and to make them 
 to doubt of many Things that they ought not to 
 doubt of, and even to tempt them with atheiftical 
 Thoughts. I beh'eve if all true Chrirtians all over 
 the Land, fhould now at once have their Eyes 
 open'd, fully to fee all their Errors, it would feem 
 for the prefent to damp Religion : The dark 
 Thoughts, that it would at firft be an Oceafion 
 of, and the inward Doubts, Difficulties and Con- 
 flidls that would rife in their Souls, would deaden 
 their lively Affections and Joys, and would.caufe 
 an Appearance of a prefent Decay of Reli- 
 gion. But yet it would do God's Saints great 
 Good in their latter End ; it would fit them for 
 more fpiritual and excellent Experiences, more 
 humble and heavenly Love, and unraix'd Joys,, 
 and would greatlv tend to a more powerful, exten- 
 five and durable Prevalence of vital Piety. 
 
 I don't know but we fhall be in Danger by and 
 by, after our Eyes are fiilly open'd/to fee our Er- 
 rors, to go to contrary Extremes. The Devil has 
 driven the Pendulum far beyond its proper Point 
 of Reft ; and when he has carried it to the utmoft 
 Length that he can, and it begins by its own 
 Weight to fwing back, he probably will fet in, 
 and drive it with the utmoft Fury the other Way ; 
 and fo give us no Reft ; and if poffible prevent 
 our fettling in a proper Medium. What a poor, 
 blind,, weak and miferabie Creature is Man, at 
 his bed Eftate !: We are like poor helplefs Sheep 5 
 the Devil ia toa fubtle for us : What Fs^ our 
 
 Str^xjgjfel 
 
f 
 
 3 2 6 O^r Need of Chrijl's Help. Pa . IV. 
 
 Strength ! What is our Wifdom ! How ready 
 are we to go aftray ! How cafily are we drawn 
 afide, into innumerable Snares, while we in the 
 mean Time are bold and confident, and doubt 
 not but that we are right and fafe ! We are 
 foolifh Sheep, in the midft of fubtle Serpents and 
 cruel Wolves, and don't know it. Oh ! how 
 unfit are we to be left to our felves ! And how 
 much do we ftand in Need of the Wifdom, the 
 Power, the Condefcenfion, Patience, Forgivenefs 
 and Gentlenefs of our good Shepherd f 
 
 1 
 
 PART 
 
PART V. 
 
 Shewing pofitively, what ought 
 to be done to promote this 
 WORK. 
 
 IN confidering of Means and Methods for pro- 
 moting this glorious Work of God, I have 
 already obferved, in fomelnftances wherein 
 there has beenneedlefsobjedling and complaining, 
 and hive alfo taken Notice of many Things amifs, 
 that ought to be amended ; I now proceed m 
 the 
 
 Third and laft Place^ to fhew pofitively, what 
 ought to be done, or what Courfes (according to 
 my humble Opinion) ought to be taken to pro- 
 mote this Work. The Obligations that all are 
 under, with one Confent, to do their utmoft, and 
 the great Danger of neglecting it, were obferved 
 before. I hope that fom^e, upon reading what was 
 faid under that Head, will be ready to lay, What 
 fhall ^we do ? To fuch Readers J would now 
 offer m.y Thoughts, in Anfwer to fuch an Enquiry. 
 And that which I think we ought to let our 
 felves about in the firft Piace, is to remove Stum- 
 bling-blocks. When God is revealed, as about 
 to come, glorioufly to fet up his Kingdom in the 
 World, this- is proclaimed ^ Prepare ye the Way of 
 
328 Of Cdnf effing Faults. Pa.V* 
 
 the Lord^ make Jlr ait in the Defert an high Way for 
 our God^ Ifai. 40. 3. And again, Ifai. 57. 14. 
 Cajl ye up^ Caji ye up ; prepare the Way ; take up 
 the Stmnhling'bhck cut of the Way of iny People, 
 And Chap. 62. 10. Go through^ go through the 
 Gates ; prepare you the Way of the People ; Caji up ^ 
 Cajl up the High-way ; gather out the Stones, 
 
 And in order to this, there muft be a great deal 
 done at confeffing of Faults, on both Sides : For 
 undoubtedly many and great are the Faults that 
 have been committed, in the Jangling and Confu- 
 fions, and Mixtures of Light and Darknefs, that 
 have been of late. There is hardly any Duty more 
 contrary to our corrupt Difpofitions, and mortify- 
 ing to the Pride of Man ; but it muft be done. 
 Repentance of Faults is, in a peculiar Manner, a 
 proper Duty, when the Kingdom of Heaven is at 
 Hand, or when we efpecially expeft or defire that 
 it fhould come ; as appears by John the Baptiji's 
 Preaching. And if God does now loudly call 
 upon us to repent,then he alfo calls upon us tomake 
 proper Manifeftations of our Repentance. I arn 
 perfwaded that thofe that have openly oppofed this 
 Work, or have from Time to Time fpoken lightly 
 of it, cannot be excufed in the Sight of God, with- 
 out openly confeffing their Fault therein ; efpe-^ 
 cially if they be Mimftecs. If they have any Way, 
 cither dire6tly or indirectly, oppofed the Work, 
 or have fo behaved, in their publick Performances 
 or private Converfation, as has prejudiced the 
 Minds of their People againft the^ Work, if here- 
 after they (hall be convinced of the Good nefs and 
 Divinitv of what they have oppofed, they ought 
 
 by 
 
Pa. V. Of confeffing Faults. 329 
 
 by no Means to palliate the Matter, and excufe 
 themfelves, and pretend that they always thought 
 fo, and that it was only fiich & fuch Imprudences 
 that they obje<5led againft, but they ought openly 
 to declare their Convidlion, and condemn them- 
 felves for what they have done ; for 'tis Christ 
 that they have fpoken againft, in fpeaking lightly 
 of, and prejudicing others againft this Work ; 
 yea, worfe than that, 'tis the Holy Ghoft. And 
 tho' they have done it ignorantly, and in Unbelief, 
 yet when they find out who it is that they have 
 oppofed, undoubtedly God will hold them bound 
 publickly to confefs it. 
 
 And on the other Side, if thofe that have been 
 zealous to promote the Work, have in any of the 
 fore-mentioned Inftances, openly gone much out 
 of the Way, and done that which is contrary to 
 Chriftian Rules, whereby they have openly injur 'd 
 others, or greatly violated good Order, and fo 
 done that which has wounded Religion, they muft 
 publickly confefs it, and humble themfelves, as 
 they would gather out the Stones, and prepare the 
 Way of God's People. They who have laid great 
 Stumbling-blocks in others Way, by their open 
 TranfgreJJion^ are bound to remove them, by their 
 open Repentance. 
 
 Some probably will be ready to object againft 
 this, that theOppofers will take Advantage by this. 
 to beha\\ themfelves infolently, and to infult both 
 them and Religion. And indeed, to the Shame 
 of fome, they have taken Advantage by fuch 
 Things ; as of the good Spirit that Mr. Whitefield 
 fhewed in his Retradlations, and fome others. But 
 
 if 
 
3JO ' Of mutual Forbearance. Pa. V. 
 
 if there are feme imbitter'd Enemies of Religion, 
 that (land ready to improve every Thing to its 
 Difadvantage, yet that ought not to hinder doing 
 an eiijoin'd Chriftian Duty ; tho' it be in the Ma- 
 nifefiation of Humility and Repentance, after a 
 Fault openly committed. To fiand it out, in a 
 vifible Impenitence of a real Fault, to avoid fuch 
 an Inconvenience, is to do Evil, to prevent Evil. 
 And befides, the Danger of an evil Confequence is 
 much greater on the other Side : To commit Sin, 
 and then ftand in it, is what will give the Enemy 
 the greatefl: Advantage. For Chriftians to atSl 
 like Chriftians, in openly humbling themfelves, 
 when they have openly offended, in the End brings 
 the 2:reateft Honour to Christ and Religion ; 
 and in this Way are Perfons moft likely to have 
 God appear for them. 
 
 Again, At fuch a Day as this, Gop does efpe- 
 cially call his People to the Exercife of extraordi- 
 nary Meeknefs and mutual Forbearance : For at 
 fuch a Time, Christ appears as it were coming 
 in his Kingdom, which calls for great Moderation 
 in our Behaviour towards all Men \ as is evident 
 Phil. 4. 5. J^^i yo^^ Moderation be knotvn unto all 
 Men : the Lord is at Hand. The Awe of the di- 
 vine Majefty that appears prtfent or approaching, 
 ftiould difpofe us to it, and deter us from the<on- 
 trary. For us to be judging one another, and be- 
 having with Fiercenefs and BitternefsjOne towards 
 another, when he who is the Searcher of i-l Hearts, 
 to whom we muft all give an Account, appears fo 
 remarkably prefent, is exceeding unfuitable. Our 
 Bufmefii, at fuch a Tinte, iliould be at Home, 
 
 fearching 
 
Pa. V. Of mutual Forbearance. 33^ ;; 
 
 fearehing our felves^ and condemning our felves, ; 
 and taking Heed to our own Behaviour. If there ' 
 
 - be glorious Profperity to the Church of God ap- 
 proaching, thofe that are the moft meek, will have 
 the largeft Share in it : For when Christ rides 
 foith, in his Glory and his Majejly^ it is hecaufe of 
 Truth, Meeknefsand Righteoufnefs, Pfal. 45. 3, 4* 
 And when God remarkably arifes^ to execute 
 Judgment, it is tofave all the Meek of the Earthy 
 Pfal. 76. 9. And 'tis the Meek, xh^tjhall increafe 
 their Joy in the Lord^ Ifa. 29. ig. And when the 
 Time comes, that God will give this lower World 
 into the Hands of his Saints, it is the Meek that 
 Jhall inherit the Earth, Pfal. 37. 1 1, and Matth. 
 5. 9. But with thefroward, God will Jhew himf elf 
 unfavoury. 
 
 Thofe therefore, that have been zealous for this 
 Work, and have greatly errM and been injurious 
 with their Zeal, ought not to be treated with Bit- 
 ternefs. There is abundant Reafon to think, that 
 .moft of them are the dear Children of God, for 
 whom Ch R 1ST died ; and therefore that they will 
 fee their Error. As to thofe Things, wherein we 
 fee them to be in an Error, we have Reafon to 
 fay of 'em as the Apoftle, Philip. 3. 15. If any 
 are otherwife minded, God Jhall reveal this unto them* 
 Their Errors fliould not be made Ufe of by us, fo 
 much to excite Indignation towards them, but^ 
 (hould influence all of us, that hope that we are 
 the Children of God, to humble our felves, and 
 become more entirely dependent on the Lord 
 JesusChrist, when we fee thofe, that areGoD's 
 own People, fo leady to go aftray. And thofe 
 F f Mi- 
 
332 Of waiting en GOD. Pa. V. 
 
 Minifters that have been judged, and injurioufly 
 dealt with, will do the Part of Christ ^s Difci- 
 ples, not to judge and revile again, but to receive 
 fuchlnjuries with Meeknefs and Forbearance,and 
 making a good Improvement of them, more ftriftly 
 examining their Hearts & Ways, and committing 
 themfelves to God. This will be the Way t% 
 liave God vindicate them in his Providence, if 
 they belong to him. We han't yet feen the End 
 ofThmgs;^nor do we know who will be moft 
 vindicated, and honoured of God, in the IfTue. 
 Ecclef 7. 8. Beiter is the End of a Thing, than the 
 Beginning thereof-, and the patient in Spirit^ is bet- 
 ter than the proud in Spirit. 
 
 Contrary to this mutual Meeknefs, is "each Par- 
 ty's ftigmatizing one another with odious Names ; 
 as is done in many Parts of New- England : which 
 tends greatly to widen and perpetuate the Breach. 
 Such diftinguifhing Names of Reproach, do as it 
 were divide us into two Armies, feparated, and 
 drawn up in Battle-Array, ready to fight one with 
 another ; which greatly hinders the Work of God. 
 And as fuch an extraordinary Time as this, does 
 efpecially require of us the Exercife of a great deal 
 of Forbearance, one towards another ; fo there fs 
 peculiarly requifite in God's People, the Exercife 
 of great Patience, in waiting-^w GOD, under any 
 fpecial Difficulties and Difadvantages they ijiay be 
 under, as to the Means of Grace. The beginning 
 of a Revival of Religion will naturally and neceffa- 
 rily be attended with a great many Difficulties of 
 this Nature ; many Parts of the reviving Church 
 willj for a whi:le, be under great Difadvantages, 
 
 — -'.by 
 
Pa. V. Of waiting on God. 333 
 
 by Reafon of what remains of the old Difeafe, of a 
 general Corruption of the vifible Church. We 
 can't expedl that, after a long Time of Degene- 
 racy and Depravity, in the State of Things in the 
 Church, Things fhould all come to Rights at once ; 
 it,.mufl: be a Work of Time : And for God's Peo- 
 ple to be over-hafty and violent, in fuch a Cafe, 
 being refolved to have every Thing re£tified at 
 once, or elfe forcibly to deliver themfelves, by 
 Breaches and Separations, is the Way to hinder 
 Things coming to Rights, as they otherwife would, 
 and to keep 'em back, and the Way to break all 
 in Pieces. Not but that the Cafe may be fuch, 
 the Difficulty may be fo intolerable, as to allow of 
 no Delay, and Gob's People can't continue in 
 the State wherein they were, without Violations 
 ofabfolute Commands of God. But otherwife, 
 tho* the Difficulty may be very great, another 
 Courfe fhould be taken. God's People fhould 
 have their Recourfe direftly to the Throne of 
 Grace, to reprefent their Difficulties before the 
 great Shepherd of the Sheep, that has the Care of 
 all the Affairs of his Church ; and when they have 
 done, they fhould wait patiently upon him : If they 
 do fo, they may expea that to his Time, he will' 
 appear for their Deliverance : But if inflead of 
 that, they are impatient, and take the Work into 
 their own Hands, they will bewray their Want of 
 Faith, and will difhonour God, and can't have 
 fuch Reafon to hope that Christ will appear for 
 th em, as they have defired,but have Reafon to fear, 
 that he will leave 'em to manage their Affairs for 
 themfelves,as well as they can : When otherwife,if 
 Ff2 they 
 
 i 
 
354 Of waiting on GOD. Pa. V. 
 
 tiiey had waited on Christ patiently, continumg 
 Itiil inftant in Prayer, they might have had him an- 
 pearing for them, much more efFeaually to deliver 
 them. He that lelieveth Jhall not make ha fie \ and 
 tisfor thofe that are found patiently waiting on 
 the Lord, under DiiEculties, that he will efpecially 
 appear when he comes to do great Things for his 
 Church, as IS evident by 7/^7. 30. 18. and Chap. 
 40. at the latter End, and 49. 23. and PfaL 37. 
 9. and many other Places. . ' ' V 
 
 I have fomewhere, not long fince, met with an 
 Expofition of thofe Words of the Spoufe, that we 
 feavefeveral Times repeated in the Book of Cantt- 
 des^ I charge you^ O Daughters ^Jerufalem, that 
 yejiirnotup^ nor awake my Lov^^ [titlhe phafe^ 
 which is the only fatisfying Expofition that ever I 
 Jhet whh ; which was to this Purpofe, Wz. That 
 when the Church of God is under great Difficult 
 :ies, and in'Diftrefs, and Chbtst don't appear 
 ■or her Help, butfeems'to negle'61: her, as tho* he. 
 ^ere afleep, God's People, or the Daughters of 
 ■erufalem^\n fuch a Cafe, (hould not (hew an:hafty 
 pirit ; and not having Patience to wait for Qirift 
 [o awake for their Help, ^till his Time comes,take 
 Indireft Gourfes for their own Deliverance, and 
 life violent Means for their Efcape, before Chrift 
 ^ appears to open the Door for them ; and fo as it 
 were, jiir upy and awake Chriji^ before his Time. 
 When the Church is in Diftrefs, and God feems 
 not to appear for her in his Providence, he is very 
 often reprefented in Scripture, as being afleep ; as 
 Christ was afleep in the Ship, when the Difci- 
 ples were toffed by the Storm," & the Ship covered 
 
 with 
 
Pa. V. Of waiting on GOD. 335 
 
 v/ith Waves: And God's appearing afterwards 
 for his People's Help, is reprcfented as his awaking 
 out of Sleep. Pfal. 7. 6. and 35. 23. and 44. - 
 23. and 59. 4. and 73. 20. Christ has an 
 appointed Time for his thus awaking out of Sleep : 
 And his People ought to wait upon him ; and not, 
 in an impatient Fit, ftir him up, before his Time. 
 'Tis worthy to be obferved how ftrift this Charge 
 is, given to the Daughters of Jerufalem^ which is 
 repeated three Times over in the Book of Canti-^ 
 cles^ Chap. 2. 7. and 3. 5. and 8. 4. In the 2d 
 Chapter and fix firft Verfes, is reprefented the 
 Supports Christ gives his Church, while ftie is 
 in a fufFering State, as the Lilly among Thorns : In 
 the 7 th Verfe is reprefented her Patience in wait- 
 ing for Christ, to appear for her Deliverance, 
 when (he charges the Daughters of Jerufalem^ not 
 to ftir up, nor awake her Love ^till he pleafe, by 
 the Roes, and the Hinds of the Field ; which are 
 Creatures of a gentle, harmlefs Nature, are not 
 Beafts of Prey, do not devour one another, don't 
 fight with their Enemies, but fly from them j and 
 are of a pleafant, loving Nature, Prov> 5. 19. In 
 the next Verfe, we fee the Church's Succefs, in 
 this Way of waiting under Sufferings, with Meek- 
 nefs & Patience ; Christ foon awakes, fpeedily 
 appears, and fwiftly comes ; The Voice of my Be- 
 loved ! Behold^ he cometh, Uapiyug upon the Mountains y 
 (kipping upon the Hills / 
 
 What has been mention 'd hitherto, has Relation' 
 
 to the Behaviour we are obliged to, as we would 
 
 prevent the Hindrances of the Work ; butbefides 
 
 thefe, there are Things that muft be done, more 
 
 F f 3 direaiy 
 
33^ Of taking Care of our own Souls. P.V. 
 
 diredlly to advance it. And here, it concerns 
 every one, in the firft Place, to look into his own 
 Heart, and fee to it that he be a Partaker of the 
 Benefits of the Work himfelf, and that it be pro- 
 moted in his ovy^n Soul. Now is a moft glorioirs 
 Opportunity for the Good of Souls. 'Tis mani- 
 feftly, with refpeil to a Time of great Revival of 
 Religion in the World, that we have that graci- 
 i ous, earneft and moving Invitation proclaimed, in 
 ;^ the 55th of Ifai. Ho^ every one that thirjieth ! &c. 
 as is evident by what preceeds in the foregoing 
 Chapter, and what follows in the Clofe of this. 
 Here, in the 6th Verfe it is faid, Seek ye the Lord ^ 
 while he may be found -^ call upon him^ while he is 
 near. And ^tis with fpeeial Reference to fuch a 
 Time, that Christ proclaims as he does, Rev. 
 
 21. 6. I -will give tmto him that is aihirft^ of the 
 Fountain of the Water of Life freely. And Chap. 
 
 22. 17, And the Spirit and the Bride fay. Come; 
 and let him that h ear eth fay ^ Come ; and let him that 
 isathirji come ; and whofoever will., let him take the 
 Water of Life freely. And it feems to be with Re- 
 ference to fuch a Time, which is typified by the 
 Feaji of Tabernacles^ that Jesus, at that Feaft, 
 flood and cried, as we have an Account, Joh. 7. 
 37, 38. In the lajl Day^ that great Day of the 
 Feaji^ Jefus flood and cried^ faying., If any Man 
 thirji^ let him come unto me and drink. He that be- 
 lieveth on me., out of his Belly /hall flow Rivers of 
 living. Water, ,. And '.tis with fpeeial Reference to 
 God's Freenefs arid Readinefstobeftow Grace^t 
 fuch a Time, that it isfeid \vi Ifa. 60. 11. of the 
 
 fpiritual 
 
Pa.V. To Oppolers and Arminians. g ^7 
 
 fpiritual JerufaUm^ Thy Gates Jhall he open conti- 
 nually^ they Jhall not he Jhut^ Day nor Night, 
 
 And tho' I judge not thofe that have oppofed 
 this Work, and would not have others jixlge them, 
 yet, if any fuch'ihall happen to read this Treatife, 
 I would take the Liberty to intreat them to leave 
 ofF concerning themfelves fo much about others, 
 and look into their own Souls, and fee to it that 
 they are the Subjeds of a true, faving Work of 
 the Spirit of God. If they have Reafon to think 
 thev never have beerf, or it be but a Very doubtful 
 Hopethat they have, then how can they have any 
 Heart to be bufilv arnl fiercely engaged about the 
 Miftakes, and the fuppofed falfe Hopes of others ? 
 And I would now bcfeech thofe that have hitherto 
 been fomething inclining x.o Arminian Principles, 
 ferioufly to weigh the Matter with Refpecl 
 to this Work, and confider, whether, \^ the 
 Scriptures are the Word of God, the Work 
 that has been defc^ribed in the firff Part of ^thia 
 Treatife, muft not i7eed& te, as to the Subftance 
 of it, the Work of God, and the Ftouriftiii^g of* 
 that Religion, that is taught by Christ and his 
 Apoftles ; and whether any good Medium can be 
 found, where a Man can reft, with any Stability, 
 between owning this Work, and being a Deift ; 
 and alfo to confider whether or no, if it be indeed 
 fo, that this be the Work of God, it don*t entire- 
 ly overthrow their Scheme of Religion ; and there^ 
 fore whether it don't infinitely concern 'enij as 
 they would be Partakers of eternal Salvation, to 
 relinquifh their Scheme* Now is a good Time for 
 Arminians- to change tbcir PxiacipleSr. I would 
 
3 3 § Banger of negkBing this Seafon, P. V. 
 
 now, as one of the Friends of this Work, humbly 
 invite 'em to come and join with us, and be on 
 our Side ; and if I had the Authority of Mofes^ I 
 would fay to them as he did to Hobab^ Num. lo. 
 29. TVe are journey mg unto the Place^ of which the 
 Lord f aid ^ 1 will give it you \ come thou with us ; 
 and we will do ihee Good : For the Lord hath fpoken 
 Good cGncerni?2g Ifrael. 
 
 As the Benefit and Advantage of the good Im- 
 provement of fuch a Seafon, is extraordinary great ; 
 fo the Danger of neglecting, and mifimproving it, 
 k proportionably great. 'Tis abundantly evident 
 by the Scripture, that as a Time of great Out- 
 pouring of the Spirit, is a Time of great Favour 
 \ to thpfe that are Partakers of the Bleffing ; fo it 
 f is always a Time of remarkable Vengeance to 
 others. So in Ifai. 61.2. the fame that is called, 
 the acceptable Tear of the Lord^ is called alfo, the 
 Day of Vengeance of our God. So it was amongft 
 the Jews, in the Apoftles Days : The Apoftle in 
 a Cor. 6. 2. fays of thit Time, that it was the 
 a€cepte4Thne.,and Day of Salvation }, And Chrift 
 iays of the fame Time, Luk. 21. 22. Thefe are 
 the Days of Vengeance. At the fame Time that the 
 BlefTings of the Kingdom of Heaven were given to 
 X\ fome, there was an Ax laid at the Root of the Trees ^ 
 U that thofe that did not hear Fruity might be hewn 
 (■J down^ and caji into the Fire^ Matth. 3. 9, lb, II. 
 Then was glorified, both the Goodnefs & Severity 
 of God, in a remarkable Manner. Rom. 11. 22. 
 The Harveft and the Vintage go together : At the 
 fame Time that the Earth is reaped, and God's 
 Ek£l are gathered into the Garner pf God, /*^ 
 
 Angel 
 
Pa. V. To tiged Perfons. 339 
 
 jlngel that has Power over Fire^ thrufts in his Sickle^ 
 and gathers the Clujler of the Vine of the Earthy and 
 cafs it into the great JVir^-Prefs of the Wrath of 
 God, Rev, 14. at the latter End. So it'is foretold, 
 that at the Beginning ofthe glorious Times of the 
 Chriftian Church, at the fame Time x\\^Uhe Hand 
 ofthe Lord is kmzvriy towards his Servants^ fo {hall 
 his Indignation^ tcivards his Enemies, Ifa. 66. 14. 
 Si'when thatgloriousMorningfluU appear jwhere- 
 Vxi the ^un of^Righteoufnefs^JhaU arife, to the Ele6f^ 
 with Healing in his Wings, the Day {hall burn as an 
 Oven to the Wicked, Mai. 4. 1,2, 3. There is 
 no Time like fuch a Time, for the Increafe of 
 Guilt, and treafaring up Wrath, and defperate 
 hardening of the Heart,if Menftand it out ; which 
 is the moft awful Judgment, and Fruit of divine 
 Wrath, that cjn beinflided on any Mortal. So 
 th^t a Time of great Grace, and pouring out of 
 the Spirit, and the Fruits of divine Mercy, is ever- 
 more alfo, a Time of great Out-pouring of fome- 
 thing elfe, t^/z. Divine Vengeance, on thofe that 
 negleft and mifiniprove fuch a Seafon. 
 
 The State, ofthe prefent Revival of Religion^ 
 has an awful Afpeft upon thofe that are advanced 
 ih Years. * The Work has b.een chiefly amongft 
 thofe that are young ; and comparatively^, but 
 few others have been made Pa^^^'iers of it. And 
 indeed, it has commonly been fo, when God has 
 begu^ a^ny "great Work, for the Revival of his 
 Church,; .-he has taken the young People, and has 
 caft'ofFthe old h iTifF-necked Generation. There 
 was a remarkable Out-pouring of the Spirit of 
 God, on the Children of Ifraelm the Wildeinefs, 
 
 on 
 
340 ^0 aged Perfens. Pa. V. ^ 
 
 on the younger Generation, their little ones^ that 
 they faid^Jhould be a Prey^ the Generation that en- 
 tred into Canaan^ with yojhua 3 which is evident^ 
 by many Things in Scriptnre. That Generation, 
 feems to have4>een the mofl excellent Generation 
 that ever was in the Church of IfraeL There is 
 no Generation, of which there is fo much Good, 
 and fo little Hurt fpoken in Scriptupe ; as might 
 befhewn, if it would not be too long. In that 
 Generation, that were under twenty Years, when 
 they went out of Egypt ^ was th^t Kindnefs of 
 Youth ^ and Love of Efpoufah^ fpoken of, Jer. 2. 
 2, 3. But the old Generation were pafled by, 
 and remained ofcftinate and ftifF-necked, were al- 
 ways murmuring, and would not be convinced 
 by all God's wondrous Works that they beheld. 
 God by his awful Judgments that he executed in^ 
 the Wi'ldernefs, and the Affliction that the People' 
 fufFered there, convinced and humbled the younger 
 Generation, and fitted them for great Mercy \ as 
 is evident by Deut, 2. 16. but he deftroyed the 
 old Generation ; he fivore in his Wraih^ that they 
 Jhouldnot enter into' his Reji^ and their Car cafes fell 
 in the VAldernefs : When it was a Time of great' 
 Mercy, and pourinj out of God's Spirit on their 
 Children, it was r'^^arkably a Day of Vengeance 
 unto them ; as ap[?2ars by the 90 Pfalm. ^ Let the 
 old Generation 4n this Land, take Warning from 
 hence, and take Heed that they don't refufe to be 
 convinced, by all God's Wonders that he works 
 before their Eyes, and that they don't continue 
 forever objecling, murmuring & cavailling againft 
 the Work of God, leaft while God is bringing 
 
 their 
 
Pa. V. ^0 aged Perfofts. 341 
 
 their Children into a Land flowing with Milk and 
 Honey, he (hould fvvear in his Wrath concerning 
 them, that their Carcafes fhall fall in the Wilder- 
 nefs. 
 
 So when God had a Defign of great Mercy to 
 the Jews^ in bringing 'em out of the Bahylonijh \ 
 Captivity, and returning them to their own Land, 
 there was a blefled Out-pouring of the Spirit upon 
 them in Babylon^ to bring 'em to deep Conviction 
 and Repentance, and to a Spirit of Prayer, to cry 
 earneftly to God for Mercy ; which is often fpo- 
 ken of by the Prophets : But it was not upon the 
 old Generation, that were carried Captive. The 
 Captivity continued juft long enough, for that per- 
 verfe Generation to wafte away and die in their 
 Captivity; at leaft thofe of them that w^ere adult i 
 Perfons, when carried Captive. The old Gene- I 
 ration, and Heads of Families, were .exceeding 
 obftinate, and would not hearken to the earneft 
 repeated Warnings of the Prophet Jereyniab ; but 
 he had greater Succefs among the young People ; 
 as appears by Jer. 6. 10, 1 1 . Ti whom/hall I /peak 
 a-ndgive JVarning^ that they may hear? Behold their \ 
 Ear is uncircumc'ifed^ and they cannot hearken : Be- 1 
 hcld^ the Word of the Lord is unto them a Reproach ; 
 they have no Delight in it, Tljerefore I am full of 
 the Fury of the Lord ; / am iveary with holding in \ 
 Izvillpour it out upon the Children abroad^ and upon 
 the Affembly of the young Men together ; for even the 
 Hujbandzuith the Wife (i. e. The Heads of Fami- 
 . lies, and Parents of thefe Children) Jhall be taken^ 
 the aged,, zvith him that is full of Days. BlefTed be 
 God ! There are fome of the elder People, that 
 
 have 
 
3+2 Duties of Minijiers. P a . V. 
 
 have been made Partakers of this Work : And 
 tliofe tkat aremoft awakened, by thefe Warnings 
 of God's Word, and the awful Frowns of his 
 Providence, will be moft hkely to be. made Par- 
 takers hereafter. It infinitely concerns them to 
 take Heed to themfelves, that they may be Parta- 
 kers of it; for how dreadful will it be to go to 
 Hell, after having fpent fo many Years in doing 
 nothing, but treafure up Wrath. 
 
 But above all others whatfoever, does it concern 
 us that are Minifters, to fee to it that we are Par- 
 takers of this Work, or that we have Experience 
 of tlie fa ving Operations of the fame Spirit, that 
 is now poured out on the Land. How forrowful 
 and melancholy is the Cafe, when it is otherwife ? 
 For one to ftand at the Head of a Congregation 
 of God's People, as reprefenting Christ and 
 fpeaking in his Stead, and to adt the Part of a Shep- 
 herd and Guide to a People, in fuch a State of 
 Things, when many are under great Awakenings, 
 and many are converted, & many of God's Saints 
 are filled with divine Light, Love and Joy, and to 
 undertake to inftruft and lead 'em all, under all 
 thefe various Circumfl:ances, and to be put to it, 
 continually to play the Hypocrite, and force the 
 Airs of a Saint in Preaching, and from Time to 
 Time, in private Converfation, & particular deal- 
 ing with Souls, to undertake to judge of their Cir- 
 cumftances, to try to talk with thofe that come to 
 him, as if he k-new what they faid ; to try to talk 
 with Perfons of Experience, as if he knew how to 
 converfe with them, and had Experience as well 
 as they j to make others believe that he rejoices 
 
 when 
 
, A. V. Duues of Minijlers. 343 
 
 when others are converted, and to force a pleafed 
 and joyful Countenance and Manner of Speech, 
 whe'n there is nothing in the Heart, what forrow- 
 ful ^Vork is here ! Oh ! how miferably mull fuch 
 a Perfon feel ! What a wretched Bondage and 
 Slavery is this ! What Pains, and how much Art 
 muft fuch a Minifter ufe to conceal himfelf ! And 
 how weak are his Hands ! Befides the infinite Pro- 
 vocation of the moft high God, and Difpleafure of 
 his Lord & Mafter, that he incurs, by continuing 
 a fecret Enemy to him in his Heart, in fuch Cir- 
 cumftances. I think there is a great deal of Rea- 
 fon, from the Scripture, to conclude, that no Sort 
 of Men in the World, will be fo low in Hell, as < 
 ungodly Minifters : Every thing that is fpokenof 
 in Scripture, as that which aggravates Guilt, and 
 heightens divine Wrath, meets in them ; however 
 fome particular Perfons, of other Sorts, may be 
 more guilty than fome of thefe. 
 
 And what great Difadvantages are unconverted 
 Minifters under, to oppofe any Irregularities, or 
 Imprudences, or intemperate Zeal, that they may 
 fee in thofe that are the Children of God, when 
 they are confcious to theiiifelves, that they have no 
 Zeal at all ? If Enthufiafm and Wildnefs comes 
 in like a Flood, what poor weak Inftruments are 
 fuch Minifters to withftand it ? With what Cou- ; 
 rage can they open their Mouths, when they look ^ 
 inward, and confider how it is with them ? 
 
 We that^are Minifters, not only have Need of 
 
 fome true Experience of the faving Influence of | 
 
 the Spirit of God upon our Heart, but we need a J 
 
 double Portion of the Spirit of Goj> at fuch a " 
 
 G g Time 
 
344 Duties of Minijlers. Pa. V. 
 
 Time as this ; we had need to be as full of Light, 
 as a Glafs is, that is held out in the Sun ; and with 
 Refpea to Love and Zeal, we had need at this 
 L)ay, to be hke the Angels, that arc a Flame of 
 Fire. The State of the Times extremely requires 
 a Fulnefs of the divine Spirit in Minifters, and we 
 ought to give our felves no Reft 'till we have ob- 
 tain'd it. And in order to this, I fliould think 
 Minifters,'above all Perfons, ought to be much in 
 fecret Prayer and Fafting, and alfo much in Pray- 
 ing and Fafting one with another. It feems to me 
 it would be becoming the Circumftances of the 
 prefent Day, if Minifters in a Neighbourhood 
 would often meet together, and fpend Davs in 
 Fafthig, and fervent Prayer, among themfelves, 
 earneftly feeking for thofe extraordinary Supplies 
 of divine Grace from Heaven, that we need at 
 tliis Day : And alfo if, on their occafional Vifits 
 one to another, inftead of fpendingaway theirTime 
 in fitting & fmoking, and in diverting,or worldly, 
 unprofitable Converfation,tellingNews,& makin'g 
 their Remarks on this & the other trifling Subject, 
 tlicy would fpend their Time in praying togethc, 
 and fmging Praifes, h religious Conference. Hov, 
 much do many of the common People ftiame many 
 of us that are in the Work of the Miniftry, in 
 tiicfe Refpecls r Surely we do not behave our 
 felves fo much like Chriftian Minifters, & the Dif- 
 ciples and Ambafladors of Chrift, as we ought to 
 <io. And while we condemn zealous Perfons for 
 their doing fo much at cenfuring Minifters at this 
 Day, it ought not to be without deep Reflexions 
 upon, & great Condemnation of our felves: For 
 
 indeed, 
 
Pa.V. Of Minijlers helping one another . 345 
 
 indeed, we do very much to provoke Cenforiouf- 
 nefs, and lay a great Temptation before others, to 
 the Sinof Judging : And if w^ecanprove^thatthofe 
 that are guiltv of it, do tranfgrefs the Scripture 
 Rule, yet our Indignation fliould be chiefly againft 
 our felves. 
 
 Minifters, at this Day in a fpecial Manner, 
 fhould a£l as Fellow-helpers, in their great Work. 
 It Ihould be feen that they are animated &engag'd, 
 and exert themfelves with one Heart & Soul^ and 
 with united Strength, to promote the prefent glo- 
 riousReviv^l of Religion : And to that End fhould 
 often meet together, & adl in Concert. And if it 
 were a common Thing in the Country, for A'lini- 
 fters to join in publick Excrcifes, and fecond one 
 another, in their Preaching, I believe it would be 
 of great Service. I mean that Minifters having 
 confulted one another, as to the Subjefts of their 
 Difcourfes, before they go to the Houfe of God, 
 fliould there fpeak, two or three of them going, in 
 fhort Difcourfes, as feconding each other,and ear- 
 neftly enforcing each other's Warnings&Counfels. 
 Only fuch an Appearance of united Zeal in Mini- 
 fte; s, would have a greatTendency to awaken At. 
 tention, & much to iraprefs & animate the Hear- 
 ers-; as has been found by Experience, in fome 
 Parts of the Country. 
 
 Minifters fhould carefully avoid weakening one 
 another's Hands. And therefore every Thing 
 fliould be avoided, by which their Interefl with 
 their People might be diminifhed, or their Union 
 with them broken. On the contrary, if Miniflers 
 han't forfeited their Acceptance in that Charader, 
 G g 2 in 
 
346' 0/ Zeal and Refolution P a . V. 
 
 in the vifible Church, by their Dodrine or Beha- 
 viour, their Brethren in the Miniftry ought ftudi- 
 oufly to endeavour to heighten the Efteem and Af- 
 feftion of their People towards them, that the) 
 may have no Temptation to repent their admittiiig 
 other Minifters to come & preach in their Pulpit^. 
 Two Things, that are exceeding needful in Mi- 
 niflers, as they would do any great Matters, to ad- 
 vance the Kingdom of Chri'ft, are Zeal ic Refclu- 
 tion* The Influence and Power of thefe Things, 
 to bring to pafs great EfFedls, is greater than can 
 well be imagined ; A Man of but an ordinary Ca- 
 pacity, will do more with them, than one of t^n 
 Times the Parts & Learning,withoutthem : More 
 may he dpne with them, in a few Days, or at leait 
 Weeks, than caa bfe done without them, in many 
 Years. Thofe that are poflelTed of thefeQualities, 
 commonly carry the Day, in almoft all AfFaijs. 
 Moft of the great Things that have been done in 
 the World of Mankind, the great Revolutions thr.t 
 have been accomplifhed in the Kingdoms and Em- 
 pires of the Earth, have been chiefly owing to thefe 
 Things. The very Sight or Appearance of a tho- 
 roughly engaged Spirit,together with a fearlefsCou- 
 lage & unyielding Refolution, in any Perfon, that 
 has undertaken the managing any Affair amongft 
 Mankind, goes a great Way towards accomplifh- 
 ing the Effea aimed at. 'Tis evident that the Ap- 
 pearance of thefe Things in Alexander^ did thiee 
 Times as much towards his conquering the World , 
 as all the Blows that he ftruck. And how much 
 were the great Things that Olher Cromwel did, 
 owing to thefe Things ? And the great Things 
 
 I 
 
Pa. V. in Minijters. 347 
 
 that Mr. JVhitefield has done, every where, as he 
 has run through the Britijh Dominions, (fo far as 
 they are owing to Means) are very much owing to 
 the Appearance of thefe Things, which he is emi- 
 nently pofTefs'd of. When the People fee thefe 
 Things apparently in a Perfon, and to a great De- 
 gree, it awes them, & has a commanding Influence 
 upon theirMinds ; it feems to them that. they muft 
 yield i they naturally fall, before them, without 
 ftanding to conteft or difpute the Matter ; they arc 
 conquered as it were by Surprize. But while v/ 
 are colJ&hcartlefs, &only go on in a dull Manner, 
 in an old formal Round, we fliall never do anv 
 great Matterr. Our Attempts, the Appearance c 
 fuch Coldnefs and Irrefolution, won't fo much as 
 make Perfons think of yielding : They will hardly 
 be fuiRcient to put it into their Minds ; and if it 
 be put into their Minds, the Appearance of juch 
 Indifference and Cowardice, does as it were ca! 
 for, & provoke Oppofition.-— Our Mifery isWai. 
 of Zeal and Courage; for not only thro' War. 
 of them, does ail fail that weieem to attempt, but 
 it prevents our attempting any Tiling very re-- 
 markable, for the Kingdom of Christ. Hence^ 
 oftentimes it has been, that when any Thins; v^i"^' 
 ccnfiderable, that is new, \% propofed to be done 
 for the Advancement of Religioii, or tte publick 
 Good, many Difficulties are found out, that are.in 
 the Way, and a great many Objeflions areilarted, 
 and it may be, it is put off from one to another , 
 but no Body does any Thing. And after this Man- 
 ner good Defigns or Propofals have oftentimes 
 failed, & have funk as foon as piopofed. ^Whenas, 
 ■^ Gg 3 if 
 
^ 34.8 Of Candidates for the Miniflry. P. V . 
 
 if we had but Mr. Whitefield's Zealand Courage, 
 what could not we do, with fuch a Bleffing as we 
 might expeiSl ? 
 
 Zeal and Courage will do much in Perfons of 
 feut an ordinary Capacity ; but efpecially would 
 they do great Things, if join'd with great 
 Abilities. If fome great Men, that have appear'd 
 m oiir Nation, had been as eminent in Divinity, 
 as they were in Philofophy, and had engaged in the 
 Chriftlan Caufe, with as much Zealand Fervour, 
 as fome others have done, & with a proportionable 
 Bleffing of Heaven, they would have conquered 
 all Chrljlmdam^ & turn'd the World upfide down. 
 We have many Miniflers in the Land that don't 
 want for Abilities, they are Perfons of bright Part: 
 and Learning \ they fhould confider how much is 
 expeftcd, and will be required of them, by their 
 Lord & Mailer, and how much they miglit do for 
 Chrift, and what great Honour, and how glorious 
 a Reward tliey might receive, if they had in their 
 Hearts an heavenly Warmth, and divine Heat, 
 proportionable to their Light. 
 
 WiihRefpea to Candidates for the Miniftry, 1 
 won't undertake particularly- to determine, what 
 ^ Kind of Examinatiton or Trial they fhou! c 
 \ der, in order to their Admiffion to th^i 
 ! Work: But i think this is evident from the:^ 
 \ ture, that another Sort of Trial, withRegarat. 
 their Vertue & Piety, is requifite, than is requnea 
 in order to Perfons being admitted into the viiible 
 , Church- TheApoftledireas, /^r/f^//^^^/^^ 
 . (uddmlyonmMan\ but that they ftiould//:^ /-• 
 m^ b^fgiQ tbey are admitted to the Work c^^^;^ 
 
P-. V. Of the Regulation of the Colleges. 3 4*;; 
 
 Miniftrv : But 'tis evident that Perfons were fud- 
 denly admitted, brBaptifm, into the vifibleChurch^ 
 from Time to Time, on their Profeflion of their 
 Faith in Chrift, without fuch Caution & Stri<Stnefs 
 in their Probation* And it feems \o me, thofe 
 would a6l very unadvifedly, that fhould enter oil 
 that great and facred Work, before the}^had com- 
 fortable Satisfadlion concerning themfelves, that 
 they have had a favingWork of God on theirSouls, 
 And tho' it may be thought, that I go out of my 
 proper Sphere, to intermeddle in the AflFairs of the 
 Colleges, yet I will take the Liberty of an Englifh- 
 man,(that fpeaks hi^ Mind freelv, concerning pub- 
 lick Aftairs) h the Liberty of a Minifter of Chrift, 
 {\v\\o doubtlefs may fpeak his Miiid as freely about 
 Things that concern the Kingdom of his Lord and 
 Mafter) to give my Opinion, in fomeThings,with 
 Refpedl to thofe Societies ; the originial and main \ 
 Defign of which is to train up Perfons, & fit them \ 
 for the Work of the Miniftry. And I would fay ^ 
 in general, that it appears to me that Care fliould 
 be taken, fome Way or other, that thofe Societies 
 fhould be fo regulated, that they fhould, in Fa6l^ 
 be Nurferies of Piety. Otherwife, they are fun- 
 damentally ruin'd & undone, as to their main De-, 
 fign, and maft efiential End. They ought to be fo 
 conftitutcd, that Vice and Idlcnefs fhottld have no 
 Living there : They are intolerable in Societies^ 
 whofe main Defign h^ to train up Youth in Chri- 
 ftian Knowledge & eminent Piety, to fit them to 
 be I^ftors of the Flock of the bleffedjefus. I have 
 heretofore had fome Acquaintance with theAfFaira 
 of a College^ and Experience of what tdongcd to 
 
 it3 
 
350 Of the Regiihtion Pa. V. 
 
 its Tuition & Government \ and I can't but think 
 that it is practicable enough, fo to conflitute fuch 
 Societies, that there ihould be no being there, with- 
 out being vertuous, ferious and diligent. It feems 
 to me to be a Reproach to the Land, that ever it 
 fhould be fo with our Colleges, that inftead of be- 
 ing Places of thegreateft Advantages for truePiety, 
 one can't fend a Child thither, without great Dan- 
 ger of his being infeded, as to his R'lorals ; as it 
 has certainly, fometimes been with thefe Societies : 
 *Tis perfedly intolerable ; and any Thing {hould 
 be done, rather than it fhould be (o. If we pre- 
 tend to liave any Colleges at all, under^nyNotion 
 of training up Youth for the Mi niftry, there fliould 
 be fome Way found out, that fhould certainly pre- 
 vent its being thus. To have Societies for bring- 
 ing Perfons up to be Ambafladors of Jefus Chrift, 
 and to lead Souls to Heaven, & to have 'em Places 
 of fo much Infeftion, is the greatefl Nonfenfe and 
 Ahfurdity imaginable. 
 
 And, as thorough and effecSlual Care fhould be 
 taken that Vice & Idlenefs b en 't tolerated in thefe 
 Societies, fo certainly, the Defign of 'em requires, 
 that extraordinary Means fhould be ufed in them, 
 for training up the Students in vital Religion, and 
 experimental & praftical Godlinefs ; fo that they 
 fhould be holy Societies, the very Place fhould be 
 as it were facred : They fhould be, in. the midflof 
 the Land, Fountains of Piety and Holinels. There 
 is a great deal of Pains taken, to teach the Scho- 
 lars human Learning \ there ought to be a^tnuch, 
 and moreCare, thoroughly to educate 'eminReligi- 
 gn,& lead 'em to Uue & eminent Holinefs. If the 
 
 main 
 
Pa. V. of the Colleges, 351 
 
 main Defign of thefeNuiferics, is to bring up Pcr- 
 fons to teachCHRisT, then it is ofgreatefl Impor- 
 tance that there fhould be Care and Pains taken, to 
 bring thofe that are tliere educated, to the Know- 
 ledge of Chrift. It has been common, in our pub- 
 lick Prayers, to call thefe Societies, the Schools of 
 the Prophets j and if they are Schools, to train up 
 young Men to be Prophets y certainly there ought 
 to be extraordinary Caie there taken, to train 'em 
 up to be ChrljViajis, 
 
 And I can't fee, why it is not on all Accounts 
 fit & convenient, for theGoverncurs & Inftruclois 
 of the Colleges, particularly, fmgly and frequently 
 to converfe with the Students, about the State of 
 their Souls. As. is ths Pradfice of the Rev. Dr. 
 D(^dridge^ one of the moft noted of the prefeht 
 diirenting Minifters in England^ who keeps aii Ac- 
 cademy at Northampton^ as he himfelf informs the 
 Rev. Mr. IVadfworth of Hartford^ in Comie^icut^ 
 in a Letter, dated at Northampton^ March 6. 
 1740,41. The Original of which Letter I have 
 fecn, and have by me an ExtfacSl of it, fent to me, 
 by Mr. IVadjvjorth ; which is as follows ; 
 
 " Thro' the divine Goodiiefs,! have every Year, 
 ^' the Pleafure to fee fome Plants taken out of my 
 *' Nurfery, h fet in neighbouringCongregations ; 
 "• where they generally fettle with a unanimous 
 " Cenfent, and that to a very remarkableDegree, 
 '^ in fomeverylarge, and once divided Congrega- 
 "' tiows. . A Circiimfbncc, in which, I own and 
 '' adore the Hand of a wife & gracious God ; and 
 '' can't but look upon it as a Token for Good. I 
 '' have at prefent, a greater Proportion of pious 
 
 '' and 
 
2 Duties of great Men. Pa. V. 
 
 and ingenious Youth under my Care, than I 
 ever before had. So that I hope the Church 
 may rr^ifonably expect fome coniiderableRelief 
 from hence, if God fpare their Lives a few 
 Years, & continue to them thofe gracious Af- 
 fiftances, which he has hitherto^mercifully im- 
 parted. — I willnofjSir, trouble you at prefent, 
 with a large Account of my Method of acca- 
 demical Education : Only would obferve, that 
 I think it of vail Importance, to inftruft them 
 carefully in the Scriptures ; h not only endea- 
 vour to cftablifh them in the great Truths of 
 Chriftianity, but to labour to promote their 
 praftlcal Influence on their Hearts. For which 
 Purpofe,! frequently converfe with each of them 
 alone, & conclude theConverfation withPrayer. 
 This does indeed take up a great deal of Time ; 
 but, IblefsGoD, it's amply repaired, intlie 
 Pleafure I have, in feeing: mv Labour is not in 
 vain in the Lord." -'- ^ 
 
 There are fome that are not Minifters, nor are 
 concern'd immediately in thofe Things that apper- 
 tain to their Office, or in the Education of Perfons 
 for it, that are under great Advantages to promote 
 fuch a glorious Work as this. Some Lay-men, tho' 
 it be not their Bi^fmefs publickly to exhort?i teach, 
 yet are in iomeRefpe<as,under greater Advantage 
 to encourage and forward this Work, than Mini- 
 fters. As particularly great Men,*or Men that are 
 high in Honour and Influence. How much might 
 fuch do, to encourage Religion, k open the Way 
 for it to have free Courfe, & bear down Oppofiti- 
 on, if they were but inclin'd ? lliere is commonly 
 
Pa. V. Buties of rich Men. 353 
 
 a certain unhappyShyncfs, in great Men^with Re- 
 fpcct to Religion, as tho' they were afliam'd of it, 
 or at leaft,a{ham'd to do very much at it ; whereby 
 they d {{honour, & doubtlefs, greatly provoke the 
 King of Kings, and very much wound Religion 
 among the common People. They are careful of 
 their Honour, and feem to be afraid of appearing 
 openly forward and zealous in Religion, as tho' it 
 were 'what would debafe their Character, & expofe 
 'em to Contempt. But in this Day of bringing up 
 the Ark, they ought to be like David^ that great 
 King of Ifraely who tnade himf elf vile before the 
 Ark ; and as he was the higheft in Honour and 
 Dignity, among God's People, fo thought it be- 
 came him to appear foremoft, in the Zeal & Acti- 
 vity hemanifefted on tliat Occafion ; thereby ani- 
 mating & encouraging the whole Congregation to 
 praife the Lord, and rejoice before him, with all 
 their Might: And tho' it diminiftied him in the 
 Eyes of fcoffing MichaU yet it did not at all abate 
 the Honour and Efteem of the Congregation of 
 IfraeU but advanced it ; as appears by 7.Sam,6.22. 
 Rich Men have a Talent in their Hands, in the 
 Difpofal and Improvement of which, they might 
 verv^ much promote fuch a Work as this, if they 
 were fo diibofed. They are far beyond others un- 
 der Advantage to do Good, and lav up for them- 
 felves^Treafures in Heaven. What a thoufaiid 
 Pities is it, that for Want of a Heart, they com- 
 monly have no Share at all there, but Heaven is- 
 peopled moftly with the Poor of thisWorld ? One 
 would think that our rich Men, that call them- 
 felvesChriftiansjmightdevife fome notableThings, 
 
 to 
 
354 Duties of rich Men. Pa. V. 
 
 to do with their Money, to advance the Kingdom 
 of their profeffed Redeemer, and the Profperity of 
 the Souls of Men, at this Time of fuch extraordi- 
 nary Advantage for it. It feems to me, that in this 
 Age, moft of us have but very narrow, penurious 
 Notions of Chriftianity, as it refpects our Ufe and 
 Difpofal of our temporal Goods. The primitive 
 Chriftianshad not fuchNotions : They were trained 
 up by the Apcftles in another Way.— God has 
 greatly diftinguiftied fome of the Inhabitants of 
 Nevj'^ngland^ from others, in the Abundance that 
 he has given 'em of the good Things of this Life. 
 If they could now be perfwaded to lay out fome 
 eonfiderable Part of that whichGoD has given 'em 
 for the Honour of God, and lay it up in Heaven, 
 inftead of fpending it for their own Honour,or lay- 
 mg it up for their Pofterity, they would not repent 
 of it afterwards. How liberally did the Heads of 
 the Tribes contribute of their Wealth, at the fet- 
 ting up theTabernacle,tho' it was in a barren Wil- 
 dernefs ? Thefe are the Days of the erefting the 
 Tabernacle of God amongft us. We have a par- 
 ticular Account how the Goldfmiths & the Mer- 
 chants helped to rebuild the Wall of Jerufalern^ 
 Neh. 3. 32. The Days are coming fpoken of in 
 Scripture, and I believe not very far off, when the 
 Sons of Zionjhall ceme from far ^ bringing their Sil- 
 ver and their Gold with them, unto the Name of the 
 Lord their God, and to the holy One <?/Ifrael ', and 
 when the Merchants of the Earth, (hall trade for 
 Christ, more than for themfelves, & their Mer- 
 chandize and Hire/ball be Holinefs to the Lord, and 
 Jhall not be tr^afured, or laid up for Pofterity, but 
 ' (ha^^ 
 
Pa. V. Duties of rich Men. 355 
 
 Jhallbefor them that dwell before the Lord^to eatfuf- 
 ficientlyy and fir durable Clothing ; and when the 
 Ships of T'drthifhjhall bring the Wealth of the dif- 
 tant Parts of the Earth, to the Place of God* s Sanc- 
 tuary ^ and to make the Place of his Feet glorious ; and 
 the abundance of the Sea frail be concerted to the Ufe 
 of God's Churchy andfre jhall fuck the Milk of the 
 G entiles y and fuck the Breafls of Kings, The Days 
 are coming, when the great and rich Men of the 
 Wovldy frail hring their Honour and Glory into the 
 Churchy and fhall, as it were, ftrip themfelves, to 
 fpread their Garments underCHRisT's Feet^as he 
 enters triumphantly mtojerufalem ; & when thofe 
 that won't do fo fhall have no Glory, & their Sil- 
 ver & Gold fhall be eanker'd, and their Garments 
 Moth-eaten ; for the Saints fhall then inherit the 
 Earth, & they fhall reign on Earth, and thofe that 
 honour God he will honour, and thofe that defpifc 
 him fhall be lightly efteemed. 
 
 If fome of our rich Men would give oneQuarter 
 of their Eftates to promote this Work, they would 
 a<St a little, as if they were defign'd for the King- 
 dom of Heaven, & a little as rich Men will ad by 
 and by, that fhall be Partakers of the fpiritual 
 Wealth and Glories of that Kingdom. 
 
 Great Things might be done for the Advance- 
 ment of the Kingdom of Chris Tjat this Dayjby 
 thofe that have Ability, by eftablifhing Funds', for 
 the Support and Propagation of Religion ; by fup- 
 por ting fome that are eminently qualified withGifts 
 and Grace,in preaching the Gofpelin certainParts 
 of theCountry,that are more deftitute of theMeans 
 of Grace 5 In fearchingout Children, of promifing 
 H h _ Abilities, 
 
Of Fajling and Prayer. Pa. V. 
 
 /abilities, & their Hearts full of Love toCHRisr, 
 ^ but of poor Families, (as dou b tie fs there are fuch 
 ^ now in the Land) & bringing them up for thcMi- 
 niftry ; 5c in diftributrng Books, that are remarka- 
 bly fitted to promote vital Religion, and have a 
 great Tendency to advance this Work ; or if they 
 would only bear the Trouble, Expence & Lofs of 
 fending fuch Books into various Parts of the Land, 
 to be fold, it might be an Occafion that tenTjmes 
 fo many of thofe Books fhould be bought, as other- 
 . wife would be ; and in eftablifhing and fupporting 
 Schools, in poorTowns & Villages ; which might 
 be done on fuch a Foundation, as not only to bring 
 up Children in common Learning, but alfo,might 
 vtry much tend to theirConvidlion & Converfion, 
 and being train'd up in vital Piety ; and doubtlefs 
 fomething might be done this Way, in oldTowns, 
 and morepopulous Places, that might have agreat 
 ; Tendency to the Flourifliing of Religion, in t' - 
 ' rifing Generation. 
 
 But I would now proceed -to mention fome 
 
 I Things, that ought to be done, at fuch a Day as 
 
 I this, that concern all in general. 
 
 ,\ And here, the firft Thing I (hall mention, is 
 
 > Falling and Prayer. It feems to me, that the Cir- 
 
 ^cumftances of the prefentWork do loudly c^lGod's 
 
 People to abound in this ; whether they Qonhder 
 
 the Experience God has lately given 'em, pf tlie 
 
 Worth'of hisPrefence, &: of the bleiTed. Fruits of 
 
 the Effufions of his Spirit, to excite tlxrm to pra)- 
 
 ior theContinuance&Increafe, &greaterExtent ot 
 
 iiich Bleffincis ; or whether thc-yconuder the great 
 
 iMicoura^emcnt Gup h.^ lately giv^a'^m^tQ^pi^r 
 
 tor 
 
P A . V. Of Fnjling and Prater. 35:^ 
 
 for the Out-pouriniz;s of his Spirii%^ & the carr)ir|:. 
 on this Work, by the great Miiuf^ftaticns he ha. 
 lately made,of theFreenefs & Richer of hisGrace ; 
 and how much there is; in ^vhat we have feen ot 
 the glorious Works of God*s Power & Grace, to 
 put us in Mind of the yet greater Things of this 
 Nature, that he has fpoken of in his Word, & to .^ 
 excite our Longings for thofe Things, & Hopes ot j 
 their Approach ; or whether we confider the great I 
 Oppofition that Satan makes againft this Work, 
 and the many Difficulties with which it is clog'd, ^ 
 and the diftreffins; CIrcumftances that fomeParts of | 
 God's Church in this Land are under atthis Day, 
 on one Account and another. 
 
 So is God's Will, thro' his wonderful Grace, 
 that the Prayers of his Saints ftionld be one great ": 
 and principal Means of carrying on the Defigns of j 
 Christ's Kingdom in the World. When Goo 
 has fumething very great to accomplilh for his 
 Church, 'tis his Will, that there (hould precede it, ^^ 
 the extraordinary Prayers of his People ; as is ma^ ' 
 nifcft by Ezek. 3-6. 37. I will yet ^ for this^ be en- 
 quind of^byiheHoufe <?/Ifrael,/5 do it for them ; to- 
 gether with the Context. And 'tis revealed that, 
 when God is about to accomplifli greatThings for ^ 
 his Church, he will begin by remarkably pouring ' 
 out the Spiritof Grace&Supplication.Z<ffZ>.i2.io. 
 If we are not to expeft that the Devil fnoulU go 
 out of a particular Perfon, that is under a bodily I 
 Pofleifion, without extraordinary Vvdiy^v^ or Prayer 
 and Fafling ; how much lefs, fhould we exped to 
 have him caft out of the Land, & the World, with- 
 out it. 
 
 Hh 2 i 
 
358 Of Fajling and Prayer. Pa . V. 
 
 I am fenfible that confiderable has been done in 
 Duties of this Nature, in fome Places ; but I don't 
 think fo much as God, in the prefent Difpenfati- 
 ons of his Providence calls for. I fhould think the 
 People of God in this Land,at fuch a Time as this 
 IS, would be in the Way of their Duty,to do three 
 Times fo much at Fafting and Prayer as they do ; 
 not only, nor principally, for the pouring out of 
 the Spirit on thofe 7 owns or Places where they 
 belong; butthatGoD would appear for hibChurch, 
 and in Mercy to miferable Men, to carry on his 
 Work in the Land, & in the World of Mankind, 
 and to fulfil the Things that he has fpoken of in 
 his Word, that his Church has been fo long wifti- 
 ing & hoping & waiting for. They that make Men- 
 tion of the Lord^ at this Day, ought not to keep Si- 
 lence^ and fhould give God no Rejl^ ^till he eflahlijh^ 
 and 'til/ he /nake Jerufalem a Praife in the Earthy 
 agreeable to Ifa. 62. 6, 7. Before the iirft great 
 Out-pouring of the Spirit of God , on thcChriilian 
 Church, whlcti began at Jerufalem^ the Church of 
 God gave th^mfelves to inceilant Prayer, ASi, I. 
 13,14. There is a Time fpoken of, v^hereinGoD 
 will remarkably & wonderfully appear, for the De- 
 liverance of his Church from all her Enemies, and 
 when he will avenge his own EUSf : And Christ 
 reveals that this will be inAnfwer to their inceiTant 
 Prayers, or crying Day and Nighty Luk. 18.7. In 
 Ifrael^ \\\^Day of Attommefit ^w^hizh was their great 
 f Day of Fafting ScPrayerjpreceeded & madeWayfor 
 Lxhe glorious and joyful Fea^ of Tabernacle^. When 
 I Christ islnyftically born into jheWorld^to ruje 
 ; over all Nations, it is reprefented in the 12 Chap. 
 
 of 
 
Pa. V. Of FaJiJng and Prayer. 359 -i 
 
 of Rev, as being in Confeq.uence of the Church'5 
 crying^ and travailing in Birth ^ and being pained tfh . 
 h delivered. One Thing here inteiiidcd, doubtlefs 
 is, her crying and agonizing in Prayer. 
 
 God feems now, at this very Timejto be wait- 
 ing for this from us. When God is about to be- 
 ftow fome great Blefling on his Church, it is often 
 his Manner, in the firft Place, fo to order Things 
 in his Providence, as to fhcjvv hisChurch theirgreat \ 
 Need of it, h to bring 'em into Di^refs for Want 
 of it, and fo put *cm upon crying earneftly to hhn 
 for it. And let us confider God's prefent Dif- 
 penfations tov/ards his Church in this Land : A 
 gloriou>> Work of his Grace has been begun &car- 
 riedon ; and God has,of late,fuffer'd innumera- 
 ble Diliiculties to arife, that do; in a great Meafurc 
 clog and hinder it, and bring rriany of God's dear 
 Children into great Diftrefs ; & y^, don't wholly ' 
 fgrfake the Work of his Hand ; there are remarka- 
 ble Tokens of His Prefence ftill to be feen,here and 
 there 5 as tho' he was not forward to forfake us^ \ 
 and (if I may (o fay) as tho* he had a Mind to carry ' 
 on his Work ; but only was waiting for fomething 
 that he expefted in us, as requifite in order to it* 
 And we have a great deal of Rcafon to think, that ^ 
 one Thing at leaft is, that we ftioukl further ac- 
 knowledge the Greatnefs and Neceffity of fuch a 
 Mercy ,& our Dependence on God for it, in ear- 
 nefl and importunatePrayers to him. Ax\A by the 
 inanyErrors that have been run into,& the Wounds 
 we have thereby given our felves & the Caafe that 
 we would promote, and the Mifchief & Coiifurio© 
 we kive thereby made, Gpp b^ hitherto be^ re- 
 Hh3 jnarfobly 
 
3 6o Of Fajiing and Prayer. Pa . V, 
 
 markably IheWing us our great & unlverfal Depcn-* 
 <lence on him, & exceeding Need of his Help and* 
 Grace : which fhould engage our Cries to him 
 for it. 
 
 There is no Way that Chriftians in a private 
 Capacity can do fo much to promote the Work of 
 GoDj and advance the Kingdom of Christ, as 
 by Prayer. By this even Women, Childrep and 
 Servants may have a publick Influence. Let Per-^ 
 fons be never fo w^eak, & never fo mean, & under 
 never fo poor Advantages to do much for Chrift, 
 and the Souls of Men, otherwife ; yet, if they have 
 much of the Spirit of Grace & Supplication, in this 
 Way, they may have Power with him^ that is infi- 
 nite in Power, & has theGovernment of the whole 
 World : And fo a^j^Oor Man in his Cottage may 
 have ablefTed Influeiice all over the World. Goi> 
 is, if I may fo fay, at the Command of the Prayer 
 of Faith ', and in this Refpeft is, as it were,undcr 
 the Power of his People ; as PrinceSf they have 
 Power with God^ and prevail: Tho' they may be' 
 private Perfons, their Prayers are put up in tte* 
 Name of a Mediator, that is a publick Pcrfcn, be-^ 
 ing the Head of the whole Church, and the Ivord 
 of^the Univerfe : And if they have a great Senfe of 
 jthe Importance of eternal Things, & Concern for 
 the precious Souls of Men, yet they need not re- 
 ^^gret it, that they are not Preachers ;^ they may ga 
 ^in their Earneftnefs and Agonies of Soul, and pour 
 Icut their Souls before One that is able to do all 
 Things ; before him they may fpeak as freely as 
 Minifters s they have a great High-Prieft, through 
 ^hgm Uiey may come boldly at ^11 Jinies, Ai-inaf 
 ^ vent 
 
P A . V. Of Fajting and Prayer. 361 
 
 vent themfelves before a Prayer-hearing Father, 
 without any Reftraint. 
 
 If the People of God, at this Day, inftead of 
 Ipending Time in fruitlefs Difputing, and talking 
 about Oppofers, and judging of them, and animad- 
 verting upon the Unreafonablenefs of their Talk 
 and Behaviout", and its Inconfiftence with true Ex- 
 perience, would be more filent in this Way, and 
 open their Mouths much more before God, and 
 fpend more Time in Failing & Prayer, they would 
 be more in the Way of a Bleffing. And if fome 
 Chriftians in the Land, that have been complain- 
 ing of their Minifters, and ftrugglingin vain to de- 
 liver themfelves, from the Difficulties they have 
 complainM of, under their Miniftry, had faid and 
 afted lefs before Men, and had applied themfelves 
 with all their Might to cry to God for their Mi* 
 nifters, had as it were rifen, and ftorm'd Heaven 
 with 'their humble, fervent and inceflant Prayers^ 
 for them, they would have been much more in 
 the Way of Succefs. V ^ * 
 
 Go D in his Providence, appearing in the prefent 
 State of Things, does efpecially call on his Pe©ple 
 in NeW'England to be very much in praying to 
 him for the pouring out of the Spirit upon Mini- 
 Jters in the Land. For tho* it is not for us to deter- 
 inine, -concerning particular Minrfters, how much, 
 they have of the Spirit of God ; yet in' the general, 
 Jt is apparent, that there is, at this Day, Need of 
 very great Degrees of the Prefence of God with- 
 the Miniftry m Netv- England ^ much greater De- 
 grees of it-than has hitherto been granted ; they 
 n^ed Jt- for themfelves, U theChurch^^f God ftand^ 
 fa^?xtreme Need of it* la 
 
362 Of Fafiing and Prayer. Pa . V, 
 
 In Days of Falling & Pyayer^wherein the whole 
 Church or Congregation is concern'djif the whole 
 Pay, befides what is fpcnt in our FamiheSjWas not 
 fpent in the Meeting-Houfe, but Part of it in par- 
 ticular praying Companies or Societies, it would 
 have a Tendency to animate & engage Devotion, 
 more than if the whole Day were fpent in puHick, 
 where the People are no Way aftive themfelves in 
 the Worfhip, any otherwife than as they join with 
 the Minifter. The Inhabitants of many of our 
 Towns are now divided into particular praying So- 
 cieties, moft of the People, young & old, have vo- 
 luntarily aflbciated themfelves, in diftinft Com- 
 panies, for mutual Affiftance, in fecial Worfhip, 
 in privateHoufes : What I intend therefore is, that 
 Days of Prayer fliould be fpent partly in thefe dif- 
 tincl praying Companies. Such a Method of keep- 
 ing a Faft as ihis^ has feveral Times been proved, 
 viz. In the Forenoon, after the Duties of the Fa- 
 Bjiily & Clofet, as early as might be, all the People 
 of the Congregation have gathered in their particu- 
 lar religiousSocieties ; Companies of Men by them- 
 felves, and Companies of Women by themfelves ; 
 young Men by themfelves, and young Women by 
 themfelves ; & Companies of Children, in all Parts 
 of the Town, by themfelves, as many as were ca- 
 pable of focial religious Exercifes ; the BoVs by 
 themfelves, and Girls by themfelves : And about 
 the middle of the Day, at an appointed Hour, all 
 have met together in the Houfe of God, to offer 
 V Up publick Prayers, and to hear^a Sermon fuitable 
 \ to the Occafion ; And then, they have retired from 
 \ ^^HojtfspfQoJ again^into their privateSocie ties, 
 
 and 
 
Pa. V. Of Fajling and Prayer. 3^3 
 
 and fpent the remainingPart of the Day in praying 
 together there, excepting fo much as was requifite 
 for the Duties of the Family and Cloftt, in their 
 own Houfes.— And ithas been found tabe of great 
 Benefit,- to aiEft and engage the Minds of the Peo- 
 ple in the Duties of the Day. 
 ■^ I have often thought it would be a Thing very 
 defireable, and very likely to be follow'd with a 
 great Bleffing, if there could be fome Contrivance, 
 that there lliould be an Agreement of all God's 
 People in J??ierica^ that are well affedled to this 
 Work, to keep a Day of Fafting & Prayer to God ; 
 wherein we (hould all unite on the fame Day, m 
 humbling our felves before God- for our paft long 
 • continued Lukewarmnefs &Unprofitablenefs \ not 
 omitting Humiliation for the Errors that fo many 
 of God's People that have been zealoufly afFedled 
 towards this Work, through their Infirmity & re- 
 maining Blindnefs and Corruption, havjs run into ; 
 and together with Thankfgivings to God, for (o 
 glorious and wonderful aDifplay of his'Power and 
 Grace, in the late Out-pourings of his Spirit, to 
 addrefs the Father ofMercies,with Prayers & Sup- 
 plications, and earneft Cries, that he -would guide 
 and direcSl his own People, and that he would con- 
 tinue, and ftill carry on this Work, &; more abun- 
 dantly & extenfively pour out his Spirit ; :ana par- 
 ticularly that he would pour out his Spirit upon 
 Minifters ; & that he v/ould bow the Keaver.sa^id 
 comedown, and ereci: his glcrious Kingdom thro' 
 the Earth,— Some perhaps may think that its beirig 
 all p;i. the fame Day, is a Circumftajice>of no great 
 Confcquence s but I caiVt be of that MinJ : Such 
 
3 64 Of Fajiing and Prayer. . P a . V. 
 
 a Circumftance makes the Union and Agreement 
 of God's People in his Worfliip the more vifible, 
 and puts the greater Honour upon God, & would 
 have a great Tendency to aflift & enliven the De- 
 votions of Chriftians : It feems to me, it would 
 mightily encourage and animate God's Saints, in 
 humbly & earneftly feeking to God, for fuch Blef- 
 fings which concerns them all ; and that it would 
 be much for the rejoicing of all, to think, that at 
 the fame Time, fuch Multitudes of God's dear 
 Children, far & near, were fending up their Cries 
 to the fame common Father,for the fame Mercies. 
 Christ fpeaks of Agreement in afking, as what 
 (Contributes to the Prevalence of the Prayers of his 
 People. Matth. 18. ig, jfgain I fay unto you^ that 
 if any two ofyaii^ /hall ague on Earthy as touching 
 my Thing that they Jhall afk^ it Jhall he done for them 
 rfmy Father which is inHeaven. If the Agreement, 
 or united Purpofe and Appointment of but two of 
 God's-Children,would contribute much to tbePre- 
 valence of theirPrayers, how much more the Agree- 
 ment of fo many Thoufands ? Christ delights 
 greatly in the Union of his People, as appears by 
 his Prayer in the 17th oijohn : And efpeciaily is 
 the Appearance of their Union in Wor{hip,lovely 
 and attraftive unto him. 
 
 I doubt not but fuch aThing as Ihave nowraen- 
 tion'd is pra<5licable,v^ithout a great deal of 1 rau- 
 bk : Some confiderableNumber of Minifters might 
 meet together, and draw up the Propofal, wherein 
 a certain Day fhould be pitch'd upon, at a fufficient 
 Dlftance, endeavouring therein to avoid any other 
 publick Day,that might interfere with theDefign, 
 
 in 
 
 
 I 
 
Pa . V, Of Fajiing and Prayer. 3 65 
 
 ill any of the Provinces, & the Bufinefs of thcDay 
 ftioiild be particularly mention'd ; and thefe Pro- 
 pofals lliould be publilhedjand fcnt abroad, into all 
 Parts, with a Defiie,that as many Minifters as are 
 difpoled to fall in with 'em, would propofe theMat- 
 t-er to their Congregations, and having taken their 
 Confent, would fubfcribe their Names, together 
 with the Places of which they are Minifters, &fend 
 t)ack the Propofals thus prefcribed, to the Printer ^ 
 (the Hands of many Miniifters might be to one Pa- 
 per) & the Printer having received the Papers, thus 
 lL2bfcribed,from all the Provinces, might print the 
 Propofals again, with all the Names ; thus they 
 might be fent abroad again, with the Names, that 
 God's People mightknow who are united with 'em 
 in the Affair:— One of theMinifters oi Bo/Ionmi^t 
 be defir'd to have theOverfight of the printing and 
 dir}"^rfing the Propofals.— In fuch a Way,perhaps, 
 might 1x5 fulfilled, in fomeAleafure, fuch a general 
 Mourning and Supplication of God^s People, as is 
 ^)pkea of, Z^ch, 12. at tJae latter End, with which 
 the Church'^ gloriousDay is to be introduced. And 
 £ach a Day might be fometjiing like the Day of At- 
 tonenmitln Ifraely before the joyful FeaJiofTaber- 
 
 . -One Thing more I would mention concerning 
 Faftii^gand Prayer,wherein I think there has been 
 a Negicil inMiniilers j and that.is,th^takho' they 
 recommend,and much infifl on the Duty of fecret 
 Prayer, in their Preaching ; fo little is faid about 
 fecret Fafh'ng. It is a Duty recommended by our 
 Saviour to his Followers, juft in irke^ Manner as 
 fccret Prsij-^r is j .^s giay be feen by comparing the 
 
 ' • 5th 
 
266 Of the Lord's Supper. P a . 
 
 5.&6.v.of the6. Chdi^.oi Mat, with v.i6,i7,if?. 
 Tho' I don't fuppofe that fecrct Fafting is to be 
 pradifed inaftated Manner, & fteady Courfe, as 
 fecret Prayer, yet it feems to me, 'tis a Duty that 
 all profeflingChriftians fhould pra6lice,&frequent- 
 Jy pradtice. There are many Occafions, of both a 
 fpiritual and temporal Nature,that do properly re- 
 quire it ; and there are many particular Mercies, 
 that we defire for our felves orFriends,that it would 
 be proper, in this Manner, to feek of God. 
 
 Another Thing I would alfo mention, wherein 
 it appears to me that there has been an Omiffion, 
 with Refpeft to the external Worfliip of God. 
 There has been of late, a great Increafe of preach- 
 ing the Word, & a great Increafe of focial Prayer, 
 and a great Increafe of fmging Praifes : Thefe ex-^ 
 ternal Duties of Religion are attended,much more 
 frequently than they ufed to be ; yet I can't under- 
 ftand that there is any Increafe of theAdminiftrati- 
 on of the Lord's Supper, or that God's People do 
 any more frequently commemorate thedyingLove 
 of their Redeemer, in this facred Memorial of it, 
 than they ufed to do 4 , Tho' I don't fee why an In- 
 creafe of Love to Chrift, fhould not difpofe Chri- 
 ftians,as much to increafe in this, as in thpfe other 
 Duties ; or why it is not as proper, that Chrift's 
 Difciples fhould abound in this Duty, in this joy- 
 ful Seafon, which is fpiritually Supper-Time, a 
 Feafl-Day with God's Saints, wherein Chrift is fo 
 abundantly manifefling his dying Love to Souls,and 
 is dealing forth fo liberally of the precious Fruits 
 of his Death. It feems plain by the Scripture, that 
 the primitive Chriflians were wont to celebrate 
 
 this 
 
Pa. V. Of moral Duties. ^6y 
 
 this Memorial of the SufFerings of their clear Re- 
 deemer every Lord's Day : And fo I believe it v^ill 
 be again in the Church of Chrift, in Days that are 
 approaching. And vi^hether we attend this holy and 
 fweet Ordinance fo often now, or no, yet I can't 
 but think it would become us, at fuch a Time as 
 this, to attend it much oftner than is commonly 
 done in the Land. 
 
 But anotlier Thing I would mention, which it is 
 of much greater Importance, that we fhould attend 
 to ; and that is the Duty, that is incumbent upon 
 ' Qod's People at this Day, to take Heed, that while 
 they abound in external Duties of Devotion, fuch 
 asPraying, Hearing, Singing, & attending religious 
 Meetings, there be a proportionableCare to abound 
 in moral Duties, fuch as A6ls of Righteoafneft, 
 Truth, MeeknefsjForgivenefs & Love towards our 
 Neighbour ; which areofmuchgreacerlwiporfanc'e 
 in the Sight of God, than all the Externals ti his 
 Worihip : Which our Saviour was particularly 
 careful, that Men fliould be well aware of. Mat. 
 9.13. But go ye ^and learn zvhat that mecmeth^ I will 
 have Mercy ^and not Sacrifice. And Chap.12.7. But 
 if ye had known what this meaneth^I will have Mercy 
 and 7iot Sacrifice^ ye wquld not have condemned the 
 Guiltlefs. 
 
 The internal Ads & Principles of the Worfhlp 
 of God, or the Worfhip of the Heart,in the Love 
 and Fear of God, Truft in God, and Refignation 
 to God, ^c. are the moft effential and important 
 of all Duties of Religion whatfoever ; for therein 
 cohfifts the ElTence of all Religion. But of this in- ' 
 ward Religion, there are two Sorts of external Ma- 
 nifeftations or Expreflions. The one Sort.are out- 
 I i ward 
 
368 Of moral Duties. Pa. V. 
 
 ward Acls of Worfhip, fuch as meeting in religious 
 Afiemblieis^atteriding Sacraments, & other outward 
 Inititutions5& honouring God with Geftures,fuch 
 as bowing, or kneeling before him, or with Words, 
 in fpeaking honourably of him, in Prayer, Praife,or 
 religious Conference. And the other Sort, are the 
 Expreflions of our Love to God, by obeying his 
 moral Commands, of Self-denial, Righteoufnefs, 
 Meeknefs, and Chriftian Love, in our Behaviour 
 among Men. And the latter are of vaftly the great- 
 eft Importance in the Chriftian Life. God makes 
 littleAccountof the former, inComparifon of them. 
 They are abundantly more infifted on, by the Pro- 
 phets, in the Old-Teftament, and Christ & his 
 Apoftles, in the New. When tliefe two Kinds of 
 Duties are fpokenof together, the latter are ever- 
 more greatly preferred. As in Jfa.i.i2^to the 18. 
 and Amos 5,'2r,f5V.-and M/V.6.7,8. and Ifa, 58. 
 5, 6, 7. and Zech.^. ten firft Verfes,and Jer, 2. 
 fevcn firft Verfes, & Mat, 15. 3, ^c. ^Often, 
 when the Times were ^^ry corrupt in Ifrael^ the 
 People abounded in the former Kind of Duties,bYt 
 were at fucbTimes, always notorioufly deficient in 
 the latter ; as the Prophets complain, 7/^^.58. four 
 firft Verfes, Jer, 6. 13, compared with ver. 2C, 
 Hvpocrites & Self-righteousPerfons,do much more 
 commonlv abound in the former Kind of Duties, 
 than the latter ; as Chrift remarks of thePharilees, 
 yM7f.23.i4,25,&34- ^^^^^^- ^1^^ Scripture direfls 
 Ins tojhcmmr Faith by our Works, it is principally 
 Uhe latter Sort are intended ; as appears by Jarn, 
 'H. fVom 8 ver. to the End, and i >^. 2d Chap. 
 ' ver. 3. 7,8,9,10,1 r. And^e ai^ to be judged at 
 the laftbay ,efpeciaH}% thefe latter fort oi Vv orks s 
 
Pa. V. Of moral Duties, 300 
 
 as is evident by the Account we have of theDay 
 
 Judgment^in the 25 oi A'latth. External Acts •-■i 
 Worfl^^p^inWords 6c Gcftures5& outwardForni-^, 
 are of littleUfe,but as Signs of fomcthing elfe^or n 
 they are aPiofefTion of inwardWorfiiip : They ::: <. 
 iiot fo properly lliewing ourRcIigion by curl>ceds j 
 for they are only a (hewing our Religion by 
 WordsjOr an outw^ardProfeffion. But he that (hows 
 Religion in the other Sort of Duties, (Lews it in 
 fomething more than a ProfeiTion of Words, he 
 (hews it in Deeds. And tho' Deeds may be hypo- 
 critical, as well as Wofds ; yet in themfelves they 
 are of greater ImportJtncejfor they are much m(?re 
 profitable to our felves and our Neighbour. We 
 can't exprefs our Love to God, by doing anyThing 
 that is profitable to Gcd ; God would therefore 
 have us do it in thofe Things that are profitabk 
 to our Neighbours, whom he has conftituted his 
 Receivers : Our Goodnefs extends not toGcd, but 
 to otir Fellow Chriftians. The latter Sort of Du- 
 ties, put greater Honour upon God, becaufc there 
 is greater Self-denial in them. The external Acls ' 
 of V/orifcip, confifting in bodily Ge(}ures, Words 
 and Sounds, are the cheapcft Part of Religion, and 
 leaft contrary to our Lufts. The Difficulty cl' tho- 
 rough, external Religion, don't lie in them, Lc- 
 wicked Men enjoy their Covetoufnefs, and the;. 
 Pride, their Malice, Envy and Revenge,and the 
 Senfuaiity am! Voluptuoufnefs, in their BehavioL: 
 amongit Men, & they will be w^illingto compoiind 
 the Matter with God, & fubmit to whatForms o^ 
 Worfhip you pleafe, & as many as you pleafe -, :. 
 is manifeft in the Jews of old, in the Davs of ti.. 
 Proph^ets, & the Phaiifee^ in Chrilt'sTime, k x)- ^ 
 Papilis & Maliometuns at this Day.^ 
 
3/0 Of Deeds of 0:>arlty. Pa. V. 
 At a Time, when there is an Appearance of the 
 
 Approach of any gloriousRevival of God'sChurch, 
 
 God does efpeciallv call his profeffinaPeople to the 
 Pradice of nit)ral Duties. Ifa. s^^i^Thus faith the 
 Lord ; keep ye Judgment^ and do Jujllce ; fcr my 
 Salvation is neof to co?ne^ and niy Righieoufnefs to be 
 rsveahd. So when John preached,that the Kingdom 
 cf Heaven was at Hand, and cried to the People, 
 Prepare ye the JVay of the Lord.make hisPathsJhait^ 
 as we have an Account,Z//,^.3.4. the People afk'd 
 Win, IFhat they Jhouldd^ ? He anfwers, He that 
 hath two Coats ^ let hi?n impcrt to him that hath mne^ 
 and he that hath Meet^ let him do Ukewife. The 
 Publicans y27/V, What Jhall we do ? He anfwers, 
 'Exan no more than that zuhich is appointed you. Ajid 
 the Soldiers ajked him. What fhall we do ? He re- 
 plies. Do Piolence to no Man \ neither accufe any 
 falfely\ and he content with your Wages. Ver. lo, 
 II, 12, 13, 14. 
 
 , God's People,at fuch aTime as thisjought efpe- 
 cially to abownd inDeeds of Charity,orAlms-giving, 
 We generally, in thefe Days, feem to fall far be- 
 low the true Spirit & Pradice of Chrifl:ianity,with 
 Regard to this Duty, and (eem to have but little 
 Notion of it, fo far as I can underftand the New- 
 Teftaoient.— Ata Time when God is fo liberal of 
 fpiritual Things, we ought not to be ftrait-handed 
 towards him, & fparing of our temporalThings.— 
 So far as I can judge by the Scripture, there is no 
 external Duty whatfoever, by which Perfons will 
 be fo much in the Way, not only of receiving tem- 
 poral Benefits, but alfo fpiritual BlefEngs, the In- 
 fluences of God's holySpirit in the Heart,in divine 
 D^fcQvefips, and fpiritual Confotetions, I think it 
 
 would 
 
Pa. V, Of Deeds of Charitf. 371 
 would be unreafonable to undcrfland thofe Promi- 
 {ts^ made to this Duty, in the 58 Chap, of Ifaiah^ 
 in a Senfe exclufive of fpiritual Difcoveries&Com- 
 forts. Ifa.58. 7th V. ^\\—Is it mt to deal tlyyBread 
 to the hungry^ and that thou bring the Poor that are 
 cajl cut^ to thy Hoiife ? U^cn thoU feejl the Naked 
 that thou cover him^^ that thou hide not thy fdf from ' 
 thine ozvn F/eJ/j ? Then Jhall thy Light break forth as 
 the Mornings and thy Health Jhall fpriytg forth fpec- 
 dilyy and thy Righteoufnefs Jhall go before theej^ ihi ^ 
 Glory of the Lord jhall be thyRere-ward ; then Jhalt 
 thou call^ ami the LcrdJljall anfivcr^ thou JJjalt cry^ 
 and he Jhall fay. Here I am. If thou take aii^ayfro^ 
 thernidji of thee, the Yoke, the pitting forth oftlfeFn: 
 ger, and fpeaking Vanity \ and if thou draw out / 
 Soul to the Hungry, and fatisfy the affiiSfed Soul , 
 thenjijall thy Light rij'e in Oifcurity ,and thy Dark- 
 nefs be as the Noon-day 5 and the Lord Jhall guide thee 
 continually, and fatisfy thy Soul in Drought, and make ' 
 fat thy Bones \ y thou Jhalt be like a water edGar den ^ 
 and like a Spring of Water, whofe Water's fail not. 
 So, that giving to the Poor is the Way to receiv c 
 fpiritual Blelfings, is manifeft by Pfal. 11^. 4 Ver» 
 &c. Unto the Upright, there arifcth Light in tfM 
 Darknefs -, he is gracious, and full of Compajfion,and 
 righteous : A good Man Jheiveth Favour and lendetb^ 
 he will guide his Affairs with Difcreticn-, furely he 
 Jhall not be moved for ever -, the Righteous Jhall he in 
 everlajling Remembrance ; he Jhall not be afraid of 
 evil Tidiiigs, his Heart is fixed, trujling in tJ^eLord-, 
 hts Heart is ejiablijhed, he fkall not be afraid, until he 
 Jee his Defire upon his 'Enemies : He hath difterfcd^ 
 he hath given to the Poor ^ his Horn Jl^all be exalted 
 with Honour. That this is one. likely Means to ob- 
 ^ i 3 tain 
 
37^ P/ ^^^^^ of Charify. Pa. V. 
 
 tain Affurance, is evident by i Joh. 3. 18, ig.' 
 My Utile Children^ let us not kve in Word ^neither in 
 Tongue^ but in Deed^ and in Truth ; an4 hereby we 
 know thai we are of the Truth ^ and jhall affure our 
 Hearts before hi?n. 
 
 We have a remarkable Inftance in Abraham^ of 
 God's rewardingDeeds of Charity virith fvi^eet Dif- 
 coveriesof himfelf, when he had been remarkably 
 charitable to his Brotlier Lot^ and the People that 
 he had redeemed out of Captivity vi^ith him5by ex- 
 poftng his Life to refcue them, & had re-taken not 
 only the Perfons, but all the Goods, the Spoil that 
 had been taken by Chedorlaomer^Tini the Kings that 
 were with him, & the King of Sodo?n ofFer'd him, 
 that if ke would give him the Perfons, he might 
 take the Goods to himkU^ Abraham refufed to take 
 any Thing, even fo much as a Thread or Shoe- 
 latchet, but returned all. ' He might have greatly 
 Jnrich'd himfelf, if he had taken the Spoils to him- 
 felf, for it was the Spoils of five wealthy Kings,and 
 their Kingdoms, yet he coveted it not ; the King 
 and People of Sodom were now become Ot)je£ls of 
 Charity, having been ftripped of all by their Ene- 
 mies, th^ref©re Abraham generoufly beftowed aH 
 upon them ; as we have an Account in Gen, 14. 
 and four laft Verf^s. And he was foon reward'ed for 
 it, by a blefTed Difcovery that God made of him- 
 felf to him ; as we have an Account in the next 
 Woi^ds, After thefe Things, the Word of the Lord 
 caTne unto Abram, in a Vifiony fayijig. Fear not A- 
 bram, I am thy Shield, and thy exceeding great Re- 
 .ward. '« I am thy Shield, to defend thee in Battle<» 
 ^^ as I have now 'done ; and tbo' thou haft chari- 
 •'^«'-tab!y refufed to t^ke any Reward, for expofmg 
 ' ' • ' ''thy 
 
Pa. V. Of Deeds of Charity.' 373 
 *« thy Life, to refcue this People, yet fear not, 
 <« thou (halt not lofe, thou flialt have a Reward, I 
 <' am thy exceeding great Reward." 
 
 When Chrift was upon Earth he was poor, and 
 an Objeft of Charity ; and during the Time of his 
 publick Miniftry, he was fupported by theCharity 
 of fome of his Followers, and particularly certain 
 Women, of whom we read £^^.8.2,3. And thefe 
 Women were rewarded, by being peculiarly fa- 
 voured wuth gracious Man}feftations,which Chrift 
 made of himfelf to them. He difcovered himfelf 
 firft to them after hisRefurre£lion, before the twelve 
 Difciples :, They firft faw a Vifion of glorious An- 
 gels, who fpake comfortably to them ; & thenChrift 
 appear'd to 'em, & fpake Peace to 'em, faying^ All 
 Hall^be not afraid ; and they ivere admitted to comej 
 and hold htm by the Feet, andworjhip him,Mat.28« 
 And tho' we can't now be charitable in this Way, 
 to Chrift in Perfon, who in his exalted State, is in- 
 finitely above the Need of our Charity ; yet we 
 may be charitable to Chrift now, as well as they 
 then ; for tho' Chrift is not here, yet he has left 
 pthers in hisRoom, to be his Receivers ; and they 
 are the Poor. Chrift is yet poor in his Member's ; 
 and he that gives to them, lends to the Lord : And 
 Chrift tells us that he ftiall look on what is done to 
 them, as done to him. 
 
 Rebekah, in her Marriage with. Ifaac, was un- 
 doubtedly a remarkable Typeof theChurch,in hei' 
 Efpoufals to theLord Jefus. But fhe found herHuf- 
 band, in doing Deeds of Charity, agreeable to the 
 Prayer oi Abraham's Servant, who prayed that this 
 might be theThing that might diftin^uifh & mark 
 out theVirgin.that was to be^^^^fsWife. SoCi?r- 
 
 nsUus 
 
374 Of "Deeds of Charity. Pa. V'^ 
 
 neUusvf^s bro't to theKnowledge of Chrifl:,in this 
 Way, He was a devout Man^ and one that feared 
 God^ with all his Houfe ; which gave much Alms to 
 tie People^and prayed to God alway. And an Angel 
 appeared to him, and f aid to him. Thy Prayers & thine 
 Ahns are come up for a Memorial before God-, and 
 now fend Men to ]o^}^2i,and call for Gne?i\mon,whofe 
 Sirname is Peter, ^c. Aft. lo. at the beginning. 
 And we have an Account in the following Parts of 
 the Chapter, how God, by Peter' ^ Preaching, re- 
 vealedChrift toCornelius & hisFamily,&of theHoIy 
 Ghoft's defcending upon them, and filling their 
 Hearts with Joy, and their Mouths with Praifes. 
 
 Some may poffibly objed that for Perfons to do 
 Deeds of Charity, in Hope of obtaining fpiritual 
 Bleffings & Comforts in this Way, would feem to 
 ftkew aSelf-righteousSpirit,a$tho' they would offer 
 fomething to God, to pur chafe thefe Favours. But 
 if this be a good Objedion, it may be made againft 
 cveryDuty whatfoever. All external Duties of the 
 iirft Table will be excluded by it, as well as thofe 
 of the fecond. Firft-Table-Duties have as dired a 
 Tendency to raife felf-righteous Perfons Expeda- 
 tions of receiving fomething from God, on Account 
 of them, as fecond-Table-Duties ; and on fomeAc* 
 counts more, for thofe Duties are more immedi- 
 ately offer'd to God, & therefore Perfons are more 
 ready to expeft fomething yV^»i God for them. But 
 no Duty is to be negle£led, for Fear of making a 
 Righteoufnels of it. And I have always obferved, 
 that thofe ProfefTors that are moft partial in their ' 
 Duty, exa<Sl & abundant in external Duties of the 
 Iirft Table, and flack as to thofe of the fecond, are 
 the moft iSelf-righteousi 
 
Pa.V. 0/ Deeds of Charily. ^ 375 
 If God's People in this Land,were once brought 
 to abound in fuch Deeds of Love, as much as in 
 Praying, Hearing, Singing, and rehgious Meetings 
 and Conference,it would be a moft blefTedOmen : 
 There is nothing would have a greater Tendency 
 to bring the God of Love down from Heaven to 
 the Earth : So amiable would be the Sight, in the 
 Eyes of our loving and exalted Redeemer, that it 
 would foon as it were fetch him down from his 
 Throne in Heaven, to fet up his Tabernacle with 
 Men on the Earth, and dwell with them. I don't 
 renaember ever to have read of any remarkableOut- 
 pouring of theSpiritjthat continued any longTime, 
 but what was attended with an abounding in this 
 Duty. So we know it was with that great EfFufion 
 of the Spirit that began at Jerufalein in theApoftles 
 Days : And fo in the late remarkable Revival of 
 Religion in Saxony^ which began by the Labours of 
 the famous Profefibr Franck^ & has now been carr 
 ried on for above thirty Years, and has fpread its 
 happy Lifluences into many Parts of the World ; 
 it was begun, and has been carried on, by a won- 
 derful Pradice of this Duty. And the remarkable 
 Bleffing that God has given Mr. Whitefield^ & the 
 great Succefs with which he has crown'd him,may 
 well be thought to be very much owing to his lay- 
 ing out himfelf fo abundantly in charitableDefigns. 
 And it is foretold, that God's People fhall abound 
 in this Duty,in theTime of the greatOut-pouring 
 of the Spirit that fhall be in the latter Days. Ifai. 
 32. 5 & 8.- The vile Perfonjhallm more he called li- 
 beral^ nor the Churl fat d to be bountiful — But the 
 Liberal devifeth liberal Things^ and by liberal Things 
 Jhallhejiand. ^ 
 
 to 
 
3/5 Of renemng the Covenant. P a . V, 
 To promote a Reformation ^ with Refpeft to all 
 Sorts of Duties, among a profeffing People, one 
 proper Means, and that which is recommended by 
 frequent Scripture Examples, is their folemn, pub- 
 lick renewing their Covenant with God. And 
 doubtlefs it would greatly tend to promote thf$ 
 Work in the Land, if the Congregations of God's 
 People could generally be brought to this. If a 
 Draught of a Covenant fhould be made by their 
 Minifters, wherein there fhould be an exprefsiVIen- 
 tion of tbofe particular Duties, that the People of 
 the refpedliveCongregations have been obferv'dto 
 be moft prone to negiedl, and thofe particular Sins 
 that they have heretofore efpecially fallen into, or 
 that it may be apprehended they are efpecially in 
 Danger of, whereby they may prevent or refift the 
 Motions of God's Spirit, and the Matter (hould 
 be fully propofed and explained to the People, and 
 th*ey have fufficient Opportunity given them fof 
 Confideration, and then they (hould be led, all that 
 are capable of Underftanding, particularly tofuls- 
 fcribc the Covenant, and alfo fhould all appear to-* 
 gether, on a Day of Prayer aiwl Faffing, publickly 
 to own it before God In his'Houfe, as their Vow to 
 the Lord ; hereby Congregations of ChrilHans 
 would do that which would be beautiful, U would 
 put Honour upon God 5 and be very profitable to 
 themfelves. 
 
 Such a Thing as this, was attended with a very 
 wonderful Bleifing in Scotland^ and followed with 
 a great Increafe of the blefTed Tokens of the Pre- 
 fence of God, & remarkable Out-pourings of his 
 Spirit ; as the Author of the fulfilling of the Serifs 
 ture iuforms, p. 186. 5th Edition^ 
 
Pa. V. ne Conch/ton. o^yy 
 
 A People muft be taken, when they are in a good 
 Mood, when confiderable religious Imprcffions are 
 prevailing among 'em ; otherw^fe they will hardly 
 be induced to this ; but innumerable wull be their 
 ObjecElions and Cavils againfl: it. 
 
 One Thing more I would mention, which if 
 Grod fhould ftill carry on tliis Work, would tend 
 much to promote it, and that is, that an Hiftory 
 fliould be publifh'd once a Month,or once a Fort- 
 night, of the Progrefs of itjby one of the Minifters 
 of Bo/ion^ who are near the Prefs, & are moft con- 
 veniently fituated, to receive Accounts from all 
 Parts. It has been found by Experience, that the 
 Tidings of remarkable EfFedls of the Power and 
 Grace of God, in any Place, tend greatly to awa- 
 ken & engage the Minds of Perfons, in other Pla- 
 ces. ' Tis groat Pity therefore,but that feme Mean? 
 fhould be ufed,for the moft fpeedy, moft extenfive 
 and certain giving Information of fuchThings,and 
 that the Country ben't left, only to the flow, par- 
 tial and doubtful Information, andfalfc Reprefen* 
 tations of common Report. 
 
 Thus I have, (I hope, by the Help of God,) 
 finiftied what I propofed. I have taken die more 
 Pains in it,becaufe it appears to me,that now God 
 is giving us the moft happy Sefifon to attempt am 
 uni verfal Reformation, that ever was given inNeiv^ 
 England. And 'tis a thoufand Pities,that we fhould 
 fail of that which would be fo glorious, for want of 
 being fenfible of our Opportunft)', or being aware 
 of thofeThings diattend to hinder it,or ou» taking 
 improper Courfes toobtam it,or not being fenfible 
 \(\ what Way God expeds we fhould feek it. If iC 
 ihould pleafe God to blefi any Means, for thexon-i 
 
 vinciiig 
 
578 "The Conclufion. Pa. V. 
 
 vincing the Country of his Hand in thisWork,and 
 bringing them fully and freely to acknowledge his 
 glorious Power and Grace in it, and engage with 
 one Heart and Soul,and by due Methods, to endea- 
 vour to promote it, it would be a Difpenfation of 
 divine Providence5that would have amoft glorious 
 Afpeft, happily fignifying the Approach of great 
 and glorious Things to the Church of God, and 
 juftly caufing us to hope, that Christ would 
 fpeedily come, to fet up his Kingdom of Lights 
 Holinefs, Peace and Toy on Earth, as is foretold in 
 his Word. Amen i Even fo coihe LordJesus I 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 ERRATA. 
 
 PAge 68. line 12. read Ovrr />a«rfr/«^. pSal 2irV^ 
 this 9^94.1 25. ri^^^ff ^^6\l9 ^^^*^^^^^f ^^^' 
 p 102 1.18 rMalitable. pni4l 8 T.came.p.iZ9 ) ^^ r p 
 fill, p 131 \.Z9 T opprrjfes them, p i;5 ^ 9 r.^^^j/bTea' 
 ehers p 155 L^lt r li oman. p. 159 1 18 dcic or p I6I 
 I iS.r terJds p 185 I.26 r.omiviib. p 190 I 51 r.lVcrku 
 p. 195 1 51 xfoufce p 197-^ j^r fjarro'wly p 209 1. 16 r. 
 brut!/b. p.2;3 1 10 r.Spirit p. 2^4!. lo r^r/>7^i.p.24l 
 1.5. rfouvii by 254 1 15 r. fc? ufed P.284I 2 r.to little. 
 p. 342 1.9 r.treifuring. p.347 ^.i^s.'Witb tbeJppearance, 
 p. 349. 1.18 r.Orfginal, p.3 Jl 1.1 5 r. tbi.lii t.Qff/ent. 
 p 365 1.9 TiSubfcribedi 
 
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