THis Chapter and the foregoing contain the last and conclud­ing Sermon of this Prophet, in the publick Audience of the Jews, or that did concern and was proposed to the General Body of that People. in which Discourse the Lord does by the Pro­phet declare the Removal of the Glory and of his Kingdom from them to another People: and withal mentions their particular sins, and their Obstinacy in them; for which he would thus deal with them in re­moving from and rejecting of them. But yet notwithstanding to evidence his Love and Faithfulness to this people that had been so near him, and that he had so graciously manifested Himself to: the Lord promises to preserve a Remnant in this calamity, whom He would follow with signal favours where ever they should be cast, and reserve to better times. In the finishing and making up of his Prophecy the Prophet intermixes many things by way of Comfort to the godly, and Threatning to the wicked under all the great Revoluti­ons of Providence that should happen in the accomplishment of what was here fore-told. And because this people of the Jews both good and bad did too much confide in the Temple and the external Rites and Ordinances of God's worship attended among them: while in the mean time they were not suitably spirited nor did suitably carry themselves. The Prophet in the beginning of this Chapter beats them off from that carnal confidence, and shews them the true way of obtaining and re-taining Divine Favour, declaring that it would be vain Confidence to rest in any external signs of Gods prescence or [Page 2] what of Gods order had been, or was among them. This was a Theme that has been alwaies so distasteful a subject, so hard to be taken down by a visibly professing people under spiritual declen­sion and defection, that some Expositors conclude that it was for this very Prophecy, that the people procured the Prophet Isaiah to be put to death. And we know that Stephen's reciting and im­proving this passage in the first, and this verse, was in great part▪ cause of that rage the Jews expressed against him, Act. 7.49, 50, 54. As saith the prophet, Heaven is my throne and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me, saith the Lord? or what is the place of my rest▪ Hath not my hand made all these things? — When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. But the more hard such words are to be born, the more need there is that they should be spoken,; and therefore the Prophet faithfully delivers this message from the Lord, ver. 1. Thus saith the Lord, The Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me, and where is the place of my rest? To beat down the vain confidence of the Jews, as if because Gods Temple was among them, therefore He could not go from them: The Lord here holds forth and asserts to them his incomprehensible greatness▪ Heaven is my throne and the earth is my footstool: He filled Heaven and earth with his prescence, yea Heaven and the Heaven of Heavens could not contain Him: He is not included in, or confined to any place: Hence He demands Where is the house that ye build unto me, and where is the place of my rest? This Demand imports in general, that there could be no house built that should hold or contain God, wherein He might rest and repose Himself: And in particular, up­braids them with imagining that the great GOD was confined to, or detained in the Temple, as an Idol in some Cell or house framed for it; as if He could find no rest any where else but there. Its true, The Temple was a great Help Priviledge and Advantage to them; as it was a means of Gods Worship, and sign of Gods Prescence among them▪ but they fondly supposing God to be bound to them thereby, made it of a help to become a Hindrance.

In the Text we have 1. What God had done, expressed by way of Concession or affirmative Relation: which as things past, could give no security for future Good: For all those things hath my hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord.

2. What God would doe, expressed by way of promise, which might [Page 3] be constantly and certainly depended upon: But to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit and trembleth at my Word.

Concerning the former part of the words, there a rise two Que­stions:

QUST. I. What is the Antecedant to the Relative those, those things which its said God had made, and that they had been?

ANSW. Some refer it to the Heaven and Earth mentioned in the beginning of the first verse. Them, and whatsoever is contained in them, all the works of Creation which we behold, above or below, in the Sky or Heavens, or on the earth. Others refer it to the House that had been built unto God, that had been the place of His rest viz. the Temple mentioned in the latter part of the first verse. it is not inconsistent or impossible but both may be referred to, having been just before both mentioned, and the repeating of the Relative is not unlikely, but doth intimate so much; All those things hath My hand made, viz. the works of Creation. And all those things have been, viz. that have pertained to my Temple, House, Rest and Abode among you.

QUEST. II. What is the scope and drift of these words, to what end are they thus exprest? [For all those things hath mine hand made &c.]

ANSW. They may import either

1. Seeing that God is HE who has given being to all things, one and another, He cannot be supposed to have any need of, to receive be­nefit by, or be engaged unto Man for any service he hath done Him▪ And so they respect and may be joyned with the following words af­ter this manner, q. d. Although I who AM the Authour and Crea­tor of all things whatsoever, cannot therefore need or be engaged to any creature, yet I will condescend to shew grace to such who are of a truly humble mind, and do fear before Me. My Greatness shall not hinder Me dwelling with, and regarding the lowly in spirit. Or else

2. It may be as if the Lord should say. Its true My Temple▪ My House, My Rest, My Worship, Order and Ordinances have been among you: All these things have been: But the bare Being of these is no certain Sign of My continuing Presence and Favour▪ There may be many things that may drive Me away, notwithstanding all that may have been of this nature: But here I give you a certain mark by which you may try and be assured of My Favour▪ Viz. if these following properties be found in you; That you be [Page 4] poor, contrite in spirit, and tremble at My Word. But to this man will I look, even to him that is poor, &c.

I shall a little open this latter part of the words,

But to this man] scil. To every such man, man or woman; and therefore to any Company or Society of such men as shall be so spi­rited; To any people that are in such a frame. What agrees to Individuals, will also agree to the whole that is made up of such Individuals.

Will I look] Verbs of Sense denote also suitable and proportion­able affections. It imports therefore To look with favour and ac­ceptation, to respect, regard, take notice and take care of, to accept with good Will, to embrace with Favour and Love. So Exod. 2.25. God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect to them ▪ Numb. 16.15. Moses was very wroth and said to the Lord, respect not thou their offering. Psal. 11.7. His countenance doth behold the up­right. Amos▪ 5.22. Your meat-offerings I will not accept, neither will I regard — which is the same word with this here in the Text.

Even to him that is poor] The word sometimes signifies those which are outwardly poor and afflicted, and such frequently is the conditi­on of those in this world who find most Favour with God. But here it is to be understood of such who are spiritually poor, or poor in their own sight and esteem, poor in spirit, as they are called Mat. 5.3. that think modestly, lowly, meanly of themselves. They are meek and humble▪ that feel their need of divine answers to their cries, and of divine Help. All men indeed are poor in spiritual regards, but it is the man that does duly sense his spiritual poverty, who un­derstands himself to be and bears himself as a poor man, that is here meant. Qui nihil altum de se sapit. His heart is not haughty, nor his eye lofty, and he feels and believes that there is no cause they should.

And of a contrite spirit] The word properly signifies smitten in spi­rit, and intends one whose heart smites him for his Sins and sinful­ness, whose spirit is grieved and wounded under his guilt and pol­lution, who is in bitternes by looking on his Lord whom he has pierced by his sins, and his heart yeilds and falls under the Lords threatning of, and sentence against his sin.

And trembleth at my word] i. e. That hath a filial fear of God wrought in his heart by the Word, so as to stand in aw of the Word and with Reverence to receive and attend it. This Trembling (ac­cording to the use of the word [ Hharad] imports

[Page 5]1. An Aw of the Word of God: that it commands & stills the heart, that there is a fear of the threatnings, a fear of incurring the penalty of unbelief of and disobedience to the Word; A fear of neglecting the Commands and losing the Reward proposed in the Word. Amos 3.6, 8. Shall a trumpet (to which the voice of the Lords Pro­phet convincing of sin by the word is compared Isai. 58.1. Lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression.) be blown in the City and the people not be afraid? The Lion hath roared (i. e. the Invincible irresistable GOD hath threatned judgment by His word) who will not fear? It is expected such Reproofs and Threatnings by the word should work an Aw.

2. A careful solicitude to attend the Direction and Prescript of the Word of God. To give it due entertainment, to have it flourish and prosper. In this sence the word is used, 2. King. 4.13. Behold thou hast been careful for us with all this care. It is such a trembling, not as makes men fly from God, but as makes them most careful to subject to the will of God revealed in his Word, as makes them busie themselves to perform, and doe what Gods Word requires.

3. A making hast to attend the commands of Gods Word. Make­ing speed without delay to obey the word of God as that which we are afraid to put off or neglect at all. So the word sometimes signi­fieth to run in haste or to run in fear or with trembling.

Thus God here gives the character of those whom He will in favour and mercy look to or upon. And this is to be understood as exclusive of all others, scil. that they are these only that God is engaged thus to look upon. He has something else to say to those of a contrary spirit and frame. Psal. 138.6. Though the Lord be high, yet hath He respect to the lowly, but the proud he knoweth afarr off. And this the Seventy do directly point to in their rendring this latter clause thus, Ki epi tina epibiepso all' e epi ton [...]apeinon &c. And upon whom should I look but upon [or unto] him that is poor &c. And I have seen an old English Translation that renders the words in like manner. q. d. Whom else can it be thought I should regard with Favour and set My heart upon, but such as are here characterized? But these I will.

Whence we may observe;

DOCT. That whatever may have been the great Works of God in the World, or his signal Dispensations toward any people, yet the standing Tryal of a person's, and so a peoples Acceptation with God, is their being of a poor and contrite spirit, and trembling at His Word.

[Page 6]See this further confirmed Isai. 57.15. For thus saith the High and Lofty One that inhabiteth Eternity whose Name is HOLY, I dwell in the High and Holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the Humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. Hos. 14.3. In Thee the fatherless findteh mercy. Prov. 3.34. He giveth grace to the lowly. Psal. 51.17. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

I shall endeavour to lead you to the plain and clear understanding of this Truth, by these following Conclusions.

Concl. I. All the great Things done in the world, they are the work of God. His hand has made and framed the whole Fabrick of Heaven & Earth. He hath hung out the Globe of this World; hung the Earth upon nothing; drawn over the Canopy of the Heavens; laid the foun­dation of the earth in its place; Created that Fountain and Center of Light, Heat, & Influence in this lower World, the Sun; together with all the lesser light Bodies, which are for Times, for Signs & for Seasons, the Moon & Stars; and He hath set & settled the Ordinances for them all. Psal. 102.25. Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth, & the Heavens are the work of thy hands. Jer. 31.35. Thus saith the Lord, which giveth the Sun for a light by day, and the Ordinances of the moon & of the stars for a light by night; which divideth the Sea, when the waves thereof roar; The Lord of Hosts is his Name. The Seas, the vast Mountains also, and the Wind so undiscernable in its motions, and other strange Meteors, they are His Work. Amos 4.13. For lo, He that formeth the mountains and createth the wind, and declareth un­to man what is his thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treads upon the high places of the earth: the Lord, the God of Hosts is His Name. Job: 37. with 38. Chap. The continued Creation of those Beings that are ever coming up, and going off the Stage of this world, by a perpetual, orderly Succession and propagation, they are also His Work. Psal. 104. The whole Administration of Providence in the Upholding and Government of all created Beings, in a way of highest Wisdom and exact Order, it is all His work. All great Revolutions, signal and remarkable Dispensations, Things beyond the ordinary Course and power of Nature, or such as do shew forth the highest strains of Wisdom, Power, Grace or Justice, He doeth them all. Psal. 74.12, — 17. For GOD is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth. Thou didst divide the sea by Thy strength. Thou [Page 7] brakest the heads of the dragons [...]. Thou brakest the heads of the Leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the Wilderness. Thou didst cleave the foun­tain and the flood: thou driedst up mighty rivers. The day is thine, and the night also is thine, thou hast prepared the light and the Sun. Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter. Those notable changes in the World in the promoting or suppressing, exalting or bringing down of King­doms, Nations, Provinces or Persons, they are all wrought by Him. Psal. 75.6, 7, 8. For promotion cometh neither from the East, nor from the West, nor from the South. But God is the Judge, He putteth down one, and setteth up another. For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup, & the wine is red: It is full of mixture, & He poureth out of the same. Ezek. 17, 24. And all the [...]es of the field, shall know that I the LORD have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish: I the LORD have spoken, and have done it. The Yearly seasons, also Seed-time and Harvest, Summer and Win­ter, binding up and covering the earth with Frost, Ice and Snow, and the releasing and renewing of the face of the Earth again, it's His work. Psal. 147.15, 18. He sendeth forth His Commandment upon earth; His Word runneth very swiftly. He giveth Snow like wool, He scattereth the hoar frost like ashes. He casteth forth his ice like morsels, who can stand before His cold? He sendeth out His Word and melteth them: He causeth His wind to blow and the waters flow. Psal. 104.29, 30. Thou hidest thy face they are troubled: Thou takest away their breath, they dye, and re­turn to their dust. Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are creat­ed: and thou renewest the face of the Earth. These as all other great works whatsoever, they are the Lords. Nothing is done without Him. Lam. 3.37. Who is be that saith and it comes to pass, when the LORD commands it not? Psal. 136.4. To Him, who alone does great Wonders. Hence in consideration of this, let the Lord's People say as they, Jex. 14.22. Art thou not He, O LORD our GOD? therefore we will wait upon thee: for Thou hast made all these things.

Concl. II. God's Dispensations many times to this or that People, are very Signal. Plain Demonstrations of His Favour, Kind­Kindness, [Page 8] Grace and good Will to them He does more for one Nation or People many times, a great deal, than He does for another. Psal. 147.19.20. He sheweth His Word unto Jacob, His Statutes and His Judgments unto Israel. He hath not dealt so with any nation. He not only prospers them in the World above others, but makes known and gives forth more of Him­self as to visible Dispensations and outward meanes and advan­tages for Heaven than He does to others. Thus signally did God dispence to Seth, in whose Family and Race the Worship of God and the visible Adoption and Covenant was continued, Genes. 4.26. And to Seth, to him also there was born a son — then began men to call upon the Name of the Lord. Or to be distinguished by calling upon, or being called by the Name of the Lord: Religious Worship being especially attended in Seth's Family, when lost by others, hence those of his posterity (though they afterward Degenerated) are called the Sons of God, and so distinguished from the Daughters of men, Genes. 6.2. That the sons of God saw the daughters of men. Thus sig­nally did God dispense to Noah, (who when all the World besides were overthrown with a deluge of waters) found grace in the eyes of the Lord and is saved with his house in the Ark, Genes. 6.8. and 7.23. And every living substance was de­stroyed, which was upon the face of the ground, both man and cat­tel and the creeping things and the fowl of the heaven, and they were destroyed from the earth, and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the Ark. To Abraham also, whom God separated from his idolatrous kindred, revealed Himself most graciously to, made of him a great Nation, appropriated Bless­ing to him, and to them that should bless him, and Cursing to them that should curse him, Gen. 12.1, 2, 3. Now the Lord had said unto Abraham, Get thee out of thy Countrey and from thy kindred, and from thy Father's house, unto a land that I will sh [...]w thee. And I will make of thee a great Nation, and I will bless thee and make thy Name great, and thou shalt be a Blessing, And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. Josh. 24.2, 3. [...] father [...] on the other side of the floud in old time, even [...] the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor▪ [Page 9] and they served other Gods. And I took your father Abraham from the other side of the floud, and led him throughout all the Land of Canaan and multiplied his seed and gave him Isaac. Most signal were the Dispensations of God to the Children of Israel, whom God chose out of all People to be a peculiar people to Himself, to bear His Name in the world, to dwell in His presence, to be betrusted with all the Ordinances of His House and visible Kingdom, to have God nigh to them in all that which they called upon him for, to work wonder­fully and gloriously for them in all their necessities and diffi­culties. Exod. 19.3, — 6. And Moses went up unto God, and the Lord called to him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the Children of Israel: Ye have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bare you on Eagles wings and brought you unto My Self. Now there­fore if ye obey My voice indeed, and keep My Covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the Earth is Mine. And ye shall be unto Me a Kingdome of Priests and an holy Nation. Deut. 26.18.19. And the Lord hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as He hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all His Commandments. And to make thee high above all Nations which he hath made, in Praise, and in Name, and in Honour and that thou mayst be an holy people unto the Lord thy God, as He hath spoken. Deut. 4.7. For what Nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon Him for. Signal also were the Lord's Dis­pensations to, and so the priviledges and Advantages of those places where our Lord Jesus in the dayes of His flesh did mostly converse, preach, and do his mighty works, viz. the Region of Galilee and Cities thereabout. Mat. 4.23. And Jesus went about all Galilee teaching in their Synagogues, and preaching the Gospel of the Kingdome; and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of Disease among the people. The like favour was afterwards shown to those places where Christ's Apostles and Evangelists were sent in His Name, by His order, and with His Authority to pub­lish and preach the Gospel of salvation, beginning at Jerusa­lem, and passing through the Regions, of Judea and Samaria to [Page 10] Cesarea, Damascus, Joppa, Lydda and Saron, Cyprus, Derbe, Lys [...]ra, Icomum and Antioch, and a great part of Asia; and at length in Europe, to Macedonia, Thessalonica, Berea, Corinth, &c. And since the Apostles dayes, some Nations, and several coun­treys and Bodies of People have been by Divine Dispensation not only priviledged with the Gospel; but God hath to ma­ny places and people wrought wonderfully for the bringing of it to, or settling them under the enjoyment of it, or for the Continuance of it to them. Ecclesiastical history may give us many instances of this nature. And we in New-England (who should if God perswade us so, look upon our selves as less than the least of all God's sincere people) have been behind but few in the signalness of God's dispensations to us in these respects as this Place, and these Solemnityes have often born us witness. I mean not only, that the solemnityes themselves have been witnesses, but also that upon them, frequent, plain and full Reports have been made of the Lords wonderful and gracious dealings with this people. Ps. 77.14.15.19.20. and 111.6. He hath shewed his people the power of his works: that He may give them ye heritage of the heathen.

Con. 3. These works and Dispensations of GOD though admira­ble and obliging to men; yet they are no certain Evidence of a persons or peoples special and entire Acceptance with God. As to the works of Creation and external Providence, the bene­fit of them is common to all the inhabitants of the World. God makes His Sun to rise on the evil & or the good, and sendeth rain on the just and unjust. Mat. 5.45. Its true, the Lord doth sometimes visibly bless the righteous, and blast the wicked; but this is not so constant and perpetual, as that any man can meerly from hence infallibly know love or hatred to be in God to him by all that is before him. Things fall out alike to all here; and there is one event to the righteous and to the wic­ked. Eccles. 9.1 2. And as to [...] dispensations of visible favor and spiritual priviledges; what God hath done, or is doing, in giving and continuing his Gospel, Worship and Or­dinances, this though a great advantage and hopeful token, yet cannot alwayes be a concluding mark of special favour and of the appearance of Divine Salvation. For

[Page 11]1. They may be abused by the corruptions and sinful neglects of men. True grace in a Saint is not subject to a total abuse, but every other thing, even the most glorious Enjoyments and Priviledges men have in this life, may be abused. Men may (and would to God there were none here that did so!) live under the most clear Gospel Light, in the pure, peaceable, free Enjoyment of Gospel Order and Ordinances, be obliged by manifold Kindnesses from God, themselves have great Know­ledge in Religion, and make high profession with much Cri­ticalness therein; and yet live in some sin openly or secretly, be enslaved to some base defiling lust, wherewith they may not only pollute themselves, but others also. Let the Heaven hear and the Earth give ear, let them be astonished at it, be hor­ribly afraid, and be very desolate, for it may be found that they whom God hath nourished and brought up as His child­ren, do rebel against Him; that the Lord's own people do for­sake Him the Fountain of living waters, and goe to empty or muddy Cisterns: As the Lord emphatically complains of them in Isai. 1.2. and Jer. 2.12, 13. Priviledged professors, Pro­fessors in New-England may be discovered to be sinners; some to be proud, haughty, high-minded, supercilious, self-exalting, arrogant; others to be sensual, intemperate, corrupt, fleshly, lascivious; some to be Company-keepers, to sit and spend time with vain persons; others to be covetous, unjust, oppressing, defrauding and over-reaching others; some to be revilers, rai­lers, ungoverned in their speeches and expressions; others to be despisers of that which is good, &c.

Moreover, There may be under such Enjoyments, Grievous and horrible Neglects, receiving the Grace of God (in Gospel offers and means of Salvation) in vain; Woful formality and slightiness in holy Duties, men not stiring up themselves to seek GOD, resting in a name to live: Carnal confidence in priviledges and former visible enjoyments of Divine Favour, Jer. 7.4. Want of Zeal for GOD His Service and Glory, against Sin: Too great Indulgence to Sin and Sinners, in compliance with the Laxness, Loosness and spirit of the Times, Unaffe­ctedness with, and Unreclaimedness under the loud-speaking voice of God's Dispensations. Zeph. 3.1.2, 5, 6, 7. Wo to her [Page 12] that is filthy and polluted to the oppressing City. She obeyed not the voice: she received not Correction: she trusted not in the LORD: she drew not near to her God. — The just Lord is in the midst thereof, — every morning doth He bring His Judgments to light, He faileth not, but the unjust knoweth no shame. I have cut off the Nations▪ — I said surely thou wilt fear mee thou wilt receive instruction — but they arose early and corrupted all their doings.

2. Such offences in a people are not secured from provoking God's Displeasure and drawing down punishment by any signal Dispensa­tions, such a people have been under. However near any have been lift up to Heaven by mercyes, this [ endon to kakon,] this Sin within will tumble them down again, Obad. 3.4. And the Holy Oracles of Truth tell us, that Corruptions and Neg­lects after and under such signal Dispensations (1.) They do more provoke Divine displeasure. God is more offended with the miscarriages of such as He hath brought near to Himself than with others: It is in God,s account an aggravation of sin. Deut. 32.19. And when the Lord saw it He abhorred them, because of the provoking of His sons and of His daughters. And therefore (2.) They do expose to greater and sorer punishment. Thus Christ told Capernaum, Chorazin, and Bethsaidah, Mat. 11.20. — 24. And the Lord by His Prophets told Jerusalem and Judah, and according as He foretold, so He executed upon Jerusalem and Judah, that they are an Instance for the proof of this Propo­sition: They had received much from God, none more in their day, yet through their sin lost all the signs and tokens of God's favour, and fell under the severe effects of His displea­sure. As their case is lamentably described, and you may read in Lam. 2.3. — 9. The Churches of Asia also and other Churches (among whom, as golden Candlesticks the Son of man some­times gloriously walked) through their degeneracy and sin, have lost all, been overthrown and sunk into Ruine.

Concl. 4. There is that which is a certain Evidence and standing tryal of a person and people's Acceptation with God. God has not left men altogether in the dark, and at uncertainty in this matter: But has told us to whom He will look in favour and with mercy. Tho' Priviledges will not, yet there are [Page 13] Qualifications which will infallibly evidence special Favour. We need not be at a loss if we will consult and study the Di­vine Will, what wee may depend upon for His Acceptation and Salvation. The spiritually wise do understand, and the prudent do know these things; what course is to be taken that they may stand before the Lord, have His presence with, and grace towards them. If men be so qualified as the Word of God declares and requires; He will save them from trou­ble, or at least He will be with them when in outward trou­ble, and support them therein; and He will everlastingly save them. There are a number or sort of people whom God does bear a Favour to, to whom good belongs, who shall rejoice with gladness and shall glory. Psal. 106.4, 5. Remember me O Lord with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people: O vi­sit me with thy Salvation; that I may see the good of thy chosen; that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that I may glory with thine Inheritance. Whom God will bless and compass with Favour as a shield. Psal. 5.12. For thou Lord wilt bless the righteous, with Favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.

Concl. 5. The standing tryal of a person's and so a peoples Ac­ceptation with God, is their being of a poor and contrit spirite, and trembling at His Word. The Text is plain and peremptory for this, from the Lords own mouth: What is signified by these expressions, was shown in the opening of the words. In summe, they imply the meek, humble and lowly, the evangelically poor, contrite and tremblers at God's Word.

Here may be considered,

• I. Who are they that are poor, contrite, and humble,
• II. Whence it is that God accepts of and respects such.
• III. How God doth accept and look upon them.

I. Who they are that are poor contrite and humble, meek and lowly. Or when a person or people may be said to bear the Character of the Text. And they are and doe so

1. When they are poor, contrite and lowly in their Spirits and esteem of themselves. Prov. 16.19. Better it is to be of an humble spi­rit with the lowly — when their spirits are humble. Unto which [Page 14] Contrition and lowliness of spirit, there is requisite the sense and acknowledgement.

1. Of the infinite Distance and Disproportion that is betwixt GOD and them. That they are wormes to the LORD. Psal. 22.6. But I am a worm. If the nations be as the drop of a bucket and as the small dust which wo'nt turn the Ballance, Isai. 40.15. what then is a small handful of people, and what are single persons to Him?

2. Of their Guiltiness and Pollution by Sin. The heart of the contrite-spirited person smites him, and is wounded for his sin, as its contrary to God's Will and Holiness. His sins are before him. Psal. 51. 13. My sin is ever before me. The sense of them, in their numbers and aggravations, take hold upon him and make his heart even to fail. Psal. 40 12. For innumera­ble evils have compassed me about, mine Iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up: they are more than the hairs of my head, therefore my heart faileth me. And He is doubtful and afraid of unseen errours and faults. Psal. 19.12. Who can understand his errors? Cleanse thou me from secret faults. He trembles to think how many Words of God he hath cast behind his back; and how prone he is still so to doe: For the less Corruption any one hath remaining in him, the greater burden it is to him: As on the Contrary, they who have most Corruption in them, feel it least.

3. Of their Vnworthiness to receive the least favour and mercy from God. Genes. 32.10. I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth which thou hast shewed unto thy servant. Luke. 15.19. — and am no more worthy to be called thy son. Look themselves through and through, they can find nothing to build any claim upon to the smallest mercy. All their righteous [...] they know are but filthy raggs, Isai. 64.6. Though they pray earnestly and ca'nt take a denial, yet it is with a sense of their unworthiness to receive, Dan. 9.18, 19. O my God, encline thine ear and hear: open thine eyes and behold our Desolations, and the City which is called by thy Name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great Mercies. O Lord hear, O Lord forgive, O Lord [...] and d [...]e, defer not for thine own Sake—

[Page 15]4. Of their Forfeiture of all that which they have received from God already: and Desert of the greatest Evil. That they deserve, as to receive nothing further; so to be stript of all that which they already have. And therefore under all afflictions and be­reavements, when God comes out sharply against them, they can heartily say, He has punished us less then our iniquities deserve, and It is the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed. Ezra. 9.13. Lam. 3.22. They know they live upon sparing Mercy and long-suffering; and that if God should mark their iniquity, they could not stand. Psal. 130.3. And therefore they humbly ac­knowledge that God has not dealt with them after their sins, nor rewarded them according to their iniquities. Psal. 103.10. They have not taken so slight a view of themselves and their sins, as to imagine that Justice can demand no more of them.

5. Of their absolute need of Divine help and grace upon all accounts That they cannot live but are most certainly undone without God's Grace and help in Christ. Their help, all their help, and their only help is in the Lord. 2. Chron. 20 12. Wee have no might — neither know wee what to doe, but our eyes are upon thee.

2. When they are lowly in their Carriage and behaviour of them­selves. The poor and contrite-spirited person

1. He ingenuously confesses all he knowes and is sensible of by himself, unto God. He does not seek to cover or cloak any of his weakness or wretchedness, but openly acknowledges all, he is willing to speak plain truth of himself before, and unto God. And the forementioned things which his heart knowes to be Truths concerning him, with respect to God, he subscribes to them all. Luke. 15.21. Father I have sinned — and am no more worthy — He humbly receives his Doom and Sentence from the Word of God, the Judgement it passes upon him. To this practice of Humiliation, God would have his sinning peo­ple brought, to confess their trespasses and humbly declare their acceptance of the punishment of their iniquity, justifying God therein. Levit. 26.40 4 [...]. [...] they shall confess their iniquities, [...] the iniquities of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed against me, and that also they have walked contrary un­to me; and that I also have walked contrary unto them, and have [Page 16] brought them into the land of their Enemies; if then their uncircum­cised Hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquities, then will I remember —

2. He layes himself down before God, to be dealt with as He sees meet. 2. Sam. 15.20. But if He thus say, I have no delight in thee: Behold here am I, let Him doe to mee as seems good unto Him. If He shall refuse to help and rescue him, he justi­fies and clears Him: If He does help, it will be undeserved Mercy. Therefore he puts his mouth in the dust, if so be there may be hope for him, and he may receive any thing from God, who is so far above him, and of Whom he has so ill deserved. Lam. 3.29. He kisses the rod when laid in the dust; and submits himself to God's sovereign disposal. To this degree of practical humility and submission God brought His people before He afforded them Deliverance in a desperate case. Judg. 10.15. And the Children of Israel said unto the Lord, we have sinned, doe thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee, deliver us us only, we pray thee this day.

3. He humbly accepts of offer'd Mercy by a Mediator and Surety. To be beholding to Him for all, and to take all upon His Ac­count. He looks for Merit and Righteousnes that may procure him good els-where, feeling he hath none in himself: And there­fore he prizes exceedingly the Hope set before him, which he flees to. Luke. 18.13. He would not so much as lift up his eyes to Heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. Which mercy to a sinner can be only through Jesus Christ the Mediator. Thus a backsliding people when humbled, pray the Lord's Favour for his Names sake. Jer. 14.7. O Lord, tho' our iniquities testifie against us, doe thou it for thy Names sake, for our back-slidings are many.

4. He subjects himself to be wholly ruled and ordered by the Will of his Lord. Let God command and dispose of him, he will not withstand in the least; but yield and comply. He fears to stand against any Command of God, Counsel or Warning from Him, Thus when Israel under threatnings of God's departure were found­ly humbled, they seriously reformed themselves by the Word of God, and found compassion in His sight. Judg. 10.16. And they put away the strange Gods from among them, and served the Lord: and His [Page 17] soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.

5. He behaves himself meekly, humbly, self-denyingly in all things, as one whose proud spirit has been broken. Ps. 131.1, 2. Lord mine heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise my self in great matters, or in things too high for me. Surely I have be­haved and quieted my self as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child. He bears and carries himself as a poor, meek and humble man: not proudly, confidently, arrogant­ly &c. His behaviour testifies his lowliness and meekness of spirit before, and towards God and men, as one that seeks not himself any way, not to lift up himself, not to set forth himself, nor to set up himself: But it is clearly another thing which he purely designs, viz. the promoting the work and [...] by all due wayes and [...]

II. Whence is it that God accepts and respects the humble & lowly? It is indeed wonderful condescention in the Infinite GOD, thus to vouchsafe His Regard to such low worms as the best of the children of men are. That the Great GOD should look up­on such nothings, is a great stoop. Psal. 138 6. Tho' the LORD be high, yet He has Respect to the lowly. These do'nt indeed redissentire, but they do ratione: They do'nt in Reality disagree▪ for it is a truth that God doth respect such, but they do in Reason ▪ for it's admirable that the Highest and the lowest should thus meet. Psal 8.3, 4. When I consider thy Heavens, the work of thy fingers, the Moon and Stars which thou hast ordained: What is man that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man that thou visitest him? The reasons and grounds hereof are

1. Because It is the Lords's Free will and good pleasure. This is the bottom cause He is pleas'd thus to doe wonderfully. Mat. 11.25, 26. [...] and hast revealed them unto babes: even so [Page 18] Father for so it seemed good in thy sight. 1. Sam. 12.22. Because it has pleased the Lord to make you His people.

2. Because These do most truly respect the Lord. Therefore will the Lord so accept and look upon them, above others. The poor have their eyes unto and upon the Lord, and therefore the Lord will have His eyes upon them. In them there is the most free and open passage for the Lord to come into their souls with all His Power, Authority, Sovereignty, Glory and Grace. True Contrition, Humiliation and Poverty of spirit opens the heart to God to let Him in, to come and do all for the soul as belongs to a God to doe▪ but on the Contrary, Height of Spirit and Unbrokenness of heart with-holds that due respect from God, and so barrs His so full passage into, full possessi­on of, and dominion over the soul. And God hath said, that as men are disposed and carry to Him, so he will carry Him­self to them: And therefore He will regard and save the afflicted and humble people. Psal. 18.25, 26, 27. With the merciful thou wilt shew thy self merciful, with an upright man thou wilt shew thy self upright, with the pure thou wilt show thy self pure, and with the froward thou wilt shew thy self froward For thou wilt save the afflicted people, but wilt bring down the high looks.

3. Because These do most gladly look to, and depend upon the Me­diator, in whom God is well pleased. Whence they thus improv­ing and honouring Him, God hath a gracious respect to them for His sake.

III. How God doth look upon and accept the humble and lowly. It is with special and peculiar Grace: He looks Favourably on them. Such are the greatest Favourites in the Kingdom of Heaven. Mat. 18.4. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. He takes pleasure in them. Psal. 147.11. The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear Him. He will instruct them. Psal. 25.9. The meek will He guide in judgment, & the meek will He teach His way. He will communicate His grace to them Jam. 4.6. — but gives Grace to the humble. He will dwell with them. Isai. 57·15. GOD will make His settled abode in the humble soul; owne and use it as His special propriety; place and dis-place what He sees meet there. He will remember them [Page 19] in searching and trying Times Psal. 9.12▪ When He makes in­quisition for bloud, He remembers them: He forgets not the cry of the humble. He will work for them, arise for their Judgment, Help and Salvation. Psal. 76.9. When God arose to judge­ment to save all the meek of the earth. Psal. 147.6, The Lord lifts up the meek. Job. 22.29. And He shall save the humble person. He will doe what is good, what is indeed best, for such as are indeed lowly and humble: In the day when they cry He will answer them: and if Hee do not give them outward deliverance, yet He will strengthen them with strength in their souls; with Faith, patience and Courage to bear up, and hold out under the Continuance of their pressures, which will be as good and better to them than external deliverance. Psal. 138.3. In the day when I cried, thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my Soul. God will be near at hand to sup­port and save them in and out of the flouds or Fires of Affli­ction and calamity. Psal. 34.18. The Lord is nigh to them that are of a broken heart and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

I. VSE. It is of solemn Conviction and Humiliation to us this day, That we have not been, that we are no more such as God hath declared His Acceptance of, and Respect to. That we have been and are no more poor, contrite and trembling at His Word. Alas that this people hath lain no more low before God. Let the Prophets of the Lord and all the Lord's people mourn, and their souls weep for the Pride of New-England, as he Jer. 13.17. But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride, and mine eyes shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the Lord's flock is carried away captive. O that we could so take reproof from God, as to make this place and this day a Bochim! As they Judg. 2.4, 5. And it came to pass when the Angel of the Lord spake these words (viz. words of Conviction and Reproof, ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this? ver. 2. and words of Threatning, I will not drive them out before you, but they shall be as thorns in your sides) unto all the Children of Israel, that the people lift up their voice and wept: and they called the name of that place Bochim. They were deeply affected, and greatly mourned under that Divine Reproof. Hath not God [Page 20] spoken as plainly and directly to us, of our neglect to obey His voice; and in particular of the pride and Lordliness of our hearts, by that and many other words: Jer. 2.31. O gene­ration, see ye the word of the Lord, have I been a wilderness unto Israel? a land of darkness? Wherefore say my people, we are Lords, we will come no more unto thee? Had we not been stout against the Lord, we could never have stood out against so many solemn counsels and warnings upon these and other occasions, as we have done. Oh that (as it is said of Hezekiah, and all the in­habitants of Jerusalem 2. Chron 32.26. Notwithstanding Heze­kiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he, and the in­habitants of Jerusalem ▪ so) all our Rulers, and all the people would humble themselves for the Pride of their hearts! This would be a meanes to keep wrath off the Land, even that which has been threatned.

Here Consider, 1. What we have done. 2. What we have suffered for want of this humble spirit: Both which should con­vince and abase us.

I. What we have done for want of this spirit. The want of this has been the cause of all our errors, of all provoking errors in Doctrine, Worship, in Administration both Civil and Ecclesi­astical, and in Conversation. The Pride and Unbrokenness of our hearts hath caused us in many Instances to wander from the path-way of Wisdom and understanding. In general

1. Hence we have with-held from God His Right. what was due to Him: viz. The full honour of His Sovereignty, Power, Au­thority and Command over us. This has not been fully and practically acknowledged by us, which yet hath been due from us. Mal. 1.6. A son honoureth his Father, and a servant his Master: If then I be a Father, where is my honour? and if I be a Master, where is my Fear? saith the Lord of Hosts unto you that despise my Name.

2. Hence, We have taken to our selves more than our Right. More than becomes (not so much creatures, as) those who profess utmost Reverence, Subjection, Obsequiousness to, and Dependance upon the Lord our Creator and Redeemer, as we have done. 1. Cor. 4.7, 8. — why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received it? Now ye [Page 21] are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as Kings without us. Par­ticularly

1. Hence it is that we have no more duly sought God. Hence we have sought Him

No more fully according to His Order. There has been much Ig­norance and Mistake in, and about the things of God's House and Kingdom. Some Ordinances of Christ laid by, and thrown aside by many; if not despised and reproached. Too much baulking also of known Institutions and Commands: Men have not been willing throughly to subject themselves to God's Ordinances and Institutions, especially when any thing of their own hath come at any time to be thwarted by them. Inst. gr. It hath been too much in New-England, that the Discipline of Christ in His Chur­ches hath been in great part neglected; or attended according as it suited with, or happened to the humours, affections, inter­ests or relations of some men, and so the Ordinance of Christ that ought to be attended and administred without partiality, pro­strated to mens lusts.

No more sincerely and uprightly: But with so much Formality Hypocrisie, carelesness and indifferency in the Ordinances that have been attended. And all neglect of seeking God at all, or in due order it arises from pride. Ps. 10.4. The wicked through the pride of his countenance will not seek after God. Though not alwayes from the pride of a wicked person, but sometimes from unmortified pride in a righteous man.

2. Hence we have been contentious. The wise man tells us what is the only cause of Contention. Prov. 13.10. Only by pride comes contention. And how much of this, together with the evil con­comitants of it, Jealousies, reproaches, Slanders, Alienations of spirit &c. has there been in Churches and other Societies! The Remembrance of those woful Contentions that have been in many Churches, may justly humble us this day; as also the Dissentions, Heart-risings and counter-actings, that have been in Courts and civil Assemblyes, while we were otherwise at quiet. Oh how high have we been in our Contests with, and Cen­sures one of another! And it is lamentable to consider, what Mis-understandings, Jealousies, Animosityes, Prejudices and evil eyes have been between Rulers and People, or some among either. [Page 22] On which side in our late Differences of apprehension about the management of publick affairs, which did rise so high, there was most blame, I shall not affirm. Only I wish that every one, of whatsoever Opinion or Apprehension, might be sen­sible of every particular wherein they have been out of the way and too blame, in that or any other controversy, which has at any time unhappily spread among us. It is not so much differ­ence of apprehension (that is common to men and the best of men in this world about Circumstantials and non-fundamentals) as vehemency and bitterness of spirit, and the like evils arising from, and accompanying such differences (which sucks away the vital spirits of Gospel charity) that has wounded us. What­ever provocations therefore there may have been at any Massah or Meribah of ours, let every one concerned take heed that he do not suffer any bitterness of spirit then taken, to ly and rankle into any Malignity on one side or other; for I intend not one more than another: But earnestly desire that all the Lord's servants, however for some time, through temptation falling out; yet will in the end show themselves to be true Children of peace and lovers of Condescention. Rom. 12.16.18.

3. Hence we have been acted by Self-Interest. It is sad when it may be said of a Christian people, or any of those among them that have the care or conduct of publick Administrations, as Phil. 2.20.21. I have no man like minded, who will naturally care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's. When some private Interest of their own, their own Advantage, Preferment, Fame and Reputation or the like, shall carry them off from, and make them stand in the way of that which is truly for the publick good in Church or State. And this is the want of humility, when we prefer any Inte­rest of ours, or make it to justle with the Lords. And would to God we had not cause to lay our hands upon our breasts upon this account! Let all the Lords servants whom he has any way imployed in His work in whatsoever capacity, faithfully examine themselves in this matter: when this or that hath been before them that would really have been beneficial for the pub­lick, has not some such Thought; I shall lose by this; Some way of advantage that I have had will be hereby stopt. or, I shall be [Page 23] eclips't or overtopt, or I sha'nt have so much glory of the work if it goe so, or I have a friend that is concerned; or the like: I say, hath not some such kind of thought, secretly stirring in your mind (though it may be too unobserved) made you to oppose or at least not to be earnest for, or staunch in what would have been for good, yea and it may be sometimes not in that which is just or honest? I make no particular Application or Instance here, I know good men have their failings, and those who in gene­ral do truly seek the Interest of Christ, may yet in this or that particular be too much swayed by private interest, and we must not presently cashier them (especialy if otherwise men of worth and use) because of this. But I heartily wish that those scales of self-interest and affection, which blind the eyes of many men, might wholly fall from the eyes of all you whom the Lord hath or shall any way improve in his service in this Israel, and from the eyes of every Christian.

4. Hence we have born too high a sail. That there hath been an affectation of Gallantry unbecoming our condition, hath been long complained of, and many times testified against in this place and on these occasions, and that I believe rationally. But its most apparent that this hath exceedingly grown upon us of latter times, and is accompanied also with sufficient, if not much too great delicacy of living, wherein we abuse our mercyes God hath given us. Further, it is not improbable but that some for whom Providence hath favourably and honourably cast their Lot may have been under temptation to have their hearts lifted up above their Brethren; through the gales of Popular applause, or an overweening esteem of their own worth or the Largness of Divine Bounty to them in any remarkable Dispensation, or the like; to make too much of themselves, & it may be too little of others; overlooking, neglecting, or too much imposing. As One says ‘It's a hard matter for a man to be a painful Preacher, a zealous Professor, a faithful Statesman, or a man that has laid out himself for the Publick any way, Strong. of Cove­nants. page. 26. but his heart will swell with privy pride therein, yea even though he do profess to despise and disesteem the praise of men.’ Good Hezekiah failed herein upon occasion of a gracious Providence wrought for [Page 24] him. 2. Chron. 32.24.25. In those dayes Hezekiah was sick to the death, and prayed to the Lord: and He spake unto him and He gave him a signe: But Hezekiah rendred not again according to the benefit done unto him: for his heart was lifted up. If there be any such with us who have their spirits upon any account whatsoever thus raised too high, I wish they may know themselves, and have more of the Spirit of Christ; as in other particulars, so in that of the Meekness and Lowliness of His mind. Finally, let it not be offensive if I mention it as a thing worthy of Consi­deration, Whether this Government or the Persons managing it; have not in some instances born themselves too high, assumed more than God hath given them full ground for: and if it should be so, no doubt but that they have been a provocation, and no wonder if God threaten to bring you low.

5. Hence We have not been subject to Order and Government, civil, ecclesiastical or domestical. We have been a Corporation that have lived too much in the violation of our own Laws: Of some good Laws we have been too high to bear the Execution of them at the hand of our Neighbours, whether such as were called to see them observed, or such as would secure themselves by them: There has been to much of a lawless, ungovern'd spirit. And for the true Order and Government of Christ in His Church, that hath been in some places little practised, in some much withstood, and in others quite overthrown, whilst power and Government hath been fixed in those that should be ruled, and only a liberty to lift up their hands left to the Rulers, and together therewith other Ordinances of Christ have been undervalued and abused. And as for Fa­mily-Government and Order, that is in a great Measure lost in New-England, as those who undestand what it is, do too too sensibly complain.

6. Hence We have set other things in the place of GOD. We have left God and our first love to Him. Through want of true poverty of spirit, we have not maintained that constant feel­ing sense of our need of Him, and so have suffered our selves to de­cline and go away from Him, away from that strict and close dependance and communion which was sometimes in Christians. We have not been so earnestly careful to ly alwaies in the arms [Page 25] of a Gracious Saviour under the full expressions of His Love, but have been slothful and slumbering in carnal rest and ease, hard and loth to be awakned and stirred up to open to Christ and let Him fully in to our souls, as the Spouse. Cant. 5.2, 3. — the voice of my Beloved that knocketh, saying, open to me — I have put off my coat, how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet, how shall I defile them. And our hearts have gone after some other thing, some new love, some vanity or other, which we have entertained, embraced and set in God's place: and these we have Idolized, set our hearts upon them, and given more than their due to them. Thus we have done to the World, we have fallen down to that, and that hath lifted us up in our minds, wherein we have violated that solemn caution God left with His People to be minded by them when in a rise­ing condition in the World. Deut. 8.12.13, 14. Beware lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly Houses, and dwelt therein: And when thy Herds and thy Flocks multiply, and thy Silver and thy Gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is mul­tiplied: Then thy heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God. Truly here is our main wound, and the great cause of God's Controversie with us, that we are declined and gone off so much from God, from the life and power of Grace and Godliness, from keeping our hearts and walking with God; and have suffered other inferior things to take up, fill and take away our hearts. Rev. 2.4. Nevertheless (notwithstanding all that was commendable among them, in purity of Doctrin & Wor­ship, and travel in God's work and service) I have somewhat against thee because thou hast left thy first love. These inward soul-declensions and decayes, and goings off of the heart from God, were very offensive to him: as Ezek. 6.9. Because I am broken with their whorish heart which hath departed from me, and with their eyes which goe a whoring after their Idols. In like man­ner, it is not unlikely, but we have abused the most glorious priviledges of the Gospel here afforded, to be in some degree and too much haughty because of God's holy Mountain. Zeph. 3.11. So does want of true humility and poverty of spirit expose us to abuse the best things. And if there be any other particular wherein this people have incurred like guilt, I had [Page 26] much rather they should take notice of it themselves than hear it from mee. Whatever it be that men have their eyes upon, whether any thing they suppose in themselves, or any thing that hath been done for them, or any priviledge bestowed up­on them, these cannot give them rest and security in God's Favour, and it will be an error to have recourse to, or depend upon them for divine Protection, while we neglect true humility poverty of spirit and trembling at God's Word. There is ma­ny a tall Eliab, that even some Samuels may think to be assu­redly favoured of God, which yet God will reject: But the true spirit of David which we have in Psal. 131. Lord my heart is not haughty &c. He never will reject.

7. Hence, We have been Impatient of Reproof; though necessary, orderly, and without Reflection. Too much uncircumcised in heart and ears, resisting, or turning away from the Holy Ghost speaking to us in, and by his Word. The form of Religion, to ma­ny lifted up therewith, is (as One speaks) a Buff Coat to their sins, to turn the sharpest reproofs that can be levelled against them. It was so with that people, Zech. 7.11.12. They refused to hearken and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears that they should not hear, yea, they made their hearts as an Adamant stone, lest they should hear the Law, and the words which the Lord of Hosts hath sent in His spirit by the former Prophets. And we have reason to acknowledge & be humbled that it has been too much so with us; that so much unwillingness to, impatience of, and in­corrigibleness under the Reproofs of God's Word, hath shown it self among us.

II. Consider What we have suffered for want of this humble spi­rit. This hath been the procurer of all our sorrows, that we have been no more humble and submissive unto God. For this we have been threatned: It was said upon a like Occasion, now twelve years agone, ‘Probable it is, that it must be some sharp affliction, See Mr. Oakes his Elect. Serm. p. 25. some smarting Rod, or sore Tryal that must come upon these Churches, to reduce them generally to their old trembling frame of spirit at the Word of God.’ Whether the whole of what God intended by [Page 27] and like words, be come upon us, is yet a question: but much we have suffered, which we may justly reckon to this account: God has brought many of our fears upon us, because we have been too high to answer His Calls, and we know not what He may doe more therein. Isai. 66.4. — and will bring their fears upon them, because when I called none did answer, when I spake they did not hear, but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not. God hath drawn out His sword against us, and hath given it a charge to devour round about our Coasts, and many have fallen down slain by it. God hath blown upon the Labour of our hands, by Blastings, Flouds, Droughts, and losses by Ship-wrecks and otherwayes; and of what hath remained he hath found out continual waies for dis­bursment, to make and keep us empty. God hath sent sore Sicknesses and Pestilential diseases upon us which have sorely wasted us. God hath again and again contended by terrible Fires, which have eat up a great part of our pleasant Enjoy­ments. He has also frustrated our expectations and hopes ma­ny wayes: as it is Jer. 8.15. We looked for peace but no good came; and for a time of health, and behold trouble. Now all these things God hath done to humble us; for we are His covenant People: we have not been therefore humble enough. The Lord's goodness would not have suffered Him to doe thus, if our badness did not force Him to it Jer. 9.7. Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts, behold, I will melt them, and try them: for how shall I doe for the daughter of my people? q. d. ‘What other course can I take but this according to the nature of man? The Gold-smith hath no other way to sepe­rate the dross from the mettal but by melt­ing it down. Charnock. Attrib. page. 657. Its when the impurities and unhumbledness of His people necessitate Him to this proceeding, that God sits as a Refiner and brings hum­bling dispensations upon them.’ All that we have suffered and been threatned with, it has been but necessary for us; less would not bring us to tremble before God, and in our selves: And Oh that this might! God could yet, and doubtless would save us, give us favour with Himself and what wee should need elswhere, for the continuance of our mercies, our precious & pleasant enjoyments.

[Page 28]II. VSE. Exhort. Let this people and every person of us, get and keep in this frame of spirit mention'd in the Text and Doctrine, to be poor and contrite in spirit, and tremble at GOD's Word. That which you are now exhorted to is, to be true and through Christians, and to keep alwayes in a Christian frame of spirit, or to be eminent in the exercise of Christianity. For this re­al poverty and contrition of spirit and trembling at God's Word is to be found no where else, but where true grace is, and where the spirit of Christ dwels and Rules. You are herein exhorted to be Christs true Scholars and followers. Mat. 11.29. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart. Phil. 2.5. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. To be and carry like Christians indeed.

I. Motive. Consider the disadvantage of being without this spi­rit. In several respects,

1. The Word you hear will doe you no good. Pride is an ene­my to profiting. ‘It is observed that the ground whereon the Peacock that proud bird sits, is barren: the heart where Pride sits is barren. Watson.’ The Word must be received in meekness, that it may be savingly efficacious. Ja. 1.21. While men remain in the pride and unhumbledness of their hearts, whatever their professions be, and whatever they may doe, the best counsels & cautions will not work kindly upon them. A People will never be brought to do their business throughly with God, in com­pliance with His Word, till they be brought to such a trem­bling frame. Ezra. 10.3. Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God, to put away — according to the counsel of my Lord, and of those that tremble at the Commandment of our God, and let it be done according to the Law. There must be an awful, sanctify­ing, reverential, fiducial fear in all our Transactions with God, otherwise they will be but formal, Hypocritical, vain and lu­dicrous; there will be no good effect of the Word of God up­on us. The Lord's Words will indeed do good and come to some­thing in those that walk uprightly. Mich. 2.7. But it is expres­ly declared, that his soul which is lifted up, is not upright in him. Hab. 2.4. Therefore such will doe nothing to purpose with God, in attending to His Word, let it be spoken never so [Page 29] plainly, closely, solemnly and frequently. Neither will the Word spoken go down with an unhumbled people, unless it be such as suits them, they not so much desiring that their wills should be brought to the Word, as that the Word should be brought to their wills. A sad Instance we have of this Jer. 43.1.2. And it came to pass, that when Jeremiah had made an end of speak­ing unto all the people all the words of the Lord their God, for which the Lord their God had sent him to them even all these Words▪ Then spake Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the proud men, saying unto Jeremiah, thou speakest falsly; the Lord our God hath not sent thee to say, goe not &c. Notwithstanding their solemn profession. Chapt. 42.5, 6. Then they said to Jeremiah, The Lord be a true and faithful wit­ness between us, if we doe not even according to all things for the which the Lord thy God shall send thee to us, whether it be good or whether it be evil, we will obey the voice of the Lord our God to whom we send thee, that it may be well with us, when we obey the voice of the Lord our God.

2. This will make men that they will not be afraid when God is displeased with themselves or others: When sin is committed or Judgement threatned. Jer. 36.23.24. And it came to pass, that when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth, yet they were not afraid, nor rent their garments, neither the King nor any of his servants that heard all these Words. This is from an in­ward stoutness and unsubduedness of heart. Hence many a professor, can be loose in his walk; formal and slighty in Re­ligious duties; careless of the Sabbath; indulge his corruptions; comply far with some sins of the times; neglect the trust and charge committed to him: and yet his heart not smite him, the thoughts hereof do not trouble him, nor make him afraid. And this is a dangerous thing.

3. This will expose us to Misery and Destruction. If we should have no other Molestation come upon us any way, yet if we be without this spirit of awful fear and trembling before God, we shall be like enough quickly to sink in our own ruines, under the weight of our pride and other corruptions. Jer. 44.10, 11. [Page 30] They are not humbled even to this day, neither have they feared, nor walked in my Law, nor in my Statutes that I set before you and before your Fathers. Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Behold I will set my face against you for evil, and to cut off all Judah. For in setting up our selves, we reject and forsake God. And this People have been told that if they forsake God, God will cast them off for ever. 1. Chron 28.9. Vzziah's self-exaltation emboldned him to venturre upon such things as were the occasion of his destruction. 2. Chron. 26.16. But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction, for he transgressed against the Lord, and went into the Temple of the Lord to burn Incense. A heart not duly subdued will expose men to venture upon such things as will tend to wound their consci­ences dishonour Religion, and procure their calamity. All the world can never keep that man up, that never seeks to keep his own spirit low. GOD has not been wont to prosper any People long, however good they were, or however good their cause were, if their spirits have been high, and so shown more of themselves, than of the spi­rit of Christ, as it is too often with God's people. So true is it which the Holy Ghost saith, Prov. 29.23. A mans pride shall bring him low. and Chapt. 16.18. Pride goeth before de­struction; and an haughty spirit before a fall. If Hezekiah's heart be lifted up, there is a Dispensation of wrath near. 2. Chron. 32.25. — for his heart was lifted up, therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem. The loftiness of man shall be made low, God will have it so. Isai. 2.11.17. The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day. For the day of the LORD of Hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up, and he shall be brought low, &c.

II. Mot. Consider the Advantage of being of this poor, con­trite and trembling spirit. It will be exceeding beneficial many wayes.

1. This will dispose you to acknowledge and sanctifie the Name of God under all Dispensations: under all visitations: To see and own how God is fulfilling His Word; making good His threat­threatnings; [Page 31] and executing His Judgements. He hath foretold, and so to give Him the glory of His work. Zech. [...] 10, 11. Then said I, I will not feed you: that that dyeth let [...]: and that that is to be cut off, let it be cut off, and let the [...] eat every one the flesh of another. And I took my staff, even Beauty, and cut it asunder, that I might break my covenant which I had made with this people. And it was broken in that day: and so the poor of the flock that waited upon me knew that it was the Word of the Lord.

2. This will dispose you to that Mourning and weeping which we have now need to attend upon God with. We have reason to make this day, yea these dayes wherein God is afflicting us; and these years wherein we are seeing evil, to be times of Mourning and Sor­row. The Lord God calls to weeping; that we look over our sins, look unto Christ, whom we have peirced by our sins; and look and goe after God in attendance to His word, weeping and mour­ning.

3. This will spirit and dispose you to embrace and practise all those counsels have been given you in the Lord's Name, and from his Word. To atennd all those Duties the Lord requires of you. If the Quest [...] be ask't, What does God now look for from us? The Answer is in Deut. 10 12. And now, [...] Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all His wayes, and to love Him, and to serve the LORD thy GOD with all thy heart and with all thy soul. You need not look for any thing in particular from me now. Much hath been plainly spoken from God to this people again and again: God hath told us his mind fully, what He would have us doe, and where our life lies Deut. 32.46, 47. Set your hearts unto all the words which I testifie among you this day, — for it is not a vain thing for you: because it is your life. And if we had but this spirit that I am now pleading for, we should then be ready to rise up to doe the words of the Lord, which we have heard from Him and thereupon to engage in a saving and last­ing work of Reformation. It would raise us to an excel­lent temper in Christianity; to be high in worth, but low in spirit; to doe much for God, and think little of our selves.

4. This will give us access to, and acceptance with God in prayer. Psal. 10.12. Arise, O Lord, O God, lift up thine hand, for­forget [Page 32] not the humble. ver. 17. Lord thou hast heard the desire of the [...]: Thou wilt prepare [...] heart, that wilt cause thy ear to hear. God sometimes denies to hear His own people's pray­ers, when their spirits are not so low as they should be. And how often hath God refused to hear [...] prayers! But here is a way to have certain Audience at the Throne of Grace. Psal. 102.16, 17. When the Lord shall build up Zion: He shall appear in His glory. He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer. New- England had never more need of importu­nate earnest praying: Wo to us if we be wanting now in im­portuning mercy from heaven! A People or person become speechless in this respect is near to death. Pray therefore we must and ought, and if we would be heard and accepted, we must get our hearts and spirits thus meekly and humbly dis­posed. God could not over-look them when thus humbly pray­ing. Jer. 31.18, 19, 20. I have surely heard Ephraim bemoan­ing himself thus, Thou hast chastised me and I was chastised▪ as a bullock unaccustom'd to the yoke: Turn thou mee, and I shall be tur­ned, for thou art the Lord my God. Surely after that I was turned, I repented: And after that I was instructed I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed yea even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth. Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? For since I spake against him I do earnestly remember him still: there­fore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the Lord.

5. This will dispose us to Patience and enduring under all Suffer­ings. The heart that is not truly broken and meek'ned, finds it harder to comport with, and bear quietly that which is con­trary to him without flinching one way or other; either on the one hand by succumbing and yielding to the Temptation; or on the other, by disorderly flying out beyond his Duty. The Historian gives that as the reason why Origen faultred under the Temptation, Niceph. p. 730. quia virtutum omnium parente, summissione et humilitate excidisset: because he had lost or wanted the Mother of all virtues, Humility and low­liness. But the Contrary is observed of Athanasius, as the cause of his Constancy that steel'd him against all his Adversaries and Sufferings; that he was Ypselos tois ergois, tapeinos de to phronemati. [Page 33] He was as truly low in heart, as really high in worth. He had great attainments, but was very humble and lowly under all. By this humble meek frame of spirit we shall be enabled with Pati­ence to endure under all Tryalls, whatever we may meet with.

6. This will give ground for, and further our Faith and Reliance on the Lord. The humble Centurion had great Faith. Mat. 8.8. Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldst come under my Roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. The more hum­ble we are, the more we shall be disposed to believe aright, without any mixture of presumption: and the more ground we shall have to beleeve. Let New-England be humble, and New-England shan't fail to be happy. It is only the contrary hereto that will undoe us. If we be poor and low in our selves, we may trust in the Lord for His Salvation. Zeph. 3.12. — an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust — Isai. 14.32. — the poor of His People shall trust — God will have His time to appear for the joy of those that tremble at His Word. Isai. 66.5. To make the first-born of the poor to feed, and the needy to ly down in safety. Chapt. 14.30. To make the meek to encrease their joy in the Lord, and the poor among men to rejoice in the Holy ONE of Israel. Cap. 29.19. yea to tread down the lofty. Chapt. 26.5.6. And God can easily make the designes and hopes of such as would, or have already in heart swallowed the poor of His people, to be but empty dreames. Chapt. 29.8. If we be truly humble, God's Ax shall not cut us down, but His hand shall lift us up in due time. 1. Pet. 5.6. Humble your selves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time. God knowes how to make distinction between the humble, and the proud, when his Wrath makes the greatest confusion in the world. When we are once brought to this Frame of Spirit, we may look for good to follow: The more humility and less Pride in Christians, the nearer we may suppose good times. We cannot (saith ^* One) ex­pect those glorious days, which are to commence upon the fall of Antichrist, till we see all Christians sincerely set upon destroying what is Antichristian in themselves.

[Page 34]And a spirit of Self-exaltation is such. They are God's secret, humble, trembling, broken-hearted People, lying in the bow­els of the country, that must be the Rise of all our Salva­tion. Job. 22.29. When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, there is a lifting up: and Hee shall save the humble person. Let a degenerate, backsliding people, that have been under divine Correction, thus humble themselves, and God will re­turn to them with mercy. Levit. 26.40, 41, 42. If they shall confess their iniquity, — that they have walked contrary unto me; and that I also have walked contrary unto them; — If then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their inquity: Then I will remember my Covenant with Jacob. — and I will remember the Land. And it is God's manner in his signal Dispensations of Favour to His People, to humble His people, before He give birth to His promises; to bring down their hearts, before He fill them and raise them with Joy and gladness; to strike them dumb in a holy self-abhorrency and confusion, before He open their mouth in praises. Job. 40.3, — 6. & 42.6, — 10. We have therefore encouragement and all Reason on every hand, to imitate those more eminent and illustrious Saints, which are noted by the Elders round about the Throne in the Revelations, who cast not only them­selves but there Crowns down before the Lord; laid all their Honour, Worth, or Endowments at the Lord's feet, as sensi­ble of, and acknowledging their own utter emptiness and un­worthiness. Chapt. 4.10.

I shall be brief in the Directions.

Direct. I. Get a real apprehension of the Lord's most excellent soveraignty and Glory. That we be perswaded that it ought, and willing that it should be so, that God should be every way glorified, and we be nothing. None was meeker than Moses, before whom God had displayed His glory, and talked face to face. Then shall we be lowest in our selves, when God is highest and most lifted up in our hearts. Isai. 6.1, — 5. I saw also the Lord sitting upon a Throne, high and lifted up, and His train filled the Temple. Above it stood the Seraphims — [Page 35] and one cryed unto another and said, Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cryed, and the house was filled with smoke, Then said I, wo is me for I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips.

Dir. II. Get a through sense of your sins, and the desert of them. How could we look high; or how could we choose but lye low, if we understood our selves what we had done, and what we are? We must needs think the least mercy too good for us. There is sin enough in the Country, and in our hearts, (had we a sense of it) to break and humble us. Ezek. 36.31. Then shall ye remember your own evil wayes, and your doings that were not good, and shall loath your selves in your own sight, for your iniquities, and for your abominations.

Dir. III. Live beholding and eyeing the Lord Jesus. Look to His Example. Mat. 11.29. Learn of me, for I am meek and Lowly in heart. And look to Him for influence to break and bring down our hearts. We are all sick of a hard and proud heart, and if ever we desire to be healed of this woful disease, we must have recourse to the Lord Jesus Christ, and never leave meditating of His low estate and breakings for us, till we find virtue coming out of Christ, to break and humble our hearts, and He who smiteth through the proud in Judgement, do smite through our pride in Mercy.

Dir. IV. Look to, and improve the Lords gracious Promises for the giving this Spirit to his Church and People. In the sense of the unbrokenness and unhumbledness of our hearts, mourn and cry to the Lord, and plead with Him to remember His holy Covenant-promise, and to perform it for, and unto us. Ezek. 36.26. A new heart also will I give you and a new spirit I will put within you, and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and give you an heart of flesh. Zech. 12.10. And I will pour upon the House of David and upon the Inhabitants of Jeru­salem, the spirit of grace and of supplications &c.

Dir. 5. Turn the Ambitious working of our hearts another way. Cure this malady by Diversion: Turn it into that Channel wherein it may run: Let our Ambition be to please, and be accep­ted of God. 2. Cor. 5.9. Wherefore we labour, that whether pre­present [Page 36] or absent we may be accepted of him. [We labour] Philote­moumetha, we are ambitions, carried away by a holy Ambition. There is an Elevation of spirit in the wayes of God (oh that we had more of it!) which is desireable and commendable. 2. Chron. 17.6. And his heart was lifted up in the wayes of the Lord. And the more this grows, and prevailes, the more will it suck dry that unbecoming elation of spirit. Be therefore seeking and striving for that Honour which comes from God only, and this will further you in the Obedience, Comfort, Joy, and fruits of Faith, and this fruit of it Humility and Meekness. Joh. 5.4.

For a Close of this Discourse, this Doctrine and Exhortation may by a particular Application be proposed

I. To Rulers: Such as are yet betrusted with the Charge of this people. Honoured and much esteemed! You are hence exhorted.

1. To Labour for a large measure of this spirit of humbleness of mind and meekness in your selves. You need it to make You meet for your work, that You may be accepted therein of God and men. There are other things indeed that may buoy You up in the favourable opinion of men, for some time; but there is nothing can give You a lasting room in the hearts of wise and good men like this. But that which is more, this only can give You a standing under Divine Favour and Ac­ceptation; and of this you need a great degree, especially un­der the circumstances of the present Time, to bear all the Con­flicts, Hardships and Discouragements You meet with. When God chose a man to lead his people in a Wilderness of Diffi­culties, Dangers, Sufferings and Temptations, He chose Moses the meekest man in all the earth; one able, through the in­timacy of his acquaintance with God, to bear things intolera­ble unto others: And yet notwithstanding even Moses's spi­rit was sometimes too much provoked. What need then have You to be eminent in this respect, to be beyond exception for true Gospel-Humility and subjection to the Word of God, to be wholly mortified to Self, to the Pride, Vanity, Profit, Ex­cess, Grandure and Love of the World.

[Page 37]2. To labour to promote this spirit and frame in the People [...] Your charge. If God continue You that are from among ourselves in this Trust; Your faithful endeavours in this matter will still be expected. Remember that You rule not only over men, but over a People of God, (though indeed too sadly declined and degenerate) and therefore You are to take care to manage them so as may set and leave them under the highest degree of Divine Acceptation; that is to be as humble and trembling under the word of God as may be. What therefore may be done to convince of, and deter and recover this people from Sin of all kinds: and what may be done to encourage, Draw on to, and settle this People under a careful attendance to all good works in the Reverential fear of God; This is Your Wor [...] ▪ In which the LORD guide, prosper, and long continue You.

II. This Exhortation may be proposed To the Lord's ser­vants in the Ministry. Fathers, and Brethren, suffer this word of Exhortation from the unworthiest of your Order, or rather from your Lord Jesus Christ: Shew your selves Patterns, as in other things, so in the Humility, and meekness of your spirits, the con­trition and brokenness of your hearts, awful trembling at God's Word, and in the Administration of His Worship, and labour to promote this frame in the Lord's people, by shewing them their sins in the vileness & desert of them, & by setting before them the Ma­jesty and Glory of God. When God hath eminently improved suc­ceeded and honoured to the last any of his servants in the work of the Ministry, He hath given them a good measure of His Spirit. Our Work is to receive the Word from God's mouth, and to give His people warning from Him: To both which a large mea­sure of this spirit is necessary; so much as is not easily or presently attained. It was some time before Elijah's spirit at Horeb the mount of God, was sufficiently prepared to an awful regard of the Divine presence, and to the receiving the Lord's message. First a great and strong Wind rends the mountains, breaks in peices the Rocks before the Lord: after the wind an earth-quake, and after the Earth-quake, a Fire: and after all these the Lord appears in a small still voice, and then Elijah wraps his face in his mantle, and in that awful posture receives the [Page 38] mind of God. 1. King. 19.11, 12, 13. To Isaiah the Lord appears in such glorious manner as makes him cry out, Woe is me, for I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips; and then He gives him and sends him upon his special errand to his people. Isai. 6. This spirit also is needful for the due deli­very of the Lords mind to His people. 2. Tim. 2.24, 25. The servant of the Lord must — be gentle, — patient, in meekness in­structing &c. Whatever message we have; whether of Mercy or Judgment, our souls should be feelingly and heart-breakingly concerned for those to whom we speak. In the discharge of our Trust, as we are special servants of Jesus Christ, we should have much of His spirit, who could not denounce Judgment against Jerusalem without many tears and heart-breakings for them. Luk. 19.41, 44. And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, saying, If thou hadst known even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. For the day shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, &c. I need not say what present cause there is for the Lord's faithful Watch-men to be alike deeply affected for Zion. And in all our Administrations we should be carried forth with a full sense of our own weakness and unworthiness. What a nothing does the great Apostle Paul make of himself in the whole of his ministerial conversation! I laboured more abundantly than they all; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 1. Cor. 15.10. In nothing am I behind the very chiefest of the Apostles, though I be nothing. 2. Cor. 12.11.

III. Finally, this Exhortation is proposed to all the People of the Land. You are a professing People, and do something in Religion externally; but all your Profession, and all that you doe, will signifie and come to nothing, if this spirit be wanting. What ^* One [...]ayes of Thanks, is true of all Worship and Service per­formed to God; The value of it resolves it self wholly into the frame and Disposition of the heart. You have the more need to be jealous of your selves, for many times Christ's own Di­sciples don't know their own spirits. There is a height of spirit [Page 39] sometimes that under a Zeal for the Lord's work and glory grows insensibly upon them, notwithstanding their converse with, and constant attendance upon the Lord, insomuch that they doe hence expose themselves to the Lords rebuke. Luk. 9.54, 55. And when his Disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from Heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did. But he turned and rebuked them, and said, ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. O therefore look to your hearts, take heed to your spirits, that there be no Pride, Loftiness or sinful Discomposure lodging there. La­bour to be within that promise which makes over the great Blessing of the Kingdom of Heaven; of Comfort, and an In­heritance on the earth to the poor in spirit, that mourn and are meek. Mat. 5.3, 4, 5. As for your outward concerns, those of this Day and the like, seeing you have opportunity, and so long as you shall have opportunity to be managing of them, I wish you may shew your selves meek, humble, patient, self-denying, forgiving supposed errors and wrongs: Laying aside inconveni­ent or unreasonable disgusts; not leting Anger to rest in your bo­somes; and that however God may further try you in these things, that a spirit of patience and quiet submission to any such Dispensation as is according to God's Will, may ever possess you, while you both render to Caesar the things which are Caesar's, and to God the things which are God's. But your great busi­ness is with God, and the most proper advice I have to offer therein is,

Get and be of a poor and contrite spirit and trembling at the Word of God. Let your hearts come down and lye low before God and as the sheep of His hand hear his voice Psal. 95.6, 7, 8. O come let us worship and bow down let us kneel before the Lord our maker. For he is our God, and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of his hand: to day if ye will hear his voice harden not your heart as in the provocation and as in the day of temptation in the Wilderness. It is hardness and haughtiness of mens hearts that makes all Di­vine Exhortations ineffectual. Oh beware of it in the least degree of it! Consider what God hath done to stain the glory of all flesh: He will have no flesh to glory in his presence. Consider the ax is now laid to the root of the tree. [...]. If we will [Page 40] not lower to bring forth the fruit of true Humiliation and Re­pentance, we shall be laid low, even to the ground: But those that tremble when the Ax is at the root of the tree, when Judg­ment is gathering in the Cloud, God will look to them, that the Ax shall not cut them down, nor the storm sweep them away. God will be to them a Sanctuary. Isai. 8.13.14. Sanctifie the Lord of hosts Himself, and let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread, and He shall be for a sanctuary. And they shall have rest in the day of trouble, either by escaping, or having full support under it. Hab. 3.15, 16. Thou didst walk through the sea with thy horses, through the heap of great waters. When I heard, my belly trembled: my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entred into my bones, and I trembled in my self, that I might rest in the day of trouble. We should therefore stand trembling before God under the sense and apprehension of present and impending Dispensations, but more especially under the sense of whatsoever evils have kindled the Lords Displeasure, and made Him threaten a De­parture from us Ezra. 9.4. and 10.9.

Let our whole Course, Garb, Guise, Converse and Spirit speak Humility and Humiliation in so humbling a time as this is. Carry it in all things as becomes a poor and an afflicted people. I am sure you will be thereby better Disposed to trust in the Name of the LORD, and have firmer ground to believe in His Sal­vation.

The Subject therefore I have been discoursing is, I trust through Grace a suitable word from the Lord, as I was desired to pre­pare for this Occasion. I have not designed to gratifie or grieve any, have aimed to speak what may fall upon the consciences of us all, as we are more or less guilty: and I fear we have been guilty in this thing, one way or other, most of us, of whatsoever Opinion or Ap­prehension. Oh that we might now lift up our selves no more! That we might now lay our hands upon our mouths, and put our mouths in the dust, if so be there may be hope! Famous, remarkable and admirable might the Lord's providential operations then be for as in the eyes of others; as well as comfortable to our selves. Isai. 14.2. What shall One then answer the messengers of the nations? That the Lord hath founded Zion, and the poor of his people shall trust in it. Acclamatio [...] [...] for the Lord's Grace; as in laying the [Page 41] Foundation of, so in strengthning, defending, carrying on and fi­nishing Temple-work among us should not be wanting. It would then be well, yea it could not be otherwise. At the worst, though all passages for Comfort and Relief on Earth were block't up, yet Heaven would be open to you, whence you might receive Help▪ And whatever should threaten, yet you might say with him (when demanded where he would be then, if such a thing as was threat­ned should come to pass) that you shall be aut in Coelo aut sub Coelo, either in Heaven or under Heaven: either under Heavens Pro­tection while you live, or in Heavens Possession if you should be moved out of this world.