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^. /J 
 
 SERMON 
 
 O F 
 
 In the Special Prefervation 
 O F 
 
 GOVERNMENT 
 
 KINGDOMS, 
 
 On ffal CXXVII. i. 
 
 5^ William Pindar, late Fellow of TJmverfity- 
 Colledg in Oxford, arid Chaplain to the Right Ho- 
 fiourabk Ford, Lord Grey of Werke, 
 
 IPublifteD on m Dif co\)f rp of tCe late plot. 
 
 I LONDON: Printed by M Clark, for H.Brome, 
 I at the Gun in S. Paul's Church-yard near the 
 I Weft-end. MDCLXXIX. 
 
SERMON 
 
 O N 
 
 Pfal. CXXVII. 1. 
 
 -Except the Lord keep the City ^ the Watchman 
 
 waketh but in Vain, 
 
 ^ING Solomon^ to whom this 
 TJalm is inciclcd, doth in the 
 beginning of it aflume the 
 perfon of an Ecclejtajtes, ad- 
 dredes his di(cour(e to the 
 people, and inftrudls them 
 who is to be the obje(St of their trufl: and de- 
 pendance ,• or if King DaVid made it for the y.jun.&Trem. 
 u(e of his Son (whom he defigned to leave his ^^' 
 Succeflor in the Kingdom, and therefore took 
 care to inftriid him early^ who was to be his, 
 and the Kingdoms Keeper ) he inculcates up- 
 on him the fame leflbn j by fhewing the be- 
 ing, and neceflity of Gods Providence, in or- 
 
 A der 
 
2^ A Sermon on 
 
 der to the good regiment of all humane affairs, 
 and to the accomplifhing of thofe defigns 
 which men have under the Sun j without 
 which, thofe means will not be able to pro- 
 duce their ends, which yet feem very accom- 
 modate to them , and in mod mens account^ 
 might be thought fufEcient to eftecSl them. For 
 except the Lord build the houfe they labour in yam 
 that build it. Men may take a great deal of 
 pains to very little purpole, unlefs God prof^ 
 per the work of their hands j though they dig 
 deep, lay the foundations of the ftrudurc they 
 
 Hab. ii.p. defign, upon a rock, and fo build their neft Very 
 hi<rh' yet if God (peak the word, the rock 
 trembles, the building flukes, and then as the 
 
 v«Mi. Prophet faith, The ftone fhall fly out oftheiwll^ 
 and the beam out of the timber pall anfmer it. Nor 
 is Gods Providence lefs neceflary to the prof- 
 pering the defigns of our heads, then it is to 
 the accomplifliment of the works of our hands: 
 For as a City cannot be built without him, fo 
 nor will it ftand long unlefs he eftablifli it^ 
 nor can it be upheld in peace, or defended in 
 war, unlefs he protect and keep it j no provi- 
 dent circumfpedion and watchfulnefs of the 
 Magiftrates, no care and diligence of the Mi- 
 nifters that attend them , and execute their 
 commands^ can fecure it from fecret Enemies, 
 
 or 
 
TfaL CXXVll I. I 
 
 or from open violences, unltfs God be pleaied 
 tofr.perintend ana watch over it,- For except 
 the Lord keep the city^ the watchman It^akcth hut in 
 yain. And as chf Pfalmifl teacheth us that 
 neither the private nor public adminiftration 
 of affairs can profper without Gods blcffing j 
 lo in the three following verfes the remainmg: 
 part of this Tfalm, he informs us that the very 
 continuance aad lucceffion of Families mud be 
 afcribed to the fame caule - For loe children (faith z sam. xviii. 
 he) and the fruit of the ivomh are an heritage and gift ^ 2 Kings ix. 17. 
 that Cometh of the Lord. That they are at all^^-^'"'- "• 
 made and born into the world, and that they 
 live in it, to bear up their Fathers Name and 
 Family,comespecuharly from the benediction 
 of God,t/?« Is agift that cometh of the Lord. So that 
 the main point which the Text recommends 
 to us, is the neceflity of Gods care and provi- 
 dence to the prefervation of all Government, 
 and public Societies, and without it the infuf- 
 ficiency of all other means to prelervethem 
 from mine under the fimilitude of a Watchman^ 
 who was ufed to be placed upon fome emi- 
 nent Tower of the City 5 fometimes in time of 
 Peace, always in time of War, both by day 
 and by night, to give notice of any Enemies 
 a.pproach againft the City, or of any (udden^ 
 evil, fuch as Fire or the like, fpringing up 
 within it. And in the handling of this Subjed:, 
 
 A 2 I 
 
4 
 
 A Sermon on 
 I fliall offer thefe things to your confideration.' 
 
 I. TJ?dt it is (^od that keejys the City^ er the con^ 
 cern that God's Trovidence hath in the preferVatton 
 of Government y and all publick Societies j a?id this 
 Toint is i?nj)lied in the Text, 
 
 II. The infufjicicncy of all other means , or any 
 thing that men can do to preJerVe the public welfarey 
 unlejs God's TroVidence be pleafed to fuperintend and 
 keep it -J and this is fully exprejfed. Except the 
 Lord, e^c. 
 
 III. The great obligation incumbent upon m to 
 engage God's care to watch oyer the public by endea^ 
 Vourmg to make our jehes worthy ofjucb a keeper ; 
 atid this ^omt is inferred^ and it is that life which 
 we are to 7?iake of the TremiJJes, 
 
 u It is God who keeps the City, his Pro- 
 vidence is concerned in the prefervation of 
 Government, and all publick Societies. 
 
 As foon as God had by his Almighty Word 
 created the World , and made his eternal 
 Power, Wildom, and Goodnefs illuftrious, in 
 this mod auguft and beautiful Temple which 
 he eredled to his honour ,. although he flir- 
 xuke xv/ niflied it with its portion of Goods^ gave it fuf- 
 ficient a^blities to perform all the offices of 
 its nature ; yet he did not manumit it, and as 
 if he forefaw that he fliould be otherwife em- 
 ployed, or thatbufinefs would interrupt the 
 
 ilream 
 
«P/^/.CXXVlI. 1. y 
 
 ftream of his happinefi , did he refolve to 
 
 take no further care of it; but as he knew 
 
 that by the law of its nature it was dependant 
 
 upon him, lb did he always defign to reign 
 
 over it, to fuftain, and uphold it, and to make 
 
 his Name more glorious, and his Attributes 
 
 yet more illuftrious in his Government of it. 
 
 The continuance of all things as they mere from the i vcx. iii. 4. 
 
 beginning of the creation^ the regular motions of 
 
 the Heavens, the conftant returns of Summer 
 
 and Winter^ feed-time and harVeJl^ day and nighty in Gen. viii 12. 
 
 their proper lealons,- the alternate mutations of 
 
 bodies, and the fafety of the univerle, notwith- 
 
 ftanding the mutual oppofitions of contrary 
 
 material Principles, doth manifeft, that the 
 
 world is no more governed, then it was made 
 
 by chance, but that the Lord hath prepared /;/j.prai. dii.ip. 
 
 throne in the heaVens^ and that his Kingdom rtileth ^^^' ^'' 
 
 o\cr ally that he ruleth in Jacob^ atid unto the ends. 
 
 of the world. 
 
 Nor doth he only as the common Father of 
 the world, extend his care and providence to 
 his whole Creation, but he more particularly 
 exercifesit about the concerns of his rational 
 off-fpring. and yet more peculiarly about 
 them, as they are linked together into leveraL 
 Societies , and by the benefit of wholfome 
 Laws, prudently formed into various Govern-. 
 
 A 3 ments : : • 
 
^ A Sermon on 
 
 ments : for for thefe it is that the Text infinu- 
 ates God hath a more efpecial regard, For it is 
 he that keefeth the City^ that watcheth over the 
 Nation, and prelerves the publick weal of the 
 Kingdom, and that, both from the fecret ma- 
 chinations of inteftine Adverfaries, and from 
 the open violences of Foreign Enemies. 
 
 I . It is God who preferves the Governn^nt 
 from luffering any notable change, or didb- 
 lution, by the fecret machinations of home- 
 bred Adverfaries. 
 
 There never was, nor, confidering the pre- 
 fent conftitution of humane nature, probably 
 can be, (iich a Government contrived, and 
 managed, as will give content and fatisfadion 
 to all its Members ; for luppofe men could 
 agree to new^-model every Government, e- 
 ven after the Platonic or Eutop'tan order ; be- 
 cau(e a very few perlbns, in comparifon of 
 the reft, can but have a fliare in the Legifla- 
 tive or Executive power of it, therefore will 
 a great many in all likelihood be difquieted, 
 that Ibme (liare doth not fall to their Lot, who, 
 it may be, will think themfclves as able to go- 
 vern as they are, who ingrofs the Dominion to 
 themfelves. 
 
 For this very rcafon we know, that Corah 
 and his Company gainfaid Gods own conftitu- 
 tion- 
 
 Numb. xxvi. 
 II. 
 
^faLCXXVU.i. 
 
 tion ^ and it is natural for ambitious aftd a(pi- 
 ring men in fuch circumftances ( of whom 
 there is good ftore in every Kingdom ) partly 
 out of revenge, and partly out of hopes to rife 
 by a change, to oppoie themfelves to the efta- 
 blifhed Government ^ befides, thole advanta- 
 ges of honour, and reputation, and wealth, 
 which are the ufual rewards of them that bear 
 Rule, will but raife the envy and anger of ma- 
 ny men who will think themlelves hardly dealt 
 with, that they have not the fame opportunity 
 of being confiderable in the world 5 and this 
 will kindle in them great defires of change, 
 and make them watchful to apprehend any oc- 
 • cafion wherein they may effedt it. Add to 
 this, that oftentimes there are (6 many private 
 interefts driving on, contrary to that of the 
 gublick 5 and many mens tempers and dilpo- 
 litions are frequently Co oppofite to that which 
 is requifite to make them peaceable and Loyal 
 Subjects • and fometimes a Magiftrate may 
 do things that will be harfli and ungrateful to 
 the Subjed j men are naturally fo ready to 
 fhake off any yoke that is troublefome to 
 them, and very defirous to enjoy an unbound- 
 ed liberty ; many men are fo weary of that 
 which they have been accuftomed to enjoy, 
 and lb defirous of change and Novelty, fan- 
 cying 
 
ti A Sermon on 
 
 eying to themfelves great happinefs in ano- 
 ther turn : Thefe things being well confider- 
 ed, we cannot but lay , that it is God who keeps 
 the Ctty, from being ruined, by thele inward 
 caufesof diflolution; that it is an illuftrious 
 argument of the Providence of God, that Go- 
 vernment and Society is preferved in the 
 world, notwithftandingthat fo many men by 
 intereft, by inclination, by humour, are ftill 
 concerned to difturb it. 
 
 King DaVtd, who underftood very well the 
 art of Government, praifes God upon this ac- 
 count, and acknowledgeth this Salvation as 
 pfai.ixv. i. his own wonderful work: Traife waiteth for 
 
 ver. f. ^^^^^5 ^ ^^^5 ^'^ ^'°^' Thou [halt jJ?ew m won- 
 derful things in thy rlghteoufnejSj God of our 
 
 ^ver. 7. Salvation,- For thou Jlilleji the ragmg of the 
 
 SeaSy the noife of its Wayes^ and the madnefs of 
 the people , even of that people , who being 
 confidered under the former circumftances 
 leems as ungovernable as the vaft Ocean, and 
 yet are by the wife and powerful Providence 
 of God fo fecretly over- ruled, as to pay due 
 fubje<5tion to Government, or at leaft hindred 
 
 Kai. xciii. 5. fr^"^ giving any great difturbance to it ,. For 
 though the waves of the fea be mighty , yet the 
 Lord who dwelleth on high is mightier. 
 
 And this God doth, i.e. preferve Govern- 
 ment 
 
ment from diffoluciQa by iijteftin^ Adverfit- 
 ries, fonxetiiTjes by turning the Caunfels of tke 
 Confpirators into fooliflbnefs, as he did that 
 ofMttophel'^ and by making the hidden thinc^s 
 of daikneis be ftrangely brought to light, as 
 in the cale of the Towder-Tlot : And when a 
 Confpiracy is ripened into adual Rebellion, 
 he flops it . fometimcs by taking off the prin- 
 cipal perfon concerned in the Defe6}ion, as ia 
 the cafe of Jh/alom, of Sheba the Son of^ichri^ ^^m xx .^ 
 and of Wat Tyler j fometimes by diipoling the 
 minds of the people to return to their duty as 
 by David's meflige to the men of JuU, after zSan1.xix.f4. 
 the Rebellion of his Son ; and as was done by 
 an Apologue handibmly applied to the Com- 
 mons of ^}ne by Menenim Jgrifpa, 
 
 And as God doth by his Providence pre- 
 ferve Government from ruin by the fecret Ma- 
 chinations or open tumults of inteftine Ene- 
 mies : fb, 
 
 H. h is he alfo that preferves it from the 
 open Violences of forein Advcrfaries. 
 
 For God is in 1 peculiar manner ftyled in 
 Holy Writ the Lord of Hop, the fole Arbiter 
 of the fuccefs of War; it is he alone who fcat^ Pfti.ixviii.^o. 
 teretb the people who delight in tt . he that maketh'''' "''"" 
 yi?ayf to ceafe m all the world^ that hreaketh the bow, 
 mdknappetb tk /pear in /wider, and himteth the 
 
 S chariots 
 
I o -^ Sermon on 
 
 chariots in the fire : Ic is he that can put a hook 
 in the noie, and a bridle in the lips of a proud 
 and infolent Enemy, and can turn him back 
 by the way by i\hich he came. When the 
 
 ifa.xxxvii.i9. haughty King of yd^^W^boafted the extent of 
 his Conquefts, God tells him how it came to 
 pafs that his Arms had been fo prolpcrous • 
 
 sKin^sxix. Haft thou 7iot heard lonjr ago horn I ha'Ve done it, 
 
 ^^ ' and of ancient times that 1 haye formed it ^ Now haye 
 
 I brought it to pafs that thou jhouldejl he to lay ivaji 
 fenced cities into ruinom heaps. But when this 
 
 ^la. X.5. rod of. Qods anger J and i\\Q faff of his. mdigna- 
 tionj had done the work which God had ap- 
 pointed him , then did he punip the fruit of 
 
 V€r. 12; ther flout heart of the ^ng of Afjyria^ and the 
 glory of his high looks ^ and after a wonderful 
 manner delivered Jerw/^/e;« out of his hands. 
 
 And it iometimes has gracioufly pleafed Al- 
 mighty God to magnifie his power m the per- 
 iervation of a people when a potent Enemy- 
 h2ii been ready to devour them, and there has 
 appeared no probable humane way of eica-- 
 ping his fury. For when things feem to be de- 
 Iperate, all help has failed them, and fcarce 
 
 fiee.xxii. 14. hope is left behind, then JehoVah-jireh, ic is 
 Gods time of appearing with fiiccour, and in 
 the mount will the Lord he feen ^ then as the Tfal- 
 
 PW.X.14. ?y/iy? exprefles it, when the poor conmiitteth him- 
 
 felf 
 
T/aLCXXVllu u 
 
 felf unto hhn^ doth God take the matter into 
 his hand ^ for he is the helper of the friend- 
 Ms. 
 
 When one Nation becomes a fcourge to an- 
 other, rakes their fortrefles, vanquiflies their 
 powers, and treads them down as the mire in 
 the ftreets ^ though the Conqueror may be on- 
 ly driving on the ends of his own ambition, 
 malice, revenge and covetoulhefs, (for which 
 God will take a time to reckon with him, ) yet 
 doth he all this while carry on the great defign ifa. x. «j, 7- u] 
 of Gods Providence, and is only theminifter 
 of His vengeance, which He by him pours out 
 upon that people againft whom he is lent j and 
 in this execution he cannot go beyond the 
 CommifTion which God hath given him j He 
 puts bounds to the raging of the Sea, and to 
 the fury of men, and they cannot exceed thofe 
 terms which he hath let them. So then, that a 
 peoples Enemies do not prevail againft them, 
 or if they do prevail, that they do not make a 
 full end of them, and the confumption doth /zo^ver.at* 
 overflow in judgment^ is (olely to be afcribed to 
 the good Providence of God, which is the great 
 defence of a Nation : For it is the Lord who 
 keeps the city. 
 
 And the greatncfs of this bleffing, that God 
 fliould have fuch a Ipecial concern fot the pre^ 
 
 B z lervation 
 
12, .A Sermon on 
 
 fervation of pnblick Peace and Order , and 
 Government , and tfpecially from the evil 
 Machinations of inteftine Enemies, will ap- 
 pear by coniidering thele two particulars ^ and 
 which may pafs alio for fuch reafons of his 
 Providence, as may make the Wifdom of his 
 doings conipicuous to us. 
 
 1 . Becaule the world would aot be other- 
 wife tolerably habitable, if Gods Providence 
 did not watch over it, and preferve that Au- 
 thority in it which he had conferred on the 
 Magiilrate. We may as well imagin that a 
 Ship could live at Sea in a great tempefl:, when 
 it is toded among rocks and quicktands, and 
 wants a Pilot to manage her • as that Societies 
 made up of men of different inteiefts^ of di- 
 ftra6ted minds, of boifterous paffions and ex- 
 travagant humours, fhould yet flouriili and 
 be upheld in peace and fafety , if the great 
 Governour of the world did not oppofe hira- 
 fclf to thofe overflowings of ungodlinefi, and 
 took care to preferve that order which himfelf 
 had conftituted : If he by whom Kings reign, 
 did not fuftein and uphold Government, and 
 defend that Authority by his Providence which 
 he has derived to Magiftrates his Deputies in 
 admini firing the affairs of his natural King- 
 dom^ all Societies would fall in pieces, and 
 'J- confufion 
 
9/al.CXX.VlLi. ^y 
 
 confufiiaa and mifeiy would cover the face of 
 the earth. For how fliould Juftice be admi- 
 niftred, where the Magiflraces Authority is not 
 owned, where every mans will is the meai'ure 
 of right and wrong, and where in is accotindd 
 no duty to be obedient to Laws > How (hould 
 property be prelerved, where all inclofures ara^ 
 broken down, every mans right i^sinrvaded^ 
 and the diftinci^ions between fuperiors and iii«:I 
 feriors are confounded ? How flhould a King-^ 
 dom ftand, when the Pillars thereof are un^; 
 dermined, Religion is exploded, mutual Truft' 
 and Fidelity is derided, the offices of Charity 
 are negkdled,' and men let themfelves loofc to 
 all licentioufnels f But thus it would be, if 
 God fhould relax the reins of Government, 
 withdraw for a while his providential Care 
 and Goodnels, which mainteins and defends 
 it, and leave things to be ordered by theturbii-.- 
 lent and contrary humours of degenerate men. 
 Alas, ^vho could live, if God fliould do this^ if Numb, xxiv. 
 he fhould not reign as King, the flouds would '^' 
 lift up their waves, and rage horribly^ and no 
 humane power could be able to fay unto them , 
 Teace^ he flilL And therefore the bleffing muft Pfai. xciii.4,?, 
 needs be great, by which Order and Happinefs 
 are prefervcd amongft us, and the world be- - 
 comes an habitation fit for us. . , j><.: cm i^ 
 
 B 3 2. By 
 
1 4 J Sermon on 
 
 >2. By this means alfo all our ownflaidy, and 
 care, and induftry that is laid out upon the pre- 
 fervationof the publick is.notin vain, but ef- 
 fect thole ends to which fuch means are defign- 
 ed • for the work muft (iiccecd which God 
 hath profpered, when he keeps the city, the 
 watchman waketh to very good purpofe. And 
 therefore upon the confideration of this great 
 bleiCng, that Gods Providence watcheth over 
 a Nation for good, we are kept off from all 
 deipondency touching the iflue of our own la- 
 bours about the fame end ^ we are taught to 
 rely upon him who is All-fufficient, and en- 
 couraged to ule all rational means to preferve 
 our felves, becaufe God keeping us, they can- 
 not be in vain. So that being fecured of Gods 
 Providence, we have all imaginable afllirance 
 given us, that if we be intent upon the doing 
 of our duties for the prefervation of the pub- 
 lick, the Body Politick will be preierved in a 
 good Athletick frame and temper : For as God 
 doth not u(e to work miracles to preferve the 
 carelefs and the diflolute, who negledt the or- 
 dinary means of their fafety ; lb nor doth his 
 Providence ordinarily forfake them, who ufe 
 all the care that becomes them for the lecuring 
 of themfelves, and then refign themfelves to 
 the Divine will and plealure, 
 
 I 
 
ffaLCXXVllu 15 
 
 I fliould now pafs on to the (econd Particu- 
 lar, but chat it is fit that I flhould lay fomeching 
 in anfvver to an Obje(5tion, which will fpring 
 up in every ones mind upon his hearing of the 
 Premises. For if God thus keep the City, 
 that is, has fiich a care for Government, as has 
 been declared, then how comes it to pafs that 
 Government is fomecimes overturned by the 
 arms of a prolperous rabble, that a flourilhing 
 Nation is fomtimes brought to ruin by the evil 
 devices of Inteftine, and fometimes by the 
 invafioa of Foreicrn Enemies ? How comes 
 God to permit wickednels to poflels the place Ecci.iii. 16. 
 of judgment, and iniquity the place of righte- 
 oufnels ? all civil and facred rights to be in- 
 vaded, and nothing but confufion and defola- 
 tion to be fpread over a Nation. 
 
 For anfvver to which doubts it mufl: be con^ 
 fidered, That a Nation may by their fins for- 
 feit all the right it had to Gods providential 
 care and Procedlion over it 5 fo that he may in 
 jufticeleaveitto bepunifhtby the malice and 
 rage of its enemies, and ufethem as his rod, 
 to Icourge the wickednefs of a perverle andre^ 
 bellious people. That God has frequently ?^"'^''.-..'^*' 
 
 - r r 1111 ^ • Lev.xvni. 245 , 
 
 dealt thus with leveral publick Communities, ^5. 
 when their fins have been ripe for vengeance, 19!'^^^ ** 
 the Hiftpries of his dealings with feveral Nati- 6,^7 "fa* 
 
 ons 
 
 xvu. 
 
1 (5 A Sermon m 
 
 iChro.xxxvi.o^s fet dowa in th^ Holy Scripjtures, make 
 
 M, 17.^ ^.^ clearly evident. And that there is very good 
 
 41, 4^' 43,44. reafon that he ftill flhould do fo in the like ca- 
 
 le. ^' ' "' ^^'fes, that is, punifli a Nation (everely, when 
 
 ks fins reach heaven, and fomtimes blot it out 
 
 from under it, when it is paft all remedy, will 
 
 appear evident al(b to the Ibber confiderer of 
 
 theie following things : For, 
 
 I . Thefe dealings of God vindicate the ho- 
 nour of his Attributes before all men, and 
 give clear demonftration of his impartial Ju- 
 ilice and Providence to the world. It may be 
 the people over whom God extended his care, 
 and made them dwell at eafe, facrificed to their 
 own nety and burnt incenfe to their drag^ ascri- 
 bed their profperity to their oWn policies, and 
 thought that their Riccefs was the fole produd 
 of their own wifdom and induftry ^ or it may 
 be, they begun to thi4ik God fuch a one as 
 themfelves, that their profperity was an ap- 
 probation of their wickednels, that the relpite 
 • of judgment was the remiffion of their guilt, 
 and becaufe the Divine fentence was not exe- 
 cuted, therefore they were acquitted, andfk/V 
 Yjc^vm.iu hearts thereupon fully fet in them to do eVtl. 
 Thus thole Scoffer? whom St. Teter defcribed 
 ( 2 £■/?. ;. ) thought the evil day was far from 
 them, indeed fo far, as that it would never 
 
 over- 
 
Tfal.CXXyilu \7 
 
 overtake them, fince all things continued as 
 they always were, they ask. Where is Gods 
 promife of his coming to judgment ? It may be 
 the impunity of iiich a people does at length 
 become a fcandal to their neighbours, and they 
 begin to cry out, Wh"^ does the way of the wicked jet.xiiu 
 profper ^ Wherefore are they happy that deal Very 
 treacheroufly ^ And in thefe or the like ca(es, 
 it is but neceflary that God flhould convince 
 them and the world, by a Demonftration apo- 
 Jleriorij how much they were miftaken in their 
 notions of Him and his Providence j fince 
 now he means to aflert his own honour by ma- 
 king flich a people as notorious for their pu- 
 nifhments, as they had been infamous for their 
 crimes. For thus did God refolve to vindi- 
 cate himfelf and the former methods of his 
 Providence in the overthrow of the Egyptians^ 
 J will get 7tie honour ( faith he ) upon Pharaoh and Exod.xiv. 17, 
 upon all his hojl^ and the Egypttaans jh all know that ^^* 
 Ia??ithe Lordj Sec, 
 
 2. Kingdoms as fiich, are only capable of 
 being thus puniflhed by God in this life, in be- 
 ing bereaved of all thofe bleffings which make 
 them a happy and a flourifliing Nation. This 
 is the time of recompence to them ; the re- 
 wards or puniflhments of the other life being 
 there only to be meafijred out to every fingle 
 
 C perfon, 
 
1% A Sermon on 
 
 perfott, accorcling to the things that he has 
 done in cht body , whether it be good or 
 bad. 
 
 J . God makes public Judgments become 
 common Antidotes againft the poifon of wick- 
 ednefs, by disburthening the World of that hea- 
 vy load of incorrigible linners that opprefleth 
 it,-and making pofterity afraid of imitating their 
 vices, out of hopes of impunity, when they have 
 feen that fin in the end has become fo great 
 Deut.xxxii. a Teproach to a people, that it 7:?^ only brought 
 ^^' forth the po'tfon of dragons, and the cruel Venom of 
 
 itfps* The Ifraelites whom God had owned in 
 -Egypt ioY his own peculiar people, and delive- 
 red them thence, from the houfe of bondage, 
 with a mighty hand, and fo as to make his 
 name renowned among all the Nations, and 
 was carrying them through the Wildernels to- 
 wards the land of Promiie ; yet their frequent 
 rebellions againft God in the Wildernefsjmade 
 Heb. xi. 5. him fwear in his wrath ^ that they fmdd not enter into 
 hisrefi'^ and accordingly none of them did enter 
 Numb. xif .30. into Cdw^4?i, (ave Qdeb SinA Jofma : but God 
 made them fbjourn in the wildernefs forty 
 years, that thofe incorrigible finners might be 
 cut off, and a better generation of men might 
 be grown up, to poflefs the land which God 
 had provided for them. 
 
 Pub^ 
 
(.CXXVII. 1. ^pt 
 
 Public Affliftions are the laft Remedies^ 
 which Godufeth for the curing of public Ma- 
 ladies ; but when the methods of his Patience 
 fail, and he is weary with bearing, then the 
 nature of the diftempcr, and the ends of his 
 Government require, that he fhould lay th^ 
 ax to the root, and the fan to the floor, and 
 that he fhould burn up the chaff with uij-- 
 quenchable Fire. This account of Gods dealfi 
 ing with Judah doth the facred Hiftory give 
 us^ J?id the Lord God of their fathers Jent «?2fo achrcxxxn, 
 them by his mejjl u^ers, rtfiiig up betimes and foldings ^ 5' ^^' ''* 
 hecaufs he had cotnpajfion on his pco(>le and on his 
 dwelling-place : hut they mocked the mejjengers of 
 Gq4j and defpifed his words ^ and mtfujcd his pro- 
 phetSy until the wrath of the Lord arofe againjl his 
 people, till there was no remedy ^ therefore he brought 
 upon them the isjng of the Chaldees, <Sc€, 
 
 It is true, in all National Judgments, good 
 men oftentimes bear their fhare, as well as the 
 wicked j for they are all equally members of 
 the fame 'Body Tolittc^^nd therefore the fame di- 
 ftempei:s of State will affed: them both. But 
 this ftill makes a calamity become far the more 
 grievous to the Public , in that thofe men that 
 are the (alt of Society and keep it from putre^ 
 facStion , tholc that by the fervency of their 
 Prayers and the holinefs of their Lives kept 
 
 C 2 off 
 
zo A Sermon on ' 
 
 off Gods j udgmcnts for a long time • and when 
 the divine difpleafure begins to arife, do as 
 Mofes ftand in the gap, and mediate for the 
 people, that the whole Nation peridi not • 
 that thefe men are fwept away in a common 
 pfaLixxv, 4. calamity, that bear up the pillan of the earthy is 
 very inaiifpicious to the Public, and augments 
 their miferies. God would have favedvSoJow 
 for ten righteous, and it is for the fake of good 
 men (the Rabbins fay) that the world is pre- 
 fer ved J to fee them therefore perifb in the 
 ifa.ix. 12, 17. commoa fate is a fad inftance, that Gods anger 
 ^^' u not turned away^ but that his hand will be Jlretched 
 
 out ftill. 
 
 4 . National fins by a natural efficacy pro- 
 ducepublickmileries 5 fit and difpofe a State 
 Lev. xiv.44, for its diffolution. They are like the fretting le^ 
 *'^ projie in an houfe, which diffufes its venom 
 
 through every part of the building, and the 
 plague is not to be cured, but by rafing it to 
 the foundation. Thus fell thejewifli State by 
 the ^mans ^ thus did the Greek Empire lofe 
 its glory and fplendor, and Mahomet prevailedj 
 and thus the 'Britains ( faith ^ildas Sapiens ) 
 were lofl , when the Saxons invaded them. 
 And this every Nation tends to naturally, ac- 
 cording to fhe prevalency that Idlenefi and 
 Luxury, Pride and Intemperance and Fadtiouf!^ 
 Befi have over them. While 
 
TfaLCXXVlLu ±\ 
 
 " While States and Commonwealths have Bac«n, Adv. of 
 
 " been in their growth and rifing, Arts Milita- 
 " ry havcflourifliedj when they have been fet- 
 " tied and ftood at a height. Arts Liberal j and 
 " drawing to their declenfion and ruin, Arts 
 " Voluptuary. 
 
 And thus briefly I have endeavoured to give 
 fbme account, why, notwithftanding Gods 
 great care and concern for the prefervation of 
 Government, and public Society, yet a flou- 
 rifhing Nation may be fometimes ruined by 
 Rebels from within, or by the invafion of a 
 potent Enemy from without. 
 
 I come now to confider the iecond particu- 
 lar, and which is exprefled in the Text, i;/;^. 
 The In(ufficiency of all other means or any^ 
 thing that men can do to prelerve the public 
 Welfare, unkfs Gods Providence beplealed to 
 iliperintend and keep it : For except the Lord 
 hep the city J Sec. 
 
 And this Point, namely. That all that men can 
 do'))?ill?iot he able tofecure the fuhltck welfare^ un- 
 kfs God he on their fide J and keep it ^ ftands up- 
 on theie four following Reaibns. 
 
 Firft , Becaufe the over-ruling hand of 
 Gods Providence orders all the afFairs of the 
 world as it bed pleafes him j and this I think 
 is clear in that I have laid upon the firft par tir- 
 
 C 3 cular- 
 
 Learn. I.4.C.2. 
 p. 131. 
 
21 
 
 A Sermon on 
 cular • and if it be fo, then the confeqiKnce 
 of it mufl: be alfo evident, Vt;^. That the pub- 
 lic welfare cannot be preferved without his 
 blefling, by whofe guidance all things arc or-* 
 dered, without whofe concourfe nothing can 
 be eft'ededj upon whofe difpofal all fuccefs 
 dependeth. For how fliould we profper, if 
 God be not on our fide ? Are we ftronger than 
 he ? Can we wrefl: the Government out of his 
 ifa. ix. hand, by our policies out-wit the mighty Conn- 
 fellor, or weary him by refillance, to whom 
 pfai.ixU.ii. poller alone hel9?t^eth > Or if God be not for us, 
 can we think that he will not be againft us ^ 
 Do \Ve fuppofe that God will Hand neuter, an 
 unconcern d fpedator of all human affairs that 
 are reprefented upon the theatre of this world j 
 not caring who wins the prize, nor who be - 
 comes a prey to a powerful and cruel enemy ? 
 Is there no intereft but our own going on in the 
 world ? Has not God the great ends of his Wif- 
 dom, Juftice and Goodnefs to promote, the 
 glory of his Name and Attributes to fecure, by 
 his providential difpenfations ^ Yes of this we 
 ' may be well afliired, that God is abfolute and 
 iupreme in his authority, wile and righteous 
 in all his ways, and that he who made all 
 things by the word of his power, will rule and 
 govern them fo as to illuftrace his Glory, and 
 
 accom- 
 
accomplifii his ends by the power of his Provi^ 
 dence. 
 
 Secondly, All that men can do will not be 
 able to preferve the public welfare , unlets 
 God be pleafed to keep it j becaufe our under* 
 ftandings are too fhallow, our powers too lit- 
 tle, our lives too flhort and uncertain, to com- 
 pafs any confiderable dcfigns, or to do thoje 
 things that will lecure a Nation, without the 
 bleffingof Gods Providence. For, 
 
 ( I .) The wifelT: Politicians cannot certain- 
 ly forefee what things may rife in their way to 
 flop the attainment of their ends, fo cannot 
 tell what means to furniflh chemlelves with, 
 that may be able to remove thole obftacles. 
 Men cannot bring about their defigns, but by 
 means that are proper and adequate to them ^ 
 what means will be fb they cannot certainly 
 tell, unlefs they could alfo know what impe- 
 diments they muft remove, before they can 
 compals their ends : this cannot be known, 
 unleli they could forefee all thofe poffible acci- 
 dents, which may fiiddenly Ipring up contra- 
 ry to their defigns ■ but (uch forefight is beyondi 
 the iphere of a human intellecfl : The wife ft 
 man can butguefs probably in fbme things, he 
 may be to feek in many, and iris poflible that 
 he may be miflaken in all. A defign may go 
 
 on 
 
^4 
 
 A Sermon on 
 on. very glibly for fome time, when on a fud- 
 den foine iindifcernible accident arifes, which 
 mars the project , though very finely fpun, 
 flops the Politician in the midfl: of his career, 
 and then the wife are taken In their own craftinef^, 
 Machiayel obferves it of defar (Borgia (the baie 
 Son of Pope Alexander VI. whom for his Poli- 
 cy he propofes as a fit pattern for Princes,) that 
 he had confidered and forefeen all the conle- 
 quences that his Fathers fiidden death might 
 produce ; and accordingly was fb well prepa- 
 red for fuch an accident, that his Enemies, of 
 whom he had good ftore, fhould not be able 
 to do him any great damage upon it, or to in- 
 fluence the Conclave contrary to his interefts. 
 But he,as cunning as he was,did not forefee nor 
 provide againfl: that iudden accident which did 
 Fall out, and which was his ruin ,• for he did 
 not confider that himlelf might be fick, as he 
 was, when his Father died fiiddenly of that 
 very Poifon which they had both prepared for 
 them that they hated, and which v^as given to 
 themfelves by miftake ,• upon which account 
 he could not in that exigent look after his af- 
 fairs, but was forced to fliifc for his life, which 
 Job V. v. 11. he after loft unlamented. 7hu4 (zsElipha:^ 
 faith ) did God difappoint the devices of the crafty y 
 fo that their bands could not perform their enter^ 
 frife. From 
 
5y;^/. cxxvii. 1 . 15 
 
 From what fmall and contemptible begin- 
 nings have the greateft matters that could con- 
 cern the public rilen ! Upc-n what llender and 
 fecret hmges have the Eites of whole Nati- 
 ons turned ! Wlio would have thought that 
 Ma/aniello a poor limplc Fiflierman , fliould 
 have in a few davs time o;ained an abfolute un- 
 limited power over the City of Kai^les , and 
 caufed fuch revolutions in it, as fcarce any Hi- 
 llory can parallel ? And how wus it poffible 
 for the wileft Statefman to have foreleeUj and 
 to have been furniflied with means to have 
 prevented fuch an accident ? 
 
 God indeed can certainly forefee the moft 
 minute and remote contingencies that can pof- 
 fibly arife about any affair ^ he can bring about 
 his ends without means, or by very unlikely 
 ones 5 he ibmetimes chufes the foolijh things o/icor.i 27,2s. 
 the world to confound the wife^ the weak things of 
 the world to confound the things which are 7ni<rhty • 
 and the bafe things of the world and things ivhich are 
 defpifedy and things l^hich are not, to bring to jiou^ht 
 things that are. Thus did he baffle the counlel 
 of Ahitophel , which was accounted as wife as 2 sam.xvi.a^ 
 if a tnanjhould have enquired of the oracle of God^ ^^' ''^"• 
 with the worle counlel o( Hujhai. He made 
 Human minifter to the honour and advance- 
 ment of him whom he moil hated, Mordccal ; Efth. vi, vj,, 
 
 D and 
 
2.^. J' Sermon on 
 
 and afterwards ruin'd him with his own pro-' 
 jedl, and he was taken in the crafty wilynefs 
 that he had imagined. He at the lame time 
 delivered the Jews in captivity when they 
 were upon the brink of rum, even after they 
 had been devoted to it by ^hafnerHshAmihlf. 
 So great, fo efficacious is the Divine WiC 
 dom. 
 
 But now men are pofed with every difficul- 
 ty that arifeSj and even when they have gone 
 a great way toward their defign, and a little, 
 crofs unforeleen accident emerges, it puts them 
 to their wits end, and dafhes ail their hopes of 
 fucceis in a mom.ent : For malum ex qtiolibet de- 
 feflu is here alfo found true j if one Imk be but 
 bfoken in this chain of confequences, thedeii- 
 red Conclufion will never be inferred. 
 
 (2.) Qax powers are very little, our hands 
 are too weak to effe^^ all thofe things which 
 even our wifdom tells us are neceflary to be 
 done in order to the fecurity of the Public 
 Weal 5 and we muft be forced to venture much 
 of our affair in another bottom, and commit 
 our bufinefs to Inftruments, which can a(5l as 
 freely as our felves, and not only fo far as they 
 are influenced by us. We cannot fay to them, 
 as God does to the waters of the Sea, Hitherto 
 (h all ye come^ and no further : We cannot bound, 
 
 their 
 
their operations, for they a.re free and not na- 
 tural Agents ^ and being fo, they may levcral 
 ways Ipoil the faireft dtCiop^ we can poifibly 
 engage in. But admit our Inftriimentsfhould 
 prove wife and faithful, yet ftiU our powers 
 would be too little, unlcfs we could either fo 
 keep under our enemies, that they fliould not 
 be able to obftrudt our affairs ^ or fo to influ- 
 ence them, as to make them promote them* 
 For although neither the power nor the cun- 
 ning of our enemies fhould be equal to ours, 
 yet if their malice be great, that may make 
 them very vigilant to gain an opportunity, 
 wherein they may do moft prejudice to our af- 
 fairs. 
 
 God indeed can make his enemies (ervicea- 
 ble to his ends, he can make them do His bufi- 
 ncls^ when they think moft certainly that they 
 are driving on their own. When through en- 
 vy the Brethren of Jofeph fold him into Egy^t-^ 
 this they thought was an effedual courfe to 
 prove the vanity of his dreams, and to pre- 
 vent their falling down before him and wor- 
 fliipping him ^ w- hen loe by that very a(5tiori 
 God was making way for his exaltation to the 
 Government ot Egypt, and io for the certain 
 accomplilhment oi his dreams : and whert 
 through falfeaccufat ion he was caft into pri- 
 
 D 2 fon, 
 
2g, A Sermon on 
 
 fon, this was but one farther ftep towards his^ 
 Advancement. When JwJ^ betrayed, Ttlate 
 condemned, and the Jews crucified the Lord 
 of Life, every one of them was driving on 
 their feveral interefts ^ Jtidas^ that he might get 
 money ; Ttlate, left he fliould not fliew him- 
 felf a friend to Ce/ur, and that he might gain 
 the favour of the Jeips • the JewSy that they 
 might revenge themfelves upon him who had 
 prophefied evil againft them, and prevent the 
 %omans from coming and taking away their 
 Nation,upon the fcore of the common peoples 
 running after Jefm as a K^ng. 
 
 And yet God did not only blaft theie coun- 
 fels of the wicked, and made their execrable 
 villany fo far from promoting their feveral 
 ends, that it was theonly thing that defeated 
 them '^ ( for wx know what Judas got by the 
 thirty pieces the price of his Treafon ^ dilate 
 not long after loft Cdfars favour, and killed 
 himfelf in his banifhment; and the ^mans 
 within forty years after did come and took a- 
 way the JewiJJ? Nation, and they, once Gods 
 peculiar people, continue yet vagabonds upon 
 the face of the earth: ) God did not only I fay 
 defeat their feveral ends, by thole very a<5tions 
 which they expected would have fecured 
 them^ but, which is the thing I aim at, he did 
 
 acr 
 
^fal CXXVII. I . X9 
 
 accomplini his own great and glorious end by 
 the trealons, and confpiracies, and malice of 
 his bitter enemies ; an end worthy of God, to 
 draw the greateft good out of the greateft evil, 
 and by which he manifeftcd the glory of his 
 Attributes as clearly, as he did by the Creati- 
 on of the world : For by the death of his Son 
 did he deftroy the works of the Devil, bruife 
 the head of that old Serpent, his firft and great- 
 eft enemy • and fo accompliflied the Redemp- 
 tion of mankind. 
 
 But now to make the force and powers of 
 ones enemies the proper means of accomplifh- 
 ing his defigns, is the proregative of him alone 
 who is omnipotent ^ but unto man fuch power 
 is not granted, as to over- rule the adlions of 
 his enemies, and to make them in any fen (e be 
 fublervient to his ends ^ and then, how fliould 
 he, without Gods bleffing, be able to fecure 
 to a people their happinefs .^ But further, 
 
 (3O We are too weak and infuffieient to 
 com pals any confiderable defigns, or to give 
 any lafting fecurity to the Public, becaule of 
 the frailty and fliortnefs of our lives ; we can- 
 not fecure to our lelves one moments continu- 
 ance in our prefent ftation, then how fliould 
 we be able to fecure greater matters ^ We are 
 daily obnoxious to many cafualties which may 
 
 D } cut 
 
^ro ^ Soimn on 
 
 cut US ofFin the midft of our days and bufmefs . 
 which may furpri/e us unawares when we are 
 moft healthful and vigorous, when we are 
 within the profpedt of harbour, and about to 
 enjoy the fruit of our labours : Infomuch as 
 upon this account we cannot promile our 
 ^PrDv;xxvii. i. felves the life of one day, becaule we know not 
 what a day may bring forth. We are made up 
 and compounded of contrary principles, thac 
 are often jarring and claflhing among one ano- 
 ther, and threaten to us, that our abode can- 
 not be long in thefe frail Tabernacles, though 
 we fliould happily efcape all fadandfudden 
 cafualties- nay, though upon the account of our 
 happy and healthful conftitutions we might 
 hope to reach the ordinary age of man ^ yet do 
 our lives wholly depend upon the good plea- 
 fure of God, and he may require them when 
 he will, infomuch as when we attempt the per< 
 formance of any affair, wc can only lay, as 
 Chap. iv. 15. St. J^we^ tcachcth US, If the Lord will J ipe pall 
 liye^ and do this or that j but this we cannot pro- 
 mile, this we mufi: not build upon, without 
 a pious fubmiffion and an humble reference of 
 our felves and our affairs to the wife difpofal, 
 to the fovereign will of our great Governour, 
 for we are not our own • and therefore upon this 
 fcore of our dependent conditions, we cannot 
 
 accom- 
 
ffaLCXXVlli: J I 
 
 accomplifli any thing without his Bleffing 
 whofe we are^ and by whom we fubfift. And 
 yet after all, 
 
 ( 4. ) Though we were much wiler and 
 much more powerful than we are, and could 
 afTure our fclves of a longer and more fteady 
 continuance of our lives than we can j yet all 
 this would not do the buiinefs,the employment 
 would be ftiU too arduous to be undertaken,the 
 work too great to be performed by Mortals . 
 the greateft Monarch would be cruflhed under 
 the ruins of his own Government, unlefs God 
 upheld both him and n. !By me ( faith he ) 
 ^in^s reign j it is by Gods fpecial appointment 
 and delignation that Kings are his Vice-gcrents in 
 the world j it is by his peculiar care and orote- 
 dion that their authority is preferved , and 
 that their perfons are at any time fenced and 
 fecured, from the malicious defigns or the out- 
 ragious violences of wicked and unreafonable 
 men. The nature of Government is fuch, . 
 that it requires a Divine Wifdom, and an un- 
 controulable Power to fuftein it, and to main- 
 tein its interefts. 
 
 For he that can preferve it mud be able to 
 penetrate into the fecret counfels of fuch as 
 confederate againil it,- he mud not wait to 
 know caufes by their effects, for then he may 
 
 be. 
 
31 
 
 A Sermon on 
 be tofeek for fuch remedies, as are proper for 
 the curing of public diftempers, when the 
 opportunity of applying them is at hand ^ but 
 he muft fee the Te.mpeft afar off, whilft it 
 is wrapt up in its ieed and principle , and 
 may be covered ip'tth a mans hand. He muft 
 hold the reins of mens Paffions in his hands, 
 be able to flack their fury, and check their 
 impetuoufnels j know how to mix and com- 
 pound their Hopes and their Fears, their Love 
 and their Hatred, their Anger and their Jealou- 
 fies, fo as to make them refract and contemper 
 one another : fo he muft extrad the moft love- 
 reign prefervative of Government out of thofe 
 things w^hich w^ould be its greateft bane ,• and 
 that which in its own nature is apt to difturb, 
 muft be fo managed as that it may promote 
 and advance publick Peace and Security. 
 He that is ableto difcharge this Province, 
 pfdi.cxxi.4. muft neither flumbernor jlee^^ left the mifchief 
 that walketh in darknefs^ come in an hour 
 when it is not expected. He muft have an 
 univerfal influence over all thofe fecond caufes 
 whence arife great Dearths, contagious Sick- 
 neftes, violent Tempefts, fearfullnundationsj 
 all things w^herewith the life of man is nou- 
 rifhed, preferved and defended, muft be under 
 his diipofal 3 the Heavens above, and the 
 
 Earth 
 
(pfaLCXXyilx. 3Y 
 
 Earth benCcath, nay, the Winds and Seas , 
 which feem leaft capable of a Law, miift obey 
 him. 
 
 Finally, he that can manage this employ- 
 ment, miift, after a Nation has been bro- 
 ken to pieces by factions and civil difcord , 
 after it has been caft down to the loweft de- 
 gree of miiery, ferVants have ruled oVer it with ^^^- ^- ^•^* 
 a rod of iron, and there "ii?as none that did deliver 
 it out of their hands -^ he muft be able then to 
 refcue it from utter ruinc, to reunite the fliat- 
 tered pieces of it into one again, to give it a 
 Reftirre<Slion, and make the dry hones live ^to make ^^ek. xxxvH. 
 David his ferVant l\ing over ity and reftore it " 
 to its pnftine Glory and Liberty. 
 
 Sedition is commonly the work of mean 
 Varlets • a Majaniello and a Wat Tyler can give 
 fufficient difturbance to a lawful Government: 
 ^?ne was mofl: endangered by the 'Sellwn Ser- 
 Vilcy the mutiny of its Slaves ; for behold bow 
 great a matter a little fire kindleth : But to pre- 
 vent public mi{chiefs or redrefs them, to re- 
 ftore lawful Powers, to eftablifli and defend 
 our Princes as at the firft, and our Governours 
 as atthe beginning, This is indeed a great and 
 a noble undertaking. 
 
 Thele things the Patron, the Prefervcr, the 
 Saviour of a Nation muft do, and thefe he 
 
 E * only 
 
, A J Sermon on 
 
 only can do, who has infallible Wifdom, ir- 
 
 refiftable Power, fupreme Sovereignty over 
 
 the whole world ; who is intimateiy prefent 
 
 to every part of it, fills the whole heavens, 
 
 ifa. ix. Jitteth upon the circle of the earth ^ and doth whatfo- 
 
 eyer it pleajeth hinij in hedven and in earthy in the 
 
 pfai.cxxxv. e.Jeas and in all deep places. So that our help cometh 
 
 ftill from the Lord ivho made heaVen and earthy for 
 
 pfai. cxsi. it is the Lord tvho is our keeper 5 and except the 
 
 Lord keep the cif}', the watchman waketh hut in "Vain, 
 
 And therefore, 
 
 Thirdly, We fee the great obligation that is 
 incumbent upon us to engage Gods care to 
 watch over the Publick, by endeavouring to 
 make our (elves worthy of fuch a IQeper • and 
 the confideration of this is the life we are to - 
 make of the premiffes. 
 
 For by fome things that were difcourfed up- 
 on the firft particular, we might fee that a Na- 
 tion mi^ht be in fuch circumftances, that God 
 would not only refufe to watch over it for 
 Lev. xxvi. good , but he would fet his face a^ainfl it to de- 
 Deur.xxviii. ftfoy it, and to make it become an afonif?- 
 ment and a proverb among all Nations. For 
 God flees from the Tents of the wicked, he 
 knoweth the ungodly afar off, he will have no 
 intercourfe of Friendfhip with them, fhew no 
 zdis of kindnefs to them, but leave them to 
 perifii by their. own tranlgreffions. To 
 
faL cxxsni 1 . 3 J 
 
 To prevent this great evil, and flili to fecure 
 Gods protedion over us, let us put in pradice 
 that advice which the Prophet 7/dw/; gave to 
 his own Nation, IFafj you, ??iake you c/eauj put iia. i. is, i). 
 awcty the e'Vii of your doings from before mine eyes ; 
 ceafe to do eVtl^ learn to do wdl^ 6cc. And then, If 
 ye be thus obedient^ ye p? all eat the good of the land; ver. 19. 
 hut if ye rcfufe and rebel ^ ye fhall be devoured^ for 
 the mouth of the Lord hath fpoken k^ v. 2 o. 
 
 Now as there are lome great perlonal fins 
 which do more than others, wall the Confci- 
 ence, deftroy the clearnels, the tendernefs, the 
 peace of the Mind ^ and which baniflh the Ho- 
 ly Spirit from us, and caft us fpcedily out of 
 Gods presence : So may there be alio fome 
 great National fins which may quite break the 
 league of amity which has been between God 
 and a people 5 which may incenie him beyond 
 all patience,oblige him to become their enemy, 
 to give them a bill of divorce, and utterly to 
 forlake them ; and fuch are avowed Atheifin, 
 open general Profanenels, great abufe of Gods 
 Mercies,Contemptof his Word, murmurinq at 
 his Providences, mainteining Fa6tions as^ainft 
 his Government, llnthankfulnefs for Gods 
 Bleffings, perverting of Juftice, oppreffing of 
 the Poor, and the like • and inftances misht 
 be given how much woe thefe have wrought 
 
 E 2 to 
 
-^6 A Sermon on 
 
 to a people, where they have become Nation- 
 al, either by the general pradlice, or by the 
 Deut.Kvii. 12. practice of thofe in high and eminent place j 
 ch. Kix. 15. ^j. [^y ^j^^ impunity of the guilty, when evil is 
 
 not put away from a land by executing of 
 judgment upon the Tranfgreflbrs. 
 
 And therefore as we heartily defire that 
 publick Peace and Happinefs fliould flourifli 
 among us, it will concern every man, accor- 
 ding to the ftation which God has placed him 
 in, to avoid, difcountenance, iupprefs and pu- 
 niflh thofe wafting fins elpecially, which are 
 fo diredtJy levelled againft the honour of God, 
 and the fear of His Name, fhalll fay ? Nay, 
 againft the Majefty of the Prince, and the fafe- 
 ty of the people ,• which break up the founda- 
 tions of the earth, and let in a whole deluge, 
 of calamities into the world. 
 
 When God warns the Congregation oflfrael 
 to avoid all pollutions, he gives this reafon for 
 his injunction. For the Lord thy Godli^alketh in 
 -Deur.xxiii.14. a/;^ niidji of thy camp to deliver thee, therefore f^all 
 thy camp he holy^ that he fee no unclean thing in thee^ 
 and turn away from thee. And there are fome 
 pollutions which wil 1 defile a whole Land, not 
 only make God for fake it, but make it alfo 
 Ipue out the inhabitants thereof; when a peo- 
 ple grow impudent and incorrigible in their. 
 
 fins. 
 
TfaLCXXVlli. j;, 
 
 fins, then the fuw of their countenance doth wit- Lev.xviii 2;, 
 7ie/s againjl them^ they declare ihe'ir fin as Sodom ^ 
 and hide it not • then woe unto their fouls ^ for they 
 have regarded eVil unto themfebes^ faich the Pro- 
 phet. Therefore, if we would fecure Godsiu.iii.^. 
 prefence among us, and his care over us, we 
 mud put away our abominations from before 
 his eyes, and ceafe to do evil • we muft ?iot touch 2 cor. vi. ,7, 
 the unclean things and then / will be a Father unto '^' 
 youy Jaith the Lord Almighty, 
 
 And becaufe God hath diftinguiflied us as it 
 were, from the reft of the world, by the great- 
 nefs and multitude of his choiceft mercies,- 
 has fet up his kingdom among us, the Scepter 
 of righteoufnefs, by beftowing upon us his Ho- 
 ly Word and Ordinances, the means and ad- 
 vantages of Grace and Salvation, and the to- 
 kens of his fpecial prefence, having fo made 
 us, as St. Teter fpeaks, A^yal^ricflhoGd, aiEp.u.^. 
 holy nation, a peculiar people : Therefore, there 
 is a farther duty incumbent upon us, as we 
 would have the continuance of God and his 
 Bleffings among.1: us ; and that is, That we 
 fliould walk iporthy of the Vocation wherewith we areE^h.W, i, 3. 
 called, endeavouring to keep the unity of the fpir it 
 in the bond of peace. Our conVerfatton mujl be as it Phil. i. 27. 
 becometh the Gojpelof Chrtft 5 we muft walk worthy coi. i. xc. 
 of the Lord, unto all pleafmg, being fruitful in eVe^ 
 
 £ I ry 
 
2 8 A Sermon on 
 
 rygooi ipork ; For God expeds, and julHy, that 
 his vineyard fliould bring forth fruits aniwer- 
 able to all the care and charge wherewith it has 
 
 if4.v. 1-. 1,6. been fenced and cultivated • or elfe he ivill lay 
 it wajl^ mi command the clouds ^ that they ram no 
 rain upon it. In this cafe our Lord told the Jews 
 what ufagc they were to exped from God, and 
 what, by analogy of realbn , fliould be any 
 other peoples portion, that fhould do as they 
 
 Matt. xxi. 43. did. Therefore I Jay unto yoUj the Kjngdom of 
 God p?all he taken f'om you^ and given to a nation 
 bringing forth the fruits thereof. Which heavy 
 judgment may God avert from us ! and may 
 he ftill delight to dwell among us , to watch 
 -over us, and to ble(s us, (or Jefus Chrift his 
 fake, To whom, <8cc. 
 
 Dom. 5. poll Trin. Coll. 
 Grant ^ Lord, we befeech thee , that the courfe 
 of this world 7nay he fo peaceably ordered by thy 
 governance, that thy Qhurch may joyfully ferVe 
 thee in all godly quietnefs^ through Jefus Chnfi 
 our Lord. Amen. 
 
 F I :^CI ^- 
 
^SiM 
 
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