These beleaguer our Walls, and are as so many Canaanites always rising up in rebellion against us. But now on the contrary, Repentance and Reformation repairs and upholds Kingdoms and Nations: this is their Fortress and Tower of defence; their Munition, Armour, and Wall of Brass to defend them. Righteousness ⟨image 4⟩exalteth a Nation, but sin is a reproach to any People. 1The Lord in mercy ruinate our sins, and not the Nation! the same Lord work a National Reformation, and make you his Instruments in this great work! Much hath been done by you this way already (which is acknowledged in this ensuing discourse, with great thankfulness) The Lord enable you to perfect what you have begun. He that is the Finisher of our faith, finish this much-desired Reformation! It is very observable, that when God raised up Magistrates, such as Nehemiah, Zerubbabel, and others, to pity Zion that lay in the dust, and to repair her breaches: at the same time he raised up Prophets also, such as Haggai, Zechariah, and others, to strengthen the hands of the Magistrates, and to encourage them in so noble a service: and therefore it is expressly said.Then the Prophets, 2Haggai and Zechariah prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the Name of the God of Israel, even unto them. Then (and not before) rose up Zerubbabel and Jeshua, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem; and ⟨image 4⟩with them were the Prophets of God helping them. And Ezra 6.14. The Elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the Prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo; and they builded and finished it, according to the Commandment of the God of Israel, &c. By both these Texts it appears, that the Magistrates began and finished the reparations of Gods House, by the help of the Prophets of God. Suffer me, therefore (as divers others have done before) the unworthiest of all Gods Ministers, according to my duty and place, to beseech and exhort you to the consummation of those blessed good things which you have begun to do for the Church of God in England. And the God of all blessings, bless you and yours.
These beleaguer our Walls, and are as so many Canaanites alwayes rising up in rebellion against us. But now on the contrary, Repentance and Reformation repairs and upholds Kingdoms and Nations: this is their Fortresse and Tower of defense; their Munition, Armour, and Wall of Brasse to defend them. Righteousnesse ⟨image 4⟩exalteth a Nation, but sinne is a reproach to any People. 1The Lord in mercy ruinate our sinnes, and not the Nation! the same Lord worke a Nationall Reformation, and make you his Instruments in this great work! Much hath been done by you this way already (which is acknowledged in this ensuing discourse, with great thankfulnesse) The Lord enable you to perfect what you have begun. He that is the Finisher of our faith, finish this much-desired Reformation! It is very observable, that when God raised up Magistrates, such as Nehemiah, Zerubbabel, and others, to pity Sion that lay in the dust, and to repair her breaches: at the same time he raised up Prophets also, such as Haggai, Zechariah, and others, to strengthen the hands of the Magistrates, and to encourage them in so noble a service: and therefore it is expresly said.Then the Prophets, 2Haggai and Zechariah prophesied unto the Iews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the Name of the God of Israel, even unto them. Then (and not before) rose up Zerubbabel and Jeshua, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem; and ⟨image 4⟩with them were the Prophets of God helping them. And Ezra 6.14. The Elders of the Iews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the Prophet, and Zechariah the sonne of Iddo; and they builded and finished it, according to the Commandment of the God of Israel, &c. By both these Texts it appears, that the Magistrates began and finished the reparations of Gods House, by the help of the Prophets of God. Suffer me, therefore (as divers others have done before) the unworthiest of all Gods Ministers, according to my duty and place, to beseech and exhort you to the consummation of those blessed good things which you have begun to do for the Church of God in England. And the God of all blessings, blesse you and yours.
- 1Prov. 14 34.
- 2Ezra 5.1.
