God's call to England, for thankfulness after gracious deliverances

What if their Counsels shall not have acceptance? What if their advice may seem unsafe, and others must needs be chosen? Will not the Enemies of our Nation be working all this while? Will not our Foes be contriving and hastening our ruin, ere we have counsel to prevent it? Would not this be a heavy ⟨p. 149⟩Judgment? And may not this be feared by us, who have seen how hard it is to give acceptable counsel in these difficult and dangerous times?

What if their Counsels shall not have acceptance? What if their advice may seem unsafe, and others must needs be chosen? Will not the Enemies of our Nation be working all this while? Will not our Foes be contriving and hastening our ruine, ere we have counsel to prevent it? Would not this be a heavy ⟨p. 149⟩Judgment? And may not this be feared by us, who have seen how hard it is to give acceptable counsel in these difficult and dangerous times?

What if the Lord should do to us, as to the Counsellors of a people of old, Isai. 19.14. He mingled a spirit of perverseness in the midst of them: Hence they became as a drunken man that staggereth in his vomit. They staggered about, were always unfixed, ever unstable, but reeled this way and that way, not knowing what to do, or where to go. Should this Spirit of division be mingled with ours, what shall we find but the breach made wider, the distress made greater? Private animosities would be the destruction of public advantages: The Blessing that hath been promised to the godly, hath been wanting to Councillors in our age, Psal. 1.3. Whatsoever he doth shall prosper. But hath not a miscarrying Womb, and dry Breasts, been the Curse of the Lord upon us?

What if the Lord should do to us, as to the Counsellors of a people of old,