A47528:133
God acknowledged, or, The true interest of the nation and all that fear God…
God acknowledged, or, The true interest of the nation and all that fear God opened in a sermon preached December the 11th, 1695 : being the day appointed by the king for public prayer and humiliation / by Benjamin Keach.God acknowledged, or, The true interest of the nation and all that fear God opened in a sermon preached December the 11th, 1695 : being the day appointed by the king for publick prayer and humiliation / by Benjamin Keach.
London: printed for William Marshal, 1696
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The Plough-man ploughs in vain; the Trades-man buys and sells, and Trades in vain; the Merchant and Mariners venture to Sea in vain; the Physician prescribes Medicines in vain; nay, Magistrates rule in vain, and Ministers Preach in vain, and the People hear in vain; if God denies Success, or prospereth them not: In vain do men rise up early, and sit up late, and eat the bread of Carefulness; if God doth not bless the labour of their, Hands; ⟨p. 28⟩Behold, Is it not of the Lord of Hosts, that the people shall labour in the very fire, and the People shall weary themselves for very vanity? Hab. 2. 13. 'Tis not the Care of the Husband-man to wait for the proper Season to Sow his Seed, nor the Industry of the Trader, nor the Skill of the Physician, nor the Wisdom and Policy of the States-man, nor the Learning of the Gospel Minister that will avail them, if God do not succeed them: Many think by their Skill, by their Parts, by their Policy, and by their Learning, to do mighty things; when, alas! they see themselves suddenly blasted […] a secret way, by the Hand of God, and all their Devices brought to naught; Men of small Parts and Learning, God being with them, many times wonderfully prosper; when Men of great Parts, Learning, and Wisdom, are confounded, because they acknowledge not the Lord, nor seek to him; By strength no man shall prevail: O! therefore, ye the Sons of the Mighty, acknowledge God, and lean not to your own Understanding.
The Plow-man plows in vain; the Trades-man buys and sells, and Trades in vain; the Merchant and Mariners venter to Sea in vain; the Physician prescribes Medicines in vain; nay, Magistrates rule in vain, and Ministers Preach in vain, and the People hear in vain; if God denies Success, or prospereth them not: In vain do men rise up early, and sit up late, and eat the bread of Carefulness; if God doth not bless the labour of their, Hands; ⟨p. 28⟩Behold, Is it not of the Lord of Hosts, that the people shall labour in the very fire, and the People shall weary themselves for very vanity? Hab. 2. 13. 'Tis not the Care of the Husband-man to wait for the proper Season to Sow his Seed, nor the Industry of the Trader, nor the Skill of the Physician, nor the Wisdom and Policy of the States-man, nor the Learning of the Gospel Minister that will avail them, if God do not succeed them: Many think by their Skill, by their Parts, by their Policy, and by their Learning, to do mighty things; when, alas! they see themselves suddenly blasted a secret way, by the Hand of God, and all their Devices brought to naught; Men of small Parts and Learning, God being with them, many times wonderfully prosper; when Men of great Parts, Learning, and Wisdom, are confounded, because they acknowledge not the Lord, nor seek to him; By strength no man shall prevail: O! therefore, ye the Sons of the Mighty, acknowledge God, and lean not to your own Understanding.