Several discourses tending to promote peace & holiness among Christians to which are added,…

APPLICATION.

Use 1. Let us seek to God by earnest Prayer, when any such matter is in hand. Marriages, we say, are made in Heaven before they are made on Earth. `Pagans, before the awe of Religion was extinguished, would begin with their Gods in any weighty Enterprise. A Jove principium, was an honest Principle among the Heathens. Laban consults with his Teraphim; Balak sendeth for Balaam to give him Counsel. Heathens had their Sibyls and Oracles at Delphos. So far as any Nation was touched with a sense of a Divine Power, they would never venture ⟨p. 87⟩upon any weighty thing, without asking the Leave or the Blessing of what they supposed to be God. So for God's Children it was their constant practice, they du•st not resolve upon any course, till they had asked counsel of God. David always ran to the Oracle of the Ephod; Shall I go up to Hebron? Jacob in his journey, would neither go to Laban, nor come from him, without a Warrant. Jehoshaphat, when the business of Ramoth Gilead was afoot, doth not lead forth the Captains of the Army, but he sends for the Prophets of the Lord; 1 Kings 22. 45. Enquire, I pray thee, of the World of the Lord this day. So, Judg. 1•1. Who shall go up and fight against the Canaanites? It is a contempt of God, and a kind of laying him aside, when we dare undertake any thing without his Leave, Counsel, and Blessing; and these are the things we are to seek in Prayer.

Vse 1. Let us seek to God by earnest Prayer, when any such matter is in hand. Marriages, we say, are made in Heaven b•fore they are made on Earth. `Pagans, before the awe of Religion was extinguished, would begin with their Gods in any weighty Enterprize. A Iove principium, was an honest Principle among the Heathens. Laban consults with his Teraphim; Balak sendeth for Balaam to give him Counsel. Heathens had their Sybills and Oracles at Delphos. So far as any Nation was touched with a sense of a Divine Power, they would never venture