The glory and interest of nations professing the Gospel preached at a private fast,…

It were easy to manifest that in all our late Revolutions we have turned on this hinge. According as the presence of Christ with his people, in the power of his spirit hath received entertainment in these nations, so hath our state ⟨p. 14⟩and condition been. For many years before the beginning of these troubles the Land had been full of oppression, I mean in respect to the people of God. Poverty, imprisonment, dangers, banishment, reproaches were their portion. God was long patient; at length the height of their Adversaries came to this, that they set not themselves so much against their persons or ways, as against the spirit of Christ in and with them: that was made their reproach, that the by-word wherewith they were despised in the mouths of their adversaries, and the profane multitude: when things were come to this, that the very presence of Christ with his people, was made the direct object of the hatred of men, the Lord could bear it no longer; but sware by himself, that time should be given them no more: in this very house he raised up Saviours and deliverers on mount Zion to judge the mount of Edom; and how did he carry on his work, not by might, nor by power, but by the spirit of the Lord of hosts: as Zac. 4. 6. Even by that very spirit which had been reviled and despised. Give me leave to say, the work of judging this nation was carried on by the presence of the spirit of Christ with his in faith and prayer: it was not by prudence of counsels, or strength of Armies above that of our enemies, that we prevailed, but by faith and prayer; and if any one be otherwise minded, I leave him for his resolution to the judgement of the great day, when all transactions shall be called over again: The Adversaries themselves I am sure acknowledged it, when they openly professed, that there was nothing left for them to overcome, or to overcome them, but the prayers of the fanatic Crew.

It were easy to manifest that in all our late Revolutions we have turned on this hinge. According as the presence of Christ with his people, in the power of his spirit hath received entertainment in these nations, so hath our state ⟨p. 14⟩and condition been. For many yeers before the begining of these troubles the Land had been full of oppression, I mean in respect to the people of God. Poverty, imprisonment, dangers, banishment, reproaches were their portion. God was long patient; at length the heighth of their Adversaries came to this, that they set not themselves so much against their persons or wayes, as against the spirit of Christ in and with them: that was made their reproach, that the by-word wherwith they were despised in the mouthes of their adversaries, and the prophane multitude: when things were come to this, that the very presence of Christ with his people, was made the direct object of the hatred of men, the Lord could bear it no longer; but sware by himself, that time should be given them no more: in this very house he raised up Saviours and deliverers on mount Sion to judge the mount of Edom; and how did he carry on his work, not by might, nor by power, but by the spirit of the Lord of hosts: as