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

After some years contending, when the Lord had begun to give us deliverance by breaking the power of the enemy, at least in this nation, besides those bitter divisions ⟨p. 15⟩that fell out among the people of God themselves, and the backsliding of some, to the cause and principles they had opposed, this evil was also found rising again amongst us; slighting, blaspheming, contemning under several pretences, of the Spirit and presence of Christ in and with his Saints: You know what ensued; what shakings, what revolutions, with new wars, bloodshed, and desolation, over the three Nations. And give me leave to remember you as one that had opportunity to make observations of the passages of providence in those days, in all the three Nations, in the times of our greatest hazards, give me leave I say, to remember you, that the public declarations of those employed in the affairs of this Nation, in the face of the enemies, their addresses unto God among themselves, their prayers night and day, their private discourses one with another, were, that the preservation of the interest of Christ in and with his people was the great thing that lay in their eyes; and that if it were not so, they desired that God would stop them in their way, yea rather cause their carcasses to fall in the high places of the field, then to prosper them in that which should be contrary thereunto: and we know what ensued. How we have used our mercies is another matter: this was the Principle that prevailed with God and man.

After some years contending, when the Lord had begun to give us deliverance by breaking the power of the enemy, at least in this nation, besides those bitter divisions ⟨p. 15⟩that fell out among the people of God themselves, and the backsliding of some, to the cause and principles they had opposed, this evil was also found rising again amongst us; slighting, blaspheming, contemning under several pretences, of the Spirit and presence of Christ in and with his Saints: You know what ensued; what shakings, what revolutions, with new wars, bloodshed, and desolation, over the three Nations. And give me leave to remember you as one that had opportunity to make observations of the passages of providence in those dayes, in all the three Nations, in the times of our greatest hazards, give me leave I say, to remember you, that the publick declarations of those imployed in the affaires of this Nation, in the face of the enemies, their addresses unto God among themselves, their prayers night and day, their private discourses one with another, were, that the preservation of the interest of Christ in and with his people was the great thing that lay in their eyes; and that if it were not so, they desired that God would stop them in their way, yea rather cause their carcases to fall in the high places of the field, then to prosper them in that which should be contrary thereunto: and we know what ensued. How we have used our mercies is another matter: this was the Principle that prevailed with God and man.