B09511:61
The Bostonian Ebenezer. Some historical remarks, on the state of Boston, the chief town…
The Bostonian Ebenezer. Some historical remarks, on the state of Boston, the chief town of New England, and of English America. With some, agreeable methods, for preserving and promoting, the good state of that, as well as any other town, in the like circumstances. / Humbly offered, by a native of Boston.
Boston: printed by B. Green & J. Allen for Samuel Phillips, 1698
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
Sensible of these Things, we shall not count it Improper, to bestow a brief Discourse, upon the Methods, which we are, as Christians, to take for the Comfortable Preservation of our Houses; especially, now the Season of the year advances, wherein there are the most pungent Invitations, for such Methods to be considered.
Behold then the Great Method, for the secure Enjoyment of our Tabernacles, which the Oracles of God have directed us unto: It is, The putting away Iniquity far from our Tabernacles.
That Perfect and Upright man, Job, had this among the Heavy Trials befalling of him, That he Lost his House: Now under this Trial, one of his Friends gives him this Advice: That he would by Acquaintance with God, and Repentance of Sin, Endeavour, to answer the Expectations of Heaven concerning him. To Encourage him hereunto, here is this Blessing promised, Thou shalt be Built up: q. d. Thou shalt then have thy House Repaired, without the fear of Loosing it any more.
The Clause which falls under our more particular Notice is that; Thou shalt put away Iniquity, far from thy Tabernacles: which is here mentioned, as the Effect of Returning to the Almighty. Now, by Iniquity, we may understand, either the Practice of Iniquity, or the Punishment of Iniquity. Take it for the Practice of Iniquity, and then the sense runs thus; Manifest thy Returning to the Almighty, by thy not Suffering of any Iniquity in thy Tabernacles. Take it for the punishment of Iniquity, and then the sense runs thus; By Returning to the Almighty thou wilt Save thy Tabernacles, from such Ruins as will come upon them, if thou continue in Iniquity. Take it which way you will, there is this Doctrine in it.