B09511:94
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.
V. Let us carefully Attend, Esteem, Support the Tabernacles of the Lord, and that will be the way for us comfortably to Enjoy our own. When David was Banished from his own House, his value for the House of God, was Recompensed ⟨p. 70⟩with a Return unto his own. Would we never be Banished at all, out of our Houses? Let us value the House of God above our own; and let us Build up His House, Lest He Burn down ours. Would we have many Days in our Tabernacles? Let us then heartily say, as in Psal. 84.1.10. How Amiable are thy Tabernacles, O Lord of Hosts? A Day there is better than a thousand elsewhere. Would we have the Love and the Eye of God upon our Habitations? Let us then heartily say, as in Psal 26.8. Lord, I have Loved the Habitation of thy House, and the place where thy Honour dwells. The Jews give thi•, as the Definition of a Bad Neighbour: A Bad Neighbour is one who dwells in a Town, where there is a Synagogue, and never comes unto the Synagogue. Truly, that person, who comes not unto the Houses of God, in the Town, is a Bad Neighbour; and our own Houses may fare the worse for having such a Bad Neighbour near unto them. They plead perhaps, That they have not Clothes good enough. But you that are their Friends, I pray, ask them, whether they had not better come to the House of God, with ⟨p. 71⟩mean Clothes, than Loose the Garments of Salvation, which are here to be put upon their Souls. Ask them, whether they must not shortly be Shrouded in a Winding Sheet, and then they will mourn at the Last, that ever mean Clothes were their Excuse for not coming to the House of God. If they profanely tell you, They stay at Home to Read a Chapter in Job, Turn 'em to a Chapter in Job, and that mark of a Godly man, in Job 23 12. I have Esteemed the words of His mouth more than my necessary Food. Briefly, It is the Church of God, that is the House of God. Now, Let the Church of God, receive all possible Regard and Kindness from you▪ Upon this Encouragement, you cannot Show so much Respect unto the House of God, but God will show more to yours.