We have heard also how terrible the Lord hath been in his doings towards our Country men and Brethren in other parts of the World. Not to speak of the present state of bleeding Virginia, what an awful providence was that which happened in Barbados in August last, when a Plantation there, was visited with thunder, and with great noise, and with a storm and tempest, and flame of devouring fire, so that in a few hours a considerable town ⟨image ?⟩was brought into ruinous heaps, The Lord give unto that Island Grace, duly to consider of it, and to sin no more lest a worse thing come unto them. And how awful was the hand of God in September last, when a fire brake forth in a famous town in the heart of England (North-Hampton by name) and in about the space of eight hours, consumed the whole Town, that very few houses were left standing, and the Inhabitants many of them, saved nothing but the clothes on their backs. Now if we that hear of these things, fear God and receive instruction, our dwellings shall not be cut off, but if we be secure and unaffected with the divine Dispensations, how can we think that the worst is past? The Lord can easily punish us by the same Instruments again, if we go on to provoke him. Yea if the power and good providence of God prevent it not, it will be so. Many of these Heathen that have of late submitted themselves, are treacherous and bloody. And the Indians that have been helpful in this War, will be apt to grow insolent upon conceiting, that we could not have subdued our enemies if it had not been for them; and it will be a great mercy if rude ungoverned English do not ere long scandalize and exasperate them. Or if none of these things should be, God hath a thousand ways to punish us, which we cannot think of. Why then should carnal security grow upon us? When some said unto the holy Prophet, Watchman what of the night? Watchman what of the night? He replied, The morning cometh and also night. Even so, albeit at present, a comfortable Morning is dawned upon us, it concerns us to improve it well, otherwise we shall have cause to think on the other words also the night. Only it must be remembered that things of this nature, (all promises and threatenings respecting temporal mercies or Judgments are so) are to be understood conditionally, according to that which the Lord expresseth, Jer. 18 7, 8, 9, 10.
We have heard also how terrible the Lord hath been in his doings towards our Country men and Brethren in other parts of the World. Not to speak of the present state of bleeding Virginia, what an awfull providence was that which hapned in Barbados in August last, when a Plantation there, was visited with thunder, and with great noise, and with a storm and tempest, and flame of devouring fire, so that in a few hours a considerable town ⟨image ?⟩was brought into ruinous heaps, The Lord give unto that Island Grace, duly to consider of it, and to sin no more lest a worse thing come unto them. And how awfull was the hand of God in September last, when a fire brake forth in a famous town in the heart of England (North-Hampton by name) and in about the space of eight hours, consumed the whole Town, that very few houses were left standing, and the Inhabitants many of them, saved nothing but the cloathes on their backs. Now if we that hear of these things, fear God and receive instruction, our dwellings shall not be cut off, but if we be secure and unaffected with the divine Dispensations, how can we think that the worst is past? The Lord can easily punish us by the same Instruments again, if we go on to provoke him. Yea if the power and good providence of God prevent it not, it will be so. Many of these Heathen that have of late submitted themselves, are treacherous and blouay. And the Indians that have been helpfull in this War, will be apt to grow insolent upon conceiting, that we could not have subdued our enemyes if it had not been for them; and it will be a great mercy if rude ungoverned English do not ere long scandalize and exasperate them. Or if none of these things should be, God hath a thousand wayes to punish us, which we cannot think of. Why then should carnal security grow upon us? When some said unto the holy Prophet, Watchman what of the night? Watchman what of the night? He replyed, The morning cometh and also night. Even so, albeit at present, a comfortable Morning is dawned upon us, it concerns us to improve it well, otherwise we shall have cause to think on the other words also the night. Only it must be remembred that things of this nature, (all promises and threatnings respecting temporal mercies or Judgments are so) are to be understood conditionally, according to that which the Lord expresseth, Jer. 18 7, 8, 9, 10.
