N00216:26
A sermon preached upon Ezek. 22. 30, 31. Occasioned by the death of the…
A sermon preached upon Ezek. 22. 30, 31. Occasioned by the death of the much honoured John Leveret Esq; governor of the colony of the Massachusetts. N-E. 63. / By S.W. Teacher of the South Church in Boston.A sermon preached upon Ezek. 22. 30, 31. Occasioned by the death of the much honoured John Leveret Esq; governour of the colony of the Massachusets. N-E. 63. / By S.W. Teacher of the South Church in Boston.
Boston: printed by John Foster, 1679
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.
2. What is the Gap in the hedge, and how it is made?
Answ. A Gap is properly a breach which is made in a wall or Fence, whereby it is laid open, or exposed unto Inroads. Now this Gap which is under consideration, is a way that is opened to let in the Judgements of God upon a people, which could find no way in as long as the Hedge was kept up, & this is done when God is by the sins of his people provoked to profane his Covenant, and suspend his protecting providence which was their safety, so that either man may be said to make a Gap, or else it may be said of God that he doth it.
Answ. A Gap is properly a breach which is made in a wall or Fence, whereby it is laid open, or exposed unto Inroads. Now this Gap which is under consideration, is a way that is opened to let in the Judgements of God upon a people, which could find no way in as long as the Hedg was kept up, & this is done when God is by the sins of his people provoked to prophane his Covenant, and suspend his protecting providence which was their safety, so that either man may be said to make a Gap, or else it may be said of God that he doth it.
1. Man is said to make the Gap when he pollutes Gods holy Covenant: a people in visible Covenant stand upon their good behaviour, as they carry it so they may expect it shall go with them; Isai. 1. 19, 20. If ye be willing and obedient ye shall eat the fruit of the Land, &c. God hath promised that as long as they do well, it shall go well with them: hence therefore when a people depart from the Rules of obedience, and violate their Oath given unto God, then they give God advantage to do them harm; they clear him of his Oath and Promise: nay because every visible Church is a spot of Emmanuel's Land, which he hath taken up for himself, and fenced in for his own use, therefore Apostasy makes it a polluted Land, and this is greatly provoking to a holy God: now therefore God is no longer held under obligation to protect and take any further care for them; and that is a very great Gap, when a people through provocation, lay themselves […] & open to divine displeasure.