The present state of New-England. Considered in a discourse on the necessities and advantages…

It had been both presumptuous and Injurious to have Exhorted Es•ther unto doing so, if it had not been a Duty altogether indispensable. The Blessed God, for most wise and great Ends, permits Times of Distress and Danger to come upon His people. That His Attributes may be Magnified, and that both His and Their Adversaries may be prepared for the Vengeance, which belongs unto them, Therefore 'tis that the most High brings His People sometimes into most amazing Exigencies; 'tis for these causes, that they not rarely fall into such Times of Distress and Danger, that like them in the Days of Esther, they Lie mourning and weeping and wailing in Sackcloth and Ashes, before the Lord; and they see themselves no where but upon the prodigious ⟨p. 10⟩precipices of Ruins hardly to b• avoided.

It had been both presumptuous and Injuricus to have Exhorted Es•ther unto doing so, if it had not been a Duty altogether indispensable. The Blessed God, for most wise and great Ends, permits Times of Distress and Danger to come upon His people. That His Attributes may be Magnified, and that both His and Their Adversaries may be prepared for the Vengeance, which belongs unto them, Therefore 'tis that the most High brings His People sometimes into most amazing Exigencies; 'tis for these causes, that they not rarely fall into such Times of Distress and Danger, that like them in the Days of Esther, they Ly mourning and weeping and wailing in Sackcloth and Ashes, before the Lord; and they see themselves no where but upon the prodigious ⟨p. 10⟩praecipices of Ruines hardly to b• avoided.

In such a condition of Affairs (which is too much our own Condition) something must be done; Attempts must be made for the Relief and Rescue, of the People so likely to be cut off. Tho' it becomes us to, Stand still, and see the Salvation of God, I do not know that we are to sit still, without the use of Meas under our Discouragements. But these Attempts can't be made without Ventures in them. 'Tis as possible they may miscarry, as that they may be successful. However, we must et venture hard, and Venture far, yea, and Venture All, to serve the People of God, in their Distress and Danger. If at THIS TIME thou altogether forbear, and refrain, the doing of what may be serviceable to the Distressed […] with an Holy Terror the Doom […] Omission, Thou and […].