The various and marvellous Dispensations of the Divine Providence, towards the Children of men, are in this Elegant Psalm admirably set before us. Among those Dispensations, there is a particular mark set upon this, That the God of Heaven Turns a Fruitful Land into Barrenness, for the Wickedness of them which dwell therein; & though men have Sown Fields there and have multiplied greatly, yet they are again Diminished, & brought Low through Oppression, Affliction, and Sorrow. Of such Dispensations, is this passage to be understood, as a Question, Who is wise, and will observe these things? But if you will rather take it ⟨p. 203⟩as a Sentence, it still comes to the same sense, Whose is wise, will oserv• these Things. And the French Version very Expressively intimates the Design, as well as the Event of this Observation; That so they may consider the Favours of the Lord. No Less than Ten years have Rolled away, since we have been plunged into the Distresses of a WAR, with a Barbarous Enemy. In this WAR, we have seen the Fruitful Land of almost one whole Province, and another whole County turned into Barrenness; doubtless, not without provocations of Wickedness in them, who dwelt therein; Men had Sown Fields there along the Shore in Settlements for an Hundred miles together, and had Multiplied Greatly into a Cluster of Towns (besides Lesser Villages,) that might Challenge the Name of a• Decapolis; but in this WAR, we have seen them Diminished again and brought Law, through Oppression, Affliction, and Sorrow. I am to Lead you this day through' a Spacious Country, which has been on many Accounts, the most Charming part of New-England; and I must herewithal say, Come, Behold the works of the Lord, what Desolations He has made in that Land. Sirs, 'Tis time for us, to Observe these Things; and this, not with a mere Athenian, but with a more profitable Observation. I must not be Discouraged from this Holy Service, by the vain Scoffs of those that Blaspheme all Attempts to Consider the Wondrous Works of God, as if it ⟨p. 204⟩were nothing but a Telling of News in the Pulpit ▪ The Biggest part of the Holy Bible, which i• but a Relation of such Wondrous Works, would be Scoffed by such profane men, if they might not thereby become Obnoxius. No: If Whoso is wise, will observe these things; Then let no man call it Folly to make the Observation.
THe various and marvellous Dispensations of the Divine Providence, towards the Children of men, are in this Elegant Psalm admirably set before us. Among those Dispensations, there is a particular mark set upon this, That the God of Heaven Turns a Fruitful Land into Barrenness, for the Wickedness of them which dwell therein; & tho•gh men have Sown Fields there and have multiplied greatly, yet they are again Diminished, & brought Low through Oppression, Affliction, and Sorrow. Of such Dispensations, is this passage to be understood, as a Quaestion, Who is wise, and will observe these things? But if you will rather take it ⟨p. 203⟩as a Sentence, it still comes to the same sense, Whose is wise, will oserv• these Things. And the French Version very Expressively intimates the Design, as well as the Event of this Observation; That so they may consider the Favours of the Lord. No Less than Ten years have Rolled away, since we have been plunged into the Distresses of a WAR, with a Barbarous Enemy. In this WAR, we have seen the Fruitful Land of almost one whole Province, and another whole County turned into Barrenness; doubtless, not without provocations of Wickedness in them, who dwelt therein; Men had Sown Fields there along the Shore in Settlements for an Hundred miles together, and had Multiplied Greatly into a Cluster of Towns (besides Lesser Villages,) that might Challenge the Name of a• Decapolis; but in this WAR, we have seen them Diminished again and brought Law, through Oppression, Affliction, and Sorrow. I am to Lead you this day thro' a Spacious Country, which has been on many Accounts, the most Charming part of New-England; and I must herewithal say, Come, Behold the works of the Lord, what Desolations He has made in that Land. Syrs, 'Tis time for us, to Observe these Things; and this, not with a meer Athenian, but with a more profitable Observation. I must not be Discouraged from this Holy Service, by the vain Scoffs of those that Blaspheme all Attempts to Consider the Wondrous Works of God, as if it ⟨p. 204⟩were nothing but a Telling of News in the Pulpit ▪ The Biggest part of the Holy Bible, which i• but a Rela•ion of such Wondrous Works, would be Scoffed by such profane men, if they might not thereby become Obnoxius. No: If Whoso is wise, will observe these things; Then let no man call it Folly to make the Observation.
