Decennium luctuosum. An history of remarkable occurrences, in the long war, which New-England hath…

Observe wisely, and you cannot but Observe, the Language of Heaven, in the Circumstances through' which we have passed for a whole Decad of years together, to be That, in Lev. 26.23, 24. If ye will not be Reformed by me, by these things, but will walk contrary unto me, Then will I also walk contrary unto you, and I will punish you yet seven Times for your Sins. And that the Demand of REFORMATION may be Loud enough, it arrives to us now with a more than Ordinary Accent of Authority upon it. We have seen, and, Blessed be God, that we have seen, the Greatest Monarch that eve• Sat upon the British Throne, Issuing Out His Royal Proclamation, upon the Pious Address of the Commons of England, assemble in Parliament; a Proclamation, wherein that Illustrious Prince declares His Royal Resolution to Discountenance all Vice whatsoever, and requires all Officers whatsoever to be vigilant, in the Discovery, Prosecution, and Punishment thereof. We ⟨p. 252⟩have seen a most Excellent GOVERNOR, who is the Greatest Person that ever set Foot on the English Continent of America, beginning His Government, with proclaiming for the Suppression of all Vice in One of His Provinces: That Noble Person has therein done, Like a Vicegerent of GOD! His very Honourable Lieutenant, hath worthily done His part, with the Advice of His Council, in another of His Provinces. If these things prove but mere Formalities, among a people, Hating to be Reformed after all, what will they be, but more Terrible Prognostics of Tremendous and Amazing Desolations at hand, than so many Blazing Stars on Fire, in Heaven over us. It is to be hoped, the Ministers of the Gospel, will do what belongs to Them, for the Assistance of all Holy Essays about Reformation; and their Churches, if called upon, will join with them, in the Methods of Covenant, and of Discipline, for the promoting of it. Yea, It is to be Hoped, That we shall all Zealously in our several Stations, do all that we can, for the pleasing of God, and for the Correction, and Suppression, and Reformation of the Sin that may be displeasing to Him. It is a Thing very notorious unto us, That Idleness, Drunkenness, Uncleanness, Cheating, Lying, Profane Swearing, and above all, that which is the Root of all, the Profanation of the ⟨p. 253⟩