2. It is every ones duty in his place, to thrust into the gap, that he may keep off the evil threatened. When there are fad Prognostics of the times; when the Clouds begin to gather apace, and mischief apparently impends over a professing people; when Gods anger is enkindled against them, and sin hath opened a wide gap for it to come in, and evil begins to crowd in at it, all that fear God should endeavour to please God, to pacify his anger, and prevent ⟨p. 82⟩the mischief: hence that Admonition given upon a threatening, Amos 4.12. thus will I do unto thee, Oh Israel; and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, Oh Israel. There is a way to hold Gods hands, and turn away his displeasure; we read that Moses did so, Psal. 106.23. and we find that God complains, that when he looked for such an one, there was none; and he gives that as the reason why the torrent of his fierce Indignation brake in upon that unhappy people, Ezek. 22.30, 31. I sought for a man, &c. therefore have I poured mine indignation upon them. It is true, every one is not in an equal capacity to this work, or of doing alike public Service, for the putting away of that sin which is the provocation; there is a work lying upon persons in Public Place, such as Moses, and Phinehas were, who may, if they are faithful, do a great deal upon this account. However, there is no Christian, but if he be upright, and •ill be industrious in the station wherein God hath set him, may do something with God, which may contribute not a little to the public good; for God hath ⟨p. 83⟩assured us that he hath a respect for such as these, Isa. 66.2. to this man will I look, even to him that is poor, and of a contrite spirit, and that trembleth at my word.
2. It is every ones duty in his place, to thrust into the gap, that he may keep off the evil threatned. When there are fad Prognosticks of the times; when the Clouds begin to gather apace, and mischief apparently impends over a professing people; when Gods anger is inkindled against them, and sin hath opened a wide gap for it to come in, and evil begins to croud in at it, all that fear God should endeavour to please God, to pacifie his anger, and prevent ⟨p. 82⟩the mischief: hence that Admonition given upon a threatning, Amos 4.12. thus will I do unto thee, Oh Israel; and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, Oh Israel. There is a way to hold Gods hands, and turn away his displeasure; we read that Moses did so, Psal. 106.23. and we find that God complains, that when he looked for such an one, there was none; and he gives that as the reason why the torrent of his fierce Indignation brake in upon that unhappy people, Ezek. 22.30, 31. I sought for a man, &c. therefore have I poured mine indignation upon them. It is true, every one is not in an equal capacity to this work, or of doing alike publick Service, for the putting away of that sin which is the provocation; there is a work lying upon persons in Publick Place, such as Moses, and Phineas were, who may, if they are faithful, do a great deal upon this account. However, there is no Christian, but if he be upright, and •ill be industrious in the station wherein God hath set him, may do something with God, which may contribute not a little to the publick good; for God hath ⟨p. 83⟩assured us that he hath a respect for such as these, Isa. 66.2. to this man will I look, even to him that is poor, and of a contrite spirit, and that trembleth at my word.
