N00957:65
The way for a people to live long in the land that God hath…
The way for a people to live long in the land that God hath given them. A sermon preached before His Excellency, the governor, the Honoured Council and Assembly of the province of the Massachusetts-Bay in New-England, on the 26. of May 1703. At the election of Her Majesties Council there. / By Solomon Stoddard, A.M. and Pastor of Northampton.The way for a people to live long in the land that God hath given them. A sermon preached before His Excellency, the governour, the Honoured Council and Assembly of the province of the Massachusetts-Bay in New-England, on the 26. of May 1703. At the election of Her Majesties Council there. / By Solomon Stoddard, A.M. and Pastor of Northampton.
Boston: printed by Bartholomew Green and John Allen for Benj. Eliot, 1703
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
USE. V. It is a great mercy when God does prepare the hearts of Rulers and Ruled to do their duty to one another. If they do their duty, they will prevent many Judgments, if they do not; they will bring Judgment. Therefore it is a great mercy, when God does prepare them to do their duty; if they be not prepared to do their duty, they will not do it; there will fall out a multitude of occasions, to make them neglect their duty. If they be told of their duty, and urged to do it, yet they will not do it; if they be not prepared to do it: if they suffer much for the neglect of their duty, they will not do it, if their hearts be not prepared. If the hearts of a people be prepared, they will do their duty, though it be attended with much ⟨p. 23⟩difficulty. So in Hezekiahs time, They cleansed the house of God suddenly, and offered up many oblations, because God had prepared the People, 2 Chron. 29. 36. So if God prepares the hearts of Rulers and Ruled to do their duty to one another, they will do it.
There are two ways especially by which God does prepare them to do their duty.
1. […] giving tender Consciences unto them. There is a two-fold tenderness of Conscience; there is a legal tenderness of Conscience from the illumination of mens natural Consciences, whereby they are afraid to do any thing that may bring down the wrath of God. And there is a gracious tenderness of Conscience, from the Sanctification of the heart, whereby men are not only afraid of Judgment, but of doing any thing that will be a dishonour unto God: Both of these are useful, especially the latter: and the more there is of it the better it is: this makes men afraid to do any thing that they know to be sinful; this makes men afraid to do any thing that they suspect to be sinful; a tender Conscience is a spur to stir men up to their duty, and as a bridle to restrain men from evil. If the Consciences of Rulers be tender, that will help them against all sorts of temptation: if they have provocation, yet they will not dare to neglect their duty. Joseph had been provoked by his Brethren, but he says to them, Fear not I will nourish you and your little ones, and he comforted them and spake kindly to them,