I am arrived now to a Stage, & the Year, (1679) wherein a Synod of all the Churches in the Colony, whereof Mr. Mather was esteemed a great part, even that which was called, The Reforming Synod, appears Convened. It is an Awful Observation, ⟨p. 82⟩which the Excellent Comenius has concerning his famous Bohemian (which were in many things like the New-English) Churches; That they were nearer to the Sanctuary than other Churches, and therefore when some Apostasy was found among them, CHRIST Expressed His Displeasure against them in most Swift and Severe Dispensations. New-England was not become so Degenerate a Country, but that there was yet Preserved in it, far more of Serious Religion, as well as of Blameless Morality, than was Proportionably to be seen in any Country upon the face of the Earth. Nor were they overgrown with the Vices which are Enumerated by Cyprian as Abounding among the Primitive Christians, for which he said, Vapulamus itaque ut meremur. Nevertheless, the Spirit of the World began so far to Operate, that there was a Sensible Decay of Real and Vital PIETY, and the Power of Godliness began sensibly to suffer some Abatements: Watchful, and Fruitful, and Prayerful Christians, and Humble Walkers with GOD, were not so many as they had been, among a People greatly Multiplying; and the Holy GOD might also say,There are found Wicked Men among my People. In the Time of the War, there were noble Essays in the Churches, (especially in the way of Renewing their Covenants,) to recover out of these Declensions; and the Success of them was Admirable and very Memorable. But the Country saw a Succession of Heavy Judgments: and still upon the Relaxation of Calamity there was an Augmentation of Iniquity: so that Good Men ⟨p. 83⟩thought it high time to enquire with all possible Solemnity into the Grounds of the Controversy, which it appeared that the Glorious GOD had with the Country; and this the rather, because many did not Enquire Wisely concerning the matter. Indeed, as our SAVIOUR has no where Promised a Temporal Prosperity, unto a Life of Piety; but bid us look for the Discipline of the Cross, and has told us, That through much Tribulation we must enter into the Kingdom of GOD: So if a whole People were made up of such as led a Life of Piety, yet a Promise of all Temporal Prosperity could not be claimed for them.
I am arrived now to a Stage, & the Year, (1679) wherein a Synod of all the Churches in the Colony, whereof Mr. Mather was esteemed a great part, even that which was called, The Reforming Synod, appears Convened. It is an Awful Observation, ⟨p. 82⟩which the Excellent Comenius has concerning his famous Bohemian (which were in many things like the New-English) Churches; That they were nearer to the Sanctuary than other Churches, and therefore when some Apostasy was found among them, CHRIST Expressed His Displeasure against them in most Swift and Severe Dispensations. New-England was not become so Degenerate a Country, but that there was yet Preserved in it, far more of Serious Religion, as well as of Blameless Morality, than was Proportionably to be seen in any Country upon the face of the Earth. Nor were they overgrown with the Vices which are Enumerated by Cyprian as Abounding among the Primitive Christians, for which he said, Vapulamus itaque ut meremur. Nevertheless, the Spirit of the World began so far to Operate, that there was a Sensible Decay of Real and Vital PIETY, and the Power of Godliness began sensibly to suffer some Abatements: Watchful, and Fruitful, and Prayerful Christians, and Humble Walkers with GOD, were not so many as they had been, among a People greatly Multiplying; and the Holy GOD might also say,There are found Wicked Men among my People. In the Time of the War, there were noble Essays in the Churches, (especially in the way of Renewing their Covenants,) to recover out of these Declensions; and the Success of them was Admirable and very Memorable. But the Country saw a Succession of Heavy Judgments: and still upon the Relaxation of Calamity there was an Augmentation of Iniquity: so that Good Men ⟨p. 83⟩thought it high time to enquire with all possible Solemnity into the Grounds of the Controversy, which it appear'd that the Glorious GOD had with the Country; and this the rather, because many did not Enquire Wisely concerning the matter. Indeed, as our SAVIOUR has no where Promised a Temporal Prosperity, unto a Life of Piety; but bid us look for the Discipline of the Cross, and has told us, That through much Tribulation we must enter into the Kingdome of GOD: So if a whole People were made up of such as led a Life of Piety, yet a Promise of all Temporal Prosperity could not be claimed for them.
