N02150:77
Religious societies. Proposals for the revival of dying religion, by well ordered societies for…
Religious societies. Proposals for the revival of dying religion, by well ordered societies for that purpose. : With a brief discourse, offered unto a religious society, on the first day of their meeting. : [One line from I Thessalonians]
Boston: printed by S. Kneeland for John Phillips, 1724
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.
Secondly, THE Means of Grace, help to make Our Day for us. The Old World, whose Foundation was overflown with a Flood, enjoyed a Day, while they had Noah, a Preacher of Righteousness among them. This Preaching was no sooner over, but their Day was done. Cries to Heaven for Succour were now to little Purpose. The Ark being now shut, the Ear of GOD was also shut upon them. Sodom had a Day, whilst Righteous Lot was beating his Testimonies there. But when he is gone, their Day goes with him. The Vengeance of Eternal Fire seizes them. They sadly found, ⟨p. 14⟩when the Mouth of GOD leaves off Speaking, his Ear leaves off Hearing too. When the Means of Grace are gone from a People, Their Day is ••er with them. It is often so, that upon the Death of an Excellent Minister, the People that had his Light for a Season, but would not be brought home to GOD, have Their Day brought unto a Period. GOD leaves them under an Everlasting Obduration. He Resolves, They shall never taste of my Supper! Never Enter into my Rest!
Thirdly, OUR Day is Enlightened, when it is accompanied with many Opportunities to make sure of The Things belonging to our Peace. A Peaceable Time with us, and a Prosperous Condition, makes a Day to shine upon us. A Day of Prosperity, Oh! how much is it to be improved with us! We generally allow, that Adversity has a Voice in it: GOD Speaks to us by our Afflictions. But in Prosperity our Fat Hearts are insensible of any thing spoke to us: As if Mercy were a very Dumb Thing indeed! Whereas, Jer. XXII. 21. I spake to thee in thy Prosperity, saith the Lord. The Still Voice of Prosperity is not so plainly heard, as the Thunder and the Tempest and the Whirlwind of Calamity: Yet there is the Voice of GOD in it And what is the Voice but This; Oh! That this man would now know the Things of his Peace, at least in this his Day! What but This; Oh! That this man were wise, and would consider his latter End. How pitiable the Case of Jerusalem? Lam. I. 7