N02454:37
Boanerges. A short essay to preserve and strengthen the good impressions produced by earthquakes…
Boanerges. A short essay to preserve and strengthen the good impressions produced by earthquakes on the minds of people that have been awakened with them. : With some views of what is to be further and quickly looked for. : Addressed unto the whole people of New-England, who have been terrified with the late earthquakes; and more especially the towns that have had a more singular share in the terrors of them. : [Three lines from I Chronicles]Boanerges. A short essay to preserve and strengthen the good impressions produced by earthquakes on the minds of people that have been awakened with them. : With some views of what is to be further and quickly look'd for. : Address'd unto the whole people of New-England, who have been terrified with the late earthquakes; and more especially the towns that have had a more singular share in the terrors of them. : [Three lines from I Chronicles]
Boston: printed for S. Kneeland, 1727
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.
Of this thing, we are every where entertained with a mournful Evidence. The Bad lives of Men, make it most notoriously Evident. The most of Men lead Bad lives: They do not Live unto GOD. With what pungency may they feel it said unto them; Can you say, That you lead such a Life as you said, you should and would, when Destruction from GOD was a Terror to you? When our SAVIOUR was in the Temple, the Hearers that were Convicted in their own Conscience by what He said, Went out, and, Lo, He was left alone. Oh, How far, how far! — would it go towards breaking up the Congregation, if all should go out, who may be convicted in their own Conscience, that they do not live, as under the Terrors of GOD, they said, They would. A great Man once putting that Case to a good Man, How shall I order my life, that I may glorify GOD? He only gave him this Answer; Live as when you lately apprehended your self a dying, you thought you would live, if GOD would let you live. There are many who do not glorify GOD. And we may conclude, They don't live, as in their Dangers, they said, They would. Where one is Reformed, a Thousand are as they were!
But, whence does this come to pass? 'Tis, From the Spirit of the Old Covenant in Mens Inclinations and Resolutions. When the People of old were appalled at the Lightnings and Thunders and Earthquakes of the Burning Mountain, they said, All that the Lord shall speak we will do. But it was with the Spirit of the Old Covenant that they said it. GOD therefore said upon it; Deut. V. 28. 29. I have heard the Voice of the Words of this People, which ⟨p. 14⟩they have spoken; They have well said, all that they have spoken: Oh! That there were such an Heart in them! — Even so. People remaining yet in the old Covenant of Works, will say, This and That, and they will say very well in all that they speak. Oh! But there is no more than a Voice of Words, in all that they have spoken: There wants a New Heart in them; There is no Heart in them to do what they say. Frighted People say, that they are Fallen out with Sin. But it is only from some External Compulsion upon them. The SPIRIT of GOD has not yet Internally Changed the Bias of their Minds: The Love of Sin yet reigning in their Hearts is not extinguished. They say, They will set themselves to do the Things that please GOD. But they set themselves about it in their own strength. And thus, All presently comes to Nothing!