N02454:70
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.
IV. The purposes of PIETY which you take up from the Terrors of the shadow of Death in the Earthquakes, let the Covenant of Grace give life unto them: And with the Spirit of that New Covenant proceed unto the performing of what you have purposed. The Good Impressions made by the Earthquakes do shoot forth First, in Good purposes to walk according to that Rule, which brings Peace to the Israel of GOD. The Good Impressions are lost, when those Good purposes fail of being Executed. And they will fail if you keep up the Spirit of the Old Covenant, when you set about the Execution of them. The First Thing you must see to, is, That your Good purposes be not made in your own strength: Or with an Imagination of your being Able to will and to do at your own pleasure; If they be so, there will be no strength in them. The Adversaries of the Lord, and of Good purposes to walk with Him, O Man, By thy own strength, never, never shalt thou prevail against them. Under the Horrors of the Earthquakes, you purpose to express a Respect unto these and those, and ⟨p. 33⟩even All the Commandments of GOD. You Trust you shall do as you say; never do as you have done. You have no Fear of it. But, I have! — In whom do you Trust? In thy own Heart, O Vain Man! Then thou art a Fool. All will soon come to Nothing. There is a Clause of more than ordinary Significancy, which must be an Ingredient of all Good Purposes; Even That; Phil. IV. 13. THROUGH' CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME. The Covenant of Works, the Frame and Strain of That, will choke all Good Purposes, and kill them in the Bud. The Covenant of Grace, is that which alone will Preserve them, Secure them, Nourish them. And you are thus to conceive of it. There is an Eternal COVENANT between GOD the FATHER, and GOD our SAVIOUR. In that Covenant of Redemption, your SAVIOUR promised, not only that He will pay the Price of Redemption for you, [which has been done!] but also, that He will Quicken and Incline and Strengthen the People, whom He brings under the Shadow of His Wings, to Glorify GOD, and Live unto Him. Your Good Purposes are best expressed in the Form of giving the Consent of your Souls, that the Blessed JESUS, who is your Saviour and Surety, should Assist you unto the Doing of all the Good, which you Purpose to do.
IV. The purposes of PIETY which you take up from the Terrors of the shadow of Death in the Earthquakes, let the Covenant of Grace give life unto them: And with the Spirit of that New Covenant proceed unto the performing of what you have purposed. The Good Impressions made by the Earthquakes do shoot forth First, in Good purposes to walk according to that Rule, which brings Peace to the Israel of GOD. The Good Impressions are lost, when those Good purposes fail of being Executed. And they will fail if you keep up the Spirit of the Old Covenant, when you set about the Execution of them. The First Thing you must see to, is, That your Good purposes be not made in your own strength: Or with an Imagination of your being Able to will and to do at your own pleasure; If they be so, there will be no strength in them. The Adversaries of the Lord, and of Good purposes to walk with Him, O Man, By thy own strength, never, never shalt thou prevail against them. Under the Horrors of the Earthquakes, you purpose to express a Respect unto these and those, and