N04899:13
A strong rod broken and withered. A sermon preached at Northampton, on the Lord's…A strong rod broken and withered. A sermon preach'd at Northampton, on the Lord's…
A strong rod broken and withered. A sermon preached at Northampton, on the Lord's Day, June 26. 1748. On the death of the Honourable John Stoddard, Esq; often a member of His Majesty's Council, for many years chief justice of the Court of Common Pleas for the county of Hampshire, judge of the probate of wills, and chief colonel of the regiment, &c. : Who died at Boston June 19. 1748. in the 67th year of his age. / By Jonathan Edwards, A.M. Pastor of the First Church in Northampton. ; [Three lines from Daniel]A strong rod broken and withered. A sermon preach'd at Northampton, on the Lord's Day, June 26. 1748. On the death of the Honourable John Stoddard, Esq; often a member of His Majesty's Council, for many years chief justice of the Court of Common Pleas for the county of Hampshire, judge of the probate of wills, and chief colonel of the regiment, &c. : Who died at Boston June 19. 1748. in the 67th year of his age. / By Jonathan Edwards, A.M. Pastor of the First Church in Northampton. ; [Three lines from Daniel]
Boston: printed by Rogers and Fowle for J. Edwards, 1748
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.
It is very remarkable that such a strong Rod should grow out of a weak Vine: But so it had been in Israel,through GOD's extraordinary Blessing, in Times past. Though the Nation is spoken of here, and frequently elsewhere, as weak and helpless in itself, and entirely dependent as a Vine, that is the weakest of all Trees, that can't support it self by its own Strength, and never stands but as it leans on or hangs by something else that is stronger than itself; yet GOD had caused many of her Sons to be strong Rods fit for Sceptres; he had raised up in Israel many able and excellent Princes and Magistrates in Days past, that had done worthily in their Day.
It is very remarkable that such a strong Rod should grow out of a weak Vine: But so it had been in Israel,through GOD's extraordinary Blessing, in Times past. Though the Nation is spoken of here, and frequently elsewhere, as weak and helpless in itself, and intirely dependent as a Vine, that is the weakest of all Trees, that can't support it self by its own Strength, and never stands but as it leans on or hangs by something else that is stronger than itself; yet GOD had caused many of her Sons to be strong Rods fit for Scepters; he had raised up in Israel many able and excellent Princes and Magistrates in Days past, that had done worthily in their Day.
3. It should be understood and observed what is meant by these strong Rods being broken and withered, viz. These able and excellent Rulers being removed by Death: Men's dying is often compared in Scripture to the withering of the Growth of the Earth.
4. It should be observed after what Manner, the breaking and withering of these strong Rods is here spoken of, viz. as a great and awful Calamity, that GOD had brought upon that People: 'Tis spoken of as one of the chief Effects of GOD's Fury and dreadful Displeasure against them; But she was plucked up in Fury, she was cast down to the Ground, and the East Wind dried up her Fruit, her