[2.] Take heed lest any who have formerly desired the day of the Lord, considering the purity and holiness wherewith it will be at- tended, gTow weaiy of it and its work, as not being able to abide it, and so lay aside all thoughts of growing up with it in the will of God;— lest any say. Is this the day of the Lord, that holiness, godli- ness, exact obedience, should be prized, exalted, esteemed ; that pro- faneness, pride, selfishness, formality should be despised, consumed, devoured? — we will have none of this day.
[3.] Take heed that there rise not up a generation that know not Joseph; — that knew us not in the days of our distress and contend- ing with, those who would have destroyed us; — who were not engaged with us in praying, fasting, fighting, in England, Scotland, and Ire- land, but were unconcerned in all our affairs ; — who know nothing of the cries, tears, trembling, and fears, wherewith this cause hath been managed. Can we expect that they should be acted by the spirit of it, or have a due sense of what they must be engaged in? What know they of the communion we have had with God in this business all along, what answers he hath given us, what obligations he hath put upon us thereby? The whole business is to them as a story only of that which is past, wherein they are not concerned. There are such abiding impressions left on the souls of as many as have been engaged in the work of God in this nation, from the beginning to the end, as will never be blotted out. If a spirit not sensible of foi-mer ways should arise amongst us and prevail, it would be sad Avith the interest of Christ and his people in this nation. To return to my directions : —
(2.) Make this work of God your pole-star, that you may steer and guide your course by it. In all yoiu: consultations and actions, what- ever is proposed, whatever is to be done, let this consideration attend it — But how will it suit the design of God in establishing Zion? Men speaking of a thing of manifest evidence, say that it is written with the beams of the sun. Give me leave to tell you of a thing that is m-itten in the prayers of the saints, the /ecws of your enemies, the condition of this nation, the counsels of princes of the earth, the
424 god's work in founding zion.
affairs of the nations abroad in the world, — all the issues of the pro- vidence of God in these days; all which concurring, I suppose, will give as good an evidence as any thing in the like kind is capable of What is this, you will say? It is, in brief, Let the work of God as stated be your guide in all your consultations, and it will direct you to aim at these ends: —
[1.] To preserve ^;eace, to compose differences, to make up breaches, to avoid all occasions of divisions at home.
[2.] To make up, unite, gather into one common interest, the Pro- testant nations abroad in the world, that we may stand Dr fall toge- ther, and not be devoured one after another. That these are the things which God calls you to mind, and do, if you will bear any regard to his present work is, I say, written with all the beams of Providence before mentioned. If the Lord should suffer you to be regardless either to the one or the other, know you not that it would be bitter- ness in the latter end? Ask your friends what they desire, your ene- mies what they fear, the nations abroad what they are doing, — consider Babylon, consider Zion ; and if one and the same voice come from them all, not to attend unto it, would be not to attend to the voice of God. It is, indeed, an easy thing for you to gi'atify Satan, satiate the desire of your enemies, lay a foundation of troubles; — it is but attending to the clamours of men without, and the tumultuat- ing of lusts and carnal wisdom within, and the whole work is done. But to carry on the work of God in the particulars mentioned, — this is not so easy a task ; — self must be denied, many glorious pretences laid aside, contrary reasonings answered, men's weaknesses, miscar- riages, failings borne Avithal, because they are men; and, which is more than all, our own particular darling desires, it may be, let go unsatisfied, though moulded into contrivances for many years. The truth is, the combinations of the antichristian party in the world are so evident, their successes so notorious, their designs so fixed, their advantages to carry them on so many, that to persuade with them who have power for that end and purpose to make it their business to keep union amongst ourselves, on all good and honest terms, and to endeavour the union of all that call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours, in the world, were to cast a reproach upon their wisdom, foresight, and zeal. So that it sufficeth me to have mentioned these things.
Use 3. Encourage all things that lie in a tendency and subser- viency to the work of God, unfolded and insisted on. For instance, —