god's work IX FOUNDING ZIO\. 535
that you could do it with one heart and lip, with one con- sent, and judgment ! On whom are the eyes of this nation, and of those round about ? from whom are the expectations of men ? to whom should we go to inquire what God hath done in this nation, what he is doing, what are the effects of his power, if not of you? Some of you have been engaged in this work with the Lord from the beginning. And I hope none of you have been engaged in heart, or hand against it; and you speak still with living affections to the old and common cause. If you will be able to steer your course aright, if you would take one straight step, have in a readiness an ac- quaintance with the work of God, what it is that he aims at, by which you may be guided in all your undertakings. Sup- pose now a man, or men, should come and ask of you, what God hath done in these nations ; what he hath wrought and effected ; w4iat is brought forth ? Have you an answer in readiness? Certainly God hath done so much, as that he expects you should be able to give an account of it. Take heed that every one of you be not ready to speak the disquiet- ness of your own spirits, and so cast contempt on the work of God. Something else is required of you. I have some- times in darkness, and under temptations myself, began to think, that what hath been, is the thing that is, and there is no new thing under the sun. As it hath been among the heathen of old, so it hath been amongst us ; or, as it was with Israel; 1 Kings xvi. 21, 22. ' Then were the people of Israel divided into two parts, half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king; and half followed Omri. But the people that followed Omri prevailed against the people that followed Tibni the son of Ginath: so Tibni died, and Omri reigned :' that a common thing, and fre- quent in the world, had fallen us, wherein God had no hand, but that of common providence, in dashing one sort of men against another. So foolish have I been, and as a beast, so ready to condemn the generation of the righteous, so unbe- lieving and ready to cast away the faith and prayer of ten thousand saints; one of whose sighs shall not be lost. But such fearful effects sometimes trouble, disquietment, disap- pointment, and carnal fear will produce. But certain it is, none of the many cries of the people of God shall be lost, nor their faith be disappointed. God hath a peculiar design
536 god's work in founding zion.
in hand, and we are to find it out, that we may be able to answer them that make inquiries. If you lay not this foun- dation of your procedures, I shall not wonder if you err in your ways. It is your pole-star, and will be so, by which your whole course is to be steered : your shield, which whilst it is safe, though you die, your glory abides.
But you will say : What then is this great design of God among his people ? Let the Holy One of Israel bring nigh his work, that we may know it. What is that true and general interest of Zion that he hath founded? Let us know it, that we may be able to give an answer to them that inquire after it. Ask themselves, those who have prayed for it, waited for it, expected it, are made partakers of it, do enjoy it, live upon it; probably they will be able to give you an account what is their peculiar and only interest, as to these provi- dential dispensations ; surely they cannot but know that which they enjoy and live upon.
But you will say : Of all others this is the most unlikely and irrational course, a way to perplex and entangle, not to inform us at all. Is it not clear, that they are divided among themselves ? Is not their language, is not their voice, like that of the Jews at the building of the second temple? Some shouted for joy, and some wept at the remembrance of the former temple ? Are not their desires rather like that, and those of theirs, who built Babel ; than of those who cry grace, grace, whilst God is founding Zion ? Do not many of them utterly deny any work or design of God (I mean that is pe- culiar) in the affairs of this nation; and utterly fall away from the society of them, who are otherwise persuaded? And is it likely that we can gather any resolution from them? Doth not the greatest danger of our own miscarriage lie in this, that we may be apt to attend to their peculiar desires, and so to divide amongst ourselves as they are divided?
And is this the return that indeed is to be made ? O that mine eyes might run down with water day and night on this account, that my heart might be moved within me, for the folly of my people. *Ah foolish people and unwise, do we thus requite the Lord!' It is true, many at all times have desired the day of the Lord, who, when it hath come, have not been able to abide it; it hath consumed them, and all the principles whereon they have acted, and upon which