There are some things that I am afraid of, that lie con- trary to what I am exhorting you unto. I wish the event
.)42 (iODS WORK IX FOUN'DING ZIO.V.
manifest that I am afraid without cause. However, give me leave to caution you of them, because I cannot be faithful to my call if I do not.
[1.] Take heed, lest that evil be still abiding upon any of our spirits, that we should be crying out, and calling for reformation, without a due consideration of what it is, and how it is to be brought about. I wish one of many of them> who have prayed for it, and complained for want of it, had endeavoured to carry it on as they might. Would you have a reformation ? Be you more humble, more holy, more zealous ; delight more in the ways, worship, ordinances of God ; reform your persons in your lives, relations, families, parishes, as to gospel obedience, and you will see a glorious reformation indeed. What mean you by a reformation? Is it the hurting of others, or doino- good to ourselves? Is it a power over other men's persons, or our own lusts? God hath now for sundry years tried us, whether indeed we love reformation, or no. Have any provoked us, or compelled us to defile the worship of God with ceremonies or supersti- tions, and our own consciences therewithal ? Have we been imposed on in the ways of God by men ignorant of them? Hath not God said to us. You that have prayed under perse- cution for reformation ; you that have fought in the high places of the field for reformation ; you that have covenanted and sworn for reformation, go now, reform yourselves ; you ministers, preach as often as you will, as freely as you please, no man shall control you ; live as holily as you can, pray as often, fast as often as you will, be full of bounty and good works, giving examples to your flock, none shall trouble you; be instant in season, out of season, preach the whole counsel of God without control ; you people, be holy, serve God in holiness, keep close to his worship and ordinances, love them, delight in them, bring forth such fruits as men may glorify God on your account; condemn the world, justify the cause of God by a gospel conversation, take seven years peace and plenty, and see what you can do ? If after all this we still cry out, Give us a reformation, and complain not of our own neg- liorence, folly, hatred of personal reformation, to be the only cause of that want, it is easy to judge what we would have, had we our desires.
[2.] Take heed, lest any who have formerly desired the
god's work IX FOUNDING ZION. 543
day of the Lord, considering the purity and holiness where- with it will be attended, grow weary 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,' godliness, exact obedience, should be prized, exalted, esteemed ; that profaneness, pride, selfishness, formality should be despised, consumed, devour- ed ? We will have none of this day.
[3.] Take heed that there rise not up a generation that knew not Joseph : that knew us not in the days of our dis- tress, and contending with those who would have destroyed us; who were not engaged with us in praying, fasting, fight- ing in England, Scotland, and Ireland ; but were uncon- cerned 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 abid- ing impressions left on the souls of as many as have been en- gaged in the work of God in this nation, from the beginning to the end, as will never be blotted out. If a spirit not sensi- ble of former ways should arise amongst us, and prevail, it would be sad with 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 your consultations and actions, whatever is proposed, whatever is to be done^ let this consideration attend it — But how will it suit the de- sign 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 written in the prayers of the saints, the fears of your enemies, the condition of this nation, the counsels of princes of the earth, the affairs of the nations abroad in the world, all the issues of the providence of God in these days ; all which concurring, I suppose, will give as good an evidence as any thing in the