IT is very Obvious that the Words now read are the ſecond Petition, in that which is commonly called, The Lords Prayer, delivered by our Lord, near the middle of that Divine Sermon He Preached in the Mount; delivered as a moſt Excellent Formulary, Pattern, and Platform of Prayer, unto which, all our Prayers are to be conformed, as to Matter and Manner, as appears by the Words of our Lord, in the Prologue to this Prayer, v. 9. After this Manner therefore Pray ye, i. e. conſonant, and agreeable here-unto: Nor know I any inconvenience, if the very Words be uſed, as the caſe may require.

In this Prayer may be conſidered. (1.) The Preface, in which God is deſcribed,

1. In Relation to us, [Our Father,] an Endearing Relation, Inviting and Encouraging all his Children to make their Addreſſes to Him, with Confidence; That he bears like affections, & incomparably greater, than any Earthly Parents can do to their Children: And with Aſſurance, that they ſhall be heard, in all Things they call upon Him for, which are according to his Will, in the Name of His Son.

2. God is here farther deſcribed in Relation to his own Severeign Majeſty, [Which art in Heaven,] admoniſhing us to keep our Diſtance when we come before Him; not to be raſh with our Mouth, or let our heart be haſty to utter any thing before God; for God is in Heaven, and we are upon Earth.

(2.) As to the Matter, and Order of theſe Petitions, we are directed, That the things which regard the Glory of God, have the Deference and Preference, to thoſe of our own Neceſſities. Hence we firſt Pray, for the Sanctification of the Name of God, and the Eſtabliſhing of the Kingdom of his Son, &c. before other things.

[Thy Kingdom come.]

By Kingdom I underſtand, not that Natural and Eſſential Kingdom, which the Son hath in common with his Father, as he is King of Nations: But that Mediatorial, and Diſpenſator) Kingdom, which he hath received by Donation, and D • putation from his Father, as King of Saints. The Adminiſtration of which Kingdom is committed to the Son, till the conſummation of all things; When he ſhall have delivered up the Kingdom to God, even the Father, as fully compleated, and accompliſhed; all the Elect gathered; all Enemies ſubdued; When God ſhall be all in all, and the Son ſhall Reign together with the Father▪ throughout the interminable Revolutions of Eternity, 1 Cor. 15.24.

1. This Kingdom is Spiritual; Not exerciſed over mens natural Lives, or Eſtates: Our Lord when upon the Earth, would not inter-meddle with dividing Inheritances, Luk. 12, 13, 14. His Kingdom is not of this World; it is over the Hearts and Conſciences of men; Caſting down ſtrong holds, ſilencing carnal reaſonings, bringing over the affections, & bringing the Thoughts to the obedience of Chriſt, 2 Cor. 10.5. Awakning and Terrifying the Conſciences of Hypocrites: but ſpeaking Peace to the hearts of his People.

2. Eternal; It is a Kingdom which ſhall never be deſtroyed, nor left to other People: Dan. 2.44. A Kingdom which cannot be moved, Heb. 12.28. Other Kingdoms may be ſhaken to their foundations; and their Kings be ſhaken out of their Thrones. But unto the Son, he ſaith, Thy Throne, O God is for ever and ever, Heb. 1.8. But this muſt be underſtood as to the Subſtance of it, for, as to the preſent form and manner of Adminiſtration, as it is now diſpenſed by Officers, and Ordinances; it is limited to the Time of the End, when the Son ſhall deliver it up to God, in like manner as he received it from God: But as to the Subſtance, He ſhall be Head of his Church for ever; an everlaſting Father, and of his Kingdom there ſhall be no End, Luk. 1.33.

The coming of this Kingdom is,

1. Internal; it is within us, Luk. 17.21. Comes not with Obſervation, as earthly Monarchies doe, whoſe Original, Foundations, Conſtitutions, Growth, Declenſions, Tranſlations, lie open to the Obſervation, and Diſcourſes of Learned Men. But this is the Rule of Gods Spirit in the hearts of his People, conſiſting in Righteouſneſs, Peace, and Joy; the Growth and Multiplication of theſe bleſſings, from the gracious Preſence of Chriſt.

2. External; In the powerful Adminiſtration of Goſpel Ordinances; gathering Multitudes of Subjects under the Government of Chriſt: a viſible, and glorious appearance thereof, accompanied with abundance of Peace and Proſperity, according to the Promiſes, Pſal. 72.7. In his dayes ſhall the righteous flouriſh; and abundance of Peace, ſo long as the Moon endureth. Iſa. 2.2, 3, 4. And it ſhall come to paſs, in the laſt dayes, That the Mountain of the Lords houſe ſhall be Eſtabliſhed in the Top of the Mountains, &c. and many other Scriptures.

The Doctrinal Obſervation which I ſhall take up from theſe words, may be to this purpoſe:

That it ought to be the great Concern of a Religious People of all Orders, faithfully to Endeavour in their ſeveral Capacities, the promoting of the Kingdom of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt.

In order to the Illuſtration of this Truth, let it be Enquired, When it may be ſaid, That the Kingdom of CHRIST makes Advances amongſt a Religious People?

Take the anſwer under the following Heads.

1. When the Name of God is duly Sanctified by them, and amongſt them. It is eaſie to obſerve, that in this Head, I have regard to the order of the Petitions; Hallowed be thy Name: Thy Kingdom Come. When a Profeſſing People do give unto God the Glory due to his Name, then may it be ſaid, that the Kingdom of God is come unto them, Pſal. 29, 1, 2. And this they may d • by their Faith, Works, and Worſhip: When they are ſound in the faith of the Goſpel. He that would build high, had need to ſee that the Foundation Stones be deeply & truly laid. Faith in God is a Foundation-ſtone; He that comes to God, muſt believe that He is. Now when a People do believe in God, and do believe in Jeſus, the Chriſt of God, the Lords Chriſt, the Kingdom of God is come amongſt them; when they acknowledge no God but He who is the God and Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt; When they do embrace, profeſs and contend for the faith once delivered to the Saints; and what they do believe in their heart, they are ready when orderly called to it, to make confeſſion thereof with their mouth unto Salvation. Again, When their faith bloſſoms forth to Love, and Love fructifies unto good Works; when Faith works by Love, and Love to God doth excite and conſtrain ſuch a people to keep the Commandments of God.

2. When a Profeſſing People do Worſhip God according to his own Mind, as to the Matter, Means, and Manner of Worſhip. When the Mind of Chriſt, and not mans Miſtake, is made the Rule of Worſhip: But in vain do they worſhip m • , teaching for doctrines the commandments of men, Mat. 15.9. When God is worſhipped as it is Written, namely with Scripture Worſhip; When the Statutes of Chriſt, not of Omri are kept. When Gods Altar is ſet upon its right Baſis, and they who Miniſter at the Altar, do ſee that all things be done according to the Pattern. When a People do Worſhip God after the due Order, not in an External, Auguſt and Pompous Way of Worſhip only, but in Spirit and in Truth, with reverence and godly fear, agreeable to the ſimplicity of the Primitive and Pureſt Times.

3. When Gods Sabbaths are Religiouſly Obſerved. Many have truly Remarked, That Religion flouriſhes or decays, lives or dies, as Gods Sabbaths are Sanctify'd or Prophan'd; let this vein be cut, and the vitals of Religion will ſoon drop forth. If the Lords-Day be thrown up, and laid in common with the other days of the Week, Good men may juſtly fear, it will not be long, before God will remove his Kingdom from ſuch an unthankful people. But if a People ſhall turn away their foot from polluting Gods Sabbath, from doing their pleaſure on his Holy Day, and ſhall call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, &c. They may expect much of the Preſence of Chriſt amongſt them, Iſa. 58.13.

4. Another promiſing ſymptom of the Proſperous State of the Kingdom of Chriſt, is, When Converſions are frequent, and multitudes are born to Chriſt, numerous as the drops of dew from the womb of the morning, Pſal. 110.3. When the Kingdom of Heaven ſuffers violence, and the violent take it by force: When the doors of Gods Houſe ſtand open continually, and many enter in▪ When the Church hath frequent occaſion to ſay, Who hath begotten me theſe? Iſa. 49.21. Who are theſe that flee as a Cloud, as doves to their windows. When the Bleſſing of God, reſts upon a Religious People, Behold! a Troop comes; when one ſhall ſay, I am the Lords, and another ſhall call himſelf by the name of Jacob, and another ſhall ſubſcribe with his hand unto the Lord, and Sirname himſelf by the name of Iſrael.

5. When Converted Ones do grow and thrive, and make increaſe with the increaſe of God, 2 Pet. 3.18. When Profeſſors bring forth much fruit, and abound in the work of the Lord; when they walk worthy of God, who hath called them to his Kingdom and Glory; when they bring forth Fruit unto, and in old age, and the longer they live, the more grace they have, the more holy, humble, heavenly-minded; and as natural bodies move ſwifter near their Centre: ſo gracious Souls, the nearer Heaven, the more haſte they make thither.

6. When a People are acted with a holy zeal for God, and againſt Sin; zealous for the Doctrine, Diſcipline, Order, and Government of Chriſt: Acting from the ſame Spirit, as of old, Phineas and Elijah, who cannot bear them which are evil, who having Tried them who ſay they are Apoſtles and are not, have found them Liars▪ Whoſe Zeal is kindled with a Coal from Gods Altar, and governed by knowledge, to the ends of Gods Glory, the promoting Truth, Righteouſneſs and Peace, acceptable to God, and approved of men.

7. When Families are Seminaries of Piety and Vertue. As Religion began, ſo is it maintain'd and preſerv'd in Families. Now when Heads of Families do exerciſe their Authority, in Commanding their Children and Houſhold after them, That they may keep the way of the Lord: Religion will be kept alive. Well-govern'd Families reſemble little Churches, and afford matter for greater. When our Sons and our Daughters are prun'd and poliſht in their youth, by good government in the Family; they may be ſuitably prepared, the one to be planted in Chriſt's Garden, the other to be laid in the Building of his Houſe.

8. When Civil Rulers are keepers of both the Tables: Do rule with God, and for God, and remembring their Character [I have ſaid ye are gods] do Exert their Divine Vertues and Accompliſhments; to the Weal of their People, cheriſhing thoſe that are good, and like the moſt High, being kind to the Unthankful; & a people thus favour'd and bleſs'd do ſtrengthen the hands and hearts of their Rulers, and do chearfully render them the double, treble honour of Countenance, Maintenance and Obedience.

9. When Goſpel Churches are Candleſticks of Gold, not only gilt. When the Lights in the Candleſticks, are burning and ſhining Lights, and they who bear the Veſſels of the Lord are all holy; when the Angels of the Churches do ſuſtain that Character, not in Name and Title only, but in regard of holineſs, agility and indefatigableneſs in the Service of their Lord. When the Churches Stars are not falling Stars, nor wandring Stars, but fixed, caſting forth their borrowed Light, to the looſning the bands of Tempeſtuous Orion, delivering Sin-bound Souls from the cords of their iniquities, and reviving drooping Spirits, with ſweet Influences, as the Pleiades. When the work of Chriſt proſpers in their hands, and the Kingdom of Chriſt riſes up to Elated degrees under their Adminiſtrations; moving the glad Spectators to cry, Grace! Grace! to it.

10. When the practice of Second-Table Duties, Enters into the Character of a Profeſſing People, and becomes a conſiderable part of it. We know that general Rule, Phil. 4.8. Whatſoever things are true, whatſoever things are honeſt, whatſoever things are juſt, whatſoever things are pure, whatſoever things are lovely, whatſoever things are of good report, think on theſe things; bring them down into practice. Without theſe, the loudeſt Profeſſion is but as ſounding braſs, or a tinkling cymbal. It is a reproach to Religion when the Profeſſors of it, ſoar aloft in their diſcourſes, but by and by deſcend again, & ſordidly creep after their luſts; But they who ſhall abide in Gods Tabernacle, are men of other principles; they are Children that will not lie; a juſt weight, and a juſt Ephah is their delight: but falſe ballances, & the ſcant meaſure, that is abominable, is an abomination to them, as to the Lord; they do in holy wiſe diſdain to enrich themſelves by little Arts; we read their character, Pſal. 15.

11. When a Profeſſing People do faithfully endeavour to preſerve the Unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Do ſtand faſt in one Spirit with one mind, ſtriving together for the faith of the Goſpel. When they do not denominate themſelves from this or the other party, but from Chriſt, & can be content that others ſhould be Chriſt's as well as they; we know the Apoſtles Exhortation, Follow peace and holineſs, &c. There is not like to be much holineſs, where there is but little peace; Peace is the Tranquillity of Order; if Peace be broken, Order will be cripled, and we may invert the words of the Apoſtle to his Coloſſians, grieving and beholding your want of Order; when contentions grow warm, love will grow cool. Jeruſalem is builded as a City that is compact together.

12. And Laſtly; When a people are contented under their pr • ſent circumſtances; and can quietly leave the Government of the World to him, whoſe Kingdom ruleth over all; (as Luther once to Melancthon) and without murmuring; yea with thankfulneſs receive what Divine Providence carves out to them, and are not forward to meddle with thoſe who are given to Change.

Theſe are ſome of the happy Symptoms which do betoken, the flouriſhing State of the Kingdom of Chriſt.

This Truth may be farther argued,

1. From that Goſpel Precept, Matt. 6.33. But ſeek ye firſt the Kingdom of God. Our Lord Jeſus Chriſt is KING of his Church: Iſa. 33.22. The Lord is our King: He was born a King, Matt. 2.2. Where is he that is born King of the Jews. He was a King before he was born, by the appointment and decree of God: Yet have I ſet my King upon my holy hill of Zion; I will declare the decree, Pſal. 2.6, 7. But he ſhall not be a King without a Kingdom; whatever ſome have vainly, and curiouſly enough thought poſſible: His Father hath given him large Territories; the Uttermoſt parts of the Earth for his Poſſeſſion. And this in virtue of that bleſſed compact which paſſed between the Father and the Son, when the Terms of Mans Redemption, were agreed upon, in the Council of God: That the Son of God making his Soul an offering for Sin, he ſhall not die in vain; He ſhall ſee a numerous Seed, Sprinkle many Nations. God will divide him a Portion with the Great, Iſa. 52.13, 15.53.10, 11.

2. But what advantage will it be to any particular man, that Chriſt hath a Kingdom in the World, if he have no ſhare in it? If there be nothing of it in his heart, he may behold ſomething of it with his Eyes, but never Taſte of the power, or plenty of it; ſo that we may argue from the neceſſity which lies upon men to concern themſelves in this matter in order to their beſt good, it is the One needful.

3. It is the beſt thing: The Apoſtle tells us, It is good to be zealouſly affected alwayes in a good thing. Now the Kingdom of Chriſt is the beſt thing in the World: Chriſt is the beſt King, higher then the Kings of the Earth; Fairer than the Children of men, anointed with the oyl of gladneſs above his fellows. His Subjects are the beſt Subjects, and moſt honourable; He makes them all Kings: His Laws the beſt Laws; His Law a Royal Law, a perfect Law of Liberty: The privileges of his Kingdom the beſt privileges; and the beſt thing that we can do, is to lay hold of this Kingdom, to proſecute the intereſt of it, with vigorous affections, both in our ſelves and others.

I might Reaſon farther, from the common places of Honour, Intereſt and Conſcience. But I ſhall proceed to the APPLICATION.

USE I. We may hence learn, what cauſe we have to bleſs God, that there is ſuch a gracious Appearance of the Kingdom of Chriſt, yet amongſt us in this Land. Our Fathers when they tranſported themſelves and Families over the great Ocean into this Wilderneſs, they deſigned the Intereſt of the Kingdom of Chriſt in that Undertaking. They left not their Native Country, a Land which was dear to them, out of any diſaffection to Monarchy, or diſlike of the Civil Government. They came not hither, for the ſake of Dominion, the great Idol of the World; they came not to Erect an Independent State here: They came not to Inrich themſeves by Trade, or to Inlarge their Borders, that they might live in a large place. They propounded to themſelves higher and more noble Ends; their Deſign it was to Exalt our Lord Jeſus Chriſt in his Kingly Office, to lay the Foundations of his Kingdom in the Remote Parts of the Earth, where Satan had ſo long uſurp'd quiet Poſſeſſion; that this part of the Earth might be leaven'd with the ſavour of the Goſpel, as well as her other Siſters; that they and their Children might ſerve God in the Wilderneſs. God owned them, maintain'd their Cauſe, they had much of the Preſence of Chriſt, who ſhewed them much of the Goings out, & Comings in of his Houſe, the Laws, and Ordinances thereof; they were edifyed, walking in the fear of the Lord, and comfort of the Holy Ghoſt, were multiplied, their Fame went forth, they were Renowned for Religion: And having Served their Generation, according to the Will of God, they are fallen aſleep. Now we their Poſterity of one and another Generation are Riſen up in their places, and although as to too many of them, it may be ſaid, they are not like unto their Fathers, and it may be, that the beſt do but imitate them, as Children follow their Parents; Non aequis Paſſibus, at too great a diſtance; and notwithſtanding there are ſome Surviving, who ſaw the former Glory, and who may find cauſe to ſay, That the Glory of this Generation is not like the Glory of the firſt; yet let us pray that God will make it ſo, and let us bleſs God, for what of Glory yet dwells in our Land.

I hope it may without offence be ſaid, That New-England may yet at leaſt Vie, with any of the Queens foreign Plantations, for pure Religion, and the power of Godlineſs. Our GOVERNOUR and COUNSELLORS this day, let it be ſpoken with due thanks to GOD, and our gracious QUEEN, are all choſen from amongſt our ſelves, though not all by our ſelves; Men of Jethro's character, and who deſire to Fear God and Eſchew evil. Our GOVERNOUR a Perſon born, and brought up amongſt us, who naturally cares for the Weal of his Native Country; Excellently qualifyed, for Underſtanding the Times, and who knows, whether ſent, and continued amongſt us, for ſuch a Time as this? Through whoſe happy Conduct, we who live on the Frontiers, and in the Expoſed Plantations, do enjoy a meaſure of quietneſs, beyond our fears, and above our hopes, which we do accept always, and in all places, with all humble Thankfulneſs. Our MINISTRY, a Godly, Learned, Painful, Condeſcending Miniſtry. And as to the Body of our People, They are to be accounted Orthodox Chriſtians, and ſound in the Faith.

There is a great deal of Religion in this great Town; as there is a great deal of Vanity, ſo there is a great deal of the Power of Godlineſs: The Town fares the better for it. The like may be ſaid of ſome other great Towns in this Province; and leſſer Towns too, in which God is Solemnly Worſhipped every Sabbath day. There is in this Country, many a poor Cottage, whoſe Out-ſide reſembles the Tents of Kedar, whoſe Riches and Ornaments are within, Goſpel Worſhippers; who conſtantly Serve God Day and Night, Theſe are our Walls and bulwarks; The chariots of our Iſrael, and the Horſemen thereof: and ſhall we not bleſs God for this Glory?

I proceed to another USE, and let it be a Word of EXHORTATION: To ſtir up all of Us, in our ſeveral Stations, and Capacities to promote the Intereſt of CHRIST's Kingdom in Our Selves and Othe • s.

And perhaps it may not be indecent for me to ſay, That all Orders here preſent, are to look upon it as the Work of their Generation. And if I ſhould think to attempt any thing more particularly, His Excellency, and this Aſſembly have been Addreſs'd ſo often, and to ſo good purpoſe, from this Place, and on this Occaſion, that there will be the leſs reaſon for me to ſay,

That your EXCELLENCY, having prepar'd and Setled a Throne for the Lord Jeſus in your own Heart, and having reſign'd up your Self to the Conduct of his Spirit, and taken up with that part of his Kingdom, which comes not by Obſervation, but is Righteouſneſs, Peace, and Joy, in the Holy Ghoſt: You are on this account, as many other, the rather Obliged, & Enabled, to Obſerve, & Procure, The coming of the Kingdom of our Lord JESUS CHRIST in this Land, in greater Power, & Glory; in ſo doing, you do approve your Self an Eminent, and Illuſtrious part of His Kingdom, and will bring upon you, The bleſſings of Heaven above, the bleſſings of the Deep that lyeth under; the bleſſings of the Earth, and fulneſs thereof; That the bleſſings of your EXCELLENCY, may prevail above the bleſſings of your Progenitors, from the good will of Him who dwelt in the Buſh.

And thoſe HONOURABLE Perſons who are, or may be called to Aſſiſt in Government, They will readily concur to any thing, to every thing, which may conduce to the building up the Kingdom of Chriſt amongſt us.

You have before you, the Examples of Holy, and Honourable Perſons, whoſe Names are preſerved in Sacred Writt, who were famous in their Generations, on the account of Chriſts Kingdom. Moſes was King in Jeſurun, he was faithful in all his Houſe as a Servant, to a Tack, and to a Pin. David was Uneaſy whilſt the Ark abode in the Fields of the Wood, was reſtleſs in his thoughts till he had prepared a Reſting place for it. I might inſtance in Nehemiah, Mordecai, who ſought the Wealth of their People, who were the Lords People, and His Kingdom.

And now as to thoſe VENERABLE Perſons of the Sacred Order: You know your Character ſo well, & the care of Churches lies ſo near your Hearts, that you will all agree to that Wiſe Maſter builder; We Preach not Our Selves, but Chriſt Jeſus the Lord, and Our Selves the Churches Servants, for JESUS ſake.

There is another Order here preſent, Namely, Thoſe good GENTLEMEN who Repreſent the Body of this People: It is Evident by that great Truſt this People have repoſed in you, That they do Preſume and Expect, That in the choice now before you, you will have a ſpecial regard to Such, who in the Judgment of Charity, have Subjected themſelves to the Rule of Chriſts Kingdom.

And there is not the meaneſt Perſon in this Aſſembly, but who may, by his devout Prayers, and pious Life, give a lift to this cauſe.

Let it be conſidered, That CHRIST's Kingdom ſhall come in great Power and Glory. The Kingdoms of this World, ſhall become the Kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Chriſt, Rev. 11.15. God will bring home his ancient People: The Lord ſaid, I will bring again from Baſhan, I will bring my people again from the dephts of the ſea, Pſal. 68.22. He is able to do it: and the gifts and calling of God are without Repentance. All Impediments muſt be removed; Euphrates muſt be dried up, let the Streams ſwell never ſo high: The Ottoman Monarchy, if not otherwiſe diſpoſed of, will ſink under the weight of its own bulk. Every Limb, and Toe of Nebuchadnezzars Image, ſhall be broken in pieces, by the Stone cut out of the Mountain without hands: The Idolatrous Worſhip of the Gentiles, ſhall be aboliſhed: Our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, will in theſe laſt days, ſhake all Kingdoms, and Nations, till He have ſhaken out all that Antichriſtian Mortar, with which they were cemented in their firſt conſtitution, and until He hath formed them to the Intereſt of His Kingdom. And Tottering Rome ſhall at length fall, and great will be the fall thereof; not a Stone left upon a Stone: The man of Sin muſt be Totally deſtroy'd, Head and Members, Root and Branches.

The Expectations of Gods People are raiſed up to look after, and wait for the Accompliſhment of theſe things; Multitudes of Prayers are haſtning of them. It is a happy Omen, That the Time to favour Sion, yea the ſet Time is come; When the Lords Remembrancers give him no Reſt, till he make Jeruſalem a Praiſe in the Earth; when his Servants take pleaſure in the Stones of Sion, and favour the Duſt thereof. Then let us prepare to meet the Lord; let us ſit looſe from all theſe things which ſhall be diſſolved; let us ſee that we be furniſhed with Veſſel Oyl, that our Lamps be Trim'd, and burning, that we be not aſhamed before Him, at his coming. Let us keep our ſelves upon our Watch-towers, and let us gird up the Loins of our Mind, be Sober, and hope to the End, for the Grace that is to be brought, at the Revelation of Jeſus Chriſt: Yet a little while, and He that ſhall come, will come, and will not tarry; and perhaps before many Slumbring, Sleepy Virgins are aware: Let us then Look for Him.

And let this Great Aſſembly Unanimouſly joyn in that Holy Comprecation; AMEN, Even ſo, Come, Lord Jeſus.

WISDOM is commended in this Chapter, for its Uſefulneſs to Men, in ſeveral Caſes.

1. In that it doth direct them how to deport themſelves, towards Kings and Rulers; ſo as to keep them in their Obedience, grounded on the Oath of God, which they have ſolemnly taken, Namely, The Oath of Allegiance, which Subjects Swear to their Prince; I counſel thee to keep the Kings Commandment, and that in regard of the Oath of God, v. 2. And that they may avoid thoſe dangers, and precipices which fooliſh men, through their folly and indiſcretion do caſt themſelves into: Be not haſty to go out of his ſight: ſtand not in an Evil thing: for he doeth whatſoever pleaſeth him. Whoſo keepeth the Commandment ſhall feel no evil thing,: v. 3, 5.

2. Wiſdom furniſhes men with Expedients in their Preparations, for the prevention of thoſe Unhappy Accidents and evil Occurrents, which do frequently happen in this changeable World, and are many, unforeſeen, intricate, and not otherwiſe to be avoided: v. 6, 7, 8.

3. It teaches how to make a right Judgment of the Proſperity, and Impunity of wicked men; That notwithſtanding their preſent Immunity from puniſhment, & proſperous Succeſſes; they ſhall not always eſcape: but are in due Time Snared & Taken in the Work of their own hands.

[Becauſe Sentence againſt an Evil Work is not ſpeedily Executed.] Sentence againſt every Evil Work is paſſed in Foro Coeli, in the Court of Heaven; it is the Execution that is ſuſpended.

GOD has determined in his Eternal Counſel to puniſh Sin; and the act is no ſooner committed, but the Sinner becomes obnoxious; Guilt commences againſt him, and the Man is Self-condemn'd; Condemned in the Court of Conſcience; if Conſcience be awake to do its Office, and tho' the Puniſhment be defer'd, Conſcience keeps him in ſafe Cuſtody.

[Therefore the Heart of the Sons of men,] That is, (ſays a Learned Man) Illorum qui ſunt nutriti in carnalitate, et ſunt filij hominum, non D • i: Of them who are nouriſh'd in Senſuality; and are the Sons of Men, not of God.

[Is fully ſet in them to do Evil,] i. e. Compoſed harden'd and determined, to turn all to an Increaſe of Wickedneſs.

In theſe Words are touched, 1. Go • s Patience towards Evil doers. 2. Their perverſe uſe of Gods Patience to a Licentiouſneſs in Sin.

Obſer. I. That the Righteous God for Holy Ends is ſometimes pleaſed to ſuffer Evil doers, for a time to go Unpuniſhed.

Obſer. II. Such is the Perverſeneſs of Evil doers, that they abuſe the Patience of God, to a Liberty, and boldneſs in Sin.

GOD is pleaſed oftentimes to Exerciſe long patience towards Sinners; they have a Day of Grace, and they have a day of Patien •• : The day of Grace may be ended and paſt, and yet Patience may interpoſe, and obtain a reprieve for the Sinner a little longer: Juſtice hath En • ai •• puniſhment to Sin, and though it be Impoſſible to cut off the Entail; whilſt Evil men perſiſt in their Wickedneſs, yet Patience oft-times ſ • ſpends the puniſhment.

The Long-ſuffering of God waited on the Old World, all the time the Ark was preparing, Namely One hundred and twenty years, 1 Pet. 3.20. Gen. 6.3. which muſt not be underſtood of the Term of Mans Life • ut off in ſo little time, to ſo ſhort a ſcantling; but of Gods Patience towards the Old World, which he would exten • no farther. God had determin'd to bring Evil upon Ahab and his houſe; yet the evil determined was defer'd all his days upon his Humiliation, 1 King. 21.29. Becauſe he humbled himſelf before me; I will not bring the Evil in his dayes, but in his Sons days will I bring the evil upon his Houſe. The doomed Amorites were reſpited from deſtruction, four Generations through the Patience of God. Forty years Patience paſs'd between Jeruſalem threatned, and Jeruſalem deſtroy'd: All the cumberers of the ground are not preſently cut down, Luk. 7.8. Some Reaſons why all Sinners are not preſently puniſhed.

Reaſ. 1. God forbears to puniſh ſpeedily, that men may have a ſpace to Reform, and grow better. I gave her ſpace to repent, Rev. 2.21. Differt paenam dum Expectat poenitentiam: So Hierom: He deferreth the puniſhment, while he Expecteth Repentance. Puniſhment is not the primary intention of the Supream Law-giver: The Law of God (as other Laws) binds to Obedience; Puniſhment is ſuperadded in a Secondary way, to reduce men to their Duty: Hence God warns, and waits before He ſtrikes. We read of the Riches of Gods forbearance, Rom 2.4. It is the forbearance of God which makes Him rich in Souls, the Salvation of Thouſands of Souls is owing to the forbearance and long-ſuffering of God. It is the Patience of the good Shepherd that ſeeks, finds, and brings home the wandring Sheep; when impatience would eaſily neglect, and deſpiſe a ſingle Sheep. The patient Father Receives, Cloaths, Feaſts the Prodigal Son, and makes Apology for him too, to his diſcontented Brother. Had Manaſſeh been cut off in the full carreer of his Sin, we ſhould not have heard of his Repentance, Reſtauration, and Reformation.

2. God ſometimes ſpares wicked men, that they may be Improved as Inſtruments to puniſh others. He lets looſe the Nations, and ſuffers them to break in upon one another, that they may afflict, vex and puniſh one another. God made a Rod of the Aſſyrian to ſcourge the Hypocriſy of his own People, Iſa. 10.5. O Aſſyrian the rod of mine anger. The great Invader of the Peace & quiet of Europe, as juſtly deſerves to be called, Flagellum Dei, as ever Totilas did, as if raiſed up on purpoſe to diſquiet the Nations. When God has done his Work by ſuch Inſtruments, He will do his Work upon them; He will puniſh them: When the Lord hath performed his whole work upon Mount Sion, &c. I will puniſh the fruit of the ſtout heart of the King of Aſſyria, v. 12. Thus Caeſar, after all his Slaughters and bloud-ſhed, it came at laſt to his own turn, he was ignominiouſly ſlain in the Senate-houſe, by ſome of his pretended friends.

3. Wicked men may in ſome ſenſe be Spared, yet not Exempted from Puniſhment. Wickedneſs carries its puniſhment along with it: Guilt laſhes the Conſcience with inviſible Strokes; a guilty Conſcience is its own Tormentor; no fury like it. Hence Wicked men are likened to the troubled Sea, when it cannot reſt, Iſa. 57.20. When Paul a Priſoner reaſoned of Judgment to come, Felix, though a Judge, trembled; the Lion within was awakened, and began to roar. After Nero had Murdered his Mother, he was ever haunted and tormented with her Ghoſt: Sin not repented of lies gnawing, and feeding as a Vulture on the Entrails. Now we ſee the Out-ward Splendor and Grandieur of Wicked men, but we ſee not the inward inquietude, and anxiety of their Minds; we ſee the Silk Stocking, but not the Ulcerated Legg under it.

4. The time wicked men are Spared, is not ſo long as we think for. We reckon time by ſhort and ſcanty meaſures, and a little time ſeems long to us: Gods forbearance of Sinners, though for many years, is nothing compared with his duration; A thouſand years are but as one day, 2 Pet. 3.8. Now what is mans Life? It is eve • a Vapour that appeareth for a little time, Jam. 4.14. David ſays, Behold thou haſt made my days, as an hand-breadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee, Pſal. 39.5. So then, there is no wrong done in whatever part of mans ſhort Life, his Sin unrepented of, finds him out. The Malefactor is not acquitted becauſe the Execution is defer'd unto the Evening.

5. The proper Time for the Puniſhment of Wicked men, is not yet come. That is another reaſon why they are forborn: To every thing there is a ſeaſon. They are not yet ripe for deſtruction, they have not yet filled up the meaſure of their Sin: The iniquity of the Amorites was not full in Abrahams time, Gen. 15.16. Some fill up their meaſure ſooner than others, and ſo bring upon themſelves ſwift deſtruction. They who live under plenty of means, under the light, and influences of Goſpel Ordinances, their Sins are ſooner ripe for Puniſhment. Others have not the like advantages, and they are the longer borne with: The times of Ignorance God wincked at, Act. 17.30. Or wicked men may be ſpared for a time, that their Puniſhment may be the more remarkable; they ſhall be made Examples: God ſees their day is coming in which his Juſtice will ride triumphant, in their deſtruction. Now is the End come upon thee, and I will ſend mine anger upon thee, and will judge thee according to thy ways, Ezek. 7.3.

Laſtly; Why may it not be to give a check to the Eagerneſs, and Haſtineſs of men to purſue and ſatisfy their own Revenges, under the plauſible preſence of Juſtice, and to teach us Clemency and forbearance? The Patience and Long-ſuffering of God, may be of great uſe to our Imitation, that we be not too forward to proſecute Injuries and Offences.

I come to the APPLICATION.

USE. I. What has been ſaid may be Improved to Vindicate the Juſtice of Providence, in the Government of the World, from the Imputations of men, who either cannot ſee far off, or do paſs a judgment too ſoon, before Providence hath done its work. It hath very much Exerciſed the thoughts of Inquiſitive men among the Heathen, when they obſerved Wickedneſs Proſperous, but Virtue Oppreſſed; and hath cauſed them to ſpeak very doubtfully, if not altogether deny, the Being of Divine Providence. Pompey fights for Glory and is Victorious; but when he turns his Arms to preſerve his Countrys Liberty, he falls a Victim before the Ambition of his Corrival. And it is not ſo much to be admired, becauſe they wanted Divine Revelation. But others there have been, who have been furniſhed with more Excellent Inſtructions, than Nature can teach, who yet for a time could not ſatisfy themſelves on this head. I was Envious at the fooliſh (ſaid that good man) when I ſaw the Proſperity of the Wicked, Pſal. 73.3. Holy Jeremiah craves leave to debate this matter, Let me talk with thee of thy Judgments, Jer. 12.1. The Book of Eſther is an Excellent Scheme of Providence working to the Deliverance of the Church from that Deſtruction She was devoted to, by her Enemies. A Chain, whoſe links conſiſted of various matter, ſome of Gold, others of baſer Mettal, as One well obſerves. Now he that ſhall break this Chain, and conſider only ſome parts by themſelves, ſhall never be able to connect and reconcile them to the Grand deſign of Providence. While the Houſe is in building (perhaps it is the ſame Learned mans ſimilitude) the Materials lie here and there in heaps, in a diſorderly and uncomely manner, but when the Houſe is finiſh'd, a beautiful fabrick preſents it ſelf to our Eye: we often judge before the time, and ſo make falſe Judgments. But indeed a finite Underſtanding is not a competent Judge of thoſe things that are diſpoſed by Infinite Wiſdom. The Wheels of Providence are too intricrate, high and dreadful, for our weak ſight to trace, and meaſure their motions, Ezek. 1.16, 18.

USE. II. The impunity of Evil doers in this Life, may confirm our Faith in the Doctrine of the laſt and general Judgment; They do not Eſcape, but are reſerved unto the Judgment of the Great Day. God has made a Righteous Law, by which He has declared His Soveraign Pleaſure, to puniſh the Tranſgreſſors with Death, Rom. 6. • 3. But He ſometimes ſuſpends the Execution to another day: Manet alta mente repoſtum. God is in honour oblig'd to Puniſh Sin which is ſo directly contrary to his Being, and Life; but it is with His Wiſdom to direct, and determine the time when, and if not in this World, we may aſſuredly conclude, it ſhall be in another, Eccl. 3.16, 17. and Chap. 11. v. 9. Nor want we Inſtances in Courts of humane Judicature, where ſometimes the Tryal of Criminals is waved in an Inferiour; and left to the Wiſdom, and Authority of a Superiour Court. If there be not a future Judgment, many abſurdities would follow, which mans Reaſon recoyls from; then the beſt of men would be in a worſe condition, than the baſeſt of men. If in this Life only we have hope in Chriſt, we are of all men moſt miſerable, 1 Cor. 15.19.

USE. III. To detect and correct the Wretched perverſneſs of mans Nature, in abuſeing the Patience of God; as if Sinners were Spared to commit greater Abominations: Jer. 7.10. Let favour be ſhewed to the Wicked, yet will he not learn Righteouſneſs; therefore the heart of the Sons of men is fully ſet to do Evil: Their hearts are full to do Evil, ſo ſome read, Full of Evil Thoughts, Evil Deſires, Purpoſes, Reſolutions; ſo full, that there is no room for the fear of Gods Judgments, no room for the Conſideration of the fooliſhneſs of Wickedneſs, or their own dang •• to reſtrain them, but they ruſh on without counſel, againſt counſel, as the Horſe into the battel; or rather the Wild Aſs looſe in the Wilderneſs;, that ſnuffeth up the wind at her pleaſure, and happy will it be for ſuch, if there be a Month in which they may be found, and caught, though it be among the thorns, as Manaſſeh was: they think not of the Jugment to come, or if they do, they have ſet the day ſo far off, and removed it at ſuch a diſtance from them; that as the Stars, it does but twinkle in their thoughts, and makes no powerful Impreſſions upon their Heart, or Life.

USE. IV. Of EXHORTATION.

To ſtir up men wiſely to Improve the dayes of Gods Patience, and to account his Long-ſuffering Salvation; to prepare to meet the Lord by ſound Humiliation, and a timely Reformation of their Evil Life. The Sentence is paſt, it is meet Sinners ſhould be Alarm'd, but if they will adventure to go on ſtill in their Treſpaſſes, the Execution will follow, there will be none to interpoſe: And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou ſhalt cut it down, Luk. 13.9.

And here let it be conſidered, that ſometimes the Sentence is ſpeedily Executed, Juſtice is a Swift Witneſs againſt Evil doers: Mal. 3.5. They are ſoon cut down like the graſs, Pſal. 37.2. 〈◊〉 was Davids Obſervation long ſince, I have ſeen the Wicked in great Power, and Spreading himſelf like a green-bay tree; yet be paſſed away, 〈…〉 was not, yea I ſought him, but he could not be found.

Nadab and Abihu, are Inſtances of preſent Puniſhment, Lev. 1.2. in whom God was pleaſed to ſhew not only Judgment, but Preſent Judgment: Salvian. But if the Puniſhment be defer'd, it will be the heavier when it falls: Jeruſalem came down wonderfully, becauſe he Remembred not her laſt End.

USE. V.

The laſt USE may be to Exhort and Excite us to Imitate the Goodneſs, Gentleneſs and Forbearance of GOD, towards one another, forbearing one another, • ol. 3.13. It is no little argument of the degeneracy of humane Nature; Mans eagerneſs and haſtineſs in Proſecution of Injuries. We call that Juſtice, which might too often more truly be named Revenge.

Theodoſius was too haſty, in the Execution of the men of Theſſalonica. Haſty Executions are oftner repented than recalled. It is known who that Prince was that could not call from his 〈◊〉 that great Miniſter of 〈◊〉 when he 〈…〉 of him, he had too haſt •• y ſent 〈◊〉 .

Pure Religion and Undefiled is this, To Imitate the Divine Perfections. Be ye therefore Merciful, as your Father alſo is Merciful. He that makes GOD his Preſident, though he is not like to hit the Mark, yet ſurely it will be to his honour that he aimed at it, and preſſes towards it.