edwards j an humble attempt&c

7/29/2019 Edwards J an Humble Attempt&c.

1/271

A WHUMBLE ATTEMPTI TOPROMOTEEXPLICIT AGREEMENTAND

VISIBLE UNION of GOD's PEOPLE'I N

EXTRAORDINARY PRAYER,FOR T h'eREVIVAL OF RELIGIONAnd the

ADVANCEMENT of CHRIST'S KINGDOMO NEARTH,

PURSUANT TOSCRIPTURE-PROMISES and PROPHECIES

CONCERNING THELAST TIME.By JONATHAN EDWARDS, A.M.

Minifte?- cf the Gofpsi at Northampton.WITH A PREFACE BY SEVERAL MINISTERS.

Printed at Boftcn, in Ne-Jj-England, 1747. Reprintedat North,at?:ptony in Old E7igland, 1789.ELIZABETH TOWN:

Printed by chepard kollock, Printer and Bookfeller. 1794.


2/271


3/271

PREFACEB Y T H E

EDITOR, IN ENGLAND.

IOlney, May 4, 1789.

F any enquire why the enfuing work isrepiiblijlied, I would beg leave to lay be^fore them thefollowing intelligence

At an afjbciation of the minijlers and meffengers ofthe Baptijl churches in the countiesof Northampton, Leicefer, &c. held at Not-tingham, in theyear 1784, a refolution wasformed to eflablifi, through the affociation, ameeting of prayer for the general revivaland fpread of religion. This was to be ob-ferved the firjl Monday evening in every ca-lendar month, by all the churches. It Jlillcontinues,In 178S, another Baptif affocia-tion, commonly called the Midland, held thatyear at Aulcejter, in the county of Warwick,entered into th-efame refolution. Many otherchurches, particularly in Yorkfiire, have a-dopted, and now follow the above praSiice.


4/271

liv PREFACE BY THE EDITOR.We have the pleafare alfo to find, thatfeveralP^do-Baptift churches Jlatedly rueet on thcfeevenings,for thefamepiirpofe.

The re-publication ofthefollovjing work, iswith the avowed defgn ofprmnoting the aboveaggeenient and pradice, Thofc concerned initsfirfiinfiitution, never intended itfhould beconfined, to any peculiar connection, or parti-^cidar denojuination. Blather they ardentlywifiiedit might becomegeneral among thereatfriends of truth and holinefs. The advocatesof error are indefatigable in their endeavoursto ovevthrozo the diftinguifiing and interefingdo5irines ofChrifuanity ; thofe doElrines whichare the grounds of our hope, and fourccs ofourjoy. Surely it becomes the followers ofChrift, to ufe every effort, in order tofirength-^en the things vAich remain.

By re-piibl'fliing the following work, I danot confidermyffas becoming anfcoerableforevery fentimcnt it contains. An author andan editor are very d?finct characters. Shouldany entertain different views refpectingfomeof the prophecies in the infpiredf)age ~fromthofe thai are here advanced, yet ftich may,and Ihope zoill,. approve ofthe general defgn.

In the prejent imperfectfate, xve-may rea-fonably expect a d.iverfity offenliments upon'religious matters. Each ouglit to thinkfor


5/271

PREFACE &Y THE EDITOR. Ivfimfelf; and every one has a rigkt, on propercccajons, toJJiezo his opinion, YetallJIioulclremember, thai there are but ttvo po.rtm inthe world, each enga.ged in oppofite ca/itjisthe caufe of God and of Satan ; of holimfsand offin ; of heaven and helL The advd^e-ment of the one, and the downfall of the otherrniifi appear exceedingly defrablc to every realfriend of God and man. Iffnch, infome re-fpects entertain difexentfentiments, andprac-tife dijlinguipjiing modes of worfiip, furelythey may unite in the above bvfnefs. forthoifands upon thoifands, divided intofnailhands in their refpective cities, towns, villa-ges and neighbourhood, all met at the fametime, and in purfnit of one end, offering uptheir united prayers, like fo many afcendingclouds ofincenfe before the Mof High! Mayhe fhower down bleffings on all thefcatteredtribes of Zion ! Grace, great grace be with allthem that love the Lord Jefus Chrijl infinceri-ty ! Amen ! JOHNSUTCLIFF-


6/271

^-

M


7/271

^^=^5^^==^-r^==v-i^THE

PREFACE.^TPHE ruin of Satan's miferaljle kingdom^-^ and the advancement of the univerfaland happy reign of Chrift on the earth, wereincluded and hinted in the fentence denoun-ced on the ferpent, that they^^^ of the zoo-man Jliould bruife. his head. What was aterriblethreateningto Satan, in the furprizedears of our firtl guilty parents, implied a joy-ful prophecy, to keep them from defpair, andenliven their hopes for themfelves and theirdefcendants, of obtaining by this feed of her san eternal triumph over him who had fo fad-ly foiled them. And it is likely, their hopesand faith immediately arofe, laid hold on thereviving prophecy, earneftly defired its hap-py accompiifliment, and tranfmitted it totheir pofterity.

Biit though this prophecy was at firfl onlydelivered in the form of a threatening to Sa-tan ; it was afterwards direclly given in tlieform of a promife to Abraham, though ftillin general terms, that in his feed JJiould allG


8/271

Iviii ' The PREFACE.the nations of the earth be blejfed. Yet thisgeneral promife was more clearly by. de-grees explained in the following ages, toiTiCa-n a Divine King, no other than the Sonof God affuming human nature of the feedof Abraham, Ifaac, Jacob and David ; thatfnouM be born of a virgin in Bethlehem ofJudah ; and at firft defpifed, abufed, rejefted,and put to death ; but fliould rife to im-mortal life, afcend to heaven, and thenceextend his bleffed kingdom over all nations ;not by outward force, but inward overcom-ing influence, by his Vvord and fpirit, mak-ing them his zvilling people in the day, of hispoioer ; and reigning in glorious light andholinefs, and love and peace for ever ; andthe advancement of this univerfal and hap-py reign has been the earneft defire andprayer of the faints in all ages to the prefentday.

But hov^r great the honour and how livelythe encouragement given in fcripture to thofetheir prayers ; by reprefenting them as of-fered by Chrift himfelf with the fragrant in-cenfe of his own merits and intercefnon, onthe golden altar before the throne, and afcend-ing together in one grateful perfuine to God!And how cheering to every faint is that pro-


9/271

The PREFACE, lixmife of his From the rijing ofthcfiin, evento the going down of thefame, my nameftallbe great aviang the Gentiles, and in everyplaceincenfe fiall be offered unto my name, and apure offering! How plcafing to God^'andthe heavenly hofts to fee, as the fun goesround the globe, this grateful incenfe rifingfrom every part on high ! and the more ex-tenfive and inceffant are thefe prayers, af-cending from the circle of the earth, themore does this bleffed promife go into itsdefired fulfilment, and the holy God is morepleafed and glorified.To promote the increafe, concurrency, andconftancy of thefe acceptable prayers, isthe great intention both of the pious me-morial of our reverend and dear brethrenin Scotland, and of the worthy author ofthis exciting effay. And this defign wecannot but recommend to all who defire thecoming of this blifsful kingdom in its pro-mifed extent and glory, in this wretchedworld.As to the author's ingenious obfervations

on the prophecies, we entirely leave themto the reader's judgment : with only obferv-ing, though it is the apprehenfion of manylearned men, that there is to be a very ge-


10/271

\K The P R E FA C E.neral fianghter of the witneffes of Chriftabout the time of their finifhing their tefti-mony to the pure worfhip and truths of the *gofpe!, about three or four years before thefeventh angel founds his trumpet for the ru-in of AntichriR ;yet we cannot fee thatthis is any juft objeftion againft our jointand earneft prayers for the glorious age fuc-ceeding, or for the haftening of it.

For if fuch a terrible time is coming inEurope, which we in depending Americaare likely to (hare in ; the more need wehave of joining in earneft and conftantprayers for extraordinary fuffering gracesfor ourfelves and others. And that fuch atime is coming on the members of Chrift,is no more an objeflion againft their prayersfor the haftening of the follov/ing glory^than it was before the incarnation of himtheir head, that his moft bitter fufferingswere to precede the fpreading of this joyouskingdom among the nations. And thenearer the day approaches, the more needwe have to be awakened to continual w^atch-fulnefs and prayer.May God pour out on all his people a-

bundantly, the fpirit of grace and fupplica-tion, and prepare them for the amazing


11/271

The PREFACE. Ixichanges haftening on the earthy both forprevious trials and for following glories !

Jofeph Sewall, "^Tfmnas Prince, l^jnifi^^John Webb, >inBofton,Ikomas roxcrojt,\

Jojliua Gee, JBoston, N. E. January 12, 1747-8.


12/271

^^trnmrmmKom

An HUMBLE ATTEMPT to pTomoU an explicit agree-ment and vifible union of God's People through lheWorld, in extraordinary prayer, yi?r the revi-val ^/'religion, and the Advance?nent oj Christ'sKingdom on Earth, purjuant to Scripture-Pro^nifcs andProphecies concerning the last time.

OCCASIONEDBy a late Memorial piabliHied by a Number of Miniflers in Scot-

land, and fent over to Ameiica, giving an Account of a certainConcert for Prayer, which has already been come into by manyMinifters and others in Great Britain and fume other Parts, andin which they defire the general Concurrence of their ChriftianBrethren every where.

CONTAININGA Copy of the faid Memorial, wiih a more particular View of the

Affair it relates to: a Variety of Arguments and Perfuafives tocomply with the Motion therein made, for united and extraor-dinary Prayer; and Anfwers to fome Objedlions.

TOGETHER WITHSeafonable Confiderations on the Afpeds of Providence in many

late wonderful Difpenfitions, and the prefent State of Thingsin the Church and moral World; pointing out the Fulfilling ofthe Scriptures, and the Voice of God to his People, in thefeEvents.By JONArHan EDWARDS, A.M.

Mifiijisr oftk Cofpd in Northaj^iptct:, N. E.


13/271

APART I.The text opened, andan accountgiven ofthe af-fairpropojed in the memorialfrom Scotland^Zechariah viii. 20, 21, 22.

Thusfaith the LordofHojhItjhall yet come to pafs, thatthereJJiall come people^ and the inhabitants ofmany cities ;and the inhabitants of one cifyfhallgo unto, another, fay^ingLet us go fpeedily to pray before the Lord, and tofeck the Lord oj Hnjis, I will go alfo. Yea, many peo-ple andjirong nationsfhall come tofeek the Lord ofHofsin Jerufalem, and to pray before the Lord,

IN this chapter we have a prophecy ofa fu-ture glorious advancement of the churchof God; wherein it is evident, fomethingfurther is intended than ever was fulfilled tothe nation of the Jews under the Old Tef-tament. For here are plain prophecies offuch things as never were fulfilled beforethe coming ofthe Meffiah ; particularly whatis faid in the two laft verfes in the chapter,of many people and Jlrong nations worjliip-pnng andfeeking the true God, and of fo greatan acceffion of Gentile nations to the churchof God, that by far the greater part of thevifible worfliippers of God fliould confift ofthis new accelfion, fo that they fi:iould be tothe other as ten to onea certain number


14/271

S^ filE TEXT OPENED.for an uncertain. There never happenedany thing, from the tirre of the prophet Ze-chariah to the coming of Chrifl, to anfwerthis prophecy ; and it can have no fulfihuentbut either in the calling of the Gentiles, inand after the days of the apoftles, or in thefuture glorious enlargement of the churchof God in the latter ages of the world, fooften foretold by the prophets of the OldTeftament, and by the prophet Zechariahin particular, in the latter part of his pro-phecy. It is moft probable, that what thefpirit of God has chief refpeft to, is that laftand greatefl: enlargement and moft gloriousadvancement of the church ofGod on earth,in the benefits of vvdiich efpecially the Jewiflination wT-re to have a fiiare, and a very e-mincnt and diftinguidiing fliare. There isa great agreement between what is here faidand other prophecies, that mull manifeftlyhave refpefl to the church's latter-day-gloryas that in Ifaiah Ix. 2, 3, 4. The LordJIiallarife upon thee, and his gloryJliall hefeen up-on tkee; and the Gentiles Jliall come to thylight, and kings to the brightncfs ofthy rijing.Lift up thine eyes round about, andfee; allthey gather thevifelves together, they come t(yihcc. That whole chapter, beyond all dif-


15/271

fUi. TEXT OPENED. Qr,pute, has refpecl to the mofl: glorious ftateof the church of God on earth. So chap.Ixvi. 8. Shall the earth be made to bringforth in one day ? Shall a nation be born atonce?verfe lo. Rejoiceye with Jferiifalemyand be glad with her, allye tho.t love her.verfe 12. I will extend peace to her like anvr, and the glory ofthe Gentiles like aflow-ingJlream,Mich. iv. at the beginning:but in the lajl day itfhall come to pafs, thatthe mountain of the hoife of the Lordfhallbeeftablifiied in the top of the mountain, and itfiallbe exalted above the hills, andpeoplefhallflow unto it; and many nations fhall comeandfiy, come^^ and let us go up unto the moun^tain of the Lord, and to the houfe of the God,of Jacob. And hefiall judge among manypeople, and rebuke Jlrong nations afar offxand they fiall beat their fwords into plow-fharesyand theirfpears into pruning-hooks ;nationftail not lift upfnoord againjl 7iation,neither flail they learn war any more.-Seealfo, Ifaiah ii. at the beginning. There hasbeen nothing yet brought to pafs in any mea-fare to anfwer thefe prophecies. And asthe prophecy in my text cind the followingverfe does agree with them^ fo there is rea-H


16/271

6^ THE TEXi OPENED.foil to think it has a refpeft to the famftimes. And indeed there is a remarkable a-greement in the defcription given through-out the chapter, with the reprefentationsmade of thofe times elfewhere in the pro-phets, as may be feen by comparing ver. 3.with Ifaiah Ix. 14.ver, 4. with Ifaiah Ixv.20, 22. and xxxiii. 24.ver. 6, 7, 8. withEzeLxxxv'ii. 2, 11, 12,21.ver. 7. withIfaiah xliii. 5, 6. and xhx. 12. and lix. 19.ver. 12, 13. with Hofean. 21, 22. andEzeL xxxiv. 2229.ver. 8, 12, 13. withEzek. xxxvi. 2830.ver. 13. with Zeph.iii. 20. and Ifaiah xix. 24.ver. ig. withIfaiah Lxi. 3. and Jer. xxxi. 12, 13, 14.

So that however the prophet, in fomethings that are faid in this chapter, may haverefpeft to future fmiles of heaven on the na-tion of the Jews, lately returned from theBabylonifh captivity, and refettled in theland of Canaan, in a great increafe of theirnumbers and wealth, and the return of morecaptives from Chaldea and other countries,&c. )'et the fpirit of God has doubtlefs re-fpttl: to thmgs far greater than thefe, and ofwhich thefe were but faint refemblances.We find it common in the prophecies of theOld Teltament, that when the prophets are


17/271

THE TEXT OPENED. ^7/peaking of the favours and bleflTings of Godon the Jews, attending or following theirreturn from the Babylonilh captivity, thefpirit of God takes occafion from thence tofpeak of the incomparably greater blefTingson the church, that fhall attend and followher deliverance from the fpiritual or myfli-cal Babylon, of which thofe w^ere a type ;and is, as it were, led away to fpeak almoftwholly of thefe latter, and vaflly greaterthings, fo as to feem to forget the former.And whereas the prophet, in this chap-

ter, fpeaks of God's bringing his people a-gainfrom the eajl and wejl to Jerufalem,(ver. 7, 8.) And multitudes of all nationstaking hold ofthefkirts of the Jews; fo faras we may fuppofe that this means lilerallythat nation of the pofterity of Jacob, it can-not have chief refpeft to any return of theJews from Babylon and other countries int*hofe ancient times before Chrift, for no fuchthings as are here fpoken of, attended anyfuch return ; but it muft have refpefl: to thegreat calling and gathering of the Jews in-to the fold of Chrift, and their being receiv-ed to the blefhngs of his kingdom, after thefall of Anticbrift, or the deftruftion of myf-lical Babylon,


18/271

68 THE TEXT OPENED.In the text we have an account how thi^

future glorious advancement of the churchof God fliould be brought on, or introduceedjviz. By great muhitudes in different townsand countries taking up a joint refolution,and coming into an exprefs and vifible a^greement, that they will, by united and ex^traordinary prayer, feek to God that hewould come and manifefl; himfelf, and grantthe tokens and fruits of his gracious pre-fence.-Particularly we mary obferve,

1 . The duty, with the attendance on v/hichthe glorious event foretold fhail be broughton, viz. The duty of prayer.Prayer, fomefuppofe, is here to be taken fynechdochical-ly, for the whole of the worfhip of God]j.rayer being a principal part of the worfhipof the church of God in the days of the gofppel, when facrifices are aboliflied; and fo,that this is to be underftood only as a pro-phecy of a great revival of religion, and ofthe true wcrfiiip of God among his vifiblepeople,theaceelTion ofothers to the churchyand turning of multitudes from idolatry tothe worlhip of the true God, But it appearsto me reafonable, to fuppofe, that fomethingmore fpecial is intended, with regard to theduty of prayer j confidering that prayer is


19/271

THE TEXT OPENED. 6qhere exprefsly and repeatedly mentioned;and alfo confidering how parallel this placeis with many other prophecies, that fpeakof an extraordinary fpirit of prayer, as pre-ceding and introducing that glorious day ofrevival of religion, and advancement of thechurch's peace and profperity, fo often fore-told, (which I (hall have occafion to men-tion hereafter) and particularly the agree-ablenefs of what is here faid, with what isfaid afterwards by the fame prophet, of thepouring out of afpirit ofgrace andfupplica*tions, as that with which this great revivalof religion fhall begin, chap. xii. lo.

2. The good, that fiiall be fought byprayer ; which is God himfelf.It is faidonce and again, Theyftall go to pray beforethe Lord, andtofeek the Lord of Hofts. Thisis the good they afl?: for and feek by prayer.The Lord of Hofls \i\m{t\LTo feek God,as the expreflion may, perhaps, be fon;ietimesufed in fcripture, may figrvify no more thanfeeking the flivour or mercy of God. Andif it be taken fo here, praying before the Lord,diXidifeeking the Lord of Hofs, muft be look-ed upon as fynonymous expreffions. Andit mull: be confefled to be a common thingin fcripture. to fignify the fame thing re-


20/271

70 -THE TEXT OPENED.peatedly, by various expreffions of the fameimport, for the greater emphafis.But cer-tainly that exprelTion oi feeking the Lordîs very commonly ufed to fignify fomethingmore than merely, in general, to feek fomemercy of God: It implies that God himfelfis the great good defired and fought afterthat the bleHings purfued are God's graciousprefence, the blefled manifeftations of himûnion and intercourfe with him ; or,in (hort,God's manifeftations and communicationsof hi^Tiielf by his Holy Spirit. Thus thepfalmift defired God, thirfled after him, andIciight liim. God, thou art my God ; earlyxmll Ifeek thee, MyJieJIi longethfor thee, ina dry and thirjly land, xoere no water is, to.fee thy power and thy glory, Jo as Ihavefeenthee in thefanûary.Myfoulfolloweth hardafter thee,Whom have Tin heaven but thee?And there is none upon earth that I defire he-.fides thee. The pfalmifl earneftly purfuedafter God, his foul tltirfted after him, hefiretchedforth his hands unto him, &c. Andtherefore it is in fcripture the peculiar cha-rafter of the faints, that they are thofe thatfeek God. This is the generation of them thatfeek him. Your heartfhall live thatfeek God,And in many other places. If the ei^cpref-


21/271

THE TEXT OPENED. 7IHon in the text be underftood agreeably tothis fenre,thenby feekingthe Lordof Hofts,we muft underlland a feeking that God, whohad withdrawn, or as it were hid himfelf^for a long time^ would return to his church,and grant the tokens and fruits of his gra-cious prefence, and thofc bleffed communiscations of his fpirit to his people, and tomankind on the earth, which he had oftenpromifed, and which his church had longwaited for.And it feems reafonable to underftand the

phrafe, feeking the Lord of Hofs, in thisfenfe here, and not as merely fignifying thefame thing with praying to God ; not onlybecaufe the expreffion is repeatedly addedto praying before the Lord, in the text, asfignifying foraething more ; but alfo becaufethe phrafe, taken in this fenfe, is cxaftly a-greeable to other parallel prophetic repre-ientations. Thus God's people's feeking,by earneft prayer, the promifed reftoratiouof the church of God, after the Babylonifhcaptivity, and the great apoflacy that occa-fioned it, is called their feeking God, andfearchingfor him; and God's granting thispromifed revival and reftoration is called hishGingfound of them. For thisfaith the Lord,


22/271

7^ THE TEXT OPENED.that afterfeventy years be accomplijlied at Bd^bylon^ I zoill vijit you^ and perform my goodword towards you, in caufingyou to returnto this place. For I know the thoughts that Ithink towardsyou^faith the Lord, thoughts ofpeace, and not of evil, to giveyou an expect-id end. Thenfhallye go and call upon meând Iwill hearken untoyou; andyefiallfeekme and find me, when ye fiall fearchfor mewith allyour heart; and I will befound ofyou, faith the Lord, and I will turn azvayyour captivity. And the prophets, from timeto thne, reprefent God, in a low and afifliftêd ftate of his churchy as being withdrawn,and hiding himfelf. Verily thou art a Godthat hidefl thyfclf, God of Ifrael, the Saviôur. I hid me, and was wroth. And theyreprefent God's people, while his church isin fuch a ftate, before God delivers and le-ftores the fame, as feeking him, looking for'him, fearching and wâiting for him, and cal-ling after him. / will go and return unto myplace, 'till they acknowledge their offence, andfeek myfacefrom the houfe of Jacob, and Iwill lookfor him. And when God, in an-fwcr to their- prayers and fucceeding theirendeavors, delivers, reftores, and advanceshis churchy according to his promife, thea


23/271

THE TEXT OPENED* 7^he is faid to anfwer, and come, and fay, heream I, and to fliew himfelf; and they arefaid to find him, and fee him plainly. ThenJlialt thou cry, and hefmil fay, here i am.But Ifraeljliall befavedm the Lord, with aneverlajlingfalvation. Ifaid not unto thefeedof Jacob, Seek ye 7ne in vain. The Lord willwipe away the tearsfrom offallfaces, and therebuke of his people fiall he take awayfrontoff the earth. And itfiall befaid in that day^Lo^ this IS our God, we have waitedfor him^and he willfave us : This is the Lord, we have*waitedfor him; we will be glad, and rejoicein his falvation. We have ivaitedfor thee :The defire of our foul is to thy name, and t(^the remembrance of thee With myfoul haveI defredthee in the night; yea^ withmyfpiritwithin me will Ifeek thee early i For whenthy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitantsof the world will learn righteoufnefs. There-fore mypeoplefhall know my name; thereforetheyfliall know in that day^ that I am he thatdoth fpeak: behold, it is L How beautifulvpon the mountains are the feet of him thathringeth good tidings, that publifieth peacethat bringeth good tidings of good, that pub-Ifhcth falvation, thatfaith unto ZionThy

I


24/271

74 THE TEXT OPENED.God reigneth! Thy watchmenjhall lift up thevoice, together Jhall theyjing; foi^ theyjhallfee eye to eye, when the Lordjiiall bring againZion.

3. We may obferve who they are, thatlliall be united in thus feeking the Lord ofHofts; the inhabitants ofmany cities, and ofmany countries, jv^^, many people andflrongnations-, great multitudes in different partsof the world fhall Gonfpire in this bufinefs*From the reprefentation made in the pro-phecy, it appears rational to fuppofe, that itwill be fulfilled fomething after this man-nerFirft, that there (hall be given much ofa fpirit of prayer to God's people, in manyplaces, difpofing them to come into an ex-prefs agreement, unitedly to pray to God inan extraordinary manner, that he would ap-pear for the help of his church, and in mer--cy to mankind, and pour out his Spirit, re-vive his w^ork, and advance his fpiritualkingdom in the world, as^ he has promifed \

.. and that this difpofition to fuch prayer; andunion in it, will gradually fpread more andmore, and increafe to greater degrees ; widiwhich at length will gradiiaUy be introdu-ced a revival of religion, and a difpofition togreater engagednefs in the worfhip and fer-


25/271

THE TEXT OPENED, 75vice of God, amongfl: his profefling people;that this being obferved will be the meansof awakening others, making them fenfibleof the wants of their fouls, and exciting inthem a great concern for their fpiritual andeverlafting good, and putting them uponearneftly crying to God for fpiritual mer-cies, and difpofing them to join with God'speople in that extraordinary feeking andferving of God, which they fliall fee themengaged in; and that in this manner reli-gion Ihall be propagated, until the awakeningreaches thofe that are in the higheft Rations,and until whole nations be awakened, andthere be at length an accelTion of many ofthe chief nations of the world to the churchof God. Thus after the inhabitants ofmanycities of Ifrael, or of God's profefling peo-ple, have taken up, and purfued a joint re-folution, to go and pray before the Lord,and feek the Lord of Hofts, others fhall bedrawn to worfhip and ferve him with themtill at length many people and flrong na-tions fliall join themfelves to them; andthere fliall, in procefs of time, be a vafl: ac-ceflion to the church, fo that it fliall be tentimes as large as it was before ; yea, at lengthall nations fliall be converted unto God.


26/271

^6, THE TEXT OPENED.Thus ten men fhall take hold, out of all lan^guages of the nations, of the flurt of himthat is a Jew, (in the {Quk of the Apoflle)faying, " We will go with you, for we haveV heard that God is with you." And thusthat (hall be fulfilled,' thou that hearejiSray-er, unto theejliall alljlejk come,

4. We may obferve the m^ode of their u-nion in this duty. It is a vifible union, anunion by explicit agreement, a joint refolu-tion declared by one to another, come intoby being Erft propofed by fome, and readi-ly and exprefsly fallen in with by others.The inhabitants of one city fhall apply them-felves to the inhabitants of another, faying,Id lis go, &c. Thofe to whom the motionis made, fliall comply with it, the propofal{hall take \vith many, it fhall be a prevailing,fpreading thing; one ihall follow another'sexample, one and another fliall fay, / willgo al/v. Some fuppofe, that thofe wordsJ zoillgo alfoare to be taken as the wordsof him that makes the propofal; as much asto fay, I do not propofe that to you, which1 am not wilhng to do myfelf, I defire youto go, and I am ready to go with you. Butthis is to fuppofe no more to be expreffed inthefe latter words^ than was expreffed be-


27/271

THE TEXT OPENED. fjjfore in the propofal itfelf ; for thefe words,let us go, fignify as much, as that I am wil-ling to go, and dcfire you to go with me. Itfeems to me much more natural, to under*Hand thefe latter words as importing theconfent of thofe to whom the propofal ism^de, or the reply of one and another thatfalls in it. This is much more agreeable tothe plain defign of the text, which is to re-prefent the concurrence of great num.bers in^this affair, and more agreeable to the repre-ftntaaon made in the next veif?, of one fol-lowing another, many taking hold of theHurt of him that is a Jew, And though ifthe words are thus underftood, we mufl: fup-pofe an ellipfis in the text, fomething un-derftood that is not exprefled, as if it hadbeen faidThofe of other cities fliall fayI will go alfo;yet this is not diflScult tobe fuppofed, fuch ellipfis are very commonin fcripture. We have one exaflly parallelwith it in Jer. iii. 22. Return,ye backjlidingchildi'en, and I xvill healyour backjlidings:behold, we come unto thee, for thou art theLord our God, i. e. the backfliding childrenfhall fay" Behold we come unto thee,"&c. And in Cant. iv. Let my beloved comeinto his garden^ and eat his pleafantfruits,


28/271

^8 THE TEXT OPENED.lam come into viygarden, myjijler, myfpoufe,L e. her beloved (hall fay '' I am come intomy garden." V/e have the like throughoutthat fong! So Pfal. 1. 6, 7. The heavensJhalldeclare his righteoufnefs^ for God is judgehivifelf. Hear, my people, a.nd Izvillfpeak,i. e. the Judge fhall fay'' Hear,O my peo-ple/' &c. The pfalms and prophets aboundVvith fuch figures of fpeech.

5. We may obferve the manner of prayeragreed on, or the manner in which theyagree, to engage in and perform the duty.Let us go fpeedily to pray ; or as it in themargin, let us go continually. The wordsliterally tranilated are, /^îijôm^^zn^. Suchan ingemination or doubling of vôrds, isvery common in the Hebrew language, v/henit is intended that a tiling fliall be very ftrong-ly exprelied ; it generally implies the fuper-lative degree of a thing; as the holy of ho-lies fignifies the moft holy ; but it common,ly denotes, not only the utmoll degree of athing, but alfo the utmoft certainty ; as whenGod faid to, Abraham, in multiplying, I willmultiply thyfeed. It implies both that Godwould certainly multiply his feed, and alfomukiplyitexceedingly. So when GodfaidtoAdam, in the day that thou eateft thereof in


29/271

TH TEXT OPE^EJy^ jgJ^ing thouflialt die (as the words are in theoriginal ) it implies, both that he mould furelydie, and alfo that he fliould die molt terribly,Ihould utterly periili, and be deftroyed tothe utmoft degree. Yea, fometimes it feemsto imply fomething elfe ftill ; and, in fhort,as this ingemination of words in the He-brew, in general, denotes theftrength of ex-preflion, fo it is ufed to fignify almoft all thofethings that are wont to be fignified by thevarious forms of ftrong fpeech in other lan-guages ; fometimes it fignifies the utmoftdegree of a thing; fometimes certainty;fometimes peremptorinefs and terriblenefsof a threatening, or the greatnefs and pofi-tivenefs of a promife, the itriftnefs of a com-mand, and the earneftnefs of a requeft.When God fays to Adam, dying thou Jlialtdie, it is equivalent to fuch ftrong expreffi-ons in Englifti, as, thou flialt die indeed, or,thou ftialt die with a witnefs. So when itis faid in the text, let us go in going, andpray before the Lord, the ftrength of the ex-prefTion reprefents the earneftnefs of thofethat make the propofal, their great engaged-Hefs in the affair; and with refpeft to theduty propofed, it may be underftood to fig-nify that they Ihould be fpeedy, fervent, and


30/271

8o THE TEXT OPENED.conftant in it ; or, in one word, that it fliouldbe thoroughly performed.

6. We may learn from the tenor of thisprophecy, together with the context, thatthis union in fuch prayer is foretold as a be-coming and happy thing, and that whichwould be acceptable to God, and attendedwith glorious fuccefs.From the whole we may infer, that it is

a very fuitable thing, and well pleafing toGod, for many people, in different parts ofthe v/orld, by exprefs agreement, to com6into a vifible union, in extraordinary, fpee-dy, fervent, and conftant prayer, for thofeo-reat effufions of the Holy Spirit, whichihall bring on that advancement of Chrift'schurch and kingdom, that God has fo often,promifed {hail be in the latter ages of theworld.And fo from hence I would infer the duty

of God's people, with regard to the memo-rial lately fent over into America, from Scot-land, by a number of minifters there, pro-pofing a method for fuch an union as hasbeen fpoken of, in extraordinary prayer forthis great mercy.And it being the fpecial defign of this

difcourfe, to perfuade fuch as are friends to


31/271

the interefts of Chrift's kingdom, to a com-pliance with the propofal and requeft madein that memorial, I (hall firft give a fhorthiftorical account of the affair it relates to,from letters, papers, and pamphlets^ thathave come over from Scotland ; to which Ifhall annex the memorial itfelf * and thenI (hall offer fome arguments and motives;*tending to induce the friends of religion tofall in with what is propofed; and laftly^make anfwer to fome objeftions that may-poflTibly be made againft it.As to the firfl of thefe things^ viz, an hif^

torical account of the concert, which thememorial relates to, the following obferva-tions may give a fufticient view of that af-fair.

In Oftober. a. ei. 1744J a number of mi-iiifters in Scotland, taking into confiderationthe flate of God's church, and of the worldof mankind, judged that the providence ofGod, at fuch a day, did loudly call fuch aswere concerned for the welfare of Zion, tounited extraordinary applications to theGod of all grace, fuitably acknowledgingHim as the fountain of all the fpiritual be-*nefits and bleffin^s of his church, and ear^*K


32/271

82 AN ACCOUNT OF THEneftly praying to him, that he would appearin his glory, and favour Zion, and manifefthis compaffion to the world of mankind, byan abundant effufion of his Holy Spirit on-all the churches, and the whole habitableearth, to revive true religion in all parts ofChriflendom, and to deliver all nations fromtheir great and manifold fpiritual calamitiesand miferies, and blefs them with the un-fpeakable benefits of the kingdom of ourglorious Redeemer, and fill the whole earthwith his glory. And confulting one anotheron the fubjecl, they looked on themfelves,for their own part, obliged to engage in thisduty ; and, as far as in them lay, to perfuadeothers to the fame; and to endeavour tofind out, and fix on fome method, that fhouldmoft effeftually tend to promote, and up-hold fuch extraordinary application to heav*tn among God's people. And after feek-ing to God by prayer for direftion, they de-termined on the following method, as whatthey would conform to in their own prac-tice, and propofe to be praSifed by others,for the two years next following, viz. Tofet apart fome time oa Saturday evening,and. Sabbath morning, every week, for thepurppfe aforefaid, as other duties would al-


33/271

CONCERT FOR PRAYER^ 83Jew to every one refpeftively ; and more fo-lemnly, the firft Tuefday of each quarter,(beginning with the firft Tuefday of Novem.ber, then next enfuing) either the whole day, ^or part of the day, as perfons find them-fclves difpofed, or think their circumftancesw^ill allow; the time to be fpent either inprivate praying focieties, or in public meet-ings, or alone in fecret, as (hall be foundmoft prafticable, or judged moft conveni-ent, by fuch as are willing, in fome way orother, to join in this affair; but not that anyfhould make any promifes, or be looked up-pn as under ftrift bonds in any refpeft, con-ftantly and without fail to obferve every oneof thefe days, whatever their circumftancesfhould be, or however other duties and ne,ceffary affairs might interfere; or that per-fons fhould look upon themfelves boundwith regard to thefe days in any wife as thothe time were holy, or the fetting them a-part for religious purpofes were eftablifhedby facred authority; but yet, as a properguard againft negligence and unfteadinefs,and a prudent prefervative, from yieldingto a difpofition, which perfons might be li-able to, through the prevalence of indolence


34/271

4 AN ACCOUNT OF THE&nd liftleflhefs^to excufethemfelves on trivialoccafions, it was propofed, that thofe whounite in this affair fhould refolve with them-felves, that if, by urgent bufinefs, or other-wife, they are hindered from joining withothers, on the very day agreed on, yet theywould not wholly negleft bearing their partin the duty propofed, but would take thefirft convenient day following, for that pur-pofe,The reafon why Saturday evening andLord's-day morning were judged mod con-

venient for the weekly feafons, was, thatthefe times being fo near the time of dif-*penfmggofpel ordinances through the Chrif-tian world, M^hich are the great means, inthe ufe of which God is wont to grant hisSpirit to rnankind, and the principal meansthat the Spirit of God makes ufe of to carryon his work of grace, it may be well fuppof-ed, that the minds of Chriftians, in general,will, at thefe feafons, be efpecially difengag-ed from fecular affairs, and difpofed to piousmeditations and the duties of devotion, andmore naturally led to feek communication^of the Holy Spirit, and fuccefsof the mean^of grace. And as to the quarterly times, itwas thought helpful to rnemory^ that they


35/271

CONCERT FOR PRAYER. ^5Ihould be on one or other of the firll daysof each quarter; Tuefday was preferred toMonday, becaufe in fome places peoplemight have public prayers and fermon onthe dated day, which might not be fo con-venient on Monday, as on fome day at agreater diftance from the Sabbath,

It was reckoned a chief ufe of fuch an a-greement and method as this, that it wouldbe a good expedient for the maintaining andkeeping up, amongft the people of God, thatgreat Chrillian duty of prayerfulnefs for theGomingofChrift's kingdom, in general, whichChrift hasdirefted his followers to be fomuchin, that it may not be out of mind, and in agreat meafure funk. Things, that we aretoo little inclined to, through floth, carnali-ty, or a fulnefs of our own worldly andprivate concerns, and that are to be attend-ed at fome feafons or other, but have no fpe-cial feafons ftated for them, are apt to beforgotten, or put off from time to time, and,as it were, adjourned without day; and fo,if not wholly neglefted, yet too little attend-ed. But when we fix certain feafons, whichwe refolve, unlefs extraordinarily hindered,to devote to the duty, it tends to prevent


36/271

8o wA.N ACCOUNT OF THEforgetfulnefs, and a fettled negligence of it.The certain returns of the feafon will natur-ally refrefh the memory, v/ill tend to put usin mind of the precept of Chrift, and the ob-ligations that lie on all his followers, to a-bound in fuch a duty, and renewedly en-gage us to the confideration of the import-ance, neceffity and unfpeakable value ofthemercy fought ; and fo, by frequent renova-tion, to keep alive the confideration, andfenfe of thefe things at all times. Thus thefirft promoters of this agreement judged thatit would be fubfervient to more abundantprayerfulnefs foreffufions of the Holy Spir-it at all times through the year, both in fe-cret and focial worlhip ; particularly as tothis laft, in congregations, families, and o-ther praying focieties. And then they alfojudged, that fuch an agreed union wouldtend to animate and encourage God's peo-ple in the duty propofed ; and that particu-lar perfons and focieties, knowing that greatmultitudes of their fellow-Chriftians, in fomany diftant places, were, at the fame time,(as a token of the unionof their hearts withthem in this affair) by agreement, engagedin the fame holy exercife, would naturallybe enlivened in the duty by fuch a confider-ation.


37/271

CONCERT FOR PRAYER. 8/It was not thought beft to propofe at firft

a longer time for the continuance ofthis pre-cife method than two years ; it being confi-dered, that it is not pofTible, before any trial,fo well to judge of the expedience of a par-ticular method and certain circumftances ofthe managing and ordering fuch an affair,as after fome time of experience. And itwas not known, but that, after long confi-deration, and fome trial, it might be thoughtbed to alter fome circumftance ; or whetherothers that had not yet been confulted, mightnot propofe a better method. The time firftagreed on, though but fhort, was thoughtfufficient to give opportunity for judgmentand experience, and for fuch as were dif-pofed to union in an affair of fuch a nature,in diftant places, mutually to communicatetheir fentiments on the fubjeft.The way, which thofe that firft projeftedand came into this agreement, thought beft

for the giving notice of it and propofing itto others, was not by any thing publifhedfrom the prefs, but by perfonal converfationwith fuch as they could conveniently haveimmediate accefs to, and by private corref^pondence with others at a diftance. At firftit was intended, that fome formal paper, pro-


38/271

88 AN ACCOUNT OF THEpofing the matter, (hould be fent about forproper amendments and improvements, andthen concurrence; but on more mature de-liberation, it was confidered how this mightgive a handle to objeftions, (which they tho'tit beft, to the utmoft, to avoid in the infan*-cy of the affairj and how prafticable it was,without any fuch formality, to fpread thefubftance of the propofal by private letters,together with a requeft to their correfpond-ents, mutually to communicate their tho'ts.Therefore this was fixed on, as the methodthat was preferable at the beginning. Ac-cordingly, they propofed and endeavouredto promote the affair in this way, and withfuch fuccefs, that great numbers in Scotlandand England fell in with the propofal, andfome in North America. As to Scotland,it was complied with by numbers, in the fourchieftowns, Edinburgh, Glafgow, Aberdeen,and Dundee, and many country townsand congregations in various parts of theland. One of the minifters, that was pri-marily concerned in this affair, in a letter toone of his correfpondents, fpeaks of an ex-plicit declaration of the concurrence of thepraying focieties in Edinburgh, which theyhad made in a letter. The number of the


39/271

CONCERT FOR PRAYER. gopraying focieties in that city is very confi-derable. Mr. Robe, of Kilfyth, (in a letterto Mr. Prince, of Bofton, dated November 3,1743,) faysThere were then above thirtyfocieties ofyoung people there, newly erefted,fome of which confifted of upwards of thir-ty members.As to Glafgow, this union wasunanimoufly agreed to by about forty-five:praying focieties there, as an eminent minif-ter in that city informs, in a letter.The two years, firft agreed on, ended laftNovember. A little before this time expir-

ed, anumberofminiftersin Scotland agreedon a memorial, to be printed and fent abroadto their brethren in various parts, propofingto them, and requefting of them, to join withthem in the continuance of this method ofunited prayer, and in endeavours to pro-mote it. Copies of which memorial havelately been fent over into New-England, tothe number of near five hundred, direftedto be diflributed in almoft every county inthis province of the Maffachufetts-Bay, andalfo in feveral parts of Connecticut, Nev/-Hampfhire, Rhode -Ifland, New-York, New-Jerfey, Pennfylvania, Maryland, Virginia,Carolina^ and Georgia. The moft, I fup-L


40/271

go The MEMORiAt/i^om sCotland.pcfe, of thefe were fent to one of the con-gregational minifters in Bofton, with a let-ter fubfcribed by twelve minifters in Scot-land, about the affair; many of them to an*other of the faid minifters of Bofton, andfome to a minifter in Connefticut. It beingfhort, I ftiall here infert a copy of it at lengthIt is as follows:A M M o R I A hfromfeveral Minijlers in ScoU

land, to their Brethren in different places,for coiilimiing a concertfor prayer,Jirji entered into in the Year 1744.WHEREAS it was the chief fcope of

this concert, to promote more a-bundant application to a duty that is per*petually binding, j^rajy^r that our Lord's king-'dom may come, joined \^\th. praifos ; and itcontained fome circumftantial expedients,apprehended to be very fubfervient to thatdefign, relating to ftated times for fuch ex-ercifes, fo far as this would not interfere withother duties; particularly a part of Satur-day evening and Sabbath morning, everyweek; and more folemnly of fome one ofthe firft days of each of the four great divi-fions of the year, that is, of each quarter; asthe firft Tuefday, or firft convenient day af-


41/271

The MEMORIALy"?'{??/i SCOTLAND. Qlter;* and the concert, as to this circum-ftance, was extended only to two years ; itbeing intended that, before thefe expired,perfons engaged in the concert fhould reci-procally communicate their fentiments andinclinations, as to the prolonging ofthe time,with or without alteration, ^s to the eircum-ftancc mentioned ; and it was intended bythe firft promoters, that others at a diftancefliould propofe fuch circumftantial amend-ments or improvements, as they fliouldfind proper; it is hereby earneftly intreated,that fuch would jcommunicate their fenti-ments accordingly, now that the time firftpropofed is near expiring.

2. To induce thofe already engaged toadhere, and others to accede to this con-cert, it feems of importance to obferve, thatdeclarations of concurrence, the communi-cating and fpreading of which are fo evi,dently ufeful, are to be underftood in fucha latitude, as to keep at the greateft diftancefrom entangling mens' minds : not as bind-ing men to fet apart any ftated days fromfecular affairs, or even to fix on any part of

O T E.* The meaning is the firft Tuefdays of February, May, Augult

and November, or the firft convenient days after thcfe.


42/271

g2 The MEMORIALfrom Scotland*fach and fuch precife days, whether it beconvenient or not; nor as abfolute promifesin any refpeft, but as friendly, harmoniousrefolutions, with liberty to alter circumftan^ces as fiiall be found expedient. On accountof all which latitude, and that the circum^ftantial part extends only to a few years, itis apprehended, the concert cannot be Hableto the objeftions againft periodical religioustimes of human appointment.

3. It is alfo humbly offered to the confirderation of miniilers, and others furnifliedwith gifts for the moft public inflruftions,whether it might not be of great ufe, by theblefTmg of God, if fhort and nervous fcrip-ture perfijafives and direftions to the duty inview, were compofed and publifhed, (eitherby particular authors, or feveral joining to-gether, which laft way might fometimes havepeculiar advantages) and that, from time totime, without too great intervals, the betterto keep alive on mens' minds a jufl fenfe ofthe obligations to a duty fo important in it-fclf, and m Vv'hich many may be in dangerto faint find turn remifs, without fuch re-peated incitements; and whether it wouldn,ot alfo be of great ufe, if roinifters wouldbe pleafed to preach frequently on the irn-


43/271

The UEMORiALfroin Scotland, g^portance and neceflity of prayer for the com-ing ofour Lord's kingdom, particularly nearthe quarterly days, or on thefe days them-felves, where there is public worfhip at thattime.

4. They who have found it incumbent onthem to publifh this Memorial at this time,having peculiar advantages for fpreading it,do intreat that the defire of concurrence andaffiftance, contained in it, may, by no means,be underflood as reftriSed to any particulardenomination or party, or to thofe who areof fuch or fuch opinions about any formerinftances of remarkable religious concern;but to be extended to all who (hall vouch-fafe any attention, to this paper, and have atheart the intereft of vital chriflianity, andthe power of godlinefs ; and who, ho\feverdiffering about other things, are convincedof the importance of fervent prayer, to pro-mote that common intereft, and of fcriptureperfuafives to promote fuch prayer.

5. As the firft printed account of this con-cert was not a propofal of it, as a thing thento begin, but a narration of it, as a defignalready fet on foot, which had been broughtabout with much harmony, by means ofpri-vate letters^ fo the farther countinuance, and,


44/271

54 The MEMORIAL/r07?l SCOTLAND.it is hoped, the farther fpreading of it feemsin a promifing way of being promoted bythe fame means, as importunate defires ofthe renewing the concert have been tranf-mitted aheady from a very diftant corner a-broad, where the regard to it has of late in-creafed; but, notwithftanding of w^hat maybe done by private letters, it is humbly ex-pefted, that a memorial fpread in this man-ner may, by God's bleffing, farther promotethe good ends in view, as it may be ufefullyreferred to in letters, and may reach whereihey will not.

6. Whereas in a valuable letter, from thecorner juft now mentioned, as a place whereregard to the concert has lately increafed, itis propofed, that it fliould be continued forfeven years, or at lead for a much longertime than what was fpecified in the firft 3.^Sfreemcrdi'^thole concerned in this memo-rial, who would wiui rather to receive andfpread direclions and propofals on this head,than to be the firft authors of any, appre-hend no inconvenience, for their part, in a^greeing to the feven years, with the latitudeabove defcribed, which referves liberty tomake fuch circumftantial alterations, as maybe hereafter found expedient; on the con-


45/271

The MKMORiAtfrom Scotland. 95trary, it feems of importance, that the la*bour of fpreading a concert^ which has al-ready extended to fo diftant parts, and may,it is hoped, extend farther, may not need tobe renewed fooner, at leaft much fooner, asit is uncertain but that may endanger thedropping of it, and it feems probable, therewill be lefs zeal in fpreading of it, if the timepropofcd for its continuance be too incon-fiderable. Mean time, declarations of con-currence for a lefs number of years maygreatly promote the good ends inview, tho'it feems very expedient, that it Ihould ex-ceed what was firft agreed on, feeing it isfound on trial, that that time, inftead of be-ing too long, was much too Ihort.

7. If perfons who formerly agreed to thisconcert, fhould now difcontinue it, would itnot look too like that fainting in prayer, a-gainft which we are fo exprefsly warned infcripture? And would not this be the moreunfuitable at this time, in any within theBritifh dominions, when they have the u-nited calls of fuch public chaftifements anddeliverances, to more concern than ever a-bout public reformation, and confequentlyabout that which is the fource of all tho-rough reformation, the regenerating and


46/271

q6 The uEMORi ALfro7n Scotland.fanftifying influence of the almighty Spiritof God?

Augujl 26, 1746.The minifter in Boflon afore-mentioned,

(io whom moft of the copies of this memo-rial were fent) who, I fuppofe, has had laterand more full intelligence than I have had,fays, concerning the propofal, in a letter" The motion feems to come from above^" and to be wonderfully fpreading in Scot-^ land, England, Wales, Ireland and North** America.


47/271

PART II.Motives to a Compliance with what is propO'fed in the Memorial.

I NOW proceed to the fecond thing in-tended in this difcourfe, viz. to offer toconfideration Tome things, which may tendto induce the people of God to comply withthe propofal and requeft made to them irithe Memorial.And I dcfire that the following things maybe confidered:

1. It is evident, from the fcripture, thatthere is yet remaining a great advancementof the intereft of religion, and the kingdomof Chrifl, in this world, by an abundant out-pouring ofthe Spirit of God, far greater andmore extenfive than ever yet has been. It iscertain, that many things, which are fpokeitconcerning a glorious time of the chiirch senlargement and profpcrity, in the latterdays, have never yet been fulfilled. Therehas never yet been any propagation and pre-vailing of religion, in any wife, of that ex-tent and univerfality, which the propheciesM


48/271

g8 THE LATTER-DAY GLORYreprefent. It is often foretold and fignified,in a great variety of Ilrongexpreffions, thatthere fliould a time come, when all nations,through the whole habitable world, (houldembrace the true religion, and be broughtinto the church of God. It was often pro-mifed to the patriarchs, that in theirfeed allthe nations, or, (as it is fometimes expreffed)all thefaviilies of the earthJhould be blejfed,A greeably to this, it is faid of the MefTiah,That all nationsJhallferve him, and menjhallke blejfed in him, and all nationsJJiall callhimblejfed. And it is faid, that all nationsJliallf.ow unto the mountain ofthe hoiife ofthe Lord.And, that all nations Jliall be gathered untothe name of the Lord to Jerifalem, andfialltoalk no more after the imagination of theirevil heart. So it is faid, that allfiefifiallcome and wmfiip before the Lord, And thatallffh fiouldfee the glory of God together.And that allfefifioidd come to hivi that hearsprayer. Chrift compares thekingdom ofheav-en, in this world, to leaven, which a womantook and hid in three meafures of meal, till thewhole was leavened. It is natural and reafon-able to fuppofe, that the whole world fhouldfinally be given to Chrift, as one whofe rightit is to reign, as the proper heir of him who


49/271

NOT YET ACCOMPLISHED. ggis originally the king of all nations, and thepofTefTor ofheaven and earth ; and the fcrip-lure teaches us, thatGod the Father had con-ftituted his Son, as God-Man, and in hiskingdom of grace, or mediatorial kingdom,to be the heir of the world, that he might inthis kingdom have the heathen for his inheri-tance, and the utmojt ends of the earthfor hispofjeffion. Thus Abraham is faid to be ththcirofthevJorld,ViOim himfelf, but in Azi"feed, which is Chrift. And how was this tobe fulfilled to Abraham, but by God's fulfill-ing that great promife. that in Eis feed allthe nations of the earthfiould be hleffed? Forthat promife is what the apoftle is fpeakingof; which fliews, that God has appointedChrift to be the heir ofthe world in his king-dom of grace, and to poffefs and reign overall nations, through the propagation of hisgofpel, and the power of his Spirit commu-nicating the bleflings of it. God had ap-pointed him to this univerfal dominion bya moft foiemn oath : Ihavefuoorn by niyfelfthe word is gone out of my mouth in righte-oufnefs, andfiall not return, that unto me e-very hieefhall bow, every tonguefhallfwear.Though this foiemn oath of God the Fatheris to be underftood in fo comprehenfive ^


50/271

10(^ THE LATTER-DAY GLORYfenfe, as to extend to what fliaH be accom^pli{lied at the day ofjudgment, yet it is evi-dent by the foregoing and following verfeSsthat the thing moll directly intended, is whatfhall be fulfilled by the fpreading of thegof-pel of his faivation, and power of the Spiritof grace, bringing all the ends ofthe earth talook to him that they may he faved, and cometo him for righteoufnefs andjlrength that, inhim they might be jujlzjied, and might glory,God has fuffered many earthly princes to ex-tend their conquefts over a great part of theface of the earth, and to pofTefs a dominion,pf a vaft extent, and one monarchy to con-quer and fucceed another, the latter beingftill the greater; it is reafonable to fuppofethat a much greater glory in this refpeflfhould be referved for Chrift, God's own fonand rightful heir, who has purchafed the do%minion by fo great and hard a fervice ; it is,reafonable to fuppofe, that hi^ dominionfliould be far the largeft, and his conqueftsvaftly the greateft and moft extenfive. Andthus the fcriptures reprcfent the matter, inNebuchadnezzar's vifion, and the prophet'sinterpretation, Dan. ii. There the four greatmonarchies of the earth, one fucceeding an-fither^ are reprcfented by the great image of


51/271

KOT YET ACCOxMPLlSHED. lOlgold,Jilver, brafs, iron and clay; but at laft aJlone, cut out of the mountains without handsfinitcs the image upon his feet, which breaksthe iron, clay, brafs,fiver and gold in pieces^that all becomes as the chaff of the fummerthrefiing foors, and the wind carries themazvay, that no place isfoundfor them; but theftoJie loaxes great, becomes a great mountain,and YiLLS THE WHOLE EARTH; fignifyingthe kingdom which the Lord God of heav-en Ihould fet up in the world, laft of all,which fhould break in pieces and confumeall other kingdoms. Surely this reprefen-tation leads us to fuppofe, that this laft king-dom fliall be of vaftly greater extent thanany of the preceding. The like reprefen-tation is made in the viith chapter of Danielthere the four monarchies are reprefentedby four great beafts that arofe fucceflively,one conquering and fubduing another; thefourth and laft of thefe is faid to be dreadfuland terrible, ^ndfrong exceedingly, and tohave great iron teeth, and to devour and breakinpieces, andftamp the refidue with hisfeet;yea, it is faid, verfe 23, that the kingdomreprefented by this beaft fhall devour thetvhole earth; but laft of all, ojie like the SonofMan appears, coming to the Ancient of


52/271

102 THE LATTER-DAY GLORYDays, and being brought near before him, a7idreceiving of hint a dominion, and glory, anda kingdom, that all people, nationsAND LANGV AGESfioiddferve him, Thislaflcircumftance, of the vaft extent and univer-fality of his dominion, is manifefily fpokenof as one thing greatly diflingin(hing thisholy kingdom from all the preceding mo-narchies; although of one of the former itwas faid, that it Oiould devour the whole earthyyet we are naturally led, both by the muchgreater eraphafis and ftrength of the expref-fions, as well as by the whole connexion andtenor of the prophecy, to underfland the u-niverfality here expreffedin a much more ex-tenfive arxv}abfolute fenfe ; and terms ufeH inthe interpretation of this vifion are fuch, thatfcarcely any can be devifed more flrong, tofignify an abfolute univerfality of dominionover the inhabitants of the face of the earth;ver. 27. And th^. kijigdom, and dominion, andgreat NESS OF THE KINGDOM UNDER THEWHOLE HEAVE N,fiall be given to the peo-ple of the mojl high God, Agreeably to this,the gofpel is reprefented as preached untothem that dwell on the earth, and to every na^tion, andtongue, and kindred, andpeople. Theuniverfality of the prevalance of true reli-


53/271

NOT YET ACCOMPLISHED. I03gion in the latter days, is fometimes expref-fed by its reaching to the utmojl ends of theearth. To all the ends ofthe earth, and of thezvorld. All the ends of the earth with thofathat are far off upon the fea. From the ri-fug of thefun to the going down of thefame.The outgoings of the morning and ofthe even^ing. It feems that all the moft ftrong ex-prefTions, that were in ufe among the Jewsto fignify the habitable world in its utmoftextent, are made ufe of to fignify the extentof the church of God in the latter days, andin many places a variety ofthefe expreffionsare ufed, and there is an accumulation ofthem, expreffed with great force.

It would be unreafonable to fay, thefe areonly bold figures, ufed after the manner ofthe eafl:ern nations, to exprefs the great ex-tent of the Chriftian church, at and after thedays of Confl:antine ; to fay fo, would be ineffefl: to fay, that it would have been irapof-fible for God, if he had defired it, plainlyto have foretold any thing that fhould abfo-lutely have extended to all nations of theearth. I queftion whether it be poffible tofind out a more ftrong expreffion, to figni-fy an abfolute univerfality of the knowledgeof the true religion through the habitable


54/271

104 tUE LATTER-DAY GLORYworld, than that in Ifai. xi. g. The earthJhalliefull of the knowledge of the Lorcl^ as theWATERS COVER THE SEAS. Which is asmuch as to fay, as there is no place in thevafl: ocean where there is not water, fo therefhall be no part of the world of mankindwhere there is not the knowledge of theLord ; as there is no part of the wide bedor cavity poflefTed by the fea, but what iscovered with water, fo there (hall be no partofthe habitable world, that fliall not be co-vered by the light of the gofpel, and pof-feffed by the true religion* Waters are of-ten in prophecy put for nations and multi-tudes of people ; fo the waters of the mainocean feem fometimes to be put for the in-habitants of the earth in general ; as in Eze-kieFs vilion of the waters of the fanftuarywhich flowed from the fanftuary, and raneaft, till they came to the ocean, and wereat firft a fmall ftream, but continually en-creafed till they became a great river ; andwhen they came to the fea, the water evenof the vafl ocean was healed, reprefentingthe converiion of the world to the true reli-gion in the latter days.It feems evident,that the time will come, when there will notbe one nation remaining in the world, which


55/271

NOT YET ACCOMPLISHED, IO5fiiall not embrace the true religion, in thatGod has exprefsly revealed, that no one fuchnation (hall be left ftandincr on the earth;The nation and kingdoyn that will not ferv6theejliall perijli; yea, thofc nations Jliall beutterly zoojied.God has declared that hea-then idolatry and all the worlhip of falfegods fliall be wholly abolidied, in the moftuniverfal manner, fo that it (hall be continu-ed in no place under thfe heavens, or uponthe face of the earth ; the gods that have notmade the heavens and the earth, even theyjlialtperijh from the earth, andfrom under thefeheavens. They are vanity, and the zoork oferrors, in the time of their vifdation theyfnalLperifi. This muft be underftood as whatfliall be brought to pafs v/hile this earth andthefe heavens remain, f. e, before the endof the vN^orld. Agreeable to this is that in.Ifaiah. Sing, barren^ and thou that didfl nothear ;for more are the children of the defol-iate than the children of the married zcifCffaith the Lord. Enlarge the place of thy tent,mid let them flretch forth the curtains of thyhabitation; [pare not; lengthen thy cords,flrengthen thy fta^kes. For thy maker is thyhufband; the Lord of Hofls is his name; and

^ N


56/271

rob THE LATTER DAY GLORYthy Redeemer the Holy One of Ifracl; theGOD OF THE WHOLE EARTH SHALL HEBE CALLED.The prophecies of the New Teftament do

no lefs evidently fhew, that a time will comev/hen the gofpel iliall univerfally prevail^and thekinirdom of Chrifl: be extended overthe whole habitable earth, in the moft pro-per fenfe. Chrift fays, I, if I be Ifted upfrom the earth, toill draio all vien unto me^It is fit, that v/hen the Son of God becomesman, he fiiould have dominion over allmankind : it is fit, that fince he became aninhabitant of the earth, and fiied his bloodon the 'earth, he fliould poflefs the wholeearth : it is fit, feeing here he became a fer-vant, and was fubjett to m^n, and was ar-raigned before them, and judged, condemn-ed and executed by them, and fuffered ig-nominy and death in a moR public manner^before Jews and Gentiles, being lifted up toview on the crofs upon an hill, near thatpopulous city Jerufatem, at a moft publictime, when there were many hui^dred thou-{^md fpeilator.s, from all parts, that he fhouldbe rewarded with an univerfal dominionover mankind ; and it is here declared heflaall be. The apoPile, in the xith of Ro-


57/271

NOT YET ACCOMPLISHED, IO7mans, teaches us to look on that great out-pouring of the Spirit and in-gathering offouls into Chrift's kingdom, thaf was in thofedays, firfl: of the Jews, and then of the Gen-tiles, to be but as the firft-fruits of the in-tended harveft, both with regard to Jewsand Gentiles ; and to look on the in-gather-ing of thofe firft fruits as a fign that all theremainder both of Jews and Gentiles fnallin due time be gathered in. For if thefirjl-fruit be holy, the lump is alfo holy : and ifthe root be holy, fo are the branches. Andin that context, the apoftle fpeaks of theFULNESS of both Jews and Gentiles, as whatfliall hereafter be brought in, as diftinftfrom that in-gathering from arnong both,which was in thofe prim.itive ages of Chrif-tianity; we read of the fulnefs of the Jews,and of the fulnefs of the Gentiles ; and theapoftle teaches us to look upon that infideli-ty and darknefs, which firft prevailed overall Gentile nations, before Chrift came, andthen over the Jew^s after Chrift came, as v/hatwas wifely permitted of God, as a prepara-tion for the manifeftation of the glory ofGod's mercy, in due time, on the wholeworld, conftituted of Jews and Gentiles.God hath concluded them all in unbelief.


58/271

loS THE LATTER-DAY GLORYthat he might have mercy upon all. Thefethings plainly fnew, that the time is comingwhen the whole world of mankind Ihall bebrought into the church of Chrift ; and notonly a part of the Jews, and a part of theGentile world, as the firft-fruits, as it was inthe hrft ages of the Chrillian church; butthe fulnefs of both, the whole lump, all theTiation of the Jews, and all the world ofGentiles.

In the laft great conflift between thechurch of Chrift and her enemies, before thecommencement of the glorious time of thechurch's peace and reft, the kings of theearth, and the whole warld, are reprefentedas gathered together, and then the feventhangel pours out his vial into the air, whichlimits that kingdom that Satan has, as godof this v/orld, in its utmoft extent;andthat kingdom is reprefented as utterly over-thrown. In another delcription of thatgreat battle, Chrift is reprefented as ridingforth, having on his head many crowns, andon his vefture and on his thigh a name writ-

f ten, KING OF KliVGS AND LORD OF LORDS,Which v/e may well fuppofe fignifies, thathe is now going to that conqueft, whereby hefhall fet up a kingdom, in which he Ihall be


59/271

NOT YET ACCOMPLISHED. 10^king of kings, in a far more extenfive man-ner than either the Babylonifh, Perfian, Gre-cian, or Roman monarchs were. And anangel appears (landing in the fun, that over-looks the whole world, calling on all thefowls that fly in the midft of heaven, tocome and eat the flefh of kings, &c. Andin confeqaence of the great viftory Chriftgains at that time, an angel comes doivii fromheaven^ having the key of the bottomless pit,and a great chain in his hand, and lays holdon the devil, and binds him, and cajls him in--to the bottomlefs pit, andjliuts him up, andJets a feal upon him, that he fliould deceivethe nations no more, Satan's being difpof-feffed of that higheft monarchy on earth,the Roman empire, and caft out, in the timeof Conftantine, is reprefented by his beingcaft down from heaven to the earth ; butnow there is fomething far beyond that ; heis caft out of the earth, and is ftiut up inhell, and confined to that alone, fo that hehas no place left him in this world of man-kind, high or low.Now will any be fo unreafonable as to fay,that all thefe things do not fignify more thanthat one third part of the world ftiould bebrought into the church of Chrift, beyond


60/271

110 THE LATTER-DAY GLORY'v/hich it cannot be pretended that the Chrif-tian rehgionhas ever yet reached, in its great-eft extent? Thofe countries, which belong-ed to the Roman empire, that were broughtto the profeffion of Chriftianity, after thereign of Conftantine, are but a fmall part ofwhat the habitable v^orld now is; as to ex-tent of ground, they altogether bear, I fup-pofe, no greater proportion to it, than theland of Canaan did to the Roman en pire.And our Redeemer, in his kingdom ofgi*ace, has hitherto poffefied but a little partof the world, in its moft ilourifliing (late,fince arts are arifen to their greateft height,and a very great part of the world is butlately difcovered, and much remains undif-covered to this day.Thefe things make it very evident, that

the main fulfilment of thofe prophecies thatfpeak of tjie glorious advancement of Chrift'skingdom on earth, is ftill to come.And as there has been nothing as yet, withregard to the flourifhing of religion, and theadvancement of Chrift's kingdom, of fuchextent as to anfv^er the prophecies, fo nei-ther has there been any thing of that dura-tion that is foretold. The prophecies fpeakof Jerufalem's being made thejoy ofthe whole


61/271

NOT YET ACCOMPLISHED. mearth, and alfo xhtjoy of viany generations.That God's peopleJhould long enjoy the loorkof their hands. That they fhould reign with.Chri/t a thoufandyears ; by which we muftat lead undejftand a very long thne. Butit would be endlefs to mention all the pla-ces, which fignify that the time ofthe church'sgreat peace and profperity fhould be of longcontinuance: almoft all the prophecies thatfpeak of her latter-day glory, imply it; andit is implied in very many of them, that whenonce this day of the church's advancementand peace is begun, it fhall never end, tillthe world ends; or, at leaft, that there fhalibe no more a return of her troubles and ad^verfity for any confiderable continuancethat then the days of her 7nourning fiall beended; that her tribulations^Zz^w/^i then be asthe waters ofNoah unto God; that as he hasfworn that the waters of Noahfiouldno morepafs over the earth,fo he tvillfwear that hevjill no more he wroth zoith his people, or re-buke them; that God's peoplefiould no morewalk after the imagination of their evil heart;that God would hide himfelfno morefrom thehoufe of Ifrael, becaufe he haspoured out hisSpirit upon them; that theirfun fiould nomore go down, nor the moon zoithdraxo ifelf;


62/271

112 THE LATTER-DAY GLORYthat the light Jliould not be clear ajid dark;(i. e. there fhould be no more an interchangeof light and darknefs, as ufed to be) but thatItJliould be all one continued day ; not dayand night, (for fo the words are in the ori-ginFxl in Zech. xiv. 7.) a.herna.tt\y , but itjliallcome to pafs, that at evening-tivie (i. e. at thetime that night and darknefs ufed to be) itJliall be light; and that the notions fliould beattheirfwords into plow-Jliares, and theirfpearsinto pruning-hooks ; and that nation JhallQiot lift npfloord againjl nation, nor leantwar any more; but that thtx^Jliould be abun*dance ofpeaceJo long as the moon endurHhAnd innumerable things of this nature aredeclared.

But the church of Chrift has never yetenjoyed a (late of peace and profperity forany long time ; on the contrary, the times ofher reft, and of the flourifliingHate of reli-gion, have ever been very fliort. Hithertothe church may fay. Return,for thyfervants*fake, the tribes of thine inheritance; thepeo^pie of thy holinefs have poffeffed it but a littlewhile. The quietnefs that the church of Godenjoyed after the beginning of Conftantine'sreign was very fliort; the peace the empireenjoyed, in freedom from war, was not more


63/271

NOT YEf ACCOMPLISHED. Hothai! twenty years; no longer nor greater

. than it had enjoyed under Ibme of the hea-then emperors. After this the empire wasrent in pieces by inteftine wars, and waftedalmoft every where by the invafions and ifi-curfions of barbarous nations, and the Chrif-tian -world was foon all in contention andconfufion, by herefies and divifions in mat-ters ofreligion. And the church of Chrifl hasnever as yet been for any long time, freefrom perfecution; efpecially when truth hasprevailed, and true religion flourifhed. It kmanifeft, that hitherto the people of Godhave been kept under, and Zionhas been in.a low affliaed ftate, and her enemies havehad the chief fv/ay.And another thing that makes it exceed-

ing manifef>, that that day of the church'5greateft advancement on earth, which is fore-told in fcripture, has never yet come, is that,it is fo plainly and exprefsly revealed thatthis day Ihould fucceed the laft of tlie fourmonarchies, even the Roman, in its laft ftate,wherein it is divided into ten kingdoms, andafter the deftruftion of Antichrift, fignifiedby the little horn, whofe reigri is contempo-rary with the reign of the ten kings. ThefeO


64/271

114 ^^^ LATTER-DAY GLORYthings are very plain in the fecond and fc-venth chapters of Daniel, and alfo in the Re.vela^nn of St. John. And it is alfo plainby the ninth chapter of Romans, that it fhallbe after the national converfion of the Jews,which fhall be as life from the dead to theGentiles, and the fulnefs of both Jews andGentiles fliould be come in, and all the nationof the Jews, and all other nations, fhall ob-tain mercy, and there fhall be that general

in-gathering ofthe harvefl of the whole earth,of which all that had been converted before,either of Jews or Gentiles, were but the firflfruits. And many other evidences of thispoint might be mentioned, which for brevi-ty's fake I omit.And thus it is meet, that the laft kingdomwhich fliall take place on earth, fhould bethe kingdom of God's own Son and heir,whofe right it is to rule and reign; and thatwhatever revolutions and confufions theremay be in the world, for a long time, thecaufe of truth, the righteous eaufe, fhouldfinally prevail, and God's holy people fliouldat lait inherit the earth, and reign on earth;and that the world fhould continue in tu-mults, and great revolutions, following one^mother, from age to age, the world being.


65/271

UNSPEAKABLY GREAT. 11^as it were, in travail, till truth and holinefsare brought forth; that all things fhould befliaken, till that comes which is true andright, and agreeable to the mind of God,which cannot be Ihaken ; and that the wif-dom of the ruler of the world (hould be ma-nifefted in the bringing all things ultimatelyto fo good an iffue. The world is made forthe Son of God ; his kingdom is the end ofall changes that come to pafs in the (late ofthe world of mankind ; all are only to pre-pare the way for this ; it is fit therefore thatthe laft kingdom on earth Ihould be his.It is wifely and mercifully ordered of Godthat it fhould be fo, on this account, as wellas many others, viz. that the church of God,under all preceding changes, fhould have thisconfideration to encourage her, and maintainher hope, and animate her faith and prayers,from generation to generation, that God haspromifed, her caufe fhould finally be main-tained and prevail in this world.

Let it now be confidered,2, The future promifed advancement of

the kingdom of Chrifl is an event unfpeak-ably happy and glorious. The fcripturesfpeak of that time, as a time wherein Godand his Son Jefus Chrifl will be mofl emi-


66/271

ai6 THE GREAT GLORYnently glorified on earth; a time, whereinGod, who till then had dwelt between thecherubims, and concealed himfelf inthe ho-ly of holies, in the fecret of his tabernacle,beliind the veil, in the thick darknefs, fhouldopenly fliine forth, and all flefla fhould feehis glory, and God's people in general haveas great a privilege as the high prieft alonehad once a year, or as Mofes had in themount; a time, wherein the temple of God inheavenJhould be opened^ and thereJJioiild befeen the ark of his tejlament; a time, where^in both God will be greatly glorified, andhis faints made unfpeakably happy in theview of his glory; a time, wherein God'speople fliould not only once fee the light ofGod^s glory, as Mofes, or fee it once a yearwith the high prieft, but fiiould dwell andwalk continually in it, and itfhould betheirconftant daily light, inftead of the light ofthe fun, which light fl^iould be fo much moreglorious than the light of the fun or moon,that the nioonjliallbe confounded, and thefunjliamed,wheii the Lord of Hofsfiould reignin Mount Zion, and in Jerufakm, before hisancients glorioifly.

It is rrprefented as a time of vaft increafepf kiiowledgc and underftandipg, efpecially


67/271

OF THE LATTER-DAYS. II7in divine things; a time, wherein God woulddejlroy the face of the covering cajl over allpeople, and the veilfpread over all nations ;wherein the light of the moonfiallbe as thelight of the funy and the light of the funfevenfold. And the eyes of them that feefiall not he dim, and the heart of the rafhfliall underfand knowledge. And theyfiallno more teach every man his neighbour^ andevery man his brother,faying, Knozo the Lord,becaufe theyfiatl all know himfrom the leajlto thegreatef. A time of general holinefs.Thy peoplefiall be all righteous, A time ofgreat prevailing of eminent holinefs, whenlittle children ihould,infpiritual attainments,be as though they were a hundredyears old.Wherein he that isfeeble among God's peo^plefiould be as David. A time wherein ho-linefs fhould be, as it were, infcribed on eve-thing, on all mens' common bufinefs and em-ployments, and the common utenfils of life,all ftall be dedicated to God, and improvedto holy purpofes. Her merchandize and hire

fliall be holinefs to the Lord. In that dayfhallthere be upon the bells of the horfes, holinessUNTOTHELORD; and the pots in the Lord'shoufefhall be like the bowls before the altar ;yea, every pot in Jenfalevi and in Judahfiall


68/271

It8 THE GREAT GLORYhe holinefs unto the Lord of Hojls, A timewherein religion and true Chriftianity fhall,in every refpeft, beuppermofl in the world;wherein God will caufe his church to arijeandjhake herfclffrovi the dujl, andput on herbeautifulgarvients, andft down on a throne;and the poorfhall be rafedfrom the duf^ andthe beggarfrovi the dunghill, andfmil befetamong princes^ and r,iade to inherit the thronecf God's glory. A time wherein vital pietyfhall take poffeffion of thrones and palaces,and thofe that are in moft exalted ftationsfhall be eminent in holinefs. Andkingsfiallhe thy nurfngfathers, and their queens thynurfng mothers. Thoufialt fuck the breaflsof kiyig s. The daughter of Tyrefiall he theretvith a gift, the rich among thepeople fJiall en-treat thyfavour. A time ofwonderful union,and the mod univerfal peace, love and fweetharmony, wherein the nations fhall beat theirfwords into plow-fliares, &c. and God willcaufe wars to ceafe to the ends of the earth, andbreak the bozo, and cut thefpear in [under, andhum the chariot in thefire ; and themountainsfiall bringforth peace to God'speople, and thelittle hills by righteoufnefs ; wherein /A^ zoolffiould dtvell with the lavih, &c. and whereinGod'speoplefhall dwell in apeaceable hahita-


69/271

OF THE LATTER-DAYS. ngtion,andinfure dwellings,andquietrejlingpla-ces, A time wherein all herefies, and falfe doc-trines fhall be exploded, and the church ofGod {hall not be rent with a variety of jar-ring opinions. The Lord JIiall be king overall the earth ; in that day there Jliall be oneLord and his name one. And all fuperfti-tious ways of worfliip fliall be aboliflied, andall agree in worfhipping God in his own ap-pointed way, and agreeable to the purity ofbis inftitutions. L will give them one heartand one way, that they mayfear mefor ever,for the good of them and their children afterthem. A time wherein the whole earth fhallbe united as one holy city, one heavenly fa-mily, men of all nations fhall as it weredwell together, and fweetly correfpond onewith another as brethren and children ofthe fame father ; as the prophecies oftenfpeak of all God's people at that time as thechildren of God, and brethren one to an-other, all appointing over them one head,gathered to one houfe of God, to worfhipthe king, the Lord of Hofts.A time where-in this whole great fociety fliall appear inglorious beauty, in genuine amiable chrifti-anity, and excellent order, as a city compafttogether, the perfeftion of beauty, and eter-


70/271

20 THE GREAT GLORYnal excellency, fhining with a reflelion ofthe glory of Jehovah rifen upon it, whichihall be attraSive and ravifliing to all kingsand nations, and it fhall appear as a brideadorned for her hufband.A time of greattemporal profperity ; of great health. Theinhabitant jhall not fay, I am Jick. As thedays of a tree, are the days ofmy people, Atime wherein the earth (hall be abundantlyfruitful. A time wherein the world (hall bedelivered from that multitude of fore ca-lamities that before had prevailed, and thereihall be an univerfal bleffing of God uponmankind, in foul and body, and in all theirconcerns, and all manner of tokens of Godsprefence and favour, and God Jhall rejoiceover them, as the bridegroom rejoiceth over hisbride, and the mountainsJhall as it were dropdown new wine, and the hillsJJiallJlow withmilk, A time of great and univerfal joythroughout the earth, v^htnfrovi the utmojlends ojthe earth shall be heardJongs, even glo-ry to the righteous, and God's people shallzoith joy draw water out of the well ofjalva-tion, and GodJaall prepare in his holy moun-tain, ajeajl ofjat things, ajeajl oj wines onthe lees, ojjat thingsJull oJmarrow, oJ wineson the lees well refined, which feafl is repre-


71/271

bf TPiE Latter days. 121lerited, as the marriage /upper of the Lamb.Yea, the fcriptures reprefent it hot only as atime of iiniverfal joy on earth, but extraor-dinary joy in heaven, among the angels andfaintSi the holy apoftles and prophets there.Yea, the fcriptures reprefent it as a time of(extraordinary rejoicing with Chrift himfelf,the glorious head, in whom all things inheaven and earth Ihall then be gathered to-gether in one. The Lord thy God in the midjiof thee is mighty; he will fave; he -will re-joice over thee withjoy; he will reft in his love;he willjoy over thee witkfmgijig. And thevery fields, trees and mountains fliall then,as it were, rejoice, and break forth into fing-ing. Yefliall go out zvithjoy^ and be ledforthwith peace; the mountains and the hillsfiallbreak forth before you into fnging, and allthe trees of thefieldfhall clap their hands,Sing, heavens,for the Lord hath done itJ7iout,ye lowerparts ofthe earth; breakforthintofinging,ye mountains; foreft, and e-very tree therein ; for the Lord hath redeem^ed Jacob, and glorified himfelfin IfraeL

Such being the ftate of things in this fu-ture promifed glorious day of the church'sprofperitv, furelv it is worth praying for,


72/271

122 THE HOLY SPIRIT THENor is there any one thing whatfoever, ifwe viewed things aright, which a regard tothe glory of God, a concern for the king-dom and honour of our Redeemer, a loveto his people, pity to perifliing finners, loveto our fellow^creatures in general, compaf-fion to mankind under its various and forecalamities and miferies, a defire of their tem-poral and fpritual profperity, love to ourcountry, our neighbours and friends, yea,and to our own fouls, would difpofe us tobe fo much in prayer for, as for the dawn-ing of this happy day, and the accomplifii-ment of that glorious event;

It may be worthy to be confidered,3. How much Chrift prayed and labour-ed and fuffered, in order to the glory and

happinefs of that day.The fum of the biefiTmgs Chrift fought, by

what he did and fuffered in the w^ork of re-demption, was the Holy Spirit. So is theaffair of our redemption conflituted ; theFather provides and gives the Redeemer,and the price of redemption is offered tohim, and he grants the benefit purchafed ;thf Son is the redeemer who gives the price,and alfo is the price offered ; and the HolySpirit is the grand bleffmg obtained by the


73/271

SUM OF Christ's purchase. 123price offered, and beftowed on the redeemed.The Holy Spirit, in his in-dwelHng, his in-fluences and fruits, is the fum of all grace,holinefs, comfort and joy ; or in one word,of all the fpiritual good Chrift pnrchafedfor men in this world ; and is alio the fumof all perfeflion, glory and eternal joy, thathe piirchafed for them in another world.The Holy Spirit is that great benefit, whichis the fubjeft-matter of the promifes, bothof the eternal covenant of redemption, andalfo of the covenant of grace ; the grandfubjefl: ofthe promifes of the Old Teflament,in the prophecies of thebleffmgs of the Mef-fiah's kingdom ; and the chief fubjeft of thepromifes of the New Teflament ; and par-ticularly of the covenant of grace deliveredby Jefus Chrifl to his difciples, as his laflwill and teflament, in the xiv. xv. and xvi.chapters of John ; the grand legacy that hebequeathed to them, in that his lafl and dy-ing difcourfe with them. Therefore the H-]y Spirit is fo often called the fpirit of pro-mife,.and emphatically, the promife, the pro-mife of the Father, &c. This being the greatbleffmg Chrifl purchafcd by his labours andfufferings on earth, it was the bleffing hereceived of the Father, when he afcended


74/271

124 '^^^ HOLY SPIRIT THEinto heavên, and entered into the holy ofholies with his own blood, to communicateto thofe that he had redeemed. It is expe-dientforyou, that Igo away ; for if Igo notaway, the comforter zqHL not come ; but if Idepart, I will fend him unto you. Being bythe right hand of God exalted, and having re-ceived of the Father the promife of the HolyGhofl, he ho^thfhedforth this whichye 7iozofeeand hear. This is the fum of thofe gifts,which Chrift received for men, even for therebelliQ-"is, at his afcenfion. This is the fumof the benefits Chrift obtains for men by hisinterceffion. / will pray the Father, and hefiiall giveyou a^nother comforter, that he mayâbide with you for evereven the fpirit oftruth. Herein confifts Chrift's communica-:live fulnefs,even in his being full ofthe Spirit,and fo full of grace and truth, that we mightof this fulnefs receive, and grace for grace*He is anointed with the Holy Ghoft; andthis is the ointment that goes down from thehead to the members. God gives the SpiritXiot by meafure unto him, that every onethat is his might receive a.ccording to themeafure of the gift of Chrift. This, there-fore, was the great blefting he pzâyed for inthat wonderful prayer, that he uttei^d for


75/271

S

edwards j an humble attempt&c

Documents