covenanted Reformation, and weakening a Proteftant intereft? When, upon the one hand, fome are beginning openly to advance and propagate the old abjured Popish doctrines which our reformers did throw out, and with axes and hammers would go at once to cut down all our carved work; and, at the fame time, on the other hand, fome would be at breaking down the excellent fences of our Reformation, viz. our covenant", confeffions, the magistrate's power, &c. For this end, papers are spread, and pofitions advanced, impugning the warrantableness of our national covenants and confeffions, and the obligation thereof; reflecting also upon our worthy Reformers and ancestors, as unenlight. ened, who framed and took them, or died adhering thereunto; and alfo denying the magistrate's power, CIRCA SACRA (for the fupport of the truth, and fuppreffing of herefies) acknowledged by the word of God and our confeffion of faith; and all this, forfooth, to make for å toleration of all errors and fects among us; way though they cannot but know, that tolerating of falfe religions is expressly ranked among the fins forbidden in the fecond commandment, according to the expofition of our larger catechifm; and is alfo condemned by the twenty-third chapter of our confeffion: in both which, we may fee the clear fcripture-texts, cited by the Affembly, for refuting and condemning any fuch to leration. Ah! what joy may all this caufe at Rome! therefore tell it not in Gath, &c.

As the Lord did signally countenance our Reformers practice in entering into folemn and national covenants with God, and among themselves, for religion and reformation, by the pouring out of his Spirit from on high, for bringing in of many fouls to himself, and for overturning idolatry and fuperftition, and advancing reformation to a great pitch, in spite of all the enemies and difficulties that were in the way; fo their practice of national covenanting, even under the New Testament difpenfation, is fufficiently warranted both by the light of nature, and by the word of God, and that in both Teftaments. And this will appear if we confider the fcripture-precedents, together with the promifes

and

and prophecies of the Old Testament relating to gofpel times, and compare them with the New; and efpecially thofe which foretel the unchurching of the Jewish nation, and the ingrafting of the Gentile nations into their room and that thereupon the national church-state and privileges of the Jews were to be transferred to Chriftian nations, and particularly this of being nationally in covenant with God. Which prophecies are to have their special and full accomplishment at Babylon's downfal. For illuftrating thefe points, and applying the fcripture-texts relative thereto, I might expatiate in feveral thects of paper, if it were proper here. I fhall only at this time cire fome of the texts that may be well improven to the forefaid purposes; which the reader may turn to and confider at his leisure, fuch as Ifa. xix. 18, 21, 23, 24, 25. chap. xlv. 23. Jer. 1.4, 5. the lx. lxi. and Ixii. chapters of Ifaiah throughout. Ifa. Iv. 3, 4, 5. Micah iv. 1, 2. Zech. viii. 21, 22, 23. Rev. ii. 15. Rom. xi. 17, 19. chap. x. 12, 19. Mat. iii. 5, 6. Acts viii. 6, 12. 2 Cor. viii. 5. Mat. xxi. 43. Rom. ix. 24, 25, 261 compared with Hof. i. 9, 10, 11. chap. ii. 23. Likewife I might cite feveral prophecies with refpect to the iflands, and utmost ends of the earth, which were peopled by Japhet, that have a very particular and favourable afpect to this covenanted land.

Befides all which, it is evident, from the firft and great command of the law, which is directed to Ifrael as a nation, and is obligatory under the New Teftament as well as the Old; that it is a moral duty, univerfally and perpetually binding upon nations and focieties, as well as fingle perfons, to chufe, acknowledge, and avouch the Lord to be their God, to walk in his ways, and keep his ftatutes. This is required in the first commandment according to the expofition of our Larger Catechism ; and is there confirmed by thefe texts, that warrant and exemplify the practce of national covenanting, fuch as Deut. xxvi. 19, 17. Joth. xxiv. 22. In fuch a national way did our fathers of old acknowledge and avouch the Lord to be their God, and devote themselves and their

pofterity to the Lord. And, bleffed be the Lord our God, who did many ways declare himfelf to be well

pleated

pleafed with the bargain, and especially by filling the temple with his glory.

As the prophets and godly Jews were at great pains to convey to pofterity historical accounts of the wonder derful deliverances God wrought for Ifrael at the Redfea, and in refcuing them from Egypt, Babylon, and other enemies; fo it would be useful to fortify our reformation, if we were careful to hand down to the rifing generation a fenfe of God's distinguishing mercy to this land, in delivering us from spiritualBabylon, and refcuing us from time to time from these captains that have fought to lead us back thither. Many a time hath he delivered us, when we have been brought very low.

God

By many inftances it hath appeared, that the glorious JEHOVAH hath not been ashamed to own his covenant relation to this finful and unworthy land. forbid that we of this age fhould be afhamed to own our covenant-relation to him. This hath been both our glory and our fafety; and I hope, there will still be found a remnant to own it, and plead it with God in the time of danger. Surely, it is not time now to difclaim it, when the enemies of our Zion are combining together, and feeking to raze her to the foundation. Let all her lovers cry mightily to her covenanted Lord in her behalf, in thefe fhaking times: let them join to put up that prayer of the Pfalmift, lxxviii. 28. "Strengthen, O God, that which thou haft wrought for us," and that of Habakkuk, Hab. iii. 2. Lord, revive thy work in the midst of the years."

MAY 27. 1797.

N. B. The forefaid digreffion, in the preface to the first edition, was occafioned by the broaching of fome Sectarian notions, which introduced great reelings and fhakings in this corner, and other parts of this church; fince which time, alas!. fhe hath enjoyed little peace within her walls, or profperity within her palaces; but, instead thereof, the hath been toffed with tempefts and troubles of various kinds, whereby the children of Zion have been brought, and still ly, under great distress and affliction.

The

The first impreffion of this book being disposed of, and a fecond called for, I have the more readily confented to it, at this time of general calamity and distress, feeing the book is intended as a Directory to Chriftians under affliction, whatever fort it be. It cannot but be obvious to every serious obferver, that the Lord's judg ments are in the earth at this day, and that the inhabi tants of this land are generally vifited with calamities of divers kinds, both fpiritual and temporal; which makes a Directory how to manage and carry under them the more seasonable and neceffary.

Ah! the Lord's hand is vifibly lifted up against us at this day, and hath been for fome years past, in fhutting up the churches womb, blafting gofpel-ordinances, and withdrawing his Spirit from the affemblies of his people, and from our judicatories. The flood-gate is opened for error, infidelity, and loofenefs, to overfpread the land; fo that the gospel of Chrift, the holy Scriptures, and all revealed religion, are condemned and ridiculed by many. "The anger of the Lord hath divided us both in church and ftate, and hath mingled a perverse spirit in the midst of us;" yea, hath made fuch woful breaches among godly minifters and Chriftians, who are aiming at the fame things, that no balm can be found for healing them. There is a way opened for a carnal felf-feeking minister to get into the vineyard, when faithful la bourers are thruft out, and godly preachers and ftudents are difcouraged from entering in. Not a few Chriftian congregations, who lately were harmonious and unite in partaking of gofpel-ordinances, are now fo miferable, rent and scattered, through mournful intrusions and dividing courses, that they cannot worship God together; and many of them are wandering like theep having no fhepherd, exposed to beasts of prey, and liable to perifh in a state of ignorance or negligence.

Likewife, the Lord's hand is remarkably lifted up against us, in the variety of temporal judgments and calamities brought upon us within a very thort time bypaft. Sometimes the Lord fends forth his ftormy winds with extraordinary violence, fo as to carry terror and destruction along with them both by fea and land, and even threaten to bury us in the ruin of our

houses.

!

houfes. Sometimes he fends fuch long continued rains in harvest, as threaten to destroy the whole crop be fore our eyes. Sometimes fuch extraordinary forms of frost and fnow, as to bind up the waters and mills, that food cannot be prepared for us, and we are ready to perih in midt of plenty. Sometimes he fends fuch deftructive storms of lightning and thunder from heayen, and kindles fuch violent fires on earth, that whole cities, with their inhabitants, are like to be confumed therewith. Upon our neighbouring countries dreadful inundations have been fent of late, for deftroying the inhabitants with their cattle and effects. Again, God hath vifited us with long continued drought, cold and unnatural storms in the spring, and fometimes with frost in midst of fummer, which have brought on extraordinary fcarcity and dearth of victual, so that there are great diforders committed in the land by riots and tumults for want of food, and multitudes of families are diffolved, and forced to wander begging their bread; and the cattle alfo are famifhed for want of grafs and food to sustain them. In the mean time we are engaged in war with cruel enemies, who feize our fhips, carry our countrymen captives, throw them into dungeons and nauseous prifons, where they use them barbaroufly; yea, much of their blood is fhed, and many valuable lives are loft in our defence. And, befides our other calamities, we fuffer greatly through decay of trade and merchandise, and penury of money; in many places, merchants, tradesmen, and artificers, want bufinefs; there is no work nor hite for labourers, and for those who would use honeft industry for bread, whether men or women: fo that want is "come upon us as one that travaileth, and poverty like an armed man," and many are reduced to extreme mifery, and ftarving circumftances, for lack of bread.

By all which proceedings it appears that God hath a peculiar controverfy with Scotland, and threatens to pu nifh her remarkably for her heinous fins and provoca tions. The Lord's hand hath been long lifted up against us, and now it is higher lifted up than ever and, the higher it is lifted, the blow is like to be the feverer when given. He hath fent many leffer strokes and judgments upon us, as forerunners and warnings of greater, which VOL. I.

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