The procuring CAUSE

Then let us try if we can spy wherein we have offended Our angry God, for which his Rod unto us is extended; Our Land has been a Place wherein the Lord hath shewed Favour; Where Gospel-Light hath shined bright, with sweet, and heav'nly Savour: But now, alas! sad, awful Case! how many of our Nation Slight, and abuse the blessed News, and Tidings of Salvation! Our Love grows cold, in Sin we're bold, Iniquity abounding, Spreads o'er the Land, I understand, like to a Deluge drowning! Our Ministers, like pilot Stars, should guide in this Declention;— But, ah! how rare they answer their original Intention! How very few, when first they do accept of the Vocation, Sincerely aim to praise God's Name, and to promote Salvation! How very few among them shew from Jesus Christ a Warrant; Whose Holy walk, and Heav'nly talk promote the Gospel errand! How very are they every where, through this Part of our Nation, Are apt to teach, and likewise preach, with Pow'r and Demonstration; Causing, that few we see into God's Family adopted; Which demonstrates how much he hates a Minist'ry corrupted:— And, our Trustees of all Degrees, who are with Pow'r invested To watch the Ground, God's Vineyard round, and see it not molested; Who ought in Case of Fatherless and Widows to be Pleaders, And in Christ's Cause, and for his Laws, should be the foremost Leaders; Alas! must I against them cry? for Reverence such I owe them, If conscience could, I freely would in my Complaint forgo them: Pride, carnal Ease, the Flesh to please, Injustice, and Oppression, They awfully are tainted by, must be my sad Confession: Good Joshua his Path this Day how much by them despised; With Family Pray'r, how very rare will they be stigmatized; How often, when they get poor Men unto a lawless Border, We hear a cry of Treachery, Oppression, and Disorder: And they likewise, who in their Lives exalt free Grace's Donor, How seldom they promoted be to any Post of Honour:— And likewise in our common Men, in this New-English Nation, All Wickedness increased is in Life, and Conversation; Many a Heart from God doth part, to worship earthly Treasure; Whose Tongues prophane abuse his Name; and take therein great Pleasure:— Unchristian walk, vile filthy Talk is every where abounding; Impertinence, and vile Nonsense, the Soul and Conscience wounding; God's holy Day, we waste away in trifling, or in sleeping, Or else contriving how to thrive in earthly Profit reaping:— Our Frontier-Parts, and outer Skirts, can seldom hear a Sermon; Yet ah! how few among them do thirst for the Dew of Hermon!— How many slight true Gospel Light, and love Arminian-Preaching;— But, can't endure the plain and pure, true, faithful, Gospel-Teaching. Many a Fool doth ridicule strict, serious Deportment, Making a scoff and laugh thereof, as if no ways Important: Alas! how rare is Family-Pray'r in our New-English Nation; But, we may see Wine, Rum and Tea, excessively in Fashion;— These Sins, and more I might tell o'er, are spread our Country over; But draw the Veil I rather will, and no more Shame discover.