The Necessity of Judgment and Righteousness in a Land

No. 24 Eliphalet Adams The Necessity of Judgment. New London, 1710 Copies located: Connecticut Historical Society Massachusetts Historical Society From the original in the Massachusetts Historical Society December, 1936 See: R. W. G. Vail, A Check List of New England Election Sermons, in American Antiquarian Society Proceedings for October, 1935. i The necesity of Judgment, and Righteousness in a Land. A Sermon, Preached at the General Court of Election, at Hartford in the Colony of CONNECTICUT, on May 11th. 1710. By Eliphalet Adams, Pastor of the Church in New London. Žeph 2. 3. Seek Righteousness, Seek Meek ness, it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lords, Anger. NEWLONDON in N. E. Printed by Thomas Short, Printer to the Governour and Council. 1710. The necessity of Judgment and Righteousness in a Land. AMOS. V. XXIV. But let Judgment rus down as Waters, and Righteousness as a mighty stream. I T was the Lot of this good Propher to live in a very Corrupt and Degenerate Age to be fent uponan Ingrateful Errand and to have to do with a stubborn and Incorrigible People. The judgmerts of God had been heavy upon them, Yet world they not learn Righteonficts: Many Prophets and Righteous Men hat been before him, whom the Lord had fent to bring the People back to their Duty, yet their attempts were, in a great measure without Siccess: And even he himfelt is rudely Infulted upon the delivery of his Message; However his Courage fills him not, His Zeal is oply so much the more Indan'd, and ulness keep back and part of the Counted Cod. When the Lord Commands His Wilmut be done, whoever is agriev d, he dare not in in fach. A2 the - : . The necessity of Judgment and Righteousness in a Land. AMOS. V. XXIV. But let Judgment run down as Waters, and Righteousness as a mighty stream. T was the Lot of this good Propher to live in a very Corfurt and Degenerate Age to be fent uponan Ingrateful Errand and to have to do with a stubborn and Incorrigible People. The Judgments of God had been heavy upon them, Yet world they not learn Righteonficis: Many Prophets and Righteous Men had been before him, whom the Lord had fent to bring the People back to their Duty, yet their attempts were, in a great measure without Siccefs: And even he himfelt is rudely Infulted upon the delivery of his Message; However his Comage fills him not, His Zeal is oply so much the more Infdan'd, and he darenct in faith.ulness keep back and part of the Counted of God. When the Lord Commands His Wilmust be done, whoever is ag V A2 agriev d, the :

The Necessity of Judgment, the Words that beats in the Mouths of His Servants must be uttered let who will be offended. Here I cannot forbear observing, how easie a Task they have of it who have to do with a willing & Obedient People, in Comparison of them that are sent to the Stubborn and Disobedient when men are set in the way of Apostacy, it is hard reducing them back to their Duty, they will go on in their Trespasses and revolt more & more, notwithstanding all that can be said. Amongst this People there was still some sort of form of Religious worship kept up, as appears from the Context, V. 21, 22, 23. Altho it was attended with a great deal of Hypocrisy, degenerated into an empty, lifeless piece of formality, and wofully Adulterated with Idolatrous mixtures. For those reasons the Lord by the Prophet declares how odious and unacceptable their performances were unto him, I hate, I despise your Feast Days and I will not smell in your solemn Assemblies &c. They had their Sacrifices still in use among them, and they observed those days which were Originally of Divine Institution, but the Spirit of true Piety was utterly Decayed, Wickedness prevailed and was indulged in the midst of them, and so the Lord would not any more regard what they did. To the same purpose speaks the prophet Isaiah, Chap. 1. 11. &c. To what purpose is the multitude of your Sacrifices unto me, saith the Lord, I am full of the burnt Offerings of Rams and the fat of fed Beasts, and I delight not in the blood of bullocks or of lambs or of he goats, when ye come to appear before me, who hath remis at your hand, to tread my Courts? Bring no vain oblations, Incense is an Abomination unto me, the New Moons and Sabbaths the calling of Assemblies I cannot away with, it is Iniquity, even the solemn meeting. Your New Moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth, they are a trouble unto me, I am weary to bear them. And yet all these things were of Gods appointment, but because they neglected the more substantial Duties of Piety, Righteousness and Sobriety, Because their attendance upon these things was Degenerated into an empty piece of Formality, it was no more Acceptable unto God. In this Chapter we may observe, that the people were miserably defective in point of Justice and Righteousness, men neglected to attend the Duties of their Office, they made no Conscience of their ways and the Weak became a Prey to the Strong, there are many Intimations of this in this Chapter, the Prophet accosts them under this evil Character, v. 7. Ye who turn Judgment to Wormwood and leave off Righteousness in the Earth. And he is more particular in reckoning up their faults of this Nature, in v. 11, 12. …