God's Conduct of His Church Through the Wilderness

p. 3God's Conduct of His Church With His Glorious Arm.

That led them by the Right Hand of Moses and Aaron, with his Glorious Arm, dividing the Water before them, to make Himself an Everlasting Name.

IT hath been an Ancient, Laudable, Celebrated Custome, on our Anniversary Elections, (formerly of Governours, but always of Assistants in Government) to Invocate the Divine Presence, and Consult the Sacred Oracles for Direction in so Weighty an Affair.

By the dispose of Divine Providence, it hath fallen to my Allotment, and at the Pleasure of those Worthy and Honourable Gentlemen, the Representatives of this Province, I find my self exposed, and have this task put upon me; which I am very sensible, might have been better performed and accepted by p. 4some other Person, better acquainted with the present circumstances and state of Affairs amongst us.

But since it cannot be prevented, that I would crave, is only a candid Interpretation of what may be very plainly, but sincerely offered; it not being presumption, but obedience, that makes me comply in my present offerings, who have reason to account my self the weakest & most unworthy of my Brethren that minister at the Altar.

That which I have to offer to this Great and Honourable, the General Assembly of this Province; and in the Audience of the Reverend Elders, and all good Christians now Conven'd: Let it be some brief and suitable Reflections on the Divine Providence, in the Lords Conduct of his Church thro' the Wilderness of this World, or from one part of the Wilderness of this World to another.

This is admirably Exemplified in our Text, by the famous Instance of God's Conduct of Israel of Old (the only Church upon Earth, the National Church of the Jews) thro' the Red Sea; and into, and in the Wilderness by the Right hand of Moses, with Gods Glorious Arm (for forty years together) to make himself an Everlasting Name.

Which may be improved as a parallel Instance, and may put us upon a Reflection of Gods Conduct 〈…〉 People (our Fathers) over a far greater Sea (the vast Atlantick Ocean) p. 5into this American Desart, this vast howling Wilderness; and his Conducting us here by faithful and excellent Guides and Governours, as it were by the Right hand of Moses and Aaron, with his Glorious Arm, for more than twice Forty Years, whereby he hath made to himself an Everlasting Name.

p. 5But lest I should in ipso limine impingere, and forget the limits of time alotted; I must mind you, that our Text is a brief Compendium, or an Abridgement of that Famous Celebrated History of Gods Conduct of his Church from Egypt thro' the Wilderness, and in the Wilderness: In which Conduct, four things are pointed out in our Text.

1. The Divine Power and Providence of God, figuratively set forth by the Metaphor of his Arm, his Glorious Arm; (who led them by the Right hand of Moses with his Glorious Arm) the Arm of God in Scripture Language, denotes the Power of God: Brachium ponitur pro Robore, Fortitudine, Potentia.

2. The Instrument improved in this Glorious Conduct, scil. Moses: Famous for his Preservation in his Infancy, taken out of an Ark of Bulrushes, in his Education in Ravennel, in the Court of Egypt, Exod. 6. 6, 15, 16. Deut. 4. 34. And also the Lords honouring him to be King of J◊sh◊un, Captain General of the Tribes of Israel, to lead them by his Right hand, with Gods Glorious Arm, (that led them by the Right hand of Moses, with his Glorious Arm) p. 6i. e. Gods Glorious Arm march'd gallantly at Moses's Right hand, which made the Conduct so much the more Illustrious and Glorious.

3. We have the Glorious Arm of God's Conduct exemplified in one particular Instance, instead of all others, soil. in leading his People miraculously thro' the Sea; intimated in that expression in our Text, (dividing the waters before them, the Red Sea, and also Jordan, Exod. 14. 21. Josh. 3. 15, 16.

4. The ultimate end of this Divine Conduct is pointed to in the close of our Text, soil. Gods Glory, the Glory of his Name; (to make himself an Everlasting Name) with reference both to his Power & Providence, as respecting either his Aim and End in doing what he did; or the effect of it when it was done, it got him Renown: Who led them by the Right hand of Moses, with his Glorious Arm, to make himself an Everlasting Name.

You may take up this Doctrine from the words, as the ground of our Ensuing Discourse.

p. 6DOCTRINE.

To make Himself an Everlasting Name, is the prime and ultimate end of Gods Exerting his Glorious Arm of Divine Power and 〈…〉 Conducting his Church and People thro' the Wilderness of this World; or from one part of the Wilderness of this World to another.

p. 7For Confirmation hereof, I might lead you thro' the whole History of the Scriptures; wherein we may trace the footsteps of the Wonder Working Providences of God in his Care and Conduct of his Church, and Judgments upon their Enemies, which have remarks put upon them every where by Gods Holy Prophets; And by way of Imitation in treating the Subject under our present Consideration, I might improve their method.

Our Prophet Isaiah in our Text, points out unto us the Ancient way of Preaching in Old Testament times, which was an Historical Narration of Memorable Mercies and Remarkable Judgments relating to Gods Church, or his Churches Enemies: Mercies and Judgments were the Texts they Preached on; hence is that of the Psalmist, I will Sing of Mercy and of Judgment unto thee Oh Lord, Psal. 101. 1.

But let it suffice to Confirm this Doctrine from the particular Instance in our Text, wherein as in a Glass we may behold the Providence of God, his Wisdom, Glory, Power and Goodness exercised towards his People at all times. …