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AN

HUMBLE ADDRESS

TO THE

RIGHTEOUS GOD.

RIGHTEOUS art thou, O Lord, in all thy ways, and holy in all thy works, * must dust and ashes say when they speak to thee, or plead with thee. All our Israel have transgressed thy law, and despised thy gospel, therefore hast thou brought upon us a great evil, such as hath scarce ever been done under the whole heaven; † not three shepherds cut off in a month, but two thousands in one day, and this not for a day, or month, or year, but even twenty years already; neither is there any among us that knoweth how long this sad cloud may be upon us. || Thy will be done: thou hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve; but to the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against thee; and shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? § Look down from heaven, and behold from the habita

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tion of thy holiness, and of thy glory. * Shall the needy always be forgotten? shall the expectation of the poor perish for ever? † Be not wrath very sore, O Lord, neither remember iniquity for ever: behold, see, we beseech thee, we are all thy people; though our iniquities testify against us, do thou this for thy name's sake; for behold, for thy sake we are killed all the day long. The Lord God of hosts, the Lord God of gods, he knoweth, and Israel he shall know, if it be rebellion, or transgression against the Lord. || Judge, O Lord, them that have walked in their integrity: recompense thy servants according to the cleanness of their hands in thine eye-sight, that have not wickedly departed from their God; or, by the grace of God have acknowledged their offence, and returned to thee, and who at last are following on to know the Lord, and pleading and hoping for a reviving and resurrection after these days or years of death. § Let thy dead men live, thy slain witnesses be called up, and ascend to heaven in a cloud; let there be a shaking, that these dry bones may come together: come, O wind, and breathe on them, that they may live. Cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary, for the Lord's sake: in midst of judgment remember mercy, and at last revive thy work: give us the opening of the mouth: set thy light on a candlestick: hold the stars in thy right hand: let thy people's eyes see their teachers: give us help from trouble, for vain is the

* Isa. lxiii. 15.

+ Psalm ix. 18.

‡ Isa. lxiv. 9. Jer. xiv. 7. Psalm xliv 22.

|| Josh. xxii. 22.

Psalm xviii. 21, 24. Hos. v. 15. vi. 3.

§ Psalm xxvi. 1.

Isa. xxvi. 19.

Rev. xi. 11, 12. Ezek. xxxvii. 6, 9.

help of man: purify the sons of Levi, that they may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness.* Thou art Jehovah, and changest not, therefore the sons of Jacob are not all consumed.† Thou art the Creator of the ends of the earth, and therefore canst command deliverance for Jacob. There is no searching of thine understanding, therefore thou canst devise ways for the banished to be restored. || Thou art a faithful God, and wilt perform thy promises, and confirm the word of thy servants. § But our God is a God of judgment; blessed are all they that wait for him. The true and faithful witness saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come Lord Jesus. **

* Dan. ix. 17.

ii. 1. Isa. xxx. 20.

+ Mal. iii. 6.

|| 2 Sam. xiv. 14.

Isa. xxx. 18.

Hab. iii. 2. Ezek. iii. 27. Matt. v. 15. Rev.

Psalm 1x. 11.

Mal. iii. 3.

+ Psalm xlii. 8. xliv. 4.

§ 1 Cor. x. 13.
** Rev. xxii. 20.

Isa. xliv. 26.

TO ALL

THE MOURNERS IN ZION,

THAT WAIT FOR

THE CONSOLATION OF ISRAEL,

Grace, mercy, and peace.

THE sharp rebukes which divine displeasure hath laid us under these many years, have caused various thoughts of heart. Whilst profane men have shot their arrows, bitter words, it is becoming God's children to have many solemn searchings of heart, and serious inquiries after the reason of the Lord's controversy with the daughter of Zion; word and rod call us to consider our ways,* and God's people have called on themselves and one another saying, "Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord." ↑ Doubtless the occasion is given by us, we turned away from God before he turned his back upon us. Judgment is begun at the house of God; and he expects repentance should begin there, that pacification may be first begun there. God saith, "You only have I known of all the families of the earth, therefore I will punish you for your iniquities;" || and well he may, for the provocation of his sons and daughters goes nearest his heart, § as being against greater light, and love, means, mercies, obligations, and expectations than that of others. Surely it is high time for us to awake out of sleep. The charge is drawn up, the indictment is read, scourges have been laid on, and of such a nature as have

• Hag. i. 5.
|| Amos. iii. 2.

+ Lam. iii. 40.
§ Deut. xxxii. 19.

‡ 1 Pet. iv. 17. Rom. xiii. 11.

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