3dly, Make improvement fuitable to the cafe of the church. 1. The first head is, to fhew when a church may be faid to be left or given up to reproach and contempt. And here I fhail mention feveral reproachful and church expofing evils, which minifters ought mournfully and fervently to deprecate, efpecially when a church is threatened with them. As, ft, When a church falls into a backfliding condition, religion in her is under a vifible decay; her members leave their first love, degenerate from their predeceffors piety and zeal, turn loofe and indifferent about God's truths, their former declared principles, and the folemn engagements they lie under to maintain them; and not only fo, but turn careless alfo about the practice and duties of religion, fuch as family-worthip, fecret prayer, fabbath-fanctification, and gospel holiness: when people lofe their former fpirituality and liveliness in God's fervice, and their duties dwindle away into a dead formality: when they content themselves with external ordinances and communions, without communion with God in them: when they turn carnal in their converfation; Chriftian love declines, malice, hatred and envy do increase: then it is, that a church is left and given up to reproach; thefe are church difgracing evils, which minifters fhould earnestly deprecate, and cry, 'Spare,' 2dly, When deftructive fchifms and divisions invade a church, fo that good men, both minifters and profeffors of religion, entertain rough thoughts, and break out into uncharitable reflections, and fevere cenfures one against another, and will not use lenity or forbearance to them who differ from them in fome leffer things. Thefe are evils we thould earnestly pray againft, feeing they manifeftly tend to expofe and ruin a church; for they put a stop to the progrefs of the gofpel, the convertion of fouis, and in bringing of ftrangers to Christ : they hinder the fweet fellowship of Chriftians together, and their mutual prayers with and for one another; and open a flood-gate for innumerable other evils: as, for inftance, they take us off from the vitals and effentials of of religion, the life and power of godlinefs; and, in the room thereof, engage and employ us into many needless difputes, paffionate ftrivings, envious whispers, unchriftian backbitings, and revengeful actions. How fadly verified do we find that word of the Apostle James ii.16 Where envying and ftrife is, there is confufion, and every evil work! We have reafon to plead and cry against this woful fpirit of ftrife and contention; for, where it doth take place, the church's beft friend is highly provoked, the Prince of peace;' and the herself is fadly expofed to the fcorn and derision of her enemies. 3dly, It is molt reproachful to a church, when doctrinal errors creep into her, when her teachers begin to refile from the pure truths of God handed down to them, and vent doctrines which have a tendency to Arminianifm, Arianifm or Deifm; when they extol natural reafon more than revelation, the power of corrupt nature more than efficacious free grace, mens own moral performances more than imputed righteousness, Jefus Chrift as a pattern more than as a propitiation; or any other opinions which tend to fap the foundation of Christianity, or reproach the holy Spirit's operations, and life of faith, with the name of enthufiafm: these are church-expofing evils, which we ought to bewail and pray against. 4thly, It is reproachful to a church, when fhe is fmitten with barrennefs and unfruitfulnefs, with refpect to converting of fouls, and bringing forth children to God: when the great doctrine of regeneration and the newbirth is little preached or experienced in her; or, when in judgment the hath given her a mifcarying womb and dry breasts. Lord, fpare thy people, and give not thine heritage to this reproach.' 5thly, It is a church difgracing evil, when God withdraws his holy Spirit and his gracious influences from her minifters and teachers, in any measure or degree: of which there are many, and each of them is to be dreaded and deprecated by us. As, ft, When we are deprived of the gifts and qualifications we once had. 2dly, When the light and knowledge we retain, hath no influence on our confciences. 3dly, When we lofe our VOL. I. fpirituality M m ་ fpirituality and livelinefs in the worship and fervice of God. 4thly, When we are ftraitned in our approaches to God. 5thly, When we begin to think duty a wearinefs, and our hearts are alienated from it. 6thly, When heart-plagues and indwelling corruptions prevail and increase, as heart-atheism, unbelief, carnality, &c. 7thly, When we incline towards the temptations of fin, and fociety of ungodly men. 8thly, When wonted restraints are taken off, and we turn loose and profane in our lives, fo as (like Eli's fons) to tempt men to abhor the offerings of the Lord. "O Lord, fpare thy people, and give not thy church to this reproach." 6thly, It is reproachful to the Lord's vineyard, when breaches are made in her walls and fences, fo that her enemies, the foxes and wild beafts, break in, and spoil the vines when strangers do devour her ftrength, thofe of a different perfuafion and communion do fpoil her of her ancient rights and liberties: when patrons and their abettors thruft in paftors upon Chriftian congregations against their will, whereby God's ordinances are deferted, the miniftry is contemned, the Lord's day is profaned, the flock of Chrift is fcattered and expofed as a prey to feducers. These are evils we should bewail and pray againft with tears, crying, "Lord, fpare thy church, and give her not up to this reproach." 7thly, It is difgracing to a church, when God hides his face from her, when under oppreffion and distress, and covers himself with a cloud, that their prayers cannot pass through; fo that enemies are ready to fay, as in the text, "Where is their God? Where is the fruit of all your prayers? where is he in whom you trusted for help? where is your covenanted God, of whofe promises to relieve you in trouble, you were wont to boaft?' This reproach is as a fword in his peoples bones, Pfal. xlii 10. against which let us pray, Lord, fpare thy people, and give not thine heritage to this fad reproach.' 8thly, It doth fadly expofe a church, when her pillars are removed; when thofe are difcouraged or taken way, who were wont to weep and wrestle between the porch and the altar, and stood in the breach to keep off wrath from her; when her burning and fhining lights are ex tinguifhed; tinguished; the precious fons of Zion are thrown by as earthen pitchers; when faithful teachers are removed into corners or graves, and fuch put in their room, who are unexperienced in religion, harden people in their fins, or lull them asleep in a Chriftlefs and unregenerate state. It is diftreffing to a church, when her pillars are ftruck at, perfecution is intended against the champions of Chrift's caufe, whereby others are intimidated with fear to own it. How low was the church brought in Herod's time, Acts xii. when James was killed with the fword, Peter in prison ready to be executed, and all the reft of the apostles were defigned as a facrifice? then the pillars fhook, the difciples trembled, and the enemies triumphed. This was a time of reproach; and it becomes all the minifters of the Lord to weep between the porch and the altar, and cry, Spare thy people, O Lord, give nor thine heritage to this reproach, or any other church-difgracing evil.' II. The Second head I propofed, was, to fhew why mihifters fhould be fo earnest with God, to avert these church-expofing evils. Reafons for it. 1. Because God exprefsly requires this at their hand, as in the text, and alfo in Ifa. Ixii. 6, 7: 'I have fet watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerufalem,Ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not filence. And give him no reft, till he establish Jerufalem.' Where we may fee the great end for which God fets minifters in fuch public pofts; it is not to keep filence in an evil time, as other prudent men may do, but to speak aloud in Zion's behalf, and to interceed and wrestle with God for her. And we fee Goft requires faithfulness in this matter. 2. This hath been the approven practice of the Lord's prophets and minifters in all ages. How earneft was Mofes, in wrestling and pleading for the church in his day! Exod. xxvii. г1, 12, 13.And Mofes befought the Lord his God, and faid, Lord, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou haft brought forth out of the land of Egypt, with great power and a mighty hand? Wherefore thould the Egyptians fpeak, and fay, For mischief did he bring them out, to flay them in the Mm 2 mountains, 3 H ་ mountains, and confume them from the earth? Turn 3. Because God is exceedingly delighted with fuch pleadings, and allows great familiarity to thofe who interceed for his church, Ifa. xlv. II. and promifeth profperity to them, Pfal. cxxii. 6. 4. Minifters fhould be more earnest for the church in trouble than other men, because they are Christ's principal fervants, who fhould be more zealous for their glorious Mafter than others, and know beft the near relation the church ftands in to him, that the is his city, his houfe, |