even in Times of publick Tranquility, and of publick Prosperity; and they are at all Times liable to Loffes, Difappointments, a Variety of Troubles, Difeafes, and Death.

But this I may fay, that they are not the Objects of the divine Wrath; they are not that Part of the People God is contending with, when he is pouring out the Vials of his Indignation on incorrigible Sinners.

But they are that Sort of People, which God will take a fpecial Care of in Times of publick Calamities, and of Distress in Nations and Cities: God would not deftroy Sodom, till he had removed Lot out of it.

And there are many Predictions of our Father which is in Heaven, which fhews his Regard to his beloved Children, and what they may hope for and expect in those melancholy Days, when they fhall be furrounded with Multitudes of Examples of divine Vengance, ruining particular Perfons, Families and Towns.

As to the Righteous it is predicted, that when God's Judgments fhall be executed, it fhall be well with them.

In Ifa. iii. 10, 11. God gives thefe Predictions to his Prophets, in refpect to the Time of his Judgments on Judah and Jerufalem: Say ye to the Righteous, that it shall be well with him; for they hall eat the Fruit of their Doings: Wo unto the Wicked it shall be ill with him; for the Reward of bis Hands fhall be given him.

The Words fhew that God, moft Merciful, will have his People comforted with the Affurance from him, that when it goes ill with the Wicked, fuffering under deftroying Judgments, it shall at the fame Time go well with the Righteous: And that Expreffion, Say ye, fhews that it was the Duty not only of Ifaiah, but of all other Prophets and

Ministers

Minifters of God, to declare to the People the famé Affurance.

And the Words do likewife fhew, that it is the Duty of the Ministers of Chrift in ail Ages, and in all Countries, when they learn from the Threatnings of God's Word, and from the Wickedness of the Generality of People among whom they dwell, and from the Operations of the divine Providence, that deftroying Judgments are approaching; it is their Duty then to speak comfortably to the Godly, and declare to them, that whatever Calamities fhall come, it will go well with them; though it will go ill with the Wicked.

I fhall now collect the Predictions about the Righteous in Times of publick Calamities, under the following Heads, viz.

1. It is predicted, that they fhall be preserved in Safety in Times of WAR; they fhall be fafe, though furrounded with Dangers.

In Prov. xviii. 10. It is faid, The Name of the Lord is a firong Tower; the Righteous runneth into it, and is fafe. The Words fignify a Prediction to the Righteous, that if they by Prayer, and Faith feek to God for his Protection, they fhall find Safety.

In Prov. xxix. 25. It is faid, Whoso putteth his Truft in the Lord, shall be fafe. All the Righteous do put their Truft in him; therefore the Promise is a Prediction of Safety to them.

In 2 Chron. xvi. 9. It is faid, The Eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole Earth to fhew himself strong in the Behalf of them, whofe Heart is perfect towards him. Which Words imply God's watchful Providence over the Righteous, and that he will manifeft the Greatnefs of his Power

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Power in protecting them from the Dangers they may meet with.

In 1 Sam. ii. 9. It is faid, He will keep the Feet of his Saints, and the Wicked fhall be filent in Darkness.

In Pfal. xci. 1. It is faid, He that dwelleth in the Secret Place of the most High, shall abide (in fafety) under the Shadow of the Almighty.

Verfe 2. I will fay of the LORD, he is my Refuge, and my Fortress, my God, in him will I trust. Verfe 4. He fhall cover thee with his Feathers, and under bis Wings fhall thou truft: His Truth fhall be thy Shield and Buckler. Verse 10. There shall no Evil befal thee. These Words teach us our Duty of trusting in God, and imply a Prediction of Safety to righteous Perfons, who do fo. Pfa. cxxi. Ís Is full of Predictions of the like Import.

God's faithful Care of his Church and People, is likewife predicted, in Ifa. xxvii. 3. Ithe LORD do keep it, I will water it every Moment, left any burt it, I will keep it Night and Day.

In Zech. ii. 5. The Almighty fpeaketh thus, For I faith the Lord, will be unto her (i. e. his Church,) a Wall of Fire round about, and will be the Glory in the Midst of her.

In Job v. 20. It is faid, In WAR he fall redeem thee from the Power of the Sword.

In Prov. iii. 25, 26. It is faid, Be not afraid of fudden Fear, nor of the Defolation of the Wicked, when it cometh: For the LORD fhall be thy Confidence, and fhall keep thy Foot from being taken.

The Righteous in Countries that are the Seat of War, when oppofite Armies are Marching and Counter-marching, and are frequently. Fighting with each other, the Righteous are in the Midft of Perils and Dangers; but in the Midft of all thefe Perils and Dangers, and even in Battle, if

God

God will preferve them, they are as fafe, as if there were none.

Every Bullet that is fhot, and every Stroke of the Sword had it's Direction from the Providence of God: Since one Sparrow fhall not fall on the Ground, without our Father which is in Heaven; (Mat. x. 29.) fince not one of them is forgotten before God; (Luke xii. 6.) fince no Evil happens to those little Birds, without his Providence; we may be fure, that no Wound, no Hurt, happens to any Perfon in a Battle without it.

It is the Providence of God which takes away thofe, who are flain in War, and which preferves thofe, who escape unhurt.

In Mat. xxiv. 40, 41. It is faid, Then two fhall be in the Field, the one shall be taken, and the other left; two Women fhall be grinding at the Mill, the one fhall be taken, and the other left. And it is God, who determines which of them fhall be taken, and which of them fhall be left.

In perilous Times, the Righteous may use the Words of David, and fay, The LORD is my Light, and my Salvation, whom shall I fear? The LORD is the Strength of my Life, of whom shall I be afraid? Pfa. xxvii. 1. And they may be confident, that the LORD will fulfil all his Predictions,

2. It is predicted, that the Righteous fhall be provided for in Times of Calamities by FAMINE. Famine, is a Judgment very terrible; but bleffed be the Name of our bountiful God, we of this Generation have never feen the most deplorable Effects of it.

It may help us to fome right Apprehenfions and Senfe of it, if we read what is faid of it by the Prophet.

The Prophet Jeremiah defcribes the Miseries of a Famine in Lament. iv. Where he fays, The

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Tongue

Tongue of the fuckling Child, cleaveth to the Roof of his Mouth for Thirst; the young Children afk Bread, and no Man breaketh it unto them. ver. 4. They that did feed delicately, are defolate in the Streets; they that were brought up in Scarlet, embrace Dungbills. ver. 5.

For the Punishment of the Iniquity of the Daughter of my People, is greater than the Punishment of the Sin of Sodom, that was overthrown in a Moment. ver. 6.

Their Vifage is blacker than a Coal; they are not known in the Streets, their Skin cleaveth to their Bones; (their Flesh being wafted for want of Food,) it is withered, it is become like a Stick. ver. 8.

They that be fain with the Sword, are better than they that be flain with Hunger. For thefe pine away, stricken through, for Want of the Fruits of the Field. ver. 9.

The Hands of the pitiful Women have fodden their own Children; they were their Meat, in the Deftruc tion of the Daughter of my People. ver. 10.

O how tremendous are the Miseries of a great Famine! And War often brings on a Famine, even in the most fruitful Countries.

But it is predicted, that God will provide for his own People in fuch defolating and dreadful Times.

In Pfa. xxxiii. 18, 19. It is faid, Behold the Eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him: Upon them that hope in his Mercy; to deliver their Souls from Death, and to keep then alive in Famine.

In Pfa. xxxvii. 19. It is faid of them, They Shall not be ashamed in the evil Time: And in the Days of Famine they fhall be fatisfied.

In Ifa. xli. 17. When the Poor and Needy feek Water, and there is none, and their Tongues faileth