ADVERTISEMENT.

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REDICTIONS, are all those Declarations of future EVENTS recorded in the Holy Scriptures, which God by his Providence has brought, or will bring to pass; whether thofe Events be Punishments. or Bleffings.

THUS the Declarations of the Deftruction of Jerufalem, and of the Miseries which befel the Jews, were Predictions.

THUS the Declarations of the Deliverance of the Children of Ifrael out of Egypt, and from the feventy Years Captivity, were Predictions; and fo indeed, are all the Threatnings God has denounced against the Wicked; and all the Promises of Bleffings, which he has made to Nations, or particular Perfons, who love and ferve him, and keep his Commandments: And thus the Sacred Declarations in the two first of these Letters are Predictions.

THE Providence of the righteous and faithful God, is always fulfilling his Word: Therefore David faid unto God, I will praife thee with my whole Heart, for thy LovingHeart,—for

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kindness,

kindness, and for thy Truth; for thou haft magnified thy WORD, above all thy Name. Pfal. cxxxviii. I, 2. God has done it above every other Way, in which he had made himself known; and he does fo ftill, by bringing to pass the Events foretold by the Prophets of the Old Testament, and by the bleffed Jefus, and the Apostles, and Prophets of the New.

It is therefore incumbent on all Christians to take Notice of them, so far as they fhall come within their Knowledge; and to obferve the Dealings of the fupreme Governour of the World, with their own Country, and their Neighbours, and likewife with themselves; whether the Events, which occur be merciful, or afflictive.

THE Works of the Lord (both those of Creation, and those of his Providence) are great, fought out of all them, that have Pleafure therein. His Work (of Providence, as well as of Creation) is honourable, and glorious; and his Righteoufnefs endureth for ever. He hath made his wonderful Works to be remem bred. Pfal. cxi. 2, 3, 4. We ought therefore to obferve, and remember them.

A DISREGARD of the Acts of the righteous and gracious God in his Government of the World, and more efpecially in what relates to our own Country, our own Ci

ties, and Families, and Perfons; is a provoking Difregard of himself.

BECAUSE they regard not the Works of the Lord, nor the Operation of his Hands, he shall deftroy them, and not build them up. It is faid Pfal. xxviii. 5.

THE two first of these Letters were published, 1750. under the Title of Sacred Declarations, confidered, &c. and are now published again, with others fubfervient to the fame Design.

I HAVE in thefe Letters collected a Summary both of the Law, and Gofpel, and a Summary of the Predictions of Punishment appointed for the Wicked; and of the Predictions of Bleffings for the Righteous, for all true Believers in this Life, at Death, and afterwards; and on thefe Accounts, it may be useful for Chriftians frequently to look into them.

THE laft Letter is added on the Account of the Importance of its Contents, and the many Advantages which may be obtained, by diffufing the Knowledge of the Holy Scriptures among the People.

In the poetical Lines cited in these Letters, I have here and there changed a Word to render them more expreffive of my own Thoughts.

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