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النشر الإلكتروني

THE

CONTENTS.

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LETTER I.

HEN the Inhabitants of any City, or Country have Reafon to apprehend the Danger of publick Calamities, is fhewn. p. 3, 4. Some Tokens of the divine Anger noted, viz. 1. The Mortality, which through feveral Years deftroyed the Cattle. p. 42 5.

2. The Earthquakes, which lately happened in our Iland. p. 5, 6.

Thefe Calamities are the Productions of the almighty Power of God, and happens only when, and where he pleases. p. 6. No Aftronomer, no Philofopher can tell when, or where the righteous God will shake terribly the Earth, and raise thofe mighty Convulfions in it, which overthrow Cities, and often fwallow in Multitudes of People. p. 6.

The divine Power is always Acting, and fome Things, which appear to be the immediate Effect of its Agency, are specified. p. 7.

Famines, and Peftilences are Manifeftations of the divine Anger. p. 7.

The Day of the Lord's Vifitation for Sin, is a dif mal Time. p. 8.

Yet there is no Ground for Despair, but Room to hope for Mercy, and Pardon. p. 9.

Some Sorts of Perfons are particularly threatned with Punishments in the Day of God's Vifitation for Sin, viz.

I. Those

I. Thofe Minifters of the Word of God of every Denomination, who either fet bad Examples, or live in the Neglect of the Duties they owe to the People under their Care. p. 11. Why these are mentioned in the first Place, the Reasons as figned, ibid. p. 12. &c. by the Expreffions Watchmen, and Shepherds, who are meant, ibid.

II. Prophane Perfons, are another Sort of Sinners. p. 14. &c. Who are fuch. ibid. The Heinoufness of their Guilt. ibid. are Objects of God's Curfe, and Scorn. p. 15.

III. Idolators, alfo are Objects of God's threatned Judgments. p. 15. There are two Sorts of Idolatry, viz. One a Tranfgreffion of the first Commandment, viz. When Perfons own, and acknowledge any Creature as God, or pay religious Refpect, or Reverence by any inward Action of their Mind, or outward Gefture of their Bodies to a Creature as God, and as the Object of their Worship. ibid.

The other Sort of Idolatry, is making any Image to be the Means of worshiping the true God, and performing any Alts of religious Worship to it. p. 16. and this is a Tranfgreffion of the fecond Commandment. ibid.

The Heinoufness of this Idolatry displayed. p. 17. IV. Proud Perfons, are particularly threatned with Punishment, in the Time of God's Vifitation of a People for their Sins. p. 18. The common Incentives to Pride mentioned, ibid. What Pride is. p. 19. Threatnings against the Proud. ibid, &c.

V. Those who are Lovers of Pleasures, more than of God, are Objects of divine Threatnings. P. 20. &c.

Who are fuch defcribed. ibid. If a Man takes all Opportunities of being in the Company of one Acquaintance, and induftriously fhuns the Company and Converfation of another, it is a Demonftration that he loves the one, and diflikes the other; and thus as

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to the Lovers of Pleafure, &c. ibid. Threatnings against them mentioned. p. 21.

VI. Profaners of the holy Name of God, are threatned with Punishments in this Life. p. 22. &c. Who are fuch. ibid.

VII. Profaners of God's Sabbaths, are likewife under the divine Threatnings. p. 24. &c.

Who are Profaners of the Lord's Days. ibid.

The Declarations of the holy God, against the Tranfgrefors of the first Four of his Ten Commandments, recited in the foregoing Pages, are full of doleful Tidings. p. 27. Nevertheless there is Hope for the very Chief of Sinners. p. 28. As appears from the gracious Invitations, and Promifes of God to them if they repent, and turn to him. ibid, and p. 29.

There is a fure Way to Reconciliation, and Peace with God, a fure Way to obtain his Love, and the Pardon of all our Sins, a fure Way to Safety, Comfort, and Happiness. p. 30. This Way is fhewed by the facred Scriptures. p. 30. &c.

An Address to thofe Perfons, who have hitherto gone on in a Courfe of wilful Difobedience to God. P. 34. How they should reafon, and think with themfelves. ibid. and pray to their offended God. P. 35.

Suitable Reflections for those who repent of their Sins, and accept of Chrift to fave them. p. 36.

LETTER II.

THE bappy Condition of thofe, who are fo influenced by what the holy God hath faid in his Word, and threatned to inflict on the stubborn Tranfgreffers of his Laws, as to repent of their Sins, and by Faith in Chrift to feek Pardon, and Salvation. p. 1.

&c.

How penitent Believers, pious Perfons may think, and reafon within themselves to their own Comfort. p. 2.

a

Of

Of the Reasonings proper for those, who have hitherto neglected God and their Duty. p. 3.

There are feveral Sorts of Perfons, who live in wilful Difobedience to one, or other of the Six last of the ten Commandments. Particularly,

VIII. REBELLIOUS Perfons. p. 4. &c.

Rebellion is a wilful Oppofition to the Authority, and lawful Commands of those whom God has fet over us. p. 4, &c.

And it is a Tranfgreffion of the fifth Commandment. ibid.

Of Difobedience to natural Parents. p. 4, 5.

Of Difregard to thofe Minifters of God's Word, under whofe Care the divine Providence has placed us. p. 6.

We may from the Behaviour, which God requires of us towards them, infer the Sinfulness of a contrary Conduct: So far as the Minifters of Chrift deliver to us the Word of God, it is our Duty to believe it, and to be obedient to it.

But we are to examine by the Holy Scriptures, every Doctrine they teach, and every Inftruction in Matters of Practice they inculcate, and we are not to receive them meerly becaufe delivered by our Teachers.

P. Of obedience to Kings, and fubordinate Magif

trates. p. 8. &c.

IX. OPPRESSORS, are another Sort of Perfons, who have Reafon to fear the Effects of God's Wrath in the Day of his Vifitation for Sin. p. 10.

As Rebellion includes the various Sorts of Mißbehaviour, and Oppofition of Inferiors to their Superiors in Authority; fo Oppreffion comprehends the feveral Abuses, which Superiors in Authority, or Power, are guilty of to their Inferiors. ibid.

When Perfons are guilty of Oppreffion is fhewed. p.

10, 11, 12.

The

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