A s E R M 0 N On Z EPH. I. I, 2, 3· Gather your[elves together, yea, gather together, 0Na::. tion not deftred. Before the decree bring forth, before the day pajf as the Chaff, before the fierce Anger of the Lord come upon you, before the day of the Lord't anger come upon you. See~ye the Lord, all the mee~of the Earth, which have wrought hi! Judgment, fee~righteoufneft, fee~ meelf nefi : it may be ye fhall be hid in the dqy of the Lord:.r Anger. THE firtl Chapter is throughout fpent in a moll !earfUl denunciation and defcription of a fpeedy and univerfal confumption decreed againfi the Land of Judah, with the Caufes of it, which the Prophet yet winds up in the words I have read unto you, with a gracious Exhortation to Repentance, to prevent the Execution of that Decree. Wherein confider, Firfi, The Perfons to whom this Exhortation is made : Firfi of all, he fpeakscolledively as ro rhe whole Nation, Gather together, f§c. · Oh Nat1on; calling rhem ro a folemn and publick Repentance. Which Second· ly, is alfo to be undedlood as fpoken particularly and difiributively to every . Perfon in rhe Nation, efpecially the Imperrirenr, Searchyot<r[elves, Ohyou, Hot to 6e dejired. If Thirdly, he can prevail wirh none of rhem, he then more e· fpecially turns his fpeech to all the godly in the Land, who had repented already; which havrwrought hu Judgmmts; However,fuky the Lord,f§c. Secondly, Confider the Duties he exhorts them all unto; whereof. thougi1 fome are more puticularly fpoken to the bad, fome to the good, yet all concern all alike; which as they are laid down in the Texr, exprefs rhe parts and ingre– dients inro Repentance, and order of them. 1. All colledively are to gather folemnly together; And 2. being gathered to fearch (for fo as here anon the word is alfo to be underfiood,) into the fins df the Nation ; fo alfo colledively uken, which bring the Judgmeat threatned. And 2. Every particular perfon is particularly exhorted; r. to fearch himfelf, Searchyour]elves into;•ottr own /ins .mdeflate 6efore God; 2 . To Judge ofyour felves as m•n not to be defired, that is out of the favour of God , and to whom his Wrath was due, for fo God judg'd of you, Oh Nation, not to be de(ired, and befpeaksittothatendthattheymight judge foof themfelvcs. 3· Out of the fenfe of this to feek'the Lord, to feek his favo~r, and to pacify his wrath. And 4· That they might be fure to find him tof'ek Righteoujne(s alfo, Grace as well as Mercy, elfe they feek him in hypocrifie: And)· and more efpecially, to feek V 1. him 147
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