uths, the words and the oath of
the Holy One! If every word of truth came stamped with his authority, and
were received in the name of God himself, what influence would it have on
the spirits and the practices of men? This would be a great reformer,
would reform more in a month, than church and state hath done these many
years. Why are rulers and people not converted and healed for all that is
spoken? Here it is, "Who believes our report?" Who believes that our
report is thy own testimony, O Lord? When ministers threaten you in God's
name,--if his authority were stamped on the threatening, if men did
seriously apprehend it were God's own voice, would they not tremble? When
the gospel and the joyful sound comes forth, if he apprehended that same
authority upon it, which ye who are convinced believe to be in the law,
would ye not be comforted? Finally, I may say, it is this point of
atheism, of inconsideration and brutishness, that destroys the multitude,
makes all means ineffectual to them, and retards the progress of
Christians. Men do not consider, that this word is the word of the
eternal, and true, and faithful God, and that not one jot of it will fail.
Here is a point of reformation I would put you to, if ye mind indeed to
reform, let this enter into your hearts and sink down, that the law and
gospel is the word of God, and resolve to come and hear preachings so, as
the voice "of Jesus Christ, the true and faithful witness." If ye do not
take it so now, yet God will judge you so at the end. "He that despiseth
you, despiseth me, and he that hears not you, hears not me." If ye thought
ye had to do with God every Sabbath, would ye come so carelessly, and be
so stupid and inconsiderate before the Judge of all the earth? But ye will
find in the end, that it was God whom ye knew not.

Sermon IX.

Isaiah i. 11.--"To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices
unto me? saith the Lord," &c.

This is the word he calls them to hear and a strange word. Isaiah asks,
What mean your sacrifices? God will not have them. I think the people
would say in their own hearts, What means the prophet? What would the Lord
be at? Do we anything but what he commanded us? Is he angry at us for
obeying him? What means this word? Is he not repealing the statute and
ordinance he had made in Israel? If he had reproved us for breach of
commands, for omission and neglect of sacrifices, we would have taken with
it, but what m