SECT. V. The Romish enemy comes in like a flood,

99

1. In heretical doctrine,

ibid.

2. In idolatrous worship,

105

107

112

3. In tyrannical government,

Reflections on the fecond Part,

1. A flood of infidelity, error, immorality, and neu-

trality, has overflowed the land,

112

2. The Romish enemy has come in like a flood, 116

The floods are lifting up themselves, and fpreading

3.

ftill more and more,

4. We are brought very low,

117

122

Remarkable quotations from archbishop Usher, and

Dr. Gill, &c.

125,-130.

Shewing what is meant by the Spirit lifting up a

SECT. I. He lifts it up when he fends forth a faithful mini-

ftry,
137

SECT. II. When he perfuades men to believe the fcriptures, 144

SECT. III. When he excites them to make a public profeffion

of their faith,

147

SECT. IV. When he adorns them with the beauties of holi-

nefs,

149

SECT. V. When he animates them with ardent zeal,

SECT. VI. When he makes them to abandon Popery in every

point of view,

151

154

SECT. VII. When he intimidates and puts the

enemy to

flight,

159

SECT. VIII. When he makes civil rulers to favour the

church,

162

Reflections on the third Part,

165

1. The divine inftitution of a ftanding gofpel-mi-

nistry,

165

2. The fcriptures deferve our highest esteem, 168

3. The neceffity and advantage of Confeffions of

Faith,

4. The lawfulnefs of public covenanting,

5. The duty of zeal in the cause of God,

170

172,-226

227

6. The neceffity of abhoring Popery in particular, 229

7. The neceffity of holiness urged,

8. Prayer recommended,

231

241

Shewing that whenever the enemy comes in like a

flood, the Spirit of the Lord fhall lift up a ftan-

dard against him,

SECT. I. He has done fo in all ages,

Particularly in Adam's time,

246

ibid.

247

In the times of Noah, Abraham, Mofes, David, Jeho-

faphat, and Hezekiah,

248,-250

In the time of the captivity,

250

In Mordecai's time,

251

In the time of the Maccabees,

252

In our Lord's time,

253,-266

In the ten perfecutions,

In Julian's time,

In the time of Athanafius,

Amidft the darkness of Popery,

At the time of the Reformation,

At the time of the Revolution,

And in the late attempt to introduce Popery into Scot-

Which will be followed with three memorable events, viz.

1. Antichrift's fall,

290

2. The converfion of the Jews,

3. The inbringing of the Gentiles,

293

296

And with the refurrection of the witneffes fhall the glo-

rious Millennium commence,

2dly, In the deftruction of Gog and Magog,

Reflections on the fourth Part,

1. The excellency of holy fcripture,

2. In God alone we are to glory,

3. We must be witnesses for him,

299

307

310

310

ibid.

311

4. Adverse and profperous scenes are ftill awaiting the

church,

ibid.

5. We must feek to have understanding of the times, 316

6. A reviving profpect of the glory of the latter days,

from the lxth chapter of Ifaiah,

A verfion of the lxth of Isaiah in metre,

325

339

The Veffel in Diftrefs: or, the Church in Danger. A Sermon,

preached on a Fast-day, Feb. 3d, 1780. from Ezek. xxvii. 26.

Thy Rowers have brought thee into great waters,

The propofition illustrated in feven particulars,

Six Reflections deduced from the subject,

345

348,-357

358,-371

The prayer and the purpose; a facred Hymn, in two parts,

adapted to the preceding discourse,

371

The SPIRIT of the LORD lifting up a Standard againft the Enemy coming in like a Flood.

ISA. lix. 19.

When the enemy fhall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord fhall lift up a standard against him.

I

INTRODUCTION.

N the preceding part of this chapter, the prophet exhibits a moft affecting picture of the degeneracy of the times to which he refers. Iniquities, as a partition-wall, feparating between a people and their God: their fins making him to hide his face from them, that he will not hear.He finishes the awful catalogue of crimes, wherewith the people were covered, in observing, that truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter: Yea, faith he, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil, maketh himself a prey; or, as the margin hath it, is accounted mad.

C

After defcribing fuch a torrent of wickedness, the prophet adds, And the Lord faw, and it difpleased him that there was no judgment. And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no interceffor: therefore his arm brought falvation unto him, and his righteoufnefs fuftained him. For he put

on righteoufnefs as a breaft plate, and an helmet of falvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak. The Lord having, as a man of war, prepared himself for the battle, we firft fee Kis fuccefs: According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adverfaries, recompence to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompence: and next, the glorious confequences of his victory; So, fays our prophet, fall they fear the name of the Lord from the weft, and his glory from the rifing of the fun: when the enemy fhall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord fhall lift up a standard against him.

It is a queftion of fome importance, to what time these things refer; whether to Ifaiah's, to fome period betwixt that and this, or whether it is yet to come. Attending to the prophet's defcription, it is obvious, that he uses the different tenfes.

From the beginning of the chapter, to the middle of the 15th verfe, he speaks in the prefent; addreffing the people of that generation. Your iniquities have feparated between you and your God; your hands are defiled with blood, your fingers with iniquity: your lips have spoken lies; your tongue hath muttered perverfeness. Nay, fometimes he laments the apoftacy, fpeaking in the firft perfon; Judgment is far from us, neither doth juftice overtake us: we wait