Chapter 4

On Divine Admonitions

On Warnings from God

Such are the Perfections of our Heavenly Father, that in all the Dispensations of his Providence, it is our Duty, in every Thing, to give Thanks. Though from the first Settlement of this Part of America, he hath not extended his Judgments to the Degree of Famine, yet Worms at Times have come forth beyond numbering, and laid waste Fields of Grain and Grass, where they have appeared; another Kind, in great Multitudes, working out of Sight, in Grass Ground, have so eat the Roots, that the Surface, being loosened from the Soil beneath, might be taken off in great Sheets.

Our Heavenly Father is so perfect that we must give thanks in everything he sends through his providence. Since this part of America was first settled, he has not sent judgments as severe as famine. Yet at times, countless worms have appeared and laid waste to fields of grain and grass wherever they appeared. Another kind has worked out of sight in grassland, in great numbers. They have eaten the roots so thoroughly that the surface has come loose from the soil beneath it. It could then be lifted off in great sheets.

These Kind of devouring Creatures appearing seldom, and coming in such Multitudes, their Generation appears different from most other Reptiles, and by the Prophet were call'd God's Army sent amongst the People, Joel ii. 25.

These devouring creatures appear rarely and come in such great numbers. Their reproduction therefore seems different from that of most other reptiles. The prophet called them God's army sent among the people, Joel ii. 25.

There have been Tempests of Hail, which have very much destroyed the Grain where they extended. Through long Drought in Summer, Grain in some Places hath been less than half the usual Quantity;¹ and in the Continuance thereof, I have beheld with Attention, from Week to Week, how Dryness from the Top of the Earth, hath extended deeper and deeper, while the Corn and Plants have languished; and with Reverence my Mind hath been turned towards him, who being perfect in Goodness, in Wisdom and Power, doeth all Things right. And after long Drought, when the Sky hath grown dark with a Collection of Matter, and Clouds like Lakes of Water hung over our Heads, from whence the thirsty Land hath been soaked; I have at Times, with Awfulness, beheld the vehement Operation of Lightning, made sometimes to accompany these Blessings, as a Messenger from him who created all Things, to remind us of our Duty in a right Use of those Benefits, and give striking Admonitions, that we do not misapply those Gifts, in which an Almighty Power is exerted, in bestowing them upon us.

There have been hailstorms that destroyed much of the grain in their path. Long summer droughts have reduced the grain harvest in some places to less than half its usual amount.¹ As the drought continued, I watched closely from week to week. The dryness spread deeper and deeper from the surface of the earth, while the corn and other plants withered. With reverence, my thoughts turned to him who is perfect in goodness, wisdom, and power, and does all things right. After a long drought, the sky has grown dark as clouds gathered. Clouds like lakes of water hung over our heads and soaked the thirsty land below. At times, I have watched with awe as fierce lightning accompanied these blessings. It came like a messenger from him who created all things, reminding us of our duty to use these benefits rightly. It gave us a striking warning not to misuse these gifts, which almighty power bestows upon us.

When I have considered that many of our Fellow Creatures suffer much in some Places, for want of the Necessaries of Life, whilst those who rule over them are too much given to Luxury, and divers Vanities; and behold the apparent Deviation from pure Wisdom amongst us, in the Use of the outward Gifts of God; those Marks of Famine have appeared like humbling Admonitions from him, that we might be instructed by gentle Chastisements, and might seriously consider our Ways; remembering that the outward Supply of Life is a Gift from our Heavenly Father, and no more venture to use, or apply his Gifts, in a Way contrary to pure Wisdom.

When I have considered how many of our fellow creatures suffer for lack of life's necessities in some places, while their rulers are too devoted to luxury and various vanities, and when I see how clearly we stray from pure wisdom in using God's material gifts, those signs of famine have seemed like humbling warnings from him. They seem meant to instruct us through gentle correction and lead us to consider our ways seriously. We should remember that life's material necessities are a gift from our Heavenly Father. We should no longer dare to use his gifts in ways contrary to pure wisdom.

Should we continue to reject those merciful Admonitions, and use his Gifts at Home, contrary to the gracious Design of the Giver, or send them Abroad in a Way of Trade, which the Spirit of Truth doth not lead into; and should he whose Eyes are upon all our Ways, extend his Chastisements so far as to reduce us to much greater Distress than hath yet been felt by these Provinces; with what sorrow of Heart might we meditate on that Subject, Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God, when he led thee by the Way? Thine own Wickedness shall correct thee, and thy Backslidings shall reprove thee; know therefore, and see that it is an evil Thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God, and that my Fear is not in thee, saith the Lord of Hosts, Jer. ii. 17, 19.

If we continue to reject these merciful warnings, we may use his gifts at home against the giver’s gracious purpose. Or we may send them abroad in trade that the Spirit of Truth does not lead us into. And if he who watches all our ways extends his punishments, he may bring these provinces into far greater distress than they have yet felt. Then, with what sorrow in our hearts might we reflect on these words: Have you not brought this on yourself by forsaking the Lord your God when he led you along the way? Your own wickedness will correct you, and your turning away will rebuke you. Know and see, then, that it is evil and bitter to forsake the Lord your God and have no fear of me, says the Lord of Hosts, Jer. ii. 17, 19.

My Mind hath often been affected with Sorrow, in beholding a wrong Application of the Gifts of our Heavenly Father; and those Expressions concerning the Defilement of the Earth have been opened to my Understanding; The Earth was corrupt before God, and the Earth was filled with Violence, Gen. vi. 11. Again, Isaiah xxiv. 5. The Earth also is defiled under the Inhabitants thereof.

I have often felt sorrow when I see the gifts of our Heavenly Father used wrongly. I have come to understand these words about the defilement of the earth: The earth was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence, Genesis 6:11. And again, in Isaiah 24:5: The earth is also defiled by its inhabitants.

The Earth being the Work of a Divine Power, may not as such be accounted unclean; but when Violence is committed thereon, and the Channel of Righteousness so obstructed, that in our Skirts are found the Blood of the Souls of poor Innocents; not by a secret Search, but upon all these,² Jer. ii. 34.

The Earth is the work of a divine power, so it cannot for that reason be considered unclean. But when violence is committed on the Earth, the channel of righteousness is so obstructed that on our clothes is found the blood of the souls of poor innocents. It was not found by a secret search, but on all these,² Jer. ii. 34.

When Blood shed unrighteously remains unatoned for, and the Inhabitants are not effectually purged from it, when they do not wash their Hands in Innocency, as was figured in the Law, in the Case of one being found slain; but seek for Gain arising from Scenes of Violence and Oppression, here the Land is polluted with Blood, Deut. xxi. 6.

When innocent blood is shed and no atonement is made, the inhabitants are not truly cleansed of it. They do not wash their hands in innocence, as the law prescribed when a slain person was found. Instead, they seek to profit from violence and oppression. When this happens, the land is polluted with blood, Deut. xxi. 6.

Moreover, when the Earth is planted and tilled, and the Fruits brought forth are applied to support unrighteous Purposes; here the gracious Design of infinite Goodness, in these his Gifts being perverted, the Earth is defiled; and the Complaint formerly uttered becomes applicable; Thou hast made me to serve with thy Sins; thou hast wearied me with thine Iniquities, Isaiah xliii. 24.

Moreover, when the earth is planted and tilled, its fruits may be used for unrighteous purposes. This perverts the gracious purpose of infinite Goodness in giving these gifts, and the earth is defiled. Then the complaint once spoken applies: You have made me serve with your sins. You have wearied me with your iniquities, Isaiah 43:24.