human
And now, Sirs, That I may set up an EBENEZER among you, there are these Things to be inculcated.
gpt
human
There have been several years wherein the Terrible Famine hath Terribly Stared the Town in the Face. We have been brought sometimes unto the Last Meal in the Barrel! But the fear'd Famine has always been kept off.
gpt
A formidable French squadron hath not shot one Bomb into the midst of Thee; our Streets have not run Blood and Gore; devouring-flames have not raged.
human
Boston, 'Tis a marvellous Thing, a Plague has not laid desolate!
gpt
Boston, Thou hast been lifted up to Heaven; there is not a Town upon Earth, which, on some accounts, has more to answer for.
human
This is the voice of God from Heaven to Boston this day; Thy God hath helped thee!
gpt
Old Boston, by name, was but Saint _Botolphs Town_. Whereas Thou, O Boston, shall have but one Protector in Heaven, and that is Our Lord Jesus Christ.
human
Hope in him for more help hereafter.
gpt
The motto upon all our Ebenezer's is Hope in God! Hope in God!
human
The Town is at this day full of Widows and Orphans, and a multitude of them are very helpless creatures. I am astonished how they live! In that church, whereof I am the servant, I have counted. The Widows make about a sixth part of our communicants, and no doubt in the whole town, the proportion differs not very much. Now, stand still my Friends, and behold the will of God! _Were_ any of these ever starved yet? No, these widows are every one in some sort provided for.
gpt
Let all that bear public office in the town contribute all the help they can that may continue the help of God in us! First the ministers will help, and then he calls upon the Justices of the Courts, the constables, the school-masters and the townsmen to help:
human
Each of the sorts by themselves, may they come together to consider, What shall we do to save the town?
gpt
God help the town to manifest all that piety which a town so helped of Him, is obliged unto!
human
Ah! Boston, Beware, Beware, lest the Sin of Sodom get Footing in thee!
gpt
And, Oh! that the Drinking Houses in the Town, might once come under a laudable _Regulation_. The Town has an _Enormous Number_ of them! Will the _Haunters_ of those _Houses_ hear the Counsels of Heaven? For _you_ that are the _Town Dwellers_, to be oft, or long, in your _Visits_ of the _Ordinary_, 'twill certainly Expose you to Mischiefs more than ordinary. I have seen certain _Taverns_ where the Pictures of horrible Devourers[9] were hang'd out for the signs; and thought I, 'twere well if such _Signs_ were not sometimes too _Significant_! Alas, men have their estates _Devoured_, their names _Devoured_, their Hours _Devoured_, and their very soul _Devoured_, when they are so besotted, that they are not in their _Element_, except they be in Tippling at Such Houses. When once a man is Bewitched with the Ordinary, what usually becomes of him? He is a _gone man_. And when he comes to Dy, he'l cry out, as many have done, _Ale Houses are Hell Houses! Ale Houses are Hell Houses! Ale Houses are Hell Houses!_ ...
human
There was an _Inn_ at _Bethlehem_, where the Lord Jesus Christ was to be met withal. Can _Boston_ boast of many such? Alas, Too ordinarily it may be said, _There is no Room for Him in the Inn!_ My Friends, Let me beg it of you: Banish _the unfruitful works of Darkness_, from your _Houses_, and then the _Sun of Righteousness_ will shine upon them. Don't countenance _Drunkenness_, _Revelling_ and _Mispending_ of precious Time in your Houses. Let none have the _snares of Death_ Laid for them in your _Houses_.