<html><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div><div><div>[Selections from a sermon, for Thanksgiving; "passenger" in 17th century English means "emigrant."]</div></div><div><div><br></div><div><b>ABRAHAM THE PASSENGER, HIS PRIVILEGE AND DUTY</b></div></div></div><div style="position: static; z-index: auto; "><div><div>described in an election-sermon at Boston N.E. May 30, 1705</div><div>by Joseph Estabrook, A.M., and pastor of the Church of Christ at Concord</div><div> </div><div><i>Gen. 12:2, "And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee</i></div><div><i> and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing."</i></div><div><i> </i></div><div>When the world was deeply immersed in idolatry, God was pleased from his sovereign pleasure to call some out of darkness into his marvelous light, shedding down upon them the saving and regenerating influences of his spirit, whereby they were enabled to turn from idols to serve him, who is the true and living God.</div><div> </div><div>Among the famous worthies that the sacred history makes mention of in the new world was Abraham, [who left] his native country and kindred at the command of God. </div><div> </div><div><i>In transitu</i>, two things seem not unworthy of our consideration, viz.,</div><div> </div><div>(1) that God's people are sometimes called by him to remove from the places of their nativity info a country afar off. This call of God's is not now immediate, as Abraham's was, but mediate; namely, when they cannot live comfortably where they are and have a plain prospect of mending themselves in another land. Or when they cannot enjoy the ordinances of God with peace and purity: this latter was the case of our pious predecessors, the first planters of this land: many of which had fair accommodations and very considerable estates; who yet for the satisfaction of their consciences accounted it far more eligible to turn their backs upon all the good things in their own native country and expose themselves and their families to great hazards and difficulties by sea and land, than to abide where they were. Surely it was not to gain great estates but for the promotion of religion and the advancement of their own and their posterities' spiritual good, that was in their eyes which made them to come from a fruitful land into this Jeshimon and uncultivated wilderness.</div><div> </div><div>(2) Another thing observable is that compliance with the revealed will of God is usually followed with manifold blessings. We have an express precept: "Be thou a blessing."</div><div> </div><div>The more good God bestows upon any, the more service to his name he looks for from such. As for those that are by God called into places of authority over others, from such he looks for great diligence in order to the furtherance of the good of others, as it is expressed in Rom. 13:4, "He is the minister of God for good." People are not made for rulers, but rulers are set up for the sake and good of people.</div><div> </div><div>One thing I would propose, <i>viz.</i>, that we all endeavor after unity in our affections and, insofar as we can, in our apprehensions. It is a good rule delivered by some: <i>in necessariis unitas, in nonnecessariis libertas, in utrisque charitas</i> [unity in necessary things, liberty in things not necessary, charity in both]. We are all well agreed as to fundamentals of doctrine and order; we should therefore exercise charity towards such as may differ from us in matters that are not so plainly revealed in the word about church discipline, and may be looked upon as matters of a prudential nature, forbearing to brand such as differ from us and do not fully concur with such things as have been practiced with the ill-titles of 'apostates' and 'subverters of the order of the gospel'.</div><div> </div><div>To conclude, let us endeavor to amend what is and hath been amiss, unfeignedly returning unto God. As one sinner destroys much good, so many repenting and reforming sinners may procure much good, whereby we shall be blessings in our places. Thereupon we may expect that God will be with us as he was with our fathers; he will not leave or forsake us. And in these perilous and burdensome times, the eternal God will be our refuge, and underneath us will be his everlasting arms. Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus, throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.</div><div> </div><div>###</div></div><div><br></div></div><div><div>On Nov 23, 2011, at 6:08 PM, Brussel, Morton K wrote:</div><br><blockquote type="cite"> <div> I have great respect for Robert Jensen. I agree almost always with what he says. <div>Here's a very interesting interview with him about "Thanksgiving". <div>What do you think of it?...<br></div></div></div></blockquote></div><br></body></html>