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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A54870	Excellent encouragements against afflictions, or, Expositions of four select Psalmes the XXVII, LXXXIV, LXXXV, and LXXXVII, containing [brace] 1. David's triumph over distresse, 2. Davids hearts desire, 3. The churches exercise under affliction, 4. The great charter of the church / by the learned and laborious, faithfull and prudent minister of God's word, Mr. Thomas Pierson ...	Pierson, Thomas, 1622-1691.	1647 (1647)	Wing P2216; ESTC R33408	298,930	421

them who then can weaken or overthrow their comfortable state If God be for us who can be against us Rom. 8.31 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord and he delighteth in his way Though he fall he shall not be utterly cast down for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand Psal 37.23 24. we●l therefore may it be said of them as Psal 144.15 Happy is that people that is in such a case yea happy is that people whose GOD is the Lord. The second Use for instruction More particularly this is a sure ground of perseverance to every true child of God in the state of grace for they are true members of that Church which God himself will stablish The use for admonition For admonition this must stirre up every one effectually to labour to be truly born again in Gods Church for the Devill goes about like a roaring lyon seeking whom hee may devoure 1 Pet. 5.8 And only they that be truly regenerate shall be able to withstand his assaults for they only have the Lord with them and for them Now true regeneration contains a totall change both in mind heart and life and is indeed the work of God by his spirit yet in the means the word and prayer wherein we must exercise our selves in an holy manner and beware we doe not quench the spirit or coole any good motion begun thereby Verse 6. The Lord shall count when he writeth up the people that this man was born there Selah The meaning of the words THis verse setteth out another great priviledge of Sion Gods true Church in regard of the honour and happinesse of every true member of it namely that when God writeth down the names of the people that belong unto him he doth count and reckon those for his that be born again in the Church For the better understanding whereof we must know that the Prophet doth here speak of God after the manner of great personages who use to write and enrowle in a book the names of those that they accept and receive into their houses and families as members thereof to any place of service for which see Gen. 40.20 Pharoah on his birth day making a feast unto all his servants lifted up the head of his chief butler and of his chief baker among his servants that is taking a view of all his servants according to their names written in his book as the same phrase is used Numb 31.49 there translated taking the sum which in Genesis is rendred lifting up the head he reckoned his chief butler and chief baker among his servants In like manner the scripture calleth the Church the house of the living God 1 Tim. 1.15 and for our better conceiving of his certain and perfect knowledge remembrance both of all things that ever were are or shall be in the world and also of all those persons that in a speciall manner belong unto him as true members of his Church on earth whom he means to glorifie in heaven doth tell us of certain books which God hath even three in number which we may not uafitly thus distinguish by name First the book of his eternall prescience Psal 139.16 Thine eyes did see my substance yet being unperfect and in thy book all my members are written which in continuance were fashioned when as yet there was none of them This is nothing else but his perfect eternall foresight of all things before they were whereby he knew them as perfectly as if they had been actually written in a book The second is the book of his actuall providence whereby he doth most perfectly take actuall knowledge of and remember all things whatsoever even every thought word and deed of every man Hereof see Psal 139.1 2,3 O Lord thou hast searched me and known me Thou knowest my down sitting and mine uprising thou understandest my thought a farre off c and Psalm 56.8 Thou tellest my wanderings put thou my tears into thy bottle are they not in thy book and according to this he will judge the world Rev. 20.12 I saw the dead both small and great stand before God and the books were opened and another book was opened which is the book of life and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books according to their works The third is the book of life which is Gods eternall purpose for the saving of his elect by Christ actually declared by their effectuall calling or regeneration by the holy ghost in this life in which estate they are referved and kept for glory This book may be said to betwice written in First from all eternity in Gods purpose whereof see Rev. 13.8 whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world Secondly actually in Gods work of effectuall calling or regeneration in the time of naturall life which is termed Gods calling according to purpose Rom. 8.28 And indeed of this latter writing in the book of life by regeneration or effectuall calling is this place to be understood As if he should have said That the Church hath great honour and the true members of it great happinesse is hereby apparent that when God writes up the people actually in the book of life that be is he reckons those for his that be regenerate and born again in his Church In the words thus understood note two things First Gods work of speciall mercy to the true members of the Church Secondly the quality and condition of those persons to whom the foresaid work of mercy is certainly vouchsafed The first observation For the first Gods speciall work of mercy to the true members of the Church is this he actually writes their names in the book of life and then reckons and accounts them to be his own This is plainly shewed in his golden chain Rom. 8.29 40 Whom he did foreknow he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his son that he might be the first born among many brethren Moreover whom he did predestinate them he also called and whom he called them hee also justified and whom he justified them he also glorified Vpon this effectuall calling he bids his Disciples rejoyce that their names were written in heaven Luke 10.20 and upon the good effects and signs of effectuall calling he saith of certain teachers that were zealous of Gods glory in the Church of Philippi that their names were in the book of life Phil. 4.3 The reason hereof may be two wayes confidered The first Reason First of the fact it self in God writing mens names in the book of life and that is only Gods good pleasure According as he hath chosen us in him before the beginning of the world that we should be holy and without blame before him in love Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself according to the good pleasure of his will Eph.

the Lord so deal in grace and favour as with the true members of the Church What nation is great who hath God so nigh unto them as our God is in all things that we call upon him for Deut. 4.7 he bids Call upon me in the day of trouble and I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorifie me Psal 50.15 The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and his eares are open unto their cry Psal 34.15 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit Vers 18. Obj. If any one say this indeed was the prerogative of the Jews that they were Gods peculiar people and chief treasure and the Lord would be enquired of by them above all other people but is it so with the Church of the new testament Answ Though there may be some difference in the manner of Gods giving answer yet for substance and reall performance the Church of the new Testament is preferred before the Jews as wee shall see in taking particular view of their meanes of enquirie of God in cases of difficultie which were especially four How the Jews enquired of God First by Prophets as 2 Kings 3.11 Is there not here a Prophet of the Lord that we may enquire of the Lord by him and 1 Kings 22.7 Secondly by the high Priest as Num. 27.1 Thirdly by the ordinary teachers of the Law Mal. 2.7 Fourthly in prayer Psal 50.15 wherewith was joyned fasting when they sought of God blessings of importance this way as Ezra 8.21 23. Now the Church of the new Testament at this day is not inferiour to the Church of the Jews for they sometime wanted extraordinary Prophets as Psal 74.9 And we do ever enjoy the spirituall presence of Christ Jesus the great Prophet of the Church Math. 28.20 For John Baptist was more then a Prophet Matth. 11.9 and yet not worthy to unloose Christs shooe-latchet John 1.27 He is likewise the great High-priest of our profession who by his word and spirit in all needfull truth revealeth his fathers will more plainly and fully then the High Priest did by Vrim and Thummim See Heb. 1.2 with 4.14 We have a great high Priest over the house of God Heb. 8.2 a Minister of the Sanctuary and of the true Tabernacle And for the written word wherein Gods will is to be found the great encrease of the sacred Canon by all the books of the new Testament shews our prerogative that way above the Jews And for accesse and obtaining by prayer with fasting direction from the Lord see the promise Luke 11.9 10 11 13. with John 16.24 36. and behold the successe by instance in Cornelius Acts 10.2 3 30 c. The Use for admonition For admonition it serves effectually to move every one that lives in the Church to look unto their state and carriage that it bee such as may give them some good assurance that they have right to this priviledge to enquire in the Temple To this end wee must look to two things First that we be in covenant with God else wee have no right to this prerogative as Ephes 2.12 the promise of audience is made to Gods people 2 Chron. 7.14 Secondly that we keep covenant living in conscio●able obedience as Psal 25.9 10. else we forfeit our right as wee may see by Gods dealing with Saul 1 Sam. 28.6 16. and Ezek. 2 3 30 31. But if we keep covenant we may claim our due of God as David doth in this 27. Psalm vers 7.9 alwayes remembring that we walk in the Lords high-way to consult with him in his word as Psal 73.17 for therein God teacheth his children as Psal 94.10 12. and Psal 119.98 99. And to call upon him by prayer adding thereto the humiliation of our souls by fasting as Ezra 8.21 23. with Acts 10 2 3 30. c. Vers 5. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me he shall set me up upon a rock The meaning of the words A Reason of Davids earnest desire to dwell in Gods house for ever drawn from the benefit of safety and security there to be found in time of trouble Which benefit is here expressed under a double action of God First hiding in his pavilion and secret of his tabernacle Secondly setting up upon a rock For the better conceiving whereof we must know that by Gods pavilion David meanes the Lords Tabernacle and his dwelling place in Sion And the secret of his Tabernacle was the most Holy place where the Cherubims spread their wings over the mercy seat the cover of the Ark of the covenant whither indeed David might not go personally as we may see by Heb 9.8 and Levit. 16.2 but aimeth at that which those things did shadow out namely speciall providence and protection for safety as Psal 91.1 4. and 61.3 4. Those places indeed were generally taken for places of safety as may appear by the fact of Adonijah 1 Kings 1.50 51. and of Joab 1 Kings 2.28 and by the charge of Jehoiadah the high Priest 2 Kings 11.15 The ground whereof is thought to be besides reverence of Gods presence Gods ordinance in the Wildernesse that the Tabernacle of the congregation should be a sanctuary for that time as the cities of refuge were afterward as is gathered by Exod. 21.13 14. So that here David assures himself that being a true member of Gods Church his grace and favour power and providence should be as the Lords pavilion and as the secret place of his tabernacle even a sure and safe place of safety and security to him And likewise as a rock that is high and strong doth give safety and security to him that is set thereon from the violent assault of all malicious enemies so the Lords power and favour would become the means of safety unto David who thereupon doth usually call the Lord his rocke and his salvation as Psal 18.2 Psal 42.9 In this reason thus conceived note two things the first implied touching his state liable and subject to manifold evils and troubles the second expressed and intended touching the means of his preservation and safety from the foresaid evils The first Observation For the first mark here that David makes account that while he lives here on earth he is liable and subject to manifold evils to sore and great troubles Psal 40.12 Innumerable evils have compassed me Psal 88.3 My soul is full of trou●les The first Reason The reason or ground hereof is fourfold First Gods divine soveraignty whereby he may do with his own what he will and dispose of his dearest children to endure both sorrow and great affliction as he dealt with Job Job 2.3 c. wherein our Saviour instructeth Peter John 21.18 22. which it seems David had learned concerning himself Psal 39.9 I was dumb I opened not my mouth because thou didst it

unto Luke 10.10 11. The Use for admonition For admonition this serves to move every one under any evill or misery corporall or spirituall to become a follower of Gods Church in beseeching God to give deliverance from it This Christ teacheth in the Lords prayer deliver us from evill Mat. 6.13 Is any man afflicted let him pray Jam. 5.15 Herein we must continue and watch Col. 4.2 yea pray and not faint Luke 18.1 Remember the many sharp repulses which Christ gave to the woman of Canaan Mat. 15. in the 23. verse he is silent in the 24 he denyes he was sent to such in the 26 he likens her to a dog but in the 28. there is this happy conclusion O woman great is thy faith be it unto thee even as thou wilt Obj. But naturall men cannot pray Answ Not so well as they ought but let them do so well as they can as did the Ninevites Jonah 3.8 and get others to pray for them as Simon Magus did Acts 8.24 do as the sick of the palsey did Mar. 2.3 who got foure men to bear him being not able of himself to come to Christ The Use for comfort For comfort this shewes that Gods Church hath no evill to befall them from which they have not an all-sufficient deliverer to whom they may go as Dan. 3.17 And this door cannot be shut up against them as 2 Cor. 4.8 We are troubled on every side yet not distressed 〈◊〉 therefore remember and apply the precept Phil. 4.6 Be carefull for nothing but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thankesgiving let your request be made known unto God And cause thine anger towards us to cease The second request of the Church here made unto God for the ceasing of his anger that is for the removall of his judgemets which they conceive to come from his anger provoked by their sinnes This petition may be considered two wayes First with reference to the confession made in the former verse secondly by it selfe In the former verse we have this confession Thou hast taken away all thy wrath and turned thy selfe from the fiercenesse of thine anger yet here the Church intreats that God would cause his anger toward them to cease How do these things agree well enough if we referre the confession to the time of their return out of Babilon caused by Cyrus Ezra 1. Psal 126.1 3. and this supplication to some time of troubles that befell them after their return as under Cambyses Artaxerxes or Antiochus Epiphanes in which times the adversaries did sore vexe Gods people Now then in this reference see plainly The fourth Observation That Gods Church and people who have formerly felt his great favour and love may afterward come to the sense and feeling of his bitter anger and displeasure This thing is plain in this Psalme by comparing the first verse with the fift and sixt also in the 29. and 30. chapters of the book of Job and in David Salomon Asa Jehosaphat Hezekiah and many others both for their own persons and the people of God under their government For Davids person see Psal 30.6 7. I said in my prosperity I shall never be moved thou didst hide thy face and I was troubled And for the estate of Gods people under him Psal 89.20 28. compared with the 38. and 39. verses in his time were warre famine and pestilence For Salomon his peace power and plenty are at large set down 1 Kings 10.27 c. his troubles chapt 11.11 c. For Asa his power and peace see 2 Chron. 14.6 his great conquest over the Ethiopians verse 9. the joy of his people renewing covenant with God chap. 15.15 but chap. 16.8 9. a great change So for Jehosaphat 2. Chron. 17.3 the Lord was with him and ver 5. he had riches and honour in great abundance yet chapter 19.2 wrath from the Lord was toward him and chap 20. fearfull warre was made against him So for Hezekiah the Lord was with him and he prospered whithersoever hee went forth 2 Kings 18.7 and by restoring of religion he brought great joy to Gods people at Jerusalem 2 Chron. 30.26 and dealing uprightly he prospered 2 Chron. 31.21 but chap. 32. troubles come upon him by Senacherib and yet upon Gods deliverance he was magnified in the sight of all nations verse 22 23. but verse 24. he is sick unto death from which being extraordinarily delivered he was lifted up with pride and so wrath was toward him verse 25. The first Reason The reason hereof is twofold First and most usually correction for sinne as we may see in the forenamed examples of David Salomon Asa Jehosaphat and Hezekiah So Psal 89.31 32. If they break my statutes and keep not my commandements Then will I visit their transgressions with the rodde and their iniquities with stripes The second Reason Secondly God doth it sometime for the triall of grace as is plain in Job by Gods own confession Job 2.3 Still he holdeth fast his integrity although thou movest me against him to destroy him without cause This serves for instruction admonition and comfort The Use for instruction For instruction see here that the Church of God here on earth is very fitly resembled to the moon not only for receiving all the light of knowledge and comfort she hath from Christ but even because of change and alteration in estate As the moon is sometimes in the wane and eclipse and sometimes in the full so is Gods Church here on earth Though outward prosperity with the sense and feeling of Gods favour do most properly belong to Gods Church and people yet they are not so intailed upon them infallibly but that many times instead of prosperity they have great misery Christ is to his Church for joy and comfort the sunne of righteousnesse but yet sometimes the lig●t of his countenance doth not appear for many dayes The first use for admonition For admonition it serves two wayes First in the dayes of peace and comfort to take heed of all sinne as being the true cause of eclipsing the light of Gods favour as we may see in generall Lam. 3.39 Wherefore doth a living man complain a man for the punishment of his sinnes verse 42. we have transgressed and have rebelled thou hast not pardoned If we would know the causes of Gods anger more particularly in those speciall sinnes that stirre up his wrath see before in the third verse the use of admonition upon the first observation The second Use for admonition Secondly when Gods favour is any way eclipsed towards his Church or any member of it hence learne to enquire into the true cause thereof which ordinarily is some sinne or sinnes for the finding out whereof we must use Gods law as Joshuah did the lot to find out Achan with the execrable thing Jos 7.18 and the Mariners did to find out Jonah Jonah 1.7 This concerns every one for the true peace

1.4 5. I thank thee O Father Lord of heaven and earth because thou hast revealed them unto babes even so father for so it seemed good in thy sight Mat. 11.25 26. The second Reason Secondly of this manner of expressing Gods speciall favour in effectuall calling saying it is his writing their names in the book of life For thus he speaketh partly for his own sake to manifest the stablenesse of his counsell and purpose for their salvation for in Gods divine wisdome and good pleasure it is as sure and firm as if their names were really written in a book partly also for the true peace and comfort of those that be truly and effectually called that they may not doubt of their happy estate but in and by this strong consolation of Gods writing their names in the book of life encourage their hearts to perseverance against all oppositions from the world the flesh and the devill as Rom. 8.33,35,38,39 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect c. This serves for instraction and for admonition The use for instruction For instruction see here that the state of the true members of Gods Church is for Gods speciall favour and life eternall most stable and firm for God hath written their names amongst his people in the book of life and accompts them for his own Now them that be thus his own he loves to the end John 13.11 The gifts of grace in this calling are without repentance Rom. 11.29 This their estate hath a sure foundation he knoweth them to be his 2 Tim. 2.19 This is to be marked to arme our selves against the uncomfortable doctrine of Papists and Arminians that teach the true Saints of God may fall from grace For admonition to give all diligence unto the assurance of this estate for our selves which is St. Peters counsell The use for admonition 2 Pet. 1.5 6 7 10 11. where also he shewes the way by adding grace to grace and expressing the truth thereof in obedience Giving all diligence adde to your faith vertue and to vertue knowledge c. And give diligence to make your calling and election sure for if ye do these things ye shall never fall c. The second observation The second point to be noted is the quality and condition of those parties whom God writes with his people in the book of life and so reckons for his own They are borne there that is born again by regeneration in the true Church See 1 Pet. 1.3 4. Blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead To an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away reserved in heaven for you And James 1.18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures The Reason The reason is plain for by effectuall calling which is actually writing in the book of life men are brought into spirituall society and fellowship with God in Christ 1 Cor. 1.9 which necessarily requires regeneration For the state of man in corrupt nature is darknesse under the power of Satan which can have no society with God as 2 Cor. 6.14.16 2 John 1.6 Therefore it is said they that are brought to the state of sonnes by faith are born again John 1.12 13. 1 John 5.1 The first Use for instruction This serves for instruction admonition and comfort For instruction two waies First that mans particular state in soule for fruition of Gods saving love and favour in Christ may be known by ordinary grace without extraordinary revelation For whosoever is born again is in that estate his name is actually written in the book of life as this text implies Now the state of this new birth may be known by faith 1 John 5.1 with 2 Cor. 13.5 The second Use for instruction Secondly see here the great necessity of the faithfull dispensation of the word in the preaching of it unto mans true happinesse for without regeneration there is no salvation John 3.3 5. Except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdome of God And the word preached is the means in which God works as before Jam. 1.18 1 Pet. 1.23.25 Consider that though God can convert without preaching by his absolute power yet he is pleased to work by this meanes For after that in the wisdome of God the world by wisdome knew not God it pleased God by the foolishnesse of preaching to save them that believed 1 Cor. 1.21 as in the Eunuch Acts 8.27 c. and in Cornelius Acts 10.1 c. The Use for admonition For admonition this must stirre up every one to give all diligence to get into the state of regeneration It is indeed Gods work but ordinarily by his spirit in the ministry of the word both the law to break up the fallow ground and the Gospell to cast in the feed of grace as before 1 Pet. 1.23.25 We must therefore exercise our selves in this word and pray for the word of the spirit and so to use these ordinances that we may have title to the work and blessing of the spirit In which holy endeavour breaking of the course of sin and hungring and thirsting after grace wee must continue till we find our selves renewed and our selves horne again The Use for comfort For comfort to those that find and feel this blessed work of the new birth for blessed are they this work shewes their names are written in heaven and they are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation Let us Took well therefore unto both parts of it as well in the mortification of corruption as in the repaire and renewing of Gods Image and then we cannot want the comfort of assurance to have our names written in the booke of life Verse 7. As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there all my springs are in thee The meaning of the words IN these words the Prophet concludes the Psalm with two most comfortable priviledges and prerogatives of the Church first that it is the only place for true delight and pleasure secondly that it is the well head of all heavenly and spirituall blessings The first he expresseth in a Metonymie of the efficient naming singers and players on instruments which were speciall agents in the cheerfull praising of God under David and Solomon and in the succeeding times of legall service as we may see for Davids time 1 Chron. 9.33 and 25.1 2,3 Which vocall musick did prefigure the joy of the holy Ghost under the gospell and so sheweth plainly The first observation That the Church of God under the gospell for the true members of it is the only place for true spirituall joy and rejoycing for evermore So it is prophecied Is 35.10 The ransomed