any Offering from him If God shut mens Prayers out of Heaven it is a sad Prognostick that he will shut their Persons out of Heaven See the Priviledge of the Godly they have Gods Ear the Lord hearkened and heard Psalm 34.15 His Ears are open to their cry it would be counted a great happiness to have the Kings ear but what is it to have Gods Ear The Lord hearkened and heard Believers have the Spirit of God breathing in them and God cannot but hear the Voice of his own Spirit See what an encouragement here is to be conversant in the duties of Gods Worship he takes Notice of the services of his People he hearkens to them as to sweet Musick Who would not come with their humble addresses to God when he is so pleased with them Prov. 15.8 But my deserts are nothing God bestows not his Favours according to our desert but according to his Promise But I have prayed a long time and have no Answer God may hear Prayer when he doth not Answer He may lend us his Ear when he doth not shew us his Face The Text saith the Lord hearkened and heard 'T is not said he gave an Answer but he hearkened It becomes suitors to wait Faith stays upon God Patience stayes for God Psal. 123.2 As the Eyes of Servants look unto the hand of their Masters so our Eyes wait upon the Lord our God untill he have Mercy upon us See the difference between God and men God takes Notice of the good in his people the Wicked pass by the good in the Godly and take Notice only of their failings If they can spy any indecency or blemish in them they upbraid them with it Like those children 2 King 2.23 who reproached Elisha for his Baldness but took no Notice of the Prophets Miracles Erasmus speaks of one who observed all the lame Verses in Homer but passed over the good From this the Lord hearkened and heard Behold the folly of Idolaters they worship a God who can neither hearken nor hear The Cretians Pictured Iupiter without Ears Idol-Gods have Ears but hear not Psalm 115.16 A life-less God is good enough for a life-less worship Let the People of God stand and Wonder 1. At Gods Condescension that he who is so high in the praises and acclamations of the Angels should stoop so low as to listen to the lispings of his children The Lord hearkened and heard Alas God hath no need of our Services he is infinitely blessed in reflecting upon the Splendour of his own infinite Being we cannot adde the least Cubit to his Essential Glory Iob 35.7 If thou be Righteous what givest thou to him or what receiveth he at thy hands yet such is his sweet Condescention that he doth as it were stoop below himself and take Notice of his Peoples Poor Oblations 2. Wonder at Gods Love that he should regard those services of his People which are so mixed with Corruption Isa. 64.6 Our Righteousnesses are as filthy Rags The Eucharistical Sacrifice which was the highest had some Leaven joined with it Levit. 7.13 Our best duties have some Leaven of Imperfection in them yet such is Gods love that he hath a liking to them and accepts them Cant. 5.1 I have eaten my Hony-Comb with my Hony Hony is sweet but the Hony-comb is Viscous and bitter and can hardly be eaten yet such was Christs love to his Spouse that he eat of her Hony-comb her services mixed with Imperfection and was pleased to take delight in them Oh the Love of God! that he should have respect to our offerings that are interlarded with sin Our best duties are as sweet Wine coming out of a Sowre Cask If God hearkens to us when we speak let us hearken to him when he speaks In the word preached God speaks to us He is said now to speak to us from Heaven Heb. 12.25 That is by the preaching of the word as a King speaks by his Ambassadour Doth God hearken to us and shall not we hearken to him Be not like the Deaf-adder which stoppeth her Ear. This the Lord complains of Iob 33.14 God speaketh Once yea Twice yet man regardeth it not If Gods word doth not prevail with us our prayers will not prevail with him CHAP. XIV Shewing the second Good Effect of the Saints Piety 2. THE Second Good effect of the Saints Piety was God recorded it A Book of Remembrance was written before him The word in the Original for Book of Remembrance Signifies a Book of Memorials or Monuments The words immediately foregoing recite Gods hearkening and hearing but lest any should say though God doth at the present hear the Holy Speeches and Thoughts of his Children yet may they not in time slip out of his Mind therefore these words are added a Book of Remembrance was written before him The Lord did not only hear the Good speeches of the Saints but Recorded them and Wrote them down a Book of Remembrance was written This is spoken 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 after the manner of men Not that God hath any book of Records by him he needs not write down any thing for the help of his Memory he is not Subject to oblivion Things done a thousand years ago are as fresh to him as if they were done but Yesterday Psalm 90.4 A thousand years in thy sight are but as Yesterday when it is past This book of Remembrance therefore is a borrowed speech taken from Kings who have their Chronicles wherein they note Memorable things King Ahasuerus had his book of Records wherein were written the worthy deeds of Mordecai Esther 6.1 2. So God bears in Mind all the Good speeches and pious actions of his Children Gods curious and Critical observation is a Book of Records where nothing can be lost or torn out God doth Eternally remember all the Good designs and Pious endeavours of his People Heb. 6.10 God is not unrighteous to forget your Work and labour of love which you have shewed towards his Name Eight things God writes down in his Book of Remembrance 1. The Lord writes down the Names of his Saints Philip. 4.3 Whose Names are in the Book of Life This Book hath no Errata's Rev. 3.5 2. The Lord writes down the good speeches of his People When Christians speak together of the Mysteries of Heaven which is like Musick in consort God is much taken with it When their Tongues are going Gods pen is going in Heaven They that fear'd the Lord spake often one to another and a Book of Remembrance was written 3. The Lord writes down the Tears of his People Tears drop down to the Earth but they reach Heaven God hath his Bottle and his Book Psalm 56.8 Put thou my Tears into thy bottle are they not in thy Book Tears drop from the Saints as Water from the Roses they are fragrant to God and he puts them in his Bottle
And besides this he hath his Book of Remembrance where he sets them down are they not in thy Book Especially God writes down such Tears as are shed for the sins of the times Ezek. 9.2 One was clothed with linnen with a writers Inkhorn by his side this was to write down the Tears of the Mourners and to set a mark upon the foreheads of them that sighed for the Abominations done in the midst of the City ver 4. 4. God writes down the Thoughts of his People We can write down mens Words but we cannot write down their Thoughts It would pose the Angels to write mens Thoughts but be assured never an Holy cogitation comes into our Mind but God writes it down So in the Text a Book of Remembrance was written for them that Thought upon his Name Two things are silent yet have a Voice Tears and Thoughts 5. God writes down the desires of his People Psalm 38 9. All my desire is before thee That is it is set down in thy book Desire is the Spiritual Appetite or the Souls Anhelation and breathing after God Psalm 84.2 In this Life we do rather desire God than enjoy him Can we say we take our Souls è Corporis Pharetra out of the quiver of our Bodies and shoot them into Heaven do our Affections sally forth towards Christ do we desire him superlatively and uncessantly Every such desire is put down in Gods Register Book all my desire is before thee 6. The Lord writes down the prayers of his People Ionah 2.7 Prayer though it be not Vocal only Mental is Recorded 1 Sam. 1.13 Hannah spake in her Heart That prayer God did write down and Answer God was better to her than her prayer she prayed for a Son and God gave her a Prophet When the heart is so full of grief that it can only groan in Prayer yet a Groan is sometimes the best part of a Prayer and God writes it down Psalm 38.9 Lord my Groaning is not hid from thee If we cannot speak with elegancy in Prayer if it be only lisping and chattering God puts it in his Book of Remembrance Isa. 38.14 Like a Crane so did I chatter yet that prayer was heard and registred Ver. 5. I have heard thy prayer I have seen thy Tears 7. God writes down the Alms of his People Works of Mercy must be done out of Love to God as Mary out of love brought her Ointments and sweet Spices and anointed Christs dead body so out of pure love we must bring our Ointments of Charity to anoint the Saints which are Christs living body Such Alms are not lost Heb. 13.16 With such Sacrifices God is well pleased And that we may see how well the Lord is pleased with them he hath a Book of Remembrance for them he writes them down Item so much lent to the Lord Acts 10.4 Cornelius thine Alms are come up for a memorial before God 8. God hath a Book of Remembrance for the Sufferings of his People The Saints Purgatory is in this life But there are two things may bear up their Spirits 1. Every Groan of theirs goes to Gods Heart Exod. 6.7 I have heard the Groanings of the Children of Israel In Musick when one string is touch'd all the rest sound when the Saints are stricken Gods bowels sound 2. God hath a Book of Records to write down his Peoples injuries The wicked make wounds in the backs of the Righteous and then pour in Vinegar God writes down their Cruelty 1 Sam. 15.2 I Remember what Amalek did to Israel Amalek was Esaus Grandchild A bitter enemy of Israel The Amalekites shewed their Spight to Israel two wayes 1. They did lye in ambush and as Israel passed by fell upon their rear and cut off the feeble in their army 1 Sam. 15.2 2. They did openly give Battel to them and would have hindred them from going into Canaan Exod. 17.8 Now God took Notice of Israels sufferings by Amalek I Remember â—hat Amalek did to Israel I have my Book of Remembrance I write it down Ver. 3. Go and smite Amalek CHAP. XV. Several Corollaries flowing from the Proposition IT shews us that it is not in Vain to serve God The Wicked who know not God think him an hard-master and say as they Iob 21.15 What profit should we have if we pray to him But the Text shews us that God records all the Services of his People a Book of Remembrance was written before him Gods writing in a Book is 1. An honour to the Saints the Romans wrote the names of their Senators in a Book and in token of Honour they were called Patres conscripti so Gods Book of Remembrance shews his high esteem of his People and their services he writes them down 2. Gods writing in a Book denotes the special favour God bears to his People he Registers them and their services with an intent to Crown them Tamerlain wrote down all the Memorable deeds of his Soldiers whom he afterwards preferred to places of dignity Gods service is most eligible let us make Ioshua's Choice Josh. 24.15 As for me and my house we will serve the Lord. If we should desert Gods service whither shall we go when Christ asked his Disciples will ye also go away saith Peter Lord to whom shall we go John 6.68 As if he had said if we leave thee we do not know where to mend our selves Let us adhere to God he hath his Book of Memorials to record our Allegiance We may be losers for him we shall not be losers by him See from hence that as God doth Register the good works of his People so he hath a Book of Remembrance to write down the sins of the wicked Isa. 30.8 Go write it before them in a Table and note it in a book that it may be for the time to come for ever that this is a Rebellious People that will not hear the Law of the Lord. Mens sins are written in the book of Conscience and the Book of Gods Omnisciency They think because God doth not speak to them by his loud Judgements therefore God doth not know their sins but though God doth not speak he writes Jer. 17.1 The sin of Iudah is written with a Pen of Iron and the Point of a Diamond God scores down every act of Oppression Bribery Uncleanness Hos. 7.2 They consider not in their Heart that I remember all their wickedness King Belshazzer was carousing and drinking wine in bowls and praising his Gods of Gold and Silver but while he was sinning God was writing Dan. 5.6 In the same hour came forth fingers of a mans hand and wrote upon the Plaister of the Wall of the Kings Palace and the King saw part of the hand that wrote then the Kings countenance was changed We read of Gods Book Rev. 20.12 The books were opened and his Bag Job 14.17 My transgression is sealed up in a bag It seems to allude to
Law-Courts where there are Indictments against such Malefactours sealed up in a Bag and are produced at the assizes When God shall open his black book wherein mens Names are written and his bag wherein their sins are written then their Hearts will tremble and their knees smite one against another Every Lye a sinner tells every Oath he Swears every drunken bout God writes it down in his book of Remembrance and woe to him if the book be not crossed with the Blood of Christ. 3. See the Mercifulness of God to his Children who blots their sins out of his book of Remembrance and writes their good deeds in his book of Remembrance Isa. 43.25 I even I am he that blotteth out thy Transgressions 't is a Metaphor borrow'd from a Creditor who takes his pen and blots out the debt owing him so saith God I will blot out thy Transgressions Or as the Hebrew carries it I am blotting them out God in forgiving sin passeth an act of Oblivion Jer. 31.34 I will remember your sins no more God will not upbraid his People with their former offences We never read after Peter repented that Christ upbraided him with his denial of him O the Heavenly indulgence and kindness of God to his People he remembers every thing but their sins He writes down their good Thoughts and speeches in a Merciful book of Remembrance but their sins are as if they had never been they are carried into the Land of Oblivion If God records our services then let us record his Mercies let us have our Book of Remembrance A Christian should keep two books alwayes by him one to write his sins in that he may be humble the other to write his Mercies in that he may be thankful David had his book of Remembrance 1 Chron. 16.4 He appointed certain of the Levites to record and thank and praise the Lord God of Israel We should keep a Register-book of Gods Mercies though I think it is hard to get a book big enough to hold them At such a time we were in straits and God supplied us at such a time under sadness of Spirit and God dropped in the Oyl of gladness at such a time near death and God Miraculously restored us If God be mindful of what we do for him shall not we be mindful of what he doth for us Gods mercies like Jewels are too good to be lost get a Book of Remembrance It is Comfort to the Godly 1. In case of friends forgetting them Ioseph did Pharaoh's Butler a kindness yet did not the chief Butler remember Ioseph but forgat him Gen. 40.23 'T is too usual to remember Injuries and forget Friends but God hath a Book of Remembrance where he writes down all his old friends Near Relations may sometimes be forgetful the tender Mother may forget her infant Isa. 49.15 Can a Woman forget her sucking child yea she may but I will not forget thee a Mother may sooner be unnatural than God forgetful Christ our High-priest hath the Names of the Saints written upon his Breast-plate and all their good deeds written in his Book of Memorials Let this be as Bezar stone to revive the Hearts of Gods people though friends may blot you out of their Mind yet God will not blot you out of his Book 2. This is a consolation to the Godly the Lord keeps a Book of Remembrance for this end that he may at the last day make a publick and solemn mention of all the good which his Saints have done God will open his Book of Records and say as Mat. 25.35 I was an hundred and ye gave me meat thirsty and ye gave me drink c. God will make known all the memorable and pious actions of his People before men and Angels he will say here are they who have prayed and wept for Sin here are they who have been Advocates for my Truth here are they who have laid to Heart my dishonours and have mourned for what they could not reform These are my renowned ones my Hephzibahs in whom my Soul delights What a Glorious thing will this be to have God divulge the Encomium of his Saints when Alexander saw the Sepulcher of Achilles he cryed out O happy Achilles who hadst Homer to set forth thy praise what an honour will it be to have the Names and worthy deeds of the Saints mentioned and God himself to be the Herauld to proclaim their praises CHAP. XVI Shewing the Third Good Effect of the Saints Piety 3. THE third Good effect of the Saints Piety was God rewarded it vers 17. And they shall be mine saith the Lord of Hosts in that day when I make up my Iewels The reward is threefold 1. Gods owning them they shall be mine saith the Lord of Hosts where observe 1. The Person speaking the Lord of Hosts 2. The Reward it self they shall be mine 1. The Person speaking the Lord of Hosts This is too great a word to be passed by in silence God is often in Scripture stiled Dominus exercituum the Lord of Hosts Psalm 46.11 Isa. 1.24 That is he is the Supream General and Commander of all Armies and forces and gives Victory to whom he will Why is this Name The Lord of Hosts given to God Not that God needs any Hosts to protect himself or Suppress his enemies Earthly Princes have Armies to defend their Persons from danger but God needs none to help him he can fight without an army God puts strength into all Armies other Captains may give their Soldiers Armour but they cannot give them Strength but God doth Psalm 18.39 Thou hast Girded me with strength unto battel Why then is God said to have Hosts and Armies if he needs them not 1. It is to set forth his Soveraign Power and Grandure all Armies and Regiments are under his command 2. It is to shew us that though God can effect all things by himself yet in his Wisdom he oft useth the Agency of the Creature to bring to pass his will and purpose What are these Hosts or Armies of which God is the Soveraign Lord 1. God hath an Army in Heaven Angels and Arch-angels 1 King 22.19 I saw the Lord sitting on his Throne and all the Host of Heaven standing by him By the Host of Heaven is meant the Angels they being Spirits are a Puissant Army Psalm 103.20 Ye Angels which excell in Strength We read of one Angel who destroy'd in one Night an hundred fourscore and five thousand 2 King 19.35 If one Angel destroy'd such a vast Army what can a Legion of Angels do a Legion consisted of six thousand six hundred sixty six saith Hesychius how many of these Legions go to make up the Heavenly Host 2 The Stars are Gods Army Deut. 4.19 These were set in Battalia and fought against Gods enemies Iudg. 5.20 The Stars in their courses fought against Sisera That is the Stars did charge like an Army raising