the Shields of the Earth belong to the Lord Psal. 47. 9. 'T is by me Kings Reign and Princes decree Judgment he sets up and pulleth down at his Pleasure 2. All Military Actions of Nations are ordered by the Almighty War and Peace are from him if he take Peace from the Earth in vain do all Counsellors and great Statesmen meet and consult about Peace hence God is called The Lord of Hosts and a Man of VVar or The great General of Armies He hath opened his Armoury and has brought forth his VVeapons of Indignation Saith David Heteaches my Hands to VVar and my Fingers to Fight He is a God of Influence and Authority he Commands all and none can stand before him at his Command Frogs invade Pharoah from hence it appears that a Martial Imployment is very Honourable viz. when the Cause is good when 't is for his Glory and for the Honour and Safety of a King and People God being called the Lord of Hosts the God of the Armies of Israel puts a Lustre and Dignity upon a General of an Army engaged in a Just Cause 3. In all Ecclesiastical Affairs or Matters respecting the Church of God he ought to be acknowledged nay in this matter before all things we ought to seek unto him who is in a peculiar Sense stiled The King of Saint and God of Israel He that is the Head of the Church is the Absolute Governour thereof the Spiritual Rights of his People and the Rule of Men's Consciences is only under his Power and Influences and his Laws only are the Bond and Limits of his Government no altering adding to nor diminishing from his holy Precepts the Power to Rule the Church is Christ's Prerogative alone as he is God it is essentially and absolutely in his Hand and as Mediator this Power is given to him by the Father All Power is given to me in Heaven and in Earth go ye therefore teach all Nations Mat. 28. 19 20. Moreover the Peace and Prosperity of God's Church and People as also all their Trouble and Adversity is from him VVho gave Jacob to the Spoil and Israel to the Robbers Did not the Lord against whom they had sinned Whosoever are the Instruments in either case God is in a special manner the great Agent in it it was he that brought again the Captivity of Sion it was God that stirred up Cyrus to proclaim Liberty for the Jews to Build their City and Temple And when he comes to build up Sion in these last days he will appear in his Glory and will undo all that have afflicted his People for they that touch them touch the Apple of his Eye Let the French Tyrant Pope and Turk look to it their day is near for God will plead the Controversie of Sion and come upon Princes as upon Mortar and as the Potter treadeth the Clay Isa. 41. 25. His Sword is bathed in Heaven God will come with vengeance even God with a recempence he will come and save you Isa. 35 4 It will not be long before you will hear the voice of them that flee and escap'd out of Babylon to declare in Sion the vengeance of the Lord our God the vengeance of his Temple Jer. 50. 28. O! therefore let us look to him acknowledge him for these things are very near Again as all Affairs both Civil Military and Ecclesiastical are in the Hand of God and ordered by his wise Counsel so are all Creatures likewise 1. The good Angels are under his Authority and Influence they all wait for his Word and obey his Command either to protect his own People or execute his Wrath upon their Enemies 2. The evil Angels are also under his Power Satan is limited by him he is in Chains God sets Bounds to him he can go no further than his Chains will suffer him 't is not who he will but who he may devour he could not touch Job nor any thing he had till God gave him liberty the Devils could not go into the Herd of Swine till Christ said go 3. All men also are subjected to his Authority he can at his Pleasure restrain the wrath of wicked Men or make it tend to his own Praise Thou hast no Power except it be given thee of my Father saith Christ to Pilate 4. All Irrational Creatures are at his Command he can stop the Months of hungry Lyons so that they could do Daniel no hurt Nay and he can give David power to destroy both the Lyon and the Bear The Lord opened the Mouth of the Ass to speak with Man's Voice to rebuke the madness of the Prophet Moreover He caused two She Bears to tare 42 Children for their reproaching of Elisha and who was it but the Lord that sent the Lyon to slay the young Prophet who transgressed against him Moreover Remarkable is the passage of his causing a Raven to feed Elisha when distressed He hath also Power over and ruleth and disposeth of all Inanimate Creatures the Winds and Sea obey him and are at his Command he can make the Sun stand still or go back if he please 't is He that makes the Grass to grow the Sun to shine and the Rain to fall 't is He that gives Rain and fruitful Seasons and who sometimes sinites and brings a Blast and Mildew upon the Fruits the Earth therefore all ought to acknowledge him Fifthly We ought to acknowledge God because as all Judgments and Plagues are from him so he can at his Pleasure remove them I Form the Light and create Darkness I make Peace and create Evil I the Lord do all these things Isa. 45. 7. and if he giveth quietness who then can make trouble and when he hideth his face who can behold him whether it be done against a Nation or against a Man only Job 34. 29. If God will give those Nations Quietness where it is not or continue it where it is there is no Power on Earth or Hell can hinder or prevent it Who can Curse them that God will Bless or Bless such that God doth Curse There is no inchantment against Jacob neither is there any divination against Israel Numb 23. 23. but Woe to that Nation or Person God hideth his Face from for then he withdraws his gracious Care and Protection and then he will not hear their Prayers also then he will not give them Counsel nay but will do more he will leave them to their own Counsel as he did Israel Psal. 81. 12. Sixthly We would acknowledge God in all things because he can make use of unlikely ways means or persons to do his own Work by the blowing of Rams Horns he made the Walls of Jericho to fall down Josh. 7. 5. He spoiled Pharaoh and the Egyptians by an Army of Frogs Locusts Lice Flies c. What wonders did he do with 300 Men God as one observes can strike a strait Blow with a crooked Stick 't is not for the worthiness of the
Afflictions Troubles Reproaches Trials even all kind of Adversity to cōme from God for whoveer may be the Instruments yet God is the only Agent and Orderer of them 13. And lastly To Acknowledge God is to love him above all and to seek unto him in all we do and to strive to promote his Glory he that is our chief Good should be our last end our ultimate end in all we do we should aim at the Glory of God and to carry on with all uprightness his Interest to the utmost Power that is in us in the places and stations where we are set by him Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart with all thy Soul and with all thy Strength So much as to the first thing proposed to be opened namely What it is to acknowledge God Secondly I shall shew you in what ways of ours more particularly we should acknowledge God or wherein we should acknowledge him 1. In entring upon no Civil nor Religious Action without consulting with God in and by his Word we should put this Question to our own Hearts viz. Is the thing that I am a going to do good is it warranted by the word of God is it according to his Will will it tend to his Glory is it not only lawful but is it also expedient if the matter I am a going to do be not justified by the word of God though my end may be good yet the thing is evil may I do it and not offend God or will it not hurt my Brother or cause him to stumble Were such Questions put by all Men to their own Hearts it would prevent many Evils in Men's Civil Actions Also when Men enter upon any Religious Duty they should consult the word of God see whether the thing be warranted hath God commanded me to do this thing have I Precept or Presedent to justifie me in doing of it Brethren we are not to consult Men General Counsels nor Ancient Fathers but the Word of God 't is not Custom here will carry the Cause though it be of some hundred of years standing if from the beginning it was not so nor is it sufficient though many Learned Men nay Holy Men assert it to be a Truth if it be not written in God's Word Where God hath no Tongue to speak we should have no Ear to hear nor Hand to do but alas some Men more consult their own Carnal Reason and Interest their own Profits their own Passions than God's Word and his Glory many peruse their unwarrantable blind Zeal like Paul when a Pharisee who verily thought he ought to do many things against the Name of Jesus of Nazareth though it was to the making a fearful Slaughter of Christ's blessed Members 2. Men should acknowledge God in all their Purposes or about what they think to do or intend to do before they put them into Execution Man sometimes purpose and God disappoints Go to now you that say to day or to morrow we will go into such a City and continue there a year and buy and sell and get gain whereas you know not what will be on the morrow 3. Men should before they enter upon any Action Civil or Religious seek to God by Prayer for VVisdom and Direction and also for Strength Aid and Assistance and they that do not this do not as they ought Acknowledge God and thus I say in a more general way we should do though it be in the smallest matters and in the doing of things that are Lawful to be done if they would have Success therein But to descend to some few particular things and cases about the doing or entering upon the doing of which we should seek to God and so in a right way Acknowledge him 1. When any Young Men or any Persons begin to set up for themselves or to Trade in the World they should Acknowledge God or seek to him for Counsel and Direction about that Affair that they may succeed well therein and receive a Blessing from him for in vain do Men rise up early and sit up late unless God be sought unto and is pleased to prosper them in their Undertakings How was Jacob Blessed as a Shepheard which was his employment who in all he did Acknowledged God and called upon him Riches got and not by the Almighty or in a lawful way will prove a Curse to him that getteth the 't is a God Provoking Evil to say in thine heart My power and the might of my hand hath gotten me Wealth but thou shalt remember the Lord thy God for it is he that giveth thee power to get Wealth Deut. 8. 17 18. Riches and Honour which are a Blessing and tendeth not to puff up a Man or Woman cometh from God 2. Men and Women should Acknowledge God in changing their condition this is a great thing and the Comfort of Mens Lives much consist in this matter A Prudent Wife is from the Lord Prov. 19. 14. But alass now a days People in this matter act like to the wicked Men of the old World They take them Wives of all which they choose Gen. 6. 2. Which is charged upon them as a great sin and one cause of the Destruction brought upon them by the Flood How did Sampson suffer by his Dalilah whom he chose because he liked her well perhaps she was fair but he consulted not with God but How well did Abraham's Servant succeed in obtaining a Wife for Isaac his Master's Son by Seeking unto God and Acknowledging him You Young Men and Women that truly Fear God see you to it that you in the choice of Yokefellows Acknowledge God consult his VVord choose such that are Godly such that Believe in Christ let his VVrod be your Rule in this matter Be not unequally Yoaked with Unbelievers your Peace with God and the Comfort of your Lives depend on this matter do not as the Sons of God in the old world did and as Sampson did viz. Choose such as you like but such as God likes and approves of 3. We should Acknowledge God in Removing from one place to another from one Countrey to another or from one Habitation to another or from one Trade or Employment to another We should first seek the Kingdom of God Will this remove make for the profit of my precious Soul Will it turn to the Glory of God It should not be What Air or what Earthly Profit may I find there where I am going but is the Gospel Preached there in the Purity of it can I have communion with godly Christians there or Will not my Spiritual Loss be more than my Earthly gain so in the other case say Will not more snares attend that Calling I am about to enter upon Shall I not run my self into Temptations by doing it Doth not my present Employment bring me in Food and Rayment and ought not I therewith to be Content I only mentino these few Cases as
Instruments that he doth work but for his own Glory Seventhly Because all success in our ways and undertakings are from God Rulers of Nations Magistrates and Ministers cannot do any thing unless God Bless them and his Hand go along with them I have planted and Apollo watered but it is God that giveth the increase 1 Cor. 3. 6. The Plow-man plows in vain the Trades-man buys and sells and Trades in vain the Merchant and Mariners venter to Sea in vain the Physician prescribes Medicines in vain nay Magistrates rule in vain and Ministers Preach in vain and the People hear in vain if God denies Success or prospereth them not In vain do men rise up early and sit up late and eat the bread of Carefulness if God doth not bless the labour of their Hands Behold Is it not of the Lord of Hosts that the people shall labour in the very fire and the People shall weary themselves for very vanity Hab. 2. 13. 'T is not the Care of the Husband-man to wait for the proper Season to Sow his Seed nor the Industry of the Trader nor the Skill of the Physician nor the Wisdom and Policy of the States-man nor the Learning of the Gospel Minister that will avail them if God do not succeed them Many think by their Skill by their Parts by their Policy and by their Learning to do mighty things when alas they see themselves suddenly blasted 〈◊〉 a secret way by the Hand of God and all their Devices brought to naught Men of small Parts and Learning God being with them many times wonderfully prosper when Men of great Parts Learning and Wisdom are confounded because they acknowledge not the Lord nor seek to him By strength no man shall prevail O! therefore ye the Sons of the Mighty acknowledge God and lean not to your own Understanding Eighthly Men should acknowledge the Lord in all things they go about because they may be brought into such straits and have such difficult Cases before them that they may see the work is too hard for them or they may not know what to do their VVisdom may fail them or Men may be brought into such straits as sometimes the Sea Men are that they are at their Wits end but God then can help the States-men how to project Matters and order their difficult Cases and the Seaman when he crys to God wants not help God makes the storm a calm and causes the proud waves to cease and brings them out of all their troubles read Psal. 107. at your leisure Men may want VVisdom though they have great Power or want Power though they have great VVisdom or may want time and a sit opportunity tho' they have both VVisdom and Power but God wants neither Power VVisdom nor Opportunity Therefore we should acknowledge him Ninthly VVe ought to acknowledge the Lord in all our ways because whatsoever he hath promised to do for his People he positively says he will nevertheless be sought unto that he may do it for them I the Lord build the ruined places and plant that that was desolate I the Lord have spoken it and I will do it Thus saith the Lord God I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel to do it for them c. God will justifie us freely of his own Grace through the imputation of Christ's Righteousness but he will have us look to him or believe in Christ that he may do it for us Moreover he will give us the Grace of Faith that we may believe in Jesus Christ but he will have us enquire of him we must pray to him and attend on his Word that he may give that Grace and Power to us to believe c. Also God will pardon our Sins for his own Name-sake and not remember them any more but he will bring us to his Feet or humbly with Contrition of Spirit to cry to him that we may receive that Pardon For as a King may freely forgive a guilty Rebel yet he mirst come and confess his horrid Treason and beg Pardon on his Knees so God will cause the guilty Sinner thus to do also In like manner God will perform all his Promises and give Counsel Direction and Wisdom to Senators and to Ministers of Justice to godly Magistrates and Preachers of his Word c. but he will be enquired of and sought unto by them that he may do it for them And this he hath declared and positively made known to be his Will and Absolute Pleasure therefore it would be high Presumption and Pride to expect these things of him unless we comply with him in this Matter Tenthly All Men ought to acknowledge God in all their ways because not to look to God seek to God and acknowledge him is Brutish 't is to be worse than Heathens and Idolators for they in Straits and Afflictions or when they enter upon Matters of Moment will cry to their Gods They called on the name of Baal from Morning even until Noon saying O Baal hear us but there was no voice And Elijah mocked them and said Cry aloud for he is a God either he is a pursuing or in a journey or per adventure he steepeth and must be awaked Moreover The Mariners that were with Jonah in the Ship who were Heathens in that Storm they were in Every Man cryed unto his God and seemed to be offended with Jonah that he did not cry to his God also VVhat meanest thou O sleeper arise and call upon thy God The Israelites usually asked Counsel or God by the Ephod the Grecians by their Oracles but Christians ought only to go to God by Jesus Christ and ask Counsel in his Name Brethren that God that brings a People a Nation or particular Person into Trouble and sometimes for great Sins only knows how to bring them out of it Such that eye not God in their Trouble never search into the cause of it and as they know not consider not the cause of their Disease so they are as ignorant of the Cure and from hence apply indirect Medicines not to acknowledge God is to question the Being of God However it argues they do not depend upon him that in their Trouble do not seek unto him Shall Heathens give greater Glory to Dumb Idols than Christians give to the true and only God of Heaven and Earth They that depend upon their own VVisdom do in effect Deifie themselves for none hath a self-sufficiency in him or is independant but God alone But how like are some Men to the Swine that greedily eat up the Acorns that lie under the Trees but never look up to the Tree from whence they come or like a Dog that seems angry and sharles at the Stone that is thrown at him but never regards the Hand of him that threw it nor knows he the cause thereof Eleventhly It followeth from hence therefore that we ought in all our ways to acknowledge