be seene and heard make a ioyfull noyse like the noyse of the Trumpets in the dayes of your triumphs Num. 10.9.10 of your gladnesse of your festiuall solemnities and of the times wherein you found speciall acceptation of your sacrifices and make this noyse vnto God Diuine thankesgiuing is to bee appropriate onely to Gods person Deny it to all creatures in heauen or earth deny it to false gods Psa 68.19 and giue it to the true euerliuing God the God of our saluation 90.17 our owne God euen the God that saueth vs and establisheth his grace in vs. All yee lands None of the vniuersall Church of God is exempt from praysing God high low Iew Gentile bond free male female hold not backe your praise from God hee holds not backe his benefits from you 65.19 but ladeth you daily with the same you haue 1. Cor. 4.7 or can haue nothing but what you receiue from him and that not for your merit but onely for his mercie which indureth for euer Sing forth the honour of his Name Verse 2. make his praise glorious True Thankesgiuing is such an action as cheerefully sets forth the glorie of Gods Name let not your thankes to God the most High ouer all in heauen and earth bee any abasing of his Maiestie but ascribe that to his great and fearefull Name which is honourable Psa 29.2 8. giue to him the glorie due to his Name let euery one that speakes of him speake of his glory confesse that his Name is aboue euery name in heauen Phil. 2.9 10 and earth confesse that at his Name euery knee should bow of things in heauen and in earth and things vnder the earth Pro. 18.10 Confesse that his Name is a strong Tower to all that trust in him Psal 8. confesse that his Name is wonderfull excellent in all the world confesse that his glorious Name is greater then all thankesgiuing Neh. 9.5 and praise let the desires of your soule be to the praise of his holy Name Also Make his praise glorious Diuine thankfulnesse makes Gods praise glorious glorious to the hearing and vnderstanding of men though it can supply no defect of glory to God for his glory is alwayes infinite and absolute lessen not his praise praise him not basely giue not his praise to any other so praise him Ps 108.1 2 as becommeth him let your hearts bee prepared and your tongues awaked to vtter forth the greatest praise you can of Gods Highnesse Say yee Vers 3. Thankesgiuing is to bee performed with speaking bee not silent from this dutie auoyd that silence as great disobedience neither can you excuse it by pleading ignorance here you are taught what to say Hee that requireth your thanksgiuing teacheth you what you should speake in the same hee that commandeth to make his praise glorious sheweth how you should make it glorious of his goodnesse hee findeth you heart mouth tongue words and all that to neglect this dutie you should haue no excuse at all Say yee vnto God In praising God that must onely be said of him which may with a good conscience be said euen to him Vse not the Lord as you doe men to say one thing behind his backe and another afore his face for you can neuer bee but in his sight neuer thinke a thought but hee vnderstands it neuer speake a word but hee knowes it therefore say yee things glorious of him and say ye the same vnto him Shew that his benefits his Name his glory and his praise doe so affect you as you cannot but like a gratefull man to a most beneficiall friend meet the Lord your God in your meditations and breaking out into zealous praises of his bountie speake and say euen vnto himselfe that which may best testifie how desirous you are to shew your best thankefulnesse for all his louing kindnesse hence say yee vnto God How terrible or reuerend art thou in thy workes To the high setting forth of Gods praise is required a feeling confession of his most reuerend dealing in euery action Beware you want not the consideration that should bring this confession they are neere destruction Psa 28.5 Isa 5.12 and the sound of great woe is to them that regard not the worke of the Lord and consider not the operation of his hands Hos 14.9 Ps 107.43 Doe you otherwise bee you wise to vnderstand the wayes of God be you carefull to obserue those things in Gods administration which may teach you this feeling confession that you may say vnto him with admiration Psa 8.1 How excellent O Lord is thy Name in all the earth 92.7 How great and glorious are thy workes And how innumerable is the number of them 104.24 How vnsearchable are thy iudgements Exo. 15.11 Who is like to thee O Lord among the gods So glorious in holinesse fearefull in prayses and doing wonders Thou so rulest in the Armies of Heauen aboue Dan. 4.32 and so workest in the Inhabitants of the earth below as to thee wee alwayes say How reuerend and fearefull art thou in thy workes the like whereof none can doe Through the greatnesse of thy power It is a principall point in the praising of God to ascribe the glory of victory to his power onely say not Our own arme shall saue vs our Idols haue saued vs our Horses and Chariots shall saue vs but euer say vnto God in euery victory Thou O God Psa 76.4 art more glorious and excellent then the highest helpes 115.1 onely at thy rebuke both the Horse and Chariot are cast asleepe Not vnto vs O Lord not vnto vs but to thy Name we giue the glory Thou euen thou alone by the greatnesse of thy power hast gotten thy selfe the victory and through this power Shall thine enemies submit themselues vnto thee though dissemblingly When wee see Gods enemies driuen for feare to dissemble Religion and not to dare to withstand the defendours and Ministers of Christs Kingdome wee should admire and acknowledge Gods mighty power therin say not This is through mans policie say not This is for feare of mans power but confesse and say Behold the mightie power of God through the greatnesse of thy power Ezra 6. Heathenish Darius submitted himselfe vnto thee and forwarded the building of thy Temple through the greatnesse of thy power Dan. q. 37. great Nebuchadnezzar submitted himselfe vnto thee and extolled and praysed and honoured thee the King of Heauen through the greatnesse of thy power hard-hearted Pharaoh submitted himselfe to thee Exo. 12.31 to let thine Israel goe So still shall thine enemies and the enemies of thy Christ submit themselues vnto thy Maiestie Thine enemies All are not true friends to the Gospel that vnder Christian Kings and in the Churches prosperitie professe the Gospel Through the greatnesse of thy power O God some are thy enemies and therefore not to be trusted by
fit vs to worship and praise GOD. Doe not esteeme them as dead things doe not passe by them as idle matters of no reckoning doe not sinne as those that are complained of for that they regarded not the workes of GOD nor considered the operation of his hands but come and behold his workes vse them as happy meanes to make thee happy that is to fit thee to bee an happy and holy worshipper of God Vse his workes of creation Psal 33. 9. 36. 6. 31. 23. 7 8 9 10. 67. 4. 9. 16. 145. 15 1â— 111. 9. to draw you to feare him his workes of common preseruation to admire his prouidence his workes of speciall preseruation to loue him of administration to trust and to reioyce in him of iudgement to acknowledge him and to stand in awe of him of sustentation to waite on him and his workes of redemption to praise his holy and fearefull Name in stead of vaine and corrupt communication Ps 105.2 5 talke of his wonderfull works and in stead of remembring vanities remember his maruellous workes which hee hath done his wonders and the iudgements of his mouth Hee is to be reuerenced in his doing toward the sonnes of men They that rightly consider Gods working doe find that hee is most worthy to bee reuerenced in euery action O thou man that doest not perceiue this thou art very foolish Psal 92. But yee holy ones whom God hath made glad through his workes and who reioyce in the worke of his hands happy are you for you see how true this is and you admire that hee is so reuerend in his doing Toward the sonnes of men The very person toward whom God is so reuerend in his dealing is full of argument of his commendation for who bee these Euen the sonnes of men Oh then praise the Lord highly for his administration to such persons confesse his bountie vnto these bountie vnspeakable confesse his goodnesse vnto these goodnesse immeasurable confesse his mercy to these mercy most laudable confesse his loue to these loue most admirable For these haue plunged themselues into all misery these haue prouoked his wrath by infinite iniquity these haue nothing in them to deserue any compassion these haue all that is in them to bring condemnation O wee men Gen. 6.5 Rom. 1.21 whose imaginations are continually euill whose foolish mindes are full of darknes whose very hearts are most deceitfull whose mouthes are full of blasphemy whose throates are an open sepulcher Rom. 3. whose eyes are full of vanity whose eares are full of idlenesse whose hands are full of bloud whose feet are swift to euery mischiefe whose life is most sinfull and whose body is most vile Let vs wonder that God is so reuerend in his dealing to such most vnworthy persons and wondring let vs to his glory say What is man Psal 8. that thou art so fauourable a God vnto him What is wretched man that thou art mindfull of him What is the sonne of mortall man that thou visitest him Hee turned the sea into dry land Verse 6. God shewes himselfe wonderfull in his doing for them that feare him Their enemies were behinde them the Red Sea is before them What now shall become of them Why Psal 106.9 behold the saluation of the Lord to his owne people hee forthwith rebuked the deepe Sea for staying them and it presently gaue way vnto them ouerwhelming all their enemies that followed them See how reuerend the Lord was in his doing toward these sonnes of men ioyne your selues to this God and hee will doe wonders for you beleeue in him and hee will make all things possible vnto you expect with patience his deliuerance if no meanes bee with you if all meanes bee against you yet can hee find meanes to helpe and saue you he turned the sea into dry land They went thorow the flood on foot To whom God makes himselfe knowne in a speciall fauour and manner to them hee will magnifie his power that they might see his great saluation hee led them dry shod-thorow the great depths of the cruell sea Josh 3.10 and after that they might know that hee the liuing Lord was among them and that hee would not faile to doe all that hee promised them hee cut off the waters of the Riuer Iordan and made them stand on an heape euen when it was at the broadest vntill all his seruants were cleane gone If hee doe not thus to you but le ts seas and flouds of iniquitie keepe you from entring into his holy Canaan then lament for it argues that he yet hath no sauour vnto you if you would haue him thus magnifie his power some way towards you then call your selues by the name of Iaakob Isa 44.5 and subscribe with your hand vnto the Lord if you bee his people then expect one great deliuerance after another and if you know who feare him doe not mocke nor despise them but say Deu. 33.29 They are happy say Who is like vnto them so saued by the Lord the shield of their helpe There did we reioyce in him Gods admirable and comfortable dealing begets present reioycing in him in them that loue and feare him They were no sooner passed thorow the Red Sea Exod. 15. but then and there Moses and the children of Israel sang ioyfully a song of thankesgiuing vnto the Lord there also Miriam the Prophetesse with all the women answered the men with well-tuned instruments holy dances and sweet voyces in the same thankesgiuing There did they reioyce in nothing of their owne in nothing of any creature in heauen or earth in nothing else but in God alone in his triumph alone in his strength alone in his saluation alone in his Name alone in his right hand alone in his power alone and in his greatnes alone But doe wee not honour him in the very place where hee hath honoured vs Not praise him in the very time wherein hee hath done great things for vs Not reioyce amidst all our comforts benefits and deliuerances Are wee not now most glad that hee giues vs blessed proofs that he is become our owne God strength deliuerer and saluation Oh let vs tremble at this vnthankfulnesse and so amend this negligence as we may say iustly as they haue said There there did wee reioyce in him and still may wee reioyce in him For Verse 7. He ruleth by his power for euer Yee righteous feare not the frownes of fortune falsly so called the hatred of the world sicknesse famine sword or pestilence the sonnes of mortall men hellish principalities or powers Dan. 4. nor any creature for your God ruleth according to his will in the armies of heauen and in the inhabitants of the earth Psal 135. doing whatsoeuer pleaseth him euery where Yee wicked feare and tremble be full of sorrow and heauinesse Psa 145.20 howle and lament for God ruleth who preserueth all them that loue him
but all such as you are he destroyeth All yee vngodly Rom. 8.28 repent speedily for God ruleth who makes all things worke together for the best to them that loue him Psal 11. but vpon you he shall raine snares fire and brimstone and an horrible tempest this shall bee the portion of your cup because not chance nor fortune nor Planets nor windes nor Popes nor hell nor creatures rule but God alone ruleth He ruleth by his power Ye Potentates and sonnes of the mighty lift not vp your hornes on high oppose not your greatnes against any ordinance of God for hee ruleth by his power Dan. 4.35 37. none can stay his hand nor may say to him What doest thou Them that walke in their pride hee is able to abase Yee sinners prouoke not him to anger for hee ruleth by his power if yee still forget him and will not consider hee will teare you in pieces Psa 50.22 and none can deliuer you Yee that feare him bee not discouraged because your enemies are too strong for you doubt not of reliefe because your misery seemes helplesse despaire not of recouery because you see no remedy for your God not onely ruleth but he ruleth by his power euen by his mighty power whereby hee is able to subdue all things to himselfe Phil. 3.21 Ephes 3.20 euen by his infinite power whereby hee is able to doe exceeding abundantly for you beyond all that you can aske or thinke For euer Thinke not O ye wicked that there is any time wherein you shall haue the rule in your hands or shall escape his iudgements for hee ruleth for euer Dan. 4.34 his dominion is an euerlasting dominion and of his kingdome there is no end Reioyce O yee righteous for the prouidence the goodnes the protection the presence the power the iustice the mercy of the Lord your God shall neuer bee diminished shall neuer cease shall neuer faile you for hee ruleth by his power for euer Ps 146.10 Thy God O Sion raigneth and he shall raigne for euer His eyes behold the nations O yee mad people Isa 29.15 that seeke out deepe deuices to hide your counsels from the Lord and to keepe your workes secret in darke asking Who seeth vs Who can know vs woe bee vnto you for his eyes behold the Nations Pro. 15.11 hell and destruction are before him how much more the hearts of the children of men hee hath seene all your imaginations Psa 10.14 he beholdeth all your mischiefe and spite to requite it with his owne hand Ye faithfull ones be the same in all places and in all countries dissemble no where sinne no where for your God will find it out his eyes behold all Nations Psal 33.13 hee beholdeth all the sonnes of men his eyes are vpon all the wayes of man Iob 34.21 and hee seeth his goings his eyes are in euery place beholding both the euill and the good Prou. 15.3 You that are in affliction doe not say Isa 40.27 My way is hid from God but be glad and reioyce in his mercy Psal 31.7 in the midst of thy misery with full assurance that hee considers thy trouble and knowes thy soule in aduersities for his eyes behold the Nations and his eye lids do try the children of men Isa 40.28 there is no searching of his vnderstanding Behold his eye is vpon them that feare him and that hope in his mercy to deliuer their soule from death Psal 33.19 and to keepe them aliue in famine All people trust in the liuing Lord of heauen and earth haue him alone to bee your God for hee is the verie God The Heathen gods haue eyes Psal 115.5 and see not Gen. 1.31 but our God seeth euery thing that hee hath made and his eyes behold all Nations Let not the rebellious exalt themselues they which are rebellious let them not bee lifted vp too much in themselues Pray for this vnto the Lord so oft as you heare of Nations rebelling against any Christian Countrey for hee alone is able to tame and spoyle the stout hearted Psal 76. and can cause the men of might to haue no strength in their hands Pray for this vnto him so oft as you see any proud persons exalt themselues against the free passage of the Gospel Rom. 16.20 for hee alone is able to bruise Satan himselfe and to tread him downe vnder our feete Pray for this vnto him when the enemy waxeth stil prouder for though he suffer them sometime to afflict vs Deu. 32.27 yet hee cannot abide that they should behaue themselues proudly and strangely against vs. Pray for this vnto him euen when thy sonnes and daughters are arrogant and insolent for he will either breake them because they are rebellious or if they belong to him hee will heale their rebellions O blesse our God Verse 48. yee people and make the voyce of his praise to be heard Gods holy ones are so affected with desire to praise him as they prouoke all other also to praise him Haue you no desire to praise God Oh how can you aske any mercy at his hands Is your desire to praise him so weake as it moues you not to draw others to this duty Oh how little reckoning make you of God and of his glory and how carelesse are you of others saluation Doe you prouoke others to dishonour and blaspheme him Oh you doe an abominable thing such a wickednesse as neuer did wicked Idolaters to their false gods Beware of no affection beware of too little affection and labour to this high affection vnto the praise of God which will moue you to exhort others to it Psal 34.3 saying O magnifie the Lord with mee and let vs exalt his Name together Our God This is the glory of Gods people that the Lord hath made them so neere vnto him as they may very boldly professe and call him Our God Oh yee hypocrites this glory doth not belong to you if you call him Matt. 7.21 Our God hee denyeth it saying Away from me yee workers of iniquitie I know you not Oh you enemies to the true doctrine of Christ this glory doth not belong to you if you call him Our God he denyeth it saying Not I but your belly is your god Phil 3.19 and your end damnation Oh you worldlings this glory belongs not to you ignorant blind and vnbeleeuing soules if you call him Our God he denyeth it saying Not I 2. Cor. 4.4 but the Deuill is your god But oh yee seruants of the Lord to you euen to you doth this glory belong if you call him Our God he denyeth it not but answereth I am the Lord your God Psal 81.10 and you are my people All that desire this glory Hos 2.23 bee his true seruants be in Christ bee in fellowship with his Church then may you say also The Lord is Our
Oh what a thing is it when happinesse when our owne gladnesse when others commending our estate cannot awaken vs out of our neglect Happinesse for as it is said Psal 144.15 The people are happie that haue such bountie Gladnesse for as it is said Act. 14.17 God by his goodnesse as wee find also in our experience doth fil our very hearts with gladnesse Others commendation for as it is said Psal 126.2 They that behold Gods manifold blessings vpon vs doe say that hee hath done great things for vs. The vse Oh if we therefore doe forget and neglect this dutie let vs confesse let vs repent let vs be ashamed as afore let vs also iudge our selues worthy to haue it said of vs as Deut. 32.6 Do you so requite the Lord ô you foolish people and vnwise worthy that the Lord should contest against vs as Isa 1.2 saying Heare ô Heauens and giue eare ô Earth I haue nourished and brought vp children and they haue rebelled against me Worthy that he should take all our abundance our riches our comforts our peace our honours from vs should powre contempt vpon vs should turne our riuers into drie land our water-springs into a wildernes our fruitfull land into barrennes humble vs vnder sore oppression affliction and sorrow And let both sorts of vs now at the length Admonition to both settle our hearts to the sincere practice of this dutie of priuate publike and worthy praise to God euen to bring forth fruit worthy amendment in this point O A description of the first wee that haue felt the fainting of our soules that haue beene in sore trouble that haue as it were sit in darknesse and the shadow of death that haue beene euen bound vp in affliction that haue had our hearts brought downe with heauinesse that haue had our life next step to the gates of death that haue had our spirits melted away with perplexitie that haue beene compassed about with most wofull miseries and that haue seene how when we cryed vnto the Lord hee brought vs out of our darkenesse he deliuered vs out of all our distresses he satisfied our longing soules he healed vs. Let vs ô let vs now practise cheerefully and readily this holy dutie To incite vs thereunto let vs consider First To moue the first to practise consider Gods readinesse Gods exceeding readinesse to heare vs and his presentnesse to deliuer vs yea though our afflictions came on vs because wee had rebelled against his Word because we had transgressed because of our iniquities Secondly Gods answerablenes Gods fulfilling of our very wishes bringing vs to the very state we desired Thirdly the due time Time manner meanes the sweet manner the gracious meanes of his deliuerance of vs. Fourthly the passing comfort we found The sequent comfort after hee had deliuered vs filling as it is Psalme 126.2 our mouth with laughter and our tongue with singing And A description of the second ô wee that haue not yet come where any sorrow woe bitternesse worme-wood hath beene put into our cup but we only haue lyen downe in greene pastures and walked along beside the still waters and our table hath been alway richly furnished our head anointed with oyle our cup running ouer goodnesse and mercy following vs all the dayes of our life O let vs let vs also if not much rather apply with haste and haste with godly zeale vnto this duty vrging our mindes thereto with these considerations Considering To moue the second consider receit First that all our comforts are things meerely receiued as 1. Cor. 4.7 What hast thou that thou didst not receiue Secondly Whence receiued that they bee all receiued from Gods good pleasure as of corporall things it is said Psal 145.16 Thou openest thine hand and fillest euery liuing thing of thy owne good will and of spirituall things Phil. 2.13 God worketh the will and the deed of his owne good pleasure Vndesert Thirdly that all the bountie we inioy is contrary to our desert for as Daniel 9.7 To vs belongeth confusion or shame of face Fourthly that our prosperitie All as we would haue them our choyse our matches our bargaines our dwellings our friends our alliance our food our rayment our peace our meanes our aduancements our times our seasons our affaires yea and our Sabbaths are euen as we would haue them as if that were verified to vs which is said of the true fearers of God Psal 145.19 Hee fulfilleth the desire of them that feare him O let vs consider these things And let these perswade vs to the dutie here required of both kinds of vs Effect of the considerations for surely these rightly weighed cannot but make vs say O come and wee shall tell you what God hath done for our soules O magnifie the Lord together with vs O what shall wee render vnto the Lord for all his benefits O we will pay our vowes which our lips haue vttered and which our mouthes haue spoken in our affliction O wee will doe our dutie of solemne praise vnto him priuately publikely and worthily O that men would so praise the Lord O that high and low would so praise the Lord O that euery one would as they are most bounden so praise the Lord. Praise him so priuately How praise priuately priuately with the family as Ioshua with his family more priuately with some of the family as Abraham with Isaac most priuately alone as the Prophet Dauid most often and in priuate say vnto him Patterne of this priuate as Psal 92.1 2. It is a good thing to giue all thanks vnto thee O Lord euen to sing praises vnto thy Name O most High yea to shew forth thy louing kindnesse euery morning and thy faithfulnesse euery night as Psal 116.16 17. Oh Lord verily I am thy seruant I am thy seruant and the sonne of thine handmaid thou hast loosed my bonds I will offer vnto thee the sacrifice of thankesgiuing and will call on thy Name O Lord. And Ps 118.21 28. I will praise thee O Lord for thou hast heard mee and art become my saluation thou art my God and I will praise thee thou art my God and I will exalt thee and as Psal 104.33 34. I will sing vnto thee O Lord as long as I liue I will sing praise to thee my God while I haue any being my meditation of thee shall bee sweet I will be glad in thee O after this blessed manner let euery one praise God priuately Euery one praise him also publikely How praise publikely in the congregation of the people both in ordinary on euery Sabbath with addition of more thankes and more zeale in thanking on the Sabbaths of celebrating the holy Supper of the Lord also in extraordinary on the dayes of solemne publike thankesgiuing as Nehemiah 12.27 43. and Ester 9.17 and let euery one professe concerning this publike saying as Psal 34.3 Patterns
O Lord how great is thy workes and thy thoughts are very deepe Oh Sins against Gods bonignity Not remembring Presuming Despising Sins against his workes Not to acknowledge be it farre from vs to be guiltie of that complained of Psal 106.7 Not to remember the multitude of his mercies or that in Deut. 29.19 to presume to sinne through sawcie confidence in his mercy or that in Rom. 2.4 To despise the riches of his goodnesse or that in Psal 92.6 To be so bruitish as not to acknowledge his workes and so foolish as not to discerne the same or that in Psa 28.5 Not to regard his workes Not to regard Sins against himselfe or that in Psa 95.9 To prouoke and tempt him though wee haue seene his glorious workes or that in Psal 10.4 5 13. Not to seek Not to thinke To be so proud as not to seek God as not to haue him in our thoughts as to thinke his wayes alway grieuous vnto vs To contemn as euen to contemne him O farre be these from vs and as it is said Iob 21.16 Farre bee the counsell of all such from vs. Himselfe To praise himselfe whom as Psal 65.1 praise waiteth on in Sion himselfe who is as Psa 18.3 most worthy to be praised himselfe who Ps 22.3 inhabiteth the praises of Israel himselfe whose praises Psal 78.4 the godly doe shew to their posteritie himselfe to whom Psalme 147.1 it is good and pleasant and comely to sing praises himselfe who Psalme 145.3 is great and greatly to bee praised himselfe who Deut. 10.21 is our God and our praise and glory Him euen him let vs praise worthily To prayse him worthily is To exalt him which in one word is to exalt him let vs so praise him as we exalt him not our selues but our God for as Mat. 23.12 Whosoeuer exalteth himselfe he shall be abased not Idols but the Lord for as Psa 97.7 Confounded be all they that serue and reioyce in and so exalt Idols No no but the Lord the Lord let vs exalt him alone let vs exhort others to exalt him Exhorting others as Psal 99.5 Exalt yee the Lord our God let vs in our selues exalt him saying Isa 25.1 Doing it our selues O Lord thou art my God I will exalt thee and praise thy Name Patternes for thou hast done wonderfull things Let the progeny of the godly exalt him saying Exodus 15.2 The Lord is my strength and song he is become my saluation he is my God and he is my fathers God I will prepare him an habitation and I will exalt him thus praise the Lords owne selfe by exalting him Exalt him Exalt him set all vnder him in the congregation set all vnder him in the congregation cry Downe with Idols downe with Images down with mens deuices downe with Inuocation of Saints downe with worshipping of Angels and intertaine and exalt in the congregation of his people none but his owne ordinances his owne Word his owne Sacraments his owne Name his owne selfe Exalt him In the assembly of Elders set all vnder him in the assembly of Elders Bid them as Reu. 4.11 10. fall downe before him worship him and cast downe their crownes at his feet Bid them s 2.10 11. be wise and bee instructed to serue him with fear to reioyce before him with trembling Bid them as Psal 29.1 2. giue to him glory and strength and giue to him the glory due to his Name In the Family Exalt him set all vnder him in the Family Wiues children seruants in your duties feare the Lord looke vp vnto the Lord do all your seruice of subiection and obedience as vnto the Lord. Husbands fathers masters rule as vnder the Lord exalt him as your Master which is in heauen Exalt him Set him aboue all set him aboue all say as Psa 136.2 3. Thou art God of gods thou art Lord of lords say as Eph. 1.21 22. Thou O Lord art farre aboue all principalitie and power and might and dominion and euery Name that is named not onely in this world but in that also which is to come all things are vnder thy feet say as Gen. 14.19 Thou art the most High God the possessour of Heauen and Earth Thus exalt him Set most by him exalt him also in setting more by him then all saying as Ps 73.25 Whom haue I in heauen but thee and there is none in earth that I desire besides thee Exalt him in setting praises on him more then on all Set most praises on him saying O Lord I more delight in thee then in father or mother or wife or children or friends or goods or pleasures or lands yea as Psa 63.3 Thy louing kindnesse is better to me then life it selfe Thou art my portion my glory and song Exalt him Set apart chiefe place for him in setting apart a chiefe habitation for him to dwell in euen thy soule all trimmed as Isa 66.2 A lowly a poore a contrite spirit trembling at his Word Prefer place and meanes of his sernice Be at cost to serue him Exalt him in preferring a place and meanes for his seruice before all thine owne comforts as Dauid Psal 132. Exalt him in being at cost to serue him as the same royall person 2. Sam. 24.24 Exalt him in giuing him the best seruice of all Giue him best seruice that is as Rom. 12.1 thy body and thy whole selfe a liuing sacrifice holy Giue him best dish and acceptable vnto him Exalt him in giuing him the best dish euen as Prou. 23.26 with Psal 51.6 thy very heart abounding with sincerity and truth in all the inward parts thereof O that men would thus praise the Lord priuately publikely and worthily O that we had our minds heated inflamed by al this that hath bin said with holy zeale to tye our selues thus to confesse before the Lord his louing kindnes and his wonderfull workes before the sonnes of men thus to exalt him in the congregation and euery where thus to praise him also in the Assembly of the Elders But who is sufficient for this Angelicall duty How to come to the grace to prayse God thus Of our selues we haue not a thought towards it God is the owner and God is the giuer of it therefore that we may performe it to him we must first craue it at him saying with the Prophet Psal 51.15 O Lord open thou my lips and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise And lest wee deceiue our selues Proofes of such as doe prayse God thinking we be of the number of those that praise God rightly when indeed we be not we must note the proofes of such as doe praise him his benignitie and his workes soundly and examine our selues of them First If we haue this speciall grace to praise him then wee find in our selues Affecting of God that we so affect the Lord as we seeke we thirst
thy seruants because they in respect of the betternesse of the times and some other hand of thine dare doe no other Some are in subiection vnto thee and submit themselues among thy people as Iudas among thine Apostles onely they doe it sore against their heart they doe it with desire rather of opportunitie to cast off thy yoke and to shew their enmitie Dissemblingly and lyingly They come neere Gods enemies that serue him in hypocrisie or for seruile feare of his power and not in truth and sinceritie for dutie and loue to his Maiestie Looke to your hearts that you haue not guiltie consciences this way so as you may wofully accuse your selues saying Through the greatnesse of thy power we submit our selues vnto thee and to thy Kingdome onely in dissimulation and perforce because we dare doe none other Psa 125.4 but be yee so good 1. Tim. 1.5 and true of heart as you may find your selues in a child-like submission with faith vnfained and pure loue and so may say this vnto God onely of his enemies Through the greatnesse of thy power thine enemies fainedly submit themselues vnto thee All the earth shall worship thee Vers 4. There is no respect of person in Gods Vocation of men to saluation Be not discouraged because thou art a Gentile or bond or female or weake Gal. 3.28 Acts 10.34 35. or a thing of nothing God calls all that are his the Gentile assoone as the Iew the bond assoone as the free the female assoone as the male the weake assoone as the strong he puts no difference hee doth nothing for any ones person sake but all for his owne mercy sake Hee concludes not his Church within some one Town Citie Nation or Countrey but many come from all Regions to sit downe with Abraham Matt. 8.11 Isaac and Iaakob in his kingdome and all this through his power through the greatnesse of thy power All the earth shall worship thee It is Gods praise onely that his people doe worship him If you be worshippers of God praise not your owne wel-willing that way your owne selfe-affection to godlinesse your owne apprehension of the meanes the power of the instruments but praise the riches of Gods grace and the power of his Spirit Rom. 5.6 8 10. and say vnto him Of our selues wee are weake we are sinners Ioel 2.32 wee are enemies wee are vngodly Now that we are turned to worship thee thine is the praise Ioh. 6.44 thou hast called vs vnto it thou hast drawne vs Psa 65.4 thou hast caused vs to come vnto thee onely through the greatnesse of thy power we worship thee And all shall sing vnto thee Singing rightly is a singing vnto God himselfe Sing not holy Hymnes spirituall Songs diuine Psalmes to your owne mindes carnally merry or to please the vncircumcised eares of profane friends but sing them so as you doe certainely sing them vnto God Eph. 5.19 Col. 3.16 making a melody in your heart vnto him and singing them to him with grace in your mindes Sing vnto thee Right singing vnto GOD is a part of the worship of God an effect of the gracious operation of GOD an action belonging to euery member of the Church of GOD. All the earth shall in worshipping thee sing vnto thee through thy power they shall sing vnto thee and all they shall sing vnto thee If you neuer sing vnto the Lord how doe you giue him his whole worship Psal 68.4 32. Where is his ioyfull Seruice Therefore as you say vnto him so sing vnto him sing daily vnto him sing praises sing praises sing skilfull praises vnto him They shall sing to thy Name excellently The chiefest and worthiest renowme that can bee spoken of people is that they be religious and zealous worshippers of GOD. In ascribing vnto God the glory due vnto him say this chiefly vnto him Hee rein is thy praise glorious that through the greatnesse of thy power people doe worship thee and sing vnto thy Name excellently this being GODS speciall honour to effect this it is our speciall renowne that it is effected in vs if any bee not a true worshipper of GOD hee hath no renowne Psa 49.20 he is without honour hee is most base hee is euen abominable But they that are made his worshippers are noble in name in praise Acts 17.11 Deut. 26.19 and in glory aboue all other and this is the glory of very Kings to bring presents to him to offer gifts to him to fall downe to worship him and to serue him Therefore thinke your selues greatly exalted that you are become his religious seruants reioyce in this against all earthly abasements and hope after the increase of the number of his true worshippers and say still vnto the Lord with confident expectation of the restoring of the Iewes and of the fulfilling of the Gentiles Psal 7â— All the earth shall worship thee they shall sing to thee they shall sing to thy Name excellently Come Verse 5. and see the workes of God Vnto the worshipping of GOD rightly Ier. 2.31 is required a willing comming to the meanes that teach vs his glory Luke 14.2 Iob 21.15 Luke 14.18 say not as Papists It is heresie to come or with the rebellious and voluptuous Wee will not come or with the Atheists What profit is it to come Isa 65.5 or with worldlings Wee cannot come Isa 55.1 or with Separatists Wee are too holy to come Mat. 11.28 but with the hungry and thirstie come with them that are burthened and heauy laden come Jsa 2.3 with them that are zealous Ioh. 6.45 prouoke one another to come with them that are taught of GOD come Psa 34.11 and you shall not come in vaine but comming to the meanes you shall learne the feare of GOD. Come The Ministery of the Word of God teacheth and inuiteth vs to make vse and godly benefit of the workes of GOD that bids vs come 1. Thes 5. Heb. 2. Psa 95. 1. Cor. 2. Isa 30. Psal 27.4 Eccles 4.17 and let vs not be absent not from this neglect not this harden not your hearts against this but frequent this heare this beleeue this obey this submit your selues to this examine how you profit by this and according to the present charge of this Come and see The way to the profitable vse of the meanes of godlinesse Ier. 42.20 Acts 2.13 is to see behold and consider the same Come not as hypocrites to dissemble come not as sluggards to sleepe Ez. 33.32 come not as scorners to deride nor as enemies to catch nor as children and fooles to gaze prattle or play but come as the louers of goodnes to seek as the wise to obserue come as the godly to learne as the prudent to consider and as the obedient to see The Workes of the Lord. The workes of GOD are speciall meanes to furnish vs and
patience thou shalt receiue the promise remember that many are the troubles of the righteous Psal 34.19 remember that yet a little while and hee that shall come will come and will not tarry Onely see thou bee not the cause of thine owne affliction as wicked sinners are as companions of the wicked are Pro. 13.20 1. Cor. 11.30 Ps 107.17 and as carelesse Christians are for then thou art a foole then thy best comfort in thine affliction is to repent of thy transgression Ier. 17.16 and to craue pardon Againe see that thou desire not affliction for though God please to send it he will cause it to worke to thy best Rom. 8.28 yet if thou wilfully desire it hee may leaue thee to thy selfe and so thou wilt peruert it to thy worst it shewes faith and obedience wisely to beare it but shewes arrogancy and vaine confidence to desire it Also maruell not that God exerciseth his children oft times with sore affliction when they would faine be in liberty and freedome for it is his will and who should haue their will the Father or the Child Parents ought to shew and mainetaine their owne right will against the childs wicked or wanton will yea though the child doe pet at it and bee sicke at it c. Otherwise as lamentable experience shewes the childs wills fulfilling is the parents shame smart paine and vndoing Now our heauenly Father whose will is most holy and who knoweth that his childrens willed liberty and wished freedome would bee many times abused to his dishonour therefore chuseth rather to his glory and their good to crosse their indiscreet and childish will in denying them ease and freedome to do his owne will in exercising them with sore affliction Isa 30.18 O behold his goodnesse and wisedome herein for all this is that he may haue the fittest occasion to be gracious vnto vs this he euen waiteth for and this these holy ones so experienced as they haue left a worthy confession of it saying But at length thou broughtest vs into a wealthy place After God hath tryed his children by affliction Psal 103.9 hee bringeth them out into the wayes of consolation hee afflicteth them hee childeth them hee is angry with them hee bringeth them into the Net hee abaseth them hee commits them to the fire he casts them into the water he doth try them by affliction but not alwayes Oh afflicted Christian be patient though the Rod of the wicked come vpon thee Psal 125.25 it shall not rest vpon thee be content though thou be in trouble thy trouble shall not last euer bee cheerefull though thou be in pouerty in debt in misery thou shalt come out bee of comfort though it be long Pro. 23.18 yet there will bee an end and thy hope shall not bee cut off bee thankefull and waite still on God and let thy Soule keepe silence vnto him For after he hath tryed his Children by affliction he bringeth them into the wayes of consolation hee his owne selfe doth it hee brought Israel out of Egypt Exo. 20.2 Acts 7.10 Ioseph out of Prison Dauid out of all his troubles these out of the Net out of the Fire out of the Water and he his owne selfe brings all his Children out of their affliction O thou good Christian whom God hath brought into any grieuous condition Psal 123.2 euen as the eyes of the Seruant looke to receiue helpe from the hand of his owne Master and as the eyes of the Maiden are lifted vp to the hand of her owne Mistresse So lift vp thine eyes and expect deliuerance from Gods owne selfe hee himselfe hath wounded thee and he himselfe will heale thee he himselfe hath cast thee downe and he himselfe will raise thee vp Thou shalt not neede to cry to any Creatures in Heauen or in Earth Oh who will helpe mee Who will heale mee Who will comfort me Who will deliuer me for hee Himselfe will do it as in afflicting thee hee giues not his Authority to another so in releasing thee he will not giue his glory to another Reioyce in the Net he hath brought thee into reioyce in the affliction he hath laid vpon thy loynes reioyce in the riding of men ouer thine head reioyce in the fire ready to burne thee and in the water ready to drowne thee for he himselfe will bring thee out euen he to whose helpe thou maist most confidently trust Vaine is the helpe of Man Psal 60.11 but hee is a sure Helper he is a sure deliuerer he is a sure comforter his power is a sure power his willingnesse is a sure willingnesse his promise is a sure promise his mercies are sure mercies Isa 55.3 they shall not be ashamed that waite on him they shal not be forsaken that seek him he wil neuer faile them that trust in him but after for his owne glory and their good he hath tryed them some while by affliction he will in due time euen in due time bring thē out into consolation O Christian though yet thou bee chastened euery morning do not say Psa 73.13 I haue washed mine hands in Innocency and clensed mine heart in vaine do not not say The Lord hath forgotten to be merciful do not say 116.11 They that prophecy of future comfort vnto thee are Lyers do not say thy way is hidden from the Lord Isa 40.27 doe not say thy Iudgement is passed ouer of thy God Psal 97.11 but beleeue that light is sowne for the Righteous and gladnesse for the vpright in heart and in due season such shall reape a pleasant crop Psa 30.5 11. beleeue that at length he will turne thy mourning into reioycing and thine heauinesse into gladnesse though weeping indure all the night yet ioyes shal come in the morning 126.5 6. Though thou dost now sow in teares yet hereafter thou shalt reape in comfort he will bring thee out of borrowing into the ability for lending out of present misery into permanent felicity out of a poore sicke desolate and dolefull case into a delightfull and wealthy inclosure And when this is not according to thy expectation in Earth remember the infinit and endlesse Consolation prepared and reserued for thee in Heauen 16.9 11. and let thine heart be glad and thy glory reioyce and thy flesh rest in hope of that fulnesse of ioy and of those pleasures at his right hand for euermore I will goe into thine house with burnt Offerings Vers 13. God deliuering his people out of affliction moues some in particular to greater zeale of the duties of Religion Oh see the contrariety of some in affliction they seeme full of Deuotion but no sooner deliuered they returne againe to their vaine conuersation these are euen such as God saith Ier. 2.30 receiue no correction they are such as haue not vpright hearts with him Psal 78.37 Isa 1.5 Hos 4.14 they are
spirituall necessary more necessary most necessary innumerable mercies that hee hath shewed doth shew and according to his faithfull promise will shew vnto thee Remember these things and then thinke how for all thy often comming thy neuer ceasing to aske at him thy manifold wants thy great vnworthinesse yet though a father a mother a most kind friend would haue been weary hee neuer shewed himselfe troubled grieued or weary neuer put backe thy prayers nor kept backe his speciall mercy his most needfull mercy nor his sauing mercy from thee Thinking I say how for all thou hast giuen him sufficient occasion to prouoke him to doe it yet hee hath not done it oh bee thankfull oh be thorowly thankfull For who knoweth not that if he would he might haue turned away thy prayers from him he might iustly in anger and sore displeasure haue reiected them he might haue held backe his mercy from thee Oh what would become of vs if the Lord should refuse our prayers and turne away his mercy Oh then calamities fearefull desolation dreadfull destruction like a whirlewind and sore distresse and anguish would come vpon vs and wee should find none to helpe vs there could bee none able to comfort vs in the bitternesse of our soules wee should lament wee should cry out saying Oh are not all these griefes miseries troubles and euils come vpon vs because the Lord hath put our prayers backe from him and kept his mercy backe from vs O consider these things and let vs be wise let vs not still prouoke him to refuse our prayers by refusing his precepts let vs not still prouoke him to hold back his mercies by our holding backe our duties O that our secure generation so giuen ouer to manifold prouocation could so number their dayes as they might apply their hearts speedily to this wisedome neuer more need of this wisedome oh let vs be yet wiser let vs make sure that God shall continue not to turne away our prayers from him nor his mercy from vs and this we doe namely if we turne not away our hearing and obedient hearkening from his Word if wee hold not backe our obedience hee will not hold backe his acceptance if wee keepe not back our duty he wil not keepe back his mercy And if he keepe not backe our prayers from himselfe nor his mercy from vs oh how happie are we Then we haue assurance that he loueth vs forgiues vs will deliuer vs and saue vs heale our Land of all the miseries thereof teach vs in the good way wherein wee should walke and when wee make mone because of drought or famine he will heare the Heauens as it were crying for vs and make the Heauens heare the Earth gaping after raine for vs and cause the Earth to heare the Corne and the Wine the Oyle longing to grow forth for vs and will see that these shall heare vs according to our want and seuerall necessities My prayer from himselfe nor his mercy from me God makes a blessed exchange with his blessed seruants O man or woman that sayest otherwise ô thou that sayest I haue offered vnto God and he had no respect vnto it Iob 21.15 What profit should we haue to pray vnto him We haue fasted and hee beholds vs not we haue humbled our selues and he takes no knowledge of it wee find no such exchange we thinke the proud and wicked receiue more fauour then we doe we account t is but in vaine to serue him Mal. 3.13 O fearefull stout words against God and most false Gen. 4. except thou be naught as Cain was except thou be an Hypocrite as the Iewes were Isa 58. except thou be a wicked seruant as Iudas was which if thou be thou must blame thy selfe Otherwise thou shalt find his seruice an happy seruice thou shalt find a great difference betweene the righteous Mal. 3.17 18. and the wicked betweene him that serueth God and him that serueth him not betweene the religious and the irriligious thou shalt find a seruice like the seruice of a child to his deare and louing father For as a father with such a child so he makes a blessed exchange with his blessed seruants They bring him their offering Gen. 4.4 Rom. 12.1 Ps 115.12 Prou. 23. Matt. 7. Ephes 4. and he giues them his holy acceptation they giue him their bodies and he giues them his blessings they giue him their hearts and hee giues them his Spirit and his grace they giue him his worship Psal 50.23 and hee giues them the comfort of his saluation they honor him with their substance and he fils their barnes with abundance Prou. 3.10 Mat. 10.41 42. Iam. 4.8 Rom. 8.28 they giue his Messengers a small reward and hee giues them a great reward they draw neere to him and hee drawes neere to them they loue him Psal 91.14 15. Mal. 3.16 17. and hee makes all worke for the best vnto them they honour him and he honours them they thinke of his Name and he keeps in remembrance their name His glory is their iewel and he makes them his iewels they are euer sending vp their prayers and praises to him and hee is euer multiplying his mercies vnto them oh what a blessed exchange doth he make with his blessed seruants O wonderfull bounty ô admirable benignity behold and admire this blessed exchange it is worthy to be admired and magnified for euer For what is it for which God makes this exchange with his seruants Oh it is Isa 64.6 as out of them and as it is theirs euen no better then as filthy rags and what are they with whom hee makes it oh Mat. 8.8 Isa 64.6 as of themselues they are most vnworthy they are euen as an vncleane thing and what is that that they giue him considered in it selfe Oh it is none of theirs 1. Cor. 4.7 it is nothing but what he hath first giuen them it is nothing but what they haue first receiued of him it is only his very owne they must needs confesse saying What are we O Lord 1. Chron. 9.14 16. that we should be able or apt to offer any thing vnto thee for all things come of thy selfe and of thine own haue we giuen vnto thee all duties that we render vnto thee are first taught vs by thine own hand and all that thou exchangest with vs is thine owne it is all thine owne O Christian let this blessed exchange moue thee to bee euer in an holy exchanging with the Lord moue thee to glory in his liberality moue thee to hold no gaine comparable to godlinesse moue thee to serue the Lord with gladnesse mooue thee to come before him with reioycing mooue thee to maintaine to the face of all blasphemers that no seruice is so commodious to them that serue in it as the Lords seruice is to his seruants none so honourable none so comfortable and that he is most rich to all that