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
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
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