of the years whereof the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the Prophet that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem And I set my face unto the Lord God to seek by Prayer and Supplications with Fasting and Sackcloth and Ashes verse 3. Brethren Thus it is with us we understand by Books i.e. by the Book of Daniel the Revelations of St. John and by the Writings of good Men that the number of the years of our spiritual Captivity under mistical Babylon is near expired and that glorious things are near and therefore we should now in an extraordinary manner cry to God and acknowledge his Power and Wisdom and Faithfulness O look up the Vision will suddenly speak Thirdly How we should acknowledge God or after what manner he found in this Duty 1. In the Sense of our Sins and Sins of the Lord's People of the whole Nation yea with a through sight sense of Sin and with self abhorrence for the same Thus did Samuel acknowledge God and poured out Water before the Lord at Mizpah 1 Sam. 7. 6. and thus did Daniel he confessed his Sins and the Sins of the People VVe have sinned and have committed Iniquity and have done wickedly and have rebelled even by departing from thy Precepts and from thy Judgments Dan. 9. 5. Neither have we hearkned unto the Prophets which have spoken in thy Name to our Kings and Princes and our Fathers and to all the People O what Sins are we guilty of and this vile Nation guilty of whom God hath been so good and gracious unto and saved with an high Hand and deliver'd when some time ago all was a going that is dear to us 2. With all Humility and brokenness of Heart we should acknowledge that whatsoever is come upon us is in Justice and Righteousness we must say with Daniel O Lord Righteousness belongeth unto thee but unto us Confusion of Faces as at this day to the men of Judah and the Inhabitants of Jerusalem to all Israel that are near and far off c. because of our Trespasses O Lord to us belongeth Confusion to our Kings and to our Princes and to our Fathers because we have sinned How low should we lie every one of us and labour to find out the plague of his own Heart and to smite on our Breasts and say What have I done we must say It is of the Lord's Mercy we are not consumed that we are yet a People and England a Nation not yet utterly forsaken of God In our acknowledging of God we should humble our selves and pray and not only so but turn every one from his evil way so will God hear from Heaven and will forgive our Sins and heal our Land 2 Chron. 7. 14. 3. We should acknowledge God with a sense of our Weakness Ignorance and short sightedness and not trust to our own Understanding See the Context Trust in the Lord with all thine Heart and lean not to thine own Understanding Prov. 3. 5. Let not Men think their Wisdom is sufficient to act and accomplish those great Designs that they take in Hand because they are so acute and have such clear natural Parts or acquired Parts Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom nor the strong man glory in his strength Let not the Learned Man boast of his great Learning but let all know True Wisdom is from God 't is he must guide us in Judgment Brethren 't is a good sign God will not leave us in that he hath put it into the Heart of our Parliament to acknowledge God and seek to him a right way At this difficult hour it argues that they see need to ask Counsel of him and would acknowledge him from whom Wisdom to manage the great Affairs of Nations cometh and would not lean to their own Understanding God is the great Governour of the World 4. We should acknowledge God in Christ come to him only and look to him alone in a Mediator if we do not wholly acknowledge him in the Name of Jesus Christ all we do will be in vain for out of Christ he is a God of Wrath and Fury yea a flaming and devouring Fire but in Christ he is pacified and reconciled to all that so come to him Samuel well knew this and therefore he took a sucking Lamb and offered it for a Burnt-Offering wholly unto the Lord 1 Sam. 7. 9. This Lamb no doubt tipified Christ Jesus in and by whose Sacrifice only he forsaw God was appeased and his Justice satisfied and the guilt of the Sins of God's Israel removed Christ is the only way to the Father No man cometh to the Father but by me saith our blessed Lord John 14. 6. This Brethren and none but this is the right way Sinners are only to draw near to God by Christ this way is prepared for them cast up for them this is that new and living way And Saints have no other way to come to God nor to acknowledge God to be their God but only in Christ. O Acknowledge God thus God was in Christ reconciling the World to himself 2 Cor. 5. 19. God in Christ is strong to save strong to help strong to deliver Christ is the power of God and and the wisdom of God 1 Cor. 1. 18. The glory of his Power Mercy Wisdom Justice and Goodness are all united and shine forth to save Sinners in Christ and to save Nations who look to him and acknowledg'd him in Christ. Almighty Power was seen in creating of the World and his Power in conjunction with his Justice was seen in casting the Angels that sinned out of Heaven and Man out of Paradice and Divine Power as it was joyned with Divine Mercy shone forth in saving and delivering Israel at the Red Sea but in Christ the glory of his Power Mercy and Justice and all other of his glorious Attributes are united together in sweet Harmony to save and help all that by Christ come to him nothing can hinder our Help and Succour if we acknowledge and come to him in Jesus Christ. We should acknowledge God manifested in the Flesh 1 Tim. 3. 16. not only that Christ is God as I before hinted but the reason why he took unto him our Nature and what things he hath wrought out for us how the glory of God shines forth in him We never acknowledge God in the Top Glory of his Wisdom Mercy Love Power Justice and Goodness unless we acknowledge him in Christ nor can we know him any other way to be our God nor come to him nor expect any Help Relief Pardon or Peace from him We must acknwledge what Christ is made of God the Father unto us even Wisdom and Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption He is our Life our Light our Righteousness our Strength our Peace our Food our Guide our King to Rule us our Priest to Attone for our Sins and to Intercede for us and our Prophet to Teach us
to our paths in respect of Civil Affairs you may add any other way or work you go about O! How doth it concern us to Acknowledge God for Preservation and a Blessing in all things even in taking Journies by Land or Voyages to Sea and when we go out in the Morning and return in the Evening when we lie down and when we rise up or enter upon any Religious Work 1. About our Receiving Retaining or Declining of any one or more Principles of Religion VVe should Acknowledg God and Consult with him in and by his Holy VVord we ought to examine and try the Point or Principle we are about to Receive or Leave Is it according to what is written Doth God's word confirm it to be a Truth Then receive it but cry to God for VVisdom and Understanding in the Case be fully perswaded in thy own Conscience from the word of God about it On the other hand if thou upon searching canst not find that Doctrine or particular Practice thou hast received formerly is agreeable to Gods word or that 't is not in thy Judgment proveable therefrom then after seeking unto God thou oughtest to reject it though many Good Men Learned Men assert and maintain it to be Truth thou art not to consult with Men nor acknowledge them to be thy rule but God's VVord To the Law and Testimony Search the Scripture Gods word giveth Understanding to the simple Psal. 19 9 10. That is a Lamp to thy Feet and a Light to thy Paths Psal. 119. 105. Men no not Ministers shall be allowed to answer for thee at Christs Bar about any Error thou hast received and dost maintain every one must give an Account to God for himself it will not be a good plea in that day to say Lord such an able Minister held this Principle Preach'd it Practiced it God may reveal some Truth more clearly to an Aquilla and a Priscilla than to an Eloquent Apollo Act. 18. 26. 2. Thou art to Acknowledge God seek to him concerning what Minister or Ministers thou dost purpose to hear and know their Doctrine well and their Lives also see that they Preach Christ that they Preach the Gospel clearly whose main design is to Exalt Jesus Christ and the Free Grace of God and particularly that they are Sound about the Doctrine of Free Justification by the Righteousness of Christ as it is Imputed and Received by Faith alone without any mixture of Mans own Inherent Righteousness O take heed this day is Perilous there are many that are Corrupters of Gods VVord and perverters of Christs Gospel thou mayst before thou art aware be undone by dangerous Heresies 3. Acknowledge God and seek to him when thou art about to joyn thy self with some Church in point of Communion Examine their Faith their Constitution their Discipline see they all hold weight with God's word And if thou art Tempted to leave a True Church because of some offence taken acknowledge God seek to him consult with the word of God least it be from Satan a Temptation and arises from thy own Evil Heart say Shall I not be a Covenant Breaker a Disorderly Person and an Evil Example to others VVill it not offend God or stumble my weak Brother Thus reason with thy Self say Shall I consult with Flesh and Blood and gratifie my Corrupt part This may deter thee from it 3. Acknowledge God and Seek to him when thou comest to hear the word of God Preached say Lord 't is thou must prepare my heart to meet with thee this day O open thou my Understanding incline my VVill move upon my Affections deliver me from Drousiness Deadness Unbelief from all kind of Pride Conceitedness from Prejudice against the Minister or any Truth that he may deliver that I want Light in What I know not teach thou me 'T is not man can reach thy heart not the Ministers Voice that can make thee Hear and Live but the Voice of Christ 't is God that can turn thee from Darkness to Light from the power of Satan unto God Thou mayest reform thy way or get some degree of Reformation by thy natural powers improved by the word Preached but 't is God alone must change thy Heart a new Heart must be created in thee by God's mighty and glorious Creating-Power and his Spirits operating Influences it is God that commanded the Light to shine out of Darkness that must shine into our Hearts to give us the Light of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 4. 6. We have this Treasure in earthen Vessels that the excellency of the Power may be of God and not of us verse 7. Do not trust to thine own Power nor rebellious Will 't is God must make thee willing he must draw thee move thee before thou canst come to Christ Faith is not of our selves 't is the gift of God Ephes. 2. 8. 9. 't is God must turn thee from thy evil way and change those vicious Habits that are in thee and in all Men naturally Can the Aethiopian change his Skin c. Turn thou me and I shall be turned O! thus acknowledge God cry to him who works all our Works in us and for us 'T is not in him that willeth nor in him that runneth but of God that sheweth Mercy Rom. 9. 17. Did Men thus acknowledge God he would soon direct their Path and give Success to them in their Duties Ministers should also acknowledge God in their Gifts and Endowments what have they which they have not received and their own Insufficiency 5. We should acknowledge God when we come to draw near to him in the Holy Supper of the Lord it is he that must prepare our Hearts for this his sacred Ordinance also The preparation of the heart in man and the answer of the tongue are from the Lord Prov. 16. 1. What Heavenly Comfort do we meet with or have we met with at one time more than at another How lively are our Spirits and active our Graces when God vouchsafeth his Divine Influences and quickens us in our Duties Did we muse the Fire might soon burn 'T is God must deliver us from vain Thoughts worldly Thoughts when we draw near to him and stir up our Affections and raise our Spirits therefore thus let us acknowledge him that we may set under Christ's Shadow with delight that his Fruit may be sweet to our Taste But no more as to these more ordinary ways of ours whether Civil or Religious but to proceed to that which is the chief Work of this day We ought to acknowledge God in divers special Cases 1. As in choice of Ministers to watch over us and take the care of our Souls we should acknowledge God who hath promised to give us Pastors after his own heart to feed us with knowledge and understanding Jer. 3. 15. 2. In choice of Magistrates to rule us or to represent us in National Synods and
make Civil Laws we ought to acknowledge God who hath promised to give Judges as at the first and Counsellors as at the beginning How good was Jethros's Counsel to Moses Exod. 18 2◠Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men such as fear God men of truth hateing covetousness and place such over them to be rulers c. Did Jethro speak this only or hath not God spoken it also The God of Israel said the rock of Israel spoke to me he that ruleth over men must be just ruling in the fear of God 2. Sam. 23. 3. I am afraid many Men do not in this case so consult with God nor acknowledge him as they ought were such Men always chose what a happy People should we be or would England be But 3. We should acknowledge God and look to him when difficult cases may be before a King and his People in which the good and welfare of a whole Nation is concerned nay many Nations and not only so but also the good of God's Israel as now at this day O how should we cry to God who only is able to give Counsel and direct our worthy Senators By me Kings Reign and Princes decree Judgment saith our Lord Jesus Prov. 8. 15. All great and good things that Kings and Princes do is from God and by the Influences of Jesus Christ God sits amongst the Gods he can rule and over-rule Men's Hearts at his pleasure at such a time as this Ezra sought a right way to do which he acknowledge God he sought to him We may bless God who put it into the Hearts of the King and Parliament to seek God at this difficult time certainly the Finger of God is in this matter Saith Ezra And I proclaimed a Fast there at the River Ahava that we might afflict our selves before our God and seek a right way for our selves and for our little ones and for all our Substance Ezra 8. 21. For I was ashamed to require of the King a Band of Soldiers and Horsemen to help us against the Enemy because I said the hand of our God is upon all them that seek him for good verse 22. This it appears is the right way most pleasing to God the only way to obtain the Mercy we want viz. to humble our selves and seek to God this is that way God directeth us to take Call upon me in the day of trouble and I will deliver you and ye shall glorifie me Psal. 50. 14. 50. 't is the right way to obtain Mercy to exalt the Eternal Being to magnifie God yea and this is the right way according to the avowed Principles of all true Christians I was ashamed saith this good Man to ask a Band of Soldiers because our God hath promised his Hand shall be with us for good that he was able and ready to help them that seek him and put their trust in him I might also note from hence that we are allowed to cry to God not only for our selves and little Ones but that God would bless and preserve our Substance also 4. Another special Occasion that calls upon us in an extraordinary 〈◊〉 knowledge God and seek unto him Is in a time of great 〈◊〉 when God's People are in Distress and great Danger Thus did Jacob Gen. 33. when he heard how his enraged Brother 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 coming out to meet him with 400 Armed Men to cut him off with his Wives and Children How did he wrestle with God He 〈◊〉 and made Supplication also said I will not let thee go except thou bless me Gen. 32 26 And he said What is thy Name and he said Jacob and he said Thy Name shall be called no more Jacob but Israel for as a Prince hast thou Power with God and Men and hast prevailed verse 27. All that thus wrestle with God God accounts Princes they are Prevailers with God they overcome God in a spiritual manner and prevail over Men nay over Devils and all Hellish Lusts and the powers of Darkness Fsau shall not hurt thee as if God should have said I will prevent thy present Fear and Danger Thus Jacob at this time when in great Straits and Afflictions acknowledged God This also did the Children of Israel in Egypt under their grievons Bondage and Misery They cryed to the Lord and God heard their Crys and their Groans Exod. 2. 23. 24. and looked upon them and had respect to them verse 5. Moreover Thus Moses and poor Israel acknowledged God when they were pursued by bloody Pharoah and brought to the Red Sea Stand still saith Moses and see the Salvation of the Lord have your hope in him trust in him acknowledge his Power in this time of your dismal Danger The Egyptian whom ye have seen to day ye shall see them again no more for ever Let not your Hearts fail sink nor stagger through Unbelief but with Faith and quiet Minds look to God and you shall as if Moses should have said soon see an end of your cursed Enemies Also thus did Samuel with all Israel look to God when the Philistines came against them they fasted on that day and said We have sinned against the Lord 1 Sam. 2. 6. Likewise thus did good King Jehosaphat when the Children of Moab and Amon came against him and against Judah Jehosophat feared and set himself to seek the Lord and proclaimed a Fast throughout all Judea 2 Chron. 20. 3. Moreover when Nehemiah saw how the remnant of God's People that were left of the Captivity were in great Afflictions and the Wall of Jerusalem was also broken down he acknowledged God and cry'd to him Neh. 1. 3. O Lord I beseech thee let now thine Far be attentive unto the Prayer of thy Servant and the Prayers of thy Servants who desire to fear thy Name c. verse 1◠Thus also did Esther and Mordecai seek to the Lord and acknowledge him when the poor Jews were in danger of being all cut off in one day they fasted and prayed unto God 5. We should acknowledge God when we have any great Work to do for his holy Name as was when we are about to reform or labour after Reformation in Religion or to throw down Idolatry or Superstition Thus did good King Josias in the twelfth year of his Reign he began to seek after the God of David and to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places and the Groves and carved Images c. 2 Chron. 34. 4. Moreover when Ministers enter on their Ministry they should seek to God acknowledge him wholly design his Glory and depend upon his Strength for Help and Success 6. When great things are near at hand or some mighty appearance of God for the glory of his Name and salvation of his Church and exaltation of Sion and downfall of their Enemies God should be sought unto and be acknowledged by his own People thus did Daniel Dan. 9. 2. I Daniel understood by Books the number
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
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