we long greatly after him and after the exercises of his worship for this in Psa 63. is shewed to be in him whose mouth praiseth the Lord with ioyfull lips Secondly If wee haue this grace to praise his benignitie Leading to repentance by his benignity then we find in our selues that it leadeth vs vnto repentance as it is said it ought to doe Rom. 2.4 so as our loue is set vpon it more then life as Psalme 63.3 and it moueth vs to walke truely and godly in Gods sight for this in the said Psalme and in Psal 26. is spoken of him that compasseth Gods Altar with the voyce of Thankesgiuing Thirdly His workes affect vs with loue c. If wee haue this grace of pratsing Gods wonderfull workes then we find in our selues a louing of them a taking pleasure in them a gladnesse in them a reioycing in them a gracious acknowledgement of them a holy shewing of them to our posteritie a desire to come to praise God in the assembly for them for these are said in Psal 111. and 92. and 78. and 26. of such as haue this grace of magnifying GODS workes Fourthly If wee haue the true Art of praysing God we find in our selues Ordering our life well that we order our life well for in Psal 50.23 this is ioyned with the offering of praise vnto God O let vs looke to these proofes of our fitnesse to this dutie if we haue them not then as in Psa 50.16 God calleth vs wicked and challengeth vs of vile audaciousnes for meddling with any Diuine dutie but if we haue them then he saith to incourage and to comfort vs that wee glorifie him Which is the marke that in all things Gods glory our â—yme and especially in Thanksgiuing we must shoot at for his glory is the chiefe end of all Being now come and heereafter comming to the Sermons and to the action of Thanksgiuing let vs euer think of Gods glory for he wil haue vs doe this dutie for his meere glory Difference of this duty from others all other duties of his seruice are almost onely for our necessitie but this all for his glory and therefore in Psalme 66.2 it is called a singing forth of the glory of his Name and in Psalm 29.2 a giuing of glory due to his Name And worthily because if we be skilfull in it wee therein speake such great things of him and of his properties and of his workes and of his Name according to a speciall parterne in the 145. Psalme and many others as wee shew himselfe to bee a glorious God and his Name to bee a most glorious Name O that men would so praise him in secret in the family in the congregation of the people in the assembly of the Elders The lerme of this duty as they might thus shew his glory And ô that this might not be at some seldome fits but as Psalm 145.2 euery day and as Psalm 146.2 while wee doe liue and while we haue any being Note a speciall rule how to continue this alway in our selues and in our families Rules to continue it in our selues in our selues to continue it the rule is this To haue his louing kindnesse his euerlasting mercy his holy remembrance his continuall benefits and the promises of the better life alwayes in our thoughts and as it were before our eyes with a blamelesse conuersation and a conscience of thankesgiuing If wee obserue this rule wee shall neuer cease to praise the Lord in our selues Rules to continue it in our families To bee the like in our families the rule is not to entertaine but to cut off from them euery popish profane dissolute pick-thanke slanderous vaine wicked deceitfull dissembling dishonest drunken vngodly idle irreligious person and to maintaine through all due respect yeelded to euery one in their place peace amitie agreement vnitie as there be no vnkindnesses iarres contentions breaches to make interruption of godly exercises If this rule be obserued then as wee shall want no comfort honour commendation to our families so in the same we shall blesse the Lord our God daily Whereupon The reward of this duty will follow the reward of this our thankfulnesse to God which is this namely That if it bee such as we haue heard and so attended with a well-disposed way to preuent all occasions of Gods dishonour and with a well-ordred life to promote the glory of his Name then hee will let vs see yea cause vs to enioy his saluation as it is promised Psalm 50.23 not his destruction as hee threatneth the vnthankefull wicked in the 22. Verse Gods account of the thankefull but his saluation So great account doth hee make of the right thankefull as hee will not let them be ouer wronged taken away or destroyed suppressed beaten downe nor consumed hee will not part with vs hee will not be without vs but that wee may still honour him praise him and glorifie him hee will keepe vs in safetie preserue vs in libertie and maintaine vs in prosperitie by the tower the rocke the strength and the shield of his temporary saluation and giue vs the comfort peace ioy riches glory and in the end the consummation and the fulnesse of his eternall saluation in Iesus Christ blessed for euer Amen Amen FINIS
THE PRACTICE OF Thankefulnesse OR DAVIDS choyse directions how to prayse GOD. In an Exposition and Application vpon the whole sixtie sixe PSALME With a short Treatise vpon the thirtie one and thirtie two Verses of the one hundred and seuenth PSALME 1. THESS 5.18 In all things giue thankes for this is the will of God in Christ Iesus towards you LONDON Printed by G. P. for Roger Iackson and are to be sold at his Shop neere to the Conduit in Fleet-street 1622. TO THE NOBLE VERTVOVS AND CHRISTIAN LADIE THE RIGHT HOnourable Countesse of Lincolne Lady-Mother to the Illustrious and truely Religious Earle of Lincolne MOst worthy Ladie apparent it is that the Father of mercie hath inriched you with that 1. Pet. 1.7 which is more precious then the best tried gold with that Faith 2. Pet. 1.5 which is attended on with the lustre of Vertue the grace of Knowledge the gouernment of Temperance the ornament of a meeke and quiet Spirit the support of Patience the splendour of Humilitie the gaine of Godlinesse the bond of Brotherly kindnesse and the glorie of Loue. And albeit the most righteous Lord hath darkened your comfort in the weakest yet hath hee most brightly lighted it with a manifold shine in the greatest Here there shineth remembrance of the Creator in youth in youth learning to know Time and Reason discretion to answer the enemies in the gate wisedome to preferre and chuse that whose price is farre aboue the Rubies satisfaction to your Honor and hope of wished glorie to your most Noble house and generous race O the lines are falne to your Honour in most pleasant places so that you are able to say to the profane wonderers and to all your Peeres Maruell not that I am zealous of reading hearing and meditation maruell not that I loue not this world nor the euils thereof the lusts of the flesh the lust of the eyes and the pride of life maruell not that I studie to haue my conuersation in heauen or that I call so often for the exercises of Prayer Preaching and Thankesgiuing for God hath done so great things for my soule as I can neuer be thankefull enough O most Christian Countesse two things I haue often thought vpon the one how I might satisfie the continuall request of diuers Christian friends by some fruits of my vnpolished labours the other how I might testifie to the world my most respectiue dutie to your Honour now at length for the satisfaction of the one and testification of the other I haue presumed to tender that which alwayes hitherto I trembled to offer because of my weaknes fearing the carping of some Momus for bringing no nouelty amidst so much variety or some Moses should blame me for bringing any more amidst so much sacietie Yet considering that since the time of Reformation is come the Temple of the Lord is in more places then Ierusalem and of such spacious capacity as though knowledge abound therein as the Sea yet there is place still emptie to receiue it And now the Builders are not so many and the fit stuffe is not so much but that there is a renewed charge that towards the Lords Worke euerie one bring what hee can that as hee hath receiued the gift hee should minister the same to other as good Stewards of the manifold graces and gifts of God Therefore some little of that spirituall blessing which his holy Spirit hath communicate to mee his vnworthy instrument in meditation according to the necessitie laid vpon mee I haue vttered and ministred to others in preaching and here doe present as to all my fellow-members and Christian friends euery where but first and chiefly to your most Honourable and vertuous selfe in writing The subiect and ground of my labour is the sixtie sixe Psalme a Psalme of Diuine praise made by the sweet Psalmist of Israel vpon the deliuerance of Gods people out of many sore calamities and of himselfe out of the bloudie hands of his persecuting enemies I wish it to all because all haue more then much need to bee awaked to this dutie of praising God in this time of securitie but I dedicate it onely to your Honour as to the prime moouer of this my present indeuour For when I had neither a purpose to any such Treatise nor thought of this most worthy Psalme then did your Honour whose affections are euer set on heauenly things name this Song and Psalme vnto mee commend it to my meditation request mee to intreat of it helpe my labours with your prayers and ioyfully heard what the Lord spake by mee out of it Therefore I beseech your Honour take this my Dedication as a true token of my most gratefull affection to your most Noble selfe another Marie in chusing the better part as a testimony of my longing to adde something to the cure of the lamentable neglect of holy duties and as a witnesse of my desire to further this seruice to Gods praise and glorie Euen so bee it euen so bee it Amen Your Honours euer to command in the Lord N. LARKE AN EXPOSITION OF the sixtie sixe PSALME by Doctrine and Exhortation IN this holy Psalme consider The Title First the Title Secondly the Psalme it selfe the Title commits it To the chiefe Musician or the Master of the harmony or Him that excelleth and intitles it A Song A Psalme as being one of that kind which the Church in Dauids time vsed to sing with Instruments voyces It serueth well to prepare attentiō and intention to the matter of the Psalme For it may plainly teach vs First That it is worthy of chiefe skill and consent in singing the same Secondly That it is a Song full of Excellencie and to bee vsed so as our Diuine praises may be made more pleasing sweet and excellent by it Thirdly That it is to bee sung with a double Musicke and melodie to God Ephes 5.19 euen with the glorie of the Tongue Col. 3.16 and the grace of the Heart loe how the Title is a preparatiue to the vnderstanding affecting and vsing of this speciall Psalme In which there is The Psalme First A generall Secondly A particular setting foorth of the praise of God by diligent perusing whereof wee shall learne much worthy and necessarie knowledge knowledge how to make Gods praise glorious to comfort our selues in his greatnesse to reioyce in his noble Workes to sucke sweetnesse out of our afflictions and to relate without either affectation or ostentation to God glorie and to others edification the Lords admirable goodnesse vnto euerie one of vs and to awake vs vnto all these thus this Psalme beginneth Make a ioyfull noise vnto God Vers 1. all yee lands In giuing God thankes it is our dutie to haue great reioycing they that doe it without reioycing yea euen in him doe it not so rightly as is fitting to his Maiestie Therefore in doing this dutie reioyce greatly be not ashamed to let thy reioycing
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
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
of this O magnifie the Lord with mee and let vs exalt his Name together and as Psalme 108.3 I will praise thee O Lord among the people and will sing praises vnto thee among the Nations and as Psal 111.1 I will praise the Lord with my whole heart in the assembly of the vpright and in the congregation and as Psalme 109.30 I will greatly praise the Lord with my mouth yea I will praise him among the multitude and as Psal 116.18 19. I will pay my vowes vnto the Lord now in the presence of all his people in the Courts of the Lords House in the midst of thee ô Ierusalem O let euery one How in the assembly of the Elders thus praise the Lord publikely in the congregation of the people and not onely so but also in the assembly of the Elders if at any time as they ought the Princes and great ones doe assemble vpon speciall occasion together to giue glory vnto the Lord euen glory vnto his Name and to worship him in the beautie of Holinesse as Psal 29.1 2. they are commanded and as because God hath done greater honour to them then to meaner people they are more bounden O let euery one who hath any calling to be amongst them as a teacher or as an hearer or as otherwise conuented praise the Lord euen before them also and say concerning this Patternes of this as Psal 119.46 O Lord I will speake of thy testimonies euen before Kings and will not bee ashamed and as Psal 138.1 I will praise thee O Lord with my whole heart yea before the gods or great Potentates will I sing praise vnto thee O thus let vs praise the Lord priuately in his owne presence publikely in the congregation of the people boldly in the assembly of the Elders Let none of vs be like the wicked Who are contrary to these whose secret closets are for secret sinnes but not for secret duties of godlinesse whose priuate houses are for priuate sports pastimes profits pleasures but not for priuate prayers and praises to God Neither let vs be like the popish Recusant or the selfe-weening Separatist who disdaine the congregation of the people and haue their owne will-worships for corners but no praise for the Lord in publike Temples Neither let vs be like the timorous and fearefull who dare not professe God before the gods nor praise the Lord before lords but treacherously lay their hand vpon their lips when their mouth should be open to shew forth his praise Let these euils be farre from vs and let vs laud the Lord our God with conscience in priuate with cheerefulnesse in publike and with courage before the Elders Thus praise his benignitie The praise of Gods benignity that it is Ancient thus praise his wonderfull workes and thus praise himselfe O praise his benignity by commending First the ancientnesse thereof for as Psal 25.6 His tender mercies and his louing kindnesses haue beene euer of old Secondly Great the greatnesse thereof for as Neh. 9.17 25. his is great kindnesse and great goodnesse Thirdly the richnesse thereof for as Rom. 2.4 Rich Admirable there is riches of his goodnesse Fourthly the admirablenes thereof for as Psal 31.19 O how maruellous is the goodnesse that hee hath laid vp for them that feare him yea which hee hath already wrought for them that trust in him before the sonnes of men Fifthly Excellent the excellencie thereof for as Psal 36.7 How excellent is his louing kindnesse Sixthly Immeasurable the immeasurablenesse thereof for as Ephes 3.18 O the breadth and length the depth and height of his mercy Seuenthly Cause of all goods the endlesnesse thereof for as Psal 136. It indureth for euer and euer Eighthly the effects thereof as Titus 3.4 5. Out of it comes mercie to saue vs as Psalme 63.3 5. comes that to vs which is better then life and which satisfieth our soules as with marrow and fatnes as Ps 65.12 It is that which the yeere is crowned with such blessings such fatnes such abundance such flourishing flockes such goodly corne as causeth all people to sing showt for ioy saying Therfore how ancient how great how rich how admirable how excellent how immeasurable how endlesse how fruitful is the benignity of the Lord praise it before him praise it before the sons of men praise it before the congregation of the people praise it before the assembly of the elders And so praise his wonderfull workes towards vs To praise his wonderfull workes by looking back two wayes or others in our miseries First praise them by looking backe to his goodnesse and power shewed in doing that hee did for vs when he redeemed vs when he deliuered vs when he healed vs when he brought vs to that we desired by looking backe also to his power and goodnes shewed in preseruing vs in preuenting vs in staying vs from perishing from being beneath from finall perdition in our most forlorne case vntill he did deliuer vs. Secondly By acknowledgement praise them by acknowledgement of his might his will to be alone and singular herein saying O Lord who can or who could who will or would haue done such workes for vs as thou hast done None would none could but thou onely thou only to whom nothing is hid nothing hard nothing impossible who neuer faintest art neuer weary and of whose vnderstanding there is no searching Thirdly praise them By admiring by admiring his doing of them vnto vs saying as Psal 8.4 O what is man that thou art mindfull of him What is the sonne of mortall man that thou visitest him and Psal 144.3 Lord what is man that thou takest knowledge of him or the sonne of man that thou makest account of him And helpe this admiration Helps to this admiration by considering what we are by thinking how we are Ephes 2.3 all of vs by nature the children of wrath and Gen. 6.3 5. Of our owne wee are naught but sinfull flesh euery imagination of the thoughts of our heart being onely euill continually and Gen. 18.27 We are but dust and ashes and Isa 48.8 We are transgressours from the wombe and Psal 144.4 We are but vanitie and our dayes as a shadow that passeth away and Rom. 7.24 The holiest are but miserable and wretched O marke these well wonder at Gods workes of grace of mercy and of louing kindnesse vnto vs praise them before him praise them to the sonnes of men saying as heere Patternes of this prayse Surely these workes of the Lord are wonderfull workes and Psal 111.2 3 4. They are great they are honourable they are glorious works oh he hath so done and so wrought the same as he hath made them to be remembred for euer Say as Ps 78.4 Verily these works are the praises of the Lord. Say as Ps 92.4 5. Thou Lord hast made me glad through thy workes I will triumph in the workes of thine hands
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