infinite being should much affect our hearts Praise ye the Lord Praise him O ye servants of the Lord Praise the name of the Lord Blessed from this time forth and for ever From the rising of the Sun to the going down of the same the Lords name is to be praised why the Lord is high above all Nations and his glory above the Heavens who is like to the Lord our God who dwelleth on high Psal 113.1 to 6. Praise him for his incomparableness in his attributes for the incomparableness of his power O Lord God of Host who is a strong Lord like unto thee Psal 89.8 For the incomparableness of his holiness Who is a God like unto thee glorious in holiness Exod. 15.11 For the incomparableness of his mercy Who is a God like unto thee pardoning iniquity and passing by the transgressions of the remnant of his heritage because he delighteth in mercy Praise him for the incomparableness of his Words O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful works to the children of men Psal 107.8.15 21 31. Psal 72.18 Psal 136.4 Praise him for the work of Creation Psal 114.1 2 3 4 5. Job 38.4 5 6. Praise him for his works of Providence Psal 97.8 9. Psal 136. throughout Psal 107. Praise him especially for the work of Redemption Blessed be the Lord God of Israel who hath visited and redeemed his people Luk. 1.68 Psal 9.1 Rev. 15.3 Praise him for the incomparableness of his Word Wonderful are thy Testimonies Psal 119.129 How often doth the sweet Singer of Israel praise God for them as a singular kindness Psal 147. two last verses He gave his Statutes to Moses his Laws and Commandments to Jacob He hath not dealt so with every Nation Praise ye the Lord. Praise him by admiring him Wonder at his being As they of Christ What manner of man is this that the winds and seas obey him Math. 8.27 What manner of God is this who knoweth no bounds no beginning no succession no addition An amazing admiration of him is an high commendation of him And indeed our silent wondering at his perfections is almost all the worship we can give him Psal 65.1 Praise waiteth for thee O God in Sion Heb. Praise is silent for thee O God in Sion not that praise was dumb or tongue-tyed in Sion for praise in no part of the world speaks higher or louder than in Sion but to shew that when the people of God set themselves to praise him they are struck with amazement and wonder at his matchless being and beauty at his infinite excellencies and perfections and wanting words to express them they sit down in a silent admiration of them Thou wouldst wonder at Adam if he were now alive for his age O wonder at him that is from everlasting to everlasting that is the cause and original of all things that is what he is that is and nothing else is that is all he is in one indivisible point of eternity Wonder at his attributes admire his holiness Behold he putteth no trust in his Servants he chargeth the Angels with folly Job 4.18 Behold wonder at it Again Behold he putteth no trust in his Saints the Heavens are not clean in his sight Job 15.15 Admire his wisdom cry out with the Apostle O the depth of the wisdom and knowledg of God Rom. 11.33 Admire his love Behold what manner of love hath the Father loved us with 1 Joh. 3.1 Admire his power that he can do what he will do Who is a strong Lord like unto thee Psal 89.8 Wonder at his Works Thou art ready to wonder at the rare works of some curious Artist alass all their works are toyes to the works of the mighty Creator and Possessor of Heaven and Earth O Lord how marvellous are thy works Psal 104.24 His work is honourable and glorious Psal 111.3 and worthy thy greatest wonder What a piece is the Creation how marveilous how mysterious Psal 8.1 2 3 4 5. The Heavens declare his glory Psal 19.1 and the earth is full of his goodness Psal 104.24 What a work is Providence read Psal 104. and 107. How many rarities curiosities mysteries are wrapt up in it which are only seen in the other world Psal 77.19 What man is this say they for he commandeth with authority and the unclean Spirits come out of men Mark 1.27 What a Master-piece what rare workmanship indeed is Redemption a work that the Angels are alwayes prying into and wondering at Eph. 3.8 1 Pet. 1.10 Wonder at his Word When thou hearest it dost thou not perceive a Majesty and Authority awing thy Conscience accompanying it And they were all amazed and astonished at his Doctrine Luk. 4.32 The very Officers who were sent to apprehend Christ could not but wonder at his words and returned to them who set them a work Never man spake as he spake Joh. 7.47 There are great things in the Law of God Hosea 8.12 things that are wonderful Psal 119.18 which may well be wondered at And all saith the Evangelist bare him witness and wondred at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth Luk. 4.22 Praise him by speaking alwayes highly and honourably of him If his name alone be excellent take heed that thou dost not take his excellent name in vain Thy apprehensions of him must be ever high and thy expressions of him honourable Thy Tongue is therefore call'd thy glory because therewith thou mayest glorifie thy God Psal 57.8 Never speak of God rashly or at random without a serious consideration of whom thou speakest and let thy expressions of him and to him be becoming his vast perfections Ascribe greatness to our God Deut. 32.3 Speak honourably of his being So Moses Exod. 15.11 Who is a God like unto thee glorious in holiness fearful in praises So Solomon 1 Kings 8.23 Lord God of Israel there is no God like unto thee in Heaven above or in the Earth beneath So David 1 Chron. 29.11 Speak honourably of his attributes Psal 68.34 of his power mercy truth justice wisdom and holiness Holy Holy Holy Lord God of Hosts Isa 6.3 Speak honourably of his words Psal 86.8 Among all the Gods there is none like unto thee neither are there any works like unto thy works Psal 145.10 Speak honourably of his Word The Commandments of the Lord are pure Psal 19.7 Thy word is very pure The Statutes of the Lord are right Psal 19.10 The Law is holy just and good Rom. 7.12 Though Paul's corruption took occasion by the Laws prohibitions to become the more unruly as the water at a Bridge roars the more for the stop yet he dares not lay the least fault upon the Law but layeth all upon himself was the Law Sin God forbid v. 7. Far be it from me to have the least such thought No the Law is holy but I am carnal sold under sin v. 14. So when he speaketh of the Gospel how honourably doth he speak of it
but such is the Creators Power and Perfection that he cannot possibly wander because he is his own way Dan. 4.35 I Nebuchadnezzar blessed the most High who doth according to his Will in the Army of Heaven and among the Inhabitants of the Earth Observe who doth according to his Will that is his essential eternal Rule God doth so much surpass Men and Angels in Justice that he is said to be the Habitation of Justice Jer. 50.7 They have sinned against the Lord the Habitation of Justice as if Justice dwelt no where had no abode but in him and with him CHAP. VIII God incomparable in his Attributes in his Knowledge and Faithfulness 5. GOd is incomparable in his Knowledge Knowledge is that Attribute of God whereby he understandeth all things in and of himself He is stiled in the Scriptures 1 Sam. 2.3 A God of Knowledge The Lord is a God of Knowledge and by him Actions are weighed As Christ is called a Man of Sorrows Isa 53.3 To express the greatness of his Griefs to denote him one made up of Sorrow little else then Sorrow So God is called a God of Knowledge to express the greatness of his Knowledge as if he were wholly and onely Knowledge Hence he hath Eyes and Ears attributed to him because he knoweth all that is done as an Eye-witness and whatsoever is spoken as an Ear-witness 2 Chron. 16.9 Psal 11.7 The Understanding of God is like himself infinite without bounds or limits Psal 147.5 His Vnderstanding is infinite He is said Job 37.16 To be perfect in Knowledge not onely comparatively as one man may be in respect of another or as an Angel may be in respect of Man but absolutely to his Knowledge nothing can be given or added from his Knowledge nothing can be taken His Knowledge is so perfect that it admits not of an increase or decrease Men are knowing Solomon was famous for Knowledge 1 Chron. 1.12 He could speak of the nature of all Plants from the Cedar to the Hysop 1 Kings 4.33 The Romans are said to be filled with all Knowledge Rom. 15.14 Angels are more knowing then Men Flesh is dull-sighted and of dim understanding Spirits have sharper Wits and quicker Apprehensions The Devil though a fallen Angel hath one of his names Daemon from his Knowledge Elect Angels surely know much more then Devils for they alwayes Behold the Face of their Father and in that Face as in a Glass behold more then humane Eyes can discern or evil Angels conceive The Spirits of just Men in Heaven see Face to Face and know as they are known understand very much more then they could here below but Angels as their Understandings are of larger capacity and their Natures more excellent must needs know more then Men But do Men or Angels know as God Can it be said of any Man of any Angel He is perfect in Knowledge His Knowledge is uncapable of addition or diminution Can it be said of any Man any Angel his Knowledge is infinite Man's knowledge in this World is little in comparison of what it shall be yea nothing We are but of Yesterday and know nothing Job 8.3 He is but of small continuance here and hath but little experience and therefore must have but little knowledge yea so little that it 's call'd nothing yea the knowledge of Men and Angels in the other World will be so little though enough for their perfection and satisfaction that it will be nothing in comparison of the knowledge of God finite knowledge is nothing compared with that knowledge which is infinite Whether you consider the matter or object of God's Knowledge or the manner or way of it he is incomparable in it 1. If you consider the matter or object of his Knowledge God knoweth all things John 21 17. Lord thou knowest all things 1 John 3.20 God is greater then our Hearts for he knoweth all things He knoweth whatsoever hath been whatsoever is whatsoever shall be whatsoever can be whatsoever cannot be He knoweth all substances accidents necessary contingent things He makes all upholds all governs all and discerneth all The Eyes of the Lord are in every place 2 Chron. 16.3 He knoweth those things that are most hidden most secret the Hearts the Thoughts the most close retired motions of the Spirit of Man 1 Cor. 2.11 What man knoweth the things of a man but the spirit of a man that is in him Yea what Angel knoweth the things of a man but God doth Hell and Destruction are before the Lord how much more the hearts of the Children of Men Prov. 15.11 Hell seems to be far from his sight and very remote from Heaven his Seat The hearts of the Children of men seem to be unsearchable so deep that none can fathom them but he hath a Line that will sound these depths He knoweth the spirit of man better then man knoweth himself The heart is deceitful and desperately wicked who knoweth it No Man no Angel knoweth it I the Lord search the Heart Jer. 17.9 10. And none knoweth it but he therefore he is incomparable herein For thou thou only knowest the Hearts of the Children of Men 1 Kings 8.39 It 's his sole Prerogative Men and Angels may see the Skins and Colours and Lineaments and Proportions and Faces and Garments or out-sides of things but God seeth the in-sides he pryeth into the very bowels of things 1 Sam. 16.7 All things are naked and dissected and anatomized before him Heb. 4.13 1 Chron. 28.9 Psal 7.10 Jer. 11.20 He knoweth what is future as well as what is past and present Thou knowest my Thoughts afar off Psal 139.2 Long before I think them They are in thy Thoughts before they are in my Heart Man knoweth not what a day is big with or may bring forth Prov. 27.1 nor Angels neither but God knoweth what is in the Womb of eternity what all Ages and Generations shall produce He declares the end from the beginning and from ancient time the things that are not yet done Isa 46.10 And tells us this is proper to himself Let them declare the things that shall come to pass that we may know that they are gods Isa 41.23 Let them fore-tell what is future and we will believe their Deity Predictions are Arcana Imperii those secret things that belong onely to God Deut. 29.29 Isa 41.22 23 26. 2. He is incomparable in the manner of his Knowledge God knoweth all things fully and perfectly Men and Angels know what they do know but imperfectly and by halves They know but part of what is knowable and they know this but in part God beholds every thing throughly as if like a well-drawn Picture he beheld that alone and none but that 2 Chron. 16.9 His Eye-lids try the Children of Men Psal 11.5 i. e. He hath a distinct certain critical through knowledge of them God knoweth all things immediately by immediate intuition not by species Men know things either by the Senses the
Creation he erected this curious large Fabrick without any Tool or Instrument Isa 44.24 I am the Lord that made all things that stretcheth forth the Heavens alone that spreadeth abroad the Earth by my self Mark he made the Heavens alone had none with him to assist him and he made the Earth by himself call'd none from Heaven to his Aid As he said to Job Where wast thou when I laid the Foundations of the Earth declare if thou hast understanding Job 38.4 Thou wast far enough off from giving any help so he may say to Angels Where were ye when I stretched out the Heavens declare if ye have understanding Some give that reason why they are not mentioned in the Creation of the World in the first of Genesis to assure us that God did not use their help in his Work The Heavens are compared to a Curtain Psal 104. and â—o a Tent Isa 40.22 Now we know that when Curtains or Tents that are very large are to be stretcht out as the phrase is in that Isa 44.24 there needs many Hands to it one hand will not do it many pair of hands must be put to it but God spreadeth out those wide large Curtains of Heaven alone Job 9.8 He borrowed not one hand to it Hast thou with him spread out the Skie which is strong as a molten Looking-Glass Job 37.18 Was God beholden to thee for affording him thine Arms in the unfolding and spreading that broad vast piece In works of Providence He doth some great things alone by himself Job 26.7 He hangeth the Earth on nothing without an Atlas to bear it up and he preserves Moses forty days without Food Exod. â—2 And he doth all things without the help of his Creatures even there and then when he makes the most use of his Creatures He useth Angels and Men in the Government of the World he useth many means as Food and Rayment and Physick and Sleep for the preservation of our Health and Lives but he doth all as much and as surely as if he made not use of any means at all He is the Soul of the World that actuates every thing in it Hence we read That Instruments are called his Sword Psal 17.14 His Rod Isa 10.5 What can the Sword or the Rod do without an Hand to cut or scourge with them therefore when his Rod boasteth as if it could scourge of it self Isa 10.12 13. and as if it were the Hand too By the strength of my hand have I done it I have removed the Bounds of the People and robbed their Treasure God quickly contradicts such vain babling and confutes such vain glorious boasting verse 15. Shall the Axe boast it self against him that heweth therewith or the Saw magnifie it self against him that shaketh it Thou poor proud vain-glorious Wretch Thou art a meer Axe a Saw and canst no more move or cut of thy self then a Saw or an Axe that lyeth on the ground which no man medleth with Thou talketh arrogantly and saucily as if thou didst all when thou didst nothing I did all thou wast all the while but the Axe and Saw in my Hand which I made use of 1. Whether God have little or great means means or no means it 's all one to him there is not a pinn to choose as we say for he doth as much when he hath means as when he hath none 2 Chron. 14.7 It 's all one with thee to help with many or with them that have no Power It 's not the least difference to him 't is not so much as the smallest dust in the Ballance to turn the Scale of Victory whether God have many or few any or none of his side God never made use of any Creatures because he had the least need of them or the least help by them but partly because it is his pleasure he useth them because he will use them It 's his pleasure by the foolishness of Preaching to save them that believe 1 Cor. 1 21. Not that he hath the least aid from Preachers so it 's his pleasure by Food and Sleep to preserve mans life not that he hath any help from them Thy Visitation preserveth my Spirit Job 10.12 Partly from his own Honour Hereby he magnifieth his Sovereignty and sheweth his Dominion over all his Creatures that they are all at his beck and he can with a stamp of his Foot or a glance of his Eye or an hiss of his Mouth call them from the uttermost parts of the World to execute his Command My Hand hath laid the Foundations of the Earth my right Hand hath span'd the Heavens when I call they stand up together Isa 48.13 The Flies Caterpillars Locusts Stars in their courses c. all come at his call Hereby he magnifieth his Power that can do such great things by weak means He got himself glory on Pharaoh when he made pitiful contemptible Creatures as Lice and Flies such Plagues to him And by opening the Eyes of the blind and quickening the Dead by such weak poor Instruments as Men are his strength is exceedingly exalted We have this Treasure in earthen Vessels that the excellency of the Power might be of God 2 Cor. 4.7 Hereby he magnifieth his Wisdom viz. in discovering the fitness and aptitude of his Creature to those ends and purposes for which they were created The use of a Tool discovers its worth by discovering its serviceableness to that for which it was made Partly to endear Creatures one to another their mutual serviceableness each to other causeth the greater amity and unity between them 1 Cor. 12.21 22 23. In spiritual things also God worketh alone even when he hath many Ordinances and Ministers to serve him Thou workest all our Works in us and for us Isa 26.12 Not any Visions or Prophets or industry of our own but thou workest all What is Paul what is Apollos Paul planteth Apollo watereth but God giveth the increase So then Observe He that planteth is a great Apostle No nothing and he that watereth is an eloquent excellent person No nothing but God that giveth the increase 1 Cor. 3.5 6 7. God doth not use Preachers because they help him in the conversion of Souls but as I said before because it is his pleasure 1 Cor. 1.21 And he turneth it to his honour 2 Cor. 4.7 Therefore it is often seen that Ministers of the largest Gifts of the greatest Grace are not often the most successful in their Labours because God would have us know that it 's not the Parts or Piety of the Preacher but his Grace and Spirit that doth the Work They are nothing he is all in all He made light the first day of the Creation and not the Sun or Stars till the Fourth to tell the World that he can enlighten it without the Sun It is a great Honour to God that he hath so many millions of Creatures at his will and pleasure that he hath so many Eyes to see for him
somtimes he calls it the glorious Gospel 2 Cor. 4.4 the mysteries of the Gospel Eph. 6.19 the word of Truth 1 Coloss 5. Praise him by walking circumspectly and closely with him Live alwayes as one that believeth he hath at all times to do with this incomparable God and is created and preserved and redeemed to shew forth the praise of this God When the Psalmist had admired the incomparableness of this God in his being and doings Psal 86.8 he presently subjoyns v. 9. All Nations whom thou hast made shall come and glorifie thy name and worship before thee For thou art great and dost wondrous things thou art God alone O Friend this incomparable God must have incomparable obedience Be still and know that I am God Psal 46.10 Be still be quiet O sinner cease forbear any farther to offend me and know that I am God incomparable in knowledge acquainted with all thy wayes and works inward outward secret private publick incomparable in holiness and perfectly hate all thy wickedness incomparable in power able to revenge my self on thee every moment to turn thee body and soul into hell incomparable in justice and will by no means clear the guilty yet incomparable in mercy and will accept and receive Prodigals that sensible of their folly and filthiness return home to me their Father in the Son of my love Be still sinner Know this that I am God and obey my Laws But I have spoken more fully of this in the informations only remember that the praise of thy life is the life of thy praise because hereby thou dost in some measure represent the excellencies of this incomparable God visible to the world 1 Pet. 2.9 Math. 5.18 Offering praise and ordering the conversation aright are joyned together by God himself and let not us part them asunder Psal 50. last verse but one To help thee a little that thou mayst give God the praise of his incomparable perfections Consider 1. This God is excellency it self he is not only excellent Psal 8.1 and alone excellent Psal 148.13 but excellency Job 13.11 Should not his excellency make thee affraid nay he is greatness of excellency Exod. 15.7 nothing but excellency 1 Joh. 1.6 Now think with thy self what honour is due to one that is excellent alone excellent excellency it self and nothing but excellency Can thy highest honour be high enough or thy most excellent praises be excellent enough for such an excellency 2. This God is the standard of all excellency Nothing is excellent but because of its relation or likeness to him Every thing is more or less excellent as it is more or less related or conformable to him Saints are the excellent of the earth Psal 16.3 more excellent than their neighbours Prov. 12.26 but it is because of his affection to them Since thou art precious in my sight thou art honourable The excellency of Jacob whom he loved Isa 43.4 and because of their relation and likeness to him Deut. 33.29 1 Pet. 2.9 Psal 48.2 3. The Scriptures are the most excellent of books none like them I have written unto thee excellent things Prov. 22.20 But what 's the reason Surely because they are the word of God Eph. 3.16 his mind 2 Cor. 2. ult All Scripture is given by inspiration of God 2 Tim. 3.18 The Sabbath is the most excellent of days the queen of days the golden spot of the week because it is his day set apart by him and devoted to him My holy day the holy of the Lord honourable Isa 58.13 Grace is excellent the beauty and glory of the creature Prov. 4.7 2 Cor. 3.18 more excellent than gold or fine gold than rubies or pearls Prov. 3.14 15. but why because it 's his Image it 's a conformity to his nature 2 Pet. 1.4 2 Cor. 3.18 When the Holy Ghost would render any thing excellent he mentions it with relation to God The Cedars of God the City of God the Trees of God the Mountains of God c. that is the most excellent Cedars Cities Trees and Mountains 3. He is so excellent that even Angels vail their faces in his presence The excellent Cherubims Seraphims who are spotless in their natures and faultless in their lives who are the highest and honourablest and ancientest House of the Creation who as his special friends and favourites are allowed to wait on him continually to behold him face to face and to enjoy him fully and perfectly yet these Angels vail their faces before him as it were ashamed of their Star-light in the Presence of the Sun and their drops in the presence of the Ocean Isa 6.1 2 3. I saw the Lord sitting on a Throne high and lifted up about it stood the Seraphims each had six wings with twain he did fly with twain he cover'd his feet with twain he cover'd his face To cover the face is a sign or fruit of bashfulness as in Rebekah Gen. 24.65 The face of an Angel is void of all spots and wrinkles it is full of beauty and brightness a most excellent face And all the Councel looking stedfastly on him beheld his face as if it had been the face of an Angel Acts 6. ult yet this face as excellent as it is they cover as it were ashamed of it before that God who alone is excellent 4. He is so incomparably excellent that he humbleth himself to take notice of his perfect Spirits his heavenly host and their perfect Service in Heaven It is not only great and infinite condescention with him to observe the highest persons on earth as Kings and Princes and the holiest persons on earth as the most eminent Saints and the highest and holiest performances of these Saints but it is boundless humiliation in him to look upon with the least respect the perfect Spirits of just men the Principalities and Powers that are in Heaven and their pure perfect Worship and Service Psal 113.5 6. Who is like unto the Lord our God who dwelleth on high who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in Heaven 5. He is so incomparably excellent that he is above the highest adoration and worship of his Creatures Worship is the most high and honourable of all our works Blessing and Praising God is the most high and honourable act of worship therefore this is that part of worship which suits the highest and honourablest state of the Creature in Heaven and must continue for ever As all our graces of faith and hope and patience c. shall e're long be melted into love and joy and delight so all our duties of Confession Petition Hearing and Reading the Word receiving the Sacraments shall all be melted into Praise and Thanksgiving Rev. 7.11 12. And the Angels and Elders that stood about the throne fell on their faces before the throne and worshipped saying Amen Blessing and honour and thanksgiving be unto our God for ever and therefore David calls upon Angels and the Heavenly Host to praise God Psal