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
and bless God for preserving his People and performing his Promises to them and 't is apparent by the Apostle that Angels are present in the Congregation of the Saints 1 Cor. 11.11 And so this Text addeth another Ground for their admiration of the great God viz. his incomparable excellency His high and matchless Perfections call for high and matchless Praises Others take the Text as a ground for the confirmation of the Psalmists Faith in the Covenant God had made with him mentioned Verse 3 4. namely God's Superiority over Angels in Heaven and Men on Earth therefore they cannot hinder him in the accomplishment of his Word being infinitely inferior to him Who in the Heavens Who in the Skie Ainsworth reads it In the Clouds in Nubibus aequabitur is to be equal'd saith Calvin to Jehovah Quis enim in superiore nube par aestimetur Jehova Who in the higher Clouds is equal to Jehovah so Tremell reads it Who in the Heavens i. e. say some in the starry-Starry-Heavens among the Coelestial Bodies Sun Moon or Stars which were adored as gods not onely by the Persians but also by some Idolatrous Jews because of their brightness and beauty their lustre and glory Which of all those famous Lamps and heavenly Luminaries is to be compared to the Father of Lights and Sun of Righteousness They may glister like Glowormes in the Night of Paganisme among them who are covered with the Mantle of Darkness but when this Sun ariseth and day appeareth they all vanish and disappear Who in the Heavens i. e. say others in the Heaven of Heavens the highest the third Heavens among the Coelestial Spirits Cherubims and Seraphims Angels and Arch-Angels Principalities and Powers Thrones and Dominions Who among the innumerable company of Angels who among those pure those perfect Spirits who are the ancientest the honourablest House of the Creation is to be compared to the Father of Spirits Though Angels are glorious Creatures considered simply and in themselves in respect of their Power Wisdome Purity and Beauty yet if they be considered comparatively with the blessed God I may say of them as the Apostle doth of the Jewish Worship which was glorious by reason of its Divine Institution in comparison with the Christian Worship 2 Cor. 3.10 Even that which was glorious had no glory in this respect by reason of the Glory that excelleth Is to be compared to Jehovah Is to be likened to Jehovah Is to be equal'd to Jehovah Is to be put in the Scales and worthy to be weighed with Jehovah that Being of Beings that God of Gods To Jehovah This name Jehovah is the chief and most proper name of God It is derived from Haiah fuit and signifieth that Being which was is and is to come which is alwayes the same and the cause of all other Beings Rev. 1.4 6. Psal 102.28 Acts 17.28 and which gives a being to his Word and Promises In Heaven there is among glorious Angels no such Being Who amongst the Sons of the Mighty Inter filios fortium Who among the Sons of the strong Jun. reads it Among the Sons of the Gods saith Calvin so the Seventy read it and understand with the Chaldee Paraphrase Angels who are called Sons of God Job 1.6 and Job 38.7 But we having understood Angels the best and highest in Heaven by the first interrogation Who in the Heavens is to be compared to the Lord It may be most convenient to understand in this place by Sons of the Mighty the best and highest on Earth the greatest and most gracious Princes and Potentates who are higher by head and shoulders then others These are called Gods and Sons of the most High or Almighty Psal 82.6 And hereby the Prophet challengeth both Worlds Heaven and Earth to bring forth any that may equal or compare with Jehovah Can be likened to the Lord Is such a Being as he is can speak or act as he doth is in any respect worthy to be named with him CHAP. II. God is incomparable 1. In his Being THe Doctrine which I shall raise out of the words is this That God is incomparable Or there is none among the highest the holiest in Heaven or Earth like unto Jehovah Take the greatest the most excellent of Beings in this or the other World yet they come infinitely short of this Being of Beings Psal 86.8 Among the gods there is none like unto thee O Lord Mark the Psalmist doth not choose a weak Adversary for God to contend with and conquer but the strongest He doth not compare God with the meanest and lowest but even with the highest and prefers God before them Among the gods there is none like unto thee O Lord. 1. Among those that are Gods by unjust usurpation as evil Angels are who are called The Princes of the Powers of the Air Eph. 2.2 And the gods of this World 2 Cor. 4.4 Or as Antichrist who exalteth himself above all that is called God or is worshipped So that he as God sitteth in the Temple of God shewing himself that he is God 2 Thess 2.4 Among these there is none like unto thee O Lord. These unclean Beasts are unworthy to be mentioned with the High the holy God 2. Among those that are gods by mens erroneous Perswasions and Opinions as Idols and those Deities which the Heathen worship There is none like to thee O Lord. Their Idols are Silver and Gold the Work of mens hands They have Mouths but they speak not Eyes have they but they see not They have Ears but they hear not Noses have they but they smell not They have Hands but they handle not Feet have they but they walk not neither speak they through their Throat Psal 115.4 5 6 7. Idols are the work of the Creatures and their Makers are infinitely below the Creator therefore they themselves are much more We know that an Idol is nothing in the World and that there is none other God but one 1 Cor. 8.4 Though an Idol be somewhat materially yet it 's nothing formally as to the intent or purpose for which it is worshipped 3. Minuisti illum paululum à deo Calvin Among those that are gods by Divine Ordination as Angels Psal 8.5 Magistrates Psal 82.66 who have the Image of a Deity stamped on them in their Authority and Dominion over others none is to be compared to Jehovah These are gods by derivation by deputation as subordinate Magistrates are commissionated by the Supreme and have a Beam of his Power communicated to them but still remain weak Creatures limited by his Precepts and liable to his Judgment So Angels and Kings have some impressions of a Deity on them but their Power is derivative from God and limited by his will yea their Essence is from him their Subsistence is by him and their Dependance is every moment upon him Hence he is called the most high Psal 92.1 O thou most high Kings and Princes are high Angels and Arch-angels are higher
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
long if his anger causeth them to roar uncessantly and his terrors make them distracted if he be to them as a Bear lying in wait and as a Lyon in secret places How will he wound thee his enemy how will he deal with thee whom he infinitely hateth what a Bear what a Lyon what a Fire will he be to thee how unable wilt thou be to stand under and yet how impossible to avoid the weight of his Omnipotent arm and infinite anger Lay it to heart timely and make thy peace with him through his Son that thou mayest prevent it Sure I am thou wouldst not fry in flames or boyl alive in a Furnace of scalding Lead a thousand years for this whole worlds command 10000 years Ah why then shouldst thou for a little profit a little pleasure a little honour for a few dayes for thy life is but a vapour bring thy self under a necessity of frying in the flames and boyling in the Furnace of the Almighty Gods anger for ever and ever O friend be wise on this side the other world CHAP. XXI If God be incomparable how monstrous is their Pride who compare themselves to the incomparable God THirdly If God be such an incomparable God it informeth us what abominable Pride and desperate presumption they are guilty of who compare with and prefer themselves before this God If he be so transcendently excellent in his Being Attributes Word and Works how desperately saucy and impudent are they who put themselves in the ballance with God Behold all Nations to me are as nothing yea less than nothing and vanity To whom then will ye liken me or to what will ye compare me Isa 40.17 18. To liken God to any is the grossest Idolatry and to liken any to God is the highest arrogancy Babylon that sets her self in the Throne of God and exalteth her self above all that is called God is the mysterie of iniquity the man of Sin in truth the dregs of the very Devil 2 Thess 2.9 It 's a debasing God not to adore him and admire him according to his excellent Majesty and vast immensity what a debasing then is it of God to compare him to poor pitiful nothings as all Men and Angels are to him He debaseth himself to open his eyes upon men upon Angels to behold things that are done in Heaven and Earth Ps 113.5 But he will not debase himself to compare with Men and Angels he scorneth to put himself into the Scales with them he is infinitely above and beyond all Comparatives all Superlatives Comparisons we say are odious but no comparison that ever was hath in the least degree that odiousness which this hath for a Man or an Angel to compare with their Maker The slime and clay and earth may very much better compare with the Potter both are narrow limited beings both are earth and clay yet the Potter would think it a great dishonour to him who hath a body curiously wrought and an Heaven-born spiritual immortal soul and desperate arrogancy in the clay and dirt which he trampleth on to compare with him And is it not greater pride in man to compare with God when there is an infinite distance between them in all things yet so ambitious and arrogant is man that he dares to do this Angels and Adam both aspired to equal their Maker they would needs be independent and self-sufficient they endeavoured to cut off the entail and to hold wholly and only of themselves but they ruin'd themselves and made themselves baser than beasts by aspiring thus to raise themselves to that impossible pitch of a Partnership with God It 's a favour that Men and Angels may be like God in some rayes and beams of his holiness and purity but it 's impossible for Men or Angels to be like God in the rich Jewels of his Crown his independency absolute perfection self-sufficiency infiniteness and supremacy He stampt some impressions of himself upon his creatures but he took no impressions of his creatures upon himself if they were made in his likeness he was not made in their likeness it is devilish impudency and blasphemy for the highest Creature to weigh with the Creator This was Lucifer's pride I will ascend into Heaven I will exalt my Throne above the Stars I will be like the most High Isa 14.13 14. But his pride got a fall and a shrewd one too God cannot brook a Rival he cannot bear an equal there must be but one Sun in the Heavens A Prince may take it kindly from his Subjects if they endeavour to imitate him in his mercy justice temperance chastity and in those things that are general and common to him and them because hereby his Subjects honour him for by their imitation of him they acknowledge excellency in him but if his Subjects shall undertake to imitate him in his regalia those things that are proper to him as a King should they aspire to make Laws to make Peace and War to wear the Crown sway the Scepter and ascend the Throne he could not bear it but would judge them Rebels guilty of High Treason and worthy of death because hereby they extreamly dishonour him viz. in making themselves equal to him and robbing him of that Superiority which God hath given him So God is pleased and delighted that Men and Angels should resemble him in those perfections of his that are common and communicable as to be patient and meek and loving and righteous and heavenly and holy because hereby they glorifie him Math. 5.16 But if the creatures should go about to be like him in the peculiar Cognisances of the Deity his Self-sufficiency Independency Governing others at their will Enacting Laws to oblige the Consciences of others exacting Worship from their fellow Creatures so God cannot God will not suffer it for hereby they go about to rob him of his Supremacy to dethrone and ungod him How often doth God tell us in Scripture to quel such presumptuous thoughts that he is not mans fellow mans familiar God is not a man Numb 23.29 I am God and not man Hos 11.9 He is not a man as I am saith Job 9.32 v. Though God was pleased out of his infinite grace to become man that man might once more be like God in those communicable properties forementioned yet he will not permit it nay it is altogether impossible for man to become God and be like him in the special prerogatives of the Deity There is still an infinite distance between the divine and the humane nature They who prate of being Godded and turned into the essence of the Deity as some have impudently and blasphemously written are either intollerably weak or devilishly wicked or both Now because many are guilty of the strange presumption to compare with God who little think it I shall very briefly name two or three sorts of men 1. Such as quarrel with the Precepts of God as if they were too strict too precise too pure and that
conversations we must walk with God therefore we are commanded to be in the fear of the Lord all the day long Prov. 23.17 But because in Ordinances we have more immediately and specially to do with him then we are said to appear before him Psal 42.2 therefore we are bound therein to be most aweful and reverential Subjects shew most reverence in the presence Chamber of their Soveraign O with what awe and dread should mortals appear in the presence of him who inhabiteth eternity should dust and ashes draw nigh to the mighty Possessor of heaven and earth Eccl. 5.1 2. Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God and be more ready to hear than to give the Sacrifice of Fools be not rash with thy mouth let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God but why all this care and caution for God is in Heaven and thou art on Earth His incomparable Majesty calleth for incomparable reverence Majesty is dreadful He is cloathed with Majesty Ps 39.1 All over Majesty therefore let all the earth stand in awe of him He is adorned surrounded with Majesty therefore we must be filled with the awe of him Isa 2.10 19 20. Fear and Majesty are three times conjoyned His incomparable power calls for incomparable reverence Power is aweful and the greater the power is the greater awe is required Math. 10.28 Fear not them that can kill the Body and can do no more but fear him who is able to cast Soul and Body into Hell As if Christ had said I know you are of timerous spirits and men of fearful tempers ye are apt to tremble and to be frighted at every thing well I will direct you how you may make this passion advantagious to you viz. by turning the stream into its proper channel by placing your fear on its proper object I will tell you of one worthy of your fear who deserveth to be feared So Luke 12.4 5. I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear I will offer you an object meet for your fear Fear him who after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell yea I say unto you fear him You are apt like Children to be frighted with Bug-bears and to dread them that can onely raze the Skin and pinch the Flesh and at the most can but take from you a life that will fall of it self within a few dayes well I 'le advise you whom to stand in awe of fear him that can kill you and damn you that can send your bodies to the grave and your souls to unquenchable flames yea I say unto you fear him 2. This incomparable God calls for incomparable humility and lowliness of Spirit from us The height of God must lay man low and the matchless excellency of God make him base in his own eyes When we behold our selves in the Glass of those that have little or nothing that is good or praise-worthy or that have less than our selves then we spread out our plumes and are puft up with pride and judge our selves comely creatures but if we would behold our selves in the glass of the Incomparable God in whose sight the Heavens are unclean in whose presence Angels vail their faces to whom ten thousand Suns are perfect darkness and all the world less than nothing how should we pluck in our plumes and abhor our selves for our pride Man never comes to a right knowledge of himself what a pitiful abominable wretch he is till he comes to a right knowledge of God what an excellent incomparable Majesty he is As when men stand high and look downward on those below them that are meaner and viler than themselves their heads are giddy and swim with conceitedness they then are some body in their own opinions but when they look upwards to the Great God the Sun the Soul the substance of all worth and excellency that Meagrum or high-mindedness is prevented The best men upon a sight of God the incomparable God though the more excellent he is the more cause they have of joy in having so rich a portion yet instead of loving have loathed themselves and instead of admiring have abhor'd themselves When Isaiah saw the God of glory sitting on his Throne in his brightness and beauty encircled with Millions of coelestial Courtiers covering their faces as ashamed of their drops in the presence of the Ocean and crying Holy Holy Holy as apprehending his purity beyond all their expressions and his perfections exceeding all their apprehensions what thoughts had he of himself O what a poor pitiful contemptible creature did he think himself yea what an uncomely loathsome abominable creature was he in his own eye Woe to me saith he I am undone I am a man of unclean lips for mine eyes have seen the Lord of Hosts Isa 6.4 5. 3. This incomparable God calls for incomparable love the top the cream of our affections Good is the object of Love Amor est complacentia boni according to the Moralists the greater therefore the good is the greater love it requireth and God being the greatest good must have the greatest love This is the great and first command Math. 22.37 this is as I may say the only command Deut. 10.12 this is all the commands in one Rom. 13.10 Love is the Decalogue contracted and the Decalogue is love opened and explained Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart with all thy soul with all thy strength with all thy mind Math. 22.37 God being the greatest perfection must have the greatest affection The greatest love for God is Love 1 Joh. 4.8 calls for the greatest love He deserves the greatest extensively the heart soul mind strength the greatest intensively all the heart all the soul all the mind all the strength Reader thy love to him must be so great that thy love to thy father mother wife child house land and life must be hatred in comparison of it and in competition with it Luk. 14.26 The truth is there is nothing worthy of our love like God nay there is nothing worthy of our love beside God All our Friends and Relations and Estates and worldly Blessings are nothing lovely but as they are his creatures his comforts instruments for his glory and as they have relation to him Nay Sabbaths Sacraments seasons of grace are no more lovely than as they are his institutes and means of communion with his Majesty I love the habitation of thy house why because it is the place where thine honour dwelleth Psal 28.8 Once more grace it self is not lovely but as it 's the image and conformity unto the pleasure and delight of that which fitteth and maketh meet for the love embraces and fruition of this incomparable God Desire and Delight are the two acts of love distinguished only by the absence or presence of the object When the object beloved is absent the soul acts towards it in desire When the object is present the soul acteth towards
it in delight The former is the motion the latter the rest and repose of the soul Now the Incomparable God must have incomparable desires panting Psal 42.2 longing yea fainting out of vehemency of desire Psal 119.20 40 80. God must be desired above all Psal 73.25 Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee The Incomparable God must have incomparable delight I will go to the Altar of God my joy of God my exceeding joy Psal 43.4 The soul must be ravished extasied in the presence and enjoyment of God Cantic 2.4 4. The Incomparable God must have incomparable trust The more able and faithful any person is the more firmly we trust him Now God is incomparable in power he hath an Almighty arm incomparable in faithfulness he cannot lie Tit. 1.2 It 's impossible for him to lie Heb. 6.18 Therefore God must have our surest love and firmest faith Heb. 6.18 Rom. 4.20 We must esteem his words as good as deeds and rely on all he promiseth as if it were already performed We must not stagger or waver but draw nigh to him with full assurance of faith Heb. 10.22 His bonds must be lookt upon for they are as good as ready money and we must rejoyce in hope of the good things promised as if we had them in hand Rom. 5.2 3. 5. This incomparable God must have incomparable obedience in the whole course of our lives The more vertuous or gracious or honourable or excellent the person is with whom we walk the more we weigh our words and ponder the paths of our feet and watch over our selves God is incomparable in purity in jealousie in Majesty in excellency therefore they who are ever under his eye and in his presence and who walk with him must walk not as they do when with ordinary persons carelesly and negligently but circumspectly accurately exactly to an hairs breadth as on a ridge 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eph. 5.15 His law must be kept to a tittle in every punctilio as the apple of the eye Prov. 7.2 which is offended with the least mote of dust And this obedience must be not only at some seasons and in some actions but always and in all things As he who hath called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of conversation 1 Pet. 1.15 All our service to this incomparable God must be incomparable Little service is unsuitable to a great God 1 Chron. 29.1 2. David the King said unto all the Congregation Solomon my Son whom alone God hath chosen is yet young and tender and the work i. e. of building the temple is great for the Palace is not for man but for the Lord God Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God c. Fifthly If God be an incomparable God it informeth us of his infinite grace and condescention to take so much notice of and do so much for man The height of the Person that bestoweth a favour and the meanness and unworthiness of the object on whom it is bestowed doth exceedingly advance and heighten the grace and goodness of him that doth it O what grace is it then for the most high the God of heaven the God whom the heaven of heavens cannot contain to manifest such respect to vile sinful dust and ashes yea to them that are rebels and Traytors against his Majesty and thereby worthy of Hell David admireth it and is amazed at it Psal 8.1 O Lord our Lord how excellent is thy name in all the earth and thy glory is above the heavens What followeth What is man that thou art mindful of him or the son of man that thou visitest him That God the excellent God the God famous in all the earth the God glorious above the heavens should mind man poor silly simple man weak frail dying man sinful filthy polluted man lost wretched miserable man could not but affect the heart of David with admiration and astonishment What is man that thou art mindful of him He is altogether below thy thoughts and unworthy to be a moment in thy mind Or the Son of man that thou visitest him he doth not deserve to be visited by the beasts of the earth much less to be visited by the Angels of Heaven and least of all by the God of heaven He may well say as the Centurion Lord I am unworthy that thou shouldst come under my roof neither thought I my self worthy to come unto thee Mat. 8.8 David wonders that God should mind man so much as to make the heavens and those glorious Lamps there for his use and comfort When I consider the heavens the work of thy fingers the moon and the stars which thou hast made what is man that thou art mindful of him But how much more cause had he to wonder that the heaven of heavens the God of heaven the Sun of righteousness the light of lights should do so much and be so much himself for the good and comfort of man God doth manifest much grace and condescention in taking such care of mens bodies and outward concerns You would think it a great grace and condescention in a King to take care night and day of a poor beggar to see to it himself and not to leave it to servants or any others that he have food and raiment and liberty and peace and safety every day that his bed be made well and easie for him every night that when he is sick he have physick cordials and tendance and should constantly visit him himself in person that in all his wants he be supplyed in all his weaknesses supported in all his dangers defended and in all his distresses delivered If this King should never stir from this beggar but do all this in his own person if he himself should spread his table and provide his food and be at the sole charge of his garments and put them on and make his bed and stand by him all night while he slept to prevent any evil that might befall him and go up and down with him all day to protect him and counsel him and relieve him as occasion required you would be amazed at the favour and kindness and condescention of this Prince Believe it Reader surely seeing is believing the King of Kings and Lord of Lords he whose name is I am he to whom all the Kings and Princes and Potentates of the world are dross and dirt and dung the Incomparable God doth more than all this very much more for thee every day and every night and that in his own person He sendeth thee all thy bread and drink and cloaths and makes them refreshing to thee he provides thy habitation and lodging and commandeth sleep for thee He is with thee continually in all thy out-goings incomings to preserve thee alive to enable thee to thy motions to succeed thy lawful undertakings to relieve thee in thy necessities and to defend
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