vocal Instruments for new Songs to bear a part with the Harmony of Angels for ever CHAP. V. Of the Instruments used for conveyance of these Mercies WHatever Hand presents our Mercies or whosoever's Heart was inclin'd to hand them all flowes from the grand Original Every Mercy is the Fruit of the Thoughts of God When David was poor and needy Ps 40.17 Gods thinking upon him enrich'd his Spirit But Instruments must have their due place in our respect and reverence since God honours them They were Golden Pipes that convey'd Golden Oyl in Zechaery Zech. 4.12 Heavens Ambassadors deserve Angelical Salutations remembring what 's due to Servants without prejudice to Divine Glory who bends and inflects the hearts of of men to shew that Benevolence which passes through them as a River between its Banks but springs from the infinite Fountain of Divine Mercy Few or no Enjoyments but have their enamelled means and methods of Providence and when its Beryl Wheels move towards us full of Eyes and Glory Ezek. 10.13 we may cry out with admiration of God O Wheel Our Health Beauty Feature Strength good Name Estate Utterance or any other Endowment of Soul or Body are the Product of Divine Love though second Causes may intervene for those very causes have their Creation Motion and Direction and Success from God Children are the Heritage of the Lord Ps 127.3 and yet the fruit of the Womb by his Reward Prov. 18.22 He that findeth a Vertuous Wife as if by casualty obtaineth favour of the Lord by the Designation of Heaven Whoever wishes he receives those wishes dropt into his Heart from higher influence Gen. 24.31 And faithful Eliezer must be called the Blessed of the Lord when he knocks at the Door and brings the Tidings The Presents which David sent from the Spoils of Amalek to his Friends though taken from his Enemies 1 Sam. 30.25 yet were given of the Lord. Senders and Messengers may vary but all comes from Heaven God is pleased sometimes to send an Olive-Branch by the Hand of a Dove to Noah Food by the Mouth of a Raven to Elijah at Cherich and sometimes by a Jay to others sometimes a Star passes before the Zabii the Wisemen of the East and enlightens them to Bethlchem and otherwhile an Angel is employed to the Prophet at Rithmah and many times the Methods of great Mercies are deep and intricate and we can never dive to the bottom of Wisdoms Ocean The stately River Nile rises from a latent head and the foundations of Famous Cities are under ground The Great and Holy God sometimes stirs up the Hearts of Relations most times Strangers and now and then even Enemies themselves are turned to help and favour his People Ps 106.46 Rare is that story of a good Woman at Sandwich imprisoned by the Major for a Religious Meeting and being askt by him how she would do in Prison being poor She reply'd I serve such a Master that rather than I shall starve I shall be fed from your Table The Magistrates Wife overhearing her confidence in God sent every day constantly from the Majors house a portion of Meat for about three Weeks being the time of her Restraint So that whatever are the Motives in the Hearts of inferiour Agents still the Supreme and Heavenly Cause is to be eyed with Adoration and Worship Many may unwillingly profit us we then owe not the benefit to them but the great Incliner the Soveraign Mover of Hearts Let us not trouble our Spirits about that question Quo animo with what design their Favours are calculated to our use Ignoble Spirits may perform some noble Actions upon a superstitious or vainglorious aim as to merit Heaven to gain applause to restrain the barkings of Conscience to stop the Mouth of Reprovers and to oblige men to their humours or some base intrigue or other Of all persons Ministers should be most sagacious and the Seers of the Temple must be blind in such Emergencies When sordid tempers exact difficult Secrecies for a little pelf while themselves spend ten times more on a base lust like those that fat their Horses for a riding or their Slaves at Algier for to sell in the Market at a higher Price Homines vaenalis animae that buy and sell their souls for advantage and are meer Merchants of all the Benefits they exert to others Some Mens Favours are like Chrystal Glasses of a curious frailty every Spider of suspicion cracks them He that ponders too much upon the Publican return of his benefits gratifies the trade of gain and covetousness not his Conscience to God or the genuine good of others There be many that take a pride to be counted liberal when they let fall a few drops of charity upon famished poverty and love that the Sun should shine upon their forward bounty and make their Cock crow at the scratching out a few Corns from their lofty Dunghills that can empty their laden Stomachs into China Dishes and hang Jewels and Pearls the price of whole Cities upon their Ears and vest themselves with the Tribute of large Territories and make as great a noise in scattering their Offals among the Poor as when the Russian Emperor blows his Trumpet after Dinner and all the World must know when they give that which their high-fed Lap-curs many times refuse They 'le wear Silk Garments like the Roman Matrons of such a fine Web that neither their Bodies are defended from weather nor their Chastity from observation but think much of a few Rags to cover a poor Lazarus at the Door God gives them Hundreds by the Year and they carry single Pence in their Pockets or brass Farthings to buy off the Clamours of Conscience But yet such as are inward Enemies to true Evangelical Charity shall be Instruments sore against their will to preserve the Soul of the Needy from death and ruine Wicked and debauched Persons Prov. 13.22 shall in the issue lay up Treasures for the Righteous But when Instruments act generously like wise Stewards of the manifold Talents of Gods Mercies they are to be highly esteemed like the Gold Ring that encompasses an Orient and Sparkling Diamond They are to be nourished and cherished like the Doves of Aleppo to whose Feet the Missives and Letters of Merchants are tyed for speedy conveyance Embassadors are Sacred Persons and are to be sacredly handled The very Feet of them that bring glad tidings of Peace and Mercy are to be washt and anointed with Oyl and counted beautiful There 's a Glory shines upon the Sandals of them who come down from Heaven and we ought to crows the Footsteps of the Messengers of Heavenly Favours with Branches of Olives and the persons sent back to Heaven with grateful Acclamations to the Harps of Joy to hold in consort with the Host of Angels praising the Divine Beneficence CHAP. VI. The Beneficial Improvement of sudden and unexpected Mercies WOnderful Mercies speak
insist here nor hint about the Earth that the very Soyl where Corn grows gives a various Tincture to it and makes some more wholesome than others as may be considered in reference to Grain produced in Mineral Countries Should I amplify about Waters Water it might over-flow a Volume But this Element being truly Terra fluens Earth in Flux is impregnated with the various Salts and Sulfurs that it finds in the bellies of those mountains whence discharg'd and in the Chanels of those Champions where it sports and plays in curious Maeanders and pleasant Turnings And therefore according to its differing imbibitions is sometimes wholsom and often pernicious to humane bodies Schoockius de cerevisia Bochart de animal par 1. p. 292. 2 Kin. 2.19 Untzer p. 967. Willis Henr. de Rochas and hence 't is of great concern in Brewing and all Offices of the Kitchen For instance The Waters about Jericho were naught causing Women to miscarry The Waters among the Alps procure the Kings Evil. The Water of the River Po breeds the Stone Those at Watford in Northamptonshire make men bald at 30 and those at Carleton in Leicestershire induce a wharling in the Throat Veget. de remilit l. 3. c. 2. Juvenal sat 13. v. 161. and generally the stagnant corrupt Waters of Fennes are dangerous by naughty Ferments for the Pestilence Such as are taken up at Fountains are replenish'd with the Atoms of that Earth whence they spring and such as are near great Cities are not so wholesome especially when convey'd home by Leaden Pipes and landed and kept in Cisterns of the same Metal Plin. l. 31. c. 7. Vitruv. Lang. Ep. Albert. de Met. l. 3. c. 4. Majer Symbol p. 494. as Pliny Vitruvius Albertus Magnus Langius Majerus and other of the Learned have observ'd that Griping of the Guts Bloody Fluxes and Kings Evil are tormenting Diseases to such Inhabitants which I could wish were attended by the worthy Citizens of London my dear native City If the Earth and Water minister so many inconveniencies to the prosperous Health of Man Air. how can the Air be free which is always fill'd with Vapours and Steams from both Whence some Solutions may arise to the questions about the various Products of different Winds blowing from the Horizon Why the Nitre of the North makes the Air so bitter and the Sulfur of the South so contagious Why the East so parching and blasting being mixt with mineral Atoms from the Mountains of Germany Hungary and Thrace and in Jewry from the Mine Hills of Arabia though there may be other latent Causes intermixt Are not some places noxious to the Brain by vegetable Fumes as Arbours of Night shade Walks of Walnut and Woods of Box Nay do not many Animals where frequent infect the Air as Naturalists have observed and to name but one for warning sake Arnold It 's noted by Arnoldus out of Avenzoar that the continual usage of Cats is so unwholesome to the Body of Man that it often produces the Phthisick and Consumption of the Lungs And so do many Learned Physicians testifie by experience In Ramsey of Poysons But to hasten Fire it may not be unfit to observe that the Air may be much impaired as to wholesomeness by the very culinary Fires which we use where scarcity of Trees forces many to use dryed Cow-dung Turff Peat Seacoal and Canol instead of Wood. The crude Sulfur Arsenical Fumes that fill the Air of our city are doubtless great causes of the multitudes of Consumptions within those Walls by drawing so constantly those corroding Fumes into the Lungs Not to mention that the very Body may be much molested by Itches and Scabs in sitting by Seacoal Fires Arnold siquis p. 64. b. and the very Meat that 's roasted and Beer warmed by them is not so wholesome Bacon Nat. Hist p. 202. Let the Learned Bacon vouch my fears who affirms that the vapors of Seacoal as well as Charcoal in a close Room hath killed many and stealing in by little and little induces only faintness without any manifest strangling And to this I can attest with great thankfulness for my deliverance being forced to sit in a close Room for a long time in a late Winter and found evident recovery by change of Fuel O what cause have we to magnifie the Name of God for the sweet Air we breath in and to sweeten it more with the Musick of our Praises and that all within us should bless his Holy Name That every Western Wind with its fresh and wholesome Gales should open the Flowers of Thankfulness that every sense and all their Organs that every Nerve should strive to string the Harp of Praise Ps 139.4 not a thought in our Heart or word in our Mouth but should be known to him altogether in the Echoings and Resoundings of his Gloey That our Spiriturl Senses should be ever exercised in making him their lovely Object Heb. 5.14 and his Holy Bosom the Center of all their Songs Shall the Holy Psalmist lead the Quire Praise him all his Angels and all his Hosts Ps 148.1 Praise him Sun and Moon with all the Stars of light The Heaven of Heavens and the Waters above the Heavens The Dragons and all Deeps Fire and Hail Snow and Vapor Stormy Wind fulfilling his Word of command Mountains and all Hills Fruitful Trees and all Cedars Beasts and all Cattel creeping Insects and flying Fowl Kings of the Earth and all People Princes and all Judges Young Men and Maidens Old men and Children Praise ye the Name of the Lord for his Name is alone excellent his Glory is above Earth and Heaven Let every bright Lamp of the Firmament prove a falling Star and worship at his Footstool Let the cold Influences of the Moon wax warm with motion in the Chariot of Praise upon the mighty Waters Let the healing Balsam of the Sun which cherishes the surface of the Earth its Inhabitants from Pole to Pole inflame every living Creature with his Glory Let the Sea roar and the fulness thereof Let every River wash the Pavement of his Temple Ezek. 47.1 and run under the Threshold of his Sanctuary Let the savage Lions hasten and the ravenous Eagles fly to his Altar and pant to expire in its Flames Let all the Spices of India and Arabia perfume the Mansion of his Honour Let all Minerals Rocks and Mountains pour out streams of Oil to attend his Sacrifice Let all the Vines of Lebanon Eschcol and Sibmah thirst to empty their blood-red Liquor for Drink-offerings Let mighty Aetna Vesuvius and Hecla cast up their flaming Bowels upon his Hearth in Zion Isa 31.9 and turn all his Sacrifices into ashes Let his Priests be clothed with Salvation and his Saints sing aloud for joy for the Lord reigneth Let the whole Earth rejoyce and the multitude of Isles be glad thereof Let the Holy Angels answer from Heaven with
wonderful Language and call aloud for admirable and joyful returns Lessons sung to Shoshannims the seven-string'd Instruments of Adoration and Honour Let 's hear the ravishing Musick in these seven succeeding Chapters that may be cordial to the very Hearts of Angels 1. Of the excellency of Love under the fense of Mercies 2. The Honourable Duty of Gratitude 3. The Exaltation of the Divine Name for his Munificence 4. The Anatomy and Vnbowelling of Secret Mercies 5. The Ingenuous meltings for sudden Sins 6. The softning Leniment of sudden Sorrows 7. The Contemplation of the permanent Mercies in Heaven I shall begin with the First and treat it as the Subject of this Chapter what an excellent Frame of Spirit is kindled by the sense of Mercies The most noble and generous love is that which streams from Heaven to ingratiate the hearts of Enemies by Springs of munificence to sweeten the tartest and sowrest tempers to break Flints upon Pillows to melt adamantine hearts in the warm blood of affection to lead Lyons in Chains of Gold and tame Hyrcanian Tygers into Doves Masculine and Heroick Love changes the frame and alters the constitution and texture of hostile Hearts Suspicion Suspicions which is the very Bane and Poyson of Love is by this Art fermented into a brisk volatile and balsamick Liquor To stand upon the Guard and watch to eye and try is but a feminine and childish trifling to subdue others by kindness is God-like to melt the Rocks of Caucasus by flames from Heaven Weak and low-statur'd Love insists upon the catch and so becomes touchy and waspish puts forth its captious sting at every buzz of false Flatterers and Backbiters Noble Love is like the Ointment of the right hand Pr. 27.16 which bewrays it self like a soft River of Oyl that runs down speedily in a direct Chanel of inclination into the Ocean of enjoyment He that can command his Love when attracted by the Magnetick Influence of genuine Friendship has but little true love under his Obedience Suspicion and Distrust grows upon the Root of a weak Love Generous and Noble Spirits had rather be deceived than distrust True Love is not easily provoked and thinks no evil 1 Cor. 15.5 it beareth believeth hopeth and endureth all things To lay heavy load upon sudden conjectures is to tread upon quick sands and walk among the Irish Bogs Such a Friend did not so courteously salute me in the street did not invite me among others brake off his speech abruptly lookt not so pleasantly and turn'd suddenly out of my company Suspicion blinds the understanding and is a Cloud that an evil temper turn'd upon the Sun of affection It cast Eve out of Paradise and leads fretful persons into desarts full of Bryars and Thorns It mischieves the owner and presents to himself a Cup to drink up his own Poyson Pro. 5.22 That Person is held with the cords of sin and may complain with Eve The Serpent within hath deceived me When Men can out-wit the Devil in Policy and be too strong for Divine Justice then they may walk in the shades of this Fools Paradise Men never gain by the ill bargain of Suspicion but at last their very thoughts will upbraid them with weakness and folly Deaw not long Arguments from the slender twine-thread of Suspicion We need a Dove-like simplicity and a benign estimate of every Accident Words misplac'd must not hurry our raw conjectures into Passions It 's the sign of an evil temper to construe the worst when a fair Gloss may be more sweetly truly and decently given Believe nothing but what 's manifest use both your ears and your heart too before you whet your tongue and when suggestions once appear to be vain chide your too frequent credulity Be not hasty to conceive an injury lest you bring forth a lye the frequency of self-rebuke through experience will pare away sudden reflections Let not little touches and small scratches set you in a flame of anger Because your drink is not warm enough or your servant slow or the Table totters a little at Meat or the Door is not presently shut to be in a scurvy Feaver of wrath betrays dirty blood and sordid spirits within Because a Flea or a Fly troubles you or a pot falls or a pipkin boyls over or a glass broken or children make a noise or a thing is misplac'd or ancient people cough or as Myndyrides because the roses in his bed were a little doubled to be in a rage shews a proud weak and effeminate Spirit deserves the rebukes of silence on deserting their company as unfit for humane converse Some persons have Souls good for little but to salt their bodies and exercise the graces of others and are alive by providence for increase of wisdom patience and pardoning mercy in their Alliances Like Vermine subtile to do mischief and whet mens fancies to devise traps and gins to catch them spend their days in trifles to spin perishing Webs catch Flies and spit their Venom Let 's turn our eyes from miserable deplorable forlorn Creatures to him whose Throne is in the Heavens and counts it a condescending humility to behold the Angels Ps 113.6 All his works praise him Ps 145.10 and his Saints bless him Le ts set out the glory of his Excellency and admire the operation of his hands with heart and tongue We are too like the poor Disciples that wondered at the Marble-buildings of the Temple Mark 13.2 are these things fit for a Saints wonder Le ts adorn our time by comparing Precepts with Providence The rule of his Wisdom with its product and issue and narrowly espy how God glorifies every Attribute in the management of Heaven and Earth Providence comments on the Text of Prudence and delights in Mercy and Love as the Issue of his own glorious Bowels What stirred up Divine Wisdom to plot the mutual kissings of Righteousness and Peace together but rowling bowels of compassion towards perishing man when Angels fell from Heaven without recovery yet according to the Multitude of his tender Mercies Wombs full of Mercies hath blotted out our transgressions Ps 51.1 Hebr. Let us be inflamed with Love to God that sweetly provides for our bodies out of his Store house from the Air and Woods from Seas and Rivers from Hills and Plains not only for necessity but delight and ornament withholding nothing from us that 's good for grace or glory But the Master-piece the Top the Flower of love shines forth in the beauty of Gospel-Mercy Le ts dwell in the Temple of Meditation upon the infinite Love of God in Christ till our hearts he enlarged and amplified with flames of affection service and praise when Divine Love is the Fountain of ours we shall need no other arguments of bounty to Saints than the sweet apprehension of his Love to us We need no motives from Plato Tully or Seneca who range up and down the Mountains of Fancy and
and a Worm sent to gnaw at the Root of their Substance Many blustering Storms split carnal hopes that in broken planks of mercy they may recover the port of happiness The Paths of Mercy are wonderfully intricate that we may study and learn to discry the windings of Providence God led his people by a right or straight way says David but in a very crooked and winding way according to the Stations set down by Moses Ps 107.7 The cloudy Pillar gave them many a weary turn to chastize their crooked hearts Their Journey took them up 40 years which might have been performed in passing over but 92 Miles from the Border of Egypt to the Southern City of Canaan For Pelusium or Sin in the Land of Sinim the last City of Aegypt was distant but 92 Miles from Rhinocurura or Nahalmizraim Is 27.12 the first City of Canaan on the brook in the South of Simeons Tribe called the River of Aegypt in Scripture as appears by the Itinerary of Antonine the Emperour which at 10 Miles a day considering so vast a multitude makes but 9 days journey to arrive at the Land of Promise Yet in what vast wandrings to and fro in that howling Wilderness did they rowl about Four several times they were commanded to turn about First Exod. 14.2 Numb 33.7 Numb 14.25 Deut. 1.40 Deut. 2.3 Numb 14.34 from Etham to Pihahiroth Secondly from Mount Horeb to the Mount of the Amorites Thirdly from Zinkadesh by the Amorite Mountains quite back again to the Red Sea And Fourthly from the Red Sea northward again besides other Special Turns according to the various Stations in the Wilderness to bear their Iniquities and know Gods Breach of Promise which though failing to them that believed not and so first brake with him yet was fulfilled to a tittle with their Children whom the murmuring Fathers had consigned to be a prey in the Desert The posterity of those Repiners were taught better manners by the Briars and Thorns of Sinai We never carve well for our selves when we snuff at the portion cut out to us by the Hand of God The way to our old Lovers is hedg'd up with merciful thorns to turn us into the right way to the new Jerusalem Austin Confes l. 9. c. 9. Austin says of his Mother Monica She had learn'd the Lesson of a Vertuous Wife not to resist her offended Husband Non tantùm factor sed nè verbo quidem Not by an unseemly word much less in carriages How much more obsequious behaviour owe we to the Father of our Spirits that we may live in his love and to that Heavenly Husband of all gracious and meek Souls to gain his delight in our persons by resembling himself Then out of seeming discouragements we may draw real and experienced comforts Is 12.3 and out of the deep Wells of trouble the Waters of Salvation and Joy As the Woman of Canaan by our Lords calling her a Dog to try her Faith proved her self to be one of the lost Sheep of the true Israel which he came down to find We must behave and quiet our selves like weaned Children under all Ps 131.2 the tossings and tumblings of their Mothers Holy contentation and lowliness of Spirit must hush all the proud whimperings of our minds in the hour of Trial till we become like little Children if we would enter the Kingdom of Heaven Jacob served for a Wife Hos 12.12 and for a Wife kept Sheep in Aram says the Prophet though by an unkind brother was frighted thither and by an hard Uncle was hurried back by untoward Children forced from Shechem and by a threatning famine compelled into Aegypt and all to this end that God might nourish the People of Shem in the Land of Ham to prepare them for the Milk and Honey of the Land of Canaan at that time the possession of Ham's Posterity God glorifies many an Attribute in one single Mercy and teaches us to pry into every one and to gaze upon the Lustre and Tapestry-work of all his Mercies Though God is never the holier or wiser more powerful or just by our glorifying his Name Joh 25.6 yet 't is our duty and his tribute our homage and his condescending savour to accept it The 3 glorious persons did glorifie each other before all worlds and do still The Son was always rejoycing before the Father Prov. 8.30 The Son prays Father glorifie thy Name and a Voice from Heaven answers Joh. 12.28 I have both glorified it and Will glorifie it again And the Son prays Joh. 17.5 That the Father would glorifie him with that Glory which he had with him before the World was And speaking of the Holy Spirit he saith He shall glorifie me Joh. 16.14 yet he is pleased to set forth his Name that we should ascribe the Honour due to it Ps 29.2 Ps 50.23 He that offers praise glorifies him To this end ought we to observe what wisdom shines in contrivement what power in management against all opposition and what mercy in finishing and landing such a Favour in our Bosoms So that when we little dream such an Affair can come to pass it suddenly surprizes us with admiration and astonishment by unspeakable Mazes and winding Labyrinths without our trouble that as we now stand still and see his Salvation so we may all our lives sit still and solace our Spirits with the curious Embroidery of Divine Providence We may say as Naomy to Ruth about Boaz Ruth 3.18 Sit still for the man will not be at rest till he finish the thing this day Resignation of our concerns to the Wisdom of God should cure all anxious and querulous thoughts about Events and Issues If God design such a Mercy all the Powers on Earth cannot hinder it and if it be against his secret Will all the Princes on Earth cannot further it Yea if never so near to attainment yet a trifling surmise shall blast it Follow the conduct of Providence by the Lamp of the Word and this Ariadnes's Thread will lead through all secret and dark turnings into the pleasant Fields of Enjoyment This consideration as it should stay our Spirits in reference to all outward Mercies so more especially as to eternal Where Election hath pitch'd an eye of Love the Hand of Mercy will certainly guide to Heaven If an elect Vessel could be imagined to be in the centre of the Earth the very Bowels of the Earth should open and a Golden Chain of Mercy be let down to draw up that Soul into the Centre of Heaven I knew a Holy man Mr. Christopher Hewling who living in a profane Village in the Forest of Dean had a Godly Minister sent thither on purpose to convert him as that Reverend person profest himself For he was there but a little time I think about a year and as soon as my Friend was converted the profane people rose up against his Ministry and chased him
Virgins chearful and smiling upon each other to teach that kindnesses must flow without fraud with a candid Rom. 12.8 simple and delightful spirit Yea Holy Page recommends it when done 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with singleness of heart with a generous frame casting no squint-eye or nourishing any base aim either to elevate the crest of pride or debase others into servile offices And this deportment ingenerâ—tes a sweet temper in the Hearts of Receivers Love is the Cement of the Universe and humanity is twisted into unity by kindness and concord Vertuous Heathens numbred the graces among their Deities noting it for a Species of Sacrilege not to return Favours with an aimiable Gratitude The Dispenser of Love should have a slippery memory but the Recipient should engrave it on Pillars of Marble and Pyramids of Brass The Giver should shut his Eyes when he opens his Hand Dissimulation without blame to chear an unknown person or to hide his knowledge Prov. 19.17 such a one lends to the Lord and makes Heaven his Debtor and surely there is Treasure enough to requite him while he that accepts gratefully makes God his Pay-master by Prayer If by giving we expect returns we fit like Publicans at the Receipt of Custom and give to our selves what we pay to others Self-love is never truly magnificent To pour out benefits upon persons unknown or unable to return shews delight in bounty and the pleasure of Love to see such walk at liberty whose Iron bands we have unloosed incognito A liberal man deviseth liberal things like a Prince Is 32.8 and seeks out Objects to exercise friendship that so great a Grace may never lye idle A brave Spirit judges he receives the kindness which he bestows as M. Antony said Whatever I give that I have The Europaeans purchase whole Territories with a few Beads Knives and Hammers of the naked Indians much more happy who gain an Eternal Inheritance by a few Penies Such a one bestows himself whose Coyn comes warm from the Mint of his Heart and shall be melted into a Crown of Life He that seeks a debtor does but drive a Trade hearkens to the promise because of payment He gives proudly and worships his own ambition and sacrifices to the Drag of Covetousness He deals a Loaf but full of Grits to break the teeth and a Scorpion instead of Fish to sting the Stomach Be kind to such as are hoising sail to the Indies and send precious Cordials to such as swelter under incurable maladies or those that hold out their needy hands in a dusky even Scatter your morsels to them that come from far in a Pilgrims Habit and a transient Staff Heb. 13.2 and so entertain Angels at unawares 'T is the ready way to find Treasure Trove to enjoy plentiful Crops rain'd down from Heaven and Ships blest into the Ports from Storms and Pyrats Others spend their unsanctified returns in vanities while the bowels of Saints almost cleave to their Backs and the next year their credit sinks at Land and their ships at Sea or find the way to the French Harbors while others sail in safe by the breath of Prayer We may stand in need of the meanest before the Sun shines again from the Northern Tropick and those that scrape in dunghills and rake for Nails in Chapels may ride in pomp upon Velvet Sadles before twelve Moons be wained The Old Man of Winchester found it by experience being cast into the depth of poverty by one whom he had opprest in youth Haman may climb the Tree of Justice though planted for Mordecay and blind Sampson may see well enough to pull down a Play-house upon 2000 Philistins Who knows what evil may thunder upon the Earth and where the Bolt may hit A scoffing Noble was trod to death in the Gate of Samaria 2 K. 7.29 who had mock'd a Prophet and jeered at the Windows of Heaven but a day before Cast your Bread upon the sliding waters Eccl. 11.1 which though swallowed in the Sea return through the Caverns of the Earth into the same River after many days A prudent man foresees the evil and flies into the Temple of Charity and there meditates upon both fortunes He reaps at present the plentiful crops of Peace in the Champain of a good Conscience and makes a continual Feast to himself upon the dones let fall to others He that gives to Princes and rich Equalls Prov. 22.16 may come to poverty by out-vying Such as expect returns are like Merchants in the Port Physicians in Cities and Victuallers is in Camps and such as sun their Fancies in the Usurers Walks They are Traffickers and not Benefactors and are often out-witted by Expert Sophisters who are wonderful officious in hopes of gain Like Crows that fit kawing upon an old stump watch dying Cattel with much ceremony and with fawning flatteries hop about them till they pick out their Eyes But whatever be the frame of the Givers Spirit the Receiver must not pry too narrowly into the Patrons Conscience but make his kindness the seed-plot of renown Happy are those Noble Souls who so give as to stir up a sweet memorial before God and man The amiable frame of the Giver out shines the Gift it self and cherishes Gratitude in the leanest Soil Praise is comely for Saints Ps 33.1 2 Sam. 24.23 Mat. 5.45 especially when men with Ornan give like Princes when Jebusites act like Israelites or like God himself whose Sun warms the House of the Evil and his Rain pours down upon the Field of the Wicked It becomes us to let God hear from us when we hear from him and all his Mercies to turn into Sacrifices A thankful Spirit is like a Musical Echo in the Star-chamber of Heaven Man must not only be a Concha but a Canalis Bernard not a Shell to retain but a Chanel to derive mercies Like marble Basons at Fountains when full run over to others and water the parched Plains Our Corn-fields must grow for the Poor and the Levite Deut. 12.18 19.14.27 29.16.11 14. as well as to swell our barns and cram our Garners that others hearts and faces may shine with the Oil of Joy and Thankfulness both to God and us That like the cheared Lark when enlivened by morning warmth mounts up with singing out of our sight towards the Suns Chariot and thanks him with a Sonnet and makes him rejoyce to run his Race We should learn his Lesson and praise the Fountain of Israels mercies at the dawning day Scruple not to leave the Rosy-finger'd Morn abed in Tithonus Arms. Leave the Sun a Sluggard sweating in the watry Embraces of the Eastern Ocean We need not the glittering Lamp of Venus to find out the Palace or knock at the Gate of Heaven The blessing of former the sense of present and the hope of future Mercies should all inflame us Our Souls from experienced observations of former Mercies like expert Astronomers
should predict benign Configurations before the distilling Influences and praise him at the dawning and day-break of Mercy Nay our lives should be a whole Tenor of praises since we are hemm'd in and compast with kindness We are laden with benefits Angels encampabout us in Chariots of fire to protect both us and the mercies given We should raise up a Temple of praise with walls ringing Marble Every breath we draw in should go forth warn with Anthems The blouds Circulation should run round in Songs like the Hydraulick Instruments of Water Musick and every Pulse should beat upon the Strings of David's Harp The wholesome Herbs should cure our Murmurs Ps 148.2 c. and all the Creatures of Air Land and Water should by our hands pay tribute of praise to God The pleasant Rivers should convey our Songs to Paradise and in the fragrant Flowers smell the goodness of God The showers that cool the Somers heat should inflame our Love and make our Palm-trees flourish with fat Dates in the Courts of God Ps 92.12 In Medicinal Baths and Springs we should hang up our Testimonical Crutches and write a votive Table The precious Metals whose marks above ground betoken the enamelling of natures Bowels the divining Rod and skill to dig them and melt their Oars into plate should all be formed into Golden Flagons to be consecrated and hung up in Zions Sanctuary When the May-Quiristers sing with a Thorn at their Breasts by night to allure us from the Thorns in ours and delight us when we cannot sleep or awake us like Princes with the Musick of their Spring Lyries we should answer their praises of our Holy Mutual Maker like the Musician in Strada with sweeter Elegance and cause the Nightingale to fly to us and pant upon the strings of our Lutes in transcending praises and confess themselves conquered and at the ceasing of our warbling melody dye in consort We dwell in this World as in a sumptuous Palace arch'd over with spangling Stars and transparent Saphirs which fears neither fire nor falling Should not we set up Jacob's Pillar or Solomon's Jachin and Boaz in the porch Yea let every House be a little model of the Universe anoint pillars in memory of protecting and providing Mercies and consecrate them daily unto God Set up Monuments in each Vally of Bacah and pen Psalms for the Birth of every favour and our Right Hands never forget their cunning He crowns the year with his goodness let 's compass his Altar with Songs Let annual Mercies dictate perennial Melody and perpetuate his Bounty by graving every Iota and Tittle of Mercy on the Empiraean tables of our hearts Let 's remember God the Glorious Original of all Enjoyments and the Gifts of each Beneficent Hand let 's pourtray upon both our palms to be lifted up to Heaven at morning and evening Sacrifice and call upon all Creatures in order from the Heavens to the meanest Atom in an Universal Diapason of Praise and Triumph in God CHAP. VIII The Exaltation of the Divine Name for his Munificence and in particular for Secret Mercies in the structure of Man and his Preservation DID the Ancient Heathens erect their Hermaea or Statutes of Stone to the honour of Mercury in Memorial of some casual and contingent happiness Suidas and shall not we anoint Jacob's Pillar with fresh Oil to the true â—nd living God with whom all contingencies are determinations of Mercy Gracious Souls delight in his precepts because wonderful Ps 129.129 and admire the Ocean of his benefits because unfathomable Reverence to his Majesty is the Mother both of Obedience and Gratitude We cheerfully obey him because we love him and he loves is the more because we obey him His love is the free Spring and the munificent Reward of all sincere services He excites and enables us to Holiness and then crowns us A genuine Child takes pleasure in conformity to the Fathers Will and this Heavenly Father makes them conformable to his Sons Image He plants the Spices of Lebanon in our Hearts then breaths by his Spirit Son 4.16 walks in his Garden and eats his pleasant Fruits A rare Master that strengthens his Servants to work in his Vineyard and then leads them into his Joy Mat. 5.21 There 's no mercy but he helps us to improve as a clue to Heaven No duty but he forms into a Ladder to Glory Whether we eat or drink or whatever we do 1 Cor. 10.31 let 's do all to the Glory of God and Christ who died for us 1 Thes 5.10 that whether we wake or sleep we should live together with him Let 's sleep to refresh our Spirits for service and when we awake let 's be still with him Ps 139.8 He holdeth our eyes waking to ponder on his Mercies and watcheth our eyes while sleeping to serve him with more alacrity We cannot sufficiently prize that secret Mercy that lodges with us every night within our Curtains Sleep How many fiery Feavers doth cool sleep extinguish From how many deaths does that brother and Image of death deliver us Those silver slumbers are golden mercies How great a favour that temperate repast should send up cooling vapours to the brain to tye up our Senses while we repose our limbs from labour Nor let us pass the lovely Fields in Harvest without remark when wise Nature hath crowned the Wheaten Ridges with numerous heads of Poppies to minister both Food and Physick Wedelius de Plani p. 17. Hook Microgr p. 155. And whereas one ingenious Physician hath observed That the the Salt of humane Skull so another curious Searcher hath delivered That the Seed of Poppy which causes sleep is also of an Hexagon or six-corner'd Figure and it may be its Salt may be yet more curious As if the Atoms of the Fumes of Poppy were fitted and cized to the Texture and Cells of Mans Noble Capitol Should we give a glance at the Eye when waking as well as sleeping greater wonders would appear in opening its Humours Coats Nerves Seeing and Muscles And yet further contemplate the goodness of God in these later days in blessing the world with those perspicacious inventions of convex Glasses to help and delight our sight by Spectacles Telescopes Microscopes and Chamber-Landscapes Such exquisite Glasses have so been formed polish'd as some have conceived they have had a prospect beyond the Stars into the glitterings of the Empiraean Heavens to their ravishment and amazement and have been carried as it were into the Seat of the Blessed Nor less marvellous is the contrivance of the great Architect of Nature as to the Sense of hearing Hearing With what Artifice are these gristly Portals of the Ears set before and round about the inward cavity both for beauty and benefit that great sounds may not enter with violence and be defensitives against immoderate heat and cold And that musical Tunes by the fallacy of its circuit may