Selected quad for the lemma: heaven_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
heaven_n	high_a	lord_n	praise_v	4,795	5	9.5976	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A84600	The prisoners praises for their deliverance from the long imprisonment in Colchester. On a day of publique thanksgiving set apart for that purpose by the gentlemen of the committee of Essex, who for their fidelity in serving their country were surprised by the enemie at Chelmesford. In a sermon upon the sixth, seventh, & eighth, verses, of the CXLIX. Psalm. / preached at Rumford Septemb. 28. 1648. By Samuel Fairclough, pastor of the congregation at Ketton in Suffolk.	Fairclough, Richard, 1594-1677.	1650 (1650)	Wing F108; Thomason E589_4; ESTC R206306	32,215	40

He beckoned with the hand and declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison and said Go shew these things to James and the brethren Whence you may learn if you will faithfully return due praises unto God for your liberty You must never think on it by your selves nor speak of it to others much less in your solemn Thanksgiving to God for the same but you must beleeve and acknowledg the Lord alone to be author and essicient of it so al 's doth the Tune of Davids Psalm of praise for liberty run in this high Tone Psal 116.16 I mean in the exercise of his Faith by acknowledging the Lord the sole author of his enlargement Thou O Lord hast broken my bonds and therefore I will offer unto thee the sacrifice of Thanksgiving So doth good Ezra in the like cause go before you in returning praises for his own and the Churches freedom from the Babylonish Thraldom whose words and expression Ezra 9.8 9. I desire all of you would print them on the tables of your hearts and make them as frontlets before your eyes yea that you would write them in your Note-books on the walls of your Studies and Bed-chambers where you must lodg in the night or converse by day that you may acknowledg and confess with him as long as you live saying We were bond-men yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage but hath extended mercy to us in the sight of our enemies and hath given us a reviving to set up the house of our God and to repair the desolations thereof and to give us a wall in Judah and in Ierusalem Thus lifting up the eye of your faith to the most high God seeing and acknowledging the height of his wisdom goodness and mercy working your deliverance will raise the conceptions of your high praises Secondly The Production So will the exercise of your faith heighten your production also by shewing and causing you to confess that as God was the efficient so the Lord Jesus's sufferings was the meritorious cause procuring this deliverance from your temporal as well as spiritual bondage It was the blood of Christ that brought all of you that are true Beleevers out of this house of bondage also That was the red Sea in which your liberty came swiming to you he was once bound that you might be now free Joh. 8. and if the Son make you free then are you free indeed For as by his stripes ye are healed so by his bonds are you losed he dyed in custody Isai 53. under the hand and power of Heathenish Souldiers that none of these Heathenish Souldiers in whose custody you were might have any power to lay violent hands upon you Mat. 27. he was taken from his prison and judgment that you might be taken from yours also and when he ascended up on high he led not onely his own but your Captivity captive when you shall thus act your faith in beholding the Lord Jesus meriting this your dismission Eph. 4. and coming along with your discharge and delivering it unto you as a fruit of his sufferings for you then will your Souls be enlarged and your affections extended to a more ample production of the high praises of God Thirdly As you must by the exercise of your faith The Acceptation heighten the production of your praises from your selves so their acceptation with God also Faith will not onely demonstrate God alone to be the original and the Lord Iesus the procurer of the mercy but also be an effectual instrument to work high acceptation and respect to this your duty whiles it will direct you to return all your high praises to God by the hand of Christ alone as their Altar and Presenter Heb. 13.15 By him therefore let us offer up the Sacrifice of praise unto God who as he is a Mediator and praying Saviour for the supply of our wants so is he a praising Saviour in the return of our thanks His oders and incense alone must sweeten and persume the oblation of our praises as well as prayers your highest praises if they be not presented by his hand will be rejected in anger if offered through his mediation will be accepted with love and welcom as the Philippians bounty Chap. 4.18 an odor of a sweet smell and a sacrifice acceptable well pleasing to God Let me now therefore conclude the first part of my Direction for the heightening your praises in their conception inwardly with the words of the Apostle 1 Pet. 2.5 above and besides all that you have heard for that purpose before approve your selves by this exercise of faith to be Living stones built up together into a spiritual Temple and an holy Priesthood to offer these spiritual sacrifices of highest praises acceptable to God by the mediation of Iesus Christ alone The conception of your praises being by these means thus raised inwardly The outward expression of praise proceed also to heighten their expression outwardly let their birth be answerable to their conception and their production to God as high as their birth in men which will be effected and the external expression of your praises much heightened by a two-sold gratulatory practise First In your words Secondly In your lives The words of the Text lead me to this distinction by holding forth not onely the duty of high praises that they are to be performed but their manifestation also how they are to be expressed namely first by the mouth and tongue the instrument of speaking secondly the two-edged sword and hand the instruments of action whereby the Psalmist doth manifest most evidently that these high praises that are conceived in the heart must be expressed in the tongue and life First then Let the high praises of God be in your mouth or in your throat as the Text hath it to note the extension of your voyces in their expression which is that which is commanded in the former verse when the Saints are enjoyned to sing aloud upon their beds and Psa 148.2 to praise God in the heights that is not onely in high places to exalt his Name above the Heavens and Earth but also in high expressions of words and voyces and therefore Psa 150.5 the Spirit of God requires that the Lord be praised not only on a well sounding Cymbal or as the Text is a Cymbal of hearing but also upon a high sounding Cymbal that is notes of highest exaltation and shoutings All which Scriptures call upon you as well as my Text to let the praises of God be high in your mouths publishing them in the highest expressions of his glory and that principally these two ways First In a thankful celebration of them before others Secondly 1. By the tongue in celebration before men Psa 78.4 In a thankful commemoration of them between the Lord and your selves First You must heighten them by your tongues in an high celebration of them to others

Let the high Praises of God be in their mouth Secondly The Hand that they may be performed really And a two-edged sword in their hands A sword of two mouths or edges as well for God as to God as well defensive for his Truth as offensive against Error These are the Instruments The Execution follows where we have 1. The Sufferers 2. Their Sufferings 3. The Rule of Execution 4. The Reward The Sufferers by this two-edged sword are of four sorts 1. Heathen swallowed up with Infidelity 2. The People the meaner sort and Commonalty 3. The Kings in supream Authority 4. Their Nobles the highest of their Nobility The next thing is their Sufferings which also is four-sold according to the different condition and quality of the persons to suffer 1. For the Heathen Vengeance 2. For the People Punishments 3. For their Kings Chains 4. For their Nobles Fetters of Iron The third thing is the Rule of Execution either of the Vengeance upon Heathen or Punishments of People or Chains on Kings or Fetters on the Nobles and that is the Judgment written Janius Amesius no more no less no other and by no other persons then is expresly written and declared by the great Judg of Heaven and Earth in his Word The Sword of men of Saints against the worst of Heathen must not exceed one Iota the Sword of the Spirit the written Word of God The fourth the Reward of this Execution is Honour This honour have all his Saints Where first we may observe what the Reward is namely this Honour that is first To have high praises of God in their mouths and this two-edged sword in their hands Secondly To be guided to execute no Judgment but that which is written upon any This is Honour Secondly Who they be that are thus honoured to have praises in mouths and execute Judgment written namely his Saints such as God hath made and by his Word accounts Saints not such as are Popish Saints or canonized by themselves or Satan or their Flatterers but such as shew themselves Saints by having their minds and hands bound by the written Word from executing any thing further and otherwise then God hath appointed these and no other are his Saints and therefore to be honoured yea God to be honoured by them in them and for them which is determined in the uttermost extent of this laudatory Circle in the end of the Psalm Hallelujah Praise ye the Lord. Every observing eye may clearly perceive what a large field is laid open in the Text for my discourse to walk in and how many Clusters of divine matter seasonable and apt for our times and present occasion do offer themselves to my hands but I am resolved to let all pass and to take hold only of one and gather it for a Peace-offering to the Lord in applying it only to your present occasion and it shall be that one that groweth upon the very top of this Tree of Life in my Text and furthest from the shadow of those Collections that may be found on the under boughs namely The prescription of the duty to be done The high Praises of God where every one may take notice 1. The subject of duty Divided to be praise yea Praises 2. Object of duty to be God praises of God 3. Their property to be high High praises of God Which word alone needs a little Explication because so variously rendred by the most Interpreters some rendring it only Exaltations of God others Praisings exalting God others Songs exalting God others 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Expounded Sublime Praises of God others Praises highly uttered unto God the Reason whereof is because the word Romemóth in the Text signifies sometimes actively and then it notes the height exaltation Psal 71.19 Prov 24.7 and lifting up of any thing to the observation of others and sometimes passively and then it notes the height worth excellency of the thing that is exalted or lifted up in it self But the scope and nature of the duty prescribed in the Text necessarily comprehends both as well the high acts for which God is to be highly praised as the high Praises to be given unto God for those high Acts but especially the latter namely the height and excellency of the duty of praise to be performed for those high Acts of God as appears both from the whole Argument of the Psalm meerly laudatory as also from the Instrument wherewith these high Praises are to be performed namely the mouth The high Praises of God in their mouth shewing the height herein mentioned is a property of mans duty or work in praising God and not only of the work of God for which he is to be praised but in the Observation I shall from hence propound unto you I will comprehend both and all the particulars in the duty prescribed besides which is this The Praises of God are of an high nature Doctrine propounded and high performance OR The duty of praising God is a high duty which must exalt and lift up the high God in it This truth I shall labour to demonstrate 1. From the Object 2. Demonstrated The Effect 3. Their Price 4. Their Performance Or to use the School terms they are high 1. Objective 2. Effective 3. Oppretiative 4. Perfective First The Praises of God are high in relation to their Object 1. From the object being peculiar to God which is none other but the most high God and that in the consideration of his transcendent height and Sublimity over and above all other things or persons so the Psalmists resolution intimates Psal 7.17 I will praise the Lord according to his Righteousness which he expresseth in the following words To sing praise to the Name of the Lord most high and Psal 92.1 It is a good thing to give thanks to the Lord and to sing praise to thy Name O thou most high In which places and very many more in the Scriptures it is evident That the Lord considered in his highest Sublimity is the object of high Praise and that by most special and peculiar approbation of them unto himself and none other Isai 42.8 I am Jehovah that is my Name I will not give my Glory to any other nor my Praise to graven Images See how the Lord appropriates and owns it yea specially doth reserve it It is my Glory my Praise and so mine that I will not part with any of it to any other how high soever they be it is too high for any but my self The Lord will and doth give the highest of all things else in the whole Creation to others as the Heavens how high soever above them and the earth and all the works of his hand beneath them hath God put in subjection under mans feet and made him to have dominion over them Psal 8.6 Nay he gives the Services of the highest Angels in the highest Heavens to many others Heb. 2.14 Yea the highest Felicity and

us yet when its beams are interposed and lustre over-clouded we account it to be in a suffering condition so the inward Perfections of God without the duty of Praises are as it were in a suffering condition and like a rich Diamond or Jewel hid in a dark corner but by the duty of high Praises the lustre and beauty of his Wisdom Power and Goodness are openly produced and made conspicuous to the observation and admiration of all Beholders and Spectators for which cause they are called in the Text 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Exaltations of Jehovah rather then Singings unto his Name because according to his Name so is his Praise Psal 48.10 therefore his Name being most high his Praise must be also most high and proportionable thereunto Thirdly 3. From their value discerned The Praises of God are high and of high nature appretiativè in respect of the high estimation and value the Lord him-himself hath them in and sets them at which appears two ways 1. By the high Price wherewith he purchaseth them 2. By the high Delight he takes in them after he hath procured them First 1. In their procurement The price wherewith God is willing to purchase them is very high For not onely the expence of all his wisdom power and goodness put forth in Creation nor onely the layings out of all his counsel care love and faithfulness in Providence and Preservation but also the rich Treasure of his Promises Covenant Grace yea the precious blood of his own Son in our Redemption is given freely absolutely intentionally and ultimately for no other thing but the purchase of high praises to God Ephes 1.5 6. All that God doth and giveth all that Christ doth and suffereth is for no other end but the praise of the glory of his Grace I confess consider mens highest praises of God as they are mans performances they are poor and inconsiderable things but consider them as they are the Testimonies and expressions of a beleeving heart declaring and making known the unspeakable wisdom faithfulness bounty and excellencies of God exercised in his works in this notion The Scripture declares the heart of God so to be taken with the desire of them that he is willing to give Heaven Earth Himself and Son to poor men for the praises of their hearts hands and tongues and accounts himself abundantly satisfied therefore when his People will speak good of his Name speaking well of him in the Dialect of Angels-notes the high praises of God which most strongly and undeniably demonstrates the high worth of the Duty of high praises when the most high God will purchase them with the expence of Himself Son and all he hath Give me praise and take my Christ Self and Kingdom saith God When a profane and foolish Esau will purchase a mess of pottage with the price of his birth right a mean and contemptible thing with a great price we rather undervalue the wisdom of the Purchaser then esteem any thing the better of the Purchase But if a wise Merchant that is certainly and undoubtedly known to have perfect understanding and deep insight into the worth of the things he deals for if such a one sells all he hath and takes up what he can elsewhere procure to purchase a pearl or field we then conclude the hidden worth of the Purchase from the high price given for it by the knowing and wise Purchaser Now then must it not undeniably advance the heighth and worth of high praises when we see the omnipotent and infinite onely wise God that regards not Gold Silver Kingdoms Honors but yet knows how to prize and value his own contents and pleasure doth dispense and lay out all that Heaven and Earth is worth solely and purposely to purchase to Himself the highest praise of his Glory and Grace Secondly 2. In their Enjoyment The high value that God hath of high praises will be evident by the high delight and pleasure God takes in them thus purchased for skilful Artists and high principled elevated understandings never take pleasure or delight in any thing or work which is not answerable to their highest principles and proportionable to their uttermost skill and desire Now the Lord who is the most perfect understanding and deepest skill and knowledg declares himself to take infinite delight in his Peoples Praises It is his solace and pleasure to be attended with them either in Earth or in Heaven by men or Angels and his Soul is ravished with the thoughts and contemplation of them This was it which was typed by the Feasts Psa 148. Lev. 6.7 Num. 29.12 and rejoycing in the peace offerings by the sweat Odors and Incense in the Encharistical Sacrifices by the melodious Tunes dilightful Sangs Harmony Musick Organs Timbrels Cymbals Harps for exaltation and triumph in the solemn Feasts and days of Thanksgiving the Scripture intending thereby to declare not onely with what cheerfulness and delight these gratulatery S●rvi●●t were to be performed by men but also how ancentable and pleasing they are unto the Lord as sweet savars and odors in his nostrils as Angelical musick and heavenly ayrs in his ears as wine and divine delicatias to his taste yea and if in Heaven it self the Lord of life and glory receives any additional exaltation from the glorified Saints and Angels besides what is exernally enjoyed in the Circle of his own perfections it cannot be concluded from any thing expressed in Scripture to proceed from any thing else but the everlasting acclamations and benedictions of the glorified Saints and Angals giving glory honor and praise unto him that site on the Throne and to the Lamb whose Hallelujabe are nothing else but the highest of these high praises of God in their hearts and mouths 4. From their performance requiring the exercise of greater measures of Grace then a publique day of Humiliation Doth not then this height of Gods valuation in their Procurement and the height of the Lords satisfaction in their Enjoyment set the high Praises of God upon the highest top of the transcendent Sublimity of divine worth and excellenty In the fourth place The Praises of God are high and of a high nature perf●●ti●d that is in respect of the high measure of Grace they are to he attended withall in their per●o●●●●● the Lord requiring the duty of high Praise especially in a publique Day of Thanksgiving for any remarkable and high mercy should be performed with a great measure of Scripture-light with a higher degree of effectual Faith and with a more ample proportion of practical Holiness then any other of the most solemn Exercises of of his publique Worship For the more full and clear demonstration of which particulars I mean of the singular measure of Light Faith and Holiness which the Lord requires should be exercised in solemnizing of a day of Thanksgiving above any other part of his Service I conceive will be

not onely a purpose of Reformation consequent but actual performance of Vows and Covenants of Reformation for present as David in Psal 116.18 I will offer praise and pay my vows now in the presence of all his people even in the Courts of Gods House which made our Saviour injoyn an antecedent actual reconciliation and satisfaction before the offering a gratulatory gift as if an intention of it afterward would not be sufficient God rejects all the Solemn Feasts of his people Isa 1. Upon this ground They had not before put away the violence in their hands but they were still full of blood a day of Thanksgiving is not a day of running into more debts by future Covenants but a coming out of debt by present payment in which respect more practical holiness is required to be exercised in a day of Thanksgiving then in a day of Humiliation Having thus confirmed to your Judgments the duty to be high by way of Demonstration suffer me now to improve it on your consciences by way of Application wherein I shall look no way but to the sanctifying of the Name of our God in relation to your present occasion who have for that end purpose called me hither and that first by way of Information 2. Exhortation 3. Direction And for the first let me inform you and by you all other Use of Information of the excellency of the work concerning the great and high Work which ye have undertaken to perform in setting a day apart for this high Service in delivering you from your late restraint and Imprisonment a duty of so transcendent nature as requires the abilities of the Angels in Heaven rather then of any persons Gentlemen or others in earth and a far more suitable work for a glorified Saint above then poor sinful souls beneath you have herein undertaken to return this day unto God all the splendor both of the vertue and beauty of his Glory which hath shined forth in this work of your deliverance to carry him home to day the crop and fruit of all the passages of his divine providence exercised for you or dispensed unto you therein which is more prized and is dearer to him then any thing else in heaven and earth You have undertaken to perform that service unto God this day that shall exalt him that is the highest already to magnifie him that is greatest already and to glorifie him that is already most glorious yet how high great and glorious soever before your service began when it is once done he shall thereby be rendred to all Spectators more glorious then he was before in raising higher thoughts of God his power faithfulness and graciousness as well in their as your own hearts Yea and you have undertaken to make the day a good day and more holy then any other days whatsoever by exercising a greater measure of Scripture Light effectual Faith and practical Holiness then ever Yea to perform that Service which being rightly performed will ravish the divine thoughts and heart of the Almighty with highest delight and satisfaction as with Incense and sweet Odors in his nostrils I note this Applied 1. for Incouragement first to raise the value and estimation of this duty in your hearts and to stir up and quicken your endeavours and resolutions in the observation of the same being simply and absolutely the most sublime and perfect part of Gods Service under Heaven wherein the conscientiousness of men in observing such days according to rule discovers more sincerity of love to God and obedience to his Will then all other duties either of doing or suffering for God besides if this be neglected because necessity fear self-love may drive us to fast pray and extort other duties from us but only sense and feeling of Gods Love to us and our delight in him can draw us to this so high a Service which is so pleasing to God that he declares himself to be pleased in no other duty of his Worship whatsoever it be further then it is gratulatory and done in way of thankfulness unto him and make for the exaltation of his praise I note this in the second place Applied 2. for Caution to discover the odiousness and heinousness of their sin that shall neglect contemn or abuse this so high a Service as celebrating Gods high Praises in consciencious observing the days of Thanksgiving which is then perpetrated when they are appointed and also performed rather as a Ceremony then in sincerity rather as a matter of pomp and state in relation to men then as a duty of highest devotion and conscience towards God where men turn the days of Thanksgiving to God to days of liberty and licenciousness in themselves to days of inordinate eating Exod. 32. and excessive drinking as if with the Israelites their days of Thanksgiving to God were directed only to worship the golden Calf in sitting down to eat and drink and rise up to play and their practise therein the same that the wicked Jews observed in their Feasts against our Saviour to let loose a Malefactor Mat. 26. and crucifie the Son of God by which means it comes to pass that whereas days of Thanksgiving should be of all other the holiest these men by their wickedness change them into the prophanest possibly some of these men make some conscience to prepare themselves with some devotion when they come to the duties of hearing praying fasting c. but when they come to observe days of Thanksgiving their care is about nothing else but to put on their richest apparel to get ready a Thanksgiving dinner to be jovial with their carnal friends in carnal ways which done God must rest himself contented thus to be glorified but Oh ye foolish people Deut. 32.8 and unwise do you thus requite the Lord Will you call this a day of Thanksgiving and giving high Praises to God to eat the fat and drink the sweet and then being thereby waxen fat and pampered with Jesurun to kick up your heel against God by your prophaneness whom you pretend to extol by your high Praises What is this observation of days of Thanksgiving unto God but to do therein unto God as the Souldiers did unto Christ first to bow the knee of their profession by praise to worship him and then by their irreligiousness and excess to spit on his face and buffet him and instead of putting upon his head a crown of high Praises and Glory to crown him with the thorns of their prophaneness and infamy and could our Lord Jesus's voyce be heard in the midst of their confused jollity they would hear him say unto them as he speaks to the Jews John 10.32 Many good works have I done for you for which you pretend to serve me for which of them do you thus stone me I expected bread to day you give me stones I looked for fish and you give serpents I looked for high praises and you have

Joys of Heaven even the Masters Joy Mat. 25.23 Yea he will give his Son his Spirit and all his own Excellencies and Perfections besides his Glory to be the portion of his People but his Praise and Glory is so peculiar to himself as that he wil not give the least part of it to any how dear and beloved soever they be unto him I confess this high God permitteth and alloweth some kind of praises in the Scriptures to some special Instruments of his Praises but he alloweth no high Praises to any Distinguished from the praisepermitted to men which are first Relative but only low Praises and those bounded refracted with many cautions and limitations to distinguish the low Praises which are communicated to men from the high Praises peculiar to the most high God As first All praise to men is relative not absolute praise to man relates to no vertue or power essential in himself but derived and borrowed from God Acts 3.12 Why look you on us as if we by our own power and holiness had done any thing 2. All praise permitted to men 2. Transient as it is relative for meer borrowed and received worth so is it not immanent in them but transient through them unto God in so much that when it is most abundantly given unto him it is most fatal and sacrilegious to let the least degree of it abide with them or to be terminated upon them as the example of Paul and Barnabas Acts 14.15 and Herod Acts 12. demonstrate Now who seeth not that relative and transient Praises Praises for borrowed things that must not be received or kept are but low Praises and yet such are the highest Praises the Lord allows to be given or taken by any of his Instruments by whom or for whom he works I say to any even the best and choicest Instruments of his Glory because there be many Instruments by whom and for whom the Lord doth many high Acts and Works to whom he will not have any of this low relative transient praise be ascribed As first 3. Limited John 9.6 To no dead Instrument who will give any praise of the blind mans receiving his sight to the Clay which was put in his eyes 2. To no irrational Instrument though living who will give any praise to the Locusts Grashoppers Lice that were Instruments to overcome Pharaoh Exod. 8.9 and force him to let the Israelites go free from his Tyranny to serve the Lord in the Wilderness 3. To no dissallowed Instrument though rational in himself and permitted of God Matth. 26. what praise is due to Judas for being Instrumental in the work of Redemption who acted from his own lust and covetousness to empty his masters bags and fill his own 4. To no Instrument that is allowed in his work and approved of God if he intends not Gods end in the work as well as the performance of the work it self For what praise is due to Ashur the Rod of Gods Anger and the Staff of Gods Indignation who was sent and approved of God against an hypocritical Nation to spoyl prey upon and tred them down as mire in the street if yet he thinks not so nor intends Gods end in so doing but rather to strengthen his own hand and to cut off Nations not a few for instead of any praise therefore the Lord saith Isai 10.11 12. When be hath performed upon Jerusalem and mount Zion Gods work Gods whole work Gods whole work alone without other help and assistance that then he will punish him therefore yea and not only him but the fruit of his stout heart and proud looks Seeing then that no praise at all is due to many Instruments by whom and for whom God doth perform many glorious Acts both in subduing the Foes of his People and Church and redeeming his Church from Vassallage Tyranny and Bondage and the Praise that he allows to be given or taken by the most holy and choycest of Instruments in the Service of his Church is but relative and transient low praise It is manifest that the Praises of God are so high that they are not to be communicated to others but peculiar to himself alone whose glorious Name is exalted above all Blessing and Praise Neh. 9.5 In the second place 2. From the Effect The Praises of God will appear to be of a high sublime nature from the high Effect the genuine and proper fruit they produce viz. That although their Object to whom they are peculiarly appropriate I mean the Lord himself be in his own Nature and of himself most infinitely high and transcendent yet by the Attribution and performance of praise unto him doth he account his Name his Power his Wisdom and Justice and himself to be exalted and promoted thereby yea accepts of those inward conceptions of his Glory and those outward honors we do him in ascribing high Praises unto his Name as additions and augmentations of his highest Excellencies who was notwithstanding before God over all blessed for ever What else do those expressions in Scripture imply wherein it is asserted That by this high duty of praise the high Jehovah is exalted Psal 107.32 His sublime Perfections to be extolled and lifted up Psal 68.4 His great Name to be magnified Luke 1.64 His infinite Majesty to be glorified Psal 50.23 Oh how high must that duty that adds height to the high God that magnifies the great God and glorifies the God of Glory and makes him higher greater and more glorious then he was before Not that mens praises Not internally how perfectly and fully soever ascribed to God add any thing to the essential and inward perfections of the Almighty which can neither be enlarged or decreased but the Lord would shew unto us thereby That these high Praises added unto him But externally do therewith make as great an addition to the external splendor and lustre of his Glory as the most flagitious and exorbitant practises of wicked men do darken and detract from the same which practises of theirs though they do not neither can or ever shall diminish the least grain of the Immensity of his internal Bliss and Glory nor injure or harm in the least degree those infinite perfections of his Immutability or All-sufficiency yet by withdrawing and detracting from God those external good things which are due unto him which he requires to be given unto him and declares himself much delighted in the receipt of them they are said in Scripture to disgrace dishonour contemn God and despise him even so these high Praises rendring unto God that Honor Praise and Glory which he both commands and entertains with highest delight and pleasure do therewithal render him to all the world more conspicuous in Beauty and Glory then he would be without them For though the Sun would shine most gloriously in it self though all the world were blind or all the clouds in the ayr did hide his face from