is discover'd by the injury it doth to the incomparable God because our Estates our Names our Families our Neighbours our Nations our Bodies our Souls are all nothing infinitely less then Nothing to the great God the incomparable This this is the only Glass that discovers the horrid ugly features the monstrous frightful deformities of sins face that it is a wrong to the blessed God to him who is the high lofty one Isa 57.15 1. In that sin is a breach of this incomparable God's Law a violation of his Command a contradiction of his Will Whosoever sinneth transgresseth the Law for sin is a transgression of the Law 1 John 3.4 Neither the greatness nor smallness of our obedience or disobedience is to be valued according to the greatness or smallness of the thing commanded or forbidden nor according to the greatness or smallness of the good or hurt done to man by it but according to the greatness of the Person who commandeth or forbiddeth 2. In that it is a contempt of this incomparable God's Authority a slighting his Dominion a denying his Sovereignty Who is the Lord that I should obey his Voice Exod. 5.2 is the Voice of every Sinner We are our own say they Who is Lord over us Psal 12.4 They know no Maker and therefore own no Master For this cause the Sinner is said to cast the incomparable God behind his back as not worth minding or regarding 1 Kings 14.9 And to despise him as some mean inconsiderable Being 1 Sam. 2.30 2 Sam. 12.9 10. 3. In that it is a dishonouring this incomparable God whose name alone is excellent It layeth him low who is the most high Psal 92.1 Through breaking the Law dishonourest thou God Rom. 2.23 24. It is ill to reproach a common man worse to reproach a Noble man or a Prince but O how bad is it to reproach the great God! to blaspheme that worthy Name Sin layeth the honour of this incomparable God which is more worth then millions of Worlds in the dust and trampleth on it The Romans when they would mark one with ignominy and brand him with reproach would put him out of their Senate or any place of Credit in which he was and pull down his Statue or Monument if any were erected to his Honour Sin degrades and dethrones God it will not allow him to be the Lord and Supreme of the World and it defaceth his Image where-ever it finds it as one contrary expels another It disgraceth his Justice thence is called Vnrighteousness 1 John 1.6 His Wisdom thence is called Folly Prov. 5.23 His Patience thence is called Murmuring Jude 16. His Power thence is called Weakness Rom. 5.8 His Mercy thence is called Vnthankfulness Luke 6.35 His Knowledge thence is called Ignorance and a work of Darkness 1 Pet. 1.14 Eph. 5.8 His Truth thence is called a Lye and lying Vanity Psal 58.2 Jonah 2.8 In all these and every way it disgraceth his Holiness which is his Glory and the glory of all his Attributes Exod. 15.11 thence is called Filthiness 2 Cor. 7.1 Vncleanness Rom. 1.24 4. In that it is a fighting with and to its power a destroying this incomparable God The murther of any man is hainous it is horrid 't is against nature and 't is the extremest mischief that one Creature can do to another Gen. 4.10 Math. 10.28 The murther of a Father or a Sovereign is far more hainous as being more against Nature and against more ingagements to the contrary He is cursed that mocketh his Father and his Heart smote him who did but cut off the skirt of his Kings Garment thought his Enemy what a Monster then is he that kills either but O what a Monster what a Devil is that which destroyeth as far as it is able the good the gracious the great the glorious the incomparable God Truly sin is such a Monster such a Devil that were its power equal to its spite and its strength answerable to its malice the living God should not live a moment Omne peccatum est Dei-cidium All sin is God-murder The Sinner hates God Rom. 1.30 and hatred ever wisheth and as 't is able worketh the destruction of its object The Fool hath said in his heart There is no God Psal 14.1 i. e. It is a pleasing thought to him to suppose there were no God as to guilty Prisoners to imagine there were no Judge to arraign and condemn them whom we fear as hurtful to us we hate and wish he were taken out of the way In order hereunto the Sinner strives with God and contendeth with him Job 34.7 fighteth against him Acts 5.39 He stretcheth out his hand against God and strengtheneth himself against the Almighty He puts forth all his force and venteth all his strength He runneth upon him even on his neck upon the thick bosses of his Bucklers Runs upon him as one Enemy upon another furiously without fear and as he is able gets him down sets his Feet on his Neck trampleth on him and crusheth him Job 15.25 26. O how odious how loathsome how abominable is sin that breaks the Law slights the Authority dishonors the Name and to its utmost dethrones and destroys the Being of this incomparable God this self-sufficient independent absolutely perfect eternal incomprehensible infinite Being which alone deserves the name of Being and to which all other Beings are no Beings Reader should this God of Glory appear to thee as once to Abraham and shew thee a glimpse of his excellent glory that is above the Heavens should he discover to thee but a little of that greatness which the Heavens and Heaven of Heavens cannot contain of that duration which had no beginning hath no succession knoweth no ending of those perfections that admit of no bounds no limits that are uncapable of the least addition or accession to them and then should say unto thee as when he appeared to Saul Saul Saul why persecutest thou me Man man why despisest thou my Commands why despisest thou my Authority Sinner how darest thou dishonour my Name and seek my destruction What wouldst thou then think of Sin O what wouldst thou then think of thy self for thy sins Shouldst thou not have other thoughts of sin and of thy self for sin then ever yet thou hast had Wouldst thou not even loath thy self for being so base so vile so unworthy yea so mad as to offend affront and fight against such a God wouldst thou not cry out as Job I have sinned against thee and what shall I do unto thee O thou Preserver of men Job 7.20 I have sinned against thee an incomparable infinite unconceivable Being I have wronged thee the most high most holy most blessed God and what shall I do unto thee what amends shall I make thee what reparation shall I give thee It is impossible for me should I weep wail and lament and grieve millions of Ages to make the least satisfaction for the injury I have
A TREATISE OF THE Incomparableness of God In his BEING ATTRIBUTES WORKS and WORD opened and applyed By Geo. Swinnocke M. A. Sometime Preacher of the Gospel at great Kimbell in the County of Bucks Vera cognitio Dei est virtus pâ—r quam non modo concipimus esse aliquem Deum sed etiam tenemus quod de eo scire nostra interest ut eum recte colamus Polan Syntag. Theolog. lib. 9. cap. 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 John 17.3 LONDON Printed for Tho. Parkhurst and are to be sold at his Shop at the Bible and Three Crowns at the lower end of Cheap-side near Mercers Chappel 1672. TO THE WORSHIPFVL Henry Ashhurst Junior Esq And to the HONOVRABLE LADY Diana Ashhurst HIS Religious CONSORT SVch is the excellency of the Soul of Man that the very Heathen whose Souls were almost wholly immerst in grease and sensuality and serv'd but as Salt to preserve their Bodies for a time from putrefaction according to the Opinion of one of the most ingenious among them have acknowledged it a Divine Plant a drop of the Ocean of Beings a Ray of a Deity and the Body but the Case or Cabinet of this Jewel The dim Rush-light of Nature hath enabled some of them to discern the spirituality quick comprehensive self-reflective motions and immortality of their specifical forms as they called their Souls and thence to conclude their worth and nobleness But the clear Sun-light of Scripture advantageth unto a fuller discovery of its excellency It shews us its Original that it is of Celestial extraction created immediately by the Father of Spirits a beam of the Sun of Righteousness a bubble of the Fountain of Life of a much higher descent then the House of Clay and earthly Tabernacle the Body Gen. 2.7 Heb. 12.9 Zach. 12.1 It acquaints us with its duration that it runs parallel with the line of eternity and swallows up Years and Ages and Generations and thousands of thousands and millions of millions as small drops and minutes and nothings in the bottomless Ocean and endlesness of its abode and continuance When the Body like the Sacrifice falleth to the Earth and is turned into ashes the Soul like the Flame aspireth and ascendeth to God Eccles 12.7 Philip. 1.23 Math. 10.28 Math. 22.31 32. It manifesteth the Souls capacity how no Being is excepted from its consideration all are within its compass and horizon It can view every with its intellectual Eye It is not bounded with corporeal Beings nor limited with material Objects nor circumscribed with created Essences but is capable of apprehending the first Cause the Being of Beings the Original of all things It is able not only to retrospect upon its own motions and to survey the several parts and ranks and orders and rarities and delicacies and excellencies of the Earth and this sublunary World but also to ascend to the highest Heavens and behold the beautiful Face of the blessed God till it hath lookt it self into the very likeness and thereby rendred it self fit and meet for his dearest Love and eternal Embraces The excellency of our Souls doth eminently appear in its receptiveness of the Divine Image Great Princes do not stamp their Image on mean things as Brass and Pewter but on the most excellent metals as Silver and Gold Eph. 4.23 24. Coloss 3.10 Gen. 1.26 And its capableness of enjoying immediately the blessed God To stand before Kings doth both speak and make a person honourable and worthy Prov. 22.29 Isa 43.5 God alone is the Fountain of Honour and the Standard of Excellency Every Being is his Coin and he stampeth on it the rate it shall go at The Holiness and Happiness of the rational Creature consisteth in these two His Holiness in conformity to God his Happiness in communion with him And these two have a dependance on each other They onely who are like him can enjoy him If we say we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness we lie and the Truth is not in us 1 John 1.5 Holiness or the Image of God is not onely an indispensable condition without which no man shall enjoy God Heb. 12.14 John 3.3 But withall an absolutely necessary disposition without which no man can enjoy God Coloss 1.12 2 Cor. 5. And as Conformity disposeth for Communion so Communion increaseth Conformity Vision causeth assimulation in Nature Gen. 31.38 39. Grace 2 Cor. 3.18 And glory 1 John 3.2 Though the motions of the Vnderstanding and Will are in some respect circular yet the Vnderstanding is the first mover and the leading faculty and so the knowledge of the blessed God is both antecedent to and productive of this Image Though the knowledge of Creatures puffeth up polluteth and so debaseth and destroyeth the Soul sinking it the deeper into Hell as a Vessel laden with Silver and Gold and the most precious Commodities when it miscarrieth sinketh the deeper for its weight and burden 1 Cor. 8.1 Luke 12.47 48. Yet the Knowledge of God is humbling advancing purifying and saving Job 42. 2 Peter 3.18 John 17.3 The incomparable excellency of the boundless blessed God is the Subject of this Treatise which I present to you both as a Testimony of the Honour and Service I owe to you and of my desire to be instrumental for your spiritual and eternal good The Subject is the highest imaginable and though the manner of handling it be plain and ordinary and infinitely below and unbecoming the Divine Majesty For who can express his noble Acts or display all his Praise Psal 108.2 yet the matter of it doth deserve and may prevail for your acceptance of it If Knowledge be the excellency of a Man and differenceth him from a Beast surely then Divine Knowledge or the Knowledge of God in Christ is the excellency of a Christian and differenceth him from other Men. Our awe of love to and trust in the Divine Majesty are founded in the right knowledge of him Creatures the more they are known the less they are esteemed but the more the blessed God is known the more he is prized desired and obeyed Psal 73.25 Psal 76.7 Psal 90.11 Psal 9.10 Our hatred of Sin and contempt of the World proceed from our acquaintance with God He onely hath hateful thoughts of Sin and self-loathing apprehensions because of it who hath seen the great and glorious the good and gracious God whose Authority is contemned whose Law is violated whose Name is dishonoured whose Image is defaced and whose Love is abused by it Job 42.6 Isa 6.5 He onely lives above this present evil World and all the Riches and Honours and Pleasures thereof who can look beyond it to the infinite God and those unsearchable Riches and Weights of Glory and Rivers of Pleasures that are in and with him That which was rich and glorious and pleasant to a Soul before hath now no worth no glory no pleasure by reason of that wealth and glory and pleasure which doth so infinitely exceed When the
3.3 As if God had said because thou ravest and ragest like some huge unruly Fish or some fierce wild Beast I will take thee with my Hook and I will ring thee and curb thee and lead thee and draw thee whither I list The Devils are more untractable then Winds and Waves and Men They have great Power hence called The strong man Luke 11.21 And Powers Eph. 6.12 Their union doth much increase their strength Vis unita fortior They are so much one in their Confederacies and all their Conspiracies that they are called The evil One The wicked One Matth. 13.28 The Devil 1 Peter 5.8 Because though they are many thousands yet they agree and unite against God as if they were all but one They have much knowledge subtilty and policy to direct their Power Vis consilii expers c. Their excellent Natures their great Observation of Persons and Actions their long experience of some thousands of years in the World must needs speak their Wisdom or rather Craftiness to be great Add to these their innate implacable hatred of God which makes them imploy all their Power and improve all their Policy to offend and displease him to break from under his Yoke and Subjection yet in spight of all their Might their Craft their Malice he governeth them as a man doth his Prisoners whom he hath in Fetters He hath reserved them in Chains of Darkness Jude verse 6. He hath them ever in the Chains 1. Of their own terrifying affrighting Consciences which allow them no rest Day or Night Indeed all time is a dark dreadful time to them and all places are dark dismal places to them they are where-ever they go as Prisoners with Fetters upon them yea such Shackels as enter into and pierce their Spirits in Chains of Darkness 2. In Chains of Divine Providence God governeth their Persons and all their motions they go no whither but as he pleaseth though they go up and down in the Earth As subtile a Spirit as the Devil is he cannot touch Job Job 1.12 No nor the Swine without God's leave Matth. 8.31 He that would read more of the incomparableness of God in his Providence may see it incomparably set forth by God's own Mouth in the 37 38 39 40 41. Chapters of Job CHAP. XII God incomparable in the Work of Redemption He can do all things 3. HE is incomparable in the Work of Redemption And truly this Work is his Master-piece pure Workmanship and indeed all his Works of Creation and Providence are subordinate to this All his Attributes sparkle most gloriously in this Psal 102.16 All his Angels in Heaven admire and adore him for this Revel 4.10 11. This is the Work of all his Works which he is so mightily pleased with and reapeth so much Glory and Praise from Isa 42.1 Isa 43.21 No Angels no Men no not all together could with all their united Worthiness redeem one Soul None of them can redeem his Brother or give to God a Ransome for him For the Redemption of the Soul is precious it ceaseth for ever Psal 49.9 10. None beside God had pitty enough for mans misery or Wisdom enough to find out a Remedy or Power enough for his Recovery None had pity enough for mans Misery Boundless Misery call'd for boundless Mercy One deep for another But where is such Mercy to be found among the Creatures Man was a Child of Wrath had plunged himself into an Ocean of Evils and Fury and this required an Ocean of Love and Pity but Creatures at most had but drops but the Creator had infinite Grace for infinite Guilt and infinite Mercy for infinite Misery Ezek. 16.5 6 7 8. In the day of thy Nativity thou wast cast out to the loathing of thy Person thy Navel was not cut neither wast thou salted with Salt nor washed with Water Here is misery indeed but what help or compassion from Creatures truly none No Eye pitied thee to do any of these things unto thee who then had pity enough Then I passed by thee and saw thee in thy Blood Then was my time of Love and I bid thee live yea when thou wast in thy Bloud I said unto thee live God hath great Mercy for great Misery Eph. 2.4 5. Abundant Mercy for abundant Misery 1 Peter 1.3 A Plaister altogether as broad and as large as the Sore John 3.16 1 John 4.9 Eph. 3.19 Therefore the Holy Ghost observeth Luke 1.7 8. In the Work of Redemption the tender Mercy of our God from on high hath visited us None had Wisdom enough to find out a Remedy Had the Creatures had pity enough and kindness enough they had not wisdom enough to make Justice and Mercy meet together and Righteousness and Grace kiss each other If God should have offered Man his Pardon and Life upon Condition that he with Angels should consult and find out some way to satisfie his infinite Justice that was offended by Sin Alas poor man must of necessity have perished what Creature was able to undertake the satisfaction of infinite Justice It would have Bankrupt them all to satisfie for one of the smallest Sins And who could have thought of God the Creator to undertake it who durst have presumed to entertain such a motion in his Heart Could it have entered into the mind of Men or Angels that the Law might be fulfilled in its Commands and Curse the Glory of Divine Justice and Holiness salved and miserable man eternally saved No Creature would have thought of a way to reconcile the Justice and Mercy of God no Creature could have thought of any way for it nay no Creature durst have thought of such a way as God hath found out No He that made the World by his Wisdom Psal 104.24 when it had unmade it self new made it by his Wisdom Hence the Redemption of man is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the manifold the curious the embroydered Wisdom of God such Wisdom as passed the Knowledge of Angels Ephes 3.10 And the Redeemer is called The Wisdom of God 1 Cor. 1.24 In this Work is infinite Wisdom because in this Work infinite Justice and infinite Mercy do meet Rom. 3.24 25. Ephes 2.5 7. 1 John 4.9 10. Again None had Power to have gone through with the Work if they had had Wisdom to have found out a way There was so much to be done in order to mans Recovery that it would have undone all the World if they had undertaken it The Powers of Hell must be over-come the Curse of the Law and Wrath of the Law-Giver must be born Sin that was so strong and fast in the Heart of Man must be subdued Grace and Holiness against which Man had an emnity must be infused and what Power less then Omnipotent could effect either of these God who discover'd great Power in creating the World of nothing discover'd much greater in redeeming the World when it was worse then nothing In the former he had no opposition
If he will take away nothing shall stand in his way The four great strong Monarchies of the World that successively were the dread and terrour of the Earth were taken away by him and who hindered him All their Policy and Power could not prevent him or hinder their Ruine Dan. 2.44 God hath a Negative Voice upon the motions of all the Creatures Who is he that saith and it cometh to pass if the Lord commandeth it not Lament 3.27 They who reckon without him must reckon again They must ask his leave as well as have his assistance or sit still and do nothing Their Wheels though never so well oyl'd stand still or go backward if he say Nay to their motion forward He speaketh to the Sun and it riseth not and sealeth up the Stars Job 9.7 No day not the least light in the Heavens at night without his leave but no Creature hath a Negative Voice upon the least of his Actions What he will do he doth and never asketh Men or Angels leave Nay challengeth them to hinder him if they can Isa 43.13 I will Work who shall let it Observe his Resolution I will Work He speaks like one in Authority that is above all Checks and Controls that can make good what he purposeth in spight of all opposition I will Work Observe also his Challenge who shall let it Would I could see the Man the Angel that durst stand in the way of my motions The Jews might think Babylon will let I saith God have sent to Babylon and destroyed all their Princes I have broken in pieces those Iron Bars There is no fear that they should hinder my entrance into their City He can give a Supersedeas to the highest Attempts and strongest Designs of Creatures He can blow on them and they are soon blasted all their politick Conceptions prove abortive Take Counsel together and it shall come to nought Isa 8.10 Their most powerful Engins prove ineffectual Verse 9. Gird your selves and ye shall be broken in pieces Some of them talked at a great at a high rate We will go up against Judas and destroy it and set a King in the midst thereof even the Son of Tabeal But they speak beyond their strength and reckon as we say without their Host Thus saith the Lord God It shall not stand neither shall it come to pass Isa 7.6 7. But none can give a Supersedeas to the least of his Attempts Behold he breaketh down and it cannot be built up again he shutteth up a Man and there can be no opening Job 12.14 2. He worketh arbitrarily according to his own will He doth what he will and he alone may do what he will It is argued by many that some Princes are not accountable for what they do to any Men but all hold they are accountable to God They are his Stewards and Deputies and must give an account to him of their Stewardships They are his Creatures and are or ought to be limited by his Laws and so must be responsible to him for their Carriages and Government No King is absolute or arbitrary in his Governments because all Kings are his Subjects and owe Allegiance to His Majesty and Obedience to his Commands But God is absolute and arbitrary and may do what he will do every thing that he doth is just because he doth it He doth what he will in Heaven and Earth and none can say unto him what dost thou Dan. 4.35 He is responsible to none for any of his Actions none may question him much less quarrel with him for what he doth Angels are far from being arbitrary His will not their own is their Rule Psal 103.20 Ye Ministers of his that do his Pleasure He onely that is above all Law is above all Transgression 1 John 4.3 And he whose will is the onely Rule of Rectitude and Righteousness may well do what he will Rom. 12.2 He hath an absolute illimited Propriety in all the Works of his Hands He is the great Proprietor of all the World and therefore may dispose of all at his pleasure Psal 24.1 Matth. 20.13 15. May I not do what I will with mine own Friend I do thee no wrong Though men may have a civil Right to their Estates and a natural Right to themselves and their Children yet the Original in all is still God's He divests himself of nothing by lending any thing to us or trusting us with it and therefore he may use what is his own at his own liberty and pleasure and none may question or quarrel With him for it Again He is Supreme and so above all answering or accounting for any thing he doth He is the most high Psal 92.1 It 's no disparagement to Men or Angels to be under a Law nay 't is essential to them as they are Creatures But he that is Supreme and giveth all Laws to others is under no Law himself Indeed if he had a Superior he might be called to account by him But why strivest thou against him he giveth no account of any of his matters Job 33.13 Why strivest thou against him Not by open force but secret murmurings and logical arguings against his providential Dispensations It 's vain for he giveth no account of any of his matters He is not bound to tell thee what he doth or why he doth it He hath received nothing from thee and so not bound to account to thee Rom. 11.35 Thou hast no Authority to call him to account what Man or Angel hath Power to call him to account In the next Chapter the Holy Ghost doth fully speak for our purpose Job 34.10 12 13. Far be it from God that he should do wickedly and from the Almighty that he should pervert Judgment Who hath given him a Charge of the Earth Whose Deputy is he in the Government of the World If he be a Deputy or Vice-Roy to any Superior Power then he must keep close to the Instructions and act according to the Commission he receiveth from them or be accountable for his wandrings and deviations But who hath given him a Charge over the Earth What Man what Angel where is he what or who is he that hath given him a charge If there were one higher then God to give him a Rule then if he swerved from it he was faulty but because he is higher then the higest of Beings and his own Law therefore he may do what he will without blame Who hath enjoyned him his way or can say unto God Thou hast wrought Iniquity Job 36.23 God's way is his method of Working his manner of governing the World Now saith the Holy Ghost Who hath any authority over him to injoyn him his way of working the Path in which he should walk that in case he stept aside he might say unto him Thou hast wrought Iniquity No not any and therefore its desperate presumption for any to complain of him what ever he doth Who art thou that replyest against God Rom.
Just in what it forbids us to do and good in both What Laws in the World are in any degree comparable to the Laws of God The Mahometan Laws which have gained so much credit in the greatest part almost of the known World are impure Laws allowing Revenge Poligamy and commanding Slaughters Oppressions c. for the Propagation of their Religion The Laws of the severest Heathen Lycurgus c. contained but the Carcass and Body of Purity had nothing of the Soul and Life thereof How many Sins against the very Law of Nature did that Lacedemonian Law-Giver allow of and where he or any of the rest did forbid Sin it was in the outward actions not in the inward affections Their Laws did rather Command the covering of Sin that it might not appear abroad then the killing of Sin that it might not be at all Their Laws were defective as to persons some Men were usually priviledged and not bound to them as to the parts of men they gave the inward man liberty though they restrained the outward as to Punishments the greatest Penalty they could think of or impose was a Temporal Death They never dreamed of an Hell in another World But O how pure how perfect is the Law of God! Thy Word is very pure saith David Psal 119. So pure that there is not the least mixture falshood or error in it It commands all and nothing but conformity to the mind of the great Soveraign and Lord of all things The Law of the Lord is perfect Psal 19.7 So perfect that it is not deficient in any thing It commandeth purity in the whole man in every faculty of the Soul in every member of the Body It commandeth purity in this whole man at all times in all companies in all conditions in all relations in all manner of conversation 1 Pet. 1.15 16. Psal 119.1 2. It 's apparent to common sense that fallen man could never dream of such strict exact Precepts no he is so far from it that he is wholly contrary thereunto Rom. 8.7 And Angels could not imagine them unless God had signified his mind to them For all holiness being a conformity to the Will of the most high God they could not discern what was holy what was unholy any farther then they could discover the Will of this incomparable God 2. The mystery of its Doctrines It containeth such Depths such bottomless Profundities that could not possibly have been imagin'd by Men or Angels had not God reveal'd them It acquainteth us with things far above the reach of created Reason though not contrary yet being told us are so correspondent that there is no ground left for the questioning them What the great Apostle saith upon occasion of one mystery we may say upon the whole O the Depth O the Depth of the Wisdom and Knowledge of God! Rom. 11.33 O the Depth of the holy Scriptures There is a Depth in them that none can fathome because a Depth in them that hath no bottom Great is the mystery of the Bible Who could think of a Womans coming into the World without a Woman as Eve of a mans coming into the World without a man as the Son of man nay without man or woman as Adam who could think that the same Woman should be a Mother a Virgin But these are small mysteries who could think that many thousands millions living many Miles and Ages distant should be fellow members and be truly one Body sympathising with serviceable to rejoycing in the welfare of each other all be united unto receive influence from and live wholly by one Head as far from them as Heaven is from the Earth Eph. 5.27 28 29 30. Coloss 2.19 Who could have thought that three really and personally distinct should be equal and one in nature and essence 1 John 5.7 Who could have imagin'd that God should become Man infinite become finite the Creator a Creature the Father of Spirits become Flesh and the Lord of Life be put to Death Who could conceive that he who made all things of nothing should be made himself of a Woman made by him That he whom the Heavens and Heaven of Heavens cannot contain should be contained in the narrow Womb of a Woman That the onely Bread of Life should be hungry the onely Water of Life be thirsty the onely Rest be weary the onely Ease be pained and the onely Joy and Consolation be sorrowful exceeding sorrowful unto Death Who could have imagin'd that one yea millions should be rich by anothers poverty filled by anothers emptiness be exalted by anothers disgrace healed by anothers wounds eased by anothers Pains be absolved by anothers Condemnation and live eternally by anothers temporal Death Who could have imagin'd that infinite Justice and infinite Mercy should be made fast Friends and fully satisfied by one and the same action that the greatest fury and the greatest favor the greatest hatred and the greatest love should concur in and be manifested by one and the same thing Could Men or Angels speak such Mysterles surely No. Several Mysteries in the Scriptures were hid from whole Ages and Generations of Men Which in former Ages was not made known to the Children of Men Eph. 3.5 No nor to Angels neither Verse 10. To the intent that now unto Principalities and Powers might be made by the Church the manifold Wisdom of God 3. The Prophesies and Predictions of the Word Neither Men nor Angels can fore-tell those things which depend not on natural Causes or which may not be deduced from moral or political Grounds and even in such things as these are they may be and have been deceived Therefore it was the subtilty of the old Serpent to deliver his Oracles often in ambiguous words and in deceitful Speeches that whatsoever happened his Credit might be salved as his Aio te Aeacida Romanos vincere posse Ibis redibis nunquam per bellae peribis c. But God fore-tels what hath no print of any footing in Nature what neither moral nor political Principles can direct unto and never fails in his Predictions He fore-tells the Birth of Cyrus 100 years before he was born Isa 48.28 The Birth of Josiah 200 years 1 Kings 13.2 The Conversion of the Gentiles and falling off of the Jews above 2000 years before it came to pass Gen. 9.27 Isa 49.6 Isa 54.9 10. He fore-tells the Birth of Chirst near 4000 years before he came into the World Gen. 3.15 And it is very observable how punctual and particular he is herein as knowing how much the well-fare of the World did depend upon the Knowledge of the true Messiah he tells you long before-hand of what Tribe he should come of Judah of what Family Davids of what Person a Virgin where he should be born in Bethlehem whence he must be called out of Egypt what his condition should be in general full of Sorrows and Griefs in particular that he should be disgraced and reviled tempted betrayed
But the knowledg of God purifieth the soul As the Sun conveyeth heat along with its light so grace is multiplied through the knowledge of God 2 Pet. 1.2 When Moses had convers'd with God in the Mount his feet shone that the Jews could not behold him When a Soul hath once acquainted himself with the blessed God his life will shine with holiness therefore David counselleth his Son Solomon to know the God of his Fathers and to serve him with a perfect heart and willing mind first to know him then to serve him 1 Chron. 28.9 This knowledge must needs be a sanctifying knowledge because it renders sin abominable the world contemptible God honourable and the soul the more humble The knowledge of God will render sin most abominable to the Soul it renders sin to be exceeding sinful The miseries that befall us in our estates names bodies souls nay all the curses of the Law and torments of the damned do not discover the ugly loathsome features and monstrous deformed nature of sin like the knowledge of this incomparable God Job confesseth his sin Job 42.2 I uttered things that I understood not nay he abhorreth himself for his sin v. 5. But whence came he who sometime justifyed himself too much now to abhor himself He gives us the reason or cause of it I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear I had some knowledge of thee before but now mine eyes see thee I now have a clearer and fuller knowledge of thee wherefore I abhor my self and repent in dust and ashes The more we know the greatest good the more we shall hate the greatest evil The knowledge of God will render the world contemptible to a Christian None undervalue the Creature but those who have had a sight of the Creator neither can any trample on the riches honours and pleasures of this world but those who know him who is the riches and honours and pleasures of the other world They who never saw the Sun wonder at a Candle and they who never knew the blessed God wonder at and are fond of poor low things mean small pitiful things on earth But the whole world with all its Crowns and Scepters and Diadems and Delights is but a dunghill to him that hath seen the incomparable God Moses could refuse the honour of being the adopted Child of a Kings Heir reject the pleasures of Pharaoh's Court and prefer the reproaches of Christ before all the Treasures of Egypt when he had once got a sight of the Incomparable God Heb. 11.25 26 27. For he saw him that was invisible The knowledge of God will render God more honourable in our esteems The more we know of many things and persons the more we sleight and despise them The more we know sin the more we loath it the more we know our selves the more we abhor our selves but the more we know God the more we love him and the more we admire him The reason of all the contempt and affronts which we offer to God is our ignorance of him The whole world lyeth in wickedness as a beast in its dung or vermine in their slime 1 Joh. 5.19 but the reason is what Christ speaks Joh. 17.25 Father the world hath not known thee for the Apostle saith had they known they would never have Crucified the Lord of Glory 1 Cor. 2.8 They who know God cannot but see infinite reason why they should love and fear and honour and please him all their dayes Why do you think is God so much wondred at and worshipped in his Church more than in other parts of the world Why doth he inhabit their highest praises Psal 22.3 and greatest blessings and thanksgivings but because he is known more there than in other parts of the world In Judah is God known therefore his name is great his name alone is excellent in Israel Psal 76.1 The knowledge of God makes us humble We never are so low in our own eyes as when we see the most high God The more we know of men that are more vain and foolish and wicked than our selves the more we are exalted and puffed up but the more we know of God of the great God the incomparable God the most holy God to whom we are as nothing less than nothing worse than nothing the more we abase our selves When David is acquainted with the excellency of God O Lord my Lord how excellent is thy name in all the earth and thy glory is above the Heavens Psal 8.1 What low little diminutive thoughts hath he of himself and others v. 4. What is man or what is the Son of man What a poor pitiful contemptible thing is man What a vain empty insignificant nothing is the Son of man We are ashamed of our rush Candles or Glow-worms hide our heads in the presence of the Sun The holiest man abhors himself for his unholiness before the most Holy God So Job 25.2 Dominion and fear are with him v. 3. There is no number of his Armies v. 5. Behold even to the Moon and it shineth not and the Stars are not pure in his sight How much less man that is a worm and the Son of man that is a worm v. 6. A worm is the most despicable contemptible creature every beast trampleth on it such a creature is man in his own apprehensions when he once understandeth the incomparable God When Isaiah had seen the Lord of Hosts though he were an Holy man he cryeth out I am undone I am a man of unclean lips for mine eyes have seen the Lord of Hosts Isa 6.3 4. He never saw so much of his own uncleanness as when he saw him in whose presence the Heavens are unclean Other knowledge like wind in a bladder puffeth up 1 Cor. 8.2 but the knowledge of God as fire nigh the bladder shrinks and shrivels it up to nothing 2. The knowledge of God is a satisfying knowledge A man may know much of Creatures and the more he knoweth the more unquiet and restless he is his knowledge as wind to the stomack may fill and pain and trouble him but cannot satisfie him for Creatures are not that savory meat which the heaven-born spiritual immortal Soul of man would have and must have if ever it be contented The greatest Students who have wearied and tired out their brains and bodies in the search of Natures secrets have found by experience that they spent their strength for what is not bread and their labour for what will not satisfie and they have known the truth of the Wise mans saying He that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow Eccles 1.18 That knowledge which satisfieth must be of an object that is suitable in its spirituality to the nature of the Soul in its all-sufficiency to the manifold necessities of the Soul and in its immortality to the duration of the Soul if either of these be wanting in it the Soul cannot receive satisfaction by it because without all these the
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