He expresses his joy by bursting forth into praises Blessed be the Lord c. 3. He lays down the grounds and reasons 1. the deliverance of the Israelites from the hand of the Egyptians 2. the destruction of the Egyptians before the face of Israel v. 11. 4. He offers Sacrifices and Burnt-offerings and so he rejoyces Corde Ore Opere in Heart in Word and in Work v. 12. 5. Aaron and all Israel rejoyce with him in the last part of the 12th verse Doct. Hence we learn That it is a Duty incumbent upon all Jethro and Moses Aaron and Israel Priest and People to bless God and to make his praise to be glorious when he glorifies his mercie in delivering his Church we are then to praise God greatly when he gives us great Deliverances then it is seasonable to sing a Benedictus Blessed be the Lord who hath delivered his people from the hand of the Egyptians c. So Psal 66.8 O bless our God ye people and make the voyce of his praise heard which holdeth our soul in life and suffereth not our feet to be moved for thou O God hast proved us thou hast tried us as â—…lver is tryed thou broughtest us into the net thou layedst affliction upon our loyns that hast caused men to ride over our heads we went through fire and through water c. Here is great affliction the net men riding over their heads passing through fire and through water great Dangers then great Deliverances v. 12. Thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place therefore they sing great praises v. 13. I will go into thy house with burnt-offerings I will pay thee my vows which my lips have uttered when I was in trouble I will offer thee burnt sacrifices of fatlings with the incense of rams I will offer bullocks and goats and then he concludes with a Benedictus Blessed be God v. 20. I might multiply Scriptures for further evidences of this truth but this may suffice Now to come to the Reasons and Arguments of the point Why is this a duty incumbent upon all Why are we then to sing great praises when the Lord gives us great Deliverances 1. Because by so doing we glorifie God Psal 50.23 Whoso offereth praise he glorifieth me Thus did David 1 Chron. 29.10 Benedictus Blessed be thou O Lord God of Israel our father for ever and ever Thine O Lord is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the Majesty for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine thine is the kingdom O Lord and thou art exalted as head above all God requires not our Wisdom to direct him nor our strength to assist him nor our dignity to advance him but our thankfulness to adore him Grace requires Gratitude when God extends his bountifulness we are to be inlarged in our thankfulness when Benefits are gotten the Benefactors must not be forgotten we must glorifie God and sing praises to him that is holy and that inhabiteth the praises of Israel Psal 22.4 Secondly Why is it so c. It is because such return of blessing thanks and praises is Gods tribute that pepper-Corn of acknowledgement that all we have we hold in Capite we have it from him from whom every good gift and every perfect gift doth descend even from him who is the father of lights Jam. 1.17 and the detaining of this tribute is no less then God-robbing and the Apostles exhortation is Let him that stole steal no more Ephes 4.28 It is Gods tribute Psal 50.14,15 Offer unto God thanksgiving and pay thy vows to the most high And call upon me in the day of trouble and I will deliver theeâ— and thou shalt glorifie me Thus Melchisedeck King of Salem and Priest of the most high God pays his tribute and returns praise for Abrahams deliverance from the sword of the four Kings that fought against Sodom Benedictus Deus fortis excelsus Blessed be the most high strong God Gen. 14.20 And the Prophet Habakkuk seeing by the perspective of Prophesie the deliverance of the Church from the Captivity of Babel pays his tribute before-hand and blesses God greatly for that great deliverance Hab. 3.17 c. David's Psalmes are so many store-houses of Examples Every Psalm as one notes is either an Hosanna or else an Hallelujah either God bless or God be blessed either Prayers or Praises either Prayers for Mercies or Praises for Mercies Thirdly Because thankfulness for Mercies or Deliverances received is honum jucundum it is fit meet and decent it is a good and pleasant thing Psal 92.1 It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord and to sing praises unto thy name O most high to shew forth thy loving kindeness in the morning and thy faithfulness in the night for thou Lord hast made me glad through thy work and I will give thanks for the operation of thy hands It is good and pleasant it is Mel in One Melos in Aure Jubilatio in Corde Honey in the Mouth Musick in the Ear and Melody in the Heart And therefore the Apostle exhorts us Ephes 5.19,20 Speak to your selves in Psalms and Hymns and spiritual songs singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ and Col. 3.16 Let the word of God dwell in you richly in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms and Hymns and spiritual Songs singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Thus did David sing with grace in his heart Psal 108.1 O God my heart is fixed my heart is fixed I will sing and give praise even with my glory I will praise thee O Lord amongst the people and I will sing praises unto thee among the nations For thy mercie is great above the heavens and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds Be thou exalted O God above the heavens and thy glory above all the earth Fourthly The very Dictates of Nature teach us gratuity and thankfulness to our Benefactors All rivers saith the wise man come from the sea and all rivers by way of a thankful Retribution return and empty their waters into the Sea God is the main Ocean the great sea of all blessings all Rivers of blessings flow from him and therefore according to the very dictates of Nature ought to be returned unto him Psal 93.3 The floods have lifted up O Lord the floods have lifted up their voice Ainsworth in locum tells us That the Chaldee hath it thus The floods have lifted up their voice of praises to God and the floods have received the reward of their praises from God Psal 91.1 The heavens declare the glory of God Psal 96.12 Psal 98.7 Psal 148. There is a general summons and invitation not onely of all sorts of men but also all manner of Creatures to this duty and to joyn together in this Harmony to give praises to God and to make
and children whom they had drowned sometimes singing Psalms sometimes brandishing naked Swords sometimes scritching in a fearful manner the very Rebels that dwelt near the place confessed it and were so terrified with those dayly Apparitions that they were forced to remove their dwellings But the Priests and Fryars to make the matter sound the better in the ears of their seduced Proselytes told them it was the cunning sleight of the Devil to hinder the great work of propagating the Catholick Religion and killing the Hereticks And indeed these two must go together they cannot propagate their Catholick Doctrine but by our destruction If the Protestants stand Rome must fall but if Rome stand Rome will be still contriving our fall I must write one thing in a Parenthesis because it is not fit to come into the sentence and that is the prodigious and unheard-of villanies which they acted with women even after they were dead In a word I may say of those many prodigious Villanies savage Cruelties and barbarous Inhumanities which they without any scuple commonly and generally acted as the Poet said Saevior es tristi Busiride saevior illo Qui falsum lenio torruit igne bovem Quique bovem Siculo fertur donasse tyranno Et dictis artes conciliasse suas Non mihi si centum linguae sint oraque centum Ferrea vox If I had an hundred Tongues and a Voyce of Thunders I could not speak all that they have acted and others suffered in the time of the late unparallelled Rebellion My Lords the Lord hath preserved you and us in the midst of the over-flowing waters of Jordan that the waters of the proud have not gone over our soul Our Danger was great our Deliverance was great and therefore we should endeavor to render to the Lord according to the great Blessings we have received This is the sum and substance of the following Sermon which I humbly offer unto Your Honours Now He that keepeth Israel watch over You continually guide You here with his Counsel and after receive You to glory This is the Prayer of Your Honours unworthy Servant W. LIGHTBVRN From my Study in S. Audoens Arch Octob. 25. 1661. EXOD. XVIII X. And Jethro said Blessed be the Lord who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians THE Book of Exodus may be divided into two parts Historical and Dogmatical the Historical part is laid down in this and the seventeen preceeding Chapters the Dogmatical part begins in the next Chapter The Historical part is a Compendium or a summary Recaptitulation of the remarkable passages of the Lords providential actings towards Israel in the time of their aboad in Egypt their coming out of Egypt and their travels in the Wilderness In the beginning of this Chapter we have a relation of Jethro's journey to visit Moses his Son-in-law Moses Declaration of the goodness of God to Israel and Jethro's return of praise Jethro comes to Rephidim Num. 33.14 the eleventh stage where Israel pitched after their coming out of Egypt and that is as Geographers account but sixteen miles from the City of Midian the place of Jethro's residence When Moses was given to understand of Jethro's coming he goes forth to meet him wherein by the way we may note 1. Moses humility who being so great a Prince Commander in chief of so great a People yet disdains not to humble himself not onely to go out to meet him but also to do obeysance unto him 2. His love he kissed him 3. His humanity gentleness and curtesie he asked him of his welfare 4. His hospitality and beneficence he brought him into his tent 5. His gratitude he maketh a thankful rehearsal and repetition of Israels wonderful deliverance 6. We have an intimation of his patience under the afflictions of Israel 7. His fidelity in all God's house he teaches others by his Example to celebrate the praises of God his mercie and his goodness and not to fall into despondencie under the pressure of the greatest afflictions but to rely upon the promises to depend upon God and to commit the issue to him knowing it is but a little while and then he that shall come will come and will not tarry Heb. 10.37 All this we have in the 8th verse Thus Moses informs Jethro in the History of the Church and Jethro advises Moses touching the administration of the Commonwealth vers 19. c. seq Then Jethro is described 1. by his proper Name Jethro 2. by the name of his Office a Priest 3. by the place where he exercised his Priesthood in Midian vers 1. The Midianites were of the progeny of Abraham by Keturah Gen. 25.2 and therefore Jethro may be presumed to have some measures of knowledge of the true God though he lived among a people that were drunk with idolatry and drowned in the Errors of heathenish superstitions 1. Because he came from the loyns of Abraham of whom the Lord gives this Character Gen. 18.19 I know that Abraham will command his children and his houshold after him and they shall keep the way of the Lord to do justice and judgement that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him 2. Because of his long conversing with Mâ—ses If any object that expression vers 11. Now I know that the Lord is great c. I answer This is no argument that he knew not the greatness and goodness of JEHOVAH before this time but that he knew it now that is more evidently more conspicuously and by a new demonstration it argues an encrease and corroboration of his faith and that now his former knowledge was sealed up by a new argument and experiment how great the Lord is in his power in delivering his people and how terrible he is in his Majesty in confounding their enemies Such an expression is used Act. 10.34 Now I perceive that God is no respecter of persons Peter knew this before but he is said to know it now because he knew it anew by a new miracle by anew vision and revelation And so 1 King 17.24 the woman of Zarephath says Now by this I know that thou art a man of God she knew it before by the multiplying of the meal in the barrel and the oyl in the cruse vers 14.15,16 but she says I know it now that is by a new miracle by raising my dead son to life And Psal 20.7 Now know I that the Lord saveth his anointed c. David knew this before but he is said now to know it because he then knew it by a new salvation by a new deliverance The Text contains Jethro's Doxology for Israel's Deliverance 1. Jethro rejoyced v. 9. Hebr. Vaiichad Gr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he was astonished he was as it were in an extasie that imports the greatness of his wonder and admiration at such a stupendious Act. 2.
in singing praises with Instruments of musick to make the praises of God to be the more glorious and the more to raise up their spirits to an higher strein that their Soules and all that was within them might eccho forth the goodness of God and praise his holy name and men and women and all the congregation might with more cherefulness joyn together in that harmony so Ex. 15.1 there Moses sets the song is Praecentor of the choire and he all the men of Israel sing separately by themselves I will sing unto the Lord for he hath triumphed gloriously c. and then the women they make an other Choire and sing separately by themselves Miriam the Prophetess beginning the song they sing alternatim as in a Choire and they sing with musical instruments v. 20. And Miriam the Prophetess the Sister of Aaron took a timbrel in her hand and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances and Miriam answered them and said sing ye to the Lord for he hath triumphed gloriously c. The Doway translators note upon the beginning of the chapter out of Origen in his 6 Homily upon Exodus that this is the first canticle hat ever we read of either sacred or profane Thus did Deborah and Barak after the deliverance of Israel from the oppression of Sisera they sang their Psalm of thanksgiving Jud. 5.1 And thus wee read that the women sang with musicall instruments alternatim answering one another 1. Sam. 18.6 The women came out of all the Cities of Israel singing and dancing with tabrets with joy and with instruments of musick or three stringed instruments and the women answered one another as they played and said c. Thus when Jehosaphat and the remnant of Juda had received a gracious deliverance from the numerous Army of the Ammonites Moabites and Edomites he and all Juda with him sang Psalmes of thanksgiving to the Lord for that great deliverance with psalteries harps and trumpets 2 Chr. 20.27 they returned saith the text every man of Juda and Jerusalem Jehosaphat in the forefront of them to go again to Jerusalem with joy for the Lord had made them to rejoyce over their enemies And they came to Jerusalem with Psalteryes and Harps and trumpets unto the house of the Lord. Many such examples we have in Davids Psalms as Psalms to be sung on Neginoth upon Nehiloth and upon Sheminith upon Gittith upon Muthlabben c. which were musical instruments used in singing praises such as the flute trumpet cornet organs virginals c. And in particular there are 15. Psalms called gradual psalms psalmes of Ascents or psalmes of degrees which begin with the 120. Psal which are Gratulatory Psalmes made to be sung with musicall Instruments for the deliverance of the Church from the Captivity of Babell and the Jewes in their celebration of the Passeover have of antient time used to sing gratulatory Psalmes or Songs of thanksgiving for the deliverance of the Church from the bondage of Egypt Sic Paulus Burgensis in Psal 113. Buxtorf Lex Talmud page 613. That is Psal 113. 114 115 116 117. and 118. which they call Magnum Hallelujah and this Song or hymn the learned are of opinion was the same which our Saviour and his disciples sung after they had celebrated his last passeover and the text will bear it Mat. 26.30 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is hymning it or singing the hymn what hymn the hymn 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that hymn which the Jews used to sing at their three greatest feasts and especially at the feast of the passeover and with which hymn they concluded the feast and when our Saviour had celebrated the same feast it may well be he concluded with the same Song a Song of thanksgiving for Israels deliverances Then sixtly in there their Solemnities they stirred up themselves to the more thankfulness by rehersals and repetitions of the manner or means by which they were delivered they did set forth Magnalia Mirifica Dei Jud. 5.11 there is a rehersall of the rightous acts of the Lord towards Israel and the end was that his name onely might have the praise thus when Moses and Israel Sung a Song of praise to Jehova for their deliverance out of the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharao a principall part of that Song is to set forth Magnalia Dei the great and wonderfull working of the Lord in that deliverance in the manner and the greatness of his Excellency that in his wrath consumed the Egyptians like stubble Ex. 15.7 That with the blast of his nostrills he made the waters stand upon an heape and the depths to be congealed in the heart of the Sea that he did but blâ—w with his winde and the Sea covered them and they sanke as lead 〈◊〉 the mighty waters he did but stretch out his hand his right hand and the earth swallowed them and thereupon they sing who is like unto thee O Lord among the Gods who is like unto thee glorious in holiness fearefull in praises doing wonders v. 11. And the prophet David making a thankfull memoriall of that great deliverance invites all men to come and see and consider Magnalia Mirabilia Dei the wonderfull workings of God in bringing to passe that great deliverance Psal 66.1 Make a joyfull noise unto God all ye Lands sing for the honour of his name make his praise to be glorious Say unto God how terrible art thou in thy works through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee All the earth shall worship thee and shall sing unto thee they shall sing unto thy name Selah Come and see the works of God he is terrible in his doings toward the children of men he turned the Sea into dry Land they went through the flood on foot there did we rejoyce in him O blesse God ye people and make the voice of his praise to be heard c. Psal 77.16 The waters saw thee O God the waters saw thee and were afraid the depths also weare troubled the clouds poured out water the Skyes sent out a sound thine arrowes also went abroad the voice of thy thunder was in the heaven the lightnings lightned the world the earth trembled and shooke Thy way is in the Sea and thy path in the great waters and thy foot steps are not known Psal 78.12 Marvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers in the land of Egypt in the feild of Zoan He divided the Sea and caused them to passe through and he made the waters to stand as an heap In the day time he led them also with a cloud and all the night with a light of fire c. And Deborah and Barak in their song of thanks-giving set forth Magnalia Mirabilia Dei the wonderfull works of God how the armies of Heaven Earth fought for their rescue and deliverance Jud. 5.20 They fought