blaspheme their Graces or once suspect or imagine that any thing that is found upon them in that kinde that carrieth the appearance of glory and excellency in it but that it hath the reality truth weight and substance also The holinesse of the Saints hath no enemy but either he that is ignorant of their interest in God or else of that God in whom their interest is Fourthly you may see in the Doctrine delivered that faire Fountaine opened that hath sent forth and still sendeth all those sweet and pleasant streames wherewith the City of God hath been refreshed and made glad in all ages I meane all those mercies blessings those great and strange deliverāces which have been brought about for them wherein they have been blessed above other men That interest they had in God hath stood them in this stead this hath been as a Fountaine of living waters unto them springing up continually to relieve them The Lord saith David Psal 126. hath done great things for us whereof we rejoyce What is the reason of that great difference between the Church of God and all other societies of men and Kingdomes and Monarchies and Nations of the world which David expresseth Psal 20.8 They are brought downe and fallen but we are risen and stand upright that so many great and mighty Nations that had Chariots and Horses and walled Cities and the thickest shields every wayes that could be made of flesh for their safety and yet these destroyed we that are but a few weake and unarmed in comparison and yet we stand The reason of this difference may well be gathered out of the former verse They trusted in Chariots and Horses these were their owne they had propriety in these and so had the help they could afford But the Church having the name of the God of Iacob for them this was more for their security and defence then all the Chariots and Horses of war then all Castles and Fortresses whatsoever The one had interest in the Lord God was theirs his Power his Might his Wisdome was theirs and he hath let them have their owne in all times of their necessity and so they have been supported whereas all the world besides having no other strength then themselves no better hope then what an arme of flesh could doe for them have not been able to stand If the Lord had not been Ps 124.1 on our side saith David that is had not God been ours may Israel now say if it had not been the Lord who was on our side when men rose up against us then they had swallowed us up quicke when their wrath was kindled against us then had the Waters over-whelmed us c. So may we say in this our solemne rejoycing and thanksgiving for that great deliverance now remembred and for many others formerly If the Lord had not been on our side when men rose up against us and went downe against us too we also had been swallowed up quick and if not the waters the flames of fire had over-whelmed us but whether they be aloft or below God meets with them as David speakes Psal 139. If I climbe up into heaven thou art there if I goe downe into hell whither these wretches were in going thou art there also God hath set his seale upon this great deliverance with a faire and glorious impression because he would have it knowne for his and make of it for himselfe an everlasting name that should not be cut off Therefore woe be to him that shall deface this Monument which the Lord himselfe hath erected in the midst of this Nation and hath engraven and written praise and glory to his owne name upon it Woe be to him I say that shall let the remembrance of it perish or fall to the ground When mens owne tongues fall upon them and cause them to fall All men saith David shall see and know it is the Lords worke Psal 64.8 9. Let me say one thing further to you I would not have you only to consider how great the deliverance is what a glorious train of mercies and blessings it hath to follow it and attend upon it but if I could I would teach you an art how to fulfill your owne joy how to make a double and treble improvement of this and other mercies given you Then must I wish you not to lay out the strength of your joy too freely upon your deliverance it selfe or all that comes by it for indeed it was a Mother-mercy having a thousand more conceived in the bowels of it and brings forth fruitfully to this day but reserve your selves rather to consider who it was that wrought it for you it was the Lord it was your God The woman of Samaria Iohn 4.12 thought their Wel of Sychar had a kinde of blessing upon it above others because so great a man as their Father Iacob dranke of it but on the contrary we that are the Church and People of God may truly and with sobernesse of judgement thinke our selves blessed indeed that we draw all the waters we drinke all the mercies and preservations we enjoy from such a Fountaine as the goodnesse of the great God of heaven and earth The same mercies and good things did we receive from another from an inferiour hand were not the same the best and pleasantest taste and relish that is in them what ever they be is the taste of the hand out of which they come And therefore prophane and ignorant men lose the best part of all the temporall good things they enjoy because they doe not savour the hand that gives them forth unto them The Lord saith David Ps 126.3 hath done great things for us whereof we rejoyce If David were now alive and the question put to him where the Emphasis and life of these words lay I verily beleeve his answer would be not in the great things that were done for them but rather in the great doer of them the Lord. The Lord hath done c. It is a rule and principle in common reason and experience and weak apprehensions will reach it which Xenophon well expresseth in his language thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Things that are alike or of equall worth contentment in themselves comming from persons unequall in place and dignity doe not equally affect men that receive them but still a great difference there is if the inequality of persons from whom they come be great To kisse the hand of a man inferiour to us is as nothing rather indeed a disparagement and a thing ridiculous but to kisse the hand of a Prince is a matter of favour and countenance So Solomon saith of the light of the countenance or favour of the King that it is like a Cloud of the latter raine which often is more worth then a Kings ransome Prov. 16.15 whereas a good looke from a meane man is scarcely valued at two drops of water God cannot give any light or slender mercies because
have any thing else any creature that flatters them and sayes unto them as the Bramble said to the Trees of the Forrest in Iothams Parable Judg. 9.15 Come and put your trust under my shadow place your confidence in me Men will hardly be intreated to cast away such a confidence upon any termes If a great estate or some great friend that is eminent in place and power should but allure us and speake as kindly and gratiously unto us as the great God of heaven and earth doth from place to place in his Word cast all your care and your burden upon us we will take care for you Men would take hold of such words as soone as they should be spoken and would doe that which was desired of them with all their hearts and would hardly aske any question about it either for conscience sake or for feares sake But now God inviting us to doe him that honour and our selves that ease as to cast all our care on him i. e. to doe it in a carelesse secure and resolute manner as the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 importeth assuring us that hee doth care for us which no creature doth in comparison of him men will thinke of it ten times before they will doe it once 1 Pet. 5.7 Even they which doe any thing in this kinde they will not cast their care upon him all they will be brought to doe is to lay it on him faire and softly as we use to lay burdens of any weight upon Tables or Stooles when we suspect the joynts to be crazy and shaken we lay them downe as gently and easily as may be for feare we should breake all in pieces and our burdens fall to the ground and as men use to walke upon Ice over deep Waters they doe not at first leap and jump upon it but first set one foote and then another to see whether the Ice crack or no whether it will beare them that so they may retire back againe to the ground without danger before they be on too far but to goe thus to worke with God is not to cast our care upon him but rather to tempt him and see whether he wil beare it or no. Wheras he gives us in that an assurance before hand yea gives it as the reason or ground upon which he requires us to cast all our care upon him in such a manner Cast all your care on him for he careth for you I would never wish you to doe it to cast it upon God but that I know he doth take care for you and will discharge that trust alone as much for your comfort and satisfaction as if you should be over-busie your selves and would needs joyne your selves in Commission with him Therefore now if thou hast interest in God and hast any burthens one or more to beare or carry if thou wilt carry this burden thy selfe and toile and turmoile thy selfe till thou beest ready to faint and sinke and die under it and not cast it upon God now walkest thou laden to the prejudice and scandall of heaven thy burthen would be honourable upon the shoulder of the Almighty both to him and thee We account it a meane calling among men and servile to carry burdens but it is exceeding glorious in God to beare all the burdens of his Saints that they may walke upright and not have their backs bowed downe to the earth This point of the Reproofe likewise as the former did concerneth us not only as we are private men but as we are together a Church and People of God If our interest in him be such as hath been declared as doubtlesse it is if we be the People of God why do we cause this great blessednesse of ours to be blasphemed and evill spoken of in the world by seeking to lay other foundations of our peace and comfort besides the favour and power of God alone why doe we not stand sure upon him though we have nothing else to establish us why are we not built upon him what addition can be made unto him if we had all the flesh in the world made up into an arme of salvation unto us could it adde any thing to our security Dan. 6.20 Is not thy God saith Darius to Daniel in the Lions Den whom thou servest alway able to deliver thee from the Lion Either he is able to deliver us and save us out of the mouthes of all Lions able to rebuke all our destroyers or he is not able if he be not able then I aske who made heaven and earth doubtlesse it will not aske a greater power to save us then it did to create us and the whole frame of heaven and earth besides Ps 124.8 And therefore David in the name of the Church of God fats and flesheth as it were his trust and confidence with that consideration Our help standeth in the name of the Lord that made heaven and earth as if he meant never to trouble himselfe further as long as he saw heaven and earth standing before him to enquire out more names of helpers and defenders to joyne with him that made heaven and earth Our help stands in the name of the Lord c. Here it is permanent and fixed it did not remove up and downe and shift from one name to another as if now they were confident in God another while confident in some creature or outward support they did not remove from bottome to bottome as men that are double minded doe they have no standing help or comfort any where but still are shifting and flitting from under the shadow of one tree to another from under the wing of one creature to another If he be able to deliver us and we be his People and have interest in all the glory of his power why do we suffer any thought to enter into us of standing upon any other ground why are we troubled and distracted in our selves about seeking and providing a hiding place from storms and tempests when we remaine under the shadow of his wing If any enemy have power to pluck any of his feathers then had we some cause to feare a lying open to the weather And what shall we say in this point to our Romane Catholiques for the name of Catholiques they must have to themselves and all the world must give out their right to them but for the truth and substance of it that they leave to divide who will amongst them But let it be here againe considered what interest it is like that they have in God or whether their wayes in the point we speake of be like the wayes of men Whose God is the Lord. Doe they make their dependance intire upon God doe they trust in him alone for the bearing up of the Pillars of their Church doe they commit their cause unto him attempting nothing but that which is lawfull and right for the advancing thēselves their Church and Religion are they content to fall
being an use of Reproofe are handled Fol. 171 CAP. VIII Wherein the third and last branch of the Use of Reproofe is handled Fol. 215 CAP. IX Wherein the Doctrine is applyed to the enemies of the Church by way of Exhortation Fol. 257 June 23. 1640. IMPRIMATUR THO WYKES THE SAINTS Interest in GOD. PSAL. 68.20 He that is our God is the God of salvation and unto God the Lord belong the issues of death CAP. I. Wherein the Coherence together with the sense and meaning of the words are cleared and Doctrines raised WE are met in the presence of this God of ours as the Text speaketh to our hearts very gratiously who is the God of saluation to pay the yearely tribute of praise and thanksgiving which a mercy so transcendently glorious as that Deliverance was which this day calls to remembrance hath imposed upon us with the rest of our Brethren of this Nation That which our Prophet spake of the great workes of God in generall Psal 111.4 though some restraine the words to the deliverance from Aegypt may in speciall manner be applyed to that great Deliverance wrought for this Land which wee now celebrate Some of our English translations reade the words thus The marcifull and gracious Lord hath So done his marvellous workes that they ought to be had in remembrance Our late Translation without any variation of the sense thus He hath made his marvellous workes to beremembred that is upon such workes of his by which hee intends in any more especiall manner to magnifie himselfe on earth he sets as it were such faire and large Characters of his glorious Greatness Power Wisdom and Mercy that all the world cannot but see and know the superscription whose it is He hath so done his marvollous workes that is in such a manner hath put so much as it were of himselfe into them that they ought to bee had or must needs or cannot but bee had in remembrance which is the same with the other Translation he hath made his marvellous works to be remembred that is he hath as it were compelled the world against the naturall inclination and disposition of it which stands to neglect to passe by to forget any thing that God doth to preserve the remembrance of them Men cannot but doe what they doe therein That great Deliverance which that great God of ours wrought for this Nation now 29. years since is of this sort or kinde of his workes among many excellent and goodly workes of his which shine like the Stars in the Firmament it is one of the first magnitude it doth not require it rather comes with power and authority upon us and commands this solemne remembrance of it selfe by this Nation As our Saviour answered the Jewes speaking against the people who so much magnified him If these should hold their peace Luk. 19.4 the Stones would cry So if wee the people of this Land the Men and Women to whom the duty of praising God for such a mercy doth belong if wee I say should have that Miracle or rather indeed Monster of sin found amōgst us not to exalt the name of God under such a provocation we might have cause to expect that God would provoke us and confound us by them that are neither Men nor Women The very beasts of the field or trees or stones of the earth would rise up and take this glory from us They would cry out if we should hold our peace that great is that God that could and would deliver after such a manner David tooke notice by way of thankfulnesse of that speciall love God bare to Sion above all other places in that Land in that he would have his praises heard there Psal 87.2 The Lord loveth the gates of Sion more then all the dwellings of Iacob So have wee just cause to conceive and judge by that great mercy of his to this Land that the same Lord loveth more to be praised by us then any other Nation under heaven that the English Incense is in heaven as the Gold of Ophir sometimes was upon earth preferred before that of other Lands it makes the sweetest perfume and savour in the Nostrils of God And therefore because he would have it plentifully offered and sent up unto him he hath unbared his holy arme to doe those great things for us which our soules know right well When he made this compact with David I will deliver thee and thou shalt praise me Psal 50.15 it was a signe that he had a minde to Davids praises more then other mens so having delivered this our Nation once and again and the third time also with so high a hand What other construction can all the world make of such his dealings with us but that he delights to have his praises sung and his name magnified by the English Nation more then all Lands besides Since therefore wee have so great a testimony of the Lords good pleasule in this kinde that he esteemes our praises lovely and desires to heare our voice let us addresse our selves to this great and honourable service let us fill the golden Vialls of our hearts with these sweet odors and make a perfume before the Lord. To furnish both you and my selfe herewith I have made choice of this rich Veine in one of the Psalmes of David as you have heard wherein wee shall finde the praise and glory of God bearing very strongly The Psalme it selfe is in genere laudativo that is of that kinde of Psalme which is in purpose framed for the exaltation of the name and praise of God For the scope of the words no more but this The scope The Prophet a few verses before having set forth severall deliverances and victories which God had given him and his people Israel his heart being full with a Commemoration and mention of so many mercies of the love of the Lord and admiration of his goodnesse in these two verses this and the former not able to hold any longer hee easeth himselfe and breakes forth into the praises of his God in this manner Blessed be the God that daily ladeth us with his benefits c. For the meaning of the words and meaning of the words a little will suffice because here is nothing scarce either word or phrase but is every mans language He that is our God that is that God with whom we are in Covenant whom wee serve and worship That God whether true or false which any Nation or People or any private person chuseth for a god and bestowes that feare and love other points of worship which belongs to God indeed is usually termed and well may be their or his God because such a People or such a person may seem to have a right and interest in the power of that God whatsoever he is for helpe and succour in times of need Out of some such principle as this he spake that said Iure venit cultos ad sibi