Afflictions Troubles Reproaches Trials even all kind of Adversity to cōme from God for whoveer may be the Instruments yet God is the only Agent and Orderer of them 13. And lastly To Acknowledge God is to love him above all and to seek unto him in all we do and to strive to promote his Glory he that is our chief Good should be our last end our ultimate end in all we do we should aim at the Glory of God and to carry on with all uprightness his Interest to the utmost Power that is in us in the places and stations where we are set by him Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart with all thy Soul and with all thy Strength So much as to the first thing proposed to be opened namely What it is to acknowledge God Secondly I shall shew you in what ways of ours more particularly we should acknowledge God or wherein we should acknowledge him 1. In entring upon no Civil nor Religious Action without consulting with God in and by his Word we should put this Question to our own Hearts viz. Is the thing that I am a going to do good is it warranted by the word of God is it according to his Will will it tend to his Glory is it not only lawful but is it also expedient if the matter I am a going to do be not justified by the word of God though my end may be good yet the thing is evil may I do it and not offend God or will it not hurt my Brother or cause him to stumble Were such Questions put by all Men to their own Hearts it would prevent many Evils in Men's Civil Actions Also when Men enter upon any Religious Duty they should consult the word of God see whether the thing be warranted hath God commanded me to do this thing have I Precept or Presedent to justifie me in doing of it Brethren we are not to consult Men General Counsels nor Ancient Fathers but the Word of God 't is not Custom here will carry the Cause though it be of some hundred of years standing if from the beginning it was not so nor is it sufficient though many Learned Men nay Holy Men assert it to be a Truth if it be not written in God's Word Where God hath no Tongue to speak we should have no Ear to hear nor Hand to do but alas some Men more consult their own Carnal Reason and Interest their own Profits their own Passions than God's Word and his Glory many peruse their unwarrantable blind Zeal like Paul when a Pharisee who verily thought he ought to do many things against the Name of Jesus of Nazareth though it was to the making a fearful Slaughter of Christ's blessed Members 2. Men should acknowledge God in all their Purposes or about what they think to do or intend to do before they put them into Execution Man sometimes purpose and God disappoints Go to now you that say to day or to morrow we will go into such a City and continue there a year and buy and sell and get gain whereas you know not what will be on the morrow 3. Men should before they enter upon any Action Civil or Religious seek to God by Prayer for VVisdom and Direction and also for Strength Aid and Assistance and they that do not this do not as they ought Acknowledge God and thus I say in a more general way we should do though it be in the smallest matters and in the doing of things that are Lawful to be done if they would have Success therein But to descend to some few particular things and cases about the doing or entering upon the doing of which we should seek to God and so in a right way Acknowledge him 1. When any Young Men or any Persons begin to set up for themselves or to Trade in the World they should Acknowledge God or seek to him for Counsel and Direction about that Affair that they may succeed well therein and receive a Blessing from him for in vain do Men rise up early and sit up late unless God be sought unto and is pleased to prosper them in their Undertakings How was Jacob Blessed as a Shepheard which was his employment who in all he did Acknowledged God and called upon him Riches got and not by the Almighty or in a lawful way will prove a Curse to him that getteth the 't is a God Provoking Evil to say in thine heart My power and the might of my hand hath gotten me Wealth but thou shalt remember the Lord thy God for it is he that giveth thee power to get Wealth Deut. 8. 17 18. Riches and Honour which are a Blessing and tendeth not to puff up a Man or Woman cometh from God 2. Men and Women should Acknowledge God in changing their condition this is a great thing and the Comfort of Mens Lives much consist in this matter A Prudent Wife is from the Lord Prov. 19. 14. But alass now a days People in this matter act like to the wicked Men of the old World They take them Wives of all which they choose Gen. 6. 2. Which is charged upon them as a great sin and one cause of the Destruction brought upon them by the Flood How did Sampson suffer by his Dalilah whom he chose because he liked her well perhaps she was fair but he consulted not with God but How well did Abraham's Servant succeed in obtaining a Wife for Isaac his Master's Son by Seeking unto God and Acknowledging him You Young Men and Women that truly Fear God see you to it that you in the choice of Yokefellows Acknowledge God consult his VVord choose such that are Godly such that Believe in Christ let his VVrod be your Rule in this matter Be not unequally Yoaked with Unbelievers your Peace with God and the Comfort of your Lives depend on this matter do not as the Sons of God in the old world did and as Sampson did viz. Choose such as you like but such as God likes and approves of 3. We should Acknowledge God in Removing from one place to another from one Countrey to another or from one Habitation to another or from one Trade or Employment to another We should first seek the Kingdom of God Will this remove make for the profit of my precious Soul Will it turn to the Glory of God It should not be What Air or what Earthly Profit may I find there where I am going but is the Gospel Preached there in the Purity of it can I have communion with godly Christians there or Will not my Spiritual Loss be more than my Earthly gain so in the other case say Will not more snares attend that Calling I am about to enter upon Shall I not run my self into Temptations by doing it Doth not my present Employment bring me in Food and Rayment and ought not I therewith to be Content I only mentino these few Cases as
of the years whereof the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the Prophet that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem And I set my face unto the Lord God to seek by Prayer and Supplications with Fasting and Sackcloth and Ashes verse 3. Brethren Thus it is with us we understand by Books i.e. by the Book of Daniel the Revelations of St. John and by the Writings of good Men that the number of the years of our spiritual Captivity under mistical Babylon is near expired and that glorious things are near and therefore we should now in an extraordinary manner cry to God and acknowledge his Power and Wisdom and Faithfulness O look up the Vision will suddenly speak Thirdly How we should acknowledge God or after what manner he found in this Duty 1. In the Sense of our Sins and Sins of the Lord's People of the whole Nation yea with a through sight sense of Sin and with self abhorrence for the same Thus did Samuel acknowledge God and poured out Water before the Lord at Mizpah 1 Sam. 7. 6. and thus did Daniel he confessed his Sins and the Sins of the People VVe have sinned and have committed Iniquity and have done wickedly and have rebelled even by departing from thy Precepts and from thy Judgments Dan. 9. 5. Neither have we hearkned unto the Prophets which have spoken in thy Name to our Kings and Princes and our Fathers and to all the People O what Sins are we guilty of and this vile Nation guilty of whom God hath been so good and gracious unto and saved with an high Hand and deliver'd when some time ago all was a going that is dear to us 2. With all Humility and brokenness of Heart we should acknowledge that whatsoever is come upon us is in Justice and Righteousness we must say with Daniel O Lord Righteousness belongeth unto thee but unto us Confusion of Faces as at this day to the men of Judah and the Inhabitants of Jerusalem to all Israel that are near and far off c. because of our Trespasses O Lord to us belongeth Confusion to our Kings and to our Princes and to our Fathers because we have sinned How low should we lie every one of us and labour to find out the plague of his own Heart and to smite on our Breasts and say What have I done we must say It is of the Lord's Mercy we are not consumed that we are yet a People and England a Nation not yet utterly forsaken of God In our acknowledging of God we should humble our selves and pray and not only so but turn every one from his evil way so will God hear from Heaven and will forgive our Sins and heal our Land 2 Chron. 7. 14. 3. We should acknowledge God with a sense of our Weakness Ignorance and short sightedness and not trust to our own Understanding See the Context Trust in the Lord with all thine Heart and lean not to thine own Understanding Prov. 3. 5. Let not Men think their Wisdom is sufficient to act and accomplish those great Designs that they take in Hand because they are so acute and have such clear natural Parts or acquired Parts Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom nor the strong man glory in his strength Let not the Learned Man boast of his great Learning but let all know True Wisdom is from God 't is he must guide us in Judgment Brethren 't is a good sign God will not leave us in that he hath put it into the Heart of our Parliament to acknowledge God and seek to him a right way At this difficult hour it argues that they see need to ask Counsel of him and would acknowledge him from whom Wisdom to manage the great Affairs of Nations cometh and would not lean to their own Understanding God is the great Governour of the World 4. We should acknowledge God in Christ come to him only and look to him alone in a Mediator if we do not wholly acknowledge him in the Name of Jesus Christ all we do will be in vain for out of Christ he is a God of Wrath and Fury yea a flaming and devouring Fire but in Christ he is pacified and reconciled to all that so come to him Samuel well knew this and therefore he took a sucking Lamb and offered it for a Burnt-Offering wholly unto the Lord 1 Sam. 7. 9. This Lamb no doubt tipified Christ Jesus in and by whose Sacrifice only he forsaw God was appeased and his Justice satisfied and the guilt of the Sins of God's Israel removed Christ is the only way to the Father No man cometh to the Father but by me saith our blessed Lord John 14. 6. This Brethren and none but this is the right way Sinners are only to draw near to God by Christ this way is prepared for them cast up for them this is that new and living way And Saints have no other way to come to God nor to acknowledge God to be their God but only in Christ. O Acknowledge God thus God was in Christ reconciling the World to himself 2 Cor. 5. 19. God in Christ is strong to save strong to help strong to deliver Christ is the power of God and and the wisdom of God 1 Cor. 1. 18. The glory of his Power Mercy Wisdom Justice and Goodness are all united and shine forth to save Sinners in Christ and to save Nations who look to him and acknowledg'd him in Christ. Almighty Power was seen in creating of the World and his Power in conjunction with his Justice was seen in casting the Angels that sinned out of Heaven and Man out of Paradice and Divine Power as it was joyned with Divine Mercy shone forth in saving and delivering Israel at the Red Sea but in Christ the glory of his Power Mercy and Justice and all other of his glorious Attributes are united together in sweet Harmony to save and help all that by Christ come to him nothing can hinder our Help and Succour if we acknowledge and come to him in Jesus Christ. We should acknowledge God manifested in the Flesh 1 Tim. 3. 16. not only that Christ is God as I before hinted but the reason why he took unto him our Nature and what things he hath wrought out for us how the glory of God shines forth in him We never acknowledge God in the Top Glory of his Wisdom Mercy Love Power Justice and Goodness unless we acknowledge him in Christ nor can we know him any other way to be our God nor come to him nor expect any Help Relief Pardon or Peace from him We must acknwledge what Christ is made of God the Father unto us even Wisdom and Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption He is our Life our Light our Righteousness our Strength our Peace our Food our Guide our King to Rule us our Priest to Attone for our Sins and to Intercede for us and our Prophet to Teach us
Quality from him or from his Being as the Wisdom of Man is many as one notes are Men but not Wise Men. 6. To Acknowledge God Is to acknowledge his Justice and Holiness Judgment and Justice are the Habitation of his Throne Psal. 97.2 He can do no Man any wrong because he is Justice and Righteousness it self whatsoever God brings upon a Nation or People or particular Person 't is Right or in Righteousness Righteous art thou O Lord when I plead with thee Jer. 12. 1. Shall not the Judge of all the Earth do Right Gen. 18. 25. We may judge of his Justice and Righteousness by considering of the nature of his Law that is Just Holy and Good what is the Law of God but a written Impression of his Holy Nature also the Justice and Righteousness of God is seen in his punishing the Wicked for their Sin but more especially in punishing his own Son when he came to stand in our stead and Law-place as our Sponsor and blessed Surety he spared not his own Son as an act of Justice when he undertakes to pay our Debts or satisfie Divine Justice for our Offences God will render unto every man according to the fruit of their doings he will not lay upon man more than is right Job 34. 23. He hath punished us less than our iniquities deserve Ezra 9. 13. 7. To Acknowledge God Is to acknowledge his Goodness Mercy and Faithfulness his Mercy endureth for ever There is none good but God that is essentially good perfectly good and so there is none Righteous but he he is a God ready to forgive plenteous in Mercy and Goodness who is a God like unto thee pardoning Iniquity Transgression and Sin Mich. 7. There is in God not only pardoning Goodness but protecting preserving redeeming strengthning and comforting Goodness God is infinitely and immutably Good 8. To Acknowledge God Is to own and acknowledge him to be man's chief good and that our only Happiness lies in him not in the Creature but in the Creator not in having great Portions of worldly Goods but in having a special Interest and Portion in God Many say who will shew us any good Psal. 4. 6. What was that good why Corn Oyl and Wine but what saith David Lord lift up the light of thy countenance upon us thou hast put more joy into my heart than the time when their corn and wine encreaseth verse 7. 8. Earthly things may be called our goods but not our good they that never tasted how good God is never knew true good That cannot be Man's chief good that cannot answer the necessities of his better part namely his Soul God is a Soul Good a Soul satisfying Good a Soul Inriching Good the Heathens laboured to find out what was the chief Good and finding nothing in this world could satisfie the Soul neither Riches Honours Pleasures nor Knowledge concluded there was some Superiour Being or an Infinite God that must be Man's chiefest Good that cannot be our chief Good that cannot fill our Desires nor make us truly and everlastingly Happy Men may in the fulness of all their Sufficiency be in straits and be miserable who are possessed of never so great Riches Honours and earthly Pleasures that which Sickness and Death may rob us of cannot be our chiefest Good Sirs We never rightly acknowledge God until we know by our own Experience and acknowledge him to be our chiefest and only Happiness 9. To Acknowledge God Is to fear and reverence his dreadful Name and serve him as our God and only Soveraign of our Souls If I be a master where is my fear faith the Lord of Hosts Mal. 1. 6. The whole of Man's Duty is expressed sometimes by fearing of God said Joseph Do thus and live for I fear God He acknowledgeth God this way and himself to be his Servant I fear God I cannot dare not Sin how shall I do this great wickedness and sin against God They that fear not God are Men of no Religion The fear of God is the beginning of Wisdom Pray remember to Acknowledge God is to fear him and dread to offend or displease him 10. To acknowledge God Is to trust in him at all times to make him our Hope and Help to depend upon him for Counsel and Direction in all we go about and submit our Wills to his Will and patiently to take and endure whatsoever he lays upon us To Trust in God Is to have Confidence in God 't is to lean upon God upon his Wisdom upon his Conduct on his Strength Faithfulness and gracious Promises and not to depend upon our own Wisdom see the verse before my Text Trust in the Lord and lean not to thy own Understanding acknowledge him that is Trust in him To Trust in God is also to expect and hope from God and to wait for Counsel indeed it is the Character of a godly Man to trust in God as well as it is his Wisdom and Safety We can as one observes never trust Man too little nor in God too much Curssed be the man that trusteth in man and maketh flesh his arm Jer. 17. 5. but blessed is the Man that Trusteth in the Lord and whose Strength the Lord is 11. To Acknowledge God Is to acknowledge Jesus Christ to be God not God by Office but God by Nature the only wise God the Eternal God Co-equal with the Father Phil. 2. 6. Who being in the form of God thought it no robbery to be equal with God though a distinct Subsistence or Person from the Father yet one in Essence subsisting in the form of God imports not Christ's Appearance in exerting of God's Power but his actual Existence in the Divine Nature To the only wise God our Saviour be glory and majesty dominion and power Jude 25. We are in him that is true even in his Son Jesus Christ this is the true God and eternal life Joh. 5. 20. This it is to acknowledge God viz. To own Christ to be God ye believe in God believe also in me i. e. Ye acknowledge the Father is God acknowledge the Son also to be the same God it would be Idolatry to give Divine Adoration to Christ if he was not the true Eternal God Moreover it would justifie the Blasphemy of the Jews who charged him to be a Deceiver and a Blasphemer who because he was as they thought no more than a meer Man made himself equal with God not to acknowledge Christ to be God is not truly and fully to acknowledge God because Christ is God we ought not only to acknowledge the Being of God but also his manner of Being or the three Persons in the God-head 12. To Acknowledge God Is to acknowledge all the good things we receive to come from him whether Temporal or Spiritual even Life and all the comforts of Life Wisdom Knowledge Riches Honours Friends Peace Health Relations Prosperity And also 't is to acknowledge all
to our paths in respect of Civil Affairs you may add any other way or work you go about O! How doth it concern us to Acknowledge God for Preservation and a Blessing in all things even in taking Journies by Land or Voyages to Sea and when we go out in the Morning and return in the Evening when we lie down and when we rise up or enter upon any Religious Work 1. About our Receiving Retaining or Declining of any one or more Principles of Religion VVe should Acknowledg God and Consult with him in and by his Holy VVord we ought to examine and try the Point or Principle we are about to Receive or Leave Is it according to what is written Doth God's word confirm it to be a Truth Then receive it but cry to God for VVisdom and Understanding in the Case be fully perswaded in thy own Conscience from the word of God about it On the other hand if thou upon searching canst not find that Doctrine or particular Practice thou hast received formerly is agreeable to Gods word or that 't is not in thy Judgment proveable therefrom then after seeking unto God thou oughtest to reject it though many Good Men Learned Men assert and maintain it to be Truth thou art not to consult with Men nor acknowledge them to be thy rule but God's VVord To the Law and Testimony Search the Scripture Gods word giveth Understanding to the simple Psal. 19 9 10. That is a Lamp to thy Feet and a Light to thy Paths Psal. 119. 105. Men no not Ministers shall be allowed to answer for thee at Christs Bar about any Error thou hast received and dost maintain every one must give an Account to God for himself it will not be a good plea in that day to say Lord such an able Minister held this Principle Preach'd it Practiced it God may reveal some Truth more clearly to an Aquilla and a Priscilla than to an Eloquent Apollo Act. 18. 26. 2. Thou art to Acknowledge God seek to him concerning what Minister or Ministers thou dost purpose to hear and know their Doctrine well and their Lives also see that they Preach Christ that they Preach the Gospel clearly whose main design is to Exalt Jesus Christ and the Free Grace of God and particularly that they are Sound about the Doctrine of Free Justification by the Righteousness of Christ as it is Imputed and Received by Faith alone without any mixture of Mans own Inherent Righteousness O take heed this day is Perilous there are many that are Corrupters of Gods VVord and perverters of Christs Gospel thou mayst before thou art aware be undone by dangerous Heresies 3. Acknowledge God and seek to him when thou art about to joyn thy self with some Church in point of Communion Examine their Faith their Constitution their Discipline see they all hold weight with God's word And if thou art Tempted to leave a True Church because of some offence taken acknowledge God seek to him consult with the word of God least it be from Satan a Temptation and arises from thy own Evil Heart say Shall I not be a Covenant Breaker a Disorderly Person and an Evil Example to others VVill it not offend God or stumble my weak Brother Thus reason with thy Self say Shall I consult with Flesh and Blood and gratifie my Corrupt part This may deter thee from it 3. Acknowledge God and Seek to him when thou comest to hear the word of God Preached say Lord 't is thou must prepare my heart to meet with thee this day O open thou my Understanding incline my VVill move upon my Affections deliver me from Drousiness Deadness Unbelief from all kind of Pride Conceitedness from Prejudice against the Minister or any Truth that he may deliver that I want Light in What I know not teach thou me 'T is not man can reach thy heart not the Ministers Voice that can make thee Hear and Live but the Voice of Christ 't is God that can turn thee from Darkness to Light from the power of Satan unto God Thou mayest reform thy way or get some degree of Reformation by thy natural powers improved by the word Preached but 't is God alone must change thy Heart a new Heart must be created in thee by God's mighty and glorious Creating-Power and his Spirits operating Influences it is God that commanded the Light to shine out of Darkness that must shine into our Hearts to give us the Light of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 4. 6. We have this Treasure in earthen Vessels that the excellency of the Power may be of God and not of us verse 7. Do not trust to thine own Power nor rebellious Will 't is God must make thee willing he must draw thee move thee before thou canst come to Christ Faith is not of our selves 't is the gift of God Ephes. 2. 8. 9. 't is God must turn thee from thy evil way and change those vicious Habits that are in thee and in all Men naturally Can the Aethiopian change his Skin c. Turn thou me and I shall be turned O! thus acknowledge God cry to him who works all our Works in us and for us 'T is not in him that willeth nor in him that runneth but of God that sheweth Mercy Rom. 9. 17. Did Men thus acknowledge God he would soon direct their Path and give Success to them in their Duties Ministers should also acknowledge God in their Gifts and Endowments what have they which they have not received and their own Insufficiency 5. We should acknowledge God when we come to draw near to him in the Holy Supper of the Lord it is he that must prepare our Hearts for this his sacred Ordinance also The preparation of the heart in man and the answer of the tongue are from the Lord Prov. 16. 1. What Heavenly Comfort do we meet with or have we met with at one time more than at another How lively are our Spirits and active our Graces when God vouchsafeth his Divine Influences and quickens us in our Duties Did we muse the Fire might soon burn 'T is God must deliver us from vain Thoughts worldly Thoughts when we draw near to him and stir up our Affections and raise our Spirits therefore thus let us acknowledge him that we may set under Christ's Shadow with delight that his Fruit may be sweet to our Taste But no more as to these more ordinary ways of ours whether Civil or Religious but to proceed to that which is the chief Work of this day We ought to acknowledge God in divers special Cases 1. As in choice of Ministers to watch over us and take the care of our Souls we should acknowledge God who hath promised to give us Pastors after his own heart to feed us with knowledge and understanding Jer. 3. 15. 2. In choice of Magistrates to rule us or to represent us in National Synods and
make Civil Laws we ought to acknowledge God who hath promised to give Judges as at the first and Counsellors as at the beginning How good was Jethros's Counsel to Moses Exod. 18 2◠Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men such as fear God men of truth hateing covetousness and place such over them to be rulers c. Did Jethro speak this only or hath not God spoken it also The God of Israel said the rock of Israel spoke to me he that ruleth over men must be just ruling in the fear of God 2. Sam. 23. 3. I am afraid many Men do not in this case so consult with God nor acknowledge him as they ought were such Men always chose what a happy People should we be or would England be But 3. We should acknowledge God and look to him when difficult cases may be before a King and his People in which the good and welfare of a whole Nation is concerned nay many Nations and not only so but also the good of God's Israel as now at this day O how should we cry to God who only is able to give Counsel and direct our worthy Senators By me Kings Reign and Princes decree Judgment saith our Lord Jesus Prov. 8. 15. All great and good things that Kings and Princes do is from God and by the Influences of Jesus Christ God sits amongst the Gods he can rule and over-rule Men's Hearts at his pleasure at such a time as this Ezra sought a right way to do which he acknowledge God he sought to him We may bless God who put it into the Hearts of the King and Parliament to seek God at this difficult time certainly the Finger of God is in this matter Saith Ezra And I proclaimed a Fast there at the River Ahava that we might afflict our selves before our God and seek a right way for our selves and for our little ones and for all our Substance Ezra 8. 21. For I was ashamed to require of the King a Band of Soldiers and Horsemen to help us against the Enemy because I said the hand of our God is upon all them that seek him for good verse 22. This it appears is the right way most pleasing to God the only way to obtain the Mercy we want viz. to humble our selves and seek to God this is that way God directeth us to take Call upon me in the day of trouble and I will deliver you and ye shall glorifie me Psal. 50. 14. 50. 't is the right way to obtain Mercy to exalt the Eternal Being to magnifie God yea and this is the right way according to the avowed Principles of all true Christians I was ashamed saith this good Man to ask a Band of Soldiers because our God hath promised his Hand shall be with us for good that he was able and ready to help them that seek him and put their trust in him I might also note from hence that we are allowed to cry to God not only for our selves and little Ones but that God would bless and preserve our Substance also 4. Another special Occasion that calls upon us in an extraordinary 〈◊〉 knowledge God and seek unto him Is in a time of great 〈◊〉 when God's People are in Distress and great Danger Thus did Jacob Gen. 33. when he heard how his enraged Brother 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 coming out to meet him with 400 Armed Men to cut him off with his Wives and Children How did he wrestle with God He 〈◊〉 and made Supplication also said I will not let thee go except thou bless me Gen. 32 26 And he said What is thy Name and he said Jacob and he said Thy Name shall be called no more Jacob but Israel for as a Prince hast thou Power with God and Men and hast prevailed verse 27. All that thus wrestle with God God accounts Princes they are Prevailers with God they overcome God in a spiritual manner and prevail over Men nay over Devils and all Hellish Lusts and the powers of Darkness Fsau shall not hurt thee as if God should have said I will prevent thy present Fear and Danger Thus Jacob at this time when in great Straits and Afflictions acknowledged God This also did the Children of Israel in Egypt under their grievons Bondage and Misery They cryed to the Lord and God heard their Crys and their Groans Exod. 2. 23. 24. and looked upon them and had respect to them verse 5. Moreover Thus Moses and poor Israel acknowledged God when they were pursued by bloody Pharoah and brought to the Red Sea Stand still saith Moses and see the Salvation of the Lord have your hope in him trust in him acknowledge his Power in this time of your dismal Danger The Egyptian whom ye have seen to day ye shall see them again no more for ever Let not your Hearts fail sink nor stagger through Unbelief but with Faith and quiet Minds look to God and you shall as if Moses should have said soon see an end of your cursed Enemies Also thus did Samuel with all Israel look to God when the Philistines came against them they fasted on that day and said We have sinned against the Lord 1 Sam. 2. 6. Likewise thus did good King Jehosaphat when the Children of Moab and Amon came against him and against Judah Jehosophat feared and set himself to seek the Lord and proclaimed a Fast throughout all Judea 2 Chron. 20. 3. Moreover when Nehemiah saw how the remnant of God's People that were left of the Captivity were in great Afflictions and the Wall of Jerusalem was also broken down he acknowledged God and cry'd to him Neh. 1. 3. O Lord I beseech thee let now thine Far be attentive unto the Prayer of thy Servant and the Prayers of thy Servants who desire to fear thy Name c. verse 1◠Thus also did Esther and Mordecai seek to the Lord and acknowledge him when the poor Jews were in danger of being all cut off in one day they fasted and prayed unto God 5. We should acknowledge God when we have any great Work to do for his holy Name as was when we are about to reform or labour after Reformation in Religion or to throw down Idolatry or Superstition Thus did good King Josias in the twelfth year of his Reign he began to seek after the God of David and to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places and the Groves and carved Images c. 2 Chron. 34. 4. Moreover when Ministers enter on their Ministry they should seek to God acknowledge him wholly design his Glory and depend upon his Strength for Help and Success 6. When great things are near at hand or some mighty appearance of God for the glory of his Name and salvation of his Church and exaltation of Sion and downfall of their Enemies God should be sought unto and be acknowledged by his own People thus did Daniel Dan. 9. 2. I Daniel understood by Books the number
In him God is our Father our Friend our Portion in him we may come to God with holy Boldness All the promises of God are in him yea and in him amen to the glory of God the Father 5. We must acknowledge God by Faith God is never acknowledg'd in Christ aright but by Faith we must believe if we would be accepted to believe in Christ or come to God by Faith in Christ is the way to be justified to be pardoned and to obtain all things whatsoever we want To Believe is to trust in God through Christ to relie upon God through Jesus Christ to rest on God's Power and Mercy through Christ to receive him for all as he is offered in the Gospel 't is to depend upon God's faithful Promises He that cometh to me I will no wise cast out John 6. 36. He is able to save to the uttermost all that come to God by him seeing be ever liveth to make intercession for us Heb. 7. 25. O! Remember that you acknowledge God by Faith in the Death Resurrection and Intercession of Jesus Christ We have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous 1 John 2. 1 2. Whatsoever we ask in Christ's Name in Faith that is agreeable to the Will of God we shall receive from him 6. We should acknowledge God constantly always from first to last not only when we stand in the greatest need of him when we are Low or Poor but also when we are High Rich and in a prosperous Condition Hagar desired not Riches lest he should when full deny God and say Who is the Lord Prov. 30. 9. Trust in the Lord at all times saith David Will the Hypocrite always call upon God No no in Afflictions he may and often doth when God's Chaistenings are upon him then he will cry to him and seek him but to call upon God and acknowledge him and seek his Glory and depend upon him and look for Success always in all things at all times from God is only the Character of a true Christian. We can never be in so high a state never arrive to such a degree of Wisdom or have Riches in so great abundance but we have need to acknowledge God and depend upon him no Man living but stands in need of God's help And there is no Man so low so poor so destitute but God can raise him help him and relieve him Man's Being and well Being is only from God 7. God is to be acknowledg'd in Truth and Uprightness of Heart if we fail here all our Humiliations will be in vain Hypocritical Fasts are abominable to God Is it because we have Sinned and God thereby hath been dishonoured or Is it not rather for Corn Wine and Oyl that we cry to God this day Is it not for a deliverance from our Miseries rather than from our Iniquities When you fasted and mourned c. did you saith the Lord fast unto me Zech. 7. 5. Let all Men see to this for if we are not sincere God looks upon our Prayers with disdain They have not cryed to me with their Heart when they howled on their Beds they assemble themselves for Corn and Wine and they rebel against me Hos. 7. 14. They do it as if God should say for Peace and Plenty they have the World in their Eye not my Glory but their own Carnal Interest for they live still in their Sins and rebel against me Let England and the Inhabitants of this City see to this least they should be found in the like Abomination this day with Israel of old But to come to the Reason of this Doctrine Fourthly VVhy we should in all our ways acknowledge God First Because Wisdom and Counsel is from the Lord none can act or do any thing for God in a right way and to a right end or for their own good unless helped and influenced by the Almighty There is a spirit in man and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth him understanding Job 32. 8. Who is it that teacheth Senators Wisdom but the Lord Alas all Mens meer Natural Wisdom of which they sometimes boast it is but Foolishness when compared to that right spiritual Wisdom which he can give them Meer natural Men or Men without the Divine Wisdom of God are often influenced by the Devil Satan is a great Politition Go to we will deal wisely saith Pharoah Ay but that Wisdom was from below it was from the Devil and such Wisdom God can soon confound Man's Wisdom is to take Counsel of God and seek to him The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom Secondly Men ought to acknowledge God because he doth require and Command them so to do it is their Duty to do it and their great Sin that do not seek to him Brethren what Blessing can Man expect to meet with in their undertakings that asked not Counsel of the Lord How were the People of Israel blamed and punished for doing some things without asking Counsel of himt Josh. 9. 14. But they asked not counsel at the mouth of God It was about making Peace with them that they were commanded to Destroy and not to make a Covenant of Peace with God also pronounced a Woe to his People for their neglect herein Woe to the rebellious Children saith the Lord that take Counsel but not of me c. Isa. 30. 1. that walkt to go down into Egypt and have not asked at my mouth to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharoah verse 2. Call upon me in the day of trouble Psal. 50. 14. Prayer is owing to God for every thing in Prayer c. we should let our Request be made known to the Lord. Thirdly Because God can give Wisdom to them that are esteemed simple weak and ignorant Men he can make the Foolish Wise and put his Spirit upon them What Wisdom did he give to Moses who kept his Father-in-law's Sheep and what a famous Judge and Ruler did God make him to be It is true he was trained up in the Wisdom of Egypt before but that was foolishness with God What Wisdom did he give to David who was but a Shepherd and to Amos a Herdsman Moreover what Wisdom did he give to the Disciples of Christ who were some of them but Fisher-men and deemed unlearned and ignorant Men God makes choice of the weak and base things of the World to confound the Mighty and of the Foolish to bring to naught the Wisdom of the Wise. Fourthly God ought to be acknowledged by all Men in all Matters because 't is by his wise Providence as you have heard that all things are governed ordered and disposed of throughtout the whole Earth not only the Affairs of particular Persons but the Concernments and Affairs of Nations and Kingdoms much more 1. In all Civil Affairs in respect of Government c. All the Counsels of the Mighty are influenced by the Lord God judgeth amongst the Gods