be seene and heard make a ioyfull noyse like the noyse of the Trumpets in the dayes of your triumphs Num. 10.9.10 of your gladnesse of your festiuall solemnities and of the times wherein you found speciall acceptation of your sacrifices and make this noyse vnto God Diuine thankesgiuing is to bee appropriate onely to Gods person Deny it to all creatures in heauen or earth deny it to false gods Psa 68.19 and giue it to the true euerliuing God the God of our saluation 90.17 our owne God euen the God that saueth vs and establisheth his grace in vs. All yee lands None of the vniuersall Church of God is exempt from praysing God high low Iew Gentile bond free male female hold not backe your praise from God hee holds not backe his benefits from you 65.19 but ladeth you daily with the same you haue 1. Cor. 4.7 or can haue nothing but what you receiue from him and that not for your merit but onely for his mercie which indureth for euer Sing forth the honour of his Name Verse 2. make his praise glorious True Thankesgiuing is such an action as cheerefully sets forth the glorie of Gods Name let not your thankes to God the most High ouer all in heauen and earth bee any abasing of his Maiestie but ascribe that to his great and fearefull Name which is honourable Psa 29.2 8. giue to him the glorie due to his Name let euery one that speakes of him speake of his glory confesse that his Name is aboue euery name in heauen Phil. 2.9 10 and earth confesse that at his Name euery knee should bow of things in heauen and in earth and things vnder the earth Pro. 18.10 Confesse that his Name is a strong Tower to all that trust in him Psal 8. confesse that his Name is wonderfull excellent in all the world confesse that his glorious Name is greater then all thankesgiuing Neh. 9.5 and praise let the desires of your soule be to the praise of his holy Name Also Make his praise glorious Diuine thankfulnesse makes Gods praise glorious glorious to the hearing and vnderstanding of men though it can supply no defect of glory to God for his glory is alwayes infinite and absolute lessen not his praise praise him not basely giue not his praise to any other so praise him Ps 108.1 2 as becommeth him let your hearts bee prepared and your tongues awaked to vtter forth the greatest praise you can of Gods Highnesse Say yee Vers 3. Thankesgiuing is to bee performed with speaking bee not silent from this dutie auoyd that silence as great disobedience neither can you excuse it by pleading ignorance here you are taught what to say Hee that requireth your thanksgiuing teacheth you what you should speake in the same hee that commandeth to make his praise glorious sheweth how you should make it glorious of his goodnesse hee findeth you heart mouth tongue words and all that to neglect this dutie you should haue no excuse at all Say yee vnto God In praising God that must onely be said of him which may with a good conscience be said euen to him Vse not the Lord as you doe men to say one thing behind his backe and another afore his face for you can neuer bee but in his sight neuer thinke a thought but hee vnderstands it neuer speake a word but hee knowes it therefore say yee things glorious of him and say ye the same vnto him Shew that his benefits his Name his glory and his praise doe so affect you as you cannot but like a gratefull man to a most beneficiall friend meet the Lord your God in your meditations and breaking out into zealous praises of his bountie speake and say euen vnto himselfe that which may best testifie how desirous you are to shew your best thankefulnesse for all his louing kindnesse hence say yee vnto God How terrible or reuerend art thou in thy workes To the high setting forth of Gods praise is required a feeling confession of his most reuerend dealing in euery action Beware you want not the consideration that should bring this confession they are neere destruction Psa 28.5 Isa 5.12 and the sound of great woe is to them that regard not the worke of the Lord and consider not the operation of his hands Hos 14.9 Ps 107.43 Doe you otherwise bee you wise to vnderstand the wayes of God be you carefull to obserue those things in Gods administration which may teach you this feeling confession that you may say vnto him with admiration Psa 8.1 How excellent O Lord is thy Name in all the earth 92.7 How great and glorious are thy workes And how innumerable is the number of them 104.24 How vnsearchable are thy iudgements Exo. 15.11 Who is like to thee O Lord among the gods So glorious in holinesse fearefull in prayses and doing wonders Thou so rulest in the Armies of Heauen aboue Dan. 4.32 and so workest in the Inhabitants of the earth below as to thee wee alwayes say How reuerend and fearefull art thou in thy workes the like whereof none can doe Through the greatnesse of thy power It is a principall point in the praising of God to ascribe the glory of victory to his power onely say not Our own arme shall saue vs our Idols haue saued vs our Horses and Chariots shall saue vs but euer say vnto God in euery victory Thou O God Psa 76.4 art more glorious and excellent then the highest helpes 115.1 onely at thy rebuke both the Horse and Chariot are cast asleepe Not vnto vs O Lord not vnto vs but to thy Name we giue the glory Thou euen thou alone by the greatnesse of thy power hast gotten thy selfe the victory and through this power Shall thine enemies submit themselues vnto thee though dissemblingly When wee see Gods enemies driuen for feare to dissemble Religion and not to dare to withstand the defendours and Ministers of Christs Kingdome wee should admire and acknowledge Gods mighty power therin say not This is through mans policie say not This is for feare of mans power but confesse and say Behold the mightie power of God through the greatnesse of thy power Ezra 6. Heathenish Darius submitted himselfe vnto thee and forwarded the building of thy Temple through the greatnesse of thy power Dan. q. 37. great Nebuchadnezzar submitted himselfe vnto thee and extolled and praysed and honoured thee the King of Heauen through the greatnesse of thy power hard-hearted Pharaoh submitted himselfe to thee Exo. 12.31 to let thine Israel goe So still shall thine enemies and the enemies of thy Christ submit themselues vnto thy Maiestie Thine enemies All are not true friends to the Gospel that vnder Christian Kings and in the Churches prosperitie professe the Gospel Through the greatnesse of thy power O God some are thy enemies and therefore not to be trusted by
such as prouoke him to strike them no more as his children but let them alone as bastards vnto destruction Oh happy are we if we bee not of the number of these but of such as in their owne particular are moued to bee more zealous in the duties of Religion after they see how comfortably God hath brought them out of affliction heere is more then common grace for such are very rare heere is true Wisedome for after a wise man is rebuked Pro. 9.8 hee will loue more heere is right profiting by afflliction for after such are afflicted Ps 119.67 71. Psame 116.12 they learne and keepe Gods Word the better Here is a thankefull mind indeed for such are zealous of Gods praise such study what to render vnto God such desire to expresse their thankefulnesse in the presence of all Gods people such make haste to meet the Lord in his worship saying euen to himselfe I will goe into thine House Oh man and woman that art willing to go into the Tauerne and into the Ale-house but vnwilling to goe into Gods House How foolish art thou to goe like the euill seruant Mat. 24.49 to eate and drinke with the drunken and to sit among Hypocriticall Scoffers and to refuse to goe like the Seruants of God to his House to sing and pray with his Children and to heare his holy Ministers Oh thou that art willing to goe into the gaming house but not into Gods House How foolish art thou to goe like the ding-thrift to spend the precious time and thy needfull goods with the prophane vnto thy vndooing and to refuse to go like the Prudent Pro. 23.23 to buy the truth and get grace vnto health and wealth and saluation Oh thou that art willing to goe into the Harlots house but not into Gods House How foolish art thou to goe like a Foole to the Stockes Pro. 7.22 and like an Oxe to the slaughter vnto the house that leadeth to death and to refuse to goe like the Wise and Religious vnto the House that leadeth vnto Happinesse Comfort and eternall Life Oh man or woman that art willing to goe into Gods House that louest the place where his Honour dwelleth Psal 26.8 Psa 84.1 2. that holdest his Tabernacles amiable that feelest thy soule longing and fainting for the Courts of the Lord Psal 122.1 that art glad to heare and see others willing to go vnto his House Psal 27.4 that desirest to dwell all the dayes of thy life in his House how prudent and how wise art thou for there thou shalt behold the beauty of the Lord enquire at his mouth Rom. 10. Psal 65.4 Psal 84.4 11. heare the happy tydings of peace and of good things be satisfied with goodnesse be euer praysing of God there God will be the Sunne and the Shield vnto thee there he will giue thee grace and glory Psal 63.5 there he will feede thy Soule with better then marrow and fatnesse there will he hide thee in his Pauilion and in the secret of his Tabernacle in the time of trouble With burnt Offerings will I goe Ver. 13.15 I will offer vnto thee burnt Sacrifices of fat Rammes with Incense I will prepare Bullocks with Goates in abundance The godly worship God personally rightly delightfully and plenteously Personally for they come and they offer in their owne persons Rightly for they offer to God that which he prescribeth then Legall now Euangelicall Sacrifices Delightfully for they offer with Incense Exo. 30.34 with artificiall most pleasant persume of sweete Spices vnder the Law with spirituall most pleasant perfume of Christs most sweete intercession and of the most sweete grace of his Spirit vnder the Gospell Plenteously for they offer not a Ramme 1. Chr. 29.21 or a Bullocke or a Goate but Rammes Bullockes and Goates many Offrings and many Sacrifices O you that come not to appeare before the Lord in the assemblies of his people personally how sawcie and vnreuerent is this Not a pretended necessitie to ride out to see your purchase Luke 14.18 19 20. nor the desire to goe trie your yoke of Oxen newly bought nor your reason to tarry at home with your late wedded wife will serue to excuse it Oh you that come and doe offer but not rightly in that you offer not that which he prescribeth but your owne fancied repetitions your owne supposed good intents how vniust how vncomely is this Mat. 15.9 1. Sā 15.23 Eccl. 5.1 This worship is a worship in vaine this seruice is a rebellion and stubbornenesse this offering is a sacrifice for fooles this doing is doing of euill Oh you that offer but not delightfully not with incense not in Christs name not in sinceritie not with grace in your hearts how vnprofitable and how vnacceptable is this You keepe backe Gods part his portion his delight and so without you repent you shall find him another day as Nadab and Abihu partly found him Leu. 10.2 that is a consuming fire Hob. 12.28 29. Oh you that come and offer to God but not plentifully but emptie hearted grudgingly with wearinesse and snuffing at it euen snuffing at the pure and plentifull worship of God disdaining that hee should bee so plenteously made known by his Preachers and his Word so powerfully taught by them how vngodly how crooked and how vnthankfull is this Mal. 1.6 7 8 10 14. 2.2 The Lord holds this a despising of his Name and a contemning of his Table Hee hath no pleasure in such worshippers he accepts no such offerings he reckons such offerers deceiuers hee curseth them and their blessings Oh you therefore that feare God follow the example of the godly Prophet come especially on the Sabbaths and appeare personally before the Lord to worship him in your owne persons For thus do all his Saints they all sit downe at his feet Deut. 33.3 that euery one of them may receiue of his words Psal 84.7 euery one of them appeareth before him in Sion Come and offer to him the sacrifices which he prescribeth so did the godly vnder the Law so doe you vnder the Gospel worship him rightly then they gaue him the burnt offerings of fat Rams Bulls and Goats now giue him that which is your reasonable seruice of him euen in all thankfulnesse for all his mercies towards you in Christ Iesus Rom. 12.1 present your bodies a liuing sacrifice holy and acceptable to him Come worship him delightfully pray giue him thankes heare his Word receiue his Sacraments with holy incense with a pure mind 1. Tim. 2.8 with truth in the inward affections Psa 51.6 Heb. 12.28 Col. 3.17 with grace in your hearts and in the Name of the Lord Iesus For this hee loueth this is pleasing vnto him in this hee delighteth this makes our sacrifices acceptable vnto him Come and worship him plenteously as they prepared many Rams and Bulls and Goats to
O Lord how great is thy workes and thy thoughts are very deepe Oh Sins against Gods bonignity Not remembring Presuming Despising Sins against his workes Not to acknowledge be it farre from vs to be guiltie of that complained of Psal 106.7 Not to remember the multitude of his mercies or that in Deut. 29.19 to presume to sinne through sawcie confidence in his mercy or that in Rom. 2.4 To despise the riches of his goodnesse or that in Psal 92.6 To be so bruitish as not to acknowledge his workes and so foolish as not to discerne the same or that in Psa 28.5 Not to regard his workes Not to regard Sins against himselfe or that in Psa 95.9 To prouoke and tempt him though wee haue seene his glorious workes or that in Psal 10.4 5 13. Not to seek Not to thinke To be so proud as not to seek God as not to haue him in our thoughts as to thinke his wayes alway grieuous vnto vs To contemn as euen to contemne him O farre be these from vs and as it is said Iob 21.16 Farre bee the counsell of all such from vs. Himselfe To praise himselfe whom as Psal 65.1 praise waiteth on in Sion himselfe who is as Psa 18.3 most worthy to be praised himselfe who Ps 22.3 inhabiteth the praises of Israel himselfe whose praises Psal 78.4 the godly doe shew to their posteritie himselfe to whom Psalme 147.1 it is good and pleasant and comely to sing praises himselfe who Psalme 145.3 is great and greatly to bee praised himselfe who Deut. 10.21 is our God and our praise and glory Him euen him let vs praise worthily To prayse him worthily is To exalt him which in one word is to exalt him let vs so praise him as we exalt him not our selues but our God for as Mat. 23.12 Whosoeuer exalteth himselfe he shall be abased not Idols but the Lord for as Psa 97.7 Confounded be all they that serue and reioyce in and so exalt Idols No no but the Lord the Lord let vs exalt him alone let vs exhort others to exalt him Exhorting others as Psal 99.5 Exalt yee the Lord our God let vs in our selues exalt him saying Isa 25.1 Doing it our selues O Lord thou art my God I will exalt thee and praise thy Name Patternes for thou hast done wonderfull things Let the progeny of the godly exalt him saying Exodus 15.2 The Lord is my strength and song he is become my saluation he is my God and he is my fathers God I will prepare him an habitation and I will exalt him thus praise the Lords owne selfe by exalting him Exalt him Exalt him set all vnder him in the congregation set all vnder him in the congregation cry Downe with Idols downe with Images down with mens deuices downe with Inuocation of Saints downe with worshipping of Angels and intertaine and exalt in the congregation of his people none but his owne ordinances his owne Word his owne Sacraments his owne Name his owne selfe Exalt him In the assembly of Elders set all vnder him in the assembly of Elders Bid them as Reu. 4.11 10. fall downe before him worship him and cast downe their crownes at his feet Bid them s 2.10 11. be wise and bee instructed to serue him with fear to reioyce before him with trembling Bid them as Psal 29.1 2. giue to him glory and strength and giue to him the glory due to his Name In the Family Exalt him set all vnder him in the Family Wiues children seruants in your duties feare the Lord looke vp vnto the Lord do all your seruice of subiection and obedience as vnto the Lord. Husbands fathers masters rule as vnder the Lord exalt him as your Master which is in heauen Exalt him Set him aboue all set him aboue all say as Psa 136.2 3. Thou art God of gods thou art Lord of lords say as Eph. 1.21 22. Thou O Lord art farre aboue all principalitie and power and might and dominion and euery Name that is named not onely in this world but in that also which is to come all things are vnder thy feet say as Gen. 14.19 Thou art the most High God the possessour of Heauen and Earth Thus exalt him Set most by him exalt him also in setting more by him then all saying as Ps 73.25 Whom haue I in heauen but thee and there is none in earth that I desire besides thee Exalt him in setting praises on him more then on all Set most praises on him saying O Lord I more delight in thee then in father or mother or wife or children or friends or goods or pleasures or lands yea as Psa 63.3 Thy louing kindnesse is better to me then life it selfe Thou art my portion my glory and song Exalt him Set apart chiefe place for him in setting apart a chiefe habitation for him to dwell in euen thy soule all trimmed as Isa 66.2 A lowly a poore a contrite spirit trembling at his Word Prefer place and meanes of his sernice Be at cost to serue him Exalt him in preferring a place and meanes for his seruice before all thine owne comforts as Dauid Psal 132. Exalt him in being at cost to serue him as the same royall person 2. Sam. 24.24 Exalt him in giuing him the best seruice of all Giue him best seruice that is as Rom. 12.1 thy body and thy whole selfe a liuing sacrifice holy Giue him best dish and acceptable vnto him Exalt him in giuing him the best dish euen as Prou. 23.26 with Psal 51.6 thy very heart abounding with sincerity and truth in all the inward parts thereof O that men would thus praise the Lord priuately publikely and worthily O that we had our minds heated inflamed by al this that hath bin said with holy zeale to tye our selues thus to confesse before the Lord his louing kindnes and his wonderfull workes before the sonnes of men thus to exalt him in the congregation and euery where thus to praise him also in the Assembly of the Elders But who is sufficient for this Angelicall duty How to come to the grace to prayse God thus Of our selues we haue not a thought towards it God is the owner and God is the giuer of it therefore that we may performe it to him we must first craue it at him saying with the Prophet Psal 51.15 O Lord open thou my lips and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise And lest wee deceiue our selues Proofes of such as doe prayse God thinking we be of the number of those that praise God rightly when indeed we be not we must note the proofes of such as doe praise him his benignitie and his workes soundly and examine our selues of them First If we haue this speciall grace to praise him then wee find in our selues Affecting of God that we so affect the Lord as we seeke we thirst