such a case it is time to correct our selves and say yea happy is the people whose God is the Lord Psal. 144. 15. Take heed the devil doth not gain this advantage over you to make you follow the world with the greatest earnestness and spiritual and heavenly things in a slight and overly manner Esteem desires resolutions of worldly Greatness though not upon base conditions begin the Temptation You think it is a fine thing to live in Pomp and at ease to swim in pleasures and begin to resolve to make it your business The devil hath you upon the hip it is a hour of Temptation 2. His next course is to make large offers and promises by his instruments or your own thoughts that though you neglect God and Heaven and do engage in some sinful course you shall do well in the world and enjoy full satisfaction There is a double evil in Satans Offers and Promises 1. They are false and fallacious All these things will I give thee Satan maketh fair offers of what he cannot perform He promiseth many things but doth only promise them he offereth the Kingdomes of the world to Christ but cannot make good his word he sheweth them to Christ but cannot give them And this is the devils wont to be liberal in promises to fill the minds of those that hearken to him with vain hopes as if he could transfer the Riches and Honours of the world to whom he pleaseth whereas they are shamefully disappointed and find their ruine in the very things in which they sought their Exaltation and their projects are crossed for the earth is the Lords and the fulness thereof 1 Cor. 11. 26. 2. All the devils offers and promises have a spightful condition annexed He pretendeth to give but yet selleth at the dearest rates It is but a barter and exchange a flat bargain but no gift He must have our souls God is dishonoured his Laws broken his Spirit grieved The devil staineth his grant with unjust covenants and exacteth more than the thing is worth Two wayes then must we defeat the Temptation 1. Not believing his Promises that I must be beholding to sin to make me happy Those that by unlawful means get up to honour and wealth seem to have accepted the devils offer they think he is Lord of the world and all the Kingdoms and the Glory thereof Do not look upon wealth as the devils gift as a thing to be gotten by fraud flattery corruption bribery alas it is put into bags with holes Haggai 1. 6. It is called the deceitfulness of riches Matth. 13. 22. They promise that contentment and happiness which they cannot give There is sure dependance on the Lord's but none on Satans promises Young men that are to begin the world take up this resolution take what God sendeth but resolve never to take wealth out of Satans hands what God sendeth in the fair way of his Providence by his blessing on your lawful endeavors Prov. 10. 4. The hand of the diligent maketh rich And Ver. 22. The blessing of the Lord it maketh rich and he addeth no sorrow with it When you deal righteously and do not barely heap up treasure to your selves but seek to grow rich towards God to subordinate all to heaven and a better pursuit otherwise God can find a moth and a thief for your Estates 2. The other way is to consider what a sad bargain you make by gratifying the devil and hearkning to his Counsel Matth. 16. 26. What is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul A man never gets any thing with Satan but he shall lose that which is more precious he never maketh a proffer to our advantage but to our loss and hurt Follow the world as hard as you can lie cosen cheat and you shall be rich put the case it is so but I must lose my soul not in a natural but legal sense Iob 27. 8. What is the hope of the hypocrite though he hath gained when God taketh away his soul He hath far better things from us then we have from him a Birth-right for a mess of Pottage the hopes of Heaven for an opulent condition here below The Bird buys the Fowlers bait at a dear rate when his life must go for it Thy soul must be lost which all the Gold and Silver in the world cannot redeem and recover 4. I observe again that Christ by his refusal hath taught us to tread the world under our feet and all the glory of it should be an uneffectual and cold motive to a sanctified soul. If we have the same Spirit that was in Christ it will be so All the Kingdoms of the World and the Glory of them was far too little to make up a Temptation to him A mortified heart will contemn all this in comparison of our duty to God and the comfort of a good Conscience and the Hopes of Glory Surely they have not the Spirit of Christ who are taken with small things with a Babylonish Garment or some petty Temptation USES The Use is to teach us how to counter-counter-work Satan 1. Since he worketh upon the fleshly mind we are to be mortified and grow dead to the world We profess Faith in a Crucified Lord we must be like him Crucified as he was Crucified then shall we glory in the Cross of Christ when we feel the vertue of it and are planted into the likeness of it Gal. 6. 14. God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Iesus Christ by whom the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world Grow more dead to the Riches Honour Pomp Pleasure the Favour Fear Love Wrath Praise and Dispraise of Men that we may readily deny these things so far as opposite to the Kingdom of Christ or our duty to God or as they lessen our Affections to him We die as our esteem of those things doth decay till the mans temper be altered there is no hope to prevail by Argument onely they that are made partakers of a divine Nature do escape the corruption that is in the world through Lust. 2. Since he worketh by Representation and Promise you must be prepared against both 1. As he worketh by Representation or the fair shew and splendid Appearance of worldly things you must check it 1. By considering the little subsistance and reality that is in this fair appearance 1 Cor. 7. 31. The fashion of this world passeth away 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is but a draft an empty Pageantry so it is called Psal. 39. 6. Avain shew an Image shadow or dream that vanisheth in a trice So Prov. 23. 5. Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not It was not a-while ago and within a little while it will not be again at least to us it will not be we must shortly bid good night to all the World 1 Pet.
the Mount he went down to suffer at Ierusalem 2. This was an offence to the Apostles that their Master should dye Matth. 16. 22 23. Then Peter took him and began to rebuke him saying be it far from thee Lord this shall not be unto thee 3. This was the Jews stumbling block 1 Cor. 1. 23. We Preach Christ Crucified to the Iews a stumbling block 4. This was prefigured in the Rites of the Law foretold in the Writings of the Prophets In the figures of the Law it was represented Heb. 9. 22. and almost all things are by the Law purged with blood and without the shedding of blood there is no Remission especially the Apostle urgeth the entring of the High Priest with Blood to the Mercy-seat verse 23 24. All the legal Sacrifices were slain their blood brought before the Lord. So the predictions of the Prophets Isa. 53. 10. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him he hath put him to grief when thou shalt make thy soul an offering for sin c. And Dan. 9. 26. The Messias shall be cut off but not for himself In short that Christ should dye for the sins of the World was the great thing represented in the Law and Prophets Rabbi Simeon and Rabbi Hadersim out of Daniel that after Messias had Preached half seven years he shall be slain 5. It was necessary that by death he should come to his Glory of which now some glympse and foretast was given to him Luke 24. 46. Thus it is written and thus it behoved Christ to suffer and rise from the dead the third day that is with respect to the predictions verse 44. All those things which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Book of Psalms concerning me may be fulfilled and again Luke 24. 21 26. Oh fools and slow of heart to believe all that the Prophets have spoken ought not Christ to have suffered these things and to have entered into his Glory 6. The Redemption of the Church by Christ is the talk and discourse we shall have in Heaven the Angels and Glorified Spirits are blessing and praising him for this Rev. 5. 9. Thou art worthy for thou wert slain and hast Redeemed us to God by thy Blood The Angels verse 12. Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and streneth and glory and honour and blessing The Redeemed Church and glorified Saints and Angels have all one song and one praise the honour of the Lamb that was slain 7. It is an instructive pattern to us that Christ in the midst of his Transfiguration and the Glory which was then put upon him forgat not his Death In the greatest advancements we should think of our desolution if Christ in all his Glory discoursed of his death surely it more becommeth us as necessary for us to prevent the surfeit of Worldly pleasures we should think of the change that is comming For surely every man at his best estate is vanity Psalm 39. 5. In some places they were wont to present a deaths head at their solemn Feasts merry dayes will not alwayes last death will soon put an end to the vain pleasures we enjoy here and the most shining glory will be burnt out to a snuff 2. The notion by which his Death is expressed his decease 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies the going out of this Life into another which is to be noted 1. In respect unto Christ his death was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for he went out of this mortal Life into Glory and so it implyeth both his suffering Death and also his Resurrection Act. 2. 24. God hath raised him up having loosed the pains of Death because it was impossible he should be holden of it The Grave was like a Woman ready to be delivered it suffered Throws till this blessed burden was egested 2. With respect to us Peter calls his death 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Pet. 1. 15. I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease the death of the Godly is a going out but from sin and sorrow to glory and immortality as Israels going out of Egypt whence the second Book of Moses is called Exodus was no destruction and cessation of their being but a going out of the House of Bondage into Liberty Paul saith I desire to be dissolved 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Phil. 1. 23. a setting sail for the other World In Scripture language the body is the House the soul is the Inhabitant 2 Cor. 5. 1. We know that if our earthly house of this Tabernacle were disslolved we have a building of God an House not made with hands eternal in the Heavens The soul dwelleth in the body as a Man in a House and death is but a departure out of one House into another not an extinction but a going from House to House 3. The necessity of undergoing it in the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this word accomplish noteth three things 1. His Mediatorial duty with a respect to Gods Ordination and Decree declared in the Prophesies of the old Testament which when they are fulfilled are said to be accomplished Whatsoever Christ did in the work of Redemption was with respect to Gods Will and Eternal Decree Acts 4. 28. To do whatsoever thy hand and counsel determined before to be done Now this was the more binding being it was a declared counsel in the Prophesies and Figures of the Old Testament therefore Christ cryed out at his death Iohn 19. 30. It is finished or accomplished Meaning principally that the Prophesies and Figures and Types which prefigured his death were all now accomplished 2. His voluntary submission which he should accomplish noteth his Active and voluntary concurrence it is an active word not passive not to be fulfilled upon him but by him for though his death in regard of his Enemies was violent and enforced yet he voluntarily underwent it for our sakes no man could have taken his Life from him unless he had laid it down Iohn 10. 18. it was not forced upon him but he yielded to it by a voluntary dispensation as to men it was an act of violence but as to his Father it was an act of obedience as to us an act of Love on Christs part his Enemies could not have touched him against his Will as indeed they cannot also one hair of our heads but as God permitteth 3. That it was the eminent Act of his Humiliation for this cause he assumed humane Nature his Humiliation begun at his Birth continued in his Life and was accomplished in dying all was nothing without this for less could not serve the turn then the death of the Son of God then all sufferings were undergone which were necessary to take away sin therefore there is a consummation or perfection attributed to the death of Christ Heb. 10. 14. By one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are Sanctified there is done enough to expiate sin
thou hast loved me and ver 26. That the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them that is by the gift of the Spirit and Everlasting Glory Though Christ was the beloved Son yet his state was but mean and despicable in the world he was afflicted a man of sorrows pursued to the Death even a shameful painful accursed Death yet all this while he was full of the Holy Ghost of his Graces Comforts and afterwards received to Glory and so will he love us At this rate and Tenour his love bindeth him not to give us worldly greatness but if we have the Spirit and may be welcomed to Heaven at the last we have that which is the true discovery of Gods Love So he manifested his Love to the onely begotten Son and therefore the adopted children should be contented with this Love if by the Spirit they may be inabled to continue with Patience in well-doing till they receive Eternal Glory and Happiness 3. The next thing is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in whom I am well pleased This is to be interpreted of Christ as Mediator or God Incarnate for this was twice spoken at Christs Baptisme Mar. 3. 17. and now at his Transfiguration both imply his Mediatorship For his Baptisme had the notion of a Dedication he did then present himself to God as a Mediator for us to be the Servant of his Decree as we in Baptisme dedicate our selves to fulfil the Precepts which belong to us and as we are concerned to promote his Glory in the World Christ presented himself as a Mediator that is as a Prophet to acquaint us with the way of Salvation as a Priest to pay a perfect Ransom for us as a King to give us all things and defend and maintain all those who submit to his Government till their Glory be perfected and they attain unto their final Estate of Bliss and Happiness Now then God from Heaven declared himself well pleased and now again when Christ had made some Progress in the Work confirmeth it for the assurance of the World This then must be Interpreted 1. As to Christ. 2. As to those who have benefit by him and interest in him 1. As to Christ. He was well-pleased Partly as to the Design the Reparation of Lost Mankind Partly as to the Terms by which it should be brought about Partly as to the Execution and Management of it by Christ. 1. As to the Design God was well-pleased that lapsed Mankind should be restored at the first God was pleased with his Creation Exod. 31. 17. on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed that is recreated in the View of his Works as the effects of his Wisdom Power and Goodness And Psal. 104. 31. The Lord shall rejoyce in his works The Lord saw all to be good in the beginning and working not to be repented of This was Gods Rest and Sabbath to take delight in his Works When he looked on it altogether behold it was exceeding good but afterwards Man the ungrateful part of the Creation though the Masterpiece of it in this visible and lower world fell from God his Creator and preferred the Creature before him to his Loss and Ruine then God was so far displeased that he had Reason to wish the destruction of Mankind it is said Gen. 6. 6. That it repented God that he had made man That is he was displeased with us estranged from us no more contented with us than a man is in what he repenteth of For properly God cannot repent but this is an Expression to show how odious we were grown to him Psal. 14. 2 3. The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there were any that did understand and did seek after God They are all gone aside they are altogether become filthy there is none that doth good no not one Alas there is a lamentable appearance of Mankind to Gods sight now nothing good to be found in them an universal Defection both in Piety and Humanity But then Christ undertook the Reparation of Mankind and the Design was pleasing to God that he might not lose the glory of his Creation and all flesh be utterly destroyed Col. 1. 19 20. It pleased the father that in him should all fulness dwell and having made peace through the blood of his cross by him to reconcile all things to himself The restoring of fallen Man to Friendship with God and all things tending to it were highly pleasing to God namely that Jesus Christ the second Person in the Trinity should become a Mediator for that end he had a great Affection and liking to this thing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is the same word used here the thing is highly pleasing to God that the Breach should be made up that man who had lost the Image Favour and Fellowship with God should be again restored by renewing his Heart reconciling his Person and admitting him again into Communion with God who was was so justly provoked by him God stood in no need of our Friendship nor could any loss come to him by our Hatred and Enmity onely it pleased the Father to take this way Isa. 53. 10. For it pleased the Lord to bruise him he hath put him to grief when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin he shall see his seed he shall prolong his dayes and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hands 2. He is pleased with the Terms God who is the Supream Governour of the world and the offended Party stood upon these Terms that the Honour of his governing Justice should be secured and the Repentance and Reformation of man carried on Strictly these must be done or else man must lye under his Eternal Displeasure if one be done and not the other no Reconciliation can ensue Now that God is highly pleased with the satisfaction and compensation made to his governing Justice Heb. 10. 6 7. In burnt-offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast no pleasure Then said I lo I come to do thy will O God Ver. 10. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Christ once for all God rejected all other sacrifices but was fully satisfied with this as enough to expiate the sin of Man Christ delighted to give it and God delighted to accept of it He paid a perfect ransom for us besides or above which he craved no more but rested fully content in it for the other the Renovation of Mans Nature to put him into a capacity to serve and please God for God would not admit us to Priviledges without change of heart and disposition Acts 5. 31. God exalted him to be a prince and saviour to give repentance and remission of sins In short God is so satisfied with these Terms that 1. He seeketh no farther amends for all their wrongs Rom. 3. 25. Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood to
because that God sent his onely begotten Son into the world that we might live by him That God should bestow his Son upon us to procure our salvation God tried Abraham's love in sacrificing his son but manifested his Love to us in sending his own Son he spared him not but delivered him up for us all Now that such a Remedy and Ransome is found out for us it should leave an Impression of Gods love on our Hearts that we may love him again who first loved us 1 Ioh. 4. 19. Think nothing too dear for God who thought no rate too dear to purchase our Life and Peace As our salvation was precious to him let his Glory be dear to us onely let me tell you this Love must not be confined to a bare act of our Reason but you must pray to God to shed abroad this love in your hearts by the Holy Spirit Rom. 5. 5. that so you may study to love and please God prize Christ and his precious Benefits above all things in the World and live to him who died for you that you may feel the constraining Efficacy and Force of Love SERMON VI. MATTH 17. 5. This is my beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased Hear ye him 1. THe Design and Intent of this Scripture is to set forth the Lord Jesus as the great Mediator as appeareth 1. From the occasions upon which this Voice came from Heaven at his Baptisme which was Christs dedication of himself to the work of a Redeemer and Saviour and now at his Transfiguration to distinguish him from Moses and the other Prophets and publickly to instal him in the Mediatory Office 2. The matter of the words shew his fitness for this Office for here you have 1. His Dignity not a servant but a Son Heb. 3. 5 6. Moses verily was faithful in all his house as a servant but Christ as a son over his own house Now the old Prophesies foretold the Union of the two Natures in his Person and necessary it was that our Mediator should be God-Man There is a Congruity between his Person and Office one fit to be familiar with Man and naturally interessed in his Concerns and yet so high and near the Father as may put a sufficient value upon his Actions and so meet to Mediate with God for us 2. The Dearness between God and him my beloved son Christ is the Object of his Fathers love both as the second Person in the Trinity and Mediator The one is the ground of the other for because he loved him he intrusted him with souls Ioh. 3. 35. The father hath loved him and put all things into his hands the Elect and all things else all power that conduceth to their salvation Afterwards loved him as Mediator Ioh. 10. 17. Therefore doth my Father love me because I lay down my life that I might take it again Now such a beloved Son is fittest to Mediate for us and to come upon a design of Love to demonstrate Gods great Love to wretched sinners and to be a pledge of that love which God will bestow upon us who are altogether so unworthy of it 3. His Acceptableness to God who is well-pleased with the Design the Terms the Management of it II. This work of Mediator Christ executeth by three Offices of King Priest Prophet For he is Head and Lord of the renewed state a Priest to offer a sacrifice for sin which having once offered he for ever represents in Heaven he was also to be Teacher of Mankind to acquaint us with the way of salvation These Offices are often alluded unto in Scripture Rev. 1. 5. The faithful witness the first begotten from the dead the prince of the kings of the earth So Heb. 1. 2 3. God hath spoken to us by his son he having by himself purged our sins sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high The effect of them is more briefly described Ioh. 4. 6. I am the way the truth and the life The way was opened by his Passion and is kept open by his Intercession Truth as a Prophet Life we have from him as Prince of Life or Head of the renewed Estate So the effects 1 Cor. 1. 30. But of him are ye in Christ Iesus who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness sanctification and redemption Wisdom as a Prophet to cure our Ignorance and Folly Righteousness and Sanctification as a Priest Redemption as the King and Captain of our Salvation The same Benefits which he purchaseth as a King he bestoweth as a Priest revealeth as a Prophet These three Offices were typed out by the First-born who were Heads of Families and also Prophets and Priests 3. That though all the three Offices be imployed yet the Prophetical Office is more explicitely mentioned partly as suiting with the present occasion which is to demonstrate that Christ hath sufficient authority to repeal the Law of Moses which the Prophets were to explain confirm and maintain till his coming But now Moses and Elias appear in Person to certifie their consent and God his Approbation from Heaven to that new Law of Grace which Christ should set up Partly because it is not necessary that in every place all the Offices should be mentioned sometimes but one as where Christ is called either King Priest or Prophet sometimes two together Heb. 3. 1. Prophetical Sacerdotal Consider the apostle and high priest of our profession Christ Iesus sometimes his Prophetical and Kingly Isa. 55. 4. Behold I have given him for a witness to the people and for a leader and commander to the people Partly because if Christ be received in this one Office he will be received in all the rest for as a Prophet he hath revealed that Doctrine which establisheth his Kingly and Priestly Office for he hath revealed all things necessary to salvation and therefore his own sacrifice and Regal Power Lastly some think all expresly mentioned here thus Christ is Gods beloved Son and therefore the Heir of all things and Lord and King in whom he is well pleased that is pacified and satisfied with his offering as a Priest or appeased by his compleat sacrifice Hear him as the great Prophet and Doctor of the Church This premised I come now to observe Doct. That Christ is appointed by God the Father to be the great Prophet and Teacher whose voice alone must be heard in the Church I. That Christ is the great Prophet and Teacher of the Church appeareth 1. By the Titles given to him he is compared with Moses the great Law-giver among the Iews The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a prophet from the midst of you like unto me unto him shall ye hearken Deut. 18. 15. He was to be like a Moses but greater than Moses a Lawgiver as he a man as he one that saw God Face to Face as he a Mediator as he but far other in all respects a better Law a more glorious Person a more
Their Comfortable and Gracious recovery by Christ verse 7. 3. The Event and Issue of all verse 8. 1. Their Astonishment they fell on their faces and were sore afraid their falling on their faces was not out of Worship and Reverence but consternation as those Iohn 18. 6. As soon as he said to them I am he they went backward and fell to the ground The causes of their fear must be enquired into These were holy men the flower of Christs Disciples they were men in an holy action for Belshazar in his cups to tremble were no news they were not in the presence of an angry God it was a Gospel-voice that they heard This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased hear ye him They had not a full dispensation of his glory but only a glimpse of it and that under a cloud and revealed in Mercy yet they were sore afraid Upon any Visions and Apparitions of the divine Majesty Gods Servants fell to the Earth Ezek. 1. 28. When I saw the appearance of the likeness of the Glory of God I fell on my face Paul when Christ appeared to him from Heaven he fell to the Earth Acts 9. 4. Rev. 1. 17. When I saw him I fell at his feet as dead Abraham was cast into great horrour Gen. 15. 12. when God appeared solemnly to enter into Covenant with him So Isa. 6. 5. Then I said wo is me for I am undone So Daniel chap. 10. 8. 9. When I saw this great vision there was no strength in me for my comeliness was turned into corruption and I retained no strength yet I heard the voice of his words then was I in a deep sleep upon my face and my face was towards the ground Now I shall give the special reasons why the manifestation and appearance of God to his great Prophets did breed this astonishment and Fear 2. What general Note and Observation may be concluded hence for our profit 1. The special Reasons why these manifestations and appearances of God to his great Prophets do breed this astonishment and fear they are Two 1. To humble them to whom he vouchsafed so great a favour To humble them least the Glory of these heavenly Visions should too much puff them up Therefore there was ever some weakness discovered in those that did receive them Iacob wrestled with God but came off halting and maimed though he prevailed Gen 32. 31. when he came off from seeing God face to face he halted on his thigh Paul was wrapt into the third Heaven yet presently buffetted with a messenger of Satan least he should be lifted up with the abundance of Revelations 2 Cor. 12. 7. Corruption remaineth in us and we are not able to bear these favours which God manifesteth to his choice Servants and therefore there is something to humble them in the dispensation and to keep them from being puffed up with pride something that is a ballance to the great honour wherewith God hath honoured them 2. All those that received Visions from him to teach his people God would season them by leaving a stamp and impression of his excellency upon them This was the preparation of the Prophets and a preparation of the Disciples to fit them for the work of the Gospel A due representation of Gods glory and excellent Majesty doth qualifie them for their duty they are fittest to carry Gods message and describe him to others who are thus qualified and prepared and have some reverence and awe of God impressed upon their own hearts and have felt the power of his great Majesty 2 Cor. 5. 16. Knowing the terrors of the Lord we perswade men The General Conclusion and Observation which we may draw from thence is this Doctrine That God is of such glorious Excellency and Majesty that we are not able to bear any emissions or extraordinary Representations thereof in this state of frailty 1. I will prove that God is a great God and of glorious Majesty 2. Give you the Reasons why we are not able to bear the extraordinary manifestations thereof in this state of frailty 1. That God is a God of great Majesty and ought to be reverenced by all that have to do with him The point being a matter of sense and evident by natural light needeth not to be proved so much as improved 1. Scripture representeth him as such Dan. 9. 4. He is called the great and dreadful God so Deut. 7. 21. A Mighty God and terrible and Nahum 1. 5. A great and terrible God is he and again Job 37. 22. With God is terrible Majesty 2. This eminently shineth forth both in his Works of Creation and Providence 1. Creation in the stupendious Fabrick of the Heavens Ier. 32. 17 18 19. Ah Lord God behold thou hast made the Heaven and the Earth by thy great power and outstretched arm and there is nothing too hard for thee c. In that mighty Collection of Waters in the Sea we cannot look upon that vast expansion of the Firmament that huge body of Waters in the Sea without some religious horrour what is the God that made all this Ier. 5. 22. Fear ye not me saith the Lord will ye not tremble at my presence which have placed the Sand for a bound to the Sea by a perpetual decree that it cannot pass it and though the waves thereof toss themselves yet can they not prevail though they roar yet can they not pass over it 2. Providence whether in his way of Mercy or Judgment Mercy what a Majestick description of God is there Ps. 50. 1 2 3 4 5. yet there his presence in his Church is described The drift of the Psalm is to set forth Gods Power and Majesty when he comes to call the Gentiles and to set up the Evangelical way of his Worship when the light of the Gospel shall shine forth from Sion Psalm 5. 5. by terrible things in Righteousness wilt thou answer us Oh God thou God of our Salvation Though God is a God of Salvation yet the way of his delivering them carryeth Majesty and Terror with it So his Works of Judgment Psal. 119. 120. My flesh trembleth for fear of thee and I am afraid of thy Iudgments when the wicked of the Earth are put away like dross A Lyon trembleth to see a Dog beaten before him and it is imputed as a fault to the wicked that they do not take notice of it Isa. 26. 10. They will not behold the Majesty of God 3. His Greatness and Majesty is such that we cannot comprehend it Iob 36. 26. Behold God is great and we know him not nor can the number of his years be searched out The Greatness of God cannot be known but only by way of Negation that he hath none of those infirmities which may lessen his being in our thoughts or by way of comparison that he is above all God is greater then man Ier. 36. 12. 4. So great that he is fain to put a covering