God for mercy hee will not be found of them hee will not answer them he will not heare them this is the misery of such as for all Gods continuall paines and care and cost in bringing them vp like children Isa 1.2 11 12 13 14 15. yet they rebell against him that hee delighteth not in their sacrifices that hee is displeased with their appearing before him that he accounteth their offerings and their incense abomination that hee cannot away with their holy dayes their Sabbaths their solemne meetings that hee hateth their high times takes them a trouble to him is weary of them cannot beare them and that hee hideth his eyes from them and will not heare their prayers Oh consider this thou whose heart is full of wickednes whose heart regardeth neither pietie truth or mercy but iniquitie vngodlinesse vanitie consider and see if this be not a sure and heauy misery that the Lord will not heare thee O beleeue as thou oughtest that it is a grieuous misery indeed for what is a more grieuous misery then Gods most seuere iudgement and as the foresaid places doe proue it is one of his threatned fearefull iudgements such a iudgement as makes the godly lament saying 〈◊〉 3.8 When I cry and shout hee shutteth out my prayer such a iudgement as make vs vnto our selues comfortlesse For what comfort can we haue when we cannot haue comfort in God And what comfort can we haue in him while he will not heare vs Such a iudgement as makes vs vnto others helpelesse for what helpe can we giue them when we can procure no helpe to them from God And how can we procure helpe to them from him when he wil not heare vs such a iudgement as denies vs hope of all benefits for body and soule for what hope can wee haue to obtaine any of them when God at whom wee seeke them and of whom alone wee must receiue them will not heare vs Such a iudgement as presages to vs finall exclusion for what can we looke for but that in the end God will say to vs Away from me yee workers of iniquitie But blessed Christian Rom. 13.12 that hast so cast off the workes of darknesse washed Jsa 1.16 and made cleane thy selfe put away the euill of thy works out of Gods sight ceased to doe euill Ps 73.13 clensed thine heart from the wickednesse and hypocrisie thereof abandoned the loue of iniquitie thou escapest this wofull misery and thou partakest his most comfortable mercy Ioh. 9.31 for be heareth thy prayers Isa 65.24 euen while thou art speaking he will heare and before thou callest Pro. 15.8 he will answer yea thy prayer is his delight O here is a mercy indeed such a mercy as intitles the Lord himselfe with that honourable description O thou that hearest Sions prayer Psal 65.2 such a mercy 1. Kings 8.30 32 34.36 39 43 45 49. as in the dedication of the Temple King Salomon chiefly prayed for saying to euery kind of occasion of prayer Then heare thou in Heauen thy dwelling place Such a mercy as makes vs able to comfort our selues in God in all our necessities such a mercy as armes vs against discomfort in all miseries such a mercy as makes vs hopefull of all temporall and eternall blessings For whom he promiseth so to heare he heareth to the purpose indeed Psal 34.17 as it is said The righteous cry 145.19 and the Lord heareth deliuereth them out of all their troubles They that feare him cry and he heareth their cry and saueth them They aske and he granteth they seeke and hee lets them find they knocke and he opens vnto them they pray and hee giues them good things they desire and hee giues them the Holy Ghost This mercy is most worthy to be noted this fauour is most worthy to be obserued this blessing the holy Prophet tooke such notice of as hee was able to say Verse 19. But verily God hath heard me he hath attended vnto the voyce of my prayer Oh Psal 65.2.116.1.4.3.6.8 9. Exod. 8.8 this moues them to come vnto him constantly this moues them to loue him dearely this assureth them that hee highly regardeth them this comforteth them against their enemies this causeth others to honour them 1. Sam. 7.8 Ioh. 9.31 with crauing their prayers this witnesseth that they obey his Word that they worship him 1. Ioh. 3.22.5.14 that they doe his will that they doe the things which please him that they pray according to his will that the Spirit prayeth in and for them Rom. 8.27 This makes them the mostprofit able members in a family in a towne in a city in a kingdom this proues to themselues and others their integrity and vpright heart with God and that notwithstanding through humane frailtie they erre in many things they cherish no hypocrisie they disgest no wickednesse they purpose no euill in their hearts This speciall benefit Dauid got by obseruing how God heard his prayers and thence reasoned saying If I regard iniquitie in mine heart God will not heare me but verily God hath heard me and attended vnto the voyce of my prayer therefore who dare say that I regard any iniquitie in my heart Lastly this obseruation prouoketh as it ought the true godly to great thankfulnesse as it did this holy man saying Blessed be God Verse 20. which hath not put backe my prayer from him nor his mercy from me Gods not refusing our prayers and his not withholding his mercy from vs requireth speciall thankesgiuing at vs. O they that haue had much and long experience how God hath not put backe their prayers nor kept away his mercy from them and yet the time is to come that they haue made euen very this point an argument of thankesgiuing O this euen this one neglected this one vnknowne this one forgotten dutie puts them into the guilt of much iniquitie as the guilt of presuming that God owes them the hearing of their praiers and that he owes them his mercy the guilt of esteeming that it is no such great matter that he turnes not away their prayers from him or his mercy from them the guilt of not reckoning these among Gods speciall benefits the guilt of ignorance that these are worthy signes of his goodnes and do deserue high account much praise and great thankfulnesse Therefore O Christian if this haue beene thy guilt repent vnfainedly thereof shew thy selfe sorrowfull before God for it make suite to him for the pardon heereof and remembring that euer since thou wast called thou hast been a petitioner vnto him remembring that thou hast made innumerable requests to him remembring that hee might iustly haue excepted against thy petitions for diuers wants in the best of them remembring that thou art most vnworthy to vtter thy mind vnto his most high Maiestie remembring that thou art not worthy of the very least of his daily hourely continuall corporall
spirituall necessary more necessary most necessary innumerable mercies that hee hath shewed doth shew and according to his faithfull promise will shew vnto thee Remember these things and then thinke how for all thy often comming thy neuer ceasing to aske at him thy manifold wants thy great vnworthinesse yet though a father a mother a most kind friend would haue been weary hee neuer shewed himselfe troubled grieued or weary neuer put backe thy prayers nor kept backe his speciall mercy his most needfull mercy nor his sauing mercy from thee Thinking I say how for all thou hast giuen him sufficient occasion to prouoke him to doe it yet hee hath not done it oh bee thankfull oh be thorowly thankfull For who knoweth not that if he would he might haue turned away thy prayers from him he might iustly in anger and sore displeasure haue reiected them he might haue held backe his mercy from thee Oh what would become of vs if the Lord should refuse our prayers and turne away his mercy Oh then calamities fearefull desolation dreadfull destruction like a whirlewind and sore distresse and anguish would come vpon vs and wee should find none to helpe vs there could bee none able to comfort vs in the bitternesse of our soules wee should lament wee should cry out saying Oh are not all these griefes miseries troubles and euils come vpon vs because the Lord hath put our prayers backe from him and kept his mercy backe from vs O consider these things and let vs be wise let vs not still prouoke him to refuse our prayers by refusing his precepts let vs not still prouoke him to hold back his mercies by our holding backe our duties O that our secure generation so giuen ouer to manifold prouocation could so number their dayes as they might apply their hearts speedily to this wisedome neuer more need of this wisedome oh let vs be yet wiser let vs make sure that God shall continue not to turne away our prayers from him nor his mercy from vs and this we doe namely if we turne not away our hearing and obedient hearkening from his Word if wee hold not backe our obedience hee will not hold backe his acceptance if wee keepe not back our duty he wil not keepe back his mercy And if he keepe not backe our prayers from himselfe nor his mercy from vs oh how happie are we Then we haue assurance that he loueth vs forgiues vs will deliuer vs and saue vs heale our Land of all the miseries thereof teach vs in the good way wherein wee should walke and when wee make mone because of drought or famine he will heare the Heauens as it were crying for vs and make the Heauens heare the Earth gaping after raine for vs and cause the Earth to heare the Corne and the Wine the Oyle longing to grow forth for vs and will see that these shall heare vs according to our want and seuerall necessities My prayer from himselfe nor his mercy from me God makes a blessed exchange with his blessed seruants O man or woman that sayest otherwise ô thou that sayest I haue offered vnto God and he had no respect vnto it Iob 21.15 What profit should we haue to pray vnto him We haue fasted and hee beholds vs not we haue humbled our selues and he takes no knowledge of it wee find no such exchange we thinke the proud and wicked receiue more fauour then we doe we account t is but in vaine to serue him Mal. 3.13 O fearefull stout words against God and most false Gen. 4. except thou be naught as Cain was except thou be an Hypocrite as the Iewes were Isa 58. except thou be a wicked seruant as Iudas was which if thou be thou must blame thy selfe Otherwise thou shalt find his seruice an happy seruice thou shalt find a great difference betweene the righteous Mal. 3.17 18. and the wicked betweene him that serueth God and him that serueth him not betweene the religious and the irriligious thou shalt find a seruice like the seruice of a child to his deare and louing father For as a father with such a child so he makes a blessed exchange with his blessed seruants They bring him their offering Gen. 4.4 Rom. 12.1 Ps 115.12 Prou. 23. Matt. 7. Ephes 4. and he giues them his holy acceptation they giue him their bodies and he giues them his blessings they giue him their hearts and hee giues them his Spirit and his grace they giue him his worship Psal 50.23 and hee giues them the comfort of his saluation they honor him with their substance and he fils their barnes with abundance Prou. 3.10 Mat. 10.41 42. Iam. 4.8 Rom. 8.28 they giue his Messengers a small reward and hee giues them a great reward they draw neere to him and hee drawes neere to them they loue him Psal 91.14 15. Mal. 3.16 17. and hee makes all worke for the best vnto them they honour him and he honours them they thinke of his Name and he keeps in remembrance their name His glory is their iewel and he makes them his iewels they are euer sending vp their prayers and praises to him and hee is euer multiplying his mercies vnto them oh what a blessed exchange doth he make with his blessed seruants O wonderfull bounty ô admirable benignity behold and admire this blessed exchange it is worthy to be admired and magnified for euer For what is it for which God makes this exchange with his seruants Oh it is Isa 64.6 as out of them and as it is theirs euen no better then as filthy rags and what are they with whom hee makes it oh Mat. 8.8 Isa 64.6 as of themselues they are most vnworthy they are euen as an vncleane thing and what is that that they giue him considered in it selfe Oh it is none of theirs 1. Cor. 4.7 it is nothing but what he hath first giuen them it is nothing but what they haue first receiued of him it is only his very owne they must needs confesse saying What are we O Lord 1. Chron. 9.14 16. that we should be able or apt to offer any thing vnto thee for all things come of thy selfe and of thine own haue we giuen vnto thee all duties that we render vnto thee are first taught vs by thine own hand and all that thou exchangest with vs is thine owne it is all thine owne O Christian let this blessed exchange moue thee to bee euer in an holy exchanging with the Lord moue thee to glory in his liberality moue thee to hold no gaine comparable to godlinesse moue thee to serue the Lord with gladnesse mooue thee to come before him with reioycing mooue thee to maintaine to the face of all blasphemers that no seruice is so commodious to them that serue in it as the Lords seruice is to his seruants none so honourable none so comfortable and that he is most rich to all that
but all such as you are he destroyeth All yee vngodly Rom. 8.28 repent speedily for God ruleth who makes all things worke together for the best to them that loue him Psal 11. but vpon you he shall raine snares fire and brimstone and an horrible tempest this shall bee the portion of your cup because not chance nor fortune nor Planets nor windes nor Popes nor hell nor creatures rule but God alone ruleth He ruleth by his power Ye Potentates and sonnes of the mighty lift not vp your hornes on high oppose not your greatnes against any ordinance of God for hee ruleth by his power Dan. 4.35 37. none can stay his hand nor may say to him What doest thou Them that walke in their pride hee is able to abase Yee sinners prouoke not him to anger for hee ruleth by his power if yee still forget him and will not consider hee will teare you in pieces Psa 50.22 and none can deliuer you Yee that feare him bee not discouraged because your enemies are too strong for you doubt not of reliefe because your misery seemes helplesse despaire not of recouery because you see no remedy for your God not onely ruleth but he ruleth by his power euen by his mighty power whereby hee is able to subdue all things to himselfe Phil. 3.21 Ephes 3.20 euen by his infinite power whereby hee is able to doe exceeding abundantly for you beyond all that you can aske or thinke For euer Thinke not O ye wicked that there is any time wherein you shall haue the rule in your hands or shall escape his iudgements for hee ruleth for euer Dan. 4.34 his dominion is an euerlasting dominion and of his kingdome there is no end Reioyce O yee righteous for the prouidence the goodnes the protection the presence the power the iustice the mercy of the Lord your God shall neuer bee diminished shall neuer cease shall neuer faile you for hee ruleth by his power for euer Ps 146.10 Thy God O Sion raigneth and he shall raigne for euer His eyes behold the nations O yee mad people Isa 29.15 that seeke out deepe deuices to hide your counsels from the Lord and to keepe your workes secret in darke asking Who seeth vs Who can know vs woe bee vnto you for his eyes behold the Nations Pro. 15.11 hell and destruction are before him how much more the hearts of the children of men hee hath seene all your imaginations Psa 10.14 he beholdeth all your mischiefe and spite to requite it with his owne hand Ye faithfull ones be the same in all places and in all countries dissemble no where sinne no where for your God will find it out his eyes behold all Nations Psal 33.13 hee beholdeth all the sonnes of men his eyes are vpon all the wayes of man Iob 34.21 and hee seeth his goings his eyes are in euery place beholding both the euill and the good Prou. 15.3 You that are in affliction doe not say Isa 40.27 My way is hid from God but be glad and reioyce in his mercy Psal 31.7 in the midst of thy misery with full assurance that hee considers thy trouble and knowes thy soule in aduersities for his eyes behold the Nations and his eye lids do try the children of men Isa 40.28 there is no searching of his vnderstanding Behold his eye is vpon them that feare him and that hope in his mercy to deliuer their soule from death Psal 33.19 and to keepe them aliue in famine All people trust in the liuing Lord of heauen and earth haue him alone to bee your God for hee is the verie God The Heathen gods haue eyes Psal 115.5 and see not Gen. 1.31 but our God seeth euery thing that hee hath made and his eyes behold all Nations Let not the rebellious exalt themselues they which are rebellious let them not bee lifted vp too much in themselues Pray for this vnto the Lord so oft as you heare of Nations rebelling against any Christian Countrey for hee alone is able to tame and spoyle the stout hearted Psal 76. and can cause the men of might to haue no strength in their hands Pray for this vnto him so oft as you see any proud persons exalt themselues against the free passage of the Gospel Rom. 16.20 for hee alone is able to bruise Satan himselfe and to tread him downe vnder our feete Pray for this vnto him when the enemy waxeth stil prouder for though he suffer them sometime to afflict vs Deu. 32.27 yet hee cannot abide that they should behaue themselues proudly and strangely against vs. Pray for this vnto him euen when thy sonnes and daughters are arrogant and insolent for he will either breake them because they are rebellious or if they belong to him hee will heale their rebellions O blesse our God Verse 48. yee people and make the voyce of his praise to be heard Gods holy ones are so affected with desire to praise him as they prouoke all other also to praise him Haue you no desire to praise God Oh how can you aske any mercy at his hands Is your desire to praise him so weake as it moues you not to draw others to this duty Oh how little reckoning make you of God and of his glory and how carelesse are you of others saluation Doe you prouoke others to dishonour and blaspheme him Oh you doe an abominable thing such a wickednesse as neuer did wicked Idolaters to their false gods Beware of no affection beware of too little affection and labour to this high affection vnto the praise of God which will moue you to exhort others to it Psal 34.3 saying O magnifie the Lord with mee and let vs exalt his Name together Our God This is the glory of Gods people that the Lord hath made them so neere vnto him as they may very boldly professe and call him Our God Oh yee hypocrites this glory doth not belong to you if you call him Matt. 7.21 Our God hee denyeth it saying Away from me yee workers of iniquitie I know you not Oh you enemies to the true doctrine of Christ this glory doth not belong to you if you call him Our God he denyeth it saying Not I but your belly is your god Phil 3.19 and your end damnation Oh you worldlings this glory belongs not to you ignorant blind and vnbeleeuing soules if you call him Our God he denyeth it saying Not I 2. Cor. 4.4 but the Deuill is your god But oh yee seruants of the Lord to you euen to you doth this glory belong if you call him Our God he denyeth it not but answereth I am the Lord your God Psal 81.10 and you are my people All that desire this glory Hos 2.23 bee his true seruants be in Christ bee in fellowship with his Church then may you say also The Lord is Our