Creature in misery Hence he is said in Scripture after the manner of Men to have tender Mercies Psal 25.6 And bowels of Mercy Luke 1.58 And to be afflicted in the Afflictions of his People Isa 63.9 And to have his Soul grieved for the miseries of Israel Judges 10.15 16. As tender Parents are extremely troubled for the Afflictions of their Children Psal 103.12 13. So his Bowels are turned within him his Repentings are kindled together Hos 11.8 9. Mercy doth not onely pity but also relieve the afflicted it hath an Hand to supply as well as an Heart to pity those that are in Distress Isaiah 34.18 Gen. 19.16 The Attribute of Mercy is that which God glorieth in and boasteth of Exod. 33.19 Psal 103.8 Noble and Heroick Spirits are ever gentle and merciful The basest Minds are most cruel and farthest from Mercy God saith Fury is not in him Isaiah 27.4 Judgment is his strange Work Isaiah 28.21 He doth not afflict willingly Lament 3.33 But delighteth in the Prosperity of his Servants Psalm 35.27 It 's not his Nature to disturb and destroy Men it 's their Sin that forceth Thunderbolts into his Hands Isaiah 44.22 His delight is in Mercy Micah 7.18 The blessed God hath multitude of Mercies Psal 51.1 To answer the multitude of the Creatures Miseries Abundant mercy 1 Pet. 1.3 He is said to be rich in mercy Ephes 2.4 Exceeding abundant rich in mercy Ephes 2.7 His Mercy as Oyl swims on the top of all his Attributes is his delight Jer. 32.41 I will rejoyce over them to do them good His Mercy as Gold being most excellent over-layeth all his Works Psal 145.7 His tender mercy is over all his Works His Mercy is to all admiration O how excellent is thy loving kindness Psal 36.7 O how great is thy goodness Psal 31.19 His Mercy is beyond all Apprehension Thy Mercy reacheth to the Heavens Psal 108.4 1 Cor. 2.9 He is stiled the Father of Mercies 2 Cor. 1.3 Not the Father of Justice or Fury Mercy is the Joy and Pleasure of God Hence he is said to have a Mercy-Seat and to have a Throne of Grace Heb. 9.5 Sitting is a posture of Ease and Rest but he riseth to execute Justice Psal 68.1 He doth rest in his Love Ephes 3.17 Mercy is the Glory and Honour of God When Moses desired to see the Glory of God Exod. 33.18 The Lord proclaims The Lord God gracious merciful Exod. 34.6 7. When God promiseth to do great things for his People That he will give them Health abundance of Peace cleanse them from all their Filthiness and pardon all their Iniquities Jer. 33.7 8 9. He gives us the fruit of it verse 9. And it shall be to me for a Name of Joy a Praise and Glory before all Nations His Mercy is his Riches his Treasure Hence he is said to be Rich in mercy Eph. 2.4 God is merciful in all he doth universally merciful All his wayes are Mercy and Truth Psal 25.10 The whole World is a Volume written within and without with Characters of Mercy He is merciful to all Men Psal 145.9 Sheweth mercy to thousands Exod. 20.6 Exod. 34.7 Math. 5.45 46. He is merciful at all times His mercy endureth for ever Psal 118.1 Psal 136.1 2 3. He is merciful in all respects He giveth all sorts of Mercies 1 Tim. 6.13 Eph. 1.3 2 Pet. 1.3 4. Men are merciful Prov. 11.17 Psal 37.26 So are Angels in a sense but none of them comparable to God The tender Mercies of the Wicked yea of the righteous Men yea of Angels are Cruelties to the Mercies of God Have they such Pity such Bowels for miserable Creatures as God hath Have they such Power such Ability to relieve afflicted Ones as God hath Can they afford preserving protecting Mercy as God Job 10.12 Pardoning and forgiving Mercy Micah 7.18 Purifying and renewing Mercy Ephes 2.4 Saving and eternal Mercy Tit. 3.5 6. O how infinitely short do they come of him He is so incomparable in Mercy that Mercy is said to belong onely to him Vnto thee O Lord belongeth Mercy Psal 62.10 Unto thee and none but thee He is so merciful that when his Bowels conflict with justice on the behalf of Sinners and get the upper hand he rejoyceth in the Victory Mercy rejoyceth against Judgment James 2.14 He is so merciful that he dispenseth with his own Institutions for the sake of it Hos 6.6 Math. 9.13 with Math. 12.7 Once more he is so merciful that he is upbraided with it as if he were too fond of that Attribute and loved it over-much Jonah 4.2 Was not this my saying in my own Country for I knew that thou wast merciful Thou didst send me to Preach Destruction and Desolation to Nineveh but when I received the Message I knew all would be prevented by mercy and that to Preach such a Threatning was but to disgrace and dishonor my self as a false Prophet before the men of Nineveh for I thought then what is now come to pass that notwithstanding the peremptoriness of the Message Mercy would interpose and prove me false 8. God is incomparable in his Patience Patience is that Attribute in God whereby he beareth with Sinners and forbears or defers their Punishment or that whereby he expecteth and waiteth long for their Conversion He is a God slow to anger Psal 103.8 He waiteth on Men to do them good Isa 30.18 He is long-suffering 2 Pet. 3.7 9. Nay He endureth with much long-suffering the Vessels of Wrath Rom. 9.22 He is the God of Patience Rom. 15.5 The Patience of God is the more admirable if we consider 1. How perfectly he hateth Sin Psal 5.4 Hab. 1.13 Prov. 6.16 And how offensive it is to him it grieveth him Eph. 4.30 It presseth him as Sheaves press a Cart Amos 2.13 He is broken with their whorish Hearts Ezek. 6.9 Though he be infinitely perfect that no Sin can be hurtful to him yet he is so infinitely pure that all Sin is hateful to him 2. What an affront Sin is to him A contempt of his Authority therefore call'd a despising him 1 Sam. 2.30 An ecclipsing his Honour therefore call'd a dishonouring him Rom. 2.23 A contention with him for Mastery therefore call'd a fighting against him Acts 5.39 Job 15.25 A violation of his Commands therefore call'd a transgression of the Law 1 John 3.4 It affronts his Wisdome therefore call'd folly 2 Sam. 24.10 His Justice therefore call'd unrighteousness 1 John 1.6 7. His Patience therefore call'd a despising his long-suffering Rom. 2.4 His Mercy therefore call'd a turning his Grace into wantonness Jude ver 4. His Truth therefore call'd a Lye Isa 44.20 It must be infinite Patience to bear with that which is the Object of infinite hatred 3. Who they are who thus dare and provoke him They are his Creatures Psal 100.2 whom he hath infinitely obliged Lament 3.22 23. And laden with innumerable Blessings Psal 116.12 And loved unconceiveably John 3.16 And seeks daily to over-come
Tutors in the world cannot help one poor soul to the saving knowledge of God It is God that teacheth man knowledge Psal 94.10 He who made light in the first Creation only can cause light in the new Creation 2 Cor. 4.6 But God who caused light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ He that at first said Let there be light when darkness cover'd the face of the world and there was light a corporeal light can command spiritual light and the knowledge of his glory in the face of Christ who is the express Image of his person Therefore the Apostle betakes himself to God for the gift Praying that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ would give unto you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him c. 1 Eph. 17 18. So David often Psal 119.18 34 35 125 143 144. Rev. 3.18 Reader art thou blind take the Counsel of thy Saviour Go to him for eye salve that thou mayest see and be confident he that bids thee come to him for that will bid thee welcome when thou comest Rev. 3.18 None knoweth the Father but the Son and he to whom the Son will reveal him Math. 11.27 Therefore whoever thou art that sittest in darkness and in the shadow of death go to the Sun for light go to the Sun of Righteousness in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge Col. 2.9 for the light of the knowledge of God Dost thou not know the sinfulness and misery of a blind dark state that vengeance is the fruit of this ignorance Psal 79.6 that God will pour out his wrath upon them that know him not Go therefore as the blind man to the Lord Jesus Christ Cry sigh mourn pray Jesus thou Son of David have mercy on me though he hear not presently hold on continue instant in Prayer though the Devil and flesh rebuke thee as the multitude him yet hold on call louder Jesus thou Son of David Mat. 32. to 37. Have mercy on me Lord that I might receive my sight And doubt not but he will have pity on thee as he had on him and touch thine eye and give thee to see the things of thy peace for thine encouragement thou hast his promise Jer. 24.7 I will give them an heart to know me that I am the Lord Jer. 31.34 They shall all know me from the least to the greatest So James 1.6 Hoseah 2.20 Heb. 8.8 9. O with what hope may'st thou sue these Bonds and plead these promises when he that made them is a God that cannot lye 1 Tit. 2. and therefore cannot but perform them Again observe how kindly he took it of Solomon when he bid Solomon ask what he would that he asked wisdom 2 Chron. 1.10 Give me wisdom and knowledge saith Solomon And the thing which Solomon asked pleased the Lord 1 Kings 3.10 And the Lord said unto Solomon Because this was in thine heart because thou hast not asked riches nor honour nor the life of thine enemies nor long life Wisdom and knowledge is granted to thee and I will give thee wealth and honour v. 11. When a poor creature sensible of its blindness and darkness lyeth at the feet of God begging spiritual light and sight the heart of the Redeemer is taken with such a request and subscribes the petition with Wisdom and Knowledge is granted to thee Be but diligent Reader in the use of these means and thou mayest be confident of success If thou cryest after knowledge and liftest up thy voice for understanding if thou seekest her as Silver and searchest for her as for hidden treasure then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God For the Lord giveth wisdome out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding Prov. 2.3 4 5 6. CHAP. XXV 2. Ex. To choose this incomparable God for our portion with some Motives thereunto 2. IF this God be such an incomparable God then choose this God for thy portion and take him for thy happiness Is it possible for thee to read so much of the incomparableness of God in his Being Attributes Works and Word and not desire him Thou canst hardly see an excellent person but thou art wishing him for thy Friend thy Companion nor an excellent Estate but thou art wishing it were thine Inheritance thy portion and canst thou hear of him who is excellency it self originally Job 13.11 the spring and standard of all excellency in others whose name alone is excellent Psal 14.13 and not wish O that this incomparable God were my Friend my Father my Head my Husband my Lot my Portion Who will give me to drink of the water of the Well of Bethlehem O who will help me to drink of the well of Salvation of the fountain of living waters of the pure River that floweth from the throne of God and the Lamb Canst thou hear so much of his worth though infinitely short and not desire him Is it possible for a rational creature to read of such a bottomless treasure of such boundless pleasure of such an infinite unconceivable good and not covet the enjoyment of it O man where are thy wits whither art thou fallen art thou a man or a beast Ah didst thou know the gift of God and what it is that is offered thee thou wouldst scorn the highest honours sweetest carnal delights greatest riches yea trample upon all the Crowns and Kingdoms of this world for it It 's an ineffable priviledge that thou art a creature capable of so vast an happiness it 's a special favour that thou hast leave to aspire after such an immense inheritance and when it s tender'd to thee wilt thou refuse it wilt thou neglect it O wilt thou not give it all acceptation Having spoken in another Treatise to this particular I shall here only offer two or three things to thy serious thoughts and proceed to a third exhortation 1. Consider what is offer'd thee when the incomparable God is offered thee for thy portion And truly to explain this head fully would require the Pen yea exceed the skil of an Angel None can tell what God is but God himself All the sheets in the explication of the Doctrine speak somwhat of him but not the thousand thousandth part of that excellency that is in him Reader I may tell thee when God is offered thee the greatest good that ever was that ever will be that ever can be is offered thee there never was or can be the like offer'd thee more than Heaven and Earth than both Worlds than Millions of Worlds is offered thee This God who is offered thee is the King of Kings the Lord of Lords the God of Gods the blessed and glorious Potentate the first Cause the original Being Self-sufficient All-sufficient absolutely perfect uncapable of any addition or diminution This God who is offer'd thee
infinite being should much affect our hearts Praise ye the Lord Praise him O ye servants of the Lord Praise the name of the Lord Blessed from this time forth and for ever From the rising of the Sun to the going down of the same the Lords name is to be praised why the Lord is high above all Nations and his glory above the Heavens who is like to the Lord our God who dwelleth on high Psal 113.1 to 6. Praise him for his incomparableness in his attributes for the incomparableness of his power O Lord God of Host who is a strong Lord like unto thee Psal 89.8 For the incomparableness of his holiness Who is a God like unto thee glorious in holiness Exod. 15.11 For the incomparableness of his mercy Who is a God like unto thee pardoning iniquity and passing by the transgressions of the remnant of his heritage because he delighteth in mercy Praise him for the incomparableness of his Words O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful works to the children of men Psal 107.8.15 21 31. Psal 72.18 Psal 136.4 Praise him for the work of Creation Psal 114.1 2 3 4 5. Job 38.4 5 6. Praise him for his works of Providence Psal 97.8 9. Psal 136. throughout Psal 107. Praise him especially for the work of Redemption Blessed be the Lord God of Israel who hath visited and redeemed his people Luk. 1.68 Psal 9.1 Rev. 15.3 Praise him for the incomparableness of his Word Wonderful are thy Testimonies Psal 119.129 How often doth the sweet Singer of Israel praise God for them as a singular kindness Psal 147. two last verses He gave his Statutes to Moses his Laws and Commandments to Jacob He hath not dealt so with every Nation Praise ye the Lord. Praise him by admiring him Wonder at his being As they of Christ What manner of man is this that the winds and seas obey him Math. 8.27 What manner of God is this who knoweth no bounds no beginning no succession no addition An amazing admiration of him is an high commendation of him And indeed our silent wondering at his perfections is almost all the worship we can give him Psal 65.1 Praise waiteth for thee O God in Sion Heb. Praise is silent for thee O God in Sion not that praise was dumb or tongue-tyed in Sion for praise in no part of the world speaks higher or louder than in Sion but to shew that when the people of God set themselves to praise him they are struck with amazement and wonder at his matchless being and beauty at his infinite excellencies and perfections and wanting words to express them they sit down in a silent admiration of them Thou wouldst wonder at Adam if he were now alive for his age O wonder at him that is from everlasting to everlasting that is the cause and original of all things that is what he is that is and nothing else is that is all he is in one indivisible point of eternity Wonder at his attributes admire his holiness Behold he putteth no trust in his Servants he chargeth the Angels with folly Job 4.18 Behold wonder at it Again Behold he putteth no trust in his Saints the Heavens are not clean in his sight Job 15.15 Admire his wisdom cry out with the Apostle O the depth of the wisdom and knowledg of God Rom. 11.33 Admire his love Behold what manner of love hath the Father loved us with 1 Joh. 3.1 Admire his power that he can do what he will do Who is a strong Lord like unto thee Psal 89.8 Wonder at his Works Thou art ready to wonder at the rare works of some curious Artist alass all their works are toyes to the works of the mighty Creator and Possessor of Heaven and Earth O Lord how marvellous are thy works Psal 104.24 His work is honourable and glorious Psal 111.3 and worthy thy greatest wonder What a piece is the Creation how marveilous how mysterious Psal 8.1 2 3 4 5. The Heavens declare his glory Psal 19.1 and the earth is full of his goodness Psal 104.24 What a work is Providence read Psal 104. and 107. How many rarities curiosities mysteries are wrapt up in it which are only seen in the other world Psal 77.19 What man is this say they for he commandeth with authority and the unclean Spirits come out of men Mark 1.27 What a Master-piece what rare workmanship indeed is Redemption a work that the Angels are alwayes prying into and wondering at Eph. 3.8 1 Pet. 1.10 Wonder at his Word When thou hearest it dost thou not perceive a Majesty and Authority awing thy Conscience accompanying it And they were all amazed and astonished at his Doctrine Luk. 4.32 The very Officers who were sent to apprehend Christ could not but wonder at his words and returned to them who set them a work Never man spake as he spake Joh. 7.47 There are great things in the Law of God Hosea 8.12 things that are wonderful Psal 119.18 which may well be wondered at And all saith the Evangelist bare him witness and wondred at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth Luk. 4.22 Praise him by speaking alwayes highly and honourably of him If his name alone be excellent take heed that thou dost not take his excellent name in vain Thy apprehensions of him must be ever high and thy expressions of him honourable Thy Tongue is therefore call'd thy glory because therewith thou mayest glorifie thy God Psal 57.8 Never speak of God rashly or at random without a serious consideration of whom thou speakest and let thy expressions of him and to him be becoming his vast perfections Ascribe greatness to our God Deut. 32.3 Speak honourably of his being So Moses Exod. 15.11 Who is a God like unto thee glorious in holiness fearful in praises So Solomon 1 Kings 8.23 Lord God of Israel there is no God like unto thee in Heaven above or in the Earth beneath So David 1 Chron. 29.11 Speak honourably of his attributes Psal 68.34 of his power mercy truth justice wisdom and holiness Holy Holy Holy Lord God of Hosts Isa 6.3 Speak honourably of his words Psal 86.8 Among all the Gods there is none like unto thee neither are there any works like unto thy works Psal 145.10 Speak honourably of his Word The Commandments of the Lord are pure Psal 19.7 Thy word is very pure The Statutes of the Lord are right Psal 19.10 The Law is holy just and good Rom. 7.12 Though Paul's corruption took occasion by the Laws prohibitions to become the more unruly as the water at a Bridge roars the more for the stop yet he dares not lay the least fault upon the Law but layeth all upon himself was the Law Sin God forbid v. 7. Far be it from me to have the least such thought No the Law is holy but I am carnal sold under sin v. 14. So when he speaketh of the Gospel how honourably doth he speak of it
Eyes Ears or Tastes or by species taken in by the Sense and imprinted on the phantasie which are thence offered to the Understanding or else by Faith and the report of others or by discourse and ratiocination He knoweth one thing by another the Conclusion by Mediums and Premises the Causes by the Effects and the Consequents by the Antecedents Saints and Angels in Heaven know things in God not in themselves God knoweth all things in themselves and seeth all things in himself as in a Glass Man in this World must have a two-fold Light to see by A light in his Eye and a light in the Air But the Father of Lights needs no light to see by Darkness and Light are both alike to him Psal 139.12 His Eyes are as a Flame of Fire He seeth in the Dark Revel 1.14 God knoweth all things at once uno actu uno ictu as they say Creatures know one thing by another and one thing after another Their Understandings are unable to take in many Objects at once much less able to take in all Objects at once but God seeth all things at one View The Lord looketh down from Heaven he beholdeth all the Children of Men's From the place of his Habitation he beholdeth all the Inhabitants of the Earth Psal 33.13 14. The Eye of Man may see many things at once as an Hive of Bees but if it will see other things it must remove the sight though the Mind of Man can take in more then the Eye as a whole Country or World at once yet 't is onely the lumpe of gross if it would take the distinct knowledge of them it must remove from thought to thought but God takes all distinctly particularly at once God knoweth all things from everlasting before ever the World had a Being Men and Angels may know what is when it is but cannot know it as God doth before it was Acts 15.18 Known to God are all his Works from the beginning of the World Before he erected the curious frame of the World he knew all the Rooms and Furniture in it all the motions and actions of all the Inhabitants of it He doth by one pure simple undivided eternal act of his Understanding know all things perfectly immediately distinctly every moment 6. God is incomparable in his Truth and Faithfulness Truth is that Attribute in God whereby he is in himself as he reveals himself to be and in his sayings and doings as he speaketh and acteth God is Truth in himself and Truth towards his Creatures He is Truth in himself 1. As he truly is and really existeth Hence he is stiled the true God Jer 10.10 John 17.3 in opposition to Idols or false gods 1 Thess 1.9 So he is truly infinite truly all-sufficient truly eternal truly immutable c. 2. As he is the unchangeable Archetipe and Idaea of all true things without himself so all created things are true as they answer their patterns in his mind 3. In his immanent Actions as his Decrees and eternal Resolutions are all certain and attain a punctual accomplishment Psal 33.11 He is never deceived nor disappointed in his Purposes God is Truth towards his Creatures 1. In his Works as all his Actions of Creation Preservation Government Redemption are real and not chimera's or appearances Rev. 15.3 Psal 111.7 Deut. 32.4 Psal 25.10 2. In his Words all he saith is Truth His Precepts are true a perfect Rule of holiness without any defect Psal 119.86 All thy Commandements are Faithfulness verse 142. Thy Law is the Truth All his Promises are true and shall be performed Not one good thing faileth of all that the Lord our God hath promised Josh 23.14 Hence the Gospel the compendium of all the Promises is often called The Word of Truth James 1.18 And the Covenant of Grace is called Sure Mercies Isa 55.3 All his Praedictions are true and come to pass in their Season Hab. 2.3 Rev. 22.6 7. These are true and faithful Sayings Gen. 49.10 His Threatnings are true and fail not Rom. 2.2 of their accomplishment 2 Kings 9.26 36. He is Truth it self John 14.6 John 17.6 Abundant in Truth Exod. 34.6 Truth Truth The Lord God of Truth Psal 34.5 A God that cannot lie Titus 1.2 All lying ariseth either from forgetfulness Men break their word because their Memories are slippery but Oblivio non cadit in Deum He is ever mindful of his Word Luke 1.72 To remember his holy Covenant Psal 106.46 Psal 111. 5. He will ever be mindful of his Covenant Or from weakness some would but want power to make good their Promises though they were able when they promised yet they are by some Providence or other disabled before the day of performance comes but the strength of Israel cannot lie 1 Sam. 15.29 The Rock the eternity of Israel cannot lie Or from Wickedness some can but will not make good their words but God cannot be charged with any wickedness Psal 92. ult There is no unrighteousness in him 1 Kings 22.23 Ezek. 14.9 Men may be true Psal 15.4 Angels are true but neither Men nor Angels are true as God is let them be put in the Scales with God And Men of high degree are Vanity and Angels of the highest degree are a Lie to be laid in the Ballance they are altogether lighter then Vanity Psal 62.9 Read over God's Truth in himself and you will see how far Angels come short thereof Are they the Exemplar of all things are all things true as they agree with the Idaea's in their minds Consider his Truth towards his Creatures Can it be said of an Angel as of God The Angel that cannot lie hath promised Titus 1.2 Are they under an absolute impossibility of deceiving Surely if they be considered in themselves it was as possible for them to lie as for the Father of Lies It 's said of God It is impossible for him to lie Heb. 6.18 But this cannot be spoken of Elect Angels considered in themselves God is so true that he onely is true all to him are Lyars Rom. 3.4 Revel 3.7 14. CHAP. IX God incomparable in his Mercy and Patience 7. GOD is incomparable in his Mercy Mercy is an Attribute of God whereby he pittieth and relieveth his Creature in misery It 's an Attribute which relateth to the Creature onely God knoweth himself and loveth himself and glorifieth himself but he is not merciful to himself It is an Attribute that relateth to the Creature in misery Justice seeks a worthy Object Grace is exercised towards an unworthy Object but Mercy looks out for a needy an indigent Object God is bountiful and gracious to Elect Angels because they could not deserve that perfection and happiness which they enjoy but he is not merciful to them for they were never miserable Fallen Man is the proper Object of Mercy as being not only undeserving of the least good but as also having plunged himself into all evil Mercy is an Attribute whereby he pittieth his