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
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
fit vs to worship and praise GOD. Doe not esteeme them as dead things doe not passe by them as idle matters of no reckoning doe not sinne as those that are complained of for that they regarded not the workes of GOD nor considered the operation of his hands but come and behold his workes vse them as happy meanes to make thee happy that is to fit thee to bee an happy and holy worshipper of God Vse his workes of creation Psal 33. 9. 36. 6. 31. 23. 7 8 9 10. 67. 4. 9. 16. 145. 15 1â— 111. 9. to draw you to feare him his workes of common preseruation to admire his prouidence his workes of speciall preseruation to loue him of administration to trust and to reioyce in him of iudgement to acknowledge him and to stand in awe of him of sustentation to waite on him and his workes of redemption to praise his holy and fearefull Name in stead of vaine and corrupt communication Ps 105.2 5 talke of his wonderfull works and in stead of remembring vanities remember his maruellous workes which hee hath done his wonders and the iudgements of his mouth Hee is to be reuerenced in his doing toward the sonnes of men They that rightly consider Gods working doe find that hee is most worthy to bee reuerenced in euery action O thou man that doest not perceiue this thou art very foolish Psal 92. But yee holy ones whom God hath made glad through his workes and who reioyce in the worke of his hands happy are you for you see how true this is and you admire that hee is so reuerend in his doing Toward the sonnes of men The very person toward whom God is so reuerend in his dealing is full of argument of his commendation for who bee these Euen the sonnes of men Oh then praise the Lord highly for his administration to such persons confesse his bountie vnto these bountie vnspeakable confesse his goodnesse vnto these goodnesse immeasurable confesse his mercy to these mercy most laudable confesse his loue to these loue most admirable For these haue plunged themselues into all misery these haue prouoked his wrath by infinite iniquity these haue nothing in them to deserue any compassion these haue all that is in them to bring condemnation O wee men Gen. 6.5 Rom. 1.21 whose imaginations are continually euill whose foolish mindes are full of darknes whose very hearts are most deceitfull whose mouthes are full of blasphemy whose throates are an open sepulcher Rom. 3. whose eyes are full of vanity whose eares are full of idlenesse whose hands are full of bloud whose feet are swift to euery mischiefe whose life is most sinfull and whose body is most vile Let vs wonder that God is so reuerend in his dealing to such most vnworthy persons and wondring let vs to his glory say What is man Psal 8. that thou art so fauourable a God vnto him What is wretched man that thou art mindfull of him What is the sonne of mortall man that thou visitest him Hee turned the sea into dry land Verse 6. God shewes himselfe wonderfull in his doing for them that feare him Their enemies were behinde them the Red Sea is before them What now shall become of them Why Psal 106.9 behold the saluation of the Lord to his owne people hee forthwith rebuked the deepe Sea for staying them and it presently gaue way vnto them ouerwhelming all their enemies that followed them See how reuerend the Lord was in his doing toward these sonnes of men ioyne your selues to this God and hee will doe wonders for you beleeue in him and hee will make all things possible vnto you expect with patience his deliuerance if no meanes bee with you if all meanes bee against you yet can hee find meanes to helpe and saue you he turned the sea into dry land They went thorow the flood on foot To whom God makes himselfe knowne in a speciall fauour and manner to them hee will magnifie his power that they might see his great saluation hee led them dry shod-thorow the great depths of the cruell sea Josh 3.10 and after that they might know that hee the liuing Lord was among them and that hee would not faile to doe all that hee promised them hee cut off the waters of the Riuer Iordan and made them stand on an heape euen when it was at the broadest vntill all his seruants were cleane gone If hee doe not thus to you but le ts seas and flouds of iniquitie keepe you from entring into his holy Canaan then lament for it argues that he yet hath no sauour vnto you if you would haue him thus magnifie his power some way towards you then call your selues by the name of Iaakob Isa 44.5 and subscribe with your hand vnto the Lord if you bee his people then expect one great deliuerance after another and if you know who feare him doe not mocke nor despise them but say Deu. 33.29 They are happy say Who is like vnto them so saued by the Lord the shield of their helpe There did we reioyce in him Gods admirable and comfortable dealing begets present reioycing in him in them that loue and feare him They were no sooner passed thorow the Red Sea Exod. 15. but then and there Moses and the children of Israel sang ioyfully a song of thankesgiuing vnto the Lord there also Miriam the Prophetesse with all the women answered the men with well-tuned instruments holy dances and sweet voyces in the same thankesgiuing There did they reioyce in nothing of their owne in nothing of any creature in heauen or earth in nothing else but in God alone in his triumph alone in his strength alone in his saluation alone in his Name alone in his right hand alone in his power alone and in his greatnes alone But doe wee not honour him in the very place where hee hath honoured vs Not praise him in the very time wherein hee hath done great things for vs Not reioyce amidst all our comforts benefits and deliuerances Are wee not now most glad that hee giues vs blessed proofs that he is become our owne God strength deliuerer and saluation Oh let vs tremble at this vnthankfulnesse and so amend this negligence as we may say iustly as they haue said There there did wee reioyce in him and still may wee reioyce in him For Verse 7. He ruleth by his power for euer Yee righteous feare not the frownes of fortune falsly so called the hatred of the world sicknesse famine sword or pestilence the sonnes of mortall men hellish principalities or powers Dan. 4. nor any creature for your God ruleth according to his will in the armies of heauen and in the inhabitants of the earth Psal 135. doing whatsoeuer pleaseth him euery where Yee wicked feare and tremble be full of sorrow and heauinesse Psa 145.20 howle and lament for God ruleth who preserueth all them that loue him
patience thou shalt receiue the promise remember that many are the troubles of the righteous Psal 34.19 remember that yet a little while and hee that shall come will come and will not tarry Onely see thou bee not the cause of thine owne affliction as wicked sinners are as companions of the wicked are Pro. 13.20 1. Cor. 11.30 Ps 107.17 and as carelesse Christians are for then thou art a foole then thy best comfort in thine affliction is to repent of thy transgression Ier. 17.16 and to craue pardon Againe see that thou desire not affliction for though God please to send it he will cause it to worke to thy best Rom. 8.28 yet if thou wilfully desire it hee may leaue thee to thy selfe and so thou wilt peruert it to thy worst it shewes faith and obedience wisely to beare it but shewes arrogancy and vaine confidence to desire it Also maruell not that God exerciseth his children oft times with sore affliction when they would faine be in liberty and freedome for it is his will and who should haue their will the Father or the Child Parents ought to shew and mainetaine their owne right will against the childs wicked or wanton will yea though the child doe pet at it and bee sicke at it c. Otherwise as lamentable experience shewes the childs wills fulfilling is the parents shame smart paine and vndoing Now our heauenly Father whose will is most holy and who knoweth that his childrens willed liberty and wished freedome would bee many times abused to his dishonour therefore chuseth rather to his glory and their good to crosse their indiscreet and childish will in denying them ease and freedome to do his owne will in exercising them with sore affliction Isa 30.18 O behold his goodnesse and wisedome herein for all this is that he may haue the fittest occasion to be gracious vnto vs this he euen waiteth for and this these holy ones so experienced as they haue left a worthy confession of it saying But at length thou broughtest vs into a wealthy place After God hath tryed his children by affliction Psal 103.9 hee bringeth them out into the wayes of consolation hee afflicteth them hee childeth them hee is angry with them hee bringeth them into the Net hee abaseth them hee commits them to the fire he casts them into the water he doth try them by affliction but not alwayes Oh afflicted Christian be patient though the Rod of the wicked come vpon thee Psal 125.25 it shall not rest vpon thee be content though thou be in trouble thy trouble shall not last euer bee cheerefull though thou be in pouerty in debt in misery thou shalt come out bee of comfort though it be long Pro. 23.18 yet there will bee an end and thy hope shall not bee cut off bee thankefull and waite still on God and let thy Soule keepe silence vnto him For after he hath tryed his Children by affliction he bringeth them into the wayes of consolation hee his owne selfe doth it hee brought Israel out of Egypt Exo. 20.2 Acts 7.10 Ioseph out of Prison Dauid out of all his troubles these out of the Net out of the Fire out of the Water and he his owne selfe brings all his Children out of their affliction O thou good Christian whom God hath brought into any grieuous condition Psal 123.2 euen as the eyes of the Seruant looke to receiue helpe from the hand of his owne Master and as the eyes of the Maiden are lifted vp to the hand of her owne Mistresse So lift vp thine eyes and expect deliuerance from Gods owne selfe hee himselfe hath wounded thee and he himselfe will heale thee he himselfe hath cast thee downe and he himselfe will raise thee vp Thou shalt not neede to cry to any Creatures in Heauen or in Earth Oh who will helpe mee Who will heale mee Who will comfort me Who will deliuer me for hee Himselfe will do it as in afflicting thee hee giues not his Authority to another so in releasing thee he will not giue his glory to another Reioyce in the Net he hath brought thee into reioyce in the affliction he hath laid vpon thy loynes reioyce in the riding of men ouer thine head reioyce in the fire ready to burne thee and in the water ready to drowne thee for he himselfe will bring thee out euen he to whose helpe thou maist most confidently trust Vaine is the helpe of Man Psal 60.11 but hee is a sure Helper he is a sure deliuerer he is a sure comforter his power is a sure power his willingnesse is a sure willingnesse his promise is a sure promise his mercies are sure mercies Isa 55.3 they shall not be ashamed that waite on him they shal not be forsaken that seek him he wil neuer faile them that trust in him but after for his owne glory and their good he hath tryed them some while by affliction he will in due time euen in due time bring thē out into consolation O Christian though yet thou bee chastened euery morning do not say Psa 73.13 I haue washed mine hands in Innocency and clensed mine heart in vaine do not not say The Lord hath forgotten to be merciful do not say 116.11 They that prophecy of future comfort vnto thee are Lyers do not say thy way is hidden from the Lord Isa 40.27 doe not say thy Iudgement is passed ouer of thy God Psal 97.11 but beleeue that light is sowne for the Righteous and gladnesse for the vpright in heart and in due season such shall reape a pleasant crop Psa 30.5 11. beleeue that at length he will turne thy mourning into reioycing and thine heauinesse into gladnesse though weeping indure all the night yet ioyes shal come in the morning 126.5 6. Though thou dost now sow in teares yet hereafter thou shalt reape in comfort he will bring thee out of borrowing into the ability for lending out of present misery into permanent felicity out of a poore sicke desolate and dolefull case into a delightfull and wealthy inclosure And when this is not according to thy expectation in Earth remember the infinit and endlesse Consolation prepared and reserued for thee in Heauen 16.9 11. and let thine heart be glad and thy glory reioyce and thy flesh rest in hope of that fulnesse of ioy and of those pleasures at his right hand for euermore I will goe into thine house with burnt Offerings Vers 13. God deliuering his people out of affliction moues some in particular to greater zeale of the duties of Religion Oh see the contrariety of some in affliction they seeme full of Deuotion but no sooner deliuered they returne againe to their vaine conuersation these are euen such as God saith Ier. 2.30 receiue no correction they are such as haue not vpright hearts with him Psal 78.37 Isa 1.5 Hos 4.14 they are
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
call vpon him moue thee to confesse and say to him for all his exchanges in generall Now therefore 1. Chron. 29.13 ô my God I thanke thee and praise thy glorious Name moue thee to confesse and say to him in particular for this exchange Blessed be God which hath not put backe my prayer from himselfe nor his mercy from me His Name be extolled his Name bee praysed his most glorious Name be blessed for euer and euer Amen A short Treatise vpon the thirtie one and thirtie two Verses of the one hundred and seuenth PSALME THE Holy Ghost The drist setting forth the great praise of GOD by this whole Psalme First The parts in a generall proposition of the same in the first Verse doth set it also forth Secondly by certaine particular instances or presidents of his most praise-worthy administration towards sundry most calamitous and distressed persons The ending of each Narration ending the Narration of each of these with one and the same speciall Exhortation As also his gracious dealing towards miserable wanderers harbourlesse and succourlesse in strange Countries His most fauourable regard of wofull inthralled captiues vnder the yrons of cruell Tyrants His wondrous mercy extended to such as were sore broken with violent sicknesse and his admirall reliefe to such Sea-faring men as were in such desperate ieopardie as no way but lamentable perishing without his present powerfull helpe O that men would praise the Lord for his goodnes Verse 31. and for his wonderfull workes to the children of men Verse 32. Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people and praise him in the assembly of the Elders Or thus rather Let them Confesse Magnifie Praise To Or before IEHOVA his benignitie and his maruellous workes to or before the sonnes of men And let them exalt him in the congregation of the people and in the assembly of Elders let them praise him What these verses are Which two Verses are an amplified exhortation to excellent Thankesgiuing teaching indeed and without being more curious then the Text doth intend thus much vnto vs What they teach viz. That it is the duty of euery one released out of misery and of euery partaker of Gods benignitie both priuately and publikely to praise his goodnesse his workes and himselfe most worthily It is the dutie of the first sort Proofe of the first and second point by expresse precept in six Verses of this Psalme it is also the dutie of the second sort as by the direct command of the 11. and 12. Verses of the 148. Psalme so by implication in the said Verses of this said Psalme as the learned Translatours of the New Translation doe witnesse in translating indefinitely O that men would praise the Lord Now it is their duty to what Why Of the third both priuately for to or with or before Iehoua as it vsed to bee rendred intimateth that secret deuotion which in Matt. 6.6 Christ commendeth and commandeth to his Disciples Also publikely for to or before the sonnes of men Of the fourth meaneth that open deuotion which all are to ioyne together called next by way of exposition The praising of God in the congregation and in the assembly This dutie here Of the fifth is to praise First Gods goodnesse Magnifie to Iehoua his benignity Secondly His noble works and his maruellous workes Thirdly Himselfe exalt him praise him and how Most worthily For all these circumstances Of the sixth praise his maruellous or wonderfull workes and exalt him and that before himselfe and in the congregation of the people and in the assembly of Elders doe confirme this worthiest manner of doing this dutie Now to come to the application of this Doctrine O Application to the former we that haue been released by the Lords admirable mercy out of any misery grieuous corporall misery or which is worser grieuous spirituall misery The things reprooued O let vs thinke of our forgetting of our neglect of this dutie priuately or publikely and worthily to praise our gracious God How to thinke of these let vs euen seriously and heauily thinke hereon to be ashamed of our vnthankfull forgetfulnes and negligence to repent therof To further this How to search these consider Gods desire ô let vs search out and measure the grieuousnes of this forgetting and of this neglect to this purpose consider First How it crosseth Gods owne desire being released eased deliuered redeemed healed he desireth that we come and praise him but we forget it The godlies vse we neglect it albeit he desire it Consider secondly how contrary we are herein to the examples of the ancient godly ones ô where do we find in the Scripture any of the true holy ones defamed with this forgetfulnesse Idolaters practice and with this neglect Consider thirdly how euen grosse Idolaters may rise vp to condemne vs for which of them forget or neglect to praise their abominable Idols when they receiue any victory or be deliuered out of any misery Consider Our taking on fourthly how our own carriage in calamitie serueth to condemne these sinnes For when griefs are vpon vs we pray we cry wee shead teares we make vowes to God to moue him to helpe vs and yet being helped this dutie is forgotten this dutie is neglected Consider Our case fifthly what a case wee were in before wee were released what a farre more grieuous ease we had beene in if wee had not beene deliuered Our vnworthinesse and how vnworthy wee are that the Lord should releeue vs at all O let vs consider all these and then finding in our selues that for all the same yet we haue forgotten yet wee haue neglected this dutie of praise let vs then confesse and cry out O The vse we haue sinned wee haue done wickedly God hath remembred vs and wee haue forgotten him he hath been liberall to vs and we haue beene vnthankfull to him ô we haue deserued that our misery should haue been doubled ô we are ashamed ô forgiue vs Lord ô forgiue vs. And ô wee Application to the latter things reprooued that are otherwise partakers of the louing kindnesse of the Lord let vs also thinke of our negligence vnmindfulnesse and backewardnesse to this dutie to repent also and to be ashamed of the same considering to that end First to aggrauate these consider Gods mind The godlies vse that it is against Gods mind that wee are so for hee would haue vs thankfull for all his benefits we doe inioy Secondly it is against the vse of his right seruants for they praise him and as it is Psal 145.10 they blesse him for all his goodnes The vnreasonablenesse Thirdly it is against all reason that we being crowned with his benignitie should neglect this dutie for wee deserue none of it Fourthly many arguments make greatly against vs for our ingratitude The argumen sagainst
of this O magnifie the Lord with mee and let vs exalt his Name together and as Psalme 108.3 I will praise thee O Lord among the people and will sing praises vnto thee among the Nations and as Psal 111.1 I will praise the Lord with my whole heart in the assembly of the vpright and in the congregation and as Psalme 109.30 I will greatly praise the Lord with my mouth yea I will praise him among the multitude and as Psal 116.18 19. I will pay my vowes vnto the Lord now in the presence of all his people in the Courts of the Lords House in the midst of thee ô Ierusalem O let euery one How in the assembly of the Elders thus praise the Lord publikely in the congregation of the people and not onely so but also in the assembly of the Elders if at any time as they ought the Princes and great ones doe assemble vpon speciall occasion together to giue glory vnto the Lord euen glory vnto his Name and to worship him in the beautie of Holinesse as Psal 29.1 2. they are commanded and as because God hath done greater honour to them then to meaner people they are more bounden O let euery one who hath any calling to be amongst them as a teacher or as an hearer or as otherwise conuented praise the Lord euen before them also and say concerning this Patternes of this as Psal 119.46 O Lord I will speake of thy testimonies euen before Kings and will not bee ashamed and as Psal 138.1 I will praise thee O Lord with my whole heart yea before the gods or great Potentates will I sing praise vnto thee O thus let vs praise the Lord priuately in his owne presence publikely in the congregation of the people boldly in the assembly of the Elders Let none of vs be like the wicked Who are contrary to these whose secret closets are for secret sinnes but not for secret duties of godlinesse whose priuate houses are for priuate sports pastimes profits pleasures but not for priuate prayers and praises to God Neither let vs be like the popish Recusant or the selfe-weening Separatist who disdaine the congregation of the people and haue their owne will-worships for corners but no praise for the Lord in publike Temples Neither let vs be like the timorous and fearefull who dare not professe God before the gods nor praise the Lord before lords but treacherously lay their hand vpon their lips when their mouth should be open to shew forth his praise Let these euils be farre from vs and let vs laud the Lord our God with conscience in priuate with cheerefulnesse in publike and with courage before the Elders Thus praise his benignitie The praise of Gods benignity that it is Ancient thus praise his wonderfull workes and thus praise himselfe O praise his benignity by commending First the ancientnesse thereof for as Psal 25.6 His tender mercies and his louing kindnesses haue beene euer of old Secondly Great the greatnesse thereof for as Neh. 9.17 25. his is great kindnesse and great goodnesse Thirdly the richnesse thereof for as Rom. 2.4 Rich Admirable there is riches of his goodnesse Fourthly the admirablenes thereof for as Psal 31.19 O how maruellous is the goodnesse that hee hath laid vp for them that feare him yea which hee hath already wrought for them that trust in him before the sonnes of men Fifthly Excellent the excellencie thereof for as Psal 36.7 How excellent is his louing kindnesse Sixthly Immeasurable the immeasurablenesse thereof for as Ephes 3.18 O the breadth and length the depth and height of his mercy Seuenthly Cause of all goods the endlesnesse thereof for as Psal 136. It indureth for euer and euer Eighthly the effects thereof as Titus 3.4 5. Out of it comes mercie to saue vs as Psalme 63.3 5. comes that to vs which is better then life and which satisfieth our soules as with marrow and fatnes as Ps 65.12 It is that which the yeere is crowned with such blessings such fatnes such abundance such flourishing flockes such goodly corne as causeth all people to sing showt for ioy saying Therfore how ancient how great how rich how admirable how excellent how immeasurable how endlesse how fruitful is the benignity of the Lord praise it before him praise it before the sons of men praise it before the congregation of the people praise it before the assembly of the elders And so praise his wonderfull workes towards vs To praise his wonderfull workes by looking back two wayes or others in our miseries First praise them by looking backe to his goodnesse and power shewed in doing that hee did for vs when he redeemed vs when he deliuered vs when he healed vs when he brought vs to that we desired by looking backe also to his power and goodnes shewed in preseruing vs in preuenting vs in staying vs from perishing from being beneath from finall perdition in our most forlorne case vntill he did deliuer vs. Secondly By acknowledgement praise them by acknowledgement of his might his will to be alone and singular herein saying O Lord who can or who could who will or would haue done such workes for vs as thou hast done None would none could but thou onely thou only to whom nothing is hid nothing hard nothing impossible who neuer faintest art neuer weary and of whose vnderstanding there is no searching Thirdly praise them By admiring by admiring his doing of them vnto vs saying as Psal 8.4 O what is man that thou art mindfull of him What is the sonne of mortall man that thou visitest him and Psal 144.3 Lord what is man that thou takest knowledge of him or the sonne of man that thou makest account of him And helpe this admiration Helps to this admiration by considering what we are by thinking how we are Ephes 2.3 all of vs by nature the children of wrath and Gen. 6.3 5. Of our owne wee are naught but sinfull flesh euery imagination of the thoughts of our heart being onely euill continually and Gen. 18.27 We are but dust and ashes and Isa 48.8 We are transgressours from the wombe and Psal 144.4 We are but vanitie and our dayes as a shadow that passeth away and Rom. 7.24 The holiest are but miserable and wretched O marke these well wonder at Gods workes of grace of mercy and of louing kindnesse vnto vs praise them before him praise them to the sonnes of men saying as heere Patternes of this prayse Surely these workes of the Lord are wonderfull workes and Psal 111.2 3 4. They are great they are honourable they are glorious works oh he hath so done and so wrought the same as he hath made them to be remembred for euer Say as Ps 78.4 Verily these works are the praises of the Lord. Say as Ps 92.4 5. Thou Lord hast made me glad through thy workes I will triumph in the workes of thine hands