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
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
Oh what a thing is it when happinesse when our owne gladnesse when others commending our estate cannot awaken vs out of our neglect Happinesse for as it is said Psal 144.15 The people are happie that haue such bountie Gladnesse for as it is said Act. 14.17 God by his goodnesse as wee find also in our experience doth fil our very hearts with gladnesse Others commendation for as it is said Psal 126.2 They that behold Gods manifold blessings vpon vs doe say that hee hath done great things for vs. The vse Oh if we therefore doe forget and neglect this dutie let vs confesse let vs repent let vs be ashamed as afore let vs also iudge our selues worthy to haue it said of vs as Deut. 32.6 Do you so requite the Lord ô you foolish people and vnwise worthy that the Lord should contest against vs as Isa 1.2 saying Heare ô Heauens and giue eare ô Earth I haue nourished and brought vp children and they haue rebelled against me Worthy that he should take all our abundance our riches our comforts our peace our honours from vs should powre contempt vpon vs should turne our riuers into drie land our water-springs into a wildernes our fruitfull land into barrennes humble vs vnder sore oppression affliction and sorrow And let both sorts of vs now at the length Admonition to both settle our hearts to the sincere practice of this dutie of priuate publike and worthy praise to God euen to bring forth fruit worthy amendment in this point O A description of the first wee that haue felt the fainting of our soules that haue beene in sore trouble that haue as it were sit in darknesse and the shadow of death that haue beene euen bound vp in affliction that haue had our hearts brought downe with heauinesse that haue had our life next step to the gates of death that haue had our spirits melted away with perplexitie that haue beene compassed about with most wofull miseries and that haue seene how when we cryed vnto the Lord hee brought vs out of our darkenesse he deliuered vs out of all our distresses he satisfied our longing soules he healed vs. Let vs ô let vs now practise cheerefully and readily this holy dutie To incite vs thereunto let vs consider First To moue the first to practise consider Gods readinesse Gods exceeding readinesse to heare vs and his presentnesse to deliuer vs yea though our afflictions came on vs because wee had rebelled against his Word because we had transgressed because of our iniquities Secondly Gods answerablenes Gods fulfilling of our very wishes bringing vs to the very state we desired Thirdly the due time Time manner meanes the sweet manner the gracious meanes of his deliuerance of vs. Fourthly the passing comfort we found The sequent comfort after hee had deliuered vs filling as it is Psalme 126.2 our mouth with laughter and our tongue with singing And A description of the second ô wee that haue not yet come where any sorrow woe bitternesse worme-wood hath beene put into our cup but we only haue lyen downe in greene pastures and walked along beside the still waters and our table hath been alway richly furnished our head anointed with oyle our cup running ouer goodnesse and mercy following vs all the dayes of our life O let vs let vs also if not much rather apply with haste and haste with godly zeale vnto this duty vrging our mindes thereto with these considerations Considering To moue the second consider receit First that all our comforts are things meerely receiued as 1. Cor. 4.7 What hast thou that thou didst not receiue Secondly Whence receiued that they bee all receiued from Gods good pleasure as of corporall things it is said Psal 145.16 Thou openest thine hand and fillest euery liuing thing of thy owne good will and of spirituall things Phil. 2.13 God worketh the will and the deed of his owne good pleasure Vndesert Thirdly that all the bountie we inioy is contrary to our desert for as Daniel 9.7 To vs belongeth confusion or shame of face Fourthly that our prosperitie All as we would haue them our choyse our matches our bargaines our dwellings our friends our alliance our food our rayment our peace our meanes our aduancements our times our seasons our affaires yea and our Sabbaths are euen as we would haue them as if that were verified to vs which is said of the true fearers of God Psal 145.19 Hee fulfilleth the desire of them that feare him O let vs consider these things And let these perswade vs to the dutie here required of both kinds of vs Effect of the considerations for surely these rightly weighed cannot but make vs say O come and wee shall tell you what God hath done for our soules O magnifie the Lord together with vs O what shall wee render vnto the Lord for all his benefits O we will pay our vowes which our lips haue vttered and which our mouthes haue spoken in our affliction O wee will doe our dutie of solemne praise vnto him priuately publikely and worthily O that men would so praise the Lord O that high and low would so praise the Lord O that euery one would as they are most bounden so praise the Lord. Praise him so priuately How praise priuately priuately with the family as Ioshua with his family more priuately with some of the family as Abraham with Isaac most priuately alone as the Prophet Dauid most often and in priuate say vnto him Patterne of this priuate as Psal 92.1 2. It is a good thing to giue all thanks vnto thee O Lord euen to sing praises vnto thy Name O most High yea to shew forth thy louing kindnesse euery morning and thy faithfulnesse euery night as Psal 116.16 17. Oh Lord verily I am thy seruant I am thy seruant and the sonne of thine handmaid thou hast loosed my bonds I will offer vnto thee the sacrifice of thankesgiuing and will call on thy Name O Lord. And Ps 118.21 28. I will praise thee O Lord for thou hast heard mee and art become my saluation thou art my God and I will praise thee thou art my God and I will exalt thee and as Psal 104.33 34. I will sing vnto thee O Lord as long as I liue I will sing praise to thee my God while I haue any being my meditation of thee shall bee sweet I will be glad in thee O after this blessed manner let euery one praise God priuately Euery one praise him also publikely How praise publikely in the congregation of the people both in ordinary on euery Sabbath with addition of more thankes and more zeale in thanking on the Sabbaths of celebrating the holy Supper of the Lord also in extraordinary on the dayes of solemne publike thankesgiuing as Nehemiah 12.27 43. and Ester 9.17 and let euery one professe concerning this publike saying as Psal 34.3 Patterns