creature whose motion hee could not vnderstand As for the earth it is a worke so wonderfull that no man tell wherevpon it hath beene founded Tell me O thou most learned Philosopher what can vphold such a heavy masse Thou wilt say that is founded vpon its Centre But what is that centre but a point What beareth vp that point that beareth vp all the rest But how can a point bee a fundation of so hudge a masse But imagine a man standing in the centre tell me what should be his situation According to the rules of Philosophie both his head should be vpward and his feete should be vpward Now what braine is able to conceiue this Some may think all this to be very easy but God did propound it vnto Job as a great argument Wherevpon said Hee are the fundations of the earth fastened We must therefore confesse that this worke of GOD which is but earthly is so wonderfull that it overfloweth all humane capacitie When a vessell is filled to the brimme it must at last overflow When our heart is filled with that which is wonderfull the wonders which we can not containe must runne over What shall J say more Behold O man all the parâ—es of the mekle world bend thy wits and see where thou can correct God his wisedome Come foâ—ward I pray thee and teach him a lesson if thou can If not confesse that his workes are wonderfull and that thou is filled with wondering so that GODS wonders in thy heart doe overflow From the mekle world let vs come to man the litle world Behold the fabricke of his body his browes his eares his eyes his nose his mouth Behold the wonderfull worke of God Teach GOD a lesson if thou can Wilt thou say that his mouth had beene best in his brow and that his nose had beene best behind his eare and that his eyes had beene more fitly into his chinne No not There is no part which can be devised to bâ—â— better then it is the worke is vvonderfull and therfore say that thou art filled with wondring Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodnesse and for his wonderfull workes to the children of men To come from the body to consider God his workings in the soule they are so wonderfull that no man can declare them Who shall not wonder to consider the workings of the soule J admire the mind and vnderstanding the will and the affections agreeing discording considering judging loving or hating making the body to laugh or to weepe according as the spirit is disposed Consider the spirit of man furnishing the body with fiue watches as with a guard for its preservation viz hearing seeing smelling feeling tasting and touching all set about the body for its preservation for as many watches to tell who is a foe and who is a friend The worke is so wonderfull that while I consider it my spirit doth overflow with wondering Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodnesse and for his wonderfull workes to the children of men Last of all seeing the curing of the sicknesse of the body is called a wonderfull worke how wonderfull must the curing of the sicke soule be For this cause and for others also CHRIST the Saviour of soules was called Wonderfull Vnto vs a child is borne said the Prophet and his name shall bee called WONDERFVLL This is he who hath not only filled the earth but the Heavens with wondering The Heavens at the first could not well perceiue how by God his stripes man should haue health The Cherubins which represented the Angels had their heads ever bowed toward the Mercy-seat for to see the calling and healing of the Gentiles The fellowship of that mysterie had beene hid in God from them and that from the beginning of the world But so soone as it was revealed vnto them by the Church that is so soone as they sawe God his promise accomplished in the Church as in a glasse they all with one voyce praised God for his goodnesse and for his wonderfull workes to the children of men All the spirits of Heaven did praise Him that day with that divine song Glory bee to GOD in the highest Heavens peace on earth and toward men good will But what shall J say of men who are so much beholden vnto God Hath not God created vs Hath he not redeemed vs with the blood of his sonne Hath hee not delivered vs from many dangers at home and a field Hath bee not made all our bed in our sickenesse Hath he not brought vs backe from the doores of death But where is our thankfulnesse I say againe OH where is our thankfulnesse Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodnesse and for his wonderfull workes to the children of men To the Father Sonne and Holy Ghost bee glory and Majestie Dominion and power for ever and ever AMEN Eccles. 12. v. 10. Eccles. 12. v. 11. Bernar. super Cant. Quâ—rit aâ—â—â—aâ— verâ—uâ— cui consentiat aâ— correâ—iâ—â—em 〈◊〉 illumiâ—nâ—â—ur ad cognitioneÌ„ cui innitatur ad virtutem quo res â—nctur ad sipientiâ—m cui 〈◊〉 tur ad deâ—â—rem cui â—â—â—â—tetur ad sâ—â—uâ—â—illaâ—â—◠〈◊〉 sâ—uatur 〈…〉 Eccles. 12. v. 4. Luke 12. v. 35. Note 2. Tim. 1. v. 18. Libri Liberi Gen. 4. v. 7. Hieron ad Pamâ—nach Epist. 5. cap. 8. Exod. 33. â—1 v. 22. v. 19. v. 23. Exod. 34 v. 6. v 7. Note Psal. 101 v. 1. Ephes 3 v. 10 Psal. 18 v. 26. * Note * Note 1. King 1â— v 11 Jude v. 22. v. 23. * Note Act. 4. v. 36. Mark 3. â—7 * Note * Note Deut. 20 v. 10. v. 1â— * Note 2. Cor. 10 v. 4. * Note Leut. 19. v. 17. Ezek. 33. v. 3â— * Note * Note Note Act. 24 v. 25. * Note 1. King 22 v. 8. * Note * Note Job 6. v. 10. Ezek. 33 v. 3. * Note * Hose 6. v 5. Note * Note Jere. 1. v 17. Note Isa. 62 v. 16. * Note Ierem. 20. v. 9. * Note * Note * Note * Note 1. Cor. 3 v 18. * Note Prou. 30 v. 2. v. 3. * Note 1. Cor. 4 v. 10. 2. Kings 9. vi 1. Act. 26 v. 24. * 1. Cor. 1. v. 25. Note 1. Cor. 1. v 21. 1. Cor. 1 v. 18. Luk. 24. v. 2 Luk. 15. v. 17. 1. Cor. 1. v. 18. Note Luk. 12 v. 20. Note Heb. 6. v. 4. Note Psal. 37 v. 35. Ps. 129. v. 6. Iob. 5. v. 3 Iob. 5. v. 4. v. 5. Amos. 2. v. 9. The doctrine 1. Cor. 3. v. 19. The vse Note Tit. 2 v. 12. Note Note Note Note Note Luke 34 v. 25. Note Iude. v. 9. Note The doctrine Note Note Isay. 66. v. 17. The vse Note Note Ephes. 5. v. 3. Note Ier. 22. v. 8. Note v. 9. The doctrine Note Ionah 1. v. 11. v. 12. Iosh. 7. v. 8. v. 12 Note Iob. 8. v. 11. Note
him double his stroke against the Rocke while he should haue spoken to the stones who for a word would haue wept and shed teares to be drinke vnto Jsrael he in steade of speaking to the Rocke scourged the Rocke once and againe That Rocke was CHRIST and who would haue thought that euer Moses would haue scourged Christ for that deed particularly he neuer bowe the Lord by his prayer for once to let him set his foot in Canaan the type of Heauen Because he dishonored the word of faith with doubting he neuer entered into the land of promise The wordes of his doubt were these Here now yee rebels must wee fetch you water out of this Rock Hezekiel his answere to God was better when the Lord inquired of him if the dead bones could liue O Lord said he thou knowest O but God thinketh much of his word God hath said a great word Heauen and earth shall passe away but my word shall not passe away Christ speaking of the power of this word said that a word spoken with as great of faith as a graine of mustard seede should remoue a mountaine hence to yonder place S. Luke saith that such a word should be able to pluck vp by the roots a sycamine tree and plant it into the Sea a most vnfit place for planting * See how Gods word can cause a tree take roote in an element which naturaly is more bent to pluck vp trees by the roots shall we doubt of the power of this word were our distresse neuer so great No not There is such a power in this word that in time of miracles it made the shadowe of the Messinger to heale these that were sicke while Peter passed by The people brought foorth the sicke into the streets and laid them on beds and couches that at the least the shaddow of Peter passing by might ouer-shddowe some of them Such was their faith that they stroue for the shadowe of Peter and all that but for to be cured of a bodily disease O if men now a dayes were as bent for to come to this word of God as they were for the shadow of a man The power of this word within S. Paul put such vertue into his napkins that wypt the sweate from his body or the teares from his eyes that these to whome they were brought were cured of all their diseases yea and thereby euill spirits were cast out of some Such vertue came from the shadowes and clothes of such men that men might belieue that they were sent with this word that healeth the soule These miracles were done by the word and are writen for our learning that we may belieue Gods word to be true Fourthly seeing this word sent by God should be receiued by faith it must also be preached with faith let him that speaketh it speake it with boldnes not fearing the face of man hee must not be like the Trumpeter who trembleth while hee foundeth alarmes for to stirre vp the courage of others Fifthly seeing it is Gods word that is the word of power let him that heares a word preached consider well vvhose worde it is The touch stone of spoken wordes is the writen word This was the nobilitie of the men of Berea they tried the word after it was preached they searched the scriptures daily whether these things that were preached were so or not Sixtly in that it is said in my Text that the word is a messenger of health a messenger sent from God for to cure diseases we should make it welcome When Eglon a Pagan King heard Ehud saye Iudg. 3 v. 20. I haue a message from God vnto thee it is said that he arose out of his seat that is hee stood vpon his feete for to beare reverence to the worde of the Lord. When Hezekiah heard many sore wordes of threatning sent to him from God All that he said was Good is the worde of the Lorde what then should we say of the word of health the healing word which is sent for to cure both soule and body viz. the worde of the Gospell Goode is the Gospell goode is the Gospell the word of health may all sicke sinners now say This is that word sent for to cure the diseases that would not yeeld vnto the dead letters of the law Blessed are the feete of these that fetch Gospell the word of good tidings Seuently seeing the word sent from God is God his appointed meanes for the recouering of health when euer we are sicke if wee pray for health let vs intreat God to send his word vnto vs but seeing the word now commeth not downe from heauen in a voice thorow the aire but is committed to a messenger we must not looke for revelations but seeke that word from the messenger Gods interpreter to whom it is betrusted we must looke for a blessing from the word spoken by him who is called of God If God had not bidden Ezekiel prophecie vnto the bones the bones had neuer stirred for all his preachinges If profite had called him to be a Prophet his prophecie had neuer bene able to quicken these slaine But because he prophecied not till God bade him prophecie so soone as hee prophecied the sent word vnto the scattered dead bones they all got life and stood vp an exceeding great armie Men that run and speake vnsent find that their speach take no effect Certaine of the vagabond Jewes exorcists and among others seuen sonnes of Sceua who was chiefe of the Priests tooke vpon them to adiure a deuill that was in a man and that by Jesus whom Paul preached But what said the divell Iesus I know and Paul I know but who are yee Thus God as yee see hath appointed certaine men for to carie the word that he sendeth such a man the sickenesse of a man will knowe But if men runne vnsent though they should preach Jesus whome Paul preached the diseases like diuels shall say to them But who are yee yea the disease shall leape on them and ouercome them and preuaile against them as the diuell did to the exorcists When Gods word is sent for to heale most ordinarly it is sent by a rare man a pastour whom Elihu calles one of a thousand I know that by the word that God in my Texte is laide to send may bee vnderstood the power of God God indeede can heale men without a pastour either to speake to them or to pray for them but ordinarly he sendeth this word of healing by the mouth of some rare interpreter The words of Elihu are plaine for the clearing of my Text Behold first how he bringeth in the sicke man in his sickenesse Hee is chastened with pâ—ine vpon his bed the multitude of his bones with strong paine So that his life abhorreth bread and his soule dainty
their desire they haue not so much as a shewe in praising Praise is a sorte of godlinesse whereof the wicked haue not so much as a shew Pharaoh could cry for helpe in tyme of plagues but after nyne severall deliverances I never read that he said once God bee thanked Many while they are sicke will giue GOD many faire wordes which scripture calleth to flatter with their lips but all that forme of devotion is nothing but a wyle for to winne out of GOD his hands This is cleare for so soone as once they are free of their trouble at once they grieue the spirit of grace yea often they become worse lyke that man that was but for a space delivered from that divell which was but gone out for to bring in other seven worse then him selfe for to make his partie the stronger Let those that after so many mercies giue libertie to their lusts consider well how the deceit of spirit over-reacheth them let such weigh well in the ballance of the sanctuary whether or not they haue praised the LORD for his goodnesse and for his wonderfull workes toward them Heere some men will say what is this that is required in praising the Lord Is it not enough for to say with our mouth the Lord bee thanked What would the LORD haue more J answere to that GOD must haue more My sonne saith he giue mee thy heart God indeed must bee praised with the tongue for which cause it is called our glory Awake my glory said the Psalmist vnto his tongue God also must be praised with the heart without which all the praise of the mouth is but a pranke the sacrifice of fooles This people draw neere mee with their mouth but their hearts are farre from mee said the Lord. A neere mouth with a heart a farre off is an abomination to the LORD Those who in singing Psalmes are ledde away more by sound than by sense respect the musicke more than matter Such sing to man but not to GOD GOD his praises must be sung both with heart and tongue Heere is a reproach for those who in the congregation joyne not their voyces with others for to praise the Lord for his goodnesse but sit as if they were dumb The booke is too deare for singing of GOD his praise O what secreet atheisme â—urketh into the hearts of men Jf men thought that the LORD should bee praised for his goodnesse and that God were present in the congregation of his Saints they durst not come in before him without the booke of the Psalmes Wee often forget our booke because wee forget that God is in his Church but who forgetteth to put his hat on his head while hee cometh to the Church Who forgetteth his clothes No man because before hee goeth forth hee remembereth that man will see him by the way The wine aile will command many to speak who are dumb at the service of their God Many never want words but when they should praise the Lord for his goodnesse Filthy ballads and loue songs are vaine mens delight but OH that men would praise the LORD for his goodnesse c. It is not enough that men praise the LORD with their heart and tongue but also they must praise him with their lyfe the true tryall of the other two After that the Psalmist had said that he would praise God that had chastned him sore but had kept him from death hee cryed Open to mee the gates of righteousnesse I will goe into them and praise the Lord. To goe into the gates of righteousnesse is to lead a good lyfe such only are fit for to praise the Lord. As for those that praise not God in lyfe while they are holy in words they are but monstrous persons all mouthes and tongues and voices without hearts to thinke well without hands to doe well When the forâ—orne foole come to his wits againe hee said not only I will returne to my father but hee did as hee said The sluggard is ever in feare of lyons The imagination of a beast in the way hindâ—eth him from doeing The Pharisees could say well but because their workes belyed their words Christ called them painted tombes or whited sepulchres Many would content the Lord with a part of his service Some lyke the Pharisee will paint the outward profession but hold backe their heart from GOD Others lyke Nâ—aman will bowe into the house of â—immon but keepe their heart as they imagine vnto God But O fooles God will not lyke the pretended mother haue his service divided God that made all must haue all Seeing hee hath made the heart as well as the hand he must haue both our thoughts and our actions for to praise him The whole man that is a continuall receiver is litle enough for to set forth the glory of the giver Doe not the favors of GOD follow the whole lyfe of man Why then should not his whole lyfe bee framed for to expresse his thankfulnesse Well is the man whose tongue heart and hand can sing to GOD with Jeremie thou art my praise Againe in those words Oh that men would praise the Lord I obserue the fervent zeale of the godly for not only praise they God but they are grieved when men whom God hath blessed with wealth or health are slow to praise the Lord for his goodnesse This word OH heere vox dolentis a word of mourning is an evident demonstration of sorrow In my judgement true zeale is not better known then in sorrowe for the offence of God The vse let every man try himselfe whether hee bee a godly man or not If true godlinesse be in thy heart thou shalt bee grieved to see GOD offended thou shalt striue to keepe thy brother from sinne This was the cursed man his language am I my brothers keeper When ever wee see God dishonoured or deprived of his praise wee must mourne for that sinne Well is that soule that can cry Oh for GOD his dishonour Woe to him that rejoyceth while God is offended Many thinke the vices of others commendations of their vertues If they stand while others fall either into whoredome or drunkennesse they haue a ceâ—taine joy of such filthy fals which they take to be praisers of their sobrietie and chastitie But Oh is not the Lord offended by such sinnes Js not the profession ill spoken of Js not every sinne a scandale Is not every scandale a woe woe to the world for scandals Woe to him that is not sory for sinne whether it bee in him selfe or in others seeing that God thereby is dishonoured J will tell thee O man if thou cry not Oh for GOD his dishonour God shall cause thee cry