should predict benign Configurations before the distilling Influences and praise him at the dawning and day-break of Mercy Nay our lives should be a whole Tenor of praises since we are hemm'd in and compast with kindness We are laden with benefits Angels encampabout us in Chariots of fire to protect both us and the mercies given We should raise up a Temple of praise with walls ringing Marble Every breath we draw in should go forth warn with Anthems The blouds Circulation should run round in Songs like the Hydraulick Instruments of Water Musick and every Pulse should beat upon the Strings of David's Harp The wholesome Herbs should cure our Murmurs Ps 148.2 c. and all the Creatures of Air Land and Water should by our hands pay tribute of praise to God The pleasant Rivers should convey our Songs to Paradise and in the fragrant Flowers smell the goodness of God The showers that cool the Somers heat should inflame our Love and make our Palm-trees flourish with fat Dates in the Courts of God Ps 92.12 In Medicinal Baths and Springs we should hang up our Testimonical Crutches and write a votive Table The precious Metals whose marks above ground betoken the enamelling of natures Bowels the divining Rod and skill to dig them and melt their Oars into plate should all be formed into Golden Flagons to be consecrated and hung up in Zions Sanctuary When the May-Quiristers sing with a Thorn at their Breasts by night to allure us from the Thorns in ours and delight us when we cannot sleep or awake us like Princes with the Musick of their Spring Lyries we should answer their praises of our Holy Mutual Maker like the Musician in Strada with sweeter Elegance and cause the Nightingale to fly to us and pant upon the strings of our Lutes in transcending praises and confess themselves conquered and at the ceasing of our warbling melody dye in consort We dwell in this World as in a sumptuous Palace arch'd over with spangling Stars and transparent Saphirs which fears neither fire nor falling Should not we set up Jacob's Pillar or Solomon's Jachin and Boaz in the porch Yea let every House be a little model of the Universe anoint pillars in memory of protecting and providing Mercies and consecrate them daily unto God Set up Monuments in each Vally of Bacah and pen Psalms for the Birth of every favour and our Right Hands never forget their cunning He crowns the year with his goodness let 's compass his Altar with Songs Let annual Mercies dictate perennial Melody and perpetuate his Bounty by graving every Iota and Tittle of Mercy on the Empiraean tables of our hearts Let 's remember God the Glorious Original of all Enjoyments and the Gifts of each Beneficent Hand let 's pourtray upon both our palms to be lifted up to Heaven at morning and evening Sacrifice and call upon all Creatures in order from the Heavens to the meanest Atom in an Universal Diapason of Praise and Triumph in God CHAP. VIII The Exaltation of the Divine Name for his Munificence and in particular for Secret Mercies in the structure of Man and his Preservation DID the Ancient Heathens erect their Hermaea or Statutes of Stone to the honour of Mercury in Memorial of some casual and contingent happiness Suidas and shall not we anoint Jacob's Pillar with fresh Oil to the true â—nd living God with whom all contingencies are determinations of Mercy Gracious Souls delight in his precepts because wonderful Ps 129.129 and admire the Ocean of his benefits because unfathomable Reverence to his Majesty is the Mother both of Obedience and Gratitude We cheerfully obey him because we love him and he loves is the more because we obey him His love is the free Spring and the munificent Reward of all sincere services He excites and enables us to Holiness and then crowns us A genuine Child takes pleasure in conformity to the Fathers Will and this Heavenly Father makes them conformable to his Sons Image He plants the Spices of Lebanon in our Hearts then breaths by his Spirit Son 4.16 walks in his Garden and eats his pleasant Fruits A rare Master that strengthens his Servants to work in his Vineyard and then leads them into his Joy Mat. 5.21 There 's no mercy but he helps us to improve as a clue to Heaven No duty but he forms into a Ladder to Glory Whether we eat or drink or whatever we do 1 Cor. 10.31 let 's do all to the Glory of God and Christ who died for us 1 Thes 5.10 that whether we wake or sleep we should live together with him Let 's sleep to refresh our Spirits for service and when we awake let 's be still with him Ps 139.8 He holdeth our eyes waking to ponder on his Mercies and watcheth our eyes while sleeping to serve him with more alacrity We cannot sufficiently prize that secret Mercy that lodges with us every night within our Curtains Sleep How many fiery Feavers doth cool sleep extinguish From how many deaths does that brother and Image of death deliver us Those silver slumbers are golden mercies How great a favour that temperate repast should send up cooling vapours to the brain to tye up our Senses while we repose our limbs from labour Nor let us pass the lovely Fields in Harvest without remark when wise Nature hath crowned the Wheaten Ridges with numerous heads of Poppies to minister both Food and Physick Wedelius de Plani p. 17. Hook Microgr p. 155. And whereas one ingenious Physician hath observed That the the Salt of humane Skull so another curious Searcher hath delivered That the Seed of Poppy which causes sleep is also of an Hexagon or six-corner'd Figure and it may be its Salt may be yet more curious As if the Atoms of the Fumes of Poppy were fitted and cized to the Texture and Cells of Mans Noble Capitol Should we give a glance at the Eye when waking as well as sleeping greater wonders would appear in opening its Humours Coats Nerves Seeing and Muscles And yet further contemplate the goodness of God in these later days in blessing the world with those perspicacious inventions of convex Glasses to help and delight our sight by Spectacles Telescopes Microscopes and Chamber-Landscapes Such exquisite Glasses have so been formed polish'd as some have conceived they have had a prospect beyond the Stars into the glitterings of the Empiraean Heavens to their ravishment and amazement and have been carried as it were into the Seat of the Blessed Nor less marvellous is the contrivance of the great Architect of Nature as to the Sense of hearing Hearing With what Artifice are these gristly Portals of the Ears set before and round about the inward cavity both for beauty and benefit that great sounds may not enter with violence and be defensitives against immoderate heat and cold And that musical Tunes by the fallacy of its circuit may
its Faeces or Terra damnata having opened it by Chymical Anatomy and other Methods we may infer something though but rudely of its Nature Or when we observe its Power in several Effects and Experiments in cleansing the Blood from Leprosies and Scorbutical Infections or the Head and its Nerves from dizziness swimmings and paralytical or waterish resolutions of the Tone of any its curious Engines by its Volatile Tincture We conclude its powerful vertue in Physick though as to the modus operandi the Methods and Manner of its influence we are still at a loss But alas an Angel hath an other-guess Knowledge by an intuitive speculation into the profundity and depth of its Nature without Argument or Process of Medicinal Trials which Method of ours is but a mean low and crazy inquisition and subject to foul Errors But in that Angelical manner we may deem that the Soul shal arrive to that high dignity of penetrating into its Objects by intuition far beyond what Adam or Noah or Solomon ever attained What pleasant work will the Material Beings which may then survive the fatal Fire administer to the Souls Contemplation in that happy Pitch 2 Pet. 3.12 13. whereby to glorifie and honour the infinite wise Creator of all When as these things which we now handle by sense and the dwindling light of the Soul like a Rush-candle in this Night of ignorance being the Objects of our laborious and erring speculations are but middle beings between thousands transcending these in Magnitude and Glory and such innumerable minute essences vastly beneath us as to our power of inquisition as the others are in sublimity beyond and above us So that it may be questioned whether the Majesty of our infinitely to be adored Maker will in that day shine forth more radiantly in the Heavens and other stupendious portions of his Workmanship for greatness or the unspeakable curiosity of Nature in the lesser Fabricks which sink beneath our observation for excess of littleness which the Acumen of our Eyes are not able to discern Besides these upon what immaterial Objects may we a little imagine shall the Soul then feastits Paradisian Faculties Such as may entertain our thoughts with sacred wonder and sit down in the dust of astonishment that their unconceiveable varieties will fill up the capacity and run beside the august and comprehensive Spirits of the Cherubims and yet the Saints shall have and enjoy some cognizance of these transcendent pleasures For the Soul in Glory shall have a neerer Union to Christ then now nay than Angels themselves Heb. 2.16 For he took not upon him the Nature of Angels Joh. 17.22 And our Blessed Lord prays that the Saints may be one even as the Father and the Son are one They shall constitute one mystical body with the Son in a purer and closer Union than possible in this wilderness state The Hypostatical Union of Christ to the Deity is of a sublimer nature than the most Glorified Creature can unfold For the Angels do 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 stoop and pry into the Mystery of the Golden Mercy-seat 1 Pet. 1.12 and were fixed in that place continually to abide and therefore the Cherubims in that Emblem were made of one piece of Massy Gold together with the Mercy-seat Exod. 25.19.37.7 to shew not only the standing of the Elect Angels by the vertue of Christ's Mediatorship 1 Tim. 5.21 but also to indicate that they could never exhaust and drink in the Knowledge of the Mystery of that Union Mat. 18.10 though they are constantly beholding the Face of our Heavenly Father Yet still this Mystical Union implies a Glorious Approximation of the Saints to Christ in some similitude with Christs Union to the Deity Joh. 17.12 For the Glory which the Father gave unto Christ hath Christ given to the Saints who are blessed in Heavenly Places in Christ and shall sit down with him in his Throne Eph. 1.3 as he is set down with the Father on the paternal Throne Rev. 3.21 and as all Judgment is committed to the Son so shall Saints also judge both the World and Angels A glimpse of this Glory in this State shines into the heart from the Spirit of Christ dwelling in Saints They that are joyned to the Lord Paul says not shall pertake of but are one Spirit 1 Cor. 6.17 and thereby in an unspeakable manner become Partakers of the Divine Nature Yet we must ponder on these Deeps with sacred caution For this Mystical Union is infinitely distinct from Hypostatical The Spirit of Christ as he dwells in the Head though in a more eminent manner yet so he also does intimè pervadere enter into the Essence of the Souls of Saints and this Inhabitation may be embleme◠by the Rational Souls dwelling in the Animal Spirits of the Bloud But in Christ the Head he dwells fully and in the Members according to distinct measures and proportions Col. 2.9 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Again the state of the Soul shall be admirable not only in the Limpid Chrystalline clearness of its glorified Eye but the unclothed Majesty of the Objects without Vails and Curtains and the pure Emanation or Eradiation of their Beams into the Soul Saints shall be like unto God and see him as he is a word that has no bottom which Heaven it self cannot sufficiently expound to a finite capacity We shall see him without the Glass of Reflection by Argument as here inferring his Divine Power and God-head from the Works of Creation and without the Magnifying Glass of Ordinances to help the weakness of our spiritual senses and without the Perspective Glass of Faith and promises They shall behold his Face 1 Joh. 3.2 Rev. 22.4.1 Cor. 13.12 Joh. 14.8 Exod. 33.20 23. and know as they are known Philip's desire of having the Father shewn shall then suffice indeed when glorified Saints shall enjoy what was denied to Moses not only to contemplate the Being of Beings but as the Causality the Fountain and Principle of all Essences yea and comprehend with all Saints by the Spirit the unlimited Eph. 3.16.19 unfathomable Love of Christ and be filled with all the fulness of God and hereaster conceive more how the three infinite Persons stand in relative Glory and enjoy more ample light as to the Sons Eternal Generation and the Spirits Divine and Everlasting Procession They shall drink of the River of Light that flows from his Essence Here upon Earth we behold the Sun at a distance but cannot mount up to walk in those Mountains of brightness But then the Church shall be clothed with the Sun of Righteousness Rev. 12.1 There was of old a little spark of Glory in the Temple Ps 27.4 and Holy David desired to see that beauty which shined in the Sanctuary But Oh what perfusions of Glory shall animate the soul in Heaven when it shall be illustrated with the morning knowledge of Angels
and a Worm sent to gnaw at the Root of their Substance Many blustering Storms split carnal hopes that in broken planks of mercy they may recover the port of happiness The Paths of Mercy are wonderfully intricate that we may study and learn to discry the windings of Providence God led his people by a right or straight way says David but in a very crooked and winding way according to the Stations set down by Moses Ps 107.7 The cloudy Pillar gave them many a weary turn to chastize their crooked hearts Their Journey took them up 40 years which might have been performed in passing over but 92 Miles from the Border of Egypt to the Southern City of Canaan For Pelusium or Sin in the Land of Sinim the last City of Aegypt was distant but 92 Miles from Rhinocurura or Nahalmizraim Is 27.12 the first City of Canaan on the brook in the South of Simeons Tribe called the River of Aegypt in Scripture as appears by the Itinerary of Antonine the Emperour which at 10 Miles a day considering so vast a multitude makes but 9 days journey to arrive at the Land of Promise Yet in what vast wandrings to and fro in that howling Wilderness did they rowl about Four several times they were commanded to turn about First Exod. 14.2 Numb 33.7 Numb 14.25 Deut. 1.40 Deut. 2.3 Numb 14.34 from Etham to Pihahiroth Secondly from Mount Horeb to the Mount of the Amorites Thirdly from Zinkadesh by the Amorite Mountains quite back again to the Red Sea And Fourthly from the Red Sea northward again besides other Special Turns according to the various Stations in the Wilderness to bear their Iniquities and know Gods Breach of Promise which though failing to them that believed not and so first brake with him yet was fulfilled to a tittle with their Children whom the murmuring Fathers had consigned to be a prey in the Desert The posterity of those Repiners were taught better manners by the Briars and Thorns of Sinai We never carve well for our selves when we snuff at the portion cut out to us by the Hand of God The way to our old Lovers is hedg'd up with merciful thorns to turn us into the right way to the new Jerusalem Austin Confes l. 9. c. 9. Austin says of his Mother Monica She had learn'd the Lesson of a Vertuous Wife not to resist her offended Husband Non tantùm factor sed nè verbo quidem Not by an unseemly word much less in carriages How much more obsequious behaviour owe we to the Father of our Spirits that we may live in his love and to that Heavenly Husband of all gracious and meek Souls to gain his delight in our persons by resembling himself Then out of seeming discouragements we may draw real and experienced comforts Is 12.3 and out of the deep Wells of trouble the Waters of Salvation and Joy As the Woman of Canaan by our Lords calling her a Dog to try her Faith proved her self to be one of the lost Sheep of the true Israel which he came down to find We must behave and quiet our selves like weaned Children under all Ps 131.2 the tossings and tumblings of their Mothers Holy contentation and lowliness of Spirit must hush all the proud whimperings of our minds in the hour of Trial till we become like little Children if we would enter the Kingdom of Heaven Jacob served for a Wife Hos 12.12 and for a Wife kept Sheep in Aram says the Prophet though by an unkind brother was frighted thither and by an hard Uncle was hurried back by untoward Children forced from Shechem and by a threatning famine compelled into Aegypt and all to this end that God might nourish the People of Shem in the Land of Ham to prepare them for the Milk and Honey of the Land of Canaan at that time the possession of Ham's Posterity God glorifies many an Attribute in one single Mercy and teaches us to pry into every one and to gaze upon the Lustre and Tapestry-work of all his Mercies Though God is never the holier or wiser more powerful or just by our glorifying his Name Joh 25.6 yet 't is our duty and his tribute our homage and his condescending savour to accept it The 3 glorious persons did glorifie each other before all worlds and do still The Son was always rejoycing before the Father Prov. 8.30 The Son prays Father glorifie thy Name and a Voice from Heaven answers Joh. 12.28 I have both glorified it and Will glorifie it again And the Son prays Joh. 17.5 That the Father would glorifie him with that Glory which he had with him before the World was And speaking of the Holy Spirit he saith He shall glorifie me Joh. 16.14 yet he is pleased to set forth his Name that we should ascribe the Honour due to it Ps 29.2 Ps 50.23 He that offers praise glorifies him To this end ought we to observe what wisdom shines in contrivement what power in management against all opposition and what mercy in finishing and landing such a Favour in our Bosoms So that when we little dream such an Affair can come to pass it suddenly surprizes us with admiration and astonishment by unspeakable Mazes and winding Labyrinths without our trouble that as we now stand still and see his Salvation so we may all our lives sit still and solace our Spirits with the curious Embroidery of Divine Providence We may say as Naomy to Ruth about Boaz Ruth 3.18 Sit still for the man will not be at rest till he finish the thing this day Resignation of our concerns to the Wisdom of God should cure all anxious and querulous thoughts about Events and Issues If God design such a Mercy all the Powers on Earth cannot hinder it and if it be against his secret Will all the Princes on Earth cannot further it Yea if never so near to attainment yet a trifling surmise shall blast it Follow the conduct of Providence by the Lamp of the Word and this Ariadnes's Thread will lead through all secret and dark turnings into the pleasant Fields of Enjoyment This consideration as it should stay our Spirits in reference to all outward Mercies so more especially as to eternal Where Election hath pitch'd an eye of Love the Hand of Mercy will certainly guide to Heaven If an elect Vessel could be imagined to be in the centre of the Earth the very Bowels of the Earth should open and a Golden Chain of Mercy be let down to draw up that Soul into the Centre of Heaven I knew a Holy man Mr. Christopher Hewling who living in a profane Village in the Forest of Dean had a Godly Minister sent thither on purpose to convert him as that Reverend person profest himself For he was there but a little time I think about a year and as soon as my Friend was converted the profane people rose up against his Ministry and chased him