THE PRACTICE OF Thankefulnesse OR DAVIDS choyse directions how to prayse GOD. In an Exposition and Application vpon the whole sixtie sixe PSALME With a short Treatise vpon the thirtie one and thirtie two Verses of the one hundred and seuenth PSALME 1. THESS 5.18 In all things giue thankes for this is the will of God in Christ Iesus towards you LONDON Printed by G. P. for Roger Iackson and are to be sold at his Shop neere to the Conduit in Fleet-street 1622. TO THE NOBLE VERTVOVS AND CHRISTIAN LADIE THE RIGHT HOnourable Countesse of Lincolne Lady-Mother to the Illustrious and truely Religious Earle of Lincolne MOst worthy Ladie apparent it is that the Father of mercie hath inriched you with that 1. Pet. 1.7 which is more precious then the best tried gold with that Faith 2. Pet. 1.5 which is attended on with the lustre of Vertue the grace of Knowledge the gouernment of Temperance the ornament of a meeke and quiet Spirit the support of Patience the splendour of Humilitie the gaine of Godlinesse the bond of Brotherly kindnesse and the glorie of Loue. And albeit the most righteous Lord hath darkened your comfort in the weakest yet hath hee most brightly lighted it with a manifold shine in the greatest Here there shineth remembrance of the Creator in youth in youth learning to know Time and Reason discretion to answer the enemies in the gate wisedome to preferre and chuse that whose price is farre aboue the Rubies satisfaction to your Honor and hope of wished glorie to your most Noble house and generous race O the lines are falne to your Honour in most pleasant places so that you are able to say to the profane wonderers and to all your Peeres Maruell not that I am zealous of reading hearing and meditation maruell not that I loue not this world nor the euils thereof the lusts of the flesh the lust of the eyes and the pride of life maruell not that I studie to haue my conuersation in heauen or that I call so often for the exercises of Prayer Preaching and Thankesgiuing for God hath done so great things for my soule as I can neuer be thankefull enough O most Christian Countesse two things I haue often thought vpon the one how I might satisfie the continuall request of diuers Christian friends by some fruits of my vnpolished labours the other how I might testifie to the world my most respectiue dutie to your Honour now at length for the satisfaction of the one and testification of the other I haue presumed to tender that which alwayes hitherto I trembled to offer because of my weaknes fearing the carping of some Momus for bringing no nouelty amidst so much variety or some Moses should blame me for bringing any more amidst so much sacietie Yet considering that since the time of Reformation is come the Temple of the Lord is in more places then Ierusalem and of such spacious capacity as though knowledge abound therein as the Sea yet there is place still emptie to receiue it And now the Builders are not so many and the fit stuffe is not so much but that there is a renewed charge that towards the Lords Worke euerie one bring what hee can that as hee hath receiued the gift hee should minister the same to other as good Stewards of the manifold graces and gifts of God Therefore some little of that spirituall blessing which his holy Spirit hath communicate to mee his vnworthy instrument in meditation according to the necessitie laid vpon mee I haue vttered and ministred to others in preaching and here doe present as to all my fellow-members and Christian friends euery where but first and chiefly to your most Honourable and vertuous selfe in writing The subiect and ground of my labour is the sixtie sixe Psalme a Psalme of Diuine praise made by the sweet Psalmist of Israel vpon the deliuerance of Gods people out of many sore calamities and of himselfe out of the bloudie hands of his persecuting enemies I wish it to all because all haue more then much need to bee awaked to this dutie of praising God in this time of securitie but I dedicate it onely to your Honour as to the prime moouer of this my present indeuour For when I had neither a purpose to any such Treatise nor thought of this most worthy Psalme then did your Honour whose affections are euer set on heauenly things name this Song and Psalme vnto mee commend it to my meditation request mee to intreat of it helpe my labours with your prayers and ioyfully heard what the Lord spake by mee out of it Therefore I beseech your Honour take this my Dedication as a true token of my most gratefull affection to your most Noble selfe another Marie in chusing the better part as a testimony of my longing to adde something to the cure of the lamentable neglect of holy duties and as a witnesse of my desire to further this seruice to Gods praise and glorie Euen so bee it euen so bee it Amen Your Honours euer to command in the Lord N. LARKE AN EXPOSITION OF the sixtie sixe PSALME by Doctrine and Exhortation IN this holy Psalme consider The Title First the Title Secondly the Psalme it selfe the Title commits it To the chiefe Musician or the Master of the harmony or Him that excelleth and intitles it A Song A Psalme as being one of that kind which the Church in Dauids time vsed to sing with Instruments voyces It serueth well to prepare attentiō and intention to the matter of the Psalme For it may plainly teach vs First That it is worthy of chiefe skill and consent in singing the same Secondly That it is a Song full of Excellencie and to bee vsed so as our Diuine praises may be made more pleasing sweet and excellent by it Thirdly That it is to bee sung with a double Musicke and melodie to God Ephes 5.19 euen with the glorie of the Tongue Col. 3.16 and the grace of the Heart loe how the Title is a preparatiue to the vnderstanding affecting and vsing of this speciall Psalme In which there is The Psalme First A generall Secondly A particular setting foorth of the praise of God by diligent perusing whereof wee shall learne much worthy and necessarie knowledge knowledge how to make Gods praise glorious to comfort our selues in his greatnesse to reioyce in his noble Workes to sucke sweetnesse out of our afflictions and to relate without either affectation or ostentation to God glorie and to others edification the Lords admirable goodnesse vnto euerie one of vs and to awake vs vnto all these thus this Psalme beginneth Make a ioyfull noise vnto God Vers 1. all yee lands In giuing God thankes it is our dutie to haue great reioycing they that doe it without reioycing yea euen in him doe it not so rightly as is fitting to his Maiestie Therefore in doing this dutie reioyce greatly be not ashamed to let thy reioycing
such as prouoke him to strike them no more as his children but let them alone as bastards vnto destruction Oh happy are we if we bee not of the number of these but of such as in their owne particular are moued to bee more zealous in the duties of Religion after they see how comfortably God hath brought them out of affliction heere is more then common grace for such are very rare heere is true Wisedome for after a wise man is rebuked Pro. 9.8 hee will loue more heere is right profiting by afflliction for after such are afflicted Ps 119.67 71. Psame 116.12 they learne and keepe Gods Word the better Here is a thankefull mind indeed for such are zealous of Gods praise such study what to render vnto God such desire to expresse their thankefulnesse in the presence of all Gods people such make haste to meet the Lord in his worship saying euen to himselfe I will goe into thine House Oh man and woman that art willing to go into the Tauerne and into the Ale-house but vnwilling to goe into Gods House How foolish art thou to goe like the euill seruant Mat. 24.49 to eate and drinke with the drunken and to sit among Hypocriticall Scoffers and to refuse to goe like the Seruants of God to his House to sing and pray with his Children and to heare his holy Ministers Oh thou that art willing to goe into the gaming house but not into Gods House How foolish art thou to goe like the ding-thrift to spend the precious time and thy needfull goods with the prophane vnto thy vndooing and to refuse to go like the Prudent Pro. 23.23 to buy the truth and get grace vnto health and wealth and saluation Oh thou that art willing to goe into the Harlots house but not into Gods House How foolish art thou to goe like a Foole to the Stockes Pro. 7.22 and like an Oxe to the slaughter vnto the house that leadeth to death and to refuse to goe like the Wise and Religious vnto the House that leadeth vnto Happinesse Comfort and eternall Life Oh man or woman that art willing to goe into Gods House that louest the place where his Honour dwelleth Psal 26.8 Psa 84.1 2. that holdest his Tabernacles amiable that feelest thy soule longing and fainting for the Courts of the Lord Psal 122.1 that art glad to heare and see others willing to go vnto his House Psal 27.4 that desirest to dwell all the dayes of thy life in his House how prudent and how wise art thou for there thou shalt behold the beauty of the Lord enquire at his mouth Rom. 10. Psal 65.4 Psal 84.4 11. heare the happy tydings of peace and of good things be satisfied with goodnesse be euer praysing of God there God will be the Sunne and the Shield vnto thee there he will giue thee grace and glory Psal 63.5 there he will feede thy Soule with better then marrow and fatnesse there will he hide thee in his Pauilion and in the secret of his Tabernacle in the time of trouble With burnt Offerings will I goe Ver. 13.15 I will offer vnto thee burnt Sacrifices of fat Rammes with Incense I will prepare Bullocks with Goates in abundance The godly worship God personally rightly delightfully and plenteously Personally for they come and they offer in their owne persons Rightly for they offer to God that which he prescribeth then Legall now Euangelicall Sacrifices Delightfully for they offer with Incense Exo. 30.34 with artificiall most pleasant persume of sweete Spices vnder the Law with spirituall most pleasant perfume of Christs most sweete intercession and of the most sweete grace of his Spirit vnder the Gospell Plenteously for they offer not a Ramme 1. Chr. 29.21 or a Bullocke or a Goate but Rammes Bullockes and Goates many Offrings and many Sacrifices O you that come not to appeare before the Lord in the assemblies of his people personally how sawcie and vnreuerent is this Not a pretended necessitie to ride out to see your purchase Luke 14.18 19 20. nor the desire to goe trie your yoke of Oxen newly bought nor your reason to tarry at home with your late wedded wife will serue to excuse it Oh you that come and doe offer but not rightly in that you offer not that which he prescribeth but your owne fancied repetitions your owne supposed good intents how vniust how vncomely is this Mat. 15.9 1. Sā 15.23 Eccl. 5.1 This worship is a worship in vaine this seruice is a rebellion and stubbornenesse this offering is a sacrifice for fooles this doing is doing of euill Oh you that offer but not delightfully not with incense not in Christs name not in sinceritie not with grace in your hearts how vnprofitable and how vnacceptable is this You keepe backe Gods part his portion his delight and so without you repent you shall find him another day as Nadab and Abihu partly found him Leu. 10.2 that is a consuming fire Hob. 12.28 29. Oh you that come and offer to God but not plentifully but emptie hearted grudgingly with wearinesse and snuffing at it euen snuffing at the pure and plentifull worship of God disdaining that hee should bee so plenteously made known by his Preachers and his Word so powerfully taught by them how vngodly how crooked and how vnthankfull is this Mal. 1.6 7 8 10 14. 2.2 The Lord holds this a despising of his Name and a contemning of his Table Hee hath no pleasure in such worshippers he accepts no such offerings he reckons such offerers deceiuers hee curseth them and their blessings Oh you therefore that feare God follow the example of the godly Prophet come especially on the Sabbaths and appeare personally before the Lord to worship him in your owne persons For thus do all his Saints they all sit downe at his feet Deut. 33.3 that euery one of them may receiue of his words Psal 84.7 euery one of them appeareth before him in Sion Come and offer to him the sacrifices which he prescribeth so did the godly vnder the Law so doe you vnder the Gospel worship him rightly then they gaue him the burnt offerings of fat Rams Bulls and Goats now giue him that which is your reasonable seruice of him euen in all thankfulnesse for all his mercies towards you in Christ Iesus Rom. 12.1 present your bodies a liuing sacrifice holy and acceptable to him Come worship him delightfully pray giue him thankes heare his Word receiue his Sacraments with holy incense with a pure mind 1. Tim. 2.8 with truth in the inward affections Psa 51.6 Heb. 12.28 Col. 3.17 with grace in your hearts and in the Name of the Lord Iesus For this hee loueth this is pleasing vnto him in this hee delighteth this makes our sacrifices acceptable vnto him Come and worship him plenteously as they prepared many Rams and Bulls and Goats to
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
offer vnto him so prepare to bring in your prayers plentifull deuotion in your thankesgiuings plentifull affection in your hearing his Word plentifull attention in receiuing his Sacraments plentifull feeling and in dedicating your whole life and selfe vnto him plentifull and vnwearied application I will pay thee my vowes Verse 14. which my lips haue vttered and my mouth hath spoken when I was in trouble or affliction What the godly promise God in their debts sickenesse or any other misery they are carefull to performe in their wealth health and libertie Oh thou man or woman that didst vow and promise to God that if hee brought thee out of debt thou wouldest neuer bee a vaine companion a carelesse waster an idle walker vnthristie vngodly any more Pro. 3.9 Psal 16.3 but honour him with thy substance and extend thy liberalitie to his Saints O thou that didst in thy sore sickenesse promise and vow vnto him that if hee brought thee to health againe thou wouldest neuer neglect the Church neglect hearing his Word profane his holy day sweare lye keepe ill company bee vnruly any more but feare honour serue him liue like a good Christian all thy life O thou that didst in any kind of distresse trouble or misery promise and vow vnto him that if hee would deliuer thee thou wouldest neuer be irreligious vnholy wicked disobedient any more but doe all such duties obserue all such orders follow all such Wayes as most agree to his holy will and Word and glory And hath he been kind vnto thee according to thy necessities and hast not thou paid thy vowes vnto him which thy lips vttered in thine affliction but denied neglected or forgotten the same Oh how vniust how vnthankefull how vngodly how dishonest how shamefull is this So to promise was as little as thou couldest doe and wilt thou not respect to doe so little for God that hath done so much for thee as to indeuour to performe thy promise Thou wouldest haue giuen any thing and been at any cost to haue bin deliuered GOD hath done it freely for thee and dost thou deny to pay him thy vowed seruice Whom wilt thou regard Isa 57.11 To whom wilt thou keepe thy word since thou liest vnto God Thou canst no way excuse thy selfe Eccles 5.2 c. if thou plead rashnesse and haste oh how durst thou be rash and hastie to speake thou couldest not tell what vnto the high God of Heauen If thou confesse it was thy folly why hee hath no pleasure in fooles If thou thinke it no great matter thou deceiuest thy selfe in promising without conscience to performe thy mouth hath caused thy whole selfe to stand guiltie of much sinne better it had beene though that would haue witnessed thine vnthankfulnesse and forgetting of God that thou hadst not vowed then to vow and not to pay Oh Christian doe thou both vow and pay God by troubles and afflictions doth as it were call thee and euen importune thee to vow someting vnto him as some lawfull allowed prescribed testimony of thy thankfulnesse if thy lips haue vttered and thy mouth hath aduisedly reuerently and holily spoken some vow vnto his Maiestie in the day of thy miserie see that thou carefully performe it as soone as hee grants thee any deliuery If a filthy fornicatour and a rebellious fornicatresse pretend conscience of keeping their abominable vow against all GODS forbid Iudg. 11.3 if Micha's mother making a mad vow to make a grauen image for her sonne was so diligent to performe it oh how carefull should wee be to pay our lawfull and holy vowes a part of his worship vnto GOD Precept praise peace patterne and profit requireth this at vs. Precept of GOD for hee commandeth vs to pay our vowes vnto him Eccl. 5.4 and that quickly without delay Praise Psal 65.1 for this is a part of the praise giuen to Sion that in it the vow shall be performed vnto GOD. Peace Deu. 23.21 for if we haue speedily paid that wee vowed our conscience shall excuse vs of that inquiry and that sinne that otherwise wee are guiltie of Patterne Gen. 28.20 for this is exemplified to vs in Iaakob in Israel in Dauid in Hannah Num. 21.2 Psal 116. and all other holy ones and paying our vowes to God wee follow their godly example Profit for if wee pay our vowes to GOD 1. Sam. 1.11 hee will still giue vs more blessings and make vs haue such experience of his goodnesse as each one of vs shall haue cause to say Come and heare all yee that feare God Verse 16. and I will tell you what hee hath done for my soule The knowledge of Gods goodnesse to his people in generall moueth the true godly to note what it is to themselues in particular Oh beware heere of the most fearefull spirit of some I meane of the spitefull wicked for when they see GODS goodnesse to his people Ps 112.10 they be grieued at it they gnash their teeth for anger and they melt away with enuy which sheweth that they are inspired with the malice of the Deuill for from the beginning he and his haue beene so hellishly-minded But behold and take your marke by it the true godly put the sight and knowledge of this to a most worthy and excellent vse for it moueth them to note what Gods goodnes is to their very selues in their owne particular Oh Christian doe thou so hast thou heard what great excellent wonderfull and what comfortable things God in all ages hath done for his people to witnesse his mercy loue righteousnesse and truth vnto them and to make them hope in him trust in his Name serue him and be assured that they are blessed of him Oh thinke and obserue what he hath done also for thy person Oh if thou canst tell of none but common to euery creature yea and to the vniust as well as to the iust then thy case is vncōfortable but if thou find that to thee also hee doth communicate his speciall kindnesse and his singular fauour then thou hast that which is for comfort for reioycing for assurance and for instruction for comfort because thereby thou seest that God comforts thee as one of his owne by doing for thee as for his very owne For reioycing because thereby God giues thee reason to sing with blessed Mary Luke 1.46 My soule doth magnifie the Lord and my spirit reioyceth in God my Sauiour for he hath done great things for me For assurance because thereby thou art assured that God remembreth thee with the fauour of his owne people Psal 106.4 5. and makes thee see the felicitie of his chosen For instruction because thereby thou art fitted to relate the goodnesse of the Lord vnto others out of thy owne experience Come and heare and I will tell you what God hath done for my soule Hee that is guided by a right spirit is carefull to vse all good
meanes to bring others comfort Oh the scarefull carriage of such as bee guided by a froward and vncleane spirit as Cain Saul Doeg Iudas and the like for these vse what meanes they can to bring to others and especially to the godly discomfort Oh happy are they that are guided by a right spirit for they seeke euery way to comfort others chiefly such as are godly they lead a life to comfort them performe good actions to comfort them and they lay vp words to comfort them they euen purpose to relate what sweetnes they haue found in Gods goodnesse towards their owne soules vnto other Christians to reioyce and solace their holy mindes therewith Act. 14.26 27. so did Paul and Barnabas to the Church at Antioch so did Peter to the Christians in the house of Mary praying together 12.12 17. teaching vs the like zeale delight loue and desire to comfort others Dauid stands forth and saith to the godly Come and heare all yee that feare God It is a Christians dutie to heare of Gods priuate and speciall benignitie O worldling thou sauourest nothing Psal 4.7 but this transitory world O profane person Act. 18.15 thou holdest such questions nothing but vaine words and idle names O hypocrite thou measuring another by thy line accountest such relation but vaine glorie O sincere Christian it is my dutie to declare it Psal 25.12 14. and thine to heare it for thou fearest God and so oughtest to haue the speciall things of God reuealed vnto thee thou fearest God and so wilt bee glad to heare how kind God hath beene vnto me Ps 119.74 thou fearest God and so wilt cheere thine owne soule with that comfort which thou hearest that God hath giuen to anothers soule And I will declare what hee hath done for my soule It agreeth to true pietie to declare our owne experience of Gods speciall mercy O man or woman to whom God hath beene specially mercifull Psa 106.7 21. and thou hast not vnderstood it O thou to whom he hath vouchsafed a multitude of mercies and thou hast not remembred them O thou for whom hee hath done great things and thou hast forgotten him O thou Psal 147. with whom he hath dealt more graciously then with many others and thou doest not so much as thinke or speake of it O thou Deut. 32. whom he hath crowned with rare benignities and thou hast lightly esteemed both himselfe and his benefits how peruerse froward and impious is this thy dealing Many would faine see that which God hath offered thee to see and cannot many would faine heare that which thou mightest heare and may not many would turne vnto God and loue him and praise him if those glorious things mighty workes and gracious doctrines were vttered to them that haue beene plentifully shewed vnto thee woe vnto thee for thine ingratitude woe vnto thee for thine impietie O Christian be it otherwise with thee Gen. 45. Exod. 18.1 Sam. 1. Luk. 1. 1. Tim. 1. Psa 40.10 shew thy pietie by declaring thine owne experience of Gods speciall mercy as Ioseph did as Moses did as Hannah did as Mary did as the Apostle did hide not his righteousnesse within thine heart conceale not his louing kindnes but declare his mercy and his saluation Thou declarest to thy wife or to thy neighbour thy experience of some friends speciall friendlynesse O how much more shouldest thou to winne them to God also declare to wife and family and neighbours thine experience of Gods speciall mercy Imitate this holy man saying Come let your worke alone a little while come let your businesse stay a little while come leaue off your other communication a little while come sit downe by me and giue eare a while to what I shall tell you and heare and I will tell you excellent admirable comfortable things euen What God hath done for my soule Much of our bounden praise of God consists in an holy obseruation and faithfull mention of our owne part in the particular goodnesse of God O thou whom God doth not afford the matter of such obseruation O thou to whom God giues no cause of any such mention Hos 4.17 but le ts thee alone like Ephraim like those blind leaders leaues thee in fearefull hunger Mat. 15.14 thirst shame sorrow of heart and vexation of spirit Isa 65. like those that forsake him suffers thee to walke in thine owne wayes like all the Heathen of old time Act. 14.16 giues thee vp vnto vile affections and to a reprobate mind Rom. 1.26 28. like those vnreasonable Idolaters thou canst not sing of his Name thou canst not praise him thou canst not glorifie him but cleane contrary And this is the punishment the plague the iudgement of God that thou canst be merrie but not in him thou canst reioyce but not in him thou canst shew testimonies of his wrath against thy soule but thou canst not tell of any grace hee hath giuen to thy soule O happy Christian remember wherein thy bounden thankes to God and the plentifull argument of thy praising of him consisteth namely in thy holy obseruation and faithfull mention of thy owne part in his particular goodnesse O how great is his goodnesse Psa 31.19 that hee hath laid vp for them that feare him Be thou wise to obserue thy part in it Ps 107.42 that thou maist vnderstand the Lords louing kindnesse vnto thy soule obserue whether thou canst say with the Prophet Come and heare all you that feare God and I will tell you what hee hath done for my soule Hee hath chosen mee Psal 4.3 and set mee apart for himselfe In the Volume of his Booke of Life 40.7 my Name is written in Heauen 23.3 31.7 Hee hath conuerted and restored my soule He hath knowne my soule in aduersitie Psal 30.3 Hee hath brought my soule from the graue 86.13 He hath deliuered my soule from the lowest hell 71.17 Hee himselfe hath taught me 32.5 euen from my youth He hath forgiuen mine iniquitie 103.10 13 and my sinne Hee hath not dealt with me after my sinnes nor rewarded mee according to mine iniquities As a father pittieth his children so hee hath pittied me 118.6 7 21. He is on my side he taketh my part He is become my saluation Hee vpholdeth mee in mine integritie 41.12 I was brought low and hee helped me 116.6 Sometime hee hath shewed mee great 71.20 and sore troubles but hee hath by and by quickned me againe He hath brought me vp againe out of my deepe miseries He hath increased mine honour Hee hath returned to comfort me on euery side Hee hath healed all my diseases 103.3 He hath deliuered my soule from death 116.8 mine eyes from teares and my feet from falling I cryed vnto him with my mouth Verse 17. and I was exalted for the words of my tongue I cryed earnestly vnto him in