pleasure but he for our profit that we might be partakers of his holiness Heb. 12. 10. Not the most tender hearted mother doth yearn with such bowels of compassion towards her only Son as God doth toward his people Isa. 49. 15. Can a woman forget her sucking child that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb yea they may forget yet will I not forget thee This love to them is the reason why he will uphold them Why did God lead Israel in the Wilderness why did he so eminently preserve them Because he loved them therefore he chose them to be a peculiar people above all people that were on the face of the earth Deut. 7. 6 7 8. And the reason why he loved them was because he loved them not any goodness or goodliness in them but because he loved them he set his love upon them He hath mercy on whom he will have mercy He will have compassion on whom he will have compassion Rom. 9. 15. Exod. 33. 19. God his love to his people is the ground and off-spring of all mercies to his people spiritual and temporal God so loved the world that he gave his Son Joh. 3. 16. Christ so loved his sheep that he laid down his life for them Who loved me and gave himself for me Gal. 2. 20. God did extend and draw out his richest mercy for Israel he did extend kindness to them in the chusing of them in his covenant with them his promises to them his deliverances of them because he loved them I have loved thee with an everlasting love therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee Jer. 31. 3. 2. From their great necessity They have none else to uphold them When the Lord saw the affliction of Israel that it was bittter and that there was none shut up or left nor any helper 2 Kings 14. 26. Then he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the Son of Joash When he saw that there was no one to take up the righteous cause of his people then he arms himself He saw that there was none to help and wonder'd that there was none to uphold therefore his own arm brought salvation to him and his fury it upheld him Isa. 63. 3. And he put on righteousness as a breast-plate and an helmet of salvation upon his head he put on the garments of vengeance for cloathing and was clad with zeal as a cloak When he saw that there was no intercessor 3. From his Promise For the assurance and encouragement of his people he hath obliged himself by promise Isa. 41. 10 13. Fear not for I am with thee be not dismaied for I am thy God I will strengthen thee yea I will help thee yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness In the 13th verse the Promise runs in the words of the Text I will hold thy right hand saying unto thee fear not I will help thee Sooner then Israel shall always groan under their burdens and Task-masters and the oath to Abraham and his seed be violated God will shew signs in Egypt and wonders in the Land of Ham Psal. 105. 27. Nay Heaven and earth shall pass away sooner than one tittle of the promise of God should fail He that hath called his people according to his purpose out of darkness into his marvellous light will uphold them and preserve them blameless unto the coming of Christ Jesus Faithful is he that hath called you who also will do it 1 Thes. 5. 24. 4. From their Prayers grounded and urged upon his Promise being sensible of the great evil and danger of sin knowing their proneness to slip they solicite God with their prayers to secure them from falling Psal. 51. 12. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation and uphold me with thy free spirit Uphold me according to thy word that I may not be ashamed of my hope Hold thou me up and I shall be safe Psal. 119. 116 117. When they are thinking of their danger sinking in the apprehension of it if they cry unto him he stretcheth out his hand and saves them 5. From his own honour and glory that is much concerned herein This is that which he proposeth to himself in all his performances This he is tender of zealous for will not have given to another This he would have us to propound to our selves in all our actions There is nothing he doth but he proposeth to himself therein the praise either of one Attribute or another He hath created all things for himself for the glory of his power goodness and other Attributes Whether things that be on the earth or things in heaven visible and invisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions Principalities or Powers all things were created by him and for him Col. 1. 16. For of him and through him and to him are all things to whom be glory for ever Rom. 11. 36. He hath created Jacob his servant for his glory he hath formed he hath made him Isa. 43. 7. God will look after his great name and it doth concern Gods glory much that his people should be upheld What would the enemies say if Israel should be cut of and turn their backs before their blaspheming adversaries God is a wise builder in Christ Jesus they are his workmanship now he doth not begin what he is not able to finish He is the Authour upholder and finisher of our Faith he will bring his people to their full stature unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. Use of Informat 1. Of the transcendent and inexpressible goodness of God What manner of love is this that we should be called the Sons of God and be dealt with as his children friends familiars Here is goodness incomparable to admit beggars and worse that is sinners into fellowship with him Here is firmness of love and goodness that he will not forsake them whom he loveth he loveth to the end I will not leave thee nor forsake thee That he should admit not only into protection those that had cast off their allegiance and rebelled against him but communion This is condescention indeed Substantial and not Ceremonial as that of Princes many times is Revel 2. 1. He holdeth the Stars in his right hand and walketh in the midst of the seven Golden candlesticks 2. We may be informed of the difference between God and other friends Other friends look upon us as their Sun Dials when the Sun of prosperity shines upon us but when it is a black and dark day of Clouds and gloominess and thick darkness of trouble and distress then we signifie nothing to them But God deals not so with his people But when all are fled and gone he sticks close to his people Tribulation distress persecution famine nakedness peril sword cannot separate God from his people 2 Tim. 4. 16 17. At my first answer no man stood with me but all men forsook me
farther and future kindness This future kindness the Psalmist expresses in two Phrases 1 Thou shalt guide me by thy Counsel 2 And afterward receive me to glory Thou shalt guide me in the Original is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which Montanus renders in consilio tuo duces me and Vatablus in consilium tuum that is into the knowledge of thy counsel But I shall adhere to our Translation which renders it with thy counsel God had supported the Psalmist for the time past and from thence he concludes he would guide him for the time to come so that he might not offend him with quarrelling at his providence as he had done The other Phrase is and after receive me into glory As if the Psalmist had said I see and read so much of thy love that I know thou wilt do more for me when by thy Counsel thou hast lead me through the difficulties of this life thou wilt shew farther kindness take me into an estate of glory removing me to a state wherein I shall be free from those evils I am perplexed with From hence observe 1. Doct. That God will or doth guide his faithful people with his Counsel 2. Doct. That when God hath guided his people by his Counsels he will receive them into glory To the first That God will and doth guide his faithful servants with his Counsel He abounds with Counsel Prov. 8. 14. Counsel is mine and sound wisdom Mark sound wisdom in opposition to that which is humane and vain which oftentimes proves foolish and deceitful As he abounds with this Counsel and sound wisdom so he communicates thereof abundantly to his people He sees to looks after them and according as there is occasion administers Counsel to them Sometime they are brought into such straits that they are ready to cry out with Elisha's men upon the sight of the Syrian Army 2 Kings 6. 15. Alas how shall we do Then when they do not know what to do he comes in and advises them what to do what course to take Thus he did with Asaph Till I went into the Sanctuary of God saith he I knew not what to make of things but then I understood their latter end I shall shew you 1 What a kind of guide God is 2 What kind of Counsel God gives his people 3 Then give the reasons 4 Answer an Objection that is if God guide his people with his Counsel how comes it to pass that they fall into such disorders 1 What kind of guide God is And 1 Generally he is the best guide in all the world None so able to guide us as he is and and none so willing to do it as he There is none we may so securely venture our souls with as with him Such a guide is he that were our souls affairs concernments of a thousand times greater value and importance than they are we might with greatest security trust them with him The soul of man is his darling principal one his glory and excellency and if it were a thousand times more excellent yet here might it be safely deposited There is not a guide either in Heaven or in Earth that is comparable to him ver 25. Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none on earth in comparison of thee Oh how great and eminent is he in Counsel Jer. 32. 19. Great in Counsel and might in words and in doing He is wonderful in it Isa. 28. 29. Wonderful in Counsel and excellent in working This may make the wisest to stand and wonder Rom. 11. 33. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! We read in the Scripture of some that were eminent for Counsel Ahitophel 2 Sam. 16. 23. was eminent for his Counsel The Counsel of Ahitophel in those dayes was as if a man had enquired at the Oracle of God He was a politick man and could guess at things extraordinarily and the issue of them insomuch that things commonly fell out according to his word So 2 Sam. 20. 18. The inhabitants of Abel were so prudent and just and had so great repute for wisdom and Counsel that when differences arose among men in neighbouring parts they would come thither for advice upon the receipt whereof they commonly ended the matter And we read of others that were notable for their Counsel But what is all theirs to the Counsel of God Alas what are the greatest Counsellors in the world in comparison of him Job 12. 17. He leadeth Counsellors away spoyled and maketh the Judges fools He infatuates blasts their Counsels and leads them away as it were in triumph 2. More particularly he is 1. A wise and skilful Guide He knows which is the best way to lead his servants in He is acquainted with all ways knows how to compare one with another and distinguish betwixt the good and the bad And he likewise foresees how things will work and what shall fall out for all things are and shall be according to the Counsel of his own will The wisest of his Creatures can at the best but conjecture and their wisdom is to confess their ignorance in what is contingent and unrevealed but God knows what is most hid and reserved in the remotest causes and that distinctly and infallibly And this property is so peculiar to himself that he doth both challenge and insult over the Gods of the Gentiles upon this very score Isa. 41. 21 23. Produce your cause saith the Lord bring forth your strong reasons saith the King of Jacob shew the things that are to come hereafter that we may know that ye are Gods Here is a challenge God sends to the Gentiles if you will have your dumb blind senseless Idols to be God let them make it out and tell what shall come to pass This is the only and true Gods Prerogative Now God having this peculiar insight into things it must needs render him highly fit to guide and lead his servants Psal. 78. 72. He guided them by the skilfulness of his hands By the hand commanders shew much skill and conduct directing those that are under their command which way to go David had a mighty skilful hand herein yet what was his skill to Gods so far he sees himself below him that he seeks to God for guidance Psal. 123. 2. Our eyes wait upon the Lord our God 2. He is a gracious Guide The conduct which he exercises towards his servants is ever attended with designs of grace and love The thing which in all the windings and turnings of his Providence he aims at is that they may be holy here and blessed herafter He sometimes leads them through wildernesses and desolate places but this is not out of hatred but love it is in order to their welfare Psal. 25. 10. All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his Convenaut Rom. 8. 28. All things work together for good to them that love God When they are in the
a rude draught of that glorious City or Jerusalem that is above which is a thousand times more glorious than ever the earthly Jerusalem was in its most ample and succesfull estate Some of those general hints which the word contains of it I shall give you in these following heads 1. It s Ancient 2. Reall 3. Supernal 4. Satisfying 5. Transcendent 6. Eternal glory 1. It s Ancient it is such as God himself hath been enjoying and delighting himself in from all eternity Before there was any such thing as worldly glory this glory was in being Joh. 17. 5. And now Oh Father glorifie thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was Besides which there is a created glory which God is said to have prepared for them from the foundation of the world Mat. 25. 34. 2. It is real As for the glory of the world it s but a meer shew or fancy Psal. 39. 6. Surely every man walketh in a vain shew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in a disguise The glory of the world is like a Play wherein one is a King another a Queen a third a Peasant according to the Plot and will of the contriver whereas they are no such persons but carry a little present resemblance of them Of this nature is worldly glory it s rather an appearance or shew of glory than glory it self a piece of pageantry a shew not real With what magnificence and state did Agrippa and Bernice enter into the Judgment Hall And how doth the Evangelist express it he saith they came 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Acts 25. 23. With much Phancy All their Princely gallantry and bravery in the Judgment of the Evangelist amounted to no more than a meer conceit or Phancy They were glorious no doubt in their own eyes and admired by the people that love to gaze at Pomp but this was but conceitedness phantastical and vain shew But now this glory that is to be revealed but doth not yet appear in its refulgency so as it will is real and solid such as hath substance and weight in it 2 Cor. 4. 17. A weight of glory the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in answer to the Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which as I told you in its primary notion imports weight or heaviness As much difference as there is between Massy Gold and Copper or Tin so much between the glory of this world and that glory which is laid up for them that love God and wait for the coming of Christ. 3. It is supernal or above Indeed God can create glory wherever he pleases If he will have glory to be on Mount Sinai or Mount Tabor there glory shall be Where this King of glory doth manifest himself more fully there glory doth appear but the place he hath pitched upon for the exhibiting of himself in glory in a settled standing way is above No place on earth being fit for so high and noble use he was pleased to make choice of one above Psal. 8. 1. How excellent is thy name in all the earth who hast set thy glory above the Heavens Psal. 103. 4. The Lord is high above all Nations and his glory above the Heavens Those visible heavens when Stephen looked up stedfastly into heaven he saw the glory of God and Jesus standing on the right hand of God which if it were more than a created representation of it to his outward and inward senses we must understand of a miraculous vision wherein Christ arrayed with glory and Majesty was beheld by him supernaturally enlightned Into this glory above then our Lord Christ was received 1 Tim. 3. 16. So that if ever we will share in this glory we must leave the earth ascend into the Heavens and pass beyond both Clouds and Stars 4. It s a satisfying glory To have a glory out of the reach of enemies is much then to have it satisfying to answer the desires of souls is a great matter As for the glory of the world it do's a little dazzle the eye and tickle the Phancy but it do's not satisfie the soul. Who had ever greater glory than Solomon he was glorious as Job was poor To a Proverb Mat. 6. 29. Solomon in all his glory He built houses planted Vineyards made Gardens and Orchards planted trees of all fruits made pools of water he had servants and maidens possessions of great and small cattel he gathered silver and gold he got him men singers and women singers he withheld not his heart from any joy But was he satisfied though he had what heart could wish No Eccles. 1. 8. All things are full of labour man cannot utter it The eye is not satisfied with seeing nor the ear filled with hearing But this glory I am speaking of will afford satisfaction Psal. 17. 15. As for me I will behold thy face in righteousness I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness When Peter upon Mount Tabor had but a little resemblance of it he was so affected with it that he cryes out Mat. 17. 4. Lord it is good for us to be here Oh what would he have said if he had been in Heaven and seen all the glory there Seen the blessed Saints and Angels those pure and perfect creatures beholding the face God Seen the Lord Jesus Christ the Lord of glory attended most gloriously and sitting at the right hand of the Father heard the incomparable melody of the Hallelujahs sung How would this have ravished him Could I present you with a glimpse of this glory you would long to be there where you might have a perfect prospect and then you would say not one half nor the thousand part of the glory was told you 5. It is transcendent Glory It exceeds all other glory nay all expressions and imagination So great was the glory of God upon Mount Sinai that the raies of it made the skin of Moses his face to shine Exod. 34. 29. The spirit of grace and glory shone in Stepbens face when he made his confession of Christ all saw his face as it had been the face of an Angel And so great was the glory of Christ when he appeared to Paul in the way to Damascus that it dazled his eyes Acts 22. 11. He could not see for the glory of that light Nimis sensibile laedit sensum The brightness of the Object overcame his sight And God doth sometime adorn his Church Militant with much glory Isa 66. 11. That ye may be delighted with the abundance of her glory But alas what 's all this in comparison of the glory of that place I am speaking of 2 Cor. 4. 17. A far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory The words in the Original are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is a phrase so high and lofty that Expositors scarce know how to express But this is evident that it imports such glory as is exceeding high and transcendent Here every thing
little-flock it is your Fathers good pleasure to give you a Kingdom And what needs any farther reason to prove the lawfulness and equity of it If he be for it what hath any one to do to be against it Rom. 21. 9. 21 23. What if God be willing to make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy which he hath afore prepared unto glory shall any one dare to question his proceedings What will men make of God Shall the Potter have more power over his clay than God hath over his creature That is the clay and he the Potter Nay O man who art thou that replyest against God Reas. 2. Is taken from his promise whereby he hath engaged himself to do it As he hath promised to guide them by his counsell and given his Angels charge concerning them so he hath engaged himself and given his royal word for it that however mean and despicable they are and are exercised with divers afflictions yet after they have suffered a while he will take them up unto himself Psal. 84. 11. He will give grace and glory and will withhold no good thing from them that walk uprightly Dan. 12. 3. They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament and they that turn many to righteousness shall shine as the stars for ever and ever Oh what a ravishing truth is this Take this along with you Go home and wonder that such poor mortal sinful carcases as we should shine as the firmament the stars for ever nay as the Sun Mat. 13 43. Then shall the righteous shine as the Sun in the Kingdom of the Father If you have ears hearken to this if you have hearts to be affected with the glorious grace of God to sinners through Christ. Let men and Angels Heaven and Earth stand astonished at it for ever and ever As sure as this is the word of God this honour shall be done his Saints If you will not receive and be affected with this truth get you another bible that may affect you more and reward you better Let the worldlings voluptuous ambitious go to their Mammon their delicious fare their preferments and see what they will do for them What can they promise more than they will ever perform they can do nothing but help to a treasure of wrath and fearful recompence Not one Iota not one title of Gods word shall fail Here are words and more than bare words of eternal life which are delivered by truth it self God that cannot deceive God that cannot lye This truth I will stick by and yet that such a poor mouldring ever dying and perishing creature as I ready to turn to putrifaction and dust should be carried above the heavens have the conduct of Angels and the welcome of those blessed creatures unto the land of happiness how doth it amaze me with wonder at free grace What a thing is this Though it be great yet he having given his word will be sure to effect it as for other reasons so this in particular that he hath given it under his hand as well as engaged his word called heaven and earth to witness Before he hath issued out his promise he doth such things for his own pleasure but when he hath granted his promise a farther reason accurs to strengthen our consolation and good hopes through grace Reas. 3. Is taken from the will of Christ who upon the account of his interest in the Father and his own merits intercedes with his father to do it Our blessed Saviour has ever been concerned about mans welfare None save Christ could bestead us when we were thrown out of Paradise then saith Christ I will undertake be surety for them Lo I come to do thy will O God I will pay the debt and ransome them though it cost me dear This loss shall be for their advantage they shall be conveyed to another and better estate than ever they were in upon earth When Christ was upon earth he died for them and now he is in heaven he pleads his death and as for other purposes so for this in particular that God would gather in his elect that they may be where he is O Lord and Father remember my sufferings how the Messias was not cut off for himself not for any sin of his own He knew no sin but was made sin for thy people he bore their sins on his body on the tree And our Lord ever livet h to make intercession for his people Heb. 7. 25. What his intercession is you may learn partly from his intercession on earth and his last desires he left this to uphold the hearts of his people in his will and Testament which by the death of the Testator is confirmed to us Joh. 17. 24. Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me Oh sweet words that where he was his people should be His lips were as a thread of scarlet and his words comely His lips drop sweet smelling myrrh partly by his promise John 12. 26. If any man serve me let him follow me and where I am there shall also my servants be what Christ hath promised he can make good he did reveal his Fathers mind and God hath a mighty regard to the will of his Son As the Son never disobeyed the will of the Father so the Father never denyed the request of his son Joh. 11. 41. 42. Father I thank thee that thou hast heard me and I know that thou hearest me alwaies Could Christ prevaile while on earth for the raising of Lazarus to life Now he is in heaven his arguments and interest are strong and great enough to raise his people to glory Reas. 4. God will take his servants to glory that Christ may enjoy the benefit of his own purchase He hath made a double purchase He hath purchased glory for them and them for it As for glory it is the purchased possession or inheritance 1 Eph. 1. 14. And he hath purchased his Church with his own blood we are redeemed not with corruptible things as silver and Gold from our vain Conversation that we may be made meet for his his glory but with the precious blood of Christ as of a Lamb without blemish or without spot It s highly reasonable Christ should have his bargain that he hath paid considerably for and he shall have the fruit of this double purchase without fraud from the just God whose ways are equal and who deceiveth not Christ hath redeemed his people that were slaves to sin and Satan hath wrought deliverance for the Captives hath bought an inheritance in glory for them and when he hath guided them by his Counsell here without farther delay afterwards they shall be received up into glory Reas. 5. That the head and members may be together That Christ is their head the Scripture thews Eph. 5. 23. And that he is in
heaven we are taught in Scripture 1 Tim. 3. 16. God that was manifest in the flesh was received up into glory And that the head and members should be together is undeniable whether it be a body Naturall Politick or Mystical and so our Saviour seems to hold forth Joh. 12. 26. And for this reason he receives them up into glory that head and members that have suffered together may rejoyce together Rom. 8. 17. Being heirs of God joynt heirs with Christ if so be that we suffer with him that we may be also glorified together Reas. 6. May be drawn from the preparation that hath been made in order to the taking of them up to glory 1. God hath prepared glory for them Mat. 25. 34. Inherit the Kingdom prepared for you John 14. 2. I go to prepare a place for you Those invisible inexplicable things of glory God hath prepared for them that love him This is the City that God hath prepared for them that are not minded to take up with the Kingdom of this world or the glory thereof Heb. 11. 6. And this preparation was made partly by the erecting of this glory at the Creation partly by sending his Son to purchase it for them 2. He hath prepared them for it They are the vessels of mercy which he hath afore prepared unto glory Rom. 9. 23. He makes them meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light Col. 1. 12. What work doth God make preparing happiness for them by his goodness his grace and mercy and preparing them by sanctification of the spirit belief of the truth that they may pertake with those that are sanctified of the glory ordained and made ready for them Reas. 7. From their prayers they pray that they may be received up into glory And when they have finished their course here they have done the work appointed them to do how do they long to appear before God in glory There is no one who retains any thing of the nature of a man but he would when he dies enter into glory Numb 23. 10. Balaam saith let me die the death of the righteous and let my last end be like his The greatest despisers of godliness the persecutors of the servants of God that were thorns in the eyes of them by their holy Conversation and stinging convictions of their own wickedness would desire to be like these that they bitterly hated and injured What then may be expected from those that are of better principles and affections we may well account that as they pray that God would guide them by his Counsel here so receive them into glory How doth Moses desire to see Gods glory the back parts of which he was only capable of beholding flesh for he could not see his face and live Exod. 33. 18. I beseech thee saith he to God shew me thy glory By the goodness they partake of now they are inflamed with earnest desire to see the face of God in glory and how glorious will the mercy and grace of God appear in heaven Last Reas. He takes them up into glory that he may recompence them for the service they have done They have done him service though all according to strictness of demand renders them no more than unprofitable servants that have but done and not fully what they ought to have done Yet God is not unmindful of the good wills and the labours of his servants Heb. 6. 10. God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love which ye have shewed towards his name And he so remembers it as to requite it as in other ways so principally in receiving them up into glory Mat. 25. 34. Inherit the Kingdom prepared for you for I was an hungred and ye gave me meat I was a thirsty and ye gave me drink Hence it is called a reward Heb. 11. 26. He had respect to the recompence of reward Not that our service doth bear any proportion to it but that God hath promised glory thereunto Be thou faithful unto death and thou shalt have a Crown of life Use 1. of Information Of the wonderfull goodness of God What that he should be at the pains and care of guiding us here leading us by the hand teaching us to walk in his ways leading us in the ways of uprightness and after he hath done this take us up to glory oh what goodness is this Alas who or what are we that we should have to do with glory We have all sinned and come short of the glory of God Rom. 3. 23. That is of deserving it by any works or performances of our own We are not worthy of the least crumb of bread We have more reason to think of prisons gibbets flames and damnation than glory when we consider our deservings from God This is perfectly an act of grace and faithfulness grace in making the promise faithfulness in performing it 2. This informs us of the profitableness of Religion We may neglect blaspheme and persecute it but there is no way comparable to it Men may wonder and scorn at it and think strange that serious professors run not with them into the same excess bear patiently reproaches greatly esteem the reproach of Christ take joyfully the spoyling of their goods glory in tribulations not accept of deliverance but the servants of God see reason for it and great advantage in Religion though with persecution They have as much as heart can wish Whom have I in heaven but thee there is none on earth that I desire beside thee In the words immediately following 1 Tim. 4. 8. Godliness is profitable unto all things having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come Would you have honour pleasure length of days Prov. 3. 16 17. Length of daies is in her right hand and in her left hand are riches and honour Her ways are ways of pleasantness If these are not given in a carnal and sensual way they are in a nobler and better 3. This informs us of the happiness of the servants of God If we see a man that hath great things towards him we count him an happy man Mal. 3. 15. We count the proud blessed not because they are proud but because as it is said they have something to be proud of Happy then is the man that is in this case that hath God for his Lord that hath right to glory hath an expectancy of a Kingdom of glory which he shall not miss of or be in possibility to be dispossessed of A Kingdom that shall not be shaken There is abundance of difference betwixt the condition of worldly men and the servants of God As for the former their happiness is only for term of life but for the other their misery is only so Use 2. By way of exhortation 1. More generally To all you who would do well hereafter labour to be holy and the servants of God here Follow not your own understandings in
is glorious Isa. 60. 13. I will make the place of my feet glorious Here to say nothing of Crowns Thrones Mansions the very Street is pure Gold Revel 21. 21. The twelve gates were twelve pearls every several gate was of one pearl and the street of the City was pure gold as it were transparent glass All these illustrious resemblances are but a shadow of the brightness and glory of Heaven To add no more How high is the account of the Apostle 1 Cor. 2. 9. As it is written eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither have entred into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him What could the Apostle have said more The eye hath hath seen great glory and magnificence the ear hath heard exquisite musick The heart may imagine a great deal more Rocks of pure Diamonds mountains of Gold a thousand Suns more glorious then it is yet neither can the eye ear or heart reach those glories that are prepared for them that wait for God 6. This glory is eternal and perpetual As for the glory of the world it s of a transitory nature What is the most glorious Potentate but grass 1 Pet. 1. 24. All flesh is grass and all the glory of man as the flower of grass the grass withereth and the flower thereof falleth away Man like grass flourisheth in the morning and is cut down before night Who hath not learned to say Sic transit gloria Mundi Thus the glory of the World passeth away What 's become of all the Triumphs and Jubilees that have been in the World How short was their continuance How quickly were they over and how soon forgotten 1 Cor. 7. 31. For the fashion of this world passeth away The world puts it self into this and that fashion but whatever fashion it puts it self into it s still in a state of fluctuation But now this glory is unchangeable it s not only lasting but everlasting 2 Cor. 4. 17. Some refer the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to eternal and then it is as if he should say Oh this weight of glory is transcendently transcendently eternal that is so eternal as never to have an end 1 Pet. 5. 10 The God of all grace hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus 3. How will God receive his servants to his glory after he hath guided them with his Counsel Answ. The Scripture sometimes represents this as done immediately by God himself Gen. 5. 24. God took Enoch That being an extraordinary case and perhaps he might proceed in an extraordinary manner and take him up to glory by his own immediate hand But the Scripture doth most frequently represent it to be done by the Ministry of Angels They minister to the faithful whilst they are here Heb. 1. 14. and they minister to them in their passage to glory 1 Some of them like a Guard do conduct and lead them thither 2 Kings 2. 11. A Chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared Elijah went up by a whirlwind into Heaven By this Chariot we are to understand Angels which appeared in the form of a Chariot and horsemen So Luk. 16. 22. The beggar dyed and was carried by the Angels into Abrahams bosom Oh the difference there is betwixt the esteem the world hath of Gods poor servants and the esteem that God hath of them The world looks on them as deserving no better company than the very dogs But God looks on them as not only worthy of the company but ministry of Angels Whilst Jehojakim and such like have the burial of an Ass are thrown into the earth without lamentation or honour God appoints his Angels to convey a poor despised Lazarus into Heaven 2. Others as Porters do admit and take them in open the gate wide that the poor servants of God may have an abundant entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven Rev. 21. 12. Heavenly Jerusalem hath twelve gates and at the gates twelve Angels They stand not here like the Cherâ—bims of Paradise with a flaming sword to keep us out but with stretched out arms to take and welcome us in Oh the wonderful grace and love of God! For a King not only to suffer his poor subjects to come into his Palace but to imploy his Nobles both in leading them to it and letting them in Oh what Princely favour is it What condescention and favour is it in God to make his Angels their guard unto eternal life the place of happiness and ready at heaven gates to receive those great guests Gods little ones that are of small account in the world 4. When is it that God receives the faithful to glory Answ. He doth it partly at death then he takes their souls up to glory Herein the Papists Socinians and some Anabaptists do oppose us all useing the same Arguments and Answers but the Scripture is very clear Luke 23. 43. To day shalt thou be with me in Paradise The soul neither sleeps nor calls at Purgatory but strait to Heaven 2 Cor. 5. 1. We know if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God an house not made with hands eternal in the Heavens The Apostle groans to be cloathed with the heavenly house and to be uncloathed of the earthly so saith the spirit Revel 14. 13. Blessed are the dead that dye in the Lord from henceforth they rest from their labours But more compleatly and fully he do's it at the Resurrection when both soul and body being reunited he will take them both to glory Job 19. 25 26. I know that my redeemer liveth and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth And though after my skin worms destroy this body yet in my flesh shall I see God Here is a plain account of the Resurrection of the dead the coming of Christ and beatificial vision of God So Isa. 33. 17. Thine eyes shall see the King in his beauty they shall behold the Land that is very far off This may have relation to Believers being with Christ to behold his glory 1 Thes. 4. 14. If we believe that Jesus dyed and rose again even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him In the next place we shall give the reasons of the Doctrine Why will God take his people into his glory Reason 1. Is taken from his own good pleasure He may do what he will with his own Grace is his and Glory is his and he may dispose of it as he sees good He giveth his grace to whom and in what measure he pleaseth so may he dispose of glory Matt. 20. 15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own As to the persons he chooses calls and saves Who can say unto him what dost thou The Potter hath power over his clay to make one vessel to honour another to dishonor Now we are told what the pleasure of God is Luk. 12. 32. Fear not
all your ways acknowledge him by leaning upon him for direction and he shall direct your paths Follow not the perverse and licentious dictates of your corrupt wills but endeavour to know what the will of the Lord is that you may do it There is no man who hath the use of reason but he concerns himself in the young mans question Mat. 19. 16. Good Master what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life That you may have eternal life see 〈…〉 t you be the servants of God in all manner of con 〈…〉 sation let it be your care to study know love honour obey and serve him Though Carnal men throw dirt in your faces and disquiet you yet go on in the discharge of your duty and prefer your own safety before their good will Alass what is the affection what is the good will of men worth what can it do for us when we come to die if thereby we have procured Gods displeasure God and God only can bestead us then then we are left to approve our hearts unto God to God who will be our judge 2. More particularly let us be under what discouragement soever from the world may be this may lift up our hearts that our Redemption draws nigh we may rejoyce and be exceeding glad when our friends are weeping about us that great is our reward in heaven Rom. 5. 2. Having peace with God we rejoyce in hope of the glory of God 2. With cheerfulness perform those services God is pleased to call you to God sometimes calls his servants to undertake great and difficult services and if he deal so with us let us not think strange concerning the fiery tryal and be discouraged by temporary sufferings which are but for a moment to let down our hope expectation and prosecution of eternal glory which will abundantly recompense for all the sorrows of the servants of God Thus Moses was animated under banishment when he was in as fair a way to have had an abiding place and Country as any having respect to the recompence of reward Heb. 11. 24 25 26. And hereupon he refused to be called the Son of Pharaohs daughter whereby if he had been minded he might have entitled himself to advancement 3. With patience undergo the sufferings he may exercise you with Who would not with patience endure a bad day so that he might be a Prince at night Let us look unto Jesus and observe what bore him up under cruel mockings under bloody affronts and injuries Heb. 12. 2. For the joy that was set before him he endured the Cross despised the shame He was a famous instance of suffering What contradiction of sinners did he endure against him and glory set before him did keep his hand above discouragement Many a bitter cup did he drink many a stormy day did he endure before he came to his pleasant harbour He was exercised with tossings treasons torments he sets the joy before him And so should we though we meet with many a stormy day yet let us consider that a night of repose will come and the joy of glory will preserve us from being weary or fainting in our â—inds and as the woman that hath brought forth a manchild it will make us forget all our sorrows What is there glory ordained and prepared for the generation of the Just This may make them lift up their heads and hearts in trouble Use 3. Of Consolation to you who are the servants of God Behold I bring you glad tidings of great joy Here is that which may make the lame leap and go skipping and praising God What an affectionate passage was that Exod. 16. 17. In the morning ye shall see the glory of the Lord when they had deserved by their murmurings his terrible and avenging appearance But what was that to this glory more refulgent magnificent and ravishing You are exercised here with manifold evils temptations sins miseries but there is a day approaching that will abundantly recompense your labour of love Comfort one another with these words 1 Thes. 4. 16 18. That the Lord shall descend from heaven with a shout and with the voice of the Archangel Then we shall meet with the Lord in the air and so shall we be ever with the Lord. That is after he hath guided us by his Counsel we shall be received by his glory but at the grand Assize Christ his appearance shall be more solemn and the Saints shall receive the utmost perfection of their glory in soul and body with Christ for ever SERMON VI. Psalm 73. 25. Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none upon Earth that I desire besides thee IT is the proper work of all the Creatures to imploy themselves in celebrating the perfections of the great Creator That is the end both of their existence and preservation This good men know and therefore imploy themselves therein Hereof we have an instance in the Psalmist in this place who having in the precedeing Verses discoursed of Gods great goodness to him is so affected and moved therewith that he betakes himself to an holy glorying and boasting in him as if he should say Oh what a God have I Oh what love hath he expressed to my poor soul How many ways doth his favour break forth upon me As for time past he hath taken me into communion with him and holden me by the right hand and for the time to come he will guide me with his Counsel and afterward receive me up into glory Oh! What a God is this Who is there either in heaven or earth may be compared to him Amongst that glorious Constellation of Saints and Angels that are above there is none like him Oh how am I ravished while I behold him I cannot think of him I cannot speak of him without admiration and wonder Such raies and beams of divine glory proceed from his blessed face that make my poor heart even to dance and leap within me I did indeed in my distress entertain many peevish and hard thoughts of him but I was a beast for it I see there is that excellency in him that neither Heaven nor earth can equal The words are an assertion of the supream and transcendent excellency that is in God This the Psalmist expresses in two passages 1. Whom have I in Heaven but thee 2. And there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee In the Original 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with thee that is equal with thee as Gejerus notes There are things in Heaven that I value and things on earth that are excellent even the excellent of the earth but none either in Heaven or Earth that I make such reckoning of as I do of thee From these two parts of this Verse take this Doct. That there is none either in Heaven or Earth either amongst Angels or men like unto God or to be desired in equality with him Indeed the Angels are very goodly creatures and holy
nor Land the depth of the Sea the uttermost parts of the Earth neither light nor darkness can secure us from him or hide us from his presence Jer. 23. 24. Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him saith the Lord Do not I fill heaven and earth saith the Lord Oh great is the Earth and how spacious are the Heavens and yet he fills Heaven and Earth How wonderful is God herein To think he should fill up all places and distances Oh how amazing is it 5. There is none like God in his benignity and goodness There are some drops of it in men and Angels but in him there is an whole Ocean How Ioth is he to be angry how apt to forgive how ready to shew mercy and communicate of his goodness Psal. 33 5. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. He hath infinite goodness in him and he communicates thereof unto his creatures He deals it out to Angels and men The fowls of the air the beasts of the field the fish of the Sea they all live and feast upon his goodness There is not a fly or worm but it lives upon the goodness of God And then for the state of his people in the life to come his designs are wonderful Psal. 31. 19. Oh how great is thy goodness which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee His wine is all good but yet he hath some that is better than the rest which he keeps till the last 6. There is none like him in Majesty and Glory There are some creatures that be very glorious The Sun is a very glorious creature What eye can withstand the strength of its raies behold its glory without dazzling when it breaks forth the Stars disappear as ashamed of themselves but yet all the glory thereof is but dark and despicable in comparison of what is in God When he steps forth then the Sun it self disappears as ashamed of its self If he speak the word the Sun is turned into darkness and the moon into blood Joel 2. 31. When he afforded a little manifestation of himself upon Mount Sinai what a strange appearance was there Exod. 24. 17. The sight of the glory of the Lord was like consuming fire on the top of the mountain in the eyes of the children of Israel Oh then what will the sight of him be when he appears in all his Glory 2. As there is none like him in his nature so neither is any one like him in his Laws which do exceed all Laws whatsoever Many Princes in the world have had good and wholsom Laws but none had ever any comparable to the Laws of God Deut. 4. 8. And what Nation is there so great who hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this Law which I sâ—t before you this day As if he had said bring me a Nation of the world that hath such Laws as you have That these Laws are none such Laws I shall shew in five particularss 1. In their extraction there are no Laws like the Laws of God They come from heaven If any ask concerning them as our Saviour did the chief Priests and Elders concerning Johns Baptism whether they are from heaven or from men we may safely answer from heaven All other Laws come from the earth but his come from heaven There his tribunal is and from thence he dates those Laws whereby he rules the world It is a commendation to any thing that it comes from heaven Psal. 78. 24. Manna was more rare because it came from heaven it is called heavenly food the corn of heaven So this Law as the pure river of the water of life clear as Christal Rev. 22. 1. proceeds from the Throne of God and of the Lamb. And there needs little proof of it for it breaths forth heaven in every part of it 2. In their supreme authority they are such as are above all Laws whatsoever and to be observed before them There are not any Laws of any Prince or state in the world but the Laws of God are above them Other Laws may and ought to be respected but yet this will ever be the standing prerogative of the Laws of God to take place before them Nay so far are other Laws from an equality with his that they are no further to be obeyed than they comply with them And the Ministers of God are as to be faithful in declaring the whole counsel of God that they may be clear from the blood of all men so they are to take heed that they add not to this Law And what Balaam under the constraint of the spirit of God and restraint too said that should the embassadour of Christ out of good will and obedience Numb 24. 13. If Balack would give me his house full of silver and gold I cannot go beyond the commandment of the Lord to do either good or bad of mine own mind but what the Lord saith that will I speak Nay though there be the wages of righteousness profered and the word of a King for the performance as Balaam had yet should we not step aside from the word of God 3. In their spirirituality no laws are like the laws of God They are such as reach the inner man our thoughts most reserved our reasonings most suitable and private our designs most deep and latent As for the Laws of men they reach only the outward man and no more falls under their authority or cognizance but the word of God is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart Heb. 4. 12. So that there is no man that makes conscience of it but if he have so much as an evil thought in his heart he is concerned about it Now this is a commendation of Laws that they are such as help to secure the inner man for as long as there are evil workings there the life cannot be good The Law of God who is the Lord of the Conscience and to whom it only is subject doth bid the inner man keep all right there and so preserves the ministerial acts of the outward regular and in order 4. In their Justice and righteousnesness there are no Laws comparable to them being such as that may they be observed there will be no such thing as injury or wrong in the world This was the matter of Moses his challenge to the Israelites Deut. 4. 8. To shew whether any Nation under the Sun had such Statutes and Ordinances as they There were at that time much people in the world and many Laws but there were none that were attended with such Justice as the Laws of Israel So far are the Laws of God from allowing evil that they allow not any motions that way Mat. 5. 4 22 27 28. An angry word is forbidden as well as Murder and Adultery in the heart nor do they allow any appearance 1 Thes. 5. 22. Abstain
giving froth for meat When they flock'd to the windows to be fed They were not serv'd with air instead of bread But faithfully dispensed with good skill The judgment to inform incline the will Denying commonly his learned parts The better to convince and win mens hearts Which did succeed the word that caus'd a flame In his own soul in others rais'd the same His studies prayers and sweat wherewith he taught Did clearly shew at how great rate he sought The welfare of his people being bent As those he valu'd for them to be spent For persecuting sickness made him pay A round fine for the labors of each day This grew by gains at length that did amount To its own ruine and his great accompt That cruel rigour made him not to cease Till its injustice bound him to the peace Whom close imprisonment nor Panick dread Of mens severity had silenced Without thy hand Lord what could sickness do It was thy Sergeant I am silenc'd too Thy Providence yet how shall we expound Thy choicest goods when thou hid'st under ground Is not some evil drawing on when one Into thy work scarce enters but is gone Another not till middle of the day Is suffer'd there but must be had away The third be gone about his ages noon Of whom a late departure were too soon When Labourers are few the harvest great This star of the first magnitude must set This holy Prophet fall Why do I call A soaring flight from Earth to Heaven a fall Where whilst in this vain world and vale of tears Our faith hope love are weaken'd by our fears Our sweets imbitter'd and the pleasant things This world affords are not without their stings Our bodies sickly subject unto pain Our souls polluted with sins loathsome stain He is secure from sin above the treats Of worldly blandishments and cruel threats Of violence is licenced to preach The glories of the King and fears no breach Of Law There he is benefic'd It 's cross That his great benefit should be our loss J. G. The present State of Man a State of extream vanity SERMON I. Psal. 39. 5. Verily every man at his best State is altogether vanity Selah MY design at this time is to speak of the present state of man and to give you what account Scripture Reason and Experience affords us thereof and withal to shew you what considerations we are to take up from thence and what use we are to make of it There is a twofold State of man the one is present and the other future The former is a State of exercise and service the last of retribution and reward It is the former of these I intend at present to discourse of in order whereunto I have chosen these words wherein David who as appears by the title was the author of this Psalm gives us a peremptory and full account thereof From the contemplation and view of his own misery he takes occasion to consider what was the condition of others whether hiscase were altogether singular or whether it were not with others as it was with him and after much serious musing and diligent inquiry he breaks forth into this positive and general conclusion Verily every man at his best state c. In such sort do's God oft times dispose of men as to their abilities opportunities observances experiences that some are more capable of giving us an account of one thing some of another For instance David being one that was exercised with various conditions one while lifted up to the clouds by prosperity another while thrown down into the bottom of the Sea by adversity we must needs look upon him as highly capable of giving us a true and certain account of the nature of mans present state In like manner Solomon his Son being one that gave up himself so much to the study of earthly things such as Riches Honours and Pleasures and being attended with such advantagious circumstances tending to help and further him in his Inquiry we must needs look upon him as far more fit to give us an account thereof than one whose studies and conditions carry his thoughts another way Now by how much Providence do's the more dispose and qualifie any persons for giving us an account of the nature of things by so much we should be the forwarder in advising with them and look upon the account which they give of them as more considerable and valuable If then a man would have an account of mans present state he should go to David If of the nature of earthly things he should go to Solomon Now the account which David gives of mans present state we have in the recited words Verily every man at his best state c. which passage is so full and emphatical that more could not have been said in so few words 1. He tells us man is vanity not only vain in the concrete but vanity in the abstract thereby signifying how far vanity hath invaded him and prevailed upon him which it hath done in such a degree that he is become even vanity it self Were it only some little tincture of vanity that he laboured under his case were less miserable but alas it is much otherwise vanity hath got such head that it rules and bears sway in him insomuch that it hath power to denominate him and give him his name There is a great deal of difference betwixt those terms which pass in the concretive form and those which pass in the abstractive Those which pass in the concretive import there is some degree of that which is spoken of in the subject referred to but those which pass in the abstractive import there is that which is spoken of and little or nothing else To say man is vain imports there is some degree of vanity in him but to say he is vanity imports a great deal more But on this I need less to inlarge because of what follows 2. As if thâ—â— were not sufficient to acquaint us with the nature of his condition he saith he is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 altogether vanity thereby importing as much as if he had said he is meer vanity or he is nothing but vanity Hence that of Muis Homo in se uno omne genus vanitatis complectitur Man in himself alone contains all kind of vanity And hence likewise that of Genebrard Homo non est particula vanitatis sed tota integra solida vanitas Man is not a particle of vanity But the whole intire and full business of vanity insomuch that as he do's partake with all other creatures in the nature of his existence so the vanitie which is dispers'd amongst all the creatures seems to be aggregated and united in him with Inanimates he is obnoxious to chance with Plants to decay with Brutes to sufferings Nay the vanity which is in him alone exceeds all the vanity of all the creatures joyned together Oh it 's sad it should be thus with us It s
ones but if neglecting him we give up our selves to the pursuit of the World and the sinful practices thereof instead of being delivered from the present vanity under which we labour we must make account to enter into a state a thousand times more sad and grievous Instead of passing from a state of vanity to a state of happiness we must look to pass into a state of superlative and extream misery And how sad is the condition of that man whose portion here is vanity and whose portion hereafter must be superlative and endless misery 3. If you would attain to a state of happiness then go to God in prayer and beg earnestly of him that he would not put you off with this present state but advance you to a better wherein you may be liker to him and hold sweet communion with him To live all our lives long in a state of vanity and after pass into a state of endless torment oh what heart which is not become a stone would not dissolve into sighs and tears to think of it What after all our temptations sins pains sicknesses weaknesses crosses troubles to enter into a state which is infinitely more vexatious and insupportable Oh what soul that is not become mad and desperate would not be affected with it As ever then you would let the World see that you are in any compleat measure solicitous about your own good seriously consider what a vain state your present state is and how much worse the state is which after this you must enter into if divine grace do not prevent and endeavour to get your hearts and souls truly affected therewith and beg of God that he will have mercy on you and afford you relief as to this particular And whereas he hath been pleased to provide a better state than either of those mentioned before intreat him with all the importunity you can possibly raise your Souls to that he will be pleased at the present to interest you in it and in his own due time take you into it Though it be no small matter to deliver you from the vanity of your present State and the danger of a worse and to take you into a state of happiness yet such is the respect he bears to the ordinance of Prayer that to those who in a due manner exercise themselves therein he hath promised to do it for them How often hath he declared in the Word That whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved Joel 2. 32. Acts 2 21. Rom. 10. 13. This frequent asserting of the thing is partly to shew us the certainty of it and partly to work us to a firm belief of it and stir us up to the duty of Prayer which through the grace of God is of such efficacy that it is able to raise the soul from earth to Heaven Notwithstanding the vast distance there is betwixt Heaven and earth yet if you will in a believing serious affectionate manner call upon God own him in his several perfections and intreat him to take you up thither he will do it Thus he dealt with the good Patriarchs they desired a better Countrey and he prepared for them a City Heb. 11. 16. Though Canaan was a good Land a Land that God had blessed a Land that he had his eyes on from one end of the year to the other a Land that ever flowed with milk and honey that is abounded with what ever was necessary for humane sustenance and refreshment yet they found such inconveniences in it that being unsatisfied with it and all other Lands places and injoyments in the world they intreated God to furnish them with some other place which might better agree with those holy principles and affections he had planted in them which he in compliance with their desires was graciously pleased to do And if we take the same course that they did we may make account he will deal with us after the same manner he dealt with them The way to go to Heaven in our persons is first to go thither in our hearts and prayers Send up therefore your prayers first to Heaven and they as it were with Golden cords will draw you up after them And thus I have given you an account of some of those means which God hath prescribed towards the helping of us to a State of happiness And oh how much are we indebted to him that he is pleased to deal with us upon such easie terms What will such easie matters as Faith Holiness and Prayer help us to happiness who then would not betake himself to the pursuit of it How worthy is he to remain in a state of vanity and from thence to pass into a State of extream misery that will not use such means to be delivered therefrom When we had sunk our selves down into a State of vanity and rendred our selves lyable to everlasting misery God might justly have let us alone and left us to spend both time and eternity in fruitless sighs and groans but out of his transcendent grace he hath dealt better with us he hath provided a remedy for us not only against our present vanity but likewise against our future misery Now if we should not make use thereof especially it being so easie how worthy will all the world judge us to perish All I shall further add is this you have yet Sirs your understandings and are capable of distinguishing betwixt good and evil and though you are at the present in a State of vanity and are lyable to such a State as is far worse yet through the grace of the Gospel you may be freed from the one and escape the other and what you are to do in order thereunto I have in a few words shewed If you prefer happiness before misery you may do well to close with the Counsel given if otherwise you may contemn and reject it and go on in your secure and extravagant courses but if ere you allow your selves such liberty you may do well to consider whether you may not have cause to repent when it is too late The Lord of Heaven who is the Authour and disposer of true happiness Bless what hath been said and make it effectual SERMON II. Psalm 73. 23 24 25 26. Nevertheless I am continually with thee Thou hast holden me by my right hand IT is a Controversie amongst Expositors who was the Penman of this Psalm whether Asaph or David for without question it was composed by one of them Indeed the Title as it stands in our Bibles gives it clearly to Asaph but we are to know that in the Original 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which may be rendred either of or to Asaph However it is generally believed to have been penned by Asaph and the reasons that have induced the generality of Expositors to believe it are such as these 1 It appears that Asaph did compose some Psalms 2 Chron. 39. 30. Hezekiah commanded the Levites to sing praise
him Jam. 4. 8. Draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you If he command then that we should draw nigh unto him maintain communion with him it is the duty of every man so to do God hath made man and set him in a Sphere higher than that of beasts given him a reasonable soul and faculties that are rational for this end that he might dwell with him 2. He is the best company that men can possibly be with Man is animale sociale a creature addicted to society and of all company Gods is the best There is no company either in heaven or in earth comparable to his Psal. 73. 25. Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee Look upon the earth how many godly and choice men are in it How many excellent persons for converse and holy entertainment were in the Land of Judah But if these men of parts heavenly qualifications would not satisfie him might he not have mended himself in Heaven No whom have I in heaven but thee Not the blessed triumphant Saints are company good enough without God Not the glorious Angels that never had speck of pollution upon them will suffice without God Thus the Psalmist still fixes upon God Hosea 2. 7. I will return to my first husband for then was it better with me than now Israel had wandred from God and betaken her self to Idols at last comparing things with things she resolves to return and go to her first Husband Like the Prodigal if we go and ramble up and down the world in the end we shall have cause to say we will return to God having bought our experience of the insufficiency of all other comforts and company at a dear rate the loss of Gods presence or the withholding of his comforts Joh. 6. 86. To whom should we go saith Peter in the name of all the Disciples thou hast the words of eternal life To leave Christ for other company were a great madness to forsake the fountain in the time of great drought and take to the broken cistern Do we desire safety he is the best company Where can we possibly be safe if not with God Psal. 37. 39. The salvation of the righteous is of the Lord he will help and deliver them because they trust in him So Isay 43. 11. I even I am the Lord and besides me there is no Saviour If a man therefore would study his own safety he could find no society but in God Do we desire honour This must be had with God If you be in company with a great man walk and talk familiarly with him you account it a great honour What then is it to talk with God to walk with him to be called and admitted to freedom as the friend of God This honour have the Saints 1 Sam. 2. 30. Them that honour me I will honour and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed Would we have comfort The society of God yields sweet contentment and satisfaction Thus saith God to Moses Exod. 33. 14. My presence shall go with thee and I will give thee rest Oh the ravishing quietness that is to be had in God! They saith David shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures In Gods house there is very good entertainment there is the fat and sweet to eat and rivers of pleasure whereof to drink Revel 7. 17. The Lamb which is in the midst of the Throne shall feed them and shall lead them into living fountains of water See the abundance of comfort and refreshment there is water fountains of water living fountains of water and these attended with satisfaction and delight they shall eat and drink with merry hearts hearts all tears shall be wiped away from their eyes It was the saying of Galeatius a Marquess when he was solicited to renounce Christ and closewith Antichrist let them and their money perish that do look upon or esteem all the gold in the world more than one daies company with God A King seeing Plato and some other Philosophers together oh saith he yonder is life and happiness making account that they in their society and discourse were more happy than he in all his princely enjoyments Well then upon our seeing men conversing with God we may cry out happy are the people that are in such a case thrice happy are they whose God is the Lord. 3. There are many special advantages they reap and therefore holy men have and hold communion with God Of these I shall give you an account in divers particulars which will evince that it is a point of great prudence to be with God 1. They hereby come to be better acquainted with God his nature properties counsels secrets Those that are much together know much of one anothers minds and good men being much with God they come to know more of God than others Gen. 18. 17. And the Lord said shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do Is there that thing which I to intend do wherein Abraham is concerned and that may be for the instruction of his family and shall I hide it from him from Abraham that hath lived with me From Abraham my Friend No I have confidence in him that he will command his children and houshold after him that they shall keep the way of the Lord to do justice and judgment Psal. 25. 14. The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him To those that live and more intimately converse with him he tells his secrets These know strange things before they come to pass by beholding and viewing the face of God by holding communion with him they have these things imparted andr evealed to them which others are strangers to They are not only his servants but his friends a servant knoweth not what his Lord doth but it is made known to these holy ones that God hath loved them with an everlasting love what his will is that they should do and what unspeakable things are laid up for them 2. They hereby come to have holy boldness in them While a man is a stranger to a great person he is afraid but when acquainted with him he becomes more emboldned so when the pious soul is inâ—red to the presence of God makes frequent visits and hath reception the dreadfulness of the divine Majesty is taken away and it made confident Eph. 3. 12. In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him Through the satisfaction of Jesus Christ and through his intercession we come with boldness and confidence to the throne of Grace 3. It actuates and excites their graces Good men being together do heat and inflame one another how was Dr. Taylor ravished with the company of that excellent man Mr. Bradford And if poor sinful men have such power to stir up our graces what then may be expected from
that God seeth us and takes notice of us how would it influence upon us to be more serious reverent and holy The wicked and hypocrites have no fear of God before their eyes God is not in their thoughts They say in effect he seeth not he knoweth not or doth not consider but this holy man sees God observing him and therefore he is the same in private that he is in publick The same in his own house that he is abroad Psal. 101. 2. I will walk within my house with a perfect heart Many when they are abroad carry themselves plausibly and fairly but follow them into their own houses what frothy talk what cursing and swearing what passion and bitterness How disorderly are they there How little of God in their mouths and less in their lives As when they go abroad they put on commonly other cloaths so they do other deportment But when returned to their own families they fall into the same unhappy disorder and confusion as if they had forgotten what manner of persons they were 3. He that is ever with God affects solitude and retirement He would not be alwaies in company though never so good and proper He would sometimes be alone that he might more closely converse with God Thus Isaac go's into the fields to meditate and pray Gen. 24. 63. The word in the original may be understood of both and no doubt this good man had supplication and prayer joyned with meditation How oft do we read of our blessed Saviour that went apart to pray Mat. 14. 23. He went up into a Mountain apart to pray so Mat. 26. 36. He leaves his disciples with this command Sit ye here while I go and pray yonder To the same purpose Luke 9. 28. He took Peter and John and James and went up into a Mountain to pray The more pious any man is the more he desires at least some times to be alone Those that cannot endure to be alone loose much of the sweetness and ravishment of communion with God 4. He hastens through the creature to God When he is engaged in his calling he hastens through the concernments of the world that he may enjoy himself with God Though what appertains to his place he doth with diligence yet this is not the principal object of his care nor the end of his thoughts When he hath gotten this dispatched how glad is he that he may entertain himself with meditation and other holy exercises which are a most pleasant refection to him This is the difference betwixt carnal and good men they both hasten but the sensual makes all possible hast and hurry through his duty he thinks of and longs for the end before he begin the good man is of another spirit he hastens through all business that he may have time and leisure to converse with God In relations and friends he finds comfort but abundantly more with God Psal. 63. My soul followeth hard after thee As a man in a croud presses hard to get to his friend So the Psalmist though he was in a croud and multitude of business and obstructions yet he presses hard to get to God 5. He is glad of an opportunity of being with God whether it be to be with him publickly or privately A carnal heart shrinks from duty looks on it as a burden when will this Sabbath be over O that I might fall upon my worldly business David was glad when there was an opportunity of drawing nigh to God Psal. 112. 1. I was glad when they said unto me let us go into the house of the Lord. 6. He that is ever with God takes care to state things aright between God and him to set all streight and keep all well In the evening he enquires how go things betwixt God and and me what good have I done this day wherein have I been useful what evil have I done and wherein have I offended How go's the case between God and me Soul I must not lay mine eyes to sleep till I have cleared all between God and thee After he lays himself down and sleeps and dwells in safety Psal. 4. 4. Let me ask you one question Christians do not trifle but give Connscience leave to make the answer what prayers and diligence have you used to interrogate and examine your state and settle your spiritual concerns Have you used your utmost care and the best advice as you would do in a worldly concernment for fear of fraud or crime to direct you and keep you from mistakes Have you not contented your selves with easie work and slight evidences I doubt upon a faithful tryal and a true account you 'l find much amiss 7 The more any duty or ordinance hath of God in it the more he is pleased with it Sometimes God affords more of himself in an ordinance sometimes less He is at his own liberty and so will be let himself be enjoyed as he sees good But according as God doth let out himself he is more or less affected with them It is God that he desires and therefore his respect to ordinances is such as carries a proportion in it to what they have of God 8 He that is ever with God despiseth all in comparison of God Heaven Earth and all are but baubles trifles and nothing in comparison of God as in the 25th verse of this Psalm the language of an holy man is whom have I in Heaven but thee 9 When he hath been with God he keeps in mind how God carried it toward him what communion he had with God and how things passed betwixt God and him Did God awaken me by such a sermon Did he enliven and quicken me in such a prayer David remembred how God had appeared in the Sanctuary Psal. 63. 3 He longed to see Gods power and glory as he had seen it in the Sanctuary Those revivings and out-goings of â—od were written and imprinted in his heart Psal. 77. 3. I remembred God and was troubled To think how God had carryed to him at other times 10 One that is continually with God counts the intervals of his being with God long and tedious A pious man saith when will the Sabbath or Lords day come that I may sing forth the praises of God When shall I be with God to hear from him and pray to him as David Psal. 42. 2. When shall I come and appear before God Now revise these particulars and see how they suit with your temper and frame and if upon a serious scrutiny you find these not agree to your case bless God that he hath wrought these in you but if otherwise humble your selves and mourn and never cease till you can bring the matter to this that you may say with the Psalmist Nevertheless I am continually with thee SERMON IV. Psalm 73. 23. Thou hast holden me by my right hand HAving dispatched the former part of the verse and from thence given you an account of the Psalmists communion with
men have much worth in them but God is far above them both There are glorious things in Heaven and curious things on earth but none comparable unto God When all is done he is the glory as well as the Author of the whole Creation As for the proof of the point he himself affirms it Isa. 46. 9. I am God and there is none else I am God and there is none like me So Jer. 49. 19. Who is like me not only as to my glorious perfections in my nature But as to the manifestation of my power wisdom goodness Whom can the Creature propound to it self as an object equal in goodness might and knowledge with my self And the servants of God teach this that there is none like God They have found by experience that there is none to be compared to him Deut. 33. 26. There is none like unto the God of Jesurun who rideth upon the heaven in thy help and in his excellency on the skye Psal. 89. 6. Who in the Heavens can be compared unto the Lord Who amongst the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the Lord. 1 King 8. 23. There is no God like thee in heaven above or on earth beneath This is the constant language of the Scripture None like God none to be compared with God none equal to him which saying I could wish were ever sounding in our ears that so we might yeild him that respect which the incomparable perfection of his nature and unspeakable communication of his goodness calls for 1. Then we are to consider in what respect there is none like to or to be compared with God 1. There is none like him in his Nature or Attributes which are such as none else are endued with 1. In his knowledge and wisdom none like him Some men know very much and Angels know incomparably more but God knows infinitely more than either He knows whatever is to be known what is possible to be comprehended by knowledge There is not any thing in Heaven or Earth Sea or Land but he is acquainted with it He knows all persons and all their concernments He knows all things past present and to come and that distinctly and infallibly Jer. 32. 19. Thine eyes are upon all the wayes of the sons of men to give every one according to his ways And that which adds much to the perfection of his knowledge is this that those things which lye in the deepest obscurity and are most remote from humane observation are as obvious to him as any other things whatsoever Jer. 23. 23 24. I am a God at hand and not afar off Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him saith the Lord And that which doth yet further commend his knowledge to us is this that he knows how to improve it and make it serve his own interest Some men have a great deal of knowledge but know not how to use it but God by his infinite wisdom orders things so that whatever falls out in the world let the Providence seem dark and harsh yet he makes it serviceable to his glory and he governs the actions of his enemies which they mean for their particular malitious ends unto his own service and praise 2. There is none like God in his might and power Some men have much power but the Angels excel in strength they are able to do mighty things but God doth quite transcend them Who is like unto thee O Lord amongst the gods who is like thee Amongst the gods is in the Original 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which Tremelius and Junius render inter fortissimos amongst the most mighty ones So Psal. 89. 8. O Lord God of Hosts who is a strong Lord like unto thee Who is able to stand before him What are Armies Kingdoms Empires when he engages against them What creature in all the world is there so great and potent which he is not able to frown into fear and trembling anguish and horror What difficultie is there which he is not able to break through and conquer Is there any thing too hard for the Lord Gen. 18. 14. I am the Lord the God of all flesh is there any thing too hard for me Nothing can be too hard for him for nothing is hard to him There are only two sorts of things which cannot be done by God the first those which imply a contradiction and those cannot be done as a thing cannot be and not be at the same time c. The second are those which imply impotency As we say God cannot sin so Tit. 1. 2. In hope of eternal life which God that cannot lye promised Now that he cannot do the first ariseth from the impossibility of the thing in it self And that he cannot do the second arises from the perfection of his nature that is such that it can do nothing but what is holy and good But then for whatsoever things are possible to be done and fit to be done he can do them 3. There is none like God in his Soveraignty and Dominion There are some Princes have great Soveraignty as Ahasuerus who is supposed to be that Xerxes whereof we have mention in profane History Esth. 1. 1. But what 's this in comparison of the Soveraignty which God hath The mountains fly before him the Heavens melt the Seas and Rivers are made a Chrystal wall for the ransomed to pass over the Sun stands still the Stars fight the winds are still when he gives command and inflated Monarchs commanding the creatures from their natural course have discovered more their prodigious folly than power In all this great earth there is not a spot of ground but it is his Though he lets it out to the sons of men yet he still remains the chief Proprietary and Lord he is the chief Lord and so will be to the worlds end He is the King of all the earth Psal. 47. 27. He is a great King over all the earth Men count it a great mattâ—r if they can but once possess themselves of a lâ—ttle part of the earth But he is Lord of all The earth is the Lords and the fulness thereof If I 〈◊〉 hungry I would not tell thee for the world is mine Psal. 50. 12. What is a small Center to the wide circumference of the Heavens And what are the visible Heavens to the Heaven of Heavens that cannot contain him 4. There is none like him in his Ubiquity or Omnipresence He is every where neither man nor Angel can be in several places at the same time Their alicubi being in some place or ubi excludes alibi elsewhere being in another place or space But God is every where at one and the same instant included by excluded out of no place Psal. 139. 7 12. Whither shall I go from thy spirit or whither shall I flee from thy presence Here David discourses of Gods Omnipresence and shews it is such that neither Heaven nor Earth neither Sea
from all appearance of evil 5. There are no Laws comparable to the Laws of God in respect of comfort and sweetness If a man be distressed or exercised with trouble of mind with inward horrors what is there in all this world that can give him comfort that can afford relief but the word of God Psal. 119. 50. This is my comfort in my affliction for thy word hath quickned me Nothing but this word can afford relief vers 92. Unless thy Law had been my delight I should then have perished in mine affliction As the word contains precepts of Piety and virtue so it affords notable consolations to encourage us thereâ—nto What condition can a man be in but he may receive comfort therefrom If I lyÌ„e on my sick bed and can lay hold on a promise how reviving must it be what a cordial to raise me up This word is a rich Mine of comforts for all times and conditions 6. There are no Laws like Gods in duration They are eternal and are not to give place to any succeeding Laws As for humane Laws they expire and are disanulled every day but the Laws of God endure for ever 1 Pet. 1. 24 25. The grass withereth the flower thereof falleth away but the word of the Lord endureth for ever 3. There is none like God in his works which are such as none ever did or could perform Psal. 86. 8. Among the Gods there is none like unto thee O Lord neither are there any works like unto thy works And it was requisite that God who is above others should perform such works as none else can do His works are like himself of a transcendent nature exceeding the works of all creatures whatsoever Now his works are 1. That of Creation which was so great and stupendious that the very Angels gave forth a shout upon the view of it Job 38. 7. When the morning Stars sang together and all the Sons of God shouted for joy As upon the building of the Temple the people shouted Ezra 3. 11. When they praised the Lord because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid Zech. 4. 7. He shall bring forth the head stone thereof with shouting crying Grace Grace unto it No marvel that the Angels wonder at Gods work For with what strange and wonderful art hath he formed every thing As for the heavens what vast bodies are they How rapid and orderly are they in their motions And with what variety of curious lights are they decked and adorned And for the Earth likewise what a vast body is it How strangely doth it hang in the midst of Heaven To build Castles in the Air for men to attempt is a proverbial vanity God hath built this vast body of the Earth with all the burden upon it in the Air hanging on nothing but his word With what variety of creatures doth the Earth abound And for the Sea what a vast body likewise is it How doth it rowl and tumble it self in its pride and greatness And what rarities and wonders doth it afford But alass I need not to speak of these for what Creature is there which do's not express so much of the Creators widom and skill as is enough to fill us with admiration 2. There 's his work of Redemption or the reconciling of the world to himself by the death of his Son which doubtless is the noblest act that ever the world was witness of and such as will be admired as long as eternity it self shall endure Upon the Creation the Angels shout but when they come to this they find it so full of mysteries that they are astonished 1 Pet. 1. 12. Which things the Angels desire to look into Oh Sirs that the Word should be made flesh and dwell amongst us and perform what he did was a work so sublime and high that it was not for any but God so much as to think of it 3. There is his work of Providence He hath his eye upon all his Creatures takes care of them and provides for them so that they all have convenient and seasonable sustenance Psal. 145. 15. The eyes of all things wait on thee and thou givest them their meat in due season He feedeth the young Lions he hath taught all creatures whither to look to cry to him when they lack he gives places of shelter to them he gives conveniency for rest and as he provides for them so he rules them and maintaines them in that order wherein they are keeping one from devouring another He keeps Devils from devouring men and men from destroying each other He likewise keeps the beasts of the field from offering violence to us which otherwise would make a prey of us He likewise restrains the Elements and keeps them in order which otherwise would turn the world into a Tophet of horror and confusion If he let loose the fire and water a little upon each other with what terrible thundrings and lightnings do they fill the world enough to make the inhabitants thereof creep under the mountains for protection and defence If he let the Air a little into the bowels of the earth what dismal convulsions and tremblings do's it occasion It makes it stagger and reel like a drunken man For him to keep as he do's the several Elements in such harmony and order is a great work And he likewise restrains the sea from overflowing the earth This he insists on to Job as an argument of his transcendent power and greatness Job 38. 11. Hitherto shalt thou come but no farther and here shall thy proud waves be staied God sets doors and bars to the waters Hereunto I might add his notable delivering his people and destroying their enemies whereby God hath made his name great and terrible in the world and hath shewed a tender regard of his servants not sparing Kingdoms for their sakes bringing down the mighty making the worm Jacob to thresh the Mountains But 2. For what uses or purposes there is none like him 2. None like God to be advised with in straits and troubles We cannot be in such straits but he can put us into a way whereby we may escape 1 Cor. 10. 13. He will with the temptation also make a way to escape that they may be able to bear it What a strait was Asaph in about the prosperity of the wicked and the adversity of the Godly but he adviseth with God in this matter who was faithful and resolved him and quieted him He could get no satisfaction till he went to him and when he came to him he was satisfied And all that I shall add is that he is hard to be satisfied whom God cannot satisfie 2. None like to God to be invocated or called upon For as he is able to help so he is willing to do it Such is his addictedness to hear prayer that it is become one of his standing titles Psal. 65. 2. O thou that hearest Prayer unto thee shall all flesh come No
him Oh how ambitious and impatiently desirous should we be to get acquaintance with and interest in God that fills heaven and earth that is worthy of all glory honour and praise Rest not you that are at a distance till you can say this God is my God This is the very end for which you were made that you should seek after him know him and yield him the respect belonging to him Acts 17. 26 27. He hath made all Nations of men That they should seek the Lord if haply they might feel after him and find him God do's so exhibit himself in his creatures that he is therein even palpable and sensible 2. The Exhortation is to you who are come near to God are acquainted with and have interest in him perform the duties you owe him upon the account of his supreme excellency 2. Let 's value and love him above all The more we enquire into his nature and concernments the more cause we shall see we have to value and love him There is this difference betwixt him and his creatures that as for his creatures the more we know them the less commonly we esteem of them and respect them But for God the more we know him the more cause we shall still find that we have to value and love him Here looking increases loving as it causeth likeing 2. Let 's rejoyce in him If we have a Relation or Friend that is indued with high virtues we count it matter of great joy What matter of joy then should we count it that he whom we have chosen for our God and whom we make account for ever to dwell with is induced with such transcendent perfections All those excellencies which are spread throughout the whole volume of the Creation are not only contained in him but infinitely exceeded by him And Oh what matter of joy is this such a well-spring is he of joy and gladness that when we can rejoyce in nothing else we may rejoyce in him Habb 3. 17 18. Let what will come of loss and though I be cut off from worldly comsorts yet will I rejoyce in the Lord I will joy in the God of my salvation Oh there is in him matter of fresh and everlasting joy Phil. 4. 4. Rejoyce in the Lord alwaies and again I say rejoyce 3. Is there none like God then let us glory in him and boast of him Though there is nothing in the world we may glory in yet in the Lord may we glory Jer. 9. 23 24. Wisdom strength or riches are not to be boasted of But let him that glorieth glory in this that he understandeth and knoweth me that I am the Lord. He is the excellency of Jacob Amos 8. 7. He is our glory Jer. 2. 11. My people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit He is our praise Deut. 10 21. He is thy praise and he is thy God And therefore let us extoll him and lift him up whilst the poor blind Heathens are praising their Gods of Gold Silver Brass Iron Wood Stone Dan. 5. 4. Shall we fit still and hold our peace Oh no let our tongues rather be as the pen of a ready writer As long as we have tongues to speak with let us imploy them in praising him Psal. 104. 33. I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live I will sing praise to my God while I have my being Such are his perfections that we can never praise him sufficiently Stand up say the Levites Nehem. 9. 5. and bless the Lord your God for ever and ever And blessed be thy glorious name which is exalted above all blessings and praise Psalm 106. 2. Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord Who can shew forth all his praise 4. Let 's be willing to be taught and ruled by him Who so fit to rule and teach us as the supream being How do we find good men very ready to comply with the instructions of God Heb. 11. 8 17. Abraham obeyed the command to leave his own Country went out not knowing whither he went He doth Caecam obedientiam praestare which to do to men is folly but to do to God is greatest wisdom Abraham disputes not the case but goes and offers up Isaac How so That is he was willing and the will is accepted for the deed 5. Let us adhere and keep close to him whatever difficulties trials discouragements lye in the way We see we cannot possibly chose one like to him nor can we follow one whose good guidance we may be more sure of As Abraham when he was so hard tasked yet readily obeys so must we and not only be directed by him but yeild ready obedience without disputing quarrelling scrupling so are we in every respect to own God as our God Gen. 28 21. 22. Jacob vowed If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go and will give me bread to eat and rayment to put on so that I come again to my fathers house in peace then shall the Lord be my God Here Jacob doth not capitulate with God upon any high terms What if God will not perform these conditions shall he not be Jacobs God Yes But if he give me meat and rayment and return me to my Fathers house he shall be much more my God This shall be an additional obligation upon him All people will walk every one in the name of his God and we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever When men are blindly busie groping for God though he be not far from them and adoring the creature instead of the Creator who is blessed for ever let us be better and more wisely imployed in seeking finding and serving the Lord our God in whom we live move and have our being We may make tryal of as many as we please but when we have done we shall have cause to say with revolting Israel Hos. 2. 7. I will go and return to my first Husband for then was it better with me than now Neither Heaven nor earth can afford us a God like him 4. Use of Comfort to you who have made choice of God for your God What a comfort must it needs be to a man that he hath a God to whom none is like in Heaven or Earth Why this is your case and this is that which may swallow up all your sorrows and wipe away all your tears Oh what comfort have good men taken herein They havefeasted themselves in the thoughts of his mercy that God was their God 1 Sam. 30. 6. David encouraged himself in the Lord his God Psal. 48. 14. This God is our God for ever and ever he will be our guide even unto death He is no worse no less good now than he was then the same yesterday and to day and for ever The differences of time make no difference in him A poor man may say though I am not so rich and honourable as