but all such as you are he destroyeth All yee vngodly Rom. 8.28 repent speedily for God ruleth who makes all things worke together for the best to them that loue him Psal 11. but vpon you he shall raine snares fire and brimstone and an horrible tempest this shall bee the portion of your cup because not chance nor fortune nor Planets nor windes nor Popes nor hell nor creatures rule but God alone ruleth He ruleth by his power Ye Potentates and sonnes of the mighty lift not vp your hornes on high oppose not your greatnes against any ordinance of God for hee ruleth by his power Dan. 4.35 37. none can stay his hand nor may say to him What doest thou Them that walke in their pride hee is able to abase Yee sinners prouoke not him to anger for hee ruleth by his power if yee still forget him and will not consider hee will teare you in pieces Psa 50.22 and none can deliuer you Yee that feare him bee not discouraged because your enemies are too strong for you doubt not of reliefe because your misery seemes helplesse despaire not of recouery because you see no remedy for your God not onely ruleth but he ruleth by his power euen by his mighty power whereby hee is able to subdue all things to himselfe Phil. 3.21 Ephes 3.20 euen by his infinite power whereby hee is able to doe exceeding abundantly for you beyond all that you can aske or thinke For euer Thinke not O ye wicked that there is any time wherein you shall haue the rule in your hands or shall escape his iudgements for hee ruleth for euer Dan. 4.34 his dominion is an euerlasting dominion and of his kingdome there is no end Reioyce O yee righteous for the prouidence the goodnes the protection the presence the power the iustice the mercy of the Lord your God shall neuer bee diminished shall neuer cease shall neuer faile you for hee ruleth by his power for euer Ps 146.10 Thy God O Sion raigneth and he shall raigne for euer His eyes behold the nations O yee mad people Isa 29.15 that seeke out deepe deuices to hide your counsels from the Lord and to keepe your workes secret in darke asking Who seeth vs Who can know vs woe bee vnto you for his eyes behold the Nations Pro. 15.11 hell and destruction are before him how much more the hearts of the children of men hee hath seene all your imaginations Psa 10.14 he beholdeth all your mischiefe and spite to requite it with his owne hand Ye faithfull ones be the same in all places and in all countries dissemble no where sinne no where for your God will find it out his eyes behold all Nations Psal 33.13 hee beholdeth all the sonnes of men his eyes are vpon all the wayes of man Iob 34.21 and hee seeth his goings his eyes are in euery place beholding both the euill and the good Prou. 15.3 You that are in affliction doe not say Isa 40.27 My way is hid from God but be glad and reioyce in his mercy Psal 31.7 in the midst of thy misery with full assurance that hee considers thy trouble and knowes thy soule in aduersities for his eyes behold the Nations and his eye lids do try the children of men Isa 40.28 there is no searching of his vnderstanding Behold his eye is vpon them that feare him and that hope in his mercy to deliuer their soule from death Psal 33.19 and to keepe them aliue in famine All people trust in the liuing Lord of heauen and earth haue him alone to bee your God for hee is the verie God The Heathen gods haue eyes Psal 115.5 and see not Gen. 1.31 but our God seeth euery thing that hee hath made and his eyes behold all Nations Let not the rebellious exalt themselues they which are rebellious let them not bee lifted vp too much in themselues Pray for this vnto the Lord so oft as you heare of Nations rebelling against any Christian Countrey for hee alone is able to tame and spoyle the stout hearted Psal 76. and can cause the men of might to haue no strength in their hands Pray for this vnto him so oft as you see any proud persons exalt themselues against the free passage of the Gospel Rom. 16.20 for hee alone is able to bruise Satan himselfe and to tread him downe vnder our feete Pray for this vnto him when the enemy waxeth stil prouder for though he suffer them sometime to afflict vs Deu. 32.27 yet hee cannot abide that they should behaue themselues proudly and strangely against vs. Pray for this vnto him euen when thy sonnes and daughters are arrogant and insolent for he will either breake them because they are rebellious or if they belong to him hee will heale their rebellions O blesse our God Verse 48. yee people and make the voyce of his praise to be heard Gods holy ones are so affected with desire to praise him as they prouoke all other also to praise him Haue you no desire to praise God Oh how can you aske any mercy at his hands Is your desire to praise him so weake as it moues you not to draw others to this duty Oh how little reckoning make you of God and of his glory and how carelesse are you of others saluation Doe you prouoke others to dishonour and blaspheme him Oh you doe an abominable thing such a wickednesse as neuer did wicked Idolaters to their false gods Beware of no affection beware of too little affection and labour to this high affection vnto the praise of God which will moue you to exhort others to it Psal 34.3 saying O magnifie the Lord with mee and let vs exalt his Name together Our God This is the glory of Gods people that the Lord hath made them so neere vnto him as they may very boldly professe and call him Our God Oh yee hypocrites this glory doth not belong to you if you call him Matt. 7.21 Our God hee denyeth it saying Away from me yee workers of iniquitie I know you not Oh you enemies to the true doctrine of Christ this glory doth not belong to you if you call him Our God he denyeth it saying Not I but your belly is your god Phil 3.19 and your end damnation Oh you worldlings this glory belongs not to you ignorant blind and vnbeleeuing soules if you call him Our God he denyeth it saying Not I 2. Cor. 4.4 but the Deuill is your god But oh yee seruants of the Lord to you euen to you doth this glory belong if you call him Our God he denyeth it not but answereth I am the Lord your God Psal 81.10 and you are my people All that desire this glory Hos 2.23 bee his true seruants be in Christ bee in fellowship with his Church then may you say also The Lord is Our
thy seruants because they in respect of the betternesse of the times and some other hand of thine dare doe no other Some are in subiection vnto thee and submit themselues among thy people as Iudas among thine Apostles onely they doe it sore against their heart they doe it with desire rather of opportunitie to cast off thy yoke and to shew their enmitie Dissemblingly and lyingly They come neere Gods enemies that serue him in hypocrisie or for seruile feare of his power and not in truth and sinceritie for dutie and loue to his Maiestie Looke to your hearts that you haue not guiltie consciences this way so as you may wofully accuse your selues saying Through the greatnesse of thy power we submit our selues vnto thee and to thy Kingdome onely in dissimulation and perforce because we dare doe none other Psa 125.4 but be yee so good 1. Tim. 1.5 and true of heart as you may find your selues in a child-like submission with faith vnfained and pure loue and so may say this vnto God onely of his enemies Through the greatnesse of thy power thine enemies fainedly submit themselues vnto thee All the earth shall worship thee Vers 4. There is no respect of person in Gods Vocation of men to saluation Be not discouraged because thou art a Gentile or bond or female or weake Gal. 3.28 Acts 10.34 35. or a thing of nothing God calls all that are his the Gentile assoone as the Iew the bond assoone as the free the female assoone as the male the weake assoone as the strong he puts no difference hee doth nothing for any ones person sake but all for his owne mercy sake Hee concludes not his Church within some one Town Citie Nation or Countrey but many come from all Regions to sit downe with Abraham Matt. 8.11 Isaac and Iaakob in his kingdome and all this through his power through the greatnesse of thy power All the earth shall worship thee It is Gods praise onely that his people doe worship him If you be worshippers of God praise not your owne wel-willing that way your owne selfe-affection to godlinesse your owne apprehension of the meanes the power of the instruments but praise the riches of Gods grace and the power of his Spirit Rom. 5.6 8 10. and say vnto him Of our selues wee are weake we are sinners Ioel 2.32 wee are enemies wee are vngodly Now that we are turned to worship thee thine is the praise Ioh. 6.44 thou hast called vs vnto it thou hast drawne vs Psa 65.4 thou hast caused vs to come vnto thee onely through the greatnesse of thy power we worship thee And all shall sing vnto thee Singing rightly is a singing vnto God himselfe Sing not holy Hymnes spirituall Songs diuine Psalmes to your owne mindes carnally merry or to please the vncircumcised eares of profane friends but sing them so as you doe certainely sing them vnto God Eph. 5.19 Col. 3.16 making a melody in your heart vnto him and singing them to him with grace in your mindes Sing vnto thee Right singing vnto GOD is a part of the worship of God an effect of the gracious operation of GOD an action belonging to euery member of the Church of GOD. All the earth shall in worshipping thee sing vnto thee through thy power they shall sing vnto thee and all they shall sing vnto thee If you neuer sing vnto the Lord how doe you giue him his whole worship Psal 68.4 32. Where is his ioyfull Seruice Therefore as you say vnto him so sing vnto him sing daily vnto him sing praises sing praises sing skilfull praises vnto him They shall sing to thy Name excellently The chiefest and worthiest renowme that can bee spoken of people is that they be religious and zealous worshippers of GOD. In ascribing vnto God the glory due vnto him say this chiefly vnto him Hee rein is thy praise glorious that through the greatnesse of thy power people doe worship thee and sing vnto thy Name excellently this being GODS speciall honour to effect this it is our speciall renowne that it is effected in vs if any bee not a true worshipper of GOD hee hath no renowne Psa 49.20 he is without honour hee is most base hee is euen abominable But they that are made his worshippers are noble in name in praise Acts 17.11 Deut. 26.19 and in glory aboue all other and this is the glory of very Kings to bring presents to him to offer gifts to him to fall downe to worship him and to serue him Therefore thinke your selues greatly exalted that you are become his religious seruants reioyce in this against all earthly abasements and hope after the increase of the number of his true worshippers and say still vnto the Lord with confident expectation of the restoring of the Iewes and of the fulfilling of the Gentiles Psal 7â— All the earth shall worship thee they shall sing to thee they shall sing to thy Name excellently Come Verse 5. and see the workes of God Vnto the worshipping of GOD rightly Ier. 2.31 is required a willing comming to the meanes that teach vs his glory Luke 14.2 Iob 21.15 Luke 14.18 say not as Papists It is heresie to come or with the rebellious and voluptuous Wee will not come or with the Atheists What profit is it to come Isa 65.5 or with worldlings Wee cannot come Isa 55.1 or with Separatists Wee are too holy to come Mat. 11.28 but with the hungry and thirstie come with them that are burthened and heauy laden come Jsa 2.3 with them that are zealous Ioh. 6.45 prouoke one another to come with them that are taught of GOD come Psa 34.11 and you shall not come in vaine but comming to the meanes you shall learne the feare of GOD. Come The Ministery of the Word of God teacheth and inuiteth vs to make vse and godly benefit of the workes of GOD that bids vs come 1. Thes 5. Heb. 2. Psa 95. 1. Cor. 2. Isa 30. Psal 27.4 Eccles 4.17 and let vs not be absent not from this neglect not this harden not your hearts against this but frequent this heare this beleeue this obey this submit your selues to this examine how you profit by this and according to the present charge of this Come and see The way to the profitable vse of the meanes of godlinesse Ier. 42.20 Acts 2.13 is to see behold and consider the same Come not as hypocrites to dissemble come not as sluggards to sleepe Ez. 33.32 come not as scorners to deride nor as enemies to catch nor as children and fooles to gaze prattle or play but come as the louers of goodnes to seek as the wise to obserue come as the godly to learne as the prudent to consider and as the obedient to see The Workes of the Lord. The workes of GOD are speciall meanes to furnish vs and
God for mercy hee will not be found of them hee will not answer them he will not heare them this is the misery of such as for all Gods continuall paines and care and cost in bringing them vp like children Isa 1.2 11 12 13 14 15. yet they rebell against him that hee delighteth not in their sacrifices that hee is displeased with their appearing before him that he accounteth their offerings and their incense abomination that hee cannot away with their holy dayes their Sabbaths their solemne meetings that hee hateth their high times takes them a trouble to him is weary of them cannot beare them and that hee hideth his eyes from them and will not heare their prayers Oh consider this thou whose heart is full of wickednes whose heart regardeth neither pietie truth or mercy but iniquitie vngodlinesse vanitie consider and see if this be not a sure and heauy misery that the Lord will not heare thee O beleeue as thou oughtest that it is a grieuous misery indeed for what is a more grieuous misery then Gods most seuere iudgement and as the foresaid places doe proue it is one of his threatned fearefull iudgements such a iudgement as makes the godly lament saying 〈◊〉 3.8 When I cry and shout hee shutteth out my prayer such a iudgement as make vs vnto our selues comfortlesse For what comfort can we haue when we cannot haue comfort in God And what comfort can we haue in him while he will not heare vs Such a iudgement as makes vs vnto others helpelesse for what helpe can we giue them when we can procure no helpe to them from God And how can we procure helpe to them from him when he wil not heare vs such a iudgement as denies vs hope of all benefits for body and soule for what hope can wee haue to obtaine any of them when God at whom wee seeke them and of whom alone wee must receiue them will not heare vs Such a iudgement as presages to vs finall exclusion for what can we looke for but that in the end God will say to vs Away from me yee workers of iniquitie But blessed Christian Rom. 13.12 that hast so cast off the workes of darknesse washed Jsa 1.16 and made cleane thy selfe put away the euill of thy works out of Gods sight ceased to doe euill Ps 73.13 clensed thine heart from the wickednesse and hypocrisie thereof abandoned the loue of iniquitie thou escapest this wofull misery and thou partakest his most comfortable mercy Ioh. 9.31 for be heareth thy prayers Isa 65.24 euen while thou art speaking he will heare and before thou callest Pro. 15.8 he will answer yea thy prayer is his delight O here is a mercy indeed such a mercy as intitles the Lord himselfe with that honourable description O thou that hearest Sions prayer Psal 65.2 such a mercy 1. Kings 8.30 32 34.36 39 43 45 49. as in the dedication of the Temple King Salomon chiefly prayed for saying to euery kind of occasion of prayer Then heare thou in Heauen thy dwelling place Such a mercy as makes vs able to comfort our selues in God in all our necessities such a mercy as armes vs against discomfort in all miseries such a mercy as makes vs hopefull of all temporall and eternall blessings For whom he promiseth so to heare he heareth to the purpose indeed Psal 34.17 as it is said The righteous cry 145.19 and the Lord heareth deliuereth them out of all their troubles They that feare him cry and he heareth their cry and saueth them They aske and he granteth they seeke and hee lets them find they knocke and he opens vnto them they pray and hee giues them good things they desire and hee giues them the Holy Ghost This mercy is most worthy to be noted this fauour is most worthy to be obserued this blessing the holy Prophet tooke such notice of as hee was able to say Verse 19. But verily God hath heard me he hath attended vnto the voyce of my prayer Oh Psal 65.2.116.1.4.3.6.8 9. Exod. 8.8 this moues them to come vnto him constantly this moues them to loue him dearely this assureth them that hee highly regardeth them this comforteth them against their enemies this causeth others to honour them 1. Sam. 7.8 Ioh. 9.31 with crauing their prayers this witnesseth that they obey his Word that they worship him 1. Ioh. 3.22.5.14 that they doe his will that they doe the things which please him that they pray according to his will that the Spirit prayeth in and for them Rom. 8.27 This makes them the mostprofit able members in a family in a towne in a city in a kingdom this proues to themselues and others their integrity and vpright heart with God and that notwithstanding through humane frailtie they erre in many things they cherish no hypocrisie they disgest no wickednesse they purpose no euill in their hearts This speciall benefit Dauid got by obseruing how God heard his prayers and thence reasoned saying If I regard iniquitie in mine heart God will not heare me but verily God hath heard me and attended vnto the voyce of my prayer therefore who dare say that I regard any iniquitie in my heart Lastly this obseruation prouoketh as it ought the true godly to great thankfulnesse as it did this holy man saying Blessed be God Verse 20. which hath not put backe my prayer from him nor his mercy from me Gods not refusing our prayers and his not withholding his mercy from vs requireth speciall thankesgiuing at vs. O they that haue had much and long experience how God hath not put backe their prayers nor kept away his mercy from them and yet the time is to come that they haue made euen very this point an argument of thankesgiuing O this euen this one neglected this one vnknowne this one forgotten dutie puts them into the guilt of much iniquitie as the guilt of presuming that God owes them the hearing of their praiers and that he owes them his mercy the guilt of esteeming that it is no such great matter that he turnes not away their prayers from him or his mercy from them the guilt of not reckoning these among Gods speciall benefits the guilt of ignorance that these are worthy signes of his goodnes and do deserue high account much praise and great thankfulnesse Therefore O Christian if this haue beene thy guilt repent vnfainedly thereof shew thy selfe sorrowfull before God for it make suite to him for the pardon heereof and remembring that euer since thou wast called thou hast been a petitioner vnto him remembring that thou hast made innumerable requests to him remembring that hee might iustly haue excepted against thy petitions for diuers wants in the best of them remembring that thou art most vnworthy to vtter thy mind vnto his most high Maiestie remembring that thou art not worthy of the very least of his daily hourely continuall corporall
Oh what a thing is it when happinesse when our owne gladnesse when others commending our estate cannot awaken vs out of our neglect Happinesse for as it is said Psal 144.15 The people are happie that haue such bountie Gladnesse for as it is said Act. 14.17 God by his goodnesse as wee find also in our experience doth fil our very hearts with gladnesse Others commendation for as it is said Psal 126.2 They that behold Gods manifold blessings vpon vs doe say that hee hath done great things for vs. The vse Oh if we therefore doe forget and neglect this dutie let vs confesse let vs repent let vs be ashamed as afore let vs also iudge our selues worthy to haue it said of vs as Deut. 32.6 Do you so requite the Lord ô you foolish people and vnwise worthy that the Lord should contest against vs as Isa 1.2 saying Heare ô Heauens and giue eare ô Earth I haue nourished and brought vp children and they haue rebelled against me Worthy that he should take all our abundance our riches our comforts our peace our honours from vs should powre contempt vpon vs should turne our riuers into drie land our water-springs into a wildernes our fruitfull land into barrennes humble vs vnder sore oppression affliction and sorrow And let both sorts of vs now at the length Admonition to both settle our hearts to the sincere practice of this dutie of priuate publike and worthy praise to God euen to bring forth fruit worthy amendment in this point O A description of the first wee that haue felt the fainting of our soules that haue beene in sore trouble that haue as it were sit in darknesse and the shadow of death that haue beene euen bound vp in affliction that haue had our hearts brought downe with heauinesse that haue had our life next step to the gates of death that haue had our spirits melted away with perplexitie that haue beene compassed about with most wofull miseries and that haue seene how when we cryed vnto the Lord hee brought vs out of our darkenesse he deliuered vs out of all our distresses he satisfied our longing soules he healed vs. Let vs ô let vs now practise cheerefully and readily this holy dutie To incite vs thereunto let vs consider First To moue the first to practise consider Gods readinesse Gods exceeding readinesse to heare vs and his presentnesse to deliuer vs yea though our afflictions came on vs because wee had rebelled against his Word because we had transgressed because of our iniquities Secondly Gods answerablenes Gods fulfilling of our very wishes bringing vs to the very state we desired Thirdly the due time Time manner meanes the sweet manner the gracious meanes of his deliuerance of vs. Fourthly the passing comfort we found The sequent comfort after hee had deliuered vs filling as it is Psalme 126.2 our mouth with laughter and our tongue with singing And A description of the second ô wee that haue not yet come where any sorrow woe bitternesse worme-wood hath beene put into our cup but we only haue lyen downe in greene pastures and walked along beside the still waters and our table hath been alway richly furnished our head anointed with oyle our cup running ouer goodnesse and mercy following vs all the dayes of our life O let vs let vs also if not much rather apply with haste and haste with godly zeale vnto this duty vrging our mindes thereto with these considerations Considering To moue the second consider receit First that all our comforts are things meerely receiued as 1. Cor. 4.7 What hast thou that thou didst not receiue Secondly Whence receiued that they bee all receiued from Gods good pleasure as of corporall things it is said Psal 145.16 Thou openest thine hand and fillest euery liuing thing of thy owne good will and of spirituall things Phil. 2.13 God worketh the will and the deed of his owne good pleasure Vndesert Thirdly that all the bountie we inioy is contrary to our desert for as Daniel 9.7 To vs belongeth confusion or shame of face Fourthly that our prosperitie All as we would haue them our choyse our matches our bargaines our dwellings our friends our alliance our food our rayment our peace our meanes our aduancements our times our seasons our affaires yea and our Sabbaths are euen as we would haue them as if that were verified to vs which is said of the true fearers of God Psal 145.19 Hee fulfilleth the desire of them that feare him O let vs consider these things And let these perswade vs to the dutie here required of both kinds of vs Effect of the considerations for surely these rightly weighed cannot but make vs say O come and wee shall tell you what God hath done for our soules O magnifie the Lord together with vs O what shall wee render vnto the Lord for all his benefits O we will pay our vowes which our lips haue vttered and which our mouthes haue spoken in our affliction O wee will doe our dutie of solemne praise vnto him priuately publikely and worthily O that men would so praise the Lord O that high and low would so praise the Lord O that euery one would as they are most bounden so praise the Lord. Praise him so priuately How praise priuately priuately with the family as Ioshua with his family more priuately with some of the family as Abraham with Isaac most priuately alone as the Prophet Dauid most often and in priuate say vnto him Patterne of this priuate as Psal 92.1 2. It is a good thing to giue all thanks vnto thee O Lord euen to sing praises vnto thy Name O most High yea to shew forth thy louing kindnesse euery morning and thy faithfulnesse euery night as Psal 116.16 17. Oh Lord verily I am thy seruant I am thy seruant and the sonne of thine handmaid thou hast loosed my bonds I will offer vnto thee the sacrifice of thankesgiuing and will call on thy Name O Lord. And Ps 118.21 28. I will praise thee O Lord for thou hast heard mee and art become my saluation thou art my God and I will praise thee thou art my God and I will exalt thee and as Psal 104.33 34. I will sing vnto thee O Lord as long as I liue I will sing praise to thee my God while I haue any being my meditation of thee shall bee sweet I will be glad in thee O after this blessed manner let euery one praise God priuately Euery one praise him also publikely How praise publikely in the congregation of the people both in ordinary on euery Sabbath with addition of more thankes and more zeale in thanking on the Sabbaths of celebrating the holy Supper of the Lord also in extraordinary on the dayes of solemne publike thankesgiuing as Nehemiah 12.27 43. and Ester 9.17 and let euery one professe concerning this publike saying as Psal 34.3 Patterns