Selected quad for the lemma: heaven_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
heaven_n	father_n	great_a	lord_n	5,746	5	3.6147	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A96298	A thankefull remembrance of Gods mercy to several persons at Quabaug or Brookfield partly in a collection of providences about them, and gracious appearances for them: and partly in a sermon preached by Mr. Edward Bulkley, Pastor of the Church of Christ at Concord, upon a day of thanksgiving, kept by divers for their wonderfull deliverance there. Published by Capt. Thomas VVheeler. [Five lines from Psalms]	Wheeler, Thomas, ca. 1620-1676.; Bulkley, Edward, d. 1696.	1676 (1676)	Wing W1600; ESTC W35426	40,779	64

observe not only some but All his Benefits Though one mercy should raise our Hearts to Heaven yet the more to quicken and enlarge them we should take notice of All the variety of them as praise is a difficult duty so it is difficult raising our hearts to the duty We are dull and Listless to all duty but especially to Thankfulness We are slow to go to God for mercy in our Troubles and Distresses but more slow to Return praise after Deliverances vouchsafed Hence that Expression in Psal 107. Psal 8.15 21 31. Oh that men would praise the Lord as if he should say It 's rather to be wished then expected Luke 17.17 18. There were Ten cried Lord have mercy upon us but only one Returned to give Thanks to Jesus Christ when cured The second part of the Doctrine Gracious and Humble Hearts observing Gods goodness towards them are studious and Sollicitous what to Return to him So the Prophet here what shall I Render to the Lord c. so 2 Sam. 7.1 when God had brought him to Rest in his Kingdome after so many wandrings he was studying how to advance the honour of God who had done so great things for him had so delivered him so advanced him to honour and Renown 1 Thes 3.9 what Thanks saith the Apostle can we Render c. The Reasons hereof are Reason 1. From the Consideration of the Nature of the Benefits Gods people enjoy The Prophet here may well say what shall I Render c. and so may every Child of God say All that are in Covenant with him what shall we Render for the Benefits we have received from our God 1. They are great mercies even very great as the promises of good to be given are great Promises 2 Pet. 1.4 so the good promised and bestowed They are great favours especially in spiritual blessings He gives great Deliverances as Psal 18.50 he doth great Things for his as Psal 71.19 and 86.13 2dly They are very many There is an All of them as in the Text an All that is beyond Expression Psal 139.14 more in number then the sand There is a multitude of them This was an Aggravation of Israels sin that they remembred not the multitude of Gods mercies Psal 106.7 3dly They are Everlasting mercies Psal 136. In every verse thy mercy endures for ever Gods people see and acknowledge Everlasting mercy even in outward and temporal blessings much more in spiritual and Eternal Because though the mercies themselves do not Indure for ever yet the Foundation of all to Gods people is Everlasting grace mercy And besides even these do in some degree tend to further their Everlasting blessedness helping them on in their way to their Fathers house in heaven therefore there is Reason to study and be Sollicitous what to render to God for them Reason 2. From the Consideration of the person from whom the Blessings and Deliverances come and to whom the Return is to be made and that is the Lord what shall I Render to the Lord for His Benefits 1. All the good we enjoy is from the Lord we are the Receivers He the giver They are his Benefits yea the gifts of the Lord of Lords and King of Kings the great and mighty God who Inhabits the Throne of glory Oh that the God of glory should have any respect to us dust and Ashes that he should do so great things for us worthless ones Psal 113.5 6 7. who is like unto the Lord our God who dwelleth on High who humbleth himself c. He raiseth the poor out of the Dust c. A good look from a Prince or some other great and honourable person is more then a greater thing from a meaner person 2dly Our Returns are to be made to the Lord and therefore we had need be Careful what we present to him This Reason God himself gives why he Curseth the deceiver who hath a male in his Flock and offereth to God a corrupt thing because he is a great King Mal. 1.14 and therefore he sharply reproves them for offering the halt and blind vers 8. Persons are usually Careful how they carry themselves towards a great man in returning Thanks to him for favours received from him much more here ought there to be Care The Return is to be made to God Solomon gives this Reason of the magnificence of the house he was to Build It was for the Lord who is a great and glorious one 2 Chr. 2.5 Any manner of house would not serve the turn the best Timber and stone must be provided and it must be wrought in the best manner and by the most Skilful persons that could be procured This was Abels Commendation that he brought of the Firstlings of his Flock and of the fat thereof Gen. 4.4 and to him God had Respect and to his Offering Reason 3. From the Consideration of the person that is to make the Return to God what shall I Return I that am so unworthy of the least mercy I that have had so many mercies so great Deliverances I that am notable to Render any thing beseeming his Majesty I that am under so many Bonds and Obligations I that am so priviledged by God what shall I Render c. Hence that Expression 2 Sam. 17 18 19 20. What can David say c. David the youngest of all my Fathers Sons and yet was preferred before them David that was a Shepard and now advanced to Regal dignity David that was so persecuted by potent and cruel Enemies and hath been so graciously and wonderfully preserved This makes a thankful heart studious especially Considering these three things therewith 1. All that we can Return is but little to his mercies but mites for Talents words for wonders All is as nothing 2dly What we Return to God is and by Reason of sin indwelling will be mixt with many Imperfections our best Services are but as torne Rags menstruous Cloaths Isai 64.6 Even our Robes our best Services need washing in the Blood of the Lord Revel 7.14 3dly All that we can give to God is His own and is but little of his own and therefore the Saints are sensible of their own Inability to make any meet Requital to God Mark holy Davids Expressions after his and the Princes offering towards the Building of the Temple 1 Chron. 29.10 to 15. vers a full place to prove all these three particulars before mentioned Use I. By way of Instruction or Information Instruct 1. A Soul in a thankful frame in a Tune of Thanksgiving can never be sufficiently satisfied in thinking and speaking of Gods mercies and favours towards him The Prophet had before in this Psalm spoken of Gods goodness towards him acknowledged his Bounty what God had done for him yea again and again repeated it and yet he is here still at the same work in the Text What shall I Render c. yea again Psal 16.17 How great hath Gods goodness been in hearing prayer

what he hath done for me and others of his people the works of his hands for mine and others deliverance and Salvation When we praise the Lord we do but sing over what he hath done He acts it and we acknowledge it As in this Salvation vouchsafed to you from the Enemy from their Attempts by Assaults Fire c. An Eccho is little else but a Reflecting Repetition of the first sound so our praises are Repetitions reflecting the work on God He heard he helped he delivered and saved This is the Lords doings There is an Amen in Thanksgiving our Amen to the Truth of Gods dispensations we say Amen to them so they are and we acknowledge it To give Thanks is to give God a Tribute in the Confession of his goodness It is Retribution This is to Crown the Lord we owne him the Author of all our manifold Comforts Deliverances supplies in one kind or other There is a distinction made between glory and glorification glory is an Essential Attribute though there were no Angel or man but glorification is the acknowledgement of his power goodness mercy in his works by the Rational Creature What are you then to acknowledge this day Even the Lords doings in your marpeilous preservation If you would glorifie him this day then say the Lord hath done great things for us This is the Lords doing and it is wonderful in our Eyes Instruct 6th One special particular mercy received from God ought to raise up our Hearts to a Consideration of all other mercies formerly bestowed on us And so it should be with you meet to praise the Lords glorious Name for that great Deliverance at the Swampe and in the Garrison The Prophet addes that general Particle All to shew that from that present Benefit which God had Conferred on him in that great Deliverance mentioned vers 2.3 his heart was extended to a Consideration of other favours which the Lord from time to time had shewed him Thus it will be with a grateful Heart Not that we can think on every benefit so as to leave out none they being so Innumerable but it is to be taken of the several kinds as general particular publick private temporal and Spiritual and of as many several and distinct branches of these as we can Psal 103.2 Forget not all nor any of his Benefits and Psal 105 2 Talk you of all his wondrous works This is the means to enlarge the heart and Inflame it with holy Zeal in praising God as more Fuel brought to the fire makes it greater Here is a good help to this great duty this day and at other times observe all kinds of mercies and call to mind what God hath done for you formerly for your persons Families Relations for the Churches to which you belong for the Country Instruct 7. The Consideration of mercies bestowed on our selves and our Interest in the mercies bestowed on others is a great means to provoke to Thankfulness so the Prophet here For all his Benesits towards me so Psal 103.1 to 6. vers Bless the Lord O my Soul c. who forgives all thine iniquities and beals all thy Diseases c. We are most sensible of kindness done to our selves the sweet whereof our own Souls tast according to the Sense and tast of any kindness is the heart quickned and stirred up to Thankfulness Oh take special notice of such mercies as in particular concern thy self For in the Case and buisiness of your present meeting one may say I was spared and not touched when others were dangeroufly wounded Another may say I was only wounded when others were killed I am recovered when others wounds proved mortal God hath given me my Life when others are taken away by Death I am returned to my Relations or my Relations are come home in safety when others have not enjoyed such a mercy Consider withal how you are Interested in the mercies of others either particular persons or in the Common and publick mercies of the Town and Country You have an Interest in the mercies of your Yoke-fellow Children In the mercies of the Town Church state If the Town be spared when others are consumed It is mercy to evety particular If husband be returned home safe It is a Benefit to me may the wife say If the Father be returned It is a Benefit to me may the Child say so may the Father say in the Childs Return The mercies in Magistracy and Ministry are our mercies They are Gods Benefits to us self Interests are affecting Interests Consider how thou art Interested in any mercy Deliverance Immediately or mediately and this will further our Thankfulness for it As this is a way to affect the Heart with the Churches affliction to Consider our Interest therein as members of the same Body so also to affect our Hearts with Gods goodness to others to Consider how we are concerned therein It may be some may say I have more Cause to Fast and Pray in regard of Gods hand on me and mine rather then to Rejoyce and Feast Do but Consider thy many personal mercies thy Family mercies and thy Interest in Common-wealth and Church mercies and thou mayest see aboundant Cause of Thankfulness It is a Certain Truth that a Child of God when he is in the worst Case he can be in here upon earth hath more Cause of Gratulation then of Petition His mercies are greater then his miseries His Enjoyments more then his wants besides his hopes of all good at last in an Unchangeable Estate Instruct 8th If Temporal mercies be carefully to be observed and Return made to God for them how much more for Spiritual and Eternal mercies If Deliverance from a temporal Death how much more Deliverance from Everlasting Death Spiritual mercies are the great mercies They are the Fathers gifts to his Children other mercies he gives to them that are hated and abhorred by him They have some Relation to God as his Creatures Servants in his great Family and therefore they shall have somewhat here a portion they shall have in these common favours vile and ungodly men often escape deadly dangers as well as precious Saints nay they may be preserved when others better then they are taken a way suddenly and by a violent death These Temporal Benefits will not evidence Gods special favour in Christ What Cause have you to whom God hath given those great benefits of Justification Adoption Sanctification and hopes of glory in Heaven for to say with the Apostle Paul Ephes 1.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spiritual Blessings in Heavenly places in Christ Jesus And with the Prophet in the Text what shall I Render to the Lord who hath done so great things for to deliver my Soul from the Nethermost-Hell and to call me to Eternal glory by Jesus Christ say therefore with the Apostle Peter To him be glory and Dominion for ever and ever 1 Pet. 5.10

us 6thly It is a most Heavenly duty the very work of the Saints in Heaven When all other work Ceaseth this shall not Cease to all Eternity The more you are in the Exercise of this Spiritual Service the more there is of the Life of Heaven upon Earth This day you meet together to praise the Name of the Lord who were together in such a danger that you almost despaired of Life as the Apostle saith 2 Cor. 1.8 Look that your praises be such that God may be well pleased with them and with you in the performance of this Service 1. Let them be Cordial with the heart yea with the whole heart Psal 9.1 1. See that your hearts be taken up with an Admiration of Gods favour and Bounty towards you as David Psal 139.14 Admire the Lords sparing delivering and restoring mercy 2. All our Service and worship of God must be with the heart and from the heart God calls for the Heart in all Prov. 23.26 He would have the Heart in prayer praise hearing the word and all other performances the Lord is n Spirit and will be worshipped in Spirit and Truth John 4.24 2. Let them be Verbal Psal 34.1 and 51.15 Hos 14.2 We will Render the Calves of our lips 1. In singing Psalms a duty in Gospel times Col 3.16 And then most seasonable when God gives Cause of Rejoycing in his mercies James 5.13 If any be merry let him sing Psalms Psal 126.1 2. when the Lord turned the Captivity of Zion c. our mouth was filled with Laughter and our Tongues with singing 2. In declaring Gods goodness unto others Extolling his Name speaking of his loving kindness Psal 66.18 Come hither saith the Prophet all you that fear God and I will tell what he hath done for my Soul What Deliverances I have received and Victories I have obtained what Answers of prayer I have had So Psal 145.21 my mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord c. In Luk. 8.38 39. Christ Commands the man out of whom he had cast the Devils to shew how great things God hath done for him 3. Let them be real praises praise him not only in our words but in all our wayes living to the honour of his Name which is called upon us and of the Gospel professed by us Phil. 1.27 Only let your Conversation be at becomes the Gospel of Christ That is a main thing to be attended to Psal 50.23 He that will offer praise aright must also order his Conversation aright Confession and Conversation must go together in a thankful man Psal 116.8 9. I will walk before God in the Land of the living Inward Affection must be manifested in our outward Conversation Therefore look well to your wayes Elder and younger walk holily and Righteously live soberly Righteously and godly in this present world else all your praises are vain The Lord will not accept them Let our praises be Continual Psal 34.1 and Psal 63.4 I will bless thee while I live Rest not in the work of a day but remember Gods mercies all your dayes Be not like the Israelites Psal 106.12 They sang his praises but soon forgot his works You that are young remember the Lord in your best dayes and let us all both Elder and younger remember him all our dayes Remember him to Love him serve honour and glorifie him Remember your Promises and Engagements to him If we remember not his mercies to praise him he will remember our Ingratitude against him therein by Cutting us short of his blessings and plaguing us with his Judgements 5. Let all our Sacrifices of praise be offered up to God in the Name of Jesus Christ that so they may be a sweet savour before him God smelled a sweet savour in Noahs Sacrifice after that wonderful preservation from the Floud of waters Gen. 8.20 Noah looked to Christ Heb. 13.15 Col. 3.17 In him God will be well pleased with you And that Testimony you shall have one day from him that you pleased him in your returns to him Let us thus now Render to God whiles we are here on Earth and we shall Reap the Fruit of all in the great day of Christs appearance when God will Render to every one according to their works Rom. 2.6 7. Then those that have carefully observed all Gods dispensations about them and been follicitous what to Render to him giving up themselves to him Loving fearing and obeying him walking in holy Fellowship with him in his own Appointments they shall be received by him into his Everlasting Kingdome there to be with him singing praises to him that sits on the Throne and to the Lamb for Evermore FINIS