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A33548
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Jacob's vow, or, Man's felicity and duty in two parts / by John Cockburn ...
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Cockburn, John, 1652-1729.
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1696
(1696)
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Wing C4813; ESTC R10808
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214,296
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486
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GOD Gen 3. 8. And after the Fall 't is certain that there was a Particular place set apart for the Worship of GOD whither Abel and Cain brought their sacrifices Noah came no sooner forth of the Arke but he built an Altar to the LORD and in like manner we read of all the Patriarchs that where ever they sojourned they built Altars which were usually ranged about either with Trees or Stones where they and their Family Worshipped GOD and performed all their Solemn Acts of devotion their wandring course of Life would not allow them better the Tabernacle which Moses pitched in the Wilderness was the first house of GOD we read of which was covered and adorned with Art and it was followed and imitated by that magnificent Tempâ—…e which which Soloman built Where all who lived at Ierusalem and near it resorted for the Worshipping of GOD and whither all the Males even in the remotest parts of the Kingdom were oblidged to come up at least thrice a year But though 't was not lawfull to offer Sacrifice except in that one place yet there was every where besides both in Towns and Villages in the Cities and open Fields Synagogues and Oratories where people came to Pray to GOD and to joine with others in His Worship and to be instructed in His will Of Synagogues there are frequent mention in the New Testament and by severall things it may be collected that there were of them during the first Temple but of Oratories or places for Prayer we read not so often yet they be sometimes spoken of as particularly Luke 6. 12. where it is said our Saviour weâ—…t into a mountain to pray and continued all night in Prayer to GOD but the Original will rather bear in the House or Place of Prayer So likewise Acts 16. 13. 't is said of Paul and others that were with him being come to Philippi of Macedonia they went on the Sabbath day out of the city by a River side where Prayer was wont to be made or where there was an usuall Oratorâ—… Thâ—…s it is certain that 't was frequent every where and in every Nation to consecrate and sâ—…t a part Places and Houses for the Worship and Service of GOD 't is well conjectured by the Learned Mr. Mede from Iosh 22. 16. that these Lands and Countries were reputed unclean where there was no such Consecrate or Devoted Places Now whither Men had an expresse Positive Precept for the erecting houses to GOD and consecrating such places to him or if they were meerly prompted thereto by the light of Nature and the Stength of Reason it doeth not very clearly appear But however it is certain that GOD did very much approve therereof not only by allowing his most eminent Servants to continue in the use and practice of this thing but also by requiring it of them Thus GOD was so well pleased with Noahs building him an altar that 't is said he smelled a sweet savour therefrom Gen. 8. 21. and 35. 1. we have God putting Iacob in mind of the Vow which he here made and requiring him to make performance thereof in this very particular When it first came into Davids Heart to build an house unto the LORD the motion did so please GOD that he sent Nathan the Prophet to tell him that for this he would make a sure covenant with him and establish the Crown and Throne upon him and his house for ever though for reasons he would not let him build the house but deferred it to his Son Solomon 2 Sam 7. And we must not look upon Temples as a Legall Ceremonie agreeable only to the Times of the Old Testament not proper or necessary now for though GOD dwelleth not in Temples made with mens hands and that his Worship is not fixed to one particular place as 't was of old yet it 's no lesse necessary now then formerly to set a part Places and to consecrate Houses for the publick worship of GOD that hereby he may be the more solemnly acknowledg'd that his Worship may be gone about with the greater Decency Gravity and Conveniency These were the Reasons no doubt which moved Men to this Act first and their Strength and Force is as great now and as binding as ever Wherefore the Apostles and first Christians even such as was most zealous against Iudaisme did not think the use of Temples to be abolished by the Christian Law but did continue the use of them and were carefull to consecrate and set apart Churches where ever they made converts and did propagate the Gospel For though the ontward state of Christians was then but mean and though they were also lyable to many persecutions yet they wanted not Houses for that Worship and service of God which was peculiar to the Gospel This the Learned Man formerly mentioned hath made very evident and it appears clearly from 1 Cor. 11. 22. and from these salutations to particular Churches of such and such a house At first Temples and Religious Places were but mean plain and simple without any great ornament what the Patriarchs used seems to have been no other then open uncovered places set about with trees or Stones agreeable to their own way of living which was not constant or settled in any one place for they dwelt in tents only and removed from place to place There be some remainders of such kind of simple Oratories yet to be seen in many places of this Kingdome But as People became more fixt and settled and as they farther improved in art and cunning so they used to take greater pains in adorning their temples and religious houses and judg'd it to be their glory to have them Stately and magnificent David was ashamed that he himself should dwell in a house of Cedar while the Ark of the LORD was only within Curtains And GOD complained by the Prophet Haggai that the People who returned from the Captivity should have dwelt in Cieled Houses themselves while the Temple of the Lord lay wast and unrepaired The Churches of the first Christians 't is like indeed were not very fine nor could much better be expected from them if we consider the meannesse and poverty of their State and what hazards they run by offering to meet together at all They were then necessitate to content themselves with any place though it had not the conveniency and adornments which they wished but so soon as the Emperours turned Christians and that the publick exercise of the Christian Religion was allowed then Churches were every where built Stately and magnificent They did not then proceed by the scant rule of meer necessity but rendred them not only convenient for themselves but such as might speak out the greatnesse and glory of that God whom they adored And though it cannot be denyed but that there may be an excesse in adorning Churches when more is bestowed on them then on the poor which are GOD'S living Temples yet certainly to have no regard
of Spirit Riches is a vain thing to trust to for they make to themselves wings and fly away As the Wise Man observeth and as every Man may take notice of as well as he and though they did stay more constantly yet could they not answer all things What could they profit a man in the day of Wrath could they make his bed in His Sickness or comfort him in his Languishing Condition Could they ease his Pain or asswage his grief If he were seized with the Gout or Stone reproached in his Name or inwardly Wounded in Spirit And what may be said of them is applicable to all other things which one may or can possess All outward â—…enjoyments serve only to blow up Men's Fancies and to feed their Hopes while they are in Ease and Quiet and in no difficulty but so soon as Trouble overtaketh them and that they fall into Straits then these Gayeties shrink away and discover how little strength or solidity is in them He who confides in his Wealth Greatness Friends Power and such like builds upon a Sandy Foundation a Foundation which will certainly fail him when he hath most need to be Sheltred and protected The Psalmist makes a supposition that Father and Mother may forsake us Psal. 27. and indeed sometimes they do it of their own accord and sometimes they are constrained thereto Friends and Acquaintances as Iob observed prove like Winter brooks which flow in wet Seasons but dry up when heat and drought comes And then what comes of him all whose Hoâ—…e was placed in them So who trusts to the World trusts to no sure Friend it never proved true to any yet it hath deceived both its own Children and the Children of GOD it hath forsaken both its Adoreâ—…s and those who cared little for it these who deserved well and those whose Merits were but small this the History of every Age and every Nation maketh out we need not go beyond Seas nor look back to former Times to learn this we need not fetch from Antiquity the Story of Craesus or Darius We may prove this from the History of our own Times and from what hath been frequently transacted in this same British Isle this Age and the last Lord Cromwel of Essex the Seymours Bacon Lord Verulam Chancellour of England and some others who had a higher Office than that of Chancellour amongst our selves are eminent proofs of this vanity and uncertainty of the World But there is no need of bringing single Instances every day's observation furnisheth us with Proofes enough of this kind so that he must be very blind and very obdured or very much besotted who doth not see the vanity and folly oâ—… trusting to the world and the things thereof He that leaneth to these only shal fall but he that trusteth in the LORD GOD is Blessed for he shall be upholden I have set the LORD saith David alwayes before me because he is at my right hand I shall not be moved Psal 16 8 And again Psal. 46 â—…2 GOD only is our refuge and strength a very present help in trouble he is a refuge sure stedfast which neither can not will deceive us and he is a present help because he is always ready hard at hand and he is not more present than he is stedable and sufficient Wherefore as the Psalmist goes on We need not fear though the Earth be removed and though the mountains be carried unto the midst of the Sea O LORD of Hosts Blessed is the man that trusteth in thee for in GOD there iâ—… fulness which may fill our emptiness in him there is sufficiency which can answer all our needs there is no want in him that good which we crave which we are still seeking after is in him and him only It is reported of a Souldier who contrived a Target or Shield after such a fashion that it served both to defend him from the darts of his Enemies and was also useful to help him over Rivers and Waters and that therefore he used to hugge and kiss it calling it the true companion of a Souldier being serviceable both upon Land and Water This shield is no unfit Embleme to set forth the excellency and advantage of the Divine Presence which serveth not for one season but for all and is usefull for every purpose God is stedable both in Prosperity and Adversity in Health and Sickness in Company and solitude in Youth and old Ageâ—… at Sea and on the Land in Peace and in War in a Word at all times and in all conditions He can Supply all our Wants and afford us whatever we need Nothing is so Difficult but he can remove it nothing so adverse but he can make it advantageous no case so perplexed but he can resolve it and no condition so Barren but he can and will make it Comfortable if he be with us And if he once engage to be with us he will not easily or lightly forsake us He will not cast us off upon surmises and suspicions while we continue Faithfull and Dutifull to him he will never leave us or fall to be with us Wherefore Cardinal Wolsey said truely though very sadly for himself If I had served my GOD as well and as faithfully as I have done my King be would never have deserted me And now that we may never have ground for such a complaint that we may never have reason to bewail the folly of a vain and false Confidence and trusting unto a deceitfull hold and that especially when there is no time of redressing it let us therefore I say presently and speedily draw near to GOD let us seek him with our whole hearts above all things let us secure His Favour and engage him to be with us And then we shall tast and see better than words can unfold it that the LORD is good and that the Man is Blessed that trusteth iâ—… him That it is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in Man in Princes or in any thing under the Sun None that wait on him shall ever be ashamed They trusted in thee saith the Psalmist and were not confounded Be of good courage and he shall strengthen your heart all ye that hope in the LORD Psal. 22. 5. 31. 24. CHAP. III. Why Jacob mentioned other particulars seeing the first Request did comprehend them and all things else he could ask The second Request treated of the Reasons of Jacobs Fear and the lyableness of all Men generally to Dangers No true Security but in the Divine Protection an Application of all IN the preceeding Chapter we have spoken to Iacob's first Request and have shewed what it is to have the LORD with one and how large and comprehensive a Blessing it is for in effect it contains not only the other two which follow but all other things else which one can reasonably desire All the good that a man hath or which he can desire is meerly the effect