VERSE IX Opened 418 Obs 1 To comit the same sins our ancestors did is greater than theirs was 419 Obs 2 God takes it ill when those whom he hath used to punish others for sin commit the same sins themselves ib Obs 3 Children of iniquity may escape once and again 423 VERSE X Expounded 425 Obs 1 When God hath a mind to bring about a thing he will gather a people 427 Obs 2 God will chuse his rod he will scourg us with ib. VERSE XI Obs 1 Such as are divided in prosperity shall be bound together in bondage 430 Obs 2 It is a sign of a carnal heart to avoid any work God cals to because it is difficult 431 Obs 3 Hypocrites are content with such services as bring present comfort ib. Obs 4 It is a sign of a carnal heart to seek present accommodation 432 Obs 5 God looks with indignation upon such as mind nothing but ease and delicacy 455 Obs 6 It is an honor for men to go thorough difficultiâ—s for God 439 Obs 7 Let no men boast they live more at ease than others ib. Use Comfort for the afflicted Obs 8. Those that for sake the true Worship of God 't is well if they come into the meanest condition among Gods People 441 VERSE XII Obs 1. Though the sins of people be great and judgments near we know not what an exhortation may do 441 Obs 2 The actions of men are seeds 445 Obs 3 They shal come up in the same kind ib. Obs 4 The seed lies in the ground rotting a while yet afterwards comes up ib. Obs 5 The seed sowen comes up through the blessing of God upon it ib. Obs 6. The better the seed is the longer it lies under ground 446 Obs 7 The Ministers of God are sowers ib. Obs 8 Large oportunities of doing service for God should be our riches ib. Obs 9 It is not every seed will serve the turn 447 Obs 10 As a man sows so shall he reap 450 Use Let the Saints set a price upon the actions of Righteousness 451 Obs 11 God will give abundantly above our good works 455 Obs 12 The hearts of men naturally are fallow grounds 456 Obs 13 It is high time to seek the LORD 474 Reasons 1 God hath been a long time patient ib. 2 Mercy is even going ib. 3 It is an acceptable time ib. Obs 14 It is time for England to seek God 478 Obs 15 God will come to sow Righteousnes in time 480 Obs 16 Sometimes God doth not presently rain Righteousness upon his people that sow it 481 Obs 17 Those that seek aright will continue seeking till God comes ib. Motives to continue seeking 1. Thou art doing thy duty 482 2. Thou canst not do better ib. 3. While you are waiting God is working good ib. 4. While thou art seeking thou art not without some dews 483 5. When he comes he will come more fully ib. Obs 18 To those that are content to seek God till he comes he will come with plentiful showers 484 Obs 19 The help of those that seek God is from Heaven 485 Obs 20 When God comes he makes his people fruitful ib. Obs 21 God comes in righteousness to them that seek him 486 Obs 22 Though the good we do be our own good yet God rewards us as though he got by it ib. VERSE XIII Obs 1 The fruits of false worship is the encrease of sin 490 Obs 2 A man is ready to trust in his own way 492 Use What a shame is it Saints should not trust in Gods way 495 Obs 3 When great men go along with Religion men think it must needs be right 497 Obs 4 Great Armies are the confidence of carnal hearts 498 Use Examine what your confidence is 499 VERSE XIV Obs 1 Tumults are a token of great wrath of God 500 Obs 2 Pollicy will not prevail if God be against us 507 Obs 3. Great is the rage of war if God let it out 508 Obs 4 The sins of parents many times comes upon little ones ib. Obs 5. The judgments of God when neer us should awaken us 509 VERS XV. Obs 1 Miserable judgments many times arise from causes we little think of 510 Obs 2 From places of Idolatry come the greatest evils to a Kingdom ib. Obs 3. False worship is the great sin God is provoked against a Nation for 511 Obs 4. God takes notice not only of mens sins but their aggravations ib. Obs 5. According to the greatness of sin is the greatness of wrath 512 Obs 6 When people have some enlightening then Gods displeasure breaks out upon them 514 Vse for England ib. Obs 7 God loves to draw forth great sinners to the light 516 Obs 8 God will make quick work with great sinners ib. The Names of several Books printed by Peter Cole at the sign of the Printing-Press in Cornhil by the Exchange in LONDON A PHYSICAL DIRECTORY or a Translation of the London DISPENSATORY Whereunto is added The Vertues of the Simples and Compounds And in the second Edition are 784. Additions the general heads whereof are these Viz. 1 The Dose or quantity to be taken at one time and Use both of Simples and Compounds 2 The Method of ordering the Body after sweating and purging Medicines 3 Cautions to all ignorant people upon all Simples and Compounds that are dangerous With many Additions in every Page marked with the letter A. Five Books of M r Jer. Burroughs lately published As also the Texts of Scripture upon which they are grounded VIZ. 1. The rare Jewel of Christian Contentment on Phil. 4. 11. Wherein is shewed 1 What Contentment is 2 It is an holy Art and Mysterie 3 The Excellencies of it 4 The Evil of the contrary sin of Murmuring and the Aggravations of it 2. Gospel-Worship on Levit. 10. 3. Wherein is shewed 1 The right maÌ„ner of the Worship of God in general and particularly in Hearing the Word Receiving the Lords Supper and Prayer 3. Gospel Conversation on Phil. 1. 27. Wherein is shewed 1 That the Conversations of Beleevers must be above what could be by the light of Nature 2 Beyond those that lived under the Law 3 And sutable to what Truths the Gospel holds forth To which is added The Misery of those men that have their Portion in tbis life on Psalm 17. 14. 4. A Treatise of Earthly-mindedness Wherein is shewed 1 What Earthly-mindedness is 2 The great Evil thereof on Phil. 3. part of the 19. vers Also to the same Book is joyned a Treatise of Heavenly mindedness and walking with God on Gen. 5. 24. and on Phil. 3. 20. 5. An Exposition with Practical Observations on the 4 th 5 th 6 th 7 th Chapters of the Prophesie of Hosea Twelve several Books of M r Will. Bridge collected into one Volumâ— VIZ. 1. The great Gospel-Mysterie of the Saints Comfort and Holiness opened and applied from Christs Priestly Office 2. Satans power to tempt and Christs love to and care of
be look'd upon as great things the things of Gods Word That 's the first And then especially The things that concern Gods Worship are to be look'd upon as great things for so it hath reference to them but the expression aims at that which is more general the great things of my Law the honorable magnificent and glorious things Now the things of the Law are great things First Because they are from the great God and they have the stamp of the Authority of the great God upon them there is a dreadful Authority in every Truth in every thing that is written in Gods Law I say there is a dreadful Authority of the great God that binds Kings and Princes in chains that laies bonds upon the conscience that no created power can yet this doth when we come to hear the Word we come either as to a Soveraign to receive Laws from or as to a Judg to receive the sentence of death it hath the dreadful Authority of the great God in it and therefore every thing that is in the Word is to be look'd upon as a great thing a piece of Parchment and a little Wax and a few Lines in it what are they but having the Authority of the great Seal of England such a piece is to be look'd upon as a great thing The things of Gods Law are great things for they have great Authority which goes along with them And Secondly They are great things because of the lustre of the great God that shines in them Take all the Creatures that ever God made in Heaven and Earth and I say there is not so much glory of God in Sun Moon Stars Sea and Plants and al things in the world as there is in some few sentences of holy Scripture therfore they are great things Psal 138. 2. Thou hast magnified thy Word above all thy Name The Name of God appears in his great work of Creation and of Providence We are to look upon Gods Name as very great yet thou hast magnified thy Word above all thy Name it 's more than al Gods Names besides It may be when there are some extraordinary works of God in the world Thundring and Lightning c. we are ready to be affraid and oh the great God that doth appear in these great works Were our hearts 〈◊〉 they ought to be when we reade the WORD we would tremble at that more than at any manifestation of God since the world began in all his Works and if so be thou dost not see more glory of God in his Word than in his Works it is because thou hast little light in thee and therfore let the world think of the things of Gods Law that are written as they wil yet they are the great things of his Law Thirdly They are the great Mysteries of Gods Will the great Counsels of God about the Souls of men about his way to honor Himself and to bring Mankind to Himself to Eternal life the great Counsels great Mysteries that are contained in the Word of God such as the Angels themselves do desire to pry into as in Prov. 8. 6. it is said of Wisdom Hear and I will speak of excellent things The Word of God speaks of excellent things right excellent things such great Mysteries of Gods Wisdom as should take up our thoughts yea and doth take up the Angels and shall take up the Angels and Saints to all Eternity to be prying into the great things which are revealed in Gods Word Psal 119. 27. Make me to understand the way of thy precepts so shall I talk of thy wondrous Works Mark how these are joyned together Make me to understand the way of thy precepts so shall I talk of thy wonderous works Why David couldest not thou see the wonderous works of God in the book of the creature in Heaven and Earth Oh no Make me to understand the way of thy precepts and then shall I talk of thy wonderous Works We many times talk about vain and slight things because we have nothing else to talk of but did we understand the way of Gods precepts we should be furnished with discourse of the wondrous works of God And then It 's a great WORD because that they are of great concernment The things of Gods Law are of great concernment for all our present good or evil depends upon the things of Gods Law Prov. 3. 22. They are life unto thy soul and grace unt◠〈◊〉 neck So saith Moses in Deut. 32. 46. Set your hearts unto all the words which I testifie unto you this day for it is not a vain thing it is your life they are of great concernment there 's a curse annexed to the breach of every thing in Gods Law Cursed be every one that abideth not in every thing that is written in the book of the Law Is it not a great matter then Certainly there is nothing in the Law that is to be look'd upon as a little matter because the Curse of God is annexed to the breath of every thing that is written in Gods Law and there we have the casting of our souls for eternity and is not that a great matter Did we come to hear the Word or did we reade the Word as the Word by which we must be cast for our eternal estates we would look upon it as a great Word Again The things are great things in Gods Law in regard of the great power and efficacy that they have upon the hearts and consciences of men when God sets home the things of his Law they will bring down the proudest heart and the stoutest stomach that is they will enlighten the blindest mind and convert the hardest heart that is in the world the Law hath a mighty power upon the soul and therefore it is great Further They are great things because they make all those great that do receive them they make them great even because they have but the keeping of them much more than if they receive them in Deut. 4. 8. What Nation is there so great that hath Statutes and Judgments so righteous as all this Law that I set before you this day What Nation so great as you are why wherein are we greater than other people Wherein In this What Nation is so great that hath Statutes and Judgments so righteous as all this Law which I set before you this day This was that which made the People of Israel a great Nation beyond all the Nations in the world they were not great in multitude but in that they had the Law of God and the great things of his Law revealed to them in this they became a great Nation The Lord honors a Nation highly but to reveal the things of His Law to them But how great then doth a soul come to be that doth imbrace those things that hath all those great and good things reveal'd in the Law made to it as its own priviledg Surely that soul
that were said against the strictest way of holiness but now he can be ready to listen to Objections As a man when he was intimate with his friend he could not endure to hear any thing that was said against him but now being estranged from him he can drink in any thing which is said against him Sixthly When the heart is estranged from the Word it wil put off thoughts and through examination of truths it will not search into things as it was wont to do but is willing to put off and shut his eyes and will rather search into any thing that may make against the Truth than that which will work for it I beseech you observe these workings of your hearts Seventhly There will be an engagement in some practice not allowed by the Word Then a man grows further estranged from his Friend when he doth not only refrain coming into his company but he will engage himself into some others that are against him Eighthly It comes to have a slight esteem of what before they thought had great weight in it there was a time when such such things were thought to have very great weight in them but now they are nothing they are of another judgment Just as when a man is estranged from his friend he thought before he had a great deal of excellency in him but now he esteems him not and this is the argument of the estrangement of his heart from him Lastly If men take not heed when they are by these degrees grown to be estranged from the Truth they will at length violently reject the Truths of the Word they will grow to be open enemies to the Truth Men that have bin familiar with Gods Word and Truth and made profession of them and seem'd to love them most by several degrees they have grown to be strangers from them and at length to be enemies to them Apostates have proved to be the most desperate enemies to the truths of God of any in the world take heed therefore of the strangeness of your hearts from the Truths of God lest you afterwards prove to be an enemy to God it 's an evil thing to account the Law of God a strange thing but much more to account it an enemy to us and our hearts to be an enemy to it Isa 5. 24. Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble and the flame consumeth the chaff so their root shall be rottenness and their blossom shall go up as dust why because they have cast away the Law of the Lord of Hosts and despised the Word of the holy One of Israel Oh! let us for ever take heed of this and therefore let our prayer be that of the Prophet David in Psal 119. 18 19. Open thou mine eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of thy Law And then it follows I am a stranger in the earth hide not thy Commandements from me Lord I account my self a stranger here in the world Oh! let not thy Word be a stranger to me I beseech you observe this Those men and women that account themselves strangers in the world will never account the Law of God a strang thing to them but such men as account themselves to be the inhabitants of the world they will have Gods Law to be a stranger to them Observe it and you shall find this to be a Note When your hearts begin to close with the things of the world you do not meditate in Gods Word so much as you did before nor delight to reade it but now if you can keep your heart from the things of the world to use them as if you used them not then this will be your prayer Lord hide not thy Commandements from me Oh thy Word is sweet unto me as honey and the honey comb One Note more about this They accounted this as a strange thing Men they have a strange way now a daies to estrange the Law from them and themselves from the Law That which their corrupt hearts will not close withal as for a rule of holiness that they will put upon Christ as if Christ had delivered them from it This is a strange way indeed of estranging themselves from Gods Law many men will eestrange themselves from the Law of God by too much familiarity in the world but for people to have this way by their familiarity with Jesus Christ because they come now to know Christ more therefore they should be greater strangers from the Law than they were before this is a strange way of estranging mens hearts from Gods Law The holy Ghost foreseeing such a generation which would be in the times of the Gospel that would boldly assert that whosoever the people of God were bound to under the old Testament yet in the new Testament they have nothing to do with the Law of Moses it is very observable In Malac. 4. 2. 4. the very close of the old Testament even then when there is a Prophesie of Christ to annex the old Testament and the new together saith the text there Vnto you that fear my Name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings to you that fear my Name shall Christ arise what then then you shall have nothing to with the Law when Christ arises Mark then in the 4 th vers Remember ye the Law of Moses almost the last words in the old Testament and the Conclusion as if the holy Ghost should say now I have done revealing all my mind about the old Testament and you must never expect any more Prophets nor any further Revelations of my mind till the time of the new Testament but instead of the Prophets you shall have the Sun of righteousness arise Well then I hope they shall never have any thing to do with the Law of Moses more Nay but saith the holy Ghost Remember ye the Law of Moses my servant c. VER 13. They sacrifice flesh for the sacrifice of mine offering THE Jews might object Why how do we account the Law of God a strange thing do not we continue in sacrificing do not we offer our sacrifices to God why do you say we account the Law a strange thing From the connexion therefore this Note may be observed That men may continue in outward profession and performances of duties of Religion and yet the great things of Gods Law may be a strange thing to them They do offer sacrifices still and yet they accounted Gods Law as a strange thing to them Do not think that sufficient that you continue in outward profession of Religion Nay shall I say more I make no qustion but a man may continue in outward duties and yet Apostatize from God so far as to commit the sin against the holy Ghost and that 's evident from the example of the Scribes and Pharisees that Christ charges for commission of the sin against the
God would have but one Altar 74 Answ 1. These Altars did typifie two things 1 That Christ was to be the only sacrifice 74 2 That all our services are accepted only in him ib. 2. That it might be the bond of the Church Other Objections Answered 76 Obs 1 Mans inventions in Gods Worship are rejected of God 77 Obs 2 There is no stop in superstitious worship 78 Obs 3 We are ready to imitate our forefathers in what is evil but not in what is good 79 Obs 4. Take heed distance of time make us not to fear the threatning the less 80 Obs 5 Every age ads something to Idolatry and false worship 81 Obs 6 What ever names we give to things it may be God will give other names and titles 83 Obs 7 When mens hearts are set upon fals waies of worship it is just with God to let them have their desires to the full ib. VERSE XII Obs 1 Whatsoever is urged or practised in matter of worship it must have warrant out of the written Word of God 85 Obs 2 We should look upon the Scriptures as concerning our selves 92 Obs 3 The things of Gods Worship are to be looked upon as great things 96 1 Because they are from a great God ib. 2 The lustre of the great God shines in them ib. 3 They are the mysteries of Gods will 97 4 They are of great concernment 98 5 They have great power on the heart of man ib. 6 They make all those great that receive them 99 7 They are great in Gods account ib. Obs 4 The word is matter for the greatest spirits to exercise themselves about 101 Obs 5 It is a special means to obedience to have high thoughts of Gods Law 102 Obs 6. The worship of God is a great matter 103 The Word of God accounted strange 1 As not concerning them 105 2 Strange in their apprehensions 106 3 There is no sutableness between their hearts and the Doctrine 107 4 They use the Word as a stranger viz. for their own ends 108 Obs 7 Superstitious people that are very zealous in their own way of worship are very negligent in Gods way 108 Obs 8 It is a dangerous thing for men to have their hearts estranged from Gods Law 110 The Degrees of the hearts estrangement from God 1 His delight in God abates 111 2 They are less frequent together ib. 3 He hath hard thoughts of Gods Word ib 4 He wisheth the things in the Word were otherwise ib. 5 He begins to listen to things that are against the Word 112 6 He will not search throughly into truths ib. 7 An engagement in some unlawful practice ib. 8 Weighty arguments now become weak ib. 9 He violently rejects the Word ib. Obs 8 That which mens corrupt hearts will not close withal they put it upon Christ as if Christ had delivered them from it 113 VERS XIII Obs 1 Men may continue in outward profession and yet the great things of Gods Law may be strange to them 115 Obs 2 Most men offer up nothing to God in sacrifice but flesh 116 Obs 3 To aim at Self in serving God eats out true devotion 117 Obs 4 If Self be regarded all is rejected 119 Obs 5 Men may be much in holy services and yet their sins stand upon the score nevertheless 120 Obs 6 Howsoever God may forbear wicked men a time yet he hath a time to remember all ib. Obs 7 God remembers the sins of wicked people especially in the performance of holy duties 122 1 Because we come into Gods presence ib. 2 Holy Duties are aggravations of sin ib. Obs 8 God visits mens sins when they think he neglects them most 123 Obs 9 Carnal hearts when God visits their sins plot which way to shift for themselves 124 Obs 10 It is one of the most dreadful judgments of God upon a Nation when he hath delivered them from one bondage to deliver them into the same again 125 Obs 11 It is just with God that those that inherit their fathers sins should inherit their fathers judgments ib. Obs 12 All places are places of misery when God forsakes a People ib. VERSE XIV Obs 1 God punisheth for sin when men are most secure 126 Obs 2 It is Gods favor that makes a man 127 Obs 3 The greater excellency God raiseth a man to the viler is his sin to forget God 128 Obs 4 When mens hearts are farthest off from God then are they forwardest in superstition 128 Objections answered 129 Obs 5 Men are more subject to secure themselves from outward things than from Gods wrath 132 Obs 6 When men bless themselves in their own thoughts they should consider what are Gods thoughts 133 Obs 7 Brave things are subject to Gods devouring fire 134 CHAP. IX VERS I. Obs 1 That 's a sad war where the Conqueror hath cause to be sad at the Conquest 137 Vse for England ib. Obs 2 Leagues wherein we much rejoyce may prove occasions of sorrow 138 Use Be not greedy of peace before the time ib. Obs 3 Carnal hearts bless themselves in in outward prosperity 139 Obs 4 When men be jolly and merry they should consider whether it be from God or not 140 Obs 5 We may prosper and yet have no cause of joy ib. Obs 6 Carnal hearts are immoderate in joy 141 Exhortations 1 Be not taken with the worlds jollity 142 2 Imitate them not in their waies of rejoycing ib. 3 Do not rejoyce as a People 143 4 Rejoyce not profanely ib. 5 Rejoyce not as having so much cause as others 144 Obs 7 Many that scorn mean men may not be in so good a case as they ib. Obs 8 Although we enjoy the same blessings that othess do yet we may not have the same cause to rejoyce that they have 144 Obs 9 It is a great argument of mens misery that others rejoyce when they cannot 145 Obs 10 That which we call little matter in corrupting Gods Worship God calls a going a whoring from him 147 Obs 11 A People may be free from the gross evils of another people and yet be in a worse condition than they 147 Proved 148 Obs 12 To be constant to evil principles is not so great an evil as to be false in good principles ib. Obs 13 The sins of Gods People are the greatest sins of all 149 Obs 14 Idolaters love outward prosperity because it is a reward of their service to their Idols 153 VERSE II. Obs 1 God often lets wicked men come near a mercy and then cuts them off 154 Obs 2 God strikes wicked men in those things their hearts are mâ—st set upon ib. Obs 3. The promises of the creature will lye the promises of the world will not 155 Obs 4 Men shall fail at last in what they think they to get in a way of sin ib. VERSE III. Obs 1 It is a great judgment of God to drive men out of a Land for sin 159 Obs 2 The state of the Church of God
see but little of it there I but saith God my people have my Law where my mind is written plainly and they may see it there and know what my Covenant is with them and therefore their sin is so much the greater they have transgressed against my Law The Seventy translate these words They have dealt ungodlily against my Law and the word especially hath reference to the worship of God that is commanded in the Law they have not worshiped me according to my Law for though God looks at every part of his Law yet more especially at that that requires his more immediate worship And in the Hebrew it is they have prevaricated against my Law they have made a shew that they would do what my Law requires but they do quite contrary that 's the propriety of the word in the Hebrew What people is there in the world but will make some shew that they would obey Gods Law no people but say it is fit that they should be obedient to Gods Law what variety of opinions and practices are there among men and yet all will father their opinions and practices upon Gods Law and mark but they do prevaricate in this they pretend one thing but they go quite the contrary way and this is that which God charges his people withal upon which he would send his enemies even an Eagle upon them It follows VER 2. Israel shall cry unto me My God we know thee THE words as they are in the Hebrew are somewhat different from what they are in your books for Israel in your books is in the first place but in the Hebrew it is in the last that is To me they shall cry My God we know thee Israel What difference is this yes the words thus read have more elegancy in them than otherwise and they hint some observations that would hardly be hinted to us as it is in your books as thus If you reade it as it is in your books then it is only a speech of God to them But if you reade it according to the Hebrew they shall cry to me My God we know thee Israel They here seem to put God in mind who they were as if they should say we are Israel who know thee remember we are not strangers to thee They shall cry unto me My God we know thee Israel It 's Israel that cries to thee Oh my God! Or as if they should put God in mind of their Father Israel in whom their confidence was They shall cry to me My God we know thee Israel Oh remember our Father Israel and deal graciously with us for the sake of our Father Israel Just like those in Matth. that would cry We have Abraham to our Father so here this people would cry in their cries in the time of their affliction they would cry to God that they had Israel to their Father we have reference to Israel who did so prevail as a Prince with God and therefore we hope we shall fare the better for Israel Or thus They shall cry to me My God we know thee Israel That is we know thee to be the God of Israel we have known how thy waies have been in former times for the good of thine Israel and Lord remember how thou hast wrought for thine Israel heretofore and work now for us in the same manner thus there is a great deal in this word Israel if you set it in the last place in the verse more than if you set it in the beginning From hence the Notes are these First That in affliction men see their need of God So the Chaldae paraphrase upon this place Alwaies when I bring straights upon them then they pray before me and say Now we see plainly that we have no other God besides thee Oh! redeem us because we are thy people Israel so that 's the meaning Secondly Even Hypocrites and the vilest Wretches that are in the time of their distress will claim interest in God and cry to him even those that have departed most from him will be ready to claim interest in him in their distress What an impudency was it for this people that had so grosly departed from God that had gone so against their light and yet they will come boldly and claim their interest in God in the time of their affliction Truly we see the same spirit in men at this very day the most wicked and vile ungodly man or woman that is yet will be ready in afflictions to claim interest in God My God I appeal to you in this Congregation if one should go from one end of the Congregation and speak particularly to every one and ask but this question Do you hope that God is your God Every one would be ready to say Yes we hope he is This is the impudency of mens hearts that will take liberty to go on in a way of rebellion and fighting against God all their lives and yet in the time of their distress claim interest in God Thirdly That knowledg and acknowledgment of God in an outward formal way is that which Hypocrites think will commend them much to God in time of affliction that by which they shall have favour from Him because they have made some profession of God We know thee as if they should say Lord we were not as others that had forsaken thee we continued Israel still we did not turn to be Heathens It is very hard for mens spirits to be taken off from trusting in formality in outward worship we are all Christians we are not turned Heathens so they shall call to me My God we know thee Israel we continue Israel still Oh! how sweet and comfortable is it then to have a true interest in God in the time of affliction to be able to say in truth Lord we know thee and blessed be thy Name Lord we have known thee we have had experience of thy goodness and faithfulness mercy love and tender compassion towards us we have known thee an infinite al sufficient good thou hast satisfied our souls with thy love the light of thy countenance it hath been the joy of our hearts and blessed be the time that ever we knew thee Oh blessed be the time that ever the Lord made himself known to us we can say Lord we have known thee and therefore now Lord have mercy upon us Oh let us all learn to make more of our interest in God and to labor to know Him more and more that we may have this comfort in our afflictions to be able to say in truth Oh Lord thou art our God and we have known thee If Hypocrites think it to be so great a comfort that they are Israel Oh what is it then to be a true Israelite in whose heart is no guile Fourthly Degenerate children they think to have favour for the sake of their godly parents We have known thee Israel Children should imitate
good we cast off mercy and protection we open a door to all kind of misery if we retain that which is good we retain God but when that which is good is cast off we lie exposed and naked to all kind of misery for God owns us not It follows VER 4. They have set up Kings but not by me they have made Princes and I knew it not HERE we have their Civil apostasie the other was a Moral apostasie They have set up their Kings but not by me Though all Government it is to hold on God yet we are to know that God had an especial hand in the Government of the people of the Jews It was as Lapide upon the place calls it a Spiritual and a kind of Divine Kingdom it was not meerly Civil the Government that God set over them was typical it was to typifie the Government of Christ And hence we are to take this Caution We may easily be led aside into many mistakes and errors if we argue thus That because the Kings of Israel and Judah did thus and thus therefore it is in the power of any King at these times to do so for certainly there was a mighty deal of difference between the Government then even the Government in that State and the Government now for State and Church was mixt together and the Government then it was typical it was to typifie the Kingdom of Jesus Christ therefore though God leaves People leaves States now to their Liberty to set up what Government may be best for them yet it was not permitted to the Jews they were to have only that Government that God should reveal from Heaven for their Civil State therefore when they would change the form of their Government first from Judges to Kings God said they had rejected him in casting off that They set up Kings but not by me Some think that this hath reference to the chusing of Kings at first because that they did it without Gods Warrant when they chose a King to themselves at first and so they have set up Kings but not by me But I rather think that this hath reference to Jeroboam and his successors they set up Jeroboam and his successors and not by God This you will say is very strange for it is cleer in Scripture that it was from God that Jeroboam should be King and that the ten Tribes should be rent from Solomons posterity for the punishment of Solomons sin it was prophesied of by Ahijah the Shilonite 1 King 11. 29 30 31. the Prophet came to Jeroboam and renâ— the Garment of Jeroboam in twelve pieces and said to him Take thee ten pieâ—es for thus saith the Lord the God of Israel Behold I will rent the Kingdom out of the hand of Solomon and will give ten Tribes to thee The Lord sent his Prophet to tell him expresly that he would rent ten Tribes from the house of Solomon to give them to him and yet here it is said That they have set up Kings but not by me Again in the 10. chap. and 15. ver Rehoboam hearkened not unto the people for the Cause was from the Lord that he might perform his saying which the Lord spake by Ahijah the Shilomite unto Jeroboam the Son of Nebat It was from the Lord that Rehoboam gave such a churlish answer was from the Lord that he was left to such a Tyrannical cruel spirit that the Lord might fulfil the word that he had spoken by Ahijah the Shilonite Abulensis thinks that the ten Tribes for the matter of the thing did no more than they might do and he gives this reason for saith he the people these Tribes were free Tribes but Rehoboam would bring them into slavery and he would reign over them as a Tyrant therefore saith he they might lawfully depart from him and leave him and make to themselves a new King and then he puts the Cause viz. for that a people or Common-wealth saith he they first gave the power to Kings and Princes but they did it upon certain conditions at first therefore as they first gave power unto them so saith he they may diminish it if they abuse it and Tyrannize over them for he hath this further expression the people did not absolutely give themselves to him when a people do chuse a chief Governor saith he they do not give themselves to them as a man gives to his friend a piece of money or a horse so as they give all out of their own possession and that he might do with them what he will but upon certain conditions thus and thus this Abulensis hath Now though I do not altogether approve of what he hath said because at least the case between People and Princes now is different from what it was then God chalenged a peculiar Prerogative over them for tendering their Government yet thus far in Divinity is true There is more reason that people should now have more power to cast off Tyranny than there was because now none comes to Government over others but by Agreement therefore if the Agreement and Law of the Country be that they shall be elect and not haereditary they are so if that the males shall only inherit he shall only inherit and so if the Law of the Country were for delivering themselves from tyranny so far certainly God allows it in His Word But now to answer the Case more cleerly They set up Kings but not by me though GOD had foretold that the ten Tribes should be rent away from the house of David and that Jeroboam should be set up yet they did not do this thing in a lawful way as they ought for they should have consulted with God about the time and manner of it when God would have it done it was not enough that God did fortell it should be done but when they did it they ought to have done it in a way of consulting with God and they ought to have been ordered by God for the way and manner of it and they did not do it in way of fulfilling the Prophesie for the people generally knew no such thing but meerly minding their own passions and lusts they look'd at no further though God did over-rule it to fulfil his own Counsels yet they aimed at no such thing Whence we have these useful Notes for our edification First That we may do the thing that God would have done and yet sin highly against God God would have Jeroboam set up but they only looking at the matter and did not observe Gods way God did reject them Secondly To do that which God would have done yet if we do not know that it is Gods mind we sin against God Though we do the thing that God would have done in His secret will yet we sin against God if we know it not to be His revealed will Now no action can be good but that which is done not
that we should add to the praise of God Men desires to ad more and more to the States of their Progenitors and so your Children they will add a little to the estates that you leave them and so men account it their ambition to raise their families My Brethren we should have an holy Ambition by practice of Religion more and more in every age as Jehu said in 2 King 10. 18. Ahab served Baal a little but Jehu shall serve him much So others as he said of false worship though in a fained way we should say of the true Worship of God we have served the Lord a little but we will serve him more we have more mercies than they had more light than they had if they served God a little we will serve him more And then Ephraim hath made many Altars to sin God still remembers the first and the chief Actors in sin Ephraim he speaks to the ten Tribes and yet only names Ephraim because the Governors were of that Tribe The chief in a family by whom the whol family is corrupted and the chief in a Town or Country God hath an eye upon them and though others escape they shall not Ephraim hath multiplied Altars to sin they intended not to sin it was not their intention when they made Altars that they might sin they thought they pleased God but God accounts it â—n and a provocation to him And from thence the Note is only this That whatsoever names we may give to things yet it may be God will give other names and titles to them we may say that it is devotion God will say it is superstition we may say it 's good intention but God may say it is presumption we may say it is prudence and wisdom but God may give it another name and say it is temporising 't is time-serving God doth use to give other names to things than we do in the Scripture they call their Images their delectable things God calls them detestable things No question if you would ask them why they built Altars they would say to the honor of God but saith God You built Altars to sin And then Altars shall be unto him to sin Shall be to him That 's thus Seeing they will have them they shall have them they shall have enough of them let them go on in their way let them multiply their sin When mens hearts are set upon false waies of worship it 's just with God to let them have their desires to the full They shall have their way that they do contend for they keep a great deal of stir for it and have it they must they refuse to see the light they are prejudiced against the way of Gods Worship let them have what they would have saith God they shall have Governors to establish what they would have by their Authority and they shall have their Teachers that shall defend by subtil Arguments those things to be lawful they multiply Altars to sin and they shall be to sin even to harden them and so the Seventy seem to take the meaning of these words by their translation of them whereas you have it They shall be to sin their Altars shall be to love their hearts are set upon them and they will have them and love them and they shall be hardened in them and this is the heavy judgment of God to give unto men their hearts desires in what is evil and as it shall be to them for sin so it shall be to them for their misery for the fruit of sin for so sin is taken very frequently in Scripture for the fruit of sin they will have them to sin and they shall find the fruit of sin by what they are so eagerly set upon them And thus much for the eleventh verse It follows VER 12. I have written to him the great things of my Law but they were counted as a strange thing THIS Verse in the reading of it appears a greatness in the very sound of it and there is as much in it as the sound doth import and therefore though we pass over other things more briefly yet because there is very much of Gods mind in this and we should wrong the Scripture if we should pass over this too slightly I have written to him the great things of my Law This is made an aggravation of their sin they multiply Altars to sin and yet saith God I have written to them the great things of my Law they find no such things in my Law written to them this was against the very written Word of God and what that written Word of God against those many Altars was that you had the last day but in that from this connexion that these are made sins because they were against the written Word of God from thence the Note is That whatsoever is urged to us or practised by us in matters of Worship it must have Warrant out of the written Word of God It was sin Why because I have written to them saith he the great things of my Law and they counted it a strong thing though that which they did had a great deal of seeming devotion in it yet it was otherwise than that they found written in my Law This Question should be put to any that tender to us any way of Worship or Doctrine of Religion under any specious shew whatsoever Where is it written To the Law and to the Testimonie Isaiah 8. 20. If they speak not according to this Word it is because they have no light in them Oh they seem to be very judicious and wise but if they speak not according to this Word they have no light in them not only to the Law and Testimonies but to the written Law and Testimonies this must be the Standard at which all Doctrines and waies of Worship must be tried Many may put fair colours upon their waies that it is for Common Peace and a great deal of good may be done by it and the like But is it written Did I ever command it saith God Policy may say it's fit Reason may say it's comely and Experience may say it's useful But doth the written Law say it should be Nay it 's not enough to say That we cannot say it is forbidden But where is it written In matters of Worship this is a certain rule Saith Tertullian about the Crowning of the Soldier with Baies If it be said It is lawful because the Scripture doth not forbid it it may equally be retorted It is therefore not lawful because the Scripture doth not command it No matter what the thing be saith Luther in matters of Religion but who it is that bids it who it is that commands it we must look to that Never argue thus in any point of Religion I beseech you consider it is a point that hath been is and may yet
in their speaking and in their writing I have written And I have written to him the great things of my Law From this manner of Phrase first we are to note this That we should look upon the Scripture as concerning our selves Here 's a letter written to you and you and you every man and woman therefore it is in the singular number every man woman must look upon the Scripture as written to him or her particularly God writes to thee he hath written a letter to thee that thou shouldest not commit Adultry nor swear nor steal and that thou shouldest keep the Sabbath and that thou shouldest not lye and that thou shouldest reverence him and love him and fear him and all such kind of rules that God from Heaven hath written to thee and it is a mervailous help to obedience and to awaken mens consciences when they apprehend them written to them Psal 119. 105. Thy Word is a Lamp unto my feet and a light unto my paths It is not a light that I see at a distanc a great way off but as a light that is held to my feet that I make use of for the ordering of mine own steps Many there are that seem to rejoyce in the Word of God as a light to reveal Truths unto them for matter of discourse but they make it not as a light to their feet and a lanthorn to their steps as applying it to themselves and it follows I have sworn and will perform it That I will keep thy righteous judgments I have look'd upon thy Word as a Lanthorn to my feet as a thing meerly concerning me and then I have sworn and I will perform I have sworn that I will keep thy righteous judgments It 's a mighty means to stir up a mans spirit and quicken him up to obedience to look upon the Word as written to himself As thus when you come to hear out of Gods Word and God directs the Minister so that you apprehend it as spoken to you it will stir and awaken you Oh me thought this day every word the Minister spake it was to me And so every word in the Scripture that concerns thee God writes to thee and conceive it so and it will be a mighty means to stir thee up to obedience As if a man be asleep a great noise will not waken him so soon as if you call him by his name John Thomas c. So when the Word of God comes as to our selves in particular it 's a mighty means to stir the heart Again I have written to him To those that were the People of God though the Word concerns all men yet it is written to the Church in a more especial manner As you find in the Revelations all the Epistles were written to the Churches and indeed all the Word of God is in a more peculiar manner written to the Church there are some things concerning all mankind but that which God Aims at in a more especial manner it is to the Church first to the Church of the Jews they had that great priviledg that the Orracles of God were committed to them in Rom. 3. 2. when the Apostle had taken them off from resting in many of their outward priviledges he brings an Objection But then may some say What advantage hath the Jew He answers much every way chiefly because to them were committed the Oracles of God in this thing they had much advantage of all people in the world that to them were committed the Oracles of God God gave Jacob his Law it was the Inheritance of his people it is written to them to them is committed the Oracles of God and this is a great honor which God puts upon his Saints God makes his Church to be the Keeper of his Records the Court of Rolls as it were the Church is as it were the Court of Rolls and the great Records of Heaven God commits to his Church and therfore they should look to it that it be kept faithfully that there be no corrupting it for then they do falsifie their trust Shee hath the keeping of Scripture but gives no Authority to Scripture in John 5. 47. saith Christ there If ye beleeve not Moses writings how can ye beleeve my words Mark Christ would have the Authority of his words much to be strengthened by the writings that were before in Scripture If ye beleeve not his writings how can ye beleeve my words But now the Papists will say If ye beleeve not our words how can ye beleeve their writings quite the other way they will take upon them more than Christ Christ saith If ye beleeve not his writings how can ye beleeve my words Say they If ye beleeve not our words how can ye beleeve their writings For they take the Authority of the writing of Scripture to depend upon their words It is written to the Church and committed to the Church but the Authority comes not from the Church It follows I have written the great things of my Law By Law here we are to understand â—he whol Word of God and not in way of distinction of Law and Gospel but the whol Word of God and so the word signifies it comes from one signifying teaching the Law is a Doctrine that is taught and so though sometimes it may be distinguished from some other parts of Scripture yet now we are to understand the whol mind of God in his Word when you reade in Psal 119. how David loved Gods Law it is not the ten Commandements but the mind of God revealed in his Word The great things of my Law The Old Latin hath it the many Laws and the words in the Hebrew seems a little to favor the multiplicity of my Laws And then it should argue these two things First That the Word is full and perfect that we have rules for every thing that concerns the ordination of our lives to God in his Word there 's a multiplicity of Laws and Rules for all our waies Secondly That there are manifold excellencies in Gods Law as the manifold wisdom of God is in Christ so the manifold excellencies of God are kept up together in the Word of God The Seventy translates the word the Fulness or Multitude and according to that Tertullian hath an expression I adore the fulness of the Scripture Oh the multitude of excellent things there are there and the fulness that there is there I find divers turn this word by many words that have excellent significations in them and indeed the Hebrew word wil bear many expressions of it Some the Precious thing the Magnificent thing the Excellent thing the Honorable things of my Law as in Acts 2. 11. they spake the wonderful things of God it is more than the great things the magnificent great things of God Now the things of the Word they are glorious and honorable and very great they are to
is in an high and honorable condition indeed Further The things of Gods Law are great in Gods esteem they are great because the great God thinks them so That is to be accounted great that the most judicious and wise men in the world judg so to be indeed that which a child thinks to be a great thing is no great thing a child may think a bauble to be a great thing so we may think things great indeed we think the things of the world are great for a man to have an estate it 's a great matter to have riches and honors and to be some-body in the world we think these to be great things But what are these in Gods eyes God despises all these things But that which the great God will think to be a great thing certainly that 's great indeed Now mark what a high esteem God hath of his Word in that place where Christ saith Heaven and Earth shall pass away but not one jot or tittle of my Word shall pass away As if Christ should say The Lord will rather withdraw his power from the upholding of Heaven and Earth than from making good any one jot or tittle of his Law you may think it a little matter to break Gods Law but God thinks it a great matter and God would have us to make a great matter of every thing that is written in Gods Law I am the willinger to enlarge my self in this because I know it is the ground of all the wickedness in mens hearts and lives because they look upon the Law as a little matter well though they dare sin against Gods Law for the getting of a groat or six pence but God saith I will rather lose Heaven and Earth than one jot or tittle of my Law shall fall and he will make it appear one day that the things of his Law are great things in Isa 42. 21. He will magnifie the Law and make it honorable You may vilifie it a company of wanton spirits we have that consider not what they say or what they do running away with the very word of the Law they think to vilifie it What have we to do with the Law and under that word not understanding what they mean they think to cast a vile esteem upon the Law let them do what they will yet God will magnifie his Law and as it is great in the thoughts of God so it is and shall be for ever great in the thoughts of the Saints the Lord will have his people to the end of the world have high thoughts of his Law the Saints they look upon the Law of God so great as they had rather suffer all the miseries and torments that any man in the world any Tyrant can devise than willingly to break the Law in any one thing surely they account it a great matter when a man shal be willing rather to lose his estate and liberty yea and life to suffer tortures and torments and all because he will not offend the Law of God in any one thing though he might escape all if he would nay saith a gracious heart Let all go rather than I will venture to break the Law of God in any one thing surely he looks upon the Law of God as very great Men of the world think them to be fools and why will you be content to suffer so much lose all your friends what venture to lose your estates which have such a fair way of living as you have what venture a prison and venture your life the world thinks they are but little things and trifles and men are more precise than wise and they need not trouble themselves so much If God would but shew to you how great a thing his Law is and all the threatnings which are revealed therein you would account your estates and lives and all your comforts as little and poor in comparison of that Law hence in Revel 6. 9. I saw under the Altar the souls of them that were slain for the Word of God and for the testimony which they held Wherefore were they slain Surely it was for some great matter that they would venture their lives it was for the Word of God and for the Testimony which they held And thus the Saints of God have ever accounted the Law of God a great thing I have written unto them the great things of my Law Hence from what hath been said we may have these Notes for Observation Here are Objects in the Word for men of the greatest spirits to exercise themselves about Many mens spirits are raised up and cannot endure to spend their thoughts and time about small matters and you shall have some mens spirits are so low that they think it happiness enough if they can be imployed in a gutter and get six pence or twelve pence a day to find them bread at night but others have great spirits Oh! let all those who have aspiring spirits and great spirits let them exercise themselves much in the Law of God here are objects fit for great spirits that will greaten our spirits And indeed there are no men in the world have great spirits but the Saints they have great spirits for they exercise themselves in the great counsels of God We account those men to be men of the greatest spirits that are imployed in State-affairs now the Saints they are lifted up above all things in the world and they look at all these things as little and mean and they are exercised in the great affairs of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ hence it is that the Lord would have Kings to have the book of the Law written and the Judges and it is reported of Alphonsus King of Arragon that in the midst of all his great affairs of his Kingdom he read over the Scriptures fourteen times with Commentaries upon them How many have we men of great estates and seem to be of great spirits that scarce mind the Law of God they look upon the Law of God as under them it may be if they can have a book of History and Wars they will be reading over that but for the Scripture it is a thing that hath little in it Another Note It is a special means of obedience to have high thoughts of Gods Law to convince and humble them for their disobedience for that 's the reason why the Prophet here speaks thus I have written to him the great things of my Law but they were accounted as a strange thing As if he should say If they had had the things of my Law to have been high in their thoughts they would never have done as they have done Psal 119. 129. Thy Testimonies are wonderful therefore doth my soul keep them I have high thoughts of thy Testimonies I look upon them as glorious things I see much of thy self in thy Testimonies and therefore doth my soul keep them He doth not
say therefore do I keep them but therefore doth my soul keep them Oh my very soul is in this in keeping thy Testimonies for I look upon them as wonderful things It 's a good sign of the Spirit of the great God in a man when it doth raise him above other things to look upon the things of his Word as the only great things that are in the world All flesh is grass saith the Scripture but the Word of God endures for ever there is a vanity in all things of the world but in that which the Word reveals Oh! there is an eternity there we should therefore admire at nothing so as at the Word and we should greatly delight in Gods Commandements an ordinary admiration is not sufficient for the Commands of God for the Law of God nor an ordinary delight is not sufficient but great admiration and great de-delight there should be in the Law of God And all things that are taken from Gods Law should be great arguments to prevail with you It may be there comes such and such temptations to draw you to such and such evils and you say they are strong temptations But that which is in the Law that should be a greater argument there is that which is greater in Gods Law than there can be in any temptation whatsoever Therefore know it is a dangerous thing for men and women to look at any thing in Gods Law as a little thing so as to despise it and to think it is no great matter though we do such and such things though we should go from the rule of the Word a little what great matter is it are we not all sinners Prov. 13. 13. Who so despiseth the Word shall be destroyed That is looks upon any thing in Gods Word as a light thing It was a speech of one that should say when he was convinc'd of a thing that was evil That he must make bold with God Almighty sometimes Do not you make bold with Gods Word and secretly jeer at those that are so nice they cannot venture a little remember this text in Prov. 13. 13. Who so despiseth the Word shall be destroyed take the least thing that you think so despicable in Gods Law and you will veture upon it but God will make it a great matter for when you have broke the Law in the least thing all the Angels in Heaven and Men in the World cannot satisfie God for that wrong if they should come and say Lord here 's a poor creature that hath broken thy Law but in this one thing that he thought to be a little matter we are content to be ten thousand yeers in torments to satisfie for thy Law Nay saith God this will not do it Therefore take heed of despising Gods Law or despising any thing that is reveal'd by him for certainly it will prove a great matter and when the Law hath been broken let us not think it is a little matter that it is but a Lord have mercy upon me at the last Again The Prophet is convincing them of false worship and upon this ground Because they would venture to make Altars to worship God in another way than God revealed in his Law from thence note That the Worship of God is a great matter every thing in Gods Worship is to be look'd at as a great matter They may think it a matter of indifferency whether they do it or no at least in some things My Brethren let us learn to know that every thing in the Worship of God is a great matter God looks much upon it God doth not say that he is jealous for any thing but for his Worship Vzzah he thought it a little matter for him to go and catch the Ark and especially having a good intention It 's true the Law of God is that it should be carried upon mens shoulders but may it not as well be carried in a cart he thought it but a little matter but it proved a great matter So that which we think little in Gods Worship is a great matter So Vzziah in 2 Chron 26. No question he thought it no great matter to go into the Temple and offer sacrifice Is it not as good that a King offer it as a Priest it was in the Temple and the true Worship and Vzziah because he was a great man he thought he might venture for there you find that he had an Army of three hundred thousand and seven thousand and five hundred Soldiers A great Captain And Nadab and Abihu no question they thought it no great matter to go and offer strange fire and it hath not been forbidden in Gods Word this fire but it was a great matter before God for God came with fire from Heaven to destroy them Hence it is that God in his Word would set out the glory of his Worship to that end that he might take off mens hearts from all false worship he would have them to think the matters of his Worship great things that so they might not have their hearts taken with any false worship Ezek. 7. 20. The beauty of his Ornament he set in Majestie and hereby God aggravates their sin of Idolatry Oh my Worship and Service I made it as beautiful and glorious as could be but they worshiped their Images their detestable things So in Jer. 17. 12. A glorious high Throne from the beginning of our Sanctuary Mark what follows All that forsake thee shall be ashamed and they that depart from thee shall be written in the Earth because they have forsaken the Lord the Fountain of living Waters As if God should say Oh vile hearts of men when there is such a glorious Worship of mine that I present unto them yet they turn even to their own vile Inventions and not regard that glorious Worship of mine I beseech you Brethren labor to look upon Gods Worship as a glorious thing But now the Reprehension that follows But they were accounted as a strange thing Here 's the wickedness of people that though God shews forth his Glory in his Word yet they look upon it as a strange thing as a thing that they shall get little good by if they do obey or little hurt by if they do disobey We should now have shewed wherein this people did account Gods Worship a strange thing and what particulars of Gods Law they accounted strange things But especially this one among the rest they did count strange viz. That God should so stand upon it that He must needs be worshiped Jerusalem at the Temple and at no other Altar whatsoever came of it Now because they thought that if the people went to Jerusalem to worship it would be very prejudicial to the State this was a strange thing that which we can see no reason for So people are ready to think if any thing be propounded for the Worship of God out of the Word Yea but
how can it be with peace it wil cause contention now to stand upon such things that they conceive may breed some trouble they account it a strange thing that God should require such things as may produce such troubles first men will frame troubles in their own thoughts and put them upon Gods Worship whereas indeed they do not bring such trouble but if they be examined they may stand well enough with the peace of States I make no question but this is one especial thing aim'd at by the holy Ghost here That they accounted Gods Law that very Law of God that reduired them to worship at Jerusalem as a strang thing that they could not see such reason for why they might not venture and especially when it was for the peace of the Civil State Now they accounted this and the other particular of Gods Law as a strange thing in Four regards First As a thing that had little or no reference to them as a thing that did not much concern them They took not to heart the breaches of Gods Law neither did they much regard the keeping of it it was no great matter to them they made account that it was ad libitum what they did that way much did not depend upon it either good or evil As a stranger accounts it not to concern him what the Master commands or as we account it no great matter what strangers do what cloaths they wear or what course they take we let them pass by and not mind them Secondly They accounted them as a strange thing that is They were strange things in their apprehension they could see no reason as we say of a thing that we do not understand that we see no reason of it it is strange we say so they in the text that God should say thus and thus when we cannot see that any account can be given for it they are strange things Strange things that they did not apprehend the reason of and especially among other things of Gods Law as was said before the way of Gods Worship was a very strange thing to them that God should stand so much upon it that he must be worshiped no where in the way of publick worship but at Jerusalem at the Temple no sacrifices must be offered but there yea that whatsover come of it though people dwelt a great way off though as they thought it would bring a great deal of disturbance unto the Kingdom of Israel for to go to Jerusalem to worship yet that God should stand so upon it that they must go and that the Prophets should urge it with that fervencie as they did that they must go to Jerusalem come of it what will they must venture their peace they accounted this a strange thing And indeed it is very strange unto people to think that we must look to the exact way of Gods Worship whatsoever comes of it whatsoever trouble or disturbance comes of it we must not go a hair against the way that God hath set for his right Worship this is a strange thing to carnal hearts And Luther upon the place seems to interpret it thus as if this Text had especial reference to this Note that I am now speaking of saith he They did condemn and contemn the Prophets Sermons as a Doctrine that did hurt the Common-wealth the Sermons that the Prophets taught had in them much anxiety specially this Doctrine against going up to Jerusalem to worship and they thought it was hurtful to the Common-wealth and upon that they contemn'd it and damn'd it What strange thoughts have carnal hearts of many parts of Gods Law they think them foolishness even those very things wherein the Wisdom of God is revealed to the children of men those things wherein the deep Connsels of God concerning mans eternal estate is revealed even those are the things which they acount foolishness Thirdly They accounted them a strange thing that is There was no sutableness between their hearts and the things that the Law did reveal unto them they did not make the Law of God familiar to them as that which had a sutableness to their spirits As if a man that goes into strange company company which are altogether unsutable to him yea perhaps they speak another language and have altogether other customs and diet than we have we are weary of them and we turn from them and are tired in the society for they are strange things unto us that our hearts are not sutable unto So when the Law of God is look'd upon as unsutable to the dispositions of our hearts to our ends to our waies our hearts turn from those things as from strange things whereas indeed our hearts should be familiar with the Word of God Gods Word and the things therein should not be as strrnge things to our souls but as the holy Ghost saith it should be as our Kinswoman and as our Delight continually Prov. 6. 21. Bind them continually about thy heart and tie them about thy neck When thou goest it shall lead thee when thou sleepest it shall keep thee and when thou awakest it shall talk with thee there should be a familiarity between our hearts and the Commandements of God to talk with us when we awake and when we are in our journy we should take the Law of God as our companion in our journies we should awake with it in the night time and meditate on it day and night therefore God would have his people in the Law when they rose to talk of those things when they go to bed when they rose up when they walked in the way they should be conferring about the things of Gods Law to make them familiar to them that they might not be estranged from them God sees that mens hearts would quickly grow strange from his Law therefore Commanded that by all snch means and waies they should endeavor to make the Law to be familiar to them Fourthly They use the Law as a stranger that is they use the Law slightly only for their own turns As usually men when strangers comes into their Country those that have been strangers in other Countries know it that the Natives of the Country they use them slightly but if they do seem to shew any respect unto them it is meerly for their own turns As they may have any advantage by them so far they shew respect to them and no further So they accounted the Law a strange thing that is they made use of the Law but meerly to serve their own turns so far as obedience to the Law sutes to their own ends so far they yeelded to it and no further Now it 's very observable that those who are so forward in their false worship that the text saith they did multiply Altars and had special regard to their Altars yet for the Law they accounted that as a strange thing From whence the Note is That
superstitious people who are forward and zealous in their own way of Worship yet they are very slight and negligent in Gods way of Worship little regard that Indeed their own Altars they were accounted great things that way which they appointed themselves they did not care what cost they were at in that way but as for Gods way that was as a strange thing unto them We have seen it very evident and do see it in great part to this day how those that are very zealous in superstitious worship are the most negligent in Gods way of Worship to instance you know in late times what a deal of stir did men make with their own forms of Worship with their own Ceremonies and Waies of Worship which they appointed how zealous were they in them and devout were they in them when they came in publick Congregations to bow and cring and for other Ceremonies that they said were only for the decency of Gods Worship how stiff were they in them that the mouths of the most Godly Ministers must be stop'd if they would not conform to them But even these men would scorn and jeer at strictness in Gods Waies and slight any man that would be consciencious in the Waies of God and they were Rebels that should not yeild to a Ceremony because it was disobedience to Magistracy For men to be consciencious for little things as they thought in Gods Law seemed strange when as they would urge men to obey to the uttermost in little things in their own so in another point that fals out as full and reasonable for the time as in the point of their own Feastivals and Holy daies those that would persecute to the uttermost men that should work but to get bread for their families on a Holy-day yet they could publish Books of Sports for the prophanation of the Lords Day And thus the great things of Gods Law they were strange things but their own things Holy-daies were great matters Surely if it were such a great matter to keep the Festival of Christs Nativity we should have some hint of it from the beginning of Matthew to the end of the Revelations but when God gives not the least hint of any such time And mark it those people that stand most upon such Festivals they stand least upon Gods Sabbaths and indeed you shall have many people which think it a strange thing for men not to have regard to such Festivals Why may not we keep the birth of our Savior Now that you might not think it a strange thing do but consider of this that when God hath set apart any thing for a holy use it is no strange thing but it should be strange in man to venture to imitate God in the things of his Worship to do that in Gods worship which God himself hath done before thus God hath set apart a holy time viz. the Sabbath it is set apart for to solemnize all the work of Redemption both the Nativity of Christ and his Life and Death and Resurrection and Ascention and the coming of the Holy Ghost all the things about mans Redemption I say God hath set the Sabbath apart to that end that we might have a Holy day to keep the remembrance of them Now when God hath set one day apart for man to dare to venture to set another apart this is presumption So because Christ hath set outward Elements and Sacraments to be a remembrance for his body and blood for man to say Christ hath set apart a piece of Bread and Wine why may not I set some other thing apart This you would all say were a great presumption Certainly the presumption is the same in the former Again it is observable in this expression They counted it as a strange thing It is a dangerous thing for men to have their hearts estranged from Gods Law and from the other Spiritual Truths that are in Gods Word from the knowledg of that Law which we have been educated in and that heretofore we have made profession of for thus it was with this people they had been educated in Gods Law and made profession of it and whatsoever God should reveal they would obey but now their hearts were estranged from what they were educated in and made profession of Oh! let men take heed of this for ever You that have had good education you have been brought up in the knowledg of Gods Law you have had gracious principles of Gods Law dropt into you in your youth you have made fair profession of Gods Law of obedience to it take heed now of being estranged from those truths that heretofore have been familiar to you that you have made profession of and therefore take heed of the several degrees of the estrangement of the heart from the Law of God I will but only name them to shew how the hearts of men do grow strangers from Gods Law First It fares with his heart as it doth with a man that grows to be a stranger from his friends A man that hath a familiar friend he doth not estrange himself suddenly but by degrees it may be visit one another less than they were wont to do and yet there is no contention between them but by degrees they grow to be strange and then at length they grow to be very enemies And thus it is with mens hearts when men grow strange from the Word that he was acquainted withal before first he begins to call things in question whether things be so or no and especially those things which most concern the mortifying of sin and the strictness of holiness Secondly He begins upon this or rather I think that 's the first he begins to abate his delight in the truths of God he was wont to take abundance of delight to meditate in the Word Oh how sweet it was when he awaked in the night season he was wont to take a great deal of delight about conferring in Gods Word and when he came into any company but now it is abated that 's the first Secondly he calls those things into question that he was very confident in before whether they be so or no. Thirdly He begins to have some hard thoughts of Gods Word Many men that heretofore did prize the Word and those Truths that were the joy of their hearts yet now they begin to have hard thoughts of them Yea fourthly He begins to wish that those things which are in the Word were otherwise than they are he cannot see enough to perswade him that the things are true but his heart coming to be estranged from the Word he doth desire they were not true as a man that comes to be estranged from another he could wish he were further off from him Fifthly He begins to listen to those things which are against the Word there was a time that he would never regard any things
Policy 2. Reason 3. Experience may be one way and yet 4. Religion and the written Word another Luther Exod. 39. 43. explained * Opinions of the Learned nor Custom nor Antiquity the Rule of Worsâ—ip but the written Word only †Nobis noÌ„ liceat saluâ honoriâ—â—centâ—a quae illis debitur aliquid in eorum Scriptis reprobare atque respuere talis ego sum in scriptis aliorum tabesque volo esse intellectores meorum August Ambrose Object Answ Luther The Scripture is both 1 the Rule 2 the exposi or to shew the meaning of the Rule How mens writings may help us to understand Scripture The written Word a singular blessing Theodores Physitian Luther Schoolmen Synodus pari pietatis affectu reverentia recipit ac reveratur Concil Trid. sess 4. decret prim Quest Answ 2 Pet. 1. 19. illustrated 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 more sure than revelation The danger of revelations beside the Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Obs 1. Psal 119. 105. illustrated Use And Vers 106. An apt simile Expâ—s Law what 1. the whol word of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 docuit Multiplices Leges Scribitur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Legitur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 70. Adoro plenitudinem scripturaruÌ„ Tertul. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 simile Ps 138. 2 illustrated Psal 119. 27. opened Deut. 4. 8. applyed Mat. 5. 18 explained Isa 42. 21 noted Contemners of the Law Antinomians Saints prize the Law Apoc. 6. 9. Obs 1. Deut. 17. 18. 19. illustrated Alphonsus King of Aragon Obs 2. Psa 119. 129. illustrated Isa 40. 6. illustrated Prov. 13. 13 enlightened Obs 3. Uzza a Levite Uzziah a King Nadab Abihu Ezek 7. 20. enlightened Ier. 17. 12 illustrated The Reprehension The Word accounted strange 1. As not concerning us 2. Strange in their apprehensions Luther 3. No sutableness between their hearts and the doctrine simile Prov. 6. 21. applied 4. Vse the Word as a stranger i.e. for our own ends only Obs 1. Confirmed from the late times in England Holy-daies Sabbaths Christmass God not to be imitated in his worship The Sabbath is for commemoration of al the particulars of our redemption Obj. 2. Us of Admonition The degrees of the hearts estrangment from God 1. Less frequent 2. His delight abats which is also the first degree 3. Takes up hard thoughts of spiritual truths 4. Wisheth the things in the word were otherâ—wise simile 5. Harkens to contrary doctrine simile 6. Will not search throughly into truths 7. An Engagement in som unlawful practice 8. Former weighty arguments now weak simile 9. Become open enemies Isa 5. 24. Psal 119. 18 19. Obs 3. Vs against Antinomians The Spirit of God forsaw this generation Mal. 4. 24. enterpreted Object Answ Obs 1. Aman may continue strict in duties and yet have committed the sin against the holy Ghost Expos Obs 2. Prayer Preaching Isa 40. 3. enterpreted Gifts and Parts Expol. 1. 2 The Authors Exp. Obs 3. Instance in Feastivals and Fasts Why Christmass is so zealously kept An apt simile 1 King 13 In the present War The Cause The Pay God expects Self-denial in temporal not in spiritual things Obs 4. Amos. 5. 22. Amos Hosea contemporaries consent in Doctrine Obs 5 How to exercise Faith for Pardon in holy Duties Obs 6. 1 Sam. 15 20. Sins of youth punished in age simile Use to young ones and others youth sins ages terror Ier. 2. 2. Heb. 10. 3 illustrated Obs 7. Reasons simile Gen. 21. Exod. 4. Obs 8. Exod. 32. 34. Micah 7. 4 Isa 10. 3. 1. It notes their sin 2. King 17. 4. Obs 9. 2. Their judgment Deut. 28. Obs 10. Applicat to Engl. Obs 11. Quest Answ Ier. 44. Obs 12. the answering our desires is the execution of Godswrath oftimes Obs 1. A sign of much wrath Eccles 12. 1. 1 Sam. 12. 6. To be imployed in publick service is the making of a man Obs 2 Isa 43. 7. Obs 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Church is Gods palace Obs 3. Obs 4. Instanced in the late times in England Quest Answ Their sin in building Temples Hag. 2. 2â— and 4. 9. How superstition in them to build Temples what made the Temple at Jerusalem Holy and Peculiar to it No argument therfore from thence for the holiness of Churches Praying in Churches no more accepted unless with the holy Congregation Chrysost Hom. 79. ad Populum Some Heathens against it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dogm Zen The Persians Xerxes magi Josephus l. 15. c. 14. Paule-work Strong places to be dedicated by prayet and reformation A notable story Obs 1. Obs 2. Englands enemies should have considerrd this Expos 1. Expos 2. Obs 3. Obs 4. Gualt The time of this Prophesie Expos Observ Use for England A 3d time The time helps to understand the Prophesie Israels malignants Obs Leagues and peace wherin we much rejoyce may prove occasions of sorrow Us Be not greedy of peace before the time Obs 1. Seculi laetitia est impunita nequitia Aug. in John tract 12. Amos 6. 4. Obs 2 Obs 3. We may prosper yet have no cause of joy An apâ— simile Obs 1. Expos 1. 1. Be not taken with the worlds jolity 2. Imitate them not in waies of rejoycing * Preached in Christmass 3. Not as a people The Dolphin 4. Not prophanely 5. not having so much cause as others Obser Instanced in this Nation Obser An apt simile Luk 13. 28. A fit similitude Obs 1. Obs 2. Object Answ Object Answ No Nation but Israel forsook their gods Ier. 2. 10. explained Obs 3. A special note Obs 4. Amos 3. 2 Rom. 2. 9. Ier. 18. 13. expounded Ier. 32. 30. opened Act. 17. 1 Sam. 6. 7. with 2 Sam. 6. 3. noted Some Antinomians noted Saints should sorrow must for sin Quest Answ God hath liberty to damn one for a lesser sin and save one that is guilty of a greater Instanced in the examples of Saul and David Expicat Applicat Observ simile simile Explic. Obs 1. Obs 2 Obs 3. Obs 4 simile Levit. 18. 26. Levit. 25. 23. A meditation in our walking into the Fields Canaan the Lords Land in a special manner Reas 1. Psa 95. 7. Heb. 3. 7. c. 4. 1. 1 Chron. 16. 15. Obser England another Canaâ— Corruptors of Gods worship the ruin of the Land Obser Use 1. The happiness of Beleevers Use 2. Obs 1. Obs 2. Obs 3. Wine and Oyl in sacrifice what it signified Obs 1. Obs 2. Iudg. 9. 13 enlightned Duties of Religion a Saints recreation Delicatares est spiritm sanctus Tert. Num 19. 11. 14. The dead carcass of a beast did not somuch defile as the carcass of a dead man Numb 11. 31. What this signified Why a dead body defiled Funeral mournings Why if imoÌ„derate not pleasing to God Why they were to be so long unclean that mourned for the dead Levit. 10. 19. enlightned Deut. 12. 7. 18. Chap. 26. 13 14. illustrated Even sorrow for sin must