the Children of Israel from among them Moreover it was a great while before Nebuchadnezzer would be brought to Acknowledge the Most High God therefore was he driven from men and made to dwell with the Beasts of the Field and to eat grass as Oxen and his body was wet with the dew of Heaven till his Hairs were grown like Eagles feathers and his Nails like Birds Claws Though this is the least degree of Knowing and of Acknowledging God yet many do not thus Acknowledge Him in their hearts They Acknowledge Him with their Lips but by their VVorks deny Him The Fool hath said in his heart there is no God 2. To Acknowledge God is not only to Acknowledge his Being his Holy Essence or Deity but also that he is the Absolute Soveraign of the whole World and Sole Governour of all things in Heaven and Earth I know the Lord is great and that our Lord is above all Gods VVhatsoever the Lord pleaseth that did he in Heaven and in Earth and in all deep places v. 6. There is no bounds to his Power but his own Will and what his Soul desireth that doth he God's Government is purely Arbitrary and none but his ought to be so His Will His Law yet is His Government most Righteous because He can Will nothing but what is Just and Good Our God is in the Heavens he hath done whatsoever he pleaseth He hath Power over all both Men and Devils over Kingdoms and Nations to dispose and determine them and all things in them as seemeth good to him Who shall say to him What dost thou He that made all things or gave being to all must needs have Power over all and be Lord of all 't is He that maketh War and commandeth Peace that sets Up and pulleth Down that Kills and maketh Alive 'T is the Glory of God He hath such an Unlimated and an Uncontroulable Power seeing he is Perfectly Just and Righteous as his Power is Inconceivable so his Will is Incorruptible I the Lord have spoken it it shall come to pass and I will do it I will not go back As if the Lord should say It is my will it should be done and therefore it shall be done His Counsel shall stand and he will do all his Pleasure And this Brethren we should know and this it is to Acknowledge God But 3. To Acknowledge God Is to Own and Acknowledge that all things come to pass by his All-wise Providence According to his Eternal Decree either by his special Commission or by his Permission to say all things come to pass by Gods special Commmission is to make him the author of Sin but this know assuredly that God did Determine before time that he would do such things or permit or suffer such things to come to pass and be done or else it was impossible it should ever be done All the Motions of the Creature even the most violent and to appearance Contingent Motions of the Creature are under the Direction yea under the Dominion of God All things Brethren Move as they are Influenced by his Power and Directed by his Wisdom Is there any Evil in the City and I the Lord have not done it Afflictions do not rise out of the dust Job 6. 5. What Evil soever cometh upon Kingdoms or Nations Cities or Families or particular persons 't is by God's Wise Providence Evil came down from the Lord to the gates of Jerusalem Mich. 1. 12. God did not only make the World but he disposeth of all Affairs and Matters therein as he pleaseth the government of the World is as much of God and his work as the making of it there is in all Occurrences or Transactions of Men a Wheel within the Wheel and this we ought to know and to acknowledge This is to Acknowledge God 4. And from hence it followeth That to Acknowledge God is to Acknowledge his Omnisciency The eyes of the Lord run too and fro through the whole earth to shew himself strong in behalf of them whose heart is upright towards him 2 Chron. 16. 9. If God had not a perfect knowledge of all things how could he govern the World the Text that I mentioned last shews two things 1. The perfect Knowledge God hath of whatsoever is done throughout the whole Earth 2. His Providence over all even over the whole Earth in ordering and disposing of all things therein and particularly his care of his own People His eyes behold his eye-lids try the children of men Psal. 11. 4. The Lord doth not only know all things and persons but he hath a clear understanding of them All things are naked and manifest to his eyes with whom we have to do Heb. 4. 13. The Eye of God signifies the Knowledge of God he sees as well what is in Man as what is done by Man He knows our thoughts a far off before they are conceived he knows what they will be there is nothing done nor intended to be done but it is known by the Almighty his Eyes are like a flaming Fire of a piercing and and penitrating Nature The eyes of the Lord are every where beholding the evil and the good Prov. 15. 3. Man sees the Face the outside but God searcheth and discerneth the Heart the Eyes of Man may be deceived but the Eyes of God cannot Christ 't is said needed not that any should testifie of man for he knew what was in man Joh. 2. 25. this shews that he is the Eternal God for thou knoweth all things saith Peter thou knoweth that I love thee 21. 17. God's sight of Man and of his Ways are Universal and Everlasting he saw all things with one single look from Everlasting to Everlasting he knows all things past present and to come For his eyes are upon all the ways of man and he seeth all his doings there is no darkness nor shadow of death where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves Job 35. 21 22 and as God is a God of Knowledge so to acknowledge him is to acknowledge his Omniscience 5. To Acknowledge God 'T is to acknowledge and own his Infinite Wisdom or that he is a Most Wise God And as he made all things in Wisdom so he governs all things in Wisdom also no Men have any true Wisdom but what they receive from God the In finiteness the Omniscience the Unchangeableness and the Simplicity of God c. are Incommunicable Attributes but the Wisdom of God together with his Holyness Justice and Mercy are Communicable i. e. God doth give or communicate Holiness and Wisdom c. unto Angels and Men God indeed is said to be only Wise because none hath Wisdom of and from themselves but he nor are any so Wise as he his Wisdom so far excells the Wisdom of Men and Angels that none are said to be wise but the Lord only none are originally Wise but God the Wisdom of God is not a separable
the Shields of the Earth belong to the Lord Psal. 47. 9. 'T is by me Kings Reign and Princes decree Judgment he sets up and pulleth down at his Pleasure 2. All Military Actions of Nations are ordered by the Almighty War and Peace are from him if he take Peace from the Earth in vain do all Counsellors and great Statesmen meet and consult about Peace hence God is called The Lord of Hosts and a Man of VVar or The great General of Armies He hath opened his Armoury and has brought forth his VVeapons of Indignation Saith David Heteaches my Hands to VVar and my Fingers to Fight He is a God of Influence and Authority he Commands all and none can stand before him at his Command Frogs invade Pharoah from hence it appears that a Martial Imployment is very Honourable viz. when the Cause is good when 't is for his Glory and for the Honour and Safety of a King and People God being called the Lord of Hosts the God of the Armies of Israel puts a Lustre and Dignity upon a General of an Army engaged in a Just Cause 3. In all Ecclesiastical Affairs or Matters respecting the Church of God he ought to be acknowledged nay in this matter before all things we ought to seek unto him who is in a peculiar Sense stiled The King of Saint and God of Israel He that is the Head of the Church is the Absolute Governour thereof the Spiritual Rights of his People and the Rule of Men's Consciences is only under his Power and Influences and his Laws only are the Bond and Limits of his Government no altering adding to nor diminishing from his holy Precepts the Power to Rule the Church is Christ's Prerogative alone as he is God it is essentially and absolutely in his Hand and as Mediator this Power is given to him by the Father All Power is given to me in Heaven and in Earth go ye therefore teach all Nations Mat. 28. 19 20. Moreover the Peace and Prosperity of God's Church and People as also all their Trouble and Adversity is from him VVho gave Jacob to the Spoil and Israel to the Robbers Did not the Lord against whom they had sinned Whosoever are the Instruments in either case God is in a special manner the great Agent in it it was he that brought again the Captivity of Sion it was God that stirred up Cyrus to proclaim Liberty for the Jews to Build their City and Temple And when he comes to build up Sion in these last days he will appear in his Glory and will undo all that have afflicted his People for they that touch them touch the Apple of his Eye Let the French Tyrant Pope and Turk look to it their day is near for God will plead the Controversie of Sion and come upon Princes as upon Mortar and as the Potter treadeth the Clay Isa. 41. 25. His Sword is bathed in Heaven God will come with vengeance even God with a recempence he will come and save you Isa. 35 4 It will not be long before you will hear the voice of them that flee and escap'd out of Babylon to declare in Sion the vengeance of the Lord our God the vengeance of his Temple Jer. 50. 28. O! therefore let us look to him acknowledge him for these things are very near Again as all Affairs both Civil Military and Ecclesiastical are in the Hand of God and ordered by his wise Counsel so are all Creatures likewise 1. The good Angels are under his Authority and Influence they all wait for his Word and obey his Command either to protect his own People or execute his Wrath upon their Enemies 2. The evil Angels are also under his Power Satan is limited by him he is in Chains God sets Bounds to him he can go no further than his Chains will suffer him 't is not who he will but who he may devour he could not touch Job nor any thing he had till God gave him liberty the Devils could not go into the Herd of Swine till Christ said go 3. All men also are subjected to his Authority he can at his Pleasure restrain the wrath of wicked Men or make it tend to his own Praise Thou hast no Power except it be given thee of my Father saith Christ to Pilate 4. All Irrational Creatures are at his Command he can stop the Months of hungry Lyons so that they could do Daniel no hurt Nay and he can give David power to destroy both the Lyon and the Bear The Lord opened the Mouth of the Ass to speak with Man's Voice to rebuke the madness of the Prophet Moreover He caused two She Bears to tare 42 Children for their reproaching of Elisha and who was it but the Lord that sent the Lyon to slay the young Prophet who transgressed against him Moreover Remarkable is the passage of his causing a Raven to feed Elisha when distressed He hath also Power over and ruleth and disposeth of all Inanimate Creatures the Winds and Sea obey him and are at his Command he can make the Sun stand still or go back if he please 't is He that makes the Grass to grow the Sun to shine and the Rain to fall 't is He that gives Rain and fruitful Seasons and who sometimes sinites and brings a Blast and Mildew upon the Fruits the Earth therefore all ought to acknowledge him Fifthly We ought to acknowledge God because as all Judgments and Plagues are from him so he can at his Pleasure remove them I Form the Light and create Darkness I make Peace and create Evil I the Lord do all these things Isa. 45. 7. and if he giveth quietness who then can make trouble and when he hideth his face who can behold him whether it be done against a Nation or against a Man only Job 34. 29. If God will give those Nations Quietness where it is not or continue it where it is there is no Power on Earth or Hell can hinder or prevent it Who can Curse them that God will Bless or Bless such that God doth Curse There is no inchantment against Jacob neither is there any divination against Israel Numb 23. 23. but Woe to that Nation or Person God hideth his Face from for then he withdraws his gracious Care and Protection and then he will not hear their Prayers also then he will not give them Counsel nay but will do more he will leave them to their own Counsel as he did Israel Psal. 81. 12. Sixthly We would acknowledge God in all things because he can make use of unlikely ways means or persons to do his own Work by the blowing of Rams Horns he made the Walls of Jericho to fall down Josh. 7. 5. He spoiled Pharaoh and the Egyptians by an Army of Frogs Locusts Lice Flies c. What wonders did he do with 300 Men God as one observes can strike a strait Blow with a crooked Stick 't is not for the worthiness of the
too hard for him to do Who is wonderful in Counsel and excellent in Working 3. God can direct and save a People when all say there is no hope when every Man despareth of Succour and Relief and are at their Wits end as it were God can lead guide and direct us Infallibly He only gives certain and Infallible Counsel there are none can defeat his Counsel no wisdom nor craftiness of Men can stand before the Wisdom of God There is no Wisdom nor Understanding nor Counsel against the Lord What Encouragement is here to seek to God 4. As he can Direct us and none can withstand him or give us Counsel which none can overthrow so he can with ease defeat all the Counsels of his Peoples Enemies nay can turn their crafty counsel to the Advantage of his own People He taketh the Wise in their own Craftiness and the Counsel of the Froward is carryed head long or as the Prophet Isaiah saith The Counsel of the Wise shall be turned bac ward Omne Consilium Captatum in Festinatione est Stultitia God can mingle a perverse Spirit and and make the Princes of Zoan to become Fools 5. When he is sought truly unto he hath promised to direct a People or Person that feareth him his special care is over such that Trust in him Behold the eye of the Lord is over them that Fear him upon them that hope in his Mercy Mind my Text He shall direct thy Paths the steps of a good Man are ordered by the Lord and be delighteth in his ways Though the Young Lyons want and suffer hunger yet they that fear God shall want no good thing He will lead the Blind in ways they knew not c. Though we are in our selves Blind and Ignorant yet if we Acknowledge Him He will lead us and will not leave us to the lusts of our Enemies Brethren we are still in God's hand and none can pluck us out my and our times also are in his hand 6. You that are Godly have interest in this mighty God He is your Father therefore he will Teach and Direct you His Faithfulness and Fatherly Affections leadeth him thus to do 7. Do you also commit your selves to him and Trust in him and will he think you ever fail such that so do The Poor committeth himself to thee Thou art the Helper of the Fatherless If unfaithful Man will not fail such that wholly Trust in him will the Faithful God not help and direct such that put all their Trust in him though our Sins be many and our miseries and dangers many also yet Brethren let us lye low before the Lord and humbly confess with the Prophet our own Insufficiency O Lord I know that the way of Man is not in himself it is not in man that walketh to direct his Steps Let us use all due means which God directeth us to or be found in our duty and leave the Issue of all to God Men not seeking constantly to God nor relying on him may be the cause they prosper not But Let it go how it will with the Land or with the Wicked therein yet saith the Prophet Say to the Righteouss it shall go well with him A dismal day must come and will come upon this Land and upon all Nations of the Earth we see already Distress of Nations and Perplexities but these things are but the beginning of Sorrows but do you that Fear God Look up lift up your heads for your Redemption draws near 8. God will Bless and give Success to such that seek to him that humbly and sincerely Acknowledge him yea in their Civil Affairs such shall find their Endeavours crowned with a Blessing and also in Spiritual matters God will lead them The meek will be guide in Judgment and the meek will he teach his ways that is the humble and lowly ones that Acknowledge God and submit to his hand and are willing and desirous to be lead directed and governed by him in all their ways in doing Justice and Judgment who are not selfish or self-seeking persons who lay not burthens on others to ease themselves but act in all righte ousness and equallity in what they do in the Station where they are set for as all the ways of God are Mercy and Truth so should all the ways of Men be especially such that are Rulers and Magistrates who are intrusted with the great concerns of a Nation or People they ought to be Men fearing God Men of Truth hating Evil if not God may justly leave them and blast all their endeavours for they are the Meek the Humble and Righteous ones that God will guide in Judgment and direct their Paths 9. Know assuredly That none Teaches like God What is Man's teaching some Glory in their Phylosophical Learning but that only fills the head with knowledge it may make Men criticks but not Christians others boast of the Teachings of Natural Reason and will receive no Principles of Religion that is above this Teacher and thereby they cast contempt upon the Gospel of Jesus Christ. All True Knowledge flows from God's Soveraign Grace he guides and teaches whomsoever he pleaseth he can speak to the Heart nay give a heart to understand as well as instruction he can give a teachable frame or a teachable Spirit as well as direct those whom he hath given such a frame or heart unto therefore it followeth That to teach and direct our Souls is the effect of Almighty Power Be still and know that I am God Confess your weakness your Ignorance and acknowledge my Skill my Power as if God should say No man can come to me except the Father which sent me draw him What is his Drawing but his Teaching Every one therefore that hath heard and learned of the Father cometh unto me Men must be Un-taught or become Fools before they can be Wise I mean emptied of their own Wisdom and confess they know nothing as they ought to know Christ's Office and Work is to Teach his People He only hath the Tongue of the Learned therefore let all men Learn of him Wait upon him Acknowledge him to be their only Instructor and Counsellor and say with David Thou shalt guide me with thy Counsel and afterward receive me to Glory And thus I shall End as I Begun In all thy ways Acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy Paths FINIS ERRATA PAge 6. Line 41. for His Will His Law read His Will is His Law P. 12. L. 31. for Peruse r. Persue P. 13. L. 31. for Chooser Chose P. 21. L. 31. for Acknowledged r. Acknowledge P. 24. L. 7. for Man r. Men. P. 24. L. 10. for himâ— r. him P. 27. L. 22. for would r. should BOOKS Sold by William Marinal at the Bible in Newgate-Street and John Marshal at the Bible in Grace-Church-Street 1. BAptism discovered plainly and faithfully according to the word of God wherein is set