with gratulation To love them dead in sinne Ephes 1.2 To love enemies Rom. 5.10 To those that did manifest enmity by evill workes Colos 1.21 4. The duration It is an everlasting Love Ier. 31.3 Troubles deprive us not of his love Psal 91.15 for hee will be with us Infirmities cannot quench his love for he will spare us Mal. 3.17 Death cannot separate us from his love Rom. 8.38 39. Sect. 3 Thirdly Of Mans love to God MAns love is either naturall or sinfull or spirituall Our love to God must be spirituall but before we can thus love God ourselves must be regenerate 1. John 4.19 We love him because he first loved us and gave us grace this love of ours to God is a constrained love 2. Cor. 5.14 not a constraint but by a sweet influence as the Sunne shining on Hearbs and Flowers doth constraine them to grow and smell sweete The love of God to us is love active the love of God in us is love passive he is loved of us 2. From whence love commeth surely the Fountaine is God 1. Iohn 4.7 Love commeth from God The roote is the Spirit the fruite is love Gal. 5.22 Gods love is manifested to us by the Holy Ghost Rom. 5.5 Then We love him which first loved us 1. Iohn 4.19 3. The markes of our love to God First love earnestly desires his presence Psal 42.2 This desire is compared to a thirst wee thirst for God as the chiefe good the onely good This thirst requires 1. A suitâ—ble satisfaction 2. A present satisfaction 3. A large satisfaction 1. A suteable satisfaction To offer a thirsty man a garment or to tell him a â—leasant tale or let him heare Musicke it is not suteable it is drinke that he desires 2. It is a present satisfaction he desires not drinke to morrow or next weeke but presently 3. It is a large satisfaction a drop or a spoonefull satisfies not he desires a large draught Thus love it desires God and none else to enjoy him sweetly and speedily and largely this is the first marke of love Secondly love bewayles the absence of God it is as death to the soule having once enjoyed him to want him Psal 77.10 In the want of all things we want God above all if we truely love him Psal 63.1 Thirdly love rejoyces in his presence by prayer wee draw neare to God Isai 55.6 and then joy increases Psal 43.4 Prayer brings us into his presence with a holy gladnesse Phil. 1.4 Fourthly love makes us obedient to God Iohn 14.15 If yee love me keepe my Commandements The more love the more duty obedience and conformity to his Will Fifthly when we love God wee doe love the children of God If we love him that begat we doe love them begotten 1. Iohn 5.1 4. The promises made to them that love God First they shall have mercy shewed to them and their posterity pardoning mercies relieving mercies Exod. 20.6 Secondly they shall share in Gods affection Ioh. 14.21 The Father will love them the Sonne will love them that love Christ Fourthly all shall worke for the best unto them Rom. 8.28 What can be more comfortable Fourthly they shall have a crowne of life Iames 1.12 and a kingdome Iames 2.5 This is the portion of them that love the Lord. Sect. 4 Fourthly Of Mans love to man THE love of man to man is either naturall or spirituall the naturall love is grounded on naturall Causes either beauty or bounty or consanguinity something we judge to be love-worthy that drawes the naturall affection Spirituall love is a peculiar among the regenerate they love God for his owne sake they love their enemies for his commands sake they love his children for his Image sake The more holy and righteous and heavenly minded men are the more they love them Of this love to the godly consider 1. The necessity of it 2. The excellency of it 3. How it is exercised 4. The markes of true love 5. How 't is preserved First the necessity of this love to our brethren 1. Without this love we can have no sound evidence that we are the children of God 1 Iohn 3.10 2. We can doe no workes that God accepts without this love 1. Cor. 13.1 2 3. 1. Cor. 16.14 All our things must be done in love If love be wanting the work is lost love is as the salt that seasons all Secondly the excellency of love 1. The Divine Essence is love and 't is excellent to resemble God 2. Love is an excellent badge of a servant and scholler of Christ whereby they are manifested and knowne Iohn 13.15 3. 'T is an excellent fruit of faith Eph. 1.15 Faith in Christ is fruitfull in love to all the Saints 4. 'T is an excellent testimony of a sound convert By this we may know wee are changed from sinne to grace 1. Iohn 3.14 5. It is excellent to have God to dwell with us Where love is there God dwells 1. Iohn 4 12. 6. 'T is as the anoynted above the rest for excellency 1. Pet. 4.8 Above all have fervent love Col. 3.14 Above all put on love Thirdly how love is exercised 1. Love seekes to be united as soone as we love Gods children we endeavour to joyne with them Act. 9.26 2. Love enjoying the objects turnes to delight Psal 16.3 3. Love casts the garment of charity to hide our brethrens infirmities 1. Pet. 4.8 4. Love edifies others 1. Cor. 8.1 To edifie is to build Love builds artificially 1. By pulling downe the old wall of naturall corruption 2. I aying a sound foundation of faith and repentance it will conferre with young ones and weake ones to helpe them not puzzel them Rom. 14.1 3. It brings new materials from the word and raises the building higher and higher and strives to adde practice to knowledge wisedome to zeale mercy to justice patience to diligence reverence to assurance 4. Love is excercised in relieving the necessities of our brethren Love ministreth to the necessitie of the Saints Heb. 6.10 Fourthly the markes of love to our brethren 1. True love is unfeigned 2. Cor. 6.6 without dissimulation Rom. 12.9 2. 'T is fervent there is heate in true love and haste to doe them good heate hath motion 1. Pet. 4.8 3. 'T is diligent Love nor hatred will be idle 1. Thes 1.3 Love is laborious for them beloved Heb. 6.10 4. 'T is constant 't is not as carnall lust hot lust is soone cold as Ammon to Tamar but true love continues Heb. 13.1 Fifthly how love is preserved 1. Labour for reall sound effectuall love then it will last and hold out 1 Cor. 13.8 Love doth never fal away 2. Avoyd groundlesse surmises Love thinketh none evill 1. Cor. 13.5 3. Interprete doubtfull things charitably as old Iacob did when he saw Iosephs coate 4. Harken not to every tale and report of the faults of others the words of tale-bearers sinke deepe and embitter our affections 5. Give loving answers for sweete
Triangle there are still three empty corners for the Trinity to fill Our infinite desires are plenarily satisfied with him alone that is infinite Hence it was that Paul and Silas having God did sing in the Dungeon when Belshazar wanting him did tremble at his Feast Vse 3 Seeing infinitenesse hath relation to Gods Essence and properties we should be sparing in considering it singly or simply rather to meditate of it Relatively as infinite Essence infinite Wisedome infinite power which attributes may be considered in severall places so the best way is Brevity to avoyde * A using one thing often Battology Of Omniscience 1. What Omniscience is 2. No Creature is Omniscient 3. God is Omniscient 4. Proofes by Scriptures and Reasons 5. Applications to edifie Sect. 1 First What Omniscience is IT is gathered from a compound word Omnis scientia all and knowledge To know all requires infinitenesse all must be included nothing must be excluded Sect. 2 Secondly No Creature is Omniscient NO Creature made all no Creature is Omnipresent to know what is done in all places No creature knowes all thoughts * 1. Kings 8. no creature knowes Gods Essence no creature knowes the Day of Judgement no creature knowes the certaine events of things nor the certaine causes of all things Therefore no Creature is Omniscient Sect. 3 Thirdly God is Omniscient God knows things past Ps 90.8 act 15.18 Present Psal 139.2 To come 1. Sam. 23. â—â— God knows al things in Heaven earth and hell Pr. 15.11 GOD is Omniscient knowing himselfe and all creatures He being infinite knowes himselfe to be an infinite Essence He knowes the Creatures in their being potentiall in their production existence He knows their motions inclinations intents actions progresse declensions ends and conclusions Hee sees all with one view without experience or disputes or events or Reasons or Similitudes He sees them distinctly unchangeably * Without the least sinfull motion sacredly eternally and perfectly Sect. 4 Fourthly Reasons Arguments and Probations 1. Positive Acts 15.18 Ier. 17 10. Psal 94.11 2. Negative 3. Mâ—taphoricall FIrst from Scripture the Scriptures prove it 3. wayes first Positive secondly Negative thirdly Metaphoricall Job 28.24 For hee beholds the ends of the world and seeth all that is under Heaven Heb. 4.13 All things are anatomized before him Reasons Iob 42.2 There is no thought hid from thee 1. He made al 2. Else he were not perfect 3. Hee must judge all Ergo knows all things God is said to have eyes Prov. 15.3 To be light 1. Iohn 1. God is light to see is to know we borrow from the Minde and give to the Eyes As I see your purpose I see your love that is Metaphorically I know perceive or discerne it When wee say God hath eyes we meane he knowes discernes understands So God is light ye know 't is light makes all manifest it discovers and makes things obvious Sect. 5 Fifthly Vses to edifie 1. THis confutes two sorts of men the Hereticks and the profane First those Hereticks which hold that God sees no sinne in the justified are ignorant of God in his Omniscience plaine Texts are against them Psal 90.8 Thou hast set our iniquities before thee and our secret sinnes in the fight of thy countenance So Heb. 4.13 All things are anatomized before him We have sinne we see sinne and our neighbour sees our sinne God corrects us for sinne his Spirit is grieved by sinne therefore God sees sinne God saw sinne in David in Peter in the Churches in the Revelation He sees our sinnes more perfectly than our selves and convinces us for them and causes us to bewayle them confesse them and loath our selves for them 2. This confutes Atheists and profane men which goe about to hide their counsell from the Lord Isai 29.15 And judge carnally of God Iob 22.13 as if hee being in Heaven had eyes as a man and could not see through the darke cloud Heere is direction to take heed of secret sinnes Secondly God knows them and sees them with all their circumstances Iob 42.2 No thought is hid from him 2. Take heed of false pretences as Iesabels Fast Absolons Vow and Judas Kisse God sees the intent though man sees onely the pretence 3. This shews that it is not in vaine to lift up our hearts The Lord knows our desires Psal 10.17 and the meaning of our spirits He knows a priory from the first rise therefore ejaculations are with him reall prayers Nehemiah 2.4 Thirdly Here is matter of consolation 1. In regard of our frailty The Lord knowes whereof we are made hee remembers wee are but dust so that from this his knowledge wee mâ—y expect his compassion Psal 103.14 2. In respect of our troubles wee know not which way our deliverancâ— shall come But the Lord knowes how to deliver the godly 2. Pet. 2.9 Let us labour to be godly when God knowes us to be so he knowes then how to end our miseries and to give us deliverance A fourth Vse may be to aggravate the misery of the impenitent They sinne before a God that sees all things their enmity against him their hatred of his children their despising his Ordinances and taking their fill of sinne is all knowne to him that shall judge them at the last day Vse 5. To admire the knowledge of God and to abase our selves and confesse our ignorance as The wise man Prov. 30. Surely I am more foolish than any man And Psalme 73. So foâ—lish was I and ignorant and as a beast before thee Vse 6. To beleeve and acknowledge that there shall be a righteous Judgement at the Great day because the Iudge cannot be deceived He knowes all mens causes and will separate mens persons hee knowes his Sheepe from Goates and will reâ—ard every one according to that he knowes they have done in the body He needs no informations but will judge according to perfect knowledge Of Omnipresence 1. What Omnipresence is 2. No Creature is Omnipresent 3. God is Omnipresent 4. Reasons and Scriptures to prove it 5. Objections and Question answered 6. Applications to edifie Sect. 1 First what Omnipresence is IT is a word from a compound of two words all and present expressed in another phrase called Vbiquity a being every where at once Sect. 2 Secondly no Creature is Omnipresent THe Creatures are limited and bounded Angels are not in heaven and earth at once man hath his being in a little roome and is present but in one place at once the Sea hath her bounds the aire hath his Region and every Creature hath his appoynted place Sect. 3 Thirdly God is Omnipresent IN heaven is his glorious presence hee is in earth by his providence in hell by his judgements though no place can containe him yet no place can exclude him Sect. 4 Fourthly Reasons and Scriptures to prove it Reason 1 1. HE is an infinite Essence therfore omnipresent Secondly Reason 2 because God
speeches preserve love Iudg. 8.2 3. 6. Sometimes let us lay aside our authority and use entreaty to preserve love The Epistle to Philemon the ninth verse Sect. 5 Fifthly Applications to edifie 1. TO admire the love of God 1 Iohn 3.1 both for the freenesse greatnesse and continuance we admire that we cannot comprehend such is the love of Christ Eph. 3.19 that it passes our knowledge 2. If God hath so loved us we ought to love him againe with all our heart and minde and strength Deut. 6.6 Matth. 22.37 3. Let us endeavour to preserve our love to the Lord. 1. Take heede we looke not on the worlds excellency too much and neglect divine meditations 2. If we will preserve our love we must preserve our acquaintance with him by daily prayer reading hearing Iob 22.21 3. Daily consider the worth of his love 't is better than life it selfe Psal 63.3 and of the effects of his love in giving his Sonne his Spirit his Graces his Promises his consolations this world and the next world this will revive our love to him 4. 'T is great impiety to decline in love to God wee make as if he were not so amiable and love-worthy as once we thought him or that we have found something that deserves our affection more than himselfe If we preserve our love to God we preserve our assurance of his love to us we preserve our strength to performe duties to beare crosses we preserve in our selves a fitnesse to live and a promptnesse to dye preserve this and it will preserve us Fourthly concerning love to men 1. Let us thinke of things that pertaine to love such thoughts are both comfortable and profitable Phil. 4.8 2. Pursue love follow after it as men that hunt doe pursue the hare let us follow hard to catch it not to kill it but enjoy it 1. Cor. 14.1 3. Let our trading and imployments all our businesse and affaires be done in love 1 Cor. 16.14 4. Let us endeavour to be sound in love Tit. 2.2 This duty is 1. Commanded 1. Iohn 3.23 2. Commended 1. Cor. 13.13 3. Approved Rev. 2.19 4. Rewarded Heb. 6.10 And our love should be thus ordered 1. To love God above all as the supreame and chiefe good 2. To love our owne soules next as being more worth than all the world Matth. 16.6 3. To love my neighbours soule for that may partake of God after that manner the body is not capable but by participation with the soule 4. To love my owne body above all other mens 5. The bodies of my brethren among them 1. Those which are most godly 2. Those that are of my owne nation Gal. 6.13 Psalme 122.8 3. Those that are my kindred 4. Especially those of my family 1. Tim. 5.8 5. Above all my wife Gen. 2.24 Sect. 6 Sixthly Questions resolved Quest 1 WHat is the love we owe to wicked and ungodly men Answ A love of compassion but not of approbation Quest 2 May we love our selves We may Answ for wee are to love our neighbour as our selves our selves must be the patterne to love our neighbour by we must love our bodies and nourish them Ephes 5.29 And we must love our soules and labour to save them Acts 16.30 Matth. 16.26 Quest 3 What love owe wee to the children of God that are dead Answ 1. Honourable buriall Acts 8.2 2. Moderate mourning Iohn 11.33 3. Râ—spect to their posterity as David to Ionathan 2. Sam. 9.45 4 To speake of their good workes Acts 9.39 Quest 4 How come Christians to lose their first love Rev. 2.4 Answ 1. They minde new things rather than true things Losse of love to God 2. They take too much worldly contentment 3. They neglect the meanes of grace as reading hearing and prayer 4. They change their company for them that are lesse zealous 5. They looke on the graces of others with envy or discouragement Quest 5 Why is the love of many growne so cold Answ 1. Because in some it was never hot 2. Because they see men perfidious unjust Apostates so abhorre them 3. Some looke onely on the evils of men not their good parts 4. They finde arguments to coole their love but none to kindle it Quest 6 Must wee so love Christ as to hate Father and Mother Luke 14.26 Answ 1. Our love should be so large to Christ that our love to any other creature should seeme hatred to it 2. They should see us so slight them in opposition to Christ that they should thinke we hate them 3. Though we honour and love them simply yet we are to hate them comparatively Quest 7 What is the love we owe to our Reverend Preachers Answ 1. A love of Reverence as they are Embassadors 2. Cor. 5.19 20. 2. A love of maintenance as they are painefull 3. A love of attention as they are teachers 4. A love to stand for them as they are opposed by hereticks and profane men 5. A love of piety to pray for them Colos 4.3 6. A love of courtesie if wee be able to invite them home Acts 16.15 7. A love of complacency to delight in them as the excellent ones Psal 16.3 1. Excellent in their function being the Lords Tribe 2. Excellent in their gifts of holinesse and learning 3. Excellent in their imployment the saving of soules 1. Tim. 4.16 4. Excellent in their reward a great reward Mat. 10.41 Quest 8 How shall we preserve love where we differ in judgement and opinion Answ If we agree in the foundation 1. Observe how godly Ministers doe agree follow them some differ in judgement yet walke in love 2. Let us looke on the good we see one in another 4. If we meete let us conferre of those things wherein we doe not differ 5. Let us pray one for another so love may be preserved Quest 9 How may I gaine more love and grow therein 1. Answ Get the strongest apprehension wee can of Gods love to us in Iesus Christ 2. Looke on the good that wee see in our brethren ponder their vertues cover their infirmities 3. Labour to feele the comfort of love Phil. 2.1 How doth love sweeten our pilgrimage To meete and conferre in love to comfort one another in love makes our presence acceptable it adornes our profession and Religion aboundantly Of Patience 1. What Patience is 2. Of the patience of God 3. Of the patience of man 4. Application to edifie 5. Questions resolved Sect. 1 First What Patience is THE word signifies sufferance or forbearance In patience are three things First a promptnesse or readinesse to beare Secondly the act of patience in bearing Thirdly the duration which is called long-suffering Sect. 2 Secondly Of the patience of God THE patience of God is his slownesse to anger his sparing of sinners and giving them space to repent Rom. 2.4 There is patience and long suffering which flowes from his goodnesse Men dayly doe provoke God yet he forbeares 1. Because he would bring
MISCELâ—â—â—â—â— PHILO-THEOLOGIâ— OR GOD MAN A Treatise compendiously describing the Nature of God in his Attributes with a lively pourtraiture of his Wisedome in ordering and disposing of the Celestiall and terrestriall Bodies Containing much variety of Matter Theologicall and Philosophicall wherein many secrets in Scripture and in Nature are unbowelled with solid Proofes and apt Applications singular for brevity and perspicuity By HENRY CHURCH Joell 2.28 I will poure out of my Spirit on all flesh Psal 8.1 3 4. O Lord our Lord how excellent is thy Name in all the world wâ—â— hast set thy Glorie above the Heavens c. When I consider the Heavens the Worke of thy Fingers Moone and the Stars c. What is man c. LONDON Printed for JOHN ROTHWELL and are to be 〈◊〉 the Sunne in Pauls Church-yard M.DC.XXXVII TO THE LEARNED READER I Humbly desire your Charitable Construction of my poore endeavours being willing to be convinced and reformed I confesse my impotencie and desire my errours may be purged and all truths allowed TO ALL whomsoever I Confesse my spare time hath beene this way employed in methodicall Meditations the Reason why I so much exercised my penne was because a drowsinesse fell on mee when I did reade and wrighting kept me awake if any be offended I writ not to offend them if any be in the least measure edified for their sakes I have taken this paines and thinke my labour well bestowed HENRY CHURCH Imprimatur THOMAS WEEKES An Advertisement to the Christian Reader concerning the scope of the Booke with some passages of the Life of the Authour TRVE and solid knowledge layes its foundation in God he that will know himselfe and the sublunary Creatures as they are must first see and know him by faith that is invisible The studie of the knowledge of God in his Attributes gives a man a possession of heaven on earth Its life eternall to know thee c. This knowledge is the basis and foundation of that precious Faith the Apostle speakes of They that know thee trust in thee So that before a man can with the wise Builder build on the Rock he must beleeve that God is This godly Man Mr. HENRY CHURCH began here his maine studie was this saving Knowledge and this he did not by starts and fits but daily as his calling did permit him Great was his wisedome and his industrie in the husbanding of his time for as he chose Maries Part so hee was carefull of Martha's a good Christian and a provident Husband Those that knew his Employments many urgent in the world and wondered how he could spare time or find time for these Contemplations I may answer for him he loved much and therefore with Marie was resolved to doe much Hee denied himselfe in his pleasures in his diet and in his sleepe hee bare the yoke of the Lord in his youth I have heard that when hee had libertie to sport himselfe as others his pleasure his delight was in his Closet with the Law of GOD hee prevented the dawning of the day and with DAVID meditated of GOD in the night-watches hee could not intend to be idle hee had learned of his Master CHRIST who went about doing good hee filled-up his vacant houres either with doing or receiving good as if hee had exactly learned that charge of the Lord by Moses These words which I command thee thou shalt * Iunius Whet them or pâ—int thâ—m in mâ—morie rehearse them continually to thy Children and thou shalt talke of them when thou tariest in thy house and as thou walkest by the way and when thou liest downe and when thou risest up Hee knew not onely for himselfe but for others his light was on a candle-stick not under a bushell hee did not with the Idle Servant hide his Talent but improved it to a good increase Hee was greedy of all advantages to glorifie God if hee was covetous this was his covetousnesse hee coveted the best things He was of a compassionate spirit ready to doe good both to the Soules and Bodies of others Hee lived as lent to himselfe and given to others How sedulous he was to instruct the Ignorant to reclaime the wandring to releeve those that were in want to settle the unstable soule those that knew him can judge He withstood errours hee was an Enemie to errour for hee received the truth in the love of it Hee was a Friend to truth Hee endeavoured to comfort afflicted Consciences for by observing his owne heart and Conference with such he attained a singular dexteritie this way In his Booke you may heare him yet speake that is now dead His Religion lay not in Tongue but in his Heart not in a forme of godlinesse but in power as if he had learned to doe what once Minutius said Non multa loqui sed vivere The scope and end of this good Mans studies I suppose in this Booke was chiefly for himselfe and his Familie that it might like a fruitfull Spring supplie himselfe and them Againe his friends knowing his desire hee had to the publicke good as also the favourable acceptance of his two former Bookes in the hearts of good men viz. The Good mans treasury Divine letters already printed gives us good incouragement to adventure againe on a publicke Censure Reade it through before you judge I hope you shall find it profitable and abounding with much varietie under briefe Heads drawing on the Reader to delight to studie God in his Attributes and to inlarge them in thine owne Meditation as also hee represents God to thee in the glasse of the Creature and among the rest Man the Epitome of all that while thou art poring after curious speculations and secrets of Nature hee endeavours wisely to divert thy thoughts by apt application heaven-ward To satisfie the Iudicious If thou shalt except against any thing consider its a Posthumus issue then I hope you will pardon both the Author and the Printer For Censorious Criticks I care not to satisfie The Blessing of the Almightie be with it Imprimatur THOMAS WEEKES A TABLE OF THE SEVERALL Heads contained in this ensuing Treatise I. OF Saving Knowledge page 1 II. What GOD is p. 6 III. What it is to glorifie God p. 11 IIII. Of Admiration p. 12 V. Of Praising God p. 15 VI. Of Gods Subsistence p. 18 VII Simplenesse p. 20 VIII Eternitie p. 25 IX Omnipotencie p. 32 X. Immutabilitie p. 39 XI Infinitenesse p. 45 XII Omni-science p. 47 XIII Omni-presence p. 51 XIV Perfection p. 56 XV. Invisibilitie p. 62 XVI Wisedome p. 69 XVII Truth p. 77 XVIII Mercie p. 82 XIX Iustice p. 88. XX. Life p. 95 XXI Blessednesse p. 101 XXII Hatred p. 107 XXIII Love p. 112 XXIV Patience p. 122 XXV Will p. 130 XXVI Grace p. 136 XXVII Glorie p. 143 XXVIII Of the Lord of Hosts p. 148 XXIX How God is made an Idoll p. 153 XXX How to conceive of God in Prayer p. 158 XXXI Of the
troope on a sudden to follow them especially women and youth 8. They are most bitter against them that oppose them 9. They ever make a gaine of those silly ones which they seduce 10. Observe them awhile they come to disgrace and deny what they held or else cast it in a new mould and mince it and alter it and tell us they were not rightly understood when the Truth meetes with them then they are put to their shifts and silenced by the verity or authority or both Quest 6 How may a Christian honour the Truth Answ By embracing it in love professing it in sincerity shunning Heresies Schisme Hypocrisie profanenesse Apostacy walking in holinesse humility meekenesse righteousnesse wisedome and patience Of Mercy 1. What Mercy is 2. The mercy of the unreasonable creatures 3. The mercy of men both had man good men 4. The mercy of God 5. Applications to edifie 6. Questions resolved Sect. 1 First what Mercy is MErcy is a pittying of them that are in misery Mercy and Misery are Relatives were there no want nor trespasse there needed no mercy mercy is in the affection or expression in the affection it is tearmed bowels of mercy in the expression workes of mercy Sect. 2 Secondly of the mercy of the unreasonable Creatures THey have a kinde of mercy in their natures to their owne kind or to other kinds First to their owne kind so every Creature with a tendernesse nourishes their yong the Dragons nourish their young and the Beares licke their whelpes to their owne shape and suckle them 2. The creatures shew mercy to other kinds Some say the Lyon preyes not so soone or not at all on the yeelding creatures the Thunder passes over the yeelding Reed and rends the sturdy Oake ‖ D. Bartas The Hawke resting all night by the Larke flyes another way in the morning being gratefully mercifull to the little bird Those that read in naturall Histories can say much of this Sect. 3 Thirdly the mercy of men NAturally we being children of wrath have lost the disposition to mercy wicked men are cruell not mercifull Prov. 12.10 One man is a Wolfe to another unlesse God restraines us Cain and Absolon did kill their owne brothers Hazael and Ravilliack * Ravilliacke killed Henry the fourth their Kings Iudas betrayes his Lord and Master Saul kills all the Priests c. Some are restrained for the good of humane society but all the mercy of a naturall man is for bad ends or constrained The truely mercifull man is the regenerate man these have found mercy from God and are mercifull to others these by meditation or visitation are moved to mercy and exercise it by counselling the ignorant comforting the dejected soule relieving the needy and sometimes their mercy is exercised in forgiving as well as giving Sect. 4 Fourthly of the mercy of God MErcy is essentiall in God Hee is the fountaine of mercy the Father of mercies Here wee may for method consider 1. The cause of Gods mercy no cause in us no cause out of himselfe he hath mercy on whom he will Rom. 9.18 His owne good pleasure is the cause 2. The kinds of mercies his mercies are generall to all or speciall to his elect Math. 5. 1 Tim. 1.15 3. The effects of his mercy is all the good that the Creature doth enjoy all is of mercy not merit 4. The largenesse of his mercy He is great in mercy Psal 119 156. Rich in mercy Ephes 2.4 5. The seasonablenesse of his mercy He shews mercy in due time Ps 9. In the Mount he will be seene Gen. 22.14 When our feet slip his mercy will helpe us Ps 94.18 6. The variety of his mercies on every faculty of our soules and member of our bodies His mercies are multitudes Psal 51.1 7. The constancy of his mercy it is for ever Psalme 136.1 Isai 54.8 Psal 52.1 2. Sect. 5 Fifthly Applications to edifie From the unreasonable creatures 1. IF unreasonable Creatures doe shew mercy to their young ones it condemneth the cruelty of those Harlots that make away their young children or lay them in the streete and leave them they adde to their filthinesse cruelty and are to be ranked among those vile sinners Rom. 1.31 that are without naturall affections Also the Storke and * The young Hart carries water in the mouth to give the old one D Bartas saith Hart shew mercy to their old Dammes and Sires condemning churlish children which are cruell to their old Parents From the wicked 2. If the mercies of the wicked be cruell then never trust to their mercy for there is no assurance thereof pray to God that we fall not into their hands Zedekia's eyes were pulled out so were Sampsons they rip up women with child they burne and destroy where they get the upper hand 3. We may ghesse at a sound professor by his mercy many have great blazes but no mercies pride and pompe and belly-cheere and vanity takes up their hearts and purses they are much for curiosity but little for mercy but a good man is mercifull Psal 37. 1. He considers the poore and needy he judges wisely of their estates Psal 41.1 2. He hath thoughts to doe them good hee devises how to be liberall Isaiah 32. 3. He considers his owne ability Acts 11.29 4. He considers his brothers necessity Rom. 12. 5. Hee lookes to his relation beginning at his center and working toward his circumference as first Among them the houshold of faith Gal. 6.13 Secondly our families 1. Tim. 5.8 Thirdly our Country-men Psalme 122.8 Fourthly the stranger we must do good to all using discretion in our doing good Psal 112. Vse 5 Fifthly is God mercifull this should teach us 1. To praise God for his mercy Psal 136.1 above all mercies for our redemption this mercy was promised Luke 1.72 and in tender mercy performed Luk. 1.78 by this mercy we that were blinde and ignorant are holpen by Christ who is our wisedome we that were guilty are justified by him he is our righteousnesse we that were polluted have him for our holinesse we that were captives have him for redemption 1 Cor 1.30 2. We should imitate God by being mercifull Luk. 6.36 the more mercy the more like God 3. We are to be humble because wee need mercy for we are poore and neede mercy Rev. 3.17 wee are transgressors and neede mercy Isaiah 48.8 4. We should labour for those qualifications that we may be under the promises of mercy and be assured of mercy As these following 1. To confesse our sinnes and forsake them Prover 28.13 2. To feare God his mercy is on them that feare him Luke 1.50 3. To love God hee shewes mercy to them that love him Exod. 20.6 4. To trust in God then mercy shall compasse us Psal 32.10 5. To thinke on good things then wee shall have mercy Prov. 14.22 6. To be mercifull then we shall obtaine mercy Matth. 5.7 7. To keepe close to the
our conceits capacities and inventions T is the Court of the glorious God compared to a City whose gates are pearles whose walls precious stones the streets gold the inhabitants are Kings there is the glory of Gods presence all is light and day and no darknesse nor night 't is the kingdome of glory there are Crownes of glory laid up for vessels of mercy prepared for glory 3. Of the glory of the visible heavens the heavens have the preheminence and are the most excellent the waters excell the earth the aire excells the water and the heavens for largenesse clearenesse purâ—nesse excell all under them and have this honor to declare the glory of God Psal 19.1 4. The ornaments of heaven are glorious the sunne is glorious in magnitude brightnesse swiftnesse efficacy and operation enlightning and heating the aire exhaling the waters quickning the earth and making fruitfull the earth with trees herbes and plants c. The Moone hath her glory though it be borrowed and her excellency appeares in the darke when we most need her light in the Canticles her fairenesse is commended 1. Cor. 15. and shee is one of the glorious workes of God The Starres have glory differing one from another and adorne the heavens with their bespangled brightnesse like a curious embroydered Canopy glorious to our eyes The Earth hath the glory of stability riches and variety among all that are taken out of it man is a glorious peece of workmanship whose foundation 〈…〉 the dust young mens glory is their strength and the glory of the aged is the gray-head Princes have their glory and great men according to their dignity but among men none have the glory and honor like to the regenerate man he is honorable by faith Iohn 1.12 and is glorious within they are changed from glory to glory 2. Cor. 3. they have a glorious head Iames 2.1 a glorious guard Heb. 1. last vers glorious food Gods ordinances glorious apparell Christs righteousnesse they are called the glory Isai 4.5 the spirit of glory rests on them 1. Pet. 4. they are heires of glory The Sea hath his glory for largenesse and terriblenesse and strength carrying the mighty ships there sports the great Leviathan and there are fishes innumerable The sea hath his proud waves of great height and quantity yet is honorable for this that it keeps within his bounds at the Creators command Sect. 3 Thirdly Of the glory of the Creator HIs glory is essential he is clothed with Majesty and glory Ps 104.1 so glorious is the Lord that the very angels cover their faces before him The Father is called the God of glory Acts 7.1 if the whole Trinity be there meant the Father is not excluded Christ is called our glorious Lord Iesus Christ Iames 2.1 The holy Ghost is called the spirit of glory 1. Pet. 4.14 all the gâ—ory in the creatures is but as a drop compared with the Ocean he had glory before there was a world Ioh. 17.5 and all creatures can adde nothing to his glory for it is not capable of addition he doth manifest his glory to the creatures and we give him glory by taking notice of his excellency and râ—ndering praises and acknowledging that is in him already Sect. 4 Fourthly Questions resolved Quest 1 WHerein doe men most usually glory Answ In wisedome strength riches Ier. 9.23 Quest Why doe men glory in their wisedome Answ 1. Their wisedome and knowledge puffes them up 1. Cor. 8.1 cognitio inflat knowledge makes them swolne and filled with winde they looke on their bulke and bignesse and doe forget they want the substance of faith and love 2. They thinke by their wisedome to doe great matters to suppresse those they would not have rise Exodus 1.10 3. When they effect their enterprises and get into favour or prevaile against those they hate that they applaud their wits like those that sacrifice to their nets Habbak 1.16 Quest 3 Why doe men glory in their strength Answ 1. Because they compare themselves with those are weake and feeble 2. They overmaster others and command them and glory in that strength and power which subdued them 3. They thinke to prevent and withstand those which dare oppose them Quest 4 Why doe men glory in their riches Answ 1. Because of the supposed good they thinke riches can procure them as friends places of preferments costly buildings dainty fare many attendants and servitors and to become as the great men of the earth 2. Because of the supposed evill they thinke riches will free them from Prov. 11.11 therefore t is said riches in their imagination is as a strong City and a high wall to shelter them 3. They have thoughts of the perpetuity of their riches to their posterity Psalm 49. contriving to assure them to their childrens children 4. Because they see others sue to them stand with cap and knee before them runne and goe at their becke affraid to displease them these causes make them glory in riches Quest 5 What is it to glory in God Answ T is to have an inward joy manifested by outward expressions Psal 33.21 so the word signifies Laetatur and Psalm 34.2 my soule shall glory in the Lord 1. Cor. 1.31 That he that glorieth may glory in the Lord we must not arrogate to our selves but all to God he is wisedome to our understanding righteousnesse to justifie us sanctification to renew us and redemption to our bodies and soules 1. God is our wisedome to teach us knowledge and give us light 2. Cor. 4.6 2. God is our strength Psal 59.17 3. God is our riches and our portion Psalm 119.57 therefore we should glory in him Quest 6 What is vaine glory Answ It is when a man seekes his owne glory as the end hee aimes at Iohn 7.18 He that speaketh of himselfe seeketh his owne glory Prov. 25.27 To seeke diligently * Pervestigari our owne glory is no glory glory and honour may bee enjoyed but we must not seeke it earnestly from men then it is vaine if wee seeke it then it must be in the second place moderately orderly else it is vaine a fruit of the flesh and it is sought from vaine men it is most uncertaine and gives no sound satisfaction being vaine Quest 7 What is the right way to seeke glory Answ 1. To abase our selves then we shall be exalted and honoured 1. Pet. 5.6 2. To grow stronger in faith Iohn 1.12 3. To practise good workes Matth. 5.16 Acts 10.4 Quest 8 What kinde of workes doe glorifie God Answ 1. To repent and turne from sinne Revel 16.9 2. To give to the poore Prov. 3.9 3. To sanctifie the Sabbath Isaiah 58.13 4. To praise the Lord. Psalme â—o last verse Quest 9 How may we know wee doe seeke the glory of God Answ 1. Though our selves be commended wee are displeased if we see not honour redound to the Lord. 2. We are content to lose that God may gaine honor 3. Though