we joyned to him by the same spirit does he dwell in our hearts by faith is he in us and we in him and abides in us as the hope of our glory our interest in him is a sure and infallible evidence of our interest in the Father He is the only Jacobs ladder whereby we can climb up to communion with the God of Jacob. His foot is on Earth but his top in Heaven The second is our covenant obligation to him I entred into a covenant with thee saith God and thou becamest mine Ezek. 16.8 Isa 55.3 There is a mutual covenant between God and his People as he hath engaged for their salvation so have they for his service O Lord I am thy Servant quoth David and so the Church Micah 4.5 For all people will walk every one in the name of his God and we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever She gives up her self to God not only in a way of single considence but resolute obedience The relations are mutual between God and his People he becomes theirs and they his They are betrothed in the marriage-covenant to him in judgement righteousness tender mercies and faithfulness and they know the Lord. Art thou then O soul brought into covenant with God hast thou broken off that accursed league with sin and Satan by righteousness and engaged thy soul solemnly to become a faithful servant to him as thy only liege-Liege-Lord and no other Art thou resolved to fear love and serve him in holiness and righteousness all the daies of thy life and to glorifie him in thy soul body and spirit which are his Thy engagement for his glory is an hopeful sign of his engagement for thy good Thirdly Intimate acquaintance and indeared communion with him Abraham had great interest in God and as great acquaintance with him We may see in Sodoms case how boldly he goes to him Friendship with God breeds an holy familiarity So Moses had a large share in Gods favour and God spake to him face to face and he talked with him again as a man with his familiar friend There are sweet communications of counsel between God and a gracious soul Our fellowship is with the Father 1 Joh. 1.3 David was a man after Gods own heart and had intimate acquaintance with God went to him by faith and prayer on all occasions It 's good for me saith he to draw near to God and one daies communion with him is worth a thousand It was said of Charls the great he conversed more with God than men As all communion is founded in union so true union discovers it self by flowing forth in acts of communion Now Christian what communion maintains thy soul with God in prayer private secret in meditation in publick Ordinances Is it thy meat and drink thy joy and rejoycing to work righteousness and meet him in his waies Thou canst have no interest in God if thou livest without him in the world nor canst call him Father truly if thou hast not or dost not know him Fourthly Sympathy and fellowship with him Gods interest and the souls are not two but one they are like two Turtles if one dies the other never lives comfortably after but sorrowing for the loss of her Mate God is sensible of and well-pleased with all the good done to his People his language is Inasmuch as ye have done it to these ye have done it to me And his people are affected with and rejoyce in all the glory is brought to him and had rather lose their comfort than their God should lose his honour They desire he alone should be magnified and are willing to be made stirrups for him to rise by though it be by their utter downfall And as they are satisfied in each others good so sensible of each others evil God sympathizeth with his Peoples sufferings In all their afflictions he is afflicted And they with his affronts and injuries The interest of God lies nearer their hearts than any thing else in the world They count not their own lives dear so they may but save his honour and so he be magnified though they be reproached impoverished imprisoned bamshed pâ—rsecuted they think themselves well apaid What sympathy hast thou with Gods cause and interest dost thou account the glory brought to him as good done to thee and take the injuries he suffers as offered to thy self Canst thou wish thy self a shield to sence off those dishonours which are cast on the face of thy Lord and Master Art thou meek as a Lamb in thy own cause but fierce as a Lion in Gods zealous for the Lord God of Israel how art thou affected when thou hearest his holy Name torn by the black mouths of the wicked and their tongues set on fire from Hell when thou seest his Creatures abused his Ordinances prophaned his People trampled under foot his Truth despised his Attributes blasphemed his Sabbaths unhallowed his Worship polluted If thou beest in the relation of a Son thou wilt not endure to see one spit on thy Fathers face or an ingenuous Servant wilt not bear thy Masters wrong behind his back Fifthly Suitable affections Where there is interest in God all the affections of the soul have their out-goings after him Thou hast First An high esteem and valuation of him Whom have I in Heaven but thee Interest raiseth estimation The Father esteems his Child and the Husband his Wife and so vice versà above all other though they be deformed and others beautiful they weak and others healthful they rich and others poor they ignorant and others learned and knowing because of their propriety in them A Saint values God above all the world above all things visible or invisible counts all loss dross and dung in comparison of him He alone is to him the Pearl of true price Gods People are precious to him above all others and so is he to them likewise They will part with all for him preferring him before all and venture all rather than lose their hold of him or sacrifice their interest in him omnia levia preterquam quod tui carendum How stands their esteem poised Secondly Thou hast an ardent and affectionate love towards him I will love the Lord my strength saith holy David Psal 18.1 Self-interest makes a man love his own Whom believing we love The applications of faith are alwaies seconded with the imbraces of love He that hath God for his God hath had experience of his love in Christ some tastes of his love shed abroad in his heart by the Holy Ghost and he cannot but love him by whom he was first loved This love constrains him Amor meus Pondus meum Does mercy love misery and shall not misery love mercy beauty affect deformity and shall not deformity re-affect beauty glory shine on dust and they not reflect on glory Nimis durus animus qui etsi amorem non vult impendere tamen non vult rependere Bernard
promise All shall work together for good to them who love God Rom. 8.28 And Gods performances are answerable to his promises Out of the eater God brings meat and out of the strong sweetness The wise Physician of Heaven makes the purest Treacle out of the most dangerous poison The sharpest â—edged sword of an enemy he anoints with balm so that even while it cuts it heals and while he thinks to let out the precious life he only takes away the corrupt and superfluous blood and in stead of killing the person only cures the impostume dum pungit ungit as Bernard speaks The hottest fires of humane wrath do but refine the Saint into a more spiritual temper they burn up indeed the dross and rust of corruption but perish never a golden grace but rather make it shine with a more radiant lustre and though the Sun of persecution looks upon them yea the furnace be seven times hotter than usually yet thâ— trial of their faith comes off with advantage and is found for praise honour and glory The deepest and highest swelling waters of mens moâ— boisterous rage do but scour them into thâ— greater wâ—iteness of purity and holiness The flail of humane violence serves only to beat them the cleaner out of their husk God is a wisâ— Chymist that extracts gold out of the coursesâ— metal and grace a divine limbeck that makeâ— sweet waters of the sowrest herbs The oppressions of the world conduce to Gods peoples spiritual advantage They do their souls good Their Chains are more beneficial than their Crowns and their Crosses more wholesome though it 's like not so toothsome than their Comforts As the collision of stones occasions the sparklings forth of light so the knocks they meet with abroad in the world the shine of their graces and as he said schola crucis lucis they never meet with more light than in the darkest dungeons oâ— worldly disconsolation They alwaies taste whenâ— the bitterness of mans wrath also the sweetness of Gods love And also to their outward good in the end As wicked mens violence alwaies determines in their own ruine In the net they prepare for others is their own foot taken and in the very same pit they dig for the righteous do they fall themselves So the sufferings of the Saints alwaies end in their rise and advantageous recovery evil slaies them not as it does the wicked but if God in his wise providence indulgeth them not a total immunity and exemption he grants them at least a sanctified use and a fair come-off yea a glorious issue a clear instance whereof we have in Joseph out of his own mouth Gen. 50.20 Where speaking in reference to his Brethrens sale of him he thus bespeaks them As for you ye thought evil against me but God meant it unto good to bring to pass as it is this day to save much people alive Their purposes of destroying his single person were issued with the salvation of the whole family if not the whole Land And likewise in Job with whom the Devil made a sad and black beginning but God made a fair a comfortable and blessed end As the Apostle speaks James 5.11 Ye have heard of the patience of Job and seen the end of the Lord That he is very pitiful and of tender mercy So effectually doth God work all for the good of his people as he reconciles all the seeming contradictions of his providence to his promise Though Isaac was once nigh being no child yet God makes him the Father of many Nations Jacob's hard usage by his Uncle Laban ends in great respect and kindness as appears by his profession and affectionate desire of his stay and company Gen. 30.27 If a man meets his enemy will he not slay him and yet God so overcomes the heart of Esau inclines him towards his Brother Jacob as instead of killing he kisseth and embraceth him Gen. 33.4 Such is the power and efficacy of divine operation as turns foes into friends opposers into familiars envy into admiration curses into blessings malice into benevolence execrations into applause and acclamations wrathful resolutions into kinâ— salutes and bland compellations imprecation into apprecations the utmost indignations conceived into the fullest satisfactions and higheâ— benedictions So that if enemies will not commend they shall have no power or will to condemn if they will do them no good they shalâ— have no heart to do them any hurt We maâ— think all things are against us as Jacob once tolâ— his Sons Gen. 42.36 upon the parting with his Son Benjamin but the letting go his Son waâ— the only way of saving himself When Daviâ— seemed nearest the grave then was he nighest the Crown The Israelites wilderness though somewhat about was a direct road and line to Canaan whither they were journeying We bring oft-times the greatest evil out of the greatest good â— such is our corruption but God brings the greatest good out of the greatest evil such is his goodness Let the Apostle conclude this in his general conclusion of comfort both as to sin and affliction Rom. 8.31 If God be for us whoâ— can be against us none assuredly so as to hurt oâ— prejudice us Seventhly By running and overturning their adversaries making the arrows they shoot at his people rebound back on themselves and their darts to stick in their own breasts Psal 81.14 15. I should soon saith God have subdued their enemies and turned my hand against their adversaries The haters of the Lord should have submited themselves to him The Psalmist breathes out their destruction by the spirit of Prophecy throughout the 83. Psalm in most elegant metaphors of a wheel turning a fire burning a storm â—asting all which note the suddenness and irreâ—stibleness of their destruction Thus God ruined â—e Egyptians when they pursued Israel Exod. 14.7 28. He destroyed Pharaoh Sisera and his Host â—udg 5.21 Swept them away by the River â—ishon as a besome sweeps away the filth of an â—ouse or as a stream carries away the durt of a â—ity and Haman who conspired the Jews fatal â—estruction Esth 7. And Senacherib 2 Chron. 32.21 â—n Angel overturns his Host and as that was deâ—royed by these Sons of God his person was â—estroyed by the Sons of his own loins Thus God destroyed Herod For trampling on the worms of Jacob and so on their God he turns â—gain and causeth worms to eat him up Thus â—e destroyed Judas who betrayed Christ and Juâ—an who blasphemed him dying with a vicisti Galilee in his mouth God does sooner or later wound the head of the Dragon the hoary scalp of his enemies pours out his wrath on the Heathen â—hat devour Jacob and lay waste his dwelling place Though they gather themselves against his people yet they shall not escape by their iniquity but he will cut them off in their wickedness when once their sin be at the full and â—aving filled up their measure they become ripe for destruction
multiplication without it For man lives not by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God Matth. 4. He fills his peoples hearts with food and gladness He can carse much while the meat is in sinners mouths he can send leanness into their souls and they may eat but not have enough drink but not be filled be clothed but not be warm So he can bless a little Daniel's pulse he can render more nourishing than the Kings dainties Though the staff of bread be broken in pieces yet he can renew it or at least deal graciously with the soul so as it shall say I have enough Nimis avarus animus cui non sufficit Deus Bernard The experience of this was that gave the Church such a large festival of joy in a fasting-day Hab. 3.17 Although the Fig-tree shall not blossom neither shall fruit be in the Vines the labour of the Olive shall fail and the fields shall yield no meat the flock shall be cut off in the fold and there shall be no herd in the stalls yet I will rejoyce in the Lord I will joy in the God of my salvation And as in the want of necessary competencies for outward and bodily sustenance so in the loss of worldly conveniencies God is his peoples helper He recompenseth them an hundred-fold what they lose in temporals they gain in spirituals and when bereaved of all this world can afford can yet cry out we have enough all in our God Though they be as having nothing yet they possess all things and retain their heirship while they appear to the world to have lost their Sonship Yea in the utmost misgivings of their souls when not only their enjoyments but even their expectancies are thrown over-board and set all on float their hope perisht from the Lord yet his compassions bear them up Lam. 3.21 And when with Jonah they apprehend themselves cast out of his sight yet can they look towards his holy Temple Jonah 2.4 Yea secondly As under the frustration of expected comforts so under the feeling of unexpected crosses and afflictions is God their help God is never far from his people when trouble is near When men draw back he draws most near and misery advanceth forward he never goes away and leaves them naked combatants with it If outward mercies fail he will give contentation under the want of them or better mercies instead of them exchanges the gold of Heaven for this earthly dross Though others have the portions they have with Isaac the Inheritance and the men of the world gifts with Jehoram they have the Kingdom and change of worldly comforts for the hopes of future glory and a double portion of the gifts and graces of his Spirit is no robbery or injury Yea he often bestows better in kind as well as value as he gives them himself who is better than many wives children estates for when all these die he yet lives so he raiseth up other comforts to sweeten their crosses when he takes away one mercy sends another in the stead If David loseth his child which surviving had been a standing monument of his shame he shall have a Solomon that shall be to him a Crown of Glory in his stead So if outward afflictions approach he will finde out a way of deliverance 1 Pet. 2.9 The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of all temptations Troubles rush in upon us suddenly oftentimes and we know not which way we come into them but God makes our way out of them He opens for us a back-door of escape when there appears of it no humane probability Many a time did he deliver them saith the Psalmist of Israel Psal 106.42 They cried unto the Lord and he delivered them out of their distresses Under soul-conflicts when they have even concluded their case desperate God hath come in with his salvation When Hezekiah saies He is cut off and shall never more see the Lord in the Land of the Living so that his soul was in great bitterness in love to his soul his God delivers him from the pit of corruption Isa 38.17 When the soul is reduced to such extremities as it knows not what to do how any longer to hope but draws up desperate conclusions against mercy and saies The Lord will be gracious no more he hath in anger shut up his tender mercies I shall surely fall by the strength of this corruption that temptation As Mris. Honywood said As sure as this Glass breaks I shall be damned The soul lookt for comfort from Ordinances and Promises expected help from faithful Ministers and fellow-Christians but findes none to save none to comfort even then he findes out some Messenger an Interpreter one among a thousand to shew to man his uprightness then he is gracious and delivers him from going down to the pit he delights in the Almighty and lifts up his face to God Job cap. 22. and cap. 33. And so under outward calamities which come so suddenly and violently as there seems no way of rescue or resistance but a man cries out with David He shall must one day fall by the hand of Saul by the power of this or the other affliction yet God delivers out of the mouths of these ravening Lions as he did him Psal 31.22 I said in mine haste I am cut off from before thine eyes nevertheless thou heardst the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee Though he were even at deaths door at the graves mouth God brought up his soul from the grave and kept him alive that he went not down into the pit The sorrows of death compassed him and the pains of Hell got hold upon him and he said in his haste all were lyars the Prophet Samuel and all yet at length God gave him such experience of his salvation as he could not contain but cries out Thou hast delivered my soul from death mine eyes from tears and my feet from falling It 's Gods usual method to work by contraries and as he disappoints sinners in the height of their hopes and confidences so he relieves his Saints in the lowest ebbs of their diffidencies and despondencies he casts them down when advanced on the highest pinnacle of undeserved and abused mercy and lifts his own up when plunged into the most deep and intricate labyrinths of affliction and misery And that is the last particular in this first branch of the Proposition In what respects God is an help to his people The second follows How or after what sort and manner he gives them help Take it briefly in these following particulars which will enhance the excellency of divine help First He helps suddenly and unexpectedly when his people little dream of it least of all look for it and expect it Psal 126.1 When the Lord turned again the captivity of Sion we were like them that dream The deliverance was so great as it seems incredible too good news to be true Wicked
is a Lion to lofty and sturdy sinners but a Lamb to depressed and dejected souls Such as advance themselves to the Throne God brings down to the footstool but to those that patiently bear the Cross he reacheth forth the Crown He revives the spirits of the humble and the hearts of the contrite ones Secondly Prayer and Invocation Gods People are a praying people a generation of seekers and such commonly are speeders God sends none away that so come to him with a non inventus He never said to the seed of Jacob seek ye my face in vain They seek his face righteousness and strength and he is found of them When Jehosaphat was compassed about with the Syrian Host and had no way to fly but up to Heaven he cries to the Lord and he helped him 2 Chron. 18.31 The Saints alone betake themselves to God and his help run to him as their Sanctuary others fly from Gods presence run to the Rocks and the tops of the ragged Rocks call to the hills and the mountains but a child of God goes only and tells his Father and before him laies open his cause As good Hezekiah did when Rabshaketh came out against him O Lord I am oppressed undertake for me or the Church Isa 33.2 Be thou our Arm every morning and our salvation in the time of trouble They only sensibly need and so alone crave and implore divine succour And God will not suffer his People to lose the precious treasure of their prayers Psal 145.18 19. The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him to all that call upon him in truth He will fulfill the desire of them that fear him he will also hear their cry and save them So Psal 91.14 15. Because he hath set his love upon me therefore will I deliver him I will set him on high because he hath known my Name he shall call upon me and I will answer him That God who prepares his Peoples heart to pray prepares also his own ear to hear and he that promiseth to hear before we call will never deny to hearken when we cry unto him Ideo premuntur justi ut pressi clament clamantes exaudiantur saith Calvin Oppressions and afflictions make man cry and cries and supplications make God hear Psal 141.1 2. Spreading forth our hands in believing and servent prayer is the only way of grasping mercy God hath given full assurance by promise of grants on such applications even under the inffliction of the greatest judgements and calamities 1 King 8 37. 2 Chron. 6.28 If publick mercy does not yet particular at least alwaies follows as an answer of prayer Psal 32.6 For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found There 's the voice of prayer What is the Eccho of mercy appears in the very next words Surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh to him Thirdly Faith and dependance on God and expectation from him He that comes unto God and goes not away as he comes sad from his presence must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him It 's the periphrasis that David describes him by The Saviour of them that trust in him Psal 17.7 In this hope and confidence the Prophet placeth mans blessedness Jer. 17.7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord whose hope the Lord is The Lord is a buckler to them that trust in him Psal 18.30 God is to his People whatsoever by faith they make him Faith makes all that is in God a mans own it engageth all Gods Attributes and sets them at work for his People it obligeth him in point of honour to come in for their relief Who will be found so unworthy as to fail them that trust to him If a friend trust to us for supply counsel assistance we will by no means disappoint him Nay if an enemy delivers himself up into our hands and confides in us for secresie we will not be so disingenuous as to betray him much less will God ever prove unfaithful to us while we are faithful to him Faith calls in help from Heaven it saith to God as the men of Macedonia to Paul Come over and help us God is known in her Palaces to be a refuge Our Fathers trusted in thee and were not confounded Psal 22.5 Unbelief hinders establishment but Faith ushers in prosperity It 's a riddle to Philosophy to fetch strength from another to undergo a burden but Faith hath a secret vertue to fetch strength from God either as to doing good or bearing evil The Lord takes pleasure in them that fear him that hope in his mercy Psal 147.11 He is a Sun and Shield to them that trust in him Psal 84.12 Hope in him never makes the soul ashamed God never forsakes such as are dependants by faith upon him They that trust in him shall never become desolate David urgeth this frequently in this book of Psalms for help and protection Psal 57.1 Be merciful to me O God for my soul trusteth in thee Psal 86.2 Psal 7.1 O thou my God save thy Servant that trusteth in thee So Psal 71.1 In thee O Lord do I put my trust let me never be put to confusion It 's observable that Gods being a rock and a refuge are joyned in Scripture Psal 46.1 God is his Peoples refuge which they fly to their habitation they continually resort to and therefore he becomes their help Though creatures are broken reeds and crackt cisterns yet God was never a broken staff a dry and barren wilderness to his People Now Gods children are not only an humble and a praying but a believing and depending people As the child hangs on its Mothers breasts so do his children on their Fathers bowels We finde holy David usually professing his confidence in his God Psal 62.1 Truly my soul waiteth upon God from him cometh my salvation And so verse 5. My soul wait thou only upon God for my expectation is from him The Lord is my strength and therefore is become my salvation Psal 118.14 The People of God know his Name and therefore will trust in him Psal 9.10 They are a people who will not lie by falseness to their profession and principles or vain confidence in second causes or creature-comforts a poor afflicted people that trust in the Name of the Lord that will not lie nor do iniquity Zeph. 3.12 13. The hypocrite leans on his house as Job speaks his parts priviledges profession common grace The wicked man trusts in chariots and horses armies and navies his riches and revenues power and carnal policies shifts and devices friends wit or wealth Psal 49. But what saith the pious and devout soul he breaths forth himself in David's dialect Psal 20.7 Some trast in chariots and in horses but we will remember the Name of the Lord. A Saint leans only on the staff of Jacob the holy one of
Israel he hath no other string to the bow of his trust but God alone he expects help no where but from Heaven Thou art my hope saith Jeremiah in the day of evil Jer. 17.17 God is by right the confidence of the ends of the earth but by act the sole dependance of his People They trust in him at all times and pour forth their hearts before him Even under the most dismaying providences which strike amazement into others hearts and dejection into their countenances yea set the world into an uproar and combustion under his skirt do their souls trust Fourthly Waiting and attendance upon him Gods People are attendants at the Court of Heaven alwaies waiting at the elbow of the Almighty As they are a praying so a waiting people when they have sent out the Dove of prayer they wait for her return with an Olive-branch in her mouth when they have sent forth the ship of supplication they stand like Merchants on the shore expecting her return full fraught with heavenly treasure They wait upon the God of Jacob and look toward him They hearken and hear what God speaks having spoken attend the Eccho and dispatcht their letters look for an answer Now eye hath not seen no ear heard nor can the heart of man conceive what God hath prepared for them that wait for him Isa 64. God waits to be gracious to them that wait for hun Isa 30.18 Such as wait on him with submission and resignation to his will and pleasure due respect to his glory and patient resolution till he shews mercy shall never lose their labour When Davids eyes attend his God as the eyes of a Servant look to the hand of his Master and a Maiden to the hand of her Mistress he is sure of receiving some gift of mercy from hun Psal 123.2 When his soul waits for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning the San of divine goodness will certainly rise break forth and shine upon him Psal 130.6 God inclines to the soul that waits patiently for him none ever waited on him in vain Saints alwaies get something by praying but by waiting they gain double The still child shall have two breads When the Church resolves once to wait God soon resolves she shall wait no longer but of an expectant makes her an enjoyer Micah 7.7 9. The Prince soon gives ear to the Favourite who continues to give him attendance and the Advocate delaies not to plead the Clients Cause who will not away from his Chamber door but determines to ply him with his over-eager sollicitations yea the longer it be before the ship of faith and prayer returns when it once comes home it is the more richly laden and brings him a double venture The Church found it so when she came home top and top-gallant with her sails of triumph Isa 25.9 Lo this is our God we have waited for him and he will save us This is the Lord we have waited for him we will be glad and rejoyce in his salvation The needy shall not alwaies be forgotten nor the expectation of the poor perish for ever Fourthly In respect of that incouragement in his service which he would have his receive from him even against the wicked who do not serve him The Lord takes part with his People and helps them against the world that hate both him and them Psal 118.11 When most the object of mens envy and malignity they have most of Gods love and affection when out-casts to their Brethren they are received into their Fathers arms God would have the wicked discouraged in their way of rebellion and his People incouraged in the way of duty And by this they know he favours them because their enemies do not triumph over them Psal 41.11 Did not God take in with his People and stand by them the uncircumcised would triumph and the Saints be dis-spirited and despondent he assigns this therefore as the reason why he would not contend for ever with them lest their adversaries should carry it strangely Deut. 32.27 and their spirits fall into a desperate succumbency Isa 57.16 Now when he pours contempt on their haughtiness and advances the poor on high from affliction the righteous rejoyce and all iniquity stops her mouth Psal 107.42 On which very account David solicits help Psal 109.26 27 29. that his adversaries might be cloathed with shame and cover themselves with their own confusion as with a Mantle while the righteous are glad in the Lord and trust in him and all the upright in heart do glory The Master sometimes siniles on the diligâ—nt and faithfull Servant as to encourage him in his duty so to discourage the negligent in his laziness and the Prince shines on his Subject as to countenance him in his loyalty and allegiance so to dishearten the Traitor in his Treason and Rebellion Fifthly In regard of that just return and due improvement of his help which he receives from them They are those alone who will praise and magnifie extoll and lift up the Name of the God of Jacob. Being their strength he becomes their Song and their Praise Hear holy Jeremiah proclaiming him upon this Experience Jer. 17.14 O Lord my strength and my fortress and my refuge in the day of affliction And so our David before him Psal 18.1 O Lord my rock my strength my fortress and my deliverer my God my Buckler the horn of my salvation and my high Tower And Moses before them both Exod. 15.2 When the Egyptians were drowned and Israel preserved he cants forth a most heavenly Doxology The Lord is my strength and song and he is become my salvation he is my God and I will prepare him an babitation my Fathers God and I will exalt him What the Saints win by prayer they alwayes wear by Thankfulness what they receive in Mercy they return in Duty Where there is gratiarum decursus there is also gratiarum recursus Let favour be shewed to the wicked and he will deal injustly The shines of Mercy which draw out the fragrancy of the Saints graces raise but a greater stench from the dunghill of his corruptions They sacrifice to their own Nets and say their own arm hath saved them But the Church gives other language Psal 44.3 Thy right hand and thine arm and the light of thy countenance because thou hadst a favour to them Let God grant the Jews deliverance from the yoke of cruel and bloody Masters and give them free entertainment in his Service they will wear the Livery of Joy and Gladness and with their best Ornament of a gratefull Affection celebrate to future Posterity the Anniversary Solemnity of this good day of their deliverance As Gods People go to him alone and offer a sin-offering in the day of their misery and calamity so they return to him only with a Peace-offering in the day of their mercy and comfort They give unto the Lord the glory due to his Name and what they