Creature in misery Hence he is said in Scripture after the manner of Men to have tender Mercies Psal 25.6 And bowels of Mercy Luke 1.58 And to be afflicted in the Afflictions of his People Isa 63.9 And to have his Soul grieved for the miseries of Israel Judges 10.15 16. As tender Parents are extremely troubled for the Afflictions of their Children Psal 103.12 13. So his Bowels are turned within him his Repentings are kindled together Hos 11.8 9. Mercy doth not onely pity but also relieve the afflicted it hath an Hand to supply as well as an Heart to pity those that are in Distress Isaiah 34.18 Gen. 19.16 The Attribute of Mercy is that which God glorieth in and boasteth of Exod. 33.19 Psal 103.8 Noble and Heroick Spirits are ever gentle and merciful The basest Minds are most cruel and farthest from Mercy God saith Fury is not in him Isaiah 27.4 Judgment is his strange Work Isaiah 28.21 He doth not afflict willingly Lament 3.33 But delighteth in the Prosperity of his Servants Psalm 35.27 It 's not his Nature to disturb and destroy Men it 's their Sin that forceth Thunderbolts into his Hands Isaiah 44.22 His delight is in Mercy Micah 7.18 The blessed God hath multitude of Mercies Psal 51.1 To answer the multitude of the Creatures Miseries Abundant mercy 1 Pet. 1.3 He is said to be rich in mercy Ephes 2.4 Exceeding abundant rich in mercy Ephes 2.7 His Mercy as Oyl swims on the top of all his Attributes is his delight Jer. 32.41 I will rejoyce over them to do them good His Mercy as Gold being most excellent over-layeth all his Works Psal 145.7 His tender mercy is over all his Works His Mercy is to all admiration O how excellent is thy loving kindness Psal 36.7 O how great is thy goodness Psal 31.19 His Mercy is beyond all Apprehension Thy Mercy reacheth to the Heavens Psal 108.4 1 Cor. 2.9 He is stiled the Father of Mercies 2 Cor. 1.3 Not the Father of Justice or Fury Mercy is the Joy and Pleasure of God Hence he is said to have a Mercy-Seat and to have a Throne of Grace Heb. 9.5 Sitting is a posture of Ease and Rest but he riseth to execute Justice Psal 68.1 He doth rest in his Love Ephes 3.17 Mercy is the Glory and Honour of God When Moses desired to see the Glory of God Exod. 33.18 The Lord proclaims The Lord God gracious merciful Exod. 34.6 7. When God promiseth to do great things for his People That he will give them Health abundance of Peace cleanse them from all their Filthiness and pardon all their Iniquities Jer. 33.7 8 9. He gives us the fruit of it verse 9. And it shall be to me for a Name of Joy a Praise and Glory before all Nations His Mercy is his Riches his Treasure Hence he is said to be Rich in mercy Eph. 2.4 God is merciful in all he doth universally merciful All his wayes are Mercy and Truth Psal 25.10 The whole World is a Volume written within and without with Characters of Mercy He is merciful to all Men Psal 145.9 Sheweth mercy to thousands Exod. 20.6 Exod. 34.7 Math. 5.45 46. He is merciful at all times His mercy endureth for ever Psal 118.1 Psal 136.1 2 3. He is merciful in all respects He giveth all sorts of Mercies 1 Tim. 6.13 Eph. 1.3 2 Pet. 1.3 4. Men are merciful Prov. 11.17 Psal 37.26 So are Angels in a sense but none of them comparable to God The tender Mercies of the Wicked yea of the righteous Men yea of Angels are Cruelties to the Mercies of God Have they such Pity such Bowels for miserable Creatures as God hath Have they such Power such Ability to relieve afflicted Ones as God hath Can they afford preserving protecting Mercy as God Job 10.12 Pardoning and forgiving Mercy Micah 7.18 Purifying and renewing Mercy Ephes 2.4 Saving and eternal Mercy Tit. 3.5 6. O how infinitely short do they come of him He is so incomparable in Mercy that Mercy is said to belong onely to him Vnto thee O Lord belongeth Mercy Psal 62.10 Unto thee and none but thee He is so merciful that when his Bowels conflict with justice on the behalf of Sinners and get the upper hand he rejoyceth in the Victory Mercy rejoyceth against Judgment James 2.14 He is so merciful that he dispenseth with his own Institutions for the sake of it Hos 6.6 Math. 9.13 with Math. 12.7 Once more he is so merciful that he is upbraided with it as if he were too fond of that Attribute and loved it over-much Jonah 4.2 Was not this my saying in my own Country for I knew that thou wast merciful Thou didst send me to Preach Destruction and Desolation to Nineveh but when I received the Message I knew all would be prevented by mercy and that to Preach such a Threatning was but to disgrace and dishonor my self as a false Prophet before the men of Nineveh for I thought then what is now come to pass that notwithstanding the peremptoriness of the Message Mercy would interpose and prove me false 8. God is incomparable in his Patience Patience is that Attribute in God whereby he beareth with Sinners and forbears or defers their Punishment or that whereby he expecteth and waiteth long for their Conversion He is a God slow to anger Psal 103.8 He waiteth on Men to do them good Isa 30.18 He is long-suffering 2 Pet. 3.7 9. Nay He endureth with much long-suffering the Vessels of Wrath Rom. 9.22 He is the God of Patience Rom. 15.5 The Patience of God is the more admirable if we consider 1. How perfectly he hateth Sin Psal 5.4 Hab. 1.13 Prov. 6.16 And how offensive it is to him it grieveth him Eph. 4.30 It presseth him as Sheaves press a Cart Amos 2.13 He is broken with their whorish Hearts Ezek. 6.9 Though he be infinitely perfect that no Sin can be hurtful to him yet he is so infinitely pure that all Sin is hateful to him 2. What an affront Sin is to him A contempt of his Authority therefore call'd a despising him 1 Sam. 2.30 An ecclipsing his Honour therefore call'd a dishonouring him Rom. 2.23 A contention with him for Mastery therefore call'd a fighting against him Acts 5.39 Job 15.25 A violation of his Commands therefore call'd a transgression of the Law 1 John 3.4 It affronts his Wisdome therefore call'd folly 2 Sam. 24.10 His Justice therefore call'd unrighteousness 1 John 1.6 7. His Patience therefore call'd a despising his long-suffering Rom. 2.4 His Mercy therefore call'd a turning his Grace into wantonness Jude ver 4. His Truth therefore call'd a Lye Isa 44.20 It must be infinite Patience to bear with that which is the Object of infinite hatred 3. Who they are who thus dare and provoke him They are his Creatures Psal 100.2 whom he hath infinitely obliged Lament 3.22 23. And laden with innumerable Blessings Psal 116.12 And loved unconceiveably John 3.16 And seeks daily to over-come
infinite being should much affect our hearts Praise ye the Lord Praise him O ye servants of the Lord Praise the name of the Lord Blessed from this time forth and for ever From the rising of the Sun to the going down of the same the Lords name is to be praised why the Lord is high above all Nations and his glory above the Heavens who is like to the Lord our God who dwelleth on high Psal 113.1 to 6. Praise him for his incomparableness in his attributes for the incomparableness of his power O Lord God of Host who is a strong Lord like unto thee Psal 89.8 For the incomparableness of his holiness Who is a God like unto thee glorious in holiness Exod. 15.11 For the incomparableness of his mercy Who is a God like unto thee pardoning iniquity and passing by the transgressions of the remnant of his heritage because he delighteth in mercy Praise him for the incomparableness of his Words O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful works to the children of men Psal 107.8.15 21 31. Psal 72.18 Psal 136.4 Praise him for the work of Creation Psal 114.1 2 3 4 5. Job 38.4 5 6. Praise him for his works of Providence Psal 97.8 9. Psal 136. throughout Psal 107. Praise him especially for the work of Redemption Blessed be the Lord God of Israel who hath visited and redeemed his people Luk. 1.68 Psal 9.1 Rev. 15.3 Praise him for the incomparableness of his Word Wonderful are thy Testimonies Psal 119.129 How often doth the sweet Singer of Israel praise God for them as a singular kindness Psal 147. two last verses He gave his Statutes to Moses his Laws and Commandments to Jacob He hath not dealt so with every Nation Praise ye the Lord. Praise him by admiring him Wonder at his being As they of Christ What manner of man is this that the winds and seas obey him Math. 8.27 What manner of God is this who knoweth no bounds no beginning no succession no addition An amazing admiration of him is an high commendation of him And indeed our silent wondering at his perfections is almost all the worship we can give him Psal 65.1 Praise waiteth for thee O God in Sion Heb. Praise is silent for thee O God in Sion not that praise was dumb or tongue-tyed in Sion for praise in no part of the world speaks higher or louder than in Sion but to shew that when the people of God set themselves to praise him they are struck with amazement and wonder at his matchless being and beauty at his infinite excellencies and perfections and wanting words to express them they sit down in a silent admiration of them Thou wouldst wonder at Adam if he were now alive for his age O wonder at him that is from everlasting to everlasting that is the cause and original of all things that is what he is that is and nothing else is that is all he is in one indivisible point of eternity Wonder at his attributes admire his holiness Behold he putteth no trust in his Servants he chargeth the Angels with folly Job 4.18 Behold wonder at it Again Behold he putteth no trust in his Saints the Heavens are not clean in his sight Job 15.15 Admire his wisdom cry out with the Apostle O the depth of the wisdom and knowledg of God Rom. 11.33 Admire his love Behold what manner of love hath the Father loved us with 1 Joh. 3.1 Admire his power that he can do what he will do Who is a strong Lord like unto thee Psal 89.8 Wonder at his Works Thou art ready to wonder at the rare works of some curious Artist alass all their works are toyes to the works of the mighty Creator and Possessor of Heaven and Earth O Lord how marvellous are thy works Psal 104.24 His work is honourable and glorious Psal 111.3 and worthy thy greatest wonder What a piece is the Creation how marveilous how mysterious Psal 8.1 2 3 4 5. The Heavens declare his glory Psal 19.1 and the earth is full of his goodness Psal 104.24 What a work is Providence read Psal 104. and 107. How many rarities curiosities mysteries are wrapt up in it which are only seen in the other world Psal 77.19 What man is this say they for he commandeth with authority and the unclean Spirits come out of men Mark 1.27 What a Master-piece what rare workmanship indeed is Redemption a work that the Angels are alwayes prying into and wondering at Eph. 3.8 1 Pet. 1.10 Wonder at his Word When thou hearest it dost thou not perceive a Majesty and Authority awing thy Conscience accompanying it And they were all amazed and astonished at his Doctrine Luk. 4.32 The very Officers who were sent to apprehend Christ could not but wonder at his words and returned to them who set them a work Never man spake as he spake Joh. 7.47 There are great things in the Law of God Hosea 8.12 things that are wonderful Psal 119.18 which may well be wondered at And all saith the Evangelist bare him witness and wondred at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth Luk. 4.22 Praise him by speaking alwayes highly and honourably of him If his name alone be excellent take heed that thou dost not take his excellent name in vain Thy apprehensions of him must be ever high and thy expressions of him honourable Thy Tongue is therefore call'd thy glory because therewith thou mayest glorifie thy God Psal 57.8 Never speak of God rashly or at random without a serious consideration of whom thou speakest and let thy expressions of him and to him be becoming his vast perfections Ascribe greatness to our God Deut. 32.3 Speak honourably of his being So Moses Exod. 15.11 Who is a God like unto thee glorious in holiness fearful in praises So Solomon 1 Kings 8.23 Lord God of Israel there is no God like unto thee in Heaven above or in the Earth beneath So David 1 Chron. 29.11 Speak honourably of his attributes Psal 68.34 of his power mercy truth justice wisdom and holiness Holy Holy Holy Lord God of Hosts Isa 6.3 Speak honourably of his words Psal 86.8 Among all the Gods there is none like unto thee neither are there any works like unto thy works Psal 145.10 Speak honourably of his Word The Commandments of the Lord are pure Psal 19.7 Thy word is very pure The Statutes of the Lord are right Psal 19.10 The Law is holy just and good Rom. 7.12 Though Paul's corruption took occasion by the Laws prohibitions to become the more unruly as the water at a Bridge roars the more for the stop yet he dares not lay the least fault upon the Law but layeth all upon himself was the Law Sin God forbid v. 7. Far be it from me to have the least such thought No the Law is holy but I am carnal sold under sin v. 14. So when he speaketh of the Gospel how honourably doth he speak of it
Wood. Evil Angels are fettered where-ever they go in the Chains of his Anger and his Power which they cannot break asunder but must bear as intollerable as they are And good Angels own and acknowledge his might and strength above all other Revel 4.8 11. The Power of God hath no Fellow no Paralel There is no Rock i. e. no strength Rocks being strong natural Fortifications Vide 1 Sam. 14.4 Judges 6.16 like our God 1 Sam. 2.2 4. God is incomparable in his Justice Justice in general is the giving every one their due In God it is that Attribute whereby he disposeth all things according to the Rule of Equity Deut. 32.4 Psal 11.5 And rendereth to every man according to his works without respect of persons Psal 62.12 Job 34.11 19. Gal. 6.6 7. God is positively or affirmatively just Eph. 3.5 The just Lord is in the midst thereof he will not do iniquity He is eminently the just One Acts 7.52 He is superlatively most just Job 34.17 Wilt thou condemn him that is most just altogether just or as some read it Justice Justice without the least mixture tincture or shadow of injustice all over just and justice He is most just just in the highest degree just beyond all degrees He giveth to all their due without fear of evil He standeth in awe of none for their power or greatness His day of Vengeance is against the Cedars of Lebanon and the Oakes of Bashan and all the high Mountains Isa 2 13 14. without hope of gain men are unjust for Bribes Hos 4.14 and love with shame give ye but Riches prevail not in the day of his Wrath Prov. 11.4 Ezek. 7 19. He is no taker of Gifts 2 Chron. 19.7 and without respect to any for their nearness or relation to him or Honors or outward Excellencies Jer. 22.24 He will pluck the Signet from his right hand in the day of his Justice Israel were a People near to him Deut. 4.7 Psal 148. ult Yet he doth not spare them when they rebel against him Psal 74.1 2 3. Psal 44.10 to 15. Jer. 7.12 Read the Lamentations of Jeremiah and you will find his severity to them notwithstanding their near relation to him Adam and Angels were great excellent Beings yet when they sinned he made them to suffer He accepteth not the Persons of Princes nor regardeth the Rich more then the Poor Job 34.19 He acteth according to Law most exactly and according to a Law published and according to a most righteous and just Law Rom. 2.12 13 15 16. Rom. 7.12 therefore is most just Surely God will not do wickedly neither will the Almighty pervert Judgment Job 34.12 Surely the Almighty cannot do wickedly neither can God pervert Judgment Men may do justly God must do justly he cannot but do justly and that because his Will is his Law and the most exact Plat-form and Rule of all Justice and Righteousness Whatsoever he doth is just because he doth it who is the great Soveraign and Supreme of the World Job 34.12 13. The Actions of God are often mysterious but ever righteous Psal 145.17 The Lord is holy in all his Wayes and righteous in all his Works When his Pathes are in the Seas and his goings in deep Waters Psal 77.19 That none can fathom them or find out the reason of them even then all his wayes are Judgment Deut. 32.4 Not as Judgment is opposed to Mercy but as Judgment is opposed to injustice When Clouds and Darkness are before him i. e. when his Providences are such hard Texts that none can expound them and such dark Riddles that none can unfold them even then Righteousness and Judgment are the habitation of his Throne Psal 99.2 His disposing and distributive Power moves alwayes within the Sphere of Righteousness Men may be just Math. 1.19 Joseph was a just man Noah Gen. 6.9 John Mark 6.20 Cornelius Acts 10.22 But shall mortal man be more just then God shall man be more pure then his Maker Job 4.17 The Expression is a denial of all comparison between God and Man It 's the highest presumption for Man to prefer himself before God Isa 14.13 14. Yea it 's monstrous impudency for Man to compare himself with God We say amongst men That comparisons are odious but this is the most odious comparison of all for Enosh a weak frail Creature to compare with Elchah the Mighty Almighty Creator for crookedness to compare with straitness and Darkness to compare with Light The most just man compared with God is unjust His Righteousness is as a filthy rag In his sight can no Flesh be justified Psal 143.2 Though in the sight of men a man may be just yet in the sight of God he is unjust Compare a Star with a Candle and 't is somewhat but compare it with the Sun and 't is nothing it must hide its head for shame Compare a godly man with a wicked man or one not so good as himself and he is somebody but compare him with an Angel he is no body what is he then if he be compared with a God Job 9.2 3. How should man be just with God speak the way declare the means the manner how man should be righteous before God If he will contend with him he cannot answer him one of a thousand Not to one Question of a thousand which God can put to him not for one Action of a thousand which himself hath wrought Alas is he just who is so far from ability to justifie all he doth that he cannot justifie one act of a thousand that he doth Angels are just they are righteous in their natures have no spot in their lives have no Error Psal 103.20 But are they righteous to God or before God No Job 4.16 17 18. Angels are nothing in justice to God though they are just to Man they are unjust to God They are in a possibility considered in themselves of actual injustice which God is not he is incapable of being unjust Again the Law or Rule of Angels Righteousness is without them and dictinct from them and thereby they are the more capable of swerving from it but the Law or Rule of Gods Justice is within him yea 't is himself he is his own Law his own Rule and therefore 't is impossible for him to recede or err from it When the Workman and his Rule are different there may be fear of wandring from his Rule for though the Rule be strait yet the Man may through the mistake of his Eye or shaking of his Hand draw a crooked Line but when the Workman and his Rule are the same there is no fear God's Will that acteth all things is the Rule by which he acteth and therefore every Line must be strait and every Action just He can never err in any thing he doth whose Will is the Rule of all he doth nay whose Actions are their own Rule Such is the Creatures weakness that he may wander out of his way
3.3 As if God had said because thou ravest and ragest like some huge unruly Fish or some fierce wild Beast I will take thee with my Hook and I will ring thee and curb thee and lead thee and draw thee whither I list The Devils are more untractable then Winds and Waves and Men They have great Power hence called The strong man Luke 11.21 And Powers Eph. 6.12 Their union doth much increase their strength Vis unita fortior They are so much one in their Confederacies and all their Conspiracies that they are called The evil One The wicked One Matth. 13.28 The Devil 1 Peter 5.8 Because though they are many thousands yet they agree and unite against God as if they were all but one They have much knowledge subtilty and policy to direct their Power Vis consilii expers c. Their excellent Natures their great Observation of Persons and Actions their long experience of some thousands of years in the World must needs speak their Wisdom or rather Craftiness to be great Add to these their innate implacable hatred of God which makes them imploy all their Power and improve all their Policy to offend and displease him to break from under his Yoke and Subjection yet in spight of all their Might their Craft their Malice he governeth them as a man doth his Prisoners whom he hath in Fetters He hath reserved them in Chains of Darkness Jude verse 6. He hath them ever in the Chains 1. Of their own terrifying affrighting Consciences which allow them no rest Day or Night Indeed all time is a dark dreadful time to them and all places are dark dismal places to them they are where-ever they go as Prisoners with Fetters upon them yea such Shackels as enter into and pierce their Spirits in Chains of Darkness 2. In Chains of Divine Providence God governeth their Persons and all their motions they go no whither but as he pleaseth though they go up and down in the Earth As subtile a Spirit as the Devil is he cannot touch Job Job 1.12 No nor the Swine without God's leave Matth. 8.31 He that would read more of the incomparableness of God in his Providence may see it incomparably set forth by God's own Mouth in the 37 38 39 40 41. Chapters of Job CHAP. XII God incomparable in the Work of Redemption He can do all things 3. HE is incomparable in the Work of Redemption And truly this Work is his Master-piece pure Workmanship and indeed all his Works of Creation and Providence are subordinate to this All his Attributes sparkle most gloriously in this Psal 102.16 All his Angels in Heaven admire and adore him for this Revel 4.10 11. This is the Work of all his Works which he is so mightily pleased with and reapeth so much Glory and Praise from Isa 42.1 Isa 43.21 No Angels no Men no not all together could with all their united Worthiness redeem one Soul None of them can redeem his Brother or give to God a Ransome for him For the Redemption of the Soul is precious it ceaseth for ever Psal 49.9 10. None beside God had pitty enough for mans misery or Wisdom enough to find out a Remedy or Power enough for his Recovery None had pity enough for mans Misery Boundless Misery call'd for boundless Mercy One deep for another But where is such Mercy to be found among the Creatures Man was a Child of Wrath had plunged himself into an Ocean of Evils and Fury and this required an Ocean of Love and Pity but Creatures at most had but drops but the Creator had infinite Grace for infinite Guilt and infinite Mercy for infinite Misery Ezek. 16.5 6 7 8. In the day of thy Nativity thou wast cast out to the loathing of thy Person thy Navel was not cut neither wast thou salted with Salt nor washed with Water Here is misery indeed but what help or compassion from Creatures truly none No Eye pitied thee to do any of these things unto thee who then had pity enough Then I passed by thee and saw thee in thy Blood Then was my time of Love and I bid thee live yea when thou wast in thy Bloud I said unto thee live God hath great Mercy for great Misery Eph. 2.4 5. Abundant Mercy for abundant Misery 1 Peter 1.3 A Plaister altogether as broad and as large as the Sore John 3.16 1 John 4.9 Eph. 3.19 Therefore the Holy Ghost observeth Luke 1.7 8. In the Work of Redemption the tender Mercy of our God from on high hath visited us None had Wisdom enough to find out a Remedy Had the Creatures had pity enough and kindness enough they had not wisdom enough to make Justice and Mercy meet together and Righteousness and Grace kiss each other If God should have offered Man his Pardon and Life upon Condition that he with Angels should consult and find out some way to satisfie his infinite Justice that was offended by Sin Alas poor man must of necessity have perished what Creature was able to undertake the satisfaction of infinite Justice It would have Bankrupt them all to satisfie for one of the smallest Sins And who could have thought of God the Creator to undertake it who durst have presumed to entertain such a motion in his Heart Could it have entered into the mind of Men or Angels that the Law might be fulfilled in its Commands and Curse the Glory of Divine Justice and Holiness salved and miserable man eternally saved No Creature would have thought of a way to reconcile the Justice and Mercy of God no Creature could have thought of any way for it nay no Creature durst have thought of such a way as God hath found out No He that made the World by his Wisdom Psal 104.24 when it had unmade it self new made it by his Wisdom Hence the Redemption of man is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the manifold the curious the embroydered Wisdom of God such Wisdom as passed the Knowledge of Angels Ephes 3.10 And the Redeemer is called The Wisdom of God 1 Cor. 1.24 In this Work is infinite Wisdom because in this Work infinite Justice and infinite Mercy do meet Rom. 3.24 25. Ephes 2.5 7. 1 John 4.9 10. Again None had Power to have gone through with the Work if they had had Wisdom to have found out a way There was so much to be done in order to mans Recovery that it would have undone all the World if they had undertaken it The Powers of Hell must be over-come the Curse of the Law and Wrath of the Law-Giver must be born Sin that was so strong and fast in the Heart of Man must be subdued Grace and Holiness against which Man had an emnity must be infused and what Power less then Omnipotent could effect either of these God who discover'd great Power in creating the World of nothing discover'd much greater in redeeming the World when it was worse then nothing In the former he had no opposition
is discover'd by the injury it doth to the incomparable God because our Estates our Names our Families our Neighbours our Nations our Bodies our Souls are all nothing infinitely less then Nothing to the great God the incomparable This this is the only Glass that discovers the horrid ugly features the monstrous frightful deformities of sins face that it is a wrong to the blessed God to him who is the high lofty one Isa 57.15 1. In that sin is a breach of this incomparable God's Law a violation of his Command a contradiction of his Will Whosoever sinneth transgresseth the Law for sin is a transgression of the Law 1 John 3.4 Neither the greatness nor smallness of our obedience or disobedience is to be valued according to the greatness or smallness of the thing commanded or forbidden nor according to the greatness or smallness of the good or hurt done to man by it but according to the greatness of the Person who commandeth or forbiddeth 2. In that it is a contempt of this incomparable God's Authority a slighting his Dominion a denying his Sovereignty Who is the Lord that I should obey his Voice Exod. 5.2 is the Voice of every Sinner We are our own say they Who is Lord over us Psal 12.4 They know no Maker and therefore own no Master For this cause the Sinner is said to cast the incomparable God behind his back as not worth minding or regarding 1 Kings 14.9 And to despise him as some mean inconsiderable Being 1 Sam. 2.30 2 Sam. 12.9 10. 3. In that it is a dishonouring this incomparable God whose name alone is excellent It layeth him low who is the most high Psal 92.1 Through breaking the Law dishonourest thou God Rom. 2.23 24. It is ill to reproach a common man worse to reproach a Noble man or a Prince but O how bad is it to reproach the great God! to blaspheme that worthy Name Sin layeth the honour of this incomparable God which is more worth then millions of Worlds in the dust and trampleth on it The Romans when they would mark one with ignominy and brand him with reproach would put him out of their Senate or any place of Credit in which he was and pull down his Statue or Monument if any were erected to his Honour Sin degrades and dethrones God it will not allow him to be the Lord and Supreme of the World and it defaceth his Image where-ever it finds it as one contrary expels another It disgraceth his Justice thence is called Vnrighteousness 1 John 1.6 His Wisdom thence is called Folly Prov. 5.23 His Patience thence is called Murmuring Jude 16. His Power thence is called Weakness Rom. 5.8 His Mercy thence is called Vnthankfulness Luke 6.35 His Knowledge thence is called Ignorance and a work of Darkness 1 Pet. 1.14 Eph. 5.8 His Truth thence is called a Lye and lying Vanity Psal 58.2 Jonah 2.8 In all these and every way it disgraceth his Holiness which is his Glory and the glory of all his Attributes Exod. 15.11 thence is called Filthiness 2 Cor. 7.1 Vncleanness Rom. 1.24 4. In that it is a fighting with and to its power a destroying this incomparable God The murther of any man is hainous it is horrid 't is against nature and 't is the extremest mischief that one Creature can do to another Gen. 4.10 Math. 10.28 The murther of a Father or a Sovereign is far more hainous as being more against Nature and against more ingagements to the contrary He is cursed that mocketh his Father and his Heart smote him who did but cut off the skirt of his Kings Garment thought his Enemy what a Monster then is he that kills either but O what a Monster what a Devil is that which destroyeth as far as it is able the good the gracious the great the glorious the incomparable God Truly sin is such a Monster such a Devil that were its power equal to its spite and its strength answerable to its malice the living God should not live a moment Omne peccatum est Dei-cidium All sin is God-murder The Sinner hates God Rom. 1.30 and hatred ever wisheth and as 't is able worketh the destruction of its object The Fool hath said in his heart There is no God Psal 14.1 i. e. It is a pleasing thought to him to suppose there were no God as to guilty Prisoners to imagine there were no Judge to arraign and condemn them whom we fear as hurtful to us we hate and wish he were taken out of the way In order hereunto the Sinner strives with God and contendeth with him Job 34.7 fighteth against him Acts 5.39 He stretcheth out his hand against God and strengtheneth himself against the Almighty He puts forth all his force and venteth all his strength He runneth upon him even on his neck upon the thick bosses of his Bucklers Runs upon him as one Enemy upon another furiously without fear and as he is able gets him down sets his Feet on his Neck trampleth on him and crusheth him Job 15.25 26. O how odious how loathsome how abominable is sin that breaks the Law slights the Authority dishonors the Name and to its utmost dethrones and destroys the Being of this incomparable God this self-sufficient independent absolutely perfect eternal incomprehensible infinite Being which alone deserves the name of Being and to which all other Beings are no Beings Reader should this God of Glory appear to thee as once to Abraham and shew thee a glimpse of his excellent glory that is above the Heavens should he discover to thee but a little of that greatness which the Heavens and Heaven of Heavens cannot contain of that duration which had no beginning hath no succession knoweth no ending of those perfections that admit of no bounds no limits that are uncapable of the least addition or accession to them and then should say unto thee as when he appeared to Saul Saul Saul why persecutest thou me Man man why despisest thou my Commands why despisest thou my Authority Sinner how darest thou dishonour my Name and seek my destruction What wouldst thou then think of Sin O what wouldst thou then think of thy self for thy sins Shouldst thou not have other thoughts of sin and of thy self for sin then ever yet thou hast had Wouldst thou not even loath thy self for being so base so vile so unworthy yea so mad as to offend affront and fight against such a God wouldst thou not cry out as Job I have sinned against thee and what shall I do unto thee O thou Preserver of men Job 7.20 I have sinned against thee an incomparable infinite unconceivable Being I have wronged thee the most high most holy most blessed God and what shall I do unto thee what amends shall I make thee what reparation shall I give thee It is impossible for me should I weep wail and lament and grieve millions of Ages to make the least satisfaction for the injury I have
because God is theirs Happy art thou O Israel who is like unto thee why whence comes their incomparable happiness truly from the incomparable God saved by the Lord who is the shield of thine help and the sword of thine excellency Again What Nation is so great which hath God so nigh unto them Deut. 4.7 Israel at this time to flesh and sense seemed a most unhappy people they were in a barren and howling wilderness without an house to hide their heads in without food but what a miracle sent them in without raiment but what was on their backs without any dealings or converse with other people nay in the midst of cruel and potent enemies they must fight their way to Canaan against walled Towns and sturdy Giants and yet even in this plight they are the happiest people under the cope of heaven Because the God of heaven the incomparable God was nigh to them David asserts Gods incomparable Majesty and thence Israels incomparable felicity 2 Sam. 7.22 23. Wherefore thou art great O Lord there is none like thee what followeth thence And what Nation at this day is like unto thy people even like Israel Reader if thou art once effectually called if thou art a regenerated sanctified person know to thy comfort and rejoyce therein that this incomparable God is thine 2. That all his incomparable excellencies are thine 3. That this incomparable God with all his incomparable perfections will be thine for ever 1. This incomparable God is thine That God who hath no superiour no equal no fellow is thine He that is and there is none else Isa 46.9 is thine He that is that he is Exod. 3.14 is thine Thou hast a propriety in him and a title to him This is the great priviledge of heavens favourites Behold the Tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people and he will be their God Revel 21.3 This is the great promise the sum the substance of all the promises I will be their God and they shall be my people Jer. 31.33 This is the great prayer of all that know how to pray or what to pray for Psal 80.12 Psal 4.6 Exod. 33.15 Jer. 14.8 This is the great purchase of the Son of God 1 Pet. 3.18 His name is therefore Immanuel God with us This is heaven it self the very heaven of heavens for it is not the place but his presence which makes heaven to be heaven In thy presence is fulness of joy and at thy right hand are pleasures for evermore Psal 16. ult Once more this is the highest the chiefest the greatest gift which the infinite God can give to thee When he giveth thee riches and honours and friends and relations he can give thee greater things when he giveth thee Sacraments and Sabbaths and seasons of grace he can give thee greater things when he giveth thee pardon of sin peace of conscience the graces of his Spirit he giveth thee great things but yet he can give thee greater but when he giveth thee himself he giveth thee the greatest gift that himself though infinite in bounty can give O how sweet is that term of propriety My God My God The Redeemer himself rowl'd in his mouth over and over as if he could never suck out the sweetness in it Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the house of my God and I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the City of my God which is the new Jerusalem which cometh down from my God Rev. 3.12 David dwels on it as one unwilling to leave it Psal 18.1 2. Reader O what cause hast thou to triumph in thy happiness that the infinite God is thine Fear not I am thine Isa 41. Scepters and kingdoms and honours and possessions and friends and relations and liberty and peace and health and strength are not thine possibly but God is thine He that is all these and more than these is thine He is thine own God even mark our own God shall bless us Psal 67.6 Thou canst not call any thing outward thy own thy estate is not thine own I will take away my corn and my wine and my oyl Hos 2.9 Hag. 2.8 Thy relations are not thine own Ezek. 16.20 21. My children which thou hast born to me Thy credit is not thine own no thy very graces are not thine own Cantic 4.16 Nay thou thy self art not thy own 1 Cor. 6.20 Ye are not your own Thy body is not thine own 1 Cor. 6.16 nor your souls Ezek. 18.3 4. All souls are mine But God is thy own God thy own glory thy own exceeding joy Psal 43.4 2. All the incomparable excellencies of this God his incomparable word and works are thine As all he is is thine so all he hath is thine all he can be is thine all he hath done is thine all he can do is thine 1 Cor. 3.22 All is thine All his incomparable attributes are thine His incomparable power is thine to protect thee Gen. 15.1 2. Exod. 15.9 10 11 12. His incomparable wisdom is thine to direct thee Psal 73.23 His incomparable mercy is thine to pity and relieve thee in thy miseries Judg. 10.16 His incomparable grace is thine to pardon all thine iniquities Micah 7.18 Exod. 34.6 7. His incomparable love is thine to refresh and delight thy soul Psal 21.5 6. His incomparable justice is thine to accept thee as righteous for the sake of his Son Rom. 3.24 His incomparable faithfulness is thine to fulfill all the gracious promises which he hath made to thee Psal 89.33 34. His incomparable Majesty and beauty and glory are thine to make thee great and render thee comely and glorious for ever Ezek. 16.14 Isa 43.4 His incomparable joys and pleasures are thine to feed on and be filled with Psal 36.8 Mat. 25.21 His incomparable works are thine His works of Creation Psal 37.11 Mat. 5.4 His works of Providence Rom. 8.28 For your sakes I have sent to Babylon Isa 43.14 and Isa 43.4 His work of Redemption is yours Joh. 10.15 Gal. 2.20 Rev. 1.5 6. His incomparable word is thine indited for thee sanctified to thee making thee wise to salvation It 's therefore called their word the word of their testimony Rev. 12.11 Whatsoever things were written were written for our instruction that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope Rom. 15.4 3. This incomparable God and all his incomparable excellencies will be thine for ever His incomparable eternity will be thine and so long as he is God he will be thy God When the sensualists God is gone thy God will remain when the worldlings God fails him thy God will not forsake thee when all thine honours riches friends relations leave thee thy God will abide with thee This God is our God for ever and ever Psal 48.14 Not for a day or week or month or year or Age but for ever and ever Not for a thousand years or a thousand generations or millions of millions of generations but for ever and ever Not for as many millions of ages as there are stars in heaven drops in the Sea creatures great and small in both worlds but for ever O happy Conjunction of Propriety with eternity this God is our God for ever and ever Thine immortal soul hath an immortal God an immortal good Thou shalt ever be with this incomparable Lord. Comfort thy soul in the midst of all the persecutions and afflictions that befall thee in this world with these words 1 Thess 4.16 17 18. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of the Arch-angel and with the trump of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with him in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words FINIS
Eyes Ears or Tastes or by species taken in by the Sense and imprinted on the phantasie which are thence offered to the Understanding or else by Faith and the report of others or by discourse and ratiocination He knoweth one thing by another the Conclusion by Mediums and Premises the Causes by the Effects and the Consequents by the Antecedents Saints and Angels in Heaven know things in God not in themselves God knoweth all things in themselves and seeth all things in himself as in a Glass Man in this World must have a two-fold Light to see by A light in his Eye and a light in the Air But the Father of Lights needs no light to see by Darkness and Light are both alike to him Psal 139.12 His Eyes are as a Flame of Fire He seeth in the Dark Revel 1.14 God knoweth all things at once uno actu uno ictu as they say Creatures know one thing by another and one thing after another Their Understandings are unable to take in many Objects at once much less able to take in all Objects at once but God seeth all things at one View The Lord looketh down from Heaven he beholdeth all the Children of Men's From the place of his Habitation he beholdeth all the Inhabitants of the Earth Psal 33.13 14. The Eye of Man may see many things at once as an Hive of Bees but if it will see other things it must remove the sight though the Mind of Man can take in more then the Eye as a whole Country or World at once yet 't is onely the lumpe of gross if it would take the distinct knowledge of them it must remove from thought to thought but God takes all distinctly particularly at once God knoweth all things from everlasting before ever the World had a Being Men and Angels may know what is when it is but cannot know it as God doth before it was Acts 15.18 Known to God are all his Works from the beginning of the World Before he erected the curious frame of the World he knew all the Rooms and Furniture in it all the motions and actions of all the Inhabitants of it He doth by one pure simple undivided eternal act of his Understanding know all things perfectly immediately distinctly every moment 6. God is incomparable in his Truth and Faithfulness Truth is that Attribute in God whereby he is in himself as he reveals himself to be and in his sayings and doings as he speaketh and acteth God is Truth in himself and Truth towards his Creatures He is Truth in himself 1. As he truly is and really existeth Hence he is stiled the true God Jer 10.10 John 17.3 in opposition to Idols or false gods 1 Thess 1.9 So he is truly infinite truly all-sufficient truly eternal truly immutable c. 2. As he is the unchangeable Archetipe and Idaea of all true things without himself so all created things are true as they answer their patterns in his mind 3. In his immanent Actions as his Decrees and eternal Resolutions are all certain and attain a punctual accomplishment Psal 33.11 He is never deceived nor disappointed in his Purposes God is Truth towards his Creatures 1. In his Works as all his Actions of Creation Preservation Government Redemption are real and not chimera's or appearances Rev. 15.3 Psal 111.7 Deut. 32.4 Psal 25.10 2. In his Words all he saith is Truth His Precepts are true a perfect Rule of holiness without any defect Psal 119.86 All thy Commandements are Faithfulness verse 142. Thy Law is the Truth All his Promises are true and shall be performed Not one good thing faileth of all that the Lord our God hath promised Josh 23.14 Hence the Gospel the compendium of all the Promises is often called The Word of Truth James 1.18 And the Covenant of Grace is called Sure Mercies Isa 55.3 All his Praedictions are true and come to pass in their Season Hab. 2.3 Rev. 22.6 7. These are true and faithful Sayings Gen. 49.10 His Threatnings are true and fail not Rom. 2.2 of their accomplishment 2 Kings 9.26 36. He is Truth it self John 14.6 John 17.6 Abundant in Truth Exod. 34.6 Truth Truth The Lord God of Truth Psal 34.5 A God that cannot lie Titus 1.2 All lying ariseth either from forgetfulness Men break their word because their Memories are slippery but Oblivio non cadit in Deum He is ever mindful of his Word Luke 1.72 To remember his holy Covenant Psal 106.46 Psal 111. 5. He will ever be mindful of his Covenant Or from weakness some would but want power to make good their Promises though they were able when they promised yet they are by some Providence or other disabled before the day of performance comes but the strength of Israel cannot lie 1 Sam. 15.29 The Rock the eternity of Israel cannot lie Or from Wickedness some can but will not make good their words but God cannot be charged with any wickedness Psal 92. ult There is no unrighteousness in him 1 Kings 22.23 Ezek. 14.9 Men may be true Psal 15.4 Angels are true but neither Men nor Angels are true as God is let them be put in the Scales with God And Men of high degree are Vanity and Angels of the highest degree are a Lie to be laid in the Ballance they are altogether lighter then Vanity Psal 62.9 Read over God's Truth in himself and you will see how far Angels come short thereof Are they the Exemplar of all things are all things true as they agree with the Idaea's in their minds Consider his Truth towards his Creatures Can it be said of an Angel as of God The Angel that cannot lie hath promised Titus 1.2 Are they under an absolute impossibility of deceiving Surely if they be considered in themselves it was as possible for them to lie as for the Father of Lies It 's said of God It is impossible for him to lie Heb. 6.18 But this cannot be spoken of Elect Angels considered in themselves God is so true that he onely is true all to him are Lyars Rom. 3.4 Revel 3.7 14. CHAP. IX God incomparable in his Mercy and Patience 7. GOD is incomparable in his Mercy Mercy is an Attribute of God whereby he pittieth and relieveth his Creature in misery It 's an Attribute which relateth to the Creature onely God knoweth himself and loveth himself and glorifieth himself but he is not merciful to himself It is an Attribute that relateth to the Creature in misery Justice seeks a worthy Object Grace is exercised towards an unworthy Object but Mercy looks out for a needy an indigent Object God is bountiful and gracious to Elect Angels because they could not deserve that perfection and happiness which they enjoy but he is not merciful to them for they were never miserable Fallen Man is the proper Object of Mercy as being not only undeserving of the least good but as also having plunged himself into all evil Mercy is an Attribute whereby he pittieth his