Gods Three Arrows, Section 74 – Section 77
§. 74. Of the care which Governours muſt have of publique pietie.
I. *See §. 73.CHiefe Governours are to take chiefe care for publique acts of piety. aGen. 18. 19.God himſelfe beareth witneſſe to Abrahams care herein. b—35. 1, &c.It was alſo a charge which God expreſly gave to Iacob: whereof he tooke eſpeciall care. Where we read of altars built to worſhip God, we ſhall find them erected by chiefe Governours: ſuch as c—8. 20.Noah, d—12 8.Abraham, e—26. 25.Iſaac, f—33. 20.Iacob, and others, who in their life time were of higheſt authority in the Church of God. So other acts of piety were ordered by them under God. gExo. 3 5. 1, &cMoſes ordered all the duties of piety in the wilderneſſe. David in time of h2 Sam: 5. 19.warre and i—21. 1.famine ſought the Lord: and k—24. 25.in time of plague built an altar to pacifie Gods wrath. Yea he l—6. 17.brought the Arke to areſting place: m1 Chro. 23. & 24. & 25. & 26.appointed the orders and offices of Priests and Levites, and n1 Chro. 28. 11.made the patterne of the Temple. Salomon his ſonne o2 Chro. 3. 1.built the Temple, p—4. 1, &c.made all the holy veſſels appertaining therto, and q—6. 1, &c.dedicated the ſame. Aſa r2 Chro. 14. 3, &c.reformed religion, and s—15. 12.entred himſelf with his people into a covenant with God. Iehoſaphat t—17. 7.ſent Levites into his cities to teach the people: and in fear of danger u—20. 3.proclaimed a faſt. x—24. 5.Ioaſh tooke order for repairing the Temple. y—29. 3, &c.Hezekiah, z—34. 3, &c.Ioſiah, aad aNeh. 13. 8, 9.Nehemiah purged corruptions crept into the Church, redreſſed abuſes, and b2 Chro. 30. 1.—35. 1.cauſed the holy feaſts of the Lord to be obſerved. Thus Chriſtian Emperours, Neh. 8. 9, 16.Kings, and other ſupreme Governours in their dominions, have accounted it a duty belonging unto them to take care of the Church of Chriſt, and to appoint orders for matters of religion and piety. Conſtantine the Great, who was the firſt Chriſtian Emperour, being eſtabliſhed in his royall government, cEuſeb. de vitâ Conſtant. l 2.made lawes for the peace of Chriſtians, and a free profeſſion of their religion, and worſhipping of the Lord Ieſus Chriſt. dIbid.He rooted out idolatry every where: and eIbid. l 3.oppoſed himſelfe againſt the errours and hereſies that had crept into the Church. fIbid. l. 3.He convocated the firſt generall Councill at Nice, and ſate Preſident therein. gIbid.He built and adorned many Churches. hIbid.He wrote ſundry letters to Biſhops time after time, for well ordering matters of piety and Church-affaires. iIbid l. 4,He promoted ſundry Biſhops to their places. kIbid.He was carefull to ſee the Lords Day ſanctified. lIbid.He cauſed piety to be obſerved, and God to be worſhipped in his armies. He procured the holy Scripture to be diſperſed every where. In fine, he maketh this profeſſion of himſelfe. mHunc mihi prae omnibus finem praepoſitum eſſe debere judicavi, ut in ſanctiſſima Eccleſiae Caetholi cae multitudine, una fides, ſincera charitas, & conſentiens erga Deum omnipotentem religionis cultus conſervetur. Euſeb de vit. Conſtant. l 3.I acknowledge that this end, above all others, is to be ſet before me, that in the holy company of the Catholique Church, one faith, ſincere charity, and an uniform worſhip towards almighty God, be preſerved. Much alſo might be declared of Theodoſius, and other ancient Chriſtian Emperours care about matters of piety. The made many edicts and lawes thereabouts. nSolicitudo clementiae tuae in Catholic â Eccleſiâ nihil impacatum, nibil vult eſſe diverſum. Leo Papa ad Theodoſ. Epiſt. 12.An ancient Biſhop of Rome thus writes to Theodoſius: The care of your Clemency will ſuffer nothing in the Catholique Church to be tumultuous nothing factious. Yea oPro integritate fidei Catholicae Chriſtianiſſimum Principem oportet eſſe ſollicitum. Idem. Epiſt, 10the ſame Biſhop ſaith, that, It behoveth a Christian Prince to be carefull for the integrity of the Catholique faith. I would the latter Popes of Rome had beene, and ſtill were of that opinion. If they were, they would not uſurpe ſuch authority as they have done, and ſtill do over Chriſtian Princes, to the diſturbance of their States. But to come to our owne time and country. King Henry 8. put downe the Popes Authority, and began a reformation of Religion. Edward 6. perfected that reformation. Queene Elizabeth reſtored it. King Iames and King Charles continued it. Thus by the divine providence this title Defender of the Faith, is moſt juſtly put into our Kings ſtile.
To this end, namely to defend the faith, maintaine religion, and advance piety, hath God given them that ſupreme authority which they have, to be in all cauſes temporall and eccleſiaſticall over all perſons, in their dominions under Chriſt ſupreme Governours. p2 Chro. 9. 8.He hath ſet them on his throne, and given them his owne title. For, he ſaith of them, qPſal. 82. 6.Ye are Gods, children of the moſt high. And to ſhew that their authority is not onelyonly for State-policy, but alſo for Church-piety, they are ſtiled rIſa. 49. 23.Nurſing Fathers of the Church; and they are made keepers of both tables. Thus both their power and their place require of chiefe Governours an eſpeciall care of publique piety: whereby they ſhall give evidence of their owne pious intention and affection: and alſo draw on others under their government to be like minded.
*See § 40. See alſo Dearths Death on 2 Sam. 21. 1. §. 15.As this putteth Magiſtrates themſelves in mind of their duty, ſo it teacheth ſubjects to pray for them, that they may do what by vertue of their place they are bound to do, and by their obedience to ſuch pious orders as their pious Governours preſcribe, to encourage them in their pious care.
§. 75. Of giving publique praiſe for publique deliverances.
II. *See §. 71.PVblique praiſe is to be given to God for publique deliverances. Such was the praiſe that for the publique a Exo. 15. 1, 20 21.deliverance from Pharaohs tyranny, was given by Moſes. For, it is ſaid, that Moſes, and the children of Iſrael, and Miriam, and all the women, ſang praiſe unto the Lord. The women came out with timbrels and dances, and anſwered the men: ſo as it was moſt publique. bIudg. 5. 1, &c.Such was Deborahs and Baraks kind of praiſing God: and c2 Chro. 20 26Iehoſaphats after his deliverance from the Moabites, Ammonites, and Inhabitants of Mount Seir. Such are many of Davids Pſalmes. The phraſes of praiſing God dPſal. 22. 22.in the middeſt of the congregation: e—26. 12.in congregations; f—35. 18.in the great congregation, among much people: g—116. 18, 19.in the preſence of all Gods people: in the courts of the Lords houſe; in the middest of Ieruſalem.
By this kind of praiſe God himſelfe is more glorified, our owne hearts are more quickned, and others are incited to imitate us.
They who content themſelves for publique bleſſings with an inward ejaculation of the heart, or with ſecret praiſe in a ſecret place betwixt God and themſelves, or with private praiſe in a family, or among ſome private friends, though what they do in this manner they do well, yet come ſhort of that which they ought to do.
O let our hearts be filled with ſuch zeale towards God, as to take the occaſions which by the divine providence are offered us of ſetting out Gods praiſes in the moſt ſolemne, and publique manner that we can. Thus ſhall we ſhew that we can diſtinguiſh betwixt Gods bleſſings, and in ſome meaſure carie our ſelves anſwerably to him: that, as he bleſſeth us not only with private but alſo with publique bleſſings, ſo we will praiſe him, not only privately, but alſo publikely. Of publique praiſe, ſee more in The Saints ſacrifice, on Pſal. 116. §. 91, 114, 116. Of directions for ſolemne praiſe, ſee The whole Armour of God, on Eph. 6. 18. §. 73.
§. 76. Of memorials of Gods mercies.
III. *See §. 73.MEmorials of Gods mercies are to be made. Beſides the names a§. 65.before noted for memorials of Gods judgments (which import alſo his mercies towards his people as well as judgements on their enemies) there are many others which directly point at his mercies. As many bGen. 4. 25.—5. 9.—17. 19.names given to children, which the Lord, as an eſpeciall bleſſing gave to his Saints: and c—17. 5, 15.—32. 28.other names, which as memorials of ſpeciall favours God gave to men and women: and d—16. 14.—32. 2. 2 Chro. 20. 26.names alſo of places, which were given as ſignes and evidences of more then ordinary benefits conferred on Gods people: and other viſible monuments of memorable mercies, as, eExo. 16 32, 33The pot of Mannah, fIoſ 4. 9, 20.the ſtones which were ſet in the mid deſt of Iordan, and in that place where the Iſraelites (having paſſed thorow Iordan) encamped: gLev. 23. 42.The booths which were appointed every yeare to be made. h25. 54, 55.Freedome of ſervants in the yeare of Iubile: and ſundry other like to theſe: yea, all the Sacraments inſtituted in the Church.
By ſuch memorials the memory of Gods mercies is kept freſh: thereby men are the more, and oftner provoked to praiſe God for them. Yea, thus Gods mercies manifeſted in one age are propagated to many ages: whereby many ages have matter of praiſing God miniſtred unto them: yea and of believing in God, and of hoping for like mercies from him. For, God is the Lord that changeth not. Theſe Mal. 3. 6.memorials therefore giving evidence of what God hath beene able and willing to do, they give cauſe to hope for like mercies on like occaſions. So as ſuch memorials are honourable to God, and profitable to preſent and future ages.
Take notice herof O ye Saints, to whom the Lord vouchſafeth ſuch mercies as are worthy to be had in everlaſting remembrance: let them not ſlip out of your minds. Where publique memorials of them are wanting let private Chriſtians make the beſt private memorials of them that they can.
§. 77. Of aſcribing the glory of deliverances to God.
IIII. *See §. 71.THe glory of deliverances is to be aſcribed to God. aGen. 33 20.The altar which Iacob built, and the name which he gave to it implied as much as the altar which Moſes here built, and the name which he gave to it. For, God having delivered him as from many other dangers, ſo in particular from that revenge which his brother Eſan intended againſt him, bGen 33. 20. foreignhe nameth the altar which he built El-Elohe, Iſrael, the God, the God of Iſrael. Yea cGen 35. 1.God himſelfe commanded Iacob for this very end to build an altar to him: which he did, and d—7. foreigncalled the name of the place El Bethel, the God of the houſe of God. The name which Abraham gave to the mount, where Iſaac (being bound upon the altar to be ſacrificed) was delivered, tended to the ſame end, even to teſtifie that God was the deliverer. The name was this, eGen. 22. 14. foreignIehovah jireh, The Lord will ſee. So did fGen. 16. 14. foreignthis name, Beer lahai-roi, The well of him that liveth and ſeeth me, which Hagar gave to that well of water which the Angell ſhewed her when ſhe and her ſonne was ready to periſh for want of water: and that which gGen. 32. 30.Iacob gave to the place where he prevailed with the Angell, which was Peniel, The face of God. foreignFor, of that name he rendreth this reaſon, I have ſeene God face to face, and my life is preſerved. Many other ſuch titles are noted in Scripture, wherein the name of God is expreſſed, to ſhew that they aſcribed their deliverances to God. But more expreſly is this proved by thoſe hymnes which after deliverances were penned, wherein God is acknowledged to have given deliverance, as thoſe which hExo. 15. 1.Moſes, iIudg 5. 1.Deborah, k2 Sam. 22. 1.David, lIſa. 38. 9.Hezekiah, and others ſet forth. To ſhew that theſe patterns are a preſident for others. We have expreſſe precepts to enforce the ſame. Where David reckoned up many deliverances which God gave to his people, he inferreth theſe exhortations, m1 Chro. 16. 23, 28.Sing unto the Lord all the earth; ſhew forth from day to day his ſalvation. Give unto the Lord, ye kindreds of the people, give unto the Lord glory and ſtrength. And againe, nPſal. 68. 34. Exitus bellorum ex Dei pendere judicio docet Aug. de Civ. Dei. lib. 5. cap. 22.Aſcribe ye ſtrength unto the Lord: that is, acknowledge that that ſtrength which you have to withſtand and overcome your enemies is given you of God, and give him the glory of it.
Whatſoever the meanes be that are uſed by men, it is God that giveth deliverances, Pſal. 18. 50. He weakneth the power of enemies, he infatuateth their counſels, he diſappointeth their plots; He gives wiſdome, ſtrength, courage, and ſucceſſe to his people. It is therefore moſt juſt and equall, and that which is but due, that the glory of that which God giveth be given to him.
Kingdomes and Nations, Kings and Generals, Cities, and See The Saints Sacrifice, on Pſal. 116. § 78 See alſo in The Whole Armour of God, on Eph. 6. 18. Treat. 3. Part. 2. § 59, &c.other Societies, Souldiers, and all ſorts of people, yea private and particular perſons, all and every of you take you notice of the deliverances you have from enemies, and from other dangers and damages; take notice withall of the author and giver of them; anſwerably let your hearts be ſo affected therewith, that you may be provoked to give the glory to whom it is due. You have the profit and benefit of deliverances: ſhall not he that giveth them, have the praiſe and glory of them? As Iehovah was in the title of the memoriall here made by Moſes, ſo let the Lord be in your mind, and in your tongue, ſo oft as you have occaſion to think or ſpeak of the deliverances which God giveth you: that as he here ſaith, The Lord my banner, ſo you may ſay, The Lord my rocke, and Pſal 18. 2.my fortreſſe, and my deliverer, &c.