The Saints Sacrifice, Section 121
§. 121. Of practiſing our ſelves what we provoke others unto.
Obſecremus ſanctos ut pro nobis gratias agant, & ipſi pro nobis hoc agamus mntuo. Chryſ. Hom. 2 in 2 Cor. 1.II. WE muſt our ſelves practice what wee provoke others unto. We may and muſt (as we heard in the former §) deſire Saints to give thanks for us, but withall we may not faile our ſelves mutually to give thanks for our ſelves, and praiſe the Lord. So did this Prophet, as we have ſeene at large from the beginning of the 12 verſe to this laſt clauſe of this Pſalme. Obſerve the patternes of ſuch as in Scripture are approved for their zeale in ſtirring up others, and you ſhall find them forward to doe themſelves what they incited others unto. We will ariſe and go to Bethel, &c. ſaith Iacob, (Gen. 35. 3.) As for me and my houſe, ſaith Ioſhua, (Ioſ. 24. 15.) we will ſerve the Lord. It is an uſuall phraſe of ſuch as heartily deſire to advance the glory of God, to expreſſe their deſire in the firſt perſon of the plurall number, whereby they ſhew that they intend themſelves to do what they require of others, and therefore incite themſelves as Heb. 13. 15. Pſal. 95. 1. Iſa 2. 3. Pſal. 44. 8.—79. 13.—75. 1.well as others, thus, Let us offer to God the ſacrifice of praiſe continually. Let us ſing unto the Lord. Let us goe up to the mountaine of the Lord. We will praiſe thy name O God for ever. We will give thee thanks for ever. We will ſhew forth thy praiſe. Ʋnto thee, O God, doe wee give thankes, doe wee give thanks.
1 Thus our care to ſtirre up others to praiſe God, will indeed appeare to ariſe from a true zeale of Gods glory, from true Chriſtian love, and from the ſpirit of grace dwelling in us, when we our ſelves do what we perſwade others unto.
2 Thus ſhall we add an edge to the exhortations we give others, when they ſee us leading the way before them. If ſouldiers ſee their captaines forward to thoſe enterpriſes whereunto they incite them, they wilbe much more encouraged and heartned thereunto. Wherewith can a Phyſician better perſwade a patient to obſerve the diet which he preſcribes, then by obſerving it himſelfe?
3 Refuſing to practice our ſelves what we exhort others to doe, maketh our exhortations to be profitable nor to others, nor to our ſelves.
Not to others, becauſe the edge of our exhortations muſt needs be much blunted thereby. For people wilbe ready to Luk 4. 23.ſay, Phyſitian heale thy ſelfe. Hardly will they be brought to think, that we ſpeake to them from our hearts, or that we our ſelves are well perſwaded of the equity, excellency, neceſſity and benefit of that whereunto we perſwade them.
Not to our ſelves, becauſe thus they are made evidences againſt us, witneſſing that we knew the right courſe which we refuſed to take; whereby we make our ſelves worthy of Luk 12 47.more ſtripes, and aggravate our damnation.
4 This great miſchiefe (beſide many others) ariſeth from not practiſing what we perſwade others to, that impious mens mouthes are opened to diſgrace our profeſſion, and blaſpheme the name of our God. Thou that teachest another, Rom. 2. 21, 24.teacheſt thou not thy ſelfe? The name of God is blasphemed thorow you,
Yee therefore that deſire to manifeſt a true intention of heart in advancing the glory of God after the beſt manner that you can, and to give proofe that an holy zeale of Gods glory poſſeſſeth your ſoule, and ſetteth you on work to do what you doe in inciting others to praiſe the Lord: ye that deſire to have your pious endeavours therein to be of good uſe, not to prove fruſtrate and vaine, but to be effectuall to the end you aime at: yee that would not pull downe with one hand what you ſeeme to build up with another: nor afford occaſion to them whom you ſtirre up to ſo weighty and bounden a dutie, to thinke that by-reſpects moove you to incite them, in that wherein yee your ſelves are ſo cold and careleſſe: yee that would have comfort in performing ſo warrantable and profitable a dutie, Take due notice of the direction here preſcribed. VponUpon your owne performance (as the Pſalmiſt here doth) provoke others to be followers of you, and to doe as you doe. Firſt ſay, and ſay it from the heart to him that ſearcheth the heart, in truth to him that deſireth truth in the inward parts, ſay unto the Lord, I will offer to thee the ſacrifice of thanksgiving: and then ſay unto others, Praiſe ye the Lord.
Oh that Miniſters, Magiſtrates, Governours of families, and all that have either function, or diſpoſition to call upon others to praiſe the Lord, would firſt take notice of the many, juſt, and weighty occaſions that themſelves have to praiſe him, and anſwerably bind themſelves ſo to do, and be carefull to performe what they are bound to performe, having their owne hearts filled with matter of praiſes, and their mouthes wide opened to utter the ſame: ſo might they with much courage and confidence ſpeake to others and ſay, PRAISE YE THE LORD.