The Saints Sacrifice, Section 128
§. 128. Of praiſing God for the fore-ſaid mercies.
TO make a briefe recapitulation, and to gather up the Summe of all, for the better application of the maine point intended.
The Lord having ſecured our Peace, and removed from us his judgements of Plague and Famine:
The Lord having reſtored to the reformed Churches in France a gracious liberty for exerciſing their Religion:
The Lord having with more then ordinary ſucceſſe proſpered the affaires of our neareſt Neighbours, the States generall of the united Provinces in the Netherlands:
The Lord having ſuccoured his oppreſſed Churches in Germany, and given to their Deliverer victories beyond expectation, unto admiration:
The Lord having given very many cleare evidences of his fatherly care over his Churches every where, and of his gracious providence towards them, even now in theſe our daies:
Should not our ſoules be affected with all and every of theſe mercies? Should they not be incenſed with an ardent zeale of ſetting forth the honour of his name?
We and others of the ſame profeſſion, of the ſame religion enjoy the comfort and benefit of the fore-mentioned mercies, and of many other mercies flowing from the divine Providence: and ſhall not the Lord who ſo ordereth his Providence for our good, have the praiſe and glory thereof?
Who can give ſu…icient thanks? Nay, whoſe ſoule can be ſatisfied in rendring praiſes to ſo good and gracious a God for ſo many and ſo great bleſſings, ſo ſeaſonably and ſo freely conferred on his Churches?
Should not all Miniſters of the Goſpell make their Churches to ring againe with ſounding forth Gods praiſes?
Should not publiſhers of bookes make mention of theſe mighty works of the Lord to the further publiſhing of his name?
Should not the wits of all divine Poets bee ſet on worke to indite due formes of praiſes for the better magnifying of his name, who hath done ſo glorious things for us?
Should not every Chriſtian ſoule in the beſt manner that it can, adde ſomething to the magnifying of Gods name: as every one brought ſomething to the building of the Tabernacle?
Did we not while the Lord was time after time ſhooting out againſt us and others his three deadly arrowes of plague, famine, and ſword, humble our ſoules before him, and call upon him inſtantly, continually, to ſpare his people, to remove his wrath, to take away his judgements?
Should we not now, the Lord having gratiouſly heard our prayers for our ſelves and others be hearty and zealous, inſtant and conſtant in rendring all poſſible praiſe and thankes unto him?
It hath beene before declared a§. 51 79.how true gratefulneſſe hath eſpeciall relation to God, and aſcribeth the glory of all deliverances to him: and that b§. 85.Praiſe is the beſt gift that can be given him: and that thereupon c§. 108.Saints are never ſatisfied in ſetting forth Gods praiſes: They content not themſelves with an inward affection of praiſing God in their owne ſoules, or ſecretly betwixt God and themſelves, but they muſt needs breake forth into praiſes of God, and d§. 86.manifeſt their inward gratitude by outward gratulation▪ and that e§. 116. 118publikely, boldly, among much people, in the middeſt of great aſſemblies: f§. 120.exhorting and inciting others to praiſe God with thee: and g§. 121.themſelves conſcionably practiſing what they incite others unto.
Now we have ſo great and juſt grounds at this time to praiſe God, let us take the occaſions of ſtirring up our owne and others ſpirits to do it heartily and zealouſly: that God finding his bleſſings conferred on a gratefull people may never repent any kindneſſe done: but may go on to adde victory to victory, ſucceſſe to ſucceſſe, bleſſing to bleſſing, till he have finiſhed the good worke done for his Churches, and accompliſhed the promiſes which he hath made for deſtroying the kingdome of Antichriſt, calling the Iewes, bringing in the fulneſſe of the Gentiles, and conſummating all things by his laſt, and moſt glorious comming.
Wherefore, Bleſſe the Lord, O my ſoule: and all that is within me bleſſe his holy name. Bleſſe the Lord, O my ſoule: and forget not all his benefits. My heart is fixed O God, my heart is fixed: I will ſing and giuegive praiſe. Awake vp my glory: I my ſelfe will awake early. My tongue ſhall ſpeake of thy righteouſneſſe, and of thy praiſe all the day long.
Behold, bleſſe ye the Lord, all yee ſeruants of the Lord. GiueGive vntounto the Lord glory and ſtrength: giuegive vntounto the Lord the glory due to his name.
O giuegive thankes vntounto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for euer. Let the redeemed of the Lord ſay ſo: whom hee hath redeemed from the hand of the enemie. Let them that were exiled ſay ſo, whom he hath brought to the place of their habitation. Let them that were oppreſſed ſay ſo, whom hee hath eaſed of their heauie burdens. Let them that are freed from the infectious plague: and from pinching famine, ſay ſo. So let them ſay, who are reſtored to a free exerciſe of their religion. Praiſe yee the Lord, who quietly ſit on your thrones of iudgement, to execute righteous iuſtice and