The Balm of Gilead Prepared for the Sick, Part 3

The Balm of Gilead Prepared for the Sick · Part 3

p. 234THE THIRD PART: THE SICKE MAN HIS SONG.

VVEE hauehave heard of mans miserie in the sicke man his sore, wee also hauehave heard of God his mercy in the sicke mans salve: Man being sore sicke cryed vntounto God by prayer, and God heard him and hee sent his word and healed him: Now it followeth that wee see what man his duetie should bee toward his GOD, for delivering him from such miserie: The duetie is set downe into those words, Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodnesse, and for his wonderfull workes to the children of men: this is the sicke man his song.

Heere let vsus obserue what is the duetie of him who hath received health and lyfe from God in a most dangerous sicknesse, it is heere set downe, viz. that hee should praise God p. 235for his goodnesse, &c. Note.God seeketh nothing from man for his benefits but thankes and praise:

The doctrine. Math. 11. v. 30.Matt 11:30The doctrine is this, GOD his yoke is easy; if by our owne wickednesse wee make it not vneasy: there is no yoke so easy as God his yoke. See how for all his blessings hee requireth but thankes. Note.After that the Physitian of the body hath vsed his cure, whether it cure thee or not, thou must giuegive him gold: after that thy God hath cured both thy soule and body; He seeketh but thankes, He craveth but a grandmercy from the heart: Note.And yet alas, hee who doeth most, and seeketh least, is least considered, and worse payed of his due.

First heere obsetue that the duetie of him who hath received his health from God is to praise God for his goodnesse, and for his wonderfull workes: our GOD for all requireth nothing but thankes:Note. Hee hath no neede of our guifts: As hee hath no p. 236neede, so neither doeth hee seeke any thing from vsus:Psal. 50 v. 8Ps 50:8 I will not, (saith hee,) reproue thee for thy sacrifices, or thy burnt offerings to hauehave beene continuallie before me… :v. 9. I will take no bullocke out of thy house, nor hee goates out of thy foldes:v. 10. for every beast of the forrest is myne, and the cattell vponupon a thousand hils. v. 11.I know all the fowles of the mountaines: and the wild beasts of the field are myne:v. 12. If I were hungrie I would not tell thee, for the world is myne and the fulnesse thereof.

Behold how God will not seeke any worldly thing from man,Note. for all the world is his, and the fulnesse thereof. What is it then that hee would hauehave for all his benefits? The Lord declareth him felfe what hee would hauehave: Offer vntounto God thankesgiving, and pay thy vowes vntounto the most high v. 14.Thankefulnesse as yee see, is the onelyonly impost that God requireth of vsus. Note.So soone as man hath received a benefite from God, hee is p. 237bund to repare to his GOD with thankes:Note. Every new benefite should bee vntounto his soule like Sela in musicke, a note of intention,Sela frō Salal to lift vp. Vatable or a lifting vp the voice.

The vse.The vse, seeing the Lord for all his blessings given vntounto men requireth nothing but praise, let vsus praise him from our hearts Note.Seeing God thinketh more of thanks then of the world and of the fulnesse thereof, let vsus bee carefull in this poynt of duetie. Note.As the bird vponupon the bush welcometh the day with a song, so soone as it beginneth to spring, so should wee welcome our God with thankes, so soone as wee see the least of his benefits begin to spring.

Note.For to inforce this duetie vponupon vsus, wee must consider that GOD aboue all things respecteth his praise, hee will reveale great secrets to a man. Note.This made him reveale all his heart vntounto Abraham: for the loueloveGen. 18. v. 17.Gen 18:17 of his praise hee will saue a people p. 238that is worthy to bee destroyed: for my names sake, Isa. 48. v. 9.Isa 48:9(said hee,) will I deferre my wrath, and for my praise will I refraine it from thee that I cut thee not off. Note.Moses his strongest argument, while he interceeded for the people, was grounded vponupon God his praise, while hee had a purpose to destroy his people: Lord, (said hee,)Numb. 4. v. 13.Num 4:13 what will the Aegyptians say? By this we may see how deare God his praise is vntounto him. Note.Behold how before hee should want praise hee will deferre his wrath, and refraine it from sinners that deserue to bee cut off.

Seeing then wee know that ourThe vse. God aboue all things it most desirous of praise,Note. wee should be most desirous to doe that which hee desireth: My father, (said the servant of Naaman,)2 King. 5. v: 132 Kgs 5 If the Prophet had bid thee doe some great thing, wouldest thou not hauehave done it? How much more may I say to you, if GOD had bid p. 239you doe some great thing would yee not hauehave done it? And now seeing hee requireth nothing but praise, who should refuse it. Note.Js it not more easy for vsus to praise GOD then it was for Naaman to wash him selfe seven tymes in the Jordan? Note.Man may praise God, in his hote bed, at his table, in the fields, in his garden. Note.If the heart were sanctified it should bee no paine but pleasure to praise the LORD JAH. Note.In this is the chiefe happinesse of Saints and Angels aboue, they praise God continuallie.

Praise as yee see is that which GOD chiefly requireth of man for all his guifts, whether of wealth or of health. Note.But how J pray you is this duety payed? The wordes of my text giuegive notice: Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodnesse; &c.

Note.The word Oh declareth plainely the vnthankfulnesse of man.

When fooles because of their p. 240transgressions were afflicted, it is said: Then they cryed vntounto the LORD in their trouble. Note.But after that God hath delivered them, is it said that they thanked GOD for their health? Not: what than? Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodnesse, &c.

Learne the lesson:The doctrine. Jt is a common thing to cry to God in any adversitie: the reprobate will cry to God in his distresse:Note. but only those who are truely godly giuegive thanks for benefites received. Note.Ten lepers in their miserie, lifted vp their voyces, crying, Luke. 17 v. 13.Luke 17:13Iesus master hauehave mercy on vsus: But at the thankesgiving nyne were absent.v. 17. Were there not ten cleansed, said CHRIST; but where are the other nyne? Note.The Buttler in the prison was comforted by Joseph, but while hee was restored, was hee thankfull? N…t: While hee enjoyed his prosperitie according to Joseph his prophecie, it is said, Yet did not the chiefe Butler remember Ioseph, Gen. 40 v. 23.Gen 40:23but forgate p. 241him Note.Fooles in my text were healed: In their afflictions they prayed earnestly; they all cryed for salue to their …ore: But what was their song? J heare it not: but the Psalmist regrating their vnthankfulnesse cryeth out, Oh that men would praise the Lord, &c.

The vse.The vse, seeing vnthankfulnesse is a disease wherevnto nyne or ten are subject;Note. let vsus so much the more take heede vntounto it. Note.Let vsus inure our selues to be thankfull to God for the least of his blessings: Let vsus pray before we get them; & let vsus praise God after we hauehave gotten them, before wee take meate let vsus pray, after meate let vsus praise: before we preach let vsus pray, after preaching let vsus praise while we put on our clothes in the morning let vsus pray, while we put them off at night let vsus praise: while wee enter into a water to passe thorow let vsus pray, while wee are come to the yonder side let vsus praise: p. 242while wee begin a journey let vsus pray: while wee are come home againe let vsus praise: while merchands goe to a market let them pray: while they are returned let them praise: while children are borne into the world, let parents pray: if GOD take them to him selfe, let them praise. Note.Let vsus all striue to bee as chearefull to praise GOD for a benefite received, as wee were earnest in prayer to receiue the same. Note.Let vsus not follow the ill example of the sicke of my text: they all cryed vntounto the Lord in their trouble, but J heare not a word of their thanks: only the Psalmist saith: Oh that men would praise the Lord, &c. this is the burden of the song four severall tymes in the Psalme.

Note.I lyke not men that pay their dueties with an OH. Note.This is a sure token of ill payment, when the godly man heere is forced to p. 243cry: Oh that men would praise the Lord Note.Away with rents that are payed with an Oh Note.Man his praises are the LORD his rents, God will not be praised with those that praise him with an Oh. God loveth a cheerfull giver. As Hee giveth cheerfully, so will hee bee praised cheerfully: God must not be praised with regrate. Jt is good that the godly lament, that men will not praise the LORD for his goodnesse, but God will not bee praised of those that praise him vnwillingly. Note.Such a praise will proue like that doeing of Ananias and Saphirah a part of the price will bee kept back,Act. 5. v. 2.Acts 5:2 such men can not faile but they shall lie to the holy Ghost.

Th… 2 vse.The second vse wee hauehave to make heere is, that wee learne humilitie in the consideration of our ill nature. What a miserie is this that man by the merciemercy of GOD p. 244should be healed of a deadly disease, and yet not doe so much as to giuegive thankes to him from whom hee hath receiued the benefite.

Note.Jn the wicked we may see the corruption of our nature, lyke swine they gather greedily the acorns of God his benefits, but beeing animalia prona; creatures that hauehave the face headlong downe, they snatch vp the gifts, but can not looke vp to the giver with a thankfull heart.

The wicked while they are in distresse will hauehave some forme of praying, but while they hauehave gottenNote. their desire they hauehave not so much as a shewe in praising. Note.Praise is a sorte of godlinesse, whereof the wicked hauehave not so much as a shew.

Note.Pharaoh could cry for helpe in tyme of plagues; but after nyne severall deliverances I never read that he said once God bee thanked.

Note.Many while they are sicke will p. 245giuegive GOD many faire wordes,Psal. 78. v. 36.Ps 78:36which scripture calleth to flatter with their lips, but all that forme of devotion is nothing but a wyle for to winne out of GOD his hands. Note.This is cleare, for so soone as once they are free of their trouble, at once they grieue the spirit of grace: yea, often they become worse, lyke that man that was but for a space delivered from that divell, which was but gone out for to bring in other seven worse then him selfe, Math. 12 v. 45.Matt 12:45for to make his partie the stronger.

Note.Let those that after so many mercies giuegive libertie to their lusts consider well how the deceit of spirit over-reacheth them: let such weigh well in the ballance of the sanctuary, whether or not they hauehave praised the LORD for his goodnesse, and for his wonderfull workes toward them.

Heere some men will say, what p. 246is this that is required in praising the Lord? Is it not enough for to say with our mouth, the Lord bee thanked? What would the LORD hauehave more?

J answere to that, GOD must hauehave more:Prov. 23 v. 26.Prov 23:26 My sonne. (saith he,) giuegive mee thy heart. Note.God indeed must bee praised with the tongue, for which cause it is called our glory:Psal. 57 v. 8.Ps 57:8 Awake my glory, said the Psalmist vntounto his tongue. Note.God also must be praised with the heart, without which all the praise of the mouth is but a pranke, the sacrifice of fooles:Isa. 29. v. 13.Isa 29:13 This people draw neere mee with their mouth, but their hearts are farre from mee, said the Lord.

Note.A neere mouth, with a heart a farre off is an abomination to the LORD. Note.Those who in singing Psalmes are ledde away more by sound, than by sense, respect the musicke more than matter: Such sing to man, but not to GOD: GOD p. 247his praises must be sung both with heart and tongue. Note.Heere is a reproach for those, who in the congregation joyne not their voyces with others for to praise the Lord for his goodnesse, but sit as if they were dumb. Note.The booke is too deare for singing of GOD his praise.Note. O what secreet atheisme …urketh into the hearts of men!

Jf men thought that the LORD should bee praised for his goodnesse, and that God were present in the congregation of his Saints, they durst not come in before him without the booke of the Psalmes.

Note.Wee often forget our booke, because wee forget that God is in his Church; but who forgetteth to put his hat on his head while hee cometh to the Church? Who forgetteth his clothes? No man; because before hee goeth forth, hee remembereth that man will see him by the way.N…te. The wine & p. 248aile will command many to speak who are dumb at the service of their God. Note.Many never want words but when they should praise the Lord for his goodnesse.

Note.Filthy ballads and louelove songs are vaine mens delight, but OH that men would praise the LORD for his goodnesse, &c.

It is not enough that men praise the LORD with their heart and tongue,Note. but also they must praise him with their lyfe, the true tryall of the other two. Note.After that the Psalmist had said that he would praise God that had chastned him sore, but had kept him from death, hee cryed, Open to mee the gates of righteousnesse, Psal. 118. v. 19.Ps 118:19I will goe into them and praise the Lord. Note.To goe into the gates of righteousnesse, is to lead a good lyfe; such only are fit for to praise the Lord.

Note.As for those that praise not God in lyfe, while they are holy p. 249in words, they are but monstrous persons, all mouthes, and tongues, and voices without hearts to thinke well, without hands to doe well.

Note.When the for…orne foole come to his wits againe, hee said not only,Luk. 15. v. 18Luke 15:18 I will returne to my father, but hee did as hee said. Note.The sluggard is ever in feare of lyons: The imagination of a beast in the way hind…eth him from doeing.

Note.The Pharisees could say well but because their workes belyed their words,Mat 2…. v. 27.Matt 2:27 Christ called them painted tombes or whited sepulchres.

NoteMany would content the Lord with a part of his service: Some lyke the Pharisee will paint the outward profession, but hold backe their heart from GOD: Note.Others lyke N…aman will bowe into the house of …immon, 2 King. 5 v. …8.2 Kgs 5:8but keepe their heart as they imagine vntounto God: But O fooles,Note. 1 King. … v. …1 Kgs 5 God will not lyke the pretended mother hauehave his service p. 250divided: God that made all must hauehave all. Note.Seeing hee hath made the heart as well as the hand, he must hauehave both our thoughts, and our actions for to praise him.

Note.The whole man that is a continuall receiver is litle enough for to set forth the glory of the giver: Doe not the favors of GOD follow the whole lyfe of man? Why then should not his whole lyfe bee framed for to expresse his thankfulnesse. Note.Well is the man whose tongue, heart, and hand can sing to GOD with Jeremie,Ier. 17. v. 14.Jer 17:14 thou art my praise.

Againe in those words,The doctrine. Oh that men would praise the Lord, I obserue the fervent zeale of the godly,Note. for not only praise they God, but they are grieved when men whom God hath blessed with wealth, or health are slow to praise the Lord for his goodnesse. This word OH heere vox dolentis a word of mourning p. 251is an evident demonstration of sorrow. Note.In my judgement true zeale is not better known then in sorrowe for the offence of God.

The vse. Note.The vse: let every man try himselfe, whether hee bee a godly man or not: If true godlinesse be in thy heart thou shalt bee grieved to see GOD offended, thou shalt striue to keepe thy brother from sinne. Note.This was the cursed man his language, am I my brothers keeper? Gen. 4. v. 9.Gen 4:9When ever wee see God dishonoured or deprived of his praise, wee must mourne for that sinne.Note. Well is that soule that can cry, Oh for GOD his dishonour: Woe to him that rejoyceth while God is offended.

Note.Many thinke the vices of others commendations of their vertues. If they stand while others fall either into whoredome, or drunkennesse, they hauehave a ce…taine joy p. 252of such filthy fals, which they take to be praisers of their sobrietie, and chastitie: Note.But Oh is not the Lord offended by such sinnes?

Note.Js not the profession ill spoken of: Note.Js not every sinne a scandale. Note.Is not every scandale a woe?Mat. 18. v. 7.Matt 18:7 woe to the world for scandals.

Note.Woe to him that is not sory for sinne, whether it bee in him selfe or in others, seeing that God thereby is dishonoured. Note.J will tell thee O man, if thou cry not Oh for GOD his dishonour, God shall cause thee cry Oh in thy distresse.

Againe in those words:The doctrine. Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodnesse. I obserue how sensible the godly are, when the least point of GOD his service is neglected.

Note.If a godly man cryeth, Oh that men would praise the Lord, because hee seeth them flow vntounto it, how grieved will his heart bee, when p. 253hee shall see men not only not praising God, but dishonouring GOD for his goodnesse. Note.Many hauehave gotten health from God, God in great mercy hath brought them from the gates of death,1. Pet. 2 v. 22.1 Pet 2:22 and hath restored vntounto them their former strength,Note. but what thankes? They hauehave lyke the dogge returned to their …nite againe: The drunkard resto…ed, runneth backe to the taverne, and the harlot to his old acquaintance,Luck. 11: v 24. lyke that divell returning from dry places vntounto his house whence hee came out. Note.The last of such persons is worse then their first. Note.Good had it beene for many that they had never beene brought backe from the doores of death, because that after a newe t…ke of their lyfe they dishonour God more then ever they did before. Note.As Iacob said of Simeon, and Levi, so say I of such: O my soule come not thou into their secret: p. 254Gen 4… v. ….Gen 4vntounto their assembly mine honour bee thou not vnited.

The vse,The vse. let vsus striue to be sensible of sinne, so that wee make conscience of the least sinne. Many thinke vnthankfulnesse to GOD no sinne. Note.The leav…n of the Pharisees hath sowred the whole lumpe of many mens hearts: Jf they bee not Adulterers; but can fast and giuegive almes, at once they will thanke GOD that they are not lyke other men. Note.GOD desyreth no such thankes, when man praiseth GOD for his owne goodnesse: But OH that m… would praise the LORD for his goodnesse, and for his wonderfull workes to the children of men. Note.Let man praise GOD for his goodnesse, but in his owne goodnesse there is no matter of praise. Note.What can bee said to the praise of a m… st…u…us cloath? Isa. 64. v. 6.Isa 64:6Such is all our righteousnesse.

p. 255The doctrine.Let vsus also obserue heere another lesson: The deliverance from death is said to bee from the goodnesse of God, and it is also called a wonderfull worke: for while it is said, Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodnesse, it is cleare that the deliverance from death in sicknesse is from the goodnesse of our GOD.

The 1 vse.The vse: let all those who are sicke hauehave recourse vntounto the goodnesse of God,Note. by which only wee hauehave health.Note. When wee seeke health from God, let vsus say, for thy goodnesse sake O Lord.

The 2 vse.The second vse I make of those words is for them that are recouered of their sickenesse.Note. Let such learne to bee good seing their health is from the goodnesse of God.

Note.A lyfe given in goodnesse should not bee spent in wickednesse: The goodnesse of God inviteth all men to repentance.Rom. 2. v. 4.Rom 2:4

p. 256Againe obserue heere that great must bee that goodnesse of God, whereby hee bringeth man backe from the doores of death: The preservation of mans lyfe in his sicknesse, is also called a wonderfull worke. Js it not a great goodnesse of God, and a wonder, that hee should spare the lyfe of a rebellious foole? What a wonder is this in God his goodnesse, that the lyfe of man should be so precious in his sight? Note.Is not man naturally the enemie of God? It must bee a great goodnesse that will make a man spare his enemie his lyfe: And who, (said Saul to David,)1 Sam 24. v 19.1 Sam 24:19) finding his enemie will let him goe well away? Note.O but in God then must be a wonderfull goodnesse, in that not onelyonly he spareth his enemie, but▪ which is more euen preserueth the life of his enemie. Did not God dye for his enemies? did he not suffer for them by p. 257whom hee suffered? Note.By this meanes (such was his goodnesse) hee heaped vponupon their heads coales of fire, Rom. 12. v. 20.Rom 12:20that is, as S^t. Augustine saith, vrentes poenitentiae gemitus, the burning sighs of repentance.

Note.Who can not bee but burnt with sighs, while hee considereth the goodnesse of GOD that hath rendered him so mekle good for so mekle ill? What a great merciemercy is this, that GOD should prolong the lyfe of a sinner but an houre.

The vse.The vse: seeing the deliverance from death and destruction is called a wonderfull work, and seeing it is so indeede, let vsus wonder at it: when J arose out of that deadly fever; Anno 1626 in the monethmonth of September, and J fand my winding sheete wrapped together into my studie amongst my bookes, J began to wonder at GOD his great worke, I thought it wonderfull. p. 258Note.But alace we wonder at God his works of merciemercy, as at other common worldly thinges but for a litle space. Note.From thence is the proverb, A wonder lasteth but nyne nights into a city: Fy vponupon vsus that can not wonder still at the wonderfull works of our GOD.

The Hebrew word Pala in Niphal signifieth both admirabile & occuitum, that is both secret & wonderfull, a fit word for to declare the worke to be wonderfull: indeede David speaking of his making in the belly, vseth this word: I will praise thee, Psal. 139 v. 14Ps 139:14(said hee,) for I am fearfully and wonderfully mad… : Likewise in another Psalme, speaking how Christ the stone, which the builders refused, was become the head stone of the corner,Psal. 118 v. 23.Ps 118:23 he said, This is the Lords doing it is marveilous or wonderfull in our eyes: So heere the bringing from the doores of death is called a wonderfull worke of GOD tovvard the children of men.

p. 259Obserue the lesson:The doctrine. only the workes of God are wonderfull. Note.Men may wonder at some workes of men, but no works of men are wonderfull: No created wisdome can fill a worke with wonder. There is nothing that man can doe, but man may come after and doe better: plus vident oculi quam oculus: many eyes see better than one: This is true amongst men. Note.But all the eyes of men can not perceiue that God in any worke hath either beene defectuous or superfluous: Note.Looke vp to the Heavens, and consider the sunne in his goings: Behold how in the spring he commeth slowly by degrees till our day be at the longest: Behold and wonder at such slownesse in such a swiftnesse: If hee were not slow in such swiftnesse, what fearfull changes should ensue? If from the elleventh of December in the space of a day the sunne should be into that part of Heaven, whereinto he is seene into the elleventh of Iune, what discorder p. 260should be in the creatures below? All men know how dangerous are sudden changes from heate to cold, and from cold to heate. Note.Behold then and wonder how the Creator hath so ruled that Bridgroome of light,Psal. 19. v. 5.Ps 19:5 that no man can imagine how his course could be changed for a better.

What shall I speake of the sea tide,Note. which made that most subtile searcher of secrets, as some thinke to hauehave drowned him selfe in the creature, whose motion hee could not vnderstand? Note.As for the earth it is a worke so wonderfull that no man tell wherevpon it hath beene founded. Tell me O thou most learned Philosopher, what can vphold such a heavy masse? Thou wilt say that is founded vponupon its Centre. But what is that centre but a point? What beareth vp that point that beareth vp all the rest? But how can a point bee a fundation of so hudge a masse?Note. But imagine a man standing in the centre, tell me what p. 261should be his situation? According to the rules of Philosophie, both his head should be vpward, and his feete should be vpward? Now what braine is able to conceiue this? Some may think all this to be very easy: but God did propound it vntounto Job, as a great argument:Iob. 38. v. 6.Job 38:6 Wherevpon, (said Hee,) are the fundations of the earth fastened?

Note.We must therefore confesse, that this worke of GOD, which is but earthly, is so wonderfull, that it overfloweth all humane capacitie.Note. When a vessell is filled to the brimme, it must at last overflow. When our heart is filled with that which is wonderfull, the wonders which we can not containe must runne over.

What shall J say more? Behold O man all the par…es of the mekle world, bend thy wits, and see where thou can correct God his wisedome. Come fo…ward I pray thee, and teach him a lesson if thou can: If not, confesse that his workes are wonderfull, and p. 262that thou is filled with wondering, so that GODS wonders in thy heart doe overflow.

From the mekle world, let vsus come to man, the litle world. Note.Behold the fabricke of his body, his browes, his eares, his eyes, his nose, his mouth: Behold the wonderfull worke of God: Teach GOD a lesson if thou can. Note.Wilt thou say, that his mouth had beene best in his brow, and that his nose had beene best behind his eare, and that his eyes had beene more fitly into his chinne? No not. There is no part, which can be devised to b… better then it is: the worke is vvonderfull, and therfore say that thou art filled with wondring: Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodnesse, and for his wonderfull workes to the children of men.

To come from the body to consider God his workings in the soule, they are so wonderfull, that no man can declare them. Who shall not p. 263wonder to consider the workings of the soule? Note.J admire the mind and vnderstanding, the will and the affections agreeing, discording, considering, judging, loving, or hating, making the body to laugh, or to weepe, according as the spirit is disposed Note.Consider the spirit of man furnishing the body with fiue watches, as with a guard for its preservation: viz, hearing, seeing, smelling, feeling, tasting, and touching, all set about the body for its preservation, for as many watches, to tell who is a foe, and who is a friend.

Note.The worke is so wonderfull, that while I consider it, my spirit doth overflow with wondering: Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodnesse, and for his wonderfull workes to the children of men.

Note.Last of all, seeing the curing of the sicknesse of the body is called a wonderfull worke, how wonderfull must the curing of the sicke soule p. 264be? For this cause, and for others also CHRIST the Saviour of soules, was called Wonderfull: VntoUnto vsus a child is borne, Isa. 9. v. 6.Isa 9:6(said the Prophet,) and his name shall bee called WONDERFVLL: This is he, who hath not only filled the earth, but the Heavens with wondering. Note.The Heavens at the first could not well perceiue,Isa 53. v. 5.Isa 53:5 how by God his stripes man should hauehave health.

Note.The Cherubins, which represented the Angels had their heads ever bowed toward the Mercy-seat, for to see the calling and healing of the Gentiles: The fellowship of that mysterie had beene hid in God from them, and that from the beginning of the world: But so soone as it was revealed vntounto them by the Church, Ephes. 3. v, 10.Eph 3that is, so soone as they sawe God his promise accomplished in the Church, as in a glasse, they all with one voyce praised God for his goodnesse, and for his wonderfull workes to the children of men: All the spirits of Heaven p. 265did praise Him that day with that divine song:Luke …. v. 14. Glory bee to GOD in the highest Heavens, peace on earth, and toward men good will.

Note.But what shall J say of men, who are so much beholden vntounto God? Hath not God created vsus? Hath he not redeemed vsus with the blood of his sonne? Hath hee not delivered vsus from many dangers at home and a field?Psal. 41. v. 3.Ps 41:3 Hath bee not made all our bed in our sickenesse? Hath he not brought vsus backe from the doores of death? But where is our thankfulnesse? I say againe, OH where is our thankfulnesse? Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodnesse, and for his wonderfull workes to the children of men.

To the Father, Sonne, and Holy Ghost bee glory and Majestie, Dominion, and power; for ever and ever, AMEN.

End of the text · Zacharie Boyd, The Balm of Gilead Prepared for the Sick (1629)