The Son of God Walking in the Fire with the Servants of God, Sermon 5
THE Fifth Sermon, On DAN. III. XXV.
He anſwered and ſaid. Lo I ſee four men looſe, walking in the midſt of the fire, and they have no hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
THere is witneſs given to a Miraculous deliverance, that God wrought for his three Servants, who through their faith, overcame the violence of the fire: Nebuchadnezzar makes a large confeſſion here. I propounded this queſtion the laſt time; Whether Nebucadnezzar was truly brought home to God or no; he did a great deal, he ſpake a great deal; there was a great work of conviction paſt upon his ſpirit, he doth acknowledge his Error, and ſin, he doth rejoyce in his own diſappointment, that God did not ſuffer him to have his will; he doth re…oyce in the goodneſs of God that was ſhewed to his Servants; he rejoyces in their conſtancy, that they did not obey the Kings command, worſhip his Gods: he did rejoyce in their deliverances; he doth acknowledge that it was God that delivered them; he takes care of the worſhip of God, to promote it, he makes a penal Statute▪ That whoſoever did profane the name of God, ſhould be cut in pieces; and yet notwithſtanding for all this, we concluded probably, That Nebuchadnezzar was not converted; for in the next Chapter, he …eturned to his old way of ſin, of ſuperſtition; he dreams a dream, and he ſends for the Sorcerers, to tell …im his dream, which belongs to God to reveal ſecrets, as Daniel told him: So then we obſerved, that It is not in the po…er of the greateſt Miracle, to convert Obſervat.a ſoul to God. Nebuchadnezzar ſaw great Miracles, Miracles of mercy and Miracles of judgment: We told you P…araoh ſaw Miracles, and Iſrael ſaw Miracles in Aegypt, and at the red Sea. in the Wilderneſs; Miracles of mercy, and Miracles of judgment; ſometimes their plagues were wonderfull, ſtung with fiery Serpents: and Miracles of mercy, God he fed them with Man a and water out of the Rock; and notwithſtanding for all this, they were a ſtubborn Generation, and dwelt in unbelief: our Saviour tells us in that Parable, in the 16. of Luke, but they are the words of Abraham. They have Moſes and the Prophets, and if they will not hear them and b…leeve, neith…r would …hey beleeve though one roſe from the dead: Though God ſhould ſhew the greateſt Miracle, yet that would not convince them, that would not bring off their hearts to believe in the Son of God: 'tis the hardeſt matter in the world to bring God and the heart together, they are at ſuch a great d…ſtance, Infinite diſtance; and the heart of the creature is filled with ſuch ſlavery, and lay under bondage▪ that it dares not go to God, when God calls to behold his face in his Son, but run to the buſh, as Adam did; but though Miracles will not do it; it hath a word of grace, a ſure word of grace, to draw nigh to God; and therefore we ſhould look upon that Miracle of iniquity that is in the heart of all the ſons of Adam; it is a ſtrange thing that the heart of man ſhould out-ſtand ſo many blows, that ſo ſmall a piece of fleſh as the heart of man is, ſhould withſtand thoſe great batteries that God many times is pleaſed to make by judgments, wonderful judgments, when he declares his wrath from Heaven to ſinners; and conſider what a Miracle of mercy it is, that any ſoul ſhould be converted, and brought home to God; ſeeing Converſion is ſo hard a thing, and Miracles will not do it? What a Miracle it is for a ſoul to be brought home to God! I ſhew how many Miracles were in this work: Miracles of wiſdom; Miracles of power: Miracles of mercy: Oh we ſhould bleſs the Lord that hath given us his word: we ſhould prefer the word before Miracles; we ſhould not look to Miracles, but we ſhould look to the word of the Lord; God hath made that to bring home ſouls; and therefore we are infinitely beholden to the Lord for the word of his grace, that we have the word of his grace to truſt in. We proceed,
Conſider who it is that bare witneſs to the Miracle: 'Tis Nebuchadnezzar that was an enemy to the Saints, a perſecutor, a ſcorner, a contemner of God. Who is that God that ſhall deliver out of my hand? and yet the Lord makes him to bear witneſs of that good he did his people: We ſhall obſerve then this: Propoſition:
God many times makes his peoples Enemies to acknowledge and confeſs that the Lord is with them, Obſervat. 3.and that he hath dealt graciouſly with them: God makes very enemies to confeſs oftentimes, that he deals wonderfully, and graciouſly with his people: The Church was confident of this in her affliction; therefore ſhe was ſupported: See that 7 of Mich. 9. 10. I will bear the indignation of the Lord, becauſe I have ſinned againſ… him, until he plead my cauſe, and execute judgment for me; he will bring me forth to the light, and I ſhall behold his righteouſneſs, verſe 10. Then ſhe that is my Enemy ſhall ſee it, and ſhame ſhall cover her which ſaid unto me, where is the Lord thy God? mine eyes ſhall behold her, now ſhall ſhe be troden down as the mire in the ſtreets: Then ſhe that is my enemy ſhall ſee it, and ſhame ſhall cover her which ſaith, where is the Lord thy God: The Church was confident that ſhe ſhould not only ſee the footſteps of mercy, but that God would make the very enemies to ſee it; She that ſayd, where is the Lord your God! ſhe that ſometimes inſulted over me, and blaſphemed the name of my God; that ſaid, where is your God? time is coming when ſhe ſhall ſee it▪ and I ſhall ſay, Loe here is my God, I waited for him, and he will ſave me, and ſhe ſhall ſee the deliverance, ſo as ſhame ſhall cover her; ſhe ſhall be aſhamed that ever ſhe opened her mouth againſt God: And the Church did not looſe her expectation, this was fulfilled to the Church; in the 126. Pſalm, you ſhall ſee the fulfilling there of this promiſe, that ſhe took hold of the 126. 1. When the Lord turned again the captivity of Sion, then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with ſinging; then ſaid they among the Heathen, the Lord hath done great things for them: When God turned again Sions Captivity, when he brought them out of the grave—Babylon; the work was ſo wonderful, that enemies could not but ſee that the hand of the Lord was in it, to give poor Captives ſo much favour in the eye of Princes, that they ſhould releaſe them, ſend them home, countenance them, help them in all they could, help them to build the Temple of the Lord; this could not be if the Lord had not wrought wonderfully for them: The Heathen were convinced, They ſaid amongſt the Heathen, the Lord hath dous great things for them. God makes the very enemies to acknowledge his power and glory, and that he was with his people; in the 8. Chapter of Exodus verſe 19. God wrought a Miracle by Moſes, and the Aegyptians ſtood out long, but they ſay in the 19. verſe, Sure this is the finger of God: Lo they had hardened their hearts, and would not be converted, at laſt God works a Miracle, and makes them to cry out, ſure this is the finger of God; look into the new Teſtament, and you ſhall finde that the Lord Jeſus Chriſt did extort confeſſion from the mouths of his enemies; he made them to acknowledge that he was the Son of God, and that God was with him in thoſe mighty works that he wrought: See the 6. of John and the 14. verſe. There the multitude followed Chriſt, when as they had ſeen the Miracles Chriſt wrought; then they ſaid, This is of a truth that Prophet that ſhould com: into the world; and ſo in the 7 of John, verſe 47. When the Officers were to bring Chriſt to the chief Prieſts, they returned with their conviction, and they anſwered, never man ſpake like this man; yea, when he was upon the Croſs, in his greateſt Eclipſe; ſeemed to be forſaken of all men, even his very friends forſook him, they all forſook him and fled, and he was lookt upon as a ſcorn to all the people; yet even then did the Lord Jeſus extort confeſſion from their mouths; See the 27. of Matth. and the 54.
For the further cleering of the Point by Demonſtration: The Point …leared by Dem…nſtrations.God makes ſometimes the very enemies to confeſs that he is with his people, and that he hath dealt wonderouſly, graciouſly with them.
Firſt of all you ſhall finde for this, that Jeſus Chriſt hath put up a Petition to his Father, he hath Demonſt. 1made it his requeſt to his Father that his Father would manifeſt ſo much of himſelf to his people, that the very men of the world might be convinced that hi… Father did love him, that the world might be convinced that they were one with God, and one with the Father and one with the Son; for this Chriſt prays in the 17. of John, and the 21 v. That they all may be one as thou Father art in me, and I in thee, that they alſo may be one in us; that th… world may b…leeve that thou haſt ſent me, verſ. 22. And the glory which th…u gaveſt me, I have given th…m, that they may be one, even as we are one, verſ. 23. I in them, and thou in me, that they may b… made p…rf…ct in one, and that the world may know that thou haſt ſent me, and haſt loved them as tho… haſt loved me that the world may know that t…ou haſt ſent me, and h…ſt loved them as thou ha…t lov…d me: Chriſt he would manifeſt ſo much of himſelf, and of his goodneſs unto his people, that not only they may ſee it, but that the very world may be convinced when they ſee what God hath done for his people, and what excellent Spirit God hath put upon them, that they may be convinced that God loves them as he loves the Son, that they are one with the Father, as the Son is made one with the Father,
Secondly, The Lord Jeſus Chriſt hath promiſed this to his people▪ h… was confident that becauſe Demonſt. 2he prayed for it, it ſhould be given out: he was never denyed any of his requeſts, and therefore he hath made a promiſe to h… Churche…, …hat he wi… do ſuch great things for the…, that the world ſhall be convinced that God is with them: See the 3. of the Rev…lations and the 9. verſe: Behold I will make them of the Syn…gogu of Satan, which ſay they are Jews and are not, but do lye; behold I will make them to come and worſhip before t…y feet, and to …now that I have loved thee: He makes this promiſe to them, as a recompence to them for their faithfulneſs, becauſe they had kept cloſe to the word in time of perſecution; now as a recompence of their faithfulneſs and love, Chriſt makes this promiſe to them: Well, becauſe thou haſt ventured all for me, becauſe thou haſt ventured thy name for me, thou haſt ſuffered reproach for me; I will give thee a name, thou ſhalt have a name in all places, where thou haſt been put to ſhame; thoſe enemies that hated thee, that made a ſcorn of thee; I will make them to come and fall down and worſhip thee; I will make them to acknowledge that God is with thee: this is a promiſe that Chriſt hath given out, and he will fulfil it to his Churches, thoſe that have kept the word of Chriſt; thoſe that are faithful to the truth of Chriſt, to the ways of Chriſt, in the worſt times, though they may ſuffer reproach for a time, yet at laſt he wil make the very enemies to confeſs that he was with them: That's the ſecond Demonſtration.
Thirdly, Therfore it is that God hath put ſo much power into his word, to convince the men of the Demonſt. 3.world, and to force them to make them acknowledge that the Lord is with his people, and that he hath loved them, and that he deals graciouſly with them; I ſay, for this end the Lord hath made his word powerful, he hath made it ſharper then a two edged ſword, that it ſhall ſerve not only for the converſion of ſome, but for the conviction of many that are not really brought home to God; The Goſpel where it comes, it ſhall lay chains upon men, it ſhall lay a reſtraint upon men; See what is ſpoken of the power of the word of God, in the firſt Epiſtle of the Corinthians, and the 14. 24. 25. verſes. But if all Prophecie, and there come in one that beleeveth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all. Verſe 25. And thus are the ſecrets of his heart made manifeſt; and ſo falling down on his face, he will he will worſhip God, and report that God is in you of a truth. See the power that God hath put into his word for the convincing of the hearts of wicked men, that God is in his word, and that God is with his people; the ſecrets of his heart ſhall be made manifeſt, when he comes in, he ſhall fall down on his face, and ſay God is in you of a truth: It may be, before he came, he had hard thoughts of the people of God; it may be, he was ready to ſay, that folly was in them, and madneſs was in them; nay, they were ready to ſay, that the Devil was in them: Ay but when his conſcience lay before the word; when he comes and ſees your way, when he hears that God ſpeak in you, ſuch a power ſhall go along with the word, that it ſhall lay chains upon him; and it ſhall make him to fall down and ſay I was deceived, I was wrong in that I did judge amiſs of the people of God; Now I ſee that God is in you of a truth.
Fourthly, Therefore it is that when God hath dealt graciouſly with his people, when he hath given out great mercies; or great deliverances, he hath ordered it ſo, that their greateſt enemies ſhould be eye witneſſes, and ſometimes Agents againſt their will, in doing good to his ſervants; you ſhall finde it ſo, that when God hath ſo ordered to do great things for his people, he hath made his peoples enemies to be great eye witneſſes, and ear witneſſes: You ſee here in the Text, how God doth order the King Nebuchadnezzar, that he ſhould be preſent to ſee this Miracle, that ſo a work of conviction ſhould paſs upon his conſcience; it is a wonder that the King ſhould be preſent, and would have thought it ſhould not have ſtood with the State of the King, to be with three poor Captives, he might …ave left them to his Officers; but God did …o order it, that he ſhould ſee, that he ſhould be preſent; and therefore in the 6. of Dan. There you may ſee the Lord made him to be an eye-witneſs: After Dani…l was c…ſt into the Lions Den, he could not ſleep nor r…ſt that night, and he roſe betimes in the morning to ſee the Miracle, to ſee the wondrous deliverance that God wro…ght for his Servants.
Yea, God makes his peoples enemies to be Agents ſometimes, in doing good to his Servants, though agai…ſt their wills, that ſo he might convince them, and ex…ort confeſſion from them, that he is with his people: In the promotion of Mordecai, which you read in the 6 o… …ſt…er; God did order it ſo, that the King did command that Haman (Mordecais great enemy) ſhould be an Agent in his promotion; He was Arrayed by Haman with Royal Apparrel; H…man was one that ſought Mordicais life, and God orders it, that this man Haman ſhould be an Agent in his promotion, that h… ſhould Array him, that he ſhould lead his Horſe, and he ſhould cry Thus ſha…l it b… done to the man whom the K…ng will d…light to honour.
Fiftly, Therefore it is that God many times Demonſt. 5works deliverance for his peo…le, becauſe he God works for his people in ſuch away, that Enemies muſtt needs confes that Go… is with his people.works it in ſuch a manner, and in ſuch a way as muſt needs leave conv…ction upon the hearts of the men of the world, if they be not given up to that fearful judgment of hardneſs of heart: I ſay, if they be not given up to hardneſs of heart; God works in ſuch a way, that they muſt needs confeſs …hat God is with his people.
Firſt, The Lord he works freely for his people he works freely for his name ſake; when there is nothing at all in them, that might deſerve the leaſt mercy: God many times gives out great mercies when they can apprehend nothing in themſelves: Nay, when the men of the world of look upon them and ſee nothing in them; they themſelves through their grace and humility, ſee nothing in themſelves, and the men of the world ſee nothing in them; why God ſhould do them good; yet the Lord then many times he gives out great mercies, and works great deliverances for his people.
Secondly, As God works freely, ſo he works unrx…ectedly; and this helps to work conviction in mens hearts, when God works unexpectedly for his ſervants, when he gives out mercies contrary to expectation; when enemies conclude, Oh they are brought down into ſuch a condition, that it is impoſſible that ever they ſhould be brought up; yet the Lord he works unexpectedly, that ſo he might work conviction in mens hearts: See that fourth of Micah, you ſhall ſee how God works contrary to mens thoughts.
Verſe 11. Now alſo many Nations are gathered againſt thee, that ſay, let her be defiled, and let our eye look upon Sion.
Verſ. 12. But they know not the thoughts of the Lord, neither underſtand they ais Counſel for he ſhall gather them as the ſheaves into his floor. And v. 13. Ariſe, &c.
When they ſay, let her be defiled, and let our eyes look upon Sion; Why? ſhe is utterly undone, ſhe is brought down; ſhe is deſtroyed, ſhe lay in her blood, ſhe lay in her heaps, ſhe lay in her ruins; why you are deceived, ſay's God; I will work unexpectedly, above your thoughts, you know not the thoughts of the Lord; you ſay, let your eye look upon Sion, you ſay her deſtruction is come already; but you know not the thought of the thoughts of the Lord; I will work unexpect…dly.
Thirdly, God he works ſometimes ſuddenly, that he might give conv…ction to men; when God gives mercies, he doe… it ſud…nly; when God brings judgements upon the wicked o… the world, he doth it ſuddenly, their deſt…uction is li…e w…arlew…nde; it ſhall not come like o…her windes that …o riſe by degrees; but as a whirlewind it ſhall come ſuddainly, and carry them away before they think of it; a…d ſo ſometime he compares the judgments that he brings upon wicked men as the b…ach or a wall that cometh ſuddainly, See the 30 of …ai…h, and the 13. verſe, Ther…fore this i…iquity ſhall be to you as a breach …e…dy …o f…ll ſwe…ling o…t in a high wali, whoſe breaking com…th ſ…da…nly, at an inſtant.
And ſo when God works de…iverance for his people many times God works it in a ſudden way; look into the 1: 6. Pſ…lm you ſhall ſee how ſuddainl… God wrought for his people, how ſuddainly he brought them forth from B…b…lon.
Verſe 1. W…n the L…rd tur…ed again our Captivity we were like to them t…a… dreamed.
Verſe 2. Th…n was our mouth filled with l…ughter, and our …ngue with ſinging; then ſaid they among the Heathen, the Lor… hath done great th…ngs for them.
Verſe 4. Turn again our Captivity O Lord, as the ſtreams in the ſouth.
He prays and be…eeves that God would turn again their Captivity as the ſtreams in the ſou…h; the ſtreams of the South, they come ſuddenly; the ſtreams there, they do not ariſe as other Rivers, they come from ſeveral Heads, and ſo they increaſe a…d come broader and broader, that when the rain falls mightily, then the land floods come down ſuddainly; Why, in ſuch a way doth God work for his people, their deliverances ſhall be as the Rivers in the South as ſtreams in the ſouth, that ſhall come ſuddainly, in a moment, before enemies are aware; And thus doth God many times work conviction.
Fourthly, God he works ſoli…arily, he doth it by his own Arme; when e…emies can ſee none to roule away the ſtone, none to open a door of deliverance, why then God himſelf he ſtretches out his A…me; when there is none to bring ſalvation his own A…m ſhall bring ſalv…tion, he will role away the ſtone, he will open a door of deliverance; and when God doth thus work; this tends mightily to the conviction of thoſe that are by-ſtanders.
Queſt. If you ask but wherefore doth God thus work? Wherefore doth God make very enemies to confeſs that he deals graciouſly with his people? Why ſhould they be eye-witneſſes o… it?
Anſw Firſt of all, becauſe their eye looks upon the afflictions of the Servants of God; and therefore God, he will make them to look upon their mercies; they look upon the m…ſery of the Saints, and they look upon them with delight; and therefore God he will … them to look upon their mercies, and ſee the… …eliverances: They ſay, …et …ur eye look upon Sion, and let her he def…led: Let our eye look upon her, that is, let us behold her ruin-in, let us glut our ſenſe, and ſay, thus we would have it: Let our eye look upon Sion: ſo in the 22. Pſalm, you ſhall finde how the wicked do look upon the affliction of Jeſus Chriſt; for 'tis ſpoken of Chriſt, Pſalm 22. verſ. 17. I may t…ll all my bones, they ſtare upon me; they look and ſtare upon me: When Chriſt was upon the Croſs, they ſtood looking upon him, and did ſtare upon him; the word ſignifies, they looked with delight, to ſtand gazeing inſatiably. When a man looks upon an object that pleaſeth him, he thinks he never looks enough, he doth enlarge his ſenſe, to take in the ſpeciouſneſs of the thing, and he thinks he never ſees enough; the ſame word is uſed by the Propet Iſaiah, 53. verſe 11. He ſhall ſee the travel of …is ſoul and be ſatisfied: He ſhall ſee the travel of his ſoul; he ſhall look upon it with delight, he ſhall gaze greedily upon it; it ſhews his wonderful affection, that Chri…t looks upon his Spouſe with wonderful deſire; that he looks upon the travel of his ſoul, to ſee the fruit of his righteouſneſs, to ſee the benefit of his death; he ſhall look upon the travel of his ſoul, he ſhall gaze upon it with delight; and ſo do enemies, they look upon the affliction of his people, and gaze upon it with delight: and therefore God makes them to look upon the mercies of his people, the deliverances of his people; they ſhall ſee their glory, God will make them eye-witneſſes, God will make them to confeſs that he hath dealt graciouſly with his people.
Secondly, God doth … mercy to the ſons of men; God would do even wicked men good, and doth them good even by this; while he works ſuch conviction upon their heart, by eyeing the mercies and deliverances that he doth give out to his people: God by this he would allure them he would make them to ſtand and wonder, while God not only in word, but in his providence doth proclaim before them, Thus ſhall b… done to the man whom the King delighteth to honour: At leaſt, God doth this out of pitty to men that they might not go on to contemn the Goſpel; God he will give a check for this; and therefore he works glorious deliverances, that he might reſtrain them in the ways of perſecution; and thus doth the Lord pitty his very enemies: he is better to them then they are to themſelves: God he would lay rubs in their way, that they might not go leaping and jumping to Hell: God he will not let wicked men d…ne themſelves as they would, if God ſhould leave them to themſelves: And thus doth the Lord pitty his enemies. A word for Application; And ſo I conclude.
Firſt of all, Here is ground of patience, and incouragement to the Saints in all tribulations, in all adverſities, in the midſt of your greateſt afflictions, in the midſt of all the perſecution you meet with for Chriſts ſake, for his Goſpel ſake; for his truths ſake; though the world caſt ſhame upon you; tim… is a coming that the Lord will roul away reproach, and he will make your very enemies to ſee it, and they that have ſtood looking upon your miſery, with delight they ſhall be forced to look upon your mercy and therefore here is a ground of patience to you in al daverſity & what ever you ſuffer from the world for Chriſts ſake; time is coming that God will make them to condemn themſelves, and to acquit you, they ſhall ſee your mercy, and they ſhall ſay of a truth, God is with his people: 'Tis a ground of great comfort to the Churches of Chriſt in the midſt of all the oppoſition that they meet with, for the keeping of the word of his patience: Oh ſee the promiſe that is made to the Churches, in t… 12. of Zachariah, verſe 5. And the Gouernours of Judah ſhall ſay in …h…ir hearts▪ the Inhabitants of Jeruſalem ſhall be my ſtrength in the Lord of Hoſts their God,
I will put glory upon my people, ſaith God, and I will ma…e their Governours to acknowledge it, and they ſhall ſay, The Inhabitants of Jeruſalem ſhall be my ſtrength; they are the Pillars, they are thoſe that bear up the Land; they are our Chariots, they are our Bulwarks, the Lord Jehozah is with them, they ſhall be my ſtrength.
Secondly, Let it be an Item to the men of the world; Oh take heed how you look with delight upon the miſeries of the Saints, upon the afflictions of the Saints! I tell you, God will not bear with it, he will puniſh you for it: how did God threaten Edom, becauſe he ſtood and looked upon his brother in the day of adverſity; he ſtood in the high-way gazeing upon his brothers miſery, and delighted in it: I tell you, you that laugh at the miſery of the Saints, God he will make you lament and they ſhall not only rejoyce, but they ſhall ſhout for joy; the time is a coming, that he will make you to ſee the mercy, and that he is with them, and deals graciouſly with them;
Thirdly, Let Gods people acknowledge this as a great mercy, that God ſhould work conviction many times in the hearts of the wicked, that he ſhould deal in ſuch a way with them that might convince the hardeſt heart, that God is with his people; I tell you, 'tis a great mercy, 'tis no ordinary mercy; admire God in it, bleſs God for it, that God ſhould thus reprove men, and convince men for your ſakes: The Jews did look upon it as a great mercy, in the 126. Pſalm: When God turned again our Captivity our mouth was filled with laughter and our tongue with ſinging; Then ſaid they among the Heathen, the Lord hath done great things for them. They looked upon it as a great mercy that the Lord ſhould thus convince the Heathen; 'tis a mercy, for they writ it, they pen'd it as a great mercy, worth the ſinging, worth the glorifying of God for: that God ſhould work ſo powerfully upon the hearts of men, and make the Heathen ſay, The Lord hath done great things for them.
In the laſt place, to conclude all.
Doth God make enemies confeſs that he hath done great things for his people? why then the people of God ſhould much more confeſs that the Lord hath done great things for them: if enemies ſay it, you may well ſay it, you have more cauſe to ſay it, that 126. Pſalm, verſe 2. They ſay among the Heathen, the Lord hath done great things for them; and what ſay the people of God? will not they ſay ſo? yes, in the very next words; The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad: ſhall the Heathen ſay it, and ſhall not we ſay it? yes, we are bound to ſay it, and to acknowledge, The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad: Remember, I beſeech you: remember, God cannot endure his mercies ſhould be ſlighted; he loves that you ſhould have great thoughts of him and of his mercies, that you ſhould ſay, he hath done great things: When God works deliverance for you, he will make the very Heathen to ſay ſo, he will make by ſtanders to ſay ſo; and ſhall not we honour him for the mercy, who are the receivers of the mercy? ſhall not we ſay ſo The Lord hath don… great things for us: ſhall Nebuchadn…zzar ſay. The Lord ha…h don… great things for th…m; and ſhall not the three children ſay ſo? yes ſure, they will lift up the name of God in their ſong: And therefore I beſeech you all, you that have received mercy from God, you ſhould aggravate the mercy as much as you can, though not compulſively, you ſhould freely ſay, The Lo…d hath done great things for us; you ſhall find this always hath been the frame of Gods people, to aggravate the mercy, to aggravate the deliverance that God hath wrought for them: See the 40. Pſalm and t…e 5. verſe. Many O Lord my God are thy wonderful works which t…ou haſt done an… thy thoughts which are to us ward they cannot b… reckoned up in order unto the, if I would declare and ſpeak of them, they are more then can be numbered.
See what an aggravation there is of the mercy received, they are many, and they are wonder…ul, and very many, more then can be numbred, they cannot be reckoned up in order: and ſo Ezra, when he and the people received mercies, ſee how they do agg…avate it, how they do acknowledge it, in the 9. Chap. verſe 13. And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great treſpaſs, ſeeing thou …ur God haſt puniſhed us l…ſs th…n our iniquities deſerve, and haſt given us ſuch deliverance as this, ſhould we again break thy Commandme…t? He knows not how to ſpeak it; Oh 'tis a great mercy, he ſtands and wonders at ſuch a deliverance, ſuch a mercy; and ſo aggravate all our mercies, we ſhould ſay with Ezra, ſeeing thou haſt wrought ſuch deliverance, ſuch ſalvation, ſeeing thou haſt wrought in ſuch and ſuch a way; this is a great ingagement to God, when mercies are thus eyed and reviewed, when a man looks into the depth of them, and eye the mercies; ſeeing thou haſt given ſuch deliverance, ſhould we again ſin againſt thee? he looks upon it as an ingagement to ſtand cloſe, ſeeing it was great mercy: And Oh ſo ſhould we in all our mercies, as Ezra ſaith, ſo we ſhould ſay, Seeing thou haſt wrought ſuch deliverance for us, ſhould we again ſin againſt thee: Oh no, let thine mercies be an ingagement us to, to love thee, and ſerve thee, and for ever to cleave to thee.