Saints Memorials, Part 1
Mr. EDMVND CALAMY HIS EXHORTATIONS TO The Service of the Lord.
SUch are the minds of most men, whom either the cares of this world hath distracted, or the false pleasures thereof deluded, that the meditations of Heaven are far from them; and they rarely think of those dangers that attend them, or what damage they are like to suffer by despising, or slighting those pretious Opportunities that might lead to their Salvation; to whom our Saviours saying, when speaking to Martha, may be well applied: Ye are troubled with many things, but one thing is necessary. Oh that men would consider this Vnum necessarium, that they might shun and forsake the immoderate trifles of a Transitory world; and that they would e're the time be far spent, find out those paths that will lead them to their Souls rest: which Lesson is taught them in the Holy Scriptures; and not onelyonly there, but by a Heathen,Cicero who said, Tempus est de illa perpetua Iam, non de hac exigua vita cogitare. It is now high time, not to think of this Life, but of Life Eternal. In this present world we can study how to provide for our Temporal Estates, contriving a settlement for our maintenance and preservation; and shall we be so stupid as to neglect the Eternal happiness of our Souls in that other world, Where there are pleasures for evermore? To do which, we should begin betimes; we should like wise builders lay a good Foundation, and seek the Lord while he may be found. Esa. 55.6.We should day and night meditate upon the Lord. We should love, honour, obey him, and devote our selves wholly to his service.
And this our duty bindes us to, for these respects.
For the excellence of his Divine perfection.
Being defective not in any thing.
He is perfect in Knowledge.Job 37.16.11.17.
He is past finding out.
Be perfect, as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.Mat. 5.48.
And although no Heart can comprehend, or Tongue fully can express this perfection, yet we may esteem it by his Attributes, of some whereof take this following account.
It appears how admirable it is, Augustine.since no Tongue can express it, nor any Heart conceive it.
The Transcendencie of the God-head exceeds not onelyonly the usual strength of Eloquence, but of Understanding likewise.
He is Absolute.
He is all Eye, and seeth All things.
Tetful.He is all Ear, and heareth All things.
He is all Hand, and worketh All things.
He is Infinite.
Psal. 139.6.Whither (saith the Psalmist) shall I go from thy presence?
Jer. 23.24.Do not I fill Heaven and Earth, saith the Lord?
He is Immortal.
Deut. 31.4.I live for ever.
He only hath Immortality.
1 Tim. 6.8.Solus Deus est Immortalis, quia non est per Gratiam,Hier. sed per Naturam.
God alone is Immortal, being so by Nature, not by Grace.
He is Eternal.
Without beginning.
Psal. 90.2.Thou art God from everlasting.
Without end.
102.27.Thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.
Dan 7.13.He is called the Ancient of days.
He is Immutable.
God is not to be changed.
1. In his Nature.
Thou shalt endure.Psal. 102.26.
I am the Lord, I change not.
Every good and perfect gift cometh from the Father of Lights, Mal. 3.6. Jam. 1.17.with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of changing.
2. In his promises and decrees.
The Counsel of the Lord shall stand.Prov. 19.21.
My Counsel shall stand.Esa. 46.10. Tit. 1.2.
God hath promised, who cannot lie.
He is Wise.
Nothing is hid from him.
The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man.Psal 94.11.
His Wisdom is Infinite.147.5.
Loe thou knowest all things.Job 21.17. Rom. 11.33.
O the depth of the riches both of the Wisdom and Knowledge of God!
He is Holy.
In him is no Iniquity.
Who is like unto thee, O Lord, Glorious in Holiness?Exod. 15▪ 11.
1 Sam. 2.2.None Holy as the Lord.
He is True.
1. In himself.
Whatsoever is in him is Truth.
It is Life Eternal to know thee the true God.Joh. 17.3.
Rom. 3.4.Let God be true, and every man a Lyar.
2. In his works.
Dan 9.14.Righteous in all his works.
3. In his words.
Psal. 12.7.117.2.The Words of the Lord are pure.
The Truth of the Lord endureth for ever.
Good.
Absolutely.
Without the help of any.
1. In himself.
Mat. 19.17.There is none good but God.
2. He is the Author of all Good to others.
Every good and perfect gift cometh from the Father of Lights.
Psal. 33.5.The Earth is full of his goodness.
He is Glorious.
Exod. 16.7.Ye shall see the Glory of the Lord.
The sight of his Glory was like consuming fire.Exod. 24.17.
The whole earth is full of his Glory.Esa. 6.3.
His Glory is above the Heavens.Psal. 113.4.
He is Powerful.
I am the Almighty God, Gen. 17.1.saith the Lord.
In the Creation of the World.
In the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth.Gen. 1.1.
The Heavens are beautified with Stars.
The Earth is spacious and splendid, plentifully stored with its Fruits, Beasts of the field, and Fowls of the Air.
The Sea abounds with variety of Fish, for the use of man.
And all were made of nothing, Psal. 33.6.but by his word.
1. Wherefore Rejoyce in the Lord, O ye righteous, Psal. 33.for praise is comely for the upright.
2. Praise the Lord with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery, and an instrument of ten strings.
3. Sing unto him a new song, play skilfully with a loud voice.
4. For the word of the Lord is right: and all his works are done in truth.
5. He loveth righteousness and judgement: the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
6. By the word of the Lord were the heavens made: and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in store-houses.
8. Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.