The Triumph of Mercy in the Chariot of Praise, Treatise · Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII. The Exaltation of the Divine Name for his Munificence; and in particular for Secret Mercies, in the ſtructure of Man and his Preſervation.
DID the Ancient Heathens erect their Hermaea or Statutes of Stone to the honour of Mercury in Memorial of ſome caſual and contingent happineſs;Suidas. and ſhall not we anoint Jacob's Pillar with freſh Oil to the true …nd living God, with whom all contingencies are determinations of Mercy? Gracious Souls delight in his precepts becauſe wonderful,Pſ. 129.129. and admire the Ocean of his benefits becauſe unfathomable. Reverence to his Majeſty is the Mother both of Obedience and Gratitude. We cheerfully obey him, becauſe we love him; and he loves is the more, becauſe we obey him. His love is the free Spring and the munificent Reward of all ſincere ſervices. He excites and enables us to Holineſs, and then crowns us. A genuine Child takes pleaſure in conformity to the Fathers Will, and this Heavenly Father makes them conformable to his Sons Image. He plants the Spices of Lebanon in our Hearts, then breaths by his Spirit,Son. 4.16. walks in his Garden, and eats his pleaſant Fruits. A rare Maſter! that ſtrengthens his Servants to work in his Vineyard, and then leads them into his Joy.Mat. 5.21. There's no mercy but he helps us to improve as a clue to Heaven: No duty but he forms into a Ladder to Glory. Whether we eat or drink, or whatever we do, 1 Cor. 10.31.let's do all to the Glory of God and Chriſt, who died for us; 1 Theſ. 5.10.that whether we wake or ſleep, we ſhould live together with him. Let's ſleep to refreſh our Spirits for ſervice, and when we awake, let's be ſtill with him.Pſ. 139.8. He holdeth our eyes waking to ponder on his Mercies, and watcheth our eyes while ſleeping, to ſerve him with more alacrity. We cannot ſufficiently prize that ſecret Mercy that lodges with us every night within our Curtains.Sleep. How many fiery Feavers doth cool ſleep extinguiſh? From how many deaths does that brother and Image of death deliver us? Thoſe ſilver ſlumbers are golden mercies: How great a favour, that temperate repaſt ſhould ſend up cooling vapours to the brain to tye up our Senſes, while we repoſe our limbs from labour? Nor let us paſs the lovely Fields in Harveſt without remark, when wiſe Nature hath crowned the Wheaten Ridges with numerous heads of Poppies, to miniſter both Food and Phyſick.Wedelius de Plani p. 17. Hook Microgr. p. 155. And whereas one ingenious Phyſician hath obſerved, That the the Salt of humane Skull; ſo another curious Searcher hath delivered, That the Seed of Poppy (which cauſes ſleep) is alſo of an Hexagon, or ſix-corner'd Figure; and it may be its Salt may be yet more curious. As if the Atoms of the Fumes of Poppy were fitted and cized to the Texture and Cells of Mans Noble Capitol. Should we give a glance at the Eye when waking as well as ſleeping, greater wonders would appear in opening its Humours, Coats, Nerves,Seeing. and Muſcles. And yet further contemplate the goodneſs of God in theſe later days in bleſſing the world with thoſe perſpicacious inventions of convex Glaſſes to help and delight our ſight, by Spectacles, Teleſcopes, Microſcopes, and Chamber-Landſcapes. Such exquiſite Glaſſes have ſo been formed & poliſh'd, as ſome have conceived they have had a proſpect beyond the Stars into the glitterings of the Empiraean Heavens, to their raviſhment and amazement, and have been carried as it were into the Seat of the Bleſſed.
Nor leſs marvellous is the contrivance of the great Architect of Nature as to the Sense of hearing.Hearing. With what Artifice are theſe griſtly Portals of the Ears ſet before and round about the inward cavity both for beauty and benefit, that great ſounds may not enter with violence, and be defenſitives againſt immoderate heat and cold? And that muſical Tunes, by the fallacy of its circuit, may be received with the more delightful ſweetneſs: and when entred, what curious Organs are faſhioned within the Drums of the Ear, when the Hammer ſtrikes words, and articulates them upon the Anvile, and ſends its lively Mercurian Meſſengers to the common Senſory? That the Oil of a Snake, that quick-hearing Animal ſhould cure the deafneſs; and thoſe uſeful new inventions of the brazen Otacouſt and the Stentorian Trumpet ſhould be preſented to us by the hand of Providence; the one to admit, the other to convey, voices at a great diſtance?
Neither ſhall I enter the delicious Field of Anatomy in opening the Senſe of Smelling:Smelling. How the little ſpongious Bones, being portions of the Ethmoides, do drink up the moiſture deſcending from the Head, leſt it ſhould be continually dropping from the Noſe; and ſerve likewiſe to fence off duſt and impure mixtures in the Air; that when the mouth is ſhut, it may be purely diſtributed both to the Brain and Lungs. Nor ſhall I treat of the Sieve-like Tablet, or the Mammillary Proceſſes, which being over-moiſt by defluxions or rainy Seaſons, impairs the quickneſs of Sent. Nor may dwell in this Tower of Lebanon, Song 7.4.where that watchful Porter has his Lodge over the mouth to give warning by ſent, that no unwholſome rank or unſavoury Meat may paſs within the door of our Lips; nor intimate further how the quickneſs and acuteneſs of this Sent may be preſerved and increased by the ſmelling of Fragrant Flowers.Arnoldus, de vill. nova, p.
Should we deſcend into the mouth and pry into the Inſtruments of Taſte,Tasting. we might reliſh much of ſecret Mercy in the frame of thoſe Organs. I ſhall mention but a few:Bartholin. p. 365. The Palate has a Coat common to the Gullet and Stomach, whence ariſes a great content between them; that ſo we may preconceive what's delectable and uſeful, or what's offenſive and inconvenient for nouriſhment.Arnold. de vill. nov. f. 86. b. & quod bene ſapit, nutrit. Id. f. 66. a. For it is well obſerved by Arnoldus, Ʋtiliora ſunt quaecun que delect abiliùs recipiuntur, That Food is moſt beneficial which is moſt delectable; if we ſpice his Aphoriſm with a grain of Salt, it's true and ſavory. Again, the Tongue, another Organ of this Senſe, has a thin porous Coat, that ſavours may deſcend into its fleſhy part, which drinks in fumes and vapours from the predominant humours in the body;Riolanus, an Index to the learned Phyſician by its roughneſs, whiteneſs, or blackneſs, of vitious and peccant qualities in time of ſickneſs. And by the way let's remember, that under the Tongue and another member not to be named, Nature hath fram'd a Bridle, to mind us of a memorial reſtraint of walking, feeding, and other carnal inclinations. Beſides the many excellent uſes of this Senſe, we may by ſavors in ſome meaſure diſcern the vertues of vegetables and many concretes both ſimple and compound, to the great pleaſure of the expert Herbariſt and Student in the Mineral Kingdom. And to conclude, as this Senſe is impaired and mortified by the Palſie, and ſome other offenſive Diſeaſes in the Genus nervoſum; ſo it may be quickned by hunger,Arnoldus, p. 16. b. and cured often by Volatile Salts and Spirits.
Let's touch a little upon the Senſe of Feeling,Feeling. whoſe Inſtrument is the Fleſh (not the common,Spigelius, p. 303. ſo called) but that which is ſoft and repleniſh'd with nervous Fibres. This Senſe by the ſeveral Conjugations of the Nerves, and the fine Spirits gliding through them, is diſperſed over the whole Body; and where ever 'tis loſt, the uſe of that Member periſhes. So terrible are thoſe Diſtempers when the Nerves are obſtructed by Viſcous and Tartarous matter in knobs, wens, gouts, and the like; or contracted by ſharp and acid Juices, as in Cramps and Convulſions, and Side-pains or Stitches, or their Tenor relaxed as in Palſies; or the Spirits within aſtoniſh'd and brought to a ſudden ſiſtency without motion, as in Frights and Apoplexies, which often proceed alſo from the inordinate uſe of Tobacco, Coffee, Henbane,-ſeed, Opium, Mandrake, and the like, either in Medicine or by negligent Cuſtomes. So that we have wonderful reaſon to break forth into the praiſes of a Gracious God, that ſo often preſerves from Thouſands of Deaths by his wakeful providence;Act. 17.27. that very Heathens might learn to feel after him, and find out ſome portions of the power and wiſdom of his Deity. To let paſs the Mercurian Medicines, I mean not the ordinary in Shops, but ſuch as Arnoldus, Paracelſus, and Rhumelius magnifie in theſe caſes to the learned in Phyſick; I ſhall only take notice of a rare Experiment of the Honourable Boyle about a blind Dutch-man, Boyle, of Colours. p. 44.named John Vermaaſen, not far from Maeſtricht, who could diſcern ſeven ſeveral Colours by the touch of his Fingers if he were faſting, according to the aſperity or ſmoothneſs of the ſurface of the Ribbands. But by what means to help thoſe Diſtempers that impair and obſtruct this ſo uſeful a Senſe, I diſmiſs to the Learned and Experienced in the Art of Phyſick.
To proceed a little further in the admiration of God in the curious ſecret Frame of Humane Bodies, but particularly the ſtupendious operations of the Bowels, and the other great Wheels that move continually for the fabrick of Chyle, Bloud, and Spirits. Oh what wonderful Cookery and Houſewifery is exerciſed by that noble Viſcus of the Stomach?Tiling. de fermentatione, p. 58. how the Reliques of the laſt Meal growing acid prepares a ferment or leaven for the next, whereby the milky Chyle after the firſt digeſtion is concocted, and from the bowels conveyed in numerous Veins filled with that white Liquor,Perquet. experim. Anatom. 6. and diſperſed through the Meſentery into a Cyſtis or common receptacle, and thence carried up along by the Vertebrae till its poured down into the Heart, the true and genuine officine of the bloud, which a little above it, and before its entrance, in diſſections of Dogs newly kill'd appears half tinctured, as I may compare it to Cream dyed with bruis'd Strawberries. Hence it's communicated to the Lungs and Liver, and other parts of the body, and after by circulation in the Arteries is reduced into a finer crimſon texture. Here I might inſiſt to ſhew how incommodious to the body of Man it is to admit of frequent Phlebotomy; by the loſs of Bloud, Dropſies, Conſumptions, and other formidable Diſeaſes have their Original;Helmont. as the learned Helmont hath obſerved, when upon much evacuation of bloud for the Cure of Pluriſies ſuch dangerous effects have enſued. It is not here a ſeaſon to gather up Arguments from Scripture,Deut. 12. Lev. 3.17, 10, 11, 13.14. Gen. 9.4. ſhewing that the Life of Animals runs in the bloud, or to manifeſt that it is the very Balſam of mans body for the prolongation of life: And therefore with what care and ſedulity the diſcreet Phyſician does uſually order the letting of bloud; what ſign, what vein, what diſtemper,Burgravii Biolich. p. 86. what time of the Diſeaſe, what age of Life, what habit and ſtrength of Spirits, what quantity, what day, what hour, what cordials, what care after it; what observations about Women with Child, how endeavouring to prevent abortion often cauſe it, eſpecially when near their time, as is obſerv'd by Hippocrates. I leave theſe things to be conteſted about between the learned Galeniſt and the experienced Chemiſt.Hippocr. Aph. 30. l. 5. And by an Argument from the Cure of many Diſeaſes by the Spirit and eſſence of humane bloud digeſted and circulated. I might here diſcuſs how ſtudious, and ſollicitous, and wary, the learned in medicine ſhould be to prepare the bloud of a Goat againſt Pluriſies; and of Sal Prunellae, or other Remedies againſt the Quinſie, if poſſible to prevent the emiſſion of humane bloud, ſince it is the Fountain of thoſe rare Spirits that are diſtilled in Natures Alembeck of the Head, to be the Inſtruments of Motion, Senſation, and all vital Actions. There are other great wonders in the curious Fabrick of this crazy Tenement of the Soul, which poſe the moſt equiſite in Anatomy: to determine the uſe of the Spleen whether to ſecern the Melancholy; whether it have a ſecret meatus or paſſage into the Stomach; to conſtitute Helmonts duum virate of life, and what ferment is elaborated by thoſe 400 Arteries ſuppoſed to be in it by that inquirer of Nature: Or the Cyſtis Fellea, to drain choler from the bloud, and convey that Saline compoſt by the ductus biliarius into the Bowels, to carry off the Excrements; which if it be ſtopt and obſtructed, produces that yellow Tincture to the body, and gives denomination to the Yellow Jaundice: The delivery from which Diſeaſe is the ground of theſe Lines of Praiſe to my gracious Creator and Redeemer. Or what a rare Engine of the Cribrum or Sieve of the bloud Nature hath formed in the Kidneys, to ſtop that Liquor and let paſs the Amber Urine by the Ureters into the Bladder; which if it be corroded or eaten through by acid Tunbridge Waters, or other ſharp Saline Humours, procures a mixture of Bloud with Urine, and ſometimes ſo large, that life is endangered; or if it be obſtructed by Gravel and conſiſtent Stones, what acute pains ſucceed woful experience teaches: In which caſe the Aroph Paracelſi, which is a Chymical preparation of the eſſence of Saffron, call'd by them the Aroma or Spice of the Philoſophers, hath wrought efficacious benefits. The laſt and greateſt Wonder in Nature are the Seminal Veſſels, compoſed for the continuation of Mankind; every of which, with their Balſam of Life contained in them, deſerve a double Volume. One to deſcribe their Texture, connexion, and Uſe, with the Remedies to preſerve from, and cure their Incident Diſeaſes: The other full of Hymns to our moſt glorious Creator. But theſe and the like I diſmiſs to Spigelius, Riolanus, de Graef, and others of that Learned Nation; not omitting that Ingenious Tract of our own Country-man Dr. Smith on the 12th of Eccleſiaſtes. Let us cry out with David, I am fearfully and wonderfully made, Opere Phrygionico,Pſ. 139.14. with curious needlework, of the Divine Hand in the lower parts of the Earth. Did we but ſee and ſearch a little into the admirable frame of Mans Body, and upon what ſlender Golden Wiers and nice Labyrinths in thoſe Wonderful Paſſages in the Clock-work of our Bodies the continuation of Life did depend, we ſhould be aſtoniſn'd at God's Mercy; and inſtead of wondering that we live ſo long, might ſtand amaz'd at living but one minute. For if either the Veſſels be diſordered, or the Liquors contained within them, we ſhould ſoon paſs away and be no more.
Nay, if the five External Senſes were every way compleat in their Organs and Spirits;Fernel. de anim. facult. l. 5. c. 3. yet if the inward Craſis of the Brain be touch'd, what becomes of the inward Senſory, which is the Center whereinto all the Rays of External Objects are brought, there to be judged, exerciſed, and acted upon by the Imagination; to be laid up as in a Cell or Promptuary by that great Lord Treaſurer of the Soul, the Memory? Whereof Holy Auſtin cries out with great admiration of God,Auſtin de Confeſ. l. c. 01.17. [Magna iſta vis memoriae, neſcio quid horrendum Deus meus, profunda & infinita multiplicitas! &c.] O the great power of Memory! O my God, I know not what an horrible thing it is! O the profound and infinite variety in it! Behold what walks in the Fields, what lies hid in the Dens and innumerable Caverns of my Memory! &c.
Theſe and other powers and faculties of the Soul, though in themſelves of admirably useful, delightful; yet were it not for the conſtant influx of divine mercy, might ſoon be impaired and decay; that men of the higheſt pitch and grandeur of parts might ſoon ſhrink into muſhromes and ideots, and prove miſerable Objects of ſcorn and pity. But beſides their being ſubject to natural waſte, what he ſaid of death in general may be applyed to any ſenſe or faculty in particular. Mors ſeni à foribus, juveni ab inſidiis; Death ſtands before the door to old Men, but behind the door with Traps and Gins for Youth. This would be very apparent ſhould we enter the Liſts of diſcourſe only about the various Poyſons which lurk in all things for the deſtruction of Man, without the ſecret contrivance of ſuch wicked wretches as Pope Alexander the 6th. I ſhall hint but a few Memorials in reference to the 4 Elements ſo called, with which we daily converſe. Not to mention what pits and delfs lye in ambuſh for the lives of Travellers in the Tinworks of Cornwall, Earth.the Mendip of Somerſet, or the Peak of Darby; what quaking bogs in Ex or Dartmore, and in the Crags of Carmarthen, eſpecially when covered with Snow. But this falling under the conduct of accidental providences, it's more expedient to mention the frequent uſe of Antimony, Quicklime, Vitriol, Sulfur, Steel, Alum, Bolearmenick, Lapis Lazuli, Nitre, &c. appointed for compoſitions in moſt Diſpenſatories; which oftentimes by their unskilful preparations prove deadly poyſon, as might eaſily appear both by reaſon and example: And eſpecially in the uſe of Quickſilver, which although ſublimated into a Mercurius dulcis, and counted ſafe by many, and often proves ſo; yet there want not great examples of its mortal Venom, & that poor Children find by ſad experience. And this is a certain rule of Helmont about all preparations of Mercury, Quamdin reſuſcitari poteſt eſt venenum, nec boni viri remedium; That ſo long as it can be revived again by Art it's Poyſon, and no Medicine for an honeſt Man to uſe: And how eaſie it is to revive Mercurius dulcis, an ordinary Chymiſt can determine. But I ſhall not inſiſt here, nor hint about the Earth, that the very Soyl where Corn grows gives a various Tincture to it, and makes ſome more wholeſome than others; as may be conſidered in reference to Grain produced in Mineral Countries.
Should I amplify about Waters,Water. it might over-flow a Volume. But this Element being truly Terra fluens, Earth in Flux, is impregnated with the various Salts and Sulfurs that it finds in the bellies of thoſe mountains whence diſcharg'd, and in the Chanels of thoſe Champions where it ſports and plays in curious Maeanders and pleaſant Turnings: And therefore according to its differing imbibitions is ſometimes wholſom and often pernicious to humane bodies;Schoockius de cereviſia. Bochart, de animal. par, 1. p. 292. 2 Kin. 2.19. Untzer. p. 967. Willis. Henr. de Rochas. and hence 'tis of great concern in Brewing and all Offices of the Kitchen. For inſtance: The Waters about Jericho were naught, cauſing Women to miſcarry. The Waters among the Alps procure the Kings Evil. The Water of the River Po breeds the Stone. Thoſe at Watford in Northamptonſhire make men bald at 30; and thoſe at Carleton in Leiceſterſhire induce a wharling in the Throat,Veget. de remilit. l. 3. c. 2. Juvenal. ſat. 13. v. 161. and generally the ſtagnant corrupt Waters of Fennes are dangerous by naughty Ferments for the Peſtilence. Such as are taken up at Fountains, are repleniſh'd with the Atoms of that Earth whence they ſpring; and ſuch as are near great Cities are not ſo wholeſome, eſpecially when convey'd home by Leaden Pipes, and landed and kept in Ciſterns of the ſame Metal;Plin. l. 31. c. 7. Vitruv. Lang. Ep. Albert. de Met. l. 3. c. 4. Majer. Symbol. p. 494. as Pliny, Vitruvius, Albertus Magnus, Langius, Majerus, and other of the Learned have obſerv'd, that Griping of the Guts, Bloody Fluxes, and Kings Evil, are tormenting Diſeaſes to ſuch Inhabitants, which I could wiſh were attended by the worthy Citizens of London, my dear native City.
If the Earth and Water miniſter ſo many inconveniencies to the proſperous Health of Man,Air. how can the Air be free which is always fill'd with Vapours and Steams from both? Whence ſome Solutions may ariſe to the queſtions about the various Products of different Winds blowing from the Horizon. Why the Nitre of the North makes the Air ſo bitter, and the Sulfur of the South ſo contagious. Why the Eaſt ſo parching and blaſting, being mixt with mineral Atoms from the Mountains of Germany, Hungary, and Thrace; and in Jewry from the Mine Hills of Arabia; though there may be other latent Cauſes intermixt. Are not ſome places noxious to the Brain by vegetable Fumes, as Arbours of Night ſhade, Walks of Walnut, and Woods of Box? Nay, do not many Animals (where frequent) infect the Air, as Naturaliſts have obſerved, and to name but one for warning ſake?Arnold. It's noted by Arnoldus out of Avenzoar, that the continual uſage of Cats is ſo unwholeſome to the Body of Man, that it often produces the Phthiſick and Conſumption of the Lungs: And ſo do many Learned Phyſicians teſtifie by experience.In Ramſey of Poyſons.
But to haſten;Fire. it may not be unfit to obſerve that the Air may be much impaired as to wholeſomeneſs by the very culinary Fires which we uſe; where ſcarcity of Trees forces many to uſe dryed Cow-dung, Turff, Peat, Seacoal, and Canol inſtead of Wood. The crude Sulfur & Arſenical Fumes that fill the Air of our city, are doubtleſs great cauſes of the multitudes of Conſumptions within thoſe Walls, by drawing ſo conſtantly thoſe corroding Fumes into the Lungs. Not to mention that the very Body may be much moleſted by Itches, and Scabs in ſitting by Seacoal Fires;Arnold. ſiquis, p. 64. b. and the very Meat that's roaſted and Beer warmed by them, is not ſo wholeſome.Bacon, Nat. Hiſt. p. 202. Let the Learned Bacon vouch my fears, who affirms, that the vapors of Seacoal as well as Charcoal in a cloſe Room, hath killed many; and ſtealing in by little and little, induces only faintneſs without any manifeſt ſtrangling. And to this I can atteſt with great thankfulneſs for my deliverance, being forced to ſit in a cloſe Room for a long time in a late Winter, and found evident recovery by change of Fuel. O what cauſe have we to magnifie the Name of God for the ſweet Air we breath in, and to ſweeten it more with the Muſick of our Praiſes; and that all within us ſhould bleſs his Holy Name. That every Weſtern Wind with its freſh and wholeſome Gales ſhould open the Flowers of Thankfulneſs; that every ſenſe and all their Organs? that every Nerve ſhould ſtrive to ſtring the Harp of Praiſe:Pſ. 139.4. not a thought in our Heart, or word in our Mouth, but ſhould be known to him altogether in the Echoings and Reſoundings of his Gloey. That our Spiriturl Senſes ſhould be ever exerciſed in making him their lovely Object,Heb. 5.14. and his Holy Boſom the Center of all their Songs. Shall the Holy Pſalmiſt lead the Quire?
Praiſe him all his Angels and all his Hoſts. Pſ. 148.1.Praiſe him Sun and Moon, with all the Stars of light. The Heaven of Heavens, and the Waters above the Heavens. The Dragons and all Deeps, Fire and Hail, Snow and Vapor, Stormy Wind, fulfilling his Word of command; Mountains and all Hills, Fruitful Trees and all Cedars, Beaſts and all Cattel, creeping Inſects, and flying Fowl; Kings of the Earth and all People, Princes and all Judges, Young Men and Maidens, Old men and Children, Praiſe ye the Name of the Lord, for his Name is alone excellent, his Glory is above Earth and Heaven.
Let every bright Lamp of the Firmament prove a falling Star, and worſhip at his Footſtool. Let the cold Influences of the Moon wax warm with motion in the Chariot of Praiſe upon the mighty Waters. Let the healing Balſam of the Sun, which cheriſhes the ſurface of the Earth & its Inhabitants from Pole to Pole inflame every living Creature with his Glory. Let the Sea roar, and the fulneſs thereof: Let every River waſh the Pavement of his Temple,Ezek. 47.1. and run under the Threſhold of his Sanctuary. Let the ſavage Lions haſten, and the ravenous Eagles fly to his Altar and pant to expire in its Flames. Let all the Spices of India and Arabia perfume the Manſion of his Honour. Let all Minerals, Rocks, and Mountains, pour out ſtreams of Oil to attend his Sacrifice. Let all the Vines of Lebanon, Eſchcol, and Sibmah thirſt to empty their blood-red Liquor for Drink-offerings. Let mighty Aetna, Veſuvius, and Hecla caſt up their flaming Bowels upon his Hearth in Zion, Iſa. 31.9.and turn all his Sacrifices into aſhes. Let his Prieſts be clothed with Salvation, and his Saints ſing aloud for joy, for the Lord reigneth. Let the whole Earth rejoyce, and the multitude of Iſles be glad thereof. Let the Holy Angels anſwer from Heaven with their Silver Trumpets, Glory be to God in the Higheſt, peace upon Earth, and good will to Man; whoſe grand imployment ſhould be to ſtudy, diſcern, and applaud the Infinite Love of God in all his Mercies, which in a few words ſhall cloſe this Period.
1. When we taſte ſome ſweetneſs and reliſh the goodneſs of God in every Mercy; which is that Divine Symploce on David's Harp, or an elegant Complication of two figures, the Anaphora and Epiſtrophe together. O give thanks to the Lord, Pſ. 136.1.for he is good, his Mercy endureth for ever, That as the Name of God in our native Tongue is from good, ſo our Souls ſhould ſpell the nature of his goodneſs, and every paſſage of his Providence.
2. When Mercies return down to us upon the wings of Ejaculations ſent up to Heaven; when enlargements of heart follow ſtraits in prayer: What Divine Benefits ſhine out ſuddenly like Stars in a dark night?
3. Then mercies come in love when they flow in by ſucking at the Breaſt of a Promiſe; for hence we know that God is in covenant with us. For then the Spirit ſeals our intereſt, when he who penn'd the Promiſe writes it in our Heart, when he that breaths them, warms us by them.
4. When we feel ſupporting ſtrength in a dark night, when ready to faint, feel ſudden Cordials, when trouble is nigh and God is nigher: When the Heart fails, and God enlivens.Pſ. 73.26. A Saint may perceive it by the ſuddenneſs, ſweetneſs, ſoul-calming quietneſs of a word within, conſonant to the word without; and encourages a Saint to carry every new Emergency upon the memory of former experience in a Chariot of Love to Heaven. That no ſudden accident knocks at the Door of our Hearts or Houſes, but we as ſuddenly knock at the Gate of Heaven. If any tentation, new motion, or weighty affair ſurprize us at unawares, we inſtantly carry it through the Roof of our Cloſets into Heaven, & then our Spirits are in a holy calm, as gracious Rebekah found it,Gen. 25.22. Prov. 15.24. knowing that the ſudden deſires as well as the ſet Prayers of the Righteous ſhall be granted. And now it's high time to conclude this Chapter with God; its whole Scope being to recount ſome portions of his manifold mercies, and to adore him for all his bounteous beneficence to us; who is the only firſt Spring, and principal Mover and Conducter of all the Kindneſſes we receive from Men, being his Inſtruments, Servants, and Ordinances.