Religion Our True Interest, Chapter 14
CHAP. XIV. Shewing the second Good Effect of the Saints Piety,
2. THE Second Good effect of the Saints Piety, was, God recorded it. A Book of Remembrance was written before him: The word in the Original for Book of Remembrance *foreign.Signifies a Book of Memorials or Monuments. The words immediately foregoing recite Gods hearkening and hearing; but lest any should say, though God doth at the present hear the Holy Speeches and Thoughts of his Children, yet may they not in time slip out of his Mind? therefore these words are added, a Book of Remembrance was written before him. The Lord did not only hear the Good speeches of the Saints, but Recorded them, and Wrote them down; a Book of Remembrance was written. This is spoken foreign after the manner of men. Not that God hath any book of Records by him, he needs not write down any thing for the help of his Memory, he is not Subject to oblivion. Things done a thousand years ago are as fresh to him, as if they were done but Yesterday, Psalm. 90.4. A thousand years in thy sight are but as Yesterday when it is past. This book of Remembrance therefore, is a borrowed speech, taken from Kings, who have their Chronicles wherein they note Memorable things *Metaphora a regibus sumpta qui habent annales in quibus memoranda annotant. Grotius.. King Ahasuerus had his book of Records, wherein were written the worthy deeds of Mordecai, Esther 6.1, 2. So God bears in Mind all the Good speeches and pious actions of his Children. Gods curious and Critical observation is a Book of Records, where nothing can be lost or torn out.
God doth Eternally remember all the Good designs,Doct. and Pious endeavours of his People, Heb. 6.10. God is not unrighteous to forget your Work and labour of love, which you have shewed towards his Name. Eight things God writes down in his Book of Remembrance.
1. The Lord writes down the Names of his Saints, Philip. 4.3. Whose Names are in the Book of Life. This Book hath no Errata's, Rev. 3.5.
2. The Lord writes down the good speeches of his People. When Christians speak together of the Mysteries of Heaven (which is like Musick in consort) God is much taken with it: When their Tongues are going, Gods pen is going in Heaven. They that fear'd the Lord spake often one to another, and a Book of Remembrance was written.
3. The Lord writes down the Tears of his People. Tears drop down to the Earth, but they reach Heaven *Deorsum cadunt, fursum volant.: God hath his Bottle and his Book, Psalm 56.8. Put thou my Tears into thy bottle, are they not in thy Book? Tears drop from the Saints, as Water from the Roses: they are fragrant to God, and he puts them in his Bottle. And besides this, he hath his Book of Remembrance, where he sets them down; are they not in thy Book? Especially God writes down such Tears as are shed for the sins of the times, Ezek. 9.2. One was clothed with linnen; with a writers Inkhorn by his side: this was to write down the Tears of the Mourners, and to set a mark upon the foreheads of them that sighed for the Abominations done in the midst of the City, ver. 4.
4. God writes down the Thoughts of his People. We can write down mens Words, but we cannot write down their Thoughts. It would pose the Angels to write mens Thoughts: but be assured, never an Holy cogitation comes into our Mind, but God writes it down. So in the Text, a Book of Remembrance was written for them that Thought upon his Name. Two things are silent, yet have a Voice, Tears *Psal. 6.8., and Thoughts †Isa. 66.18..
5. God writes down the desires of his People, Psalm. 38 9. All my desire is before thee: That is, it is set down in thy book. Desire is the Spiritual Appetite, or the Souls Anhelation and breathing after God, Psalm 84.2. In this Life we do rather desire God than enjoy him. Can we say we take our Souls è Corporis Pharetra out of the quiver of our Bodies, and shoot them into Heaven? do our Affections sally forth towards Christ? do we desire him superlatively and uncessantly? Every such desire is put down in Gods Register Book: all my desire is before thee.
6. The Lord writes down the prayers of his People, Ionah 2.7. Prayer, though it be not Vocal, only Mental, is Recorded, 1 Sam. 1.13. Hannah spake in her Heart. That prayer God did write down and Answer; God was better to her than her prayer; she prayed for a Son, and God gave her a Prophet. When the heart is so full of grief, that it can only groan in Prayer; yet a Groan is sometimes the best part of a Prayer, and God writes it down, Psalm 38.9. Lord, my Groaning is not hid from thee. If we cannot speak with elegancy in Prayer, if it be only lisping and chattering, God puts it in his Book of Remembrance, Isa. 38.14. Like a Crane, so did I chatter: yet that prayer was heard and registred, Ver. 5. I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy Tears.
7. God writes down the Alms of his People. Works of Mercy must be done out of Love to God: as Mary out of love brought her Ointments and sweet Spices and anointed Christs dead body: so out of pure love we must bring our Ointments of Charity to anoint the Saints, which are Christs living body, Such Alms are not lost *Opera eleemosynaria non pereunt sed parturiunt.. Heb. 13.16. With such Sacrifices God is well pleased. And that we may see how well the Lord is pleased with them, he hath a Book of Remembrance for them, he writes them down. Item, so much lent to the Lord, Acts 10.4. Cornelius, thine Alms are come up for a memorial before God.
8. God hath a Book of Remembrance for the Sufferings of his People. The Saints Purgatory is in this life. But there are two things may bear up their Spirits. 1. Every Groan of theirs goes to Gods Heart, Exod. 6.7. I have heard the Groanings of the Children of Israel. In Musick when one string is touch'd, all the rest sound: when the Saints are stricken Gods bowels sound. 2. God hath a Book of Records to write down his Peoples injuries. The wicked make wounds in the backs of the Righteous, and then pour in Vinegar: God writes down their Cruelty. 1 Sam. 15.2. I Remember what Amalek did to Israel. Amalek was Esaus GrandchildGen. 56.21.. A bitter enemy of Israel. The Amalekites shewed their Spight to Israel two wayes. 1. They did lye in ambush; and as Israel passed by, fell upon their rear, and cut off the feeble in their army, 1 Sam. 15.2.
2. They did openly give Battel to them, and would have hindred them from going into Canaan, Exod. 17.8. Now God took Notice of Israels sufferings by Amalek. I Remember …hat Amalek did to Israel, I have my Book of Remembrance, I write it down, Ver. 3. Go and smite Amalek.