Lectures Upon Hosea 1-4, Lectures 2 · Part 14
ANd ſo much concerning the ſecond benefit, which is the conſolation of Gods Spirit. Now in the third place he promiſeth that hee will not onelyonly be reconciled vntounto her, receiuing her into his louelove and fauour, and giuing vntounto her the inward comfort and peace of conſcience, but that he will alſo giuegive further aſſurance of his fauour and her reconciliation, by multiplying his temporall benefits vponupon her, the which ſhall not only in their owne vſe be comfortable, but much more in reſpect that they are offered by God, and receiued by the Church, as pledges of Gods eternall louelove, and earneſt-penies of her heauenly happineſſe in Gods kingdome; with all which ſhe ſhall be ſo repleniſhed with ioy and true thankfulneſſe, that ſhe ſhall with all cheerefulneſſe ſing the praiſes of God, the author of all her welfare and felicitie. All which is contained, verſ. 15. in theſe words: And I Verſ. 15 will giuegive her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for the doore of hope, and ſhe ſhall ſing there as in the daies of her youth, and as in the day when ſhe came out of the land of Egypt. In which words is contained, firſt a benefit which God promiſeth The expoſition.to the Church: and ſecondly the Churches thankfulneſſe, which ſhe returneth vntounto God for it. In the benefit promiſed is ſet down: firſt, the benefit it ſelfe: ſecondly, the time when God beſtoweth it: and thirdly, the end why it is giuen and receiued. The benefit it ſelfe is expreſſed in theſe words, I will giuegive her her vineyards, and the valley of Achor. Where the, Lord oppoſeth his benefits here promiſed to the puniſhments before denounted, verſ. 12. for there he threatneth to take away her vines and figge trees, and here he promiſeth to reſtore them againe, and that with aduantage, as is ſignified by the change of the word: for there hee threatneth to take away her vines, and here he promiſeth to giuegive her vineyards, which conſiſt of manie vines; the which alſo is expreſſed in the plurall number, to intimate their multitude and abundance.
Now vnderunder this one kind ſynecdochically are to be vnderſtood all other corporall benefits, of which before hee had threatned to ſtrip them, and all other of like nature, as before I hauehave ſhewed: and much more by theſe types and ſhadowes we are allegorically to vnderſtand Gods ſpirituall gifts and graces, which vnderunder them are vſually ſignified, the Lord applying himſelfe to the rudeneſſe & ignorance of the Church in the time of her infancie, who could not conceiue of Gods ſpirituall benefits, vnleſſe they were after a palpable manner deſcribed and ſhadowed vntounto them.
And amongſt many particulars hee eſpecially promiſeth vineyards, the better to expreſſe Gods large bountie and the Churches great plentie: for bread and foode are neceſſarie for the preſeruation of life, but wine aboundeth, the vſe whereof ſeruing not only for ſuſtentation, but alſo for comfort and delight; as the Pſalmiſt ſheweth, Pſal. 104. 14. 15. there he ſaith, that God giueth hearbes and bread for the vſe Pſal. 104. 14. 15of man▪ and wine to make glad his heart. Whereas therefore he promiſeth to giuegive them vineyards, the meaning is, that hee would meaſure out his benefits with a large and plentifull hand, ſo as they ſhould hauehave abundance, and that not only for the relieuing their neceſſitie, but alſo for delight and comfort.
He ſaith further, that he will giuegive her the valley of Achor. Where he ſtill continueth the former Allegorie, alluding to the deliuerance of the people of Iſrael out of Egypt, who after that they had been tried a long time in the wilderneſſe, they were at laſt brought into the borders of Canaan, and ouercame the citie Iericho, where Achan ſtealing the excommunicate thing, was by Ioſua and the people brought into a valley neere adioyning, where he and his familie were ſtoned; which valley afterwards Ioſua named the valley of Achor, becauſe the people of Iſrael being ouerthrowne by the men of Ai, were exceedingly troubled, ſo that their harts melted like water, as appeareth, Ioſ. 7. 5. the which reaſon of Ioſ. 7. 5. 25. 26.the name, Ioſua himſelfe giueth, verſ. 25. 26. as it alſo ſignifieth, being deriued from foreign, turbauit.
But howſoeuer this valley of Achor, was to the people of Iſrael for a time a valley of trouble, yet afterwards it was vntounto them a place of great ioy and comfort, both becauſe they obtained victorie againſt their enemies, the men of foreign, and alſo becauſe they enioyed this valley, which was exceeding fertill and fruitfull, eſpecially of vines and fruitfull trees.
Wheras then the Lord promiſeth to giuegive vntounto his Church the valley of Achor, the meaning is, that as the people of Iſrael, after they had wandered in the wilderneſſe 40. years, deſtitute of corne, wine, oyle, and all other benefits, ſauing thoſe which the Lord miraculouſly beſtowed; and in this reſpect, howſoeuer they were preſerued by God, yet had they ſtil the image of death before them, and after they had been tried, and humbled by many afflictions, were in Gods appointed time brought into the confines of the land of Canaan, the countrie of Iericho, and the valley of Achor, where they enioyed all theſe bleſſings with great comfort and contentation; ſo that in reſpect of the great and ſudden alteration they ſeemed newly tranſported from death to life: So the Church in the time of the Goſpell, after ſhe is reconciled vntounto God, and hath paſſed thorow a wilderneſſe of affliction, for her triall and humiliation, is not only ſuſtained in the middeſt of all her troubles, with the inward comfort of Gods Spirit, but alſo is further aſſured of Gods louelove, by the outward teſtimonie of his manifold benefits, wherewith ſhe is repleniſhed with ſuch ioy and conſolation, that ſhee ſeemeth vntounto her ſelfe reſtored from the death of ſorrow and miſerie, to the life of comfort and happines.
But yet whileſt ſhe remaineth in the valley of Achor, and but in the borders of the heauenly Canaan; howſoeuer ſhee hath great cauſe of ioy and contentment, in regard of the manifold benefits which God beſtoweth vponupon her, yet is her ioy often intermixed with ſorrow and trouble, through that curſed Achan the fleſh, which eagerly coueting the pleaſures of ſinne, and the golden baites of wickednes, is thereby allured to ſinne, and to prouoke Gods wrath, by ſeaſing vponupon vnlawfull pleaſures and profits accurſed by God: by which inward rebell ſhee is betrayed vntounto her outward enemies, thoſe curſed Cananites, the world and the diuell, ſo that for a time they preuaile againſt her. But yet in the end ſhe hath an happie iſſue out of all her afflictions: for as when Achan was ſtoned, Iſrael hauing hereby appeaſed Gods wrath, obtained a famous victory againſt the men of Ai, ſo when the fleſh is mortified which betrayed vsus, we obtaine a glorious victorie ouer the world and the diuell, and ſo enter into a full poſſeſſion of the heauenly Canaan.
And thus appeareth the great ſimilitude, which is betweene the paſſage of the children of Iſrael out of Egypt, into the land of promiſe, and our paſſage out of the ſpirituall Egypt, the kingdome of ſinne and Satan, into the heauenly Canaan, the true countrie and inheritance of all the Saints, which moued the Lord allegorically to allude vntounto it in this place, as alſo Eſay 65. 10.Eſay 65. 10.
And this is the benefit here promiſed. The ſecond thing ſpecified, is the time when the Lord would beſtow it, in this phraſe, from thence, which in the Scriptures is ſometimes referred to the time, and ſometime to the place, and accordingly here it is diuerſly interpreted, by ſome, of the place, referring it to the deſert; namely, that as ſoone as they came out of the wilderneſſe of affliction, they ſhould enter into this valley of pleaſure: by others, of the time, vnderſtanding it thus; from thence forward, or as ſoone as I hauehave brought her thorow the wilderneſſe, and hauehave repleniſhed her with the inward comfort of my Spirit, I will giuegive her a reall aſſurance of my louelove, and not only ſpeake comfortablie vntounto her heart, by my word and Spirit, but alſo in effect and deed, aſſure her further of my louelove and fauour, by multiplying vponupon her my mercies and manifold benefits. The which interpretation is not much different from the other, but the rather to be embraced, becauſe it hath better dependancie with the former benefit: for as ſoone as the Lord hath inwardly comforted his people by his word and Spirit, then preſently hee giueth them a true ſenſe of his louelove and fauour, by beſtowing vponupon them innumerable benefits, ſpirituall and temporall.
The third thing heere expreſſed, is the end why God giueth, and the Church receiueth theſe his gifts and graces, not onelyonly that ſhee may hauehave by them ioy and comfort in their preſent vſe, but that they may ſerue as pledges and earneſt penies, to confirme their hope and aſſurance of the poſſeſſion of eternall happines, the which is ſignified by this phraſe, For the doore of hope. For that is ſaid to be the doore of hope, which giueth entrance vntounto hope, by offering ſome aſſurance that we ſhall obtaine the thing hoped for. As therefore the Lord gaue to the people of Iſrael the valley of Achor, that it ſhould be vntounto them a doore of hope, becauſe the poſſeſſion of the borders was a pledge vntounto them, that they ſhould enioy the whole land of promiſe: ſo the manifold benefits which the Lord beſtoweth vponupon the faithfull, whileſt they be in the borders of Canaan, the Church militant, are vntounto them a doore of hope, being aſſured pledges, that after we hauehave a while fought with our ſpirituall enemies, wee ſhall hauehave full poſſeſſion of the heauenly Canaan, and the new Ieruſalem.
And theſe are the benefits which are here allegorically promiſed. Now the reaſon why the Lord ſpeaking of the ſpirituall deliuerance and happines of his people, alludeth to their temporall deliuerance out of Egypt, and entrance into the land of Canaan; was firſt, that hereby he might ſtrengthen their faith in the full aſſurance of his promiſes, ſeeing they had alreadie experience of his truth, power, mercy, and goodnes in their former deliuerance, when as the grieuous ſins, and great vnworthines of their forefathers, could not moue him to change his purpoſe, nor fruſtrate his word, becauſe his couenant was grounded, not vponupon their deſerts, but vponupon his owne vndeſerued louelove, and meere good will. And ſecondly, in promiſing new benefits, he doth by this alluſion put them in minde of the old, that by the remembrance of theſe, and hope of the other, they might be moued to true thankfulnes and obedience.
The ſecond thing to bee conſidered in this verſe, is the Churches ioy and thankfulneſſe, in the preſent fruition of Gods gifts, and future hope of greater benefits, ſignified in theſe words, And ſhe ſhal ſing there as in the daies of her youth, and as in the day when as ſhe came vp out of the land of Egypt. In which words is expreſſed the Churches ioy and thankfulnes, together with the place or time thereof; their ioy and thankfulnes is ſignified by their ſinging of praiſes vntounto God, the author of all theſe benefits, which continuing in the former allegorie and alluſion, he compareth to that reioycing, and praiſing God, which the Iſraelites vſed after their deliuerance out of Egypt, when as they ſaw Pharaoh and his armie drowned in the red ſea, of which we may reade, Exod. 15. vnderunder which ſpeciall we are generally to vnderſtand all Exod. 15.their reioycing and ſongs of praiſes, for all Gods benefits, eſpecially when they were in the valley of Achor, and had entred into the poſſeſſion of the land of promiſe.
Whereas then he ſaith, that ſhe ſhall ſing as in the daies of her youth and childhood: we are hereby to vnderſtand the time of her comming out of the Egyptian ſeruitude, which is fitly compared to the birth and infancie of the Church, as before I hauehave ſhewed in verſ. 3. and therefore the words following are added, exegetic…s, by way of expoſition plainly expreſſing what is meant by the time of her childhood, namely, the day when ſhe aſcended out of the land of Egypt.
The meaning therfore of theſe words is this, yt as the people of Iſrael after their deliuerance out of the Egyptian bondage, and after that they enioyed Gods manifold bleſſings in the valley of Achor, did reioyce before the Lord, and expreſſed their ioy by ſinging his praiſes: ſo the true Iſrael of God, in the time of the Goſpell, after they are deliuered out of the ſpirituall bondage of ſin and Satan, and are made partakers of all Gods manifold bleſſings, both ſpirituall and temporall, being filled, not onelyonly with ioy, but alſo with thankfulnes, hauing nothing elſe to returne to the Lord for all his benefits, they burſt foorth into praiſes and thankſgiuings.
The time or place when the Church ſhall performe this dutie, is expreſſed in this word, there: whereby is ſignified, that they ſhall thus reioyce and praiſe God in the valley of Achor, whileſt they were in the vineyards, which God had giuen them. Where hee alludeth to the cuſtome of grape-gathers in ancient time, who whileſt they gathered their grapes and trode in the Wine-preſſe, ſang praiſes vntounto God; vntounto which cuſtome the Prophet alludeth, Eſa. 16. 10. wherby Eſa. 16. 10.is ſignified, that great ſhould be the Churches alacritie in praiſing God, ſo as ſhe ſhould not defer this dutie, or ſlothfully goe about it, but euen in the fruition of Gods benefits ſhe ſhall be ſo filled with ioy and comfort, that not being able to containe her ſelfe, ſhe ſhall preſently burſt foorth into his praiſes; and that not after a vulgar manner, as thoſe who hauehave receiued ordinarie benefits, but like vntounto thoſe who are raiſed from death to life, from ſorrow and miſerie to all ioy and happineſſe.
And ſo much for the meaning of the words. The doctrines The Do∣ctrines. hence to be obſerued are theſe. Firſt, here wee learne, that after the Lord hath allured vsus and ſpoken vntounto our hearts by We muſt labour after true conuerſion, if we would enioy Gods benefits.his word and Spirit, that is, after that he hath conuerted and brought vsus to repentance, and giuen vntounto vsus inward comfort, peace of conſcience, and ioy in the holy Ghoſt, then doth hee giuegive vntounto vsus further aſſurance of his louelove, and our reconciliation, by multiplying vponupon vsus not only corporall but alſo ſpirituall benefits.
Whence we learne, firſt, that if wee deſire to be made partakers of Gods temporall benefits, we doe aboue all things labour after true conuerſion, and to feele the kingdome of Ieſus Chriſt erected in our hearts, and the inward ioy and comfort of Gods Spirit, and then will the Lord alſo giuegive vsus vineyards and the valley of Achor, that is, abundance of his benefits, not only ſufficient for our neceſſarie ſuſtenance, but alſo for our honeſt delight: according to that, Matth. 6. 33. Matth. 6. 33.Yea but the faithfull ſometimes want theſe things. I anſwer, if the Lord withdraw temporall benefits, in ſtead of them he beſtoweth more excellent gifts, euen his ſpirituall graces, faith, hope, patience, &c. as appeareth in the example of Iob. And though they hauehave no ſuperfluitie, yet they hauehave ſufficiencie, which they enioy with great comfort and contentation: for either the Lord fitteth their ſtate to their mindes, or their mindes to their ſtate; as appeareth in the example of the people of God, fed daily with Manna, and water ſpringing out of the rocke, of Elias fed with Rauens, of the poore widow ſuſtained by her cruiſe of oyle and handfull of meale. Yea and how little ſoeuer the faithfull hauehave, yet are they better prouided for then the wicked in the middeſt of all their abundance: for this may faile, bee ſpent, or taken away, but Gods prouidence will neuer faile in prouiding for his, neither will the fountaine of his bountie bee euer drie, although it doe not at all times flow alike plentifully and with a full ſtreame: Pſal. 37. 16. 17.Pſal. 37. 16. 17 Our graces no cauſe of our conuerſiō.
Againe, whereas vnderunder theſe vineyards and valley of Achor, are promiſed not only corporall benefits, but alſo ſpiritual graces; hence we learne, that we are firſt allured and conuerted before theſe gifts of Gods Spirit are beſtowed vponupon vsus; and therefore our inward graces and vertues are no cauſes mouing the Lord to conuert and call vsus, but effects of our vocation; neither doth the Lord allure and call vsus becauſe we are furniſhed with theſe graces, but he therefore furniſheth vsus with them, becauſe he hath called vsus: Rom. 8. 30.Rom 8. 30.
And laſtly, from hence we learne, not to expect full aſſurance of Gods louelove and our reconciliation all at once, but Full aſſurance of Gods louelove not to be expected all at once.by one degree after another: for firſt God allureth vsus, and then ſpeaketh comfortably vntounto vsus by his word and Spirit, aſſuring vsus that wee are his children, the which aſſurance is more and more confirmed when he giueth vntounto vsus the portion of his children his ſpirituall graces and temporall benefits.
Secondly, we may here obſerue, that howſoeuer the Lord God mingleth benefits with croſſes.giueth vntounto the faithfull plentie of vineyards, & the valley of Achor, that is, innumerable benefits both ſpirituall and temporall, yet not without the mixture of many croſſes and calamities. For as long as wee are in this life, our proſperitie is mingled with affliction, our ioy with ſorrow; and ſo long as we are but in the borders of our heauenly Canaan, this valley of pleaſure ſhall be vntounto vsus alſo Achor, that is, the valley of trouble; partly in regard of our treacherous fleſh, which being allured with vnlawfull pleaſures and profits doth moue vsus to offend God, whereby we are hindred in our iourney towards our heauenly countrie; and wanting the feeling of our aſſurance of attaining to our eternall reſt, wee are turmoyled with feare and doubting, and afflicted with much ſorrow and heauineſſe of ſpirit: and partly in reſpect of thoſe cruell aſſaults which the curſed Cananites, the world and the diuell make againſt vsus, wherewith we are ſometimes foiled, and alwaies troubled. But yet wee are not hereby to be diſcouraged, for the Lord will giuegive a good iſſue to all our trials, and in the end will grant vntounto vsus a glorious victorie ouer all our enemies; and changing this valley of trouble into a valley of triumph, will ſo bring vsus into full poſſeſſion of our heauenly Canaan, where wee ſhall obtaine comfort, without mixture of affliction, ioy without ſorrow, and eternall reſt from the aſſaults of all our enemies.
When as then wee are in any affliction, let vsus remember, that though the Lord for a time ſeeme to frowne vponupon vsus, yet in the end he will turne vntounto vsus his gratious countenance, and whileſt wee are in the confines of Gods kingdome the Church militant, let vsus patiently beare our croſſe, remembring that ere long wee ſhall hauehave full poſſeſſion of our heauenly Canaan, where we ſhall enioy a perpetuall reſt from all troubles, and be fully repleniſhed with all ioy and happineſſe.
Thirdly, we here learne, that the Lord beſtoweth his temporall Gods temporall benefits are to ye faithful earneſt penies of thoſe which are eternall.benefits corporall and ſpiritual, vponupon the faithfull, not only for their preſent vſe and comfort, but alſo for the confirming and increaſing of their faith and hope, in the aſſurance of farre more excellent gifts, euen the vnualuable treaſures of his eternall kingdome; for hee giueth the valley of Achor for the doore of hope, that is, the benefits of this life, that they may be pledges and earneſt penies, to aſſure vsus of all his benefits belonging to the life to come. The which as it may be vnderſtood of all Gods gifts beſtowed vponupon the faithfull, ſo eſpecially of the inward graces of Gods ſanctifying Spirit, namely, charitie, zeale, patience, humilitie, louelove to the Goſpell, ſanctification of life, and the reſt: ſo that whoſoeuer finde themſelues indued therewith, they may be aſſured that they hauehave ſo many pledges and earneſt penies of their eternall happineſſe, and that it is not poſſible that their hope ſhould become void and fruſtrate, which the Lord hath confirmed with ſo many ſeales. The conſideration whereof ſhould make vsus to labour aboue all things for theſe ſpiritual gifts and graces, whereby this doore of hope may be opened vntounto vsus, and wee confirmed in the aſſurance of our election and ſaluation: vntounto which dutie the Apoſtle exhorteth vsus, 2. Pet. 1. 10. eſpecially let vsus by all meanes ſeeke to obtaine 2. Pet. 1. 10.the gift of Gods Spirit, which giueth vntounto vsus an aſſured teſtimonie that wee are his children and heires of eternall life, Rom. 8. 16. 17. ſealeth vp this aſſurance in our harts and conſciences, Rom. 8. 16. 17. Eph. 1. 13.Eph. 1. 13. and alſo is the pledge and earneſt penie of our heauenly inheritance, 2. Cor. 1. 22.2. Cor. 1. 22. We muſt meditate vponupon Gods bleſſings new and old, to increaſe our thankfulnes.
Fourthly, whereas the Lord making new promiſes, doth ſhadow them out vnderunder the allegorie of ancient benefits, to the end that our aſſurance of future bleſſings, by experience of his former goodneſſe and truth, may be ratified and confirmed, and that in remembrance of paſted benefits, in the fruition of his preſent bleſſings, and in aſſured hope of his future goodneſſe wee may be ſtirred vp to true thankfulneſſe and obedience: let vsus learne hereby, ſeeing we ſtand in need of all theſe helpes, to make this profitable vſe of them, that is, firſt let vsus call to minde Gods mercies of old, of which our ſelues hauehave had experience, as alſo his goodneſſe, truth, and power, which he hath ſhewed towards others, in preſeruing, ſuſtaining and defending them, and ſo ſhall we with greater affiance and confidence depend vponupon his neuer failing promiſes, and all ruling prouidence in the middeſt of all extremities. And ſecondly, let vsus not only thinke vponupon thoſe benefits, which we preſently enioy, but let them ſerue alſo to call to our remembrance Gods former goodnes towards vsus, as alſo thoſe more excellent bleſſings and rich treaſures of his heauenly kingdome, wherof all theſe are but pledges and earneſt penies, that ſo this threefold cable of Gods gratious benefits, being as it were twiſted together in our memories, may more ſtrongly draw vsus to true thankfulnes and obedience, and that this infinite flame of his louelove towards vsus, may at leaſt kindle in our hearts ſome ſparks of louelove towards him againe.
And theſe are the doctrines to be obſerued out of the benefits Whoſoeuer hauehave part in ſpirituall bleſſings, are filled alſo with ioy, gladneſſe and thankfulneſſe.here promiſed. Now out of the Churches dutie, wee may further obſerue, that whoſoeuer are made partakers of the former benefits, they are alſo hereby filled with ioy and gladnes, the which they expreſſe by ſinging Gods praiſes, not only with the voice, but alſo with the heart, and by glorifying Gods name, not only with verball thankfulnes, but alſo with the fruits of holy obedience, in the whole courſe of their liues: for as certainly as God promiſeth our reconciliation, conuerſion, and all other his benefits; ſo doth hee likewiſe promiſe, that thoſe that are poſſeſſed of them, ſhall laud and magnifie his name. And therefore whoſoeuer hauehave not this inward ioy & gladnes in their harts, nor expreſſe the ſame by lauding and magnifying Gods name, it is certaine they hauehave no true taſte of Gods ſpirituall benefits. For this inward fire of ioy and thankfulnes will not be ſmothered in the heart, but the flame thereof wil burſt out into praiſes and thankſgiuing. Now becauſe eueryevery one may ſay, that he is filled with inward ioy, and may faine and ſtraine out a verball thankfulnes, therefore we muſt labour to approue them by our outward actions, and a continuall courſe of holy obedience, to be true and ſincere, and ſo they will giuegive vsus aſſurance that we hauehave indeed our part in al the former benefits; which otherwiſe we cannot hauehave, ſeeing the Lord giueth the one as well as the other, and to this end beſtoweth his benefits, that we may glorifie his name by thankfulnes and obedience, as appeareth, 1. Pet. 2. 9. 1. Cor. 6. 20.1. Pet. 2. 9. 1. Cor. 6. 20. We muſt not deferre our thankfulneſſe.
Secondly, we may obſerue, that this our thankfulneſſe is not to be deferred, but preſently to be expreſſed, euen whileſt we are in the vineyards, that is, whileſt our hearts are repleniſhed with ioy, in regard of the comfortable vſe of Gods preſent benefits, and our aſſured hope of thoſe greater mercies in the time to come; for negligent delaies cauſe forgetfulnes, which is alſo the mother of the groſſeſt kinde of vnthankfulnes. But contrariwiſe, then will our praiſes and thankſgiuings be moſt zealous and feruent, when they iſſue from a hart preſently inflamed with the ioyful ſenſe of Gods benefits. An example hereof we hauehave in Dauid, 2. Sam. 7. 18. 2 Sam. 7. 8. Exod. 15. 1. Luk. 1. 46.in the Iſraelites, Exod. 15. 1. in the Virgin Marie, Luk. 1. 46.
Thirdly, we may here obſerue, that as the ioy, ſo the praiſes The praiſes of the faithfull muſt not be ſlight, but great and feruent. Eſay 9. 3.and thankſgiuings of Gods people are not ſlight and ordinarie, but exceeding great and feruent, not only like vntounto the ioy in harueſt, that is, in the fruition of Gods common benefits; but like the ioy wherewith men reioyce after ſome famous victory obtained againſt their enemies, yea and ſuch enemies as hauehave in former times held them in moſt ſeruile and ſlauiſh ſeruitude: for this was the ioy of the Iſraelites, vntounto which the Prophet compareth here the ioy and thankfulneſſe of the faithfull. Yea in truth, ſo much our ioy and thankfulneſſe ſhould exceed theirs, as the greatnes of the benefit of our ſpirituall deliuerance, out of the miſerable captiuitie of ſin and Satan, exceedeth the deliuerance of the Iſraelites out of the bondage of Egypt. We muſt then reioyce and be as thankfull as thoſe ought to bee, who hauehave paſſed from death to life, from the greateſt miſerie to the higheſt happines, and are exalted from being the firebrands of hell, to be the ſonnes of God and heires of heauen.