Commentary on Jude, Biblical commentary · Verse 25
Verſe 25.
To the only wiſe God, our Saviour, be glory and majeſty, dominion and power, now and ever, Amen.
THe Apoſtle in this verſe goeth on with that doxology which he had begun in the former, here you may take notice of the deſcription of the perſon to whom the praiſe is given, he is diſcribed 1. By his excellency, the only wiſe God. 2. By our intereſt and the benefit we receive by him, and our Saviour.
2. The aſcription of praiſe, Be glory, &c. there is 1. what is aſcribed, glory majesty, dominion, and power.
2. The duration, how long he would have this aſcribed, now and ever.
3. Manner, in what faſhion 'tis aſcribed, in the particle, Amen, with which all is ſealed and cloſed up, this particle implieth, 1. Our confidence, that it ſhall be ſo, 2. our hearty affection that it might be ſo, love ſaith let it be, and faith it ſhall be; for faith is a prophetick grace, in prayer it anſwereth its ſelf.
But let us go over theſe particulars more fully and diſtinctly, from the deſcription of the perſon [to the only wiſe God our Saviour] that Chriſt is God, we proved before on verſe 4. ſee pag. 222. and 230, 231, 232, 233, 234▪ and that Chriſt is a Saviour, and how, on the ſame verſe, pag. 227, 228, 229, I ſhall only now obſerve.
1. That God is wiſe. 2. That God is only wiſe. 3. That Obſervat. 1.Jeſus Chriſt as Mediator hath a right to this attribute.
I begin with the firſt, That wiſdom is aſcribed to God, Gods wiſdom is a diſtinct notion from his knowledge he doth not only know all things, but hath ordered and dispoſed them with much counſel, the wiſdom of God is aſſerted in the word, Job 9. 4. and Job 12, 13▪ and proved there by what he hath beſtowed upon man, he that teacheth man knowledg, ſhall not he know? Pſal. 94. 10. what ever man hath from God, God hath it in himſelf in a more eminent degree: and 'tis alſo evidenced by the works of God, as in the works of creation, providence▪ and the methods of his graces.
1. Much of his *Pſal. 104. 24 1 Cor. 1. 21.wiſdom is ſeen in creation, there his wiſdom is diſcovered in the excellent order of all his works, their mutual correſpondence and fitneſs for the ſeveral ends and ſervices for which they were appointed; the order of the world ſheweth the wiſdom of God, the order of placing the creatures, ſee Pro. 3. 19, 20. the Lord by wiſdom hath founded the earth, by underſtanding hath he eſtabliſhed the Heavens, by his knowledg the depths are broken up and the clouds drop down the dew; the earth is ſet lowermoſt as the foundation of all the reſt, the Sea pent up within its channels, the air above them both, and the Heavens higher than all▪ the Stars and Planets placed in the Firmament, and the fiſhes in the Sea; the order of making, God proceeding from things imperfect to perfect, firſt the rude maſs, then the Heavens and the vaſt earth, and glorious creatures, but without life, then the herbs and plants that have life but not ſenſe and motion, then the brute creatures, that have ſenſe and motion but not reaſon, then man with a reaſonable Soul, after his own image; in this order you may obſerve, firſt the dwelling place is appointed, then the food, then the creature that feedeth upon it, the beaſts upon the herbs, and man upon the beaſts: The Queen of Sheba was aſtoniſhed at Solomons wiſdom, when ſhe perceived the well ordering of his family, certainly if we did obſerve the order of nature, we would ſtand wondering more at the wiſdom of God: Next obſerve the correſpondence that is between all the parts of the world, compared ſometimes to a building, wherefore God is called foreign, an artificial Builder, Heb. 11. 10. In this great houſe every part conſpireth to the beauty, ſervice, and dece…cy of the whole, the roof is Heaven, and therefore the Spheres are called chambers and ſtories in the Heavens, Amos 9. 6. The foundation is earth, Job 38. 5, 6. The Stars and glorious Luminaries are the windows, the Sea the water courſe, &c. Sometimes 'tis compared to the frame and ſtructure of mans body, Heb. 11. 3. The worlds were framed, 'tis in the original, foreign, ſet in joynt, as all the members of the body are tied together by ſeveral ligaments, &c. Sometimes to an Army, Gen. 2. 1. The Heavens were finiſhed and all the hoaſt of them. Order is neceſſary every where but eſpecially in an hoaſt, there every one muſt keep in his rank and ſtation, thus the Stars have their courſes, Judges 5. 20. and the clouds their courſes, Job 37. 12. yea, the Graſhoppers march as an army, Joel 2. 15. The next thing that ſheweth the wiſdom of God, is their fitneſs for uſe and ſervice, the work mans skill is as much commended in the uſe of an inſtrument as in the making and framing of it; the upper Heaven'… fitted to be the everlaſting manſion of the Saints, the middle Heaven to give us light, and heat and influence, the air, or lower Heaven, for breath, the earth for habitation, the Seas for navigation, the herbs and plants for food and medicine, &c. Look upon the bodies of living creatures and tell me if there be not a wiſe God; Galen ſaith there are 600 muſcles in the body of man, and every one fitted for ten uſes; ſo for bones, nerves, arteries and veins, whoſoever obſerveth their uſe, ſcituation, and correſpondence of them, cannot but fall into admiration of the wiſdom of the Maker, who hath thus exactly▪ framed all things at firſt out of nothing, and ſtill out of the froth of the blood: The wiſdom of men and Angels cannot mend the leaſt thing in a flye; the figure, colour, quality, quantity, of every worm, and every flower, with what exactneſs is it ordered? as if God had nothing elſe to do but to bring forth ſuch a creature into the world as the product of his infinite Wiſdom.
2. Providence, Gods wiſdom is much ſeen in the ſuſtentation and governing of all things, Eph. 1. 11. He worketh all things according to the Council of his will; do but obſerve a little now all things are put into a ſubſerviency to Gods purpoſe, ſometimes the ſmalleſt things occaſion events of the higheſt concernment; the occaſion of Joſephs greatneſs in Egypt was a dream▪ a lye caſt him into priſon, and a dream fetched him out: ſometimes the moſt caſual things to us are the moſt neceſſary means to accompliſh that which God aimeth at; A certain man drew a bow at peradventure, and ſlew the King of Iſrael between the joints of the harneſs, 1 King. 22. 24. Contingencies to us are infallihle events as to the purpoſes of God: voluntary things that depend upon the will of man, fall under the ordination of the will of God; there is more wiſdom ſhewn in ruling a skittiſh horſe, then in rolling a ſtone or dead thing; God ſheweth his wiſdom in guiding the courſes of the ſtars, but much more in diſpoſing the heart of man, Prov. 21. 1. there is nothing ſo confuſed, but if you look upon it in its reſult and final tendency, there is beauty and order in it, the tumults of the world, the proſperity of the wicked, carnal men think them the diſgrace and blemiſh of providence, whereas they are the ornament of it, Pſal. 92. 5. Lord how glorious are thy works? thy thoughts are very deep! man is diſcontented becauſe he cannot fathom the deep thoughts of providence: nothing ſo oppoſite, ſo bad, but God can bring good out of it; the ſins of men ſet forth the beauty of providence, as ſhadows and black lines in a Picture ſet it off the more, ſee Acts 4. 28, and Job 5. 12, 13. Chriſt hath been beholding to his enemies as much as to his friends, their potent oppoſition hath occaſioned the further increaſe of his Kingdom.
3. In the methods of his grace, ſo I call all the tranſactions of God about the ſalvation of ſinners from firſt to laſt; the rejection of the Jews, and calling of the Gentiles. Rom. 11. 33. Oh the depth of the riches of the wiſdom and knowledg of God: the various diſpenſations uſed in the Church before the Law, under the Law, and time of the Goſpel, theſe are called foreign, the manifold wiſdom of God, Eph. 3. 10. Redemption by Chriſt, the great plots of Heaven, called the hidden wiſdom of God in a myſtery, and without controverſie a great myſtery, 1 Tim. 3. 16. that which Angels deſire to pry into; Gods Maſter piece, wherein all things by a rare contrivance, are ordered for Gods glory, and mans good, the wonder of it will take up our hearts to all eternity; to ſee the ruins of the fall ſo exactly repaired, the glory of God ſalved, the comfort of man provided for, foreign, Oh the depth of this glorious miſtery!
Again▪ The various acts of love, whereby God ſubdueth ſinners to himſelf; this taking ſinners in their monethmonth, and diſpoſing of unthought of circumſtances and paſſages of providence in order to their converſion: Once more, the over-ruling of all events to further the eternal bleſſedneſs of the Saints, Rom. 8. 28. In all theſe I have forborn particular illuſtrations, that the diſcourſe may not ſwell up into too great a bulk.
Now whoſoever ſhall ſeriouſly conſider theſe things, will certainly conclude God is wiſe; but further, conſider the uſual concomitants of Gods▪ wiſdom, and then we may come to make ſome uſe of this meditation.
Wiſdom in God is accompanied with immaculate holineſs, and infinite power; in the Devils there is great cunning great power, and much wickedneſs; in man there is much ſhame, little power, and leſs wiſdom; Gods power and wiſdom are often counted in the expreſſions of Scripture, Job 9, 4. He is wiſe in heart, and mighty in power, ſo Job 3… 5. He is mighty in ſtrength and wiſdom the two for midable properties *Dolus an virtus quis in hoſte requirit?in an adverſary, and the deſire able properties in a friend, ſo ſee 1 Cor. 1. 25. Again, 'tis joyned with holineſs he is moſt wiſe, and moſt holy, glorious in holineſs, and rich in wiſdom.
Well then, let us often admire the Wiſdom of God;Ʋſe 1. look up to the Heavens, and what do you find there? The work of a wiſe God. Jer. 10. 12. Look to the ſtructure of all things round about you, and what offereth its ſelf to your thoughts? by his wiſdom he hath eſtabliſhed the world. Jer. 10. 12. Look within you and you cannot chuſe but ſay, Oh God I will praiſe thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made, Pſal. 139. 14. Look into the Scriptures and conſider the ſtupendious myſteries that are revealed there; of the Trinity in unity, God manifeſted in our fleſh, a Virgin conceiving, Chriſt dying, and can you hold from crying out, Oh the depth of the riches, both of the wiſdom and knowledg of God? Rom. 11. 33. view theſe things again and again; we cannot take up all of God, in one, or many, or all our meditations.
2. Let not it be a bare ſpeculation, but improve it, 1. ToƲſe 2. quicken you to prayer, where ſhould we go for wiſdom when we need it, but to the wiſe God? ſee Job 28. 12. James 1. 5. Job 329. Solomon asked wiſdom and had it 2. Improve it to thanks; when you are able to diſcern your way and your work, P. ov. 2. 6. 3▪ Improve it to waiting, Iſa 30 8 He is a God of judgment, bleſſed are all they that wait for him; when things grow croſs, let the wiſe God alone till you ſee the end of his work; will you be his Councellor, and teach him how to mannage his affairs? he knoweth how to deliver the godly, &c. 2 Pet. 2. 9. 4. Improue it to patience and contentation; the wiſe God knoweth how to make uſe of thee in every condition, where ever thou art ſay, I am there where God hath ſet me, God knoweth what is better for me, then I do my ſelf, he that hath put all things in their places, hath put me in this peace, and here I will glorifie him, 1 Cor. 7. 22. eueryevery croſs is choſen and elected, as well as your perſons, there are ſecrets of wiſdom in providence that are not always to be found in the ſurface and out ſide of it, Job 11. 6. though it appear in a way of rigor, yet God may have a deſign in it of mercy to me, and glory to himſelf.
The nex Point is, That God is only wiſe, ſee the ſameObſervat. 2. expreſſion, 1 Tim. 7. 17. and Rom. 16. 27. why you will ſay this is a communicable Attribute, God hath endowed man with a ſpirit of wiſdom, and humane prudence is an emblem and reſemblance of divine providence, how then is God only wiſe? I Anſwer, wiſdom in God is in ſuch an infiniteneſs and exceſs that wiſdom in man is but folly in compariſon of it, there is none as he, there is none wiſe but from him; in ſhort, God in three reſpects is only wiſe.
1. Originally, and independently wiſe, not by communication from another, but of himſelf; our wiſdom is but aray communicated from the father of lights, James 1. 17. a drop from the Ocean, a beam from the Sun, the whole knowledge of the Angels is but a ſpark of this light.
2. God is eſſentially wiſe, and ſo only wiſe: do not underſtand God to be wiſe as if wiſdom had made him wiſe, as it happeneth among the creatures, in them wiſdom is a ſeparable quality, diſtinct from their Eſſence: now Gods Wiſdom is Himſelf, and Himſelf is his Wiſdom, the perfections of the creature, are like the gilding which may be layed on upon veſſels of wood or ſtone, the matter is one thing, and the varniſh or ornament is another; but the perfections of God are like a veſſel made of pure beaten gold, where the matter and the ſplendor, or adorning, is the ſame.
3. God is infinitely wiſe, and ſo only wiſe, as the Candle giveth no light when the ſun ſhineth, our wiſdom is bounded within narrow limits, and extendeth but to a few things, but Gods to all things; we count them fools that can only mannage petty matters, buy and ſell, and keep out of harms way; ſuch fools are all creatures to God, whoſe wiſdom is unlimitted and incomprehenſible; they that can mannage a ſmall Common-wealth with Advice▪ and Council, are cryed up ſor wiſe men; but now God mannageth the affairs of the whole world, both viſible and inviſible; he careth for all things, from the Ant to the Angels, nothing ſo ſmall as to eſcape his knowledge, nothing ſo great as to burden his mind, the ſun doth with the ſame eaſineſs ſhine upon the whole world, as upon one field: ſo doth God mannage the government of the whole world as of one perſon or creature: our wiſdom is gotten by learning, but who hath directed the ſpirit of the Lord, Iſa▪ 40. 17. our wiſdom is bettered by experience, therefore old men are moſt prudent; but Gods wiſdom is uncapable of increaſe, as being in an infinite fullneſs; we are often deceived; men of the greateſt ſegacity and cunning, fail in their plots and enterpriſes, and ſo their wiſdom is turned into folly; but 'tis not ſo with God, His Council ſhall ſtand, Pſal. 33. 11. there can no difficulty occur, but what is foreſeen: he goeth not upon probability and conjecture, but certain foreknowledg: Man can attend but upon one care at once, various thoughts ſcatter the mind, and weaken it, but God in one moment of under standing ſeeth all things, and wiſely diſpoſeth of all things; Gods wiſdom doth not deliberate with heſitancy, or conſult with doubt, his thoughts are ſimple, and not ſucceſſive, and in their way of diſcourſe. Thus you ſee what good reaſon there is why God ſhould be ſaid to be only wiſe.
Well then, let not the creature ſeem wiſer then God, and cavil at what he hath revealed, becauſe we underſtand it not; we cannot know the nature of an Ant, we are puzzled in the leaſt creature, no wonder then if humane reaſon grow giddy, when it pryeth into the deeps of God; there ſhould be foreign, the obedience of faith to all that is revealed; and divine truth, like Pills, muſt be ſwallowed rather then chewed, received upon Gods ſingle Authority, when we ſee no reaſon for them, for God is only wiſe: Again, when you think of the perfections of God you muſt raiſe your thoughts above the Law, and all manner of all created beings.
The next Point is, That Chriſt Jeſus our Saviour is worthy Obſervat. 3.to be accounted the only wiſe God: Chriſt is wiſe as he is God, and as he is Man.
1. As he is God, ſo he is called the wiſdom of the Father, 1 Cor. 1. 24. and repreſented to the antient Church under this title, as Prov. 1. 20. and Prov. 8. per totum, wiſdom is there ſpoken of as a perſon, and the diſcriptions there uſed are proper to Jeſus Chriſt; ſome ſuppoſe the Heathens had ſome traditional knowledg of this myſtery and appellation; for as Chriſt the wiſdom of the Father was eternally and ineffectably begotten in the divine Eſſence, ſo they worſhipped a Goddeſs whom they called the Goddeſs of▪ wiſdom, and fained that ſhe was begotten by Jupiter of his own brain, and they called her foreign ▪ which word is much like in ſound with the Hebrew word, Adonai Lord.
2. As he is man, he received the habits of all created knowledg and wiſdom, as all other graces without meaſure, John 3. and ſo 'tis ſaid, Col. 2. 3. In him are hid all the treaſures of wiſdom and knowledg. Well then, ſince Chriſt hath brought down wiſdom to us in our own nature, let us be more ſtudious to get it into our hearts: As Mediator, he is fitted to make us wiſe to Salvation, and appointed by God to be wiſdom to us, 1 Cor. 1. 30.
Once note more from the other title, that is here givenObſervat. 4. to Chriſt [our Saviour] Thoſe that have had any benefit by Chriſt will be very much affected with his praiſe; there is a double ground of exalting Chriſt, a ſight of his excellency, and a ſenſe of his benefits; and there is a double notion by which our honouring of Chriſt is ſet forth, praiſe and bleſſing; praiſe hath reſpect to his excellency▪ and bleſſing to his benefits, Eph 1. 3. We may praiſe a man for his worth, though we have no benefit by him, and ſo we are bound to praiſe God for the excellency of his nature, though he had never done us good; but now when he is our God and our Saviour, and hath ſhewed us ſo much of his goodneſs and mercy in Chriſt, we ſhould be ever praiſing him, Phil. 4. 20. Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever, Amen; Glory is due to him as God, much more as our Father, his worth and excellency, though he were a ſtranger to us doth deſerve an acknowledgment, but when we conſider what he is to us▪ and what he hath done for us, then we can hold no longer, the heart being affected with a ſenſe of his kindneſs, breaketh out, to our Father, to our Saviour, be glory for ever and ever. Well then conſider the Lords excellencies more, and obſerve his benefits, and work them upon the heart till you be filled with a deep ſenſe of his love, and find ſuch an impulſion in your Spirits as you cannot hold from breaking out into his praiſe.
I come now from the deſcription to the aſcription▪ to himObſervat. 5. be glory, &c. Can we beſtow any thing upon God? or wiſh any real worth and excellency to be ſuper-added to him? I anſwer no, the meaning is, that thoſe which are in God already may be firſt more ſenſibly manifeſted. Iſa. 64. 2. Make thy name known among the nations. 'Tis a great ſatisfaction to Gods people, when any thing of God is diſcovered, they value it above their own benefit and ſafety, ſee Pſal. 115. 1. they preferre the glory of mercy and truth before their deliverance.
2. More ſeriouſly and frequently acknowledged, 'tis a great pleaſure to the Saints to ſee others praiſe God, Pſal. 107. 8. Oh that men would praiſe the Lord for his goodneſs, and for his wonderful works to the children of men.
3. More deeply eſteemed, that God may be more in requeſt, more in the hearts of men and Angels, Gods children no not count it enough that God is glorified by themſelves, but they deſire alſo that God may be glorified by others; as fire turneth all things near it into its own nature, ſo is grace diffuſive; good men are loath to go to Heaven alone, they would travel thither by troops and in company.
But let us more particularly take a view of this aſcription, and ſo firſt what is aſcribed, glory, majeſty, dominion, and power. Let us open theſe words. Glory is clara cum laude notitia, excellency diſcovered with praiſe and approbation▪ and notech that high honour and eſteem that is due to Chriſt. Majesty is the next word, which implieth ſuch greatneſs & excellency as maketh one honoured & preferr'd above all, therefore a ſtile uſually given to Kings, but none ſo due as unto Chriſt, who is King of Kings and Lord of our Lords. The third term is dominion, which implieth the foveraignty of Chriſt over all things, eſpecially over the people whom he hath purchaſed with his blood. The laſt word is, power, which ſignifieth that all ſufficiency in God, whereby he is able to do all things according to the good pleaſure of his will.
From hence obſerve,
1. A gracious heart hath ſuch a ſenſe of Gods worth and Obſervat. 6.perfection, that it would have all things that are honourable and glorious, aſcribed to him, therefore are divers words here uſed▪ When we have done our utmoſt we come ſhort; for Gods name is exalted above all bleſſing, and above all praiſe, Nehem. 9. 5. Yet 'tis good to do as much as we can: Love to God will not be ſatisfied with a little praiſe, I will praiſe him yet more and more, love inlargeth the heart towards God, if there be any thing more excellent he ſhall have it; well then 'tis a ſign of a dead heart to be a niggard in praiſes, to be ſparing, careleſs, or cold this way.
2. When we think of God, 'tis a relief to the Soul to conſider Obſervat. 7.of his glory▪ majeſty, dominion and power; for this is that which the Apoſtle would have to be manifeſted, acknowledged, and esteemed in God, as the ground of our reſpect to him; it incourageth us in our ſervice, we need not think ſhame of his ſervice to whom glory, and power and majesty and dominion belongeth: It hearteneth us againſt dangers; ſurely the great and glorious God will bear us out in his work; it increaſeth our awe and reverence, ſhall we ſerve God in ſuch ſlight faſhion as we would not ſerve the Governour? Mal. 1. 8. 'tis a leſſening of Gods majeſty, you do not treat him as a great and glorious Potentate, Mal. 1. 14. It inviteth our Prayers, to whom ſhould we go in our neceſſities but to him that hath Dominion over all things, and power to diſpoſe of them for the glory of his majesty: It increaſeth our Dependance, God is glorious, and will maintain the honour of his name and truth of his promiſes: When we are daunted by earthly Potentates 'tis a relief to think of the majeſty of God, in compariſon of which all earthly Grandure is but the dream of a ſhadow: Again, God that hath a ſoveraignty▪ over all things, and ſuch an almighty power to back it, will not be wanting to do that which ſhall make for his glory.
2. The next conſideration in this Aſcription, is the duration,Obſervat. 8. now and ever: Thence note, The Saints have ſuch large deſires for Gods glory, that they would have him glorified everlaſtingly, and without ceaſing, they deſire the pre, ſent age may not only glorifie God, but the future, when they are dead and gone the Lord remaineth, and they would not have him remain without honour; they do not take death ſo bitterly, if there be any hopes that God will have a people to praiſe him: and their great comfort now is the expectation of a great Congregation, gathered from the four winds, united to Chriſt, preſented to God, that they may remain with him, and glorifie him for evermore; 'tis the comfort of their hearts to ſee this Congregation a making up every day, that there are Saints and Angels to praiſe God, whileſt others grieve and diſhonour him; they prize their own ſalvation, upon this ground that they ſhall live for ever, to glorifie God for ever, ſee Eph. 3. 21. Pſ. 41. 13 Pſal. 106, 48. Now this they do, partly from their love to Gods glory, which they prize above their own ſalvation, Rom. 9. 3. Partly in thankfulneſs to God for his everlaſting love to them; God is from everlaſting to everlaſting, and his love is from everlaſting to everlasting, Pſal. 10…. 17. he was their God, and will be their God for ever and ever, and therefore they purpoſe to be his people, and to praiſe him for ever and ever. Well then, get theſe large deſires for Gods glory, that he may be honoured in all ages, and in all places, Pſal. 113. 2, 3. What have ye done in a tendency here unto, that proſperity may praiſe God? do you labour to promote the knowledg… of Chriſt, and the ſucceſſion of Churches, all the ways that you can? zeal in your place is a good argument that you are well▪ affected in this kind; as a Maſter of a family haſt thou taken care to keep Religion alive among thy children when thou art dead and gone? Gen. 18. 19. as a Merchant haſt thou promoted Religion with thy▪ Traffique? Deut. 33. 18, 19. as a Magiſtrate doeſt thou take care to ſecure the intereſt of Chriſt to poſterity that the ſucceſſion of Churches may not be cut off; Miniſters, have you been witneſſes for God to the preſent age? and behaved your ſelves as Truſtees for the next Age? Have you taken care that God may be honoured then? that we do not tranſmit prejudices againſt the ways of God, and corruptions in Doctrine and worſhip to poſterity? Oh where is this affection, this wiſhing, To him be glory now and ever?
The laſt thing in this Inſcription, is the Particle Amen, which is ſignaculum fidei & votum deſiderii noſtri, it ſignifieth an hearty conſent to Gods promiſe, and a ſteady belief that it will continue to all generations: this word is often put at the end of Prayers and Doxologies in Scripture, ſee Rev. 5. 13, 14. Rom. 16. 27. Phil. 4. 20. &c. and ſometimes 'tis doubled for the greater vehemency, Pſal. 51. 13. Pſ. 72. 19. Pſal. 89. 52. and it ſeemeth by that paſſage oft he Apoſtle that antiently it was audibly pronounced by the people in publick Aſſemblies, at the concluſion of prayers, 1 Cor. 14. 16. and ſince that Hierom telleth us that Amen eccleſiae inſtar t…ni…ru…reboabat, that the Amen was ſo heartily ſoundedObſervat. 9. out by the Church, that it ſeemed like a crack of thunder: Certainly 'tis good to conclude holy exerciſes with ſome vigor and warmth; natural motion is ſwifter in the end and cloſe, ſo ſhould our ſpiritual affctions be more vehement, as we draw to a concluſion, and when the Prayer is done, put out the efficacy of our faith and holy deſires in a ſtrong Amen, that it may be to you according to the requeſts of your hearts, and you may come away from the Throne of grace as thoſe that have had ſome feeling of Gods love in your Conſciences, and are perſwaded that he will accept you, and do you good in Jeſus Chriſt.
Again obſerve, There ſhould be an Amen to our praiſes, as Obſervat. 10well as to our prayers, that we may expreſs our zeal and affection to Gods glory, as well as to our own profit; many with the Leapers will ſay Amen, to Jeſus, Maſter have mercy on us, but we are not as ready to ſay Amen, to this to whom be glory, &c. our Hallelujahs ſhould ſound as loud as our Supplications, and we ſhould as heartily conſent to Gods praiſes, as to our own requests.
Laſtly, In deſiring the glory of God to all ages, we ſhould Obſervat. 11expreſs both our faith and love, faith in determining that it ſhall be, and love in deſiring that it may be ſo with all our hearts, both are implyed to the word Amen; it will be ſo what ever changes happen in the world, God will be glorious; the Scene is often ſhifted, and furniſhed with new Actors▪ but ſtill God hath thoſe that praiſe him, and will have to all eternity. Well then, let your faith ſubſcribe, and put it to its ſeal to the glory of God in Chriſt: and let earneſt love interpoſe: Lord let it be ſo, yea Lord let it be ſo; heartily deſire it, and with the whole ſtrength of your ſouls; ſet to your ſeals without fear, 'tis a requeſt that cannot miſcarry, and follow it with your hearty acclamations; the world ſhall continue no longer, when God ſhall have no more glory by it; here you may be ſure you pray according to Gods Will, and therefore may take it for granted▪ only follow it earneſtly, ſay, Lord what ever become of us, and our matters, yet let thy Name be glorified: Amen, Lord let it be even ſo. Now
Bleſſed be his glorious Name for ever, and let the whole earth be filled with his glory: Amen, and Amen,
Pſal. 72. 19.
FINIS.