A01981:1699
The saints sacrifice
The saints sacrifice: or, a commentary on the CXVI. Psalm Which is, a gratulatory psalm, for deliverance from deadly distress. By William Gouge, D.D.The saints sacrifice: or, a commentarie on the CXVI. Psalme Which is, a gratulatory psalme, for deliverance from deadly distresse. By William Gouge, D.D.
London: printed by George Miller for Edward Brewster, 1632
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
And ye that desire to have your houses stand by themselves in the open air, be sure that an house of God be so near them, as on all occasions ye may resort to them. What is the sweetest air without the breath of Gods Spirit? What the most fertile soil without the fruitful word of God? What the clearest springs and brooks without the current of grace? What the best grown woods without Gods plants? What the most melodious singing of birds without Saints singing hymns and spiritual songs, making melody to the Lord in their hearts? What all country or city commodities without divine ordinances? But in Gods houses (rightly and justly so called) are all these to be had. There is a kind of fatness of Gods house, that is a fullness and sweetness, whereby all that duly frequent the same, shall be satisfied. Be therefore, if possibly ye can, where Gods house 1is. Blessed are they that dwell there. The Psalmist in a rhetorical amplification of this point seemeth to envy the sparrows and swallows which roosted and built their nests about 2the house of God whereunto he could not come, though his soul longed and even fainted for it.3
And ye that desire to have your houses stand by themselves in the open aire, bee sure that an house of God be so neare them, as on all occasions ye may resort to them. What is the sweetest aire without the breath of Gods Spirit? What the most fertile soile without the fruitfull word of God? What the clearest springs and brooks without the current of grace? What the best growne woods without Gods plants? What the most melodious singing of birds without Saints singing hymnes and spirituall songs, making melody to the Lord in their hearts? What all country or city commodities without divine ordinances? But in Gods houses (rightly and justly so called) are all these to be had. There is a kind of fatnesse of Gods house, that is a fulnesse and sweetnesse, whereby all that duly frequent the same, shalbe satisfied. Be therefore, if possibly ye can, where Gods house 1is. Blessed are they that dwell there. The Psalmist in a rhetoricall amplification of this point seemeth to envy the sparrowes and swallowes which roosted and built their nests about