1The application of this point concerns all of all sorts. Especially it concerns Ministers to whom are committed in a peculiar manner the words of exhortation. The Priests and ⟨p. 272⟩Levites were of all most of all bound, as to praise the Lord themselves, so in the middest of great assemblies to incite others, and to sing and say, Praise ye the Lord. Next to Ministers, Magistrates, who are as Generals and Captains in the Lords army, are bound by virtue of their authority over others to provoke them to praise the Lord. Thus Moses 2and the children of Israel, not he alone, but he with them, he directing and inciting them, sang unto the Lord. So Deborah 3and Barak said to the people, Praise ye the Lord. The like I might instance in David, Solomon, Asa, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, Josiah, Nehemiah, and other pious Magistrates. And because Governors of families, whether husbands, parents, or masters, are in their houses as Kings and Priests, to them also it belongs to see that such as are under their 4charge do praise the Lord. Thus Elkanah for this very end took his wives along with him when he went to the Temple. 5Thus, for this very end also, Jacob calleth upon his whole household, wives, children, servants, and all that were with him, to prepare themselves solemnly to praise the 6Lord. And Joshua undertaketh for himself and his household to serve the Lord. Finally it appertaineth to neighbours, friends, and all sorts even of private Christians by virtue of the common bond of nature, whereby all are one 7flesh, and that nearer bond of spiritual union whereby all are 8one body. For these mutual duties of exhorting one another, of provoking one another, of edifying one another (before mentioned) are not restrained to any particular sorts or kinds of people, but extended to all of all sorts. This was wont to be the Saints phrase, O come, let us sing unto the 9Lord, (Psal. 95. 1.) And as a property of all that are of the Christian Church, it was of old foretold, that many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, &c. (Isa. 2. 3.) This is an especial means of promoting and advancing Gods glory to do it by many tongues. They which are guided by Satan's spirit have their Come: their mutual cohortations and provocations. They use to say one to another, Come ye, we will fill our selves with ⟨p. 273⟩strong drink.
1The application of this point concernes all of all sorts. Especially it concernes Ministers to whom are committed in a peculiar manner the words of exhortation. The Priests and ⟨p. 272⟩Levites were of all most of all bound, as to praise the Lord themselves, so in the middest of great assemblies to incite others, and to sing and say, Praise ye the Lord. Next to Ministers, Magistrates, who are as Generalls and Captaines in the Lords army, are bound by vertue of their authority over others to provoke them to praise the Lord. Thus Moses 2and the children of Israel, not he alone, but he with them, he directing and inciting them, sang unto the Lord. So Deborah 3and Barak said to the people, Praise ye the Lord. The like I might instance in David, Salomon, Asa, Iehosaphat, Hezekiah, Iosiah, Nehemiah, and other pious Magistrates. And because Governours of families, whether husbands, parents, or masters, are in their houses as Kings and Priests, to them also it belongs to see that such as are under their 4charge do praise the Lord. Thus Elkanah for this very end tooke his wives along with him when he went to the Temple. 5Thus, for this very end also, Iacob calleth upon his whole houshold, wives, children, servants, and all that were with him, to prepare themselves solemnly to praise the 6Lord. And Ioshuah undertaketh for himselfe and his houshold to serve the Lord. Finally it appertaineth to neighbours, friends, and all sorts even of private Christians by vertue of the common bond of nature, whereby all are one 7flesh, and that nearer bond of spirituall union whereby all are 8one body. For these mutuall duties of exhorting one another, of provoking one another, of edifying one another (before mentioned) are not restrained to any particular sorts or kinds of people, but extended to all of all sorts. This was wont to be the Saints phrase, O come, let us sing unto the 9
- 1Psal. 135. 2, 3, 19, 20. 2 Chro. 7. 6.
- 2Exo. 15. 1.
- 3Judg. 5. 1.Iudg. 5. 1.
- 41 Sam. 1. 7.
- 5Gen. 35. 2.
- 6Jos. 24. 15.Ios. 24. 15.
- 7Isa. 58. 7.
- 81 Cor. 12. 12.
- 9Ista est clarissima Dei magnificatio quando per innumeras linguas glorificationem offerimus. Chr. Hom. 26. in Gen. 8. Isa. •6. 12.
