§. 19. 7. To be much employed in the Praise of God, doth tend exceedingly to the vanquishing of all hurtful doubts, and fears, and sorrows. Joy and Praise promote each other: And this it doth 1. By keeping the soul near to God, and within the warmth of his love and goodness, Psal. 140. 13. 2. By the exercise of Love and Joy, which are the cordial, reviving, strengthening graces, Psal. 94. 19. & 116. 1. 3. By dissipating distrustful vexing thoughts, and diverting the mind to sweeter things, Psal. 104. 34. 4. By keeping off the Tempter; who usually is least able to follow us with his molestations, when we are highest in the praises of our God. 5. By bringing out the Evidences of our sincerity into the light, while the chiefest graces are in exercise, 2 Cor. 3 18. 6. And by way of Reward from God that loveth the Praises of his meanest servants. And here I would comm•nd this experiment to uncomfortable troubled souls, that have not found comfort by long searching after evidence in themselves. Exercise your selves much in the Praises of God: This is a duty that you1 have no pretence against. Against Thanksgiving for his grace, you pretend that you know not that you have received his grace: But to praise him in the excellency of his perfections, his power, and wisdom, and goodness, and mercy, and truth, is the duty of all men in the world. While you are doing this, you will feel your graces stir, and feel that comfort from the face of God, which you are not like to meet with in any other way whatsoever. Evidences are exceeding useful to our ordinary stated peace and comfort: But it is oft long before we confidently discern them: and they are oft discerned when yet the soul is not excited to much sense of comfort and delight: and we quickly lose the sight of evidences, if we be not very wise and careful: But a life of praise bringeth2 comfort to the soul, as standing in the Sunshine bringeth light and warmth: Or as labouring doth warm the body: or as the sight and converse of our dearest friend, or the hearing of glad tidings doth rejoice the heart; without any great reasoning or arguing the case. This is the way to have comfort by feeling, to be much in the hearty praises of the Lord: When we come to Heaven we shall have our Joy, by immediate Vision, and the delightful exercise of Love and Praise:
§. 19. 7. To be much employed in the Praise of God, doth tend exceedingly to the vanquishing of all hurtful doubts, and fears, and sorrows. Ioy and Praise promote each other: And this it doth 1. By keeping the soul near to God, and within the warmth of his love and goodness, Psal. 140. 13. 2. By the exercise of Love and Joy, which are the cordial, reviving, strengthning graces, Psal. 94. 19. & 116. 1. 3. By dissipating distrustful vexing thoughts, and diverting the mind to sweeter things, Psal. 104. 34. 4. By keeping off the Tempter; who usually is least able to follow us with his molestations, when we are highest in the praises of our God. 5. By bringing out the Evidences of our sincerity into the light, while the chiefest graces are in exercise, 2 Cor. 3 18. 6. And by way of Reward from God that loveth the Praises of his meanest servants. And here I would comm•nd this experiment to uncomfortable troubled souls, that have not found comfort by long searching after evidence in themselves. Exercise your selves much in the Praises of God: This is a duty that you1 have no pretence against. Against Thanksgiving for his grace, you pretend that you know not that you have received his grace: But to praise him in the excellency of his perfections, his power, and wisdom, and goodness, and mercy, and truth, is the duty of all men in the world. While you are doing this, you will feel your graces stir, and feel that comfort from the face of God, which you are not like to meet with in any other way whatsoever. Evidences are exceeding useful to our ordinary stated peace and comfort: But it is oft long before we confidently discern them: and they are oft discerned when yet the soul is not excited to much sense of comfort and delight: and we quickly lose the sight of evidences, if we be not very wise and careful: But a life of praise bringeth2 comfort to the soul, as standing in the Sunshine bringeth light and warmth: Or as labouring doth warm the body: or as the sight and converse of our dearest friend, or the hearing of glad tydings doth rejoyce the heart; without any great reasoning or arguing the case. This is the way to have comfort by feeling, to be much in the hearty praises of the Lord: When we come to Heaven we shall have our Joy, by immediate Vision, and the delightful exercise of Love and Praise:
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